Anita (FAMeulstee) won't read 75 books this year, but missed you all too much

Discussie75 Books Challenge for 2014

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Anita (FAMeulstee) won't read 75 books this year, but missed you all too much

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1FAMeulstee
jan 14, 2014, 4:14 pm

hi everyone

Last year I did not join the group as my readings have diminished to max ONE book a month :-(
But I miss you guys and gals, so I decided to join again.

On the other hand I am doing very well. I lost my phobias somewhere in 2013 and I am slowly exploring the world outside my home on my own.

Happy readings to all of you!

Anita

2scaifea
jan 14, 2014, 4:17 pm

Oh, Anita!! So wonderful to see you!! Welcome back!

3FAMeulstee
jan 14, 2014, 4:25 pm

Thanks Amber, it feels good to be back :-D

4norabelle414
jan 14, 2014, 4:45 pm

Hi Anita!

5SandDune
jan 14, 2014, 5:32 pm

Found you!

6drneutron
jan 14, 2014, 8:13 pm

Welcome back!

7ronincats
jan 14, 2014, 10:12 pm

Woohoo! Lovely to see you here, Anita! That's fantastic news about the phobia disappearance.

8richardderus
jan 14, 2014, 10:57 pm

ANITA!! Oh yay I am so happy you're back home! *smooch* and some serious ear-schmoozles to Ari and Chimay! Not Frank, though.

9Whisper1
jan 14, 2014, 11:43 pm

Anita!!! How I've missed you. I'm excited to learn what my YA buddy has to offer as suggestions this year. I can't wait....

Love you lots and it is so good to see you right where you belong, among friends!

10PaulCranswick
jan 15, 2014, 12:05 am

Anita - Another of your fan club wishing you a happy return. Trust that the ills that plagued you previously are a permanent thing of the past. Hoping for a wonderful 2014 for you and yours. xx

11connie53
jan 15, 2014, 9:48 am

Good to see you back, Anita!

12FAMeulstee
jan 15, 2014, 6:45 pm

Thanks Nora, Rhian, Jim, Roni, Richard, Linda, Paul and Connie

Feels good to be welcomed by you all!

I just started my first book this year.

book 1 Black, de zwarte hengst

I just regained 10 books of the "Black Stallion" series, those were victims of the great cull of 2005, but back again, only two books to go.
I even had a lucky find, the first book in the OLD edition (1960)!
I have searched that one for over 20 years and finally settled for the newer edition in the 90s.

As reading is still difficult I reread simple, old favourites ;-)

13LauraBrook
jan 15, 2014, 7:26 pm

Welcome back, Anita! Glad to have your lovely self here as always.

14saraslibrary
jan 15, 2014, 9:38 pm

Thanks for the link, Anita! :) And I'm glad to see you're doing a thread this year.

15scaifea
jan 16, 2014, 7:23 am

I've fairly recently (in the last two years?) re-read (although some for the first time) the entire Black Stallion series. Some were better than others, but it was in general a fun read. I love the cover for that 1960's edition! I have my old copies of the first few from when I was a kid in the early '80s.

16Whisper1
jan 16, 2014, 8:21 am

I had no idea that the Black Stallion book was a series...Oh, no Anita, your back and I'm tempted already....

Happy Day Dear One!

17alsvidur
jan 16, 2014, 9:47 pm

I love the cover of your Black Stallion edition!

18Deern
jan 18, 2014, 2:16 am

Oh, there IS a new thread! So glad to see you here again, Anita. I had kept the old thread starred, hoping you'd post again eventually.

A (very belated) Happy New Year to you, Frank and the doggies!

19PaulCranswick
jan 18, 2014, 4:10 am

Anita - wishing you a lovely first weekend back in the fold.

20alcottacre
jan 19, 2014, 10:27 am

Checking in on you here, Anita!

21gennyt
jan 20, 2014, 4:58 pm

It's so great to see you back, Anita! Never mind how many books, it's the company and conversation that matter!

The Black Stallion was one of my favourite reads when I was about 9 or 10 - but until seeing Amber reading through the whole series I never knew there was more than one book!

