Local color

The House at Royal Oak is a sweet memoir about a couple who decide to buy a ruined old house and turn it into a bed and breakfast.  The author writes about the decision to change their lives completely and the challenges of fixing up an old building.  I loved reading about the locals and the trials of starting such a project.  8/10.

Crochety

I love a good BBC mystery series, and was psyched to stumble upon another one that fit the bill.  Vera is about a crochety investigator in Northumberland.  The murders are interesting and complicated.  The scenery is lovely and the characters are really interesting and multi-faceted.  It hits all the right spots for me.

Mystery

The Everafter is a YA novel told from the confused point of view of a dead girl.  It's a fast read, and I really appreciated how all the protaganist's relationships were important - not just the romantic one.  I really liked all the mystery to it - the rules of the afterlife, how she died, and the meanings of the objects she finds.  6/10.

Nightmare

 

A bookmobile that only shows up at night?  Intriguing.  The Night Bookmobile was an interesting concept for a story but I couldn't find any way to understand its draw for the protaganist.  It has a flaw that would make it any avid reader's worst nightmare.  3/10.

Falling

Bears

This made me smile.

Instant mood lifter

Big Man On Campus, a photo by Back in the Pack on Flickr.

The other day I stumbled upon the nearby dog daycare. Seen it so many times but not during the day when dozens of dogs are folicking in the yard. Frolicking!

A basset puppy was chasing the bigger faster lab mixes around the grounds. So happy making. I may have to lurk around this place more often.

Lovely to scale

The Secret World of Arietty is another gorgeous animation from Studio Ghibli.  I confess that I never read The Borrowers, but I remember it sitting on my grandma's bookshelf.  I love how non-formulaic the Studio's movies are.  The animation is fabulous - all those plants and details.  Really lovely to watch. 6/10.

Adjustments

Life is certainly an adjustment these days.  I'm on work leave which seems like it would lend itself to loads of free time.  However, the baby is certainly and completely in charge.  Sleep comes in 3 hour increments (when we're lucky!).  Time is taken up with lots of feedings and diaper changes and naps (many of which happen while lying on me).  We're cloth diapering so laundry is a daily task.  Pretty soon, pumping is gonna be a regular job. 

This means that books are generally things that can be read in the middle of the night during feedings.  They must be easy to follow and light to hold up (seeing as how one hand is busy holding the babe). 

Movies get started in the morning during feedings (did I mention that feeding is a pretty constant thing), paused when the babe is down for a nap so I can do luxurious things like shower or eat, and watched in 20 minute to half hour segments - longer when someone conks out on me.

However, we do enjoy lots of snuggles and milky grins and walks in the neighborhood while someone is conked out in the sling. 

So expect more ramblings, movie reviewlets, and info on shorter and less complicated books - some of them children's books.

Dark and sweet

Bernie was an interesting watch.  Based on a true story, the film is told with a mix of actors and the real townsfolk who knew the people involved.  Jack Black is perfectly cast for the first time ever.  It's a bit of a black comedy with a bit of sweet ridiculousness.  I just love things that get the small town feel right, and this fits that bill.  6/10.

Enthusiastic

Talk about timely - Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? is about a teacher with no political experience running for a Congressional seat.  The political ads are tiresome these days (particularly if you live in a swing state!) but this documentary is refreshing.  The staffers enthusiasm and hardwork will make you smile.  6/10.

Perfection

Today was one of those perfectly lovely days.  It was gorgeous and sunny, so I popped the baby in a sling and wandered off to the coffee shop for some chai while listening to the Double X podcast.  Then we visited the new little flower shop on the corner and bought some pretty orange dahlias to brighten up the house.  So great!