i love my mail man

he brought me 2 new books!

A Separate Country by Robert Hicks

and

now i made a promise to my books that they would have my full attention for the rest of the day. ie, no reading email, you reading facebook, twitter, or anything else on the computer for the rest of the day. how knows, if i finish at least one today, you may get a review.

Thursday Thunks

Welcome to the September 3rd version of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Berleen, the number one thousand twenty six and the color of the dirt spot you need to wipe up on your kitchen floor.

1. Your thoughts on truck drivers? can they see me down here?

2. Did you hear Michelle Duggar is pregnant for the 15th time? (but that will be kid #19 if you lost count....) yes. rather she than me...but give them their due, they seem to be responsible.

3. Have you ever done something to hurt someone intentionally... just for the sole purpose of hurting them because you thought they deserved it? Maybe a paybacks a bitch sort of thing? yes. and as soon as i finished giving her what she had dished out, i felt terrible. i learned i don''t like retaliating.

4. Is there anyone in your life that when you go to their place of residence, you just walk in without bother knocking? Does anyone just walk into your house without knocking? my mom's. my best friend. oh, and the critters...they have their own door, of course.

5. Whats in the trunk of your car? Do you even have a clue? i haven't the foggiest idea as the dh has strange ideas of where things should be stored.

6. When you go to a family holiday get together (such as Christmas or Thanksgiving), about how many people are there? one never knows. that's par of the holiday joy.

7. What is in your kitchen sink right at this very moment? i don't want to know! i would like to think it is cleaned out but dh did dinner,

8. You go to a store to buy an expensive item... say $150. You pick up that item and a couple other this n' that. You get to the register and the expensive item rings up at $40. The cashier doesn't seem to notice and tells you your total. Do you go with what they say and pay it or do you question the price difference? You know you would question it if your $40 item rang up at $150.... i would ask if i had misread the price, was it on sale?

9. Do you fold your underwear or do you just toss it in a drawer? i try to fold things neatly...but with his help things don't generally stay that way.

10. There is a Harley-Davidson giveaway. Chances are $100 and they are only selling 250 tickets. Do you buy one? don't be silly. i learned in high school that i am way to short for anything that huge (4'8" is just too short!

11. Who is your favorite Disney character? sleeping beauties little nice blumpy good fair god mothers.

12. It's September - most of the weekly sitcoms/dramas are starting new seasons again. Which one are you most looking forward to? not yet here. we have to wait a week or more. i will think about them then.

13. You are at a grocery store and are on your way out to your car with your cart full of grocery bags. On your way to your car you see a black kitten in an empty cart. What do you do? go pick it up and check it out. ask every one around if they know anything about it. after 15 minutes, the groceries will be stowed. the kitty will go with me and off to my vet who deals with stray kittens.

14. Is there anything that you do for a hobby that you are asked to do for friends/family that most people would hire a professional to do? (example: cake decorating, fixing cars....) if asked, i would do my best as they would expect and know that i had and love it and me for it.

15. Are we there yet? no...i can tell even with the lights are...it's just dh, the critters, and me.

Knit Picks demos different ways to wear shawls

ok, we know i can't get videos in here so this is where the video is on how to wear a shawl without looking like grandma!

ABC’s of moi

cristine of book tumbling tagged me for this ABC meme.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Share your ABC’s
3. Tag three people at the end by linking to their blogs
4. Let the three tagged people know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website
5. Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag

Available or single? neither

Best Friend? sheila!

Cake or Pie? Cake

Drink of choice? lady grey tea

Essential item for every day use? my mac

Favorite color? green

Google? swagbuck

Hometown? don't have one...an army brat born in the panama canal zone

Indulgences? brand spanking new books, fuzzy socks, Triple Shot iced Breve

January or February? how well do i have things organized for taxes this time!

Kids and their names? oscar wild and mystery puppy

Life is incomplete without…? critters

Marriage date? august 14, 1986

Number of siblings? 2 one dead one not

Oranges or apples? fresh oranges (navel) and crisp apples (whatever happened to winesaps)

Phobias and fears? that the damn water heater will break and flood the house again!