22FAMeulstee
jan 23, 2014, 3:00 pm

thanks Laura, Sara, Amber, Linda, Emilie, Nathalie, aul, Stasia and Genny for visiting my thread.
Yes, I am back home ;-)

I love the covers of the 60s series, only 12 books were translated back then. At home we had book 2 to 12, the first book was missing. But that did not matter, I did read those so often that most of them fell apart...

In the 80s the series was published again and some additional books were translated. I am still in doubt if I want those too.

Today I found the last two missing books at an internet bookstore, so tomorrow or the day after the series will be complete!

Last year I mostly read Karl May books and a few others.

For those who are curious, here is the (short) list of books I read in 2013:
1 - De zoon van de woordbouwer by Frank Herzen (YA, review here)
2 - De schrik van het Ertsgebergte by Karl May (review here)
3 - De weg naar Waterloo by Karl May (review here)
4 - De kluizenaar in de Sahara by Karl May (review here)
5 - De Bom a graphic novel from Keiji Nakazawa about Hiroshima... shivering good,
      uncomprehensable what happend there in 1945. Highly recommended!
6 - De spion van Ortry by Karl May (review here)
7 - Titanen vechten het uit by Karl May (review here)
8 - De admiraal van de sultan by Karl May (review here)
9 - De schat van de maharadja by Karl May (review here)
10 - De kinderen van het Achtste Woud by Els Pelgrom (YA, review here)
11 - Glijvlucht by Anne-Gine Goemans (YA, review here)
12 - De Roos en het Zwijn by Anne Provoost (YA, review here)

Then I starded an other Karl May, but it did not work out, stopped on page 31.
I think I overdosed a bit on Karl May books ;-)

23ronincats
jan 26, 2014, 12:28 pm

I thought of you yesterday, Anita. I was checking out our local Little Free Library and dropping in a couple of books, and saw three of the old hardback bright orange Black Stallion books in there. It's been a long time since I've seen that old edition. I also read every one I could lay my hands on when I was a preteen.

24PaulCranswick
jan 26, 2014, 5:23 pm

Hope your weekend is going well Anita. xx

25FAMeulstee
jan 26, 2014, 6:22 pm

> 23: I have never seen these bright orange editions, so I looked them up at the web. Nice you thought of me :-)

> 24: thanks Paul, allis well here, I am happy as I finished my first book this year!

26FAMeulstee
jan 26, 2014, 6:43 pm

book 1 Black, de zwarte hengst

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title The Black Stallion
finished January 23th

When I was young we did not have the first book of the Black Stallion series. So I have only read this book 2 or 3 times before. The others were literally read to pieces!

I guess most of you know the story of the boy Alec, who travels by boat from India to the USA after visiting his uncle in India, and the Black wild horse. They strand on an island after the boat sinked. The wild horse get tamed by Alec, because he find food for them both.
After being rescued Black and Alec go to the USA, where a retired trainer sees a great race horse in Black....

Oh, how I loved Black and Alec!
I begged for riding lessons for years and when I was 12 I finally could take riding lessons. I love dogs but I think there was a time I loved horses even more ;-)
Until my 19th I went riding a few times a week, helped at the racetrack near The Hague (where I lived then), but then I moved out, went to study at the University of Rotterdam and lack of money withheld me from riding. Then dogs entered my life and I kept it at that :-D

5 stars, mainly because of nostalgia

27FAMeulstee
feb 8, 2014, 1:33 pm

book 2 De terugkeer van Black, de zwarte hengst

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title The Black Stallion Returns
finished February 6th

I have read this in my youth over a dozen times.

Alec goes to Arabia to find where his Black Stallion lives. Together with Henry Daily and Mr. Volence they travel to Arabia and through the desert. After many adventures they finally find the residence of his owner.

In my youth it did not annoy me, but now the minimal geographic knowledge of Walter Farley did hit me. On the hand who knew at that time a lot about Arabia?
The story is still good.

