Here we are, summer at last! Unofficially, anyway. Memorial Day thru Labor Day. Longer days, dinner on the patio, a glass of wine by the lake, cruising on the boat, lounging by the pool, maybe a road trip or two... and so many events!
The season kicked off yesterday with my daughter's boyfriend's college graduation. A three hour drive on either end, plus the ceremony, moving out day, and a celebration barbecue made for a very long, but very happy day. Onward we go.. to Father's Day, high school graduation season, and the 4th of July!
Finished reading//
Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler
I loved this read/listen combination and will try to post a review this week.
Current reading//
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Another read/listen combination
The Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble
very quiet and introspective
On the blog//
Tuesday Intro: Shotgun Lovesongs
Review: A Taste of Upstate New York by Chuck D'Imperio (Weekend Cooking)
Around the blogosphere//
Here's a post of note that's just too good not to share. In fact, I kind of wish I'd written it myself!
Bibliophiliac's Top Ten Reasons to Read Anthony Trollope
I'll leave you with this photo from one of my walks this week... a beautiful purple mailbox garden. Enjoy the rest of the long weekend. What will you be reading?
I am curious about Shotgun Lovesongs.
ReplyDeleteI read The Seven Sisters a while ago...love Drabble, but sometimes I get confused between her books and those of other "Margarets," like Atwood. My bad.
I am going to check out my review of The Seven Sisters...LOL
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Laurel-Rain Snow - I think I read Drabble a long time ago, but don't remember which title... and I get her confused with those other Margarets, too! LOL!
DeleteLove the mailbox garden! So pretty. Congrats to your daughter's boyfriend! I just sat through a high school graduation and it was long enough. I can't imagine sitting through a college one! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - This graduation ceremony was nearly 3 hours long!! I couldn't believe it!
DeleteLooks like a busy and fun month ahead for you! Congrats to your daughter's boyfriend!
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great weekend thus far. I love not having to go back to work tomorrow.
Athira - They've been together over 3 years now and he seems like part of the family!
DeleteBusy weekends abound, I agree! Love the mailbox photo. Sadly, my reading has slowed a bit lately, too much other stuff.
ReplyDeleteDiane - May has got to be one of the busiest months for weekend activities, but thankfully it's all happy! Hope you're enjoying the long weekend.
DeleteSo glad you are finally into spring and even the beginnings of summer. That mailbox garden is beautiful. I love purple. Congrats to your daughter's boyfriend. Enjoy your holiday weekend, JoAnn!
ReplyDeleteKay - That mailbox garden has caught my eye all week and I finally just had to take a picture! I should really try and plant something similar... I love purple, too.
DeleteI like all those things you listed- yay for summer! A glass of wine by the lake sounds good. :)
ReplyDeleteTaste of upstate NY sounds good too, i like to read about local food lore and that one looks very interesting. May have to look it up.
Greg - We had our fist glass of wine by the lake tonight... so relaxing! I'm happy summer is finally here.
DeleteAh, summer! Yes.
ReplyDeleteI'm quite interested in trying another big classic after finishing Middlemarch. Madding Crowd is on my possible list. I'll check back to see what you think.
Deb - I really like Far From the Madding Crowd so far, but am already looking forward to the next book in Trollope's Barsetshire series.
DeleteYou have so many events to look forward to! I love the picture of the mailbox garden.
ReplyDeleteVasilly - There's a lot happening these next few weeks, that's for sure. Next weekend we're moving Twin A down to NYC for the summer for an internship.
DeleteI'm so glad it's summer - this is my time of the year!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I love summer, too!
DeleteThat's good news that Shotgun Lovesongs is a fun read. Look forward to your review. I'm interested to see you're reading the Hardy book now. Should be a good comparison to do with the new movie. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteThecuecard - The movie release pushed me to read Far From the Madding Crowd sooner rather than later. It's very good so far!
DeleteFun to celebrate the graduation even with the long drive, and now I will read the 10 reasons to read Trollope.
ReplyDeleteTerra - I think you'll love that post!
DeleteI love your mailbox photo, too. The purple is gorgeous! Also, I'll look forward to what you think about the audio book of Far from the Madding Crowd. And I loved the Top Ten Post about Trollope. I have added some Trollope titles to my Classics Club list! :)
ReplyDeleteMonica - I'm glad you've added Trollope to your list. The Barsetshire novels are so good, I'm considering the Pallisers for next year!
DeleteYay for summer. I have mixed feelings about Margaret Drabble -- but haven't read that one, so hope you love it.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - Could have sworn I'd read Drabble before, but none of her titles sound familiar. Will have to consult my old reading journal...
DeleteHello, summer!! If the rain holds off, I plan to get outside and do a little weeding today. It's been chilly and damp ever since I returned from San Francisco! I also need to hose down our front porch. It's still covered in pollen from last month!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to finish A Man Called Ove later this afternoon. I'm loving this novel and the only reason it's taken me a full month to read is that I'm reading at bedtime and haven't lasted more than 10 minutes before falling asleep.
Les - So glad to hear you love A Man Called Ove! I picked it up as a kindle daily deal a few weeks ago... sounds like an ideal summer read. "Bedtime books" take me forever to read, too. If it happens to be an audio, I set the sleep timer for 8 minutes and never hear it end.
DeleteSo glad you loved Shotgun Lovesongs! Now you need to try Beneath the Bonfire :)
ReplyDeleteSarah - Definitely!
DeleteExciting happenings in your family! Congrats. I loved Shotgun Lovesongs too.
ReplyDeleteNise' - Butler's latest book is on my wish list now.
DeleteSo happy to have dinner and drinks on the patio season back! It just makes life better, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteLisa - Yes, it certainly does :)
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