fuzzi's Reading Register - 2019 "I'm Still Here and Have No Plans to Leave" Edition

As I’ve done the last few years, I'm planning to strive for the 75 and 100 books read challenges again this year:




75 Book Challenge thread:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301212)

100 Book Challenge thread:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301211)

---

I intend to continue reading my old/unread tomes (ROOTs), and then rehome them, as I did in 2018. This year I JUST met my challenge of 100, but I’ve decided to repeat the 100 book challenge in 2019 as I still have over 200 books that have been unread for over a year!




My ROOT Progress
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300999)

---

And here's a ticker for culled rehomed books, read or unread...because finding a good home for a book is important!




Books Culled Rehomed
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301032)

---

Here's my favorite thread on LT: https://www.librarything.com/topic/177029

All my reviews can be accessed here: http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=fuzzi

Coming soon, my garden and butterfly threads for 2019:

fuzzi's Puttering Around the Demesne in 2019!
(url)

---

I want to read through my Bible again in 2019, though I fell way short in 2018:

---

Jump to February's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672970)

Jump to March's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672973)

Jump to April's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672974)

Jump to May's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672976)

Jump to June's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672978)

Jump to July's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672979)

Jump to August's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672982)

Jump to September's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672983)

Jump to October's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672985)

Jump to November's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672986)

Jump to December's Reads:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672987)

Jump BELOW the monthly posts for some discussion:
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301181#6672989)

Ready? Set? Let’s GO!!

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300228
January's challenges are the letters Q and A (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"Q"

Double or Quit by Joyce Stranger - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

"A"

The Children on Troublemaker Street by Astrid Lindgren - Read and reviewed


Happy Times in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren - Read and reviewed


Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A Heinlein - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Alliance Rising by CJ Cherryh (just released January 2019) - Read and reviewed


God's Secretaries: the Making of the King James Bible by Adam Nicolson - (ROOT)

---

*American Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300981)
January is "Chaim Potok"

Old Men at Midnight by Chaim Potok - Read and reviewed

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/302398)
January is "The Natural World"

Double or Quit by Joyce Stranger - (ROOT)

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209)
Possible reads for January:

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer - (ROOT) - Currently reading, not finished for January

---

*MysteryKIT*
(waiting to hear if this group will be up and running in 2019)

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301145)
January is "Prizewinners (and Nominees!)"

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg - (ROOT) - Did not read

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300247#6673068)
January is "Your Name In Print"

The Children on Troublemaker Street by Astrid Lindgren - Read and reviewed


Happy Times in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren - Read and reviewed
(my grandmother's name was Astrid)

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300984)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 4

The Sanctuary Sparrow by Ellis Peters


Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A Heinlein


Double or Quit by Joyce Stranger


Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

The Daybreakers by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301204)
January is "Excuses, Excuses"

Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A Heinlein - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. Matthew (King James Bible)
2. The Sanctuary Sparrow - (ROOT)
3. The Children on Troublemaker Street
4. Happy Times in Noisy Village (reread)
5. Mark (King James Bible)
6. The Daybreakers (reread)
7. Luke (King James Bible)
8. Rocket Ship Galileo - (ROOT)
9. Finity's End (reread)
10. Alliance Rising
11. John (King James Bible)
12. Old Men at Midnight
13. Double or Quit - (ROOT)
14. Little Otter is Missing by Kenneth Grahame (abridged)
15. The Wild Wood by Kenneth Graham
16. Acts (King James Bible)

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. The Sanctuary Sparrow - (ROOT)
2. Rocket Ship Galileo - (ROOT)
3. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - (ROOT) - Did not read
4. Little Otter is Missing by Kenneth Grahame (abridged)
5. The Wild Wood by Kenneth Graham (abridged)

---

Male authors read this month: 11 to date
Female authors read this month: 5 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 5
Books read and reviewed: 16
ROOTs completed to date: 4 (one rehomed unread)

Re-read, though not currently listed in a challenge:


Finity's End by CJ Cherryh

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/302398)
February challenges are the letters K and O (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

Books to choose from this month (mostly ROOTs):


Bristlenoses: Catfish With Character by Kathy Jinkings - (ROOT) - Did not read this month


Fall of a Cosmonaut by Stuart Kaminsky - (ROOT) - Did not read this month

"O"

The Good Old Boys by Elmer Kelton - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Little Farm in the Ozarks by Roger Lea MacBride - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


An Old Woman's Reflections by Peig Sayers - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

"K"

The Tale of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter - Read and reviewed


Texas Vendetta by Elmer Kelton - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Mary Russell's War by Laurie R. King - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


The Marriage of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Can I Keep Him? by Steven Kellogg (non-ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

*American Author Challenge*
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/303039#)
February is "Louisa May Alcott"

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Read and reviewed

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/296824#6635199)
February is "Read a book by Peter F Hamilton"

Pandora's Star
Did not read

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/279823)
Possible reads for February:

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Read and reviewed

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/303180#)
February is "Science and Technology: Innovations and Innovators"

Did not participate this month

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/302501#)
February is "We Need a Break: read a book about a trip, holiday, vacation"

Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren - Read and reviewed

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/303295)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 13

An Old Woman's Reflections by Peig Sayers


Little Farm in the Ozarks by Roger Lea MacBride


Omnibus is Alternate Realities, individual book is Wave Without a Shore by CJ Cherryh


The Marriage of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King


Mary Russell's War by Laurie R. King


Texas Vendetta by Elmer Kelton


Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin by Allen Zadoff


Partners - 'NetWalkers: Part One by Jane Fancher


Preacher's Blood Hunt by William W. Johnstone


Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper


The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens


The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by Geoffrey Chaucer


The Good Old Boys by Elmer Kelton

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

Lando by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/302399#)
February is "Colony"

Omnibus is Alternate Realities, individual book is Wave Without a Shore by CJ Cherryh - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. A Horse Called Mystery (reread)
2. Can I Keep Him?
3. Lando
4. Wave Without a Shore - (ROOT)
5. Little Women
6. The Marriage of Mary Russell - (ROOT)
7. Mary Russell's War - (ROOT)
8. How To Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps
9. Christmas in Noisy Village
10. Texas Vendetta - (ROOT)
11. 1 Thessalonians (King James Bible)
12. 2 Thessalonians (King James Bible)
13. The Good Old Boys - (ROOT)
14. There's an Alligator Under My Bed
15. The Tale of Tom Kitten
16. Little Farm in the Ozarks - (ROOT)
17. An Old Woman's Reflections - (ROOT)

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. Can I Keep Him?
2. Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin - (ROOT)
3. A Horse Called Mystery (duplicate)
4. How To Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps
5. Christmas in Noisy Village
6. Partners - 'NetWalkers: Part One - (ROOT)
7. Preacher's Blood Hunt - (ROOT)
8. Last of the Mohicans - (ROOT)
9. The Pickwick Papers - (ROOT)
10. The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by Geoffrey Chaucer - (ROOT)
11. There's an Alligator Under My Bed
12. The Tale of Tom Kitten
13. An Old Woman's Reflections - (ROOT)

---

Male authors read this month: 8 to date
Female authors read this month: 9 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 13
Books read and reviewed: 17
ROOTs completed to date: 13 in February

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/303842#)
March challenges are the letters U and L (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"U"

The Haj by Leon Uris - (ROOT) - Did not read

"L"

In the Land of the Big Red Apple by Roger Lea MacBride - (ROOT) - Did not read


Sackett by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*American Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/304344)
March is "Jon Clinch"

Did not participate

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/296824#6637458)
March is "The Murderous Scots"

Did not participate

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)

Middlemarch by George Eliot - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/304342#)
March is "True Crime, Misdemeanors and Justice, Past and Present Day"

In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/303774#)
March is "Brexit Madness: Read a book that takes place in a EU country"

Middlemarch by George Eliot - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Prince Valiant, Vol. 6: 1947-1948 by Hal Foster (Ireland and England) - Read and reviewed


Midnight is a Place by Joan Aiken - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(url)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 3

Middlemarch by George Eliot


In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham


Midnight is a Place by Joan Aiken

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

Sackett by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/303888)
March is "Mystery/Police/Detective"

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. Sackett
2. In the Presence of My Enemies - (ROOT)
3. Romans (King James Bible)
4. Princess Puffybottom and Darryl - (ER)
5. Middlemarch - (ROOT)
6. Prince Valiant, Vol. 6: 1947-1948
7. Midnight is a Place - (ROOT)

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. In the Presence of My Enemies - (ROOT)
2. Princess Puffybottom and Darryl - (ER)
3. Middlemarch - (ROOT)

---

Male authors read this month: 4 to date
Female authors read this month: 4 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 3
Books read and reviewed: 7
ROOTs completed to date: 3

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/304804#)
April challenges are the letters B and M (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"B"

The Black Shrike by Alistair MacLean - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed (shared read with @harrygbutler)


Bristlenoses: Catfish With Character by Kathy Jinkings- (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


The Buckskin Line by Elmer Kelton - Read and reviewed

"M"

Mojave Crossing by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed


The Black Shrike by Alistair MacLean - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed (shared read with @harrygbutler)


Poldark's Cornwall by Winston Graham and Simon McBride - (ROOT) - Did not read this month

---

*American Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/305288)
April is Jesmyn Ward

Did not participate

---

*British Author Challenge*
(url)
April is Rosamond Lehmann and John Boyne

Did not participate

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)
Possible reads for April:

The Iliad by Gareth Hinds (graphic novel & Early Reviewer book) - Read and reviewed

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/305418)
April is "Comfort Reads: Whatever topic makes you feel warm & fuzzy inside"

Bristlenoses: Catfish With Character by Kathy Jinkings - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel - (ROOT) - Did not read


Charles Kuralt's America - (ROOT) - Did not read


From Hawks to Hummingbirds : Close Encounters With Birds of the North Carolina Coastal Plain by Paris Trail - (ROOT) - Did not read


Frontier by Louis L'Amour and David Muench - (ROOT) - Did not read


Funny Cide by Sally Jenkins - (ROOT) - Did not finish, discarded


Poldark's Cornwall by Winston Graham and Simon McBride - (ROOT) - Did not read


Survivors: Extraordinary Tales from the Wild and Beyond by David Long and Kerry Hyndman - (ROOT) - Did not finish (Early Reviewer)

