Anita's ( Figs) reading path in 2023 #4

Welcome all to my 4th thread!

My rating system is as follows:

1 = Very Very bad. Either I could not finish the novel, or the plot was ill-conceived

2= Still bad. I managed to finish the book. It was probably boring, unoriginal or poorly written (D)

3= Solid. There was character development, the pace was probably slow or parts of the book were well thought out. Still had the ability to make me think or at the very least want to continue reading, however, something was missing or could have been further developed. Slightly better than average. (C+ or B- or B+)

Subdivided into: Shaky ( barely got there), loose ( average) and solid ( just not quite there for a 3.5 or 4) ( B+)

4= Excellent read. I probably couldn't put the book down till it was finished. The Pace was spot on, complex characters, made me think in a different way and so on ( A -)

5= Absolutely perfect!

Books Read in January



The last beekeeper was a great read. A good debut novel and is still memorable from all the reads this month.

Books Read In February



Favorites: Foster and ghost music. Honourable mention: The sisters of auschwitz.

Books Read in March



Best 3 in no particular order: Kaykeyi, Half of a yellow sun, Hester

Books Read in April



Favorite of the Month: The White Hare

Books Read In May


Books Read In June

Comparative Reading list

1. Umberto Eco: The Mysterious Flame Of Queen Laona

2. Fyodor Dostoyevsky: The gambler

Favourite Read of the past


Every Note Played: Lisa Genova

A young, successful concert pianist finds out that he has ALS. He cancels his tour and ends up having to live with his ex-wife.

The author does a great job describing the physical, mental and emotional hardships of ALS.
Very well written

Welcome!

Happy new thread Anita!

Happy #4, Anita x

>12 quondame: You are first! A little reward is in order......

>13 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

67. Fyodor Dostoyevsky: The Gambler

This one has been on my shelf for a long time. It was a short read but anything I read by Dostoyevsky stays with me for a long time and requires unpacking.

Happy new thread, Anita! Is that your house in the topper? So pretty!

You have done amazing reading so far!

68. Jacqueline Winspear: The White Lady

Belgium WW1. Elinor and her sister are teenagers when they are recruited to help the resistance. One day something goes terribly wrong, and they are forced to flee. One sister (Elinor) continues with resistance work in WW2. After the war she retires in the countryside where she tries to keep her head down. However, her neighbour is trying to cut ties from a powerful family which of course is proving to be more difficult.

3.5/5 ( B+)

>17 jessibud2: Ah yes thats part of it ( a back corner). It was taken a few weeks ago when I cut the grass for the first time in the season. It was such a sunny day and I quite enjoyed the shadows on the lawn.

Happy new thread!

>17 jessibud2: is right. Your home and yard are very pretty! And congratulations on having read so many books already this year!

>20 atozgrl: Thanks! With two acres of land there is always something to do. I quite enjoy it.

I am on my way to reaching the goal. I had hoped to get there last month but I had less time to read. Perhaps I will get there this month...

Happy new thread, Anita. I love the photo! Your grass is so green already!

Happy New Thread, Anita! What a beautiful home you have, and a lovely yard . Hmm, I’ll help myself to some of the goodies at >14 figsfromthistle:

I’m glad you enjoyed The White Lady.

>14 figsfromthistle: Oh yum, what an interesting selection. All gone now. I was hungry.

Happy New Thread, Anita!
>1 figsfromthistle: What a lovely picture of a wonderful home.
>10 figsfromthistle: How true...

Happy new thread, Anita.

>1 figsfromthistle: Lovely place. You have a bit of forest in your garden!

I like how you highlight one or two books from each month of reading, very nice.

>22 BLBera: Thanks! The grass is really long now after a solid week of rain.

>23 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah!

>24 quondame: Glad you enjoyed it.

>25 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas

>26 EllaTim: There are quite a lot of trees. Also, there are two forests on the property as well. The whole property is lined with two rows of trees. Hope you have a great Friday, Ella!

Happy Friday, Anita. Happy New Thread! Is that your house in the topper? What a beautiful setting. I am jealous. I love trees.

>29 msf59: Hi Mark! Yes, it is part of it. When my parents bought the empty land 40 years ago there were only two trees. We must have planted thousands of trees over the years and every year keep on adding/replacing. Lots of love, labor and patience over the years but quite worth it. Now it has lots of flower beds, gardens and two forests. I built "next door" so the property has two houses on it as well. It's great because everyone is able to keep the benefits of the yard's beauty and do a bit of gardening.

It's also a bird's paradise :)

Happy new thread, Anita!

>1 figsfromthistle: What a lovely house and garden, I love all the trees around.

>31 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita :)

Happy Friday!

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Happy new one! We've got three acres, so yes, there's always something to do... 😀

Happy new thread, Anita! Love the topper photo and your cover displays :)

>34 drneutron: Oh Cool! I didn't realize you have a chunk of land. For me it is great way to relax and creates a good balance against work stress.

>35 curioussquared: Nice to see you :) Glad you like the cover displays. I was debating on if I should include them on each thread or not.....

>30 figsfromthistle: Oh, how wonderful! I love to hear that you've been planting all the trees. We sure do need more of that! It sounds like a beautiful property!

>37 atozgrl: Today I planted 5 trees ( blue spruce). To fill in gaps where others have died.

My parents had a wonderful vision and it is nice to be able to continue it. I agree that people, if they can should plant more trees. I know that the city plants trees on the side of roads but its mostly maple trees. How neat it would be if the city would plant fruit trees. It would certainly be great for pollination!

>1 figsfromthistle: Beautiful garden! Happy new thread!

>37 atozgrl: I am very concerned about ecology, Anita, and one of the charities and investments I regularly contribute to is toward the planting of trees and re-forestry.

Bravo to you.

>39 Storeetllr: Thank you!

>40 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. Good on you for contributing to charities that focus on reforestation and wildlife preservation! Every bit goes a long way :)

Happy Weekend, everyone!

Yesterday, I had a day off. The sun was out for the first time in a week it did not rain. I was able to cut the grass and trim. I planted 5 blue spruce trees ( 3 feet in height) and weeded the garlic patch. Not a bad job done considering I started outdoor work at noon.

The morning was spent doing laundry, putting on fresh linen on the bed, vacuuming and cleaning the boot room.

Reading wise I finished A narrow door which was just ok for me.

Off to work I go!

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Happy New Thread, Anita. The green in the picture is so green.

Happy new thread! I'll echo the others in saying that your topper photo is lovely!

Hi Anita, and happy new thread!

From your last thread – I use the LT app on my cell phone if I’m out somewhere and want to see if I have a book on my shelves before trying to buy a copy. It’s saved duplicates soooo many times for me. However, I always use my laptop to add books and visit threads.

>1 figsfromthistle: The pic of your house is wonderful.

>30 figsfromthistle: So nice that the 40 acres has thousands of trees now and two houses. And yes to the birds!

