mstrust's #3- Diamonds Are Forever (minerals and fossils last a long time too)

The Oriental Circlet

Hi, I'm Jennifer and I live in Phoenix. Each of my threads this year has a theme inspired by a book. If I've already read the book, fine, but if I haven't read it yet, that becomes a goal for the month. This month was inspired by Diamonds Are Forever by Ian Fleming, which I'll be reading. Go ahead and read along if you'd like.
In keeping with the title's theme, we'll be looking at diamonds. Also other gems, minerals and maybe some fossils too. My topper pic is of The Oriental Circlet, one of the British crown jewels. It was designed by Prince Albert in 1853 for Queen Victoria. It originally had seventeen arches and lotus flowers, accented with opals. Over the years, it's been cut down to eleven arches and flowers, and the opals have long ago been replaced with Burmese rubies. This tiara was a favorite of Queen Mary, who wore it throughout her time as both Queen and Queen Mother, and is still worn by Queen Elizabeth.

As stated in my previous thread, my goals this year are to buy fewer books and to read some of the hundreds of unread books already in my house. I've put my resolutions in writing by joining the ROOT group, and I hope to read 75 books that have been on my shelves for at least 6 months. https://www.librarything.com/topic/301124
My threads are politics free, but high in the snark you need for healthy bones and shiny hair.
My first thread was dedicated to unusual travel spots: https://www.librarything.com/topic/301120
My second was dedicated to unusual cocktail recipes: https://www.librarything.com/topic/302908

Books Read in 2019

1. Around the World in 80 Days- 4.5
2. Hemingway & Bailey's Bartending Guide- 4.2
3. My Family and Other Animals - 4 stars
4. The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley-3.5
5. My Friend Dahmer- 4 stars
6. The 7 Secrets of Awakening the Highly Effective Four-Hour Giant, Today- 3 stars
7. Blood on the Boards- 3.5
8. Lumberjanes: Sink or Swim- 2 stars
9. Book Towns- 4.2
10. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea- 4
11. Nothing More Than Murder- 3
12. John Dies at the End- 5- ScaredyKit Group
13. Soulless- 3.5- February ScaredyKit Group
14. The Walking Dead Cookbook- 4 stars
15. The Twisted Ones- 4 stars
16. Hollywood Said No!- 3 stars
17. The Widow Clicquot- 3 stars
18. Handwritten Recipes- 3 stars
19. A Year in the Merde- 4 stars
20. The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs- 4 stars
21. The Murder of Helen Jewett- 3 stars- ScaredyKit Group
22. The Twits- 5 stars
23. Diamonds Are Forever- 4.2 stars
24. The Red House Mystery- 2 stars
25. The Friends of Eddie Coyle- 4 stars
26. Hotbox-
27. Home from the Vinyl Cafe- 3.5 stars
28. Intoxica!- 4.5 stars
29. Robert Kirkman's Descent- 3 stars
30. Al Capone Does My Shirts- 4 stars
31. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian- 4 stars
32. Mental Floss presents...Be Amazing-3.5 stars

Open! Just keep your hands where I can see 'em.

My hands are easy to see as I carried over a couple of delicious cocktails from your previous thread! Happy March, Jennifer!

Happy new thread! Love the picture of the tiara. Coincidentally, I am reading about Queen Victoria right now, in Lucy Worsley's Queen Victoria: Twenty-Four Days that Changed Her Life.

Happy new thread, Jennifer! That's some piece of jewelry.

I doubt I'll join you for Diamonds Are Forever, as I didn't hold onto my Fleming books, but I may dig out the movie to watch again.

>3 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy, and I'm setting down a few coasters for you. Also, you're first, so I found a very unique brooch for you.


Circa 1900. The eyes are rose diamonds, the bodies are diamond, ruby and emerald, and carved hardstone. The eggs are pearls. Congrats!

>4 rabbitprincess: Thanks, princess! I've enjoyed Worsley's tv specials, so I'd probably like her book. I really liked her miniseries on Henry VIII last year.

>5 harrygbutler: Hi, Harry, and good to see you here! Right now I'm hoping that I can join in the Fleming read, as I went looking for my copy and can't find it anywhere. Great, I've gotten dippy enough to start losing books. I was tearing around in search of my house key an hour ago. I suppose if nothing else, I know where my Quantum of Solace is.
I've seen bits of the movie Diamonds Are Forever, but not the whole way through.

>6 mstrust: I can completely sympathize with that situation. I've got a couple planned reads coming up this month that will require me to figure out just where the books are in the house. In both cases, I think I know, but I could be quite wrong. :-)

Happy new thread, Jennifer. And just as sumptuous as ever!

Happy new thread!

Happy new sparkly thread, Jennifer This thread looks to be as fascinating as the booze thread.

>7 harrygbutler: I've looked again, and now I'm wondering if I was just dreaming that I owned it. Here's my scowl- :-C

>8 VivienneR: Hi, Vivienne! Glad you made it past the security check!

>9 quondame: Somebody brought me presents! Thank you, Susan!

>10 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! I hope it's as eye opening as the booze recipes. Go ahead and try that tiara on.

Happy new thread! That’s a good Bond!

HAppy new thread!

I am so loving this thread theme! I could look at jewelry images All. Day. Long. I am a huge fan of the art deco jewelry. So fabulous. At least, I can dream.

>6 mstrust: - That brooch is so beautiful. Love the artisan detail!

Happy new thread, Jennifer!

Happy new thread and happy Sunday, Jennifer.

>12 drneutron: Hi, Jim! I should be able to see the whole movie finally, as Netflix just added a whole buncha Bonds.

>13 figsfromthistle: Thank you!

>14 lkernagh: I'm glad you like the theme, Lori, as I do too! I love looking at shiny jewelry too, but also minerals, ha. I like just about all periods of jewelry, from Ancient Greece, Medieval, Renaissance, Victorian, and Art Deco. I should be able to squeeze a lot of fabulous stuff in this thread.

>15 Ameise1: Thank you very much, Barbara!

You can find this at the British Museum:


A simple gold and carnelian bezel ring from Ancient Egypt, circa 1070-712 BC.

I read somewhere that since gold had always been valuable and is never unintentionally lost or destroyed, part of every ounce of gold can date back to the Egyptians, Romans, or Aztecs. That always fascinated me.

For a bookmark I'm using a vintage swizzle stick from the Poodle Room at the Fontainebleau in Miami.

Happy new thread, Jennifer!
I hope your insurance covers this thread ;-)

>18 SomeGuyInVirginia: Why, there you are! I've never heard that about gold, but isn't it interesting? Like the present day sourdough bread that has some of the mother in each loaf.
And your bookmark sounds pretty snazzy.

>19 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! I hope I do have enough insurance, but as a back-up, I've hired a team of bodyguards with the most questionable ethics.

More sparklies! I didn't turn the heat on last night though it's cold even by my standards. Parker had lost his tiny mind and now he's trying to generate his own warmth by tearing through the apartment like his tail's on fire. Which it can't be because twice in one week would just be weird.

Or is Parker trying to break the time continuum and eventually find himself back to his old apartment? I believe that cat is working on something.
They're still showing massive snowstorms back East on our news. We're suppose to be 80 today, and tomorrow is showing as 83. No, I'm not bragging, it's early March and those temperatures are friggin' ridiculous.

And I have around 60 tangerines on my dining room table. Each Spring someone gives us an abundance of citrus. Last year it was ruby red grapefruits, year before that it was lemons. This year we have a friend with tangerines, which is great. Last night I marinated our pork in tangerine juice and Korean chili, made a citrus cake, and made the Tahiti Club cocktails that were featured in my last thread. Everything will be tangerine flavored for about the next week.

More sparklies? How about the Krupp Diamond?



Also known as the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, it's the enormous rock on her finger here. 33.19 carats, VS1 clarity, colorless diamond. It's an asscher cut, which you can see in close-ups. Richard Burton bought it for Taylor in 1968, paying $307,000 for it. It was last sold after her death in 2011 for $8,818,500.

