RebaRelishesReading in 2021 - #3 nearly summer

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RebaRelishesReading in 2021 - #3 nearly summer

1RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Ago 3, 2021, 1:07 pm

It's been quite a year so far! Coping with Covid World, traveling more for necessity than pleasure, getting established in a new place... That said, here's some background I'll just leave in place.

I I joined LT in 2007 because I wanted to catalog my library but didn't truly appreciate the full wonder of the place until I found the 75'ers in 2012 (I think that's the year). It's a favorite part of my morning now. I also love meeting other members in person when possible.

For those of you I don't know, I'll introduce my self a bit. I'm a Californian by birth and have lived there much of my life but Hubby and I decided last October that it was time to leave our condo in the Uptown district of San Diego and move to some place quieter and, most importantly, nearer our youngest grandchild. We have two older grandchildren who we adore but Ally will be going to college in the fall and Kyle will be sixteen next month so they probably won't be living near us anymore even if we had stayed in San Diego. Quinn turned three in January so we will have many years enjoying him growing up as we did the other two. So I'm adding Washington State to the list of places I've lived at various times in my life: California, Arizona, Connecticut, the Netherlands, England, the Netherlands, California, Ireland, California and now Washington.

I'm a retired city planner who travels a lot (or did pre-Covid). For the past 11 summers we were at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York but among our recent changes we have sold our place there and will probably not attend the season any more. I will miss it but it's time to move on.

I read mostly fiction with a helping of biography or history thrown in. A couple of years ago I finished a personal challenge to read all of the Pulitzer Prize winning fiction. I've also challenged myself to read the Pulitzer wining biographies but I don't seem to be making much progress on that score.

2RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Mag 12, 2021, 10:24 am



Our little Pirate Bee :)

3RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Mag 12, 2021, 10:28 am

“A Room Without Books Is Like A Body Without A Soul.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

4RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Ago 3, 2021, 1:01 pm

CURRENTLY READING:

(physical)
(audio)

5RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Mag 12, 2021, 10:10 am

My Rating System:

Superb *****
Excellent ****1/2
Very good ****
Good ***1/2
Average ***
Don't bother **
Terrible *

6RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Ago 3, 2021, 12:59 pm

READ IN 2021

January
1. What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon**** (audio)
2. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman****(audio)
3. Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner***2/3 (audio)

February
4. This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens***(audio)
5. Death Comes to the Village by Catherine Lloyd***(audio)
6. Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand*** (audio)
7. What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand*** (audio)
8. Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand**(audio)
9. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge ****1/2

March
10. The Late Bloomers' Club by Louise Miller****
11. The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths *** (audio)
12. Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr *** (audio)
13. Where the Light Enters by Jill Biden **** (audio)
14. Davita's Harp by Chaim Potok ****
15. Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd ***1/2(audio)
16. Death Comes to Kurland Hall by Catherine Lloyd ***1/2 (audio)
17. Death Comes to the Fair by Catherine Lloyd ***1/2 (audio)
18. Death Comes to the School by Catherine Lloyd***(audio)

April
19. Death Comes to Bath by Catherine Lloyd****(audio)
20. Death Comes to the Rectory by Catherine Lloyd****(audio)
21. The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams ****(audio)
22. The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar *****
23. How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith ***1/2 (audio)
24. The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar*****
25. The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith ***

May
26. The Shooting at Chateau Rock by Martin Walker ***1/2 (audio)
27. Finding Barbara: A DNA Story ***1/2
28. LaRose by Louise Erdrich **** (audio)
29. The Big Rock Candy Mountain ****1/2

June
30. Snap by Belinda Bauer ****1/2
31. Warlight by Michael Ondaatje **1/2
32. The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine***(audio)
33. The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar ****(audio)
34. The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doig ****1/2 (audio)
35. Miss Austen by Gill Hornby ***1/2
36. Paris by the Book by Liam Callanan ****

July
37. Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead **** (audio)
38. Overstag by Amita Gaige (Dutch translation of Sea Wife)*** (audio)
39. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn ***1/2 (audio)
40. The Stolen Letter by by Clara Benson *** (audio)
41. One by One by Ruth Ware ***1/2 (audio)
42. Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams *** (audio)
43. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich ****
44. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner ****1/2

7RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Mag 12, 2021, 10:35 am

8katiekrug
Mag 12, 2021, 10:12 am

Happy new thread, Reba!

9RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Mag 12, 2021, 10:36 am

Thanks Katie!! Nice to have a visitor so quickly.

10RebaRelishesReading
Mag 12, 2021, 11:00 am

We unloaded the car and opened all of the boxes yesterday. I got all of the clothes put away. Art is unpacked and laid out for deciding where it will go (some needs to be framed too). But there are still 7 boxes of books...and the bookshelves are nearly full. So we've decided to get two new bookshelves for the hallway. We'll order them from the office supply place we've used for most of the others. It's in San Diego but we're going down to house/pet sit for son & d-i-l in a couple of weeks and can bring them home with us (heck, the poor Subaru already thinks it's a truck so why not?).

11Crazymamie
Mag 12, 2021, 11:03 am

Happy new one, Reba! I'm snagging a seat here even though I am still catching up on your previous thread.

12karenmarie
Mag 12, 2021, 11:05 am

Happy new thread, Reba!

Always nice to need new bookcases and have room for them.

13RebaRelishesReading
Mag 12, 2021, 11:06 am

Hi Mamie & Karen -- Thanks for stopping by. It's so nice to have company :)

14FAMeulstee
Mag 12, 2021, 11:30 am

Happy new thread, Reba!

>10 RebaRelishesReading: Extra bookcases are always good :-)

15ronincats
Mag 12, 2021, 12:01 pm

And home just in time for a new thread! Perfect timing. New bookcases are always good. And put me on the schedule for lunch while you are here.

16drneutron
Mag 12, 2021, 12:22 pm

Happy new thread!

17SandDune
Mag 12, 2021, 12:32 pm

Happy new thread!

18RebaRelishesReading
Mag 12, 2021, 12:34 pm

>17 SandDune: Thank you, Rhian! Lovely to see you here.

19BLBera
Mag 12, 2021, 1:06 pm

Happy new thread, Reba. Ooh, new bookcases! You will have to buy more books -- or are they already full?

20quondame
Mag 12, 2021, 4:14 pm

Happy new thread!

Yay for new bookcases!

21SandyAMcPherson
Modificato: Mag 12, 2021, 4:49 pm

Hi Reba, I just rolled through a big back log of story and driving on the previous thread. I was surprised how little I posted, so simply want to say you've introduced a great new-to-me author (Thrity Umrigar).

I haven't put the two titles you reviewed on any request lists yet but I did wish list both The Space Between Us and The Secrets Between Us. Only 'Secrets' was available from Overdrive. I have a library cascade happening at the moment.

You sure have done a huge trek south and then north again. And ~ woah ~ adding in a trip to San Diego. That's ambitious. I hope your travels add up to great memories.

22brenzi
Mag 12, 2021, 6:32 pm

I hope you can catch your breath before you have to head off to SanDiego Reba. Always good to need and get new bookcases.

23RebaRelishesReading
Mag 13, 2021, 10:54 am

>19 BLBera: Hi Beth. I'm hoping this means a little additional space for new books but it won't be much because we have seven boxes of books (some fairly small but still) that we brought back from Chautauqua and need to be shelved.

>20 quondame: Hi Susan! Thank you.

>21 SandyAMcPherson: I'm happy to have introduced you to Thrity Umrigar, Sandy. I hope you love her as much as I do. Be sure to read The Space Between Us first as there is a definite sequence to the books.

>22 brenzi: Hi Bonnie. We have 2 1/2 weeks between the trips but they're going to be pretty full. Even so, I want to be there for my wonderful, delightful granddaughter's graduation (plus now I get to pick up the bookcases lol).

24RebaRelishesReading
Mag 13, 2021, 10:59 am

So I had a new, unpleasant experience yesterday. I've been having some "issues" with my throat for many months and finally decided to share my concern with my doctor a couple of months ago. I'm now experiencing some avenues of modern medicine that I'm not exactly enjoying (but hope lead to some answers). Before we left on our recent odyssey I had a procedure that involved putting a tiny camera up my nose to view my throat. That showed that my right vocal fold is "frozen" which led to an ultrasound study which showed nodules on my thyroid so yesterday I "got" to have a needle-biopsy of my thyroid. TMI? probably

25katiekrug
Mag 13, 2021, 11:08 am

>24 RebaRelishesReading: - Oh, yuck to the medical stuff, Reba. I hope it turns out to be something minor and easily treatable!

26FAMeulstee
Mag 13, 2021, 11:11 am

>24 RebaRelishesReading: So sorry, Reba, I hope it is something that is easy to treat.

27SandyAMcPherson
Mag 13, 2021, 11:19 am

>24 RebaRelishesReading: Not TMI. It is good to mention this worry. Helps put it in perspective. The procedures sound intimidating but good to have a diagnosis, no?
Wishing you all the very best of outcomes.

And yes, I will definitely read The Space Between Us first. I have it WL-ed but not requested, so far.

28charl08
Mag 13, 2021, 11:21 am

Hi Reba, came to wish the traditional thread wishes, but so sorry to read about the medical concerns. Hope for some reassuring news from the biopsy.

29RebaRelishesReading
Mag 13, 2021, 11:43 am

>25 katiekrug:, >26 FAMeulstee:, >27 SandyAMcPherson:, >28 charl08: Thank you Katie, Anita, Sandy and Char for enduring the post and providing sympathy. I'll keep you posted.

30BLBera
Mag 13, 2021, 11:59 am

Good luck with your biopsy, Reba. I hope it all turns out to be nothing serious.

31lauralkeet
Mag 13, 2021, 12:17 pm

>24 RebaRelishesReading: well that sounds unpleasant, Reba, but good for you for staying on top of it and following through on each step to get to a diagnosis. Good luck with the next steps.

32SandDune
Mag 13, 2021, 12:53 pm

>24 RebaRelishesReading: Ooh that doesn’t sound nice! Hope everything goes well.

33ronincats
Mag 13, 2021, 3:38 pm

Ahem! I think you completely overlooked >14 FAMeulstee:, >15 ronincats: and >16 drneutron: above.

Here's hoping that your nodules and my polyp are both minor extrusions and easily removed with no aftereffects.

34RebaRelishesReading
Mag 13, 2021, 6:26 pm

>14 FAMeulstee:, >15 ronincats:, >16 drneutron: Yikes you're right Roni!! I did read them but either forgot to respond or responded and forgot to post (actually I remember writing a response so must not have hit "post message"). I'm so sorry, Anita, Roni and Jim!!

35RebaRelishesReading
Mag 13, 2021, 6:30 pm

>30 BLBera:, >31 lauralkeet:, >32 SandDune:, >33 ronincats: Thank you Beth, Laura, Rhian and Roni. I just got the results and both nodules they biopsied were benign :) Still don't know what's wrong with my throat but there are more (less worrisome and unpleasant) tests to be done.

