Mamie's 2017 Madness (Page 8)

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snail's pace

Books Read in March:
21. An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire (4 stars), library ebook, urban fantasy/private detective
22. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (4 stars), reread, audiobook, WWI fiction, off my shelves
23. Cast in Courtlight by Michelle Sagara (4.5 stars), ebook off my shelves, fantasy (Chronicles of Elantra, book 2) - series recommended by Roni

Books Read in February:
12. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, (5 stars), library hardback, historical fiction - recommended by Mark, and Lynda hypnotized me
13. The Looking-Glass War by John LeCarré, (4 stars),2017 acquired audiobook, espionage (George Smiley series, book 4)
14. Thin Air by Robert B. Parker, (3.5 stars), library hardback, crime fiction (Spenser series, book 22), read this with Roberta
15. Raven Black by Ann Cleeves (4.25 stars), ebook, crime fiction, off my shelves (Shetland, book 1)
16. The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov (3.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/scifi (Robot series, book 1)
17. A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (3 stars), ebook, urban fantasy/mystery, off my shelves (October Daye series, book 2) - series recommended by Roni
18. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan (3.5 stars), ebook, historical fiction, off my shelves
19. The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, urban fantasy/police procedural (Rivers of London series, book 5)
20. Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired paperback, contemporary fiction

Books Read in January:
1. Rivers of London: Volume 1: Body Work by Ben Aaronovitch, art by Lee Sullivan (3.75 stars), GN - police procedural, off my shelves, (Rivers of London series, GN set in between books 4 and 5)
2. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John LeCarré (5 stars), paperback/audio combo, espionage, off my shelves (George Smiley series, book 3)
3. The Chisellers by Brendan O'Carroll (4 stars), library paperback, historical fiction/humor - series recommended by Nancy (Agnes Brown trilogy, book 2)
4. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (5 stars), ebook, off my shelves - series recommended by Jenn (Queen's Thief series, book 1)
5. The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu (4.5 stars), ebook, short story collection, off my shelves - recommended by Mark
6. Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham (3.75 stars), ebook, off my shelves, police procedural - series recommended by Julia and Joe and Mary (Fiona Griffith series, book 1)
7. Nutshell by Ian McEwan (5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, literary fiction - Katie's Dirty Dozen
8. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (4 stars), audiobook, urban fantasy, off my shelves - Roberta said to keep going (Harry Dresden series, book 4)
9. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene (4 stars), audiobook, literary fiction, off my shelves
10. Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard (4.25 stars), ebook, crime fiction, off my shelves
11. Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien (4 stars), library paperback, literary fiction/Vietnam

My name is Mamie. 49. Mother of four. Happily married. I am an Indiana transplant currently residing in Georgia. I like to wax poetic about the pecan trees and complain about the heat. I miss winter. I believe in the power of kindness and shared laughter. I heartily embrace wine, snark, and shenanigans; I like to think of them as my posse.

This is my sixth year in the 75ers group. I will read almost anything (Um…NOT self-help), but I tend to lean towards crime fiction, space opera, and historical fiction. I have a soft spot for quirky characters and magical realism.
This group has greatly increased my reading of truth - I love memoirs, travel writing and narrative non-fiction. I am greatly looking forward to another reading year spent amidst the chaos of the 75.

I am planning on walking the cat this year. That is, I am just going to go where my reading takes me. I am not committing to any challenges except for Ellen’s Reread Challenge, which is a perfect match for me because every year I reread multiple books. I love to reread - it’s like getting together with old friends. I like the comfort of knowing where I am going and the surprise of discovering new truths in a familiar landscape.

So some thoughts I have:

It would be nice to read some of the hundreds of books I have sitting on my shelves - especially the authors that I have multiple standalone books by, such as Elmore Leonard, Philip K. Dick, and George Orwell

I want to keep going on some of the series I focused on this past year as well as some that I have neglected for a while: Harry Bosch, Harry Hole, Inspector Montalbano, Bruno Courrèges, Barsetshire, the Vorkosigan Saga, The Others, Sebastian St. Cyr, ...

I would like to eventually read all of the books mentioned in The English Patient, starting with The Histories by Herodotus

Usually I list my print and ebook purchases, but I thought it might be fun to follow my audiobook purchases instead this year. My husband always gets me the 24 credit Audible membership for Christmas, so…

1. Nutshell by Ian McEwan, narrated by Rory Kinnear, Katie's Dirty Dozen 2016 COMPLETED
2. The Looking-Glass War by John LeCarré, narrated by Michael Jayston COMPLETED
3. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey, narrated by Carole Boyd - $2.95 Daily Deal
4. The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch, narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith COMPLETED
5. Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis, narrated by Nadia May - a favorite of both Birdy and me - $2.95 Daily Deal
6. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, narrated by Neil Gaiman - because I couldn't NOT have it LISTENING
7. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, narrated by Neil Gaiman - just $6.99, and I am wanting to get to this one soon
8. Sherlock Holmes Collection by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by Stephen Fry
9. A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft, narrated by Fiona Shaw - $3.95 Daily Deal

Katie’s Dirty Dozen - That’s right, folks, KAK’s reserved spot is back for a third year, let’s see what she gets me with this time

1. Everyday people by Stewart O'Nan (linked short stories)

From 2016:
1. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras
2. Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard
3. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez - seconded by Charlotte and Susan
4. In the Walled City by Stewart O'Nan COMPLETED 8/12/16 3.8 stars
5. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy - she recommended the audio, and don't speed it up
6. Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo COMPLETED 7/21/16 5 stars
7. Ruby by Cynthia Bond - seconded by Charlotte
8. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming - she recommends the audio read by Cummings himself
9. Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan
10. Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye - Roberta also loved this, Katie says the audio is great, purchased 5/15/16
11. The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant
12. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi COMPLETED 10/2/16 5 stars
13. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat - she pointed out that this was only $1.99 on Kindle and that it was one of her very favorites, purchased 7/13/16
14. Tribal: College Football and the Secret Heart of America by Diane Roberts
15. Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon
16. Nutshell by Ian McEwan COMPLETED 1/2017 5 stars
17. Black River by S. M. Hulse

AND, from 2015:
1. The Mermaids Singing by Lisa Carey ($1.99 on Kindle), purchase on 2/18/15 COMPLETED 8/19/16 5 stars
2. Bright's Passage by Josh Ritter (2.99 on Kindle), purchased on 2/23/15
3. The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly ($3.79 on Kindle), purchased on 3/31/15 COMPLETED 11/7/15 4.2 stars
4. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler ($12.77 trade paperback), purchased on 4/1/15, COMPLETED read for Mark's AAC in January 2016, 4.25 stars
5. Paradise Alley by Kevin Baker ($.99 on Kindle), purchased on 4/9/15 - second book in a series, first book Dreamland was recommended by Katie and purchased last year
6. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing - used an Audible credit COMPLETED 6/16/15 4.9 stars
7. Academy Street by Mary Costello ($9.99 on Kindle), purchased on 6/12/15 COMPLETED 7/2/16 5 stars
8. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn ($5.99 on Kindle), purchased on 8/28/15
9. Sweetland by Michael Crummey ($.99 on Kindle), purchased 9/5/15 COMPLETED 11/19/15 4.5 stars
10. If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins ($7.99 on Kindle), purchased on 10/26/15

Every year, LT is an embarrassment of riches for me. I like to keep track of who recommends what and any other pertinent info that lands a book on WL.

