• Reading the next to the last Deborah Crombie mystery. Only one more to go. Say it isn’t so! I did the same thing with Lee Child’s mysteries two summers ago – I read every one of his books over the course of the summer. As I near the end of the books, I get sad.
I also ordered some books through my local library. Susan Branch speaks so highly of all the books by Gladys Taber and I seem to share Susan’s sensibility. So I’ve started in on Stillmeadow Seasons. As to the other book, I read one of Miss Read’s wonderful books while in Hartford and I fell in love with her cozy and funny stories of English small town life. She was a prolific author, so I will have plenty of books to explore.
• Dusting, swiffering and vacuuming. I’m not a big fan of dusting since I’m allergic to house dust, but when I’m in the mood to do it, I suddenly see dust where I previously hadn’t noticed it at all. Selective sight, I suppose. These books of poetry by Edgar Guest got some attention and now they look beautiful once more. By the way, did you know that Edgar Guest was my dad’s godfather? Yep. He and my grandfather were very close friends – Dad remembers them playing cards at his house. According to my dad, Edgar Guest was a great guy.
• Adding to my collection of natural wonders. Remember the flicker feather I found in Hartford? There it is on the left. I just added half of a walnut shell from our black walnut tree. And that splash of yellow? Part of a bird’s egg that had fallen onto the funky patio. Does anyone know what bird lays yellow eggs? I’ve searched online but have been unable to come up with a definitive answer.
• Preparing for two coaching jobs – a two day job in the middle of July and the next gig in Hartford starting at the end of July. By the way, I just realized I will be gone for nearly two months this time around. I was expecting six weeks. Yikes. I can’t think about that too much or I get really sad.
• Getting a package in the mail. My blogging friend Cindy, of Cottage Instincts, sent me four bars of her amazing homemade soap. After my post the other day about The Struggle, she thought I could use some pampering. They smell heavenly.
Cindy mentioned that Lemon Poppyseed was especially nice to use after some gardening, so I’ve put it in the soap dish by the kitchen sink. Thank you, dear Cindy, for your sweet and thoughtful gift!
• Mowing. No picture necessary. Just take my word for it.
• Getting the car fixed: new radiator and new something or other bolt that had deteriorated. causing my right front tire to wear more quickly than the other tires. It was, according to my mechanic, ‘becoming a safety issue.’ No picture necessary.
• Spending time with this girl. She’s still full of spunk and is doing well. She misses her dad, of course, and he misses her. (Her allergies are troubling her, hence the red, weepy eye.)
Oh, let’s look at her again.
She’s gorgeous. And smart. And funny. That’s a good combination.
Happy Sunday.
Our local library was doing a major clean-out, and every week I would stop in to see what was on the [dirt cheap] sale racks. By the time they were done clearing their shelves, I had gained about 20 Miss Read books. I had never heard of them before, but when I picked one up and read the covers inside and out, they seemed like sweet English village stories. So each time I went in, I’d check to see if there were more. Sure enough!
Always love seeing Scout. :-)
I love her version of small town life, presented with a dry wit and lots of small town gossip!
Now I want time to go to the library, the used book store, anywhere with bargain books – I love how you are enjoying reading about English small towns – they are always interesting – and then there are villages which are even moreso because usually everyone knows everyone else’s business, hahah!!!
Lovely soap – lovely Scout – glad you have jobs on the the horizon, but sad one will keep you from the cottage for such a long time!
Re: the yellow eggs – I saw a shell that color recently myself – can’t recall if it was here or in the Russian islands, but I think the latter location. I’ve studied my bird books and looked online however, like you, I haven’t seen yellow eggs anywhere.
I did read this interesting fact though – in my Garden Bird Facts book under “Why are eggs different colors?”
– Color and color-pattern of an egg is determined by pigments knows as porphyrins produced in the female’s body through the breakdown of hemoglobin from red blood cells that have ruptured. Too get rid of these materials, the bird’s body transforms them into bile pigments, which are removed to the uterus through the blood and deposited in the developing shell of the egg. –
Who would have know such complicated things go on inside those tiny creatures! Well that’s not much help, but interesting – and hopefully someone can enlighten us on yellow egg shells one of these days.
Hugs – Mary
Miss Read always writes about the fact that everyone knows everyone else’s business!
Maybe the yellow egg was a robin’s egg that ended up yellow? It was right below our maple tree, which is where they usually nest.
I hope you enjoy the Stillwater books! I read them years ago and have benn thinking of getting them again for winter reading. Will be watching for your “review”. Sorry about the car expense! No matter what, I always feel I am getting ripped off on auto repairs. Friday we had tires put on, and AC checked as it was not cooling very much. They removed a Large mouse Nest! $250 later I was back home. What next??
