Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Come by on Friday, I will be starting a series to show off all of my crochet projects of the past season! 

Eastside Cats, I looked up the author you mentioned last week, Jonathan Edward Durham. My library system doesn't have his book. Guess I will have to skip this one as I don't buy books!

Weather has gotten much nicer. I have been spending time doing yard work. The biggest project is to keep the volunteer trees under control. I bought a mini-chain saw, works great. Much faster than manual sawing. Then after I cut the tree back I splashed some motor oil on the cut. Hopefully reducing the grow back. Also thinking of getting someone who digs up stumps to work on what it left. 

Brush pickup started this week where I live. I always have something to contribute! This is the pile on Saturday. I keep adding until they actually pick it up.

Getting some reading time in too. Chores, reading, computer stuff, crocheting hats. Rinse and repeat. 

Death in the Details, set in post World War II, Maple finds herself a widow and in financial straights. She sets out to make money by doing detailed dollhouses. When her first customer turns up dead she recreates the scene to help identify the killer.

The Stranger in the Library another installment of the Lighthouse mysteries. A big art show is being held in Nags Head. The library does an educational exhibit too. When a painting is stolen from the library, and the organizer of the real exhibit it murdered, the local team of cops and librarians work to figure out why and who done it.

A Fatal Inheritance a detailed history of the p53 gene that influences familial cancer. P53 is a cancer suppression gene which is found to have mutated and then past from generation to generation. It affects all cancers so families will have various cancers, from childhood to adult. Interesting in that the author's family is one of those affected, but he does not have the mutation and he has been cancer free. He extensively writes on his family members who have had multiple bouts of cancer and those that have been fatal.

The Situation Room is an interesting book about the secure room where strategic decisions are made in the White House. In its current use it was developed during the Kennedy administration and the author provides various examples on how the area has been used from JFK through the Biden administration.  

Happy Reading. 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Spring is here, I have had to use the lawn mower. At least on the areas that had gotten shaggy. I don't do No Mow May, my grass would grow way too long and my mower wouldn't get through it. I do have lots of other flowers for the pollinators to feed on. The crab apple and lilacs should be blooming soon too. 

These are the trees at the track this last weekend. Weather was dry, thankfully. Now a break from events until early June. 

 Ducky invading my lap and checking out the local news. He is just hanging out as a senior cat. 

The Lies that Bind the next installment of the Bibliophile Mysteries. Brooklyn is again involved with solving a murder or two. At least she isn't a suspect this time.

Midnight in Chernobyl is a thorough retelling of the accident that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in April 1986. This area was part of the Soviet Union back then and in spite of the new glasnost or openness by Mikhail Gorbachev the country did their best to hide the full extent of the accident. Author goes through the initial actions to contain the radioactive emissions and the long term effects on people and places. This area is now part of the country of Ukraine and Chernobyl is north of the capital of Kiev.

 

 Happy Reading.

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Last day of April! We had our first 80 degree day on Monday. They predicted severe storms but they never happened. Grass and all sorts of other things are greening up nicely. I may need to mow some parts of the yard soon. I do not do No Mow May, my lawn is too healthy. I do have lots of blooming flowers and shrubs for the insects to feed on. 

While the weather was warm I opened up the windows and let in lots of fresh air. It was a windy day, so lots of breezes inside the house. It cooled off on Tuesday!

Early Tuesday I went out and refilled the bird feeders. I also put out the hummingbird and oriole feeders. I had the orioles at the feeder within a hour! Both male and female. Only issue is that the robins also like the jelly and get very aggressive running off other birds, including the orioles. I need to put out a second feeder!

I haven't see any hummingbirds yet, but the sugar water level in the feeder is going down.

Fondant Fumble the cupcake bakers are back with their newest franchisees, two of the local pro football players, the QB and his main receiver. Then the team owner and head coach are murdered. Suspects? Yeah, the QB and receiver. Plus Mel has a surprise of her own.

An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s. The author, Doris Kearns Goodwin, was married to Richard "Dick" Goodwin. Both writers and people to were intimately involved with politics and history in the 1960s. He was involved with JFK, LBJ, Eugene McCarthy and RFK as speechwriter before focusing on writing. Doris worked for LBJ but during the late years of his presidency and after. The book is a historical memoir of their involvement with politics and government. This was a trip back through history for me since I lived through these times.

