Woman Reading in a Garden
Harold Harvey (1874-1941)
I am going to take a few days off from writing my letters and reading yours. I want to spend some solid time gardening and reading. It is the time of year when the outdoors is calling me to rake and weed and plant. And many library books have come to me all at once. At this moment I have one ebook and five print books that cannot be renewed so I need to be reading them instead of reading my beloved blogs. I'm guessing you'd like to know the titles. :<)
Cold Comfort by Quentin Bates - quit
The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani
The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney - finished
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Two of Anna Quindlen's nonfiction 'Loud' books - not sure which since I asked the library to get all three and they emailed me to say that two have arrived.
I hope to be back next Saturday, but it may not be until Monday. I'll leave you with two apt quotes.
But each spring a gardening instinct, sure as the sap rising in the trees, stirs within us. We look about and decide to tame another little bit of ground.
Lewis Gantt
Reading is a vacation you can take everyday.
Bob Greene
Love the painting and can relate to impulse to be outside and then read when it's relaxation time. I'm enjoying that myself before it gets too hot to enjoy the out-of-doors. We're all still a bit shell-shocked by our 45 days (or something equally grueling) of over 100 degree temperature with drought conditions last summer. I relish every rainy spring day like we've had today.
ReplyDeleteIt's been quite a cool, rainy week so I haven't done any gardening, other than picking chives for supper and daffodils for bouquets!
DeleteI could not bear those hot temps. I would wilt away. :<)
Enjoy the gardening and reading - don't forget to tell us about it when you switch on the computer again!
ReplyDeleteNo gardening, but loved the book I finished. I'm quite sure you would love The Invisible Ones. Oh, is it ever good!
DeleteEnjoy your time "off", Nan! I am sure you'll be back with lots to tell us about what you did in your garden, and about the books you've read.
ReplyDeleteToo cool and rainy to be outdoors much, but I did enjoy reading The Invisible Ones. It is great.
DeleteNan, yay for you! I'm glad you are doing this and what a wealth of books to read during this time. I'll be anxious to see what you think of COLD COMFORT. I still haven't read it. Have a nice break.
ReplyDeleteWhat was I thinking? That I would read all those books in a week?! But the one I did read was just the best book.
DeleteI'll email you about CC.
Nan,
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful and well-deserved break.
I know how much time reading takes as I spend too much of my time lately in a book when I should be balancing it with housework and yard work etc.
Hope your days are productive and give you a sense of satisfaction and well-being!
Great garden and book quotes!
Enjoy your break!
Joanne
I did no housework or gardening. :<) But I sure did love The Invisible Ones.
DeleteStill hoping you will return to your blog!
Nan,
ReplyDeleteI for got to say that I adore the art work you posted at the top of your post....so beautiful and serene!
Lovely!
Joanne
I really do love that painting. Coincidentally, my Persephone Biannually
Deletehttp://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/index.asp
came this week, and there is some talk about Harold Harvey. He did wonderful work.
Great quotes, Nan, especially the Gantt to me as that one I haven't heard. I've been doing my best to tame little bits of ground here, with little success yet oh-so-much pleasure. Enjoy getting your fingers dirty and that great list of books.
ReplyDeletePS I'm planning on posting a poem by Karl Capek called Gardener's Prayer during you absence. You just might want to google the poem and have a fun read as you tend to your gardens this week.
I'll be over to read the poem. I know his name - famous gardener? Wrote a book, I think?
DeleteI'm on my way to see if that is a NEW Adriani Trig. book. I don't recognize the title and have been anxiously awaiting her next one!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your reading/gardening. What a great combination!
It is a new AT book!
DeleteEnjoy your time off and your garden. We are watching backyard birds, bunnies, and the inevitable cat that seems too fat to be a stray. I worry about the robins and their nest!
ReplyDeleteHappy Spring!
Oh, bunnies! My favorite.
DeleteEnjoy your reading and gardening, Nan. See you in a week or so...
ReplyDeleteI came back a day early because I finished the most wonderful book, The Invisible Ones!
DeleteI love the painting. Hope you enjoy your reading and gardening time for the week. As we've been very busy with appts. and errands, I've been wishing I could sit on the patio and read.
ReplyDeleteI didn't sit outside to read because it was just too windy! We even had a little snow in the air today. :<)
DeleteEnjoy your reading time, and your time in the garden!
ReplyDeleteYes to the first, no to the second. Rainy most of the week.
DeleteMe again, Nan. I think I spelled the poet's name incorrectly. Should be Karel Capel.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, that's right! I know I've heard of him.
DeleteEnjoy every minute of spring Nan as it is ephemeral. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteSome more ephemeral than others. :<) Last week was mostly sunny while this one has been cool and rainy.
DeleteEnjoy your time away - love the quote and the painting.
ReplyDeleteThat painting is really special, isn't it.
DeleteGood for you, Nan! I should do the same. My yard needs some attention, but I'd rather be out on my bike. Rode about 16 miles yesterday and I'm going for a long one today.
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to hear what you think of The Shoemaker's Wife. I've only read two books by Trigiani and this one has caught my eye.
Enjoy your break. I see you're in for a lot of rain, but at least it isn't snow! Perfect weather to curl up with a stack of books!
I continue to be amazed at your biking prowess!
DeleteI've read only Big Stone Gap and Lucia, Lucia but want to read more.
Yes, it has been rainy and quite cold so reading but no gardening. :<)
I forgot to mention how much I love your header. Every time I see it, I can't help but smile. :)
ReplyDeleteI also love, love, love the painting by Harold Harvey. Simply lovely.
Thank you! I've just found these old magazine covers, and will probably use more. I love this one.
DeleteDid you happen to see what I wrote to Joanne above? I was quite amazed.
Hope you are not reading this for ages Nan, a well earned rest. I love the picture of the woman reading in the garden, I wish we wore those sort of clothes nowadays.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to the future book reports especially the Trigiani and Penney ones, I foresee more expense ahead!!
Carole
Do you get the Persephone Biannually?? HH is mentioned -p. 10.
DeleteI thought the same thing when I saw her.
I loved the Penney book! Just started the Trigiani.
Enjoy your staycation, Nan. I loved Adriana Trigiani's Big Stone Gap series so I hope you enjoy curling up with The Shoemaker's Wife.
ReplyDeleteSo far TS'sW is very good. Beautiful descriptions.
DeleteI loved BSG, but not the sequel.
That is a great excuse for not blogging (or visiting). Not that you really need an excuse of course, but I always appreciate knowing! I absolutely love that last quote. Thank you as always!
ReplyDeleteThose are great words, aren't they!
DeleteNan, I love that painting! Have a good few days off!
ReplyDeleteIt is really wonderful, isn't it.
DeleteI love that painting too, Nan. Have a wonderful time on your reading and gardening break. I have feeling I may do the same thing one of these days. Not so much gardening as reading, reading, reading! I'm really getting behind on my TBR pile. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI thought you might like it!
Delete