Ronincats Rejoices in Books, Family & Friends in 2022

The scene outside my window this New Year's morning of 2022

Hi, I'm Roni. I live in central Kansas with 3 cats, just 25 miles away from my mother, sister, and nephew and his family. I am primarily a genre reader of science fiction and fantasy, although I also dabble in some mystery, romance, and nonfiction.

After a year of major changes that substantially cut down on my reading, I am ready to rev it up again, be more present here, and enjoy my books, my friends, and being close to my family in 2022.

Save for when I get set up

this one too

I'll probably need this as well.

And welcome to all old and new friends here. I'm looking forward to a year of increased interaction with everyone as well as getting back into reading a wider range of books. Just a lot of comfort reads this last year.

Yes, this is our first snow of the winter, and my first snow to LIVE in in 43 years. What with my cold and all, I'm not planning to go out in it any time soon. I have a pot of ham and beans on the stove, a flock of chickadees to watch out back at my feeders to amuse me, and friends' threads to catch up on here!

Happy new year! What a lovely day to stay inside and eat comfort food.

Happy new year, Roni! You’re doing the right thing re: your cold and the cold outside. Staying inside with good food, good books and good LT friends is the perfect antidote.

Happy reading in 2022, Roni!

This group always helps me to read; welcome back to the group, Roni. xx

Hiyah, Roni! I hope your reading 2022 is great. Ham and beans sounds great!

Happy new year, Roni! Looking forward to following your 2022 reads.

Dropping a star. Wish you well on you goal to get back to more reading.

Happy New Year Roni!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Roni!

Roni, I hope your cold will soon exit! Happy new year.

I've just set the beans on for ham'n'beans, too! *smooch*

Happy new thread, and 2022, and may only better things happen for you and all yours.

Happy New Year, Roni. I hope winter is not too tough on you.

Happy New Year, Roni!

Happy New Year of Reading, Roni. I love your new house. I lurked on your thread last year so know what you went through. Welcome back to the Midwest! I hope a meetup is in our near future. My granddaughter, Audrey, has made her college commitment...KU...Go Jayhawks! By the way, I think your snow may be heading our way. It's been a rainy beginning to a new year here in Southwest Missouri.

Dropping a star and wishing you a happy new year. Feel better soon!

Happy new year, Roni!

Happy New Year and happy new thread for 2022, Roni!

>1 ronincats: How wonderful to have snow! I sat out on the porch with a friend today in a short-sleeved shirt. Disgusting. It was 76F.

>5 ronincats: I hope you recover from your cold quickly.

>1 ronincats: Nice topper!

Happy first thread of the New Year!

Happy new year, Roni. I'm looking forward to following your reading this year, after a rather tumultuous 2021.

The snow is so pretty! Hope you have a great year of reading!

Happy New Year, Roni!

Dropping a star, Roni. Happy New Year to you!

Hi Roni, dropping a star. I had to laugh when I saw your topper. We have more snow here where it hardly ever snows!

All the best for the new Year Roni. I hope you enjoy the snow, it's summer here, hot and sultry weather.

Happy New Year! I see I'll have to go back and catch up on your old threads to hear about this move to Kansas.

Hey look! I finally got it together to drop a star!

Happy New Year and happy new thread, Roni!
And all the best for your health.

Happy New Year, Roni!

Your topper photo surprised me. I still think of you as living in San Diego (I know, get with it, Joe). How are you liking the change to central Kansas?

Happy New Year, Roni!

Oh, I would love some snow here. We’re just getting rain, rain and more rain. So depressing.

Welcome to 2022 Roni. Hope it's a fun year.

Happy New Year, Roni! I love the snow up top. I was hoping we would get some here, but not any thus far this winter.

Hoping the head cold has decided to decamp early....

Hi Roni! Dropping off my star and wishing you a very happy 2022.

P and I are in Alaska, north of Fairbanks, spending three nights in an "igloo" and hoping to see the Aurora Borealis. We saw it a bit last night, hoping for a more enthusiastic show tonight. Also went dog sledding today. Fun!

I hope your head cold is short-lived. I also hope to be more present on LT than I was in 2021.... it was just a tough year all around. I hope the new year is better for you, my friend. Hugs to all the kitties.

>40 richardderus: Oh, I wish, Richard. My colds tend to be one step forward, two steps back, and so this one is. I'm at the stage where my nose is raw and emptying sinuses a full-time activity. Tomorrow I hope to acknowledge all my visitors as they deserve, but yesterday and today I've just been trying to stay hydrated and keep mucus from settling in the lungs. I am continuing to reread the Theo Waitley thread of the Liaden books apace, although not getting around to reporting on them yet. Yes, Susan, Theo has not been my favorite, but with Val Con and Miri so settled, she definitely has the most action and indeed, I am enjoying Theo more this time around as I read them all together for the first time.

Tomorrow, my friends, hoping I have a good night.

>42 ronincats: Val Con and Miri never did much for me. I'm a Shan & Priscilla fan, but apparently the publishers were into the more obvious conflicts of the Korval vs Department plot line which always bored me to tears, but at least the side action could be amusing.

Happy new year, Roni! So...snow outside and inside a beautiful, cozy house filled with book and ham and beans to eat...sounds perfect to me.

Hi Roni, I have brought my star to mark my place and I am looking forward to seeing how your life in Kansas is going. We actually had a white Christmas this year which is very rare here on the West Coast. The temps. have finally warmed up enough that this evening rain is falling so I expect most of the snow will be gone by tomorrow.

I see you are doing a re-read of some of the Liaden Universe books, I must get back to that series. This year I read A Civil Campaign from the Vorkosigan series and I loved it so much! It was one of my top reads of the year. So I will certainly be exploring more of that series as well.

Happy New Year and happy new thread!

Happy New Year! Wishing you and your family the very best in joy, friendship, health, happiness and lots of good books for 2022.

Hi, Roni - Happy New Year! (But oh my goodness, I could never cope with snow like that!)

I'm also hoping for a year of picking up dropped threads and projects, so the best of luck to us both! :)

Hi Roni, hope your cold is moving on out. I came down/woke up with a sinus infection New Year's eve, so am resting and hoping to get back to work once the negative COVID test comes in.

Glad you have some comforting reads to tide you over.

>42 ronincats: Ugh! Well, you take all the good care of the various dripping draining and aching bits that you can.

Hope you're feeling better soon, Roni!

Had a good night, got the sinuses cleared out in the shower, but they promptly clogged up for the rest of the day. Although I got a few things done around the house, I 'm very low energy and I'm sorry I haven't gotten back individually to my much appreciated visitors. Just hanging in here, fighting to keep it from moving into my chest.

Have finished The Gathering Edge and Neogenesis and am dithering again about what to read next...

A little more energy and a little less congestion today! Only a little, but progress.

Progress works, Roni, nothing good happens all in a day. *smooch*

>54 richardderus: What he said.

Glad you've had some progress. Keep fighting. Hope you feel much better soon.

>53 ronincats: Memorizing the page number is celestial! Lawful evil is a dry food.

>53 ronincats: Glad to hear that there is some progress! Better than regressing any day of the week.

Hope you feel better soon, Roni.

Hope you're feeling better soon, Roni!

Thinking of you, Roni, and sending you healing mojo. Feel better.

Hi, Roni! Just stopping by to drop a star and wish you a Very Happy New Year! Hope you are feeling better.

I loved the picture at the top! That is what it looked like at home on New Year's Day. It was cold!!!! and Windy!!! We only got 3 inches of snow and most of it ended up on the south side of the fence lines. It was a good day to stay inside. We watched the Rose Bowl parade on RFD TV because my niece was the producer of the show and enjoyed it. I made lentils and rice and everybody really liked the dish. I know they aren't exactly beans but they are legumes, so I am hoping that the Good Luck Gods take kindly to the substitution.