So, Roni, here's to a similar result for you!!

36brenzi
Mag 13, 2021, 7:21 pm

Whew crisis averted Reba. Very happy for you

37katiekrug
Mag 13, 2021, 9:38 pm

Glad to hear the good news, Reba. I bet you are, too :)

38ronincats
Mag 13, 2021, 9:58 pm

Very glad about your results. I wish I would get mine.

39PaulCranswick
Mag 13, 2021, 11:24 pm

How great to drop by to wish you a happy new thread and be greeted by good news, Reba!

Happy new thread and I am sure that your throat issues will be resolved soon too.

40quondame
Mag 13, 2021, 11:36 pm

>35 RebaRelishesReading: Great news on the test results! You have my best wishes that the throat issue will clear up soonest!

41karenmarie
Mag 14, 2021, 8:19 am

Hi Reba.

>24 RebaRelishesReading: I’m sorry to hear about this medical stuff. I think I had that same camera-up-the-nose joy when I had a paralyzed vocal cord in the fall of 2014. I do hope that whatever is going on is minor and easily treatable.

>35 RebaRelishesReading: I’m glad to hear about the benign biopsy results.

42RebaRelishesReading
Mag 14, 2021, 11:01 am

>36 brenzi:, >37 katiekrug:, >38 ronincats:, >39 PaulCranswick:, >40 quondame:, >41 karenmarie: Thank you Bonnie, Katie, Roni, Paul, Susan and Karen. I'm relieved by the results, of course. It's not really a big problem, just a nagging little thing that doctor feared might be caused by something serious. It's looking more like it's just a nagging little thing period.

Indeed, Roni, I hope you get your results soon and that they end up being "just polyps".

Interesting you had a paralyzed vocal cord too, Karen. I'd never heard of that before. I would love to hear more about your experience if you're comfortable with sharing.

43RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Mag 14, 2021, 11:12 am



Finding Barbara: A DNA Story by Susan Townsend***1/2

This book was written by a friend and is a fictionalized account of his background as it unfolded after he had a DNA test. He had been told that his mother had died when he was an infant but it turned out that wasn't true and he had much more family than he knew about. Susan was a social worker, not an author, but she did a fine job of retelling the facts and filling in from her imagination. A good read even for those who don't know the people involved.

44connie53
Mag 16, 2021, 4:40 am

Happy New Thread, Reba!

45RebaRelishesReading
Mag 16, 2021, 11:09 am

>44 connie53: Thank you Connie :)

46RebaRelishesReading
Mag 16, 2021, 11:20 am

Yesterday was a beautiful day here -- blue skies, 70's, -- spring blooming all around. We took a little walk on the path along our local "creek" (more a small river but called a creek) and then in the afternoon I sat on our deck in my favorite outdoor chair (a rocker that is sooooo comfortable) and read. Really, how much nicer can a day get?

47banjo123
Mag 16, 2021, 6:16 pm

Happy new thread! I am glad your biopsies were benign, but that sounds scary and uncomfortable.

48RebaRelishesReading
Mag 16, 2021, 7:32 pm

>47 banjo123: Yes, it was both scary and uncomfortable -- but it's over :)

49RebaRelishesReading
Mag 16, 2021, 7:40 pm



LaRose by Louise Erdrich**** (audio)

Description from Amazon: "Inspiring and affecting, LaRose is a powerful exploration of loss, justice, and the reparation of the human heart, and an unforgettable, dazzling tour de force from one of America's most distinguished literary masters. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in Fiction. Finalist for the PEN Faulkner Award."

This epic saga is set on a reservation in North Dakota and follows some dramatic events in the lives of two families and more every-day problems of these families and the local priest. The characters are very real and easy to like (with one exception). The book is engaging and beautifully written (also beautifully read in the audio version) but so long that is sometimes dragged for me. Nevertheless, I certainly recommend it.

50connie53
Mag 17, 2021, 3:43 am

Scrolling up your thread I noticed I missed the news about your medical stuff. You lost me on TMI though. I'm not sure what that means. Good to read about the results.

>46 RebaRelishesReading: Here it's really terrible. Rain, rain, rain. Cold, cold, cold.

51lauralkeet
Mag 17, 2021, 7:37 am

>49 RebaRelishesReading: Louise Erdrich is a gem, and a relatively recent discovery for me. I just started The Beet Queen yesterday. It looks like I should add LaRose to my reading list.

52BLBera
Mag 17, 2021, 11:12 am

I liked LaRose well enough, Reba, but I love her early work so much that some of her later stuff disappoints me, even though they are still very good.

53RebaRelishesReading
Mag 17, 2021, 11:38 am

>50 connie53:, Hi Connie "TMI" means "too much information" -- it's moved into general usage in recent years from being a common abbreviation in texting.

Sorry about your weather. The northwest of the U.S. is known for its rainy weather but it's be beautiful here since we got back from our road trip.

>51 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. This is my first Erdrich and I don't think I'll be ready for another for a while. I'm looking forward to what you think of The Beet Queen though.

>52 BLBera: Hi Beth. Quite honestly I thought this was an excellent book but the scope was so big that it was almost too much for me. Maybe it was partly because I was listening which is always slower but towards the end I was sometimes thinking "oh, please, not another rabbit trail"

54brenzi
Mag 17, 2021, 8:22 pm

Hi Reba, Definitely agree with Beth on Louise Erdrich. Absolutely loved Love Medicine and Tracks and most of her early writing but not so much her later stuff.

55lauralkeet
Mag 18, 2021, 7:55 am

>52 BLBera:, >54 brenzi: yep, me too. I cared less for a recent book, The Night Watchman, than earlier ones. Besides the ones mentioned above, I also really liked The Round House.

56EllaTim
Mag 18, 2021, 9:33 am

Happy newish thread, Reba.

Glad to hear that whatever it is, is benign, it's no fun having to wait for that kind of outcome!

Ah, and spring blooming all around, sounds great!

We went to the beach yesterday, sunny but a cold wind from the north. But we got to sit outside on a nice comfortable beach terrace with a glass of wine for the first time in a year.

57RebaRelishesReading
Mag 18, 2021, 11:13 am

>54 brenzi: >55 lauralkeet: Hi Bonnie and Laura . OK, I'll keep Erdrich on my radar for future reads and be sure to pick one of her earlier works. :)

Hi Ella. We're still enjoying spring (although yesterday was on the cool side) and the neighborhood has moved on to rhododendrons and azaleas now. We even have some beauties in our own front yard.

58benitastrnad
Mag 18, 2021, 11:49 am

Here in Kansas it has been rainy and cloud covered. More like what I expect from the Pacific Northwest. The forecast is for this weather to continue for the next week. Right now I am working remotely for 2-3 hours per day and dealing with Mom's medical and housing issues. I hope to bring her home at the end of this week. Had a good short meeting yesterday with the Social Worker assigned to Mom and we agreed that she could come home as soon as the proper medical paperwork is completed.

That said I have the kitchen table covered with my papers and documents for working and I know that Mom isn't going to like that at all. She is fastidious about the table. When I am home she always complains about the books and papers I have stacked on the table. Now I have added laptop and electronic accoutrements because I have to have an electric outlet close enough.

I do have to say that the view from this spot on the table is outstanding. I can see a half-a-mile to the next hedgerow and lots of grass and trees that we have planted in the yard. The carpenter did a great job on the new deck and later this week I am going to buy some pots and get some plantings done for the deck.

59RebaRelishesReading
Mag 19, 2021, 12:07 pm

Hi Benita -- hope all goes well with your Mom and that you don't get into too much trouble about the table :)

60ffortsa
Modificato: Mag 19, 2021, 9:38 pm

Hi, Reba. That trek home sounds exhausting, but then I'm not so frequent a driver anymore and don't relish driving long distances. Glad you're home.

And glad the biopsies showed nothing to worry about. Thyroid stuff is pretty routine to handle these days, but you didn't need that worry, so it's very good news.

I'm dealing with my own medical investigations, so far no adverse discoveries, which is good. My doctor wants me to swallow a camera! I know about this via my brother, who is the same sort of doc, and I'm glad mine wants to be thorough. It's just funny to think of.

Benita, good to hear that your mother can come home. Is she able to live on her own? Or are you planning home services for her?

61Oregonreader
Mag 19, 2021, 9:40 pm

Hi Reba, Just stopping by to say hello and catch up on your activities. Unpacking boxes of books when you have empty shelves waiting is fun. I have been trying to shelve my books by category and alphabetical within the category. It is sloooow going. Not sure if I'll ever finish.

62benitastrnad
Mag 19, 2021, 10:39 pm

>60 ffortsa:
The people at the rehab tell me that she can live on her own. They think that the after effects of COVID and the lingering ear infection caused her to stop eating. That started a downward cycle of just getting weaker and weaker. They thought I was just here on a visit. When I told them I was going to be here for two weeks that changed the picture. We are now planning on her coming home as soon as the paperwork is done.

We have had home services for her for some time. The Country Health Nurse comes every week. A housekeeper comes every two weeks. We are going to see if we can change that to weekly because she needs somebody to do a bit of cooking for her. We will be getting the local version of meals on wheels for her as well. That will start when I leave on June 1.

I will go back to work for two weeks, and then return here for one week later in June. My sister will be coming to spend two weeks with her in July and then I will return for a week in August. Once school starts it will be more difficult as both my sister (middle school teacher) and I are tied to the semester schedule. We hope that by that time she is feeling better and back to a more normal way of life.

63RebaRelishesReading
Mag 21, 2021, 12:56 am

>60 ffortsa: Thanks, Judy. It was a tiring trip but now we'll be home 2 weeks and 2 days and then leave for San Diego. We're going to do three days over the drive (we usually do it in 2) and we'll have fun while there. My beautiful, sweet, smart granddaughter is graduating from high school!

I had to smile about your camera swallowing because recently I had a camera put up my nose -- to look at my throat. Not exactly unpleasant but certainly weird. Hope your own camera experience has good outcome.

>61 Oregonreader: Hi Jan. Unpacking books is fun indeed as long as you have a place for them. Hope we can get together some time this summer.

64quondame
Mag 21, 2021, 1:04 am

>63 RebaRelishesReading: Congratulations to your granddaughter! May you have perfect weather for your trip south. I expect you'll pass miles to the east of me, but wave as you cross the 10!

65RebaRelishesReading
Mag 21, 2021, 12:26 pm

>64 quondame: Thanks you Susan. "miles to the east of you" ... probably. We usually use the 405 but given that we'll be coming through noonish on a weekday we're going to try the 210 to 15 option this time. I'll try to remember the wave :)

66RebaRelishesReading
Mag 21, 2021, 12:30 pm

Handy man (well, actually men) here this morning to (1)finish putting our new grill together, (2) assemble the new table and chairs for the deck, (3) rehang the horizontal blind on the patio slider that is falling apart and (4) tighten a loose toilet seat. HOORAY!! Also expecting a man to measure for a screen for that sliding glass door. Wednesday two dying birch trees were removed and yesterday the stumps were ground.

