Scaifea's 2014 Challenge - Thread #28

Welcome to The Twenty-eighth Thread!

I am fresh out of favorite illustrators. So, instead, I thought I'd start sharing snapshots of my bookshelves:



Below you’ll find an explanation of my reading habits, which, I warn you, is a bit crazy. Usually I have about 10-12 books going at once, one each from the following groups (and occasionally other books slipped in there, too):

1. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

2. A children's book, for Charlie's library. I'm trying to collect books from various award lists, and I like reading them before reading them to Charlie or deciding to add them to Charlie's shelves. For this category, I’m currently working through three lists:
a. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die
b. The CYOA books
c. The Newbery Honor books

3. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

4. A book for the Presidential Challenge. Books for this category are read in chronological (presidentially) order.

5. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

6. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker lists (combined, in chronological order)

7. For this category, I cycle through 7 different stacks:
a. A book from my shelves which I haven't yet read
b. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. Stephen King's bibliography (in chronological order)
d. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
e. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
g. The NEH Timeless Classics list
h. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
i. The Pulitzer list (in alpha order by author)

8. A read-aloud-to-Charlie-at-bedtime book.

9. A book from my Classics shelves.

10. A book on Buddhism or from the Dalai Lama's bibliography.

11. Book-a-year challenge: Last year at some point, along with a few others in this group (*cough* Paul *cough*), I made a year-by-year list to see how far I could go back with consecutive reads. I've decided, again, to follow Paul's lead and try to fill in some of those blanks, and so I'm adding an entry here to my lists.

12. This slot is reserved for books that just grab me and shout that they need to be read Right Now.

And on top of these, there will be a multitude of picture books, which Charlie and I read together. I only list picture books that I or we read for the first time - no repeat reads will be mentioned here (and they are legion).

So, now you've got a glimpse of just how neurotic I am.
Please feel free to post comments, recommendations, or whatever else strikes your fancy. And Happy Reading, everyone!



What I'm reading now:
-Sanctuary (Banned Books list)
-Cedric, the Forester (Newbery Honor Book list)
-Faust (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-Martin Van Buren and the Emergence of American Popular Politics (Presidential Challenge)
-One Summer (audio book)
-The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (Hugo award list)
-Enemy of God (from the TBR shelves)
-The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Charlie's bed-time book)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine (off of my classics shelves)
-Deity Yoga (buddhism list)
-Lady Windemere's Fan (year-by-year book list, 1893)
-Paddle Your Own Canoe (from the READ ME NOW pile)
-The Iliad (everyday audio book in the car)
-The Haunted Bookshop (sequel to Parnassus on Wheels)

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

And here's my list for the Reading Bingo, which seems to be taking us 75ers by storm. Like many others, I'll not make an extra effort to fill it, but rather just see which of the books I read this year happen to fit what categories:

More than 500 pages: The Sterkarm Handshake
Forgotten Classic: The Man in the High Castle
Book that became a movie: The World of Pooh
Published this year: Packaging Your Crafts
Number in the title: 45 & 47 Stella Street
Written by someone under 30: Cirque du Freak
Book with non-human characters: Odd and the Frost Giants
Funny Book: Diggers
Female Author: Flora & Ulysses
Book with a mystery: One Came Home
One-Word Title: Truckers
Book of short stories: M Is for Magic
Set on a different continent: Wings
Non-Fiction: Buddhism for Beginners
First book by a favorite author:
Heard about online: A Darkling Plain
Best-selling book: Still Foolin' Em
Based on a true story: John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life
Book at the bottom of TBR pile:
Book my friend loves: Stories I Only Tell My Friends
Book that scares me: The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook
More than 10 years old: The Genie in the Bottle
Second book in a series: E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core!
Blue cover: The Life and Times of Paddington Bear

Also, here's the list of all categories for my local library's Summer Book Bingo Challenge (the ones specifically on my own Bingo card on in bold):

Come to a library program: Mad Science of Iowa show
Find a something (plant, animal, mineral, planet, etc) and identify it with a library resource.
Find the secret phrase onfacebook.com/plattevillepubliclibrary or plattevillepubliclibrary.org/adults.
Listen to a music CD you haven’t heard before: Now That I've Found You - Alison Krauss
Listen to an audiobook: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Read a book about how to do something: The Unforgettable Photograph
Read a book about someone from a different culture: The Last Temptation of Christ
Read a book and watch the movie: Dune
Read a book by an author with the same last initial as you.
Read a book from the new book shelves: Packaging Your Crafts
Read a book from the children’s shelves: Should I Share My Ice Cream?
Read a book from the teen shelves: Predator's Gold
Read a book in a series: Infernal Devices
Read a book in large print.
Read a book longer than 300 pages: Andrew Jackson His Life and Times
Read a book of poetry or a novel written in verse: Howl and Other Poems
Read a book set in the future: This Immortal
Read a book set in the past: Little House in the Big Woods
Read a book set in the present.
Read a book set outside the United States: Brave New World
Read a book shorter than 150 pages.
Read a book that is not in a series: The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Read a book that is scientifically impossible.
Read a book that is scientifically possible.
Read a book that makes you laugh.
Read a book that mentions a place you want to visit.
Read a book that says “by a bestselling author” on the cover: The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Read a book that won an award: Babel-17
Read a book where “sparks fly”: A Darkling Plain
Read a book with a battle against the elements.
Read a book with a color in the title Forever Amber
Read a book with a love story: Lady Chatterley's Lover
Read a book with a number in the title.
Read a book with a one word title: Divergent
Read a book with an explosion: Great Disasters
Read a book with an investigation in it.
Read a book with pictures in it Horton Hatches the Egg
Read a book without a love triangle.
Read a book you heard about in the media or online.
Read a book you keep “meaning to get around to.”
Read a cookbook and try a recipe: 500 Cupcakes (Lemon Cupcakes)
Read a folk tale or a book based on a folk tale.
Read a graphic novel: Hello Kitty: Here We Go!
Read a magazine from cover to cover: High Five - June 2014
Read a memoir or biography.
Read a newspaper that you don’t normally read.
Read a nonfiction book: The Girl in the Leaves
Read a short story or essay.
Read out loud for half an hour.
Read outside for an hour.
Read the same book as someone else and discuss it.
Try something recommended by someone at the library: It's Always Something
Use the microfilm machine to look at the Platteville Journal from the week you turned 5.
Watch a movie based on a true story.
Watch a movie with the subtitles on.

Books Read (see previous threads for previous reads):

AUGUST
450. Charlie the Caterpillar (public library book) - 8/10 = B-
451. The Invisible Boy (public library book) - 10/10 = A+
452. (#74) E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core! (Charlie's bedtime book) - 9/10 = A
453. The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
454. Watch Me Throw the Ball! (public library book) - 9/10 = A
455. Brown Rabbit's Shape Book (public library book) - 8/10 = B
456. Boy + Bot (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
457. Gray Rabbit's 1,2,3 (public library book) - 8/10 = B
458. Trouble at the Bridge (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
459. Digger to the Rescue (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
500. In My Neighborhood: Postal Workers (public library book) - 8/10= B+
501. Monster Day at Work (public library book) - 8/10 = B
502. Rrralph (public library book) - 8/10 = B
503. My New Teacher and Me! (public library book) - 9/10 = A
504. Fly Guy Presents: Dinosaurs (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
505. Where Is Jake? (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
506. (#75) Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times (Presidential Challenge) - 7/10 = C
507. Tools Rule! (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
508. C Is for Caboose (public library book) - 7/10 = C
509. Crafty Chloe (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
510. I'm a Frog! (public library book) - 9/10 = A
511. The Nose Book (public library book) - 8/10 = B

The Charlie Topper:

And the Bonus Question:

If you could bring to life one character from a book, who would it be?

rather frequently I'd like to bring to life a character from a story I am currently reading. and then it passes. At the moment I am re-reading HG Well's The Time Machine and I would very much like to have a chat with the Time Traveler.

>2 scaifea: such a nice photo; tells a story.

>3 scaifea: only one? Will have to think ....

Was going to ask if the visit was as bad as usual, but I saw you were still stressed, so I think that's my answer. I suspect she knows her answer, when you responded only with silence to the question of Charlie spending a couple of days with them (following on from your previous thread).

Belated happy birthday! Singapore celebrated your birthday today. We've just come home from watching the fireworks at a friend's place.

After much thought, I would have to say it's a toss up between Gen from the Queen's Thief series (The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, etc.) or Bartimaeus, the smart-taking genie from The Amulet of Samarkand and the rest of that series.

>6 bell7: I like the way you think! Gen was the first one that sprang to my mind, as well.

>4 RBeffa: Ron: Oh, good answer! I haven't read that one in a very long time, but I remember that I loved it.

>5 humouress: Nina: Ah, she may have guessed what my answer would be, but that in no way means she'll stop persisting.
Also, thank you, Singapore! Ha!

>6 bell7: Mary: Oooh, I started listening to The Amulet of Samarkand once, but only listened to about 10 minutes before I stopped - bad narrator. I should put the print version on my wishlist.

>7 foggidawn: foggi: And I've never even hear of that series, I think. Wishlisted!

I just finished up another little dress - this one is a 4T:

*waves hello from Middleton, Wisconsin*

Lovely birthday book haul! And, as always, what a lovely sewing project.

>10 kidzdoc: Hi, Darryl! Enjoy the gorgeous weather!

>11 Whisper1: Linda: Thanks!

Happy new thread Amber, glad you had a good birthday my dear.

Happy new thread, Amber and belated Happy Birthday greetings for you!

If you could bring to life one character from a book, who would it be?

Too hard! Too hard! Well, if I must make a choice I will say Edmond Dantès from The Count of Monte Cristo, quickly followed by Johannes Cabal from Jonathan L. Howard's series of fantasy fiction stories. What can I say, I like complex, intelligent male characters that don't have a problem take a position on an issue, regardless of whether or not that position will be a popular one. ;-)

>3 scaifea: - just one person? That's really tough. Right now, this minute, I want to say young Jamie Fraser from Outlander, but that may be because I was watching the first episode online last night for free. It was surprisingly faithful (or more faithful than many) to the book, which in my experience is not usual in movies and television versions of books.

Tomorrow, my brought-to-life choice might very different.

I'd bring Sherlock Holmes to life. I'd probably find him infuriating and he'd definitely find me stupid, but he's been my hero for probably 20 years now.

