Image by Christina Zetterberg from Pixabay
"Everything is brimming with possibility. Everything is pointing
forward to what is to come. And isn't that the way with
spring? It feels sweeter even than the highest summer day
because it arrives while winter still holds the earth."
ROB COWEN
from Spring Anthology (Melissa Harrison)
Image by Joanna from Pixabay
TODAY
One. Outside my window
We've had a mix of winter and spring over the last few weeks.
As I write this paragraph, it's snowy, cold, windy, and hazy.
A good day to hibernate indoors.
Oh...oh... the sun came out and warmed the air.
Rivulets begin to trickle down the street.
And suddenly it feels like maybe spring is really
on its way. A big sigh of relief.
Wait...wait...wait...
Oh dear, it's snowing again, now with
a force behind the shreds of cotton flakes.
It's March in Alberta.
Two. Rose Postcard Giveaway
My apologies.
I made this announcement in my February 6th blog post
with names to be drawn on February 13th.
Then I totally forgot about it with other needful
things vying for my attention.
I went back to the comments section on that post and
on my FB page. Collected the names into the proverbial
hat. Pulled out two (as I said I would).
We have two winners!
A big congratulations to:
Tamara Willems
&
Sharon Goemaere
Three. Inside my head
"Do you ever listen to a song and remember exactly
what life was like when you first heard it?"
Asked someone online.
Oh yes, indeed!
There I am, about six or seven years old, sitting on
the back step on a warm summer afternoon with my
little sister and older beloved cousin, our ears
attuned to Larry's little transistor radio as a new
band sings, "We all live in a yellow submarine,
a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine..."
We fell in love with the Beatles. And maybe
drove our mom crazy singing the song over and over.
Sweet and delightful memory of a time long ago.
Four. On my lap
These days, whenever I have a chance, I disappear into
the stories inside my books. It helps me escape from what's
going on in my own world, not to mention what's
happening in the world at large.
I recently read and enjoyed these novels:
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
(mystery, sequel to The Maid)
Molly the maid finds herself in the middle of
another murder at the posh hotel where she works.
The Bookbinder by Pip Williams
(during WWI)
A young woman, who has worked in the bookbindery
in Oxford since she was 14, longs to go to the Ladies
College across the street.
Goodnight from London by Jennifer Robson
(WWII novel)
A young female journalist crosses the Atlantic Ocean from
America to the UK near the beginning of WWII to write
for two magazines about the war from London. Happily
there is a bit of romance tangled in the threads.
84, Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff
(biography in letters)
A favourite book that I love to read on occasion. It's the
correspondence between a woman living in NYC
with a bookstore employee on 84 Charing Cross Road.
Having watched the movie numerous times, I love reading
the book - I hear and see the actors in my head.
A lovely book in which to escape.
The Limestone Manor by Jonny Thompson
(cozy mystery by Canadian author)
I wasn't familiar with this author, but his work started showing
up on my FB feeds. His 2-3 books have good reviews.
He writes a great little story about a group of seniors living
in St. Mary's, Ontario, who find themselves suddenly aware of
something nasty about to happen in their small town.
The characters are eccentric. I was delighted by the story.
Not so much of a nailbiter that you can't relax
and let them solve the mystery.
I'm currently immersed in Hilary Mantel's
award-winning Wolf Hall. Set in the early 1500s
during Henry VIII's era. He sure is eager to get rid of
his wife Katherine and marry Anne Boleyn.
Don't do it, Anne!
Five. A wedding
My beautiful niece is getting married this summer.
We are excited. Ever since I got married years ago,
I always had a dream that one day I would pass along to
one of my nieces my beautiful pair of handmade earrings
(made by a dear friend especially for my wedding).
❦
On that note, I'm wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda
Photo credits:
Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life
My Blogging Schedule:
I post on Fridays
What a lovely gift for your niece. She will treasure them. I enjoy books that are written as letters, or include letters in the story. 84 Charing Cross Road is delightful. I didn’t realize it is a movie, too. I read the author’s next book, but wasn’t as drawn to it as the first.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen, for your note. Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins play in that movie. They were a delight.
DeleteThe earrings are beautiful, Brenda! And our weather here in Saskatchewan is much like yours in Alberta right now. Gerry was out with the snow shovels this morning, and it’s +7 on our back deck at the moment.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great description of spring in Alberta! It's changeable! Your niece will surely treasure those lovely earrings, Brenda!
ReplyDeleteWolf Hall was an interesting book, telling the story from a different point of view. When we visited England in 2016, we rambled around the ruins of Hailes Abbey where, on Christmas Eve in 1539, Cromwell sat on his horse on a hill above the Abbey and watched it being destroyed.
It's lovely to see a post from you.
Enjoyed your post, Brenda, especially your book recommendations. I’ve read “The Maid” but not the sequel so I have put it on hold at the library. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs, Elaine
ReplyDelete