I like pictures

ok, who else has oooood and awwwwwd? this is from robin of Robin Maria Pedrero. her work is being sponsered on the electric element. as a giveaway. if you like robin's stuff, you ought to go enter this giveaway.

i won another book: Stand the Storm

Breena Clarke.

i won this book and i am so happy i did! bridget always finds the best books to review at her blog, readaholic. in fact bridget likes giveaway so much she has 2 blogs. the second on is called freebied for me and u. that site is just to help us connect other people's giveaways. see, i told you this was a nice lady. you really should visit both sites.

now to share with you why i wanted to read this book...i read the following:

FULL DESCRIPTION

Even though former slaves Annie Coats and her son Gabriel have managed to buy their freedom, their lives are still marked by constant struggle and sacrifice--to the extent that Annie secretly recalls her days on the plantation with fondness. Washington's Georgetown neighborhood, where the Coatses are seeking to build their new lives--with Gabriel, a tailor, producing uniforms for soldiers and fine suits for pompous politicians, and Annie, a seamstress and laundress, catering to the nearby brothels and stately homes--is supposed to be a safe haven, a "promised land" for former slaves, but is effectively a frontier town, gritty and dangerous, with no laws protecting black people. In fact, the city's own emancipation efforts in 1862 serve only to compromise the Coats family's status, putting Gabriel's three young daughters (each of them born free of free parents) at risk of becoming the property of the Coatses' former master. The remarkable emotional energy with which the Coatses rise their daily battles--as they negotiate with their former owner, as they assist other former slaves en route to freedom, as they prepare for the encroaching war, and as they struggle to love each other enough--is what fuels this novel and makes its tragic denoument so devastating.

i can't wait for my copy to arrive! after i read it. i have to put in my two cents after reading. i want everyone to have a shelf of "to be read" as big as mine or bigger.

Fill-Ins: Serendipity

1. tea is my favorite summertime drink.

2. My favorite John Hughes movies is i had to look him up to find out my favorite is The Breakfast Club

3. my puppies' fur is something I love to touch.

4. The full moon is something i would like to get a really good picture of.

5. it;s hot, i think if am melting right now.

6. When daylight fades i love to watch the sunset.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cooling off. tomorrow my plans include finishing spirit of the snake, and Sunday, I want ti write a review of it.

Thursday Thunks-Much Ado About Nothing

Welcome to the August 6th 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 1 and the color of the crap under your shoe.

1. What the hell were you thinking?
that if i keep reading all the book reviews and getting the books i want, i will have as much yarn as i do books and no time to get to them all...like my yarn...translation...i don't always think.

2. The tornado sirens go off in your neighborhood - what do you do?
they sure are slow. oscar warned us an hour ago.

3. Give us a recipe.
take a girl and her two dogs, add a boy...what'd ya get? me, a dh, and more dogs...well some of them passed and had to be replaced.

4. It's the middle of the night, there isnt a car in sight and you are stuck at a red light that just won't change.... how long do you wait until you run it?

back up, move to the right hand lane wait a second to see if there is anything coming, turn right. it's legal to turn right on red in texas after coming to a complete stop.

5. When was the last time you got all dressed up fancy-like? Where did you go?
i don't remember.

6. Have you ever had a mole removed?
don't think so...no need, have had enough stuff removed already, thank you kindly.

7. Are you in an area of record highs or record lows for the temps this summer? Are you lucky and stuck in the middle where it's somewhat normal?
no, i'm in texas. i also think weather men who tell you the "heat index" should be shot at dawn. i mean there is only so much you can take off before you get arrested for indecent behavior.

8. When was the last time you changed your furnace filter?
i don't have a furnace. i'm in texas. i do have a heater/ac unit. i changed it in the old house. now it is the responsibility of dh.

9. What's your favorite type of frog?
weeeelll, i did like the legs of them for dinner at the french room....so i would have to go with segmented.

10. If you were to go on America's Got Talent, what would you do for your talent? (and choosing not to go is not an option....)
telling stupid animal jokes.