On second though, maybe I'd better go with my second choice, Jo March. We'd get along fine, I think.

That's a great picture of Charlie at the top of the thread, Amber. He looks deep in thought, he's probably thinking about which game he should get for his Mom for her birthday!

Bringing one book person to life - that's really hard. I do know if I brought the main character of one of my current books, Vivenne from The Soldier's Wife it would be to give her a good slap for being so wishy-washy and hesitant. She's driving me crazy!

The Bluecoats are in Third Place going into the Championship Finals tonight! There could be a medal in store....

>17 DeltaQueen50: I love that choice!

I have no idea who I would revive... It varies so dramatically, depending on the book. Only one??

I can't believe you ran out of illustrators, but thankful you won't ever run out of Charlie toppers...

>3 scaifea: If I could age him ten years, I'd like Etienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss to be real. And my boyfriend. ;)

>12 scaifea: Thanks, Amber; the weather is gorgeous here today!

>13 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

>14 lkernagh: Lori: It is a hard question, isn't it? It's been so long since I read The Count of Monte Cristo - I should work in a re-read soon.

>15 Fourpawz2: Charlotte: You're allowed a new answer every day - how's that for fair?

>16 casvelyn: casvelyn: Can you believe that I've never read any Sherlock Holmes stories?! Crazy. I must remedy that soon.

>17 DeltaQueen50: Judy: *snork!* Yep, that's probably what he was thinking! Oh, and don't you just get irritated at those sorts of characters!? Sheesh.

>18 tloeffler: Terri: WOOHOO!! Go Blue Coats!! I haven't been to a show in a couple of years and I really have a hankering to. Next summer for certain!

>19 Chatterbox: Suzanne: I ran out of illustrators because I am extremely picky about illustrations, so my list of favorites is pretty short.

>20 MickyFine: Micky: Hm, now you have me curious about that one. Wishlisted! Yeah, my pick - at least for my mood today - would be Sirius Black, for similar reasons...

457. Gray Rabbit's 1,2,3 by Alan Baker (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
Another cute one that is a bit too young for Charlie, but he picked it out and we all enjoyed it anyway.

Happy new thread, Amber!

>9 scaifea: How cute! I'm hopeless when it comes to sewing.

>22 scaifea: - That's exceedingly fair, Amber. Perhaps I'll make this idea a part of my fiction reading for next year. I suspect that there would be books where no one would get brought to life.
And that little dress is awfully cute. I love the stripes and the simplicity of it. It looks very comfortable.

I know it's predictable, but I would bring Fitzwilliam Darcy to life because, well, Darcy.

Or Captain Wentworth so he could write me secret notes :)

Happy new thread!

I was going to say Archie Goodwin, but it's not so much that I want to bring him to life as I want to go live in his world with him.

Happy new thread! Great Introspective Charlie topper!

Which character to bring to life? Hmm, maybe Miles Vorkosigan so I could sit back and watch as the mayhem ensues. Ask me tomorrow and I'll no doubt have a different answer, but I just finished reading the series so my head's still in the Vorkosiverse.

Darcy's a good choice too, for the very reason Katie gave. (But only if I can be Elizabeth.)

>24 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori!

>25 Fourpawz2: Charlotte: Oh, I agree that there are definitely books out there none of whose characters I'd really like to meet.

>26 katiekrug: Katie: If he came to life as Colin Firth? Ohyesplease.

>27 rosalita: Julia: Oooh, nice twist on the answer!

>28 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary! I haven't read the Vorkosigan books yet, but they're on my list.

On the agenda for today:

Tomm leaves for Boston this morning and will be gone until Wednesday afternoon, so just a quiet day at home for Charlie and me today. I hoping to clock some sewing and reading time, but otherwise - after I get the bills sorted for the week - I'll just be hanging out and playing with Charlie, which will likely involve some basketball - he's in love with it now that he has a Charlie-sized ball and we all had a great time playing yesterday, although I suspect, with our collected lack of skill, we were broadcasting to the neighborhood our Nerd Pride. Ha!
Charlie will be making dinner tonight (with minimal help from me for the stove part) - Mac & Cheese!

Nice newish thread, Amber. I'm trying to get caught up after family reunion time in Michigan last week. We traveled through your fair state but no Charlie sightings!

I've been thinking about the character I'd most want to bring to life. It would have to be Reverend John Ames from Gilead. I loved his voice in that book. So wise and comforting. He was a great storyteller, too.

Congrats on the new thread, Amber. Enjoy your quiet Sunday - that's my favorite kind. Kudos to Charlie for making the Mac & Cheese dinner.

We have a hoop in our backyard, and our son and I used to play all the time. Love that game.

>31 Donna828: Donna: I'm sorry we missed you, but I suspect you were way over on the other side of the state, no?

>32 jnwelch: Joe: We're certainly enjoying it so far, although it would be better if Tomm were here to share it with us. I'm looking forward to the hoops later today!

Amber, belated Happy Birthday. I'm back home from my holiday wishing you Happy New Thread and a fabulous Sunday.

Mine has to be a couple because they are attached at the hip - Jaenelle and Daemon from the Black Jewel Series. They are dark and dangerous yet humorous and warm.

>34 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara - oh, that looks heavenly!

>35 Morphidae: Morphy: I'm starting to love this question - I'm getting all sorts of additions to the wish list!

>36 scaifea: I doubt the Black Jewels books would be for you. However, do try Bishop's The Others series starting with Written in Red. It's by the same author with less darkness, violence and sex. People who I've been hesitant to recommend the Black Jewels series to have all liked Written in Red. I'm so glad she wrote this new series because I love her writing and want to recommend her works but the contents of the Black Jewel series turns some people off.

>37 Morphidae: Morphy: Okay - thanks for the tip!

Whelp, we've played some basketball and then Charlie wanted to play some croquet. This is his version of the game, which is surprisingly pretty fun:

>39 scaifea: Snarf! Croquet gone mad! My Dad has a pest control business and always regales us with tales of the mole problems on professional (ish) croquet lawns :)

Ha - my daughter just spotted this pic on my screen and demanded an explanation...

>40 BekkaJo: Bekka: Ha! Sorry to have alarmed your daughter!

Aaand, one more photo - Charlie and I just made some magic wands! Tortilla strips baked at 375 for 2 minutes on each side, brushed with melted butter and sprinkled. Easy peasy!

458. Trouble at the Bridge by Marie Birkinshaw (public library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B+
A Lego City easy reader, so it's a given that we'll enjoy it here at Scaife Manor.

I notice another book you're reading: Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein is a good one, the first of his adult novels I read after he left off writing junior fiction in the 50s. I noticed immediately a different tone and approach. I read it in 1968, I believe, when I was 12, possibly a year later, but I think I was in 7th grade. This was only 2 years after he wrote it. I noticed it was somewhat based on the Revolutionary war, but with liberal doses of astronomy and the physics of space travel from Earth to Moon and back. The most striking thing was, it had one of the first characters who as an artificial intelligence, and AI. It also had the notion of an internet. I highly recommend it, 5 stars.

What an impossible question! Paksenarrion? Val Con or Shan? Ista? Nile Etland? Pyanfur Chanur? Galadriel? Ged? Chrestomanci? Thursday Next? Sam Vimes? Jamethiel Priests-bane? Uthacalthing? Cat? Aragorn or Gandalf or Aragorn or Gimli or Legolas or Faramir? Merriman? Atticus Finch? Oh, so many lovely characters in my library, over so many years...

>44 jjvors: Jeff: I haven't quite got started on it yet (in the summer I revert to the weird-for-me read-one-at-a-time business, for the purpose of the library's summer bingo challenge, although I keep all of the usual categories listed), but I am looking forward to it - I'm happy to hear that you liked it!

>45 ronincats: Roni: I know, right?! I did say up there somewhere that you can have a different answer every day - does that help?

On the agenda for today:

Charlie and I will be headed down to Dubuque this morning to do some birthday shopping for Tomm. Otherwise, the usual: a little cleaning, reading, sewing, hanging out with Charlie. Chicken Pot Pie for dinner tonight, I think.
On the reading front: Still working my way through the Jackson biography, which seems to be taking forever. It goes through alternating phases of interesting and bone-dry-dull. Also I have a suspicion that the author tends toward blind encomiasm - he seems overly apologetic for Jackson's sometimes ridiculous behavior.

The calendar book for today: A Good American by Alex George. The blurb says that it follows a small-town American family through four generations of history, and that it's "Big-hearted, tender, and bittersweet." Sounds like it might be pretty good. Anyone read this one?

Amber, your magic wands look lovely. I wish you a lovely day.

>48 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara - wishing the same for you, too!

Bonus Q: While I agree with others who say it's too hard to choose or that it would change every day, a big part of me says the answer is clearly Jeeves.

Happy New thread, Amber! Hope the day goes well. It looks like rain will be in our area, throughout the day.

>50 lycomayflower: Laura: *gasp!* That answer is inspired. But he must come in the form of Stephen Fry, for me, of course...

>51 msf59: Morning, Mark!

>52 scaifea: But of course.

Good morning Amber, love the photo's recently, hope you and Charlie have a wonderful Monday my dear.

>50 lycomayflower: I wholeheartedly agree. Jeeves, no question. I may not be as helpless as Bertie Wooster is, but I could definitely use a gentleman's (or lady's, in my case) personal gentleman. Especially of Jeeves' caliber.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is one of my favorite Heinlein books. I give it 8/10 stars.

Oh, so many good answers - but I still can't choose. When I was really young I used to get so absorbed in books that I wished that all the characters were real.

Maybe Peter Pan, so I could fly off to Neverland and have adventures. Or even just fly.

PS saw your pm :0)

Happy new thread and happy belated birthday too!

Hope you guys are enjoying the teensy bit of summer we have remaining.

Please use your wands to give us a couple more months of sunshine and high temps, pleeeeeease?!

LOVE the Charlie topper!

Oh, I can't answer. I don't think I can pick one character that I love above all others.

I know that's not fair so I'll figure out something. Maybe Max from St. Mary's? I'd have a billion laughs with her. Or Harry Potter? I've always wished he was real. :)

I guess we all know what kind of intellect I have. Hoo boy. I used to think I was smart until I started playing with the big dogs. LOL

>53 lycomayflower: Laura: I like your style, lady.

