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(I don't like scary things -- cause, they scare me)

October's Book Reports

Since I was listening to more music than reading books this month, my list is small for the month.

Dead Wrong by Mariah Stewart

The 1st in the Dead Series. The serial killer is working his way down the M. Douglas' in the phone book, killing as he goes and still not getting the victim he wants. Mara Douglas is next on the list and with the help of FBI agent, Aidan, she won't be the next to be killed.

Good read - Good plot - Good story.

Red Herring by Archer Mayor

One of my favorite authors is back with another Joe Gunther story and finally getting back to the stories we had come to love. Catching a series of murders that are all staged to look like accidental deaths, Joe and his team have their work cut out for them. The surprise ending has me wanting the next book in the series now.

Dead Certain by Mariah Stewart

The 2nd in the Dead Series, continues where the 1st book left off.  We meet Amanda Crosby, an antiques dealer whose partner, neighbors and friends are dropping like flies. Once Amanda is cleared of the dastardly dead, the local detective sticks to her like glue to protect and serve. A bit of a slow read, not as well put together as book one but, I'll continue to read the rest of the series.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
by Alan Bradly

With a recommendation from my daughter-in-law, I dove into this book never to surface until it was done. You'll fall in love with 11 year old Flavia de Luce living in England in the 1950's from page 1. Nancy Drew in Britain reading for all ages -- except with better writing, better plot and laugh-out-loud adventures that will have you turning the pages quickly.  The first in Bradly's series and I'm off to read number 2.  Very well written, great plot and wonderful sleuth.

Dead Heat by Richard Castle

Nikki Heat and the NYPD cast is up to their necks with a murdered columnist in the big apple.  Taken from Castle's experiences shadowing the real Kate Becket (really?) the story moves along with mayhem and adventures thrown in as only Castle can do. Castle's 2nd Nikki Heat book and if you want more of Castle and Becket watch them every Monday night in the TV series: Castle.  (I love this)

An Experience.......

 

Mumford and Sons were great but on the other hand, I guess you get what you pay for. For $20 it was a mediocre venue, a hour and a half of starting group(s) and a hour and 15 minutes of Marcus, Winston, Ben and Ted that came on at 11:00 p.m.  From where we were standing, we could see the band, feel the acoustics just not hear the singing (it blended with the acoustics).  But, hearing The Cave live and seeing this cute English group was worth the wait and the price. 

Unfortunately, my trip was cut short when I was hit with a bad head cold and was thankfully driven home (a long, stormy, just made the ferry trip) by my wonderful, understanding, step-up-and-take-charge daughter. I'm still under the weather (and it's a storming outside right now, too) but getting better.  Thank you, again, darling daughter - Santa will hear of your rescue mission.

Here We Go Again

brought to you by Pixie Lott

I'll be the last one on the dance floo-o-o-r

Off to Portland and some rocking good music in concert by

Mumford and Sons

Let's dance!

Let's Dance!

October 18, 1977

10:29 am

8 pounds 15-1/2 ounces -- 21" 

born someplace in northern Ohio

Bellingham State of Mind via You Tube

Home Sweet Home

I've mentioned before (and more than once, I'm sure) that I'll be selling my journals at the Bellingham Allied Arts Holiday Festival again this year, from November 20th to December 24th. And for the last 4-5 months I've been trying to come up with a different look for my booth than last year's display. The hook was to have a hanging shelf above the product boxes to display a row of my journals --- but how to do it was beyond me and my budget. I searched the web for inspiration, ideas and a DIY project. I picked the minds of family members to help with a solution. And, yet, nothing seemed to work - or work that I could do, afford and then be able to carry & set up myself.

Until I visited our local restore once more (you know the kind of place: dusty, used, recyclable products with overall wearing contractors walking around who seem to know what they're looking at and what they can do with it). I found a large, used bulletin board covered in ripped wallpaper. It was light weight - has stable backing - the right size (and would just fit in my tiny car trunk (I measured twice) - and only $12. SOLD!

The wallpaper removal only took an hour before heading to the lumber store for the rest of the pieces to put this standing backboard together with an attached shelf. Then it's paint, some fabric to cover and wal-la I'll have my new booth ready for the show. You can see the before pictures above -- the after pictures will be forth coming.

3 days of greatness.....

Bluegrass music, folk music, rock music, marching band (but, not your mother's marching band) music, foot stomping, arms pumping, body rocking music that went on for 3 days in Golden Gate Park's 10th annual music festival. An absolutely amazing weekend filled to the brim with 6 stages of morning to night sounds that we danced to, sang along with and totally blasted our way into with the other 360,000 music lovers in the Park. Fantasticly Good Time!!!

September's Book Reports
A Bad Day For Sorry by Sophie Littlefield

I got to page 95 and shut the book. The story was all over the place with lots of references to past acts (but never told). Suppose to be a funny mystery - not so much.

Burn by Nevada Barr

I could not get into this book, either. Maybe, If I'd finished it it might have made some sense -- but, I would have had to muddle through it. 2 stories in alternating chapters, great emotional writing (maybe the author had to get that out there) but not my typical great read from Ms. Barr. Sorry.....

