Ronincats' Reading and Craft Recurrences V

This was my booth at the craft fair today. For the tale, you'll have to go to message 5.

Hi, I'm Roni, and this is my 7th year in the 75 Book Challenge group. I read heavily in science fiction and fantasy, with a side dish of non-fiction and a sprinkling of mystery and romance. This year I'll be participating in the Lois McMaster Bujold year-long Vorkosigan read, the Arabian Nights read, the Harry Potter series reread, the American Authors monthly read (at least for some of the authors), the Science, Religion & History quarterly read, and The Culture group read, for starters. I typically read about 150 books and 50,000 pages a year. I also play around with pottery, beading and wirework, crochet, garden and pets, so pictures thereof will be sprinkled throughout my threads and can be found in my member gallery.

My final thread of 2013 is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/161637

My 2014 threads:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/170681 2/22/14-4/9/14
http://www.librarything.com/topic/167738 1/22/14-2/22/14
http://www.librarything.com/topic/162722 1/1/14-1/22/14

Goals and tickers:

Books Read in 2014:

January
1. Indexing by Seanan McGuire (420 pp.)
2. If the Shoe Fits by Laurie LeClair (244 pp.)
3. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (313 pp.)
4. Hexed by Kevin Hearne (296 pp.)
5. Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern edited by Todd McCaffrey
6. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather (297 pp.)
7. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling (309 pp.)
8. The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer (234 pp.)
9. Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold (389 pp.)
10. The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (315 pp.)
11. The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold (345 pp.)
12. Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold (302 pp.)
13. Grimoire of the Lamb/The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne (99 pp.)
14. The Librarian: Little Boy Lost by Eric Hobbs (98 pp.)
15. Longbourn by Jo Baker (332 pp.)

February
16. Bastion by Mercedes Lackey (342 p.)
17. The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson (433 pp.)
18. Frederica by Georgette Heyer (437 pp.)
19. The Arabian Nights by Hassan Haddawy (428 pp.)
20. Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch (320 pp.)
21. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (309 pp.)
22. The Silvered by Tanya Huff (484 pp.)
23. Before the Dawn by Nicholas Wade (179 pp.)
24. Carousel Sun by Sharon Lee (366 pp.)
25. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (341 pp.)

March
26. Hammered by Kevin Hearne (312 pp.)
27. Mr. Wuffles by David Weisner (30 pp.)
28. Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold (311 pp.)
29. Tricked by Kevin Hearne (370 pp.)
30. Half-Off Ragnorak by Seanan McGuire (368 pp.)
31. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (396 pp.)
32. The Soul Mirror by Carol Berg (515 pp.)
33. Trapped by Kevin Hearne (322 pp.)
34. The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks (309 pp.)
35. Serendipity's Tide by L. Shelby (233 pp.)
36. Treachery's Harbor by L. Shelby (194 pp.)

April
37. Fealty’s Shore by L. Shelby (248 pp.)
38. The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski (265 pp.)
39. Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code by Bart Ehrman (197 pp.)
40. What Makes This Book So Great by Jo Walton (446 pp.)
41. The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer (272 pp.)
42. The Celestial Globe by Marie Rutkowski (293 pp.)
43. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor (332 pp.)
44. Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett (381 pp.)
45. The Jewel of the Kalderash by Marie Rutkowski (320 pp.)
46. Hiero's Journey by Sterling Lanier (318 pp.)
47. The Unforsaken Hiero by Sterling Lanier (240 pp.)
48. Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold (338 pp.)
49. Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer (304 pp.)
50. The Normans by Lars Brownworth (210 pp.)
51. The Warlock's Curse by M. K. Hobson (398 pp.)
52. A Fistful of Sky by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (353 pp.)
53. Fall of Light by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (307 pp.)

May
54. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (381 pp.)
55. Eight Million Gods by Wen Spencer (355 pp.)
56. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (390 pp.)
57. A Natural History of Dragons (334 pp.)
58. Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach (330 pp.)
59. A Change of Heart by Candice Hern (276 pp.)
60. Disenchanted & Co. by Lynn Viehl (417 pp.)
61. Hunted by Kevin Hearne (384 pp.)
62. Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal (364 pp.)
63. Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear (336 pp.)
64. Limits of Power by Elizabeth Moon (492 pp.)
65. Crown of Renewal by Elizabeth Moon (503 pp.)
66. The Sea of Time by P. C. Hodgell (395 pp.)
67. Shattered Pillars by Elizabeth Bear (333 pp.)

June
68. Arabian Nights II translated by Husain Haddawy (266 pp.)
69. Steles of the Sky by Elizabeth Bear (429 pp.)
70. Dust Girl by Saray Zettel (290 pp.)
71. The River Kings' Road by Liane Merciel (431 pp.)
72. The Daemon Prism by Carol Berg (498 pp.)
73. Getting Schooled by Garret Keizer (302 pp.)
74. Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer (333 pp.)
75. The Martian by Andy Weir (369 pp.)
76. My Real Children by Jo Walton (320 pp.)
77. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (446 pp.)
78. Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard (348 pp.)
79. Spirits That Walk in Shadow by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (306 pp.)

Books Acquired in 2014:

January
1. Hell and Earth by Elizabeth Bear
2. Forty Thousand in Gehenna by C. J. Cherryh
3. Aunt Dimity: Snowbound by Nancy Atherton
4. The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson
5. Legacy by James H. Schmitz
6. Changer by Jane Lindskold
7. Dragon's Kin by Anne and Todd McCaffrey
8. Desolation Road by Ian McDonald
9. Grimoire of the Lamb/The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne
10. Magnificent Devices 4-book set by Shelley Adina

February
11. Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
12. Carousel Sun by Sharon Lee
13. Shannivar by Deborah J. Ross

March
14. Beast Master’s Circus by Andre Norton (301 pp.)
15. Destroyer by C. J. Cherryh (406 pp.)
16. Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds (580 pp.)
17. Spin by Robert Wilson (452 pp.)
18, Tricked by Kevin Hearne (370 pp.)
19. Half-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire (368 pp.)
20. Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon (497 pp.)
21. Buffalito Destiny by Lawrence Schoen (308 pp.)
22. Buffalito Contingency by Lawrence Schoen (274 pp.)
23. Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett (381 pp.)
24. The Daemon Prism by Carol Berg (498 pp.)
25. Trapped by Kevin Hearne (322 pp.)
26. Disenchanted & Co by Lynn Viehl (417 pp.)

April
27. The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke (254 pp.)
28. Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code by Bart Ehrman (197 pp.)
29. Of Darkness, Light and Fire by Tanya Huff (513 pp.)
30. Rise of a Hero by Hilari Bell (578 pp.)

May
31. Forging the Sword by Hilari Bell (608 pp.)
32. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (352 pp.)
33. The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan (331 pp.)
34. Summerland by Michael Chabon (500 pp.)
35. China Court by Rumor Godden (304 pp.)
36. Super Finishing Techniques for Crocheters by Betty Barnden (128 pp.)
37. The Hidden Queen by Alma Alexander
38. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready (309 pp.)
39. Hunted by Kevin Hearne
40. Grunt Life by Weston Ochse (420 pp.)
41. Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal
42. Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire
43. Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone
44. Getting Schooled by Garret Keizer (299 pp.)
45. Crown of Renewal by Elizabeth Moon
46. Edwin High King of Britain by Eduardo Albert
47. The Sea of Time by P. C. Hodgell

June
48. Sinai Tapestry by Edward Whittemore
49. Moon Dreams by Brad Strickland
50. Off To Be the Wizard by Scott Meyer (387 pp.)
51. The Science of Discworld by Terry Pratchett etal. (385 pp.)

So today was a craft fair on the main street of downtown La Mesa, an outdoor venue as you can see above. I did pretty well on the weekend I was there in December, and one of the people is trying to organize a regular monthly presence. The owner has doubled the booth fee, but it is still relatively inexpensive. Except that today, I sold a grand total of $19.44 (two small pieces of pottery), not counting the necklace that Reba had seen here and stopped by early in the day to purchase. So there I was, 9 to 5, in the sun and wind (temps were in the 70s though), getting sunburned and windblown, and only made the booth fee thanks to Reba. I was hoping for better! :-(((

Then I guess it's OK to say howdy? I would add my usual "nice new thread" but it's a little spare at the moment since I stumbled in while you were still arranging the furniture. :-) I'll be back to admire it soon!

Me too. I'm amazed to get in on a new thread this early. I can't wait to hear how you did at the craft fair. You have a wonderful booth!

Julia, you are
It's furnished now.

Peggy, welcome. As you can see, it isn't good news. Lots of people saying how pretty things were but how they didn't need more things...

Happy new thread Roni. Sorry to hear you didn't sell as much as you wanted at the craft fair. It is a wonder you didnt sell more being so close to mothers day. Hope you are well :)

>5 ronincats: That so sucks, Roni! Your booth was beautiful and your stuff is so wonderful, that, like Nicole, I'm shocked you didn't do better so close to Mother's Day. What, people aren't buying their moms presents anymore?

Hi Roni. I'm sorry the craft fair wasn't more successful! Maybe the recession isn't really over..... ha.

Roni, congratulations on your new thread my dear and wishing you a wonderful Sunday and Mother's Day.

Consternation that your stall sort of stalled. Coincide a sale with a mega LT meet-up and your book budget will be expanded I am sure.

>12 PaulCranswick: What Paul said. So sorry your stand did not do so well.

Well, your stall looks great, Roni; you've been even busier than I realised creating all those pieces. I'm sorry your day wasn't more rewarding.

Having said that, our club had a Fair on Friday for which I manned the Library table in the afternoon (we sell off old / duplicate / stagnant books to raise funds for new books). I had committed myself, and then Friday suddenly turned into an extra busy day, which had me running from pillar to post all day (I had to curtail my shift because I wanted to take my son to the hospital to take photos for his project. Can you believe it - 5 years old, and getting research projects?!). So, once the next librarian started her shift, I took a quick look around the rest of the fair. There were some interesting stalls, but I didn't have time to browse - I like to take my time shopping usually - so I picked up business cards or put down my name on the e-mailing list for lots of the stalls, and I fully intend following up on them.

So, what I'm trying to get at is; I hope you managed to give away cards / get e-mail addresses that will prove productive in the future.

:0)

Happy new thread, Roni!

I wish I could visit your booth. I would have bought something because it looks fantastic!

It must have been one of those blah days when no one felt like spending any money. The wind maybe?

The organizers need to get more booths I think. Yours was lovely and had beautiful things (even after I left with the MOST beautiful in my bag) but there wasn't much else. Maybe it will grow if they do it monthly. Meanwhile, sorry you had such a bum day!!

Oh Roni, how disappointing that your day at the craft fair wasn't more lucrative. I know you love doing the work, but it is work, especially setting up for an event that falls flat. Better luck next time. I do like Paul's idea about coinciding with a mega LT event!

Disappointed for you Roni, as you put so much time and effort into creating all your lovely things. Your booth looks amazing and I don't know why people aren't lined up to part with their money!

Oh my, your booth looks so lovely! I'm sorry that you didn't fare better, but I think that's just the nature of the craft fair circuit - you'll have some really good days and some not-so-productive ones. I wouldn't get too discouraged.

Hello Roni -- loved the look of your booth. Very inviting. I like the suggestion of a mega-LT meet up/craft fair!

I'll do the music!

Happy new thread, Roni! Sorry to read that the craft fair/sale wasn't a booming success. Is the event well advertised? I know the book sale I went to this weekend wasn't as well advertised as it has been in previous years and the have reported sales were down $20,000 from last year so maybe the organizers needs to do some marketing to, as the saying goes, "get the punters in."

Just heard that there are wildfires in your neck of the proverbial woods. Just wanted to touch base, hoping they aren't affecting you and that you are okay.

