lkernagh (Lori)'s 2016 Journey of Books, Food, Crafts and Walking - Part 1

Early morning at Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada - Juan Alberto Garcia Rivera (CC BY 2.0)

Hello Everyone! 2016 will be my fifth year as part of the 75 group. No theme this year. I have decided to mix things up and post thread topper pics as they appeal to me. How spontaneous/unstructured is that?! For those interested in the image choice, I have chosen this image because it represents the fact that I am just now exiting Banff National Park as part of the walking across Canada journey I started back on July 15, 2015. That, and I really love this part of the Rocky Mountains. ;-)

This will be another fun-filled year of reading, cooking/baking and crafting. It will also include my on-going personal walking challenge to walk, in three calendar years, the distance it would take for me to walk across Canada. If you don't want to follow my walking journey, don't worry. Those posts will be easily identifiable. ;-)

Most of my 2016 reading will focus around reading books off my TBR bookcases and for the various mini author/award challenges I have commited to, like the AAC, BAC, CAC and Pulizer. It will also include reading books as part of my ongoing tour of Commonwealth countries with my Commonwealth Challenge.

As in previous years, I have brought back my "Luck 'O the Irish" Race to see which horse will come in first in 2016. Will it be books read "Pot of Gold" or will pages read "Lucky Shamrock" command the track? It is anybody's guess!

"Luck 'O the Irish" Race

My 2016 Category Challenge (Steps theme):

1. Big Tomes (over 800 pages long - can include anthologies and omnibuses) - 2 books
2. Oooooh.... Shiney! (2016 acquisitions or books published in 2016) - 4 books
3. Dust Collectors (any books acquired prior to 2010 that are still unread) - 6 books
4. Books with One Word Titles - 8 books
5. Spending time with my furry friends (books that fit the various CATs, DOGs and KITs) - 10 books
6. Challenges, Challenges (for all my other challenge reading - Commonwealth, AAC, BAC, CAC, ROOT, etc) - 12 books
7. Blind Date (books chosen for me by other LT members) - 14 books
8. Catchall - 16 books

My 2016 Category Challenge discussion thread can be found here.

My 2016 Clarissa Read
Clarissa - adapted from the Wikipedia listing:

Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady is an epistolary novel by Samuel Richardson, published in 1748. It tells the tragic story of a heroine whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family, and it is regarded as the longest novel in the English language (based on estimated word count). It is generally regarded as Richardson's masterpiece.

The Doorstopper of all books. I intend to read the 9 volume story by following the dates the letters were written, but I am sure I will deviate from that plan as reading and time commitments warrant so let just say that my overall goal is to read from cover to cover all 9 volumes of Clarissa in 2016. I will report occasional status updates and, because I want to and this is my Clarissa challenge, I will count each volume as a separate book read towards my overall 2016 books read total.

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The various Author/Award mini-Challenges: AAC, BAC, CAC, Pulitzer

Books Read:

January
BAC - The Mist in the Mirror by Susan Hill -

February

March

Books Read:

January
1. The Mist in the Mirror by Susan Hill -
2. Uncle Bob's Red Flannel Bible Camp: From Eden to the Ark by Steve Vernon -
3. The Wikipedia Revolution: How a Bunch of Nobodies Created the World's Greatest Encyclopedia by Andrew Lih -
4. The Storyteller by Mario Vargas Llosa -

February

March

Next one's yours! Welcome to my new 2016 thread, which is now open for business!

Welcome back!

LORI, what a beautiful opening. I'm looking forward to your readings and will be here frequently.

>3 lkernagh: I've been thinking I'll attempt Clarissa this year, too, with roughly the same method. I tried it a few years back but didn't make it very far.

*starred*

Stunning OP picture!

I love that topper Lori! Welcome Back!

Good luck on that Clarissa challenge!

Hi Lori! You're starred. Ambitious Clarissa challenge! Someone read it a few years ago... was it Susan? Love your opening picture.

Lovely opening shot Lori. Obviously you'll have me for company in 2016. xx

Wishing you all the best for the New Year and a glorious year of reading ahead.

Good luck on your Clarrissa challenge! I read an abridged version in college and enjoyed it but not sure I could have waded through the unabridged. I'll be interested in seeing your thoughts on it.

This is also my fifth year in the group, Lori. What a gorgeous topper you have chosen! Dropping my star...

>7 drneutron: - Thanks Jim!

>8 Ameise1: - Hi Barbara, lovely to see you stopping by! As you probably have guessed from my comments on your threads, I love pictures of mountains. Add in a lake and I am pretty much in heaven. ;-)

>9 ursula: - If you do, please let me know! It would be great to compare notes and read along with someone!

>10 katiekrug: - Hi Katie!

>11 countrylife: - Hi Cindy, I agree. I wish I could take pictures like that one!

>12 The_Hibernator: - Thanks Rachel! Great to see you here!

>13 thornton37814: - Thanks Lori.... I think I am going to need your good luck wishes with Clarissa!

>14 AMQS: - Hi Anne! I seem to remember someone reading and writing some great posts about Clarissa.... it might have been Liz (lizard). Once I get started, I will search LT and see if I can find the thread.

>15 PaulCranswick: - Great to see you here, Paul!

>16 avatiakh: - Thanks Kerry! I am looking forward to 2016!

>17 Tanglewood: - An abridged version would be tempting. Did you have to read it as part of a course? I couldn't imagine the students having the time to make it through an unabridged version, unless the course was only about Clarissa. ;-)

>18 Crazymamie: - Hi Mamie! Great to see you here!

I am getting all giddy that 2016 is almost here. I have prepared a possible reading list for January to help me stay on track with my planned reading and to help me locate books I already own that will fit the various challenges.

Here is the list so far, based on various challenge and group read commitments (subject to change):

January Reading List:
Clarissa by Samuel Richardson - Personal year long read
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - Three month group read
In the Woods by Tana French - Blind date with a Book read
The Wikipedia Revolution: How a Bunch of Nobodies Created the World's Greatest Encyclopedia Andrew Lih - DeweyCAT read
The Clock Winder by Anne Tyler - AAC read
The Mist in the Mirror by Susan Hill - BAC read
Fifth Business by Robertson Davies - CAC read

In the Woods is *so* good!

Starred! Have a great year, Lori!

Settling in. Happy New Year and Happy Reading! :)

Good luck with Clarissa!! I didn't hate it, but it was a long and hard way to the final chapter, and I was often close to throwing my Kindle out of the next window.
We did a year-long GR reading by letter dates in 2013 I believe. Didn't work 100% because at some point there were so many letters per day and then again there were week-long breaks.
I can send you the link if you like.

Fabulous picture to start the year.
I like the idea of walking a long way in a virtual sense, so much easier, logistically, than actually having to do it. And you get your own bed each night.

What beautiful pictures/posts! I'll join again for 75 this year and look forward to visiting your thread to see how you're doing :-)

>22 katiekrug: - Glad to see you found In the Woods to be a good read, Katie! It is one of those books I keep on meaning to read - I have owned my copy December of 2012 - but never seem to think about reading it. Good thing 2016 is going to be all about reading books off my TBR piles (except for some of the AAC, BAC and CAC reads, or anything shiny that comes my way). ;-)

>23 mstrust: - Great, Jennifer!

>24 Deern: - Lovely to see you here Nathalie! I think I am going to try and be a bit flexible about how I approach reading Clarissa. The idea of being overwhelmed by a bunch of letters having the same dates doesn't appeal to me very much. I think I found the 2012 Clarissa group read thread doing a search of LT. I may resort to reading the thread at some point. ;-)

>25 Helenliz: - I like the idea of walking a long way in a virtual sense, so much easier, logistically, than actually having to do it. And you get your own bed each night. Definitely preferable to sleeping by the side of the road, Helen, especially with the colder winter temps. I do like my comforts. ;-)

>26 BoekenTrol71: - Thanks for stopping by!

>27 DianaNL:, >28 mstrust:, and >29 Ameise1: - Thank you for the lovely New Years wishes, Diana, Jennifer and Barbara! I am looking forward to welcoming 2016!

Now that I have officially wrapped up my 2015 reading, here is the list of my top reads.

Top 10 Reads in 2015 (by decimal rating - out of a possible rating of 5.00):




A Thousand Hills by Stephen Kinzer - 5.00
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh - 4.85
Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich - 4.80
The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull - 4.70
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers - 4.65
Alphabetique by Molly Peacock - 4.40
Light Boxes by Shane Jones - 4.40
The Aspern Papers by Henry James - 4.40
The Wars by Timothy Findley - 4.40
Amsterdam by Ian McEwan - 4.30

I want to wish all my LT friends a wonderful end to 2015 and hearty welcome to 2016!

Lori, that photo in >1 lkernagh: is gorgeous. We visited Banff and Jasper several years ago and it was one of the best trips. Ever.

I need to figure out what my top ten reads of 2015 were.....

Wishing you all the best in 2016!

Happy new year, Lori! I really enjoyed In The Woods. The Mist in the Mirror has been on my TBR shelf for a while. Maybe I'll read it this month, too.

Happy New Year, Lori!

As Anne remembered in >14 AMQS:, I read Clarissa a few years ago. Good luck with it! It's very loooooong.

Happy New Year, Lori! I love the title of your thread, I'm just hoping you don't do all four activities at the same time! The topper is a lovely picture too and if I didn't have so much to do today, I'd stare at it a little while longer.

>21 lkernagh: I love the title of the Wikipedia book!

Happy new year!

Beautiful photograph on the topper, as everyone has said. Lovely colours. I admire your Clarissa challenge. I am going to try Middlemarch this year.

>1 lkernagh: Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Ah, yes, checking your progress map, there you are! It is beautiful.

Happy 2016!

Hi Lori! It's always fun to visit your threads. I loved In The Woods by Tana French too, have most of her other books, but so far they haven't called out to me.

I wish you a fun and joyous 2016.

Happy New Year, Lori!

I also loved Shadow Tag and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter when I read them. I remember that I read Shadow Tag in a single sitting because I just couldn't put it down.

Happy New Year Lori! I'm sorry I couldn't walk through Banff National Park with you. I had an opportunity to visit it in the summer of 1996 and was stunned by its beauty.

I loved In the Woods. I hope it works as well for you. I've also read The Wikipedia Revolution and learned a lot of useful things from it.

Happy New Year, Lori.

Got you starred, Lori! :)

>33 EBT1002: - Hi Ellen! I do love the Rockies. I can see why you enjoyed your visit to Jasper and Banff. Deer Lodge in Lake Louise holds a special place in my heart. Nothing compares to enjoying an outdoor hot tub in winter with snowflakes falling, champagne and a panoramic view of the majestic beauty of the mountains. Memories are wonderful for keeping one feeling vibrant. ;-0

>34 tymfos: - Glad to see you also enjoyed In the Woods, Terri. Makes me wonder why I have waited so long to read it! As for the Mist in the Mirror, I am currently 64 pages in and loving the Gothic feel of the story!

>35 susanj67: - Long is daunting... as is the thought that reading it in letter date order may not be practical. I think I will need your good luck wishes! Thanks, Susan!

>36 Carmenere: - What, multi-tasking could be a potential problem?! ;-0 I can pretty much limit myself to doing two things at the same time, so long as one involves listening to an audiobook.

>37 abergsman: - Thanks! And so true! I am really intrigued to read it, considering how often I refer to Wikipedia and Google in my day-to-day and at work activities! That book was one of those books that one encounters when letting their fingers do the walking down the physical spines of books on the local library shelves. I have to admit that I have been a Wikipedia contributor on pages when I know the content is out of date. My most poignant memory of the power of the internet and Wikipedia was a number of years ago. I was having a late night surfing the web and in the process I learned about the car crash and death of Princess Diana through Wikipedia long before any of the online news sources were reporting it. I actually stayed up to see how long it would take the news sites to catch up with Wikipedia. To this day, I consider that moment to be the moment when I realized the full power of the internet and its ability to be the source for up-to-the-minute news.

>38 charl08: - Happy New Year Charlotte! I look forward to following your Middlemarch read! (another one of those books I am hoping, at some point, to get around to reading).

>39 qebo: - Hi Katherine! Happy 2016!

>40 karenmarie: - Hi Karen, great to see another positive comment about In the Woods! Like you, I do have her other books in the series also waiting for me. I am curious to see if my read of In the Woods will entice me to pick up book two in the series.

>41 Crazymamie: - Happy New Year, Mamie! Eldrich wrote such a phenomenal story with Shadow Tag! To this day, I can still remember the impact the story had on me and the very surprising ending!

>42 cbl_tn: - I am so happy to see that you have experienced Banff National Park, Carrie! Such a national treasure, I cringe every-time the "powers that be" in Ottawa start making rumbling noises of changes that could potentially impact the experience of the park for future visitors.

Great to see another satisfied customer plug for In the Woods and excited that you have read the Wikipedia book!

>43 BLBera: - Happy New Year, Beth!

>44 Ape: - Stephen! *Hugs* Happy New Year!

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I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year Eve. I sent my other half off with his friends and enjoyed a lovely quiet evening at home reading my current read The Mist in the Mirror by Susan Hill, until I fell asleep at 10:30. Yup, completely missed the whole New Year thing. My other half was very sweet when he came home. Just let me sleep on. I am now enjoying a wonderfully relaxing day on LT sipping mimosas and lounging around in my pajamas. Bliss!

Happy new year, Lori! Looking forward to keeping up with your reading again this year.

Happy New Year, Lori! We were expecting to have a quiet New Year Eve at home (except for Callia, whose social life is the most active at this point) but we got an unexpected invitation to the home of long-time friends and ended up out quite late (Callia joined us there). Fun times, but I am dragging a bit today. Your relaxing day sounds just beautiful -- enjoy!

Can you please post the thread of the War and Peace GR? I went out and bought a copy, figuring that a group read would help me get through it. I've already decided that the number of books I read this year will be n+War and Peace:)

>49 MickyFine: - Happy New Year, Micky!

>50 AMQS: - Sounds like your unexpected new years eve invite was just the ticket, Anne and that Callia was able to join your there from here own new years festivities! As for the group read for War and Peace.... the more the merrier!

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Public Group Read Announcement:

For anyone interested, the Category Challenge group has started a group read of Leo Tolstoy's epic classic War and Peace. The plan is to try and read it over the next three months. The group read is open to any and all interested in joining in. The General discussion thread for the group read can be found here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/206069

Happy New Year, Lori!

I'll be joining you for that War and Peace read. It's inspiration to finally finish that whopper.

Stunning photo of Lake Louise, Lori. Happy New Year!

>52 jnwelch: - Excellent! Personally, I need all the help I can get to make my way through Tolstoy's epic. I swear, I have vivid memories of the bazillian characters all having similar sounding names. But please, don't let my personal anxieties over the book deter you in any way from enjoying the experience. Really. ;-)

>53 lit_chick: - It is a beauty, isn't it, Nancy. Happy New Year!

>45 lkernagh: "Nothing compares to enjoying an outdoor hot tub in winter with snowflakes falling, champagne and a panoramic view of the majestic beauty of the mountains."
What a lovely image you evoked. Thank you.

Enjoy your reading of War and Peace!

Merry new year and happy books Lori :)

And all this talk of the majestic Rockies - right now I'm stuck inside with a horrible fatigue and tenderness-inducing cold, and the Rockies keep sitting outside my window taunting me about not making proper use of all my days off *shakes her fist at her immune system*

Happy New Year!

I thought for sure I had posted here, Lori, but it must have been your old thread. I stayed up way too late last night. I'm blaming the book that I started which grabbed me right away...Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth for the BAC.

Happy New Year. I look forward to your book reviews and craft projects.

