Crazymamie's 75 in 2012 (Page 20)

Christmas Dears

Currently Reading


December
101. If I Stay by Gayle Forman (4.25 stars)
102. Leave the Grave Green by Deborah Crombie (4 stars)
103. Mourn Not Your Dead by Deborah Crombie (4 stars)
104. Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck (5 stars)

January
1. The Sense of an Ending - Julian Barnes (4 stars)
2. Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor (4 stars)
3. 11/22/63 - Stephen King (5 stars)
4. A Drink Before the War - Dennis Lehane (4 stars)
5. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card (4 stars)
6. Cannery Row - John Steinbeck (4.5 stars)

February
7. The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien (5 stars)
8. The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway (audiobook) (4 stars)
9. The Woman in Black - Susan Hill (4.5 stars)
10. City of Bones - Michael Connelly (4 stars)
11. Behind the Beautiful Forevers - Katherine Boo (4.5 stars)
12. Mockingbird - Kathryn Erskine (5 stars)
13. The Wayward Bus - John Steinbeck (4 stars)
14. Pronto - Elmore Leonard (4 stars)
15. The Snow Child - Eowyn Ivey (4 stars)
16. Riding the Rap - Elmore Leonard (3.5 stars)
17. The Two Towers - J. R. R. Tolkien (5 stars)
18. Once There was a War - John Steinbeck (4.5 stars)
19. The Coroner's Lunch - Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
20. Below Stairs - Margaret Powell (3.5 stars)
21. 84, Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff (5 stars)

March
22. Blood Red Road - Moira Young (4 stars)
23. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde (3.5 stars)
24. Thirty-Three Teeth - Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
25. King Soloman's Mines - Henry Rider Haggard (4 stars)
26. Still Life - Louise Penny (4 stars)
27. By the Iowa Sea - Joe Blair (4 stars)
28. A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie (3.5 stars)
29. A Severed Head - Iris Murdoch (4 stars)
30. The Return of the King - J. R. R. Tolkien (5 stars)
31. The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck (4 stars)
32. Don't Look Back - Karin Fossum (3.5 stars)
33. I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith (4.25 stars)
34. Disco for the Departed - Colin Cotterill (3.5 stars)

April
35. The Moon is Down - John Steinbeck (4 stars)
36. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley (audiobook) (4 stars)
37. Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe (4.5 stars)
38. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Joan Aiken (4 stars)
39. Blacklands - Belinda Bauer (4 stars)
40. Chess Story - Stefan Zweig (4.5 stars)
41. Sea of Poppies - Amitav Ghosh (4.5 stars)
42. Julie of the Wolves - Jean Craighead George (3.5 stars)
43. All Shall Be Well - Deborah Crombie (4 stars)
44. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green (4.5 stars)
45. Rules - Cynthia Lord (4 stars)
46. Darkness, Take My Hand - Dennis Lehane (4 stars)
47. The Shape of Water - Andrea Camilleri (4 stars)
48. Cinder - Melissa Meyer (4 stars)
49. Binocular Vision - Edith Pearlman (4.5 stars)
50. The Wrestling Match - Buchi Emecheta (2.5 stars)

May
51. The Redeemer - Jo Nesbo (4.5 stars)
52. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming (3.5 stars)
53. If Death Ever Slept - Rex Stout (4 stars)
54. Persuasion - Jane Austen (4.5 stars)
55. Lost Light - Michael Connelly (4 stars)
56. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (4.5 stars)

June
57. In the Heat of the Night by John Ball (4 stars)
58. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (4.5 stars)
59. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (4 stars)
60. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (5 stars)
61. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie (4 stars)
62. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (4.5 stars)
63. Anarchy and Old Dogs by Colin Cotterill (4.5 stars)
64. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (4 stars)
65. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (4.5 stars)
66. Train Dreams by Denis Johnson (4 stars)
67. The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (4.25stars)

July
68. Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury (4.25 stars)
69. The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson (4.5 stars)
70. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (4.75 stars)
71. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (4.5 stars)
72. A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levine (4 stars)
73. Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (4.5 stars)
74. River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh (4.25 stars)
75. Curse of the Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
76. The Terra-Cotta Dog by Andrea Camilleri (4 stars)
77. No Longer At Ease by Chinua Achebe (4 stars)
78. Call For the Dead by John LeCarré (4 stars)
79. Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley (4 stars)

August
80. The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
81. The Stone Cutter by Camilla Läckberg (3.5 stars)
82. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (4 stars)
83. The Guards by Ken Bruen (4.5 stars)

September
84. Killing the Tinkers by Ken Bruen (4.25 stars)
85. Death Without Company by Craig Johnson
86. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan (4 stars)
87. The Devil's Hearth by Phillip DePoy (4.5 stars)
88. March Violets by Philip Kerr (4.3 stars)
89. Naked in Death by J. D. Robb (3.25 stars)
90. The Magdalen Martyrs by Ken Bruen (thinking)

October
Nothing to see here. That's right; there's nothing to see here.

*tour guide does the backward hand wave thing as she continues the tour of the thread, "...and we're walking, we're walking…"

November
91. IQ84 by Haruki Murakami (4 stars)
92. Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin (4.25 stars)
93. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (4 stars)
94. The Pearl by John Steinbeck (4 stars)
95. Chocolat by Joanne Harris (4.5 stars)
96. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (5 stars)
97. More Baths Less Talking by Nick Hornsby (4 stars)
98. Burmese Days by George Orwell (3.75 stars)
99. Love Songs From a Shallow Grave by Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
100. The Chicken Chronicles by Alice Walker (3 stars)

An idea stolen from Heather (souloftherose), who borrowed it from Liz (lyzard): ongoing series that I am actively reading. This doesn't include series where I have the first book in my TBR pile (i.e. series I haven't started reading yet aren't included). An asterisk (*) indicates a series where I already have a copy of the next book. A pointing finger (☛) indicates a series where I am waiting for the next book to be released.

1. African Trilogy by Chinua Achebe: Next Up: Arrow of God (3/3)

2. *Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones: Next Up: Third Grave Dead Ahead (3/4)

3. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache by Louise Penny: Next Up: A Fatal Grace (2/8)

4. *Commissario Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri: Next Up: The Snack Thief (3/15)

5. ☛ Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: Next Up: Days of Blood and Starlight (2/3)

6. *Divergent by Veronica Roth: Next Up: Insurgent (2/3)

7. *Dr. Siri Paiboun by Colin Cotterill: Next up: Slash and Burn (8/9)

8. Duncan Kincaid/ Gemma James by Deborah Crombie:Next Up: Dreaming of the Bones (5/15)

9. * Dust Lands by Moira Young: Next Up: Rebel Heart (2/3)

10. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan: Next Up: The Dead tossed Waves (2/3)

11. *Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly: Next Up: The Narrows (10/18)

12. *Harry Hole by Jo Nesbo: Next Up: The Snowman (7/9)

13. ☛ The Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh: Next Up: ? (3/3)

14. *In Death by J. D. Robb: Next Up: Glory in Death (2/44)

15. *Inspector Sejer by Karin Fossum: Next Up: He Who Fears the Wolf (2/9)

16. Jack Taylor by Ken Bruen: Next Up: The Dramatist (4/9)

17. *James Bond by Ian Fleming: Next Up: Live and Let Die (2/14)

18. *Kenzie and Gennaro by Dennis Lehane: Next Up: Sacred (3/6)

19. *Lady Julia Gray by Deanna Raybourn: Next Up: The Dark Enquiry (5/5)

20. *Matched by Ally Condie: Next Up: Crossed (2/3)

21. *Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larrson: Next Up: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest (3/3)

22. *Philip Marlowe by Raymond Chandler: Next Up: The Little Sister (5/8)

23. *Raylan Givens by Elmore Leonard: Next Up: Raylan (3/3)

24. *Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris: Next Up: Dead in the Family (9/12)

25. Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs: Next Up: Grave Secrets (5/15)

26. Vish Puri by Tarquin Hall: Next Up: The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing (2/3)

27. *Walt Longmire by Craig Johnson: Up Next: Kindness Goes Unpunished (3/8)

28. *Wine Country Mysteries by Ellen Crosby: Next Up: The Chardonnay Charade (2/6)

29. ☛Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel: Next up: ? (3/3)

Hi Mamie -- looks like I found your first! Love the photo (as usual).

Reba - Welcome! And yes - you're first! Glad you like the photo! Can you believe tomorrow is December?! YIKES!

Another great thread with another beautiful photo...
hugs

Thanks, Kath! Hugs back to you!

Hi Mamie - Nice shiny new thread here! Love the photo of your "dears". I see you're reading If I Stay - I'll be interested to see what you think of it. I read it last year and liked it.

Hi Katie! Thanks! My daughter Abby has been begging me to read If I Stay - she loves the book and has read it multiple times. So, finally, I am reading it - I like it so far.

Congratulations on your 20th thread already! Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Hi Mamie, loving the Merry Christmas thread, and the lovely dears up top :) :) :)

I have the Hilary Mantel Booker winners on my list entitled "38 Things To Do Before I Turn 38", I see you've read them both and are eagerly awaiting the third?

I'm whipping my way through the threads this morning. You know how December is.... things to do, appointments to keep, gifts to wrap and mail, oh, yes !!! The Christmas Cards must be addressed.

I hope you are enjoying every minute of the holiday season in your new home!

20 threads! My goodness... *fans face*

Morning Mamie- Love the new thread and the great Christmas photo of the kids. Your thread always puts a smile on my face, despite the fact there are no naughty librarians to be found. Enjoy your day.

Hi Mamie! I really feel like I am losing ground here at LT... I just can't keep up, and when I finally get here .. sort of lose inspiration as far as what to say :( woe is me.

I read If I Stay... I thought it was good.. I think someone said that there is a sequel?

I hope you have a really good day! All filled with happy kid stuff :)

Hello mamie, beautiful new thread and I DO love the picture of your Christmas Dears *smile*

The Snow Child is on my reading list as well and it looks like most of you are very positive about this book :)

Wish you and your family a lovely weekend!

Good Morning Everyone - what a wonderful welcome into December I have received to wake up and find so many visitors!! What a fabulous journey these past eleven months have been!

Paul - Thanks! Hoping that you squeeze in some fun this weekend even though you have to work for part of it.

Megan! So glad you love my little dears! And yes, I read both of those Mantel books this year, and now I must wait for the third. Luckily, I'm so patient - NOT!

Karen - I know just how crazy December gets - that's why I like to have my decorations already up when I usher it in. I have never sent out Christmas cards - can you believe that? I should send some out this year...thinking about that. Thank you so much for your good wishes. I hope you also enjoy every minute of the season.

Faith!! Faith!! Oh my word - how LOVELY to see you here. Where is your thread because I must have lost it - I am going on a search for it as soon as I finish up here.

Mark - Thank you! So glad that I can make you smile even without the use of naughty librarians! Hope you have a great weekend off!

Kath - Are you working again today? I am thinking that you are - I'll check your thread. Your words remind me of one of my all time favorite movie quotes:

"You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you? You just put your lips together and blow."

Bonus points if someone can identify the movie - one of my very favorites.

I'm sorry that you are feeling so ...blah...Too much working, I am thinking - they are wearing you down. I love when you stop in and check on me, but you don't have to think up something clever to say or even say anything - you could just wave as you go through.

Abby and I saw that there was a sequel - she does not want to read it because she liked how the first book ended. She said she doesn't want to mess with that - I haven't finished the first book yet, so I guess I'll decide when I finish.

Thanks for the really great wishes! I wish for you a day filled with no stress and no worries. A peaceful day.

