1jjmcgaffey
My tenth year in Club Read - hopefully I'll be able to track, review, and post this year (as I haven't the last couple years). The thread is still fun, if I remember to post a bit about what I'm up to.
I'm Jennifer; I live in Alameda, CA, with one elderly cat. My mother lives down the street (about a mile and a half away); one sister moved to Indiana a couple years ago and the other, currently living in Reno, is planning to move there too. I'm a Foreign Service brat who grew up moving around the world (more or less literally); it's still strange to me to be living in the same house for the 19th year this year. I cook, garden, stitch, sew, weave, braid, program, fix computers (run a home computer repair business) - and oh yeah, read.
I read mostly genre fiction - primarily science fiction and fantasy, which get grouped together as SF (speculative fiction). Then romances, mysteries, animal books, children's books (which include examples of all the genres...). I also read a lot of non-fiction - biography, sciences, history, words, etc. And craft books and cookbooks, which don't so much get _read_ but do get used and referenced. I don't read horror, and I don't read literary fiction - in both cases, because I don't enjoy being depressed by my reading.
In the last couple years, for various and uncertain reasons, my tracking on LT has fallen by the wayside. I do like to know what I've read and when; I still keep track (not too difficult, since I'm mostly reading ebooks, and it's easy to put a start and end date on each one as I read), but I haven't gotten things onto LT. Hopefully I'll be able to do better this year, with dates and reviews.
I'm not bothering with any goals; I will celebrate any books I manage to discard (as I own far too many paper books, most of which I may never get around to reading). We'll see what else I manage to track.
I'm Jennifer; I live in Alameda, CA, with one elderly cat. My mother lives down the street (about a mile and a half away); one sister moved to Indiana a couple years ago and the other, currently living in Reno, is planning to move there too. I'm a Foreign Service brat who grew up moving around the world (more or less literally); it's still strange to me to be living in the same house for the 19th year this year. I cook, garden, stitch, sew, weave, braid, program, fix computers (run a home computer repair business) - and oh yeah, read.
I read mostly genre fiction - primarily science fiction and fantasy, which get grouped together as SF (speculative fiction). Then romances, mysteries, animal books, children's books (which include examples of all the genres...). I also read a lot of non-fiction - biography, sciences, history, words, etc. And craft books and cookbooks, which don't so much get _read_ but do get used and referenced. I don't read horror, and I don't read literary fiction - in both cases, because I don't enjoy being depressed by my reading.
In the last couple years, for various and uncertain reasons, my tracking on LT has fallen by the wayside. I do like to know what I've read and when; I still keep track (not too difficult, since I'm mostly reading ebooks, and it's easy to put a start and end date on each one as I read), but I haven't gotten things onto LT. Hopefully I'll be able to do better this year, with dates and reviews.
I'm not bothering with any goals; I will celebrate any books I manage to discard (as I own far too many paper books, most of which I may never get around to reading). We'll see what else I manage to track.
2jjmcgaffey
Read January-March
January
1. How to Shield an Assassin - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
2. How to Steal a Thief - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
3. How to Hack a Hacker - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
4. Common Sense Deserts Once Again (Unholy Trifecta crossover) - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
5. Soul Mate for Sale - @^ - by Kian Rhodes.
6. Spark - @^ - by Mel Todd.
7. Experimental Voyage - @^ - by R.J. Blain.
8. How to Catch a Bookworm - @^ - by Ana Ashley.
9. Rise - @^ - by AJ Sherwood & Jocelynn Drake.
10. Soar - @^ - by AJ Sherwood & Jocelynn Drake.
11. How Tan Acquired an Apprentice - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
12. Shenanigans - @^ - by Erin Halbmaier.
13. How I Became a Therapist in Another World: Vol. 1-4 Omnibus - @^ - by C.A. Moss.
14. Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic - @^ - by Meghan Ciana Doidge.
15. Bent Corners - @^ - by Kris Jacen.
16. Gellert's New Job - @^ - by Johannes T. Evans.
17. How Not to Marry a Prince - @^ - by Megan Derr.
18. LARPing - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
19. Miss Amelia's List - @^ - by Mercedes Lackey.
20. Fated Mates and How to Woo Them - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
21. Timber Wolf - @^ - by Zoe Chant & Murphy Lawless & C. E. Murphy.
22. Fated Mates and Where to Find Them - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
23. Fated Mates and When to Keep Them - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
24. Defender of the Realm - @^ - by Mark Huckerby.
25. Werewolves of Grey Wolf Lodge - @^ - by Serena Meadows.
26. Risk It All - @^ - by Megan Derr.
27. The Prince of the Moon - @^ - by Megan Derr.
28. The Geek and His Artist - @^ - by Hope Ryan.
29. Two Thousand Dreams - @^ - by Jocelynn Drake.
30. Paws in the Snow - @^ - by Nicole Dennis.
31. The Untouchable Sky - @^ - by Will Forrest.
32. How to Keep an Author (Alive) - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
33. The Insanity of Reincarnated Mages and Amorous Vampires - @# - by AJ Sherwood & Devon Vesper.
34. Arrows of Change - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
35. Arrows of Promise - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
36. Arrows of Revolution - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
37. Treasure - @^ - by Megan Derr.
38. Heads Will Roll - @^ - by Lish McBride.
39. Burning Bright - @^ - by Megan Derr.
40. My Inherited House Might be Haunted - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
41. Marriage Contract - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
42. The Sword - @# - by Jean Johnson.
43. The Wolf - @# - by Jean Johnson.
44. The Master - @# - by Jean Johnson.
February
45. The Song - @# - by Jean Johnson.
46. Murphy's Lawless - @^ - by Chris Kennedy & Chuck Gannon & Griffin Barber & Kacey Ezell & Mark Wandrey & Mike Massa & Kevin Ikenberry.
47. The Cat - @# - by Jean Johnson.
48. The Storm - @# - by Jean Johnson.
49. The Flame - @# - by Jean Johnson.
50. The Mage - @# - by Jean Johnson.
51. The Nameless Restaurant - @^ - by Tao Wong.
52. The Magic That Binds - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
53. Threads of Empire - @^ - by Dorothy Armstrong.
54. Call to Quarters - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
55. Marked Yours - @^ - by Elizabeth Noble.
56. Index, a History of the - @^ - by Dennis Duncan.
57. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
58. My Dear Jenny - @# - by Madeleine Robins.
59. Elemental - @# - by K.L. Noone.
60. The Ninepenny Element - @# - by K.L. Noone.
61. Kingslayer - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
62. Sovran at War - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
March
63. Midnight Quest - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
64. Collector Of Sand And Tears - @^ - by Laura Greenwood.
65. Winter Moon: Moontide/Heart of the Moon/Banshee Cries - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
66. Feather Of Balance - @^ - by Laura Greenwood.
67. Holly and Oak - @^ - by R. Cooper.
68. A Little Familiar - @^ - by R. Cooper.
69. Unfortunate Decrees and Iced Coffees - @^ - by Laura Greenwood.
70. Wanted by the Wolves - @^ - by Sirena Song.
71. Velveteen vs. Winter - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
72. Pumpkin Spice And All Things Nice - @^ - by Laura Greenwood.
73. Can't Spell Treason Without Tea - @# - by Rebecca Thorne.
74. Jon's Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
75. Jon's Crazy Head-Boppin' Mystery - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
76. Jon's Spooky Corpse Conundrum - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
77. Brandon's Very Merry Haunted Christmas - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
78. Mack's Perfectly Ghastly Homecoming - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
79. Mack's Rousing Ghoulish Highland Adventure - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
80. Jon's Boom Shaka Laka Problem - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
81. Alan's Utterly Accidental Dream-Cute: A Jon's Mysteries Side Story - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
82. Jon and Mack's Terrifying Tree Troubles - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
83. Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
84. The Body in the Transept - @^ - by Jeanne M. Dams.
85. Style of Love - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
86. Nothing More Certain - @^ - by R. Cooper.
87. A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
88. Dealing With Mapinguari and Dogged Engineers - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
89. Beguilement - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
90. The Tribulations of Ross Young, Supernat PA - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
91. A Place to Rest - @^ - by Wynn Valentine.
92. The Spirit Ring - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
93. Booked for Theft - @^ - by R.J. Blain.
January
1. How to Shield an Assassin - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
2. How to Steal a Thief - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
3. How to Hack a Hacker - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
4. Common Sense Deserts Once Again (Unholy Trifecta crossover) - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
5. Soul Mate for Sale - @^ - by Kian Rhodes.
6. Spark - @^ - by Mel Todd.
7. Experimental Voyage - @^ - by R.J. Blain.
8. How to Catch a Bookworm - @^ - by Ana Ashley.
9. Rise - @^ - by AJ Sherwood & Jocelynn Drake.
10. Soar - @^ - by AJ Sherwood & Jocelynn Drake.
11. How Tan Acquired an Apprentice - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
12. Shenanigans - @^ - by Erin Halbmaier.
13. How I Became a Therapist in Another World: Vol. 1-4 Omnibus - @^ - by C.A. Moss.
14. Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic - @^ - by Meghan Ciana Doidge.
15. Bent Corners - @^ - by Kris Jacen.
16. Gellert's New Job - @^ - by Johannes T. Evans.
17. How Not to Marry a Prince - @^ - by Megan Derr.
18. LARPing - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
19. Miss Amelia's List - @^ - by Mercedes Lackey.
20. Fated Mates and How to Woo Them - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
21. Timber Wolf - @^ - by Zoe Chant & Murphy Lawless & C. E. Murphy.
22. Fated Mates and Where to Find Them - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
23. Fated Mates and When to Keep Them - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
24. Defender of the Realm - @^ - by Mark Huckerby.
25. Werewolves of Grey Wolf Lodge - @^ - by Serena Meadows.
26. Risk It All - @^ - by Megan Derr.
27. The Prince of the Moon - @^ - by Megan Derr.
28. The Geek and His Artist - @^ - by Hope Ryan.
29. Two Thousand Dreams - @^ - by Jocelynn Drake.
30. Paws in the Snow - @^ - by Nicole Dennis.
31. The Untouchable Sky - @^ - by Will Forrest.
32. How to Keep an Author (Alive) - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
33. The Insanity of Reincarnated Mages and Amorous Vampires - @# - by AJ Sherwood & Devon Vesper.
34. Arrows of Change - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
35. Arrows of Promise - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
36. Arrows of Revolution - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
37. Treasure - @^ - by Megan Derr.
38. Heads Will Roll - @^ - by Lish McBride.
39. Burning Bright - @^ - by Megan Derr.
40. My Inherited House Might be Haunted - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
41. Marriage Contract - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
42. The Sword - @# - by Jean Johnson.
43. The Wolf - @# - by Jean Johnson.
44. The Master - @# - by Jean Johnson.
February
45. The Song - @# - by Jean Johnson.
46. Murphy's Lawless - @^ - by Chris Kennedy & Chuck Gannon & Griffin Barber & Kacey Ezell & Mark Wandrey & Mike Massa & Kevin Ikenberry.
47. The Cat - @# - by Jean Johnson.
48. The Storm - @# - by Jean Johnson.
49. The Flame - @# - by Jean Johnson.
50. The Mage - @# - by Jean Johnson.
51. The Nameless Restaurant - @^ - by Tao Wong.
52. The Magic That Binds - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
53. Threads of Empire - @^ - by Dorothy Armstrong.
54. Call to Quarters - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
55. Marked Yours - @^ - by Elizabeth Noble.
56. Index, a History of the - @^ - by Dennis Duncan.
57. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
58. My Dear Jenny - @# - by Madeleine Robins.
59. Elemental - @# - by K.L. Noone.
60. The Ninepenny Element - @# - by K.L. Noone.
61. Kingslayer - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
62. Sovran at War - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
March
63. Midnight Quest - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
64. Collector Of Sand And Tears - @^ - by Laura Greenwood.
65. Winter Moon: Moontide/Heart of the Moon/Banshee Cries - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
66. Feather Of Balance - @^ - by Laura Greenwood.
67. Holly and Oak - @^ - by R. Cooper.
68. A Little Familiar - @^ - by R. Cooper.
69. Unfortunate Decrees and Iced Coffees - @^ - by Laura Greenwood.
70. Wanted by the Wolves - @^ - by Sirena Song.
71. Velveteen vs. Winter - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
72. Pumpkin Spice And All Things Nice - @^ - by Laura Greenwood.
73. Can't Spell Treason Without Tea - @# - by Rebecca Thorne.
74. Jon's Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
75. Jon's Crazy Head-Boppin' Mystery - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
76. Jon's Spooky Corpse Conundrum - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
77. Brandon's Very Merry Haunted Christmas - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
78. Mack's Perfectly Ghastly Homecoming - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
79. Mack's Rousing Ghoulish Highland Adventure - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
80. Jon's Boom Shaka Laka Problem - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
81. Alan's Utterly Accidental Dream-Cute: A Jon's Mysteries Side Story - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
82. Jon and Mack's Terrifying Tree Troubles - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
83. Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
84. The Body in the Transept - @^ - by Jeanne M. Dams.
85. Style of Love - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
86. Nothing More Certain - @^ - by R. Cooper.
87. A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
88. Dealing With Mapinguari and Dogged Engineers - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
89. Beguilement - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
90. The Tribulations of Ross Young, Supernat PA - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
91. A Place to Rest - @^ - by Wynn Valentine.
92. The Spirit Ring - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
93. Booked for Theft - @^ - by R.J. Blain.
3jjmcgaffey
Read April-June
April
94. Installment Immortality - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
95. Legacy - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
96. Passage - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
97. Horizon - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
98. Knife Children - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
99. A Little Blessing - @^ - by R. Cooper.
100. Claiming Lyla - @^ - by Sabrina Silvers.
101. Saving Sara - @^ - by Sabrina Silvers.
102. Forbidden Moon - @^ - by Sabrina Silvers.
103. The Goblin Emperor - @# - by Katherine Addison.
104. Velveteen vs. The United States Government - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
105. The Witness for the Dead - @# - by Katherine Addison.
106. The Grief of Stones - @# - by Katherine Addison.
107. The Tomb of Dragons - @^ - by Katherine Addison.
108. Live, Love, Level - @^ - by M.C.A. Hogarth.
109. The Bed Hierarchy - @^ - by Lauren Connolly.
110. Blessed (Fade to Black Version) - @^ - by R. Cooper.
111. A Suitable Consort (For the King and His Husband) - @^ - by R. Cooper.
112. A Suitable Bodyguard - @^ - by R. Cooper.
113. A Suitable Captive - @^ - by R. Cooper.
114. Direct Descendant - @^ - by Tanya Huff.
115. The Book Dragon’s Lair - @^ - by Holly Day.
116. Adopt a Vampire - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
117. Mated to the Fire Dragon - @^ - by Holly Day.
118. Half a Soul - @^ - by Olivia Atwater.
119. The Husband Hoax - @^ - by Saxon James.
120. Alliance of Equals - @# - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
121. The Snaccident - @^ - by Holly Day.
122. Trader's Leap - @# - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
123. Ribbon Dance - @# - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
124. Diviner's Bow - @^ - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
125. A Bleacke Mating - @^ - by Lesli Richardson & Tymber Dalton.
126. The Wolf Cure - @^ - by Holly Day.
May
127. Skye's Fall - @^ - by Will Forrest.
128. Fourth Point of Contact - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
129. Zone of Action - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
130. Starfire - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
131. A Mage's Guide to Human Familiars - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
132. A Mage's Guide to Aussie Terrors - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
133. A Mage's Guide to Wicky - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
134. A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I'm the Gay Holy Maiden - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
135. Clockwork Boys - @# - by T Kingfisher.
136. Kisses for a June Afternoon - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
137. Under an August Moon - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
138. An October Question - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
139. December Beginnings - @# - by K.L. Noone.
140. Lambchop and the Serious Courtship - @^ - by R. Cooper.
141. For Better or Worse - @^ - by R. Cooper.
142. A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking - @# - by T Kingfisher.
143. Cold Flame - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
144. Runaway - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
145. The Prince of New York - @^ - by Susan Copperfield.
146. The Captive King - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
147. Storm Called - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
148. Taken - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
149. Null and Void - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
150. A Guiding Light - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
151. Huntress - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
152. Bonds - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
153. Trickster King - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
154. The Vampire of Montana - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
155. Iron Unicorn - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
156. Bisclavret - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
157. The Furthest Station - @# - by Ben Aaronovitch.
June
158. The Salty Mageknight and the Sweet Dark Lord: A Romantic Comedy of Reformed Edgelords - @^ - by C.A. Moss.
159. Herbs and Harmonies: How I Became a Therapist in Another World Vol. 5, 6, and 8 Omnibus - @^ - by C.A. Moss.
160. Dungeon Crawler Carl - @^ - by Matt Dinniman.
161. Just Another Day in Paradise - @# - by Justine Davis.
162. Hall of Blood and Mercy - @^ - by K. M. Shea.
163. What's Fair to Offer in Exchange - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
164. I Went on an Adventure and All I Got Was This Barbarian Orc - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
April
94. Installment Immortality - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
95. Legacy - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
96. Passage - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
97. Horizon - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
98. Knife Children - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
99. A Little Blessing - @^ - by R. Cooper.
100. Claiming Lyla - @^ - by Sabrina Silvers.
101. Saving Sara - @^ - by Sabrina Silvers.
102. Forbidden Moon - @^ - by Sabrina Silvers.
103. The Goblin Emperor - @# - by Katherine Addison.
104. Velveteen vs. The United States Government - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
105. The Witness for the Dead - @# - by Katherine Addison.
106. The Grief of Stones - @# - by Katherine Addison.
107. The Tomb of Dragons - @^ - by Katherine Addison.
108. Live, Love, Level - @^ - by M.C.A. Hogarth.
109. The Bed Hierarchy - @^ - by Lauren Connolly.
110. Blessed (Fade to Black Version) - @^ - by R. Cooper.
111. A Suitable Consort (For the King and His Husband) - @^ - by R. Cooper.
112. A Suitable Bodyguard - @^ - by R. Cooper.
113. A Suitable Captive - @^ - by R. Cooper.
114. Direct Descendant - @^ - by Tanya Huff.
115. The Book Dragon’s Lair - @^ - by Holly Day.
116. Adopt a Vampire - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
117. Mated to the Fire Dragon - @^ - by Holly Day.
118. Half a Soul - @^ - by Olivia Atwater.
119. The Husband Hoax - @^ - by Saxon James.
120. Alliance of Equals - @# - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
121. The Snaccident - @^ - by Holly Day.
122. Trader's Leap - @# - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
123. Ribbon Dance - @# - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
124. Diviner's Bow - @^ - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
125. A Bleacke Mating - @^ - by Lesli Richardson & Tymber Dalton.
126. The Wolf Cure - @^ - by Holly Day.
May
127. Skye's Fall - @^ - by Will Forrest.
128. Fourth Point of Contact - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
129. Zone of Action - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
130. Starfire - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
131. A Mage's Guide to Human Familiars - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
132. A Mage's Guide to Aussie Terrors - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
133. A Mage's Guide to Wicky - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
134. A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I'm the Gay Holy Maiden - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
