My Back Yard

Best British Mysteries IV, edited by Maxim Jakubowki, includes some outstanding stories.

I never heard of John Harvey, author of “home,” but his story riveted me. Beautiful images reminding me of poetry.

Lee Childs’ “The Greatest Trick of All” has an ingenious plot.

Ostriches can be ornery. Especially during breeding season. So my cousin was careful when he opened the gate to his farm land. But no birds attacked him this time. They didn’t even pay attention.

Later, as we drove out, an ostrich raced us part of the way to the gate. I wonder what set it off.

The race triggered memories of the ostrich races at the Date Festival near Palm Springs, Calif. There, the jockeys had trouble keeping their birds heading in the right direction.

We looked on nervously as a family of five elephants padded across the dusty road in front of a sedan, and then encircled it.

“They’re crazy to get that close to the elephants,” said my husband Iggy from the safety of our car, 20 yards back.

I agreed, thinking of how African elephants are said to be larger and meaner than Asian elephants.

The previous day, we’d arrived peacefully in the town of Addo, driving past the Woodall House’s lemon groves into a gated compound of off-white buildings and lush gardens. Just inside the gage, Francois greeted us in a pressed, collared shirt. He escorted us to a reception building next to a small, tiled pool. There, coffee, tea, lemon syrup, sugar cookies, muffins and bread were on offer along with six kinds of suntan lotion and big towels for chaises longues under palm trees.

I wrote the text above during my vacation in South Africa. I kept meaning to write more about the elephant park.

Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea reinforces the idea that one man CAN make a difference.

This best seller and book club favorite tells the story of a mountain climber who founds an organization that builds schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. But the book loses steam after the first school is completed.

I can’t imagine myself doing something like this. I can’t even imagine feeling passionate enough to attempt it. I envy his passion.

A plate of olives should come at the beginning of a meal, not the end. That’s one of the reasons I’d rate Tusca, a tapas restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pa., only average.

Tusca’s kitchen sends out food at apparently random intervals. None of the items the three of us ordered came out at the same time. That might not surprise me if their menu consisted only of tapas. However, only two sections of their menu are referred to as tapas.

Their food was edible, but didn’t excite me. The size of the roll overwhelmed my Kobe beef slider. The lobster and shrimp pasta’s sauce was watery and the lobster was chopped so fine it lacked taste. The grilled vegetable salad skimped on grilled vegetables.

Service was lackluster. The waiter didn’t notice that he slopped coffee into the saucer when he delivered it. I had to chase him for a napkin to sop it up. He was slow to set the table, though admittedly the third person of our party of three arrived late. On the plus side, he did once refill our water glasses without our having to ask.

For the record, my husband liked the food. However, after asking twice about the whereabouts of his olives, he predicted he would leave the restaurant without receiving them. He did enjoy the plate of green and black olives that finally arrived as the last plate of the meal. The slivers of cheese atop the olives were my favorite taste of the day.

Be less critical of others. That seems to be what blogger Tejvan Pettinger means when he says to “live in the heart” to achieve one of “The 6 Components of a Happy Life.”

Pettinger elaborates, “When we are constantly criticising others we can find neither peace nor happiness. However, if we live more in the heart we have a more tolerant, accepting attitude towards others.”

It’s easy for me to pick on Iggy, even though he has many virtues. For reasons that have nothing to do with him, I have a tendency to see the glass as “half-empty.” But I’m going to try to change.

I love my Iggy!

The “Abominal Snow Squirrel” photo shows a squirrel with a mix of white and normal coloring.

I’ve never seen or heard of such a squirrel before today.

Enter Duncraft’s “Fun with Squirrels Photo Contest” to win a Squirrel Playground Fantasy Package.

Please don’t bother entering if you’re aiming for the alternate prize, the “Hit-the-Road-Jack” Blocker Package.

When Iggy makes a suggestion, I sometimes say “No” out of habit.

For example, I resisted when he wanted to move a bench into our entry hall. But I eventually gave in. Yesterday, the interior designer praised the bench because “it distracts the eye from the back of the couch.”

Hmm, maybe I should be more open-minded toward Iggy.

Iggy is getting a shock tonight.

This afternoon I rearranged our living room with the help of an interior design consultant. I had asked her if she could help make the room more inviting.

The main change was to push our two couches closer to the center of the room. Each of us has our own couch for when we watch movies. Apparently the psychology of interior design says lessening the physical distance between us will foster intimacy. She also thinks this will work well when we have guests.

I’ve got to live with this before I decide what I think.