Bianca - Thank you! I did like that book. I also wished it had been just a wee bit shorter. Thank you for your wishes for a lovely weekend - I hope that you have one as well!

I'm pretty sure it's a Bogart and Bacall movie but I can't think of the title....?

Yep, that's right, Katie - Lauren Bacall's first movie, actually.

Another great picture, Mamie!

Thanks, Susan! Big plans for your weekend?

One long walk and an exhibition visit this morning, so now I get to read, read and read some more :-)

Delightful! Sounds like a luxurious day!

Hello, Mamie, I hadn't realised how much I'd missed your family pictures until I saw that wonderful Christmas one!

I hope all is good in Mamieland.

Hi Dee!!! Thanks for stopping in - we miss you! All is indeed very, very good in Mamieland!

Lat week the realtor who sold us our house called to see how things were going - were the kids liking the community, were we still loving the house, were we making friends? She said that she was arranging a lunch date with some lady friends and would I join them? So, on Tuesday I go to meet them at a local restaurant for lunch - it was so fun and so clever. She said that she has a funny hobby - she likes to "friend" people. She puts together groups of people that she thinks will connect to each other so that the ones who have been in the area longer can help to transition the newer arrivals into the community more smoothly. SO, she had invited four other ladies besides myself, making a total of six. One of the ladies had the flu, so she couldn't make it, but everyone else showed up. Every one of us had moved to this area from someplace else - including the realtor, who has lived here for thirty years. One lady had been here only two weeks, then me (a little over one month), then two years, then longer (I forget how long the last lady had lived here). I am uncertain about the missing lady - I am thinking she was newer to the community like myself. Anyway, we all told our stories about why and how we had moved here and talked about our families. Then, at the end, she had those of us who were newer to ask any questions that we had. I love how she moved the conversation along: Now, ladies, what do you need, what can we help you find? The newest lady asked about beauty salons, I asked about groomers and vets. I learned so much, made some new friends, and had a lot of fun. At the end of the meal - which she paid for "My Party, My Treat" she said - she gave us these cards that had everyone's names and contact info and brief bios on them. AND then, as if that wasn't enough, she followed up lunch with the sweetest email that recapped everything we had talked about - she listed all the places and services that had been mentioned and recommended and had even looked up the addresses and phone numbers and provided those. We are going to meet back after the holidays - how COOL is that?!

Hi Mamie, great new thread. Now that sounds like a realtor to treasure! Talk about going the extra distance. Have a great day, I am just about to head out the door to work off my list of errands.

Hi Judy! Thanks! And the realtor is indeed a treasure - on top of being so thoughtful and so friendly, she has the funnest personality. She obviously just loves people.

We are trying to decide what the best use of our day is - probably some errands just like yourself, and maybe a bit of shopping that doesn't need to be done. Just for fun! Have a good one, Judy!

That's WAY cool!! Hooray for realtor lady.

That's exactly what I thought, Reba!

Hi, Mamie! Your delurking on my thread reminded me that I really ought to delurk more often on yours - funny how that happens, huh?? :)

Glad to hear all is well with you and yours!

Liz! How lovely to see you delurk! And it is funny how that happens!

What a wonderful thing to do! I'm very impressed with your realtor and can't imagine that happening here at all!

It was a wonderful thing to do - she is just the sweetest! We bought this house on a Friday and took possession with nothing, knowing that all of our things would be arriving the next morning on the moving trucks. That night Molly (the realtor) showed up with lots of air mattresses and bedding that she had borrowed from friends and also brought along all this food for us to snack on - enough for several meals - pasta salads, sliced roasted turkey, bread, all the fixings for sandwiches, chips, caramel cake, a knife to slice the tomatoes,etc. Part of it was piled on a tray, and when I removed the items from the tray I discovered that she had had it made for us - it had our last name and the date that we purchased the house on it. Simply lovely and oh, so thoughtful! Isn't it wonderful how people surprise us sometimes with their kindness?!

Mamie, since you were mildly intrigued, I wanted to tell you that I've put up three January group/community read suggestions in the Short Story thread...mosey over and see if any one appeals, or leave a suggestion if none does.

I rushed down to the end of the thread to post: To Have or To Have Not is the movie with the whistling? Is it not? And did someone else id it? My very fav quote, too. And I loved Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in it. I walked out of the theatre and said to my date: I wish I could be like Lauren Bacall and my date said, "well, I am no Bogart". And that was that!

What a great scene.

ETA: Your realtor is a keeper, for sure. I wish we could clone her and put her up here in this community. I am still feeling my way around after 2 years, and I've only made a couple of local friends. Of course, I might consider how much time I spend with my friends here, and perhaps there is a link? Nah, probably not.

Hi, Mamie! I'm so far behind, I missed your entire last thread.

Your realtor sounds very, very helpful!

Wow.. your realtor is a treasure! Good on you for finding just the right person...
You sure she can't sell Amy's house?
I am so tired, my brain won't work..maybe tomorrow
hugs

Wow! What a fabulous realtor you have! What a lovely thing to do - organize a lunch and help you meet people in your new town!

hello hello, Mamie .. I'm baaaack!

I think your realtor is the perfect example of what all realtors should aspire to be. What an amazing woman.

Richard - Thank you, dear. I'll run over there and have a look-see! Thanks for the link!

Karen - You are the WINNER!! To Have and Have Not is the correct answer - one of my all time favorites! LOVE your date story - too funny! And yes, the realtor is a keeper! She was so great showing us houses and giving us the inside scoop on Albany, but I never expected her to keep in touch after the sale was final - BONUS!!

Terri - Just pop in wherever and start fresh - don't feel like you have to keep up. I'm always thrilled to see you, so no pressure! And the realtor is a true gem.

Kath - Yep - remember when I told you that she called and said that she wanted me to meet some of her lady friends? I had no idea what to expect, but it sure was fun, and what a wonderful gift she gave us! I wish she could sell Amy's house - that would be so great. I'm sorry that your brain won't work - tired does that. Poor, poor baby. Hugs back to you - hope that tomorrow is a better day. No work, right - I mean, no work at the library, right?

Deb - Yep - FABULOUS! And it wasn't just a one time thing. She plans on getting us back together after the holidays!

Hi Caro!! So glad that you are back! How lovely to see you here! And yes, wouldn't it be cool if all realtors went to those lengths to make sure that the people they sold houses to were happy and settling into the community smoothly? She said that she still remembers moving here 30 years ago and that it was hard to find everything that she needed on her own and learn her way around. What a fabulous gift she has given us.

Mamie, I hope she is awarded an award for helping build a community within ..err.. the community. :-)

Hi mamie, your relator really sounds like an absolute gem. I loved your story about how she organised everything on your first night in the house and how she arranged the meeting. Reading that it almost reminds someone of a real story in a book *smile*. I don't think you would find anything like that in Germany.

Wish you a great weekend!

Caro - I loved when she told us that "friending" was her hobby.

Bianca - She is just lovely - one of those people whose spirit shines through them. I need to remember how wonderful it felt to have her just show up with everything that she could think of to make our first night and the big moving day go smoothly so that I can pay it forward. Hope that your weekend is great as well - thanks so much for the good wishes!

You're up early on a Sunday morning!

Rhian - True - can't sleep! I used to work the night shift for many years long, long ago, but it messed up my sleeping rhythms, so I am often up in the wee hours wide awake while everyone else sleeps. I usually just read.

Good Morning and Happy Sunday. I note you are reading If I Stay I loved that book when I read it.

I'm currently reading the Snow Child and like the slow, lyrical pace.

Amy had a really lousy realtor the first time. I had a bad feeling about him the minute she said his name
( you know how can be). She refused to consider talking to someone else. She rued that decision enough to say so...

This time she has someone else.. I haven't yet heard from her about what condition the house was in, or who has the house. Hopefully she will be telling me later today. She is driving back up from Charlotte today. Anyone will be an improvement. I am sure that the renters did damage, I just don't know how much. Not good situation... but hopefully, can be remedied and hopefully sold before too many months.

Glad you had a good time, though. It sounds like a good way to meet new friends in your new town..

I woke up tired. This rarely happens, and I hate it when it does. :PPP

I need to get busy decorating and cooking and wrapping and stuff. Maybe that will ennergize me!

Good Morning and Happy Sunday to you, too, Linda!! I finished up If I Stay this morning when I couldn't sleep, and I absolutely loved it. I am so glad that Abby kept after me to read that book - she has read it multiple times. I loved how the author of The Snow Child described Alaska - I have never been to Alaska, but I fell like I have an appreciation of its harsh beauty just from the descriptions in that book.

Kath - Morning, sis! I have my fingers crossed for Amy! Hopefully this time around she has a better realtor who will know how to market the house for a quick sale. I do think choosing the right starting price is a key factor. And I also hope that the renters did not do too much damage - hoping that some paint and some TLC can fix most of it.

The realtor's luncheon was a good way to meet ladies that I probably would not have met otherwise because really what we have in common is the fact that we were not from here originally and that we knew Molly.

Woke up tired?! Such a bummer! That means your mind probably didn't let you get the sleep that you needed - you slept, but your mind was still working on things. Cooking almost always works to energize me - I just love to dice and sauté. It is relaxing to me. One of the things I love most about our new home is how open the kitchen is to the living room - I can be in there cooking and still watch the game!! Hope you find you balance, Kath - sending you some good mojo to get you through. Hugs!

Morning Mamie- Hope you enjoy your Sunday! Go Bears, Colts & Broncos!

Morning Mark! Yes, Game Day!! Go Bears, Colts and Broncos! Last night we went out to eat at a locally owned restaurant and the energy in there was just so great. College football is really big down here - bigger than pro ball, and last night was the Georgia/ Alabama game. How fun to watch the game with a crowd of fans - they were loud and fired up, and it was a close game. Sad to say that the Georgia Bulldogs lost.

Dibs on message 56 in Mamie's "new" thread! (yeah, I'm running behind....it happens)

Yeah, well, I claim message 57 for myself!! xo

Hi Rachel! Better late than never, right? Your seat is reserved, so you don't have to worry- post 56 is all yours! Thanks for claiming it!

Ellen! Post 57 is yours alone! Thanks for dropping in!

Sunday *smooch*

Well, I managed to wrap about 8 flashlights .. they won't win any prizes, but they are wrapped.
My house is in utter chaos :P

All is well though. I revived once I got moving :)

*smooch back to Richard*

Kath- Flashlights?! That can't have been easy! I only like to wrap gifts that are easy to wrap. I make Craig wrap everything else, and trust me, he is fabulous at it. So happy that all is well. Do you have to work tomorrow?

Go Colts! Boo Bears! Hope you enjoyed your day!

I did enjoy my day, Mark, even though I did not get to see either of those games- bummer! I did get to see the Colts game- winning touchdown because the Patriots game was over so they switched to the Colts game. Yea for that, at least!

*edited to add that I'm sorry that the Bears lost. Kudos to Ellen and Karen's Seahawks!

Hi Mamie, I've never heard of a realtor going out of her way to that extent but I bet she gets tons of referrals. She is certainly into customer service. Love that pic at the top btw. Sometime you should post one of the old pictures next to one of the present day kids. That would be very cool.

Bonnie - She just does it because she is that nice. She loves people, and loves to hook them up with each other. She calls it her hobby!

Glad you love the thread topper! I think that for the start of next year's thread I will use your idea and post an old picture next to a new one - thanks for the idea!

