Ronincats Rejoices in Books, Family & Friends in 2022: Summer Edition

I continue to adjust to life in Kansas near family. It is, as you can see, keeping me busy. Mission creep has occurred with Mom, as what used to be Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings has now become pretty much all day with us going out to lunch on those days to boot. I know I'm a big help to my sister as all the running around to appointments and errands and helping with (like yesterday) packing up winter clothing to take to my garage and unpacking summer clothes, but Mom definitely keeps me busy. But how can I possibly begrudge her that!

The Kansas spring has been unusual, they tell me. It was chilly up until this week, and now we have a whole week of 90 degree plus weather! I have enjoyed the crocus, daffodils, hyacinth, tulips, lilacs and spirea, and now my iris and peonies are starting to bloom.


My sprinkler system got fixed and my straw bale garden is just about ready for planting. Between too cold, then too wet and now too hot, I have not gotten my native plants into the ground, although I know where I want them, except for this serviceberry tree which will be the centerpiece of the full sun natives as I take out the lawn around it.


In other news, my final pieces of furniture arrived one year and 3 days after I ordered them, an occasional chair and ottoman, so my living room is finally complete and I foresee no major furniture purchases in the near future. I have even gotten some pictures hung in the bathroom and office, but still working on upstairs.


I actually have finished some books--most recently Nettle & Bone, Fair Trade and Amongst Our Weapons, all by favorite authors and which I greatly enjoyed. I will try to get my reading record for the year straightened out and posted here soon.

Again, thank you for keeping my thread warm and checking in on me. You are still my second family!

Happy new thread! Thanks for the updates!

Oh, the flowers are gorgeous! Those peonies are magnificent. We're still a long way from peony season so I'll just enjoy looking at yours.

Ooooo the new ottochair is purty in its proper spot! The shape, of course, but the scale more than anything, suits that space so well.

90-odd all week *shudder* in May! Horrors. I'm surprised the avian-flu warnings about bird feeders aren't in effect there. But nothin' stops the fleurs from giving their all!

*smooch* for a busy, happy, and healthy new thread/season.

Hi Roni, and happy new thread!

>1 ronincats: Thank you for sharing all the lovely photos. Wow. One year and 3 days after ordering. I'm glad the room is complete, you've done a gorgeous job of making a new home for yourself.

Happy new thread Roni! Wow, lunch dates with your mum and flowers blooming - you've really settled in.

Thank you, Misti, Paws, Richard, Karen and Nina.

Richard, our extension people advise that unless one keeps chickens or other like fowl, the incidence is so low in our area that feeders for wild birds are okay.

Happy new thread, Roni! Sounds like you have been busy in the best way.

Lovely to see you back and posting dear Roni.

Happy new thread. xx

Happy new thread Roni, it is good to hear your updates.

Happy new one! Your flowers are gorgeous! We're not quite to the iris and peony phase yet.

Happy new thread, Roni!

>1 ronincats: Such a beautiful iris, the yellow contrasts so good with the blue behind it.
Thanks for sharing all pictures, so nice to see your house and garden.

Happy new thread, Roni. House and flower pictures looking lovely. And a straw bale garden! Great idea.

Great to catch up a bit Roni. Your living room is beautiful and your flowers take my breath away. I'm tempted to try some irises but I haven't seen many in other yards which probably is a message I should pay attention to.

It sounds like you're really busy with your Mom but how nice that you're getting this time with her and with your sister. Your second family misses you but right now your first family rightfully gets priority. Take care and enjoy each day.

