So February was kind of crazy, but in a mostly good way. Much of the month was spent dealing with real estate transactions. In fact, this post probably reads more like a real estate round-up than a reading wrap-up... sorry.
We had a few hiccups selling the condo here, but that finally closed on schedule as planned. (The condo used to be our vacation place, but when we decided to move here full time we bought a house instead.)
The next step was to find a condo in Connecticut where we can go to escape the heat, humidity, and hurricanes of Florida summers. That was a slightly wilder process, but the closing happened on Friday. My husband flew up for a few days and one of our NYC daughters and boyfriend took the train up for a day to check things out and be supportive.
Visitors//
The highlight of the month was a visit from my sister and BIL. We also had a short visit from a NY friend, and now Twin B and her boyfriend are in the midst of a two week visit. They still have the ability to work remotely and are taking full advantage while they can.
February Reading// Yes, there was a little of that, too. I managed to read a grand total of two books last month.
I never got around to reviewing this book, but there's still hope. A 5-star read/listen combination for me, it's easy to understand why it won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
March Reading Possibilities//
We got tickets to see Beyond Van Gogh in Sarasota at the end of the month! Several friends have recommended this experience - I can't wait!
I am sorry that February was a bit of a slow reading month, but with a five-star read it definitely was a good month.
ReplyDeleteYou are busy with all the changes going on in your life. It seems like everything is going smoothly. And all the visitors must be wonderful. I have missed visitors.
I would love to see the Van Gogh show.
Deb - February would have been the worst reading month ever without Devil in the Grove, lol. Thankfully our multi-year real estate shuffling is over and this set-up should suit our current needs much better.
DeleteLooks like, and sounds like, you've been busy. And lots of visitors. That's good too after the last couple of years. My wife and I need to get over and see my parents, and she is going to see her dad and stepmom in Maryland (we live in PA) this summer for his birthday and also to see her two nieces, neither of which she has seen in person.
ReplyDeleteBryan - It's been so good to see people after such a long time has passed. We're still being careful and visitors are testing before they come to our house... seems to be working out so far. Glad you are able to see family members again, too!
Deletewhat a neat puzzle! I love New Yorker covers.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Mae - I love New Yorker covers, too, and am sure I'll be doing more of this type puzzle.
DeleteOh boy, you seem way busier as retirees LOL. Maybe it is all the company and real estate happenings that make it seem that way. You certainly get a pass on (2) books in February. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteDiane - It does seem like we are a lot busier now, lol! How did we ever have time to work?? Hopefully there will be more reading in March.
DeleteI just read Crow Lake this year and it was wonderful! I hope you enjoy it as well.
ReplyDeleteMary R. - I'm about halfway through Crow Lake and think it's excellent. Think I'll be reading all of Lawson's backlist.
DeleteSo much moving, buying, and organizing! It must be fun and exciting, but tiring. I am going to a Van Gogh exhibit at our local museum today and am really looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteHelen - It's been a lot of work, but I think it will be much better once we're all set up and organized. I'm sure mu daughters will help, too. Enjoy the Van Gogh exhibit!
DeleteYou were busy with the real estate business and I know you are happy it's all over. Glad you found a place in CT. Love that puzzle and I think I will look for one.
ReplyDeleteTina - It's been a wild ride with the real estate market... so glad to be done! The puzzle was a lot of fun and very good quality, too.
DeleteSorry you were not able to read much last month, but sounds like it was worth it. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteCindy - I definitely missed my books last month, but am glad to have the real estate situation sorted out. March will be a much better reading month, I'm sure.
DeleteI feel your pain with car shopping and wish you a speedy and easy and painless time of it. The last time I had to buy a car was when some vandals broke into my Honda Civic and stole all the inside parts that make it run. It had over 100,000 miles on it but was still going strong so I planned to keep it until it died. But, the thieves forced me to go car shopping. I hated all the test drives and sales pitches. Finally decided on a used VW New Beetle and I had crappy credit so THAT was nerve wracking as the dealership sent request after request after request until finally a bank said "Okay fine, we'll take a chance on her." I never missed a payment on that car. My baby. My Bugsy. And then I had to hop on a plane to come take care of my Mom so my poor Bugsy has been sitting in a garage for the past 5 years. I imagine he will not be driveable when and if I ever get back to L.A. and here in Arkansas I'm driving my dad's old-as-the-hills can't-believe-it-still-runs Suzuki so a car buying adventure is just around the corner for me, too. GOOD LUCK!
