My Biggest Fan
Happy Birthday to Book Barmy’s biggest fan
My Mom
~~ who taught me to read, shared my tears over Little Women, bought me the newest Nancy Drews, planned outings that included used book stores, gritted her teeth during my Rod McKuen stage, and has always encouraged and shared my love of reading.
Happy Birthday Mom – all my barmy-ness comes from you ~~ and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I love you
Between Books
I am between books, and finding it most delightful.
Oddly, I’m feeling no pressure to leap into another book lickity-split.
I dipped into several options last night, but mainly, just enjoying the pure pleasure of browsing for my next read…
In the meantime, as much as I love you all ~~ please go away ~~ take a walk, visit a friend, just go do something else for a bit…
Leave me alone, I’m browsing…
I borrowed this image from a favorite book blogger, Lynn at Fictionophile.
I especially enjoy her ‘Cover Love’ series, check it out for yourself.
Rose Barmy
I’ve abandoned my books, my roses have beckoned me out to the garden most every day.
Because of our winter and spring rains – my roses are at their absolute finest.
So, I’ll take this opportunity to show you (and document for myself) their splendor ~~ the best blooming in years.
(Note: the back garden is quite steep so the second photo is as you walk down the stone path.)
Then I spend much happy time arranging bouquets all over the house…even the bathroom ~~
Then, as the petals fall, I collect them for drying and ultimately, potpourri.
The house smells wonderful.
The good life
Husband and I aren’t very materialistic, we live modestly, don’t drive a fancy car, have but one television, and are known (and teased) for being quite frugal. “No, we didn’t get your text, we don’t have smart phones…really.”
But we do succumb to a few indulgences – books (natch), good food, wine ~~ and especially travel.
On a whim, and with a Groupon deal in hand (see, thrifty), last week we took off for a few days on the Russian River.
Our room overlooked the river, full and swift moving after all our winter/spring rains.
We went for a long hike in the redwoods
Did a bit of antique looking – just looking…
Visited a rose nursery and garden – again just looking (no more roses, someone kept muttering…)
And watched a drop dead beautiful sunset on the coast, where the river meets the ocean.
It’s not a large life – but for us, it’s a good life.
Agatha Raisin
Remember THIS post?
Well it’s here. Agatha Raisin has come to American PBS (check your local listings). The other evening, nursing a hurt back, and with a mild pain reliever, I tuned into the first two in this series.
As always, when transferring my brain from book to the screen — there are adjustments to be made. The story lines have been condensed to fit into 60 minute segments, so you can’t be too tied to the books. But, I’m happy to report that, all in all, this is a very good adaptation.
Just like Jessica Fletcher in the Murder, She Wrote series, death and disaster follow Agatha into the small Cotswold village where she has chosen to retire from her public relations business. And, what a village — the cottages are postcard pretty and while Agatha has moved into the perfect cottage she’s decorated it with ultra modern London furnishings.
Agatha doesn’t fare well in her new fictional village of Carsley. She wears heels and tight skirts around the village, she steals her neighbor’s cleaning woman, tries to wheedle tips on the perfect quiche from the baking competition judge, who then propositions her when his wife steps away. Agatha’s perfect cottage is robbed, she enters a quiche purchased in London for the village baking competition, and while her quiche doesn’t win — it does kill someone…(no spoilers here).
As her friend and former employee Roy sums it up for her, “Look at it positively, Aggie, you’ve already cheated, been burgled, killed someone, and you’ve been wanted by the police. It’s plain sailing from here.”
The casting of the series is excellent, especially Agatha and DC Bill Wong. The village residents are, as in the books, completely taken aback by Agatha and her bumbling attempts to fit into village life. “You could give me a few hints on how to do the things that people do when they do things around here,” she pleads with a fellow village resident.
Just as the written series, the TV adaption is light, funny, and serious mental powers are not required — in fact it actually helps to be in a silly mood (or, as in my case, on pain meds).
So pop some popcorn and take a lovely break from day-to-day reality — go visit the Cotswolds with the delightful Agatha Raisin.
A special day
Among those whom I like or admire,
I can find no common denominator,
but among those whom I love, I can:
all of them make me laugh.
W.H. Auden
Celebrating thirty-eight years of love, friendship, and especially ~~~ laughter.
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