This eight-book series was good in some ways. It was great for reading before sleep. I did like the main character’s attitude, but I hated the voice given to the dog by Hannah Somerville (narrator). It wasn’t bad enough to stop reading. That and the scoff sound before saying they scoffed, and that happened a lot. It’s still not enough to quit reading (listening). There was enough mystery involved that I wanted to see it all through. Not the murders, but how the main character would fix all the problems, or if she even could. Murder for the police is commonplace, so it was a vehicle to show off Jolene’s skills as a person who could hear animals speak. She pretends to be a pet psychic, but that cover brings her in to help solve the cases. It keeps the curious at bay. However, she has to hide her growls or tweets as she chats with the animals.
I don’t want you to think it is childish, but it is rather a fantasy, cozy mystery in every book. A fun book that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Well worth putting off other books while wading through all eight in a row.
Edit: I just realized I didn’t put this picture in here. Oops!😂
Oops! I left out the fun one, too. Sorry for the edits!
Sorry I don’t know who this guy is. But I found this GIF on Tenor.
Sir, I’m waiting for traffic to slow. In LA or Orange County you sometimes have to take a chance. I did and lived without my broken car for a couple weeks. Yes, the driver saw me but plowed right into the side of my car. Traffic down there is brutal. Kindness is hard to find.
I’m waiting to see if it’s something I really want. Dangers abound. The high dive has no rails out on the board. People have slipped and become vegetables from hitting their heads on the way down. What benefit will climbing all those rings and walking out into space give me? Experiences. Yes, I did it a few times. I gave it up because it was cold outside of the water. Time wasted from actual swimming.
I’m overcoming the fear of tomatoes flying. Irrational, yes. But what else keeps me from the stage. Just do it? I’ll look like a complete fool. The purpose? Experiences. And I grew to love singing on stage. It felt fantastic to relate to that many people at a time.
On the other hand I found dealing with folks one-on-one far scarier and daily. Everyone wants to fix me. Am I not allowed to have frustration without someone jumping in and telling me I’m wrong? Can I not melt down in some kind of space of my own? Aw, but that is a different topic. Not having a place for just me is getting so frustrating. Is it any wonder I don’t just do it? I don’t feel safe enough to express.
Ever.
Time to knit. My own world is soft and productive.
That works for Finishing Friday. Except. Nothing is almost finished here. Nothing is that penultimate stitch from the last.
Oh! I’m one stage from mailing
It needs to be sealed.
The same with these light catchers (that have a hook ready for them.)
Well, these need to be chained together with the jewels to get hung up.
Closest to finished in knitting is:
Thigh high leg warmers are down to mid calf now. Only the thinner bits from calf to ankle left. I have no pattern for these. But doing them like I do socks. Two-At-A-Time. Just top down as there are no toes. My favorite needles, Chiaogoo red-laced cables.
The rest of the knitting is in the same amount of doneness.
On the other hand:
My ukulele tutorial says to chop off the left-hand nails for better chording. Done. I am hearing better sounds. No where near a song but several chords now.
For most of this week I’ve managed to beat my former 5 miles in 30 minutes biking goal. Not by much. The best of the week was 6 miles in 27 minutes. But it was a rare energy thing.
Penultimate is a word used often in music. That next to the last chord creating tension that resolves in the end.
I like that last bit. And without that penultimate chord the song would be boring. It’s one of my favorite words.
Because now I can breathe. The seventh to the resolve and the song can live out in the world and in my soul.
I just thought of something. The penultimate chord nags, “Are we there yet?” The final chord pulls into the parking spot. Boom!
Snow is one of the most captivating weather I love to watch. Last night we had clear skies, star twinkling brightly. I went to bed a little discouraged. But lo and behold this morning the driveway is full of the wonderful white stuff.
If you have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD you recognize captivating behaviors. Either every thing has you flitting from one idea to another, or you are captured, or hyperfocused by something. I love when I am held in that rapture, when I am learning something new.
I hate the flitting between captures. Spinning my wheels. Not getting anything done. But put up Duolingo and I can play for hours.
I used to sit in front of my piano and play and sing for hours. I wish and how I get captured by that again.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 4th, 2024 is “captivating.” Use the word “captivating” any way you’d like. Enjoy!
