More rain and thunderstorms on the way for tonight and tomorrow morning. Then we’ll have two days of sun before the rain comes back – on Don’s birthday, no less. I’m trying to stay upbeat and so is Don – we work really hard at it – but man, I have NEVER seen anything like the rain we’ve had since April. Endless.
Okay. So here’s the upside. I’ve also never seen the garden so dense, the plants so tall and full. The hostas are mammoth. My daylily is constantly blooming – much longer than normal. The coneflowers are super tall. The catmint is gorgeously purple and filled with bees. The spirea is vividly pink this year. And on it goes. The lushness of everything is pretty darned amazing.
Endless record-breaking rain does have its perks.
And we did manage to have our second cup of coffee on the porch this morning. So that’s good.
I woke up way too early this morning. It happens occasionally. I’ll power through.
I mentioned in a post on Instagram that I was thinking of starting a separate account just for reading and books. Not unlike my book blog, but without the expense, the crazy commitment to reading way too many books, pressure to review, etc., that made me eventually delete it. When you’re an ‘official’ book blog with people asking you to review books all the time and you already have a blog where you post every day, it can become overwhelming and it did.
This time, I’ll just share what I’m reading, the occasional visit to an interesting bookstore, that kind of thing.
Most everyone seemed to think it was a good idea. I haven’t started it yet, but when I do, I’ll give you the information. It won’t change my primary Instagram account where I do most of my posting. It’ll just be a little space to talk about books.
What do you think?
Okay. Don is making an omelet at my request. Have to go!
Happy Thursday.
glad there’s a benefit for you having so much rain … garden spaces full of blooms and green growth! know you enjoy that part.
hope you get more sun, though, especially on don’s birthday, and have a good day despite the weather.
we are to get some rain off and on over the next few days and i love that … but then i’m not a farmer or having to pull lots of weeds. :)
life has lots of tradeoffs, huh?
i would be glad to visit your book-reading/bookstore-visiting account and appreciate it very much! i want to read more fiction, need recommendations and like your style.
happy thursday!
kathy in iowa
ps: i am happy to say that someone helped the frog out of the garage yesterday. :)
So glad the frog was freed! Thanks, Kathy!
Claudia,
I hope that you will consider writing about the books you read here too. I don’t have Instagram. Not sure how it works. Anyway, The movie “*4 Charing Cross Road” that you mentioned yesterday has me interested. Anyway last night my daughter and I were listening to the audiobook on youtube. and we enjoyed listening to it. The voice for the male character was none other than Barnaby from Midsomer murders. Hope to find the DVD of it. Just wanted to say thank you for opening my eyes to new things.
The nature of what I write about on the blog won’t change. I’m simply devoting one Instagram account to books.
You’re welcome, Trina!
Oh, my! Anything to do with books gets a thumbs up from me!!
You are so right about the benefits of the rain. Much more so than what a drought brings. Yes, lots of sunny days, but not the benefits for sure. The extra rain and cool weather isn’t helping the veggies really, but it is certainly benefiting the flowers and shrubs!! Always good to look at the brighter side, but not always easy!!
Hope you have a lovely Thursday. Did you get out and about yesterday to do anything fun?
Some days, it’s impossible to look on the brighter side, Chris.
I did get out yesterday – not necessarily fun, though I did buy some birthday presents for Don. Shhhh!
Oh…I don’t think I’ve ever seen my hostas so big and green! There are also tons of buds on my hydrangeas…before the deer eat them. So for those things….thanks for the rain Mother Nature. However….there is the almost constant mowing, the constant weed growing, and the constant feeling of pervasive dampness. So….I’ve had enough. We are having a nice day here…low 70’s, no rain predicted, and semi-sunny skies with a light wind. Near perfect.
Well…if you get another Instagram account…you will force me to join Instagram. I’ve been putting that off, for I fear getting sucked into that, if you know what I mean. I’ve peeked into Instagram…and I think I could get lost in all those interesting accounts. (Might be great in the colder months.). But…I always enjoy your book reviews wherever they may appear.
Enjoy your day! ;)
A young deer has eaten one of my coleus in the secret garden and started to chomp on a plant in the memorial garden before I shooed him away. One day, I looked out the kitchen window and saw him eating some weeds and he looked up and our eyes met. He’s beautiful, but he’s a troublemaker!
Instagram is definitely fun and inspiring – lots of visuals that are beautiful. Perfect for winter months and waiting rooms.
