Don decided to run to the store this morning to get some yogurt and a couple of other items. He came back with those items and…disinfectant wipes!
Oh, heavens! He always checks and it looked like the shelves were empty but he found some lemon-scented wipes way at the back of a bottom shelf. He had two containers loaded in his cart but he put one back so that others could buy some. And then he pointed them out to a young woman, who gratefully loaded one into her cart.
He’s a better person than I am.
That and Peet’s Organic French Roast. Good job, Don!
It’s a gorgeous day today; sunny and cooler and no humidity. There may be some mowing today, we’ll see.
It’s coming along nicely. I am so addicted to these puzzles. Sometimes maddening, sometimes overwhelming, there are few things better than finding the right piece and snapping it in place. I could spend hours on it – and have. I forced myself to clean the bathroom yesterday, deciding that my reward would be puzzle time. Maybe that’s how I have to approach all those chores I dislike.
Finished the Maigret I was reading and I’m about to start the last of three that I recently purchased: Maigret in Vichy. Then I need to go to my TBR pile and choose a new book to read.
Other than that, there’s nothing new. We’re doing well. We are self-isolating. We aren’t going to change this new way of living for a long time. Not until there’s a vaccine.
Hey, I haven’t asked this for quite a while – What are you reading?
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
Oh, I see that missing right hand border piece in the photo!
The last few days, what with moving and all, I’m sort of at a crossroads in reading. I’ve finished all of the Harry Bosch books, all of the Deborah Crombie and Louise Penny books, and can’t seem to decide what to start on next. I barely started a Charlotte Bronte—Shirley—and couldn’t quite get in to it after a couple of days and a few pages. I had started a J.L.Burke several months ago and put it down. Picked it up again and…nope. My TBR stash includes Essex Serpent, another Michael Connelly, and House Lessons by Erica Bauermeister. I’m leaning toward that last one, but we shall see.
Congrats on those wipes!
hej, shanna …
you must have very good eyesight to find that piece for the upper-right border! or more patience than me … been searching for about five minutes and i haven’t found it yet.
glad you have some books to choose from.
stay safe!
kathy in iowa
Yes, Kathy, I’ve looked again and I think I am wrong. What I first took as a straight side with a black marking is, I think, one with a notch that looked black at first glance. I just knew it was too good to be true! Hope you are on the mend, Kathy.
But there was a missing piece. One tiny little piece and I found it this morning! And it was on the right side.
that’s the thing about puzzles, isn’t it? at least for me … i get excited, thinking i found the piece that will finish an area, but nope, it doesn’t!
thanks, shanna. doing okay, but not too much doing! :)
hope you and your family are safe, well and enjoy your weekend.
kathy in iowa
Found that piece (finally) right after I wrote this post.
Michael Connelly has a new book out starring one of his protagonists that we haven’t heard from in a long time. It just came out. I don’t have it yet, but I’ll definitely read it. Stay safe, Shanna.
I finished a book that I picked up from one of our neighborhood little libraries that people put in their front yards. It was an interesting YA book called “Every Day”. It was a fast read and I enjoyed it! Now I have discovered that I do not have a book in the house that I have not already read! Yikes! I got a few as recovery gifts but found out I have already read them. So, I think I will look at re-reading some old favorites. I cannot go out yet due to my health and I am not an ebook reader really. So I am thinking it is a good time to read my copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” again. I also have Mr. Rogers and Barach Obama books that I have read before but couldn’t part with so… that is where I am at! Thanks for asking!
TKAM is always worth a re-read, Ellen! Stay safe and feel better.
I just finished “Finding Dorothy,” by Elizabeth Letts. It’s the story of Maude Baum, wife of the author of The Wizard of Oz. Their life together, a glimpse into how elements of the book came to be. There are two threads to the story, the second being 20 years after Frank’s death when the movie TWofO is being made. Maude is a self-appointed advisor, mentoring Judy Garland as she can, ensuring that the movie stays true to the story. The earlier years are so fascinating to read about. Maude’s mom was active in the suffragette movement and Frank supports it as well. Some of these themes come out in the book.
It sounds fascinating, Karen. I’ll put it on my list. Stay safe, Karen!
Hi Karen, thanks for letting us know about Finding Dorothy. My late husband was a huge TWoO (the movie) fan and my daughters enjoyed Wicked, and I always enjoy reading backstories.
