Talking about books 04-27-19

I almost never talk about books, but I read a lot.  And I write down the names of books/authors mentioned by others on their blogs or Facebook.  I suppose if I read 24 hours a day for the rest of my life I might read a tenth of them!  But the Book Group gives me a variety of books, some I like and some I don't.   Currently I am reading "The House Girl" by Tara Conklin.  It has alternating chapters - one from Josephine in 1852 and the other from Lina in 2010 or so.  I particularly dislike books that jump back and forth, but the stories are somewhat interesting and it was a popular bestseller in 2013.  

The May selection for the Book Group is The Nightengale, which I have already read, but will review before we meet again.  For April we read "The Truth According to Us" by Annie Barrows. During the month I read four Ann Cleeves books about a detective in the Shetland Islands of Scotland: "Raven Black", "White Nights", "Red Bones", "Blue Lightning".  They were entertaining and I learned things I didn't know about the Shetland Islands, including Fair Isle.  There are another four that follow the story line and I have them on my list.  

I also read the two latest Anne Hillerman mysteries.  Anne has taken up the stories of her late father Toni HIllerman and all the books take place in the Navajo nation in New Mexico and Arizona.  These two are "Song of the Lion" and "Cave of Bones".  I have read about these characters for years, so it is like visiting old friends. 

I sometimes run out of new books to read, but right now I have a shelf full and it is hard to decide what to read next.  Other than the Book Group book for May I will next read "Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon" by Leonard S. Marens, which is a biography of the author of "Goodnight Moon".  Sometimes the Book Group choses to have everyone read a biography or memoir and report on it at the meeting.  It is so interesting to hear what members selected to read and what they thought of the book.

Read any good books lately?

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Long day, Hard drive 04-26-19

It is, of course what I get for driving I-5 on a Friday.  But I made it safely. Temps were in the 80s, but I only stopped twice and had the A/C running the whole trip.   It seemed like there was an unbroken line of semis in the right lane the entire way and they pull out to pass and the left lane backs up behind them and some nitwit decides they aren't going fast enough and tries to jump lanes to get in front of everyone else.  So everyone has to slow down to avoid the nitwits.  I know - bitching doesn't really help, but it gets it off my mind anyway!! 

I cannot download the pictures from the SD card from my camera.  Or else they do actually download, but I can't find them.  Not many anyway because it isn't safe or productive to try to take pictures when the traffic is so heavy.  I'll keep trying. 

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On the Road, Again. 04-25-19

Well, not until tomorrow.  I hope I can get off at a good time - after 9am and before noon.  It is about six hours to San Juan Bautista where I will stay with friend Mary Leakey for a few days.  Then on Sunday about 3pm I will start a class with Sue Benner at Empty Spools Seminars at Asilomar in Pacific Grove. The class finishes on Friday, May 3rd. This will be my 28th year, but some years I have done two sessions.  And one year I did three which was almost more than I could do, I was exhausted afterward.  

The quilt exhibit "People and Critters" is still up at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove, but I will be taking it down in the morning on May 8th.  Hope you had a chance to see it. 

KoKo is with his keeper for two weeks.  I took him there last evening and I sure do miss him.  He is a good house guest and the Erickson's enjoy having him.  

I'll try to take pictures and post them as I know some of you enjoy the road trips.  But no guarantees, I'm still struggling with the new laptop and the mysterious Word 10.  

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White Amaryllis 04-24-19

On April 19th there were just buds.

Today, April 24th, they blossoms were fully open. 

Sun shining through the petals. 

And the lovely full bloom.  

I've cropped this bottom picture three times, but it won't transfer the cropped version.  That is a pickup truck in the top of the image.  Sorry. 

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Red flowers today 04-23-19

I'm trying to get ready to go the Empty Spools for a class with Sue Benner, but I keep getting sidetracked.  There is always so much to do and I always leave too much to the last minute.  Today KoKo went to the groomer and looks so handsome.  He does hate going, but I think they treat him okay, he just wants to be at home.  He will be staying with Cherie who lives here in Placentia and has taken care of him previously.  

No matter what, we have to go for our walks.  And what we see is trees, poles, bushes, and flowers.  While he is paying attention to those other things, I take pictures of flowers. 

I love this single geranium and used to grow it in Fullerton.  Have never tried it here at this house, but maybe I will.  It is so SCARLET! 

I have always known this as firecracker bush, but it has many common names:

red firecracker fern, fountain bush, coral fountain plant, firecracker bush, hummingbird plant.  One of my neighbors has several in the front yard and they are solid with blooms. 

That is an agave in front. 

Hummingbirds are fond of these narrow tubular flowers. 

In this yard the mulch is black dyed bark which really sets off this plant. 

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Flowers - continuing 04-22-19

Plenty of succulents around the neighborhood.  Partially because they are low maintenance and partially for water conservation.  Although the drought is officially over we who live in essentially a desert need to conserve our water supply.  Everything received plenty of water with our very wet winter and like the profusion of wildflowers all around SCalifornia we have lots of flowers in our yards.. 

This succulent is a pile of thick grey/green "leaves", but in the spring it sends up tall stalks, two to three feet, and each is topped with a single bright pink flower.  

The shadows give you an idea of the height. 

The pink flower petals are shiny and reflect the light. 

Each flower is 2 1/2 to 3 inches across. 

The red loop across the top left corner is KoKo's leash. 

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KoKo see the Easter Bunny 04-21-19

KoKo missed having a visit with Santa in December, so I made sure that he had a chance to meet the Easter Bunny (at PetSmart).  

The bunny looks huge and next to a 12 pound Yorkie, I guess he is.  And it wasn't a boy bunny, but a young lady bunny.  Actually, KoKo was completely unimpressed. 

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