Here, There, and Everywhere 2nd edition

Quick Post

2012-01-27T08:12:00.001-05:00

This is just my excuse for not having finished reading a book lately…

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

2012-01-20T15:02:00.001-05:00

I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press (November 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0385344015

Book Description

Series: Flavia De Luce | Publication Date: November 1, 2011

It’s Christmastime, and the precocious Flavia de Luce—an eleven-year-old sleuth with a passion for chemistry and a penchant for crime-solving—is tucked away in her laboratory, whipping up a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick. But she is soon distracted when a film crew arrives at Buckshaw, the de Luces’ decaying English estate, to shoot a movie starring the famed Phyllis Wyvern. Amid a raging blizzard, the entire village of Bishop’s Lacey gathers at Buckshaw to watch Wyvern perform, yet nobody is prepared for the evening’s shocking conclusion: a body found, past midnight, strangled to death with a length of film. But who among the assembled guests would stage such a chilling scene? As the storm worsens and the list of suspects grows, Flavia must use every ounce of sly wit at her disposal to ferret out a killer hidden in plain sight.

Well, it seems that the “mini Jessica Fletcher” (Murder She Wrote) is at it again. This time though she is alternating her mystery murder with a true experiment to capture Father Christmas to be sure he’s real.

Daddy dearest is renting out the house to a movie crew to make a movie so that it will give them enough money to keep living in the house for several months. Little did they know it would wind up a murder instead of a movie!

The dear inspector keeps a close eye on Flavia , knowing by now that she will somehow incorporate herself into solving the mystery of who murdered the movie star.?

Alan Bradley has come up with a dilly of a kid who loves chemistry and murder. I can’t say I know any 11 yr olds that would love either of those things! My wonder now is, how many murders can happen without Flavia having a birthday or two?? That is, if her sisters don’t torment her to death first.

This is another well written, enjoyable, escapade for Flavia and for us, her readers. If you have read the other books you won’t want to miss this one… it deserves to be in the collection!

Instruments of Darkness

2012-01-16T15:03:00.001-05:00

Instruments of Darkness by Imogen Robertson

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books (February 17, 2011)
ISBN-10: 067002242X

From Publishers Weekly

Set in West Sussex in 1780, Robertson's auspicious debut introduces the unlikely sleuthing team of anatomist Gabriel Crowther and independent-minded Harriet Westerman, mistress of Caveley Park. When Westerman happens on the stabbed body of a man, eventually identified as Carter Brook, on her land on the track to Thornleigh Hall, Crowther agrees to help her catch the murderer. The secretive Crowther, who's maintained a reclusive existence since moving to the area, finds that Brook's death may be connected to the search for a long-lost heir to the Thornleigh estate. Meanwhile in London, someone knifes to death Alexander Adams, who bears the same first name as the lost heir, in Adams's music shop. While the killer's identity will surprise few, the book works splendidly as a period thriller, with complicated leads and informative details that illuminate 18th-century England for modern readers. Dry humor leavens what otherwise would be a grim story line.

This sort of above review was what made me send for this book…

Although the review is correct, what it doesn’t say is that quite a bit of the book gets confusing as the author jumps from Sussex to London from person to person sometimes in the same chapter so that you continually get lost for moments at a time. I thought this would get easier as I read but it stayed the same throughout the book. So I can’t say that I was all that thrilled with the book.

Inside the confusion I will say there was a good mystery going on.. but the author just made it difficult to follow. Probably younger people with quicker minds could keep up easier than I could! If so, then this would be a good read !

I certainly didn’t hate the book, I did struggle with it, but I did finish it! I am just uncertain about the readability of it all.

But for now .. I have a number of other mysteries to deal with…so I shall move on to the next!!

Amazon Gift Card…

2012-01-13T08:10:00.001-05:00

I am glad to say my son George and his wife Kat, know a gift I can never refuse!..

and so yesterday my xmas books arrived..

I finally have “I am Half Sick of Shadows” so I will be up to the newest Alan Bradley, Flavia de Luce Novel.

My son Chris would get the blame for me sending for The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. If I may quote the clincher for me.. (copy and paste)

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson – Best Jack the Ripper tale that I’ve ever read. BOARDING SCHOOL…GHOSTS….MAUREEN JOHNSON! I think that the sequel to this one is currently one of my most anticipated books. It ended in a way that I cannot WAIT to read the next one!

Yep, that did, done, doodit!

The Thirteen Hallows is written by Michael Scott and Colette Freedman. I love, love, love Michael’s young adult series on Nicholas Flamel and thought about trying this book. He tells me it’s NOT a ya book lol…so I mentioned that I was in my mid 60’s… I guess it’s ok that I got it huh? Nice that he warned me it wasn’t YA though!

The last book is James Herbert’s The Secret of Crickley Hall. I can’t remember how I heard of this one but just know it sounds like a real scary book.

So, there you have it… those are the newest books to come into this apartment… but don’t ask what I will read next because I never know!

Furry Logic

2012-01-12T08:49:00.001-05:00

Furry Logic: A guide to Life’s Little Challenges by Jane Seabrook.

Hardcover: 80 pages
Publisher: Ten Speed Press (December 23, 2003)
ISBN-10: 1580085695

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 2003

Guaranteed to coax a smile from the grumpiest of grumps, FURRY LOGIC is a charming little book with a big heart and sly humor. Exquisitely detailed watercolor paintings depicting animals caught up in the joy and drudgery of life are paired with old adages given a new spin for our times. Tender thoughts such as “Smile first thing in the morning—get it over with,” “If you don't agree with me—it means you haven't been listening,” and “You'll always be my best friend—you know too much” go a long way toward banishing the blahs and shaking off the blues. Designer and illustrator Jane Seabrook's 40 universally appealing paintings of birds, bears, penguins, chipmunks, frogs, baboons, and more are rendered in delicate and biologically accurate detail using a tiny sable brush with a single hair at its tip. In the spirit of international best-seller The Blue Day Book, FURRY LOGIC speaks to the human condition in a way we can all relate to and feel good about.A humorous collection of quotes and drawings that turns life's little challenges into opportunities for laughter

I don’t have to say a thing…. I can show you!

See what I mean?!

It’s a very small book containing beautiful drawings with great sayings!

‘Nuff said.

The Rose Garden

2012-01-11T08:01:00.001-05:00

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (October 4, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1402258585

Review

Kearsley masterfully writes authentic voices for Eva and Daniel as they wrestle with their improbable connection and its implications (Publishers Weekly 20110915)

Like Anya Seton's Green Darkness and Daphne du Maurier's House on the Strand, Kearsley brilliantly brings together past and present. 4 1/2 Stars, Top Pick of the Month (RT Book Reviews 20110921)

Kearsley makes the impossible seem real as she weaves a tale full of genuine characters and a strong sense of place and makes history come alive.
(Booklist 20110923)

Ok, so I just finished reading my second Susanna Kearsley book. I really liked the first book, The Winter Sea. It had been the first book with a romance in it that I’ve read in some time and it was written really well . Once again this is a historical romance, tucked in with time travel.

I don’t especially like time travel themes and at first I thought I’d not like this book. (when I got it I had heard nothing about time travel connected with the book) But here I was reading and “suddenly things began to blur and waver….” hmmmm. However, Susanna Kearsley is most brilliant at how she gets into the historical parts of her books and her descriptions of everything are so well done that you have no problem conjuring them up in your mind.

She probably is best at making very believable characters and manages to make them interesting enough that you do enjoy her books even if they aren’t exactly in your comfort zone.

I will admit I still liked The Winter Sea just a touch more. But I think that had to do with the wonderful personalities she gave her Scotsmen in the book lol.

I will also say that if you read Winter Sea and enjoyed it that her writing is every bit as good in this one, so take the plunge and read this one too!

Morning Constitutional

2012-01-10T10:32:00.001-05:00

As I left my apartment for my morning walk I was given this view… so I ran back in and brought out my camera..

…then , of course, I had to zoom in on the moon..

by the time I was nearly done with my walk … daylight was emerging

..when I walk I listen to my Ipod… you’d be surprised at how quickly you walk to the tunes of the Village People!

Double Crochet, Double Crochet..

2012-01-08T07:57:00.001-05:00

So… old habits die hard…or I should say, .. look for reasons to resume!

We’ve had some gorgeously cool weather down here! The nights dipping into the 40’s and even 30’s and the days were still cool enough to wear jeans and a light weight flannel shirt! (there is absolutely nothing more comfortable than to be in sweats or flannel shirts!)

There’s an old Irving Berlin song call Cheek to Cheek. In it are a few words I feel when these cool temperatures finally come to Florida. It goes something like this…

Heaven, I'm in Heaven,
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak;
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we're out together dancing, cheek to cheek.

Well I may not be dancing but I started to Crochet again! It takes cool weather for me to feel like I may not croak tomorrow… sheesh.. when the cool weather comes I feel like cooking things like soups and stews and chili and I walk a mile twice a day again and now I’ve added “ye ol’ crochet hook” to my list.

Below is the beginnings of something I wanted to try in a heavy cotton (vs. yarn).

I finished it the other day and laid it out on my table to look at it.

(closer view of the “roses”)

Then I though to see it on the table without the table cloth on it….

..and one more shot from across the room…

Of course now that it’s made I don’t know what the hell to do with it!!! It was just one of those “pretty pictures that I wanted to see if I could make it or not”. Since it’s heavy cotton and not the thin stuff I am not even sure if I can use some spray starch on it with an iron to make it lay neater… any suggestions? (Come on Debi ! You are Queen of Crafting and the only one I know who might know what to do lol)

Anyway…now it’s on to an Afghan I am sure.. and no I don’t know what to do with it when I’m done either.. I have no room to store any more than I already have…but I like to Crochet now and then…and the cool weather is at fault! Yeah, that’s the ticket! The weather is to blame!! (gotta love John Lovitz for coming up with “that’s the ticket” lol)

Wednesday, January 4th 2012

2012-01-04T07:43:00.001-05:00

For some reason my mile walk around the pond at 6:30 am was …better. I can’t really think of one word to describe how I felt today.

I had to bundle up by wearing my sweats and a “winter” jacket. The air was crisp but unlike yesterday there were no gusts of wind to chill you so much that you didn’t work up a small sweat.

It was still dark out, but there are lights on the buildings so you are not totally in the dark. This morning I took along the Ipod that Kelly had given me. I decided to listen to some John Denver. It was the right choice.

When I get half way around the pond I am facing East. Slight light was beginning to show me the shadows of the palm trees and the smallest amount of orange color was touching the sky. And then .. while John sang “Country Roads”, it appeared to me… a meteor ! I thought I had missed all of it even though I stepped outside at 5 am I saw none… but now, as I listened to John the meteor flew by and disappeared into the orange tinge that was becoming dawn.

It was a perfect sight to see.

Then as I made my third round and the sky was brightening just a touch more (I wouldn’t exactly call it daylight yet) the ducks began to come. They were but shadows in the sky, bobbing and weaving and it seemed as if they were coming in for a crash landing, they moved so fast. But “touchdown” was always without incident. First only one or two and then four or more all zigzagging between one another.

As I came towards my apartment for the 5th and final round I heard the train horn off in the distance. It sounded as if it was coming closer and closer and then it began to sound farther and farther away, until it faded into obscurity.

All the while John Denver sang of the beauty most of us miss on a daily basis. I shed a tear or two… I truly miss John Denver. Maybe that wasn’t a meteor I saw while he sang… maybe it was John .

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld

2012-01-02T06:59:00.001-05:00

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A McKillip.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Sandpiper (January 1, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0152055363

Amazon.com Review

Almost destroyed because of a man's fear and greed, Sybel, a beautiful young sorceress, embarks on a quest for revenge that proves equally destructive. Winner of the World Fantasy award, this exquisitely written story has something for almost every reader: adventure, romance and a resonant mythology that reveals powerful truths about human nature.

Dear Debi who gave me this for Christmas…. what can I say? (besides thank you!!!) , the Forgotten Beasts of Eld… I had read this so many years ago that I could not remember a thing about it anymore. The only thing I could remember is that I read it after I read Patricia McKillip’s trilogy of the Riddle Master of Hed.

In this story Sybel can “call” ancient animals to her on the mountain top of Eld. Her life seems to be full of beauty and love for these animals, she knows only an old witch on the mountain and knows nothing but peace and contentment, when one day a stranger appears and drops off a baby for her to raise. This is where she begins to learn about another sort of love… for another human.

The book goes on and Sybel learns about love and hate and revenge and what it does to a person (herself). I don’t want to give away too much in case you choose to read it.

The book is written beautifully. It was so unusual that I wasn’t sure it was something I could read, but quickly fell into the tempo of the writing.

It is an older book but I see now it’s available again in paperback and even with my bad eyes it was easy to read, being double spaced and larger than normal print for a paperback book.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld.. and oldie but a goodie. A good choice for my first book read in 2012.

Books of 2011

2011-12-30T18:04:00.001-05:00

So… it’s wrap up time for our reading year…. wow… hard to believe another year has gone by!..

Anyway, here’s the list I kept of the books I read…

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

It might be Moonstone by Wilke Collins.

I’ve come a long way to like Wilke.

2. Most Disappointing Book that You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

Dragons Time by Todd McCaffrey. I so wanted Anne’s son to do Pern and the Dragons justice but after 7 books I have given up on them. I expected a new time and new characters etc.. but some of the bigger basic facts I felt needed to stay the same.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

I read a 562 page Biography on Charles Dickens by Fred Kaplan and was surprised that it held my interest for such a large book.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

Maybe, A Walk in The Woods by Bill Bryson.

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

Argh, ok I will say The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries by Gyles Brandreth. (thanks Cath!)

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

Ummm, Gyles Brandreth for the Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries

Alan Bradley for the Flavia mysteries

and Patrick Rossfuss for his two books Name of the Wind and Wise Man’s Fear

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

That would be A Walk in The Woods.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

Well I always seem to rush thru Michael Scotts newest book on Nicholas Flamel, Warlock. But that’s a given anymore lol. There were two books by new authors to me and a bit not my usual thing that I really enjoyed them both. They would be: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin and Waiting For Columbus by Thomas Trofimuk.

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?
There are two: Michael Scotts : Warlock

and Jonathan Straud’s : The Ring of Solomon

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?
Plucker by Brom

Map of Time by Felix J Palma

11. Most memorable character in 2011?

I have to stick with the two anticipated books here and say Nicholas Flamel , Warlock and Bartimaeus. The Ring of Solomon

12. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

Moonstone. I had it on my tbr pile for 2 years. *groan*

I guess that’s about all she wrote…. It wasn’t my best reading year but not my worst either, I guess this is about what I can expect as my eyes get worse.. so I’m not complaining!

I still have so many books in my tbr pile that I not only need to get to but want to get to!! My problem is, I read 4 and I buy 4 and my tbr never gets lower!!!! (I’ve got to stay away from that used book store!…yeah.. right… sure!)

Cheers! And I raise my glass to a Happy New Year and to another year of good reading!!

Happy 2012 Everyone!

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

2011-12-29T06:29:00.001-05:00

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution by Nicholas Meyer

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (September 17, 1993)
ISBN-10: 0393311198

(my copy is a used hardback first edition 1974)

This is the final book that I will complete for the year 2011. Incredible as it may be, another year has gone by….

