If you read through my book list, and then read the comments, you'd fine one from Heidi asking how I kept track of all my titles. And you'd see a reply.
Guess what. I forgot one! While I was labeling all 300 of my posts (after deleting 3), I found a post where I reviewed a book titled People of the Book. It wasn't on my list!
So much for being accurate! sheesh.
I'm going to add it to my "real" list now.
*****
Shhhh! This is a secret.
This morning, I got a phone call from the school. My first thought was, "Dang it, my daughter is sick."
Then, the person said "I'm calling from the Grade School." This led to some confusion on my part because Miss Kat isn't in Grade School, she's in Junior High. But, the teacher went on to explain that Miss Kat had scored at the Exemplary level in Reading last spring on the State Standards Test.
The school is wanting to honor those kids who scored that high at a Home Basketball game in February. The kids will be awarded with a framed certificate of achievement and with a T-shirt that will say something like "cost of pencils $20, cost of paper $3, Cost of being Excellent Priceless" (something like that...so don't quote me on anything!) Thus the call, they wanted to know what size shirt to order her.
Isn't that cool? I mean, you call a library, talk to the Library Director, and tell her that her daughter is among the elite of readers! Now that's cool. O yeah, the certificate and the shirt will be nice, but seriously, it's much more cool to call and tell the librarian that her daughter is a good reader! Who'd-a-thunk-it!
I'm so stinkin' proud of her! I'm so glad she's a reader! Now, I just have to keep it a secret. And, you do too! So, Shhhhh.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
My reading list...if you care!
I keep a record of all the books I've read during a year. In 2008, I only read 52 books. Now, I realize that that averages to one book a week, but there have been years when I've read over 100 books a year.
I feel like I'm slacking.
And yet, over Christmas break, I read 7 books and finished 2 cross stitch projects, and did all the home projects and even found time to go hunting...3 times.
So, I shouldn't feel like a slacker, should I.
I've only got one book waiting on me at home. It's titled "Dewey" and it's about a cat who lived in a library for 20 years. I've got a list a mile long that I want to read, but haven't yet.
So, in case you are curious to see what I've actually read this year, here's my list, with notes:
I feel like I'm slacking.
And yet, over Christmas break, I read 7 books and finished 2 cross stitch projects, and did all the home projects and even found time to go hunting...3 times.
So, I shouldn't feel like a slacker, should I.
I've only got one book waiting on me at home. It's titled "Dewey" and it's about a cat who lived in a library for 20 years. I've got a list a mile long that I want to read, but haven't yet.
So, in case you are curious to see what I've actually read this year, here's my list, with notes:
- Voyager
- Drums of Autumn
- Fiery Cross
- Breath of Fire and Ashes all of these are by Diana Gabaldon who's one of my favorite authors. I frequently have to have a Jamie and Claire fix. Hey, I can't convince Kev to wear a kilt, so I need a fix somehow!
- Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth by Stacy A. Cordery
- Escape by Carolyn Jessop
- Strangers in Death by JD Robb
- Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts
- Sojourn Sorcerer's tale by Edginton Land this one is a graphic novel. I like graphic novels!
- Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von Trapp I've also read this one before.
- Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis another series I've read before. I guess I could count this as reading 7 separate books, since they are separate books...
- Dragon Harper by Anne McCaffrey yet another re-read. Anne is another favorite author.
- Memories Before & After the Sound of Music by Agathe Von Trapp
- Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
- Beowulf graphic novel by Neil Gaiman
- Beowulf: graphic novel by Gareth Hinds
- Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery
- Sojourn Berzerker's Tale by Edginton Land another graphic novel
- Twilight
- New Moon
- Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer the infamous Twilight series. They were OK. But I'm not in love with these like so many teens and even adults. Like I said, they were...OK.
- Sara Johnson's Mount Vernon by Scott E. Casper
- Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall
- Except for Me and Thee by Jessyman West I last read this as a 7th grader and was curious about how I'd feel about it as an adult.
- Tall Woman by...I didn't write down the authors name...bad me.
- Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
- The Host by Stephenie Meyer I liked Meyer's first "adult" novel much better than I did her Twilight series.