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet this book takes the characters from Pride & Prejudice 20 years into the future. Mother Bennet has died freeing Mary to do what she wants. She has financial resources and chooses to explore, aiming to write a book on the plight of the poor. Mary and the rest of the family all have their adventures. Author also wrote The Thorn Birds. 

 Happy Reading.
 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

 Spring is getting here. I can see that the leaves on various trees and shrubs are starting to appear. Daffs are blooming and the hyacinths are getting there too. We getting some warmer weather along with rain. Grass is greened up too. 

Grilling season is finally underway. As I pulled out my grill from storage I could see that parts of it were badly rusted. Time for something new, but it took me a week to figure out how to get it from the front of the house to the back. They don't deliver like they used to, with two people and actually bringing to the patio in the back. One person delivery and I think I could carry things better than the older man making the delivery!

I've done hamburger, pork tenderloin filet, chicken so far. A few veggies too. So far things are tasting good. Ducky and I shared grilled chicken for Easter dinner. Nom, Nom!

Sorry for the video being sideways. I don't always get the phone in the proper alignment for good video!

Still time for reading, actually getting a bit more time to read. Winding down on larger crochet projects for the summer. Plus I will have to get at outside chores too. Some pruning that needs to be done. 

Carson The Magnificent was a book I just happened to spy on the Lucky Day shelf. I'm of the age where I watched most of the years he did the Tonight Show. Starting probably in 1966 or 1967, I claimed I had to stay up late to catch the latest weather since I walked to school, then after the news was done, continued into the monologue. Book is written more in the style of a long feature article with a chapter devoted to various aspects of his life and career. Interesting read if you are a Carson fan.

 

Yes, yes, yes! I usually read enough to give you they general plot, but I also have mentioned when I just can't get into a book. But that is me, you might feel differently. Read what you love, pass on the rest.

Also means the TV is off! Less news, more happiness.

Happy Reading. 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

It is the middle of April, the weather goes from OK to blah. I keep looking at the outside work I should get done, but want nicer weather to do it in.

Back at trivia this week at our original spot. We had lots of laughs and we actually did pretty good, third place! There were seven teams total so not too shabby. Plus we had a wonderful guy as our waiter. One of nine! yes nine kids, from a good Lutheran family. The wait staff is given some of the answers to help teams. Although we were doing pretty good on our own. We could confirm our answers with him!

Racing season has started, did a three day weekend and that seems too much for me. I rarely have done three days so probably won't do it in the future. 

Good to see friends after the winter where we don't get to see each other. To actually sit and have an extended conversation or two. 

 One of the cuter cars and not one we see very often. Sunrise on Saturday AM and me keeping warm and out of the wind!

On to the books of the week. 

Prime Time the first book in a short series about an investigative reporter at a Boston TV station. Charlotte, aka Charlie, digs into a series of weird spam emails that relate to some sort of financial fraud.

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect - the book blurb reads Murder on the Orient Express meets Clue. On a train between Darwin and Adelaide a group of crime writers, agents, editors and fans. When one of the writers is killed, the other writers take on the role of detective. Which one of them will end up in cuffs?

Reading the Constitution is a very deep dive in how different justices interpret laws and the Constitution. Written by former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, it is a deeply researched providing examples of actual cases. Why some justices prefer what is called textualism versus pragmatism. Hard read and I will admit I skipped through parts to read the parts that I wanted to know more about. 

 

Happy Reading. 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

 Just to briefly touch on the Wisconsin Supreme Court election of last week. Yes, both candidates had lots of money supporting them that came from outside the actual campaign. Some feel that the funds one side was trying to spend were not being used in a legal or ethical manner.

It is now the most expensive judicial election in the United States, likely exceeding $100 million. I for one would prefer to get ALL of this outside money away from elections, but that won't happen until they repeal Citizen United. (Jumps off soapbox.)

While the grass is getting green, flowers that are bulbs are growing, but we still are getting snow showers! Brrr. Supposed to be nicer this coming weekend and hit the 50s. 

