It’s no secret that I love flowers. All flowers. Zinnias, though, are at the very top of my list of favorites. They come in so many pretty colors. They are simple and symmetrical and oh so very old-fashioned. This pink one is in the pot right outside my back door and it’s big and gorgeous and makes me smile every time I walk by it.
I hope you find something that makes you smile this weekend!
I don’t consider myself to be a writer but I am an avid reader and a librarian and I guess that makes me very award of . . . words, phrases, and how often certain words and phrases are, frankly, used. Lately I’ve noticed a few expressions that are, to put it mildly, overused. I’ve got 3 I want to pronounce as expressions that should be retired. Immediately.
In all honestly, I’m sure I’ve used these phrases, too. I know I’m guilty of saying not in my wheelhouse, sorry-not-sorry, totes, and awesomesauce. But I’m saying it now for all to hear: enough with the clichés! I’m off to buy a new thesaurus!
If you wrote a post for today be sure and include your link below!
One of the things Dale and I love to do on a summer’s night is take a drive to Plymouth.
We did this last Thursday night and up there in that photo you can see a representation of all the things we did.
We started at the Mayflower Society House where they were having a pop up beer garden for Mayflower Brewery. They have a beautiful formal English garden and it was full of people drinking beer. I’m sure the Pilgrims would have approved!
From there we walked down to the harbor to see the Viking ship Draken was in town. They had tours available but we didn’t opt in for that, we just gazed from the pier, looked at the video they had of the building of the ship, and took some photos. It was pretty cool, I have to say.
By then we were hungry so we walked up a block to Anna’s Harborside Grille. We’ve been meaning to try this primarily Greek restaurant forever and I’m glad we finally did. The appetizer Tzatziki Dip Platter was fab, as was my lamb kebabs. Mr. Adventurous Eater had pizza.
Finally, we headed back to the car but couldn’t resist a stop at Ziggy’s for ice cream. I almost always get Peppermint Stick but last week I had Blueberry Pie and it was perfect for a hot summer night.
Plymouth is only about 30 minutes from us but whenever we go there it feels like a mini vacation. We enjoy the restaurants and sites and playing tourist in our own back yard!
It’s been just over a month since I last shared my Summer Book Bingo Card with you and I’m happy to say that I now have FOUR Bingos!
(ya’ll definitely need to click this to read it)
Here are the books I’ve finished, along with their corresponding Bingo squares, and reviews:
Square #18, About Food: Beach Music, Pat Conro
5 stars
This is a long book with a big amazing beautiful heartbreaking story. It made me cry, it made me laugh, and it will stay with me for a long long time.
Square #1, Seen on Gilmore Girls: A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole
5 stars
Readers seem to fall into two camps with this book, they love it or despite it. You can count me as one who loves it.
Square #17, Person on the Cover: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman
4 stars
I truly enjoyed this book. Eleanor is a great character and I loved the progression of her story and the way she developed and overcame her past in a realistic and heartfelt way.
Square # 7: One-word Title: Less, Andrew Sean Greer
5 stars
Truly delightful and captivating!
Square #12: Set in a Different Season: Due or Die, Jenn McKinlay
3 stars
A light cozy mystery set in a library, perfect for a quick summer read.
Square #10: Written in the Second Person: Every Note Played, Lisa Genova
4 stars
A brutally honest depiction of what it’s like to live with and die from ALS, this is not an easy read. It’s sometimes gross, truly heartbreaking, and also absolutely beautiful.
Square # 6: Classic: Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson
4 stars
A haunting story of neglect and abandonment, this book tells a bleak and sad tale of a family’s inability to come to terms with tragedy, resulting in mental illness that lasts for generations. The sadness and loneliness of the characters is palpable, leaving me feeling wrung out and sad. Still, it’s beautifully written, worthy of praise, and I’m glad I read it.
Square #3: Magical Realism: Kindrid, Octavia Butler
4 stars
I read this book in practically one sitting as I could not put it down. The story is compelling in today’s time but would have been ground breaking in 1979. Highly recommended.
Square #1: Seen on Gilmore Girls: Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance
3 stars
I found this to be an interesting memoir of the author’s difficult childhood and how he rose above it to become successful. I think it’s good and worth reading but it’s not a treatise on our entire nation or even an entire region, it’s simply one man’s experience of poverty.
Square #2: Wanted to Read for More Than a Year: Etta and Otto and Russell and James, Emma Hooper
4 stars
Delightful, fluid and quirky, I enjoyed this book immensely. The ending is left to the reader’s interpretation and, while I find that slightly annoying, it forced me to really think through the entire story and fit all the pieces together in the way I found best.
Just 5 more books to go for my cover all!
Our weekend was spent largely at home and that was just fine with me.
We started it off in the usual way. It may feel repetitive but it’s a great way to wind down and relax. And I can’t even tell you how many people around our town comment on how much they enjoy seeing our Friday Night Snacks photo each week! I’m thinking . . . it’s really just cheese and crackers . . . but it truly strikes a chord with people!
On Saturday we ran some errands, picking up a few plants for around the pergola, going to the dump, visiting the local butcher for steak tips to have for dinner, you know that Saturday morning stuff.
We picked our first cucumber and a few grape tomatoes, too.
Jackie was with us for much of the weekend since his family moved over the weekend. They’re still in our town, just a little further up the road, in a house that they are renting from my friend Jo-Ann. I felt like I didn’t really help at all since all I did was take care of Jack but Jess pointed out that it was a huge help since she could get things done without taking care of the little guy. He’s an easy baby so it’s really just fun for us and I’m amazed at how well he adapts to our routines, hanging on the deck with us, watching me plant flowers, going to the grocery store . . . whatever we’re doing he just does it with us.
On Sunday we went to a bridal shower, checked in on the move progress (which mostly made me think how I never want to have to move again, what a lot of work and stress), and then came home to end the weekend in much the way it began.
And there was corn for dinner. Doesn’t get better than that!
How was your weekend?