Book Description

Series: Norton Paperback | Publication Date: September 17, 1993

Back in print to tie-in with The Canary Trainer, (but it also works well as a stand alone) this "rediscovered" Sherlock Holmes adventure recounts the unique collaboration of Holmes and Sigmund Freud in the solution of a mystery on which the lives of millions may depend.

First discovered and then painstakingly edited and annotated by Nicholas Meyer, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution related the astounding and previously unknown collaboration of Sigmund Freud with Sherlock Holmes, as recorded by Holmes's friend and chronicler, Dr. John H. Watson. In addition to its breathtaking account of their collaboration on a case of diabolic conspiracy in which the lives of millions hang in the balance, it reveals such matters as the real identity of the heinous professor Moriarty, the dark secret shared by Sherlock and his brother Mycroft Holmes, and the detective's true whereabouts during the Great Hiatus, when the world believed him to be dead.

What can I say?… Nicholas Meyer. Nick to me..but that’s a whole other story… is one fine writer. (and director and producer etc)

Nicholas, Nicholas, Nicholas..he deserves more notoriety than he gets. Nick not only wrote The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (which became a movie) but he wrote two other Holmes books (all of which I am a proud owner) He wrote The Canary Trainer and West End Horror… if you are a Sherlock Holmes fan you should put these on your list. I know many Sherlockians may not like any books that are not by Conan Doyle, but then they haven’t read Nick Meyer’s books.

Nick also directed two Star Trek movies..

(guess you figured I’d use this photo!)

(ok so here’s another shot)

..and just because I really like Nicholas Meyer I’ll mention that he wrote and directed a little movie called “Time After Time”. Some of you may recognize the title.

Then…. there’s the movie from the book I mentioned above, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution.

Nicol Williamson played Sherlock Holmes in that movie.. his name stuck in my head

when I realized why I knew it!… Merlin!!!!

and Robert Duvall played Dr. Watson…

But if I want to be honest… whenever I read anything that has Sherlock and Watson in it .. I keep hearing Basil Rathbone’s voice! And since this book is narrated by Watson.. I heard Nigel Bruce’s voice !

(One must really see the old black and white movie with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce of The Hound and the Baskerville’s to realize just how good the actors were back then)

As for The Seven-Per-Cent Solution all I can say is… Nicholas Meyer should have written more Holmes books! I will let the Amazon book description stand as my preview because I could never do it justice.

This is a book (and a movie) that all Sherlock fans should read (and see!).

The Christmas That Was…

2011-12-25T09:19:00.001-05:00

From my “sis” across the pond, Cath, I received these wonderful things to remind me how much I’d love to see England! lol.. A beautiful nature calendar and a booklet and gorgeous leather bookmark from Tintagel Castle.. former home of King Arthur and Merlin’s cave!!! (Cornwall is calling me!) ..I can’t thank you enough sis!

Debi sent me all sorts of goodies! From a Huge cup of Coco, to a funky kitty to a book long forgotten… I read this book probably when it first was in paperback …right after I had red the Riddle Master of Hed trilogy! But do I remember what this book is about? nada..not one single thing and so I can’t wait to read it as a new book!… and talk about luck… my eyes won’t read small paperback print but this is larger print double spaced!!! Yesssssssssss!!!!!

thank you thank you bunches and bunches Debi!

ahhhh, what can I say about my “son” Chris? he loves his “Mama” lol.. look at the goodies! In there is a gingerbread man cookie, some sweet stuff for the Pond birdies, some DELICIOUS Pineapple jelly and… Belgium Chocolates!… I do believe he wants to keep his Mama fat!

Love you baby boy… thank you again and again…

And then there is the challenge king of our blogs, Carl! He saw what I saw and said it needed to be with Me.. and so McCoy poppet found his way home to reside with me…and my De/McCoy/Cowboy collection.

He is a wonder to behold… I will keep him forever and ever…

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Carl.

I hope everyone had a most wonderful Christmas… and will have an “Enterprising” New Year!

A Red Herring Without Mustard

2011-12-24T08:42:00.001-05:00

I guess this is the last book I’ll have finished in 2011… but before I get to that I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas Eve!… and/ or… Happy Hanukkah!

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Bantam (October 18, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0385343469

From Booklist

Stubborn, precocious Flavia de Luce seems old beyond her 11 years, but readers of her previous encounters with dead bodies and mystery know she has a vulnerable side, as well. Nowhere is that more visible than in her relationships with her distant father and her sisters, who constantly taunt her. In her latest adventure, the family is on the verge of bankruptcy. Father is auctioning his beloved stamps and selling the family silver. In the midst of this crisis, the irrepressible young snoop investigates the beating of a gypsy fortune-teller and the murder of a local thief, which seem somehow connected to a group of religious eccentrics, an antique shop, a missing baby, and a strange, fishy smell. Sound complicated? It is, but Bradley handles it so well you hardly notice. Buttressed by consistently quirky characters and an English country-village backdrop, Flavia�s chatterbox narration reveals the amateur sleuth�s obnoxiousness as well as her intellegence and irrepressible curiosity. The upshot is a spirited, surprisingly innocent tale, despite murky goings-on at its center. Think of Flavia as a new Sherlock in the making

This is the 3rd Flavia de Luce book I have read, and probably the best so far. Mr Bradley has created quite a unique character in Flavia. Highly intelligent for an 11 year old, and yet typical in so many other ways.. like getting even with her older sisters.

I love that her “buddy in arms” is a bicycle named Gladys. (and remember my “Nellie belle” fondly).

I think each book has gotten a little more substance to it and this time he outdid himself, involving one “near murder” and a murder…and a possible murder all rolled into on book! The only thing that hasn’t happened so far that I thought would have is that she would age a little with each book.

One has to admit to Flavia’s charm. Her descriptive way about her.. if I may quote a modest line from Miss Flavia: There are not many things I despise, but chiefest among them is skin on milk. I loathe it with a passion. Not even the thought of the marvelous chemical change that forms the stuff…the milk’s proteins churned and ripped apart by the heat of boiling, then reassembling themselves as they cool into a jellied skin…was enough to console me. I would rather eat a cobweb.” A “not so” typical 11 year old wouldn’t you say?!

I don’t like to give much away so I will just say that this one was very enjoyable.. unfortunately I don’t have the next book but eventually I’ll be sending for it! I hope that if you like mysteries and could use a bit of laughter along the way…this may well be the series you should try!

Before I leave I’d like to put up a photo of something I had made eons ago and I used to frame it and set it under my tree… the “lustful Lil” part is what I was known as in the DeForest Kelley Fan Club…for reasons just like this!..

..and so .. from Santa and me… Merry Christmas to All….

….and to all, ….. a good night!

A Very Merry Christmas from me and Boo !!

Leaving is Such Sweet Sorrow..

2011-12-23T06:13:00.001-05:00

So, once again I am making room for the books I have. In doing so I have to get rid of books I still like to make room for the newer books… it’s to the point I really am getting rid of books I might read again but since I don’t want to become a Hoarder like I see on television, this is all I can do…

I stand in front of the books and look at them and keep asking myself: will I really get back to reading this book again?.. I ask it several times, inhale a very deep breath, look over the ones I am not “able” to part with yet, and say “no”… and into the pile they go.

In this pile getting ready to leave the house are:

Weis and Hickman’s: Highlord Skies,

Hourglass Mage,

& Dwarven Depths (a trilogy) also Dragons lost star

Then there is:

Bram Stoker: Dracula

Sara Waters: Fingersmith

Carlos Ruiz Safron: Shadow of the Wing & The Angels Game

Ransom Riggs: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Gyles Brandreth: Oscar Wilde & the Dead Man’s Smile ,

Oscar Wilde and The Ring of Death

Bill Bryson: The Lost Continent

Kate DiCamillo : The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Coy Watson Jr: Keystone Kid: Tales of Early Hollywood

Justine Picardie: Daphne

Jo Walton: Among Others

Laurie R King: The Moor,

Beekeepers Apprentice

Alan Bradley: Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie,

Weed That Strings the Hangmans Bag.

I wrote this list yesterday and since then I am happy to say that I have a home for those in purple! My sister-in-law (also named Pat) will take them to read ! As much as I hate “thinning” by books like this all the time, I am glad to know where some of them are going.

*sigh*… I dislike getting rid of books!

Dammit Jim….

2011-12-21T08:09:00.001-05:00

Ohhhh-myyyyy (if I may quote George Takei)…. look what arrived in the mail today!

It’s something I saw on Facebook that Lisa Snellings had made. I happen to make a comment about it on Twitter when out of the blue Carl (Stainless Steel Droppings) commented back that he saw it and “just knew it had to be for Pat”. *sniffle* gosh, am I that obvious? (fersure!) And so I was informed that it was “purchased” and was on it’s way to me!!! Wow, talk about someone feeling like a bowling pin having just been hit by a 16 lb ball!!

I said, “no you can’t”

and he said, “yes I can”..

any guesses who won? heh.. so let me show you what arrived in the mail today…

a tiny box with a bow.. and a small card signed by Lisa that indicated this was a “limited edition”… and a fabulous book mark!

so I opened the box …and low and behold!.. there he was! McCoy Poppet!

(note how she captured his expression.. it lets me know that she may have seen the original Star Trek a few times lol)

Being a doctor, McCoy poppet when right out and gave Dr. visits to the other poppets in the house. Everyone checked out ok except for “June”… he thought she might have a “bug”.. (don’t groan too loudly)

Then McCoy poppet was put on display with Christmas decorations.

He wanted to be by the Carolers where he could hum along….

after all… he’s a doctor not a singer!

“Dammit Jim… I’m a Doctor, not a poppet!” (wanna bet?)

Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death

2011-12-19T10:24:00.001-05:00

Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death by Gyles Brandreth.

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: John Murray (2008)
ISBN-10: 0719569508

Review/ Paul Anchetta

In the book, Mr Wilde is the toast of London's high society. His "Lady Windermere's Fan" is a critical and box-office success, and his popularity is unmatched amongst the cognoscenti. One evening, at an exclusive "Sunday Supper Club" dinner with such friends as Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, and Robert Sherard (who also narrates the story), Wilde introduces a parlor game involving a list of people that his guests would secretly like to kill. From the next day onward, each person on the "hit list" dies mysteriously, in the very order with which his or her name showed up during the dinner. Wilde, Conan Doyle, and Sherard begin to investigate independently, especially after failing to enlist the help of Scotland Yard . . . and especially since Wilde's name itself appears on the "hit list!" Their ensuing adventures are as jolly as they are thrilling.

Well Gyles Brandreth has done it again! I have to admit that the books seem to have the same type outline for each book but he has a way in his writing that makes the books very readable, very interesting, and quite the page turner! This one was no exception!

I really enjoy that he uses known people in the mysteries. Conan Doyle keeps popping up as does Bram Stoker. In the books Oscar Wilde is friends with these and many others and Gyles manages to keep many facts about each accurate and informative. Though they are slipped in very nicely among the fiction parts of the story!

I have enjoyed each and every one of the Oscar Wilde mysteries that I’ve read so far, and have yet one more sitting on one of my many shelves to be read! I can’t thank Cath enough for getting me into this series of books.. they give me a lift. Simple, basic reading but a good mystery to be solved. Of course you never really figure them out until Oscar tells all in the last two chapters !!!

If you’ve read any of the Gyles Brandreth Oscar Wilde books feel free to add this one to your own collection!

Rebecca

2011-12-17T08:29:00.001-05:00

So….

I went to the thrift shop today (probably yesterday by the time I post this) .. and I found this old hardback copy of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I thought, “oh cool!” and it’s only 1.00. I opened the books pages… very brown… v.e.r.y. brown. *sigh* but ok for 1.00 let me get this… even if it seems like it will fall apart if I try to read it.. (too dark for ME to read)

This was, maybe, the lightest brown page in the book! So brown it’s almost brittle.

…then I saw this.

…and I thought.. “no way”. But on the off chance, I think I will definitely pick this up! I checked google images… some I found looks exactly like this one… others, close but not quite… so I don’t know for sure if it is or not.. i did find one on ebay with the signature in her Jamaica Inn book and it looks exactly alike.

Either way the book is too brown to be worth anything…. but it would be neat if it is her signature! Even if it only lasts a little while longer. Anyone out there a du Maurier fan?

The Mailman has Been Busy!

2011-12-16T07:10:00.001-05:00

The mailman has been busy!! One day 2 boxes arrived! The first box had my Amazon order in it which included Red Herring without Mustard (my next installment of “detective” Flavia), my last installment of the Harry Potter movies (so now I have them all!) and a book called Elephant Man which I already read and posted about.

The second box was from Debi! (of Still Nothing of Importance fame) Once opened I found three Christmas wrapped boxes!

Here they are again… I took this picture because the paper with the snowflakes is yet something else that Debi and the kids made!

Along with a homemade Christmas Card that had already arrived!! Wonderful, Wonderful! Thank you! Thank you Debi!!!

Then on yet another day …another package!! This one from my “sis” across the pond, Cath (of Read_Warbler fame) In the package were 3 pressie’s!!! One is a calendar of beautiful nature sights in England. The other….

…is a book on Tintagel Castle!!! (or what’s left of it lol) Tintagel Castle is in Cornwall and Cath and her hubby went there on holiday and took some gorgeous photo’s for me (even better than the ones in this book!!) . So she picked this up for me knowing I’d be interested in it. You can see the remains of the castle on the upper right of the photo. Tintagel Castle is linked to King Arthur and Merlin! Ahhh yes, see below in the photo the cave?… that’s Merlin’s Cave! Need I say more? I didn’t think so! And not to be forgotten I received a beautiful blue leather book mark with Tintagel Castle at the top.

And yet another day brought a package from my “son” Chris!!! (from Stuff As Dreams Are Made On fame) The box was rather heavy so I set it on the floor to open it. (one can spot the Pineapple jelly, homemade by my son!!!! I intend on sampling it later this morning!) Mmmmm mmmm my baby boy knows how to take care of Mama! Thank you sooooooooooo much Chris!

..as I began to investigate what was in the box… along came Boo and did his own searching!

So… that’s what the mailman has be busy doing!!

Hey, he can stay as busy as he wants!! lol

I hope everyone else’s Christmas and Hanukkah are shaping up this good!

Chris Gallucci: Elephant Man

2011-12-13T18:54:00.001-05:00

Quite some time ago I made a post or two or three about when I lived in California and did volunteer work for Tippi Hedren’s Shambala Preserve. One of the people working there was (and still is) Chris Gallucci. When I first met Chris I was told he wasn’t very friendly and would tell you to go “f” off as much as say hello. So I watched Chris… Chris was the Elephant Man…he took care of Tippi’s Elephants.

I also took pictures of Chris and Timbo whenever I was there, and for what it’s worth..I liked Chris! He was an X-hardcore biker. He also, from stories I heard, had been in jail a number of times….but no matter what was said about Chris, he loved those Elephants..especially the big Bull, Timbo. You could see it in how he cared for him and you could see that he put all his love and being into Timbo. Anyone who couldn’t see that had to be blind.

I came across the fact that a book had been put out about Chris and Timbo. Elephant Man. It’s mostly photographs taken by a professional photographer named Nomi Baumgartl… Let me show you some of her photos from the book.. I took photo’s when the book is opened and they aren’t great and I apologize to her for that..but here they are..

