MONDAY POTPOURRI: FEATURING A UNIQUE VILLAGE — APRIL 30

Springtime brings interesting features in the landscape that is my life.

Yes, I live in a fairly large city, but right next door to us is what some might call a suburban town, but residents know that it is unique, with its own special characteristics.

Clovis has under 100,000 inhabitants (barely), and has grown steadily since I’ve lived nearby.  A few years ago, I actually lived within the city limits and enjoyed the antique malls in Old Town Clovis.

Another aspect to Clovis is the annual rodeo, with its preamble of Big Hat Days.

This past weekend was the rodeo, and as I wended my way through the town to where my daughter was working, I thought about all the different things that make this place special.

Like The Old Town Saloon.

A very colorful watering hole that brings together the people who live in Clovis, as well as those from the neighboring city.

It does remind me of a Cheers type bar.  Do you have a place like that near you?  A place where friends and acquaintances can join together in convivial moments? 

And the rodeo and antique malls add something special to this place.  What do you enjoy most in your town or city?  What draws you to a place?

WEEKEND POTPOURRI: GUILTY PLEASURES — APRIL 28

Visualize, if you will:  I’m pounding away at my keyboard this morning, posting over at my Saturday Snapshot, and responding to blog visits.

It’s still early—not even eight o’clock—and I’ve already done one of my dreaded weekend chores.  I’ve cleaned the patio.

Every Friday, the gardeners, in their need to clear the pathways, blow leaves and blossoms onto my patio.  No matter how many times I ask them not to do so!  But maybe they’re just looking out for me…I probably need the exercise!

I didn’t do a great job, but here’s what it looks like right now.  The greenery you see in the photo is not a nice plant to decorate the area, but a weed.  Yes, later I might cut it down…but my granddaughter thinks it looks kind of cool.

The patio is very small, as you can see from that photo and this one.

Notice that I’ve jumbled together a number of items that used to spread out luxuriously on my former deck at my former house in the foothills.  Sigh.  See the redwood barbecue cart?  That was once in my bedroom holding my TBR stacks.  It has now graduated outdoors.

But whenever I wax nostalgic, I remember why I left my foothill A-frame cottage and fled to the city.  Boredom?  Too much yard work (nearly half an acre).  And did I mention boredom?

 

A-frame Cottage with Deck

Notice the sign stuck in a redwood bucket (in my current abode).  It used to sit in front of my guesthouse, which I’d dubbed “Rainbow Cottage,” for the colorful rooms my daughter had created.

Yes…she had an orange bathroom, a blue bedroom, another bedroom in green, and a gold colored great room.

Also, “Rainbow Cottage” was the name of a guesthouse in my novel Miles to Go, in which one of my characters lived.  That character was named Rainbow and was an artist.

A tale about friendship and sustaining those connections over many years.  Changes, obstacles, and loss.

Today I planned to spend some time with Noah…I was even going to take him out to lunch at Marie Callender’s…but my daughter just called, and she’s keeping him with her today.

Now my day has opened up to new possibilities, but I was kind of looking forward to hanging out with the little guy.

I’m reading Love in a Nutshell on Sparky, my Kindle…and maybe I’ll go out to lunch at a spot that I don’t usually take him.  I can read in the outdoor cafe.

 

Here’s where I’m thinking of going….

What about you?  Any special plans?  A lazy day or something that takes you outdoors?

 

 

 

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: CRAZY MOMENTS! — APRIL 27

A Room of my Own

 

This looks like a room I should have.  Lots and lots of shelves for wonderful books, and comfy places to curl up and read.

Alas, this is not my room…but I can dream!

Meanwhile, I’ve been downloading and ordering books like crazy this week.  Why?  Perhaps because it’s payday week.  And serendipitously, all these great books that I want to read just show up in my inbox.  Tempting me.  Taunting me with their beautiful covers and blurbs.

Here are some books I downloaded to Sparky….