Cut, Paste, Kill by Marshall Karp

I have been waiting for this one to hit the stands for over a year - when Mr. Karp told me he was in the process of writing Lomax & Bigg's latest adventure dealing with scrapbooking. I begged my favorite author to put me in his book (I mean, geez, mystery-mayhem-scrapbooking). But it didn't happen (but, got a promise of it yet to come). Although, the victim's name is Eleanor Bellingham-Crump (curious and curiouser - Bellingham being my hometown). Anyway, Mrs. Bellingham-Crump is murdered and the perp left behind a scrapbook with evidence that Mrs. Bellingham-Crump's demise was not random --- or was it? Another great, banter filled read with Marshall at his best. Borrow-Check it out of the Library-Buy it- You won't be disappointed.

As Husbands Go by Susan Isaacs

Not nearly as good as Susan's previous books with about 250 pages of emotional baggage and 100 pages of mystery solving - or was it only 50 pages.

Dead Irish by John Lescroart

I was searching for a new series and picked up the 1st of the Dismiss Hardy series. I'll read another, but sure hope the writing and story improves with age.

Mercy Street by Mariah Stewart

First of the 3 book Mercy Street Foundation series (a foundation set up to pick up where the police and PI leave off and bring closure to open cases). Very well written by an author who knows how to put it all together. Great twists, turns and the start of a good series.

Cry Mercy by Mariah Stewart

Donor siblings gets a look at from the Mercy Street Foundation. Since I'd never heard of such a thing before, this was very interesting and a great premise for a mystery to evolve. Another good read with a little mystery & a little romance.

Acts of Mercy by Mariah Stewart

Another very good read in this 3rd installment of the Mercy Street Foundation and maybe the last. The FBI gets involved with a serial killer on the lose that seems to have ties to the MSF's latest hire.

Got Me A Ticket on an Airplane!

Heading to San Francisco and Golden Gate Park's Bluegrass Festival, October 1st, 2nd & 3rd. I can't wait for the music to begin! Some of the headliners are Joan Baez, Earl Scruggs, Elvis Costello and more and the best part (besides being with family for 4 days) it's all FREE.

(Mt. Baker with the only clouds to be seen for miles)
(Gulls, Herons and Canadian Geese galore)
After a few weeks of record breaking rain (it's fall after all) yesterday we had a perfect fall day to enjoy. 71 degrees, sunshine, blue skies and a day to celebrate. If you know the farthest northern corner of the NW USA, you know about Semi-ah-moo, if not -- it's a wonderful resort-spa-w/golf course near by, sitting on a long spit in Puget Sound. You can see the US/Canadian Peace Arch just across the water, with a water tumbled rocky beach, surrounded by majestic mountains with the Canadian islands dotting the western horizon -- the perfect NW experience.
And we took it all in.

It was a perfect 39th anniversary!

39 years ago ........

The year was 1971..........
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 4.3%
Average Cost of new house: $25,250.00
Average Income per year: $9,028.00
Average Monthly Rent: $150.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas: 36 cents
cost of a gallon of milk: $1.18
United States postage Stamp: 8 cents
Movie Ticket: $1.50
New VW Beetle cost $1,909.95

Richard Nixon - President
Spiro T. Agnew - Vice President

*The Voting Age in the United States is lowered to 18 yrs old when the
26th Amendment to the US constitution is ratified.
*Women are granted the right to vote in Switzerland
*Harris public opinion poll claims that 60% of Americans are against the war in Vietnam
*National Public Radio (NPR) broadcasts for the first time in April 1971
*The New York Times begins to publish sections of the Pentagon Papers
showing the US Government had been lying to the American People.

The oscars went to The French Connection for best movie, Gene Hackman in The French Connection, Jane Fonda in Klute, Ben Johnson supporting role in The Last Picture Show, Cloris Leachman supporting role in The Last Picture Show.

Top 11 Songs (had to do 11 to get one of our favorites on the list):
1. Joy to the World, Three Dog Night
2. Maggie May/Find a Reason to Believe, Rod Stewart
3. It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move, Carole King
4. One Bad Apple, Osmonds
5. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?, Bee Gees
6. Indian Reservation, Raiders
7. Go Away Little Girl, Donny Osmond
8. Take Me Home, Country Roads, John Denver
9. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), Temptations
10. Knock Three Times, Dawn
11. Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin

and we were married --- Happy Anniversary Honey!

It's hot cider time ......

The leaves are turning color, the nights are longer, there's a chill in the air and we're surrounded with autumn smells along with our northwest rain. There is firewood stacked in the fireplace, the afghans are out along with sweaters, socks and a pile of books ready to read. It's fall and it's time to sip some hot cider and enjoy the waffling of apple fragrances throughout the house.

2 quarts apple cider or juice
3-4 cinnamon sticks - broken into 2" pieces
*if not on hand, 2 t (more or less to taste)
of ground cinnamon is OK
1/4 Cup brown sugar
a dash of nutmeg
a dash of allspice (only if you have some on hand)
a tab of butter
a small piece of orange peel added, if on hand
Heat and serve

I love wearing red shoes and stripe socks!