The Road to Here

Hello Shadow Friend

2012-02-14T00:59:00.000-08:00

The theme for this week's PicStory is Shadow. Big Boy, a member of The Kitty Krew, was checking out his shadow on the snow.

For more please visit Tina's PicStory and Freda's Tuesday Takes.

For the next few days I am going to be working with the Cat Management Coalition for a spay/neuter clinic. I will catch up with everyone when the event is over. We are expecting about 70 stray/feral cats this week (some of them I will be trapping tomorrow, so wish me luck).

While we are talking about feral cats I did a special post today on my other blog, Through Squirrel Eyes. The post is about a large corporation that has decide a colony of feral cats must be moved. This is after they knowingly allowed the colony to be on their property since 2004. Please take a few moments and read this story HERE.

My Photo for last week was voted #1

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Roses for You

2012-02-10T23:10:00.000-08:00

What I need to live has been given to me by the earth. Why I need to live has been given to me by you. ~Author Unknown

A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,
A song is no song 'til you sing it,
And love in your heart
Wasn’t put there to stay -
Love isn’t love
'Til you give it away.
~Oscar Hammerstein, Sound of Music, "You Are Sixteen (Reprise)"

For more please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

A Princess of Mars

2012-02-09T23:55:00.000-08:00

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you would like, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be at A Few More Pages every Friday and will be open for the entire week.

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your link to The Friday 56

A Princess of Mars
Edgar Rice Burroughs

Beginning

CHAPTER I
ON THE ARIZONA HILLS
I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have always been a man, a man of about thirty.

Page 56

"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. "What are you saying to me?"
"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to you, at least until you were no longer a captive among the green men; what from your attitude toward me for the past twenty days I had thought never to say to you; I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for you."

Burroughs, Edgar Rice (2009-10-04). A Princess of Mars (Kindle Locations 1466-1469). Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition.

I always liked books but became an avid reader while in the fifth grade thanks to my wonderful teacher. Like all girls I loved books about horses, books like Little Women and Alice in Wonderland. But I also enjoyed, really enjoyed, adventure stories. Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs were two of my favorites. Their imaginations sparked mine and I let them take me to places far away.

Last weekend during the Super Bowl I saw the trailer for John Carter, a new Disney movie coming next month. The movie is based on an Edgar Rice Burroughs book that I read years ago, A Princess of Mars. I remember how much I enjoyed the fantastic adventures of John Carter in this book and the series that followed. I hope that this movie will spark a renewed interest in Burroughs' works in a new generation of readers. Is there a book you read as a child that you would like to see new readers discover?

Click on this link for more information on the book. You can purchase a hard copy or get the Kindle version for free.

I have received no compensation for this post. I got my Kindle copy of A Princess of Mars for free from Amazon.com.

Line to the Horizon

2012-02-08T23:30:00.000-08:00

From late fall, a view of the autumn sky and a few things in a row. For more visit Pat's Things in a Row. I am also linking this one to Friday Fences and Rural Thursdays.

Thursday is also the day for Thursday Two Questions.
I don't know about the rest of you but I am beginning to think of all the things I need, and want, to do once the weather warms up just a little. You know what I mean, cleaning up the yard, getting the garden areas ready, etc. I know it's still February but so far the weather is mild so who knows.

1) What projects do you have planned for early spring, weather permitting?

2) If you could pick one room of your home to remodel which one would you choose and what would you do?

Bonus: Favorite morning beverage, coffee or tea or ????

Overbite - Review

2012-02-08T00:45:00.000-08:00

• Paperback: 304 pages

• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (February 7, 2012)

Meena Harper has bitten off more than she can chew . . .

Meena has a special gift, but only now does anyone appreciate it. Her ability to predict how everyone she meets will die has impressed the Palatine Guard—a powerful secret demon-hunting unit of the Vatican—and they’ve hired her to work at their new branch in Lower Manhattan. Sure, Meena’s ex-boyfriend was Lucien Antonescu, son of Dracula. But that was before he (and their relationship) went up in flames, and now she’s sworn off vampires for good—even though she firmly believes that just because they’ve lost their souls, it doesn’t mean they can’t love.

Convincing her new partner, über-demon-hunter Alaric Wulf, that vampires can be redeemed won’t be easy . . . especially when a deadly new threat arises, endangering not only the Palatine, but Meena’s friends and family as well. As she unravels the truth, Meena will find her loyalties tested, her true feelings laid bare . . . and temptations she never even imagined before nearly impossible to resist.

About Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to her adult contemporary fiction she is the author of the bestselling young adult fiction series, The Princess Diaries. She lives in Key West, FL with her husband.

Visit Meg Cabot at:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

My Thoughts
Boy meets girl, girl has recently broken up with another boyfriend but is open to new romance, maybe.

Well, that isn't exactly the way it goes. Girl, by the name of Meena, can see when people will die but has a really hard time telling them (I can understand how that might be a little awkward). The ex-boyfriend is the Prince of Darkness, son of Dracula to be exact. The boyfriend wanna be is a straight laced, hero type, who hunts vampires. Of course the ex-boyfriend has not given up and would really like to renew the relationship. Add to this mix the new vampires in town. Now that's the makings of some very interesting conflict for sure.

Oh, and let's not forget the Pomeranian.

Meg Cabot has written a delicious little paranormal romance with lots of wit tossed in for good measure. I also like the little nod to Bram Stoker's Mina Harker with the name Meena Harper.

Overbite is the sequel to her novel Insatiable but this book stands on its own very well. I do plan on purchasing Insatiable just because I enjoyed this story so much.

If you like vampires and demons with your romance you will enjoy Overbite.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. I have received no monetary compensation, all opinions are my own.

Balloons

2012-02-06T22:45:00.000-08:00

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
We could float among the stars together, you and I
For we can fly we can fly
Up, up and away
My beautiful, my beautiful balloon
Jimmy Webb 1967

Every May our city hold a Balloon Stampede. The hot air balloons launch from the local fairgrounds and travel across the city to the field adjoining the regional airport.

That field is just behind our house.

So all of the balloons fly directly over or very near our house. Do they get really close?

Oh yes!

For more visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory.

Under a Blanket

2012-02-03T22:15:00.000-08:00

Revisiting the beautiful Blanket flowers (Gaillardia) that bloom in my garden from spring into late fall. They got their name from the resemblance to Native American blankets.

I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center.
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Player Piano

Once you accept the fact that you're not perfect, then you develop some confidence.
Rosalyn Carter

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in.
Leonard Cohen

For more visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Maia's Macro Flowers Saturday, Tina's Weekend Flowers, Ewa's Flowers On Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Do you see any hearts?

I Was Accepted!

2012-02-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

Dear World Book Night book giver,

Yes, you read that right: World Book Night book giver! Has a nice ring to it, yes? And you're one of them, or will be on April 23! Thank you!!!!!!!

Three things for you to do right now:

1) Smile, shout; whatever you like to do to celebrate. And accept our grateful thanks for your application. World Book Night is all about you and your passion for books and your community and fellow citizen.

2) TELL MORE OF YOUR FRIENDS! You're in, the deadline has been extended to Monday, Feb. 6 at midnight, and the more the merrier.

3) Mark your calendars: look for another email the wk. of Feb. 13 with the call to go online and choose your pick-up bookstore or library.

4) Do NOT gloat if a friend or colleague didn't get this email. (Not that this is the golden WillyWonka ticket, but we do hope you are as happy as we are.) More about this follows.

If someone you know who applied didn't hear from us, it's one of several things: a bad email address; an email blocker (even though we used Constant Contact, a great service); some act of nature as one of the four application reviewers had a twitch or coffee jolt; or your pal applied in the last few days, which we haven't read yet. (Yes, there is a very slight chance that their application wasn't, umm, good . . . nah, not a friend of ours! Have them check spam.)

The only bummer we have to report is that many of you will not be getting your first choice of Hunger Games; it was that popular. Hopefully, you'll be happy with your second choice; we think so--it's an amazing list of books, yes? If the change of book changes where you want to go, you don't need to reapply; we trust you.

We also know that several hundred folks who we accepted as givers won't get this email for the reasons noted above; if you know someone, tell them that everyone who applied with any care or thoughtfulness will get their box of books come April 23. Everyone take a deep breath. We'll find a way, and we plan to have extra boxes stationed all over America. No book lover will be denied.

Again, tell more people and . . . THANK YOU!!

The World Book Night U.S. Team

Visit the WBN site

Click on the link above to visit the World Book Night site and sign up!

Overbite

2012-02-02T22:55:00.000-08:00

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your link to The Friday 56

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you would like, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be at A Few More Pages every Friday and will be open for the entire week.

Overbite
Meg Cabot

Beginning
"Meena Harper knew things, things no one else knew .... things no one could know.
One of those things was that the man sitting in the car beside her was going to die."

Page 56
"She could see she had a lot of work to do if she was going to rectify all the wrongs she'd committed the night before.
But when she got to the station house where she'd promised to meet Mrs. Delmonico, she could see that her karmic punishment was going to be even worse than she'd anticipated.
That's because the last person in the world she wanted to see was waiting for her on the station-house steps."

Meena Harper has a special gift, but it’s only now that anyone’s ever appreciated it. The Palatine Guard—a powerful secret demon-hunting unit of the Vatican—has hired her to work at their new branch in Lower Manhattan. With Meena’s ability to predict how everyone she meets will die, the Palatine finally has a chance against the undead.

Sure, her ex-boyfriend was Lucien Antonescu, son of Dracula, the prince of darkness. But that was before he (and their relationship) went up in flames. Now Meena’s sworn off vampires for good . . . at least until she can prove her theory that just because they’ve lost their souls doesn’t mean demons have lost the ability to love.

Meena knows convincing her co-workers—including her partner, Über-demon-hunter Alaric Wulf—that vampires can be redeemed won’t be easy . . . especially when a deadly new threat seems to be endangering not just lives of the Palatine, but Meena’s friends and family as well.

But Meena isn’t the Palatine’s only hope. Father Henrique—aka Padre Caliente—New York City’s youngest, most charming priest, has also been assigned to the case.

So why doesn’t Meena—or Alaric—trust him?

As she begins unraveling the truth, Meena finds her loyalties tested, her true feelings laid bare . . . and temptations she never even imagined existed impossible to resist.

This time, Meena may finally have bitten off more than she can chew.

Watch for my review on February 8TH.

Touchdown

2012-02-02T00:30:00.000-08:00

Here is one from my archives that I have never posted. Fence posts and cows in a row, it was so nice of the cows to line up that way. Maybe they were getting ready for a game of football.

For more visit Pat's Things in a Row.

Thursday also means it's time for Thursday Two Questions.
Speaking of football, are you ready for the Super Bowl?

1) Will you be watching the Super Bowl?

2) If yes, will you be hosting/or going to a party? If no, what will you do instead?

Bonus question: What is your favorite dip?

If the Super Bowl isn't your thing be sure to check out Puppy Bowl VIII on Animal Planet. The Kitty Halftime show is one you don't want to miss.

Fire in the Sky

2012-01-31T01:05:00.000-08:00

The theme for this week's PicStory is 'Evening Mood'. While some evening sunsets relax us with their soft pastels others invoke excitement with bright, vibrant colors. This sunset was an especially vivid show of color.

For more visit Tina's PicStory and Freda's Tuesday Takes.

Colors

2012-01-27T22:05:00.000-08:00

Bee Fly on Cranesbill
(Bee Flies are harmless, they mimic the apperance of bees as protection from predators)

Blazing Star

Stonecrop

Thistle

Thistle macro

My skin is kind of sort of brownish
Pinkish yellowish white.
My eyes are greyish blueish green,
But I'm told they look orange in the night.
My hair is reddish blondish brown,
But it's silver when it's wet.
And all the colors I am inside
Have not been invented yet.
Shel Silverstein, "Colors"

For more please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

The Stranger You Seek

2012-01-26T23:40:00.000-08:00

The Stranger You Seek
Amanda Kyle Williams

Beginning (Prologue)
"The sun had not even burned dew off the grass under the live oaks, but the air was thick and soupy already, air you could swim around in, and it was dead-summer hot.

Inside the car she had not yet noticed parked on her street, a patient hunter dabbed at a trickle of perspiration and watched as Westmore Drive began a sleepy jog toward midweek."

Page 56
"I retrieved the morning paper, slid it out of the plastic sleeve, and unrolled it on my desk.

Wishbone Killer Taunts Police

It was front page stuff. The papers had even given him a name, something grisly to live up to."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Stranger You Seek

The papers have called me a monster. You’ve either concluded that I am a braggart as well as a sadist or that I have a deep and driving need to be caught and punished. And you must certainly be wondering if I am, in fact, the stranger you seek. Shall I convince you?