Yay for Don finding wipes! I haven’t seen any here in NC since March. I am loving all your puzzles. In the past few weeks, I’ve read The Silent Patient; The Woman in the Window (which had me on the edge of my seat), and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (which was okay but not my favorite). My next door neighbor has been kind enough to lend me all of these since the libraries are still closed.
I read The Woman in the Window and A Storied Life. I liked the first one and didn’t like the second. I’m glad you have a neighbor who lends you books! Stay safe, Carol.
Hi Claudia, I’m still self-isolating with Mom. She’s missing Dad but not wallowing in grief. Still interested in taking care of herself, and, looking her best despite us staying at home. I got her into puzzles. We’re assembling a 2000-pieces of a painting by Charles Wysocki, who painted country still lifes with lots of detail. The puzzle we’re doing is called “Maggie the Mess Maker” and shows a cat lounging on a sewing cabinet amidst a vintage Singer sewing machine, sewing paraphernalia, and books.
I’m reading Mudlark, by Lara Maiklem, who scavenges along the Thames. She weaves her experiences and findings with the history of London. Since I love London so much, I’m finding the book a fascinating and educational read. I’m excited the library is sending out due notices. Maybe it’ll be open soon and have a pick up system. Though I miss perusing the shelves.
Stay safe!
I’m reading All Adults Here which is a great read. Just finished Merles Door….the best book about a dog I’ve ever read. Just wonder ful. Can’t praise it enough. Also, read Valentine which is an excellent first novel.
It’s so much fun sharing what we’re reading g. I always need suggestions.
Ginny
Unfortunately, I still can’t read books about dogs. It’s just too hard for me!
I’ll put it on my list, Ginny, for the day when I can get through a book about a dog.
Stay safe!
I follow a couple of mudlarks on Instagram. They’re fascinating! I’m sort of surprised that California has opened up so much, as they were – in the beginning – following the same schedule as NY. Our libraries won’t open for quite a while.
Stay safe, Wendy!
I live in one of the Bay Area counties and these counties were among the first to shelter and one of the slowest to reopen, despite what the State is recommending. However, I still plan to shelter. Fortunately, I like being home and doing my crafts, reading my books, and hanging out with my daughters. Although, I do miss seeing friends, and I am unhappy that a planned trip to the Mediterranean countries this autumn will not materialize.
We can’t afford it this year, but I wonder when or if we’ll travel again. Thanks, Wendy.
I’m dismayed that my California is opening up to the degree it is; I think it’s a BIG mistake.
I do, too.
We haven’t been able to buy wipes since sometime in March. Then, Jim went to Costco, and low and behold they had packs of them stacked on a pallet. Four in a pack. Score! He bought one pack…no need to be greedy. We are now set…it’s the little things isn’t it?
I’ve actually read three books since the last time you asked. The Chef, by James Patterson…mystery thriller… very good; A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie, and I’m currently reading All Shall Be Well, also by Crombie. I do love Deborah Crombie. Guess I finally found my reading groove.
We are also going to continue being vigilant. Basically laying low until there’s a vaccine. It’s cool here today…68 for a high. I’ll be picking the weeds that I didn’t pick yesterday. Stay safe!
We just got the one container (though I wish Don had bought two!)
Crombie is one of my favorite authors. So glad you’re back in reading mode, Donna.
Stay safe!
Hi,Claudia! Love when you ask what we are reading. I have just finished The WinterSoldier by Daniel Mason .The setting is WW1 in a makeshift hospital.He is an exquisite writer(also wroteThe Piano Tuner) and I found it very compelling..Also read the latest Anne Tyler,The Redhead by the Side of the Road.It is a quick read,perhaps not one of her greatest,but always good to be in her company.Now I plan to reread A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for the umpteenth time!I’m tempted to reread all of Deborah Crombie if I can track them down. I had them all and passed them on to a friend. P.S Can you ever have imagined being thrilled with finding wipes?
Hi Annette, I’m also reading A Tree grows in Brooklyn again but it’s at least forty years since I first read it.
Happy Saturday
I know! Who would have thought that snagging a container of wipes would be such a big deal?
I have A Tree Grows in Brooklyn on my shelves. I should pull it out and read it!
Stay safe, Annette!
Thanks, Annette, for bringing A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to my attention. I loved it as a teen, and must reread it, as I confess not to remember a lot of the story.
What do you do with all of the books that you have read? I used to donate them to our Friends of the Library Sale but they won’t accept them now. Even our thrift shops won’t accept them. I hate spending $20 or more on a new book that I can’t even donate. Any suggestions? From your readers?
