Ronincats Reads Reflectively in 2015: Thread 4

The Flint Hills don't look like this right now--they are brown and dry with high fire danger after a dry, dry winter, but this is what they will look like in the late spring if they get rain. I drove across them 3 times on my recent visit.

I'm Roni and this is my 8th year in the 75 Book Challenge group. I have cats and a small dog, a garden (year-round), a husband, a substantial library, and an old bungalow with lots of book shelves. I'm retired and have taken up pottery and wirework and beading jewelry along with crocheting to keep busy. As I finish a project, I post a picture of it here.

My reading is heavily slanted toward science fiction and fantasy genre reading, but I try to work in a dozen nonfiction a year, along with a few mysteries and some Regency romances as well as books heavily recommended by other LTers. I'm also fond of rereading favorite books I haven't visited in a while. I usually read around 150 books a year since I'm a fast reader, and set my goals accordingly.

This is the link to my final thread for 2014: http://www.librarything.com/topic/182308

Just realized that I posted the picture and message in post 1 twice. Here, some educational info.

I'm finally ready to talk about my top reads of 2014. Although I'll finish at least one more book and probably two, none of them with reach that rank.

My top five fiction, all in genre oddly enough:
The Martian by Andrew Weir--nerdy, clever, unputdownable.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie--original, between the stars adventure.
A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan--a delightful alternate steampunk history.
A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin--Set in London, unconventional and original.
Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire--a highly atmospheric ghost story, with delightful echoes from the 50s.

All but the first book are the first in a series.



Best Non-fiction:
What Makes This Book So Great? by Jo Walton--This is also genre, as Walton collects her blogs on her reactions to books, including many from two of my favorite series.


Speaking of which, best continuations of favorite series in 2014:

Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger--book 3 of The Finishing School
Crown of Renewal by Elizabeth Moon--book 5 of The Legend of Paksennarion
The Sea of Time by P. C. Hodgell--book 7 of the Chronicles of the Kencyrath
The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire--book 8 of October Daye
Valour & Vanity by Mary Robinette Kowal--book 4 of the Glamourist Histories



Best YA series:
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Best Short Stories:

Miracle and Other Christmas Stories by Connie Willis

Best Re-reads:

The Vorkosigan series
The Parasol Protectorate series
The Red Heart of Memories and Past the Size of Dreaming by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

2014 SUMMARY

Books read: 172
Pages read: 58,563
Average pages per book: 340
Average pages read per day: 160

New reads: 128
Rereads: 44
Library books: 48
Books off my shelf (acquired prior to 2014): 22

Genre:
Science fiction: 33
Fantasy: 94
Children's: 12
Nonfiction: 13
General fiction: 3
Romance: 11
Mystery: 6

Books acquired: 88

Books out the door: 40

Books Read in 2015

January

1. A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong by Cecilia Grant (message #66)
2. The Smartest Kids in the World by Amanda Ripley (#99)
3. Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch (#142)
4. The Western Lit Survival Kit by Sandra Newman (#161)
5. The Minority Council by Kate Griffin (#192)
6. The Ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively
7. Deeds of Honor by Elizabeth Moon
8. Arabella by Georgette Heyer
9. The Butler Who Laughed by Michelle Martin
10. The Spirit Gate by Maya Bohnhoff
11. M'Lady Witch by Christopher Stasheff
12. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Shiguro
13. The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson

February
14. Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan Howard
15. The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
16. Nobody's Home by Tim Powers
17. Wordplay by Glenn Bassett
18. The Glass God by Kate Griffin
19. The Nothing Girl by Jodi Taylor
20. Wonders of the Invisible World by Patricia McKillip
21. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
22. The Aspern Papers by Henry James
23. The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan
24. Fairest by Marissa Meyer
25. What We See When We Read by Peter Mendelsund
26. Hex Marks the Spot by Madelyn Alt
27. Severance by Chris Bucholz
28. Flirting With Felicity by Gerri Russell
29. The Paper Magician by Charlie Holmberg

Books Acquired in 2015

* denotes ebooks

January

1. The Minority Council by Kate Griffin
2. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
3. Deeds of Honor* by Elizabeth Moon
4. The Grand Sophy* by Georgette Heyer
5. The Toll-Gate* by Georgette Heyer
6. Wonders of the Invisible World* by Patricia McKillip
7. Great Science Fiction about Doctors
8. The Gathering Storm* by Winston Churchill
9. Their Finest Hour* by Winston Churchill
10. The Grand Alliance* by Winston Churchill
11. The Hinge of Fate* by Winston Churchill
12. Closing the Ring* by Winston Churchill
13. Triumph and Tragedy* by Winston Churchill
14. The Nothing Girl* by Jodi Taylor
15. Severance* by Chris Bucholz
16. Flirting with Felicity* by Gerri Russell
17. The Paper Magician* by Charlie Holmberg

Book #27 Severance by Chris Bucholz (326 pp.)

This was my January ER book, a science fiction novel about a generation ship approaching its final destination. NOT a YA novel, it has mature (?) protagonists, an underlying mystery, and lots of action. I have to confess that I really liked it despite some flaws. I liked the habitat building and the characters a lot, and the idiosyncratities of the plot that made it different from any other story set in this type of setting that I've read.



Book #28 Flirting with Felicity by Gerri Russell (237 pp.)

Light, mindless chicklit romance.



Book #29 The Paper Magician by Charlie Holmberg (226 pp.)

Definitely a YA feel to it, but an original premise and a strong female protagonist.

Again, my sincere and fulsome thanks to all of you for your support during this difficult time. It is so much appreciated. I am home now, loved sleeping in my own bed last night, and have been settling in today.

Happy new thread!

>6 ronincats: What did you think of the paper magician? It looks like an interesting series.

GLAD that you're home and here, Roni!

Welcome home Roni!

And happy new thread!

HUGS

>8 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi.
>9 xymon81: Xymon, it wasn't what I was expecting, but I liked it. It has a YA feel to it. The feedback on the second book isn't as good.
>10 LizzieD: Peggy, thank you for all your messages of support, here and on the last thread.

From the last thread:
Steph, so true!
Thanks, Rhian.
Peggy, your kind words again.
Mamie, Valerie, Brenda, Mary--my travels back were uneventful and I'm sure your good wishes had a lot to do with it!
Thanks, Heather, Reba, Sheila, Sarah, Lucy, Hannah, xymon, Paul, Lori, Megan, Quasior, Meg, Kerry, Marie, Judy, Mary, Melissa, April, Katherine, Erik, Carrie, Jenny, Steve, Tad, Janet, Amber, Kriti, Ardene, Ro, Katie, Susan, Jenn (we found her security code), another Katie, Rachel, Robin, Ellen, QQ, Gail, and Stasia. So many of you were back several times to encourage or comfort me. I know I am not the only one to have suffered a loss--several of you have lost parents and friends over the last few years and I only hope that I was half as supportive of you as you have all been of me. You are truly all good friends.

ETA Hi, Valerie. You snuck in while I was posting. {{{Val}}}

Thinking of you

Hi Roni. Just checking in again and glad to see you are safely back home. Thinking of you along with so many others. I have the Jo Walton book on SF winging it's way to me as we speak, can't wait!

Glad you're back home, Roni.

>12 ronincats: Never doubt, Roni, that you are one of the reasons this group is as warm and welcoming as it is. We support each other -- and you've modeled that unflagging support for us many times over. Good friends all around, I'd say. :)

I'm glad you are home, to mourn in comfort and quiet. Still sending you good wishes for peace and the kinds of purposeful moments that help bring back a sense of stability after loss. More hugs! And happy new thread!

Roni, I'm just catching up on threads, and I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. ((hugs)))

I'm glad that you are home safe. Peace and healing thoughts are being sent your way.

Happy new thread, Roni - the images up top are gorgeous. I am so happy that you made it home safely. Wanted to let you know that I read A Natural History of Dragons on your recommendation, and it was delightful! So thanks for that - also read one that Jim recommended that you might like if you haven't already read it - The Goblin Emperor. I loved this, and it is a rare thing - a stand alone fantasy book!

>13 Kassilem: Melissa, I appreciate your ongoing visits and thoughts.
>14 HanGerg: Thank you, Hannah. I'll be looking forward to your thoughts on the Walton book.
>15 kgodey: Thanks, Kriti, I'm glad to be here.
>16 beserene: Oh, Sarah, that is so sweet. I treasure your words.
>17 tapestry100: David, one of my joys is that you have completed your treatment and are doing well. Thank you.

Yesterday was settling back in--doing laundry, catching up with the mail (both snail and email), and having a long luxurious soak in the tub after two weeks of nothing but showers. Oh, and deciding which of the books which arrived on Monday I should start reading first, Prudence or Pocket Apocalypse. The Carriger won out over the McGuire by a slim margin, but obviously one will follow close on the heels of the other. Also found my February ER book in the mail pile, A God That Could Be Real: Spirituality, Science, and the Future of our Planet, which sounded very interesting. So I have plenty to read.

Today I need to call the consignment store and make an appointment to take my bunny earrings out, reschedule the haircut and mammogram I canceled, water my garden, and watch NCAA basketball. I've now had two lovely good nights of sleep (my mother's guest bed has a very hard mattress) and, while I am still mourning, feel better able to cope with the world. I need to put my luggage up in the attic and when I do that, bring down my box of photos. I went through a whole box at my mom's house and pulled childhood pictures of my brother out for his wife and kids. But I know I have some of my own here.

Ah, Mamie, you snuck in while I was posting above. I'm so glad you enjoyed Lady Trent and yes, I have indeed read The Goblin Emperor and concur.

Happy new thread, Roni. Continuing to send you all the best in the wake of your recent loss.

I'm curious to see what you think of Prudence, Roni. I enjoyed the Soulless series, but I couldn't get into Prudence; I'm not sure if it was just my mood at the time, though.

Hi, Roni ~ Glad to know you got home okay and are settling back in.

I've got Prudence on reserve at the library, so I'm looking forward to knowing your thoughts on it too.

I'm currently in the middle of The Glass God and am enjoying it very much! It's not an eBook though ~ apparently none of the libraries I can borrow from have it as an eBook ~ which is difficult as the print of the trade paperback is so very small that I have to use a magnifying sheet to read it.

ETA I love the image of the Flint Hills! What an amazing geological formation!

>1 ronincats:
Oh, lovely!

>19 ronincats: while I am still mourning, feel better able to cope with the world
Home and routine are good.

A God That Could Be Real
Looks interesting, and is surely more uplifting than the ER I’m currently reading.

>19 ronincats: A good night's sleep is a wonderful thing. I am glad you feel that you are better able to cope. Do be gentle with yourself.

I hate showers, I often have to go without a bath when I am on the road. Let's compare: giving one's foot a good scrub in the shower versus in the tub, for instance. One is used as an image of luxury, the other is ripe for an accident and not something you want someone to witness. One is being caressed by warm water; the other, if you are not under the streaming water, it is cold. One you emerge from the bathroom toasty warm, the other you start shivering almost before you leave the room. Ahem. I might have an opinion about this.