20. The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs by Alexander McCall Smith. Professor von Igelfeld of the Institute of Romance Philology in Germany decides that he must give a lecture in America, fast, in order to beat his colleague, who already has plans to lecture in America. von Igelfeld's travel plans are put together so quickly that he ends up at a school in Arkansas that expects an expert in sausage dogs, so an expert von Igelfeld will be. His skill at deception is so great that it follows him home, and results in a very unhappy German dog and owner. von Igelfeld causes himself even more distress when he travels to Rome and shushes another patron in the Vatican Library.
This short series has become my favorite from Smith. It's a world where a book of Portuguese irregular verbs can make someone's career, and there are so many scholars in the field of language structure that they have a famous institute full of professors all jostling for a bigger piece of the philology pie. Professor von Igelfeld himself is often unethical, sometimes horribly so, but he isn't a villain so much as blinded by his self-importance. 4 stars

Now that's a rock.

My mother always says that a ring should be big enough to put someone's eye out. She likes blue topaz and has a couple of rings that could challenge Liz Taylor's.

>26 mstrust: You must have inherited your mother's fine sense of humour!

Thanks for including the story and pics of Elizabeth Taylor's ring. Ah, those were the days when a jewel could push politics off the front page.

:-D Thanks, Viv. My dad was actually the funny one in the family, but both my parents enjoy(ed) a darker sense of humor.
Taylor and Burton together were a powder keg about to blow. I love that he'd pick up something like the Krupp Diamond for her. It was either during one of their brief moments of peace or he was making up for something. Those two were press gold.

Get To Know Your Minerals-This is okenite, the sweetest little mineral ever.


Their usual shape is a little puffball, which has a little bit of elasticity but is still fragile. The most common color is white, but it can be found in a bright blue or sea green also. It's part of the silicate group and grows on quartz, calcite and a few other harder minerals. Minerals don't usually carry a person's name, but okenite was named for German naturalist Lorenz Oken.

It's a Tribble! Kill it with fire!

I hadn't thought of that, but it's probably why I think they're so cute. I have one and I'm subconsciously waiting for it to squeak.

Slap my hand, I've been bad. I came home from my library shift with The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, End of Watch, The Outsider and The Twits. I have been letting go of some lately, but I still shouldn't be bringing any home.

21. The Murder of Helen Jewett by Patricia Cline Cohen. In 1836, the mutilated and charred body of a prostitute was found in her brothel bedroom. It became the top story of the New York papers because of the grisly murder, the fact that Jewett was a high priced prostitute with well-to-do clients, and that the murder was committed in a house filled with other people. The author examines the murder and trial, and also laws, society, journalism and New York of this period.

This is a rather dense, scholarly study of what seems like any and every connection that had to do with the murder victim, the suspects and the prostitution trade of this period, which is to say it's exhaustively researched. It's one of those books where you know the author spent a good three years researching and is going to give the reader everything uncovered. That's not a knock against it, but I found myself skimming pages looking for Jewett's name because the story would go off about the family tree of some wealthy family and I'd forget how we got off the subject of the murder victim. The most interesting discussions, for me, we're the newspaper stories soon after the murder, in which the papers credited Jewett with being extraordinarily beautiful, intelligent, fluent in languages, able to play several instruments... but when one skeptical investigative reporter delved into her life he uncovered a young woman with a truly sordid past.
There's an interesting discussion of "seduction suits", which were lawsuits against men who seduced females, and another discussion of the many occurrences at the time of the murder of gangs of lower class men breaking into higher class New York City brothels, frightening the women, and breaking the furniture.
Overall, this book has so much interesting information, but it's too much about everything and everyone. Exploring the marriage of a former employer's children? It needed an editor to keep the story on track. 3 stars

I read this for the ScaredyKit True Crime group, and also it's a ROOT. I've had this on the shelf for 6 years.

>29 mstrust: - Wow, that is a mineral?! Beautiful.

I shall try not to let SWMBO see this thread, if you don't mind ever so Jennifer. Looking at those diamonds is making my wallet queasy.

>23 mstrust: That is quite the diamond. From $307,000 to $8,818,500 makes it sound like a good investment until you think of real estate.

>33 lkernagh: It is! There are many beautiful minerals that grow into very striking shapes. It's an amazing world.

>34 PaulCranswick: It will be our little secret ;-) But there are so many more shinies on the way!

>36 mstrust: But can you flash a mansion around on your finger, blinding people if you turn it in the sun? It must have been like having a superpower :-D

22. The Twits by Roald Dahl. Mr. and Mrs. Twit are a horribly dirty and mean old couple who hate each other and spend their days playing increasingly dangerous pranks on the other. Their horribleness even extends to their favorite meal, Bird Pie, made from birds Mr. Twit catches himself in the garden. When the animals get together with a plan, the Twits' reign of terror may end.
Dahl is a fun guy, and The Twits get what they deserve in a very Dahl-ish way. It's a quick read and the illustrations by Quentin Blake are wonderful. 5 stars

This is the Canning Jewel.


That's right, it's a merman holding and sword and shield. Made out of a huge pearl for the chest, and diamonds, rubies, emeralds and enameled gold, it stands 10.5 inches tall. For many years it was dated from the 1600s, but more recently it's been dated from about 1850. It can be seen at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
There are many merman and mermaid jewels from this period, as it made a large pearl a showpiece. The Canning Jewel is the most famous.

>38 mstrust: And now I want to watch Zoolander again.

>37 mstrust: I think reading The Twits at a young impressionable age is what turned me off beards. The image of the tongue rooting around in the beard hair for little leftover bits... so good and so gross!!

>39 RidgewayGirl: I've never seen Zoolander so I don't get the reference, but I'm sure it was very funny! I know, it seems like everyone has seen it, but then, I've never seen E.T. either.
>40 curioussquared: As if the words weren't skin-crawling enough, the illustration of Mr. Twit's filthy beard- ugh! I read Dahl's Matilda and Revolting Rhymes last year and loved them both.

Oh man I love Dahl. If you have Netflix you can watch the 80s Brit show Tales of the Unexpected, that he created and the episodes are based on his stories. Still, I like reading his stuff better than the show.

When I was at Saint Martin I saw these huge private yachts and thought that there were oceans of hidden money out there. You'd think that the provenance of the jewel would be a matter of public record. There's a story there.

I've watched a couple of episodes of Tales of the Unexpected" on Prime, but I'm not sure if it's still available there. I'll look for it on Netflix though. He had a wicked sense of both humor and justice.
I've just started the third season of A Series of Unfortunate Events and I'm sorry it's the last season. By the way, have you seen The Autopsy of Jane Doe? It's on Netflix and stars Brian Cox, who is so good.
You're right, something as costly as the Canning Jewel usually has a clear history. I don't know why it doesn't. Maybe some jewel smuggling?

We've had a busy weekend. Yesterday was the farmer's market, then down the street to The Poisoned Pen to buy a good copy of Diamonds Are Forever. Yes, I bought another book. I never found the copy I thought I had, so I got one from Bookmooch, since I have so many points there. The book showed up, First Class shipping, but it was so filthy and brittle I threw it away. I didn't want to touch it. So I bought another book. *sigh*
I made a pretty great banana cake with a dark-ish chocolate frosting. I think it may be a fair entrance. Mike thinks I should try it out as a roll cake, just to make things a little harder. If you need a banana cake recipe, say so. I wish I'd taken a picture.
And I've been listening to some podcasts over the last few days. Criminal, a true crime podcast. I think "Homewrecker" is the latest episode, about a realtor who made the effort to find out who had posted a lie about her on the internet that was ruining her business. https://thisiscriminal.com/
I'm also listening to Bad Books For Bad People, a podcast that discusses mostly cheesy stuff, but they also have an episode on the pulp of Jim Thompson. http://badbooksbadpeople.com/

This is wulfenite. Pretty, huh? It can be found in red, orange, yellow, gray and brown, and also a muddy red. It can be found as squares, plates or little spikes. It's a secondary mineral, which means that it can occur in an oxidized zone of lead and molybdenum. I'm not even going to try to explain that sentence. One of the places wulfenite can be found is here in Arizona. It's main value is as a collector's item.

