I was hoping to get my last C.S. Lewis post up from the June (ahem!) Read-Along first but August is swiftly drawing to a close so I’m going to post this now. I know you all wait with baited breath for my monthly posts (LOL!), so here it is. And bear in mind, I’m writing like it’s July 31st; August news will wait until my next post!
While the title of this post has a double-meaning, I really am making lemonade! Summer has been lovely and temperate, with temperatures between 23 and 28ºC, which is just perfect for my tastes. I’ve been doing lots of gardening: this year I finally regularly fertilized my flowers and they’ve responded with blooms and blooms and more blooms. My petunias are regularly dead-headed (properly this time; you don’t just pull off the flower, you have to snip the complete stem) and are gorgeous! I’ve harvested black currants, blueberries, raspberries and figs so far and the grapes, apples (my little Liberty apple tree that I planted this year is doing wonderfully and I have tons of Gala apples on my other) and quince are yet to come. And wonders of all wonders, the plum tree that I was complaining about in this post ended up producing about 300 plums. I was shocked! However, the tree doesn’t look in the greatest of health and the plums, which are supposed to be Italian Prune Plums, don’t quite seem like them. I wonder if the tree is on a different root stock and the plums became a hybrid ….? In any case, I might take it down in spite of its prolific production.
As for reading, I’m reasonably pleased with myself although there is an embarrassment in with the victories. My C.S. Lewis read-along has drawn out too long as I’m still working on my last post but I almost have it complete. While I did have a short reading drought at the end of July I did finish The Divine Comedy (yay! I’m working on a post on it), The Professor and The Return of the Native, as well as completing The Four Loves.
August brings Brona’s Moby Dick read-along and I’m so looking forward to this novel that people either seem to love or hate. I want to continue with my 20 Books of Summer but I can tell that already I’m being distracted. The Communist Manifesto and perhaps Measure for Measure are possibilities, although I’m not really in a Shakespeare mood at the moment. My Agatha Christie challenge has ground to a halt so it’s time to start that up again. I’m enjoying The Red Horse, a novel set in Italy during WWII so I will continue with that. However, I’m also feeling that I’ve read so little non-fiction in the last few years that my mind is becoming slightly less flexible; I have plans to read The Brain That Changes Itself (my second read) and possibly Chernobyl: The History of A Nuclear Catastrophe. Although perhaps I should have said, very “loose” plans. ☺️
Well, that’s all for now as September is just around the corner …..
Image #1 Public Domain / Image #2 courtesy of James Wheeler / Image #3 courtesy of Congerdesign on Pixabay / Image #4 courtesy of DariuszZanknowski
Thanks for the update, and do please write the last post on The Four Loves, (only if you find the time, 🙂
I’m reading Moby Dick with relish and abandon. My first attempt got me through only 1/4 of the book. I enjoyed rereading that part, and I am now loving his dissertations. It’s a wonderful book.
I’m about 3/4ths of the way through it so just a little bit more effort and the post will be done!
I’m loving Moby Dick too! It’s sooooo different from what I imagined. And I found a lovely edition with illustrations by Rockwell Kent, so that makes it even more enjoyable. Glad to hear that you’re having the same experience. Nice to hear from you and I hope the end of the summer is going well for you and your family!
I do appreciate you so much for that last post.
Wow, Rockwell Kent! What a luxury.
Our summer was fabulous, and the girls have been two weeks at school already, I am back at work as a substitute. We are loving it, it’s starting to feel like fall here, 🙂
Ah, I remember in the U.S. you start back early to school! Here in Canada, nothing starts until after Labour Day (September 2nd this year), or at least not that I know.
Summer is indeed passing but I do hope the sum stays around awhile though …..
Oh, you are in Canada. Yes, we in Texas go from mid August to late May. But not all school districts, two of them nearby started today.
We have Labor Day also September 2nd.
Enjoy your summer, absolutely.
I am so envious of your garden. I live in a condo, but I have always had visions of a backyard with fruit trees!
I am sorry I bailed on The Four Loves. I just couldn’t get it. I don’t do well with philosophy and theory, which is what it felt to me. But I did like your distilling of it and look forward to your wrap up.