In the sweltering heat of an Atlanta summer, a killer is pushing the city to its breaking point, preying on the unsuspecting, writing taunting letters to the media, promising more death. Desperate to stop the Wishbone Killer before another victim meets a shattering end, A.P.D. lieutenant Aaron Rauser turns to the one person he knows can penetrate a deranged mind: ex–FBI profiler Keye Street.

Keye was a rising young star at the Bureau until addiction derailed her career and her life. Now sober and fighting to stay so, Keye picks up jobs where she can get them: catching adulterers, serving subpoenas, chasing down bailjumpers, and dodging the occasional bullet. With multiple victims, little to go on, and an entire police force looking for direction, the last thing Keye wants is to be pulled into the firestorm of Atlanta’s worst nightmare.

And then it suddenly becomes clear that the hunter has become the hunted—and the stranger she seeks is far closer than she ever dared imagine.

An electrifying thriller debut, The Stranger You Seek introduces a brash, flawed, and unforgettable heroine in a complex, twisting novel that takes readers deep into a sultry Southern summer, a city in the grips of chaos, and a harrowing cat-and-mouse game no reader will ever forget.

My Thoughts
The opening lines immediately took me back to Atlanta in the summer when the air is thick and muggy. The Stranger You Seek is a page turner, once I started reading I couldn't put this one down. I like the character of Keye, she has a lot to overcome but somehow manages to work through the shadows of her past and get on with the business at hand.

World Book Night is an annual celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books. To be held in the U.S. as well as the U.K. and Ireland on April 23, 2012. It will see tens of thousands of people go out into their communities to spread the joy and love of reading by giving out free World Book Night paperbacks.

World Book Night 2012 will be held on April 23 - in the US and the UK - and they are looking for 50,000 volunteer book givers to hand out 20 copies each - for a total of 1 million free special World Book Night paperbacks!

In order to be a book giver you must be:
Aged 16 or over and a resident of the United States
Able to pick up 20 copies of your book from your local bookshop or library
Committed to giving your books away on World Book Night to non or light readers

Go to World Book Night to apply.

I received an advance reader copy of The Stranger You Seek from the publisher. I received no financial compensation, all opinions are my own.

Balcony Viewing

2012-01-25T23:55:00.000-08:00

I'm beginning to wonder, and you probably are too, if I am not a bit obsessed with our local post office. The first photo was taken inside and the second photo is the front of the building. It has so many interesting details that I just can't keep myself from taking photos there. For more be sure to visit Pat's Things in a Row.

Thursday also means it's time for Thursday Two Questions.

Recently the nominations for the Academy Awards were announced. Just before that the Golden Globe Awards were held. There are many shows like this that recognize performers in movies, television and music. This brings us to my questions for this week.

1) Do you watch any of the awards shows?

2) If yes, which is your favorite show. If your answer was no what are your reasons for not watching.

Bonus question: What is your favorite comfort food?

A Winter's Walk

2012-01-24T01:05:00.000-08:00

The theme for this week's PicStory is Walk in the Park. I first though about showing you a park scene from this past summer but changed my mind. This is what our parks look like these days. A little chilly but still not a bad place for a walk.

For more visit Tina's PicStory and Freda's Tuesday Takes.

Little Things

2012-01-21T00:10:00.000-08:00

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things.
Author Unknown

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
Winston Churchill

Watch the little things; a small leak will sink a great ship.
Benjamin Franklin

The first photo and my header photo are nothing more than very tight crops of these two Anemone photos. Sometimes we need to look beyond the big picture and view the tiny details.

For more visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Life Gets Better

2012-01-19T23:59:00.000-08:00

Life Get Better
(The Unexpected Pleasures of Growing Older)
Wendy Lustbader

Beginning
"'Don't worry,' I called out to a bus full of world travelers, all between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four. "These are the worst years of your lives." Relief spread across the rows of faces at this stark and unexpected pronouncement.

Page 56
"A 64-year-old man explained that he had become increasingly aware of 'the interconnectedness of everything' as the years passed. 'I look out at dense green foliage and think of the fractal pattern in our brains, and how plants and animals are the same on a molecular level. Our individual selves are just the tip of every thing we see. More an more, this point of view calms me and puts things in perspective.'"

Life Gets Better

From our earliest lives, we are told that our youth will be the best time of our lives-that the energy and vitality of youth are the most important qualities a person can possess, and that everything that comes after will be a sad decline. But in reality, says Wendy Lustbader, youth is not the golden era it is often made out to be. For many, it is a time riddled with anxiety, angst, confusion, and the torture of uncertainty. Conversely, the media often feeds us a vision of growing older as a journey of defeat and diminishment. They are dead wrong. As Lustbader counters, "Life gets better as we get older, on all levels except the physical."

Life Gets Better is not a precious or whimsical tome on the quirky wisdom of the elderly. Lustbader-who has worked for several decades as a social worker specializing in aging issues-conducted firsthand research with aging and elderly people in all walks of life, and she found that they overwhelmingly spoke of the mental and emotional richness they have drawn from aging. Lustbader discovered that rather than experiencing a decline from youth, aging people were happier, more courageous, and more interested in being true to their inner selves than were young people.

Life Gets Better examines through first-person stories, as well as Lustbader's own observations, how a lifetime of lessons learned can yield one of the most personally and emotionally fruitful periods of anyone's life. As an eighty-six-year-old who contributed her story to the book noted, "For me, being old is the reward for outlasting all the big and little problems that happen to all of us along life's pathway."

The collected stories in Life Gets Better provide a hopeful corrective to the fear of aging aggressively instilled in us by the media. Don't dread the future: The best years of our lives just may be ahead.

My Views
Lustbader divides the book into three sections, Hope, Transformation and Peace. She covers many individual topics such as loss, spirituality, hindsight, and attitude. Each section is well written. While it is aimed at older readers I believe any one would find it interesting.

I received an uncorrected proof from the publisher for review purposes, the final book may vary from the quotes I have presented here. I was not financially compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

Fungus Among Us?

2012-01-18T23:35:00.000-08:00

Mushrooms in a row. The pattern on the mushroom has lines and patterns in a row. For more visit Pat's Things in a Row.

And now it's time for Thursday Two Questions.
This week I have been pondering joining Google +. I have had several invitations recently but haven't responded yet. The reason for my hesitation is I already have so many things to keep track of that it's almost impossible to keep up. For instance I haven't been on Facebook in weeks.

1) Have you joined Google +?

2) If yes, what advantages do you see in joining? If you answered no, how many social networking sites have you joined?

Bonus question: What do you like on your baked potato?

Graveminder - Review

2012-01-17T01:55:00.000-08:00

Graveminder
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (January 17, 2012)

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville. While growing up, Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual at every funeral: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words, “Sleep well, and stay where I put you.”

Now Maylene is gone and Bek must return to the hometown—and the man—she abandoned a decade ago, only to discover that Maylene’s death was not natural . . . and there was good reason for her odd traditions. In Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected—and beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D. From this dark place the deceased will return if their graves are not properly minded. And only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.

Melissa Marr grew up believing in faeries, ghosts, and various other creatures. After teaching college literature for a decade, she applied her fascination with folklore to writing. Wicked Lovely was her first novel. Currently, Marr lives in the Washington, D.C., area, writes full-time, and still believes in faeries and ghosts.

My Thoughts
You know that little tingle that you get down your spine when you're alone at night and hear a noise? Well that's the tingle that I got as I began to read Graveminder. This is a creepy little tale set in the town of Claysville, a town with a very strange secret.

The two main characters are Rebekkah and Byron, destined by fate to be the next Graveminder and Undertaker. the only two people who can contain the dead of Claysville. But when we first meet these two they are completely unaware of their destiny. What they do know is that years ago they had a relationship, one that Byron would like to rekindle but Bek is hesitant to allow.

Graveminder is a great mix of mystery, romance and zombies. Which brings us to the character of Daisha, a lost soul who has come back from the grave and has no idea what has happened. Even when she satisfies her hunger it's hard not to feel sympathy for her. One of my favorite characters in the book is Charlie, or Mr. D, who controls the land of the dead underneath Claysville. Both he and the land beneath the town are fascinating. I'm kind of hoping Melissa has a sequel planned which explores this area a little more.

All in all Graveminder is a fun read. I totally enjoyed the story and will be checking out more books by Melissa Marr. If you like a good spine tickling (and tingling) book this one is for you.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher. I was not financially compensated, all opinions are my own.

Memories of Mom - Review

2012-01-16T00:30:00.000-08:00

Memories of Mom (M.O.M.) is a poignant story about an extraordinary mother, written by a daughter who loved and cared for her during her last lap of life. This story is written from the heart, and will inspire love and affection in millions of daughters and sons who will someday be caring for their elderly parents or loved ones. It is about undying love, unyielding sacrifices and compassionate role reversal. The circle of life.

Alexia Elizabeth Smart-Fraser was born in the beautiful island of Jamaica. After marrying her high school sweetheart Edward, she migrated to the United States. She is the proud and loving mother of two children, son Sean and daughter Paige.

Alexia studied acting at H.B. Studio. She worked as an extra on the set of “Cosby Mysteries” with Bill Cosby, “New York Undercover” with Malik Yubo, “Central Park West” with Lauren Hutton, and the series “Prince Street” with Mariska Hargitay. As well, Alexia Fraser has written and produced three original non-fiction one act plays both off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway. “The Ryans,” “Dope the Endeavor” and “Blind Trust.” Her fourth play “Our God is Awesome” is not yet produced, but will be in the near future. Alexia is the original founder and partner of her production company, Paige Unlimited, LLC (www.paigeunlimitedllc) of which she is the Creative Arts VP.

Memories of Mom is Alexia Fraser’s first published book. She was driven to share her story after seeing her mom suffered unacceptable nursing home and hospital care. Her second book is already partially scripted. “Write what you know” is what she believes.

You can find Alexia on her blog, on Twitter and Facebook.

My Thoughts

It is rare that I get so caught up in a book that I read it almost completely at one sitting but I found myself doing just that with Memories of Mom. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked it up, maybe a story that would require several boxes of tissues? While there are definitely times that require the assistance of a tissue or two this story is also filled with joy and laughter.

As Alexia tells us about her mother she also shares her personal story. Her thoughts and feeling intermix with the overall story to give the reader a clear picture of the person sharing this wonderful tribute to the woman she called Mom. Her mother provided the strength when she was a little girl and a young woman. Then the time came that it had to be Alexia who would have to show strength when her mother's health began to decline. Using her faith and her mother's wisdom through the years Alexia proves she is indeed her mother's daughter.

Alexia E. Fraser has written a beautiful and loving tribute to her mother. I would recommend this book to everyone who has ever shared the bond of mother and child.

I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. I have not been financially compensated for this review, all opinions are my own.

Like a Busy Bee

2012-01-13T23:35:00.000-08:00

If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you to go on in spite of all. And so today I still have a dream.
Martin Luther King, Jr., The Trumpet of Conscience, 1968

If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it.
Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Ghandi

A handful of pine-seed will cover mountains with the green majesty of a forest. I too will set my face to the wind and throw my handful of seed on high.
Fiona MacLeod

Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Graveminder

2012-01-12T22:15:00.000-08:00

Graveminder
Melissa Marr

The Beginning
Prologue: "Maylene put one hand atop the stone for support: pulling herself up from the soil got harder every year. Her knees had been problem enough, but of late the arthritis had started settling in her hips. She brushed the soil from her hands and from her skirt and pulled a small bottle from her pocket."

Friday 56
"Rebekkah pulled back. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't ...." She stopped, shook her head, and all but ran up the stairs.

Graveminder

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville. While growing up, Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual at every funeral: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words, “Sleep well, and stay where I put you.”

Now Maylene is gone and Bek must return to the hometown—and the man—she abandoned a decade ago, only to discover that Maylene’s death was not natural . . . and there was good reason for her odd traditions. In Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected—and beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D. From this dark place the deceased will return if their graves are not properly minded. And only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk. . .

Watch for my review January 17TH.

South Bound

2012-01-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

Canada geese flying south for the winter. The geese always make somewhat nice rows as they head towards their destination. For more please visit Pat's Things in a Row.

Thursday also means it's time for Thursday Two Questions.

I picked up my new cell phone (HTC Evo 3D) today and I've been playing with it all afternoon. Which brings us to my questions for today.

1) Do you like gadgets (phones, cameras, tablets, etc)?

2) What is the one piece of technology you are most dependent on (or love dearly)?

Bonus question: Rock or Country?

Simple and Pure

2012-01-10T01:50:00.000-08:00

English Daisy

For more visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory.

Zoom In

2012-01-06T22:35:00.000-08:00

Goals are dreams with deadlines.
Diana Scharf Hunt

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
Douglas Adams

Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.
Life's Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

These days my flower photos, including this iris, are coming from my photo archives. The close ups are from a very tight crop, no Photoshop required.

Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Memories of Mom

2012-01-06T00:55:00.000-08:00

Memories of Mom
Alexia E. Fraser

Beginning
Chapter One
"My mom was very special to everyone who was involved in her life. She was like a 'Mother Teresa' to many."

