2026*3: Lizzie's out of the game but still keeping score

BOOKWYRM

Wyrm is my friend/sister Suze's gigantic cross-stitch, which measures something like 32"x43", which she finally completed earlier this year. I show it to you with her permission! It is done on canvas with 16 squares per inch. She worked on it forever.

OPEN FOR READING IN JULY


Here as summer hits, I have started a reread of C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series that I had planned for this year. I can't put the first one down to read anything else although I yearn to read them all! Of the old favorites up there, I am still pursuing *Winds*, *Byron*, and *DJ*.

READ IN JUNE
23. Child of Flame
24. O Come Ye Back to Ireland
25. The Beheading Game
26. The Dickens Boy
27. Foreigner (reread)

INTO THE HOUSE IN JUNE
101. More Was Lost - Kindle daily deal through BookBub
102. Space Opera - ditto
103. The Golden Mean - yet again
104. O Come Ye Back to Ireland ✔ - Kindle
105. The Riddle-Master - Kindle
106. Theo of Golden - Kindle
107. When Summer's in the Meadow - AMP
108. The Luck of the Irish: Our Life in County Clare - AMP
109. The Astral Library
110. Stone Yard Devotional ✔
111. The Disaster Gay Detective Agency - Kindle deal
112. A Murder Most Camp -Kindle deal
113. Bone of my Bone - Kindle deal
114. The Great Arab Conquests - Kindle deal
115. Aspects of the Novel - Kindle freebee
116. Momenticon - Kindle deal with triple points
117. Wyntertide - Kindle with triple points
118. Lost Acre - Kindle deal with triple points
119. The Complete Polysyllabic Spree - PBS
120. A Countryman's Lot - PBS
121. Lavender House
122. The Other Bennett Sister - Kindle deal
123. Annapurna - Kindle deal again, still with Prime triple points
124. Brunelleschi's Dome - Stasia (Thank you!)

READ IN JULY
28. Stone Yard Devotional
29. Winds of the Steppe

INTO THE HOUSE IN JULY
125. Two Science Fiction Adventures: The Skies Discrowned and Epitaph in Rust - Kindle deal
126. The Watchstar Trilogy - Kindle deal with points
127. John Quincy Adams - Kindle deal
128. Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn - Kindle deal

BEST OR MOST SIGNIFICANT IN 2026

First Half

Yellowface
Wellington: The Years of the Sword
In the Morning I'll Be Gone
First Sign of Danger
Good Company: diaries: January 1967-December 1970
The True, True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)
How to Read a Book
The Mars House

Remarkably Bright Creatures
O Come Ye Back to Ireland
The Beheading Game
The Dickens Boy

Wyrm, you Grace us with your August Severe Loveliness.

Much like our hostess. *smooch*

Hello Peggy - happy new thread! That cross-stitch is AMAZING. Suze must have been cross-eyed by the end of that!

Happy new thread, Peggy!

Thank you for visiting, Susan, Jackie, and Richard! Especially thank you for being impressed by Wyrm. I haven't seen it in the thread, but I can assure you that the back is as perfect as the front.
Jackie, her current project is 28 point. I wouldn't be able even to see the hole, and she says that it is a maze of half and quarter stitches. She is also only a year younger than I am. I don't know how she does it!
(Oh, WBL, you make me smile!)

Happy new thread, Peggy! The Wyrm cross-stitch is spectacular! I would never have guessed it was cross-stitch if you hadn't told me.

Happy new thread, Peggy.

‘Morning, Peggy! Happy new thread. I know it's an eye shots day - I'll be thinking of you even more than I usually do. 🥰

>1 LizzieD: Wow. It’s absolutely stunning. I’m impressed. Congratulations to Suze for her accomplishment.

Wordle in 3 for me today. Lots of doing nothing, possibly lunch with Rita the Librarian if she doesn’t cancel.

Happy new thread, Peggy!

Many thanks for visiting, Jim, Karen, Paul, and Irene! I appreciate company, and I appreciate appreciation of Suze's phenomenal needlework. Her most complicated work in counted cross stitch before this one was from a hand-tinted, studio portrait of her mother as a young woman. She had a professional reproduce it as directions for cross stitch canvas, and it is absolutely gorgeous. As Irene says, you'd never guess it was cross stitch either unless you almost pressed your nose to it.
I'll pass your comments on to Suze. She'll be delighted!

Yep. Eye shots today, and that will take care of my day. I'm tempted to lug my fat fantasy to read before I get the eye drops. I think though that I'd rather take the Kindle so I can increase font size for easier reading. *sigh* I'm within 30 pp of finishing the thing.

Karen, we're 3 Sisters again!!!! How about you, Irene???
Wordle 1,812 3/6*

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That is an extraordinary piece of needlework. I've done enough to know. Wow. I love it!

>13 LizzieD: Yes, I join you both as 3 sisters today! I hope the eye shots went well and you are recuperating well. Not much going on here today. I could do without the 90° temperatures, but I guess we'll be getting plenty of that from now on.

Hooray for 3 3 Sisters, Irene! We're so good!!!!!
The eye shots did go well. My young doctor is very good but was in, shot-shot, and out very quickly. He was seeing 53 patients today and had 83 wherever he was yesterday. I hope that he sees the need for what he does here enough to stick around. The staff are personable enough to keep it from feeling like the factory that it is.
I came home and slept most of the day, and that made everything easier.

Glad to see you, Lu, and beaming with joy that you love Wyrm too!

CHILD OF FLAME by Kate Elliott

I still shake my head that an 82 year-old woman with eye problems would start a 7 book fantasy series in which a couple of the books (this one!) top 900 pages. Part of the reason - I hope the larger part - is because I wanted to; the other part is fueling my denial of my eye problems. Oh well.

This *Crown of Stars* epic is a sterling example of the massive fantasies written in the 90s and early 00s: many, many characters developed so well that the reader cares about them, magic (more on that later), a medieval-ish setting (although this 4th book spends a lot of time in a late stone age village), and adventures and battles. At this point the continent is a mess. The king and his dependents are facing incursion from 3 sets of enemies as well as the ambitions and machinations within the power structure of state and church. The three main characters are learning more about their very special genealogies, which have taken two of them out of the world by magic. By the end of this book, the two are back in what we would consider real time, so that the next book can move forward as they use their new knowledge of themselves and their abilities.

I now have trouble with magic and battles. After 2 or 3 pages of a battle, I'm ready to move on. Apparently, I'm in a minority and other fantasy readers demand battle strategy, tactics, and their playing out. If I can bring myself to skim, I skim.

Magic though, leaves me increasingly cold. I mean, it's magic. I don't have to know how it works. A brief look at the mechanics (V. Goddard's *Heart-Fire* series is my gold standard), and I'm good. I just don't care an explanation for how the starts have to line up in order for a proficient to weave a spell move quickly across the continent. I feel the same about supporting mythologies, and I fault Goddard for this too. If I'm going to learn mythologies, our earth has more than enough to keep me occupied. Anyway, the magic was my reason for not enjoying the third book as much as the first two. This one also suited me better, so I'll at least be forced to take a sneak peek to see what happens when Liath meets Sanglant and Blessing again.

>16 LizzieD: Wow, 53 patients today and 83 yesterday? To say that's a lot is an understatement. I hope for everyone there that he does stick around.

Only 7 pages to go when you were called in. I know that must have been frustrating to be so close to the end when you had to stop. I'm glad you were finally able to finish it. Congratulations on completing the big book!

>16 LizzieD: I can't wait to hear what the heck ensorcelled you so hard you took it to read before your sight-saving shots!

I'm happy to report the tooth pain is down to more manageable levels, though the swelling is still very sensitive it's not the screaming acute stabby-stabby blaring warning klaxon pain.