>54 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! I hope you've had a fantastic day!

>55 PawsforThought: Paws: Agreed.

>56 Morphidae: Morphy: That makes me even more excited to get cracking on it! I've loved the Heinlein I've read so far.

>57 humouress: Nina: Peter Pan, eh? I think he's too fickle for me. Plus I'm completely afraid of flying. Ha!

>58 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! Sunshine I'd agree to, but hot temperatures? Sorry, no. My magic wand would make it perpetually fall weather - falling leaves, crisp air, beginning of sweater weather... Wonderful!

>Tina: You take Harry if I can have Ron. Or better yet, Fred & George. Oh dear lordy lou, I'm a dirty old lady!

459. Digger to the Rescue by Mandy Archer (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
A cute enough little book, although, again, the intended audience is younger than Charlie. What made me grab it from the library shelf are the illustrations, which are clearly painted on canvas, and I love when you can tell that's the case from the visual evidence of the texture of the canvas.

Charlie enjoying his free pizza, which he earned through the library's summer reading program (so, yeah, chicken pot pie deferred until tomorrow night):

Did you guys win the summer reading grand prize?

>3 scaifea: I do not remember her full name right now, but I would love to have a chat with Mrs. Partridge (Muse of History) from the St. Mary's Chronicles.

Gee, Stephanie, I wonder why you picked her?? ;-)

>65 rosalita: Julia, yeah, gee whiz why would I? ;-)

>66 AuntieClio: :-) Was it Mrs. Partridge or something like that? Her first name was Kleo, I think. Dang it, I'm going to have to go back and re-read the first book again!

>67 rosalita: Yes, it was Mrs. Partridge. I fixed it in my original post. But yeah ... Kleo :-)

>63 lauralkeet: Laura: Nope. Charlie and I read 188 books this summer, but some punk little girl *allegedly* read over 300. Yeah, right. I suspect a pumpkin eater, there (*cough* the mom *cough*). Oh well, the difference between what Charlie earned and the first place prize was just a certificate. The 'winner' picks from the same box of prizes that Charlie did for reading 100+ books (he picked out a Smithsonian brand science-fair-grade volcano-making kit, which he's super excited about), and every kid who read 40+ books received a packet of local coupons, including the free pizza one.

>64 AuntieClio: - >68 AuntieClio: Julia & Stephanie: Oh my, these St. Mary books are *everywhere*! Sheesh.

On the agenda for today:

Charlie has some friends coming over to play outside this morning, despite the fact that it will only be around 60 degrees (! in August!! Crazy.), so we'll all be sporting jackets. (Again I say in August?! Crazy.) Charlie and I spent part of yesterday afternoon blowing up and then playing with 8 or so of those giant, thick-skinned punch-ball balloons, from which I've removed the rubber band-type handles. I think they should provide plenty of entertainment for the play-date and hopefully the thickness of them will make them last a bit longer than 2 minutes outside...

I'd also like to find some time to sit down and brainstorm a bit about Charlie's birthday cake - I've only about a month left and if I don't have things thunk-through soon I'll start to panic about it. We're decided on a Lego-themed cake this year. At first I thought about making a sheet cake that looked like a Lego brick, but I think to look right it would need fondant and I have no idea how to make or work with fondant. So I'm thinking about making a small tiered cake and using Charlie's own Lego figures and some bricks to decorate it. We'll see. Likely the phrase "Charlie Scaife Is Awesome!" will figure in there somewhere (to mirror the "Everything Is Awesome!" song from the movie, which Charlie sings on a daily basis).
Also - and I know it's a couple of months away, but again, I need a plan in place - I need to start thinking and planning the Halloween costume. He wants to be - shocking! - Emmet from the Lego Movie. Shouldn't be too hard to find a blue (-collar) work shirt, make orange pants and an orange work vest (and decorate it with reflective tape) and cobble together a Piece of Resistance to stick to his back...

*ahem* Sorry about the thinking out loud.

Otherwise, the usual on the To Do list today: laundry, a bit of cleaning, some sewing room time, hopefully some reading. Chicken Pot Pie tonight, since we had the pizza last night.

On the reading front: Same old, same old. Still working through the Jackson biography. I'm about 3/4 through and he's only just become president. *sigh*

The calendar book today: Agorafabulous!: Dispatches from My Bedroom by Sara Benincasa, which sounds like it may be good, but also sounds like it may be too A. J. Jacobs for me, by which I mean, "Oh, look at me, I'm neurotic and isn't that clever?" Gah. Anyone read this one? Thoughts?

>69 scaifea: "pumpkin eater" -- good phrase! Anyway, you guys did really well and the prizes sound pretty fantastic.

>70 scaifea: love the Lego cake idea and can't wait to see how it turns out.

>71 lauralkeet: Laura: I'm being a bit (but only a bit) tongue-in-cheek about the pumpkin eater, really, although it is a shame that parents push their kids - to the point of one or the other of them cheating - to win things. Just silly. Either they cheated or this little girl did nothing but read all summer, both of which is a shame. You know how Charlie and I feel about reading - we love it, of course - but everything in moderation, forsobbingoutloud, and let the child run and play and be a silly kid sometimes, too, eh? This particular mom is of that odious brand of parents who think they are The Best Parent in the World and dole out all sorts of unsolicited parenting advice whilst their children act like heathen brats right in front of them. Sheesh.
Also, you know, of course, that there will be photos of the cake, whether it's a success or a "Nailed It!" Failure. Ha!

Warning: Rant Ahead...

Okay, so I met this woman through Charlie's school (the younger of her two sons was in Charlie's class last year) and she seems nice enough, and we've arranged a couple of playdates for the boys in the past, but lately she only calls when she wants me to 'watch her boys for her,' phrased that way, I suspect, so that 'babysit' doesn't enter the conversation - i.e. she's not willing to pay me. Um, no. I don't watch other people's kids. I've no interest in it at all, even if payment were involved. Now, I would be willing to help out if it were an emergency, and I have done so in the past for people (when emergency rooms were involved in some way - that sort of thing) and I'm happy to do that. But this woman calls when her work schedule overlaps with her husband's and she's clearly not willing to hire a 'real' babysitter or pay a day care place. So, no. Sorry (not sorry), but no. And if I were in any way interested in such a side career, she wouldn't be willing to pay me what I'd demand per hour anyway. I've managed to say no in a polite way so far, but that won't last long, I'm afraid. And clearly I need to be more up front about it, because she's not getting the hint that it's never going to be 'yes.'
Am I a terrible person? Is this a normal thing for moms to expect other mom-acquaintances (I wouldn't even go so far as to say that we know each other well enough to call our relationship a friendship yet) to babysit for free?! Sheesh.

Okay, rant over. Time to go make some cupcakes.

Oh, I love the Charlie eating pizza photo. That's something every child is looking forward to.

>73 scaifea: - One of my friends went through something similar, but the woman would just show up at her door with the kid in tow and expect E to take care of her for a few hours. She also made E the emergency contact at the kid's school if the parents were unavailable - without asking or even giving E a heads-up!

Such things would drive me to murder, so I leave the whole parent thing to you all who are better equipped to deal with it!

>73 scaifea: No, you're not a terrible person. If you two had a deal that you'd watch each other's kids once a week or whatever, that'd be one thing. But her pretty much expecting you to watch her kids for free because she's too cheap to hire someone? That's her problem, not yours. Like you said, emergencies are one thing, but they don't tend to come around too often. Work schedules not lining up is annoying and a problem for a lot of parents, but if that's their reality, they have to work with it, not expect others to be miracle cures.

hi Amber, I'm so far behind on threads I skipped your previous thread just to save time. Happy Belated Birthday and Happy New Thread (also a belated wish)

If I had to choose one person to come meet in real live it would be Vandien (Megan Lindholms character form the Windsingers series) I like him very much.

>74 Ameise1: Barbara: I know I always looked forward to my free little pizza when I was a kid and part of the BookIt! program!

>75 katiekrug: Katie: Ooh, that would clear the politeness right out of me, I think. The nerve of some people, eh?!

>76 PawsforThought: Paws: Whew, thanks for that! I thought that maybe I was taking crazy pills, because there's in fact one other mom who has been doing this to me, too, and won't take a hint that no is the only answer she'll get from me. I did help her out once in an emergency, so I think she's wrongly translated that into seeing me as a doormat, and that's something I've never been.

>77 connie53: Connie: Oho! Another series I've not heard of...

The character I'd most love to meet is (still) Winnie the Pooh. That little fluffy Buddha would have wonderful bearish insight into any given problem, including rude presuming acquaintances.

Best of all his solutions would frequently involve honey.

The Very Idea that just because you don't "go out" to work means you OBVIOUSLY have time to watch someone else's kids for that someone else's convenience....your rant was totally justified. Now you just need to deliver it to a certain person who needs to hear it.

I've been blathering in my head about your question this time...and it comes down to this. Every time I come up with a character I'd like to "bring to life", it turns out someone has already done that for me. I'd love to spend time with any of the following creations: Gregory Peck's Atticus Finch; Tom Selleck's Jesse Stone; Jessica Tandy's Ninny Threadgood; Michael Learned's Olivia Walton. If we move to characters whose stage/screen presence is less satisfactory, I'd want to have cocktails with Pam and Jerry North and Bill and Dorian Wiegand, at the Norths' apartment, with the cats. I'd probably have to persuade Jerry to use less vermouth, but I think he'd like it my way, really.

>80 laytonwoman3rd: I agree with Linda's comment on your rant! There are all kinds of unspoken assumptions in that behavior. Ugh.

>70 scaifea: Lifehacker says you can make your own fondant by combining Jell-O and marshmallows. http://lifehacker.com/jell-o-and-marshmallows-make-a-quick-and-tasty-fondant-161... . I bet you can find some youtube videos on how to work with fondant (youtube is where I get my crafting help of all kinds :-)

>73 scaifea: You're totally in the right here, but it sounds like the only way to get it into this woman's head is going to be a very assertive conversation.

Way to go, Charlie, on the reading! That's a lot of books! And way to go, Amber! Great job of raising a book reader. Pizza should be the reward for everything, as far as I'm concerned.

>79 swynn: Steve: Oh, nice one! I think we at Scaife Manor would choose Paddington and his marmalade, though. I do love Pooh, too, though...