135. Clockwork Boys - @# - by T Kingfisher.
136. Kisses for a June Afternoon - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
137. Under an August Moon - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
138. An October Question - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
139. December Beginnings - @# - by K.L. Noone.
140. Lambchop and the Serious Courtship - @^ - by R. Cooper.
141. For Better or Worse - @^ - by R. Cooper.
142. A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking - @# - by T Kingfisher.
143. Cold Flame - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
144. Runaway - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
145. The Prince of New York - @^ - by Susan Copperfield.
146. The Captive King - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
147. Storm Called - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
148. Taken - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
149. Null and Void - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
150. A Guiding Light - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
151. Huntress - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
152. Bonds - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
153. Trickster King - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
154. The Vampire of Montana - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
155. Iron Unicorn - @# - by Susan Copperfield.
156. Bisclavret - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
157. The Furthest Station - @# - by Ben Aaronovitch.
June
158. The Salty Mageknight and the Sweet Dark Lord: A Romantic Comedy of Reformed Edgelords - @^ - by C.A. Moss.
159. Herbs and Harmonies: How I Became a Therapist in Another World Vol. 5, 6, and 8 Omnibus - @^ - by C.A. Moss.
160. Dungeon Crawler Carl - @^ - by Matt Dinniman.
161. Just Another Day in Paradise - @# - by Justine Davis.
162. Hall of Blood and Mercy - @^ - by K. M. Shea.
163. What's Fair to Offer in Exchange - @^ - by Seanan McGuire.
164. I Went on an Adventure and All I Got Was This Barbarian Orc - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
4jjmcgaffey
Read July-September
July
165. The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
166. Tam Lin - @# - by Pamela Dean.
167. A Suitable Stray (For an Outguard and an Assistant) - @^ - by R. Cooper.
168. The Quiet Side - @^ - by Casey Blair.
169. To Take a First Step, And Then Another - @^ - by Casey Blair.
170. The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
171. The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
172. Court of Midnight and Deception - @^ - by K. M. Shea.
173. The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
174. The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
175. Beyond the Ranges - @^ - by John Ringo & James Aidee.
176. The Adventure of the Demonic Ox - @^ - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
177. Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
178. Words Are Magic - @^ - by Mel Todd.
179. Gemini - @^ - by Jeffrey Kluger.
180. Gifts - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
181. Portraits - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
182. Matched with the Firefighter - @^ - by Chrissy George.
183. All Fun and Games - @^ - by Honor Raconteur.
184. The Orb of Cairado - @^ - by Katherine Addison.
185. The Magic That Binds - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
186. Marriage Contract - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
187. Relics From A Traveling Show - @^ - by K. M. Herkes.
August
188. How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life: The Complete Works - @^ - by Jocelynn Drake.
189. One of These Nights - @# - by Justine Davis.
190. Second-Chance Hero - @# - by Justine Davis.
191. Midnight Seduction - @# - by Justine Davis.
192. In His Sights - @# - by Justine Davis.
193. Emily Fox-Seton / Being "The Making of a Marchioness" and "The Methods of Lady Walderhurst" - @^ - by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
194. Chalice - @# - by Robin McKinley.
195. The Shapeshifter's Secretary - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
196. Fox Recruits a Mute Boy (And Falls in Love) - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
197. The Dragon's Aide - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
198. The Incubus's Assistant - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
199. The Vampire's Receptionist - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
200. The Banning of The Bath Bombs - @^ - by AJ Sherwood & Devon Vesper.
201. Flashes - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
202. Owlflight - @# - by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon.
203. Proof - @^ - by Justine Davis.
204. Owlsight - @# - by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon.
205. Owlknight - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
206. Dark Reunion - @# - by Justine Davis.
207. Deadly Temptation - @# - by Justine Davis.
208. Her Best Friend's Husband - @# - by Justine Davis.
209. Backstreet Hero - @# - by Justine Davis.
210. His Personal Mission - @# - by Justine Davis.
211. Redstone Ever After - @# - by Justine Davis.
212. The Best Revenge - @# - by Justine Davis.
September
213. The First Assistant - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
214. The Unexpected Barbarian - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
215. Genesis - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
216. Going Down - @^ - by Zile Elliven.
217. Quarter Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
218. Half Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
219. Full Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
220. Double Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
221. Captain's Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
222. Owner's Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
223. Milk Run - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
224. Suicide Run - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
225. Home Run - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
226. In Ashes Born - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
227. To Fire Called - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
228. By Darkness Forged - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
229. School Days - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
230. Working Class - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
231. Hard Knocks - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
232. A Light in the Dark - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
233. Wash It All Away 01 - @^ - by Mitsuru Hattori.
234. Dark Knight Station: Origins - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
235. Welcoming a Demon - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
236. Jon's Short Stories (Shot & Garrett met) - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
237. The Black Wolves of Boston - @# - by Wen Spencer.
238. Black Tie and Tails - @^ - by Wen Spencer.
239. Olive and the Dragon - @^ - by Victoria Goddard.
240. A Mate for the Christmas Dragon - @^ - by Zoe Chant & Marie Cardno.
241. Haroun and the Study of Mischief - @^ - by Lynn Strong.
July
165. The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
166. Tam Lin - @# - by Pamela Dean.
167. A Suitable Stray (For an Outguard and an Assistant) - @^ - by R. Cooper.
168. The Quiet Side - @^ - by Casey Blair.
169. To Take a First Step, And Then Another - @^ - by Casey Blair.
170. The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
171. The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
172. Court of Midnight and Deception - @^ - by K. M. Shea.
173. The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
174. The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
175. Beyond the Ranges - @^ - by John Ringo & James Aidee.
176. The Adventure of the Demonic Ox - @^ - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
177. Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
178. Words Are Magic - @^ - by Mel Todd.
179. Gemini - @^ - by Jeffrey Kluger.
180. Gifts - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
181. Portraits - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
182. Matched with the Firefighter - @^ - by Chrissy George.
183. All Fun and Games - @^ - by Honor Raconteur.
184. The Orb of Cairado - @^ - by Katherine Addison.
185. The Magic That Binds - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
186. Marriage Contract - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
187. Relics From A Traveling Show - @^ - by K. M. Herkes.
August
188. How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life: The Complete Works - @^ - by Jocelynn Drake.
189. One of These Nights - @# - by Justine Davis.
190. Second-Chance Hero - @# - by Justine Davis.
191. Midnight Seduction - @# - by Justine Davis.
192. In His Sights - @# - by Justine Davis.
193. Emily Fox-Seton / Being "The Making of a Marchioness" and "The Methods of Lady Walderhurst" - @^ - by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
194. Chalice - @# - by Robin McKinley.
195. The Shapeshifter's Secretary - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
196. Fox Recruits a Mute Boy (And Falls in Love) - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
197. The Dragon's Aide - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
198. The Incubus's Assistant - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
199. The Vampire's Receptionist - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
200. The Banning of The Bath Bombs - @^ - by AJ Sherwood & Devon Vesper.
201. Flashes - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
202. Owlflight - @# - by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon.
203. Proof - @^ - by Justine Davis.
204. Owlsight - @# - by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon.
205. Owlknight - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
206. Dark Reunion - @# - by Justine Davis.
207. Deadly Temptation - @# - by Justine Davis.
208. Her Best Friend's Husband - @# - by Justine Davis.
209. Backstreet Hero - @# - by Justine Davis.
210. His Personal Mission - @# - by Justine Davis.
211. Redstone Ever After - @# - by Justine Davis.
212. The Best Revenge - @# - by Justine Davis.
September
213. The First Assistant - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
214. The Unexpected Barbarian - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
215. Genesis - @^ - by Jennifer Cody.
216. Going Down - @^ - by Zile Elliven.
217. Quarter Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
218. Half Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
219. Full Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
220. Double Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
221. Captain's Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
222. Owner's Share - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
223. Milk Run - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
224. Suicide Run - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
225. Home Run - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
226. In Ashes Born - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
227. To Fire Called - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
228. By Darkness Forged - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
229. School Days - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
230. Working Class - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
231. Hard Knocks - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
232. A Light in the Dark - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
233. Wash It All Away 01 - @^ - by Mitsuru Hattori.
234. Dark Knight Station: Origins - @# - by Nathan Lowell.
235. Welcoming a Demon - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
236. Jon's Short Stories (Shot & Garrett met) - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
237. The Black Wolves of Boston - @# - by Wen Spencer.
238. Black Tie and Tails - @^ - by Wen Spencer.
239. Olive and the Dragon - @^ - by Victoria Goddard.
240. A Mate for the Christmas Dragon - @^ - by Zoe Chant & Marie Cardno.
241. Haroun and the Study of Mischief - @^ - by Lynn Strong.
5jjmcgaffey
Read October-December
October
242. Fire at the Triangle Factory - @^ - by Holly Littlefield.
243. Upton Arms: A Retirement Home for Supernaturals - @^ - by Scott Craven.
244. 25 Simple Candy Recipes - @^ - by Cooking Penguin.
245. The Lives of Christopher Chant - @# - by Diana Wynne Jones.
246. Believing Is Seeing - @# - by Diana Wynne Jones.
247. Luna's Luck - @^ - by Jessica Rosenberg.
248. The Magical Beings' Rehabilitation Center: The Complete Series - @^ - by K.M. Shea.
249. The Weaver of the Middle Desert - @# - by Victoria Goddard.
250. Origin - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
251. How I Stole the Princess's White Knight - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
252. How Tan Acquired an Apprentice - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
253. How I Took the King on a Bone-A-Fide Quest - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
254. Hunter - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
255. Elite - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
256. Apex - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
257. The Keeper of Magical Things - @^ - by Julie Leong.
258. Proof by Induction - @^ - by Jose Pablo Iriarte.
259. Surviving The Change - @^ - by Cari Z.
260. My Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
261. Hired Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
262. The Best of Trek 2 - * - by Walter Irwin & G.B. Love.
263. Educated Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
264. No Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
265. Inherited Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
266. How the Children Stopped the Wars - * - by Jan Wahl.
November
267. Joined - @# - by Mel Todd.
268. Testimony of Mute Things - @^ - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
269. Drafted Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
270. Tomes Apprentice - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
271. First of Tomes - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
272. Master of Tomes - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
273. The Telepath's Associate - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
274. Spring Awakenings - @^ - by Max Wilde.
275. Once an Alpha - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
276. Clean Sweep - @^ - by Jeremy Fabiano.
277. Grave Affairs - @# - by Lilith Daniels.
278. Grave Intentions - @^ - by Lilith Daniels.
279. Don't Plan to Stay - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
280. Challenges - @^ - by David Weber & Thomas Pope & Jane Lindskold & Jacob Holo & Marisa Wolf & Daniel Allen Butler.
267. Joined - @# - by Mel Todd.
268. Testimony of Mute Things - @^ - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
269. Drafted Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
270. Tomes Apprentice - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
271. First of Tomes - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
272. Master of Tomes - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
273. The Telepath's Associate - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
274. Spring Awakenings - @^ - by Max Wilde.
275. Once an Alpha - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
276. Clean Sweep - @^ - by Jeremy Fabiano.
277. Grave Affairs - @# - by Lilith Daniels.
278. Grave Intentions - @^ - by Lilith Daniels.
279. Don't Plan to Stay - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
280. Challenges - @^ - by David Weber & Thomas Pope & Jane Lindskold & Jacob Holo & Marisa Wolf & Daniel Allen Butler.
281. Funeral of Figaro - @^ - by Ellis Peters.
282. Civilized Behavior - @^ - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
283. Inquisitor - @# - by RJ Blain.
284. Winter Wolf - @# - by RJ Blain.
285. Tales of the Winter Wolf 1-5 - @# - by RJ Blain.
286. Blood Diamond - @# - by RJ Blain.
287. Silver Bullet - @# - by RJ Blain.
288. Half Around Pluto - @^ - by Manly Wade Wellman.
December
289. Tie Me Knot - @# - by Allie Brahms.
290. No Bones About It - @# - by Allie Brahms.
291. Dolls Gone Wild - @^ - by Allie Brahms.
292. Faded Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
293. Unbalanced Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
294. Balanced Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
295. Deepwoods - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
296. The Tale of Benjamin Bunny - ^* - by Beatrix Potter.
297. The Tale of Jeremy Fisher - ^* - by Beatrix Potter.
298. The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes - ^* - by Oliver Goldsmith.
299. Blackstone - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
300. Fallen Ward - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
301. Origins - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
302. Jioni - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
303. Crossroads - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
304. A Little Accident - @^ - by Olena Nikitin.
305. The Pooka's Share - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
306. Unmasked - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
307. Fixer - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
308. Pack of Dawn and Destiny - @^ - by KM Shea.
309. Beneath a Blood Moon - @# - by RJ Blain.
310. Water Witch - @# - by RJ Blain.
311. Shadowed Flame - @# - by RJ Blain.
312. The Silent Archmage - @^ - by ghost flower.
313. The Curse of Chalion - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
314. Christmas Challenge - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
315. Alternate Lyrics - @^ - by Allie Brahms.
316. Don't Put Gifts in Special Places - @^ - by Honor Raconteur.
317. Paladin of Souls - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
318. Dragon Her Heels - @^ - by RJ Blain.
319. The Duskfire Dragon's Mate - @^ - by Zoe Chant.
October
242. Fire at the Triangle Factory - @^ - by Holly Littlefield.
243. Upton Arms: A Retirement Home for Supernaturals - @^ - by Scott Craven.
244. 25 Simple Candy Recipes - @^ - by Cooking Penguin.
245. The Lives of Christopher Chant - @# - by Diana Wynne Jones.
246. Believing Is Seeing - @# - by Diana Wynne Jones.
247. Luna's Luck - @^ - by Jessica Rosenberg.
248. The Magical Beings' Rehabilitation Center: The Complete Series - @^ - by K.M. Shea.
249. The Weaver of the Middle Desert - @# - by Victoria Goddard.
250. Origin - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
251. How I Stole the Princess's White Knight - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
252. How Tan Acquired an Apprentice - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
253. How I Took the King on a Bone-A-Fide Quest - @# - by AJ Sherwood.
254. Hunter - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
255. Elite - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
256. Apex - @# - by Mercedes Lackey.
257. The Keeper of Magical Things - @^ - by Julie Leong.
258. Proof by Induction - @^ - by Jose Pablo Iriarte.
259. Surviving The Change - @^ - by Cari Z.
260. My Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
261. Hired Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
262. The Best of Trek 2 - * - by Walter Irwin & G.B. Love.
263. Educated Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
264. No Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
265. Inherited Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
266. How the Children Stopped the Wars - * - by Jan Wahl.
November
267. Joined - @# - by Mel Todd.
268. Testimony of Mute Things - @^ - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
269. Drafted Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
270. Tomes Apprentice - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
271. First of Tomes - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
272. Master of Tomes - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
273. The Telepath's Associate - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
274. Spring Awakenings - @^ - by Max Wilde.
275. Once an Alpha - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
276. Clean Sweep - @^ - by Jeremy Fabiano.
277. Grave Affairs - @# - by Lilith Daniels.
278. Grave Intentions - @^ - by Lilith Daniels.
279. Don't Plan to Stay - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
280. Challenges - @^ - by David Weber & Thomas Pope & Jane Lindskold & Jacob Holo & Marisa Wolf & Daniel Allen Butler.
267. Joined - @# - by Mel Todd.
268. Testimony of Mute Things - @^ - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
269. Drafted Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
270. Tomes Apprentice - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
271. First of Tomes - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
272. Master of Tomes - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
273. The Telepath's Associate - @^ - by Amy Padilla.
274. Spring Awakenings - @^ - by Max Wilde.
275. Once an Alpha - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
276. Clean Sweep - @^ - by Jeremy Fabiano.
277. Grave Affairs - @# - by Lilith Daniels.
278. Grave Intentions - @^ - by Lilith Daniels.
279. Don't Plan to Stay - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
280. Challenges - @^ - by David Weber & Thomas Pope & Jane Lindskold & Jacob Holo & Marisa Wolf & Daniel Allen Butler.
281. Funeral of Figaro - @^ - by Ellis Peters.
282. Civilized Behavior - @^ - by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
283. Inquisitor - @# - by RJ Blain.
284. Winter Wolf - @# - by RJ Blain.
285. Tales of the Winter Wolf 1-5 - @# - by RJ Blain.
286. Blood Diamond - @# - by RJ Blain.
287. Silver Bullet - @# - by RJ Blain.
288. Half Around Pluto - @^ - by Manly Wade Wellman.
December
289. Tie Me Knot - @# - by Allie Brahms.
290. No Bones About It - @# - by Allie Brahms.
291. Dolls Gone Wild - @^ - by Allie Brahms.
292. Faded Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
293. Unbalanced Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
294. Balanced Luck - @# - by Mel Todd.
295. Deepwoods - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
296. The Tale of Benjamin Bunny - ^* - by Beatrix Potter.
297. The Tale of Jeremy Fisher - ^* - by Beatrix Potter.
298. The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes - ^* - by Oliver Goldsmith.
299. Blackstone - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
300. Fallen Ward - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
301. Origins - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
302. Jioni - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
303. Crossroads - @# - by Honor Raconteur.
304. A Little Accident - @^ - by Olena Nikitin.
305. The Pooka's Share - @^ - by K.L. Noone.
306. Unmasked - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
307. Fixer - @^ - by Kaje Harper.
308. Pack of Dawn and Destiny - @^ - by KM Shea.
309. Beneath a Blood Moon - @# - by RJ Blain.
310. Water Witch - @# - by RJ Blain.
311. Shadowed Flame - @# - by RJ Blain.
312. The Silent Archmage - @^ - by ghost flower.
313. The Curse of Chalion - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
314. Christmas Challenge - @^ - by AJ Sherwood.
315. Alternate Lyrics - @^ - by Allie Brahms.
316. Don't Put Gifts in Special Places - @^ - by Honor Raconteur.
317. Paladin of Souls - @# - by Lois McMaster Bujold.
318. Dragon Her Heels - @^ - by RJ Blain.
319. The Duskfire Dragon's Mate - @^ - by Zoe Chant.
8benitastrnad
I missed you last year, but I was busy with the moving, so I didn't send you multiple messages asking why you weren't posting. I missed hearing about your garden, so if you get time, please give us a summary of what happened with your plants.
9mabith
Good luck getting back to posting! I had a few years off LT myself, and while last year I wasn't able to follow as many threads as I wanted to, I think it's a slow process of getting back into the swing of things.
10jjmcgaffey
My garden was pretty good last year - lots (and lots) of tomatoes. Did I tell you all about the garden leader splitting my plot? I had an about 10x10 foot plot in 2023, but I didn't get it until April and I was kind of scrambling all year. She decided I couldn't handle a plot that big, and split it in half - she suggested it, I said I wanted to think about it, and the next I knew someone was working in half my plot. Grrr. And that meant the tomatoes I'd picked to fit in my 10x10 plot were somewhat squished into my 10x5...13 plants, it got crowded. Plus the strawberry bed, and five squashes (2 zucchini, 2 honeynut, 1 sugar pie pumpkin), and some basil... I don't think I grew anything else. Aside from the volunteer amaranth.
So I did get quite a few squashes, which is a win - I have attempted various squash and failed before. I got a few in 2023, but a nice lot this year - and for the first time, pumpkins (only two, but that's not bad). And the pumpkins were considerably bigger (adult head size, rather than doll-baby head size) than the ones for sale at Trader Joe's, which is what I usually get to make my pies. I only got three honeynut but I liked them a lot - like butternut, but tiny (the biggest one was slightly longer than my hand), and the skin is edible too. Roast and eat whole, like a baked potato. Yum. And a decent number of zucchini, though I never got to the overwhelm level - only one baseball bat, too. Timing was the usual problem, with male flowers first and females later, so nothing to fertilize the last few females. But I got a nice lot and I intend to repeat the same plants...or maybe a couple more.
Also nice strawberries - never got enough to make it worth taking them home, I just picked and ate them as they came ripe. And the basil went to seed and I let it, hopefully I'll get more basil this year.
Last month I planted:
2 varieties of garlic
3-4 varieties of snow peas - the seeds were old, I wasn't sure they'd germinate, but I've got a bunch of peas sprouting
Shin Kuroda carrots (short broad orange, very tasty)
Parsnips
Also scattered poppy seeds (oriental) and dill and fennel. Not sure those will germinate, we'll see.
And scattered some marigold seeds.
Oh, and some odd volunteers - about this time last year there was a pulled-up potato plant near one of the other plots. I planted it, it promptly died, I forgot about it. When I came to plant this year, there was this unfamiliar broad-leafed plant in a corner; I pulled it up, then realized it was the potatoes. Replanted - turned out it was actually 5-6 plants. They seem to have managed the uprooting OK.
Now my garden is covered with a thin skim of grass-like leaves and occasional thicker ones, plus the peas, and some that look like clover. Plus the potatoes. I can't weed because some of that grass is probably carrots, some of the clover is parsnips (pulled one up and it had already formed the beginning of a taproot - whoops, reburied and I'll hope). Some of the thicker leaves are probably garlic, some are "garlic grass" or "onion lily" - a very stubborn weed, deep small bulbs and white star-flowers. I don't think I'll be able to tell what's what until they start blooming (since garlic doesn't); it may become clearer with time, sometimes there's subtle differences in the leaves but nothing I can tell at this point. The bulbs are sort of edible, but I'd rather just pull them so they don't spread any more. So right now I'm going over there now and then, taking a picture and looking things over but not doing any work (it's rainy season, no need to water either). If I can keep the weeds limited, I should be able to plant tomatoes and maybe my blueberry bushes in a couple months without any trouble - otherwise I'll have to do a lot of careful digging and weeding when it's time to plant the summer plants.
So I did get quite a few squashes, which is a win - I have attempted various squash and failed before. I got a few in 2023, but a nice lot this year - and for the first time, pumpkins (only two, but that's not bad). And the pumpkins were considerably bigger (adult head size, rather than doll-baby head size) than the ones for sale at Trader Joe's, which is what I usually get to make my pies. I only got three honeynut but I liked them a lot - like butternut, but tiny (the biggest one was slightly longer than my hand), and the skin is edible too. Roast and eat whole, like a baked potato. Yum. And a decent number of zucchini, though I never got to the overwhelm level - only one baseball bat, too. Timing was the usual problem, with male flowers first and females later, so nothing to fertilize the last few females. But I got a nice lot and I intend to repeat the same plants...or maybe a couple more.
Also nice strawberries - never got enough to make it worth taking them home, I just picked and ate them as they came ripe. And the basil went to seed and I let it, hopefully I'll get more basil this year.
Last month I planted:
2 varieties of garlic
3-4 varieties of snow peas - the seeds were old, I wasn't sure they'd germinate, but I've got a bunch of peas sprouting
Shin Kuroda carrots (short broad orange, very tasty)
Parsnips
Also scattered poppy seeds (oriental) and dill and fennel. Not sure those will germinate, we'll see.
And scattered some marigold seeds.
Oh, and some odd volunteers - about this time last year there was a pulled-up potato plant near one of the other plots. I planted it, it promptly died, I forgot about it. When I came to plant this year, there was this unfamiliar broad-leafed plant in a corner; I pulled it up, then realized it was the potatoes. Replanted - turned out it was actually 5-6 plants. They seem to have managed the uprooting OK.
Now my garden is covered with a thin skim of grass-like leaves and occasional thicker ones, plus the peas, and some that look like clover. Plus the potatoes. I can't weed because some of that grass is probably carrots, some of the clover is parsnips (pulled one up and it had already formed the beginning of a taproot - whoops, reburied and I'll hope). Some of the thicker leaves are probably garlic, some are "garlic grass" or "onion lily" - a very stubborn weed, deep small bulbs and white star-flowers. I don't think I'll be able to tell what's what until they start blooming (since garlic doesn't); it may become clearer with time, sometimes there's subtle differences in the leaves but nothing I can tell at this point. The bulbs are sort of edible, but I'd rather just pull them so they don't spread any more. So right now I'm going over there now and then, taking a picture and looking things over but not doing any work (it's rainy season, no need to water either). If I can keep the weeds limited, I should be able to plant tomatoes and maybe my blueberry bushes in a couple months without any trouble - otherwise I'll have to do a lot of careful digging and weeding when it's time to plant the summer plants.
