scaifea's thread #7

Hey, everybody!

From the Introductions Thread:
I'm Amber, a one-time Classics professor, turned stay-at-home parent/lady of leisure, turned part-time library assistant. I spend my time sewing, writing, knitting, baking, and, of course, reading. Oh, and I run an Etsy shop and I'm co-writing a Latin textbook with a former colleague. So I keep busy.

My reading life is happily governed by lists, which means that I read a healthy variety of things across various genres.

I'm 44 going on 12 and live in Ohio with my husband, Tomm; our 11-year-old son, Charlie; and our two dogs, Tuppence the Border Collie and Mario the Golden Retriever.



Favorite Books from 2019
Next of Kin
The Book of Boy
Ficciones
Night Watch
The Name of the Wind
A Monster Calls
Check, Please! Book 1
Art Matters
The Heart's Invisible Furies

What I'm Reading Now:
-Of Human Bondage (NEH list)
-The Silence Between Us (Schneider Award)
-The Duke I Tempted (romance genre list)
-Bleak House (audiobook)
-Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Charlie's bedtime book)

Books on Deck:
-(an unread book from my shelves)
-(a book from my Read Soon! Shelves)
-Purl Up and Die (series read with my mom)
-Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare re-read)
-(awaiting library holds) (Newbery Honor Book)
-Peyton Place (Banned Books)
-The House on the Borderland (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list)
-Lord Foul's Bane (BSF Award)
-The Experience of Insight (Buddhist reading list)
-Uncle Silas (books by year - 1864)

The five-ish or so books I have going at once and the On Deck books nearly all come from the following categories and lists:

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 Newbery Honor books
c. Cooperative Children's Book Center list

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

4. 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)

5. For this category, I cycle through 9 different stacks:
a. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
b. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. John Boyne bibliography (in chronological order, sort of)
d. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
e. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. Maggie Stiefvater's bibliography (in chronological order)
g. The NEH Timeless Classics list
h. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
i. The Pulitzer list (in alpha order by author)

6. An unread book from my shelves.

7. A book from my Read Soon! shelves.

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

9. Book-a-year challenge: Three 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 since been trying to fill in the gap years.

10. A book from the couple of series that I'm reading together with my mom.

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

12. A read-aloud-to-Charlie-at-bedtime book (or two).

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

14. A romance novel, using as a guideline an excellent list of authors and works curated by lycomaflower (I know virtually nothing about this genre, but I now work in a library where many, many lovely people come through to check out books of this genre, and I want to know something about it).

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

Books Read

JANUARY
1. Still Life (Read Soon! Shelves) - 9/10 = A
2. Breaking Stalin's Nose (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 8/10 = B-
3. The Golden Name Day (Newbery Honor Book) - 7/10 = C
4. Lumberjanes #2: Friendship to the Max (series read) - 10/10 = A+
5. Lumberjanes #3: A Terrible Plan (series read) - 10/10 = A+
6. Lumberjanes #4: Out of Time (series read) - 10/10 = A+
7. Lumberjanes #5: Band Together (series read) - 10/10 = A+
8. Lumberjanes #6: Sink or Swim (series read) - 10/10 = A+
9. Lumberjanes #7: A Bird's-Eye View (series read) - 10/10 = A+
10. Lumberjanes #8: Stone Cold (series read) - 10/10 = A+
11. Lumberjanes #9: On a Roll (series read) - 10/10 = A+
12. Lumberjanes #10: Parents' Day! (series read) - 10/10 = A+
13. Lumberjanes #11: Time After Crime (series read) - 10/10 = A+
14. The Adventurous Eaters Club (Read Soon! Shelves/Christmas gift from Charlie) - 9/10 = A
15. The Black God's Drums (Alex Award) - 9/10 = A
16. Call Down the Hawk (Read Soon! Shelves) - 10/10 = A+
17. Mr. Justice Holmes (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
18. I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld) - 9/10 = A
19. The White Stone (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B-
20. The Corn Grows Ripe (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-

FEBRUARY
21. The Book of Essie (Alex Awards) - 9/10 = A
22. Lumberjanes 12: Jackalope Springs Eternal (series read) - 10/10 A+
23. Lumberjanes 13: Indoor Recess (series read) - 10/10 = A+
24. Lumberjanes: Bonus Tracks (series read) - 10/10 = A+
25. Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass (series read) - 10/10 = A+
26. Lumberjanes: The Shape of Friendship (series read) - 10/10 = A+
27. Mooncakes (recommended by Laura (lycomayflower)) - 9/10 = A
28. Vanity Fair (audiobook) - 7/10 = C
29. They Called Us Enemy (Read Soon! Shelves) - 9/10 = A
30. The Rattle Bag (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
31. Queen of the Sea (impulse library checkout) - 8/10 = B-
32. Pumpkinheads (impulse library checkout) - 9/10 = A
33. Snuff (Discworld) - 9/10 = A
34. Agnes Grey (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
35. New Kid (Newbery Medal) - 10/10 = A+
36. Telephone Tales (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
37. Pawn of Prophecy (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
38. The Girl Who Smiled Beads (Alex Award) - 7/10 = C
39. Cranford (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+

MARCH
40. Best Friends (impulse library checkout) - 9/10 = A
41. Old Ramon (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
42. Bloodlust & Bonnets (impulse library checkout) - 9/10 = A
43. Raising Steam (Discworld) - 8/10 = B
44. The Terrible Two Go Wild (Charlie's nightly read-aloud) - 8/10 = B
45. If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Charlie recommendation) - 8/10 = B
46. Me in the Middle (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
47. The King of the Copper Mountains (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
48. The Specter in the Magician's Museum (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
49. Green (Alex Award) - 9/10 = A
50. Thistle and Thyme (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
51. The Fearsome Inn (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
52. These Old Shades (romance list) - 8/10 = B
53. The Wise Man's Fear (Read Soon! Shelves) - 10/10 = A+

APRIL
54. Mary Barton (audiobook) - 8/10 = B
55. The Slow Regard of Silent Things (Read Soon! Shelves) - 10/10 = A+
56. Pride and Prejudice (Read Soon! Shelves) - 10/10 = A+
57. Read It and Weep (series read with my mom) - 8/10 = B+
58. The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare re-read) - 8/10 = B
59. Secondhand Souls (Moore bibliography) - 9/10 = A
60. Candyfreak (Unread Book from My Shelves) - 8/10 = B-

MAY
61. Yarn Over Murder (series read with my mom) - 7/10 = C
62. Henry VI Part 2 (Shakespeare re-read) - 9/10 = A
63. The Graveyard Book (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
64. Shiver (Stiefvater bibliography) - 9/10 = A
65. Family Don't End with Blood (a gift from one of my favorite people) - 9/10 = A-
66. The Thief of Always (an unread book from my shelves) - 9/10 = A
67. The Art of the English Murder (a book from my Read Soon! shelves) - 8/10 = B
68. This Book Is Not Good for You (a series Charlie and I are reading together) - 8/10 = B+
69. On Borrowed Time (series read with my Mom) - 8/10 = B+
70. Henry VI Part 3 (Shakespeare re-read) - 9/10 = A
71. The Shepherd's Crown (Discworld series) - 8/10 = B+

JUNE
72. The Beast under the Wizard's Bridge (Charlie's bedtime read-aloud) - 8/10 = B+
73. Winter Wonderland (Romance list) - 8/10 = B+

Charlie looking so very pleased with his mother and her photo taking:



Also, The Gals, of course:

61. Yarn Over Murder by Maggie Sefton (series read with my mom, 305 pages) - 7/10 = C
Kelly et al. help their friends evacuate the mountains when a wildfire sweeps through the area surrounding Fort Connor. Oh, and there's a murder, too, of course.
Yeah. I know I've said before that I like this series despite the less-than-amazing writing, and I do; it's a no-brains-required comfy read. But this entry very nearly made me give up. The writing is, I think, even worse than in the previous volumes: the dialogue is tired and repetitive, and I know Sefton wanted this to be a tribute of sorts to the people who fought the actual fire, but she dwells on it too much and without the vocabulary strength to vary her descriptions or her praises of the people she's trying to honor. It would have been more bearable if the fire theme had taken a back seat to the actual mystery, but it was the other way round, which makes it seem as if both threads were half attempts. Even for a series into which I dive with low expectations every time, this was disappointing.

Happy new one, Amber.

How's Tuppence doing these days?

>6 scaifea: Oh, that's frustrating. I am always down when a series does that nosedive. I hope it's only the one entry.

Happy new thread.

Happy new thread!

Happy new one, Amber!

Happy new thread!

>5 scaifea: It's bad when even the dogs are looking judgemental!

>7 katiekrug: Katie: She has okay days and some not-so-okay days. But she's hanging in there, for now.

>8 richardderus: Richard: Yeah. I know that I should just let it go and move on. I may give it one more entry in the series, but honestly at this point it reads like a not-quite-not-shitty undergrad paper turned in for a creative writing 101 course.

>9 figsfromthistle: >10 PaulCranswick: Thanks!

Happy New Thread, Amber! The fam's looking great!

>13 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!