1. Winter by Christopher Nicholson - read Suz's review on her thread, it was one of her top reads from last year
2. News of the World by Paulette Jiles - because Mark said so!
3. The Return: Fathers, Sons, and Between by Hisham Matar - memoir -read Rhonda's review on her thread
4. Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly - read Roni's blurb on her thread about this series
5. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin - series recommended by Deborah - read her review of the third book on her thread
6. The Western Lit Survival Kit by Sandra Newman - Joe says this is delightful
7. The Inquisitor's Tale, Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz - read Anne's review on her thread
8. A World of Love by Elizabeth Bowen - read Meg's review on her thread
9. Under Another Sky by Charlotte Higgins - read Susan's review on her thread, and she said that she heard about it on Jennifer's (inge87) thread
10. He Wants by Alison Moore - read Nancy's review on her thread
11. A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install - read Caro's review on her thread
12. Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler - read Robin's review of the 13th book in this series
13. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro - read Faith's review on her thread
14. Moonglow by Michael Chabon - Charlotte talking about reading this on her thread has made me add it to the list, and I was really trying not to...
15. The Assault by Henry Mulisch - read Anita's review on her thread
16. India: A Portrait by Patrick French - read Erik's review on his thread - he says a good look at modern day India
17. The Watcher by Ross Armstrong - read Charlotte's review on her thread
18. The Girl of Ink & Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - read Jenny's review on her thread
19. I Will Have Vengeance by Mario De Giovanni - read Ellen's review on her thread
20. The Ferryman Institute by Colin Gigi - because Jim said so
21. Madwoman in the Attic by Sandra M. Gilbert - read Gail's review of it on her thread
22. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - read Heather's review on her thread - she says the audio is superb
23. Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford - read Cee's review on her thread
24. The Riviera Set by Mary S. Lovell - read Susan's excellent review, which has not yet been posted to the book's page
25. In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides - read Jim's review on his thread
26. Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson - read Jenny's review of it on her thread
27. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders - read Joanne's review on her thread
28. Smoking Poppy by Graham Joyce - read Lucy's review on the book's page after she mentioned it here
29. My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris - because Mark and Joe said so!
30. How to be a Heroine: Or, What I've Learned From Reading too Much by Samantha Ellis - Heather was reviewing another book by this author on her thread and mentioned that this one is her favorite

Mayhem and Mercy

This should do it - next one's yours!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Mamie!

>8 Crazymamie: Thank you, Mary! You are first!!

>9 bell7: Thanks, Meg!

Happy New Thread. I hope Tuesday is treating you well.

Happy New Thread!

I love that Dorothy Parker quote - I haven't seen that one before.

Thank you, Jenny! Not too bad, so far with the Tuesdaying. How about yourself?

>13 streamsong: Thank you, Janet! I adore Dorothy Parker - glad you love the quote.

Happy new thread!

Happy new one, Mamie.

>16 drneutron:, >17 Ameise1: Thank you, Jim and Barbara!

Happy New Thread, Mamie dear. xx

Happy New Thread, Mamie!

Happy New Thread, Mamie!

>1 Crazymamie: "Love" She sure was clever.

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Have you guys seen this?

"...it was reading the Sherlock Holmes stories as a boy that first turned me on to the power of writing and storytelling" (Stephen Fry)

Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the definitive collection of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and four collections of short stories. And, exclusively for Audible, Stephen has written and narrated eight insightful, intimate and deeply personal introductions, one for each title.

I snapped it up with one of my credits.

>23 Crazymamie: I just saw Fry talking about this on Twitter! So exciting!

>19 PaulCranswick:, >20 ronincats:, >21 jnwelch:, >22 scaifea: Thanks, Paul, Roni, Joe and Amber!

>21 jnwelch: Yep - very witty and also very funny.

>24 scaifea: I snagged it as soon as I saw it - Birdy and I both love Sherlock Holmes and Stephen Fry. What a perfect combination!

Morning Mamie! Happy New Thread. I hope those current reads are treating you well.

Morning, Mark! And thank you. I am hoping to finish another one up before I run out of February.

Morning, Mamie, and happy new thread!

I'm sitting on 6 Audible credits, so I'm thinking I need to get the Stephen Fry Sherlock Holmes. I'm embarrassed to admit I've never read and of the Holmes stories...

Also, I wanted to alert you that I will probably have the first entry in this year's Dirty Dozen for you shortly. I'm reading an O'Nan, and it's wonderful, AND it's linked short stories, which I know you really like :) I'm hoping to finish it today, so as Mark would say, expect much warbling!

>23 Crazymamie: Whoa! Thanks for posting that.

Ohhh, awesome. Stephen Fry narrating them might actually get me to listen to them all. I've read bits and pieces of Holmes but never very much. I adore listening to Stephen Fry read the Harry Potter series.

Duly purchased. I love Audible credits, though that was my last one and I won't get another till the end of March. Still, a wise thing to spend it on I feel.

Happy new thread, Mamie! I just have to say, I love that little guy in >4 Crazymamie:. He reminds me of the little guy from Allepo whose home was bombed but rescued and taken to ambulance. (W/out headphones of course)

Happy new thread! I saw on your old thread that Barnum and Bella are getting their teeth cleaned today. Adrian has his first dental cleaning appointment tomorrow. His mama is nervous thinking about it.

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Hi Crazy!! Love the topper--it is perfect!! LOL. Off to see if I have any Audible credits left so I can grab Sherlock and Fry! Thanks. : D

Happy new Thread!

Huge Dorothy Parker fan, too. Here is a picture from the Algonquin Hotel in NYC where we stayed last year. Every room had a plaque with a delicious quote from one of the denizens of the famous Round Table:

"This is not a novel that should be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force." ` Dorothy Parker

Happy new thread!

Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

New threads are sooo cool.

>29 katiekrug: Afternoon, Katie. And thank you!

I love Sherlock Holmes - I read them for the first time when I was a teenager, and I am very excited about listening to Stephen Fry read them to me. It's a bargain for the credit, as it is 62 hours worth of entertainment - 4 novels and 4 short story collections for just one credit! *happy dance*

I am most excited about the Dirty Dozen receiving its first entry - and it's O'Nan!! You are so right that I really love linked short story collections. I will eagerly await the warbling.

>30 jnwelch: You are welcome, Joe!

>31 lunacat:, >32 lunacat: Stephen Fry is full of fabulous, Jenny! Well worth the credit - I'm so happy that you got it.

>33 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda! I love that little guy, too, although Abby thinks he looks kind of creepy. He always makes me smile, so he stays.

>34 cbl_tn: We have had their teeth cleaned many times, Carrie, and it is worth the hassle and the money, as it does make a big difference. Poodles have such bad teeth, and we have tried to take good care of them, but our dogs are getting old, and their teeth are not in good shape. Crossing my fingers for Adrian and keeping you in my thoughts.

>35 souloftherose: Thank you, Heather!

>36 Berly: Hey there, Kim! So glad you love the topper. Hoping you had an Audible credit left.

>37 michigantrumpet: Thank you, Marianne! So cool that you stayed at the Algonquin! That quote is the other one that I almost used for the topper - LOVE it!

>38 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle!

>39 weird_O: Thanks, Bill! I appreciate the enthusiasm. *grin*

62 hours? Mine has come up with 72 hrs 58 minutes?

Huh, that's weird. The UK version has 4 novels and 5 short story collections.

>43 lunacat:, >44 lunacat: The UK must get a bonus, Jenny - mine is 62 hours, 54 minutes, and the ten missing hours must be the extra short story collection you are getting.

Happy new one, Mamie! Love the kitty photo.

Thank you, Reba! I love watching the kitties watch the birds. So fun. Our littlest one is sleeping in that window right now.

That's very odd. It's The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes collection that is missing from the US version. I'm sorry I brought it up now, hopefully your 62 hours will be more than enough!

Oh, no, don't be sorry, Jenny. No worries - I am more than happy with what I got for my credit.

Parking here Mamie. I'm going to go snag the Fry Holmes. Thanks!

Hello, Roberta - thrilled to see you here! Hooray fro the Holmes/Fry love. And you're welcome.

Happy new thread Mamie.

