scaifea's thread #22

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Talk75 Books Challenge for 2016

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scaifea's thread #22

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1scaifea
Edited: Oct 8, 2016, 5:08 pm

Welcome to thread XXII!



Below you’ll find an explanation of my reading habits, which, I warn you, is a bit crazy. Usually I have about 10-15 books going at once, one each from the following groups (and occasionally other books slipped in there, too):

1. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

2. A children's book, for Charlie's library. I'm trying to collect books from various award lists, and I like reading them before reading them to Charlie or deciding to add them to Charlie's shelves. For this category, I’m currently working through three lists:
a. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die
b. The CYOA books
c. The Newbery Honor books
d. Cooperative Children's Book Center list

3. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

4. A book for the Presidential Challenge. Books for this category are read in chronological (presidentially) order.

5. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

6. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker (and other) lists (combined, in chronological order)

7. For this category, I cycle through 7 different stacks:
a. A book from my shelves which I haven't yet read
b. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
d. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
e. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. The NEH Timeless Classics list
g. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
h. The Pulitzer list (in alpha order by author)
i. John Boyne bibliography (in chronological order, sort of)

8. A read-aloud-to-Charlie-at-bedtime book.

9. An unread book from my shelves.

10. A book from my Classics shelves.

11. A book from our Science Shelves corner.

12. A book on Buddhism or from the Dalai Lama's bibliography.

13. Book-a-year challenge: Two years ago, along with a few others in this group (*cough* Paul *cough*), I made a year-by-year list to see how far I could go back with consecutive reads. I've decided, again, to follow Paul's lead and try to fill in some of those blanks, and so I'm adding an entry here to my lists.

14. An audiobook for the car.

15. A full-on re-read through Shakespeare's stuff.

16. This slot is reserved for books that just grab me and shout that they need to be read Right Now.

And on top of these, there will be a multitude of picture books and easy readers, which Charlie and I read together. I've decided again this year also to list our re-reads, but I'll just list them each day and not number them.

So, now you've got a glimpse of just how neurotic I am.
Please feel free to post comments, recommendations, or whatever else strikes your fancy. And Happy Reading, everyone!



What I'm reading now:
-Andersonville (Banned Books)
-I Capture the Castle (1001 Children's Books)
-The Complete Sherlock Holmes (1001 Children's Books (sort of))
-The Gods of Pegana (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy)
-Franklin Pierce (Presidential Challenge)
-A Clockwork Orange (audiobook, Banned Books)
-Beyond Apollo (Campbell award)
-Collected Stories and Other Writings (Pulitzer)
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Charlie's bed-time book)
-No Such Thing As a Witch (another Charlie bed-time book)
-Don Quixote (an unread book off of my shelves)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian (from my Classics shelves)
-Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics (from the Science Shelves)
-Old Path White Clouds (Buddhism list)
-A Lear of the Steppes (books by year, 1870)
-Dropped Dead Stitch (series that my mom wants me to read so we can chat about it)
-Prairie Tale (from the Read Soon shelf)
-D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths (everyday audio book in the car)
-The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare re-read)
-War and Peace (because Charlie wants me to)

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

Books Read:

JANUARY

1. The Quaint and Curious Quest of Johnny Longfoot (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
2. Slaves of Quentaris (audio book/1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
3. Runner of the Mountain Tops (Newbery Honor book) - 7/10 = C
4. The Blue Cat of Castletown (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
5. Princess Academy (Newbery Honor book/ audio book) - 8/10 = B+
6. Olive's Ocean (audio book/Newbery Honor book) - 7/10 = C
7. The Wanderer (audio book/Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
8. The Terrible Two (potential Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
9. The Puppy Place: Scout (Charlie's bedtime book) - 8/10 = B
10. A Daughter of the Seine (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B
11. Roller Girl (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
12. Abe Lincoln at Last! (Charlie's school library chapter book) - 8/10 = B+
13. How I Live Now (audiobook, 1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10 = B+
14. The Terrible Two Get Worse (loaned to me by a school librarian) - 8/10 = B+
15. Ella Enchanted (audiobook, Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
16. Echo (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10 = A-
17. Bone Gap (Printz award winner) - 9/10 = A
18. The Ghosts of Heaven (Printz Honor book) - 8/10 = B-
19. George (Stonewall Award winner) - 9/10 = A
20. The Return of the Native (audiobook for the car/book-a-year challenge, 1878) - 9/10 = A
21. Hoot (audiobook, Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B
22. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
23. Magic Tree House #17: Tonight on the Titanic (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
24. The War That Saved My Life (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10 = A
25. Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Abraham Lincoln (public library book) - 8/10 = B+

FEBRUARY
26. Crenshaw (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
27. Noah Barleywater Runs Away (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A-
28. The Midnight Dress (Blind Date with a Book) - 8/10 = B+
29. Twilight (audiobook, 1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A-
30. Don't Break the Balance Beam! (public library book) - 8/10 = B
31. Hattie Ever After (sequel read) - 8/10 = B
32. A to Z Mysteries: Secret Admirer (Charlie bed-time read) - 8/10 = B
33. A Good Night for Ghosts (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
34. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (audiobook) - 8/10 = B-
35. Zachary Taylor (Presidential Challenge) - 8/10 = B-
36. Books Can Be Deceiving (series I'm reading with my mom) - 8/10 = B+

MARCH
37. The Magic Tree House: Leprechaun in Late Winter (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
38. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (school library book) - 8/10 = B-
39. Bink & Gollie (school library book) - 8/10 = B+
40. The Magic Tree House #3: Mummies in the Morning (school library book) - 8/10 = B
41. The Spoonflower Handbook (just because I wanted to) - 9/10 = A-
42. The BFG (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
43. Circus Mirandus (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
44. Mr. Pants: Slacks, Camera, Action! (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
45. Hour of the Olympics (school library book) - 8/10 = B
46. Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
47. The Puppy Place: Patches (Charlie's bedtime read) - 8/10 = B+
48. Black Boy (Banned Books list) - 9/10 = A-
49. The Religions Book (Charlie book) - 8/10 = A
50. The Boy Whom Swam with Piranhas (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
51. Blizzard at Black Swan Inn (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
52. The Nest (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
53. Belle Prater's Boy (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
54. Pax (potential Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
55. Fleece Navidad (series I'm reading with my mom) - 9/10 = A-
56. Dandelion Wine (NEH Children's Classics list) - 10/10 = A+
57. The Crystal Cave (Mythopoeic award list) - 8/10 = B+
58. The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A

APRIL
59. Stay Where You Are and Then Leave (Jeffers/Boyne bibliography) - 9/10 = A
60. The Naming of Tishkin Silk (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
61. Minn of the Mississippi (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
62. High Tide in Hawaii (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
63. The Apple and the Arrow (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
64. My Side of the Mountain (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
65. Rascal (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
66. Millions (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
67. The Magic Tree House #10: Ghost Town at Sundown (Charlie's school library book) = 8/10 = B+
68. Davy Crockett (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
69. To Be a Slave (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
70. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King (Charlie's bedtime read) = 10/10 = A+
71. Serafina and the Black Cloak (book fair purchase) - 8/10 = B+

MAY
72. Detective Gordon: The First Case (CCBC list, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
73. Grimpow (audiobook/1001 Children's Books list) - 7/10 = C
74. Magic Tree House #24: Earthquake in the Early Morning (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
75. Enchantress from the Stars (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
76. To Your Scattered Bodies Go (Hugo Award) - 9/10 = A-
77. Millard Fillmore (U. S. Presidential Challenge) - 8/10 = B-
78. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (audiobook for the car) - 10/10 = A+
79. The Arrival (1001 Children's Books) - 10/10 = A
80. Finding Serendipity (book fair purchase) - 9/10 = A
81. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (bought as a potential Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
82. Magic Tree House #44: A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time by Mary Pope Osborne (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
83. Ollie's Odyssey (William Joyce bibliography) - 10/10 = A+

JUNE
84. E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core! (Charlie's bed-time read) - 10/10 = A+
85. The Knight at Dawn (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
86. Moby Dick (audiobook) - 9/10 = A-
87. The Three Muskeeters (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
88. Memoirs of Hecate County (banned books list) - 7/10 = C+
89. The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection (audiobook) - 10/10 = A
90. A Fine White Dust (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
91. The Sonnets (Shakespeare re-read) - 10/10 = A
92. Five Days at Memorial (from my Read Soon shelves) - 8/10 = B-
93. The Light of Asia (Buddhism reading list) - 8/10 = B+
94. The Centaur (National Book Award) - 8/10 = B
95. The Sign of the Beaver (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 9/10 = A-

JULY
96. The Amazing Spider-Man Storybook Collection (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
97. Nimona (checked out from the Lancaster public library as part of our Library Visiting Adventure) - 8/10 = B+
98. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
99. The Waters of the Wondrous Isles (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B
100. The Sandman: Overture (Gaiman bibliography) - 10/10 = A+
101. The Kalahari Typing School for Men (series I'm reading with my mom) - 8/10 = B+
102. Not My Father's Son (audiobook) - 9/10 = A
103. Graven Images (audiobook, Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
104. Far from the Madding Crowd (Book-a-Year Challenge) - 9/10 = A
105. The Fledgling (audiobook, Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
106. The Gods Themselves (Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards lists) - 8/10 = B+
107. Danny the Champion of the World (audiobook for the car) - 10/10 = A+
108. Dear Committee Members (Read Soon Shelf) - 10/10 = A+
109. The Silver Dream (Gaiman bibliography) - 9/10 = A
110. Eternity's Wheel (Gaiman bibliography) - 9/10 = A
111. Phoebe and Her Unicorn (75er recommendation) - 9/10 = A
112. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (audiobook, The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B-
113. The Path to Enlightenment (Buddhism reading list) - 9/10 = A
114. Attack of the Monster Plants (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
115. The Miss Liberty Caper (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
116. Clues in the Woods (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
117. George's Marvelous Medicine (audiobook for the car) - 10/10 = A+
118. A Necklace of Raindrops (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
119. Inside Out and Back Again (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
120. The Boy at the Top of the Mountain (Boyne bibliography) - 10/10 = A+

AUGUST
121. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (because one must, of course) - 8/10 = B+
122. Puppy Pirates: Stowaway! (Charlie read-aloud) - 8/10 = B
123. A Newbery Zoo (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
124. The Bluest Eye (Banned Books, audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
125. Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
126. Audubon (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
127. Justin Morgan Had a Horse (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) = 8/10 = B
128. Due or Die (series read along with my mom) - 9/10 = A
129. The Catcher in the Rye (Banned Books list) - 9/10 = A
130. Gone-Away Lake (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
131. Jennifer, Hecate, MacBeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
132. Red Moon and Black Mountain (Mythopoeic award) - 7/10 = C
133. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
134. My Brother Sam Is Dead (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 8/10 = B
135. Across Five Aprils (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
136. The Coral Island (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
137. The Knight of the Swords (BFA) - 8/10 = B
138. Mr. Pants: Trick or Feet! (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
139. Penn (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-

SEPTEMBER
140. Arabel's Raven (because it's illustrated by Quentin Blake and I love him) - 9/10 = A
141. Amelia Bedelia Unleashed (Charlie's read-aloud book) - 8/10 = B+
142. The Perilous Road (audiobook, Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
143. The Railway Children (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A-
144. The Well at the World's End (Green Dragon Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B
145. Around the World in 80 Days (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
146. The Singing Tree (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
147. Rendezvous with Rama (Nebula, BSFA, Hugo, Locus & Campbell awards) - 8/10 = B+
148. The Elements (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
149. The Sandman and the War of Dreams (Charlie's bedtime book) - 10/10 = A+
150. Thanksgiving on Thursday (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
151. Blue Willow (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B

OCTOBER
152. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Charlie's bed-time read) - 10/10 = A+
153. High Rise (audiobook for the car) - 9/10 = A-
154. A Scanner Darkly (audiobook, BSFA) - 8/10 = B+

2scaifea
Sep 22, 2016, 6:22 pm

The Charlie, Mario & Tuppence Toppers:





3scaifea
Sep 22, 2016, 6:24 pm

The Bonus Question:

Happy first day of fall! Autumn is my absolute favorite season. Which is yours and why?