11AlisonY
Hope to see you posting regularly again in 2025, Jennifer. I always enjoy your posts on daily life in your corner of the world.
12rasdhar
>10 jjmcgaffey: Loved the garden update, and I'm very envious of you. I live in an apartment with not much sun and I have some potted plants that are doing fairly well, but even half a patch sounds wonderful. Happy New Year, and looking forward to your reading in 2025.
14jjmcgaffey
Yes. I was growing on my balcony for quite a few years before I got this plot...unfortunately a couple years ago something decided my balcony was its buffet (squirrel? Roof rat? Raccoon? Probably not a bird, certainly not an insect...but a hungry whatever it is). Last year I didn't grow much - volunteer strawberries and a tomato (Yellow Pear), mint, horseradish, blueberries, chives, oregano, and marigolds. It ate everything but the mint, oregano, and chives...and if I just grow those I suspect it will eat them (horseradish leaves were better than mint? Weird eater). So I'm transferring the permaculture ones to my plot, and cleaning out all the pots - hopefully a year of exactly zero available will teach the critter to go elsewhere. It's been three years now, argh! So I'm _very_ glad I managed to get the plot, I think I would go crazy without being able to grow anything.
15labfs39
I too love hearing about your garden. I didn't get much into my vegetable garden this year, I was too focused on redoing the front flower beds. I loved my gardens in Woodinville, WA: three big raised beds of veggies, a strawberry bed, an herb garden, fruit trees, and three types of blueberry bushes. The growing season here in Maine is much shorter so I'm having to learn what grows well here, and how early I can get things in the ground.
17WelshBookworm
>10 jjmcgaffey: I would have been very cross at the interloper! I put in 4 4x8-foot raised beds last summer. The kale and the peppers were phenomenal. The tomatoes just okay. The squash and pumpkins were dismal. I got one butternut squash and maybe a couple of zucchini. It may have been squash borers... I'll be more vigilant this year. Hoping the strawberries make it through the winter.
Here's to gardening and reading in 2025! And cats, of course.
Here's to gardening and reading in 2025! And cats, of course.
18jjmcgaffey
I'm in the SF Bay Area - winter is the rainy, and therefore the growing, season. No snow, never freezes. So I have to visit the garden regularly to keep it weeded - now is when all the weeds get a solid start.
Which is to say - the strawberries will be fine, and may even berry all winter (there were a few white, very unripe berries on a couple plants on New Year's Day). I just have to pull the weeds around them so they don't get overwhelmed. Or were you talking about your strawberries? If they're well-mulched, they usually do fine even in deep snow.
Which is to say - the strawberries will be fine, and may even berry all winter (there were a few white, very unripe berries on a couple plants on New Year's Day). I just have to pull the weeds around them so they don't get overwhelmed. Or were you talking about your strawberries? If they're well-mulched, they usually do fine even in deep snow.
20jjmcgaffey
So today, March 11 2025, I finally managed to transfer all my 2024 reviews and reading dates into LT.
Oh - I said this last year but apparently not here. I'm using Calibre Sync app to move my books between my computers, the cloud, and my phone (where I do most of my reading). I was using Calibre Companion, but that's abandonware as of last year. CC had one large advantage - it could sync data (specifically, reading dates) back to calibre. CS can't do that - but it has a persistent note field. So I can read a book, review it (and put in reading dates) in CS, and then if I delete it from my phone the review remains. I copy those reviews and dates and put them into Google Keep Notes, which is accessible both on the phone and on the web; open the same note on the web and put in reading dates and copy reviews into the book record on LT. So I'm tracking, and actually reviewing (most of the books), and will be gradually moving them onto LT; it's possible that I will catch up with myself and be able to do the work nearly real-time in a few months but even with the delay this is much better than what I had before (which was dates, but no reviews).
I have multiple notes (because Google Keep has a very limited character count per note - well, it's not that small, but about 25 reviews of a paragraph or two fills it up. I've got two notes full up, one half-full (that was half 2024 reviews), and another nearly full. Still reading a lot, still doing a lot of rereads, because I know they're good books. I'll see how well I can track things here.
Oh - I said this last year but apparently not here. I'm using Calibre Sync app to move my books between my computers, the cloud, and my phone (where I do most of my reading). I was using Calibre Companion, but that's abandonware as of last year. CC had one large advantage - it could sync data (specifically, reading dates) back to calibre. CS can't do that - but it has a persistent note field. So I can read a book, review it (and put in reading dates) in CS, and then if I delete it from my phone the review remains. I copy those reviews and dates and put them into Google Keep Notes, which is accessible both on the phone and on the web; open the same note on the web and put in reading dates and copy reviews into the book record on LT. So I'm tracking, and actually reviewing (most of the books), and will be gradually moving them onto LT; it's possible that I will catch up with myself and be able to do the work nearly real-time in a few months but even with the delay this is much better than what I had before (which was dates, but no reviews).
I have multiple notes (because Google Keep has a very limited character count per note - well, it's not that small, but about 25 reviews of a paragraph or two fills it up. I've got two notes full up, one half-full (that was half 2024 reviews), and another nearly full. Still reading a lot, still doing a lot of rereads, because I know they're good books. I'll see how well I can track things here.
22benitastrnad
Keep touching base here. I miss reading about your gardening and organizing.
23labfs39
>20 jjmcgaffey: Quite a process. I read a book on my phone yesterday, my first. It’s convenient, but I found the page a bit small once I had adjusted the font.
24jjmcgaffey
It is, but for me it works. I have...three? ereaders of various sorts - and I _never_ remember to bring them with me. Also they're slower than the phone when I tap to flip the page, just slow enough to annoy me. I can read relatively small fonts - I have distance glasses (currently progressives) and computer glasses, but for reading (or sewing) distance, I do without. My mom has to use a larger font, and yes there's not a lot of words per screen, but just having a book (or two, or three, or a hundred...) always at hand is so nice.
25quondame
>24 jjmcgaffey: I mostly read without glasses, but at a moderate font size so that the phone just doesn't display enough for my reading to flow. The page turn time of my Kindle doesn't register on my mind.
26jjmcgaffey
I have (tada!) actually caught up with putting all my reviews on LT! Not quite ready to post here - I need to do some fiddling in my spreadsheet first - but I have read _and_ reviewed 93 books so far this year. So (unless things change in a big way) this is going to be another ridiculous reading year (last year I read 300+ books). A good many rereads, but the majority are actually new books - many of which were _awful_ but I slogged through most. And some of which were equally _excellent_, it's not that they're all bad.
27humouress
>26 jjmcgaffey: Wow! Well, I look forward to the reviews. Hit us slowly :0)
28jjmcgaffey
Still haven't got them ready to post - soon, I hope.
In the meantime, I've been looking at my schedule over the next few months...and it's slightly insane.
Next weekend is both cleanup at my community garden, and the Earth Day celebration at which Alameda Backyard Growers will be selling plants and I'll be helping sell them. I've started seeds but I was very late, none of them are going to be big enough to sell - I'll give them to the AAUW (see last paragraph) plant sale probably in May.
Mid May is the library book sale - I'll be helping schlepp books, and then keeping the tables neat while people are looking at them and rearranging things.
End of May is the yard sale at my mom's condo, 5 days of bringing stuff out as it sells (there are a huge number of donations). I'll be helping with that - also I need to get my donations for the sale over there!
Sometime around the end of June I'm taking a road trip with my sister and her four cats, plus some fragile stuff - electronics and musical instruments. She and her husband are moving from Reno NV to Fort Wayne IN, and this seems the easier way to move the cats (plus, you know, fun). Plans and details still to come, but probably a week's drive (it's 30 hours straight through, says Google, but neither of us is interested in doing that).
I _may_ get back in time to go to my yearly SF convention, Baycon, which starts July 4. I hope I can make it, and that I'll be capable of attending the con after the long drive and then a flight home. I'd rather take the train but then I'll definitely miss Baycon...well, we'll see.
A week after the con (whether or not I go), Mom and I are going up to Lake Tahoe for a week (Mom's timeshare, nice peaceful place). It'll just be the two of us, I don't think either of my sisters will be there (since they both will be in Fort Wayne!). That's mid July.
Late July or early August, Mom and I fly up to Fort Wayne to visit and see my sister's new house (very new, it's currently under (re)construction). Probably a week, that trip.
Mid August is Worldcon in Seattle. I really don't think I'll be able to go...time and money both mitigate against it. But I have a virtual membership, so I'll be able to see at least some of it, and vote for the Hugos and the next Worldcon (actually, we're voting for the year after - two years is about what a place needs to get ready! So in 2025 we vote for the 2027 Worldcon - Los Angeles's 2026 bid was chosen in 2024).
Late August is the second trip up to Lake Tahoe - this one to the south shore, the earlier one is at the north of the lake. Less peaceful (right in the middle of town), but interesting and enjoyable, and still a nice vacation. Stardust is a very pleasant place to be (it looks like, and may have been, a 50s motel. Upgraded, though).
I think that's it - aside from, I'm a self-employed computer tech. I suspect I'll have a lot of work as October 14 gets closer, and people have to decide if they're getting new computers or giving up on Windows computers or what. Chromebooks? Linux? Going Mac (though that's _not_ cheaper than buying a new Windows computer!)? I'll be working in and around all those trips. Plus I've joined the AAUW (American Association of University Women) board as half a treasurer - I get to handle using the national website, and memberships (because entering them is a _pain_, say previous treasurers). Someone else deals with expenses and reimbursements and the like.
And so on and so forth. My garden. My books. Cleaning out my house (way too much stuff - therefore donations. Including books for the library sale!). And various and assorted projects, from sewing to building a NAS (Network Attached Storage/Server) as I'm finding my commercial one way too limiting. Then playing with said NAS while I set up ways I don't have to use Google or Microsoft or Amazon to keep my data (pictures, documents, music, etc) accessible on all my devices. I doubt I'll actually get a functional NAS this year - though I may be wrong, it may be simpler than I think. I certainly have lots of computer parts, disks and memory and stuff, though all of it is a bit old - that's OK, that's part of the reason for building your own NAS, it doesn't need to be shiny new expensive.
In the meantime, I've been looking at my schedule over the next few months...and it's slightly insane.
Next weekend is both cleanup at my community garden, and the Earth Day celebration at which Alameda Backyard Growers will be selling plants and I'll be helping sell them. I've started seeds but I was very late, none of them are going to be big enough to sell - I'll give them to the AAUW (see last paragraph) plant sale probably in May.
Mid May is the library book sale - I'll be helping schlepp books, and then keeping the tables neat while people are looking at them and rearranging things.
End of May is the yard sale at my mom's condo, 5 days of bringing stuff out as it sells (there are a huge number of donations). I'll be helping with that - also I need to get my donations for the sale over there!
Sometime around the end of June I'm taking a road trip with my sister and her four cats, plus some fragile stuff - electronics and musical instruments. She and her husband are moving from Reno NV to Fort Wayne IN, and this seems the easier way to move the cats (plus, you know, fun). Plans and details still to come, but probably a week's drive (it's 30 hours straight through, says Google, but neither of us is interested in doing that).
I _may_ get back in time to go to my yearly SF convention, Baycon, which starts July 4. I hope I can make it, and that I'll be capable of attending the con after the long drive and then a flight home. I'd rather take the train but then I'll definitely miss Baycon...well, we'll see.
A week after the con (whether or not I go), Mom and I are going up to Lake Tahoe for a week (Mom's timeshare, nice peaceful place). It'll just be the two of us, I don't think either of my sisters will be there (since they both will be in Fort Wayne!). That's mid July.
Late July or early August, Mom and I fly up to Fort Wayne to visit and see my sister's new house (very new, it's currently under (re)construction). Probably a week, that trip.
Mid August is Worldcon in Seattle. I really don't think I'll be able to go...time and money both mitigate against it. But I have a virtual membership, so I'll be able to see at least some of it, and vote for the Hugos and the next Worldcon (actually, we're voting for the year after - two years is about what a place needs to get ready! So in 2025 we vote for the 2027 Worldcon - Los Angeles's 2026 bid was chosen in 2024).
Late August is the second trip up to Lake Tahoe - this one to the south shore, the earlier one is at the north of the lake. Less peaceful (right in the middle of town), but interesting and enjoyable, and still a nice vacation. Stardust is a very pleasant place to be (it looks like, and may have been, a 50s motel. Upgraded, though).
I think that's it - aside from, I'm a self-employed computer tech. I suspect I'll have a lot of work as October 14 gets closer, and people have to decide if they're getting new computers or giving up on Windows computers or what. Chromebooks? Linux? Going Mac (though that's _not_ cheaper than buying a new Windows computer!)? I'll be working in and around all those trips. Plus I've joined the AAUW (American Association of University Women) board as half a treasurer - I get to handle using the national website, and memberships (because entering them is a _pain_, say previous treasurers). Someone else deals with expenses and reimbursements and the like.
And so on and so forth. My garden. My books. Cleaning out my house (way too much stuff - therefore donations. Including books for the library sale!). And various and assorted projects, from sewing to building a NAS (Network Attached Storage/Server) as I'm finding my commercial one way too limiting. Then playing with said NAS while I set up ways I don't have to use Google or Microsoft or Amazon to keep my data (pictures, documents, music, etc) accessible on all my devices. I doubt I'll actually get a functional NAS this year - though I may be wrong, it may be simpler than I think. I certainly have lots of computer parts, disks and memory and stuff, though all of it is a bit old - that's OK, that's part of the reason for building your own NAS, it doesn't need to be shiny new expensive.
29benitastrnad
I finally lost my windows access to the microsoft office productivity package January 8, so I have been operating without that stuff for a couple of months. The University decided to cut off the retirees in order to save some money (there are approximately 4,000 retirees who actively use the UA system) and because of the impending changes Microsoft is forcing on them. I still use my UA e-mail, Word, and Zoom accounts, not to mention the Citation Managers for the information databases, so when I started having trouble I notified the UA systems people. I have since had access to my e-mail restored in Outlook, Word, and Zoom, but we will see how long that lasts. If I would publish that last paper that I have languishing around in my files, I could get the whole package restored with no questions. Universities love it when faculty, retired ones included, publish.
30jjmcgaffey
Here's a few books.
Books Read January
1. How to Shield an Assassin @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review - Great story - both the romance and the heist. Mostly about relationship-building - my favorite.
2. How to Steal a Thief @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review - Love the characters here, love the relationship growth. And a fun solution to the problem.
3. How to Hack a Hacker @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review - More, and more explicit, sex scenes. But in this case the relationship has been years in the building, there are complications...and a very nice ending.
4. Common Sense Deserts Once Again (Unholy Trifecta crossover) @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review - Fun! The Unholy Trifecta discover supernaturals, and vice versa. Nice to see Ross and Glenn again, and Remi a bit more grown up.
5. Soul Mate for Sale @^ by Kian Rhodes. Review - A little cute and sweet, but not enough to it - very sketched-in characters and world.
6. Spark @^ by Mel Todd. Review
7. Experimental Voyage @^ by R.J. Blain. Review
8. How to Catch a Bookworm @^ by Ana Ashley. Review
9. Rise @^ by AJ Sherwood & Jocelynn Drake. Review
10. Soar @^ by AJ Sherwood & Jocelynn Drake. Review
11. How Tan Acquired an Apprentice @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
12. Shenanigans @^ by Erin Halbmaier. Review
13. How I Became a Therapist in Another World: Vol. 1-4 Omnibus @^ by C.A. Moss. Review
14. Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic @^ by Meghan Ciana Doidge. Review
15. Bent Corners @^ by Kris Jacen. Review
16. Gellert's New Job @^ by Johannes T. Evans. Review
17. How Not to Marry a Prince @^ by Megan Derr. Review
18. LARPing @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
19. Miss Amelia's List @^ by Mercedes Lackey. Review
20. Fated Mates and How to Woo Them @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
21. Timber Wolf @^ by Zoe Chant & Murphy Lawless. Review
22. Fated Mates and Where to Find Them @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
23. Fated Mates and When to Keep Them @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
24. Defender of the Realm @^ by Mark Huckerby. Review
25. Werewolves of Grey Wolf Lodge @^ by Serena Meadows. Review
26. Risk It All @^ by Megan Derr. Review
27. The Prince of the Moon @^ by Megan Derr. Review
28. The Geek and His Artist @^ by Hope Ryan. Review
29. Two Thousand Dreams @^ by Jocelynn Drake. Review
30. Paws in the Snow @^ by Nicole Dennis. Review
31. The Untouchable Sky @^ by Will Forrest. Review
32. How to Keep an Author (Alive) @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
33. The Insanity of Reincarnated Mages and Amorous Vampires @# by AJ Sherwood & Devon Vesper. Review
34. Arrows of Change @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
35. Arrows of Promise @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
36. Arrows of Revolution @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
37. Treasure @^ by Megan Derr. Review
38. Heads Will Roll @^ by Lish McBride. Review
39. Burning Bright @^ by Megan Derr. Review
40. My Inherited House Might be Haunted @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
41. Marriage Contract @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
42. The Sword @# by Jean Johnson. Review
43. The Wolf @# by Jean Johnson. Review
44. The Master @# by Jean Johnson. Review
Books Read January
1. How to Shield an Assassin @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review - Great story - both the romance and the heist. Mostly about relationship-building - my favorite.
2. How to Steal a Thief @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review - Love the characters here, love the relationship growth. And a fun solution to the problem.
3. How to Hack a Hacker @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review - More, and more explicit, sex scenes. But in this case the relationship has been years in the building, there are complications...and a very nice ending.
4. Common Sense Deserts Once Again (Unholy Trifecta crossover) @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review - Fun! The Unholy Trifecta discover supernaturals, and vice versa. Nice to see Ross and Glenn again, and Remi a bit more grown up.
5. Soul Mate for Sale @^ by Kian Rhodes. Review - A little cute and sweet, but not enough to it - very sketched-in characters and world.
6. Spark @^ by Mel Todd. Review
7. Experimental Voyage @^ by R.J. Blain. Review
8. How to Catch a Bookworm @^ by Ana Ashley. Review
9. Rise @^ by AJ Sherwood & Jocelynn Drake. Review
10. Soar @^ by AJ Sherwood & Jocelynn Drake. Review
11. How Tan Acquired an Apprentice @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
12. Shenanigans @^ by Erin Halbmaier. Review
13. How I Became a Therapist in Another World: Vol. 1-4 Omnibus @^ by C.A. Moss. Review
14. Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic @^ by Meghan Ciana Doidge. Review
15. Bent Corners @^ by Kris Jacen. Review
16. Gellert's New Job @^ by Johannes T. Evans. Review
17. How Not to Marry a Prince @^ by Megan Derr. Review
18. LARPing @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
19. Miss Amelia's List @^ by Mercedes Lackey. Review
20. Fated Mates and How to Woo Them @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
21. Timber Wolf @^ by Zoe Chant & Murphy Lawless. Review
22. Fated Mates and Where to Find Them @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
23. Fated Mates and When to Keep Them @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
24. Defender of the Realm @^ by Mark Huckerby. Review
25. Werewolves of Grey Wolf Lodge @^ by Serena Meadows. Review
26. Risk It All @^ by Megan Derr. Review
27. The Prince of the Moon @^ by Megan Derr. Review
28. The Geek and His Artist @^ by Hope Ryan. Review
29. Two Thousand Dreams @^ by Jocelynn Drake. Review
30. Paws in the Snow @^ by Nicole Dennis. Review
31. The Untouchable Sky @^ by Will Forrest. Review
32. How to Keep an Author (Alive) @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
33. The Insanity of Reincarnated Mages and Amorous Vampires @# by AJ Sherwood & Devon Vesper. Review
34. Arrows of Change @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
35. Arrows of Promise @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
36. Arrows of Revolution @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
37. Treasure @^ by Megan Derr. Review
38. Heads Will Roll @^ by Lish McBride. Review
39. Burning Bright @^ by Megan Derr. Review
40. My Inherited House Might be Haunted @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
41. Marriage Contract @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
42. The Sword @# by Jean Johnson. Review
43. The Wolf @# by Jean Johnson. Review
44. The Master @# by Jean Johnson. Review
31jjmcgaffey
January stats
44 books read
11 rereads
33 new books
9074 pages read, average 206.2
44 ebooks, 0 paper books
5 discards
34 SF&F
0 animal stories
1 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
24 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
41 F, 3 M authors
44 books read
11 rereads
33 new books
9074 pages read, average 206.2
44 ebooks, 0 paper books
5 discards
34 SF&F
0 animal stories
1 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
24 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
41 F, 3 M authors
32labfs39
Scanning the titles you read in January, there are some good ones (although I don't know whether the book was good). I particularly liked Soul Mate for Sale, How to Catch a Bookworm, and The Insanity of Reincarnated Mages and Amorous Vampires. :-)
33jjmcgaffey
Unfortunately How to Catch a Bookworm didn't live up to its billing - it was the title that drew me in, but the story wasn't good. Ditto Soul Mate for Sale - better but still not good. And while The Insanity wasn't bad, it wasn't one of AJ Sherwood's best. AJ does come up with _interesting_ titles - and (mostly) incredibly funny, joyful, gay romantasies. I read a lot of hers that month (and this year). Yeah, when you're looking at ebooks, it's the title that's most apt to catch you (rather than the cover).
I've got stars on my list near the top of the thread. I'll try to put them in this list too - if I'm not going to give a quick review (and I'm not, it's too much), I should say what I thought of it at least.