Have a wonderful bookfilled 2016, Lori.

Happy New Year Lori!



"I wish you never-ending dreams
and the furious desire to realise some of them."
— Jacques Brel

What a stunning thread topper! I hurriedly added it to my Pinterest "Places" board, where I post photos of some of the places that take my breath away. If I'm very lucky, I might get to see that scenery in person some day.

It's been a few years since I've participated in the categories challenge, and I always look at your lists with envy, but once again this year, while I was still considering joining just a couple of hours ago in fact, I realilse that what's keeping me is not so much the fact that I have too many challenges going (since, as you did, you can just create a "challenges" category), but that I have a hard time keeping up with just this group, never mind another one, and that I've been less than assiduous about posting reviews, which I think sort of defeats the purpose. But oh well: so many options, so little time! It's a good problem to have I guess, when you have so many hobbies keeping you busy that you have to choose among them. I guess you would know all about that.

I think you are very brave to take on Clarissa and War and Peace in the same year. Of course I see you've got yourself a doorstopper category, but all the same, I'd feel much too daunted having TWO huge tomes going at once. The pressure! You are a braver woman than I by far! :-)

I'm glad to see The White Rhino Hotel made your favourites list for 2015. The second book in the trilogy A Cafe on the Nile was among my favourites last year, and I look forward to picking up The Devil's Oasis this year. I wasn't looking forward to finishing the series because I found it such good entertainment, so I made sure to secure the first book in his Alexander Karlov series (two books only—boo!) Shanghai Station.

I'll have to add The Wikipedia Revolution to my wishlist. I refer to that site some many times on any given day that it would be nice to find out a bit about how it all came to be. Thanks for that first book-bullet, and I'll look forward to your thoughts on it!

Hi Lori! Your list of 2015 favorites is intriguing to me. I've only read Amsterdam, but several of the others sound very tempting. My family and I visited Banff this summer, so your thread topper brings back great memories! Happy New Year!

Happy 2016!

Hi, Lori - Happy New Year and Thread!

I will be very interested to see how you get on (or not) with Clarissa. I haven't been involved in an LT read of it, though I kept an eye on Heather when she bravely tackled it a couple of years ago. My bold prediction?---you will find it a very gruelling experience, and there will be times you hate it as much as any book you've ever read; but when you've finished, (i) you'll be so glad you read it, and (ii) you will never forget it. :)

Hey Lori, I'm looking forward to seeing what you read this year!

>55 EBT1002: - Glad to see someone else enjoys the same image, Ellen. My idea of bliss. ;-) So far, War and Peace is off to a good start.

>56 evilmoose: - Oh no.... sorry to see that you are not feeling your best, Megan. I love that you are able to look out your window and see the Rockies. I can see the Olympic mountain range off in the distance where I live, but that up close and personal feeling one gets in Canmore is pretty darn special. Oh, and I did manage to log some good walking this past week so on my virtual walking journey, I have cleared Canmore, the Kananaskis country and now heading for the Calgary city limits. Wish I could have stopped for a visit but that is the downside to this virtual walking journey. ;-(

>57 ronincats: - Happy New Year, Roni!

>58 Donna828: - I find trying to keep the threads in the different groups really difficult this time of year, Donna. Happy to see you found your way over here! The Unsworth book must be a goodie if you stayed up way too late reading it!

>59 PaulCranswick: - Love Happy New Year wishes, Paul! I hope your 2016 is equally wonderful!

>60 Smiler69: - Thanks Ilana! I love the idea of a Pinterest "Places" board! You are right, it is difficult if not downright impossible to keep up with all the activity when part of multiple groups. There are times when I find the reviewing to be a bit of chore and why I do like the quick comments that some LTers make as they are reading a book. We will see if I have taken on too much with both Clarissa and War and Peace! Glad to see A Cafe on the Nile was one of your favorite reads last year! Like you, I am a little concerned at the thought that he only wrote it as a trilogy, so at some point the story ends. I will be curious to see what you think of his other (or is it a new series?).

>61 porch_reader: - So great to see you here, Amy! I do miss Banff and the area. Glad to see your family had a wonderful vacation there! Happy New Year!

>62 banjo123: - Happy New Year, Rhonda!

>63 lyzard: - Hi Liz, I am a bit stubborn so I will probably persevere with Clarissa even if it does drive me crazy, but at least you and others are preparing me for the experience. ;-)

>64 Kassilem: - Hi Melissa, great to see you here!

The first weekend of the new year has been a busy, productive one. One thing I like to do at the start of every year is I go through every cupboard in the kitchen, disposing of any old spices or expired packaged foods that managed to get tucked away in a corner or behind more frequently used items. This is also when I clean out under the kitchen sink and get rid of any products that we no longer need or use that managed to find their way there.

I witnessed something yesterday that got me thinking. I was downtown in the morning, standing at the corner of what is usually a busy intersection, waiting for the light to change when I heard a strange noise. From across the street a white Westie terrier ran through the middle of the intersection, dragging by its leash a metal chair, the kind that one usually sees outside of a coffee shop. Luckily there was minimal traffic and all the cars managed to stop while the dog, obviously spooked by something, continued to run around, dragging the chair behind him. He, and the chair, finally came to a stop further up the street when the chair got caught on the bumper of a parked car and a passerby was able to get hold of the leash. Thankfully, the dog was unharmed but it got me thinking, especially as two blocks further I encountered another dog, this one bigger, who's owner had also wrapped it leash around a coffee shop chair leg while the owner was inside. Why would anyone who owns a dog think that tying the dog to such a lightweight, movable object like a metal chair that is brought in to the store every night at closing would keep the dog secure? I mean, I have seen girls that work in coffee shops carrying four of those chairs at a time, so they are not heavy. Am I missing something here?

Okay, rant over.

On the reading front, I have read the introduction to Clarissa and ready for the first letter dated January 10th. I have also started listening to the audiobook of War and Peace. So far, I am not having any difficulties following the various characters but I am only 7 to 10 chapters in. The reason I say 7 to 10 chapters is I have discovered something rather odd. I stopped my audiobook when the narrator announced Chapter 7, but when I went to bookmark my ebook - just in case I decide the audiobook proves too much for me - it would appear that I have jut finished Chapter 9 and about to start Chapter 10. I have no idea why this difference in chapters, but it is bugging me a little bit.

I have managed to finish my first book for 2016. Book review and my walking update to follow.

Book #1 - The Mist in the Mirror by Susan Hill
Challenge(s): 75 Group, 2016 Category, BAC
Category: Challenges, Challenges
CAT(s): N/A
Source: GVPL
Format: Hardcover
Original publication date: 1992
Acquisition date:N/A
Page count: 185 pages
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.90 out of 5 /
Book description/summary: from the amazon.ca website book listing webpage:

One dark and rainy night, Sir James Monmouth returns to London after years spent traveling alone. Intent on uncovering the secrets of his childhood hero, the mysterious Conrad Vane, he begins to investigate Vane's life, but he finds himself warned off at every turn. Before long he realizes he is being followed too. A pale, thin boy is haunting his every step but every time he tries to confront the boy he disappears. And what of the chilling scream and desperate sobbing only he can hear? His quest leads him eventually to the old lady of Kittiscar Hall, where he discovers something far more terrible at work than he could ever have imagined.

Review:
This is my very first Susan Hill read. I am a huge fan of Gothic stories with their crumbling mysterious estates, dark secrets and overall feeling of rising unease. Hill follows the classic formula for a Gothic tale so well that I was rather surprised to discover this story was originally published in 1992. This story has the overall atmosphere and writing style of a more historically published work, written in an earlier time period. Hill does a fantastic job creating the overall Gothic feel. The story has a wonderful slow-building quality to it that probably would not appeal to readers who like their action and want their story to unfold at a quicker pace. The "reveal" has its elements of creepiness and horror, without being overwhelming.

Overall, a solid piece of Gothic writing and one that I believe would appeal to readers who enjoy stories like Sarah Waters The Little Stranger.

My Trans Canada Walking Journey


The goal: To walk - in three calendar years (1,095 days) - the distance that it would take me to walk the Trans Canada Highway from the Mile Zero marker located here in Victoria BC to its end point in St. John's, NL, a distance of 7,821K (4,860 miles).







Here is the link to my Google map where I am tracking my journey: http://tinyurl.com/p8vu9n3

UPDATE: WEEK 25
Kilometers walked this week: 53.3
Kilometers walked in total: 1,174.45
Current province: (AB)
My current location on the map: Due south of Morley and Ghost Lake, heading for the Calgary city limits.
Points of interest along the way: Canmore and Kananaskis country are wonderful areas nestled in the foot of the Rocky Mountains. This week was a great one for walking. The challenge now is to continue the walking habit, even if I would rather be curled up indoors with a good book during the colder winter months. I wonder if I can walk to Chestermere during week 26. ;-)

You got me with The Mist in the Mirror! I really loved Hill's The Woman in Black. which is also a modern, creepy Gothic.

>67 lkernagh: Re: dogs tied to cafe chairs. These are stupid people. Because they wouldn't run down the street with a chair dragging behind them, they think a dog wouldn't. My first thought, when seeing a sweet dog tied outside while the owner is inside, is that someone might steal the dog!

>70 mstrust: - Oh good... so its not just me that thinks there is something wrong with these types of dog owners. Sounds like I need to add The Woman in Black to my future reading list.

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Currently filling the house with smells of homemade banana muffins - sans nuts for my other half and a batch chock full of pecans for me. ;-)

>67 lkernagh: There are people who should simply not be allowed to have a dog. Or a cat. Or a child.

My rant is now done, too.

I tried to use a tracker from TickerFactory.com a few years ago and did something wrong, gave up too quickly perhaps. I love your goal of walking the TransCanada Highway in three years. Great motivation!

Ohhhh, Susan Hill is on my TR list, Lori! Sounds like I won't be sorry!

Hi Lori thank you for popping by my thread! I wish you much happy reading.

Happy New Year Lori! I'm tempted to join the War and Peace group read, but I have so much else going on. Maybe I'll convince myself to do it, though. :)

>67 lkernagh: I see places here with signs with pictures of dogs that say "don't leave me outside!" - but it's a much different situation when dogs are allowed in just about all stores and restaurants.

Happy new year Lori! A little bird (or a little lizard) told me you were reading Clarissa this year and I come over here to find you're also reading War and Peace? Wow! I was going to tell you about my experience of reading Clarissa a few years ago but Liz pretty much summed it up in >63 lyzard:. I think counting each volume as a separate book is a great idea. Good luck! I will be following your reading (of Clarissa and other books) with interest.

>68 lkernagh: The Mist in the Mirror sounds good. I do enjoy a creepy gothic read and I liked Hill's The Woman in Black.

Great way to keep track of your walking, Lori! I really enjoy your points of interest along the way.

The MitM sounds intriguing and I enjoyed both The woman in black and The Little Stranger so onto the wish list it goes!

Dogs hooked to cafe chairs! What were their owners thinking? Obviously, they need caffeine to function mentally.

Morning, Lori!

Adding The Mirror in the Mist to my list to check the library for - sounds like my cuppa. I really liked The Woman in Black when I read it a few years ago, and I have The Various Haunts of Men in the stacks - going to read that for the BAC.

The dog story makes me sad. Poor thing.

Bad dog owners!

It sounds like your first read of the year was a good one. THe Mist in the Mirror is one I'll add to my list when I'm in the mood for a creepy, Gothic tale.

I did love The Various Haunts of Man and want to read the next one in that series.

Your walking is inspiring. I plan to get back to the gym this week.

Oh so glad you have read a Susan Hill. I've loved the spelling ? Simon Serrillier series by here and I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series. Well written and as the series has evolved, they with social issues. I need to try one of her stand alones.

We have snow this am! Oh no!

>71 lkernagh: I can almost smell the banana muffins, might have to dig out my banana loaf recipe.

I've not read any of the Serailler series, tried to order the first one from the library and there were three people ahead of me (not bad for an oldish book, I thought).

>69 lkernagh: I love your walking goal. I purchased a Fitbit last August, and have apparently walked the distance of the Serengeti (500 miles, or 804km). I hope at some point to reach 5,500 miles, which is the length of the Great Wall of China.

>72 EBT1002: - I agree, Ellen. Kind of why I am also a fan of the Darwin Awards... I just wish this kind of stupidity didn't have a direct negative impact on innocent kids and critters.

I seriously need the motivation....even changing up walking routes can get a little dry and doesn't have the same meaning as a long distance journey being tracked on a map.

>73 lit_chick: - Nancy, it is a fast read and perfect for the dark days of winter that we are experiencing. Definitely something that works better as an evening/late night in bed kind of read than sitting outside on a warm, sunny day!

>74 BBGirl55: - Thanks, Bryony!

>75 The_Hibernator: - Hi Rachel! I am pretty sure the group read of War and Peace will easily slide into summer so take all the time you need to convince yourself to join us gluttons for punishment!

>76 Berly: - Happy New Year, Berly!

>77 ursula: - I think having signs to remind people they should not leave their pets unattended like that is a brilliant idea! I am undecided as to which is worse: the people who unsecurely leave their pets outside like the owner of the Westie terrier did or the ones who get upset when grocery store staff inform them that they cannot bring their canine into the store while they shop. I still remember one Saturday looking up over a pile of apples and seeing a live parrot perched on the shoulder of a customer. Nuts I tell you!

>78 souloftherose: - Hello Heather! I am not sure if I am being highly optimistic to tackle both Clarissa and War and Peace or if I just a glutton for punishment. Sounds like I can rely on you, Liz, Susan and others to understand if I find myself flagging through Richardson's tome!

Always happy to take any Gothic recommendations. Sounds like The Woman in Black get a few thumbs up here in LTland. Good to know!

>79 Carmenere: - Hi Lynda, glad to hit with a favorable BB. I worry that the owner may have needed a lot more than a good shot of caffeine to function mentally. ;-)

>80 Crazymamie: - Evening, Mamie! Happy to see another interested BB target has been found. Poor dog is right. ;-( As Ellen mentioned above, There are people who should simply not be allowed to have a dog. Or a cat. Or a child. .

>81 BLBera: - Agreed, Beth. Bad dog owners! Making note of The Various Haunts of Man .... seems to be a book that has a following. Some days the walking isn't very inspirational, even for me but I do feel chuffed that you think it is, so thanks!

>82 vancouverdeb: - You found me, Deb! Awesome! .... say what?! Snow you say? I think we have a bad connection... Snow? Really? Wow. We just had cold rain. Everyone seems to be getting snow but me these days. ;-(

>83 charl08: - Banana muffins/loaf is my idea of comfort baking. Sooo good! Glad to see the baking smell carried all the way over to you! I must check out the Serailler series... as you say, to be third on a wait-list for a book published some time ago is a good sign!

>84 abergsman: - Now, that is impressive! Now just imagine in your mind the amazing sights and sounds you would have experienced to actually walk the Serengeti... although walking it 'virtually' is probably a lot safer and you still get to sleep in your own bed every evening. ;-)

Today was not without its interesting moments. Well, not for me, anyways. Luckily - or unluckily - I decided to head into the office today, instead of working from home. My other half was at home today and when I called him at lunch time, he was a little frazzled. Apparently, he had turned on the kitchen sink to do the breakfast dishes, thought he had turned off both taps when the phone rang, walked away and ended up becoming involved in a rather long-winded conversation only to discover at the end of it that he had only turned off one of the taps. I never got to see the 'swimming pool' he said he found for a kitchen floor that was seeping into the hallway carpet, but I will give him credit for thinking fast to turn off the tap, mop up the water off the floor - using a stack of clean bathroom towels - and suck up what water he could out of the carpet using our carpet cleaning machine. The sodden pile of towels he had placed in the bathtub have now been washed and are tumbling dry in the dryer. I doubt the situation would have been averted if I had worked from home so I am kind of glad that I wasn't there to witness it in progress. ;-)

I think it was a good thing you weren't home! ; )

Oh no! Poor dogs, poor husband, and poor you! Perhaps it was better that you were not home. Still, not fun:(

The Mist in the Mirror looks like a good one. I really enjoyed The Woman in Black but I made the huge mistake of bringing it with me to a Chorale camp a few years ago. When part of my duties are to go between cabins at night with a flashlight checking on kids. A sleepless weekend!