Quote for the day? “to err is human, to really screw up you need a computer!" unknown

Reason to smile? critters

Season? pepper and garlic and as little salt as possible

Tag 3 people?

lori of psychotic state

eleni of la femme readers

hervee of book bird dog

And anyone else who would like to play!

Unknown fact about me? i have the coolest most versatile blue electric wheelchair in the world.

Vegetable you hate? boiled okra...it is so pornographic!

Worst habit? bitting my cuticles...well, it;s better than bitting my finger nails.

X-rays you’ve had? every thing but my eyes, ears and nose.

Your fave food? good mexican

Zodiac sign? leo

Do what you will with this information!!!!

The Juror CD Review

The Jurorby George Dawes Dawes Green, John Heard (Read by), Lolita Davidovich (Read by)

Descriptionn from Hachette (who I love for letting me review this audiobook)

Annie Laird is Juror 224. A sculptor with a career going nowhere. A single mother struggling to raise a son. A good citizen who has been summoned to what looks like a rountine tour of civic duty. But the trial she is called to serve on is no ordinary trial. It is a mob trial, whose outcome has been meticulously orchestrated by a man of insidious power and deadly precision. A man who lives by the teachings of Lao Tsu...whose magnetism is irresistible...whose mind is as brilliant as it is twisted. He is know to some as the Teacher, and he's set his sights on Annie Laird.

Pulled into the most chilling depths of the criminal underworld, Annie will be seduced by double-edged promises, stalked by the spector of terror, then, finally, driven to a shocking decision by the most basic motivation a woman can know. THE JUROR is a tour de force of crime and obsession, evil and innocence -- a story that taps into fears so primal they linger long after the last page has been read.

Now must of you know my preference for the unabridged versions of audio books, but I have to be honest...this was a good listen. We, DH and I, restricted ourselves to one disc a night. Let me tell you how much we anticipated "lights out" after listen to the first disc. I must also tell you the two readers was exceptional. This abridged version draws you along quite quickly (as in, you really want to keep listening).

Our young artist goes through so much, so many emotions, changes from start to finish without ever losing us believing in her and her character. I don't want to tell you much more for fear I will let something slip.

Just let me say, I want to read the entire book now! If you want to listen to it, see if you find an unabridged version as there are lots of suspenseful moment you will want the full thrill of...well I certainly do!

what are you reading monday

ok, i am new to this but i do know i need to link this back to J Kaye, so here's the link .

first job, what did i read last week?

Carrie Fisher's WISHFUL DRINKING, i listened. laughed a lot. got the message that mental illness is not something one should be ashamed of nor should one hesitate to get treatment. to laugh so much and learn so much at the same time...great. i also enjoyed her voice read as it is another way to really feel the book.

Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Deception (Jason Bourne Novels) by Robert Ludlum, Eric Van Lustbader, and Jeremy Davidson. let's just say i like carrie fisher's book better.

Love You to Death (Mass Market Paperback) by Shannon K. Butcher. this is definitely a romantic thriller; not one i would call a "cozy mystery". it was a great read but not a gory read.

on my list for this week:

The Juror [ABRIDGED] [AUDIOBOOK] (Audio CD). i am 2/3s through it and will probably finish it today. it is a really good listen! but i promised dh i would get the rest of the sleep i didn't finish today (uuuh, sunday).

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker (Mass Market Paperback) by Leanna Renee Hieber. i have been following this book's reviews all over the web. it seems like a good fun read. but i will tell you more after i finish it.

Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia by Jessica James this is another one i have been looking forward to reading. lesson, a watched mail book with not make the books appear any faster.

if i can squeeze in one more (Shades of Grey is a bit lenghty), it will probably be A Time for Loving by Herbert Tarr. i was first introduced to the author during a long hospital stay with The Conversion of Chaplin Cohen and Heaven Help Us. if laughter does help to heal the body, i must say these definitely kept the mind healthy and me laughing out loud...thought it sometimes had to be into a pillow to keep from waking other people. if you want or need a laugh, these two will do it. you can sometimes find them on amazon or in a half priced book store. well worth every penny. i report to you soon, if this one matches up.