- Dawn's Early Light by Elswyth Thane
- Yankee Stranger by Elswyth Thane I intended to read all of this series again. It was another series I'd read in Jr High/High School. But, unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this series as much this time. I made it through 4 of the 6 books...
- Tribute by Nora Roberts
- Ever After by Elswyth Thane
- Light Heart by Elswyth Thane
- Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer Now this last titles in the Twilight series was much more enjoyable than the other three.
- Dragonlance chronicles 2,3A and 3B by Weis & Hickman Well, here's another 3 to add...These are graphic novels based on the original book series.
His Favorite Wife by Susan Ray LeBaron
Blood Covenant by Rena Chynoweth
Ranger's Apprentice: Books 1-4 John Flanagan These are a series introduced to my by young Mr. Tate. They are YA books for boys, and just happen to be master Archers. I like them, but they are YA books! - Rett Butler's People by Donald McCaig
- Circles of Stone by Joan Dahr Lambert This one is another one I've read at least twice. It just makes me think, and I like that.
- Scourge of God by SM Stirling
- Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
- 19th wife by David Ebershoff
It sucks to be me by...crap, I'm a librarian. Why don't I always write down authors? This is another YA book that I read cause it's been popular with my college girls... - Suite 606 by JD Robb
- Salvation in Death by JD Robb
- In the Serpent's coils
- By venom's sweet sting
- Between Golden jaws
- Maiden of the Wolf
- Queen of the Masquerade
- Oracle of the Morrigan by Tiffany Trent. These last 6 are all by Tiffany Trent. Another YA series I bought for the library, and they are being read by girls. They are interesting and very different. There will be 4 more titles in this series that I'll have to buy and read over the next year or so.
- Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts
That's it. If anyone has any questions about any books I've listed (or if you know that I left one out that I recommended to you, then let me know; cause I like to be accurate...
Yeah. right...
Monday, January 05, 2009
My Christmas List
How did we do on my real Christmas Wish List?
The Pellet stove: well, we attempted to get it installed. We built a base, got the stove pipe, but then discovered that you can't cut tempered glass. We wanted to run the pipe out of one of our useless French Doors temporarily. So, since we can't cut glass, and therefore can't run pipe through it, we'll have to hope for nice days when we can take out the door and frame that spot in and then install the stove.
The Hoosier: We did get the Hoosier finished. It has legs again after probably 50 years and it has a new latch. It also has a new home. We moved it from the "office" and put it between the living room and dining room. All my china is now in the Hoosier and lit looks really nice in it's new home.
The plumbing: We ran out of time, so the plumbing isn't done. Kev is still researching how to actually do this, so I have hopes that it will get finished.
The Office: The office is clean. It had to be, I had guests who needed to sleep in there. But, all the boxes are now empty. My CM albums all have a home, all my supplies are accessible. I have a table there to sew on and to scrapbook on. Now all I need is motivation to sew and scrapbook again.
The Chicken house: This wasn't on my list, however, we got the electricity run to the chicken house, so I can move the chicks out there soon. They are doing well in their stock tank brooder and are all growing like weeds and are healthy--even the one I tried to kill. (accidentally)
I have to say that I loved the fact that Kev worked so hard with me to get some of these things taken care of. I really enjoy knowing that we've got most of this off the "To Do" list.
But, the best Christmas gift wasn't on any list. It was a surprise.
See, we had Christmas with my folks and with my Aunt Sandy. It was important for Mom and Sandy to be with family for their first holiday without either of their parents. Grandma and Grandpa might not have been there in person, but they were there in spirit. My cousin G and I (mostly G) had put together a photo book in honor of Grandma and Grandpa. Neither Mom nor Sandy looked at them in front of us, but I know they treasure that book.
When we opened gifts, I had one from Sandy. It was a framed collection of Christmas fabric and part of a quilt block. With it was a card that said that Sandy had found this partial quilt block and the fabric in some of Grandma's stuff. She then went on to remind me that Grandma showed her love for us by making things for us, and that this framed block was a reminder of that love.
Whew, that really got to me, and I have hung it up in the office, above my worktable. It will be something that I will treasure for a very long time.