>42 figsfromthistle: I loved Harris's MY FRENCH KITCHEN and, of course, CHOCOLAT, but apart from those I was never very impressed. Not bad, not great, just ~meh~ Better that than awful for sure but still disappointing.

Hi Anita my dear, Happy New Thread my dear friend. What a lovely thread topper photo of you house and garden, it looks so lovely. Love and hugs dear friend.

>43 Kristelh: Thanks!

>44 foggidawn: Thank you! Spring grass always looks healthy. I don't water it in the summer and do not put pesticides on wither. Part of the grass is overrun with moss which makes it nice and green as well :)

>45 karenmarie: Hi Karen! It's great to see you :) Using the app for when I shop for books is a great idea. I always forget that I have the app on my phone.

>46 richardderus: Hi Richard! This is the first by the author that I have read.....I won't be running for another book by Harris for a while.

>47 johnsimpson: Hi John! Thanks. I hope your weekend is going well so far!

Happy new thread!

>50 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda!

Happy Sunday!

It is continuing to be sunny and warm here. OF course I have to work but thats ok. I finished planting the blue spruce trees. I trimmed the branches up on older spruce trees and today after work I will deal with the cleanup. I will have to cut the branches into 4foot for lengths and pile them in a corner somewhere.

I finished reading School Of Mirrors which was another ok read but underwhelming. I think I am in a reading funk. Nothing seems to grab my attention.

Yesterday, it was the first time of the season for a BBQ and sitting outside. My parents invited me over for BBQ where we had homemade hamburger. Today my parents are coming over for Sunday dinner. I am cooking liver and onions with mashed potatoes.

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Third was a lucky guess.

69. Joanne Harris: A Narrow Door

Rebecca Buckfast is the first female headteacher at St Oswald private school. Incidentally, it is also the same school where her brother was murdered. Years later, she exacts revenge on those responsible and seeks out answers that her mind has blocked.

#3 in a series. I did not know this. Perhaps if I read the other two I would have appreciated this one more. Some great potential that was really bogged down by slow narrative pacing. I get that the protagonist was trying to show how difficult it is for females to break through a male dominated system but it seemed that every tenth line there was a "reminder".

There were many other things that annoyed me but I think that many will enjoy the read.

3/5 ( C-) So close but.......

70. Eva Stachniak: The School Of Mirrors

Veronique lives with her mother and three brothers mending and selling used clothing to get by. When a man comes with an offer so tempting, Veronique's mother allows her daughter to be taken to deer park where she is afforded all the luxuries of an aristocrat. What Veronique does not know is that she is expected to be a play thing for King Louis. The second half of the book focuses on Veronique's daughter, Marie-Louise .

3/5 ( B-)

Happy Monday!

Day off today. Most will be spent in the garden. Hand tilling and ideally Planting/sowing seeds after.

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That was close!

Happy Monday, Anita! Enjoy your day off and your time in the garden. Do you have any bird feeders set up?

>56 msf59: Thanks! I do have two bird feeders set up and a suet cage as well. Yesterday I put out an orange to see if the orioles are here yet. If I see any, then I will put out the oriole feeder and hummingbird feeder. I also have several bird houses hung around the property which have mostly been occupied each season.

Happy Monday, Anita. Enjoy your day off. It's always so good to work in the dirt.

>58 Kristelh: I just got in. It was a wonderful day and yes, it was great to get my hands in the dirt :)

Hope you had a great Monday!

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Happy hump day!

Yesterday at work I ended rolling my ankle in the parking lot. I put ice on it and it did not seem all that bad but today it is really swollen, hurts a lot and is difficult to walk. I will have to bandage it up and see if that will help keep the swelling down. It is going to be interesting as I have to be on my feet all day.

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Ouch! I hope you can get a break from being on your feet! Do you have a chair that has wheels that you can use as a backup if needed?

Oh no! I hope your ankle feels better soon, Anita.

Hope that ankle is feeling better.

>62 jessibud2: Unfortunately today I was working in the hospital so no sitting down except for on breaks.

>63 curioussquared: >64 Kristelh: Thank you. It is still quite swollen but I managed to get through the day and still go to a library book sale ;)

Sorry to hear about your ankle! I'm not sure how you managed to work standing up all day, but the library sale... welll... :-) I hope you found some good books to purchase.

>66 vancouverdeb: I bandaged it up quite well. It was sore as my step tracker said that I walked 14000 steps. The library sale was a must. I always try to go on the first day. Since it is a smaller community it's also a great social gathering ;) I did manage to find a few good books.

Sorry your ankle is still bothering you, but hooray for making it to the library sale!! :)

>68 curioussquared: The ankle has gotten worse and I also twisted my knee at the same time. I managed to get the weekend off because I can't get my foot in a shoe anymore ;)

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>69 figsfromthistle: Oh no, Anita! I'm glad you have the weekend off. I hope you can figure out if it is just a sprain, or could it be more? My brother fell while walking several years ago. He was walking to a restaurant and slipped on some grass in the rain. His leg bothered him but not too bad. They took a taxi back to the hotel ( He's a pilot for Air Canada and was in Florida at the time. ) On his way home, flying a Boeing 737, he said he noticed that using the rudders was a bit painful. After arriving home in Toronto, he still left it for a couple of days. Finally went to Urgent Care where he discovered he fractured his fibula. He ended up in boot cast for 6 weeks , time off work of course and a bit of rehab time before he went back to work. But you work in a hospital, so you probably have checked that .

>69 figsfromthistle: Ouch! That sounds very painful. I hope you can rest both the knee and ankle over the weekend, Anita.

>71 vancouverdeb: Oh my, Deborah! It is funny because we usually power through pain and always think that it is less than what it is. I have to admit that I did not check it out. I thought that I would see if the RICE method will help. If it is not better by Monday, then I will have no choice but to check it out.

>72 alcottacre: I hope so too. I had to call in sick for the weekend. My boss is nice and all but I found it mildly annoying that the response was " it's ok.....you don't call in sick too often" Sort of made me pause and almost guilty...often no....try not once in the last 5 years! I wonder what she says to those who call in every week ;)

Happy Friday!

Well my foot and knee are still swollen and hurts a lot. I feel bad because I called in sick explaining my situation of why I can't work the next three days. I also feel bad because I cannot do any yard work either. It is quite difficult to stay on the sidelines and I fear that I have still been pushing it. I can be one stubborn gal!

Dinner today will be pan seared garlic pork chops with lettuce and rice.

The library sale brought me a few interesting books

1.Peter Bradley: The Last Train
2.Stephen. R. Bown: White Eskimo: Knud Ramussen's Fearless Journey into the heart of the arctic
3.Stanley Tucci: Taste: MY Life through food ( thanks to Paul's great review when I saw this one I knew I had to snatch it up!)
4. Beth Powning: The Sister's Tale
5.Rachel McMillan:The Mozart Code
6. Vlademir Nabokov: Laughter in the dark
7. Alexander Pushkin:Selected Works in two volumes: Prose ( Pushkin always disappears when friends come over but is never returned)
8. Harry B. Nehls: Familiar birds of the Northwest
9.Anton Chekhov: Chekhov on theatre
10.Emme Lund: The boy with a bird in his chest

I started reading # 10 and will finish it today

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I hope the ankle feels better soon, Anita. Nice book haul.