We really are nearing the end of this moving/settling-in business. Hallelujah!

67scaifea
Mag 22, 2021, 8:18 am

>66 RebaRelishesReading: That's exciting, and I bet it's really satisfying to almost be completely finished with that settling in!

68karenmarie
Modificato: Mag 22, 2021, 10:10 am

Hi Reba!

>42 RebaRelishesReading: Ah, the sad parable of the paralyzed vocal cord in 2014. Here are my notes, but I was so sick and stressed after I got the referral that I see I didn’t write down the visit to the ENT, the diagnosis, or the follow up visit to him. I’ve written the rest from memory. I’ll spare those not interested.

Oct 29 Stayed home with sore throat, sinus pressure, earaches
Oct 30 GP visit. Augmentin, 875 MG 14 days 2 times per day, Prednisone MG, 5 days to be started if not more than 50% better by Monday the 3rd
Nov 2 Started Prednisone
Nov 4 GP visit. Nasal swab for whooping cough, chest xray, both negative. Cannot swallow liquids without choking up to 75% of the time
Nov 6 (hysterically) requested referral to ENT, finished Prednisone.
Nov 7 GP phone consultation. Agreed to referral, Fluconazole 200 MG 3 days 1 time per day. Started Fluconazole, an antifungal. I felt he was grasping at straws. Appt with ENT set up by GP’s office.
Nov 9 Finished Fluconazole.

The rest is from memory:
Nov 10 ENT. Diagnosed paralyzed left-vocal cord. Was the most gentle and kindly doctor I’ve ever, EVER had. Prescription for some kind of antibiotic and something else, not a steroid, but I can’t remember what they were. Told me to stay home for a week, don’t talk, and DO NOTHING. I actually followed his advice because I felt so terrible.

Nov 17 ENT follow up. He said that I’d fully recover from the paralysis, although he apparently wasn’t sure of that on the first visit. I’m glad he didn’t tell me it might be permanent.

The rest of November – December: People didn’t recognize my voice on the phone, and my car/cellphone Bluetooth couldn’t understand me. I was angry with my GP because I had to request a referral for the ENT, which he should have done immediately because of the difficulty in swallowing. Had a Dec 1 follow up and cataract-surgery clearance visit with the GP and cataract surgeries on Dec 8 and 15.

I’m generally happy with my GP, although it’s always wise to go to him if I’m having a problem with having done some kind of research. Like the thing with my right knee recently – he did order an x-ray but both he and the technician diagnosed a ‘floating body’, which I researched and expected to have to get surgery for. The specialist said it was really a fabella and in conjunction with the arthritis was causing the pain. I'm now on miloxicam, which works about 95% of the time. Someone here on LT told me that there is a surgery to remove the fabella, which is always an option if things get terribly worse.


>63 RebaRelishesReading: Yay for the ‘beautiful, sweet, smart ganddaughter’ graduating form high school.

69RebaRelishesReading
Mag 22, 2021, 11:14 am

>67 scaifea: Hi Amber -- indeed it does feel great to be nearly settled

>68 karenmarie: Thanks for sharing that Karen. Sounds like you've recovered which is encouraging.

70RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Mag 22, 2021, 11:20 am



So here's our back yard with deck now "furnished" with grill, table & chairs and two rockers. I read in a rocker (these are the most comfortable chairs I've ever owned) for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon -- bliss :)

Screen is ordered. Horizontal blind is still falling off the track, however. Handy men said they were afraid they'd break something if they kept going and suggested calling "blind people" which is were I started. "Blind people" said the blind was so old the parts would cost too much and it wouldn't be worth it. I called Hunter Douglas then and they sent me the parts for free along with instructions/owners manual. I don't want to fiddle with it and apparently neither does anyone else. I may have to though because the fabric, etc. is all in perfect condition -- it's just the little hanger clips that are the problem -- and seems a waste to just toss it out and buy a new one. Sigh.

71BLBera
Mag 22, 2021, 12:02 pm

Lovely deck, Reba. It's hard to find good help...

72lauralkeet
Modificato: Mag 22, 2021, 5:20 pm

>70 RebaRelishesReading: ooh, that's a beautiful spot, Reba. I hope you get the blinds sorted out.

73brenzi
Mag 22, 2021, 6:00 pm

>70 RebaRelishesReading: Oh just lovely Reba. And those chairs look really comfortable.

74RebaRelishesReading
Mag 23, 2021, 1:18 am

>71 BLBera:, >72 lauralkeet:, >73 brenzi: Thank you Beth, Laura and Bonnie. I'm really looking forward to that deck this summer and also hope I can get the bloody blind sorted!!

75RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Mag 24, 2021, 12:56 am



Have I ever mentioned how proud I am of my kind, sweet, smart, beautiful granddaughter? Tonight is Senior Prom night for her, to be held on the football field, everyone masked. Her dress had to be altered and the seamstress used some fabric left over from shortening the dress to make her a matching one.

76scaifea
Mag 23, 2021, 8:40 am

>70 RebaRelishesReading: Your deck looks wonderful! I love the rocking chairs and the roofed area!

77RebaRelishesReading
Mag 23, 2021, 11:11 am

>76 scaifea: Thanks Amber -- you'd be amazed how comfy those rockers are. I've owned one of them since 1987 but hadn't been able to find another until this year. I doubt you could tell which one was the older one.

78thornton37814
Mag 23, 2021, 8:29 pm

>70 RebaRelishesReading: That looks nice and peaceful!

79ronincats
Mag 23, 2021, 11:41 pm

Love the deck and rockers but can't see the photo of your granddaughter!

80RebaRelishesReading
Mag 24, 2021, 12:57 am

>78 thornton37814: Hi Lori -- it is indeed!

>79 ronincats: Hi Roni -- is the picture better now?

81RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Mag 24, 2021, 12:59 am

Does anyone have a good poem about travel with friends? I'm planning to make a photo book for a dear friend with whom we've travelled many times over the years and thought a nice poem would go well on the first page. I am illiterate when it comes to poetry so need help please :)

82quondame
Mag 24, 2021, 1:02 am

>75 RebaRelishesReading: She's stunning! And has good taste as well.

83RebaRelishesReading
Mag 24, 2021, 12:52 pm

>82 quondame: Thank you Susan. She's a delightful young woman!

84brenzi
Mag 24, 2021, 6:32 pm

85ronincats
Mag 24, 2021, 7:35 pm

>80 RebaRelishesReading: Yes, now I can see it!

86RebaRelishesReading
Mag 25, 2021, 11:43 am

>84 brenzi: Thanks Bonnie :)

>85 ronincats: I always have trouble when it's not a photo I've posted on FaceBook so glad it worked.

87RebaRelishesReading
Mag 25, 2021, 1:05 pm



The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner****1/2

Written in 1943, this semi-autobiographical novel is set at the beginning of the 20th century in the western U. S. and Canada. Reportedly the connection with Stegner's own family is the frequent moving from place to place always pursuing a new idea for making a fortune. The book is named after a folk song "Big Rock Candy Mountain", which is about a mythical paradise.

Elsa leaves her Minnesota home to go and live with an uncle in a small town in North Dakota after her widowed father marries her best friend. She meets Bo and falls in love with him in spite of his temper and "career" selling liquor illegally. Bo, the product of an abusive childhood, has a talent for working with his hands and is a fine carpenter and skilled mechanic but is always searching to "make it big". Elsa wants a stable home and sense of community around her but the chemistry with Bo is strong and she gives in to his charm. The book follows their life.

In spite of this being a rather sad story, I was so drawn in by the characters and their story that I was constantly drawn back to it. A very worthwhile, if not cheery, book.

Here are the lyrics to the song, many phrases of which appear in the book:

One evening as the sun went down
And the jungle fire was burning
Down the track came a hobo hiking
And he said, "Boys, I'm not turning"
"I'm headed for a land that's far away
Besides the crystal fountains
So come with me, we'll go and see
The Big Rock Candy Mountains"
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
There's a land that's fair and bright
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out every night
Where the boxcars all are empty
And the sun shines every day
And the birds and the bees
And the cigarette trees
The lemonade springs
Where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
All the cops have wooden legs
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth
And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs
The farmers' trees are full of fruit
And the barns are full of hay
Oh, I'm bound to go
Where there ain't no snow
Where the rain don't fall
The winds don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats
And the railway bulls are blind
There's a lake of stew
And of whiskey too
You can paddle all around it
In a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
The jails are made of tin
And you can walk right out again
As soon as you are in
There ain't no short-handled shovels
No axes, saws nor picks
I'm goin' to stay
Where you sleep all day
Where they hung the jerk
That invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
I'll see you all this coming fall
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

88benitastrnad
Mag 25, 2021, 1:24 pm

>87 RebaRelishesReading:
Mark and I read this book way-back-when and I liked it. I wanted to dislike the father but in the end I just couldn't. Stegner made even the unsympathetic characters sympathetic. Like you I kept putting this book aside and then I would pick it up again and in the end I kept thinking about it. I still think about it from time-to-time. This is indeed a worthy read.

89Berly
Mag 25, 2021, 10:00 pm

>35 RebaRelishesReading: Phew! Glad the nodules were benign. Hope the rests of the tests are not too bad and that you find out what's going on.

>49 RebaRelishesReading: Love La Rose and Erdrich!!

>70 RebaRelishesReading: The deck is looking awesome!! Hurray for all the home fixes. Maybe I'll get to visit you someday. : )

>75 RebaRelishesReading: Beautiful photo! No wonder you are so proud, and I love how you mention her other good qualities first.

Happy Tuesday.

90lauralkeet
Mag 26, 2021, 7:53 am

>87 RebaRelishesReading: ooh, I loved The Big Rock Candy Mountain too, Reba. Only after reading it did I learn it was semi-autobiographical, which made it even more interesting to me. Have you read Stegner's Angle of Repose? That was my introduction to him and it was a 5-star read.

91banjo123
Mag 26, 2021, 4:54 pm

Thanks for posting your granddaughter picture, she's lovely, and looks like a sweet person.

92RebaRelishesReading
Mag 26, 2021, 8:26 pm

>88 benitastrnad: Hi Benita. I've been thinking about it off and on today. It had a very engaging plot but also gave one lots to think about re upbringing, love, priorities, compromise...

>89 Berly: Hi Kim! Thank you re medical wishes and kind words about deck. I hope we can sit there and talk books some day too. (it's not a complete list of her qualities but I tried to list these by order of importance ... to me anyway.) She's a total treasure as is her brother but he will be highlighted in two years when he graduates from high school.

>90 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. Yes, I've read Angle of Repose which is the only other Stegner I've read. I think I probably rated it 5 stars because I really liked it. I certainly plan to read more of his.

