Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: 2015 - Week 12

Checking in for the week of March 22 through March 28.

WHAT I READ|
Wolf Hall (Hilary Mantel) - I am doing something I've only done with two other books *ever* and abandoning this book. It isn't that the story is boring, but the way the author chose to write it gives me a raging headache. As was common back in those days, there were a grand sum of a dozen names to choose from. There are no fewer than ELEVEN characters named "Thomas" and the author has a terrible habit of either a) referring simply to Thomas (not helpful) or b) starting a new scene, involving two or more male characters, and not identifying them, but simply saying 'he' over and over through most of it, so you have no idea which "he"-s are in the scene, never mind which he is speaking or thinking or existing. I am so turned around most of the time that I keep having to flip to the character chart in the front, in the hopes of guessing which he/Thomas we're dealing with, or re-reading entire sections, which means I would likely never finish this 500-plus page book. ::insert wide-eyed emoji here:: Too many books on my to-read shelf to be inflicting this sort of torture upon myself.
A Cookbook Conspiracy (Kate Carlisle) - This book is the seventh in a cozy mystery series, and while I am just getting started with it, I know it won't take long for me to really get rolling. The main characters, the writing style, the format are all familiar to me, and they feel...well, cozy!

WHAT WE ATE|
Time to clear out the pantry and freezer again! Easy meals like grilled cheese sandwiches (to use up some bread), and stuffed shells from the freezer stash. We also went to a Spring Training game on Friday, which means standard ballgame fare: hot dogs!

WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED|
Other than the regularly scheduled housework, I didn't do much in the way of accomplishment...because I was out playing! There was the Spring Training game on Friday and a round of Flower and Garden Food Fest on Saturday. Oh, and I got the spring decor completed.

CANDLE SCENTS|
Red Velvet Cupcake (BBW) - Still going on this one. I swear the wax level never goes down.
Sweet Honeysuckle (YC) - It's spring. Therefore there will be some floral scents. I'm picky though. They cannot be too floral-y or overpowering. This honeysuckle is on the approved list.
Lavender Fields (YC) - Another Dawn-approved floral, Very light and fresh (as far as florals go).
Drift Away (YC) - I had to break up all the flowers. This one is very light and airy. One thing, though, is that I had this burning in the hall bathroom, so every time I came down the hall, I would get this combined with the red velvet in our bedroom which was...jarringly weird.

WHAT THIS WEEK LOOKED LIKE|
Warm-from-the-oven brownies are the very definition of satisfying.


Something about a heart being in a puddle.


Real life: My sanitized reusable grocery bags, mocking me from their pile on the dining room floors. I don't wanna. Also, adulthood is overrated.


Sunset and golden light and a road that isn't flat.


My co-workers know me well. Ahem.


This man. Heart explosion. ::sigh::


What a day for a ballgame...


...until it wasn't.


I do not take any of this for granted.


How I feel about all the foods at the Flower and Garden Fest.


Koi.


I wonder how long it took to paint this...


This flower looks like a firework. I kind of love it.


Rogue poppy!


I see you, Donald.


Fiery.


Vibrant.


The floating flower beds are my favorite.


Fuzzy,


Reflected.


"Like a grand and miraculous spaceship..."


Highway in the sky.