Happy new thread, Mamie. I love Dorothy Parker.

>51 Crazymamie: Yup! Had a credit left and I got it!! 62 hours...that is going to take me all year to listen to!! LOL

>7 Crazymamie: Mayhem and Mercy are such lovely cats. I managed to get caught up with your threads for now.

>6 Crazymamie: I began reading The Inquisitor's Tale but I forgot about it, and it was about to expire. (I really had it for an e-read for times I needed something and didn't have a print book around. Those times were few and far between in February.) The print copy just arrived but I think they are awaiting the invoice. Hopefully I'll get to finish it soon.

>52 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte!

>53 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Me, too.

>54 Berly: Hooray, Kim! Yes, but it counts as 8 books, as it it four separate novels and four short story collections.

>55 thornton37814: Hello, Lori! Thank you for catching up with me. And for the compliments to the kitties. I need to get a current photo of Mischief, as she has grown a lot since the previous photos I have posted. They have settled in nicely with one another, for which I am very thankful.

I had to return it to the library before I got to it, but Birdy read it and liked it so much that she purchased her own copy, so I will just borrow hers when the mood strikes. Hoping you get it back soon.

Morning! Poor Barnum had to have most of his teeth pulled yesterday. Out of all the dogs, he has always had the worst teeth and has had to have several pulled through the years. Now he has just three teeth remaining. Bella faired better - she had just four teeth pulled. On the bright side, Bailey's new meds have made a new dog of him, and he is back to his chipper self and following Birdy everywhere again. Barnum and Bailey both got their vaccines, so they are good to go.

On the reading front, nothing to report, really. I started listening to Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology, and I like how he sets everything up with a basic introduction to all the main players and their history before he begins with the stories. I had also started reading Smoke Over Malibu, which was recommended by Charlotte - very funny, and it pulls you right in.

No big plans for today, which is probably a good thing as Daniel is upstairs with stomach flu, and Rae went to work, but was feeling nauseous. She just works a half day today, so hopefully she can make it through.

Oh, I was hoping I was going to get one of those - LOVE Pooh! Thank you, Jenny!

Morning, Mamie!

Happy March! Spring is within reach now.

Poor Barnum! Hope he recovers okay from the teeth-pulling.

Yay for Norse Mythology! I've seen nothing but positive comments. It's in my future.

Morning, Joe! Spring?! *blinks* I think we pretty much went straight from Fall to Spring and skipped Winter altogether this year. Rainy here and going to 84F today. Very humid.

Barnum is pouting a bit - they gave him an injection for pain at the vet's yesterday, so he is doing fine in that area, but he in not happy about his missing teeth.

I love Gaiman, so I am really enjoying it.

Books Read in February:
12. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, (5 stars), library hardback, historical fiction - recommended by Mark, and Lynda hypnotized me
13. The Looking-Glass War by John LeCarré, (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, espionage (George Smiley series, book 4)
14. Thin Air by Robert B. Parker, (3.5 stars), library hardback, crime fiction (Spenser series, book 22), read this with Roberta
15. Raven Black by Ann Cleeves (4.25 stars), ebook, crime fiction, off my shelves (Shetland, book 1)
16. The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov (3.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/scifi (Robot series, book 1)
17. A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (3 stars), ebook, urban fantasy/mystery, off my shelves (October Daye series, book 2) - series recommended by Roni
18. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan (3.5 stars), ebook, historical fiction, off my shelves
19. The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, urban fantasy/police procedural (Rivers of London series, book 5)
20. Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired paperback, contemporary fiction

So I read nine books, which is two less than last month. January had no loser books, but this month had some weaker entries - A Local Habitation being the lamest of the bunch, but Roni did warn me about that. Seven of the books were from my own shelves, although four of these were newly acquired.

Seven male authors/two female authors
Again, all of my reading was fiction.
Three were in print form.
Four were ebooks.
Two were audiobooks.

>23 Crazymamie: Best credit I've spent lately. I think it will be a fabulous way to introduce the kids to Sherlock Holmes. :)

Joining you with crackers and sparkling water and a take it easy day. Here's hoping nobody else gets sick.

Yearly Stats:

Format:
Hardback: 2
Paperback: 4
eBook: 8
Audiobook: 5
Audio/Print Combo: 1

Provenance:
Off my shelves: 11
Mine, but 2017 acquired: 5
Library in print: 4 (2 hardback, 2 paperback)
Library in digital: 0
Borrowed from an individual: 0

The Authors:
Male: 17
Female: 3
Male/Female Combo: 0

Living: 16
Dead: 4

American: 10
British: 8
Indian: 1
Irish: 1

Books in a series: 13

Translations: 1

GNs: 1

Rereads: 0

Multiple Books Read by the Same Author:
Ben Aaronovitch: 2
John LeCarré: 2

>63 nittnut: Hooray for Sherlock! And thank you, Jenn.

Morning Mamie! Good reading month for February and it was nice to kick off the month with The Count.

Morning, Mark! Thank you - The Count was a perfect read for me. Hoping I get one of those in March.

Good morning and happy March and new thread, Mamie! Did I get enough into that first line? I hope all is well with you.

>23 Crazymamie: Yawza! I'll being looking into that.

Morning, Brodie! Happy March! You did fine. Yawza indeed - it's a bargain.

Forgot to mention that we have chosen our March pick for the Pecan Paradisio Book Club: The Hobbit! This is a reread for Abby, Birdy and I, and will be the very first time for Rae, although she is familiar with the story.

Oh, dang. I'm sorry your house has been hit with the bug! I hope everyone feels better soon.

Awwww, poor Bailey. I hope he adapts to his missing teeth soon, and that the rejuvenation continues for him. I remember you being worried about him making it through Christmas!

We had a cat who had all but his two bottom incisors removed. Apparently they try to keep them in unless they absolutely cannot help it because otherwise they can't keep their tongues in their mouth very easily! He lasted a good few years with only the two teeth remaining :).

>71 scaifea: Thanks, Amber.

>72 lunacat: It's Barnum that had to get all the teeth pulled, Jenny. Bailey is doing really well - we didn't think he would make it to Christmas, and then he did. And he had a really great day on Christmas, which we considered a gift. Much to our surprise, he has continued to do do really well, and he is back to following Birdy everywhere and having a lot more energy. We are delighted, and are just taking one day at a time and assuming nothing. The new meds have made all the difference.

Funny you should mention the cat - I was worried that Barnum would have his tongue constantly hanging out of his mouth with all those missing teeth, but that is not the case. And he has perked up a bit this afternoon and seems to have forgiven us the teeth. Dogs are so wonderful that way.

>73 Crazymamie: Argh, sorry on the mix-up. I'd read the message on my phone earlier and then tried to rely on remembering what you'd written when I responded, rather than actually re-reading. That's what I get for trying to trust my memory ;).

I'm glad Barnum isn't too put out by the loss of his teeth. Our cat found eating etc much easier after they'd gone so hopefully it is the same with him. However the cat certainly held a grudge for longer - he wouldn't talk to us for about a week afterward!

No worries, Jenny. He is eating just fine - we had already been wetting down his food because we knew his teeth were not good. I am thinking once his gums heal, he will be feeling so much better without all of the tooth pain. I hear you about the cat - out Mercy would be the same way. She was genuinely hurt when she came home from getting spayed and then we had the nerve to make her stay in one room for an entire week. She also will not let Craig pet her for several days after he has trimmed her nails.

>70 Crazymamie: Ooooo, good choice. By the way, I've uncovered some podcasts on Tolkien, including chapter-by-chapter discussions. Just search for Tolkien podcasts and you'll discover a bunch! I haven't ried any yet, but I'm considering a re-read and using some of them as a guide later this year.

>70 Crazymamie: Fantastic choice!!

