A Single-Minded Weekly Link Round-Up

 

Everything is hunky dory here at Casa Kittling, so I thought I would share a little nature tale with you.

Water is precious here in the desert. Denis and I have several birdbaths and two large solar fountains here that we keep filled with water. Every day, we take turns going out with the hose to fill them, and sometimes the birds don't wait for us to leave before they dive right into their favorite to drink and take cooling baths. During the worst heat of summer, those birdbaths need to be filled twice a day. 

Sunday, when I was out with the garden hose filling those birdbaths, I got to watch a very single-minded male black-chinned hummingbird courting a female. What was so special about it was the fact that I was only four feet away with the hose sending a large stream of water in his direction, and he didn't care one bit. It was all about his dance to impress the female. 

I found a short video of a black-chinned hummingbird doing his courtship dance in case you wanted to see what it looked like. You'll also be able to hear the buzzing of his wings as he dances. Just click on the link to the video on YouTube.

Black-chinned Hummingbird Courtship

Enjoy the links!

►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄

• Why is having a good time called "painting the town red"?
• Why lawyers love Jane Austen.
• Amazon now has a "Get Book" button in its iOS Kindle app.
• A new publisher will focus on books by men, Are male writers and readers under threat?
• Why even try if you have A.I.? Now that machines can think for us, we have to choose whether to be the passengers or pilots of our lives.
• A UK survey suggests that most parents don't enjoy reading to their children.
• How libraries are faring under the Trump administration amid detrimental funding cuts.

►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄

• An 1,800-year-old warhorse cemetery held the remains of a beloved horse-- and a man considered an "outsider" to Roman society. More from Smithsonian Magazine.
• Archaeologists unearthed a 2,300-year-old sword decorated with two small swastikas in a Celtic necropolis.
• Ancient Egyptians drew the Milky Way on coffins and tombs, linking them to the sky goddess, Nut.
• A 2,300-year-old Spartan hound-shaped cup was likely used at boozy bashes.
• Hikers in the Czech Republic stumbled upon gold coins and treasures that could be worth $340,000.
• Archaeologists thought they'd found a piece of old farm equipment. It turned out to be a rare Iron Age chariot tire.

►Channeling My Inner Elly May Clampett◄

• When Reggie, the world's tallest dog, met Pearl, the world's shortest dog.
• Watch cuttlefish "waving" at each other in what scientists think might be communication.
• The invasive Chinese mitten crab has been detected for the first time in the Pacific Northwest.
• See Eastern quolls get released on mainland Australia in a new bid to re-establish the "magic little animal."
• Captive-bred axolotls can survive in the wild, offering hope for the critically endangered amphibians.
• Do animals have regional accents?

 

►The Wanderer◄

• What the voyage of a single container ship reveals about the world economy.
• Crime and the City: Crime fiction in Perth and Western Australia.
• Bookstores' latest release? Beer, wine, dinner, coffee, and a unique aesthetic.
• A white-knuckle drive with breathtaking views: The Apache Trail reopens to adventure seekers. This is a trail Denis and I know well.
• Giant sequoias are taking root in an unexpected place: Detroit.
• La Niña is dead-- what that means for this year's hurricanes and weather.

►Fascinating Folk◄

• Bestselling author Fredrik Backman says My Friends could be his last book.
• The short life and long legacy of Casimir Pulaski, a Polish cavalry officer who became an American Revolutionary War hero.
• Hobbyist diver Dom Robinson "always fancied" owning a shipwreck, so he bought one on Facebook Marketplace for $400.
• The only Black, all-female unit (the Six Triple Eight-- watch the movie on Netflix) to serve overseas in World War II receives the Congressional Gold Medal. (Took Congress long enough!!!)
• How a person counts to ten on their fingers reveals where they are from.
• When a historian saw this haunting photograph of a nameless native girl, she decided she had to identify her.

►I ♥ Lists◄

• 17 new historical novels based on real people.
• 15 new mysteries and thrillers from your favorite authors.
• 25 books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors you need to read.
• 20 of the best places to visit through books.
• 14 books about deception.
• 16 long non-fiction books that are worth the time.

That's all for this week! No matter how busy you may be, don't forget that quality Me Time curled up with a good book!

The Phoenix Art Museum with Karen

As I've mentioned in the recent past, Karen and I did manage to get out and about while she was here. I wasn't about to let her come all the way from England for hospital visits only, and Denis felt the same way, bless 'im.