So glad that you are home. I hope that some of the pictures generate a least a small smile among the tears.

{{{ronicats}}}

Roni, I'm glad to hear that your life is reclaiming you in good order - nothing like your own schedule and your own bed and bath to help you accept and deal with a world that's different. We all wish we could make it easier for you. I guess we've all been where you are and know enough to offer empathy.
Thanks, GentleReader, for a good laugh. You are so right about the shower and the cold room, but I confess to being a shower person anyway. *sigh*

Ro I am glad that you are back in the comfort of your own home. Nothing beats it.

Thinking of you and sending you my best.

What do you think of this my friend? http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/8046824-new-book

Home!

The Bujold news is quite pleasing, isn't it?

Roni, I just read of your brother's death. "I'm sorry for your loss" sounds so trite, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart. ((Hugs)) to you, my friend.

Glad you're safely home and feeling better. Keep taking care of yourself. Long soaks, reading, crafting all promote healing.

Hugs to you, Roni. What a lovely photo up top.

Welcome home Roni.

Hi Roni, it is good to take comfort in familiar surroundings. Enjoy being home. ((hugs))

Hello, everyone. Today was a resting day. For one thing, we had gone out for Mexican food the night before and I had acid reflux during the night, resulting in NOT a restful sleep. And I watched basketball. And I read Pocket Apocalypse, having finished Prudence the day before.

Today I looked back over the last month on my thread. Fifty-one of you offered your support during that time--isn't LibraryThing a marvelous community? Whether you came by once or eleven times, and all the numbers in between, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I started trying to go out and thank the most numerous on their threads individually, but am afraid I will accidentally miss someone. And while you all were comforting me, you were dealing with your own problems of illness, sick pets, job loss, and more--such generous people.

>21 rosylibrarian: Thanks, Marie.
>22 kgodey:, >23 Storeetllr: See the next message.
>24 qebo: It's an interesting book, Katherine. I'm about halfway through.
>25 MDGentleReader: Oh, I'm in total agreement with you on the tub experience all the way, but there are some LTers who shudder at the idea of soaking in "dirty" water and are rather fanatical about it! ;-)
>26 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy. Sure you won't come to the soak side? It helps that I have a special soaking tub, which allows me to submerge totally up to my neck. Yum.
>27 luvamystery65:, >28 sibylline: It's especially exciting given that she's been saying for the last two years that she's not working on anything. And Cordelia!!

Stasia, Reba, Anne, Lori, and Meg, thank you for the hugs and welcome home. It's good to be back, even though I'll never catch up on the threads.

Book #30 Prudence by Gail Carriger (357 pp.)

First of all, let me say that these books are not for everyone. But if you delight in snarky send-ups of style and adventure in Victorian steampunk dress, you will thoroughly enjoy this first book of the Custard Protocol series. Prudence, who was just a baby in the final book of the Parasol Protectorate series, is now 20 and is sent off to India by her adoptive father to secure the market on a special tea--and we know how important tea is to the British! We see very little of Lord Akeldama, Alexia and Lord Maccon, mostly because Prudence is off to India in her new dirigible, but the interactions between her, Ivy's twins (Primrose is her best friend), and Quesnel Lefoux are sufficiently entertaining. There is nothing even remotely worthy of serious attention here--it is all pure fun!



Book #31 Pocket Apocalypse by Seanan McGuire (352 pp.)

McGuire has now moved onto the list of authors of whom I automatically buy their books. I was somewhat lukewarm about the first book in this series, but each one gets better and this fourth book of the Incrytids is outstanding. Alex follows Shelby back to Australia to deal with a werewolf outbreak (lycanthropy in this world is a disease, one that inevitably results in premature death, one way or another, NOT a species). So we get to see a whole new ecosystem of cryptids as well as meeting his girlfriend's family. This is lots of action, a mystery, an exploration, and great characters to boot. Strongly recommended.

Hard to find something to follow these, but the new Lady Trent memoir comes out next Tuesday.

Hi Roni! Glad you're still enjoying the "Parasol Universe." I just started Soulless and am enjoying it quite a bit. :)

Glad you are back home and getting back into your routine, Roni. May each day bring you comfort and peace. *HUGS*

>35 ronincats: I lost momentum on the Parasol Protectorate a book or two before the end of the series, but that one sounds like so much fun that perhaps I will pick it up again.

Hi Roni, welcome back. I see you are barely home and are sending out the book bullets already! I am looking forward to reading Prudence when I get through the last Alexa book. And I need some guidance as a newcomer to Seanan McGuire, should I start with her October Daye or the InCryptid series?

InCryptid is funnier - not that it's shallow, but it's funny. October Daye has a lot more grim and gore and life-changing situations - and a lot of funny (OK, some of it's gallows humor, but it's still funny). There's also Sparrow Hill Road, which is a standalone (for the moment) - it _starts_ with a ghost. But still fun. And then there's Velveteen Vs. - http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/tag/velveteen%20vs. will give you all the stories, and when you're hooked you can buy them as books/ebooks. Very silly and very not - superheroes in a sort-of realistic style. Company town.

She specializes in mixing the funny and the grim. I love all her books. Warning - do not start any of them when it's late and you need to get up tomorrow!

I'll have to look into Pocket Apocalypse! Glad you are finding some excellent comfort reads.

Hi Roni! The Flint Hills are lovely (where are they?).

>35 ronincats: I suggested to P that she should read this one ("P" stands for Prudence). She laughed but you never know....

ETA: Okay, now I know they are in Kansas. I tend to think of it as a less-than-lovely state. That region looks beautiful. And, if I tell the truth, I lived in flat flat flat Illinois for 8 years. Every region has its own beauty.

Happy New Thread, Roni! Hugs to you, friend.

>34 ronincats: Perhaps I can hope that Richard won't have a chance to catch up on your thread before you start the next one? :-). My Dad's mother said she didn't have time for such an indulgence as a bath. I might be a bit defiant in my making time for a bath, however short :-).

>42 EBT1002: I visited Kansas in the mid-90s and was amazed by the wonderful roads and that incredibly rich, black dirt (I was there for a funeral).

I need to give Prudence another shot, when I'm more in the mood for snarky silliness.

Voyage of the Basilisk is excellent, I'm sure you will like it.

>36 The_Hibernator: Oh, good, Rachel, glad you are starting Carriger's works. Some books are definitely stronger than others, but when you just need something light and silly that is still thoroughly entertaining, nothing can beat them.

>37 jolerie: {{Valerie}} Glad you are all feeling better.

>38 foggidawn: Foggi, I think you'd enjoy them. Especially since the Finishing School series and the new Custard Protocol series are YA series, suitable for school libraries.

>39 DeltaQueen50: Judy, Jenn gives you a good overview in >40 jjmcgaffey:. Since they are all good, it depends on your mood and tastes. The October Daye books are good, solid, emotionally satisfying classic urban fantasy with Celtic mythology done right, the Incryptid series has no Fae but lots of supernatural entities living under the radar right along side us--the first book was lighter in tone, but it now has gotten deeper and the last two have had mysteries to solve. Sparrow Hill is lovely and evocative--for someone who didn't live through the 50s, McGuire certainly is capable of evoking it and I love her writing--this one is nonlinear, though. And the Velveteen series is comic-book style superheroes in the present urban setting.

>41 sibylline: Lucy, at least start with the one before it, Half-Off Ragnorak, as it gives necessary backstory for Alex and Shelby. The first two deal with Alex's sister Verity, and while you learn about the Price family and backstory, don't directly impact the plot.

>42 EBT1002: Ellen, as you saw in my message 2, the Flint Hills are the largest stretch of remaining tall grass prairie in the States and definitely have their own beauty.

>43 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. Hope you and Charlie and your folks are all feeling better.

>44 MDGentleReader: Exactly, MD, good plan! Now that I'm retired, the soaking tub is often the site of 20-40 minutes of morning reading.

>45 kgodey: My copy will arrive a week from today and I'm looking forward to it, Kriti.

I did get the garden watered yesterday, and grass pulled from the side garden raised bed. I will probably need to do it again tomorrow, as our lovely mid-70s days are going to get hot from Wednesday through Sunday, possibly up into the 90s. I got an email reminding me that we are discussing The Winter Long for my book group tonight, which I had remembered to retrieve from my sister when I was back in Kansas so I would have it on hand, but which had gotten buried under stuff when unpacking here. So I pulled it out to scan over, since it's been two months since it came out and I read it, but ended up rereading it. Won't count it though, since I already have for this year.

Will do!

What GREAT Bujold news!!! Cordelia is really my favorite!
I guess everybody has seen that Mary Doria Russell has pertussis and has canceled appearances on her Epitaph tour for the next while? Her docs are telling her that adults who had DPT shots as children need boosters. Oh good grief.

>48 LizzieD: Good!

>49 ronincats: Interesting, too, that it is set after Cryoburn. I thought it might have been a retro look at Cordelia's earlier years at first.

There are so many new books out that are catching my eye!
Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Finn Fancy Necromancy by Randy Henderson
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Daughter of Gods and Shadows by Jayde Brooks
Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

The last two are by authors I've read before but the other four are brand new to me.

Also, the new Humble Bundle collection is of Post-Apocalyptic books. See all the offerings here:
www.humblebundle.com/books
While I already have some of them (Gather Darkness, Wool, Parable of the Sower, and Damnation Alley), I still think I might get this collection.

Starting to sneak my way out of my black cave and visit the world again. I won't be able to catch up, but I hope you're doing as OK as can be expected.

I'm bringing some smiles here as well.

Roni, I got so far behind here. I went back to your last thread and read the sad news about your brother. I am so glad for you and for him that you were able to fly out and be there during his last days on earth. Those days, while so difficult, may give you comfort as you process the loss of a beloved brother. I am so sorry for your loss.

I got to travel a different route through Kansas when we went to Dodge City for our daughter-in-law's father's funeral last week. He had been ill for some time, and like your brother, had been through so much. Mary, Haley, and Molly were out there for two weeks. They are exhausted as I'm sure you were as well.

The Bujold news is very welcome. I will be driving out to CO after Easter and will knock out another one in the Vorkosigan Saga. I am enjoying the series very much and am a big Cordelia fan.

Take care of yourself as you grieve, Roni. My warmest thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Hugs to you, Roni. Hope you're being gentle with yourself.

>49 ronincats: Except for E. Bear those are all authors whose work I haven't read!

>51 lunacat: Jenny, I love my smiley kitty! Thank you.

>52 Donna828: Donna, what a thoughtful, sweet message! Thank you.

We go past Dodge City regularly when we drive to and from San Diego, so I know that route well. I'm sorry it had to be for such a sad occasion. Hugs for Mary, Haley and Molly as well as yourself.