When I worked at Shambala Chris didn’t have a white beard! ..gads when did I get so old?

When I saw this photo in the book I got a smile a mile wide… it’s MY photo!!!!!! I took the picture along with others and gave them to Chris.. I was thrilled that he was able to make use of it!

Now..… below are photo’s I took of Timbo and of Chris some 15 or 18 yrs ago when I did volunteer work at Shambala..… I took the pictures of Chris and Timbo because I wanted Chris to have them…and I have been forever glad I did.

again.. these are snapshots of color Xeroxed pictures I have that are also in page protectors, so not the greatest but it was easier for me to do it this way.

This is the Chris I knew….

If an elephant can really love someone… Timbo loved Chris.

his back pockets were always ready with carrots for Timbo

So this is Chris.. he was a young man on a downward spiral that got saved by a big elephant.

and Timbo… his savior

Man and Beast… a love story.

A few years ago Timbo passed away. Chris had to make a life altering adjustment, but in the end he stayed at Shambala and still helps Tippi with all the other wild animals , but I am sure there is a hole in his heart as big as a certain African Bull Elephant.

If you’d like to learn a little more about Shambala just click the link.

Daphne: A Novel

2011-12-11T13:40:00.001-05:00

Daphne: A Novel by Justine Picardie

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA;(August 4, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1596913401

From Booklist

Literary allusions, references, and mysteries pile up in this book-lover’s dream of a novel inside a biography, inside a novel, inside a biography. Three, or maybe more, stories intersect and inform each other. The first is a biography of writer Daphne du Maurier in the 1950s as she struggles with family ghosts and writing a biography of Branwell Brontë, the long-neglected brother of the Bronte sisters. Years later, a nameless, orphaned graduate student, clearly meant to echo the narrator of du Maurier’s Rebecca, follows du Maurier’s work, to the distaste of the student’s older husband and the fascination of his beautiful ex-wife. Also in the middle of this is the du Maurier family’s relationship with J. M. Barrie and the Lleweyn Davies family of Peter Pan fame, as well as a possible literary forgery involving the Brontës. Exposition of all the relevant novel plots and literary relations slows down the beginning of the book. However, like a du Maurier novel, mystery and gothic plotting make the remainder of the novel a page-turner. A novel for anyone who loves novels

Well, I guess that without realizing it I do like books with some mystery in them that have names that are familiar to me. In this case Daphne du Maurier.

The story is fiction. Most of the people and places are real, along with some historical facts, which makes the story very interesting.

Many references are made to Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel throughout the book, and I would say that you’d enjoy the book more if you had read them ..at least Rebecca, or seen the movie and so knew the story.

I think it takes a special talent to use real people and places and put them into a tale of fiction and make it read as if it were all true. I think that Ms Picardie has done just that.. and done it very well indeed.

Although the book was not some fast paced adventure that wouldn’t let you put the book down it was a book held my interest, and in so doing I found it calling to me each time I sat in the chair next to it.

There are other books which have held my interest (Drood) in such a way as this one did and I find there are just enough truths in them to make you wonder which things are NOT the truth?

If I may quote a Star Trek actor about how I feel for this book: “Fascinating”.

I think if Daphne du Maurier and the Bronte family are of interest to you I would say you’d enjoy this book.

An Awwwwww Moment

2011-12-09T06:57:00.001-05:00

This was on Facebook but I had to post it here just because it’s so damn cute!

Ready to Cry..

2011-12-07T10:54:00.001-05:00

All morning long it’s all I can do to keep up with the emails of the spam being put on older posts in my blog!!! such names as “generic viagra’, “xlpharmacy”, “indian pharmacy”..as fast as I go delete them i get 3 or 4 more in my emails.. i am afraid to open “replies” now!! I sent something in hoping BlogSpot can help otherwise I will delete my blog! I have on word verification and they even leave a “comment” but their link is still there to others to click on…. Is anyone else having a problem ?? I really don’t want to leave BlogSpot it’s been my favorite blog ever!

Da Boo-Boy…

2011-12-07T09:21:00.001-05:00

Just so you know… it’s not easy playing with a toy with one hand and holding the camera in the other while snapping pictures ! But this is the Boo-boy playing. He’s still feisty at almost 13 yrs old.

Then he pooped out and went to take a nap. He fits right in with the old folks! heh.

awwww… das mah’ boy!

You Know it’s a Good Day if….

2011-12-06T15:30:00.001-05:00

You know it’s a good day if….you go to the used book store and walk out with these two books for a total of $4.00!

I doubt it’s any surprise to anyone who reads my blog that, on occasion I buy books about the “original astronauts”. Well quite a long time ago I did buy the John Glenn book in paperback..my eyes were not quite as bad as they are now ..however.. it was a “pocketbook”..the smallest paperback out. And so to be honest I never finished reading the book because it was too much of a strain.

Fast forward to Saturday Dec. 3rd when I walk into the used book store and found the book in hardback and in excellent looking condition. Of course I grabbed it right up. And shortly after I found the Jimmy Stewart book in trade paperback, it also is in pristine condition. Naturally I bought them both and took them home.

I began to flip thru the John Glenn book to see the areas with photo’s when I flipped too fast and went to the first page of the book and low and behold you could have knocked me down with a feather when I found this!

Hello? An autograph?? Sure looked like it. I did a little research and compared it to other signatures of his and guess what… it matches! I was more than excited when I flipped thru the book again and came up with some newspaper articles from 1999 stuck in the book…

OMG! Now I am positive it’s his autograph!!! Never did I expect to ever have John Glenn’s autograph!! Holy Cow and Boy Howdy…but I was excited !!!!

One never knows what one can buy for $3.00 anymore!

Ok, so it is now wrapped in plastic to keep it in the condition it’s in. It was a used book but it’s in “very good” condition as you can see from the photo I took of it.

I was still in a good mood when I happen to call Debi (of Still With Nothing of Importance) this morning and made her listen to my very good luck! I guess it’s safe to say I am most thrilled and will cherish this book from now on!

So, now I am the owner of a few Astronauts Autographs. I have Alan Bean and Dick Gordon on photo’s, and Edward Gibson on a photo (he was on Space Lab for 84 days… longer than anyone) plus I have a second Alan Bean on the print of his painting. Then I have Buzz Aldrin, Al Worden, and now John Glen’s autographs on books. *big cheesy grin*!

Decorations

2011-12-04T05:49:00.001-05:00

Well…. it’s December !!!!! So it was time to drag out the few decorations I have !

I don’t decorate a lot for Christmas. Partly because no one but me sees it, but the main reason is that I have absolutely no room to store any decorations!!!! So this is the most I can do!

(outside door)

(inside the door..so I can smell the greens! and toss it when it dies!)

(end of the counter)

(middle of the counter)

(candle holder. Need to get a red candle yet)

(entire counter)

(end table)

(shelf)

(my tree before it went on the counter and BooBoo!)

(he’s not the easiest cat to get a picture of , he doesn’t like the camera, so the fact that I managed to get two shots of him means I post them both!… note how he avoids looking at the camera even though I kept calling his name! lol)

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

2011-12-02T18:01:00.001-05:00

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson

Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Broadway (September 25, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0767919378

From Publishers Weekly

For most of his adult life, Bryson has made his home in the U.K, yet he actually entered the world in 1951 as part of America's postwar baby boom and spent his formative years in Des Moines, Iowa. Bryson wistfully recounts a childhood of innocence and optimism, a magical point in time when a distinct sense of regional and community identity briefly—but blissfully—coexisted with fledgling technology and modern convenience. Narrating, Bryson skillfully wields his amorphous accent—somehow neither fully British nor Midwestern—to project a genial and entertaining tour guide of lost Americana. In portraying the boyish exploits of his "Thunderbolt Kid" superhero alter ego, he convincingly evokes both the unadulterated joys and everyday battles of childhood. As an added bonus, the final CD features an interview with Bryson in which he reflects on the process of writing his autobiography and discussing the broader social and cultural insights that he gleaned from the experience.

I just finished reading The Thunderbolt Kid. (short version of the title, which is a great title!)

I thought I would connect with Bryson more in this book than any other but it didn’t quite happen. Did he mention old TV shows I knew.. oh yes. Did he talk about how kids were outside all the time when we were young ..absolutely! But what happened was he also covered a lot of history for back in that time. Normally, that too interests me, however he’d even write about something happening when he was no more than a month old and of course he’d not “remember” that.. so it didn’t quite fit. I’m not sure why. Maybe had he written that “the year before I was born” as a preamble .. I don’t know I just felt it wasn’t what I expected.

There was much in there that I did expect, but “to me”, he wasn’t as funny as the other books I’ve read by him. Far and away the best of the 3 I’ve read is still A Walk in The Woods.

I think I expected more connection to his childhood, but instead he had more history than childhood.

But if you were to ask me “did you sit and stare at the channel number” waiting for a program? ummm yes.

It is hard to believe anyone would bother to look as something such as this..but we knew.. we absolutely knew, if we did the time would go faster and the show we waited for would come on sooner!

So, were there some memories to connect with.. absolutely. I just wish there were more.

*************************************************************

November Wrap up… which I don’t normally do since my reading has taken a dive this year. I am lucky I will barely beat one book a week for the whole year lol.

During the month of November I actually didn’t do too bad.. I read more books than normal!

Oscar Wilde & the Candlelite Murders..Gyles Brandreth

A Walk in the Woods..Bill Bryson

The Weed that Strings the Hangmans Bag..Alan Bradley

The Lost Continent...Bill Bryson

Oscar Wilde & the Dead Mans Smile..Gyles Brandreth

The Thunderbolt Kid...Bill Bryson

Do you see a pattern here?! heh.. 3 Bill Bryson and two Gyles Brandreth! The only one to break the cycle was Alan Bradley!!

I’m happy to say I enjoyed them all. I think I would put A Walk in the Woods as number one and then the two Oscar Wilde books tie for second…but as I said…it was a good month of reading.

My One and ONLY Vlog

2011-12-01T09:50:00.001-05:00

Oscar Wilde & the Dead Man’s Smile

2011-11-26T13:27:00.001-05:00

Oscar Wilde & the Dead Man’s Smile by Gyles Brandreth.

Paperback: 365 pages
Publisher: Touchstone; (September 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1416534857

Starred Review. Oscar Wilde once again makes a convincing detective in Brandreth's excellent third whodunit to recreate the late Victorian age (after 2008's Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder). Framed as a puzzle posed by Wilde to his friend Arthur Conan Doyle in 1890, this adventure concerns a series of mysterious deaths plaguing a French acting troupe, the Compagnie La Grange, which Wilde encounters aboard ship in 1883. The first death is of a poodle, Marie Antoinette, whose body a customs officer in Liverpool unearths in a dirt-filled trunk that Wilde believed to be full of books he was bringing home from America. Human victims follow, forcing Wilde and his Watson, real-life journalist and Wilde biographer Robert Sherard, to untangle the complicated nest of emotions at play among the members of the Compagnie La Grange. John Dickson Carr fans will be gratified to find echoes of his style in several places, including the use of false endings.

Gyles Brandreth writes excellent “who done it’s”!

As much as the whole book is enjoyable I would be shocked if anyone knew the answers before the Epilogue at the end of the book! It’s most brilliant and a really enjoyable read. I am more then happy that I have yet one more Gyles Brandreth book to read!

This latest adventure takes place in France with an acting troupe which is mostly family. One by one they seem to be commiting suicide, which by the way is legal in France. It seems that suicide runs in the family… boy does it ever!

Brandreth puts you right into the 1890’s with theater being the ultimate thing to be seen, and actors with larger than life egos.

But who would “murder” a dog? There really is a lot going on that I promise you, you won’t find out until the end!

Bravo Gyles Brandreth for once again making Oscar Wilde a real life Sherlock Holmes!

Have a Happy……

2011-11-24T08:17:00.001-05:00

May your day be Merry and Bright…

….and may you feel as stuffed as the Bird!

Here, There & Everywhere

2011-11-23T07:45:00.001-05:00

(nice post title eh?!)

Well.. first things first…

My most favorite author (ever) has passed away. Or, as I’d rather think…she’s gone between on her own beloved Queen, for she was a Queen herself.

Anne McCaffrey. The first woman to make dragons loveable. She created a wonderful planet, the likes of which Pandora would be jealous. And her characters.. well.. they are all so memorable, they are never completely out of my mind no matter how long I go in between re-reads.

I met her once at a convention. Loved her immediately. ..and when she told me she fashioned Masterharper Robinton after her neighbor, I quietly asked her, “if I book a flight to Ireland, can I get his address from you?”… I made her laugh!

Thank you Anne McCafferty.. thank you for loving your profession, for bringing to life for me dragons and people that will remain in my memory forever.

RIP.

********************************************************

Wow.. hard to change topics after that news…

But as you can see… my turkey, which I will cook tomorrow is defrosting nicely in the refrigerator.. awaiting his turn to get a nice golden tan!

On Thanksgiving I will be home alone (gasp!) but I HAVE to make a turkey otherwise I can’t make my Turkey Vegetable Soup later… oh forbid I don’t have my soup!! So tomorrow I will get up and stuff a 14 lb turkey (the smallest one I’ve ever made!) (I’m kinda glad.. I’m not up to cooking the full meal! Just Turkey, stuffing and gravy with cranberry sauce.)

Although it will be a lot of work to stuff it, cook it, then bone it…. my cat will be forever grateful. (it’s so true that “dogs have masters and cats have slaves!)

******************************************************

My reading has slowed to a crawl … although I am totally enjoying the book I am reading. I guess life sometimes gets in the way.. after all I did have to get through the finale of Dancing With the Stars!

I thought the 3 finalists were all very good and as always it comes down to who has the most fans… but they were all great. I especially enjoyed seeing Chaz Bono back.. I wish, for his health’s sake, he cold loose some weight, but I can see in his smile that he is happy…and when I see someone happy, that makes me smile.

Now that Dancing is over for this season I can finally watch Terra Nova on TV instead of on Hulu!

Just Because..

2011-11-22T06:53:00.001-05:00

Just Because nothing is happening and my reading is crawling (not that I’m not enjoying my book!) And maybe because a friend of mine, Kris, saw this first picture on Facebook and didn’t remember “dead Fred” my steer skull, I thought I’d post these pictures.

Since loving how my Alan Bean picture looked with a decent frame I kept looking at my Cowboy De picture that was hanging in a cheap poster frame with matting that made it bulge and it was driving me crazy. So since Michael’s was still having a 50% off on frames I went back to see if there was anything there that I could put Cowboy De in. And because money just wanted to fly out of my hands I did find a frame! (and yes, it was 50% off!)

De looks great now.. when I look at my little cowboy corner I smile.. and sometimes, if my mind won’t shut down, I cry a little… not a day goes by that I don’t miss my friends, the Kelley’s. I’d give anything to sit and talk with them again. I am more than happy that they were in my life for some ten years…but ten years just wasn’t long enough. I know this because if it was enough I wouldn’t still miss them as much as I do.