Happy new thread, Amber. I like the so pleased photo of Charlie, the girls definitely look more enthusiastic.

>15 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg!

Today's Agenda:
It's Virtual Field Day for Charlie, so we'll be setting up and playing some games and activities today based on suggestions from his gym teacher. I also need to go pick up my curbside groceries for the week, and then it will be Family Game Night tonight.

Yesterday's Game:



On the reading front:
I started a re-read of Henry VI Part 2 yesterday and am very much enjoying it. Plots and intrigue and witchery, even. Love.

What We're Watching:
More Kimmy Schmidt, Agents of Shield, and GGBO lately for us. We also showed Charlie The Mask for the first time and he loved it, of course. Just the right amount of goof.

Happy Friday, Amber! Happy New Thread! I hope you and the "boys" are doing well.

>18 msf59: Thanks, Mark! We're doing okay here. I hope you have a great weekend!

Happy new thread!

>20 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle!

Happy new thread!

>17 scaifea: Smokin'!

>22 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>23 Morphidae: Morphy: And the soundtrack is so good, too. Just all round a great, fun movie, right?

Happy new thread and Happy Virtual Field Day!!

>25 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba!!

happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Amber!

How's it going with Bleak House? Are you enjoying it? It's one of my favorites of his.

>27 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda!

>28 jnwelch: Hi, Joe!

I have loved what I've listened to so far in Bleak House, but I haven't had much listening time lately. Hopefully I can get back to it soon.

Happy Friday!

Hi Amber my dear, happy new thread Dear friend.

>30 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda!

>31 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

Checking in on the new thread before I lose you again, Amber.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend - with lots of games being played, of course :)

>33 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! And yep, lots of games. We played a new one that Charlie made last night. A deck-building game with tons of detail - that kiddo has been working hard on it, making all the cards and illustrating them and everything - and it works! I mean, the detail-attention that needs to go into making a game like that from scratch and making a game that you can actually play through (we played for TWO HOURS) without major glitches, I'm just amazed.

Today's Agenda:
Possibly some cleaning, but I may put that off until tomorrow. I think I'd like to do a whole lot of nothing today, if I can get away with it. We'll see.

Yesterday's Game was Charades:



On the reading front:
I'm hoping to finish up the Shakespeare play today. It's been a fun re-read, this one.

What We're Watching:
More Kimmy Schmidt and some more Nailed It! yesterday.

I'm really impressed by Charlie's game-making/inventing. When we sit down to play a game, I always think how complicated it must be to develop one that actually works and to think through how you want the whole thing to go and ensure you don't accidentally build in a roadblock or something that prevents the whole thing from working as it should.

I hope you get your day of not doing much. I've had a few too many of those the past few weekends, so I'm hoping to actually *do* something today that is useful :)

>36 katiekrug: Katie: Charlie has been creating his own games for years now, and those first few were rough because we didn't want to discourage him, but they also just didn't really work (this is when he was six and seven or so). You're right that it really does take a tons of forethought to make a working game, and I'm just so impressed with him. I know I couldn't do it!

>37 scaifea: I wouldn't even try! He's got the best kind of parents: The ones who will let him fail without blame or disapproval. How crucially important that is to a person's development.

>38 richardderus: Aw, thanks, Richard!

62. Henry VI Part 2 by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare re-read) - 9/10 = A
The histories were the last of Shakespeare's plays for me. I'd read and loved the tragedies and comedies, but was worried that I wouldn't be able to get into the histories at all. Welp, that was wrong-headed, because they're wonderful, of course. I love the intrigue and complications and, as always, the wordsmithery. It's dripping with drama, and there's even some demon summoning; something for everyone.

Today's Agenda:
I've been treated to tea and breakfast being prepared for me (Frosted Flakes, but still), and I've been promised that I can do what I like for the day... I think I'll request Charlie's help baking a cake later, and then I need to get his school work schedule sorted for the coming week, but then I may try for a healthy chunk of reading time.

On the reading front:
I started Shiver yesterday, and it's already pretty fantastic, because of course it is, it's Maggie Stiefvater and I love her.

What We're Watching:
More Kimmy Schmidt yesterday, plus more Agents of Shield.

Happy Mother's Day, Amber -- looks like you have a nice day lined up!

>42 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.

>43 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba - it's been a pretty good one so far.

Hi Amber! Just wanted to let you know I finally made the chocolate chip cookies using the King Arthur Flour recipe you provided. They don't look anything like the picture, but they are really good, so thank you! And bonus: I finally got over my intimidation of the stand mixer and they were a cinch to make. I'm chilling the last of the dough to see if I can tell a difference between cookies :)

Happy new thread, and happy Mother’s Day!

>45 katiekrug: Katie: Woot!! That's fantastic!

>46 msf59: Thanks, Mark!

>47 foggidawn: Thanks!!

Today's Agenda:
This starts Charlie's last full week of school for the year, and it includes a bird house building project. That is so very much not my thing, so Tomm will be assisting there. Keeping in mind our previous conversation about how he 'helps,' I can't wait to see how this goes...
It's rainy and gloomy and dreary here today, so I may try to treat myself to more reading than anything else. We'll see.

On the reading front:
I actually didn't get much reading time yesterday so I'm hoping to get back to Shiver today more.

What We're Watching:
It was my pick last night so we watched Rise of Skywalker and it was fantastic! Definitely my favorite Star Wars movie. Loved, loved, loved it! I know that there are some fans out there who hated it, though, and I'm really interested in finding out why. Thoughts? (Details in spoiler tags please because I know there are some who read here who haven't watched it yet.)

>49 scaifea: Honest and truly, Amber, the majority-male Star Wars fandom has a lot to answer for. They behave like the most entitled angry adolescents (regardless of calendar years) that I've ever seen in my life. So if they hate a film, I take it as a sign that it's the best film ever made.

After the social-media pile-on of Kelly Tran? So outta there. The rage over Stormpilot? Idiocy. The films are such lightning rods that I refuse to express an opinion about them...imagine for a moment something so bad that *I* will avoid poking it with the facetiousness stick!

And on a *completely* different topic, are you signed up for NetGalley? They have a Read-Now (meaning no approval, no waiting, download and go!) collection called There'll Be Peace When You Are Done: Actors and Fans Celebrate the Legacy of Supernatural by Lynn S. Zubernis, which is all about Supernatural as it's ending. The listing is here.

>50 richardderus: I don't follow any online Star Wars fan stuff at all - I'm a casual fan at best - so I don't know anything about why folks wouldn't like Tran (I thought she was great) and I had to look up "Stormpilot" but I boarded that ship early on in these last three movies - I LOVE those two together, and in fact their adorable friendship and quick, clever dialogue is one of the reasons I loved this last movie so much. I don't care about what the angry adolescent men think about the movies at all, but I know a couple of people who aren't in that group and who didn't like this last movie, so I'm curious what other non-idiots think, which is why I asked here.

I'm not on NetGalley, but thanks for thinking of me!

Belated happy new thread, Amber!

I love the pictures of the games, I had never heard of most of them.

>24 scaifea:

They call me Cuban Pete
I'm the king of the Rumba beat
When I play the maracas I go
Chic-chic-ky-boom
Chic-chic-ky-boom

My favorite!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qfO_OfmGOl0

It's not so much the song as how he gets everyone involved! It's hysterical. Especially the female cop and the conga line.

>52 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

>53 Morphidae: Yep. Charlie gave me a very strange look when I sang along with that one and knew all the words...

Today's Agenda:
The Usual: treadmilling, laundry, looking over Charlie's school work, ping pong and board games, hopefully some reading in there somewhere. And I think I'll break out the Comfort Latin Reading again today, too.

On the reading front:
Still working through Shiver and it's just the wonderful brain candy that I need right now.

Spend a lovely Tuesday, Amber, and stay away from the Lucretius. We don't want to have to do *another* intervention, now do we.

>56 richardderus: Har Har.

Glad you're enjoying Shiver. I wasn't sure how you'd enjoy it as the writing isn't quite as polished as her Raven Boys stuff but I remember enjoying the whole quartet when I read them... it might be close to 10 years ago now.

>58 MickyFine: Micky: It's definitely true that she has improved over the years, but even her early stuff is still pretty excellent. I've read Lament and Ballad, also early Stiefvater, and they're very readable, too.

>57 scaifea:

Today's Agenda:
I think I'll spend some time in the sewing room today working on my current quilt project. I have all the pieces cut for the blocks, so I'm ready to start sewing them together (the fun part!).

On the reading front:
I spent a happy couple of hours with Shiver yesterday and hope to do the same today. I'm loving the story, which is Twilightish but better (note: I enjoyed Twilight).

Yesterday's Game:



I was thoroughly trounced, just so you know.

What We're Watching:
More Kimmy Schmidt and more Nailed It. We're keeping it light and funny here these days.

Hi, Amber. Just checking in. So cool that you and Charlie play all these games. How did he do in Charades? That can be a tough one.

>62 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Charlie sometimes struggles with acting out the charades, but he's *very* good at guessing, so it's pretty fun all around.

63. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Charlie's bedtime read, 307 pages) - 10/10 = A+
A re-read for me, the first time through for Charlie. Between readings of Gaiman, I tend to forget how he rarely comes right out and tells you anything at all, but instead hints at things and has things peak round corners at you, shows you a quarter of a smile, or half a talon. I love him for that. And I loved reading this one to Charlie and watching out of the corner of my eye as he soaked all that in, along with the fantastic story, the idea that there are so many ways to tell a thing, that some of the best of them are ways that involve not actually telling the thing at all.

So, Charlie has been worried that our local library won't be able to have their usual Summer Reading Program, and despite me working there I apparently don't hold enough authority in his mind to reassure him that they will and that it'll just be all online. So, he's taking matters into his own hands and creating his own SLP and has so far recruited me and his cousins:







Participants even get bookmarks:

>34 scaifea: That is so cool! I can totally see Charlie as a game designer. Deck building happens to be one of my favorite mechanisms.

>64 scaifea: Oh, yeah. That is a good one!

>65 scaifea: You go, Charlie!

>65 scaifea: Charlie is such a good person. 😀

>65 scaifea: Want something to happen? Make it so.

Charlie FTW

>66 alcottacre: Stasia: I can't imagine coming up with a game on my own, especially one so complex as a deck building game.

>67 drneutron: >68 richardderus: No argument here. I'm so impressed with the story prompts, too. I asked him if he found them on a website or came up with them himself, and they're all his ideas. Just, wow.

That's an impressive summer reading program. Way to go Charlie!

Your son just never stops amazing me!

64. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Stiefvater bibliography, 397 pages) - 9/10 = A
When Grace was a little girl, she was dragged from her back yard and into the woods by wolves, who nearly killed her. One of them, a wolf with yellow eyes, saved her, and from then on the two of them, girl and wolf, watched each other across the distance from her home to the woods and across the years. Grace is in high school when a classmate is killed...by wolves. And she's worried about her yellowed-eyed friend.
Yep, high school girl/werewolf love story. And I loved it. Steifvater's characters feel genuine, and her story is well-paced and fun. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

>70 lauralkeet: Laura: Right? And he's really excited about it, too.

>70 lauralkeet: Reba: I'm right there with you, Reba! Such a neat kiddo.

>65 scaifea: That's really interesting and great that he came up with something in case things didn't happen but what are the prizes?

>74 Familyhistorian: Meg: He's still working on what the prizes will be. I think one idea is that he and the cousins will have an online game party.

>64 scaifea: Sure, I'll put that one on the list!

>76 quondame: I hope you love it!

>77 scaifea: Thanks! I have a strong preference for shape shifters over vampires. Can't abide zombies.

wave!!

65. Family Don't End with Blood edited by Lynn S. Zubernis (a gift from one of my favorite people) - 9/10 = A-
A collection of essays written by both cast members and fans on how the show has changed their lives for the better. I enjoyed the cast essays tons, and a couple of the fan ones were good, too, but in general I'm not so much interested in *how* the show changes people as *why* it does, and that's the kind of essay I was hoping for from the fan ones. Overall, though, it was a very enjoyable and comforting read, and it came at just the right time.

>80 scaifea:

>81 lycomayflower:

>82 scaifea:

>80 scaifea: The book cover isn't showing for me in your post, Amber, so you got me to click through to the work page to see which show you were referring to. It's not one I've watched, but it sounds interesting for those who have.

>83 lycomayflower: *sigh*

>84 rosalita: Oh, Julia. It's an amazing show for tons of reasons. I highly recommend it, but know that it will be a time commitment: they're currently (or will resume soon, I expect) filming the last, and 15th, season.

66. The Thief of Always by Clive Barker (an unread book from my shelves, 225 pages) - 9/10 = A
Harvey is a 10 year old boy who is bored and tired of the cold, damp February. Until a creature comes along and promises to take him to a place where he will always be made happy, where it's spring and summer and Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas every day. He soon discovers, of course, that seeming and being are not the same and that a happiness for always isn't what's being offered at the Holiday House.
Barker's imagination is incredible and he has the writing chops to match. I loved this always-slightly-creepy-but-never-outright-terrifying story with it's interesting characters and fairy tale feel. Barker comes close to Gaiman in storytelling abilities for me, which is high praise.

>85 scaifea: Mmhmm. *sigh*

>86 scaifea: Ooo, that sounds really good.

>87 lycomayflower: Laura: I think you'd really, really like Barker. The other one of his I've read is Imajica, which is a huge undertaking but very much worth it.

Hi, Amber.

I love what you say about The Graveyard Book and Gaiman's writing style; that's a great way to put it. Charlie creating his own summer reading game - aces.

>89 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! And thanks! Gaiman is one of the greats, and that Charlie kid isn't too bad, either.

I've not been around so much lately because this past week has been rough: my mom went to the ER with heart issues and they decided to give her a pacemaker. She's still in the ICU for now. I can't, of course, go visit her or be with my dad or help in any way, which is frustrating and anxiety inducing and sad making. And then Friday evening I started feeling sick and was in bed all day Saturday. I'm starting to feel better now (it's not Covid-19 at all, no worries there), but Saturday was a very low point for me, with everything just suddenly becoming too much. I'm working my way out of the sadness pit, but I may still be not as present here for a spell.

Warm thoughts for your mom, Amber, and hugs for you. I hope you're both on the mend quickly.

>92 rosalita: Thanks, Julia. I appreciate those hugs right now.

Best wishes for your mom, and for you, Amber. That's a lot to deal with, especially the feelings of helplessness. Take care.

Thinking of you, Amber, and wishing the best for your mom. Take all the time you need. We're not going anywhere.

>91 scaifea: I'm so sad to hear you're in the dumps, Amber. I hope it all passes soon.

Hi Amber my dear, you have had a rough week and hope all goes well with your mom, it is so sad that during this pandemic we cannot be with loved ones when we and they need us most. I can understand you being quite low on Saturday what with everything going on and then not feeling too good as well.

We are all here for you when you are ready to post and brighten up our daily lives and we send special healing Yorkshire love and hugs to you and all your family from both of us dear friend.

Best wishes for your mom, Amber. It’s hard at the moment when you can’t be together.

So sorry about your mom! I hope you get to be with her soon.

Sorry it's been such a tough weekend, Amber. That's gotta be really rough not being able to visit your mom right now. I hope she's able to get what she needs soon and can go home. Thinking of you, and we'll be here when you're ready.

Sending positive wishes for your mom and whammies for you to get your mojo back, Amber.

Thanks, everyone, for the lovely thoughts. I very much appreciate them. I'm starting to feel more like myself, even though the fretting about my parents is still here, of course.

((Amber)) Hope your Mom is doing better and glad to hear you're finding your feet again.

>85 scaifea: Husband and I have season 1 of Supernatural home from the library! I’ve seen various of the episodes here and there, but this is shaping up to be a long viewing. I’m so glad to have your seal of approval!

Karen O.

I posted before reading about you horrible week. Best wishes to your Mom and you!

67. The Art of the English Murder by Lucy Worsley (a book from my Read Soon! shelves, 309 pages) - 8/10 = B
A history of murder in the British imagination, essentially. Worsley looks at a handful of famous, actual murders in England and parallels those with an analysis of how murder mysteries, penny dreadfuls, and those beloved literary detectives developed in British literature.
I enjoyed this one in parts - especially Worsley's descriptions of the Detection Club, it's members, and their rituals - and I liked how she alternated between treatments of the actual murders' impact and the birth and growth of the murder mystery, but I would have loved more thoughts on how the two were linked in the mind of the English readers. She hints at this sort of analysis, but I wanted more; an attempt at bigger conclusions, and a glimpse, maybe, at a bigger picture.

>103 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba. Mom is still in the hospital (she apparently has a puncture in her lung? and that has to heal before she can go home, of course).

>104 klobrien2: Karen: Oh, I hope you love Supernatural. It may seem funny to some, but like the essay writers in the Zubernis book, that show has changed my life in ways I never, ever would have expected.

So, things are still moving along here at about the same general pace. Charlie is finished with school now, which means that he is finished with elementary school altogether. He's excited about middle school but worried that it will still be stay-at-home in the fall.

We've already kicked off his summer plans with our tradition of having ice cream on the last day of school (we usually go out for it, but this year we made our own - New York Super Fudge Chunk, and it turned out amazing!), and he's already started his self-imposed regime of studying World History, English, Math, Science, and French (he's using the Mango app for the language learning). He also has informed me that he wants to bake something new every week and cook dinner for us once a week. We'll continue our board games and ping pong every day, because we've both loved doing that, and Charlie has also put together a list of craft projects he wants to do with me. So, summer seems to be in full swing already here at Scaife Manor.

>106 scaifea: Punctured her lung!! OMG!

Your summer sounds fun and very busy.

>108 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: That's what my dad told me, but I only get information from him and from my sweet-but-not-super-communicative sister, so I'm taking everything with a grain of salt. It's frustrating not knowing exactly what's happening, to be honest.

>107 scaifea: Amber, your mention of NY Super Fudge Chunk makes me wonder whether you have Ben and Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book? We don't make ice cream often, but when we do, that's my go-to source. I'm a fan of B&J Peanut Butter Cup and there's a recipe in the book. I mean, you could probably figure out how to adapt a basic recipe but I still like having their official recipes.