>75 BLBera: THanks! :)

Ouch! I hope your ankle responds well to some rest and TLC.

>77 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie :)

If you haven't called in sick in 5 years, you definitely deserve and need this time off!! Don't feel guilty -- focus on getting better. I hope the ankle and knee improve soon!

Adding my well wishes for continued improvement for your knee and ankle!

I'm so sorry to read about your ankle! It may be time to bite the bullet and see the doctor. If you do it now, you'll be ahead of the game for Monday, instead of waiting until then.

Sorry to hear about your knee and ankle! Having just been through something similar, I know the forced inactivity can be a real bummer. Hang in there!

>79 curioussquared: Thank you! I feel less guilty as the day progresses and realize that it would have been silly to go to work and risk a longer recovery time.

>80 MickyFine: Thank you :)

>81 streamsong: Thanks! My doctor is not in until Monday so I will wait till then :)

>82 foggidawn: Yes, it is hard to do very little....I can't recall-did you ever find out if the x ray showed damage to your knee? Did you tear a tendon? I hope the popped knee feel better for you now!

>83 figsfromthistle: The x-ray showed no damage, and the knee is much better now. I suspect, from what the doctor said, that it was a tendon.

Tendon pain really stinks, I'm so sorry that happened to you.
Better weekend *smooch*

>84 foggidawn: Oh glad to hear that the knew is much better!

>85 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! Accidents happen when you least expect it but no big deal. Now I can relax under the tree and read ;)

71. Emme Lund: The Boy With a bird in his chest

Owen was born in the middle of a flood. It is no wonder that he is drawn to water. However, shortly after his birth, his mother was told to prepare for her son's death. She takes him home and discovers that Owen has a bird in his chest. Instinct tells her that this must be kept hidden, or Owen would spend the rest of his life being prodded in labs. How can Owen find companionship and acceptance if he is forced to keep silent?

A coming of age story ( mostly about Owen's sexuality). There are some graphic scenes of bullying /violence that may be a trigger for some.

A solid ( B+)

LGBTQ+ Book

Happy Friday, Anita. Hooray for the activity at your feeders. I am assuming you've seen orioles and hummers? Are you able to identify the hummers?

>88 msf59: As far as I can tell I have Baltimore and Orchard orioles. Hummingbird is the Ruby throated which is the most common one around here.

Happy Saturday!

I have bene reading up a storm and almost completed two books. Dinner today will be chicken curry with salad

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Hope your time off will help the healing of your foot and knee

>91 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! the swelling has been going down slowly.

Hope you are enjoying the gorgeous warm weather this weekend!

Hi Anita. Yes, the weather this whole week has been fantastic. I did a lot of planting the last couple of days. Put 2 tomato plants into the ground today and am saving the third tomato plant for something I found in my garage that I had forgotten I even had: an up-side down tomato planter. I will post a pic of it once I read the instructions and figure out exactly what I need to do.

Good to hear that your issues are resolving. Do you think you will be able to get back to work on Monday?

I'm very glad to hear there was no bone damage from the tendon. Somewhere along the line (blame the darn horses!) I had an evulsion fracture meaning that the tendon twisted hard enough that a small piece of the bone it was attached to became detached. Your pain level and swelling reminded me of that. Double hooray that the pain and swelling is going down.

>93 jessibud2: An upside down tomato planter? I don't think I have seen one of those. Cool.

I always have Monday's off. I recon I will be able to go back to work on Tuesday. It will be a challenge as it is a really long day ( 6 AM to 8 PM)

>94 streamsong: I am also glad that with rest things appear to be healing....

Happy Sunday!

Happy Mother's day to those who celebrate in May!

Today is another day off my feet. I will try to do some laundry and clean a bit of my home and see how that feels. Supper will be BBQ steak with corn and potato wedges.

I finished reading The Mars Room.

The garden is looking nice. Most of it was planted before my accident so I can breathe a little easier.

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The upside down tomato planter in how-to form: https://www.thespruce.com/make-an-upside-down-tomato-bucket-848255

I miss being able to grow tomatoes, especially my dotes the Zapotec ones that love heat and don't need much water.

Happy Sunday and Newish thread day, Anita!
Your yard looks lovely!
I think I read The Mars Room. I think I liked it.
Please stay off your ankle and read read read.
>96 figsfromthistle: Wordle, Ugh, I got 5/6 Jeez Louise!

>97 richardderus: - Oh, that one is much prettier than the one I have. Still, if it works, I will be happy!

>97 richardderus: Oh neat! Simple but effective :) Perhaps next year, I will make one and hang it from a tree that receives a lot of sun.

Some gardeners are quite particular about the type of tomato they plant. I just stick to varieties that have the lowest maturation date. Otherwise I will still have green tomatoes in September ;)

Do you have a shared outside zone where you could plant a few in a pot?

>98 Carmenere: Thank you! Wordle has been tough for me lately but at least my streak is alive.

>99 jessibud2: Good luck with the upside down tomato planter. I look forward to seeing a picture when the plant has fully matured :)

72. Rachel Kushner: The Mars Room

Romy Hall is facing a lifetime in prison. She must learn to survive and keep her mind occupied from the complete boredom and monotony of every day. The reader learns about the prison guards, violence, smuggling and friendships Romy cultivates. The reader also learns the "why" behind Romy's crime.

3/5 (B+)

>100 figsfromthistle: Fried green tomatoes are so good!

>102 quondame: I agree, they are quite delicious!

Finally made it back to your thread, and I see that I missed your incident. I'm glad to hear that your ankle and knee are much better! One time I turned my ankle stepping in a low spot in the grass while walking from the parking lot to my workplace. My husband made me go to urgent care and get it x-rayed when I got home, even though I didn't think I needed it. Many years ago before we met, he had a similar experience and apparently had a hairline fracture, so he's pretty insistent about getting these things checked out. As swollen as your foot got, I was afraid something like that had happened to you, but I'm glad to hear it's recovering well! And you're getting lots of reading in too!

>100 figsfromthistle: I wanted to have a multi level garden thing outside my window, which in the old days I could get in and out of. I was unceremoniously shot down and told in no uncertain terms that this was utterly unacceptable. Violates kosher somehow. So the dream of eating fresh tomatoes died. Also was forcefully informed that there would be no windowsill gardening either. *heavy heavy sigh*

>104 atozgrl: Nice to see you! I really should have it looked at but we will see. There is still a lot of swelling and bruising/pain. I will see how it holds up for my first day back to work ( a long one) tomorrow.

>105 richardderus: Boo! People can be spoilers of fun! I know that a place where my friend lives does not allow anything on balconies/windowsills either. She found a community garden plot and happily plants there. Luckily for her, it is close by and accessible.