ReplyDeleteOh, Jinjer - what an automobile horror story! I'm hoping to get a midsize SUV to carry people/cargo on our travels back and forth to CT, but know there's not much out there to choose from. It's going to be an adventure, I suppose...
DeleteWow...busy month. I'm surprised that you could work in any reading at all considering what all was going on. Happy to see that you are reading two of my favorite books in March: Crow Lake and In the Garden of Beasts. I love both authors and will look forward to your reactions to their books.
ReplyDeleteSam - I am enjoying both Crow Lake and In the Garden of Beasts immensely! Mary Lawson is a new favorite author and I've read several of Erik Lawson's books, too, but never got around to this one. March is already a better reading month than February. Hope your month is off to a good start.
DeleteWell I'm glad your real estate transactions are behind you now -- as those can be pretty stressful. Gosh I'd be a wreck. But you're calm & collected & moving into March. What a lovely puzzle. I can vouch for Crow Lake and In the Garden of Beasts, both good. Thrity's novel Honor seems a bit intense so I'm holding off for a bit ... as the War news is hard enough. Enjoy your company and have a great week.
ReplyDeleteSusan - February was just a wild month! Before our real estate transactions of the past few years, it has been 30 years since we bought or sold. Hopefully it will be another 30 before we do anything else! I'm enjoying both Crow Lake and In the Garden of Beasts. Things are looking up.
DeleteIt must feel great to be finished with all those real estate deals. I keep telling my husband I never want to buy or sell again. We've done it far too many times in our 33 years of marriage.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great to have visitors? Our summer list keeps growing. We now have three brothers coming to visit with their families (all separately). One family in May, one in June and one in July. My reading may drop quite a bit, at least the audios since I usually listen on my walks. Glad one of your two reads was a winner. I'm planning to read In the Garden of Beasts, too, but I'm saving it for Nonfiction November. Let me know how you like it!
I've always wanted to go to spring training, but never have. We love baseball and I'm annoyed that they are locked out with negotiations. :(
Love that puzzle! Have a great week, JoAnn and enjoy your company.
Les - As I just said to Susan, it had been 30 years since we bought or sold real estate... these past few years have been a real education!
DeleteSo glad you're going to have visitors again this summer... really feels like things have shifted toward normal. We're still having people test before arrival, but so ar it's all worked out.
Both the Twins and Red Sox have spring training in Ft. Myers, with the Twins closer to our side of town. We've been a couple of times, but not since the pandemic. My brother usually goes to the Tampa area to catch the Yankees, then comes down to visit us. I don't know that it'll work out, but we can hope.
The puzzle is from New York Puzzle Company. I just loved the quality and varied shapes... my new favorite puzzle company!
Hope you have a great week, too.
I have pre-ordered French Braid...and I must read Justice on the Brink!
ReplyDeleteYou are having a great month, with visitors and all. Have a great March.
Laurel-Rain Snow - I may end up listening to French Braid since the narrator is one I enjoy. The author of Justice on the Brink was on a podcast I listen to and she was so interesting. Hope I can get to all of the books. Happy March!
DeleteWow! February was certainly a time of changes and celebrations – new homes and vacation homes! Congratulations! Devil in the Grove sounds fabulous, but intense. I noticed Justice on the Brink for your possible March reads. Seems like you are into the legal genre – another new genre I think I’d enjoy, but not tried. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMiaismine - You're right about the legal books. I got on a Supreme Court kick several years ago and never looked back... so interesting!
DeleteYou've been more than a little busy in February! Real estate stuff is never any fun. I hope you have a more relaxing March. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYvonne - Now that the real estate stuff is behind us, March has got to be less stressful than February! I'm hoping for a much better reading month, too.
DeleteLooking at your first pic, I can see we sure live in different worlds. Thanks to books, they unite us. :) Arti of Ripple Effects (trying to leave my comment see if it works this time.)
ReplyDeleteArti - Hooray, it worked! This is so different from what we have been used to most of our lives, but I do love Florida winters. Hope all is well with you.
DeleteLove, love, love the puzzle. There is a game shop next to the bookstore I frequent and I know they have New Yorker puzzles, so now I am going to pick one up!
