Plainsong by Kent Haruf

A bookclub that I am in recently discussed "Plainsong" by Kent Haruf. Set in the fictional small town of Holt, Colorado, this story takes the reader into the intersecting lives of 6-7 main characters (if you include Maggie, who is basically the link between the other characters--Tom Guthrie and his sons Ike and Bobby, Victoria Roubideaux, and the McPheron brothers-Raymond and Harold). I totally loved this story when it first came out in 1999. The ability this author had to create characters worth caring about was awesome. I knew that I had to read more by Haruf, unfortunately at that time there were only 2 other titles he had written; "The Tie that Binds" in 1984 and "Where you once belonged" in 1990. Both great books with some awards, but Plainsong was the first real best-seller. He has since written a sequel to "Plainsong", in 2004 he wrote "Eventide" picking up once again with the McPheron brothers, Tom Guthrie, Maggie, Ike, Bobby and Victoria Roubideaux.
In both "Plainsong" and "Eventide" Haruf does not use quotations etc which some readers may find odd, but the way he writes in long continuous sentences reminds me of the way we speak (or ramble) in the Midwest, much like the countryside goes on into the distance.
I hope you try "Plainsong" and open yourself up to these characters and the country that surrounds them. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did. .

Grandpa's love

I was too young to remember this particular afternoon with Grandpa, however this picture represents everything I loved about this man.
He could always take time for the little things...even when it was something this simple. He did this for me and again with each of my own children.
Looking at this photo brings a calm feeling over me and reminds me of the value to be found in finding that moment in each day to do something kind for another person.
Thank you Grandpa! I love you!

Mother's Day brings a change...

This Mother's Day was the very first in 27 years, since the birth of our daughter in 1981, that we did not have a child living in our home. Our son is "home" from college, but is fullfilling a dream of his own this summer...to not live off mom and dad. He is working and living on his own this summer. I am so proud of him, quite proud of both of our children actually! But back to Mother's day...it was unusually quiet that morning.
We were going to sleep in, but that isn't something that is easy for me. So that morning was more like "Father's Day" but I got to enjoy the Sunday paper, my rocker and the view from our front porch with just the birds to keep me company. Later Tim took me out to lunch and to various green houses so we came home with a pickup load of mulch and some new plants, one inparticular is a lovely "peach melba coral belles"!
Later when I was free to work in my flower beds, our daughter and her family came to visit. My gifts were very nice pair of gardening gloves and some fancy new pruners! Our son Sam, had surprised me with a flower delivery earlier in the week, and he came by later in the day so I could get my hug!
My children know I am easily pleased with anything for my gardens. I enjoy a variety of hobbies, but gardening is by far a favorite! The smell of the soil in spring is like nothing else. Add to that the Lilacs in bloom, freshly mowed grass, and the sound of the water splashing into the pond. It is close to Heaven! Tim has hung 2 Wren houses and we have a pair nesting in one. I thought for sure they would pick the one in the Redbud tree, but the silly things picked the one in the new Maple tree right by the sidewalk. I love Wrens! They have such a powerful song for such tiny creatures.
The goldfish in our pond weathered the winter well and we have seen several frogs left over from last summer, when Tim brought a bucket of tadpoles from a country pond. I never knew it took so long for tadpoles to become frogs! The Grands sure enjoyed checking on them last year and were very pleased to see that some had made the choice to make our little garden pond their new home.
Our "perfect for climbing" tree is temporarily off limits. A robin has made the most adorable nest in it and we don't want to disturb her. Of course the desire to climb up and look into the nest is quite tempting but we had to say no to the Grands for now. After they had fed the fish and left for home, Tim and I had our time alone again. It's not a bad thing having your children grown. It's really a great thing, something to be thankful for. But like any other change, it takes some getting used too.

Bleeding Heart Square

Every once in a while I like a good British story. Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor was quite good. "It’s 1934, and the decaying London cul-de-sac of Bleeding Heart Square is an unlikely place of refuge for aristocratic Lydia Langstone. But as she flees her abusive marriage there is only one person she can turn to - the genteelly derelict Captain Ingleby-Lewis, currently lodging at no.7. However, unknown to Lydia, a dark mystery haunts 7 Bleeding Heart Square. What happened to Miss Penhow, the middle-aged spinster who owns the house and who vanished four years earlier? Why is a seedy plain-clothes policeman obsessively watching the square? What is making struggling journalist Rory Wentwood so desperate to contact Miss Penhow?"
This story was pretty tame, however it alluded to a bit of inappropriate (kinky)behavior without going in to great detail. I enjoyed the fact that I was surprised by the ending!