Fyi…there is a natural homemade repellent consisting of garlic, red pepper flakes, eggs…and a few other ingredients I can’t remember. It works….stinks, but works. Might be worth a try…course you’d have to apply it after every rain which could get tedious. But, it does keep the deer away! ;)
I have a homemade repellent that works beautifully and doesn’t stink, but it’s impossible this year. Too much rain. I’d be remaking it constantly!
I always enjoy hearing about the books you read and the movies you see. Maybe it will motivate me to get on Instagram.
I’ll still write about them here, Kay, never fear!
Claudia, I love hearing what other people are reading. I find lots of good books that way.
Me too! If you do Instagram, you should follow the hashtag #bookstagram – lots of book people posting about what they’re reading.
I only do blogs no Instagram or facebookMuat do not like those
I love your blog though
I only go on FB to wish my friends a happy birthday. But I do love Instagram. It’s visually inspiring. Thanks Brenda.
Claudia, fortunately for me, the rains from the past season haven’t resulted in more weeds than usual in my garden. However, many plants could benefit from a haircut. I’m making carrot top pesto to go with pasta, mushrooms and vegan “meat”balls for dinner. Haha, come on over after you digest the omelette!
We have tons of weeds. I pulled a bunch of them the other day. More will be coming.
Go for it! Always interested in books.
Thanks, Terri!
Sounds good Claudia!
Thank you, Grace!
Yes, please do Claudia, it is a wonderful idea. I have enjoyed reading your comments about books and movies.
All the plants are thriving where I live in Ontario. We have also had a lot of rain but nothing compared to what you are receiving.
It’s insane, the amount of rain we’re getting! Thanks, Lea.
I would love to visit your Instagram and read your comments and recommendations.
Marilyn
Thank you so much, Marilyn!
I might just get a chance to have my coffee out on the porch tomorrow morning…the forecast is saying mostly cloudy for the morning. As long as there’s no rain, I’ll take it. My daylilies are just now starting to get the stalks where the flowers will be, so I’m guessing another week or two. My hostas are lush too, but then again, they always are. My coneflowers are maybe 6″ tall. So sounds like your area is a bit ahead of ours.
I’m following your book account on IG. :-)
Fingers crossed for you tomorrow morning, Melanie! My hostas are always lush, as well, but I have to tell you, they are even larger than normal. It’s crazy!
Yes to the book post. I get lots of ideas about reading material from you.
I know what you mean about massive hostas and just general green lushness of everything. As I commented a few days ago, it was a shock when I was able to get out on the patio between rain storms to see how tall and thick everything was growing. Now outdoor time is limited because a demolition date has finally been set for our kitchen/laundry/power rm. reno – July 1 – so I’m stuck inside packing stuff up and setting up an alternate kitchen of sorts upstairs. Includes removing as much as possible from the first floor to the basement or 2nd floor. Demo dirt and drywall dust hang in the air for days despite plastic barriers. We’ll have the place professionally cleaned when it’s all done. This thing won’t be finished until the end of October. Panic is beginning to set in.
I don’t know how I would handle all of that demo and the length of time the whole thing takes. But then again, I’ve never been through it! I applaud you, Kay. Hang in there!
I had never heard of Louise Penny until I read your blog where you mentioned her and her wonderful books. My husband and I are reading all the Armand Gamache books. He’s done until the new one come out in August. I am on #10 and with one more to go after that. Those are the best books I have read in years. Ok, the best series I have ever read! Thank you for telling me about the series. We read the first one out of sequence, because I just picked it up at the second hand store. Then we got the rest of them from Amazon. Happy Spring at our house!
I’m always so happy to hear that someone read about Louise Penny here and now loves her books! I love spreading the news. So happy that you and your husband are enjoying the series, Tana. xo
Rain definitely has its benefits as long as you aren’t getting flooded out like I see on the news is happening in Philly/NJ areas. We had so much rain this past winter and the plants really benefited. There were so many mushrooms popping up which doesn’t happen often. I have my blog, my IG and also manage IG for my craft group. That’s more than enough for me. I don’t know how people handle much more than that. I’m not a fan of spreading myself thin. :) With your love of books and reading, I’d say it’s a good idea and without the time pressure stress it should be more enjoyable.
I am increasingly not a fan of spreading myself too thin, Tammy. I learned that the hard way! Good for you.
Thanks!
I am from London, Ontario Canada and I know what you mean with the rain. We have one day of sun and days of rain and overcast skies. Yesterday it poured rain all day!! I love your blog!!
Marion
I commiserate with you, Marion! Thanks so much for commenting! My mom was born in Ontario and my paternal grandfather was born in London, Ontario!