>70 Crazymamie: Oh, Jim, thanks for that! A great idea.!
>71 scaifea: Thanks, Jenn! I am excited because last year I bought a lovely cloth cover edition with illustrations. Squee!

Every time I see your topper (which, btw, features a quote my parents always liked to use), it makes me think of my favorite, "I read it on the T.V." Which then makes me think of The Wayne whose old office was in a building with a TV in the elevator that showed news headlines, so he'd share something with me prefaced by "The elevator told me.... "

Weird, I know...

Hi Mamie!

Weird, but also very fun - thanks so much for sharing. I love stuff like that. And hello, Katie!

>79 katiekrug: LOL I think about that every time I tell one of you here that I can't wait to "hear" what you think of a book. And then I write "read" or "see" instead, because OCgrammar/usageD.

*grin*

>81 nittnut: - Yes!

Sorry to see the poochies needed so much dental attention! Jackson and Tempe each needed teeth pulled last year and that can be an expensive visit! Hope your wallet isn't too sore!

Poor Barnum! I am thankful that Adrian came home with all of his teeth. He might not be so lucky next time. I think his mouth is still sore, but I did peek at his teeth a few minutes ago. I should have put on sunglasses first. They're squeaky clean!

So glad to hear about Bailey, Mamie. I know you were not expecting him to survive the Christmas holidays so it is wonderful that he is doing so well!

>83 katiekrug: Ha!

>84 ChelleBearss: I know - but they are old dogs, Chelle. Bailey and Barnum will both be 14 in April and May, respectively. And Bella is the baby at just ten. Our vet does not charge extra for extractions, thank goodness - our previous vet did, and it was something like $8 per tooth. Here, it is a set fee for the dental, and in February it is 15% discount for dental health month. The wallet is still hurting a little, though.

>85 cbl_tn: I know, Carrie. Poodles have a real problem with bad teeth and tarter build-up, which is unfortunate. The cleaning does make a big difference, doesn't it?

>86 ronincats: Thank you, Roni. We feel like every extra day is a gift, and we are soaking them up. He has been such a great dog and has brought so much joy to our lives. The vet could not believe what a comeback he has made.

>57 Crazymamie: aw, here too! Little Lenny lost his first tooth :) It was all very cute, the thing had been wobbly for weeks. It was a topic of mush discussion for that long.....yesterday it finally came out. And then was promptly lost in the grass on the way home from school. (his teacher hadn't wrapped it and put it in his lunch box like other teachers have in the past....and naturally he wanted to show it to everyone on the way home...so...). But, he wrote a note to the tooth fairy and she came up with the goods. Phew!!!

Sweet Thursday, Mamie.

Morning Mamie. Hoping I swing through today :-) Forgive the post and run - will catch up at the weekend:-)

Happy not-that-new-any-more thread, Mamie! Sorry to hear the lurgy has hit the Pecan Paradisio. I hope Thursday is as good as it can be.

Happy newish thread, Mamie!
I didn't realise Bailey and Barnum were that old.
Reading about Barnum and teeth pulled, reminds me Ari's teeth need to be cleaned. Three years ago all his front teeth were pulled. We felt sorry for him, but he had no problems, he still eats everything I put in his bowl.

Morning, Mamie!

>87 Crazymamie: I can't remember if Adrian's vet charges extra for extractions. I had to sign a consent form giving permission for all sorts of things if they became necessary. Some had a price tag, but I don't remember if extractions had an added cost. I know Stella had a couple of extractions and it seems like it didn't cost her any more than I was charged for Adrian.

Adrian's vet only gives a10% discount for dental health month, but at least they extended it into March since they weren't able to fit Adrian's appointment in February. They only do dentals two days a week.

Morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday! We are starting the month with a touch of winter but it will warm back up for the weekend. Grins...

>89 LovingLit: Oh! I loved those days of the missing teeth. Poor Lenny losing it on the way home - that happened to Abby once, and we did the same thing. She wrote a letter to the tooth fairy. Their school used to have these little plastic necklaces with a tooth shaped pendant thing that opened up - they placed the actual tooth in there to be carried home.



>90 Ameise1: Sweet Thursday to you, Barbara!

>91 charl08: Morning, Charlotte! A post and run!! Most exciting.

Apparently I once lost a tooth just before we were about to embark on an overnight ferry trip to Amsterdam. I was extremely concerned that the tooth fairy wouldn't be able to find me because of the ferry trip, and although my mum did her best to reassure me, I didn't sleep well due to my worrying.

This then meant that the day in Amsterdam was spent with me asleep on various people as they carried me round. My mum hadn't even considered bringing a pushchair as I was five and so hadn't needed it for ages, but I was utterly exhausted so I just slept on shoulders for the day. I can vaguely remember being woken up on my Dad's shoulder in order to look round a doll's house museum but that's all. My mum says she was so grateful we'd gone with my grandparents as well as it meant my sleeping form could be passed around all four of them. Still, I was far too big to really carry that much and they were all glad to be heading home again!

>92 susanj67: Thank you, Susan! I am happy to report that the vomiting was a 24 hour thing, so it is gone now. Thank goodness. And I thank you for those Thursday wishes. Craig's brother is coming to visit this weekend, so we are in house cleaning mode - UGH.

>93 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! Yep - our dogs grew up with the kids. Barnum and Bella are both eating all of their food with no problems or complaints. They are back to their normal chipper selves today, so it must not be bothering them too much.

>94 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>95 cbl_tn: Thank goodness our vet here doesn't charge extra for extractions as that would have really added to the bill. YIKES! And how nice that your vet extended the discount - we took two of the last appointments at ours.

>96 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday! I would love a touch of winter, but at least it's not going into the 80s here today.

>98 lunacat: Hello, Jenny! What a memory - I bet all the adults had sore arms the next day, but how sweet that they carried you around. You must have been completely tuckered out.

Happy Thursday, Mamie!

>33 Carmenere:>41 Well, the photo looks like one you might find in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. still, the little guy is adorable!

Glad members of your furry family are back in the swing of things!

>98 lunacat: According to my mum, there wasn't much choice in carrying me around as I kept falling asleep while standing up! Tuckered out indeed. And yeah, quite some workout for the adults.

I'm glad to see Barnum and Bella are feeling back to normal after their dental work. Always such a relief :).

>101 Carmenere: Happy Thursday, Lynda! Oh, I don't think it's creepy at all - I just think it's funny. And yes, he is adorable.

The furry ones are doing well - now we just have to get Mischief spayed and Mercy a yearly check-up in the next two months, oh, and Bailey will need a renal profile soonish...

>102 lunacat: I remember those days.

The dogs have bounced back so quickly - I think I would have moaned and pouted for a bit longer.

Good morning, Mamie! I hope all is well with you. I'm off to a couple of doctors appointments today.

Afternoon, Brodie! All is well. Hoping you appointments are just routine.

>79 katiekrug: I used to spend a lot of time in the car and would hear all kinds of interesting things on NPR which I would frequently share with family and friends. I finally started referring to them as "the source of all knowledge". Now that I'm retired I don't hear them nearly as much and I miss those interesting bits.

>103 Crazymamie: Hi Crazy and Happy Thursday! I would definitely be more pouty than poor Barnum if I'd had my teeth pulled! Hope the puppies remain well. Have fun with The Hobbit!

>106 RebaRelishesReading: I love NPR, Reba!

>107 Berly: Hello, Kim! Happy Thursday! The doggies are definitely being very good sports about the entire affair.

I am very excited about rereading the Hobbit. And then we are going to watch all of the movies together.

Glad to hear the dogs have bounced back. I love the little tooth boxes for delivery from school. My memory of teeth is that they all seemed to wobble for ages.
Probably just ages in kid-time though!
I'm very jealous of my brother, whose housemates have just got a whippet puppy. Aw. Sadly he lives too far away for me to go round for some puppy cuteness...