4scaifea
Sep 22, 2016, 6:48 pm

147. Rendezvous with Rama (Nebula, BSFA, Hugo, Locus & Campbell awards; 303 pages) - 8/10 = B+
In 2130, what at first seems to be a comet comes into our galaxy, but then starts acting demonstrably not like a comet. And it turns out to be our First Encounter. With an alien race that doesn't seem to be, um, there.
This was a good one, folks. Seat-edgy but without being too stressful, the characters are great, including Rama itself, and I really like Clarke's way of writing. Recommended, if you like this sort of thing.

5Dianekeenoy
Edited: Sep 22, 2016, 7:34 pm

>4 scaifea: Ooh, I have this one and I can actually see it! Signed, too. Once I read Ender's Game, I started collecting books by Arthur C. Clark, I have a whole row of them. Time to put this one into rotation. I really enjoy reading about your days with Charlie and the pups!

6scaifea
Sep 22, 2016, 7:37 pm

>5 Dianekeenoy: Diane: Oh, yay! I loved Ender's Game, too. I hope you enjoy Rama!
And thanks - I enjoy living them!

7rosylibrarian
Sep 22, 2016, 7:53 pm

>3 scaifea: Yep. Me too. Fall. I love Fall. Too bad I live in a place where Fall does not exist.

8BLBera
Sep 22, 2016, 7:54 pm

Happy new one, Amber. Charlie looks so grown up!

9rosalita
Sep 22, 2016, 8:32 pm

>4 scaifea: Rendezvous With Rama was the first real science fiction I ever read, back in high school. I loved it. And you are so right about Rama itself being a character! But a word from the wise: Don't even think about reading the sequels. They get progressively more ridiculous, especially when you get into the ones that were mostly written by some other dude with what seemed to me to be minimal involvement from Clarke.

10PaulCranswick
Sep 22, 2016, 9:25 pm

Happy new thread Amber. We don't get seasons here so I prefer my European springs and autumns when it is not chillingly cold but is not the grind of perpetual summer either.

11scaifea
Sep 22, 2016, 9:41 pm

>7 rosylibrarian: Hi, Marie! Oh, I don't think I could live in a place without seasons; I enjoy their changing too much. No fall at all? Ooof.

>8 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! He *is* growing terribly fast, it seems.

>9 rosalita: Julia: Oh, good to know, because I was debating it. I'm curious about how the Rama mystery plays out... I wonder if I could find a summary somewhere online, just to satisfy that without actually *reading* the sequels...

>10 PaulCranswick: Paul: As much as I'd love to visit your neck of the world someday, I know I couldn't live there. Too, too hot for me and, again, I'd miss the seasons too much. Fall is beautiful here in Wisconsin - you really should visit something, you know...

12MickyFine
Sep 22, 2016, 9:46 pm

Happy new thread, Amber!

I'm a winter fan. I like snow and cold and the clothes that go with it. I'd insert a Lorelai gif rhapsodizing about snow but I'm on the iPad so copying links is a no go.

13Morphidae
Sep 22, 2016, 10:28 pm

Tuppence always takes the more gorgeous pictures. Charlie has indeed grown so much this year.

Fall is my favorite season. It has the perfect weather. Great temps and clear skies. The first part you have green trees and the second half you have gold/red/orange leaves.

Spring is too wet and grey. Summer is too hot. Winter too cold.

14rosalita
Sep 22, 2016, 10:58 pm

>11 scaifea: I think each of the books has a Wikipedia page, so you could probably get the gist of it there. I checked to see if I had reviewed them when I read them all last year, but apparently I didn't post any reviews to the book pages, and I didn't have a thread last year so no luck there, either.

15Carmenere
Edited: Sep 23, 2016, 6:01 am

Happy 22nd, Amber!

16scaifea
Sep 23, 2016, 6:32 am

>12 MickyFine: Micky: I'm definitely a Lorelai when it comes to the first snow, too, and I'm with you on winter and the great clothes - it's my second favorite season.

>13 Morphidae: Morphy: She does take amazing photos, doesn't she? She's just gorgeous. Mario is, too, but she's got the Goof Factor as well. She's in her full glory, though, when she's 'at attention' outside, sniffing the wind for the nearest squirrel. I need to try to get a photo of her like that...
And yes, I can't get Charlie to stop growing. I'm wondering it this will be the year that we'll have to buy all new pants before spring again...
Fall is The Best, isn't it? I love it!

>14 rosalita: Julia: No, see? This is why it's just darned irresponsible of you not to have had a thread. Think of others, lady. Yeesh.

>15 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!

17scaifea
Sep 23, 2016, 6:38 am

On the agenda for today:
Grocery shopping this morning, then home to put everything away, do the bills and organize the photos from the week, then back to Charlie's old school for my Friday afternoon volunteering with his kindergarten teacher, then over to his new school to pick him up at the end of the day.

On the reading front:
I listened to more High Rise, which just gets stranger and more intense as it goes (but Hiddleston's voice is *so soothing*), and I read a bit of War & Peace.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "When Jean Craighead George was in Alaska doing research on wolves, her son pointed out a small child walking into the wilderness near Barrow. That child became the basis for Julie of the Wolves (1973 Newbery Medal)."
Oh, I love these kinds of bits - it's lovely to learn the inspiration behind good books, no?

18scaifea
Sep 23, 2016, 6:47 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-Some Things I've Lost by Cybele Young (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
A very cool picture book, which involves mostly photos of what seem to me miniatures of everyday items, which the author has then painstakingly turned into undersea creatures with intricate paperfolding and crafting. It's so imaginative and gorgeous; all three of us Ooohed and Aaaahed at every turn of a page. Definitely recommended.

-148. The Elements by Theodore Gray (Charlie book, 240 pages) - 9/10 = A
We've been reading this one since last spring's book fair, at which we purchased it. Each element of the periodic table has a two-page spread, with excellent photos (mostly of items that the author has collected) and an entertaining and informative blurb describing the history of the element and its uses. A lot of it likely went over Charlie's head, but he enjoyed it nonetheless and exposure to the Coolness of Science is essential, I think. I know *I* certainly enjoyed it; Gray is a hoot and we laughed out loud in some spots at his funny quips.

-Chapter 3 of Thanksgiving on Thursday
-Chapter 34 of The Sandman and the War of Dreams
-The first half of chapter 17 in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

19msf59
Sep 23, 2016, 7:00 am

Happy Friday, Amber! Happy New Thread! You have been busy this morning. Enjoy your trip to the apple orchard.

I would pick fall as my favorite, for the cooler temps and lovely color but spring holds plenty of charm too.

How is the Denby Great Books volume? I've been curious about that one.

20scaifea
Sep 23, 2016, 7:04 am

>19 msf59: Morning, Mark! I agree about fall, of course, and spring is lovely, too, although its promise of bugs is not my favorite thing ever.
I don't know about the Denby yet - I've not really touched it beyond putting it on the shelf, I'm afraid. Soonish...?

21foggidawn
Sep 23, 2016, 8:07 am

Happy new thread! I, too, count fall as my favorite season, with winter as a close second. If I could live somewhere that got a lot of snow, but never have to drive in it, winter might edge out fall.

22drneutron
Sep 23, 2016, 8:53 am

I'm a "changing seasons" kind of guy. I like the each at the beginning of the season, then really get ready for the next as it comes. :)

23Crazymamie
Sep 23, 2016, 9:10 am

Happy new one, Amber! My favorite season is Fall.

24luvamystery65
Sep 23, 2016, 9:39 am

Howdy Amber! Fall is it for me. Most of our fall is like summer here but the tail end to winter is just perfect. I love to travel to places that have fall. Headed out to the PNW next week. Tuscany in the fall stands out for me.

I hope Tuppance is feeling better. Can't believe Charlie is 8!

25ursula
Sep 23, 2016, 10:16 am

My favorite season is normally fall, but I'm not sure it's going to be my favorite here. Lots of rain and gloom seems to be the trend. (Today is gorgeous and cloud-free at the moment though.) But in general, I like the slanting golden light and the crunch of leaves, the need for a sweater but not a coat, and brisk mornings.

26scaifea
Sep 23, 2016, 11:04 am

>21 foggidawn: I took driver's ed in the middle of winter, and that was supplemented by a dad who is a mechanic and farmer, and who taught me all there is to know about driving in all sorts of conditions. So, I'm happy to say that I'm quite comfortable driving in snow. Ice, though, yeesh.

>22 drneutron: Aw, that sounds like you, Jim - easy-going and awesome.

>23 Crazymamie: Mamie: Woot for fall!!

>24 luvamystery65: Roberta: I've always wanted to visit the PNW. Someday...
And yep, I think Tuppence is on the mend. We'll go back once the meds are done to get her checked over again.

>25 ursula: Ursula: Yeah, I think you're in an overcast-y area (we were in Ohio, too). One of the things I absolutely love about Wisconsin is that, no matter how cold it gets, we still have way more sunny days that cloudy ones. It really makes a difference, mood-wise.

27charl08
Sep 23, 2016, 1:25 pm

Happy new thread Amber. Loved the wands on the last thread. Love spring, all the flowers and plants getting going again.

28bell7
Sep 23, 2016, 3:34 pm

Both fall and spring have always been my favorite seasons. My birthday is in spring and I've always kind of enjoyed never knowing what kind of weather we'll have (from snow to 60 degrees out). I rather dislike winter (snow is beautiful at first, but not when it piles up or I have to drive in it) so the promise of warmer weather is pleasant. April is rainy, but May flowers make up for it. In the fall, I love the colors though November is dreary. And nothing beats the nice in-between weather of both seasons, warm sunny days and cool nights that are just great with the window open and warm blankets on my bed.

29johnsimpson
Sep 23, 2016, 4:07 pm

Happy new thread Amber and great thread topper photos, sending love and hugs to you my dear.

30casvelyn
Edited: Sep 23, 2016, 5:43 pm

I'm not sure whether my favorite season is spring or fall. I love the golden sunlight and crisp weather of fall, but I have SAD, so fall also means that winter and a months-long malaise is just around the corner. Which is why spring is so lovely; it's a literal and figurative breath of fresh air and joy.

31scaifea
Sep 23, 2016, 6:04 pm

>27 charl08: Charlotte: Spring flowers are lovely, as long as I can look at them from indoors. Ha!

>28 bell7: Mary: I agree that the in-between weather is wonderful!

>29 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

>30 casvelyn: My mom has SAD, too, and hates fall because it means winter is fast approaching.

32casvelyn
Edited: Sep 23, 2016, 6:11 pm

>31 scaifea: Part of my problem stemmed from a vitamin D deficiency; taking a supplement lightened the symptoms last winter but didn't get rid of them completely. I intended to buy a light therapy lamp as well, but got sidetracked by a non-functioning gallbladder. Which reminds me that I need to get one this year.