so my friends, if you don't see me on line much, you know my nose is stuck in one of these three books of fantasy or historical reality or pure humor. well, i did say i liked a wide variety of reading materials.

if a really get stuck in and don't get distracted by fact checking or curiousty about something lightly touched causing me look up stuff, i might even try to get into Stand in the Storm by Breena Clark, a novel about a couple of slaves who escape north to find....well, we'll just have to wait to see what they find.

books book books!

my mom sent me a birth month present:

from amazon, three books i have been anxiously awaiting:

one of my favorite authors (and i've not read this one yet AND it is a FIRST EDITION):

a new friend and award winning author:

:

a new author who is being much heralded for her just released book:

what a great day

why? because i got lots of mail! what a way to celebrate my birth month!!!

the travel tea box....where you give a little and you take a little.

my snow leopard software for my mac

ABOUT AUTHOR

Margaret Maron grew up on a farm near Raleigh and lived in Brooklyn for many years. Returning to her North Carolina roots prompted Marcia to write a series based on her own background, the first of which, BOOTLEGGER'S DAUGHTER, was a Washington Post bestseller and swept the major mystery awards for 1993. DEATH'S HALF ACRE is the fourteenth book in the acclaimed Deborah Knott series. Visit her website at www.margaretmaron.com.

AUDIO AND VIDEO

ABOUT AUTHOR

Margaret Maron grew up on a farm near Raleigh and lived in Brooklyn for many years. Returning to her North Carolina roots prompted Marcia to write a series based on her own background, the first of which, BOOTLEGGER'S DAUGHTER, was a Washington Post bestseller and swept the major mystery awards for 1993. DEATH'S HALF ACRE is the fourteenth book in the acclaimed Deborah Knott series. Visit her website at www.margaretmaron.com.

AUDIO AND VIDEO

Review of Wishful Drinking CD

I like this CD of Carrie Fisher's book. Probably because she is reading it so it has her voice to her words. (Apparently it is based on a one woman show she does.)

She made us laugh (hubby and me) about things that should not be funny; like divorce, death, drug addiction, mental illness, electric shock treatment, and holes in her memory. He went to sleep after disc one. I had to keep listening through the next two discs.

Are names dropped?

Of course. They could not be avoided. I mean, she is the daughter of some famous people and she was married to Paul Simon.

Through the laughter, I got that she is a survivor of mental illness. She is not afraid to talk about it, nor should we. She is not embarrass by it, nor should we. She is a testimony that with help, any of us can get to "the other side".

This memoir is well worth the listen/read. I will keep it and listen to it again sometime (or times).

Thursday Thunks

Welcome to the August 27th version of Thursday Thunks!

(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)

Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by

Kimber, the number of kids I have and the color of dead roses.

1. Have you ever played Bullshit? don't think so. if i did it was unintentional

2. A dog licks you on your face. Are you disgusted or thinking it was sweet? have you seen my avatar? don't you know what snoopy said? "A kiss on the nose does much to avert anger!"

3. Tell us about a fun/special memory you have of a grandparent. catching my grandfather making out down stairs in the rumpus room with his girl friend (who was close to my dad's age.)

4. Have you ever pet a rat? only the 2 footed variety.

5. If I walked into your kitchen, where are the cups? on a peg rack at the end of the kitchen

6. Since you already let me in your home, I found the cup and had water, now where's the bathroom from the kitchen? go to your left to the door to the laundry room. stop. look to your right and go through the doggie door.

7. Have you ever pet a turtle or tortoise? i think so when i was a kid...a little box turtle. but i think we released them back in the creek when we went back home after visiting the grandfather.

WAHHHOOOO! it's thursday at 9 pm and i finished!

What is it about candles?

They add warmth and coziness to any room. And when they have a favored with scent, they can take you to different sense memories or helped create new ones. One of my favorite things after a bad day, is to light candles in the bathroom while the tub fills with warm water as it makes lovely bubbles. I turn off the overhead light, put a glass of wine by the tub and get in...if I need more, I will add soft music as I slide into the tub. There I stay until the water gets all cold and scummy, the wine is gone, and I feel gentle of spirit and ready to sleep.