Thank you, Linda, for the Just Jot It January fun. Click on the JusJoJan above to learn about how it all works.
Thank you, Wendy, for the prompt of the day. Check out her “Wendy’s Waffle” blog by clicking captivating above.
This prompt is brought to us by Willow and Linda is the instigator of this month’s madness. Click the first line above to learn how it all works and get connected.
As a music major, I was introduced to music I’d never heard before. Though I learned a lot of music in my protestant church growing up. I was in awe of the Gregorian Chants my professor shared. She even had our small class singing them before we left that segment of history. Now I love hearing the deep male voices singing the Chants. But seeing the music as we sang it was fascinating.
For all of our education, I finally found a playlist to teach and learn (again) how it all works. Enjoy!
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 1st 2024, is “train.” Use it as a noun or a verb, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
Thank you, Linda!
Train
Some people wake up and see their day full of organized plans like this.
It’s peaceful to know where the train is taking you.
On a good day I wake to
Mostly my trains have a spiderweb network of tracks that overwhelms me.
This blog helps me focus. In case you think yarn and weather is all I deal with, just know it’s just about all I concentrate on before life and distractions take me elsewhere.
Oh, speaking of weather
This is how 2024 started in Christmas Valley. Freezing Fog. It looks like snow. But it isn’t. And you can only see just beyond the porch.
Rosey at 20 finally likes me and my lap as much loved as her main human’s, my hubby.
Leg warmers are getting more colorful. Wow, they’ve reached 10 inches of 24. Among other projects.
So, I need to train my brain on the personal possibilities of this new year.
My stationary bike goal has increased from 5 miles in 30 minutes to more miles in less time. Today I reached 5 in 28. So win!
I know last year I planned on podcasting. Stagefright won. So it goes back on the list of things I still feel I want to do.
Besides German, Spanish, Italian, French, Scottish Gaelic, Latin, Esperanto, Japanese, Navajo, Hebrew, I’d like to add a couple more to my Duolingo list so that I am always doing 10 lessons a day. And I want to get more serious about my American Sign Language classes. My brain loves working on languages.
Hello editing. You are cruelest of all. I’ll do what I can and finished products will go see the light of day on the podcast.
I still will continue working on getting healthier.
My diamond paintings are calling so tomorrow I will play.
Why did music find itself this far down the list? With a new ukulele, I’m trying to learn to make my fingers fit the chords needed. But daily practice might get me there, right?
The recorder is calling. No more trying Carols. Now I can enjoy whatever music strikes my fancy.
Okay, piano. I hear you. I will turn around from the diamond painting table and tickle you on occasion.
Singing loud and proud and dancing like no one is watching sneak into this list.
And that’s not including the bins of organizing I’m already doing.
And I want to get over my phone fear and try to enjoy socializing a bit.
There are only so many hours in a day but all these trains want to leave the station and make their way to improvement and new possibilities. There has to be a way. Some things must be daily Duolingo and blogging (no longer on a struggling list but on the ‘it happens’ like eating list).
The list looks like last year. More has been added. Few trains ended their tracks. My brain and strength expand to meet the fun.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: starts with or contains “ph.” Find a word with the letters “ph” in it and use it as your prompt. Have fun!
Phrom now on ‘eph’ is spelled with ph instead oph with an “f”. Except this darn spell check will probably make me crazy just trying. Who was I kidding with this pheat? Just me. Pht!
I can’t stand having empty needles when I have yarn for them. So a new pair of socks started. Two-At-A-Time, Chiaogoo red-laced cable needles. Toe done.
Mixing leftovers from Son’s and his special lady’s socks to make a crazy pair. Again, Two-At-A-Time Toe-up, Chiaogoo red-laced cable needles.
I still have a lot of this yarn left. The family seems to like the slipper socks made from this. Two-At-A-Time, Toe-up, Chiaogoo red-laced cable needles.
And the challenge. Leg-Warmers. 7 inches done. Only 20 more to go! Two-At-A-Time cuff down. I’ve never done these before, but I’m learning as I go. 🤗
Working on my series: Haven.
Doodler (zendoodle.com)
Music major: voice and piano
Mom of four great adults
Reiki II practitioner
I have been on disability/retired for 10 years now from depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia.
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