We’ve had a few mouse nests in our cars! I’m so looking forward to reading this first Stillwater book.
Ha, I love the second pic of your girl, she really is so beautiful, worth a second look for sure! Thanks for the heads up on some great authors, I’ll start checking some of them out at the library. Last summer I discovered Rick Bragg (southern writer) and read straight through all his books in the summer. I haven’t discovered anyone this summer so I’m thinking Gladys Taber might be the one. Sorry about the car, it’s always something, ain’t it?! Drat!
Mary
I’ll have to check out Rick Bragg, Mary.
If you like Gladys Tabor you will like Jean Hersey if the library has her. I actually like Jean’s books better…..
then Miss Read…if you like hers, you might like D.E. Stevenson ( older books ) or Jan Karon ( newer ) if you have not read those yet.
After all the rain here I am with you on the mowing! :)
I believe I may have read Jean Hersey once in the distant past – not absolutely sure about that. I’ve read all of Jan Karon’s books and loved them. I’ve heard of D.E. Stevenson’s books – I’ll have to check them out. Thanks!
Claudia, When it comes to dusting…I am your soul sister..I hate to dust. Worse than vacuuming. And I don’t even have a allergy to dust.LOL. Glad you are enjoying your reading time and your dog pal. Take care. xoxo,Susie
Have a great day, Susie!
Claudia, I am a huge fan of both Gladys Taber and Miss Read! I have ALL of their books and re-read them often. Try to read them all. In addition to Glady’s Stillmeadow books, be sure to read her novels. Miss Daffodil is hilarious! You will not be disappointed! I purchased many of mine through Ebay and Amazon (used). I was afraid the libraries would be getting rid of theirs since they are not “popular” authors today. So sad! Miss Read passed away about a year or so ago. She, too, was a schoolteacher as is Miss Read in her books. I am a retired first grade teacher myself so I can really identify with the character. I adore all things English and her books are truly cozy reads. I am so sorry I never met either author. There are Yahoo groups for both authors if you’re interested in joining them. So happy you have discovered these jewels of books! Sharon
Me too, Sharon!
Scout is so beautiful! You can’t ever include too many photos of her! Love the Edgar Guest books. I remember your connection to him. From reading his poems (I’ve owned several of his books forever), you can tell he was such a good son, dad, husband, and amazingly patriotic man. I love his poetry.
Oh golly, I hear you on the car repairs. Like I said, we went through that earlier this year, three months in a row. In Jan the alternator was replaced, in Feb the starter was replaced, and then in March the whole engine seized and could not be repaired. And just last week with my new (ha ha new as in 12 year old 2001) vehicle, the brake light came on and stayed on so IT had to go into the shop last week! Thankfully it was only a defective cap on the brake fluid reservoir, so it was a relatively inexpensive repair!
Regarding the cardinal climber, I had to call about eight local nurseries before I found one that carried the cardinal climber, so it’s apparently not as popular as some of the other (hummer) vines. It’s a member of the morning glory family, so the flowers start to close up later in the day. I have finally seen the hummers at it, so it has been discovered! Yippee!
Have a great Sunday, Claudia!
Donna
Oh my – you have had more than your share of car trouble, my friend. Our car is 12 years old, too and it’s been pretty good – it’s a Honda, but even the best of cars is going to have trouble at this point! Crossing my fingers that everything will run smoothly now.
So many interesting reads, Claudia. I am intrigued.
Good – that’s what I aim to do, Beverly!
Oh, I am so excited about checking out Miss Read! I love books about English villages. My new favorites are the books by Gil McNeil – her newest is Knit One, Pearl One, but start at the beginning of the series!
Your Scout has the sweetest smile. Let me look again…yup! Sweet smile!
And smiles to you and your kind friend for sending you a “feel better” gift. We all need a pick me up sometimes!
We sure do, Paula!
Scout is gorgeous, smart and funny just like her Mother.
Mere
love you sister.
Car repairs..ugh! My hubby is a retired mechanic, so that helps a lot. Wish I could loan him out to you! I’m always a happy camper if I’ve got lots of flowers, and a stack of books to read…give me the simple life! Isn’t there a song with that line? Enjoy your Sunday Claudia with Scout! ;)
Some like the high road, I like the low road,
Free from the care and strife.
Sounds corny and seedy, but yes, indeed-y.
Give me the simple life.
Thank you…and right on!! ;)
I really enjoy the books by Gladys Tabor. “Stillmeadow Seasons” was the first book of her’s I read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I was wondering if you have ever read anything by William Kent Krueger? I just started his book “Iron Lake”. I can not put it down.