>53 AMQS: So doing, Anne. Hope you can do the same between daughter, dog and cat!

>54 sibylline: Thanks for the non-feedback, Lucy. ;-) I forgot to add Jo Walton's The Just City to the list as well, which would be another author you've read, right?

I have a street fair on Sunday so decided I had better be making some stuff. I'll have a bunch of bowls to pick up Saturday at the pottery. I took all my bunny earrings to the consignment shop, so made some more.

So, the temperature peaked out at the house today at 86 degrees Fahrenheit. And I've finished the two nonfiction books I've been reading.



Book #32 Only a Novel: The Double Life of Jane Austen by Jane Aiken Hodge (252 pp.)

This 1972 book looks at Jane Austen's life within her family as revealed in the letters written by those close to her, as well as the letters that survived her sister's pogrom. Although I'm sure this is dated, as I believe new sources have been discovered in the last forty some years, it was interesting reading from a new perspective.



Book #33 A God That Could Be Real: Spirituality, science, and the future of our planet by Nancy Ellen Abrams (165 pp.)

The author is married to physicist Joel Primack and has co-authored two books with him, The View from the Center of the Universe and The New Universe and the Human Future. Long an atheist, Abrams entered a 12 step program for an eating disorder and discovered that the requirement to acknowledge a higher power added a meaningful dimension to her life. Exploring what might exist that is worthy of the name "God" and that is "real" (that is, conforms to science as we know it), she generates some fascinating hypotheses. Abrams says that when world view and God view are in sync, then we are integrated into a meaningful existence, but this hasn't happened since the 17th century, when the concept of the celestial spheres was shattered. So science and religion go down different paths and individuals either turn completely to one or the other or struggle with attempts to integrate them. With her knowledge of the current scientific understanding of the universe, Abrams postulates a fascinating scenario of God as an emergent phenomenon, a very real phenomenon, from that rarest of matters, stardust that engages in complex thinking.

I appreciated the very clear picture of the physical nature of the universe, from the micro to the macro, and the analogies Abrams draws from it. The "truth box" for Newton's laws of physics is limited, with different laws for quantum and large-scale physics. Similarly, our human identity ranges from the individual self up through family, tribe, nation, religion, species, life, to Earth. If we can become whole through integrating these scales, bringing them into harmony, and apt at being able to shift perspectives as needed, then both God and science can become powerful forces to direct us and bring meaning to our lives.

Book #34 Third Time Lucky: And other stories of the most powerful wizard in the world by Tanya Huff (168 pp.)

Ah, publishing continues to open new horizons. In this case, it has collected 7 of Huff's early stories, many of which were in the now unavailable Stealing Magic collection, about Magdelene, the world's most powerful and laziest wizard into an e-book. These are prototypical fantasy short stories with a delightful protagonist, a light collection to read just for fun and relaxation with no high expectations, and just about worth the $2.99 price tag.

Just stopping by in an effort to keep up, Roni. I'm sort of in love with the green bunnies!

>56 ronincats: I like the description of the Abrams. I'm a convert to atheism -- if "conversion" is the right word for realizing one day that I'd essentially been an atheist for a while without thinking much about it -- and am intrigued by the story of an atheist finding god-talk personally rewarding. Must read that one.

>58 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy!
>59 swynn: Steve, I hope you do and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it when you finish.

Seems the only thing that motivates me to get going on making jewelry is an upcoming show. Big street fair tomorrow, so I finished these.

Looks like the heat left early -- I was up briefly during the night and looked out to find fog. LOVE IT!! Hope things are going well with you.

>56 ronincats: What a lovely review of book 2.

I sure hope those bunny earrings hop right off your table!

I'm glad that tomorrow is not going to be so hot, Reba. I'll be at the Rolando Street Fair all day!

Thanks, Lucy. I hope so too.

Here's what I brought home from the pottery today.

Oooh, love the red bowl! Good luck tomorrow at the fair, Roni! Hope it stays cool-ish and you sell a truckload of your beautiful things!

>63 ronincats: OOOooooOOoo! Lovely colors and that elegant shape of the bowls...definitely a Roni job.

*smooch*

Good luck at the street fair, Roni. I hope you sell lots.

AND...here's the bunnies going to the street fair with me.

I love the bunny earrings, the blue tree ( ?)earrings, the necklace, the bowls.......

Fingers crossed for a big day!

Good luck on the street fair, Roni. I'll bet those bunny earrings will be a bit hit. So cute!

Such cute bunnies! And, did I mention I love that red bowl?

Tired, very tired after a long day. Not too bad but not great--sold 10 pieces of pottery, one cup cuff, and only one pair of the bunny earrings. High booth fee, so made nearly twice the fee.

I'm glad you made a profit! Your work really is very good.

I'm surprised the bunnies didn't sell out. They are so cute! But not surprised that you sold a lot of your pottery. (I imagine the red bowl went first...?)

Thanks, Jim. Not really a profit, as it doesn't take into account the materials used in making the items, but it still feels good to walk away with money in the pocket!

Mary, I thought they'd be more salable as well. But no. And not the red bowl--the reason being that it was made for my husband, and he put it out, but with a fairly high price on it! Several people looked at it, though. All of my brown with green drips pottery sold, though--very popular and I love that glaze, so I guess I'll be doing a lot more of that one in the future.

Today is tax prep today--all my receipts to put in order for the tax lady tomorrow! Ugh.

Ha! Your husband has great good taste, as that red bowl is really magnificent! :)

Congrats on selling all the brown with green bowls!

I like the tall bowl/cups on the front sides, and the etched vase(?) in the middle. Pretty things!

Sounds like a busy and productive day, Roni!
I think the bunny earrings are super cute.
Hopefully you can kick back and enjoy the rest of your day.

Oh right...tax season..... :/

How odd that the bunny earrings didn't go. Happy that the pottery did!

Tax day, ow.

Just stopping by to say hi and send hugs Roni.

>60 ronincats: That necklace is very striking and I love the shade of mauvey-blue on the left tree pendant. Also the turquiose tree pendant. Hmm, I guess I like them all.

>63 ronincats: Those green glazes are also calling out to me.

>72 ronincats: I'm glad you sold enough to make double the fee.

>75 ronincats: Hope the tax prep went well.

Hi, Mary, Jenn, Valerie, Lucy, and Heather. Five hours going through the receipts--rental and craft stuff taking up the majority of the time. I was stiff and sore afterwards as I worked straight through. But, given that I just throw everything in a drawer during the year, I suppose that 5 hours for 2014 isn't really that bad...

To make up for it, Voyage of the Basilisk came in the mail this morning (guess what I'll be starting after we get back home!) and I won the ER book I requested. It's AbductiCon by Alma Alexander. From the description, it sounds like Alexander is trying to do a Sharon McCrumb (Bimbos of the Death Sun). I'd read an early book of hers that was fantasy (The Hidden Queen) and wasn't that impressed, but she's had time to improve her writing, so I will give her another try.

Bimbos of the Death Sun - that was a fun one! Hooray for an ER win and for Voyage of the Basilisk arriving! A lovely reward for all of your hard work. Happy Tuesday, Roni!

>81 ronincats: Hooray for Voyage of the Basilisk arriving! I read A Natural History of Dragons this month and I'm very much looking forward to the second book.

Happy Tuesday to you all, Mamie and Heather! Tax lady has all the data--now she gets to crunch numbers and fill out forms. I've got a fish stew to make up in a bit, the living room to pick up (receipts all over the place!), and some laundry to do; then I'll dive into Voyage of the Basilisk.

News story for San Diego:
This is going to end up the hottest March ever recorded in San Diego, and it's not even close.
When the final numbers for the month come in this week, the average temperature at Lindbergh Field will be right around 66°. That will make it the hottest March since records began back in 1874! The previous record is 64.3. And in this case, a degree and a half is a landslide. Consider the other four years in the top five are all separated by a degree or less.
When we say "average" temperature, we mean the average between the high and low temperature for each day, but this month also had some very high highs. The hottest day of the month came March 14th when we hit 90°, shattering the old record from 1951 before the clock even struck noon. Records fell three consecutive days between March 13th and 15th. And each of those three days all now rank in the top ten hottest days ever for March. The all time March record of 99° still stands from 1879. 7 times this month, San Diego topped 80 degrees at Lindbergh Field.
And if the heat weren't enough, it's also been an exceptionally dry month with slightly more than half the amount of rain for a normal March. And all of it came at once. The 0.93" of rain we did get all fell in the first four days of the month. Since then, we've gone close to four weeks without any measureable rainfall at Lindbergh Field.

Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/weather/stories/Marching-into-History-298027751.html#...
Follow us: @nbcsandiego on Twitter | NBCSanDiego on Facebook

Also, let me promote the Terry Pratchett Memorial group read at
http://www.librarything.com/topic/189460

Just popping in to say howdy Ro!

Hi Roni! Lovely jewelry and pottery -- they make me happy. Thanks for sharing your creations.

Hi, Ro and Anne!

I won't finish any more books this month--no reading yet today, and I really want to get to my new book!

March Summary: very low count this month, perhaps understandably.

Books Read: 8 Pages Read: 2083
New Reads: 8 No rereads 2 Books off the Shelves
Format: 5 Kindle, 2 Hardbacks, 1 mass market paperback
Genre: 1 SF, 4 fantasy, 2 nonfiction, 1 romance
Publication date: 1972-1, 2014-2, 2015-4

Acquired books: 7 Spent: $53.49
Format: 3 Kindle, 3 hardback, 1 mass market paperback
Genre: 5 fantasy, 2 nonfiction

First Quarter of 2015 Summary

Books read: 34 Pages read: 9281
New Reads: 32 Re-reads: 2
Format: 11 Kindle, 7 Hardbacks, 8 Trade paperbacks, 8 mmpb
Genre: 3 SF, 12 fantasy, 3 children's, 6 nonfiction, 2 general fiction, 6 romance, 1 mystery

Very anglo-centric: 17 USA, 14 British, 2 Canadian, 1 unknown

Acquired books: 24 Spent: $116.05
Percent read to date: 50%
Format: 17 Kindle, 4 hardback, 3 mmpb
Genre: 2 SF, 8 fantasy, 6 nonfiction, 1 romance

5 books out of the house for 2015 to date.

The article of the weather in San Diego reminded me of this meme which has been going round FB, about the people who still say climate change isn't occurring because they had more snow than ever this year.

>89 lunacat: Love it, Jenny!

Barely got started on Voyage of the Basilisk last night, but thought I would mention, since some people would be interested, that it has deckle edges and BLUE print.

>90 ronincats: Nice! I'm first on the holds list at the library for the hardcover of Voyage of the Basilisk; they've ordered a copy but haven't gotten it in yet. Can't wait to start it. I've listened to the first two as audiobooks and wondered whether I'd enjoy it as much in print, but deckle edges and blue print!