November Stats

Books Read:
91. IQ84 by Haruki Murakami (4 stars)
92. Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin (4.25 stars)
93. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (4 stars)
94. The Pearl by John Steinbeck (4 stars)
95. Chocolat by Joanne Harris (4.5 stars)
96. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (5 stars)
97. More Baths Less Talking by Nick Hornsby (4 stars)
98. Burmese Days by George Orwell (3.75 stars)
99. Love Songs From a Shallow Grave by Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
100. The Chicken Chronicles by Alice Walker (3 stars)

*I read a total of ten books.

* Eight were fiction, and two were nonfiction.

*Seven were written by male authors, and three were written by females.

*Six of the authors were new to me.

*All of them were purchased by me in this calendar year. Two of them were Kindle deals. Four of them were mass market paperbacks, the rest were digital books. Two of the four paperbacks had deckled edge pages!

*I made it to 100 books!

*I owe you six reviews - YIKES!

2012 Stats for January through November

Total Books Read: 100
Authors: 69 male, 31 female

58 authors were new to me this year.
58 of the books that I have read are part of a series.
Only 9 of the 100 books were nonfiction.

I have a tie for most read author. I have read seven books by John Steinbeck and seven books by Colin Cotterill.

Format
Paperback: 25
Hardback: 19
Digital: 54
Audio: 2

Show Me the Money
Purchased this calendar year: 74
Off the Shelves: 15
Library: 11

(I lumped all acquired books into the purchased category, which means I might have paid full price, gotten a deal, gotten a steal, bought it used or downloaded it for free - next year I will tract this differently.)

Some Interesting Stuff:

This was my first year on LT, and because of that I felt like a kid in a candy store! So many recommendations and so many new authors just waiting to be sampled. So thank you to everyone who has helped to shape my reading this year - I thought it might be fun to show you what you have accomplished.

Books read because of LT recommendations:
1.Ender's Game - recommended by Lucy
2. Cannery Row - Steinbeckathon
3. The Woman in Black - recommended by Jim
4. The Wayword Bus - Steinbeckathon
5. The Coroner's Lunch - recommended by Richard (led to reading the next six books in the series)
6. 84 Charing Cross Road - recommended by the LT masses
7. Blood Red Road - recommended by Mark and Chelle
8. The Eyre Affair - recommended by Rachel
9. Still Life - recommended by the LT masses
10. By the Iowa Sea - mentioned on Jim's thread
11. A Share in Death - Mystery March thread (also read the next one in the series)
12. A Severed Head - discussion on Lucy's thread
13. The Winter of Our Discontent - Steinbeckathon
14. Don't Look Back - Mystery March thread
15. The Moon is Down - Steinbeckathon
16. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - was it Rachel?
17. Things Fall Apart - Group Read
18. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - recommended by Dee and Heather
19. Blacklands -recommended by Katie
20. Chess Story - recommended by Kim
21. Sea of Poppies - recommended by Judy
22. The Fault in Our Stars - recommended by Mark
23. Rules - read fro Terri's Autism Awareness thread
24. The Shape of Water - recommended by Lucy and Paul
25. Binocular Vision - recommended by Bonnie (her hot review is how I found this book and her thread!)
26. If Death Ever Slept - recommended by Julia on Mark's Murder and Mayhem thread
27. Persuasion - followed Liz's tutored thread for Ilana
28. Of Mice and Men - reread for Steinbeckathon
29. Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury GR (led me to read Farewell Summer)
30. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress - saw this repeatedly mentioned on Paul's thread when the mad listings by decades were going on
31. Wolf Hall - tutored read by Suzanne for Ilana
32. The Uncommon Reader - recommended by Rhian
33. Interpreter of Maladies - Mark's Short Story thread
34. Train Dreams - recommended by Katie
35. The Worst Hard Time - copied Ilana's idea to read this in place of The Grapes of Wrath for the Steinbeckathon (because I had just read TGoW the previous year
36. The Cold Dish - recommended by Mark (led me to read the sequel)
37. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury GR
38. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - recommended by Linda
39. Bring Up the Bodies - recommended by Bonnie and Heather
40. River of Smoke - GR formed by Mark
41. Parnassus on Wheels - discovered this gem because of the centuries lists that were appearing on Paul's thread
42. Boneshaker - recommended by Jim
43. The Guards - recommended by Mark (led to reading the next two in the series)
44. The Last Werewolf - recommended by Judy
45. The Devil's Hearth - recommended by Terri
46. IQ84 - GR organized by Mark
47. Finding George Orwell in Burma - recommended by Benita on Paul's thread (led to reading Burmese Days by George Orwell)
48. The Pearl - Steinbeckathon
49. Chocolat - recommended by Ellen
50. Heart of Darkness - recommended by Katie
51. More Baths Less Talking - recommended by Richard, Bonnie and Mark

So there you have it - more than half of my reading this year came directly from you. Thanks, guys! And if I left anybody out, please speak up so I can give you credit.

Whew, I'm glad at least one of my recommendations made it onto that illustrious list! You are much better than I at tracking who recommended what. :-)

Nice list of recs from LT :)

Seems funny to think that this is your first year here.. seems as if you have been here longer...
Well done, sis!

Mornin' Mamie!
I'm claiming spot #71 and hope I type fast enough to keep it!
LOVE the opening picture of your sweet dears. I love how your kids always have interesting expressions for pictures (not that blank posed look) and I figure they have personalities to match!

Awesome realtor lady!!! We need more people in the world like her.
Very "interesting stuff" above. Sorry I am not a recommender lately. I've been following the recs of others like you - so much so that I don't just wander in a book store to see what's new anymore. I have centuries to catch up on! lol

Ellen - I have more recommendations from you, I just haven't read them yet! I try to type under private comments who recommended a book when I add it to my WL. You don't usually keep a WL, so I think it would be harder for you to track that info unless you kept a separate record. That's one of the reasons my library includes books that I want to read, but don't own - just so I can track that kind of stuff. Plus, this is my first year on LT, so everything is still pretty fresh in my memory because it is less than twelve months old. Next year, if I don't make a note of it, I bet I won't remember as well.

Kath - Thank you! It feels like I have been here longer, too - can't believe that a year ago I didn't even know you. Now what would I do without you?!

Cee - Morning! Spot 71 is all yours! So glad you love the thread topper - and what a sweet thing to say about their expressions! They all have very different personalities, but I think each of them is charming - of course, I might be slightly biased!

And the realtor lady is completely awesome, isn't she?! As far as recommendations, I have several books on my WL because of you, and when I get to them I will give you credit for pointing me in their direction. That's a great insight about the book store, and it holds true for me too. The other thing is that I am more likely to read and really like the books that I purchase now because of the extra help and input from the LT threads. So cool!!

Waitwaitwait what?! This is your first year here?!

Huh.

I thought you'd been here forever. You're part of the furniture.

I mean that in a good way, of course!

Oh those Dr. Siri books! Such a joy, aren't they?

I've stopped keeping a wishlist anywhere, because gawd knows I'll be dead before I read all the books I've got now, and as a result I'm truly sucky at keeping track of who recommended what to me. I don't add books until I'm going to review them. By that time my memory of who said I should read something is *piff* gone.

Have to think about what to do about that next year....

I'm part of the furniture?! Aw, shucks, you say the sweetest things. *blushes*

I LOVE Dr. Siri!! Simply adore him! What's that you say - no WL???!! But...but how do you keep track of what you want to read next? So your library is just books that you have already read? That's cool! I just like to keep track of everything in one place, and so my library is everything - what I have, what I'd like to have, what I've read, what I'd like to read. I would like to organize mine a bit better though - I keep waiting for the maid, but she hasn't shown up yet!

aww seee? you are so sweet ((((Mamie))))

Oh the wishlist is still there, all 1060 entries! I don't keep up with it, and only chip a few books away at a time. I haven't added to it in almost a year.

rd... I am getting used to using the library... it would be silly not to.
I have 2 books in some series that Terri reads waiting there for me right now.. and a China Bayles to go and read right now.

I love the liberry! It's no-guilt book-greed. I return them, someone else reads and enjoys them.

Kath - Hugs to you! I am thinking about you because I am getting ready to explore the online portion of the library system down here. It uses Overdrive - are you familiar with that? I am very excited that I will be able to download ebooks and audio books - what fun!

Richard - Oh, I get it - you stopped adding books to you WL. Wow! 1060 entries!! YIKES!

I LOVE the liberry, too!

Can't believe this is just your first year, Mamie .. I'm with Kath... it feels as if you've been here for far longer than that.

You do such a great job of tracking the books you've read this year .... *sigh* makes me feel so slothful .... *slumps away to hide head under a pile of pillows*

Yep... familiar. It's pretty easy and I'm glad you are able to try it :)
I am growing fond of the liberry too. I have 2 books waiting for me for tomorrow.

Hi Caro! So nice to feel that I fit right in! This is only my second year of tracking my reading. The year before I joined LT was the first time that I had actually kept track of what I was reading, which led me to look for a way to catalog my books, which led me to LT, which led me to Lucy, who pointed me here! Thank goodness I started to track me reading or I might never have found this awesome group!! Anyway, I'm still relatively new, so I haven't started slacking off yet!

Kath - I downloaded ny first audiobook from the liberry -WahHOO!! Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you that the Eagles lost last night- so there you go! And hooray for books waiting for you!

Oh cool! thank you :) I love it when Vick loses :)
congrats on the download :) it can be addictive..

Yeah, I feel like all the others. I can't believe it's only your first year around here. It's only my second (oh boy, I have a Thingaversary coming up next month!) and I can't imagine not hanging out with this crowd. I'm so glad you found us, Mamie!

Who is this Mark fellow, anyway? Sounds awful pushy! LOL. I love your "recommended" list. I NEED to start tagging my books better. I remember many of my influences, but I'm sure some get lost along the way.

I can only believe that every one our reading lists for the year has been influenced heavily by these amazing people in this magical place!

Waitwaitwait...Ellen, you're only two? What?! How is this possible, you've been here forever too!

I went over your lists again, Mamie .....BIG mistake ......I ended up adding some additional titles to my obese wish list. GAH!

Kath - You're welcome! And I hear what you're saying about the addiction…oh dear!

Ellen - It's only your second? Never would have guessed that! I missed my Thingaversary this year, so I have to be sure to catch it next year! I didn't even get the threads at all at first - I spent the first few months just logging in books, then I started investigating and stumbled onto Lucy's thread - she said the 75ers are where it was at! Then she helped me start my first thread in late January, and the rest is history! Thanks for the kind words - I'm so glad I found all of you, too! Every day I am thankful for that!

Mark - LOL! Not pushy, just plain fun! So glad you liked the list - wasn't it cool to see what a difference you all make in my reading journey?! And you're right - it's like a massive domino effect! Magic is the perfect word for it - see what happens when so much positive energy meets in one place!!

Richard - We're just toddlers!

Caro - WahHOO!! That makes me SO happy!

I love your recommended by...... list.

Thanks, Lucy! And thanks for helping to make this year happen for me! I am so thankful for all of your help and support!

Oof - puffing and panting to keep up with your thread Mamie! I love the story of the meal your realtor organised - sounds like she really goes above and beyond for her clients. What is a realtor? I don't think we use that word here (although I've never bought a house so maybe we do and I just don't know).

I'm glad I managed to hit you with a book bullet this year. :-) I've stopped adding all the recommendations I get from this group to my wishlist because after my first year in the group it had grown by about 500 books!

Hi Heather! I am thinking that she would be called a solicitor there - she acts as an agent helping people to buy and sell houses. She handles real estate transactions, so another term would be real estate agent.

You have hit me with several book bullets this year, I just haven't gotten around to them all! Your thread is one of my very favorite spots!

