Garden and weather log: Nice showers this morning and turned off in the 70s, maybe 80. At 5:19 pm the thermometer says 66. A thunderstorm has just moved through to the south with big black clouds and distant thunder. I would imagine folks are getting rain in Manton.

Of course, I worked, so I haven't been in the garden. The old-fashioned purple lilac bushes have a few flowers open. The crab apple tree in the front is ready to flower. I think I saved the foliage because I got rid of a bunch of tent worms eating the leaves. (I use dish soap on their webs) The cherry trees on the way to TC are in bloom and I see some flowers on our pear trees.

With this heat, the poplar and maple trees have their leaves. I always think what a miracle it is that trees can go from no leaves to leaves overnight. Ready to start the new cycle. With all the trees, it is no wonder one of my favorite colors is green.

Gauging the way the cherry blossoms are out this week, I'm afraid they won't be available if they are to be part of the B and S wedding next year. I know that won't be the end of the wedding world. Just an observation.

Garden and weather log: Monday was cool in the morning and then it warmed up to the 70s by late afternoon. Of course, my garden work time was in the morning and I went to town to visit my mom by afternoon. I cleaned most of the south garden next to the house. The iris are starting to flower. The variegated phlox are really healthy, and the rabbit ravaged rosebush is putting out shoots. I'm excited to see how the allium comes out. Allium is one of my favorite all time spring flowers. By the weekend, I'm sure it will have warmed up and the garden shops will have flats of petunias and marigolds in. I want to get the flowers for my window boxes.

Another sure sign of spring: we saw the first oriole. And of course, the cement block fell through the ice on Joe's Pond in Vermont on May 1. They have the block attached to a cord and a clock to know the exact time. The annual contest is a big deal event that signals the end of winter. For more details of weather trivia:http://www.scenesofvermont.com/joespond.htm

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is a mystery about a young antiquarian bookseller and a mysterious author. When I first started reading the book, I didn't realize that it was a mystery. I thought it was a book about twins. And because it was so bizarre in parts, I almost put it down. At times, it gave me the creeps.

All of the mystery genre elements were present. It definitely had a spooky setting, in England with old dilapidated mansions. The characters were eccentric (to say the least), with love, hate, death, jealousy, and yes, twins. There were many twists and turns as the young bookseller writes the life story of the famous author and tries to find the real truth. There even were a few red-herrings.

What I didn't like is the way it seemed so...contrived: authors writing about authors, clues being within books, I don't know, if you didn't have a heap of literary references in your knowledge base, the clues and ideas would go right past you. I don't like horror stories and this had it's share of horror. Remember, I thought the book was about twins. I guess you'll have to find out for yourself.:)

Garden and weather log: Overcast, in the mid 60s, and windy. I worked in the front garden pulling out grass. It just wasn't that pleasant out for gardening. Clymatis vines are getting leaves and shoots are popping up. Amazing since FB got the plants from California. I'm surprised that they made it through the winter. One iris in the South garden is ready to bloom. The allium flower head is up about 2'. No other flowers yet. Saw a large bald eagle two days in a row. Sat. night we saw the Northern Lights streaking overhead. Hopefully, it will warm up.