>67 lkernagh: TG nothing happened to the poor terrier!
I saw sth similar about last year in a restaurant (thankfully no road involved), on the terrace. The owner went to the bathroom and the dog with the chair followed running, knocking down several plates with food when the chair crashed into other tables on the way from the terrace inside. And it was a big dog with some power, so tying him to that light garden chair made no sense at all.

>89 lkernagh: Well... sounds like he managed well once it had happened.

Hm... should I give The Mist in the Mirror a try although I didn't like TWiB? I SO feel like reading a good ghost story at this time of the year!

Ah, yes, anytime one can avoid a flooded kitchen floor, do so! How nice that you were at work, LOL! Can empathize with your husband: I've done the same thing, argh!

Hi Lori! What a beautiful thread topper! I'm looking forward to your reads and reviews this year.

Stopping by Lori to drop a **star**. Glad to hear the dog was all right. Quite right in your rant. Always worry about doggies left outside on their lonesome.

Happy New Year!

Hi Lori! Happy New Year!

I would never leave Adrian outside on his own. I'd be too afraid that someone would steal him, or that he'd join a passing crowd. He's such a people dog that I think he'd go home with almost anyone!

Lori, when I first married my husband, he had his own method of defrosting a very old fridge, that did not self defrost. He's hook up an outside hose to the kitchen faucet and force hot water into the freezer. I'd seen my mom when I was very young defrosting the freezer via the convential method, ie - empty the freezer and put a pot of hot water into the freezer compartment. I still can't remember how Dave prevented the water from overflowing onto the the carpet area of the living room, but somehow he did. Lucky thing I am fairly easy going or he might have driven me crazy over the past 34 years of knowing him and nearly 32 years of marriage. He's improved a lot :)

So awful about the little terrier. I'd have been horrified too. Poppy does not really care for unknown people that approach her if Dave or I are not there - she'd be more likely to give them a nip or bark like a fool. But that in itself presents it's own problems, so I dare never leave her alone. ;) I wish she was as friendly as Adrian above, but she has been a fearful dog from day 1. But she has come a long, long way in the past two years! Can hardly believe she is the same dog that I once despaired about . She used to bite us out of fear - now she solicits attention from us , and wants to snuggle. So wonderful!

Ooh... one week into 2016 and you've hit me with a book bullet, Lori. The Mist in the Mirror is right up my alley. Off to the OWL it goes!

I hate it when people leave their dogs outside! I'm so glad the little terrier is fine.

>90 Berly: - The more I think about it, the more I think you are right, Kim!

>91 AMQS: - The home survived the 'incident' so all is good. Now you have peeked my interest in The Woman in Black... although it doesn't take much to freak me out at night time when all I have is a flashlight to light my way and my usual overactive imagination!

>92 Deern: - Wow, I am surprised the dog owner in the incident you encountered would think their dog would stay put tied to a chair. The logic of some humans will continue to baffle me. Yup, other half did good once he discovered the problem... and I think he is going to be extra vigilant about water taps for the next little while. ;-0

>93 lit_chick: - I am happy I avoided it too, as I probably would have taken him to task as to why he didn't turn off both taps and then we both would have been upset and not really dealing with the situation. Best to not be around so he could get the job done.

>94 aktakukac: - Hi Rachel! Great to see you here!

>95 michigantrumpet: - Hi Marrianne! Glad to see you found my thread in the hustle and bustle of threads. For a town of individuals that pride themselves on being dog friendly and all about their animals, it is shocking how many pet owners do stupid things like that. Sad, really sad.

>96 norabelle414: - Nora! You are here! Must find your thread! Give me a week... it could take that long. ;-)

>97 cbl_tn: - See, that is the response I kind of hoped that all pet owners would have. Guess that is n ot the case with some pet owners. *sighs*

>98 vancouverdeb: - Wow... now that is an innovative way to defrost a non-self defrosting freezer! As for the terrier incident, something spooked the dog, so it not as though it just wanted to go for a walk so I wonder if maybe it also isn't overly keen of unknown people. Dog owners that know and understand their pets as a number has posted, would never leave their dog alone outside like that terrier was left. Adrien, Poppy et al are very lucky to have the owners they do!

>99 cameling: - Hi Caroline, sorry about the BB but hey, glad to see it is something that you would probably read. Compassionate animal lovers... another reason why I love LT so much!

--------------------------
Another cold winter day. At least the rain held off so I could walk to and from work and even get in a walk at lunchtime. That meant some great audiobook reading of War and Peace time. I am continuing to enjoy the story and so far, not getting to confused by the influx of characters. I did have a bit of a giggle when I discovered that one of the young couples in the story is Boris and Natasha. Yes, I couldn't help but picture a different Boris and Natasha from my childhood memories - you know.... the Russian couple in the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons. I guess I am not supposed to be having this much fun reading War and Peace. ;-)

Vegetarian Recipes - update:
Some of you may recall my numerous posts last year as my other half and I embarked on a vegetarian diet adventure. One year later, we have found our balance and made the focus more about eating healthy and making more meals from scratch or near to scratch. With that in mind, I decided tonight to throw together a vegetarian casserole. Its is easy to prepare, colourful and noteworthy - I wanted I reminder that I can refer back to for edits to the recipe - so we will call it the first post-worthy recipe of 2016.

Note:
As others will recall from last year, I tend to just throw stuff together when I cook so the recipe below is more just an ingredients listing with some basic cooking notes to give you an idea of what went into the dish.



INGREDIENTS:
2 parsnips - peeled and diced
12 brussels sprouts - cleaned and quartered
1 sweet potato - peeled and diced
1/2 medium onion - chopped fine
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 TBSP chopped garlic
2 TBSP oil of choice (I use avocado oil)
2/3 cup pearl barley - I was out of farro, that would have been my first choice
1 1/2 cups water or stock of choice
one 540ml/19oz can of black beans
one 796ml/28 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cup chopped fresh kale
salt and pepper to taste

PROCESS:
Combine first 7 ingredients. Pour into large casserole pan and cover with tin foil. Bake in oven at 325'F for 30 minutes. While veggies are baking, cook the pearl barley in the water (or stock of choice) for 20 minutes at medium heat, partially covered. Remove casserole dish from oven and stir in black beans, diced tomatoes and kale. Recover with tin foil and return to oven for additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

NOTES:
I would have added 1/2 cup of medium salsa to the recipe but I was out of salsa. I also think doubling up on the black beans - or cutting down on the overall veggie count - would also be a good idea. Humm... now that I think about it, lentils would probably be really good in this. Would also work really well as a side dish with a roasted chicken. Overall, a healthy casserole idea that can be easily adapted with different ingredients.

How is it that I have only found your thread now!? Anyway, Happy New Year, Lori and that casserole looks pretty yummy!

I wouldn't leave my dog alone outside a store much less alone and tied to something flimsy.

I'll second (third?) the recommendation to read Susan Hill's The Woman in Black. It's gothic and creepy!

Lori, your casserole looks delicious!

Yum! Totally stealing that one. : )

Your casserole looks delicious! I've also been trying to change to more vegetarian, healthy meals. I'll give this one a try.

I love your topper photo. I've never been to Banff, but Waterton is gorgeous. 'Walking across Canada' sounds like a fun way to keep track of your total steppage /mileage.

And oh my. Clarissa and W & P at the same time? ***Faints***

Your casserole looks good, Lori! We have been trying to eat healthier, too. I really like the Skinnytaste blog, and that was my favorite recipe book from last year - we have made a ton of her recipes, and there have only been a couple that we didn't like.

Yay, found you! Starred! Also looking forward to the vegetarian recipes, I'm making a conscious effort to eat less meat moving forward so this will be great. :D

>103 lkernagh: Saving that recipe for later! I'm not a vegetarian but I am terrible cook and can really only manage to make casseroles :-)

>103 lkernagh: Am liking the casserole. Does the kale and black beans cook enough after only 15 minutes? Amazingly, I have 2/3 of the ingredients in my house already!

Yum!

And you are lucky you weren't home for the flood.

Lori, in case you wondered what prompted my story about my husband unconventional way of defrosting the fridge, back in days of yore, it was your story of your husband flooding the kitchen. Just in case you thought I was crazy! :)

Hope it's not too late to wish you a Happy New Year, Lori!

That casserole looks mouthwateringly good! I'm printing it out to try soon.

Like Deern, I wasn't blown away by TWiB, but I do enjoy Hill's Simon Serrailler mysteries. I think I've read the first three and need to get back to the series in 2016. Maybe for May Murder & Mayhem, if not sooner.

>104 Copperskye: - Well, it is a darn busy group these days, Joanne, so I am just thankful that you have found my thread now! When I am out and about now I pay particular attention for any other dogs left alone in such an unsecured state. So far, happy to report no new incidents but I have also been at work. Looks like I should be seeking out a copy of The Woman in Black. Thanks for the further recommendation!

>105 lit_chick: - Thanks, Nancy! We had some with roasted chicken tonight. Super easy healthy dinner idea, considering the grocery store roasted the chicken for me... all I had to do was reheat the casserole. ;-)

>106 Berly: - Steal away, Kim!

>107 streamsong: - Super easy and super healthy are two selling points for me when it comes to cooking during the weekdays. This one fits both bills. I have only been to Waterton once and I agree, it is a beautiful part of the country. The map is helping motivate me to get out and keep walking, and in a fun, informative way!

I know, I am a glutton for punishment to tackle both W&P and Clarissa at the same time. I may be a basket case by March... who knows. ;-)

.... I will just go see if Nancy will lend me her fainting couch for you.... the floor just isn't my idea of a comfortable place to faint.

>108 Crazymamie: - Thanks Mamie! Skinnytaste has hit the library list. I love reading recipe books. I have also found and bookmarked the blog site!

>109 dk_phoenix: - Yay, Faith! The recipes I post will be a bit experimental - like the one from yesterday - but you will definitely find more vegetarian recipes here as the year progresses.

>110 norabelle414: - Hi Nora! I love casseroles and one-pot (or two-pot) meals mainly because I like meals that are easy to make and I tend to feel guilty if I use up half of our kitchen cookware to make a meal - my other half does the dishes. ;-)

>111 michigantrumpet: - They do only take 15 minutes to cook. The kale just needs to steam and the black beans I use are the canned variety in liquid that once drained and rinsed thoroughly in cold water just require heating. Can't get simpler than that! I can never remember to soak dried bean overnight... I am not that organized of a cook. I lucky if I can remember to take the phyllo pastry out of the freezer in the morning to thaw in the fridge so that I can use it in the evening. ;-0

>112 BLBera: - Super glad I missed the flood, although I am pretty sure it would have made for interesting home video footage. ;-)

>113 vancouverdeb: - That's okay Deb. I kind of thought it had to do with the kitchen flood situation because once you mentioned garden hose I envisioned another kitchen swimming pool in the making!

>114 Storeetllr: - Never too late for Happy New Year wishes, Mary, or for Merry Christmas wishes. Years ago our family was off in different parts of the world during Christmas so the first opportunity we had to get together to celebrate was in early February. I still remember the story my sister-in-law told about trying to order a Christmas themed cake from the bakery in the lead up to Valentine's Day. Suffice to say, the bakery did find come through with the Christmas themed cake and probably had a good giggle about the odd request.

I keep forgetting about May Murder and Mayhem! Good thought and I will add the Simon Serrailler series to my "check the local library" list.

.... I will just go see if Nancy will lend me her fainting couch for you.... the floor just isn't my idea of a comfortable place to faint. Oh, Lori, that made me laugh out loud! Yes, you may borrow my fainting couch for as long as you need it, ha!

Hi there,
Nice to see another unstructured reader out there to keep me company :) I am going to be doing as usual, which is seeing a book that appeals, grabbing it and starting it. For me, it really is as simple as that.

Your casserole looks great, Lori! Have you posted your photo and recipe in The Kitchen?

That casserole looks delicious! I agree with you, that lentils sounds like a good addition.

Maybe you've already mentioned it somewhere on here, but do you have a pressure cooker? I just got an Instant Pot from all the recent holiday sales, and I'm really looking forward to trying it out. I'm hoping it helps me be more consistent in cooking vegetarian meals at home, and make it cheaper as the good canned beans aren't cheap (and food prices are skyrocketing up here in Canada right now, it's getting quite worrisome).

>65 lkernagh: Well, rest assured I made you a virtual cup of tea to drink of your way through.

They ended up passing a bylaw in town here about not leaving dogs tied up outside stores - it's terrible to see a poor dog looking miserable as it tries to shift its feet off the cold concrete when it's below -20oC, and some thoughtless person has just tied it up outside, without even so much as something to stand on.

>65 lkernagh: I hear you about never remembering to soak the beans over night. I'm rarely that well organized to think what I want to eat over 24 hours in advance....

>118 lit_chick: - I think it was very opportune and handy of you to have a fainting couch over on your thread! Thanks for the loan. ;-)

>119 LovingLit: - I need a shirt that says "Spontaneity is fun!". I spend too much time while at work surrounded by people who view anything unstructured as: a) worrisome; b) problematic; and c) something to be stopped, and not always in that order. ;-) I love your reading plans, Megan!

>120 kidzdoc: - Uuuuummmmmm.... not yet, but I will. Thanks for the nudge, Darryl!

>121 abergsman: - I love lentils! Lentils are good in most dishes!

>122 dk_phoenix: - No pressure cooker. I don't think my other half would trust me with one. I also don't have a crock pot (for the same reason and lack of counter top/storage space). I am pretty much an old fashioned kind of cook. Would it shock you if I told you I don't own a microwave and haven't for the last 15 years? Let me know if I need to retrieve the fainting couch from streamsong and push it your way. ;-0

>118 lit_chick: - I may need to keep the fainting couch longer than originally thought!

I hear you on the sky rocketing food prices. As an example, fresh asparagus has never been overly cheap here on the island but it used to range from the $3.99-$7.49/lb as a year round price range. Lately, it is not uncommon to see fresh asparagus going for $10-$14/lb, and fresh broccoli has been at $3.99/lb since June!

>123 evilmoose: - Lovely! Thanks, Megan! The bylaw sounds like a smart move, it just bugs me that we have to introduce bylaws because people just don't think!

>124 michigantrumpet: - Of course, and besides, you may change your mind - like I do - and discover that you are stuck with what you started prepping that far in advance. ;-)

>122 dk_phoenix: Haha, not at all, because...our microwave died about 3 years ago and we didn't feel the need to replace it. Anything it can do, we can do with the stovetop or oven and a little extra time. We have very little counter space in our house too, but things like the pressure cooker / crock pot / Blendtec will make life so, so much easier so we justify it that way! I also have an overstuffed cupboard where I shove appliances between uses. Even the toaster lives down there, actually. Poor toaster.

Yep, exactly. A few days ago I sent El Husbando out for groceries and on the list was "cauliflower, if $3 or less" and he called me from the store to tell me -- in a voice full of shock -- that the cauliflower was going for $7. Needless to say...I don't think we'll be eating cauliflower for a while. I believe my exact words were "we need to grow our own food, starting NOW."