Loving the rocks and minerals here. Are you planning on reading a jewelry heist book to go with your theme?

:-D I hadn't even thought of it. I expect the James Bond I'm reading to have at least something to do with stolen diamonds. I'm really not sure if I have a book about a jewelry heist specifically, but I would peruse my selection of Jim Thompson. He loved mixing theft in with betrayal and murder.

This is the same crown, the gems are interchangeable. You know how magazines will show you how many outfits you can make with one shirt and a scarf? Yeah, this is like that.
This is the Grand Duchess Vladimar Emerald Tiara. It consists of 15 diamond ovals and an yellow gold. The tiara usually featured 15 teardrop emeralds, though they can be switched out for teardrop pearls. The tiara was made for the aunt of the Romanov Tsar Nicholas II in the 1800's but has been in the British crown jewels since 1921.

I guess the pearls are less showy, for when you're vacuuming the palace and plan on just ordering Chinese?

Yes, Prime not Netflix for Tales of the Unexpected. Doh!

Wellllll...you don't want to be the most over-dressed person in the room. The embarrassment.
I was talking to my sister earlier and she recommended "The Ted Bundy Tapes"? Something like that. I've liked "Black Mirror" a lot, but I think I'm only halfway through those.
Oh, and J.W. Ocker of OTIS (Odd Things I've Seen) just launched his podcast with the story of a suicide that resulted in some very famous funeral statues.

>47 mstrust: It is all a matter of accessorizing, isn't it. Depends on the gown you are going to wear with the crown. There must be an interesting story about how the jewels got from Russia to become a part of the crown jewels.

Absolutely. Sometimes you need to look like the 99%, just real casual as you're filling your Big Gulp at the 7-Eleven. That's when you throw on your lapis luzuli.


1960's Tiffany ring of gold, lapis luzuli and diamond.
You can find quite a bit of vintage lapis luzuli in eye designs as it's been worn to ward off evil for generations. The best specimens come from Afghanistan and Argentina. White marbling is from the inclusion of white calcite, while gold marbling is from pyrite. As with many stones, the shinier ones are sometimes called "greasy".

You could totally put someone's eye out with that thing.

"Mama's got her ring on, y'all better behave!"

>51 mstrust: That is a perfect example of a "knuckle duster"!

How would anyone explain the double bruising this ring would produce? But I like that the wearer had to shop at Tiffany's to get something that dangerous. I really can't decide if it's a man's or woman's ring.

If ones aim is accurate and the receivers nostrils in just the right location you can ram that luzuli right up their nose. Just saying :)

:-D You may have figured it out- Tiffany's was making rings for the people who break noses and kneecaps!

:o No, no, no! It's just a means of protection for keeping ones innocence. I wouldn't want to imply anything in regards to people who break noses and kneecaps. uh uh, no waaaaay

;-) Of course, things like that never happen. Let's go back to making lemonade.

This seemed fitting for my next review:


The Darya-i-Noor. It's one of the most celebrated diamonds in the world, and also one of the oldest. It's weight is estimated at 186 carats, as the diamond can't be removed from its setting without causing damage. It's a rare light pink and the cut is table or 'taviz'. The name means "Sea of Light". It was a prize when Persia's Nadir Shah conquered Delhi in 1739. This is one of Iran's Crown Jewels.

23. Diamonds Are Forever by Ian Fleming. Bond is shimmied into a diamond smuggling ring, taking the place of the man who carries the diamonds from London to New York City, where he meets the bosses. Believing Bond to be a new recruit, he's sent to Saratoga Springs to collect his fee at the horseraces, where he gets involved in race fixing. From there, he's sent to Las Vegas to cheat at cards, all the while being watched by his new employers.
This is the fourth in the series but the earliest one I've read. It was published in 1956 and there are a few surprises, such as Bond drinking Miller Highlife beer, stepping up to an oxygen bar and falling hard for his femme fatale. I haven't seen the movie yet so don't tell me! 4.2 stars

I've read a couple Bond books and was surprised at how often he fainted. Sean Connery never fainted!

I got that damn shot but have been sick for a week. I imagine it would have been worse without the shot, but I'd have gotten to stay home if I were sicker.

It's always something!

In this one, Bond is beaten unconscious. He also spends time in the little mining towns of Nevada. Who knew?
Sorry you're so sick. If you can get yourself to throw up just once at work...
I've been sitting in the dealership for an hour now. I bought a bag of things to do. Surprising how many people just sit and stare.

So the head gasket cover is leaking and I have a loaner until sometime next week. Mike's happy because it's still under warranty and they gave me a Cadillac XT.
It's been 10 days, I've strained my tangerine vodka and it tastes pretty good. I'll make cocktails for our dinner tonight.

New car?

Jinx!

I asked Mike if we should be worried, but mine is a 2011 and apparently I don't get the engine revving enough. At least I spotted it leaking in the garage yesterday, which is soon after it broke, judging by the amount of liquid on the floor. My other car is the Munstermobile.

This is Rubellite:



and this is rubellite:

Cartier brooch

It's a member of the tourmaline family of crystals. Rubellite is the name specific to the pink or red stones. The ruby red color is the most valuable, but to the layman's eyes, it can be mistaken for rubies. Rubellite is found in the U.S., Madagascar, Brazil, Myanmar, Africa and Russia.

Ok, you can't just close with 'my other car is the Munstermobile' and then try to divert attention with sparklies. More data!

I wasn't being mysterious. Here's your proof- a pic of the family heading out to do the weekly shopping and then skip through the cemetery, just like anyone else. You can't see me because I'm in the back eating black licorice.

King Tutankhamun's Vulture Necklace

Called a necklace, but more of a chest plate, as this was covering the King's mummy. Consisting of 250 segments, it's made of gold, colored glass, obsidian and thread.

24. The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne. Comfortably off and curious about many career paths, young Antony Gillingham decides to visit his friend Bill, who is a guest at the mansion Red House, owned by wealthy Mark Ablett. As Gillingham approaches the house, he hears a man banging on a door and yelling, with the man explaining that he heard a shot coming from inside the room. This sets off a murder investigation, as there is a dead man inside that locked room. And while the police are the official investigators, who are rarely around, Gillingham and Bill are doing the real investigation.

What a snooze. Gillingham is likable enough, but since we know the murderer almost from the beginning, and since there really is no one else it can be, it's just a matter of how. 2 stars
This was on my shelf for 4 years.

>70 mstrust: *snerk* I wanted that car soooo bad when I was growing up.

It's just the most! You might be happy with the model kit, which would still impress the other kids at school.

We've received another one hundred or so tangerines, the last of this year's crop. Since my tangerine vodka turned out very well and I have so much to juice, of course I created a new cocktail.

The Grove Cocktail

2 shots tangerine or orange flavored vodka
1/3 c. fresh tangerine juice
juice of half a lime
Goya coconut soda- (available at Latin or international markets)

Pour the vodka and juice in an ice-filled shaker and shake until well chilled. Pour it all into a cocktail glass, add a maraschino cherry, top with the coconut soda and stir. Garnish with a tangerine wheel.

To the Ripperologists among us who thought we'd read everything there is to say about the case, this is big news. Recent DNA testing by British researchers on Catherine Eddowes' shawl has produced a name.
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/new-dna-evidence-claims-to-have-identifi...

Oooh, I read the headline this morning. Super spooky.

