Bones of Faerie

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (January 27, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0375845631

From Publishers Weekly
It has been 20 years since the war between faeries and humans destroyed everything. Liza, a teenager living in what was once the Midwest, has always been taught that magic kills. When Lizas mother gives birth to a faerie baby with hair clear as glass, her father abandons the infant on a hillside to die; Lizas mother then runs away, and Liza begins to have magical visions of her own. Petrified that her powers might cause death, Liza flees into the woods with her friend Matthew, only to be attacked by deadly trees and rescued by a woman with magic. The plot quickens as Liza realizes that the woman is connected to her mothers past, knowledge that propels Liza into a dangerous journey into the land of Faerie, in search of her mother. Debut novelist Simners style is poetic (A land of steel and glass, of towers and sharp angles. A sky the color of dried blood), but she only vaguely describes Lizas world. Its hard to understand how, for example, a faerie differs from humans with magical powers, or what triggered the cataclysmic faerie war. Despite the murkiness, the plotting is strong, and readers will want to stay with Liza until her questions are resolved.

Well, it seems the last few books I've read were at the behest of other bloggers... in other words..  there's someone to blame!

In this case it was two reviews that had me get this book.. Becky (Becky is just rolling right a long with blame.. she will have another point in no time at all!)  and Fuzzy Cricket.

Ok, well I read this one kinda fast!  That must be because it wasn't all the big of a book and it very much held my interest!  I mean who could not jump right into a book that begins: I had a sister once. She was a beautiful baby, eyes silver as moonlight off the river at night. From the hour of her birth she was long-limbed and graceful, faerie-pale hair clear as glass from Before, so pale you could almost see through to the soft skin beneath.

This was certainly a most interesting view of looking at magic and faerie kind.  For instance, who would think humans and faerie would go to war? 

And who would think that humans would kill their own children if they thought they were magical ?

I recommend that you take Liza's journey, and meet the interesting people who surround her.

Yes, it was a captivating book! 

40 Years Ago.. it seems like yesterday

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Celebrates Man's First Steps on the Moon

(I took this photo of the moon on July 7th at 5:30 am)

Kennedy Space Center:
Just 40 years ago, the Earth stood still to watch as the crew of Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 20, 1969. Four days earlier, the intrepid crew of three men, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, launched aboard the massive Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center, carrying the hopes and dreams of mankind with them.

Apollo 40th Anniversary
Join Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on July 16, 2009, in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of mankind’s famous first steps on the moon.

Astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11;

Charlie Duke, Apollo 16;

Al Worden, Apollo 15;

Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14;

and Walt Cunningham, Apollo 7,

will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and mark the opening of a new exhibit at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the Apollo Treasures Gallery.

And there's a chance that I will be there!!!!......

 

Every time I speak of the men who raced to the moon I choke up.  I've said it time after time.. they are my hero's.

With each blast off ... I'd cry because they made it up safe!

With each splash down... I'd cry because they made it home!

To this day, over 40 yrs later ,they can still make me cry, they are still my hero's, and there will never by anyone quite like the Astronauts from Gemini, Apollo, and Mercury missions again.

I learned of this Anniversary celebration going on at the Space Center and wanted to go so bad .. I can't begin to tell you.  I mean, I lived in Florida for 13 yrs once before and I was watching the sky when they blasted off and I saw the vapor trail of those who died in Challenger.

 

Oh  yeah.. even today they still make me cry.

I cannot forget the extreme danger they were always in.

(that's not to say todays astronauts are not in danger, they are.. but we do know a lot more now than we did back then.  Back then everything was a first.)

I cannot forget those we lost.

I cannot forget every blast off and every splashdown.

And I cannot forget that we never went back to the moon!..

But now they are planning on going back...many more years later than I  had expected of them.  It will still be about 10 yrs before we land on the moon once again.  I hope I am alive to see it, and to see if the newer generation embraces  it as I did. 

They should.

After all... it's our future.

 

The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

 

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 25, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0061122416

Amazon.com Review
Like the one-time bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo introduces Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to literally follow his dream.
Along the way he meets many spiritual messengers, who come in unassuming forms such as a camel driver and a well-read Englishman. In one of the Englishman's books, Santiago first learns about the alchemists--men who believed that if a metal were heated for many years, it would free itself of all its individual properties, and what was left would be the "Soul of the World." Of course he does eventually meet an alchemist, and the ensuing student-teacher relationship clarifies much of the boy's misguided agenda, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."

I will admit that it must have been personal reviews that made me send for this book, for if I had read "spiritual messengers" I may not have gotten the book.

This is a short but powerful book letting you know that life should be lived everyday and you shouldn't put off following your dreams.

The first  half of the book I was enjoying very much.  There is much to be said about life and fulfilling your dreams,  but the more it went along the more it bordered religion. 

