So I heard some commotion in the living room, and then I saw this fella on the patio just as chill as could be. #notmycatsoflitsy

Galileo is quoted to have said: Wine is sunlight, held together by #water

Yesterday my friend and I had planned to play mini golf, but the place where we wanted to go had gone out of business! So we visited a couple wineries instead.

#letstraveljuly

Who goes to #France and takes pictures of hazelnuts? This girl! We stopped in a little store in Sainte-Mêre-Eglise so my brother-in-law could get a cold drink. It was an interesting exchange, with his high school French and my Spanish and the shop girl's rudimentary English, but eventually we managed. Meanwhile, aren't these lovely hazelnuts? #LetsTravelJuly

In my heart I‘m just a homebody, but I also inherited a bit of #wanderlust from my father. Luckily, Litsy helps me feed both feelings! #letstraveljuly

Kat was born in the #1940s to a mixed race couple, and she spends much of her life unsure of her identity and heritage, for reasons that are spoilers. She builds a successful career in mathematics, which was completely over my head but didn‘t affect my appreciation of the story. It drags a little in places, but overall I enjoyed it. There‘s a nice interview with the author in a recent Reading Women podcast. #letstraveljuly

1. I went from 1 book behind schedule to 1 book ahead of schedule on my Goodreads goal.
2. California...or Scotland
3. Apple pie
4. Always
5. I‘ll see what I can do.
#friyayintro

It‘s not a good idea to maintain a #cemetery once the zombies are on the loose.

This was a little uneven, but the #POCMC is great. I look forward to reading about her next adventure. #paranormal #Booked2019 #letstraveljuly

1. Avocado, mushroom, and cheese omelette with a side of potatoes (I had this on the ship almost every day)
2. I like mashups such as Jose Muldoon‘s in Colorado Springs
3. All the time...unless it‘s something gruesome
4. I‘m pretty sure it already exists but if not: wine flavored ice cream
5. It‘s late in the day so consider yourself tagged if you want to be
#wondrouswednesday

During my drive home a few weeks ago I noticed this beautiful #garden on Capitol Hill and knew I had to take a picture of it. #letstraveljuly

In a tiny settlement tucked away in the #mountains and canyons of frontier Utah, Rebecca waits for her husband to return from a work trip. When a stranger knocks on her door, it sets in motion a series of events that will bring irreparable changes to the community. I really enjoyed this book. Spare and restrained writing with interesting characters and a lot of historical information. I‘m surprised it didn‘t get more “buzz.” #letstraveljuly

My dentist appointment was canceled, but it was still a good day to stay home from work. We didn‘t get 3” in an hour like some neighboring jurisdictions did, but it was alarming enough. I will just continue reading at my #leisure and try to #psyche myself to return to work tomorrow. #letstraveljuly

I‘m a little behind today! I had lunch on the outdoor patio at a nearby restaurant, then I came home and slept for three hours! So anyway...

1. Becoming, Smoke and Mirrors, Boar Island, Hunting a Detroit Tiger, Women Rowing North
2. Pretty much anything citrus (so I‘m loving this background)
3. “Nels,” I said, “I‘m ready to go home if you are.”
#weekendreads

You can take a cat onto an #airplane (maybe), but you can‘t bring a cat to the ballpark even on Caturday. Wrangling a 12-pound mass of wriggling, shedding, crying black fur for several hours isn‘t really my idea of fun anyway. It‘s also Expos Day (hence the Canada flag pin) as well as a good occasion for a mango wheat beer. #letstraveljuly

I‘m the only person in the office today, so I could have my own little desk #concert and no one would care! OTOH the cafeteria is closed, so I‘ll have to leave early just to get some lunch.

Anyway, this grainy photo is Paul Rogers singing “Seagull” at a music festival a few years ago. He‘s not the handsomest man in any case, but that voice!

#letstraveljuly

Anna Pigeon has been to many parts of the #USA for her job, but so far there hasn‘t been a story set in Nevada. 🤣 #letstraveljuly

It‘s a little too hot even in the #shade but the good news is that I found my water bottle I‘d left on the patio the other day. Maybe it will cool off enough that I can sit out there and read this evening. Meanwhile, here‘s a reminder for this fun July photo challenge! #LetsTravelJuly

Another interesting and enjoyable #NewOrleans mystery that I read back in the day. At some point I fell off the bandwagon for this series, but I know I read at least the first three. #letstraveljuly

Happy #Canada Day! We spent a lovely weekend in Michigan and Ontario, and now we‘re on the way home. #letstraveljuly

During our cruise in May, we made ten stops in two weeks, which I understand is a high proportion compared to most trips. In any event #Amsterdam had by far the best facilities. #wanderingjune

I have this book on my kindle but haven‘t started it yet. Meanwhile, go Nats! #roadtrip

Several years ago I went to Barbados for a work trip. Beautiful place! We took a tour around the island and got to see the school children going home in the afternoon. #CaribbeanQueen #WanderingJune

I was hoping to get to Cleveland in time for lunch. Instead we‘re here for dinner! Still three more hours of driving, but not until I finish these #tatertots on steroids.

My friend and I saw Billy Joel in concert a few years ago. He brought soldiers on stage to sing with him during #GoodnightSaigon and it was very moving. (This is a pre concert photo taken with my phone.)
#wanderingjune

My sister and I are off for a baseball road trip this weekend. I‘ll catch y‘all later!