I tried a new gin, Ransom brand Old Tom. It's supposed to be a recreation of an 1800's gin. It's very different from any gin I've ever tried, more malty and it leaves a long-lasting taste in my mouth that's kind of pleasant. Not grainy or astringent like rye or clear liquors, but aromatic like ginger ale or root beer. If you're at all interested, you should try some next time the bartender asks what you'll have.

>77 SomeGuyInVirginia: That it can still be investigated 140 years after the fact? Amazing. Of course you didn't ask me to get up on my "murder weirdo" lectern, but I pulled out a couple of Jack the Ripper books just to see the sections on Kosminski, and found some interesting info in the last one I read, about six months ago. History's Worst: Jack the Ripper was published in 2017, so by far the most recent that I own. In the section about Kosminski it noted Dr. Louhelainen testing the bloody shawl after the new owner, a Ripperologist, acquired it back in 2007. I'm guessing that the doctor has tested the blood multiple times as DNA testing has improved so much in this decade.
The book also states that the bloody shawl was taken from the crime scene in 1888 by Amos Simpson, a constable, and it was passed down, unwashed, in his family for over 100 years. I wonder if the family members argues over who got the old bloody shawl.

>78 SomeGuyInVirginia: I'll remember that, thanks! Were you drinking it straight or mixed? All the new varieties and brands are intriguing. The last ten years or so have seen such an influx of now producers. I don't know if some law changed or what, but I like seeing all the choices.
Without even meaning to, I signed myself up for the monthly club at Black Rifle Coffee. I went through the choices to see what was offered and the cost, and I guess since I'd ordered for my nephew at Christmas, the computer must have filled in all the information I'd left out. I realized this because there was my first delivery in my mailbox Saturday. It is really great coffee made by Vets, so I'm pleasantly surprised.

Good on ya for supporting Black Rifle Coffee. I first heard about Ransom gin from a neighbor who's an officer in some kind of special ops outfit. He and his wife are foodies and he was pushing these yooge shots of the stuff at a dinner party. I declined at the time but saw it in the liquor store and thought I'd give it a try. I had mine straight because I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about. Crowd reaction was generally positive but not everybody likes gin. It really is very different.

>79 mstrust: I never did think the Ripper was somebody with high social status, that kind of crazy doesn't go home to a garden party.

>80 SomeGuyInVirginia: That sounds good. I have an unopened bottle of Seagram's Extra Dry now, but I'll try Ransom when I need more gin.
>81 SomeGuyInVirginia: I think the upper class suspects like the prince and Sir Charles Gull came about because the lower classes couldn't believe, or didn't want to believe, one of their own would do this to their neighbors. Kosminski had the knives, the limited skill with them, the rage, and the knowledge of the maze of streets, which authorities were always talking about, how the killer must have known how to navigate the little side streets to get away that quickly. Plus, there's the fact that Kosminski was seen by a witness, which you'd think would have some kind of legal results.

I've got tickets to the first Arizona Tiki Oasis!


It's a three day weekend in April, and we'll see The Martini Kings in the lounge party on Saturday night and for a seminar Sunday morning about Disneyland's Jungle Cruise. On Sunday there will be a book signing with Sven Kristen, Shag, Jeff 'Beachbum' Berry, The Martini Kings and more. And yes, all of this will take place at a hotel called The Valley Ho. It's a very cool place.

This is a pearl and diamond necklace that belonged to Josephine, the Queen of Sweden and Norway from 1844-1859. It sold in 2014 for $3.42 million.

>79 mstrust: I heard the update on the Ripper murders yesterday on the news. I hadn't yet looked up Kosminski in my Ripper books but you inspired me. I found that The Jack the Ripper Whitechapel Murders has an appendix about Amos Simpson and Catharine Eddowes' Shawl which looks into the shawl's history further.

>83 mstrust: Wow, that pearl necklace would be perfect with my little black dress, don'tcha know. BTW, your Grove Cocktail sounds delicious!

Happy new thread!

>72 mstrust: That one's in my library, and I read it before LT and was quite disappointed in it. I'm surprised I kept it.

>82 mstrust: Jeebus that sounds like fun. I love retro spaces, and it does that but retains that luxurious vibe.

But seriously, Valley Ho?

>84 Familyhistorian: I think the Ripper case has so many avenues it can take a researcher down, and the thieving constable and the shawl was one I'd never focused on, and had actually forgotten about. How his family could have been allowed to keep it for a hundred years is a mystery in itself.

>85 DeltaQueen50: I think that necklace is so gorgeous, and I'd find a way to work it in with just about any ensemble. I need more coconut soda so I can make The Grove again. It's good! I forgot to include the lime juice in the recipe so I have to edit that.

>86 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle!

>87 thornton37814: Milne indicates that he wrote it for a friend or relative who enjoyed mysteries. I think there's a reason why we don't hear about him being a mystery writer, as children's stories are his forte.

>88 SomeGuyInVirginia: I'm really looking forward to it and I've already bought Mike a Hawaiian shirt for it. The hotel is really beautiful and a perfect place for the event. The Martini Kings will be playing in the Zasu room.
I know, don't you just want to yell "Valley Ho! Valley Ho!" in someone's direction? Rolls off the tongue. The hotel was built in 1956, I believe, so back when the word "ho" conjured images of horses and cattle drives.

Nope, it's not an ice cube.


This is calcite, one of the most common minerals on the planet. Because the one pictured here is clear, it's likely from Iceland. Pink and green rocks would likely be from the U.S., Germany or the U.K. You can also find calcite in many shades of yellow, with the colored stones having a milky look. Calcite is part of the calcium carbonate family, and make up the majority of stalactites and stalagmites, and are the principle components of limestone and marble.

>82 mstrust: My friends are really into Tiki so I shared this with them. Thanks for the tip!

25. The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins. Eddie Coyle has no friends, just other guys who run in the same circle. He's a small time crook who is about to stand trial for stealing a truckload of whiskey. His most usual income is buying hot guns and selling them to acquaintances who need cheap guns fast. In Eddie's world, everyone is moving goods, and concealing and offering up information about the other guys. Eddie just needs to finds a piece of information that is useful enough to the Feds to keep himself out of jail.
Almost entirely dialogue, this is set in Boston in the 70's, with everyone out to get one over on the other guy. I know there was a movie made from this and I'd like to see it. 4 stars

I looked it up, this has been on my shelf since July 2017.

>91 PaperbackPirate: You're welcome. It should be a really fun weekend!

>82 mstrust: Hurrah for the Arizona Tiki Oasis — and what a great location for it! I'm sure if we were in the area we'd be looking at attending.

>92 mstrust: I can't take too much of seedy Seventies crime these days. I find that even when I own the movies, I'm seldom tempted to watch them.

I'm hoping it isn't so popular that we can't look at the marketplace or get lunch, but popular enough that it's back next year. But I think it might be crowded, as one of the seminars I would have liked was sold out.
I don't think I've seen much 70's crime, other than Starskey and Hutch and more often than that, The Professionals, which was sort of the British answer of S&H. I've never seen The French Connection. I can see how the grim style of cop movies would get to be a bit much.

Reason for a rager this weekend- it's Shatner's birthday.

A belated happy new thread, Jennifer.
Gin, jewels, Shatner, books - I wish you a wonderful weekend.

>89 mstrust: Jennifer, I would be careful of calling out "Valley Ho" to anyone - especially any ladies standing around on street corners! Somehow I don't think it would mean the same thing as it used to.

>97 SirThomas: Thanks, Thomas! I do seem to have it all ;-) Have a great weekend yourself.
>98 DeltaQueen50: Yeah, that's what I was pointing out, that what it brings to mind has changed drastically :-D. I admire that they didn't shy away from keeping the name when the hotel was refurbished. They said, 'We're the Ho!"

Woo hoo! the Valley Ho look like retromazing! I'm sure a swinging time awaits you!

>96 mstrust: Ole Bill and I are birthday twins, only separated by a few decades.

I've delivered your birthday cake right to your thread. Happy birthday!
Plus, your my 100th post, so here's a prize.