I'll take it.

The cross stitch Wyrm is amazing. What a beautiful topper. Happy New Thread!

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Saturday.

I'm glad the eye shots are over for the month, glad you were able to start reading last night.

A lucky Wordle 2 for me today.

Trevor and his son Braxton are here today, which always makes me happy.

Many thanks for visiting, Karen, Robyn, Richard, and Irene!

Karen, the eye shots are done for the next 8 weeks unless I have an emergency. That 8 week mark seems to be the golden period for me, and I pray that continues. I figured you would get Wordle in 2, and I congratulate you for smart thinking!!!!! I'm not unhappy with my 4 and hope that Irene got it in at least 3; there's symmetry of a kind there.
Yay for Trevor and Braxton!!!!!!

Thank you, Robyn, I'll pass your comment on, and Suze will be gratified!

Richard, I always have a half hour or so to wait, so I always take a book or Kindle. This time I was only 30 some pages from polishing off the thing, so I took it. I'm happy to read that the tooth pain is manageable. I'll be even happier to read that it and the swelling and source are all gone - well, I hope the dentist can save the tooth, but I hope it's problems are gone. *smooch*

Thanks for the congrats, Irene. To be fair, the 53 patients on Thursday was at another clinic, but he is giving a huge service by traveling in this very poor part of NC. We had to travel 90 miles round-trip to get to the home clinic before he came and they reopened the one here for treatment of ARMD. We are able to do that driving, but most of his patients would have a hard time. They have a clinic in Fayetteville too, and that's 70 miles r-t and the hassle of being in Fatalburg. He also gets to stay home some for surgery, and I think that he and his team actually like to come here.

Wordle 1,813 4/6*

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Back up to 16 for my comments on The Fantasy!!!!!

>21 LizzieD: I did indeed get Wordle in 3 today.

I understood that your doctor was at two separate clinics on the two days, but it is still a lot. I hope with you that he continues seeing patients at your location.

'Morning, Peggy!

I'm glad the interval is 8 weeks, glad that you're able to get the shots locally.

Congrats on your 4. I got in 4 today, so we're time-phased Wordle-in-4 Sisters. Congrats, Irene, on your 3!

It's a gorgeous, if going to be hot, day here. 95F, looks like 94F 'down south'.

Good almost-evening, Karen and Irene!!!!! Congrats on your fine Worlding, both of you, 3s and 4s are much more satisfying than my 5 today. When I got it down to the last 2 possibilities, both of which had been used before, I chose the wrong one first. Of course.

It has been hot. We walked after church for the shady mile, and because we had a nice breeze, it wasn't awful. I've been out only once since: awful.

Wordle 1,814 5/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, unite, tummy, thump, thumb Hope springs eternal.

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Monday.

I'm glad you walked for the shady mile. It's already 87F here.

Wordle in 4 for me today.

A few errands, but other than that, nothing strenuous.

We are 4 Sisters today, (((((Karen)))))~ Irene?

I have some errands to run after I do some stuff around here - nothing strenuous for me either. I'll walk a little bit. If Mama's house is relatively cool, I'll try to -finish exercise on her exercycle. We have one here too, but I can't move it to protect our dumbest cats.

Wordle 1,815 4/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, tasty, magic, mafia That's better than yesterday although guess 2 turned out to be a bit dumb.

I continue to enjoy The Beheading Game (must next read some Alison Weir to see how she personalizes Anne), an as-yet-unnamed by me book that I'm sending to an LT friend who MIGHT come by here before it arrives (early birthday/Christmas gift.... I have something else in mind for you, Karen), and The Dickens Boy. I begin to look forward to Byron again, so that's good.

Hiya, Peggy, I'm alive and thriving. I'll be working on more Pride Month stuff...good golly miss molly have I got a heap of these books to review!...as well as some of the SEVENTY books publishing this very month that somehow landed on my Kindle.

SEVENTY. That's most of a person in this group's ANNUAL goal. This month. Clearly not all of 'em are gonna get ready, still less reviewed. I've only ever read Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life by Alison Weir, gave it four stars, but never read one of her novels (that I recall, or was moved to review).

Stay well, smoochling.

‘Morning, Peggy! Happy Tuesday to you.

>26 LizzieD: Congrats on your Wordle 4. We are Wordle in 4 Sisters.

Ooooh, I’m always happy/surprised when people remember my birthday. It’s definitely coming up soon.

Possibly Virlie’s, definitely the bank and prescription pick up, and most likely Covid booster.

Good afternoon, Sister 4 Karen, and sister-in-other-ways! I'm glad you're getting boosted. I got mine sometime last month along with a T-dap, which was a year overdue.
I love birthdays too!!!!
Hope you got to Virlie with the crowd.

We managed the walk before it got awful, and now it's feeding time. (I think it's always feeding time!)
Wordle 1,816 4/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, learn, award, wharf I felt that it would have an i in it today.

I"m happy to hear you thriving, my WBL! Pride Month is always a joyful stressor for you, I think. I've read one Weir novel. It was a lot like her history but with dialogue. I do enjoy her research though, and when there's not a lot to research, I can be drawn into inventories of clothes and such. *smooch*

>26 LizzieD: Belatedly, yes, I got yesterday's Wordle in 4. And the same today. So I join you as 4 sisters. Of course, you probably won't see this until tomorrow, and who knows what I'll get then.

I enjoyed Weir's Innocent Traitor. I'm up for reading more of her works, fiction and nonfiction alike.

>29 LizzieD: A good way to contextualize it! I'll never "catch up" on my reviews for Pride because there are so many good books to add to my list every month of the year. It's something that makes the bigots very unhappy..."shoving it in our faces" and "why don't you just keep quiet about it" are still, in 2026, things I see said publicly though no longer said *to me*. I wonder if that's because I don't attract those kind of readers anymore?

Pretty good tooth day, largely because I'm babying the darn thing I think. Spend your Wednesday splendidly!

‘Morning, Peggy! Happy Wednesday.

I got boosted and only have a sore upper arm from it. I didn’t go to Virlie’s – cleaning ladies were supposed to come early and I didn’t want to be out and worrying about cutting things short or missing them so I didn’t go. Grrr. The ended up coming an hour late anyway. I got my errands done, so there's that.

Glad you got to walk. Yes, 4 x 7 kitties is quite a bit of feeding.

Congrats on your 4. I got it in 4 today.

I'm happy to be here and see Karen, Richard, and Irene ahead of me - what a comfy feeling! I also texted briefly with Stasia this morning. I think we can look for her by Friday at the latest!

I'm delighted that you don't react badly to the booster either, Karen. I'll gladly put up with a sore arm. Hope your Wednesday is satisfying in every way.

Richard, I'm glad that you have a good enough tooth day and wish you more until you can get it seen to!!!!! I was just thinking as I made my dessert coffee that a month is very little to give to Gay Pride or Black History, to name the two that spring to mind. At least people are no longer badgering you with their discomfort. I think maybe we should have a *Just Plain Folks* day for everybody. Meanwhile, I always look forward to your reviews. It's always an adventure to see what you're featuring.

Irene, I have a copy of *IT* too and will hope to get to it sometime. I say again that I do like Weir. 4s abound on my Wordle stats page, and I'm never really unhappy with a 4. I'm extra happy today though, to have gotten it in 3. This is a word that I misspell and that Wordle accepts in order to get those common letters in with an 'E'.
Wordle 1,817 3/6*

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I went a little wild yesterday with my $3 Kindle Points and double points awarded, and also half the $ that my friend gave me for playing at her brother's service. (I gave the other half back in his memory to our church-sponsored camp for poor kids that we've been running since the mid-1950s.) I've added them to my burgeoning Into the House list above, and have another 3 on the way!!!!

