The very first of my many purple coneflowers has bloomed. Coneflowers are in every garden bed around here and since they’ve gratifyingly reseeded themselves, they’re cropping up in some unexpected places, as well. I just love them. They are very cottage garden to me.
I’ve finished all the Deborah Crombie books except the very newest, which is in hardcover. I’m going through a little period of mourning. I find myself unable to commit to any of the other books that are sitting around here, ready and waiting to be read. This happens to me rarely, but it sure has happened with this series. I’ve grown to love the characters so much that I feel as if dear next-door neighbors have moved away. I want to hang out with these characters, to have tea with them in their home in London – I want to be their friend. I’ve been pressing my nose against their fictional windowpane and I want in!
Does that ever happen to you? Does a book or a series of books so enthrall you that you find yourself wanting to live in that world? It’s sort of a mixed blessing, but it certainly attests to the power of the well written word.
The hostas are sending up their flowers and will soon be blooming.
I went out in the early morning yesterday and mowed part of the lawn. It’s growing so fast because of all the rain we’ve had and I knew that with the 90 degree/90% humidity forecast for the day I had better get cracking early. Totally exhausting, this weather. I did get a nice chunk done and I’ll do some more today. But only in bits. Because this weather, which has hung on for days and days, is not the best or healthiest in which to do any chores. Don, my poor guy, is in a dorm with no air conditioning. The actors are miserable. It’s hard to sleep. Yesterday, he was scheduled for only a costume fitting, so he went to see a play in the afternoon and a movie in the evening, just to be in someplace air conditioned.
I would not be coping nearly as well as he is. I hate humidity.
The lavender planted in the raised bed by the kitchen door.
The bee balm has spread this year and its splash of red really adds to the garden.
See that wheelbarrow in the upper right hand corner of the photo? Several weeks ago, I lifted it and noticed a small ant hill under it. I lifted it yesterday and gasped out loud. There is a veritable city there. Look:
Do you believe this? It’s fascinating. It reminds me of ancient pueblos or those Indian dwellings carved into stone in the Southwest. How do they do it?
Good thing I don’t have to use the wheelbarrow at the moment.
Happy Friday.
When I find a good series, I will hunt down every book and read them in order, and sometimes practically live and breathe the story and characters. Those series are rare, but I know absolutely how you feel. Reading is such a joy and a necessity of life!!
It sure is, Robin!
Good morning, Claudia. Are you familiar with Donna Ball’s books Ladybug Farm? I think there are four of them and they are wonderful. I felt the same way about the characters in these books. I hated to let them go.
I’m not familiar with those books, Charlene. I’ll add them to my list!
Your flowers are beautiful Claudia
Thank you, Missy.
Your garden is so beautiful! If it was mine I would find it hard to leave it in the summer. And I don’t blame you about the humidity, it is so draining. Hopefully the weather turns nicer so Don doesn’t have to live with it!
It is very hard to leave it and I’ll be leaving it in August and part of September. Sob.
Cool photos! I love bee balm– and hate humidity too!
Humidity is evil, Diane.
Hi Claudia! Your gardens are so beautiful! While your bee balm is spreading, mine has decreased to one lone stalk this year… Why, I don’t know. I think I just get too much shade in our little back yard garden area, but I’m not willing to cut down the trees, so there you have it.
I know exactly what you meant when you said you wanted to mingle with the characters in the book (series) you finished. My experience was with a single book, The Season of Second Chances by Diane Meier, but this is the little synopsis I have written on the sidebar of my blog for that book:
“I just loved this book! The author is so witty, I found myself laughing out loud many times (very unlike me while reading a book!). The characters were so real. I’m ready to move to Amherst, track them down, and work my way into their inner circle! Cannot wait for Ms. Meier’s next novel!”
And it’s true – they were so real to me while reading it. I keep waiting for her to come out with a second novel – I certainly hope she does! I’d love it if it were the same characters, but even not, she has a fantastic writing style and I’d scoop up her next book in a heartbeat!
Hope Don is doing okay in this heat without A/C. It’s so oppressive.
Take care,
Donna
He’s pretty miserable, as are all the actors in the housing the theater provides.
I’ll have to check out that book, Donna!
Your ant city does look like an ancient ruin! How interesting!!
A couple of years ago someone suggested The Mitford series to me (Jan Karon) and I feel that way about that series of books. About every 15 months or so I read them again, in order, and am drawn back in. Funny how that happens. I still seem to discover something “new” in each book, and it feels like I am meeting up w/ some old friends.
Humidity is an awful thing… isn’t it? Ours is supposed to go up considerably starting tomorrow. Trying to enjoy each minute of the day today while it is not yet so oppressive. The only thing I keep telling myself is ~~ “it’s NOT snow!!”
I’ve read all the Mitford books and I loved them all. My mom read them, too.
Humidity is just plain horrible!
