A bit of this and that

Friday, July 11, 2025

The Wayward Bus (1947) by John Steinbeck

I am making purposely slow, but steady, progress on my Summer of 2025 John Steinbeck project. I simply fit these books in around my assigned books.

I am not trying to read them in publication order. I am simply reading them as they become available on Libby waiting lists. Or I read them based on their length and my available time.

The Wayward Bus (1947) by John Steinbeck became available at the end of last week. I listened to it over the holiday weekend.

It had no real linear plot until the very end. It was a series of little stories about people living along a backroads bus route and riding the bus in California. It was very much Steinbeck’s style.

I enjoyed it, my husband would likely enjoy it. The era is very distinct. Steinbeck has his own style. (But it is probably not for everyone.)

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized.

StoryGraph -

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Monday, July 07, 2025

Looking at a quarter at a time helps

Last year we rearranged the rectangle garden a bit to divide it into four sections.

I think my backdoor neighbor with the dogs originally suggested it.

Dividing this bed in four was a great idea for several reasons.

This provided a pathway for easy access to the center of this large flower bed.
It also reduced the volume of planting space.
And most importantly, it makes this bed feel much less daunting to maintain. We look at it 1/4 at a time.

About an month ago, we weeded two of the quarter sections. It had rained the day before, that made everything easier. We started with the goal of one section. It proved fairly easy, the second one was quicker than we thought.

A couple weeks later we weeded and rearranged another 1/4 of this bed. We condensed the great blue lobelia and added three phlox.

There is only one 1/4 of this bed left and it is the easiest, I pull weeds as I see them.

We did the harder ones first. That proved to be smart.

Friday, July 04, 2025

State of Wonder (2011) by Ann Patchett

State of Wonder (2011) by Ann Patchett was a recent assigned book.

What did the group think? One hated it, she tends to hate most books. Everyone else liked it. Several said they are going to read more Ann Patchett.

It was my second time reading this book.

Yes, I have had a variety of seconds in the last couple weeks. Two books reread, two books by the same author read nearly back to back, two books published in 2011 read back to back.

I did not remember much of this book before I read it the second time, other than I knew I liked it and had recently recommended it for my husband, who also liked it.

It was just as good, for me, the second time through. Although I still thought the beginning was muddy. On both reads, I thought there was something confusing with how the book starts. Then, in the middle of chapter one, the muddiness clears and the story begins.

Middle read it recently for this same group. She liked it also. She agreed about the beginning.

Note - This listen, I used a pace of 1.40 which is very fast for me. It sounded normal, no chipmunks.

I have read all of Ann Patchett’s fiction and nonfiction in the past. I think I read State of Wonder first, I read it for a different book group in 2013. I loved it and went on to read the rest of Ann Patchett’s fiction and nonfiction books.

When I originally read this book, in 2013, I had been immersed in classics for several years straight. State of Wonder was one of several contemporary books to really catch my interest and help me realize, there is a world of modern literature.

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized.

StoryGraph -

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

Wednesday, July 02, 2025

Quilt labels

A quilt label is sewn on the back of a quilt to identify the maker, year made and usually the location. Middle feels very strongly that my quilts need labels. I prefer machine embroidered labels.

In 2022 or 2023 I went on a quest to find someone to machine embroider quilt labels for me. I had a very hard time finding anyone.

When I finally did, I had her do very short labels with just my first initial, last name and the year. That is 9 characters total, very simple. I had her make labels for 2023 and 2024

That shop is now gone.

Since my long arm quilter stall appears to be over, I need labels for 2025. I have a lot of quilt tops in progress.

I went to my local quilt shop and explained my problem. Owner said her DIL would make labels for me. (The last time I was looking, it was too close to the holidays, everyone was backlogged.)

I texted with the DIL, dropped fabric, and a sample at the shop for her.

So I should have 2025 labels shortly.

I have one label left from 2023 and lots left from 2024. I can cut the year off these labels and just put my name on the back of non-family quilts to use up the out-of-date labels.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Story Graph June 2025

It is gardening season, I have been quilting, I was gone for a long weekend, I am watching Law and Order archives, I do the NYT crossword and other NYT games every day. My book count decreased, my number of pages is about half of what it was in May.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

I read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah earlier in June for one of my book groups. I thought the writing was a little immature in the beginning, but liked the telling of the historical fiction story in the end. Hard subject matter, occupied France WWII. My husband’s currently listening to this book and finds it interesting.

Youngest’s group is discussing Night Road also by Kristin Hannah at their July meeting.

End of June, we both listened to Night Road on our Audible account, at the same time, by both turning off the Sync function (settings, player).

Overall, I enjoyed this book, Night Road (2011), it was an interesting concept/read.

I have two “buts”.

One - I found Night Road to be predictable. I could have nearly outlined the whole book after the first couple chapters. I absolutely was not surprised by the injustice/dilemmas as they happened. In a way the overt foreshadowing helped soften the blows.

Two - I was very eager to get through it. Happy ending, sad ending, I just wanted all the injustices resolved. Like Gretchen Rubin, I have a hard time with injustice.

In talking to youngest about the predictability of this book, I could see the writing outline pretty clearly, she mentioned Chekov’s Gun. She was surprised I had not heard that expression. Apt theory for the writing style of this story. Very tidy.