The Just Jot It January 10th prompt, brought to you by Matthew over at MWLange is: “Danger.” Use it any way you like. Make sure you stop by Matthew’s website and say hello to him! https://singularfiction.wordpress.com/blog/
And, again, thank you Linda G Hill!
DANGER!
Donated yarn, looms and http://www.loomahat.com/ can be addictive!
Making and giving feel so good! By the way, the shawls aren’t finished. Just grabbed some of the pictures things worked on recently.
The Just Jot It January 9th prompt, brought to you by Erica over at 20/20 hines sight is: “Power.” Use it any way you like. Make sure you stop by Erica’s website and say hello to her! https://2020hines-sight.com/
Thank you, Linda G Hill for introducing me to Just Jot It January!
Power
With the country being hit with the Winter the Starks had warned us of, I hope we all are able to maintain our power. Sure the power could be stamina and strength would be something to be grateful for. But I am speaking of the electric company or whatever power you have to keep you warm and be able to eat. For many of us, that lifeline is so very important!
Please be careful out there and may you keep your power!
The Just Jot It January 8th prompt, brought to you by Geoff of TanGentle is: “Mongrel.” Use it any way you like. Make sure you stop by Geoff’s website and say hello to him! Here’s the link: https://geofflepard.com/ And thanks to our fearless leader Linda G Hill!
Mongrel
Cersei and Jamie Lannister, the Targaryens, our real-life royal families and dog breeders aim to keep family lines pure. In the process, it becomes dangerous. Joffrey comes to mind. Physical and mental issues result from inbreeding. Those poor poodles and other purebreds often have many problems, just so the owners can be proud of their fluffy friend. With dangers of birth defects, breeders and owners monetary output is huge. Maybe the breeder makes the most money. But what good is all that?
Mongrels are best! They are, for the most part, healthier. AND sweetest! Most of the pets of my life have found their way to me when they needed me and I needed them the most. Either they were strays I found or others found and gave me. Once in a while, I forced the issue by heading to the local ‘pound’ or animal shelter. When that happened, I would wander the place until that special pet called and connected to me. I always felt better getting pets that way than going to pet stores or breeders. I hoped to save the animal and often they saved me.
Kali (see the above picture), was a rescue my daughter found at the animal shelter worked her way into my heart. As much as the weather has been crazy lately, I haven’t felt my fibromyalgia going nuts. Could it be my new bed-mate, nap-friend, walking partner has figured out how to heal me? Look at that face! There is pure love!
Consciousness Saturday and Just Jot It January. Click the link to read more posts and to see how you can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-and-jusjojan-jan-717/ Thank you Linda G Hill!
Coat
Winter! It is pretty to see all that snow. But I do hate winter cold. Can we have non-cold, healthy-warm snow? Notice the word healthy, that excludes volcanic ash, okay? I just hate being cold. And now I have a new dog in the family. Well, not so new. She belonged to my daughter who found she couldn’t keep the dog in her new apartment without anyone else to keep the dog company.
So that’s how my grandpuppy became my own puppy. She’s not a puppy but a well trained full-grown dog. But I’m not used to having a dog around. She needs to go out for walks and doesn’t use the kitty litter (except for eating a kitty nugget or two–yuck! Dogs can be gross!) But every time she needs to go O-u-t-s-i-d-e. We have to spell it because she gets so excited–until she sees it snowing–that hurts her feet.
So when she needs to one of us needs to don our coat, and boots and hats and scarves and gloves and if it is night, we need a flashlight. So far the three of us (hubby, brother and I) manage to share the joy/work of ‘outside’.
When the weather wasn’t quite so cold (a high of 12 a low of -20) Kali and I have taken walks around our little property. I do feel that she will be good for me as the weather gets better. I don’t mind walking in the snow. Don’t like walking on ice. And as much as I hate donning a coat, Kali will run and hide when I tell her she has to put hers on.
I never thought of dogs as very smart. I think cats are pretty smart in that they can be very self-sufficient. But I never had to spell words to keep them from understanding certain words. They do get ‘food’ but ignore other words. But Kali listened the last time I had to try to get her to wear the coat. I rather thought of how I used to talk to my toddlers. I told her that if she wanted to go on a walk with me she had to wear it. I figure a walk is a bit longer outside than the quick minutes to do her duty and fly back in the house shivering. She understood the last time. But the cold snow is still too much for her tiny legs and feet. So she turned us around at the driveway’s end and headed us back to the house. Since that walk a few days ago, it has been too cold for either of us to try that.
To avoid the coat issue for both of us, I have to tell her that this outside trip must be fast, fast, fast, be quick! And I think she understands that, too. I am really loving this little ‘House Elf’. I call her that because her big ears make her look like Dobbie in Harry Potter.
Here’s a picture of me and Kali taken when she was still with my daughter a couple years ago.
This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This may be my favorite book of the series. I love watching the development of the main character, Miranda. I think the author did a good job giving us a picture of how life could get if anything happened to our neighbor the moon. With tides and volcanic action, the world becomes one that is trying to survive. But with volcanic ash in the sky messing with the weather, and lack of warm sunshine, food, and clean water are a constant struggle to find. Miranda has long since given up on the life of a teen with proms and homework. Now she is just trying to help her family survive.
