Armchair BEA: Introduction
Welcome new visitors and old friends to day one of Armchair BEA, a virtual convention for book bloggers who are unable to attend Book Expo America and the Book Blogger Convention in New York this week. There is a full agenda of events lined up for us for the week. Today’s topic is “Introduce yourself and your blog”.
My name is Leslie and I’ve been blogging at Under My Apple Tree for several years. I work full time as a tax consultant in downtown Chicago and live in the suburbs. A lot of my reading is done on my daily train commute.
The name of my blog has nothing to do with books. I started it as a place to record thoughts and comments and due to a lack of much of either I converted it into a book blog. There really is an apple tree that inspired the name. I planted it in my backyard about 15 years ago. It is now fairly large, makes a nice amount of shade and is a good place to sit on a summer day. Also the name Under My Apple Tree was available on WordPress.
Here’s a photo of me doing a few of my favorite things: drinking coffee and reading. That was Angels and Demons that I was so engrossed in. In additions to thrillers I enjoy contemporary and historical fiction, mysteries, science and speculative fiction and narrative non-fiction. I also like cookbooks, photography books and anything about birding. I’m a fairly eclectic reader and will give most books a chance if the subject interests me.
In addition to reading I also enjoy gardening, cooking, bird watching and photography. I can often be found stalking birds with my camera, photographing wildlife, flowers and nature scenes. I have a weekly feature called Weekend Birding which I post on Saturdays. I showcase photos of a different bird each week.
I also have a garden blog, LadyMin’s Garden which will become more active now that the weather is warming up and I am planting again. Gardening is my therapy and I can spend hours digging, planting and weeding all the while listening to an audio book.
Are you participating in Armchair BEA this week? Let me know so I can stop by and visit.
Under My Apple Tree 
Hi, Leslie. I’m not sure if I’ll participate in Armchair BEA, other than to to leave comments on the posts of others. Your gardening blog is also lovely.
LikeLike
Of course I know you and your blog a bit already, but it’s really nice to see a picture of you. You don’t look anything like what I expected, but now that you ask: I don’t really know what I expected. 🙂
I love your bird photo feature by the way.
Happy armchairBEA!
LikeLike
Now I’m wondering what you expected. I find I have very few pictures of myself since I’m always the one behind the camera.
LikeLike
hello leslie! nice to meet a fellow wordpress-er and book blogger.
i love the imagery that i get when thinking of reading under an apple tree! we have a mango tree in our backyard and i’ve been thinking about putting in a hammock so that i can relax and read out there.
as a fellow photography enthusiast, i love the idea of your weekly photos and will be back to check it out! feel free to stop by for my Armchair BEA introduction if you have time.
LikeLike
Hi Sweetie! What a lovely introduction 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Leslie, I am a big fan of your Saturday photos 🙂
It’s nice to know a little more about you!
LikeLike
Leslie,
I also live in the suburbs of Chicago. I love your bird photos, I’ve only just begun trying to attract them to my backyard but my photos have been a little iffy. I need more practice taking a quick shot! I like the fact that you can garden and listen to audiobooks – I may have to give that a try!
LikeLike
A few years ago I started listening to books while gardening since I was spending so much of my weekend in the yard. Now I listen when cooking, cleaning, walking to work, in the car, anywhere I can. Audio is probably half of the books I ‘read’ now.
LikeLike
I’m glad there really is an apple tree — I don’t know why, but I always assumed there was! I love your pictures, and I’m looking forward to reading more of your reviews!
LikeLike
We have tons in common. I can usually be found early in the morning, stalking birds with my camera as well. 🙂
http://yalitwit.blogspot.com/2011/05/introducing-me-armchair-bea-kick-off.html
LikeLike
So glad you’re participating in Armchair BEA and I hope you have a lot of fun this week!
LikeLike
Leslie – gardening and audiobooks – what a fabulous idea! I had not thought of the two together.
LikeLike
I’ve been reading your blog and enjoying your bird photos for quite a while now, but I didn’t know you lived near Chicago. I always wondered where all those beautiful birds could be found 🙂
LikeLike
I’m amazed at the variety of birds we have here. And a lot of migrants come through Chicago on their way over the Great Lakes. The city even has a program where they encourage the downtown building managers to turn out the lights during migration so the birds can fly safely through.
LikeLike
I covet your backyard! In my apt complex I don’t get access to the yard, so have to press myself up to the windows like my cats — or escape to a park. 🙂
LikeLike
You didn’t say whether or not your apple tree actually produces apples. We planted a couple in our backyard last year and I can’t wait until the day that I can go outside and pick enough to make a pie.
LikeLike
It does make apples but I have to fight the squirrels to get them.
LikeLike
How fun to hear about your apple tree! I look forward to more time hanging out together at Armchair BEA!
LikeLike