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/304924#)
April is "Easter Greetings From the Rooster" aka "Read any book from the Tournament of Books or any book award list"
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2011

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/305463#)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 4

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen


The Black Shrike by Alistair MacLean


Funny Cide by Sally Jenkins (did not finish, discarded)


Bristlenoses: Catfish With Character by Kathy Jinkings

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

Mojave Crossing by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/304923#)
April is "Sword and Sorcery"

The Heart of What Was Lost: A Novel of Osten Ard by Tad Williams - (ROOT) - Did not read

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. Mojave Crossing
2. Woods Runner - (ROOT)
3. Bristlenoses: Catfish With Character - (ROOT)
4. The Buckskin Line
5. The Black Shrike - (ROOT)
6. The Iliad
7. The Collected Short Stories of Louis L'Amour, Volume 1: Frontier Stories (reread)

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. Woods Runner - (ROOT)
2. Funny Cide - (ROOT) - did not finish, discarded

---

Male authors read this month: 6 to date
Female authors read this month: 1 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 2
Books read and reviewed: 7
ROOTs completed to date: 4 in April

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/305923)
May challenges are the letters H and V (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"H"

The Affairs of Harriet Walters, Spinster by CM Spencer - (ROOT) - Did not read in May


Barry: the Story of a Wolf Dog by Thomas C Hinkle - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

"V"

Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia by Bernard S. Martof - (ROOT) - Did not read in May


Prince Valiant, Vol. 7: 1949-1950 by Hal Foster - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Caravan to Vaccares by Alistair MacLean - (ROOT) - Did not read in May

---

*American Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/306438)
May is "Jay Parini"

The Patch Boys - As of 5/31/19 I've still not gotten my ILL copy

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/299559#6656870)
May is "The Edwardians (1901-1913)"

Kim by Rudyard Kipling - Did not read in May

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)
Possible reads for May:

Kim by Rudyard Kipling - Did not read in May, will try for June

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/306523#)
May is "History Prior to 1950"

God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible by Adam Nicolson - (ROOT) - Currently reading, did not finish by May 31st

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/305898)
May is "Read a Book With Dance as the Subject or a Dance Word in the Title"

Llano River (river dancing) by Elmer Kelton - (ROOT)- Read and reviewed

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/306552)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 4

Llano River by Elmer Kelton


Prince Valiant, Vol. 7: 1949-1950 by Hal Foster


The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen


Barry: the Story of a Wolf Dog by Thomas C Hinkle

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

The Sackett Brand by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/306127)
May is "International"

Cicada by Shaun Tan - Read and reviewed


Tales From the Inner City by Shaun Tan - Did not read in May

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. The Sackett Brand
2. Cicada
3. Llano River - (ROOT)
4. The Winter Room - (ROOT)
5. Prince Valiant, Vol. 7: 1949-1950 - (ROOT)
6. Barry, the Story of a Wolf Dog - (ROOT)
7. First Corinthians
8. Mermaid Dreams - Early Reviewer
9. Irish Red (reread)
10. 2 Corinthians (King James Bible)

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. The Winter Room - (ROOT)
2. Mermaid Dreams

---

Male authors read this month: 9 to date
Female authors read this month: 1 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 2
Books read and reviewed: 10
ROOTs completed to date: 4

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/307000)
June challenges are the letters D and J (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"D"

The Big Book of Favorite Horse Stories, Twenty-Five Outstanding Stories By Distinguished Authors by Sam Savitt - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Dark Horse by Jean Slaughter Doty - Read and reviewed

"J"

God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible by Adam Nicolson - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Legacy by James H Schmitz - Read and reviewed

---

*American Author Challenge*
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/307653#)
June is "Pearl Buck"

The Big Wave - Read and reviewed

---

*British Author Challenge*
(url)
June is Nicola Barker and Wilkie Collins - Did not participate this month

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)
Possible reads for June:

Kim by Rudyard Kipling - Did not read this month

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/307625#)
June is "Told in Pictures!"

Poldark's Cornwall by Winston Graham - (ROOT) - Did not read this month

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/307322)
June is "Pick a Card, Any Card..."
I picked the five of clubs...

The Big Book of Favorite Horse Stories, Twenty-Five Outstanding Stories By Distinguished Authors by Sam Savitt - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/306552)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 74

God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible by Adam Nicolson


The Big Book of Favorite Horse Stories, Twenty-Five Outstanding Stories By Distinguished Authors by Sam Savitt

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

The Sky-Liners by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/307014)
June is "Road Trip"

Legacy by James H Schmitz - Read and reviewed


Roadmarks by Roger Zelazny (was unable to locate a copy)

---

*75 Books Challenge Group Read*
For June: Exploring the worlds of James H. Schmitz
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/307199)

The Hub: Dangerous Territory - Did not read this month


Legacy by James H Schmitz - Read and reviewed

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. Bear's Book
2. Bertha and the Frog Choir (library book)
3. God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible - (ROOT)
4. The Big Wave
5. The Sky-liners
6. The Big Book of Favorite Horse Stories, Twenty-Five Outstanding Stories By Distinguished Authors - (ROOT)
7. Dark Horse
8. Legacy
9. Galatians (King James Bible)
10. Badger Boy
11. Arthur, For the Very First Time
12. Cassie Binegar
13. Ephesians (King James Bible)
14. Philippians (King James Bible)
15. Colossians (King James Bible)

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible - (ROOT)
2. Bear's Book (included in the 64 linked below)
3. Thumbelina illus Adrienne Adams
4. The Big Wave
5. QBVII (excellent book!)
6. Trinity
7. A God in Ruins
8. Mila 18
9. Redemption
10. O'Hara's Choice
11. The Haj
12. Mitla Pass
13. Exodus (excellent book!)
14. Topaz
15. Funny Cide (previously counted as a ROOT, just rehoming it)
16. Arthur, For the Very First Time
17. Cassie Binegar

---

Male authors read this month: 10 to date
Female authors read this month: 6 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 1 + 67 + 12=81
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301032#6840517)
Books read and reviewed: 15
ROOTs completed to date: 3 (+61 removed on 6/8/19) = 64 + 10 = 74 in June


Badger Boy by Elmer Kelton - Read and reviewed


Arthur, For the Very First Time by Patricia MacLachlan - Read and reviewed


Cassie Binegar by Patricia MacLachlan - Read and reviewed

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/308046#)
July challenges are the letters C and P (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"C"

The Way of the Coyote by Elmer Kelton - Read and reviewed


The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl - Read and reviewed


The Cookcamp by Gary Paulsen - Read and reviewed


I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven - Read and reviewed

"P"

The Cookcamp by Gary Paulsen - Read and reviewed


The Voyage of the Frog by Gary Paulsen - Read and reviewed


The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Brian the Brave by Paul Stewart and Jane Porter - Read and reviewed

---

*American Author Challenge*
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/308559#)
July is "Founding Fathers (and Mothers)"

The Federalist Papers by Publius - Did not finish

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/299559#6660927)
July is "YA Fantasy Series"

- Did not participate this month

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)
- Did not participate this month

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/308637#)
July is "Biographies and Memoirs"

Helen Keller: Sketch for a Portrait by Van Wyck Brooks - (ROOT) - Did not read

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/308202#)
July is "All About Birds"

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl - Read and reviewed

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/308635)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 2

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall


The Menace From Earth by Robert Heinlein

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

The Lonely Men by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/308041)
July is "Space Opera"

"Angel of Death" - a short story contained within Appalling Stories 2: More Appalling Tales of Social Injustice

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. The Voyage of the Frog
2. The Penderwicks - (ROOT)
3. Brian the Brave
4. The Lonely Men
5. The Way of the Coyote
6. The Magic Finger
7. The Enormous Crocodile
8. The Serpent Never Sleeps by Scott O'Dell
9. The Cookcamp
10. Appalling Stories 2: More Appalling Tales of Social Injustice
11. I Heard the Owl Call My Name
12. The Menace From Earth - (ROOT)

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. The Voyage of the Frog
2. The Penderwicks - (ROOT)
3. Brian the Brave
4. The Magic Finger
5. The Enormous Crocodile
6. The Serpent Never Sleeps
7. The Cookcamp
8. Appalling Stories 2: More Appalling Tales of Social Injustice
9. I Heard the Owl Call My Name

---

Male authors read this month: 10 to date
Female authors read this month: 3 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 9
Books read and reviewed: 12
ROOTs completed to date: 2 in July

Read and reviewed, not associated with a challenge in July:

The Serpent Never Sleeps by Scott O'Dell

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/309050#)
August challenges are the letters I and N (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"I"

Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein - (ROOT) - Did not read, moved to September


The Lottery Rose by Irene Hunt - (ROOT) - Did not read


Ice Station Zebra by Alistair MacLean - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

"N"


The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher by Lewis Thomas - Did not finish in August

The Medusa and the Snail: More Notes of a Biology Watcher by Lewis Thomas - Did not finish in August


The Man Called Noon by Louis L'Amour (reread)


The Devil's Novice by Ellis Peters - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Never Tell a Secret by Joyce Stranger - (ROOT) - Did not read

---

*American Author Challenge*
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/309709#)
August is "Ernest J. Gaines"

A Gathering of Old Men - Read and reviewed

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/299559#6672669)
August is Anita Brookner and Jim Crace

Did not participate

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)
Possible reads for August:

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/309727#)
August is "Raw Materials: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral"

The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher by Lewis Thomas - Did not finish in August


Aquatic Gardens Ponds, Streams, Waterfalls & Fountains: Volume 1. Design & Construction & Maintenance (Or the World According to Carp) by Robert Fenner - Read and reviewed


The Medusa and the Snail: More Notes of a Biology Watcher by Lewis Thomas - Did not finish in August

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/309111#)
August is "Back To School"

The Wild Heart by Helen Griffiths - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed
I read a chapter of this in a literature textbook back in 5th grade but never read the entire book

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/309784)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 3

The Devil's Novice by Ellis Peters


The Wild Heart by Helen Griffiths


Ice Station Zebra by Alistair MacLean

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

Mustang Man by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/309138#)
August is "Alt History"
Did not participate