Here’s a closer photo of Dead Fred. Like I mentioned, a gift from Sue Keenan, who probably knew me better then people I had known longer then her. Because she listened and heard how much I love “cowboy and Indian” decor. Imagine my surprise when I opened my Christmas Present one year and saw this! I had to name him and he became Dead Fred (duh..well it would have been a cramped one bed room apartment had Fred been alive.. I will be forever grateful that Sue realized that! heh)

and over my tv resides a piece of Indian art that Sue also gave me on another Christmas. She kept me to my love of cowboys and Indians that's for sure!

To show you how I never got over that particular love… here is a photo of my dining area from my California apartment.. (I bought a section of split rail fencing to use as a room divider and then “cowboyed” it up! All the photo’s on the wall are “movie cowboys”, including De in the middle. In the bottom left corner you can barely see Dead Fred..

Here’s a better shot of him…

I loved that apartment.. it was an Oversized one bedroom..I can’t say that for apartments here in Fla.! sheesh..

Anyway, … as Porky Pig once said “a-ba-de-a , ba-de-a..that’s all folks!”

It was a Good Day for Astronauts

2011-11-19T18:01:00.001-05:00

they had a great display of books for Astronaut Al Worden…

As you might have guess I went to a book signing. The person signing was one of the astronauts who raced for the moon, Al Worden.

Around the other side of the book store I found seats set up for people who were coming for the signing… The seats got filled and there was standing room only. That made me feel really good to have a good showing for such a small town as Vero Beach. I was most glad to see that our Original Astronauts from Mercury/ Gemini and Apollo are not forgotten.

Mr Worden remarked that he flew to the moon 40 years ago when he was a young lad of 40. I thought he looked rather well for a man of 80 and he had plenty of spirit left in him too!

I noticed a small pin on his jacket and zoomed in…. this is what i learned about it..

The object in the image which is depicted heading for the moon from the Earth is an astronaut pin. Astronauts were given a silver version of this pin when they were accepted into the astronaut corps; and were given a gold version of the pin after their first space flight.

Astronaut Worden talked for about an hour and then opened for questions before sitting down to autograph books…

***********************************************************************************

When the book signing was over I came and had a package waiting for me. I was expecting it but wasn’t sure if it would come today or Monday… inside the box was an absolutely fabulous gift from my girlfriend Michelle… it’s a 11x14 photo of a painting by Astronaut Alan Bean!

…ahhhyup… autographed!

(the flip side of the picture… note the small photo of Alan Bean in his spacesuit?.. well I met Alan Bean once and guess what photo I had him sign!?)

Oh yeah! Now I have TWO Alan Bean signatures! And I couldn’t be more thrilled…

ok.. well maybe I can be… that will be after I get the Alan Bean “painting” matted and framed and hung on my wall !!! I can’t wait!

The Lost Continent

2011-11-18T08:30:00.001-05:00

The Lost Continent:Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (August 3, 1990)
ISBN-10: 0060920084

Amazon.com Review

A travelogue by Bill Bryson is as close to a sure thing as funny books get. The Lost Continent is no exception. Following an urge to rediscover his youth (he should know better), the author leaves his native Des Moines, Iowa, in a journey that takes him across 38 states. Lucky for us, he brought a notebook.

With a razor wit and a kind heart, Bryson serves up a colorful tale of boredom, kitsch, and beauty when you least expect it. Gentler elements aside, The Lost Continent is an amusing book. Here's Bryson on the women of his native state: "I will say this, however--and it's a strange, strange thing--the teenaged daughters of these fat women are always utterly delectable ... I don't know what it is that happens to them, but it must be awful to marry one of those nubile cuties knowing that there is a time bomb ticking away in her that will at some unknown date make her bloat out into something huge and grotesque, presumably all of a sudden and without much notice, like a self-inflating raft from which the pin has been yanked."

There’s no denying that Bill Bryson has a quick sense of humor, and so I found myself reading a second book by Mr.. Bryson. In this book he travels around the U.S. in and out of small towns and through some of Nature’s wonders.

I wasn’t but a few pages into the book when Mr.. Bryson describes a town as such: The whole town was as tranquil as a double dose of Valium. Now, I don’t know about you but that would send me right out in search of that town!… ok so maybe not, heh. But I did know this was going to be another adventure in which Bill Bryson’s humor would abound as he traveled around our continent.

There really isn’t a lot I can say except when you need something to read and nothing seems to satisfy you ..try something different and read one of Bill Bryson’s comical books! Be careful though, he also writes more serious books, but you can pretty much tell how the book will read by the more professional reviews.

Just to bring out my thoughts on his humor I will leave you with some blurbs so that you might decide for yourself if you might want to read this or not.

(Upon watching tv in a motel in rural America): “I couldn’t believe it. I hadn’t seen Joyce Brothers for years and she hadn’t changed a bit. Not one hair on her head had altered a fraction since the last time I saw her, droning about menstrual flow in 1962. It was as if they had kept her in a box for 25 years. This was as close as I would ever come to time travel!”

“Years ago, in the days of Vietnam, two friends and I drove to Florida during spring break. We all had long hair. En route we took a shortcut across the back roads of Georgia and stopped late one afternoon for a burger at a dinette in some dreary little crudville, and when we took our seats at the counter the place fell silent. Fourteen people just stopped eating their food resting in their mouths and stared at us. It was so quiet in there you could have heard a fly fart.”

(one final blurb about a place I love, the Grand Canyon. It was snowy and there was such a bad fog he was depressed that he couldn’t see a thing)..

Afterwards, I trudged towards the visitors center, perhaps 200 yards away, but before I got there I came across a snow-spattered sign announcing a lookout point half a mile away along a trail through the woods, and impulsively I went down it, mostly just to get some air. The path was slippery and took a long time to traverse, but on the way the snow stopped falling and the air felt clean and refreshing. Eventually I came to a platform of rocks, marking the edge of the canyon. There was no fence to keep you back from the edge , so I shuffled cautiously over and looked down, but could see nothing but gray soup. A middle-aged couple came along and as we stood chatting about what a dispiriting experience this was, a miraculous thing happened. The fog parted. It just silently drew back, like a set of theater curtains being opened, and suddenly we saw that we were on the edge of a sheer, giddying drop of at least a thousand feet, “Jesus!” we said and jumped back, and all along the canyon edge you could hear people saying “Jesus!” like a message being passed down a long line. And then for many moments all was silence, except for the tiny fretful shiftings of the snow, because out there in front of us was the most awesome, most silencing sight that exists on earth.

Now why can’t I describe things like him??!

In this book Mr. Bryson gives his thoughts on many things and at the same time you get a mini travel log of places we may never see because we don’t or can’t travel around just to see what’s out there. What a shame that each and every one of us never really gets to see our very own country. But if you’d like… this book could give you at least a tiny view.

This makes 2 of Bill Bryson’s books I have read and I have sent for one more of the humorous books… a book about his childhood (The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir) in which I already know he will spark many memories of my own and for anyone over 40 yrs old. So if you are ready for something different, and ready to have moments that you will smile, and moments you will chuckle and even moments you will laugh out loud… well then it’s time for you to read a Bill Bryson book!

Who’s the Boss?..

2011-11-17T14:23:00.001-05:00

First off let me tell you that BooBoo Kitty does not make it easy for me to get a picture of him. The minute he hears the camera power go on he moves… But I worked read hard yesterday to try to give you a picture story of “who’s the real boss in the house.”

First up… that little cubby-hole and his cardboard scratcher are two places he does like to sleep… during the day. And they actually belong to him!

..but of course any time I am not in my computer chair you can count on Boo to be there.

Then there’s bed time.. below is a photo of the “cat’s side” of MY bed.

Note that he likes many places to rest his tired, tired body…

He never sleeps in one spot very long..

Of course one would think that giving him half of a full bed would be more than enough for a 9 pound cat right?….

wrong..

he goes behind the feather pillows on MY side of the bed and stretches out and forces me to slide down on the mattress so he has room… I wind up sleeping with my feet hanging off of the mattress!

So… Who’s the boss??? heh.. it sure isn’t me!

An Article That Bears Repeating…

2011-11-16T07:14:00.001-05:00

US space pioneers to get congressional medals

(AFP)–15 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The US Congress on Wednesday will award the nation's highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, to four American astronauts including the first man to walk on the Moon, 81-year-old Neil Armstrong.

Other recipients are Buzz Aldrin, 81, who was second man to walk on the Moon, and Michael Collins, also 81, who was the command module pilot for Apollo 11, the first manned mission to the Moon in 1969.

The fourth winner is former senator John Glenn, 90, the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962.

They were given the nod by Congress in 2009 to receive the award, making them the first astronauts ever named to the honor, on what was then the 40th anniversary of the pioneering US mission to the Moon.

Wednesday's ceremony is set for 11:00 am (1600 GMT) at the US Capitol Rotunda.

Past winners of the Congressional Gold Medal, described as the "highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions," include Myanmar pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, the Dalai Lama, Walt Disney, and Pope John Paul II.

Florida Senator Bill Nelson, who initially sought the Congressional recognition for the quartet, said on the eve of the ceremony that lawmakers were likely to vote to approve a NASA budget of 17.8 billion dollars.

"This budget makes a major investment in the next generation of human space flight," he said, describing it as "good news" because it would give more funding toward the James Webb Space Telescope and a rocket for deep space travel.

Armstrong was on Capitol Hill in September, when he told lawmakers that the end of the space shuttle era has left the American human spaceflight program in an "embarrassing" state and urged NASA to return to the Moon.

Hard to believe, as I look at the photo’s I found to make the collage that so much time has gone by since these phenomenal men went to the moon. I applaud their recognition but still feel their accomplishments were pushed aside by not returning to the moon. I feel we learned much from them, but not enough to send a human even farther out into space. But then who am I to think that way?

The Weed That Strings the Hangmans Bag

2011-11-15T08:09:00.001-05:00

The Weed that Strings the Hangmans Bag by Alan Bradley.

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Bantam; (February 8, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0385343450

From Booklist

Flavia, the precocious, imaginative, and adorable 11-year-old sleuth, returns for her second adventure. It’s a mystery in itself how a mature male author can pen the adventures of such a young female child and keep readers believing in the fantasy. Flavia’s world is 1950s England—specifically, a very old country house that just happens to have a long-abandoned chemistry laboratory. And Flavia just happens to be fascinated by chemistry—particularly poisons. This helps her solve mysteries because, as Flavia says, “There’s something about pottering with poisons that clarifies the mind.” This time she becomes involved with the members of a traveling puppet show that features the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. When the puppetmaster is mysteriously electrocuted during the show, Flavia knows it can’t be an accident and eventually finds the murderer. The rest of Flavia’s family are also eccentric, to say the least, and add greatly to the overall fun. Thank goodness Bradley is not allowing Flavia to grow up too quickly; we need more sleuths whose primary mode of transportation is a bicycle.

It must be Fate that has me reading these books! I came across the first book at the used book store for 3.00 and since so many people loved it I purchased it and read it. I enjoyed it but wasn’t sure I wanted to get into yet another series….

Low and behold, I was back at the used books store and there sat “book 2” of the Flavia saga. Ohhhhkay, so we got book 2 and I just finished reading it.

This one was also enjoyable but I have to say that in both books there are occasional terms used by Flavia that no matter how much of a chemical genius she is an 11 year old would not be using!… however… the books are still enjoyable.

This one took it’s time getting to the “murder”… I was beginning to wonder if there was even going to be one…when suddenly, there it was… a murder for young Flavia to solve!

I’ve gone this far so the odds are I will eventually read the next book lol..like I have no other books sitting on my shelves that need to be read, right? cha!

There is one small matter that I have to say bothers me in these books… and it’s the way her sisters make her feel unwanted. It’s a part of the books that I would have edited out if I were the author. I realize it gives her a reason to “get back” at the sisters…but hurt like that is never forgotten, even if she is only 11 yrs old.

All in all.. I do agree with most everyone else though, that if you read these books, you will enjoy them!

Stop Motion

2011-11-13T07:29:00.001-05:00

I posted a few pictures over on my other blog where i put pictures that I don’t use on Blogspot, but his particular photo is one of my favorites so I thought I’d show it here. While walking on the beach I noticed a large piece of what I call sandstone. These stones, such as they are, wash up on shore all sizes and shapes.. I find most of them really interesting to look at.

Anyway… this one was down where the waves were still washing over it and so I watched it for a bit and saw how the wave really splashed high and decided to try to get a picture of it.. and I have to say I love the effect and wish I had taken more snaps like this one.

I don’t have a real fancy camera..well it’s more than a point and shoot..but I don’t know how to work any of the fancy stuff.. I just, ummm… point and shoot lol. I thought this sort of shot might come out just a blur. And although I can see it in the small viewer on the back of the camera, I have learned that many times the photo’s that look really good small are not so good when I put them on the computer. Many are blurry and beyond being able to sharpen them up to focus. (which drives me crazy because supposedly when I hold the button down part way and a green square shows up the picture IS IN FOCUS..yeah right)

Now I find I want to go back to the beach and get more pictures like this, except this beach, with the many sandstones, was close to 20 miles away and I wouldn’t trust my “junker car” to get me there and back again.

But I still think this is a pretty neat photo, don’t you?

(below is a picture of a small piece of, what I call, sand stone)

A Walk in the Woods

2011-11-10T06:21:00.001-05:00

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Broadway;(May 4, 1999)
ISBN-10: 0767902521

From Publishers Weekly

Returning to the U.S. after 20 years in England, Iowa native Bryson decided to reconnect with his mother country by hiking the length of the 2100-mile Appalachian Trail. Awed by merely the camping section of his local sporting goods store, he nevertheless plunges into the wilderness and emerges with a consistently comical account of a neophyte woodsman learning hard lessons about self-reliance. Bryson (The Lost Continent) carries himself in an irresistibly bewildered manner, accepting each new calamity with wonder and hilarity. He reviews the characters of the AT (as the trail is called), from a pack of incompetent Boy Scouts to a perpetually lost geezer named Chicken John. Most amusing is his cranky, crude and inestimable companion, Katz, a reformed substance abuser who once had single-handedly "become, in effect, Iowa's drug culture." The uneasy but always entertaining relationship between Bryson and Katz keeps their walk interesting, even during the flat stretches. Bryson completes the trail as planned, and he records the misadventure with insight and elegance.

Holy cow! What a totally unexpected experience!

This is a book of Fresh Air! (pun intended)

Once again I get to blame my “sis”, Cath, from across the pond for my getting and reading this book…. and I want to give her a hug and thank her!

This book was something I needed and didn’t even know it.

This is a fun book to read.

If there aren't times that you laugh out loud while reading this book, then you must be asleep with the book in your hand! Of course it would help some if you have heard of the AT (Appalachian Trail). And possibly if you ever (and I do mean ever) thought of hiking or camping outdoors, then this is the book for you! Think hard if there’s a chance that you think you wouldn’t enjoy this book because of what I just said… did you ever hide under a table as a kid and pretend you were outside and your mom couldn’t see you?.. then this book might entertain you. Did you ever make a ten out of sheets as a kid and have your mom let you eat your lunch in the tent? If you like the outdoors at all… then this book will delight you.

In between the hysterically funny writing of Mr Bryson about his, and his friends, journey to hike the Appalachian Trail there are bits of very interesting information along the way. I can promise you that I never *skimmed * on a single page of this book…, it was that much fun and that much interesting.