Page 56
"After having some much needed time to get over her relationship with my dad (Mr. Smart) this wonderful man unexpectedly came into mom's life. His name was Mr. George Winder. How coincidental this was. Because Mom's dad was also named George and my husband's middle name is George. The Georges' turned out to be all good men in Mom's life."

Memories of Mom
Memories of Mom (M.O.M.) is a poignant story about an extraordinary mother, written by a daughter who loved and cared for her during her last lap of life. This story is written from the heart, and will inspire love and affection in millions of daughters and sons who will someday be caring for their elderly parents or loved ones. It is about undying love, unyielding sacrifices and compassionate role reversal. The circle of life.

On Tour at The Road to Here January 16TH

Mister Roboto

2012-01-05T00:50:00.000-08:00

While I don't spend a lot of time at the post office I did drop by a time or two near Christmas. These boxes are definitely in a row. Visit Pat's Things in a Row for more.

Thursday also means it's time for Thursday Two Questions.
I was just watching a ABC News video entitled "Could Robots, Humans Live Side-by-Side?" The story is an interview with Philip, a robot that talks and reacts like a human. Well he may look human but his voice and movements are a little jerky. Follow the link to view the video. It is a little eerie.

But the point is that advances in robotics are moving at an incredible rate. Many of the products we use are already made, at least in part, by robot-like machines. In the not too distant future we might find ourselves interacting with robots.

1) Do you think a robot would make a good neighbor?

2) Should we create human-like robots or is that just a little too much science fiction-like for your taste (think Terminator)?

Bonus question: Are your Christmas decorations down and all put away?

A Ducky Start

2012-01-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

to the New Year!
American Wigeon

The theme for this week's PicStory is the letter "A". So for this week my photo is an American Wigeon.

The American is a species of dabbling duck found in North America. It is a medium sized bird which is common and widespread. breeding in all but the extreme north of Canada and Alaska and also in Idaho, Colorado, the Dakotas and Minnesota , as well as eastern Washington and Oregon. Key wintering areas here include the Central Valley of California and Washington's Puget Sound. Farther east, the Texas Panhandle and the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas also support large numbers of wintering wigeon. Information from Wikipedia.

For more visit PicStory and Tuesday Takes.

For Auld Lang Syne

2011-12-30T00:03:00.000-08:00

O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That’s sweetly play'd in tune.
Robert Burns, A Red, Red Rose 1794

Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He has been known as the national poet of Scotland but his fame is worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a "light" Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt.

Besides the poem above he is credited with writing Auld Lang Syne. But did Robert Burns actually write Auld Lang Syne?

Robert Burns forwarded a copy of the original song to the Scots Musical Museum with the remark, "The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man". At the time it was fashionable to claim someone else's work. It was "traditional"; therefore, one should take Burns' statement with mild skepticism. Some of the lyrics were indeed "collected" rather than composed by the poet; the ballad "Old Long Syne" printed in 1711 by James Watson shows considerable similarity in the first verse and the chorus to Burns' later poem. It is a fair supposition to attribute the rest of the poem to Burns himself.

There is some doubt as to whether the melody used today is the same one Burns originally intended, but it is widely used both in Scotland and in the rest of the world.

Singing the song on Hogmanay or New Year's Eve very quickly became a Scots custom that soon spread to other parts of the British Isles. As Scots (and other Britons) emigrated around the world, they took the song with them. Courtesy of Wikipedia

I like to imagine my Scottish ancestors gathering for Hogmanay and singing this tune as they raised a pint to the coming New Year and remembered friends of days gone by.

The video below presents the song with a decidedly more Scottish flavor. Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Please visit Weekend Flowers, Macro Flowers Saturday and Flowers on Saturday.

I will be taking a blogging break and will see you next year!

Little Princes - Review

2011-12-29T00:45:00.000-08:00

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (December 27, 2011)

An astonishing testament to true courage, the transformative power of love, and the ability of one man to make a real difference.

In search of adventure, twenty-nine-year-old Conor Grennan embarked on a yearlong journey around the globe, beginning with a three-month stint volunteering at an orphanage in civil war–torn Nepal. But a shocking truth would forever change his life: these rambunctious, resilient children were not orphans at all but had been taken from their families by child traffickers who falsely promised to keep them safe from war before abandoning them in the teeming chaos of Kathmandu. For Conor, what started as a footloose ramble became a dangerous, dedicated mission to unite youngsters he had grown to love with the parents they had been stolen from—a breathtaking adventure, as Conor risked everything in the treacherous Nepalese mountains to bring the children home.

Conor Grennan, author of the memoir Little Princes, spent eight years at the EastWest Institute (EWI), both in Prague and the EU Office in Brussels, where he served as Deputy Director for the Security and Governance Program.

At the East/West Institute, Conor developed and managed a wide variety of projects focusing on issues such as peace and reconciliation in the Balkans, community development in Central Eastern Europe, and harmonizing anti-trafficking policy at the highest levels government in the European Union and the former Yugoslavia.

Conor left EWI in 2004 to travel the world and volunteer in Nepal. He would eventually return to Nepal and found Next Generation Nepal, an organization dedicated to reconnecting trafficked children with their families and combating the root causes of child trafficking in rural villages in Nepal. He was based in the capital of Kathmandu until September 2007 where he was the Executive Director of Next Generation Nepal.

Conor now serves on the Board of Next Generation Nepal, together with his wife, Liz. He is a 2010 graduate of the NYU Stern School of Business, where he was the President of the Student Body. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and son, Finn, and a soon-to-be baby girl.

Connect with Conor on Facebook and Twitter. Also visit his website and his organization, Next Generation Nepal.

My Thoughts
Rarely do I finish a book and then find myself thinking about it days later. Little Princes is one of those books. It is funny, exciting and will make you think.

Conor Grennan volunteered to work at an orphanage in Nepal on a lark, a way to impress friends, and make his plans to see the world seem less trivial. There were second thoughts when he first saw the orphanage. For someone who had never had any real interaction with children this had to seem like a daunting task. But before long the volunteer who was to help and teach found himself learning from the children he had been sent to work with.

Once I started reading Little Princes I couldn't put it down. Conor Grennan's conversational writing style makes this a very easy read. Following along as Conor changes from a casual volunteer to someone who is willing to make a major commitment for a cause is fascinating. Little does he realize the adventure and danger his decision will bring.

Conor Grennan has made a commitment to reunite these children with their parents. This story is not over. Be sure to visit Next Generation Nepal for more information.

I recommend this book to all of you, this is one you must read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. I was not compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

New Thoughts

2011-12-28T18:20:00.000-08:00

The sun has been a rare visitor in our part of the country lately so I dug through my photo archives and found the sunniest shot I could. The Gebera daisy is a treat for my eyes on this dreary, rainy, windy day. I hope it is for your eyes too.

Thursday means it's time for Thursday Two Questions.

The year is almost gone, 2012 will be arriving soon. I don't know about the rest of you but 2011 went by so fast, it's hard to believe it's almost over. We are planning a quiet evening at home to bring in the new year.

1) How will you be celebrating New Year's Eve?

2) If you make New Year's resolutions do you keep them?

Bonus question: Plain or peanut?

If you will be on the road this holiday weekend please drive carefully. We have already heard of several accidents today and a couple of those involved alcohol. Please don't drink and drive and watch out for those who might be doing just that. We want to see everyone of you back for the new year.

In The Oasis

2011-12-26T21:01:00.000-08:00

Tina's theme for this week's PicStory is Relaxation. I associate palm trees with relaxation, preferably on a white, sandy beach. But if a beach isn't handy any desert oasis will do. This shot was taken in Las Vegas.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

*
God Jul

Gledileg Jol

Joyeux Noel

Glædelig Jul

Sretan Bozic

Feliz Navidad

Cestitamo Bozic

Maligayan Pasko!

* * Merry Christmas * *

Nadolig Llawen

Mele Kalikimaka

Shub Naya Baras

Selamat Hari Natal

Kala Christouyenna!

Buone Feste Natalizie

Srozhdestvom Kristovym

Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuwjaar

Chung Mung Giang Sinh

Froehliche Weihnachten

Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo

dah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah

Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!

Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto

Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!

Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok

En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!

Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu

Have a
Happy Hanukkah
Merry Christmas
Blessed Yuletide

Angel in Bloom

2011-12-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

Please visit Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Holiday Cheer

2011-12-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

Time is running out, Christmas will be here before you can turn around and put a bow on the last package.

Thursday means it's time for Thursday Two Questions. Since I know most of you are getting very busy as the holidays approach I'll keep it simple.

1) Do you have a favorite Christmas song?
2) When do you open packages? Christmas Eve night or Christmas morning?

Bonus Question: Fruit Cake, yes or no?

There are Freebies Too

2011-12-20T23:45:00.000-08:00

Many of you will remember that not long ago I introduced you to MyMemories Suite v3. It is a fabulous scrapbooking software program. If you love scrapbooks you will love this program.

But as I also said, it has so many more possibilities than just scrapbooking. My current header and the one before it were both made with MyMemories Suite. This program is so easy, in no time at all you will be making pages and albums. You can also make calendars, cards, etc. Give your blog photos an little something extra, it's great for making collages.

What you see here is a template. I have added a photo and changed the outer frame around the photo from blue to burgundy. For my header I added text and some embellishments.

But you want to hear the best part? I got this template for free! My Memories has free stuff to download for use on MyMemories Suite.

You can save $10 on MyMemories Suite v3 by using my special code when you purchase the software. The code is only good on Suite v3. After purchase you will get another code in your receipt. This code will be good for $10 off kits purchased at the MyMemories store.

Copy this code STMMMS64879 and paste it in when you order MyMemories Suite v3 and save $10 now!

Visit My Memories HERE or click on the banner on my sidebar.

Why not give yourself a little Christmas present and have some fun?

Red on White or

2011-12-19T18:30:00.000-08:00

white on red? Either way the stripes contrast nicely.

For more please visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory .

Books and Smiles

2011-12-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

I was talking to a friend not long ago about the cost of a college education. Her oldest just started and the family was shocked by the costs. It got me to thinking about my college days. While my family helped with expenses they didn't pay everything, the remainder was up to me. I remember one of the biggest expenses I had each quarter was textbooks. I wish there had been text book rentals back then, I could have saved a lot of my hard earned money.

If you know someone in college you need to tell them about CampusBookRentals.com. You can rent textbooks at a fraction of the cost of buying them. And when the semester is over you just return the books. And guess what? The shipping is Free both ways!

I can hear what you are thinking. Are they trustworthy? CampusBookRentals.com is a pioneer of textbook rentals. Students at over 4,ooo campuses use their services. Sounds pretty trustworthy to me.

RENT TEXTBOOKS
Renting textbooks saves you money plain and simple and gets the same result in your classes as buying your books. Rent textbooks without the risk of your books becoming worthless by the end of the semester. Rent college textbooks from the comfort of your home or office. Don't lose money at your school bookstore anymore. Rent textbooks along with customers on over 4,000 college campuses that have used our service so far. Join the movement.
Campus Book Rentals offers new and gently used textbooks for typically less than half the price you'll pay in your school bookstore. Search for the college books you need and save money today! from CampusBookRentals.com

They have a 30 day risk free trial. You can return the books within 30 days for a full refund.

But there is something else I really like about this company, the commitment they have made to an organization called Operation Smile. This organization performs life changing cleft lip surgeries on children whose families could not otherwise afford it. Just imagine how that would change the quality of life for a child.

This is one awesome organization and CampusBookRentals.com has made the commitment to donate enough to cover a minimum of 1,000 of these life changing surgeries. For EVERY book rented, they will donate a portion of those proceeds to Operation Smile.

So not only would you save tons of money by renting your textbooks from CampusBookRentals.com but you would also be helping to change the life of a child for the better. Does it get any better than that?

I have received a small gift for my time but no monetary compensation. All opinions are my own.

One Simple Flower

2011-12-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it.
George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, 1860

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.
Charles Dickens

Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flower Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

We Have a Winner!

2011-12-16T18:15:00.000-08:00

We have a winner for the Calphalon 5qt Dutch Oven Set.

I want to thank everyone who entered this giveaway. I wish you all could have won but I had to select only one. I have more giveaways coming so check back often for more chances to win. Also I will be catching up with my follows this weekend.

A big thank you to Wayfair for sponsoring this giveaway. Wayfair has a zillion things home. If you haven't visited them yet what are you waiting for? Click on the logo and see all the wonderful things they have available.

The winner was chosen using Random.org

And the winner is (drum roll please):

#107 Kathryn

I have emailed the winner. She will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

Be sure to watch for my After Christmas Giveaway!

The 58TH Keeper

2011-12-16T01:20:00.000-08:00

Book Beginnings

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you would like, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be at A Few More Pages every Friday and will be open for the entire week.

