Ronincats reads and crafts into a new year of Reading: Thread 3

Scenic as my current home of 36 years is, I also love to post photos of my birth home. This is Milford Lake in Central Kansas. I remember when the dam was built. It was about 20 miles from my home and when I was in college, I'd drive my siblings there for a day on the shore or go sailing with a friend during the summers. Good fishing there too!

I’m Roni and this is my 9th year in the 75 Book Challenge Group. I live in San Diego with a husband, 3 cats and a small dog, a year-round garden, a substantial personal library and an old bungalow with lots of bookshelves. I’m retired and fill my time with throwing pottery, making wirework and beaded jewelry, and crochet-work. When I finish a project, I post a picture here.

My reading is heavily slanted toward science fiction and fantasy genre reading, but I try to work in at least a dozen nonfiction books a year, along with a few mysteries, romances and children’s books as well as books heavily recommended by other LTers. I’m also fond of rereading favorite books. I usually read around 150 books a year, as I’m a fast reader, and set my goals accordingly.
















Goals:

I will continue my default goals of 150 books and 50,000 pages read for the year. This is right at my comfort level and usual reading rate for the year.

I did well on my goal to acquire fewer books than last year. I will continue that goal as well.

Thanks to a last minute donation to the library, I met my goal to get rid of more books than I acquired. I will continue this goal also.

I failed miserably in reading books off my own shelves--only 11. I plan to set a goal of 40 unread books now on my own shelves for the coming year.

Fiction: The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Nonfiction: The Smartest Kids in the World by Amanda Ripley
The Mantle of the Prophet by Roy Mottahedeh

Children’s: Hold Fast by Blue Balliett

Children’s series: The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas
Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud

Fantasy series: Max Gladstone’s Craft Sequence
Kate Griffin’s Matthew Swift books

Best series continuations: A Red-rose Chain by Seanan McGuire (Toby Daye)
Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (Lady Trent)
Winter by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles)

Best alt. history regencies masquerading as fantasy:
The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix

honorable mention: Uprooted by Naomi Novik
The Bullet-catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan
Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear

And here is the link to my final thread in the 2015 group: http://www.librarything.com/topic/208485

Books Read in 2016

* reread
# library book
+ Kindle
% book off my shelves (acquired prior to 2016)

1. A Winterfold Christmas by Harriet Evans (66 pp.)+
2. The Last Chance Christmas Ball by Mary Jo Putney etal. (320 pp.)+
3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (465 pp.)#
4. The House of Twenty Thousand Books by Sasha Abramsky (340 pp.)#
5. Sorry I Barfed on your Bed by Jeremy Greenberg (64 pp.)
6. St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong (158 pp.)+
7. Halo: Mortal Dictata by Karen Traviss (496 pp.)#
8. Terry Pratchett: The Spirit of Fantasy by Craig Cabell (244 pp.)%
9. Penric's Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold (106 p.)*+
10. Blood Rites: Origins and History of the Passions of War by Barbara Ehrenreich (241 pp.)%
11. The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare (295 pp.)#
12. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley (336 pp.)+
13. New Order by Fay Wolf (181 pp.)
14. The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare (265 pp.)#
15. Game Wizards Play by Diane Duane (640 pp.)+
16. Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie (197 pp.)#
17. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertman (354 pp.)
18. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold (344 pp.)*
19. The Bible Doesn't Say That by Joel Hoffman (304 pp.)+
20. Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara (507 pp.)#
21. Updraft by Fran Wilde (364 pp.)#
22. Interim Errantry by Diane Duane (459 pp.)+
23. Indexing: Reflections by Seanan McGuire (325 pp.)+
24. Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire (356 pp.)
25. Biblical Literalism by John Shelby Spong (421 pp.)+
26. Heap House by Edward Carey (405 pp.)#
27. City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett (498 pp.)+
28. Cast in Courtlight by Michelle Sagara (488 pp.)#
29. Staked by Kevin Hearne (310 pp.)#
30. Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter (432 pp.)%
31. Unseemly Science by Rod Duncan (368 pp.)+
32. Cast in Secret by Michelle Sagara (521 pp.)#
33. The Custodian of Marvels by Rod Duncan (368 pp.)+
34. The Reckoners by Doranna Durgin (347 pp.)+
35. Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (348 pp.)*
36. The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester (329 pp.)%
37. Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer (332 pp.)+
38. Into the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan (350 pp.)
39. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (174 pp.)+
40. Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara (384 pp.)+
41. Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara (384 pp.)+
42. Putting God Second by Donniel Hartman (170 pp.)
43. Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson (278 pp.)
44. Cast in Chaos by Michelle Sagara (503 pp.)#

Books Acquired in 2016

1. Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer (free)
2. Unseemly Science: The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire Book 2 by Rod Duncan ($1.99)
3. Indexing: Reflections by Seanan McGuire ($1.99)
4. A Winterfold Christmas by Harriet Evans ($.99)
5. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley ($1.99)
6. Starship's Mage Omnibus by Glynn Stewart (free)
7. The Last Chance Christmas Ball by Mary Jo Putney and others ($2.51)
8. Citadel of the Sky by Chrysoula Tzavelas (free)
9. Del Rey and Bantam Books 2015 Sampler (free)
10. St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong ($1.99)
11. The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction by Justine Larbalestier (free)
12. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold ($19.89)
13. New Order by Fay Wolf ($14.91)
14. Putting God Second by Donniel Hartman (ER-free)
15. Games Wizards Play by Diane Duane ($9.99)
16. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertman ($10.36)
17. City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett ($11.39)
18. The Bible Doesn't Say That by Joel Hoffman ($12.99)
19. Biblical Literalism: The Gentile Heresy by John Shelby Spong ($13.99)
20. Interim Errantry by Diane Duane ($8.49)
21. The Empress and the Acolyte by Jane Fletcher
22. Listen, Liberal by Thomas Frank
23. The Unquiet Bones by Mel Starr
24. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
25. In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
26. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
27. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
28. Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson
29. Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara
30. Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara

Book #25 Biblical Literalism: The Gentile Heresy by John Shelby Spong (421 pp.)

The authors of the Gospels have similar events in different orders according to their own purposes. Spong postulates that Matthew structured his gospel, not as history, but as liturgy, designed to be used by the congregation in conjunction with the Jewish liturgical year. His analysis shows how the structure of the Gospel fits the themes of the major Jewish celebrations, with appropriately themed teaching stories filling in the Sabbaths in between. Gentiles converted to Christianity would misinterpret the purpose and logic of the scripture, reading it as a biography of Jesus' life.

Spong has been an informed and passionate defender and critic of Christianity for a long time. He argues that the gospels were not concerned with theology but with how the community of Christians were to live and act in their current setting. In this book, he is not arguing about the need to reinterpret present-day institutionall Christianity in light of the Christian message but focusing on the interpretation of Matthew's gospel in light of the Jewish year.



Book #26 Heap House by Edward Carey (405 pp.)

Ilana talked up this book here on LT, causing many of us to read it. Carey plays with language, transposing it, lavishing it in lushly atmospheric displays in an eerie tale of the Iremongers. Shades of Our Mutual Friend, the setting is amidst the heaps of London, but these are organic, perilous, shifting heaps, and Heap House is the dwelling of a family with a strange link to birth objects. This is not a children's book, imho. There are disturbing and violent incidents. It is an alien world, one drawn in detail, and an intriguing tale. But--if I did not know this was going to be a series--I would have thrown the book at the wall at the ending.



Book #27 City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett (498 pp.)

Bennett's first book in this series, City of Stairs, was our introduction to a world in which Divinities evolved, ruled, and eventually were killed in a war with the slave nation of Saypur. Since then, Saypur has ruled the Continent in addition its own island nation, destroying remnants of the Divine and dealing with the destruction caused by the deaths of the Divinities. In this book, one of the characters from the previous book, General Mulaghesh, is sent to informally investigate a possible Divine substance at another major city.

It was much easier for me to get into this book with the first book having done a lot of the world-building. The action is fast-paced, the plot is intricate, the setting is fascinating. I enjoyed this even more than the first book.

Welcome to my new thread!

What a beautiful opening photo! Is that Kansas, or?

Pulling up a seat to enjoy the show!

Happy new thread, Roni!

>6 ronincats: Ah, yes, I didn't specifically say, did I? I've corrected that now--yes, Kansas!
>7 streamsong: Thank you, Nina.

This is a fascinating article on the history of black science fiction, well worth reading and dangerous to your wishlist.
http://www.fantasticstoriesoftheimagination.com/a-crash-course-in-the-history-of...

>5 ronincats: Glad to hear how much you enjoyed the Bennett -- I hope to get to it later this month. The Spong and the Carey also sound interesting.

Happy new thread Roni!

Congratulations on the new thread, Roni!

What a photo in >1 ronincats: - beautiful. Not the way I ignorantly picture central Kansas.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread. Hope you're enjoying this beautiful weather.

Happy new thread, Roni. I love the thread topper as the reflections from the lake are beautifully captured.

Lovely opener. Another review of Heap House - I do feel a little wary of it. The City of Stairs is beginning to intrigue!

Happy new thread, Roni! Going back to you previous thread - I am that far behind - Congratulations on the walking! That is fantastic. Sorry to read about the infection. I hope you are feeling better soon.

I hope your infection is resolving Roni. Keep up the great reading!

We've been getting buckets of rain here in Nor Calif. I imagine you are also. We need it badly of course but it makes me a little stir crazy. I want to work in the garden - it is sooo green this year, but much too wet. I love making small bowls of plantings as well. Increasingly using succulents - I have several that need re-potting and refreshing.