Exactly. I love to pan fry grated cauliflower for curries as a substitute for rice. Cauliflower here has been hovering at the $7 price for a while now. I jumped for joy when I saw it on sale one week back in November for $3.89/head. Two years ago, even $3.89 would have left me balking. Now, I actually look forward to seeing that price, or anything close to it. ;-(

Wow! And I thought food prices were high here in Colorado! I sure wish I could garden year round like I did when I lived in California. I know I spent a bit on straw bales and amendments to make them fertile for the plantings this past spring, but I also know I saved a ton on fresh tomatoes, which I love to eat as often as possible. As far as not owning a microwave or crockpot, I'd get along fine without the crockpot but not sure I could survive without at least a small microwave. I do love cooking with my cast iron pans, though, and prefer them to any other kind of cookware for most things.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year, Lori! And Happy New Thread. Sorry, it has taken me forever to get over here. You were lost in the madness. LOL.

LOVE that stunning topper! Have a great reading year!

>128 lkernagh: $7 for cauliflower???!!!! I'd be growing my own, I think. Maybe I could just grow it and sell it.

>128 lkernagh: $7 for cauliflower?!?!?! There must be thieves at work. It's incredible.

>128 lkernagh: Wow - the $7 cauliflower had me checking exchange rates to see what the equivalent would be here. A normal cauliflower is £1 ($2) here and an extra large one is £1.85 (so about $3.70). And I always thought good in Canada was cheaper! Is it just cauliflowers or fresh food in general that is so expensive?

I swoon with admiration every time I hear that a cook just grabbed whatever was in the kitchen and made something marvelous. Now, I'm adding you to that list because >103 lkernagh: looks awesome! Without a recipe I am at a complete loss :0(

>129 Storeetllr: - Food prices are getting absolutely stupid, Mary. I will admit to using the microwave at work - it is really the only way to reheat food in the office! - but think I would be like my mom with a microwave. She has one and only uses it to melt butter for baking or warm up a glass of milk before going to bed. That is it!

>130 DianaNL: - What a sweet kitty poking his/her head out of the leg of a pair of jeans! Thanks Diana! Happy weekend to you!

>131 msf59: - Hi Mark! The group threads have been hopping thing year! Love the madness but I do hope it will settle down come February. ;-)

>132 thornton37814:, >133 Ameise1: and >134 SandDune: - I know that living on the "island" there is some level of expectation that transportation/shipping costs come into play with some food items, but I stopped buying into that logic a long, long time ago. I think it has something to do with where they source the produce from. The droughts down the west coast through to Mexico in 2015 have had an impact on the supply of some fresh produce. This conversation got me curious, so I pulled out some of my recent grocery store receipts to quote some prices for some items purchased over the past two weeks:

Acorn Squash (small) - $2.00/lb
Brussels Sprouts - $3.49/lb (BC)
Medium Yellow Onion - $0.99/lb (Washington)
Parsnips - $2.29/lb (U.S.)
Mushrooms (Crimini - Brown) - $4.00/lb (BC)
Bell Pepper (Green) - $2.49/lb
Bell Pepper (Red) - $6.00/lb
Green Kale - $1.99/bunch (roughly 5 stalks) (BC)
Roma Tomatoes - $4.00/lb (Mexico)
Asparagus (green) - $8.00/lb - I jumped on them because they were a deal!
Spinach - $1.99/bunch (BC)
Cabbage (green) - $1.19/lb (BC)
Broccoli (crown - stalk removed) - $3.97/lb (Mexico)
Sweet Potato - $2.49/lb (U.S.)
Green Beans - $3.97/lb (California)

As with any grocery store, these prices can fluctuate, week to week. Ironically, fruit seems to be more consistently and more reasonably priced (regardless of where it originates from):

Pineapple (half) - $1.89/lb
Bananas - $0.77/lb (Guatemala)
Apple (Golden Delicious) - $1.49/lb

>132 thornton37814: - I would love to grow my own veggies, Lori! Need arable land for that.... my container garden cannot expand that far. *whimpers*

>133 Ameise1: - Thieves is a polite term to describe what seems to be going on with food prices, Barbara. The good news is that Canada is a major producer of legumes/pulses (lentils, beans, etc) so those prices stay consistently low, for now anyways.

>134 SandDune: - I dare not show your price comparisons to my other half, Rhian. As a Scotsman, he would be looking for the fastest way to return home to live with me in tow.... Hum, not a bad idea at that, now that I think about it. ;-) Food items used to be very affordable compared to what we saw when we traveled abroad. It is really in just the last 18 months that food prices have been making the sharp increases Faith and I have noticed and commented on further up this thread.

>135 Carmenere: - Awe, thanks, Lynda! Both my mom and my grandmothers would routinely do the "what can we throw together for dinner based on what we have in the house" and they were my teachers, so for me, recipe books are just books of ideas for me to mess around with and change up. I tend to not follow them.

-----------------------------
I have been rather enjoying my audiobook read of War and Peace - in fact, now that I have made it to Book 2 and have started reading the war 'stuff', I find myself noticing some aspects of the story remind me of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's Adventures series, which has been dramatized with Sean Bean as Sharpe, and I now have a desire to re-watch. For those of you not familiar with the series, Cornwell depicts the English side of the Napoleonic Wars in a somewhat similar fashion to Tolstoy's Russian presentation of the same wars and time period. But I digress from the purpose of this post which is a bit of a technology grumbe/rant, so feel free to ignore the rest of this post.... I just need to blow off some steam.

Technology Grumble:
Some of you may know from my threads in previous years that I have an iPod Touch that I use for listening to music and audiobooks. I had a bit of a problem about 1.5 years ago with listening to audiobooks downloaded through Hoopla as part of my local library offerings. Over the past 8 months, I have not had any difficulties with listening to audiobooks downloaded to my iPod Touch from Hoopla. Sadly, walking home this evening, War and Peace - which was at the 7 hour mark in the 60 hour audiobook - would play, but with no sound. This has happened before, to my ultimate frustration. I have now resigned myself to the fact that my lovely iPod - which Apple has not provided any operating system updates to for over 2 years now - is not compatible with Hoopla audiobook downloads, probably because Hoopla configures its product for only the most recent Apple iOS. My grumble is that I can still reliably use the iPod for pretty much anything else - even Skype calls - but not for Hoopla audiobook downloads. Sooooo frustrating!

*sighs*

I have now transitioned my audiobook reading to my Android smart phone which does receive Hoopla updates (whether I want them or not) so all is good, but still frustrated.

Thanks for letting me rant.

Let the weekend begin!

Rant away. It's a legitimate beef. I have Hoopla on my brand new Samsung Galaxy 5 and my relatively new Kindle Fire, and every so often during a listening session, the dang thing just stopped playing, even though it's, you know, on Play. So I wait a minute and, if it doesn't start playing, go to the Hoopla site and fiddle. It's maddening.

Sigh. Oh hoopla. As the Online Services Librarian, I'm the go to person for hoopla problems and they perpetually drive me batty. I can't wait to switch jobs and only have to troubleshoot my own problems.

Wishing you a most lovely weekend, Lori.

Thanks for letting me rant, Mary and Micky. Good to know it isn't just me having these problems.

>139 Storeetllr: - Have you noticed the Hoopla app being a battery drain on your smart phone, even when you are not listening to an audiobook? I noticed this morning that the Hoopla app - even when not actively using it - is a huge power drain on my phone. I went to bed with the phone at 95% charge and this morning when I woke up it was at 57% charge. The phone has never drained its battery overnight like that before. I am guessing that the Hoopla app keeps communicating with the mothership, even when it is not in use (thankfully through the wifi and not chewing through my data plan). I have now made sure to turn off the data access when I am out and about. I think I will probably have to resort to turning off the wifi completely on my phone, except for when I need it, for the duration of my War and Peace read.

>140 MickyFine: - That must be very frustrating, Micky! All the more reason to be happy of the new job!

>141 Ameise1: - Thanks Barbara!

Wow--that casserole looks so healthy!
You have my sympathies on the food prices. We spend a ton on food, partly because we buy mostly organic, and partly due to Mrs. Banjo's shopping habits, but I think your prices are still quite a bit higher than ours.

Oh, I hear you about the food prices, Lori! It's just sickening! I'm expecting to see our grocer managers dressed in the suits of oil CEOs.

And I get the technology rant, believe me!

Having just returned from my weekly grocery shopping, I share your frustration with the increase in food prices. Meat is where I've noticed the big increase over the last couple of years. One of our local supermarkets carries locally grown vegetables in season, and those are usually priced reasonably. However, it's out of season now. I did pick up some cranberries on sale (now that the holidays are over) so I can make cranberry orange muffins. My strategy is usually to see what's on sale and then figure out what I can cook from it.

Totally get the technology rant even though I have never used Hoopla - our library only has Overdrive. But I HATE when things don't work the way that they should, especially technology. It Makes Me. Completely. Insane. *channeling Meg Ryan in French Kiss*

>143 banjo123: - LOL, and thanks! I am so used to the 'healthy' look of some of my dishes being received in a bit of negative manner. I come from a family of more traditional 'meat and potatoes' kind of folk. My mom resorts to 'hiding' veggies in otherwise non-vegetarian meals so that certain members of the family won't complain. Crazy, I know! I cannot be bothered to resort to those measures. ;-)

Buying organic can be a huge cost, for sure. My shopping habits are 'freshest quality' first, price second as the two-stage determining factor when buying produce. Thank goodness I can 'cook on the fly' because there have been days where my planned dinner ideas have been thrown out the window because the produce at the store was already reaching that 'half gone' appearance.

Today, there were no 'deals' but I did grab what I needed to make a lovely vegetarian pizza for tomorrow.

>144 lit_chick: - I am horrified, Nancy! There is just no consistency to it, which REALLY. When I take to my family in Alberta, it is the meat, chicken and fish where they have seen the bigger price increases. Until last year, I could buy New Zealand air flown lamb cheaper than domestic. That has now shifted, but mainly because we are now able to source lamb locally on the island. Apparently, according to my SIL's best friend, the sea prices in Victoria are 'dirt cheap' compared to what they have to pay in Alberta, but I should hope so, considering this is an island in the Pacific Ocean and transportation costs for seafood, once the ships dock in port, are minimal! ;-0

I love/hate technology. What a screwed up world we live in, being held hostage by the tech companies.

>145 cbl_tn: - I love the months of May-September for the reasons you have mentioned: locally grown veggies - and fruit - are readily available and at decent prices. The winter months are hard, but I still grudge that broccoli, cauliflower and even lemons were outrageously priced all summer and fall. All summer lemons were going for $1/lemon. They are somewhat cheaper now - I saw 5 lemons for $3 this past week - but broccoli and cauliflower continue to hold their prices. U.S. grown cauliflower today was $6.99/head.

I like your strategy. It is one I also like to use, although there have been days when my other half asks "Why haven't we had ______?" and I have to explain to him the food costs (or the produce quality), as he doesn't join me when I grocery shop.

.... now I have a craving for cranberry orange muffins. *looks quickly in kitchen. Finds fresh oranges and dried cranberries.* Potential baking day tomorrow. ;-)

>146 Crazymamie: - Hi Mamie! Technology is such a bear. If your library system ever gets Hoopla, the service does have a lot of benefits but good grief when it comes to being able to reliably play an audiofile that you have downloaded to your device of choice, that is all I can say!

Love the Meg Ryan channeling!

Happy Saturday, everyone! Beautiful weather today so I spent a good part of the day 'out and about'. While downtown this morning, I came across the following very cute - and appropriate! - use of one of the city's bike lock-up posts:



I am looking forward to a relaxing evening of reading tonight. According to my audiobook and this Cliff Notes summary, I have finished 'reading' the first two books in War and Peace. I can now put the audiobook away until Monday. Tonight I hope to finish the following two books currently in progress: The Wikipedia Revolution by Andrew Lih for the DeweyCAT challenge and the following rather fun take on some of the main stories in the Old Testament of the Bible, Uncle Bob's Red Flannel Bible Camp: From Eden to the Ark by Steve Vernon as my first ROOT read for 2016. Tomorrow, I plan to start reading the letters in Samuel Richardson's Clarissa.

Food prices are crazy. My husband just about dies when he does the shopping (which is probably less than once per year). Ugh. The worst part is that the crap is largely cheap-ish, while real food is very expensive, even non-organic.

Would it shock you if I told you I don't own a microwave and haven't for the last 15 years? I am surprised! I've certainly lived without a microwave, but at certain times I really depend on it. I tend to cook a lot at once so our family of four can have leftovers the next night, and I tend to take leftovers to school.

>142 lkernagh: No, I haven't noticed the drain on my phone, but I tend to turn everything (like auto sync) off and close every app I've used a few times a day unless the phone is on the charger, and I think I set it so apps can't run in the background. Also, I mostly listen to audiobooks on my Kindle Fire before bed at night, and the charger is right beside the bed so I tend to plug it in before going to sleep. Not surprised at the battery drain, though.

>149 lkernagh: lol too cute!
What upsets me about food prices is how, a few years ago, "they" told the consumer prices are going up because gas prices were astronomically high. Well, now they are not high, in fact the lowest in years but you don't see that reflected in price decreases.

Sorry for the delay in posting here this term but I have just finished your vegetable casserole!
Have a lovely Sunday, Lori.

Hi Lori--Well, I have to go grocery shopping today, and now I know I am going to be ultra focused on the prices--grumble, grumble. Sorry about the iPad no longer working with Hoopla. Bummer! Love the bike rack photo. Thanks!

>89 lkernagh: Oh dear, what an adventure. I'm rather glad that you were not at home so that your BH got to, um, deal with it himself. It's one of those stories that has a humorous edge but would not necessarily be fun to live through.

We have a plot in our neighborhood p patch and grow some of our own vegetables in the summer. We have a freezer stocked right now with green beans and tomatillos but even with a 10' x 20' plot, there is a limit to what one can grow. We do tomatoes and corn (the latter amazes me because Seattle is not a climate for growing corn, but the last two summers have been so warm), potatoes, lots of kale and carrots, beets, carrots (these don't do particularly well for reasons we haven't yet determined), radishes, zucchini....

>103 lkernagh: I'm going to copy and print that recipe and make it. It is definitely heart-healthy and I love all the ingredients. I'll take your advice and add some salsa (as long as it's pretty low sodium) and I won't add any salt. P is our cook but since I'm being pretty firm about how we eat, moving forward, I think I'll take on at least some of the cooking duties. And, while we won't be full-on vegetarians, I'm figuring I will be leaning hard in that direction.

>149 lkernagh: That's absolutely adorable.

Hope you had a great weekend!

>150 AMQS: - The worst part is that the crap is largely cheap-ish, while real food is very expensive, even non-organic. So true, Anne. So true. I can see how a microwave would be helpful in a busy kitchen feeding a family. I do love the convenience of a microwave for reheating leftovers.... that is about the only thing I do miss about not owning a microwave, but it would come at a trade off of some loss of usable counter-space so I will survive without a microwave, just like I survive without a dish-washing machine. ;-)

>151 Storeetllr: - Good to know. I think I figured out my problem. I have played around some more with my phone and I have learned a couple of things: 1) I have now discovered I have the ability to restrict background data from operating (probably what you have done with your phone). I have also discovered that if I restart my phone after I close the Hoopla app, that also stops the app from running in the background and draining my battery power. I feel a lot better now that I have figured this out!

>152 Carmenere: - a few years ago, "they" told the consumer prices are going up because gas prices were astronomically high. Well, now they are not high, in fact the lowest in years but you don't see that reflected in price decreases. That is my pet peeve as well. *Grrrr*

>153 PaulCranswick: - Happy Sunday/Monday Paul and yay on having tried the casserole! *Whoot*
I hope you have a wonderful week, Paul!

