Trueluck Summer by Susan Gabriel

Today I finished a novel by Susan Gabriel titled "Trueluck Summer".  The synopsis caught my attention because it described an adventure involving a 12 year old Trudy Trueluck and her 70 year old grandmother, Ida.  It sounded like it could be comical or poignant or whimsical.

However, it was historical fiction taking place during the civil rights movement, specifically 1964. It was engaging and a quick read.  It flowed well and I enjoyed the characterization and the setting.  However, again, maybe not the right time for me because it was all wrapped up in the political and social unrest of the time.  I lived through that unrest so it wasn't particularly entertaining from that aspect.

I would recommend the book, it was good, funny, had a good ending -- it was a bit "To Kill a Mockingbird--esque".  However, one thing that I realized reading this book is the same thing that I realized reading the last book I read and reviewed -- not much has changed in our society.

Unconscious Mutterings hosted by LunaNina.com

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Week 731

17 hours, 51 minutes ago

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Online ::  too much
2. Balance ::  pilates
3. Grunge ::  style
4. Beacon ::   lighthouse
5. Laughing ::  not enough of
6. Comedy ::  tragedy
7. Animated ::  cartoon
8. Campaign ::  yuck
9. Heather ::   Scotland
10. Comma ::   too often misused

Hmmm...not very witty but it is Monday.

I Am So Confused!

I like to read magazines and blogs.  I clearly have a problem with magazines, an intervention might be necessary.  I have too many and hang on to them for so long.  I don't care for fashion magazines too much because I am not particularly fashionable but I do enjoy home magazines and regional magazines. I enjoy reading about home decor and lifestyle trends -- always much more "with it" than my own decor and lifestyle, to be sure.

Last year one of the popular trends was called Hygge.  It is a concept of Danish lifestyle that really has no definition.  A loose translation would be "cozy" and all the things that go into making a space cozy during a long, hard, winter.  Hot cocoa and candles seems to be at the forefront of this concept along with knitted items.  Things that we would find cozy as well. Well, maybe not in Texas.

No sooner do I get interested in "hygge" do I learn that hygge is out and "lagom" is in.  Lagom is a a Swedish word meaning "just right, just enough".  Now that is something I can get my head around.  Just enough.  I like that and it is actually something that I have been striving for myself.  Not one to really embrace excess, this concept seemed to speak to me.

For the last couple of years we have been hearing a lot about "minimalism" thanks to Joshua Becker and Marie Kondo.  I sit and look at the photos in Dwell Magazine wishing my home could look like those in this publication.  Sleek, clean, bright, airy, NO CLUTTER -- yes, how soothing and relaxing that would be. 

So, just as I start decluttering and packing things away to create a minimal space along comes an article discussing the newest trend -- maximalism.  Yes, it is what you think it is -- excess.

Now, just as minimalism is defined by sleek, clean, white/chrome areas, maximalism is defined by over-the-top large scale wallpaper, bright colors, dark colors, lots of furniture and art items.  Lots of -- everything.

Ok, so by this time I am really confused.  How many candles are too many?  Not enough?  Just enough?  How many knitted items do I need -- or do I not need any?  I am pretty sure large scale print wall paper isn't going up on ANY wall in Maison Brinkley.  Been there, done that and swore never again.

So, I have decided to embrace what I call "Melissaism".  What is that you might ask?  Well, let me tell you.  When Hubs and I were first married we bought a houseful of Early American furniture.  Then we fell heir to some of my mother's EA furniture.  I still have a good deal of it.  Then we went through a modern stage and Hubs actually built several things which I still have.  Then came ShabbyChic -- yes, yes, still here.  We decided to get rid of the EA bedroom furniture and buy a brand new bedroom suite because we had never had a brand new one before - it is like British Country Home.  In order to blend all the different sorts of things --and multiple bookcases -- we have added some black painted pieces.  So, you can see where I am going with this.

Melissaism -- the melding of 44 years of marriage, three moves, two children and changing tastes all rolled into one not-very-big house.  Is it minimal?  Uh, no.  It is maximal-- not really.  Does it look like a room out of a furniture store -- which store?  which decade? -- no.  Does it look comfy?  Yep.  Does it feel comfy?  Yes, except for the evil sofa in the den.  Would I change it?  Nope -- well, except for the evil sofa in the den. 

So, I guess I will continue to look at the magazines and blogs and such and enjoy all the trends but know that I will only be comfortable with Melissaism.

Victory Garden by Meredith Allard

"Victory Garden" by Meredith Allard is a novel about Rose Scofield and Adam Bell.  It is also a story about the women's suffrage movement of 1917-1918.  The story shares some of Rose's youth, the fact that her mother passed away when Rose was 2 and that Rose was a school teacher.  She was also a free thinker and a stubborn "impudent" sort of girl.

Rose's father was a writer for the newspaper, it is assumed the New York Times.  He wrote an article about the Bell Brothers, a really good vaudeville act.  Through her father, Rose met Adam.

Because Rose was a supporter of the suffrage movement, she lost her job as a teacher.  She joined the movement, went to Washington D.C., found herself in jail and eventually found her way back home. 

And Adam?  Well, you will just have to read it to find out.

I didn't particularly enjoy this book.  It was a good read but the majority of the book was devoted to protests, marches, World War I and politics.  That makes sense since that was the basic theme but with the atmosphere around our own political situation right now, I wishI had been reading a book to escape all the politics, not throw me right in the middle of it. In spite of it, though, it was a good read and I recommend.

