Non-Fiction Book Report

A Fighting Chance by Elizabeth Warren.  I hope I get to vote for  Elizabeth one day.  Since she's from Massachusetts and I'm from Illinois, you know which election I'm talking about.  She says it's not right that the government is making 7% interest off of young people paying off their student loans  while big businesses are getting away with paying no taxes at all.  You go, Elizabeth!

This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate by Naomi Klein.  I can't wait to read this one. The author was a guest on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last night.  Maybe there's still hope for us all . . .

In the meantime, this pretty boy visited with me in the garden a few weeks ago.  Now back to the Kindle. . .    

Book Report

Most of the books I read are on the kindle.  But recently Karen loaned me this copy of The Mermaid Chair.  I loved it.  Made me want to go back and read the  Secret Language of Bees again.   My new glasses, that aren't so new anymore, but they go well with the cover, don't you think?

We Were Liars, recommended by my mama.  About a group of cousins and friends and their summer vacation.  Quick read, great story.

Black and White by Dani Shapiro.  A photographer becomes famous when she takes pictures of her daughter.  And what does her daughter think about that?  Loved this one so much that I bought the paperback version of Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life because I think I'd like to be friends with Dani.  She won't mind if I call her Dani, will she?

I've read some good books lately!  Here's another one:  Never Coming Back by Tim Weaver.  A detective novel about a family that went missing.

And for my inner florist,  My First Ladies by Nancy Clarke who was the White House florist who served five first ladies.  Fascinating.

Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian.  A teenager deals with the aftermath of a nuclear disaster.  Yes, yes, yes.  Read this one too.

And one more?  Remember Me Like This by Bret Johnson.  Another really good one.  A family deals with an abduction and return home.  Couldn't put it down. 

Front Door Garden

Our new full-view storm door, with the sweet potato vine doing it's crazy thing this summer.  Last year's color scheme was pink, yellow, blue.  This year's blue and green.  Next year's plan is blue & purple.

August with The Bo-Bo

. . . And July

Mama's birthday was in June but we went to celebrate with her over the 4th.  We picked raspberries in her garden, read books on PJ's back porch, and ate lots of PJ & Jeff's good cooking. 

 

It was good to visit with Jordan again.

This mama cat was so sweet during our visit.  But she waited til we were gone to have her kittens!

Terrible picture, but this was maybe the brightest full moon I've ever seen.  They called it the supermoon.  Not sure why.  I should have googled it to find out.

And then we got to see our Betsy and Kyle :)

Kyle wouldn't let me take his picture this time.  He was exercising his independence!  But our Betsy was willing to model.  She's so smart, so pretty, so sweet, growing up so fast.  Can't believe it's almost August. . .

It was a lovely June...

Betsy & Kyle went to the beach.

We got to visit Betsy & Kyle at their house.  Mark said if he had had any more fun, he would have had to take something for it :)

We had MelloCream donuts one Sunday morning.

Betsy's orange report from her kindergarten year.  She's reading so well!

And the garden is beautiful, as always. 

We're ready for July now :)

Book Reviews

Keep Quiet--Quick read.  I really liked the kid who tried to get his dad to do the right thing.


She's got my vote.

 
The Goldfinch:  Yes, it's long, but I still loved it.   I kept thinking about how we adopt beliefs and stories that are meant to help us cope with traumatic events.  And yet how utterly ridiculous those beliefs and stories can turn out to be.  I never thought of Theo as a thief .  .  .

June Handtieds

June Birdcage

PJ's birdcage with mini cyclamens, mama's hens&chicks, and mammy's birdhouse. 

Bye, May

The peonies are close to being gone, one more little vase to take to work this Monday morning.  Cause peonies do make Mondays better :)

And a few more pictures from our Kentucky Lake trip.  We went to the Dinner Bell, of course, where we love to eat home cooking that tastes just like mama's.

We've all got the same kind of smile going on. . . not sure how we managed that.  Maybe because we were all full!

And here's Isaac, leaving in his new car.  Thank you to V for passing it along to him.  The Dinner Bell isn't open for breakfast, so we had to settle for the Cracker Barrel that morning.  He made it home safe and sound all the way to Denver.

Well, it's June now.  It's another beautiful morning here in the garden.  Have a good Monday!

Gone Fishin. . .

It was a quick trip  to our seems-like-home-away-from-home at the lake.  

Only four more months til we get to go back :)

A Bird's Nest Makes Any Floral Better

V and I went to the cemetary while we were down home.  We put this saddle on Warren's headstone last fall.  As you can see, a mother bird used it as a foundation for her nest this spring.  I love it.

We hope she was through with the nest.  Amazing workmanship. . . er, workbirdship. . . well, you know what I mean!  Anyway, we left a new flower saddle in case she needs to start over again.  We miss you, Warren.

May Vases

Our friend Karen  retired a few weeks ago when all the daffodils and wood violets were blooming.

The redbud came from our backyard, but I have to confess:  The lilacs were from our neighbor's shrub (thank you to Bill  & Gail & Mike!)  and the tulips were Mother's Day leftovers at Meijer.  It was a beautiful vase for work.