It could possibly deter you from wanting to hike on the Appalachian trail, but more likely it could peak your interest to at least take a day hike in any of the 14 states that the Trail runs through.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail spans fourteen U.S. states during its journey that is 2,179 miles (3,507 km) long, including Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. (just an FYI).

If that doesn’t interest you.. then read this book for a good laugh! Any time Mr Bryson begins a sentence with “that’s like…” you know you are about to guffaw!

Need a pick me up and you’ve never read this book before? Go get it and read it! You won’t be disappointed! I have already found another book (used book) by him and have sent for it, because laughing makes me feel good! Thank you Mr Bryson, thank you very much..I may be wa.a.a.a.ay behind in reading your books…but if I may say so… I believe this one will become a classic and be read for generations to come.

A Little bit of This and a Little bit of That

2011-11-07T05:59:00.001-05:00

This post is a prime example of why I call my blog “Here, There & Everywhere”. It’s a bit of this and a bit of that.. and mostly “told” in pictures….

Ok, up first is the fact that everyone insists that it’s Fall and so I searched for what few examples I find in southern Florida for Fall. (a season I only dream of anymore.)

Note : Anhinga in a tree.. note the rust colored leaves of the Bald Cypress Tree.. .. that’s “Fall”.

Number 2 of Fall: The squirrels are out in force and getting their “winter fat” so they can hibernate for the full 6 weeks of winter. (loud sigh of resignation)

..nonstop, eat, eat, eat.. got to store that fat for the long cold winter! (yes, I said that in a sarcastic tone!)

I hear the tiny cheeps of our winter Warbler! Not the easiest bird to get a decent photo of so you get what I got!…

And last but not least.. little acorns fall from the mighty Live Oak trees. That’s it folks. That sums up what I found around the pond to indicate that Turkey day is right around the corner!

Now for the Little Bit of That part:

I am actually excited that on Nov. 19th, at the book store right down the road from me a guest author is coming to do a book signing. Now, many of you know that I collect autographs, but generally they are on photo’s.. when I have no other choice it is on a book. Did I hear someone say ‘what’s wrong with it on a book?”… well my apartment is only about 600 square feet and that includes the kitchen, eating area and bathroom.. which means there is very little room for all the books I already have!!! Therefore, I’d much rather have a signature on a photograph that goes into a plastic sleeve and into a binder… but…………………. I will take what I can get. Especially because the author that is coming to do the signing just happened to be on Apollo 15 that went to the moon! If you don’t know how much I love the astronauts (especially from Mercury, Gemini and Apollo..then you don’t know me!)

Astronaut Al Worden will be doing a book signing in just 2 weeks! So trust me when I say I went to the book store to get the specifics on exactly where and when to be there!

I ran home and ordered the book from Amazon since it did save me 12.00 from the bookstore price. I am sorry I cannot support them more, because I do love bookstores.. but I just don’t have it to spare. So it is already on it’s way to me as I type this! As you can see it’s called Falling to Earth by Al Worden.

I made a composite photo of him below and will have a friend print it off and hope that I can get him to sign the photo as well as the book… but I do know that he probably will only sign books.. However I will take it on the off chance he’s in a good mood and will sign a photo!

Next, a little more of A Little of That… more used books that have come into my house. If I were giving points to those I blame for my getting certain books I would blame the Anthony Trollope book and the Bill Bryson books on Cath! Actually, I’d blame the second Alan Bradley book on her too! But truth be known I can only blame her because these books happen to be in the used book stores! I only paid 1.00 for that huge Anthony Trollope book and it’s like new.. 3.00 for the Alan Bradley and for A Walk in the Woods (which I am reading now and happily getting many chuckles over) and 2.00 for the Errol Flynn book. Now, deduct the books I read for RIP and add these and I am back at 142 books in my tbr pile!!! ……….. I give up!………..

And Last of all………… this Star Trek Jacket which I still want for Christmas in case any of you would like to take up a collection and send it to me! LOL.. hey, it never hurts to put it out there! hahahaha…………….

Oscar Wilde & the Candlelight Murders

2011-11-05T07:04:00.001-04:00

Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders by Gyles Brandreth.

Paperback: 347 pages
Publisher: Touchstone; (January 8, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1416534830

Book Description

Lovers of historical mystery will relish this chilling Victorian tale based on real events and cloaked in authenticity. Best of all, it casts British literature's most fascinating and controversial figure as the lead sleuth.

A young artist's model has been murdered, and legendary wit Oscar Wilde enlists his friends Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Sherard to help him investigate. But when they arrive at the scene of the crime they find no sign of the gruesome killing -- save one small spatter of blood, high on the wall. Set in London, Paris, Oxford, and Edinburgh at the height of Queen Victoria's reign, here is a gripping eyewitness account of Wilde's secret involvement in the curious case of Billy Wood, a young man whose brutal murder served as the inspiration for The Picture of Dorian Gray. Told by Wilde's contemporary -- poet Robert Sherard -- this novel provides a fascinating and evocative portrait of the great playwright and his own "consulting detective," Sherlock Holmes creator, Arthur Conan Doyle.

I can hear my “sis” now… “it’s about time you read this book!”.. and she’d be right!

I think this was the most enjoyable book I’ve read in a long time! I am not usually one to like a book that reads: someone is murdered and the detective will now solve the murder. Dull, dull, dull… But that does NOT describe this book!

I loved it! I loved that Brandreth used characters I am familiar with. I loved that it was not “current” but set in older England. I loved that historical points were accurate and that writings from Wilde and Doyle were mentioned …. add to that, that it was so fast paced you couldn’t put it down!

If I may use a word I have heard my friend Cath use many times… this book is just *brilliant*! I can tell you now, that if this sort of books sounds good to you..get it! Because it is far better then any review can do for it.

I also found out that it’s a series.. however.. a very expensive series! In my searches for another in the series I even found the cover I have here and all there was for the color cover I have was used books.. for 139.00!! hello?! Need I say that this book will NOT leave my apartment? lol.. I did find another in the series, used, in hardback no less, quite cheap and so I have sent for it!

Did I mention that in this book Mr Brandreth has Oscar Wilde “acting as Sherlock Holmes” at times? Gawd, I loved it hahahaha. This book was a breath of fresh air..and I will say something I rarely say: I recommend it to anyone who likes a fast pace mystery, likes references to Conan Doyle’s Holmes, and likes reading books with the background of old England.

This book is a keeper!

R.I.P.

2011-10-31T05:58:00.001-04:00

Here’s to a Happy Halloween and another Successful RIP!…

Wow, … is it really over already?? Time flies when you are reading a creepy book that’s for sure!

As little as 4 yrs ago (September 2007 to be precise) I read my first RIP book… reluctantly! I don’t like to read about Vampires or Werewolves or Zombies or.. well you get the picture. I got extremely lucky and found a little book called “Gil’s All Fright Diner”. Did it have a Vampire? Why, yes it did. Did it have a Werewolf? Ummm, yup it did. But unlike a “normal Vampire, or normal Werewolf” these two were Funny,and they were reluctant heroes! I thought, ok I can do this! Then Mr. Carl introduced me to Gothic Mysteries… lord help me. … I am hooked, hooked, hooked!

And so each year now I await RIP in hopes I will find even more books to enjoy! I have found some gems along the way which include “The Thirteenth Tale” and “Drood”…if that isn’t bad enough I have become a Wilke Collins fan! You couldn’t have gotten me to read a book by Wilke or Dickens when I was young to save my life! And yet, here I am… an old fart who likes Wilke Collins!…I hear that stranger things have happened but it would take man walking on the moon to beat that one!… oh.. right.. that’s been done! heh…

Anyway.. here I sit broken hearted… paid a dime and only…well, only read 10 things for RIP!

I think if I had to pick just one book to be my favorite of them it would be The Graveminder by Melissa Marr. I think it most fit the ambiance of the challenge.

I can never thank you enough for holding this challenge each year, Carl !

Without you it would only be another Halloween.

The Butterfly Cabinet

2011-10-29T10:59:00.001-04:00

(This is my 9th-and final- review for RIP)

The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill.

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Free Press(July 26, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1451611595

Book Description

Publication Date: July 26, 2011

Vivid, mysterious and unforgettable, The Butterfly Cabinet is Bernie McGill’s engrossing portrayal of the dark history that intertwines two lives. Inspired by a true story of the death of the daughter of an aristocratic Irish family at the end of the nineteenth century, McGill powerfully tells this tale of two women whose lives will become upended by a newly told secret.

The events begin when Maddie McGlade, a former nanny now in her nineties, receives a letter from the last of her charges and realizes that the time has come to unburden herself of a secret she has kept for over seventy years: what really happened on the last day in the life of Charlotte Ormond, the four-year-old only daughter of the big house where Maddie was employed as a young woman. It is to Charlotte’s would-be niece, Anna—pregnant with her first—that Maddie will tell her story as she nears the end of her life in a lonely nursing home in Northern Ireland.

The book unfolds in chapters that alternate between Maddie’s story and the prison diaries of Charlotte’s mother, Harriet, who had been held responsible for her daughter’s death. As Maddie confesses the truth to Anna, she unravels the Ormonds’ complex family history, and also details her own life, marked by poverty, fear, sacrifice and lies. In stark contrast to Maddie is the misunderstood, haughty and yet surprisingly lyrical voice of Harriet’s prison diaries, which Maddie has kept hidden for decades. Motherhood came no more easily to Harriet than did her role as mistress of a far-flung Irish estate. Proud and uncompromising, she is passionate about riding horses and collecting butterflies to store in her prized cabinet. When her only daughter, Charlotte, dies, allegedly as the result of Harriet’s punitive actions, the community is quick to condemn her and send her to prison for the killing. Unwilling to stoop to defend herself and too absorbed in her own world of strict rules and repressed desires, she accepts the cruel destiny that is beyond her control even as, paradoxically, it sets her free.

The result of this unusual duet is a haunting novel full of frightening silences and sorrowful absences that build toward the unexpected, chilling truth.

This Amazon Review gives a perfect outline of this small but effective book.

This book is quite good… but for some reason that I don’t know I have a feeling that it could have been better. I did feel (as you go through chapters) that I got to know the protagonists ( I consider both Maddie and Harriet the main characters).

The telling of the two stories alternating chapters was not difficult to read and I never once got confused as to who was talking and what was happening. However in some small way I still didn’t feel that I was “there, in the story” the way most books such as this make me feel.

Like I said it’s short and to the point and maybe that’s why I feel as I do. A longer version and getting to know the people better might be called for. But it certainly was a most interesting book. Based on a true story, which makes it even more interesting.

I did like it, but I might say if someone isn’t “sure” about it to read a Library copy.

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

2011-10-23T11:06:00.001-04:00

(This is my 8th read for RIP)

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Bantam; (January 19, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0385343493

Amazon : It's the beginning of a lazy summer in 1950 at the sleepy English village of Bishop's Lacey. Up at the great house of Buckshaw, aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce passes the time tinkering in the laboratory she's inherited from her deceased mother and an eccentric great uncle. When Flavia discovers a murdered stranger in the cucumber patch outside her bedroom window early one morning, she decides to leave aside her flasks and Bunsen burners to solve the crime herself, much to the chagrin of the local authorities. But who can blame her? What else does an eleven-year-old science prodigy have to do when left to her own devices? With her widowed father and two older sisters far too preoccupied with their own pursuits and passions—stamp collecting, adventure novels, and boys respectively—Flavia takes off on her trusty bicycle Gladys to catch a murderer. In Alan Bradley's critically acclaimed debut mystery, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, adult readers will be totally charmed by this fearless, funny, and unflappable kid sleuth. But don't be fooled: this carefully plotted detective novel (the first in a new series) features plenty of unexpected twists and turns and loads of tasty period detail. As the pages fly by, you'll be rooting for this curious combination of Harriet the Spy and Sherlock Holmes.

I just finished reading this book about an hour ago. Many have read it and the books that follow it already and loved the books.

As many know I have been in a slump plus stressed out to the point it’s hard to get my mind off of things let alone seriously get into what I’m reading and it seriously hampers my enjoyment of the books I’ve been reading… so take this with a grain of salt.

I did enjoy the book and Flavia and her whole family which Mr Bradley very nicely gave very individual personalities to, which in turn flavored the book quite well.

The mystery itself was laid out very well and I really did not piece it together any before Flavia did! I did however have a bit of difficulty with her being so adult at such a young age. Was she extremely smart and into chemistry.. yes… in fact, almost more so than is believable….so I did have some difficulties there…but at the times I was not envisioning her of the age she was, then the story seemed better to me. I know I have read many YA books before and this is not the first time I thought the protagonist “too young” or written too old for the age. But I will admit that this doesn’t happen often .

Over all, considering my lack of enthusiasm for anything I’ve read lately, I did enjoy this book and I can see where most who take up the book to read will also enjoy it.

*little things that I enjoyed*: Flavia named her bicycle. (me too! Mine was named Nellie Bell) . I loved that she could get the better of her older sisters. (I was once known to chase my brother who was 5 yrs older than me, around the yard with a big earthworm in my outstretch hand)

This is a book I am sure many of you will enjoy if you like YA books and a good mystery.

More new Books

2011-10-21T08:38:00.001-04:00

I have come to the conclusion that no matter how hard I try I will always have 140 books in my tbr mountain! I get it down by 3 or four and low and behold 3 or 4 new or in this case, used, books come into the house! And so once again I have 140 TBR books!

In actuality these books entered my apartment a week or so ago.. I just didn’t get to posting the photo.

I really have to keep reminding everyone that my not feeling well has really attributed to how much I enjoy a book. I am reading Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie right now.. it’s slow going, and although I think Flavia is cute and I realize they made her interested in chemistry so she was more believable sounding more adult, the chemistry aspect has not thrilled me …I can’t say I am as enamored as most who read it… then again..I can’t say I’ve read a book that really excited me in quite some time. I’ve enjoyed books but there hasn’t been a one I’ve decided to “keep”. That being said, I am not quite half way thru the book. It’s not one I will set aside and I am enjoying it to a degree.. it’s just not one of those “i love that book” feelings, and I do attribute a lot of not “loving a book” is due to how I’ve been feeling the past couple of months.

Anyway, I found 3 of these books at the used Library bookstore.. : Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart,

The Sisters by Mary S Lovell

and Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley.

Nice Coaches and the Sisters were each 1.00 . Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie was 5.00 and in NEW condition.

An Unpardonable Crime I found in Amazon “used” . Including the 3.99 shipping it cost me 4.00 . Yes, I paid one cent for the book.

Will I ever get my tbr down to under 100???? I would dearly love that. I would still always get books but I’d sure like the tbr to be lower. I have to admit it wouldn’t be easy because many (MANY) of the books in my tbr are HUGE books! *sigh*. I certainly don’t mind big books but my reading is so slow and it’s so hard to walk out of the used book store empty handed!!! I’m doomed aren’t I?!

Miss Jeromette & the Clergyman: 1875

2011-10-17T08:41:00.001-04:00

(my 8th read *but not a book* for RIP)

Miss Jeromette & the Clergyman : a novella by Wilke Collins.