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. Mustang Man
2. The Devil's Novice - (ROOT)
3. Aquatic Gardens Ponds, Streams, Waterfalls & Fountains: Volume 1. Design & Construction & Maintenance (Or the World According to Carp)
4. Ice Station Zebra - (ROOT)
5. The Wild Heart - (ROOT)
6. 1 Timothy (King James Bible)
7. 2 Timothy (King James Bible)
8. Titus (King James Bible)
9. Philemon (King James Bible)
10. The Man Called Noon (reread)
11. Now? Not Yet! by Gina Perry
12. Donkey-donkey by Roger Duvoisin

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. Monument Rock by Louis L'Amour (duplicate)
2. Now? Not Yet! by Gina Perry
3. Donkey-donkey by Roger Duvoisin

---

Male authors read this month: 9 to date
Female authors read this month: 3 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 3
Books read and reviewed: 12
ROOTs completed to date: 3

Planned read:

Ranger's Trail by Elmer Kelton - Did not read

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/310209)
September challenges are the letters F and W (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"F"


Hiboy: Young Devil Horse by Justin F. Denzel - Read and reviewed


Fear is the Key by Alistair MacLean - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Pony Farm by Paul Brown - Read and reviewed


Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein - (ROOT) - Did not read this month


Survivors: Extraordinary Tales from the Wild and Beyond by David Long (Author) & Kerry Hyndman (Illustrator) - (ROOT) - Did not read this month


Black Fox of Lorne by Marguerite De Angeli - (ROOT) - Did not read this month


The Fox at Drummers Darkness by Joyce Stranger - (ROOT) - Did not read this month


Prince Valiant, Vol. 8: 1951-1952 by Hal Foster - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

"W"

Wyatt Earp's Cow-Boy Campaign: The Bloody Restoration of Law and Order Along the Mexican Border, 1882 by Chuck Hornung - (ROOT) - Did not read this month


Black Wings: the Unbeatable Crow by Joseph Wharton Lippincott - (ROOT) - Did not read this month

---

*American Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/310694#)
September is "Leslie Marmon Silko"

- Did not participate

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/299559#6674204)
September is "Biographies and Memoirs"

Did not participate this month

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)
Possible reads for September:

- Did not participate this month

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/310751)
September is "Journalists"

Charles Kuralt's America - (ROOT) - Could not locate book, did not read this month

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/310365#)
September is "Equinox: Read a book about night or day, fall or spring, dark or light"

Ride a Dark Horse by Lynn Hall - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


The Darkness and the Dawn by Thomas Costain - (ROOT) - Did not read this month


Black Storm by Thomas C Hinkle - (ROOT) - Did not read this month


Black Fox of Lorne by Marguerite De Angeli - (ROOT) - Did not read this month


The Fox at Drummers Darkness by Joyce Stranger - (ROOT) - Did not read this month

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/310797#)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 4

Prince Valiant, Vol. 8: 1951-1952 by Hal Foster


Dead Man's Ransom by Ellis Peters


Ride a Dark Horse by Lynn Hall


Fear is the Key by Alistair MacLean

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

Galloway by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/310207)
September is "Series!"

Prince Valiant, Vol. 8: 1951-1952 by Hal Foster - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. Galloway
2. Pony Farm
3. The Incredible Journey (reread)
4. Prince Valiant, Vol. 8: 1951-1952 by Hal Foster - (ROOT)
5. Dead Man's Ransom - (ROOT)
6. Ride a Dark Horse - (ROOT)
7. The Beasts of Bethlehem by X J Kennedy
8. Hiboy: Young Devil Horse
9. Fear is the Key - (ROOT)
10. Hebrews (King James Bible)

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. Dead Man's Ransom - (ROOT)
2. Ride a Dark Horse - (ROOT)
3. The Beasts of Bethlehem by X J Kennedy

---

Male authors read this month: 7 to date
Female authors read this month: 3 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 3
Books read and reviewed: 10
ROOTs completed to date: 4

Reread, not assigned to a challenge:

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/311202#)
October challenges are the letters G and T (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"G"

Amazing Jewish Heroes Down Through the Ages by David Richard Goldberg


Georgia ABC's by Chris Jespersen and Josie Toney - (ER) - Read and reviewed

"T"

Treasure Mountain by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed


Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express: A Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov Novel by Stuart M. Kaminsky - (ROOT)

---

*American Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/311618#)
October is "Drama"

Did not participate

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/311195#6921135)
October is Rose Tremain and Louis de Bernieres

Did not participate

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)
Possible reads for October:

Kim by Rudyard Kipling

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/311733#)
October is "Other/Alternate Worlds"

After Its Kind by Bryon C. Nelson - (ROOT)

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/311215)
October is "Knock-offs, Follow-ups, Tributes, Parodies"

Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express: A Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov Novel by Stuart M. Kaminsky - (ROOT)

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/311734#)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 1

Fall of a Cosmonaut by Stuart Kaminsky

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

Treasure Mountain by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/311227)
October is "Comedy"

Roadmarks by Roger Zelazny - Read and reviewed

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. Fall of a Cosmonaut - (ROOT)
2. Treasure Mountain
3. Georgia ABC's (ER)
4. Roadmarks
5. Dragonsong (reread x ?)

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. Georgia ABC's (ER)

---

Male authors read this month: 3 to date
Female authors read this month: 2 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 1
Books read and reviewed: 5
ROOTs completed to date: 1

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/312073)
November challenges are the letters S and Y (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"S"

The Stone Soup Book of Animal Stories - Did not finish


The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me by Jon Katz - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed


Sunday Silence: Racing's Hard Luck Hero by Ray Paulick - Read and reviewed

"Y"

Touring Iran: A Photographic Journey by Yassavoli - (ROOT)


A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me by Jon Katz - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

*American Author Challenge*
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/312547)
November is "W. E. B. DuBois"

- Did not participate this month

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301575#6688724)
November is "The Jewish Contribution"

- Did not participate this month

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)
Possible reads for November:

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/312578#)
November is "Creators & Creativity"

A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me by Jon Katz - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/312139#)
November is "Childhood Memories"

The Tale of the Good Cat Jupie by Neely McCoy - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/312589)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 4

A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me by Jon Katz


The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me by Jon Katz


Dog Days: Dispatches From Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz


The Tale of the Good Cat Jupie by Neely McCoy

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

Ride the Dark Trail by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/312082#)
November is "Award Winners"

Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey (reread) - Read and reviewed

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. Ride the Dark Trail
2. Long Ride Home
3. Sunday Silence: Racing's Hard Luck Hero
4. Dragonsinger (reread x ?)
5. The Tale of the Good Cat Jupie - (ROOT)
6. A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me - (ROOT)
7. The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me - (ROOT)
8. Dog Days: Dispatches From Bedlam Farm - (ROOT)
9. Ranger's Trail

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. The Stone Soup Book of Animal Stories

---

Male authors read this month: 7 to date
Female authors read this month: 2 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 1
Books read and reviewed: 9
ROOTs completed to date: 4

Not associated with any challenge:


Long Ride Home by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed


Ranger's Trail by Elmer Kelton - Read and reviewed

*75 Book Challenge* and
*100 Books in 2019 Challenge*
See combined ticker above for progress!

---

*AlphaCATKIT Challenge* (unofficial)
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/313016)
December challenges are the letters E and R (yearlong challenge letters are X and Z)

"E"

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe - (ROOT) - Did not finish


The Pilgrim of Hate by Ellis Peters - (ROOT) - Did not read

"R"

Riding For the Brand by Louis L'Amour - Read and Reviewed


Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park by Marie Winn - (ROOT) - Did not read


Rusty by Joyce Stranger - (ROOT) - Did not read

---

*American Author Challenge*
(url)
December is "Marilynne Robinson"

---

*British Author Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301916#6969858)
December is Michael Morpurgo and Zadie Smith

---

*Classics-I-Have-Not-Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/301209#)
Possible reads for December:

Kim by Rudyard Kipling - Did not read

---

*Nonfiction Reading Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/313534#)
December is "I’ve Always Been Curious About…"

Poldark's Cornwall by Winston Graham - (ROOT) - Did not read

---

*RandomCat Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/313015#)
December is "Season's Readings": Read a book who's title begins with one of the letters in "December"

"B"

The Brave Riders by Glenn Balch - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

"C"

Celia's House by D. E. Stevenson - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

A Child's Calendar by John Updike - Read and reviewed

"D"

Dingo, The Story of an Outlaw by Henry G. Lamond - (ROOT) - Did not read

"E"

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe - (ROOT) - Did not finish

"M"

Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express: A Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov Novel by Stuart M. Kaminsky - (ROOT)- Did not read

"R"

Riding For the Brand by Louis L'Amour - Read and Reviewed


Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park by Marie Winn - (ROOT) - Did not read


Rusty by Joyce Stranger - (ROOT) - Did not read

---

*ROOT aka Read Our Own Tomes*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/313639#)
See ticker above for progress
ROOT Total This Month: 5

Celia's House by D. E. Stevenson


The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe


The Brave Riders by Glenn Balch

The Day After Tomorrow by Robert Heinlein


Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein

---

*Sackett Series Shared Read Challenge*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/300974)

Lonely on the Mountain by Louis L'Amour - Read and reviewed

---

*UN-official SFF-KIT*
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/313136#)
December is "2019 Wrap Up"

Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein - (ROOT) - Read and reviewed

---

Books read and reviewed this month:
1. The First Dog by Adam Cassell
2. James (King James Bible)
3. First Peter (King James Bible)
4. Lonely on the Mountain
5. Just For You
6. The New Baby
7. Riding For the Brand
8. Celia's House - (ROOT)
9. The Brave Riders by Glenn Balch - (ROOT)
10. Farmer in the Sky - (ROOT)
11. A Child's Calendar
12. Pete the Cat
13. Sing a Song of Piglets

---

Books culled rehomed this month:
1. The First Dog by Adam Cassell
2. Just For You (Ruthie)
3. The New Baby (Ruthie)
4. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe - (ROOT) - DNF
5. The Medusa and the Snail: More Notes of a Biology Watcher
6. The Lives of a Cell:
7. The Day After Tomorrow - (ROOT) - DNF

---

Male authors read this month: 11 to date
Female authors read this month: 2 to date

---

Cumulative Stats
Books culled rehomed from my library: 7
Books read and reviewed: 13
ROOTs completed to date: 5

Read and reviewed, not assigned to any challenge:


Just For You by Mercer Mayer


The New Baby by Mercer Mayer

Now you can post... ;)

You are so organized! I'm still in denial that a new year is coming. :)

>15 MrsLee: hahaha, copy and paste (with edits) is my friend!