I've got stars on my list near the top of the thread. I'll try to put them in this list too - if I'm not going to give a quick review (and I'm not, it's too much), I should say what I thought of it at least.
34jjmcgaffey
Well. Lots of reading, decent tracking and reviewing, no posting (yet). Maybe I'll get to it - I should have some more free time now. Because...
I am currently at my sister's house in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after a weird and wild mess of a trip up here. So. Way back, I said Mom and I planned to fly up here in August to see my (other) sister's new house, which should be finished at that point. Since then, the plan has changed...a few times. The sister who is moving has four cats, and there was such a process to get them up from Nevada to Indiana...she decided what she wanted to do was a road trip, in a rented passenger van, with the cats, her family's musical instruments, and some of their computers (the fragile stuff they didn't want to put in a moving van). I said, can I come? and she said I was hoping you would. And then we were discussing it, and Mom wanted to come along. Except when we went to rent the passenger van, there weren't any available. Considered a smaller van, which would have been a squeeze but might have worked. Then went for a camper van, which would have been a lot of fun and much better for comfort. Except when my sister came down from Reno and we were all packed up and ready to put stuff in the campervan and go...we went to pick it up and it had come in broken and they had no substitute. But we were all packed (in my sister's car)...so we went home, picked up my mom's (Bolt EV, pure electric) car and the two cars headed up to Reno. We drove up in the two cars, considering possibilities...
End result, my sister and her husband and four cats will be coming up later, when their house is fully packed up (and maybe even sold). End of July, we all hope. And on Sunday June 22, Mom and I headed for Fort Wayne Indiana in her Bolt, planning to car camp across the country.
Sunday night we slept in an RV park in the car, in northern Nevada. Having done that once, yeah not again. Too cold, too small a space, no bathroom (it was across the pathway but that's a long way in the middle of the night). So since then we've been staying in hotels/motels. Even the worst has been better than car camping.
We've stopped for various attractions - the Continental Divide, a couple pioneer museums (though we missed all the dinosaur ones), and The Archway. Which is, sort of, a pioneer museum, but a particularly well done one. It's literally in an arch over Route 80 in Nebraska (near Kearney - just in case anyone gets a chance to go). You go in and get tickets and the audio speaker, then ride an escalator (btw, it is also beautifully accessible - elevators for every set of stairs or escalators, and wide flat passages) up to the beginning of the story, when pioneers began crossing the Great Plains and visiting Fort Kearney. Detailed descriptions, including excerpts from writings at the time, of the trip and the joys and hardships the pioneers encountered, are given as audio pieces tied to different spots in the life-size dioramas you're walking through. Fort Kearney, Conestoga wagons and their passengers, people around campfires, later on a Pony Express station with a video of a rider coming up and changing horses, then a stagecoach and train tracks; then a jump forward of a few decades and the Lincoln Highway and the interstate system (complete with a little drive-in and a diner)...We took about an hour to walk through it and were amazed and delighted at the whole thing. Then you go down another escalator (or elevator) and through the gift shop - they have neat junk and good snacks. There are also some really nice statues outside - a twice- or three-times-life-size buffalo, statues for people who crossed the continent and more for those who chose to settle in Nebraska...The Archway was fantastic all over.
By then - that was five days into the trip - we were very ready to be done. So we got on the main highway (we'd been choosing smaller highways so we could stop for interesting stuff more easily) and ran faster. I'm not sure the overall time was any better - faster uses more energy per mile so we had to stop more often to charge. But it felt faster. Still saw neat things - huge fields of corn and wheat, not quite ready for harvest; cool statues - the rest areas along Route 80 in Iowa (and probably elsewhere, but that's all we stopped in) were each themed. One was about Wallace (Chester A, I think) who was Secretary of Agriculture and then Vice President and then worked on saving the topsoil that was being washed and worn away by the agricultural techniques of the time (and now - but less so). Another was about writers and poets from Iowa, with a statue of a quill pen about 18 feet tall and interesting quotes inlaid in the walls.
Arrived at my youngest sister's house in the evening of Sunday the 29th - an 9-day car trip (counting driving to Reno). Nice to be settled for a bit (though we have to go back in a week or ten days). Nice to see her and her husband again, and see the latest changes she's made to the house (she is very much a DIY person and has done amazing things here). We also walked up and saw the progress on my middle sister's house - it is, of course, not quite done on time but should be done before she and her husband (and their cats) arrive in late July. We can't stay long enough for that, unfortunately, obligations at home, and it will be another 9 or so day trip to get home. But nice to have made it out here.
I am currently at my sister's house in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after a weird and wild mess of a trip up here. So. Way back, I said Mom and I planned to fly up here in August to see my (other) sister's new house, which should be finished at that point. Since then, the plan has changed...a few times. The sister who is moving has four cats, and there was such a process to get them up from Nevada to Indiana...she decided what she wanted to do was a road trip, in a rented passenger van, with the cats, her family's musical instruments, and some of their computers (the fragile stuff they didn't want to put in a moving van). I said, can I come? and she said I was hoping you would. And then we were discussing it, and Mom wanted to come along. Except when we went to rent the passenger van, there weren't any available. Considered a smaller van, which would have been a squeeze but might have worked. Then went for a camper van, which would have been a lot of fun and much better for comfort. Except when my sister came down from Reno and we were all packed up and ready to put stuff in the campervan and go...we went to pick it up and it had come in broken and they had no substitute. But we were all packed (in my sister's car)...so we went home, picked up my mom's (Bolt EV, pure electric) car and the two cars headed up to Reno. We drove up in the two cars, considering possibilities...
End result, my sister and her husband and four cats will be coming up later, when their house is fully packed up (and maybe even sold). End of July, we all hope. And on Sunday June 22, Mom and I headed for Fort Wayne Indiana in her Bolt, planning to car camp across the country.
Sunday night we slept in an RV park in the car, in northern Nevada. Having done that once, yeah not again. Too cold, too small a space, no bathroom (it was across the pathway but that's a long way in the middle of the night). So since then we've been staying in hotels/motels. Even the worst has been better than car camping.
We've stopped for various attractions - the Continental Divide, a couple pioneer museums (though we missed all the dinosaur ones), and The Archway. Which is, sort of, a pioneer museum, but a particularly well done one. It's literally in an arch over Route 80 in Nebraska (near Kearney - just in case anyone gets a chance to go). You go in and get tickets and the audio speaker, then ride an escalator (btw, it is also beautifully accessible - elevators for every set of stairs or escalators, and wide flat passages) up to the beginning of the story, when pioneers began crossing the Great Plains and visiting Fort Kearney. Detailed descriptions, including excerpts from writings at the time, of the trip and the joys and hardships the pioneers encountered, are given as audio pieces tied to different spots in the life-size dioramas you're walking through. Fort Kearney, Conestoga wagons and their passengers, people around campfires, later on a Pony Express station with a video of a rider coming up and changing horses, then a stagecoach and train tracks; then a jump forward of a few decades and the Lincoln Highway and the interstate system (complete with a little drive-in and a diner)...We took about an hour to walk through it and were amazed and delighted at the whole thing. Then you go down another escalator (or elevator) and through the gift shop - they have neat junk and good snacks. There are also some really nice statues outside - a twice- or three-times-life-size buffalo, statues for people who crossed the continent and more for those who chose to settle in Nebraska...The Archway was fantastic all over.
By then - that was five days into the trip - we were very ready to be done. So we got on the main highway (we'd been choosing smaller highways so we could stop for interesting stuff more easily) and ran faster. I'm not sure the overall time was any better - faster uses more energy per mile so we had to stop more often to charge. But it felt faster. Still saw neat things - huge fields of corn and wheat, not quite ready for harvest; cool statues - the rest areas along Route 80 in Iowa (and probably elsewhere, but that's all we stopped in) were each themed. One was about Wallace (Chester A, I think) who was Secretary of Agriculture and then Vice President and then worked on saving the topsoil that was being washed and worn away by the agricultural techniques of the time (and now - but less so). Another was about writers and poets from Iowa, with a statue of a quill pen about 18 feet tall and interesting quotes inlaid in the walls.
Arrived at my youngest sister's house in the evening of Sunday the 29th - an 9-day car trip (counting driving to Reno). Nice to be settled for a bit (though we have to go back in a week or ten days). Nice to see her and her husband again, and see the latest changes she's made to the house (she is very much a DIY person and has done amazing things here). We also walked up and saw the progress on my middle sister's house - it is, of course, not quite done on time but should be done before she and her husband (and their cats) arrive in late July. We can't stay long enough for that, unfortunately, obligations at home, and it will be another 9 or so day trip to get home. But nice to have made it out here.
35benitastrnad
>34 jjmcgaffey:
It is funny that you liked the Arch at Kearney. I thought it was so kitschy that I had to buy a luggage tag at the gift shop to remind myself that pet pork barrel projects of US senators are rarely worth the money. I do agree that the escalator is neat. It might be the longest one in Nebraska.
I live about 80 miles south of I80 and so see the Arch at Kearney fairly often, but the first time I saw it, I have to say I was shocked. It was built to be a tourist attraction and get people to stop in Kearney. However, the best tourist attraction in, and around Kearney is the the Platte River. The Platte attracts all those birds since it is midpoint in the midwest flyway. In the spring millions of birds stop in the Platte Valley from Kearney to Grand Island and stay for a two week rest stop. The bird watching is phenomenal. The senator who pushed for the pork money to build the arch should have put that money into preserving the birds and that part of the state would have gotten much more benefit from the money.
Road trips are most always fun.
It is funny that you liked the Arch at Kearney. I thought it was so kitschy that I had to buy a luggage tag at the gift shop to remind myself that pet pork barrel projects of US senators are rarely worth the money. I do agree that the escalator is neat. It might be the longest one in Nebraska.
I live about 80 miles south of I80 and so see the Arch at Kearney fairly often, but the first time I saw it, I have to say I was shocked. It was built to be a tourist attraction and get people to stop in Kearney. However, the best tourist attraction in, and around Kearney is the the Platte River. The Platte attracts all those birds since it is midpoint in the midwest flyway. In the spring millions of birds stop in the Platte Valley from Kearney to Grand Island and stay for a two week rest stop. The bird watching is phenomenal. The senator who pushed for the pork money to build the arch should have put that money into preserving the birds and that part of the state would have gotten much more benefit from the money.
Road trips are most always fun.
36jjmcgaffey
Oof, I'm home (three days ago, technically, but I've spent a lot of time sleeping). A road trip is fun, but it's also a lot of time spent sitting in the car. I'm finding I don't want to drive anywhere - no, specifically, I don't want to drive anywhere I'll need my GPS. I am so _tired_ of Android Auto...
We pushed a little harder coming home - stopped at a natural history museum (Sternberg Museum in Hays, Kansas), but otherwise we drove pretty straight through. Which meant the trip home was 6 days, not 9. Oh, and we managed to meet up with my sister and her husband and cats as we drove in opposite directions. That was fun - stopped for coffee (and tea). They made it to Fort Wayne Indiana the same day we made it home to Alameda (an electric car does make the trip much slower - they were taking it slow and still got there in four days).
We drove through one seriously impressive thunderstorm in Missouri - the whole sky was covered with repeated lightning in and below the clouds (didn't see any ground strikes), and intermittent rain from bare drizzle to someone dumping buckets on us. We were following a well-lighted semi truck, and in the bucket rain I could barely see it. Fortunately it only lasted about 5 minutes. The weird thing is that we couldn't hear any thunder at all, even when lightning was directly overhead.
And road construction was a _pain_, over and over. In one spot we had an hour-and-a-half drive that took well over three hours to get through - single lane traffic (one lane for both directions). Lots of trucks on the side of the road, from overheating or running low on fuel I suppose.
>35 benitastrnad: I suppose if you're intimately familiar with the whole story, the statues and audio bits are just cutesy. Since I had only the vaguest idea of the trails (Conestoga wagons, Oregon Trail (the game), sourdough...not much else) I learned a lot and saw some really neat stuff. They did advertise bird watching, especially the sandhill cranes, but we were there at the wrong time and besides good birdwatching takes more time than we had. And the thunderstorm simulation in the first room looked a lot like the Missouri storm, minus the rain!
We pushed a little harder coming home - stopped at a natural history museum (Sternberg Museum in Hays, Kansas), but otherwise we drove pretty straight through. Which meant the trip home was 6 days, not 9. Oh, and we managed to meet up with my sister and her husband and cats as we drove in opposite directions. That was fun - stopped for coffee (and tea). They made it to Fort Wayne Indiana the same day we made it home to Alameda (an electric car does make the trip much slower - they were taking it slow and still got there in four days).
We drove through one seriously impressive thunderstorm in Missouri - the whole sky was covered with repeated lightning in and below the clouds (didn't see any ground strikes), and intermittent rain from bare drizzle to someone dumping buckets on us. We were following a well-lighted semi truck, and in the bucket rain I could barely see it. Fortunately it only lasted about 5 minutes. The weird thing is that we couldn't hear any thunder at all, even when lightning was directly overhead.
And road construction was a _pain_, over and over. In one spot we had an hour-and-a-half drive that took well over three hours to get through - single lane traffic (one lane for both directions). Lots of trucks on the side of the road, from overheating or running low on fuel I suppose.
>35 benitastrnad: I suppose if you're intimately familiar with the whole story, the statues and audio bits are just cutesy. Since I had only the vaguest idea of the trails (Conestoga wagons, Oregon Trail (the game), sourdough...not much else) I learned a lot and saw some really neat stuff. They did advertise bird watching, especially the sandhill cranes, but we were there at the wrong time and besides good birdwatching takes more time than we had. And the thunderstorm simulation in the first room looked a lot like the Missouri storm, minus the rain!
37jjmcgaffey
Finally caught up more on my reading - or rather, on tracking my reading. Here's a couple months - still need to do a bit more from mid-April.
Books Read February
45. The Song @# by Jean Johnson. Review
46. Murphy's Lawless @^ by Chris Kennedy & Chuck Gannon & Griffin Barber & Kacey Ezell & Mark Wandrey & Mike Massa & Kevin Ikenberry. Review
47. The Cat @# by Jean Johnson. Review
48. The Storm @# by Jean Johnson. Review
49. The Flame @# by Jean Johnson. Review
50. The Mage @# by Jean Johnson. Review
51. The Nameless Restaurant @^ by Tao Wong. Review
52. The Magic That Binds @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
53. Threads of Empire @^ by Dorothy Armstrong. Review
54. Call to Quarters @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
55. Marked Yours @^ by Elizabeth Noble. Review
56. Index, a History of the @^ by Dennis Duncan. Review
57. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
58. My Dear Jenny @# by Madeleine Robins. Review
59. Elemental @# by K.L. Noone. Review
60. The Ninepenny Element @# by K.L. Noone. Review
61. Kingslayer @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
62. Sovran at War @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
Books Read February
45. The Song @# by Jean Johnson. Review
46. Murphy's Lawless @^ by Chris Kennedy & Chuck Gannon & Griffin Barber & Kacey Ezell & Mark Wandrey & Mike Massa & Kevin Ikenberry. Review
47. The Cat @# by Jean Johnson. Review
48. The Storm @# by Jean Johnson. Review
49. The Flame @# by Jean Johnson. Review
50. The Mage @# by Jean Johnson. Review
51. The Nameless Restaurant @^ by Tao Wong. Review
52. The Magic That Binds @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
53. Threads of Empire @^ by Dorothy Armstrong. Review
54. Call to Quarters @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
55. Marked Yours @^ by Elizabeth Noble. Review
56. Index, a History of the @^ by Dennis Duncan. Review
57. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
58. My Dear Jenny @# by Madeleine Robins. Review
59. Elemental @# by K.L. Noone. Review
60. The Ninepenny Element @# by K.L. Noone. Review
61. Kingslayer @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
62. Sovran at War @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
38jjmcgaffey
February stats
18 books read
11 rereads
7 new books
5783 pages read, average 321.3
18 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
15 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
2 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
10 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
15 F, 3 M authors
18 books read
11 rereads
7 new books
5783 pages read, average 321.3
18 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
15 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
2 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
10 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
15 F, 3 M authors
39jjmcgaffey
Books read March
63. Midnight Quest @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
64. Collector Of Sand And Tears @^ by Laura Greenwood. Review
65. Winter Moon: Moontide/Heart of the Moon/Banshee Cries @# by Mercedes Lackey. Review
66. Feather Of Balance @^ by Laura Greenwood. Review
67. Holly and Oak @^ by R. Cooper. Review
68. A Little Familiar @^ by R. Cooper. Review
69. Unfortunate Decrees and Iced Coffees @^ by Laura Greenwood. Review
70. Wanted by the Wolves @^ by Sirena Song. Review
71. Velveteen vs. Winter @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
72. Pumpkin Spice And All Things Nice @^ by Laura Greenwood. Review
73. Can't Spell Treason Without Tea @# by Rebecca Thorne. Review
74. Jon's Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
75. Jon's Crazy Head-Boppin' Mystery @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
76. Jon's Spooky Corpse Conundrum @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
77. Brandon's Very Merry Haunted Christmas @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
78. Mack's Perfectly Ghastly Homecoming @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
79. Mack's Rousing Ghoulish Highland Adventure @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
80. Jon's Boom Shaka Laka Problem @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
81. Alan's Utterly Accidental Dream-Cute: A Jon's Mysteries Side Story @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
82. Jon and Mack's Terrifying Tree Troubles @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
83. Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
84. The Body in the Transept @^ by Jeanne M. Dams. Review
85. Style of Love @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
86. Nothing More Certain @^ by R. Cooper. Review
87. A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
88. Dealing With Mapinguari and Dogged Engineers @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
89. Beguilement @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
90. The Tribulations of Ross Young, Supernat PA @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
91. A Place to Rest @^ by Wynn Valentine. Review
92. The Spirit Ring @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
93. Booked for Theft @^ by R.J. Blain. Review
63. Midnight Quest @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
64. Collector Of Sand And Tears @^ by Laura Greenwood. Review
65. Winter Moon: Moontide/Heart of the Moon/Banshee Cries @# by Mercedes Lackey. Review
66. Feather Of Balance @^ by Laura Greenwood. Review
67. Holly and Oak @^ by R. Cooper. Review
68. A Little Familiar @^ by R. Cooper. Review
69. Unfortunate Decrees and Iced Coffees @^ by Laura Greenwood. Review
70. Wanted by the Wolves @^ by Sirena Song. Review
71. Velveteen vs. Winter @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
72. Pumpkin Spice And All Things Nice @^ by Laura Greenwood. Review
73. Can't Spell Treason Without Tea @# by Rebecca Thorne. Review
74. Jon's Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
75. Jon's Crazy Head-Boppin' Mystery @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
76. Jon's Spooky Corpse Conundrum @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
77. Brandon's Very Merry Haunted Christmas @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
78. Mack's Perfectly Ghastly Homecoming @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
79. Mack's Rousing Ghoulish Highland Adventure @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
80. Jon's Boom Shaka Laka Problem @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
81. Alan's Utterly Accidental Dream-Cute: A Jon's Mysteries Side Story @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
82. Jon and Mack's Terrifying Tree Troubles @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
83. Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
84. The Body in the Transept @^ by Jeanne M. Dams. Review
85. Style of Love @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
86. Nothing More Certain @^ by R. Cooper. Review
87. A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
88. Dealing With Mapinguari and Dogged Engineers @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
89. Beguilement @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
90. The Tribulations of Ross Young, Supernat PA @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
91. A Place to Rest @^ by Wynn Valentine. Review
92. The Spirit Ring @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
93. Booked for Theft @^ by R.J. Blain. Review
40jjmcgaffey
March stats
31 books read
18 rereads
13 new books
6915 pages read, average 223.1
31 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
29 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
22 romances
0 graphic novels
1 mysteries
31 F, 0 M authors
31 books read
18 rereads
13 new books
6915 pages read, average 223.1
31 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
29 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
22 romances
0 graphic novels
1 mysteries
31 F, 0 M authors
42jjmcgaffey
Yep - I've written the reviews but need to copy links into my spreadsheet to get the posting format (or, you know, type each one individually - but that would not be faster). I'm planning on working on it tonight.
43jjmcgaffey
Looking at this thread, I just realized I never wrote about the whole garden mess.
So. Last year I ended up in a quarter plot. This spring/late winter I planted various and assorted...and then the garden leader told me there was a half plot open, as she had not been able to get in contact with the person who had had it last year so apparently he wasn't coming back. I agreed, joyfully, though I did request whoever took my plot leave the garlics alone so I could harvest them in June (just before the car trip). She moved someone into that plot, and I looked at the new one and considered what I would plant. Finally, on Memorial Day, I went to plant...and someone had already planted there. Whaaaat!? I complained to the garden leaders; long delay as they communicated in various directions, but eventually (again, just before the car trip) they determined that he had always intended to come back, not sure why communication failed. So they found me another plot (not sure what/who was there last year). It's a split plot - two quarter plots and a path in between. But I was leaving less than two weeks after I finally was confirmed into a plot...and it was solid weeds and hadn't been worked the year before. Also, most of my vegetable starts had died while waiting - potbound or whatever. So I spent several days weeding and working over the ground, dug in some compost, planted my pathetic few tomato starts and some squash seeds, scattered various seeds over the rest of the plot, and got the agreement of the garden manager to water my plot (which is diagonally next to hers). Oh, and harvested all my garlic from the quarter-plot - lovely lot, very rich flavor - Magic and Marjean.