Hi, Mamie! Go Seahawks!

I've been both unusually busy and sick. One of the great nephews brought home some flu. First he had it, then his Dad, then me, and today his Mom has it. Hopefully his little sister and big bro are exempt. Such a drag. But it is the 24 hr type and everyone has bounced back.

Now I'm trying to catch up.

Hi Mamie, Just trying to catch up! SO glad I made the "Recommended By..." list - I always get a thrill when somebody likes a book as much as I do :)

Glad to hear all is well with you and yours!

Hi Mamie.. sorry to be just stumbling through lately... I can only hope that with your houseful, you have distractions too and will forgive me :)

Nothing to share bookwise from yesterday.. maybe tonight?
Are you all ready for Christmas yet?

Hi Karen! So sorry that you had the flu, but hooray for feeling better! I am trying to catch up, too, as RL has been busy lately. The pool is moving along ahead of schedule because the weather has been so nice - a high of 79 today and bright and sunny! Seems so strange to have what feels like summer weather to usher in December with!

Katie - Thanks for stopping in! Are you back home yet - I'll check your thread! You made the list a few times, and I loved every book that you recommended. We are excited because the Christmas tree that we ordered is coming today - how fun because today is Craig's birthday! And Craig LOVES Christmas trees, so he is more excited than the kids I think.

Kath - There is absolutely nothing to forgive - I am always THRILLED to see you, and I will always understand when you can't make it over. Life is busy and messy and some days are better than others - that's just how it goes. We had to go pick out the tile and the coping for the pool yesterday because things are ahead of schedule. I will have to post new pics because it is really coming along. Yesterday they poured the gunite.

If you don't know what that is, don't worry - neither did I.

gunite |ˈgənīt|
noun
a mixture of cement, sand, and water applied through a pressure hose, producing a dense hard layer of concrete used in building for lining tunnels and structural repairs.

It's the shell for the pool. I am getting excited because now I can see more what the final picture will be - I have trouble with just two dimensional drawings, so now I can visualize the big picture much better since I can see the drawing start to come to life.

I am NOT ready for Christmas yet. Today is Craig's birthday and tomorrow is my sister Julie's birthday, so after that I will concentrate on Christmas. I do have a good start, though. Yesterday we took the dogs to the groomer - I was so nervous because I didn't know the lady at all. She came highly recommended, but still, these are my babies we're talking about! She did a fabulous job for the most part - they all look lovely! The only thing that I would change next time is that she cut Bella's hair a bit too short - we leave it longer. I think that was just a misunderstanding and have to give the lady major kudos for active listening because we do have four dogs that are all about the same size, and they each get different cuts, so to only mess up one little thing is amazing since she just listened to me when I brought them in and explained what I wanted. I will try to post a picture for you later.

Hoping that today is a good one, and that you don't have to work as late. Hugs to you, sis!

Hi Mamie, galumphing through, nothing new to say other than *smooch*

I'll take it! Thanks, Richard! *smooch back*

ooo - ooo
pictures of pool and doggies!!!!
Can't wait...

Happy birthday to hubby and sister! Party on...

Okay, Cee, here you go - I'll do the doggies first. Notice Biscotti's bright red nail polish!!

And two more, just for fun!



The boys: Bailey and Barnum



And the girls: Bella and Biscotti. This picture really captures their personalities!

Hi Mamie, I resolve to be better about noting who recommends books to me. I keep it in my head which is not very efficient these days.

I have Griffin's birthday presents ready to wrap. One is huge so I will have to use an entire roll on it. He'll be five -- that age where they really rip into presents. We are going to daytrip/carpool to Kansas City for the party. Six hours in the car with Haley. Pure joy! Happy Birthday to Craig and your sister.

Hi Donna - My head is not very efficient these days, either! I am dying to know what takes an entire roll of wrapping paper to wrap!! Five is so fun! Sounds like you are in for some good times, and Griffin is in for a good birthday. Happy Birthday to him!

Okay, I'm back for a moment with some pool pics. After they dug the pool, they shaped it and then framed it.

After the framing was done, they poured the gunite.

I heard the news (of pics) and came running :)

That is one deeeep pool! And all those lovely trees behind! Are they all on your land? Your place looks amazing, do you have any treasure hidden in your roof space...or a family of 4? There looks a lot of room in there for something anyway.

OH! A pile of puppy cuteness! How can you stand it?
All adorable ;-)

Pool looks great! They sure are going to town on that project!
Will it be heated? *packing bags for GA*

Hi Megan! The deep end of the pool is either 7 or 8 feet - I can't remember. And from the angle that the photo is taken, none of those trees are ours. The closest one is in the corner of our neighbor's yard, and the others are part of the pecan grove that backs up to our property. We do have five of those lovely trees in our yard, just not in that photo. Our house is actually a two story house, so there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms up there. We also have plenty of attic space, which is coming in very handy! The upstairs does not run above the entire first floor, so parts of the downstairs has very high ceilings, which we love. I will try to post a pic tomorrow that shows how it works on the inside - the staircase and hallways are so pretty.

Cee - I know, right?! We LOVE our doggies! Thanks for your compliments! The pool is sailing along because the weather has been so so cooperative - only one day of rain and the temps have been in the high 70s. It was 79 today, so we were in t-shirts and flip flops to go out for Craig's Birthday lunch! And yes, it will be heated! You come on down anytime you want, sweetheart, there is always room for you!

What dainty little beauties your dogs are :) Utter cuteness...
Thanks for the pics of pups and pool :)
Things sure are moving right along!

Thanks, Kath - and you're welcome! Things are going much faster than we anticipated - good thing we already had the money for the pool! It was supposed to take two months, and it is SO not looking like it will take that long!

Mamie, I've got some exciting news. I am going to meet the little poodle I may be rescuing tomorrow evening. I am taking Greta Garbo, aged 8, Miniature Schnauzer, 18 lbs, and Jocelyn, aged 4 (January 8 = 5 yo) great niece, don't know her weight, with me to test this dog. Lets see if Greta likes him, and lets see how he handles a 4 year old who loves her dogs.

Might even see what happens if she gives him a little hug. You know how much dogs love hugs! He is 4 years old, and weighs 20 lbs.

Schelie, the Niece, was concerned reading the description that he sounds like he might be pretty hyper. I'll have to do some good training work on him. Lots of fetch, and dancing for treats, and maybe a little indoor agility. Walking the rail, stuff like that.

I confess I am a sucker for rescue. I'll bet I come home with him, and about $500 more poor. Big fee.

Nice pictures of the pool construction! They're moving pretty fast! Guess all this unseasonably warm weather is helping!

Your puppies are toooooo cute!! :)

Poodles are very smart.. congrats on the probable new pet Karen.. you will have your hands full!

Good morning to you Mamie dear! I have got to get out of LT and get busy in the kitchen. But I had to stop by to wish you a good day :) So much going on around you!

I have given up on tree ornaments once again.. and just put them away. I have a tree naked of everything but lights. Angus just takes them right off. He has made short work of all of the ribbon ball ( safe) ornaments
and a few others. I bought some cheap new ones, but they aren't safe.. the tops come off too easily. so... the beads? Well, he loves taking those off. So, lights it is ( again) maybe next year will be different. ( hah!)
Whatever. I love the little heathen. Christmas is about family, not fancy trees. It looks nice with the lights at least, it looks good enough.

Hi Mamie!
OK... great! Heated pool... so even if it turns chilly once the pool is finished, you can dive in.
*wondering how long it will take to warm up a pool that size??*

Don't fret about your tree, Kath. Our tree is still in the box and I'm thinking of just standing the box up in the corner with the picture facing out. Not in the spirit yet (no company this year)... and it will be nice and neat to keep the tree in the box and hoist it right back up to the attic when the season is over.

Doesn't really matter anyway - I'm thinking of flying to a friend's house in GA who has a new pool (and 4 cute doggies) for the holidays!!! LOL

My tree is still in the box in the garage. ha! I did buy a pkg of cheap ornaments to help the youngest kid help me decorate but we did not get to it today. Next week..... maybe

Dog news: parvo out break in our neck of the woods. Garbo will not be getting a trip to town tonight, just me, and Jocelyn.

Also, I'm not liking all the messages from the universe: not enough money in my bank right now, parvo outbreak, the rescue woman being a bit pushy for me to adopt today making me a little "gun shy", a good friend reminding me there are Poodle rescue people to talk to; and on, and on. I'll go see the dog but I'm leaning to the pessimistic a bit

What present takes an entire roll of paper to wrap? A Bat Cave, of course! It's for Batman, not the cute flying bats. Lol.

The pool looks amazing. Your gang will be living out there next summer. What fun. The puppy pics were not there when I posted yesterday. They look so glamorous. Wait, I guess the boys look handsome. Are they all adjusted to their new home?

Karen - So now I am wondering what happened in your poodle adventure. Did you like him? How was he with your niece ? Too bad that Greta Garbo did not get to go. And don't let the rescue woman pressure you - do what os best for you. I'll check your thread in a bit to see if you have posted news over there. Thanks for stopping by and giving me the scoop!

Tina - Thanks! They are moving unbelievably fast - there is no way that it is going to take two months unless it starts raining and doesn't stop for days or there is doe kind of delay on the tile or pavers. SO fun watching it all come together, and I am so excited for the kids for next summer! We are LOVING Georgia! And thanks for the compliments to my doggies!

Kath - Look at you leaving such a sweet message for me to find this morning! It was a crazy busy day today - errands this morning, then I rushed home to fry up the bacon for the BLTs that we had with dinner tonight. Then I put chicken thighs into the crockpot to slow cook in chicken broth while the kids and I went to one of those mom and kids meetings that the homeschool group has each week. Today it was at a park - I wore a t-shirt and flip flops - in DECEMBER!! There were five parents there and about thirty kids. It was fun, and the kids are really loving going to those get togethers. Then we came home and made chicken corn chowder to go with our BLTs - yummy! So now, finally, some down time - hooray for that! Tomorrow I have a hair appointment in the morning - I SO need that! But then the rest of the day is free - nothing else scheduled. (Um, thank goodness!)

We are working on decorating our tree - just came yesterday! It is ten feet tall and totally fabulous, so I will post a pic just for you when it is all decorated so that you can enjoy it vicariously since Angus is not letting you have ornaments on yours. I do think that trees look pretty with just the lights on, and one year when we were first married, we were both too lazy to put the ornaments on, and so we just had the lights! I say just do whatever works for you, Kath, and don't sweat it.

Hugs to you, sis!

Cee - I have no idea how long it takes to warm up the pool. Right now it probably wouldn't need much because it has been in the seventies lately - supposed to get up to eighty this weekend!

I am laughing out loud at the image you have created for me of you and Ron and Loki sitting around the boxed Christmas tree! You're right, though, the clean up would be a breeze! My oldest sister no longer puts up a tree at all because she decided it wasn't worth all the fuss. She never liked the process of putting the tree up, though - she used to have a tree party where she would order pizzas and we would all go over to her house to put her tree up together!

*makes a note to prepare the guest room for some really fun company*

Karen - Did the tree make it out of the garage yet? Any doggie news?

Donna - Oh! A Bat Cave - of course! How fun!! Glad you liked the pics of the puppies and the pool - I was probably working on posting when you were posting. The dogs really love it here - especially the screened in porch, which is Biscotti's favorite spot. They have settled right in!

