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

Well, I finally finished 2 books!  Ta Da!  No, it wasn't Anna Karenina....I'm still only on page 259 of 800...me and my big ideas!  But I made a decision that I will now read..a non-fiction  book that I already have in my library, a fiction book that I already have in my library, an audio book and a "new to me" book that is something I currently want to read which could be non-fiction or fiction. 
So, to show you what I finished in my "old books I own category"......here they are..........

 This was interesting and I learned from it.  It was well written and flowed smoothly along and kept my interest .  RATING 3of 5 stars

This one was an audio book and I mistakenly said it was read by the author....it was not but the reader was the best part of the whole thing!  It stunk...to high heaven...it was the craziest book and I just did not "get it".  I am not one to beat around the bush and that's all this book did.  I can't believe they made it into a movie!  Crazy!  Did any of you read this or see the movie?  Am I missing something here? RATING 1 of 5 stars

It goes without saying that this monstrosity  is still on my nightstand........I just read pages and pages of a descriptive narrative about mowing with a scythe with the peasants in a meadow.......YAWN!  

My new audio book is Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls and read expertly by Richard Thomas.  It is very good so far!

 Here's my cheap trusty little tape player that I listen to my audio tapes on.  It plays cd's too and it has a radio but you can't get NPR on it so what good is it?  I can listen to NPR in the car but who wants to go sit in their car in the garage to listen to the radio?  That could be dangerous too.

I did go to the library on Saturday to search for the books on my list from last week.....first of all their search of the card catalog has been hacked or it has a virus and is broke and there is no card catalog anymore so you just have to go "searching" which I did for over an hour and they had 1 book of 17 on my list and by then I was so disgusted I walked out.  Kindle wants $10.00 per book and these are not new books at all!  So, I went to my trusty Thrift Books site where they say "read more, spend less" and I do and I did!  Here's what's coming in the mail to me!!!!  I can't wait!
I got 5 books for $19.07 and it's free shipping over $10.00 (never a problem for me and book buying).

you can read a synopsis here of The Fixer Upper

you can read a synopsis of Foxgloves and Hedgehog Days here

 

you can read a synopsis of Garden Spells here

you can read a synopsis of America's Cheapest Family here 

Is it just me or is it not interesting that their last name is ECONOmides?  Like the old names of Shoemaker denoting the family business and/or skill I wonder if they come from a long line of skilled budgeteers? LOL!
 And last but not least the first book by an author I have been wanting to read for quite a while now......

 you can read a synopsis of The Violets of March here
Well, that's all for now folks.....which one will I chose to read first when they arrive????  All of them at once???????????  What treasures!  I am one lucky gal!
Happy Trails!  And happy reading too!

YOP Week #18

This has been a busy and productive week....just not for blogging.  I really don't have much to show for it either as some is for Christmas and other stuff is just plain housework.  But I will show you some of my projects and the fiber ones first as this is YOP Sunday.  This is block #7 of 12 for the scrapghan and I haven't started the next block as I have been busy on Christmas presents.  Hopefully I'll get another one done this week but we'll see. 

Here are sneak peek-a-boo shots of some presents I'm working on........this one I hope to finish this week..............

This one is the corner-to-corner and it is getting big like a shawl about now...........I haven't decided if I am going to make it a square or a rectangle....there are directions for both and I need to go look at them again.............love making this.................

Now for what else I've been up to............cleaning and decorating a bit........

I'm tackling my bathroom and I had the girl's litter box in the shower as I don't take showers but I moved it out into the laundry room and started cleaning ceiling and walls (all tile) in the shower.  I am also using up what I have in cleaning supplies as I now make my own but I must admit I used Scrubbing Bubbles on this and it was nice because it sticks where you spray it and doesn't run which is really nice for ceilings and vertical surfaces.  It did a fine job too but when it's gone I will be using my"natural" cleaning supplies that I make myself.
I think it's pretty obvious where I cleaned and where I didn't!  Yuch! LOL!

Taa Daa!  All clean!

I had an old rusty drain and a gold tension shower rod that I "refurbished" using Krylon Chrome paint..............I forgot to take a before but you can see the bottom end is more gold than chrome...

All done.....fresh and new looking...wow , what a difference a little spray paint makes and it sure beats buying all new............

This was the back side of the drain which was the worst.............I scrubbed it as well as I could and dried it well before painting.............

Voila!  Good as new!

Here's the paint I used and see the nifty handle attached to the can?  It's well worth investing in one of these! It can be taken off and put back on another can....you only need one and I'm thinking it was less than $4.00.  It really helps you spray more evenly and keeps your fingers from getting tired holding down the nozzle.

Here's my little tart warmer that I ordered from Sam's school sales.  They were selling Yankee Candle items and you could log on and order online and his school still got credit for it.  Best school sales program I've ever participated in and trust me...my kids were in many over the years!

Here's my little helper too who isn't so little any more! She's now been wormed, had all her shots including rabies and is scheduled to be spayed December 7th.  What happened to my little baby Miss Peeps?

Happy Trails!
It goes without saying that my thoughts and prayers have been with the families and people of France after Friday's horrific  attack and they will continue to be for the weeks and months ahead.

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!