The Friday 56

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your link to The Friday 56

The 58TH Keeper
R.G. Bullet

The Beginning
"Alturus Burk knew it was the end. Running wasn't going to help. In a matter of minutes his brief term as 57th keeper would be over and his story would be filed away in the dusty archives of Westminster Palace, known only to a select few."

Page 56
"'Sorry, I don't need a rug. Thank you!' he said slowly and loudly, thinking that perhaps the man did not speak English.
The man looked behind him fearfully, took the rug off his shoulder, and rolled it onto the sand. Archy noticed it shimmering in the morning sun. It was mesmerizing to look at. Archy touched it."

* * * * *

The 58th Keeper is the story of a boy called Archy Bass, who stumbles upon a mysterious and powerful relic. The moment he touches it, two warring forces race to find his whereabouts. One side thinks he’s simply too young and too inexperienced to keep it, and the other just want him dead. The 58th Keeper is a roaring trip that takes the reader on the most wonderful and hair-raising scenes imaginable. R. G. Bullet pulls out all stops in novel to deliver an incredible journey with unforgettable characters. This book will resonate with you for ages past the last line.

This is a book I just finished and wanted to share with you. You can read my review in the post below or go here.

The 58TH Keeper - Review

2011-12-15T01:45:00.000-08:00

aThe 58th Keeper is the story of a boy called Archy Bass, who stumbles upon a mysterious and powerful relic. The moment he touches it, two warring forces race to find his whereabouts. One side thinks he’s simply too young and too inexperienced to keep it, and the other just want him dead. The 58th Keeper is a roaring trip that takes the reader on the most wonderful and hair-raising scenes imaginable.

R. G. Bullet pulls out all stops in novel to deliver an incredible journey with unforgettable characters. This book will resonate with you for ages past the last line.

You can read an excerpt from The 58th Keeper HERE.

R. G. Bullet was born in Berkshire, UK. After living in nine different countries he has finally settled in Miami Beach, USA. He is addicted to tea, reading, writing, motorbikes and shamefully, Call of Duty. His middle grade debut novel: The 58th Keeper has just been released.

To learn more go to: http://www.rgbullet.com/
Follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/RGBullet58
and join the fan page for the latest updates and fun competitions
https://www.facebook.com/rgbullet#!/profile.php?id=100002401835900

My Thoughts

You're in a new school and it's tough, worse than any of the others you've been in before. Foster home after foster home and new schools and ..... life sucks. But then you make a new friend so maybe it's not so bad after all. Archy Bass has been invited by his friend Vincent's family to go with them to Turkey for an archaeological dig. Adventure calls and Archy is ready to answer but will he get more than he bargained for?

Archy Bass is a very easy character to like and is one that many will identify with from the start. The story line is fast paced and easy to follow. The 58th Keeper is filled with mystery and suspense, there are no dull moments. Think Young Indiana Jones meets the Da Vinci Code.

This is a great book for young adults and for us older kids too.

Price Alert! I went over to Amazon to get a link to post here and found a great deal on the Kindle version of The 58th Keeper, it is currently available for .99 cents. This will not last long s0 check it out, be sure to check the price. Click on the link on my sidebar to go to Amazon and get The 58TH Keeper.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. I have not been compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

Holiday Light

2011-12-14T22:45:00.000-08:00

I was downtown last weekend doing a little Christmas looking. It was late in the day and the sun was starting to set. There are very few leaves on the trees, the color on the trees and storefronts is mostly from the setting sun. There were storefronts in a row, light posts and cars in a row also. Visit Pat's Things in a Row for more photos.

Thursday also means it's time for Thursday Two Questions.
Is it just me or does the holiday season just fly by. It's only ten days until Christmas.

1) Are you ready for Christmas?

2) What last minute things will you be doing on Christmas Eve?

Bonus question: What is your favorite Christmas smell?
(mine is the scent of fresh evergreen trees and wreaths)

From My Kitchen

2011-12-13T00:08:00.000-08:00

Blueberry bagel, yum!

Long time readers of The Road to Here may remember seeing my Ulu collection. This is one I use in my kitchen on a regular basis to slice veggies or cut meat. It is not a mezzaluna. Both sides of the ulu blade have been sharpened making the blade very, very sharp. It is great for cutting up poultry as it will slice through the bone with little effort.

The Ulu (pronounced ooloo) is an all-purpose cutting tool of the native people of the Arctic. Traditionally a woman's knife it can be used to cut food, filleting fish, or even to cut hair. Uluit (the plural of ulu) come in a variety of sizes depending on the intended use. A small ulu would be an excellent addition to a sewing kit while a larger blade would be better for skinning and cleaning animals. Uluit have been found that dated as early as 2500BC.

The Inupiat version usually has the center piece of the blade cut out and both ends fitting into the handle. The Canadian ulu is attached to the handle by a single piece. Before other materials were available the handles would have been made from antler or bone and the blade from slate. Today caribou antler is still used for the handle but steel is more frequently used for the blade. The ulu above is made in the Inupiat style.

These two uluit I brought with me when I moved down from Alaska. The one in the background is purely decorative, the handle is made from sheep horn.

The one in the foreground is from Nome, Alaska. It was given to me as a gift after I had worked at a camp there one summer. The handle is caribou antler and the display base is whale bone. It is made more in the Canadian style with a triangle shaped blade. I learned to use an ulu while working at a camp outside of Barrow, Alaska. My first use was slicing up caribou for smoked jerky. The blade was quite sharp and allowed me to slice the raw meat very thin.

Please visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory for more photos.

The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey - Review

2011-12-12T02:30:00.000-08:00

A Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary

Combining a warm, humorous, and conversational style of writing with stunning photos and charming artwork, readers are immediately immersed into the world of Zee, a lovable male Maine Coon cat, and Zoey, a high-spirited female Bengal cat, as they share their amazing relationship and bond that formed between the two of them in The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey.

What makes this story so compelling, is that the author narrates the journey of the cats through the personal trials and tribulations of her own life. Readers will easily be able to relate to the many moments the author shares and her spot on accuracy in understanding the many nuances of a cat is so realistic, one might think the author was a cat herself! You will be certain to smile and laugh on more than one occasion as you share this incredible journey with Zee and Zoey and learn the ultimate message they teach us – to embrace the ordinary in life and dare to make it extraordinary

Deborah Barnes currently resides in South Florida and after an unexpected life changing event, she decided to follow her dreams of becoming an author and used the relationship of her cats as inspiration for her first book, The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey: A Journey of Extraordinarily Ordinary. She also writes the popular blog, Zee & Zoey’s Chronicle Connection, that is a collection of beautiful photos, artwork, and heartfelt stories about her feline crew.

You can visit Deborah’s website at http://www.zeezoey.com.

Connect with her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/zeeandzoey
and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/zeezoey.

My Thoughts

When I first saw the cover of this book I knew it was something very special and I just had to read it. Not only is it filled with great photos and beautiful artwork but the story itself captures your attention from the very first page. Zee and Zoey are indeed remarkable cats.

Deborah Barnes has written a wonderful story around two of her cats, Zee and Zoey. It is a love story of two fabulous felines and their devotion to each other. But the story goes much deeper than that. This is also Deborah's story and how the two title cats, and a variety of other pets, have affected her life. Deborah also shares her own life and struggles. A broken marriage and financial hardships and then a new romance. The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey is more than just another animal story, it is a story of life.

Many of you know I volunteer with an organization that works to make life better for feral and stray cats. If you follow my other blog you have see photos and heard stories of the Kitty Krew, my own little rescued batch of former feral kittens. Reading about the strays that Deborah took in really warmed my heart and it will yours too. You will very likely also find yourself relating to Deborah's own personal trials and tribulations.

I definitely recommend The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey to all of you. Grab your copy now, don't let this one get away.

The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey Trailer

I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposed. I have not been compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

Winter White

2011-12-10T00:59:00.000-08:00

Remember
This December,
That love weighs more than gold!
~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness. ~Bob Hope

Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey

2011-12-08T23:58:00.000-08:00

The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey
The Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary
Deborah Barnes

The Beginning
From the prologue
"Imagine, if you would, a world of love at first sight, where pigs do fly, where carpets are meant for magical rides, where empty boxes are transformed to magnificent castles and forts and a door becomes the gateway to the unlimited possibility of a charming and enchanted garden filled with endless adventure and intrigue."

Page 56
"She had a relentless, bloodcurdling noise that emitted from her little lungs and her petite little paws had a death grip on the cage with an amazing strength ....... Small she may be, but no one was going to stop her from trying to outwit this cage. She screamed like a wild banshee the entire trip home, making an hour seem like an endless day."

Watch for my review on Monday, December 12th.

Visit Zee & Zoey's blog HERE.

The Doll - Review

2011-12-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

About The Doll

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; Original edition (November 22, 2011)

The lost stories of Daphne du Maurier, collected in one volume for the first time.

Before she wrote Rebecca, the novel that would cement her reputation as a twentieth-century literary giant, a young Daphne du Maurier penned short fiction in which she explored the images, themes, and concerns that informed her later work. Originally published in periodicals during the early 1930s, many of these stories never found their way into print again . . . until now.

Tales of human frailty and obsession, and of romance gone tragically awry, the thirteen stories in The Doll showcase an exciting budding talent before she went on to write one of the most beloved novels of all time. In these pages, a waterlogged notebook washes ashore revealing a dark story of jealousy and obsession, a vicar coaches a young couple divided by class issues, and an older man falls perilously in love with a much younger woman—with each tale demonstrating du Maurier’s extraordinary storytelling gifts and her deep understanding of human nature.

About Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989) has been called one of the great shapers of popular culture and the modern imagination. Among her more famous works are The Scapegoat, Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, and the short story The Birds, all of which were subsequently made into films, the latter three directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Young Daphne du Maurier photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

My Thoughts
The Doll is so much more than a collection of short stories. It is like stepping back into time and watching a master storyteller grow up and develop her talent.

I am a long time fan of Daphne du Maurier. I read Rebecca in high school and have read many of her novels through the years. While Rebecca is one of the most famous my favorite is My Cousin Rachel, I have read it at least three times over the years.

At the time these stories were written du Maurier would have been in her twenties, the age where we explore the world and our own feelings. As I read these tales I couldn't help but wonder how such a young woman could possibly know so much about love, especially it's darker side.

While all of the stories in The Doll are well written they seem a little bit rough around the edges to me. But that is what makes this collection so fascinating, we get to see a developing talent at work. One story, Tame Cat, although not a single feline is present in the story, tells of a young girl celebrating the joy of finally being a grown up. But joy may not last when another's expectations are revealed.

If you are a fan of Daphne du Maurier you will find this book fascinating and very enjoyable. If you have never read any of her works this is a great place to start. I very much recommend The Doll to everyone.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. I have not been compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

Touching The Sky

2011-12-06T01:25:00.000-08:00

I like big trees. I like them from a distance. I like them in the summer with leaves of green.

I like big trees in the autumn with their golden hues against the blue sky.

I like big trees in the winter. There is something about those bare branches when the winds of winter work to release the last leaf and set it free.

Did I mention I like big trees!

For more photos visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory.

I'm going to be working with the Cat Management Coalition this week. Tuesday I will be trapping some feral cats for the spay/neuter event on Wednesday. During the event I will be working post op and then on Thursday returning the cats I trapped. I'll catch up with everyone after the event.

We Have a Winner!

2011-12-06T00:59:00.000-08:00

For the My Memories Suite v3 scrapbooking software. I want to thank everyone who took the time to enter this giveaway. I hope you will check out my future giveaways as well. And the winner is .........

Ramona

Her blog is The Japanese Redneck!

Congrats Ramona!

One example of what you can do with My Memories Software Suite. I will be showing you more examples soon. I am really having fun playing with this software.

I wish everyone could have been a winner but you can still save money and get this great software.

Below is the special code that you can use for a $1o.oo discount off the purchase of MyMemories Suite V3 software plus you will receive a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!

STMMMS64879

I suggest you copy and paste the code. This unique code is ONLY good for My Memories Suite V3. Click on the banner to visit the My Memories Store.

I will be sharing more information about My Memories Suite in the future. And who knows maybe more related giveaways.

Wings

2011-12-02T23:25:00.000-08:00

How do you like my header? I made it using My Memories Software Suite. You can win a copy of this software by entering my giveaway HERE.

No, it's not a bee. This is a Hover Fly, their natural protection is to mimic the appearance of the bee. They are harmless and also important as pollinators.

I fell in love with this fellow's perfect wings.

Zuzu Bailey: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.
George Bailey: That's right, that's right.
George Bailey: Attaboy, Clarence.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

"If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing.”
Coco Chanel

Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Photo Time, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

The Doll

2011-12-01T23:16:00.000-08:00

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence or two that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your link to The Friday 56

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you would like, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be at A Few More Pages every Friday and will be open for the entire week.