I am back in Alabama now and frantically ordering books for classes and scheduling my teaching for the beginning of the semester. It is cold and rainy here today and I am planning on going home and reading Hidden Palace it is the sequel to Golem and the Jinni and so far it is a worthy successor to that earlier book. I also have started We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry and the firsts 50 pages have been great good fun. I am hoping that this witch tale keeps up the pace and makes for a second good fantasy read for the month.

Thank you for checking in on me, friends. I am getting better. Today was devoted to nonstop drainage, but that's the next step after completely clogged head, and a step toward recovery. Still taking it very easy. Two inches of snow overnight--very picturesque and the birds and squirrels are at the bird feeders nonstop. 5 degrees today. Glad I have no reason to be out in it!

Hopefully more energy tomorrow.

Glad you are slowly improving Roni!

>64 ronincats: glad to hear that you are slightly better. Wishing you a relaxin and healing weekend!

Glad you are progressing. Stuffed heads are the worst!

>64 ronincats: The steps are in the proper direction. That's a good thing, and hopefully they'll get you there sooner rather than later.

*smooch*

>69 ronincats: Very cute!

Hope you're having a good weekend, Roni, and starting to feel more yourself.

>64 ronincats: Roni, your cold symptoms are a match for mine the past six days. I tested positive for Covid on Wednesday. Just saying. It doesn’t really matter since it sounds like you are staying home and taking good care of yourself. I wanted you to know so you could avoid physical contact with your mother.

Love the introvert toast. My people!

Here’s a toast to continued recovery for both of us. I didn’t know it was possible to have this much phlegm in one body!

Okay, Friends, I am going for it today. At the expense, I might add, of taking down Christmas decorations or dusting through the house, but one must have priorities after all!

First of all, such heartfelt and sincere thanks to all of you for visiting me here, even when I have been so scarce. You are an important part of my support community. Thank you, London_StJ, Paws, Anita, Paul, Jim, Mary, Helen, Rhian, Silver, Carrie, Katie, Richard, Beth, Jeff, Donna, Shelley, Natalie, Kimberly, Karen, Anita, Laura, Lori, Jess, Mamie, Lori, Susan, Kerry, Zoe, Stephanie, Thomas, Joe, Ella, Ardene, Stasia, Ellen, Reba, Judy, foggi, Nina, Liz, Mary, Benita--you are all so welcome. It is good to see some people returning this year who have been absent for a while, like Donna and Stephanie. Susan--I love your bookish 2022! I hope to get to everyone's threads within the week.

I continue to recover. Still draining, but volume is less and so far it hasn't gotten into my lungs, which is very, very good. Not the way I wanted to start 2022 (I did have a few plans if not resolutions) but not being very, very sick is more important. As part of my "not doing too much too soon", a sure recipe for disaster, I have been doing some reading, even if they are all rereads.



Book #1 The Gathering Edge by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (352 pp.)
Book #2 Neogenesis by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (435 pp.)
Book #3 Crystal Soldier by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (333 pp.)

The first two books are the culmination of my re-read through of the Theo Waitley books of the Liaden Universe. I read Fledgling, Saltation, Ghost Ship and Dragon Ship in December. The Gathering Edge wraps up that sequence and Neogenesis reintegrates it into the overall story. I must say that I think I appreciated these more on this reread. For one thing, it was amazing how many little references to other happenings out of this sequence were sprinkled throughout that I missed on the first read throughs. Also, I appreciated Theo more when I wasn't expecting her to be Val Con or Miri or Shan or Priscilla or Daav. Susan, I love Shan and Priscilla too and I'm sure you appreciated Trader's Leap getting back to them, but any book with Clutch Turtles is always my favorite! Unfortunately they only make a brief appearance here in one of the later books. Crystal Soldier is a prequel to the whole series and interesting, for that reason, but definitely not a place to start (which is either Conflict of Honors or Agent of Change).



Book #4 Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (459 pp.)

The culmination (book 6) of the much-loved Thief series, I had only read it when it first came out, and had been wanting to get back to it for a while now. Read it in a single day, inserted it in the middle of Crystal Dragon which for some reason is always hard for me to get through.

...so Crystal Dragon will be read #5?

I'm so glad you're feeling able to re-dive. *smooch*

Glad you're up and about again, Roni!! Sounds like you've jumped back in with both feet, actually. Please don't over-do.

Hi Roni, I'm glad you're feeling better.

>72 ronincats: I am not a fan Clutch Turtle deus ex machina usage. I know they were built into the Liaden™️ Universe from the start, but they don't appeal to me.

Hope you feel right as rain soon.

I'm glad you're feeling better, Roni.
>69 ronincats: Thanks for all the drinks for me ;-).
Have a wonderful Sunday!

I'm glad you're on the mend, Roni.

I love >69 ronincats: even though I'm technically an extrovert. I think I'm an atypical extrovert, though. Ha.

Richard, it is indeed.



Book #5 Crystal Dragon by by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (367 pp.)

The second part of the Liaden prequel duology. Don't start here! I always have to power through the middle of this book--I just don't like knowing where things HAVE to go although I like the end results.

So, I haven't done any reading OR any posting to speak of today. Instead, I put together my plant stand in the laundry room--now that I'm in Kansas, I have to have house plants, as opposed to year-round outdoor plants.



And last month I bought myself an Aerogarden while they had their sale, and tonight I harvested for the first time and had myself a simply delicious salad! Note that you are seeing the garden after I harvested my salad leaves.

Love the plant stand, Roni! And your Aerogarden looks amazing.

>79 ronincats: Wow! That looks like a lot of lettuce for such a tiny space! Excellent.

HOORAY for feeling better, plant stand, Aerogarden, and Liaden! (Are there people who don't love Priscilla and Val Con best? Mercy!) This is looking like a real Roni thread now. Flourish!!!!!
(If hair and phlegm were cash crops, I'd be a rich woman.)

>82 LizzieD: Val Con and Pricilla? Shan and Priscilla or Miri and Val Con are the usual options, though I could see Ann and Er Thom or Dav and Aelliana. Pat Rin and Natessa don't give the same vibes, for me that is.

>69 ronincats: That is me all over the place!

>72 ronincats: I really need to give the Megan Whelan Turner series a re-read at some point. I bet it has been 10 years since I read it.

>79 ronincats: Congratulations on your first Aerogarden harvest! The salad looks wonderful.

I am so glad you are feeling better!

>84 alcottacre: But Return of the Thief came out less than 2 years ago and Thick as Thieves was 2017, so you may be at least 2 behind.

Wow Roni. I'm not familiar with the Aerogarden but it looks amazing. I love that you're creating an indoor green space to see you through the bleak winter months.

The Aerogarden is such a great idea! Leafy greens are costly on an individual basis so anything that makes them cheaper for the end user therefore extending their reach is a Good Thing.

Happy that your Liaden reading is still so pleasing! *smooch*

We love our Aerogarden. We took a break from it last summer when TW was trying to grow everything in his "real" garden, but we should get back to it now in the depths of winter. We've only grown herbs in it, never any leafy greens. Yours look wonderful.

I'm glad you're feeling a bit better!

Hi Roni and Happy New Year!

I'm glad that you are feeling better and that Kansas is treating you well.

I love your Aerogarden. I haven't had much luck growing greens inside in soil - this might be something I could really use.

Tennis ball lettuce.

Aerogarden -- need to look into that. We're so sporadic about eating salads that I have a hard time keeping fresh lettuce in the house and not having to throw a lot of it out.

I'm another who is intrigued by the aerogarden. I buy lettuce and then compost half of it when it starts to go bad, so something like that might be just the thing.