ETA: I pressed submit before also saying, I am keeping your mom in my thoughts. If she does, indeed, have a punctured lung I hope that's something that can heal reasonably quickly so she can get back home.

>110 lauralkeet: Laura: Yep, that's where the recipe came from! Besides my mom's trusty recipe for vanilla and a random but excellent recipe for orange pineapple ice cream I cobbled together myself at some point, all my ice cream endeavors start with that B&J book. So, so good.

And thanks. My dad is upset that she can't come home, but honestly, I'm relieved they're keeping her as long as she needs to heal. The longer she recovers there, the less onerous it will be for both of them when they get home.

>86 scaifea: I remember picking this up second hand from the flea market when I was in my teens and he was super creepy!

>112 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Ha! Yeah, his stuff can be a little creepy sometimes, but he's such a great writer.

At this time of the end of Ramadan I want to give thanks for your friendship in this wonderful group, Amber.

Enjoy your long weekend.

Hi Amber my dear, i hope that you are all having a good weekend despite your mom still being in hospital, i hope that it is not too long a stay but she needs to be fully fit before coming home. I hope that you all have a good week ahead and send love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

68. This Book Is Not Good for You (a series Charlie and I are reading together) - 8/10 = B+
The evil members of The Midnight Sun are at it again, this time on the hunt for a mystical tuning fork that can create any food the taster has ever had before. Cass and her friends in the Terces Society must try to track down the fork first and prevent the bad guys from using it to create the ultimate magical chocolate.
This series is a hoot, and I love that Charlie loves it so much that he wants me to keep reading it, too. So I will, of course, comply.

>115 johnsimpson: Thanks, John.

Mom's home now, so we'll see how that goes with my dad trying to take care of her on his own. I'm glad that she's well enough to be home, but this brings a completely new set of frets to the foreground.

>117 scaifea: I'm glad to read the news about your mom, Amber, but also completely understand the "new set of frets." Thinking of you ...

I’m glad to hear your mum is at home and hopefully she’ll be able to recuperate quickly. I had a punctured lung last year and was surprised at how quickly it healed, but everyone is different. I certainly get the feeling of more frets, but hopefully you’re able to be in more contact with her to reassure yourself somewhat? Won’t stop the worry but it might help a little.

Happy news that mom is home but I understand your concern about dad taking on the care. I'm sure it will be fine though.

Thanks, all. I appreciate your kind thoughts.

I'm very sorry to hear about your mother's hospitalization and ICU stay, Amber. Is there a possibility of getting home nursing visits through the hospital where she was admitted to help your father out?

>122 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl. Apparently my brother has set up home visits for her, although I don't know the details. So hopefully that will help.

>123 scaifea: Sounds good.

69. On Borrowed Time by Jenn McKinlay (series read with my Mom, 271 pages) - 8/10 = B+
Lindsey 's brother comes to town for a visit and brings trouble with him, in the form of a dead body in her library, and then he disappears. She of course spends the book trying to track down his kidnappers and the killer who goes along with the body, hindered every step of the way by the two handsome guys who are vying for her attention.
Another entry in another cozy series that is more cozy than quality (although this series is holding together quite a bit better than the Sefton series). The pacing is good, and I like these characters tons. Of course, the idea of a heroine who works in a small town library is very appealing as well...

Hope your mum has a speedy recovery at home, Amber, and that you have stuff that helps to distract you from the worry.

Ed to fix the typo. Argh autocorrect. Sorry Amber.

>126 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. I appreciate the kind thoughts, tons.

"Of course, the idea of a heroine who works in a small town library is very appealing as well..."

Amber Scaife, you're my heroine...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP0-XWHkTdc

>128 katiekrug: Katie: *SNORK!!* Thanks ever so much for that laugh!

:D

I trust you got the reference without the clip but decided to play it safe... And if you didn't get it, I'll still be your friend.

>130 katiekrug: Oh, I got it, not worries. That movie was formative for my junior high years.

I kind of figured :)

>128 katiekrug: a heroine who works in a small town library is very appealing as well

hmm, and here I thought you were referring to The Music Man.

>132 katiekrug: Katie: *grins*

>133 lauralkeet: Laura: Oooof. I know I've seen that one, but I can't remember a thing about it. Maybe time for a rewatch.

>134 scaifea: OMG really?! It was a formative part of my adolescence -- the first time I played in a pit orchestra. So. much. fun. Certain songs and lines of dialogue are still etched on my brain.

>135 lauralkeet: Laura: Welp, I'd better move it up the list!

Hello, all. I'm still here and reading, and lurking on other threads, but for some reason I haven't had the proper kind of energy to post on my own. I miss you all, though, so I'm going to make an effort to get back to checking in every day.

Charlie has decided that Wednesdays will be Baking Days, and he (with some small help from Sous Chef Mommy) made Banana Split Cupcakes. Many, many steps to these and I admit I was a little exhausted by the end, but they came out beautifully. We've also been taking advantage of the nicer weather for the past couple of days and getting bike rides in (it had been raining for so long that we missed our family bike rides). The daily games continue, and yesterday's was a Mario version of Monopoly, at which Charlie completely trounced me. *sigh* And, at Charlie's request, we have Craft Time every day; right now we're working on making friendship bracelets. Charlie had never made one before, so he's learning, and I'm really enjoying relearning how to do it - I made *tons* of these as a kid.

On the reading front:
I'm nearly finished with Henry VI Part 3 and loving it. I really am surprised at how much I'm enjoying the history plays I haven't read before - I thought that if there were no Hal I'd not be that interested.

What We're Watching:
We're still working through Kimmy Schmidt and Agents of Shield, we've restarted Gilmore Girls, and we've also started watching The Mandalorian, which is so excellent.

Also, I thought I'd share a conversation we had yesterday:

Charlie, looking up from the book he's reading: What's a Man Fiesta?
Me: A what?
Charlie: A Man Fiesta.
Me:...A...what?!
Charlie: MAN FIESTA. This author is interrupting the story to write down his Man Fiesta, but I don't know what that is.
Me:...
Charlie, impatiently:...
Me:... OH! A manifesto? I think you mean manifesto.

I have no idea what a Man Fiesta is and I'm not sure that I want to.

Charlie's baking just gets better and better. I love that he's old enough to suggest and organize activities like baking and crafts. "Man Fiesta" made me chuckle.

Have a great day Amber!

>139 lauralkeet: Laura: Right?! Those cupcakes are delicious! And yes, I love that he's so organized and wants to do this stuff with me.

And yeah. Man fiesta. Marx will never be the same in my mind again.

70. Henry VI Part 3 by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare re-read) - 9/10 = A
Plotting and intrigue and battles and stabbings, with a pretty much full-on game of Musical Thrones. I love it. The monologues are lovely, especially the grief-stricken ones.

Marx would've been way more interesting if he'd been writing about Man Fiestas, seems to me. :-)

Although it does sound a bit like Robert Bly's Iron John days, which always seemed goofy to me.

I hope your mom is healing up and feeling better.

I was going to recommend Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist to you on tv, with lots of songs and dance, but it might be more grown up than Charlie would enjoy.

>142 jnwelch: Joe: *snork!* Yes, I think you may be right about Karl. And I'll add another *snork!* for the Bly reference.

Thanks for the good thoughts for my mom; I haven't heard from them in a couple of days, so I think that's good news (we've worked out that they will call me when they want to, because I'm worried I'll wake her up from one of her naps).

I've had that show on my To Watch list since it started; we should look into it soon...

>138 scaifea: Oh, that caught me! in Women Talking, almost certainly not the book Charlie is reading, there is a similar exchange when the word comes up except it isn't parsed that way.

>141 scaifea: The BBC productions of Shakespeare have a mixed reputation, but I think their treatment of the history plays is brilliant. I'm especially fond of their treatment of the eight plays from Richard II to Richard III which are all produced with the same limited cast, with players assuming multiple roles. Binge-watch them if you can for full effect of the long story, a continuous meditation on power in the form of a royal soap opera. It's an experience that for me elevated the history plays to rank among my favorites.

>144 quondame: *snork!* Um, no, that's not what he's reading.

>145 swynn: Steve: Oooh, The Hollow Crown series is unbelievably wonderful. Hiddleston as Hal is one of my very favorite things in this world.

We picked up Charlie's report card and yearbook yesterday in a drive-up, curbside car line at his school. All of his teachers were there to way and say Hello and ask him about his summer plans, and I think he loved that. I was irritated to see that *none* of the teachers were wearing masks, though. I mean, come on. They're handing materials into a ton of cars all day and definitely not staying 6 feet away from each other, not to mention the dangerously cavalier attitude toward the virus that conveys to their students. Gah.

We were able to get our daily Family Bike Ride in again yesterday and the weather was so gorgeous. I tend to want to stay indoors as much as possible, and I grumble on the inside when it's time for the bike ride, but then I always forget how good it really does make me feel to get out on a perfect-weather day.