Almost forgot to play today!

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Happy Tuesday!

It's back to work for me. Long day so it will be stressful on my ankle. I feel like I have gained a million pounds during my forced inactivity although it is probably all in my head ;) I am looking forward to getting back in the garden and my walking rounds.

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I hope your ankle holds up during your long day, Anita!

Hope your ankle cooperates with you and continues to heal, Anita!

>108 figsfromthistle: Ankle-pain begone *whammies*

Adding my good wishes for your ankle today, Anita!

Was going to say hi, but just got a call from younger son, the whole family had vomiting and diarrhea, so out on mission for Pedialtye and Gatorade.

>109 katiekrug: >110 bell7: Hi Katie and Mary! The day was long but not too bad. My ankle is swollen and a little painful but not as bad as I thought it was going to be :)

>111 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! I think it helped :)

>112 curioussquared: Thanks!

>113 vancouverdeb: Oh no! I hope the family recovers quickly!

Mission Accomplished, Anita. Got the Pedialyte and Gatorade over to William's place. I happened have to some Lego for each of the kids, so I took thatover too. Never hurts to have new toys on hand as the little ones recover.Little Miles was waving to me from the window , so I think he is not feeling to bad.
Thanks for the Epsom salt advice, I'll keep it in mind. I hope you are recovering too.

>114 figsfromthistle: I'm glad your ankle was not as painful today as you expected. May it be completely recovered soon!

>115 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! That's a good idea to bring a toy. Would definitely keep the kids distracted for a bit. Glad to hear that it is not as severe as you initially thought.

I hope your back is feeling a bit better today!

>116 atozgrl: Thanks :)

Happy Wednesday!

Another day. Today after work I am going to see if I can cut the grass. My ankle feels ok enough but who knows how it is going to be later. I shall have to wait and see.

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>118 figsfromthistle: Happy Thursday, Anita!
I hope your ankle stayed okay yestarday. Did you get to cutting the grass?

>119 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! Yes, I managed to cut and trim the grass. My ankle is still sore and swollen but holding up quite well. To think it has already been 10 days since I sprained it! Time goes by so fast.

It's Thursday......

Dinner today will be schnitzel with rice and a bean salad.

For a change, I waited until properly caffeinated and voila! My wordle result is much better!

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>120 figsfromthistle: Glad to hear that you are having at least some improvement in the ankle!

>122 alcottacre: I am also glad to be slowly getting back to my routine. It is difficult to be forced to sit on the sidelines.

It's Friday!

A long weekend here in Canada. I am of course working but I am off on Monday. After work today, I will do my grocery shopping because I have a feeling that Saturday will be busy.

My garden is now complete. Everything is planted ( even the sensitive plants). Because of my accident, I was unable to do any mulching. Perhaps next week I will order a few loads and start with that.

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Have a wonderful weekend, Anita!

Happy weekend ahead's reads, Anita!

Lovely to be surrounded by nature Anita.

Glad the knee and ankle are on the mend.

>125 SirThomas: Thanks Thomas!

>126 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. I am going to have to update my books read section. I have been a little lazy in recording my reading here lately but have finished a few books.

>127 Caroline_McElwee: It is quite therapeutic. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

73. Patti Callahan: The Secret Book Of Flora Lea

WW2, 13 year old Hazel and her six year old sister are sent to live away from their mother in hopes of finding safety and stability. A wonderful lady takes the sisters in. They bond instantly, including with Harry ( the foster mom's biological son). However tragedy strikes when Flora goes missing and is presumed dead.

Fast forward to 1960, and Hazel is about to leave her job at a rare antique book store when a valuable book shows up. In it, is a story that only a handful of people know. One about imaginary spaces created to escape the reality of war. Could it be that Flora is still alive?

A book that many will enjoy. A great in-between read to pass the time. It was ok for me.

3/5 ( B-)

Well, at least you have Monday off! I'm quite familiar with the working weekends, mainly because Dave so often does, plus my dad and my now my brothers' are both airline pilots, so being away over a weekend, working on stat holidays, etc is very familiar to me. My sister married a cop, as did her daughter, so it seems to me to be sort of the norm, shift work, weekend work, stat holiday work. But it's never fun. Worst I had to do was work Tuesday to Saturday at the Royal Bank, and it was not that bad, as Monday was a quiet day to get appointments and shopping done. We had plans to get together for a birthday dinner with my son William and his family for his birthday, but they are still recovering from norovirus. I texted with him today , and he told me there was a outbreak at my granddaughter's preschool.

Glad to read that your knee and ankle is on the mend and so is my back - knock on wood.

>130 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! I don't mind working weekends and stat holidays. None of the big bosses are around so it is a little more relaxed. Unfortunately, it's also a time where people call in. A co worker of mine who is notoriously unreliable and has more excuses than I could come up with in a lifetime called in for the whole weekend. So now I get to do that job as well. Crossing my fingers that no one else calls in.

I heard that some airline pilots are going on strike? Does that affect your brothers?

I am glad that the family is on the mend-recovering from the norovirus and that your back pain is easing off.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Happy Victoria day weekend!

Traditional weekend where people head out to cottages for the fist time in the season, go camping, plant gardens and set off some fireworks.
I will be working but will be going to a poutine festival after work to grab my dinner.

We had rain overnight ( much needed) but it should clear up for the rest of the weekend.

I really was not thinking.....
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It is really raining hard here right now, Aniita but I also heard that it will clear up for the rest of the weekend. And of course, I watered yesterday! But we had no rain all week so I guess it doesn't much matter.

Hope work goes smoothly for you.

>131 figsfromthistle: The WestJet strike was averted as they came to an agreement with the pilots on Thursday night.

Today's our rainy day here too. Sunday should be perfectly lovely as compensation.

Happy Victoria Day! She'd be 204 this year.

>133 jessibud2: Work was quite hectic...I sat down for 15minutes.

A little extra watering can't hurt. Especially since we won't be getting any rain all next week so your soil will be happy :)

>134 MickyFine: Oh great! I am glad that the strike was averted. Many happy travellers out there for sure! I hope the agreement was a fair one.

>135 richardderus: rainy days a great to have once in a while, Richard. A great excuse to curl up on the couch and daydream ;)

I'm also glad the strike was averted, Anita. Dave and my brothers all work for Air Canada, so no issues for them. But hard on the travelling public. Have an enjoyable evening.

>137 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! I hope you are having a good long weekend so far!

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74. Rachel McMillan: The Mozart Code

Sophia Huntington is a clever opportunist who searches for lost and rare items for exclusive clients. The profit she makes from finding these treasures all go to underfunded charity causes. However, when she receives a commission from several different parties to find something that is rumoured to not exist at all, she must tread carefully. A dangerous game is afoot.

Espionage, danger and a little bit of classical music are found in the streets of Vienna and Prague in McMillan's latest book.