And here are some books I found at Barnes & Noble…unfortunately (or fortunately), I live right around the corner.  I often go in with a book I’m reading and drink coffee.  I try to avoid the book tables.  But on this particular day, I failed.

This is not the cover on the book I bought, but I like it…what do you think?

Do you sometimes have weeks when everything you see calls to you?  Or maybe you have a list and finally let loose, buying everything you can?

I call these moments “crazy moments,” but I wouldn’t change a thing!

TUESDAY POTPOURRI: MORE BOOKISH DELIGHTS & ORGANIZATIONAL TIDBITS — APRIL 24

TUESDAY POTPOURRI

 

When I woke up this morning, I started hopping around the blogosphere, even before my first cup of coffee.  You know it’s a serious blogging day when that happens!

By the time I had my coffee, I had already been over to Should Be Reading and Bibliophile by the Sea, leaving my comments and links.

When I checked my e-mails, finally, I saw that my download to Sparky was there!  The Good Father, by Diane Chamberlain, is one I’ve eagerly anticipated….

 

 

Blurb:  A beloved daughter. A devastating choice. And now there’s no going back.

Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown made a choice: to raise his newborn daughter on his own. While most of his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home, changing diapers and worrying about keeping food on the table. But he’s never regretted his decision. Bella is the light of his life. The reason behind every move he makes. And so far, she is fed. Cared for. Safe.

But when Travis loses his construction job and his home, the security he’s worked so hard to create for Bella begins to crumble….

Then a miracle. A job in Raleigh has the power to turn their fortunes around. It has to. But when Travis arrives in Raleigh, there is no job, only an offer to participate in a onetime criminal act that promises quick money and no repercussions.

With nowhere else to turn, Travis must make another choice for his daughter’s sake.

Even if it means he might lose her.

***

Even though it’s waiting on Sparky, and I want to read it NOW, I do have a few books I have to read first!  Ah, the TBRs.

When I got this bookshelf for my bedroom, I moved all the TBRs to the office.

I’m now filling this shelf up with books I’ve read…and in the office, I have books stacked on the coffee table (Old TBRs) and atop the bookcase (newer ones).

Old TBR stacks

And now…voila!  Newly arranged New TBR Stacks….

New stacks

 

In case this seems a bit compulsive (lol), never fear!  It makes sense to me and book choices come more easily.

For example, the stack on the coffee table that’s closest to me holds this week’s books, like these:

 

And then there are those waiting on Sparky….sitting atop the farthest stack on the table.

 

How do you arrange/organize your books?  Do you select them in advance, or grab them spontaneously?

I would love hearing your thoughts….

SUNDAY POTPOURRI: READING, SPRING FALL-OUT, ETC. — APRIL 22

Sunday Potpourri

 

Good morning, and welcome to Sunday Potpourri….a place for rambling thoughts about life, books, etc.

This past weekend was the Dewey 24-Hour Read-a-Thon...and I’m pleased to report that, even though I ended early from tired, blurry eyes, I had a good time.

I did a wrap-up post at Curl up and Read, but also did a link-up at my Sunday Salon post.

Bleary-eyed and tired, I fell into bed last night with a book I started near the end of the read-a-thon:  The Accidental, by Ali Smith.

Last night, I closed the book at p. 60, wondering if I would continue.  Yes, the book has won some awards, but the convoluted way in which the story was unfolding left me…well, not sure about it.

But maybe it was really about my fatigue.  Because, when I picked it up this morning, and read another 40 pages, I started to connect.  To engage.

Does that happen to you sometimes?  Books that don’t engage you suddenly do?

So now I’m happily looking forward to reading more of it today…and I plan to have lunch later at Marie Callender’s.

It’s a cozy eating and reading spot.

You know what I love best?  Okay, yes, the pie…but for the main course, I adore the vegetable soup.  I feel virtuous enough after eating that to order some pie…lol

I’m still trying to decide if I should sweep the leaves and blossoms off of my patio….I know that doing so might result in allergy issues.  But I can’t stand seeing it messy…

The beauty of the trees, like this one, block out the downside in allergens….