ETA: I mean get a therapy lamp, not another gallbladder. *snork*

33scaifea
Sep 23, 2016, 7:05 pm

>32 casvelyn: *snork!* I certainly don't miss my gall bladder and don't think I need another one...

34ursula
Sep 23, 2016, 7:36 pm

>26 scaifea: That was one of the things I liked about Denver - plenty of sunshine all year round. I don't know that there's been any day here yet that hasn't ended up with serious cloud cover for at least a few hours. They blow through a lot, which makes lighting for my drawing difficult. I need a good lamp.

35scaifea
Sep 24, 2016, 8:07 am

>34 ursula: Ursula: I didn't realize that the overcastiness of Ohio bothered me as much as it did until we moved here and every winter day was sunny and I'd wake up ridiculously happy about it. Ha! Yes, I suspect a good lamp would be a very good investment.

36scaifea
Sep 24, 2016, 8:12 am

On the agenda for today:

We're going to check out the Gays Mills Apple Festival (even though parts of it have been flooded out, apparently). We likely won't go right into the fray of the actual festival (Charlie and big crowds don't mix very well, and honestly I don't blame him), but instead we're looking forward to visiting some of the tons of orchards in the area. Then we'll have a lazy late afternoon/evening here at home.

On the reading front:
I read more of A Study in Scarlet, listened to more of High Rise and read a bit more of Franklin Pierce.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "In 1979, the year after Bridge to Terebithia won the Newbery Medal, author Katherine Paterson's book The Great Gilly Hopkins was the only Newbery Honor Book."

37msf59
Sep 24, 2016, 8:15 am

Morning Amber! Happy Saturday! Enjoy the apple festival.

Kicking off my vacation, so I am a happy camper. Actually I will be camping with friends, later today. Fortunately we will be staying in a luxury camper. B.A.G.

38scaifea
Edited: Sep 24, 2016, 8:21 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-The Kissing Hand
-Chapter 4 of Thanksgiving on Thursday
-The second half of chapter 17 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
And we finished:

149. The Sandman and the War of Dreams by William Joyce (Charlie's bedtime read, 222 pages) - 10/10 = A+
We LOVE these books! So imaginative and so gorgeously written. And so good for kids with overly-active imaginations that can keep them awake at night with worries about nightmares. Lovelovelove them and can't wait for the final book in the series.

39scaifea
Sep 24, 2016, 8:19 am

>37 msf59: Morning, Mark! Luxury camper, eh? Nice! Enjoy, friend.

40Morphidae
Sep 24, 2016, 10:10 am

>36 scaifea: Do you worry about situations when he's grown and can't handle crowds? Not that you'd force him into crowds now, you're too good a mom. But you know what I mean?

41jnwelch
Sep 24, 2016, 12:13 pm

Holy Hot Glue and Sorting Hats. I completely missed a thread of yours while we were off being irresponsible, Amber. Glad we could keep up a bit on FB.

Happy Saturday!

42lycomayflower
Sep 24, 2016, 12:27 pm

The Ents are here visiting, and I made the orange juice cake, Amber. LW3 and I declare it excellent!

43scaifea
Sep 24, 2016, 2:51 pm

>40 Morphidae: Morphy: Nah. I was the same way when I was a kid, and although crowds aren't my very favorite thing, I don't shut down in them or anything. I have faith in this kid and that he'll be able to figure it out when he gets older. In the meantime, I'm all for not going into crowds if we don't have to do so. Besides, he doesn't completely lose it in a crowd in any way (he just gets sad a bit), so it's not dire.

>41 jnwelch: Joe's back! Woot!! Full disclosure: The hot glue gun played a significant role in the making of the sorting hat as well (and I have the slightly burned fingertips to prove it). By the bandaids on my fingers, something crafty this way comes...

>42 lycomayflower: Laura: WOOT!!! (And also, whew!) (And also I'm totally jealous and want to be there, too.)

44scaifea
Sep 24, 2016, 4:44 pm

Dear readers, I've just spent the last two hours peeling and slicing Cortland apples, which are now cooking in preparation for applesauce, and this house smells *amazing* right now.

Also, my hand hurts. But the house smells AMAZING.

45charl08
Sep 24, 2016, 4:46 pm

>44 scaifea: Wow. Hope someone is working on that smellovision app.

46scaifea
Sep 24, 2016, 5:22 pm

>45 charl08: Charlotte: And then Tomm is outside mowing the lawn and we have the windows open, so that fresh-cut grass smell is coming in, too. Very nearly a perfect smell day here at Scaife Manor.

47Morphidae
Sep 24, 2016, 5:46 pm

>43 scaifea: Got it. Knew you'd have it under control.

>46 scaifea: Smell-o-Vision!

48scaifea
Sep 24, 2016, 5:57 pm

>47 Morphidae: Well, under control? Let's not get too crazy...

And smell-o-vision sounds great, but I'll take Wonka-vision over it any day.

49drneutron
Sep 24, 2016, 7:07 pm

I was roasting some coffee this afternoon - would have been a great accompaniment to apples!

50Whisper1
Sep 24, 2016, 7:17 pm

Twenty Two threads! Incredible! It is no surprise that this happened. You are loved greatly. Visiting here is always a treat. Like you and Charlie, I also like the Sandman books. The illustrations are lovely, and the story line is so imaginative.

I thought of you when I finished a marvelous book that you might like. I highly recommend When Friendship Followed Me Home. This is a story of a bog, his dog and his friend.

Happy Weekend to you. Finally, tonight is a bit cool.

51scaifea
Sep 24, 2016, 9:53 pm

>49 drneutron: Jim: Oh, yes! I love that smell, too! We bought some apple cider during our orchard tour today and had hot spiced cider with our dinner, and it was delicious, too.

>50 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Thanks so much for the kind words, as ever. I'm so glad that you've read the Guardians books! I'm eager for the final one to come out, but it looks like we'll have to wait until at least next year sometime... Have you read Ollie's Odyssey? It's his newest children's book and it's lovely, of course.
Thanks for the recommendation, but I have to ask, is it sad? Because I just can't handle dog book with sad endings.
And happy weekend to you, too - I am loving this cooler weather, which looks like it's here to stay, at least through this week.

52Familyhistorian
Sep 25, 2016, 2:17 am

Happy newish thread, Amber. I am a spring/summer type of gal as it is finally warm enough for me then. Once the chill and damp of fall and winter come in I feel like hibernating. I just wish the bears in our neighbourhood would feel the same!

53charl08
Sep 25, 2016, 3:59 am

Oh man. Wonkavision. Chocolate you can just reach into the screen for... I wonder if Amazon are working on it.

54laytonwoman3rd
Sep 25, 2016, 9:24 am

Simmering apples, freshly cut grass...now if there were only a couple loaves of bread baking...*grins* And I affirm that the orange juice cake is lovely. No frosting required, either.

55Whisper1
Sep 25, 2016, 9:27 am

>51 scaifea: No sadness for Flip the amazing, incredible dog.

56scaifea
Sep 25, 2016, 10:56 am

>52 Familyhistorian: Meg: Well, I do agree that there's nothing quite like a winter weekend nap...

>53 charl08: Charlotte: I know, right?! Awesome.

>54 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Ha! I'll be baking some Pesto Swirl Bread later today to go with our spaghetti dinner. And I'm so glad that you like the cake!

>55 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda - good to know!

57Crazymamie
Sep 25, 2016, 10:57 am

Morning, Amber!

58scaifea
Sep 25, 2016, 10:59 am

On the agenda for today:
Baking, mostly (bread and maybe some donuts), and then possibly some sewing room time. I nice cozy Sunday at home.

On the reading front:
Nothing to report for yesterday, I'm afraid. But it was a lovely day.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Cynthia Rylant (Missing May, 1993 Newbery Medal) didn't enter a library until she started college."

59scaifea
Sep 25, 2016, 11:00 am

>57 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

60scaifea
Sep 25, 2016, 11:01 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-Number One Sam
-Chapter 5 of Thanksgiving on Thursday
-Chapter 1 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-Chapter 18 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

61Carmenere
Sep 25, 2016, 11:08 am

Howdy, Amber!

62scaifea
Sep 25, 2016, 11:15 am

>61 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda!

63scaifea
Sep 25, 2016, 1:41 pm

I've finished the first element of Charlie's Halloween costume for this year:

64FAMeulstee
Sep 25, 2016, 4:55 pm

Happy new thread Amber, I love Autumn and I wish it would finally arrive here.
This weekend we had again way too warm & dry weather... :-(

65scaifea
Sep 25, 2016, 5:44 pm

>64 FAMeulstee: I hope you get some fall weather soon, Anita - I'm done with hot weather and I hope it doesn't come back here this year!

66The_Hibernator
Sep 25, 2016, 5:47 pm

The scarf looks great Amber! Wish I had that much talent. :)

I don't really have a favorite season. I guess it's whatever the season happens to be at the moment. I used to be very fond of winter because I loved to ski, but now the cold is a bit much for me.

67scaifea
Sep 25, 2016, 6:55 pm

>66 The_Hibernator: Rachel: If you really want to learn to knit, this is an excellent pattern for it - very simple knitting involved.

I've only been skiing once and i was absolute rubbish at it. I still love winter, though.

68rosalita
Sep 25, 2016, 10:52 pm

>63 scaifea: Lovely stockinette stiches, Amber! Is it knit as a tube? I don't see even a hint of curl on the edges, which is always the bane of my attempts at stockinette.

69EBT1002
Sep 25, 2016, 11:29 pm

>2 scaifea: Yay Toppers!

>51 scaifea: "...I just can't handle dog book with sad endings." I'm with ya.

>63 scaifea: Lovely! I have skimmed through here but am not seeing (it's not jumping out...) what it is that Charlie is planning to be for Halloween.

70susanj67
Sep 26, 2016, 4:39 am

Amber, lovely scarf! I think I can guess what Charlie is going as :-) My youngest nephew picked that person a few years ago. The oldest one went as the grim reaper. The picture was terrifying. I was just looking up Ann Patchett's new book and came across something you might like: Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting. https://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Yarns-Writers-Ann-Hood/dp/0393239497/ref=sr_1_12... I thought it came up in my search because it was edited by an "Ann" (the library catalogue has only a vague connection with reality) but actually one of the essays is by Ann Patchett, so I will have to forgive it this time.

71scaifea
Sep 26, 2016, 6:31 am

>68 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! Yes, it *is* a tube, the first scarf knit in the round I've ever made, and I'm sold, I tell ya. Forevermore my scarves will be in the round: twice as warm and nary a curl!

>69 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! Thanks for the topper love!
As for dogs in books, I'm the same way with movies, too: we watched The Incredible Journey last week, and even though all the animals make it home okay, I still sobbed at the end - and so did Charlie!
Thanks for the scarf love, too! He's going as Harry Potter, hence the Gryffindor House Scarf. Next on the needles is the House Sweater...

>70 susanj67: Susan: Thanks! Ooof, grim reaper, eh? I can't abide the scary costumes, I'm afraid, and I'm happy that I have a Charlie who doesn't care for them, either, honestly.
And thanks for the book tip - it sounds excellent! Adding it to the list...

72scaifea
Sep 26, 2016, 6:37 am

On the agenda for today:
A bit of cleaning, some treadmilling, some PTO work, some writing and some time in the sewing room before picking Charlie up from school this afternoon. This evening I have to call in to check on jury duty for this week, and although in theory I'm happy to serve, it sure would be easier if I didn't have to do so this time around, since it would mean rescheduling a handful of appointments and such. We'll see.