Ooof, it's been too hot to be at my computer (93 degrees and 5% humidity again) but I have been checking in periodically. Thanks to all for the commiseration on the poor craft fair sales. The manager is hoping to build up the number and quality of crafts as this becomes established.

Jeff, did want to get back right away to you. Yes, there are some serious fires in North County--our local news is full of it. So far, no houses burnt and no injuries--keep your fingers crossed. Nothing yet down at our latitude--we're heading out to pick up something for supper as it's too hot to cook in our west-facing kitchen.

I've finished two books, and if it cools down in my (west-facing) office, I'll try to post reviews later.

Thanx for the update. Hadn't seen the news yet, just an AP alert about evacuations in SD.

Its too hot up here too. Salad for dinner, with my head in the refrigerator. :)

We're having stray fires in Arizona as well but luckily nothing serious yet. I don't dare to hope that our luck will hold until the monsoons.
My husband just spoke today with a couple from Yarnell who are just now able to rebuild (Yarnell was the town where 19 of our Hot Shots were killed last summer). Spouse draws house plans for a living. Last year I acquired a "heritage" hybrid iris from our local Iris society that had survived the Yarnell fire (owner's house and garden were burned down) and it just opened up this morning while these people were here. I thought that was a wild coincidence. I had planted it next to our flagpole as a memorial to our lost firefighters.
Say, Roni, did you by any chance notice any plot issues with Cetaganda while you were there? It seemed to me a couple of things just didn't follow.

Sorry to hear about the fires (and the outrageous heat). I wish I could send some of our cold to you. Since that's not possible, how about a pic of what I saw out the front door yesterday?

More personal greetings to Nicole, Mary, Ellen, Paul, Connie, and Nina (no, no one picked up my cards either. :-(

Reba, the hope is that this will attract more crafters (as I said, there were a number that expressed interest but were already committed for this date) and a regular crowd of shoppers.

Donna, Judy, Amber, Marianne, Lucy, and Lori, thanks for the support. With Lucy's Celtic harp music pulling them in, I'm sure such a craft fair would be a huge success!

Jeff, the fire is at 800 acres now up in Rancho Bernardo. The news will be on in half an hour, to see the extent of the damage now. It's 83 here at the house, with 10% humidity, and the wind is still blowing out there, instead of dying down, which isn't good.

Grundlecat, that fire and those deaths are not forgotten. Hopefully your fires will remain small and scattered. That is indeed a strange coincidence about the iris. Which plot points in particular with Cetaganda--I don't doubt that there could be some, but can't think of any at the moment that stand out?

Mary, that's simply amazing!

Book #57 A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (334 pp.)

When Kriti had a contest on her blog to win this book, I immediately entered, since she was the one to put it on my wish list. I had read Brennan's Doppelganger books, which were traditional fantasy. This book is original with a distinctive voice (Lady Trent) set in a world where dragons are among the natural fauna. This chronicles the beginning of her career as a naturalist and is an adventure/mystery--quite enjoyable!



Book #58 Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach (330 pp.)

This started out as a really interesting space opera adventure with a kick-ass heroine and an interesting set-up...and unfortunately devolved into a romance with sex--only once in this book, the first of a trilogy, but it takes the focus off the action and onto the relationship instead. I'm undecided as to whether to bother with the other two books.

I brought home the new Elizabeth Bear trilogy from the library today, starting with Range of Ghosts.

A Natural History of Dragons sounds interesting! Will keep an eye out for that one. Thanks Roni. :)

I'd be interested too, about the odd plot points in Cetaganda - it's almost my favorite of all the Barrayars.

You are welcome, Valerie.

Lucy, I'm curious too.

So, today was the hottest yet. So we went to the coolest place around for lunch--

Lots of people at the beach today--some actually in the water, but since it was only 65 degrees, I was not tempted at all. But it was lovely comfortable there, and we had a relaxed lunch there at the bar, along with a margarita, and then a huge waffle cone.

However, the hot weather has sparked more fires. There are now 7 in the county, all in the north half so not affecting us. But as we drove up the shore to La Jolla Cove, you could see the smoke in the air from them, and the main interstate up to LA was closed down completely by smoke in Carlsbad.

You can see the smoke billowing up and then being blown out to sea--none of that gray is clouds; it's all smoke.

And on the way home, we stopped by Mysterious Galaxy (www.mysteriousgalaxy.com) and I picked up the new Seanan McGuire, Sparrow Hill Road, Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal (Book 3 of the series), Hunted by Kevin Hearne (Book 6 of the Iron Druid series and not on Kindle because lending isn't enabled), and Grunt Life by Weston Ochse, of which I know nothing but my book guru at the store recommended it. Not to mention that I received Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready through PBS this morning, a beautiful hard-cover edition.

And I've been meaning all week to take a picture of my jacaranda tree, and did so on our way out this morning.

Enjoy!

Yep its Jacaranda season. Shortly to be followed by purple ground season.

86 in the house right now. its the small minority of the year that makes me regret not having A/C

Yeah, Jeff, but that small time of year is not usually May!

Re: A Natural History of Dragons. I'm 5 chapters in and love it! I'm really grateful for Kriti's sending them to me.

>1 ronincats:...Your exhibit is so eye catching. I can only imagine how many people stopped by and loved your items.

Roni

A friend living is Calisbad said fires are wicked. Naturally, I'm concerned.

>36 ronincats: I know, just don't tell my brain that. Its pretending its September ;)

I came over to check on the fire situation. The smoke looks familiar - we've had some wicked forest fire years here in the last few days. I hope it doesn't blow your way! Be safe!

Your craft fair booth was lovely. Nothing's ever totally a loss - I guess you could chalk that one down to business experience.

Thanks also for the photo of the Jacaranda. I've never seen one. How lovely!

On Cetaganda the one that sticks in my head is what the comms capabilities are of the haut-lady chairs... and why the haut lady Vio didn't use hers. Jammed, maybe? But not addressed. At any rate, pretty minor, I guess... I don't remember what the other one was. A migraine has intervened. And last night my spouse had another of his episodes while we were out with friends... sigh. Still waiting on the neurologist referral.

Roni, sorry to hear about the temps and fires out your way. Its awfully early in the year for it. My b-i-l lives just outside LA and posted a picture of his thermometer yesterday to Facebook....107 degrees!!!!! It was only 47 degrees here at the same time! LOL I would gladly send some of our cool temperatures to you!

Lovely Jacaranda tree (bush?).

Just finished Saltation this morning. This was my first read of Fledgling and Saltation...my love of all things Liaden has not diminished in any way from the reading. Really love Theo's character.

Gorgeous jacaranda. Do they have a nice fragrance?

34 ronincats: Those are absolutely gorgeous. I too am curious whether they have a strong fragrance? If those are indeed blossoming on trees, seeing a street filled with those flowers would be breathtaking!

>43 Cobscook: I'm a Theo Waitley fan, too, Heidi. Can't wait for more of her adventures.

Jim, I'm holding off on starting the second book because then I'm going to have to wait for the third to come out!

Linda, I'm so glad your semester is over. I hope you'll be able to relax more. Yes, Carlsbad is in the North County and had a bad fire yesterday along with the others.

Jeff, today was the hottest day yet here at the house, 100 degrees and still the 5% humidity. Tomorrow is supposed to be better--keep your fingers crossed.

Mary, I know. My cousin who lives in Colorado Springs had to evacuate a couple of years ago when it burned down to a block away from their house.

Grundlecat, so sorry to hear about the health issues both with your migraine and your husband. I'll have to reread Cetaganda at some point looking for that.

Wish we could balance out our temps, Heidi. These temperatures and humidities are unheard of for May in SD--it should be cloudy and in the 60s. I was very angry at Lee and Miller at the end of Plan B when, in the last pages of the book, Theo shows up with a cliff-hanger. But now you are up to that point, with Fledgling and Saltation, and can move on with the plot. (took them long enough!)

Morphy, they actually don't have much fragrance, but they are gorgeous. Valerie, the street outside one of our school's entrance is lined with jacarandas, and when I was at that school, driving down it in May was definitely awesome!

Joe, see above note to Heidi, and consider that Sharon is writing her Maine fantasy romance series and they are writing Jethri books instead. Although, to be fair, it looks like the second book will close out Jethri's story arc, and I do like his books a lot too.

As above, today was the hottest day yet. We played bridge--only 3 tables, unsurprisingly, as the building there isn't air-conditioned either. I was awaiting news of my nephew. He's had a herniated disc for months, and has just been waiting for the end of the school year to have surgery (he's a teacher), which was scheduled for next week. But yesterday he had an acute flare-up and he went into surgery this afternoon. So far it is looking good.

I've been having difficulty settling to a book. A Natural History of Dragons was very good, but I don't want to start the sequel yet since the third book won't be out for some time yet. I've started Range of Ghosts, Disenchantment & Co., A Change of Heart, Sparrow Hill Road, and I'm eying Hunted and Without a Summer.

Me three as a fan of Theo Waitley!

I'll have to look for that when I reread Cetaganda!

Hoping things are starting to cool off your way. Lovely photos of the beach...

Roni, I enjoyed your review of A Natural History of Dragons. I've had that one on my wish list for a while but with every thumbs up from a 75er it moves a little closer to the top. :)

I hope your heat wave abates soon. I can't imagine that sort of heat without AC. I'm sure cooler weather would help the fire situation too. Such a scary thing to happen close to you.

Hi, Roni ~ Didn't see anything about the fires on the news last night (it was a big story a couple of days ago), so hope that means they are abating. I have to say, that's one thing I really don't miss about living in SoCal. The last house I owned was in Santa Clarita, and one year a huge fire came within a mile of it. It was so scary!

That's right, Lucy. You are a relative newcomer to the Liaden universe too, aren't you?

Marianne, it's 8 degrees cooler than it was at this time yesterday, but a weather change is in the works.

Julia, it was quite an enjoyable read. So many places, especially the older ones, along the coastal strip don't have air conditioning because usually our ocean cools us down. As I told Marianne, cooler weather is supposed to be on the way in a day or two. And the Santa Ana "devil" winds are gone, that whip the fires up into such a frenzy.

Still quite a big news item around here, Mary. The biggest one is only 5% contained at 8000 acres, but that's in Camp Pendleton and not threatening homes. The next biggest is 10% contained at 3018 acres, and several homes were lost yesterday up in the San Marcos/Escondido area. Still flare-ups because we are so very dry after a full week of 5% humidity. Some of the smaller ones are completely contained, but not out.

So I read the lightest reading last night.



Book #59 A Change of Heart by Candice Hern (276 pp.)

It's a Regency, it's a romance. The female character is interesting. The plot is predictable.

Oh, so sorry to hear that, Roni. I really wish I could send you our rain and cool weather.

I like Hern's regencies. There's not much substance to them, and nobody beats Heyer for regencies, but they're fun and easy-to-read (also easy to forget, but, hey, for a change of pace between more substantive fare, they're great).

I'm in heaven! A high of 75 today with 60% humidity! Things are so dry that the fires are still going, but this makes them so much easier to get under control. And the onshore flow means that the smoke is being pushed over unpopulated areas instead of the cities.



Book #60 Disenchanted & Co. by Lynn Viehl (417 pp.)

Meh. Fantasy romance that has the biggest McGuffin ever for a resolution.

Boo for the icky ending.

Thought you might be interested about a new thread called Friends of Nancy P.

Part therapy for for the completists in our group, and part a safe haven to blow off some steam about those books you want to throw against the wall. Kudos to Steve the Curmudgeon for setting it up!

I can't believe you didn't get more buyers with such a gorgeous booth, Roni!! What is wrong with folks these days?

I love that tree photo! I've never heard of a jacaranda tree before... it's beautiful!