4 stars

28FAMeulstee
feb 8, 2014, 2:33 pm

The past week Frank and I watched Italian films on DVD

La meglio gioventù director Marco Tulio Giordana
watched on February 2nd, 4 1/2 stars



Novecento (film) director Bernardo Bertolucci
watched on February 3rd, 5 stars



Kaos directors Paolo and Vittorio Taviani
watched on February 4th, 4 1/2 stars



Brutti, sporchi e cattivi director Ettore Scola
watched on February 5th, 4 stars



La dolce vita director Federico Fellini
watched on February 6th, 5 stars

29FAMeulstee
feb 15, 2014, 5:36 pm

book 3 De zoon van Black, de zwarte hengst

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title Son of the Black Stallion
finished February 6th

Next one in the Black Stallion series.
After his adventures in Arabia the first son of Black is send to Alex. When the colt arrives he is wild and dangerous. Alec believes he will win his trust to train him for the racetrack.
But as time passes nothing seems to change and the colt, named Satan, only gets stronger and more dangerous.
But of course there is a happy end and Satan does run a fabulous race at the end.
Loved it again ;-)

4 stars

30connie53
Bewerkt: feb 16, 2014, 6:35 am

Glad you are reading again, Anita!

31dk_phoenix
feb 16, 2014, 7:28 am

Drive-by wave!

32FAMeulstee
feb 16, 2014, 6:02 pm

> 30: Thank you Connie, at least I can read easy books, better than none at all. But I do long to the time I can read the rest of Voskuils Het Bureau, as I had to stop after the 4th book....

>31 dk_phoenix:: a wave right back at you Faith ;-)

33Whisper1
feb 16, 2014, 9:46 pm

HI Anita

I understand that when there are energy, or focusing problems, it is difficult to read, and also wonderful when we can find a genre that clicks for us. Before this latest neck fusion surgery and then during recovery, it is difficult to read a small print, large book.

I found children's illustrated books and the incredible artwork. It make me happy that I can read something.

I think of you often dear Anita! It just isn't the same on LT without you.

34FAMeulstee
feb 17, 2014, 3:40 pm

hi Linda,

Yes, I have seen the beautiful illustrated books you have been reading, some were realy magnificent!

Well I am back, not as active as I used to be, but when reading is dificult, reading long threads is not easy either, even on good reading days ;-)
So when I have been struggeling reading your thread or Richards, I am out of energy & not able to comment.

But the thinking of you is mutual!

love & hugs
Anita

35ronincats
feb 20, 2014, 6:30 pm

At least with the threads, you can adjust the font size if that helps make it more readable!

I am so delighted you are able to get out and about so freely now! That must balance out the book difficulty to some extent.

And I must confess I am feeling extreme deprivation of Ari and Chimay pictures!!

36Whisper1
feb 20, 2014, 8:33 pm

Yes, like Roni, I miss images of Ari and Chimay.

Thinking of you Anita. I finished a wonderful book that I thought you might be interested in. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan is incredible!

37FAMeulstee
feb 22, 2014, 4:44 pm

> 35: No the font size is not the problem, Roni, it is the tired brain ;-)

Yes it does, although I still take baby-steps exploring the world. After so many years I find my social skills have declined and I can't take many people around.
I try to desensitive myself a bit :-)

I feel the same about pictures of the two, I think the last ones I took were in November, when we were on vacation in Germany... We have a very warm winter, no snow (snow is always picture time, as they both look so good in snow).
Chimay is not at her best at the moment, she has bursitis in her hock and walked for a while on 3 legs. But she is on the mend, so I will try to take pictures when she is well again, as she doesn't like her picture taken and certainly would disapprove when I try to take a picture while she is not feeling well ;-)

> 36: thank you Linda, that book looks promishing, but I'll wait for the translation. About pictures see above my answer to Roni.

38saraslibrary
feb 26, 2014, 4:18 pm

I'm sorry to hear about Chimay. And yes, pets can be sensitive about having their photo taken when they're not at their best. ;)

Best of luck with getting back into the swing of social situations. It's extremely difficult, I know. I struggle with similar issues (mainly social phobia), but it's doable. Like you said, you just have to take baby steps. :)

39richardderus
feb 27, 2014, 3:29 pm

Sending many hugs, pats, ear-tousles, and smooches to you and yours!

40FAMeulstee
Bewerkt: mrt 6, 2014, 3:53 pm

> 38: Chimay thanks you Sara for understanding.
Forgot last week to take baby-steps, resulted in panick attack, so have to take a few steps back :-(

> 39: thanks Richard, right back at you & Stella!