The Pellet stove: well, we attempted to get it installed. We built a base, got the stove pipe, but then discovered that you can't cut tempered glass. We wanted to run the pipe out of one of our useless French Doors temporarily. So, since we can't cut glass, and therefore can't run pipe through it, we'll have to hope for nice days when we can take out the door and frame that spot in and then install the stove.
The Hoosier: We did get the Hoosier finished. It has legs again after probably 50 years and it has a new latch. It also has a new home. We moved it from the "office" and put it between the living room and dining room. All my china is now in the Hoosier and lit looks really nice in it's new home.
The plumbing: We ran out of time, so the plumbing isn't done. Kev is still researching how to actually do this, so I have hopes that it will get finished.
The Office: The office is clean. It had to be, I had guests who needed to sleep in there. But, all the boxes are now empty. My CM albums all have a home, all my supplies are accessible. I have a table there to sew on and to scrapbook on. Now all I need is motivation to sew and scrapbook again.
The Chicken house: This wasn't on my list, however, we got the electricity run to the chicken house, so I can move the chicks out there soon. They are doing well in their stock tank brooder and are all growing like weeds and are healthy--even the one I tried to kill. (accidentally)
I have to say that I loved the fact that Kev worked so hard with me to get some of these things taken care of. I really enjoy knowing that we've got most of this off the "To Do" list.
But, the best Christmas gift wasn't on any list. It was a surprise.
See, we had Christmas with my folks and with my Aunt Sandy. It was important for Mom and Sandy to be with family for their first holiday without either of their parents. Grandma and Grandpa might not have been there in person, but they were there in spirit. My cousin G and I (mostly G) had put together a photo book in honor of Grandma and Grandpa. Neither Mom nor Sandy looked at them in front of us, but I know they treasure that book.
When we opened gifts, I had one from Sandy. It was a framed collection of Christmas fabric and part of a quilt block. With it was a card that said that Sandy had found this partial quilt block and the fabric in some of Grandma's stuff. She then went on to remind me that Grandma showed her love for us by making things for us, and that this framed block was a reminder of that love.
Whew, that really got to me, and I have hung it up in the office, above my worktable. It will be something that I will treasure for a very long time.
Hunting season 2008 recap
Deer season is over. I didn't get a deer this year.
It's been a year of learning for me. Hunting here is not at all what I'm used to doing, and I'm going to have to come up with some new strategies.
I learned that when it's 3 degrees above 0, it's OK to stay home. And, when you are standing in a tree stand when it's 3 degrees, your toes will get cold first, and they hurt when they get really cold. When it's 3 degrees out and your toes hurt, you can only tolerate that pain and cold for about an hour before saying "to heck with this, I'm leaving."
When you finally get in pickup, and start to thaw, then you will see 2 deer who probably were headed to the tree stand where they could laugh at the stupid human who got cold.
I also learned what it's like to really stalk deer. I crawled 20 or 30 yards to get close to 3 bucks. I made it within 10 yards before they saw me. And, it's my fault that they saw me. See, Kev and I decided to stop one day at the Hill. I had seen deer cut back in the pasture through a draw on 3 separate occasions. So, we decided to check out the draw. The deer were there all right, and I got so close, but I peeked up over some sagebrush to see exactly where they were, and one saw me and they all took off. It took me 30 minutes to crawl that 20-30 yards.
One week after crawling around trying to get close to these deer, Kev happened to go by and see 9 deer right there, within shooting range of my tree stand. For 3 months, I've been hunting there, and never ever had a deer come within range of my tree. I'm sure those deer were standing around, laughing at the stupid human who took the day off.
So, I didn't get a deer this year. But, I've got 9 months, and it will be deer season again. I've got that amount of time to out-smart these deer...
It's been a year of learning for me. Hunting here is not at all what I'm used to doing, and I'm going to have to come up with some new strategies.
I learned that when it's 3 degrees above 0, it's OK to stay home. And, when you are standing in a tree stand when it's 3 degrees, your toes will get cold first, and they hurt when they get really cold. When it's 3 degrees out and your toes hurt, you can only tolerate that pain and cold for about an hour before saying "to heck with this, I'm leaving."
