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| © Cleo @ Classical Carousel |
Ugh! I don’t know how else to say it. Most of April was rain and not just regular rain, but capricious rain. It would pour and then stop, sprinkle a little and then stop, be sunny for not very long and then stop, because mother nature must know how torturous it is to have fleeing views of that warm golden orb before it is snatched away and the rain continues. I do realize that we live in a rain forest, but seriously, it can become ridiculous! Fortunately the last week has seen less rain and more fleeing glimpses of the orb so I’m going have a positive outlook for May. Work with me, okay …… 😉
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| © Cleo @ Classical Carousel |
April was not such an exciting month for me as the last couple, I must admit. I’ve continued with my yoga classes, which I still enjoy but haven’t been going as frequently as I’d like due to time constraints. I am improving, although with some poses I wonder if I’ll ever be able to bend my body completely in such unusual shapes. I was able to take one long bike ride, which was very exciting because I wasn’t tired at all afterwards. Do you know what that means? Yes! I’m in shape! Softball season has begun and I’m starting to search for scorekeepers for the international tournament in July and practicing my skills. It’s nice to be able to be outside more, even though the weather has not been cooperating to make it pleasant. Dratted rain!
I’m behind on my garden prep work too. My potatoes from last months farm visits are chitting and I need to get them into the ground now! It’s my plan for this week. And, of course, I still haven’t looked very closely at my seeds to see what I need to plant now and what will wait. So disorganized! I’m usually an organized person, honest, but I have so much to do that it becomes not humanly possible to be organized in every task. So I become a little organized in most things, and not so much in others. Anyone have any ideas how to fix me? 😉
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| © Cleo @ Classical Carousel |
The most dreary part of the year falls in April for me, only because it means taxes, taxes, and more taxes. Sadly, in spite of my cheery determination to stay on top of my bookkeeping during the year, inevitably other things —- other more pleasant things —- tend to monopolize my time and every year I’m scrambling come April to put everything together from square one. No, not a relaxing start to spring. Of course, this year was no different so I spent much of April, searching and gathering, finding and entering until the completed tax document was finally on hand. Arduous work, certainly. No wonder I like to put it right out of my mind when it’s all over. Can you blame me?
My reading has still been progressing at what seems like a snail’s pace but I did have some highlights in April: I finally finished reading Herodotus’ The Histories and put up my final review. It was such an enjoyable read but I must admit, I’m happy to move on to Thucydides. My thorough reading of Herodotus has given me a great base for The History of the Peloponnesian War, which I’ve begun. Thucydides is certainly drier than Herodotus, but more organized. I also was able to read four books for Amanda at Simpler Pastimes’ Children’s Classic Literature Event: Finn Family Moomintroll, Cyrus the Persian, The Moomins and the Great Flood and Alice in Wonderland, although so far I only have reviews up for the first one. I was happy with my accomplishment. My read of Dead Souls has come to a screeching halt as I absolutely hate my Pevear-Volokhonsky translation. Why do I torture myself with them? This is the third of their translations that I’ve read and they somehow manage to kill any life that the stories have. I don’t know how they do it. Their marketing is superb but their translations are painful. I’ve ordered a used copy of the Chistopher English translation, which seems simplified (I’d rather the Bernard Guilbert Guerney translation), but at least the satire is apparent.
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| © Cleo @ Classical Carousel |
My plans for May include gardening (someone needs to show up with a cattle prod to keep me focused), scorekeeping, blogging and exercise. I’d like to find some days to take a couple of hikes, but we’ll see. I’m leaving for a little scorekeeping get-away mid-May and then at the end of May I was supposed to be off to the island but I might have to cancel. Very unfortunate, as I would have been able to get lots of reading accomplished. And speaking of reading, I’ll continue with The History of the Peloponnesian War, Dead Souls and my Deal Me In Challenge and Great Ideas project. I have a few temptations that have come my way from a couple of my Goodreads groups: a re-read for me of the Epic of Gilgamesh and Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain which also would be a re-read. The latter is pretty long, so I probably won’t join but I’d like to. I’d also like to begin another Russian novel when I finish Dead Souls, perhaps One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. AND I’m pondering starting Ulysses and reading it very slowly. I did not get on well with it the last time I attempted it, but there is a Ulysses aficionado on Goodreads who assures me that he’ll help me out. Ulysses or my good common sense? Who will win?
And the oh-so-elusive food blog? It’s coming …… very slowly. I’ve been prepping recipes and cooking …… when I started this blog with my partner, neither of us realized the logistical incompatibility. I cook the recipe and then have to somehow get it to my partner to test it. With two busy people, we’ve been using drop-and-run/grab and go tactics. Perhaps we should find a hollowed-out log somewhere where I can drop it and he can pick it up later. Ha ha! And we still have to write up our bios in order to get the blog launched, which we’ve been promising to do for over a month but obviously are rather uninspired. What does one say about oneself? Anything that would appear interesting to others, seems boring to oneself. Sigh. We’ll just have to take up the gauntlet —- or the pen —- and get writing! But to give you a little foretaste, I’ll leave you with a photo of one of our/my creations. Here’s to a great May filled with food, books and friends!