>80 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Ooh, I hadn't even thought about the stay-at-home mom aspect of it. That clinches it - I'm officially angry about it all now. Ha!
Love the Atticus Finch idea, too. I'd like to bring Scout along for Charlie to play with, too.

>81 lauralkeet: Laura: Ugh, indeed. I'm so glad that I'm not alone in being irritated by this! I honestly thought that maybe I'm just being mean!

>82 norabelle414: Thanks for the link, Nora! I'll think about it...
And, yeah, I think I'm going to have to be blunt with her.

>83 jnwelch: Joe: Thanks! I agree - pizza is an excellent reward.

Applesauce & Cinnamon Cupcakes, anyone?

Mm mm they look yummy!

>86 cal8769: Carrie: They turned out pretty good - very moist.

>80 laytonwoman3rd:, >84 scaifea: I was going to suggest the same thing. I run into this a bit, too, when people assume that I must "have time" because I'm at home all day. You've got every right to be annoyed with this lady.

>79 swynn: Oh wunnerful :-)

Amber just say, "Nope sorry, today's my day to run the dungeon and I hear the chains clanking even as we speak."

>88 lycomayflower: Laura: Oof. What is it with people?!

>90 AuntieClio: Stephanie: Ha! Yeah, no, I don't think I will.

Oh, if I can bring a different character to life each day, I'm totally happy! And NO, you aren't being mean. Totally unreasonable on her part.

>73 scaifea: Well, if you're just acquaintances and not even proper friends, it certainly is presumptuous. (If you were friends, you'd be able to discuss it and she'd hear you say 'No')

Yay for Charlie's book award (and pizza).

>Roni: Thanks - I'm starting to feel much better about telling her no, now.

>Nina: Good point - thanks!

On the agenda for today:

It's Wednesday, which means that it's Library Day! Yay! But before we head out, we'll make some cookies, I think (Oatmeal Raisin). When we get home, then, I think I'll make some rolls to go along with dinner (Tomato Bisque). Tomm gets home from his business trip this afternoon, which is excellent, both because I'll be happy to have him home, of course, but also because there's another knitting group meeting at the library this evening!
On the reading front: Less than 100 pages left in the Jackson biography - the end is near! WooHoo!

The book calendar offers a quote in place of a book today: "I am part of everything that I have read." Any guesses what famous person said this?

500. In My Neighborhood: Postal Workers by Paulette Bourgeois (public library book, picture book) - 8/10= B+
Explains a day on the job with a postal worker.
Very nicely detailed and well-written; I would have given it a higher rating but for the illustrations, which I didn't really like.

501. Monster Day at Work by Sarah Dyer (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
A little monster gets to hang out with his dad all day on Take Your Child to Work Day.
The illustrations were neat, but the story could have been much better. I got the feeling that the author was trying too hard to make tongue-in-cheek jokes for the benefit of the parent reading the book to the child, and I'm not a fan of that trend, really. I'm much more impressed with authors who can write a book wholly for children that adults fall in love with for its own sake, too.

Good morning Amber my dear, have a lovely Library day. We started a Blackberry pie yesterday and there is some left for me for lunch, it is delicious yum yum.

>96 scaifea: John: Oh, yum, indeed! I'll be right over...

>98 scaifea:, I will put the kettle on while you get here. If you did live nearby my dear we would be forever popping over to each others for cakes and biscuits and book talk, things would never get done and our respective spouses would be wondering what was going on, ha ha.

>99 johnsimpson: John: Ha! So true, but it does sound lovely, no?

Yah, for the postal worker book!! Morning Amber! Much better today, back up to 80. Yesterday was a bit freaky.

>100 scaifea:, Sounds lovely my dear, just a shame a few thousand miles get in the way of this idea, oh well just after admire each other's foodie photo's.

>102 johnsimpson: John: Agreed. One of these days, though, the residents of Scaife Manor will get ourselves over to your side of the puddle and then we'll most definitely have to have a meet-up!

Good Morning Amber!

>85 scaifea: Yum! Two of my favorite ingredients, and moist = good!

Hope it's a good one for you today, Amber. I like the picture book mini-reviews. Have you read Jon Muth's panda books? Probably you have, but if not, they're wonderfully done.

>3 scaifea: I'm still trying to come up with a classy answer to this question. It's not going well...

>104 Whisper1: Morning, Linda!

>5 humouress: Joe: They're very good, and the oatmeal raisin cookies have turned out pretty good this morning, too!
Yep, we love the panda books and have a couple of them on Charlie's bookshelves.

>106 DorsVenabili: Kerri: *snork!* Keep working on it - you'll get there!

Somehow, wandering along your thread I have become peckish... I wonder why... ;)

>108 BekkaJo: Ha! Sorry, Bekka!

Finished this little dress today:

That is so sweet!

>70 scaifea: Birthdays! That reminds me that I'd better get going, too. My boys are both in the second half of December, which has several problems : 1) I've got two to plan 2) all their friends have already gone on holiday by then, it being the end of the school year as well as Christmas and New Year 3) when I'm doing my last-minute oh-my-gosh-I-absolutely-have-to-have-this-for-the-party-and-I-have-to-search-through-four-different-malls-before-I-find-it rushing around, there are all these other people cluttering up the place, doing unimportant ;0) things like Christmas shopping (because they're more organised than I am)

I always intend to start getting things together early so I don't run out of time, but that hasn't happened yet; the weeks fly by so fast. This year, we'll have to have my youngest's party almost two months early, as he's moving on to 'big' school, and his current school finishes by mid-November. He'll get more than 2 full months holiday (like his brother before him, at the same age) because the new school follows a different international curriculum / timetable.

We've got as far as deciding the theme. Of course, he started that about four months ago; but it has constantly changed, and will keep changing up to as close as a couple of days before the party, I'm sure. For his fourth birthday, we started with Iron Man. No, Spider-man. No - Batman. Then I thought 'Well, why not 4 superheroes' but I think we ended with 5 (Superman and Wolverine made it on, too). It didn't help that that year both boys' parties were on the same day, and I'd decided to do an ice-cream cake for my eldest, which kept melting as I was trying to put it together as it was a blistering hot summer day in Sydney. I do tend to get over-ambitious.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing Charlie's cake.

>111 cal8769: Thanks, Carrie!

>112 humouress: Nina: Wow, those school schedules sound complicated.
And yes, I usually get overly ambitious, too. And for the first three years, I suffered a caketastrophe every time. There were tears. But the last few have been happily tearfree (*knocks on wood*).

502. Rrralph by Lois Ehlert (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
A boy tells how his dog can talk ("Where are you, Ralph?" "Roof! Roof!" That sort of thing.)
Meh. Nothing special, really, in the story, and I know I'm in the minority here, but I'm not really a fan of Ehlert's illustrations. Charlie did like it, okay, though.

Did Tomm make it back from Boston okay? We are having those horrible rainstorms the rest of the country had yesterday. Didn't hear if it affected flights out of Logan...

OK. I had written this long post about how you >73 scaifea: were not a bad person and then suddenly there was thunder and lightning and hail and my computer went off. Not going to write it again. I gift you my response for such a situation to use as needed. Since I am both a people-pleaser and a person who does not particularly like other people's children, you may believe it was thoroughly agonized over.

"I am sure it must be difficult to find a regular baby-sitter. My schedule is far too busy for me to commit to watching _(insert name)_. Good luck!"

And smile when you say it. The whole time. Even if you're on the phone. And don't say "sorry" or "unfortunately" or any such words. They will sense your weakness and go for the kill (read drop kid off in 5 minutes).

My sister got into such a situation once. A horrible child who either stood in the corner and screamed, or unlocked the door and ran away, and the mother would just show up at her door without calling first and say, "you don't mind, do you?" and leave. Amazing!

>115 michigantrumpet: Marianne: Yep - he left Boston at 10am yesterday so I think he missed the rains (at least he didn't mention running into any).

>116 nittnut: Thanks, Jenn.

On the agenda for today:

We need to take Susie back to the vet's office this morning. She was on antibiotics for 14 days and there's been no change - she hasn't gained any weight, despite eating and drinking normally, and she's still vomiting every 2-3 days. Concerned. Mostly because there is most definitely blood (and more every time) in the vomit. So if you have a moment, spare a thought for us.
The rest of the day depends on what happens with Susie this morning; beyond getting next week's menu planned and the grocery list together, I don't have any other specific plans other than the usual cleaning, sewing, reading drill.
On the reading front: Still plugging away with Jackson. The end is nigh, though.

The calendar book today: No Biking in the House without a Helmet: 9 Kids, 3 Continents, 2 Parents, 1 Family by Melissa Fay Greene. Sounds like it might be okay - anyone read this one?

Oh, jeez. You people seem to be very invested in birthday parties. When I was a kid it was mainly just cake (special, because I've never been a fan of the classic version), steamers, fishing pond and playing games. That was it (and I loved my birthdays). One year there was a treasure hunt instead of a fishing pond. That was the best birthday I've ever had (I love treasure hunts).

>119 PawsforThought: Paws: Oh, I'm not ready to plan any serious birthday parties, yet. I want Charlie (and his friends) to be a bit older first, before they're set lose in my house. A trip the weekend before to the local frozen yogurt place (which Charlie loves and has a party room you can reserve for free) for cupcakes (the 'real' cake will be for just the three of us on his actual birthday) and froyo, and then off to the playground at the park for a bit if the weather's nice. That's the extent of the party part this year.

>120 scaifea: Oh, that sounds much better! I was getting nervous that everyone has super advanced parties for their kids.

Crossing my fingers and thinking good thoughts for Susie!

>121 PawsforThought: Paws: Well, some people do, but they clearly have more energy and tolerance for other people's children than I do - ha!

>122 Fourpawz2: Thanks, Charlotte. Tomm and I are back to worrying about how to break the news to Charlie, should we need to...

Throwback Day! From August 2009:

Molly sends Susie kitty ommmms. Hugs from me for all the rest of you.

Sorry to hear about Susie not getting better. Sending good vibes your way and hoping for the best.

>125 laytonwoman3rd: & >126 PawsforThought: Thanks, Linda & Paws.