As many who read my blog know.. I am of the belief that religion is a very private affair and I really don't care for it put in contemporary books.  It's unusual for me to have purchased this book.

However because of the fact that it does repeatedly indicate that following your dreams is a good thing.. it's worth the read alone.  It is written very well in the guise of a storyteller, which was quite enjoyable.

Charmed, I'm Sure...

I won a book from Libra Touches and it came in the mail today!

Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones.  I've wanted to read this series..but.. but.. around here all I can find are used (that's ok) but only mass paperback which is too small for me.  I was a bit frightened when I won this book that it would be a mass paperback but it isn't!  It's larger and double spaced and I'll have no trouble reading it!

Thank you again for having the giveaway Shanra!

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Collins (December 3, 2001)
ISBN-10: 0007124074

My First Terry Pratchett

The Bromeliad Trilogy by Terry Pratchett.

Hardcover: 512 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (September 30, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0060094931

Product Description

In a world whose seasons are defined by Christmas sales and Spring Fashions, hundreds of tiny nomes live in the corners and crannies of a human-run department store. They have made their homes beneath the floorboards for generations and no longer remember -- or even believe in -- life beyond the Store walls.

Until the day a small band of nomes arrives at the Store from the Outside. Led by a young nome named Masklin, the Outsiders carry a mysterious black box (called the Thing), and they deliver devastating news: In twenty-one days, the Store will be destroyed.

Now all the nomes must learn to work together, and they must learn to think -- and to think BIG.

Part satire, part parable, and part adventure story par excellence, master storyteller Terry Pratchett’s engaging trilogy traces the nomes’ flight and search for safety, a search that leads them to discover their own astonishing origins and takes them beyond their wildest dreams.

First off, this book was given to me by my "sis" in England! (Thank you again Cath!)  And it's my introduction to Terry Pratchett!

The book held all three books:  Truckers, Diggers and Wings.

I can honestly say I've never read one book let alone three where all the main characters were Nomes! And not only were they Nomes but they sounded quite like "hillbilly" Nomes!

The book was filled with very clever wording and even more clever were how the Nomes deciphered words that they never heard of before.  It was also filled with Nome sayings such as:  "It's a small step for a man, but a giant leap for Nomekind". (sound vaguely familiar?)

A clever piece of writing went like this: (from the book of Diggers)

The Nomes had not got the railway fully worked out yet.  But it was obviously dangerous, because they could see a lane that crossed it, and whenever the railway moving thing was coming, two gates came down over the road.

The Nomes knew what gates were for.  You saw them on fields, to stop things getting out.  It stood to reason, therefore that the gates were to stop the railway from escaping from its rails and rushing around on the roads.

And still another bit from the books..

Nomes live 10 times faster than humans.  They're harder to see than a high-speed mouse.

That's one reason why most humans hardly ever see them.  The other is that humans are very good at not seeing things they know aren't there.  And since sensible humans  know that there are no such things as people four inches high, a nome who doesn't want to be seen probably won't be seen!

I really enjoyed these books!  They were easy reading, and made me smile alot, especially the nomes interpretations of things. 

It was a journey for the nomes.  A journey to get home.. when they  really didn't know that they weren't home already.  It's not easy moving forward when you don't know that there is anyplace to go.

Terry Pratchett is certainly a very clever writer... and somewhere along my travels I will probably read more Terry Pratchett!

(thanks again Cath!!!)

ps never let a nome drive you anywhere!

Boo Desperate to Play

Boo just doesn't know what to do with himself without other cats to play with.   So I tied some yarn on the end of some string...

.. it wasn't easy with a camera in one hand and the string in the other!

What I couldn't capture because of juggling the camera is Boo's very high jumps!

Once he gets it he  pretends he wants it then looks at you to start moving it around again. 

This "cute cat" woke me up at 3 am today.  I quickly noted my clock was blinking (power had gone off and on)..hmmm, I sat up and found my back and head were sweating like crazy... now I wonder how long the electric was off since I have air on (81 degrees but still it cools some) and a small fan on me.. I shouldn't have been sweating.  I'm betting the bathroom nightlight I keep on woke Boo by going "on again" when the power came on.    He comes purring into my face and walking on my chest.. it's cute.. but NOT at 3 am!! 

A Closer Look at the Anhinga

I decided to get up close and more personal with the  Anhinga the other day. 

I had noticed from my window that she/he (I can't really tell without the zoom lens on)  was sunning herself so me and my camera took  little stroll.

From her sunning position, I came up on her from behind.

She sensed my appearance and quickly drew her wings in for a fast getaway. You can see it's a "she" by the brown neck.  (and yes for those who remember I did the sexes wrong before, I fixed it in comments but probably few noticed... it's the female that has a brown neck, the male is all black)

Take a look at those big webbed feet for all the swimming underwater she does.