11. Have you ever been on a rooftop of a building?
not that i recall. wait a moment ... we did go to the top of reunion tower...never mind, that doesn't count... it's called atop reunion tower but it really isn't.

12. What is the first website you go to each day when you sit down at your computer, other than your email?
the first one that shows up in my email that looks interesting.

What’s the most serious book you’ve read recently? (I figure it’s easier than asking your most serious boook ever, because, well, it’s recent!)
i am adding this question because it was the next email to follow. circle of souls was serious.

I asked and he answered. A Q&A with Dr. Preetham Grandhi

before we start, i want you, the readers, to know that where you see text underscored, there are links to what Dr. Grandhi is referring to ...well, come on, i know you guys are a nosey as i am. i'm just saving you some time.

why did you decide to write a book?

One day I suddenly had a story in my head and decided to put it on paper. I had never done anything like this before. I always wanted to make movies but couldn't get to Hollywood. Hopefully now one day I can.

(i hope you get there too. this would be a good movie.)
why this book and where did the inspiration come from?

It was a few months post 9/11, and I was looking at the biographies of the people who had lost their lives. I began to wonder if there was a larger meaning to their lives. All of a sudden, a story flashed into my mind, and I quickly wrote it on a piece of paper. I knew then that I needed to write a story that was larger than life. It needed to communicate the essence that there is a bigger purpose and meaning to our passage on earth.

I knew that in order to capture and convey such a message, the book needed to be captivating, interesting, and thrilling. I realized that a story based on the work I do would be the right place to begin. I am a child psychiatrist and had just started a new job. During my fellowship, I worked with children with numerous psychosocial issues and had many life stories to tell. It was at that moment that I decided I could write a book that would capture all these thoughts. That was how A Circle of Souls was born.

what do you coworkers think of the book?

They all liked it and were very appreciative. The book is dedicated to the children and staff on the unit I work with.

is our doctor/hero based on you and your dealings with children?

Yes, it is. Everything about that is a part of a real experience in some way or another.

i have the feeling that your have an interest in folklore/legends. am
i right? if so, where does that come from?

I grew up in India reading a lot of folklore and the epics of Ramayana and the Mahabharata. There are great stories to read full of adventure and life lessons.

besides the story, is there a sub message you are trying to send? like

what children's units are like or how interagencies work or can work
together (like docs and cops) for the best of all concerned. or was
that just an added bonus i got?

I wanted to share with the world what it would be like to be a child psychiatrist and how the current field is, including all the benefits and pitfalls. There are hundreds of people out there who do such wonderful work with children and their families.

do you still work the ungodly hours described in the book? if so, i am
surprised you ever got the book out in 5 years!

No, I still work a lot but I go do bed early. No more night calls.

'bet the family is glad of that!

can you think of any question(s) i have not asked? and will you answer it/them?

This book will keep you on the edge until the very end and will leave you thinking about the larger sense of individual purpose and destiny.

Sandy, if you get a chance download Universal Sense the Blueprint for Success, I am sure you will like it. Its free.

words to a book lover with a small budget's heart. thank you, sir, for your time and what i can see will become a lengthening of my "to be read list."