The birthstone for March is aquamarine. Here's an antique aquamarine and diamond ring. Snazzy!

>101 mstrust: Oh my, that is a stunner! I'm just speechless! Thanx

Shatner birthday!!! Whoohoo! Oh, and, Carmenere birthday, Hip Hip Hurray!!

>101 mstrust: Damn. I didn't get anything that cool on my birthday. Pout. Course, I wasn't the 100th post either. ; )

>102 Carmenere: You're welcome! And note that it is indeed big enough to put an eye out, so it meets our standards.

>103 Berly: It was a special day alright!
I try to make the person who posts #100 feel that they've accomplished something as it's the halfway point in my thread. Then they can lie on the couch and do nothing for the rest of the day.

Which reminds me that I've made an appointment for a hot rock massage on Wednesday. I've always wanted to have one, and now that I've done something to my shoulder, hooray for me!

Just a picture from this morning of the park we take Coral to run around in on Sundays. All the native plants and flowers are in bloom in Phoenix now. We have wildflowers in our yard and at night the smell of orange blossoms is amazing. We may be in our last days of cool, breezy weather. We're suppose to hit 89 on Tuesday.

>105 mstrust: Color me jealous!
>104 mstrust: So, you're going to be Miss Hotstuff on Wednesday? Good for you, enjoy and I hope it fixes the something you did to your shoulder.

Have an outstanding week!

Thanks, Lynda! I did a little research and found this field of tiny yellow spheres are likely a type of tansy. They seem to have come out of nowhere this spring and are growing wild all over the city, including my backyard.
I've always thought hot rock massages sounded so relaxing, so I'll find out. I'll count this as my Thingaversary gift to myself as I'm still practicing my "no new books" rule.

Today's my 11th Thingaversary. I'm spending it waiting for the electric company to show up and replace our breaker box. They've given me a 8 1/2 hour window in which they'll show up. And yesterday we stopped by a cannoli store that just opened. You pick your filling and size.
I've started baking and freezing in preparation for the heat. Yesterday I made maple chip and oat blondies. I already have chocolate chip bars, tangerine sugar cookies, breakfast bread and the protein bars from The Walking Dead Survival and Cookbook, which are fantastic.

26. Hotbox: Inside Catering, the Food World's Riskiest Business by Matt Lee & Ted Lee. The Lee brothers spent several years working and researching the catering industry in New York City, as kitchen assistants and event staff. They give the reader an in-depth look at how the world of catering and event planning on a large scale works. From the chopping of herbs and vegetables to presentation for say, a patron dinner inside The Frick Museum, the Lees show how the menu is planned and cooked, and how it gets to the event, where the food will be plated and kept hot or cold until ready. How wait staff is managed, where 600 tablecloths and 1000 wine glasses are found, and who is choosing the kitchen staff, is information that most guests don't think about, but it makes for an interesting story, along with little glimpses at how some clients and famous chefs behave. 4 stars
This was an Advanced Readers edition from LT.

An antique gold, diamond and emerald necklace. Just what I wanted.

>105 mstrust: Spring is coming - Yay! Love the picture.
>107 mstrust: Happy Thingaversary, Jennifer.
If hot rock massages is, what I know as hot stone massages, it is very relaxing and you will enjoy it.

>107 mstrust: Happy Thingaversary!

Happy Thingaversary! I laughed out loud when you said they'd given you an '8 1/2 hour window'.

>110 SirThomas: Thanks, Thomas! Springtime here is pretty short but it's nice while it lasts. We have plenty of desert wildflowers. Yes, a hot stone massage, and even though my shoulder feels fine now, it would be rude to cancel so I guess I'll go. ;-)
>111 quondame: Thanks, Susan! I have hazy memories of life before LT, back when I actually had some empty space on my shelves.
>112 SomeGuyInVirginia: Thanks, Larry!
Ridiculous time frame, and Mike told them so when they were making the appointment. It's after 3pm now and they still haven't shown, and customer service doesn't know where they are.

Oh, so The Walking Dead just massacred a whole slew of characters, which I'm sure makes long-time fans so happy...

Happy Thingaversary! I disapprove of your moratorium on book buying.

I was an early TWD adopter, as far back as when they were going to premiere on network TV. But I'm 2-3 seasons behind, Carol had just met the Lion King.

>114 RidgewayGirl: Thank you! I don't like the situation either, but I'm at the point where I have started stacking books on the floor of the library upstairs. I have three floors and all have bookcases with books shelved and then more piled on top. We're in critical condition.
But I've just downloaded a book organizing app that I'm entering my unread books in, and hopefully it will keep me from buying doubles.

>115 SomeGuyInVirginia: I think I caught the premiere episode on its second showing, and I was expecting to watch a few seconds of a dumb show and flip to something else. For me, the show's best seasons have been 4-7, with the deaths of Glenn and Abraham marking a turn. Then Carl's death had such an impact that is hard to come back from.

Oh, and I waited for APS for ten and a half hours yesterday and they never showed or even called.

Looking at Fire Opal makes the Star Trek theme play in my head. Each stone is unique and the coloring differs from swirls of red and gold to blue and green. Regular opal, known as "precious opal" is found in many parts of the world but is primarily mined in Australia these days. Fire Opal comes from Mexico. Both consist of hardened silica gel that contain 5-10 percent water in its pores.

>105 mstrust: Beautiful.

>107 mstrust: >116 mstrust: Happy Thingaversary. I just add more piles of books myself, but I understand that isn't for everyone. (And I do occasionally deaccession some. :-) )

I use the LT app to — mostly — prevent buying duplicates, though I occasionally still end up with one, especially when I'm having trouble connecting while at a book sale, flea market, or thrift store and just decide to risk it. The convenience for avoiding duplication was a driving factor in deciding to add our DVDs as well, and if we bought more CDs these days, I'd probably end up adding them, too.

>116 mstrust: I was waiting for a dishwasher delivery yesterday (also in some kind of 8-hour window) and finally called the delivery service. The puzzled man on the other end of the line said something like, "Huh. Yeah, you know, I can see that you were scheduled for delivery today, but for some reason you're not on the list and they're not routed to you! I have no idea why this happened and can't offer any explanation." I wanted to shake him. They had already rescheduled us three times, though this was the first time it hadn't been rescheduled in advance. Fingers crossed for Friday (fifth time's the charm?). I ordered the thing a month ago, and the whole thing has convinced me never to buy another appliance from Home Depot.

>118 harrygbutler: Thanks, Harry. I'm actively trying to go through what I already own and clear out what I don't love. Of course, this will make space for new ones eventually, but we hope to move sometime in the not-too-distant future and I know how much work it is to pack every book in the house.
So are you inputting every book you own on LT, including what you haven't read yet? I know some members do that to keep track of their whole collection. I input only what I've read here. On the Bookmooch app I have a list of what I'm actively looking for, and this new app, called My Library, is just for what I own but haven't read. It's going to take so long to enter it all and I know I'll end up with something like 400-500 unread.

>119 curioussquared: Oh no! That's horrible service. We bought our dishwasher from Home Depot and had no problem, but we attempted to get custom blinds from Lowe's last year, and after having a man from their company come and measure our windows, they "lost" our measurements, and we spent a week trying to get them to follow through, then finally made them give us the fee back. I told the department manager that we must have been the first customers to have taken them up on their claim of this service.

>120 mstrust: Yep, I've cataloged all the books we own, whether or not either of us has read them, in part to avoid buying duplicates, in part so that the catalog could also serve as a list for insurance purposes. And I'm aiming for that sort of completeness with movies on DVD, too, at least with regard to commercial DVDs. It did take a lot of time, but now we only have to add new purchases.

