A Some Things Take Time Weekly Link Round-Up

If you're not blessed with patience, you may not want to grow some native cactus species. For example, a saguaro is usually at least fifty years old before it starts putting out its first arm. When we had our property desert landscaped, we were told that it took two years before plants like saguaros or ocotillos decided that they wanted to live where they'd been transplanted.

Jimmy

As part of that desert landscaping about thirteen years ago, we had a golden barrel cactus planted. Jimmy the barrel cactus had a very rough start to life here at Casa Kittling. A former neighbor next-door received an air rifle for his birthday. Not content with shooting holes in our windows and our Jeep, the lovely child shot Jimmy several times. I don't know about you, but if I were shot several times, I'd probably turn up my toes and die, but Jimmy hung on.

Years passed, and Jimmy grew very slowly, but as you can see in the photo, he's decided it's time to throw caution to the wind and enjoy life. Not only is he flowering, but he's grown a sizable schnoz, and this year, he's even growing an ear. I know. I know. You're all probably wondering why I named a barrel cactus to begin with-- and why did I name it Jimmy? Because of his schnoz, that's why. Anyone want to guess what Jimmy's surname is? I think I'll hum a little "inka dinka dink" on the way out to the corral...

Head 'em up! Moooove 'em out!

►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄

• The uncertain future of Sweden's floating libraries.
• This ink is made from air pollution.
• An engineer says that fire-damaged Notre Dame is vulnerable to high winds.
• Why were medieval Europeans so obsessed with long, pointy shoes? 
• Pennsylvania honors Mister Rogers with the first annual Day of Kindness. (How's about extending that to 365 days of kindness?) 
• Chilly rooms may cool women's productivity. (Told you that cold and I didn't get along.)
• An author ponders killing off his popular pen name. 
• How classic cartoons created a culturally literate generation.

►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄

• Civil War plant remedies actually fought off infections.
• Daniel Radcliffe's original Harry Potter glasses are hitting the auction block.
• An Iowa teen searching for arrowheads finds a mastodon jawbone instead.
• An art historian says that he has identified the earliest known Michelangelo drawing. 
• The Baroque library of Metten Abbey.
• This burial mound found on a kindergarten playground was used for 2,000 years.

►Channeling My Inner Elly Mae Clampett◄

• A raft of otters performs an unintentionally synchronized swimming routine across an inlet.
• Australia has several new dragon lizard species-- and one may already be extinct.
• Two captive Beluga whales are heading to a first-of-its-kind sanctuary in Iceland.
• Ortolans, songbirds enjoyed as a French delicacy, are being eaten into extinction.
• Chimpanzees have been seen cracking open tortoise shells, which is a first. 
• Five things to know about Botswana's decision to lift its ban on hunting elephants.
• A street singer was being ignored by everyone...until four kittens showed up.

►Fascinating Folk◄

• These adventurous women photographed the California desert in the 1920s.
• Navajo Code Talker John Pinto has died at the age of 94. He was also a New Mexico state senator.
• The oldest DNA in America has been traced back to Darrell "Dusty" Crawford, a man living in Montana.
• Betty White holds an astounding Guinness World Record. 
• Raye Montague, the "Hidden Figure" who revolutionized naval ship design.
• Catharine McGill Crooks, groundbreaking 19th-century botanist.
• If you don't mind a bit of salty language, read about the fantastical life of Hortense Mancini.

►The Happy Wanderer◄

• There's no wrong way to set a mystery novel in Ireland.
• Step inside "Leninka," Russia's largest and oldest library.

►I ♥ Lists◄

• Ten must-visit spots for lovers of mysterious objects and locales.
• Seven creepy fictional couples who will send chills down your spine.
• The most iconic nose injuries in the history of crime film.
• Ten women mystery and thriller writers you should be reading.
• Top ten books about angry women. (Interesting that I should find this soon after almost having a meltdown about Denis's subpoena...)
• The best mystery books of all time. 
• Trees in literature and pop culture ranked.
• Seven literary thrillers to keep you reading all through the night.
• Twenty-three of the best book club books coming this summer.

That's all for this week! Don't forget to stop by next Friday when I'll be sharing a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure.

Have a great weekend, and read something fabulous!