41FAMeulstee
mrt 6, 2014, 3:59 pm

book 4 Black, de zwarte hengst en Satan

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title The Black Stallion and Satan
finished February 23rd

Next one in the Black Stallion series.

Finally the Black stallion and his son Satan meet eachother. But it is not the father and son reunion Alec hoped for as the Black only wants to fight other stallions...

I am so glad I bought these books again!

4 stars

42saraslibrary
mrt 8, 2014, 4:21 pm

#40: I'm sorry to hear about the panic attack. :( But no need to feel bad about it. You'll find your inner strength again, I'm sure. :)

43connie53
mrt 8, 2014, 4:46 pm

>40 FAMeulstee: Ahhh, that's not nice! But you will get there!

44PaulCranswick
mrt 22, 2014, 2:54 am

Anita, Hani still gets panic attacks occasionally and not simply when she stumbles upon new books in my reading room. She needs seemingly contradictory help of plenty of air and a cuddle from her husband at such times. Our bodies are strange things aren't they?

Have a panic-free and lovely weekend. xx

45FAMeulstee
apr 2, 2014, 1:27 pm

> 42: Thanks Sara, I am back on track again :-)

> 43: Yes Connie, you are right, we will see how far I'll come in this life ;-)

> 44: I am sorry Paul that Hani has these too...
Not only our bodies, but our minds can play strange tricks with us!

Had a good weekend, thank you.

46FAMeulstee
apr 2, 2014, 2:23 pm

book 5 Black Minx, het veulen van Black, de zwarte hengst

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title The Black Stallion's Filly
finished March 9th
4 1/2 stars, I almost love Black Minx as much as her father!

book 6 Black, de zwarte hengst komt in opstand

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title The Black Stallion Revolts
finished March 19th
4 stars, a bit far fetched sometimes, but the Black is incredible, as always.

book 7 Bonfire, Black's tweede zoon in de drafsport

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title The Black Stallion's Sulky Colt
finished April 2nd
Another Black son trots with a sulky, will he be as succesful?

Finished three more of the Black Stllion series :-)
Still enjoy them!

47saraslibrary
apr 2, 2014, 5:09 pm

#45: I'm so glad to hear! :) And great reads. I think I may have read one of The Black Stallion books when I was a kid, but I'm not sure. I'll look for them some time, thanks!

48ronincats
apr 3, 2014, 9:20 pm

Oh, how I loved those books when I was in 5th and 6th grade--devoured all I could find. I'm glad you are still enjoying them, Anita.

49PaulCranswick
apr 4, 2014, 12:46 pm

Anita, hope you are doing fine and are ready to celebrate a lovely weekend.

50gennyt
mei 11, 2014, 4:43 am

Dear Anita, I wonder how you are doing? Are you still reading Black Stallion books? And how are Ari and Chimay? You may not feel like posting, that's ok - but your LT friends still think about you.

51FAMeulstee
mei 13, 2014, 7:26 am

Yes I am still reading and loving the Black Stallion books, thanks!

Just started the 10th book The Black Stallion and Flame.

Chimay and Ari are both well, here a picture of them taken in March, they were clearly asking why I did not come into the garden too :-)

52scaifea
mei 13, 2014, 12:18 pm

>51 FAMeulstee: I love that you're still working through the Farley books! And your dogs are as lovely as ever!

53ronincats
mei 13, 2014, 2:22 pm

Great picture, Anita! {{{Anita}}}

54gennyt
mei 13, 2014, 4:16 pm

Thanks for the photo, Anita! I hope you did manage to join them in the garden, if not in March then now that it is warmer.

55saraslibrary
mei 13, 2014, 5:31 pm

Good job on the reading. And thank you for the dog pics! They do look like they're begging you to join them. :D

56Apolline
mei 14, 2014, 4:37 pm

Hi, Anita! Good to see you! Your dogs are so adorable!:)

57Whisper1
Bewerkt: mei 15, 2014, 12:51 am

Oh, Anita, How simply marvelous to see posts by you. I think of you ever so often. I'm sorry that you suffer from panic attacks. As always, I am in awe of your ability to keep trying and to share what is happening in your life.

I cannot thank you enough for your marvelous contribution to my sea change of reading genre. Hugs to you my dear.

Here is a photo taken of Lilly on Easter Day. She played with her Easter toy until it was wet with slobber, and until her energy gave out.