When she saw that I wasn't making any moves to indicate danger to her... she decided to pose for me... with a bit of an attitude, like "oh if you must.... hurry and take your picture"!  (I felt a bit snubbed!)

I took the opportunity to take one more closer shot..  she kept her eye on me at all times.

Before I put my camera away the very small Heron (calling it that because of the head tuft but I am pretty sure according to the bird book that it's a tricolor heron) made an appearance and hung around long enough for me to take a few shots.

... and then I got a nice "reflection" of the Egret..

Well....that's it for this episode of Around the Pond.

Monday Mail ...

Since I was going to do something to cheer myself up I thought I could at least (and because I have to) keep it cheap!

So I pulled up Book Closeouts... they are having a sale to beat all sales!

The first two books about astronauts Too Far From Home and Two Sides of the Moon were at Closeouts for 2.99 each!  And at amazon I found a used copy of To the Stars for only 3.50.  Not to bad huh?

 

I dug out the Hess Truck that had the Shuttle on it and used it for this photo...

I decided to "star" George and give him his own photo, and took the "Hess" off of the shuttle.  I think he'd approve.

I hadn't intended on getting George's autobiography but a friend who called me was raving about the book.  It seems she read any that came out on any of the original Trek crew and said this one was by far the best.  Sooooo, when I found a hardback used copy for only 3.50 I figured I'd give it a go. (Heck a brand new paperback of this book is selling for 25.00!! )

Of course these get added to the tbr pile for a time when I am ready for a dose of "reality".  And since I like to read about the original astronauts and enjoy a good autobiography they won't be forgotten.

Bird

Bird by Rita Murphy

 

Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (October 14, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0385730187

Product Description
A GIRL EASILY carried off by the wind.
An elderly widow whose husband died under strange circumstances.
An isolated dwelling that breeds fear.
Miranda has no recollection of where she came from—only that years ago, a gust of wind deposited her outside Bourne Manor. The Manor’s sole inhabitant, Wysteria Barrows, took Miranda in and promptly outfitted her with special boots—boots weighted with steel bars to keep her anchored to the ground. But aside from shelter and clothing, Miranda receives little warmth from the aging widow. The Manor, too, is a cold place, full of drafts and locked doors. Full of menace. Full of secrets.
Then one day a boy named Farley appears. Farley helps Miranda embrace her destiny with the wind . . . and uncover the Manor’s hidden past.

To Begin with Persephone gets the blame for this book!

The second blame would go to the artist that painted that fantastic cover!  I mean really... isn't that the greatest cover?!  This gorgeous piece of work was done by Fernando Juarez. More samples of this artist at the end.

Bird is a small book and only 160 pages long. I did manage to read it in two sittings.   Some at night and then I finished it the next day.

What an engrossing book. Mystery does evolve all around the entire book and the questions in my mind kept me reading it.  In the end most things were answered.. but to some extent not all were answered to their fullest potential. But it was a very interesting read.  I don't know what I expected exactly but this wasn't it ...but that doesn't make it bad.

I would like to hear a review of this by someone who can "read between the lines"  and really interpret it, for there is surely deeper meaning than I was getting from it.. but then no one said I was a bright bulb lol.

So.. yes, I think this book would be enjoyed by many, but remember it is a very small book.

Before I go I looked up the cover artist and found some other things he has done.  He is known for his artwork for children's books.. I just think he's terrific!

 

Booking Thru Thursday (on Saturday)

I generally don't do weekly memes but since it is a question I can answer yes to.. I thought I'd go ahead and do it.. even if it is posted way late!

Booking Through Thursday...Celebrities?
Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have you read or do you want to read? Which nonexistent celebrity memoirs would you like to see?

I've always enjoyed a Biography or Autobiography now and then and even get on a kick of them occasionally.

I like when they aren't just a list of their movies or "tell all" who had sex with who.. I don't really care about that.  But I do like when they really talk to you like you were sitting across from them listening to their story.

Below, are two of my all time favorites.  One an Autobiography the other a Biography.

I had heard stories of John Huston but still he fascinated me.  He had this voice you knew at an instant and did as well acting as he did directing!  There were two major books out on him but this one is the one HE wrote.

And Stan and Ollie ..well this one I just loved to death.  It told about each of them before they got paired up, how they met, and what making movies was like back then. Very very interesting and well told.

Other celebrities I am very interested in are our "original" Astronauts.  The ones that were our first in space and the ones leading up to and actually walking on the moon.  I am proud to say I met two of them personally, Alan Bean and Dick Gordon.  Bean walked on the moon, while Gordon kept the capsule ship safe going around the moon until they docked once again.