Happy new thread to you, Roni! Hope you are on the mend now.

Happy new thread. I love that photo of the sky. So dramatic!

Love the picture you topped your new thread with, Roni. Hope you are able to shake off the infection quickly.

Hi, Roni! Hope you are doing better. UTIs are so not fun.

I'm glad to know you loved City of Blades even more than City of Stairs, which is one of my 2015 favorites. I hope to get to it soon.

I've got one of the books you reviewed in your last thread out from the library and am looking forward to reading The Bible Doesn't Say That, which sounds fascinating.

Also from your last thread: I miss lemon trees. I had a fabulously overgrown and prolific Myer Lemon tree in the backyard of one house I lived in in the SF Valley. It was amazing to be able to run out and pick a fresh lemon pretty much year round whenever I wanted one.

Just saying hello and happy new thread!

Okay, UTI symptoms tapered off and ended yesterday. So I wake up this morning with a migraine and a totally upset stomach from all the meds. Yuck! Took me all day to shake it. Despite everything, though, I watched 4 basketball games yesterday and two today--the Big 12 Tourney. My Jayhawks are playing West Virginia in the championship game tomorrow. And then the next day is Selection Sunday.

Thank you for visiting and the good wishes, Steve, Carrie, Joe, foggi, Zoe, Reba, Paul, Lucy, Lori, Ron, Marie, Charlotte, Judy, Mary and Ellen!

>19 RBeffa: We are at the tail end of the storms, Ron, so haven't been getting nearly as much as you. Got .7 inch from the two fronts last week. Now we've gotten rain today and I'll check the rain gauge tomorrow morning. We still could use more.

>23 Storeetllr: I'll be interested in what you think of The Bible Doesn't Say That, Mary. Yes, coming from the Midwest, the lemon tree is a source of constant delight (which made its mutilation even more traumatic!).

Glad you are on the mend!

Glad you're feeling better. Enjoy this beautiful day.

Much better today, thank you, Lucy and Reba. Just some tummy tenderness residual.

Although I couldn't concentrate to read yesterday, I did do some wirework.

The earring (only one so far) in the middle doesn't appear to advantage--it has a ripple in the middle. It's for my April tea which all the older Red Hat ladies attend--so I'm shamelessly building up my red and purple inventory.
Off to pottery now--there will be pictures later--so I can be back for the championship game.

>28 ronincats: Eeee!!! Those kitties!!! I love them!!!

Happy New Thread, Roni and happy Sunday. >28 ronincats: love it.

Whizzing by to wish you a glorious Sunday, Roni, just as mine is coming to an end. xx

Happy New Thread!

Hi Roni! I'm glad you enjoyed City of Blades, I have a review copy of that one that I'll probably get to soon. Mulaghesh was one of my favourite characters in City of Stairs so I'm excited that she's the protagonist.

Hello Dear Roni.

I'm sorry you are not feeling well. I send hugs your way.

Goodness, Roni! I'll look forward to hearing that you're back to yourself by morning!!!
I'm excited that you enjoyed City of Blades. *- of Stairs* was at the top of my list of favorite scifi last year, so I've been wondering whether #2 can match it.

Happy new thread, Roni! I have caught up with you and wanted to mention that I loved the blue mugs on your previous thread - so lovely! And that lemon tree! Full of fabulous.

I added the Indexing books that you mentioned were priced so attractively on Amazon, so thanks for that.

Now on to this thread- LOVE the topper! And I think your earrings are so cute.

Hope you are feeling better.

Still low on energy with an acidic stomach, but better than migraine or active infection.
Peggy, I think you will definitely enjoy City of Blades.
Mamie, thank you and hope you enjoy the Indexing books.

Can't show you everything that was ready on Saturday. A lady dropped into the studio to browse and fell in love with the soup mug in greens and then also loved the green jewel-tone bowl similar to one I already have in the gallery and bought them right there and then. This is what I actually brought home.

The colors inside the red bowl are fabulous, but the photo doesn't do them justice.



Book #28 Cast in Courtlight by Michelle Sagara (488 pp.)

Kaylin continues to attract problems in high places. Still ranked very good. Reminds me of the Toby Daye series (which I love) but in an alien world setting rather than Celtic mythology and our current world settings. Have ordered Book 3 of the series from the library.

  Treat yourself to a slice of your favorite pie, my friend. It's National Pie Day (3.14)!

Thank you, Bill. I love pi(e).

Here, this gives some idea of the interior of that bowl, although it still doesn't do it justice.

Sorry, double post. When the first one didn't show up immediately, I reposted the picture.
I brought Staked home from the library today. Also we walked Molly about a mile, despite my lowered energy, and I bought Pepto-Bismol at the grocery store--we'll see if that helps the stomach.

I loved the red bowl best in the first picture. It's gorgeous!!!
Thanks for the pies. That's the only way I'll celebrate pi day, I can assure you!

Me too! Love the red bowl!

Oops, I missed the new thread start.

>28 ronincats: Cute cats!
>40 ronincats: I like the color and the variation.

I love all the bowls, but especially the red ones. I imagine you get tremendous joy from creating such lovely, lovely items.

Well I like them all (though, to be honest, I have a personal weakness for aqua). I've been on a pot buying spree myself, but rather larger, for my plants. I've also been on a plant buying spree ...

>40 ronincats: Love that bowl!! Glad you're better.

Happy new thread Roni!

>5 ronincats: Intriguing reviews of the Spong, Heap House and City of Blades. I have HH on my kindle and City of Stairs (the first in the series) on loan from the library so will hopefully get to those soon.

>28 ronincats: Glad to hear you are feeling better now and beautiful wirework on those beads!

>38 ronincats: 'The colors inside the red bowl are fabulous'

Definitely!

>38 ronincats: Lovely work, and how exciting to have someone buy up some of your work before you even brought it home! You know I love the blues, but the red bowl also looks fantastic.

yet more stunning pottery and jewellery, thank you for sharing

Roni - Brilliant! That must have felt wonderful to sell right out of the studio!

I love looking at all your pottery!

>38 ronincats: & >40 ronincats: It is always difficult to get colors right in a photo, Roni, I love the blue bowl :-)
Glad you feel better!

Woohoo, look at all the visitors. Updates below comments.

Lucy, Brenda, Katherine, Linda, Nina, Reba, Heather, Mary, Jo, Lucy, Lori and Anita, thank you all for your positive comments on my work. Much appreciated!



Book #29 Staked by Kevin Hearne (310 pp.)

So this finally came in at my library branch, and I picked it up and read it yesterday. Continues the three viewpoint thing but it didn't bother me so much this time. And Atticus got one major problem resolved, although there are still a couple hovering on the horizon. Less snark and character, but that's because of having all those storylines going, I think. Probably not enough Oberon.

So, got the results from the biopsy on Zoe's growth and it is NOT cancerous. Good news!

And it was haircut day and that means a touch up of the color too. The top light is so strong it's fading out some of it, but I like the picture so there you are.

Lookin' good!

Roni, that's a great picture! I'm sorry to read you've been under the weather. I hope you're fully recovered soon. How exciting to sell some pottery right from the studio! Maybe the customer will tell her friends.

Great pic, Roni!

>28 ronincats: Love the cats! I don't know where you get your inspiration - you are truly creative!

>54 ronincats: Also love the hair! Looks great.

Hope you are feeling better.

Great photo, Roni. You're right though, it is hard to see the blue.

>28 ronincats: I love the cat. Love.

Excellent news regarding Zoe's biopsy. I know you're relieved.

>55 brenpike: Thanks, Brenda.
>56 susanj67: I'm working on it, Susan. (feeling better) It was nice to have someone gush over my pieces--she is into the greens.
>57 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie.
>58 rretzler: Hi, Robin. Pinterest provides a lot of the inspiration. :-)
>59 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba.
>60 EBT1002: Thank YOU, Ellen. Yes, we are tremendously relieved about the results of Zoe's biopsy.

One of my friends posted this on Pinterest.

"Books are houses we live in for a time..."

>61 ronincats: I love that!

Roni--Glad you are feeling better, that Zoe's biopsy was negative, that your jewelry and pottery continue beautiful and LOVE your photo!!! : )

>54 ronincats: Cool look, Roni!

>61 ronincats: Love it.

Hope all is going well for you. Happy Friday!

>54 ronincats: Glad you're feeling better and very relieved about Zoe! The hair looks lovely :-)

Passing thru - nice hair colour! ( I live vicariously thru others these days being follically challenged)

Love the hair and the image and quote - very clever.

Wonderful photo of you and your haircut!

>54 ronincats: You mentioned on my thread that you had read Staked so I had to come over and see what you thought. I agree with your review — definitely not enough Oberon! The three viewpoint setup sometimes confused me but about halfway through I finally noticed that the little symbols at the beginning of each chapter were different based upon who the narrator was, and that made it easier to keep up. I'm so oblivious to clues like that sometimes!

Your pottery and jewelry is looking beautiful as ever. I enjoy seeing your photos of all your creations.

Hi Roni! The red bowl is gorgeous. My house is green with red accents, and it would fit right in!

Love the hair! I'm considering doing something different with my hair, but I'm not brave enough to try blue. My stylist has gone lavender a couple of times and it looks great on her.

>54 ronincats: Lovely picture, Roni. Nice tinge to the hair - your blouse suits it perfectly or is it the other way around?

Have a great weekend.