Have I mentioned that Charlie and I are using the Mango app for him to start learning French this summer? His idea, by the way, and it's a really cool app! We've only be at it a week and he's already picked up an impressive amount of conversational phrases, despite his occasional annoyance when I pause the lesson to tell him how certain words started out as Latin ones...

I also put my online grocery order together yesterday, which is getting easier for me, both because I'm getting used to it and it seems that the store website has improved, especially their search mechanism. So yay for progress!

We had baked potatoes and a nice side salad for dinner last night, which is one of my go-to comfort meals. So easy and soothing.

On the reading front:
After finishing up the Shakespeare play, I started Of Human Bondage, which I've been wanting to read for ages. So far it's very good.

What We're Watching:
More Kimmy Schmidt (I think we're nearing the end), and more GBBO. Tomm and Charlie tease me for breaking down into sobs at every finale. I just get so happy for the winners and how lovely and gracious they all are to each other. *happy sigh*

Oh, and yesterday's game was something called Rockin' Dice. It's fast-paced and giggle-inducing:

Good morning Amber!

I know what you mean about getting outdoors. I don't long for it but when I do it, it feels great. I took a long walk the other day to meet up with my knitting friends outdoors (appropriately distanced, with masks). It was a beautiful sunny day and it felt great to be out and about. But also: along the way, some people weren't wearing masks, and I just don't get that. I share your feelings about non-wearers.

Grocery shopping is easier here now, too. I think the stores are figuring out new/better ways to manage. And maybe the supply side has improved too. Who knows, but it's a tad less stressful.

>149 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura!

Yay for meeting up with knitting friends! I'm trying to appreciate these nice days while they last - soon enough it will be too hot and muggy for me to be at all happy with being outside, but the bike rides will continue because we *have* to get the kiddo outside in the sun to blow the stink off, as they say. Otherwise he's just like me and would happily stay inside all the time.

And yes to the annoyance at the maskless. I mean, why? Just...why?! Arrgh.

I agree that the stores seem to be figuring things about better now and thank goodness. I'm so happy that it's one less thing I have to stress about just now!

Sounds like a nice day yesterday! Instacart finally increased shoppers here, so we've had no problem getting our groceries delivered. And they are very good about communicating when something's not available and if I want a substitute. I feel slightly weird about having someone shop for me while I stay comfy and safe at home, but I also recognize that people need jobs right now, so I'm not sure it's a rational response.

Anyway, I hope today is equally as good as yesterday and that you all have a great weekend!

>151 katiekrug: Katie: Agreed about the jobs bit. Also, I feel like me letting a Kroger employee do much shopping for me means that there's one less customer physically in the store, which is better for them, too, right?

And thanks! Happy weekend to you, too!

I'm glad on-line shopping is working for you and I definitely hear you about providing job. I started off the way and stopped after four time because it just kept getting worse and worse. Last time less than half the order was there and quality of produce was a bit iffy. We've started going to store ourselves every 10-14 days and it feels safe to me so I plan to keep on.

>153 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: It was really frustrating the first couple of times because of those same reasons: they didn't have 80% of what I ordered and service was flaky. But now that they seem to have their act together better, it's really nice. There are some things I miss about going into the store myself, but I'm not brave enough yet to try it, especially since as I sit in my car and wait for my groceries, I still see at least 50% of the people walking in not wearing masks. Ugh.

Yesterday was the first problem I've had with online shopping. I specifically told the shopper I did not want blackeye peas in place of purple hull peas. I open the bag, and guess what I found? Blackeyed peas. They did a survey, and I commented about the problem so I guess we'll see if they will "fix" it.

>155 thornton37814: I'm sorry you had suffered the mix-up, Lori. I suspect that that folks bagging our groceries are young folk who maybe don't always know exactly how to identify certain foods. I've taken to adding some commentary in the text box for certain items to give more explanations about what I'm looking for and I've found that that has really helped.

>156 scaifea: I actually did that. Then she called and asked if I would take blackeyed peas when I specifically stated I had those on hand and did not want them. I repeated what I'd written. She offered to check frozen. I told her frozen purple hulls would be fine but that I didn't want blackeyes and to only give me one bag instead of 2 since I'd said "2 cans of Margaret Holmes purple hull peas."

>157 thornton37814: I'm sorry you didn't get what you asked for, Lori. I admit that I would have had to ask my supervisor for help, as I don't know what purple hulls peas are... Apparently your grocery person did not do that.

>154 scaifea: It helps that you just don't get in the store without a mask on (my understanding is that it's a misdemeanor for the store to allow you in and I think also for person who is maskless) so that's not a problem and lines to checkout have markers every 6 feet. Often there are no lines or only one person waiting. Big plexiglass "screens" separating cashiers and customers. I hope I'm not being foolish but it doesn't feel unsafe to me. I don't run out every time I get an idea of something I want like I usually do though -- only every week and a half or so.

>159 RebaRelishesReading: Oh, Reba, I didn't mean to imply that you were being foolish! I'm so sorry! You're right that it definitely depends on the store and how people are acting. Here, I'm not comfortable with how not-seriously folks are taking the situation and so I'm not comfortable going into the store, but of course everyone has their own comfort level (I tend to be on the overly-cautious side, always), and every situation is different.

Picked up groceries for the week yesterday and went through the long process of wiping everything down before putting it away, which is arduous and maybe not exactly necessary, but at this point it's become a form of self-soothing, to be honest. It threatened to storm all day and never actually rained at all, but that meant that we didn't get a bike ride in and instead had a ping pong tournament - Charlie and Tomm are still amazed that somehow I always manage to beat them so soundly at that game. We let Mario in the room with us to add an extra challenge: if you miss, you must hustle to get the ball off the floor before she can get to it and chomp on it! Charlie's and my Daily Game was Twister (yoicks), so no photos for obvious reasons. Mario also was involved in that game, which was hilarious.

I also commissioned Charlie to make a Father's Day card for me to send to my dad; he loves to make them and I much prefer to pay him $5 for the card than to spend that much on a store-bought one. Plus, of course Pa much prefers a Charlie-made card. Win-win-win.

I did finally talk to my parents yesterday after several days of not hearing from them. Mom's gradually getting better, although she's not happy with a nurse coming in every day (I suspect she feels guilty about needing one). I'm most relieved that my dad sounds like he's much more back to his normal self, rather than the exhausted, worried, sad person I had been talking to while Mom was in hospital. I'm still sad that I can't be there with them, and sadder still that it will be who knows how long before I feel comfortable visiting them. We've been isolated for long enough that I'm sure we wouldn't carry it to them right now, but any drive there would require at least one public restroom stop, and well, there you go.

On the reading front:
I finally broke down and requested an e-book version of The Shepherd's Crown from the library, since it's the last of the Discworld books and I'm tired of waiting for the chance to check out a hard copy. It became available yesterday, so I've put Of Human Bondage on hold for now while I read this one. So far so excellent, it is.

What We're Watching:
It was my pick last night, so we finished up The Mandalorian. Such a good show, although there was one little thing in that last episode that I was disappointed in: They should not have shown his face! It is not The Way!

Twister! With a dog! That sounds like a blast, Amber. I'm sure Mario was really into it and totally disruptive, in the best possible way.

>162 lauralkeet: Laura: Ha! Yes, she was. Most definitely. There was much giggling.

Yesterday was one of those rare days that's sunny, not too hot, not muggy, nice breeze, and not buggy (the only time I want to spend any amount of time outdoors), so I actually sat on the deck to read for a spell. It was lovely. And besides house cleaning, I didn't do much other than read yesterday, which was also lovely. Tomm grilled pork chops for dinner, and Charlie made the salad, complete with a homemade dressing, which was delicious:



I'm hoping for more of the same today: not much except reading.

On the reading front:
I'm making good progress with The Shepherd's Crown and am hoping to finish it up today.

What We're Watching:
Tomm and Charlie watched Fuller House last night while I was on a Happy Hour zoom with some old grad school friends. Better Tomm than I, is all I have to say...

Our tolerance and requirements for the outdoors are similar, Amber :) It was nice here yesterday, so I took a walk. This morning is lovely - sunny and breezy and I'm thinking I'll take my coffee and book out to the deck.

Nice salad, Charlie! I miss having cheese and croutons on my salad (I've been trying to lose the quarantine weight I seem to have acquired... sigh....)

I hope your Sunday is equally as satisfying as your Saturday.

Definitely a nice looking salad. I spent most of the day outside mowing, then power washing our back deck. Paid for it by taking a big dose of Allegra and then a benedryl at bedtime. I seem to be a bit better today, though.

>164 scaifea: Katie: I should be ignoring the cheese and croutons, too, as I suspect I won't be able to fit into my Real Pants when I need to go back to work...

I may go back out on the deck today, too. We'll see. Two days in a row seems extreme for me, to be honest.

>165 katiekrug: Jim: The salad was so good! And ooof to the allergies. I've been playing the "Is it allergies or Covid? Do I take more Allegra or prepare for death?" game for a couple of months now.

