Literature – movingforwardslowly

Holy Moly!

White flowering plant with exposed roots in an enchanted forest — White blossoms rise from twisted roots in a glowing, mushroom-filled forest.

Batman and Robin driving a Batmobile through a city at night — White blossoms rise from twisted roots in a glowing, mushroom-filled forest.

The word moly does not stand alone as a single word except in myth. There is a magical herb in mythology called moly. In The Odyssey moly is a magical herb given to Odysseus by the god Hermes to protect him from Circe’s magic.

Several years ago I read the book Circe written by Madeline Miller, and moly is a magical plant that is also mentioned in this book. This mention carries forward the mystery of moly. Many botanists have tried to determine if there ever existed such an herb like it is described in these books. Nothing can be established conclusively, and it remains a mystery, though several theories do exist.

I remember watching Batman cartoons when I was a kid, and Robin would frequently use the phrase, “Holy Moly, Batman”, to express his surprise or shock about what was happening around them.

Molybdenum Mo, atomic number 42, electron configuration [Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹ — A futuristic infographic explores molybdenum’s atomic structure, electron configuration, and metallic crystal form.

No. 74 Moly Alloy Racing prototype car cornering on a racetrack — A futuristic infographic explores molybdenum’s atomic structure, electron configuration, and metallic crystal form.

In real life there is the chemical element Molybdenum. It is a silvery white transition metal. It has many industrial uses. One use is to create an alloy called “moly steel”, and this is a high strength alloy that is often used to build race cars.

All the images and their captions were created by the WordPress image generator. I did provide prompts, though nothing as specific as what it creates. I find this fascinating, and I often want to exclaim, Holy Moly!

An Important Reminder

Have Faith

I blogged Have Faith on this day August 11, 2024. I needed this reminder this morning. It is so easy to get discouraged when our thoughts turn dark.

I continue to read Caribbean. I finally passed through the section The Buccaneer which was a sad commentary on human nature, and gave a very detailed account of the brutality that mankind will participate in their quest for power and money. I am now in the section titled The Sugar Interest, and it is a much easier read. I still have more than half the book to finish (325 out of 859), though I am making progress slowly. It is important to understand our world and why it works the way that it does even when this knowledge can be discouraging. I will continue to make my way through the book, however, breaks are definitely necessary for me and my family. Reading this book has reminded me of a book by Tim Kreider that I read many years ago. It was titled We Learn Nothing. Humans do seem to repeatedly make the same mistakes.

Lastly, I think it is so important for me and for others to have faith that good things can fight evil things. Have Faith will be my motto for today and other days when the going gets tough.

This picture was taken by me long ago at The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America in Washington D.C’s Brookland neighborhood.

A Look Back and a Look Ahead

Oh Happy Day!

The post you see above with a new baby robin still in its nest is from August 8th 2023, though I believe the picture was taken before that date. Anyways, WordPress shows me throwback editions when I open my home page and there exists posts from the same day on previous years. I can decide it re-blog it or not. The title is so positive and the picture is so cute that I decided to re-post it.

Currently I am still reading Caribbean by James A. Michener. I am about 20% through the book. It is thick, and I do enjoy it, though, I am often distracted by others, so the going is slow. I am learning a lot of history about this part of the world. This book is a library loaner. I have recently purchased two more of his books that are not available through our library system.

I also purchased and received today an interesting book which I hope to share with others. It is a book for anyone, though the target audience is younger readers since it is a graphic novel. Graphic novels are so popular with the middle school students that I know. The book is The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds.

Since a movie has been recently released by the same title and based on the same original story, I was interested in getting my hands on a book that would be easier to read than Homer’s epic poem. I have linked the website for the author/illustrator that takes many classics and adapts the story in a graphic novel for younger students.

Have a Happy Day!

Birding as a Hobby and a Profession

This picture of a Great Blue Heron was taken by me at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia many years ago. Recently in the news was their annual pony swim which was held last week, July 29th.

Last night I finished reading the book The Origin of Ava written by Annie Lampman. One of the main characters in this book was Dr. Avanthe Estmund, PhD, Professor of Ornithology (study of birds.) She loved all birds and many of the birds she mentions live in Ecuador which was a country where some parts of the book took place. She was originally from Idaho and grew up around the North Fork of the Clearwater River on the Nez Perce- Clearwater National Forest. She was particularly close to a Raven named Persephone. I will not tell you more since I think you should read this book. It follows three main characters that overcome overwhelming obstacles in their lives. It clearly demonstrates “the redemptive power of nature, time, and chosen family.” It is a book of fiction.