>91 banjo123: Thank you Rhonda. As I said above, she's a complete treasure.

93RebaRelishesReading
Mag 26, 2021, 8:29 pm

So...we're on the road again. We drove from Vancouver (WA of course) to Redding, California today. On to Bakersfield tomorrow and then to San Diego Friday morning. We're dog-sitting for son and d-i-l while they make a short trip, visiting friends, going to our dentist (haven't found a new one in WA yet), and finally going to kind, sweet, smart, beautiful granddaughter's high school graduation. We plan to be gone about 2 weeks.

A nice 60-something day was forecast for home today but when we got out of the car here in Redding it was 88 -- man do I hate heat!!

94karenmarie
Mag 27, 2021, 8:46 am

Hi Reba!

>75 RebaRelishesReading: She’s lovely, absolutely lovely. The dress is perfect.

>93 RebaRelishesReading: Safe travels, enjoy the time with your family.

95RebaRelishesReading
Mag 27, 2021, 8:34 pm

>94 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen. Her awards ceremony is tonight and is "virtual" only so we will be watching from our hotel room. I know she's getting a reward but don't know what it's for.

96RebaRelishesReading
Mag 29, 2021, 12:11 pm

So granddaughter got an aware called the "Alpha award" for being a leader. There were six of them I think. She's such a doll.

Meanwhile we've arrived in San Diego and are sitting our fur grandchildren while son and d-i-l are out of town at a Padres game. I'm totally convinced that these are the two best dogs on earth. I'm sitting at a bar-stool height table on the computer with Mia (little white poodle something or other mix) next to my left foot and Mollie (big black lab something or other mix) next to my right. I've got a week and a half to satisfy my "I want a dog" urges before I go home.

97RebaRelishesReading
Giu 1, 2021, 6:47 pm

All the talk of medical appointments elsewhere nudges me to report that we're taking advantage of being in San Diego to get our teeth cleaned. We've got new doctors and a hair dresser in Washington but knew we'd be back here about time for our next cleaning so having moved toward a new dentist. I'm proud to report that the hygienist started my appointment with "you take really good care of your teeth so this will be easy for me". She also had a new tool which involved first painting my teeth purple, followed by a rinse after which all of "stuff' that needed to be removed was bright pink. The removal happened by way of a water jet with only very limited use of the hand tools at the end. It was like having my mouth power washed :)

I brought three books on this trip (2 weeks) thinking I would get at least that much reading done. So far I've read about 30 pages :( Right now, though everyone else seems to be busy doing their own thing so I'm going to sneak out of this room, grab my book and find a quiet corner.

98thornton37814
Giu 2, 2021, 9:16 pm

>97 RebaRelishesReading: When I think I'll have time to read, I often find myself with less time than anticipated.

99RebaRelishesReading
Giu 3, 2021, 7:54 pm

>98 thornton37814: Funny how that goes, isn't it Lori?

100RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Giu 4, 2021, 10:29 am



Snap by Belinda Bauer****1/2

Thank you SusanJ for recommending this book (a year ago). Somehow the title never really called to me so it sat in Mt. TBR with little attention until I was looking for books to bring with me on our San Diego trip and decided it was "time". What a great book!!

From the cover: "Jack's in charge, said Eileen Bright as she left their broken-down car on the side of the road to find help. But she never came back and, three years later, fourteen-year-old Jack's still in charge: of his two younger sisters, of making sure nobody knows they're all alone in the house, and -- quite suddenly -- of finding out who murdered his mother. Meanwhile, a young woman named Catherine While wakes to find a knife beside her bed, and a note reading 'I could have killed you.' With a husband on the road and a baby on the way, Catherine makes one bad choice that leads her into a tangled web of deception and danger. A gripping, masterfully written novel."

This book won the UK National Book Award for "crime and thriller", which it surely is, but it's much more than that. It's also about family and responsibility and deception. A really good read.

101brenzi
Giu 3, 2021, 8:11 pm

Ok that sounds like one that I'd like Reba so onto the list it goes.

102RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Giu 4, 2021, 10:30 am



We spent much of the day in Coronado today while Hubby got a hair cut and had his teeth cleaned. I visited a favorite indy bookstore and came home with these two books. In addition we had a wonderful lunch and I had a couple of hours to read which allowed me to finish a great novel, Snap. Very good day :)

So for I-don't-know-what-reason I can only get one book to show up even though I've entered two. Probably some error on my part but I can't see what it is. Anyway, my two new books are:

Miss Austen by Gill Hornby and
In Praise of Walking by Shane O'Mara

103RebaRelishesReading
Giu 3, 2021, 8:30 pm

>101 brenzi: It's a good one Bonnie :)

104scaifea
Giu 4, 2021, 7:50 am

>100 RebaRelishesReading: Oooh, that one sounds really good! Adding it to the list.

105katiekrug
Giu 4, 2021, 9:54 am

I've loved all the Belinda Bauer books I've read, including Snap. She's very good.

106RebaRelishesReading
Giu 4, 2021, 10:32 am

>104 scaifea: Hi Amber! I think you'll enjoy it.

>105 katiekrug: Hi Katie. I'd never heard of her until this one. I'll have to check out her other books. Any particular recommendation or just "all of them"?

107katiekrug
Giu 4, 2021, 11:13 am

>106 RebaRelishesReading: - The first of hers I read was Blacklands, which is probably still my favorite.

108RebaRelishesReading
Giu 5, 2021, 12:32 pm

>107 katiekrug: Thanks Katie. I'll put that one on the wish list.

109RebaRelishesReading
Giu 7, 2021, 11:53 pm



Warlight by Michael Ondaatje***1/2

From the book cover:
"It is 1945, and London is still reeling from years of war. Fourteen-year-old Nathaniel and his older sister, Rachel, seemingly abandoned by their parents, have been left in the care of an enigmatic figure they call The Moth. They suspect he may be a criminal and grow both more convinced and less concerned as they come to know his eccentric crew of friends: men and women with a shared history, all of whom seem determined now to protect and educate (in rather unusual ways) the siblings. But are they really what and who they claim to be? And how should Nathaniel and Rachel feel when their mother returns without their father after months of silence--explaining nothing, excusing nothing? A dozen years later, Nathaniel begins to uncover all he didn't know or understand during that time, and it is this journey--through reality, recollection and imagination--that is told in this magnificent novel."

As with The English Patient I found this book a bit of a slog but liked the ending, which explains a lot and wraps the story up nicely, enough to make me glad I had read the book.

110RebaRelishesReading
Giu 11, 2021, 1:16 pm

Made it home last night -- another 10 hour driving day :( However, we have no more road trips planned -- next trip of any kind is next February and is non-stop flight to Hawaii :)

I'm tired but still very happy to have been there for my granddaughter's graduation. We got to spend time with the entire San Diego family on three separate days and I got to go to the grad. ceremony in person (there were only 4 tickets per student so it was Dad, Mom and the two grandma's who got to be there in person -- others watched on FaceTime). We all went out for a fun teppan dinner to celebrate after the ceremony.

While there we picked up two very-heavy bookcases and brought them back in our truck Subaru. They've been unloaded and are in their place (although no shelves or books in them yet) . Suitcases are unpacked and stowed and the laundry is going. So...now it's time to go to post office/grocery/etc.

Did I mention I'm really tired of road trips?

111FAMeulstee
Giu 11, 2021, 4:44 pm

>110 RebaRelishesReading: Glad you are safely back home, Reba, and that you could be at the graduation.
Okay, understood, you won't plan any road trips in the near future ;-)

112RebaRelishesReading
Giu 12, 2021, 7:21 pm



The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine*** (audio)

A fun look at intertwining lives of several New Yorker neighbors (and their dogs). It was a nice, light listen for running errands to.

113RebaRelishesReading
Giu 12, 2021, 7:22 pm

>111 FAMeulstee: exactly right, Anita!

114RebaRelishesReading
Giu 12, 2021, 7:23 pm

It's now 4:22 p.m. and I'm still in my robe and sitting at my desk where I've been since I got up about 8 this morning. I have, however, pretty much caught up with things including booking hotel and flights for the February trip with friends. Bookcases are still standing un-leveled and empty however...maybe tomorrow.

115katiekrug
Giu 13, 2021, 9:50 am

>112 RebaRelishesReading: - Glad that was a good audio for you! I really enjoyed the book.

116BLBera
Giu 13, 2021, 10:20 am

Hi Reba - Glad you have finished with road trips for a while. Now, you can fill those bookshelves. I need to give Bauer a try; your description of Snap is very enticing.

>102 RebaRelishesReading: Nice book haul. I love the Hornby cover.

I think I liked Warlight more than you did, but I remember there were places when I wanted things to speed up a bit.

117karenmarie
Giu 13, 2021, 10:51 am

Hi Reba!

I'm glad to hear that the graduation trip/book shelf pickup went well and that you're safe and sound back home.

Have fun filling the shelves.

118RebaRelishesReading
Giu 13, 2021, 1:06 pm

>115 katiekrug: Hi Katie :)

>116 BLBera: Thank you, Beth. I'm very happy about that too. I hope you try, and like, Bauer. I plan to add her to Mt. TBR sometime soon.

>117 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I loved spending time with my son, his sweet wife and his totally delightful young adult children but I'm also glad to be home. They may be coming to our house for Christmas which would be totally wonderful. If so, we will have all three of our children and their families together for the first time in many years and I will be a very, very happy mom/step-mom/grandma :)

119Berly
Giu 13, 2021, 3:13 pm

Hurray for the graduation and family time! Good luck with the books and shelves. Warlight sounds more interesting than I thought.

120brenzi
Giu 13, 2021, 9:18 pm

I'm glad you'll be off the road Reba. Rest up and fill your new bookshelves. I'm always happy to suggest some new additions. 😉

121RebaRelishesReading
Giu 14, 2021, 11:11 am

>119 Berly: Hi Kim! We have the bookshelves leveled, the shelves in place and even a few books on them. We may even have a few empty shelves when we're done...

>120 brenzi: and I know how able you are to help me fill them Bonnie :)

I actually spent most of yesterday afternoon in my favorite chair reading!!

122ronincats
Giu 14, 2021, 11:23 am

Glad you were able to work out getting the bookcases in time. I think some photos of them are called for after all that!

123RebaRelishesReading
Giu 14, 2021, 11:28 am

>122 ronincats: Hi Roni! How are you feeling?

I was most relieved to get the bookcases on time. Didn't tell you all about the little "incident" with them, however. We had the lying flat in the back of the Subaru and were parked on a rather steep hill in front of my son't house with the "nose" of the car pointing up hill when my husband opened the back "hatch" of the car. Not surprisingly, the top bookcase slid right out and onto the street. The back bottom corners are a bit smashed but, happily, it still stands straight, one corner is hidden by the second bookcase and the one that is exposed doesn't show much (and no one was injured).

Once we have books in them I'll post a photo.