Of the books shown here (there are a few more but I got tired of digging them out) my all time favorite is Moon Shot, which was also made into a movie.

As far as one I'd like to read that isn't written... I'd like to read Sean Connery's autobiography.  Oh, there are books out on him, but I'd like to read one HE wrote.

What about you? Any celebrity memoir that you're interested in?

The Dragon Trelian

The Dragon Trelian by Michelle Knudsen.

 

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (April 14, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0763634557

Product Description
Calen, a lonely young mage-to-be, never dreamed that Princess Meglynne would become his friend. And impulsive Meg never imagined that secretly tending a baby dragon would cause her to be "linked" to the winged beast — for life. Being attuned to a dragon’s thoughts and feelings is exciting but scary, especially when their destinies are tied (for better or worse). And now Meg’s sister is about to marry a prince to end a war between kingdoms, a celebration that only Meg and Calen know is endangered by a murderous plot. How can a girl, a boy, and a dragon merge their magic and strength to bring down a powerful traitor before it’s too late? From the author of Library Lion comes a classic middle-grade fantasy soaring with sorcery and suspense, spunk and adventure, friendship and first romance, and a cast of truly enchanting characters.

Well.. first off is the blame game recipient.. which would be Becky!  Now that I blamed her I will officially thank her!  Thank you Becky!!!  When you are done here you can read Becky's wonderful review of the book here.

This has been the most enjoyable read I've had in a while.  Don't get me wrong I've enjoyed the other books I've read.  But something about this book just made it seem right.  And I don't even know what I mean by that!

The book has a castle in it.  It has princesses in it.  It has a Mage in it and a mage's apprentice.  It has a dragon in it.  And it has an evil villain.  Nothing new there right?  You'd think this would be a ho-hum read right?

Then tell me why I couldn't put the book down????  oh yeah, I enjoyed this book... a lot.   And I would recommend it to anyone who wants a light and easy read with really good characters, some kid stuff, some danger, some romance. 

I can't say enough about this book.  It very much can be a stand alone book but the door was left open for other books should the author decide to do more with these characters... and I do hope she does!

 

When I was taking pictures of the book BooBoo decided to become a Dragon Slayer!

 

Books That Stand the Test of Time..

A few days back Susan, over at You Can Never Have Too Many Books  asked,not long ago:

So what books have you read over the past decade that stay with you? What are your favorites? If you've always kept a books-read list, is there a theme to what you end up liking the most, as in I usually pick fantasy or mystery as my top books of the year? There are so many books I could list that I thoroughly enjoyed in the past decade, and these are the ones that have had an affect on me. They are ones that come back to me, at odd moments of the day and the years, that I turn over in my mind and ruminate on.

I've only kept a list of books since 2007.. but I can tell you of some of my favorites since then....

 

2007 up to June 2009

Here There Be Dragons ( series.).. James A Owen 

Loving Dragons I was inclined to give this book a chance.  It wasn't really about dragons.. but dragon ships.. and a very interesting concept that there is a place where children's stories and fairytales are real!  I've read 3 books in this series, loved them all and am awaiting the next book to be released.

spanning a few years.. the Harry Potter series...J.K Rowlings. 

What can I say? This was such a great series of books.  The movies came along and made the books even better.  They totally put me into another time, another world, and like the young folks she wrote for, I could not wait for each book to come out... and I look forward to the adventure all over again when I reread them.  Can you believe that they are already celebrating the 10th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone?!!!

Gil's  All Fright Diner.. A Lee Martinez 

Anything with Vampires or Werewolves can safely be classified as "out of my comfort zone".  I  just do not enjoy reading about them, no matter what.  A Lee Martinez managed to bridge that gap and make me enjoy a book with a Vampire and a Werewolf that become reluctant heroes.  When a book can make me like it even though my mindset is to NOT to like it.. well.. that's a darn good book!  This also is on my reread list!

The Hound of the Baskerville's... Arthur Conan Doyle

Yet another book that, more or less would be considered a classic of sorts.  As a young girl (was I ever young???) I watched many old black and white Sherlock Holmes movies and by far my favorite was always, The Hound of the Baskerville's. But until last year I never read a book by Doyle.  It was a total enjoyment and another book that went on the reread list to be enjoyed over and over.

Touchstone:    Laurie R King. 

A mystery that takes place in England.  Once again.. mysteries were not my thing.  Laurie R King has changed that for me.  She made mysteries that I enjoyed.  Then she shifted from Mary Russell (married to Sherlock Holmes) to some new characters and a new "detective" ..and STILL she made me read and enjoy this genre . 