>54 ronincats: Love the hair color! I forgot to mention earlier, but thought of you today because I saw a lady who had white hair with purple highlights when I did my errands today.

Watching my Jayhawks, will respond to everyone later, but here's what came home from the pottery with me today.

>73 ronincats:. Those are very accomplished mugs, Roni! Well done . . .

>73 ronincats: I love the detail at the bottom of the handle-- very nice!

>62 _Zoe_: Neat, isn't it, Zoe?
>63 Berly: Thank you so much, Kimmers.
>64 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Such a busy guy right now!
>65 archerygirl: Thank you, Katherine.
>66 roundballnz: There are always the temporary henna tattoos, Alex...
>67 souloftherose: Thank you, Heather.
>68 sibylline: It's getting harder and harder to get good self-photos, Lucy. Can't figure it out! Thank you.
>69 rosalita: Thanks, Julia, for coming by! Ha! I never did notice the little symbols.
>70 cbl_tn: Carrie, it's easier because it's not a total color. Since my default color is silver, most highlights would show up nicely.
>71 PaulCranswick: I, of COURSE, dress to accentuate my coloring!
>72 bell7: HI, Mary. I'm thinking of doing purple next time myself.
>74 brenpike: Thank you, Brenda.
>75 foggidawn: This is the first time I've tried that handle style, foggi. Thanks for noticing.

So my KU Jayhawks are into the Sweet Sixteen. I, of course, am still watching all of today's games, being the total junkie I am. I go into withdrawal after next week's games.

Two days ago, I got The Empress and the Acolyte through PaperBackSwap. It's the third of a trilogy. I don't remember who put the books on my wishlist here, but I've had them on my PBS wishlist for several years, and this is the final one of the three to come in.

And yesterday I got my Febbruary ER book Listen, Liberal by Thomas Frank. I have his What's the Matter with Kansas? which berates Republicans and it looks like this one gives equal time to Democrats.

Also sorting receipts and getting ready to prep the figures to take to my new tax guy on Tuesday.

Zoe gets her stitches out tomorrow--she is THRILLED!

Happy Spring Roni!



>54 ronincats: Good news about Zoe, and still loving your hair!

Happy newish thread, Roni. Love the hair and the art.

Fancy mug handles -- like them!!

I think I heard on the radio the other day that the President has picked the Jayhawks to win the Finals this year. Hope he's right :)

>54 ronincats: Love the blue hair and matching shirt :-)
Yay for the good news on Zoe (>76 ronincats: and on stitches out)!

>73 ronincats: Nice mugs with arty handles :-)

>61 ronincats: What a lovely image

And, you look lovely with your new haircut and pretty, pretty face!

Whew, finally caught up with your threads, Roni. Love the blue on blue photo! Looking good! That red bowl really appeals to me, I like it in both photos and lucky you with a lemon tree in your backyard. Good thing it came back - what is it with guys and power tools?

>54 ronincats:, >61 ronincats:, >73 ronincats:? Where's the LIKE button???

Nice mugs! I think I like the more upright handle on the left one (or is that a perspective illusion?)

Thanks for visiting and your good wishes and comments, Rachel, Beth, Reba, Anita, Linda, Meg, Peggy and Jenn! Zoe is a happy camper today. I believe the President did choose the Jayhawks to win, despite the necessity of his own Hawai'i team to loose in the regional to do so, and we are indeed in the Sweet Sixteen. Fingers crossed for the next game Thursday. And Jenn, I think that is mostly perspective indeed.

Went to my tax guy today, after two days of prep. I stuff all my receipts during the year into a designated desk drawer, and all incoming tax documents into a designated pigeonhole, and then two days before my appointment pull them out and organize them. This means sorting through all the receipts to find the ones related to medical, charity, rental and crafting expenses and income, then making up worksheets specifying income and out go in different categories for each. I've always itemized, both because of the rental and because I was an educator--I always spent thousands of my own money on studies, materials and supplies. And even if we treat the craft stuff as a hobby (which we have so far), I still need to document what came in and what went out so I KNOW I spent twice as much as I made. On the other hand, were I not selling what I made, I'd be that much more in the hose as I doubt not that I would still be making. BUT I am glad to have all that over now, and let him do the rest of the work.



Book #30 Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter (432 pp.)

Amazon description:
Sylvia Izzo Hunter brought “both rural Brittany and an alternative Regency England to vivid life”* in The Midnight Queen, her debut novel of history, magic, and myth. Now, in her new Noctis Magicae novel, Sophie and Gray Marshall are ensnared in an arcane plot that threatens to undo them both.

In her second year of studies at Merlin College, Oxford, Sophie Marshall is feeling alienated among fellow students who fail to welcome a woman to their ranks. So when her husband, Gray, is invited north as a visiting lecturer at the University in Din Edin, they leap at the chance. There, Sophie’s hunger for magical knowledge can finally be nourished. But soon, Sophie must put her newly learned skills to the test.

Sophie returns home one day to find a note from Gray—he’s been summoned urgently to London. But when he doesn’t return, and none of her spells can find a trace of him, she realizes something sinister has befallen him. With the help of her sister, Joanna, she delves into Gray’s disappearance, and soon finds herself in a web of magick and intrigue that threatens not just Gray, but the entire kingdom.

This is even better than the first book! I love the world-building, I love the characters, and I love the plots. Strongly recommended! But read the first book, The Midnight Queen, first.

Great quote: "Books are houses we live in for a time." And in some of those houses, we get darn near lost!
:-)

Lady of Magick sounds like my sort of read. I'll have to check out the first book.

>73 ronincats: Great looking pair of mugs.

>86 EBT1002: That is a truly funny photograph!

I like those mugs too.

>85 ronincats: Sigh....yet another book for the Wishlist!

>61 ronincats: Interesting photo and quote!

>86 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen.

>87 avatiakh:, >89 rretzler: I'd apologize for the book bullets but for the fact that I think these are REALLY GOOD and you are going to love them and there are only two of them so far.

>88 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy. ARe you still in Florida?

>90 thornton37814: Hi, Lori! I have a kitty on my lap saying hi, too.

Yesterday was running errands. Today was having a new back door and security screen door installed, and now basketball watching. I'm still working on book 3 of the Fall of the Gas-lit Empire, The custodian of Marvels, on my Kindle and started the third Sagara book, Cast in Secret.

>91 ronincats: They are not on me at the moment, but I suspect they will be shortly. They go through a routine of playing with one another and then all piling on me.

Have a wonderful Easter.

>73 ronincats: Gorgeous mug. :-)

Roni, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

Happy spring and happy basketball, Roni!! To Jayhawks!!

So, your Jayhawks are still alive, eh? To everyone's astonishment (and my tremendous joy!) the UW women's team upset 5th-ranked Maryland to go to the Sweet Sixteen. "My" Huskies are a #7 seed and Maryland was a highly-touted #2 seed (they went to the Final Four the past two years). Anyway, tonight the Huskies play #3 seed Kentucky on their home floor. It will be tough but I'm cautiously hopeful. The Huskies weren't even ranked going into the Big Dance!

Stopping by to wish you a Happy Easter Roni. Your pottery continues to be eye-catching beauties.

>92 thornton37814: Yours are a lot younger than mine, so more active. But eventually, all cats end up on a lap.
>93 PaulCranswick: Saw you making a big push to get to all the threads, Paul! Thanks for visiting mine.
>94 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. Hope you have a great one too.
>95 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba! Wasn't today lovely? See below.
>96 EBT1002: Ellen, your lady Huskies are looking good at half-time, although Kentucky has closed the gap a bit. Go, Huskies!
>97 lkernagh: Thank you, Lori!

So today was another gorgeous day, high about 77. I went to sign my tax return, then we took Molly to Balboa Park for a walk. Forgot so many people had the day off--the park was packed but we had a lovely walk, about 5500 steps and 3 stairs, and then went to a local nursery and stocked up on tomatoes, other vegies, herbs, a rosebush and some other plants. Guess we know what I'll be doing this coming week! And now I'm cheering for Iowa State to catch up to Virginia.

Fitbit informed me that I have earned my London badge for walking a total of 250 miles--which is rather sad considering how long I've had it. But, especially lately, there have been whole days when I don't wear it and there were two days I couldn't get it to recharge. I think when I get another, I'll get the pin-on one for when my wrist is sore or the fitbit doesn't coordinate. I would like to wear some of my other watches occasionally. ;-)

Oh, and I nearly forgot--how could I?

I had left an appreciative message on Sylvia Izzo Hunter's website after finishing Lady of Magick (>85 ronincats:) and she emailed me in appreciation and said the next book is currently scheduled for next December. Squeee!

I found your thread! So I thought I would let you know that I was Highway 24 from Clay Center to Riley this last weekend. I try to avoid Wakefield and the dam at all possible costs. One of the few speeding tickets I have received in my life was at the northwest end of that dam. I didn't realize that the speed limit changed about halfway across the dam. I was not happy.

The drive was beautiful. That night heading back north on 177 the Flint Hills were glowing. It is pasture burning time. It was beautiful.

It's beautiful country for sure, Benita, especially this time of year. Definitely want to either go north or south of the lake when traveling! Had you headed south on 15 from Clay Center, you would have ended up in my home town.

>85 ronincats: Ooh. That series looks good. BB for me - or rather, multiple BB's Lol.

>98 ronincats: I agree. My next Fitbit will be a clip-on. Not only would I like to wear a "regular" watch sometimes but when I'm doing things like going to the grocery I have to remember to put my Fitbit in my pocket because it doesn't register on my wrist when I'm pushing the cart. A clip on would probably work even better than the pocket.