On the reading front:
I listened to a nice chunk of A Scanner Darkly yesterday while starting on Charlie's sweater and I read a little bit of War & Peace as well.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Nancy Willard (A Visit to William Blake's Inn, 1982 Newbery Medal and Caldecott Honor Book) constructed an 'inn' from grocery cartons, but her cat jumped into a box and destroyed the structure A friend made a similar structure out of wood for her."

73scaifea
Sep 26, 2016, 6:38 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-Chapter 6 of Thanksgiving on Thursday
-Chapter 2 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-The first half of chapter 19 in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

74msf59
Sep 26, 2016, 7:29 am

Morning Amber! I have food shopping and the grass to cut, but I plan on doing LOTS of reading today. I did not get much done over the weekend.

75Carmenere
Sep 26, 2016, 8:00 am

Hi Amber, hope you're not needed for jury duty but justice isn't concerned about your schedule LOL If you are called to serve, hope it's a short case.

76Crazymamie
Sep 26, 2016, 8:10 am

Morning, Amber! LOVE that scarf!

77lauralkeet
Sep 26, 2016, 8:38 am

>68 rosalita:, >71 scaifea: I never thought about knitting a scarf in the round. That make so much sense -- I've been frustrated by the the curling tendency of stockinette stitch as well.

78casvelyn
Sep 26, 2016, 9:42 am

So is this where we place orders for our Halloween costumes? (Just kidding)

79Berly
Sep 26, 2016, 10:00 am

Hi Amber. Beautiful scarf and thank you for the olfactory splendor of the cut grass and applesauce! Fall is my favorite season, although I like them all. I've already picked up a few new Halloween decorations. I always wait until the first of October to start decorating the house, so I only have a few more days to wait. ; )

80charl08
Sep 26, 2016, 10:15 am

Love the scarf. Will go nicely with the rucksack too.

Also, http://www.librarything.com/topic/231400#5740819

81scaifea
Sep 26, 2016, 11:15 am

>74 msf59: Morning, mark! Lots of reading sounds excellent to me!

>75 Carmenere: Lynda: Honestly, I've always wanted to serve on a jury, just for the experience, and I'll happily do it this time, too, if needed. I just wish I didn't have Every Appointment Ever in this next week.

>76 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!

>77 lauralkeet: Laura: I know, right? I'm a bit embarrassed that I didn't think to try it on my own before now...

>78 casvelyn: *snork!!* One of these days, though, I would very much like to start making kids' costumes to sell in my etsy shop. I just never seem to get my act together early enough, plus there's always something else I want to make first.

>79 Berly: Hi, Kim! Thanks! We are honestly a little late with our decorations this year - we usually bring them out right after Charlie's birthday, but this year he loved his birthday decorations so much that we left them up a bit longer.

>80 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! Link noted and response written.

82jnwelch
Sep 26, 2016, 11:46 am

Good morning, Amber!

Oohh, A Scanner Darkly. Do you feel your level of paranoia increasing? They made a graphically enhanced movie of it I keep meaning to find - I'm pretty sure Robert Downey Jr. and Keanu Reeves play the main characters.

By the bandaids on my fingers, something crafty this way comes... Love that!

83scaifea
Sep 26, 2016, 11:59 am

>82 jnwelch: Morning, Mark! A Scanner Darkly is pretty strange and dark, but I'm enjoying it so far. I'm not certain that I could handle a movie version, though...

84EBT1002
Sep 26, 2016, 12:32 pm

"...we watched The Incredible Journey last week..." I saw that in the theater many moons ago and I couldn't leave the theater for a loooong time because I couldn't stop sobbing. Even though it has a happy ending, it just broke my heart along the way!!! I sometimes feel weird that I can "handle" human suffering (this is NOT to say that I approve of or am cold to human suffering, but I can read about it) more than I can tolerate animal suffering. Although, babies suffering breaks my heart in the same way. It's the totally, 100% innocent victim thing. Not necessarily rational, but there you have it.

Have a great Monday!

85Morphidae
Sep 26, 2016, 12:33 pm

>80 charl08: OMG! I read that as nutsack. MY EYES!

86brodiew2
Sep 26, 2016, 12:39 pm

Good morning, scaifea! I hope all is well with you.

>2 scaifea: That photo of Tuppence Toppers is amazing. Very expressive.

>4 scaifea: Rendezvous with Rama is in my top ten. I loved/love this book for all the reasons you listed. Fantastic novel.

>9 rosalita: I'm not sure I completely agree with rosalita about the sequel trilogy. I read it and enjoyed it at the time (20 years ago). Granted, Gentry Lee did most of the heavy lifting, but I was enamored enough of the Rama concept, that I was able to have fun with them.

87casvelyn
Sep 26, 2016, 1:26 pm

>81 scaifea: Really, I just need to get a Ravenclaw scarf; academic regalia one never wears covers the rest.

88scaifea
Sep 26, 2016, 1:35 pm

>84 EBT1002: Ellen: Oh, I agree absolutely that it's the 100% innocent thing. And yes, children suffering is something I cannot handle, either.

>85 Morphidae: Morphy: *SNORK!!!!*

>86 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! Are you impressed with my dog or my photography skills? Ha!
And I'm glad to see that you liked the Rama book, too. Clarke is pretty great at what he does, I think. I'll mull over the idea of the sequels, but for now I'm moving on to more books on the list.

>87 casvelyn: Oh, if only my PhD regalia weren't bright red with grey trim. So gaudy. Ugh. Not that I have need to wear it anymore, but at Kenyon we had to put those things one every time one turned around, it seems. Lots of tradition and ceremonies there, I'm afraid.

89casvelyn
Sep 26, 2016, 2:33 pm

>88 scaifea: Mine's just my bachelor's gown, so nothing so fancy. For my master's, I rented it all. I wasn't a fan of the sleeves and since I got two degrees, I had my pick between white or lemon yellow on the hood. Not my top choices.

90brodiew2
Edited: Sep 26, 2016, 2:38 pm

>88 scaifea: Your photography skills, for sure. That one caught my eye and held it for a minute.

91scaifea
Sep 26, 2016, 2:43 pm

>89 casvelyn: I had to have mine for all of those ceremonies and such, and ooof, the price tag was a doozy. I just wish it could have been classy black. I do love the sleeves on the Masters gowns...

>90 brodiew2: Brodie: Aw, thanks! Tuppence makes it easy, because she'll sit still if you ask her to do so, plus, she's gorgeous, no?

92lauralkeet
Edited: Sep 26, 2016, 4:54 pm

>71 scaifea:, >84 EBT1002: Incredible Journey
Have you seen Homeward Bound? It's a 1993 remake so it was a recent film when my kids were Charlie's age. I don't think I've seen the original which is weird because it was released when I was a kid. Anyway, assuming the ending is pretty much the same it completely chokes me up every time. Apparently, the emotional impact is pretty universal: here's a pug's emotional reaction to the end of Homeward Bound.

93scaifea
Sep 26, 2016, 4:56 pm

>92 lauralkeet: Laura: Oh, well, um, that's actually the one that we watched and I just botched up the name. Ha! I've read the book upon which both movies are based and it didn't phase me. Weird.

94Ape
Sep 26, 2016, 7:32 pm

I'm way super late to this thread, but I love fall as well! Cool weather, beautiful fall colors, and pumpkin desserts! :)

95scaifea
Sep 26, 2016, 7:35 pm

>94 Ape: Stephen: Yes!! Pumpkin desserts!! WOOT!!

96scaifea
Sep 27, 2016, 6:33 am

On the agenda for today:

Jury duty. And since I don't really know how long I'll be there, that's the full extent of my plans. Tomm is convinced that I'll be finished by noon, since he's certain that they won't pick me. I'm not sure how I feel about this... Oh, and Charlie has his book club at the library tonight.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of High Rise and A Scanner Darkly, and read more of Franklin Pierce. Still very much enjoying the audiobooks, but I can't seem to focus on the Pierce one.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Lois Lowry based (Number the Stars, 1990 Newbery Medal) on a friend's childhood experiences The friend, named Annelise, attended the awards banquet."

97scaifea
Sep 27, 2016, 6:35 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-Chapter 7 of Thanksgiving on Thursday
-Chapter 3 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-The second half of chapter 19 in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

98charl08
Sep 27, 2016, 7:16 am

>81 scaifea: Thanks Amber. This sounds like so much fun. Would like to know a bit more, not least because so many British writers of a hundred years ago seem to have lived and breathed it (and taken it for granted that readers did too).

Is there one version of the Virgil you'd recommend to er, "students"?

99msf59
Sep 27, 2016, 7:32 am

Morning Amber!

100scaifea
Sep 27, 2016, 8:50 am

>98 charl08: Charlotte: Well, yes, I do in fact have an absolute favorite translation, which has not a little to do with the accessibility of it's rendering while staying very true to the original: you just can't beat Stanley Lombardo's translation - he's amazing.

>99 msf59: Morning, Mark!

Okay, folks, I'm off to do my Civic Duty!

101casvelyn
Sep 27, 2016, 9:29 am

>100 scaifea: Lucky! I mean that seriously. I couldn't get on a jury if I tried because of family members who work in the judicial system.

102jnwelch
Sep 27, 2016, 10:47 am

Good morning, Amber!

>83 scaifea: If you're going to get my name wrong, you're supposed to call me "Jim". Although being called "Mark" is certainly a step up, sort of like being called "Queen Elizabeth".

103drneutron
Sep 27, 2016, 12:24 pm

<102> Hey, I resemble that remark!

104charl08
Sep 27, 2016, 1:00 pm

>102 jnwelch: Every time someone says this I have a panic about getting names wrong.

Hey Amber! Thanks for the book recommendation.

105Whisper1
Sep 27, 2016, 1:10 pm

>63 scaifea: Incredible

106jnwelch
Sep 27, 2016, 1:44 pm

>103 drneutron: Ha! I do think it's you I get mixed up with, Jim. You poor guy.

>104 charl08: We all wander all over the LT campus and use so many names, Charlotte. I've sure screwed up names meself. "No biggie" would be my comment. I just like to give Amber a hard time.

107drneutron
Sep 27, 2016, 1:47 pm

Yep, me too. Give Amber a hard time, that is. :)

108weird_O
Sep 27, 2016, 1:50 pm

Hi Amber. You sure have a swell thread going that you started...THURSDAY! Not even a week ago.

My favorite season usually is the next one. There's always about a week in each season that's just perfect, and then, well, it goes to hell. Then you say: "Boy, am I looking forward to ____________ (whatever the coming season is called)."

Jury duty... I have been called several times for jury duty in the county courts, just not in the county of my residence. Thanks to the U. S. Postal Service--tip o' the hat to our own Warblin' Mailman--the counties don't seem to know where I live. I live in Lehigh but I'm served by a post office in Berks. To me, it seems a county would have a roster of its residents and tax-payers. But in fact, the courts get lists of prospective jurors from the DMV. Going by zip code, I'm in Berks but I'm not. (And Lehigh apparently thinks I'm in Berks too.) It works for me!

How are you coming with Andersonville?