Books read in 2022

January
1. The Gathering Edge Lee & Miller
2. Neogenesis Lee & Miller
3. Crystal Soldier Lee & Miller
4. Return of the Thief Turner, Megan Whalen
5. Crystal Dragon Lee & Miller
6. Belgarath the Sorcerer Eddings, David & Leigh
7. Polgara the Sorceress Eddings, David & Leigh
8. Pawn of Prophecy Eddings, David & Leigh
9. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Lencioni, Patrick
10. Queen of Sorcery Eddings, David & Leigh
11. Magician’s Gambit Eddings, David & Leigh
12. Castle of Wizardry Eddings, David & Leigh
13. Enchanter’s Endgame Eddings, David & Leigh
14. Fair Trade Lee & Miller
15. Guardians of the West Eddings, David & Leigh
16. King of the Murgos Eddings, David & Leigh
17. Demon Lord of Karanda Eddings, David & Leigh
18. Sorceress of Darshiva Eddings, David & Leigh

February
19. The Seeress of Kell Eddings, David & Leigh
20. On Basilisk Station Weber, David
21. The Honor of the Queen Weber, David
22. The Short Victorious War Weber, David
23. A View to a Kiln Jacobs, Holly
24. The Witness for the Dead Addison,
25. Empires of the plains Adkins, Lesley

March
26. The Rats of NIMH O’Brien, Robert
27. The Jewish Gospels Boyarin, Daniel
28. The Forgery Furore Doyle, Melissa
29. Pratchett’s Women Roberts, Tansy

April
30. Forged Ehrman, Bart
31. The Pinhoe Egg Jones, Diana Wynne
32. Spelunking Through Hell McGuire, Seanan
33. Good Neighbors Burgis, Stephanie

May
34. Fair Trade Lee & Miller
35. Nettle & Bone Kingfisher, T.
36. A Master of Djinn Clark, P. Djeli
37. Amongst Our Weapons Aaronovitch, Ben
38. Lady Hester Stanhope: Queen of the Desert Virginia Childs
39. Mother Carey's chickens by Kate Douglas Wiggin
40. Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

June
41. The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison
42. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Happy new thread.

>1 ronincats: What a delightfully comfortable home you have made for yourself. Your flowers are lovely and your garden promising.

Happy new thread, Roni. Lovely to see spring flowers, gardens and all! Finally!

Welcome back, Roni!

Happy new thread, Roni.
I'm glad you're fine and settling in well and thanks for the wonderful pictures.

Happy new thread!

Loving all your pictures :)

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Hi Roni! Well done you!!

Happy new thread! Love your flowers and living room, and that straw bale garden! Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Happy New Thread! The iris is beautiful.

You really are settling in nicely!!! Good to see these pix.

Thank you, Susan, Shelley, Kriti, Thomas, Anita, Reba, Mary and Silver! Today was an at home day--I did laundry, dug out a 4x4 bed of weeds and watered the front before it got hot, watched birds and added a Baltimore oriole to my list, folded all of my one yard lengths of fabric and binned them (yes, STILL working on getting the craft room organized), emptied the dishwasher, and all that stuff. Still should get some paperwork done, as tomorrow is an Abilene day. Hoping to plant my bales this weekend! And I need to decide what to read next, after that rush of favorite authors with new books most recently.

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*I* (unlike some I could name) am not evil so I won't mention to you that there's a foodie's version of Wordle at phoodle.net

See? Completely not evil! Never said a word about how yesterday's was MANGO and today's...well, it's food-adjacent anyway.

>27 richardderus: So have you tried Dordle and Quordle yet? Dear?

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Well, I haven't gotten much reading done but I did pick up the new Kelly Barnhart novel, When Women Were Dragons, yesterday. She won the Newbery for children's fantasy a couple of years ago; this is her first book for adults.

Today my sister and BIL, bless their souls, came over and helped me clear out the workroom in the back of the garage. Some of it was my gardening tools and stuff, which went out to the shed in back, but most was wood and junk from the remodeling and from Dave's shop before that. Kenny, who has his own wood shop, was able to help me sort keepers from junk and put all the good wood and trim up in the rafters of the main garage. Now, whenever that pottery kiln and wheel get in (and it may still be several months), I will be ready for it and in the meantime, I could actually do some hand building and keep the greenware on shelves waiting to be fired. Am I excited?



