More doctor's appointments, including a new one. For some reason, any time I am referred to another doctor, that doctor has to practice somewhere in the valley that's the farthest from our house. Murphy's Law, eh? (To prove to you how living with an Englishman can change your vocabulary, I don't say "Murphy's Law" anymore. No, here at Casa Kittling, we say "Sod's Law.") Don't tell anyone, but we did manage to sneak in a visit to Butterfly Wonderland, so if you're in the mood for butterflies and flowers, that post will show up in a couple of weeks.
In the mean time, I'll show you a couple more photos of my refurbished "nest" here in the living room. I read and blog here now while keeping an eye on all the birds I can see out the window. I'm particularly fond of the new piece of art hanging above the fireplace. It's by one of my favorite artists, Mikki Senkarik, and it's called "He Stole Our Seat." I love the cardinals glaring at the cat napping on the chair, and those birds and all the flowers and colors remind me so much of my grandmother. In fact, there's a butterfly-- a symbol of the souls of departed loved ones-- in the painting, so you know whom I think it represents.
I really should have kept a photographic record of how the interior of this house has changed over the years. I'm rather pleased with the fact that I'm tending toward bright colors and more light now. I hope it has something positive to say about my outlook on life.
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The stand doubles as a book holder and laptop stand. I'm so posh, I don't even have to hold my books when I read anymore! |
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Mikki Senkarik's "He Stole Our Seat" |
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I was going to smooth out the wrinkles on the daybed cover, but they are proof that I'm enjoying my new space. |
Enjoy the links!
►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄
- For those of you who read the series, Britbox will begin filming Murder in Provence in July 2021. I look forward to watching it.
- Why pirates might be the reason why the United States doesn't use the metric system. Argh!
- Artificial intelligence places modern products in older movies. It's all in pursuit of the almighty dollar. *sigh*
- Six authors discuss psychological thrillers and domestic suspense in the pandemic era.
- On the dognapping gangs that terrorized Victorian London and the poet who fought back.
- Why we need more stories about older women.
- It's about time! A new chemical process turns single-use plastics into fuel.
- A secret feminist history of the Oxford English Dictionary.
►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄
- The world's only known pregnant Egyptian mummy has been revealed.
- Details of stunning Maya acropolises and sophisticated civilization are being revealed with laser scans.
- Inside Rome's secure vault for stolen art.
- Why proposed renovations to Greece's Acropolis are so controversial.
- In an unprecedented find, stolen medieval artifacts have been recovered from a Sicilian collector's home. (I wish Andrea Camilleri were still alive so he could have Montalbano work on this case.)
- The "Plain of Jars", one of the most mysterious archaeological sites, is revealing its true age.
- Archaeologists have discovered 110 ancient Egyptian tombs along the Nile Delta.
- A 400-year-old ring dating from the English Civil War has been unearthed.
►Channeling My Inner Elly Mae Clampett◄
- Meet the collared redstart, a tiny chubby bird with an attitude and brightly colored plumage to match.
- Watch this astute Australian shepherd play competitive Connect Four and Jenga games with his humans.
- Deciphering the mysteries of migratory birds.
- Watch a massive Yellowstone bison herd navigate a busy road in the best traffic jam ever.
- Biologists have discovered a new species of glowing pumpkin toadlet.
- Watch Australian pelicans go for walks with their keepers at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
- An abandoned baby fox builds a special bond with two orphaned badger cubs at a sanctuary.
- Scientists have turned spider webs into spider music.
►Fascinating Folk◄
- Jessie Sutanto talks about how her wacky Indonesian family inspired her to write a murder mystery.
- How historical mystery novelist Victoria Thompson was inspired by the darker side of the fight for women's suffrage.
- Tiberius, Imperial detective.
- The curious saga of the outlaw Burt Alvord.
- ChloƩ Zhao becomes only the second woman to win the Oscar for Best Director in 93 years.
- Eleanor Roosevelt's son, Elliott, wrote twenty mysteries in which his mother solves murders.
►The Happy Wanderer◄
- Using crime fiction to reveal the dark history of Minneapolis.