When you are through cleaning your house will you please come do mine? Please bring Scout.
I’ll have to check that author out, Trudy. I’ve never read anything by him. Thanks!
I have both those Taber books and all her Stillmeadow ones and her short stories, cookbooks, dog books, anything I could find by her, all bought back in the 1970s when there was no internet search. Bought one at a time from a rare book place in Nashville called Elders. He would call me when they got a new one in. And I have most of the Miss Read books. These are the very books to read between books that keep you on the edge of your seat, books to read when you want to relax before bedtime. And D.E. Stevenson, yes! Read one of these and you’ll probably become a Dessie too!
I know I have an old Edward Guest poetry book somewhere. How fascinating that there is a personal connection there. Many men of that time period are fascinating. I wonder if there are biographies on him? If so you should try them. I am now in the process of reading the 3 autobiographies of Alec Guiness. I love nothing more than losing myself in autobiographies, especially from days gone by. I just finished the new biography of E.B. White done about how his whole life led up to writing Charlotte’s Web. White is another one who I’ve read every word by and of that I could get my hands on. I sometimes wonder if they make men like that anymore? And of course his wife was a truly amazing woman. The New Yorker would never have been the magazine it was if not for her. And oh, the writers she nurtured!
Life is just too short, Claudia, to read all the wonderful books out there waiting to be read!
Wouldn’t Scout make a perfectly beautiful dust jacket for some lovely book?
I’d like to start collecting her books and the books of Miss Read. I need to find a great old used bookstore! E.B. White was fascinating, though I’ve not read a biography about him. More to put on my list, Dewena! I’ve never searched for a biography of Edgar Guest, but I think I will.
That Scout is a doll! Haven’t been blogging much as I have had my own big struggle the past couple of months. Something I never thought would happen did and it was a doozy to deal with but I am moving on now. When talking with a few friends whom I confided in, I did find that we truly don’t ever know what’s happening with others, at home, behind closed doors. I don’t know many people who don’t have some issue they are dealing with, big or small. Car problems — got those, too. My car is being fixed right now. I went to pick up sushi on Thursday and my a/c went out on the drive over — when I parked, I noticed a trail and then a big puddle under my car. Yep, an oil leak. If it had all leaked out, the engine would have been ruined and would have cost $5,000 to fix. Thankfully, it is only costing about a $1000 and that includes repairs to the front and back bumpers from when the iPhone coffee drinking woman ran into me months ago. Sending blessings and good thoughts your way. Hugs, Tammy
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been going through a rough time, Tammy. Sending you a big old hug! I had a car once that was a lemon and all the oil leaked out of it and the engine seized. It was a nightmare, so I’m glad you caught your oil leak in time!
Thanks for the reading suggestions. I’m heading to the library next week and now I have the start of a list! J
Yay!
Claudia I LOVE Edgar A. Guest’s poetry!!! I have some favorites and read them over and over. One of them is People Liked Him. I can tell by his poetry that he was a special man. How wonderful he is your dad’s godfather.! Another favorite is The Gentle Gardener. One that gives me so much comfort is Departed Friends because Dale and I lost our best friends in a car wreck years ago. Our families did everything together and so the poem helped me heal from that (if one ever does) Yes, he was a special poet and special man.
I need to do a good clean here someday soon too. Wanna come over???? :)
sending hugs…
I’m so glad you like Edgar Guest and that he has been a source of comfort to you. That makes me very happy, June.
Glad you are keeping busy with Don gone! Love the pic of your sweet girl!! I’m unpacking and will be for a long time!
Linda
But you’re where you want to be!
Once I retire I will be cleaning the garden and house finally and reclaiming my space. I love the idea of reading a whole series for the season. Not sure I can keep with one author though.
Depends on how much you like that author! I read other books at the same time – I have to because I have books to review.
I have long admired folks who can read many books at the same time. I can read a fiction and a non-fiction at the same time but that is it. I have several stacks of books in series by certain authors but I like to mix them up a bit…although one year I did read all the Sue Grafton she had written at the time…
Hi Claudia,
Glad to see that you are keeping busy with Don away; the grass cannot wait! The lemon poppy seed soap was such a sweet gesture, and I’m sure it must smell fresh and citrus-y. I consider you to be quite an expert on all things blog related and wonder if you can help regarding the big ‘switcheroo’ to Bloglovin’: do we have to follow our GFC/Worpress followers all over again at Bloglovin’? I’ve made the move and just checked the site and not sure what I have to do as my GFC followers reads 193, but in Bloglovin’ it says 75.