The Doll
Daphne du Maurier

The Beginning
From the story East Wind

"Nearly a hundred miles west of the Scillies, far from the main track of ships, lies the small, rocky island of St. Hilda's."

Page 56
Since page 56 is the last lines of a story and I don't want to give it away I will instead give you a few lines from the next story, A Difference in Temperament from page 57.

"There was something about the feeling of being alone he could not explain to anyone, not even her. The delicious sense of utter irresponsibility, of complete selfishness."

The Doll

A collection of short stories written by Daphne du Maurier. Originally published in periodicals during the early 1930s, many of these stories never found their way into print again . . . until now.

The Conversation

2011-11-30T22:45:00.000-08:00

Was it something we said?

The crows were on a line in my neighbors yard. It was late in the evening and even with the telephoto I could barely see them. When I cropped the photos it looked like they were having quite a conversation.

For more photos visit Pat's Things in a Row!

This is the first Thursday of December, and Thursdays mean it's time for questions. Be sure to visit Thursday Two Questions.

Speaking of conversations.

1) When communicating with family and friends which do you use more, phone or email? Or texting? Video chats? Or ???

2) With texting and email being so frequently used do you think the art of conversation is dying?

Bonus question: Are your Christmas decorations up yet?

Calphalon Giveaway

2011-11-28T22:55:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday and the long weekend. Ours was quiet and relaxing. No, I didn't go out on Black Friday. Instead I spent my time online checking out the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. I did do a little in store shopping on Saturday after the crowds had thinned out.

One of the things on my list to look for before Christmas is kitchen area rugs. I could really use some new ones before the next holiday. But I think I will check at Wayfair before I make up my mind. They always have great products at the best prices. What is Wayfair? My long time blogging friends have heard me talk about the CSN Stores in the past. Well now CSN Stores is Wayfair.

Wayfair is in the business of giving our customers easy online access to the world’s home stuff in one place. Wayfair believes that options for your home can come from just about anywhere, so we carry over 5,000 brands of products like furniture, lighting, cookware, and everything in between. We also know that home furnishings often don’t fit in your car, so we offer free shipping on most big stuff and most other stuff, too.

And guess what?
Wayfair has offered to send on of my readers a Calphalon Unison 5 quart Dutch Oven Set.

Calphalon Unison Nonstick 5 Qt Dutch Oven Set

List Price: $215.00
Price: $49.95

The set includes:
5-Quart Dutch Oven
Nylon Spoon
Dish Towel

The Unison Nonstick Collection From Calphalon

Free your culinary spirit with Calphalon® Unison™ Nonstick! At last, nonstick cookware that lets you cook like a professional. Two surfaces make the difference. The revolutionary Slide Nonstick surface releases foods effortlessly, essential for creating tender omelettes and delicate sauces. And a specially textured Sear Nonstick surface that seals in flavor to create juicy braised beef, tuna and vegetables. Each surface is designed to enhance the specific cooking purpose of the pan.

I love Calphalon cookware! I am gradually replacing all my cookware with Calphalon. I have quite a few pieces already and I love them all. The nonstick surface is amazing and clean up is fast.

You can purchase Calphalon HERE or enter my giveaway and win the Calphalon 5 QT Dutch Oven Set.

MANDATORY FIRST TWO ENTRIES

1. Go to the Wayfair website and tell me one item you would like to find under your Christmas tree.
(1 entry, leave one comment)

2. Be a follower of The Road to Here on Google Friend Connect. You must follow publicly for it to count. (1 entry, leave one comment)

No other entries will count unless you do these two first.

If your email address is not on your profile please leave it in the comments. You can't win if I can't contact you.

BONUS ENTRIES
Leave a separate comment below for each bonus entry.

* Follow Wayfair on Facebook (1 entry) I will check.

* Follow SquirrelQueen on Facebook Leave your FB name in your comment here (1 entry)
If you want me to Like/Follow you back on FB be sure to leave a link to your Facebook page.

* Follow Wayfair on Twitter. (1 entry) I will check.

* Follow SquirrelQueen on Twitter. (1 entry)
Leave your Twitter name in your comment. I will follow you back.

* Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the link to your tweet in your comment.
(1 entry per day)
"I'm entered to win a Calphalon 5qt Dutch Oven at The Road to Here. Have you entered yet? http://tinyurl.com/7flof2s"

* Blog about this giveaway (on your main blog, not a separate page). Leave a link to your post in the comments. (3 entries)

This giveaway will end on December 15th at midnight PT. This giveaway is open to residents of the US only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org

GOOD LUCK!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T20:15:00.000-08:00

Isn't he cute. He and his family were on display at on of our grocery stores. It was windy and if I could have reached up that far I would have pulled his bandana off of his chin.

I am going to keep my Thursday Two Questions simple since here in the US most of us are busy with the holiday.

1) What are you thankful for?
2) What will you be doing when the meal is over?

Bonus question: What is your favorite kind of pie?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I'll see you all on Monday!

My Memories Suite - Review and Giveaway

2011-11-22T00:20:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about the digital scrapbook software I received recently, I just have to tell you about it.

MyMemories Suite v3 software is a complete digital scrapbooking solution that provides a comprehensive powerful set of creative tools no other scrapbook software can offer. With its intuitive workspace and enhanced time-saving features, this application is perfect for a beginner to create a complete album in minutes, or to empower the design pro to build a scrapbook album masterpiece.

MyMemories Suite will help you create your beautiful pages from scratch or build an entire album using one of the many professionally-designed scrapbook templates provided within the scrapbook software. A large collection of papers and embellishments are also included and available at your fingertips to help you make each page uniquely your own.

The page above with Fuzzi and Sissi was created using MyMemories Suite. It was so easy and it only took a few minutes. But guess what, you can create more than just scrapbook pages.

Maybe you would like to create a collage of photos to use on your blog. There are lots of basic photo layouts included in the program. I used a basic one above, added my photos, and then added shadows to two of the photos to give it a more finished look.

I decided to add frames to these photos. There is also a large variety of colors and textures to use as backgrounds for the photos.

The photo of the rose above is straight from the camera. Maybe you would like to improve a photo or give it a different look. This program isn't Photo Shop but for the price it packs a lot of possibilities.

I sharpened the photo and gave it a muted red wash. You can also emboss, change to black & white or sepia, add a blue wash, sketch, or for a really different effect use the impressionist setting.

And if you really want to get a dramatic shot for your scrapbook or blog the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

With over 1,500 papers, over 1,000 page elements, and over 30 album templates (including 10 new for v3), MyMemories Suite lets you hit the ground running with your very own scrapbook or photo album in a matter of minutes. It’s easy-to-use and affordable—and compatible with both Windows and Mac computers.

You can make a beautiful scrapbook an interactive memory experience for anyone who sees it. Use simple one-click options to enhance your scrapbooks, with music, narration, video, and even the Internet. Go beyond pictures by showing off video of the birthday party, or record a narration to capture the memories that pictures alone cannot. With My Memories Suite you simply don't look at a scrapbook-you experience it!

Are you excited yet? How would you like to try this digital scrapbook program yourself? You can win a download here or look at the end of this post for a special code that you can use for a $1o.oo discount off the purchase of MyMemories Suite V3 software plus a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!

Giveaway
My Memories wants to give one of my readers a download code for one copy of MyMemories Suite V3 plus a $10.oo coupon for the MyMemories.com store.

Please read the instructions carefully. Leave one comment for each entry. If your email address is not on your profile please leave it in the comments.

Mandatory Entries:
1) Be a GFC follower of The Road to Here (one entry)
I will return your follow.

2) Visit www.MyMemories.com and tell me which digital Scrapbooking Kit you like best. (one entry)

Additional Entries
1) Follow the My Memories Blog (one entry)

2) Follow MyMemories on Twitter (one entry)
please leave your twitter name in the comment

3) Follow me on Twitter (one entry)
your Twitter name in the comment please, I will follow you back

4) Like Squirrel Queen on Facebook (one entry)
Leave a link to your FB page and I will like you back

5) Like MyMemories on Facebook (one entry)
Please leave a message on the FB page that you read about MyMemories on The Road to Here.

By the way, when My Memories FB page gets to 10,000 fans they are giving away an iPad, you just have to LIKE their page to be eligible to win!

That's all it takes. The giveaway will end at Midnight PT on December 5th. I will announce the winner here.

Can't wait? Below is the special code that you can use for a $1o.oo discount off the purchase of MyMemories Suite V3 software plus a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!

STMMMS64879

I suggest you copy and paste the code. This unique code is ONLY good for My Memories Suite V3. Click on the banner to visit the My Memories Store.

Merry Christmas Stories - Review

2011-11-21T01:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Stories is a collection of 25 Christmas tales that emphasize the value of Christmas love and laughter. These short stories will make you laugh, smile and just feel good about this magical time of year. These delightful stories, written in a variety of genres, all reflect Christmas love, hope and charity.

A firm believer in the power and importance of laughter, Spalsbury employs humor in his books and hopes the stories will provide some Christmas cheer for all who read them. The stories represent a variety of genres ranging from the traditional to romance to science fiction.

There are stories of adventure along with humor, unexpected surprises, romance and poignant moments. These are feel-good stories, to uplift your spirit and to leave you with a smile or a warm feeling. Just the way Christmas should feel.

Jeff R. Spalsbury also writes science fiction and western novels. Avalon Press published his western novel, Hunt the Hunter, in December 2010 and the second novel in his Hunt series, The Hunted Return is scheduled to be published in July 2012, also by Avalon. His science fiction novel, SPACE DREAM ONE: That Other’s May Live will be published as an eBook in October 2011.

Spalsbury taught a class on the importance of using humor in the classroom at California State University in Fresno. He is also a former library director and professor at Porterville College, Porterville, CA.

To learn more about Spalsbury’s books, visit his website at www.JeffRSpalsbury.com. His books can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Black Rose Writing or various online eBook sellers, including the Apple iPad, Sony Nook, etc.

My Thoughts
This wonderful collection of Christmas stories has something for every reader. From the good samaritan who rescues stranded travelers to the young man who discovers the truth behind a long told family legend, each tale will leave you with a warm feeling in your heart. The tale of a jaded detective who takes a very special case on Christmas Eve made me laugh and left a tear in the corner of my eye at the end.

The majority of the stories are about ordinary people, some who might remind you of someone you know. There is a ghost or two, an angel and even a space traveler who will make your Christmas brighter.

Jeff R. Spalsbury is an excellent writer who has the ability to tell a complete story in a few pages. His style reminds me a little of O'Henry who wrote my all time favorite Christmas short story, The Gift of the Magi.

Merry Christmas stories would make a great gift or stock stuffer for any reader. It is also the kind of book you will want to read again and again. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Give yourself a Christmas gift right now and click on the Amazon.com link above.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. I have not been compensated for this review, all opinions are my own.

Merry Christmas Stories

2011-11-18T00:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Stories
A collection of short stories
by
Jeff R. Spalsbury

The Beginning
From the story Santa's Missing
"There is nothing about Christmas I like. I know that sounds like I'm a Scrooge, but the plain truth is that all I do on Christmas is get drunk"

I admit that when I read the opening lines to this story I was a bit put off. But I continued reading and the story was really good.

Page 56
From the story Christmas Eve Dinner

What is she talking about? "That's right. It's for you. It's why Ive been working two jobs. It's why Ive been saving all my money."

I can't believe this. And I called him a slug, a schlep. " A ring!" What can I say? "It's really for me?"

Merry Christmas Stories

A firm believer in the power and importance of laughter, Spalsbury employs humor in his books and hopes the stories will provide some Christmas cheer for all who read them. The stories represent a variety of genres ranging from the traditional to romance to science fiction.

Watch for my review on Monday, November 21ST.

I will be working with the Cat Management Coalition at a spay/neuter event this weekend. It's going to be a cold snowy weekend so we will have to give extra care to the kitties to keep them safe and warm. This makes for a very long weekend. See you all on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Gone With The Wind

2011-11-16T23:20:00.000-08:00

I was at one of our city parks a week ago and these trees in a row still had lots of colorful leaves.

Since then we have had lots of wind and this afternoon a little freezing rain. I'm pretty sure the wind has taken away most of the leaves.

If I could get "my ducks in a row" I would go back and see how the trees look now. For more visit Pat's Things in a Row.

It's time for Thursday Two Questions.

1) It's almost Thanksgiving here in the US. Will you be cooking or relaxing?

2) Is everyone coming to your place or will you be traveling?

Bonus question: Turkey or ham or tofu?

Mozart's Last Aria - Review

2011-11-16T00:35:00.000-08:00

The news arrives in a letter to his sister, Nannerl, in December 1791. But the message carries more than word of Nannerl’s brother’s demise. Two months earlier, Mozart confided to his wife that his life was rapidly drawing to a close . . . and that he knew he had been poisoned.