Went on the trip, ended up being away for three weeks. During the trip the garden manager emailed me to ask what parts of the plot needed watering, she hadn't found anything growing next to the stakes I'd put up (by the tomato starts); I said all of both plots, I had starts and seeds everywhere. Came back and all the tomatoes were dead - absolutely no sign of them, I was puzzled. Several of the squashes had sprouted, and many other unidentified plants. Jane (the garden manager) offered me some tomato and squash starts (leftovers from her garden, volunteers from last year), which I accepted and planted - neither of us have any idea what they are, and of course they were planted very late (mid-August). So we'll see if I actually get any fruits off them. I had scattered spinach and a lettuce mix, marigolds...and a few other things that I've forgotten. Never saw a spinach, not sure if I got some of my lettuce or leftovers from the previous occupant of the plot. Marigolds did their usual oddity - in a pot, even a big pot, they grow about 6 inches high and spindly, and flower almost immediately. In the ground, I had several mounds knee-high of highly jagged leaves and red stems, which I _thought_ were marigolds but I wasn't sure - and not even a bud. They finally produced a few buds in late August, after I threatened to pull them out if they didn't flower and show me what they were...
From the previous occupant, I had daikon radishes, some sort of cabbage/kale/?, mustard, and a huge mat of ...some kind of nightshade plant. I honestly had (have) no idea what they were. Not tomatoes, the flowers are white/pink; maybe potatoes but the leaves look odd...maybe just wild nightshade. When they produced small green fruits I decided probably wild nightshade, though the fruit was larger than those should be and not black. But I decided to leave them for a while anyway. And then researched and found potatoes will produce green fruits with seeds that will produce random potato types, if the weather is just right (including cool enough that the flowers don't drop, which this year certainly was). So - maybe I have a _lot_ of potatoes this year, and maybe I'll grow some new varieties next year. And if these are volunteers from dropped fruit last year, maybe they're new varieties already - they may be from missed tubers, though. Also amaranth (going to try to harvest again this year - red spikes, very pretty, and they make edible seeds), some mint, and...various and sundry other plants. The tomatoes are pathetic but growing, we'll see if they get up to size before it gets too cold; her squash starts ditto; the squashes from my seeds are growing nicely, and I have gotten zucchini. Another one has baby squashes, but I'm not sure what they are - delicata, maybe.
So...garden, more chaotic than usual. Also, when I got this split plot, Jane told me that someone else would be getting it next year and they'd be moving me elsewhere, so I didn't plant my berry bushes or any other permaculture. But when I asked recently, she said of course I would have that plot next year. So...I guess I'll plant my garlic and berry bushes in a few months, after I harvest what's in the plot now, and do some serious digging and plant cover crops. I don't really want any of the plants the previous occupant gifted me with (except maybe the potatoes, and I want to harvest them and control where they end up), so tilling and cover crop to put down what I don't want.
Whee!
So. Last year I ended up in a quarter plot. This spring/late winter I planted various and assorted...and then the garden leader told me there was a half plot open, as she had not been able to get in contact with the person who had had it last year so apparently he wasn't coming back. I agreed, joyfully, though I did request whoever took my plot leave the garlics alone so I could harvest them in June (just before the car trip). She moved someone into that plot, and I looked at the new one and considered what I would plant. Finally, on Memorial Day, I went to plant...and someone had already planted there. Whaaaat!? I complained to the garden leaders; long delay as they communicated in various directions, but eventually (again, just before the car trip) they determined that he had always intended to come back, not sure why communication failed. So they found me another plot (not sure what/who was there last year). It's a split plot - two quarter plots and a path in between. But I was leaving less than two weeks after I finally was confirmed into a plot...and it was solid weeds and hadn't been worked the year before. Also, most of my vegetable starts had died while waiting - potbound or whatever. So I spent several days weeding and working over the ground, dug in some compost, planted my pathetic few tomato starts and some squash seeds, scattered various seeds over the rest of the plot, and got the agreement of the garden manager to water my plot (which is diagonally next to hers). Oh, and harvested all my garlic from the quarter-plot - lovely lot, very rich flavor - Magic and Marjean.
Went on the trip, ended up being away for three weeks. During the trip the garden manager emailed me to ask what parts of the plot needed watering, she hadn't found anything growing next to the stakes I'd put up (by the tomato starts); I said all of both plots, I had starts and seeds everywhere. Came back and all the tomatoes were dead - absolutely no sign of them, I was puzzled. Several of the squashes had sprouted, and many other unidentified plants. Jane (the garden manager) offered me some tomato and squash starts (leftovers from her garden, volunteers from last year), which I accepted and planted - neither of us have any idea what they are, and of course they were planted very late (mid-August). So we'll see if I actually get any fruits off them. I had scattered spinach and a lettuce mix, marigolds...and a few other things that I've forgotten. Never saw a spinach, not sure if I got some of my lettuce or leftovers from the previous occupant of the plot. Marigolds did their usual oddity - in a pot, even a big pot, they grow about 6 inches high and spindly, and flower almost immediately. In the ground, I had several mounds knee-high of highly jagged leaves and red stems, which I _thought_ were marigolds but I wasn't sure - and not even a bud. They finally produced a few buds in late August, after I threatened to pull them out if they didn't flower and show me what they were...
From the previous occupant, I had daikon radishes, some sort of cabbage/kale/?, mustard, and a huge mat of ...some kind of nightshade plant. I honestly had (have) no idea what they were. Not tomatoes, the flowers are white/pink; maybe potatoes but the leaves look odd...maybe just wild nightshade. When they produced small green fruits I decided probably wild nightshade, though the fruit was larger than those should be and not black. But I decided to leave them for a while anyway. And then researched and found potatoes will produce green fruits with seeds that will produce random potato types, if the weather is just right (including cool enough that the flowers don't drop, which this year certainly was). So - maybe I have a _lot_ of potatoes this year, and maybe I'll grow some new varieties next year. And if these are volunteers from dropped fruit last year, maybe they're new varieties already - they may be from missed tubers, though. Also amaranth (going to try to harvest again this year - red spikes, very pretty, and they make edible seeds), some mint, and...various and sundry other plants. The tomatoes are pathetic but growing, we'll see if they get up to size before it gets too cold; her squash starts ditto; the squashes from my seeds are growing nicely, and I have gotten zucchini. Another one has baby squashes, but I'm not sure what they are - delicata, maybe.
So...garden, more chaotic than usual. Also, when I got this split plot, Jane told me that someone else would be getting it next year and they'd be moving me elsewhere, so I didn't plant my berry bushes or any other permaculture. But when I asked recently, she said of course I would have that plot next year. So...I guess I'll plant my garlic and berry bushes in a few months, after I harvest what's in the plot now, and do some serious digging and plant cover crops. I don't really want any of the plants the previous occupant gifted me with (except maybe the potatoes, and I want to harvest them and control where they end up), so tilling and cover crop to put down what I don't want.
Whee!
44jjmcgaffey
Books Read April
94. Installment Immortality @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
95. Legacy @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
96. Passage @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
97. Horizon @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
98. Knife Children @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
99. A Little Blessing @^ by R. Cooper. Review
100. Claiming Lyla @^ by Sabrina Silvers. Review
101. Saving Sara @^ by Sabrina Silvers. Review
102. Forbidden Moon @^ by Sabrina Silvers. Review
103. The Goblin Emperor @# by Katherine Addison. Review
104. Velveteen vs. The United States Government @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
105. The Witness for the Dead @# by Katherine Addison. Review
106. The Grief of Stones @# by Katherine Addison. Review
107. The Tomb of Dragons @^ by Katherine Addison. Review
108. Live, Love, Level @^ by M.C.A. Hogarth. Review
109. The Bed Hierarchy @^ by Lauren Connolly. Review
110. Blessed (Fade to Black Version) @^ by R. Cooper. Review
111. A Suitable Consort (For the King and His Husband) @^ by R. Cooper. Review
112. A Suitable Bodyguard @^ by R. Cooper. Review
113. A Suitable Captive @^ by R. Cooper. Review
114. Direct Descendant @^ by Tanya Huff. Review
115. The Book Dragon’s Lair @^ by Holly Day. Review
116. Adopt a Vampire @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
117. Mated to the Fire Dragon @^ by Holly Day. Review
118. Half a Soul @^ by Olivia Atwater. Review
119. The Husband Hoax @^ by Saxon James. Review
120. Alliance of Equals @# by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
121. The Snaccident @^ by Holly Day. Review
122. Trader's Leap @# by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
123. Ribbon Dance @# by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
124. Diviner's Bow @^ by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
125. A Bleacke Mating @^ by Lesli Richardson & Tymber Dalton. Review
126. The Wolf Cure @^ by Holly Day. Review
94. Installment Immortality @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
95. Legacy @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
96. Passage @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
97. Horizon @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
98. Knife Children @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
99. A Little Blessing @^ by R. Cooper. Review
100. Claiming Lyla @^ by Sabrina Silvers. Review
101. Saving Sara @^ by Sabrina Silvers. Review
102. Forbidden Moon @^ by Sabrina Silvers. Review
103. The Goblin Emperor @# by Katherine Addison. Review
104. Velveteen vs. The United States Government @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
105. The Witness for the Dead @# by Katherine Addison. Review
106. The Grief of Stones @# by Katherine Addison. Review
107. The Tomb of Dragons @^ by Katherine Addison. Review
108. Live, Love, Level @^ by M.C.A. Hogarth. Review
109. The Bed Hierarchy @^ by Lauren Connolly. Review
110. Blessed (Fade to Black Version) @^ by R. Cooper. Review
111. A Suitable Consort (For the King and His Husband) @^ by R. Cooper. Review
112. A Suitable Bodyguard @^ by R. Cooper. Review
113. A Suitable Captive @^ by R. Cooper. Review
114. Direct Descendant @^ by Tanya Huff. Review
115. The Book Dragon’s Lair @^ by Holly Day. Review
116. Adopt a Vampire @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
117. Mated to the Fire Dragon @^ by Holly Day. Review
118. Half a Soul @^ by Olivia Atwater. Review
119. The Husband Hoax @^ by Saxon James. Review
120. Alliance of Equals @# by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
121. The Snaccident @^ by Holly Day. Review
122. Trader's Leap @# by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
123. Ribbon Dance @# by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
124. Diviner's Bow @^ by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
125. A Bleacke Mating @^ by Lesli Richardson & Tymber Dalton. Review
126. The Wolf Cure @^ by Holly Day. Review
45jjmcgaffey
April stats
33 books read
10 rereads
23 new books
9036 pages read, average 273.8
33 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
31 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
17 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
32 F, 5 M authors
Obviously I'm counting some books as two or more genres - it's a variable, depends on the book and my opinion.
33 books read
10 rereads
23 new books
9036 pages read, average 273.8
33 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
31 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
17 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
32 F, 5 M authors
Obviously I'm counting some books as two or more genres - it's a variable, depends on the book and my opinion.
46jjmcgaffey
Books Read May
127. Skye's Fall @^ by Will Forrest. Review
128. Fourth Point of Contact @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
129. Zone of Action @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
130. Starfire @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
131. A Mage's Guide to Human Familiars @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
132. A Mage's Guide to Aussie Terrors @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
133. A Mage's Guide to Wicky @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
134. A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I'm the Gay Holy Maiden @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
135. Clockwork Boys @# by T Kingfisher. Review
136. Kisses for a June Afternoon @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
137. Under an August Moon @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
138. An October Question @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
139. December Beginnings @# by K.L. Noone. Review
140. Lambchop and the Serious Courtship @^ by R. Cooper. Review
141. For Better or Worse @^ by R. Cooper. Review
142. A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking @# by T Kingfisher. Review
143. Cold Flame @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
144. Runaway @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
145. The Prince of New York @^ by Susan Copperfield. Review
146. The Captive King @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
147. Storm Called @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
148. Taken @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
149. Null and Void @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
150. A Guiding Light @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
151. Huntress @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
152. Bonds @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
153. Trickster King @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
154. The Vampire of Montana @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
155. Iron Unicorn @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
156. Bisclavret @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
157. The Furthest Station @# by Ben Aaronovitch. Review
127. Skye's Fall @^ by Will Forrest. Review
128. Fourth Point of Contact @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
129. Zone of Action @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
130. Starfire @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
131. A Mage's Guide to Human Familiars @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
132. A Mage's Guide to Aussie Terrors @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
133. A Mage's Guide to Wicky @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
134. A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I'm the Gay Holy Maiden @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
135. Clockwork Boys @# by T Kingfisher. Review
136. Kisses for a June Afternoon @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
137. Under an August Moon @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
138. An October Question @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
139. December Beginnings @# by K.L. Noone. Review
140. Lambchop and the Serious Courtship @^ by R. Cooper. Review
141. For Better or Worse @^ by R. Cooper. Review
142. A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking @# by T Kingfisher. Review
143. Cold Flame @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
144. Runaway @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
145. The Prince of New York @^ by Susan Copperfield. Review
146. The Captive King @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
147. Storm Called @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
148. Taken @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
149. Null and Void @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
150. A Guiding Light @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
151. Huntress @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
152. Bonds @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
153. Trickster King @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
154. The Vampire of Montana @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
155. Iron Unicorn @# by Susan Copperfield. Review
156. Bisclavret @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
157. The Furthest Station @# by Ben Aaronovitch. Review
47jjmcgaffey
May stats
31 books read
22 rereads
9 new books
-72 rereads paid for
8372 pages read, average 270.1
0 BOMBs
0 ER books
0 Netgalley books
31 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
23 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
13 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
29 F, 2 M authors
31 books read
22 rereads
9 new books
-72 rereads paid for
8372 pages read, average 270.1
0 BOMBs
0 ER books
0 Netgalley books
31 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
23 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
13 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
29 F, 2 M authors
48jjmcgaffey
Books Read June
158. The Salty Mageknight and the Sweet Dark Lord: A Romantic Comedy of Reformed Edgelords @^ by C.A. Moss. Review
159. Herbs and Harmonies: How I Became a Therapist in Another World Vol. 5, 6, and 8 Omnibus @^ by C.A. Moss. Review
160. Dungeon Crawler Carl @^ by Matt Dinniman. Review
161. Just Another Day in Paradise @# by Justine Davis. Review
162. Hall of Blood and Mercy @^ by K. M. Shea. Review
163. What's Fair to Offer in Exchange @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
164. I Went on an Adventure and All I Got Was This Barbarian Orc @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
Not much read this month - partly because some of the books were rather large, but mostly because I was prepping for the car trip, and taking the car trip. Hard to read while driving or being a passenger.
158. The Salty Mageknight and the Sweet Dark Lord: A Romantic Comedy of Reformed Edgelords @^ by C.A. Moss. Review
159. Herbs and Harmonies: How I Became a Therapist in Another World Vol. 5, 6, and 8 Omnibus @^ by C.A. Moss. Review
160. Dungeon Crawler Carl @^ by Matt Dinniman. Review
161. Just Another Day in Paradise @# by Justine Davis. Review
162. Hall of Blood and Mercy @^ by K. M. Shea. Review
163. What's Fair to Offer in Exchange @^ by Seanan McGuire. Review
164. I Went on an Adventure and All I Got Was This Barbarian Orc @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
Not much read this month - partly because some of the books were rather large, but mostly because I was prepping for the car trip, and taking the car trip. Hard to read while driving or being a passenger.
49jjmcgaffey
June stats
7 books read
1 rereads
6 new books
2740 pages read, average 391.4
7 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
6 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
1 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
6 F, 1 M authors
7 books read
1 rereads
6 new books
2740 pages read, average 391.4
7 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
6 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
1 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
6 F, 1 M authors
50jjmcgaffey
Half-year stats
164 books read
73 rereads
91 new books
41920 pages read, average per book 255.6, average per month 6986.7
164 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards so far this year, 100 short of my half-year goal
I did pick out some books to discard but I won't count them until they leave the house - and this stat is almost completely disconnected from my reading, since that's basically ebooks.
138 SF&F
0 animal stories
1 children's
2 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
87 romances
0 graphic novels
1 mysteries
154 F, 14 M authors
164 books read
73 rereads
91 new books
41920 pages read, average per book 255.6, average per month 6986.7
164 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards so far this year, 100 short of my half-year goal
I did pick out some books to discard but I won't count them until they leave the house - and this stat is almost completely disconnected from my reading, since that's basically ebooks.
138 SF&F
0 animal stories
1 children's
2 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
87 romances
0 graphic novels
1 mysteries
154 F, 14 M authors
51jjmcgaffey
Books Read July
165. The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
166. Tam Lin @# by Pamela Dean. Review
167. A Suitable Stray (For an Outguard and an Assistant) @^ by R. Cooper. Review
168. The Quiet Side @^ by Casey Blair. Review
169. To Take a First Step, And Then Another @^ by Casey Blair. Review
170. The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
171. The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
172. Court of Midnight and Deception @^ by K. M. Shea. Review
173. The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
174. The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
175. Beyond the Ranges @^ by John Ringo & James Aidee. Review (can't get the secondary author connected properly to the book)
176. The Adventure of the Demonic Ox @^ by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
177. Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
178. Words Are Magic @^ by Mel Todd. Review
179. Gemini @^ by Jeffrey Kluger. Review
180. Gifts @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
181. Portraits @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
182. Matched with the Firefighter @^ by Chrissy George. Review
183. All Fun and Games @^ by Honor Raconteur. Review
184. The Orb of Cairado @^ by Katherine Addison. Review
185. The Magic That Binds @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
186. Marriage Contract @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
187. Relics From A Traveling Show @^ by K. M. Herkes. Review
165. The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
166. Tam Lin @# by Pamela Dean. Review
167. A Suitable Stray (For an Outguard and an Assistant) @^ by R. Cooper. Review
168. The Quiet Side @^ by Casey Blair. Review
169. To Take a First Step, And Then Another @^ by Casey Blair. Review
170. The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
171. The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
172. Court of Midnight and Deception @^ by K. M. Shea. Review
173. The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
174. The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
175. Beyond the Ranges @^ by John Ringo & James Aidee. Review
(can't get the secondary author connected properly to the book)176. The Adventure of the Demonic Ox @^ by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
177. Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
178. Words Are Magic @^ by Mel Todd. Review
179. Gemini @^ by Jeffrey Kluger. Review
180. Gifts @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
181. Portraits @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
182. Matched with the Firefighter @^ by Chrissy George. Review
183. All Fun and Games @^ by Honor Raconteur. Review
184. The Orb of Cairado @^ by Katherine Addison. Review
185. The Magic That Binds @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
186. Marriage Contract @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
187. Relics From A Traveling Show @^ by K. M. Herkes. Review
52jjmcgaffey
July stats
23 books read
3 rereads
20 new books
6404 pages read, average 278.4
23 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
17 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
1 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
5 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
21 F, 2 M authors
23 books read
3 rereads
20 new books
6404 pages read, average 278.4
23 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
17 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
1 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
5 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
21 F, 2 M authors
53jjmcgaffey
Books Read August (so far)
188. How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life: The Complete Works @^ by Jocelynn Drake. Review
189. One of These Nights @# by Justine Davis. Review
190. Second-Chance Hero @# by Justine Davis. Review
191. Midnight Seduction @# by Justine Davis. Review
192. In His Sights @# by Justine Davis. Review
193. Emily Fox-Seton / Being "The Making of a Marchioness" and "The Methods of Lady Walderhurst" @^ by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Review
194. Chalice @# by Robin McKinley. Review
195. The Incubus's Assistant @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
196. Fox Recruits a Mute Boy (And Falls in Love) @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
197. The Dragon's Aide @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
198. The Shapeshifter's Secretary @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
199. The Vampire's Receptionist @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
200. The Banning of The Bath Bombs @^ by AJ Sherwood & Devon Vesper. Review
201. Flashes @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
202. Owlflight @# by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon. Review
203. Proof @^ by Justine Davis. Review
204. Owlsight @# by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon. Review
205. Owlknight @# by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon. Review
206. Dark Reunion @# by Justine Davis. Review
207. Deadly Temptation @# by Justine Davis. Review
208. Her Best Friend's Husband @# by Justine Davis. Review
209. Backstreet Hero @# by Justine Davis. Review
210. His Personal Mission @# by Justine Davis. Review
211. Redstone Ever After @# by Justine Davis. Review
212. The Best Revenge @# by Justine Davis. Review
I've kind of stalled out since I finished The Best Revenge - I'm reading several books but none of them are really catching me, so I'm not close to finishing. I may go reread something else. Or this may be it for August (not like there's a lot more to the month...).
188. How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life: The Complete Works @^ by Jocelynn Drake. Review
189. One of These Nights @# by Justine Davis. Review
190. Second-Chance Hero @# by Justine Davis. Review
191. Midnight Seduction @# by Justine Davis. Review
192. In His Sights @# by Justine Davis. Review
193. Emily Fox-Seton / Being "The Making of a Marchioness" and "The Methods of Lady Walderhurst" @^ by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Review
194. Chalice @# by Robin McKinley. Review
195. The Incubus's Assistant @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
196. Fox Recruits a Mute Boy (And Falls in Love) @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
197. The Dragon's Aide @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
198. The Shapeshifter's Secretary @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
199. The Vampire's Receptionist @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
200. The Banning of The Bath Bombs @^ by AJ Sherwood & Devon Vesper. Review
201. Flashes @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
202. Owlflight @# by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon. Review
203. Proof @^ by Justine Davis. Review
204. Owlsight @# by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon. Review
205. Owlknight @# by Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon. Review
206. Dark Reunion @# by Justine Davis. Review
207. Deadly Temptation @# by Justine Davis. Review
208. Her Best Friend's Husband @# by Justine Davis. Review
209. Backstreet Hero @# by Justine Davis. Review
210. His Personal Mission @# by Justine Davis. Review
211. Redstone Ever After @# by Justine Davis. Review
212. The Best Revenge @# by Justine Davis. Review
I've kind of stalled out since I finished The Best Revenge - I'm reading several books but none of them are really catching me, so I'm not close to finishing. I may go reread something else. Or this may be it for August (not like there's a lot more to the month...).