Quite an ant hill you have going there! I have the same feeling when I read a series of books too…there is a sadness when you are done, and great expectations for the next one! Our blissful days have ended, humidity is back…I hate humidity too. It changes my whole disposition, and I shy away from any outdoor activities unless absolutely necessary. But, I agree with Chris K…it is better than snow! ;)
I finished mowing the lawn this morning and I’m wiped out! But it might rain over the weekend, big surprise, so I felt I had to get it done. Yucky, yucky weather. You’d think it was August.
I love Deborah Crumbie and I hate humidity! I read her books like you, discovered her and then could not stop til all gone! If you haven’t heard of or read Louise Penny then look for them. Start with the first Still Life and go from there. And you will long for Three Pines like so many of her fans do. Still hate humidity and I am Southern born and bred.
Thanks so much for the tip about Louise Penny. I just looked her up and can’t wait to start her series!
The ant hill is amazing! I’ve started Miss Read, it’s rather bland but hoping it will pick up soon. Hope you can find some books you love as much as the series you finished.
Mary
Well, they do have a slow pace and are written with a dry sense of humor. I alternate them with a fast paced mystery. But it’s hard to make the adjustment from can’t-put-down-mystery to Miss Read!
Oh my, this heat and humidity are really awful. About as bad as it gets here in the northeast. Have been hiding in the house reading and cross stitching. Only venture out to fill the birdbaths. The ground still seems to be moist from all the rain we’ve had so I’m not watering flowers and veggies just yet.
I am reading the last book in the Ladybug Farm series by Donna Ball. I see that someone else mentioned these books already. Enjoyed them very much, sorry to see the series end. Feels like you could read about these gals forever!
I read through the Miss Read series many years ago. Also have been through the Jean Hersey stories. And although they certainly held my interest at the time, I find myself gravitating to a more contemporary “read” these days. Another series that is quite good is the “Ladies of Covington” books by Joan Medlicott.
I get so sick of being inside with the A/C on – I feel unconnected to the outdoors. I’m praying that we get some relief from this incessant humidity next week! I think we’ve had our share for the summer, don’t you?
I’ll check out both of these authors, Elizabeth.
I like to go without A/C and it does get very hot in Australia.
Now is very cold here,I love using my fire place and read in the evening with cup of tea.
I am readin again Ruth Park she was a New Zealand–born Australian author.
Claudia I admire your garden,love your pictures but I could never work so hard like you in the yard.
Herbs in pots(lots of them),some shrubs and flowers that is me.
I love the work, though I complain about it frequently!
Just ordered my first Deborah Crumbie book after reading your entry today! I look forward to it! Speaking of humidity, I’m in Northern FL and we had almost a week of rain and the humidity and mosquitos are horrid. Take care, Jen
We have a lot mosquitos this year, too – too much rain!
Your Bee Balm is so pretty Claudia..Such a happy looking flower..reminds me of little fireworks exploding..Do you have any purple ones..They are so pretty too..The anthill looks more like an ant mountain..or an ant village..lol..I have something called Small Airway Disease which makes it so difficult to breath in this humidity..Makes me trapped inside with the air on way to much..I have so much I want to get done outside..I pity Don..you would think they could do better than that for their Actors..It’s sad that he has to go sit other places to escape the heat when he is supposed to be provided with a place to stay..Take care working in this heat & humidity and have a nice weekend..
No, I don’t have any purple bee balm – I’ll have to look for some. I’m so sorry that you have trouble breathing in this humidity. Yes, you must stay inside. I totally understand, though, about feeling cut off from the outside – we have to spend so much time inside during this weather that it can seem like we are living in a glass box.
yes to the book thing.
Have to take a break and go to movies or an entirely different sort of book or something…
happens with movies sometimes too / as in downton abbey, lol…JUST ordered the series 3 recently and am on the last one tonight and THEN what shall I do ? I am again talking to myself in these accents and enthralled by the series. The only way to break this will be to watch a thriller or something / i was actually checking blogs etc for a bit to put off the last episode! And then I read this! same page……….
I understand. I’ve been that way with certain series – Newsroom, for one.
I have read all of Deborah Crombie’s books and can’t wait for the next one to come out, but I think it will be next year. I miss the characters. We are living in water world here. Ready to see some sun. xo Laura
My goodness those ants have been busy!
It’s hot with lots of rain here but that’s okay as long as we aren’t threatened by a hurricane. I also love reading series books. I am finding a lot of good paperbacks at thrift stores lately and look forward to some great reading. I feel for Don. It’s so hard to sleep when it’s hot and you just don’t seem to be able to get comfortable and relaxed enough to fall asleep. Your gardens are so beautiful Claudia. I’m enjoying all the different colors of green in our area. The Crepe Myrtle trees look amazing this year due to all the rain. Thank’s for letting us know you’ll be taking the week off from blogging. I would have been worried if I’d checked every day and not found a new post.
This weather has been oppressive Claudia…every time I try to garden I come in and within an hour I have a migraine…so i am catching up with blog and book reading…I have fallen in love with book characters and want the series to go on and on…some have ended and it is so sad as if I am in mourning the loss. I also have a hard time sometimes finding another book to read when i love a series. Beautiful flowers!!