Thursday, March 7, 2024



I’m a bit late in posting my reading for February but better late than never. 

   Ebola: The Natural and Human History of a Deadly Virus by David Quammen ⭐️⭐️⭐️ It is a bit dated and doesn’t go much into the clinical aspects but was very interesting in the hunt for the reservoir of the virus. It was heartbreaking in the parts about the deaths of the great apes from the virus. 

   Honest Aging by Rosanne Leipzig ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Excellent lists of resources. Much of the book I was already familiar with (eat right, exercise, get enough sleep) but learned several helpful things (kidneys don’t concentrate urine as well, need to consume more protein as we age).

   Graceland, at Last by Ruth Renkl. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️How I enjoy her essays on life in the U.S. South in the NTTimes! Having a whole collection of them to read at my leisure was a real treat. The book came out a couple of years ago and she now has another book of essays out that I am looking forward to reading. 


 

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Book Lists

 


The lovely Brenda @ It’s A Beautiful Life had a blog post on Book Lists and since I am a very listy person, I couldn’t resist making my own lists. 


Book Lists
1. A favorite (or 2 or 3) from your childhood
  The Little House books (all of them)
  The Louisa May Alcott books (all of them)
  The Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace

2. A book you read once but couldn’t stop thinking about

3. A book that shaped your life
     Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
     Today Matters by John Maxwell
     Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez & Vicky Robin

4. A book you couldn’t put down

5. A book with a favorite heroine

6. A book that creates a safe place 
     All of the Miss Read books. I go to Caxley or Thrush Green or to Fairacre to have tea with Miss Clare. 

7. A book that lifts your spirits and makes you feel happy 

8. A book you like to read over and over 
     I have read the Miss Read books countless times.

9. A book you just finished and loved
     Tom Lake by Ann Pachett

10. A book you just started and know you’re going to like
     The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
     


Saturday, November 25, 2023

Imagine

 

Imagine by John Lennon


Imagine there’s no heaven
it’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us 
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions 
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one 
I hope someday you’ll join us 
And the world will be as one. 











Sunday, November 12, 2023

Around Oak Meadows


This was the Fall Back time change week. As usual, it just throws my sleep/wake schedule off. It takes at least two weeks to get back to normal. It seems like it’s midnight when it’s only time for the 6pm news. 

We’ve been doing our part to help pay off the veterinarian’s student loans this week. Henry went in for his annual exam and shots. He had a minor ear infection—>topical antibiotic, lab panel—>all is well, and he needs his teeth cleaned. And he is worth every penny of it. 

We gone back to Kristy’s Pet Salon for Angie’s grooming. It’s inconvenient but they do a much, much better job.  She looks so much better. 

Thursday we Brazos Lakes Old Timers got together for lunch at Chili’s. It was so nice to see everyone. Sherry Heitzenrater called everyone and got it all together. We ended up sitting with all the men at one table and women at another. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. 

The Monarchs arrived with the cold front. It is so beautiful to see all the butterflies on the blue mist blooms. As much as the blue mist annoys me 11 months out of the year, but it is spectacular for that one month from the middle of October until the Monarchs leave  in addition to the Monarchs, we’ve had Queens, Gulf Fritillaries, & American Ladies. We haven’t had any Longtailed Skippers at all this year. 

I’m still cutting out the pieces for the 3 lap quilts. I hope to finish getting everything cut in the next week.  Then I can start piecing. I have decided that I’m going to use up my stash and buy only the fabric needed for backing. (We’ll see how that works out…)


 

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Around OakMeadows


Journal


Last week we went to see A Haunting in Venice. I was looking forward to seeing Kenneth Branaugh as Hercule Poirot. It was to say the least a disappointment. Over the top melodrama. We watched 30 minutes of previews and 30 minutes of the movie and left. The hot dog was very good though. 

JMM took Angie to the groomer at CBW. We switched from Kristy’s to CBW because it is so much more convenient but I am going back to Kristy’s. CBW charges $80 plus a tip and if I’m going to pay that much money, I want a much better cut than what CBW does. Kristy’s does a much, much better cut. 

I got my latest quilt back from Karen Shively and I must say that it turned out even better than anticipated. Speaking of quilts, I am sending one to Cecelia to be auctioned at their church’s silent auction in October. I was planning to send it to Sue Silverstein for her immigrant families but I’ll send her another one. I’m working on cutting out for 3 lap quilts. The fabric is from a package of French General fat quarters. After that, I want to make table runners. 

We’ve had more hummingbirds than usual this year. Maybe because of the drought, there isn’t as much blooming. Speaking of blooming, we have had bumblebees all over our purple salvia and our plumbago is outdoing itself this year since it loves the heat. JMM planted several more purple salvia and 3 more plumbagos. 

I think my 19 year old clothes dryer is on its last go round. Of course it would go out on a Saturday when it is impossible to get someone out to take a look at it on the weekend. (Just like the dog always gets sick on Friday evenings.) Monday morning, I will see how soon someone can come out. We currently are drying clothes by spreading them out on chair backs and around the house. JMM is looking online for the best new dryers in case this would cost too much to repair. To be continued.  



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Thursday, February 2, 2023

Books I Read in January, 2023

 

Books I read in January, 2023


The Puppetmaker’s Daughter by Karla M. Jay⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Complete Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(JMM read aloud)
Katie, Up and Down the Hall by Glen Plaskin⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Me Before You by JoJo Moyes (audio) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Life Around OakMeadows in January,2023

 

Life Around OakMeadows in January, 2023


Birds
Bluejays 
Crows
Goldfinches 
Cardinals
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture 
Caracaras 
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Doves
Collared Doves
Blue-headed Vireo <<== New addition to Life List!!
Red-bellied Woodpecker 
Carolina Wren
Meadowlarks 

Mammals 
Raccoons 
Squirrels