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Thursday. I'm surprised that we're going to be a bit warmer and with a higher heat index here than there.

There is no residual soreness from the Covid booster today, so there's that.

I gasped when I looked at my Kindle Points - I didn't realize I had any, have never redeemed any, and have 191. I was less excited when I learned that I needed 109 more to get a $3 reward. Sheesh.

We are Wordle in 3 sisters.

I might start prepping for Filthy Cabbage today by creating the seasoning mix and cutting up onion, carrots, and celery. Otherwise, reading, June Lightning Round, and etc.

Bill and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the first two episodes of Emma, the 2009 series last night.

>33 LizzieD: I'm glad for a month, opposed to the utter silence of before...and every time the month rolls around, SOMEone sees something for the very first time, someone else sees the exact thing that ignites their curiosity, and still another person says, "waitaminnit waitaminnit that's ME!" for the first time.

It's why "They" work so hard to keep people from having access to information ever since Gutenberg created "Their" worst effin' nightmare. No book-banner/censor has ever been the good guy. And still "They" get away with it....*smooch*

Hooray for the MONTH and make the most of it, my WBL! You always do. *smooch*

Karen, the other thing about Kindle points is that if you build up a a goodly number, like 191 for example, they take some away so that you'll hurry to accumulate your 300. I was due to lose 7 on July 1, but a little $, greed, and double points pushed me over. I don't succumb as a usual thing.

Hmmmm. I'm eating the last of my chicken breast and brown rice today - barbecued. DH has also eaten some of it. It was a huge one, and I shudder as I try not to think of the growth hormones. He, btw, is off to get his COVID booster today.

Hooray for Emma. I confess that I'm watching the K.Knightley *P&P* since you mentioned it. The rest of *Bellona Club* is waiting patiently. I'm not sure which *E* you're watching since I don't find a 2009 release date mentioned on Amazon. I'm attracted to the Romola Garai one, but they're not offering any used ones that I can see. Hmmmmmmm.
I think I have to rank Judy Parfitt's Lady Catherine a bit above even Judi Dench's, but all 3 women are superb. I think Parfitt must be the youngest of the 3, and that makes her a bit more likely. She also gets more screen time, and I like that. What a great part!

3 Sisters!!!! Irene?

Wordle 1,818 3/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, stile, testy Hooray for the used word list today!

I'm not sure why you're hotter and more humid than we are. I intend to do nothing today beyond the usual except to wash the sheets (again) for Lizzie and Wm. who are coming tomorrow afternoon for an overnight on their way to the beach. Yay!

>36 LizzieD: I love everything about the 1980 P&P. I once crossed Wilshire Blvd. next to Judy Parfitt. We were both headed to LACMA. She was deep in discussion with her companion.

Two hearts that beat as one, Susan! If I had been on Wilshire Bvd. and the actor had been David Rintoule, I would have jumped him. I somehow saw one episode of Dr. Finlay, and fell for him a little less. He was still a bit stiff for my taste, but he is the perfect Darcy.

>34 karenmarie: >36 LizzieD: When they first started the Kindle points thing, it was a beta. The points didn't expire at first, but then they changed it and the points expire after 3 months. It has been quite a while since I've been able to redeem any; they are always expiring before I get enough. (Mostly because I usually order print books, so I get fewer points.)

Wordle in 2 for me today. I got three letters from my first word, one in place. I decided to try the pattern _EST_ and found three words that fit and weren't used. Given that I had been in a grumpy mood (we've been having a few things that weren't going right, and the heat didn't help), I decided to choose the word that fit my mood, and that was today's word. That's the first time I've solved Wordle in 2 based on how I was feeling.

‘Morning, Peggy! I’m puzzled about why we’re hotter and more humid than you are down south, but it’s not by much and we’re all suffering.

>36 LizzieD: I hope your DH has no side effects from the booster.

If you search Amazon for "Romola Garai Emma", you should find it.

>39 atozgrl: Congrats on Wordle in 2, Irene!

Wordle in 4 for me today.

Oh, I found the RG *Emma*, Karen. I just don't want to pay that much for it. I'm used to buying very good used DVDs for half that price.
No side effects at all so far for the DH! I WISH he didn't feel compelled to mow the front lawn at Mama's house before the kids get here. I'm going over in just a minute to swipe some of the dust away and put the clean sheets on the bed. It is SO HOT here, and it's a mystery to me too why you should be hotter. TOO HOT!

OOOO, Irene! 2!!!! Congrats to you. Congrats to you with your 4 also, Karen. I didn't get skunked, at least. Otoh, I've gotten 0 on my last two Connections outings. If they classify its difficulty level at 3 out of 5, I'd just as well not bother.
Wordle 1,819 5/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, hater, arose, bream, break THE word was already on my used list, Irene. Oh well.

Stay cool!!!

Your five is understandable, since they cheated with an already-used-once word.

Whew. Hot. Here, at the house, it's 100.4F, 31% humidity.

I've made the no-salt Creole spice mix, and chopped cabbage, onion, celery, and carrot. Duty done for the day, I'm heading upstairs to read/nap. I may reward myself with a Cherry Pop Tart. Bill's on a kick recently, and he WOULD buy cherry...

>41 LizzieD: I paid for yesterday's Wordle 2 today. It took me 6 this time. I got the right pattern with a used word at 4 (picked the wrong used word), then tried the same unused word you used at 4, and finally got the right one at 6. Sheesh. That's two used words this week. I didn't expect them to select another used word so soon.

I hope you were able to stay cool today. I managed to avoid stepping foot outside. Unfortunately, I really need to get out and water my plants.

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Sunday to you.

Wordle in 4 today.

Another scorcher today, and it's already 90.3F. Perhaps making dinner since the prep work is done.

Reading, of course, as well as working on spreadsheets and my June Lightning Round.

Back after while, dears!!!

Wordle 1,820 4/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, imbue, clued, quell It could have been much worse. Hooray for 4 Sisters - which we still could be if we average Irene's 2 and 6!

We enjoyed the kids today, and they are off to the beach. I'm about ready to have the second meal of the day, having eaten an ENORMOUS breakfast that included a slice of Wiliiam's wonderful homemade (not sourdough, which would be good, of course) bread!

Dare I say? We are overcast and a storm seems to be blowing up. We NEED RAIN!!!!

>45 LizzieD: Wordle in 4 for me also. We are really 4 sisters today.

Hi Peggy, I see you created a new thread while I was away. Just checking in to say hello!

‘Morning, Peggy!

Happy Sunday to you. I’m glad the visit went well.

Irene and I are in extreme drought, and you are in severe drought. We definitely need rain.

Yes!!!!! 4 sisters all the way.

I got it in 3 today.

EXTREME DROUGHT!!! We had a brief thunderstorm yesterday afternoon that cooled us by 7 or 8 degrees. It was close enough to sunset that we regained only 4 or 5 of them. I count that a win even though we got a lot less rain than wind and thunder. We hope for some today.

Hi, Irene, Laura, and Karen! It's a treat to come here and find messages!
I'm home from church and hope to stir no more until tomorrow when I have a few things to do.

We're 3 Sisters again, Karen, although I'm one who consulted more than the used word list for my last guess.
Wordle 1,821 3/6*

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O COME YE BACK TO IRELAND by Niall Williams and Christine Breen

I love and adore N. Williams's writing in his novels. This memoir, written with his wife about their first year as farmers in County Clare, is less literary but equally satisfying. Chris inherited Kiltumper Farm with the cottage built by her great-great grandfather, outbuildings, and 50 acres. She grew up in NYC and Niall grew up in Dublin. In 1985 they left their careers in Manhattan and moved back to Ireland. Their romantic plans for successful farming and creativity changed as they suffered through the wettest, coldest summer in 100 years and found sustenance in their deepening identification with the land and the community.
Did I say that I love this book? I do. Would I have taken the same delight in doing what they did? I wouldn't. I do appreciate participating in their privations and hard work from the comfort of my sofa. I look forward to their other four books. I won't hoard them long.

