It's Monday.....what are you reading?

My reading life has suffered greatly lately.  I fall asleep and some nights I've been so tired I haven't even picked up a book which is REALLY rare for me.  I think it's the time change but also maybe coming down from the steroids (I miss them already).......but while I'm working around the house I have been listening to some audio tapes and those I'm making progress on.........I finished this one by Bailey White, a famous NPR personality or at least that's where I first heard her. She's a great storyteller and tells stories about her travels, people she meets, her family and life in the South.  The first story was the worst and they all got better after that or maybe it's getting used to her style and her scratchy, shrill voice and her long run on sentences (like I do all the time..lol!).  Either way, she's a gem and certainly makes the chores fly by listening to her. 

So much for "the classics" and I still have War and Peace to read........Anna Kerenina reads like a soap opera.   Really, it could be Days of Our Lives set in Russia.  Although I have never watched soap operas, I've seen enough in doctor's offices and reception areas to get the gist.  He writes about the mundane and the social and the dramatic, silly lives of this group of people, many of whom are related to one another.  The biggest challenge are the Russian names and keeping everyone straight.  It may have been popular in it's day but now it seems childish and common place.  I'm on page 251 of 817.....slogging through............

Still reading this non-fiction too although almost finished with it.  It's interesting and there are case studies about various "tipping points".  "A tipping point being that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire."  This book is very readable and a very interesting topic.  It is a book for marketers, trend forecasters, social scientists, consumers, thinkers and curious people like myself.

My new audio book is Beloved, read by the author Toni Morrison.....I pick these up at garage sales and library sales.  I have since learned though that if Oprah likes it , I probably won't.  Oprah tends to like depressing, victim mentality books laced with cruelty or violence.  I do not understand how people who have been abused then turn around and want to dwell on it by reading books about it?  The same with the wars, my father wouldn't answer any questions about it and would get mad if I brought the subject up yet always had a good old time with his war buddies and was always plopped in front of the t.v. when any war movie was on.  I don't get it?  The only thing I can think of that it might be is that they are trying to understand things that their minds still can't fathom....otherwise it seems to me to be self-flagellation.  So far, it is a sad, woe is me tale and I'm sure I won't enjoy it but Toni does have a great reading style and voice.  I'll let you know when I finish it...hopefully I'll be wrong but I doubt it since Oprah is such a fan of hers.

Since I don't have much to offer you in the reading department this week, I thought I would offer up some recommendations that have been given to me and also some books I am contemplating reading down the road.   I may have to read 3 books at a time as else it will be Spring before I get to chose another non-fiction...lol!  I'm trying to read books I already own but my tastes have changed too and I think there are more good books out there today than there were just a few short years ago.
So here's some titles I've jotted down this week  month...........

The Egyptologist
The Aviator's Wife
The Paris Wife
The Geographer's Library
Foxglove and Hedgehog Days
The Great Christmas Knit-Off
Do Unto Animals
Goodnight June
Lost Lake
On Strike for Christmas
Morning Glory
The Imogene Museum Mystery Series
America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money
First Frost
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennesey
The Court and the World
Big Magic
The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion
Yes, Chef: A Memoir

and a few movies........and/or t.v.
Benny and Joon
Philomena
127 Hours
Ice Lake Rebels

Actually....there were a few more but this should give you food for thought.  Thank you to all who gave me recommendations.....Diane, Stefanie, Kim, Terra and so many more.  I also get some from magazines I read, NPR and PBS.  So many books....so little time!
Happy Trails!


 

YOP Week #17

Well, not much progress that I can show you but there has been progress........

 

 I've finished block #7 of the 12 knitted blocks for the scrapghan then there are 15 crocheted blocks and 15 wool fabric blocks.  

Here's block #8 that I'm working on.............

This is such a fun and enjoyable project....each block is just big enough to enjoy for awhile but small enough that you don't get bored with it before you're on to another pattern and different colors.
The Corner-to-Corner blanket is awesome, easy and shows off the yarn I'm using to advantage.  It is getting bigger and bigger but I have "miles to go before I sleep" but I have almost used 1 skein so far but there are many, many more to use.  This should take me until Spring 2016 or longer...lol!
There's really no way of guestimating how long it will take either as since it's done on the diagonal each row gets bigger and bigger and until you decide you're halfway and start decreasing who knows how long it will take?
There are 3 other Secret Christmas Projects I'm working on and next week I promise I will have some sort of list to at least let you know my present count and where I stand.  So far, there is 1 present completed.  And less than 50 days to Christmas.....ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!  I'd better move it!
Here are some cute and quick ideas for gifts to yourself or others.
 A mood scarf kit............

 some crocheted citrus buttons..............

 Now this is what I need on my walks because cold air makes my nose run............don't laugh...it's true...........