I chose to use the picture of the Great Blue Heron in this post because I wanted to honor all birds. This bird was not mentioned in the book.

I only have two weeks left before I go back to school. There is time to read another book or two. I looked up all the books written by James A. Michener and chose my next book to read. I have placed it on hold at my local library. I should pick it up early this week. It might take me all of the two weeks to read it with everything else in my life that I will still need to do, though it is much shorter than his first book I read.

This book was published the year I was married. Plus I was born on an island in the Caribbean sea.

James A. Michener is so detailed in his writing that I just might learn about some birds that live in the Caribbean. If not, I am sure I will learn some new things. He mixes lot of facts into his fiction.

Reading Books

This summer has not been a big reading time for me because I have been too busy with projects around our home, and working outside trying to prevent our backyard from becoming a wilderness of weeds, and doing some experimental cooking and mixology, and tending to my family’s needs.

This past Tuesday I checked out my first book of the summer. Its title intrigued me, The Origin Of Ava. I am only on page 17 at this point. I have never been a super avid reader like my brother and sister. I have to be in the mood and have the time and see a book that captures my attention. There are a few writers that I own several of their books, and they range from entertaining non-fiction to purely fiction. I prefer writing that appeals to a nerd’s desire to learn new things or is detailed with specific facts within a fictional story. I often have been challenged when asked what is my favorite book because I don’t think I have just one. For some reason, when I opened the recent library loaner, I thought of the first adult book that really captured my attention and kept my attention for all of the 937 pages. This book was Hawaii written by James A. Michener. I chose this picture from Wikipedia because this is what the book cover looked like. It was a book that must of come into my possesion from my parents collection.

I was surprised today when I looked up the information about this book. It was published just a few months after Hawaii became our 50th state. “August 21, 1959 President Eisenhower signs the formal proclamation admitting Hawaii as the 50th state.” This means that Hawaii was not yet a state when my brother was born there in 1955. I never knew this or really thought about it until today.

You live and you learn! 🙂

Golden Yellow

I missed the first two blooms. This is #3

I continue to work hard in the garden whenever I get the chance. This weekend was productive since I got my husband to help me clear away the ivy from the old stump and cut it partially down. The camellia was also pruned, though it needs a little more work to shape it better. At least now it is no longer overshadowed by ivy.

I also did a little pruning on an old deciduous azalea by cutting away some dead wood. It is still blooming so I was not too aggressive. Some weeding was done. I am constantly surprised by my garden’s resilience. The roses pictured above are true survivors. The Golden Showers rose has been with me for over 20 yrs. I used to have four trellises full of them. They have a complicated history in my garden, and the trellises were removed many years ago. Three fothergillas were planted in their place. They are a slow growing shrub, though now since it has been several years since I planted them they are much taller and fuller. They are much easier to care for than the roses, however, I have two rose climbers left. One section of Golden Showers is still with me, and a Stairway to Heaven rose that has been with me for about 15 yrs. I did not want the work of roses, especially since they are on a side of the house that gets ignored by me, and they constantly have to withstand my husbands desire to put tools and equipment in their area. They are true survivors.

I posted the picture of the sunflower from several summers ago since I love its golden color, and the birds and bees love it. I will have to plant more this summer.

Speaking of ‘golden’ reminded me to make a book recommendation to any readers out there that might read my posts. Right at the beginning of my spring vacation, which is always the week before Easter, I read the book Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. It was just what I needed to get me ready to tackle my garden and pond during my break. It uplifted me and made me realize that there are many kindred spirits in this world of ours. I would definitely recommend this book. It focused on the important things in life, and was a study in human personality and connection.

Have a great week and stop to enjoy the beauty of our natural world!

Waxwings that Work

The Cedar Waxwings are a bird that secrete a reddish orange waxy substance, though not all of them have it in these pictures. I read that it has something to do with attracting mates. These pictures are from January 2009. I am posting them because this was the first time I witnessed them in my garden, and today they were in my garden again. Today they were mostly interested in my fountain bowl that was full of fresh water from the recent rains. In these pictures it was the middle of winter, and the fountain bowl was pretty sad looking, though I did keep a heater in it so that the water would not freeze.

I was happy to see them again today.

I titled today's post Waxwings that Work mainly because the thought of the myth of Daedalus and Icarus came into my mind. I read a student version of this myth this school year, and in this myth the wings of wax melt when Icarus ignored his father's advice and flew too close to the sun. Sadly, Icarus's mistake was fatal. There is much more to the myth than what I shared here (you can look it up.)