The first photo shows the end where the kiln and the wheel will be, while the long workbench surface nearest the camera in the second photo will be for working with clay and the far end for regular work table activities involving wood and tools and hardware and the like.

What a wonderful space for you!! I think you'll be in 7th heaven when you have all of your equipment in there. Congratulations!

Happy new thread, Roni. Love seeing your garden photos (my irises are a little behind yours, but some have started buds already) and the progress on your workshop!

>29 ronincats: Oh, Roni! Your own kiln! So great...and someone had exactly the correct attitude towards electric outlets: More.

>28 ronincats: I am ignooorinnnggg yooouuu

>29 ronincats: Ooh nice! It's always satisfying to make substantial progress on something. I'm sure you miss doing pottery so I hope you'll be able to get things set up soon.

Your own kiln! Wow.

I've just discovered a new series (à la The Great British Bake Off) called 'The Great Pottery Throwdown' where a group of potters get a challenge of a style of pottery each week plus a mini challenge demonstrated and judged by a guest potter. The programme I just watched this week was 'naked raku'. I must say they throw some very professional looking pieces, given the time constraints.

This looks to be a really good space for you -- what a great workbench!

Love the work space!

So excited for you, Roni! Your own wheel and kiln! Do you need to do anything special to make the kiln area fireproof?

Thanks, Reba, Mary, Richard (no you aren't!), Laura, Nina, Lucy, Misti and Mary!

I don't need to fireproof anything, but will need to have an electrician wire the kiln once it gets here.

Been busy gardening the last few days, taking advantage of moderate weather!

>15 ronincats: Thanks for putting up your list, Roni!

>38 ronincats: I know very little about horticulture but I shall be interested to see what grows in that space. x

>39 PaulCranswick: So far, Paul, tomatoes, red runner beans, cucumbers, strawberries, lettuce, Kale, carrots, beets, eggplant, peppers, marigolds, nasturtiums, calendula, and assorted herbs!

>38 ronincats: WowWowWow! Can't wait to see them in a month's time, Roni! Can you see them from a window in your house? What a lovely sight it will be when it's growing strong.

I planted the tower, or about half of it. I don't have a lot of energy--or enthusiasm after much of my crop got destroyed by deer or rabbits or raccoons or whatever last year. I've put in nasturtiums, marigolds, kale, lettuce, basil, radishes, carrots and strawberries. I'm ordering a net to put over it at night to try and keep the deer et al. away. My daughter was going to get the raised bed ready to plant zuccini, melon, cukes and tomatoes, but so far she hasn't done it. It's hard with two littles, one who doesn't like to be put down and the other who likes to run off and explore when no one's looking.

>38 ronincats: Your garden looks great, Roni, and >40 ronincats: is an impressive list of plants!

>41 Storeetllr:
I didn't know you had two grandchildren. I knew about Ruby, but not about ...

I got most of my plants into their pots over the weekend. Every year I tell myself to plant less, and every year I get eyes bigger than my time. I also ran out of potting soil, so will plant the rest of them this weekend. I do need to find one more giant pot in which to plant. I am trying to do arrangements in big pots with my vegetables combined with flowers. I saw a program on that on PBS and thought those pots looked amazing and were beautiful. I thought I would give it a try this year. I have eggplants and tomatoes to work into the artful arrangements. I can't wait to see what they look like in a few weeks.

>40 ronincats: No! Roni! Uproot Satan's Charmin (aka "kale") immediately and devote no precious water to its pernicious species' advancement! It is at the minimum impious to plant...it...and quite possibly heretical, given there are Brassicae in abundance that *aren't* revolting! Collards, turnips, brussels sprouts...all delicious!

*gasppantgasp*

Your living room looks so inviting now that the rest of the furniture is there, Roni. I can't wait until your work space is up an running. You probably can't either!