 Love this and so easy really...............

 every home needs a hand knitted clock!

 And this combines 2 of my favorites.....knitting and coloring!

 Check them all out (there are 19 in all) here 
with patterns and websites etc. All you need for your knitting/crocheting pleasure!  
Happy Trails!

Sad but not bad.............

 Well, I learned everything I need to know about 401 K deferred retirement income and mostly what I learned is that if I take it out I will be taxed greatly!  So, since I have never liked throwing  money down the drain,   I have let go of the "dream" cottage for now to focus on liquidating my assets including this house I'm living in which might take some doing as there seems to be a glut on the market down here right now.   But it has got me "moving" in the right direction anyway.
Fall is winding down here but still beautiful with perfect temps.  It wasn't the prettiest fall I've seen here but there are still spots of brilliance and what's not to like about fall anyway?

 the weeds seem to be the prettiest sometimes..........

since we haven't had a freeze things are still growing just not as fast.........

I love the Bradford pear leaves and fruit............

 I am forging ahead with the packing of boxes..........to be ready at a moment's notice!
My biggest and best treasure...........books...........no room designation as they go with any decor in any room..lol!

Here's those yummy Tollhouse Chocolate Chip cookies I made the other day....I always use the recipe from the package of semi-sweet morsels.  I do add pecans to mine but only when the nut allergic grandson is nowhere around!

When I have a project going (which I always do), I have to ensure I have food prepared in case I tire and don't want to fix supper there needs to be something to reheat at least.  So, I have my main meal this week and the cookies for dessert.  I also needed a snack and I try to do healthy.  I decided to make homemade guacamole since I had never done so before.  Delicious and pretty healthy and I utilized some of my tomatoes that are still coming in.  I used this recipe although I left out the jalapenos mostly because I didn't have any.

I had it with these new to me chips my daughter recommended and they are good! 
I like them much better than the regular Tostito chips although you can't load them up like you can the thicker ones but that might be a good thing! LOL!
  Have you tried them?

This was the morning of the storm we had the other day.  They predicted severe but I never heard anything and I had my weather radio on.  It made for a beautiful morning sky though. "Red sky at night, sailor's delight.  Red sky at morning, sailor's warning."  And it was.....

Last but not least in any way was this yummy, delicious, fattening I'm sure, salted caramel mocha latte frapacino 

 

that I made for myself ............who needs Starbucks?  Decadent and delicious!  She also includes a cupcake recipe to match but I didn't want to over do it! LOL!  I'll save that for next week!  Getting ready to move really gives you an appetite! LOL!
HappyTrails!

Follow The Yellow Brick Road......

 Well, I've had plenty of signs and confirmations about my move.  No, I don't have the house yet but even if that doesn't come through (although in my heart of hearts I feel so sure it will..it's a "knowing") I know for sure I am packing and leaving.  So, I went to Walmart yesterday and got "supplies"

There was a "pin" on my Pinterest "moving" board about getting different colored duct tape and color coding the rooms and putting the appropriate colored tape on the boxes.  Brilliant!  You can see it across a room and if the wrong box ends up in the wrong room I think it will be pretty obvious! LOL!  I'll also write the name of the room on the duct tape but I think the colors will really help to keep things organized.   They have lots more colors too in case I need them but this should be a good start!

I was able to get some boxes yesterday at our local store here in town and they said to come back to day and they would set more aside for me.  So nice of them!
Yesterday after getting "supplies" I cleaned up the house, did some laundry and made pork chops and gravy for supper with potatoes and brussel sprouts.  It's an old recipe I've had since my children were young and I just love it once the cooler temps start arriving.  I'm making chocolate chip cookies today as the Halloween candy is long gone! LOL!  And after that there will be some serious packing going on!
Happy Trails! 

House Hunter Part 2

I had to post my YOP progress yesterday so I'm a little late on posting about the second story of the house like I promised.  So,  without further ado, here is the second story......... it has all new wiring and plumbing throughout and a fire alert system that if one goes off they all go off which is nice if you're sleeping especially!  Plenty of outlets and closets since it's all new wiring and they made closets as old houses were pretty scarce on those.

 I absolutely adore slanted ceilings and these are so cool!

 and a claw foot tub?  Be still my beating heart!

 This will be my cardio!  I had 2 aunts that both lived in houses with stairs and they walked everywhere in that town and they both lived into their 90's and I am sure that is part of the reason.

 Glad for the railing though!

 I'm thinking this might be my bedroom with a view to the farm......

 love............so much light too.....

 great storage and closet space in one...waste not want not

 okay....I'm in love...what can I say?

That's all folks!  Wish me luck and say some prayers.  If it is meant to be it will all work out but if not I'm okay with that too.  I'm on my way North though and I know that for sure!
Happy Trails!