reading — Page 48

Sunday Snow

January 20, 2019 at 9:41 am by Claudia

We got a lot of snow, but less than predicted it seems. This “official” assessment is based on looking out the window. We’ll see the reality when we go outside to tackle it. We’ve also had sleet, which most likely compacted the snow. So far, so good. We haven’t lost power. It’s supposed to get windy later and the temps are going to plummet tonight and tomorrow, so we want to get things shoveled before then.

The oil wasn’t delivered. It won’t be delivered until Monday. So say a little prayer for us that we have heat until tomorrow. I’m more than a bit worried, though Don seems to think we’ll be fine. (That’s typical: I worry. Don doesn’t.) Needless to say, I wasn’t a happy camper when I found out they weren’t coming. On the other hand, not giving them enough lead time was our fault and, as they told me, they have 600 customers who were asking for deliveries before the storm. They’re working their tushes off.

We had the best time with Rick and Doug yesterday. Great conversation, lots of laughter – we could have stayed there for hours but we wanted to get to the store before the snow started falling. I thought you might enjoy these photos.

Doug, Sam, and Rick. Don took this and managed to get a great capture. Sam is smiling!

And you know who these people are. I bought that snake plant for Rick and Doug as a housewarming gift and it’s really taking off. And that fire! I wish we had a fireplace here at the cottage. Rick and Doug have two – one in the living room, as well.

So. Today is about snow clean up. Yuck, yuck, yuck. But it must be done.

I’m almost finished reading James Lee Burke’s latest – should finish today. Then I’ll start Something of His Art: Walking to Lübeck with J.S. Bach. Can’t wait!

Happy Sunday.

On Tap for Sunday

December 9, 2018 at 10:14 am by Claudia

Sunday morning. And, as I write this, I see the sun has just come out. It’s a fickle thing, the sun. It emerges for a couple of hours, tricking us into thinking the entire day will be sunny, and then it hides behind clouds for the rest of the day, leaving us feeling betrayed somehow. So I hope it remains sunny, but I’m not counting on it.

I just finished another James Lee Burke – this one was Glass Rainbow. There was a time when I read every new book in the Dave Robicheaux series and then I didn’t. I’m not sure why, though I suspect it had to do with that period when I was reviewing books right and left and had very little time to read for pleasure. I read his newest and was blown away once again by his writing. So I went back to pick up the four or five books that I missed and I’m almost caught up. Burke is a poet, a man of the South whose writing is achingly beautiful even as he is writing about murder and detectives and brutality. I put Burke and Louise Penny at the top of my Favorite Writers List. That’s another reason I haven’t started Penny’s newest, though it’s sitting here on my coffee table. I usually delay that pleasure, knowing that I have it ready and waiting for the perfect time to dig in, but I’m also in Burke mode and I don’t want to leave that world yet.

I’m starting Creole Belle today. He writes about Louisiana and the bayou and New Orleans and I must admit, his work resonates even more with me now that I’ve spent time in New Orleans. Heavens, he is good.

What else? There’s a new theater company in a neighboring town. They’ve built a small black box theater and their second show is in previews right now. Don has been supportive of them since the beginning because the little theater is very near to where he often takes photos and he knows the owner and the artistic director. Theaters need audiences to thrive and a theater that is just starting out struggles with building an audience. So we’re going to a matinee of their newest production – a new play by a young playwright. Don went to their opening production and was very impressed by their work.

We’re going to head out a little early and stop by the bookstore and maybe grab a bite to eat in our favorite vegan restaurant.

Happy Sunday.

Natural Beauty in Late Autumn

December 1, 2018 at 10:12 am by Claudia

The porch lights are up. It actually takes no time at all, about 15 minutes or so. (I’m not even going to bother with cleaning the railings until spring.) The lights were such a cheery and welcoming sight as we arrived back home last night from Rick and Doug’s. As we drove up to Don’s parking space near the shed, we saw the buck again. And he stayed there, very still, until the car lights were off and we walked toward the house. Two sightings now of that beautiful animal.

While I was outside yesterday, I grabbed my camera. I like to remind myself that there is beauty in the bleak landscape. It just takes seeing the landscape through the lens of my camera to realize that every season has its beauty.

The milkweed pods have burst open to release their silk parachutes.

Here’s one that still has seeds. Soon they will be transported by winds, or simply drop right where they are, guaranteeing that more milkweed plants will grow next spring.

I think they’re beautiful.

The burning bush has finally lost its red leaves leaving these beautiful berries behind. The berries are toxic in large quantities to humans and animals, but they are food for the birds. I’ve never read that they are toxic for birds. I’ll trust the birds, who know, to make that decision.

I’ll be finishing Susan Hill’s latest sometime today. Then the question is: do I read another James Lee Burke or start the Louise Penny? Penny is the only author I do this with: I often postpone starting the book because I know it will be such an exquisite pleasure to read and that, once it’s done, I’ll have to wait another year for a new book in the series. So I hold off.

Delayed gratification.

I have a feeling I’ll be holding off. We’ll see.

I’m going to work on the mini trees today, as it’s foggy out there with rain coming later in the day.

Happy Saturday.

Sunday Snow

On Tap for Sunday

Natural Beauty in Late Autumn

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Archives