Enjoy the beautiful weekend.

Good b-ball games tonight, Roni. Hope you're having a great weekend.

>98 ronincats: and >104 RebaRelishesReading: I have a Flex, and I know I saw pendant-style Fitbit holders (at least for my model) when I was shopping for a new band. Through third-party sellers, but still, it may be an option.

Hi Roni! Just stopping by to wish you a Happy Easter!!

Have a lovely Easter, Roni.

There is no joy in Mudville tonight.

Sorry about your Jayhawks, Roni.

Or in Oregon. : (

>110 ronincats: Darn it!

>76 ronincats: - henna tats on my head, dangerous temptation that would be fun to do though - even if just to have fun with conservative types at work :)

Hope you have a lovely Easter, Roni!

#114
There was a henna artist in Birmingham a few years ago, and each year for my birthday I would get some large henna work done. One of my supervisors told me she didn't care for them, but she and I were friends and I knew that she didn't hold it against me on evaluations. Besides, the beauty of henna is that they are temporary.

Happy Easter and congrats on the 250 miles on your fitbit Roni.

Yep, still in Florida but I head out tomorrow morning!

Sorry about the Jayhawks and the Ducks but my Huskies are going to the Final Four! They were picked to have a one-in-five-hundred chance of making it that far at the beginning of the tournament. It has been fun.

Hi, everyone! I've been on only sporadically, but I have finished some books and planted my garden!

>102 nittnut: Glad to hear it, Jenn.
>103 Berly: No candy for Easter here, Kim, but I would love that chocolate.
>104 RebaRelishesReading: Chilly enough for you, Reba? It's the wind!
>105 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Sad weekend.
>106 foggidawn: I'll have to look for those, foggi.
>107 HanGerg: Happy Easter to you and your family, Hannah.
>108 DeltaQueen50: Thank you, Judy.
>109 weird_O: Pretty colors, Bill.
>111 katiekrug: Thank you for the sympathy, Katie,
>112 Berly: Yeah, but Oregon was playing a Big 12 team, Kim--I couldn't root for them.
>113 brenpike: Damn right, Brenda.
>114 roundballnz: Alex, it would be a blast!
>115 Storeetllr: Not as cold as yours, Mary, but it's been a chilly few days here (All things are relative).
>116 benitastrnad: Exactly, Benita.
>117 souloftherose: Thank you, Heather.
>118 sibylline: Safe travels, Lucy. I think you are with Peggy tonight.
>119 EBT1002: Ellen, I wish you joy with your Huskies, for sure.



Books #31 & 32 Unseemly Science and The Custodian of Marvels by Rod Duncan (368 pp. and 368 pp.)

Continuing the story begun in The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter, Elizabeth Barnabas continue to lead her double life and to achieve revenge against the man who destroyed her father and seeks to enslave her. This is an imaginative alternative Britain with non-stop action, definitely recommended.



Book #33 Cast in Secret by Michelle Sagara (521 pp.)

Book 3 continues Kaylin's involvement with dire circumstances in high places. Still like the characters and world-building, must order the next from the library.



Book #34 The Reckoners by Doranna Durgin (347 pp.)

I received this ebook through the Early Reviewers program on LibraryThing. I've heard good things about Doranna Durgin and was interested in trying her out with this paranormal urban fantasy. This was evidently an early book which Durgin has now expanded on the otherworld fantasy components. I suspect that because I am an experienced science fiction and fantasy reader, the elements of this books seemed fairly unoriginal on the fantasy end and far too stereotypical on the romance end. Everything seemed fancy window-dressing for the classic romance elements, and the characters had little depth to them despite the author's efforts to create some backstory.

So I got the garden in today. After picking up plants over the last few days.

>120 ronincats: Honestly, the Durgins I've read recently can't hold up to the books that introduced me to her. Try Dun Lady's Jess or A Feral Darkness - her worldbuilding is amazing and she comes up with fascinating twists on the usual stuff. Or even her short story collection The Right Bitch Trio, in the same universe as Dun Lady's Jess. I read The Reckoners and enjoyed it mildly (it's better than her contemporary romance Hidden Steel, which I also got from ER), but it's no patch on her earlier stuff. Try Touched by Magic and Wolf Justice! or Barrenlands! Now I want to go reread some early Durgins... it's been too long (except for A Feral Darkness, I read that just recently).

I have a whole bunch of tomato starts that want to get into the ground, but it's still a little early here (recommended is mid- to late April). Well, I think I'll plant them anyway - they're outgrowing their little pots, it can't be worse for them to be in the ground (no danger of frost, they just won't grow much for a while in the cool ground). Also a few herbs, ditto. Note to self: Aerogarden starts get big much sooner than starts in seedling soil...

Roni, your garden is looking good! And yay for the London badge! I have the clip-on Fitbit One, and I've only forgotten it once in nearly a year. It works well on a waistband, or in a pocket.

Your garden is looking good, Roni! We were realizing that we are behind in getting ours going. The peas should be in the ground! But we'll get there.... This just might be a lower-yield than usual sort of year.

I have to get to Duncan!! And my garden. This is a BAAAAAD thread. I feel guilty!! ; )

>122 jjmcgaffey: Thanks for the Durgin info, Jenn.
>123 susanj67: I think I definitely am going to get a clip-on, Susan.
>124 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. I sat out today after arranging my pots on the deck, and realized that a hummingbird pair have a nest in a potted fig right outside my office window!
>125 Berly: No, it's a GOOD thread, Kimmers. No guilt!

March Summary

Books read: 14
Pages read: 5,646
Average pages per book: 403
Average pages per day: 182

13 new reads, 1 reread
4 library books
7 ebooks
2 Books off my shelves: 1 tpb, 1 ebook (ER)

13 fantasy, 1 nonfiction

Author gender: 8 female, 6 male

Books acquired: 3 (1 fantasy, 1 nf, 1 mystery)
No books deaccessioned

>120 ronincats: Glad you enjoyed the Rod Duncan books - I have The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter on my kindle to read after Mamie warbled about it.

>121 ronincats: Good growth going on in the garden!

I have the Bullet-Catcher's Daughter and sequels on my radar, but the skies in that field are getting crowded.

Heather and Benita, I particularly like the world-building in the Duncan books!

2016 First Quarter Summary

Total books read: 35
Total pages read: 11943
Average pages/book: 341
Average pages/day: 131

New reads: 33
Rereads: 2
Library books: 11
Books Off My Shelf: 4

Format:
Hardback: 13
Trade paperback: 6
Mass market paperback: 2
Ebook: 14

Genre
Science Fiction: 2
Fantasy:19
Children's: 3
Nonfiction: 7
Fiction: 1
Romance: 2
Mystery: 1

Author Gender
Female authors: 25
Male authors: 10

Country of Origin:
USA: 26
England: 8
Canada: 1

Date of publication:
2016: 9
2105: 15
2014: 4
2013: 1
2012: 1
2007: 1
2006: 1
2005: 1
1997: 1
1936: 1

Books Acquired: 23
Books read of those acquired: 14
Amount spent: $113.47
Average price per book: $4.93

Source:
Early Reviewers: 2
PaperbackSwap.com: 3
Amazon: 18 (15 ebooks, 3 dead tree books)

Genre:
Science Fiction: 2
Fantasy: 10
Children's: 1
Nonfiction: 7
Romance: 2
Mystery: 1

2 books out the door, one via paperbackswap and one donated to my elementary school library

Spring has arrived in NE Pennsylvania. It isn't time to plant the garden, but, the weeds are creeping up through the ground.

Happy Weekend to you!

What a lovely picture, Linda! You spread so much joy. How I wish I could lift your pain from you.

So, while I was compiling my quarterly figures, I realized I had forgotten to record and include a reread I did for book group last Tuesday.



Book #35 Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (348 pp.)

As noted above, this was a reread done for my book group, but also fortuitously timed because book 4 in the series comes out next week, and that means I'll be freshly up to date when my copy arrives Tuesday! Love this series and Lady Trent's voice!

I've read 36 books so far! Exactly the same as last year, apparently. Love your stats!

I just checked, Lucy, and I had read 34 books at this point last year. All my figure, actually, look very similar!

Interested persons may have noticed a mention of a hummingbird nest outside my office window in passing yesterday. I only noticed it because the male kept scolding me before flying to the exact same spot while I was sitting on the deck yesterday. Here's the location. There is a potted Crown of Thorns right outside my office window (I am usually sitting about three feet directly inside at my computer) and to the right of it, a potted laurel fig tree.

The nest is about midway from top to bottom, a foot to the right of my window, so about an inch from the right edge of the photo. The female is not in the nest in this shot--it is a golf-ball sized mottled clump.

And here it is, in close-up, with mom on site.


We'll enjoy watching them, but I hope it is high enough to be safe from predators--it's only about 5 feet from the ground.

>134 ronincats: Roni, what a great picture. How fun to be able to watch the hummingbirds!

I have never seen a hummingbird nest--thank you!

>121 ronincats: And I'm not even too envious, because spring is almost here too!
>131 ronincats: Oh, I didn't know about #4. Yay!
>134 ronincats: So cool!

>131 ronincats: oh, the 4th is coming out... Great. Another for the TBR pile. :)

>134 ronincats: Love the picture of the hummingbird in the nest. How in the world were you able to take the photo without scaring the bird away?!