They are resilient, Charlotte - just like kids. I remember ages in kid's time - like how the summer used to last for about a year. It's funny how everything feels faster and more fleeting as an adult, isn't it?

A shame that your brother lives too far away for you to be an auntie to the puppy - I am hoping to have grandpuppies some day.

Woo Hoo, Happy Friday, Mamie!

Woo Hoo Indeed, Lynda!! Good Morning to you!

Morning Mamie! Happy Friday! I have the weekend off. Yah! Time to get caught up on a few mini-reviews and make some more headway in Nat Turner. It is excellent so far but slower going.

Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! Glad that your current books are treating you well, and hooray for a weekend off.

Awww! Loving all the lost tooth discussion. I didn't get my first tooth until just shy of my second birthday, and didn't lose my first one until I was 7 -- and had already been disabused about the Tooth Fairy by a classmate. I pretended anyways for my Mom!

(The worst part of it all -- I lost my last baby tooth two weeks before my Junior prom in high school. Feeling all grown up picking out shoes and a dress and then losing a baby tooth!)

Happy Weekend Eve, Mamie!

Good morning, Mamie!

The puns are not worthy this morning. To be continued...

>97 Crazymamie:

This was the note Lenny wrote, it did the trick :)
It reads: "To Tooth fairy, my tooth got lost, Lenny from." (meaning from Lenny)

Hiya, Mamie!

>118 LovingLit: Love this! Go, Lenny!

Hi, Mamie! I'm too far behind to catch up, but I hope you have a great weekend!

>118 LovingLit: I LOVE IT!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Saturday. Hope you get plenty of reading in.

Happy Saturday, Mamie! I'm glad to hear that Barnum and Bella bounced back quickly from their cleanings. I wish I could say the same about Adrian. Although his behavior is normal, he's still having trouble at meal times. I'm not sure if his mouth is still bothering him or if he's still adjusting to the new kitchen floor underneath his food dish. I'm beginning to suspect the latter.

>118 LovingLit: If I was the tooth fairy, I'd pay double for that!

Some nice reading in February!

Love Lenny's letter to the tooth fairy. Speaking of which I have on my tbr shelf a book by the same guy who wrote Smoking Poppy which I raved about recently, Graham Joyce about an altogether edgier kind of tooth fairy . . . (it's called, yeh, The Tooth Fairy.

The Hobbit! Marvelous!

>118 LovingLit: Ohmygosh, adorable!

Happy Saturday, Mamie!

Hello, Mamie!

Look, look!! ^^^

Just popping in to say Hi to everyone at the Pecan Paradisio.

Hope you are having a great weekend, that everyone in the Pecan Paridiso is healthy and the housecleaning is done!

I hope Sunday is treating you all well Mamie.

Morning, Mamie!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday!

Morning, Mamie! Hope it's a good one.

I guess the absence of noise from the Paradisio signifies a busy weekend. Hope all is well with all of you. xx

Hi Mamie! Hope your weekend was GOOD.

Hi Mamie, I thought I would catch up with you before the dreaded Pre-Tuesday arrives. Here's to a good week ahead!

Hey Mamie, wishing you well with pre-Tuesday.

>110 Crazymamie: It is a shame. I wish he would move closer. Not just for the puppy :-)

Happy Mmphmumble Day, Mamie!

Hi there, Mamie! Hope your weekend was superb!

Happy Monday, Mamie!

You know what day is almost over...here's to Tuesday!!

Good mooorrrrrning, Mamie! Happy Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday, my friend! I hope real life is treating you okay.

Morning, Mamie!

Happy Wednesday, Mamie.

Good morning, Mamie!

Just in case you need some help getting over the hump:

Howdy do, Mamie!

I had all sorts of nifty questions then as I read on, they got answered. So you'll have to settle for a massive hug for my delayed Christmas presents from Amazon!!!

They are my goad to get two over due books read quick, quick, quick! Thanks, hon.

Looking for Crazy...!?!? Hope all is well. : )

I grabbed that Sherlock the other day. I know it'll be amazing. Couldn't pass that up for a credit.

Good to hear the dogs are doing better.

Morning, All! Things have been hopping at the Pecan Paradisio. We had company over the weekend, Monday was a disaster from beginning to end, Tuesday was a Day of Indulgence (I used it to read on the deck all afternoon), and yesterday our washing machine decided to flood the laundry room. Today we are just hoping for boring.

On the reading front, I finished An Artificial Night, the third book in the October Daye series, and (as Roni had told me) it was much better than book two. I really liked this one and wanted to go immediately to the next book, but someone had the nerve to borrow it from the library before me. I am next in line for the digital loan. While I am waiting, I started book two in the Chronicles of Elantra series, Cast in Courtlight. This is the series that Roni fell into last year and gobbled up one after the other. I am also reading The Game of Kings - historical fiction recommended by Lucy, which I am loving.

In audiobooks, I finished up All Quiet on the Western Front, which was a reread for me. It was not quite as powerful this time around, I think just because it really wowed me back in high school, so it would be almost impossible to top that. Still relevant and still heart-breaking; I am glad that I re-visited it.

Mmm treats! Good to have you back posting, Mamie. I hope your day is a boring as you wish!

Morning, Mamie!

Sorry to hear about the disastrous Monday, Mamie. Less than ideal. I hope today is as boring as you could possibly hope for.

>156 katiekrug: Love it!

>155 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! I could use a little boring.

>156 katiekrug: That made me laugh, Katie! I am very happy that tomorrow is Friday.

>157 lunacat: Less than ideal is right, Jenny. And thank you for those wishes.

Catching up with the thread:

>115 michigantrumpet: Hello, Marianne! That is a long time for no teeth. Craig still had several baby teeth as an adult that he had to have pulled. There were no corresponding adult teeth, so he had to have some work done. HIs niece had the same thing, but luckily none of our children had to deal with that.

>116 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>117 brodiew2: Sorry there were no worthy puns, Brodie, but hooray for standards!

>118 LovingLit: Aw! That is the sweetest thing, Megan. Thanks so much for sharing it here.

>119 jnwelch: Hiya, Joe!

>120 tymfos: Hello, Terri! Thanks for stopping in!

>121 DianaNL: Thank you, Diana!

>122 msf59: Hello, Mark! Not much reading over the weekend since we had company, but I am making up for it this week.

>123 cbl_tn: Hello, Carrie! Did you figure it out? Was it the flooring? Maybe you could get him a mat to stand on?

>124 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy! I do not know how I missed your review of Smoking Poppy, but I just checked it out on the book page and added my thumb to it. I'm adding that one to the list!

I am very excited about getting to reread The Hobbit with the girls - and I get to read it in the new cloth cover edition I found at the bookstore last year! *happy dance*

>125 scaifea: I concur, Amber!

>126 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie!

>127 alcottacre: Stasia!! Most exciting to see you here! Were your ears burning? The girls and I were just talking about you the other day - I was telling them that you gave me my copy of Case Histories in my very first 75ers Santa Swap. I read it again last year and went on to tear through the rest of the series, which I absolutely loved. So thanks again for getting me started.

>128 Berly: I know! Isn't it great to see her popping around the threads?! And hello back to you, Kim.

>129 Familyhistorian: Yes on all accounts, Meg!

>130 lunacat: It was lovely, thanks, Jenny!

>131 scaifea: Hello, Amber!

>132 jnwelch: Hey there, Joe!

>133 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>134 PaulCranswick: It was, Paul - busy but fun.

>135 nittnut: It was, Jenn, and slightly crazy.

>136 DeltaQueen50: Good thinking, Judy. This particular Pre-Tuesday was truly terrible. But now it's over.

>137 charl08: Thanks for trying, Charlotte. Some Pre-Tuesdays just can't be rescued.

>138 lunacat: Ha! Thanks, Jenny!

>139 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe.

>140 Carmenere: It was a good one, Lynda.