It is obvious that the author has a good knowledge of classical music and knows the two cities ( Vienna and Prague) quite well.

The story was a bit slow to develop and picked up around the halfway mark. At some points there were a lot of different players to keep track of. Certain interactions/dialogue stilted the flow.

3/5 ( B-)

Happy Monday!

Day off today and it seems that I need it. All my joints are swollen and hurt. I have planned on mulching today as the first load arrived ( ten yards).

Dinner today will be steak on the BBQ with BBQ corn and some potato wedges. I may also make a salad. Yesterday's dinner was poutine which I grabbed on the way home from work.

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>139 figsfromthistle: The idea of this book is a really appealing one to me, but permaybehaps not just now...if you'd given it five stars I would be truckin' right over to check it out, but 3? Not unless I get in exactly that mood. Mulch hearty today!

Hi, Anita. We are back and I am trying to catch a bit on LT, while also catching up on some reading. A fine balance, indeed. I hope all is well on your end.

>141 richardderus: Hi Richard! Definitely not a 5 star read but a good B-. Mulching went well and I am pleased with the progress that I made :) Best of all, it smells nice! Hope you have a great week ahead.

>142 msf59: Welcome back! I trust you had a great trip.

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Happy Thursday.......

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Clearly, I need to start making my coffee stronger......

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Get brewing that coffee stronger, Anita! :-) just kidding. I'm a night owl and I do my wordle just after midnight. I only drink tea as I don't like coffee, but Dave is a big espresso fan and I purchased him an espresso machine a couple of months ago. He really likes it. I hope you are having a good weekend.

Hi Deborah!

The weekend is going ok. I am working but still able to enjoy the nice weather when I get home. It has been a tough work weekend as we are short staffed but not as bad as last weekend.

An espresso machine sounds like a great idea. I have been looking into various kinds the past year or so. I finally decided on one to buy ( at a later date). Unfortunately, the salesperson made a cup of coffee with that particular machine and it seemed extremely loud. Sounded like gravel being crushed. So I was slightly scared off from buying. Is Dave's machine loud?

Hope your weekend is a good one!

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I got Dave this espresso machine because it had good ratings and it was not too expensive. It's little noisy, but certainly not like gravel being crushed. I'll pay more attention next time Dave uses it , so I can better tell you about how loud is or is not. No complaints from Dave, though he had to purchase a metal tamper because the supplied plastic one was not up to snuff, according to hi. He is fussy! Here is a link, but this costs more than I actually paid. I purchased mine at London Drugs, a common drug store here in BC. I think amazon also has at about $350.00 or so. https://www.breville.com/ca/en/products/espresso/bes450.html There a Breville espresso machine that is less expensive that a friend of mine recommended .

Here is a less expensive one - you should be able to find it on amazon or elsewhere for 199.00. https://www.breville.com/ca/en/products/espresso/esp8.html?sku=ESP8BSS1BCA1

I think that possible the Bambino is more fool proof, easier to use?

Dave is working too, over the weekend. He uses the espresso machine twice a day , when he is home, sometimes 3 x because he likes a decaf espresso in the evenings sometime. He really prefers a lot over his previous various coffee machines, machine, french press , mocha pot etc, etc. I drink just tea :-)

Sorry to hear you are short-staffed at work, Anita. That's always rough. How is your ankle?

>151 vancouverdeb: The model that I looked at was the phillips 5400 automatic espresso machine. I thought it was a good fit because of the fact that it seemed easier to use and there were more drink options. Perhaps I am being too picky. I am glad that Dave likes his machine. I always wonder if the novelty wears off shortly after purchase.

I also have a "smart" tea kettle that I really enjoy. It steeps the tea in at the exact temperature for the exact amount of time the specific tea needs.

>152 katiekrug: Hi Katie! Weekends + summer weather always = staffing problems. My ankle is actually really beginning to swell again and today was painful. It is one of those things where you think you are ok and all healed up and then you suffer a setback. I have tomorrow off but will not have a lot of down time. Ah well, c'est la vie :) Hope you have a great start to your week!

75. The Last Beekeeper: Julie Carrick Dalton

Sasha Severn aged out of the foster care system four years ago. On her 22nd birthday, she sets out to visit her family home in hopes of uncovering documents and research done by her father. She hopes to find answers but soon finds a family life with the squatters that have taken over the family farm. These squatters do not know her history-that she is the last beekeepers daughter who's father is in jail for illegally keeping bees. When she sees a bee ( impossible since all of them died) memories begin to unravel and reveal something long forgotten.

Alternating timelines of Sasha as an 11 year old and 22 year old worked really well. I enjoyed the read. A sort of "eco thriller" that shows the scary consequences of what would happen if bees ceased to exist.

3.5/5 ( A-) Perfect read for the mood I was in.

>154 figsfromthistle: Congratulations on reaching 75, Anita!

>155 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

Happy Monday!

Day off for me but I will be building a chicken coop. My old one is in bad shape. My hands are causing me great trouble ( I can barely bend the fingers in the right and I have a tingling/numb feeling in them) I hope it goes away. Just in case, my dad agreed to help build the coop and use the table saw for safety reasons. He was concerned that it would be too dangerous with a hand that is being unreliable that I would cut my fingers off ;) With his help it shouldn't take more than half the day.

I am a little annoyed with wordle. I cleared my browsing history and all that stuff and now it reset my stats. I was at over 360 wordle games won in a row and now even though I did not lose-the stat is back to 1. Grr!

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>153 figsfromthistle: We had an espresso machine received as a wedding gift, and we used it incessantly, no novelty wearing off! But then we left the US, it went in storage, and it didn't fare well. Sigh.

Sorry to hear the ankle is going the wrong direction.

Oh no, re your hands! So good that your dad is able to help you but I hope you can find a doctor who can offer you some relief or treatment. Maybe a physiotherapist too?

>158 ursula: Hi Ursula! I hope all is well with you! The ankle will heal eventually. I just have to remember to take it easy. I think working short staffed 5 days in a row did not help.

>159 jessibud2: Yes, my right hand is having a flare up- probably due to the humid weather. I'm not sure what the doctor can do......he seems to be a little to dependant on prescribing pills which I really do not want to rely on. I just stuck my hand in ice water and now I can at least bend the fingers :)

Try a physiotherapist. I was at the rheumatologist last week and she too, had little to offer in the way of actual help. But a physio might be able to suggest exercises or other things that could help.

>154 figsfromthistle: woot!

Congrats on 75, Anita!! Good luck with the coop and I hope your hand and ankle improve soon.

Congrats on 75! Hope life gets a bit better. Have fun working on the coop with your dad.

Congrats on reaching 75, Anita. The Last Beekeeper sounds great. I'll look for that one.

Congratulations on reach the magic number, Anita!

>161 jessibud2: Thats good to know. I would not have thought about physiotherapy.

>162 richardderus: Thanks Richard! It felt like it took me a long time to get there but alas I made it :)

>163 curioussquared: Thanks!