After my seven-hour layover in Heathrow on the way to Copenhagen, I'm an even bigger fan of direct flights to places such as Puerto Rico. I barely scratched the surface on a brief visit several years ago, so I need to go back! #wanderingjune #laislabonita

1. Lilies
2. So far it‘s the tagged book.
3. Queer Eye - and have tissues ready
4. Emily Dickinson
#humpdaypost

Unless you‘re a Laura Lippman completist, I think you can skip this one. Good local color and a Tess Monaghan cameo helped, but only a little bit. The story definitely has substance, but it‘s murky and flat. All the characters are annoying at best, as is the structure. Nobody at book club liked this, but we did have a good discussion. I told them she usually does better.

This year I have no intention of being anywhere near the “Salute to America,“ but I've gone to see the July 4 fireworks on the DC Mall a few times. This shot is from right across the Potomac circa 2011. #summernightcity #wanderingjune

If you're trying to find the Frietmuseum (Fries Museum) just look for the Argentine BBQ across the street. #DontcryformeArgentina #WanderingJune

1. The Most Dangerous Thing and The Mystery of Three Quarters
2. Tom and Lorenzo‘s Pop Style Opinionfest
3. The Most Dangerous Thing was this month‘s mystery book club selection, and we were all rather meh about it. I usually love the author but haven‘t finished this one yet, if that tells you anything.
#weekendreads

1. I'm within ten minutes of three libraries.
2. Sitting outside to read in the evenings.
3. Corn on the cob.
4. Yes.
5. *waves*
#friyayintro

Phone not cooperating so I'll have to add the picture later. [ETA photo and tag.]

I liked but didn‘t love this selection for next month‘s mystery #bookclub - interesting story but the MC is a bit much.

A fun semi-cozy mystery that I read many years ago.
#walklikeanegyptian #wanderingjune

1. Just heard about this on #WSIRN
2. Maybe
3. Walking, yoga, swimming
4. Canine analog to my brat cat (stolen from Twitter)
#humpdaypost

Not sure which I like better, the movie or the soundtrack. #illflyaway #wanderingjune

I didn‘t get #lostinfrance but nearly did get lost in Belgium, thanks to winding cobblestone streets and a tour guide going at breakneck speed. The beer didn‘t help either. #wanderingjune

This is the second book in the Finfarrin series, and I enjoyed learning more about Hanna, Jazz, and the other characters. I'm looking forward to the conclusion of the #seriesread which looks like a fun Christmas book. Finfarrin is a fictional place but may be based on the Dingle peninsula where the author has a home. In any case, it's (relatively) far from Dublin #wherethestreetshavenoname except that it's right there on the wall. #wanderingjune

I‘ve barely been home from vacation for two weeks, and I‘m already looking at planes and trains for #readingretreat2020 (no automobiles because I‘m not crazy enough to try driving on the wrong side of the road). Maybe I‘ll get back to Heathrow and have another giant cup of tea. #londoncalling #wanderingjune

1. The ocean is a desert with its life underground and a perfect disguise above...
2. Barrel cactus
3. Javelinas! They like pumpkin.
#succulentsaturday

Signs seen at the library...

Everyone knows that smoking is a #roadtonowhere but rabbits don‘t care.

#wanderingjune

1. Bro country
2. Summer
3. Mystery
4. My usual Friday third grader lunch: tuna sandwich, chips, and lemonade
5. On it!
#friyayintro

1. Yes. It has pandas! 🐼
2. Yes, a few years ago.
3. The big cats. 🦁
4. I got to pet an owl 🦉 at a community fair, and it was surprisingly soft.
5. Tagging some wild new followers.
#Thursdaysurvey

James Bond is taking a #dreadlockholiday (sorry but I couldn't find the article in English)

https://www.lavanguardia.com/ocio/viajes/20190609/462715268866/jamaica-paraiso-j...

#wanderingjune

Thanks for the tag!
1. Curious, distracted, eclectic
2. On the couch with the cat on the arm of the couch and tolerating my presence
3. My step father was strictly a Volvo man, but in many other ways he reminds me of Ove.
4. Tagging some #whodunitbymail folks for old time‘s sake.
#wondrouswednesday

A very #grandhotel in Amsterdam. #wanderingjune

Intriguing and poignant story. Not the first #newin2019 I‘ve read or the last I‘ll read this year, but it‘s the one I‘ll use for the #Booked2019 challenge.

Dropping into my chair, I reach for the bag of peanut butter M&Ms I keep in my bottom drawer. No, it‘s not the greatest coping mechanism, but since I already finished the bottle of scotch I used to keep there, the M&Ms will have to do.

I was supposed to get together with my friend for a round of putt putt this afternoon. BUT ... she‘s sick, and also it‘s raining. So instead I‘m running some much-needed errands for the first time since getting back from vacation. Anyway, the rain is good for the #greengreengrassofhome to stay that way as long as possible. #litsyneighborhood #wanderingjune #seewhatididthere

Baltic Books in Stornoway. It was at some point during the drive across the Isle of Lewis that I realized I was in love with Scotland. Though I'll never be one to take completely to the #gypsyroad I do know I want to keep traveling. #wanderingjune

When you 😴 on the couch after dinner, you end up doing #thursdaysurvey in the wee hours of Friday morning!
1. Girl in Disguise
2. The Silver Dream
3. Lady in the Lake
4. I‘m three books behind my Goodreads goal, but I‘m not worried about it.
5. No tagging since I‘m late.

I can‘t see a plane in a tree without thinking of Oceanic flight #815 ... but this hotel in Costa Rica does look charming. https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a27702524/hotel-costa-verde-727-fuselag...

#letsgetlost #wanderingjune