Poo!! If I could keep up I would have known you were at the Rolando Street Fair which is just a couple of blocks from my son's new house. Of course, he wasn't home this weekend so I couldn't have visited him and the fair both but still....I might have come by.

Off to the College Avenue Farmer's Market today, after a hiatus of two months. New hours, 3 to 7.

Deckled edge pages?!! Blue print!

> 89 That is so very funny! In a scary way.

Mary, I'm making slow progress--haven't had much reading time and I'm also reading The Science of Discworld which I'm finding fascinating and serendipitous.

Hi, Reba!

Mamie, I knew you'd love that info.

Lucy, I agree.

So today was Kaiser for bone density scan and mammogram--part of age-related upkeep! Also stops by the garden center and Home Depot for additional tomato plants and potting soils. And cooking chicken quarters out on the grill. Tomorrow is supposed to be hot, so we are going for a beach walk in the morning.

I walked in Coronado this morning, after I got my new crown installed (our dentist is in Coronado). It was heavenly.

Hi Roni! Love the bunny earrings! Especially the one with round beads for little potbelly tummies! What is wrong with folk, not snapping them up? Well, as least some people had the good sense to buy your lovely pottery. You articulate very well the reason I stopped doing markets - it's not only the stall fee, but all the material costs you have to factor in there. Plus by the time you add in petrol to get there, a day of your time, money spent on cloths and stands to display everything professionally.... well, it's no get rich quick scheme, that's for sure.
But I also think people have this weird attitude to hand made crafts - it seems the same people who would gladly hand over small fortunes to chain stores selling mass produced stuff are often very sniffy about paying a little extra for something that's been made by hand by an artisan. Me, I understand the value of a one-off made by a person I've actually met. It's just about whether I can justify to myself the extra costs involved, which I know is a problem for many of us these days.
Thanks for the heads up on the Pratchett thread! I am terrible at keeping up with group reads, but as I was fully intending to re-read several Discworld books this year anyway, hopefully I can make a contribution.

Hope you're taking time to enjoy this splendid weekend. Happy Easter!

Hi Roni. I did wonder (given the time stamp) if the Terry Pratchet group read was an April fool's joke; but now I've visited the thread and signed up.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend, Roni, and that you have a very Happy Easter!

Back again to see that the street fair went well enough to keep you going back. I think Hannah has summarized the situation thoroughly and accurately.
I have *Nat. Hist. Dragons* out and ready to read, but I'm already overwhelmed by everything else I've started..... BLUE print, eh???
Hope you get some rain now and then and that your spring doesn't vanish too quickly into summer!

Didn't walk yesterday after all--had a lousy night's sleep and no energy! I did finish a book, though.



Book #35 The Science of Discworld by Terry Pratchett with Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen (385 pp.)

The wizards at the Unseen University have channeled a dangerous level of magic into a sidelined project, the Roundworld project, to bring the magic down to a safe level, and they aren't quite sure what to do with it. While they try to figure it out, two scientists use the project to illustrate basic physics and astronomy. Very readable, dovetailing into my book #33 very nicely.

Today is much better. Went to pottery, trimmed 7 pieces, threw two but one didn't survive the cutting board. Watered the garden, but still haven't gotten the tomatoes planted.

Reba, enjoying it on my deck.

Hannah, very true, all of it. And I am delighted that both you and Nina are joining up for a Pratchett read. Hi, Nina!

Thank you, Mary, and the same to you!

Peggy, I JUST finished Voyage of the Basilisk and I am still SO loving these books!

>103 ronincats: Voyage of the Basilisk
Oh, pffooey, I really shouldn't, but clicking for the Nook book is sooo easy...

Wishing you a blessed Easter weekend, Roni!

I've been browsing the threads while watching the Wisconsin-Kentucky game (which has been fantastic) and I am realizing there is no way I am going to manage to wish everyone appropriate holiday wishes on their threads. Despite the best of intentions. Much as I love you all.

So next best--at least here on my thread I can wish you the best.

Happy Easter!
Hope my Jewish friends had a good Seder.
And happy Spring planting to the rest of you!

Happy Easter, Roni!

I'm still saving Pratchett for a rainy day. Silly of me, eh?

Playing catch-up. Loved the pics of the cat and of the bunny earrings.

>108 sibylline: It is not raining here Lucy and I am also saving Pratchett up but I am not sure why - I really must read some of his books soon.

I have been MIA for much of the last month, Roni, as RL has been more than a little hectic.

Trust that you are having a lovely Easter weekend.

Hi Roni; my last post was supposed to be a quick drive-by wave, because I'm too far behind to read all the threads I've missed during my hiatus - but then I got involved in the Pratchet post.

Thank you for your Easter wishes, and I hope your Easter was good, too.

Hi, everyone. I'm here but just finding it hard to find things to say. We had a quiet Easter, roasted a lamb shoulder for dinner, but we went up to check out another farmer's market Sunday morning and found this booth where this guy from Andalusia was fixing a monster batch of paella--it was DELICIOUS!!

I've finished Voyage of the Basilisk and Reaper Man and started Soul Music and Abducticon. Also got my tomatoes and herbs planted in the garden yesterday, and watered in. We are supposed to get some rain tonight--hopefully! And we got our teeth cleaned.

Today was cleaning house day and we still only got partially done. I need to put winter clothes and KU basketball shirts and paraphernalia up in the attic now that college basketball is over, and bring some summer clothes down. I've done most of the preliminary cleaning and clearing to make that possible. Tomorrow is our regular farmer's market so don't know if I'll have time to get up into the attic--but I might.

Been a rough week in some respects--watching the PBS series on Cancer: Emperor of the Maladies was hard, and there were several things that normally I would have shared with my brother and it's hard that he's not there any more to do that with.

I appreciate all my visitors--Katherine, Valerie, Lori, Lucy, Lori T. dealing with your own loss, Paul and Nina. And Paul, yes, I've been following along on your thread even though I haven't been commenting.

Lucy and Paul, it certainly is silly to "save" Pratchett, as there is so MUCH of him! ;-) Nina and Hannah, I'm glad you are joining in.

Congratulations on the cleaning.

Um, Roni, they have these things called 'tootbrushes' that you use with 'toothpaste' ...

;0)

Sounds like a bittersweet holiday Roni. Thinking of you.

Just saying hi, Roni.

Sounds like you got a lot of stuff done, Roni!
We just cleaned out our closet and donated a bunch of clothing to charity and it feels good to start with clean slate!

*Hugs* Sorry to hear about your rough week but hopefully each day will bring you more comfort.

Hi Roni, just dropping by to say hallo having been gone more or less since we met up last year, probably earlier if I'm honest (did I drop by to say thank you again for being so kind in driving me around? I hope I did - if I didn't, I am very ashamed and here it is - it was a lovely day, sorry if I was a bit spacey with the travel!). ...so I'm just discovering your very sad news about your brother. I'm so sorry - I can't imagine life without my sister. My thoughts are with you.

>113 humouress: Somehow, that plaque still builds up! And the insurance coverage is based on two cleanings a year for preventative care.

>114 swynn: Thank you, Steve. My brother's name is the same as yours, you know.

>115 kgodey: Hi, Kriti. Good to see you!

>116 jolerie: Thanks for the hugs, Valerie. Much appreciated.

>117 flissp: Fliss, I'm pretty sure you said thank you right after you got back, but you definitely have been in absentia since! It's good to see you back, you are welcome, and thank you for the kind thoughts.



Book #36 Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (348 pp.)

This is the third book of Lady Trent's memoirs, set in an alternate Victorian England in a world where dragons abound. These books chronicle her fascination as a natural scientist with dragons and her explorations to study them and are cracking good fun!



Book #37 Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett (353 pp.)

From Amazon:
They say there are only two things you can count on ... But that was before Death started pondering the existential. Of course, the last thing anyone needs is a squeamish Grim Reaper and soon his Discworld bosses have sent him off with best wishes and a well-earned gold watch. Now Death is having the time of his life, finding greener pastures where he can put his scythe to a whole new use. But like every cutback in an important public service, Death's demise soon leads to chaos and unrest -- literally, for those whose time was supposed to be up, like Windle Poons. The oldest geezer in the entire faculty of Unseen University -- home of magic, wizardry, and big dinners -- Windle was looking forward to a wonderful afterlife, not this boring been-there-done-that routine. To get the fresh start he deserves, Windle and the rest of Ankh-Morpork's undead and underemployed set off to find Death and save the world for the living (and everybody else, of course).

This is one of the best of the DEATH strand of stories (lacking only Susan), which is saying a lot since Hogfather and Thief of Time are classics in their own right!



Book #38 Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (373 pp.)

From Amazon:
"Your grandfather is Death", said Albert. "You know? The skeleton in the black robe?" "Death", said Susan flatly. "Well, I can't say I didn't have my suspicions". Other children have xylophones. Susan just had to ask her grandfather to take his vest off. Yes. There's a death in the family. It's hard to grow up normally when Grandfather rides a white horse and wields a scythe - especially when you have to take over the family business, and everyone mistakes you for the Tooth Fairy. And especially when you have to face the new and addictive music that has entered the Discworld. It's lawless. It changes people. It's called MUSIC WITH ROCKS IN. It's got a beat and you can dance to it, but...It's alive. And it won't fade away.

This one was always a little precious for my tastes, but if you love classical rock, you'll catch all the clever allusions. And this is the book where Susan first comes into her own, and that's worth it all in itself!

Hi Roni, I am back from visiting with my family and slowly catching up with people. I was making plans to put my winter clothes away and bring out my summer ones when the weather changed yet again and I find that yet again I need the warm clothes.

Well, my sister just returned a box of my books, recent reads, and since PaperBackSwap has changed its modus operandi, I thought I would list what I plan to get rid of here and see if anyone is interested in a book swap:

The Warlock's Curse by M. K. Hobson
The Ripper Affair by Lilith Saintcrow
Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines
Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
The River Kings' Road by Liane Merciel
Aunt Dimity's Snowbound by Nancy Atherton

The first two are trade paperbacks, the rest are mass market paperbacks.

Wednesday we were at the College Farmers' Market and I sold a small planter and a tree of life pendant that I had just finished making while out there. So I made another of the same stone, finishing up just as the market ended.



YEsterday we took Molly for a walk in Balboa Park and went over to the rose garden.

MY rosebushes aren't doing anything since, between the broken ankle bone and the trip back to Kansas, they were not properly pruned nor have they been watered and fed.

>119 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I am putting away the turtlenecks and sweaters that, once again, I had no opportunity to wear at all this winter!

>121 ronincats: How pretty Balboa Park was.

I think I'm OK without any of these - but what a good idea!

Hi Roni! You certainly are pounding out those Terry Pratchett books! I assumed the group read was for the rest of the year, did I assume wrongly? You seem to be in a rush to read a bunch of them!

>123 thornton37814: It is a lovely place.