Water For Elephants :  Sara Gruen 

This was one of those "surprise" books.  This was about an older man in a place that takes care of the elderly, when not far from the place, a Circus is setting up.  What occurs is that you hear the old mans memories from when he was young.. and now and then it is brought back to the present and you hear snips of how the elderly are cared for... much of it is true.  It hit a nerve.  It hit home. 

Godmother :   Carolyn Turgeon

.. this one hit home with feelings of an older woman...  I don't care for retellings of fairy tales but this one was that rare exception.  It's a newer book, but I am betting it just grows as time goes by.

The Old Curiosity Shop:   Charles Dickens. 

This was the first Dickens I ever read.  I've seen movies but never read his actual writings before.  I have David Copperfield and A Christmas Carol still in my TBR pile.

Anyone who reads my blog regularly knows how I feel about Pern and Ann McCaffrey. 

If I were to write all the titles this would become a very long post!   I love this author.  I love these books.  Ann McCaffrey made a time and place where I would go, in a heartbeat, if I could.  'Nuff said huh? 

Inkheart: the series... Conrnelia Funke 

This Trilogy is basically about a man who, when he reads books, characters from the book come out of the book and someone or something goes into the book.  I loved this series and although they are new I already read the first two books over just before the third book came out.  A movie was made of book one, Inkheart.  It could have been better, but I still enjoyed it.

The Thirteenth Tale..  Diane Setterfield . 

This book was brought to my attention by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings as a Gothic type mystery.  What a fabulous read this was!  I have already read it a second time and plan to reread it again this year.  It is "the" book that has made me try other "gothic type" books.

Stan & Ollie... Simon Louvish  

This was a biography about Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.  I always enjoyed their movies when I was younger and thought I'd give this book a try.   It has to be one of the books that I would say is the "best read" that I've had.  It gave a lot of background to how they met and to the early beginnings of movies.  How things were in England when Stan was an actor, and what America was like when they were first paired to become one of the most beloved comedy teams of their time.

The Amulet of Samarkland/ The Golems Eye/ Ptolemy's Gate... Jonathan Stroud 

I read this trilogy last year and I can't get it out of my head.  They are a YA series but I totally enjoyed these books.  Very original.  Comical.  And a good story line throughout.   They are on my "re-read" radar as I write this!

Thanks to Carl's challenges (and my own personal taste) I do read mostly Fantasy.  However... Carl puts out another challenge that I try to join in on around Halloween, called RIP challenge.  Thanks to this challenge I now also look for Gothic type mysteries. (This is where I found The Thirteenth Tale, a suggestion of Carl's and I am profoundly grateful as I have read the book twice already and most likely will read it again for this years RIP challenge.

Why reread a mystery when you know the outcome? For the same reason you reread any book ... to enjoy it again as you did before... and.. to pick up on small things you may have missed before... and.. depending on  your mood, you get different things out of the same book!

I also like a Biography or Autobiography now and then, something of which has always been a norm for me.  But overall it's Fantasy that wins the most points for me.

(aren't you amazed that I wrote a post without pictures?  heh)

Fablehaven

Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull

Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Shadow Mountain (March 24, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1606410423

Product Description
Brace yourself for a shocking secret. Two hidden artifacts have been found. Three more remain unrecovered. More preserves face destruction as the Society of the Evening Star relentlessly pursues new talismans. Reading in Patton s Journal of Secrets, Kendra learns the location of the key to a vault housing one of the artifacts. In order to retrieve it, the Knights of the Dawn must enter a death trap a dragon sanctuary called Wyrmroost. The mission cannot proceed without stealing a sacred object zealously guarded by the centaurs. Anybody seen Seth? The race is on to acquire all five of the artifact keys to the great demon prison. Will the Knights of the Dawn conquer Wyrmroost? Who can stop the Sphinx? Can Vanessa be trusted to help? What artifact will be found next? Find out in Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary.

Ok... I have one thing to say.... this is the BEST Fablehaven "episode" so far!!!!

Right from the beginning it is nonstop action!

Every place they go to and everything they see is described without fault! You can feel as if you are right with the kids wherever they are and doing whatever needs to be done!

In this book they are getting a little older and a little more mature. Well.. Kendra is. Seth is another story :o) But I like him all the same.

I've enjoyed this entire series but I do have to say that Brandon Mull just gets better with each book that he writes! This book will not disappoint anyone who likes the Fablehaven series!!

I don't generally like to give out much information because I don't like to ruin anything for anyone but this once I will say that I most enjoyed Raxtus who is a "runt" of a dragon. I won't say more, but I think Mr Mull made Raxtus to try to make me a bit happier than I have been!

This is a must read for any who have read the other books in the series. And I defy you to say it isn't the best book yet!!

Oh, btw I nearly forgot.. the blame on this book and ALL the Fablehaven books goes to Chris! But since this game started after the other books I can only give him one point. He deserves 4 !