Sorry to see you had laundry room drama! I'm always afraid that's going to happen to us sooner or later and our laundry room is on the second floor!

>141 ChelleBearss: Hello, Chelle!

>142 Berly: And thank goodness, Kim! I was ever so happy to see the backside of it.

>143 lunacat: Truth, Jenny. Although i don't mind me a Tuesday.

>144 Carmenere: Hello there, Lynda!

>145 jnwelch: Tuesday was much better, Joe, but Wednesday was a bit bumpy.

>146 msf59: Hello, Mark!

>147 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara!

>148 lunacat: Yes, and there was definitely a bump in the middle of it, Jenny. On the bright side, the laundry room floor is VERY clean now. Heh.

>149 jnwelch: I did need some help, Joe, so thanks for that!

>150 Carmenere: Howdy, Lynda!

>151 Morphidae: Thanks for the massive hug, Morphy! Perfect timing. Glad they arrived safe and sound, and you have already put them to work encouraging you to finish up your library books. Good thinking!

>152 Berly: I'm here, Kim! Finally. Thanks for checking on me - all is well, just a bit of a crazy week. I hope you are feeling better today.

>153 SuziQoregon: Hello, Juli! And hooray for grabbing the Sherlock - a great use of a credit, wasn't it?! And the doggies are doing great currently.

>165 ChelleBearss: Hello, Chelle! It was a mess, but the kids were the ones to find it, so they cleaned it up, which was lovely. Now we have to figure out why it happened - hopefully, Craig will have time to take a look at it tonight. The second floor would scare me - hoping you never have that problem.

I think I am all caught up. Let me know if I missed you.

Your day of indulgence sounds lovely!! And much needed after the disaster of a Monday. I've got a couple of days off later this month and I'm planning something similar.

Sorry about the laundry room flood. Hope you get a dose of boring.

Morning, Mamie!

>169 Crazymamie: "Love" Inspiring. :-)

Today we are just hoping for boring. LOL! I know that feeling well. I hope you have a wonderful, boring day.

It's like that so-called Chinese curse (that has no basis in China, Chinese mythology or proverbs at all) - "May you live in interesting times". Maybe we should aim for a happy medium between boring and interesting.

I really, really don't want interesting times... :)

Mamie's back!! Although I see you've been with me in spirit! Glad you liked book three of the Toby Daye series and hope you also like Cast in Courtlight. I just find both series highly entertaining. Sorry about the laundry room but I'm glad the kids cleaned it up. Enjoy boring today--I'll be watching the 4 basketball games of the Big 12 tournament all day.

So sorry you've been having a rough time lately. Hope the stars are realigned now and that life will return to smooth.

I hope you get your boring day, Mamie.

Me too. That laundry room does not sound like fun.

>170 SuziQoregon: It was, Juli. And the weather was so perfect. It was exactly what I needed. And thanks for the wishes for boring - I could use some of that.

>171 jnwelch: Afternoon, Joe! Ha! And thank you - so far, so good.

>172 lunacat: Right, Jenny - good thinking. But closer to the boring side of things.

>173 drneutron: Me, either, Jim

>174 ronincats: Hello, Roni! I am really liking Cast in Courtlight so far, and it is proving an excellent distraction while I am waiting for the next Toby Daye book.

We didn't put anything back in place in the laundry room yet because I don't want to have to moe it all again if it turns out we have a leak. Hopefully Craig can mess with it tonight and figure it out.

Oh, March Madness! I don't watch basketball, but I am a native Hoosier, so I totally get the excitement of the Big 12.

>175 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you for that, Reba! Today is behaving itself so far, so I can't complain.

>176 BLBera: Thanks, Beth!

>177 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte. Luckily, the laundry room has a tile floor, so it was easy enough to clean up and no permanent damage. Unfortunately, it is also the pantry, so it is really not convenient to have it in disarray.

Morning, Mamie! Sorry about your awful Monday and the laundry room deluge. Hoping for a lovely, dull Friday for you...

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday! Back to winter for us. Nooooooooo!

I am not sure how your GN reading is going but I highly, highly recommend My Favorite Thing Is Monsters. Yes, I said "highly" twice.

I've been worrying about our washing machine, which is ancient by current standards (20) .... I'm supposed to be researching but it is so boooorrrrinnnggg, I haven't.

The Dunnetts just get better and better and better. There is a Lymond fan club on FB . . . and yeh, I joined.

Morning, Mamie! Hope you're setting up for a good weekend at the Pecan Paradisio (with some normalcy to it).

I second Mark on My Favorite Thing is Monsters. It's an original, and beautifully done.

Happy Friday!! Finally. Very long week, as it was for you, I see! Listened to the first Sherlock already. On to the second one...thanks. : )

Good morning, Mamie! I hope all is well with you.

The puns are strong with this one...

Hey Mamie, hope you have a good weekend. I feel like I want to fall down and not get up for about 24 hours!

Have a great weekend, Mamie. I'm going for boring here. The weather is supposed to be nasty so I want to keep my clean car in the garage. I spent the day doing housework so I get to read, read, and read some more. My DH will be working on taxes. Doesn't get much more boring than that.

>169 Crazymamie: well, you earned that nap! You did a LOT of catching up there!!!

>185 brodiew2: and....laugh of the day goes to that meme. Good one!!!

Morning, Mamie! Enjoy the weekend, my friend.

Hi Mamie, and happy weekend to you! Love >23 Crazymamie: - Sherlock Holmes and Stephen Fry? Yes, please!

>185 brodiew2: ROFL!

Mamie, hope your reading treats you well this upcoming week!

Happy Weekend, Mamie!

Missing your energetic presence around the threads, Mamie. I do hope that things are calm and peaceful at the Pecan Paradisio at the moment and that you'll have a wonderful weekend.

You may have missed it but I have been invited to a workshop conference in Jacksonville, Florida at the end of April. I am toying with the idea of staying on a week and trying to get in a few meet-ups. You are not all that far from there, right?

I hope your weekend is fun and relaxing, Mamie!

Happy Sunday, Mamie.

Happy Sunday, Mamie. Best to the Pecan Paradiso clan.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday! I miss my pal...

I am currently reading and LOVING Nobody's Fool. WHY, oh, WHY, did I procrastinate so long, eh?

Happy Sunday, Crazy. : )

It's nearly Tuesday, right? Hope the floor is dry where you are.

Egads! What a week! I'm hoping that there will be lots of boring for you in this one. Did you need to purchase a new washer?

Good morning, Mamie! Happy Mmphmumbleday!

Popping in ever so quickly to say that life is busy at the Pecan Paradisio, but it is also blessed. Today is Rae's 25th birthday. She has taught me much about life, including how to sweat the small things while losing sight of the bigger picture. Heh. I know that sounds contrary to popular opinion - let me explain. Rae has Asperger's Syndrome, and so her focus is different from the mainstream; she has shown me that most of the time the small details are more important than the grand result. For example, the seams not touching your toes is of greater significance than the socks being worn right side out. An old sweatshirt that feels just right on the arms is better than a brand new one that looks lovely but feels wrong. Vegetables not touching each other on the plate is more desirable than a perfectly laid table. Being a good person is always more important than making a good impression - she knew this from the very beginning. Every day she gets up, and she is fully and completely true to herself. How many of us can say that? I have learned that every day is a chance to begin again, and every day I attempt to be as pure in heart as she is. I hope when I grow up, I can be just like her.

Please stop by her thread to wish her happy. You can find her here: Rae's Reality

>162 Crazymamie: You are most welcome!

Heading off to visit Rae. . .

>202 Crazymamie: What a lovely tribute. And Happy Birthday to Rae. I hope she has a lovely day, and that everything goes just the way she'd like it to.

I hope that Rae had a very happy birthday. Sounds like both you and she are blessed in your relationship.

Love how you appreciate Rae's perspective on life. Perfect! How lucky you are to have each other.