>154 Berly: - Sorry to make your trip to the grocery store a price-focused one, Kim, but it does drive me a bit crazy some of the food costs these days.

>155 EBT1002: - Kudos on having a neighborhood patch so that you have a stash of 'home grown' veggies for the winter months! I would love a garden patch - even the size of yours. Well done on growing corn! Your are right, it was an unusually warm and sunny summer in 2015... perfect for corn, and tomatoes!

I love cooking so very happy to see others are finding the vegetable casserole recipe appealing. I like simple cooking and as you have noticed, I do try to go for healthy meals, including heart-healthy. Good for you in incorporating more vegetarian dishes in meal planning!

>156 The_Hibernator: - Thanks Rachel! The weekend was good. Productive and relaxing at the same time.

-------------------

Today was only of those really cold and grey morning that turned into a sunny and slightly warmer afternoon. Putts around doing laundry, making raisin bran muffins and fixing the hem on a slip. Boring, I know, but some days are just meant to be boring. ;-)

Year-Long Clarissa Read - Update:
I have finally figured out the best way for me to tackle this one. Sunday is the best day of the week for me to not be distracted, unless I want to be. I have decided that each Sunday I will put aside some time and read Clarissa. Today I read the first letter (January 10) in the book and read one week's worth of letters - meaning I will start the letter dated January 20th next Sunday. I think this approach will work for me as it lets me read a couple of letters in one sitting and lets me focus on the story as it unfolds. Hopefully, this approach will also help for those periods I have been warned about where there are suddenly a lot of letters over a very short time period.

Book #2 - Uncle Bob's Red Flannel Bible Camp: From Eden to the Ark by Steve Vernon
Challenge(s): 75 Group, 2016 Category, ROOT
Category: Spending Time with my Furry Friends
CAT(s): Embrace Your Uniqueness (January RandomCAT)
BingoDOG: N/A
WomanBingoKIT: N/A
Source: TBR
Format: e-book
Original publication date: March 1, 2014
Acquisition date: August 23, 2015
Page count: 106 pages
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.30 out of 5 /
Book description/summary: from the amazon.ca website book listing webpage:

Forget about that Russell Crowe NOAH movie with all of those weird stone giants and all of that soap opera melodrama that never really happened - if you really want to get the REAL story on what happened on the day that Noah built that big old floating zoo you REALLY ought to talk to Uncle Bob. While you are at it get him to fill you in on all of the inside information on what REALLY went on in the Garden of Eden - because he knows that too. Yes sir and yes ma'm - this is the story of the Old Testament as retold by the red flannel storyteller his-own-self - namely, Uncle Bob.

Review:
A nice twist on how to communicate the well told bible stories, with a refreshingly modern spin. Vernon got me to chuckle a number of times as "Uncle Bob" provides a plain-speaking man's take on everything from the seven days creation, Adam and Eve and the 'incident' that drove them from the Garden of Eden, the disastrous sibling-rivalry thing between Cain and Abel and good old Noah just trying to understand why, at 500 years of age, God wants him to build an ark. The numbers/stats geek that I really appreciated Vernon's reminders of the very, very long life span of some individuals depicted in the book of Genesis - like Seth living to 912 years old. The modern vibe Vernon provides is fun and has some great literary and other modern references that will not go unnoticed by certain readers. I got a good chuckle out of this bit:

"The Ark is painted," Ham said.
"What color did you decide on?" Noah asked.
"We went with grey on grey," Shem said.
"How many shades of grey can you choose from?" Noah asked.
"At least fifty," Ham said. "The way I hear it."

Now, this is where I get to mention the fact that Vernon is a "new-to-me" author, so I was rather surprised when I read the Afterword and discovered, In Vernon's own words, that he USUALLY writes horror fiction and ghost story tales. Well, let me tell you, Vernon has a good funny bone in his body as well, and knows how to present the Bible stories in a refreshingly fun manner - and with clean humour, for those of you who may be concerned about inappropriate content - which I believe may appeal to reading audiences, both young and old.

As an aside, this read has now convinced me to move my copy of Christopher Moore's Lamb further up my TBR pile. ;-)

Book #3 - The Wikipedia Revolution: How a Bunch of Nobodies Created the World's Greatest Encyclopedia by Andrew Lih
Challenge(s): 75 Group, 2016 Category
Category: Spending Time with my Furry Friends
CAT(s): DeweyCAT (000-099)
BingoDOG: N/A
WomanBingoKIT: N/A
Source: GVPL
Format: Hardcover
Original publication date: 2009
Acquisition date: N/A
Page count: 272 pages
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.50 out of 5 /
Book description/summary: from the amazon.ca website book listing webpage:

With more than 2,000,000 individual articles on everything from Aa! (a Japanese pop group) to Zzyzx, California, written by an army of volunteer contributors, Wikipedia is the #8 site on the World Wide Web. Created (and corrected) by anyone with access to a computer, this impressive assemblage of knowledge is growing at an astonishing rate of more than 30,000,000 words a month. Now for the first time, a Wikipedia insider tells the story of how it all happened--from the first glimmer of an idea to the global phenomenon it's become. Andrew Lih has been an administrator (a trusted user who is granted access to technical features) at Wikipedia for more than four years, as well as a regular host of the weekly Wikipedia podcast. In The Wikipedia Revolution, he details the site's inception in 2001, its evolution, and its remarkable growth, while also explaining its larger cultural repercussions. Wikipedia is not just a website; it's a global community of contributors who have banded together out of a shared passion for making knowledge free.

Review:
If you are like me, you have your web browser homepage set at the Google homepage and 8 times out of 10, when you do a Google search for something, a Wikipedia article is one of the top hits in the search results list. Describing Wikipedia in Lih's own words,

"Wikipedia is a human-centered endeavor that invites participation on a massive scale. It usurps top-down authority, empowers individuals, and harnesses previously untapped labor of individuals previously isolated kin separate social networks, but brought together by the Internet."

Lih examines the idea of Wikipedia as an open information resource and the grassroots community of volunteer writers, editors and administrators who have built Wikipedia into the extensive online information resource it is to this day. Lih does a good job pointing out the teething/growing pains of Wikipedia over time, including personality/culture clashes between members as well as the difficulties of containing the ever growing throngs of vandals, trolls and sock puppets that are attracted to successful online sites that allow users edit/post capabilities, as we have noticed here on Librarything. The book was published in 2009 so it is not surprising that the next chapter of Wikipedia's life has already occurred outside of the pages of this book. While Lih does attempt to balance the social/cultural/community aspects of Wikipedia with the more technical, software geek side of software code and wiki structure, I can see where this may come across as rather dry reading for someone, especially if they are looking for more of the world end-user reaction to Wikipedia as a social phenomenon of the Internet age.

My Trans Canada Walking Journey


The goal: To walk - in three calendar years (1,095 days) - the distance that it would take me to walk the Trans Canada Highway from the Mile Zero marker located here in Victoria BC to its end point in St. John's, NL, a distance of 7,821K (4,860 miles).







Here is the link to my Google map where I am tracking my journey: http://tinyurl.com/p8vu9n3

UPDATE: WEEK 26
Kilometers walked this week: 45.6
Kilometers walked in total: 1,220.05
Current province: (AB)
My current location on the map: Within the Calgary city limits - more precisely, just passed Canada Olympic Park and heading for the Sarcee Trail intersection.
Points of interest along the way: Calgary is the city that was called "home" during my teenage years and which is still home for the majority of my immediate family. Lots of great memories of learning to ski at Paskapoo (now Canada Olympic Park) and attending outdoor concerts at Calaway Park for, at the time, up and coming Canadian music artists such as Gowan and Corey Hart. Yes, I have just dated myself for anyone knowledgeable of Canadian pop culture. :-) Never did make it all the way to Chestermere as originally hoped, but I should have no problems blowing past Chestermere in Week 27!

Woot! You're in Calgary, Lori! Way to walk.

Interesting read on the Wikipedia evolution (revolution?).

Continuing to enjoy your walking adventures. I have set myself a big goal for swimming this year but am already wondering if it is too big! I like that you've planned yours to last several years and the cultural bit is right there too. (And what a shame the name Paskapoo is gone).

wow - 1,220 kms! Incredible how it sums up! You covered Italy North-South, and in quite a short time! :)
>159 lkernagh: might be a BB for when I need sth short and funny.

>159 lkernagh: That sounds like an interesting book! And I'd love to join you on a walk through Calgary. Can we make a brief detour through the indoor gardens? I attended a conventional n in Calgary 20 years ago and loved getting to know the city a bit.

I like author's who are not afraid to reveal their funny bones. Uncle Bob's Red Flannel Bible Camp: From Eden to the Ark is definitely going on the Wishlist.

Isn't Calgary a bit chilly this time of year? Hope you dress appropriately ;)

>162 lit_chick: - I know! Feeling pretty special about that! the Wikipedia book was a good read and I learned a lot. Good information, but maybe not interesting to everyone.

>163 charl08: - Thanks Charlotte! There is no such thing as "too big" if you have given yourself the ability to adapt it as you work into your routine. Give yourself that option and the stress will 'disappear', letting you focus on the exercise.

I know! Paskapoo was a such a great name, and it lives on in the minds of everyone who has memories of the ski hill before it was renamed (for the 1988 Olympics). As a bit of history, paskapoo means "blind man" in Cree, a native plains Indian tribe of known to have resided in Alberta. The Paskapoo Slopes is the known natural and cultural name for the slopes and the reason for the original name for the ski hill. "Canada Olympic Park" sounds like something a marketing firm came up with and has no real meaning whatsoever.

>164 Deern: - Love the stat! Good to know I have already walked the distance of Italy North-South! Whoot!

Short and funny is a good description for the Vernon read. ;-)

>165 cbl_tn: - I loved it and I think you would get a good kick out of it as well. Aaaahhhhh.. the Devonian Gardens. Ah yes. The gardens are still there, smack on the top floor of one of the malls on Stephen's Avenue. When I worked downtown in Calgary, I used to take my lunch and sit in the gardens. Really relaxing. Here are some pictures to refresh your memory:



>166 Carmenere: - Yay... another hit!

Ha,ha.... Funny you should ask about the weather in Calgary this time of year. Usually it is decidedly colder there than here on the island. Not so far this year. It is currently 6'C with rain here on the island and -4'C and overcast in Calgary. Calgary's drier climate would make Calgary warmer right now than the island.... and I thought I moved here to get away from Calgary's winters. ;-)

Today was a day off from work. Went to the dentist this morning for the routine check up and clean. It was a cold morning but that did not deter me from walking the 6.5 kilometers to the dentist... although my hands did take forever to warm up once I got there! Spent the afternoon at home getting caught up on LT and baking a batch of reduced-sugar oatmeal raisin cookies (details to follow).

-----------------------

Baking Update:
Today's cookie recipe has a bit of a back-story. Back in early December, I had canvassed my parents as to any baking suggestions as I like to send a cookie package home for them, especially now that mom is not that keen to be baking. Apparently, dad had been craving oatmeal raisin cookies for the previous couple of days so the suggestion came through, loud and clear. The following Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies recipe was the recipe I turned to to make dad his cookies, with some drastic sugar reduction. The recipe calls for 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar AND 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. Seriously?! My 'tweak' to the recipe is to completely eliminate the granulated sugar and reduce the brown sugar to 1/2 cup, loosely spooned. Even with this reduction - and the addition of sultana raisins - makes these cookies a sweet treat! The next time I mane this recipe, I am going to further reduce the brown sugar to 1/3 cup loosely spooned. Here is a picture of today's baking:



Now I am set for those mid afternoon treat cravings. ;-)

Yum, just in time for cookies, and they look delicious!

Delicious looking cookies! That does seem like a lot of sugar that the recipe calls for!

As for my library, they reduced the number of material to be taken out one card to 10 books, 2 book club books , 5 magazines , 5 interlibrary print book loans etc. It used to be 30 " materials of any kind and really I took over 30 at time all the time with no fuss. The library also had a 4 week borrowing policy for print books, with the option on 4 week renewal if no one else was waiting. Now it is reduced to 3 weeks with a 1 week renewal period, period. As I mentioned, I emailed the head librarian and deputy librarian about my concerns. I also spoke to the deputy librarian by phone for quite a while. Here is there rational ;0 "Get your books faster with shorter borrowing periods and more books on the shelf." Apparently yes, they do rely on overdue fees for revenue. The library has lost $60,000. 00 over the past year or two in overdue fees. The library finds that ebooks are costing them a lot but that the only part of the library that is seeing improvement in borrowing, so the library has gotten rid of 1/3 of the printed books and added more e-books. Overall the use of the library is declining , so this is their solution to the problem. The rationale is more of the books on the shelves will convince more people to take out more print books ( and increase overdue revenue - not that they would tell me as much ). I suggested adding a small fee to e-books, since those seem to be the books that are so much more expensive. but no, that is not to be. They have cut in half the number of ebooks per patron by 10 ebooks to 5 ebooks. I suggested a non -resident fee for library cards, but apparently B.C has a province wide no - fee to use any library.

The deputy librarian did say that they would be monitoring feedback from library patron re the changes and they appreciated my input. The problem is that so few people bother to say anything. So far I am taking out more than 10 books, and the automatic check out is allowing me to so. I will say that I think the " deputy librarian" took my concerns seriously. I felt that these changes penalize print users much more than the e - readers and that will often be the less well off, children, and the older folks who are less tech savvy. Personally I prefer print books by a mile . I have yet to take an e-book out because I have a kindle and it is so much easier to use - supposing I was desperate for an e-book. The librarian did tell me that I will be the first one to know if the library re- considers it policies after 3 months , so I suppose I made as much noise as anyone :)
From my perspective, I will still use the library, but I will be more inclined to look for second hand books etc. Very frustrating. I also got my husband to get a library card, which he does not use, thereby doubling my library book capacity. :)
Grinding my teeth.

>168 lkernagh: That's the place! It looks just like I remember it. Thanks for pisting the pics!

Thanks for the encouragement. I took a leaf out of your book and checked out the route I was swimming (from the source of the Thames). Although apparently in the summer I'd struggle to swim, as much is dry!

>168 lkernagh: What a gorgeous garden!

Cookies & gardens! Oh my! Hi, Lori! Hope the week is going well and your current reads are treating you just fine.

HI Lori, Thanks for the visit to my thread. Visited your gorgeous city last week. I love the plants and the gardens even in January! I have read lots of "sugar' books (as in BAD sugar) so I am trying to drastically reduce the sugar in recipes too. I agree the sugar that is called for in oatmeal cookies is ridiculous.

Wonderful photos of gardens and cookies. It looks like you hav a good time.

>168 lkernagh: So pretty! I don't know why we don't have something like that here, where people need somewhere cool when it's 115 outside.
Good luck with the library. I have to wonder what will happen to serendipity (and the librarians) once the library has no books to browse and check out.

Beautiful pictures! (And not just the cookies) :)

>170 lit_chick: - Oh, do help yourself to some, Nancy! I haven't figured out how to make the experience to be a satisfactory one for the taste buds but hey, we cannot have everything in this 'virtual' world.... although I have to say I still struggle a bit with the concept of smell trademarks... but I digress.

>171 vancouverdeb: - I tend to wonder about the sugar (and fat) content of some of these 'traditional' recipes, Deb.

Interesting investigating into the change in policy at your local library, Deb. Sounds like they are trying to drive the readers to specific formats of books (e-books) as a means to increase readership of a different format of books (printed books). Labyrinthine logic like that makes my head spin.