I’m working on this with my new iPad (was on 3rd generation, ack) and can do almost anything except some image work. I’ll use my laptop later to finish up.

>15 MrsLee:

There's a new year coming? I still have too many things left to do in this year!

It's always a pleasure to follow your impressively organized reading threads, @fuzzi. I'm hoping to be around more in the coming year to keep up with everyone. Have a wonderful 2019!

Happy New Year! I love how organized your thread is. I'll be following along :)

Hi, @fuzzi. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year! Following along for another year :)

Starred!

I’ll be lurking!:)

Happy new year! I hope it is a great one in books and in real life.

Happy new year! Your threads are always so.... so. Impressed!

Happy New Year! May you enjoy your reading in 2019!

>17 suitable1: >18 SylviaC: >19 ChelleBearss: >20 pgmcc: >21 Narilka: >22 quondame: >23 thornton37814: >24 catzteach: >25 Sakerfalcon: >26 majkia: >27 Peace2: welcome, and Happy New Year to all!

I think I'll make a point of reading all my unread Early Reviewer books this year:

The Affairs of Harriet Walters, Spinster by CM Spencer

Good Intentions by CM Spencer

Heavyweight Boxing in the 1970s: The Great Fighters and Rivalries by Joe Ryan

Gateway to Yellowstone: The Raucous Town of Cinnabar on the Montana Frontier by Lee Whittlesey

Wyatt Earp's Cow-Boy Campaign: The Bloody Restoration of Law and Order Along the Mexican Border, 1882 by Chuck Hornung

Survivors: Extraordinary Tales from the Wild and Beyond by David Long

Amazing Jewish Heroes Down Through the Ages by David Richard Goldberg

Thanks to @foggidawn for the idea!

Sad news: my dog, Tirzah, went for her last ride to the vet on Friday. We are heartbroken, but things will get better.

Here are some photos from the 9+ years we had her:

Oh! My sympathies, dear friend.

Hugs.

So sad for you! She was a beauty.

So sorry to hear that. What lovely photos of her.

>30 fuzzi: I am very sorry to hear that. They are a real member of the family and their loss is very hard. I am thinking of you and your family.

>30 fuzzi: Such a sad loss of a dear friend and family member.

Oh, that is sad. I'm sorry you lost your friend. They take up so much room in our hearts.

Sorry for your loss!

Oh Fuzzi, I'm so sorry for your loss.

May you find comfort in your memories. *hug*

It's so hard to lose a pet.

>30 fuzzi: I’m very sorry about Tirzah. :(

Oh, I know that sadness all too well. But they are such joys in one's life.

Lovely dog! So sorry for you.

Thank you, all.

This morning when I woke up I expected to take her outside for her 5am walk. :(

I don't anticipate we will be "dog free" for long, as we have already started meeting with prospective successors to Tirzah. We decided to adopt an adult or senior dog, and there are so many dogs to choose from! Saturday we met a lovely Sharpei/Lab mix that a coworker is fostering, and today we're supposed to go see a GSD cross.

I'm sorry about Tizrah. It's been over a year and a half since the death of our dog, and there are still mornings that I wake up expecting to take her out for her walk. Good luck in your search for a new companion.

>45 SylviaC: (((hugs)))

>30 fuzzi: I was very sad to see your news about Tirzah. I've enjoyed your pictures of her over the years, and she looks like a lovely girl. I love that picture of her face above.

I hope you find the perfect canine companion before too long. Some dog is going to be lucky to be Tirzah's successor.

>47 NorthernStar: thank you so much.

The GSD cross came home with us Sunday evening, for a "trial", but I think she's a keeper.

Meet Cleo:



She's 7 years old, pulled by a dog rescue the day she was going to be euthanized. Cleo is a love-bug, wants to snuggle, be petted, and lay on your feet. She leaves my cats alone, too.

And I think my husband is in love. :)

It's amazing how much grief is assuaged by a warm tongue and a wagging tail...

I'm so sorry to hear about Tirzah, but Cleo looks like a real beauty and sounds adorable. I hope she will heal your hearts.

>48 fuzzi: Cleo looks lovely. I am sure she will be very happy with you and will share her happiness with you.

>48 fuzzi: So glad she was saved so she could help you through your loss and into the future!

Welcome Cleo!

>48 fuzzi: Cleo looks to want all the love you need to give her. Lots of happiness together.

Welcome, Cleo!

So sorry to hear about Tirzah! Losing a pet is so hard.

I'm glad you found Cleo! She looks like a love!

>48 fuzzi: Cleo sounds lovely, I hope she helps to fill the hole in your heart left by Tirzah.

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses.

A coworker of mine thinks that Cleo became homeless from Hurricane Florence. I tend to agree. Cleo was owner-surrendered in October to an animal shelter in the area that experienced record flooding last September.

So Cleo is my little refugee.

This morning as I was taking Cleo on her morning walk I noted that my car had a thick covering of frost, so I decided to crank it and get the defroster started. As I sat down in the driver's seat and started to put the key in the ignition, Cleo took it upon herself to jump in at my feet, wiggle her way across my legs, leap over the shift, force her way between the front seats and into the back seat. "Oh, boy, a RIDE!" She was reluctant to leave the car and go back into the house.

>57 fuzzi:
That is lovely. I think Cleo will soon have you properly trained.

I love that! My dad has two dogs who jump in the car whenever they can sneak in (they, too, love a RIDE!). The other day, they jumped in when my parents were unloading something from the car. They wouldn't come back out, so my dad got in the car, drove them around the block, pulled back into the garage, opened the doors again and out they leaped!

>57 fuzzi: Cleo sounds remarkably like our Jess (who's named after a character in Footrot Flats).

I just looked up the meaning of Tirzah. Oh! It is now my favorite name.

You all have made me laugh this morning, thank you!

I just emailed the rescue and said we're keeping Cleo, what needs to be done (besides paying her adoption fee)?

Ruth, look up the meaning of "Cleo". We thought it was short for Cleopatra, but it's not. It's English in origin.

Ah! Very nice!

>62 fuzzi: Rabies shots?

>62 fuzzi: Hooray for a wonderful new home with you for Cleo!

Awww :) It sounds like Cleo is going to do great!

>64 hfglen: just need the tag, she's had her rabies shot (it's mandatory here in NC).

>67 fuzzi: Here in KZN, too.

Thankfully Ireland is rabies free.

Hmm, Google says Cleo is a software company. :)

>70 MrsLee: good. I could use some extra money.

From DuckDuckGo: The name Cleo is a girl's name of English origin meaning "glory"

I'm so glad Cleo has found her forever home.

Cleo sounds like a fun dog! I’m glad you were able to find her, or she was able to find you. :)

>73 catzteach: we found each other. Thank you. :)

>74 fuzzi: Which reminds me of the magnetic sign I've seen a lot on cars. It's a dog footprint and says "Who Rescued Who?"

Cleo, sixth day:

Lovely.

Happy dog!

>74 fuzzi: yes, you did. :) she looks very happy.

Argh. I messed up, ordered a duplicate copy of a book that I'd owned since 2016 but neglected to add to my "owned" category.

Guess that means I've been "duped"... ;)

>80 fuzzi:

Been there; done that.

Keep calm and carry on.

(On one occasion I discovered I have five copies (all cheap ones) of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Yes, I have read it.)

>81 pgmcc: But that makes some sense, as it's a translated work. I too like to have several translations of a favorite.

>82 2wonderY: Yea! That was exactly what I was doing. Honest!

;-)

ETA: @2wonderY, thank you for the cover story.

Big FOTL (Friends of the Library) used book sale today...I'm going after I leave work.

Oooh, have fun! I hope you find some treasures there. I look forward to hearing all about it.

>84 fuzzi: Happy hunting!

Have a good time!

>84 fuzzi:. Great graphic! Have fun!

>84 fuzzi: Good luck finding some bargains!

>84 fuzzi: Hope all the good stuff hasn't gone by the time you get there.

>84 fuzzi: Happy hunting at the sale!

>85 Sakerfalcon: I did find Treasure, aka The Faith of a Collie, which has been on my Wishlist for a while! I'm not sure when it was printed, but it isn't from 1926.

I grabbed a book by Jean Slaughter Doty, Dark Horse and a duplicate copy of The Call of the Wild that's the same edition I had as a child.

For my dh I snagged two Time Life books on WWII, and for my father I found two Robert B Parker books he's not yet read.

>92 fuzzi: It appears you had a successful day. I hope you enjoy the fruits of your effort.

>93 pgmcc: I certainly plan to enjoy the books, even though I only bought three for myself.

>92 fuzzi: Great finds! It's always nice to find something from your wishlist.

>95 Sakerfalcon: thanks, I agree!

And the LT app on my phone has been a boon, helping me to recall books on my wishlist.

Day #4 of some sort of virus, upper-respiratory, ick. I have had no interest in reading, but watched a lot of YouTube. Since I am feeling some better, I'll probably try to drag in to work tomorrow.

Get well soon. That sort of thing can make you feel really miserable.

>97 fuzzi: Ugh! Get well soon!

I'm glad you're starting to feel better. Give yourself time to recover.

Today I received a package that marked the (temporary) completion of a series that @harrygbutler suggested I check out. The book is Prince Valiant Vol. 17: 1969-1970. I now own EIGHTEEN of these gorgeous-looking fun reads.

Now to finish reading them...

>101 fuzzi: Good Evans! Did the strip end so long ago?!

>102 hfglen: there are more books to be published...I think #19 is coming out this year.

They've caught up to when I started reading them, late 60s or early 70s.

I've been buying the books in used/v good condition, searching web sellers for the best prices. They are so worth the effort.

