July is coming...and things that make you go 'hmmm'...

Hello book friends!  Hope all is well with you guys and you're managing with our very odd (and certainly frustrating at times) year.  Who would have thought that 2020 would be so strange in so many ways?  So, the picture above is from my backyard this morning at about 6:45.  I've shared photos of deer and smaller creatures here now and then.  I've mentioned that we've been 'visited' by feral hogs from time to time.  This 'visitation' is new.  I looked out the back windows as I walked from one part of the house to another and there they were....cows....8 of them.  Just hanging out.  Eating the grass, resting, pooping, and the 3 calves were partaking of their 'mom's' milk now and then.  We do live in a more rural setting outside of the Austin area, but it's a regular neighborhood.  There are ranches with cows near us and obviously there's a fence down somewhere.  These 'friends' have wandered around for a while and then disappeared into the 'woods' at the end of our street.  The local authorities showed up as well as some wildlife people and so, hopefully, the cows will make it home today sometime.  Ha!

Not much new to report here.  We've been sticking mostly close to home.  My husband is likely going to be working from home for many months to come.  I did have a second haircut yesterday and it worked much the same as the previous one.  We had our daughter and son-in-law over for some fajitas and queso last weekend and it was very nice to see them face-to-face.  We hadn't since early March.  It was a 'socially distanced' meal, but they stayed for a couple of hours afterwards chatting.  She's still very busy at work as babies will come on their own timeline.  Otherwise, we've walked, golfed, done virtual meetings, picked up 'curbside' dinner, and talked about what things might change permanently and what things might go back to 'normal' - whatever that is.  I am, of course, reading and going to book group meetings online.  Looks like those will continue through this whole year and maybe into next year.  Guess we'll adjust, right? 

Our mystery group will be discussing 'award nominated or winning mysteries' for July and then go on to David Baldacci's LONG ROAD TO MERCY for August.  The afternoon book group will be talking about Rebecca Makkai's THE GREAT BELIEVERS for July and August is 'to be determined'.  Have you read read either of those?  We'll see how I like them.  Otherwise, I've been considering doing some 'nostalgic' reading, otherwise known as reading favorite books again.  It's comfortable for me.  Take care everyone, hope your July 4th is good, and I'll be back around in a couple of weeks to update again.     

Summertime....and what's going on....

Hello bookish friends!  Did you know that it's June?  Bet you did.  Ah, summertime.  So, I'd love to be sitting in one of those chairs on a balcony in coastal Oregon right now, but I'm not.  We did have a trip to Oregon planned for July of this year, but we have postponed it.  Not completely sure what this summer will include after all.  However, I'm going to be reading (of course) and walking (naturally) and getting with friends and family a bit either virtually or actually in person (sensibly).

I have taken some 'new' steps in the last couple of weeks.  I've gone back to the rec center to walk on the indoor track.  It's quite warm outside and very, very muggy most days.  The rec center has opened with lots of new rules and a reservation system.  It's working well from what I can see.  I went back to a local library to renew my card and spent a little time selecting a few books in print.  I don't check out all that many actual print books (usually I do e-books), but I prefer them for graphic novels and sometimes this smaller library will have a popular book on the shelf when the Austin Public Library has a huge hold list for the e-book.  The library had rules (of course), but was very quiet and hardly anyone was there.  I enjoyed a few minutes to just wander and look at the shelves.

We've had one family birthday party in a backyard (it was hot, but OK) and we spent a few minutes yesterday with some old friends chatting.  My husband was helping them with a ceiling fan issue and we enjoyed seeing them and their son and daughter-in-law.  We're hoping to get to have a meal with our daughter and son-in-law in the next couple of weeks.  She's feeling about ready to be with family for a bit, but has been very conservative with that because of her job at the hospital.  She's said it was for our protection, for her protection, and for her patients.

Our virtual mystery group meeting this last Wednesday evening went well.  We discussed Where The Crawdads Sing and it was good to see and hear everyone's thoughts on that book.  Most liked it very much and I think everyone was glad they read it.  As there is no indication when we might be able to meet in person again, we're planning on our July meeting being handled the same way.

I'm not sure how often I'll be posting in upcoming days.  I'm not going to take an 'official' break, but I may be a bit (or more than a bit) sporadic in my posts.  We'll see.  I do enjoy getting around and reading what all of you have shared.  Hope each of you has a good weekend and rest of June.  As our country, our world, our society struggles with so many issues right now, I hope that we all are being kind, thoughtful, and treating others with love and respect.  Take care...