>49 LizzieD: 3 Sisters! Wordle in 3 for me too today.

Somebody got something last night, because we saw the lightning when driving back from Durham. The weather report on the news showed a storm in central Chatham County, but it fell apart before it got to us. We desperately need a good rain.

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Monday to you. Kind regards to your DH and skritches to each member of the clowder of kitties.

Yay for the thunderstorm. We've had no measurable rain this month and only 10.26" so far this year. We should have already had about 18-19".

Yay for yesterday's 3 - I got it in 3 today.

I'll probably schlep into town to pick up 3 prescriptions but otherwise stay home. I spoke with Jenna for a bit this morning and their high today is supposed to be 91F, while ours is 'only' supposed to be 89F.

Bill and I are going to start watching the 1980 Pride and Prejudice - he expressed an interest when I told him of it. He's interested in all things Jane Austen all of a sudden.

>51 karenmarie: GOOD for Bill, and that makes it GOOD for you too!!!! I do love and adore the 1980 P&P. I only love the '95 one. *grin* I think Faye Weldon did a fantastic job with a script that quotes a lot of the book without sounding stuffy. I like Deborah Moggach's writing too, but for me FW is the gold standard.

We got ¾" of rain from our storm yesterday. It blew the top out of a river birch that we had to climb over on our walk this morning. I'm loving the cooler temperature. I wish it might last more than two days.

I should go out, but I have a couple of phone calls to make, so I think I'll consider that my extra business for the day and stay home. Walking early means getting up early, and I could do with a nap even as I sip coffee #2.

3 Sisters AGAIN!!!! Yay! Irene?
Wordle 1,822 3/6*

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Here's hoping you have a marvelous Monday, Peggy!

BTW - I am off again on Wednesday and Friday. The Wednesday trip is a turn around trip. I will be back on Saturday from the Friday trip.

>52 LizzieD: I said this over on my thread in a longer post, but it was Wordle in 2 for me today. Today's word was my usual guess when I get only an L from my first word. I don't think I realized it hadn't been used already. If I knew that when I started using it, I had forgotten it.

Congratulations on getting ¾" rain. I wish we could get that much. We had some good rain in May, but it's been hot and dry since, so we need more.

'Morning, Peggy. Happy cooler Tuesday to you.

Congrats on yesterday's Wordle in 3. Today took me 5, but it's always fun to solve.

Maybe Virlie's if they call... otherwise all the usual and I might try to fill a bird feeder or two.

>49 LizzieD: I regard *suburbia* as unpleasantly rural, so what they're doing in Ireland would send me sscreamin' outta there! Fun to read about, but....

>52 LizzieD: I hope you're going to get the overdue rain soon. Just not all at once, please, Weather Goddesses. *smooch*

Good morning, Richard, Karen, Irene, and Stasia!

Richard, I am NOT a rural girl although I grew up on my daddy's lot from his pappy's farm. He had had his fill of farm work by the time he was 8 or 9, and I was his true daughter. I tried to pick cotton once and lasted about 10 minutes. I tried to put in tobacco once and lasted until I met my first tobacco worm. I hate chickens on their scaly little feet and was always afraid of the huge cows. I have a cousin who's a master gardener and others who must have their hands in the dirt in one way or another. Not.For.Me. That said, I did love reading about Niall and Chris's almost traditional experience and will be equally charmed by the other three books, I'm pretty sure.
Amen to that thought! I expect we're missing 13 or 14 inches by now. I trust that your weather is fine and that everything is looking up for you! *smooch*

Stasia, you're going to forget what home looks like! I hope your next outings are good ones.

Ah, Irene and Karen! Congrats on 2 again yesterday, Irene!!!!! Good for you for ending it in 5 today, Karen. I looked at my aimless stirring of the soup after 3, checked a list, and got it in 4, as you see. I'm not willing to spend as much time thinking about Wordle as I used to.

Wordle 1,823 4/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, stave. phage, amaze

I hadn't intended to come back until I finished The Beheading Game, but here I am with just a few more pages to read. I am wary about finding out how she wraps it up. I'll be back.

‘Morning, Peggy! Happy back-to-hot Wednesday.

>57 LizzieD: Ugh to picking cotton and tobacco worms. I’ve never been around chickens, but remember my maternal grandmother telling me how terrified she was of them – the had a largish coop and at a very early age it became her job to get the eggs every morning. I’m terrified of cows up close. I was visiting Karen in 1980 and we were out walking on her parents’ property. They had a herd of … some breed or another … which she nonchalantly walked me through. There were pushing on me and hemming me in. She didn’t realize I was frightened until I told her about 4 or 5 years ago. I love vegetable gardening but it’s not in the cards right now, possibly not ever.

Congrats on your 4. I’m with Irene’s 2 two days ago today.

Wash goes to the vet this afternoon, so the kitties are locked inside the house. Zoe is not happy.

Well, good luck to you and Wash today. Friend Suze is taking her Aurora to the vet today too, and hoping that morning greenies in the the carry-crate will get her in there without a hassle.

Grandmother had horrible scars on her legs from a rooster's spurs, but I wasn't afraid of the chickens (except Sandy, the Easter chick who survived to become a white leghorn rooster that we had to fight off with a rake to get from car to house), but free-range chickens are nasty under the grapevine where they roosted and in dirt driveways. After granddaddy died, we moved in with grandmother, and the rooster woke me up every morning at 4:30 crowing under my window.
I know I've told the story before, so here's the last time. One of the cows had escaped the pasture and G-daddy was chasing it around the house. Then it became clear to G-mother and me that the cow was chasing him. G-m laughed so hard I was afraid she was going to have a stroke.
Speaking of memory, my DH confided to me that some memories are so precious that he doesn't revisit them. He read that a memory changes and loses strength every time you replay it. I haven't checked the legitimacy of that, but if it's so, I'm sorry.

How rare and wonderful that we are 2 Sisters today!!!! I hope Irene joins us.
Wordle 1,824 2/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, token

THE BEHEADING GAME by Rebecca Lehmann

Having the book in hand from my friend, there is no way I could have not read it, and I'm not sorry. Getting there was all the fun though. I'll say right here that I was disappointed in the ending. The historical parts were very good, excellent, in fact, but it degenerated into fantasy. At least she didn't pull an
"Ox-bow Incident,", which I had feared.

Anne Boleyn wakes up in the arrow box with her head beside her. She's in the Tower chapel and manages to get out, get an abandoned boat across the river, and pilfer a sewing basket. She sews her head back on and feels it beginning to attach flesh to flesh. Then she sets off to get back to the Tower, reclaim jewels that she had hidden for Elizabeth, and kill Henry. A lot of the descriptions of Tudor London sound right. A lot of her backstory as she remembers it sounds right. Anne herself is depicted as adoring Elizabeth, sure that she will be a strong, able queen, and loving Henry. She is also arrogant and impatient because she is queen and smarter than everybody else. I've been greatly influenced by Anne of the Thousand Days as the only approach to Anne as a person that I was familiar with. Now I'll be compelled to read more. A book that sends you to another book has to be appreciated, right?

I think this may have been Lehmann's first novel. If so, I'm eager to see what she does next.

‘Morning, Peggy. Happy Thursday to you.

>59 LizzieD: Ugh to horrible scars. I have a great visual of your G-daddy being chased by the cow.

Interesting about not revisiting precious memories.

Congrats on your 2 yesterday. I got it in 3 today.

No errands today, thank goodness. Just staying cool and hydrated.