Thanking you in advance!
Poppy:))
As I understand it, Poppy, Google Friend Connect is a totally different thing than Google Reader. You’ll still have your blogs to read on your dashboard that you have set up through GFC. But it you think, like I do, that GFC might disappear in the future, you may want to follow them on Bloglovin. What you’ve done is transfer your Google Reader feed to Bloglovin, so if you were using Google Reader to read your favorite blogs, you’ll be able to read them on Bloglovin. GFC doesn’t transfer. If you want people to follow you on Bloglovin, then put that little widget on your sidebar and they can click it and your follower totals will grow.
Claudia, Here is an addition to my earlier email. Ann Purser is another English author you should look into. I love her books about Lois Meade, who lives in an English village and owns her own housecleaning business. She finds time to be a modern-day sleuth as well. Those books contain the days of the weeks in their titles (Murder on Monday), and now she’s started on numbers (Warning at One). She also wrote six titles about Round Ringford, a village in England. Those are out of print but available used at Amazon or perhaps at local libraries. I’ve just discovered those, have acquired all six, and am on the third title! She also has a spin-of of these which include a Round Ringford character, ivy Beasley. Wonderful Miss-Read like characters and stories! Here is her website for more information: http://www.annpurser.com/
Happy reading!
So glad to have some good book rec’s. I could use some enjoyable distractions this summer! Glad you like the soap…thanks for writing about them!
My dog Bogart also has itchy eyes right now as well as some issues with his dew claw, which I’m also told is an allergy. :( Bad summer for that!
I’m also allergic to the ACTIVITY of dusting, ha!
I showed Scout’s picture to Toby and Dexter – they always sit by me on the couch while I am on the laptop – they think she looks particularly adorable today!! :)
I feel your pain in regards to the car repairs…we just had mine in the shop recently….new shocks/struts and axle bearings…it was a necessity, and now not a safety issue any longer. We are thankful to have gotten it done, but it sure was costly.
We did yard work yesterday too. Temperatures here reached upwards to 106 degrees, so we make sure any work outside is down early morning or late evening.
I love the verse ‘be kinder than necessary, because we do not know the battles others are going through’.
This was a tough year for us here, but through adversity we grow and strengthen (even though we think at the time we might not make it through them).
I hope each day finds you stronger in body, mind and spirit! :)
Adorable little Bakelite bird napkin ring..Cindy’s soap sound wonderful..what a nice gift to share..of course Miss Scout is all those things and more..She is also a companion and a comfort to you..
I have thought for years about making soap. I wonder how hard it is. That soap she made sounds delightful and looks beautiful! Blogger friends are so phenomenal. Tell Scout my eyes are itching too.
Brenda
It sounds like you have had a busy, productive summer so far. I am sure you are missing Don, though. Your “girl” is looking good and still full of spunk. Claudia-if you have a moment you might want to pop by my blog today and take a look at our SweetCheeks on stage. ?he is a riot and where she got the TWANG from is anyone’s guess. She is just 6. Hope you have a wonderful evening- xo Diana
Have you read any of Barbara Pym’s novels? If not I would start with Excellent Women. If you enjoy her writing I would also recommend A Very Private Eye ~ an autobiography in diaries and letters. If you want a good laugh try Mrs Ames by E F Benson. Love these British authors. I also have read some great non~fiction such as A Backward Glance by Edith Wharton, The World of PG Wodehouse by Herbert Warren Wind. The Big House by George Howe Colt, American Bloomsbury by Susan Cheever, Here is New York by E B White. Shaggy Muses is a wonderful book about the dogs of famous writers, author is Maureen Adams. I also enjoyed Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain and all of Jill Ker Conway’s books. When I find an author I enjoy I read all of their books and am so sad when there are no more. Yet when I switch between the fiction and the non-fiction I seem to be more satisfied. Give your girl a kiss from me.
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
I love that you share your book suggestions, which leads to other people to share theirs.
I have some Miss Read books and a couple of Gladys Taber’s books. Loved reading them. I ordered Gladys Taber’s Stillmeadow Seasons yesterday.
Another author/artist that I love is Tasha Tudor. Some of her books are beautiful, and her life was amazing.
If you are looking for used books, check out ” Abe Books” site. The prices are better than Amazon’s used books, most of the time. I have purchased some nice first editions on that site and the prices were good. They have a huge selection of books, and sometimes the shipping is free.
My Jasper dog would definitely be enamored with Scout. My Zorra dog would be jealous though. Both of my dogs were rescued, when they were strays in South Texas, and both were puppies found, near death, in very rural areas. “Rescued” dogs are the best!