>124 sibylline: Well, maybe someone else would be interested in them.

>125 The_Hibernator: Oh, it is, Rachel. I've just been meaning to reread the DEATH books in order, one after another, forever (although I'm skipping Mort), and that means close enough to each other to pick up (and remember) the details.

Slow start to the day. I'll be going to pottery later to throw a bunch of pieces. Bookwise, I'm working on Karen Memory and Abducticon at the moment.

Happy weekend, Roni!

I'll be going to pottery later to throw a bunch of pieces.

Even though I do understand the meaning of 'throwing pottery', I still tend to giggle and engage in vivid thoughts of the Greek tradition of throwing plates and glasses during celebrations. Crazy, I know, but hey, that is the first thing to enter my mind. ;-)

>121 ronincats: I'm a bit less envious now that spring is finally springing here.

Hi Roni -- We visited friends in Kensington last night and as we drove by Kensington Cafe I thought "it would be nice to get together with Roni again". PM me if you have time before the end of May.

Howdy Roni! I started Komarr today.

>127 lkernagh: Lori, LOL!

>128 qebo: And you get the full impact!

>129 RebaRelishesReading: I'm SURE we can find time.

>130 luvamystery65: Hurrah!!

So, a quiet day here, highs in the low 70s, stayed at home (much cheaper that way). Finished one book and made substantial progress on Karen Memory.



Book #39 Abducticon by Alma Alexander (199 pp.)

This book was provided by the Early Reviewers program of LT.

This light, entertaining story of a science fiction convention hijacked by androids and taken on a fly-by around the moon seems to exist mostly as a stage for clever allusions to such classics as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and 2001. As such, read it when you want clever brain candy in lieu of a gripping story.

Any story about a science fiction convention has to be compared to Sharon McCrumb's Bimbos of the Death Sun, which not only parodied science fiction conferences and fen but also had a murder mystery to boot. If you are going to read only one, make it the McCrumb for characterization and plot depth.

Roni, for whatever reason, I'm still interested in The River King's Road unless you thought it wasn't worth your time.
How do you want to work a swap? You can certainly look at my PBS bookshelf and I'll pull whatever interests you, or I can give you a credit there or whatever you had in mind. Thanks!
Glad your ankle is better and that you're busy again.
(Also a long-time fan of *Bimbos* and *Gene Pool* too.)

Peggy, The River Kings' Road wasn't a bad read at all, but to continue to the second book looked like it was going to get a lot darker than I like. I'll check out your PBS shelf.

Book #40 Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear (350 pp.)

Elizabeth Bear is a wonder of an author. She can write hard technical science fiction, old world vampires, epic fantasy set in Asian societies, Shakespearian and modern urban fantasy, and now, steampunk set in the Old West Northwest Territory. And she does it all SO WELL!

Karen Memery is a teenage "seamstress" in Rapid City, a boom town along Puget Sound that is feeding men to the gold rush in Alaska. What starts out as a personal feud with a rival procurer expands into a murder mystery and then even further into a life and death matter. Told in Karen's inimitable voice and featuring a cast of individualized, fascinating characters with elements of steampunk technology in an fully developed Old West masterpiece of world-building, the story-telling is by no means neglected. Highly recommended, and some excellent reviews on the work page as well.

>135 ronincats: Hmmm.

>135 ronincats: Versatile!

Morning, Roni! I am so thrilled that you liked Karen Memory, as I purchased it after seeing it mentioned here - it was in that list of books that you were interested in, and after reading through the description of it, I bought it. So hooray for it being good. I am hoping to get to it very soonish.

>121 ronincats: I love the tree of life pendant and those pictures of the rosebushes. Sorry to hear your own rosebushes aren't doing so well. We're lucky in that whoever used to own this house planted several rosebushes and they seem to be quite hardy in that they survived me completely ignoring them last year and flowered happily away (I think they are repeat flowerers).

>135 ronincats: I haven't read anything by Elizabeth Bear before but I've seen lots of good things about Karen Memory. Is thata good place to start with EB's books?

Elizabeth Bear is high on my must try authors list. :)

Thanks so much for those links, Roni. I would love for you to drop by the SFFFCat Challenge and check it out, here's the link: Girl Power

Yay, Karen Memory. I really enjoyed that one.

Well, Elizabeth Bear certainly sounds like a name to watch out for! Any of those different genres sound like they would be fun!

Ohhh, Balboa Park. So beautiful! I listened to Brothers in Arms while driving across Kansas. I love The Vorkosigan Saga books for my road trips. I'm glad Bujold is a prolific author!

Watching Interpreter of Maladies must have been difficult, Roni. How is your mother doing? Will you be doing another Kansas trip this year to check on her? It would be fun to meet up in Lawrence. Just a thought.

>126 ronincats: That's interesting Roni, why are you skipping Mort? I think that may be the only one of the DEATH books I've read.

>136 qebo: Hmmmn!
>137 sibylline: Yes, but good at it!
>138 Crazymamie: Mamie, I think you will enjoy it.
>139 souloftherose: Heather, I think you would enjoy a lot of her work. But yes, I think you'd like it and it's a stand-alone.
>140 jolerie: Good!
>141 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I've been by and starred it, even though I haven't posted anything yet.
>142 kgodey: Yay, Kriti!
>143 HanGerg: Definitely, Hannah!
>144 Donna828: Donna, the best is yet to come. And my mom is still having a rough time of it. Don't know about a later visit yet, but will let you know if it comes up.

>145 The_Hibernator: What a good question, Rachel! Mort is essential background information for the rest of the DEATH sequence and incidents therein are often referred to, but it is not as good a story as the rest of the books. Being an earlier book, it's not as complex or well-written. That doesn't mean it isn't worth reading and enjoying--only in comparison--so when rereading, as I already know the background, I go straight to the later books. How about that?

It's summer here--been up to 80 the past two days and I've read out on the deck for part of them. No sales at the farmers' market on Wednesday, but I made a cat pendant. I've been trying to find my camera ever since to take a shot of it to post here but, although I have the case and the battery I was recharging, I haven't found it. I may have to give up and use my big camera...but where could this one be???

I've finished Thief of Time (so good!) and went straight into Good Omens last night. Also working on The Reformation, which came home from the library on Thursday, and Carousel Sun. Actually went to the gym and did the water exercise class on Thursday, so good and so necessary--muscles were definitely feeling it afterward. Yesterday we had lunch at Ponce's and then a trip to Costco to stock up. Today will of course be pottery--I have a bunch of pieces to trim.



Book #41 Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett (357 pp.)

My review from the last time I read it still stands:
The last in the series featuring Death and Susan, at least for the time being! This group of books is one of my favorite Discworld series, and TOT did not disappoint. The Auditors reappear with their usual intent of reducing the Universe to numbers and measuring and counting things and getting rid of that unpredictable squishy life stuff, especially humans. And this time it devolves to all-out war. Death has to go scare up Pestilence, Famine, and War out of their comfortable niches, and the Fifth Horseman even gets called up, while Susan is her usual no-nonsense self (the scenes of her actually teaching in her classroom are among the most hilarious in the book) and gets a love interest. And the History Monks with their time slicing are fantastic. Much fun, much action, great way to while away a couple of evenings!

I really need to find the time to read more Pratchett.

My genre study librarian group is focusing on fantasy next and Mort or Wyrd Sisters are two of the three books we can choose from as a "benchmark read." I'm leaning just slightly towards Wyrd Sisters because I've enjoyed what I've read of the Witches series, but may have to consider wedging Death in there if I can manage to fit more than one before our June meeting.

>147 foggidawn: Good resolution, foggy.
>148 bell7: You really can't go wrong, Mary.

I got out the big camera for a shot of the cat, and here it is although the lighting is not great.


I trimmed two plates, two big bowls, one soup bowl and four mugs today, and threw a fair-sized bean pot. That should all be coming home in 3 weeks.

That's cute! I like the spiraled eye and the wrapping along the back.

>149 ronincats: So cute!

Just dropping by quickly to wish you for the weekend / hope you had a good one. Might I suggest you push the wire in a bit and define the cat's neck a bit more? Since they are such sinuous creatures.

ETA : >150 jjmcgaffey: and I agree with Jenny

Thanks, Jenn.

Sharp eye, Nina. I'm still working on this format--first time with the eye, for example, and agree that this is rather a fat cat. Of course, the nice thing about wire is--it's malleable!

I'll curl the eye up a bit more, and then it's done!

Nina does have a good eye, it looks much more cat-like now. The close up really shows how much detail and work you put into these, Roni.

Hi Ron! Drat on the sales although I do like your cat pendant.

I had planned on reading the entire Death series, starting this month with Mort which I haven't read. I just don't seem to be getting many books read this month. I'll get to it soon, though!

The second one is darling! I am sorely tempted! What are you asking for these?

That is impressive Roni! I love the shades of blue you chose as well. :)

Second kitty is lovely! You're good, ma'am.

>155 sibylline:, >157Second kitty is the first kitty with some "adjustments", gals!

>153 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy.
>154 streamsong: Get going on it, Janet. They read very quickly!
>156 jolerie: Thank you, Valerie.

A cooler day here today. Watered the garden. One tomato plant has set on 4 small tomatoes. Moved the sleeveless and short-sleeved tops from the back closet to the front one, and vice versa for the long-sleeved and 3/4 sleeve tops. We cooked a monster stir fry with fresh peas and pork tonight for supper.

Tomorrow is a funeral for a former colleague. The upside is I'm having lunch beforehand with two of my other former colleagues that I don't see nearly often enough--Japanese.

Read another two sections of The Reformation: A History--fascinating but oh, so dense!

... for a second, I thought you had sleeveless tomatoes ...

LOL me too!

Cute kitties!

>159 humouress:, >160 cal8769: I can assure you that none of my tomatoes have ever had sleeves!

>161 Storeetllr: Same kitty. Went on a diet. Wish I could lose weight that easily.

So, farmers market today. I sold a flower chain scarf and fingerless gloves in the red/purple yarn and a little pair of heart wire earrings, so made my fee, but no profit after the hubby bought food and produce from other vendors! I did finish one cat and almost another. The pink one has now undergone the same diet as the one in >152 ronincats: and isn't as chubby, and the gold one has now been wrapped all the way around.

Okay - now i absolutely wants the gold kitty.

>161 Storeetllr:, >162 ronincats: Oh, haha! Me too! "Just pinch in that tummy paunch a bit, would you? Yes, like that." Wouldn't that be nice!

>135 ronincats: - Oooooh, that one sounds right up my alley. BB for Karen Memory happily taken. I absolutely loved New Amsterdam and Ad Eternum - for the obvious steampunk elements - but Carnival was a bit of a struggle for me. It was a good read but took me further into the 'sci-fi' realm then I usually venture.

I am enjoying your experimenting with cat pendants. Fun!

Happy weekend, Roni!

Hi Dear One! I'm stopping by and waving hi.

