What's On My Reading Table

                                                      I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree by Laura Hillman

                                                     One More Breath by Jeremy Renner

                                                     Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee

                                                     I am Maria by Maria Shriver

                                                     Hope by Pope Francis

 

March Goes On

 Monday, the temperature got to 64 degrees....heavenly!  So I opened all the windows to enjoy the fresh air.  B and I decided since it was a nice day out, we should start to spring clean.  It always makes me feel better when I can spring clean after the house has been shut up all winter.  So we decided to start with the spare bedroom.  We moved furniture, vacuumed everything to an inch of its life and B even carpet cleaned the rugs.  We took note of the fact that we will have to repaint the ceiling but decided to wait until it got a lot warmer to do it as it would dry faster. It took us most of Monday but at the end we felt so much better standing in a room that just gave an air of spring.

Tuesday was a day for B to run errands so I stayed home and did some organizing in closets-the one in the spare bedroom as well as the one in our room.

On Wednesday, we started on spring cleaning our room.  This would take more time as it is the largest bedroom.  We decided to do half and finish the other half on Thursday.  As we did in the other room, we vacuumed, moved furniture and B carpet cleaned the rug.  Unlike Monday, the temperature was only in the high 30s so we needed to turn a fan on to help the rug to dry.  But even though that took longer, we were able to get into the bedroom that night.  We finished up the bedroom on Thursday with B noticing that the baseboards need to be replaced.  He said it was no big deal and that he could do that on the weekend.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the snow started thawing on the road which has led to muddy ditches and potholes you could fit a car into.  Since we live in a valley, B has started to keep an eye on the runoff coming from the hills down the road from us.  It starts in the spring and usually turns our driveway into a lake.  A couple of times it has flooded our basement so B got the sump pump ready and has been checking on the runoff daily.

Friday, we went to the used book sale at our local library.  Sales of books go to the library fund which is a good cause.  I donate books that I have read to the library so it is not strange to see some of them in the sale. B very rarely buys a book but he knows that books are my happy place and brings me whenever I ask. I bought 8 books and spent $14.  Not bad. Next, we went to Lowe's and purchased baseboards for the bedroom as well as a new welcome mat for the front door.  We also priced flooring and toilets as we will be replacing those things this summer.  Since it was Friday and a no meat day during Lent, B suggested he buy us lunch at Red Lobster.  We had a very good lunch of shrimp and linguini and were able to bring half home for dinner later.
The rain which had been coming down when we left the house had stopped and the sun had come out, so we went to the local thrift store and dropped off donations we had in the back of the car before heading home.  When we got to our road, we saw that the county was grating the ruts and filling in the giant potholes which made out car very happy.

And just when you think spring is finally coming, we woke up to snow this morning.  Not a lot of snow but enough to make you feel disappointed before your morning coffee.

I need Spring!

P.S.  Just a little side note to Maebeme: I read your blog everyday but for some reason (which I haven't figured out yet), my computer won't let me comment.

What I am reading.

I am a lover of books.  Always have been.  I think I inherited this love from my dad,  He loved to read and always had a book by his nightstand to read before bed.  He was the one who introduced me to bookstores and the library.  My favorite places that make me happy.  My husband and sons love this addiction of mine as it makes it easier for them to get me gifts for holidays.  I do call it an addiction as I am not happy unless I have a pile of at least 6 books waiting by my chair in the living room and at least 4 beside my bed.  When the pile gets low, B always says it's time for a visit to the library.  My primary preference is non fiction but I do read some fiction mostly series from authors I have grown to like.  So I thought I would share with you what I am reading at the moment.

FICTION
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.  There are 4 in this series and I have read all of them and anxiously awaiting more.
The Marlowe Murder Club by Robert Thorogood.  There are 3 in this series and I have read 2.
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
Hercule Poirot's Silent Night by Sophie Hannah.  I love Agatha Christie and have read her Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries.  Sophie Hannah does a great job with her writing like Agatha Christie.

NONFICTION
On All Fronts: The Education of a journalist by Clarissa Ward.  I like her reporting on CNN and enjoyed reading about her life in this book.
The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments by Hadley Vlahos, RN

What are you reading these days?  Are you a reading addict like me or an occasional reader?  Any good recommendations for me?