These pictures are not the best. The birds caught me off guard, and they move very quickly. They seem to be always on the move from branch to branch. Here they are enjoying privet berries. Today the berries are gone, and I did not see them do anything other than enjoy all the fresh water in the fountain.

I will post a co-pilot answer about how they got their name.

Snow Day 3!

This is how I am feeling today — worn out from baking cookies.

My husband shoveled our driveway yesterday. He said it is like blocks of cement out there. The temperatures outside have been varying between the mid single digit range with wind chill at zero or below, and when it warms up it reaches the low to mid 20’s. I have stayed inside cooking and baking. At least we have been well-fed.

I received a Spring 2026 catalog from Vermont Bean Seed company recently. I shopped for seeds and indoor grow lights yesterday. My intention is to give vegetable growing another try. I have been reading up on planting asparagus from crowns. I first read about growing asparagus last year in a Martha Stewart article. I learned that asparagus is a perennial vegetable, and this interested me since I have experience growing many perennial flowers. Yesterday, I ordered some asparagus crowns, a Sweet Purple variety. I hope to do the preparation work early spring. “Hope springs eternal…” (This is a partial quote from Alexander Pope 1733.)

Thinking about spring helps to weather the winter pauses. I hear there is the possibility of another winter weather system coming this weekend.

Stay warm and don’t hurt yourself shoveling!

Happy Thanksgiving !

Miss Piggy and her friends give thanks for all their blessings. They will pray at the dinner table. (This is an IA generated image.)

My family and I are having a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I cooked a turkey breast and all the traditional fixings about two weeks ago. I did not want to repeat it so soon. Today we are having Beef Bourguignon with Sopa Paraguaya (which is a hearty cornbread), and a few other dishes. The other day when I was shopping for a red wine to use for cooking the beef I was surprised to run across a cabernet with the name “Katherine”. I stopped with a strange feeling of serendipity. I was currently reading Dan Brown’s latest book, The Secret of Secrets. One of the main characters in this book is named Katherine. Also, the picture featured on the front of the wine bottle reminded me of a black cutout profile picture of me when I was very young that had been artistically framed. My black profile picture has a ponytail much like the one on the wine bottle. The resemblance ends there, though my name is Katherine also. I bought the wine on a whim. I bought another bottle of a different wine to use in my cooking.

This is the picture from the bottle I purchased.

You might be asking why I used a picture of Miss Piggy at the top of this post. I thought it was funny since “piggy” , possibly a relative of Miss Piggy, has been in the news recently. Of course, I was instantly reminded of Miss Piggy whom my daughter grew up with and whom we all love. She had a Miss Piggy doll that was so loved and played with so frequently that eventually I had to throw it out. I was able to find one book, which we still miraculously possess, featuring Miss Piggy.

Here is the book we own. The dirt in the bottom right must be from a pulled off price sticker.

Another interesting side note about Miss Piggy is that she has been featured several times at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I read that in 2016 she saved Tony Bennett from falling off the float they were standing on.

I hope anyone that might happen to read this has a fun and happy day.
I am thankful for many things. Too many things to elaborate here.

Washington D.C. in 1950

https://www.katequinnauthor.com/books/the-briar-club/

This novel begins in Washington D.C. in 1950. I picked it up about a week ago at my local library. After a few days, I realized it had to be returned earlier than I expected since it was in high demand. I started reading it on Friday and got hooked immediately. I had to force myself to set it down this weekend when my family needed attention. I was able to finish it before bedtime on Sunday evening. Before I finished my first Kate Quinn book I ordered her book, The Rose Code. I bought it because I did not want to be rushed reading it.

I loved reading The Briar Club novel. After I finished reading it, I read a few reviews of this book, and heard some complain that it was too slow-paced with deep dives into characters. The in-depth attention to portraying all the characters is one of the things I really liked about this book. I, like Grace, enjoy watching people, and studying their behavior and trying to understand their motives. The book has several surprises which I did not expect. I am normally very good at predicting what is going to happen in movies and books before they happen.

The setting is a boarding house in Washington D.C. during the 1950's. If you are a student of history, you will know this was when Senator Joe McCarthy was terrorizing everyone with his investigations into complaints about Communist sympathies. I guess bullies will always exist, and flourish when people are too afraid to stop them.

I would highly recommend this book.

It is Veteran's Day today. I would like to thank all those men and women who have served our country in the military, and in some case had to put their lives on the line.