Thursday, March 31, 2022

Well, I Do Talk About A Few Books




Here's another in what appears to be a series of photos of bees on flowers. The best thing about this picture is that I blindly took it. The wisteria was way above my head, the sun was shining in my eyes, and I saw the bee, raised the phone up, clicked, and that was what I got which is actually pretty remarkable. I took it a few days ago. The sun would not have been a problem today. We never did get the fierce weather they were predicting but we got some good rain and a little wind. I have no idea why I actually even pay attention to forecasts but I do, especially in hurricane season when knowledge is power. Or at least having some knowledge is sensible. 


I don't post a ton of food pictures but that's the salad I made last night and it was so gorgeous. And so good. We were halfway through it when I said, "Oh shit! I forgot the tomatoes!" 
They were not missed. It had every other damn thing in the world on it. 

I've been struggling a bit today. Got the blues again and I can't even blame it on being Sunday because it's not. No need to wallow in it or go into great detail. We all know what it feels like. But I didn't do much. Not much at all. I did wash all my Goodwill cashmere and will put it up when it's dry. I think that cashmere season is over. 

I finished (finally and thank god) the Stephen King book I was listening to. Billy Summers. It started out with some promise but by the end I was appalled at the number of serious flaws in it. Come on, Stephen! You're a pro-damn-fessional! 
On the other hand, I just finished reading (with my eyes) a novel called Shiner by Amy Jo Burns. 


The woman can write and she has a story to tell. It's a hard story and one that you'd think couldn't happen in this day and age so when computers or oxycontin are mentioned, it's a shock and a shudder. It's a story of patriarchy and poverty, determination, and the literal toxicity of some religions. But most of all, it's a story of the love two women friends can have for each other, how different it can be compared to any other type of relationship. How sustaining and powerful, true and fierce. 
I say yes on this one. 
I'm listening now to Michael Pollan reading his book, This is Your Mind on Plants and now I desperately want to grow poppies. As with all of Pollan's books, it is well-researched, interesting as hell, and as mind-expanding as many of the plants he discusses. He's one of those rare journalists who can spin a story out of facts that fascinates, enlightens, and entertains.
Yes to this one too. 

And that's all I'm going to talk about today. 

Be well, y'all. 

Love...Ms. Moon





40 comments:

  1. Pollan's name is so oddly suitable to a person who writes about plants and eating simply.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the bee on the wisteria!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That Bee Photo is Calendar worthy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been listening to "The Good Sister: A Novel" by Sally Hepworth. It's an easy one to listen to.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The bee and the wisteria is a lovely photo!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's one beautiful salad! It's covered with some of my favorite salad things!

    Isn't the smell of wisteria divine?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know, I need to go out there and smell it. I'm not sure I ever really have! Then again, I didn't realize until I was in my fifties that azaleas have a very faint but very sweet fragrance.

      Delete
  7. I would highly recommend Pachinko. Excellent book. I'm down too. Aren't we a pair:)

    My middle daughter started her first treatment today and she's allergic to the drug, which happens, so now back to the doc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aren't we a pair?
      Sigh.
      Yes.
      I'm so sorry about your daughter's allergy. I hope they can find a good substitute.

      Delete
  8. Love your photos and the book talk. So sorry you are down, feeling a bit like that myself. Have a sweet night.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That bee photo is amazing! I'm in the middle of the same Michael Pollan book right now, and agree with every word you said. Every one of his books hits it out of the ballpark. You might enjoy any of Thor Hanson's books too, when you're ready for another engaging non-fiction nature writer.

    Chris from Boise

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the bee photo. I didn't know there are bees that don't have stripes.
    I don't read as much as I used to. I'm a slow reader, and by the time I get through the blogs I read, there isn't much of the day left.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that the act of reading is just physically harder for some people. It is so difficult for my husband that he never reads for pleasure but listens to audio books a lot! They have changed his life.

      Delete
  11. Bravo on the bee photo! A huge component of successful photography is plain ol' luck. Haven't read any of these books but they sound interesting. (Well, maybe not "Billy Summers.")

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Luck indeed! At least for this shot. And I only took one!

      Delete
  12. Thanks for the book recommendation. I've downloaded a sample onto my kindle (but I reckon I won't get through reading everything I want to read until I'm around 150 - if then)! And your bee photo is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, at least it's there if you ever need another book!

      Delete
  13. Perfect photo of the bee on the wisteria! Happy Friday and Happy April! Relax and enjoy your weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Don't you just love it when you point the camera at something you can't really see and it comes out great? Our wisteria has not started blooming yet. I stopped reading Stephen King long ago. He used to be really good. Now, not so much. And I don't think I would call that dinner a salad just because it has lettuce and greens in it. Don't know what I would call it thought so...salad I guess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so crazy when a shot like that happens. It's a do or die and our phones make it so easy to just go ahead and try. Why not? The worst that can happen is that it sucks and we delete it.
      You are so right about Stephen King. I give up.
      Well, you're right about the "salad". But it did indeed have a lot of vegetables on it.

      Delete
  15. Thank you for saving me time and money on Stephen King's book. I will check out the other two, I am a reader/listener. If that salad is any indication you should post more food photos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just feel like food photos are so cliche now. But hell- we all love to eat, right?
      I'm SO glad I didn't buy that King book. Checked it out of the library. I just wasted some hours listening to it.

      Delete
  16. I really enjoyed Pollan’s book and yes, it feels like some poppy tea would hit the spot! Thanks for the Amy Jo Burns recommendation, going to look for it now.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would be quite willing to experiment with poppy tea. I don't think I could possibly grow enough poppies to get even halfway truly fucked up. Or addicted.
      I really liked "Shiner" but it may be a book that only appeals to some. You never know.

      Delete
  17. Our bumblebees are bit more stripey so your picture was interesting to me and led me down a google rabbit hole. I never realized that there are so many different kinds of bumblebees. Shiner sounds like a book I would be interested in, but I've still got a stack of books to be read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Bees come in so many varieties! I don't even know if we have the stripy kind here.

      Delete
  18. sorry you are a bit blue...... I hope today is better. One can never really predict or get to the bottom of *the reason* at times. Bee on wisteria photo so lovely. I only wish I could smell that delicate fragrance when the sun hits the blossoms. And.....I will have to put *Shiner* on my *to-read* list. And.....It's FRIDAY! Martini night! woohoo!
    Susan M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right- chemicals? The phase of the moon? I used to be able to blame some of these episodes on my cycle and rightfully so! Not any more. I guess. Although who knows? Perhaps even post-menopausal women have hormonal cycles even if we don't menstruate or ovulate.
      Martinis indeed!

      Delete
  19. It's strange how that blue feeling can well up inside and threaten to overwhelm us without a source we can pinpoint. My younger brother was diagnosed with esophageal cancer today. I am sure it is the beginning of the end for him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my god. I am SO, SO sorry! That is not a good prognosis. You are right. I wish I could give you a hug. I know you must be in shock and in great sorrow. My love to you.

      Delete
    2. I'm so sorry Mr. Pudding.

      Delete
    3. I, too, am so sorry Neil. Much love to you and your brother and the whole Pudding clan. xx

      Delete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.