exclusively sold at sandrasigh.com

Isabella by Through The Loops Designs $6.00

PDF download will be emailed to you after purchase. This very special Hat, Scarf & Mittens set, Isabella, was designed by Kirsten Kapur of "Through The Loops Designs" exclusively for Sandrasingh.com and is worked in Malabrigo's soft, 100% merino wool yarn Merino Worsted. Isabella features an easy to knit, yet sophisticated stitch design that suits a wide variety of personal tastes and styles. By changing the color scheme the set, or individual pieces, will look great with many different types of outerwear and work for children, teens and adults. Its knit in a simple pattern with a stunning result. The color work at the borders of each piece is deceptively simple. There is no carrying two colors in the same row. The stitch pattern is created by slipping stitches and then knitting the carries together a few rows later. Even the more complex looking body of each piece is worked this way. There is no cabling involved, the intricate looking pattern work is really just slipped stitches! Isabella is available for purchase four ways, the Set which includes the Hat, Scarf & Mittens patterns, $15 Hat pattern only, $6 Scarf pattern only, $6 Mittens pattern only, $6 Make your Pattern selection in the Drop Down below, price will be adjusted in your Shopping Cart. Relaxed Finished Measurements: Hat 17.75" Circumference, will stretch to fit up to 22" head. Scarf 6.75" x 68" Overall length customizable. Mittens 6.5" cuff, 7.5" at palm, Overall length customizable. Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted (100% merino wool, 216 yards, 197 meters, 3.5 ounces, 100 grams), MC Holly Hock and CC Marron Oscuro Set 3 skeins MC and 1 skein CC Hat 1 skein MC and 1 skein CC Scarf 2 skeins MC and 1 skein CC Mittens 1 skein MC and 1 skein CC Needles: Hat, Scarf & Mittens - size 8 US (5mm) double points or circulars, your preference Gauge: Hat, Scarf & Mittens - 18 sts = 4" (10cm) in Isabella Rib, blocked to buy it click here, and if you need yarn, she has that, too and lots of other stuff besides. yea, sandrasigh.com

John Q. Adams

This is cool for history people. I saw a posting that twitter is posting lines from his diary when he went to Russia. If you to want to follow him, this is where you need to go and follow!

Review of a new writer, Dr. Preetham Grandhi - UPDATE

The Story: A Tale of Jutice and Accountabilitys

The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. The town’s top detective, perplexed by a complete lack of leads, calls in FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children.

Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist at Newbury’s hospital, searches desperately for the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings’s devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya’s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope.

The situations confronting Leia and Peter converge when Naya begins drawing chilling images of murder after being bombarded by the disturbing images in her dreams. Amazingly, her sketches are the only clues to the crime that has panicked Newbury residents. Against her better judgment, Leia explores the clues in Naya’s crude drawings, only to set off an alarming chain of events.

In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder.

What's a "slaaf"? That was the first thing I had to find out. I had heard of the trickster.... who i knew about from the American Indian tale of the coyote but did not know that of India's spider. But i found out. These things added so much to the story for me. As did his view of what a child psych ward should be like and what kind of patients you might see there.

I was sure I knew "who done it"; only to find out I was the one caught in Dr. Grandhi's web.

I liked the way he did his chapters, coming at you from one direction and then another. Those story lines had to come together but how and when?

I knew Dr. Grandhi was a child psychiatrist going into the reading. I wonder if he has ever experienced any of "paranormal kind of thing" in his practice. My dad was a doctor. He once said, "I've been a doctor too long not to believe in God." By that one statement, I knew he had seen things he could not explain. Does this happen to all or most doctors.

I wonder if ... well, let's just say that if the good Dr. Grandhi were closer, I would have lots of questions for him.

It is a really good read and moves quite quickly. I do so hope you get to read it soon. I also hope this this debut novel is not a "one of" so that there is another novel coming from him. Soon.

Oh, did you know his wife is a writer too? She has a cook book out. She is Bindu Grandhi. Her book is "Spice up your life the flexitarian way." No, I can't review it, but Emerial Lagasse liked it enough to give it a thumps up!

I asked our writer a few questions and here are his answers.:

Hi Sandy, I do think paranormal experiences do happen, I haven't had one personally but have always been fascinated by it.

The concept of the "seeked one" is from south Indian Astrology, I did not know it had a name until recently and it was my personal experience that I put into the book and the way it was explained to me by an aunt of mine. Here's a link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadi_astrology

Every detail of the children's psychiatric unit is real and that's the way its is. Those are all experiences that I have collected since my fellowship days and the realities with managed care.