I have not yet gone to Seattle, am eating some hot veggie chili with string cheese for dinner. More news - not only the above thoughts which suggest this is not the dog, now I've also talked with the lady who has a pg schnauzer bitch in the neighborhood. Puppies due after Christmas. Her prices are very reasonable. And there is nothing in the world cuter than a schnauzer puppy! I am going to go meet her, and her dogs, and we'll see. Maybe she'll be the supplier of my schnauzer addiction.

Greta will go with us in the car, but won't get out to meet the crowd of California dogs. (at least I think that is where they are from)

I'll divulge all tomorrow, sometime

Karen, my fingers are crossed that you will get the exact right dog for you and Greta. Please keep me posted - thanks for the update. I am excited for the possibilities that you have!

Mamie- Love the pool progress pics! You probably won't be able to use it, until Spring, correct? I can see many hours flying by next to that baby, preferably with a book & a beer.

Awww, look at those sweet doggies Mamie. And wow, look at that swell pool. Have you always had a pool or did you decide on it because Georgia weather will allow for a great deal of use? Either way, I think you'll get a lot of use out of it:)

My day today is going to be like yours yesterday, I think? Except for the cooking. I don't plan to do that.
9 am lawyer
10 am haircut
Bank/groceries/gas
cleaning
5 pm meeting friends for trip to drum circle.
What should I wear?

Hope that your day is a lot more relaxing than yesterday :)

Morning Mark! Glad you liked the pics. And right - probably won't be able to use it until Spring. But boy, do we plan on using it!!

Bonnie - Those doggies are so sweet - and now once again they look it! They were beginning to look like rocker dogs! About the pool - we have never had a pool before. Craig grew up with a pool - his Dad was a farmer, and they lived in the middle of nowhere. In Indiana we belonged to a neighborhood pool where you bought stock in it and then paid a fee each year. It was great because it was just down the street from us. Since we were making such a big move, and the kids were leaving so much behind as well as their beloved pool, we sweetened the pot by promising them a pool at the new house. They are all really great swimmers and so is Craig - guess I will finally have to learn! Down here, a pool can be used so much longer than we could in Indiana, so I think we will definitely get our money's worth out of it. We also thought it would be added incentive for family to visit!

Kath - That does sound like my day yesterday! I am getting my hair cut at 9 - please cross your fingers, as it is my first hair cut down here. YIKES! But then, nothing! Yes, nothing!! I am giddy with relief. I plan on making a big pot of beef stew for dinner and helping to finish decorating the tree, but that is it. I have no idea what one would wear to a drum circle - something comfortable - do you sit on the floor? Thanks for the good wishes - now how can my day fail to be more relaxing - I have you good mojo helping me out! Thanks, sis! Hope you survive your crazy schedule and manage to squeeze in some fun. I'll be thinking about you!

Wow, the pool is going to be amazing! It's huge! (You know this already, of course, but that picture of Dan sitting in it really makes the point)

I hope the hairdresser goes OK. But remember, it will always grow out :-)

Crossing my fingers that your hair cut is just what you want, and that you will look awesomely beautiful!

Hope you have a great hair day Mamie and that, satisfied with the cut, you have a wonderful weekend at the Paradisio.

Susan - I think it will be a good haircut. I usually get my hair cut every six weeks, but with the move it had been much longer, so it was beginning to make me a bit crazy. I liked the lady who cut it very much, and will definitely go back again - I am not very picky about my hair because it's ...um...hair. You're so right that it grows back out, and so I am usually willing to try almost anything. And when I get it cut, for some reason it rebels for the first few days and so I never make a judgement on the cut until about a week after, when my hair is behaving again.

I do hope the pool will be amazing - it's looking good so far. It's funny because it looks small when you just look at it, but when you have someone get down into it, then you can appreciate the size. I do very much like the shape of it.

Karen - My hair is being a bit rebellious down here. We had a water softener at our old house, and this house does not have one. Also the city water is full of calcium, so not great for the hair - mine is looking very dry. I did purchase some leave in conditioner from the shop that makes a big difference. We need to purchase a water softener, but that will have to wait until after the pool is finished - one project at a time! Thanks so much for your good wishes - I will work on looking awesomely beautiful!

Paul - Today is not a great hair day - the day after is always a bust for some reason! But, it is no longer making me crazy, and I am certain that in a week it shall look and behave just fine. That's just how it always goes in Mamieland. The weekend - now that has possibilities. We are closing in on finishing the tree trimming, and then we can slide it into position and remove all the ornament boxes, and then have the room back again.

It is funny how our hair can drive us crazy. Right now I am fighting with static electricity in my locks every other day or so. Drives me crazy. Solution seems to be daily washing and conditioner which is a good deal more maintenance than I am used to doing! Ug! I'd rather be reading. I just do not get dirty enough to take a shower every day. Wah wah wah!

I'll get over it I'm sure.

I hear you, Karen! And I wear my hair short, so you would think it couldn't get up to much trouble, but....

I guess that is what hats are for!!

I'm thinking we need a picture of the 'do....

#130: It's good that you've found a hairdresser you like on your first try. I always give a cut (and colour, in my case) a week to settle down too. I make the appointment for the weekend before a week with no meetings or seminars. Imagine my alarm on the Tuesday of one such week recently when a video conference with a client was sprung on me. Aaaargh!

Katie - Nice try! I still need to get my hair colored, too. I was not willing to brave both with a new stylist. I go back for color in two weeks, by that time my hair should have settled down and learned how to behave again.

Susan- To be honest, I like almost everybody. It takes a lot to put me off. Even with the lady that had been doing my hair for years, it took a week or so to settle into the cut. And I am laughing about the video conference that was sprung on you- YIKES! I would have panicked. That's always my backup plan- panic.

I'm glad the hair cut went well. I hate changing stylist too - I have short hair and I always find it difficult to convince a new stylist that when I say short I mean short. I find if I go over the six week limit I start getting very irritated with the feel of it. When we were on holiday a couple of years ago the time for getting it cut fell right in the middle (we were away for three weeks) and I made Mr SandDune snip bits off it as it was irritating me so much. Didn't do much for the look of it but it felt better.

Mamie, head over to my thread and look at post #198.

That's a GOOD hair day for me.

Stop complaining! :-P~~~~~~~~~

I hear ya with the water issues ... ours is so bad! My hair, my skin.. all so much drier than if I am visiting
elsewhere. I would love to have a water softener system. Is it hard to maintain? What kind do you recommend?

My hair was wild yesterday. . . I had it cut in the morning and then went out last night.
eek! And I'm supposed to go out tomorrow..again.. timing.. sigh. ( Also freaked out by the thought)
Wonder how my hair will look then? I don't color my hair... it's just grey and sort of wild looking...

Now I'm trying to decide if I should wear a black sweater with sparkles or a plain green one. No idea...
I am completely unable to dress myself to go out. Terrible. You should have seen me yesterday! yeesh!Hope all is well with you today...

oh and rd.. you look adorable...

Rhian- What I loved about my old stylist was that she loved her job and I could just say that I was feeling like a change, and she would cut it completely different. Then I would keep it that way until I once again felt like a change. And like you, I like it short. My ideal haircut would be one that I could just put some product into and mess up a bit and go because I do not want to take the time to mess with it!

Richard- All right, dear, I'm all done whining. I might even talk about books in a bit.

Hi Kath! The softener at our old house was a Culligan- it's not hard to maintain, pretty much you just fill it up with those big bags of salt , and as it uses up the salt, you add more. We owned ours, but a lot of people rent them. They are expensive to put in up front, but they are not expensive to maintain, and they save not just your hair and your skin, but also you appliances that use water.

I have colored my hair forever- I get highlights and low lights added, and have since I was in my thirties. Now it has the added benefit of covering the grey that is coming in around my hairline and the bits here and there on top. My hair is a very dense brown color, so grey does not look attractive in it at all. My sister Julie has that beautiful salt and pepper hair because her hair was black first- I think it is gorgeous.

I think either sweater sounds great- which one do you feel better in? That's usually how I decide. No sweaters here- it was 80 today!

I just wrote a five-star review. Of a YA novel. A fantasy, no less.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making...my thread, post #217.

*waving hi, as she rushes off to read RD's five star review!*

That was an excellent review, Richard- did you post it yet on the book's page so I can thumb it?

*waves back at Karen*

Mamie

It was great to see all the books you read as a result of our recommendations.

This is such a wonderful group, and again, I want to say how special it is that you are a part of it.

Since 2008, we have grown (the word is out regarding what a wonderful bunch we are) and I look forward to 2013 when new members will find us.

Love to you!

Sauntering through... not expecting to find my friend... on accounta Craig being home.. but just in case.

stumbled onto Lucy's thread - she said the 75ers are where it was at!
Waaay behind, but this sentiment is certainly true!

Bailey, Barnum, Bella, Biscotti.
I'm detecting a theme here (other than adorableness).

Most folks wait until the water is in to get in the pool! It looks like it's going to be really nice, Mamie. You are going to enjoy that space, I know. I'm looking forward to coming over to do some laps. :-)

The pool looks like it's going to be really nice. :) So many new exciting things! Yay!

Oh! so that's how a pool is done! It looks great. I like how close it is to the house yet still far enough back for late night skinny dipping. :0}
Have a great Sunday!

Skinny dipping! Great idea :) but rough with 4 kids... lol

Just wanting to be sure to say hello.. I'm crazy busy the last couple of days... I really want to get some reading in...

Did you have a nice Craig's day off yesterday? We really need a good old catch up time.. :P
Have a happy sunday... still football right?

Linda - Thank you so very much for your kind sweet words. You always say the nicest things, and I so appreciate your loving and generous heart that always looks for and finds goodness. This group is truly special, and I feel blessed to have been a part of it this past year. What a fun and wonderful journey it has been. I'm so glad that you liked the list of how everyone shaped my reading this year, never has my reading life been so balanced and rich. I loved the exposure to authors that were new to me and recommendations that explained why someone liked or didn't like a book - it really helped me to chose books that I enjoyed. All of you have totally expanded my horizons, and not just with reading - what a gift to be able to meet people from all over the world, all with different lifestyles and interests but who share a common bond - a love of reading. I am learning and growing and soaking it all up, and I feel the imprint of each of you upon me, and that is a powerful thing. I know that I am better and stronger for it. I am also looking forward to 2013, and this time I get to start out firmly embedded in this group - what fun! Love back to you, dear one.

Kath - Last night Craig grilled steaks which we served with green beans and sweet potato fries. We ate in the living room while watching Christmas in Connecticut, which is one of my very favorite Christmas movies. The decorations are finally all up, so I will try to post a photo either today or tomorrow for you.

Um...I don't think I will be doing any skinny dipping! LOL! Sorry about the crazy busy schedule you have had lately - me, too, but December always seems to be that way for us. We did have a great day off yesterday - mostly worked on the house. He is also off today, so we will try to get things finished up - just need to put the Christmas boxes back in the attic for now, and work on organizing some paperwork. The guest bedroom is a mess because it is kind of the catch all room for the moment. My goal is to have the rest of the house completely moved into and just how we want it with only the guest room out of whack. Then we can start tackling the guest room. Mostly it's boxes of stuff like photos and paperwork - stuff that takes time to go through. And yes, football today - hooray for that! My Broncos played and won on Thursday night, so they don't play today. But GO COLTS!

And you're right - we need to catch up! I miss you, sis!

Ellen - So happy to see you here! Thanks for stopping by. Believe it or not, the B names for the dogs just kind of happened - we didn't plan it.

We were supposed to wait for the water? The Pool Guy told the kids they could get in it, so they did! Also, it looks small when you are just looking at it, so it was nice to see it in perspective - seeing them actually in it made it look much larger. I think we will get a ton of use out of it - all the kids love to swim. You are welcome at our house anytime, my friend!

