Monday, March 10, 2008

Spring fever


Life got in the way of blogging for me, for about a week and a half. First it was a fever, followed by a cold, and then it was the rest of the family's fever, followed by their colds. Then, when we recovered, we got spring fever, and had to start planting our vegetable garden for this year. After working in the garden I was too sore to blog!

Then the weather got even better, so we drove out to Pacific Palisades and had a picnic at Will Rogers State Historic Park, on an absolutely gorgeous Sunday, 75 degrees and blue skies. I didn't read, so I didn't really qualify for the Sunday Salon, but I did go on a tour of American humorist and movie star Will Rogers' house, which has been preserved by the park service as it was on the day he died in a plane crash in 1935. The house is chock full of western paraphernalia and quite beautiful in a rustic, ranch-y sort of way. The western paintings, drawings, and sculpture by Charles M. Russell, and the Indian blankets and baskets, and the Monterrey-style furniture were worth the price of parking. I can't believe I've lived here all these years, been to the park and polo fields many times, but had never gone inside the house until now.

On the reading front, I finished May Sarton's Kinds of Love: A Novel for the Outmoded Authors' Challenge, and I really enjoyed it, but I just haven't had time to write about it yet.

7 comments:

Jeane said...

I would love to see the artwork in that house! I have read and liked very much two other of May Sarton's books; she doesn't seem very well-known. I had not heard of Kinds of Love and am eager to hear about it!

Gentle Reader said...

jeane--The artwork was really interesting. I had heard of Sarton but hadn't read anything when the Outmoded Authors challenge came along, and I saw Sarton's name on the list. I happened to have a copy of Kinds of Love, so that's why I chose it--but I'm happy I did! I'd love to hear about her other books, too...

Bybee said...

I don't know much about May Sarton but have always wanted to learn more about her work. I think I have one of hers on my wishlist.

I lived in Oklahoma for many years, where Will Rogers is a big deal. I wish I'd visited his hometown, Claremore.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like you've been having a wonderful time, well, once the colds and fevers had cleared up! I wish it were warm enough to be able to picnic over here, and not bitterly cold (if sunny)! I'm looking forward to hearing more about May Sarton, too!

Lisa said...

Glad everyone is feeling better! I too am suffering from Spring Fever. I want to be outside in the beautiful weather, but work and life gets in the way.

heather (errantdreams) said...

Sympathies on the illnesses, but grats on getting to the gardening! I'm just starting in on mine.

Gentle Reader said...

bybee--I read up a little on May Sarton, and sounds like she was an interesting woman! I really liked Kinds of Love, so now I'm going to have to look for some of her other stuff.

The docent at the Will Rogers house referred to the memorial in Oklahoma, which is supposed to be very interesting. If I'm ever out that way on Route 66, I'll be sure to stop there!

litlove--it's been so nice to finally spend time outdoors. We had a rainy winter, but there's really no complaining about weather here in southern California :)

lisa--I'm sure my spring fever will soon be followed by hay fever, from too much working in the yard. Achoo!

heather--this is the first year that my kids have been any help in the garden, and it's actually much more fun this way!