When you finally get in pickup, and start to thaw, then you will see 2 deer who probably were headed to the tree stand where they could laugh at the stupid human who got cold.
I also learned what it's like to really stalk deer. I crawled 20 or 30 yards to get close to 3 bucks. I made it within 10 yards before they saw me. And, it's my fault that they saw me. See, Kev and I decided to stop one day at the Hill. I had seen deer cut back in the pasture through a draw on 3 separate occasions. So, we decided to check out the draw. The deer were there all right, and I got so close, but I peeked up over some sagebrush to see exactly where they were, and one saw me and they all took off. It took me 30 minutes to crawl that 20-30 yards.
One week after crawling around trying to get close to these deer, Kev happened to go by and see 9 deer right there, within shooting range of my tree stand. For 3 months, I've been hunting there, and never ever had a deer come within range of my tree. I'm sure those deer were standing around, laughing at the stupid human who took the day off.
So, I didn't get a deer this year. But, I've got 9 months, and it will be deer season again. I've got that amount of time to out-smart these deer...
Missing
I lost my phone. On New Year's Eve. I lost it in the morning, somewhere in my house. See, Andy went hunting and called me, on my phone. I answered it while standing in the Kitchen.
That's the last time I remember seeing it, in the Kitchen while talking to Andy. Ten minutes after talking to Andy, I looked for it because Miss Kat and I were leaving. I couldn't find it. I had Miss Kat call it, but no ring. We walked through the house, checked coat pockets, and purses, but were never able to find it.
Since then, I have checked every inch of the house. I've looked in the trash, I've looked in the Chicken House. I've looked in the bath tub, in the sink, in all the kitchen cabinets, under the sink, in every drawer, under every bed. I have looked in places that no cell phone should ever be. No phone. Since then, any time anything in our house has been "misplaced", I've assumed that it's with my phone, having some wild party.
So today, I reported it lost, used my insurance, and got a new phone. Unfortunately, I lost all my contacts. Most, I remembered, but some are long gone. Shayon, yours is gone. So, call me! And, if you are feeling singled out, this will make you feel better--I don't know Miss Kat's number either.
I have had a cell phone for 8 years or so, and this is the first time I have ever lost a phone. And, to have to say that I lost it in the Kitchen is just a wee bit humiliating. Where on earth could it have gone? It would be much more entertaining for me to say that I lost it while traipsing through the wilds of SW Kansas. Or, I could say that in the heat of anger, I threw it at my children, hit one of them with it, and was broken by the force of impact. Or, maybe I could say that it was stolen by a rogue chick who wanted to call her mama...
But, I can't say any of those things, cause my phone disappeared in the wilds of my kitchen, on New Years Eve, at 10 in the morning. How boring is that?
That's the last time I remember seeing it, in the Kitchen while talking to Andy. Ten minutes after talking to Andy, I looked for it because Miss Kat and I were leaving. I couldn't find it. I had Miss Kat call it, but no ring. We walked through the house, checked coat pockets, and purses, but were never able to find it.
Since then, I have checked every inch of the house. I've looked in the trash, I've looked in the Chicken House. I've looked in the bath tub, in the sink, in all the kitchen cabinets, under the sink, in every drawer, under every bed. I have looked in places that no cell phone should ever be. No phone. Since then, any time anything in our house has been "misplaced", I've assumed that it's with my phone, having some wild party.
So today, I reported it lost, used my insurance, and got a new phone. Unfortunately, I lost all my contacts. Most, I remembered, but some are long gone. Shayon, yours is gone. So, call me! And, if you are feeling singled out, this will make you feel better--I don't know Miss Kat's number either.
I have had a cell phone for 8 years or so, and this is the first time I have ever lost a phone. And, to have to say that I lost it in the Kitchen is just a wee bit humiliating. Where on earth could it have gone? It would be much more entertaining for me to say that I lost it while traipsing through the wilds of SW Kansas. Or, I could say that in the heat of anger, I threw it at my children, hit one of them with it, and was broken by the force of impact. Or, maybe I could say that it was stolen by a rogue chick who wanted to call her mama...
But, I can't say any of those things, cause my phone disappeared in the wilds of my kitchen, on New Years Eve, at 10 in the morning. How boring is that?
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