2011 Book Reports and Update

 

Shock Wave by John Sandford

Another great Virgil Flowers story. Virgil is sent to defuse an exploding situation in southeastern Minnesota. Literally, bombs are going off daily as a bomber tries to stop a super store from coming to this small town.  Virgil is brought in to stop the bomber from lighting another fuse.

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg

What started as a recipe and story blog, Orangette, turns into a book that is entertaining and fun to read. Molly takes us from her childhood memories to present day life through food. 

V is for Vengence by Sue Grafton

A slow spin for Ms. Grafton and at times a bit of a sluggish read.  But, if you're a Grafton fan and are following her ABS series you'll want to read the antics Kinsey gets herself into next.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

A Christmas season does not go by without me reading Winter Solstice. I love this story of compassion, loss and friendship.  Five people unexpectedly coming together, supporting one another and creating a wonderful holiday in snowy northern Scotland. 

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley

It's Christmastime and a film crew has arrived at Flavia's home estate to film a movie. When the plot turns from fiction to fact, Flavia de Luce isn't far behind to root out the murderer. This eleven year old sleuth will have you laughing out loud, wishing to know her better and sad when the last page is read.

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston

A novel in pictures. Ms. Preston uses vintage memorabilia cut outs to tell a story about a woman in the 1920's. This easy read book is fun, different and will have you turning the pages quickly to see what Frankie will get herself into next.

That's it for my 2011 Book Reports

I read 58 books this year

AND

now, that I was given a Kindle for my birthday, I'll have to see if I read more or fewer books for 2012. I've noticed since I started Attic Whispers and writing myself,  I've read fewer books.  I should (if I believed in the word should) be reading more to see how the craft is done by the experts.  

12 lessons for 2012

Recently, Brand and Bloom's business coach, Andrea Mansfield, was asked by Design Sponge to share some fundamental goals for small (medium or large, too) business owners.  Her 12 lessons for 2012 is a concise, well written start to focus on what you want to get out of your business (or life) starting now.  Here's your link to the article:  Design Sponge

And it keeps on coming.....

From our little 2"-3" snowfall the last few days overnight we got another 7"=10" I measured it around the house at various spots and had a reading from 7" to 12". And the BIG SNOWSTORM is suppose to start late this afternoon throughout Wednesday. Oh Goodie....

I know for those east of the Cascades, Rockies, or Mississippi River our snowfall seems puny, small, nor worth mentioning - but here in the NW it's making the news, keeping everyone over the age of 17 indoors and brings our city is at a standstill. When our rain freezes and blankets us as snow - we pull out the cameras to document the event, hunker down and wait for the sun, rain and warmer temperatures to arrive.  

Some shots I took this morning - just snapshots nothing artistic

 

 

 

 

Bellingham finally got snow, too

 

There have been many times - many - when the weather forecast announcement is:

Bellingham Washington

rain mixed with light snow flurries

disappearing overnight

HOWEVER, at the Mansfield house

there will be snow

disappearing maybe by the end of the week

We have seen the snow zone start at our driveway and end next door - they along with the rest of Bellingham will have rain, we'll have snow.

Granted we do live in a forest that I like to call the thousand acre woods and our driveway climbs hundreds of feet up from sea level to our house but when it snows it's the driveway from hell.  We just stay indoors and admire the winter wonderland going on outside and wait a week or so until it's all gone. With all the tower trees the driveway is protected (nor sees the light of the sun) and it will be a long time before we'll venture out (or down). 

Do you see the little red barn below - that's on the street level entrance to our home. We have 5 hairpin turns (you're looking at turn 3 - or as we call it The Clincher (it'll get ya if you're not careful), climbing up to the house and when it snows I'll give the neighboring kids five minutes to grab their sleds or skis and come play on the snowy slope. Of course this packs the snow into ice and takes us an extra couple days of warm temps to melt and let us use the driveway - but, it's fun watching them zoom down the driveway taking those turns like Olympic athletes.

We've had snow at our house since last Friday.

The rest of Bellingham finally caught up to us this morning --  it snowed!

It's time to snuggle up next to the fire, grab my crocheting project or read a book and put a pot of soup on for dinner, cause right now looking out my window the snow is really coming down hard.

At least it is at our home.

I found this great idea on sewmanyways.blogspot. It's a dresser with the drawers taken out with storage bins used for craft, sewing, scrapbooking, yarns, etc. Wish I had the room to do this project and get better organized.

No More Moves......

I admit I came late to the party, but once there I was the last to leave.  I received the computer game, Bejeweled 3 for Christmas - I had never heard of it. I know - where have I been for the last 10 years? Not in the computer gaming world that's for sure. I plugged it in and the rest as they say is history (or herstory).  Version 3 came with no instructions, rules or directions except for a deep toned voice telling me when I did something great, awesome, spectacular and all the bells and whistles went off. Or to quietly tell me No More Moves and I'd have to start all over.  It took me about 5 minutes to figure the game out and another day to come up with strategies, what to watch for and how to move up the levels in Classic mode.  

This game is addictive and should come with a warning relating to substance abuse -- it's that good -- that much fun -- hours swiftly fly by without notice -- and I can't stop playing trying to bet my own top score. I've made it to level 15 and who knows how many levels there are in this version (again, no instructions) so I guess I'll just HAVE to keep playing to find out for myself.