Love your lettuce garden and plant stand! Yes, moving from California to a cold climate is a shock on many levels, and not being able to leave plants outside all year is one of them. I got my daughter an aerogarden for Christmas two years ago. She planted rosemary, strawberries, and a lettuce (it was a 3-plant version). It was growing great; then she got pregnant and let it go. I finally took it apart, cleaned it, and it's ready for another crop, but I think she might want to plant all lettuce this time.

Roni, I am glad you are feeling better. I've never heard of an aerogarden, but it looks beneficial, and fun!

We also had snow a few nights ago. The streets and side walks are cleared, but some accumulation still lingers. I always like to read when the snow is on the ground. I'm reading a good book, These Precious Days by Ann Patchett. It is a nice, cozy read.

I am glad you are settling in your home, and the sight of snow is unique for you, after living in California for so long.

I send all good wishes for continued healing, and a good new year!

Never heard of an aerogarden before. Running off down the internet rabbit hole to find out about them. I would love fresh herbs in the winter!

Hi Roni, glad to read that you are solidly on the mend. But as you say, the weather does much to encourage us to stay indoors. My library can only open in the afternoon right now as so many of their staff are off due to Omicron and our grocery store is struggling to get deliveries but I think a lot of that was due to the snow that we had. Luckily it's all been washed away now by our usual rain.

>85 quondame: Well, that is good to know! Thanks, Susan.

>96 DeltaQueen50: One of our professors posted a photo of empty meat cases and other things at the main grocery store in the town where I work. Most of us suspect the refrigeration system broke down rather than it being a true shortage.

I just dropped in to see what condition your condition was in.

OK, bad Kenny Rogers line.

I do hope you have continued to improve. I think 1972 was the last time I saw snow on the ground at sea level here.

Hey Roni! My eye exam? Why, I aced it! No sign of macular degeneration worsening! *wheee*

>90 richardderus: Do we need Djokovic to serve the lettuce. I'm sure it is ace!

Still getting better, steadily. Yesterday was over with my mom, which wore me out but didn't make me worse. Today I started putting Christmas away.

The Aerogarden is rather amazing, Mamie and Anita and Peggy. And the website is having even more extreme sales right now.

>83 quondame: Liaden love is Liaden love, regardless of the pairings.

>84 alcottacre:, >85 quondame:, >97 alcottacre: And even better to know, Stasia, that Return of the Thief wraps up the six book series, so it is complete.

More Aerogarden love from Laura, Richard, and Katie! Give it a try, Janet. I've had that lettuce from the store, Richard, in San Diego. Comes in a plastic clamshell with the roots still attached.

Reba and Misti, that was a big factor as I do the same thing with letting half the lettuce go bad.

Don't let it go to waste, Mary!

Thank you so much, Linda.

They sell an herb package as well, Ardene.

Thank you, Judy. Saw you had an unusual amount of snow, but glad it is gone now. Hi, Lori. Haven't been to the grocery store since Christmas, but have to go tomorrow so I will see if there are any empty shelves.

Thank you, Ron. Still improving. Never did see snow at my house in San Diego in 42 years. Wasn't there yet in '72 though.

That is wonderful, Richard dear. Eyes are totally important!

Groan, Paul.

For all you Bujold fans out there, an update on reading order:
https://www.goodreads.com/story/show/293438-the-vorkosigan-saga-reading-order-de...

There is a group read of the Belgariad starting in a few days, at the rate of 1 book per month (5 in all). Can't wait, so I'm 3/4 of the way through Belgarath the Sorcerer, which is kind of the overview to end all overviews of the whole story arc (except it isn't because Polgara the Sorceress comes after. Of course, she wasn't around for the first few thousand years.).

>102 ronincats: I wonder if, armed with that list, it isn't time to read the entire Vorkosiverse per author's guidelines.

Ponder, I shall. *smooch*

>103 richardderus: If you haven't read them for a few years, it's for sure time for a re-read, whatever your preferred order.

Hey, Roni! Glad you're on the mend!

I've got my own winter garden going down here in the basement, with grow lights and a small amount of window light, so my daughter is on her own with her hydrogarden. Trying to keep my lemon tree, lavender, rosemary, and pineapple sage alive until I can take them outside again, plus all my houseplants (most of which love being outside in spring and summer), is about all I can handle. I keep planning to start kale (sorry, Richard) and lettuce but haven't gotten around to it yet. Oh, and sprouts to substitute for all the leafy greens that I'm not growing at the moment. I miss living in Southern California so much!

>103 richardderus: It's always a good time to read some Bujold!
>104 quondame: Right, Susan?

>105 Storeetllr: The gardening, I knew I'd miss the most, Mary. What with the move, I didn't have time this last year to build up either outdoor and indoor plants, other than my mums out front. I acquired several Thanksgiving cactus plants and 4 poinsettias for the holidays, and they are now up on that plant stand in the laundry room, and two orchids on the cart down here in the office in addition to the Aerogarden. I want to acquire a Hoya plant to replace the one I had for 45 years that finally gave up the ghost last winter--it had been a Kansas houseplant before it went to CA to be a porch plant.

Well, I now have a back fence again, and my Christmas decorations are mostly boxed up and ready to move to the basement. Won't happen today as I am off to Abilene again, but tomorrow will probably see that finished.

>106 ronincats:, >104 quondame: It really isn't ever a bad time to go a-Bujolding.

Have fun in Abilene! *smooch*

Oh! I wish I could send you a cutting from my hoya! I got it as a cutting from my niece's S.O. back in 2013 or so, when I moved to Colorado, after I lost the hoya that I had growing on the porch in California (it didn't survive the trip). It's traveled with me to NY and is now taking over my kitchen. Earlier this year, I started two cuttings and some leaves in separate pots. Which they are growing out of. I posted a picture of it on my thread (so as not to take up space on yours).

Edited to correct typo

>106 ronincats: and >108 Storeetllr: Oh, hoyas are so lovely - aside from the dripping when they bloom.

>109 PawsforThought: Mine hasn't bloomed yet. The one I had outside in California bloomed, but not this one. I don't think it gets quite enough light for that. :(

>110 Storeetllr: Can you move it to another window? Ours is in the west which I think is the ideal for hoyas. It gets next to no light in winter so obviously no blooms then but almost 24h sun in the summer so can bloom several times.
I hope you manage to find a good solution for yours so you can see it bloom.

>107 richardderus: Over in Abilene again today to take my mom to the clinic. She has a uTI and incipient bronchitis so they've started her on an antibiotic. I'm still uncongested and stronger, but lots of post-nasal drip and hacking and tire easily.

>108 Storeetllr:, >109 PawsforThought:, >110 Storeetllr:, >111 PawsforThought: I wish you could too, Mary. Mine always bloomed better in Kansas in the 70s than it did later on in California. I haven't decided which to order yet. https://smile.amazon.com/SmartMe-Pubicalyx-Mottled-Silver-Plant-Tropical/dp/B08X... or https://smile.amazon.com/Hindu-Rope-Hoya-Carnosa-California/dp/B084ZRHQ2V/ref=sr... or https://smile.amazon.com/Australis-Flower-Plant-Vanilla-Inches/dp/B087BJ9P2M/ref...

Book #6 Belgarath the Sorcerer by David & Leigh Eddings (645 pp.)
Book #7 Polgara the Sorceress by David & Leigh Eddings (685 pp.)

These are rereads and prequels to The Belgariad and The Mallorean, the former of which 5 book series is now a group read. This is not the place to start--there are a million spoilers--but a filling in of all the 7000 years of history that lead up to the events in those sequels. A must read for completists.



Book #8 Pawn of Prophecy by David & Leigh Eddings (259 pp.)

The start of a classic format high fantasy saved mostly by its iconic characters, but also remember it was written in the early 80s when fantasy tropes were not quite as well established. Eddings, however, very deliberately structured his series on these tropes and wrote a best-selling series as a result.