Though this is my shortest review of the series, you can see what I think of the rest in a bulk review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show…
I do wish there were more books to this series!
The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Review to follow when I’ve finished #4
******
Okay. Due to what I learned as I wrote the review for #4, this was my least favorite book of the series, with Alex being my least favorite main character. But through his point of view, we learn more about how the world, at least that part of the country is dealing with the problems brought about through the meteor hitting the moon and the changes in gravitational forces on the earth.
Though this book centers on the faith that Alex and his family are devoted to, it was okay as there are a lot of people in the world and how they choose to believe affects how they see the world. But that and the misogynistic viewpoint of this faith and cultural leanings leads us to see a male who feels he must be in charge and has no compunction of hitting his sisters whose only reason to be on this earth was to cook and clean for the male. I just couldn’t abide by how he treated his sisters. I never got to where I liked him much at all. But, it is through his eyes we see what happens to the world as endures more disasters and recovery.
I had to return the Audible version of this book as the narrator’s acting was horrible. The deep gravelly voice didn’t fit the teen, either. I felt my text-to-speech did a better job. I didn’t even attempt to buy the one for #4 for it is the same voice. A younger sounding voice with more pep would have been better.
Even still, this is a great series and I want it to continue from other points of view.
Sorry that the following reviews are a little out of order. But maybe you’ll still get the drift.
The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have really enjoyed this series. That said, it is a toss up between #2 and #4 that I disliked the most. It may actually be this one. If there were a less redeemable character, it would be Miranda’s youngest, spoiled rotten brother, Jon. Alex of #2 was nearly as bad. Still thinking Maybe Alex wins as I think beating your sister or anyone else is unacceptable, I don’t care what your religion or culture says. He never redeemed himself in my eyes. I don’t even know what Miranda saw in him. Even if he were the last guy on earth, he wasn’t worth it.
Jon, on the other hand, saw the error of the ways taught to him. I would have hoped he wouldn’t have internalized that bigotted manner of his new society since his parents had worked so hard to get him to what they considered a safe place. But in the end, I began to be okay with him.
I would have much preferred the story just be about the females. Or just Miranda. She was a normal teen in the first book, but through it all, she grew to be selfless and caring.
Oh, a word of the narration. I loved the voice on #1 and #3. She could act out all the characters with distinction and humor. ButI didn’t buy for this book because I hated the voice on #2. I love a good deep voice. My dad had a bass voice and was a great speaker and reader (and wonderful singer) so it isn’t the depth of the voice. But it didn’t fit for the teen Alex. I rarely return Audibles but I did that one. I preferred my text-to-speech to the actor who emoted so seldom. I didn’t even attempt to buy the one for this #4 book.
Okay. It looks like all I had to say here were complaints. That’s not true. I LOVED the series even the books I didn’t like. I love seeing characters grow. I love watching people survive through the seemingly impossible circumstances. I am sorry to write this possible last review. There are more stories in this one story that I would love to see. It almost seems there should be an in between book just after #3. I would love to see the trek that took Miranda’s family to what they thought would be a sanctuary. I’d like to see one from Mom and Dad’s point of view. I’d like to see a book about the reparations as the country and world heal. Maybe one that includes letters from others on the other side of the world. Still, this fourth book didn’t leave one on a cliff of any kind, it just ended too soon and maybe too pat. I’m sad to see this story end. If you like sci-fi especially dystopian/post-apocalyptic nature, you will love this series.
The Christmas Dragon and other Seasonal Stories by Katharina Gerlach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a quick read. I thought since my tree is still up I could still handle me some Christmas, especially if there are dragons! Check and check!
If you read my reviews often, you know I am not a fan of short stories. I love long series type reads. I like getting to know the characters really well. But I have read other books by Katharina Gerlach that were delightful so I knew I couldn’t go wrong. I just needed to read something light between the heavier reads of post-apocalyptic dramas and the next long read. This hit the spot!
Did I mention it has dragons? And that starts with the first story that was touching and sweet. I think it was my favorite of all the stories.
Please, if you need a Hallmark moment that includes Christmas and Dragons, give this gem a read!
Your prompt for January 6 is brought to you by Prajakta at https://anarmchairperfectionist.wordpress.com/ Your prompt is: “Tangible.” Use it any way you like. Make sure you stop by Prajakta’s website and say hello to her!
Thanks to Linda G Hill for setting this fun project up. And thanks to stand-in Rosemary for keeping it going!
Tangible
Where I grew up the sky was tangible. Most people don’t think of sky or air as tangible. But if your town was trapped between mountain ranges and the air currents trapped the air from Los Angeles. especially in the summers, the sky was yellow to tan. You felt that on hot days, in your lungs, of course, but if you were like me, your skin. I never felt clean during the summer unless I was swimming. We didn’t own a pool but we walked several miles to get to a pool and our two dimes let us stay for four hours, two sessions. Unfortunately, by the time we had walked home we felt dirty again. That was before laws were passed for cars and companies to reduce smog-causing emissions. By the time I had my own children and brought them to see their grandparents those laws had changed the sky quite a bit. It is still a bit yellow, I think, but maybe that is just the film covering my memory. No. Wait! I remember using GeoEarth to “drive” through the town and the sky in the pictures makes the place look hot and sticky, kind of yellow. But still not as bad as when I was a kid.