58FAMeulstee
Bewerkt: aug 23, 2014, 6:10 am

Sorry I was away for so long, thanks everyone who stopped at my thread.

I did read some books, continued withe the Black Stallion books
book 8 Black, de zwarte hengst terug op de renbaan

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title The Black Stallions courage
finished April 15th
After the farm burns down, Alec and the Black have to go back to the race-course to get money together to build up the farm again.
4 stars

book 9 Het mysterie van Black's vader

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title The Black Stallion Mystery
finished April 22th
Is Blacks father still alive? Alec and Henry think so as they see fillies that resemble Black... Their search brings them back in Arabia.
3 stars

book 10 Black, de zwarte hengst en Flame

own, translated, favorites of my youth, original title The Black Stallion and Flame
finished June 12th
Flying back home the airplane with lack, Alex and Henry crashes in the ocean. The people are saved, but where is Black?
3 1/2 stars

Then I had enough of the Black and went on with three favourites of my youth, that I all have read a hunderd times before:

book 11 De wateren van Finn by Alet Schouten
review in my 2010 thread

book 12 Het teken van Wichart by Alet Schouten
YA, historical fiction, a boy escapes from captivity in Wales, with a big Irish Wolfhound, back to his place of birth near Dorestad in Holland. Translated in English as "Flight into danger"

book 13 De mare van de Witte Toren by Alet Schouten
YA, historical fiction, 2nd century. The adventures of the seventh son of a Roman officer and a tribal princess and a Welsh druïd.

59Whisper1
aug 6, 2014, 11:07 am

Hello Dear Friend

How are you feeling?

60FAMeulstee
aug 6, 2014, 3:26 pm

hi Linda

Thanks for asking, I haven't been too well, hurted my ankle in May, but only noticed when my foot was almost double its normal size... After that it went off and on, had some trouble with my teeth, one was pulled (ouch).
Now I am for the second time on antibiotics, hope this one does the trick. I feel better when I am taking the antibiotics, but last time it went downhill again within a week :-(

And how are you coping my dear friend?

Anita

61gennyt
aug 7, 2014, 9:27 am

Lovely to see some updates from you, Anita, but I'm sorry you have not been well. I hope tje antibiotics do the trick and you feel better soon.

62Whisper1
aug 7, 2014, 10:43 am

Anita, thanks for asking. It's been a tough year. Because of health care and my need to buy into a bells and whistles expensive policy, my surgery has been postponed till January 2015. But, there is a silver lining in the clouds. Originally scheduled for the end of July, I found that I was obsessing about the seriousness of the surgery and truly was not ready to undergo this ten hour ordeal.

These extended months allow me to process and move forward.

How are your wonderful dogs? Your husband? Please post photos when and if you have the time and inclination.

63connie53
aug 8, 2014, 4:23 pm

Glas to hear from you again, Anita!

64ronincats
aug 8, 2014, 11:03 pm

Anita, sorry about your health problems this year. I hope your fall is much better. Yes, how are Frank and Chimay and Ari? I fear you all are a package deal!

65FAMeulstee
aug 14, 2014, 6:59 pm

thanks Genny Linda, Connie and Roni

Frank, Chimay and Ari are well.
Chimay is sowly getting older, some days better other days a bit less. She will be 10 in October.
Ari is all grown up now, a great small dog and we know eachother through and throug.

Next tooth will be pulled next week :-(

66Deern
aug 15, 2014, 6:36 am

Hi Anita, I am sorry about your health problems. Were the antibiotics prescribed for the ankle injury or for the teeth problems? Another tooth to be pulled... no good news indeed.

Lovely pic of Chimay and Ari and the "Hollywood swing" (that's what they were called in Germany, I guess in English it's canopy swing? Anyway - I want one!) :)

Wishing you, Frank and the doggies a nice and sunnier weekend than the forecast (wetter.com) for the Netherlands announces!

67FAMeulstee
aug 23, 2014, 6:09 am

The next tooth was pulled yesterday, I hope it will help improving my health. After all these months it would be nice if I felt better!