Back when they were coming out I read through The Belgariad and at least into if not through The Malloreon, but they ceased to appeal and other authors were entering the fantasy field with more tricks and dazzle and even originality, so off I went.

>113 ronincats: Happy memories, then? Certainly lots of them!

Hmmm. I talked myself into the first Belgariad omnibus last year sometime and then didn't read any. I might or might not give *Pawn* a shot when I finish the current *Wheel*. Thanks for the tip about the group.

Hi Roni, glad to read that you are feeling better and will hope that your Mom soon does as well. It must be quite a change for you to go through a cold winter after years in California - stay warm!

>111 PawsforThought: I wish I had a west-facing window. Unfortunately, I currently live in a walk-out basement apartment that has only two south-facing windows and one very small north-facing window. The window where the hoya lives gets a lot of morning light during the winter. Perhaps I should move it to the other west-facing window that gets a lot of afternoon light in the winter. Although, next to the hoya are my phalenopsis orchid plants, all three of which are currently in bloom, so I know there's plenty of light and moisture in that area.

>112 ronincats: Oh! I love both of them! Both have fragrant flowers and are easy-care plants. My hoya is variegated, so I'd probably choose the Hoya Australis, which looks to be solid green, but that pink!

I love the Liaden books, too. There’s a new one coming out in the spring, I think. I tried to get Richard to try Agent of Change, but so far no luck.

>42 ronincats:, >43 quondame:. Val Con and Miri and Shan and Priscilla are all A-OK by me, and, like you, I get a kick out of any appearance of the Clutch Turtles. I like that in recent books we’ve been learning more about the Tree.

Hi Roni! I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better.

I haven't been around the LT threads recently, I'm afraid. All this plant talk! I wonder if I could grow herbs in an Aerogarden in Singapore? I haven't had any luck growing them in the garden nor (when I get potted ones from the supermarket) in pots. But maybe I should just stop expecting things like parsley to grow in this climate.

And all this book talk ... Liaden ... Bujold ...! I'm off to explore ...

I've been trying to think where I could put an Aerogarden since I don't have space on a kitchen counter and no suitable surface in front of any other window. The only place I can think of is my windowless laundry room. Does it make enough light on its own to work in a totally dark space?

I'm also an Aerogarden fan, although ours is in storage right now. It works well but we couldn't figure out what herbs to grow that we didn't need either too much of (cilantro, basil) or too little of to harvest regularly.

>121 RebaRelishesReading: The Aerogarden should work fine in a dark space, the grow lights that it comes with are pretty bright. I believe the instructions actually said to keep it away from natural light, although I don't remember very well.

>114 quondame: I kept confusing the author for another, whom I didn't like, and didn't realize it until all of the first five were out, so I got to read them all in one fine burst. Yes, it's a traditional fantasy but, as almost always, it's the characters who keep me coming back.
>115 richardderus: Yep, a comfort read.
>116 LizzieD: That would be some nice light reading for you, Peggy.
>117 DeltaQueen50: Heck, it's up to 21 degrees F. from 5 this morning, practically a heat wave, Judy. Yeah, I cope by staying in when it's cold. And really, this has been one of the warmest Kansas winters on record.
>118 Storeetllr: My sunroom is west facing, and so is the upstairs laundry room gable where I put the plant stand. I did not get the pink one after looking at the reviews--it came from Hong Kong and there were several reviewers who never got their plant. I ordered two from a California grower. I also added a peperomia, a hurricane fern, a polka dot plant, and a fittonia when I was out shopping in the 60 degree day Tuesday.
>119 jnwelch: Yes, the third in the Jethri sequence--Lee and Miller are working on the final proofing right now. I also am enjoying the Tree, Joe.
>120 humouress: I have no idea how an Aerogarden might work in your climate, Nina.
>121 RebaRelishesReading: Kriti has beat me to it, Reba, but yes, you could put the Aerogarden in the laundry room, as it provides its own grow light.
>122 kgodey: That's why I'm doing the salad greens package, Kriti.

Speaking of which, I emailed Aerogarden yesterday to tell them one of the pods didn't germinate and the kit was missing one of the pod covers when I got it, and today I got an email showing they had shipped me an entire new set of Salad Greens pods AND a full set of 6 pod domes (used when seeds are germinating). Now that is service!

Mom decided it was going to be too cold for either of us to be out this morning so I didn't need to go over today. Yay! Got laundry folded and put away and finished cleaning up the kitchen. Really want to go fold fabric but have been procrastinating...

>124 ronincats: - Yes. Just yes. ;-)

>125 jessibud2: Precisely!

>124 ronincats: Well, jewelry is fine too. As long as it's the right jewelry. I've not complained about a great scarf or jacket either. I do like gift books, but I'm mostly self enabling.

>124 ronincats: Co-signed.

>124 ronincats: So much this!

>124 ronincats: So true!

>124 ronincats: This!

>124 ronincats: Love this, bang on the money.

>124 ronincats: I love it.
Just popping in to wish you a wonderful weekend, Roni!

>124 ronincats: I think I'm going to keep that, Roni - it describes a few of us.

Hi Roni.

>124 ronincats: Oh, I love this. I'm so glad to be in a group like LT that gets me. My husband is used to my addiction, but some of my friends don't understand why I would rather hang out with a good book rather than go out to lunch. Covid has cut down on lunches, but I still have a group that wants to meet regularly. I give in once in awhile.

Dear Roni, I am returning your late visit with an even later one of my own. How have I missed your thread? I'm glad to be here. >124 ronincats: we obviously get each other here:)

I want to know more about your Aerogarden. Which size did you get? The sizes vary quite a lot, but they don't look terribly expensive (particularly now with their sales). I knew you would miss your SD gardening. Do you have room for an outdoor garden at your new home? We did large veggie boxes when we redid our landscaping, but even so our growing season is pretty short.

>124 ronincats: Duly forwarded to my family :0)

>124 ronincats: Truer words...

Really cool customer service from Aerogarden!

Have a great week!

I knew >124 ronincats: would strike a chord with our bunch! Glad to see you appreciated it, Shelley, Susan, Richard, Mary, Anita, Arlie, Charlotte, Thomas, Paul, Donna, Anne, Nina and Mary!!

Those Hoyas I ordered the middle of last week from California Tropicals? They arrived today and I have never seen such good packaging around live plants as these had. I would order from them again in a heartbeat!


Anne, I got the Aerogarden Slim with 6 spots for pods. It fits perfectly at the end of my kitchen counter without taking up too much room and provides plenty for just me, plus some for neighbors. Yes, there is a big garden bed all across the back of the property, probably 10 or 12' by 30'. I didn't get around to putting anything in it when I got here in mid-summer, just put cardboard over it to keep the grass and weeds down, but am already starting garden planning for this summer and looking at no-till options.

I have been doing some reading and actually finished one book that was not a reread.



Book #9 The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni (259 pp.)

You may be thinking, what a strange choice for me to read. Right. But there is an on-line book club on Facebook, Ike's Book Club, that popped up, and remember, Abilene is where Ike grew up and the Eisenhower Center is located, and the NEXT book to be discussed, in March, is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, which is a marvelous book despite the terrible movie adaptation which removed all the really meaningful parts of the book completely. I am totally in for that, so thought I should participate in this book which is a fable demonstration of dealing with the issues of team-building. It was a quick read and, after 31 years of school and district level staff meetings under my belt, definitely dealt with issues with which I was familiar.

And then, there is no way I can hold to the pace of one book per month for the Belgariad group read. Just....can't......do......it!



Book #10 Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings
Book #11 Magician's Gambit by David Eddings

So I am continuing my rereads at my own pace and will simply have to take notes and contribute when the discussion does finally get there.

>139 ronincats: Lovely!

