NO! Just when I thought we’d seen the last of the white stuff, looking out my kitchen window this morning, I see fluffy little white balls landing on the roof next door and a check of my backyard saw equal measures of white decorating the green. Snow? (Not that it couldn’t happen!) But no…cotton blowing in the wind from the cottonwood trees that line the back road and surround the ponds which are prolific here in the rust belt. If not natural, the ponds are man-made. (All the better to hatch mosquitoes and while not Texas size, certainly hungry enough to really be a nuisance.) I think I’ve actually witnessed them licking the “Off” off! Like the over-priced tick medication bought from the vet to prevent ticks on the dog that still comes home with busy little black dots looking for a way through that heavy Bichon fur coat to find a permanent home (and some did).
Important to become a nose breather this time of year, as opening your mouth to take a nice deep breath may result in ingesting nature’s air balls. I mention this just so you understand how heroic my forthcoming flower, veggie, and fairy garden is. With all the rain we’ve had, the soil is so saturated it’s difficult to plant anything other than water lilies. Ah, well, life in NWI (northwest Indiana).
SO enough with the excuses, I did read and review some books and plugged several in I hadn’t previously scheduled. My woeful tally for the month of May–eight. (Goodreads link on the book covers. My review links below.)
Like Lions by Brian Panowich
Prologue to Murder by Lauren Elliott
The Night Window by Dean Koontz
The Lost Road to Key West by Michael Reisig
The Going Back Portal by Connie Lacy
Decanted Truths by Melanie Forde
Impeccable Petunia by Katie Christine
The Star and the Shamrock by Jean Grainger
My Goodreads Challenge is at 82/200–hoping by the end of June will represent half-way through the challenge. The Alphabet Challenge is stalled–same old letters (anyone have a V, X, Y, or Z they can recommend?) and the NetGalley Challenge is not quite halfway. Several of the above were author requests.
June promises to be an eclectic mix of genres that includes a children’s book from Sage’s Reading Room, cozy mystery and historical fiction book tours from Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, more author requests (and a short series) as well as independent choices from NetGalley. I’m always looking for recommendations for suspense-thrillers! (Especially with titles starting with the above noted V, X, Y, or Z letters!) Never a shortage of book choices through these links! AND, I’ve requested several audiobooks from my local library (waiting lists), 2019 releases, and will be looking for your suggestions there as well. I’m thinking if I can’t read while gardening, I can certainly listen!
Having problems with the WP format again! It has reverted to the old, old format, or the choice of block. I no longer see the link for the one I was using and this one is AWFUL. Being forced to upgrade–gotta be…
As always, please share with me your ideas for great reads and thank you so much for taking the time to note your likes and comments to my posts and reviews. They are SOOO appreciated!
©2019 V Williams
Ugh. Mosquitoes! Hope they aren’t so horrendous all season. And the large ones… jeez!
Eight for you was definitely a slow month but I’m sure you’ll pick right up this month, especially if you have the audiobooks while gardening. I can’t think of any for your letter challenge but if I do I’ll let you know!
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Thank you Nina. I’m just getting started with household projects, so it may be another slow reading month. But…it’s among our few warm months.
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Exactly. Enough interesting things to do other than camping out indoors! Maybe camping outdoors even? Lol.
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oh yes! camping, fishing, finding walking and hiking trails, scouting interesting towns nearby, look for yearly events out of town, blah, blah, blah. (AND i can read or listen to audiobooks on the way! wink wink)
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Hahahaha. Sounds like a plan then!
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😅
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I can’t believe the amount of rain we have had here in Southwestern Ontario. My veggie garden has three foot weeds because I can’t get near it to rototill and plant. Not sure if I will have a garden this year or not. As I read your reviews this month, I added a couple to my list and some were already on there. Looks like you had some good reads this month Virginia. Here’s to a dryer June.
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Amen Carla. The farmers haven’t been able to plant. It’s looking to be a bleak year.
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That is what I am afraid of.
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I liked the idea of snow, the others are a bit too much.. I would not know how to manage. Citronella oil is supposed to be Anti-mosquito.
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Yes! We use that and citronella plants. The mosquitoes are extra bad this year as we had an unusual amount of rain–that and the pond behind my fairy garden and reeds. Son calls it “the swamp.”
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Blehhh… I hate mosquitoes
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Me too! 😝
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