I suggested adding a small fee to e-books, since those seem to be the books that are so much more expensive. but no, that is not to be.

I believe the BC Library Act restricts the manner in which public libraries are able to generate revenues, and that includes adding user fees. The only fee the libraries are allowed to impose are the overdue fees, so I can see where the library has to engage in its rather convoluted two-step to try and increase patron use of certain items.

Good job on voicing your concerns to the powers that be! I wish more people would bring their concerns forward... I am sure it would help the library build a case for changes.

>172 cbl_tn: - Anytime!

>173 charl08: - Good for you, Charlotte, although I am a little concerned about the 'dry' swimming route.... good thing for virtual vs. reality! ;-0

>174 norabelle414: - The Devonian Gardens have been in existence for as long as I can remember, Nora. The fact that it is located on the top floor of a 3-4 story shopping mall is what makes it so interesting.... you just don't expect to discover a botanical garden smack in the middle of downtown Calgary. It is such an oasis in the middle of a bitter Canadian winter!

>175 msf59: - Hi Mark, the week is grand so far and the reads are behaving themselves (I don't feel tempted to abandon them or vent my frustrations at them), so all is good in the world. ;-)

>176 mdoris: - Hi Mary, glad you were able to enjoy good Ol' Vic! I am still complaining that it feels colder than usual for this time of year but, oh well, it could be worse. ;-) it is struggle to reduce the sugar in some recipes. I am horrified to think what the cookies would taste like if I had followed the recipe "to the letter".

>177 Ameise1: - Thanks Barbara!

>178 mstrust: - LOL, it never occurred to me that a temperature-controlled botanical garden could be a 'cool' place to rest in some locations! Deb is on a mission to get to the bottom of the library situation with her local library so I have my fingers crossed that she will succeed.

>179 BLBera: - You see, Beth, I have no pets to entice visitors to my thread with so I have to make do with food and garden pictures. It seems to be working. ;-0

I made a promise to myself this year I will not spend 'oodles' of time in front of the computer trying to stay on top of all the threads, especially as I am part of three very active groups: 2016 Category Challenge, 2016 ROOT Challenge and this group. That, and the fact that I am stuck behind a computer enough hours of the weekday as it is.

The 'guidelines' that I will be following are pretty straightforward.

Lori's "Thread Sanity" Guidelines:

1. No LT time after 7:30 pm (my time) - no playing time zone games to stay on LT later.
2. No feeling stressed or pressured to visit threads - threads are like laundry and dirty dishes... no matter how frequently you clean up, more dirty dishes/laundry appears.
3. Star visitors so that I can find their threads and pay a return visit.
4. Designate one day a week for 'starred threads'. Other days of the week I can follow my usual practice of visiting threads in my Talk in reverse order (which means older/less active threads will be visited by me more frequently).

The 'guidelines' actually took effect prior to the weekend and I am finding that I am a lot calmer about my LT time and - even better! - I have more book reading time!

>127 dk_phoenix: ha ha. Your shopping list sounds like mine ....such and such- IF on special! Cauliflower here is oftenhalved and wrapped for $2.50 ish. That proice being about $1.50 UD

>183 lkernagh: Those sound like good guidelines (especially for this time of year) and I may try to adopt those too.

I love your guidelines, very similar to my own. Do I get a star? :)

I need to establish some kind of guidelines for LT time, too. Especially at the start of the year, it really cuts into my reading time as I try to stay caught up. And it's just silly to feel that pressure....

Lori, the indoor gardens look like the place to go in the winter to get rejuvenated! Lovely pictures. I'm glad you got some of your Hoopla issues sorted out. I love listening to a book before I go to sleep at night. It doesn't seem to drain the battery on my iPhone, nor have I had the other problems you and Mary have experienced. I'm a happy camper with my audiobooks!

I am spending less time on LT, both on my thread and on others. I still enjoy my time here and plan to continue spending several longish sessions here each week as a way to keep up with my book friends. Moderation in everything is my mantra for the year.

>184 LovingLit: - I want your kind of cauliflower prices, Megan. ;-(

>185 souloftherose: - Each year seems to get busier and busier or I just find myself getting more easily overwhelmed. Feel free to borrow/adopt/adapt away!

>186 drneutron: - Anything to make life easier and glad to see I am not the only one with some sort of 'thread guidelines'. You are already starred, Jim... and yes, I did double-check. That would have been one uber-embarrassing moment otherwise! ;-)

>187 katiekrug: - This time of year is bad, Katie. Maybe it is the fact that the holidays are over and the weather isn't the best? ;-)

>188 Donna828: - It is the perfect place to relax, especially in the winter time! I am so glad to learn you have not had the same issues I was having with listening to audiobooks. So far, things are much better *knocks on wood*

I think it all about life balances. Where I work they make a good effort to allow for work/life balance but it's tends to get forgotten or missed that life/life balancing is also important.

Happy Wednesday everyone. Great job today on all fronts: work was busy and productive in a good way; got in some great walking this morning and at lunchtime and looking forward to a relaxing evening.

I came across an interesting sight during my lunchtime walk today that I wuld like to share with everyone. I have never seen a hedge cut in on one side like this one has been.... but once I saw all the birdhouses that have been hung by the property owner, I understand why:



Here is a close up shot of one of the birdhouses (so sweet!):

Love the hedge and the birdhouses, Lori. Well done on setting some LT guidelines for yourself.

Lori, the row of birdhouses is adorable! What a treat to encounter them on your walk! Thanks for sharing.

Also, the cookies look wonderful and I'm very impressed that you will tweak and experiment with baking recipes. I'll do that with cooking but with baking I get very timid. I don't do it often (which may be part of the issue, of course) but I follow the recipe vewy, vewy carefully. :-)

I really like your Thread Sanity Guidelines (and I am particularly on board with guideline #2). I do have a question: I star threads of people I want to keep in touch with. Some I'm likely to visit more often, depending on shared reading interests, actual in-person meet-up history, etc. But in your guidelines you say you'll star folks who visit you and give them a return visit (very considerate and I try to do the same), but then you will, on other days, follow your "usual practice of visiting threads in my Talk in reverse order (which means older/less active threads will be visited by me more frequently)." I'm assuming you click on something other than "starred" over on the left when you are on your Talk tab.... I always click on "starred" so that I don't get overwhelmed.... of course, I still get overwhelmed....

Ahhh, I'm thinking you click on "last message" on the Talk tab and work your way up (I do that sometimes too). Yes?

Anyway, you're not going to see this or respond to this until tomorrow because it is after 7:30pm in your time zone (and mine).

I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!

Oh how cute, the birdhouses!! Charming! I have seen hedges cut in like that, if they were encroaching on the sidewalk or whatever, but this is delightful!

In light of my library problems, I headed out to a second hand bookstore and stored up on some TBR's! There was a letter complaining about the issue in our local paper! Bravo! I need to do the same.

Those birdhouses in the trees are so pretty! It's great to see something so unique.
The other day I was leaving a parking lot and saw a Native American man practicing his hoop dancing in front of his apartment complex, which was something unusual even though there's a big competition here.

Have a lovely weekend!

>190 lkernagh: So adorable! Makes me want to plant a hedge just so I can do that.

Have a wonderful weekend!

>191 lit_chick: - Thanks Nancy! I totally need guidelines on the thread front - seriously, one could go crazy trying to stay on top of things around here!

*looks around to see if the fainting couch is still here... finds it and promptly collapses on it with notebook*

I will return the fainting couch.... it is just getting so much use over here, I might need to look into acquiring one. ;-)

>192 EBT1002: - Thanks Ellen! I like to mix up my walking by changing the streets I walk down so there is usually something interesting that catches my eye.... keeping in mind that I do live in a city that is known for having its own unique personality.

Trust me, I have had more than my share of baking disasters over the years. The good news is that those disasters have taught me what changes I can make to a recipe that really only affects taste and doesn't impact the overall outcome.... I should probably mention that I don't bake souffles or anything that is very finicky. ;-)

Good question about what I mean by my "Talk". When in the "Talk" tab, I click on "started by you" when I am updating my own threads - like tonight. I click the "Your groups" when I visit threads in reverse order.... which means I am seeing an awful lot of threads (usually three webpages of threads with unread posts) and the reason why I have starrred threads that I will visit once a week. I can see why you can get overwhelmed just with your "starred" threads.... I just checked mine and I see a solid 3-4 hours of constant LT time just to get caught up with those threads, if I were to do that right now.... and which is why I was pretty much a 'serial thread skim reader' in 2015. ;-)

>193 vancouverdeb: - Sounds like there are some like-minded library patrons in your neck of the woods, Deb! You are not alone in your quest to address the take out policy changes. Glad to see people here enjoying the quaint things I discover on my walks. ;-)

>194 mstrust: - I would love to know if the property owner made the bird houses. There are so wonderful, and each one is unique. Where one individual may wonder why the man you saw was practicing his hoop dancing in front of his apartment complex, I love that he was no uncomfortable practicing in public and sharing what he was doing with anyone who happened to come by - like you! We need more that in this world. *sighs*

>195 DianaNL: - OMG! You have no idea just how perfect that is for today! Thank you for bringing a huge smile to my face Diana! I wish you wonderful weekend.

>196 Storeetllr: - LOL.... and yet, what a great idea, Mary!

StephenMitchell - Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Crazy busy work week and I am still trying to get used to the idea of a normal work week after the randomness of the last three weeks. I saw this quote today and just love it:

“You have the brains in the head. You have the feet in the shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss

I am thinking of making this quote as part of my desktop at work. No major plans this weekend, although I may do some beading..... I have done that in a while! *eyes dance mischievously at the thought*

Love the quote, Lori: Dr Suess rocks!

Delighted you are getting so much use out of my fainting couch, LOL! Oh, that made me laugh! But I daresay if you'll be beading this weekend, and doing any reading at all, you probably will eventually need to acquire one. A quick Google revealed this 19C American Victorian, which I thought rather a nice piece of furniture.

>103 lkernagh: Hi Lori, I printed this recipe and might try it this weekend (or sometime). I'm guessing you added the barley when you mixed in the beans and kale befor the second round in the oven, yes?

>169 lkernagh: Oatmeal raisin cookies are my favourites but I have never tried to make them. There is a really good bakery near here that sells wonderful oatmeal raisin cookies (I think they put coconut in them but I like them anyway).

I hear you about the time used up trying to keep track of the threads. I just hope they slow down soon!

Planning to make some oatmeal raisin cookies this weekend, your pic inspired me. I'll try it without sugar (except for the 1-2 spoonfuls I need to make the baking agent work), just add a ripe banana. But I don't eat them as sweets, more like breakfast cookies with a bit of vegan butter, like a slightly sweeter bread.

The birdhouses are lovely!

Have a nice relaxing weekend! :)

>200 lit_chick: - Dr. Seuss is so quotable. Thanks for the fainting couch! May need it for my Clarissa read. ;-)

>201 EBT1002: - Correct. The cooked barley gets added with the beans and kale. It won't be in the oven long enough to over cook the barley. Good thing you can figure out my spare instructions, Ellen!

>202 Familyhistorian: - I love coconut in a lot of baking. Coconut would be good in an oatmeal cookie! I have only started making oatmeal raisin cookies because they were a request from my Dad for the Christmas tin of treats that I sent home. Super easy to make but I just don't understand why all the recipes call for so much sugar! I had no idea how far I had progressed with reducing sugar in my baking/cooking until this past December and I bought baked goods at work as part of a Christmas charity fundraiser. My colleagues know I don't do well with excess amounts of sugar as I get super hyper and then sugar crash badly. To this day they have clear memories of the disastrous afternoon one of them gave me a Lowney Cherry Blossom.

I don't think the threads will slow down anytime soon so I have resigned myself to just following the 'guidelines'. ;-)

>203 Deern: - Adding a banana to the cookie batter would be great for both natural sugars and adding some substance to the cookies. Do you have to adjust the flour amount at all?

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Heading out this morning to engage in one of my favorite retail therapy pastimes - shoe shopping! I know shoe shopping is not for everyone and the last thing I need is another pair of shoes but I do love to see what new shoes may be on offer and what may have made it to the discount racks.

>204 lkernagh: I made half a batch with the other quantities (flour, oats, fat) as in the recipe. I put in 1 heaped tbsp of sugar to work with the baking powder.
I substituted the half egg with a half tbsp of flax seeds in 1.5 tbsp of water, as I always do and then added the mashed banana.
The result is surprisingly crispy and definitely sweet enough. A friend just called spontaneously just when I took them out of the oven and we already ate half the half batch. She just loved them.

Actually I expect that with the banana they will become a bit rubbery after a day in the tin, that's why I usually make smaller portions.

Hi Lorie, coming over for a bit of catchup and to wish you a great weekend. Hope you're having fun shoe shopping. Always been a weakness of mine and I have several overloaded shoe cupboards to show for it. Good for you for making some rules to make LT a sane experience for you. I didn't make any actual rules, life just sort of took over and I just follow whatever energy I have and visit a few threads here and there. It was fun for a while keeping up with everyone, but of course wasn't sustainable. Always nice to stay in touch with the lovely folks here though.

I love oatmeal raisin cookies, but don't often make them, since I am pretty much the only one in the family who eats the,

Your LT guidelines are good! It's so easy to get overwhelmed. I had a system at one point, but it was too complicated. Now what I do is, when I have some time for LT, try to visit 5 threads. Also, lots of skimming.

>204 lkernagh:, mmm shoes. I have a weakness for high heels. Very high heels. I don't need any more, I really don't...

Love the fainting couch and the Dr. Seuss quote. I think I should put that somewhere as well. Have a wonderful weekend, Lori.

Lori, I wish you a relaxed weekend.

Stopped by to stick my nose in, only to be met with the heavenly aroma of baking cookies! Aaah!

Interesting discussion about your LT time limits. I'm trying to avoid going onto the threads as much during the work week, and then stop in when I can on the weekends. Still a not overwhelming though!

Just got Joanne Chang's book about baking with less sugar. Going to give it a try!

Love the biscuit talk. As I've made cake twice this week, really should be good and not make biscuits as well...

I just got two pair of running shoes in the mail today: Mail-order shoe shopping works for me! I hope you find some you like on the sale shelf. :-)

And thanks for the recipe clarification. Planning to make that for dinner tonight.

I used to bake a lot when my kids were young , but now that both of them are moved out, I am afraid that if I made my own cookies, I'd just eat them all in a day or two! :)

>190 lkernagh: I wonder if the trees will survive with that whole side cut away? Maybe the sunny side will do its job we'll :)

>205 Deern: - Your oatmeal raisin cookies sound wonderful, Nathalie! I would never have thought to add flax seeds in water... I am now getting rather excited to start experimenting, but I should wait until the current batch of cookies have been consumed. ;-)

>206 Smiler69: - Hi Ilana, shoe shopping was super fun and super successful! I think we all deserve to have our weaknesses. There is no such thing as having too many shoes. Like you, I love popping in to visit the various threads, I just don't want to feel as though I have to. Life has this nasty habit of pulling us in enough directions as it is.... last night I was looking forward to a quiet night curled up with a book, but family issues kind of surfaced and it became an evening of phone and text conversations. Thank god there was wine in the house, that is all I can say! ;-)

>207 banjo123: - I feel for you Rhonda. I love cupcakes but I refuse to make them as I would be the only one eating them so I go without. I love pies too but at least I have figured out how to make only 6 mini tarts at a time so I can satisfy the occasional pie craving I get during the holidays.

Skimming is the best way to try and catch up on threads. Some information gets missed in the process but hey, better than nothing.