One of the places we visited was the Phoenix Art Museum. I did have an ulterior motive. The last time Denis and I had been there, I didn't manage to take a look at the Fashion exhibits wing. I've been interested in fashion since I was a teenager. I'm not quite sure why because I've very seldom ever wanted to wear any of it, and I even think that most of it is silly. But... fashion does have its place in history, and I think that's the reason for my interest. Visiting with Karen made more sense this time because I know that Denis would not have the slightest interest in fashion!

The Phoenix Art Museum has expanded over the years. The main branch of the Phoenix Public Library used to be right next-door, but when it moved further down Central Avenue to a spiffy new building, the art museum could expand. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the building. The layout is confusing even with a map, but Karen and I muddled through and saw everything that we wanted to see. Come join us!

"Landscape" 1986, found and prepared weathered wood. Artist: George Morrison

Detail. This piece fascinated me.

Karen and I really liked this. Too bad I couldn't find the name of it anywhere!

Detail

One area I'd missed on a previous trip was Fashion in the Katz Wing of the museum. This is a court gown made in 1765.

"Egg" minaudiere with coin purse, comb, and mirror. Made by Judith Leiber in 1988.

Detail. I want one!

Fashions from the late 19th century

The Roaring Twenties

I don't know why I've always been fascinated by fashion; I've certainly never wanted to wear it. Well... maybe a Fortuny gown or something by Worth when I was skinny! Karen and I both had our eyes on the Fortuny gown.

Fortuny gown. Custom-dyed silk velvet jacket made in 1934. The "Delphos" gown made of crystal pleated silk satin with Murano glass beads and a belt of silk satin stenciled with metallic "flowers" from the 1920s. Those pleats were revolutionary.

Right: A silk chiffon dress made in 1973 by Halston. Left: a matte silk jersey hand-pleated and hand-stitched gown and stole by Madame Gres in the 1960s.

Halston detail. I wouldn't mind one of these to go along with the Fortuny.

A WOOL exercise suit, 1890s-1900. Makes me break out in a sweat just thinking about exercising in that thing here in Phoenix!

A "Tiffany Window" gown by Mary McFadden, 1992

Detail

Detail

As you can see, I focused on fashion more than art because many of the art pieces Karen and I saw I'd already shared in previous posts. (One. Two. Three. Four.) I made myself be circumspect with how many photos I shared from the Fashion wing. I wasn't sure how many of you would be interested.

I hope you enjoyed this virtual visit! Next time, you can come along with Karen and me on our visit to the Heard Museum.

The Beast of Littleton Woods by T.E. Kinsey

 

First Line: '... and then I said, "But that's what I wanted the parsnip for in the first place."'

After a week of torrential rain and ferocious winds, the inhabitants of Littleton Cotterill are eager to emerge from their homes-- only to discover that one of Sid Hyde's prize sheep has been mauled to death. In no time, rumors are flying about a vicious beast stalking the countryside. 

Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Florence Armstrong, are sure there is a rational explanation, but when Sid Hyde himself is brutally killed, and another man is killed and yet another injured, it's plain to see that whatever is behind the attacks needs to be caught-- and fast. 

Lady Hardcastle and Flo have their work cut out for them.

~

After reading some very serious and depressing fiction and non-fiction, I was in dire need of something light and fun. The Beast of Littleton Woods was just what the doctor ordered! It's my favorite book in the series so far. 

For one thing, there is a marvelous cast, and I'm not just talking about the primary characters. The secondary characters, all the way down to individual villagers, add so much to the story. I grew up in a village, and T.E. Kinsey's characters remind me so much of some of the people I grew up with. He also firmly roots his stories at the turn of the twentieth century with Lady Hardcastle and Flo wondering if they should bring electricity to their house. In this twelfth book in the series, readers make the acquaintance of Sir Hector's older sister, Joyce Adaway and her little dog, Lady Araminta Fluffikins. (I know...) Lady Hardcastle and her maid Flo know all these people so well that they remind me of another sleuth-- Bruno Courrèges in Martin Walker's excellent series. 

I loved the plot. Is there really a beast on the loose? If there is a beast, where did it come from? And who keeps resorting the mail in the post office? I had so much fun putting the clues together as I turned the pages.

One of the best ingredients in the Lady Hardcastle recipe is the wordplay. The banter between Lady Hardcastle and Flo is top-notch, and there are other elements. A butcher named Spratt. Lady Hardcastle's penchant for purposely mangling the names of people and objects (a law firm she refers to as Messrs Philtrum, Hallux, and Uvula). And then there's the threat of a bit of rhinobattery. If I wasn't smiling, I was laughing my way through the entire book.

