It's a grey day in Grey County again. We've had unbelievably warm weather lately. Thursday, the thermometer went into the teens, and I was actually sweating while helping with sap collecting at the Thorntons.
The invasion of Ukraine continues with the Russians bombing eastern cities relentlessly. Millions of Ukrainians are displaced and thousands are seeking refuge in other countries. The world is a friggin mess right now.
But spring is here, officially, today. There are lots of indicators at the farmette, including the first two robins bopping around the yard this morning, geese honking around in the sky, and my snowdrops all out in bloom. So there's that.
It's not quite gardening weather yet, though - we got a dusting of snow over night, as you can see in the picture. It's a snuggle in and read books kind of day, so I thought I'd recommend a few that I've devoured over the past few weeks.
Without consciously deciding, I've read almost exclusively women authors. That's a good thing, because these ladies are talented, let me tell you.
The Lighthouse Witches is a bit out of the way - as in gothic and creepy - for my taste. Still, it was a ripper of a story. An artistic single mom gets a commission to paint a mural in an old lighthouse that's being resurrected on a Scottish island.
The history of the island is haunted with tales of witch trials and burnings. The main character Liv has three daughters she brings with her, and the whole family - except one daughter - vanishes under strange circumstances. Spooky, but great fun.
Crow Winter by Karen McBride is also a great read.
An Algonquin girl moves back to the reserve after finishing her degree. She's still grieving the death of her father two years before, and has to untangle a bit of business he left behind. Guided by Nanabush, a trickster crow, Hazel works through her many emotions while trying to save her home land.
A compelling story about love, spirituality and redemption that I couldn't put down. Highly recommend.
I don't know why I haven't read more Isabel Allende. I will now, that I'm deep into Violeta.
It's a great read that's documents the life and times of a hundred year old woman.
She was the youngest and only girl born in 1920 into an all-male, well-to-do family living in a South American city. She lives through her father's bankruptcy, a move to the countryside, the Spanish flu, second world war, the rise of feminism and a second pandemic.
She's fiercely independent and a brilliant business woman, but has a massive weak spot for an adventurous, sketchy and not-terribly-loyal man who gives her two children and a lot of grief.
I haven't finished it yet. But probably will today. Until next week.
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