54jjmcgaffey
So the year so far - I've read 212 books, and more new books than rereads (which kind of surprises me) - 91 rereads, 121 new books. Hmm, though, I've reread several books (several series, actually) twice in this year - read some AJ Sherwood in January and then again in July/August, for instance. I only put them in for one date (the later one), though, so I've actually read more than this shows...and that may be why my rereads are as low as they are. Still a lot of reading.
I am now up to date on reviews and posts; I'll try to keep it that way (week by week ideally, month by month at least). Sorry for the mega-dump but at least they're all out now.
I am now up to date on reviews and posts; I'll try to keep it that way (week by week ideally, month by month at least). Sorry for the mega-dump but at least they're all out now.
55quondame
A brief scan of your reading has shown me that you haven't got Tuyo among the books you've read or plan to read. Since we share more titles than most, you might want to give that book and series a look.
The King is Dead was another recent winner for me.
The King is Dead was another recent winner for me.
56humouress
Wow - you've read 4 times as many books as I have this year. Sorry to hear about the garden mess-up.
57benitastrnad
>43 jjmcgaffey:
Garden problems like this do happen, but this sounds like somebody just wasn't keeping track of where they were putting people. I can only hope that it goes better for you next year. I planted two eggplants this year. Both of them in pots. I wasn't expecting much, but those darn eggplants have given me six eggplants and there are more on the plants. I am going to roast several of them later today and freeze the pulp. It will make lovely Baba Ghanoush this winter.
My sister and I joined a CSA and I can say that I have been literally swimming in fruit. Then, there is the sweet corn. The sweet corn around here did very very well. Everybody that planted plots of it, had sweet corn to give away. Most weeks I would find a random bag of 6 ears of sweet corn just left on the step. Usually, it is tomatoes and zucchini but this year it was sweet corn. I still have a bunch of leeks to cook and will do a gratin for Sunday dinner. There is still zucchini and tomatoes, but it looks like the corn will finally be done.
I also did a pot garden on my deck and I went overboard. This new house has a deck that faces east and south. I thought it would be sunny. It isn't. There is a medium sized walnut tree close by and it is the right place that it shades the deck. My hot and sunny plants took a long time to get going. I thought the begonias would like the diffused light, but it seems they prefer bright out-in-the-sun, so next year I will have to look for shade plants. I had great luck with my mint, sage, and chives, so much of gardening comes down to experience and climate. That is what makes it fun.
Garden problems like this do happen, but this sounds like somebody just wasn't keeping track of where they were putting people. I can only hope that it goes better for you next year. I planted two eggplants this year. Both of them in pots. I wasn't expecting much, but those darn eggplants have given me six eggplants and there are more on the plants. I am going to roast several of them later today and freeze the pulp. It will make lovely Baba Ghanoush this winter.
My sister and I joined a CSA and I can say that I have been literally swimming in fruit. Then, there is the sweet corn. The sweet corn around here did very very well. Everybody that planted plots of it, had sweet corn to give away. Most weeks I would find a random bag of 6 ears of sweet corn just left on the step. Usually, it is tomatoes and zucchini but this year it was sweet corn. I still have a bunch of leeks to cook and will do a gratin for Sunday dinner. There is still zucchini and tomatoes, but it looks like the corn will finally be done.
I also did a pot garden on my deck and I went overboard. This new house has a deck that faces east and south. I thought it would be sunny. It isn't. There is a medium sized walnut tree close by and it is the right place that it shades the deck. My hot and sunny plants took a long time to get going. I thought the begonias would like the diffused light, but it seems they prefer bright out-in-the-sun, so next year I will have to look for shade plants. I had great luck with my mint, sage, and chives, so much of gardening comes down to experience and climate. That is what makes it fun.
58jjmcgaffey
There's quite a bit of lack of communication, one way or another, in the garden. For one thing, there's a lot of gardeners who barely speak English. So some declarations (like, you must come to the garden cleanup spring and fall, and tell Jane you're keeping your plot) just get missed entirely. There are also a lot of elderly gardeners, and some of them just stop coming - it may eventually be discovered if they got sick, or moved away, or aren't up to it any more...but Jane is used to plots suddenly being available.
So now that I have an assigned plot and am not giving it up, next year should be much better.
We didn't get a lot of corn - I like when there's a zucchini overload (I have a lot of recipes) but I'd be even happier with corn. I did get to help another gardener who was overloaded with tomatoes - she didn't want the cherries and that's what I prefer. Lacking any tomatoes yet myself, that was very nice.
The eater on my balcony _may_ have given up...but I've thought that before. I didn't manage to remove everything this year, will try again next year (I really want to do at least one year with nothing growing there, as solid discouragement).
>55 quondame: I think you've recommended Tuyo to me before; my libraries don't have it, but I got another by the same author (Lord of the Changing Winds). Haven't read that, either, but at least I have it on my list. I'll check out The King is Dead, too.
>56 humouress: Yeah, a lot of books, and some really good ones too. And some really bad ones...and a _lot_ of rereads. I suspect the rest of the year will be similar. I read 372 books last year, many of them the same ones I've read this year...
So now that I have an assigned plot and am not giving it up, next year should be much better.
We didn't get a lot of corn - I like when there's a zucchini overload (I have a lot of recipes) but I'd be even happier with corn. I did get to help another gardener who was overloaded with tomatoes - she didn't want the cherries and that's what I prefer. Lacking any tomatoes yet myself, that was very nice.
The eater on my balcony _may_ have given up...but I've thought that before. I didn't manage to remove everything this year, will try again next year (I really want to do at least one year with nothing growing there, as solid discouragement).
>55 quondame: I think you've recommended Tuyo to me before; my libraries don't have it, but I got another by the same author (Lord of the Changing Winds). Haven't read that, either, but at least I have it on my list. I'll check out The King is Dead, too.
>56 humouress: Yeah, a lot of books, and some really good ones too. And some really bad ones...and a _lot_ of rereads. I suspect the rest of the year will be similar. I read 372 books last year, many of them the same ones I've read this year...
59labfs39
I love following your adventures and misadventures in your garden plot. My raised beds did terribly this year. Partly it's due to the weather—the first part of the summer it rained constantly and the last month has been a drought—and partly due to negligence on my part. I did get a decent crop of peas and cherry tomatoes, but the beans, peppers, and cukes were sad; and the carrots and swiss chard did NOTHING.
60jjmcgaffey
>59 labfs39: You may find - depending on how thoroughly you dig over your beds - that you get a spring crop of carrots. I've had that - scattered seed, got zero, then next year there were carrots _everywhere_. Don't know about swiss chard.
61cindydavid4
we have two growing seasons here, oct-nov, jan-march. both times my plants were doing fine, then bolted prematurely, or the heat burned them up. gonna have to come up with a new way of gardening here coz what i have been doing for years aint working
62RidgewayGirl
>43 jjmcgaffey: I'm sorry your allotment was so badly managed! It sounds like you bent over backward to accommodate their disorganization. Hoping you have a permanent plot from the get go next year. We've stuck with pots of herbs and chilies since moving here -- where we're in a CSA and have a farmer's market five minutes away and neighbors piling up vegetables at the ends of their walkways. We did have both of our large parsley pots absolutely eaten down to stalks, but as it was by a group of hungry swallowtail caterpillars, we're counting it as our donation to the wildlife.
63benitastrnad
>62 RidgewayGirl:
I had the same problem with my parsley that was planted in pots. I let the caterpillars have it, and now both of the pots have restarted, so I will have parsely again in a week or so.
I had the same problem with my parsley that was planted in pots. I let the caterpillars have it, and now both of the pots have restarted, so I will have parsely again in a week or so.
64jjmcgaffey
>62 RidgewayGirl: Looks like I will have that permanent(ish) plot. And given the weather here, "next year"'s planting starts in November or so (garlic, at least, maybe carrots and poppies and other things that really like damp soil to start. Of course last winter it was a lot past damp (too muddy/liquid to work the soil most of the winter), but the garlic did well anyway so I'll do it again this year.
65jjmcgaffey
Didn't read anything else in August (after what I posted above), so here's the stats for that month.
August stats
25 books read
15 rereads
10 new books
6200 pages read, average 248
25 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
7 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
2 general fiction
15 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
25 F, 0 M authors
A few more rereads than most of the other months - hmmm, actually, it's four months with more rereads and four with more new books so far this year. Whatever. I'm still stalled out on Hemlock & Silver - it's a T Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon book, so it's excellent, but I am just not in the mood for edge-of-horror. So next month I'll read some more fluff, and reread ditto. Eventually I'll be up for finishing H&S.
August stats
25 books read
15 rereads
10 new books
6200 pages read, average 248
25 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
7 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
2 general fiction
15 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
25 F, 0 M authors
A few more rereads than most of the other months - hmmm, actually, it's four months with more rereads and four with more new books so far this year. Whatever. I'm still stalled out on Hemlock & Silver - it's a T Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon book, so it's excellent, but I am just not in the mood for edge-of-horror. So next month I'll read some more fluff, and reread ditto. Eventually I'll be up for finishing H&S.
66kjuliff
>65 jjmcgaffey: “stalled” - so much better than DNF or “maybe later”. Thanks Jim, I’ll be using it in future..
67jjmcgaffey
Books Read September (so far)
213. The First Assistant @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
214. The Unexpected Barbarian @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
215. Genesis @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
216. Going Down @^ by Zile Elliven. Review
217. Quarter Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
218. Half Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
219. Full Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
220. Double Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
221. Captain's Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
222. Owner's Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
223. Milk Run @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
224. Suicide Run @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
225. Home Run @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
226. In Ashes Born @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
227. To Fire Called @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
228. By Darkness Forged @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
229. School Days @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
230. Working Class @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
231. Hard Knocks @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
232. A Light in the Dark @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
I dove deeply into Nathan Lowell - his stuff is lovely if you're feeling a tad fragile (which I am, not sure why). There's conflict and stakes, but it's all low-key - it's space SF but there's no overarching villain, or grand hero either. Just people taking care of business (which can get grand-ish, but it's just not that big). Fascinating cultures and tasks and events, though. I've got one more to read - started Dark Knight Station Origins and haven't finished it yet - but I had some downtime today so I caught up on my stats and reviews.
213. The First Assistant @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
214. The Unexpected Barbarian @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
215. Genesis @^ by Jennifer Cody. Review
216. Going Down @^ by Zile Elliven. Review
217. Quarter Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
218. Half Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
219. Full Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
220. Double Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
221. Captain's Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
222. Owner's Share @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
223. Milk Run @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
224. Suicide Run @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
225. Home Run @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
226. In Ashes Born @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
227. To Fire Called @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
228. By Darkness Forged @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
229. School Days @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
230. Working Class @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
231. Hard Knocks @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
232. A Light in the Dark @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
I dove deeply into Nathan Lowell - his stuff is lovely if you're feeling a tad fragile (which I am, not sure why). There's conflict and stakes, but it's all low-key - it's space SF but there's no overarching villain, or grand hero either. Just people taking care of business (which can get grand-ish, but it's just not that big). Fascinating cultures and tasks and events, though. I've got one more to read - started Dark Knight Station Origins and haven't finished it yet - but I had some downtime today so I caught up on my stats and reviews.
69benitastrnad
While I was reading a John McPhee book I ran across a reference to Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. Have you ever read anything by him?
70jjmcgaffey
I've read quite a few McPhees. Not sure I've read any Robinson...I'm aware of his Mars series but haven't actually read any. Heh - looks like the only one of his I have is a Hugo-nominated novel from 2013, and I haven't read it (2312).
71jjmcgaffey
>68 humouress: ...or why I'm now in Club Read. I considered moving to one of the bigger challenge groups but I was already posting here, and I like a lot of the people here - I still read threads in 75 Book Challenge but that is so not a challenge for me. Even in a normal year (unlike this or the last couple).
72benitastrnad
I think I have the colors titles except for one. I should get them out and get them read. I do like space opera, but I don't think Robinson is a space opera author.
73qebo
>10 jjmcgaffey:, >43 jjmcgaffey:, >58 jjmcgaffey: Sympathizing with your garden troubles... I manage the bureaucracy for a neighborhood community garden, took it over a dozen years ago because the garden founder was frustratingly vague about contact info and plot location. So I'm ruthless. Your plot is sacred, it's yours until you say otherwise, but if I haven't heard from you by the end of March, you're out and you don't get the new gate lock combination. I'll email, phone, text, repeatedly, ask people who might know you, etc. but the deadline is absolute. On April 1, I'm moving on. We do occasionally have plotholders who don't speak English, but typically they get connected to the garden by someone from a church or some such that is sponsoring refugees, so that person is the communication liaison. And we have a system for abandoned plots (someone else monitors, but keeps me in the loop): a warning when things look seriously out of control, two weeks to remedy, a red flag to indicate it's fair game for the community service weeding obligation, a public offer (which the original plotholder can see) that it's up for adoption. The gist is that you have to be inaccessible for a month or more before something happens that you didn't expect.
74jjmcgaffey
>73 qebo: My garden would probably benefit from such a system, but I don't think our garden leaders are up to being strict like that. Not Jane, anyway, and she's boss. And an adjustable combo lock would be handy, too - it's key padlocks, and both gates use the same key. Well, it's working OK for the moment (next month is fall cleanup, everyone is supposed to show up one of the three weekends. We'll see how that goes).
So far I've gotten lots of zucchini, several delicata which I picked too early (they're white/green, not yellow with green stripes. Still going to roast them and see how they taste). The potatoes are dying off so I need to dig up the tubers. The late tomato and squash starts are still very small - 6 to 10 inches - but all have flowers, so...still waiting. The marigolds are in full bloom, and taller than my knee. Amaranth is taller than I am and starting to go brown (from brilliant red) - almost ready for harvest.
I spent this weekend volunteering at Maker Faire - lovely, fascinating, exhausting. I was mostly in the Learn to Solder tent, and now feel I have a good grasp of many of the ways soldering can go wrong. Also a scatter of burn spots on my hands (oddly, even where I touched the iron, I got a pure white (tiny) mark and no blister or deep burn at all. Jerked away too fast? Too hot to propagate through my skin? Whatever, glad of it).
Lots of circuitry, some gadgets (3D printers, copperplating through electroforming, laser cutters, etc), some soft work - leather, cloth, wool (felting, not spinning or knitting. Some crochet, though). Neat "vehicles" - a glowing turtle, ditto snail (with a saddle on its shell), the Muffineers, the Pony Trap (it's actually pulled by four "hooves" underneath two hobby horse heads - that's been around for years, I love it). And this year there were some historic ships displaced from San Francisco by construction and moved up to Mare Island off Vallejo, where the Faire was. Balclutha, the Thayer, several others. I didn't go aboard, just admired them from the esplanade. Lovely food, too - interesting food trucks. We (Mom and I - we went on Saturday, the one day I didn't work) had gyros from Kalamaki food truck (which normally lives in LA, glad it came up for the Faire). They were excellent. Fair-type pricing which is to say ridiculously expensive, but tasty and well-made and filling.
I worked a shift on Friday, which is the field trip day - 90% school groups attending. Then Mom and I went and actually saw the Faire on Saturday; and on Sunday I went up early, saw a few things we'd missed or skimmed on Saturday, then worked the afternoon shift on Sunday. Both Friday and Sunday I was about 4 hours on my feet, with only a brief break for food; Saturday we sat down more often but also walked the length of the Faire, so actually more steps (though walking is easier than standing). It's also nearly an hour's drive from home, so that was tiring. But there's no way I'm missing Maker Faire, I love it.
So far I've gotten lots of zucchini, several delicata which I picked too early (they're white/green, not yellow with green stripes. Still going to roast them and see how they taste). The potatoes are dying off so I need to dig up the tubers. The late tomato and squash starts are still very small - 6 to 10 inches - but all have flowers, so...still waiting. The marigolds are in full bloom, and taller than my knee. Amaranth is taller than I am and starting to go brown (from brilliant red) - almost ready for harvest.
I spent this weekend volunteering at Maker Faire - lovely, fascinating, exhausting. I was mostly in the Learn to Solder tent, and now feel I have a good grasp of many of the ways soldering can go wrong. Also a scatter of burn spots on my hands (oddly, even where I touched the iron, I got a pure white (tiny) mark and no blister or deep burn at all. Jerked away too fast? Too hot to propagate through my skin? Whatever, glad of it).
Lots of circuitry, some gadgets (3D printers, copperplating through electroforming, laser cutters, etc), some soft work - leather, cloth, wool (felting, not spinning or knitting. Some crochet, though). Neat "vehicles" - a glowing turtle, ditto snail (with a saddle on its shell), the Muffineers, the Pony Trap (it's actually pulled by four "hooves" underneath two hobby horse heads - that's been around for years, I love it). And this year there were some historic ships displaced from San Francisco by construction and moved up to Mare Island off Vallejo, where the Faire was. Balclutha, the Thayer, several others. I didn't go aboard, just admired them from the esplanade. Lovely food, too - interesting food trucks. We (Mom and I - we went on Saturday, the one day I didn't work) had gyros from Kalamaki food truck (which normally lives in LA, glad it came up for the Faire). They were excellent. Fair-type pricing which is to say ridiculously expensive, but tasty and well-made and filling.
I worked a shift on Friday, which is the field trip day - 90% school groups attending. Then Mom and I went and actually saw the Faire on Saturday; and on Sunday I went up early, saw a few things we'd missed or skimmed on Saturday, then worked the afternoon shift on Sunday. Both Friday and Sunday I was about 4 hours on my feet, with only a brief break for food; Saturday we sat down more often but also walked the length of the Faire, so actually more steps (though walking is easier than standing). It's also nearly an hour's drive from home, so that was tiring. But there's no way I'm missing Maker Faire, I love it.
75qebo
>74 jjmcgaffey: We got stricter over time because the people who were doing the work to maintain the organization and infrastructure were on the verge of walking away. So we formed a self-selected admin group and made decisions. I have to be the garden bitch more than I'm comfortable with, but I don't have the spend the summer chasing after people. It took a few years and some turnover to establish the culture.
76jjmcgaffey
I may see that evolve while I'm there...or after. Because right now the garden works on Janet's hard work (and others, but they're mostly managing the garden itself, Jane manages the gardeners). When she burns out (physically or mentally) and/or dies (she's quite elderly), something will change or the garden will go poof. But until she's unable to do things the way she wants to, I don't think anything will change - it's what she's used to.
77jjmcgaffey
And a very successful book donation, last week! I got rid of 87 books - all read and loved and replaced with e-editions (which is what I'm actually reading these days). They went to the library book sale - I may see them when I volunteer there next week, or they may not get in to this one. But it was two boxes of SF (and one of romance, mostly romantasy), and we were very low on SF the last couple sales, so they may appear.
The plan is to empty my shelves of keeper books, and fill the shelves again with books I haven't yet read and decided if I want. Because picking out a book will be a lot easier from a shelf than from a box under my bed - they're all listed in LT, but even there it's not so easy to browse (and then there's the step of actually finding and extracting the book). I'm also planning to get rid of all the books from the boxes that I can easily get from the library should I wish to read them - a lot of classics, which...has not been a particularly rich genre for me. If I want to read Pride & Prejudice I can get it from the library (or for that matter, it's probably on Project Gutenberg). Sorry, Austen fans, the few I've read of hers have not particularly worked well for me, so I haven't read any more.
Anyway. Successful discard of 87 books! And three boxes that have been cluttering up my space. Next!
This week is relatively light, at least in what's scheduled right now. Teeth cleaning this afternoon, AAUW board meeting on Zoom this evening. A job mid-week (helping a client with her computer and life). Saturday is the fall garden cleanup at the community garden - that'll be a lot of work but will make things work better (weeding, sheet-mulching and putting wood chips on the paths in the back half of the garden, including my space). It's scheduled for four hours, unless we manage to finish early. We'll see.
Oh, I harvested all those unidentified nightshades - and that's all they were. Not a tuber to be found. And a heck of a lot of fruit fallen into my soil - I'm going to have to dig up and sift this fall to prevent an equally huge crop of nothing next year. Sigh. Plant potatoes and make sure I pull the right plants, next year...
The following week is...going to be slightly insane. Mahjong on Monday, that's normal (every other week). Tuesday spend the day with Mom, farmers market etc (also normal, weekly). Wednesday through Saturday is the library book sale, I'm volunteering every day but Thursday. On Thursday, I'm driving to Lafayette (only about 15 miles but at the times I'm going it's likely to take over 30 minutes each to get there and back), for a singing class. Should be fun - this is the first of 4 classes on learning to use your voice better. And on Sunday, Mom and I are going to the El Cerrito Free Folk Fest - circles, concerts, and workshops of folk music. Always fun - we haven't gone in recent years but have previously. All enjoyable, but a lot of occupation for the week!
The plan is to empty my shelves of keeper books, and fill the shelves again with books I haven't yet read and decided if I want. Because picking out a book will be a lot easier from a shelf than from a box under my bed - they're all listed in LT, but even there it's not so easy to browse (and then there's the step of actually finding and extracting the book). I'm also planning to get rid of all the books from the boxes that I can easily get from the library should I wish to read them - a lot of classics, which...has not been a particularly rich genre for me. If I want to read Pride & Prejudice I can get it from the library (or for that matter, it's probably on Project Gutenberg). Sorry, Austen fans, the few I've read of hers have not particularly worked well for me, so I haven't read any more.
Anyway. Successful discard of 87 books! And three boxes that have been cluttering up my space. Next!