Susie Update:

The doc gave us some more medicine to try for 12 days. It works by coating the lining of the stomach, acting as a liquid band-aid of sorts, so if the issue is ulcers this should help. He said that this is sort of his last option for an easy (read: non-invasive) solution, and if this doesn't work - and we've discussed more intrusive options and ruled them out, both I and the doc agreeing that it's not worth the expense and stress on an old, blind cat - then it's an issue of monitoring her quality of life and making that final decision once she starts showing signs of being in pain (there are none right now - she's eating, drinking and litter-boxing just fine and she's acting as normal as an old, blind cat does). So here's hoping the new medicine works...

Meanwhile - and I imagine that some of you grow weary of my Charlie praise, so feel free to skip this next paragraph - I have to say that Charlie is amazing with her. So soothing and gentle, petting her softly and gently and speaking to her in quiet, soothing tones while we were in the vet's office, knowing she was shaking with fear and being so sympathetic and patient and helpful. Seriously, folks, have I hit the jackpot with this kid or what?
To be fair about it all, though, I'll also share this story from last night: We were playing a board game and Charlie was winning for a good portion of it, but then some twist of board game fate happened and suddenly he found himself in last place. Complete meltdown ensued. He is demonstrably not a gracious loser. We've tried to get him over this; I especially don't want him to continue down this path, because he came to it honest - I was just like him for years and *hated* losing at any sort of game and I know that I was just a nightmare to play with and made myself and everyone else miserable. I don't want him to be the kid at school that no other kid wants to play with because he's a sore loser. *sigh* We're trying, but it's slow going.

So anyway, he's not a perfectly behaved child all the time. Just very nearly. *snork!*

> #127 My son had the meltdown if he did not win a board game (at least with us) at Charlie's age and for another couple of years. A variation as he got older was that in team sports he was very hard on himself if the team lost and he had a role in the loss. He also went through a time when he would shred the sports pages of the newspaper if his pro baseball team lost (pre-internet news and not a local team so radio did not mention them.) He did grow out of it and is just finishing a summer as a camp counselor at a Quaker camp(which he attended in past years) with lots of non-competitive games and so forth.

>128 Helenoel: Helen: You son grew out of it faster than I did - I was a very sore loser up until Charlie was born, really. Motherhood slaps a lot of silly behavior right out of you, I think. It did for me, at least.

> #129 In that case, I can see reason for your concern- I tried letting him know that he was not good company and when he could be pleasant, I'd be happy to play with him again- Only worked part of the time and I don't know if it made a difference or if he just grew out of it. His school probably helped too.
I came to motherhood a lot older than you - but even so, it does change attitudes.

>130 Helenoel: I suspect not that much older? I was 33 when Charlie was born...

My brother has always been an incredibly sore loser (especially compared to me, who's never cared much at all) but it's gone from being on the point of ripping up board game boards and throwing things to looking a bit annoyed but being able to smile. I think as long as you try to counteract it instead of encouraging it (some people I know do that because they consider it "having a winner's skull") it'll be fine and Charlie will learn. Most kids get pissed when they lose and most of them will learn to handle it.

As parents with only one child for five years, of course we tried not to win when we played games with him. When that child has a sibling, it gets more complicated. :0D

But being five years older than his brother, our eldest kind of twigged, and tried to let his little brother win (until he got a bit older and they started getting competitive *rolls eyes*). Our youngest was a bit shocked the first few times he lost (there's not a lot you can do about finessing snakes and ladders), but grew out of it quite quickly. I think it was because he loved playing ludo on the iPad, and when there wasn't anyone to play against him, he played against the computer, and there's no one to yell at if you lose to that.

The odd thing is that when the boys and I play, they both try to favour me. It's sweet ... but how on earth do you finagle it then?

>132 PawsforThought: Yes, but he'd very much like me in temperament and I didn't learn for a very long time.

>133 humouress: Nina: Charlie gets mad and cries when the 'computer' wins, so, yeah, it's possible. Ha! Adorable that your boys try to let you win! As much as I love my parents and think that they're fantastic at it, my mom did go out of her way to let me win every game when I was little, and I think that aggravated the issue in the long run. I still do that with Charlie, but I try to do it only about 50% of the time.

I'm not sure what the latest in child development psychology says on the matter, but as far as I know, letting kids win isn't the way to go about it. I mean, making sure they don't ALWAYS lose is one thing but generally, it's good for them to know that they will lose sometimes.

And while Charlie might be like you in temperament, I doubt he's your clone. ;) Just because it took you a very long time to learn doesn't mean that will be true for Charlie (especially as you're not following in your mother's footsteps and letting him win). He's a bright and reasonable kid (or so he seems, based on what you've told) - he'll learn.

>135 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws. I agree that kids need to learn early that they won't always win.

Okay, so I've been planning out how to go about making Charlie's (and my) Halloween costumes this year - he wants to be Emmet from the Lego movie and I'm going as Benny (the "spaceship!!" guy). Mine's easy-peasy - a bright blue sweatsuit, onto which I'll applique the little planet picture on his suit. Charlie's will take a bit more sewing, but it won't be too bad. For a Lego look for our hands I thought I'd just knit up some mittens (a good idea anyway - it usually has already snowed once before Halloween here), so I headed over to Ravelry to see if I could find a quick and easy pattern for him (I've got an adult-sized pattern). And look what I found (I love Ravelry!):

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lego-man-mitts

How awesome is that?! So excited to make these!

(If you can't go to the link, here's another way to see them: http://www.carissaknits.com/2012/09/lego-man-mitts.html )

>137 scaifea: Ravelry has everything :-)

138 Nora: I know, right?!

>137 scaifea: Those are really cool (and I kind of want a pair for myself)!

" it usually has already snowed once before Halloween here" But not in August, right? Three of our attorneys are on a jaunt to (I think) Wausau, WI. Flying there from here yesterday was quite an adventure. Connections were missed, and it wasn't pretty. Wherever they were actually going, they had to rent a car from the airport for the last leg of the trip (not because of missed connectons---just because they couldn't get any closer than an hour's drive away by plane). Today, one of the attorneys who did not go on this foray has found it quite amusing to keep wondering if anyone has checked to see if it's snowing in Wisconsin today. "Are the flights grounded out there?"

Hope the new meds work for Susie. *hugs all around*

>141 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: *snork!* I don't think so, but it *was* only 55 degrees out when I woke up this morning, and that's not really normal for August, either...

>142 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky - me, too. One big relief is that she seems happy enough to take the medicine. It has to be given orally and on an empty stomach, so I can't mix it with her food. So far she hasn't fought me at all about it. Good kitty.

>143 scaifea: Wow. I'm impressed with your kitty for taking her medicine. I am yet to meet a cat who willingly does that. Our old cat we had to take to the vet every time he needed something because there was no way we could make him eat it. He'd spit pills out (even when we'd made sure he swallowed, he'd make himself sick and vomit them up), he'd refuse food for days if we hid it (or eat around it if there were larger bits), he'd stop cleaning if we put cream on his paws... When we were introduced to flea and worm medication that is administered on the skin we were grateful beyond words. Current kitty is much better when it comes to medicine (he ate his antibiotics without much fuss but we did have to hold him down) but we still stick to non-oral medication when at all possible.

>144 PawsforThought: Paws: Sounds like you've got your hands full with your cat. I feel lucky to have such an easy-going one, when it comes to medicine, at least.

503. My New Teacher and Me! by Al Yankovic (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
Billy's new teacher will brook no nonsense in his classroom. Billy changes all that.
I love Weird Al, and I love his children's books, too. Excellent story (told in rhyme, of course) and great illustrations by Wes Hargis. Recommended.

Oh, I meant to say fingers crossed for Susie, but with everything else going on around here, I forgot to post it, after all the reading.

>144 PawsforThought: Reminds me of my eldest son taking his antibiotics, which is a gritty suspension. It used to be a whole production, involving prepared tumblers of water, deep breathing meditation exercises etc. etc. and could take half an hour to get a teaspoonful of medicine into him, occasionally repeated because he'd throw up. Three times a day for a week at a time, each time he needed to take it. It certainly felt that long to me, though I'm pretty sure it was actually that long.

This month, both kids are on antibiotics, and my younger one takes it with no fuss. Amazingly, now my eldest doesn't have to do the song and dance anymore; though I do make sure the younger one goes first. The first dose, I made the mistake of giving it to my eldest first, and then I saw signs of his brother copying him, and even offering to get the glass of water ready for him.

Good morning, Amber. Due to the European Athletics Championships I'm just waving through.

Best wishes for Susie!

>145 scaifea: Well, the old cat was definitely a handful when there was a need for medicine but luckily that became very rare after we got our hands on the non-oral flea and worm meds. He wasn't very social to begin with so it wasn't really a big surprise. And he's long gone now, buried in his favourite spot in our summer house.
Current kitty is as I said much better at the medication thing, but he doesn't have to take meds very often (once every two years?) because of the non-oral flea and worm stuff. And he's incredibly social so probably looks at the whole procedure as an opportunity to snuggle...

135: Personally, I don't think it's such a bad thing if Chalie took after Amber. :)

On a side note, as a gamer, I'm well-acquainted with gamer rage. I do believe that the past couple generations of consoles (Playstation 3/Xbox 360 and onward) have inspired it more than ever because you come to EXPECT to win every time you play, and as soon as you play a game you can't beat it just isn't fair! :P

>147 humouress: Nina: Charlie is okay with certain medicine (the grape-flavored children's Tylenol is just fine by him) and most definitely not okay with other medicine (cough medicine in particular). I'm knocking on all kinds of wood as I say this, but he's only ever needed any other kind of medicine (antibiotics and such) twice (he had strep throat when he was 2 and some sort of chest cold-like thing that wasn't really a cold but I can't remember what it was called when he was 3), and he took those pretty okay, too.
And thanks for the Susie love - fingers definitely crossed that this works.

>148 Ameise1: Morning, Barbara! I hope you're enjoying the sports competition!

>149 nittnut: Thanks, Jenn!

>150 PawsforThought: I haven't bothered giving Susie flee/tick medicine for, well, ever, since she's always been a wholly indoor cat and Tuppence gets the stuff regularly, so I assume that Susie is safe. She's never caught fleas or had ticks on her, so it seems to work out okay. And Tuppence is no problem with any sort of pills - stick a little peanut butter on whatever it is and she'll eat it right down with no questions. Ha!

>151 Ape: Aw, thanks, Stephen! You might change your mind if we ever played a game together - ha! I'm still not really over the sore loser bit; I can just control it better now. And you're right that there are just some video games that are way too difficult to be any fun.

