Book 11: In the Garden of Beasts Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

Another selection from the Little Free Library. I picked this up because I recognized Erik Larson's name and enjoyed The Devil in the White City. 

This book begins 1933 when William E. Dodd becomes the first United States Ambassador to Hitler's Germany. Dodd is the stereotypical mild-mannered professor. He accepts the position hoping to have time to work on his book about the American South. 

Dodd is an outlier, a man trying to live on his salary, among the wealthy, high society-type ambassadors. He is mocked for bringing the family Chevrolet to Berlin. Dodd's daughter Martha generates a lot of gossip with her partying and love affairs.

While other diplomats and isolationists in the United States didn't approve of Dodd, those in Berlin who saw Hitler's oppression firsthand appreciated him. Dodd understood the political and moral implications of Hitler's rule. After Hitler's army invaded Poland, Dodd wrote to Roosevelt that democracies in Europe could have acted together to stop Hitler as he had urged. Too bad few had listened. 

Ducklings!

I've taken several pictures of ducklings along the Hopewell Trail the last two months. This is the family that I saw I most often. The last time I saw them they were almost as big as their mother. Unfortunately, I didn't have my phone with me that day to take some pictures. I looked forward to seeing the ducks every day. I miss them.

Thursday Thoughts

Haven't posted for a long time. Recently, the backup laptop that I've been using got infected with a virus. That's just the latest excuse.

We have a big item to check off our to-do list: we got grab bars installed in both our bathrooms. I had started research back in February but dropped the ball. Now it's done, and I'm happy with the results. 

We're under another heat dome. Dubious bonus: smoke from wildfires is overtaking the area. 

Bruce, our neighbor across the hall, had a stroke and will be transferred to permanent nursing care. He has a two-year-old dog JJ. Neighbors have been pitching in to help care for him. One neighbor who's been watching him went to the beach for the weekend. Another is watching JJ now, but she needs help walking him. That's me (and Jace.) We've only been on one walk so far, and I was just needed for moral support. That's good. 

JJ has been through a lot this year. Earlier, his technical owner died suddenly from a heart attack. Bruce was JJ's primary caregiver even then. I'm not sure what's going to happen with him. It makes me appreciate that the wills Jeff and I are making have a provision for Jace's care if something happens to us first. 

I've been thinking a lot about Bruce. I remember how he helped me walk/climb over the snow and ice after the January storm. He also helped shovel out my car. He would be happy to know that his neighbors are caring for JJ. 

Book 10: Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

I borrowed this book from the library because I loved the TV series. 

As the Apocalypse approaches, an angel Aziraphale and a demon Crowley realize that they enjoy their lives on Earth too much to let it be destroyed. They come up with a plan to thwart the Apocalypse, but then they lose the Antichrist. 

Other characters include the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the formerly fearsome Hellhound, a witch, and the two members of the Witchfinder Army.

It's a lot of fun. 

Heat Dome Holiday

The temperatures hit 100 degrees on the past two days. It was 95 as Jace and I went out for our evening walk last night. We've got two more days of this weather. Most of the country is dealing with the same heat dome.

I'm happy to be a homebody. I bought fruit and veggies on Tuesday and picked up some prepared dinners from Lovejoy's on Wednesday. Yesterday, I got wine. We're all set. 

I Love B Movies

I've always loved movies. I spent many an afternoon at the Saturday matinee. At home, I watched series such as the Bowery Boys and horror films, including a Mexican vampire series starting with this film. 

Then there was the Basil Rathbone--Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes series. The series debuted in 1939. The first two films, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, had good budgets and production values. The rest of the series were strictly B movies--updated to World War II with lots of quotes from Churchill. The films were loosely based on the stories and novels (I read all of them.) Yes, the series made Watson was a lovable bumbler and the pro-Britain speech gat a bit thick (but hey, it was against Hitler, so I can't complain) but I loved them.

I love the Warner Brothers Nancy Drew series (four films) and the Torchy Blane films (nine.) I will gladly rewatch all of those films when they appear.

Recently, I've been watching some Charlie Chan movies. I was surprised to read that there are 49 films, with the first in 1926. Most of the films available are with Sidney Toler and a few with Roland Winters. I remember seeing Warner Oland in the role, but haven't come across any of his films recently. I'm keeping my eyes open hoping to catch one of  best in the series such as Charlie Chan at the Opera.

Thankful Thursday Thoughts

This post is inspired by Thankful Thursdays on The Frugal Girl. It's an especially good exercise today, because I felt lousy all day. 

As I told a neighbor the other day, I'm thankful every day that we moved here. After 37 years in Norwalk, I was sick of Prospect Ridge and sick of Norwalk. I wanted to go south, but not too far south. (Okay, maybe the warmer weather we wanted didn't pan out so far.)  We wanted to be able to get a bigger--more reasonably priced home.

This place had all the must-haves: two full baths, washer and dryer, balcony, over 1000 feet. Plus so much more. We have a dining room. a laundry room, and a sitting area as part of our primary bedroom. We have extra kitchen cabinets, drawers, and counters personally built by the previous owner. We even have a boat slip.

We have a wonderful trail and boardwalk down by the water. It makes me happy to see the Middle River and wildlife every day. 

We have good neighbors. 

I'm so glad we moved.