Littlest, age 2

Yesterday was Littlest's 2nd birthday party. She was having quite a
conversation!

"Furry old man"

BB, tired after a long day working at the "Cottage." Water Color
sketch tonight at dinner. In Jessie's mole.

"poised"

Poised to Strike, Water color sketch in Jessie's book. Not doing
washes on the yellow mole paper, trying to see what effects I can get
without washes. Water color and a little gouache.

Two New Books on my Currently Reading Shelf

The River King by Alice Hoffman

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I started the River King last night for the second time--last time I didn't get to far before I set it down and abandoned it. I'm trying it again because I loved the last two Alice Hoffman books I read, The Probably Future, and The Third Angel. But so far, I'm not liking it much better than I did last time--I'm going to stick with it a little longer I hope, and see if it improves.


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The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I also started The Nick Adams Stories, by Ernest Hemingway, which I am enjoying much more, though it took me a while to get into them, they are a little strange and different. Very detailed about every move people make and low key. But interesting! Will report back when I finish them. I will finish them, God willing and the creeks don't rise.


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Three things

Here's what you're supposed to do... Copy, paste in your notes, delete my answers and type in your answers. Then tag a few friends! The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known things about each other.

Three Names I go by
1. Mary
2. "fweetie"
3. Mrs. Taitt
(once was called Tiger, Horsehair and Mary Nicky)

Three Jobs I have had in my life
1. Erotic Dancer
2. Museum Educator
3. Naturalist
(Taught Ecology and Creative writing at the College level.  Taught birth control in a place where it was illegal to teach birth control.)

Three Places I have lived
1. San Francisco
2.  NYC
3. at a Nature Center

Three TV Shows that I watch
1.
2.
3.
(I don't have a TV)(Three things I do besides watch TV--converse with people, write poetry, paint)

Three places I have been
1. Slovenia
2. Austria and Italy
3. Mexico

Three of my favorite foods
1. my own homemade omelets
2. BB's spaghetti dinners
3. my own spring rolls

Three of my favorite books
1. A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
2. The Book Thief
3. The Third Angel
(Whatever book I am currently reading or just finished)

Things I am looking forward to
1. going to bed and hugging my sweetie
2. publishing my children's novel
3. publishing my poetry collection (soon, I hope)

Three things you do every morning
1. wash face
2. brush teeth
3. make bed

Three things you do every night
1. sleep--or not
2. brush teeth
3. hug BB

Three things I wish for:
1.  Peace in the world
2.  Good will and kindness for all
3. enough to eat for the world's poor
(also:  that my brain tumor will shrink, that I will lose weight, that I will get published.)

signs of spring

Christmas Rose in bud--there are three buds now--and winter aconite--8
or 9 of those, not fully open yet.

Two new Mole Sketches

1> Osiers
2> Birthday excitement

In Jody's Moleskine

Grandkids!

Sunday for Dinner.

The Probable Future, finished

The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished this book in a shower of tears, which were also evident elsewhere in the book. I liked it very much and will probably reread it, though not immediately, as I am currently still rereading Alice Hoffman's The Third Angel.

This book is primarily about three generations of women in the Sparrow family, but it actually goes back to 1682, many generations of Sparrow women, each with a special gift. Murders occur, including a current one, betrayals, love affairs. There are people who are honest and kind and those who are not, but each person is treated humanely and fairly. It's a book of relationships, of hurts and forgiveness. It is interesting, engaging. For me, it was another page turner, with lots of sadness and tears and lots of redemption.

I read most of the book during multiple doctor appointments, MRIs, mammograms, etc, so I feel as if I need to reread it because of the interruptions. I think there may be a few loose ends, but it may just be because I am failing mentally or because of the way I read it.

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at the Rolandale House

Work is progressing slowly at "the Cottage" or "Studio," otherwise
know as "The Rolandale House," "Guest House," or "other house." I've
had a number of doctor apointments, medicals, tests, call back for
more tests etc. ML came over and unpacked and dusted books. BB is
cutting up the boards he removed from the porch he demolished. Lasy
night, we hauled away the last of the shingles and rusted galvanized
metal, but the boards and aluminum siding still has to be dealt with.
And the painting isn't finished.