I have plans for the weekend that will take me outside, so I am hoping that it will be warmer. Also prefer that it be dry! No rain please!

     

If Books Could Kill second installment of the Bibliophile Mystery, Brooklyn is attending the Edinburgh Book Fair. A friend, Kyle, gives her an old book to authenticate which supposedly contains information on an affair between the Scottish poet Robert Burns and a daughter of King George III. Before Brooklyn can do her thing, Kyle turns up dead, killed with one of Brooklyn's bookbinding tools. Who is trying to pin this murder on her?

Death and Fromage is a book set in France. Richard, an Englishman, runs a B&B in the Loire Valley. A scandal and possible murder occur and Richard finds himself in the middle of the investigation and helps to solve the crime.

A Death in Diamonds another installment in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series. The setting is back in the 1950s. A girl is found dead dressed in only her silk undies and a valuable tiara. One of the issues is that Prince Philip is seen in the area the night of the murder. Could he have something to do with this?

Challenger is an in-depth look at the space shuttle Challenger disaster. Starting back in 1967 after the astronaut deaths during a fire in the Apollo space craft. The author shows how NASA continued to be less focused on safety and more on pushing forward, getting things done. Pressuring contractors to be the same way. Very interesting read. 

Happy Reading

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

I made it through the spring election in Wisconsin yesterday. Results are looking promising in that Elon wasn't able to buy an seat on the state Supreme Court. Very thankful all of the ads are no longer on the TV, they were getting very irritating. 

Local school board is looking good too. At least two of the people I wanted to get elected look like they will win. 

Weather is all over the place, had a really nice day last week in the 70s, been icky since. I keep wanting to grill out but don't want to freeze my buns off while grilling.

Homicide in Hardcover a new author and series to me and I like it, will read more. Brooklyn restores rare books and when her mentor is murdered she is determined to find out who did it.

Remarkably Bright Creatures a touching story of a Giant Pacific Octopus, Tova a cleaner at the aquarium, family and friends. Love, loss, family, friendship and the interconnections of life.

One Wrong Word a twisty tale! Arden is being let go from her PR firm but the boss is giving her one last job, and her severance and reference letter depend on it. The job, help Ned rehabilitate his reputation after being found not guilty of vehicular homicide. The more Arden digs, the more she thinks Ned was framed. But by who?

Original Sins Riley Fisher is a new FBI agent assigned to the Des Moines, Iowa office. As she arrives there are attacks on women, likely to be done by a serial attacker who has attacked before. Threats, including to the newly elected female governor, are making things tense. Page turner thriller.

Happy Reading.

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Happy Spring! We have made it to the spring equinox last week. Weather is changeable, but that is how things are this time of year. 

The grass is slowly showing a tiny bit of green, finally, after being brown for ages. With minimal snow this winter I've had to look at a brown lawn for months. 

Got myself a small, blue tooth portable speaker. I have satellite radio in the car, now I can use their app to play music inside. Plus I can take the speaker anywhere in the house or patio. Get more value for the money I pay for this. Plus I have my choice of what genre of music to play with hundreds of channels to choose from 

Squirrels are driving me crazy attacking the bird feeders. I counted six of them in the yard all wanting to get at the seed. One of them has succeeded in jumping over the baffles to actually get at the seed. Game on squirrel!

Love at First Book Jen McKinlay is one of my favorite authors, she has multiple cozy mystery series. This is a romance and takes a character from a previous romance and sets it in Ireland. Not a big romance fan and this one didn't over do it and one of the main characters dies at the end and lots of tears through it.

Sisters of Fortune historical fiction story based upon a real family, the Fortune's of Winnipeg, Canada. The family is returning from a tour of Europe and is sailing on the Titanic. While the family is real, many of the remaining characters are fictitious or a composite of real people. Most of the book shows the relationships prior to the sinking but does provide closure of the true characters.

The Earl and the Pharaoh a extensive biography of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who was one of the people who first discovered King Tut's riches buried in Egypt. Very detailed, almost to the point of information overload. Author is the wife of the current earl, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon. Author had access to family notes, journals and letters to base her research. 

 

Also to turn off the television and basketball games!

Happy Reading.