Decisions, Decisions...

As I still try to organize this small apartment I came across a real chore.

I found I had over 350 vhs movies.. so I decided to get rid of some and "clean up my act"... so I did.  But I still have over 200 vhs movies!

You can't see it but they are 3 rows deep...

....and 88 dvds... this is like trying to squeeze my fat ass into a size 8 !   It's not working real well..

On a brighter note.. I think Dead Fred is looking so good ..

that I've decided to pull one of my old favorite photo's of DeForest, as a cowboy, out of mothballs and hang it near Fred..

the picture is 16x20 and I have to buy a wooden frame for it.. but it's been over 10 yrs since I've seen this picture and, like Dead Fred, I think it's time to bring it out into the light again.

This picture was a "center of attraction" in my apartment in California..

Surrounding it are other pictures of movie cowboys, such as Harry Carey Jr (signed) Richard Widmark, John Wayne etc..   This apartment was also a one bedroom but for whatever reason it was much larger than what I am in now.

The picture was actually a picture of De and Audie Murphy riding quite fast in a movie called Gunfight at Comanche Creek.  I bought the photo  and then took my own photo of it by zooming in on just De.  When he saw the photo he loved it and asked for the negative to make prints which I gladly gave him.

 

(original pic ..it's really black and white.. I had them printed in sepia)

On yet another note...  I talked with Chris (Stuff as Dreams are Made On) on Sunday.  We hit upon many subjects and yes once or twice the subject was books. (big surprise huh?!) We both chuckled at the sizes of our tbr piles and both of us blamed blogging and the great reviews everyone writes.   I finally finished Fablehaven so tomorrow should be a review post. It was good to talk to him and hear his voice.. he really needs to do a few more of the video blogs..those were/ are pretty neat!

Well I guess that's all I can think of talking about right now.  I'll take a picture when the De photo is up on the wall... until then ....

Pairing at the Pond

Well, well... my new bird book just came in pretty handy!

Yesterdays photo's of the Anhinga... I failed to mention that it was a male.  Today I took a picture when I say an Anhinga on the floater.. this one did not have a brown neck and head.  The book tells me this is the female!!  Hello?  How cool would it be one day to see baby Anhinga's out there!! woohoo!

They aren't here all the time so I don't know where they would nest, but if they do I hope they bring the babies back here to fish!

 

Another notice... now there are two adult Moodhens!  And one keeps chasing the young ones away!.. I do think some hanky-panky is in the future here!

 

And least but not least.. I cannot tell you how many times I've gotten aching arms trying to get a picture of the dang Mullet that jump all the time in the pond!  All the time EXCEPT when I am camera ready! 

But I got one today!  It's not the best and I'll keep trying for a better shot but there just no telling when or where in the pond they will jump!  Sometimes they look as if someone has shot them out of the water with a sling shot!

BigFoot~

I know I posted baby Moorhens big foot the other day and then the next day Mama and babies came up out of the pond and on to the path..

....... so I got a good shot of her feet!

("I take a size 8 but a 12 feels so good!")

She even lifted it up for you to see better... big huh?

I got the baby shots too and there you can really see how "green" their legs and feet are.

Even baby cooperated and lifted his foot for you!

"A pedicure please!"..

I got lucky twice with the birds today.. the Anhinga had disappeared for over a week and I saw him drying his wings on the other side of the pond..

the zoom lens lets me get out there pretty far, but then they aren't as clear even though the camera "says" it's focused.

(above is the Anhinga pretending to be an eagle)

I wish they had whatever they put there for the bird on my side of the pond so I could get better photo's.. oh well... at least you can see his duck like feet that help him swim underwater.  Sometimes I think he's drowned because he hardly ever sticks his head and neck up for air!

Well, that's it from the Pond for today.

Around the Pond & Boo

Boo.. in search of a lizard to watch.

one of the very hot evenings produced this "sunset" on the pond..

"Woody" the resident Wood Stork came back for a visit..

...he's still not "pretty"! But he does let me take good pictures of him.

I thought this was interesting... when Woody is feeding in the pond, what he does is: takes one step, then lifts and resets the foot down a few times to stir things up on the bottom... then he lifts one wing so he can block the sun from reflecting and he can see.. then he reaches in and gets his snack!

This last picture is blurry .. the baby Moorhen was close by and dashing about I thought I had it focused but then the camera focused on the plant it was under.. ah well.. but it does show something I wanted you to see!.. the unusual big feet the bird has!  I've been trying to get a picture of Mama Moorhen on the paved path so you can see her green legs and big feet but so far I haven't had any luck.. eventually I'll get one!