I love your puzzles. Do you donate your puzzles after you build them? When my mother passed away, she had over 150 puzzles stashed under the beds. She constantly built them while undergoing chemotherapy. I donated all those puzzles to three cancer wards in our local hospitals.
You can save your read books until places will take them again. That’s what I’m doing. I have a box set aside that I put my used books in.
I tend to hang on to my books, Nancy. Two or three times a year, I go through them and donate whatever I don’t want or need to the library. If I were you, I’d stack them somewhere or put them in a box and when the library opens up again, you can donate them.
Right now, I’m hanging on to the puzzles. I may pass them on at some point, but I wouldn’t donate anything right now as it would involve some sort of contact.
Stay safe!
I am reading “The Red Lotus” by Chris Bohjalian. Very different from my usual type of book.
Hope you’re enjoying it, Melanie. Thanks for sharing your current read and stay safe!
Bonjour Claudia,
Maigret à Vichy est un de mes préférés ! You will like it if you like a slow “enquête policière”.
Bon week end
Hélène
Ah, I’m glad it’s one of your favorites! I’m anxious to start it later today. Stay safe, Helene!
The Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini. I have most of her books.
Enjoy, Trina! And stay safe.
We are self-isolating, too, and just started our tenth 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. We’re always shocked at how much time we can spend working on them. They are so addicting! Lol
They are incredibly addicting! I love working on them. Enjoy your new puzzle, Cathy and stay safe!
I’m like you — not changing this self-isolating thing for a long time — although we will meet up with a similarly isolated couple (much like you did with Rick and DOug) for a distant dinner next week. (There was a great article in the NYT on that last Sunday — everyone brings their own everything!)
Don is a better person than I am, too.
I think I mentioned I’m reading Anne Sebba’s Les Parisiennes right now and should finish later today. Then I’ll read another “Ruth Galloway” mystery — The Janus Stone (by Elly Griffiths). All focused on archaeology and set in Norfolk. That will get me through the weekend. Have you read any of Antoine Laurain’s books — The Red Notebook, The President’s Hat, Vintage 1954? They are all quite short, like the Maigret’s and slightly fantasy and yet so darned charming. And French!
I haven’t read them. I’ll definitely look into them, Jeanie. Thanks for sharing your reads. Stay safe!
It seems strange seeing The New Yorker puzzle so soon after completing it a couple of weeks ago! I am currently reading A Tree grows in Brooklyn, it’s at least forty years since I read it, all I can remember is Francie loving books and libraries. Every couple of months I try to read some favourite book from my younger days to see if it lives up to expectations. This one is much better than I remember and is quite candid considering it was first published in 1943.
Happy Saturday
Such a wonderful story. Have you ever seen the movie? The girl who plays Francie will break your heart, she’s so wonderful.
Stay safe, Dee Dee!
So nice to hear you’re having a good day today and feeling grounded on what you’re doing and how you’re going to keep living; all sensible and very smart. Isn’t it funny, in a way, how we all get excited now if the stores have something we want, when there’ve been such shortages; it feels like a big victory, doesn’t it; whoo-hoo. But very important to score those disinfectant wipes, for sure. My thing lately is that, although I eat a lot of frozen (unadorned) asparagus (and, occasionally, when we decide to shop and go into a store to get ‘fresh’), I do also like canned asparagus for certain ‘dishes’ (I rinse thoroughly for any added salts in the can), and, for weeks, I cannot find canned asparagus for home delivery; not in the stand-alone store either; but just simply not available online at even Walmart or Amazon unless I want to chance it from some secondhand vendor. I know it’ll change at some point (and I can certainly live without canned asparagus!). But, when it’s available again, I’ll be ‘excited’ to get some. Anyway, just such a strange shift from the things that formerly would get me pumped up! Some day we’ll look back on this time and realize that our lives have really undergone some change in the first half of 2020.
You’re not kidding! Everything has changed. But we’re all coping, thank goodness.
Stay safe, Vicki!
I was glad to go back thru the comments here on the post and see that several of your readers are like you (and me) with no plans to change how we’re living (continue to be cautious; plan; distance; wear a mask; avoid contact), while we wait out a vaccine. It was hard to wrap the mind around, to think things with the virus could go on THIS long and into the future, but we’ve had the three months now to adjust to the idea and, again, humans (although we can indeed be impatient) are pretty flexible/resilient; we’ve got this (maybe there’s something to be said for being older and wiser).