>43 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita! It's hard to keep up, but, yes, there are two of them now. Ruby, of course, a feisty 3-year old, and soon-to-be-8-month old Rowan. Here's a link to a post on my thread with some recent pics of him and one of Ruby. https://www.librarything.com/topic/340945#7841218

>44 richardderus: Plant them as sacrificial victims to the cabbage white butterfly caterpillars. As a member of Brassicae, they’ll love it and you can move any caterpillars on your tastier plants to your sacrifices and still allow the caterpillars to mature. You can do this with many garden plant species, where some wild members growing elsewhere will serve the same function. For our area, Queen Anne’s lace works well for the carrot family, and Jimsonweed for the tomato/tobacco hornworms. Once you know your garden plant’s family, there is often a wild variety somewhere.

Just catching up here. The garden and the pottery shed are making great progress and I am glad you finally got your furniture! Whoohoo! Enjoy the reading. : )

>47 CassieBash: ...but why are we breeding pests, again...? Shouldn't we be avoiding giving them food, even if it is Satan's Charmin?

>47 CassieBash: Butterflies and moths are pollinators and you can’t have the adults if you kill the caterpillars. Therefore, redirecting them to eat less desirable plants is a win-win, especially if you have them in enough quantities to strip a weed completely.

BTW, I’ve never had kale but I love your nickname for it.

>44 richardderus: I'm clearly heretical. I like kale. Also red cabbage, green cabbage, collards, brussel sprouts, bok choy, and almost anything else in that general family.

What I don't like is the food industry trying to portray kale as especially healthy, or as a magic ingredient that somehow removes all taint from greasy, salty junk food.

Hi Roni!

The occasional chair (why are they called that?) and ottoman look very comfy for reading.

I'm glad you're finally having moderate weather conducive to gardening. We've had a cold, wet spring. Hopefully that means a less brutal fire season later this summer.

I love that you're (eventually) getting your own kiln and wheel! One of the things I most look forward to in retirement is moving somewhere that may have pottery classes. Or other art classes.

Hi to the kitties!

>51 ArlieS: ...whereas if one deep-fries kale and salts the resultant char heavily, it becomes marginally edible.

Hi Roni, it's nice to see you posting. I am dealing with the death of my mother which was a blessing in some ways but her passing has left a large hole in my life. She didn't quite make it to her 101st year falling a week short. Your new furniture is beautiful and fits into your house wonderfully. And your garden is very impressive, can't wait to see more pictures!

>52 EBT1002: Because sometimes it's not a chair?

>54 DeltaQueen50: I'm so sorry to hear that Judy. Deepest condolences. A century is a pretty respectable age.
I've lost track of your thread (amongst others) but will go looking for it soon.

While talking to my mother today she mentioned that there was a big article in the Salina Journal about the new metal sculptures that have been place along Santa Fe. She said that there were 10 of them and that they were creating lots of talk among the citizens. I am curious to know if you have seen them and if so what you think.

I love it that Salina has so many discussions about art.

>56 benitastrnad: The town is really working on becoming an art mecca, Benita. I've not been down to see the new ones yet.

Hi, everyone. We had 4.75 inches of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. I didn't leave the house and folded 115 pieces of fabric and organized them in bins. Another big step ahead in the craft bedroom. Also finished a FINE book, overdue at the library, Light From Uncommon Stars, nominated for a Hugo and I would definitely vote for it. Not at all in the usual way but pulled me in from the get-go.

>57 ronincats: BB for Light From Uncommon Stars.

>1 ronincats: Thanks for posting such lovely images. Each image brought a smile, especially the one of your living room.

Wow, 4+ inches of rain in one day. I'm glad you didn't have to go out in that and hope none of your recent planning were washed out.

>57 ronincats: That's an insane amount of rain! Hope you didn't get flooding. Our weekend camping trip got rained out, so you have my empathy.

On the plus side, our business deals with stormwater amongst other things, so rain is literally pennies from heaven! I just wish it wouldn't dump on the weekends. Is that too much to ask? LOL

>62 ronincats: I have 13 but they don't line up to a Bingo :(

>62 ronincats: Four Bingo(e?)s. I don't do the painted-edges thing, don't enjoy audiobooks, not a member of Kindle Unlimited, but the rest are all a solid "yeppir thass me."