>101 fuzzi: Woohoo, congrats! I've begun reading Volume 9, so I have a ways to go in reading them myself.

>102 hfglen: The strip is still ongoing today, though I've not read many of the more recent installments.

>103 fuzzi: Right you are, Volume 19 is due out in May. I still need to place a pre-order.

>104 harrygbutler: I stopped reading the Prince Valiant books at #4, until I found #5. I read it last month, now I can continue the series.

Warning, I have a new author I really like, Elmer Kelton. I don't recall who mentioned his works to me, but I have several books of his I'd bought and placed on my shelves. They've been waiting to be read. I picked up Texas Vendetta a couple days ago and am really enjoying it. I'd compare him to L'Amour in that his characters are interesting, the situations are believable, and he's fairly clean.

>105 fuzzi: I think I have snagged Texas Vendetta from my dad! I may have to move it up the mountain.

>106 Caramellunacy: let me know what you think of it once you've read it.

>106 Caramellunacy: I loved The Good Old Boys even more than Texas Vendetta, look for it!

I stopped by the used book store after work today...

>109 fuzzi:

Do we need to send help?

>110 suitable1: hahaha. Nope. Nine new books is all...

>109 fuzzi: Tease.

>112 MrsLee: just a promo...

Spent a few hours in Charlotte today, picked up a few books, too.

Particulars to follow. 😉

>111 fuzzi: & >113 fuzzi:

@fuzzi, you are a real tease. You know we cannot sleep until we see those titles.

>114 pgmcc: we're staying in a hotel overnight, and the books are in the car, and it's cold and rainy outside, and I don't want to go get them.

One was a Georgette Heyer, one was a Gary Paulsen, and two were picture books for Ruthie. Does that help?

>115 fuzzi: I suppose it will have to do for now. :-)

I hope you and Ruthie enjoy them.

>115 fuzzi: love Gary Paulsen!

Okay, since inquiring minds want to know...

There's An Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer
My children had the monster under the bed book by the same author, this one is cute as well. After I read and review it will go into Ruthie's box.

The Tale of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter
This one I never read as a child, nor did my children. Ruthie will. :)

Now, for Grandma:

False Colours by Georgette Heyer
This is in a nice trade paperback volume, with easy-to-read typeface.

Guts by Gary Paulsen
Subtitled "The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books". I've enjoyed every book by this author with one exception, and I expect I'll enjoy this one as well.

And the books I bought on Friday (store credit):

Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck

and every Elmer Kelton they had that I didn't already own:

Pecos Crossing
Texas Rifles and Massacre at Goliad
Bowie's Mine
The Way of the Coyote
The Buckskin Line
Hot Iron
The Pumpkin Rollers

Yes, Elmer Kelton is my latest "favorite" author...

>119 fuzzi:
Thank you, @fuzzi. Now I can go to sleep.

Enjoy your books. I like Ruthies books too.

>120 pgmcc: glad you can get some rest now! :D

It's nice that you found a good copy of False Colours. A lot of the Heyer books I come across have tiny font. This has some really funny bits. I like it well enough that I've reread it several times over the years, but it isn't one of my favourites, just because I've never cared for that particular trope.

I will keep my eyes open for a book by Elmer Kelton so I can try it. I've never heard of him.

>122 SylviaC: I've read a few Heyer's, liked them enough to try reading more of her works, though it's not a niche I usually read.

>123 MrsLee: he's new to me, not sure how I "found" him.

BOOK DEAL ALERT!

Excellent book and price on several sites, through Bookbub:

Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand on Amazon for $2.99 USD

You do not have to be a fan of racing or a lover of horses to appreciate and enjoy this book!

https://www.amazon.com/Seabiscuit-American-Legend-Ballantine-Readers-ebook/dp/B0...

I love what this woman did!

Woman Forced to Remove Dying Tree, Turns It Into Tiny Library Instead


https://twistedsifter.com/2019/01/woman-forced-to-remove-dying-tree-turns-it-int...

>125 fuzzi: Almost good enough for Narnia!

>125 fuzzi: Oh MY!

>125 fuzzi: Very cool!

>125 fuzzi: That's so cool!

>125 fuzzi: Oh wow, I love that!

>125 fuzzi: Fantastic.

>125 fuzzi: - that is so cool & looks so cozy!

>125 fuzzi: I wish I could have done something like that with the oak in my backyard, but it blew over instead. I did get a lovely garden bench and a bowl out of it though.

I'm so excited, I've completed my collection of books by Anne Bosworth Greene with Punch, the Cruising Dog!!!

::dancing around::

I've been searching for a modestly-priced edition of this book for years and finally found one on Ebay. The bonus is that it has an inscription and signature by the author on the flyleaf!

When I was about 10 I recall going to a church bazaar, and saw a book for sale that had a pony on the front cover. I bought it and loved reading it over and over for the pony story, though not fully appreciating the author's way with words.

Over the years I've managed to collect other works by Mrs. Greene, some aimed more at a juvenile audience (though perfectly good for an adult read), some that would appeal more to an adult reader.

If you come across any books by this author, I can't recommend them highly enough. She paints beautiful portraits of rural life in Vermont in the early 1900s.

>125 fuzzi: I’ve seen that on Facebook. It’s lovely!

>134 fuzzi: Congratulations! It's wonderful when you finally track down an elusive book, and even better when it completes a collection.

>134 fuzzi: ::dancing around::

I can relate to your joy.

Congratulations!

>135 catzteach: each of us needs one of those in our front yards. I've thought about creating a Little Free Library by the road, but...I'm the last house on a dead-end street, virtually no traffic.

>136 Sakerfalcon: >137 pgmcc: thank you, yes! I'm still happy some 12 hours later!

>134 fuzzi: Ah, may it bless you for years to come whenever your eyes fall upon it.

>134 fuzzi: Congratulations on the find, and completing the collection!

I've got a few authors or series where I'm one, or a couple, books away from completeness, but I haven't been disciplined about setting searches to find them.

March will probably not be one of my most prolific reading months, as I am determined to complete Middlemarch, which not only is a CHUNKSTER at 700ish pages, but is dense, thought-provoking, as well as good.

>141 fuzzi: I sympathize. My copy of David Copperfield (974 pages) just arrived for this month's group read.

>141 fuzzi: I took a course on George Eliot and the Brontes as an adult student one semester a few years ago. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed both Middlemarch and Mill on the Floss. I don't remember them all that well, though.

>138 fuzzi: I totally agree! My HOA would not allow it. :(

>142 thornton37814: 974 pages???? I don't recall it being that long, wow. I do remember enjoying David Copperfield, though.

>143 Jim53: I've read Silas Marner, at least twice. I absolutely love Jane Eyre. The other Bronte sisters' works I have read are Wuthering Heights (which I did not like), and Agnes Grey, which I did not finish.

>144 catzteach: being in an older neighborhood in a less-regulated area of eastern NC has some advantages...including no one telling you what you can and can't do with your property. :)

>145 fuzzi: There were 44 introductory pages (xliv) before the 974 pages too! I guess that makes it over 1000.

>141 fuzzi: & >142 thornton37814:

I empathise. My copy of David Copperfield has 750 pages of story. I am currently on page 220.

There are twenty pages of introduction and other sections which I shall read after the story.

Bottom line, and to quote friend, "March will probably not be one of my most prolific reading months"

>147 pgmcc: I think the story is 880 pages or so, but there are some appendices. I think one is an excerpt of a biography. I don't remember what the other ones are. I'll probably read them though. I read the 40-something pages of front matter which talked extensively about parallels/differences between Dickens and Copperfield. Mine is the Penguin Classics edition.

>145 fuzzi: I enjoyed The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which I had never heard of before taking that class. I, too, love Jane Eyre and not Wuthering Heights. I loved the scene in one of Jasper fforde's Thursday Next books where they were running an encounter group for the characters in WH.

>149 Jim53: Agreed on all counts!

>146 thornton37814: oh, my...

>147 pgmcc: :)

>149 Jim53: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall has been recommended, and I have it mentally on a TBR list.

Jane Eyre remains a 5 star read for me, and I love watching the 1983 video version with Timothy Dalton.

Middlemarch update: I am up to chapter 37.

I misspoke: there are only 613 pages, not 700...

A couple nights ago I was distracted by the front cover starting to split off from the spine (it's a paperback), so I took a five minute break from Peter Featherstone's whims to use some strapping/shipping tape to secure the entire spine and both covers.

Exciting life I lead, hmm??

>152 fuzzi:
Exciting life I lead, hmm??

Well, at least you are holding it together. :-)

>153 pgmcc: *snort*

>153 pgmcc: bwahahaha!!

>152 fuzzi: I’ve had paperbacks that I kept in a little bag because the pages fell out as I read. 😂

>156 BonnieJune54: I've had several around which I kept rubber bands because otherwise they would end up all over the place.

>152 fuzzi:, >156 BonnieJune54:, >157 Jim53: - I have some craft glue which dries clear and flexible. It has transformed several loose collections of pages back into paperbacks for me.

>156 BonnieJune54: >157 Jim53: oh, my.

I have a paperback edition of White Fang that would shed pages if I removed it from the shelves, but I keep it, as it's special to me: I bought it at a school book fair 50 years ago, and read it so many times I couldn't guess at the number of rereads.

>158 NorthernStar: something to consider...

I found a mail order library supply years ago when I worked in our church library. Purchased a couple of things to help hold books together. I've been very happy with them over the years. A clear binding tape which is thicker than packing tape, and never discolors being archival quality, some glue like >158 NorthernStar: mentions, and a roll of very thin, flexible clear tape for holding pages inside, when only one or two want to play hooky. Also a roll of brown binding tape that is very wide, for the hymnals which were falling apart. Gave them a new lease on life. I don't use that one often though because it covers up completely.

This is a new one for me: I have spent most of the month reading one book, Middlemarch. It's good, just a slow read.

I hope to have it finished by tonight or Tuesday evening, and then I can try to get at least one more book read for March...perhaps The Black Shrike by Alistair MacLean? @harrygbutler? :)

I believe I'll be finishing Middlemarch this evening, and although it's been a looooooooong read, it was definitely good. It'll probably be a 4 star read, depending on how the author ends the book...I'm waiting with bated breath. It has slowed down my reading rate...Middlemarch is only my 5th read of the month, and I've been averaging 16 so far in 2019.