>208 Helenliz: - Oooohhhh... we should talk. I love my high heels, of course mine are of the 3-4 inch variety. I can't do higher than 4 inch. Tried.... can't. ;-)

>209 BLBera: - Dr. Seuss is the best motivator! The fainting couch is really starting to grow on me, Beth. At first I thought, "People used furniture like this?" but now, I can see the utility. Now I just need a life of leisure to go with it.... ;-)

Happy weekend, Beth!

>210 Ameise1: - Happy weekend, Barbara! Love that shot!

>211 michigantrumpet: - Baking of some sort usually occurs over here, Marianne. Glad we could lure you in with the smell of baking. Tonight it will be bread... a different but still heavenly smell for my senses. I love the smell of baking bread. I had to impose a curfew, otherwise I was going to become a bit of a computer zombie and as my other half has mentioned, a bit anti-social (keeping in mind that he has his own computer time-sucks!) so limits had to come in.

Ooohhh... The Chang book sounds like a winner! Looking forward to learning more about the recipes you try out!

>212 charl08: - Ooooohhhh... cake. Thankfully, my other half doesn't isn't much of a dessert fan but ooohhhhh.... cake. You could always make biscuits next week, Charlotte. Just a thought. Now I am dying to know what cakes you made. the only cake I have never developed a taste for is red velvet. I have yet to eat a red velvet cake that had me wanting a second slice.

>213 EBT1002: - Brilliant! Let me guess, these are shoes that you have worn before and you trust the brand to purchase them online. My sister and you would probably be of the same mind... she is the runner/fitness maven, I am the fashionista. Sadly for me, that means that I need to try on every pair of shoes for heel stability and overall fit. I am usually a size 7.5 but some shoe manufacturers have surprised me.

I hope the recipe is a success for you, Ellen!

>214 vancouverdeb: - Home baked goods are darn tempting, aren't they, Deb? Thankfully, I am pretty good about being able to stop after one or two. I was the same way as a kid with my Halloween candy. Salty snacks are my lack of control obsession and we don't have any of those in the house. No chips or pretzels or any of those tantalizing bags of processed goodness usually found down the pop/chip aisle of the grocery store. I fell in love with Barbara's jalapeno cheese puffs two years ago and found that I would consume the entire bag in no time flat! Bad.... Very Bad!

I had a very successful shoe shopping trip today. For those not interested in shoe shopping, feel free to move on. ;-)

Shoe Shopping Update:
I managed to score an awesome deal on a pair of Miz Mooz burgundy Paula wedge heel flats (as seen below in pics 'borrowed' from the web):



I love red/burgundy/wine shoes. I believe one can never own too many red shoes! I am also starting to get a collection of shoes with different heel sizes going. I love my 3-4 inch heels but sometimes flats and low heels are better (Explanation: I am getting older and as much as I love high heels, some days I just don't feel like wearing them, but I still want to look smartly dressed).

I also managed to score this wonderful pair of A2 by Aerosoles ankle boots (unprofessional photo taken by yours truly as I could not find pics online):



These boots have been purchased to replace an 8-year-old pair of Guess brand ankle boots that are starting to show their wear and tear. *cue teary eye and sniffles*
Total cost after taxes for both pairs of shoes: $85. I love Designer Shoe Warehouse.... I also love the fact that I can now do a customer survey based on today's shopping experience and get a $10 off coupon.... they have a pair of white wide-strap leather high heels I have my eye on. ;-)

Well done on the shoe shopping, Lori! I wish we had a Designer Shoe Warehouse! Need one of those babies, ha!

Did you make any other adjustments to your oatmeal cookie recipe when you reduced the sugar?

Love the bird houses - how pretty!

My husband seems to think I have too many shoes. Silly man, that would be impossible. There's a DSW just a few miles from my office. It's a hit or miss kind of thing but I think I'm almost due for another lunch time trip!

>219 lkernagh: I have a pair so similar to the black ankle boots! Mine were very cheap and have a puffy air noise coming from one heel as I walk. I still really like them though, maybe I need to cough or something to disguise the hissing sound every second step! ;)

Nice shoes, Lori. I'm not much of a shoe shopper. I do like red shoes though.

Well I sure have fallen behind the times here. Scrolling through and pausing for photos... Ooh, love the birdhouses in >190 lkernagh:!

>168 lkernagh: My husband and I randomly came across the Devonian Gardens on our honeymoon, when we spent a day in Calgary after our time in Banff. I loved being able to explore the city via indoor walkways (by that point, having just moved back to the States from Australia, I was over and done with cold weather, and it was January).

>190 lkernagh: That is the cutest little birdhouse!

Hi Lori. You guessed right. And with my plantar fasciitis and, working at a university in the casual Pacific Northwest, I get to wear running shoes to work most days. Here are the ones I got in the mail:



We made the casserole last night and it was delicious! It's a great combination of flavors. We used a whole onion instead of half, 3 TBSP of olive oil, and 2 cans of black beans. We didn't put salsa in the recipe but did use it as a condiment. YUM. Thank you for posting it!

I love your new red shoes! They look really comfy and stylish ~ a good combination. All I wear these days are New Balance running shoes or houseslippers, unless I simply MUST dress up, and then I have a nice pair of Earth maryjanes that do okay for casual dress and a pair of fancy flat sandals that I wear for really dressy. I can no longer wear heels due to toe joint arthritis pain. :( Fortunately, I haven't had to dress up at all in the past few years. :)

Happy Sunday!

Love all the shoes. Lovely colours.

I made coconut (the recipe includes the word 'easy') and banana and chocolate loaf. And then today we had Eton mess as well. Tomorrow I swim...

Ooh! Styling shoes, Lori! Love the red shoes ! Love them all! I confess I don't like shoe shopping and with my life of walking the dog, I usually am wearing I am usually in running shoes or a pair of hikers in the winter. But I have a pair or two for dressing up. Kind of like 227 above - mary janes of for casual dress and a pair of flats. That is osteoporosis for you . And just getting old! I nearly died in my heels for my son's wedding this summer! Oh my toes were killing me!

>220 lit_chick: - I was sooo happy when DSW opened in Victoria last year, Nancy! Before that, my shoe fixes involved trips home to Calgary - they had a DSW almost a year before Victoria did. Calgary is also home to one of my favorite shoe retailers/designers, Arnold Churgin. You could choose to see the lack of a DSW as a blessing in disguise... less temptation to go shoe shopping. ;-)

>221 Copperskye: - Hi Joanne, no the only adjustment was the reduction in sugar. The cookies still worked, although an extra tablespoon of flour probably wouldn't have gone amiss. I agree.... it is impossible to have too many shoes. When we were last bed shopping, I insisted that the bed have a minimum 7 inch floor to bottom of bed frame clearance.... my shoes are stored in those wonder 'under the bed' bins. I can fit one more bin under the bed so I am good... I can still shoe shop! ;-0

>222 LovingLit: - Don't you just hate it when a shoe develops that puffy noise or a heel squeak? These 'noises' are never detected when you try the shoes on in the store. I have a pair of brown leather heels that have a squeak to them that makes me self conscious if I wear them in the office.

>223 BLBera: - Thanks Beth! Red is best, although I do have a wonderful pair of blue suede heels that I absolutely love (even though it cracks my sister up every time she sees them). I love my shoes and my other half has resigned himself to the fact that shoes and I are a package deal. ;-)

>224 qebo: - Hi Katherine! Glad to see you made it over for a visit. Pretty darn busy in the group these days. I agrere, the bird houses are so darn sweet!

>225 abergsman: - "Random" is the way most visitors seem to come across the Devonian Gardens! The Plus 15 walkway system in downtown Calgary was an engineering stroke of genius! I still remember working downtown one winter and loving the fact that I could go meet my friend for lunch 5 blocks over and not have to step outside (or put on a jacket).

>226 EBT1002: - Love your Asics, Ellen! I cannot remember which brand my sister runs in at the moment but I do remember her being partial to Asics too. I like the colours of both pairs. The lime green ones are fantastic! It must be a challenge to find comfortable running shoes. I can dress casual at work so long as I don't have any in-person meetings, which is nice, especially as more and more meetings are teleconferences or even better online meetings. ;-)

I am so glad to see the casserole worked out! The recipe really did call for more beans so I glad it worked out well with two cans.

>227 Storeetllr: - Thanks Mary! Cute and stylish works for me! Because of my shoulder issue from end of last year, I am being more cognizant of my posture while working on the computer at work. Luckily, I have the ability to use an adjustable desk so one or two days a week I am now spending a good part of my work day standing... another reason for collecting more flat or lower heeled shoes. ;-) Sorry to read about the toe joint arthritis pain. I would be reaching for comfy shoes all the time!

>228 charl08: - OMG Coconut cake...... banana and chocolate sounds really good too but..... COCONUT! I have always been a huge coconut fan. As I child I used to drive my mother crazy by taking her fancy shredded coconut (for baking) and add it to vanilla ice cream to make my own coconut ice cream. She got very good about hiding her baking coconut from me. ;-)

>229 vancouverdeb: - Thanks Deb. Thanks also for the reminder that I need to keep up with my calcium tablets. I do not want osteoporosis, or foot pains or anything else.... not like I have a huge amount of control over what my body decides to do as it ages but still I feel for you, Mary, Ellen and others. With my luck, me feet will be fine.... it will be my knees that will be the problem. I have a click in my left knee and it can go stiff some days in the colder, damper weather.

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I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend! Sunday was a day spent just putzing around the house. The wind and rain of the morning convinced me I was in no mood to venture out, especially as I didn't have to. I have been doing some beading - with War and Peace playing in the background - and plan to do more this afternoon/evening. This morning I spent 3.5 hours on LT visiting starred threads and I am sad to report that while it made a dent, I was unable to visit all starred threads. My mind is now starting to really boggle at the amount of computer time is required. Good thing for the 'guidelines'. ;-)

On the reading front, I have finished a book for the GeoCAT and have a review read for posting.

Book #4 - The Storyteller by Mario Vargas Llosa - translated from the Spanish by Helen Lane
Challenge(s): 75 Group, 2016 Category, ROOT
Category: Spending Time with my Furry Friends
CAT(s): GeoCAT (South America)
BingoDOG: About/by an indigenous person (Machiguenga tribe of Peru)
WomanBingoKIT: N/A
Source: TBR
Format: Trade paperback
Original publication date: 1989
Acquisition date: January 22, 2011
Page count: 256 pages
Decimal/ Star rating: 4.40 out of 5 /
Book description/summary: from the book back cover:

At a small gallery in Florence, a Peruvian writer stares with fascination at the photograph of a tribal storyteller deep in the jungles of the Amazon. He is overcome with the eerie sense that he knows this man...that the storyteller is not an Indian at all but an old school friend, Saul Zuratas. As recollections of Zuratas - a Jew, a perpetual outsider - flow through his mind, the writer begins to imagine Zuratas's transformation from a modern to a central member, the voice and the chronicler, of the primitive, unacculturated Machiguenga tribe. Weaving the mysteries of identity, storytelling, and truth, Vargas Llosa has created a spellbinding tale of one man's journey from the modern world to our origins, abandoning one in order to find meaning in both.

Review:
My first comment is to not read this book like I did. I started it as my 'read in bed' book before falling sleep. That did not work well for me as: 1) I tend to fall asleep after about 10 pages of reading; and 2) to properly appreciate the story being told here, and the shifting points of view, it is best to set aside uninterrupted, wide awake reading time. If you do this, you will be rewarded with Llosa's intimate sweeping inclusion of folklore, legends and beliefs of the Machiguenga, an indigenous Amazonian tribe, to the broader, modern examination of the culture clash between 'traditional' and 'modern' as we slowly lose all of the traditional customs and beliefs of indigenous people who share this planet with us. Everything from religion to linguistics to sociology, politics and ethnography is examined or touched upon in this quasi-memoir-styled story that, in the end, left me feeling that there is more fact and truth than fiction and fabrication in this one. It is very much a call to examine and to be willing to be accountable for the damage we as a modern race are doing to our cultural history and our environment.

A richly textured read worthy of a reader's full, undivided attention.

My Trans Canada Walking Journey


The goal: To walk - in three calendar years (1,095 days) - the distance that it would take me to walk the Trans Canada Highway from the Mile Zero marker located here in Victoria BC to its end point in St. John's, NL, a distance of 7,821K (4,860 miles).







Here is the link to my Google map where I am tracking my journey: http://tinyurl.com/p8vu9n3

UPDATE: WEEK 27
Kilometers walked this week: 46.4
Kilometers walked in total: 1,266.45
Current province: (AB)
My current location on the map: East of Chestermere and heading for Strathmore
Points of interest along the way:As this week brings me back to home territory, a day by day recap is in order. Sunday was a short and rather boring walk along 16th Avenue, but happily heading towards the section that cuts through the heart of Calgary. Monday would have seen me cutting through Shouldice Athletic Park - which, I have to admit, I drove past on a regular basis and never knew the name of until now - and then proceeding to walk past my alma mater, the University of Calgary, stopping off for the day at the campus for SAIT Polytechnic (which never had the "polytechnic" in its name back in my days.... that seems to be something that has become vogue for technical schools of late). Personal history tidbit: the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium beside the SAIT campus is where my high school graduation ceremony occurred. It was one of the few locations in town that could accommodate the large graduation class sizes. Tuesday would have been another day walking along 16th Avenue. The truly iconic interest along the way is Peter's Drive In. OMG! I have the best memories of their burgers, milkshakes and the overall drive-in atmosphere. I am so happy to see that this landmark is still operating. Wednesday would have been more walking along 16th Avenue. This cuts through a mix of residential/industrial space, so not much to report. Thursday would have seen me leaving the Calgary city limits, rounding Chestermere Lake and the township of Chestermere and starting the push toward Strathmore.

Weekly Reading Update:

- Clarissa by Samuel Richardson
Read the January 20th letters today. Got a better feel for the positions/points of view of various members of the family and then discovered that the next letter is dated February 20th.... Yup. February 20th. I seem to have a reprieve from my Clarissa reading for the next five weeks. Well, okay then.

- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
With my walking, housework and beading, I am now at Book 5/Chapter 6 (569 pages or 21 hours, 17 minutes into this 1634 page/60 hour ginormous read).... which means I have now finished 1/3 of story. The audiobook is working really well for me and I am not getting confused with the various characters as I thought I would, so very happy about that!

Next Up:
- The Clock Winder by Anne Tyler (for the AAC)

>233 lkernagh: Hmm, good review, Lori. You've got me interested in The Storyteller. Plus I'm married to one.

I've been wanting to read a book by Mario Vargas Llosa. That looks like a good one, but if it takes undivided attention it's probably not for me right now. Most of my reading is either bubble bath reading or audiobook. Too much textbook leaves my brain fried for serious stuff. However, lovely review. I'll keep this one in mind for later.

Cute shoes!

Happy Sunday, Lori! Hooray for your Trans Canada Walking Journey. I am so impressed your tackling this in the dead of winter. Grins...

And congrats on making headway in W & P. I will be joining the fray on Tuesday.

>233 lkernagh: Nice review of The Storyteller, Lori. That was one of the first books by MVL that I read, and I enjoyed it as well.

>237 The_Hibernator: Rachel, you would probably be better off starting with Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by MVL, which is a light and funny semi-autobiographical novel about the young writer and how he fell in love with his older divorced aunt by law.

Delighted to hear how much you are enjoying the audiobook of War and Peace, Lori. I read it years ago and would love to listen, but I can't seem to keep up to my list of want-to-reads, never mind trying to find time to re-read.