109scaifea
Sep 28, 2016, 6:46 am

>101 casvelyn: I honestly didn't mind being called, because I'm happy to serve and do my part. I'm also, however, very happy that it was a 1-day trial (yes, I was chosen) and that it's over. I take these sorts of things very seriously, and although the case wasn't as severe as it could have been, it was still a criminal case and I felt the weight of the responsibility of my decision much more keenly, it seems, than my 11 fellow jurors. In short, I held us all in sequester much longer than I think they wanted to be there: I was the only one arguing for reasonable doubt on one of the two counts against the guy. The charges weren't even felonies, but I came home and sobbed, feeling that I had failed the defendant in some way (even though I'm 98% certain he did what he was charged for doing). The 2% is enough to bother me. Gosh, I hope I'm never called up to serve on a case any more serious than this one - I'm not sure I could handle it.

>102 jnwelch: Oh no! I'm so sorry, Jim/Mark/Paul/Joe!

>103 drneutron: Jim: *snork!*

>104 charl08: You're welcome, Charlotte!

>105 Whisper1: Aw, thanks, Linda! I'm working on the sweater part of the costume now and I'm pretty happy with the results so far.

>106 jnwelch: Joe: I'm happy that my mistakes are such a sort of amusement for you, Jim.

>107 drneutron: That goes for you, too, Bob.

>108 weird_O: Bill: Excellent point about the next season being the best. I agree except for summer; a good summer day is one that feels like spring or fall.
And I unabashedly admit that I haven't really even yet started Andersonville. I'll get there. Eventually.

110scaifea
Sep 28, 2016, 6:57 am

On the agenda for today:
Beyond the normal cleaning and treadmilling and writing and sewing, I need to call the clinic to see if I can get in soon - I'm *still* having some UTI-like issues, and I've convinced myself that it's Something Else. And I'm slightly worried. Here's hoping I can get in soon and that they can figure out what's wrong and that it's an easy fix. (See the TMI section below if you're interested.) Other that that, Charlie has gymnastics today after school.

TMI Section:
So, since finishing up the second round of antibiotics, I'm still having some feelings of pressure, but it only happens at night. During the day I feel perfectly fine, but every night when I'm sitting up in bed reading or watching TV with Tomm, it starts hurting, and then when I lie down, the pressure really starts and I have trouble falling asleep. However, when I wake up in the middle of the night, the pain/pressure is gone, and it's not there when I get up in the morning, either. So, it only comes at the beginning of the night and doesn't seem to last very long. What in the actual what, folks?! This, plus the fact that my urine samples have all come back negative this time around, is confusing and troubling. I'm hoping for some non-scary answers...

On the reading front:
Nothing to report. Yesterday was nuts.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "The Dark Frigate (1924 Newbery Medal) and The Slave Dancer (1974 Newbery Medal) have both been compared to Treasure Island. Note that the two Newbery Medal-winning books were published exactly fifty years apart."
Ooof, we're back to the weak anecdotes, it seems. Too bad they couldn't find something better to say about The Dark Frigate, which is one of my favorite Newbery winners.

111scaifea
Sep 28, 2016, 6:58 am

112msf59
Sep 28, 2016, 7:33 am

Morning Amber! Sorry, to hear you are still having issues at night. Hope that improves. Looks to be a chilly one today. I think I will hang inside, do a few chores and prepare for our trip tomorrow. Of course, I will squeeze in some reading time too.

^Did someone call me Queen Elizabeth up there?

113scaifea
Sep 28, 2016, 7:57 am

>112 msf59: Morning, Mark! Thanks for the hopes. Best of luck with trip prep - I hope you get tons of reading time today!
And yes, you are royalty round these parts, mister.

114lauralkeet
Sep 28, 2016, 7:59 am

Good luck with the doc, Amber. The repeat occurrences and the timing of your symptoms sound like something other than a typical UTI and hope you're able to get to the root cause and make it disappear.

115scaifea
Sep 28, 2016, 8:37 am

>114 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura - I hope so, too.

116Morphidae
Sep 28, 2016, 10:00 am

>109 scaifea: You are such a tender heart. *hugs*

117scaifea
Edited: Sep 28, 2016, 10:02 am

>116 Morphidae: And he was always my favorite of the Care Bears - Ha!

ETA: Thanks ever so much for the hug. Needed that one today.

118jnwelch
Sep 28, 2016, 10:46 am

Good morning, Amber!

Jeez, you're good at this name thing. I'm having trouble remembering who I am now.

The Dark Frigate, eh? OK, onto the WL it goes. I probably should just have a WL titled "Amber."

119scaifea
Sep 28, 2016, 10:50 am

>118 jnwelch: Joe: *snork!* You're welcome.
And yes, do check out The Dark Frigate - I think you'll like it, especially if you like Treasure Island - type stories.

120brodiew2
Sep 28, 2016, 11:02 am

Good morning, scaifea! The Dark Frigate sounds interesting. I don't think I've heard of it before. To the list it goes.

121scaifea
Sep 28, 2016, 11:11 am

>120 brodiew2: Morning, Brodie! I hope you enjoy it!

122scaifea
Sep 29, 2016, 6:36 am

On the agenda for today:
Menu-planning and getting the grocery list sorted for tomorrow's shopping, library volunteering, and then taking Charlie for his 8-year-check-up appointment. After that, he has requested a trip to _target; apparently his allowance savings, along with the birthday money he received from various relatives, is burning a hole in his pocket. As it does, of course. If I have any time between getting my grocery shopping prepared and the time I need to leave for volunteering, I suspect I'll be either resting in the rocking chair with a cuppa or actually taking a quick nap. I've be hit smack in the head with a cold. Awesome.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of High Rise (still bizarre but still really good), started and finished Blue Willow, which was sweet but without a ton of substance, and read a bit more of A Study in Scarlett, which is excellent.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "A Navajo medicine man, commenting on the work of Laura Adams Armer (Waterless Mountain, 1932 Newbery Medal), said, 'The white woman paints strong medicine.'"

123scaifea
Sep 29, 2016, 6:37 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-This Is Sadie
-Chapter 9 of Thanksgiving on Thursday
-The first few pages of chapter 21 in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

124Carmenere
Sep 29, 2016, 6:50 am

Hurrah for one day trials! I've served just once and truly enjoyed it.
Enjoy your Thursday!

125msf59
Sep 29, 2016, 6:56 am

Morning Amber! Sweet Thursday! Getting ready to head out shortly. I have my iPad so I will check in on occasion.

126charl08
Sep 29, 2016, 6:57 am

Ooh, birthday money shopping. Sounds like fun. Will there be notebook shopping?

127scaifea
Sep 29, 2016, 7:08 am

>124 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!

>125 msf59: Morning, Mark! Here's hoping it's a sweet one.

>126 charl08: Charlotte: Well, I don't know if this time round will include notebook shopping (although generally he loves getting new notebooks) - he has his eye on some Lego sets, I think...

128lycomayflower
Sep 29, 2016, 9:08 am

So sorry you're dealing with nasty UTI-like symptoms again. Hope it is resolved soon, fully, and without any scariness!

129brodiew2
Sep 29, 2016, 11:21 am

Good morning, scaifea! I hope things turn up soon on health front.

I have found series that my oldest has really enjoyed. It is called Cartboy. Cartboy and the Time Capsule is the first, followed by Cartboy goes to Camp. I will admit that it is 'Wimpy Kid' variation, but one that lends itself well to reading aloud. Thought it does have illustrations, they are obstructive to the telling of the story.

130scaifea
Sep 29, 2016, 11:28 am

>128 lycomayflower: Thanks, Laura - me, too.

>129 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie. And thanks for the book tip - I'll have to see if our library has them.

131laytonwoman3rd
Sep 29, 2016, 12:01 pm

Amber must feel better.

Hope this works.

132Whisper1
Sep 29, 2016, 12:10 pm

I hope you feel better soon my friend.

133jnwelch
Sep 29, 2016, 12:40 pm

Good morning, Amber! Sweet Thursday!

Hope your health situation improves. Great to see you reading Sherlock Holmes - that at least should make for a good diversion.

134Morphidae
Sep 29, 2016, 1:37 pm





135scaifea
Sep 29, 2016, 5:54 pm

>131 laytonwoman3rd: >132 Whisper1: > 134 Thanks, ladies. Head cold is in full force, but DayQuil is helping some.

>133 jnwelch: Joe: Sherlock is a hoot so far, for certain.

136jjvors
Sep 29, 2016, 10:58 pm

Hi Amber! Autumn is my favorite too, now. The best weather in Peoria, both September and October are great. There might be a frost, but nothing serious. Even November can be quite mild here. Plus, the turning of the leaves.

137jjvors
Sep 29, 2016, 10:59 pm

I remember starting it, and losing interest. Clarke's books are too slow paced for my taste. I read Childhood's End and 2001 Space Odyssey, but not too many others. I'm very plot oriented.

138brodiew2
Sep 30, 2016, 1:00 am

>137 jjvors: I hear what you are saying about Clarke's slow burn style, jjvors, but if you are plot oriented then you should enjoy Rendezvous with Rama.

139scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 6:23 am

>136 jjvors: Jeff: I bet you do get some pretty colors in fall over there, especially by the river.

>137 jjvors: ?138 Jeff & Brodie: Lack of plot doesn't bother me as long as the writing is good. You know, this on e reminded me a bit of Ender's Game, or at least the parts how to determine your sense of direction in such spaces. Pretty interesting and cool, I think.

140scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 6:33 am

On the agenda for today:
Grocery shopping right after taking Charlie to school, then a trip to the hospital for an ultrasound to see if they can find the cause of my issues that way. We'll see. I've been told to drink 32 oz. of water AN HOUR before the appointment AND HOLD IT. Um, yeah. I know my body and I know that business isn't gonna fly. I'll drink it maybe 30 minutes beforehand; otherwise there will likely be a cleanup necessary on aisle 4...
The schools here are having their Homecoming Parade this afternoon: they all walk down to Main Street and line the sidewalks, then watch as their peers on the various sports teams walk down the street and wave, and the bands march and play, too . Plus, each grade school classroom gets to make a banner, and two from their ranks get chosen to carry their banner in the parade. It's a fun parade, and one that Charlie doesn't mind, since there's not strangers with candy in this one.
And then, after school, one of Charlie's friends is coming home with us for a couple of hours to play.

On the reading front:
Nothing to report. Busy day with no time to read, and then the medicine I have for helping me sleep works fast and well.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "During his acceptance speech, William Pene Du Bois admitted that he was mean to have made Professor Sherman speak before a large audience in The Twenty-One Balloons (1948 Newbery Medal)."

141scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 6:36 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-Orange You Glad It's Halloween, Amber Brown? by Paula Danzinger (Charlie's school library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B+
-Chapter 6 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-A few more pages of chapter 21 in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

And we finished:
150. Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne (Charlie's school library book, 73 pages) - 8/10 = B+

142Carmenere
Sep 30, 2016, 6:52 am

Morning, Amber! I've had a head coldish feeling all week! My ears are blocked, I sometimes loose my voice etc etc. It feels like it's coming on but just won't get over the hurdle to become a full fledged DayQuil like cold. I'd rather it made up its mind, either its a cold or its not. If it's not, just high tail it out of here!

143scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 7:52 am

>142 Carmenere: Lynda: Yep, that's how I've been feeling, too. Achy joints as well. Here's hoping it leaves us both alone soon!

144lauralkeet
Sep 30, 2016, 9:35 am

>140 scaifea: drink 32 oz. of water AN HOUR before the appointment AND HOLD IT ... there will likely be a cleanup necessary on aisle 4
Ugh, yes. My first pregnancy ultrasound was like that. I was waiting to be seen and was about to burst. The nurse was very brusque about the necessity to hold it. It was such an unpleasant experience. I learned my lesson as well and adjusted my consumption the next time.