3 Sisters!!!!

I'm off to an early Pier 41 lunch with cousins coming home from the beach. We ate there the last time they made the trip, but the 3rd of their party hadn't been able to eat with them when they went to Calabash. I'm not sure why we're going back this time, but it suits me!!!

Wordle 1,825 3/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, noire, entry Yay, us! Irene????

We walked and it was already very warm. Your plans for the day duplicate mine.

>61 LizzieD: Yes, 3 for me today too. I stayed home today. Fortunately, I didn't have to run any errands. I did not want to get out in this heat. I did refill the bird feeders, but that was about all for outdoor activities.

How about today, Irene???

I'm off to the eye doc.....more later. We are getting light rain. YAY!!!!!

Wordle 5-for-5 Challenge Complete 🎊
Wordle 1,826 3/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, ozone, emoji

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Friday to you.

What did you get at Pier 41?

Yay for the rain - we ended up getting 1.57" of rain from Arthur.

Congrats on today's 3. It took me 5. But, like you, I got the 5-for-5 Challenge badge.

Cortisone shots today in Sanford, back to the Pitt to the pharmacy for 2 prescriptions and some candy for Bill for Father's Day. I just knew if I ordered any from Amazon it would come melted.

I hope the eye appointment goes well.

>59 LizzieD: I think The Beheading Game sounds like fun! A zombie Queen! Yes lawd, gimme gimme! But I have a lot of political rage so I'm really more suited to this idea just now.

Spend a lovely Juneteenth weekend! *smooch*

>59 LizzieD: In fact, Richard, I think you might enjoy the *BG* very much the same way I did. Anne is not at all a Zombie. All her systems work very well, including her mind. I had never entertained the idea of her as a sterling character, which she pretty much has in this book. You even get a small possibility of Lesbian Love.
I didn't note that RL makes effective use of the outrageous rumors about her (or else made up some dandy ones), such as her coronation gown being festooned with human tongues to show what happened to people caught speaking ill of her......... I hope you can work it in. *smooch*

Hi, Karen! We are not getting rain right now, but we are partly cloudy, so I have expectation of more. I wish you well with the cortisone shots, both the getting and their effectiveness! My other Susie mentioned last night that she can't take Tramadol because of side-effects. I'm happy that you don't suffer from them!

At Pier 41 yesterday: Calabash-style fried shrimp, oysters (OH! That first piping hot oyster - SO GOOD!), and a deviled crab with fries (so sue me), slaw, and hush puppies. I brought home a few shrimp the rest of the hush puppies that we didn't eat, and some honey butter. The cousins had been at the beach only 4 nights with their nephew from the other side of the family - 11 people in the party, and I expect it was a non-stop party.

My Eye: I think this is the best I could have expected barring a miraculous healing. My wet AMD is not involved in my worsened sight. That was a fear. Instead, the blind spot has enlarged as he warned me it would. I can still read, DG!, and drive in town. Again, he said that he was surprised that it had held as it was for so long. What he hadn't said before is that it is a result of the long-running dry AMD; nothing could have been done about it at the time, and the decline is inevitable.
Otoh, he reminded me that we have two eyeballs, and my other eye remains at 20/20. I'll get used to it and be thankful for every day that it's only this bad.

Now I'm off to feed the crew and then to veg out for the rest of the day.

>63 LizzieD: Wordle in 3 for me today, so I will join you as 3 sisters. I forgot to go out and check the rain gauge, so I'm not sure how much we got here. I was disturbed to discover today that my home town in Illinois got hit by a tornado on Wednesday. I finally found a couple of maps that tracked the path, but they weren't detailed enough to show exactly where inside town it hit. It looks mighty close to where I grew up. I haven't logged onto Facebook in years, but I might have to break down and log on to get more information.

I am very glad to hear that you have 20/20 vision in one eye! It's good that you don't have to deal with it in both eyes. Hurray to still being able to read!

‘Morning, Peggy! No rain for us yesterday. Guess what? You get all the oysters if we’re on a desert island. If Karen’s there, too, you’ll have to split them. Otherwise, fried shrimp, deviled crab, FF, slaw, and hush puppies sound wonderful.

Ah, you know how sorry I am about the blind spot enlarging. Yay for driving and reading. Yay for your Other Eyeball.

Glad you were both Wordle 3 Sisters. I got it in 3 today.

Grocery store for the always necessary for breakfast red grapes yesterday. I actually went in and I stayed on one side of the store and it was okay. First time in 3 months. Today is the pharmacy. I forgot yesterday was Juneteenth and Walgreen's was closed.

3 Sisters Again!!!! Yay and Yay and Yay!

Thank you for your oysters, Karen. I haven't ever eaten a raw one, but I wouldn't mind at all giving it a try.

Good for you for getting into the store! I think on your thread I wrote about my pulled/strained muscle yesterday. I won't repeat myself except to say that my respect for you dear ones who endure levels 8 and 9 pain chronically have more of my sympathy and respect than ever. I'm more grateful than I can say that my worst bit of it didn't last but a few minutes. It left me so shaky that I couldn't walk, and then when I could and sat down to eat, I still had to move my head to the good hand trying to hold the fork.

As to books!!!! I'm within the last 100 pp of The Dickens Boy. I do enjoy Keneally, whatever he writes and must be sure I have him listed among my favorite authors here.
I've started a reread of Foreigner mostly because I've wanted to do that this year, but also because Cherryh announced her retirement at the end of April, and I missed it.
Today, because Lucy has rated the latest WBJ so highly, I've started The Tainted Cup, the first of the two.
And I have *DJ*, and the 5th canto that I started earlier this week. I read it aloud and was laughing too hard to keep the stanza going when my DH walked through and was concerned that I had finally read myself into delirium. That means that I want to get back to the Byron bio too.
And you know what???? I WANT MORE BOOKS!!!!!!!

>66 LizzieD: It is a wonder your eye is functional after so long having the gorram AMD, but losing its sight will still be annoying AF. Monocular vision I still vision, though, so reading will still be in your future.

*smooch*

>69 LizzieD: I love oysters! But I don't think I want to eat any raw.

I'm sorry about the strained muscle, Peggy. I hope you recover from it soon.

Wordle in 2 for me today. After my first word, I had the same pattern as on Tuesday, and it's a pattern that could fit innumerable words. So I went back to look and see what my first wrong guess was on Tuesday, tried it, and that was it! Lucky today.

‘Morning, Peggy! Happy Sunday.

>69 LizzieD: Well of course you want more books!!!!!!!

Wordle in 4 for me today.

I'm getting those books too, Karen! I'm even about to finish one and have already started its replacement!!!!

Good for Karen's Wordle in 4!!!! HOORAY for another Wordle in 2, Irene. I'm a bit afraid to mention it, but see my 3 below.....
Meanwhile, the muscle or nerve (I'm pretty sure that the horror came from a cervical nerve) is better as I keep myself full of Ibuprofen. If I move much, the ache breaks through. If I don't move enough, the ache breaks through. I didn't walk again today except across the parking lot at church. That was enough.

Oh, Richard. I had no idea that dry AMD could be so damaging. It made me very light sensitive and slow to focus from one light level to another (if I came into a darker room from bright sunlight with my eyes open, everything would be suffused with green light), but I had no idea it had left little dead spots. I am heartened with just how well I can still see and devoutly hope to stay at this level for awhile. If I don't, I don't. As you say, monocular vision is still vision, and I'm grateful for it!

Wordle 1,828 3/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, clean, alibi

>73 LizzieD: Peggy, I sincerely hope that you stay at the same level of vision from now on! I guess AMD, wet or dry, is just bad. I also hope that the pain from your nerve or muscle improves ASAP. Baby it!

I had another Wordle in 2 today. I'm sure I'll pay for that tomorrow.

