Ugh. Today’s word is: hives

Location: Lost River State Park
Trails: White Oak Trail
Distance: 2.2 miles
Elevation Change: 640 feet

There were several miscalculations made on Saturday: how long it would take to get to Lost River State Park and how much food we’d want to bring.

The end result was that I ended up getting too hungry, my blood sugar dropped, and I felt off for much of the rest of day. It happens, but it’s frustrating, because it was a gorgeous day for hiking.

Lost River State Park would be a great park to take kids: lots of playgrounds and swimming pool. I wish we’d have hiked more, but it was a longer drive than we were interested in for the hiking.

GPS Map of White Oak Trail

Saturday we went to Lost River State Park, which we hadn’t been to before, as it’s in the eastern part of the state.

It was a pleasant day, and in addition to the timber rattlesnake, I saw some lovely flowers.

Yellow Star Grass Hypoxis hirsuta (?)

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia

Venus’ Looking Glass Triodanis perfoliata (?)

Four-leaved Milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia

Rough Bedstraw Galium asprellum (?)

I woke up this morning to an interview with Bob Mould–I love Bob Mould. So today’s word is my favorite Bob Mould song: sunspots

The weather finally turned nice, so I’ve been spending much more time outside, than I have lying on the sofa reading, so only nine books this month.

And I’m okay with that.

YA Fantasy

One re-read here, as a reminder of the world of The Talent Chronicles. All of these books are excellent, and I highly recommend them.

Impulse Control (2011) Susan Bischoff (9/10) The Talent Chronicles
Heroes ‘Til Curfew (2011) Susan Bischoff (9.5/10) The Talent Chronicles
Reborn (2014) CC Hunter (8/10) Shadow Falls: After Dark

Supernatural Fantasy

Ups and downs here–some really good stuff and some stuff I didn’t much like. I have got to read more Kelly Armstrong. And ML Brennan has been quite good.

Iron Night (2014) M.L. Brennan (8.5/10) Generation V
Tales of the Otherworld (2010) Kelley Armstrong (8/10) Otherworld Anthology
Gooseberry Bluff Community College of Magic: The Thirteenth Rib (2013) David J. Schwartz (7/10)
Dead Spots (2012) Melissa F. Olson (7/10)
Trail of Dead (2013) Melissa F. Olson (4/10)

Mystery

Only one mystery, and this in a series that I either love the story or can hardly finish the story. This was a love.

The Indian Bride (2001/2005) Karin Fossum translated by Charlotte Barslund (8/10) Inspector Sejer

Everything I read was an eBook. Which I no longer find surprising, although I still have a few paper books on pre-order (primarily comics/graphic novels which I don’t like reading on an eReader).

Mostly fantasy (specifically supernatural fantasy), but some stories dabbled in multiple genres.

Fantasy: 8
Mystery: 2
Romance: 2
YA: 3
Anthology: 1

I read primarily female authors this month, including on female writing under initials.

Male: 1
Female: 7
Initials: 1

Here’s where I am for the year:
Male: 42%
Female: 34%
Joint + Anthology: 11%
Initials: 11%
Male Pseudonym: 3%

That comes out to 47% female authors and 42% male authors, which is more in line with how I usually read–a relatively close split weighted just a bit towards female authors.

Again, if you’re looking for something new to read, I highly recommend YA. And you can always go over to my book blog and browse the categories for 8, 9, & 10 rated books, to see what I really loved.

There is always something blooming at my house, from spring to fall. It took a bit of work initially, but it’s wonderful once I got everything together.

Here’s what’s blooming around my house right now:

Daylily: Hemerocallis flava Lemon Lily

These came from Michael’s grandmother. They only bloom once, but are one of the first daylilies to bloom; I planted them by the driveway so we’d always catch their blooms and think of Grandma.

Daylily: Hemerocallis ‘Stella De Oro’

This is the first Stella De Oro daylily bloom in my garden this year–there will be many more. Stella De Oros will rebloom, so most likely I’ll have a flower or two through September.

Flowering Broom Cytisus Scoparius Burkwoodii

Peony

Lilac: Syringa vulgaris

The lilac at the bottom of the yard bloomed at the start of May–this one starts blooming after the other is dine.