If you wanted to use LT to easily see all the books you own, you could always make a collection just for "Owned But Unread" and then move the books to a "Read" collection as you read them. I did something similar for the pulp magazines I decided to collect: I put them all in the Wishlist and then moved those I owned out of that collection and into a Magazines collection. I also have set up a couple other collections — Watched But Unowned and ILL Books, in addition to the default Read But Unowned — to track movies I've watched and books I've read that we don't own, and a Removed collection so we don't end up re-buying something we decided to get rid of (though we don't use that as consistently as we should).

Moving definitely provides a good opportunity for clearing out works with no staying power. :-) And if you aren't in a rush to pack (or to unpack at the other end), it can provide a measured way to make progress on entering all your books. I know it was daunting at first to consider how many books we had and needed to add, but tackling the data entry one box or shelf at a time helped make the work manageable.

You're super organized! I know I could add all my books here, but I like the idea of just tapping this app and all it holds are my unread books, instead of going into LT and then to another thread. Seems like it will be about five seconds faster ;-) And between my books here and on the app it will give me a total of how many books I own.
I keep meaning to add my CDs in here too.

>122 mstrust: LibraryThing does have an app that opens up your own catalog to you. I use it whenever I'm at a booksale because my memory of what I have on my shelves isn't as accurate as I believe it to be.

That's what Harry was talking about, but so far, I like this new app for cataloging my unreads because there's no Home page or graphics, so it's super fast to get to. Just hit the icon on my phone and there they are in alphabetical order.

We're having a house guest for the weekend, my MIL's black lab. She's sweet to me but has never warmed up to Mike and will let out little barks in his direction to let him know she's rather he wasn't there. She'll let him massage her head though.
My MIL is moving to a condo maybe seven minutes away. She's wants to move in with us next year.

Embrace the suck. You have too much Southern blood to not let that happen.

Even though I swore I wouldn't buy any more Tiki mugs...well, it's complicated. This arrived today! Shrunken Fred, from Tiki Farm.

>125 SomeGuyInVirginia: :-D And yet, I have let my feelings about the situation be known, repeatedly. Together they are like a boulder barreling towards me and yelling. "The three of us forever!"


>126 SomeGuyInVirginia: Look at that horrible face, it's wonderful! You've made a good choice. Where'd you find it?
My friend, I too fell off the wagon. My copy of Intoxica! arrived today, which I bought for the book signing at the Oasis. When would I get another chance? And then I also picked up a Louise Penny at my library shift today, Kingdom of the Blind, which is a hardback in perfect condition and I pulled it from the bins. I done a good thing.

Yep, you are a heroine for saving a book from the bins. Give yourself a pat on the back. I haven't watched the last episode of The Walking Dead, but I have a feeling that I am not going to be happy. I'll watch it later tonight and come back here tomorrow to let you know what I think.

Have you watched TWD now? I have all kinds of thoughts about this episode.
*Spoilers*

They killed Tara just as she was starting to be a leader rather than a follower. She was a character whose screen time took a big hit these last few seasons. And they killed Enid just as she had developed medical training. (Katlyn Nacon expressed some regret that her character had gone from being known as Carl's girlfriend to a romance with that other guy rather than for herself). They killed three teenagers off, and an elderly woman. And it was surprising that they killed The Highwaymen, wasn't it? They seemed like they were going to be the heroes and then get adopted into one of the communities, so their deaths were unexpected. Especially as the one looked like Waylon Jennings.

27. Home from the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean. Divided into the seasons, this is a collection of stories about record store owner Dave and his family. His wife Morley goes from being a housewife to a theater manager, where she must deal with an actress who drives her crazy with demands. Teenage daughter Stephanie begins dating and son Sam has a sleepover for his tenth birthday, where the combination of fried Mars bars and a zombie movie make the guests uncontrollable.
Visiting The Vinyl Cafe is always fun. 3.5 stars

28. Beachbum Berry's Intoxica! by Jeff Berry. Published in 2002, Berry is at the forefront of the tiki revival. It's a collection of recipes, many long forgotten, and some original creations by Berry. There are many here that I'd never heard of since they'd come from restaurants and lounges that closed decades ago. Trader Vic's "Octopus", The "Joan Bennett" cocktail from Sloppy Joe's Bar in Havana, the original "Hai Karate" and "The Ankle Breaker" from The Swamp Fox Room of Charleston are just some of the really interesting recipes, and many come with the story behind their creation. The cover is cool, so the old-fashioned pages inside, like a church cookbook, are surprising. 4.5 stars

>129 mstrust: Spoilers

I am furious with TWD for getting rid of both Tara and Enid. I was looking forward to a story of how Tara would develop as the leader of Hilltop. I found her an interesting character. Enid grew on me. I wasn't overly fond of her at first, but this last little while she had become interesting and more likable, I would rather they did away with her boyfriend. I think the Highwaymen were introduced simply to be fodder for the Whisperers, they wanted to show a line of heads and needed some extra bodies. I wasn't a fan of Henry, but I was surprised that he was one of the dead as his story line looked to be just taking off. It looks like Lydia is going to be taken under Daryl's wing, and the threat of the Whisperers could be what gets Negan out of jail. Next week is the season finale so I guess next year will be another year of The Whisperers. I did learn that Fear the Walking Dead is starting up again in June so I am happy that it wasn't cancelled. I guess this just goes to show that if one is going to watch this show, then one shouldn't get too attached to any of the characters.

I too thought that they were placing Tara in the leadership role for something bigger. Now it just seems like they killed her off just to be rid of her.
I didn't like Enid much at first and I remember complaining when Glenn got stuck outside the walls and only had Enid for help. But her death came something like four years later, and she was totally different. And I didn't care for Henry at all, as it was his little hissy over wanting a girlfriend that led to all this. What's with his bottom lip? He was always pouting. But I don't think it's believable that Darryl would choose to keep Lydia. With all the horrible people and losses he's experienced, I think anyone would have gladly sent the problem back to her own group.
I really don't see how The Whisperers can be that great at killing when they spend their days just shuffling really slowly, and Alpha is quite a short, chubby woman. She's ruthless, but I just don't see her being able to overpower Tara or one of the guys. I'll watch what they do with the last episode and see if they can dazzle me. When the new season starts I don't know if I'll watch.

>131 mstrust: Family legend has it that my parents met at Trader Vic's and an Octopus was involved.

Sounds like a story full of exotica and rum!

This is chrysoberyl.

and so is this:
And so is this-

Chrysoberyl is a hard stone composed of beryllium aluminum oxide, and with slight alterations, it becomes "Cat's Eye" or Alexandrite. It can be green, brown, red, mauve or honey and it's hardness makes it especially durable for jewelry.

Ho-lee cow I love those cats eyes stones!

I believe cat's eyes had a moment in the 70's, but they're really beautiful and should be more popular. And alexandrite is June's birthstone, along with pearls. I'd always seen it as pink though.
Tomorrow is the first of April already. The cold weather is gone for us and we're all 80s and near 90 this week too.

>136 mstrust: I didn't know it came in so many different colors! Cool.

You've certainly hit the warmer temps already...we are holding steady in the 50's or low 60's. This past week was also lovely and sunny, but we are back to rain starting tomorrow. Oh well.

It's 35 and the wind is howling from the north. April Fools indeed.

>139 Berly: Alexandrite seems to change its wardrobe often. I think it's pretty in all it's colors.
Yep, next week will be all 90s. Bleeeh! Our springs tend to last just about a month. We go from cold (for us), a few weeks to allow everything to bloom and be lovely and give everyone their allergies, then we go right to burning hot.
>140 SomeGuyInVirginia: Do you know how lucky you are? Do you? I would love 35 degrees right now. I'd let a prison guard cut my hair for 35 degrees.

We have a Shhhh... restaurant opening here in a few days and I can't wait. I'd never heard of the chain until two weeks ago but it looks like they're opening restaurants all over the world in the next few months. No tvs, no music, cellphones are banned and customers and staff are encouraged to speak no louder than a library whisper. The goal is to eat in silence or you'll get shushed, with the bill going up for repeat offenders. I know it originated on Singapore but I don't know if the food is Asian. I'll post pics after we go.