>140 ronincats: No worries as far as the pace of the group read goes. You know us - we just kind of motor along, allowing plenty of time for everyone to read the first book before we go on to the second. If you want to read faster, that is not an issue either. I am happy to see you are enjoying the series!

Have a wonderful week!

>140 ronincats: Heh...speedy the read-y, ain't ya?

>139 ronincats: ...my eyes are swollen from the ghastly sight of all of them so I can't tell which ones are hoyas.

>142 richardderus: The two in front, Richard. The small green ones in front of the amaryllis.
>141 alcottacre: I know, Stasia. My motoring pace is just faster on stuff like that. You have a wonderful week as well.

>143 ronincats: oic

They (the leaves) look like inside-out steamed dumplings!

>139 ronincats: Beautiful! And look at that amaryllis! Have your orchids bloomed yet? All 3 of mine are in bloom. I'm pleased but surprised.

Just waving *hello*

Ooh the Rats of Nimh. I wonder what happened to my copy. I loved that book. Hope the book group meeting (when it comes) is a good one.

>144 richardderus: Yup, a bit.
>145 Storeetllr: I bought both plants while blooming. The big one still is.
>146 humouress: Hi, Nina.
>147 charl08: Me too, Charlotte. I'd better go check and make sure I can lay hands on my copy.



Book #12 Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings (375 pp.)
Book #13 Enchanter's End Game by David Eddings (375 pp.)

And the last two books of the first five-book series. As above, classic fantasy, deliberately so, raised above the ordinary primarily by the details/quirks of the characters, the expanse of world-building, and with a writing style that doesn't get in the way of the story. As you can see, I have no self-control.

And yet, sometimes obstacles arise. I went looking for the 5 books of The Mallorean this morning, and discovered they were nowhere to be found. Five big bulky hardbacks--oh where could they be? And what I think is the case is that I decided not to move those big shelf-eating tomes because I could either a) find them at the local library, or b) pick them up on my Kindle. Turns out the only Kindle versions of them are in German, as far as I can tell. So I put holds on the copies at the library and will go pick them up Friday while I am out, as they are all on the shelves there.

>148 ronincats: The inverse of my problem; I have the Mallorean but not the last 4 books of the Belgariad.

>148 ronincats: ...and then you'll find them in the most unlikely place :) I was convinced the movers had lost a vase of mine after having searched high and low for it for several days and then, a month later, there it was in a place I never dreamed to look. Must have seemed a reasonable place when I put it there but not when I looked a few months later.

So, tomorrow I will pick up the 5 volumes of the Mallorean from the library on my way home from Abilene, but today, to reward my patience, the e-ARC of Fair Trade downloaded on Baen.com, which I immediately purchased and am now perusing to add my efforts to the others proof-reading it!

>124 ronincats: I can't see it. Dang it. But it obviously got a great response.
Glad to see you enjoying your reading spree and awesome new plants! Happy Thursday.

>151 ronincats: A mighty tyop hunter!

>151 ronincats: You and the Liaden books...my friend Bryce and the Malazan books...y'all series junkies are *trouble*!

*smooch* never stop being trouble!

>149 humouress: At least the Belgariad exists in ebook formats. Can't believe they don't have the Malloreon in such, Nina!
>150 RebaRelishesReading: Exactly, Reba!
>152 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers. Great to see you here. I'm doing lousy at getting to other threads.
>153 quondame: Not so mighty, Susan. Didn't find a single tyop, although two missing words, before I got so into the story that I wasn't paying attention to the physical format.
>154 richardderus: I promise, Richard! *smooch*

So, where have I been? It's been quite a week. Finished 5 books by the end of January, but that's the least of it. My nephew's family has been going through COVID over in Abilene. Started with the 7th grader, then her mother. My nephew came down with it at the end of last week and the high school senior succumbed yesterday. I haven't been in physical contact since Christmas Day (when I picked up the cold whose cough is still hanging on) so not a personal concern. The youngest had only minor symptoms, but it's hit the other three pretty majorly (in terms of fatigue, headaches and congestion--nothing major-major like lungs). But when I went to pick up Mom from the hair-dresser Friday morning, Carol had gotten ill (dizzy and weak) while working on Mom and on Sunday called her to confirm it was COVID. They were both wearing masks, but not the N95s. So far, neither Mom nor I are showing any symptoms. My BIL had been with my nephew all day Thursday, and he had a headache and fatigue over the weekend, so they aren't going near Mom either. He was okay yesterday, according to him, but I wish he'd been tested.

And then both KU and the Chiefs lost over the weekend.

>155 ronincats: What a craptastic week. I'm hoping the new one will be much, much better.

My new thread starts with a redbud tree....

Good thing I had escapist books to submerge myself into!



Book #14 Fair Trade by Miller and Lee

As noted in >151 ronincats:, I purchased the eARC of this book as soon as it became available. It continues the story of Jethri begun in Balance of Trade and Trade Secret, a thread that takes place several hundred years prior to the main plot lines of Clan Korval at a time when Terran and Liaden trade routes were just coming into contact. It also is building up major back story for some of the events and issues in the later books, especially the last one, Trader's Leap. Lots happens. But it ended so abruptly that I was stabbing my finger at my Kindle trying to force it to turn the page for several minutes before I realized that was it, the end!



Book #15 Guardians of the West by David Eddings (439 pp.)
Book #16 King of the Murgos by David Eddings (405 pp.)
Book #17 Demon Lord of Karanda by David Eddings (340 pp.)
Book #18 Sorceress of Darshiva by David Eddings (439 pp.)

What can I say? Comfort reads. And I haven't read the Mallorean nearly as often as the Belgariad, so there's a lot I hadn't remembered about the plot even as I knew the main outlines. Quite entertaining. I do love these characters. Interestedly enough (or not), I never enjoyed any of Eddings other series written after this one. They always seemed flat and drear, without the connection that makes me enjoy these so much. And also, turns out his wife Leigh was an unindicted co-conspirator on all of his books, although he didn't give her credit until 1995. He claims it was because Lester del Rey insisted that two-author books didn't sell. Whatever.

>156 richardderus: Heading over there directly, Richard dear.

>155 ronincats: Sorry to see that your family has been struggling with the virus, Roni. Two of my three kids have had it recently but both didn't suffer too much.

See that you have given the Belgariad the Roni treatment while I was looking the other way. Skimmed your reviews just in case. xx

All the best to you and your family, Roni.
Books help in many situations in life...

>155 ronincats: A missing word is a tyop!

I'm sorry to hear about your nephew's family and hope that you and your mother remain COVID free.

>157 ronincats: #14 Oh no. Another one of those endings. Well, I've survived worse (I'm looking at you The Last Graduate!)

Roni, sorry to read about all the yuck in your week. Hoping you and your mom avoid the Covid.

Craig loves those David Eddings books you've been reading - I think the Belgariad is his favorite, but he has read all the books more than a few times.

Hoping the rest of your week improves, my friend.

Rough week. It's good to have comfort reads to help take the edge off. Hope February behaves better for you and for all of us.

Not sure I like that Fair Trade has such a sudden ending.

Oh Roni, I'm sorry you had such a rough week, and that your family is sick. Hope for smooth sailing for you and good health for everyone!

Hoping your family has a quick recovery and that you and your mom continue to be COVID free.

>113 ronincats: I picked up pawn today and plan to start it soon. I had the first 3 or 4 for many years and just never got going with it. Maybe the time will be right now. I have much less tolerance for cold as I have aged. I cannot imagine me in a Kansas winter. You are certainly making the best of it. I am glad you liked my roses on FB. They are prettier by the day as they open and display a pallet of colors.

I'm sorry to hear you've had a tough week, Roni. Hopefully things will be better this week and you and your mum will escape covid. (So weird to be living through a global pandemic.)

>166 RBeffa: If you get to Queen of Sorcery this month you can join us on the group read. (Speaking of which, I really ought to get hold of those books.)