>160 scaifea: I didn't think you were implying I was being foolish -- just expressing thoughts I have regularly by myself. I'm in that age category of special concern and I am trying to be cautious (which I tend to be by nature anyway) but I'm sort of in the middle between friends here who have all of their groceries delivered and one who shops for 3 other people and goes to four stores on the same day sometimes and I do literally hope I'm not being foolish :)

Glad your mom is doing better and I love that Charlie will make Father's Day card for your dad. Personally created cards are always best.

>168 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: I'm constantly second-guessing myself about how cautious I'm being and making Charlie and Tomm be, too, but in the end I think it's the smart thing to do.

And thanks for the good wished about my mom. And yes, I love the homemade cards, and they're particularly loved by the grandparents.

71. The Shepherd's Crown by Terry Pratchett (Discworld series, 320 pages) - 8/10 = B+
Tiffany Aching, Witch of The Chalk, suddenly finds that she has some rather intimidating shoes to fill and more work than she is sure she can handle. And then the elves decide it's time to start raiding this world again...
This is the last of the Tiffany Aching books and the last Discworld book Pratchett wrote. Pratchett's battle with Alzheimer's is pretty clear here, on more than one level. The writing is a little punchy (had he lived longer, I suspect there would have been more editing) and the story isn't as nicely architected as usual. Too, you can see a writer who is standing close to the end of his life and looking back on what living means, which translates into a few nice moments of reflection, although I do think he gets a little heavy-handed with the message of being kind to one another (a perfectly wonderful and important message, but I don't want to be beaten over the head with, well, anything, really, but especially moral lessons). So I'm a bit torn about this one. For the most part I'm happy with how his ends tied up, but it's also not, by far, my favorite of the Discworld books, which, with this one finished, I am now completely through.

>161 scaifea: So glad your Mom and Dad are doing better. Sucks being unable to visit.

>164 scaifea: Hurray for the delicious meal and the wonderful weather. Happy reading again today!

>171 Berly: Thanks, Kim. Yes, it's still troubling that I can't see them, but I'm relieved a bit that Mom is starting to improve and that my dad isn't as over-the-top worried.

And thanks! The weather was nice again today, but the wind was a little chilly, so I stayed indoors. I got some good reading in, though!

>170 scaifea: I always thought the fourth Tiffany Aching book wrapped up that cycle nicely, so was a little surprised when he chose to go back to it. But, as you said, I think it lent itself to the themes he wanted to deal with. Clearly, while the basic structure is there, the story does not have the density and smoothness it would have had, had his illness and then death not interfered. For a strong and full-throated treatment of those themes back when he first learned of his diagnosis, may I strongly recommend the standalone book Nation.

>173 ronincats: Thanks for the recommendation, Roni, but I think I'm done with Pratchett for now, at least. I've tried his other stuff and besides Good Omens with Gaiman, I haven't really cared for his non-Discworld books.

We had a nice, lazy Sunday yesterday, with a sunny but slightly chilly Family Bike Ride (I made HoCho when we got back home, even) and lots of reading. I made up a pot of Asian Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner, and that really hit the spot, too.

On the reading front:
After finishing up the Discworld I'm now returning to Of Human Bondage, which I'm enjoying so far.

What We're Watching:
It was Charlie's pick last night, so we watched a couple of Gilmore Girls episodes. I love that he loves that show as much as I do. Such a comfort watch for me, and Charlie jokes that we *are* Lorelai and Rory, which, in many ways, is true.

Charlie is the perfect age for the Gilmore Girls. That was a popular family show for us, too, back in the day. I love that he identifies with Lorelei and Rory.

>176 lauralkeet: Laura: Right!? It's so fun to watch it with him. Last night we were laughing until there were tears at a scene in which Lorelai and Rory are on a road trip and Lorelai is refusing to use a map and Rory is really not on board with that decision, because that is *exactly* Charlie and I whenever we go somewhere on an 'adventure.'

Glad to see your parents are doing better. Frustrating to not be able to help people during this Covid time!

Charlie is becoming quite the baker and chef!

Yay for Gilmore Girls! I can't wait to watch it with Chloe once she is older! I can rewatch that series over and over and it never gets old.

>178 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle. I try not to think too much about just how long it really will be before I can see them in person again.

Yes! Charlie has long loved to bake and cook, and now that he's a little older, he's really getting good at it!

And woot for GG!! I agree that I could rewatch it forever and never get tired.

I'm another Gilmore Girls (first 6 seasons) fan. My daughter got me into it and we've more than once binged on it.

>180 quondame: Yay for the GG love!

Yesterday was still a little bit on the chilly side so we took a walk in place of the Family Bike Ride and it was lovely. We got Charlie signed up for the summer reading challenges for both libraries we frequent, and I signed myself up for the Columbus Metro Library adult challenge, too. We're also making progress on our Learn (Charlie)/Review (me) French project, and we worked a bit on our current craft project, making friendship bracelets. I spent some time reading Plautus again yesterday and I also did some quilting. So overall it was a fairly productive day, I think.

Yesterday's Game:



But then Charlie couldn't get to sleep last night until well after midnight. Some of you may remember that a few years ago we had a lot of trouble getting him to fall asleep at night: he was always worried that he'd never get to sleep, and that stress...kept him from going to sleep. Then somehow he seemed to outgrow it, but now it's making a comeback. Yoicks. We're going to start insisting that he get outside more, and hopefully the extra fresh air and exercise will help? Honestly, I hope this isn't another long-term issue, because I'm exhausted this morning.

On the reading front:
I'm still enjoying Of Human Bondage, but I know it will take me a long while to finish. S'okay, I've got time.

What We're Watching:
Last night was a DC (Daddy & Charlie) Night, so they played games and watched Fuller House while I was in the sewing room.

As part of our attempt to get Charlie back into a good sleeping pattern, I tried to get Charlie out in the fresh air as much as possible yesterday (no easy task, because this kid is just like me, a fan of the Great Indoors). Here's the result of the first attempt, which was me telling him that getting some exercise outside would be good for him:



I managed to convince him later to take Mario out for a couple of backyard sessions - he's going to teach her how to...retrieve...? She's not the most athletic dog and has never shown much interest in fetching a ball, but when possible treats are involved she tends to play along. Oh, and I'm very happy to report that Charlie did go right to sleep last night. Whew!

The weather was in that sweet spot of perfect temperature, no humidity, a nice breeze, and sunny, so I actually spent some time out on our front porch reading, too. That will likely not happen again until next fall, maybe.

Yesterday's game was one that Charlie loved when he was little and it was fun to play it again - Scoop's Construction Site (involving characters from Bob the Builder, which was one of Charlie's very favorite cartoons back in the day):



On the reading front:
I spent that lovely front porch time with Of Human Bondage, which is still very enjoyable.

What We're Watching:
It was Tomm's pick last night, so we watched another episode of Agents of Shield, which I am actually really starting to like. Finally. After something like 2.5 seasons.

>183 scaifea: when possible treats are involved she tends to play along.

Same, Mario. Same.

Hi, Amber. My mother LOVED Of Human Bondage, and W. Somerset Maugham in general. Razor's Edge was the one of his that worked best for me.

Lovely salad up there from Chef Charlie.

I finished Elizabeth Acevedo's latest YA, Clap When You Land, and I liked it, but not as much as her first two. It'll be interesting to hear what others think.

>184 rosalita: Julia: *SNORK!* Very true.

>185 jnwelch: Joe: I can see why your mom loved Maugham; I'm really enjoying this one so far.

And yeah, Charlie can put together a mean salad. He's making cookies later on today.

I won't be reading much YA until I get back to work, probably, but I'll put that one on my list for then.

>183 scaifea: Photo made me laugh -- when my Mom would make me go outside to play that's the sort of "playing" I would choose too.

>187 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: Ha! I love it!

>185 jnwelch: My mom too. She associated her mother Mildred with the Maugham character, but I don't think that's why she liked his books and recommended them to me.

Yesterday felt fairly productive, which is nice: we got a couple of nice long walks in, Charlie made Chocolate Linzer Cookies with Marmalade Filling and Chocolate Ganache and they turned out amazing, and I spent some time quilting and reading. Our Daily Game was one of my very favorites ever, Trouble:



Here's Able Baker Charlie hard at work:



And the end result:



And here's glimpse at a few of my quilt squares so far:



On the reading front:
Still plugging away at Of Human Bondage. I also dipped back into Bleak House while sewing (it had been a long while since I last listened).

What We're Watching:
It was my pick last night and I've been hankering for a Tolkien rewatch, so we started the first Hobbit movie again.

It thunderstormed last night some, and it's raining hard again just now, so I suspect our exercising today will be in Ping Pong form only...

Those cookies look divine!

>191 Ape: Hi, Stephen!!! It's so good to see you!

And yes, they were amazing cookies.

Such a talented family you are!

>193 RebaRelishesReading: Ha! Thanks, Reba!

Gosh, I've fallen so far behind...Sorry to hear about your Mom's recent health problems. I know it's awful not to be able to check up on her in person.

Tell Charlie I am also a fan of reading as an outdoor "activity"... there really is benefit in a daily dose of fresh air. Those cookies are just...unbelievably wonderful looking.

>195 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. My mom called me yesterday and she sounded just like herself again, which was so wonderful to hear that after the conversation I just sat and cried out of relief. It's still awful not being able to visit, and not knowing when we *will* be able to do so, but at least she's recovering now.