Yay for the lowering of the temp and the raising of the humidity! Nothing like a little onshore flow to cool things down a bit. I sure hope it stays that way awhile.

Your jacaranda is magnificent! We had a big jacaranda tree in the backyard of a house in the San Fernando Valley near L.A. back in the 80s, and I just loved it! Beautiful blue flowers on the branches with a carpet of blue beneath, then soft green feathery leaves until autumn when they turn yellow and fall.

Yes, I think I only came to Liaden a year or two ago - the spousal unit found them first.

>1 ronincats: Wow, that’s quite a setup for $19.44. Were there crafts that did sell?

>30 ronincats: Isn’t A Natural History of Dragons fun? I read it after norabelle414 raved about the sequel.

Mary, you are right, Hern's regencies are enjoyable fluff and don't have the errors in them that many so-called regencies do, even if she doesn't have Heyer's humor.

Marianne, the ending wasn't icky, but any ending that requires travel in time from the end of the book back to the beginning of the book to set everything right is just too much deus ex machine for me! Surely one can arrange one's plot better than that. I've checked out the group--I'm not a completist any more, but will enjoy the rumblings of others, and contribute any hit-the-wall books I find.

Tina, to answer Katherine's question in #59, no one there did very much business that day. So it wasn't just me. Jacarandas are beautiful in May--I believe they are from the Mediterranean, so am surprised you don't have any in the South.

Lucy, that's what I thought I remembered.

Katherine, see reply to Tina. And yes, I enjoyed A Natural History of Dragons enormously. I'm still holding off on the sequel in pure anticipation.

BUT I finally caved and read



Book #61 Hunted by Kevin Hearne (384 pp.)

You may recall that I was less enamored of the last book, Trapped, than I had been of the first four. I am glad to report that I am back on track with this book. Atticus is starting to pull together again and settle some of his feuds, at least temporarily. Now I have to wait for the seventh, and that is being published first in hardback. Why do publishers do that? Everyone in the world has the first 6 books in paperback, and wants the 7th to fit on the shelf with them. I'm going to make sure the library orders it and put myself on the hold list pronto.

A nice bonus was discovering the novella Two Ravens and One Crow at the back of this book--I am so glad I didn't break down and order that separately for my Kindle. Another bonus is that I just noticed that the copy of Hunted I picked up at Mysterious Galaxy is signed by the author! Woot, I'm on a roll!!

The weather continues lovely, in the low 70s or upper 60s. We went for a walk in the park yesterday--the first exercise in several weeks and my legs can feel it today. I desperately need to keep it up. I've lurked on the threads spasmodically now that it is cool enough to sit at the computer, but had little to say. Love you all, though, and appreciate my visitors.

ETA the library does indeed have Shattered on order, and it looks like I am the first to place a hold on it. Whoopie!

Oh, you dog!! You found a SIGNED copy????? Ok I'm officially not going to be jealous! Lol if you believe I'm not green with envy right now!!! :)

You so deserve that SIGNED copy, Roni! I'm super thrilled for you!!

A visitor!! Bless your little heart, Tina! I've been so lonely for the last 50 hours...

Not only that, but the book I just finished that I picked up at the same time (indie book store Mysterious Galaxy) is ALSO signed!



Book #62 Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal (364 pp.)

This is the third book in The Glamourist Histories, where Jane Austen meets Susanna Clarke. After the first book, which although it caught the tone of the language ended in melodramatic crises, the books have settled into mild mysteries set in the affairs of the time. Truly, in this book, only the professional work of our protagonists as glamourists makes this fantasy at all--it is really not substantive to the plot. Enjoyable escape fiction.

So I'm stuck in design phase right now. I'm trying to decide whether to go with the configuration below, change the texture with some of the different shapes and types of beads above, or jolt the color with adding some silver spacers or beads. Any input? (Please!)

I think adding some silver to the combination you have going already would be gorgeous!

I'm intrigued by what the beads are sitting in. Is that a measuring tool for the necklaces and other things that you make? It looks nifty.

Oh I really like that shade of blue....
Reminds of the ocean waters in the Caribbean.
I think adding the silver would all depend on what clothes you are wearing it with. Both with and without is beautiful to me. :)

I love it like it is but think a touch of silver would be nice too. Can you show us the silver-spacer-option?

Stopping by to wish you a lovely weekend, Roni.

>60 ronincats: - I will get around to starting the Iron Druid series, really I will. I love how everyone has something positive to say about the series, and kudos for you in snagging a signed copy!

>62 ronincats: - I love the carved beads in your latest design project! I agree with the other responders. Silver spacer beads would work very nicely. Are you thinking of the rice shaped spacers or do you have something else in mind? With the lovely detail in those carved beads, something smooth and uniform would not attract attention away from your focus beads. I wonder if some icy frosted white beads would also work (maintaining the cool feel of the colours in the necklace). Hard to tell without putting the beads side by side.

I love the necklace that you have up above, Roni. Silver would work with this color beautifully, but I agree with Valerie, both ways would give the buyer some options.

I've had to do a catch up on your thread. Glad to see you enjoyed Cinder, I've got a copy of Scarlet around here, probably gave it to my daughter, that I need to pick up. I had to take Cress back to the library unread as I didn't get to them in time.
I read the first Glamourist book and quite enjoyed it but haven't felt like reading another and probably won't after reading your comments, sounds like she's found her niche and staying in it. I hoped they'd pick up a little.

Sorry to hear that the craft fair was a little quiet. Have you thought of having an etsy shop for your jewllery at least?

I just had tremendous fun inhaling the first three books of the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book and The Well of Lost Plots. This series is the ultimate brain candy for bibliophiles. My brain hasn't had that much fun in a book since I don't even know when. Five stars don't seem enough.
I also had fun reading The Raven to my spousal unit, who had never read it, so he could see (or rather, hear)the clever twists Fforde put in the "altered" copy at the end of The Eyre Affair. I think it came out okay even though I was on my third glass of wine. :)
There can be no doubt my long-suffering husband is sick of hearing me rave about these books... anybody else as enamored of them as I am?
Roni, I'm glad to hear your local fires are somewhat under control... we've got one near Sedona, luckily no structures lost so far but over 7000 acres of highly scenic state park crisped. Sadness. Today it spat a little rain at us so I'm hoping that helped the fire crews.
I'm lucky our book club meets this week or I'd have the devil of a time picking what to read next, when I'm not reading Thursday Next... poor Aunt Dimity will have a hard act to follow.

Late to catch up too. I'm glad you liked Fall of Light, it's a favorite of mine. I need to pick up the History of Dragons at some point.
I'll recommend silver or white in that necklace.

Roni, over at the Category Challenge there are a couple of June group reads that you may be interested in. The first is a Georgette Heyer Group Read and the second is a month of Women of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Hope you get a chance to drop by.

Hi Roni. sorry to hear about the fires in your area! I hope they will stay far away from your place. I don't want to even think about the panic when that will ever happen over here. Stay save!

Thanks to all of my visitors over the last two days. Friday I had a haircut and we went to the farmers' market for limes, avocados, tomatoes, and strawberries. Yesterday was pottery day--I had to trim the 7 bowls and two cups I had thrown last week. Next week I will have a planter, several bowls, and a pot with a lid to glaze. Today we made our annual trip to Petco Park and watched the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs. I definitely soaked up my vitamin D allotment with 3 hours in the sun before our seats got shaded--fortunately the temperature was around 70.

I still haven't played around with my necklace--been reading instead! But I will put together some variations with silver spacers, silver beads, white beads and/or crystal beads and post them here in the next couple of days. Thanks for the input, Julia, Valerie, Reba, Lori, Judy, and qq!

Lori, definitely give the Iron Druid series a try.

Kerry, I may try Etsy at some point. I think I have put it off because, for me, there is so MUCH jewelry on Etsy that I'm not sure mine would stand out at all. I have difficulty finding stuff on there myself.

Grundlecat, I am a Big fan of the Thursday Next series myself. Some readers here never get into his headspace in the first place, some have burned out on him, but I still really like them all. I guess I just like his sense of humor.

QQ, definitely give A Natural History of Dragons a try!

Judy, thanks for those links! I've checked them both out and will definitely participate.

Connie, a week of our normal weather has allowed all the fires to be first contained and then put down, thank goodness.

Roni, I'm glad your hot temperatures have abated and the fires are a thing of the past. The news reports looked pretty scary.

>62 ronincats:: I'm impressed with that lovely necklace just the way it is. But I may go gaga over it with a touch of silver!

So, I believe I mentioned I've been reading.



Book #63 Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear (336 pp.)

This is the first book of a highly regarded epic fantasy series by Bear. It took me a while to get into it (books that start out with war and violence often do) but I have been captured by the characters. Also, the cultures (based on eastern Asian models) and their skies are very interesting. I like Bear's writing in general, in the other series of hers I've read, and this is no exception. This is a novel take on a well-established fantasy template, and I look forward to the next two books, which I also have home from the library.

But (squeeze!!) I just got notice that the new Elizabeth Moon book has shipped to arrive here on Tuesday, the fifth and final book in her Legend of Paksennarion series, and so I may leave the Bear books for a few days and reread book 4 in preparation. I love this series so much!

And my April ER book arrived, Getting Schooled by Garret Keizer, so I need to get it into the queue as well. I also brought Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel home from the library a few days ago, and The Goblin Emperor is waiting for me there. I ordered the last after Lois (McMaster Bujold) reviewed it positively on GoodReads last week. And I ordered an LT luggage tag, so if any LTers are traveling at the same time as I am, they can recognize me.

Hi, Donna! You slipped in while I was writing my last message. I HOPE all is well in the Midwest. Yes, it is quite comfortable here now. Be sure to check back in a few days for necklace variations.

Oh, I forgot. Facebook coughed up a site titled 30 Pictures that will make you want to move to Kansas, so I now have a source of pictures for thread headers of my native state. Here's a preview...

Nice Kansas shot but I prefer the eastern, hilly part. Seems like half the people we know were at Petco yesterday. Two were Cubs fans but the rest must have been happy with the outcome. Hope you didn't get a sunburn.

Only on the inside of my arms, which usually aren't exposed. I wore a hat , and the rest of me is just a little reddish that will morph into tan.

The Flint Hills are my favorite part, and unfortunately that set of pictures is short on pictures of that area, but I love it all. (except for the heat, the humidity, the cold, and the ice)

Catching up here, Roni.
I'm apparently in the minority who likes that necklace all in blue so that the carving is main point of interest and texture. When I see it done the other way, I'll probably be all over that too.
Jacaranda!!! Gorgeous!!!! Is there some reason that they wouldn't thrive on the east coast? I've never seen one before. Off to check.

Loved that turquoise colored beading. Gorgeous just the way it is. Then again, I've adored almost everything you've done so far.

A sunny day at the ball park is tops in my book!

Roni, I just drove across Kansas on my way back from Boulder on Sunday. I stayed on US 36 all the way because I hate driving on the interstate. There were so many interesting things to stop and look at along the way I ended up having to stay the night in Kansas instead of in Missouri as I had planned. That's the best part of a road trip to me, the unexpected discoveries.

>73 ronincats: Roni, I know what you mean about Etsy. I feel so lost on Zazzle with my photography.

Other than silver, some mid to dark denim blue beads would be nice. Something in the same tones as the necklace but darker.

I love the all-blue-in-different-shades-of-the-same-hue look, though I am sure like others have said I'd love it with silver too, and with a darker blue, and with a little white. What is that measury-looking thing in the picture?

Haven't worked on the jewelry yet at all! But thanks for the feedback, Peggy, Marianne, Morphy, and Mary.

Been busy rereading Book 4 to be ready for Book 5--which I was expecting today, its release date, but which appeared on my porch yesterday, and I couldn't start it because I needed to finish my reread first. How frustrating! Who here can relate? But, I finished the one last night and just started the new one this morning.