Good luck, I hope it helps with diagnosis & treatment.

145scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 9:45 am

>144 lauralkeet: Laura: Yeah, I'm not drinking until 30 minutes beforehand and I'm certain that will work just fine. And yes, here's hoping it helps.

146lycomayflower
Sep 30, 2016, 10:26 am

>140 scaifea: Good lord. I'm not sure I could drink that much water at once, never mind hold it. Good luck with the ultrasound.

147casvelyn
Sep 30, 2016, 10:47 am

>146 lycomayflower: I was thinking the same thing. I'd have to hit the restroom before I even finished the water.

148scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 10:49 am

>146 lycomayflower: >147 casvelyn: I've become pretty adept at shot-gunning water (I'm trying to drink 64 oz a day), so I know I can drink that much in a short time; it's the holding it that I know I can't do for that long. I think I can manage 30 minutes, though, so that's what I'm shooting for.

149Morphidae
Sep 30, 2016, 11:33 am

*sniffs* You didn't like my cold comfort/cure in >134 Morphidae:? I thought for sure chicken soup, a hot toddy, and comfy chair would do you good.

150scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 11:36 am

>149 Morphidae: Oh, sorry, Morphy! I mis-typed the reference coding in >135 scaifea:! Of course I loved it!

151Morphidae
Sep 30, 2016, 11:38 am

>150 scaifea: Oh, now that you've pointed it out I feel foolish. Blech.

152scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 11:40 am

151. Blue Willow by Doris Gates (Newbery Honor Book, 172 pages) - 8/10 = B
A sweet little dust bowl story with nice characters, but not a lot of substance. A happy, fluffy Grapes of Wrath for Kids, if you will.

153scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 11:40 am

>151 Morphidae: Morphy: Nope, I'm the dummy who can't type properly. My fault entirely.

154jnwelch
Sep 30, 2016, 2:09 pm

Happy Friday, Amber!

I hope they figure out your health woes, my friend.

155johnsimpson
Sep 30, 2016, 3:32 pm

Hi Amber, 32oz of water per hour, that is going some and I would be like you having an accident in aisle 4, lol. Karen sends her love to you all, she has been doing a bit of baking and gearing herself up to make the Christmas cakes that she has orders for from friends and work colleagues and one for us. Hope you are having a good day dear friend.

156katiekrug
Sep 30, 2016, 4:14 pm

All caught up with you, Amber! Sorry about the nasty night-time symptoms, but I'm sure they'll figure it out and you'll be fit as a fiddle in no time. I finished up the antibiotics I started in Dubai, and I can't tell if it's psychosomatic or what, but I'm feeling a bit "uncomfortable" today and wondering if they didn't quite manage to clear out all the beasties. I'm going to see how the rest of today and tonight is, and if necessary, head to the doctor tomorrow morning.

157scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 4:34 pm

>154 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe!

>155 johnsimpson: Thanks, John. Oh, gosh, those Christmas Cakes sound wonderful!

>156 katiekrug: Katie: Ooof, I hope it's just your brain worrying that it's coming back - that happens to me for a while every time I've had one, especially at night. Fingers crossed!

158Morphidae
Sep 30, 2016, 4:35 pm

>153 scaifea: No, no, no, my dear Alphonse, after you!

*giggles*

159johnsimpson
Sep 30, 2016, 4:42 pm

>157 scaifea:, Lots of fruit, an Orange, a Lemon and Karen's added bits and a decent amount of Brandy and then fed with Brandy and turned every two weeks. The kitchen is going to smell nice over the next couple of weeks with the fruit soaking in Brandy and then the mixing, wishing and baking and tasting buns for quality control, yum yum yum.

160scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 4:43 pm

>158 Morphidae: Morphy: *SNORK!!*

>159 johnsimpson: John: My mom used to make those same sorts of cakes - YUM.

161Morphidae
Sep 30, 2016, 4:53 pm

Huh, I just read the origin of "After you, Alphonse." Pretty interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphonse_and_Gaston

162scaifea
Sep 30, 2016, 5:00 pm

>161 Morphidae: Morphy: Huh. Cool!

163FAMeulstee
Oct 1, 2016, 3:43 am

>109 scaifea: I am glad we have no jury in our country, Amber, as I would feel the same as you.

Hope you feel better soon!

164scaifea
Oct 1, 2016, 1:21 pm

>163 FAMeulstee: Anita: Oh, I didn't know that! So interesting! How does your criminal justice system work, then? (Apologies if that's a really basic and silly question.)

165scaifea
Oct 1, 2016, 1:25 pm

On the agenda for today:
Pancakes have been made and consumed, Chocolate Root Beer Cake has been baked and is cooling, Spice Cookies are in the process of being baked (dough is chillin' in the fridge), and I plan on spending the rest of the day partly in the sewing room and partly reading. Smoked Sausage Potato Bake for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
Another day of no reading yesterday, I'm afraid. Hopefully I can get back on track soon.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "A 1976 Publisher's Weekly survey of people directly involved with children's book shows that Island of the Blue Dolphins (1961 Newbery Medal) is tenth on the list of best children's books written in America."
That sure is a good one, as far as I'm concerned. I don't know that it would rank that high, but I still loved it lots.

166scaifea
Oct 1, 2016, 1:26 pm

What We Read Yesterday:
-Chapter 7 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-The rest of chapter 21 in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (only one chapter to go!)

167FAMeulstee
Edited: Oct 1, 2016, 1:42 pm

>164 scaifea: Very short version: in most cases a public prosecuter makes a case, a lawyer defends the accused and the judge(s) decide. Judge or judges depends on how serious the case is.

168rosalita
Oct 1, 2016, 1:48 pm

Recipe request for Smoked Sausage Potato Bake, please. Sounds like the perfect dish for autumn!

169scaifea
Oct 1, 2016, 2:02 pm

>167 FAMeulstee: Anita: Interesting! Thanks!

>168 rosalita: Julia: It's totally a fall comfort food thing. Here it is:

Smoked Sausage Potato Bake
Ingredients:
• 5 baking potatoes, peeled, boiled & mashed, with milk and butter, to taste
• 1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream
• 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 packaged smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch slices
• 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. Stir sour cream and cheddar cheese into hot mashed potatoes.
3. Spoon half of potato mixture into greased 2-quart baking dish.
4. Top with sausage and remaining potatoes.
5. Sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese.
Bake, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes, or until heated through and edges are golden brown.

170scaifea
Oct 1, 2016, 2:36 pm

So, since we'll finish up Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban tonight, Charlie and I are celebrating by making Padfoot and Crookshanks cookies:

171lycomayflower
Oct 1, 2016, 3:06 pm

>170 scaifea: Very cool!

172scaifea
Oct 1, 2016, 4:18 pm

>171 lycomayflower: Thanks, Laura!

173charl08
Oct 1, 2016, 4:25 pm

Love the biscuits. And autumn comfort food sounds lovely. Mine is bacon bits and cheese with jacket potatoes. Think that'll have to go on the menu here for this week coming up!

174scaifea
Oct 1, 2016, 5:08 pm

>173 charl08: Charlotte: Baked potatoes are a staple here at Scaife Manor, too. We usually do Choose Your Own Toppings, and it works out great. (I'm an old-fashioned potato gal and have mine with just butter and salt & pepper. Lots of butter. TONS of butter.)

175Morphidae
Oct 1, 2016, 5:16 pm

>174 scaifea: Have a little potato with your butter?

176scaifea
Edited: Oct 1, 2016, 5:34 pm

>175 Morphidae: Morphy: Only a little. One doesn't want to overdo it.

ETA: Starches, you know.

177Morphidae
Edited: Oct 1, 2016, 5:36 pm

>176 scaifea: It's kind of like I have a little grits with my salt.

ETA: *gasps* Oh, no! I said the G-word!

178scaifea
Oct 1, 2016, 5:39 pm

179scaifea
Edited: Oct 2, 2016, 9:53 am

On the agenda for today:
More baking (Chocolate Chip Scones for a mid-morning snack and Honey Wheat Quick Bread for this week's breakfast toast), then more sewing and reading (hopefully), with some time for just hanging out with the Scaife Men.

On the reading front:
I started Emily Climbs yesterday, which I think may be a struggle for me, unless to story picks up toot sweet. Without a really strong plot, this one's going to be way too saccharine for me. I can feel my teeth rotting already on Emily's sugary goodness.
I also started Beyond Apollo yesterday, and whoa, it couldn't be more unlike Emily's story at all. Super strange and more than a little naughty so far. It's a hilariously good combination, really.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Hugh Lofting )The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle, 1923 Newbery Medal) married three times; he was widowed early in both of his first two marriages."

180scaifea
Oct 2, 2016, 9:49 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-School's First Day of School by Adam Rex (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
-Monster Tales: Pumpkin Patch Party
And we finished:
152. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling (Charlie's bed-time read, 435 pages)

So, that's what we'll be doing this afternoon - watch the movie! Woot!

181The_Hibernator
Oct 2, 2016, 9:54 am

>67 scaifea: Well, I've tried learning to knit - and I've made very, very small washcloths before. I have trouble keeping my stitches loose. I know that takes practice. But I just seem to ever have the time to really sit down and practice. I don't watch TV, so I can't do it then. And when I do have time, I generally try to read. But I guess I could listen to audiobooks while doing it!

Mmmm. Chocolate chip cookies sound delish!

182scaifea
Oct 2, 2016, 10:00 am

>181 The_Hibernator: Rachel: Knitting while listening to audiobooks is a perfect way to practice! You should give it a go.

183scaifea
Oct 3, 2016, 6:31 am

On the agenda for today:
A bit of cleaning, some treadmilling, some Latin-book-writing, some PTO work and some sewing room time before time to go in to school for my Monday afternoon volunteering. Then, after school Charlie has an appointment for a haircut. Thai Coconut Soup for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of A Scanner Darkly (still strange but still good) and read more of War & Peace, which I'm still enjoying.

Since we finished the third HP book, we watched the movie yesterday and Charlie loved it, of course. It's one of my favorites, too. At the end of both the movie and the book, Charlie mentioned how great it will be when Harry gets to live with Sirius and finally have a real family. It was everything I could do not to start sobbing, honestly. Oh, Sirius. .

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "In October 1916, Elizabeth Coatsworth (The Cat Who Went to Heaven, 1931 Newbery Medal) first heard the legend of the painter and his cat. She didn't write the story until twelve years later."

184scaifea
Oct 3, 2016, 6:32 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-The Big Snow
-Haunted Clubhouse
-Chapter 8 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-The first half of chapter 1 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

185Carmenere
Oct 3, 2016, 8:04 am

Happy Monday, Amber! Hope your weekend was great and you're beginning to feel better.

186MickyFine
Oct 3, 2016, 9:08 am

>183 scaifea: Oh the feels that come from encountering HP for the first time.

187jnwelch
Oct 3, 2016, 10:02 am

Morning, Amber!

Mmm, spice cookies.

I loved the Dr. Doolittle books when I was a kid. When I re-read the first couple with the thought of trying them on our kids, however, they turned out to have some racism that that made them tough to recommend. Too bad.

I liked The Island of Blue Dolphins, but also probably wouldn't rate it top ten.

188Morphidae
Oct 3, 2016, 10:22 am

This whole post is a spoiler.

Well, with what happens at the end of Goblet, perhaps Charlie will decide he's had enough HP for awhile and won't want to go on to the next. That way his dreams won't be dashed for awhile. We can only hope.