>139 brenpike: TELEPHOTO lens, Brenda. Wonderful thing! I was actually about 15 feet away.
>138 drneutron: Won't be in my tbr pile for long, Jim!
>137 qebo: Glad spring is getting there, Katherine.
>136 Berly: Glad to oblige, Kim.
>135 rretzler: Robin, it's lovely, just a bit nerve-wracking hoping it's a a safe location.

>140 ronincats: Yes, well, it's a great photo!

>129 ronincats: Wow! Books from the future! How did you get your hands on so many books from the year 2105? Or, wait... was that an April Fools joke? ;-)

Wishing you a relaxed weekend, Roni.

What gorgeous photos!! Thanks so much for telling me to get over here, Roni! Somehow, I was ignoring your thread, but I have fixed that now - explains why you were suddenly off my radar. I need to be more careful when I am using a tablet - I need to make sure that I don't scroll with my right hand because then I accidentally hit that ignore button.

Anyway, I have never seen a hummingbird nest before, so that is very exciting, and to have the momma in it!!! Bonus!

Years ago, a hummingbird built a nest just outside my mother's dining room window -- almost a duplicate of the one by your office. They raised three little baby birds there without a problem. I'm confident yours will do so too :)

Thank you for sharing the wonderful photo of the hummingbird nest! Are those bits of paper making up the nest?

>134 ronincats: What a beautiful picture of the nest! I love seeing hummingbirds but it only happens on holidays (and a recent trip to a zoo, where they had a beautiful, large aviary space) .

>141 brenpike: Thank you--I was very happy with it!
>142 foggidawn: Uh, sure, let's say that's what it was, an April Fool's joke. (Stealthily sneaks back to correct the typo)
>143 Ameise1: Happy weekend, Barbara.
>144 Crazymamie: Glad to get my thread back on your radar, Mamie!
>145 RebaRelishesReading: I certainly hope so, Reba.
>146 streamsong: Janet, I'm sure those are paper scraps. When they've moved out I'll check it more closely to see if I can tell what the paper came from.



Book #36 The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester (329 pp.)

This has been in my tbr pile for quite a while and when Compski read it this week and gave it a good review, I pulled it out for a quick read. Definitely a book for middle graders (4-6) without the subtlety to make it attractive to adults, but still an imaginative if somewhat heavy-handed take on being yourself and the value of diversity.

>147 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. You slipped in. Yes, I was happy with the shot as zooming in on something that small without using the tripod is rather hit or miss.

Great shot of the hummingbird in the nest, Roni. It is amazing to see one that still.

Hi Roni, great picture of the hummingbird nest. Enjoy your front seat view into their world.

>134 ronincats: I love that nest. Beautiful!

Love the hummingbird picture, Roni, such a tiny nest!
Finally started clearing the front garden... so much weed has come up since October... temps are rising and my right arm is good enough to do some garden work :-)

Wow Roni, what a marvelous thing, a hummingbird nest!

>131 ronincats: I think I'm still enjoying the Lady Trent series although I didn't like book #2 as much as book #1. Anyway, a helpful reminder to read book #3 now that book #4 is coming out!

>134 ronincats: Wow!

I'm glad everyong is enjoying the hummingbird picture, Meg, Judy, Rachel, Anita, Lucy and Heather. I got it just in time. Yesterday I worrited that they had abandoned the nest because no one was on it. Eventually I went over and looked in. Oops, baby hummingbird!

Today has turned into a book acquisition day, rather unexpectedly. First of all, I hadn't yet reported receiving a long-wishlisted book from PaperBackSwap, The Unquiet Bones by Mel Starr, two days ago. But today I received 4 books from four different sources.

I was expecting the hardback of In the Labyrinth of the Drakes by Marie Brennan; after all, I had just finished rereading the third book in the series to prepare for it. But I had forgotten that the ebook of the new Seanan McGuire, Every Heart a Doorway, would appear on my Kindle today. Also, we were out and about after my eye appointment and stopped by Mysterious Galaxy, where I picked up my book club book for this month, A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab. And when I got home, March's ER book, The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins, was delivered!

I love days when new books appear! Sounds like you got some good ones, Roni. I am happy to report that I am just about to return to the Vorkosigan world with Brothers In Arms and I am looking forward to it!

>156 ronincats: Canada Post currently has my copy of Every Heart a Doorway and I am impatient to get my paws on it! I adored A Darker Shade of Magic and I'm currently reading the sequel - I look forward to your thoughts on it. The Library at Mount Char on is my wishlist and has been for a while - so many people have recommended it. Apparently it's not easy, but it's worth it.

Oh! I am listening to A Darker Shade of Magic, Roni, and I am liking it so far. And I love the book's cover!

>157 DeltaQueen50: Oh, Judy, that is SUCH an eventful book! Enjoy!
>158 archerygirl: Finished the McGuire this morning, see below.
>159 Crazymamie: Will be starting that one in a week or two--need to wait 'til closer to the discussion date so it is fresh in my mind.

So, another book came in today, this one from PaperBackSwap. Toads and Diamonds was placed in my wishlist in May of 2010 by aerrin, who is no longer in the group. The sender had messaged me that it was a library book, and was I surprised to receive an absolutely pristine hardback with dust cover, the only sign of its provenance a "WITHDRAWN" stamp on the inside cover.

But I have managed to finish some books. On Monday I finished a filler book, an ebook I got free through the Kindle First program on January 1 (SO close to being a book off the shelf!).



Book #37 Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer (332 pp.)

The title character is evidently a minor character in a previous series by the author. Events in those books are alluded to in the first chapter but aren't really relevant to the story. Harmony is a buttoned-down type who is also a witch, and she gets drafted into a rather flexible FBI unit that deals with the supernatural. In this case, mostly demons in a Hell that is rather organized. It was an interesting police procedural type story and I liked the rationale behind the actions of the demons and how they were used. Might read more--there's a second book out. Decent urban fantasy, especially since the love interest was minimal and was not another main protagonist. Heck, that's original enough in itself to attract me!



Book #38 In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan (350 pp.)

Of course I started and finished this the same day I got it. Book 4 of the Lady Trent memoirs, this is another engaging account of her adventures as a dragon naturalist. Some things get resolved (yes!) as her travels lead her to the desert nation of Ahknia. No spoilers. Yet, I felt that the ending was somewhat rushed, although on the other hand I realize that what was going on at that time was not where her true interests lay. Still a series I recommend strongly.



Book #39 Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (174 pp.)

Such an original concept! Such characters! Too short (it's a novella) with so much more opportunity to expand--it feels unfinished somehow, although it has a definite beginning and ending (albeit somewhat rushed). Paid too much for it just because it's a McGuire. Would have loved her to put the kind of development into it that she did into Sparrow Hill Road, but as much as she writes, I'm sure she has to prioritize her time.

Forgot to mention it's a lovely, overcast, lightly raining day here. I can hear my plants doing little cheers like the Aeslin Mice outside.

>160 ronincats: In the Labyrinth of Drakes
I'm doing a miserable job with the ROOTs this year. I have purchased the e-book.

>161 ronincats: Wasn't it a lovely reading day though! I hear we're in for similar weather until maybe Tuesday even!! Hope that turns out to be true.

I'm loving the garden pictures, and wow! a hummingbird outside your window.

My garden is looking rather neglected at the moment. I seem to have a million other things to do. Even the broccoli I planted last year, which we should be eating now, has been neglected and largely gone beyond edible.

>162 qebo: I'm lacking, myself, having only read 4 of them.
>163 RebaRelishesReading: Loving the cool damp weather and my garden transplants adore it as well, and the new rose bush.
>164 eclecticdodo: It's the advantage of being retired--I was always behind when working.

We've been working on a project in our poor neglected front yard. Top of mesa soil is pretty much clay deadpan, and we have no grass to speak of, just nasty stuff that spreads with runners and weeds when it rains. We have dug up a 13 x5 foot bed next to the fence at the front of the property, all 6 inches or so before we hit solid clay at least, and dug in loads of compost today, and have a bunch of California natives (mixed with some African and Australian plants) that we will plant for low water maintenance. Already the salvia plants in the pots waiting to be planted have attracted the hummingbirds. Speaking of which, when we came back in after several hours out front, I looked out my office window just in time to catch mama feeding the baby hummingbird in the nest!

So here is our project. More work than it looks like.

Your garden is looking good, Roni. We too are having a run of beautiful weather, and that has encouraged us to get out into the garden and clean up after winter. It's a little early for planting yet, but that will come in 2 to 3 weeks if the nice weather continues. BTW, I am loving Brothers In Arms!

>166 ronincats: I know how much work it is - we redid half our front yard last year over several months. We even planted some of those euphorb firesticks in the bottom right corner of your pic. They were pretty last year but haven't perked up yet this spring altho almost everything else is.

Happy weekend, Roni.

Love your drought-tolerant bed in the front yard. Are you going to slowly work toward having the entire yard that way?

I'm agreeing that it looks like a lot of work! Hope you will update us as it grows. I am waiting impatiently as an iris grows in the back yard. We bought it fully grown last year, so this is the first time I've seen it grow from the ground up. It is definitely the season for it - we are awash in rain.

Oh my goodness, the 4th Lady Trent is out and I haven't even read book 2 after really enjoying book 1 a lot, what am I thinking????

>167 DeltaQueen50: Of COURSE you are loving Brothers in Arms!
>168 RBeffa: We hope to also gradually do the entire front yard, Ron--lots of work as you know. Hope your firesticks perk up.
>169 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara.
>170 RebaRelishesReading: Yes, indeed. Although on the south side, I may put some raised beds for additional garden space as the sun exposure is so good.
>171 charl08: I love irises, Charlotte. This isn't really the climate for them, though.
>172 sibylline: Lucy! Whatever are you thinking????