Julia, and a beautiful drive it is! Norton, Smith Center, Mankato, Belleville, Marysville, Atchison--just straight across the northern edge of Kansas, all 420 miles of it there, because of the chunk the Missouri River bites off in the corner.

Stephanie, isn't it the truth?



Book #64 Limits of Power by Elizabeth Moon (492 pp.)

This is book 4 of the 5 book series that is a sequel to Moon's trilogy, The Deed of Paksenarrion. I loved that trilogy, and I am loving this sequel. It's not for everyone, but if you love world-building and wonderful characters and complex plot lines with multiple viewpoints--definitely give it a try. Start at the beginning, though, with Sheepfarmer's Daughter and finish the original trilogy.

How frustrating, but also exciting, that your book came early. Hope you're enjoying it as much as you expected.

Did you see we have a new Crown Books? They just opened next to Michael's in Mission Valley. I prefer to buy at indies but there are so few so it's nice to see at least some sort of new book store opening.

>86 ronincats: Ooh, that reminds me, I only read the first book in that sequel series and have been meaning to get back to it. *off to put a hold on the library book before I forget*

Oooo I have Paksennarion... more hoarding.....

>69 grundlecat: Actually...Not the same, no, but Thursday Next and Aunt Dimity have congruent humor. It does depend on which Dimity you're reading, though. The first one and the prequel (Death, and The Duke) I like a lot, the next few are ok, after a while the protagonist (can't remember her name) gets really annoying. But I still pick up each new Dimity at the library - they're fun.

>77 ronincats: 30 Pictures that will make you want to move to Kansas
I'd be uncomfortable in the endless flat.

Reba, that is the same Crown Books as has been up on the third floor of Horton Plaza for a number of years--seconds and used books and a miserable science fiction/fantasy section, unfortunately. I stopped in last week but didn't find anything.

Mary, if it's been awhile since you read Oath of Fealty, you might want to reread it first. Since we are following Kieri, Dorrin, AND Arcolin, there is a lot going on and it's hard to keep track of--that's why I needed to reread book 4 to refresh my memory.

Lucy, why are you hoarding it? At least read the first trilogy. Then hoard this series of five books if you must--and if you can!

Jenn, Dimity is entertaining in a cozy way, but Thursday is unusual and unique--I would love to read annotated versions of his books.

Katherine, only the western third of the state, the high plains, are completely flat. Most of eastern Kansas is very similar in rolling hills to your area of Pennsylvania--just fewer trees once you get west of Topeka.



Book #65 Crown of Renewal by Elizabeth Moon (503 pp.)

So, other than a midday trip down to the bay at the fishing wharf, guess what I spent today doing! Yes, reading Crown of Renewal, climax of Moon's 5 volume Legends of Paksenarrion series. And a worthy finale it is. Any specifics would be spoilers for earlier books, but we see almost all the issues resolved, and those that aren't, we can see the direction they are headed. So I'm happy.

Oh. I never go to Horton Plaza so didn't know there was one there. Haven't been to it by Michaels yet either but may go in the fall. I like that they have used books.

Woot, I won the new Iron Druid book Shattered from ER!

>94 ronincats: So jealous! I mean, congratulations, Roni!

:-)

I just have to read the 2nd Paks trilogy. That's all there is to it.
I won City of Stairs, so I'm as happy as you, maybe.....

Ha! Thank you, Julia. I will feel very sad for you if you requested the book. ;-)

Except it isn't a trilogy, Peggy; it's five books. Even better. And congrats on City of Stairs--that's the other one I put in a request for this month.

Hi Roni! I'm glad you enjoyed A Natural History of Dragons, I really love that series. I also read Fortune's Pawn a couple of months ago (and the two sequels) – IMO, the sequels are not worth it, way too much romance and not enough sci-fi. And not even good romance.

I'm also excited that you're reading the Eternal Sky trilogy, it only gets better after Range of Ghosts. I particularly loved the third book.

I also won Shattered on ER... now I have to get the rest of the series.

Hi Roni!I'm just catching up with all your goings on! To go back to the craft fair issue; having done a few myself now, I share your frustration. Some days go really well, and then, for no reason at all another day at another fair can be a disaster. I even went back and did the same fair a few months later and where it had been a big success the first time, the second was terrible, so you can't even go on experience of which places are good.
Good marketing by the organisers is the only thing that seems to help - and it's not just about getting numbers through the door - although that certainly helps, it's also about getting the RIGHT kind of people, ones that appreciate hand made things and don't gripe about how you can get x cheaper in this or that place, and who actually want to pay money for something unique. I'm kind of the opposite of that kind of person, one who has to fight with herself to NOT buy stuff when I see lovely home made things! My advice would be, if people are buying for themselves, I think it is easier to justify spending the money on something with a clear function - maybe use a few props to suggest things your pottery could be used for - so for example put some fruit in one or something like that. Also, do you have a mirror for people to try on your jewellery and scarves?

Skimming to catch up with you (apologies!), but I wanted to say that I absolutely *love* the necklace up there! Gorgeous blue beads!

No good reason Roni - in part I guess because I have five or six 'series' (maybe more?) more or less collected and sitting on the shelf (including the James White's that I'm reading now) and it's hard to choose.....I'm moving more towards picking a series and sticking with it to the end because that way I can remember it better......

>47 ronincats: consider that Sharon is writing her Maine fantasy romance series and they are writing Jethri books instead.

Sorry to go back so far, but I am curious about these Maine fantasy romances. I have never tried anything other than the Liaden novels by Sharon Lee. Are they any good? I will have to look them up but I value your opinion more than unnamed internet sources!!

>86 ronincats: Is that Atchinson as in the Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad?

Kriti, good to hear from you! I'm all caught up on the series, at least, so that's good.

Hannah, those are really good points you make. I DO have a mirror for the jewelry. I'm just hoping that this one venue will build up clientele over time with advertising.

Thanks, Amber.

Lucy, I understand. And since you've just blown through one series you loved and have just started another, I totally understand saving this series for a while.

Heidi, for me, they are in the upper half of such types of books, but not outstanding. Lee always does good characters, and I like the magical structure she sets up, and they are very readable. Similar to Tanya Huff's Enchantment Emporium series, for example. Although, thinking about it, Lee does a better job with it. I still prefer the science fiction with incidental romance to overt romance. (The books are Carousel Tides and Carousel Sun, for those unfamiliar with the author)

Marianne, it is most definitely the Atchison in the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe! Right across the Missouri River from St. Jo.

We've been to play bridge today--finished 6th of 10 pairs. But a pleasant way to spend the time.

Currently reading:



On deck:

>102 Cobscook: >104 ronincats: And Carousel Seas, out next year (hmm, not yet on LT). They're good stories - and not what I'd consider straight romance, though it does feature more than in the Liaden books. They've got plenty of other things to think about, and have just begun to come to terms with their connection by the end of the second book - not one HEA per book, which is what I expect in a romance.

Sharon's also written two straight mysteries, which I haven't read yet (but intend to). Barnburner and Gunshy.

>104 ronincats: >105 jjmcgaffey: Thanks for the feedback! I do like a continuing relationship arc, rather than a one romance per book for my fantasy. Although the Sharon Shinn series (Mystic and Rider I think) is the exception to that rule. I will definitely be trying out the Carousel series.

Also, thanks for the link to Sharon Lee's blog Roni. That is super fun as well.

Catching up Roni. Sorry to hear about the craft fair and the fires. I'm another person who needs to get back to Moon's Paksennarion series - I guess like others I just have too many series on the go but I am determined to pick it up again at some point.

Have a great weekend Roni with lots of reading and crafting! :)

Stopping by to wish you a lovely weekend, Roni!

Thanks for the input, Jenn.

You are welcome, Heidi.

Heather, you won't be sorry to come back to it.

Thanks, Valerie

Same to you, Lori.



Book #66 The Sea of Time by P. C. Hodgell (395 pp.)

This is book 7 of Hodgell's Chronicles of the Kencyrath. The first book, Godstalk, was published in 1982 and is one of my all time 5 star fantasies. In the intervening 32 years, Hodgell has continued to chronicle Jame's history and the history of the Kencyr on Rathillien. The world-building is fantastic. The plots are convoluted, to match the characters and their relationships, but it's just so much fun to be along for the ride.

Ack, I was at our indie bookstore just Wednesday, and they didn't have Sea of Time yet. Jealous!
I'm glad to hear the Moon finished her series well. There were so many irons in the fire in that series that I was starting to wonder.
I'm looking forward to your Goblin Emperor review, I've enjoyed her pseudonym's other books very much.

QQ, it's not officially out until next Tuesday, June 3. That's why I was so surprised to see it available for Kindle.

I think Moon did a creditable job. We did get Kieri, Arvid and Arcolin well-settled, and Dorrin takes care of that little problem. There certainly would be room for more books in the future re:Camwyn and/or Mikeli. Some things were resolved more easily than I expected, although it all made sense.

Yes, I was very surprised to click on Katherine Addison and arrive on that author's page. I've only read the first of her books under the other name.

Hi Roni -- hope you're getting a chance to enjoy this perfect weather.

Hiya Roni! Checking in with hugs and happy wishes.

>97 ronincats: I didn't request Shattered as an ER so no worries, Roni! I have put myself on ER hiatus until I catch up with my reviews.

I hope your weekend is off to a rousing start.

>77 ronincats:: Gorgeous picture of a Kansas sunset -- or sunrise? I marvel at the sky whenever I drive across the state. I have a panoramic sun roof in my new car but since I will be the sole driver when I return to Denver in two weeks, I probably shouldn't spend too much time looking straight up!

I can't wait to see the other 29 pictures. I could Google it but it will give me an excuse to keep up with your busy thread! I hope you are having a terrific week end, Roni!

>110 ronincats: And that's another series I need to start...

>77 ronincats: I have a client based in Wichita but their personnel have never said too much about the delights of their state other than the frequent twister warnings and the prevalence of gun collectors. I would go a way to see that sunrise/sunset though.

I am a bit low profile this weekend as I am manfully trying to catch up on stats which were far too long neglected.

Have a lovely weekend, Roni.

Happy June, everyone. May roundup follows!

Reba, yes, the weather has been perfect, and I've been enjoying it immensely. One of my goals today is to post some earring prototypes for you.

Richard, so glad you are feeling better and have the house to yourself this weekend!

Julia, rousing is not the adjective I want for my weekends! ;-) But a nice relaxing start it was. May it also be for you.

Donna, I love your new car and agree about the prairie sky.

Heather, indeed it is!

Paul, you've been a busy, busy man indeed. I am awaiting the stats with anticipation, nonetheless!

Last book finished in May:



Book #67 Shattered Pillars by Elizabeth Bear (333 pp.)

Book 2 in the trilogy that began with Range of Ghosts above, I stayed up until 11:30 last night to finish it. As the middle book, this advances the plot lines that span this fantasy world through multiple viewpoints, but of course resolves none of them. Fortunately, I also have the third book here from the library, so I'll be able to start right in on it. Bear is a good writer, creating vivid worlds and characters in this epic fantasy.

May Summary:



14 books read, 5290 pages
average book length=378 pages
average pages per day=170

New books = 13
Rereads = 1

Owned by me = 9
Books off the Shelves = 3
Library books = 5

Format: 2 mmpb, 3 tpb, 6 hb, 3 kindle

Genre:
science fiction = 2
fantasy = 11
romance = 1

Author gender: female - 10, male - 2

All published from 2011 to 2014, 2 published this month.

54. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (381 pp.)
55. Eight Million Gods by Wen Spencer (355 pp.)
56. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (390 pp.)
57. A Natural History of Dragons (334 pp.)
58. Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach (330 pp.)
59. A Change of Heart by Candice Hern (276 pp.)
60. Disenchanted & Co. by Lynn Viehl (417 pp.)
61. Hunted by Kevin Hearne (384 pp.)
62. Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal (364 pp.)
63. Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear (336 pp.)
64. Limits of Power by Elizabeth Moon (492 pp.)
65. Crown of Renewal by Elizabeth Moon (503 pp.)
66. The Sea of Time by P. C. Hodgell (395 pp.)
67. Shattered Pillars by Elizabeth Bear (333 pp.)

Acquired 15 books.

31. Forging the Sword by Hilari Bell (608 pp.)
32. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (352 pp.)
33. The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan (331 pp.)
34. Summerland by Michael Chabon (500 pp.)
35. China Court by Rumor Godden (304 pp.)
36. Super Finishing Techniques for Crocheters by Betty Barnden (128 pp.)
37. Hunted by Kevin Hearne
38. Grunt Life by Weston Ochse
39. Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal
40. Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire
41. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
42. The Hidden Queen by Alma Alexander
43. Getting Schooled by Garrett Keizer
44. Crown of Renewal by Elizabeth Moon
45. The sea of Time by P. C. Hodgell

NO books out the door.

I'm looking forward to seeing the earrings but like I said, "no hurry" because I won't be here to get them again until Sept.

Just posted a picture on your thread while you were posting here!

I've put the first Hodgell on my WL! You are so dangerous!

Danger is my middle name, ma'am. I've definitely warbled about God Stalk before. It's not to everyone's taste, and the good thing is you can read just the first book and stop if it isn't to yours, but I love it more every time I read it.



Book #68 The Arabian Nights II: Sindbad & Other Popular Stories by Husain Haddawy (266 pp.)

This is the second of a two volume set that I started at the beginning of the year with the Arabian Nights group read. The first was Haddawy's new translation of the oldest and most verifiable collection of tales that made up the original Arabian Nights. As these only made up about 266 nights, European authors threw in whatever folktales and oral traditions they could find from the Middle East, India and the Far East to bulk up the collection, so this second volume collects the most popular of these--Sindbad the Sailor, Ali Baba and the 40 thieves, and Aladdin (this last apparently created by the Frenchman who compiled one of the earlier European editions). This makes the second book much more readable to the current Western reader, imo, but what the Victorians found amazing and titillating soon becomes passé for the modern reader due to the overload of disaster and coincidence. Still, I'm glad to have finally read the grown-up version.

So, I recently received a sample of Lipton "Natural Energy" premium black tea in the mail. It has 75 mg caffeine and 20 mg of theanine, which is a substance which may make some people feel calmer. So, we're going to jazz them up and calm them down in the same cup? Would you use this product?

I absolutely refuse to be jealous over your Shattered win!!! I am happy for you. I am happy for you. I am happy for you. I am happy for you.

:D

((((Roni)))))

Can't wait to see the review!!!

:-) Tina, I can't wait to get the book!

Oh, I'm envious and perfectly willing to admit it.

You stink!

;)

>125 ronincats: I would try it Roni. I am skeptical of all these claims made about "energy" drinks anyway....I just like Lipton's black tea! LOL! Red Rose is my favorite black tea but Lipton is good too.

Are you a Harry Dresden fan, Roni? The new one is out, and I'm getting a kick out of it.

>128 Morphidae: LOL!!! I love Morphy!!! :)

Tina is happy for me--no, really, she IS! SHE is being nice to me, even though she hasn't thought ahead to the fact that I will not want to keep the ARC and will be thinking about passing it on to persons who are NICE to me and not calling me stinky.

Heidi, I love black tea too, but I already have to be careful how much of it I drink in the evening or it will affect my sleep negatively. So I'm not interested in an amped up version, especially since I usually do my hot tea drinking in the aforesaid evenings.

Joe, thanks for thinking of me. I'm a latecomer to the Harry books and I think I've read through the first 4 books so far. So by the time I'm ready for this one, the library will have it and the demand will have died down.

So, the new ER list is up with some interesting choices. This Furst that's been getting a lot of buzz on a few threads has a book there. For a while, it seemed the highlight would be The Backstory of Wallpaper. There are at least three books with what seems the identical plot of finding a cache of stuff from your dad and you have to chase around Europe trying to figure out what he had been and if it was a good guy or a bad guy. There's a book of erotica short stories focused on quickies. There's a couple on baseball and a couple on running. A batch of juveniles. Since I spend way too much time in my computer chair, I requested Get Up: Why your chair is killing you and what you can do about it in the unlikely event of motivating me.

O.K. O.K. I'll likely try God Stalk. It sounds like my kind of thing.
Your new tea reminds me of what we say about tea in the South. We boil it to make it hot; then we put ice in it to make it cold. We put sugar in it to make it sweet; then we put lemon in it to make it sour. And it's great!

I do all of that except for the sugar part, Peggy! Just can't take that sugar.

For the Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy June read, I have the following planned so far:

Steles of the Sky by Elizabeth Bear*
The River Kings' Road by Liane Merciel
Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel*
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison*
The Daemon Prism by Carol Berg
Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold

* library book

Other than that, I'll be reading Friday's Child for the Heyer group read. And I'm sure more will be showing up.

Hi Roni! I am getting caught up, and you're my first stop on the threads! Your booth looks lovely -- I'm sorry you had such a disappointing day. .

Wow -- your jacaranda tree!! I've never seen one before, and it looks like a painting.

Looks like the fires didn't damage your area, and I am glad.

Love your May summary -- some great-looking books!

Howdy Ro! I am woefully behind but thanks for coming by my thread to check in on me. If no has claimed Changer by Jane Lindskold then I'll take it. This is a series isn't it? Aaack!

Hey Roni, thanks for the tip about the ER this month. I have gotten so I just delete the PM I get and I almost never actually go and look at the selections. I feel badly that I've received two books from ER and never read or reviewed either. I requested several this month, nonetheless, and I think I selected only books I would be very interested in reading. I hope I get one of them. I could write a review and reverse this trend!

Have a good Wednesday.

Doggone it, Roni! I just ordered *God Stalker* and now I'm going to have to do something about *River Kings* too. Thanks a lot! ----- Really.

Hi, Anne. So glad the school year is over and you are getting a chance to breathe before your travels.

Ro, you've got it. PM me your address and I'll get it in the mail soon. It does have a sequel but works perfectly well as a stand-alone, and there are no more than the two of them for ever and ever.

Ellen, glad to be of help (if help that is!). I wouldn't even have noticed the Furst if you hadn't been discussing him already.

Peggy, I'll take the blame for God Stalk (Hurrah, I hope you love it), but cripes, woman, I haven't even read The River Kings' Road yet, for all it's been in my tbr pile for a couple of years! I don't know if I, or you, will like it.

So, I have a batch of handmade fimo beads (NOT made by me) that I'm trying to use--here's first draft of one set.

First off, I'm thinking I need the small golden beads as spacers down at the bottom of the necklace as well. Ah, yes, hangs much better now. Feedback?

>94 ronincats: >128 Morphidae: I'm green with envy, and sorry Morphy didn't win it, but glad anyway that you did.

I've kicked off the Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy June read with an audio of Bujold's The Hallowed Hunt. Wasn't thrilled with it at first, but persevered and got sucked in by the story, though I still don't like the reader much (Marguerite Gavin, who does the Kitty Norville audios very well, but somehow her delivery doesn't work well with the Bujold).

>125 ronincats: No opinion on the tea - I've never been particularly jazzed up by tea, anyway, though I like to drink it (not that nasty coffee stuff). However - I use aspirin as a painkiller, but one standard Bayer will put me to sleep for 8 hours (2 pills, standard dose, will put me to sleep for 16!). I use Bayer Back and Body now - it's aspirin and caffeine, so the same idea of calm and jazz together - and it works perfectly. All the muscle-relaxant effect and none of the knock-me-out. The only thing is, if I take it for more than 3 days in a row then stop, I get caffeine-withdrawal headaches...

>141 Storeetllr: I like The Hallowed Hunt, though I can definitely see why an audio version would be trouble. At least for me, it's harder to keep track of things I hear over things I see - and the written version is confusing enough. Have you read the other two in that universe, Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls? Not directly related (I still have no idea of relative location or time), but I found that being familiar with the religion from reading the first two made Hallowed Hunt easier to understand.

>143 jjmcgaffey: Oh, yes, I loved both of the prior ones! I knew the third was not connected with the first two, except peripherally, being set in the same world and having the same religion. I'm not confused with this one, exactly ~ it just took me awhile to warm to either of the main characters, and I really don't like the way Gavin reads it. Her intonation is great on the Kitty Norville books, but it just doesn't work for me on this one.

I did laugh out loud last night at one point, during the episode with the Bastard's bear at the funeral, and the aftermath.

>140 ronincats: Yes, much better!

>141 Storeetllr:, >144 Storeetllr:, The Hallowed Hunt the first time through, because we loved the Chalion ones so much. Too bad about the poor reader--that can't help. And thanks for the feedback.

Jenn, Lois says that The Hallowed Hunt is a couple hundred years earlier and a couple thousand miles away from the Chalion books. While they have a Spanish infrastructure, HH is Germanic.



Book #69 Steles of the Sky by Elizabeth Bear (429 pp.)

The third and final book of this epic fantasy trilogy, Bear finished off the multifaceted, multiple-viewpoint tale in good form. I admire her well-defined characters, her multiple cultures, and her management of a tortuously convoluted plot.

Just checked to see if the library had Moth and Spark (they do and I've put a hold on it) and discovered that The Martian is waiting for me to pick up at my local branch. Woot!

>146 ronincats: Ah, thanks - I hadn't seen that. So earlier! Interesting. I figured it was a distance away, but was less certain about time (since neither, as far as I can see, reference the other set). Now, of course, I need to read at least HH again...I hadn't particularly linked the cultures to Spain and Germany, though it was pretty obvious they were sharply different.

>132 ronincats:

When I said you stink, I meant it in the nicest way!

You stink like roses! Like clean sheets! Like newly mown grass!

You stink like a freshly bathed baby! Like just baked brownies! Like sun-warmed skin after a day at ocean-side!

You stink like Christmas trees and freshly squeezed orange juice and a crisp autumn afternoon!

I love you, Roni!

Jenn, Lois told us that when she was here at Mysterious Galaxy signing Paladin of Souls. She was working on HH and read us the first chapter of it.

Ah, Morphy, I love you too. (Nice recovery, gal!)



Book #70 Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel (290 pp.)

This is book 1 of "The American Fairy Trilogy". Starting out in Kansas in the middle of the Dust Bowl years, this story features a mixed-race girl "passing" as white with her white mother until her mother disappears and her dad's relatives start hunting her. And they aren't who, or what, she expected. Zettel was inspired by Woody Guthrie's music and other 30s music (she includes a partial list at the back of the book). By the end of the first book, we still don't know a lot about what is going on but it's been one heck of a ride so far. I feel this book is aimed at young teens as the primary audience, but I'm perfectly willing to find out what's going on, and so am on my way to the library website to order the next two books (the third and final book just came out last month) to my local branch.

>140 ronincats: Lovely, lovely colors, elegant length, and the fimo beads are wunderbar. Yay!

Also *smooch*

>149 Morphidae: Ha! This made me laugh completely out loud! People are looking at me quizzically as I type. Morphy, you crack me up.

Loving the interesting beads and the great reviews. Sending lots of hugs for a great weekend.

Woo hoo, got Richard's seal of approval! That necklace is a wrap.

Thank you, Marianne. I know those purple and gold beads won't be everyone's pot of tea, but they are definitely interesting and I think someone will love them. Hugs back as well as wishes for a great weekend to you.

I've started The River Kings' Road and am still working on The Daemon Prism, the latter being my Kindle book. The Goblin Emperor and The Martian are the library books on my horizon. Today we are finishing up detail work in the rental (hanging curtains, painting trim, putting up a rod in the closet) and tomorrow I'll be bringing some pieces home from the pottery.