In Vienna to pay her final respects, Nannerl soon finds herself ensnared in a web of suspicion and intrigue—as the actions of jealous lovers, sinister creditors, rival composers, and Mozart’s Masonic brothers suggest that dark secrets hastened the genius to his grave. As Nannerl digs deeper into the mystery surrounding her brother’s passing, Mozart’s black fate threatens to overtake her as well.

Transporting readers to the salons and concert halls of eighteenth-century Austria, Mozart’s Last Aria is a magnificent historical mystery that pulls back the curtain on a world of soaring music, burning passion, and powerful secrets.

Matt Rees is an award-winning crime novelist and foreign correspondent. He is the author of the internationally acclaimed Omar Yussef crime series, including The Collaborator of Bethlehem. He is also the author of Cain’s Field, a nonfiction account of Israeli and Palestinian society. Matt lives in Jerusalem.

You can Matt at his website, www.mattrees.net, read his blog, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

My Thoughts

Not only has Matt Rees written a well developed mystery novel but he explores the relationship between Mozart and his sister Nannerl. As much of a child prodigy as her brother Nannerl was taken out of the limelight long ago. She is living with her husband and children in a small village when she learns of her brothers death. Although they had been out of touch for several years she feels compelled to go to Vienna to pay her respects. Once there she gets caught up in the mystery surrounding his death.

I really like the character of Nannerl, she is determined to find the truth. What she finds along the way is intrigue, deceit, infidelity and a possible love interest. All of this kept the story moving and definitely held my interest. The possible involvement of the Freemasons really deepens the mystery. And then, or so it seems, the mystery is solved. Or was it? There is a twist of a twist to the ending.

If you love a good mystery then Mozart's Last Aria is a must read. I recommend this book to everyone.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

Fun With Hearts

2011-11-14T22:55:00.000-08:00

I just received some new software to review so I used it to created the collage/photo above. It is called My Memories Suite. Very soon I will be reviewing it and giving away a copy. I will also be sharing a code with you my readers. You can use the code to get $$$'s off the software and get a credit to buy more goodies for the program.

For more photos visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory.

The Blooms of Autumn

2011-11-11T23:45:00.000-08:00

If you look closely in the upper left hand corner you will see a duck or two.

These photos were taken at our local aviary on Tuesday. The roses were still blooming ... on the other side of the fence.

The roses in my garden still have a few blooms. Time is running short for them, the wind and rain are coming in tonight.

"Saw the rainbow in the heaven,
In the eastern sky the rainbow,
Whispered, "What is that, Nokomis?"

And the good Nokomis answered:
"'Tis the heaven of flowers you see there;
All the wild-flowers of the forest,
All the lilies of the prairie,
When on earth they fade and perish,
Blossom in that heaven above us."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Song of Hiawatha

Visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Mozart's Last Aria

2011-11-10T23:30:00.000-08:00

The Friday 56

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your link to The Friday 56

Book Beginnings

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you would like, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be at A Few More Pages every Friday and will be open for the entire week.

Mozart's Last Aria
a novel by Matt Rees

Beginning
From the Prologue
"When she sang, it was hard to imagine death was so near."

Page 56
"The facade was a washed-out blue, like an old woman's irises. A statue of the Virgin nestled in a niche above the windows of the second floor. In the gateway, the cobbles were small rectangles of wood to damp the noise of carriage wheels and horseshoes."

Mozart's Last Aria

It’s 1791 and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is enlightenment, Vienna’s brightest star. Master of the city’s music halls and devoted member of the Freemason’s guild, he stands at the heart of an electric mix of art and music, philosophy and science, politics and intrigue.

But six weeks ago the great composer told his wife he had been poisoned. Yesterday, he died.

The city is buzzing with rumours of infidelity, bankruptcy and murder. But Wolfgang’s sister Nannerl will not believe base gossip. Who but a madman would poison such a genius?

Black Friday

2011-11-09T22:40:00.000-08:00

If you look at my last post you will see an inside view of our local post office. This photo show the outside of the building with lots of things in a row. For more visit Pat's Things in a Row.

Thursday means it time for questions. Please visit Thursday Two Questions.

The holidays are approaching rapidly, it is only two weeks until Thanksgiving here in the US. I have been getting emails about Black Friday deals since the first of the month. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving when supposedly the best bargains can be found. It is also the kick-off for the shopping frenzy leading up to Christmas.

1) Do you shop on Black Friday?
I'm also curious if this is a US phenomenon or if it has spread to other countries. If you live outside the US, do you have a "national shopping day"?

2) Will you be looking for bargains on any particular items this year?

Bonus question: Margarine or real butter?

Time to Climb

2011-11-08T00:05:00.000-08:00

Our local post office is located inside an older building built in, I'm guessing, the late 1800's. Here is a look inside the building. The postal facilities are on the main floor with other businesses located up the stairs.

For more photos visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory.

Music in November

2011-11-05T00:15:00.000-07:00

Every year, in November, at the season that follows the hour of the dead, the crowning and majestic hours of autumn, I go to visit the chrysanthemums ... They are indeed, the most universal, the most diverse of flowers."
- Maeterlinck

The wind that makes music in November corn is in a hurry. The stalks hum,
the loose husks whisk skyward in half-playing swirls, and the wind hurries on....
A tree tries to argue, bare limbs waving, but there is no detaining the wind.
- Aldo Leopold

I really hope you all aren't getting bored with all the mums.
Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Resonance

2011-11-03T02:05:00.000-07:00

Book Beginnings

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you would like, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be at A Few More Pages every Friday and will be open for the entire week.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your link to The Friday 56

Resonance

The Beginning
Stupid paleontologists, he thought to himself. Didn't know how to grid a dig properly. Morons.

Page 56
So the guess hadn't been very exuberant. It hadn't been creative. And it sure as hell hadn't been right. Jordan figured one of these days he had to hit. But then he began the worrying. Would he die of boredom writing reports about food poisoning while he never figured out what happened to Eddie?

Resonance
The shift is coming. Soon. Dr. David Carter knows this. However, he's a geologist, so 'soon' means anywhere from tomorrow to a thousand years from now. People are dying. Now. Drs. Jordan Abellard and Jillian Brookwood are standing at the edge of SuperAIDS. Or are they? They won't be able to figure it out if they can t get some authorization signed--and soon. But they're peons and no one is paying attention.

Whole species died at the last polar shift, 65 million years ago. Right now Dr. Becky Sorenson has some seriously mutated frogs in her lab. In Los Angeles, Bees are making abnormal columns on the side of the freeways. In Georgia, birds are migrating out of season. It all makes a sick kind of sense when the doctors consider that the last magnetic shift is strangely coincidental to the dinosaur die-out. And the only similarity in the problems today is that each is occurring in a 'hotspot'--a pocket of reverse polarity tells them all the shift is already here.

The Weather Outside

2011-11-02T23:50:00.000-07:00

These little wagons were waiting patiently all in a row for someone to take them out to the pumpkin patch. There they would be loaded with pumpkins that would brighten a family's Halloween. Please be sure to visit Pat's Things in a Row to see more.

It's also time for Thursday Two Questions.

After a relatively mild autumn we have now moved into November. Tonight we are getting 35 mph winds with gusts up to 44 mph, a nice breezy evening with leaves flying everywhere. The weather dudes say we will have snow mixed with rain tomorrow night here in the valley. There will be snow on our Blue Mountains for sure. Pretty soon we will be sitting in front of the fireplace and enjoying a hot cup of cocoa or cider.

Many of my blogging friends are already getting winter weather but in other parts of the world our fellow bloggers are beginning spring.

1) What is your weather like right now?

2) What is your favorite part of the current season?

Bonus question: What is your favorite comfort food?

Space - Review

2011-11-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

Space

In Space, Emily Sue Harvey delivers us a deeply moving story of a family on the brink. Dan and Deede Stowe have worked for years, planning and saving for their idyllic retirement years. Just when they finally are about to realize their dream, their adult, recovering drug-addict daughter, Faith, moves back in with them and everything changes. Their “miracle child”, complete with druggie baggage, upsets the tranquil balance of the Stowe’s existence. Private romantic moments evaporate. Faith’s endless needs intrude hour by hour, devouring both their finances, their emotions, and most crucially, their space. In turn, Faith finds herself bereft of everything she cherished most, her health, her marriage, her child, her family, her reputation and, most of all, a space to call her own.

Amid chaotic challenges, all three battle to find peace with each other, a harmony that doggedly eludes them. For the sake of family solidarity, each is forced to sacrifice elemental components of self, until desperation turns them one against the other. Will love be enough to turn the tide? Is it strong enough to warm again hearts grown cold?

Space is a vivid, candid, and life-affirming story from a masterful storyteller of the heart.

Emily Sue Harvey

Emily Sue Harvey, author and speaker, writes to make a difference. Dozens of her upbeat stories and articles appear in Chocolate for Women, Chicken Soup for the Soul, women’s magazines, websites, and other anthologies.

She is the author of the novel Song of Renewal and Homefires and the novella Flavors. Her new novel, Space, will be followed by another novel (Unto these Hills) later in 2011.

To find out more about Emily visit www.renewalstories.com or www.emilysueharvey.com

My Thoughts

This is a powerful novel filled with very believable characters. So real they could easily be my neighbors or yours. Dan and Deede seem to have the perfect life until their adult daughter comes back home. Her life is in shambles and the drug use, lies and deceit quickly proves to be a drain, both emotional and financial, on her parents.

At first I tried to give Faith the benefit of the doubt but very quickly I decided I did not like this character. As the story progresses however it moves at times from Deede's viewpoint to Faith's side of the story. While I still did not like what was happening with her, and her constant need for attention, I began to feel some amount of compassion for her.

The family calls upon relatives, professionals, and God, to help and guide them through this crisis. Dan and Deede will strain their resources, and their marriage, for the love of their child.

Emily Sue Harvey has created an emotionally charged novel about a normal family facing it's greatest challenge. It was impossible not to get caught up in the lives of the Stowe family.

This is one of those books that I would read again. And Emily, if you read this, I will definitely be looking for a copy of Unto These Hills.

I highly recommend this book to all of you.

Be sure to visit Renewal Stories and click on Your Host to read about Emily Sue Harvey's journey to become an author. It is a story well worth your time.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

My Town

2011-11-01T01:30:00.000-07:00

While we are relatively new to the area we have lived here long enough to become attached to this little town.

Many of the buildings in the downtown area have been here since the late 1800's. Almost all have been restored to original condition. The thriving downtown area is the center of the community.

The town is surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland. Many crops including wheat, soybeans and of course the famous Walla Walla sweet onion are grown in our valley.

For more photos visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory.

Meet Author Pamela Jane

2011-10-31T01:25:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

If you remember I recently did a review of a delightful book called Little Goblins Ten. If you missed my review you can view it HERE.

I liked this book so much that I asked the author if she would like to do a guest post for my blog and talk about how she became a writer.

Please help me welcome Pamela Jane to The Road to Here.

The Shaping of a Writer

I have to admit that I’ve always had a little trouble with reality. Maybe that’s why I love to write, to immerse myself in a world of fantasy. Even when I’m writing a non-fiction piece (like the one you’re reading) I’m shaping the narrative into a story by choosing what to put in, and what to leave out. We can’t do that in real life!

But what really shaped me into a writer is a combination of things, including disappointments and loss.

I was fortunate to have parents who surrounded my brother and me with a rich library of children’s books when we were growing up. But neither my mother or my father saw any special talent in me, or any possibility of what I might become. No one was paying attention. Oddly enough, this worked in my favor. While my brother was busy collecting insects and butterflies for his growing collection, I was dreaming about escaping to the land of Oz. (My brother is now a happy and highly-successful entomologist.) But my day-dreams were productive, too. In them were the beginnings of stories I would one day write.

When I was seven we moved from our two-story colonial in Stamford, Connecticut to a small bungalow on a tiny, postage-stamp sized yard in Berkley, Michigan. I felt a deep sense of loss. I had loved our old neighborhood with its big shady backyards and uneven stone walls.

But there was a kind of beauty in the simple and unassuming suburb we moved to. Because it was so ordinary, Berkley was an ideal canvas on which to weave my dreams and fantasies. Where one green yard flows into another and the long summers are yours to fill anyway you want, one is free to do and imagine anything. Living in a place where I had to create the beauty, mystery and adventure for myself turned out to be an advantage.

When I was eight, something amazing happened. I discovered I had a gift for writing. With only a pencil and a spiral notebook from Kresge’s Five and Dime, I could create magic.

We were never asked or encouraged to write in school. Once again, no one was paying any attention. That could look like an oversight. But it was also freedom. I was having fun doing what I loved.

All these things went into making me a writer, and in particular the kind of writer I am. I’m grateful now that I had the freedom to daydream as a child, and that when I was seven we moved to what could have been a boring suburb if not for my imagination. And I’m glad we didn’t have writing programs in school when I was growing up. For most kids, such programs are overwhelmingly positive. But I needed to find my own odd and very individual way.