Oh my goodness, Irene! You are THE WOMAN!!!!! Wordle on, my friend!!!

THE DICKENS BOY by Thomas Keneally

I enjoyed this book almost 5 stars worth. It was probably my fault at the time rather than TK's that let me lay it aside so easily the first time I started it. It is the story of Edward Bulwer-Lytton Dickens, CD's youngest and favorite child, at least while he was a smaller child. The family agreed that his nickname, Plornishmaroontigoonter, was the best ever. CD also called him The J.B. in the W. (jolliest boy in the world..... like the GOATS). Plorn was not a scholar though, nor did he pursue anything in the way his father did, so he was shipped off to Australia, following his brother Alfred who was 5 years older.

Later!

‘Morning, Peggy dear, and happy Monday to you.

I successfully did all the work needed to give Bill a Happy Father's Day without suffering today because of that effort. I consider it a definite win.

I’m so sorry the muscle/nerve issue is still there. Ibuprophen is a wonder, isn’t it?

Congrats for yesterday’s Wordle in 3.

>74 atozgrl: The Wordle Gods don’t like to reward us consistently. This we have learned.

However, I got it in 2 today with the help of my handy-dandy spreadsheet.

Ugh to the temperature, right?

>75 LizzieD: I think Plorn had the right idea, not trying to be Pa Part II. He lived a good-enough life. Too bad it was so short....

I need to finish those comments, Richard. Plorn couldn't even manage to read anything of his father's until he was 18, but he was excellent at what he could do. If he didn't exactly idolize his father, he was less conflicted about him than Alfred. More later!

Happy Monday, Karen and Richard!

I didn't walk again today, mostly because it was already 86 before DH was ready. My muscle/nerve isn't bad today, but I am a bit unhappy that I feel it at all with 3 Advil tablets at work for only 2 hours.

Wordle 1,829 4/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, spate, agate, ovate Congrats on your 3, Karen! I developed a list too for the 3rd guess. Couldn't believe that THE word could be the word, and tried one already used instead. I have never heard anybody use that verb..... not even Richard ..... just saying! Ah! It is also an unrelated adjective. I don't believe I've ever heard anybody use that word in conversation either. Oh well. Tomorrow!

>78 LizzieD: I join you with 4 today. I tried 2 used words at guesses 2 and 3, because there were only used words available after eliminated letters were ruled out. I had to move to unusual words to get it at 4. But afterwards I did see that word was on the Wordle words list. It's not a word I've heard used either.

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Tuesday to you. We got .32" of rain with yesterday's storms, much needed.

Ah, a bit of alphabet soup. Congrats on the 4. Took me 5 today.

I hope to get a call to meet the book sort team at Virlie's. If not, I still need to go into town to get cash for my cleaning ladies.

Good afternoon, Wordle Sisters! We walked earlier today, so I'm late as I enjoy my second mug of coffee. As you see, my second guess didn't get me a lot forwarder except to eliminate vowels.
Wordle 1,830 4/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, miner, lurch, curry I'm happy enough.

I need to go out today too, Karen, and I guess I will. I'd certainly rather not, but if I can encourage rain by getting wet, I'll be glad to. We haven't gotten any. Hope you're with the book sorters by now!

My DH had his stepladder out and I persuaded him to put a book back on the top shelf for me and get another down. That means that right now, if I love everything I have started, and I do, I'm trying to read all of the following: The Tainted Cup, Foreigner, Byron: Child of Passion, Fool of Fame, Don Juan, Stone Yard Devotional, Winds of the Steppe, and the newly restored to me, Patience & Fortitude. I guess I won't be finishing anything else this month.

>81 LizzieD: It sounds like the world's spinning on its axis just fine chez Vous. It's been raining a bit here, down to a light shower every once in awhile now...but it's only 68° so really no complaints from me.

*smooch*

‘Morning, Peggy! It's 'only' going to get to 89F today here.

Congrats on yesterday’s 4. I got it in 4 today.

I encouraged rain by going out, too, and the drive home was almost a white knuckle event with how hard it was coming down.

My goodness – that’s an amazing list of books you’ve started.

Well, Karen, my run to the PO, which was all I felt like doing, didn't produce a drop. I'm glad y'all got some even if it was fast and hard. We walked this morning too when it was barely 80°. Pleasure!

That is a wonderful pile of books. Too bad I won't finish any of them in a decent amount of time. In fact, I'm not able to read anything except Foreigner right now, so I might finish it. I had forgotten a lot! (For Cherryh fans, I just now have Bren meeting Ilisidi and going for his first ride on a mecheita.)

We're 4 sisters yet again!
Wordle 1,831 4/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, trove, riser, queer

The world spins, and we hang on, Richard. If only we could have some of your rain, I'd take our temps!

Happy day to you both!

>16 LizzieD: I need to return to that series at some point. Thanks for the reminder, Peggy!

>49 LizzieD: That is a Niall Williams book that I do not own. I am going to have to track down a copy.

>75 LizzieD: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the review and recommendation, PA.

'Morning, Peggy. Happy Thursday to you.

Congrats on your 4. I got it in 3. The Wordle Gods were smiling down upon me.

Always happy to see you here, Stasia!!! I must tell you that N. Williams and his wife have written four (!) books about their earliest years in County Clare. I expect them all to be as good as the first. It lacks a bit of his wizardly writing that shows in his novels, being more straightforward, and Chris's writing is also very competent. She also illustrates the books. I won't repeat the list that is among my "Into the House" entries.
I'm happy to return the bulleting favor since you hit me so often!

Good afternoon, Karen! I'm quickly off to drop a few kibbles around and at last do the grocery shopping I've been putting off all week.

Wordle 1,832 3/6*

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, unite, unity I should have looked at the used list. This was my second word when the first one failed for years and years.

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

*grin* at Richard and return *smooch* *smooch *smooch* *smooch* *smooch* to my WBL!

Wordle 1,833 5/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, steam, taped, fetta, acute Boo! Hissss!

>87 LizzieD: Thanks for the heads up on the Williams books, Peggy. I will see if I can track down copies of them.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

'Morning, Peggy. Ugh to the weather, and we might get T-storms.

Sorry about yesterday's 5. I got today's in 2. Spreadsheet and intuition.

Have a lovely day, my dear.

OOOO! CONGRATS on your Wordle 2, (((((Karen)))))! If I had checked the used list, I likely wouldn't have used that configuration. I was impatient, and my #2 was the first thing I thought of was the first thing I thought of that used one of my main consonants.

Wonderful weekend to you too, Stasia!!! If you looked after I registered it, you'd see that I picked up Annapurna last night as a Kindle deal with triple points. WIN!!!

Wordle 1,834 3/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, snoop, scoop

Back to say because I just thought of it again. I watched the Fat Boy for a second last night - hadn't seen him since his makeup turned completely orange and his hair white. My first thought was that he looked almost as natural as Michael Jackson in his last year or so but maybe not as handsome.

>92 LizzieD: I have a book acquisition story about Annapurna. Bill bought all his AV equipment from Audio Advice in Raleigh. One of the rooms had been set as a living room, and there was a bookcase with old hardcover books. Naturally, I was scanning the books and not paying attention to the AV talk, and I saw Annapurna. I offered to buy it but Leon, the owner, said I could just have it. The dust jacket is in very good shape. My book club had just read Annapurna: A Woman's Place earlier that year.

Oh! I saw that one too, Karen! I'll have to look back to see what you thought of it.....

Our kids are here at Mama's overnight on their way home from the beach. I hope we get to spend a little time with them before they head out tomorrow.

