Coming down

Tore down 2 of the four valences and...the downstairs looks younger than ever. The fabric is absolutely beautiful, but the half-drapes and the fact that they are upholstered means there's no saving them. They are dusty and dingy and I'm not living in a Faulkner novel.

They are also fantastic spider habitats. Not something I ever wanted to know, but there you are. Sean was absolutely horrified by the fact that spiders were taking shelter in these things, but it made sense to me. And it certainly explained all the cobwebs.

The problem is now, we shall have to paint to cover up the old valence marks. While the sellers could have taken them down to paint an restored them...they didn't.

Oh well two more to get rid of today and then they and the half-drapes (don't get me started) are history.

Meme Stealing

Stolen from Katy.

What have you just finished reading?

Finished reading Anne's House of Dreams. After about three chapters of Anna Karenina, I need a break or a train to throw myself under. Most LM Montgomery books run together in my mind. Anne of Green Gables and Anne's House of Dreams stand out as distinct stories with individual characters.

What are you reading?

End of Wasp Season. I liked the Author's previous book about a detective in Glasgow investigating a botched kidnapping of a local shop keeper. The characters were very warm, personable, even when they should have been alienating. End of Wasp Season is less endearing somehow as it explores boarding school children who decide to engage in a fairly hideous crime. Like modern mysteries it's not a "who-dunnit" but rather a "why-dunnit". Last time around I cared more, this time I'm just waiting for the detective to arrest the sick little jerks.

Also reading Anne of Rainbow Valley but not sure I'll finish it. I should grind to the end of this series seeing as I got it for free for the Kindle, but in reading it now I hear the echoes of LM's own unhappy life underneath all of the happy endings she writes for characters. It's discordant to say the least.

What will you read next?

Anna deserves my attention. I love Tolstoy's gift with phrases but having been unhappy with the company for so long and having a bit of my own back with contracting part-time, I just can't seem to face it.

Probably I'll pick up something in the sci-fi variation if I can after that. Although, I'm open to recommendations.