I'm happy to join Kat and fellow Unravelers for Unraveled Wednesday, with yet another photo of the current Hitchhiker. It looks much the same as last week except for another 10 teeth, and this time it's in the Blanche Park Le Monn Memorial magnolia tree. The plaque says that "After the age of 85, Mrs. Le Monn became New Jersey's number one C.R.O.P. (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) walker by raising in excess of $150,000." Well done, Ms. Le Monn and thank you for the use of your tree.
I did take this picture in the park, but nobody cared this time. I kind of missed the "Whatcha doin', lady" questions.
I finished Hang the Moon, but it was only a two-star book for me. I usually choose the books I read somewhat carefully, but with the library's hold queues sometimes reaching more than six months, I've started placing holds on books before they are published. This usually results in shorter hold times but I often don't know many details about the book. That's what happened with Hang the Moon. If I had read a few reviews and researched it a little bit, I probably could have figured out that this was not a book for me. The best thing about it is that I did learn that the author's memoir, The Glass Castle, may be much more to my liking.
I'm also reading Trespasses, The Covenant of Water, and an interesting pre-publication copy of The Collected Regrets of Clover. That last book is about a young woman who is a death doula, and I'm finding it quite compelling.
What are you making and reading this week?
I love your Hitchhiker draped beautifully in Ms. Le Monn's tree... but I really love how your ball of yarn is nestled careful in the branches! It looks like a large Easter egg!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like the perfect setting for your Hitchhiker!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear I can skip Hang the Moon. I enjoyed The Glass Castle but also found it to be really sad. Did you read Educated? The two memoirs are similar, in my opinion.
I'm juggling several WIPs this week and am almost finished with Homesick.
Your Hitchhiker looks so perfect, perched among the magnolia blooms there in the park. (That tree makes me remember -- fondly -- my own star magnolia tree. I had to have it removed, unfortunately. It got scale, and it was too far gone to treat by the time I realized what was happening. I just love the blooms on star magnolias!) As for reading, I am getting close to the finish line of Covenant of Water. Maybe I'll finish today? And now I'm really curious about The Collected Regrets of Clover! I've always been fascinated with the death doula concept.
ReplyDeleteMaking socks (as usual) and reading Spare. That book is oddly compelling which really surprises me.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of a Death Doula before! I'm knitting goldfinch socks and reading Trespasses (which I really like so far). I read both The Glass Castle and Educated (different authors, but similar stories) and did not really care for either. Your Hitchhiker is perched beautifully Bonny! Looks like you have quite a bit of yarn left...will you keep going?
ReplyDeletebeautiful shawl in a very gorgeous photo setting! I'm surprised noone asked you what you were doing...weird!
ReplyDeleteThat shawl coordinates perfectly with that beautiful magnolia tree! The idea of a death doula has intrigued me since I first heard the term.
ReplyDeleteMy mother had hospice for about four months when she was terminally ill, and I was amazed at the honesty, comfort, and reassurance they provided. I didn't exactly have a birth doula but I did had a very helpful nurse holding my hand and reassuring me when I was induced with my first child. I think many people die alone, or with unresolved issues, and I think a death doula can also help when life is ending.
DeleteThe hitchhiker is lovely, and so is its perch. A death doula? Never heard of such a thing, but it sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Think of a death doula along the lines of hospice. They can provide comfort, reassurance, and help when a person is dying, just like a birth doula can help during childbirth.
DeleteI've never heard the term "death doula", but it reminds me of a friend of mine who is a retired hospice nurse. In retirement, she volunteers with hospice, so this term may apply to her. That book does sound intriguing !
ReplyDeleteI was so impressed by everything that the hospice team provided for my mother and the whole family. I looked into volunteering for hospice, but the boys were still young then and I didn't feel like I could give it the necessary time. There is a lot of training, but there should be. Now that I'm older and closer to my own mortality, I'm not sure about that either. So I tend to read books about the subject. In this book, the death doula mainly provides emotional support to the dying person, but also the family. There is a slightly off-putting romance sneaking into the story, but I'll see how the author handles that.
DeleteThat's a beautiful way to display your latest Hitchhiker! I'm kinda bummed no one asked about it, though. I think you will really like The Glass Castle.
ReplyDeleteI love your hitchhiker and the Yarn's color is so perfect for Spring and beautiful. I've got several things on needles. My favorite is a round Shawl called a Planispiral. My books these days are the Joe Pickett series by CJ Box. Awesome modern Western featuring a Wyoming Game Warden and his family as he fights to solve murders and figure out the truth. Modern day Wyoming issues and the beauty of the state prominently feature.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I had hoped to finish by Easter, so while that probably won't happen, I should get this Hitchhiker completed sometime this spring. I've read a couple of books in the Joe Pickett series and they are quite good. There are also plenty of them!
DeleteThe hitchhiker looks lovely in Mrs. Le Monn's tree. Women do the most amazing things in this world. I'm glad there is a plaque in her honor. Hospice services are wonderful. The concept of a death doula is new to me but it is intriguing. I'm plugging away on my hitchhiker, the infamous purple shawl, and a sock. I'm reading The Shrines of Gaiety and Paranesi. I much prefer the Atkinson book.
ReplyDelete