8:30 p.m. PICTURES

This month I tried to take as many pictures of the sky at 8:30 p.m. as I could.  I wanted to see how the sky changed as the sun set later and later. On May 1st the sun set at 7:55 p.m. and today the 31st it set at 8:22 p.m.  So let's see some of these sunsets from the month of May.

May 2nd -- 8:22 p.m.

May 7th -- 8:19 p.m.

May 10th -- 8:28 p.m.

May 10th -- 8:28 p.m.

May 10th -- 8:29 p.m.

May 10th -- 8:30 p.m.

May 11th -- 8:10

May 11th -- 8:10  Notice the storm clouds.  I love to take pictures of clouds.

May 11th -- 8:11 p.m.

May 12th -- 8:18 p.m.

May 12th -- 8:18 p.m.

May 13th -- 8:29 p.m.  More storm clouds.

May 17th -- 8:30 p.m.

May 17th -- 8:30 p.m.

May 26th -- 8:29 p.m.

May 26th -- 8:29 p.m.

May 27th -- 8:03 p.m.

May 27th -- 8:03 p.m.

May 27th -- 8:04 p.m.

May 27th  -- 8:04 p.m.

May 27th -- 8:19 p.m.

May 28th -- 8:23 p.m.

May 28th -- 8:23 p.m.

May 30th -- 8:42 p.m.

May 30th -- 8:42 p.m.

May 30th -- 8:42 p.m.

May 31st -- 8:29.  The last day of the month I am looking for a beautiful sunset and it ends up cloudy.  Oh well, we need the rain.

Kathy

MAY'S READING LIST

I didn't get very many books read this month.  In fact the month was taken up by reading just one book.


THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE by Alan Bradley (2009)

Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce is an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison.  It is the summer of 1950, and a series of inexplicable events has struck Buckshaw, the decaying English mansion that Flavia's family calls home.  A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak.  Hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath.  For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw.

One of my blog friends recommended this book on her blog.  I would like to thank her, but I can't remember who it was!  So if it was you, thanks!  This book was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I needed some stretching.  When I read the first chapter I thought, "Nope.  Not for me."  But the review I read was so good I went on to see what was so good about the book.  As I read it got better and better.  I usually can figure out who the culprit is before the end of the book, but this time I couldn't.  Surprise after surprise was revealed in each chapter.  I would definitely give this a thumbs up and recommend it to all mystery lovers.

WHY? (The War  Years):   A 26 Fairmount Avenue Book by Tomie  DePaola (2007)
While World War 2 rages across the ocean in Europe, young Tomie finds life changing in many ways.  His family still celebrates New Year's Eve, and he still helps Tom and Nana in their  grocery store,  but  he has to wear an extra sweater in class because the school is conserving heat, and blackout curtains cover the windows at home.

And even as Tomie struggles with arithmetic and penmanship, the war seems more real when Cousin Blackie visits on his way overseas to fly missions as a bomber gunner.

Then tragedy brings the war home to the dePaola family,  and all Tomie can do is ask, "Why?"

Recalling the most trying times at the Newberry Honor-winning address of 26 Fairmount Avenue, Tomie de Paola infuses his memories with his customary sensitivity and humor.  In his warm storytelling voice, Why? offers great  comfort  to  young readers struggling with similar issues about the world today.

This is the next to last book in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series.  Tomie de Paola does it again with his recollections of his life as a child during the war years.  Joe and I are looking forward to reading the last book of this series, but not looking forward to having the series end.

IRISES

Irises are one of my favorite flowers.  I'm only sorry they don't last longer.  So I enjoy them while they are here.  I love the different colors and sizes.  I took some pictures of mine and some of the ones at my sister's house on Saturday.  Hope you enjoy!

It has been so hot -- up in the 80s and 90s.  My hanging baskets are drying up even though I watered them.  This afternoon we had a thunderstorm while I was driving home from work.  The rain came down fast and furious.  I was stuck in the car after I parked it until the rain let up some.  I am hoping the storm at least helped some.  We'll see.

Kathy

MEMORIAL DAY

I had a great day on Monday.  It began by going to our annual parade.  The neighborhood parade is the largest one in Philadelphia and goes right by the front of my house.  Well, one block over.  But I can stand on my front step and watch it through the parking lot.  I didn't however.  I took some folding chairs and Joe and I walked across the street to sit with everyone else watching the parade.

Now be prepared for picture overload.  I always do this on Memorial Day.  But it's always so much fun to show you the parade.  I missed the very beginning, but came in when the antique cars were going past.

Some of them were cars I rode around in when I was in high school.  And they're antiques?  I feel so old.

Our friend Pat came over to watch the parade with us.  That was fun.

See Joe's Marine Corps shirt and hat?  So many people came over to shake his hand and thank him for serving.  They saluted him.  And one VFW post gave him a ribbon to wear that said "American Hero."  It brought tears to my eyes to see how much everyone thought of him.

There was the ROTC.

The Grand Marshall.
 

The Viet Nam veterans.
 

They own the building across the street from my house.
 

Of course the Boy Scouts were there.
 

 I love this truck.  It's in the parade every year.

This gentleman is a World War II veteran.  The greatest generation!
 

Of course being Philadelphia you know there had to be string bands.  Here's the Aqua String Band.  Their home base is just a few blocks from my house.

The American Legion had Betsey Ross.

They let off a cannon full of confeti.

 The Police and Fire Pipes and Drums was there.

There were the Girl Scouts.

And the Second Street Shooters New Year's Brigade.

The Navy.

Here's the Polish American String Band.  There were so many Mummers in the parade that I felt as if I were at the New Year's Day parade except without the snow and ice.  And freezing temperatures.  Oh brrr...  That's why I never go to that parade.

There were flag twirlers.

And the Irish Thunder Pipes and Drums.

This is the Hog Island New Year Association.

Of course there were the usual politicians and dignitaries marching.  And lots of VFW and AFW posts.  And yet another string band.  This time it was Trilby.

There was an Irish dance troup with the cutest little girls ever.  I tried to get a video of them but when I looked at it, it was all over the place and I had to delete it.  But this is still a good picture.

The Civil War reinactors were back this year.

The end was the Outboard Motor Club.  This was my favorite of the yachts.

This is just a taste of the parade.  I took well over 100 pictures and videos.  Aren't you glad I didn't show you all of them?

In the evening we had Walt and Carole over for dinner.  It was very low-key.  I had hot dogs, potato salad (yes, I made more), deviled eggs, and some raw veggies and dip which my sister gave to me on Saturday.  Walt and Carole brought a slice of watermelon which was so sweet and good.  I made iced tea and lemonade.  We did NOT go hungry.

It was a wonderful day and I enjoyed myself so much.  Now it's back to real life.

Kathy