Nathalie: no not for my ankle, I had a very bad sinus and nasal cavity (sp?) infection.
And please... don't wish us sunny weather, we have had enough of way too hot in July!
So glad with the cooler weather as Ari and I really prefer temperatures below 20 Celcius ;-) Okay, a bit less rain would be nice, but we prefer the rain over hot weather :-D

And one more book read:

book 14 Het pad van de Wildeman by Alet Schouten

own, Dutch, history, France, favorites
finished August 18th

France B.C. Dana, a Keltic queen/Godess, lives with her tribe in a "castle" on a hill next to the traderoutes of that time. People from Greece, Brittain, the northern countries pass the place. But even the life of the Dana is not forever, and her daughter will be the next Dana.
Then a Greecian boy gets hurt near the castle while hunting a boar, but not any boar... a very special one.

4 stars

68Whisper1
aug 23, 2014, 10:27 am

ouch, I'm sorry that you are having dental problems. No fun at all. Be well!

69saraslibrary
aug 23, 2014, 2:16 pm

Sorry to hear about the tooth and nasal problems, Anita. :( Those are never fun.

70scaifea
aug 24, 2014, 9:48 am

Oh, tooth problems are most certainly awful - I've been there more than once and I absolutely sympathize. Sending good thoughts your way, Anita.

71xieouyang
aug 24, 2014, 9:54 am

Hi Anita, I am back to LT for good I hope. i haven't been able to do much reading but hope to catch in the next few months so I wont't be shamefully behind the 75 goal for this year.
Sorry to hear about your health problems- hopefully things will improve in the next few months. I, luckily, am in good health although my poor wife is not. I keep hoping that things will imrpove for her too.

72ChelleBearss
aug 27, 2014, 7:01 pm

Hi Anita. I'm just trying to get caught up with everyone :) Sorry to see you are having some health issues. Hope you feel better quick!

73FAMeulstee
sep 11, 2014, 2:16 am

Thanks Linda, Sara, Amber, Manuel and Chelle

The wound in my mouth is as good as gone, had a small infection after a few days, but that is gone.

This week is all busy here as we get new windows and doors, a very nice present of my parents. I still don't cope well with strangers in my house, but they are very nice guys and I spend most of the day in our gardenhouse, this way it is doable ;-)

It was strange to have an all open livingroom:

74saraslibrary
sep 16, 2014, 6:34 pm

Oh, wow! That definitely opens the room up. :) I hope it works out. And I'm glad to hear your mouth is doing better.

75connie53
sep 29, 2014, 2:40 pm

Good to hear you are doing better, Anita.

76FAMeulstee
okt 31, 2014, 5:44 am

>74 saraslibrary:: My physical health is improving Sara and the new windows are great, this is how the front looks now:


> 75: thank you Connie!

77FAMeulstee
Bewerkt: dec 21, 2014, 3:03 pm

Meanwhile my reading goes off and on, decided to reread the Otori books, as I own them now. The original trilogy was translated, but the prequel and the sequel were not.

I started with (book 15) De stilte van de nachtegalen, the translation of Across the nightingale floor and then (book 16) Het gefluister van de raven, translation of Grass for his pillow. Still love these books!
But when I started with the third book I suddenly decided I first wanted to read the prequel Heaven's net is wide, and reading that now, awfully slow as it is in English... But very rewarding to know what happend first :-)

78scaifea
nov 1, 2014, 8:27 am

Oooh, lovely window! And the door is gorgeous, too!

79ronincats
nov 1, 2014, 12:57 pm

Your replacement window and door turned out great, Anita! And glad you are still able to get some reading done. Thinking of you (and Frank and Chimay and Ari!).

80saraslibrary
nov 1, 2014, 2:50 pm

>76 FAMeulstee: I'm so glad to hear you're doing better. :) And the windows look amazing. They did an excellent job!

81FAMeulstee
nov 11, 2014, 6:16 pm

We hare very happy with the new window, you saw just part of it as all windows & doors have been done.

Meanwhile I am still reading Heaven's net is wide, will take a few more weeks to finish ;-)

AND I have been to the hairdresser again, went for short this time, here a picture of me & Frank when we visited the Kröller-Müller museum last month:

82connie53
nov 13, 2014, 1:48 pm

Nice hairdo, Anita. Looks just fine.