124thornton37814
Giu 15, 2021, 9:55 am

>123 RebaRelishesReading: Can't wait to see the bookshelves filled. I really need to make an Ikea trip (which is several hours each way but still cheaper than the shipping) to get some bookshelves. I need to carefully measure my space before I go so I can make sure I'm getting the corner units and right amount of units otherwise. I may not purchase everything at once, but I can get enough units to get most of what I need regularly shelved instead of in boxes.

125RebaRelishesReading
Giu 15, 2021, 1:00 pm

Hi Lori -- I've got to resolve some books from the family room to the new shelves and haven't decided which ones that will be yet. As soon as it's done I will post photos.

126RebaRelishesReading
Giu 15, 2021, 1:04 pm

We had an interesting weather moment yesterday. Looking out the windows at the front of the house it was pouring rain -- really bucketing -- but out the windows at the back there wasn't a drop. We experienced that once before in a restaurant on the turnpike in Massachusetts where Hubby, looking one direction, found rain and I, looking 90 degrees the other, found none. I know there must be an "edge" to every storm but it's weird to stand in one place and see both sides.

127lauralkeet
Giu 15, 2021, 3:39 pm

>126 RebaRelishesReading: that's wild, Reba. I can't say I've ever experienced that but it must have been pretty cool to see it.

128Oregonreader
Giu 15, 2021, 4:27 pm

I'm glad you had a successful trip, Reba, and now you have the fun of filling the bookcases!

129RebaRelishesReading
Giu 15, 2021, 11:55 pm

>127 lauralkeet: It's hard to believe your eyes at first, Laura, but then you check the ground and find it true -- strange but true.

>128 Oregonreader: Thanks Jan. I'm going to try to go slowly with filling the bookcases because, really, I don't think there can be any more.

130RebaRelishesReading
Giu 16, 2021, 12:10 am



The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar**** (audio)

Although a novel, this story is based on the WASP's, a real group of women who, although civil servants with no military standing, tested and ferried military aircraft, towed targets for training and even trained male military pilots during WWII. In 2009 President Obama awarded them the Congressional Medal of Honor for their work. The book does a very good job of portraying the circumstances these amazing women worked under and what they accomplished while spicing things up with a touch of romance. Very enjoyable book.

131scaifea
Giu 16, 2021, 8:10 am

>126 RebaRelishesReading: Very cool! I remember one particularly hot day in high school band camp, we were practicing on the parking lot 'field' and we actually watched a rainstorm coming toward us. We were *so* ready for it, and of course our director didn't call off practice (he only did so if there was lightning involved), so we experienced that line of the rain as it ran right over us!

132RebaRelishesReading
Giu 16, 2021, 1:53 pm

>131 scaifea: That must have been really cool!!

133brenzi
Giu 16, 2021, 7:17 pm

>130 RebaRelishesReading: Oh interesting Reba. Does the book mention real historical figures like Marian Graves and Jacqueline Cochran? I'm reading an excellent historical fiction right now, Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, mostly based on Marion Graves life and I'm to the part right now where she is ferrying planes.

134RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Giu 17, 2021, 10:11 am

>133 brenzi: All of the characters are fictional but what they're doing is true to history. They ferried planes, towed targets, test flew repaired planes, etc. just as the real WASP's did. Great Circle sounds interesting...on to the wish list.

Back from putting it on the wish list, then moving directly to Amazon where I found it isn't available in soft cover yet (and I need to conserve bookshelf space) so I bought the Audible :)

135banjo123
Giu 18, 2021, 6:57 pm

Looking forward to seeing the bookcases filled!

136RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Giu 19, 2021, 12:58 pm

>135 banjo123: The good news is they won't be filled for a long time -- good because the reason they won't be filled is that all of the books we own are now shelved and these are mostly growing room. That said, I'll get busy and post a photo -- maybe this afternoon.

Today we're having the two daughters, one pseudo-son-in-law and the grandson over for a cookout. I'm really excited to be using the deck!

Back a couple of hours later to say that today was supposed to be in the 80's but it's now nearly 10:00 a.m., family is due in the next half-hour or so and it's 59 degrees outside!! We'll either have to stay inside or huddle around the grill if it doesn't hurry up and get warmer!!

137RebaRelishesReading
Giu 21, 2021, 2:13 pm

It ended up being perfect on the deck Saturday and we had a great time being together. Plan to do much more of this in the future.

Yesterday we mostly stayed home and I spent a couple of hours reading on the deck before coming inside to listen to my audio book while working on the Christmas stocking cross-stitch.

Now I have the laundry going and we're planning to visit a garden center to look at raised beds. We have a narrow area in our side yard which is the only place except the front yard that gets sun. Right now it's a mass of weeds and struggling plants. I'm hoping to get the former under control by putting down that black barrier stuff that lets water through but stops weeds. On one side I'm thinking about raised planters for some veggies in one and strawberries in the other. Then I think a path of mulch up the middle and some roses against the house with river rock on top of the black stuff around them.

So, gardening friends -- please let me know what you think. Mistakes you see. Suggestions. I haven't had a garden in 25 years and was never any good at it when I did. So I need your help.

138katiekrug
Giu 21, 2021, 2:50 pm

I have no gardening advice. The Wayne is the gardener here (and between you and me, he isn't focused enough to be super good at it...). It all sounds lovely to me, though!

139lauralkeet
Giu 22, 2021, 8:00 am

We're going through a similar process about placement of raised beds, Reba. The paths between beds are currently a topic of discussion here. Do we leave them as grass? Mulch? Pebbles? Grass has to be maintained, but you can still get weeds coming up amid mulch & pebbles. We had that barrier stuff under pebbles once, and for whatever reason still had weed issues. But I think it can be helpful in areas where weeds are especially vigorous.

I love brainstorming what to plant. You might want to look at knockout roses, they are an easier-to-maintain variety. How much space do you have for roses and/or other shrubs? Does it get a lot of sun?

140RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Giu 23, 2021, 11:40 am

>138 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. I'm the only gardener (except for the team that maintain our front yard) here and I don't know much :(

>139 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura. So I've ordered two beds. They will be placed narrow ends together between a fence and the path. I went for 18" tall ones because I can't kneel and don't want to have to bend too much. They'll be here Friday. We bought some of that barrier fabric yesterday. Our predecessors put it everywhere in the front yard and we have no weeks out there so I'm hopeful.

The area is 10' wide by about 15 feet long (it actually continues on a ways and then becomes the backyard but that is ringed by very tall (like 80' or so) evergreens. It gets a lot of sun because it faces south and west (long side). With 3' wide planters and, say, a 3' path the roses will have 4' against the wall of the garage. There is one huge thriving rose in that area now (and two pathetic ones that will be removed). I really would rather not fool with roses (I have had two gardens in the past with a huge number of roses and I know they're a lot of work) but I got such beautiful long-stemmed roses the other day from that one bush and I'm tempted to have a few.

Now all I need is a strong young person to help me get it all going.

141RebaRelishesReading
Giu 22, 2021, 4:54 pm

>135 banjo123: OK, Rhonda. Here they are. Good news is those empty shelves where I can place books yet to be acquired :)

142RebaRelishesReading
Giu 22, 2021, 5:24 pm



The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doig****1/2 (audio)

Thank you to the person who recommended this book. It was wonderful but I can't find my notes as to where the recommendation came from :(

Russell "Rusty" is a 6 year-old being raised by his aunt in Arizona and enduring her half-hearted attention and some bullying by his two older cousins. His Mom has never been in the picture and he only sees his father during brief visits from Montana. One day, however, his father arrives at the door unexpectedly and tells Rusty to get his things together because he's going back to Montana with him. We spend the next six years with the pair living a bachelor life together in the little house behind the "saloon" which Rusty's dad owns and operates. They are both very likable characters and the story has enough twists and questions in it to make it hard to put down. I listened to the audio which was very well read.

143lauralkeet
Giu 22, 2021, 6:22 pm

>140 RebaRelishesReading: sounds really nice, Reba!

144RebaRelishesReading
Giu 23, 2021, 11:41 am

Thanks, Laura. Now I just need to get it done. I did buy some gardening gloves and a rake yesterday -- that's a start :)

145BLBera
Giu 24, 2021, 8:52 am

>141 RebaRelishesReading: I can't see your picture. :)

I'm not much of a gardener either, so I have nothing useful to offer on that topic.

146RebaRelishesReading
Giu 24, 2021, 10:36 am

>145 BLBera: But thanks for stopping by anyway, Beth :)

147RebaRelishesReading
Giu 24, 2021, 10:48 am



Miss Austen by Gill Hornby***1/2

from the book jacket: "For two decades following the death of her beloved sister, Jane, Cassandra Austen has lived alone, spending her days visiting friends and relations and quietly, purposefully working to protect Jane's reputation. Now in her sixties and increasingly frail, Cassandra goes to stay with the Fowles of Kinbury, family of her long-dead fiancé, in search of a trove of Jane's letters."

This gentle story alternates between Cassandra's visit to the Fowles in 1840 and letters written in the mid-1790's and gives a fictionalized account of Cassandra's life and her relationship with her sister. It's a pleasant read, especially for Austen fans but not a great book imho.

148RebaRelishesReading
Giu 25, 2021, 12:21 pm

Here I sit doing everything I can think of besides going out to the garage to walk on the treadmill and if I don't go soon I won't go because it's supposed to be 95 degrees here today and well over 100 for the weekend -- Yikes!!!-- and I moved to the NorthWest thinking I would have nice cool weather :(

149katiekrug
Giu 25, 2021, 12:34 pm

I heard y'all were supposed to get quite the heat wave. Best to stay very still, with a cool beverage nearby...

150RebaRelishesReading
Giu 25, 2021, 1:20 pm

>149 katiekrug: I'll keep that in mind, Katie :) I did just walk a mile on the treadmill and now have a glass of iced tea at hand. We have A/C so as long as we don't lose power we should do just fine.

151RebaRelishesReading
Giu 26, 2021, 2:22 pm

Went to treadmill first thing after I got up this morning and did 30 minutes mostly at 3 mph. Treadmill is in the garage and, with the warm weather, I open the door and watch the neighborhood go by as I walk. This morning I had a visit from a little bunny who came to eat cherries and leaves dropped from our tree. We see him from time to time in the back yard but this was the first time I saw him in front and I was pleased that he didn't seem at all worried about the creature nearby tromping along in one place :)

Now I'm safely back inside (actually have been for two hours now) and ready to sit down with Paris by the Book and a cup of tea. Hope your Saturday is going as well as mine is :)

152RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Giu 27, 2021, 12:53 pm

It's 5:45 p.m. and I just went out to get the mail. It feels like Phoenix in September out there! Weather report on my desk says it's 105 degrees! Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter - Yikes!! I thought I moved to the northwest. Did we go south by mistake?