Glitch

When I posted earlier about no comments on my blog, it was brought to my attention by a friend that she was commenting but I was not getting them, couldn't see them and couldn't find them.  As I looked around, I learned that the problem seemed to be with Google+.  I have since done away with Google+ and now have a comment.  So glad to be able to see comments again although the previous ones have been lost forever.  The last comment I received was in late November.  So, we shall see how it goes -- I certainly don't want to go back to Wordpress -- too difficult.

Re-thinking the Blog

I have been at this blogging business for quite sometime.  I never had a "theme", it was more eclectic -- whatever was going on in my head.  I have noticed that I am not gaining readers which is fine, it is mostly just for my fun anyway, but people are stopping by to visit but not leaving any comments.

If you stop by to visit I would like to know you have been here so if you could just leave a short comment it would be greatly appreciated.

I have been thinking about whether the blog should have a theme, like reading or needlework but I don't think that would work for me particularly.  I have a wide range of interests and don't really care to have multiple blogs.   I have also considered whether it should go on at all.  It is a consideration.

At any rate, if you stop by, please leave a comment so I know you have been here.  That is primarily how I found blogs to read for myself!

Happy Monday!

It is a glorious Monday here at Maison Brinkley.  It is spring-like outside -- lots of sun and warmth.  More importantly -- less pollen.  That is a good thing.

It was a busy weekend.  I have been working on a project for my eldest granddaughter.  She has to dress up as Betsy Ross for school this week and needed a costume.  I have an "angel" costume that I use for virtually anything -- angel, witch, pirate or....Betsy.  So, here is the finished product -- well, except for the hem.  That remains to be done.  Oh yes, meet Ruby, my little red vacuum cleaner.

I gathered up all the books on my current TBR list and took a photo.  Here there are.

And yesterday, we did this.

 

It was a very busy weekend.  I got a little tired.  I also got sunburned and while the pollen count is lower I have still been bothered.  Blah.

So, now I am off to make my homemade laundry detergent.  Then I can tackle the mound of laundry that has piled up while I have been having other fun!

Refusing to Spread the Nastiness

This past political season was horrendous.  Politics are bad at best and this past go was especially dirty and mean-spirited.

What?  No, I am not talking about the candidates.  I am talking about people on social media.  You know, the ones who will say anything on that venue but wouldn't say it to your face.  I have blocked people, unfriended people and I even had an argument with a "friend" the other day.

I don't like any of it.

So, I decided to change up my social media feed and post things that I do like, the most unpolitical things I can find.  So far I have posted photos of garden gates, historical facts, and llamas.  I am trying to be careful because I don't want to break any copyright laws but there is so much out there, it is hard to tell what to do.

Anyway, I thought I would share a few of the photos I have shared there.  So, for your unpolitical viewing pleasure--

There are so many cute llama photos out there that I chose this one

but actually, all the politics have left me feeling more like this

So, with that I am going to go look at more happy garden gate photos -- and llamas -- and anything other than politics.

The Artist

Our granddaughter, Bean, takes art lessons from a small art school in Keller, Texas.  We have never had the opportunity to take her to her classes or see the inside of the place until yesterday when Mom had a Girl Scout "thing" to attend to at the same time as art.  So, Gramps and I had the privilege of taking Bean to her class.

As with a lot of businesses in the Fort Worth area, it is housed in an old house.  It is colorful and very inviting.

Colorful flamingos

Giant crayons

The sign

I wasn't able to take photos inside but rest assured, each and every wall was covered in student art and it was stupendous!  So colorful, such talent -- what a warm and wonderful place for children to explore the world of art.

Inaugration Day

Today we celebrate the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America.

Regardless of your political viewpoint, it is a great day to see the democratic process in action.

We are so fortunate, in this day and age, to have the technology that allows all Americans and the rest of the world to view this event.  It is all very patriotic and festive.

I am feeling patriotic today and am so glad to be an American.  God Bless America.

Ok, Maybe I Do Have Something to Say

I don't like grocery shopping under the best of circumstances.  I certainly don't like it when I am sick with allergies and the pollen count is really high.  I don't want to leave the house.  So, I have been exploring grocery delivery services this morning.

I really needed to grocery shop this morning.  The Mr. and I talked about it last night.  He accompanies me everywhere I go because.....well, he is retired and has nothing better to do.  I said we needed to go early to get it done as I really feel like rubbish.

It is 11 a.m. and we haven't move -- an inch.  No groceries bought.  Waiting for a phone call that may or may not ever come.

I am annoyed.  So, I started exploring delivery options.

I found Instacart which delivers from all but one of the stores I shop at.  They will deliver in just a couple of hours.  It isn't an outrageous delivery fee if you buy over $35 worth of products.  Who doesn't spend that every time they walk into the store.  Seems like a non-issue to me. 

I told my husband I was going to have the groceries delivered.  He laughed at me and said we would go tonight.  I don't want to go tonight.  I don't feel well, I want to go to bed.  I guess I could make him a list and let him go but since that hasn't happened in years I am pretty sure that isn't even on his radar.

I wonder if he is going to find it so hysterical when there is no dinner.

Yes, I know, I should have just taken myself to the store and ignored him.  I have done it before!

My question is -- thoughts on grocery delivery?