Bearing leaves, petals green

I spent most of yesterday with my mother, first at a surprise library sale and then buying plants for IOU Mother's Day. It rained on and off. We got a lot of books—I am especially pleased with the hardcovers of Pat Barker's The Eye in the Door (1993) and Julius Lester's The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (1987) and the first edition of William Pène du Bois' The Twenty-One Balloons (1947)—and a decent amount of petunias. She is hoping for pansies and irises when we go back. It was not productive in any paying way and it was really nice.

A belated signal boost! I have donated to the Kickstarter for Laurie Block's Becoming Helen Keller, a PBS-intended documentary focusing on Keller's life as an activist and advocate—disability, women's rights, civil rights, labor—rather than an inspiration. For example, the fact that she starred in a silent biopic of her own life. And did vaudeville. And was a socialist. And died in 1968. Complicated, not just uplifting. There are four days left and they need about $6000. I'd like to see it. [edit] They made their funding goal! Stretch goals?

This week is going to be very busy and I am already tired.