153brenzi
Giu 26, 2021, 9:19 pm

It's going to be 90 here tomorrow Reba but that's not much compared to your temps. I have a treadmill but I'd much rather walk outside unless the weather is completely uncooperative. Even in the winter🤷‍♀️

154RebaRelishesReading
Giu 27, 2021, 12:53 pm

>153 brenzi: Treadmill is fairly new. I bought it for use in winter but I also like it because I can monitor how fast I'm going and add incline. I also like to listen to audio books while a walk and that's easier on a treadmill than on the street. I do hope to use some of our many nearby trails though when weather is nice. Today I'm skipping walking all together. Temperature has risen 6 degrees since I sat down at the computer (I'm inside but have a thermometer I can see) and it's heading for the highest temperature ever recorded here today. I'm going to look at it through my double-paned windows from inside my air conditioned house. I don't even think we'll venture outside to use the grill tonight. Leftovers in the micro-wave will work.

155Berly
Giu 27, 2021, 4:15 pm

Welcome to the hot new NW!!! Ugh. It is so hot. : (

Glad the bookcases are coming along nicely. And you had a cookout!! Yay!! Good luck with the gardening. I had to drive back home today from the hotel (where we are avoiding the heat because our AC is out) to water the plants so they don't keel over. So far, so good. Stay cool!

156RebaRelishesReading
Giu 27, 2021, 8:47 pm

>155 Berly: Glad you've gone to a place to be cool. Try to stay inside and drink lots of water!

5:46 p.m. - 113 F/45 C Unbelievable!!

157susanj67
Giu 29, 2021, 10:08 am

Reba, your heatwave was on our news last night! The Sky News correspondent was in Palmdale, California, which I know is a lot further south than you are but boy howdy it sounded hot. The internet says it will be 36 today which I suppose is better than 45 but still horrible.

158Oregonreader
Giu 29, 2021, 1:43 pm

Hi Reba, It was 116 degrees in Portland yesterday but it's a bit cooler today. Most of us are just not prepared for this kind of heat. Fortunately, I have air conditioning but my poor blooming flowers outside have really suffered. Even though I have watered every day, the blossoms look burnt! If this is the future, I may have to rethink what I plant!

159RebaRelishesReading
Giu 29, 2021, 4:34 pm

>157 susanj67: Hi Susan. It is 29 degrees (F) cooler right now than the high was yesterday. I actually walked on the treadmill (which is in the garage) this morning (earlyish) and survived. We haven't lost power and are nice and cool as long as we stay in the house but we're really looking forward to the cooler weather this week.

>158 Oregonreader: Hi Jan. I think it was the same here in Vancouver but I don't have an outside thermometer so can't be sure. Anyway, it was terribly hot. Thank heavens for the A/C!

160lauralkeet
Giu 29, 2021, 7:01 pm

>159 RebaRelishesReading: I'm glad you're dong okay, Reba, and that the temps came down a bit today.

161katiekrug
Giu 30, 2021, 8:41 am

What Laura said. Hang in there!

162RebaRelishesReading
Giu 30, 2021, 4:25 pm

>160 lauralkeet:, >161 katiekrug: Thanks Laura and Katie. Woke up this morning to find the world covered by marine layer -- I love that stuff. It's currently 73 degrees outside and I've turned the A/C off. Whew!! Hope that's summer done and dusted (lol).

163RebaRelishesReading
Giu 30, 2021, 4:38 pm

I'm enjoying both my audio book and my on-paper book so much I wish I could read with my eyes and my ears at the same time!

164RebaRelishesReading
Lug 1, 2021, 11:48 am



Paris by the Book by Liam Callanan****

Leah and Robert meet when she, a broke graduate student, steals a book she needs for her thesis and he chases her down outside the store. They fall in love, dream of living abroad and have two children. He becomes a writer and she gives up her dream of film making and becomes a speech writer instead. They visit Belgium, Wales, Norway, Berlin, Montreal, Dunkirk, Gibraltar, Stockholm, Moscow, Cuba and Paris all without ever leaving Wisconsin. Robert is struggling as a writer and with his own sense of self but finally is offered a chance for the whole family to go to Paris, tickets are purchased and then he leaves on one of his unannounced "write-aways" and doesn't come back. Leah takes their daughters and goes to Paris to find him.

It's about relationships, personal growth, running a bookstore, and living in Paris. I found it charming.

165RebaRelishesReading
Lug 2, 2021, 5:23 pm



Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead****(audio)

Bonnie(Brenzi) suggested this book as a good follow on to The Flight Girls and she was right on (as usual).

Great Circle follows two intersecting stories. The main character in the first storyline is Marion Graves who we first meet as an infant being carried with her twin brother by their ship-captain father who is jumping the queue for a lifeboat on his sinking ship in order to save their lives. The twins are raised by a loving but rather inept uncle in Montana where Marion figures out that girls can do more than "girly" things, even in the first half of the 20th century America. She loves flying and becomes a pilot, serving in WWII with the British equivalent of the WASP's. In 1950 she embarks on a flight around the world following lines of longitude rather than latitude. The second storyline features a young actress playing the role of Marion in a film about the latter's life.

Bonnie did a far better job of reviewing this book (no surprise there). It's post 508 on her tread.

166brenzi
Lug 2, 2021, 6:07 pm

You did a great job reviewing it Reba. How was the audio?

167RebaRelishesReading
Lug 3, 2021, 12:43 pm

>166 brenzi: Thank you Bonnie but yours was miles better. The audio was OK/good not great. I thought some of her "voices" were a bit odd but it wasn't irritating or hard to follow.

168RebaRelishesReading
Lug 4, 2021, 1:52 am



Sea Wife by Amity Gaige *** (audio -- I listened to the Dutch translation Overstag)

A young couple with a seven year-old daughter and a 3 year-old son buy a 44' sail boat and plan to spend a year sailing around the world. This is the husband's idea and the wife is very hesitant but agrees. The main line of the story has to do with their experiences sailing, mostly in the Caribbean, but we also learn about trauma in the wife's childhood and difficulties in the marriage. The book moves from time during the trip back and forth to time after the trip, and from the wife's voice to the husband's, which was a bit difficult to follow in the audio version but would probably not be an issue in print. The characters are real and interesting, the story grabbed my attention early on. A good read.

169RebaRelishesReading
Lug 4, 2021, 11:05 am

Many friends at, or near, my age have been telling me how much fun pickle ball is so I decided that would be a good way to get to get some exercise and get to know people in my new home town. I looked on line and found a golf/athletic club nearby with pickle ball lessons and play and went for a look. It's a lovely place and it turns out our senior membership (every thing but golf) is covered by "silver and fit" so we signed up :) Now I need to book a couple of lessons (not covered but necessary). The girl who gave me a tour did mention that a lot of pickle ball play happens at 7:30 a.m. -- don't like that part much!!

170karenmarie
Lug 4, 2021, 11:40 am

Hi Reba!

Sorry about the nasty and dangerous heat and hope things get cooler and stay cooler all summer for you. I'm charmed at the idea of the bunny eating cherries and leaves out front while you are on your treadmill.

171RebaRelishesReading
Lug 4, 2021, 1:34 pm

>170 karenmarie: Hi Karen. I'm hoping those few days were it for summer. Now we're in the low 80's which is lovely in the shade and with our low humidity. I don't mind if that hangs around for a bit.

Yesterday I was working in our side yard when two bunnies came around the corner from the back yard and calmly disappeared into some bushes near the back. I'm wondering if they have a home back there. We're planning a small raised-bed veggie garden in that side yard though which may turn out to be a salad bar for them with little left over for us. If so I guess we'll have to try to figure out some netting or something. I am amazed at how totally nonplussed they are by my presence though and they are cute.

172brenzi
Lug 4, 2021, 10:12 pm

If you enjoy pickleball even half as much as I do Reba, you will absolutely love it! I'm so glad you're getting started and yes, you will make a bunch of new friends.

173connie53
Lug 5, 2021, 9:58 am

Hi Reba, I'm so sorry I did neglect the threads here. RL was so busy for me and now it is a rainy day I decided to try to catch up. Not very doable with 122 unread posts in your thread alone. So I will pick up from here and try to visit more regularly.

174RebaRelishesReading
Lug 5, 2021, 12:07 pm

>172 brenzi: Your enthusiasm was the final push I needed, Bonnie. I'm looking forward to my first lesson and hope I can find a group that plays later than 7:30 a.m.!!

>173 connie53: I'm glad RL is calming down a bit for you and am delighted to see you here. Take care and stop by as often as you can.

175BLBera
Lug 5, 2021, 12:54 pm

I'm waiting for a copy of The Great Circle from my library, Reba.

A friend and I have been talking about starting pickle ball... I think I'll have to retire soon.

176RebaRelishesReading
Lug 6, 2021, 11:56 am

>175 BLBera: Hi Beth! Hope you enjoy The Great Circle (when you get a copy). I'll let you know how pickle ball is going once I actually get started.

177RebaRelishesReading
Lug 7, 2021, 6:29 pm



The Rose Code by Kate Quinn **** (audio)

The Rose Code is a novel set at Bletchley Park, England during the 1940's and '50's. The three main characters are: Osla, a Canadian debutant who is Prince Philip's girl friend during much of the story; Mabel ("Mab"), a working class girl from a broken home who is striving to work herself into a better life; and, Beth, the abused daughter of a fanatical "chapel" Christian who has always been told she's stupid. All three become code breakers at Bletchley Park. I've read other books about the amazing work done at Bletchley Park during WWII so that just formed background for the stories of the young women's lives. The characters were very human and very likable and I really enjoyed the book.

178BLBera
Lug 10, 2021, 10:29 am

This does sound good, Reba.

179AMQS
Lug 10, 2021, 10:34 pm

Hi Reba, I'm all caught up. Wow, what a lot of driving you did this summer! I'm not much of a road tripper - we've thought of road tripping the east and west coasts (not at the same time) but unfortunately it's a such long drive to get anywhere from Denver. Once I've had a bit I'm sort of done. I'm glad the heat has ended for the most part.

You got me as usual: I've added The Space Between Us and The Secrets Between Us and Snap.

Let's hear some pickle ball news!

I absolutely loved The Bartender's Tale, but it's been a few years since I read and reviewed it so I don't know if it was me. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I've loved everything I've read by Ivan Doig. My last (and his last, I think) was The Last Bus to Wisdom.

180RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Lug 11, 2021, 11:30 am



The Stolen Letter by Clara Benson*** (audio)

Clara is an innocent young lady who was raised by a somewhat distant father and a very young, self-centered step mother. Her father dies and step-mom remarries an Italian count leaving Clara in her English boarding school. It's the late 1930's when Clara leaves school and, at age 17, travels to Italy (with a chaperone, of course) to spend time with step-mom where she experiences many challenges -- romance, war and a mysterious, missing letter.

I'm doing a lot of audio lately because I'm spending time on the treadmill and a lot of time trying to finish my cross-stitched Christmas stocking project. This was a good book as background for other things but it tried a bit too hard to be great.

