Happy Friday, friends! I’ve been tempted these last few days to get full-on into May-mode, and I was grateful for the reminder this afternoon that May doesn’t start until Sunday. So let me put my Present Hat back on and celebrate what’s happening right now … in Late April:
Thinking about … how delighted I am with the Women’s Prize Short List (except that One Sky Day (Popisho here in the US) didn’t make it). I’ve read five of the six, all but The Bread the Devil Knead (May TBR plans!). I gave The Sentence and The Book of Form and Emptiness five stars; and I’d have a hard time choosing between them. Honestly, I’ll be happy with whoever wins – and REALLY HAPPY if it’s one of those two.
Grateful for … a new season of porch time! Marc and I cleaned off the porch just before I left for Beaufort. He put out the pots and planted flowers while I was gone. and today is the first day I’ve had a chance to enjoy it. The knitting is sitting on the cushion to my right and I’ll be picking it back up again just as soon as I press Publish on this post.
Inspired by … finishing Louise Erdrich’s The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse to read more about the Nanapush, Pillager, Kashpaw, and Puyat clans, and also to pick up Crooked Hallelujah and Death Comes for the Archbishop (Goodreads links). I placed a small order from Birchbark Books for the Erdrich titles (an early celebration of Independent Bookstore Day) and put those last two titles on hold at the library. My May TBR is taking shape!
Fun … Charlie and Sam have baseball games almost back to back tomorrow, so we are headed into town to watch! This is our first chance to see them play this season and the weather looks great. Here’s to a month with five Fridays and five Saturdays!
Wishing you a lovely weekend. xxoo.
mere-et-filles 
I adore that photo of you knitting on the patio Mary! My hubby and I have also been enjoying porch time, especially early in the morning and in the evening… star gazing 😊 Great books listed !
I just couldn’t get into The Great Circle, and am currently reading Ozeki, but I think Trees, Sorrow and Bliss, and The Sentence are all deserving! We had freezing temps last night, so no porch time here for a while, but I love your shade of porch knitting pink!
Like Bonny (near her geographically) , it has been chilly…though Fletch and I were able to sit on the patio for about 20 minutes this afternoon before deciding we were COLD!! Curious to see what you think of “Archbishop” – I love Willa Cather’s writing. the Song of the Lark and My Antonia are my favorites. And like Bonny, I loved Island of the Missing Trees.
I think your porch is such a lovely spot! Have fun today at those baseball games!
Porch time, knitting and little boys playing baseball-what could be more fun?!
Big Willa Cather fan here! And I love your matching mani + knit 🙂 Such a pretty pink! (It’s my go-to for my toes.) Enjoy the onset of porch season.
I hope you enjoyed the baseball games! And your May TBR sounds like a lot of fun – I have my own stack piling up here on the corner of my desk…. and moving The Beet Queen down as a reminder for later in the month. We had some gorgeous weather here this weekend (finally!) and we spent the whole time outside. I didn’t read (other than to the kids before bed) or knit a stitch. It was a busy one! Here’s to more days playing outside!
I’m sure it’s so nice to be back to your porch time, Mary! I’m cheering for Missing Trees, myself. (And I thought The Great Circle was a Great Dud. . . ) 🙂
I am on hold *still* for Missing Trees, sigh! I am glad someone, somewhere is having porch time! LOL 🙂
that photo of you on your porch is so refreshing! We are slowly getting to being able to sit outside, I’m excited. Now it’s with a spring jacket but I’ll take it!
Hooray for porch knitting and reading! We had a tease of a warm weekend recently that made for comfortable sitting on the porch, but I fear it will be a while yet before it’ll be reliably warm enough to spend time out on our porch. I am also quite pleased with the Women’s Prize Short List selections and am looking forward to reading the titles I haven’t yet read.
We would love a little porch/patio time but it is not to be. You know I’m with you on the Prize list. Death Comes…is a really wonderful story. It’s one of my favorite Cather’s (Antonia, too).