Friday, May 20, 2022

The Merry Month of May

Tulip season came and went, fast and furious. When tulips are ready to be picked, they are ready, kind of like avocados. If they stay outside too long in the heat, they'll blown open in the sunshine which negatively affects their vase life. So at times, I was harvesting tulips 3 times a day. They're kind of a pain in that way but oh, I love them! They come in almost every color, and there are many fancy types with fringe, multiple petals, and stripes. I planted about 460 this year and I'm trying to decide if I can handle 700 next year.





After tulips, things calmed down a bit, but then it was time to put in all the seedlings. I've planted between 600-700 seedlings which (not surprisingly) is hard physical labor. I forgot that I am 40 and not 20, and kneeling, squatting, and bending might not be as easily shrugged off as it once was. It will all pay off in a few months when I'm questioning my sanity. By that point I'm sure the weather will have "improved" to 90+ degrees and 100% humidity. 




It has not been a nice spring, weather-wise. It has been cold and gray and wet; and then immediately it's warmed up to what is supposed to be a 105-degree heat index tomorrow. I'd rather be hot than cold  though, so I don't mind. 

Reading

As soon as the weather warms up, I find that I want to read summery, lighter books. I always return to mystery series around now, with some thrillers and modern romance sprinkled in. One of my favorite things in the world is sitting outside in my hammock chair reading as the sun goes down. Here's a few books I finished lately:


The Bat is the first book in the Harry Hole series. The Snowman is one of the more well-known titles, but I always like to start series at the beginning and read them in order. Apparently this was a mistake in this case, as the books are supposed to drastically improve after the first few. I'll say it: this book was bad. Don't read it. The main detective is extremely bad at his job and there's homo/transphobia at the core. The only reason I finished it was because I wanted to know who the murderer was.


After that bad reading experience, I immediately checked out The Man Who Died Twice, which is the next book in the Thursday Murder Club series. (Right now there are only two, with the third coming out later this year.) I loved this book even more than the first! It's funny, the characters are all unique and developed, and Richard Osman has such a talent for writing that I hope he lives forever and writes 1000 books.


I picked up The Diamond Eye on a whim, since I've heard good things about Kate Quinn. The book is about the real Mila Pavlichenko, a female Russian sniper during World War II who killed over 309 enemy soldiers. It was fascinating, and shocking, and sad to read how a "regular" young mother could go from historian to sniper, but that's what war does. The first half of the book is about her time in combat, and the second half focuses on Mila's tour of America and friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt (also true!) The second half was not as interesting to me and was a little slower, but overall it was a good read. There are also some photos in the back of the real people in the book, which were pretty heartbreaking.

How about you - does your reading change with the seasons?

11 comments:

  1. Those tulips are incredible! So much natural beauty.
    I've just gone to put Richard Osman on my holds list at the library.
    I tend to read more books in the late fall and early spring. Over the summer I find it hard to manage library holds and I (oddly enough) don't really enjoy reading outside.

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    1. That's interesting you read more in the fall and spring - I do think fall is such a perfect cozy time to read though!

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  2. Oh, that's just beautiful! I love it. I think I'm going to be able to put my flowers in tomorrow. We have had so much cold and snow and frost so late in the season, that I have had hardly any chances to be outside. Needless to say, when I have the chance I will be outside constantly! It's been a long winter. Anyway, the only time my reading changes is when I go on holiday. If I'm at the beach or the lake I like really light reads.

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    1. Ah, the classic beach read! There is something to be said for relaxing your mind along with your body. I hope you have a glorious summer filled with lots of flowers!

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  3. Wow 700 tulips I would be in heaven, I love Tulips they are my favourite flower. I don't read enough to read different books in each season but I love that idea.

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    1. It is hard to choose, but I think tulips might be my favorite flower too. They're so colorful and sturdy, and emerge at a time when we're just getting out of the cold and gray months.

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  4. Your tulips are beautiful and such a range of colours. They are worth waiting to see even if it is hard work planting them to start with. Have a great week.

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    1. Thank you! You're right, they are totally worth it!

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  5. Have you read the Flavia de Luce mysteries? Those are always a good summer read. I also liked the Guest List by Lucy Foley. It takes place on a cold and stormy Irish island so it might be a good read when it's blistering hot!

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    1. I listened to the first one, and I think I disliked it mostly because of the narrator's voice. It's funny how influential that is! I should try the next one because I think the format made a big difference. I also read the Guest List, that one was great in audio!

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  6. Sorry that Anonymous comment was mine!

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