Waiting for the bigger rainstorm to arrive tonight. Of course, it being Saturday, I went to the pottery and here is what I brought home.

I like these bolws.

Morning, Roni! Happy Sunday! Those bowls are gorgeous!

Nice bowls...nice garden plans :)

>166 ronincats: Good plan, Roni, I know how much work that is. The weeds have been roaming free in our front garden since October... Have been working there a couple of half hours (when weather permits) and it still looks very neglected!

>174 Ameise1: Nice bowls, as always I love the blue :-)

Thank you , Barbara, Mamie, Reba and Anita! Our half inch of rain has our plants looking perky, and I'm organizing my inventory for a craft show next Sunday.

Today the big thing on Facebook has been National Sibling Day, and here is my tribute to my younger siblings.

I'm thrilled with your nesting hummers!
I'm also trying very hard to ignore your reviews - I do not need any more fantasy in my life right now. Since I have so many first books of series unexplored, I continue to read To Green Angel Tower#1. That's logical, right?
Love the blue bowls!
I know your younger sibs would be totally grateful if they knew that you had featured them on your thread!

Peggy, that's not fair when I am having SUCH trouble resisting starting a reread of The Dragonbone Chair all because of you!

My sister Liked the picture on Facebook. Would that my brother were here to ignore it.

Okay, so I've got a show next Sunday that usually has a LOT of ladies who are Red Hat ladies attending. So today I've been concentrating on red and purple jewelry.

>178 ronincats: That photo brings back a certain era, Roni. Nice picture of you with your sibs.

Love the picture of your siblings! And the jewelry is fantabulous.

>181 Familyhistorian: That's late 60s, Meg!
>182 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel.

So, I'm trying new designs. Below, the right hand tree is the one above--I'm happy with how it turned out. The pendant on the left is a new design, free-form frame with beads, and I'm interested in feedback for it.

The nice thing about wire jewelry is that you can keep adding to it or adjusting things.

>183 ronincats: Interesting designs, Roni. I like both of the ones on the right, the ones on the left have more pieces in them than I prefer.

>183 ronincats: I think that I agree with Meg. I like the idea of the free form, but it's a little too much for me. As always, I do love the tree!
>178 ronincats: Oh! One of those leggy young things is you! I thought for some reason that you must have had 2 sisters. So are you the blond?

I'm on the right, Peggy. My sister is in the middle--8 years younger--and of course my brother is on the left--4 years younger.

Thanks for the feedback, Meg and Peggy. It's hard for me to judge as I tend toward the more uncluttered look myself, but I see it's the blingier stuff that seems to move.



Book #40 Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara (384 pp.)

Okay, I can't resist this series. Even though the City of San Diego is missing books 4 and 5 of this series in their library (they have 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,) and even though after I pointed this out, they have ordered them, I couldn't wait and so put them on my Kindle. The books are like potato chips, you can't read just one. Kaylin continues to be a nexus of violence, change, and inability to make it to work on time. Nuff said!

>183 ronincats: The tree is my favourite :-)

>160 ronincats: My copy of Every Heart a Doorway didn't arrive until Friday and I had a busy weekend, but I got some reading in yesterday and I'm about halfway through. It's a McGuire, so of course I'm loving it so far :-) I guess that I'll judge soon whether it stuck the landing.

I know she's announced that there will be two more in that world--specifically, one about Jack and Jill, yay!--which will give her room to expand on some of the concepts. I'm hoping the other one will be about Kade. I know that this was commissioned by Tor for their novella line, which may explain a few things. McGuire is prolific and has talked a lot about the world building and ideas she had for this book--I suspect she struggled to keep it down to the word count Tor wanted. Her problem usually seems to be that she accidentally writes a novel when all she was supposed to be writing was a novelette!

>54 ronincats: Love that picture of you. I tried for purple highlights in my hair this holiday season. However, despite the fact that my started to turn decades ago, my hair is still only about 15% white, so I have it dyed. I carefully researched the sort of chalk that should work on brunettes, watched the Youtube video closely and went to work. Only my roots showed anything and only in direct light. I'll probably try to actual brand used in the brunette dyed hair and if that doesn't work and wait until it is all white before I try again. I had thought in terms of the coloring some of the hair framing my face, but I really like what you did with your hair.

>178 ronincats: I thought the one on the right looked an awful lot like you! I am so sorry that there on only two of you left to talk about the time period represented in that photo. Hugs.

I do enjoy looking at the pottery, jewelery and gardens you create. Thanks for sharing. Sorry I haven't been around much to comment on specific examples of your artistry.

Hi Roni. Your garden is looking so good. We are at the other side, pulling dead plants out and cleaning up pots for the winter.

>183 ronincats: I really like both designs! The free form ones are very cool. I love the idea of the design continuing to evolve. I'd love one of the tree ones too - really lovely.

>183 ronincats: The tree is my favorite, but of the freeform designs I like the one on the bottom right the best. Hard to tell if it's the design or the colors I'm reacting to - I tend to like "same old" (classic?) in my style choices and stick to cool colors, so it may just be a reaction of pure familiarity.

The bowls are quite lovely as well. I really like the glazing style of the blues.

I thought I would let you know that the 2016 Kansas Birding Festival will be held April 29 -30 in the United Methodist Church at Wakefield, Kansas. Highlights of the event will be guided tours of the marshes, parks, and woodlands around Milford Lake. There will be finger food and a wine and cheese reception at Tom's Taxidermy in Wakefield, early morning field trips to hear the booming of the Greater Prairie Chicken's on Saturday, and there Saturday there will be a banquet featuring Dr. David Rantoul of Kansas State University speaking about bird life and bird conservation in New Zealand. This is according to the most recent Belleville Telescope I have received. If you so desire you can go on to Manhattan, KS to the art museum at Kansas State University and see the photo exhibit of Jim Richardson's work. Richardson has been photo documenting the life of Cuba, Kansas since 1970 when he started to work for National Geographic as a photojournalist. Cuba, is about 9 miles from my home.

Happy Hump Day, folks! Yesterday was my annual review with my financial advisor, and the news was good--I only lost 5% with all the stock market fluctuations, and plan to recoup that next year. Because I was in education, I put money every year into a 403K account, that's a tax-sheltered annuity, to build up for retirement, and it looks like I don't have to worry (as long as my tastes remain moderate, at least. ;-)).

I finished a book, the next Sagara.



Book #41 Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara (384 pp.)

So I rushed right on to the fifth book in the Chronicles of Elantra series, the other one I bought for my Kindle because the library was missing these two. (Book 6 is already on its way to my branch through the library system). This one is more internal in focus--we spend a lot of time in Kaylin's head, both present and past, and the action is less frenetic. Although this is not right now my favorite of the series, those people who have already read the series and are coming back to reread seem to value it, and I am content to trust them.

Today I read some more in my religion nonfiction book, which is absolutely excellent and I will review in depth when I finish it. I did laundry and watered in the garden and filled the bird feeder, paid some bills, ordered some prescription refills, and tried a new recipe for lamb, seen here.

https://westofpersia.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/persian-saffron-lamb-slowcooker-st...

I used a shoulder lamb roast instead of leg of lamb, only used a small can of chopped tomatoes but added apple wedges and raisins, and served it with saffron rice. My husband loved it and the lamb was exceptionally tender.

And we went by the pottery to pick up the small bowls I glazed on Saturday. I didn't wait until this Saturday because I want to deliver these to my friend who buys them and packages them with the shaving soap she makes and the brushes for Father's Day. I'm happy with how most of the glazes turned out on the black clay.


I'm particularly fond of the bowls on the bottom left and the top middle.

>187 FAMeulstee: It's my personal favorite as well, Anita.
>188 archerygirl: I think that's definitely the case, Katherine. I just felt there was so much more she could have done with this, and such an abrupt ending, and that she was constrained by the format. Good to know she'll be writing more in this universe.
>189 MDGentleReader: My blue is professionally dyed, and I know that when they color darker hair, they bleach those strands first before coloring them. Awww, thank you for the comment on the photo. Much appreciated.
>190 nittnut: Jenn, yes, we are at polar opposites in our gardening seasons for sure. I think most people's silence on the jewelry pendants is because the style is not really their thing--we'll see how they move at the shows.
>191 bell7: Thank you for your comments too, Mary. Again I'm concentrating on the red and purple to see if I can hook the Red Hat ladies that come to this show on Sunday, but I want to try some other colors and textures as well.
>192 benitastrnad: Thanks for the info, Benita. Wish I could be there--it sounds fantastic. And your home town is up by Belleville, straight north of Salina.

>73 ronincats: Oh. Yum!
>134 ronincats: Gorgeous!
>193 ronincats: Also gorgeous.

Love the blue hair. My colourist is trying a new type of dye which is supposed to be kinder to my hair. However, the first time it didn't last so the second time, she made it really dark and I couldn't tell the difference from my natural colour. The point was to let it fade, but I still can't see the colour, now that it has :( I think this one isn't working for me.

I been hit with so many BBs, but I'm so far behind I've forgotten most of them now that I've got to the end of your thread. So they don't count, right?

>193 ronincats: Those bowls are all so pretty, it's hard to pick a favorite . . . but I particularly like the middle one, and the top left.