This week is relatively light, at least in what's scheduled right now. Teeth cleaning this afternoon, AAUW board meeting on Zoom this evening. A job mid-week (helping a client with her computer and life). Saturday is the fall garden cleanup at the community garden - that'll be a lot of work but will make things work better (weeding, sheet-mulching and putting wood chips on the paths in the back half of the garden, including my space). It's scheduled for four hours, unless we manage to finish early. We'll see.
Oh, I harvested all those unidentified nightshades - and that's all they were. Not a tuber to be found. And a heck of a lot of fruit fallen into my soil - I'm going to have to dig up and sift this fall to prevent an equally huge crop of nothing next year. Sigh. Plant potatoes and make sure I pull the right plants, next year...
The following week is...going to be slightly insane. Mahjong on Monday, that's normal (every other week). Tuesday spend the day with Mom, farmers market etc (also normal, weekly). Wednesday through Saturday is the library book sale, I'm volunteering every day but Thursday. On Thursday, I'm driving to Lafayette (only about 15 miles but at the times I'm going it's likely to take over 30 minutes each to get there and back), for a singing class. Should be fun - this is the first of 4 classes on learning to use your voice better. And on Sunday, Mom and I are going to the El Cerrito Free Folk Fest - circles, concerts, and workshops of folk music. Always fun - we haven't gone in recent years but have previously. All enjoyable, but a lot of occupation for the week!
78labfs39
Congrats on your book purge! Try not to buy so many books at the library sale, that the space is immediately filled again, lol. So many activities planned in the next couple of weeks. The folk fest sounds especially fun.
79RidgewayGirl
>77 jjmcgaffey: Well done on the book purge! I very much need to do one, since books keep entering the house and very few leave. There's a local book sale in November, so the current plan is to get that done this month so I can donate them in time.
80jjmcgaffey
Yes - I found that I wasn't quite as ready as I thought I was on Sunday, I hadn't tagged the books or checked if I had covers on them yet (scanned, which need cleanup, or actually finished and applied). Yeah, I'm a little obsessive. The current lot of covers through the app are mostly _awful_ - I really don't want someone's thumb or carpet or table in my library. And even discarded books I want a good cover. But I got it done in time to drop them off. Next few boxes I'll do the full set of checks, not just that I either have them in ebook or never want to read them again. Or can definitely get them from the library or other sources. I did check that thoroughly (and did not get rid of some books because they don't exist in e-versions). But 14 feet of shelf got shrunk down to less than 6 (though I've got a lot more on the shelf to go through before I can start on the boxes. I have _too_many_books_).
81labfs39
I thought that when I put up my Little Free Library that I would use it to discard books, and thus keep my collection at least at a steady state. Unfortunately, that has not been the case for I often pick up books at sales to replenish the library instead. Or worse, keep a book that someone else put in it!
82jjmcgaffey
Books Read September (second half)
233. Wash It All Away 01 @^ by Mitsuru Hattori. Review
234. Dark Knight Station: Origins @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
235. Welcoming a Demon @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
236. Jon's Short Stories (Shot & Garrett met) @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
237. The Black Wolves of Boston @# by Wen Spencer. Review
238. Black Tie and Tails @^ by Wen Spencer. Review
239. Olive and the Dragon @^ by Victoria Goddard. Review
240. A Mate for the Christmas Dragon @^ by Zoe Chant & Marie Cardno. Review
241. Haroun and the Study of Mischief @^ by Lynn Strong. Review
233. Wash It All Away 01 @^ by Mitsuru Hattori. Review
234. Dark Knight Station: Origins @# by Nathan Lowell. Review
235. Welcoming a Demon @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
236. Jon's Short Stories (Shot & Garrett met) @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
237. The Black Wolves of Boston @# by Wen Spencer. Review
238. Black Tie and Tails @^ by Wen Spencer. Review
239. Olive and the Dragon @^ by Victoria Goddard. Review
240. A Mate for the Christmas Dragon @^ by Zoe Chant & Marie Cardno. Review
241. Haroun and the Study of Mischief @^ by Lynn Strong. Review
83jjmcgaffey
September stats
29 books read
19 rereads
10 new books
9714 pages read, average 335
29 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
26 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
6 romances
1 graphic novels
0 mysteries
10 F, 19 M authors
29 books read
19 rereads
10 new books
9714 pages read, average 335
29 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
26 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
6 romances
1 graphic novels
0 mysteries
10 F, 19 M authors
84jjmcgaffey
Books Read October (so far)
242. Fire at the Triangle Factory @^ by Holly Littlefield. Review
243. Upton Arms: A Retirement Home for Supernaturals @^ by Scott Craven. Review
244. 25 Simple Candy Recipes @^ by Cooking Penguin. Review
245. The Lives of Christopher Chant @# by Diana Wynne Jones. Review
246. Believing Is Seeing @# by Diana Wynne Jones. Review
247. Luna's Luck @^ by Jessica Rosenberg. Review
242. Fire at the Triangle Factory @^ by Holly Littlefield. Review
243. Upton Arms: A Retirement Home for Supernaturals @^ by Scott Craven. Review
244. 25 Simple Candy Recipes @^ by Cooking Penguin. Review
245. The Lives of Christopher Chant @# by Diana Wynne Jones. Review
246. Believing Is Seeing @# by Diana Wynne Jones. Review
247. Luna's Luck @^ by Jessica Rosenberg. Review
85jjmcgaffey
Ow. Two and a half hours of working in the garden - mostly on my knees, at that (weeding) - has left me sore all over. And apparently I managed to strain? sprain? do something nasty to my right index finger - it's slightly swollen, rather red, and quite sore. Bah. Have taken aspirin and ibuprofen and intend to sleep late tomorrow. On the other hand, the garden paths look _much_ better now - fewer weeds, more cardboard and chips mulch keeping down new growth. The paths look noticeably wider now (since it had the same mulch from previous years, most of the weeds were along the edges, narrowing them). I got assigned to weed right around my own plot - had to keep redirecting myself from pulling the weeds in my plot (not supposed to work on your own plot during cleanup). But it makes the edges of my plot better, anyway, since there were weeds growing in both directions - rooted in my plot and showing in the path, and vice versa - that got pulled.
I do need to go work on my plot; I'm trying to decide if I want to keep the boards along the center path or just have stones in a single plot (right now it looks like two narrow plots, I could make it all one. Though I do want the center path because it makes it easier to water/weed/harvest). But given how I'm feeling, not happening immediately which means not within the next week (because next week is insane, see >77 jjmcgaffey:). And it's supposed to rain three days next week...lots of fun.
I do need to go work on my plot; I'm trying to decide if I want to keep the boards along the center path or just have stones in a single plot (right now it looks like two narrow plots, I could make it all one. Though I do want the center path because it makes it easier to water/weed/harvest). But given how I'm feeling, not happening immediately which means not within the next week (because next week is insane, see >77 jjmcgaffey:). And it's supposed to rain three days next week...lots of fun.
86cindydavid4
my garden is loving all this rain and I am dreading all the cleanup tho for now I have little to do but read (previous engment cancelled) so Im enjoying the time
87jjmcgaffey
>86 cindydavid4: "A Garden is a Thing of Beauty and a Job Forever". Enjoy your free time! Today is a slow day for me, too, thank goodness.
88cindydavid4
>87 jjmcgaffey: great quote!
89jjmcgaffey
I saw it...on a bumper sticker, maybe? A t-shirt? Something in passing, anyway. And it is so true I made a placard in ceramics class with that (and some veg and tools around the edges). Still have it hanging on my balcony - it's a little too fragile to take to the community garden plot, unfortunately.
90jjmcgaffey
Heh. I actually read a paper book! Well, skimmed it, anyway. I'm still working on emptying my shelves and donating books; this one does not exist (as far as I can find) as an ebook, so I decided to read The Best of Trek 2 and see which item(s) in the anthology interested me (if it wasn't too large, I could scan it and get it that way). And after reading it...I can discard, without scanning anything. No idea why this was on my shelves. I loved some stories from Trek anthologies, but this is factual and "factual" articles (the latter are fanfic, dry pieces about the history of the Trek universe and some of the characters). Nothing that I was really interested in reading, let alone rereading.
I'll list it with my October books, pretty soon. But it was so odd to be reading a paper book, I wanted to post about it.
I'll list it with my October books, pretty soon. But it was so odd to be reading a paper book, I wanted to post about it.
91humouress
>90 jjmcgaffey: Well done! It's odd - despite my shelves of books I seem to mostly read e-books (partly library books because of BBs and partly LT early reviewer books which are only available in my country as e-books).
92jjmcgaffey
I started reading ebooks a long time ago - 1990s, on my Palm PDA. But my reading was primarily paper books until a few years ago; about 2019, not (as far as I can tell/recall) related to the pandemic, I started reading more ebooks than paper. And now I read basically all ebooks...despite the literally thousands of books in my house. Which is why I'm trying to shed paper books, including ones I like and want to reread - by getting (or already having) e-versions. It's just so much easier to find an ebook - harder to browse, easier to search.
Huh. I wonder if part of my recent tendency to reread is because it's easier to search for a book I know? But I'm still picking up new books (frequently, from BBs), and some of them get read. And some get half-read and then I stall. Dunno.
Huh. I wonder if part of my recent tendency to reread is because it's easier to search for a book I know? But I'm still picking up new books (frequently, from BBs), and some of them get read. And some get half-read and then I stall. Dunno.
93ArlieS
>92 jjmcgaffey: I'm the other way round. I got a kindle, eons ago, when they didn't have colour, and touted being like paper, in terms of glare, lighting, etc., rather than like a screen. (Do they still care about that, or are kindles now just another specialized tablet?)
The UI for finding things in a large collection was horrific. The reading experience was OK, but I was very aware that Amazon could remove my access to a purchased book at the click of a button (on their end) or bug. I'm suspicious they might also be able to modify the contents of that hypothetical book, as now routinely happens with other online purchases (games, etc.).
If my eyes ever crap out on me, restricting me to large print books, or worse, I'll reconsider e-books, but for now I'm hanging on to paper books and avoiding e-books.
That also has the benefit that I don't have to learn the latest user interface for my e-book reader every time its developers "improve" it, though that (fortunately) doesn't seem to be an issue with my antique kindle.
The UI for finding things in a large collection was horrific. The reading experience was OK, but I was very aware that Amazon could remove my access to a purchased book at the click of a button (on their end) or bug. I'm suspicious they might also be able to modify the contents of that hypothetical book, as now routinely happens with other online purchases (games, etc.).
If my eyes ever crap out on me, restricting me to large print books, or worse, I'll reconsider e-books, but for now I'm hanging on to paper books and avoiding e-books.
That also has the benefit that I don't have to learn the latest user interface for my e-book reader every time its developers "improve" it, though that (fortunately) doesn't seem to be an issue with my antique kindle.
94jjmcgaffey
Yeah. There are two kinds of Kindles, the e-ink (like yours) and the tablets (crippled Android tablets...). And now there's a color e-ink, but even Amazon doesn't think it's very good. The problem with an old Kindle is that Amazon frequently decides they're not supporting X any more...
But yes, I'm very wary of Amazon for ebooks - about the time I was being interested was the big hooha about the book they removed from everyone's Kindle (because it was an unauthorized edition, copyright infraction...but). Since I was reading on a Palm first, I was reading pdbs and mobi books, and mostly got them direct from publishers or authors. Now, wherever I get a book, I convert it into epub and store it in my calibre library, so nobody can steal it from me (except data errors...I lost a couple books that way, when syncing messed things up. I recovered all but one from old copies of my library, though). That also means I don't have to remember if I bought it from Amazon or Google Play Books or Nook/B&N or direct from the author or whatever - they're all in the same place and all readable with one preferred app. Not easy - the conversion can get complicated - but worth it, for me.
I don't know, really, why I switched - or rather, there's lots of reasons and I don't know if one is major or it's just the accumulation. I read on my phone, which is a not-huge screen but it works for me. I have a Kindle and several tablets of various sizes, but they're all a) heavier than my phone and b) another object I have to remember to carry along. I'm always going to have my phone with me. And it's so nice to have a choice of many-many books, especially on trips - I used to bring about as many books as clothes, by volume, and now it's just my phone and I have even more available than I could possibly carry.
But yes, I'm very wary of Amazon for ebooks - about the time I was being interested was the big hooha about the book they removed from everyone's Kindle (because it was an unauthorized edition, copyright infraction...but). Since I was reading on a Palm first, I was reading pdbs and mobi books, and mostly got them direct from publishers or authors. Now, wherever I get a book, I convert it into epub and store it in my calibre library, so nobody can steal it from me (except data errors...I lost a couple books that way, when syncing messed things up. I recovered all but one from old copies of my library, though). That also means I don't have to remember if I bought it from Amazon or Google Play Books or Nook/B&N or direct from the author or whatever - they're all in the same place and all readable with one preferred app. Not easy - the conversion can get complicated - but worth it, for me.
I don't know, really, why I switched - or rather, there's lots of reasons and I don't know if one is major or it's just the accumulation. I read on my phone, which is a not-huge screen but it works for me. I have a Kindle and several tablets of various sizes, but they're all a) heavier than my phone and b) another object I have to remember to carry along. I'm always going to have my phone with me. And it's so nice to have a choice of many-many books, especially on trips - I used to bring about as many books as clothes, by volume, and now it's just my phone and I have even more available than I could possibly carry.
95benitastrnad
I am still reading books, but mostly because I don't like the size of the phone screen. I think a tablet of some kind would take care of that problem, but I don't want to spend the money for one.
96jjmcgaffey
Books Read October (the rest)
248. The Magical Beings' Rehabilitation Center: The Complete Series @^ by K.M. Shea. Review
249. The Weaver of the Middle Desert @# by Victoria Goddard. Review
250. Origin @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
251. How I Stole the Princess's White Knight @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
252. How Tan Acquired an Apprentice @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
253. How I Took the King on a Bone-A-Fide Quest @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
254. Hunter @# by Mercedes Lackey. Review
255. Elite @# by Mercedes Lackey. Review
256. Apex @# by Mercedes Lackey. Review
257. The Keeper of Magical Things @^ by Julie Leong. Review
258. Proof by Induction @^ by Jose Pablo Iriarte. Review
259. Surviving The Change @^ by Cari Z. Review
260. My Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
261. Hired Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
262. The Best of Trek 2 * by Walter Irwin & G.B. Love. Review
263. Educated Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
264. No Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
265. Inherited Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
266. How the Children Stopped the Wars * by Jan Wahl. Review
Nice assortment, some very good ones (and not all the good ones were rereads). Some very bad ones but two of the three are actually paper books that I can get rid of (haven't yet - in November).
And two actual BOMBs! Paper books, never previously read - and both discards.
Oh - one reread in the same year (How Tan Acquired An Apprentice) - it's both #11 and #252. I needed to read it between the two books, where it fits (I read it in January when I first got it, as well). I've been doing rather a lot of those, and I'm now trying hard not to - refusing to read a book if I already read it this year. Because that's kind of ridiculous, even if it's a really good book...I mean, it's not like I'm short of other books to read.
248. The Magical Beings' Rehabilitation Center: The Complete Series @^ by K.M. Shea. Review
249. The Weaver of the Middle Desert @# by Victoria Goddard. Review
250. Origin @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
251. How I Stole the Princess's White Knight @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
252. How Tan Acquired an Apprentice @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
253. How I Took the King on a Bone-A-Fide Quest @# by AJ Sherwood. Review
254. Hunter @# by Mercedes Lackey. Review
255. Elite @# by Mercedes Lackey. Review
256. Apex @# by Mercedes Lackey. Review
257. The Keeper of Magical Things @^ by Julie Leong. Review
258. Proof by Induction @^ by Jose Pablo Iriarte. Review
259. Surviving The Change @^ by Cari Z. Review
260. My Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
261. Hired Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
262. The Best of Trek 2 * by Walter Irwin & G.B. Love. Review
263. Educated Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
264. No Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
265. Inherited Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
266. How the Children Stopped the Wars * by Jan Wahl. Review
Nice assortment, some very good ones (and not all the good ones were rereads). Some very bad ones but two of the three are actually paper books that I can get rid of (haven't yet - in November).
And two actual BOMBs! Paper books, never previously read - and both discards.
Oh - one reread in the same year (How Tan Acquired An Apprentice) - it's both #11 and #252. I needed to read it between the two books, where it fits (I read it in January when I first got it, as well). I've been doing rather a lot of those, and I'm now trying hard not to - refusing to read a book if I already read it this year. Because that's kind of ridiculous, even if it's a really good book...I mean, it's not like I'm short of other books to read.
97jjmcgaffey
October stats
25 books read
15 rereads
10 new books
6499 pages read, average 260
23 ebooks, 2 paper books
0 discards (piling them up but they don't count until they leave the house...soon)
22 SF&F
0 animal stories
2 children's
1 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
3 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
20 F, 5 M authors (actually 10 female authors, but 20 books by female authors. It's too complicated to extract that...)
25 books read
15 rereads
10 new books
6499 pages read, average 260
23 ebooks, 2 paper books
0 discards (piling them up but they don't count until they leave the house...soon)
22 SF&F
0 animal stories
2 children's
1 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
3 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
20 F, 5 M authors (actually 10 female authors, but 20 books by female authors. It's too complicated to extract that...)
98kjuliff
>89 jjmcgaffey: you might like to try this Aussie bumper sticker that was popular for commuters in the 80s - “I’d rather be sailing”.
99qebo
>94 jjmcgaffey: I read on my phone
Me too, for similar reasons. I started with e-readers, but I always have my phone in my pocket and dislike having to carry a handbag. It's mildly annoying if there's weird formatting that no setting will correct, e.g. extra wide margins.
I convert it into epub and store it in my calibre library
I get most of my e-books from B&N, and there was some sort of problem a few years ago... data breach? I don't remember, but the account was inaccessible for awhile, so as soon as it was fixed I preserved everything in Calibre. Since then though, I've failed to keep up.
Me too, for similar reasons. I started with e-readers, but I always have my phone in my pocket and dislike having to carry a handbag. It's mildly annoying if there's weird formatting that no setting will correct, e.g. extra wide margins.
I convert it into epub and store it in my calibre library
I get most of my e-books from B&N, and there was some sort of problem a few years ago... data breach? I don't remember, but the account was inaccessible for awhile, so as soon as it was fixed I preserved everything in Calibre. Since then though, I've failed to keep up.
100RidgewayGirl
>94 jjmcgaffey: That's interesting. I don't like reading on my phone at all. I need a screen that's the same size as a book page, but I still prefer a physical copy. I do find your project of switching over to ebooks interesting, but definitely not for me.
101humouress
>94 jjmcgaffey: >100 RidgewayGirl: I don't find my phone screen size comfortable for reading. I might use it if I'm out and I really want to continue my book or I'm in a waiting room and really bored but (I suppose I should just pull out my glasses) I find the font too small even on maximum plus I have to 'turn' pages more often. I prefer my tablet or even laptop or desktop. Though now I can't open books in Libby on my desktop for some reason, which I'm a bit annoyed about.
102jjmcgaffey
Books Read November (so far)
267. Joined @# by Mel Todd. Review
268. Testimony of Mute Things @^ by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
269. Drafted Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
270. Tomes Apprentice @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
271. First of Tomes @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
272. Master of Tomes @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
273. The Telepath's Associate @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
274. Spring Awakenings @^ by Max Wilde. Review
275. Once an Alpha @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
276. Clean Sweep @^ by Jeremy Fabiano. Review
277. Grave Affairs @# by Lilith Daniels. Review
278. Grave Intentions @^ by Lilith Daniels. Review
279. Don't Plan to Stay @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
280. Challenges @^ by David Weber & Thomas Pope & Jane Lindskold & Jacob Holo & Marisa Wolf & Daniel Allen Butler. Review
267. Joined @# by Mel Todd. Review
268. Testimony of Mute Things @^ by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
269. Drafted Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
270. Tomes Apprentice @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
271. First of Tomes @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
272. Master of Tomes @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
273. The Telepath's Associate @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
274. Spring Awakenings @^ by Max Wilde. Review
275. Once an Alpha @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
276. Clean Sweep @^ by Jeremy Fabiano. Review
277. Grave Affairs @# by Lilith Daniels. Review
278. Grave Intentions @^ by Lilith Daniels. Review
279. Don't Plan to Stay @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
280. Challenges @^ by David Weber & Thomas Pope & Jane Lindskold & Jacob Holo & Marisa Wolf & Daniel Allen Butler. Review
103jjmcgaffey
It's getting to be time to clean out the garden - I've started, but then we got several rainy days and I stalled. Need to get back in there soon. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, winter is the time for weeds...there's rain (so no need to water) but not much (of the stuff people want to plant) can grow, so the gardens get neglected and the weeds have a party. This can be mitigated by doing a thorough weeding/soil turnover/compost/mulch in early winter, which is where I (should be/am). There's nothing currently in my garden that I want to keep; I'm harvesting the amaranth (and actually got some seeds - it's rather a pain to harvest, though), gave a random volunteer kale to the Food Bank, I've pulled all the nightshades though I really need to get into that area and clean out the seeds. I'll pull the marigold bushes too, or most of them at least. Then I can turn over the soil, rearrange the spaces (right now my plot is split, with boards delineating a path through the middle. I'm going to pull those up, and just have a stepping-stone path), clean out stuff I don't want to grow (nightshades, onion lilies, mint...), and plant garlic and carrots and snow peas. It does not freeze here, nor snow, so plants that can handle cool temperatures and little sun have no problem growing over the winter. Oh, spinach too. I'm also going to have an indoor garden this year again, in an Aerogarden or two; basil and tomatoes, possibly other things. It's very nice having basil over the winter; the tomatoes aren't a bountiful harvest but it's fun to have them anyway. The basil _is_ bountiful, if I plant more than one or two plants I'll be overloaded - but I make my own pesto so I can harvest, blanch, and freeze until I have enough for a big batch. I'll get to the (outdoor) garden soon, we should have a dry week next week (can't work on saturated soil). Hopefully I'll get the indoor garden started soon too.