While searching through photo files this morning, I realized that I really need to organize things better!  I had to scroll through a number of them to find my images….sigh.

What does your Sunday look like?  Reading, movies, whatever?

 

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: BOOK BEGINNINGS & THE FRIDAY 56 — APRIL 20

Welcome to a potpourri of fun today as we share Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and as we showcase The Friday 56 with Freda’s Voice.

To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.

Then give us the title of the book, so others can add it to their lists!

Today I’ve grabbed a book from my TBR stacks; it will be on next week’s reading list.  The Accidental, by Ali Smith, explores the nature of truth, the role of fate, and the power of storytelling.

Blurb:  Arresting and wonderful, “The Accidental” pans in on the Norfolk holiday home of the Smart family one hot summer. There, a beguiling stranger called Amber appears at the door bearing all sorts of unexpected gifts, trampling over family boundaries and sending each of the Smarts scurrying from the dark into the light. A novel about the ways that seemingly chance encounters irrevocably transform our understanding of ourselves, “The Accidental” explores the nature of truth, the role of fate, and the power of storytelling. This book will change you.

***

Beginning:  My mother began me one evening in 1968 on a table in the cafe of the town’s only cinema.

Okay…since it’s a bit startling, I’m pulled right in.  It makes me wonder why this book has been languishing on my stacks for so long!

***

p. 56:  She has him by the leg; she is holding very tightly round it with both her arms.  Her arms are bare.  The leg she is holding is shaking against her chest; her face.

***

What will the rest of you tempt me with today?  Come on by and share, please!

HUMP DAY POTPOURRI: WAITING ON UPCOMING READS — APRIL 18

Time for another Hump Day Potpourri!  Today I’m very excited about some of the upcoming releases I’m discovering at Waiting on Wednesday.

If you love discovering new books, hop on over and check it out.

Meanwhile, some of the books I found today are:

Summerland, by Elin Hilderbrand: the story of a tragic car crash and the aftermath, with secrets unfolding and startling truths revealed.  Due out June 26, 2012.

And then there’s the second book in the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy, from Nora Roberts:  The Last Boyfriend.

A new novel of a shared past, a fresh start, and a lifetime of love.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts introduces you to the Montgomery brothers—Beckett, Ryder, and Owen—as they bring an intimate bed-and-breakfast to life in their hometown.

My own WOW choice today is a book I have preordered and can’t wait to read:  Keepsake, by Kristina Riggle – also coming June 26, 2012.  From the critically acclaimed author of Real Life & Liars and Things We Didn’t Say comes a timely and provocative novel that asks: What happens when the things we own become more important than the people we love?

And here’s one coming in October….Forgotten, by Catherine McKenzie, who brought us Spin and Arranged.

What books are you waiting for?  What draws you to the books you discover in the ordinary blogging world?

MONDAY POTPOURRI: MUSINGS — APRIL 16

 

 

Welcome to Monday Potpourri, which today features Musing Mondays, hosted by Should Be Reading.

Every Monday, our leader hands us a prompt, and today’s is:

What are you currently reading? And, is it better, as good as, or worse than your last read?

That’s an easy one, since yesterday’s read was SO good, that I read all day and finished it.  Come Home, by Lisa Scottoline, was a fast-paced suspenseful read that consumed my day. (Click link for the review).

 

Today I’m reading a nonfiction title that is interesting, but definitely one that is mostly full of facts.  On Their Own, by Martha Shirk, is a revelatory read about what happens to foster kids when they age out of the system at eighteen (or later, depending on funding).

So far, I’m not learning anything really new, but that’s not the fault of the author.  I actually lived these experiences in my social work career, often helping teenagers transition out of care.

What I’m finding so far are the stories of young people who have gone through these experiences, and how they fared afterwards.  Some better than others, which I found to be true as well.

So…the read is not one I can compare to the previous one, since it’s not an escape read.  I do enjoy mixing my books up, though, so I expect to be satisfied with this one.  Yesterday, I had one of those “guilty pleasures” days, enjoying my read and curling up with it.