An Honor.Two Surprise Deliveries...A Contest.. and (of course) Birds

Susan, over at You Can Never Have Too Many Books, has given me an award.

I don't know how creative I've been, especially lately.  I've been a slacker and posting photo's so that I don't have to think.   Well, that and my mush brain has me reading the simplest of books at a snails pace so it's hard to write reviews when reading has slowed down so badly.

Thank you Susan for this award!  I have already placed it on the side bar to be seen by all !!

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Tuesday My sister in law sent me a book on Birds so that I could maybe identify some of the birds that I have been posting about.. (Thanks again Pat!)

The book is absolutely beautiful!

... and already somewhat helpful!...  I do think my one fellow with head feathers is a tricolored Heron!

Of course since the book arrived not  one of those birds has made an appearance!

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When I opened my door to go check my mail on Wednesday I was surprised to find a box from Amazon.  Don't get me wrong... Amazon boxes don't surprise me... but I hadn't ordered anything!

When I opened it I was totally shocked to find a Terry Pratchett Trilogy! I've been wanting to try some of his books but where to begin and how many books are involved was always so daunting for me. 

So.. here was this book.. from whence did it come????

When I finally got to the small print I found that my "sister" in England, Cath, had sent me this book!  

I was not expecting anything but there it was!.. so of course I called her right up to yell at her for sending me a book!  (not that I have any plans on sending it back of course!)

It was a very special surprise .. thank you so much Cath!

No promises where on the TBR list it will find itself.  I would like to do it justice and have my brain working a little more than it is.  I do think there's been a small improvement.  I've noticed while reading Fablehaven that a little more is sticking with me and I'm reading a few more pages before setting it down.  If that sounds bad, it is! Possibly why the doctor is trying to get me on an antidepressant.  I've been on them before and they do help!... my worries are: 1: that doctors no longer seem to try to get you off any medication once they get you on it.. and two: this particular medicine is not one you "just stop taking" because it can do some nasty things like give you convulsions and such.  I've bought the meds but haven't taken any yet... need to talk to the doctor one more time.

Anyway.. I am not rushing into this book because I do want to enjoy my first Terry Pratchatt!

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Meanwhile.. a minor miracle has occurred!  I won a contest over at Libra Touches! I won a book.  One I've wanted to read so this is great news!  I won A Charmed Life by Diana Wynn Jones.  It seems to be a book week for me!!  I also wound up having a nice IM chat with Shanra after I  gave her my address. I found out she is still in College and lives in the Netherlands!  It never ceases to amaze me that we can meet people from other countries and act like they lived right next door!

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And just so there aren't too many posts without birds in them.. have a look at this...

.... this is the top of the little tree outside by the pond.  I was feeling a bit like Tippi Hedren when she first noticed The Birds gathering near by..heh.

Other than large birds this is the only bird I've seen around here!  They are "crows" of a sort.  (note the "black bird" to the left) The other birds are young ones that haven't turned black yet.

It's very odd that I haven't seen any other small birds.  Even the sky's are void of small birds.  I can see a hawk or Osprey now and then flying but no small birds like Sparrows or Blue Jays... or the equivalent there of.

Oh well, at least mama Moorhen and her babies are still at the pond... even if they are ignoring me!

My Kingdom for an ARC!

Ok.. here's the deal..

I would KILL for an ARC of this book!  Anyone have any ideas how one goes about getting a specific ARC such as this???

The View From the Bridge: Memories of Star Trek and a Life in Hollywood (Hardcover)

by Nicholas Meyer

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Of course many who know me are probably smiling in the midst of calling me a "Trekkie" because of the book..  but they are only partially correct.

I do like Trek (duh) and love the Old Trek (double duh).. but I don't read as much about it as one might think.  I do, however.. really want this book and I'd love to read it NOW ..because Nicholas Meyer wrote it.

You see.. a long time ago I met Mr. Meyer.  And I met him at Paramount Studios while on the set of him directing The Undiscovered Country. 

I can even tell you the exact scene I was watching being filmed.  I was when Kirk and Bones get beamed OFF of Rura Penthe only to arrive on the ship to find some of the crew members dead.

But before I watched that scene being directed by Nicholas Meyer, DeForest kindly brought him over to meet his guests,I of course, was one of.  

Now, there are two key factors here, and I have told the story of meeting Nicholas Meyer before.  One is that DeForest likes to play jokes, and the second fact one must know is that Nicholas Meyer is... well.. short.

DeForest was in a playful mood and when my turn came to be introduced he hemmed and hawed and pretended he forgot my name.  Seeing what he was doing I thought I would "get even" real quickly and instead of just shaking Mr Meyer's hand I said aloud that "hugs are so much better to get to know someone".. and I hugged Nicholas Meyer (much to his surprise). 

Nicholas Meyer is short.