I suspect my reading rate will not pick up much in the next couple of months, either. First and foremost, my father is coming for a visit. He's 90, almost 91, and is driving his RV here. While I love him and am looking forward to seeing him (it's been 5 years!) his presence will definitely affect my reading habits as well as our own routines. Based upon past visits, he'll be here for at least a couple months. My dh is a saint, and I so appreciate his patience with my father.

Secondly, we're hiring a contractor to do some work that has needed to be done for some time, including all new siding, a small stoop (porch) for the back entrance, and an awning over the door as well. I've gotten estimates and now we need to agree on color(s), which should be interesting. My dh wants dark siding, but I favor a lighter color as it reflects light and saves on energy consumption. Our lives will be a bit upended with at least a week's worth of loud de/con-struction going on outside our windows.

>162 fuzzi: Oh! Best wishes on your projects and especially your dad's visit.

>163 2wonderY: thank you, my friend. :)

Sounds like a good time to pick up some easy comfort reads. How wonderful that your dad is still capable at his age to drive and visit you!

>165 MrsLee: thank you! I know I am blessed.

Middlemarch is done, kaput, a very good read, but I'm ready for something a little lighter...maybe a Prince Valiant? Next one in line is volume 6!

:D

Middlemarch is one of my favorite books. So much insight. I've actually read it twice, and I rarely do that.
Hope you are enjoying your dad's visit!

Saw my first fritillary today, no photo, sorry. It probably was a Variegated fritillary.

I have also seen a Cabbage white and some sort of yellow butterfly that was probably a Sleepy orange. This time of year they don't linger at the wildflowers so photos are hard to get.

Here's a photo of a Sleepy orange from last year:

>168 fuzzi: What a lovely capture!

>169 MrsLee: thank you!

It was the Monarda (Bee Balm) that kept it distracted, prevented it from flying away before I could get a shot.

FYI: for those of you who know I live in NC, and have expressed concern for my welfare, I am fine.

The explosion in Durham was about 100 miles from where I live.

Please keep the victims and families involved in this tragedy your prayers, thank you.

>171 fuzzi: Glad to hear you are safe.

I shall keep the victims in my thoughts.

>172 pgmcc: thank you.

I got off work early, and decided to stop by our local used bookstore...what a haul!

I found about ten Michael Connolly books for my father to read, one Stuart Woods, and several others for myself:

Ranger's Trail and Texas Vendetta by Elmer Kelton
Buffalo Wagons by Elmer Kelton
The Serpent Never Sleeps by Scott O'Dell
Creatures of Light and Darkness by Roger Zelazny
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Secret Ways by Alistair MacLean
I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven
Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen
The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen (turned out it was a duplicate)

Nice haul!

Meant to do this sooner...

First Quarter Best Reads (and Worst): January to March 2019

4 Star Reads

There's an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer
Can I Keep Him? by Steven Kellogg
Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren
The Marriage of Mary Russell by Laurie R King
How To Give a Cat a Bath by Nicola Winstanley (Early Reviewer)
Prince Valiant Vol 6 by Hal Foster

4 Star Rereads

The Daybreakers by Louis L'Amour
Sackett by Louis L'Amour

4.5 Star Reads

Alliance Rising by CJ Cherryh
The Good Old Boys by Elmer Kelton
Middlemarch by George Eliot

4.5 Star Rereads

Finity's End by CJ Cherryh

5 Star Reads

Wave Without a Shore by CJ Cherryh

5 Star Rereads

Books from the King James Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, I & II Thessalonians

Stinkers

Little Otter is Missing by Jane Carruth
Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert Heinlein

The contractor is coming tomorrow morning (!!) to start the siding/stoop/awning work. Yippee!

I have a feeling that the workers will be trampling the flowers that grow along the foundation of the house, but most should recover (the flowers, not the workers, haha). I have canna lilies, coreopsis, and day lilies, a rambling rose bush, and assorted flowering shrubs such as gardenias, azaleas, and hydrangeas. I did put a small white wire fence section in front of my Clematis which has just started blooming.

I'll post a before and after picture once they're done with the siding. The stuff on our house is original, circa 1970, and in sad shape.

>177 fuzzi: You have given me images of your flowers devouring contractors in a most gruesome fashion.

:-)

>178 pgmcc: Floracidal maniacs??

>177 fuzzi:

Do the contractors know that many may not recover?

>177 fuzzi: Worker-eating flowers?

>177 fuzzi: I'm thinking the rose bush can hold its own anyway. :)

>180 suitable1: >181 haydninvienna: the workers were armed with a nail gun, the flowers lost today's battle.

>182 MrsLee: the north side hasn't yet been tackled, so the rose is biding its time...

From Monday...



You can see the perennials around the bird feeders in the background, and both ponds (though the small pond is hard to see from this angle).

Those are violets on the far right, around a raised bed in which I've planted Pentas and Lantana to complement the Milkweed.

>184 fuzzi: Looks like a warm welcome for fluttery friends!

>185 MrsLee: I try! I have more annuals waiting to be planted, after the siding installers are done.

Speaking of the siding, they're working on the 4th side of the house but have to wait until Monday to get the power turned off long enough to install the board, insulation, and moisture wrap behind the meter.

The pots by the pond have Monarda in them.

While out walking my dog close by my pond yesterday I noticed something different next to my bench

If you don't like snakes, this is your warning to skip the rest of the post...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...



This is a pair of Black Racer snakes. Black racers are harmless, eaters of mice, frogs, lizards, and other VENOMOUS snakes.

I left them alone in their tryst after snapping a couple photos.

What a pretty pair!

Wow! Thanks for sharing!

>188 2wonderY: >189 Busifer: thank you! I was excited over seeing them together.

>187 fuzzi: Nice!

>187 fuzzi: Great picture.

>187 fuzzi: Such a great capture!

>191 NorthernStar: >192 pgmcc: >193 Narilka: I appreciate the feedback. I love seeing nature, and capturing it with my camera, and I'm glad others like seeing it too.

>187 fuzzi: They are beautiful!

And I appreciate your warning, fuzzi! I'm glad so many people loved the photo but I for one was glad to avoid seeing it. That was very thoughtful of you.

>196 Sakerfalcon: I recalled you (and someone else) did not like that particular animal, hence I added the warning.

It's just being courteous. :)

Follow up to the new residents at the pond: yesterday afternoon I saw one briefly as it "ran" and hid. Three frogs were all IN the pond or next to the water. Smart frogs!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand THREE WEEKS LATER the siding contractors are still working on my house.

To be totally fair, the owner/worker is three assistants shy of a full crew, has only himself and one son working (with a girlfriend volunteering as their "gopher"), so it's going to take longer. I'm not complaining: I'd rather have it done slow and RIGHT than rush through.

They built my wooden stoop/porch while waiting for the siding to arrive (apparently my choice was a special order, got delayed) and even though the awning isn't up yet, it's great to not have a handrail waver and shake under one's hand while using the steps!



This week the fascia boards/soffits (think "eaves") are being replaced due to rot, then are being covered with the aluminum or vinyl wrap. Yesterday two of the window frames were "wrapped" and I can see lots of new, clean wood added up under the roof drip line.

I'll post a picture once they're finished.

Just a postscript to the siding information: I have NOT planted most of my annuals, as they'd just get in the way of the workers.

My houseplants are usually on the porch by this time of the year, but are still crammed tight on a table, inside, by a kitchen window.

Patience, grasshoppa...

>200 fuzzi:
You took me right back with your, “grasshoppa”.

Thank you!

>199 fuzzi: Wow, steps. I'm at the stage where I'm thinking ramps and I only have 3.5 steps from driveway top to front door. Of course breaking my leg (spiral fracture of fibula, 2010) there did not endear them to me.

>201 pgmcc: hahaha, you're welcome!

>202 quondame: we had steep brick steps that the contractor left in place, building the steps over them. They have low risers, and my 91yo father who is visiting has no issues with them.

If eventually we do need a ramp, we'll probably have to build it for the front door: there's no room for a ramp at this entrance.

The steps look very nice! And I’m sure the siding will be worth the wait!

>199 fuzzi:
I got siding done last year and I was very happy with the results - but holy Hannah that stuff's expensive!

I'm the other one who appreciates the warning for the photo above. :)

Wishing you well on the house fix-up, how lovely it will all be when it is done!

Thank you all for the well wishes, etc. I am also looking forward to the work being done.

Last night I went out to check on my little pond (the 100 gallon one) and noticed something that "looked different":


(not my photo)

A snapping turtle was relaxing in the shallows. It has been rehomed, unharmed. If it stayed in my pond all my fish and frogs and even snakes would have been eaten!

Snapping turtles consume both plant and animal matter, and are important aquatic scavengers, but they are also active hunters that prey on anything they can swallow, including many invertebrates, fish, frogs, reptiles (including snakes and smaller turtles), unwary birds, and small mammals.

It was a young one, about 3-4" from head to shell (not including the tail) and didn't try to bite me, which I appreciated.

>207 fuzzi: So cool! I had a turtle discovery this weekend too :) The hubby found a turtle crossing our yard while he was mowing. We don't live near water so it must have just been moving cross country or something.

>208 Narilka: there are turtles that live on land, that don't need a pond. Here they are called box turtles. My old dog used to fetch them from the edge of the woods.

http://herpsofnc.org/eastern-box-turtle/

>209 fuzzi: Oh neat, thanks for the info. I bet that's what ours was.

House update!

The siding on the back and the north side of the house has been installed/completed, the front just needs a few "clapboards" installed and a little bit of trim added. The south side (where they built the steps) will probably be started today. And once the siding is done, they will add the awning! And we're done!!!



Now that I've added a photo, I can see the damage done by workmen's feet (and women's too). I'll need to thin out my Canna lilies that are around the bird feeders and replant them against the foundation where I had some previously.

The aluminum trash can is not for trash: inside it I keep my sunflower seeds and such for feeding the birds.