189scaifea
Oct 3, 2016, 10:49 am

>185 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!

>186 MickyFine: Micky: And the second time. And the third. And the 20th.

>187 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Spice cookies are one of my favorites. And I agree about the Doolittle books. It's too bad.

>188 Morphidae: Morphy: Here's hoping. And more so because I think with the 5th book things get too emotionally complicated, and I want him to understand them enough still to enjoy them. So yeah, I hope he's ready for a break by the end of this one. I suspect he will be.

190brodiew2
Oct 3, 2016, 11:49 am

Good morning, Scaifea. I hope all is well with you. I may have recommended this a while back, but it an all time favorite picture book of mine and awesome bedtime read. Niccolini's Song. I know Charlie is 8 (right?), but I still read picture books to my kids at bedtime. This one is fantastic.

191scaifea
Oct 3, 2016, 12:21 pm

>190 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! Yes, we've read that one and it is lovely - thanks for the mention!

192scaifea
Oct 3, 2016, 12:25 pm

153. High-Rise by J. G. Ballard (audiobook for the car) - 9/10 = A-
Ooof. Tense. And outright weird. But cool. V. cool. Narration by Mr. Hiddleston didn't hurt it none, either.

193scaifea
Oct 4, 2016, 6:30 am

On the agenda for today:
Cleaning, treadmilling, a bit of PTO business, some writing, some sewing. Charlie has a dentist appointment this afternoon, so I'll pick him up from school a bit early for that.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of A Scanner Darkly and finished High-Rise (see above), but that's all to report. This medicine I take right before bed knocks me right out, so no time to read then, and when I volunteer at school, it means I've no sitting-in-the-car-waiting-for-Charlie-and-reading time. Also, spare moments at home are consumed with the knitting of the Hogwarts sweater. So, eventually, hopefully, I'll get back to my normal reading pace.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Karen Cushman (The Midwife's Apprentice, 1996 Newbery Medal) started to write for herself the day her daughter started filling out college applications."

194scaifea
Oct 4, 2016, 6:32 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-The Tree in the Courtyard by Jeff Gottesfeld (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
A beautiful story of the tree that Anne Frank could see from her attic window.
-Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch
-Chapter 9 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-The rest of chapter 1 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

195msf59
Oct 4, 2016, 7:40 am

Morning Amber! I timed this one perfectly, since today is my "regular" day off. Love those cushion days and short work weeks.

Hope all is well at the Scaife Manor.

196scaifea
Oct 4, 2016, 7:48 am

Morning, Mark! Yay for vacation cushion days!

197jnwelch
Oct 4, 2016, 9:02 am

Morning, Amber!

Hope you're able to get back to your regular reading schedule soon. Goblet of Fire takes the series to a new, more grown-up level, doesn't it. It'll be interesting to hear how Charlie reacts.

198charl08
Edited: Oct 4, 2016, 6:22 pm

>193 scaifea: Hope that you feel better soon and van get a little more reading into the schedule.

>192 scaifea: Are you planning on seeing the film?

ETA Can! Not van. Although maybe I should have pretended it was new slang...?

199scaifea
Oct 4, 2016, 10:39 am

>197 jnwelch: Joe: Me, too, on the Charlie-reaction front. We'll see how it goes. I think the really distinctive line comes between 4 and 5, so I'm hoping that he'll want a break after this one. I suspect he will.

>198 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. I'm still waiting to hear back about the results of the ultrasound. I sort of really dislike waiting.
And yes, I'd like to see the film now that I've read/listened to the book. Plus, well, Hiddleston. So, um, yeah.

200PaulCranswick
Oct 4, 2016, 12:00 pm

>192 scaifea: I need to read that one soon, Amber.

Hope you are now feeling A-OK.

201scaifea
Oct 4, 2016, 12:27 pm

>200 PaulCranswick: Paul: I think you'd like it lots. Definitely add it to the list!
And thanks, but no, not yet. Hopefully the doc will figure something out soon.

202Morphidae
Oct 4, 2016, 1:04 pm

>201 scaifea: Did they say when the results would be in?

203scaifea
Oct 4, 2016, 1:16 pm

>202 Morphidae: Morphy: "A few days." Ugh.

204jnwelch
Oct 4, 2016, 3:26 pm

You must have seen The Night Manager, yes? Some great Hiddleston in that one. Our cable tv stopped carrying it after the first few episodes, so we're going to have to wait to finish it.

205scaifea
Oct 4, 2016, 6:22 pm

>204 jnwelch: Joe: I haven't yet. We don't have actual TV (no cable or satellite). I'll catch it when it comes on Netflix, likely. The Hiddleston/Laurie combo is pretty irresistible.

206scaifea
Oct 4, 2016, 6:39 pm

Reading Update:

Well, folks, I'm calling it quits on Emily Climbs; just too goody-goody for me and my present mood. That is all.

207scaifea
Oct 5, 2016, 6:28 am

On the agenda for today:
Cleaning, treadmilling, some PTO business, some writing and some sewing, then off to gymnastics after picking Charlie up from school.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of A Scanner Darkly, finished up A Study in Scarlet and started The Sign of the Four, and read a bit more of Franklin Pierce.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "James Daugherty (Daniel Boone, 1940 Newbery Medal) painted camouflage colors on ships during World War I. He said it was good experience for a mural painter."

208scaifea
Oct 5, 2016, 6:29 am

209msf59
Oct 5, 2016, 6:41 am

Morning Amber! Back to work Wednesday. Ugh...

I hope you enjoy your day.

210Carmenere
Oct 5, 2016, 7:52 am

Morning Amber! Dang it! Still under the weather? Hope the doc finds a fix soon.

211scaifea
Oct 5, 2016, 8:39 am

>209 msf59: Morning, Mark! Best of luck readjusting...

>210 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Thanks - me, too.

212jnwelch
Oct 5, 2016, 8:51 am

Good morning, Amber!

How great to be reading Sherlock Holmes. We're going to a play this weekend called "Miss Holmes", featuring a female Sherlock and Dr. Watson. It's at a theater that has done great adaptations of Neverwhere, the Lord Peter/Harriet Vane mysteries, Miss Buncle's Book, and a bunch of others, so we're optimistic.

213scaifea
Oct 5, 2016, 9:19 am

>212 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! The play sounds interesting - I can't wait to hear what you think about it!

214scaifea
Oct 5, 2016, 10:20 am

My librarian friend just sent me this photo of Charlie reading part of the story he's writing to his class in the school library this morning:



Ohmygosh, how much do I love this kid?!

215brodiew2
Oct 5, 2016, 10:56 am

Good morning, scaifea!

>214 scaifea: Very cool. What is his story about? What genre?

I ran across another picture book at the library that is from 1965. It's call Andrew Henry's Meadow. You many have already heard about it, but I was amazes by the black and white illustrations and the contraptions that the young Andrew creates.

216scaifea
Oct 5, 2016, 11:07 am

>215 brodiew2: Morning, Brodie! Charlie's book is essentially Harry Potter fan fiction. Harry apparently had 3 sets of twins later in life, and his story is about their own adventures at Hogwarts.
Thanks for the picture book tip - I'll keep a lookout for it.

217susanj67
Oct 5, 2016, 11:57 am

>214 scaifea: Amber, that's a very cute picture :-) I wondered whether he was still on War and Peace. But fan fiction is where the money's at if you look at E L James (which I try not to). Charlie can probably write better than she can, and certainly cleaner. And look how his audience is listening! No-one is turned around. It's great that he's enjoying the HP books so much.

218foggidawn
Oct 5, 2016, 1:31 pm

>212 jnwelch: Ooh, a friend of a friend of mine is involved in that play, so I've seen some reviews and things that make me want to go see it!

219scaifea
Oct 5, 2016, 2:49 pm

>217 susanj67: Susan: I think W&P is his bit of light summer reading, as it's taken a back seat since school has started.
My friend texted me that after he finished, all the kids wanted to check out Harry Potter books, so apparently they liked his story so far! So sweet. And I couldn't be prouder of him, who is usually so shy!

>218 foggidawn: Neat!

220jnwelch
Oct 5, 2016, 3:02 pm

>218 foggidawn: Nice! Our experience is that Lifeline always does a good job.

221johnsimpson
Oct 5, 2016, 4:11 pm

Hi Amber, what a great photo of Charlie reading to his class friends, looks like you could have a budding author on your hands my dear. I remember we had to write a story when we were in year 5 so we would be 9/10 depending on when our birthday was and a class friend loved writing and she kept putting off reading it to the class as it wasn't finished. Eventually Mrs Dews said she would just have to read what she had done, reluctantly Karen got her exercise book out and it was obviously just about filled as she had got to page 56 and as I say the story was not finished. I remember we were all enthralled but cannot remember what the story was about, sadly I haven't seen Karen for about nearly 30 years but last weekend she was meeting up with an old Junior school friend and I am friends on Facebook with the school friend and she posted some photos, Karen has changed very little in the last 30 years.

222scaifea
Oct 5, 2016, 6:46 pm

>220 jnwelch: Hi, Joe!

>221 johnsimpson: John: This isn't an assignment for school - he's just writing it in his free time. The librarian noticed that he was writing, asked what it was about and then offered to let him read it to the class instead of the book she had chosen for the day. So cool.
Love the story of your friend's story, too!

223Morphidae
Oct 5, 2016, 7:11 pm

When I was in 1st grade I wrote a sequel to Chicken Little. I even "bound" it in green velveteen. The teachers had me read it to the 3rd grade classes. I didn't become a writer but I remember it with pride.

224scaifea
Oct 5, 2016, 9:45 pm

>223 Morphidae: Morphy: Aw, that's adorable!!

225susanj67
Oct 6, 2016, 5:02 am

>219 scaifea: Amber, that's great that his audience was so enthusiastic! I read a book called "Talk Like TED" last year (TED being the TED talks that are probably more famous in the US than here). The #1 tip was "Talk about what you love", because then it would be easy and all fall into place. I was looking for tips on how to talk about e.g. discovery of documents in civil proceedings, which I don't love but which has to be done, so I didn't find it that helpful, but that is probably why normally-shy Charlie did so well - he was so absorbed in his subject-matter that it was more important than the shyness. (I love that he's still going with War and Peace :-) )

226scaifea
Oct 6, 2016, 6:25 am

>225 susanj67: Susan: I definitely agree, from experience, that it's easier to lecture on a subject dear to you. There are a few topics that would give me goosebumps as I taught about them, and still would, I suspect (Vergil's use of cadence and language, Homer describing Achilles fighting Hector in his own armor, the Athenians watching The Persians in a theater with the Acropolis just there behind them, Cicero's language, Catullus' poetry...).

227scaifea
Oct 6, 2016, 6:32 am

On the agenda for today:
A bit of cleaning, some treadmilling, menu-planning and getting my grocery list prepared, then a few quick errands in town before heading to school for my library volunteering this afternoon. Directly after school I have a PTO meeting, but luckily we're meeting in the library, so Charlie will happily hang out for the duration. I also have a call with the Harlem Wizards this morning to discuss the possibility of PTO bringing them here to perform for the school. So, full-ish day. Either Fried Rice or Spaghetti for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
Only a few pages in the Sherlock book to report. I need to get back on track, but the medicine at night plus the need to knit whenever I'm sitting (to get the Hogwarts sweater done in time) means much less reading time for now.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "At age thirteen, Elizabeth Janet Gray (Adam of the Road, 1943 Newbery Medal) received $2.00 for her first published story. The letter of acceptance began 'Dear Mrs. Gray...'"
Ha! Neat! Adam of the Road is excellent, by the way...