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about your real estate month is that it is now (hopefully) over and you can relax and enjoy both places. That said, I don't envy you the car shopping.
Garden of Beasts is really good--Erik Larson never disappoints.
I've just added all the Mary Lawson novels to be TBR list, and Crow Lake seems the right place to start.
I didn't know Anne Tyler had a new book out. I do like the title.
The Van Gogh Experience is great--sat through the whole thing twice with my sister. I would like to go again.
Happy March!
JaneGS - This is the first time I've done a New York Puzzle Co. puzzle. Excellent quality and a great variety of puzzle piece shapes... they also offer puzzles of old Gourmet and Sunset magazine covers. I'd love to try one of those soon.
DeleteWe started our car shopping today and, as you would guess, there is not much on the lots. Whatever we end up with, I'm afraid there will be no good deals.
I've added all of Mary Lawson's books to my list, too. Crow Lake is a sad story, but really good so far.
Glad you enjoyed the Van Gogh exhibit. It too a little convincing to get my husband to agree, but I have no doubt we'll love it!
Good luck with the car shopping and all the real estate stuff! That sounds stressful. Happy March!
ReplyDeleteAj - Two of my least favorite things right there... what a relief it will be when it's all done!
DeleteI'm glad your real estate transactions are settled now. Sounds like you are enjoying your visitors. Good luck with the car shopping. I'm currently leasing and it looks like I chose a good time to do that since my price to buy the car is fixed and cheaper than used cars currently are. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I'm so glad the real estate transactions are all behind us! We got started on the car today... leasing when you did sure sounds like the best plan. Not a lot of inventory out there right now. Happy reading this weel!
DeleteSounds like a really busy time, but you will soon be sorted. A few years my car broke down (my fault) and I had to get another straight away to drive home. With help from my BIL it all worked out. Enjoy those family meet ups and hope books are good that you choose.
ReplyDeleteKathryn - It's definitely been a busy time, but finally getting it all sorted out. My March reading is off to a good start... it's already been a better month than February.
DeleteWe were all set to go to FL for a quick sunshine trip but it got canceled at the last minute. Vacations just not meant to be for me. Glad you had some visitors and the real estate is all settled. Back to reading! Happy March :D
ReplyDeleteCare - Too bad your trip didn't work out. I know you've been reading up a storm... hope some of that rubs off on me!
DeleteLots going on in your life, but how great that you get to spend time with family and friends! Car shopping is a good or bad experience for me depending on the salesperson. But having a brand new car is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteVicki - It's been so good to see people again! Our car has 100K miles on it, but is still in good shape so we will keep that one up north. We'll use the new one down here and to travel back and forth to CT.
DeleteReal estate is a bit of a headache, but I'm glad it worked out for you!
ReplyDeleteI just added Crow Lake to my TBR, so I'll be interested to hear what you thought of it! - Melinda @ A Web of Stories
Melinda - I am so happy the real estate stuff is behind us! Now to get the new place set up... Crow Lake is excellent. It's a somber story, but so well done. I should finish soon.
DeleteI'm sorry it's been a tough go to get the real estate and move all sorted. But glad you have lots of support. Loving those beach pics!
ReplyDeleteWe just visited the Van Gogh experience and it was lovely. Lots of info and the way they bring all the paintings together is just astounding. I hope you love it!
Heather - It's such a relief to have the real estate stuff behind us! Getting the place set up should be much more fun.
DeleteGlad you loved the Van Gogh exhibit... we can't wait!
I loved Crow Lake. I'm a big fan of Mary Lawson. Glad your real estate transactions went well as I know they can be stressful.
ReplyDeleteNicola - Mary Lawson is my latest author discovery. I absolutely loved A Town Called Solace and thought Crow Lake was almost as good. Can't wait to read more!
DeleteSo much going on with you! Good stuff though. I hope you can find a car that you love and won't have to wait forever and a day to get it. Here in Ca it's taking about 3 months to get cars in. That supply chain issue. I am kind of tired of that being used as an excuse for everything.
ReplyDeletePlus you got to see family. That is always nice.
Ti - It's been a month! We finally found a car, but won't get it until the end of April. I really wanted a hybrid, but we needed another SUV to carry stuff back and forth between here and CT. Hopefully there will be hybrid SUVs next time around. Seeing so much family was definitely the highlight of our month!
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