Change of plans

I had soooo much trouble with my laptop this morning.  The original plan was school work.  Couldn't get past the first page of anything.  OK.  Plan B was use Tim's computer.  It was no better.  Plan C - blog.  That wouldn't work either.  I hit the button once and logged out - I don't know what happened next.....

So, last Thursday Tim and I left for the Cities.  Naphtali and James have traditionally gone to the Boundary Waters over Memorial Day weekend.  I have gone up to stay with Aidan. This year they decided he was old enough to go along, and invited Tim and I to join them, as well.  Aidan was a delightful camping companion.  He worked hard, didn't complain, snored effectively enough to keep the bears at bay, fished, paddled, chatted, skipped rocks, used an ax, chased mudbugs all with a smile on his face. (a face which had recently lost 2 front teeth)  The major packing was done before bedtime Thursday night.  We had 3 large packs for sleeping bags, tents, cooking and rain gear - camp stuff. We also had smaller (typical) backpacks with food and personal stuff. 

This is some of the gear in the living room the night before we left on our adventure.

Yes, this is the last picture I took before we hit the road Friday morning. 

We drove about 4 hours north and stopped for breakfast.

I think we were in Ely.

We picked up life jackets, paddles, canoes, permits and licenses and set out.

The CRV (cute recreational vehicle) worked great.  Plenty of space to stash everything, 3 comfortably seated in back, easy on the gas.....

                                                                  1/2 way there.

  According to the map it was just short of 10 miles (or maybe a bit over 9 1/2) (depends, I 'spose, on how much zigzagging you did)  After roughly (did I say roughly?) 4 hours of paddling we arrived to enjoy the comfort of

Home sweet home.

I'll save the rest for another installment.  The fishing was wild.  Everything tasted sooo good.  The scenery, quiet and enforced restfulness of the place was a treat. 

For Bethany

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Hope you're getting your peony fix!

Weekend Review

This past week has been very busy.  Rain (days and days of it) kept me from getting much done outside during this break between semesters, but there was plenty to keep me occupied in the house.....

Taking inspiration from Sal, I gave my jewelry some attention.  She had used a papertowel rack to display her bracelets but I realized it would drive me crazy to stack, remove, retrieve everytime I wanted to wear one, which would probably mean I would pass, defeating the whole idea of wearing them because they were on display, rather than kept in a box somewhere.  While at a garage sale I found this mug tree, on a marble base, and decided that it would do the job.  I also added velvet to the box that holds my watches and pins.  A pushover for clever boxes, this one came with a set of stationery and was repurposed several years ago.

I also added a couple more hooks to the back wall of the closet where I hang my neckalces.  Jacob sent two lovely birthstone necklaces for Mother's Day (!) and as I was already doubling up on a couple hooks, it seemed a good time to add the extra hooks.

                                                                                                            

Charlie enjoyed his fair share of my time.  Daily brushings are part of our routine.  The iris have been just gorgeous, as has the snowball bush.  I've enoyed bringing them in the house.  I've got a couple slips from a new plant starting to root. A couple leftover blue bottles were given a new lease on life as they were turned into garden decorations.  My papers and books from last semester were all sorted and filed and I'm ready to start a new semester tomorrow.  Funny how you forget how delightful free time can be .....

The summer's first batch of sun tea was brewed.  Leaflets for National Garden Week (June 6-12) were crossed off my "to do" list.  I turned an old vanity seat (from the same garage sale)(possibly my only one for the season) into a planter.  I picked up an old metal "kitchen cart" and used it to organize my messy garden supplies in the garage.  Scored a milk glass cake pedestal and a couple doodads for the garden all for less than 5 bucks!  Furniture was rearranged, curtains scrutinized, piles formed to pack for our trip north, later in the week, several books read..... I'd say it was a good week.

Happy Birthday Kate!!

The flowers are for Kate - Happy Birthday - hope you have a great day!

Book Notes

We see many readers, at the library, who take an authors' complete work off the shelf and read it straight through. 
Not my  cup of tea.

There are others who read only the new book by whomever, then we don't see them again until he/she writes another new one.
No comment....

There are a handful of authors that I actually look forward to reading.  Last night I finished Laurie King's newest book about the improbable (but oddly believable) relationship between Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.  She presents Holmes, and his processes in a way that, while paying homage to Conan Doyle, is a successful extension of the attributes of a wellknown literary character.  Not an easy thing to do.  Do you remember the pathetic attempts to catch the spirit of Rhett and Scarlett, and the DeWinters.....The characters are well developed, the plots  interesting.  The Beekeeper's Apprentice is the first of this series. 

The recent weeks have also seen a new Martha Grimes, Elizabeth George and the last Robert Parker western. At least I assume it to be the last, although we've seen, on a  fairly regular basis, that death does not mean a person won't publish again...

Later this summer I'll pick up the new Daniel Silva.  In between, there are more than enough good books out there to keep me busy.  In spite of the perennial warning not to judge a book by its cover, there are many times that it is the cover that catches my eye, more than an author's name or genre.  Other than an irrational (and fairly consistent)avoidance of book club books (snobbery, according to some) my taste is eclectic, satisfying whatever mood happens to strike. 

What's on your summer reading list??