228scaifea
Oct 6, 2016, 6:33 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-The Cow Who Climbed a Tree by Gemma Merino (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
-Spooky Hayride
-Chapter 11 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-Chapter 3 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

229msf59
Oct 6, 2016, 6:52 am

Morning Amber! It looks like we have a stormy start to the day...

230scaifea
Oct 6, 2016, 8:37 am

>229 msf59: Morning, Mark! It's sure cloudy here, but no rain yet. Stay dry, friend!

231Thebookdiva
Oct 6, 2016, 9:03 am

Morning, Amber! I somehow managed to miss an entire thread of yours. Yay for Harry Potter.

232brodiew2
Oct 6, 2016, 1:35 pm

Good morning, scaifea! I hope all is well. I have written quite a bit of fan fiction in my day, even a little for The Force Awakens. Good for him being so creative.

233scaifea
Oct 6, 2016, 6:45 pm

>231 Thebookdiva: Hi, Abby! Good to see you!

>232 brodiew2: Brodie: I've written tons of it in my head, but never on paper. And yeah, he's unbelievably creative. Love that kid.

234scaifea
Oct 7, 2016, 6:32 am

On the agenda for today:
Grocery shopping, weekly bills and photo organizing, a bit of PTO work, and then I'll head into Charlie's old school for a meeting with the principle about the upcoming book fair, have lunch with my friend (who used to be the librarian there and is now the admin. assistant), then do my Friday afternoon volunteering before heading over to Charlie's new school to pick him up.

On the reading front:
I managed a few pages in Beyond Apollo (weeeeiiirrrd) before falling asleep last night.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia, 1978 Newbery Medal and Jacob I Have Loved, 1981 Newbery Medal) called herself a dreamer as a child but never envisioned seeing a book she wrote with a Newbery Medal on the cover, even though she read the Newbery books."

235scaifea
Oct 7, 2016, 6:35 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-The Sandman
-Splat the Cat: Good Night, Sleep Tight
-A few pages of Wonderstruck (Charlie's book club book this month)
-Chapter 12 in No Such Thing As a Witch
-Chapter 4 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

236lycomayflower
Oct 7, 2016, 7:06 am

I thought you might like to see this short interview with Megan Whelan Turner, Amber. http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/...

237laytonwoman3rd
Oct 7, 2016, 9:15 am

>234 scaifea: I must have skimmed something I should have read sometime or other....I didn't realize Charlie had changed schools?

238jnwelch
Oct 7, 2016, 9:27 am

Good morning, Amber! Happy Friday!

239scaifea
Oct 7, 2016, 10:46 am

>236 lycomayflower: Thanks, Laura! I'll save it to check out later. I've already got the next Gen book pre-ordered...

>237 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Well, not really. Sort of. The school district here divides students up by grade and not by location. So, the school he used to be in was 4K-1st (starting this year it's just 4K & K), and the school he's at now (across town from the first one, but 'across town' here amounts to a 5-minute drive) hosts 1st-4th grades.

>238 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!

240lauralkeet
Edited: Oct 7, 2016, 12:59 pm

>237 laytonwoman3rd:, >239 scaifea: I didn't realize he was in a different school building either. Thanks for the explanation!

241scaifea
Oct 7, 2016, 4:40 pm

>240 lauralkeet: Laura: Yep. And this summer they did some pretty heavy renovations on the building he's in now, and it's lovely.

242scaifea
Oct 8, 2016, 9:30 am

On the agenda for today:

Baking (Black Forest Tart, Lemon Bars & Italian Bread), sewing (I need to finish up Charlie's pajamas so that I can get started on his HP robes), knitting (HP sweater) and possibly some reading (but likely not).

On the reading front: Nothing. Not. A. Thing. Yeesh.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Elizabeth George Speare (The Witch of Blackbird Pond, 1959 Newbery Medal and The Bronze Bow, 1962 Newbery Medal) couldn't remember liking history as a child, but she became interested when she realized her characters live in historical times."
I LOVED both of these medal winners. Highly recommended.

243scaifea
Oct 8, 2016, 9:33 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-Gus Gets Scared
-Tell Me A Story, Grandpa by Ann Morris (Charlie's easy-reader weekend homework, part 1)
-A bit more of Wonderstruck
-Chapter 13 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-The first half of chapter 5 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (aka, Charlie Scaife Meets Charlie Weasley)

244msf59
Oct 8, 2016, 9:44 am

Morning Amber! Happy Saturday. Chilly start to my work day. Only in the 40s at the moment...

245scaifea
Oct 8, 2016, 11:03 am

>244 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yep, it's pretty chilly here today, too. But sunny, and that makes a lovely fall Saturday. Have a good one!

246charl08
Edited: Oct 8, 2016, 11:24 am

Cooing sounds lovely Amber. Ever thought of a baked goods by mail business?

Lol. Cooking.

247scaifea
Oct 8, 2016, 11:33 am

>246 charl08: Charlotte: *snork!* Not sure that I've ever cooed, to be honest. Baked good by mail? Hmm...

248scaifea
Oct 8, 2016, 5:09 pm

154. A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick (BSFA, audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
A strange and troubling and touching tribute to the world of drug use in the '60s. Excellently written, of course.

249Whisper1
Oct 8, 2016, 6:32 pm

I love reading about all the adventures you and Charlie share. We should all have a mother like you!

250scaifea
Oct 8, 2016, 6:45 pm

>249 Whisper1: Aw, thanks, Linda! I sure love living those adventures!

251ronincats
Edited: Oct 8, 2016, 9:57 pm

Finally worked up the nerve to dive into your threads, Amber, after my 3 week absence from the threads during our recent trip! That's over 400 messages! But it's done now, and now I can start just keeping up from day to day!

ETA btw, had UTI right after we got back. I've been able to treat it with cranberry supplement and vitamin C without having to go the antibiotic route, but I don't have any trouble at night. It's midday that the symptoms try to raise their ugly heads. Lying down during that time helps relieve them.

252PaulCranswick
Oct 9, 2016, 1:08 am

>251 ronincats: I had the same problem coming back from the UK and Ghana, Roni. Catching up on hundreds of posts that is, not the UTI!

Have a great weekend, Amber.

253scaifea
Oct 9, 2016, 10:37 am

>251 ronincats: Roni: You're so brave to wade through all of those posts! Ha!
And I'm sorry that you're having UTI symptoms - I didn't know that cranberry and C works as more than simple preventatives. I'm glad they're working for you.

>252 PaulCranswick: Paul: Lucky you, then. Glad to see you're back!

254scaifea
Oct 9, 2016, 10:40 am

On the agenda for today:
Some time in the sewing room (I'm hoping to finish up the pajamas today, finally) and then just hanging out with the Scaife Men. Stuffed Pepper Soup for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front: I started I Capture the Castle yesterday, which seems good so far.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Ellen Raskin knew she needed sixteen characters for The Westing Game (1979 Newbery Medal) so she went to what she called her 'swipe file' (files of pictures cut from magazines) and selected sixteen of them for her characters."
Cool! Gosh, I love that book.

255scaifea
Oct 9, 2016, 10:42 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-Library Day by Joy Cowley (Charlie's easy-reader reading homework, part 2) - 8/10 = B
-The Big White Ghost
-Some more of Wonderstruck
-Chapter 14 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-The rest of chapter 5 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

256Agnesium
Oct 9, 2016, 10:58 am

You might try probiotics as well ronincats, although without making this a doctor appointment, I can say vitamine C has been proven not to be very effective. Same as you ronincats, on a diligent quest to keep up with the posts of scaifea, all the reading Scaifea you do is quite exceptional! Will check out the Night manager!

257scaifea
Oct 9, 2016, 11:09 am

>256 Agnesium: Thanks! I've started taking a probiotic about 2 weeks ago, so hopefully that helps things, although at this point I think what's happening to me isn't a UTI, but something else. Hopefully I'll hear from my doc this week; I suspect she'll be referring me to a urologist...

258ronincats
Oct 9, 2016, 12:09 pm

>256 Agnesium: Actually, I am doing probiotics as well, but don't find them to address the actual symptoms directly. But it's such a relief to be off the antibiotics carousel!

259casvelyn
Oct 9, 2016, 12:45 pm

>254 scaifea: I Capture the Castle is one of my most favorite books ever!

260scaifea
Oct 9, 2016, 1:58 pm

>258 ronincats: Roni: Yes, but they're supposed to be so good for so many things, no?

>259 casvelyn: Oh, yay! I hope I end up liking it as much as you do!

261The_Hibernator
Oct 9, 2016, 2:25 pm

I loved I Capture the Castle. Such a cute story.

262scaifea
Oct 9, 2016, 3:08 pm

>261 The_Hibernator: Rachel: I'm glad you liked it, too!

263johnsimpson
Oct 9, 2016, 3:33 pm

Hi Amber, hope you have had a lovely weekend my dear, we have had a good weekend and now all the Christmas cakes have been baked, 15 in all.

Going back to post 257, I was in the car listening to the radio and there was a phone in going on and they were discussing UTI's and other ailments and a lady was on who has suffered for years and eventually they did a Kidney function test and this got to the nub of the problem so that might be thing to have checked my dear. I didn't hear the start of the phone in but there was something on the breakfast news that related to the phone in and as I heard the conversation I thought of you my dear suffering and forgot to post about what I had heard, do forgive me, I am at that funny age, lol.

264scaifea
Oct 9, 2016, 5:46 pm

>263 johnsimpson: Thanks for that, John. Here's hoping I can find out soon what's really going on.

265nittnut
Oct 9, 2016, 10:24 pm

Hi Amber. I'm "caught up". Not that I actually read anything, but I did look at the Charlie, Mario and Tuppence pictures. :) Hope your weekend was great.

266scaifea
Oct 10, 2016, 6:23 am

>265 nittnut: Hi, Jenn! I hope your weekend was a good one, too.

267scaifea
Oct 10, 2016, 6:28 am

On the agenda for today:
Cleaning, treadmilling, some PTO work, some writing and some time in the sewing room before heading back to school a bit early to pick up Charlie for his ENT appointment.

On the reading front:
I read more of I Capture the Castle, which seems a bit slow to start but I'm enjoying it anyway, and a bit more of War & Peace, which is still excellent.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "As a child, Elizabeth Enright (Thimble Summer, 1939 Newbery Medal) drew on anything she could find: a chalkboard, school books, the sidewalk, and even her knees."

268scaifea
Oct 10, 2016, 6:30 am

What We Read Yesterday:
-Jack Frost
-Happy Halloween, Mittens
-A few pages in Herobrine Goes to School (read aloud by Charlie)
-A bit more of Wonderstruck
-Chapter 15 on No Such Thing As a Witch
-Chapter 6 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

269msf59
Oct 10, 2016, 7:13 am

Morning Amber! I am off because of the holiday. Can you say Happy Camper? I knew you could...

I have wanted to read I Capture the Castle for a few years now. I should find a copy.

270Carmenere
Oct 10, 2016, 10:25 am

Howdy, Amber!

271scaifea
Oct 10, 2016, 10:32 am

>269 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yay for the day off! And thanks for reminding me that there's no mail today! Ha!

>270 Carmenere: Morning, Linda!

272scaifea
Oct 10, 2016, 11:07 am

This topic was continued by scaifea's thread #23.