Felt so sorry for a cousin I heard from today via email. Her young-adult son is back living with her and applying for student housing as he begins to ready for graduate school, yet not knowing if he can follow through with it as he has an auto-immune disease and being back on a campus in the Fall with a lot of people, if that’s how it’ll go down, and not knowing what will happen, or not happen, with spiking in the virus … is just feeling very risky, so they’re, for now, sheltering in place, both son and Mom (because she-herself is a somewhat-newly-recovered cancer patient). But they live in an old house/vintage home and it developed some sort of pest issue, so she and her son had to leave so that exterminators could come in, and none of those guys/workers were wearing a mask; of course it was impossible to know all where they were inside the house because she had to leave during the procedure but she said she was just a nervous wreck to even know where to start sanitizing after she got back in the house. Conversely, I’ve got two friends who are now allowing house cleaners to regularly come back into their homes to routinely clean and, wow, I just don’t think I’d be doing that (although I kept my opinion to myself when they told me).
I was listening to a doctor talk on television about the danger in complacency that’s settling in with reopening and how this is NO time to let our guard down because, crazy to even conceive of it, they’re saying we’re only in the BEGINNING of this virus’ cycle. Look what’s now happened in China with a new wave (2nd wave?) of a lot of positive cases; they’re going back into lockdown, sounds like. I’m vaguely remembering the references now to the 1918 pandemic when citizens thought they were somehow safe, then went to a big public parade in the streets and the influenza soared worse than before with the second of four waves; so, gosh, how can we not do the ‘mitigation’ with the spectre of such a thing.
Yes, everyone went to a parade celebrating the end of WWI. xo
Currently reading a non-fiction book, A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History’s Greatest Traveler, by Jason Roberts. Before that I read The Night Tiger, by Yangsze Choo, a mystery with possibly supernatural elements, set in 1930s Malaysia. Next up I was planning on The Mountains Sing, by Nguyen Phan Que Mai, but there have been some interesting recommendations in these comments so who knows, I might try one of them instead.
Interesting titles, Christy! Thank you for sharing them with us. Stay safe!
This is the time to be extra vigilant. Too many people abandoning social distancing and masks. I heard a doctor say masks are our vaccine until we develop a better one. I wish her voice and others were heard instead of the White House. I can’t believe people who are still in denial, still drinking the Orange Kool-Aid. We will have major increases once the Orange Idiot starts his rallies up again. I think we will have a lot more civil unrest too, once he gets out there and starts entertaining his worshippers with all his asinine verbal vomit on current events. Enough on that because I could go on and on.
Currently I am reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King. It’s been languishing on my TBR pile for a couple years. I am enjoying it very much. I read an article on people’s reading habits during the pandemic and really loved what one man is doing. He is reading an autobiography or biography about every president. I love this idea! Once I finish 11/22/63 I am going to do this too! I want to read two on each president. I will be starting with George Washington’s First War by David Clary. It is about his military career.
Stay safe!
That’s a great idea, Kimberly! And I agree, once the dreaded rallies start – and the Republican Convention – we’ll see the numbers go up in Tulsa, Jacksonville and all over the country. Stay safe!
I’m a history and non-fic gal so right now I’m reading Ron Chernow’s bio of Ulysses Grant. I wasn’t particularly interested in Grant when I got it, but I’ve already read Chernow’s bios of Washington and Hamilton and really enjoyed them. Low and behold, I’m really enjoying this one too!
Don IS definitely a good man. I don’t know if I would have left the last one either. Lately I’m not feeling so magnanimous when I walk through the grocery and see all the people not wearing face masks. Last time, two seventy-something women stood by the ice cream talking loudly about how their husbands were “on the fence” about it and that it wasn’t any worse than the flu. I have no patience for this level of ignorance.
It’s turned so cold here so sitting outside isn’t happening this weekend. Sigh…
I get it. I’m sick of seeing people act as if the pandemic is over. Stay safe, Kay!
Oh, I love the reading posts!!! I recently finished Open House by Elizabeth Berg, This Tender Land by Kent Krueger, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, and Lucia, Lucia by
Adriana Trigiani. Just started Exile Music byJennifer Steil. Reading keeps me sane. (Or as close as I get.) Our new library is nearly finished, and if our county is into Phase 3 by then, it is set to open on July 6!! We live in the town of the first Culver’s restaurant (burgers, frozen custard etc) and their kids have had the library built and is named after their Dad, George Culver. So exciting. They actually had a nearly century year old building repurposed and it is quite beautiful!