>152 scaifea: Yeah, our cats have always been outdoors cats that live off mice and birds half the time so fleas and worms are inevitable. Nothing this years, though, which is strange.
We've never had a problem with ticks, but we live a bit to far north for that to be an issue.

Oh, and kids and medicine. I never had an issue taking stuff as a kid (liquid paracetamol was downright YUMMY!). The only think I didn't like (and still don't) was effervescent pain killers. My mum used to put them in lemonade instead of water to make it taste better, which only made me not want to drink lemonade.

On the agenda for today:

Grocery shopping this morning, laundry. Sewing and reading. Hanging out with Charlie. Yesterday we played the Hot and Cold game (you know, where you hide a small object in a room and then the other person has to find it using clues from you about whether they're 'hot' (getting close) or 'cold' (moving away from it). We hadn't played that in a long time. So much fun. We've also been working this summer on his Kindergarten Words (his 4K teacher sent home a list of 'Kindergarten Words" on the last day of school this spring); I made flash cards and we've been playing a game with them: we stand at the one wall of a room and Charlie can take one step forward for every word he gets right, but has to take a step back for each one he can't remember. He loves it. And for the past week, he's never had to take a step back, which is awesome! But then this week I found out from another mom that those are the words they'll be learning this year. Oops. I thought he was suppose to know them *before* starting Kindergarten! Oh well...
Anyway. Oh, it's the 15th, so the countdown to Charlie's birthday officially begins - one month to go! Ha! I think I'm going to try to sketch out what I want his cake to look like and from there make a To Do list from which to work. I know, it's super early for all of this, but I'm a planner, and I need a plan in place early or I'll start to panic.
Also, I spent some time yesterday planning how to make the Halloween costumes and I made up a list of fabrics and notions that I need, which is awesome timing, because I'll be heading to Madison tomorrow (butterfingers husband dropped his phone yesterday and shattered the front, and there's a place in Madison that can replace the covers - I'm taking it in so that Tomm and Charlie can stay at home and work on replacing the basketball hoop, which they've been planning for a while and Tomm doesn't want to disappoint Charlie about it), and Madison has a huge fabric shop. Yay!
Let's see, what else? Oh, dinner tonight: Pork Roast, I think.
On the reading front: Same old same old. Nearly finished with Jackson, but not quite.

The calendar book today is one that I've read and loved. It's not a happy read, but a powerful one: Blindness by Jose Saramago

>153 PawsforThought: Paws: Oh, I agree about the fizzy medicines. Yuck! I always refused them as a kid and honestly I still do! I'd rather had the indigestion than drink that stuff. Ha!

Happy Friday, Amber! Looks like we are in another lovely stretch of weather. Smiles...Blindness was one of my first (led) Group Reads over here. What a stunning piece of work. You never forget it.

>156 msf59: Mark: I know, right? I read it yonks ago, but despite my usually poor memory, I remember it very clearly. Stunning.

28 threads already!?! High time to follow again and quick! Happy Friday from me too, Amber!

>158 Deern: Good to see you, Natalie, and thanks for stopping by!

Okay, so I've just finished my rounds of the threads this morning, and I've added 5 books to my wishlist. You all have such great taste in books - I love it!

Happy Friday. Well, looks like Charlie will impress his new teacher with his knowledge of all those words he's learned. Never hurts to be a jump ahead. Such a cute throwback pic. I love how little kids cross the ankles.
It's 50F here this morning and the leaves are changing and it feel like fall and if the rain we've been having was snow we'd be in a heap of trouble. Hope this isn't an indication of the kind of winter we'll be having.

Sorry that I wasn't able to meet up with you in Wisconsin this week, Amber. My friends and I decided that 18 months between visits was far too long, so I'll resume traveling to Madison far more often in the near future, and hopefully we can get together during one of those visits.

Blindness is brilliant.

ETA: Darn, I just saw that you guys will be in Madison tomorrow. If I was still there we almost certainly could have met up then.

> #127,
I hope Susie's new med helps - we've had several geriatric cats and it is hard to know what they are feeling sometimes.

> #131 A bit older Amber, I was 41. - we are slow - but I was 36 when we married.

... y'know, I have this weird feeling Darryl is following me around the threads ...

>162 kidzdoc: Darryl: It's just me tomorrow, too, which is more conducive to meet-ups, so yeah, I thought of the missed opportunity. But I also understand your friends not wanting to share you with some loony you met online, too...

>163 Helenoel: Helen: Agreed about not knowing what animals are feeling/if they're hurting. It's difficult.
My mom was 40 when she had me, so I think slightly, um, less traditionally-aged mothers are pretty awesome.

>164 humouress: Nina: *snork!* I feel like that with Mark nearly every morning!

Here's what I've been doing in my sewing room today: I've been making and adding some appliques to some of the dresses I've made:

Very Nice Amber, what a clever, talented lady you are.

>166 scaifea: ADORABLE!!

>167 johnsimpson: & >168 nittnut: Thanks, John & Jenn!

>164 humouress: LOL! I've felt that way with other 75ers from time to time.

>165 scaifea: Ha ha! You're certainly not a loony, Amber, unless you are significantly different in person than you are online (*quickly checks Google for police mug shots of Amber*). I think that you and Murielle would get on quite well, but the kids (Tommy and Mary) are a bit shy around strangers, so they would either entertain themselves or hover around their mother or me.

Just passing through to wish you a lovely weekend, Amber. I love those little dresses you are making, I wish my granddaughter was still tiny, they grow up so quickly.

I hope Susie responds favorably to the new meds.

>170 kidzdoc: Darryl: I understand about Tommy and Mary, as Charlie is the same way. I wouldn't want to bring him along on a big meet-up because he easily gets overwhelmed in a group of strangers.

>171 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy! So far so good with Susie - no vomiting since the new medicine started.

On the agenda for today:

I'll be off garage sailing this morning, then on to Madison with Tomm's shattered-front phone, and then to the ginormous fabric shop on the way home. I'm excited! It's like a mini-break for me! While I'm gone, Tomm and Charlie will be working on the new basketball hoop (the old one is dry-rotted and too high up for Charlie) - I think they're both pretty excited about it.
I'm thinking I'll make Corn Chowder for dinner...
On the reading front: Nothing new. Still plugging away. But I suspect I'll have a bit of a wait at the phone shop, so hopefully I can polish it off there.

The book calendar's weekend quote: "That's good thinking there, Cool Breeze."
Anyone want to guess from what book this is?

>166 scaifea: You make the appliqués too? Wow.

Enjoy your mini break. I have a dreadful memory, so I always make it a point to check that I've got everything whenever I walk away from a café table, payment counter, whatever (hasn't stopped me leaving my shopping behind on the counter more than once, though) and I always have a nagging feeling that I'm missing something if I haven't got one kid or another hanging off me, because it's rare that I get enough time to go without them. Especially my youngest (who only has a half day of school), because he cannot walk out of a shop without clamouring to buy something that he's been desperately needing for forever, even if (as is usually the case) he doesn't actually know what the item he's picked up is used for.

>172 scaifea: Right, Amber. I hadn't seen Tommy and Mary for 18 months, and even though I've seen them on well over a dozen previous visits it took each of them at least a day to warm up to me again, which was a bit awkward at first (I'd love to know what they were thinking!). I don't think they would do well if they met a large group of unknown people either.

>174 humouress: Nina: It's funny, but despite how over-protective I am and how I'm very nearly always accompanied by Charlie, on the rare occasions that I do get out of the house on my own, I don't have those nagging feelings.

>175 kidzdoc: Darryl: I thought of you today as I drove right through Middleton!

I had a fantastic day today: I found lots of bargains that the garage sales and then a grand old time in the fabric shop, pouring over bolts of cloth and skeins of yarn for just the right ones, and I ended up with all but one item I need to make both Charlie's Halloween costume and a neat little crown for him for his birthday. And then when I got home I discovered that my two Scaife men had bought for me a package of one of my favorite treats - Toffifay! This evening I sat down and started knitting the Lego Mittens and I'm excited to see how they turn out. Perfect Saturday, really.

504. Fly Guy Presents: Dinosaurs by Tedd Arnold (public library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B+
An introduction to dinosaurs, hosted by Fly Guy and Buzz.
S'okay. Charlie loved it, of course.

505. Where Is Jake? by Mary Packard (public library book, beginning reader) - 8/10 = B+
I flipped through this one at the library and chose to check it out because I knew that there were only 2 words in the whole thing that Charlie didn't know, and I wanted him to use the words, which he's been learning this summer on the flash cards, in the context of a story. He was so excited that he could read the entire book (he figured out the other two words by sounding them out) on his own! Adorkable.

On the agenda for today:

A lazy Sunday here at Scaife Manor. Tomm and Charlie may work some more on the basketball hoop. I'd like to spend some time in the sewing room and in my rocking chair reading. I suspect there will also be some Mario Karting with all three of us at some point.

>175 kidzdoc: Nice! My friends live near Old Sauk Road, a bit west of West Beltline Highway (US 12/14).

BTW I posted links to three of our favorite restaurants in Madison on Facebook earlier this week (Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese (Beijingese)). All are kid friendly, reasonably priced, and very tasty.

Here's a photo of the (not so) little cheeseheads that I took just before I left Madison on Wednesday:

Happy Sunday, Amber! Enjoy your lazy agenda. It looks like another pretty one.

>161 Carmenere: - The other day I noticed a tree here that had a few turned leaves. Yay! I love it when the trees turn.

>166 scaifea: - I love those little dresses, too. It makes it me want to be little again, but - since that is never going to happen - I lust for one in a big-people size.

Really great that Charlie is getting the jump on the other kids. And that sounds like a fun game, too.
Reminds me of the time when I read the second grade reading book in the first grade and made the mistake of telling my teacher of my accomplishment. Thereafter she made a point of hardly ever calling on me because i was so far ahead of everybody else. (I know because she told my mother about it.) Never made sense to me to punish me for reading ahead. Am thinking that was just an issue that that teacher had and not a school wide policy thing. Downside was I never confided in a teacher again.

>180 kidzdoc: Darryl: I must have been *very* close to them yesterday, then! Also, I saw your mention of my favorite Madison restaurant (the Indian one) the other day on Facebook - it's just a quick walk fro an amazing bookstore, too. And those little cheeseheads are adorable!