What about the rest of you?  How does your current read measure up to the previous one?

 

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: BOOK BEGINNINGS & THE FRIDAY 56 — APRIL 13

Welcome to a potpourri of fun today as we share Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and as we showcase The Friday 56 with Freda’s Voice.

To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.

Then give us the title of the book, so others can add it to their lists!

Today, (Friday the 13th!), I’m excerpting from one of next week’s review books:  Come Home, by Lisa Scottoline.

Amazon Description:

Jill Farrow is a typical suburban mom who has finally gotten her and her daughter’s lives back on track after a divorce. She is about to remarry, her job as a pediatrician fulfills her—though it is stressful—and her daughter, Megan, is a happily over-scheduled thirteen-year-old juggling homework and the swim team.

But Jill’s life is turned upside down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on her doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news: Jill’s ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees to make a few inquiries and discovers that things don’t add up. As she digs deeper, her actions threaten to rip apart her new family, destroy their hard-earned happiness, and even endanger her own life. Yet Jill can’t turn her back on a child she loves and once called her own.

Come Home reads with the breakneck pacing of a thriller while also exploring the definition of motherhood, asking the questions: Do you ever stop being a mother? Can you ever have an ex-child? What are the limits to love of family? 

***

Beginning:  Jill stopped on the stairway, listening.  She thought she heard a voice calling her from outside, but she’d been wrong before.  It was probably the rushing of the rain, or the lash of the wind through the trees.  Still, she listening, hoping.

Now I’m curious…what or who is she waiting for?  What led up to these moments?

***

p. 56:  “You’re so wacky, Mom.

“I know, I get it from you.“

***

What are the rest of you excerpting today?  I hope you’ll come on by and share….

HUMP DAY POTPOURRI: RAINY DAY READING & RAMBLING THOUGHTS — APRIL 11

Waking up to the sound of rain on the roof brought ambivalent thoughts and feelings.

First, rainy days are great for curling up to read…but not so much if one wishes to go out and about.  But speaking of rainy days, for the past two days, I’ve been featuring a blog tour over at Rainy Days and Mondays, where Jamie Lisa Forbes’ book Unbroken has been spotlighted.

Yesterday’s review and today’s guest post share a little bit about the book and the process of bringing it out to its readers.

 

Hope you’ll meander over there and check it out.

Meanwhile, I’ve been watching shows from my DVR, like last night’s Ringer…one of my favorites.  Next week is the season finale, and the suspense and excitement are reaching a fevered pace.

Do you watch this show?  What shows are your favorites?

I’m also reading The Chaperone, which is a wonderfully descriptive period piece that’s taking me right into the 1920s, with the societal changes unnerving the more conventional characters while energizing the more daring.  There is also a secret past that one character is trying to discover.

Tomorrow when I wake up, I’m expecting this delightful book to arrive on Sparky, my Kindle, per my preorder awhile back.    The Song Remains the Same, by Allison Winn Scotch, promises to be a journey in which our MC, suffering from amnesia after an accident, must piece together both body and mind, with the help of family and friends, who have their own agendas. She filters through photos, art, music, and stories, hoping something will jog her memory, and soon, in tiny bits and pieces, Nell starts remembering. . . .

 

And toward the end of April, I’m eagerly awaiting another download for Sparky, from a favorite author:  The Good Father, by Diane Chamberlain.

I love this cover!  And the blurb grabbed me: 

A beloved daughter. A devastating choice. And now there’s no going back.

Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown made a choice: to raise his newborn daughter on his own. While most of his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home, changing diapers and worrying about keeping food on the table. But he’s never regretted his decision. Bella is the light of his life. The reason behind every move he makes. And so far, she is fed. Cared for. Safe.

But when Travis loses his construction job and his home, the security he’s worked so hard to create for Bella begins to crumble….

 

Maybe I should hope that it rains a lot in the upcoming days! 

What books are you waiting for or reading?  Do you like reading on a rainy day?