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| © Cleo @ Classical Carousel |
it's just amazing how many things you do… i'll have to go take a nap after reading your post… not that it isn't interesting, it certainly is, but don't you feel overloaded? not my business, for sure, but i just have some concern…
lovely tree picture and the pie looks very yummy… i got in a fairly long bike ride(for me) a couple of weeks ago on the one sunny day we've had since Jan 1. nice to get out and i find myself thinking about southern California in a sort of obsessive way… but i actually like rain(he says, gritting his teeth)just not so much of it all the time…. global warming, i guess…
Cut back. That is the only advice I can give. Everything else is just dressing on the gushing wound.
This month was busy but not with things that I necessarily wanted to do. I was overloaded but only because there was so much tax work. I hope May will be more relaxing.
I generally like the rain too, just not so much of it. Today is again gloomy and grey with only a few rays of sun to mock us. And the temperature is still so chilly, especially at night. But just wait, summer will be blazing hot and then we'll all be complaining about the heat. :-Z
Ha ha! It's the perils of living in a big city. I'm actually much less busy than many people I know. Isn't that startling?! I do wish I lived somewhere that was more laid back, but no matter how hard I try to remain uncommitted, I tend to get caught up in it a little.
There you are complaining about rains and I would die for some here and now. The dry heat with the duststorms of North Indian plains is unrelenting! I am so glad you are still following through with Yoga and of course the Softball tournament should get you more outdoors; all of it very good for health! Taxes are a torture, no matter how much you prepare for them!I have way too many books to finish so I am taking it slow and easy this month!! Really really looking forward to your food blog!
Okay, I won't complain about the rain anymore. Today, in fact, it's sunny. But it's forecasted to go from about 11 C to 27 C on Thursday. That's just WRONG! 😉 The fluctuations are really what get me.
The food blog is soooo close. We just need that final focus which doesn't seem to be happening. In collaborations, one learns patience though, which I'm sure I don't have to tell you.
Hope you find balance with your work-reading schedule!
I look forward to your thoughts on The Magic Mountain, if you choose to write about it. That's one of far too many books on my TBR. 🙂
The first time I read it, I enjoyed it but I'm sure I missed most of what Mann was trying to communicate. I've heard that you have to read it three times to even begin to "get" it. We'll see …. 🙂
Ah weather. Always so easy to complain about! It's actually not been too bad in my area, relatively speaking–plenty of rain, but plenty of sunshine too. However, April and May seem to have switched order, temperature-wise. Just to keep us on our toes. 🙂
You always sound so busy! But at least taxes are done and you have many pleasant May plans. I'm actually considering rereading Gilgamesh (in a different translation)–and I just read it in January. It's nice and short, you can do it! Feel free, by the way, to post on your April Children's reads–if you get to it in the next couple weeks, I'll try to add the links to the final post.
You've sent us the rain, apparently. We had a bit of a break today, but the three days before that was non-stop rain/storms. And they're back again tomorrow & Friday, it seems. I can barely function in this kind of weather, but when it rolls on incessantly for days? Oh dear.
I have at least one more children's book post to finish so hopefully I'll have it up in a few days and link it.
For some strange reason I've picked up three books I wouldn't normally read lately: a non-fiction brain-health book, a mindless mystery novel and an annoying quasi-classic bildungsroman. I need to get back to some substance and Gilgamesh would be just the thing!
Wow, you are super busy! Congratulations on getting in shape. I was bad this week and need to get back on target. I like those photos. I personally like rain, but I live in Texas where it is very welcome when we get it. The summer months are coming and I wish I could trade you some rainy days for our relentless heat.
On another subject. I was wondering if you would check out my latest review. It is about a children's book my brother-in-law has just published about the fifth day of Creation: Sea Creatures. It is the first in a series and I'm trying to help him get the word out.
The illustrations are very beautiful and I think that homeschoolers with young children would like it.
Any help spreading the word is greatly appreciated.
https://sharonhenning.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-fifth-day-sea-creatures-by.html
Ooops, sorry! 😉 Storms sounds a little bit like fun though. I'm going to try to plant my potatoes today, as the rain has ceased for a moment, so we'll see how it goes.
So glad that you dropped in and allowed me to find your blog!
I hate rain in spring! It's nice to have a bit in summer, but it's always disappointing in spring!
I'm as bad as you with seeds – still got three packs to sow (run out of compost), including my beloved sweetpeas! Over here (not sure if it's the same for you) planting sweet peas in May is acceptable. And, on the sweet pea front, I actually bought an EVERLASTING sweet pea! Very exciting, didn't know there was such a thing 🙂
Anyway, I think you can be excused – gardening in the rain is miserable. I once *had* to do it and it was foul.
As human nature goes, while we're complaining about the rain, once the sun begins we'll be complaining about the hot days and the pollution. So I guess the lesson is, try to be happy with what you have.
I will certainly take a look at your review and the book! I'd offer to put it on my children's blog, but I've been so negligent with it, I have hardly any viewers. Oh to have more time!
I don't mind the rain, just not so much of it. I was able to plant one row of potatoes yesterday while the temperatures soared to 26 C, but now it's back to rain again. Crazy! Honestly I don't know what to plant. I should have planted the cold weather crops earlier. Sigh!
I remember seeing photos of your sweet peas last year and they looked lovely. Don't forget to show your Everlasting when it's in flower!
Thanks, Cleo I and my brother-in-law really appreciate it. He's already working on his next book Fifth Day: Winged Creatures.