Hugs to you!

I was coming over here to ask you the same question, so I'll duplicate my answer to you back on my thread.
Roni, I'm on 218 (of The Reformation: A History) about to start on the Jesuits. I read some today and yesterday and thought I was blitzing through it, but you are really doing the good job! There are so many little side-shoots and volunteers that I had no idea about. I'd never heard of the Family of Love, but Brueghel the painter was a Familist. On another front, I was devastated to learn that M. Luther didn't say, "Here I stand. I can do no other." Oh well. It's quite a book, but 10 or 15 pages are all I can manage in one sitting.

>162 ronincats: I suspect you're making fat cats on purpose, just to make us jealous by their suddenly-svelte figures }0/

Stopping to say hello.
Pratchett's Susan showed up in this year's Suvudu Cage Match bracket challenge--Pat Rothfuss did a great ministory with her, his Felurian, and Gaiman's Death. Here is part one, and here is the finale.

>162 ronincats: no profit but at least you have some nice fruit and veggies :)

>163 sibylline: The gold kitty is on its way!
>164 Storeetllr: I do so wish real life were that way, Mary!
>165 lkernagh: Hi, Lori. I haven't tried Carnival yet.
>166 Whisper1: Love to you, Linda!
>167 LizzieD: Persevere, Peggy, persevere!
>168 humouress: I just naturally tend to plumpness, Nina, unfortunately.
>169 quinaquisset: QQ, what fun!
>170 RebaRelishesReading: True. Unfortunately, the market yesterday was a null, so lost money.

Three books finished since I last reported.



Book #42 Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (432 pp.)

A re-read of one of my favorite Pratchetts.



Book #43 The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer (343 pp.)

A reread of the Heyer book of the month, a mid-tier book for me, and my 1951 edition has the worst back cover blurb of all time, with at least 10 blatant errors in it!



Book #44 Carousel Seas by Sharon Lee (352 pp.)

The third book in Lee's "urban" fantasy set in a beach community in Maine, this one continues the story line on both the mundane and fantastical levels. An entertaining series, Lee always produces good characters and interesting cats!

April Summary

Only 10 books this month, but I'm working on a really dense nonfiction in addition.
Pages read: 3492

5 rereads, primarily due to my Pratchett memorial reads
5 new to me books, all but one published in 2015 brand-new books

1 library book, 3 Kindle books, 2 hardbacks, 1 trade, 4 mass market paperbacks

1 science fiction
7 fantasy
1 nonfiction
1 romance

Books acquired:

Grail
Daughter of Gods and Shadows
The JANUS AFFAIR
The Diamond Conspiracy
Precursor
The Origin’s of Tolkien’s Middle Earth

Gearing up for May Murder and Mayhem, the one month where I prioritize mysteries, here are the ongoing series where I need to read the next in order:

Dr. Siri: Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill
Eve Dallas: Holiday in Death by J. D. Robb
Flavia: I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
Three Pines: The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
Lady Georgie: A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen

10 books is still impressive, Roni!

I have Good Omens on my TBR mountain. Should bump that one up.

>174 jolerie: Yes, you should. It is utterly weird and wonderful and I reread (ir)regularly. Also very funny, in a twisted sort of way.

Glad you're enjoying all of your Terry Pratchett books! I'm still waiting for Sourcery to come from my library. At this rate I'll take forever to read the Wizard series or whatever it's called.

Have a good weekend!

>174 jolerie:, >175 jjmcgaffey: I agree with Jenn, Valerie--definitely one to bump up!

>176 The_Hibernator: Rachel, great to see you here! Yeah, typically called the Wizard thread or the Unseen University thread. It's not my favorite, but any Pratchett is fun. Hope you had a good weekend with the bunny guy, too.

So, a busy day today. Had a meet-and-greet at the consignment shop that wasn't profitable money-wise at all but hopefully built some PR, then straight to the pottery studio to glaze some plates and bowls and pick up these pieces that I glazed last week.

Lovely stuff. I like the browns, and the blue heart bowl. OK, I like all of them...

>177 ronincats: Lovely pots Roni - the heart shaped one looks like it must have been tricky to make?

>177 ronincats: Yes, yes, I also like them all! What an artist you are!

Oh I love your bowls! The platter looking one on the right is wonderful!

>181 cal8769: I mistakenly read "bowels" instead of "bowls" and realised my eyesight is not what it was.

Lovely to be able to catch up here, Roni. xx

LOL Paul. That is something I would do!

>177 ronincats: The pottery is absolutely gorgeous!

Yup. I'm always a fan of greens and browns, but that bowl, left back on the saucer-looking-thingy, really catches my eye.
I came over to bow to you on your own thread for getting through the first section of *Reformation* in record time. I'll make it, but not anytime soon. *sigh*

Well, you already know I'm a huge fan of your pottery. I love the green and brown glazes, and the heart shaped bowl is cute, but I'm really intrigued by the glaze on the turquoise and lilac (two of the colours I'm most partial to).

Oh! Something nice in my mailbox this way comes!

Just saying Hi! I love all your kitty jewelry; even though I never wear any, I always want to buy it! :)

Love the pottery, Roni, but that's nothing new. Ha! Are you sure you won't ship that stuff? *sigh*
And speaking of shipping, your pendant came in the mail and I'm so excited to give it to my friend - she is going to *love* it!! Many thanks, again! (The paypal payment went through, yes?)

Hi, all. Busy day today--one craft fair at ten and then farmers market at 3! Need to respond to Amber, though. Yes, it went through, glad you like it, and the problem with the pottery is the cost of shipping is nearly the cost of the piece of pottery.

Thanks to everyone else for the kind words. We'll see if any of this sells today.

Ro I finished A Civil Campaign and Winter Fair Gifts. Hilarious and touching. I'll review later on my thread but I really loved them both. Now taking a break from Miles for a couple of months. I'm going to run out!

>191 luvamystery65: No worries about running out. First of all, I read that she's writing another novel in the Vorkosigan universe (featuring Cordelia) (due out in Feb. 2016) (woo-hoo!) (http://www.tor.com/blogs/2015/03/lois-mcmaster-bujold-new-cordelia-vorkosigan-novel-gentleman-jole-and-the-red-queen). Second, you can do what I plan to do and reread the series (probably next year before the new one comes out)!

>178 jjmcgaffey:, >179 souloftherose:, >180 Whisper1:, >181 cal8769:, >182 PaulCranswick:, >183 cal8769:, >184 thornton37814:, >185 LizzieD:, >186 humouress:, >187 sibylline:, >188 hairballsrus:, >189 scaifea: Thank you all for your visits and comments!

Yesterday was EXHAUSTING, and it was COLD. In the low 60s with wind, and it was the latter that made it uncomfortable. I was wearing my crochet hat and fingerless glove wares the last hour or so of the farmers' market!! However, I sold 8 different pieces of pottery at the two venues, including the new pots on the left and middle top. That would be the planter with attached saucer at the top left, the two small bowls, and the middle brown and green bowl. In addition, Lex's red bowl, my yarn bowl, and a white and turquoise bowl went. Also my large green cup. So it was a successful albeit very long day (8:30 to 7:30).

I finished a book onSunday for May Mayhem and Murder.



Book #45 A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen (307 pp.)

This is the second in a series about Georgie, 34th in line for the throne in the 1930s, broke and trying to live in London, as she keeps being given sleuthing tasks by Queen Mary, usually for the queen's goal of separating her oldest son from that awful Mrs. Simpson. These are silly and farcical in the way they portray Georgie's struggle to stay in London without any money, at least one dead body always shows up, and Georgie is the one to figure it out, mostly. Great light fun, despite the three bodies in this one.

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring...and there is even rain in our mountains today. May--who'd believe it!

I cooked spagetti with italian sausage in marinara sauce and Italian herb bread in the bread machine. And read in the Reformation book, now overdue and the website isn't letting me renew it. NO!

Oh, BOO! Who else is going to check it out? Sorry.... That would be a legitimate question here in Ignorant Land.
If it has Italian sausage, I'll eat it.
Hooray for a good sale day! (I knew that pot/planter + saucer would go.) Boo for exhaustion!
Meanwhile, we're waiting to see what the skirts of Ana bring us.

Roni, I love the pottery in >177 ronincats:, and hooray for good sales!

Oddly, the tourism ads for California that we get here never mention rain - it's always sunny :-) But your spaghetti sounds lovely.

Roni, the cats are a lovely addition to your collection. I'm glad you love making your jewelry and pottery because I love looking at it! Sorry it's a bit chilly in Paradise. I'm sure your garden doesn't mind getting some rain. It rained off and on here today and yesterday. I managed to plant some Petunias with Haley. They are her favorite flowers. I think she approved of the pink and purple assortment I bought. Now I will have to battle with the squirrels as they like to nibble on them.

>195 LizzieD: I was eventually able to renew it, Peggy. Hope Ana doesn't wreak too much havoc as she brushes by.

>196 susanj67: Susan, it's even the title in a popular 70s song--"It never rains in Southern California!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvp31j7snVM
It does rain, but while we are supposed to get 9-10 inches a year here (not excessive, but average), we've only had half of that this year and the rainy season is behind us. Substantial rainfall is very unusual from May through October.

>197 Donna828: I do enjoy making it, so I'm glad you enjoy looking at it, Donna. I don't think there were any complaints from natives yesterday and the plants loved it! Hope none of the funnel clouds go through your area.

So, today is pottery day. I picked up the following:

The bowls are both 9 inches in diameter, with the plates 9.5 and 10 inches.

>194 ronincats: What a lovely image you paint of snow and spagetti! That's a wonderful combination

>198 ronincats: I love pottery day because we get to see your lovely creations.

>198 ronincats: I love all of those.

A children's book you might like that I've just started is Under the egg.

>200 thornton37814: Ditto!

Hi Roni! Yes, all the much-needed water you received is now dumping on us -- about 4 inches so far at my house, and I'm afraid for my lilacs, Japanese maple, and peonies. I'm afraid they're goners -- especially as we're expected to get quite a bit more!

Love your jewelry! The cats are darling, but I confess the trees are my favorite.

Happy weekend to you!

>199 Whisper1: Indeed, but rather unusual for this time of year!

>200 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori.

>201 avatiakh: Your wish is my command. Plus, the local library branch has a copy on its shelves!

>202 brenpike: Hi, Brenda! No twisters there yet?

>203 AMQS: Hi, Anne. Sorry about your snow but very happy about our rain. Happy weekend for your reunited family!

>198 ronincats: Nice!

Looks like you're experimenting with patterns?

Yowza, a great sale day. You were due for one! Like the swirls on the new pottery and love the green with dotses. Really nice.

Snow and spaghetti? Sounds perfect for a nice cold winter's evening. Oh wait. It's not winter?!?

Lovely pottery as always, Roni!

Ooof, that pottery is amazing! As usual. Thanks for sharing!