Ok.. so.. by now you know I don’t seem to like short stories.. so my friend Cath told me I might like a novella by an author I like, Wilke Collins. So I go to the website and rather than reading it on line I printed out the (shutter!) short story. It is 15 8x10 pages, single spaced. Which I will admit is longer than most short stories, but still …. *groan*

I put off reading it until today. I have to say Wilke manages to do what others have not. His *novella* had a beginning, where the future clergyman falls in love with Jeromette. A middle, where he leaves his love to become a Clergyman knowing his love is in love with another. And an end…. which of course I won’t give away.

I really do like the way Wilke Collins writes! He is more *readable* then Dickens. A little less dark and in general uses easier words to read by.

Believe it or not, since this tale is about a ghost it fits the criteria for yet another RIP read!… this would be number 8 !!

But the way if you like Wilke’s writing and click on the link at the top you will find a list of ~~short stories~~ novella’s written by Wilke. You can read them on line or print them off to read .

I will leave you with a rather large excerpt that Amazon had posted as their product description..

Product Description

an excerpt from the beginning: My brother, the clergyman, looked over my shoulder before I was aware of him, and discovered that the volume which completely absorbed my attention was a collection of famous Trials, published in a new edition and in a popular form. He laid his finger on the Trial which I happened to be reading at the moment. I looked up at him; his face startled me. He had turned pale. His eyes were fixed on the open page of the book with an expression which puzzled and alarmed me. "My dear fellow," I said, "what in the world is the matter with you?" He answered in an odd absent manner, still keeping his finger on the open page. "I had almost forgotten," he said. "And this reminds me." "Reminds you of what?" I asked. "You don't mean to say you know anything about the Trial?" "I know this," he said. "The prisoner was guilty." "Guilty?" I repeated. "Why, the man was acquitted by the jury, with the full approval of the judge! What call you possibly mean?" "There are circumstances connected with that Trial," my brother answered, "which were never communicated to the judge or the jury - which were never so much as hinted or whispered in court. I know them - of my own knowledge, by my own personal experience. They are very sad, very strange, very terrible. I have mentioned them to no mortal creature. I have done my best to forget them. You - quite innocently - have brought them back to my mind. They oppress, they distress me. I wish I had found you reading any book in your library, except that book!" My curiosity was now strongly excited. I spoke out plainly. "Surely," I suggested, "you might tell your brother what you are unwilling to mention to persons less nearly related to you. We have followed different professions, and have lived in different countries, since we were boys at school. But you know you can trust me." He considered a little with himself. "Yes," he said. "I know I can trust you." He waited a moment, and then he surprised me by a strange question. "Do you believe," he asked, "that the spirits of the dead can return to earth, and show themselves to the living?" I answered cautiously - adopting as my own the words of a great English writer, touching the subject of ghosts. "You ask me a question," I said, "which, after five thousand years, is yet undecided. On that account alone, it is a question not to be trifled with." My reply seemed to satisfy him. "Promise me," he resumed, "that you will keep what I tell you a secret as long as I live. After my death I care little what happens. Let the story of my strange experience be added to the published experience of those other men who have seen what I have seen, and who believe what I believe. The world will not be the worse, and may be the better, for knowing one day what I am now about to trust to your ear alone."

Graveminder

2011-10-15T08:24:00.001-04:00

(This is the 7th book I’ve read for RIP)

Graveminder by Melissa Marr.

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (May 17, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0061826871

Product Description
The New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series delivers her first novel for adults, a story about the living, the dead, and a curse that binds them.

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't attend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place--and the man--she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D--a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.

Strangely enough, this book was pretty good. It was quick to read because of short chapters (something I dearly love!).

As much of a story this book is about the dead (or the waking dead) I bet you might not believe it’s also a love story. Yup.. a love story! I am not sure how Ms Marr managed to combine the two subjects so well, but she did!

I am not usually one for love stories. Well, at last not an out and out love story without a good story behind it… and this was a pretty darn good story! And for longer then Byron would care to remember Bek was not about to admit that she felt the same for him… that’s frustrating enough to make you want to be dead yourself… except that Byron is the Undertaker! Good lord.. I just can’t picture loving an undertaker. I guess I just can’t imagine what the talk would be like around the dinner table.

“hon, it that a leg or a thigh?” ewwwwwwwwwww never mind.

Anyway this was one of the better stories that I’ve read during RIP. But I still have to admit that the other books are probably better then I stated just because I am still so stressed out that nothing is quite right lately.

The Amazon review above gives a good idea of the book… and all I can add to it is that it was surprisingly a very good read.

*************************************************************************

As you may remember back that I purchased a book called Death by Dickens edited by Anne Perry. It’s a book of short stories using characters by Charles Dickens. I thought this was ingenious and thought I would actually enjoy the short stories. But then again I thought that when I bought a short stories book about wizards once too.. nada.

Out of this book I have read 2 short stories. The first was so short I couldn’t find a storyline. The second fared a bit better for a storyline but they made Dickens sound like Sherlock Holmes!… needless to say I put the book down and read the above book of Graveminder… I may try another story at another time but for now I have way too many other books I’d rather give a try to..

The Day After…

2011-10-10T09:46:00.001-04:00

As some of you might know, parts of Florida had more than it’s fair share of stormy rains over the weekend. It actually began on Friday, Saturday was the worst but Sunday got somewhat better (not as much rain) but still had winds up to 50 mph. and we had maybe 2 downpours intermittent with some sun.

This morning (Monday) the sun came out and the wind had subsided so I went out for a look see. I was quite surprised. Many small branches from the trees were on the ground, but that wasn’t the surprise. The surprise was that I didn’t spot a single bird! Not one pesky Ibis!!! (unheard of!) Then I noticed some of my small plants knocked over .. with the wind we had I wasn’t surprised at all… until I went to set them back up and found this….

Ah well now. I would say there had been a crab by my apartment, and someone had a good meal! No signs of any more of the shell, just these two claws. There must have been a “struggle” and that’s how my plants were knocked down. I feel bad for the crab but someone had a good dinner!

Finally, after about 20 minutes I spotted a Moorhen! And then… low and behold.. the Anhinga was drying its wings up atop a tree! I think he was playing “king of the ~~mountain~~ tree”

…and then he struck this pose.. I am sure he thought he was a Bald Eagle! (not!)

Another hour has passed and still no Ibis or other birds. I guess they got blown away and will take some time to return.

Mostly I am waaay happy that the water level of the pond is receding! I was beginning to think I might need my water wings! (can’t swim.. heh).

Anyway… that’s the “day after” at the pond!

A Fine and Private Place

2011-10-09T07:20:00.001-04:00

(This is my 6th book for RIP)

A Fine and Private Place by Peter S Beagle.

Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Tachyon Publications (May 28, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1892391465

Amazon.com Review

Conversing in a mausoleum with the dead, an eccentric recluse is tugged back into the world by a pair of ghostly lovers bearing an extraordinary gift--the final chance for his own happiness. When challenged by a faithless wife and aided by a talking raven, the lives of the living and the dead may be renewed by courage and passion, but only if not belatedly. Told with an elegiac wisdom, this delightful tale of magic and otherworldly love is a timeless work of fantasy imbued with hope and wonder. After multiple printings since 1960, this newest edition will contain the author's recent revisions and will stand as the definitive version of an ageless classic.

I wasn’t sure I’d like this book but then I kept thinking, *why not? I liked The Graveyard book by Gaiman*, so when I saw it for only 4.99 I bought it.

I will admit up front that they way I’ve been feeling I almost put the book down..not because it wasn’t enjoyable but because of how I’ve been lately…but I pushed on ever so slowly, and I did like the book quite a lot.

Basically it’s about a man named Rebeck who lives in a cemetery. He’s lived there for years and he can see and talk to ghosts.

Honestly, even though I just said the words cemetery and ghosts in the description I’m not sure it belongs in RIP, because it’s certainly not a scary story!

I don’t want to say too much about the book because it’s not a big book and I don’t want to give away what actually happens to Rebeck and his ghost friends. I will say that you eventually learn more about Rebeck and you learn the stories of a few ghosts within the cemetery and along the way you review some of life’s lessons. It’s really a sort of comfort read…. if one can say that about a cemetery.

This book would be an enjoyable read any time of the year….but I guess it does belong in RIP…I have to admit, there aren’t many feel good cemetery books around.. you might want to read this one!

Bitch, bitch, bitch

2011-10-08T10:04:00.001-04:00

Ummm, why yes I think I will get on the soap box today… how lucky can you get?

I have to say… I am not in love with Windows 7… not in the least!

And yes, I am old and therefore I do not like change (especially when nothing is broken) however, I do know once i get used to it (I am told) I will like it. Not gunna happen…but I also know I have no choice………which is what REALLY ticks me off!

*land of the free* but I can’t choose what I want…what’s so free about that?

Ok before I get too far off base I ‘ll choose something *small* to bitch about……. Explorer 9. below is what my IE looks like….. please notice the address bar..

…. or I should say… Lack Of.

Ohhh my! will you look below! A REAL address bar! One that you can read the address in! One that lets you see the WHOLE address so that you can see if you happened (which is most likely) to have made a typo! Wow, now why would anyone NOT want to see what they have typed in an address bar?? Beats me! I know I make typo’s but if I can’t see it I can’t fix it… dumb butts that made a small address bar!

While we are on the address bar… look at that below… what the hell is it? what happened to my very long list of places I was at the other day?????? Now I only get the last 5? what the hell good is history and favorites to me? If I want favorites I’ll open my favorites list! I want my LONG LIST of places I've been all week long dammit!

Next: my Google search bar… it’s always been a good thing for me. I can type in a word I want to search or even a question I want to find an answer to…

Excuse me?! I type one letter and the whole freeking page changes?!! With one letter they think they know what I want? Get real …let me type what I want ! And I want my normal Google bar in the middle where it belongs! And i don’t want all that crap below !

Ahhh and then there’s the favorites list… anyone remember that for many MANY YEARS it was on the left side? (and yes I know I can pin it on the left side) But please tell me how moving it to the right side helped any???? it’s still a favorites list..nothing much changed EXCEPT some A.Hole decided to move it..for no apparent reason!

I want my old IE back… does anyone know if I can put an older version of IE on Windows 7? (I really do NOT like windows 7!)

And I will never understand why everything made for computers gives us NO CHOICE what so ever! Oh, I know they want to sell their “new and improved” versions…but why does it have to be forced on us??

I read some articles before I decided to write this post and I even checked out FoxFire….and they all say the same things: how those that tested Beta versions would tell them what was right and wrong and what they liked and didn’t like…. ummmm, excuse me but to my knowledge the only people who test Beta versions of anything are the YOUNG and or the TECHY type…so things get changed/ fixed/ and moved….but they leave out CHOICE. Why don’t these companies make the *bigger and better* programs but also give a choice of having a *plain and simple version* for those of us who are no longer YOUNG or not TECHY types? Once again we are left out to dry.

I remember when I first got on to a PC. Back then there was, a very popular program called AOL… it was advertised as “USER FRIENDLY” …and I have to admit that since I didn’t know *boot up* from someone booting me in the butt… AOL was truly “user friendly” (I am not saying everyone should or did love aol)… a term everyone has forgotten because, bigger is better,…but not in the eyes of everyone.

So soon, everyone will have to be a Tech Guru in order just to open the *simplest program*… how sad that always the oldest and the not so bright people are left behind because no one can offer *plain and simple* or a *user friendly* version as a choice to all the fast growing technology.

Ok.. I am off the soap box…but I really do want to know if an older version of IE can be put on windows 7…so if anyone knows ..please let me know. (It probably can’t…just because that would be considerate !)

Unexpected

2011-10-06T09:37:00.001-04:00

Something Especially Nice happened today…

In my email box was the copy I get when someone comments on my blogspot blog.

It read like this:

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Some of This and Some of That":

How wonderful to find that my work has an effect so far from home! Thank you Deslily for your kind comments about my sculptures and thank you Kelly for sending the link.
Best wishes,
David Goode

David Goode is the man who makes the most wonderful sculptures in the world! I showed them not long ago and I guess someone (named Kelly, thank you Kelly whoever you are!) sent him a link to my blog!

He has no real idea how much I Love his work nor how I would love to own them! However, not only can’t I afford them but to ship them from across the pond would most likely cost as much as the statue! I can thank America for taking away everything but first class mail to England :o( I take it with a grain of salt in this particular case since I couldn’t afford them anyway. But I can dream!

His wife and children are so lucky to have them all around them. I hope they love elves as much as he must! I wonder who he uses for models? Do ya think maybe he has real elves around his home?… :o) I kinda think he must! How else could he capture those fantastic expressions?

Can I go live with his elves???? PLEEEEZE?!!!

Around the Pond

2011-10-04T17:59:00.001-04:00

Plucker

2011-10-03T06:42:00.001-04:00

Book 5 for RIP

Plucker by Brom.

Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc." (October 1, 2005)
ISBN-10: 0810957922

From Booklist

Gr. 9-12. The story of sentient childhood toys abandoned when a child grows up takes on a ghastly, gothic slant in this oversize, illustrated volume. The main character is Jack, a spring toy that takes on an evil imp, loosed from the head of an African spirit doll, which has designs on a child. Illustrated with darkly washed images of broken dolls, bound snow angels, and the devilish Plucker, this is a horror novella likely to appeal to those with little sentimentality for things of childhood and who enjoy the chilly anxiety that comes with the possibility of powerful things that go bump in the night. The beautiful production values here outdo both the literary quality and the depth of the images. Some readers will find the whole too creepy; others will be fascinated.

OMGosh! needless to say as childish as it is about a young boys toys “coming alive” and fighting evil… this is NOT a young child's bedtime story! LOL..

However, Brom's artwork is so outstanding you can’t stop reading a little and then staring at the art a lot..then read a little and more staring at the artwork!

Don’t get me wrong.. it IS evil. *it’s dark! it’s Brom!*

It IS gory.

It is witchcraft.

…and it even has it’s sad moments.

But it's just NOT for little kids …and that’s the truth, pplllssssttt.

There’s not a lot that can be said about a book that is only 160 pgs long with artwork on almost every single page, without giving away too much.

The story is cute (don’t know that word is right for evil but hey).. and if you like Brom at all and like his artwork ….this is a must have.

Terra Nova

2011-10-02T07:29:00.001-04:00

Ok, so who has seen Terra Nova?

Starring Jason O’mara, Naomi Scott and Stephen Lang.

From executive producers Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, René Echevarria and Brannon Braga comes an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making.

Actually I missed the first episode..but I watched it on Hulu,heh..(thank you Hulu!!)

…anyone recognize Stephen Lang?…ummm like from Avatar?!!

…but here’s one you never saw on Avatar.. a smiling Stephen Lang, heh.

Just one episode has aired and I love the premise! The effects are outstanding for television…. and since I really like it..that tells me it will not last . Every time something new and different comes along it gets cancelled! Unfortunately, it’s against another program i like and so I watched it on Hulu…but then discovered it is *repeated* on Saturday evening so I will be watching it then.

At first when I saw the previews on television and saw Stephen Lang I gasped! He was such an SOB in Avatar lol..and then I wondered how he would come off of doing movies and do television?..whatever, he is a good actor because he’s believable as a good guy which shocked the heck out of me lol.