Hi Lori! LOOOOOOVE the birdhouses in >190 lkernagh:. How clever! Love the shoes, too:)

I can never manage to stay on top of the threads. I am always, always very behind, but I am learning to feel less bad about it. There are a lot of us, so it would be hard to keep up no matter what's going on in real life, but I feel like I have no time for anything, and I want to see my LT time as a treat and not a chore. But. but, but there are so many nice and interesting people here. I really regret that I did not win that big powerball.

Lori--You are worried about keeping up on the threads? Ha! YOURS is tough to keep up with! LOL. Okay. I am caught up on the recipe, your LT Guidelines, the bird houses, your latest review and the new shoes. Phew! Speaking of shoes, I went to DSW (a local discount shoe store) today and used my gift certificates and brought home two lovely pairs. I was specifically looking for shoes with low heels, because my post-op knee just doesn't like high ones anymore. I love both of the ones you got, especially the red ones with the lacing on the side. Very nice. Here's one of the ones I got.

Ha! What Kim said! I just finished catching up with you, and it was a lovely time. Those bird houses are so sweet, and I love that each one is different. Also loved your shoes - I have a weakness for anything red, as that is my favorite color. AND, you might have hit me with a BB - very nice review of The Storyteller. I have not read anything by that author, but I have The Feast of the Goat on the shelves, and I am wanting to get to it this year. Have you read that one by any chance?

I love Aasics, and Ellen's shoes are pretty.

Love your comments on The Storyteller - onto the list it goes. I love MVL, and this sounds like a good one. I took note your advice, too, because I tend to do a lot of reading in bed at night.

I LOVED The Feast of the Goat, Mamie. It is hard to put down. If you are squeamish, skip over the torture at the end.

Lori, I was / am a 3 glasses of skim milk girl, jogged every day from the time that I was 12 ti I was just under the age or 40, worked out at the gym etc - did everything I could think of for my bones, but I still got osteoporosis at a quite young age - 48. I was quite shocked. As you say, one tries to minimize the problems of aging, but it is not always to be.

Bravo you with War and Peace. I have a copy but I'm not keen to read it :)

I like the black heels, it's so difficult to find a good shoe for work - that would do me (although a bit more heel would be nice).
I present my favourite heels for inspection:

No, I don't wear them every day (although I would if I could - I can;t drive in them is the main reason why not). The world looks very different when you've 6 inches taller than usual. I bought them 3 days before I ran my marathon. I can remember being perched on them thinking "don't turn an ankle now..."

My shoe wardrobe consists of running shoes (wave riders - both usable and demoted to gardening) and heels and very little in the practical middle. Being practical's over rated. >:-)

Love the shoes and all the comments about the cookies. My sister-in-law makes something she calls a cowboy cookie. It has oatmeal, coconut, several different kinds of chips, and maybe a dried fruit like a raisin or cranberry in it, I think. I haven't had them in years, but her grandchildren are always commenting when she sends them some or they go to her house and she makes them. I think they are everyone's favorites.

Good gravy, I didn't realize I've been away for so long. A little catching up was in order.

>190 lkernagh: Wow, that's an extraordinary picture, Lori! Suitable for framing, I'd say!
>226 EBT1002: I love Asics. They're the only athletic shoes I've bought ever since Ellen recommended them to me a few years back.
>235 lkernagh: congrats on your War and Peace progress. Keep it up!
Love the informational tidbits from your Trans-Canadian walk.

I know.... I am posting these responses after my "cut off time" but it took me longer than I thought to pull the responses together.

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>236 jnwelch: - Thanks Joe. I figure being married to a 'storyteller' this one should make for a good read for you!

>237 The_Hibernator: - You might still enjoy and appreciate the meaning of the Llosa book of you are unable to give it large swaths of uninterrupted reading time but he is so 'smooth' in the way he transitions between narrators and settings that it would become a bit of a blur as to who was narrating and whether you were in the jungle with the storyteller or with his friend recounting memories.

>238 banjo123: - Thanks Rhonda! I am a sucker for cute shoes. ;-)

>239 msf59: - I know. Walking in the dead of winter would normally be a killer. Good thing for global warming, eh? Actually, I think I 'virtually' walked through some rather nasty cold patches so I am super glad that this walk across Canada is virtual and I can contain my actual walking to my warmer climate. ;-)

So glad to see you are about the embark on War and Peace! It is going better than I thought it would.

>240 kidzdoc: - I am still digesting The Storyteller and the more I think about it, the more impressed I am that Llosa wrote it. So happy to see you stopping by Darryl! *makes note of Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter*

>241 lit_chick: - It is finally working for me... after 30 years of previous attempts... so I am super happy about that! Trying to decide what book to read/listen to next when the list/piles are overflowing with options make it really difficult!

>242 AMQS: - Hi Anne! How are things your way? I will continue to snap pictures of the cute/curious/extraordinary for posting here. Eccentric items/photo opportunities are anything but in short supply around here.

I hear you on the thread issue and I so glad that you are learning to not feel bad about it when falling behind... that is where I want to be, mentally, and I am getting there. Slowly. Powerball. The things one can do with a big lottery win. It is sad that I get a bit excited when I win $40 on our lottery. ;-)

>243 Berly: - Those are super cute shoes, Kim! They also look really comfy! I do not know what I did before DSW opened its doors here in Victoria.... Oh, yes I do..... I made trips to Calgary to visit family and shoe shop there. ;-) My thread is speedy.... ???

>244 Crazymamie: - Oh, didn't expect the same 'speedy' response from you too, Mamie! Yay for another fan of red shoes! The Storyteller is the only book by the author that I have read so far. I am looking forward to another read and I have already made note of Darryl's suggestion above about Aunt Julie and the Scriptwriter.

>245 BLBera: - I love Ellen's runners! I like the fact that running shoes now come in wonderful colour combinations. Glad to hit you with a BB for a MVL you haven't read yet and making some serious notes about The Feast of the Goat... I am not a fan of torture scenes. Good to know!

>246 vancouverdeb: - See, I am starting to wonder if it has to do with our genetic makeup and not just diet that can lead to osteoporosis. You mean we cannot entice you to join the group read for War and Peace? Really??? It is being stretched over three months and it is likely that the group thread will see activity after the three months. You know you want to read it so you can check if off as completed..... come on, I know you do.

.... I will stop badgering now. ;-)

>247 Helenliz: - That polka dot pumps are the best! I love them! Thank you so, so much for sharing the picture! I can see why you would find it a bit difficult to drive in them, but they cannot be a difficult as a study pair of Sorel winter boots in the dead of winter when you drive a stick shift. ;-)

Now I need to research wave runners. Being practical's over rated. Agreed.

>248 thornton37814: - Your sister's cowboy cookies sound fantastic, Lori. Sounds similar to some of the breakfast cookies I see mentioned that are chock full of goodness.... Darn it, now I am getting a cookie craving. ;-)

>249 Carmenere: - Thanks Lynda, on all fronts!

One of my favorite things during a busy work week is the ability to get out at lunchtime and go for a walk - clear the mind of cobwebs and get some good old oxygen pumping through the body. I know that I live in that part of Canada that everyone jokes never experiences winter, but even I was a little surprised to see this wonderful bloom of spring while out walking:



Yellow roses are my favorite. My other half always gets my a dozen of long stems for my birthday, but there is just something extra beautiful about encountering a yellow rose bud in January.

.... and because I am now starting to take pictures of 'cute' things that I encounter during my days, this was my cute encounter for today, while walking home from work:



For those of you who do not know about this statue, it depicts Canadian author/artist Emily Carr. It is located at the intersection of Government and Belleville (that is the Empress Hotel in the background). The reason for this being the 'cute' encounter for today is the fact that someone has artistically wrapped a scarf around the dog. It is not uncommon for stray gloves/scarves/hats etc to be displayed in a prominent manner in the hopes that the owner will return to the spot and find their missing item, but I really don't know if this is one of those 'lost items' situations or if someone decided the dog needed a scarf, what with it being winter and all. Either way, darn cute and worthy of sharing here.

Hi Lori
Love all the shoe pics. I love, love love clogs by el nantura lista. Expensive to buy but last forever and so comfortable. Loving too the discussion about "rules" for thread visiting. Sometimes I think I am reading more about reading than I am reading. Does that make sense?



>254 lkernagh: I counted about 7 things blooming in my garden last week. ....hellebore (Christmas rose) , primula, a rose bud (pink), blue eyed Mary (omphalodes), pansies and there were a few raspberries on a cane and a pink bergenia and of course heather. They are working very hard to do this and for sure are struggling and a bit unhappy but are things of beauty.

>216 lkernagh: A little update on the cookies: I ate the last one this morning and they didn't get rubbery as I had expected. they stayed quite crisp and didn't taste too much of banana thanks to the raisins and cinnamon. I'll make a new half batch this weekend if I remember to buy raisins!

>235 lkernagh: If you take the "read letter on the day it was written approach" as I tried to do, be prepared that at some point a day will be a book. :)
Btw. I love reading everyone's experiences with W&P (and yours with Clarissa). Both were fantastic GRs for me and if I wasn't so overbooked, I'd almost feel tempted to reread these two.

>254 lkernagh: Thanks for sharing these pics. A rose in the middle of a Canadian winter - and how cute is that scarf??

>255 mdoris: I have the identical ones in a lighter brown. They are real old, bought in Frankfurt maybe in 2006 or 2007. Wore them a lot during a trip to Australia that involved much walking and didn't get a single blister. Maybe the most comfy shoe I ever had!

In winter I'm mainly wearing knee-high boots. Bought a pair of ankle high "biker" boots last weekend. I have ugly (broad and flat) feet, so I prefer winter when I can completely hide them.

>254 lkernagh: That picture is adorable, Lori!
In my case, I'm always rushing around and don't stop or even slow down to see the cuteness around me. Something I really need to work on.
Have a great day!

Love the lunch time photos, Lori, and also the pic of your favourite clogs, Mary.

>254 lkernagh: he's so cute!
And it's so much better than a traffic cone, or similar being perched on his head!

I am loving that someone gave the dog a scarf! Thanks for sharing that, Lori!

Lovely dog scarf. It's a sweet gesture. Similar(ish) from here

I stop back in for the baking, only to get hit by the shoes! :-D Just as there is an LT group for knitters, perhaps we should have one for footwear!

And in honor of statuary surprises -- Here are the Make Way For Ducklings Statues, made up for the Boston Marathon!

>254 lkernagh: I love the dog with the scarf! How sweet! The only way I could get Adrian to wear a scarf would be to turn him into a statue.

For some reason, I'm craving oatmeal raisin cookies. Or oatmeal chocolate chip. I'm not picky. I'll eat whatever's available!

>262 michigantrumpet: I knew Marianne posted that photo without even looking. I have several pictures of those ducklings in my photo stash, but none where they are dressed up for the Boston marathon.

Lori, indeed, there is much that can lead to osteoporosis , aside from the lack of exercise and lack of calcium that can lead to osteoporosis. By a dreadful irony, it is thought that I fractured my vertebrae doing curl up at the gym!!! Talk about irony. Being a small person aka - weighing less than 120 lbs is a rick factor, early menopause, various medications that were thought to be innocuous. And yes, I do think that gene's play quite a big role. Both of my sister's were tested for osteoporosis after I was diagnosed, due to the genetic factor. And despite that neither of them exercised in a big way, as I had, neither showed any signs of osteo. But both of them are bigger people than me. I think there is still a lot we don't know about osteoporosis.

Love the statues. We have some in Richmond in a similar vein - a group of three people who used to work as fishermen/ cannery workers in Steveston. I used to put my arms around them, to my husband's embarrassment.

>255 mdoris: - Mary, those look super comfy! In this day and age, expensive is a relative term, especially when cheaper shoes don't even make it through a season, let alone a year.

Sometimes I think I am reading more about reading than I am reading.

Makes perfect sense to me and I love your 'bloom count'! So exciting to see the beauty of nature surfacing when we believe that we are supposed to still be stuck in 'winter'.

>256 Deern: - Love the update and super glad to learn that the banana did not turn the cookies rubbery, as anticipated. I must experiment more with bananas in my baking. Regarding Clarissa, I am pretty sure that I will become overwhelmed at some point, but right now I am just thankful of the reprieve or 'hiatus' so that I can focus more on my War and Peace read.

Another fan of the clogs by el nantura lista? I will have to check these out further.... I am always on the hunt for comfortable shoes and those clogs have a lovely stylish look to them. For me, I have a bit of an issue with open toed shoes unless they are strappy sandals, in which case I am equally exposing my feet for inspection by others. That and shoes that have ankle straps... I cannot feel comfortable in shoes with wrap around ankle straps. Go figure.

>257 Carmenere: - Well, now I am kind of hoping that you will slow down and let us know what cuteness you encounter!

>258 lit_chick: - I am really starting to marvel at the sights I encounter while out and about, Nancy! There is always something to catch my eye.

>259 Helenliz: - And it's so much better than a traffic cone, or similar being perched on his head! True, and now I cannot get the idea of a traffic cone on his head out of my mind. ;-)

>260 Crazymamie: - Part of me likes to think that a caring young girl decided that the dog needed a scarf and just proceeded to place it on him!

>261 charl08: - That is awesome! At first glance, one wouldn't expect a scarf on a statue on a beach but looking more closely, it does look like a cold day and the statue isn't... well... wearing very much to protect it from the elements. The scarf, as seen in the image, might not keep the statue warm, but its the thought that counts. ;-)

>262 michigantrumpet: - ... and you thought this thread was just about books, baking and walking. Always fun to through in a new diversion every once in a while. *Mmmwwahhaahaa*

The Make Way for Duckling Statues is so cute! Love it, especially the Boston Marathon 'look'!

>263 cbl_tn: - I can see why Adrian would protest against the scarf idea... regardless of just how darn cute he would look in one!

.... I love oatmeal period. Oatmeal chocolate chip may be attempted this week. The sweetness of the chocolate chips would give me an opportunity to further reduce the sugar quantity in the recipe, and maybe incorporate a banana like Nathalie does.... now you have got me thinking, Carrie.

>264 thornton37814: - I am guessing they were dressed up for a limited period of time. Even without the dress up, I love the duck statues!

>265 vancouverdeb: - There is so much about the human body and how health/genetics/disease impact us that I still consider the human body akin to science phenomena like black holes and other things that I only understand at a very superficial level.

Isn't it fun to embarrass husbands/other halfs with public displays like the one you described? ;-0

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Wednesday. Hump Day. You know you are in for an interesting day when the phrase "herding cats" crops up in a conference call and it isn't even 9:30 in the morning.

That was my day in a nutshell. 'Nuf said, I think.

>264 thornton37814: and >268 lkernagh: I'm nothing if not predictable! I just love Mother Duck's Marathon number!

Yes, they do dress them up for the short term. If the New England Patriots make the Super Bowl, we'll see them in their Pats outfits. My office is around the corner, so I see them during my lunchtime walks. They've also been dressed as the Red Sox and Bruins, as well as in little colonialist outfits.

What don't you have here, Lori? Shoes, statues, gardens? This is an all-purpose thread.

Duck Boots

I hope your Thursday was better than your Wednesday and that your Friday develops into awesome!!

Nice Shoes@!

>269 michigantrumpet: - Awe....now I want to see the duckies all dressed up. "QCK01" is a good marathon number! ;-)

>270 BLBera: - Yup... we are going of 'all-purpose' here. I like all-purpose. Sounds so much better than 'scattered'. ;-)

>271 weird_O: - LOL! Perfect!

>272 EBT1002: - Friday did develop into awesome Ellen so that you so much for the wishes! I now have three days off... I don't go back until Tuesday. I feel real good about that!

>273 tututhefirst: - Thanks Tina! Lovely to see you here!

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Time for a new thread, me thinks......