Tag Archives: book club

four things | twenty-seven

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Oops! I missed posting anything last week. I forgot what day it was (it happens when one is retired) and when I did remember, I was too tired to think.

It’s been soooo hot and humid. One of the Book Club women asked me if Mr. Aitch and I use our deck much. We have in the past but not this year. In fact we have not dined al fresco all year! It’s just too uncomfortable to be outside. How’s your weather been this summer?

what I’m reading

Well, our Book Club met at my house last Monday. We discussed Nita Prose’s The Maid. The main character, Molly, is a maid in a boutique hotel. She takes her job very seriously. She stumbles across a murder scene and you can find out what happens next if you read the book.

One of the Book Club members offers refreshments based on foods mentioned in the book we review, which helps me figure out a menu. Olive Garden and Mexican foods are both mentioned in this book so since it’s been HOT here, heavy, Italian pasta dishes were not going to happen. I could have gone with the never-ending OG salad but decided to go Mexican with a taco salad, nachos, salsa, sour cream, and a lime infused non-alcoholic beverage. I also made a Mexican Lime Icebox Cake for dessert. Light and refreshing.

Book Club meetings also help me keep up with the housecleaning, like washing the windows both inside and out, dusting everything, scrubbing (not just damp mopping) the floors, you know, all those things no one notices unless they aren’t spotless. And just in case anyone needed to use the restroom I even did the upstairs since the first floor powder room had plumbing issues!

what I’m watching

We’re growing tomatoes in the front flower bed. Actually the two plants are in pots but they are still sitting in the front of the house. The pots were the largest I had and have blown over a couple of times with the unusually strong winds we’ve had. Mr. Aitch and I pounded a long bamboo stake down through the bottom on the pots and into the ground beneath the pots to keep them upright. I’ve trimmed the dead branches and leaves off the bottoms of the plants so they are a bit top-heavy. That certainly helped.

The plants are the Sweet 100 variety and they have produced at least 50 or more sweet, little tomatoes for us so far. There are lots of almost ripe ones on the vines that we will enjoy for the next couple of weeks.

I want to get larger and heavier pots next year so we won’t have to worry about the plants blowing over.

One other tidbit is that the deer don’t bother the tomatoes. Our paver sidewalk runs in front of this flower bed and they don’t like to walk on it.

what I’m loving

Our power went off during one of the hottest afternoons last week. We weren’t sure how long it would be off so we just sat around the house trying to stay cool. I thought about going to the basement to declutter but with no electricity, it would be too dark.

This is truly a First World problem and I will be the first to admit that I do live a comfortable life with so many conveniences.

Fortunately, after an hour, we were greeted with a cool, breeze coming from our AC vents.

I am loving air conditioning.

what I’m working on

I’ve been reading about the Swedish Death Clean method to declutter and downsize so those I leave behind don’t have as much to deal with. I’m not planning on leaving this Earth any time soon and Mr. Aitch and I are not planning on moving/downsizing to a smaller house. I do want to downsize all the crap stuff we have accumulated in this house. I did a lot of getting rid of stuff last year when we got new carpeting on the second floor. I also joined my neighbor in holding a huge three family yard sale and got rid of things we no longer wanted or used. In fact Mr. Aitch and I loaded up the back of my car with most of the leftover stuff and dropped it off at Goodwill. Outta sight, outta mind, and outta the house!

I/we still have a lot more to do but our house didn’t get this way overnight. And it’s not going to get decluttered that way either. Slow and steady wins the race.

Sending you positive vibes for the week ahead!

Patti nona

four things | nineteen

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I can’t believe it’s the end of the week already. Time certainly flies whether you’re having fun or not!

It’s been unusually cool here this week. Rainy, cool, and breezy. I think Mother Nature is messing with us. I even wore my “bed socks” to bed the other night. These are thick and heavy and I can’t wear them with any of the shoes or boots I own. They are perfect for keeping my feet warm in bed.

what I’m reading

Book Club was last Monday so I’m between books right now. I have several digital books “on hold” through my library so whatever becomes available first will be my next read.

what I’m watching

Mr. Aitch and I watched What About Bob? Thursday evening. Perfect casting and perfect acting. As usual, we could only remember bits and pieces from when the movie was first shown in 1991 but still thought it was funny.

what I’m loving

I just happened to look of the door to our deck when I spotted this hummingbird flitting from flower to flower. By the time I got my phone out to snap a picture of him, he perched on top of the Tiki torch holder.

what I saw on my walk

I had to text my BFF to find out what kind of bloom this was. It looked like a peony but I wasn’t sure as I’ve never seen one quite like this. She confirmed that it was indeed a peony. That iris was jealous and just had to bend into the frame.

Have a great week!

Book Club

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I was meeting a walking buddy neighbor one morning in June for a short walk. She had her left knee replaced earlier this year and needed to walk with someone (who could call for help if needed). We met another neighbor, Denise, in front of my house who was also walking but in the opposite direction.

She asked both of us if we liked to read. Me: yes, yes, YES. My friend, not so much. She told us about a book club in our development that was in need or members. We exchanged phone numbers and a few details and went on our way.

I texted Dee a few days later and said I was very interested. The next meeting was the week of our anniversary party and I didn’t have time to read the book nor participate in the discussion.

There are only four of us and another 2-3 people would be better but we will make do for now.

We read Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen in July (Denise’s selection), The Briar Club by Kate Quinn in August (Barbara’s selection) and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak in September (my selection). October’s book is When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin (Paula’s selection).

I like this group of women and the selections so far. They don’t read sci-fi, romance or horror books and that’s just fine with me.

We meet from 1-3:00 in the afternoon and discussed the book at the first meeting that I went to then had snacks. For the second and third ones we snacked first then talked about the book. I didn’t start the discussion soon enough for my book as we hurried through it before we ran out of time.

Book Club spread minus the carrot and celery sticks.

For my snacks I served chicken salad in mini croissants, potato chips, celery and carrot sticks with dip, chocolates, and a rustic apple pie with ice cream. Drinks were iced tea and/or water.

Have you read any good (or bad) books lately?

Patti