I told you I wasn’t very good at reality. What I am good at is creating a reality for others, through my writing. I still have fun doing it. And I am always surprised by the way children bring themselves and their own imaginations to the stories I’ve written.

And that’s the most fun of all.

Pamela Jane

New website:

http://www.pamelajane.com

Pamela Jane has published twenty-six children’s books with Houghton Mifflin, Atheneum, Simon & Schuster, Avon, Penguin-Putnam, Harper, Mondo, and others. Her books include Noelle of the Nutcracker, illustrated by Jan Brett which has been optioned for a film, and the “Winky Blue” and “Milo” series published by Mondo. Books in these series have recently gone into Spanish, big book, and CD editions. Many of Pamela’s books have appeared in Scholastic Book Clubs, on ALA “Pick of the Lists,” Weekly Reader, and foreign language editions. Pamela also writes a web-based children’s animation series and conducts writing workshops and presentations nationally and internationally for schools and universities and has been interviewed for print media, radio and TV. For more information on Pamela Jane, visit http://www.pamelajane.com.

In addition to her children’s books, Pamela has recently completed a memoir about her journey to becoming a children’s book author. She is a regular contributor to the popular blog, womensmemoirs.com, and the creator of http://www.austencats.com, a website for Janeites and cat-lovers.

Pamela lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter, and their cat, Mittens. In her spare time she reads, walks, and plays the piano very badly.

Thank you so much for stopping by Pamela.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

2011-10-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.
~Author Unknown

From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!
~Scottish Saying

The "black" rose above is simply a white rose on a black background with the colors reversed. The Blanket Flowers (the last photo) in my yard are still blooming.

Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

The Haunting of Hill House

2011-10-27T22:45:00.000-07:00

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you would like, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be at A Few More Pages every Friday and will be open for the entire week.

Visit Book Beginnings to join in!

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your link to The Friday 56

Welcome to my special Halloween edition of
The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings

I first read Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House many years ago when I was in high school. I found the book sitting on a dusty shelf in the school library.

I had, and continue to read many, many spooky horror stories but this is the first one that I found to be truly scary. This book made such an impression on me that I have reread it a couple of times and I have never forgotten it. The book and, the 1963 movie adaptation, prove that what you don't see is far more frightening than what you do see.

The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson

Opening Paragraph

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.

Page 56

"There's someone waiting there," Eleanor said, walking more quickly, and so saw Luke for the first time. Journeys end in lovers meeting, she thought, and could only say inadequately, "Are you looking for us?"

He had come to the veranda rail, looking down at them in the dusk, and now he bowed with a deep welcoming gesture, "These being dead,'" he said, "then dead must I be.' Ladies, if you are the ghostly inhabitants of Hill House, I am here forever."

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers-and soon it will choose one of them to make its own. Book description from Amazon.com

If you want to put a little chill into your Halloween night you might give The Haunting of Hill House a try.

What is the scariest book you have ever read?

Treats or Tricks?

2011-10-26T21:07:00.000-07:00

I'm running a little shy on my things in a row photos, got to get out and find more. Anyhow, if you look close you will see the rows within the pile of pumpkins. It all depends on how you look at them. Visit Pat's Things in a Row for more photos.

It's almost Thursday and that means it's time for Thursday Two Questions. Since Halloween is so close let's talk about what we will be doing. We have no children so we stay home and greet all the ghouls and goblins in our neighborhood. Most years between 30 to 40 groups will stop by.

1) If you have Halloween in your area how do you celebrate? If there is no Halloween in your country do you have a similar holiday?

2) Do you decorate for the holiday? Or prepare any special treats?

Bonus question: Vampires or werewolves? Or Casper?

Don't Sing at the Table - Review

2011-10-26T00:45:00.000-07:00

New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani’s gift for illuminating the profound challenges and issues defining women’s lives has propelled her novels to the top of bestseller lists and earned her a wide, devoted readership. Now, she shares the roots of those insights—the wisdom handed down to her from her unforgettable grandmothers, Lucia and Viola, which she began collecting for her own daughter—with readers everywhere.

Filled with practical, sage advice, and infused with Trigiani’s trademark warmth, love, and humor, Don’t Sing at the Table introduces a pair of feisty, intelligent, and strong forces of nature whose lives embody the story of 20th-century America itself. Between them, the extraordinary Lucia and Viola lived through the century from beginning to end, surviving immigration, young widowhood, single motherhood, four wars, and the Great Depression. Culled from their remarkable experiences, this heartfelt guide, at turns hilarious and poignant, offers answers to the seminal questions in a woman’s life, from getting married to saving money, nurturing the soul to keeping calm in a crisis, raising children to finding private comfort.

About Adriana Trigiani
Award-winning playwright, television writer, and documentary filmmaker Adriana Trigiani is the author of the bestselling Very Valentine and Brava, Valentine, part of the Valentine series, Viola in Reel Life and Viola in the Spotlight, part of her new young adult series, as well as the bestselling Big Stone Gap series, and the bestselling novel Lucia, Lucia. She also has written and will direct the big-screen version of her first novel, Big Stone Gap. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Visit Adriana at her website: www.adrianatrigiani.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

My Thoughts

Imagine sitting with a family member, looking through an old family photo album and recalling the stories you have heard through the years. Reading Adriana Trigiani's Don't Sing at the Table is very much like that. Ms. Trigiani introduces us to her grandmothers, Viola and Lucy, and traces their lives through the last century. While their lives were different both were very strong women. Both worked hard and raised families. There were joys and heartaches in both of their lives.

Some of the information was gathered from family records and some comes from the time she spent with these two special ladies. You can't help but smile at her ancedotes of washing the car and the polka dot dresses.

Throughout the book there are snippets of wisdom are passed along from these women. An example from Lucy, "Begin each day in a state of calm".

The thing is, I found myself thinking of my own grandmothers as I read her story.

"Her sewing machine -- a black-enameled Singer painted with gold curlicues set on a sturdy wooden table -- was set in the center of the room to take advantage of the light. She let me sit in her work chair and pump the foot pedal, a wrought iron plate designed with open scroll work."
Don't Sing at the Table, Adriana Trigiani

One of my fondest memories was sitting at my grandmother's Singer sewing machine (exactly as described above) and pumping the foot pedal.

And of course our grandmothers were good cooks with lots of tasty recipes. Adriana has included family recipes with some from both of her grandmothers. I have got to try Viola's Highball in Low Weeds. She says it is perfect after mowing the lawn.

This book could be subtitled "Everything I Know, I Learned from my Grandmothers". And looking back at my own life the statement could be true for me as well.

This is the first of Adriana Trigiani's books I have read but it will not be the last. I highly recommend Don't Sing at the Table to everyone.

How about you, do you have a fond memory of one of your grandmothers?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

On Golden Creek

2011-10-24T22:59:00.000-07:00

The theme for this week's PicStory is Gold or Silver. I decided to go with the golden glow of the maple tree reflected on a small creek at one of our local parks.

For more photos please visit Freda's Tuesday Takes, Tina's PicStory and Watery Wednesday.

Colchicum Autumnale

2011-10-21T21:59:00.000-07:00

A heavy rain beat down the Autumn Crocuses but even still some of their beauty remains.

"I know the year is dying,
Soon the summer will be dead.
I can trace it in the flying
Of the black crows overhead;
I can hear it in the rustle
Of the dead leaves as I pass,
And the south wind's plaintive sighing
Through the dry and withered grass.

Ah, 'tis then I love to wander,
Wander idly and alone,
Listening to the solemn music
Of sweet nature's undertone;
Wrapt in thoughts I cannot utter,
Dreams my tongue cannot express,
Dreams that match the autumn's sadness
In their longing tenderness."
- Mortimer Crane Brown, Autumn Dreams

Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday.

For more flowers check out Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

A Christmas Secret - Review

2011-10-21T00:30:00.000-07:00

A Christmas Secret
by Candace Hall

When Santa's reindeer discover a lost kitten named O'Malley, they have no choice but to rescue him and bring him back to the North Pole. Soon all the residents of the North Pole are doing their part to save O'Malley, including Broome, the head elf, and Wilma the mouse. Because only those who were born in the North Pole can live there, everyone decides to keep O'Malley a secret—until O'Malley goes missing.

Will O'Malley be able to stay in the North Pole? What will Santa think about A Christmas Secret?

About Candace Hall
Cristmastime was always a magical time of year for Candace Hall, one of six children. One of the most special Christmases of all was when she formed a special bond with a small kitten her mother rescued -- a small kitten just like O'Malley.

Visit Candace Hall's Website.

My Thoughts
I think I may have found my favorite Christmas story.

A Christmas Secret is a sweet tale of a lost kitten that will delight any child and adults too. This is a short, easy read with simple but delightful illustrations. It would make a great bedtime story or perhaps read it while everyone is gathered around the Christmas tree. This is a story that the kids will want to hear again and again.

What makes this little book so special is that the author has based some of her characters on people she knows. The kind and courageous personality of Wilma the mouse was inspired by the author's sister-in-law. Even O'Malley has a real life counterpart, a rescued kitten.
If you would like to read about the real O'Malley click HERE.

A Christmas Secret would make a great gift for any child on your Christmas list. It would be a perfect stocking stuffer. You can purchase A Christmas Secret HERE.

I recommend A Christmas Secret for children of all ages.

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

Don't Sing at the Table - Friday 56

2011-10-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your link to The Friday 56

Don't Sing at the Table

Page 56
"Observing operators working at their machines, heads bowed in concentration as they spun the wheel, guide the fabric through the threader, and pump the pedal, is like watching an orchestra on the stage at Carnegie Hall. There is a syncopation to their movements, and a rhythm to the whole."

About Don't Sing at the Table
New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani’s gift for illuminating the profound challenges and issues defining women’s lives has propelled her novels to the top of bestseller lists and earned her a wide, devoted readership. Now, she shares the roots of those insights—the wisdom handed down to her from her unforgettable grandmothers, Lucia and Viola, which she began collecting for her own daughter—with readers everywhere.

Be sure to read my review of Don't Sing at the Table on October 26th.

Up The Down Staircase

2011-10-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

Pat at A View From the Edge has a new meme called Things in a Row. Everywhere I go now I see things in a row. Why don't you join in the fun?

Thursday also means it time for Thursday Two Questions.

I was making some changes to my blog's sidebar and got to thinking. It's a little like a shelf where I set things I want others to see. But it gets a little cluttered at times and while I know I need to give it a good cleaning I keep putting it off.

1) How do you use your blog's sidebar? Do you like to add gadgets or badges, or do you keep it simple?

2) Have you seen Blogger's new Dynamic Views templates? See them HERE. What do you think about them?

Bonus question: Plain or Peanut?

We Have Winners!

2011-10-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

Two book giveaways have ended and that means we have winners.

The winner of one copy of Little Goblins Ten!

#9 is Pat!

The winner of one copy of Squeaky's Farm is:

#5 is Anya.

I have emailed both winners.

A big thank you to everyone who entered. Watch for more contests soon!
Also don't forget to enter the iPad2 giveaway. Just click on the link at the top of my sidebar to enter.

Juicy Sweet

2011-10-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

This is a photo I took last month at our local farmers' market. Since the theme for this week's PicStory is Food I thought it would be a good time to share.

For more photos visit Tina's PicStory and Freda's Tuesday Takes.

Beneath the Autumn Sun

2011-10-14T22:01:00.000-07:00

As we watch the summer days depart
And the painted leaves in silence fall,
And the vines are dead upon the wall;
A dreamy sadness fills each heart,
Our garden seems a dreary place,
No brilliant flowers its borders grace,
Save in a sheltered nook apart,
Where gay beneath the autumn sun
Blooms our own Chrysanthemum.
- Hattie L. Knapp, Chrysanthemum

A tiny flower for Freda's Photo Time.

Please visit Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Kitty Time

2011-10-11T23:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Hoomans! Sissi Cat here. My mommy is going to be very busy tomorrow and Thursday so she turned the blog over to me. Since I'm the kitty with the most blogging experience I get to post on her main blog (my brothers and sisters are soooooooo jealous).

Mommy is going to be working with the Cat Management Coalition for a spay/neuter clinic. They will be doing about 40 to 50 feral and low income cats tomorrow and more on Thursday.
Mommy says she is going to be doing post op both days. I asked her what that meant and she said she will be taking care of the kitties after surgery, giving them their vaccinations, a micro chip and an ear tattoo. I know mom will take good care of all the kitties. If you want to know more go HERE or HERE. You can also visit The Cat Management Coalition on Facebook.

Also Mommy wanted to to let you know that this Sunday is National Feral Cat Day.

When we, The Kitty Krew, were born we were feral cats. But we were lucky that mommy found us and our mom and took care of us. We are now considered free roaming cats but we have a home where we can feel safe when we need it.

Anyhow, since Mommy is going to be very busy for the next two days she wanted all of you to know she will catch up with you after the event.