Sorry to hear your woes, Roni, especially the family covid cases. (Having grown up in Cincinnati, I'm less sad about the Chiefs #sorrynotsorry). Fingers crossed that you and your mom remain symptom free.

Dropping in to say hello. Sorry your week has not been going well. Hopefully all will return to normal for you and your family soon!

Hi Roni! Downhill slide into weekend commences five hours. Yay for that, and I'm hoping you're reading progresses splendidly.

Book #19 The Seeress of Kell by David Eddings (400 pp.)

And that completes the series!!

Four inches of snow last night. Bird feeders were busy today! Kept busy around the house.

Thanks for visiting, Paul, Thomas, Susan, Mamie, Mary, Anne, Cassie, Ron, Nina, Laura, Anita and Richard!

Hi Roni, I am also very sorry to read that a branch of your family has contacted Covid. My daughter, who is a nurse, was recently exposed and is being tested every three days or so - so far she has been negative. My grandson also contacted the virus but it was a very light case and he is counting the days until he can get back to work. I have been keeping my head down and losing myself in my reading. Take care of yourself!

Hope you and your mum are keeping well Roni, and that the family members with covid recover quickly.
Four inches of snow sounds good to me. Just rain and wind here.

>166 RBeffa: >167 humouress: Pawn of Prophecy is just not for me. I didn't get very far.

>155 ronincats: Yowch! I'm two days behind on your thread, and hoping that when I finish getting caught up I'll find that everyone's recovering already, and no one else you know has caught covid.

Realistically, though, covid takes longer than that to get through, even when very mild.

>157 ronincats: I wholeheartedly agree that the Eddings books are comfort reads, Roni!

Book #20 On Basilisk Station by David Weber (422 pp.)

I've always liked this first book of the series, but I suspect I am over it. I think that, given my propensity to rereads right now, I am going to jump in feet first on a series reread, culminating in the three that I own that I never got to. And then I probably will cull them. And I reserve the right to scan over all infodumps about Warshawski sails and battle scenes with missiles ripping through ships of the line. Reading my 1993 mmpb this time cracked the front cover in half--I do have them all in ebook format, I think. It will be somewhat of a slog but it will be worth it to clear them off my shelves. Thank goodness they are all in mmpb format, no trade or hardback editions.

Sounds like a good plan, Judy. Hi, Charlotte--sounds a bit dreary. Oh Ron, I could have predicted that, I'm afraid. Even though once they leave the farm, it all picks up a LOT. Good to see you here, Arlie. And we are simpatico, Stasia.

Off to KC tomorrow after spending the morning with my mom, and going to Allen Field House to see KU play Baylor in person for the first time in 48 years. Back Monday.

>177 ronincats: I tried that one, did not care for it overmuch and never read further in the series.

Have a great trip!

>178 alcottacre: I think I got at least 6 books in - but except for pronouns Honor read like a man to me so I dropped out. After all, I could read Elizabeth Moon's books. But they were decent space opera.

>179 quondame: Elizabeth Moon is another story. I have very much enjoyed and even loved the books of hers I have read.

>180 alcottacre: I have to ration Paksenarrion rereads - too many tears!

>181 quondame: I have not yet read that particular series. I will have to get to it!

>182 alcottacre: It seems as if it's building slowly, but every bit is part of an almost perfect structure with all the heart in the world.

>177 ronincats: I also wore out my first paperback copy of this title. But I then doubled down, and bought a used hardcover copy.

>179 quondame: Honor may indeed read like a man, but as a somewhat genderqueer person AFAB, that doesn't bug me; in fact it probably makes it easier for me to identify with her.

What I hate, and might well condemn a book to being Pearl ruled by me, is female characters who read like a male fantasy of what a woman is/should be like.

>177 ronincats: I might join you with that (book - I can't keep up with your series reading rate). I want to read but I'm not sure what I want to read. That could work for me.

>171 ronincats: So you'll be joining us for the group read for Queen of Sorcery this month then? ;0)

HAVE A NICE TRIP!!!

(I had to shout, sorry, you're going even farther away.)

>177 ronincats: Have a lovely trip, Roni. x

How did I ever not read The Thief!!!

>188 sibylline: But now you can. All the delights, all the surprises!

Roni. I've been thinking of you a lot lately. You made many changes in your life, and I admire your fortitude. I decided to stay here in this house, that originally was Will's before we came together and I purchased 1/2. In order to stay here, I had to make major changes in each room. I need to have the downstairs bathrooms remodeled, and the kitchen floor that buckled when the pipe under the sink broke when the dish washer was running.

I've learned that both Home Depot and Lowes have marvelous no interest payments for two years. The downstairs carpet will soon be paid off, and contingent on sales, I'll have the floor redone, then the bathrooms redone.

Are you adjusting to the Kansas weather compared to the warm days of California?

Sending lots of love and good wishes in the hope you are enjoying your trip.

Roni, even though I'm well aware you won't Kindle it up, a book came out today that made me think of you: A View to a Kiln (A Harry's Pottery Mystery Book 1). Heh.

>191 richardderus: Well, why not? I enjoy an occasional cozy mystery, and the setting is appealing.

>190 Whisper1: Dear Linda, the hardest part is the dry, dry air, both inside and out. I run humidifiers inside (although the "white dust" from them clogs my furnace filters) but still have to lotion up like crazy. We've had 3 2 to 4 inch snows with weeks of temps in the 50s in between, so it hasn't been a typical Kansas winter.

>188 sibylline:, >189 quondame: You haven't, Lucy? Then you haven't been paying attention! Cause we've talked about it a lot. What Susan says.

>187 PaulCranswick:, >186 richardderus: Thank you. I'm home. But I was coming 150 miles closer to you, Richard. It was a good trip, lovely weather for driving through the Flint Hills, and the KU team put on a spectacular show Saturday overwhelming the ranked and #2 in the conference Baylor team.

>185 humouress: Of course I'll be joining you all for the group discussion this month, Nina!

>184 ArlieS:, >183 quondame:, >182 alcottacre:, >181 quondame:, >180 alcottacre:, >179 quondame: I really enjoyed the first few back in the day, but upon this reread feel that I've finally outgrown them. I think Honor comes across as asexual in these early books, Arlie, although that certainly changes later. Anyhow, it won't hurt me to revisit the entire series, including the ones at the end I own but have never read, before saying goodbye.



Book #21 The Honor of the Queen by David Weber (422 pp.)

Honor ends up with another impossible mission and, following much carnage, of course succeeds.

>192 ronincats: ...closer...? Okay, I'm all turned around. Buuuuuuut you had a lovely drive which is all that counts.

Re: #21 Rob calls Honor Harrington "Reacher with a womb."

I think I agree.

>193 richardderus: Hmm. I was unfamiliar with Jack Reacher, and the author Jim Grant/Lee Child. I guess I'll have to try out that series now.

Book #22 A View to a Kiln by Holly Jacobs (231 pp.)

Brought to my attention by Richard above, this is a cozy romantic mystery that is a light read with a little bit about the art of pottery--the chapter heading quotes were the best thing. Good for palate-cleansing between space navy battles.

>195 ronincats: Not deathless prose, goodness knows. But it did its job!

>194 ArlieS: *confetti toss* Book bullet landed!

Not a lot of news. The bird feeders are busy. There are already robins in my back yard. I love my house. Spent Friday with Mom. KU won today (they lost on Monday). And I tried to do Wordle while talking on the phone and screwed up, ignoring that none of the letters were in the right positions on trials 3 and 4.

Wordle 238 5/6

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Robins already? Wow! I love to read that you love your house - that's as it should be, and after the time you've had the the big upheaval of your loss and your move to love your home is a wonderful thing indeed. Happy weekend, Roni.