Hooray for good financial check-up. I did a 457K when working and it's holding up pretty well too which is nice. This morning I had cause to realize I've been retired for 12 years -- like you, it looks like we'll be fine as long as our life-style doesn't change and since I love my life, it probably won't :)

Haven't been around in a while...I love the bowls, both the shaving soap ones and the four blues and a green. You do do some _amazing_ glazes - they're all gorgeous! (ok, top right of the shaving soap ones is a little muddy, at least in the picture. So it's only lovely, not as gorgeous as the rest).
I really like the tree best. Freeform is not my style - I tend to stare at such things desperately trying to force them into some symmetry. But then, I'm not buying at your sales, so if the blingier stuff sells, go for it! Good luck with the Red Hat ladies.
I haven't yet gotten Every Heart a Doorway - $8 for a novella is just too much for me (on Kindle). So I'll read it from the library, or catch a sale - I definitely want to read it, the concept sounds fascinating! And I'm looking forward to the next two - Seanan said who they would be about (on Twitter), and Kade sounds familiar, so you may get your wish, >188 archerygirl:.
I _have_ to get out to my garden. The weeds will have rioted, by this point (community garden, so it requires actual action to get there. Not a lot, but it's not right at my door either). And I haven't planted those tomatoes, either, though they are outside now - which slowed down their growth quite a lot.

I can't judge the free-form jewelery - I go for simple shapes generally but I know everyone has different tastes.

On the other hand I can say your mastery of color is impressive in your new bowls! I badly wants that green one. Think of it with a few peaches in it or . . . a few lemons . . . or a bunch of grapes! Gorgeous!

>198 jjmcgaffey: If the other one is about Kade, I'll be dancing for joy. It looks like I'll be buying both of those books :-) Seanan's Twitter feed is great, isn't it?

>193 ronincats: I really like the bowls. Plus, as someone who was always taught to shave with soap and a brush I heartily approve of the use of shaving bowls. It seems to be a dying cause which I think is a shame.

First things first! Here's a shot of the baby taken through my office window/screen--see how big it's getting?


>195 humouress: Sorry about the hair, Nina. The BBs count if you actually go back and put any of them on your wishlist, lady!
>196 foggidawn: You are partial to the cooler colors--some of my favorites too.
>197 RebaRelishesReading: It is SO important to put money into those TSAs from the time you are young--it makes all the difference.
>198 jjmcgaffey: So funny! The muddy one? I dropped the entire bowl into the second glaze color when it slipped out of my hand on that one. Oops. And you picked that up, Jenn!
>199 sibylline: Thank you, Lucy. It would definitely make a good fruit bowl.
>200 archerygirl: You all almost make me wish I did Twitter.
>201 Oberon: Hey, feedback from an actual shaving brush guy! Thanks, Eric.

Wow! Love the picture of the hummingbird chick in the nest. The colours are pretty too.

>193 ronincats: all of the bowls are beautiful - in different ways. You are so talented. THe blue one at the upper left is the one I covet, for the color and the spout.

>202 ronincats: That is amazing, I am not sure I've ever seen a hummingbird that was still, much less a nest or a baby. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

>189 MDGentleReader: I am not quite ready to go the professionally died route for colorful hair. There is enough uncertainty in my job that a need to interview could happen at any time and I am not ready to only be remembered for my hair color versus what I can do after an interview. I'd love to be able to add a pop of color for a day or two every now and then, though.

>193 ronincats: I love the colour of the bowl on the top left as well, Roni. Have a great weekend!

I like all the middle bowls best! And thanks for the hummingbird update. ; ) Your garden looks lovely. Oh, and then there are the books!!

>193 ronincats: The bowls are gorgeous. Is there anything you don't do?

Love that the baby hummer is getting so big. Soon he'll probably take off.

Great photos of your bowls and the baby hummingbird, Roni!

I love the baby hummingbird and the paper festooned nest. I wonder if your local newspaper or Audubon group would be interested in the photos.

And of course, your bowls. I especially love the black (dark brown?) and blue as in >173 ronincats:.

The baby was all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when humans came out onto its deck this afternoon!

>211 ronincats: Too cute!

Hi, Roni! Your baby is really growing there!
I'm a sucker for the deep, deep blue bowl too, but I also covet the browny one on its right.

Happy Sunday, Roni.

>202 ronincats: Oh sugar; I did. Did you spot that?

I can't choose between the bowls (though I also have a thing for lime green, and the tigery one on the bottom caught my eye at this angle).

I'm loving your hummingbird photos. Though >204 MDGentleReader: I've never seen a hummingbird full stop.

As for the earrings, like most people seem to be, here, I'm not so much into free-form. But then, I agree with >198 jjmcgaffey: ; whatever sells best.

That is the most amazing hummingbird photo I've ever seen -- you can even see its little wing tips!! I'll bet you could sell that one. What are the white flakes around the outside of the nest? Can you tell?

Hi Roni! A hummingbird baby -- I can hardly stand it! You are lucky to get such a close-up view. When we loved in La Jolla we "had" a hummingbird named Cleo. Very territorial! He/she was fun to watch and get to know.

Whew! Busy three days, I'll catch up tomorrow. Very quickly, Reba, I think they are paper scraps. Here it is this afternoon (we hit 86 today!).

That baby hummingbird is too cute - what great photos you took of him! And the pottery!!! I love the middle bowls in the top two rows, but also the bright green that Lucy loves. Really amazing glaze on those - so fabulous!

I had to come over and report that I purchased the first book in that fantasy series you have been reading like mad - Cast in Shadow. It was just $1.99 on Kindle, so I decided to take a chance. Um...I read it in just two days. I like the setting and the characters, but I wish Kaylin was smarter. Still, great fun, so thanks for that. I will definitely read the next one.

Wow, 86! It was about the same in Napa but didn't know SD was heating up too.

Here in Singapore we broke the record last week for the hottest day in 10 years, at 36.7°C. That's (hang on...x9/5+32...so x9 is.....330.3 divide by 5 is ...hold on....66.06...and add 32 is....almost there....) 98.06F. Is that right? The brain doesn't work so fast these days. Oops, had to go back and correct a mistake. Twice.

>219 Crazymamie: I have to agree with Mamie. And alright; I'll take a BB for the Elantra series. Though it's already on the wishlist, per your last post. So does it count?

First things first. The baby is much more active today, stretching up out of the nest, flapping its wings, and grooming.



I think these are black-chinned humming birds, as the male has no bright colors but is shinier than the female. We do have Anna's hummingbirds in the area, with the iridescent red on their heads, but this family is not them.

>222 ronincats: Just amazing. Thank you so much for sharing these pictures with us.

Thanks for stopping by my thread and saying hi. It's late and I need to put Nickel to bed and get in bed myself soon but I just had to stop by first and see the hummingbird baby pics. Just adorable! Isn't it wonderful to have a little nest right where you can see them grow!

I'll be back in the next day or three to comment on the jewelry and bowls and books, yes, and even the weather.

How fun to watch a baby hummingbird grow up. :) Thanks for sharing with us!

Oh that latest picture is so cute. Sounds like he might not be there for much longer though?

Hi Roni! Loving the pictures of the baby hummingbird :-)

>160 ronincats: Going way back, I read Every Heart a Doorway this month and really enjoyed it (although I do agree it was a bit too rushed at the end). It has confirmed my thinking that I need to read McGuire's novels.

So wonderful these photos of the baby hummingbird!

>222 ronincats: Oh, WOW! notjealousnotjealousnotjealous....

another great photo -- I imagine he'll be flying soon

Oh, it has flown! It was on the nest this morning, but when we got back mid-afternoon, it was gone. It's in the grapefruit tree next to the deck--I can hear the parents' call when they come to feed it, and caught a glimpse of it this afternoon (it's still smaller than the parents) but of course moving too fast to catch in a photo. Sob. But proud of a successful raising!

Aw. So bittersweet when a little one flies the nest...

Wow - that was fast! April 1 you posted the first photo and it's not quite three weeks later! What an amazing sequence of photos. Thanks so much from someone who has never even seen a hummingbird nest.

So glad the little bird has fledged although I know you'll miss him!

>231 ronincats: *proud/ sad/ happy sigh*

Oh my! I love the photos of the baby birds!!!!!!!!!
It has been SO hot here this week, I am worried. I have been filling our bird baths every morning. It's supposed to be 60F and raining, not 88F and sunny!!!!

So, I've not been around much this week except for quick hummingbird updates. Those had to be posted! And here is the last, a view into the empty nest.


It was great while it lasted!

So, one of the reasons this week has been so busy is that I had a craft show on Sunday, then we did a farmers market Wednesday night and got called Thursday morning to do a show last night at the last minute. I did well Sunday, one of my best from a profit margin point of view as it was not expensive to have a booth. However, I sold NO pottery and NO crochet items--it was ALL jewelry. Go figure. The same at the farmers market--I don't think this will be a regular stop, but I did sell over $50 worth of jewelry to one of the other vendors. Last night I finally sold one piece of pottery and two of my ear climbers. Here's what I've been making:

Since I've been selling a lot of these, I needed to replenish my stock. And since last night was for an inspirational event, I made these (but didn't sell any).


Finally, reading has slowed, but I'm behind on three book reviews. The first, Putting God Second: How to save Religion from Itself, was excellent, as well as being an ER book and I want to do a review that does it justice, hopefully this weekend. Then Toads and Diamonds came in, a pristine library copy through PaperbackSwap, and I read it. And finally, I devoured another Sagara from the library, Cast in Chaos. So those reviews will be coming up.