>164 witchyrichy: The project went well. Normally my dad always try to take over but today he listened and cut the boards and such the way I wanted to. It was a nice day and then I had my parents over for dinner. I already stained the wood once and I will apply another coat on it on Wednesday.

>165 BLBera: It was a good read. It's interesting as in January I read another book with the same title ( different author) and it was my favourite of the month.

>166 MickyFine: Thanks! Great to see you here :)

>154 figsfromthistle: Yay for 75! Congratulations!

congrats!

>169 quondame: Thanks Susan and >170 drneutron: Jim!

Congratulations on 75 books and so early in the year! I looked up your Phillips 5400 espresso maker and it look impressive! A great choice, I think. I don't think you are too fussy at all. It will be great to be able to make all kinds of coffee. I checked out the smart kettle, but Dave usually makes my tea early in the am when he gets up and I warm up my tea in the microwave when I get up later. Dave has only had the espresso machine for 2 - 3 months, but he still is very enthused about the machine. He swears the coffee tastes so much better - sweet even! ( He does not add anything to his coffee except for milk). I have to sample it a few times at his urging, but so far I don't care for any form of coffee, not even a latte, which I understand what coffee beginners should try .

As for noise, Dave watched some video on youtube that encouraged him to slurp his espresso for a better taste experience and that is much nosier than his espresso machine.

Glad you got the chicken coop finished today, and sorry to hear you still have pain in your hands and ankle.

>172 vancouverdeb: Thanks! It would have been earlier but my reading really slowed down when the nice weather hit.

Wait slurping espresso !? I have not heard of that one before!

My hands feel better this morning. It's my long work day so I am sure as the day wears on it will get worse. I brought pain meds just in case.

I hope you have a wonderful start to the week!

Congratulations on 75 books, Anita!
All the best for your health.

Congrats on hitting 75, Anita. I still have quite a few to go. Sorry about the pain. How did the chicken coop come out? You will have to share a photo.

Congrats on 75, Anita!!

>174 SirThomas: Thanks Thomas!

>175 msf59: The coop came out great. It is just a small simple coop for 6 chickens. I made it with leftover building materials. Nothing fancy. I will have to take a picture.

>176 scaifea: thanks :)

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Hi Anita my dear, congrats on reaching 75 books read for the year so far, dear friend.

>179 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! I hope you are having a good week so far.

Congrats on 75!

Stopping by to say, Anita! I see you are not posting your Wordles, so I am guessing that you are either very busy with work, or perhaps in pain.

And yes, slurping espresso, my husband. He watched this video ( and others ) that recommend slurping your coffee/ espresso for the best taste experience. He does not use a spoon though. I regret he ever found that video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW-k2EvKThA

>181 Kristelh: Thanks!

>182 vancouverdeb: I have been doing my wordles but was frustrated when I lost my stats because I was clearing my history and cache. My hands are quite bad but I am still managing. They usually get better as the day progresses.

I will have to look at the video soon. Does he slurp his coffee when he goes out to a coffee shop? I can imagine a shop full of people who have watched the above video.... that would be one noisy shop ;)

Happy Friday!

I have the day off buy as usual a lot to do. IT's still really warm here ( 31 Celsius) and can hardly keep up with watering the gardens. After work, I repaired some old benches of mine. Cut the wooden slats and drilled holes and secured it to the cost iron frame. Just needs sanding and staining and it will be all done.

I have to go clothing shopping and get my hair done today. Both things I really dislike doing. I finally booked my flight and leave in a week from now. A little earlier than I wanted to go but the price worked out better this way. Just leaves me scrambling as I have very few days off until I start my vacation.

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Given the temperature situation here I really should have gotten this sooner!

Where are you going, Anita? Did I miss that mention? Have a great time, wherever it is!
Sorry about your hands. The heat doesn't help. It's supposed to break by tomorrow, I think.

>185 jessibud2: No you didn't miss it. I am travelling to Europe. I usually go every year but because of Covid and such it has been 4 years. I don't feel overly excited but I think that I am really overdue for a break.

Yes, the weekend should be back to normal temps. Hope you have a fantastic Friday!

Congrats on 75!

Adding congratulations on hitting 75 Anita.

Have you decided what books you are taking on holiday?

>187 ArlieS: Thanks!

>188 Caroline_McElwee: thank you! I have not decided which books to take yet. It will be books that I don't mind leaving there when finished. I usually buy a couple at the airport as well. The area I am staying n has a wonderful used/antique bookstore which is quite convenient for me :)

Fortunately Dave never goes to a coffee shop. But at work I am sure he does not slurp his coffee . They do have a coffee machine at his workplace , one that makes espressos , lattes, coffee , etc but it is not up to his standards . Not the right brand of coffee used , and apparently the coffee machine is not cleaned out often enough . But I am sure Dave would not slurp his coffee in a coffee shop , or anywhere outside of home . What I have to put up with ! A trip to Europe, how exciting!

>190 vancouverdeb: Good to know he behaves himself outside of the home :)

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I haven't delurked much on your thread so thought it was past due.

>36 figsfromthistle: I like the cover displays, too.
I think I might adopt your idea if I get to a "next" thread.
The book titles don't visually scan as well in lists, though I post the cover image on Talk when I review the story and do a month summary.

Moving through the news here, I hope the ankle-knee injury doesn't impede the vacation you are taking soon. I missed where you maybe posted where in Europe is your the destination.

>192 SandyAMcPherson: I am glad you de lurked! It is good to see you :)

I am glad you like the set up with the covers. It is a visual that helps me remember what I've read.

I think that the ankle will be fine for vacation but I am more concerned about my hands. They seem to be getting worse every day this week. Perhaps my month long of rest will help. As for my vacation destination-it's Austria.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Happy Sunday!

Uneventful working weekend for which I am happy. Everyone so far has showed up so it is the first weekend in a while that we are running full tilt. It makes a huge difference!

Last three days my hands have been in bad shape. In the morning I can barely hold my coffee cup or open door handles. Also it's quite painful. I guess this will be something to address with the doctor when I get back from holiday.

I finished reading T.C Boyles Blue Skies.

Supper today will be oven roasted onion steak with potatoes and corn on the cob. The weather is a little cooler now so I am taking advantage and using the stove instead of the BBQ.

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Happy Sunday, Anita.

I am sorry you now have to deal with painful hands. You are such a wonderful gardener, so you need your hands.

Wishing you a nice vacation, with lots of time to relax and enjoy.

Happy Sunday, Anita!

I've had some close calls lately with Wordle.

Ugh so sorry to read about the weakness in your hands. I hope your Dr will be able to provide some relief but I'm the meantime enjoy your vacation as much as possible! Safe travels

I am so sorry to hear about your hands and sending lots of healing energy.

Do enjoy your vacation and find rest and relaxation, often the very best medicine.

>194 figsfromthistle: Total empathy on all things hand pain! I hope it's something that will fade with time.

Sunday *smooch*

>195 EllaTim: Hi Ella! I hope you had a great weekend!