FOREIGNER by C.J. Cherryh

I liked this even more this second time through than the first. Cherryh is one you just have to trust and plow on. She tends to stay in her main characters' heads way, way too long, looking at every situation from every angle (maybe not all 360 °, but sometimes I feel like she's not far from it) and rehearsing several of them. In other ways she's elliptical. I remember the first time picking at things that I wished she had explained. BUT!!!!!
The characters are vivid. The aliens are believably alien but temptingly like humans and relatable to the same extent that individual people are or aren't. The human hero, the paedi is a diplomat who must effectively connect humans to atevi for the good of both species. He is relatively new to the job and placed in a position that makes him question every single assumption he has made.
(I'm not sure I needed to write all that.)
Then there is action! I'll flip as many pages as Cherryh wants (or wanted) to write to get our characters out of danger.

I didn't know until I started this reread that Cherryh has retired for health reasons. She wrote the *Foreigner Series* in trilogies, and had just started the eighth one when she made the decision. I hope a LOT that she'll give notes and thoughts to her partner Jane Fancher, who is also an author and who has written a couple of books with her in another series.
Meanwhile, I'm trying very hard not to leap right into book 2 until I have read other things that are demanding my attention.

'Morning, Peggy. Happy Sunday to you.

Congrats on your Wordle in 3. I got it in 3 today, so we're Wordle 3 Sisters.

I'm going to be lazy again today.

Good for your Wordling, Karen. Alas (but not alack) I had to have help to get it in 5!

We walked at 9:00 with Lizzie and Wm., talked for another hour or so, and had breakfast and got lunch into the cats. Suddenly it's now, and here I am.

Wordle 1,835 5/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, spite, choke, educe, emcee I would never have thought of that word without help!

Morning, Peggy, from muggy NYC's forgotten borough. I know destabilized climate equals heatwaves and cold snaps at odd times but that don't mean I like it too good.

Spend your Monday well. *smooch*

'Morning, Peggy! Ugh to the weather, especially what's coming up.

I'm going into town to run an errand or two, otherwise reading a book that's not smut - Culpability and getting caught up on spreadsheets and Lightning Round.

I tend to not try words that have two or more of the same letter, which would have been disastrous in yesterday's word!

Wordle in 2 today. Bless my spreadsheets!

Nobody consulted me about the weather either, Karen and Richard. Ugh to what's ahead for this week, and I won't look further. Otoh, we got an additional &frac34:" of rain last night after dark. Wonderful!!! Hope you both can stay in and also spend your Monday well.

*smooch*, Richard.
(((((Karen)))))

TWO!!! That's wonderful AGAIN, Karen!!!
I didn't look anywhere and should be happy not to have been skunked. I'm content anyway. As to trying words with double letters, I tend to do it when such a word is the only one that springs to mind or when I need to place a letter if I can do it in only one try.

Wordle 1,836 5/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, wring, gruel, prude, crude

At some point early in the week I need to brave the heat and run errands. It might be today or tomorrow. I had said today, but tomorrow is sounding better and better!!!

Karen! You're reading a non-smut novel?!?!!!! I hope it is good enough to keep you interested.

ETA: I've just read Richard's review of it. I've also decided that today is the best day for my errands, so I'm off.

>94 LizzieD: I really need to get to the Foreigner series at some point!

I hope you have a marvelous Monday!

'Morning, Peggy! Ah, the joys of summer in NC! Thank goodness for AC, at least for this poor CA transplant.

Wordle in 4 for me today.

Yes, I just finished a non-smut novel, Culpability. Staggering, isn't it? Kim said she was going to read it in June and I said I would, too. It's just that I didn't start it until the 27th and read 'til 4 this morning. So, so, good.

I'm hoping to get a call to meet up with the book sort team at Virlie's this morning. At a bare minimum, I'll go to the UPS Store and the grocery store.

>99 LizzieD: It would've been a full-five read had it been just a scoche more heavy-handed in punishing its AI creator. Tuesday orisons!

Ah! Noon!!! Hello, Richard, Karen, and Stasia, friends indeed!!

I hope to stay in for the rest of the week. Two prescriptions were not ready yesterday, so my DH is going to pick them up today or tomorrow when he goes out for litter and whatever else comes to mind.

I looked at Culpability last night, but it's probably already on my wish list since our WBL reviewed it last year. I don't feel ready for it at this point.

Stasia, I can't predict whether you'd enjoy Foreigner. This first one isn't as political as some of the later ones. I guess it depends on how heavily you find yourself invested in the characters. I fell madly in love with Banichi.

I didn't sleep well until I took an Advil about 4:00 this morning. Fumbling in the dark, I couldn't locate a Tylenol instead. Anyway, I feel a nap hovering, and I may let it light!

'Morning, Peggy. Hunkering down against the heat dome...

Wordle in 3.

Wash is hiding behind my monitor.

I might try to work on feeders and the birdbath this morning before it gets ridiculously hot, otherwise reading, stats, and Lightning Round.

>103 LizzieD: It felt like April in Austin outside, soupy and hot but just enough breeze to keep it within tolerable range.

When y'all goddesses were planning how to immiserate humanity, was "summer" a big part of the hellish cruelty planning?

No gendered deity here, my WBL. We are quite hot enough, as Karen agrees, but nothing like we're going to be. I don't suppose you'd be willing to consider climate warming as consequential judgment; I do....... *smooch*

We walked this morning. I've struggled to get here, having done a tiny thing or two on my list as well as not on it: to wit, ordering all the Dvorak string quartets and quintets on used CDs. I have most of the 4tets, but getting the last 5 individually was going to be more expensive than just getting all of both of them. How's that for justification!?!?!!!

Our cats on the porches are still choosing to be on the porches without fans for the time being. All of them can get into the cooler house but poor little Molly. Last summer she did OK.

Wordle 1,838 4/6*

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Happy July! At least, Happy-as-it-can-be July!

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Thursday. More ugh to the heat.It's already 88.3F here.

Wordle in 5 for me today, congrats on your 4 yesterday.

One of my Crepe Myrtles is beginning to pop. Makes me happy.

Good afternoon, Karen! Our CMs have been blooming a bit over a week now. I'm hoping that a very shaded pink one of ours has survived and will bloom. Last year its close-up smell was like my memory of Yardley Red Roses!

You can manage a 5 after those 2s!!!!!
My second guess might not have been the best, but it was lucky for me.

Wordle 1,839 4/6*

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'Morning Peggy. It's gorgeous out, but going to be deadly later on, of course.

Aren't Crepe Myrtles gorgeous?

Wordle in 4 today, to match your 4 of yesterday.

And Wordle in 4 to match your 4 today, Karen. I HATE their reusing words!!!!!!!!! It puts me off. Good for us, nevertheless!

Wordle 1,840 4/6*

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The crepe myrtles are gorgeous. We walked this morning, but I think it was my last try until next week. Setting out was OK, but it was 85° when we got back home, and that's very close to too hot for me.

My PLAN for the day is to finish Stone Yard Devotional, which I have greatly enjoyed - mice and all - and recommend. I might finish Winds of the Steppe too or read something else. Happy day!

>110 LizzieD: The bestselling fancy-schmancy French soaps we sold at Foley's were crepe-myrtle scented. I had no idea that memory was still lodged in my head forty-eight years later! I need to write my review of The Sixth Nik, a most peculiar SF tale by Pulitzer winner Daniel Kraus. I can't focus enough on the act of reading to get very far into my August read, Etna by Paul Yoon. It hasn't grabbed my eyelashes yet.

How about that! Not only do I not know fancy-schmancy French soaps, I'm too provincial to know Foley's. Ah. I see and thank you.

Meanwhile, I who am only slightly less impatient than my impatient DH, counsel patience - or not. I'm moving on.

STONE YARD DEVOTIONAL by Charlotte Wood

I'm likely the last likely reader to have read this one, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I even think I may have another CW around and will look for it.