Oooh, The Martian! Are you in for a treat!

Oh, I'll be curious to see what you think of Moth and Spark. :)

>152 michigantrumpet: My work here is done! Try the veal. I'll be here all week.

Black tea is my morning beverage but, even then, I wouldn't want or need the ramped up version. I move to green tea in the afternoon and decaffeinated or herbal for after dinner. I am a serious lover of tea though.

Glad to hear you have arrived safely in Chataqua, Reba.

Okay, it's Saturday and that means pottery time.

> 158 What a lovely green on the bowls on the right. I especially like the one with the cover (I always like the ones with a cover because they look like they contain some treasure!)

Hope you like The Martian Roni.

Absolutely beautiful pottery as always:)

>158 ronincats: I love the mugs Ro. It reminds me of my Aunt Virgie's kitchen.

>150 ronincats: Dust Girl
Hmm, added to the wish list for the Dust Bowl aspect...

>158 ronincats: If you dislike The Martian, I will be shocked.

I **ADORE** the covered green pot with the incised decoration! Is the inside glazed as well? How tall is it? The lid is a completely scrummy color, too, a hint different from the sides in the best possible way.

The blues I need not comment upon, you already know how that summer-sky color makes my heart sing.

The green bowl has an underplate...? Attached? I'm not clear on this...

Thank you, Meg!

Calm, I'd be shocked if I didn't enjoy it, with all the good reviews here.

Always glad to evoke some positive memories, Ro.

Katherine, the dust bowl aspect makes an interesting setting.

Richard, you don't know how good it is to see you back on your regular rounds! The pot is only about 4 inches tall. The green bowl is actually a planter with an attached saucer and drain holes from the inside into the saucer. That's why the interior isn't glazed except for the rim.

OIC! A planter. Check.

I like the little pot...but would a bigger one work, say covered veggie bowl size? (10" circumference, 6" height)

It's a relief to be able to spend more time here without acute pain!

The green bowl is actually a planter with an attached saucer and drain holes from the inside into the saucer.

I had the same question RD did until you explained. Brilliant!

>158 ronincats: The pottery is all lovely, but the blue mugs are divine. Excellent colors all around!

Question: Have you seen today's Kindle Daily Deals? They have a bunch of first-in-the-series fantasy up for $1.99 each. I think I remember you recommended Barbara Hambly, but which series would you particularly recommend? Thanks!

OH, wow, they most certainly do, Heidi! How tempting!

Of the Hamblys, I did not care for the Windrose Chronicles (The Silent Tower) or the Sun-cross series (The Rainbow Abyss)that much. The Darwath Series (The Time of the Dark was her very first trilogy written back mid-80s when everyone was writing their Tolkien wannabes. Hers was better than most, but still somewhat derivative. Still, it was good enough that it put her on my must-read list. I would definitely buy Dragonsbane, the best dragon story ever written, but skip the sequels--just let the story lie where she leaves it here. And then my favorite series is the Sun Wolf and Starhawk series--definitely buy The Ladies of Mandrigyn and see if you like it.

Of the others, Tales of Neveryon and Dawn are true classics. Sorcery & Cecilia is great fun. Of the MacAvoys, her best, Tea with the Black Dragon, isn't there, but her Lens of the World series precedes and is similar to Robin Hobb's Assassin series. The Damiano trilogy was simply too bleak for me to enjoy at all. Snake Agent is also recommended--I love Williams' detective operating in a futuristic Singapore where the Chinese Heaven and Hell are all too real. Busby's Young Rissa is vintage space opera, and John Chancie's Castle Perilous is amusing. Neither Alan Dean Foster nor Elizabeth Ann Scarborough and I have ever really gotten along--their books have always fallen flat for me, although both are quite popular. I liked Dave Duncan's early sword and sorcery series, starting with The Reluctant Swordsman, back when, but haven't liked his later stuff as well. I liked Kate Elliott a lot when she was writing as Alis Rasmussen, but bounced off of Jaran and haven't picked up her newest stuff, but she is also quite popular.

There are just a ton of classic names (Bear, Effinger, Sargent, Lieber, Silverberg) and books, some good and some (John Norman and Piers Anthony, I'm looking at you) not so good, but this is an amazing selection. There are some that I need to check out at the end of the list that are unfamiliar but possibilities given the company they are in. What a deal!

Hmm, today's Kindle Daily Deals that I've been offered are different and don't include the fantasy books. *boohiss*

Well, I'll be marking your post as a "Favorite" and referring back to it for suggestions when next I feel like reading me some good fantasy.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

>158 ronincats: Love, love, LOVE the colors! Beautiful.

>168 ronincats: That is super helpful Roni! I thought I remembered that you said Dragonsbane was good, but didn't know about the others. I did like Jaran when I read it years ago, but have not really connected with anything else of hers. I love a good space opera so I will get Young Rissa. Snake Agent sounds quite good as well. Off to click my way to being a little poorer!! Thanks so much!

>168 ronincats: Thanks for the expert advice, Roni! I bit on Dragonsbane because I cannot resist a good dragon story.

Mary, it doesn't make sense that it wouldn't be available everywhere in the US, so try this link:
http://smile.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_418971362_13?ie=UTF8&node=6054202011&...

Thank you, Marianne!

You are very welcome, Heidi. You know how much I hate to talk about books and how hard it is to get me to open up...

Julia, it is my favorite dragon story because it is an adult dragon story. No, that doesn't mean it has graphic sex in it (it doesn't); it means that emotionally it is very grown up.

Well, I'm disappointed about the lack of graphic sex but I'm sure I'll like it anyway. ;-)

Yeah, what a shame. But it sounds like it has redeeming qualities.

Okay, so up in message 62, >62 ronincats:, I posted a first draft of an aqua necklace and mentioned possible revisions. Here is my next draft.

The changes are to the right of the center bead. I think I like the silver accents. Clear beads didn't work. At the top, you see my assistant. She obviously didn't think this version was ready for publication, as a minute ago she was in the posture below--I had to dangle a bead string to distract her to get the shot above.

Yes, she IS covering up the entire bead tray very effectively!

Which reminds me, I don't think I responded to those who asked about the gray tray--that is a bead design board, which is a handy little thing you can pick up. The measurements let you keep track of where you are given how long you want your necklace to be.

>176 ronincats: At the top, you see my assistant.
What a help she must be!

I like the silver. It's just enough different to add interest, but with compatible texture.

I like the side with the silver beads a whole lot! And thanks for the explanation about the bead board. I was one of the wonderers.

Wait .... no dragon sex???

Oh, I love the pottery, the necklace and the cat!!

The silver really makes the necklace.

Your "assistant" makes me smile.

>158 ronincats: As always, I love the blue but I also love the green this time too.

>174 rosalita: & >175 jnwelch: *snigger*

>176 ronincats: I love the way cats try to help :-) I think I prefer the silver separators too - they highlight the colours of the beads whereas the ones on the left get lost

I like the silver beads with the necklace and adore your assistant!

Julia, Joe, and Stephanie, sorry, you'll just have to live with it. ;-)

Katherine, Amber, Julia, Morphy, Heather, and Lori, you are my assistants as well! Here's the finished product.

>184 ronincats: Oooh lovely! And your pottery is of course gorgeous as well. Hope you're having a good day. :)

>184 ronincats: Adding another oooooh! That's beautiful.

>184 ronincats: VERY classy. Giftable. Summery-semiformal.

Oh, the necklace turned out beautifully! I love how you mix the different sizes and types of beads. The colors and patterns and sizes are very pleasing to the eye.

Thank you very much, Mary, Heather, Richard and Julia! I'll have the first draft of the next up later.



Book #71 The River Kings' Road by Liane Merciel (431 pp.)

Okay, rarely have I read a book that pushed me so many ways at once. Oh dear, yet another fantasy set in a medieval, brutal society with good and bad magic systems, and with betrayal at its core. Oh, wait, never before have I felt such sympathy and support for the betrayer. Oh dear, the pure knight has a weakness. Oh, wait, the evil knight has a good core. Oh dear, the old substitution caper. Oh, wait, the way it's done is unusual and clever. And just when I decide that, yet, I need the sequel, the reviews on Amazon says that that book devolves from fantasy into pure horror, and I can't do that!

Hi Roni, trying to catch up. I LOVE the pottery. I only wish I could create work like that, beautiful! I love your helper, so fluffy and cute. Hope you are well :)

I was thinking, keep this simple, but I could jazz it up--

The blue is beautiful, but give me purple anytime! I really love that pendant ~ beautiful patterns in it, and a very interesting shape.

Cats never try to be helpful, you guys. They try to get you to stop doing whatever you're doing that is not paying attention to them. And they are often quite successful.

ETA and then they walk away.

>191 ronincats: No, that doesn't need any jazzing - that pendant is gorgeous and rewards examination on several levels, and the rest of the beads just support it perfectly. I think anything extra would just detract.

Now put in something and make me eat my words...

Roni, beautiful! I love simple patterns. Such an interesting pendant.

Oh, that blue one turned out so beautifully! And I love the purple one, too!

>191 ronincats: Leave it simple. Just lovely!

>184 ronincats: Lovely. If I wore necklaces, I'd strongly consider buying it.

The blue and silver is simply gorgeous!

Maybe a big posterboard photo of your cat festooned and lying about in your bead tray would draw people over to your booth at sales??? Have to think of a funny thing to write on it.....

The necklaces are beautiful but I wear more blue than purple (plus I have two of yours in purple) so that would be my favorite. My checkbook is glad I'm far, far away and can't get to them :)

The pendant is dyed stone. Thank you for all the feedback from Mary, Jenn, Nicole, Amber, Richard, Morphy, Lucy and Reba!! Here's the finished product:

Now, since I've turned out 3 new purple necklaces lately, along with the one blue, it's probably time to turn my attention to some other colors for my inventory.

Book #72 The Daemon Prism by Carol Berg (498 pp.)

This is the third and final book of the Collegia Magica series. Berg is a good writer and a skilled plot entwined, and in this book she untangles all the snarls from the first two books and brings them to a satisfying conclusion. Recommended series for fantasy lovers.

Since I am not going to the pottery studio Saturday--it being the second Saturday of the month and so I'm trying the Craft Corner again--we went by last night to pick up whatever was out of the kiln, and here it is:


I'm trying to get one more necklace done today before pricing and prepping tomorrow. It's intended to be on the delicate side, and this is the first draft...

I thought I had wrapped up most of my library reads and could settle down to clear out some of my backlog, but no, the library emailed that I had three more books waiting, so here's what's on my shelf waiting for me:


Decisions, decisions, and only 3 weeks to read them in...

The Martian. That is all.

Well, not quite. Sweet summery necklace, Roni!

Okay, one more comment: LOVE the big green bowl! Is that a flower on the rim?

Yes, Mary, The Martian and the Jo Walton book are the priorities, as those are the ones I would definitely not be able to renew. And that is a flower on the rim, to cover a chunk I broke out when preparing to trim the piece.

Here's tonight's work:

>202 ronincats: I was really excited when i realised that Jo Walton has a new book out, and then immediately very disappointed to discover that it is not out in the UK until the end of August!

Love the mugs Roni! and the Necklaces! Hope you do well at the market!

Wow Roni, such lovely necklaces. I love them all but especially that purple one. I am glad you kept it simple because that pendant is just fabulous and does not need anything distracting attention away from it.

I am jealous you got your hands on a copy of The Martian. I want to read that one so bad!

>203 Storeetllr: +1

>204 ronincats: Top necklace is pretty, though not something I care for; bottom necklace is lovely!

I don't think the green-and-blue combo is quite The Thing. And the flower's a nice way to hide the chunk gone!