If you're in the mood for some light-hearted fun and a good mystery to solve, look no further than The Beast of Littleton Woods. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

The Beast of Littleton Woods by T.E. Kinsey

eISBN: 9781662521614

Thomas & Mercer © 2025

eBook, 294 pages

Historical/Humorous Mystery, #12 Lady Hardcastle

Rating: A+

Source: Net Galley

A Back to Square One Weekly Link Round-Up

 

It's a glorious spring day here in Phoenix. My fairyduster, yellow bells, and bougainvillea are going ballistic, and I'm loving their bright splashes of color. Mama great-tailed grackle is showing her young'uns how to soften up pecans in the birdbath to make the shells easier to open. Denis and I are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. In fact, I'm as fine as freshly-minted $2 bills. (Yes, I'm speaking in code.)

I hope this week's link edition finds you well, too.

I may be addicted to knitting, but I make myself finish one project before I begin another. While Karen was here, I bought some yarn that I was itching to start work on, but... that yellow scarf had to be done first. Once it was, I started stitching up a storm with the new yarn. Here's a photo.

It's a lovely shade of coral with some sparkle. However, the more I knitted, the less satisfied I was. The border wouldn't lay flat, and its "ruffled" look didn't suit the body of the shawl. Last night, after knitting almost a foot of the shawl, I made the decision to tear it all down and start over using a smaller size needles for the border. That should make the border flat. In some ways, I wish I'd made up my mind sooner, but at least I'll be happy with the finished product.

I need to get to work on the links because I want to get back to the book I'm reading-- Michael Connelly's Nightshade set on Catalina Island. It's typical high-quality Connelly, so be on the lookout for it at the end of May.

Enjoy the links!

►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄

• What would these iconic movies look like as book covers?
• Why the world of influencers is perfect for a mystery.
• Detective novels and the "middlebrow."
• Federal cuts threaten a program that allows suburban libraries to share books.
• Texas moves to punish bookstores that sell "obscene" books.
• The UK government has proposed a collective license to ensure UK authors get paid for their works that are used to train AI.
• The Digital Packrat Manifesto.
• A PEN America report finds the jailing of writers hit a new high in 2024.
• R.I.P. mass market paperbacks.

►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄

• Bite marks on an ancient skeleton reveal the first physical evidence of Roman gladiators fighting lions.
• Archaeologists in Peru have discovered the graves of men, women, and children who were killed in battle, then buried with honor.
• Why was a 1940s car discovered in the wreck of an American naval ship that sank during World War II?
• Archaeologists unearthed an intricately decorated altar that may have been used for ancient sacrifices in Guatemala.
• Some "hairy" medieval books were covered in sealskin, and researchers don't know exactly why.
• Two centuries ago, batteaumen on Virginia's James River ended long work days with a taste of freedom.

►Channeling My Inner Elly May Clampett◄

• Scientists have discovered two new species of crocodile hiding in plain sight.
• Valerie the miniature dachshund has been rescued after surviving for 529 days on a rugged Australian island.
• The plains viscacha: a rodent that builds vast underground cities and ovulates more than any other mammal.
• Humpback whale song shares a key pattern with human language that might make it easier for the animals to learn.
• Authorities in helicopters snipe hundreds of koalas in a controversial "aerial cull" in Australia.
• Pet personalities revealed through side-by-side photos of dogs and their favorite things.

►The Wanderer◄

• Chattanooga just became North America's first National Park City. Here's what that means.
• Scientists have found a "breathing" magma cap inside the Yellowstone supervolcano.
• Actors Miriam Margolyes and Brian Cox join calls to save Wordsworth's home.
• The Corryvreckan whirlpool: Scotland's "raging cauldron" that is named after a Norse king and said to house a witch.
• See 15 serene scenes of the English countryside.
• The worst bleaching event on record is hitting most of the world's coral reefs.

►Fascinating Folk◄

• The many myths of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the 19th-century royal whose beauty and tragic death transformed her into a legend.
• The female gladiators of ancient Rome.
• The trailblazing Merze Tate.
• A Gold Rush of witnesses.
• Mary MacLane, the wild woman from Butte.
• 46-year-old Matt Trevelyan walked 53 miles across the English countryside wearing a giant, handmade bird costume. Here's why he did it.

►I ♥ Lists◄

• Eleven legal thrillers for fans of John Grisham.
• The best crime fiction of 2025 so far.
• Twelve mystery and thriller series that you might not know about.
• Royal Danish Library treasures.
• Fifteen books set at finishing schools.
• Eighteen twisty new thrillers.
• Top-notch t-shirts to celebrate libraries.

That's all for this week! No matter how busy you may be, don't forget that quality Me Time curled up with a good book!