Thanks Deb, we’ve gotten the fires down to 50 in the north of the province. And the air has cleared a bit here in the south. Still a bit on alert.
Great to hear about your garden! Sounds like it’s going gangbusters there. When I lived in Virginia – everything grew easily there too. It’s a bit harder here but cherry tomatoes do well. We’re hoping for cucumbers. And other things. Keep you posted. Enjoy your garden.

The Alchemist is on many people’s favorite books list, and that is what motivated me to read it. I was very disappointed with it, but I thought I might have enjoyed it more if I had read it when I was younger.

Our garden is the best garden we’ve had, and I’ve been doing a vegetable garden for thirty-five or more years. We have so much kale and so many cherry tomatoes that we have had to give lots away. We’ve also been very successful with cucumbers and green peppers.

Sorry AJ — about our smoke! Last week was brutal here with hazardous air. This week has been helped by a wind that has blown it back north. We are safe as the closest fires are about three hours north of us and many more beyond that. But we’ve never had a spring like this. It’s been dry & smoky – at one point there were like 95 fires in the north of Alberta. We could use more rain to put more of the fires out. I hope it clears where you are!

Hi Stargazer, perhaps you would like the Makkai novel — it is the ultimate slow burn crime story. This woman is pretty obsessed to find answers about a murder from her high school years. It’s pretty decent about the characters.
Perhaps you should see if you like The Alchemist. You would let me know if it’s just me and not the book. See what you think – it’s fairly short.
Luckily a southern wind has blown the wildfire smoke back north. We’re down to 67 fires (in the north) instead of 95 from weeks ago! Send rain if you have it. Enjoy your week.

Hi Ti, you might like the Makkai book — it’s contemplative. That’s interesting that you will fit in some classics this summer. I wonder if I’ve heard of The Castle …
It’s weird that there’s been rain there. My brother in Pasadena said he was at a concert at the Rose Bowl and it was postponed due to lightning. Odd eh? Hope the air quality improves. Luckily a southern wind has pushed away the smoke for now so it’s nice to breathe again. Enjoy your week.

I’ve been in a weird reading place. Not a bad place just a slow, contemplative place. I am reading The Double Life of Benson Yu and it’s quite good. I decided to read some classics over the summer so I am selecting those now. One, for sure, will be The Castle by Kafka. It is Murakami’s fave book. I’m curious.

Air quality here has not been great and it rained on me today and I had no jacked. 100 degrees yesterday and today rain even though it wasn’t in the forecast.

Hi Judith thanks, great to hear from you! I had wondered how you are. I didn’t realize you do genealogy. Is it for your own family or clients? I hope you have time to read too. My reading has been slow due to house & yard work (moving slowly thru Demon Copperhead now) … but we are really liking the new place! We have been here 4 months now but still much needs doing. The smoke is hindering some yard work and there’s still no rain in the forecast. But we forge on. The Twenty Books of Summer is always fun. Maybe I’ll do 10 Books, LoL. I look forward to seeing your list. Hope you keep posting when time allows. Enjoy your spring & summer!