Plant shopping!
My week: It was a fairly quiet week around these parts. Jarrod had Friday off for Veteran's Day and we took advantage of the time to do some shopping for our front garden, which was in desperate need of some TLC. We've been in our house for a little over four months now and it was past time to tackle it. I had a blast browsing all the gorgeous Hawaii flora! We didn't buy any of the above plants, but I couldn't resist photographing all the beautiful foliage. And I have half a mind to go back and get that bromeliad in the bottom right corner!
On Saturday we went to a big semi-annual craft fair on base (where I bought a pretty necklace, a glass locket filled with shells, sea glass and a little sand dollar) and then spent the afternoon and evening working our butts off in the garden, getting the area cleaned up and our new purchases planted. After a long, hot shower (scrubbing all that red Hawaii dirt off made me think of a little 19th century urchin arriving at the orphanage and getting scoured with scalding water and lye soap) and picking take-out for dinner, I was absolutely, utterly bushed!
Reading: I finished Colson Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad" on Tuesday night (review to come soon -- I gave it four stars), then dove into the second installment in Louise Penny's Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series. I happened to choose the ideal time to finally get to it -- the beginning of the book is set at Christmas in the idyllic Quebec village of Three Pines and I've been in the mood for something a little holiday-ish. I read the first book in the series about a year ago, but I'm reeeeeally going to try to read the third book soon. It would be so nice to get caught up on the series and then just read the new releases as they come out!
Last night I read the first couple pages of "Sweetbitter" by Stephanie Danler. I don't know much about it other than it's set in New York City and involves the foodie scene. It got a ton of hype but its Goodreads rating is a little low, so we'll see!
Watching: I finished season 5 of "Gilmore Girls" in a three-episode binge last night and I'm so excited to start season 6! Season 5 had a doozy of an ending that I'd completely forgotten about. Poor Rory!
We also started watching season 2 of the addicting British crime drama "Broadchurch." The first season focused on the murder investigation while season two is about the trial -- in which, of course, more dark secrets about the quiet little Cornwall town of Broadchurch will be revealed.
Eating: fall-colored peanut M&Ms (right this minute, as I write the post!).
Browsing: Gifts for my Broke and Bookish Secret Santa partner! I got an e-mail last night with her info and I spent some time online looking for present ideas. Last year I gifted a handknitted hat among the bookish goodies and I had planned to do the same again, but this year's partner is highly allergic to cats and I'm pretty sure Lily's fur is ingrained in everything I knit, so I'll have to come up with a different surprise -- and in a way, it's kind of a fun challenge.
Blogging:
Monday Musings
11 Recent Additions to My To-Read List
Yarn Along: "The Underground Railroad" and a Tweed Hat in Progress
Book Review: Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple (3 stars)
I've seen so much buzz about Underground Railroad lately - and four stars sounds like it's worth the hype. Glad you enjoyed it! Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDelete"Underground Railroad" is definitely a worthwhile read, though not quiiiite as amazing as I expected it to be.
DeleteI've heard great things about the Louise Penny series. I will have to pick up the first book one of these days.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week and hope you enjoy the Fantastic Beasts movie!
I had been meaning to try the series forever when I finally read the first book last year, and I couldn't believe I had waited so long! Inspector Gamache isn't exactly your typical detective... he's so thoughtful and out-of-the-box and almost whimsical at times. I think you should definitely make a point to read "Still Life."
DeleteI keep thinking I need to read Underground Railroad, but never seem to get to it. I really liked Sweetbitter. For me it's one of those books that you like more and more as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteI can see that about "Sweetbitter." I didn't entirely love it as I was reading, but in hindsight I did enjoy it. And it seems to be one of those stories that sticks with you... I'll think of it every time we go out to eat for a while!
DeleteUnderground Railroad is a book I am trying to get. It will give me an idea of how the underground slave network worked. Sounds like a tough emotional read.
ReplyDeleteIt was a pretty good read! Though it's not entirely representative of the actual Underground Railroad. In the book, the underground railroad is meant in a literal sense -- there are actual trains running in tunnels underground.
DeleteYour plant shopping pictures are gorgeous. I'm going to read your Maria S review.
ReplyDeleteI know! I wanted to buy everything. There's so much gorgeous foliage here!
DeleteGardening, even in Hawaii, doesn't really appeal to me. I hate getting dirt under my fingernails. The results would be lovely though. I might be waiting for the DVD of Fabulous Beasts. I never seem to manage to fit in a trip to a movie theater. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of gardening either; I like a few flowerpots and that's it. I definitely didn't inherit my mom's and grandma's green thumbs!
DeleteI bailed on Sweet Bitter. The story was just too all over the place for me.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, I did enjoy it, but I can definitely see how it wouldn't appeal to everyone.
DeleteI have long adored Louise Penny, I feel like her writing is just getting better and better with each new book.
ReplyDeleteThat's so good to hear! I just love Inspector Gamache. :)
DeleteLove Louise Penny's books.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful reading week!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My It's Monday, What Are You Reading
Thanks, Elizabeth! I'm excited to dive into book 3 soon!
DeleteYour TBTB Santa recipient doesn't know what she's missing out on! I pulled my hat out for the first time this season over the weekend and was reminded how very much I love it!
ReplyDeleteAlise, that is so sweet of you to say! I'm so glad you still like it. :)
DeleteI liked Sweetbitter, though I get why it's not for everyone. Underground Railroad is, like, the book of the year and I just can't get excited about it. Probably because everyone is making such a fuss and I assume it can't be as great as they're all saying :)
ReplyDeleteHow funny -- that's basically the first line of my review for "Sweetbitter," which I'm taking a break from working on at the moment!
Delete"Underground Railroad" was a decent read, but it definitely wasn't perfect. I gave it 4 stars. Worth a read for sure, but I think it was a bit overhyped. And I found the whole actual-real-live-railroad-under-the-ground thing to be kinda gimmicky.