Break from the cold and snow

Well my husband and I have been in Sarasota Florida for a little over two weeks. We left on a messy snowy Wednesday morning- lucky to leave the cold of Connecticut. Usually we spend time in Maui however this year because of health issues we headed for Florida. The first few days were a bit cool but sunny. And no snow! Then it gradually became warmer. We have spent time at Siesta Key beach and Caspersen Beach in Venice. Both are lovely and a bit different. Siesta Key has miles of beautiful white silky sand. Quite nice. Caspersen beach has black sand which is a little bit coarser. The beaches are well cared for and have great facilities. We have even seen dolphins which was pretty neat. Caspersen beach is famous for shark teeth and people have special screens with handles to sift through the shells and sand. I have found some pretty shells to put into the condo where we are staying. The seagulls are not afraid of people and will attempt to eat anything you are eating (ask me how I know!). In planning our getaway I of course packed a number of books planning on a book every one and a half days. Well good plan. My first book was The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud.

. Well it took me almost a week to slog through. Can you tell I didn't enjoy it very much? Didn't like the characters, thought the plot was weak and I wish I hadn't finished it. I then read Anne Lamott's Blue Shoe. I had not read her before and have heard so much about her and her writing.

. At least I could believe the characters and wasn't really annoyed by them alhough the main character, Mattie, certainly was a mess. I enjoyed it and will follow up with another of her books when I get home. Then I read The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, another author I had not read. I enjoyed this and remembered that I had seen the movie (and that is about all I could remember!).

. I then, having finished reading the library books I had brought with me, moved on to a couple of Goodreads wins. The first was Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey. Unknown to me this was the second in a series although it stood alone. Set in Paris and Switzerland at the end of WWII I thought I would love it. Historical fiction. However it was just okay and seemed a little too glib about the horrors of the war and events seemed contrived or just convenient. But entertaining. I did like the writing and might check out the first book The Swiss Courier.

. I moved on to The Mapmaker's Children, another Goodreads win, and more historical fiction. Set at the start and during the Civil War it is about Sarah Brown, daughter of John Brown the abolitionist. I couldn't' put it down. Well researched and very entertaining. Really a good read.

Moving on to The Almond Tree which sounded very familiar. And as I read it it became more and more familiar. I was reading it at the beach and it was my backup book. Drat! I had read it in 2014. And I had lugged it to Florida. Then I figured I better read my book club selection Same Kind of Different as Me. I wasn't sure if I would like this- it sounded a little too evangelical and I was not sure how it would pan out. In the end- an excellent read and very interesting. Yes the author and his wife had a strong faith but it was a good story. So glad I read it. My husband had only brought one book with him (can you believe it?) and was counting on visiting the little lending library in the condo association. It is actually quite nice and has a good selection of titles. On the shelf I noticed one- Once We Were Brothers- which is on my to-read list (at Goodreads). So I grabbed it and told him he would like it. He could not put it down and that rarely happens. It was that good. So I have started it last night and was instantly hooked.

. Another WWII historical fiction novel. Will get back to reading once I finish this post!

More snow.... and more predicted through Weds

It's snowing again! Lots of school closings, cancellations. And snow is predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday. We hope to leave for Florida Wednesday morning so keeping my fingers crossed. It's not Maui but my husband and I both need a break. I went to the library to take out a few books just in case (as in I really don't want to buy any more books even if there is a Barnes and Noble close by). I started the second book in Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series- A Fatal Grace.

. So here is a question- when you are going on vacation what is the first thing you put out to take? I usually go through my stacks of books and pick out a couple. Or three. Or more.

Snow Day!

As predicted it started to snow sometime during the night and has continued through the morning ( well it is only 9:45 but still). So pretty. Four deer have gone through the yard. I filled the bird feeder and the birds are flocking to it.

Nellie, my son's lab mix rescue (from a TN kill shelter last year) LOVES the snow. Lazy morning. Finished Children of the Jacaranda Tree. Enjoyed it but I did find it hard to keep track of the characters. Very interesting read although sad. Started Blackmoore last night. I would classify this as romantic fluff.

. Not sure why I put this on my to-read list but I must have read about it on another blog. I did something I don't normally do. I read through several reviews. One was scathing-hated the book, the characters, the writing, the overuse of some of the words. Okay, romance is not everyone's thing. But it is an easy read and yes, the whole caged bird metaphor is a bit over done but it does work. About halfway through (does that tell you something?).

Picture of my backyard and bird feeder. My son nicely shoveled a path so I can refill when necessary.

February 1st already!

Well January went by quickly for me. Not sure why. Only the one big snowfall which has quickly melted and this week temps are supposed to read 60! I read Lullaby of Polish Girls

which took longer that it should. The books is only 212 pages but it took me much longer than I anticipated. Why? I guess I just was not driven or compelled by the characters or the story. After finishing I read the back jacket about the author and it sounded as if it was semi-autobiographical. Still. It wasn't one of my favs. Continuing on my book a week quest I started Children of the Jacaranda Tree

. Set in post-revolutionary Iran I am already hooked. Over the weekend I worked on a few sewing/quilting projects. One project I have been intrigued by was a fold and stitch wreath. I bought the pattern and supplies Weds and worked on it Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Clipped threads this morning.

I am pretty happy with how it turned out but I am not sure I really would want to make another one. I have enough supplies to make one more and I might make one for my church's holiday bazaar but I think right now I need to take a break. I did baste a square for my Hawaiian quilt. The pattern is of sea turtles which I love. And lastly eight deer wandered through my back yard early this am. I caught a few on a video. Will try to figure out how to post.