I too love the repeat that you love your house. It looks lovely and so homey (American meaning) that I don't know how it could miss. Also glad the Hawks won today :)

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Roni. I miss seeing robins in my own backyard, although I sort of discovered one today.

Glad you’re enjoying your new home, robins and all. We still have lots of juncos so until the snow birds leave (and take the snow with them), I don’t think we’ll see any robins.

Hi Ronnie, we had a couple of warm sunny days here and I hung out with some friends in a park, then it went back down to freezing Saturday night. I'm not complaining, spring is on the way here. Wish I'd given my dog a bath while the weather was warm though!

Just speaking. ((((((((RONI))))))) I love that you love your house, and how could you not? I love my Honor! I still eat up dreadnaughts and LACs and the battles (how strange for an almost complete pacifist!) and all the politics both in Manticore and Haven and other places. I had started a reread but am about to have her on the prison planet, so I'm not exceptionally eager for that one.
Good reading! Good day!

>199 RebaRelishesReading: "Homey" is a good word in the USA. My daddy, however, had a first cousin whose nickname was "Homey," and that was not a compliment.

Wordle 240 5/6

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Tricky one today. I'm bogged a bit in Field of Dishonor. Thanks for visiting, Richard, Anne, Reba, Paul, Cassie, Ardene and Peggy. I went to a kids' theater production that great-nephew and great-niece were in with mom and sister yesterday. Had lunch with a friend today and the Jayhawks play in another hour.

>204 ronincats: Your family and friend are keeping you busy, Roni.

I had that Wordle also in 5, and today's in 4!
Sadly I can't share anymore since it went over to the nytimes site.

>205 FAMeulstee: Well, that sucks, Anita. But we match again today.

Wordle 241 4/6

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Hello, Roni! I also got it in four today.

>203 LizzieD: Actually, I was having a senior moment when I said that. It's "homely" that needs explaining, not homey, because in UK it means "cozy, comfortable, like home" while in the US "homely" means unattractive and, yes, "homey" can have other meanings here too. So, I should just have said that I think Roni's house looks attractive and cozy and like home and generally a nice place to be.

I'm happy with my Wordling...I got it in 4 today, as well. We're now playing the Times version, correct? I've had no issues with my stats transferring over, or any data being corrupted. Lucky me, I guess or actually it seems.

Happy Humpday to come.

Hi, Mamie! Thanks, Reba.

Well, I closed the share page, Richard, but for puzzle 242 I got it in 3/6.

Home day today. I winter sowed some seeds in aluminum roasting pans, took nightstand components upstairs from the box they were delivered in so I can assemble them tomorrow to match the one I did last week, and sorted some fabric in the craft bedroom. No reading...yet.

When I went to put The Thief on my WL it was already there......

>212 sibylline: Good. Read it!

Tor reposted a review for The Witness for the Dead yesterday from last summer for some reason, so I went and reread it last night.

book# 24 The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

I've already read The Goblin Emperor at least three times, but had only read this one once, when it came out last summer, so it was ripe for a lovely reread.

>213 ronincats: Well if you've only read it once then, of course :0)

Hi Roni! Love your rereading.

>211 ronincats: Good idea, some sowing. Spring is on it’s way, I don’t know how far off, though.

>213 ronincats: Loved The Goblin Emperor, so hope I can find this one.

Have a nice day!

Wordle 244 4/6

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Wordle 246 4/6

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>217 ronincats: I haven't done Wordle yet. I was just not *there* with it somehow...I still don't much feel like it for once, which is surprising!

Your Sunday going right, Roni? *smooch*

Off to lunch and the theater with friends, Richard, so yes, very much so! Plus it's supposed to hit 70 today...

Hi Roni. Sounds like you have plans for a lovely day. Enjoy!

The Goblin Emperor was excellent; I did the audiobook version but the reader was great! That’s one that will be going on my wish list, along with The Witness for the dead. I’m a gnat’s wing from deciding to do an Audible account since I listen to audiobooks regularly and would love to have access to certain ones over and over again. OverDrive is nice but I would love to own some (and would rather own digitally for space reasons), so that I can listen to them whenever I want, rather than hope that they aren’t checked out to someone else or are no longer part of the library’s collection.

>219 ronincats: Seventy! How weird for February. Any pleasures from climate change are welcome, of course.

Hi Roni!

I see you’re doing wonderful things with gardening and your house, plus some social activities that I’m envious of.

I gave up my subscription to the local theater company since my friend Louise can’t negotiate stairs/ramps, etc., any more, plus we’re not even eating out in restaurants yet, much less going to large venues.

And glad you're on the Wordle bandwagon with so many of us.

Hi, Roni! Just catching up after being off and under the weather for a couple of weeks.

>211 ronincats: Love love love The Goblin Emperor. Love The Witness for the Dead almost as much. I wish we could have a sequel of Emperor, though I see why it's a stand-alone. Barring a sequel, maybe the Celehar series could feature Maia in one of its installments. *crossing fingers, toes, eyes*

>221 CassieBash: I can't afford a regular Audible subscription, but I was able to get a half-subscription, so I pay only every other months and get 6 audiobooks a year, which is perfect for me as I don't generally buy audiobooks unless I already know I will want to re-listen to them frequently. If that makes sense. And I still get the Deal of the Day and other specials.

>224 Storeetllr: That’s nice, maybe I’ll try that with Audible too. Right now you can get a 3 month free trial so it’s tempting to take up that offer. Like you, I’m seeing it as a space-saving way to get those audiobooks I would listen to more than once. I believe you can return titles and get your credit back, too, so if that’s true, I could also test-listen a few.

>213 ronincats: My library hold just came in for Witness for the Dead, so I'm glad to know you love it so much. I'm sure I will, too.

Well, I had a nice long message written, responding to Judy, Cassie, Richard, Karen, Mary and Misti, but got distracted and it disappeared. So now a shorter message. Up to 14 degrees now (0 when I woke up) but my house is nice and warm. Did great on Wordle today! Proud of myself for getting it with relatively few letters.

Wordle 249 3/6

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>227 ronincats: Wordle in three's excellent indeed, Roni.
Wordle 249 2/6

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I'm astonished to've gotten two-2s in a row...and just after Twosday!

#Worldle #34 3/6 (100%)
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https://worldle.teuteuf.fr

Wordle 250 3/6

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10 degrees and snowing here (wasn't when I got up at 7). On the agenda for today, besides have to do paperwork stuff, is making Irish cream from scratch and loading up the bread machine.

I have started using my bread machine again. I had a 5 pound bag of white whole wheat flour from my sister that needed to get used up, so I started making bread in the bread machine at the rate of two small loaves per week for the last month. I would put the stuff in the machine and when I went to bed at night I pushed the button. About 2:30 AM I would wake up to the smell of baked bread filling the house. I liked it so I have continued to put the bread machine to use.

>229 ronincats: Good for you Roni!! I'm not sure I understand how Worldle can be portrayed that way but good result. I'm MOST impressed by your Wordle. I got no letters in first try, one in wrong position on the second and then I let my aching back and neck get the better of me and I gave up. Hope for a better tomorrow.

Stopping by to say hello. I have had difficulty keeping up with LT this year. Irish Cream from scratch sounds interesting!

#Worldle #35 1/6 (100%)
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https://worldle.teuteuf.fr

Wordle 251 4/6

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Wow, I'm impressed with that Worldle outcome. I took one look at the silhouette and thought it would take me forever. Then I showed it to Hubby...

>233 ronincats: I think you can guess today's Worldle also in one:

#Worldle #36 1/6 (100%)
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https://worldle.teuteuf.fr

>235 FAMeulstee: It took me 2 guesses. Which I thought was pretty decent since I'm no geography expert.

Wordle 252 3/6

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>235 FAMeulstee: Okay, that was a challenge!