Now I live somewhere totally different. During the summer the sky is so dry as to make it the opposite of tangible, I suppose intangible. But the lack of H2O that, say, the southern states have in high quantities, is so lacking one needs to constantly smear on lotions or squirt themselves with water. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. For all seasons my hair looks like I am touching that huge machine they had in science class that makes static electricity (Had to look it up–electrostatic generator!) Touching metal items or pets or loved ones can cause tangible and visible effects. But the sky here is so clear and dark that you can see a million galaxies! Stars so close you feel they may be tangible.
I wrote all the above with this thought in mind. Last night we reached a low of -20. Today I am not sure we got above 12. The kitchen pipes froze and took some doing to start working again. But after days of snow that hasn’t melted since before Christmas, this morning’s air was tangible. It grew all over everything outside. The frost on the trees were big pieces of ice. I still can’t see out of my windows as the outer pane is covered with frost. It looks like a magical place.
Not so to my poor little rat terrier, Kali. She goes out to do her duty and she holds up one foot and then the other. The world is TOO tangible for her.
Thanks so much to Judy at “Edwina’s Episodes” for our prompt today, “Spangly.” You can visit her daily JusJoJan post by clicking here: http://www.edwinasepisodes.com/jusjojan-january-4th-spangly/
And thank you Linda G Hill For letting us all in the fun of this annual event!
Spangly
Okay, I’ll admit it. I had to look up what it meant. THAT is how non-spangly I am! Sure I love looking at shiny. Shiny is what the ADD person follows! Any shiny! In this case, that spangly, shiny thing could be the conversation happening next to you, when you are in your own conversation (and supposed to be listening to the spouse, friend or person of authority at the same moment.) This is the reason I can’t stand going to church or parties or anywhere there are lots of people. It is the reason if my husband is talking to me I turn down or request he turn down the TV. That used to cause arguments until I made him understand that HIS words were the ones I wanted to hear. TV will pause and replay what I missed.
Spangly, shiny things will get in the way of every goal I claim. I’ve watched that play out every November. In that case, even housework I’ve let go for years gets done rather than the writing of 50K words I should be writing for NaNoWriMo. Heck, November has become the new Spring! BUT for me, that energy I puy out cleaning sometimes lights the creative flames that sitting in front of the blank page would not. This year? Not so much. Shiny won! In my defense, I won for 12 years so… Now the spangly is in the way of editing. Editing is BORING! Spangly wins every time I try.
My friend and I are trying to get more positive about goals to look toward. Another friend and I have not done resolutions but rather ‘possibilities’. So we are setting small goals to help up re-find what holiday spangly lost for us. We are including our creative things like writing or making artwork, to cleaning that ever filling countertops or tabletops. We three friends are Sagittarius’s. Maybe that adds to my own ADD. Adventures need to happen all the time, things have to stay interesting or we tend to quit.
Another thing I understand about ADD is the hyperfocus. I got that all my life. If you can focus on this why can’t you focus on that? I would get from parents and teachers. Not sure I know why, but here are the areas of hyperfocus of late: Reading My Read List, and Loom Knitting items for charities My Projects, and learning Spanish and German from Duolingo. None of these things is bad unto themselves, but they do often keep me from getting other things done that tend to pile up on me. So setting the small goals may help us find our balance.
Spangly is fun and shiny, but nice cotton t-shirts and sweats don’t hurt my skin or cause fibro-flares (another distraction for me). When you can live without thinking of your clothing and look out on your world and see your space in a quiet order, peace can reign.
Still, I haven’t taken down my Christmas Trees. I am hanging my finished projects on it until I have made some Valentine’s Day spangly. Yes, there’s a place for it even in my life.
Sorry for the graininess. Took it with my Fire. (They are good for more than reading!)
Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 100 books for the 2013 Reading Challenge! 115 of 100 (115%)
Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 225 books for the 2012 Reading Challenge! 225 of 225 (100%)
Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 200 books for the 2011 Reading Challenge! 204 of 200 (102%)
Education, Information, Motivation
Where Curiosity Meets Creativity
Portuguese-Canadian Writing About This Portuguese Thing of Ours
Inheritance. Narcissism. Turf. Welcome to the family.
Finding the extra in the ordinary
A Blog About Food and Travels
I upload photos & videos Golu lodhi village pairakhedi
Travel,Tourism, precious story "Now in hundreds of languages for you."
DISCOVER A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
twisted yarns, unraveled
The Introvert's Roadmap to Self Discovery and Growth
story telling from history
Where ancient wisdom meets modern technology. Stories that illuminate the wonders of science, culture, and life — crafted with human creativity and a touch of AI magic.
Life is just down the road lesser traveled....
In the Quiet Space of a Benedictine Heart: Seeking God in Every Moment
My Author Page
Open Your Mind
Darswords 
You must be logged in to post a comment.