W is for the wow factor

Today is the official end of the Ultimate Blog Challenge and the Blogging from A to Z challenge. As you can see, I'm a bit behind, since my letter of the day is "W," not "Z." But that's OK. I definitely intend to finish the alphabet. And then, I plan on going on to another "Spring Unfolding" blogging series since it finally looks as if spring is unfolding. This one is not an official challenge, so I am just calling it a series. 

Food has plenty of wow factor.
Here is chef Sal talking
about pasta with a
delicious mushroom sauce,
Sicilian style.

And there's much to look forward to, including the cherry blossom festival and tales from a few Really Long Walks that I am planning on taking this spring.

For today, I want to talk about the wow factor. Spring is a wow factor. It is when life reasserts itself in dramatic color. It is when the migratory birds come back for their mating season. It is when people come out and start enjoying the outdoors after weeks and weeks of bone-chilling cold and high winds. 

I have tried to spend much of the indoor time this winter productively. I've read interesting books that have taken me on great and unexpected journeys. A great book definitely has the wow factor. Here is a list of books that I read in February, March, and April. Before you comment, yes, I am reading a lot of Kate Atkinson's books. The first time I heard of her was in my book club. We read Life After Life. It is one of the most original and creative books that I've ever read. The main character, Ursula, is born, dies, and is reborn over and over again. With each rebirth, history becomes different. 

The list of books is below. You might find one or more of them to be interesting.

• Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, by Trevor Noah.
• About Grace, by Anthony Doerr
• The Japanese Lover, by Isabel Allende
• Transcription, by Kate Atkinson
• The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara
• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman
• The Sympathizer, by Viet Thanh Nguyen
• A God in Ruins, by Kate Atkinson
• Case Histories, by Kate Atkinson

I've also tried to spend indoor time doing creative stuff, which includes painting pottery and drawing and crocheting. I'm currently crocheting a large afghan, and it is exciting to see how this project has gone from skeins of yarn to large squares to a blanket that is on the verge of being.

Painting pottery has been an enjoyable activity for me. I even got to make some pottery (a small pot and a little planter). I especially enjoy painting light switch covers. When I think about artwork in a room, I usually think of paintings. Until recently, I never thought much about light switch covers.

But a ceramic light switch cover definitely adds color to a room. I am hoping, in the next place in which I live, to design afghans and doilies and light switch covers to create a space that is full of brightness and color.

Soooo.... onward and upward!!! Please stay with me as Spring continues to unfold!!!