83saraslibrary
nov 13, 2014, 9:50 pm

It does look good. You're able to wear short hair well. :)

84LauraBrook
nov 22, 2014, 7:17 pm

Anita!!! Such a lovely face and a lovely haircut! So nice to put a face to your name. :)

85FAMeulstee
nov 26, 2014, 3:29 pm

thanks Connie, Sara and Laura!

I am so happy with the short hair, it is easy to maintain, no knots to brush out and in the morning I just put my head under the tap (cold water) and I am awake, a slight comb after will do ;-)

Still wrestling with Heaven's net is wide, but the end comes in sight, only a hundred pages (of 552 pages) to go!

86saraslibrary
nov 26, 2014, 5:40 pm

Oh, yes, short hair is very easy to maintain. I wish I could wear a bob or something, but prices on haircuts around here are outrageous. And I'm not sure how my dog shears would work on my hair. ;)

All right! One hundred pages will be a breeze then. I'm glad you hadn't just started with it and were wrestling with it. You'll finish it; no doubt. :)

I know Thanksgiving isn't celebrated where you are tomorrow, but I hope you and your family are doing well! Hugs! :)

87ronincats
dec 2, 2014, 10:31 pm

That's a great picture of you and Frank, Anita! And I love short hair too.

88FAMeulstee
dec 21, 2014, 3:01 pm

> 86: Sara my hairdresser is rather cheap, she likes it if everyone can afford a good haircut, I would not try the dog shears either ;-)

I just finished the book, see next message :-D
And we are all doing well, thank you!

> 87: thanks Roni!

89saraslibrary
dec 21, 2014, 3:22 pm

>88 FAMeulstee: Hmm, I wonder how much it would cost me to fly over there for a haircut. ;) Yeah, I don't think the dog shears would be a good idea either. :)

90FAMeulstee
Bewerkt: dec 21, 2014, 3:41 pm

book 17 Heaven's net is wide by Lian Hearn

own, English, historical fiction/fantasy, Japan, finished December 21st

The prequel of the Tales of the Otori.
It was probably not the wisest desicion to read a book in English at a time I have difficulty with reading.... but I made it in a bit more than 3 months ;-)
I am glad to know the story before the next three and still love the Otori, especially Shigeru. The tragic battle at Yamagata, the prices payed after the loss and the way Shigeru picks up his life after the tragic defeat.
Beautifull written, created a life like world long ago in medieval Japan, an interesting journey, although it took me way too long to read it. While I was reading it I longed so much for the days I could read so much faster.... well those days will hopefully come back some day.

4 stars

91connie53
dec 23, 2014, 2:08 pm

Fijne kerstdagen en een gelukkig nieuwjaar, Anita.

92saraslibrary
dec 23, 2014, 10:05 pm



I hope you, Frank, and your fur babies have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! :)

93ronincats
dec 23, 2014, 10:09 pm

Wishing you and Frank and Ari and Chimay the merriest of holidays, Anita. It's Chrismas Eve's eve, and so I am starting the rounds of wishing my 75er friends the merriest of Christmases or whatever the solstice celebration of their choice is.

94Deern
dec 24, 2014, 3:23 am

Dear Anita and Frank, I have been a very bad LTer this year and I'll try to be better and post more often in 2015.
Wishing you and the doggies a very happy Christmas and all the best for the new year!

95lunacat
dec 24, 2014, 6:07 am

Doing the rounds with a festive Connie to wish you a very Merry Christmas full of joy, love and books.

96scaifea
dec 24, 2014, 11:15 am

Happy Christmas, Anita!

97SandDune
dec 24, 2014, 4:27 pm

Have a happy Christmas Anita!

98ChelleBearss
dec 24, 2014, 10:12 pm

Merry Christmas, Anita!

99jayde1599
dec 24, 2014, 10:43 pm

Happy Holidays!

100PaulCranswick
dec 27, 2014, 1:14 am

101LauraBrook
dec 27, 2014, 12:55 pm

A belated Merry Christmas, Anita, and a wish for an outstanding 2015!

102FAMeulstee
Bewerkt: jan 1, 2015, 3:49 pm

thanks Connie, Sara, Roni, Nathalie, Jenny, Amber, Rhian, Chelle, Jess, Paul and Laura.

Happy New Year to everyone :-D

And the link to my 2015 thread