2020 in TV: My Favorites

When I went back through my blog posts for 2020, I was surprised at how many TV series I had watched, particularly since March. I have listed only a selection, but these are the ones I thought were the best or enjoyed the most. In several cases, the categories are in order of preference rather …

Tidy Tidbits: Tropical Blooms & Exotic Settings

When you can’t travel to new destinations, then it’s best to enjoy what’s local and watch or read about other times, other places. We did some of both this past week. ORCHID SHOW—LOCAL COLOR For their 45th annual orchid show, Selby Gardens honors founder Marie Selby and celebrates the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to …

Diversions: Other Lives on Screen & Page

RECENT READING EVOCATIVE MEMOIR The Farmer’s Son:  Calving Season on a Family Farm by John Connell I had read good reviews of this work and since we were originally going to Ireland this month, I was doubly attracted to it.  Connell’s account of the months from January to June working on his father’s farm in County Longford delivering …

At Home: Diversions

NOVEL OF THE WEEK The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai Nguyen Phan Que Mai was born in North Vietnam in 1973, and when she was six her family moved to the South.  She received parts of her education in Australia, the UK, and Hong Kong and then returned to Vietnam to work on sustainable development.  A published …