I have to write my next one. It's in my head and I have no time to write between the hospital, private practice and trying to get this one off the ground. Hopefully should start soon.

i was not going to post tonight

but! i had to clean up my mail so it didn't get out of control. someone sent the this. you guys know i can't figure out how to post videos in here so you just have to go there for yourself. this is so very funny. i think i have to subscribe to her to her site. i had never been exposed to her but will follow her now! you go on over there and see/listen for yourself.

trip time to germany

and by train no less...with our friend, i would rather be knitting. where are we going? to a book store? no. to a yarn shop? yes? but don't worry, it will be free for us. she is going to take us and it will be a wonderful trip because she is such a great tour guide. so just click here and we are of to the WOLLMEISE YARN SHOP.

The Bordeaux Betrayal: A Wine Country Mystery Review

When Valerie Beauvais, author of a book on Thomas Jefferson's travels through the wine regions of France and Italy, turns up dead near Lucie Montgomery's Virginia vineyard, Lucie is certain Valerie's murder has something to do with the authenticity of a 200-year-old bottle of Bordeaux Jefferson may once have purchased for his good friend George Washington.

Though Lucie plans to auction off the valuable bottle at a charity fundraiser, it soon becomes apparent others want to get their hands on what's quickly becoming a wine to die for.

As Lucie and her eccentric winemaker, Quinn Santori, bring in the last grapes of the season, Quinn's controversial past becomes intertwined with Valerie's death and the rare Bordeaux.

What begins as Lucie's quiet investigation into the provenance of the Washington wine ends in revealing a web of deceit and betrayal affecting not only the international wine world, but her own world as well.

My DH and I both enjoyed this mystery, the glimpse into the wine business, and, at the end, a bit of history about Washington and Jefferson history that I never heard in any history class. It was a nice cosy listen on a rainy day.

does your dog need this?

i am not going to comment, i am just going to share it with you.

it's in the news folks!

one of these days i will learn how to take video from one site and put it in here but until i do, you just have to go where i tell you. this time it is here. everything is bigger in texas...even stupidity...is this too serious or what? giggle time!

we can help feed people!

kraft is really trying and we can help. all you have to do is go to

http://brands.kraftfoods.com/sharealittlecomfort/

and click on the big blue button. easy peasy! know what neat? just for clicking on a button, you can get a couple of kraft coupons! what a deal.

i won ravens

by

george dawes green

and i have Isalys at book soulmates to thank for it! if you want to see what she is read, what she thinks of what she just read, or you want to win a book, you just need to click on her name or the blog's name, and you'll be there. after i finish reading it, i'll come back and give you my thoughts about it. meanwhile, the following was lifted from her blog about this book:

The Boatwrights just won 318 million dollars in the Georgia State lottery. It's going to be the worst day of their lives.

When Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko pull up at a convenience store off I-95 in Georgia, their only thought is to fix a leaky tire and be on their way again to Florida-away from their dull Ohio tech-support jobs. But this happens to be the store from which a 318,000,000 million dollar Jackpot ticket has just been sold -- and when a pretty clerk accidentally reveals to Shaw the identity of the winning family, he hatches a ferociously audacious scheme: He and Romeo will squeeze the family for half their prize.

That night, he visits the Boatwright home and takes the family hostage, while Romeo patrols the streets nearby, prepared to murder the Boatwrights' loved ones at any sign of resistance. At first, the family offers none. But Shaw's plot depends on maintaining constant fear-merciless, unfaltering terror-and soon, under the pressure, everyone's sanity begins to unravel . . .

At once frightening, comic, and suspenseful, RAVENS is a wholly original and utterly compelling novel from one of our most talented writers.

have you seen the newest from KnitPicks?

knitpicks for you not in the know has my favorite needles and yarn and stuff. don't believe me? go here for yourself and find out! this is the latest they have come up with in the name of needles. looks like glass (never in my house) but they are not (maybe in my house). 'sure are pretty! (do you want me to tell you now or later about the 40-50% off sales. ok, i'll let you look for yourself...i love their sales on yarn and books and equipment.)

Thursday Thunks!

i just joined this group. i thought it was fun. the problem is, i can't see what the questions are in the draft. so you read and think about your answers would be while i figure out how to answer so i can see what i am typing. if you want to play, go here.

Welcome to the July 30th 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 14 and the color of life. (2 questions by Ber, figure out which 2.)