I've been wanting to add a ceiling fan in one of the small bedrooms (8'x10' approx) and my father volunteered to do the installation. The 36" fan/light combo that I ordered had arrived, so we decided to install it this past weekend. We spent several hours on a project that should have taken less than an hour due to shoddy workmanship by previous owners/tenants. For example, after removing the old ceiling light we found that someone had painted over the wiring, which meant we couldn't see which wire color was which until the paint was scraped off/removed. The mounting screws for the receptacle should have been machined screws but some idiot used long wood screws to mount the last ceiling fixture, and damaged the threads. But, finally, we got it done! I don't know how my father did it at almost 91 years old, but he did, with my help.

And the heat continues.

Looking lovely!

>212 MrsLee: thank you! I'm very happy with how it looks.

Very nice! You'll appreciate the job more next year, once your gardens recover, I think.

>211 fuzzi: Very nice.

>211 fuzzi: I like the look of your house. Canna lilies and the lawn furniture ready for sitting in with a coldie on a summer evening. Just like Brisbane where I grew up.

>216 haydninvienna: thanks! This is from last year, but most of it looks the same:



I've got three fence sections that I've placed between the white bench and the propane tank that will eventually (?!) be installed as a screen.

>214 2wonderY: >215 pgmcc: thanks for stopping by and for the compliments.

The weather has been brutal (90s) and the siding installers did not get it all done yesterday. No problem! I'd rather they DO IT RIGHT and take their time. And they're not lazy, the go-fer told me that they were working on Saturday, too, installing a roof, whew.

Wow! Looks good. Let us know when the BBQ is fired up.

>218 pgmcc: hahaha! That's my dh's area of expertise. Perhaps this weekend? :)

>219 fuzzi:
Oh dear! Saturday I will be taking down election posters and on Sunday we celebrate my granddaughter’s third birthday with a picnic in Dublin zoo. Of course, with the time difference of five or six hours I could make it. :-)

It would be lovely to attend a BBQ in that beautiful garden.

>219 fuzzi: Given a fast enough aeroplane, I'd join in. As one of Australia's cultural ambassadors said, throw another shrimp on the barbie. I can bring some Fosters, maybe. (No, really. If I'm bringing the beer, it might be Australian but won't be Fosters.)

Your siding looks very nice and I absolutely love your outdoor area!

Snapping turtles (baby) and snakes (good one) oh my! Fun to see your reptilian wildlife. I find shed skins from garter snakes, but I rarely see them.

The siding looks great! Your yard is beautiful! It would be a nice place to sit with some iced tea and read.

The workers have left!


Front of house


South side ("back door") with new steps/stoop, and an awning as well as the siding.

It looks great!

>225 catzteach: thank you! We're very happy with their work.

Now I need to replant my perennials...I might have to just be patient as the heat has arrived: it's supposed to hit 95F (and humid) here tomorrow.

However, despite the heat I can still move my house plants to the shaded front porch, and put my annuals in pots!

Looks nice!

Looks great!

Nice!

Very nice, like a lady with a new wardrobe that fits perfectly and shows off her best bits.

Very sharp with the dark blue trim and the crimson maple as a visual foil.

Your house looks great!

>227 Busifer: >228 NorthernStar: >229 drneutron: >230 MrsLee: >231 2wonderY: thanks for the kind comments!

The house plants are on the porch, and I've planted purslane and portulaca in "window boxes" that hang on the porch rails.

>233 fuzzi: Wait, wait, wait. You planted purslane? Do you eat it? Here it is a rampant weed that has only recently started to be consumed/sold in Farmer's Markets because I guess it is good for you. I tried some and found that it tasted...unmemorable.

>234 MrsLee: yes, I planted it in my window boxes. Here it is an annual, as is portulaca.

Here's an image I snagged that looks like my plants:



I like planting it and portulaca as they can handle drought and heat, of which we often have a lot in the summer. This past week has been brutal, mid to high 90s and humid, and the forecast is for the same. I'm thankful for my AC!

We've had SO much rain this Spring that it was impossible to mow the ditch in front of our house, the ground was too soft for the riding mower. Our push mower has been retired due to repairs estimated to cost more than a new mower so we were unable to use it. Well, we bit the bullet, and bought a new push mower...and now the ditch is clear of weeds and other items that would impede the flow of water when it rains heavily.

There were a lot of sticks and other debris that had to be removed before the mower could be used, so that was my Friday and Saturday (early!) morning task. It wasn't too hard, but my efforts did have a consequence: I now have a reaction to poison ivy!

I wore gloves, but at one point I suddenly realized I was standing ankle-deep in the stuff, ick. The GOOD news is that I'd already been taking my antihistamine before I waded into the weeds, and upping the dosage is helping to keep the outbreak to a minimum: the blisters are small and the itching is minimal.

>236 fuzzi:

No good deed goes unpunished!

>235 fuzzi: That is much prettier than our weed. So sorry about the poison ivy!

>237 suitable1: there's no large gain without some pain... ;)

>238 MrsLee: thanks. I think it's the domestic version of your invasive variety.

Speaking of invasive, I had a friend offer me some Spatterdock, but I'm kind of leery...what do you think?

https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1255/

>239 fuzzi: For your little pond? Probably wouldn't hurt so long as you were willing to harvest and thin it when if it grew too much. If I had a large pond that I didn't want covered in green leaves I would be hesitant. I have lotus in my pond. It looks very similar. So far it is manageable and makes a great shade for my fishes. It must be a small variety, because the leaves don't get very large, just normal water lily size.

>240 MrsLee: thanks for the input. I'm afraid that it will take over the little pond, which already has four water lilies in it.

My water lilies grew larger pads and bloomed more profusely after I added a couple fertilizer "spikes" when I repotted them in the Spring.

Pond Update (5/26/19)

First time I think I've had two lily blooms at the same time:

>224 fuzzi:
I am only catching up now. The house looks great. You must be pleased.

Beautiful! But is that plant nearest the camera a water hyacinth?

I'd stay away from the Spatterdock. It's invasive and will take a lot of work to keep down. It'd probably suffocate your very nice-looking water lilies.

I had forgotten that you already have water lilies. I agree, no more are needed.

>243 pgmcc: yes, we are very pleased with the look, and the workmanship.

>244 haydninvienna: yes, and a couple in the spillway above the waterfall. They are legal here, and are great at clarifying the water, AND providing lots of hiding places for fry or tadpoles.

I'm thinking of putting the Spatterdock in one of my water garden tubs.

>247 fuzzi: Please please be VERY careful about disposal of excess growth / clippings. Here we have endless trouble in all our rivers from people who gaily plant water weeds in the fish pond, then dump the cleanings in the nearest running water, or where the live material gets washed into a waterway in the first rain.

>248 hfglen: I compost Water Hyacinth, they don't go off my land.

And our winters get cold enough to kill them, totally dead.

>248 hfglen: >249 fuzzi: Water hyacinth used to be a major problem in waterways in Oz, which is why I noticed it. The flowers are pretty though.

>250 haydninvienna: It still is a major problem here, and worse in Lake Victoria

Book purge!

I needed to make a place for a new dresser/bureau in my bedroom, and something had to give...so I removed 63 (+1) books from my library today.

And here they are, listed by author:

High Courage Anderson, C. W

Digital Photographer's Handbook Ang, Tom

National Velvet Bagnold, Enid

How to Live with a Neurotic Dog Baker, Stephen

Blitz Beatty, Hetty Burlingame

Dear Mr. Henshaw Cleary, Beverly
Henry and Beezus Cleary, Beverly
Henry and the Clubhouse Cleary, Beverly
Strider Cleary, Beverly

Homer's Odyssey Cooper, Gwen

The Black Stallion and Flame Farley, Walter (already rehomed)
Black Stallion and Satan Farley, Walter
The Black Stallion Returns Farley, Walter
The Horse-Tamer Farley, Walter
The Island Stallion Races Farley, Walter (already rehomed)
Son of the Black Stallion Farley, Walter

Mrs. Mike Freedman, Benedict

Warleggan (Poldark 4) Graham, Winston (duplicate copy)

A Civil Contract Heyer, Georgette (large print hardcover) (Previously counted as a ROOT)

Barry: the Story of a Wolf Dog Hinkle, Thomas C (Previously counted as a ROOT)

Smoky the Cow Horse James, Will

Howl's Moving Castle Jones, Diana Wynne

The Jungle Book (Books of Wonder) Kipling, Rudyard
The Jungle Book and The Wizard of Oz Kipling, Rudyard

The Boy Who Would Not Go To School Leaf, Munro

The Call of the Wild and The Cruise of the Dazzler London, Jack
The Call of the Wild (Scribner Classics) London, Jack

Little House on Rocky Ridge MacBride, Roger Lea

The Sarah, Plain and Tall Treasury MacLachlan, Patricia

The Harper Hall of Pern Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragondrums McCaffrey, Anne

Anne of Avonlea Montgomery, L. M.
Anne of Green Gables Montgomery, L. M.
Anne of Windy Poplars Montgomery, L. M.
Anne's House of Dreams Montgomery, L. M.
Rainbow Valley Montgomery, L. M. (I keep seeing a duplicate, not sure why)
Anne of Ingleside Montgomery, L.M.
Rilla of Ingleside Montgomery, L.M.
Anne Of The Island Montgomery, Lucy Maud
Pat of Silver Bush Montgomery, L.M.

El Blanco: The Legend of the White Stallion Montgomery, Rutherford

Midnight Montgomery, Rutherford

My Friend Flicka O'Hara, Mary
Thunderhead O'Hara, Mary
Green Grass of Wyoming O'Hara, Mary
Wyoming Summer O'Hara, Mary

The Blood of Ten Chiefs (Elfquest, Vol. 1) Pini, Richard
WolfSong: The Blood of Ten Chiefs Vol.2 Pini, Richard
Elfquest - Journey To Sorrow's End Pini, Wendy & Richard

Midnight Champion Bucking Horse Savitt, Sam

The Adams Chronicles: Four Generations of Greatness Shepherd, Jack

The Starlight Barking Smith, Dodie

The Sign of the Beaver Speare, Elizabeth George

Mistress Masham's Repose White, T. H. (Previously counted as a ROOT)

By the Shores of Silver Lake Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Farmer Boy Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Little House in the Big Woods Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Little House on the Prairie Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Little Town on the Prairie Wilder, Laura Ingalls
The Long Winter Wilder, Laura Ingalls
On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield Missouri, in 1894 Wilder, Laura Ingalls
These Happy Golden Years Wilder, Laura Ingalls

Child of An Ancient City Williams, Tad

Roger Zelazny's Visual Guide to Castle Amber (Previously counted as a ROOT) Zelazny, Roger

And...

