Archive for January, 2018



A Different BlueA Different Blue by Amy Harmon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am sad to finish this book. I was lucky to listen to the Audible version. Tavia Gilbert’s narration brought all the characters to life. There is no time that I thought I was hearing all one voice. Each character stood out on their own.

Whoever recommended this book to me, thank you. It was a book that I relished every minute. The main character had that spit fire attitude that I always enjoy. Think Max in Maximum Ride, only maybe even more so.

Though this is called a romance by other reviewers, it isn’t sappy and full of angst like other YA books. In fact, the romance is on the back burner as Blue tries to find her identity.

I even loved the secondary characters. I don’t know if they read as individualistic as the narrator made them sound but they were all lovable.

I almost gave the book four stars as there was a moment I nearly quit reading. It seemed to take Blue into a Jesus saves moment. Not that that is a bad thing in itself. It just didn’t fit with the rest of the story and I thought it was going to stay religious preaching rather than be a story of a person growing. Luckily the author didn’t stay with that theme and allowed Blue to continue life trying to be a good person. Never in a preachy way, just living as life came to her. It almost gave a realness to the story rather than distract. That could happen.

There were points where the book could have ended but the author remembered to cover all the loose thread and tidied up the ending so nicely.

One thing that bothered me is something that always bothers me. Why did Blue stop being herself? Just because a guy finally accepts and love abounds doesn’t mean a woman should become all sweet and pliable. It became too close to the common story of happily ever after and I don’t think that is acceptable now. There should be a part two where Blue realized what all brides need to learn–we have to stay ourselves to make a whole not lose ourselves and become the other person.

I highly recommend this book. Let me know what you think

View all my reviews


Still tinking and frogging and knitting same little hat as days ago. I’ll get this knitting thing if its the last thing I do! I miss my looms! Why do I have to be so determined? Okay, so not one line–unless you put it on a big screen.

Both One-Liner Wednesday and Just Jot it January are brought to us by Linda G. Hill. Go here to find out how it all works.


[Dar’s comment: THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING AND THOUGHT I WAS ALONE! PLEASE READ!!! By the way, Rest in Peace

Something enormous has happened in the past forty years: girls are finally reading stories about dragons and space travel.

Source: Finding Science Fiction and Fantasy for Female Readers


Back in the day. We only had black and white television.I didn’t think about it much until Sheriff John would bring out his DiMaggio carrots in full black and whiteness. Sheriff John would cheerfully tell us that these orange beauties were so good for us because of the green tops. I knew what I was looking at was wrong. But of the children shows of my day, this show was one of my favorites. I can still sing all the words to his Happy Birthday song. I’m dedicating this song to Linda G. Hill whose birthday was yesterday.  And to my friend, Michele whose birthday is Friday. And I’m glad this is a tribute to a man who was part of the lives of Southern California kids in the 50s and 60s.

About the time of the Moon Landing July 16, 1969, we got out first colour TV.

For all the grey of the moon, that flag was in full colour. I could never go back. To this day I HATE the first part of  Wizard of Oz. I KNOW it represents the dullness of life prior to Dorothy’s adventure to the Emerald City.  Many people love the quaintness of noir or black and white movies but I’ll just stay home and read a book, thank you. B&W is BORING!

I’m so glad to live my life in Living Colour!

 

Of course, back then most of the shows were still about men. We’ve come a little way, baby.

 

Just Jot it January is Linda’a gift to us.

“Supernatural Snark” brought us the prompt: Colour. Here’s her link:  https://supernaturalsnark.wordpress.com/

 


I thought I’d take the liberty of not writing a long blog today. I spent the day frogging and restarting the knitted hat a started a couple days ago. It seems I used too small a crochet hook for the chain to start the cast on for the hat, and too large needles. So I used a large hook and smaller needles this time. I’ve been so busy on that that I didn’t even realize we had gone into tomorrow! So there was Just a Jot. Thank you, Linda G. Hill for helping me do daily writing even if it is just a jot.

Thank you, Jill.  Check out her blog, “Capt Jills Journeys”  Here’s her link:  https://captjillsjourneys.wordpress.com/


Children's book: Poochy: Adventure Rhyming Story for all dogs lovers with a surprising endChildren’s book: Poochy: Adventure Rhyming Story for all dogs lovers with a surprising end by Noa Geyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, how I love getting to read books like this! Thank you, Noa Geyer!

I picture every pet store, animal shelter, and other animal care facilities carrying it. Teacher and parents could have as much fun as their young students sharing this treasure. Just reading it aloud would be fun, but the pictures of this scruffy little dog and his attempts to help humans will keep conversations going about how we can help strays or our own puppies have better lives. And how they can help us.