1. You are in an enclosed space with a group of friends. Elevator, auto, small room, etc.. You fart and it really stinks. Do you take credit for it or do you play along with the questioning of who did it?

2. You are locked in a room sitting at a desk with just a piece of paper and a purple crayon. What do you draw?

3. Do you ever pee in the shower?

4. Have you bought, sold or got rid of something on Craigslist?

5. You are in a convenience store. In the line in front of you is adrunk guy trying to purchase more alcohol. The cashier tells him they cannot sell it to him because he is obviously already intoxicated. He gets belligerent. The cashier is scared. What do you do?

6. While shopping for produce, do you "sample" before you buy (i.e. grapes)?

7. You are walking down the street and there is a toddler sitting on a bench by themselves in front of a store - do you just keep walking?

8. Have you looked up an old friend and/or lover online?

9. You are nearly in a car/auto accident. Do you freak out, follow the person who nearly caused it & talk to them or just keep going?

1. are you kidding? i would look up at charlie with an accusing eye!

2. draw a purple horse, of course!

3. have done. but never in the bath tub!

4. no. i've never even visited.

5. hmmmm. he is probably between me and the door...i think i will find a place to hide! i'm too little to be very confrontational.

6. don't have to if you know how to pick em. with grapes you look for the greenest stems.

7. i think i have to talk to the kid and if i can't find a parent, i am calling 911. i will stay there until someone comes to be responsible.

8. i am as curious as the next person.

9. are you nuts! i'm in texas! people carry guns in their cars. no, i think i will concentrate on my breathing...you know, getting it back to normal... and just continue on my way; thank you very kindly.

granola

i've never tried to make it myself but susie shepherd has! she calls it "terribly inconvenient granola". (o, if you want to see cute critters and learn about her farm or you just like a good read, give her a visit...also if you like yarn stuff.) even if you don't want to try and make it, reading the recipe is just a whale of a lot of fun! just click on the title of the recipe and you're there!

baby!

now this is a wee alpaca over at jacob's reward farm. i just had to share this picture of him 'cause i think is such a cutie! you ought visit the farms some time and say hi to cindy. tell her what you think of one of her critters, mighty micha.

they are at it again

my friends, krafty max and the eclectic element, are joining together in another giveaway. i do so love krafty max's stuff. i mean, look at what they are giving away this time! click on krafty max's name to go directly to her etsy site and the same to get to the electric element to giveaway site.

help feed rescue dogs

as you can tell by my avatar, i love dogs. both oscar wild (see above) and mystery puppy are both rescue dogs. so when i saw this, i had to share it. if you go here, and click on the button that says "click here to give, it's free" (big purple button), you can help feed shelter dogs. and it costs you nothing but a minute of time. so please, give some critters a moment of your time!

ok, my links won't work so i am posting what i got in my email:

Click on the purple button at The Animal Rescue Site and
give food to an animal living in a shelter or sanctuary... at no cost to you.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/tpc/ERA060509ARS

but wait...i figured it out! spaces! i got rid of them and now the links work! another v8 moment! and the first time i didn't check my links after posting!

north star alpaca yarn giveaway

i so want some of this! is there anything as lovely and soft as this! we all have a chance to win some!

Phat Fiber Sample Box: North Star Alpacas Yarn Giveaway!

vogue knitting contest

Win a copy of Iris Schreier's Reversible Knits!

Modular, reversible, lacy, exquisite. No matter which adjective is used to describe Iris Schreier’s compelling designs, the creative force behind Artyarns’ hand-painted luxury fibers is always at the forefront of what’s next in knitting. Enter VK's giveaway for your chance to win a copy. Submissions deadline is October 1, 2009. Click HERE to enter.

Win a copy of Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers!

From the fertile mind of Nicky Epstein, one of today's most celebrated knitwear designers—a book devoted entirely to the infinite possibilities of the knitted flower. Inside, you'll find a pretty posy for every mood and in every hue, from lazy daisies to moody blues, buttercups to trumpets. Submissions deadline is October 1, 2009. Click HERE here to enter.