I think his nose wound up in between my breasts somewhere!

DeForest thought it hysterical.

I cringed.

Nicholas Meyer was heard to say as he walked away that he had to meet more guests!

So.. you see.. I've had a fondness for Nicholas Meyer ever since.. and when I discovered this book I felt that old "GOTTA HAVE IT" urge strike me!  Aaaargh!... I don't want to wait until the end of the summer to read it!!!!!

If anyone knows how or where to ask for a copy of an ARC for this book... pahleeeeze let me know!

(below are two photo's I have with Nicholas Meyer in them)

...and in case you are wondering... if I'd "kill for and ARC" of his book... you'd be amazed at what I'd do for Nick's Autograph on it! heh..damn !

Of course, even if I can find a way to get an ARC of this book.. it's a "must have" in hardback when it's released ! 

Just as a note of interest :  Nicholas is not what one would call "unknown" in the book department, having written:

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution: Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D.

The West End Horror: A Posthumous Memoir of John H. Watson, M.D.

The Canary Trainer: From the Memoirs of John H. Watson

Oh.. and a tiny piece of trivia for you Trek Fans...

Did you know that the Evil Klingon laugh that occurred at the trial of Kirk and Bones was actually cute little Nicholas Meyer?!  yep.. it was him alright!

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Day

Sci-fi author Sharon Lee has declared:

"So! In my Official Capacity as a writer of science fiction and fantasy, I hereby proclaim June 23 Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Day! A day of celebration and wonder! A day for all of us readers of science fiction and fantasy to reach out and say thank you to our favorite writers. A day, perhaps, to blog about our favorite sf/f writers. A day to reflect upon how written science fiction and fantasy has changed your life.

So … what might you do on the 23rd to celebrate? Do you even read fantasy/sci-fi? Why? Why not?"

 

Ohhh, yes I do, yes,yes, yes, I do read fantasy (and a little sci fi). 

Fantasy really grabbed a hold of me when my brother bugged me to death about reading a little book called, The Hobbit, by J.R.R Tolkien. 

When I found myself stirring my spaghetti sauce with the book in my hand and reading non-stop I figured there was something special about this book and Fantasy in general.

  

J R R Tolkien, author & Scholar.

This is the cover of the first Hobbit book I had.  I have had others since then, including a nice green hardback in its own protector cover.

...long before Peter Jackson came along and did his glorious rendition of Lord of the Rings (and soon to be producer of The Hobbit), there was Rankin/ Bass who put out this musical/ cartoon version of the Hobbit, along with a book of pictures from it (this was yet another copy I have of the Hobbit).

It was followed quickly by reading the trilogy that followed, The Lord of the Rings. 

    Although I remained a bit confused on my first and even second reading of them, having a few names so close to each other I'd have to backtrack to see who I was reading about Saruman or Sauron. Very different characters but since I was putting my own pronunciation on them they suddenly became confusing to me.  Eventually I figured it out!

It led me on a wild ride after that.  I couldn't get enough Fantasy books.  I got deeply involved in The Dragonlance series, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman,

and then David Eddings came along with his Belgaraid series,

then came probably the love story of my life... Anne McCaffrey wrote the Pern series!

There have been many other books.. but these were the ones, in the beginning. I will always be grateful to these authors and their glorious imaginations.  For taking the time to write it all down, and fighting the odds of getting them published and then waiting to see if the public liked what they wrote.

I can only tell you about this one public... and I loved them all ! 

They gave me hero's and heroines and characters I could only dream about meeting in person.  And then they gave me dragons.  Glorious dragons. (the good ones of course)  Anne McCaffrey, Anne McCaffrey, Anne McCaffrey.. I can't cry her name enough.  Thank you for the dragons.

Has reading fantasy changed my life?  I doubt it. 

But it has given me moments of joy I would not have had otherwise. 

It has given me things to reflect on.

It has given me .... dreams. 

I want Gandalf to be real..

I want to live where there is magic...

I want to talk to a dragon...

I want to meet MasterHarper Robinton, and Lessa and F'lar..

I want to live on Pern!

Glorious Fantasy Books .... they take me to places I've never been but want to go to...  and there is no such thing as Impossible!

Now, many will say that these authors are not writers who have not done well.. that they are very recognizable but the truth is.. that (other than Tolkien) these books came out a long time ago... and today's younger readers (and I don't mean 9-12 yr olds) don't know who they are or that the books they wrote are so wonderful !

And so I put the names of:  David Eddings and Margaret Weis/ Tracy Hickman and Anne McCaffrey out there as Authors that are soooo worth remembering and are more than worth the time of a new reader to become entranced and enamored with.  If you have never read their books.. do yourself a favor and try them.  My feeling is that you won't be disappointed.