Hi Roni, I am in the process of catching up after being away. Your pottery is gorgeous, I love every one of the ones in >198 ronincats: - such great colors!

I am reading my first "Girl Power" Fantasy book for May, Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop and really enjoying it. Just what I needed - another series to follow!

>198 ronincats:

Ooh, love the green one!

I so admire your creativity. I can only imagine how happy it makes you to make these lovely items.

>205 humouress: Well, the plates are flat and so pours don't work as well. So yes, I guess I'm experimenting with the swirls, Nina.

>206 sibylline: Yes, Lucy, a good day although a LOOONNNNGGGG one! But it would have been much longer without any sales.

>207 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie!

>208 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>209 DeltaQueen50: Welcome home, Judy. Glad you are liking your Anne Bishop--I've got to admit that I've never gotten in to her the time or two I tried her stuff.

>210 lyzard: Thanks, Liz!

>211 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda! You are right, it makes me very happy.

And tonight we went to try a Russian restaurant we had noticed when we went past it on the weekend, and the way back took us past the pottery studio, so we stopped to pick up the stuff I glazed on Saturday.


My reading has been very slow this month, with only one book finished in the first week of May. Partly this has been because I've been concentrating on The Reformation: A History. I've finished the first two parts and am ready to start the last section, but it's a long book (864 pp.)

However, to break my impasse with fiction I read a romance novella because it was narrated by a cat. ??



Book #46 The Girl With the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir (166 pp.)

A basic romance, whose primary charm is the cat. And there is somewhat of a mystery.

And then into my library books:



Book #47 I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley (293 pp.)

Book 4 of the Flavia de Luce series, this one seemed to move more quickly than some of the earlier books, with much less time spent on family dynamics. I got through it in half a day--so it was a quick read and entertaining. I have to get on with the next before another full year passes.

Now I'm working on a Dr. Siri book with the usual enjoyment!

The vase is really nice. I like that speckled brown glaze on that and the bowl. You do come up with some gorgeous designs!

Dr. Siri! Flavia de Luce! Such fun reading!

I must get back to Flavia Deluce. I read and enjoyed the first but haven't continued yet.

>213 jjmcgaffey: Thanks, Jenn.
>214 Storeetllr: All my favorite mystery series, Mary.
>214 Storeetllr: This is one of my favorites, Steve



Book #48 Slash and Burn by Colin Cotteril (290 pp.)

This is one of the best of the series!!

We have received another inch and a half of rain in the last two days. This is so unheard of in May, but my plants are lapping it up--literally!

Yay for the rain, I know you need it.

Your pottery gets more and more accomplished! Brava.

And - I adore listening to the Flavia mysteries. Love that narrator, Zara something, I think. She's doing St. Mary's too, I think, but quite differently.

<212 Is that the one on El Cajon? We ate there a few years back. Interesting food (in a good way) and weird owner (not so much in a good way).

Hooray for the rain -- but wow!! rain in May -- really!?! Beautiful now though. Much get a good walk in this afternoon. Hope you're doing something fun in the outdoors.

Thanks, Lucy. Yes, the rain is very welcome indeed!

Reba, no, this one is on Broadway just west of 25th Street in Golden Hill. Kafe Sobaka, styling itself as a menage a trois of Georgian, Russian, and California cuisine.

Yay for the rain! You guys really really needed it! Hope your weekend is progressing happily!

Hi Roni! Just passing through and admiring all the crafty goodness! Yay for pottery sales!

I passed a couple of Dr. Siri books along to my sister and then had to practically open them and force her to read. Now she is totally hooked! What a great series. :)

We've been getting nothing BUT rain in Texas. Weird.

Drive by Hello!

Love the pottery pictures, Roni. You are so creative. I really must get back to Flavia. I actually pulled the second book in the series off the shelf yesterday and put it on my current TBR stack. Hope to get to it soon but the stack keeps growing.

We've had a lot of rain here too but I think it's always normal for Britain to have a lot of rain :-) I need to get back to Dr Siri.

So, every week in May around Thursday, a front has been coming through. This is the third week in a row, although there's only a 40% chance of precip this week. We'll take it!

Thanks for visiting, Mary, Paula, and Heather--you are as welcome as our atypical rain! We have had more rain in May than we had in January through April, the bulk of our rainy season, combined!

And thank YOU for the craft love, Hannah and Meg. We are trying a new farmers market in Allied Gardens this Friday, in addition to our College Avenue one on Wednesday. We'll end up choosing just one to go on with. And we are buying me a new vehicle. I have a 12 year old Infiniti I35 with 47,300 miles on it, but the Toyota Highlander Limited I am getting will hold all my market gear and it has all the navigation and safety features of new cars. We have to wait a week or so for it to get here, but I'm excited.

Judy and Heather, that's why I like the months with the Mystery theme, May this year. Since I don't typically read mysteries, it reminds me to read the next book in the series I am following. This was my goal for the month:

Dr. Siri: Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill
Eve Dallas: Holiday in Death by J. D. Robb
Flavia: I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
Three Pines: The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
Lady Georgie: A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen

So the latest book read IS



Book #49 Holiday in Death by J. D. Robb (340 pp.)

Another Eve Dallas book with a gut-wrenching murder involving sexual deviation, triggering Eve's past traumas, and hot sex with Rourke--not a lot of interaction with some of her friends, other than her assistants. I still like the world that Eve lives in, but the violence disturbs me.

After a slow section in The Reformation: A history, I'm now in a more interesting section. Part Three deals with the effects of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation on the common man, and the first two parts were on apocalyptic expectations and death and discipline. Now i'm into Love and Sex. Yes!

"The Christian understanding of the roles of women and men in reproduction were also much influenced by the pre-Christian Aristotle, who presented the act of procreation as depending entirely on male seed. A man's semen contained the entire fetus in embryo, so anything that stopped male seed doing its job was an act of murder--anything, from masturbation to contraception to same-sex sexual relations."

Only one more chapter after I finish this section! 624 pages read.

Congratulations on reading 49 books so far. My hospital stays equated to less reading. I'm not sure I'll meet the 75 mark this year, which will be the first time since 2008 that I've missed the goal.

Days when I feel a little better, I'm working on organizational projects around the house. Today's task was matching lids with bottoms of containers. I'm convinced that containers are like missing socks. You just shake your head and wonder where in the world the other pair is.

I have abougt thirty lid with no containers. How did that happen? gesh? And, in looking through drawers where I knew I had some containers stored, I happened upon about twenty books. So, there was a bright side to the sad case of missing containers.

I'm going to simply through away the lids and not worry about ever finding the partner.

I love your latest creation. I hope that when I retire I can find something as fulfilling and creative as you have.

LOL (And, in looking through drawers where I knew I had some containers stored, I happened upon about twenty books. So, there was a bright side to the sad case of missing containers)

That is wonderful and so funny! A few years ago I bought the rubbermade containers where the lids click together when not in use or you can click them to the bottom of the container. Then I bought a bigger container that happened to be the perfect size for all of the lids and the smallest containers. I love not looking for lids!

I can't get over your having a 12-year old car with only 47K miles on it! I don't know whether to be impressed or tell you to get out more ;-)

I read the In Death series when I want popcorn for my brain. Sort of like comfort reading, except for, you know, all the sex and violence...

Apparently, so far this year, we've gotten as much rain in Dallas as in all of last year. I don't mind it and am glad to be out of the drought!

>228 Whisper1: Hooray for the serendipity of "happening upon about twenty books."
ACK! CONTAINERS!!!! I ruthlessly go through my mother's container cabinet every year or so, throw out unmated ones, and reinstall sto'-bought containers and lids. Inside 6 months the nice, stackable matching ones are gone and we're back to various unmatched shapes and sizes reclaimed from whatever she's bought in that time. I'm just not going there anymore since it's a low cabinet that breaks my back when I deal with it more than 10 minutes at a time.
HI, RONI!!!!
I have yet to read Eve Dallas. Since Stasia loves her and reads her for comfort and you like her, I know I'll get there sometime.
Meanwhile, I'm not reading much of anything except *Wheel 5* (you really have to forgive Jordan for so much, but his world is compelling) even though I made a little progress last week with *Reformation* and *Washington*. WHY am I drawn to whoppers???

The "In Death" books are reading popcorn for me too. The violence doesn't bother me too much ~ it's a murder mystery series at heart, after all ~ and the sex scenes aren't too frequent or drawn out. I do like it when she interacts with her friends and gets all weirded out by it, though as the series progresses she is starting to become more comfortable with her extended family/social life.

So glad for all the rain you've been getting in Cali! I still wish I could send you some of ours. Denver's supposed to be sunny 300 days out of the year, but we haven't had a sunny day for a couple of weeks, it seems. Oh, well, better than drought, I guess, though I've been seeing news reports about many rivers and streams getting close to reaching flood stage.

>228 Whisper1: Linda, so lovely to see you out and around on the threads! I did the lid and container matching a while ago too, and threw the extra lids away, forgetting that I had their bottoms organizing spice envelopes in the pantry. Oh well....

>229 cal8769: Hi, Carrie. Sounds like you've solved the lid problem.

>230 katiekrug: Katie, I lived only 6 miles from my work, and we used my husband's vehicle for weekend driving and long trips! We aren't out of the drought yet, but every little bit of rain is welcome.

>231 LizzieD: Guess what! I'm finished with The Reformation: A History! Woo hoo!

>232 Storeetllr: Mary, Eve is definitely getting weirded out by having to deal with having friends at Christmas and this whole gift-buying thing. Sorry about all your rain, but at least you are getting a lot of reading done!

So, farmers market day, and I made exactly what my booth fee was by selling one pair of red wire heart earrings and those two mugs that fell together and fused in the kiln last year. However, during the market I made these two pendants and finished a crochet hat.


And Book #50 for the year, as I mention to Peggy, is---



Book #50 The Reformation: A History by Diarmaid MacCulloch (687 pp.)

The book is 792 pages long, but since I didn't read the notes (not comments, only citations of sources) nor the index, I don't count them. This is a blockbuster of facts and people from the 1500s through the 1700s as Europe underwent the upheavals of the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. MacCulloch deals with overlapping contemporaneous events and personages with copious cross-referencing and ironic humor as he first sets the stage with a picture of Europe prior to the Reformation, then looks at the years noted above throughout Europe as these movements rippled across the land, then looks at the lasting effects on the everyday people. Fascinating!

I've been strolling among the threads, although I haven't been very talkative. I tackled one major task today--the piles of papers on my desk and going through my file cabinet and taking out all the stuff I don't use or need so I can use it to put the papers from my desk away! If that makes sense.

I also finished a book when I took a break after toting two shopping bags of discarded paper out to the recycle bin.



Book #51 First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen (296 pp.)

I had trouble getting into this sequel of Garden Spells--too domestic! But finally I got far enough in to develop some interest in the endings.