Rachel! Thanks - I do think it is going to be really nice. I am looking forward to seeing it come to life!

Lynda - I didn't know how pools were done either! It's been fun watching the process. I think the positioning is going to be perfect for our needs. Eventually there will be a pool house (please refer to this as a Pole Barn since I promised Paul that we would call it that) with a shower and bathroom in it, so that swimmers won't need to traipse through the house - but that will be phase two, along with a workshop for Craig...um, two separate pole barns. We are hoping to make the pool area pole barn into a glorified guest house. Your late night skinny dipping idea is cracking me up! Hoping that you have a great Sunday as well!

Morning Mamie- Just checking in. Hope you have a good Sunday. I won't be watching much football today, because we are going in to the city but I hope our teams bring home wins.

Morning Mark! Thanks for checking in! I will cheer for your Bears for you, although I doubt I'll get to see them play - GO BEARS! Also, GO COLTS!

Fun to see your family all together again and living the good life! New pool, steaks on the grill, groomed doggies, festive house, and happiness! A perfect Christmas vision that only needs a bit of snow! LOL

Love the doggie pics, Mamie. They're adorable and they pose so very well too. Haha... clearly no strangers to the camera.

*sits and waits for the indoor photos of your new house*

Cee - Somehow, I think that the snow is not going to happen! LOL! As long as we are together, it's all good!

Caro - To get them to look at the camera, Abby holds the camera, and I stand behind Abby and hold up a piece of popcorn! After the photo, they each get a piece - so we cheat! I'm working on the photos!

I know that the best child photogs have awesome assistants, looks like the very same is true for good dog photogs.

Happy Sunday, Mamie!

Okay, here you go, Kath - some Christmas spirit! This is the view as you come in the front door.



The living room:



I'm thinking I'll try again later tonight - it's kind of overcast today.

Happy Sunday, Karen - you snuck in there while I was posting!

Gorgeous pictures.. beautiful and cozy home!
hugs

Thanks, Kath! Hugs back to you, sis!

MAMIE! Your tree! Lovely lovely! And the two-story living room is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

Thanks, Richard!! We are loving the two story living room. Our last house was built in 1949 and the ceilings were SO low. We had a short tree and the tree topper still wouldn't fit on the top. So, this year we have a ten foot tree which I am absolutely LOVING!!

What wonderful photos, dogs, pool and Christmas tree..... we got ours today - it turns out to be a bit skinnier than we expected.... we need and like skinny but this is rilly rilly skinny. I think it'll look a lot better 'dressed' but that will happen who knows when?

Hi Lucy! Thank you! Oh, I hope you post a picture of it when it is dressed! We had neighbors years ago that always got a very tall skinny tree each Christmas and it made us smile because their tree looked just like them - tall, slim, and elegant! We wondered if they did it intentionally or it they just naturally gravitated to the tall, skinny ones.

Beautiful house, beautiful tree.

Thanks, Reba!

Great decorating! It's beautiful. Your house must be such a delight! It was worth the wait :-)
Love all the stockings - Santa has his work cut out - lol

Cee- You are SO sweet! Thank you so much! Santa does have his work cut out for him! But this year we did something different- the kids are filling Craig and my stockings! Should be fun- and funny!!

The tree, and the stockings, all look wonderful! Just like it is supposed to be! Happy Christmas, Mamie, and to all in your fine family.

Thanks, Karen! Happy Christmas to you and yours as well! Please give Greta Garbo a scratch behind the ears for me.

It is done!

BTW, I went to the Schnauzer breeder's home today, and oh, dear. She has two darling bitches, and a stud. Plus some more barking going on upstairs. House and yard very unkept, dirty, and well, dog run like. The dogs seemed happy, and healthy, thank goodness, but I don't think I'll be trusting her to have all the necessary pieces in place to be a reliable breeder. She may be possibly dealing with in breeding. How could I know, eh?

She said some vague things about papers, but I didn't pursue it as I did not feel like I would be shopping in this store. Darn it!

So, next, I'm going to look for a legit poodle rescue outfit.

The right dog will arrive, I know it will.

Yep, I think so too, Karen. Trust you intuition. There is a dog out there that needs you and Greta. Be patient- I think the poodle rescue is an excellent idea. Don't settle. I have my fingers crossed, and I just know that things will work out for you!

Mamie,
your new house is lovely. I love your tree (and the row of neatly hung stockings). Stockings are perhaps my favorite part of Christmas. My sister and I really "get into" finding good stocking stuffers and they are often over-stuffed with trinkets and chocolates and such. Speaking of which, I need to do some thinking and purchasing before getting on that plane...

Love the Christmas decorations, especially the matching stockings. We have very individual ones here--my Mom needlepointed one for each of us over the years. And since the Christmas village has taken over my mantle, they are hanging on the banister up the staircase. Did your girls mind wearing the matching sweaters when they were little (DEARS picture up top)? My sister and I were forced to do that a few times; mostly I liked it.

Your house looks so beautiful!

Ellen - Thank you! I love stockings, too. When I was growing up, we were allowed to get into the stockings as soon as we got up - we didn't have to wait on anyone else, and so they were always my favorite part. Now I try to collect stocking stuffers all year long - I just pick up little things when I find them and tuck them away, then in December I just have to add a few more things and the candy.

Kim - Thanks! The matching stockings were new last year. We have stockings that were made for and given to us, too that have our names and birth years on them - they are all the same pattern. They stretch when you fill them - which the kids love, and I do not! I like to change the look of the fireplace from year to year, so you never know what stockings will be hanging!

Rest assured that we never made the girls wear matching sweaters - we needed coordinated clothing for pictures being taken for the church directory, so I went shopping to find something that would work. I found those sweaters (just needed something with green in it because Dan's favorite color was green, so we had plenty of options in that color in his wardrobe) on the Gap clearance rack - $3 a piece! So I snapped them up! They wore them for the church directory photos, and then put them on again for these Christmas photos that we sent to family. Other than that we never dressed them alike except for Easter - the two older girls often had matching dresses, but they were always given a choice of whether to match or not.

Carol - Thank you so much!

Morning Mamie- Love the photos of the Christmas decorations. Very nice. I also love those bookshelves. Even nicer.

Thanks, Mark! We love the bookshelves, too! We could use more of them!!

Stockings are THE best part of Christmas, as far as I'm concerned. I used to get up in the middle of the night and go through my stocking and my sister's and trade things around - nothing major, just things like toothbrushes if I preferred the color she had and certain candy I didn't like :)

I also love shopping for stocking stuffers and have had to "teach" the hubby about proper stocking etiquette. Our first Christmas together, he put economy size shampoo and conditioner in mine which took up most of the space. I considered that a cop-out.

Katie - I am cracking up at your Christmas hijinks!! Too funny! I so wish I had thought of that as I had five other stockings that I could have rummaged through. Craig didn't know how to do stockings properly either - he thought fruit could go in there! Fruit! This year the kids are filling our stockings, so I think it will be fun to see what we end up with - we gave them a budget, of course - a $50 limit for Craig's and the sky for mine! (Just kidding) Rae and Dan are stuffing Craig's, and Abby and Birdy are stuffing mine.

When I was little, every year we used to go to my grandparents before Christmas to collect a hand knitted sock/stocking that my grandfather had had in the navy in the First World War. By the thickness and size of it I think it was designed for keeping warm in arctic conditions and a surprisingly large amount could be stuffed inside.

Growing up there was always an orange in the toe of the stocking -- that's how you knew for sure the end was reached. I've never been able to get the married-in parts of my family interested in stockings so just gave up a few years ago. Sort of miss it!!

Oh we had an orange too, and nuts. I never actually liked nuts but my parents were a stickler for tradition when it came to things like that.

Hi Mamie, I'm loving catching up here and seeing such lovely pictures of your dogs, and the house so nicely decorated. I would love to hire you for an afternoon's worth of decorating. We got our tree up but not decorated, all the decorations are still in boxes strewn all over the place.

Not sure how in the world I fell so far behind, Mamie, but I'm loving the pics of the pups and the pool and the homestead with the beautiful Christmas tree. This is a banner year for the Mamie family!

I am way too far behind.. so I will post my wishes for a calm rest of the day and hope that all is well :)
I need to keep you where I can find you.. but it is getting to be very hard just now.

Orange in the stocking! Of course, and my mother told me that the orange could easily be the only one she'd get in that year. California was a long, long ways from Idaho, I guess.

Happy holidays!

Stockings at our house evolved from small toys and candy.. to things like razors, nail polish, deodorant...
and so forth. About the time that kids were out of college.. stockings faded away... due partly to $ issues.

Morning Everyone! Trying to get through some paperwork to create a filing system that actually works for us (i.e. one that Craig will use), pay the bills (UGH), and permanently remove the stack of clutter from the dining room table (it seems to take less than 24 hours to magically reappear). Not my favorite chore! The pool guys are here - think they are working on installing the plumbing for the pool. No scheduled events today, but I do have a lot to get done - I do have the bills ready to go out and the paperwork somewhat organized, so I am feeling a tiny bit smug about my progress so far - we'll see if I can keep it up!

Rhian - Loved hearing the story about the WWI stocking expedition - what a great memory! Whatever happened to it? Craig's Mom always put fruit and nuts into the stockings, too, but it is not a tradition in my family - there's supposed to be forbidden fruit (chocolate) in there, not healthy stuff!

Reba - No stockings! That's my favorite part! If I had to choose between stocking and gift, I would chose the stocking every time. I think you should hang your stocking up and tell your husband that you just know it will be filled because you have been so good this year.

Judy - So lovely of you to take the time to catch up. I am so glad that you are feeling better! Let's see - a trip up North to decorate your tree? OKAY! No need to pay me, I'll just take a few books off of your shelves, and we'll call it even!!

Joe - I am shocked that you can even make it out of the cafe at all - that joint is jumping these days!! Glad you liked the photos - it is indeed a banner year for us. SO happy that all of you could be a part of it!

Kath - Your wishes worked - the rest of the day went very well. So thanks for that! Don't worry about me - if I don't see you for a couple of days over here, I will hunt you down! I do not want to be lost! Stockings at our house have evolved over the years, too. I try to include both practical and whimsical things. Some trinkets are wrapped and others are not - that's the fun of the stockings, I think. You never know what you're going to pull out! I have no idea what we will do about stockings as the kids migrate to families of their own creation - guess we'll just play it by ear. Craig's Mom phased them out shortly after we were married - she just stated that that year would be the last year for stockings, and that was that. Worked fine. It's supposed to be fun, so when it's not fun anymore, then it's time for something new.

Karen - My Mom grew up during the Depression, and her family literally had nothing. Christmas was a big deal because my Grandfather made sure that each of the kids got a whole orange all to themselves and then he also bought a Hershey bar which they all shared. That memory that she shared with me always puts everything into perspective.

Mamie, that is the truth. Perspective. I can't believe I was telling one of the kids yesterday that I used to walk to school!

#138 It looks wonderful Mamie! I love the sense of space and light in your entrance room and the open stairs and landing.

#181 " Craig didn't know how to do stockings properly either - he thought fruit could go in there! Fruit!"

Our stockings always had an orange in the heel or the toe when I was growing up too (and I didn't like oranges when I was little). I always assumed it was a tradition from after the war when oranges were quite exotic fruit and saved for special occasions - I'll have to ask my parents why they did it.

#190 " Trying to get through some paperwork to create a filing system that actually works for us (i.e. one that Craig will use), pay the bills (UGH), and permanently remove the stack of clutter from the dining room table (it seems to take less than 24 hours to magically reappear)."