>181 msf59: Thanks, Mark! It's a bit cloudy here, but with very little chance of rain, and we're getting to the point that we need some of the wet stuff, I'm afraid.

>182 Fourpawz2: Charlotte: Oh, I love those turning leaves days! And shame on that teacher! I was fortunate mostly to have teachers who let me go at my own pace and kept me busy without pushing me too hard; I hope Charlie has the same kind of luck.

> I think it must have been the time period. Abe Lincoln was just out of short pants as I recall.

I hope Charlie has good luck, too. I think good experiences can make a huge difference...

>183 scaifea: I'm glad to hear that you love Taste of India too, Amber! Maybe we could meet there for lunch one day on one of my future visits, or someplace in between Madison and Platteville. Mary is a member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, which practices every Saturday during the school year, and they all go to church on Sundays, so it would be difficult to meet up for lunch on the weekends, but we should be able to get together during the week when the kids are in school, if that works well for you and Charlie.

Hi Amber, I thought of you last night -- I had the opportunity to see Tina Fey at a 10th anniversary screening of Mean Girls. I know you're a fan of hers. I wrote a little bit about the event on my thread, if you're interested.

The dresses are very very pretty. I've missed, somewhere, what is the motivation to make them?

>184 Fourpawz2: Charlotte: *snork!* That long, eh?

>185 kidzdoc: Darryl: Lunch during the week while school's in sounds perfect!

>186 lauralkeet: Laura: Oh, that sounds amazing!!

>187 sibylline: Lucy: I'm making them to sell in my etsy shop, although I don't have any posted yet because I want to get at least two of each size made first. I'm having trouble getting that finished because folks keep wanting to buy them as I get them made. Not a bad problem to have, I suppose. Ha!

75th (non-picture) book!! WooHoo!!

506. (75th non-picture book read) Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H. W. Brands (Presidential Challenge, 560 pages) - 7/10 = C
I went into this one excited to learn more about this all-round character and not at all expecting this particular presidential biography to be dry, as a couple of others have been so far. Sadly, it was a bit of a snoozefest. I mean, really? How can one write a biography of Andrew Jackson, of all people, and make it dull?! How does that happen?! Sheesh.

>124 scaifea: oooh, those legs! They look so squishable and gorgeous :)

WOOHOO on the 75th (non-picture) book!!! Congrats!!

Hey, we have a Taste of India here too! I haven't been there (yet). The only Indian place I've tried here has been India's Best, which I wasn't thrilled with. I've been more of a Thai fan lately when I want curry.

Congrats on your 75th (non-picture) book! Having met your goal, you don't have to read any more for the rest of the year. (SO j/k)

>190 LovingLit: Megan: I know, right? And those eyes?! Just like his daddy's. *sigh*
And thanks! That last book was enough of a slog that I thought I'd never make it to 75.

>191 Storeetllr: Mary: Oh, I do love Thai food, too, but not as much as Indian (the Kheer puts it over the top for me, I think). We have a pretty good Thai place nearby in Dubuque, too. Yum.

Now I am trying to decide between Thai and Indian for dinner! Thanks, ladies :)

>193 katiekrug: Katie: Oh, rub it in, why don't you? Sheesh. Although I can't complain: Tomm worked his grill magic for us this evening and served delicious smoked sausage and potatoes.

Oh, no, I wasn't trying to rub it in! Sundays we usually eat at home, but we are leaving tomorrow and I refuse to dirty any more dishes than absolutely necessary!

Grilled sausage is one of my very favorite things. What does Tomm do to the potatoes?

RL has me way behind Amber but
-I love your dresses.
-Congrats on the 75th non-picture book.
-Keeping your cat in my thoughts.
-Love the Halloween costume ideas.

Take care.

Mmmmm ... Indian food. Love it.

Katie: Well, it depends. Sometimes I take care of the non-meat part of grill night, which means baked in the oven. I'm honestly not sure what he does but it has something to do with cutting, oiling & seasoning, wrapping in foil...

>196 luvamystery65: Thanks, Roberta. You and your mom are in my thoughts.

>197 lauralkeet: Laura: I know, right? At least I can occasionally get up to Madison to do something about it. The one I really *really* miss since we left Ohio, and so the vicinity to Columbus, is Ethiopian food. *sigh*

507. Tools Rule! by Aaron Meshon (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
A strange little book, with strange little illustrations, about a messy yard full of tools, who work together to build a shed and get themselves organized. Strange but silly in a good way.

This is how Charlie and I spent part of our afternoon today, while Tomm was outside working on the lawn-mowing and such. The game was sort of a cards version of Calvinball, and Wall-E won, believe it or not. I picked up the Wall-E toy at a garage sale yesterday and Charlie is over the moon about it. We *love* that adorable little robot here at Scaife Manor.

>198 scaifea: - Sounds similar to The Wayne's preferred preparation of potatoes on the grill. Everything tastes better when grilled/smoked, IMHO.

We decided on Indian tonight but didn't go to our regular place, and it was a bit disappointing.

>201 katiekrug: Katie: It's always a bit risky try new restaurants, but worth a try, no?

On the agenda for today:

A stay-at-home day, today, for everyone. Tomm slept hardly at all last night, both because of stomach issues and because Tuppence has been fighting with diarrhea all weekend, including through most of the night last night, jumping at the door every hour or so. I'll be calling the vet this morning. *sigh* So, anyway, Tomm has decided to work from home today. Otherwise, a normal, not-going-anywhere day ahead: some cleaning, laundry, a bit of baking maybe, some sewing and reading and knitting (the lego mittens are turning out so cool so far!).
On the reading front: I managed a few pages of The Haunted Bookshop last night and I'm enjoying it so far, although not quite so much yet as Parnassus...

The calendar book for today: Gypsy Boy: My Life in the Secret World of the Romany Gypsies by Mikey Walsh. Anyone read this one?
Oh, and the weekend quote was from The Electric Kool-Aid Test.

Morning Amber! Sorry to hear, that not everyone is feeling well. Hope that improves. I did have Gypsy Boy on my WL at one time. It did sound good.

ETA: I did LOVE The Electric Kool-Aid Test, although I haven't read it in eons.

>204 msf59: Morning, Mark! I've not read The Electric Kool-Aid Test, but I am curious...

Good morning, Amber! I'm another one who liked Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test way back when. It will definitely take you into a different day and time! I liked all Tom Wolfe's nonfiction better than his fiction. The Right Stuff was probably my favorite.

Hope you and Charlie and Tom have a great week.

>206 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I've got The Right Stuff on my list, too.

Yuck to all the sick tummies at your house. Do you wonder if they are connected?

I really liked The Right Stuff. Great read.

>208 nittnut: Jenn: You mean the dog and the husband? Ha! I don't think that's likely.

508. C Is for Caboose by Traci N. Todd (public library book, picture book) - 7/10 = C
An "A is for..." sort of book, all about trains.
Alphabet books are meant, usually for really wee ones, no? This one doesn't really work, because there's that very young element combined with descriptions that are too complex for 'readers' that young. It just felt clunky and not right.

Talk about a blast from the past! Loved The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test back in the day. I think I've read other things he wrote, but not The Right Stuff yet. I think I'll put it on my TBR.

Have a wonderful end-of-summer week with Charlie! Hope Tomm and Tuppence are all recovered.

>211 Storeetllr: Mary: Everyone seems to be on the mend this morning, thankfully. Charlie has two more weeks to the day before Kindergarten starts, and I plan on enjoying every minute of it with him. *sigh*

On the agenda for today:

Tomm leaves for another business trip this morning, so it'll be just Charlie and I until Friday, which is Tomm's birthday. Today is Registration Day for the school year, so Charlie and I will head over to get him registered, pick up his info packet, pay his registration fee, get his ID photo taken... Two more weeks. I've got him for two more weeks before he's off to kindergarten. All day every day. Okay, must stop thinking about that now - I've got to Scarlett O'Hara that stuff. Ha!

Otherwise, the usual: a bit of cleaning, maybe some bread baking, some sewing, some reading, hanging out with Charlie.

On the reading front: The Haunted Bookshop is coming along just fine. I like the mystery element quite a bit so far, which I wasn't really expecting, but overall I think I still like Parnassus on Wheels better.

The calendar book for today is one I've never heard of - a YA thriller: What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles. Anyone read this one? Thoughts?

Morning Amber! I am waiting on the rain to pass through, so I can go on a bike ride. It is supposed to get hot and sticky later, so I don't want to do it then.
Sadly, I have never read The Right Stuff but I am a huge fan of the film. I have not heard of Cass McBride.

I'm sure Charlie is very excited looking forward to starting kindergarten -- all while you are having these bittersweet moments, hoping to keep him all to yourself 'just a little bit more.' I'm certain you'll squeeze every ounce of fun out of these days.

>213 scaifea: Amber, isn't it funny, first you thought that Charlie has a too long summer break and now time is running and he will be in Kindergarten soon. Enjoy the time being and look forward to a very interesting time at Kindergarten.

Hi Amber! Sounds like you are having a wonderful summer!
I just love the dresses you are making! The green one with the little bird is soooo cute!
Have you decided what price you will be selling them for?

Enjoy your time with Charlie, Amber. Does kindergarten go for half a day or a full day? Ours used to be for a half-day but it's changed to a full day in the last year or so.

>214 msf59: Mark: I hope the weather has cleared up for you - Tomm is in Chicago right now on his way to Florida and he sent me a message a bit earlier saying that it was pretty rainy there.

>215 michigantrumpet: Marianne: Oh yes, he's so excited he can hardly stand it. I'm glad that he likes school so much, because it makes it a bit easier on me. It would be so much harder if he didn't like school and I had to make him go.

>216 Ameise1: Barbara: Oh no, from the beginning I knew the summer would be way too short!

>217 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! The dresses will be $20.

>218 DeltaQueen50: Judy: Kindergarten here is full day. When I went to Kindergarten, yonks ago, of course, and a couple of states away, it was half day. *sigh*

I finished another little dress today - this one is a 2T. One more to go before I'll start posting them to the shop.

Just think of all the sewing you'll get done!

OMG I love those little dresses you've been making. They are super cute! You are a very talented lady.