Bear's Book Freedman, Claire (Ruthie book)

*****

I know some of these should count as ROOT books, but I'll go over the list later on to be sure of my numbers. I might have already counted some as ROOT books, having read them for that challenge.

(Addendum: 4 were previously counted as ROOTs)

That's a big purge!

>253 Narilka: I think it's the biggest rehoming I've done. We've been trying to downsize, organize for several months. Then this morning I found an Ethan Allen dresser for a great price, used but in very good condition...and now I need to move a bookcase in order to fit everything in the bedroom.

What an accomplishment! Good job, you!

*blink, blink* You must love that dresser, some of those books would be very difficult for me to give up!

>256 MrsLee: growing up my parents didn't have a lot of money, but tried to get quality furniture on sale. My childhood dresser is an Ethan Allen maple "bachelor's chest", which I still use. The big dresser I bought is the exact same style, wood, and hardware as my bachelor's chest: I couldn't resist. In almost 50 years I've never seen another Ethan Allen dresser for sale, used.

The books I rehomed would be easily accessed for a reread through online or library methods. I kept all my Terhunes, O'Brien's, Joan Houston, and other hard-to-find titles.

This is weird...books that I have rehomed and removed from "My Library" are suddenly listed again in "My Library", which I only use for books that I still physically have on my shelves or on my iPad.

Anyone hear of anything like this happening before?

>258 fuzzi: Could be a cache issue? If it continues, probably email the staff and ask them to take a look.

On Thursday we'll be heading to Chicago to visit our 3yo granddaughter...oh and her parents! Last year after our visit we continued into MN, WI, & the UP of Michigan, but this year we are heading south after our visit. We'll be traveling through IL, KY (planning to stop at The Land Between the Lakes near Aurora), TN, and into Alabama where my dh's cousin lives. Then east to Atlanta, Stone Mountain, and back to NC.

I won't be around much for about a week, and my reading will be curtailed, BUT I am planning to stop at a bunch of book stores along the way!!

I remember your last trip. I hope this goes well and that you have a great time.

>261 pgmcc: thank you.

>261 pgmcc: I don’t but have a great time (and be safe) anyway.

Have a wonderful time and take care!

Travel Report!

7/4/19 - we drove through horrific thunderstorms in Virginia and West Virginia. I decided I didn't need to use directions for the first day, since I'd driven this route several times before...

...and missed my turn and wound up in Ashland, KY instead of Gallipolis, OH. :rolling eyes:

We took a scenic trip along the Ohio River in order to get to the motel before it got dark.

7/5/19 - an uneventful ride through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois

7/6/19 and 7/7/19 - we visited with family, including our adorable 3yo granddaughter!

7/8/19 - we headed south through Illinois, stopping in Champaign to visit this guy:


(not my photo)

Then we continued on to Metropolis, where we spent some time at the Super Museum.


(not my photo)

We stayed the night in Aurora, KY, at a pleasant old-fashioned motel "and resort". I think it was built in the 40s or 50s, but was clean, quiet, and comfortable.

To be continued...

Travel Report, part 2:

7/9/19 - after a good night's rest at the Early American Motel we drove over the bridge into the Land Between the Lakes. This is an awesome park that includes a safari-type drive through a prairie area. There are bison and elk resident to the park, but we did not see any :sad:

However, we did see a bunch of other wildlife including wild turkeys, raccoons, Eastern kingbirds, and these first-time-ever views:


Cliff swallows


Little Blue heron and White-tailed skimmer

I also managed to get a couple butterfly photos...imagine that!


Hackberry Emperor


Pipevine swallowtail

We had a lovely brunch at a local restaurant that specializes in southern food. I have to say that I had the best catfish, okra, and sweet potato fries I've ever had in 30 years living below the Mason-Dixon line!

The rest of the trip through Kentucky and Tennessee was uneventful, aside from 4 or 5 traffic jams/delays/detours, which caused us to not make museum visits we'd planned.

However, at a rest stop just inside the Alabama line we saw this


Saturn IB launch vehicle

That's not a model or reproduction, that's an authentic item.

7/10/19 - we stayed with family near Birmingham, AL. They gave us a tour of the area, including a ride to the Horseshoe Bend park where a battle took place in 1814.

We also took a boat ride on a man-made lake in the area.

And then...


This is a white (not albino) squirrel, near Birmingham, AL. I saw two at one time, and a neighbor said there's a colony of these squirrels in the area.

The weather continued to be very hot and humid throughout this southern leg of our trip.

7/11/19 - we drove east to Atlanta, and visited Stone Mountain. I wish I'd left more time for this stop, as they had a skyride to the top of the rock, which is impressive in itself.

The rest of the day was a pleasant drive through northern GA, into the upstate of SC. A severe storm struck just after we arrived at our hotel in Spartanburg, so we curtailed any sightseeing of the area, where we lived back in the 1990s.

7/12/19 - final day of the trip. We stopped at a peach orchard and bought half a peck of fresh peaches that were ripe and juicy, so unlike the ones we buy locally in the grocery stores. At a rest stop before the NC line I saw this:


American Lady butterfly on a butterfly bush blossom, rest stop in SC (South Carolina)

We arrived home before supper, and agreed that it was a really good vacation this year!

I have many, many more pictures, but I'm running out of room in my gallery here on LT, so I just picked the ones I thought would best illustrate my little travelogue.

Sounds like a wonderful and beautiful trip!

Amazing flutterby photos! The others as well. It sounds like a great vacation.

Thanks for the photos. Sounds like you had a great time :)

Beautiful pictures! Your trip sounds fantastic. You did a lot but it still sounds pretty relaxed.

>267 catzteach: >268 MrsLee: >269 Narilka: >270 Sakerfalcon: thank you, all, for your kind comments.

It was a lot, yet relaxed. While we've taken vacations before, we have learned much in the last three years of going to Chicago to visit the granddaughter. I plan a large number of stops, but there's no pressure to "do it all". And we feel free to make extra stops for places of interest that were not on the itinerary.

Stopped at a local thrift store as well as our only used book store, came home with seven books...though two were for my dh.

I made a mistake: I brought home a book I thought was by Nora Lofts, but it's actually by Nora Roberts.

Anyone familiar with this author? Should I give it a try?

>272 fuzzi:

She is quite popular in the romance genre but has expanded into other areas, too, I believe.

>272 fuzzi: I've enjoyed two of her light fantasy romance trilogies. Her characters are worth hanging out with.

>272 fuzzi: Some of Roberts' romances are of the romantic suspense variety where a little mystery is in the mix. I remember reading quite a few by Lofts in the 70s.

Okay, I won't get rid of the Nora Roberts without giving her a try.

We had a good, productive weekend!

Saturday I took my father "yardsaling" and while he was picking over some tools, I noticed a preform pond for sale nearby. I got it for cheap, and am planning to add it to the pond area later in the autumn, when things cool down.

It is the same make/model of the pond I currently have, and I'm thinking of connecting them in some manner:


(my current pond during installation)

I'd like to have it raised higher than the other, and create a waterfall effect between the two.

Lots of time to think this one out...

Oh, and Sunday we installed one more ceiling fan, so now all our rooms have one, except the bathrooms (unnecessary).

Boy, those fans make all the difference, don't they?

>277 fuzzi: I like your pond idea. The sound of trickling water is very relaxing.

>278 2wonderY: do they ever. Ours run 24/7 during the summer.

"My heart has joined the thousand, for my friend stopped running today..."

Though you never let me pet you, thank you for years of gentle presence, and rodent control.


Momma Cat (2005? - 2019)

awww. Such a regal lady.

So sorry for your loss :(

Thank you. It doesn't matter to me that she was a "feral" and rarely let me touch her, and then only fleetingly.

Sorry to learn of Momma Cat’s departure.

Loads of sympathy. Cats are special.

So sorry to hear your Momma Cat is gone.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Sometimes just having a cat nearby is all you need, without any physical contact.

Condolences, fuzzi. They don't have to be lap cats to be loved dearly.

A bit of beauty gone from our world. It is good that she will be missed by someone.

>281 fuzzi: Sorry for your loss!

Thank you, all, for your kind words.

>281 fuzzi: Sad to hear of the passing of your furry friend.

Like many others here, I am in the path of Hurricane Dorian, so I may disappear for a few days. Don't worry.

And I have a lot of books to choose from if the power goes out.

>294 fuzzi: Keep safe. Thinking of you and the others at risk.

I hope you'll stay safe, and that Dorian will blow itself out of existence right now.

I realise that I'm very late at catching up with you - sounds like you had a great vacation, good luck with the pond-work, and condolences for Momma Cat's passing. Cats has a way of digging out a place in our human hearts...

Be safe. Stay inside and read, and hopefully you’ll be back very soon.

Thinking of you. The story on this evening's news was scary!

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and comments.

We're hoping that the storm will make a sharp right and head out to sea.

If not...AT THIS TIME we'll probably have a Cat 1 or Cat 2 on Thursday and Friday. Our home is located far enough away from the water to keep us from any flooding or storm surge, but strong winds may knock over our trees. And there's always the possibility of a tornado.

I'll be in touch.

>299 fuzzi: What I said in >295 pgmcc:, but with emphasis.

(I had unwittingly written "with gusto", but when I read it back I felt that was a bit too punny given the circumstances.)

Way far behind for some reason!

Your ponds are lovely. I look forward to seeing how you set up the new one. Hooray for water falls and trickling water sounds.

I enjoyed your bird and bug photos. Thanks for sharing them with us.

And praying for the best for everyone that is in Dorian's path! May it take a hard right and amuse itself out to sea! (Saw your FB post yesterday - ha!)

>300 pgmcc: hahahaha! Doesn't bother me.

I saw this on the web, and it made me laugh:



Sometimes we need to laugh in times of stress.

>301 streamsong: glad you enjoyed it too!