Oh, I'm glad it's not just us that has that problem with the dining room table! I have to confess I sort of give up trying to clear it most of the time. As long as there's room for us to eat dinner we just leave the pile at the other end alone (*looks embarrassed*)

Karen- I walked to school, too!

Heather - Thank you! I do think that fruit and nuts are traditional items for stockings - I just don't want either of them in mine!! I want delightful treats and whimsical trinkets - doesn't need to be expensive, just fun! And I am also glad to have company with the cluttered dining room table! The problem is that in the new house the dining room is just off the entry, and so the table is one of the first things that visitors see. I need a basket or something that can sit someplace else for the paperwork and odds and ends to accumulate in...probably I am dreaming!

Heh...orange in the stocking...born in Cali and raised in Texas and had orange trees in both places! Parents too, dad native to Venice, CA and mama to Mercedes, TX where both had orange groves all over.

My stocking had Matchbox cars in it or there was a tantrum in the offing!

Oh, Matchbox cars - I miss those. I used to find them everywhere - under the table, hidden in the sofa cushions, on the window ledges...sigh...

Isn't it funny how things that used to annoy you, now make you grow quite nostalgic? I used to complain about the girls leaving their hair ties and barettes lying around, and yesterday there I was picking up hair ties that my granddaughter left on the coffee table and smiling mistily!

That's so true, Judy! Oh, how I hope there are grandchildren somewhere in my future!

Mamie, your decorations are beautiful! (And I still love the colour of your walls). I hope you find something fun to do after all your paperwork.

Mamie, I love the pictures of your living room (is that a dog I see squashed between the couch cushions? haha) and the foyer. You've done a great job decorating ... want to come over and help me with mine? I'm hopeless.

Thank you, Susan! I love that yellow color, too. It makes such a lovely backdrop for everything and warms up the rooms. After the paperwork, I rewarded myself by tucking into a new book- Devil's Peak, which was recommended by both Paul and Richard. It's very good!

Caro- Glad you liked the pictures, and very good eyes you have there! That is a dog in the couch cushions!! Biscotti loves to sit along the top of the sofa, and that is her that you are seeing up there. And I would love to help you decorate!

Catching up here Mamie (not an easy job!), lovely Christmas decorations and your house looks beautiful and hey, wait a minute....my stocking always had nuts and an orange.LOL. Not that my siblings and I ever actually bothered eating them.

We always had oranges in our CA home but it was an important tradition for my mother (also helped keep cost down) Some years we got both an apple and an orange but we always just put the back in the fruit bowl.

Wow, lots of lovely photos on your thread, Mamie! Sweet dog photos, pool photos, decorated house photos . . . your house looks lovely.

Mamie, I thought I'd report in on the great poodle quest. I rec'd a phone call from a poodle breeder who has on older puppy she might be willing to let me have. She was born in an "agility litter" so has tail which has not been docked, and dew claws which are still there! Interesting. She is high energy. She will give Greta Garbo a run for her money, and maybe too much....

We have a date to meet her on Saturday.

Bonnie - So lovely to see you, and thanks so much for the kind words. I guess the fruit and nuts thing is so much wider spread than I thought. The holiday was a big deal to my Mom - she always made Christmas huge. The stockings were stuffed to the brim with no fruit or nuts in sight. The tree was swamped with wrapped packages that magically appeared on Christmas Eve. She gave us the Christmases that she had always wanted when she was growing up, I think. It always started with birthday cake, though - birthday cake for Jesus. My Dad, on the other hand, had to be pulled out of bed and begged down the stairs. Then he would sit at the kitchen table and have a cup of coffee that had to be stone cold by the time he finished it because he drank it so slowly. The stockings were fair game without him, but the presents awaited his arrival because he passed them out. Every time, without fail, when he finally finished the last dregs of his cup, he would say, "Dolores, perhaps another cup." Groaning and sighing, small heads dropping in agony onto the table surface...Dad, the presents...Oh, is it Christmas then? he would ask. Well, that's different, let's go - what are you waiting for? He passed them out one at a time, calling the name out loudly and pretending to be confused about whether or not certain children were present. Then there were the extra gifts that somehow managed to get put in with the ones carefully selected by Mom - a wrapped roll of toilet paper, a box of foil wrapped in foil, envelopes filled with Monopoly money. I actually still have the small silver shoe that I received from him in a ring box one year with a fortune sized tag enclosed that read: A token of my affection. Which explains why the Monopoly game at my parents' house was always missing that particular game piece. So, Christmas to me doesn't have to be big, it doesn't have to be expensive, but it should require thought, and it should be whimsical. If it makes you laugh out loud and fill warm deep inside your heart, then you did it correctly.

Reba - LOL that you always put them back in the fruit bowl!

Terri - Thank you so much, and thanks for stopping by!

Karen - That's exciting! What exactly is an "agility litter"?

Mamie, I'm delurking to say that your descriptions of Christmas could single-handedly put me in the holiday spirit. I hope you're writing them down for your kids. Your joy in the holiday really shines through.

I especially identify with your stories about the stockings because my mother also went all out with them and we could open them before my parents got up. I was the oldest so once I knew who Santa Claus was, I asked my mother if I could help her wrap the stocking presents for us three kids knowing I'd get to see them early. She said sure and only then did I realize how time consuming it was to wrap small gifts for 3 stockings.

Looking forward to following the rest of your holiday celebrations!

Mamie, your Christmas description is precious. I second the suggestion that you write these down for your kids to have.

Agility - competition where a dog and her handler run an obstacle course. The dogs jump barriers, run through tunnels, run up and then down a teeter-totter, walk a plank that is up off the ground a ways, etc. So a litter bred for agility would be dogs which are quick, and learn complex directions. Jack Russell terriers are excellent at agility. So are Australian sheep dogs. And I think poodles are often very good, too.

Smart, athletic, and willing to work to please the handler.

I am kind of excited.

Pat - Welcome to my thread! What a lovely surprise! Thank you so much for delurking and sharing your kind thoughts. The older I get, the more I realize that every day is a gift, that life is both too short and too long for pettiness, and that joy and kindness must be both chosen and sought out. The holidays are full of magic for me, and Christmas is a time that hangs in the balance between past and present, between old and new, and every year it reminds me that I need to be mindful of those lives that have been entrusted to my care. When my children are my age, and they sit in front of their trees in the homes that they have chosen and made, I want them to remember laughter and the joy that is to be found in small moments. I hope they will understand that magic is almost always to be found by those who look for it.

I love the story of you and your Mom wrapping the stocking presents together - what a lovely memory! And what a gentle and wonderful way for you to learn that sometimes, often actually, there is more time involved in creating the moment than in the actual moment. A behind the scenes look at the creation of joy! So glad that you are going to share in mine this holiday season!

Karen - You snuck in there while I was posting! Thank you - and I guess I should write some of this stuff down for them.

Oh - I get the agility thing now. SO cool! Poodles definitely are intelligent, athletic, and eager to please. So Saturday you meet this new poodle- that is exciting! Crossing my fingers and toes for you!

Woe is me...I hate getting behind on your thread....I am sorry..I am sad...
hope that today was a good day :)
hugs

Hi Kath - Don't be sorry or sad. I always love to see you! Today was a very good day, thanks. It's pouring here, and has been all day - and the temperature dropped, only a high of 51. Good weather to curl up with a good book and stay in, so of course we went out!

Did you see a movie? if yes... which?

Yes- we took the kids to see Part Two of Breaking Dawn. I know how most people on here feel about those books, so I am asking you people...begging you people to please keep your comments to yourself because my two oldest daughters LOVE those books. I have no problems with sparkly vampires - I have an open mind when it comes to the paranormal, so let's just agree not to talk about it.

So, I'll change the subject - how long does it usually take for an ER book to come because I actually won one, and I am ready and waiting, but alas, I have not yet received it.

What stunningly beautiful photos!

LOL ~ glad you had a good time!

Thank you, Linda!

Kath - See? You totally get me!! We did have a good time! Do you know about the Early Reviewer books?

what about them?

Does it usually take a while for them to arrive? I won one last month, but still no sign of it.

Hi Mamie!
I'm loving all the photos here! Your dogs are so cute! (Why does Biscotti have red nail polish on??)
And your house is amazing!

Hi Mamie- I wanted to talk about Breaking Dawn! Stamps a foot and pouts a little. My wife went and saw it a couple weeks ago and loved it.
I just received my latest ER book, the Burgess Boys. It took less than 2 weeks but the time can vary, sometimes it can take as long as 2 months.

Hi Chelle!! Glad you love the photos! Biscotti has red nail polish on because she is a Diva dog, I guess. The groomer painted her nails! And thanks for the compliments on my house!

213... I'm definitely in the minority but I really enjoyed all the Twilight books! Just saw breaking dawn and I loved it. You can talk about sparky vampires with me anytime Mamie!

drive-by *smooch*

Oh, Tina - Thank you!!!

Richard- *smooch back* Thanks for stopping in!

ahhhh ... yes.., Early reviewer books. Rarely they show up promptly. Usually they take a couple of weeks or so .. and more often than I like they take months. Hard to tell. Most show up sooner or later....

Have an extra cuppa for me :)
Hope all is well there !

I've seen all five Twilight films with a friend who is a huuuuuge fan, and that makes them fun. We've been to cinemas all over London. She gets the tickets and I always get her the CD soundtrack of gloomful music. We have to find a new tradition now...

Re: ER books showing up - depends on the publisher. Some are more "on top of it" than others. Occasionally, people complain they've waited months. But most arrive relatively promptly.

This just made me LOL...
sigh.

Well.. hope you are enjoying your nothing on the agenda day :)
hugs for when you get back.

Adding my drive-by *smooch* to that delivered by Richard. This week has been TOO busy.

Kath - But I want it! Okay, I know, shut up and be patient. Craig bought a water softener today, so hopefully he will get it installed over the weekend - we'll see because he is also on call this weekend. And I did enjoy my day of nothing. Finished up Sweet Thursday, which I LOVED, and started reading Cranford, which is fabulous. Hugs back to you.

Susan - We saw all of the movies in the theater, too. Fun! The next thing we will see is The Hobbit. I will be waiting to hear what you come up with as a new tradition!!

Karen - Define "relatively promptly". LOL! Wishing you good luck in your poodle venture this weekend - fingers and toes still crossed. Please give Greta Garbo my love.

Ellen - A drive-by smooch?! Thank you, darling! I am hoping that you will get some downtime this weekend - any chance of that? *smooch back and a hug to go with it*

Hi Mamie- Just checking in! We are looking forward to seeing the Hobbit too, although one of my favorite film critics panned it. I sure hope he is wrong. I don't understand why it has to be nearly 3 hours long, with 2 more films coming. Come on!
I finished the last book in the Bayou Trilogy and loved it. I hope you enjoy it too, once you can bookhorn it in.

Hi Mark - What? It's three hours long with two more films coming? Are you pulling my leg?! I don't want to sit in the theater for three hours!!

I will definitely get to Bayou Trilogy next year. Have you read Devil's Peak by Deon Meyer? I am half way through that, and I am telling you, if you haven't read it, just go get it right now. Very well written and very good storyline.

I don't see how they're getting three films out of The Hobbit! But it was one of my favourite childhood books - we'll be definitely be going to see it next week.

Hi Mamie, hope you day is going well. I will probably pass on The Hobbit I doubt if either my arthritis or my bladder would allow me to sit for three hours! There are so many movies coming out right now that I would like to see, the Hitchcock one looks really interesting, and Quentin Tarantino's new one has also caught my eye.