I feel for you with Charlie starting Kindergarten. I remember how hard that was. Of course my little boy will be starting his junior year in high school and my baby girl is starting 8th grade. The time does fly....

>221 Morphidae: Morphy: Sewing, baking and reading are the things I'm counting on to keep me sane, honestly. And volunteering at the library right down the hall from his room...

>222 Cobscook: Thanks, Heidi!
And, lalalalala, I'm not listening...

>200 scaifea: I had the robot pegged as a good card player :)

509. Crafty Chloe by Kelly DiPucchio (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
A cute little book about a girl who isn't good at sports or ballet, but loves to make things and is good at all sort of crafty stuff. Another girl makes fun of her for making a birthday gift instead of buying something at the store, but ends up appreciating Chloe's talents in the end.
I think I enjoyed this one more that Charlie, for possibly obvious reasons, but I think it was good for Charlie to read, too, since he *loves* making presents for people, and that combined with his slightly sensitive soul makes me worry that there is heartache ahead for him of this sort...

>224 LovingLit: Megan: Ha! Well, honestly, Wall-E can do now wrong, to my way of thinking. I love that little robot.

For what it's worth, you might want to charge a bit more for those darling little dresses...

>227 nittnut: Jenn: I think it's so difficult to come up with the proper price for things. Honestly, though, I've got next to nothing in them and they take many an hour total to make, and it's a very enjoyable hour at that. So, *shrug*...

On the agenda for today:

I've signed Charlie up for some sort of 'making music' program at the library this morning, which I think he'll love. I may make some muffins this morning for breakfast, if Charlie is interested. And we may go to the pool this afternoon (the mom of one of Charlie's friends sent a message yesterday that they were there if we wanted to join them; we did and Charlie had a blast, so we may do that again today). Otherwise no plans beyond the usual cleaning, sewing, reading and such. Also some knitting, hopefully. I'm nearly finished with the first Lego Man Mitten, and it's hilariously adorable.
On the reading front: I read a few more pages of The Haunted Bookshop yesterday and I'm still enjoying it. I especially love this quote, which seems timely: "I've sat in my shop at night, and looked round at my shelves, looked at all the brave books that house the hopes and gentlenesses and dreams of men and women, and wondered if they were all wrong, discredited, defeated. Wondered if the world were still merely a jungle of fury."

The calendar book today: By the Iowa Sea: A Memoir by Joe Blair. Anyone read this one? The description sounds a bit bleak for my tastes.

>229 scaifea: I've read By the Iowa Sea. I wasn't thrilled:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/156132#4278380

>230 swynn: Thanks for the link, Steve - I think you've clinched it for me and I'll not be adding to the list.

Have you thought about teaching a class at the college?

>232 Morphidae: Morphy: I've done that (last summer) when asked to do so by a former colleague, ans I may again sometime. I also do editing jobs when they're offered to me. I'm certainly not hurting for things to do.

510. I'm a Frog! by Mo Willems (public library book, easy reader) - 9/10 = A
Another book full of silly about Elephant and Piggie. Lots of fun, as usual with these two.

On the agenda for today:

A stay-at-home day today, which is a very good thing, as I'm pretty tuckered from our various runnings-round yesterday (library, pool, late afternoon ice cream,...). Also good because we're expected to have a thunderstormy day, too. Nothing out of the ordinary on the list today beyond the usual cleaning, baking (Parmesan Bread and possibly the muffins that didn't get made yesterday), sewing, and reading. I also need to get next week's menu planned and the grocery list organized for tomorrow's shopping, and I need to get the photos from the past week off the camera and organized. For dinner tonight, Charlie and I are going to make our own mini pizzas.
On the reading front: I barely managed a couple of pages of The Haunted Bookshop last night before nodding right off. That's not to say that I'm not enjoying it; I was just ridiculously tired. I did turn in my Bingo card at the library yesterday, though, since I had it all covered (I'm still going to work on finishing the rest of the list, but this next week is the last week of the contest), and got to pick out a free book! I chose The Night Circus in a lovely hardcover! WooHoo!

The calendar book today is The World without You by Joshua Henkin. The description isn't much of one, other that to say that it's "old-fashioned" in a good way. Anyone read this one? Thoughts?

ohh I loved the Night Circus! Good choice :)

I was showing my mom your pretty little dresses yesterday and she adored them too! Chloe won't fit in those sizes for quite a while yet or else I'd be buying one!

>236 ChelleBearss: Chelle: I've had The Night Circus on my wishlist for some time so I was excited to find it on the prize shelf!
And thanks - I'm glad you like the dresses!

Throwback Day - August 2009:

"Bring on the MEAT! I'm ready!"

Look at that adorable tooth.

Ohhhhh Baby Charlie! Too cute!

>239 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: *snork!* It's funny because he's practically a vegetarian in his eating habits (except pork chops - he loves those things).

>240 lauralkeet: Laura: I know, right?!

>241 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Coming from the mom of such a cutie-patootie, that's saying something!

I'm starting to get pretty emotional over this whole kindergarten thing, folks. Where did that little guy in >238 scaifea: go and how in the heck is it possible that he's turning 6 in less than a month?! I need to find a handrail soon because I need to get a grip on this. It's a crazy mix of being so proud of him and loving to see him grow and change, but also desperately wanting to hold on to that little boy forever. Dang it, this mom business is tough sometimes.

511. The Nose Book by Al Perkins (public library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
A simple book about how there are many different noses - and many uses for them.
Silly, not much to it, but fun.

>242 scaifea: oh Amber, in an odd way I can relate. We are heading to Kenyon this weekend and will return to -- gulp -- an empty nest. Like you, I'm wondering where the time has gone. But I can also assure you that you have many wonderful phases of Charlie ahead of you. Each is different, and it's hard to let go of the old, but great new things await you.

Hmmm ... Writing that last sentence actually made me feel a wee bit better.

>244 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. Watching them go off to college must be a similar mix of wanting to hold on and not let them, along with being so excited to see what they do next and how they'll thrive. I'll be thinking of you this weekend (and adding a wish in for good weather - it was pretty rainy there today, according to some faculty friends)...

>242 scaifea:, >244 lauralkeet:, >245 scaifea: From a bit further still down that mothering trail, you guys are making me a little misty-eyed. BUT, I must tell you both that there is a lot of joy and satisfaction in having a grown-up child to share life with, especially one that often starts conversations with "I've got a question for you", as if she still thinks Mom has a lot of the answers. (Don't let her read this, whatever you do!) As Laura said, every stage has its wonders and blessings, so FORWARD, MARCH!...it's all we can do.

Amber - we take ours to Maine next week for his second year of college- he has been home from his summer camp job for less than a week-
It is all good- You have been able to give Charlie an awesome start - but he needs to fly on his own - gradually.

I love the dresses with the appliqués--takes them to an entirely new level!

>246 laytonwoman3rd: aw thanks Linda!

>245 scaifea: your description of our feelings is quite accurate Amber. My fingers are also crossed for good weather. Fortunately the forecast for Saturday & Sunday looks pretty nice.

>246 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: I've been trying to take comfort in that idea, too. I know that I have an amazing relationship with my parents - a good mix of mother-father/daughter and friendship - and I hope that Charlie and I can have that, too. I call them every morning, not out of some sense of filial duty, but because my day just doesn't start properly until I've talked to them about everything that happened yesterday, what Charlie and I and they have planned for the day ahead,... My mom is the best mom in the world and I'm lucky that she's also my best friend.

>247 Helenoel: Helen: Oh, he's not allowed to fly. I'm afraid of airplanes. *snork!*

>248 ronincats: Thanks, Roni! I won't put them on all of the dresses, but here and there when the mood strikes.

>249 lauralkeet: You know, when I found out that I was having a boy and not a girl, one of my first thoughts was, "Shoot. I wanted a Rory/Lorelai relationship!" But of course I wouldn't exchange Charlie for a little lady for all the world, and I remember the relationship that my mom had with my brother, Steve, which was as close to a Rory thing as you can get with a son, I think, and it comforts me because I see so much of Steve in Charlie.
I do hope you have good weather next weekend - Kenyon has such a wonderful series of opening ceremonies. My friend is the coordinator for all of those big events, and she does an amazing job, especially when you consider that organizing a large group of academics tends to be way worse than herding cats...

On the agenda for today:

Grocery shopping this morning, and then Charlie and I will be busy preparing for Tomm's homecoming - it's his birthday today and Charlie is *very* excited about it. He's making the 'cake' (chocolate-peanut butter fudge) all by himself and helping me make Tomm's birthday dinner of choice (gluten-free lasagna). I suspect Charlie has some decorating plans in mind, too. I'm hoping to finish another little dress today, but we'll see how much sewing-room time I can squeeze into the schedule.
On the reading front: I managed a few more pages of The Haunted Bookshop but not many. I'm loving the little mystery involved in the plot.

The calendar book for today is another that I've not heard of, a novel about two women growing up in an Orthodox Jewish Satmar community: I Am Forbidden by Anouk Markovits. Anyone read this? Thoughts?

>250 scaifea: Airplanes are safe! It's motorcycles you should forbid him from riding. ;)

>252 PawsforThought: Paws: No they're not - not all of the time. And motorcycles? Do you even know me?! Of course he's not allowed. Ever. Ha!

Morning Amber! Big waves from Asheville. Hope everything is going well there.

Thanks, Mark!

>253 scaifea: Safest form of transportation!

>253 scaifea: Paws: It's not as if I haven't heard all of this before. It doesn't help the fear, which doesn't respond to logic. Also, my brother-in-law is an engineer for GE - he designs jet engines. And that little nugget doesn't help, either. Ha!

>257 scaifea: I know it doesn't. My mum is scared of planes too. I have far more irrational fears than that so I really shouldn't be talking...

Hi Amber! I can't even begin to imagine Chloe going off to school yet but I'm sure the time will fly!
Is Charlie excited for school?

Happy Birthday to Tomm!

>259 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Charlie is *so* excited! He loves it.

Glad that he is excited! I bet it would be much harder to send him off to school if he didn't want to go. At least you know that he will be happy! (Even if Mama isn't for a couple days!)
Just think of all the extra sewing and reading time you will have lol

>261 ChelleBearss: Chelle: I'm definitely grateful that he likes school - it would be so, so much worse if he didn't.

The new thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/179522

Hi Amber. Just finished Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen and reviewed it. Let me know if you've read it and what you think.