Books, vacation pics, and an addendum

Since the last time I posted about books, I've read five more, bringing my total to 13, which isn't horrible, but not very impressive either. At any rate, here they are along with my thoughts...

1. Cut and Run by Mary Burton - 

Twin sisters separated at birth are reunited thanks to a murder that leads to a whole more

 

I enjoyed this book and if you like crime stories that aren't about serial killers this might be for you. 

2. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neall Hurston –

"Hurston's use of dialect enraged other African American writers such as Wright, who accused her of pandering to white readers by giving them the black stereotypes they expected. Decades later, however, outrage has been replaced by admiration for her depictions of black life, and especially the lives of black women. In Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston breathes humanity into both her men and women, and allows them to speak in their own voices." --Alix Wilber*

 

I enjoyed this story as well, and especially loved Janie, the main character, and her search for good love. It was also interesting to read about the town of Eatonville, the first incorporated all-black city in the nation as well as the home of the author.

3. Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs - book 3 in the series

 

I very much enjoyed this book, having read the first two, and loved the horrible town, Sharon the ferryman, and Addison the talking dog (he's awesome).

4. Ancillary Justice by Anne Lecke - 

 

This is my favorite of the five I read. The best kind of scifi, ie, the kind that makes you think. Lecke reminds me a bit of Ursula LeGuin and that is high compliment indeed. Even better? It's a trilogy, so I still have two more books to enjoy.

5. Cold Waters by Debbie Herbert - 

This was another 'crime' story, focusing on two sisters, one who has been away in psychiatric facility since her best friend disappeared, and two, the sister left behind to deal with the aftermath. When sister number one comes home all the skeletons come out. I enjoyed it as much as Cut and Run. 

Now to vacation pics, of which there are few. It was very warm in Florida, in the 80s, and humid, but also very rainy so we never got to the gardens. However, there were some nice things growing on my mum's porch...

In order: Bromancia getting ready to bloom, Mandavilla likewise, Red Salvia (allegedly), unknown, a rose after the rain, and wandering chickens!

Last but not least, an addendum: To be clear, the neighbors across the street fall into the good neighbors category. Yes, the dogs barking are annoying, and yes the dad's swearing doesn't help but oh my, it could be so much worse don't you think? And who knows about the sawdust garden. Whatever. If he wants a sawdust garden who am I to question his taste? I have a pink metal flamingo in my geranium on the porch. So. 

Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday and a great week!

The People Across the Street – A Vignette and Sunday Pics

The people across the street are…loud. They have a few cats (I’ve counted three) and at least five dogs that bark a lot. They bark any time someone walks or rides by. They bark if we go sit on our front porch. They bark when their people come home, and when anyone comes to visit. Suffice it to say there’s a lot of barking going on.

Worse than the barking, however, is the dad, who thinks that yelling, “Shut the fuck up!” is going to make the dogs be quiet. It never does. Not once. But he keeps trying.

The mom I’ve seen a few times, and the kid--about to graduate and off to art school (yay for him!)—is the only one who has apologized to us about the dogs and their noise. I’m guessing it annoys him, too.

I have no idea what the parents do for work. The dad did once bring us mackerel, which was nice. My sister has brought them eggs.

They live in a trailer that has probably been there a while. They’ve begun to add on, as people do here in Maine, and there’s a fair amount of junk in the yard, thankfully most of it towards the back of the place. The front yard has a stone formation and what looks like sawdust surrounding it in some attempt at landscape design. I think. There is also a large camper that a couple lived in and maybe still do but I don’t hear them fighting and swearing at each other any more so I think they’re gone.

The dad keeps the place mowed, and there are lights in the ground along the walkway leading up to the front porch. The porch is fenced so the dogs can come out and see what’s going on. When we come back from our walks with our dogs the barking commences, soon to be followed by “Shut the fuck up!” Then the dogs are corralled and brought inside. As if they were the problem.

I wonder why the dad hasn’t figured out that yelling that way does nothing. Or that maybe building a fenced in area in the back would be a good idea. Good for the dogs, good for the neighbors across the street (us) and no doubt good for his own sanity.

I wonder what the mom thinks when she hears him.

And I wonder if maybe the kid was really apologizing for his dad, rather than for the dogs.

#

Went for a walk with Bruno who is now 7 months old and weighing in at around 55lbs. I'm kinda hoping he doesn't grow anymore. He's a good size, ie, I can pick him up if need be.  If he gets to be 70lb...well, that's gonna be tough.

We took the path behind the house to the sandpit and found these lovelies on our way

I don't know what they are but they're everywhere in the woods. 

This is the view from the ridge above

Walking further, there is the lupine field, which is just coming into full bloom. I love them.

 A rare white.

Amazingly, the lupines have even spread into the sandpit


Bruno loves going over to the sandpit. He can run free as fast as he can, race through the water, and sniff everything he likes.

I tried to catch him running but I only got his wake... 

And this is the way out 

There is a chain to prevent vehicles from coming in but people still come via 4-wheeler or with dirt bikes. Sometimes they shoot, which I wouldn't mind so much if they would just pick up all the crap they leave behind. But they don't.

Anyway. It was a good walk that would've been perfect if not for the black flies, which are quick and bite and leave big itchy red blotches. Little fuckers.

We hates them.

But we love our walks with Bruno!

ps 61K complete on my WIP The Train to Somewhere. Getting closer to the end...