Rhian - I don't know how they're getting three films out of it either. I had no idea - I'm completely out of the loop, I guess. We will still go see it, but three hours- YIKES!

Judy - Yep, pretty good day. I really want to see it on the big screen, but three hours is a LOOOONG time. But you're right about there being a lot of good movies out there right now. The Hitchcock one definitely - I love all things Hitchcock, so I think I must see that. Plus, Anthony Hopkins!!!

I just double-checked the running time on the Hobbit, it's a 170 minutes. And there are 2 more films coming AND the book was about 300 pages long! Give me a break!

I'm with Judy, I'm really looking forward to the Tarantino western! Cool.

Mamie- I will request Devil's Peak.

Mark - Geez Louise! Three films is about the money, I am thinking - if they can do Return of the King in one movie, they can do The Hobbit in one movie. I did not know it was going to be three films. Okay, so just looked up the Tarantino movie - so now I realize that we saw the trailer for that, and it looks so cool. And yeah for requesting Devil's Peak - you will like it, I am thinking.

I saw The Hobbit last night, and... it works. It really, really works. There are so many places in the book where the narrative says something along the lines of "but that's not a story for right now" and leaves it... well, we KNOW what happens in those places because Tolkien told us in the Lord of the Rings appendices, so the film simply fills in the blanks and gets the whole story told! And when one of the biggest complaints about books made into movies tends to be "they left {x} out!", well... there'll be none of that here! :) I can honestly say that at no point did the film drag for me, and the few changes made were done to help the narrative along in terms of seeing it as a film. I found it a near-perfect film (and I saw it in 48fps IMAX 3D). I have confidence that the next two films will do the extensive source material the justice it deserves!

Loved catching up with your thread Mamie after a miserable week of drudgery and in particular I really enjoyed seeing the delight of newcomers to your thread really what a warm and welcoming place the Pecan Paradisio is.
Your current reading is pretty awesome and I hope it helps you towards a wonderful weekend.

Faith- that's great news about The Hobbit!

Ditto, Faith. Thanks for letting us know.

Mamie, your halls are decked beautifully but, naturally, my eyes went to your bookcase. Too bad I couldn't enlarge the picture enough to read titles! "Book Snoop" would be a good LT handle for me.

I will begin my reread of The Hobbit this week end in anticipation of the movie. I like long movies as it helps me feel like I'm getting my money's worth!

Hi Crazy! All caught up here again. Love coming here for some Christmas cheer. What is it with all the movies? There are so many I want to see. Hoping to fit one in soon, but my weekend is filled with shopping, and a birthday and holiday party. Rats. I mean yay!

Faith -Thank you so much for that information!!!! Now I am so excited to go see the movie. I loved all of those books - I actually just read the books that make up The Lord of the Rings trilogy for the very first time earlier this year. The Hobbit has been a favorite for many years, and I have read it several times, but I have not yet read any of the other works that Tolkien wrote adding to that world. I so appreciate your chiming in and sharing your thoughts!

Paul - Thanks so much for stopping in and taking the time to catch up. I feel that my reading has fully recovered from our migration! Thanks for your kind thoughts and words - I am wishing you a lovely weekend as well, although yours is much further along than mine is. We went today to pick out the pavers - the stone-like product that will make up the decking around the pool, and I must say, I think the whole thing is going to look so fabulous when it is finished.

Mark and Joe - I know, it was so great of Faith to share with us, wasn't it?! Now I can't wait to go see it!

Donna - I will try to post pictures just for you of closer shots so that you can read the titles - I love to do that, too!! The only bad thing about long movies for me is that after having four children, my bladder is not up to the task of three hour movies. I hate trying to decide what the best part to miss is, as I will for sure need a brief intermission!

Kim - Hey stranger! I am guessing the RL has been keeping you very busy - so great to see you! Craig is on call this weekend, so no family trip to the movies this weekend, but perhaps on Wednesday late afternoon, as he is off then. And it is definitely feast at the movie theaters right now - Abby and I are also really wanting to see Les Miserables. Isn't it funny how the movies seem to be either feast or famine? Sounds like you have a full weekend ahead of you - hope that every moment of it is full of fun!!

Mamie, the poodle puppy is a "no go". I think the owner made a fatal mistake in introducing the puppy to Greta and Greta ended up chasing the puppy around, within apparent intention to do harm. No catch.

Visit my thread if you want more details. I am disappointed but not discouraged.

*waves* *falls into chair*

Mamie, yes, there has been some down time this weekend. We did have a nephew here today, installing a new toilet and sink (the latter being from IKEA, so we had put that together during weekday evenings which means I was not reading during said weekday evenings!). It looks SO much better.

I'm with you -- lots of things in the theaters I would like to see. Might catch one or two of them while visiting my sister in NC next week. I'd like to see The Hobbit, most especially.

Sitting by the fire now, in between books, playing on LT. Chuckling because Abby has taken over the best seat on the sofa so that P is sitting in the rocking chair with her book. Abby does rule this roost.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Karen - Bummer about the poodle, but you are so wise to wait for the right fit. I have heard that older females do not like to share the spotlight with younger females, so perhaps a male puppy might be a better fit. But you are right, how the introduction takes place is important. I just know that you will find the perfect addition for both you and Greta - fingers and toes still crossed!

Kath - You poor baby! Sit down and I will bring you some hot chocolate and some pancakes - there, there, dear.

Ellen - Glad to hear that you got some much needed down time. And a new toilet and sink - Hooray for progress!! I bet you are loving the new look! Craig has time off around Christmas, so we will probably visit the theater several times as there are so many lovely prospects to consider at present. I must say that I thought I would so be missing the cold and snow at Christmas, but it is nice to do my shopping and errands in jeans and a sweatshirt - and today I sat out on the screened in porch and read for several hours in jeans and a t-shirt. Life is good. I love your description of how Abby has taken possession of the sofa - tonight we were watching a movie together and my Abby, who is human, was sitting on the floor because she did not want to disturb Biscotti who was sprawled out across an entire sofa cushion!

I am having a wonderful weekend, thanks!

it is nice to do my shopping and errands in jeans and a sweatshirt
Nice!

I remember Christmases as a child in central Florida, dressed in jeans and t-shirts, roller skating around our driveway. My favorite clothing combo is shorts and a long-sleeved t or sweatshirt. If I can wear that, it's perfect weather.

y Abby, who is human, was sitting on the floor because she did not want to disturb Biscotti who was sprawled out across an entire sofa cushion!

My Abby and your Biscotti are clearly cut of the same cloth.
And my Prudence and your Abby are likewise! (that is, the animal's needs are to be accommodated, of course)
:-)

LOL hot chocolate and pancakes sounds wonderful!!
thanks sis!

Morning Mamie- I hope you have a relaxing day planned, like I do. Books & football and let's hope both are very enjoyable. Fingers crossed.
Stop by my thread, I could use a little '13 Challenge participation.

Ellen - Yep! Loving the weather - and so is Craig's arthritis! It does sound like our pets and loved ones are cut from the same cloth!! Your Prudence and my Abby have soft hearts! Lucky us!

Kath - Let me know if there is anything else that I can get you. Perhaps a good book?

Mark - For sure books and football! Sorry that I couldn't be of more help with your challenge - lol, just my luck that I haven't read any of those authors. Figures, cause it would have been fun to pick something for you.

Happy Sunday, Mamie! I hope you and yours are having a good Sunday in Pecan Paradiso.

Same to you, Joe! Counting down 'til game time and loving every minute of it!

#238 Faith I'm really pleased to hear you enjoyed The Hobbit film. Despite having loved every single extended LOTR film I was a bit worried I'd find The Hobbit too long but you've reassured me :-) I'm rereading The Hobbit for the first time in years and really enjoying it again.

Saw you were reading Cranford above Mamie. I really hope you enjoy it as it's one I really loved - ot made me laugh and it made me cry. There was a wonderful adaptation starring Maggie Smith and Judi Dench which you should definitely watch afterwards.

Hi Heather! I am really loving Cranford - wonderfully written and the subtle humor is making me smile. I adore both Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, so I will definitely look up that adaptation as soon as I finish the book. Thanks! Please pet your lovely kitty for me if she will let you.

Happy Sunday, Mamie, from dank and miserable Long Island. Typed with jealous hatred in every keystroke.

Yes, Richard, I am jealous, too. Georgia Weather! Ah, oh, ow! I do want some. Here: cold, grey, damp with a storm and high winds approaching!

Richard and Karen - So sorry about the crappy less than ideal weather. Why don't you drop by tomorrow, and I can serve refreshments on the screened in porch while we watch the pool guys work on installing the coping around the pool edge.

Great idea! Mind if I bring three kids, and a miniature schnauzer who will chase your poodles?

Nope, don't mind at all. Come on ahead, Karen!

long busy day here... whew!

Thanks for the book offer.. but I cant seem to settle in with a book :(

That's because you're working too hard, Kath. Are you getting time off for Christmas - more than one day I mean?

yep.. I get a few days due to the timing... thank goodness...
I'm really not working too hard. I'm just a whiner.
I will let nxt Holiday worry me in October..

eta

Michael Vick?

You are not a whiner- you just have too much on your plate right now. I'm so glad that you get a few days off. Hooray for that at least.

The Eagles played on Thursday night- and they lost. Does that put a little spring in your step?! Sending you good mojo to go along with it. Hugs to you, sis!

Hope you are having a great start to your week Mamie - don't forget to claim your prize over at my thread.

yay! good news about Vick... lol

I have finished with Dunkers... he is all shiny, soft and pretty for the holiday. ( much to his chagrin )

I do hope for some downtime today....After wrapping two last gifts... I will be finished with that!

Nothing much else going on... so far, thank goodness!
I need to coffee up a wee bit more.

Hi Mamie, I'm outside with a Jefferson Davis pie and a bottle of bourbon, but no one's answering the bell?

COME IN, COME IN, RICHARD!!

Permaybehaps you have whipping cream? A sploodge of bourbon whipped cream makes this pie the most ut.

Paul - The week started with Monday again. I am not a big fan of Mondays, but this one is going pretty well. I don't have to go anywhere, so that's a bonus. Cleaned out the refrigerator and now I am working on washing all of the bedding up - do I know how to live or what?! I sent you a PM, but really, no prize is necessary, I was delighted just to claim the first spot on your last (?) thread of the year.

Kath - I cannot watch the Thursday night games because *gasp* we do not get the NFL channel. (Seriously, this will have to be remedied for next year) I think Vick is out for the year. He got a concussion in week 10 (I think) and has been out the last few games, last I heard he was cleared to play, but even if they have him suit up he will be back-up quarterback. So, he probably won't play anymore this season. Are you feeling giddy now?!!

Hooray for Dunkers being all ready for the holidays! I am embarrassed to report that I have not wrapped even one small item yet. That's going to come back on me, for sure! Did you get more coffee?

Yes! Yes, of course I have whipping cream! This is so excellent!

*lurking* *preparing for a snow storm in her neighborhood*

Snow storm?! Oh man, take pictures, please if you get snow.

Sorry I haven't been by, been on the road, lots happening.

As I understand it in Holland and Germany you'd put your shoes outside and St. Nick would put nuts and an orange and maybe a small gift or two in them?? Something like that? Some bright kid said to him or herself, Hey, wait a minute! A stocking would hold a lot more stuff... and that was the beginning of the end.

I LOVED The Hobbit. Can't wait to go again. A handsome dwarf though, seems like a contradiction in terms......but who cares! I loved it when they were singing! Chills.