I've read some reviews that complain about too many mice. I'll agree that they are revolting, and reading about the progression of the plague is unsettling. I felt that this fraught tedium is what I've met in other books, namely, the author's attempt to force the reader to concentrate on a smidgen of what the real event must have been for the characters. That is to say, if I can't stand to read about it every few pages, how on earth would I have managed to live through it for months on end? AND how did the characters manage?
I've also read some complaints that we know too little about the narrator's life. I too would like to know why her husband left her and why she left a job she had been devoted to. However, she does choose to tell us a huge number of intimate details about her life. I think that the more fruitful response is to think about the things she wants us to know.

I'm still working on conclusions, but I think the book is worth our time and attention.

I loved Stone Yard Devotional, Peggy. Very thought-provoking. And yes the mice were revolting, but they had a purpose in the narrative. I like the way you articulated that.

I'm glad that we agree, Laura. I liked your review on the book page too, and I think I thumbed it.

Wordle 1,841 4/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, baths, amigo, pizza There we go. I'm a 4-player for sure.

I wish us an Independence Day soon when we can genuinely be working for independence, exercising humanity's rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with justice for all.
That's what I'm flying our flag for.

>112 LizzieD: Roger et Gallet is the fancy-schmancy French soap company's name. They're still in business I found out as I poked the internet. Foley's was a department store chain based in Houston; it got bought by Macy's. It's all so long ago now that I'm shocked at how much information came up when I started searching!

Stay-cool *smooch*

Good afternoon, Peggy! Happy Fourth of July.

I wish us an Independence Day soon when we can genuinely be working for independence, exercising humanity's rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with justice for all.

It's a bittersweet feeling today, although Bill and I had fun reminiscing about how our families celebrated it when we were little and how we celebrated with Jenna when she was little.

Congrats on today's 4 - I was able to get it in 3 using all of my spreadsheets.

Gads. It's 102.2F here at the house. I haven't gone out in it.

...
The 5th - Wordle in 4 for me today. It got to 103.1F. Today should be cooler - only 98F with a heat index of 103F. It's already 91F.

All the usual things for me, including World Cup.

Have a wonderful day.

Whew! My handy-dandy new phone says that it's only 90° here, moving on toward noon. Several degrees of comfort better than the past couple of days!
I'm staying out of it anyway.

I can say GOOD MORNING, (((((Karen)))))! How about that!?!?!?! I hope for usual things for me today too, including a nap. Meanwhile, I continue not to resist Kindle deals with bios of JQ Adams and W Wilson and a trilogy by Pamela Sargent, one of the mothers of feminist scifi. It's YA, but never mind. Yesterday, I found an early trilogy of Tim Powers that I think I forgot to catalogue. There was no way that I was going to refuse any of these.

Using my lists I googled in 3 today.
Wordle 1,842 3/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 roast, snail, swami I was greatly helped by the knowledge that NOTHING common in English starts with sia!

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Monday to you.

I'm impressed that you were able to wish me good morning yesterday, an unusual event!

I'm glad you're having a wonderful time snatching up Kindle deals.

Congrats on your 3 yesterday - it matches my 3 of today.

Reading, puttering, and soccer today for me. 97F with a heat index of 105F. I'll be staying inside except for going to the mailbox to fetch mail including a book I bought in honor of your birthday present of the Moleskine notebook - The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper, by Roland Allen.

Zoe's being particularly needy today, talking to me and jumping in front of the monitor. I just want 5 minutes of my being able to speak cat or her being able to speak English. *smile*

Good afternoon, Karen! Here I am at my usual time, I guess. We've walked, and I'm finishing the last of my coffee.

Your day sounds fine! Although I haven't read much of it, I'm already a great fan of The Notebook, which is loved by everybody here who has read it, I think. I gave the book to Suze of BookWyrm fame, and she has read much further into it than I have. (She'll get the notebook for Christmas.)
Enjoy your day! I feel a nap hovering!

Good luck to both you and Zoe on communicating. I'm not sure which of our 7 I'd choose for 5 minutes of real conversation.

Congrats on your 3 today; I'm back to my 4 as you see!
Wordle 1,843 4/6*

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 learn, hoist, pouty, toddy It's certainly too hot for one today!

WINDS OF THE STEPPE by Bernard Ollivier

This is the last of BO's trilogy in which he details his 7,200 mile walk following the Silk Road from Istanbul to Xi-an, China. He walked every step except for a few miles which the Chinese government refused to allow him to walk when he crossed the border. He did this over the course of 4 summers at the turn of this century as a still-grieving widower in his early 60s.

I was more captivated by the first two books that cover Turkey and Central Asia, which fascinate me. The Muslim people view

LATER

>119 LizzieD: Afternoon, Peggy, from the sodden Bronx. I hope the downdraft from our eastbound low pressure breaks y'all's heat dome fully down. It's a powerful one, I'm told. I'm on to Daniel Mason's latest...I'm finishing that review but it's fighting me so I'm taking a break.

*smooch*

Thank you for breaking here, Richard! We got a typically spectacular thunderstorm this afternoon that brought our temps down, and since it's still overcast, I think today's heat is moderated. YAY!!!!

I don't know Daniel Mason, I don't think, but I'll toddle on over to your place later and find out.

>121 LizzieD: I admitted defeat, I'll slug it out with Country People tomorrow. Daniel Mason's big-fuss hit was North Woods. The publisher sent me a widget for this one and I wanted in on the kerfuffle so now I've *got* to do the work. Hoist by my own petard again.

Thank you for taking care of my thread in my absence, Peggy. Hopefully all is good now going forward.

Stay cool, woman!

>122 richardderus: I was one of the apparently rare few who were underwhelmed by North Woods, and it saddened me.

>124 laytonwoman3rd: He's got a blazing bright star spreading mindvirus at the moment; I see the appeal, but appear to be inoculated against its virulent strain. It's not *bad* just...underwhelming to me.
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Morning Peggy! *smooch*

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Tuesday to you. Still hot, but at least it's not a heat dome.

Congrats on your Wordle in 4 yesterday. It took me 5 yesterday.

Soccer, reading, and etc. today for me.

Ah well. Here at last, having eaten, Wordled better than I Connected, breakfasted and had 2 mugs of coffee, made a business call, etc. Now I need to gird myself for a quick trip to Aldi, or I may put it off.

Welcome, Karen, Richard, Stasia, and Linda!

Oh yes, Richard and Linda, I did get my friend's copy of North Woods when it was one of The Books, but I didn't get to it, of course. I dipped in and wasn't consumed immediately. I'm wondering whether I'd rather have an 'It's OK' review from Richard or a glowing hype from somebody else.

I'm gladder than glad to see you back, Stasia. I've thought texts to you for the past 3 days, but didn't have anything to say beyond "I'm here and thinking about you and Kerry," which you already knew.

Hmmm. I'll have to see how you Wordled today. As usual, if I have a choice between 2 unused words, I'll choose the wrong one 95% of the time.
Wordle 1,844 4/6*

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I want to give Ollivier his due but not now.....

Hi Peggy. Happy Wednesday to you.

I hope your Aldi run went well.

I'm puttering. Bill's friends will be here at noon. I still haven't vacuumed, but I've done lots of other things.

Congrats on yesterday's 4. My four today matches.

Greetings, Karen, and Happy Wednesday right back to you! Enjoy Bill's friends!

We walked and then I ran my errands, including Aldi for our staples: raisins, prunes, peanuts, lemons, honey, bagels, Moser-Roth candy, coconut macaroons..... (Aunt Katherine would add a HA!) I've breakfasted, am almost coffeed, and about to take my first time at feeding for the day.

Congrats on your 4. I was so asleep that my stupid #3 guess was the only thing I could think of. Its stupidity did kind of wake me up so that I was able to finish.)

Wordle 1,845 5/6*

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