>202 Crazymamie: What a lovely tribute to your lovely daughter, Mamie.

I hope your birthday was everything you wanted it to be, Rae!

>202 Crazymamie: Oh, well now, that's just beautiful - the photo and the lovely note. I hope you both have an *amazing* day!

Thank you, everyone for the good wishes for Rae and for the kind words. It was a birthday full of fabulous. I bought myownself a gift to celebrate my 25th anniversary of being a mom - this is a special year because Rae turns 25, and I will turn 50, so in this Year of the Rooster Rae celebrates her quarter century and I celebrate my half century. I wanted something I could pass on to her, so that she would remember this year when I am no longer with her - a sort of talisman. Rae is a huge fan of luck - she once told me, when I asked her why she likes looking for four leaf clovers so much, that luck is not something you can keep, but you can find it. I carry this close to me heart because it is a truth. Anyway, here is what I chose:



This is a 3 3/4 quart French Oven pan (it's enameled cast iron, which I love) - the perfect size for making soup or stew if you don't have to cook for a crowd. We love to cook together, and I wanted something that she could and would use. Staub is only making this pan during this Year of the Rooster, so it is a perfect fit for the memory I want to make. And it is SO beautiful - the picture does not do it justice.

>202 Crazymamie: Mamie, that's lovely. A belated happy birthday to Rae!

>209 Crazymamie: And what a beautiful pan! Perfect for this year.

>209 Crazymamie: That is gorgeous. And what a wonderful thought on your part - to be able to use it together and one day, for Rae to have it and its associated memories.

Good morning, Mamie!

I love >202 Crazymamie:. Great photo, wonderful comments from you. I hope Rae had a most excellent birthday.

>210 susanj67: Thank you, Susan. Rae had a great birthday, and she was very pleased to be offered a full-time position instead of part-time, so it was a really delightful day for her. I'm so proud and so thrilled. And glad you like the pan - Rae and I both love it, and she was so excited that it will one day belong to her.

>211 ursula: Thanks, Ursula! I love when you can combine thoughtful with practical because I don't want them to be burdened with sentimental junk that is hard to let go of and also serves no real purpose, but I do want them to have tangible memories. I had a very difficult relationship with my own mother, but I have her old griddle, and it makes me remember her in the best way when I use it - I can see her frying up bacon or hamburgers, and it takes me back to good places and funny memories.

>212 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! And thank you - it was indeed a most excellent birthday. I can't believe she is 25!

Catching up with my thread:

>180 scaifea: Hello, Amber, and thanks for that. The rest of the week behaved itself, I am happy to report.

>181 msf59: Sorry you had to go back to winter - we got a lovely dose of cold which is making me giddy with delight. I have actually gotten to wear sweatshirts for several days in a row! Most exciting!

I have added My Favorite Thing is Monsters to the list - unfortunately our library system has just one copy, and it doesn't belong to our home library, so I can't request it yet. I might put in a request that our library purchase it. Or I might just get my own copy and then donate it to the library. Decisions, decisions... I mean, you did say highly twice.

>182 sibylline: Hello, Lucy! Craig and I seem to have very bad luck with washers and dryers for some reason, but the washer is behaving again for now. I hear you about the boring research - let me know what you find out.

I love that Lymond has his own fan club on FB!! How cool is that?! I do not FB, or I would totally join. So great to know that the books just keep getting better. I am thinking I am just going to have to go straight through them this year.

>183 jnwelch: The weekend was lovely, Joe - cold and rainy and just right for hunkering down and reading. And a second for My Favorite Thing is Monsters! I'll put your name beside Mark's.

>184 Berly: Hiya, Kim! It was indeed a very long week, but it is behind us now. I was very happy to see the weekend and to just chill out with the books. And hooray for Sherlock!!

>185 brodiew2: Hey there, Brodie! That pun is worthy - loved it, so thank you!

>186 charl08: That is exactly how I was feeling about it, Charlotte. Luckily, I got to indulge in a lot of lazy, so this week is off to a better start.

>187 Donna828: Thank you, Donna! Hoping that you got your boring. Mine was truly fabulous.

>188 LovingLit: And now I am doing it again, Megan. I need to work on staying caught up.

>189 jnwelch: I did, Joe. Thanks!

>190 AMQS: Thank you, Anne! I know, right?! Stephen Fry and Sherlock is a complete no brainer - hoping you snagged it.

I joined FB out of family pressure, we have a "private group" where people can post genealogical and life-changing news. I get on about once a month! But I did join the Lymond society -- mostly they natter on about who should play the various characters if it is ever filmed.
Who indeed? I can think of who could play lesser characters, but Lymond? Ha!

>191 cammykitty: Thank you, Katie - it did. I actually managed to finish a book - it was great just to sit and read for hours on end. It seems like forever since I have been able to do that with no interruptions.

>192 lunacat: Thanks, Jenny!

>193 PaulCranswick: It's lovely to be missed, Paul, so thank you. And I did miss that - I am woefully behind on the threads and struggling to get caught up. Jacksonville is about 3 1/2 hours from us. I will have to look at Craig's schedule when it comes out - things have been a bit crazy for us this year, so no promises, but a meet-up would be fun. Jacksonville?! Who would have guessed?!

>194 Familyhistorian: It was, Meg - thanks!

>195 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara! Hoping yours was also full of happy.

>196 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe!

>197 msf59: Aw, shucks! Thanks for missing me, Mark! Lucky you with Nobody's Fool - I LOVED that one! SO full of fabulous!

>198 Berly: Thanks, Kim!

What an absolutely wonderful gift to yourself, and to Rae. I hope it brings you many happy hours and good food using it, and that it does the same for Rae.

>199 charl08: And now it IS Tuesday, Charlotte! And we made it through Monday unscathed. Amazing! And yes - the floor remains dry, thank goodness.

>200 Carmenere: I concur, Lynda! I have no idea what was wrong with the washer - it is working fine now, and we have not had any more problems. Maybe the seal on the door just somehow did not seal properly that one time. Or something resolved itself with Craig moving the washer out and then back into place. Who knows? Hopefully, it will not happen again.

>201 jnwelch: Ha! Thanks, Joe - it was actually a very lovely Monday. You may quote me!

>203 alcottacre: *grin* Thanks for stopping over at Rae's place, Stasia!

>204 lunacat: Thank you, Jenny. Lovely wishes - and they came true!

>205 Familyhistorian: She did, Meg, thanks. And what a thoughtful thing to say - I feel like I completely lucked out in the children department.

>206 Berly: Thanks, Kim. I feel like Rae has made all of us here better individuals, so yes, very lucky.

>207 rosalita: Thank you, Julia. Rae said it was a "brilliant birthday".

>208 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. The week is off to a fabulous start.

>218 sibylline: Oh, I love that kind of nattering! I will have to be giving that thought as I read through the series. So fun!

>221 lunacat: Thank you, Jenny! Rae loved the idea as much as I did, so it was a great fit. We have already made her favorite soup in it - Tortilla Soup, and it was delicious.

You know the drill - holler if I missed you!

23. Cast in Courtlight by Michelle Sagara (4.5 stars), ebook off my shelves, fantasy (Chronicles of Elantra, book 2) - series recommended by Roni

This one was so much fun! I really love how fast paced and layered these books are - a huge thanks to Roni for recommending this series. I feel like this is a series that you could reread and get even more out of because there is just so much here; there is a lot to take in, and I am guessing that more of the little things will become relevant as they story arc evolves. The character development is good - I was worried that the main character was not going to learn from her mistakes, but she is coming along nicely, and I liked where this one went. So much, in fact, that I had to jump right into the next one.

I really hate this particular cover, by the way, and that is not at all how I picture the writing on her arms - I feel like it would be much more intricate and detailed. Not that anyone asked me...