181RebaRelishesReading
Lug 11, 2021, 11:37 am

>179 AMQS: Hi Anne. I'm glad to have found you with a bb and those are certainly three of the best I've read this year.

Hubby and I have always enjoyed road trips but we've over done it this year (by necessity more than by choice) and I hope not to face another one for a long time. Aside from finding our trips this year to be plain hard work, I really like our new house and location and just plain don't really want to leave :)

Pickle ball. I had a lesson last Thursday. I was awful. But I liked it and want to keep trying. I have another lesson this Thursday. There are handball courts at the club and I'm thinking about seeing if I can use one when things are quiet to practice hitting the pickle ball. Boy was I bad :(

182ffortsa
Modificato: Lug 19, 2021, 11:01 pm

I like the idea of road trips, but only if we have more than one driver. We were talking of road trips with my friend Ruta, but then she moved to Pocatello! When I get out to see her, we will definitely see that part of the country by car.

183RebaRelishesReading
Lug 12, 2021, 11:51 am

>182 ffortsa: We always share the driving, Judy (although one time a few years ago I drove from San Diego to Chautauqua on my own -- actually really enjoyed that trip). This year I've done way more than half though as Hubby tires more easily than I do and we had some long days. I think I would still enjoy a road trip that was to see the country rather than to get from place to place to take care of some business (care for sister and retrieve "stuff" from Chautauqua). Still...for a while yet I think I will still prefer to stay here :)

184connie53
Modificato: Lug 13, 2021, 3:53 am

Hi Reba. Just visiting to see what you have been up to. Nice reading. Unfortunately for me the books by Thrity Umrigar are not translated. I would have really loved to read them.

185RebaRelishesReading
Lug 13, 2021, 11:10 am

>184 connie53: Your English writing is awfully good, Connie. Don't you think you could read them in English?

186connie53
Lug 13, 2021, 1:50 pm

>185 RebaRelishesReading: Yes, I could if it's not to complicated. I read a lot of books in English but sometimes it's just to difficult. Thrillers and detectives are easier to read than fantasy. I am now reading A song below water in English and that's really something of a struggle for me.

Thank you for the compliment, Reba. It's always good to hear that because I'm always carefully picking my words and constructing my sentences.

187RebaRelishesReading
Lug 14, 2021, 1:31 pm

>186 connie53: "I'm always carefully picking my words and constructing my sentences."...and it shows, Connie. The Umrigar books aren't fantasy and I doubt you'd have much trouble with them.

188RebaRelishesReading
Lug 14, 2021, 1:42 pm



One by One by Ruth Ware ***1/2 (audio)

The shareholders of a tech startup go to an isolated chalet in the Alps for a week-long retreat. High on the agenda is whether or not to accept a buy-out offer and the two main shareholders/founders don't agree. From the start he weather is awful and skiing dangerous but then there's an avalanche which cuts off all communication with the outside world and people start disappearing and/or dying one by one.

An interesting premise and a fun read.

189Familyhistorian
Lug 15, 2021, 2:57 pm

Looks like you did a lot of travelling lately, Reba. You must be glad to be home and getting your own new house in order. Wasn't the heat at the end of June bad? It was the same here, highs we had never experienced before. Unfortunately, that resulted in an early start to forest fire season.

190RebaRelishesReading
Lug 16, 2021, 12:04 pm

>189 Familyhistorian: Same thing here Meg. We had record-setting temps three days in a row with the last one being 116/46.6!! Fortunately we have A/C and power never failed so we were fine but some plants in our yard didn't do so well. I'm still afraid we're going to lose our Japanese Maple.

We pretty much have the house in order. Got drapes installed in the bedrooms this week (over blinds) which helps get them darker for sleeping. A broken blind over the sliding door was repaired this week too(took me a long time to find someone who could/would do that) . There's still work to be done in the front yard and a chair I ordered on February 3 still hasn't arrived but otherwise we're pretty much done now.

Happy summer!

191susanj67
Lug 17, 2021, 12:34 pm

>183 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, I still tell people about your solo drive across the US! I will never, ever be that brave :-)

It's good to hear that your list of things for the house is nearly done. I hope the heat has settled down and you can get back to seasons instead of it being hotter than Texas in July. Europe is having terrible flooding at the moment (mostly in Germany and Belgium, although part of London flooded last week after intense rain) so the climate is all over the place.

192RebaRelishesReading
Lug 17, 2021, 12:43 pm

So, I just completed a post to you and found this one! So good to hear from you :)

Weather has be perfect (in my opinion) since the horrible heat wave. Highs have been around 80/26 degree point with over night temps around 60/14. We could definitely use a little rain but I guess that's all going to Europe at the moment. The son and d-i-l of friends live in Germany and had a scary evacuation experience I guess. I'm afraid this is more and more the new normal.

193susanj67
Lug 17, 2021, 1:04 pm

>192 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, perhaps we're telepathic! This is what happens with my friend and his twin brother. They think it's perfectly normal :-) Sorry to hear that your friend's family in Germany has been caught up in it all. There are some terrible pictures on the news. In fact Sky News was anchoring its programming from Germany this morning.

194RebaRelishesReading
Lug 18, 2021, 11:19 am

>193 susanj67: Is that why I like the books you like? :)

Learned the son of friends lives on the second floor of a building that was flooded. Apparently the flood water came up so quickly that there were people from the first floor running up the stairs in their underwear they had to get out so quickly. There were photos on our news last night too -- what a mess!!

195RebaRelishesReading
Lug 18, 2021, 11:45 am



Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams *** (audio)

Audible's description of the book:
In the summer of 1966, Christina Hardcastle - "Tiny" to her illustrious family - stands on the brink of a breathtaking future. Of the three Schuyler sisters, she's the one raised to marry a man destined for leadership, and with her elegance and impeccable style, she presents a perfect camera-ready image in the dawning age of television politics. Together she and her husband, Frank, make the ultimate power couple: intelligent, rich, and impossibly attractive. It seems nothing can stop Frank from rising to national office, and he's got his sights set on a Senate seat in November.

But as the season gets underway at the family estate on Cape Cod, three unwelcome visitors appear in Tiny's perfect life: her volatile sister, Pepper; an envelope containing an incriminating photograph; and the intimidating figure of Frank's cousin, Vietnam-war hero Caspian, who knows more about Tiny's rich inner life than anyone else. As she struggles to maintain the glossy facade on which the Hardcastle family's ambitions are built, Tiny begins to suspect that Frank is hiding a reckless entanglement of his own - one that may unravel both her own ordered life and her husband's promising career.


I had mixed feeling about this book. In some ways it seems like a typical romance novel but yet it dealt with some themes that were a bit more substantial like doing what's expected vs. what you want to do. I've been "reading" a lot of audio books lately because I'm hooked by my cross-stitch Christmas stocking project and this worked fine for that.

196susanj67
Lug 18, 2021, 12:10 pm

>194 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, that could be why! Did Light Perpetual arrive, by the way?

That sounds scary about the flooding - to have so little notice too.

197FAMeulstee
Lug 18, 2021, 1:11 pm

>194 RebaRelishesReading: That is scary, Reba!
At some places the water came very fast. Seeing the images from Germany and Belgium breaks my heart.
Now Austria and the south of Germany suffer from heavy rainfall.

198RebaRelishesReading
Lug 19, 2021, 2:44 pm

>196 susanj67: Yes, Light Perpetual arrived and I put it on the stack by "my" chair so it can be next up but I'm still busy with Night Watchman and my embroidery (and, therefore, audio books) so it will probably be a while before I start it.

>197 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita -- My heart goes out to all of those affected. These climate changes are unpleasant and scary.

199RebaRelishesReading
Lug 21, 2021, 1:52 pm

Sad news. Yesterday afternoon a call came from a friend of my sister-in-law's in Florida who was at sil's house to take some photos of water damage to use in filing an insurance claim. She didn't answer door, or phone. Neighbor's reported seeing para-transit leaving her house so thought she might have gone out. A couple of hours trying to find her, then police called, then police called us to ask if we authorized them "doing what ever is necessary" to gain access to house. Then Fire Department summoned to access a little box they have with a key to the house in it (didn't know such things existed) and finally, the sad news that she had been found dead in her bed. Lots of bright spots, she seems to have gone peacefully, she was due to start treatment/possible surgery for breast cancer, she wanted to stay in her house to the end (and so she did), she was 88 and had had a good life -- but still sad news. We're her only family so will be heading to Florida in the next few days to wrap things up.

200DianaNL
Lug 21, 2021, 2:16 pm

Reba, my condolences for you with the death of your SIL. I hope your journey to Florida will go smoothly. Take care xx

201quondame
Lug 21, 2021, 4:44 pm

Condolences on your SIL. Also I'm sorry you have to be traveling again so soon. I hope things go smoothly at the other corner of the country.

202FAMeulstee
Lug 21, 2021, 5:01 pm

>199 RebaRelishesReading: Sorry about your SiL, Reba. Good to read she went peacefully.
Is her place Florida very far from you?

203lauralkeet
Lug 21, 2021, 5:33 pm

I'm so sorry to hear about your SIL's passing, although it sounds as if it was peaceful and as you said, more or less how she wanted it. Safe travels.

204brenzi
Lug 21, 2021, 8:47 pm

So sorry to hear this news Reba. I hope everything goes well for another long journey.

205ffortsa
Lug 21, 2021, 9:07 pm

oh so sorry to hear about another loss. I think you are right to focus on the good parts, the ease (I hope) of her dying, her fulfilled wish to die at home. Very hard.

Have a safe trip. Will you be flying?

206scaifea
Lug 22, 2021, 7:36 am

*hugs*
I'm sorry, Reba. Safe travels, and I hope the arrangements go easily and smoothly for you.

207susanj67
Lug 22, 2021, 10:07 am

Reba, I'm so sorry to read this, and condolences to MrReba too. I hope you can fly out this time and ship back what you need to.

208RebaRelishesReading
Lug 22, 2021, 12:49 pm

Thank you Diana, Susan, Anita, Laura, Bonnie, Judy, Amber and SusanJ.

Connie, I'm afraid our house and hers are nearly as far apart as is possible within the contiguous United States.

We are flying. Got Business Class seats using our airline miles so we will have a little more air space in this time of Covid. First thing I saw on-line yesterday morning was advice to not travel to Florida now because of their woeful Covid situation but we will stay away from crowded areas and we are fully vaccinated so I'm confident we'll be OK.

Expecting a busy week, mostly of getting the house ready to be sold. Hope to get some reading time in the evenings.

209RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Lug 23, 2021, 1:42 pm



The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich****

On August 1, 1953, the United States Congress announced House Concurrent Resolution 108, a bill to abrogate nation-to-nation treaties, which had been made with American Indian Nations for "as long as the grass grows and the rivers flow." The announcement called for the eventual termination of all tribes, and the immediate termination of five tribes, including the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.