Sometimes life gives us gardens and sometimes condos, huh? At least you have less maintenance and therefore more time enjoy yourself, ie. READ! 🙂
Don’t worry about bailing, Laurie. The Four Loves takes lots of thought and focus and sometimes we just aren’t there. I might have put it aside for a time if I wasn’t leading the read-along, lol! I would have so appreciated your thoughts though, coming from a different stand-point from some of the other readers, but maybe one day, huh? I will try to make my next read-along a little less mentally taxing for everyone!
Your garden sounds great! I have been deadheading marigolds in mine. And we have some cucumbers and tomatoes. I need to look at my 20 Books of Summer list and decide which ones I want to read in the rest of the year. I finished 6 of 12. And I need to finally review The Sound & the Fury, which I read in August. I’d better write something while I can still remember it.
I’m a very amateur gardener; I always admire those who can REALLY garden! I think I’ve almost finished 6 of my 20 books too. Honestly, I was scared to look but I’ll just keep plugging along. After all, six is better than none, right? I’ll look forward to your The Sound and the Fury review. So far, I’ve avoided Faulkner. Perhaps you can let me know if he’s worth the read! 🙂
So, we can expect August news….in October? *zing*
Glad life is treating you well.
Brat! 😜 …. but actually, you’re probably right! At one point I was thinking of making the posts only about what I did in that month, but I do so like making plans and then actually realizing so few of them. *** do you sense the sarcasm? ***
Ah yes, life is life, and one must enjoy every moment!
I love your gardening adventures! I wish I was as diligent …..I struggle to keep my 5 indoor plants watered and fed! Our readings are progressing in a similar fashion, but September is here and it will bring us great things! Much Love!
I don’t do well with indoor plants either. Perhaps it’s because it’s not a natural place for them to be, I don’t know. Well, I do hope September is grand! Love to you too ❤️ and I’ll touch base soon!!
Go Cleo! Just saying hi 🙂
Hey Jean! Hi! Thanks for the comment! I’ve been reading (most) of your posts and wishing I had time to comment but I’ve been so busy! Hope you’re doing well!
Just to say: also looking forward to that last Four Loves post!
I’m envious of your fruit trees. We planted a couple of apple trees years ago, but our backyard is just too shady (and the squirrels and raccoons too voracious) to ever get any apples. Glad you’re enjoying your summer!
I’m working on the post today!
My backyard is pretty shady but it’s big so I have one area that gets sun fortunately. I wish I’d been taking more photos lately but my phone is on its last legs and I haven’t been out with my camera. I can’t wait to make a quince-apple crisp!
Your garden sounds heavenly but I’m glad you also noted the work that goes in to it. I’m afraid that I have never been really willing to invest the time required to really garden. I start strong and then wimp out.
Your reading plans are equally ambitious. Though I hear The Communist Manifesto is a brilliant but quick read. It’s Das Kapital that is supposed to be almost unreadable.
An Agatha Christie title now and again is a great way to break up the heavier reads. I just finished Sparkling Cyanide a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. 😀
It’s always a balance for me between the work and the benefits reaped. This year I let my vegetable garden go (not having the time to put the work into it) and I really miss my garlic and potatoes and purple beans. Oh well!
Thanks for the warning about Das Kapital. Perhaps one year, once I’ve read all the classics twice over, ha ha!☺️
Ooooo, Sparkling Cyanide. I have a long way until I get to it but I’m glad to hear that it’s good! Great to hear from you, Ruthiella!!
I’m all-in for Moby Dick; in fact, I should finish the ride today.
I’ve seen that you’re leaping ahead of the pace. I must admit, I am too but only a little bit so far. It’s soooo good! I never expected to like it so much!
i’ve eyed “Red Horse” on the library shelf and am really curious about what it might be like… it seems you’re charging ahead on all fronts with your reading… i’ve been on vacation so now have to get back into the swing… i may not post quite so frequently tho… i noticed that i was developing a bit of anxiety about doing it every week: not good for retired persons… i like Pam’s advice about us retireds doing what seems right, not what we think we have to do…
Oooo, I think you’d like The Red Horse, Mudpuddle. Let me know if you decide to give it a go.
I hope you had a great vacation! I had a few days away and it was lovely but not long enough.
And definitely, there’s no need to put pressure on yourself to post. I think the longer you have your blog, the more relaxed you’ll get. I do feel a little twinge of guilt if I haven’t posted for a long time, but I don’t let it rule me. The purpose is to get enjoyment from blogging and if it starts to become a big chore, it’s no fun. Pam’s advice is excellent!!!