*smooch* for a soggy drying-out time

6 bingos for me and 19 in total. Although "never bends pages" is true now but hasn't always been so... in which case it is 5 and 18.

>55 humouress: LOL (re your comment to me, not Judy's sad news)

Okay, I can't say I have a blackout for that card but if I add Facebook and Twitter to the one about following an author on Instagram or TikTok (because, too much social media), I come darn close. I NEVER skip to the last chapter and I don't have a rainbow bookshelf. ;-)

>62 ronincats: I don't collect painted edges, have Kindle Unlimited, have a rainbow bookshelf, skip to the last chapter or own multiple e-readers (unless you count them serially - I had a Kobo, now I have a Kindle Fire). But I got the rest of them, and I think that gives me four bingos.

The 4.75 inches were over two days of steady rain, not gully-washers. The rivers are high but not flooding, although there is water standing in a lot of fields. My new plantings are nicely watered in. I put chicken wire over frames to keep the squirrels and birds out of my bales--they have done a number on the Swiss chard and kale but everything else seems to be doing nicely. I am trying to get out every morning for an hour while it is still cool, and I have a lot of weeding to do after all the rain.

I am not going to Abilene this week as my mom's residence is on strict quarantine as all but 4 of the residents have covid (my mom is one of the four). Most have only mild symptoms but the 96 year old lady across the hall whose admission to the hospital last Thursday alerted the facility to the outbreak has died from it. She was the mother of one of my classmates and a beloved former teacher in the community.

I don't mind kale. I usually have it in a salad with other greens or in a smoothy. Cassie answered Richard's question about why we WANT insects eating our plants very nicely in >50 CassieBash:.

Thanks to all my visitors. Hugs to you all. I do come here and read messages daily even when not posting. On the bingo chart, I don't enjoy audiobooks and I don't specifically collect books with painted edges, although I am happy to see them. And I don't know quite what they mean by a rainbow bookshelf, Ellen--one organized by color or a shelf devoted to LGBTQ authors and issues? I am 22/25 with 8 bingos.

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>62 ronincats: I'd have to do some loose interpretations to get any bingo - I have bet pages, I don't do audiobooks or podcasts, and the edges of books are of only mild interest to me. Rainbow shelf? I can pick a favorite book and may or may not read a book before watching a movie. I'm not much into bookish clothing or merch, though I suppose a Discworld t-shirt and my character dolls would tie down those squares and I've only ever been to F&SF conventions that included but were not specifically about books. I often skip to the last chapter because I get to anxious to read if I don't. I have KU and several e-readers, as does almost anyone with a phone and a computer as there are several apps for either, but I've got 2 working Kindles and 2 working iPads as well.

Sorry to hear about the death at your Mom's facility but glad to hear she's well. Sending mojo to keep it that way.

>68 ronincats: Kale! Oh dear. I've heard tell of the dread diseases that swirl around the middle of the country but I had no idea kale-eating was one of the symptoms.

I'm terribly glad to hear your mother isn't one of the stricken! It's not for the faint-of-heart, this plague, especially since people are moving towards the belief that it's over.

>62 ronincats: I got 16, and one bingo (the middle row, from top to bottom)! Yes, I am almost completely an audiobook reader these days. My poor eyes couldn't keep up with the amount of reading I do, and I like to read while doing mundane tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, walking, gardening, painting, babysitting during naptimes, etc. I've got books signed by: Stephen King, Mary Doria Russell, and Michael Connelly, plus a couple of others I can't recall (some authors I met at various L.A. Book Fairs back in the 1990s or early 2000s). I don't take vacations anymore, but, when I did, I never left the house without a half dozen paperbacks or, later on, a packed Kindle. Not sure which authors I follow on IG besides Mary Doria Russell, but I follow a number on Twitter and/or Facebook: John Scalzi, Laura Ann Gilman, Stephen King, and Catherynne M. Valente are four.