I'll pass along that you approve of Charlie's choice of activities, and I can easily say that the cookies taste just as good as they look.

I'm glad that your mother is doing better, Amber. I can certainly sympathize with your worry about the medical condition of a parent after a major health crisis, and your concern about visiting them. I'm not comfortable flying or seeing my octogenarian parents at this time, as I did care for one and likely more patients with COVID-19 in the past few weeks, and I don't think that either of my parents, especially my mother, would fare well if they became infected.

Are there any cookies left?!

>197 kidzdoc: Thanks so much, Darryl. It's definitely hard not visiting them, but I do think we're doing the right thing by staying away.

And no, there are no cookies left! They were too good to last! He's going to make cinnamon rolls next week...

We had a thunderstorm roll in yesterday and it was nice just to sit and watch the rain for a bit. We were happy, though, that it cleared up later so we could take our Family Bike Ride in the nice, cool evening. Otherwise, Charlie and I did the menu planning and I got the grocery order in for pickup today. I also spent some time working on my current cross stitch project while listening to Bleak House (which I'm enjoying although it feels like I've been listening to this one forheckinever and I'm only halfway through!), and I got some reading time in, too (still with the On Human Bondage).

Yesterday's Game was one that I got for Christmas when I was in high school (!), Uno Wild Tiles:



What We're Watching:
More Great British Baking Show for us last night. Such a comfort watch.

And here's one of the view from my reading chair yesterday - a usual sight, if I'm honest. Someone is not best pleased that she's not getting any attention:

I'm soooo glad your mom is doing better! I know what a relief that is for you. Hopefully you'll be able to visit soon.

Also, Mario is adorable.

>200 lauralkeet: Thanks so much, Laura! It really is a huge relief. I don't think we'll be able to visit them again until there is a vaccine, though, so that may be a long time.

And thanks! She is a sweetheart.

Wow, you guys have so many games! Chloe would be in game heaven at your house!

Hope Charlie’s sleep issues have resolved. Has he ever tried listening to soft music at bedtime? When Chloe can hear our loud neighbours I put on her fan and her clock radio very low and that seems to help her.

>202 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Ha! Yes, we *do* have a ton of games! It would be so fun to have you and the kiddos over to play!

Thankfully things seem to have settled back down with Charlie's sleeping. He has used a meditation app for its ambient sounds at bedtime for years and it helps.

72. The Beast under the Wizard's Bridge by Brad Strickland (Charlie's bedtime read-aloud, 151 pages) - 8/10 = B+
A bridge over a local river is being torn down and replaced, and Lewis, Rose Rita, Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmerman are all worried what that will mean. The bridge was more than a public works project - it was build with magic iron to keep something very evil at bay. So Lewis and Rose Rita do some sleuthing to figure out exactly what is lurking under the bridge and who is trying to set it free.
I think Stickland does a nice job of taking over this series, and this is another fun entry. Charlie certainly enjoys them and they make great bedtime read-alouds.

>199 scaifea: I thought she was just listening to you read -- or maybe you wishing you would read to her lol

>72 scaifea: Another Stiefvater book I need to get to yet!

>86 scaifea: I have the graphic novel adaptation of that one. I need to read it. Unfortunately my local library does not have the original.

>105 scaifea: Adding that one to the BlackHole.

>116 scaifea: I am going to have to try that series at some point. It looks fun!

>117 scaifea: Glad to know that your mom is home now, Amber, and hoping she is well and truly recovered.

>125 scaifea: I have read that series all the way up to the current one. I agree about the idea of a heroine who works in a small town library being appealing.

>138 scaifea: Oh, that is a hoot! I do not know what a Man Fiesta is either and I AM sure that I do not want to.

I am still a Maugham fan and loved The Razor's Edge back in the day. Glad to see that the gaming is proceeding apace!

>205 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: Ha! She does get read to every night during story time and is an excellent listener (she keeps her snoring to a minimum, usually).

>206 alcottacre: Stasia: I'm glad I'm helping you add to the TBR pile, thanks for the good wishes for my mom and for joining team No Man Fiestas!

Yesterday Charlie and I drove to our curbside grocery pickup appointment, then I spent the requisite 45 minutes it now takes to wipe everything down and put it all away (yoicks). I spent some time knitting and listening to Bleak House in the afternoon, and then finally broke down and requested some ebooks from the lists that I've been sitting on since the library shutdown. So, I started two new books yesterday, too: Winter Wonderland and The Silence Between Us. We had a lovely walk after dinner and then sat down to Family Game Night - it was Tomm's pick so we played the Uno game Charlie and I played on Thursday (somehow or other Tomm had never played it).

Charlie's sleeping trouble seems definitely on the way out, since he fell asleep with no problems again last night. So we're back to normal, I hope, plus Charlie has gained a new routine of drinking camomile tea every evening, which is pretty adorable for an 11-year-old gentle giant. Again, 11 going on 80, that kid.

Yesterday's Game (there is some serious thinking going on, clearly):

Yesterday was full of laundry, housework, baking, and reading. Tomm grilled hamburgers for dinner and then we had a really nice walk around the neighborhood.

The baking involved a One Egg Dinner Cake and a couple of loaves of Traditional White Bread:



On the reading front:
Of Human Bondage is going well; I'm a little over halfway through at this point and still enjoying it, although there are parts that could have used a touch of editing, I think. I'm also liking The Silence Between Us fairly well.

What We're Watching:
More Agents of Shield last night, and I can finally say that I think I'm hooked. The story is just strange enough (although the current arc is *very* X-Men-like) and the characters are developed and interesting enough at this point that I'm keen to keep going.

>208 scaifea: That level of concentration is intense! When I play games, I talk to myself, which I am sure disturbs everyone I play with, lol.

>210 alcottacre: Stasia: Ha! I love that you talk to yourself!

I spent most of yesterday reading and knitting, which was pretty wonderful. I got a Wild Hair, as my mom would say, and decided to clean up and organize my knitting basket, which led to pulling out an old, abandoned, halfway-finished project to start up again and starting a completely new project, too, along with the two that I already have going. So yes, that makes four projects on the needles: two types of baby blankets, a cable scarf and cable socks. But it's all organized now, see? Yep. Success. Once that was all settled, I made up a big pot of Potato Soup for dinner, which was so tasty and comforting and goes well with the homemade bread.

My reading time was spent yesterday with Winter Wonderland and The Silence Between Us, both of which are absolutely enjoyable so far.

What We're Watching:
We finished up our rewatch of the first of the Hobbit movies last night. They're not as great as the LotR movies, but I still love 'em.

I totally understand the satisfaction of reorganizing your knitting basket. Well done!

>213 lauralkeet: Ha! Thanks, Laura! I'm glad to have support! It just feels so good to get things resettled, doesn't it? It always helps me get my motivation back for whatever project gets reorganized.

>212 scaifea: "a wild hair" -- yep, my Mom said that too. Is it a Hoosierism?

Speaking of which, when the food is fishished cooking and ready to go to the table do you "take it up"? Hubby finds it so odd (not sure he understands it yet) but it's a totally normal thing to say in my Hoosier family. I wrote to "A Way With Words" about it and Martha says she may "take it up" in a broadcast.

>215 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: Ha! Did your mom say the full phrase...? I shortened it here for decency's sake.

No, we never said "take it up" for dinner, but Tomm is always baffled when I talk about putting something "up" instead of "away." He teases me about how everything in our house must live on high shelves.

>216 scaifea: My mom also had a "wild hair" and she did use the full phrase. Of course, she was in the WACs during WWII and acquired a fair amount of salty language from that experience, as well as from marrying into a family of Brooklyn longshoreman. I learned a lot of interesting words and phrases from her. :-)

We "dish up" food. My grandmother came to our house to have her hair "put up" (washed and set in rollers). She also "put up" pickles, beans, preserves, etc. at canning time. And when she washed and ironed, she was "doing up" her laundry.

>217 rosalita: Julia: Excellent! My mom learned so many amazing phrases from *her* mom and I loved learning them all when I was a kid. My favorite is the one she'd say when she saw someone who was a little too proud: "I wish I could buy her for what she's worth and sell her for what she thinks she's worth."

>218 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Interesting! I honestly can't think if my mom has a phrase for dinner time. Oh, maybe just "get supper on the table"?
And yes, "put up" was used for canning stuff, too.

>216 scaifea: My Mom was rather prim with her language so I don't even know the full phrase lol Yes, we did/do put things "up" (although I don't think I say that any more). I'm interested to hear what Martha has to say about "taking things up" -- my Mom was from rural southern Indiana so maybe it's very regional but the whole family says it and we're spread all over Indiana now (and a few, like me, are out of state although 9 of 10 siblings in my Mom's family stayed in the Indiana and most of my 24 cousins live or grew-up in Indiana).

>218 laytonwoman3rd: Ah yes one does "put up" ones hair and things one is preserving in cans & jars. I've never heard "doing up" laundry though.

>219 scaifea: Love the buy/sell a coat expression.

>220 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: The full phrase is to "get a wild hair up your ass." Yup.