I don't envy you being in Phoenix as the summer approaches. Have you collected your stack of cold-themed books for summer?

I don't envy me either, ha! I'm already complaining about the heat so I should be stewed to a bitter perfection come June. And thanks for reminding me, I hadn't gone through my cold books yet. That gives me a bit of relief to look forward to, and I hope I find some ROOTs among them.

Mike has been having a really bad few days with his allergies. I chased him out of bed last night because of his non-stop coughing so he slept downstairs. We were supposed to attend a banquet tonight at a dim sum restaurant but likely won't go because he's miserable.

This is adorable. In the 1950s Van Cleef & Arpel had a series of dancer brooches made of gold, turquoise and rubies.

>144 mstrust: She's so cute! You can never go wrong with turquoise.

Since we both live here, I'm guessing you have lots of Native turquoise jewelry too. We once went on a vacation where we stayed up at First Mesa buying jewelry and kachinas, then went to Gallup for more jewelry and kachinas.
But I own nothing as grand as these:

Swanky, I've always liked turquoise.

>146 mstrust: I own a few pieces I inherited - and gave a couple to my brother after his first wife took all the pieces he inherited. I remember a Hopi flute player done like the butterfly as well and thunderbird? as well. But two of my favorites were stolen along with a lot else back in the 70s.

>147 SomeGuyInVirginia: Put a couple of the bracelets in the above post on and walk into liquor store hold-ups at will, you will be bulletproof. Or you'll be robbed of your jewelry.

>148 quondame: Burns just to think about, huh? If you ever get to Arizona you'll be able to easily find some awesome turquoise jewelry. You can buy it from reputable shops, museums or directly from the artists.

>149 mstrust: The piece I miss the most was an old trade necklace of large graduated beads made from 2 silver coins each. Simple, heavy and much more than I could afford now. Also a 9 strand shell hishi. Somehow they missed my many stranded silver hishi and a single strand with birds, but those were those were the only two NA survivors.

Sounds like you had some good pieces and I don't blame you for missing them.
For anyone who needs an explanation, heishi is a style of Native necklace that comes from the Southwest, specifically from the Pueblo tribes. They have a single strand or more likely multiple strands, often made from shells. The Zuni style usually has small carved animals included, called fetishes.

I absolutely won't touch a Zuni fetish. I know it's irrational, but I gave one to my Mom at Christmas and she developed chronic neurological problems right after. They've terrified me since. I didn't find it when we cleaner out her place and I was relieved. I don't know why, it's evil done it probably went to wherever that fetish doll from Trilogy of Terror went after Karen Black burned it in the oven.

I'm sorry your mom developed neurological problems. On the other hand, thank you for letting me know that all I have to do to send you screaming is post a close-up pic of a fetish. There's bound to be a horror movie involving them and a ghost shaman.

Edit- Okay, I checked out the Karen Black doll and it looks nothing like a Zuni or Zuni fetish. You're safe from all Zuni curses! Now you only have to worry about Talking Tina and Chucky.

>151 mstrust: Thanx for the explanation! It's beautiful!

You're welcome, glad to help!

29. Robert Kirkman's Descent by Jay Bonansinga. The fifth installment in The Walking Dead novels. Young Lilly Caul is now the leader of Woodbury and the townspeople look to her for decisions and plans, something that wears on her as she has no experience in survival or leadership. She makes the decision to let in a starving family, insisting that they stay even though the wife has serious mental issues that quickly leads to tragedy. But Lilly seems to have had her eye on the husband the second she sees him, so her decisions aren't that great. She also leads a group of her people into the tunnel system under the town to save a tent revival preacher and his disciples, which proves to be another mistake.
I think I'm done with this series. The first book, which had more of Kirkman's hand and concerned the Governor, was really good. This story about Lilly just doesn't have the same level of engagement. She's a pretty boring character and it doesn't make sense that in a town of people who have decades more experience, including military and survival training, that they'd have a twenty-one year old without any credentials calling the shots. She even starts hitting on the new guy the day after his wife is torn apart. I give it a generous 3 stars
I read this for the ScaredyKit Group- Modern Horror

>154 Carmenere: The one I still have is just like 1 strand of that picture. The silver one is more properly called liquid silver

>153 mstrust: It's been, like, 25 years since I gave her the damn thing and I still won't even look at one too long. Other than that I'm really well grounded. *snerk*

>157 quondame: I bought a liquid silver necklace at a trading post in Gallup. I think I've worn it once because just looking at it makes the strands knot up.

>158 SomeGuyInVirginia: 25 years is nothing to an ancient demon housed in a piece of jewelry. All it does is irritate them. That's what causes metal allergies.

>159 mstrust: My surgeon sister somehow straightened my strands - now I keep it wrapped in saran wrap in it's own jewelry bag.

30. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. 1935 is a life changing year for Moose Flanagan and his family. Twelve year-old Moose's father has found work on Alcatraz Island and that means the family has to move to the island, living in an apartment building just minutes away from the cell block that houses famous criminals like Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. There are a handful of children on the island, including Piper, the spoiled daughter of the warden who gets the other kids in trouble and pushes Moose around. He also resents having to care for his older sister Natalie after school every day as his parents work all the hours they can to raise money for her behavioral treatments. Throughout his problems, Moose looks forward to playing baseball at school.
This is a really well done story of a boy with bigger family problems than most.4 stars
I've had this one the shelf for 10 months.

>160 quondame: :-D It takes a patient hand to keep them straight. Once I got mine straight I hung it on the jewelry box and backed away.

>161 mstrust: This one has been on my kindle waiting to be read for some time. Glad to see you enjoyed it!

I really did, and I hope you do too!

Hi Jennifer, I haven't read any of The Walking Dead novels yet but was planning on reading at least the first one this year sometime. So I can plan on reading three and then call it a day?

>146 mstrust: >151 mstrust: I love those, thank you for sharing. Yes, I have my share of turquoise jewelry, mostly from my grandmothers coming out here from Connecticut in the summers. They loved shopping for it, and now that both have passed I've inherited some of it. I've also added a few of my own pieces from trips to Jerome.

>165 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy! Yes, the first novel in the series is head and shoulders above the rest, and the problem with that is that you'll want to read on, ha! It hooks you. I thought the second was disappointing in comparison. The third picks up and there are some familiar visitors to Woodbury. I think you'd be happy with ending after four. The fourth has the big payoff.
Edit- I counted up the TWD novels and Descent is actually the fifth in the series.

>166 PaperbackPirate: That's great that you inherited your pieces, and I'll bet you have some nice stuff. I haven't been to Jerome in years! We'd go to the mining museum, of course, then Wedge on the Edge, the pizza place. We used to go to Flagstaff regularly when we lived in Prescott Valley but haven't been since we came to Phoenix.

Does this tiny crown look familiar? It's Queen Victoria's. After her husband Albert died, she didn't want to wear the State Crown as it was too heavy and didn't fit right over her mourning veil. She had 1,187 diamonds removed from her existing jewelry and this crown was made for her in silver. It's 4 inches tall and 3.5 inches across.

The bling over here still makes it out of bounds to SWMBO.

Have a great Sunday, Jennifer.

>167 mstrust: Thanks for the info, Jennifer. I will probably read the first three or four and then retire the series.

>169 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! Now, wouldn't we all like a little shiny head muffin of our own? But I can tell you that my next thread will be a lot easier on the wallet.
>170 DeltaQueen50: You're welcome!

We're heating up, cooling down, heating up again. We're going to be at 96 a few days this week. I've been squeezing in my last days of baking, but my freezer is full now. On Friday I made Dutch chocolate ice cream with peanut butter maple chunks in it. Last night I made a steamed lemon pudding, and tonight or tomorrow I'm making lavender sugar cookies because we were talking about Bainbridge Island at lunch today, which made me think about those cookies that I got from the Blackbird Bakery.
And I'm halfway through the new season of Santa Clarita Diet, and I've watched the final season of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

>168 mstrust: I'm listening to one of the Great Courses on Victorian Britain, and it's very sympathetic to Queen Victoria.