I have to say that, like you, I would have taken 2 also. We go out so infrequently that if I saw 2 after all these months I would have rationed that it was meant to be. Naturally, I also agree that Don is a better person than am I.
I visited a Culver’s when I was working in Wisconsin. It was great. (And the street that we lived on in my hometown was Culver.)
(I’m still wishing that Don had taken two!)
Stay safe, Chris.
Chris! We used to visit that Culver’s when we lived in Middleton and the boys were small. Even though we lived near the one in Middleton. It was the first and special.
Kay
Kay, it is a special one. We always see people taking pics in front of the plaque on the rock! The Culver family is very kind. My hubs was a year ahead of Craig in high school. They give so generously in the community, and I am sure the franchises are the same across the country. We have 2 towns along the river that are really just one, and when Ruth died, they repurposed a building into the Ruth Culver library in “that town”, about 3 or 4 years ago. Now George has died so our new library is nearly completed. Two beautiful libraries within about 4 miles of each other!!
recently finished “Still Alice” and “Before We Were Yours” – liked them both, although “Before We Were Yours” was very emotional since both my children were adopted, but thankfully not through Georgia Tann’s horrendous placements. Current books in progress: “Live Love Now” and “The Book Thief”. I wish I lived near some of you – I would give you books!! I am trying to downsize, and am running out of friends willing to accept more books. This past week, I took two boxes of books to thrift stores, thankfully they still accept them. Our library no longer has their book sale. I recently gave away several boxes of books through Facebook Marketplace – a teacher took many of my children’s books, two people came and each took a box full of music books, and yet I have more! My goal is to read all the ones left behind and gradually rid myself of many of them. Like others here, there are several that will have permanent placement on my shelves.
Jan, The Book Thief was one of the best books I ever read. I hope you like it. It is raw and hard to read at some points, but it reminded me a bit of the world today. Insanity. I love Claudia’s “what are you reading” posts so very much!! I can’t wait until our library opens again!!
Chris K in Wisconsin, thanks for your thoughts on ‘The Book Thief’. I had heard it was a ‘must-read’ book so when I saw it, I got it. I have not read any reviews on it. As I am reading, I am apprehensive as to the story development. I am in Part 2, as I flipped through I see there are at least 10 parts.
I haven’t culled any of my books lately because I give them to the library and obviously, nothing is happening there at the moment. But both Don and I will have to do that when things get back to normal. Stay safe, Jan.
Claudia, our library reopened for curbside pickup only. I have one book currently out from library on making end-of-life decisions. I am somewhat avoiding actually concentrating on that book! Our library discontinued their annual book sale. They will accept books but they have an agreement with Goodwill to regularly pick up books from the library. Did you know Goodwill sells books online? I ordered a couple of used thru Amazon, and the books were from Goodwill sites.
I am trying to downsize my book stash which is more than a TBR pile, more like a bookshelf full!
glad you’re having a good day, made better by don finding bleach wipes!
don is a better person than me … today i found two small boxes of “wet wipes” on the shelf and bought them both. i don’t feel bad about that because these are the dinky wipes that come in individual foil packs so i will share them with five other households here. the wipes are dinky, but i am relieved to have found them. and they are a “fresh scent” and not something obnoxious like “mango mania” (which i’ve bought before in desperation)!
i have no book titles to offer here, but wow … there are a lot of interesting books here to add to my list! thanks for asking the question, claudia, and thanks to everyone for sharing their book titles and descriptions.
and the puzzle looks fun!
hope you all have a good, safe weekend.
kathy in iowa
Grab the wipes when you can, Kathy! Stay safe.
Reading several books a week for NetGalley on Ipad/Kindle…Just read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn-why are so many of us reading this one yet again? Getting back to a different time…I love your puzzle…my favorite city-NYC…my favorite hobby…books…don’t really call it a hobby but a way of life…Just finished again Little Women, my fav…and Little House on the Prairie books and of course, Jane Austen…my favorite mystery writer is Carlene Thompson-gory but like the simple mysteries…reading Agatha Christie again. I keep few books-pass them on to others or library. I used to have hundreds, but I wanted to know that other readers were enjoying them.
Interesting that that title is popping up here! It’s good that you share your books with others, Brenda. Stay safe!
I admire you so very much, Claudia.
Why, thank you, Sandy. What a lovely thing to say! Stay safe!