>202 Crazymamie: Just beautiful, Mamie and I shall indeed hasten over to wish Rae a happy birthday

Thank you, Reba!

Hi Mamie! I love your tribute to Rae and the thoughtful gift for you two to share. I have very little that was my mother's due to a variety of reasons, but I do have her little Le Creuset sauce pan and lid which doubles as a tiny frying pan, perfect for a single egg. She would use it to make my eggs, because everyone else in the family liked runny yolks, and I was very particular about mine (not fully cooked but viscous), so she'd make mine separate :) As you know, I don't cook much but I can fry an egg, and I love using her pan!

Happy 25th birthday to Rae (I posted on her thread too) and lovely tribute from you and lovely bday gift. Glad also (up thread) to hear all the Pecan Paridiso Pets (PPP) are doing well.

Nearly hump day!

I love the pot and the idea behind it. Don't suppose you want to adopt another one do you? I'm sadly lacking in beautiful cockerel pots (!)

Good morning, Mamie!

>229 katiekrug: Hello, Katie! I thank you for those truly kind words - they mean a lot. And how great that you have your mother's sauce pan and the memories that come with it. I really love cooking, and over the years I have collected Le Creuset and Staub piece by piece - each one is really special to me, and I love cooking with them. What color is your pan?

>230 souloftherose: Thank you, Heather! And thanks for posting on her thread - she will be so excited when she sees it. She just started working full time this week, so she will need time to transition to working more hours. But she is so happy that they asked her to be full time.

PPP cracked me up - I am using that from now on! All the furry ones are still doing well, so this week is a smooth one so far - both appliances and pets are behaving.

Hoping your Wednesday is lovely.

>231 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte! We would be more than happy to add you to the family - lacking in beautiful cockerel pots is indeed tragic.

>232 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!

Good Morning!! I hope you and everyone at the Pecan Paradisio has a fabulous day. And all this talk about eggs is making me hungry! Time for breakfast: I am thinking scrambled with a little cheese, tomatoes and ham.

Morning, Kim! Thank you for those splendid wishes! And your breakfast plan sounds most yum - I heartily approve.

>233 Crazymamie: - That Le Creuset piece is an orangey-red that they don't seem to have anymore. Most of our others are their regular red, but we have one green and one blue one, as well.

It's not the Flame color, is it? Most of my Staub is a beautiful pewter gray, but I have the pumpkin pan, the tomato and now the rooster (which is grenadine). My Le Creuset is mostly bone, but I do have a blue (lapis?) braisier, a caribbean small sauce pan, and the heart pan

>236 katiekrug: Katie, is it this pan? I was thinking, duh, it can't be flame because they still make some of that.



Le Creuset acquired Cousnaces in the late 1950s and continued to make some of their original pans until the 1980s. I think after that they altered the design and the colors.

>238 Crazymamie: - Not quite. I will see if I can take a photo at lunch time :)

Morning, Mamie! Just a quick check in. Did I mention I am loving Nobody's Fool? This could end up being my favorite Russo.

>239 katiekrug: Oh! That would be lovely!

>240 msf59: Morning, Mark! I really loved that Russo, too. I have Everybody's Fool waiting patiently for me. And I want to see the movie with Paul Newman!

I've never come across Staub before but now I think I should do so! Alas, I don't have the funds for a range of such beautiful cookware, but maybe if I get married one day. I'm much more familiar with Le Creuset, which are fairly common but also expensive over here, though it looks like they are slightly cheaper than Staub.

TheBF loves cast iron cookware so maybe it'll be me that treats him instead of the other way round. After all, he's the one that does the cooking!

I just had to share this - Rae has been leaving me little notes from time to time in the mornings, and today this one awaited me on the dregs of the Chex Mix. Rae makes the MOST fabulous homemade Chex Mix evah - she tweaked it to our personal tastes, and it is most yum. It's one of my very favorite things, and pairs nicely with both red and white wine. *blinks* She made a batch to take into the office on Monday, and had brought me home the leftover, which was promptly devoured.

>242 lunacat: Yes, Jenny, it is highly recommended by me. And also slightly addictive. It is a worthy investment for anyone who loves cooking - you can pass the pans on, and they cook things so beautifully.

Beautiful pans. I keep thinking about buying some enameled cast iron but, aside from the cost, I'm not sure where I would put it!!

Thanks, Reba. I'm thinking you should make space for just one piece of it - it's so lovely and so practical and the food has a really good flavor. My bone colored braiser has been everywhere with us - when we traveled with the kids when they were little, we always stayed places with a kitchen so we could save money on food, plus too much social stuff was really hard on Rae. It's a really versatile piece that lends itself to every meal. I think you should indulge if you are at all tempted. And you could pass it on to one of your grandchildren because it will last forever.

Oh dear. What with this thread and Susan urging me to go to amazon tout suite over on her thread, today is shaping up to be an Expensive Day.
Happy hump day Mamie.

Ooh! Be sure to report back if you part with your money, Charlotte. Happy Hump Day to you as well!

>243 Crazymamie: Love Rae's note, Mamie. Our kids are always claiming to be the favorite, too. Luckily, we have one of each, so we can have a favorite daughter and a favorite son.

It's a good one, isn't it, Joe? I usually have to have a favorite oldest daughter, favorite middle daughter, favorite youngest daughter...but Daniel gets favorite son all to himself!

>243 Crazymamie: - Sweet.

>245 RebaRelishesReading: and >246 Crazymamie: - I agree with Mamie, Reba. Look at me, using my mom's 40 (?) your old piece!

Mamie - we have that braiser! The Wayne loves it.

She is a keeper, Katie.

That braiser is my favorite piece because it was the first one I bought, and because it is so versatile. Hooray for the braiser love!!

Aw, I LOVE the new pot and the beautiful sentiment behind it. The two of you are something special, for certain.

>246 Crazymamie: You're sorely tempting me. I will admit I've stood in stores caressing them from time to time...may cave in one of these days.

>253 scaifea: Thank you for those kind words, Amber!

>254 RebaRelishesReading: Go for it, Reba - I promise you won't be sorry. They cook fabulous and they also clean up so easily - and they retain the heat, so we usually just serve right from the pan.

Here is my mom's prized Le Creuset:


.

>256 katiekrug: I love those, Katie! Thanks so much for sharing. My caribbean color sauce pan is the size of the one on the left. I love how they fit together, and the size of the one on the right - you are so right that it is the perfect size for frying one egg. And I really like that color, which I have not seen before.

Back to add that we have the same exact color of kitchen countertops!

Ha! Too funny.

And I just noticed in the 2nd picture, you can just see the bottom of our green LC kettle! Maybe some day, I'll do a group shot and include the LC wine glasses that I love - they are threaded with titanium and hard to break. Except I broke one a couple of weeks ago :(

I noticed the green, too, and wondered what pan it was - a tea kettle! And yes, please with the LC group photo!! Oh, dear for the breakage - Craig is very good at breaking wine glasses. In fact Birdy bought him a plastic wine glass as a joke for Christmas.

Sweet Thursday, Mamie!

Thanks, Joe! Sweet Thursday to you!

Morning, Mamie! Still pretty cold here but it is supposed to improve.

I hope to get to Everybody's Fool, later in the year, while those characters remain fresh.

Kitchen envy!! Happy Thursday, Crazy. : )

>263 msf59: Morning, Mark! We have today and tomorrow with the lovely cooler weather which I am loving, and then it's back into the 70s for us. It sure was nice while it lasted.

I kept going back and forth on whether or not i wanted to read Everybody's Fool because I thought the first book was pretty much perfect, and I liked where it ended. After so many glowing reviews by people here that I trust, I decided to go for it.

>264 Berly: *grin* Happy Thursday, Kim! I am completely addicted to kitchen gadgets and beautiful cookware. It's a kind of sickness (and I hope to never be cured).