The flower/leaf/butterfly necklace is quite lovely, Roni! Surely someone will snap that up at the craft fair.

"wave"

Wow, Roni, you have been really outdoing yourself with your crafting lately! The necklaces are lovely, especially the purple one and adding the silver to the turquoise one really elevated the piece to a new level of gorgeousness!

I was looking forward to getting caught up here as I just knew that you would catch me with a few sci-fi/fantasy recommendations! Both Dust Girl and the Collegia Magica series look promising.

We're on our way out the door to the craft fair--wish me luck!

I'm wishing you fair weather and eager customers!

>212 ronincats:, >213 Morphidae: +1 what Morphy said

good luck Roni - wishing you good customers and many sales.

ARGH! Well, it was another $20 day--I sold a bracelet at a discount and a small $5 bowl--the cheapest thing on my table. And my back is sore from sitting in that camp chair all day. So, I'm in the hole after my booth fee. Lots of people (relatively speaking--traffic was light) said how beautiful things were--but they didn't add "and I have to take it home with me now!"

Off to bed, exhausted. Thanks to all above for the kind words and good wishes.

Roni, sorry to hear the market did not do so well. I cannot believe that people do not buy more of your stuff. Crazy. I LOVE pottery mugs and would be buying those in a heart beat. Hope the rest of your weekend is restful!

>205 SandDune: Rhian, I am waffling between starting that book and The Martian, since I finished my ER book at the craft show yesterday. Hard decisions!

>206 NicolePatrick: >217 NicolePatrick: Thank you for your good wishes! Yes, we are just kicking back today--amazing how tiring sitting around for 8 hours can be!

>207 Cobscook: Thanks, Heidi. I've been on the waiting list at the library for The Martian--so I know I have to read it before it's due.

>208 richardderus: >214 richardderus: I didn't think the blossom necklace would be your style, my dear, and I agree that the glaze on the bowls didn't do what I hoped it would. Live and learn! Glad you liked the rest.

>209 rosalita: Julia, not a nibble! :-(

>210 RebaRelishesReading: *wave in return*

>211 DeltaQueen50: Judy, good to have you back home and on LT more regularly! I've got the sequel to Dust Girl now, but it's 3rd in line on the library books.

>213 Morphidae: >215 calm: Thanks, Morphy and calm. It was a beautiful day, even if the sales weren't beautiful.

So, I accomplished two things yesterday. First, I finished my last received Early Reviewer book (haven't received the new Kevin Hearne yet).



Book #73 Getting Schooled: The reeducations of an American teacher by Garret Keizer (302 pp.)

I enjoyed this. Despite the fact that Keizer was in a Vermont high school, about as far as you can get from a South Bay, San Diego County school district, I saw lots in common with his experiences and his concerns. I'll have to write a more thorough review for ER, but the brain is still dead from yesterday.

And I did another tree of life while at the fair yesterday, to fill the dead time, despite the fact that the only people who have bought them have been LTers. This is a good image only of the new one, really, the blue and silver just to the left of center and the smallest of the lot at 1-1/2" or 4 centimeters in diameter, but I wanted to show the variation in size.



ETA and because my brain couldn't handle any novelty last night, I picked up Friday's Child as my Heyer read for the month. It is one of my favorites.

Hey Roni!! Sorry I've been gone for a while, but I'm trying to do a bit of catching up today. We'll see how far I make it. :)

First... thank you for coming by my thread and checking on me!

Secondly, I don't understand folks! Your artwork is lovely... simply stunning. I don't know how people can just walk by without buying. Tell me you sold the blossom/leaf/bee necklace. I'm sure that one sold, right? It's so gorgeous!

And only LTers are buying the Trees of Life? What? We're the only smart cookies around???

Have you had any luck at craft fairs? Maybe try some local boutiques instead? Etsy?

Sorry the craft show didn't go well. Was this the one in La Mesa again? If they want to grow maybe they should waive the booth fee until they get enough vendors to attract enough customers to do something.

Well this is not the news I want to hear!!

Hi, Tina! Great to have you back. No, didn't sell a single pendant or necklace.

Morphy, part of the issue with this venue is that so far, the people who come by aren't necessarily people interested in buying anything. There are other venues, generally more expensive, but I'll be checking them out.

Reba, I suggested that to the organizer, and will suggest it to the owner Thursday evening when we go out to see what we can do with the car show turnout.

Sorry, Lucy.

On the plus side, I've finished two books in the last two days.



Book #74 Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer (333 pp.)

This is one of my favorite Heyers. Half-a-dozen plot lines move along in total syncopation, some of her very best secondary characters play major roles, and the male character shows growth. I think the characterization overall is excellent, and it's just plain fun!



BOOK #75 The Martian by Andy Weir (369 pp.)

Well, I don't need to worry about finishing this book before it is due at the library! I read 2/3 of it last night and reluctantly stopped when my husband turned off the news, and finished it this afternoon after we got done with all our errands. I couldn't believe how fast it moved. As others have said, the book just pulls you along, and along, and along! You don't want to stop.

As I was reading, and Mark was halfway to Schiaparelli, the thought repeatedly crossed my mind--the author must truly be a super-nerd to work all this out! And there it was in the author bio--"He is a lifelong space nerd..." But highly entertaining. I loved the voices of the different characters. Mark has the most air time, of course, but even the others are clearly differentiated. This keeps it from being a dry narrative of survival or a monotonous series of journal entries.

Loved it!!

YAY for good reading, especially my dote The Martian, hisssssbooooohissssssss for the silly fair-goers not lining up to plunk down their money, and oooooo on the Trees of Life.

That is all.

*smooch*

Another yay for The Martian! Glad you had a good time with it, Roni. Nerdly problem-solving and the pages flying by - what a combination!

Hi Roni! Beautiful jewelry and art, and lovely books and reviews -- your thread is always one of my favorite places to visit!

Friday's Child is one of my most favorite of Georgette Heyer's. I loved the humor.

The Martian has been on my library list for some time, I think it's going to be a book that I will love.

Richard and Joe, glad to have you guys stopping by and supporting my The Martian love.

Hi Anne, glad to have you here.

Judy, yes, we love Friday's Child, and yes, you need to get The Martian. I had it on hold from the library for about 2 months before I got it.



And book #76 My Real Children by Jo Walton (320 pp.)

This could be simple literary fiction about a woman's life in England from 1926 to 2015. It could be--except this woman has two separate lives in two different alternate histories. Walton always works outside the box, refusing to be penned within a genre. If you liked Old Filth, try this to stretch your boundaries. The ending definitely sticks with you.

Well, all the jewelry and pots are lovely, and you clearly need to be at a venue where people come hoping to buy something wonderful. A pox on them!
Now I guess I have to wish for The Martian and maybe *River Road* too, and God Stalker Chronicles arrived only today, so I'm still behind.
But I do love Friday's Child too.

Oooh, Peggy, you can console yourself with God Stalk and make up for everything else. The Kings' River Road was good but not outstanding, if you know what I mean. But The Martian was excellent.

ETA I actually came back to comment on my grousing in >202 ronincats: about having so many books to read at once. Wrapping up my top two in as many days sure clears the air, doesn't it?

WHOA!



Just noticed you've blown past the 75 mark, and said nothin' about it...so here's your wreath of laurels.

Richard, you are SO sweet! *smooch*

Actually, I bolded the book number for #75, but I guess that wasn't bold enough!

Hi Roni. Sorry to hear the craft fair was a washout - as others have said, I can't understand why people aren't buying your beautiful craft items.

Hooray for Friday's Child and The Martian and for reading 75 books! I'm planning to reread Friday's Child too this month and The Martian is also on my wishlist.

>229 ronincats: I'm looking forward to the new Jo Walton although I think we have to wait a couple of months for it to be released here. I'm intrigued by your mention of Old Filth which was a novel I really enjoyed but hadn't expected the new Walton book to be similar too...

Wow, 75 already! I've passed the 25 mark lol

What a perfect read for your 75 - so pleased The Martian wowed you.

My real children sounds fascinating. I'll have to watch for that one in the bookstore.

Heather, we tried again tonight during the car show--not a single sale. Guess we're done with that venue. I shall look forward with great interest to your review of My Real Children when you get it, to see if you agree with me or not.

Reba, yeah, but you have a life, grandchildren, Chataqua, etc. It balances out.

Yes, calm, I was very happy that The Martian was in place to be #75!

Ardene, check your library too--that's where I found my copy.

Hooray! 75!! And it is great when the 'big number' books are good ones. I gave it to the S.U. for father's day.... now he'll hoard it someplace....

Congrats on zipping right past #75 without missing a beat, Roni! And I'm so glad to see you liked The Martian. I am excited because I just got to the top of the library's amazingly long hold list for it, so I'll be diving in soon.

It's a shame about the craft sale venue not working out, but maybe it's just something about that location that attracts people who look but don't buy. I hope you can find somewhere else where people will appreciate your beautiful work!

Yay! on the 75! Looks like you'll make it to a double 75 at least before the year is over.

The Martian is on my list. I just have to get some of ol Planet TBR whittled away, so I am not only on a book buying diet, but on a library diet. The book industry must be wondering why their sales are down .....

Roni, have you ever thought of doing the tree of life in pink for breast cancer? As a survivor, if you want to do one up in pink with silver wire, I'll buy it from you. It might be a thought if you try another craft fair ....

Congrats on your 75th, and the fact it was The Martian is icing on the cake! What a fantastic book! So glad you enjoyed it as much as you did.

I tried to read Friday's Child but just couldn't seem to get into it, but I think the problem was the reader (I had the audio). I'll try it again in print as soon as I finish a couple that have to go back to the library soon.

Great idea of streamsong's about the pink tree of life! I'm not a survivor, but I know a lot of women who are and who, I bet, would really that!

Have a lovely weekend, there in the land of practically perfect weather.

Sorry La Mesa didn't work out. As to my "real life" -- true I am busy but so are you!! (so I'm still impressed)

>176 ronincats: See, this is one reason I never get my beads and tray out and try to design a necklace. Abby can be sound asleep downstairs in the tv room, I can have music playing (loudly), and the moment I get those beads out, she comes upstairs. "Hi mom. Whatcha doin'? Can I help?"

Congrats on 75!

Hey, Roni, I just had an idea. Would you like my small collection of beads with which I am never going to do anything? I would happily send them to you. Otherwise, I'll probably just end up taking them to Goodwill.

Well, ding dang to the fair people. What's the matter with them?! And here I am wishing I lived close enough to come round and snatch up a teetering pile of those amazing pottery bowls and mugs. Sheesh.

75!!! GOOD for you!! Keep reading, and I'll keep following.

Congratulations on reaching 75, Roni! I've just been catching up with your crafting and I'm sorry to read about the craft shows - it's so frustrating when you have such lovely things. I was looking at my overstuffed mug of pens at the office yesterday and thinking how much better they would look in one of your pots. ("Pots" sounds wrong there, but you know what I mean!)

Congrats on reaching and passing 75, Roni! I love the necklaces you made and just do not understand the window shoppers at the fair.

>239 sibylline: Yes, Lucy, I was very happy when I realized that The Martian would be #75--it did seem appropriate.

>240 rosalita: Julia, I was on the hold list at the library for a while as well, but I'm glad it came to me at this time. I think one of the issues with the venue is that people are not coming there INTENDING to look at crafts in order to buy--it's incidental. I'm checking out other venues.

>241 streamsong: Janet, yes, I'm right on track for 150 for the year, my usual goal. That's a good idea about doing a "survivor's tree". I don't have any pink gem chips right now, but the gem faire is next weekend. I may do up a tree using pink and white seed beads in the meantime. I'll work something up and post a picture here.