>62 ronincats: No bingo here. Only 7 + the free one, if I'm strict about things.

Just hello.

Hi, Roni! In case you haven’t heard, Katherine Addison will have the sequel to The Witness for the Dead out soon—The Grief of Stones, if the print version isn’t already out. Just FYI since I know you’re a fellow fan.

>76 CassieBash: I hadn't heard, now, thanks to you I'm first in line for a copy at one of my libraries!

I know-- a week from tomorrow. I already have it on pre-order for my Kindle. Thanks for thinking of me, Cassie.

Susan, Reba, Richard, Mary, Cassie--thanks for visiting. Had another family weekend over in Abilene, and just kicked back today in reaction.

I couldn’t see that Bingo square!

But I hope your mother is doing well, scary, to have it in the home.

I hope that reaction isn’t too bad?

>77 quondame: You’re welcome! I’ve pre-ordered it through Audible. Been hoarding credit points trying to decide what to use them on but this one was a no-brainer!

Hawdjaduu, Roni. Sending Mittelwoch Gemütlichkeit Andachten.

Viele danke schon, mein Herr!

Just when I think I've totally lost my reading mojo, I've finished two books in the last two day. Tuesday the newest Katherine Addison dropped, The Grief of Stones, the direct sequel to The Witness for the Dead, and I read until midnight before I stopped at 75% (didn't start until 9) and finished up yesterday and yes, I love it just as much as the first. Then I tried a new ebook that's been getting some positive buzz, Legends and Lattes, which was a gentle character-driven fantasy about an orc starting a coffee shop, and enjoyed it too. Still working on the nonfiction The Gates of Europe about Ukraine for my book club on June 24th--2/3 of the way through it and into the 1920s now. And having trouble getting into the new Barnhill, When Women Were Dragons.

It was 102 today, heat index 107, and I only gardened from 8 to 9 before heading indoors into the air conditioning for the rest of the day.

>83 ronincats: I'm slightly worried that you went outside at all when triple digits were on the cards. Estivate, Roni, estivate!

The Barnhill sounds, um, iffy. After all you remember the 1950s. She has a hill to climb there.

>83 ronincats: It's great that you're back reading and Oh! Wow! for The Grief of Stones - although my demon readers had it slotted as the direct sequel to The Raven Tower by Ann LeckieI mean that stone had something to grieve about! I have it reserved at all my libraries, greedy guts that I am.

Ah, so Legends and Lattes is a book - I've been seeing the cover image on FB for the past few weeks, but thought it was an online game.

Hi Roni, I am back from visiting my brother and trying to get caught up with everyone. So sorry to read that your Mom's home was hit so hard with Covid, sending good wishes that she stays healthy. My hubby and I got our 2nd booster shot today so hopefully we will remain safe.

I also finished The Grief of Stones today and also found it excellent. I hope the author will keep writing in this world.

YAY for the reading mojo!
Have a wonderful weekend, Roni.

>83 ronincats: Ooh, I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed The Grief of Stones! I am looking forward to that one. Also, you got me with Legends and Lattes -- it sounds right up my alley.

Oh dear, more BBs to dodge. Taking shelter behind my TBR pile.

>90 humouress: roflmao

And I found an online short story set in the world of The Grief of Stones.

https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/min-zemerins-plan?s=r

Humpday *smooch*

Nothing much to say but just de lurking to say hello :)

>83 ronincats: I loved The Grief of Stones too! Such a great world, that of The Goblin Emperor. I want more!

And lo! and behold! >92 ronincats: Woot!

I've read a few really great books this month so far, one of which I think you might like (though you've probably already know about it): Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst.

>95 Storeetllr: I am very much looking forward to The Grief of Stones - recently enjoyed >92 ronincats:. Perhaps I'll go and re-read The Goblin Emperor as it's been years.