Maybe this is a good book to read prior to getting a new pup from the animal shelter. I love that the author tried to show that the shelter was helping the dog even though the dogs looked uncomfortable in the cages. I loved how the scruffy looking dude was the one chosen by the family. Maybe showing that the cutest ones may not be the ones best for your family and the not so attractive could be smarter or more fun.

So if you are an animal lover, pick this one up. It’s only $.99 You will be as delighted with it as I was!

View all my reviews


With the prompt of the day, Silence, I couldn’t resist this:

For those who aren’t aware of Doctor Who… What planet do you live on?

Why is it that we equate silence with the sound of crickets? Anyone who has lived in places of many crickets knows that is a LOUD obnoxious sound! (I year in Coalinga, California taught me this.)

Simon and Garfunkel come to mind here as quieter sounds of silence.

I’d like to think that we have moments of silence out here in the boondocks. But there is a small airport within a mile from us. There are cows and coyotes and chickens and turkeys and a small amount of traffic in front of our house. The ambient noise is wind–Mariah?

 

Silence is Golden–wow! We in the rebellious 60s were yelling silence a lot!

It was lots of fun thinking of these songs. But really. Have you noticed that true silence can’t happen? Even if there is no sound. That is when you can hear your heart beating louder than a drum and the breathing noises and swallowing noises. the embarrassing stomach growl and oooh the worst, the fart. And the only place you notice all those noises is in church or maybe worse, yoga class. So maybe there is no such thing as silence? Or does it pass us by like those guys on Doctor Who? Maybe we need to litter our skin with hash marks when we notice?

The prompt, “Silence” was brought to us by Willow. See her blog, “Willowdot21”at  https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/

 

Once again, thanks to Linda G. Hill for the fun we’re having Jotting every day of January.


Occasionally the occupant of this room (me) tries a different occupation. As most of you know, I love loom knitting. But I crocheted most of my life and had learned to knit as a teen. But when I found how little pain I got with the loom as compared to the other hobbies, I stayed with the favored one of my hands.

Today I saw a Youtube that I thought was going to teach me a new pattern for the loom but I was wrong. It was a way to cast on for knitting by using a crochet chain. Best of those two worlds! I couldn’t resist. I had to try. Now On Casted (OC) I’m left with the actual knitting of the thing. Sigh! Let’s hope I don’t have to have occupation therapy for this! By the way, I’ve added this to my projects on Ravelry. I’m darravels over there. Here is the creator’s Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/copycat-cc-beanie

Have you watched Blue Planet? It is a favorite for me if I have insomnia. But somehow I needed a background show first to nap, then to attempt this new pattern. BBC was playing Planet Earth II when the nap overtook. Then it changed to Blue Planet. I love the ocean. I had wanted to be a marine biologist at one time but… life.  One can learn a lot when busy doing something else. 🙂

Oh, speaking of watching something. (This is Stream of Consciousness Saturday, right?) Before the nap, my honey and I were watching The Kindness Diaries. My friend recommended it as it is about to be taken off Netflix. Bring your Kleenex, not for the sadness but the overwhelming kindness that is shown. I’m on the last one where Leon is in Hollywood. What a beautiful story!

 

Here is Leon’s site: http://www.leonlogothetis.com/netflix/  And who knew? He has a book!

Needless to say it’s on my wish list.

But if I get as far as Hollywood, I need to see my favorite part of California (Unfortunately, they are the more expensive parts, which is why I don’t live there.)

Santa Barbara, Sunset over the Pacific Ocean at Arroyo Hondo Beach near the city of Goleta in southern California.

And my favorite place to walk:

Near lifeguard station 69 in Newport Beach, California in Orange County (OC)

Okay, Linda G. Hill, do I win?  She brings us both

 

with the prompt of ‘oc’

and

Go over and see how this works. It’s fun and keeps me writing every day. Thanks, Linda!

 

 

 


 

I took these pictures this morning.The bright ones are to the south of our house. The one with the shadows are on the north side. That is the side that melts slowly and even when the snow seems to have melted all over, right in the front of our place there is the cold shadow of darkness and ice. Wow, sounds like the beginnings of a spooky story!

Still, I wish I could capture the true pictures of darkness like the brilliance of last night’s snow. I love standing out in the night while it’s snowing. I don’t need to take the flashlight on those nights because it seems the snow illuminates everything. I can see the dog and anything that might try to attack her. She seems to love the snow, too as she didn’t want to come in the house any more than I did. Today it was more boring. I took a little walk around the property enjoying the pure clean look of everything, but the sun was so bright I had to go in because I didn’t have on my sunglasses. Well, if it has to be cold, it might as well be pretty!

Hopefully,, Linda G. Hill is feeling better. In spite of health issues she is still engaged with the Jot It January team she set up. Thank you!

Also, thank you, Kerry, who gave us the prompt of “Darkness.” Visit Kerry at her blog, “Her Headache,” her link:  https://kkherheadache.wordpress.com/


I have family and friends who need to see this post beginning to END, LOL!

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