>242 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary. Some people are put off by Friday's Child because of how young and naive Hero is--but this is a case where that doesn't bother me at all because of the supporting cast and because of the growth of the two main characters over the book. I hope you try it again and like it. We are having perfect weather--mid-70s every day and very little June gloom--pure Paradise!

>243 RebaRelishesReading: Hi, Reba. I want a picture of your front room when you are done--the one you posted me while you were painting confused me with all its angles.

>244 EBT1002:, >245 EBT1002: Ellen, Zoe doesn't do it all the time, thankfully, but she surely was going through a phase right then! Thank you for thinking of me for your beads. I would be glad to accept IF you allow me to send you one of my trees in return.

>246 scaifea: Amber, if you lived that close, we'd be in your sewing room working on projects way too often! (I wish you did too.)

>247 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy!

>248 susanj67: Thank you, Susan, and "pot" is just fine! I have pots full of jewelry (one just for my bracelets) and others full of jewelry tools and supplies. Too bad an ocean divides us!

>249 lkernagh: Thank you, Lori!

I love having all my visitors drop by and say hi! We have finally passed inspection for Section 8 housing and have our renter in our house in back after a month of remodeling and paperwork. We were scampering on Thursday to get a new stove at the last minute because one of the pilot lights wasn't operational on the old one when the inspector came. That's something that's been taking up time. And today was pottery day. I trimmed two mugs and 2 large bowls, glazed one medium large bowl, threw the stems and bowls for two goblets, and brought four bowls home. These are larger than the last set, 6 to 6-1/2 inches in diameter, and I'm still experimenting with glazes.

And I've finished another book. This one was recommended by Lois McMaster Bujold on Goodreads, or I probably would not have requested it from the library. And I was totally confused when I clicked on the author touchstone and ended up on Sarah Montette's page (author of Melusine and The Virtu), but it is indeed she. I like this one better.



Book #77 The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (446 pp.)

Due to an airship accident that wiped out his father the Emperor, his three half-brothers and nephew--in other words, all the heirs to the throne, Maia, the half-breed son who has been raised in total isolation from the court is now coming to the Untheileneise Court as the new and totally unprepared Emperor. When I picked this up, I wondered if I was up to yet another tale of court intrigue and a young man finding his feet. However, Maia is a really neat person to spend over 400 pages with, and the world-building is superb! I enjoyed this one a lot.

Oh, I would *love* to have a crafting party with you! *daydreamy sigh*

Love those new bowls, too.

My book club is discussing The Martian tomorrow night, I really enjoyed it! I've also read the Walton--and wish we had more domestic sf like hers. And I have to write my review of Goblin Emperor too. I'm working my way through the short sf she has on line--I'm finding Monette/Addison does the shy/ashamed character very well. I haven't read your other two library books.

Left bottom with the dark blue zag - Yowza. That is perfect. I love it.

Happy Sunday, Roni. Your bowls are beautiful, I love those shades of blue. I am really enjoying my current Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch and plan to spend a fair amount of time with it on the patio today!

You might try to connect with the craft fair at Old Poway Park. It's in conjunction with a very popular farmer's market and usually draws a good crowd.

Congratulations on speeding past #75 just after the middle of the year!!!!!! :)

Beads for tree. It's a deal.

I like the green bowls - well, I like all four, but the green is lovely.

>251 ronincats: Okay, The Goblin Emperor is a major book bullet. Rather than putting it on Mount TBR, I've ordered it from the library. It will be a bit of a wait. I'm 6th in line and there are 6 copies.

Amber, wouldn't we have fun?!

QQ, I cannot believe we have been entirely in sync for the last three books. What are the odds?

Thanks, Lucy.

Judy, that's a fun one. Isn't Tiffany (I think that's her name) a character? Although I think Ancilla's misapprehension is a little too unlikely...

Reba, Chris Stell, whose dichroic cat jewelry I buy, is there regularly. I'll ask her about it. And see below.

Tina, my love, you are moving too fast! The year is NOT half over already. We have 7 more days.

Done, Ellen. I'll PM you for a choice of wire and stone colors.

Thankee kindly, Jenn.

Morphy, I got it from the library as well, so that's a good call. With 6 copies, you shouldn't have to wait more than a week or two.

So, wish me luck. We are heading out to a consignment shop in Grossmont Center at 1 to see if the proprietor is interested in my pottery and/or jewelry.

Crossing my fingers (toes, eyes) that the consignment shop starts carrying your wonderful creations, Roni!

Wishing you luck!!

>254 sibylline: What ma belle cousine said.

>262 Storeetllr: What Mary said.

*smooch*

Fingers crossed!

Thank you for the good wishes, Mary, Reba, Richard, and Amber!

Step one has been accomplished. The store manager oohed and ached over the pottery and kept everything I took her to display in the store. When I had called and mentioned the jewelry as well as the pottery, she had said she already had a lot of jewelry, but she loved my trees and took a number of my shell necklaces, as well as the aqua one, the red flower one and two of the fimo bead necklaces. She also liked the two crosses and took them. Now, of course, the question is, will anyone come into the shop and buy them over the next three months, and summer is admittedly a slow period for them. But they are right next to a Target in a busy shopping center, so hopefully my stuff will get exposure.

I'm over halfway through Moth and Spark--it's a great build-up, but can the resolution live up to it? We shall see. The garden needs watering, I need to get up in the attic and get summer clothes down, and do a seed bead pink and white tree. That's plans for today.

YAY on retail consignment! I am crossing things that haven't seen each other in years for this to work out.

Roni: Yay on the 75!!! :-) I think Jane's idea of pink tree of life for breast cancer survivors is an excellent one. And I hope that the consignment shop works out for you.

Ouch, Richard! Don't aggravate the gout! I appreciate the good wishes.

You too, Stephanie!

So, I took another book into the house today. There just happens to be a Barnes & Noble in the same shopping center as the consignment shop, and I was browsing and discovered that a book I've been wanting that has not been all that available in the US except at a higher prices is being issued in trade paperback. So, since it was $15.95, I came home and ordered it from Amazon. It is the first The Science of Discworld by Terry Pratchett with Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen. I'm looking forward to it.



Book #78 Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard (348 pp.)

This is well-written and builds a eerie atmosphere, but despite a riveting story line, the focus on the romance between the two main characters overwhelms the story. This is too bad, as the instant attraction/love detracts from two strong mature characters.

Yay for finding a retail consignment store for your pottery and jewelry! I love shopping in consignment stores so I have my fingers crossed that you will have success this way.

>269 ronincats: I was browsing
Skipping over the fact that the consignment shop is not exactly B&N so a slight detour occurred...
Step one has been accomplished.
Yay! Can't be worse than tending a booth all day and selling nothing.

I lost you for a while but I'm back. That was so great reading in this thread :)

I don't know...having your wares in a consignment shop near a B & N sounds pretty dangerous to me lol

>273 RebaRelishesReading: She needs to go to the consignment shop only if (a) she sells something (B&N = celebration) or (b) she sells nothing (B&N = consolation).

I'm really excited about your placing your pottery and jewelry at the consignment shop, Roni. I hope you get lots of sales!

I'm pulling for you, Roni! In fact, I have some acquaintances who live in the SD area. I'll mention to them about the consignment shop in Grossmont Center, just in case they are in the market for some gorgeous jewelry and/or beautiful pottery.

Lori, from your lips to the Deity's ears!

That's what I thought, Katherine. Just let the checks roll in.

Glad to see you, Melissa!

Reba, yeah, eats up the profits. On the other hand, I didn't BUY any books at B&N.

Katherine, I like the way you think.

Thanks, Julia!

Mary, that goes above and beyond! Thank you!

So, based on Janet's suggestion, and since I don't have any pink quartz chips at the moment, what do you think of this for the cancer survivors' tree?

Hi Roni - I think it's delicate and beautiful and I will absolutely love wearing it! The breast cancer pink I have seen is a darker shade, though, so if you are making more with that specifically in mind, I would pick more of a 'hot pink'.

PM me with the $$.

Oh, no, it's not that easy. Here's two more options with what I have on hand, and I'm going to the Gem Faire on Sunday and can pick up more "hot pink" type beads there. Would you prefer either of the other two options?

I like the bigger hot pink ones for a cancer survivor tree (which I think is a SUPER idea). The lighter ones are really pretty too, just not as identified with breast cancer.

The smaller pink beads are a beautiful color. Maybe you could do one in those, too, and consign it as a "Tree of Life"? Add a gold bead at the top for a one-year survivor, a gold bead on each side for a two-year survivor, etc?

WONDERFUL! for the consignment shop! And I bow to Mr. D's genius. The gold beads marking the years - absolutely right!

So, I finished up this frame with the larger, darker beads. I liked the look of the soft pink as well and will make that one up as well.

Richard, for those smaller beads, I will make a frame with 12 branches rather than just 10, and if I'm making it on commission, could definitely add in the gold beads.

Thanks, Peggy, and yes, he is a genius, is he not?

>283 ronincats: So pretty! That color is lush.

I really, really like the darker large beads in >283 ronincats:. How large is the finished pendant?

The gold beads are a cool idea, but one would have to keep adding beads - some breast cancer survivors live many, many years. Personally, I plan on needing dozens of them. :-)

Thank you, oh valued design feedback guru!

Janet, it's 1.75 inches, or 10.5 centimeters.

Great Tree of Life pendants. I liked the larger "hot pink" beads as well.

Happy Friday Roni! Hope you have some good reading on tap!

>283 ronincats: Oh! I do like that! Beautiful.

Roni, PM me your address. I think I'm going to pack up what beads I have and send them to you. Do you use any seed beads?

Hi Roni,
You're going to start obtaining a collection of LT beads! For someone like me who loves beads but just won't follow through with making anything, this is a great chance to give them to someone who I know will use them and enjoy them.

Regarding the tree in exchange, I left a message on one of the photos in your gallery. I like purple or black wire, I think, with smokey beads.... I'm a blues and greens and grays sort of person.

Morphy, I'll make the same offer to you, and yes, I do use seed beads!

New meme from Peggy's (LizzieD) thread:

Meanwhile, here's a meme for folks with a lot of books and a lot of time to spend on silliness. The assignment is to compose a passage using bites from 6 books. I have decided to do it today using 6 of my genre books.

1. A title that includes a color. Use the first sentence.
2 A title that includes an animal. Use the second sentence on page 50.
3. A title that includes a first name. Use the third sentence on page 100.
4. A title that includes a place. Use the fourth sentence on page 150.
5. A title that includes a weather event. Use the next-to-last sentence on page 200.
6. A title that includes a plant. Use the final sentence in the book.

MY TRY
1. The Blue Sword
2. The Gate of Cat
3. The Telzey Toy
4. In the Forests of Serre
5. The Wind-Witch
6. The Fire Rose

"She scowled at her glass of orange juice. Kelsie, still swaying, saw another lash of fire come apparently from the sky, cutting between her and the witch. Hot terror jolted through her-- It sang to a setting star.

The town didn't look as if it had been warned. And in the end, that was all that mattered."

Oh, well. I think I could have done it purely from my Andre Norton books! Or my TBR shelves, for that matter.

>292 ronincats: ...I just don't get the meme at all...I don't see what one thing has in common with the other.

Just a bit dim on this late Saturday afternoon.

That's a beautiful pendant, Roni!

Love the pink tree AND the gold bead idea!

Ummm. Well, I love yours, Roni. You could probably back-track and write at least a short story from it.

I can think of several people I would love to give breast cancer life of trees to ... but fundage and all that. Keep making them, I intend to buy some when things are more financially stable.

Roni, your "Tree of Life" in >283 ronincats: is gorgeous. I love that shade of pink.

That meme looks like fun, I've taken a copy and will pick my six books and see what I come up with.

I so like memes. I might have to try that. :)

Good grief!! How did I get so far beyond 250 messages? On to a new thread, although I'll keep set up for tomorrow--it's bedtime.