#Worldle #36 1/6 (100%)
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https://worldle.teuteuf.fr

>237 ronincats: It took me four but I wasn't sad about it.

*smooch*

Wordle 254 4/6

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#Worldle #38 2/6 (100%)
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https://worldle.teuteuf.fr

>239 ronincats: I got Wordle in three today because I had the "O" in the correct position from the first and there's no substitute for luck.

*smooch*

>240 richardderus: exactly. With luck I could have had it in two. But, alas, I choked.
Wordle 254 4/6

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I haven't tried Worldle yet but I'm impressed by your scores, Roni. It looks like you're getting out and about and enjoying all your recently new-to-you location has to offer.

Hi Roni! Hope all is well with you. I see you getting good results on Wordle and Worldle. Hope you're otherwise well and happy!

Have a wonderful weekend-ahead's reads, smoochling.

All caught up Roni. Have a great weekend.

Wordle 259 4/6

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#Worldle #43 2/6 (100%)
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https://worldle.teuteuf.fr

Hi, Roni! Thanks for visiting my thread. I wrote an essay in answer to your question. lol

Got today's Wordle in 3. I was so surprised!

>246 ronincats: ***I*** got it in TWO today.

Nyah!

Dear Roni:



When I found this I thought of you. Thank you so very much for the kind, loving person you are!

>249 Whisper1: That is lovely, Linda. Thank you!

Thanks for the essay, Mary. It is just what I wanted.

>248 richardderus: *smooch*

#Worldle #51 1/6 (100%)
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https://worldle.teuteuf.fr

No map needed!

Wordle 267 3/6

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I've been very remiss about posting. It's been over a month since I posted a book, but all I've read since then is another reread and a nonfiction, and both were for group reads.

Book #25 Empires of the Plain by Lesley Adkins

This nonfiction about the discoveries and decoding of cuneiform was a small group read that I added myself to when I found it in the library. Interesting but not fascinating.

Book #25 The Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

A children's book dealing with adult themes of the nature of intelligence and society and survival, this book made quite an impact on me in 1971 when it won the Newbery award. Still an excellent book. Don't ever watch the movie, which distorts the plot into a woo-woo story where magic is the solution instead of brains and cooperation.

Just popping in to wish you a wonderful weekend, Roni.

Finally found and starred you!

>251 ronincats: I loved Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH when I was a kid! Yeah, the movie was rather disappointing.

Hi Roni! *smooch*

Hi ya, Thomas and Chris and Richard! I am so sorry to be such a stranger to my own thread. I have been keeping busy with starting seed flats under grow lights, refilling bird feeders and spending hours at my desk watching the myriad birds come right outside my windows. The cats like watching them too. I actually finished a short nonfiction and I'm trying to get into the fantasies I brought home from the library, but it's slow going and I spend way too much time playing computer games. But I do read regularly this thread and appreciate my visitors greatly!

>255 ronincats: Good to hear from you again! I have a window I watch out of while eating breakfast. Yesterday there were lots of bottle brush flowers and a humming bird in addition to the usual squirrel shenanigans. Today a couple of more camellias, but no noticeable wildlife.

We have some doves that we look forward to seeing each days. Plus a great horned owl has taken up residence nearby judging by the crows hollering. He was hooting down our chimney a couple nights ago. Birds are wonderful.

>255 ronincats: Good to hear from you Roni and glad all is going well.

Dropping in to say hello :)

Another fan of Nimh here too.

I have my sweetpea seeds in the cold frame, but no sign of life yet. Hope your seeds are doing better!

Catching up after a week away.

>255 ronincats: Glad to see you are sidetracked by the birds in your garden, Roni.

Hi Roni! Sorry I have been missing a few months.

>250 ronincats:

Am I doing this right?

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Susan, Ron, Reba, Anita, Charlotte, Anita and Stephen, thank you for stopping by. You see I am still as bad as ever. Stephen, which game is that? I can't tell.

But this resonated today:

>263 ronincats: I love that quote. I've been distracted with concerns about my mother and I really need some good escape reads right now. I am also finding myself spending a lot of time playing computer games which helps to occupy the mind.

>263 ronincats: - Hi Roni. I, too, have been awol. Probably too much to catch up on so just saying hi and thanks for this pic. I am guessing it speaks to all of us!

>263 ronincats: No doubt about the accuracy or applicability of that around here! *smooch*

I'm still not wifi'd up properly. I hope they get their act together soon.

>263 ronincats: Thumb!

>263 ronincats: "Which game is that?"

Well... of you really want to know:



It is a sprite from Defender :) (a 1980s game).

But that is as close as I am likely to come to Wordle!

Nice to hear from you Roni and glad your new life is keeping you happy and busy!

Yay Hawks!!! Thought of you when I heard the results of that semi and I'll think of you during the final.

My husband is very excited about the Jayhawks and I imagine you are also. Hope you are well, Roni.

Go, Jayhawks! My college roommate is out for the weekend from Kansas City, and my sister and BIL came over yesterday afternoon and we all watched the game together, which was a lot of fun!

Judy, I've not been to your thread for too long but sorry to hear your mother is not doing so well.
Thanks, Shelley.

Richard, I hope your wi-fi woes are over soon. *smooch*
Thanks, Nina.

Oh, VERY funny, Stephen!
Thanks, Reba and Anne. Very exciting to have my Jayhawks in the finals.

>272 ronincats: Hope all is well Roni. Updating my stats and see you have not been updating yours?!

Have a great week!

Congratulations, Roni and Roni's Jayhawks!

All right!! Congratulations JayHawks everywhere!'

Congratulations, Roni!

>274 ronincats: Oh, I heard tell of that today...I thought I'd be the one to come and let you know about it, since you don't pay much mind to suchlike carryins-on.

Well! You're settled and sorted back in the Sunflower State! Clearly they needed you to come home before they could go all the way. *smooch*

Hiya, Roni! Congrats to your Jayhawks. How are your gardens coming along this year? I still have more to rake out, but I'm getting there with my spring clean out.

I wanted to make sure you knew that a sequel to The Witness for the Dead is coming out in June, The Grief of Stones since I know you've enjoyed the series. I just put a hold on it and am hoping it doesn't take a terribly long time to get to me this summer.

Hi Roni - Hope all is well. You must be busy with your gardening.

Dropping by to say hello.

Hey, Paul, Peggy, Reba, Thomas, Richard, Mary, Kerry and Ardene! Thanks for stopping in. I'm still here and even doing a bit of reading but family and garden are keeping me hopping! Hyacinths and daffys are done, tulips are blooming, lilacs are prepping, and I have straw bales in the garden to try straw bale gardening (many thanks to Mary in NY for first bringing the technique to my attention and support). Yes, Mary, I am anxiously awaiting the next Addison book, as well as the new Miller and Lee coming out in May.

Happy weekend-ahead's gardening! *smooch*

Well, I am 100+ messages behind (again) and not going to try and catch up. Glad to hear that you are hopping with family and your garden!

>282 ronincats: Straw bale gardening? That sounds quite interesting. Does the garden need more watering or does it retain the moisture better?

Happy easter!

Both. You have to fertilize more but it does retain water more. The problem is a couple of sprinkler heads didn't make it through the winter and it will be Wednesday before they can fix them.

Hi Roni. I hope you had a lovely time with your family over the holiday. Thinking of you and smiling! Much Love

Just popping in to say "Hi!" Roni! Sounds like you have lots of exciting things going on. Good for you!

Hi Roni! Slipping ever closer to a full millennium we haven't been graced with your presence....

Hi Roni, just adding to Richard's message. We miss you.

I also hope you are doing well, Roni!

Another one missing you, Roni.

Ah, you all are SO sweet! It is nice to be missed but I suppose even better to be here and interacting. I see that I really need to start a new thread, so I will put all my news there. Please join me!