Happy Sunday, friends! I hope you're enjoying this beautiful spring weekend, although it feels like summer here in SW Florida. Intelligence from the Great White North tells me it's finally safe to return home. Despite a frozen lake, temperatures soared to 70 last week, but will back off to the 40s by the time we get there.
Apologies for my absence this week. We've crossed the last few items off our winter to-do list... boat trip to Cabbage Key, paint the bookcase turquoise (a color which just doesn't work at home!), sell a car, donate some books to the library, enjoy one final Captiva sunset.
Today, for our last day, we'll shop the farmers' market one more time, have my FIL over for dinner, spend some time on the beach, and load up the car. We hit the road in the morning.
Current reading//
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
our May book club selection
Listening to//
Nothing now, but I'm about to choose a book for the ride home... something nonfiction my husband will appreciate, too. Dead Wake by Erik Larson is under consideration, but I'm open to suggestions.
Finished this week//
An Age of License: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley
This was an enjoyable recovery book after Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. The blurb on the back cover refers to is as an Eat, Pray, Love for a slightly younger set... an apt description. No formal review for this one, but would rate it 3 or 3.5 stars.
On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss (audio)
A nice overview. Recommended for non-scientific types... I expected something more technical.
We'll be on the road, so I probably won't be around much... again. If you follow me on Instagram, look for photos from Savannah, Asheville (and the "Dressing Downton" at The Biltmore), and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
What are you reading this week?
What are you reading this week?
Safe trip! Looking forward to the pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Audrey. We love Savannah, but have never been to Asheville or the Blue Ridge Mountains... should be a fun week.
DeleteCurrently reading "Ordinary Light -- a Memoir" by Tracy K. Smith. Great read so far, highly recommend. TKS won the Pulitzer in 2012 for her book of poetry "Life on Mars." I'm not much of a poetry buff, but this memoir is very well written; I only wish I could remember that much history in detail about my life. Would love to see what she could do with writing a novel, but that might not be something she would ever try.
DeleteEnjoy your visit to Asheville. Born and raised in the area (you can sit on the porch at my old family home place and see the Blue Ridge Parkway), I think you might enjoy Asheville more in the summertime when the days are long and the nights are cool. The locale seems to be booming now with tourists, particularly in fall of the year. Just hope all that influx is providing the locals with some good-paying jobs.
Have a safe trip! You're going through both Savannah and Asheville? I'm jealous! Some great places to eat in Asheville are Wicked Weed (especially if you like beer) and Tupelo Honey Cafe - we prefer the downtown location.
ReplyDeleteKathy - Thanks so much for the recommendations! We've never g=been to Asheville.
DeleteBeautiful picture! Know you will miss Florida, but I'm glad it is becoming more spring like in New York. Have a safe trip!
ReplyDeleteKay - I think it may finally be spring in upstate NY and it will be good to get home. Strange as it is for me to say, I'm already looking forward to next winter :)
DeleteJealous of your trip to Asheville and Savannah! I've always wanted to travel to both places and go camping in the Blue Mountains. I've heard it's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI just recently finished On Immunity, too, and had hoped for a bit more scientific and even historical information. I thought the Notes part of the audio to be the best!
Have a safe trip home.
Trish - We love Savannah, but Asheville will be a new adventure! Thanks for mentioning the notes section... I skipped it, but will go back and listen now :)
DeleteBeautiful sunset photo! Thanks for sharing. Have a great trip!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat. I love a good road trip!
DeleteIt is like summer here in California, too; at least in Central California. Enjoy your return home...and your new books. In the Time of the Butterflies looks like a must-read.
ReplyDeleteHere are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Laurel-Rain Snow - I think the colder temps at home will be a shock to my system, but it will be good to see the rest of the family. Hope to works out for us to spend next winter in FL!
DeleteSounds like you've had a busy and productive week! I imagine the temps in the 40s will be a shock after Florida weather but at least it's starting to warm up. I'm intrigued by Dead Wake and am curious about how it is on audio so I vote for that as long as you review it! I'll have to keep my eye on instagram. That sounds like a fun road trip!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I always have great intentions with audiobooks for a road trip, but it seems like we usually just end up talking the whole time. We'll at least get a start on one ;-)
DeleteIn the time of butterflies sounds interesting and one for my list. I just finished Dead Wake and really enjoyed it (as book vs. audio). Safe journey. Emma
ReplyDeleteEmma - I really enjoyed the audio version of his earlier book, Devil in the White City, so hope this one will be just as good. Glad to know you liked it!
DeleteHave a safe trip! Love the places you are going to stop at. Asheville is one of my favorite places to visit, so I hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to take pictures of the garden!
ReplyDeleteThat's a really stunning photo at the top! Very summery! I love the cover of 'In The Time of The Butterflies'!
ReplyDeleteDeb
Have a safe, somewhat relaxing trip home. I've made that trip up the east coast from Fl to both NY & ME many times. Always done when the kids were younger, so never was relaxing for us. The weather should be Spring-like when you get home. Enjoy your trip and we look forward to photos.
ReplyDeleteOne more beautiful sunset. It's a bit sad even. I think Dead Wake might be a good choice for an audio for the car ride home. I'd be interested to hear what you think of it. Enjoy your trip back.
ReplyDeleteI think you're going to have a fabulous trip home!! I love all your planned stops, some of my favorite cities. Hope you find just the right audio, On Immunity is one I want to read or listen to. I just purchased the new Candice Bergen bio on audible. I have a couple of other biographies too. I've heard Dead Wake is good.
ReplyDeleteIt is already too hot for me here in FL....now I need to come visit you! Wishing you a great and safe journey.
Wow. You had a productive week! And what a gorgeous sunset! Have a wonderful trip home. We love the Blue Ridge Mountains and have stayed at The Mast Farm in Valle Crucis a couple of times. Great food in their restaurant, if you should happen to be in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted on Dead Wake. My husband's reading it and I'd like to listen to the audio. We never listen to audios together. Spend too much talking on our road trips to ever make it through a chapter, let alone an entire book!
Enjoy the drive home - I will look for pics on Instagram. I love Savannah but have never visited Asheville. Have a safe trip!
ReplyDeleteLovely picture - what a beautiful sunset! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm reading A Child's History of England by Charles Dickens, and thinking about re-reading The Mill on the Floss. I had reading plans for this week but they've gone out the window! :)
I wasn't a huge fan of Dead Wake..I love Larson, but thought that one (mostly the first half) was a bit of a slog. The second half did pick up some.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels home!
ReplyDeleteYou've had quite the busy week and that sunset is to die for. Sounds like a wonderful place to spend time when the weather is cold elsewhere. Hope you have a safe trip home. I keep forgetting about Instagram but I'm going to make sure to head over and check out your pics.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing you might be home by now .... either way, safe travels and welcome back to the north.
ReplyDelete