Saturday *smooch*

>96 quondame: The Goblin Emperor is one of my current comfort rereads. I resisted reading it for a long time because of the title. I thought it was going to be much different. I fell in love with it and Maia; though Celehar took awhile for me to warm to, I like him a lot now. (Also enjoyed the short story.)

Loving all the Addison love here, Mary and Susan and Mary again! Agree, TGE has become one of my comfort reads.

*smooch* to dear Richard

Spent the second day in a row in Abilene. The family moved Mom across the hall to a larger apartment. Wore me out but many hands made light work.

Not much reading. My nonfiction is going slowly. But I have two at hand to start that look promising: Compass Rose and Battle of the Linguist Mages. I mean, really! Who could ignore a title like that?

Hi Roni. It's been a minute since I've been on LT, so I'm stopping to wave hello. Your garden looks exciting!

>1 ronincats: What a wonderfully cozy room! Though, the wait for the chair was a long one!

Your flowers are beautiful. My rose bushes are blooming. They cheer me. I thought I was finished buying more rose bushes, but I found a lovely color of coral, and brought a new bush home.

>92 ronincats: Thanks for posting that short story. It has whetted my appetite for The Grief of Stones, which I think will be my next read.

Hi Roni, your thread is dangerous to me. I just took a book bullet from you with Compass Rose and also Mary got me with Race the Sands.

>103 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy! I thought I'd catch up with you and went looking for your thread in the 75 group, but it's not there. (In case you didn't know that 😉)

>103 DeltaQueen50: I hope you enjoy Race the Sands as much as I did!

Roni, I moved digs and am now over in the 75ers group. I hope you'll find me and visit sometime!

Hello Roni, wow, your home and your garden are so lovely! What do you think of midwest gardening? Your garden was always so wonderful in SoCal. We completely redid our landscaping last summer and are thrilled with how everything is doing this year. We went a little crazy in our veggie trugs with too many tomatoes, winder squash (taking over everything), cucumbers, basil, cilantro (we probably won't grow this again - we can't keep it from bolting), Italian parsley, rosemary, thyme, jalapeño and Anaheim peppers, and beautiful lettuce. We are also the new owners of a Serviceberry tree that got ravaged by squirrels when it was in fruit. I'm hoping it can grow a little and get sturdier before it fruits next year to stand up to those pests.

My brother surprised me with When Women Were Dragons so I have it in my pile to read at some point.

I enjoyed catching up with you!

>106 AMQS: I love the term ‘bolting’. It makes me think:

Hiya smoochling. Happy weekend-ahead's reads.

>106 AMQS: We've lived in a condo for the past 25 years and I only once tried vegetable gardening once before but we built some raised beds and I planted strawberries in one (doing well) and lettuce, spinach, red cabbage and one mini-cucumber in the other. The lettuce, spinach and cabbage have all bolted. Cucumber just died -- bolting too much trouble for it I guess. Not sure what I'm going to do in that bed next year.

>107 humouress:. Ha, ha, love it!

>106 AMQS: I've had the same trouble with cilantro.

>107 humouress: LOL that's pretty much what it did! We ripped it out (according to the Google it is bitterly inedible after bolting) and moved the rosemary to its spot. The rosemary was overshadowed by the tomatoes and I think it's happier in full sun. Our lettuce, on the other hand is a revelation! It's just beautiful and we've been eating it steadily for weeks!

>109 RebaRelishesReading: Live and learn, right? I think our squash may overtake the house, and the tomatoes are monsters. It's essentially our first year gardening, as we've only done herbs and tomatoes on a very small scale before, so we're learning.

>111 foggidawn: Do you still try it, foggi? I Googled "how to grow cilantro" and the result said "indoors." LOL. Our favorite is Italian parsley as we use a TON of it. Ours is lovely.

>109 RebaRelishesReading:
I have never heard of a cucumber bolting. Cucumbers are very susceptible to any kind of pesticide or herbicide and several different fungi. Given that you live in Oregon I would guess that the problem with the cucumber might be one of those. Pesticides and herbicides used within a block or so of your house could kill a cucumber. Most likely it is some kind of fungus. Cucumbers like full sunlight. I mean FULL sunlight and do well with no shade whatsoever. They can also take lots of heat. The same is true of zucchini. Cucumbers also like lots of mulch. Try putting down a thick layer of mulch next year and see what happens.