My mom is from the central-west section of Indiana and my dad, too, although his parents moved up from Missouri just before he was born and you can tell that he has a Missouri flavor to his speech. In fact, when Tomm first met him, he needed me to interpret some of what my dad said because he couldn't understand him (things like "oral" for oil just baffled Tomm).

Yesterday was pretty routine: Charlie and I did our keeping-up-with-school stuff in the morning (we're reading through some books together, including world history, English grammar, and science, and then we're doing the French thing via the Mango app, plus he's working through math exercises with McGraw-Hill's online math program), and I did some knitting in the afternoon, working on my cable socks project. Charlie made dinner last night, which was a pasta with ham and carrots dish, and it turned out delicious. We've been having really nice walks lately, but I think that may change today since it's supposed to get up into the 90s by this afternoon. Yoicks.

The chef at work:



The finished product:



Our game yesterday was Yahtzee:



On the reading front:
I got some Bleak House listening in while knitting, and then spent my other reading time yesterday with Of Human Bondage. Both are long but fairly well paced so they don't seem onerous.

What We're Watching:
It was Charlie's pick last night so we watched a couple of episodes of Gilmore Girls. LOVE that show so much.

Another steady day here at Scaife Manor yesterday. Charlie and I read about Medieval India, Tamerlane, the Taj Mahal, and how atoms form bonds to create molecules. He also listened fairly patiently as I explained how his English grammar book clearly knows nothing about how to craft a good sentence. (It was arguing that one should never mix moods in the same sentence. Absolute rubbish.) We also finished up the first chapter of French lessons and tried listening to a conversation without the help of the sentences written out in front of us.

I spent my afternoon reading and finished up Winter Wonderland (mini-review to come). And then we had another lovely walk after dinner - we've not been taking our Family Bike Rides because Tomm is having some foot issues and hasn't been joining us, and Charlie only wants to bike if it's all three of us. I've really enjoyed the walks with just the two of us, too, though.

I talked to my mom yesterday and I'm so happy to report that she is doing really well! Such a happy relief that she is so quickly on the mend!

What We're Watching:
Tomm had a late phone call, so Charlie and I watched some Queer Eye episodes. Tomm can not stand that show, so we watch it when he's otherwise busy. It's one of Charlie's favorites.

Our game yesterday was Lords of Empires, a game Charlie created a few years ago after watching the Cones of Dunshire episode of Parks and Rec with us:

73. Winter Wonderland by Heidi Cullinan (Romance list, ebook) - 8/10 = B+
Paul lives in a small Minnesota town and is the only one of his friends still looking for a lasting relationship. Kyle has had a crush on Paul for years and now wants to find out if Paul might be interested in him. But Paul thinks Kyle is too young for him and too twink, and Kyle is worried that Paul might freak and bail, and so break Kyle's heart. Despite the hesitations and worries, and despite also the heavy resistance from Paul's awful, ultra-conservative, super-emotionally abusive family (I mean, just UGH), they somehow make it work and end up with a lovely, Christmasy HEA.
If not for a recommendation from a trusted source, I suspect I would never have picked this one up, but I loved it and so I'm very happy I did. The characters are great - sweet and well-rounded and believable - and I absolutely love the small-town-at-Christmas feel to it. The relationships between the male characters are particularly well done, the sex scenes are adorably steamy, and the testing of stereotypes on various levels made me very happy, too. It could have been a bit longer, maybe, the story fleshed out just a tad more perhaps, but it honestly works just fine as is.

>210 alcottacre: I suspect you would not love it if you actually played with me :) I try not to do it, but it just happens as I am planning out my turns, lol.

>223 scaifea: Yay for mom being on the mend and Charlie's upcoming career in game design!

>225 alcottacre: Stasia: Ha! Nope, I maintain that I would love it!

And thanks!!

>226 scaifea: OK, where can we meet in the middle of the U.S. so I can see if I drive you crazy with my game-talking? lol

The halfway point between Texas and Ohio is Memphis, TN

>227 alcottacre: *snork!!*

>228 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Sure, maybe, but the center of the US is Lawrence Lebanon, KS...

>229 scaifea:

>228 laytonwoman3rd: >230 lycomayflower: Road trip!! I will bring the games - and likely nothing else but books.

>230 lycomayflower: Laura:



>231 alcottacre: Stasia: Woot!

Yesterday Charlie and I read about the Song and Tang dynasties in China, how to use context to make educated guesses about what certain words mean, practiced multiplying numbers with decimals, and read an entire paragraph of conversational French. He's really getting good with the French stuff and it's so fun to watch him learn. We didn't get around to our daily board game because Charlie was too busy making Cinnamon Rolls, which turned out so good (I'll try to remember to come back and post photos later - flickr isn't working just at the moment).

On the reading front:
I didn't find much reading time yesterday, but I managed a few pages in both Of Human Bondage and The Silence Between Us.

I'm so glad to hear that your mom's doing better! Looks like your board games and time at home with family has been good. I love Charlie's creativity in making up games. And I hear you about arguing with English grammar books, I do it too...

>234 bell7: Thanks, Mary! I'm so glad about my mom, too, of course. And yeah, Charlie amazes me with his ability to turn his ideas into actual *things.*

And yes to the annoyance of English grammar books. I suspect his English teachers will *love* me...

Go Charlie! As far as I'm concerned, making delicious cinnamon rolls is the epitome of the baker's art.

I don't think I could've done Bleak House on audio. I read so much faster than I listen, so the fat ones I always read in print. I can imagine it feels endless.

I'm reading a good romance-y one called Beach Read, thanks to Katie. It involves two writers who try writing each other's genre, and has a lot of humor.

I was thinking about Elizabeth Acevedo and Angie Thomas and other YA authors - the author base has become so much more diverse, thank goodness, and their commercial success encourages even more diversity. In this historic time for minorities, the world of books seems to be headed in a good direction (and not just in YA by any means).

>236 jnwelch: Hi, Joe!

The cinnamon rolls turned out so good - he's really turning into a quality baker and I'm pretty happy about that.

I also read faster than I listen, but I also need to have something going when I'm doing menial stuff like housework, so yeah, Dickens is a slow listen, but an enjoyable one.

I've added Beach Read to the list!

And I agree with you about YA authors: there's some excellent diversity happening there and those diverse writers are writing some important stuff.

>233 scaifea: A friend and I are currently carrying on an e-mail discussion on Emperor Wu and Judge Dee. She's from Taiwan and has an entirely more open window on Chinese history than I, who was introduced through western authors like Pearl Buck and Robert van Gulik.

>238 quondame: Aw, nice!

I was very, very behind, Amber (I haven't dropped by since mid-May) but it was lovely catching up on all things Scaife.

Also, because I know you'll be happy about it, thought I'd share that Mr. Fine has finally worn me down and we've started watching Supernatural. We're about 3/4 of the way through season 1.

>240 MickyFine: Good to see you, Micky, and I hope you love Supernatural as much as Laura and I do.

We had to say goodbye to this sweet girl yesterday. Tuppence was with Tomm and me for 15 years - very nearly our whole marriage so far - and we are devastated.

Oh, Amber, I am so, so sorry. Hugs to you all.

I'm so very sorry, Amber. What a sweet girl.

>242 scaifea: Oh, Amber, I'm so, so sorry. I never met Tuppence but I felt like I had through your wonderful photos and stories about her. She was a lucky pup to be loved by you, Tomm and Charlie for so long. How is Mario coping?

I am so sorry for your loss, Amber. Sending hugs during this sad and difficult time.

Oh, I'm so sorry, Amber. But you know you did one last loving thing for the sweet old girl. *Hugs*

Oh Amber!! So sad, so sorry. It's a really hard thing to do but, since their lives are shorter than ours, one of the prices we have to pay for years of love and companionship. Hugs to you all (((Amber, Tomm, Charlie)))

>242 scaifea: Oh I remember you knew it was coming, Amber, but I'm sorry to hear it all the same. I'm sure it was still hard to say goodbye. Hugs to you, the family, and Mario.

So very sorry for your loss Amber my dear, sending special Yorkshire love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

I am so sorry for your loss of Tuppence. Dogs are an incalculable resource of comfort and bonding in a family and each irreplaceable in it's own way.

So sorry that you had to say goodbye to Tuppence. One of the hardest things in life is farewelling our beloved pets.

Very sorry to hear about Tuppence, Amber. I know she was well loved.

Thanks so much, all. It's so hard to let them go, even when you know it's the right thing to do. I appreciate all of your kind thoughts more than I can say.

The new thread is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/321377

Delurking with heartfelt condolences on the loss of Tuppence. Always hard to say goodbye to a furkid, especially one that has been a part of your family as long as Tuppence was.

Here's a toast to the lovely and oh-so-intelligent Tuppence--may she rest in peace and loving memory. My condolences to her family, who will miss her greatly. (((Scaifes)))

Amber, I'm so sorry to hear about Tuppence. What a lovely life she had at Scaife Manor, with a family who loved her so much.

>256 lkernagh: >257 ronincats: >258 susanj67: Thanks so much for those sweet words. She was such a cool, sweet, amazing friend.

So sorry about Tuppence. 😕

>260 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.