A while back, I met a lovely lady who makes candles,

oaps and sometimes, creams and lotionsl. The Etsy shop is GREAT LAKES SOYBEAN CANDLES SOY CANDLES and she has been so nice and patient with me and my many curious questions. I thought you might enjoy some of our FaceBook Q&A, If you are, read on, and if you are not, carry on. Sandy hi...please tell me what a kosher candle is? a friend and i are still trying to figure it out. Greatlakessoybean Candles KOSHER MEANS THAT THE PRODUCTS (WAX) IS PURE SOY NO BLENDS OR ADDITIVES Sandy does that mean no fragrance? what is the difference between these and your other candles? Greatlakessoybean Candles No they have scent. Some people use paraffin in their soy candles or palm wax.You can do this and still call it a soy candle if it is 55% soy. Soy is the hardest wax to work with and the paraffin makes it easier. Therefore, the wax that I use is pure kosher soy wax no blends. Does that help you? Sandy cool! will you now talk to me about wicks...why some wicks smoke more than others don't.

Greatlakessoybean Candles

If the proper wick is not used is one reason a candle smokes. another is the scent...the color...any air movement...not trimming the wick...these are just some of the many many variables... 2 main things are the wrong wick for the container ,scent, color or not trimming it. Have a great night♥

The conversation came from FaceBook. The following scents, came from her Etsy site:

SCENTS--------------- COLORS
AMARETTO------------- PINK
AMBER MUSK----------- LITE AMBER
AMISH KITCHEN-------- TAN
ANGEL WINGS---------- WHITE
ANISE--------------- RED
APPLE BLOSSOM-------- PINK
BABY POWDER---------- PINK OR BLUE
BANANA--------------- YELLOW
BANANA NUT----------- BREAD GOLDEN BROWN
BAYBERY-------------- GREEN
BIRTHDAY CAKE-------- WHITE
BLACKBERRY SAGE------ LIGHT PURPLE
BLACK CHERRY----------NEW COLOR BURGANDY
BLUEBERRY MUFFINS---- BLUE
BREAD A BAKING------- LITE GOLDEN BROWN
BUBBLEGUM-------------PINK
BUTTER CREAM--------- WHITE
BUTTERSCOTCH--------- GOLD YELLOW
CANTALOPE------------ ORANGE
CAPPUCCINO BRULEE---- BROWN
CARAMEL APPLE-------- GOLDEN BROWN
CARAMEL CORN--------- GOLDEN BROWN
CARNATION------------ PINK
CARROT CAKE---------- BROWN ORANGE
CHAMPAGNE------------ PINK
CHERRY--------------- RED
CHOCOLATECHIPCOOKIES- GOLDEN BROWN
CINNAMON BUNS-------- TAN
CINNAMON STICK------- REDISH BROWN
CLEAN COTTON--------- WHITE
CLOVE REDDISH-------- BROWN
COCONUT-------------- WHITE
COCONUT CREAM-------- PIE LT YELLOW
COFFEE--------------- DK BROWN
CONCORD GRAPE-------- DK. PURPLE
COOL WATERS---------- BLUE
COTTON BLOSSOM------- WHITE
COTTON CANDY--------- LT PINK
COUNTRY CLOTHESLINE-- WHITE
CRANBERRY------------ DK RED
CREAMSICLE----------- ORANGE
CREME BRULEE--------- LT BROWN
CUCUMBER MELON------- LT GREEN
DA YOOPER CHRISTMAS-- DK GREEN
DAFFODIL--------------YELLOW
EGG NOG-------------- WHITE
ENGLISH IVY---------- DK GREEN
EUCALYPTUS----------- DK GREEN
FREESIA-------------- LT BLUE
FRESH CUT GRASS------ DK GREEN
FRESH SNOW----------- WHITE
FROSTBITE------------ WHITE
FIREPLACE------------ DK GREEN
FUZZY NAVAL---------- ORANGE
GARDENIA LT---------- GREEN
GINGERBREAD---------- BROWNRED
GRANDMA'S KITCHEN---- LT BROWN
GREEN APPLE---------- GREEN
GREEN TEA------------ GREEN
HAPPY HOLIDAYS------- DK RED
HARVEST MOON--------- ORANGE BROWN
HAZELNUT------------- TAN
HAZELNUT COFFEE------ DK BROWN
HOLLYBERRY----------- DK RED
HONEY---------------- GOLD BROWN
HONEYDEW------------- LT GREEN
HONEYSUCKLE---------- YELLOW
HONEY COCO MANGO----- ORANGE
HOT APPLE PIE-------- LT BROWN
HOT BUTTERED RUM----- GOLD YELLOW
HUCKLEBERRY---------- DK BLUE
HYACINTH------------- LT PURPLE
HYDRANGEA------------ MAUVE
JACLYNS BLUEBERRY PANCAKES TAN W'BERRIES
JASMINE-------------- WHITE
JELLY BEANS--------- DK PINK
JUST LIKE HOME------ PINK
LAKE MICHIGAN------- MIST LT BLUE
LAVENDER------------ LAVENDER
LEMON CHIFFON------- YELLOW
LEMON GRASS----------YELLOW
LEMON PUCKER-------- YELLOW
LILAC--------------- PURPLE
LILY OF THE VALLEY-- WHITE
LIME---------------- LIME
LOVE SPELL TYPE----- LT PURPLE
MACINTOSH APPLE----- DK RED
MAGNOLIA------------ WHITE
MANGO PAPAYA-------- ORANGE
MAPLE SYRUP--------- BROWN
MOONLIGHT PATH TYPE- LT PURPLE
MONKEY FARTS------- YELLOW
MULBERRY------------ DK PURPLE
MULLED CIDER-------- RED BROWN
OAK MOSS-------------GREEN
ODOR ELIMINATOR----- PINK
ORANGE BLOSSOM------ WHITE
PATCHOULI----------- DK GREEN
PEACH--------------- PEACH
PEACH N CREAM------- LT ORANGE
PEPPERMINT---------- WHITE
PEONY--------------- PINK
PINA COLODA--------- WHITE
PINE--------------- DK GREEN
PINEAPPLE---------- YELLOW
PINK GRAPEFRUIT---- PINK
PINK LEMONADE------ PINK
PINK SUGAR TYPE---- PINK
PLUMERIA----------- PINK
POPCORN LT--------- YELLOW
POMEGRANATE-------- RED BROWN
PUMPKIN PIE-------- PUMPKIN
RAIN--------------- BLUE
RASPBERRY---------- DK RED
RED HOT CINNAMON--- DK RED
ROSE GARDEN-------- LT PINK
SAGE LT------------ GREEN
SANDALWOOD--------- LT GREEN
SEABREEZE---------- AQUA
SAGE & CITRUS------ ORANGE
SLEIGHBELLS-------- WHITE
SMOKE & ODOR ELIMINATOR WHITE
SNICKERDOODLE------ LT TAN
SPEARMINT---------- LT GREEN
SPICE CAKE--------- ORANGE BROWN
SPICED PEAR-------- LT GREEN
SPRING RAIN-------- LT BLUE
STRAWBERRIES & CREAM--- DK PINK
STRAWBERRY CHAMPAGNE--- LT PINK
STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE--- WHITE & RED
STRAWBERRY DAIQUIIRI--- LT RED
STRAWBERRY JAM----- DK RED
STRAWBERRY KIWI--- DK RED
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE--- LT BROWN & RED
SUGAR COOKIES------ LT TAN
SWEET PEA---------- LT PINK
TOMMY TYPE--------- LT BLUE
TULIP-------------- DK RED
VANILLA------------ WHITE
VANILLA LAVENDER--- WHITE
VANILLA SUGAR------ LT TAN
VICTORIAN ROSE----- MAUVE
WATERMELON--------- WATERMELON
YULETIDE------------ DK RED

THE FOLLOWING I DON'T PUT ON LIST WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
SEX ON THE BEACH-------ORANGE
BUTT NAKED-------------LT ORANGE

All the candles featured are from her shop. When I need candles, this is the site to visit.