I do love gardening and painful hands or not it won't keep me from doing what I love. It just may take me a little longer ;)

>196 Carmenere: I think I will try physiotherapy when I get back and see if it helps a bit. I leave next Monday so one more week to go and I am free as a bird!

>197 witchyrichy: Thank you. Sometimes we don't know how hard we push ourselves. I am looking forward to the break. It has been 4 years since I took vacation so it's way overdue.

>198 richardderus: Hi Richard! * smooch* right back atcha !

I hope you have a great vacation and that your hands don't get in the way. Also that your Dr.s can find a way to let you enjoy doing what you need to with your hands.

>200 quondame: Thanks! I was at the doctor today because my left side is so swollen that my fingers look like sausages. X ray, blood tests and some ridiculously expensive prescription. I am sure that the cause is something other than arthritis...but my doctor does not seem too concerned. The pain shoots all the way up to the elbow. I can't even hold a fork in the left hand....ah well at least the right is better.

Hope your week is off to a good start!

76. T.C. Boyle: Blue Skies

The effects of climate change are difficult to accept. In the case of the family in Boyles latest satire, acceptance and denial runs differently for each family member but each one is impacted in a cruel and disastrous way.

If you read a friend of the earth then this read may be for you.

Sorry to hear that your fingers are so swollen, and you are in pain , Anita . It’s frustrating when your doctor does not seem to know how help, or what is really going on . I hope you feel better soon.

Hi, Anita. I hope you had a good day off. Sorry, to about your finger pain. Bummer. I am a fan of Mr. Boyle, so I will add Blue Skies to the list.

>203 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! Ever since my diagnosis of arthritis I do feel that the doctor uses it as an explanation for any kind of swelling that occurs.... we shall see how the next few days go.

>204 msf59: I hope you enjoy Blue Skies. It was a good read for me and I enjoyed it. A solid B+.

>10 figsfromthistle: Way behind here, but kudos for the sentiment on this post. Blue Skies sounds good -- I like Doyle. Sorry to hear about the pain -- that sounds a little far spread. Whatever it is I hope they figure it out and you get some relief.

>206 Berly: Hi Kim! Thanks for the well wishes! Nice to see you here :)

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Hi Anita, I am sorry to hear about your issueswith your fingers and hands.
Some doctors act on the principle that if you have a hammer as a tool, every problem looks like a nail.
I hope you feel better soon and you can enjoy your vacation. Austria is a beautiful country with wonderful landscapes, nice people and good food.

>208 SirThomas: Hi Thomas! This morning the left hand seems to be much better. If it stays like that today, I would be happy. I am working 6 am to 8pm so time will tell.

I used to go to Austria every year but then covid hit so it's been four years. It will be a strange visit as I have lost a few relatives that were quite dear to me.

This time I am planning on taking a panoramic train from to Innsbruck. It's supposed to be a great train ride.

Happy reading ahead :)

Tuesday!

My hand seems to have improved a bit. Due to the flare up I was unable to do a lot on my day off yesterday as I could not even hold a knife in that hand and did not want to overuse the other. This puts me behind on my chores to do before vacation. I appreciate everyones well wishes these few days :)

Dinner today will be leftovers. I have some meatloaf ( for a sandwich at lunch) and part of an oven roasted steak.

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I really should have gotten this by the third try but the second letter had too many solid possibilities.

Hi, Anita…stopping by to say “hi” and to wish you continued improvement with your hands. Your leftovers sound wonderful, by the way.

Karen O

Wishing you peace regarding the hands and the pain. A break in (physical) routine while away may be just the thing your body needs right now!

Train travel is lovely! Enjoy!

>211 klobrien2: Hi Karen! The leftovers were good :)

>212 jessibud2: Thank you :) Today was a good day !

HAppy Mid Week!

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First letter had too many possibilities. Lucky I got it in 6.

>214 figsfromthistle: It took me 6 tries too, Anita. Your panoramic train to Innsbruck sounds fabulous! Enjoy Austria. I hope you enjoy Black Butterflies when you get to it. It's a fairly quick read at about 270 pages. I did enjoy The Cellist of Sarajevo, another story about the conflict in Bosnia/ Serbia/Croatia.

Wishing you well with your health for your holidays.

>215 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah! I will still be posting here during my vacation and hopefully reading as well.

I quite enjoyed the Cellist of Sarajevo when I read it as well.

HappyThursday!

Work is getting annoying again as people are constantly calling in. Since the weekend not one day has been fully staffed. Three new people went through orientation half way and quit. It's the summer months and no one seems to want to work. Thank goodness my vacation was approved a while back!

I still have some minor shopping to do and money exchange and so on. I feel that I prefer to shop more in Europe instead of taking so much stuff from here. I have a few small bottles of maple syrup I am taking with me for gifts to select relatives and friends.

I have a little bit of garden work to do. The weather has cooled down now and today we may get some much needed rain. My parents will be tending to the gardens while I am away.....

The strawberries are just beginning to ripen. I have eaten about 10. It looks like the majority of the crop will be ready when I am not here. My parents will probably make jam and freeze some. The patch is rather large. Last year I planted strawberries in the flower beds and forest edge as well. Surprisingly they are producing great.

After work, my parents are coming cover for dinner. Dad will be the BBQ griller and I am in charge of the fixings. It's my mom's b day so we will be having a little celebration-and of course cake!

Hope Everyones Thursday is stress free!

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What kind of word was this anyways!? Grr.

HAppy Saturday!

Lot's to do before I go and I have to work this weekend. Still need to clean my car and house. Laundry and changing the bed linen so that they are nice and clean when I get back. I have yet to pack but will probably do that on the day I fly away. I cut the grass yesterday so that is one thing less to do. It looks like we will get some much needed rain tomorrow.

Strawberries are nice and red and I am now picking a quart a day.

Sadly I have not been reading a lot. I am finding it difficult to get interested in anything when I begin reading.

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Wishing you a wonderful holiday in Austria. I can totally understand that your are not finding much interest in reading, when you are busy with your holiday packing etc. Do post some picture of your journey, Anita.

Anita, I hope your trip is as special as you are!

Your opening image is beautiful!!!!

>9 figsfromthistle: I read Every Note Played, and agree with you that it is special!!!

>220 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! Thanks! My reading always slows down when the outdoor summer weather is here. Perhaps I will get my reading mojo back on the plane.

I will still be posting on a regular basis and will be sure to include some photos.

>221 Whisper1: Hi Linda! It is so nice to see you here :) I shall try my best to shut off from work and enjoy my trip. Hope you are having a good weekend so far!

Have a wonderful and relaxing trip, Anita. How long are you going for?

Have a wonderful holiday, Anita!

>223 jessibud2: Thanks! I will be gone for 5 weeks :)

>224 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas.

Happy Monday!

Travel day for me. I have a few hours until I head to the airport. Just have to pack my suitcase and vacuums upstairs.

