Summer Inspiration

Here we are in Sun Valley, Idaho, enjoying what feels Iike a summer camp for adults.

One round of activities was provided by the annual three-day Sun Valley Writers’ Conference. We had the opportunity to attend or live-stream many of the free-to-the-public events that the conference offered.  With over thirty well known authors and hundreds of participants, the vibe was electric.  

We heard Javier Zamora speak about his memoir Solito, chronicling his 3000 mile migration as a nine-year old boy from El Salvador to the United States.  We listened to Abraham Verghese speak about his life and books, including his latest Covenant of Water.  Judy Woodruff led a group of writers and thinkers discussing democracy and our divided country; Ed Jong was interviewed about his book An Immense World; and Dave Barry was the conference closer, providing all with at least a hundred laughs.  Thank you, Barry! ( I bought his latest book, the novel Swamp Story, and got it signed!)

And we heard Jake Barton, head of a design company called Local Projects, speak about his design installations for museums.    He said he was not a writer but a “story teller” and then described in words and images the stories his design installations convey.  I would love to visit at least three of them—the 9/11 Museum in New York City,  Planet Word in Washington DC, and Fashion for Good in Amsterdam.  Dream on, girl…I also appreciated his new-to-me suggestions for how we each can counter climate change.

What special gifts of inspiration, knowledge, fun and awe!  If you would like to learn more about the speakers and their works, and even view or listen to some of this year’s talks (some for a limited time only), you can visit the writers’ conference website at svwc.com.

To balance out all the intellectual stimulation, we love dipping into the many other sweet elements of summer in Sun Valley:

—jogs along the meadow with horses waiting for their carrots

—slow, sniff-walks with our doggie Cosi (who I also bought a book for called Hot Dog by Doug  Salati)                  

—coffee beans from Lizzy, our favorite local coffee roaster (lizzysfreshcoffee.com …she ships!)

—an Idaho Mule cocktail with mountain huckleberry vodka distilled in Idaho while listening to a guitarist-singer from Wisconsin (!)

—and our favorite local sound track—Trail Creek, that runs right by our dwelling.  

Gifts, all❤️  

And you?  I wonder what gifts of summer fun and inspiration are coming your way.  I hope many.❤️❤️