I saw the first 10 minutes of the first episode of Santa Clarita diet, but it looks great!

I cannot imagine what kind of work it takes to make ice cream but I admire the hell out of it .

>171 mstrust: It's unseasonably warm here today, though nothing like 96. I think I may pick up some heavy cream after work so that I can make some ice cream this evening, too. Mine will likely be plain vanilla, though strawberry is a possibility.

An admirable pursuit! I've seen the listings for Great Courses and so many look interesting, but I know I'm too antsy to sit and listen and pay attention. Which university is your course coming from?
Santa Clarita is so funny, and then has horror moments that last maybe 30 seconds. It's definitely one of my favorite shows. And did you see What We Do in the Shadows has started?
Making ice cream is easy. As long as you have an ice cream maker. Were you picturing me with a bucket and rock salt, churning by hand for an hour like I'm Amish? I just mix the sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla and egg yolk in a bowl, then slowly add in a cup of cream and three cups of whole milk and mix it well. Then pour it into the ice cream maker and let it run for 30 minutes. Then stir in any add-ins like nuts or candy or a fudge ribbon. I have a Cuisinart maker and I break it out every summer. There may be lavender ice cream in my future. Mike won't touch it which makes it a good plan.

>173 harrygbutler: Hi Harry! Yep, we're suppose to hit 96 today now, and I believe it. The last few days have been too warm and it feels like summer. This is the next six months of my life. Yesterday may have been Coral's last trip to the park until Autumn.
Enjoy your ice cream! That's my summer outlet for creative flavors, but a well made vanilla is great.

This emerald and colorless diamond necklace belonged to Queen Marie Jose, the last royal of Italy. It was created by Van Cleef & Arpel and contains 50 emeralds. Marie Jose was Queen for just 35 days when the monarchy was abolished in 1946, but her jewels were her own. Her daughter sold this necklace, along with many other jewels, at auction in 2007 to pay taxes and upkeep on the family home.

The course I'm lightning to is taught by Patrick Allitt out of Emory University. He's a Brit, from the Midlands, and it's fun to listen to him speak.

Looking at all these jewels, I wonder if the Royals every just wanted to stay in sweats all day and read the Sunday Times?

I suppose they do, but they do so while wearing tiaras and 10 carat rings. The butler turns the pages for them.

Hehe. I bet the Queen is wearing a tiara under all those headscarves she wears, she's been binging Real Housewives and wants to run out for a curry but doesn't want to change.

I've got to do something about proofing my posts. Shocking!

Hopelessly behind....>168 mstrust: That is the smallest crown ever!!

>179 SomeGuyInVirginia: If the tiara fits, wear it. Especially when you have a tiara wardrobe to choose from.
Oh, don't feel bad. How many times have a glanced at a week old post and noticed that I seem to use "your" and "you're" interchangeably.
>180 Berly: I still wonder how she kept it on. Is there some fishing wire tied under her chin?

I couldn't have a thread about diamonds without a little nod to Marilyn.

31. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. When their eighty-five year old father announces his plans to marry a woman 50 years his junior whom he barely knows, Nadia and Vera are worried. Valentina has been clear about her desire to marry old Nikolai because her visa is about to expire, yet she throws about declarations of love to really rope him. He's been a citizen of England for decades, and the new couple hope this would allow Valentina to stay permanently too, but his daughters are hoping she is deported as she's already draining their father of his pension.Though his daughters haven't spoken to each other in two years, they know they must work together to save their father from a woman who is bigger, abusive and out to take every penny from Nikolai, who is both frightened by his wife yet afraid she'll leave.
This story will make you want to shake just about every character. Nadia is our narrator, and she's often so meek and slow to anger that Valentina sees her as weak, while Vera is sharp tongued and seems always ready to fight, yet doesn't even go see the situation for herself until her father has been married for nearly a year. Their father, who created the whole mess, calls his daughter to complain of real abuse but then forbids the police from being called or refuses to consider divorce. It's dysfunction everywhere you look, between sisters, the family, the law, and the immigration system. But a really interesting story.4 stars
This was on my shelf for just over three years.

From my library shift today, I brought home Unnatural Creatures, A Night in the Lonesome October, and a magazine titled "Training Secrets For Boxers", which I believe is a guide to how a boxer will easily train their people.

Salt is such a common mineral, except when you travel hundreds of feet underground to a salt mine.


Wieliczka Salt Mine and resort near Krakow, Poland, was a working salt mine for hundreds of years. Now it hosts about a million visitors a year who tour the underground town or spend the night to take advantage of salts believed restorative properties. At the very least, a spokesperson says, there is no pollution or bacteria in the salt mine.

>184 mstrust: Please tell me that you'll use your boxing powers for good.

Could this face ever do wrong?


"No she couldn't! That's my sweet baby! Sweet baby Coral!"
I should have warned you to grab a bucket. I bought the magazine because it has lots of pictures of Boxer puppies and they are so cute.

>185 mstrust: Now that is a place I'd very much like to visit. I read about it (maybe even saw a special) some years ago, and it was quite impressive.

>187 mstrust: Please tell Coral how gorgeous she is and that I think she deserves several treats right now.

We're back from spending most of yesterday and this morning at Tiki Oasis. Pictures will be posted to my next thread whenever I hit 200 on this one.
Today was the book signing, so I bought a few there and brought some from home. What I had signed:
Smuggler's Cove by Martin Cate and Rebecca Cate
Intoxica! by Jeff "Beachbum" Berry
More Skipper Stories: True Tales from Disneyland's Jungle Cruise by David John Marley. We attended Marley's seminar this morning on the history of The Jungle Cruise and he's a lot of fun. The room was packed. He's such a legendary part of the ride that he has his own rum barrel at the Orlando park.
Tiki Art Two- the foreward is by Otto von Strohiem, so he signed it and told me that is was a very rare book with just one run of publication.
The Art of Tiki- bought it because Sven Kristen(!) was signing. Also signed by co-author von Strohiem.
The Book of Tiki, signed by Kristen. This was the book that introduced me to all this.

>188 harrygbutler: I'd like to see it too. I came across pics of really beautiful rooms, like the lobby with the huge chandeliers. I'd like to know how they keep people from licking the walls away.

>189 RidgewayGirl: :-D I'm so glad she can't read. But she is a dog cookie gourmand.

32. Mental Floss Presents...Be Amazing. A thick how-to for lots of unusual things. "How To Start an Urban Legend", "How To Be A Teen Idol" (based on the experiences of both King Tut and David Cassidy), "How To Curb an Outbreak", "How To Pick the Perfect Mate". If you like books such as Schott's Miscellany or The People's Almanac, you might like this too, as it's full of random historical facts and information. 3.5 stars

Okay.
Here's the Hope Diamond. You know the drill, don't touch it, stare at it, whisper "I wish you were mine..." The Hope Diamond keeps a list.

Jeezum crow, the Hope diamond was supposed to have come from an even larger rock? It's a world of wonders, I tell you! It's interesting how these jewels appear then disappear.

As is, it's still 45.52 carats. Wearing it would put you in a neck brace the next day (but worth it). I think it's last appraisal was 10 years ago, when it was valued at $250 million.
It's interesting how these jewels appear then disappear. Do you mean "disappear" as in "into my pocket"? Are you just that good?

I'm hosting the "May ScaredyKit:Horror for Children/Horrifying Children" thread. It's up, so come join in: https://www.librarything.com/topic/305976#

As gorgeous as the Hope Diamond is, I think I would rather spend time with Coral. She's a honey!

:-D And I know she'd love spending time with you, as you have two hands and can therefor give her a scalp massage. You'd be paid in kisses.

Come see me at my new thread! I have candy!