Bye Hoomans,
Sissi Cat

A Drop of Sky

2011-10-11T01:40:00.000-07:00

Straw Flowers click on photos to enlarge

For more please visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory (this week's theme is Reflections).

Pumpkin Roll - Review and an iPad2 Contest

2011-10-09T23:59:00.000-07:00

Sadie Hoffmiller is looking forward to spending her favorite baking season of the year making delicious New England recipes in Boston, Massachusetts, with her favorite leading man, Pete Cunningham, as they babysit his three young grandsons. But when the boys insist that Mrs. Wapple, the woman who lives across the street, is a witch, Sadie and Pete are anxious to distract the boys from such Halloween-induced ideas. However, it gets harder and harder to explain the strange things that keep happening, particularly after Sadie learns the eccentric Mrs. Wapple has been attacked in her home. As the unexplained occurrences escalate, Sadie finds herself embroiled in yet another mystery with life-or-death consequences. Can Sadie discover whoever or whatever is behind the mystery before anyone else gets hurt?

Or will this be Sadie s last case?

About the Author
Josi Kilpack is the author of fourteen novels, including Sheep's Clothing, which won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/ Suspense, and Lemon Tart, a 2009 Whitney Award finalist. Pumpkin Roll is the sixth book in the popular Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series. Josi and her husband are the parents of four children and reside in Willard, Utah.

Visit Josi's Website.

My Thoughts
Sadie is concerned that her involvement with five murder cases in the past year has had a negative effect on her son. But he seems to be handling the work load at Sadie's newly formed PI service in Colorado quite well while mom is away. Sadie can't spend too much time worrying about him because other mysteries need to be solved right here in this small Massachusetts town as Halloween approaches.

The strange old lady standing across the street points her finger at Sadie and then a light bulb in the lamp next to her explodes. Coincidence? Whispers in the dark, did someone call her name? Unexplained noises in the still of the night? All the makings for a creepy mystery.

This is the sixth story in the Sadie Hoffmiller series (Lemon Tart was the first). Each of the books has recipes for all the dishes Sadie prepares during the course of the book. I'm definitely putting the Pumpkin roll on the Halloween menu.

While Pumpkin Roll is the first one of the series I have read I had no problem coming up to speed with Sadie. I enjoyed every moment of this delightful mystery. I will be looking for more books in the series and I can't wait for Banana Split which is coming Spring 2012.

iPad2 CONTEST

In conjunction with the release of Pumpkin Roll, Josi Kilpack and her publisher, Shadow Mountain, are sponsoring a contest for a new iPad2. There are multiple ways to enter between now and November 1, 2011. Winners will be announced and notified November 3rd 2011.

Leave a comment on this blog post before November 1st for a chance to win the iPad2. Only one comment per person on this post will count but for other ways to enter click HERE or on the banner above. You can also leave a comment on other participating blogs.

I received a copy of Pumpkin Roll from the publisher. I was not compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

Last Blooms

2011-10-08T00:45:00.000-07:00

The flowers are fading quickly as we move farther along into October so let's enjoy them while we can. If you look very closely you might even spot a heart or two.

For more visit Macro Flowers Saturday, Photo Time, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Remembering

2011-10-08T00:25:00.000-07:00

We all know about the iPad, iPhone, etc but how many of you remember the beginning?

I had heard about Apple computers and thought they were interesting and wanted to learn more. When I saw this ad I knew this was a game changer, the future in a very small package.

The Macintosh was introduced in 1984. About one year after the introduction an Apple Macintosh would be the first computer I ever used. Things would never be the same again.

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."
Steve Jobs
US computer engineer & industrialist (1955 - 2011 )

Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday.

Pumpkin Roll - The Friday 56

2011-10-06T23:40:00.000-07:00

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence, or two, that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your link to The Friday 56

Pumpkin Roll

Page 56
"In a saucepan, bring ingredients to a boil on medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Cool slightly before serving."

As you can see page 56 is part of a recipe for Whole Wheat Pancakes and Homemade Maple Syrup so I'm also going to give you a "taste" of another page.

Page 156
"Her shoe hit something, and when her foot hit the ground, it slid across the floor. She stumbled, catching herself on the back of a wicker settee and sending a pile of magazines and papers that had been balanced there to the floor. Once she righted herself, she looked down at whatever she'd kicked over and gasped at the pool of red oozing liquid quickly overtaking the magazines at her feet."

While you are here I have two book giveaways going on right now, you can enter HERE and HERE.

And if you come back on Monday for my review of Pumpkin Roll you will learn
how you can to enter to win
..... an iPad2.

Are you interested?

A Page at a Time

2011-10-05T22:59:00.000-07:00

Books in a row for Pat's Things in a Row. Take a moment and visit Pat, there is always something fun happening on A View From The Edge. Click on photos to enlarge.

Books! Books! Everywhere I look there are books!
And then there are the ebooks.
Some of these I have won from other blogs, a couple I have bought and some have been sent by publishers for me to review. Will I ever catch up?

When I'm deciding what books to request for review I keep two things in mind. Will I enjoy reading this book? Will my blog readers find it interesting? But sometimes I get excited about a book and request it then realize some of you might find it offensive. Would you be offended by any book in my stacks?

Since it's time for Thursday Two Questions let's talk about books.

1) Is there a particular type of book (ie, mystery, romance, nonfiction, etc) that you enjoy more than others?

2) Do you have a favorite author?

Bonus question: Buy the hardcover edition or wait for it in paperback? Or ebook?

Little Goblins Ten - Review and Giveaway

2011-10-03T23:59:00.000-07:00

Over in the forest
Where the trees hide the sun
Lived a big mommy monster
And her little monster one.
"Scare!" said the mommy;
"I scare," said the one.
So he scared and he scampered
Where the trees hide the sun.

From monsters to ghosties to goblins, everyone's favorite beasties haunt and howl and rattle their way through their forest home in this silly, spooky twist on the beloved nursery rhyme "Over in the Meadow."

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (July 26, 2011)

"In a gently spooky spin on “Over in the Meadow” that counts up to 10, various ghouls and beasts groan, swoop, and haunt. Jane has fun playing within the nursery rhyme’s parameters, whether peeking in on a family of zombies (“ ‘Stare!’ said the mommy; ‘We stare,’ said the three”), howling werewolves (dressed in patchwork overalls), or a rattling “father skeleton/ And his little skellies eight.” Manning’s quirky and expressive monster families are 10 kinds of cute."—Publishers Weekly

Pamela Jane has published twenty-six children’s books with Houghton Mifflin, Atheneum, Simon & Schuster, Avon, Penguin-Putnam, Harper, Mondo, and others. Her books include Noelle of the Nutcracker, illustrated by Jan Brett which has been optioned for a film, and the “Winky Blue” and “Milo” series published by Mondo. Books in these series have recently gone into Spanish, big book, and CD editions.

For more information on Pamela Jane, visit http://www.pamelajane.com.

In addition to her children’s books, Pamela has recently completed a memoir about her journey to becoming a children’s book author. She is a regular contributor to the popular blog, womensmemoirs.com, and the creator of http://www.austencats.com, a website for Janeites and cat-lovers.

Pamela lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter, and their cat, Mittens. In her spare time she reads, walks, and plays the piano very badly.

Pamela Jane is also the author of A VAMPIRE IS COMING TO DINNER!

Read along as the narrator of this story comes up with some practical rules for dealing with a vampire. But rules are meant to be broken, aren't they? From feeding the vampire garlic to filling the house with mirrors, the narrator is doing just that! With ten full-page gatefolds and a pop at the end of the book, kids will love seeing which rules are being followed and which aren't! If you're expecting a vampire (invited or not) this is your chance to get ready for a night of pranks and surprises. It is best to be prepared.

"...a ghoulishly good time."— Publishers Weekly

Review
Now I could tell you what a wonderful book this is and how much I enjoyed it but for a proper review I needed a child. So I borrowed my neighbor's four year old granddaughter for a reading.

As I read the story she laughed and giggled and pointed at the pictures of the ghost and goblins and assorted creatures. One each page she counted, all the way to ten at the end. When I finished she said, "Read it again." So I did! This time around she acted out each of the characters. From a witch child's cackle to a ghostly boo and even a bat's swoop. You really should have seen her zombie "stare".

This is a colorful fun filled book for young children. The illustrations are delightful and the characters are spooky cute. I definitely recommend this book for any child you know.

You can purchase Little Goblins Ten HERE. Or you can enter my giveaway to win a copy.

LITTLE GOBLINS TEN GIVEAWAY

I have one copy of Little Goblins Ten to giveaway to one of my followers. This is open to US and Canadian residents only.

To enter just leave a comment below telling me why you want to win a copy of Little Goblins Ten. That's it, we'll keep it simple. If your email address is not on your profile please leave it in the comment.

The giveaway will end on October 18th at midnight PT. I will use Random.org to choose the winner and post the results the next day.

I received a copy of Ten Little Goblins from the publisher. I was not compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.

Day is Done

2011-10-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

The theme at Tina's PicStory this week is Sunset. Also be sure to visit Freda's Tuesday Takes.

Squeaky's Farm - Review and Giveaway

2011-10-03T01:45:00.000-07:00

Squeaky's Farm

Squeaky s Farm is the story of Squeaky, our now fifteen-year-old cat, a dearly loved, highly respected family member. After her harrowing early years on city streets, Squeaky chose to spend the rest of her life with us.

She may have been re-thinking that commitment after we flew her to Spain's Extremadura region to live at Lagar La Senora, a dilapidated near-ruin of a stone house at the center of a rustic seventeen-acre farm.

Carolyn Parker
At age five, I was plopped down on a thirty-two acre farm when my family moved to Virginia. We had no indoor plumbing, minimal electricity, and a coal stove for heat. Almost fifty years later, when I saw Lagar La Senora for the first time, I was not concerned about its lack of amenities. I understood the concept of fixer-upper.

An inspirational academic year in Spain before graduating from Mary Baldwin College created the frame around a life devoted to travel, Spanish cuisine, and artisan products. My interests in cooking, wine, olive oil, country wisdom, and writing were inspired by that academic experience.

After college, my jobs were dreams-come-true for a liberal arts major bilingual secretary, manuscript typist, art gallery director, employment with an import company specializing in Spanish wines, and then sole owner of a small olive oil brokerage and distribution company.

Along the way, I learned to love cats and to recognize their importance in my life. All these elements entwined my love for Squeaky, Scott, and life lived simply, which led to the writing of Squeaky s Farm.

Visit Carolyn Parker's Website to learn more.

My Review
Squeaky's Farm is more than the story of a cat.
While the story centers around Squeaky it is also about the family's adaptation to life in rural Spain. I enjoyed both stories completely. There are happy times and a few sad moment but isn't that what life is about. I will admit there was one incident that had me in tears and angry at the same time.
I recommend this book to everyone. If you click on the link above you can read the introduction to Squeaky's Farm.

I found out about this book on our local humane society's Facebook page. I had to run down to the Humane Society immediately to pick up a copy of the book for myself. Not only did it sound like a great book but the proceeds from books purchased at our humane society will benefit Cat Management Coalition. This is the organization I volunteer with that works to control the feral cat population in our area through the trap/neuter/return program.

So anyhow, while I as there picking up a copy of Squeaky's Farm for myself I decided to pick up an extra copy to share with my blogging friends.

Giveaway
I'm going to make this giveaway as simple as possible. It is open to all my followers no matter were you are. One entry per person please.

All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me why you would like to read Squeaky's Farm. If your email address is not on your profile please leave it in the comment.

The giveaway will end at midnight PST on October 17th. I will use Random.org to choose a winner and announce it here on my blog.

Zinnias In Transition

2011-10-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

There are still many colorful blooms in the gardens but other petals are beginning to fade. They may not be as bright and vibrant but they manage to retain, at least for awhile, a certain artistic elegance.

For more flowers from around the world visit Macro Flower Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

2011-09-29T00:45:00.000-07:00

A walk in the park reminded me that Thursdays are a good time for Pat's Things in a Row. These trees were nicely lined up all in a row as were the flower beds. The two blooms were also "in a row".

Thursday is also a good time for questions. Why not visit Thursday Two Questions and see if you have the answers.

While we don't watch a lot of television I have been seeing lots of ads for the new season of shows. Lots of sitcoms, quite a few new dramas and the seemingly endless reality shows.

1) Are there any of the new shows that you really like and would recommend to others?

2) What kind of television shows do you enjoy watching? Comedy? Drama? Science/history?

Bonus question: Do you get DVDs or do you stream movies directly to your computer?

COLORS

2011-09-27T01:01:00.000-07:00

I found these displays of pretty aprons and baskets at our local farmers' market.

Please visit Freda's Tuesday Takes and Tina's PicStory for more photos.

Anemone in White

2011-09-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings, 1955

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

At bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time. ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Please visit Freda's Quote It Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Flowers on Saturday and Today's Flowers.