Members of the Turtle Mountain Band fought the adoption of this Resolution because of it would result in the loss of their land and most of the services this impoverished group had. The fight was led by the author's grandfather who was a night watchman and the character Thomas in the book is modeled on him. The book tells the story of this fight and of the lives of those involved.

The afterword concludes:
Lastly, if you should ever doubt that a series of dry words in a government document can shatter spirits and demolish lives, let this book erase that doubt. Conversely, if you should be of the conviction that we are powerless to change those dry words, let this book give you heart."


Keeping up with the Pulitzers led me to this book and I'm glad it did.

210ffortsa
Lug 23, 2021, 6:18 pm

Safe travels. I'm glad you are flying. That diagonal is just too far to drive.

And thanks for the Erdrich review. Sounds like a good one.

211ronincats
Lug 24, 2021, 9:21 am

I'm glad you are flying too, despite all the issues we hear about in this COVID era. And I'm glad your SIL passed peacefully and before all the trauma of breast cancer treatment, although I know you will mourn her loss. So you too will experience both packing up and moving your own house and unpacking with getting a relative's house ready to sell--such fun. Will there be a lot to do? Does she have children who will be involved?

212BLBera
Lug 24, 2021, 9:26 am

I am sorry for your loss, Reba. Good luck on your travels. Stay safe.

>209 RebaRelishesReading: I'm a huge Erdrich fan. Great comments.

213connie53
Lug 24, 2021, 1:17 pm

>199 RebaRelishesReading: So sorry to hear about the death of you sister in law, Reba. You named a few things like her wish to stay in her own place and she seems to have gone in peace. It's always sad to loose some one close to you. Have a safe flight and a meaningful goodbye.

>200 DianaNL: I'm not sure what my name is doing there. But it's fine by me.

214SandyAMcPherson
Lug 25, 2021, 9:50 am

Reba, sad news about your SIL. My sympathy. Even though you reasonably pointed out that she was 88, still, unhappy situation.
I'm also glad to hear you chose to fly and not drive. You've had one amazing road trip already, no? I hope you can wear a mask the whole flight to be safe.

215RebaRelishesReading
Lug 25, 2021, 6:11 pm

Thank you Judy, Roni, Beth, Connie and Sandy for your kind thoughts. We didn't even consider driving. Not only did we just do that in April (and still aren't completely recovered for it lol) but we needed to get here much more quickly than would have been possible by car.

The trip yesterday was AWFUL (even though we had used points to buy Business/First class tickets)!! Morning flight was delated so badly that we missed our connection from Dallas to Tampa. When rebooked Hubby lost his Business/First seat and we were seated in separate sections. Car rental line was amazing -- took well over an hour to pick up reserved car. We finally got to hotel at 12:30 a.m.

Today we met with a woman who helped my s-i-l keep her finances straight and got a lot of information about what still needs to be done, where things are etc. She also gave us the name of a woman who will organize the clean-out of the house (whew)! We still need to go through and get out any family things and things we want to have to remember s-i-l by but that will be much easier. Tomorrow we meet with the attorney to see what else we have to do. We're hoping we'll having things organized and set in motion so we can go home again on Saturday. I hope so because I certainly don't want to spend any longer in Florida (especially in the summer) than I have to!

Masking up and avoiding strangers...

216SandyAMcPherson
Lug 25, 2021, 9:34 pm

>215 RebaRelishesReading: I detest how irresponsible airlines have become. Gone are the days when passengers on delayed flights were automatically treated with decent re-bookings.
This sounds especially reprehensible when you were booked first class/business.

I do know from other tales of woe (by family members obligated to go somewhere distant) that the car rental industry is not only showing tendencies one can only liken to "piracy-on-the-high-seas" (highways in this case), but also that the booking system is pulling that old trick of overbooking 'in case there are cancellations'. Sheesh.

217katiekrug
Lug 26, 2021, 8:36 am

So sorry to hear about your SIL, Reba. I hope things go as smoothly as possible for you and Mr. Reba while in Florida.

218RebaRelishesReading
Lug 26, 2021, 5:26 pm

>216 SandyAMcPherson:, >217 katiekrug: Thanks for the sympathy Sandy and Katie. We've recovered from the travel hassle on Saturday and things are going as smoothly as possible since. Saw the attorney this morning. Still don't have death certificate so there are things that can't be done yet. I did have a frustrating call trying to cancel her medicare supplement policy today...other wise there is a lot to be done but it's going pretty smoothly and we still have hopes of going home on Saturday. At least there shouldn't be rental car hassle on the way home since we only (I hope "only") have to drop it off and then our own car is parked at the airport in Portland.

I managed to read a little last night and I'm really enjoying Crossing to Safety.

219Crazymamie
Lug 27, 2021, 7:40 am

Reba, I have caught up with up just in time for your sad news. I am sorry for your loss. Crossing my fingers that you do get to go home on Saturday like you are hoping. Take care of you, my friend.

220RebaRelishesReading
Lug 27, 2021, 8:43 pm

>219 Crazymamie: Thank you so much Mamie! We're doing pretty well on checking tasks off of the list and it's looking good for going home Saturday :) Hope you're continuing to heal from your fall. It hurts me to think about it.

221susanj67
Modificato: Lug 28, 2021, 5:26 am

Reba, I'm sorry to hear about the travel hassles but it sounds as though things are going as well as they can in Florida. I hope you can make it home when you planned to, and that the return trip goes smoothly.

222RebaRelishesReading
Lug 28, 2021, 6:57 pm

>221 susanj67: Thank you Susan. We're making good progress with attorney, banks, clean-out companies, real estate agents, etc. and it looks like we'll be able to leave Saturday as planned. Whew!

223BLBera
Lug 28, 2021, 10:13 pm

I hope everything goes according to plan and you get to go home on Saturday -- and that your trip back goes more smoothly.

224RebaRelishesReading
Modificato: Lug 29, 2021, 4:00 pm


Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner****1/2

from Bookrags.com:
Two young ambitious couples become friends in Madison, Wisconsin, when the two husbands begin their academic careers as professors at the University of Wisconsin in the 1930s. The novel follows their friendship through forty years of career ups-and-downs, health problems, children, successes, and failuresquote>

from The Christian Science Monitor:
in "Crossing to Safety" Stegner has raised numerous questions not just about the Langs' marriage, but about loyalty, love, and the most beautiful sort of longterm caring – questions without easy answers.quote>

This beautifully written semi-autobiographical novel was Stegner's last. It's a delight to read and one I will think about for a long time.

225lauralkeet
Lug 29, 2021, 8:13 am

>224 RebaRelishesReading: That's one of my all-time favorite 5-star reads, Reba. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I'm also glad to see things have gone smoothly for you in Florida. Safe travels home!

226karenmarie
Lug 29, 2021, 9:53 am

Just catching up Reba, and am so sorry about your SiL. I hope things continue to go smoothly in Florida and that you can return when you want to AND with less headache than the trip out.

227RebaRelishesReading
Lug 29, 2021, 3:40 pm

>225 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I have really enjoyed every Stegner book I've read. Thanks for good wishes for travel.

>226 karenmarie: Hi Karen Thank you for your thoughts. There are some bright spots with s-i-l's death and we're focusing on those.

As of this afternoon we have probate going, the house listed, all of the items sold that are going to be sold and we have arranged for someone to clean out what's left (including having Cancer Society come out to take everything they can use). Realtor will arrange for handy man to come for a couple of things, for a cleaner and for outside to be power-washed. I think that covers everything and we plan to take tomorrow "off" and then fly home on Saturday.

228lauralkeet
Lug 29, 2021, 4:50 pm

That's an impressive number of accomplishments in a short time, Reba. It's great to have a realtor you can rely on for more than just listing and selling the house. Not only will they manage the work but they save you the trouble of finding people to do the various tasks. Whew!

229brenzi
Lug 29, 2021, 5:14 pm

I read all the Stegner books in the 90s, Reba, and loved them all. I've reread a couple of them but I'm not a very big rereader. Sounds like you've got everything resolved in Florida. Safe travels.

230RebaRelishesReading
Lug 30, 2021, 11:48 am

>228 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. Yes, it's great to be leaving some capable "eyes on the job" behind. I think it's all going to work out very well.

>229 brenzi: We do often like the same books, don't we Bonnie? I'm not much of a rereader either. There are just too many new ones out there waiting :)

231benitastrnad
Lug 30, 2021, 2:03 pm

>229 brenzi: & >230 RebaRelishesReading:
I am not a big rereader either. The only Stegner I have read is Big Rock Candy Mountain. It is another semi-autobiographical novel of his early life. It took me some time to read it, but I stayed with it and find that I think about it often.

232ffortsa
Lug 30, 2021, 6:33 pm

>227 RebaRelishesReading: That sounds like quite a whirlwind effort. It's great you've had so much support in getting the myriad details taken care of.

233RebaRelishesReading
Ago 1, 2021, 9:43 am

>231 benitastrnad: Hi Benita, I read Big Rock Candy Mountain a few months ago and liked it a lot. In fact, I've yet to find a Stegner I didn't like.

>232 ffortsa: It was indeed a busy trip, Judy, but we were very pleased with the help we found to take on all of the tasks that need doing. Maybe that's because Florida has such a large senior population -- don't know, but happy we were able to line everything up in a week and even had a rest day at the end :)

234Berly
Ago 1, 2021, 2:30 pm

>199 RebaRelishesReading: So sorry to hear about your SIL, but as you said, she did get to pass peacefully.

>209 RebaRelishesReading: Mark was kind enough to send me his copy of The Night Watchman and I see that you like it, boo, so I better hurry up and read this one!

Whew! You certainly took care of things efficiently! Are you home again, safe and sound?

235RebaRelishesReading
Ago 2, 2021, 11:53 am

>234 Berly: Hi Kim. Yes, we're home again. Flew back on Saturday. Got a call first thing this morning that the clean-out guy was there working and hope to finish up by Wednesday. Great news because we may have the house on the market faster than we thought.

Hope you enjoy The Night Watchman too :) Take care of yourself and regain your strength -- reading should be good for that.

236Crazymamie
Ago 2, 2021, 12:13 pm

>235 RebaRelishesReading: Welcome home, Reba! Hoping that the house sale goes quickly and smoothly for you.

237RebaRelishesReading
Ago 2, 2021, 12:19 pm

Thanks, Mamie -- so do we. Nice following you around the threads this morning. I like the feeling that we're doing the same thing at the same time :)

238connie53
Ago 3, 2021, 4:42 am

Hi Reba. Reading up on all the things that have to be arranged and sorted out. I am glad it all went rather smoothly and you are home now and things will be back to normal.

239RebaRelishesReading
Ago 3, 2021, 12:59 pm

>238 connie53: Thanks Connie. We're glad to be home -- too much difficult travel this year so far.
Questa conversazione è stata continuata da RebaRelishesReading in 2021 - #4 summer's here.