I don’t really know the other stars but I think it was cast well. So.. I was wondering if anyone else saw it and what they thought…………

What Alice Knew

2011-10-01T09:26:00.001-04:00

(This is my 4th book for RIP/ Peril the First)

What Alice Knew by

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark;(September 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1402243553

From Booklist

At the request of Scotland Yard, American philosopher William James, an expert in the science of the mind, travels to London to assist in solving the Jack the Ripper case. Once in London, William has access to the evidence collected at the crime scenes, and he travels with Inspector Abberline to interview witnesses. He then shares the particulars of the case with his brother, novelist Henry, and his sister, Alice, who is bedridden but feels she can still contribute to the identification of the madman. The story is told from multiple points of view, and Cohen seamlessly blends fact and fiction into fascinating looks at late-nineteenth-century London, the Jack the Ripper case, and the lives of the James siblings. In addition, she weaves in provocative details about the philosophy, literature, and art of the era and makes room for cameo appearances by such real-life figures as Oscar Wilde, John Singer Sargent, and Walter Sickert, once thought a suspect in the Ripper killings. For fans of historical fiction as well as historical mysteries.

Through no fault of the book my reading has been at an all time low, but I finally finished What Alice Knew, and I have to agree with the Amazon review when it is said that the blend of truth and fiction was done very well.

At first I thought the book was a little slow but then I settled into the speed of the story and was quite content with it.

The story unfolded more at a pace in which real life would have it happening rather then overdone speed. The belief that Sickert was the Ripper seemed quite spot on and then the detection of another was tossed in so well you wondered why it wasn’t thought of before.

The character of Alice was interesting. It wasn’t until the end of the book that you really wondered why she was bedridden most of her life.

I did enjoy the fact that besides Jack the Ripper a number of other characters were real for the time period of the storyline. I know many don’t like when real famous people such as Wilde are used in fictional stories but as long as they are kept true to what is know about them I seem to enjoy recognizing names like that.

The book was a good read. I should have been able to read it much faster but as I mentioned I am at a low at the moment. My reading and taking photo’s and trying to do one more small edit and print out of my own story have all come down to a snails pace.

However, I have fulfilled my obligatory 4 books for RIP and weather it be one more book or 4 more books (doubtful ) I will continue to read more for RIP!

Lately

2011-09-30T07:07:00.001-04:00

I know that I haven’t been around much lately. It’s mostly called anxiety and stress. Yet another word for it is fear.

All that and then my computer died. I mean like reeeeally died. For a number of years I have relied on Pete. Pete is my oldest son’s very good friend. He was even Best Man at my son’s wedding. Pete has graciously allowed me to call him in panic times with my computer even when I lived back in New Jersey. So it came as no shock to him when I called and said that I had the blue screen of death.

Circumstances were such that he dropped what he was doing and came to my home.

He began trying to fix my computer. Which in the long run he could do except that once parts begin to go..the rest follows. And so while xp was loading on the tower we went to Best Buy and I wound up buying a Dell 23 inch touch screen all in one. (days later when I found my paperwork for my old computer I found I paid less than half for this one than I did for my old computer!)

I think most of why i went ahead and charged the new computer was because, since it was windows 7 (yuck) I thought it would help keep my mind off of the anxiety and stress stuff. Unfortunately, I can’t say it’s done that. And I am still learning my way around windows 7. Can’t say I like the changes to my programs..even this Live Writer I use to do my blog posts now does not give me the option to bring in pictures from the web. I don’t want to use them from my computer for the reason which just happened ..if the computer crashes the pictures go bye bye. I am not even sure I am doing the pictures so they will stay.

yup, I know I am old. I know i hate changes. and I will say, the older i get the harder it is to relearn things. It’s always been easier to learn “new” then to relearn a different way.

So now I have the new computer… getting around much slower than before.. but the anxiety and stress are still huge. And so my reading has darn near bit the dust. I am lucky it I read 10 pages a day. My camera is hardly picked up these days. It seems no interest can conquer my problems at the moment.

Anyway… here I tried using the camera (of course had to learn how to put them on the new computer which upsets me more) and then having trouble with live writer not showing me a way to get the photo’s here *from the web* and not my computer. But I did it somehow, don’t even know if I will remember how to do it again.. You’d think I’d feel good about somehow managing to do it ..but I don’t.

I hope you can bear with me, i want things the way they were..just don’t know if my head will get back there.

Below is Pete. Without him I’d have fallen to pieces . I will never be able to thank him enough…. never.

Some of This and Some of That

2011-09-21T08:36:00.001-04:00

Where does time go? ..and why does it go so dang fast?!

Boo Boo Kitty wakes me early (about 5 am) . This is nothing new, he's always done this. And so, I always wake in the dark of the morning. Of course, now that *Fall* about to be here (not that one notices in southern Florida), I have noticed that daylight is getting later and later. ..and I know when we first turn the clocks back, for a short time, daylight will come earlier. And naturally it follows that the dark of night comes earlier. Sigh.

Where does time go? ... and why does it go so dang fast?!

I suppose you've been told that as you get older time will go faster. (Like we all need the fast lane to get even older!? not.)

Trying to understand or explain the passage of time is impossible. It's like telling someone what a certain pain feels like. They nod their head in understanding and say yes, yes, yes I know how you feel. And one day they get that exact same pain and what do you hear? "wow, I didn't know it would be like this!" Understand?.. *sigh* Until it happens to you, you really don't understand at all.

How do you tell someone to make a serious Bucket List .. hang it where you will see it every day, add to it or take away from it but don't forget it. And each year MAKE yourself do one of the items on the bucket list..... because saving and waiting isn't going to help you do it. If anything it will take away from the chances you might have of finding those happy moments. Yes, it's stopping to smell the roses. Because when you are older your health may (may? more like will) be a hindrance.... along with more excuses than you can shake a stick at. I can promise you that no matter how many things you may do on those bucket lists.. it won't be enough. But they will make you feel that you enjoyed life a little more.

And then the day comes when you wake up and find that you are ON the fast track and there's no stopping time... and you know exactly where the train will stop. When life suddenly picks up speed and you find yourself, not just saying but feeling, where did the months and years go? When did my kids grow up and no longer need me? I was just 28 wasn't I ? How did I get old without seeing it? Why did I miss so much?

Where does time go? ..and why does it go so fast?

I think I need to end on a happier note... possible? hell if I know!

I have totally fallen in love with David Goode's bronze statues.

I've shown a photo of one before and left his link... but I can't get his work out of my mind. Most of them are happy Elves! Just look at the expression in the statue above's eyes! He's lookin' to get into some serious mischief !

I find myself wondering how does David Goode's mind work? What made him make so many Elves? Is he even half as happy as his work portrays? I want to live next door to his store and just go and sit among the Elves all day long!

Oh yeah, this one above is up to no good! heh.

I really love this one... if it's possible to love one of these more than another!

..Just look at the contentment!!!! How does he get such detail? Where did he get these exquisite expressions? This one too belongs in my apartment!

This last one I will post surprised me. I did read Mr. Goode's biography and he's my son's age! So I wonder ..where did he see this fairy holding a Jack-o-lantern? Because he's too young to remember Jack-o-lanterns growing wild in some field! Of course maybe England still has more fields than we do here in America and they still are plentiful there.

Seeing that Jack-o-lantern brought back memories of when I was quite young (single digits!) There was a field next to where I lived and I always would go there to look for wild strawberries or wild Violets to pick for my mother or... to find jack-o-lanterns!

When Jack-o-lanterns loose their pretty orange color they become a beige color and nearly transparent.. they make a great piece for dried flower arrangements.

Anyway... back to Mr. Goode. I want to go to England and live next to his store and each day I will go in there and stay with everyone of his creations because they make me feel good inside. I envy Mr Goode for his creativity and for what he must feel inside as he makes all those smiling faces full of thoughts of monkey business!

The Edinburgh Dead

2011-09-17T14:28:00.001-04:00

This is my 3rd book for RIP: Peril the First

The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Orbit;(August 17, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0316079960

Product Description

Edinburgh: 1828
In the starkly-lit operating theaters of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces.
Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the newly- formed Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city's criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich.
Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment - and no one is safe from its corruption.
The Edinburgh Dead is a powerful fusion of gothic horror, history, and the fantastical.

Well.. first let me say that this is most assuredly a perfect book for RIP!

It began innocent enough.. there was a murder and a Sergeant on the police force on the case that had the audacity to want to discover more of the murder...even if it was a murder of a nobody.

Then the book jumped to Sergeant Quire's stint the the military service and I momentarily got confused. (this is easily done when you are my age or older) But then It quickly began to get interesting. Then because he won't give up... he gets fired.

Now, normally I am not a find a murder and a detective searches for clues and finds the murderer type of reader.... but then again this one didn't quite go that way either.

There was a hint of *something not right*.

There was a hint of *something like Frankenstein?"

There was a hint of *walking dead?*

There was even Burke and Hare! Who began their business by stealing bodies from graves...and then stepped up to murdering victims so that they would have a body to sell! (I still want the movie of Burke and Hare!!).. anyway..

Most of all there was one *hell bent* ex-sergeant who was going to solve all the weirdness and murders.

Even when the dead came after him! How does one kill a dead person you ask? Guess you will have to read the book to see *if* it is possible.

So, although this was not quite my cup of tea... it was written very well and the story moved along nicely so that one did not get bored and even though some things become painfully clear..you still needed to read on to see how it all ends!

I think this book will be liked by many as a very good read for RIP.

That's Some Houseplant!..

2011-09-14T06:48:00.001-04:00

The photo's below are of a plant beside the building I live in. It's a Schefflera actinophylla or Brassaia actinophylla or sometimes known as the Umbrella Tree or Umbrella Plant or Octopus Tree. I've been in this apartment a little over 2 years and I never notice this plant bloom!

Surprise .. surprise! (spoken in my best Gomer Pyle voice) This plant is pretty dang big! (known to grow up to 40 ft. tall)

Very strange blooms ...and lots of tiny activity going on around them!

...ah.. bee's ! must be some sweetness up there!

Info: It produces racemes up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) long containing up to 1,000 small dull red flowers.

... lots of bee's!!

Info: The plant produces up to 1000 flowers generating large amounts of nectar which attracts honey-eating birds which then spread the seeds. (there's a lotta spreadin' goin' on!)

I just thought it looked interesting enough to post.. heh.. You can't get much luckier eh?! .. oh.. true.. you could win the lottery!

New Books

2011-09-12T10:29:00.001-04:00

The mailman ~~cometh~~ cameth. (is there such a word?..heh)

I did good with these books. I only paid full price for one of them!

I had seen The Plucker (by Brom) in a bookstore and the soft-back addition was 19.99. I got this "like new" hard back version AND shipping for half of that!

Daphne (by Justine Picardie) was a used "like new" ($3.49) book from Amazon so I wound up not paying any shipping!

The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill was the only one in this photo that I paid full price for.. and I had also "preordered" the Night Circus, which of course was full price, and will be mailed shortly.

Overall I did good ! Plucker is in "new" condition and a Hardback so it will hold up a lot better than if I had gotten the soft-back version.

I now have wa-a-a-ay too many books that are RIP worthy!! So I am planning on continuing reading more of them after Halloween.

**********************************************************************

On another note: my cat BooBoo thinks there isn't a space in the apartment that doesn't belong to him.

Along with all my RIP reading I have taken to reprinting a trilogy I wrote. It was three yrs ago my "son" Chris read it and helped with some editing and the only printout I had was from 2003. Add to that somehow some water got on it and wrinkled pages . So I decided to slowly read each chapter, reformat it and print it chapter by chapter and replace them all so I have the most current edit. I will not print it again as it's costly! Anyway... I set up this little 18 x 18 inch folding table so I could set the book on it for taking out old pages and putting in the new pages. Boo, of course thought the table should be for HIM.. not the book! So he squeezed is 12 lb body between the book and my desk.. and there he napped, not letting me work on the book.

Ya, just gotta love your animals. They rule us in every way they can!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2011-09-10T09:53:00.001-04:00

Book 2 for RIP VI: Perils the First

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books;(June 7, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1594744769

Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best Books of the Month, June 2011: As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs--alive and well--despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. Interspersed with photos throughout, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a truly atmospheric novel with plot twists, turns, and surprises that will delight readers of any age.

From the moment this book was in my hand... it felt different. A little smaller in size than some, but firm. I flipped the pages and felt the paper. A much better quality of paper than most, the lines are 1.5 spaced instead of single spaced, and the size font was readable. Add to that all the pictures that were in the book! Pictures and or illustrations I love when they are in a book. The book even has fancy page numbering at the bottom... this book was done right! Why can't more books have this much love put into them along with the story??

Ok .. so all looked great, now I had to hope the story was as good as the book looked... it was.

From the first sentence in the prologue: I had just come to accept that my life would be ordinary when extraordinary things began to happen. The author caught my attention... and quite easily kept my attention through the entire book.

This is a perfect book for RIP, so if you haven't read it.. you well might want to add it to your list because I don't think you will be disappointed.

Jacob's story is quite amazing. When he was young, one might say that his Grandfather tried to prepare him...but how does one prepare for what one does not believe in?? Surely, a person can not really float up into the air. And surely there is no such thing as being invisible. Is there?

When the time comes that Jacob no longer thought that his grandfather was crazy is when Jacob's adventure begins. Once it begins you are have to keep reading to see what's next.

I have to say that the only disappointment in the entire book is how it drops off suddenly to set it up for the "next book"... it's pretty blatant, and hard to miss, and although it doesn't leave you with a *cliff hanger* it was just a tiny bit disappointing. I guess I am used to either having that cliff hanger and thinking *how can they do that to me?!!! argh!* or, the book being more completed but yet knowing another adventure would be in store.

However, I will say that the ending does not deter me from saying this was a very enjoyable book and that I think anyone who reads it will totally enjoy it too.

Creepiness Outside My Door!

2011-09-09T12:22:00.001-04:00

I looked outside just the other day and saw this happening on the far side of the pond... kinda creeped me out.

...remind you of a movie maybe?

..it got even more spookey when they all sat quietly on the telephone wires. I began to imagine the ghost of Alfred Hitchcock appearing...

.... ACK!...

The Map of Time

2011-09-06T06:32:00.001-04:00

My first book for Perils the First

The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma.

Hardcover: 624 pages
Publisher: Atria Books;(June 28, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1439167397

(below: inside cover)

Product Description

THE PHENOMENAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Set in Victorian London with characters real and imagined, The Map of Time boasts a triple-play of intertwined plots in which a skeptical H.G. Wells is called upon to investigate purported incidents of time travel and thereby save the lives of an aristocrat in love with a murdered prostitute from the past; of a woman bent on fleeing the strictures of Victorian society; and of his very own wife, who may have become a pawn in a 4th-dimensional plot to murder the authors of Dracula, The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds, in order to alter their identities and steal their fictional creations.

But, what happens if we change history? FÉlix J. Palma raises such questions in The Map of Time. Mingling fictional characters with real ones, Palma weaves a historical fantasy as imaginative as it is exciting, a story full of love and adventure that also pays homage to the roots of science fiction while transporting its readers to a fascinating Victorian London for their own taste of time travel.

Right off the bat I am going to admit that the cover had me on this one. The fact it was in England in Victorian time was the second grabber. And then Mr Palma uses names that are known to us all such as H.G. Wells, Jack the Ripper, Bram Stoker and Henry James. It seemed to have everything that a great book needs!

However........... the book began slowly, and after 50 pages I wondered if I should go on. The beginning should have been the grabber, seeing as it was about Jack the Ripper... but the style of writing just wasn't making me feel like I was in the book.