- On the Death in Paradise location trail in Guadeloupe.
►I ♥ Lists◄
- Five things you need to know about your COVID-19 vaccination card.
- Ten things the fully vaccinated need to know.
- Ten novels that illuminate lesser-known events.
- Seventy Scottish TV shows and where to watch them.
- Thriller writer Catherine McKenzie shares her all-time favorite twisty reads.
- Eleven books written by Asian authors, recommended by Frances Cha.
- The ten greatest movies adapted from crime novels.
- Six historical figures who kept secret coded diaries.
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.
Stay safe. Stay healthy. And don't forget to curl up with a good book!
Isn't that always the way - the doctor you need is the longest drive from your home! Still, I hope it's a successful visit, and that you're making progress. In the meantime, I love your nest! It's so comfortable-looking and cheerful. You've done a great job feathering it. As for me, I'm heading off to the Plain of Jars...
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to get in touch with that doctor I've been referred to. They called and left a message, which I returned. I was then put on hold and experienced ten minutes of dead air before I gave up, called back, and left a message. Not impressed!
DeleteSo much to digest here...but I'll start with the doctor's appointments. Doctors here have started requiring twice-a-year visits instead of annual ones in order to have meds refilled, and it seems like they always come in clusters. I had two appointments this week and have four (including a follow-up) next week. My dad used to joke that all his doctors at least got him out of the house after he got too old to drive...but I'm not buying that one. And I still can't figure out why so many of them end up dumping me in the middle of Houston rush hour traffic.
ReplyDeleteI love Yellowstone and would pay to see a traffic jam like that one. Those creatures are magnificent and I've never seen more than two of them there at a time.
You mentioned Britbox. I got pretty much caught up on them at one point and dropped it for Acorn which I'm still enjoying. But now I'm starting to see more and more things offered on Britbox that I'd love to see. I suppose I'll be making the swap in reverse at some point.
And...a pregnant mummy. Well, there's something I never even considered as a possibility. I can imagine how stunned the archaeologists must have been when they discovered the truth about that mummy.
Hope you're feeling better.
Sam, when I was ten, my mother and maternal grandparents and I went on a road trip to visit relatives in Grass Valley, California. As we approached Cody, Wyoming, a herd of buffalo came thundering up over a rise, and I was transfixed. It's one of my all-time favorite memories. I've learned of a few off-road trails up on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where it's easy to run across wild buffalo, and I sure would like to do that.
DeleteIt looks so relaxing. Enjoy it! Thanks for the links.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteVery nice. I like the turquoise and orange contrasts and the painting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links.
You're welcome!
DeleteOh, I just read the link about Scottish TV series. I guess I'll do nothing but watch them, so many appealing shows.
ReplyDeleteThere certainly are!
DeleteThe picture in your sitting area is gorgeous, Cathy! It looks like a very comfortable, peaceful place to read.
ReplyDeleteI was interested in the link to the darker side of Minneapolis. Like the author, I grew up in Minneapolis and the surrounding area. I loved seeing that street map of the city in the 1950's. I wasn't alive then, but I spent a lot of town downtown in the 70's and it looked very similar. My mom, sister and I would often take the bus downtown for dentist appointments and also, like the author mentioned, to see the Dayton's Christmas displays. I was even able to take my kids to see the Christmas display. Unfortunately, Dayton's is no longer around. Our dentist's office was located in the IDS building which is right next to the Foshay Tower shown in the picture. Both are still standing. Now I am curious to read the author's new book about the dentist in Minneapolis.
Thanks for sharing and have a good weekend!
I hope you had a lovely Mother's Day!
DeleteThe view is spectacular with the lane going between the greenery. Are those rose bushes?
ReplyDeleteNo, they aren't. The one on the left is called Yellow Bells and is native to Arizona. It blooms almost all year round. The one on the right is a Baja Fairy Duster, which also has a long blooming season and is beloved by bees and hummingbirds (as is the Yellow Bells).
DeleteWho knew? That view is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I know Ive been enjoying it.
Delete