104jjmcgaffey
Progress on the garden - I've now harvested or chopped down all the amaranth. That's really all I got done today - got there just before sunset, and left before the mosquitos found me. But I'm pleased at how thoroughly the weeded half is staying clean. Need to do the same on the not-weeded half, then do some digging...
105WelshBookworm
Good luck! We get cold and snow in a few more weeks, but this weekend it is in the 50s (Minnesota.) So I need to get outside and finish up some weeding and pruning. The phlox, peonies, and sedum should all be cut back before winter. And it's time to get the winter lighted decorations up before the ground is too hard. So why am I on LibraryThing....? Hmmm.
106labfs39
I need to finish composting the bazillion oak leaves that have fallen. Sadly I did not have a single acorn to deal with this fall due to the drought. Last year I was scooping them up by the shovelful. The deer, squirrels, and other critters are going to have a hungry winter.
107baswood
>106 labfs39: I would be happy to lend you my acorns to scoop up.
108labfs39
>107 baswood: Ha! Although the deer would love it, I'm happy to leave them with you. I have enough deer poop on my lawn.
109jjmcgaffey
My sister has a burr oak on her front lawn - (just moved in, still learning the garden and climate). Apparently they produce acorns every second or third year. Live oaks do it every other year - they grow in the first year, drop in the second. She's got a lot of acorns this year, but will probably have a respite (from acorns dropping on their porch roof and rumbling down) the next year or two...
110labfs39
True. It could be that the trees in this region are recouping after a mast year last year. I just don't remember a year since I moved back when there were no acorns at all. A search of the news tells me that other places in Maine are having a mast year this year, so I guess not all oaks got the same memo. :-)
111humouress
>110 labfs39: May be a branch office issue ;0)
113benitastrnad
I have Black Walnuts in the yard. Two of them and they produce walnuts every year. This also means that I have lots of squirrels in the yard. If they get tired of walnuts, they can gather acorns from the two different kinds of oaks. There is a Burr Oak, and a White Oak.
114jjmcgaffey
Books Read November (the rest)
267. Joined @# by Mel Todd. Review
268. Testimony of Mute Things @^ by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
269. Drafted Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
270. Tomes Apprentice @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
271. First of Tomes @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
272. Master of Tomes @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
273. The Telepath's Associate @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
274. Spring Awakenings @^ by Max Wilde. Review
275. Once an Alpha @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
276. Clean Sweep @^ by Jeremy Fabiano. Review
277. Grave Affairs @# by Lilith Daniels. Review
278. Grave Intentions @^ by Lilith Daniels. Review
279. Don't Plan to Stay @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
280. Challenges @^ by David Weber & Thomas Pope & Jane Lindskold & Jacob Holo & Marisa Wolf & Daniel Allen Butler. Review
281. Funeral of Figaro @^ by Ellis Peters. Review
282. Civilized Behavior @^ by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
283. Inquisitor @# by RJ Blain. Review
284. Winter Wolf @# by RJ Blain. Review
285. Tales of the Winter Wolf 1-5 @# by RJ Blain. Review
286. Blood Diamond @# by RJ Blain. Review
287. Silver Bullet @# by RJ Blain. Review
288. Half Around Pluto @^ by Manly Wade Wellman. Review
Many good, many good rereads. One really bad one but it was very short.
267. Joined @# by Mel Todd. Review
268. Testimony of Mute Things @^ by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
269. Drafted Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
270. Tomes Apprentice @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
271. First of Tomes @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
272. Master of Tomes @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
273. The Telepath's Associate @^ by Amy Padilla. Review
274. Spring Awakenings @^ by Max Wilde. Review
275. Once an Alpha @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
276. Clean Sweep @^ by Jeremy Fabiano. Review
277. Grave Affairs @# by Lilith Daniels. Review
278. Grave Intentions @^ by Lilith Daniels. Review
279. Don't Plan to Stay @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
280. Challenges @^ by David Weber & Thomas Pope & Jane Lindskold & Jacob Holo & Marisa Wolf & Daniel Allen Butler. Review
281. Funeral of Figaro @^ by Ellis Peters. Review
282. Civilized Behavior @^ by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. Review
283. Inquisitor @# by RJ Blain. Review
284. Winter Wolf @# by RJ Blain. Review
285. Tales of the Winter Wolf 1-5 @# by RJ Blain. Review
286. Blood Diamond @# by RJ Blain. Review
287. Silver Bullet @# by RJ Blain. Review
288. Half Around Pluto @^ by Manly Wade Wellman. Review
Many good, many good rereads. One really bad one but it was very short.
115jjmcgaffey
November stats
22 books read
11 rereads
11 new books
6453 pages read, average 293.3
22 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
19 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
3 romances
0 graphic novels
1 mysteries
19 F, 5 M authors
22 books read
11 rereads
11 new books
6453 pages read, average 293.3
22 ebooks, 0 paper books
0 discards
19 SF&F
0 animal stories
0 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
3 romances
0 graphic novels
1 mysteries
19 F, 5 M authors
116jjmcgaffey
Nice chunk. I've read a couple books in December already (four, actually), but I'm not going to list them right now. I'm also working on another discard box (or several) - pulled a bunch of books off my shelf that I have as ebooks, am now checking to make sure I've marked them correctly and have good covers for the ebooks and so on. Once I've done that out they go - hopefully before the end of the year. It's a _lot_ of books, most of them by Mercedes Lackey - on examination, I had nearly 10 feet of her books! And most of them I have as ebooks - there's only 5, I think, that I'm keeping in paper. They don't seem to exist anywhere as ebooks - not even on the publisher's site. Odd, and I assume something to do with who owns the rights.
118jjmcgaffey
Thank you - Merry Christmas to you, Susan!
119jjmcgaffey
Books Read December
289. Tie Me Knot @# by Allie Brahms. Review
290. No Bones About It @# by Allie Brahms. Review
291. Dolls Gone Wild @^ by Allie Brahms. Review
292. Faded Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
293. Unbalanced Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
294. Balanced Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
295. Deepwoods @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
296. The Tale of Benjamin Bunny ^* by Beatrix Potter. Review
297. The Tale of Jeremy Fisher ^* by Beatrix Potter. Review
298. The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes ^* by Oliver Goldsmith. Review
299. Blackstone @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
300. Fallen Ward @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
301. Origins @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
302. Jioni @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
303. Crossroads @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
304. A Little Accident @^ by Olena Nikitin. Review
305. The Pooka's Share @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
306. Unmasked @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
307. Fixer @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
308. Pack of Dawn and Destiny @^ by KM Shea. Review
309. Beneath a Blood Moon @# by RJ Blain. Review
310. Water Witch @# by RJ Blain. Review
311. Shadowed Flame @# by RJ Blain. Review
312. The Silent Archmage @^ by ghost flower. Review
I'll probably read a couple more before the end of the year, but a couple I can handle...getting these up helps a lot.
A lot of rereads, a few new ones, three BOMBs (immediately discarded*). Beatrix Potter is _nasty_.
*I've been working on my box(es) of discards; one almost ready to go, enough books to fill another piled up but I need to check them. They won't get out by the end of the year (the library isn't accepting donations this week, I don't think), but they'll be ready for the beginning of next year. So the "immediate" discards have just gotten into the box, not yet out of the house.
I have also determined that I reread three books within this year - I was trying not to, but the effort started mid-year. Since then I have managed to resist rereading all the AJ Sherwood books that have been calling to me - I haven't even reread the first of the series that I got the second one of this month. I'll reread the first (Style of Love) and read the second first thing in the new year. Well, first-ish, anyway.
289. Tie Me Knot @# by Allie Brahms. Review
290. No Bones About It @# by Allie Brahms. Review
291. Dolls Gone Wild @^ by Allie Brahms. Review
292. Faded Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
293. Unbalanced Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
294. Balanced Luck @# by Mel Todd. Review
295. Deepwoods @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
296. The Tale of Benjamin Bunny ^* by Beatrix Potter. Review
297. The Tale of Jeremy Fisher ^* by Beatrix Potter. Review
298. The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes ^* by Oliver Goldsmith. Review
299. Blackstone @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
300. Fallen Ward @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
301. Origins @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
302. Jioni @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
303. Crossroads @# by Honor Raconteur. Review
304. A Little Accident @^ by Olena Nikitin. Review
305. The Pooka's Share @^ by K.L. Noone. Review
306. Unmasked @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
307. Fixer @^ by Kaje Harper. Review
308. Pack of Dawn and Destiny @^ by KM Shea. Review
309. Beneath a Blood Moon @# by RJ Blain. Review
310. Water Witch @# by RJ Blain. Review
311. Shadowed Flame @# by RJ Blain. Review
312. The Silent Archmage @^ by ghost flower. Review
I'll probably read a couple more before the end of the year, but a couple I can handle...getting these up helps a lot.
A lot of rereads, a few new ones, three BOMBs (immediately discarded*). Beatrix Potter is _nasty_.
*I've been working on my box(es) of discards; one almost ready to go, enough books to fill another piled up but I need to check them. They won't get out by the end of the year (the library isn't accepting donations this week, I don't think), but they'll be ready for the beginning of next year. So the "immediate" discards have just gotten into the box, not yet out of the house.
I have also determined that I reread three books within this year - I was trying not to, but the effort started mid-year. Since then I have managed to resist rereading all the AJ Sherwood books that have been calling to me - I haven't even reread the first of the series that I got the second one of this month. I'll reread the first (Style of Love) and read the second first thing in the new year. Well, first-ish, anyway.
120jjmcgaffey
I had a lovely, if quiet, Christmas - just me and Mom, so we had beef stew with barley and mushrooms (yummy), and garlic mashed potatoes, and pie for dessert. And eggnog before. Between dinner and pie we had a video hangout with one of my sisters and her son; my other sister popped in for a bit but she's traveling and staying with friends, couldn't hang out long. My big present this year was a cross-legged office chair (a chair with a long, wide, very adjustable footrest that can raise up so you can literally sit cross-legged, or swing out of the way to sit normally, or whatever). I haven't assembled it yet, though. It should be very nice, though I may have to rearrange stuff around my desk to make room for it - but I'm always fidgeting and trying to fold my legs up under me (which makes them go to sleep) and so on. Oh, and Mom's passionfruit vine gave her a Christmas present too - the first fruit fell (of seven on the vines). The rest are still green, it's being very late this year.
We had intermittent pouring rain and wind over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - but mostly I missed it, was inside or at least in a car when it was pouring. Very minor flooding in town, mostly clogged gutter style (parked cars up to the middle of their wheels in a puddle). A pleasant season, I hope yours was good too.
We had intermittent pouring rain and wind over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - but mostly I missed it, was inside or at least in a car when it was pouring. Very minor flooding in town, mostly clogged gutter style (parked cars up to the middle of their wheels in a puddle). A pleasant season, I hope yours was good too.
121benitastrnad
>120 jjmcgaffey:
Good to hear from you. I am intrigued by the chair. I have never seen such a critter. I did get my new printer set up and running on Christmas Eve, but the HP software doesn't like my Adobe distiller, so we'll see how long it keeps running.
My Christmas Day was quiet as well. I baked two Gingerbread Cakes.
Good to hear from you. I am intrigued by the chair. I have never seen such a critter. I did get my new printer set up and running on Christmas Eve, but the HP software doesn't like my Adobe distiller, so we'll see how long it keeps running.
My Christmas Day was quiet as well. I baked two Gingerbread Cakes.
122jjmcgaffey
I think this is the one I got.
https://www.amazon.com/AtHope-Ergonomic-Legged-Office-Wheels/dp/B0DP289XC4
I baked pies, but didn't manage any cookies or cakes this year (very unusual - well, the cookies, anyway). Probably going to make some this week, at least I hope so.
https://www.amazon.com/AtHope-Ergonomic-Legged-Office-Wheels/dp/B0DP289XC4
I baked pies, but didn't manage any cookies or cakes this year (very unusual - well, the cookies, anyway). Probably going to make some this week, at least I hope so.
123jjmcgaffey
Books Read December (the rest, probably)
313. The Curse of Chalion @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
314. Christmas Challenge @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
315. Alternate Lyrics @^ by Allie Brahms. Review
316. Don't Put Gifts in Special Places @^ by Honor Raconteur. Review
317. Paladin of Souls @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
318. Dragon Her Heels @^ by RJ Blain. Review
319. The Duskfire Dragon's Mate @^ by Zoe Chant. Review
I have one more lined up but I probably won't get to it tonight so will be reading other books (the first Gay 4 Renovations so I can read the new one) on the first of the year. So this is probably it for the year. I'll post my stats, anyway, and edit if necessary.
313. The Curse of Chalion @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
314. Christmas Challenge @^ by AJ Sherwood. Review
315. Alternate Lyrics @^ by Allie Brahms. Review
316. Don't Put Gifts in Special Places @^ by Honor Raconteur. Review
317. Paladin of Souls @# by Lois McMaster Bujold. Review
318. Dragon Her Heels @^ by RJ Blain. Review
319. The Duskfire Dragon's Mate @^ by Zoe Chant. Review
I have one more lined up but I probably won't get to it tonight so will be reading other books (the first Gay 4 Renovations so I can read the new one) on the first of the year. So this is probably it for the year. I'll post my stats, anyway, and edit if necessary.
124jjmcgaffey
December stats
31 books read
16 rereads
15 new books
8706 pages read, average 280.8
28 ebooks, 3 paper books
3 discards
28 SF&F
0 animal stories
3 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
6 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
29 F, 1 M authors
31 books read
16 rereads
15 new books
8706 pages read, average 280.8
28 ebooks, 3 paper books
3 discards
28 SF&F
0 animal stories
3 children's
0 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
0 general fiction
6 romances
0 graphic novels
0 mysteries
29 F, 1 M authors
125jjmcgaffey
Full year stats
319 books read
152 rereads
167 new books
77516 pages read, average per book 243, average per month 6459.7
314 ebooks, 5 paper books
90 discards for the year, 110 short of my goal
257 SF&F
0 animal stories
6 children's
4 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
2 general fiction
125 romances
1 graphic novels
2 mysteries
278 F, 46 M authors
I have 117 books culled, checked, and boxed, but not yet out of the house. So those discards will count for next year, though I'm pleased I got through all the work already (aside from physically delivering them).
A lot of books that fall into both SF and Romance categories for me - romantasy is the current name for that, but I don't feel like adding it to my genres, I'll just double-categorize. Most books (not all, but most) I read have at least a romantic sub-plot; I count it as romance if the main characters getting together intimately/permanently is a major focus of the book. If it's a side-plot, I don't bother (i.e., Curse of Chalion is not a romance. Paladin of Souls is on the edge, but it's still only a major side-plot, not part of the main focus).
An excellent lot of books read this year; the worst ones I can at least be pleased I read and got rid of, or got done with. I'm not deleting bad ebooks, mostly because my packrat mind would say "Oh, I know that title. I don't have it, so I must want it...". So they stay in the catalog to save myself. Similarly, I have all my books still in my Discarded collection, so I know I had it and got rid of it...actually, I'll have to think about that, I may remove the books that I have as ebooks from the Discarded collection. Or not. It's (as far as I can see) just a line in the collections list...it's more behind the scenes but I don't think it matters. So maybe it's - I could, but there's no point in doing so. Dunno, I'll think about it some more.
And leaving aside the worst, there were some excellent new books, and many pleasant and familiar rereads (though while I was discarding I was looking at some books I haven't read in quite a while. I may be rereading some Mercedes Lackey books next year...).
319 books read
152 rereads
167 new books
77516 pages read, average per book 243, average per month 6459.7
314 ebooks, 5 paper books
90 discards for the year, 110 short of my goal
257 SF&F
0 animal stories
6 children's
4 non-fiction
0 historical fiction
2 general fiction
125 romances
1 graphic novels
2 mysteries
278 F, 46 M authors
I have 117 books culled, checked, and boxed, but not yet out of the house. So those discards will count for next year, though I'm pleased I got through all the work already (aside from physically delivering them).
A lot of books that fall into both SF and Romance categories for me - romantasy is the current name for that, but I don't feel like adding it to my genres, I'll just double-categorize. Most books (not all, but most) I read have at least a romantic sub-plot; I count it as romance if the main characters getting together intimately/permanently is a major focus of the book. If it's a side-plot, I don't bother (i.e., Curse of Chalion is not a romance. Paladin of Souls is on the edge, but it's still only a major side-plot, not part of the main focus).
An excellent lot of books read this year; the worst ones I can at least be pleased I read and got rid of, or got done with. I'm not deleting bad ebooks, mostly because my packrat mind would say "Oh, I know that title. I don't have it, so I must want it...". So they stay in the catalog to save myself. Similarly, I have all my books still in my Discarded collection, so I know I had it and got rid of it...actually, I'll have to think about that, I may remove the books that I have as ebooks from the Discarded collection. Or not. It's (as far as I can see) just a line in the collections list...it's more behind the scenes but I don't think it matters. So maybe it's - I could, but there's no point in doing so. Dunno, I'll think about it some more.
And leaving aside the worst, there were some excellent new books, and many pleasant and familiar rereads (though while I was discarding I was looking at some books I haven't read in quite a while. I may be rereading some Mercedes Lackey books next year...).
126jjmcgaffey
Just before Christmas - on the 22nd - there was a dry couple of days, and I got a bunch of things planted (which, as far as I can see, I didn't mention here). Planted my garlic (at the right time - I just learned the old saw about "plant on the shortest day, harvest on the longest"), potatoes (which may well rot before they grow - we'll see), carrots (seed - which if it doesn't wash away should do well), poppies, dill...some other herb too, I think. All seed, and all "hope it doesn't wash away" because (as I said above) we had heavy rain over Christmas. There were a couple dry days this week, but I was busy and didn't get to my garden, and now the rain is back for a week. I'll check it when I get the chance.
I also planted my Aerogarden for a winter garden, rather late (early December rather than early November. But I've planted in January and gotten some harvest, so it should be fine). Two container tomatoes (designed not to get over a couple feet high, and to produce lots of cherry tomatoes), three basils. One tomato sprouted quickly and is now small but sturdy; one refused to sprout so I planted some more seeds...and of course _three_ of them sprouted. I clipped the smaller ones, no room for more than one plant in a pod. Similarly, I have one flourishing basil (tiny, but flourishing), one that sprouted but may have died, and one not showing any action at all - I'll probably replant those two in the next few days. Lettuce leaf (hand-sized leaves), fino verde (tiny leaves), and standard basil - I think it's the lettuce leaf that's growing but I may be wrong.
I also planted my Aerogarden for a winter garden, rather late (early December rather than early November. But I've planted in January and gotten some harvest, so it should be fine). Two container tomatoes (designed not to get over a couple feet high, and to produce lots of cherry tomatoes), three basils. One tomato sprouted quickly and is now small but sturdy; one refused to sprout so I planted some more seeds...and of course _three_ of them sprouted. I clipped the smaller ones, no room for more than one plant in a pod. Similarly, I have one flourishing basil (tiny, but flourishing), one that sprouted but may have died, and one not showing any action at all - I'll probably replant those two in the next few days. Lettuce leaf (hand-sized leaves), fino verde (tiny leaves), and standard basil - I think it's the lettuce leaf that's growing but I may be wrong.
127jjmcgaffey
Happy New Year (in a few hours, here)!
128labfs39
I am always blown away by how much you read every year. What's prompting the Mercedes Lackey focus next year? I loved some of her Valdemar books, her standalone books were more hit or miss with me. What are your favorites?
Happy new year!
Happy new year!
130jjmcgaffey
>128 labfs39: That's the section of my bookshelf* that I was dealing with for discards the last day of the year, and I kept opening a book here and there and getting lost in the first chapter. But the ones I got rid of are the ones I have as ebooks, so that's where I'll actually be reading them.
My absolute favorite is Sacred Ground - aside from the protagonist being named Jennifer, it's the perfect balance of humor, poignancy, and realistic characters. Then Diana Tregarde, a bunch (though not all) of the Valdemar books, SERRAted Edge...I don't love her shared-world Venice series, but that's about it for her that I _don't_ like. I haven't read any of hers in the last few years, though, so it's clearly time.
*I sort my books by genre/subject, and then by author, so I know where a book is pretty closely. Which means that when I'm emptying the shelves, they come in author chunks.
My absolute favorite is Sacred Ground - aside from the protagonist being named Jennifer, it's the perfect balance of humor, poignancy, and realistic characters. Then Diana Tregarde, a bunch (though not all) of the Valdemar books, SERRAted Edge...I don't love her shared-world Venice series, but that's about it for her that I _don't_ like. I haven't read any of hers in the last few years, though, so it's clearly time.
*I sort my books by genre/subject, and then by author, so I know where a book is pretty closely. Which means that when I'm emptying the shelves, they come in author chunks.
131labfs39
>130 jjmcgaffey: Gotcha. I haven't read any of her books in decades (and well before LT, so no reviews) but from what I remember Brightly Burning was probably my favorite, along with the Arrow and Mage Winds books.
I sort my books similarly.
I sort my books similarly.
132FlorenceArt
>130 jjmcgaffey: >131 labfs39: Making note of the Mercedes Lackey recommendations. I’ve never read her. She wrote an amazing number of books! many of them in collaboration.