It is finally raining. Much needed as it has been as dry as the desert here.

Yesterday for supper I had a spring mix salad plate with egg, cheese and homemade croutons. The salad all came from my garden. Now when I am away, my parents will be able to enjoy it. The strawberries are becoming more plentiful. I had to cover them overnight because there is a pesky raccoon who destroys them. So far covering and uncovering in the morning works well.

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>226 figsfromthistle: Safe travels, Anita!

>227 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

Safe travels, looking forward to pictures!!!

Hope ally our travel goes smoothly and you have a great holiday!

Safe travels! And have fun!

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

>229 Kristelh: >230 katiekrug: >231 jessibud2: >232 bell7: Thanks everyone!

Have a grand time, Anita!

>234 MickyFine: Thanks! I am sitting at the airport now-cozy with a book. the great thing about airports is that you buy a book, bring it back and get 50% back :)

Have a wonderful trip! I'll look forward to seeing photos!

>236 streamsong: Thanks!

Well I made it. Still dealing with jet lag but the trip to get here was hectic to say the least. My flight in Toronto was delayed - we ended up sitting on the plane for 2.5 hours due to the fact that a nitrogen cartridge was low and needed to be replaced. This made me miss my connection flight and the airline rebooked without a QR code to board leaving me only 15 min to get passed passport control, security and finding a rebooking counter. Needless to say, I ended up on a later flight. I ended up running/walking back and forth all over the Frankfurt airport. In total my app said I walked 6km! I forgot how annoying that airport is. On the plus side the staff at the airport were really helpful and friendly. I made it to Vienna and ( my luggage did as well!) and I rebooked my taxi service just on time. Now I remember why I usually try to fly direct......

I went grocery shopping and got my internet going and now I am going to unpack and unwind.

Whew! I'm exhausted just reading this! At least you are where yuo want to be! Where does the train come in?

>238 jessibud2: The train will be something I am doing during my trip.

I loathe the Frankfurt airport with the power of a thousand suns :-P

Glad you made it. Enjoy the time off!

>240 katiekrug: Yes it is quite a pain. It has been a long time since I have been there and if I have connecting flights, I try for a different airport. I thought it would be "ok" but once again I was proven wrong. Ah well. On the plus side, I was able to finish the book I bought in Toronto and return it for a 50% discount in Frankfurt.

I'm glad you made it to your destination and sorry for the delay hassle. Enjoy your holiday and I'll look forward to what your pictures and tales of your journey when you get time to do so.

>242 vancouverdeb: Thanks! The first week will probably be to get my bearings and visit friends.

Sorry to read your flights were delayed, Anita. But in the end you got in Vienna, enjoy!

Thanks, Anita! I am now 2 hours south of Vienna at my parents place. I cut the grass today as it was quite long and pulled some weeds-nothing drastic. Just enough to make it presentable and that the neighbours are happy :)

Happy Thursday!

I am beginning to feel more normal now and have adapted and rested and am ready to enjoy my vacation.

It's interesting that after four years of not driving stick shift, it came back to me like riding a bike. The true test will be when I am stuck stopping as I go up a mountain ( yikes). the one thing that is strange is that I am driving a VW polo and going from an SUV it's quite the adjustment- so tiny ( or maybe I am just old and bigger!

I went grocery shopping and was floored by the prices. Of course I also have to consider the Euro exchange as well. Tonight I am eating in. Salmon with sautéed peppers, rice and a feta salad. Tomorrow, I will probably eat out.

I feel a little guilty as I have not informed any of my relatives that I am here. I think I will wait till after the weekend just so I can have a bit of me time. My aunt is having a huge 80th b day celebration later and am unsure if I will go. It would be a 5 hour drive and so far I am not feeling up to it. I shall see how I feel. It is a black tie event as well and I loathe these type of gatherings. On the plus side I would see the majority of my relatives on my mom's side, including some new additions.

Anyhow, that's it for my update! I won't be updating every day but will try to keep up every few days or so.

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I didn't realize that your parents had a place there. I thought you'd be with relatives the whole time. Nice for you to have that space. Enjoy!

>247 jessibud2: My parents built the place a long time ago. It was because of relatives that they felt the need for their own space. No one seemed to have space for three people and they always would be put out if you stayed longer than three days. It took them a while to get the house ( small but cozy) but quite worth it!

>248 figsfromthistle: - Sounds perfect, for all concerned! :-)

Glad you made it to your destination safely. I hope the settling in continues to go well.

>240 katiekrug:, >241 figsfromthistle:, Is it still so bad, it was bloody awful when we were there on a ten hour transit to Manchester, on our way back from Australia with a 16 month-old and 34 years later is still sounds the same.

Sweet Thursday, Anita. Have a fantastic time in Austria. How exciting. I visited Salzburg in the early 80s, while stationed in Germany. Beautiful city. Yah, for Mozart!

I finally made it back over to your thread after our trip out of town, only to find you are now gone on vacation. Five weeks! From your description of work, it sounds like you need it. I hope you get lots of rest and can recover.

Good luck with the stick shift! I never did learn, so I would be in trouble with that.

I can understand if you don't want to go to a black tie event, even with the chance to see your relatives. Is that kind of formal celebration common for special birthdays in Austria?

What I saw of Austria some 45 years ago was beautiful. It seems like it would be a lovely and restful place for a vacation. Best wishes for a great trip!

>249 jessibud2: Indeed , it is :)

>250 MickyFine: So far so good. I am having a lazy and late breakfast as it's 7:30 here. I don't anticipate getting up earlier than that.

>251 johnsimpson: Yes unfortunately it is. I can only imagine how awful that must have been with a baby in tow as well. On the plus side, the staff at the airport were very friendly.

>252 msf59: Hi Mark! Salzburg is a wonderful city and quite walkable. I have relatives living there and know the city quite well. One of the few things I have not seen is the brewery. Did you visit the brewery when you were there?

>253 atozgrl: Nice to see you. Welcome back! Formal wear for birthdays just depends on the venue....it's up to the birthday person to plan and decide such things. You can also wear "traditional" clothing which is almost equally uncomfortable. Its strange that here, the birthday person is on the hook for planning, and paying. A concept that I find totally strange.

Hi Anita!


Line in the Sand... can't catch up but will try to visit more regularly going forward

>246 figsfromthistle: A friend of mine was driving a stick shift in Los Angeles in the 1970s, stuck in uphill traffic. When it came time to go, she gently eased into the bumper behind her, with the driver’s permission, and was able to get going safely and without stress.

We had salmon for dinner last night, baked with EVOO and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

And re black-tie events: We were sad to RSVP no to a cousin’s wedding because … really? Twenty-somethings with a black-tie reception?

>255 karenmarie: Thanks for stopping in, Karen!

I am not sure what EVOO is but I am sure it tasted great!

Please join me at my new thread :)

>246 figsfromthistle: Glad you got there in the end Anita, and lovely to have your own space too. I hope you have a great time, and some rest and reading.