I'm working on The Library at Mount Char and A Darker Shade of Magic and have three more books home from the library to get to. We are doing the market again next Wednesday, and then a garden show at the local nursery, Art in the Garden, on the 30th.

Reba, we finally got out of the 80s and the low, low humidity today, a gorgeous day in the mid-70s. I watered the garden and took pictures of my plots for the garden thread--I need to get them off my camera and on to my computer.

I also need to respond to all my visitors, but will leave all of that for another day. Did some vigorous housecleaning today, nearly 5000 steps without leaving the house and yard, and I am stiff and sore but my bathroom and living room are CLEAN. Off to take some ibuprofen and relax, mayhap to read...

>237 ronincats: I am so impressed Roni by your energy levels. All that craft work, stepping, cleaning and reading - tired just reading your thread!

By the way where do you get all those ears from?!

Have a lovely weekend. xx

And how do those ear climbers actually stay on the ear? : )

Quick drop-in to share a great photo of my native Flint Hills that someone posted online for Earth Day yesterday!

What a lovely photograph - we have a spring green like that just bursting out all around now!

It is sad the nest is empty, but what a treat your photos have been.

So it's Saturday, and I was very productive at the pottery studio today, glazing 3 bowls, trimming 6 bowls and throwing 4 items. Here's what I brought home:

Catching up!
Your Flint Hills are absolutely gorgeous!
I'm maybe taking a BB for Putting God Second. My book group will discuss Jim Wallis's America's Original Sin in early May and then need something new for September.
Love those mugs! They look like a good cup of coffee.

Oh! Those mugs look great! Nice and thick to keep my coffee hot longer. How large are they? And the Flint Hills pic is beautiful. Speaking of Earth Day, my daughter did a presentation at a New York business firm on Zero Waste, a movement she has become completely invested in. So proud of her!

>240 ronincats: That is gorgeous! And I love the ear-climbers. I'm not surprised they are popular selling items at the craft shows.

Happy Sunday, my friend!

>237 ronincats: Wow, you have been busy. I like the plain coppery cross in the top right.

>240 ronincats: Oh, that's beautiful.

>242 ronincats: And I like the mugs.

I'll respond to my visitors in the next message, but it's been 11 days since there was any book news on here!



Book #42 Putting God Second: How to Save Religion From Itself by Rabbi Donniel Hartman (170 pp.)

I finished this book on April 15 and have been waiting until I had time and energy to write a review that does it justice. I received this book through the Early Reviewers program, and it was a fortunate choice.

Rabbi Hartman addresses what he thinks are two major flaws in monotheistic religions, flaws that come with the territory as it were. The first is God Intoxication, where demonstrating loyalty and fidelity to God's will is more important than the consequences or effects of such behavior, leading to divinely sanctioned indifference to the needs, sensitivities, and interests of others and even of oneself. "This consuming vision of God eclipses not merely one's moral impulses but also one's awareness of, and regard for, the world. If the world is unimportant, moral responsibility to its inhabitants loses meaningful significance."

The second flaw is God Manipulation, which enables believers to justify unchecked self-interest. "...the myth of chosenness supports an image of God that subverts (ethical sensitivity to the other's needs) by enabling us to exclude most others from this obligation, legitimating a systemic moral double standard. For those who claim to own God, there is no sin that cannot be purified, sanctified, and ultimately transformed into a virtue."

Hartman calls these monotheism's autoimmune disease. Are they inherent to the system, unavoidable? If so, their legacy of moral mediocrity, corruption and even downright evil prevents the aspiration to produce individuals and communities of moral excellence. Hartman then talks about the prospects of recovering from this disease within the context of Judaism. Although he quotes at times from the New Testament and the Koran, he feels specifics for counteracting these diseases in Christianity and Islam should come within those communities. Through the use of Jewish scripture and Torah, he explains why the touchstone is always, does our religion result in ethical behavior toward ALL humanity? While this may seem self-evident and trite when I say it here, the way he develops this and supports it through the evolving meaning of Scripture and the Jewish tradition is masterful and fascinating reading. I recommend this to everyone with any interest in religion.

I was ready, however, for something lighter to follow, and this fit the bill, arriving from PaperBackSwap the week before.



Book #43 Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson (278 pp.)

This is an original, creative and beautiful retelling of the classic Perrault fairy tale, The Fairies, where one sister's encounter with a fairy results in diamonds and jewels whenever she speaks, while the other sister sheds snakes, toads, and lizards with speech. I loved the nuanced redistribution of responsibility and fault, the refusal to settle for black and white, the resetting in a fictional Asian setting. If you at all like fairy tale retellings, this one is highly recommended!



Book #44 Cast in Chaos by Michelle Sagara (503 pp.)

And I continue devouring these like potato chips, as soon as they arrive at my branch library. This one did not have as much character development as earlier ones, which I miss, but the action continues apace.

Okay, I haven't really responded to my visitors since message >202 ronincats:, so here goes:

>203 charl08: I loved having the baby outside my window, Charlotte!
>204 MDGentleReader: Thank you, MD. In the nest is about the only way to get a photo! I can understand the need to have hair that is professional--fortunately I am at the age when I can wear red and purple and have blue hair. Which gets retouched tomorrow!
>205 Familyhistorian: Thanks for the color feedback on the bowls, Meg.
>206 Berly: Kim, I think you touched base on everything!
>207 nittnut: Jenn, yes, I don't bake, tat, knit anything beyond a straight garter stitch, make soap, do metal work, cut stones, or sing!
>208 RebaRelishesReading: Ah, it did, Reba.
>209 kidzdoc: Darryl, so glad you got by to see the baby.
>210 streamsong: Janet, they are so common around here that probably not, but I am certainly having fun with them. And thank you for your comment on the bowls.
>212 brenpike: Definitely cute, Brenda!
>213 LizzieD: Peggy, it grew SO fast. Ah, another lover of the bowl I dropped in the second color of glaze
>214 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara.
>215 humouress: Definitely, Nina! I forgot to mention above that one of the items I sold last Sunday was the freeform pendant on the left in 216 Paper scraps, Reba. They do have some contests during the year where you can submit photos--I may do that this year.
>217 AMQS: Don't you have hummingbirds, Anne? I seem to remember them at the cabin in Evergreen when we visited--a novelty since they weren't in central Kansas.
>219 Crazymamie: Ha, got you with multiple book bullets! Kaylin does have to have room to grow, after all, over the 11 books.
>220 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, it's finally cooled down to the low 70s, and chance of showers tonight.
>221 humouress: Nina, that is definitely hot by anyone's standards. And yes, the BB counts. Every time!
>223 MDGentleReader: I'm glad to have all of you to share them with!
>224 Storeetllr: Mary, I miss your visits and am glad you came by!
>225 nittnut: You are so welcome, Jenn. It is my pleasure.
>226 charl08: Charlotte, it's gone! *sob*
>227 souloftherose: Heather, great picture of you on Facebook! Glad you are enjoying my baby pictures. Yes, you need to read more McGuire--start with Rosemary and Rue.
>228 sibylline: Thank you, Lucy.
>229 humouress: No more reason to be jealous, but...better to have loved and lost than...
>230 RebaRelishesReading: Yes.
>232 charl08: Definitely.
>233 streamsong: They always grow up SO fast!
>234 RebaRelishesReading: I do miss it.
>235 humouress: *sigh*
>236 EBT1002: Glad you got to see the baby, Ellen. We have finally cooled off here--how about you?
>238 PaulCranswick: Paul, you are one of the busiest people I know. I am the veriest of sloths compared to you!
>239 Berly: Kim, the wire that goes through the piercing is about an inch long in back--it presses up against the back of the ear like a lever and holds it in place without pinching.
>241 sibylline: It was such a treat, Lucy, having a visitor outside my window.
>242 ronincats: I love my Flint Hills, Lucy! Check out the review for Putting God Second.
>243 LizzieD: They are 4 inches tall, Mary. Good for your daughter!
>245 EBT1002: Hope you had a great Sunday too, Ellen. And thanks.
>246 souloftherose: Heather, it HAS been a busy week, and thanks for the appreciation.

And now I am caught up for the first time in a week! Yay!

Oops, forgot to mention that I threw out a book at 27% into it. It was a free Kindle book (thank goodness), Mageborn by Michael de Angelo. Here's what I wrote in my review on Amazon:
I'm sorry but I won't be able to read this book past the 27% point due to the poor writing and editing. The first sign of trouble was when the cat "laid" on the floor, and the bad grammar and incorrect use of words continued from there. The writing is pedestrian and nothing about the plot so far has resulted in a desire to continue the story. My advice to the author is to find a good editor and work intensively with that person to improve the mechanics of telling your story.


And I just realized that it's time for a new thread. Ah well, mañana!

It's a good feeling when you are all caught up isn't it! You have been so busy while I was away, it took me awhile to read through your thread. Love the Hummingbird pictures. Also your picture with your siblings. Your creative work is stunning as always. I like the idea of the free form jewelry and although I prefer the tree, I do like the free form triangle.

I am intrigued by Toads and Diamonds but when I went to add it to my wishlist I found it was already there!

Caught up!! Whoop, whoop! And tomorrow is always a good day for new beginnings.

Nice review of Putting God Second, Roni. Sounds like quite a thought-provoking book, and one many would benefit from reading.

>250 DeltaQueen50: Judy, it does! Glad you visited.
>251 Berly: Right, Kimmers, and I'm working on it now.
>252 jnwelch: Joe, it is very intriguing indeed.

Creating the new thread now!

Loved all the hummingbird photos on this thread Ro. Also, loved the blue hair.