But I did continue..

The book picked up for me after 100 pages for a while and I was getting into it... then ... I hit an area that was not holding my attention at all. *sigh*

I read on and later it got pretty good again!... then it lost me again. It was this way all through the book for me.. the era was right, the characters were right...but the telling of the story just didn't keep me throughout the book. I have my wonders if maybe something was lost in the translation...

The book is laid out in 3 parts. Loosely connected it's almost 3 separate stories..again, that did not thrill me.

Over all I will say that I didn't just put it aside I read the whole book, and considering that the book was 624 pages long, that has to mean it wasn't all bad. I'm sure others will love the book much more then I did .

I even googled this book for reviews and it seems I am in the minority and most really like the book.. so.. there you have it lol.. sorry I am not much help on this one!

So goes my first book for RIP.

RIP Made Me Do It!...

2011-09-05T08:07:00.001-04:00

I have finally done it.. I've gone off the deep end. .... and I blame it all on RIP!... just look at what I have gone and done...

I bought a book of short stories! I don't even like short stores! As a matter of fact each time I get a book of short stores, thinking I will really get into them because I like the basic topic... I never get past reading 2 or three stories and toss the book aside. But look! I've bought yet another short story book!... AAArrrrggghhhhh!

Death by Dickens Edited by Anne Perry.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley (November 2, 2004)
ISBN-10: 0425199479

*sigh* but look at the description of the book!... I had to have it!

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry and ten of today's masters of mystery present stories inspired by Dickens and his immortal classics.

See below: the inside of the jacket description..

... gads,... I need to be put into a mental institution! (at least it was bargain priced and I had turned in 3 paperbacks for credit so it only cost me Forty-three cents) Now I have no paperbacks to turn in and no one will take hardbacks dang it!

Then as I mulled through the book store this caught my eye...

The Plucker: An Illustrated Novel by Gerald Brom

Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Abrams; New edition edition (March 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0810996022

Ohhhh.. Brom!

Ohhhh... filled (FILLED) with his artwork!

Product Description
The Plucker, now updated with new art and an afterword from world-renowned dark fantasy artist Brom, is a window into a world where fairy-tale tradition collides with vileness and depravity, love and heroism, suffering and sacrifice. In this shadowy land of make-believe, Jack and his box are stuck beneath the bed with the dust, spiders, and other castaway toys, and forced to face a bitter truth: Children grow up, and toys are left behind. Jack thinks this is the worst fate that can befall a toy. But when the Plucker, a malevolent spirit, is set loose upon the world of make-believe, Jack is thrust into the unlikely role of defending Thomas, the very child who abandoned him, and learns that there are worse ends for a toy than abandonment. As desperation mounts, Jack is thrown together with Thomas’s other toys—Monkey, the Nutcracker, and the ethereally beautiful porcelain doll Snow Angel—as they struggle to rise above their simple roles as playthings and save the boy they love.

About the Author
Brom is the world-renowned illustrator whose vision has graced a wide range of fantasy and sci-fi fiction, games, and films, including Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow.

Last year I also read, The Child Thief by Brom which is a very dark tale of Peter Pan.. one that I promise you've never heard of before!

Here's my link from my review.

I can honestly tell you that until I found RIP.. books like these would never have entered my home!!!! Never! Never! Never!

I started small (very small: Gil's All Fright Diner) and it's brought me to love gothic mysteries and much more!

I think I should just send my charge card bills directly to Carl! Everyone that agrees raise your hand!......:o) yeah, that's the ticket!

Book Meme

2011-09-03T07:18:00.001-04:00

I believe this meme began as a 30 day book meme..but then I found another with even more questions... so I just took off "days" and listed the questions.....

01 - The best book you read last year

NonFiction: Two Sides of the Moon: Scott & Leonev

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society

Fiction: Neverland: Piers Dudgeon

Fantasy: Necromancer: Michael Scott

02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times

The Thirteenth Tale: Diane Setterfield (I am trying hard not to keep saying the Pern books because I know Pern will be mentioned too many times as it is!)

03 – Your favourite series

The Pern series of books by Anne McCaffrey (well that didn't take long)

also: The Inkheart Trilogy.

The Bartimaeus Trilogy.

The Nicholas Flamel Series. Dragonlace series.

Harry Potter series....and a few others.

04 – Favourite book of your favourite series

A hard call on that one. Book 1, Dragonflight was a masterful piece. Very action packed, with strong characters, and evil abiding. It is was hooked me for many books to come. But then the White Dragon has my heart, so it's a two sided coin.

05 – A book that makes you happy

I don't know that I can name "a" book. I am most happy when I am rereading an old favorite. I get the feeling of being *back where I belong* and quite often find myself reading with a smile on my face.

06 – A book that makes you sad

Where The Red Fern Grows.(I could cry just thinking of it! argh!) & Water for Elephants

07 – Most underrated book

I found that Inkheart by Cornelia Funke is underrated. I love the book and felt it had depth and heart and great characters. Unfortunately it gets *mixed reviews* and the movie they made (although the cast was excellent!) was not made up to par. It cut much from the book and because of that I feel the movie did poorly and had not good reviews. I think that also sheds a shadow on the book.

08 – Most overrated book

Hmmm... can't say I know the answer to that one. There are a number of books "overrated" but many of them I don't read.. the few I've read that had nothing but good things said about them I've agreed that they are good.

09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

Happily, that has happened a number of times! Where do I begin?

Oh right, that would be with Carl and his RIP Challenge. When Carl put this challenge up I thought that there was no way I could join even to read one book. I really don't care for vampire or zombie type books.

Low and behold I searched for soooooo long and finally found a little book that I thought I'd give a try to. That books was Gil's All Fright Diner.... and I wound up laughing and smiling thru most of the book, which when you consider that the unlikely hero's in it were a vampire and a werewolf. duh. so began finding books that I thought *no way* about.

Next came Carl once again mentioning Gothic Mysteries. Say what?! He recommended The Thirteenth Tale. With a sigh and rolling my eyes to the heavens I sent for the book... So far I've read it 3 times! Hello?! Where did that come from???.. That led to a book which I've only read once (because of it's size), but do plan to read again.. DROOD! Get this, its a book supposedly narrated by Wilke Collins about himself and Charles Dickens ...yeah, right, like I'd be interested in that!... I recommend it every chance I get!!! That set in motion my reading The Woman in White and The Moonstone, both by Wilke Collins! Never.. ever, ever, ever would I dream that I would not only read books by Wilke Collins... but like them too!!!

Gotta love when you get such great surprises even so late in life!

10 – Favourite classic book

Honestly, I am not all up on what is a classic and what is not, so I'll keep my answer short....

hmmm well I certainly liked The Woman in White. I also love The Hound of the Baskervilles... and who doesn't love A Christmas Carol?

11 – A book you hated

Any book that I put down and decide I can't finish reading it! And unfortunately there have been a number of them. I don't want to list any as, just because I didn't like them doesn't mean you won't!

12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore

oh wow. hmmm. that hasn't happened! I can't say I've loved a book and then one day decided that I didn't. This is a good thing!

13 – Your favourite writer

Gads! That's like actually trying to say you love only one book.

Plus the problem is that one doesn't always like every single thing the author has written.. which could interfere with said writer being my favorite writer. I love Anne McCaffrey but I honestly don't love every book she wrote. I also find I love Wilke Collins (admitted I haven't read all his books but I am finding he should be on the love list lol.)

14 – Favourite book of your favorite writer

I guess I will go with Dragonflight , Dragonquest & the White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey. It's a trilogy so it's "one extended book" as far as I'm concerned! But she is not my "only favorite author".

15 – Favourite male character

Oh my.. why such hard questions? sheesh. So many times I choose a favorite character of each book that I really like!! Like I love Gandalf from the Hobbit and LOtR, and then there's Belgarath from the Belgarion series and oh my but there is Master Harper Robinton from the Pern series. I love Hagrid and Snape and Ron from Harry Potter... the list is way too long!

16 – Favourite female character

hmmm .One would be Lessa of Pern and another Polgara from The Belgariad and I can't forget Mary Russell from Laurie R Kings books.

17 – A book that disappointed you

All the Todd McCaffrey books.

18- A Favourite book made into a movie

Well, since they haven't made the Pern books into movies, I have to go with LOtR movies since so much love and thought went into the making. I doubt another movie will ever come out as good as those movies were.

19 – An “unputdownable” book

The first book that I carried with me everywhere and even read while cooking was: The Hobbit

20 – Favourite book from your childhood

I honestly don't remember books from my childhood...I must be having a senior moment.. I have them often!

21 – Favourite book you own

Seriously? ONE book? Well since I don't have the whole trilogy in hardback I guess I will go with "The White Dragon" by Anne McCaffrey. But honestly, I have a number of books that you will have to try to pry out of my cold dead hands because I'd never get rid of them.

22 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t

Do you want me to list my whole TBR mountain????

23– A book that you wish more people would’ve read

Drood. (simple huh?!)

24 – A character who you can relate to the most

Maybe the females in Cocoon.

25 – A book that changed your opinion about something

Drood. After reading Drood I then wanted to read books by Wilke Collins and Charles Dickens... and I never read either of them before.

26 – The most surprising plot twist or ending

Oh wow... well The Thirteenth Tale had the most twist and turns and surprises that I remember...

27 – A book I wish I could live in

I can't name one. It would be many of the books that I truly love.

28 – A favourite non-fiction book:

Stan & Ollie by Simon Louvish

29 – Your favourite book of all time

Sci fi/Fantasy: The Dragon Riders of Pern Trilogy

Gothic Mystery: The Thirteenth Tale/ Drood

Fantasy: The Hobbit

Biography: Stan & Ollie

NonFiction: The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society

30- A book that is a most treasured possession

These questions lead to duplicate responses! "A book?" ok I will list one of the books in my glass front bookcase (all of which I will never get rid of)..which maybe I haven't mentioned as much as *some* heh.. Among others in the cabinet I have 6 Dragonlace books by Weis and Hickman and the 7 Harry Potter books.

31- A favourite book with animals in

Do Dragons count? *nevermind*

32- The longest book I have ever read

Drood 774 pgs (but if i ever get around to reading Under the Dome that has over 1,000 pgs)

33- A book that I still think about years after having read it

*sigh* once again, trying not to keep saying "Pern" ..I will say the Belgaraid series. (and: the Dragonlance series)

34- A book that has been on my shelf unread for more than 5 years

Finally! the answer is NOT Pern! .. a book I started and never finished but I know I will do so one day is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norvell.

35- A book with the best evil character

oh well.. back to Pern LOL... sorry I can't help it.. in the first book: Dragonflight there is the most horrid character named FAX. He was pure evil and awful enough not to be able to forget!

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril !

2011-08-31T07:38:00.001-04:00

Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah! RIP is here! Oh Yeah! Doin' my happy dance!

***********************************************************************

Finally! It's time for Carl's RIP Challenge!!!

Briefly put..in Carl's own words:

Every September 1st through October 31st for the last 5 years I have hosted the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge, affectionately known as the R.I.P. Challenge. I began this reader event, I blinked, and now I am hosting this for the 6th time. Wow, that is so hard to believe.

The purpose of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books that could be classified as:

Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.

The emphasis is never on the word challenge, instead it is about coming together as a community and embracing the autumnal mood, whether the weather is cooperative where you live or not.

It's still incredible to me that I have come such a long way from not reading ANY of these type books to anxiously awaiting Carl's announcement that indeed it is time to begin the RIP Challenge!!!

This year I am choosing Peril the First... which is to read any 4 books in the categories listed above.

Carl does enjoy when we make a list of books that we have to choose from (not that it matters if we choose from them or not). And I love going around looking at all the lists myself.. it always makes for a longer wish list.. I am sure Amazon love's Carl for doing these challenges!

Anyway.. here's a look see all most of the books I can choose from:

1. Mina by Marie Kiraly
2. Irish Ghosts and Haunting's by Michael Scott
3. Oscar Wilde & the Candlelight Murders by Gyles Brandreth
4. A Fine and Private Place by Peter S Beagle
5. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
6. 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill
7. What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman
8. What Alice Knew by Paula Marantz Cohen
9. The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley
10. The Mammoth Book of Victorian & Edwardian Ghost stories edited by Richard Dalby
11. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Randsom Riggs
12. Graveminder by Melissa Marr
13. The Map of Time by Felix J Palma
14. The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor
15. The Bone Magician by F.G. Higgins
16. Instruments of Darkness by Imogen Robertson

Sixteen Books!.. eeeee-gads! There was a time when I didn't have one book to my name that would fit any of Carl's categories!

Then.. just in case I don't feel like one of those I have a few others ...

In Reserve:

I love the old two column writing!..

1. The Works of Conan Doyle by Conan Doyle
2. The Legend of Sleep Hollow by Washington Irving
3. Grimm Fairy Tales by Grimm
4. Bleak House by Charles Dickens
5. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
6. Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
7. Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
8. Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett
9. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

And then If all else fails, and I feel like my reads are not hitting the spot I will fall back on two of my all time favorites:

1. Drood by Dan Simmons &
2. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

It's time for RIP folks!!!.....

Time to be Happy!!!.....................

...come join the fun over at Stainless Steel Droppings!

New Life at the Pond

2011-08-30T13:07:00.001-04:00

Three new *chicklets*..

(Moe..Larry..& Curly.."Hey, where'd everybody go?" )

Small TriColor Heron ...*fishin' *

Last nights sunset..

Here, There, and Everywhere 2nd edition

Quick Post

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

Book Description

Instruments of Darkness

From Publishers Weekly

Amazon Gift Card…

Furry Logic

The Rose Garden

Review

Morning Constitutional

Double Crochet, Double Crochet..

Wednesday, January 4th 2012

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld

Amazon.com Review

Books of 2011

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

Book Description

The Christmas That Was…

A Red Herring Without Mustard

From Booklist

Leaving is Such Sweet Sorrow..

Dammit Jim….

Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death

Rebecca

The Mailman has Been Busy!

Chris Gallucci: Elephant Man

Daphne: A Novel

From Booklist

An Awwwwww Moment

Ready to Cry..

Da Boo-Boy…

You Know it’s a Good Day if….

Decorations

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

From Publishers Weekly

My One and ONLY Vlog

Oscar Wilde & the Dead Man’s Smile

Have a Happy……

Here, There & Everywhere

Just Because..

It was a Good Day for Astronauts

The Lost Continent

Amazon.com Review

Who’s the Boss?..

An Article That Bears Repeating…

The Weed That Strings the Hangmans Bag

From Booklist

Stop Motion

A Walk in the Woods

From Publishers Weekly

A Little bit of This and a Little bit of That

Oscar Wilde & the Candlelight Murders

Book Description

R.I.P.

The Butterfly Cabinet

Book Description

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

More *new* Books

Miss Jeromette & the Clergyman: 1875

Product Description

Graveminder

The Day After…

A Fine and Private Place

Bitch, bitch, bitch

Unexpected

Around the Pond

Plucker

Terra Nova

What Alice Knew

Lately

Some of This and Some of That

The Edinburgh Dead

Product Description

That's Some Houseplant!..

New Books

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Creepiness Outside My Door!

The Map of Time

Product Description

More new Books