Book #52 Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald (247 pp.)

Kerry wrote this about this book last month:
I loved this, it's described '....from the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler meets Chasing Vermeer in this clever middle grade debut...'
Theodora has a mystery on her hands when her grandfather dies suddenly, leaving her to fend for herself and her dysfunctional mother with $800 in the kitty and an old old house in Greenwich Village , New York. The discovery of a mysterious painting, possibly a masterpiece, that has hung in the house for over 40 years is sparked when Theo follows her grandfather's advice and looks 'under the egg'. Theo must discover the provenance of the painting and in the process she discovers a number of helpful friends in her community. This is a great story that delves into the world of the Holocaust and Monuments Men from World War II.
Another gem from the Jewish Book Council website recommendations list.


So you can see why I immediately ordered the book from MY library! I love both The Mixed-Up Files and especially Chasing Vermeer. First of all, this is a book aimed at middle school age people, and there is no fantasy or science fiction at all in it. There is a mystery to figure out, just as in Chasing Vermeer and From the Mixed-Up Files.... And this is just as delightful as both of those stories.

CONGRATULATIONS, RONI!!!!! --- for reading all of The Reformation. I know I'll get there one day.

Thank you, Peggy. I know you will.

So, we tried a new farmers' market this afternoon in Allied Gardens, about 4 miles from the house. This is just the second week, and there was tremendous traffic despite questionable weather. AND I sold 8 pieces of pottery and 4 crochet goods, with many people asking if I would be back next week. (Well, YES, doh!) I made a purple stone on purple wire tree of life while there, but forgot to pull it out of the box to bring in to photograph when I packed up tonight.

Now that sounds like a much more promising venue. Much better than just making back the price of your table.

Yes, Meg, it is, even if the price of the table is twice that at the new market. I'm still coming home with much more in my pocket!

So, we sold my car, a 2003 Infiniti I35 with 47,442 miles on it, today. I'm supposed to be having a new Toyota Highlander on the way, but until it arrives, we only have one vehicle. Feels very strange.

Pottery today. I threw 7 little bowls, a mug body, a big bowl and 2 medium large bowls. I'll have a LOT of trimming to do next week, when I will also have a goblet and three bowls to glaze. I had these mugs to bring home today.

How wonderful to do so well at the market!!!! This is very exciting for you.

I really like the big one, bottom left. Looks like it would hold a good big morning cuppa!

Roni, your work just gets more and more lovely. Thank you for sharing them here! Thanks for recommending Under the Egg on my thread. Once I saw the cover here, though, I realized I have this book on my list for fall, 2015 at my library. Can't wait!

Ooh, I like the sound of Under the Egg. I was just telling someone the other day about my aborted effort to write a work of fiction a few years back. I hadn't thought about it in ages, but a part of the (very sketchily laid out) plot was something slightly similar to what that sounds like.
i also like the sound of this new farmers market! Maybe you have finally found the appreciative audience all your fine wares deserve!

>235 ronincats: Happy that you liked this one as well. I haven't read the latest Chasing Vermeer book yet, Pieces and Players but enjoyed The Calder Game quite a lot. Love these books that introduce art and history to children in such innovative ways. I wasn't even aware of Calder as an artist until I read Balliett 's book.

Happy also that you've found a receptive market finally for your crafts. I pick up interesting pottery pieces at my local charity shop from time to time. I'd probably buy your coffee mugs if I came across them as those big handles are great for handling hot drinks and probably also good for people with arthritis.

>240 sibylline: We'll see how week two goes on Friday. Maybe all the pottery lovers satiated themselves last week...

>241 Storeetllr: Perspective, perspective! The rear right mug is the same size, an almost perfect match.

>242 AMQS: Hi, Anne. I hope you enjoy the book when you get it. Thanks so much for coming by and your kind words.

>243 HanGerg: Hi, Hannah, mother-to-be! Great to see you here.

>244 avatiakh: Kerry, being away from the kids and school, I haven't kept up on the non-sff children's lit, and I see that there's another Balliett book I missed in the interim, so I've ordered Hold Fast from the library. The library also has Pieces and Players but only in audio, for some unknown reason.

I won an ER book today. I asked for two, and got the one I didn't expect! But it should be interesting--Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice. I thought I would get Saving the Original Sinner because of all my reading in the area of religion. So I pre-ordered that one for the Kindle.

An at-home day today, FINALLY! But we were both awake from 2:20 to nearly 5 this morning, so it was a late start to the day at 9. I got laundry put away--I am using a folding technique that is being popularized by a Japanese organizer, Marie Kondo, that truly does result in a lot more room in my drawers. All clothing is folded in rectangles and stood on end--there are lots of examples out there on the web. I got the rest of my papers filed or disposed of, and then kind of petered out. I'm watching The Roosevelts on PBS tonight.

*Off to google this folding technique...*

Love the pottery, Roni, although, of course, you're just torturing me with those photos, you know...

That folding technique is impressive. I am someone, however, still struggling to master folding the contour sheet.....

Amber, I should have known that would appeal to you!

Lucy, this is MUCH simpler than folding a fitted sheet, trust me! I still have probs with that one.

Here's a photo of one of my drawers with some of my casual tank tops (on the left) and t-shirts for summer.


So, I bought a Fitbit Charge HR today, purple, so I need to connect with the other fitbitters here and figure out what I am doing with it. No reading but I got three books back to the library and picked one up while we were out today.

Roni, I have thought of getting a Fitbit but would like to know more. I am looking forward to Fitbit related posts on your thread.

I have a Fitbit One, an upgrade from my original Ultra. Love it - it's so much fun knowing this stuff! My dad has ordered but not yet received a Charge HR; he currently has a Force (no irritation for him). And my mom has a One, and one sister has an Ultra (she's more careful with her stuff - Mom and I both upgraded after our Ultras started to die). So - yeah, Fitbitter here!

I have a FitBit! It keeps me honest...

Very interested to hear your review of the FitBit as we have been considering them.

I would love to be your Fitbit friend. I'm planning to walk to Eclipse again today but will be on my own so probably won't walk back. I think I'm going to stay further north and avoid the worst of the hills (because I'm a big hill sissy)

I've been considering the FitBit as well now that I'm working from home and noticeably less active since I now chat with my colleagues through Instant Messaging instead of walking over to their cubicles or offices to talk to them.

FitBit? Somehow it's missed getting on my radar. I'll have to Google it to see what exactly it is and then keep tuned to see how it works for you.

Hi, Meg, Jenn, Marie, Eric, Reba, Caro and Mary! Busy, busy day yesterday, from an appointment with the dentist to get my new permanent crown attached to a visit to the dealership to see when my car might get here to the farmers' market in Allied Gardens from 3 to 8:30...whew!

I did only $80 worth of business yesterday, down from the week before but still a lot higher than at the previous venue. AND a check came from the consignment shop where 5 pieces of pottery had sold!

I had seen the Fitbit advertised for the holidays last year, and my mom even gave me some money to be used for one, but had let the idea fade away, in part because I feared it wouldn't motivate me. It's been the discussions here on LT that revived my interest:

Fitbit users:
Mamie (crazymamie): the Queen!
Reba (RebaRelishesREading)
Susan (susanj67)
Rhian (SandDune)

Lots of talk about it, especially on the first three threads.

On day three, and I am using the first week just to document my current activity levels. The sleep data is fascinating! I've not been logging in my food nor have I set a weight goal. Over the last three days, I've walked 3092 steps, 4747 steps, and so far today 2265 steps. That's 1.31, 2.01, and .96 miles respectively. There's a lot more I can do with it. My only disappointment is that it's not waterproof so I can't do my water exercise with it, but I can log in the exercise, although it's really more suited for swimming laps.

Jenn and Marie, I'd love to be your Fitbit friend as well. I'll pm you my email.

Hi Roni, I have been mulling over getting a Fitbit but I don't know if I exercise enough to warrant one. I did talk to my doctor about it and her thoughts are much like mine, can't really see that I need one, but maybe it would be a fun incentive. I'm very interested in how it's going to work for you.

I'm thinking (after Googling it to find out what, exactly, it is) a fitbit would be a very big incentive for me! Especially if I can compete against others, though, if I did that, I'd need a rather large handicap, since in comparison to all of you I do almost no walking or other exercise presently.

Judy, that's why I dilly-dallied, but with all the chatter on LT, I'm thinking this is a way of having walking buddies without actually physically having one.

Mary, that's also true of me, and why I am spending a full week only doing my normal activities before thinking about making any changes. I walked much more when I worked than I do these days, and I spend way too much time in a chair in front of the computer or with a book (no, wait, that last isn't possible!).

Heh, especially not a problem if, like me, you enjoy audiobooks!

I'm amazed and amused by how motivated I am by this little device on my arm AND by my Fitbit friends. If I have only 7000 or 8000 steps by dinner time I go out for a walk around the block afterwards so I can make my 10,000 and I'm tickled (in both senses) when the little vibrator goes off on my arm signaling I'm met my goal. The silly little badges please me too, I must admit. I would love to have more Fitbit friends too so PM me if you're interested.

When I got mine, I was fascinated to see how much (or on some days, how little) I walked. I love knowing. Now I have various other tools that say how far I've walked (Google Fit on my phone, for instance) and not one of them agrees with the Fitbit - but that was first, so for me it's the baseline. I also like that it tracks stairs (though it has one large failure - if you're driving slowly up a hill/rise, it will read that as stairs. My best day for stairs I got 80 - about 65 of those were coming home from San Francisco, going over the Bay Bridge in rush hour traffic!). And I'm always fascinated by the sleep data, though now I have Sleep as Android which is more precise and informative - I still track in Fitbit as well, and compare the two.

I've got a bunch of Fitbit friends, most of whom outwalk me by a large margin (double, or worse!). I'd be happy to have more, though.

I'm still on the Fitbit fence, but love reading the threads of the LT Fitbitters! I love the idea of badges and arm vibrations as motivators. Keep us informed about how it impacts your life, Roni. I'm so glad you found a better venue for your pottery and jewelry. I knew there had to be a market out there somewhere for your treasures.

With all this Fitbit posting I have a definite urge to go out and buy one. I would be interested to see how many steps I get on an average day. For a typical lazy Sunday that includes doing the laundry, like today, it would probably be more than I realize because I live in a 3 floor townhouse. The washer and dryer and my main computer (and most of my books) are on the bottom story and my clothes are on the top.

Add me to the list Roni - I've had one for a year and a half. Gave up on it during the winter. But I'm back at it.

>256 ronincats: I added you and everyone else is welcome to add me too. I need all the motivation I can get!

>248 ronincats: I didn't look up the video on folding, but I adjusted my shirts to look more like that and wow! Lots of extra space all of a sudden and no more "one for one" getting rid of an old shirt for any new one I buy.

Hope you're having a good day!

I've been neglecting this thread, but it's time to start a new one, so I'll take up all my replies over there!