A year ago today I was still assisting in the 8 hour unloading of my worldly possessions from the moving van, having arrived myself back on the 27th of June. Doesn't seem like a whole year I have been here, but I finished organizing the craft bedroom a few days ago, the final room in the house to be settled into, and Bracker's Clay will be delivering my wheel and kiln in 10 days, on the 15th. I think I am home.

I just got back after a 48 hour stay in Abilene with family, one of the many things keeping me from you all here, but thank you to all my visitors. You know I love and appreciate you. Anne, the squirrels didn't bother my new serviceberry tree but the robins loved the berries. Lettuce and cilantro bolt at the first hint of heat--I am growing them indoors in my Aerogarden. Cilantro bolted even in San Diego! Loved the cartoon, Nina--exactly!! Mary, it was Judy, not me, who couldn't find you. I've harvested two good-sized cucumbers so far, a couple of strawberries, have an Anaheim pepper about ready to pick, and a lot of green tomatoes. Everything gets a good watering tomorrow morning!

>144 figsfromthistle: Time does fly by quickly! A whole year and you have made your place into a wonderful home.

Enjoy the garden harvesting :)

>114 ronincats: I think I am home.

So happy to read this sentence, Roni!

In that case, welcome home Roni. You certainly have settled in well; I'm in admiration of you.

>114 ronincats: I can't believe it's been a year! You have accomplished a lot in a very short time. I'm delighted to see your wheel and kiln will be arriving soon; I can't wait to see your work again.

Wow, a full year at your new home! Glad you're feeling settled, that your house projects are coming together, and your garden is doing so well.

Glad you're feeling so settled and at home, Roni. It isn't hard for me to track your time there though since we're just 6 months ahead of you. Hard to believe we've finished our second winter and are heading into the second summer here. Can't wait to see what you produce when your wheel is set up.

Glad you are doing well and have a wonderful weekend, Roni!

A whole year! I'm hoping you have a lovely weekend-ahead's reads, smoochling.

>104 humouress: I have my thread at the Category Challenge these days, but still visit many of my friends here at the 75 challenge. My 2022 thread is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342413#

Hi Roni! Wow it's hard to believe a year has gone by since you moved. Time really does fly by!

*bump*

Hope all is going well with you, Roni. Whatcha reading? How's the garden growing? Inquiring minds and all that. Also, isn't it about time for some mid-season garden pictures?

Truth to tell, I am NOT getting much reading done. Gardening is going pretty well. Cucumbers, the first tomatoes, and red runner beans have come in from the garden this week. My natural plantings are surviving, but our 100 degree heat is keeping them from flourishing.



On the other front, my kiln and pottery wheel arrived today from Lawrence!!! And so did my shades for the sun room. Electricians and handyman are in my future next week.



Thank you to all my visitors! I am so happy you continue to visit despite my dilatory habits these days!

>125 ronincats: Ooo, new and shiny! I wish you a speedy recovery from electricians.

I'd cut the polls of the shelving down about 8"-10" and shove it under the cupboard to the left. I had the polls of the first set of wire shelving I got cut to make a work table that wouldn't kill my back.

>125 ronincats: Life is looking good! I can't believe it has already been a year. Wow. Congratulations and enjoy.

HAPPY DAY!!!!! I'm thrilled to see kiln and wheel in your house at last!!!!! Enjoy! Enjoy!!!

>125 ronincats: Ooh, exciting!

>125 ronincats: very impressive.

Thank you, Susan and Kimmers and Peggy. Kim, so sorry to hear you've been ill.

Had to share this...

>125 ronincats: Your studio looks wonderful!!

>131 ronincats: I've seen those shelves used for file storage but never thought about them as a library -- interesting idea.

Hope things cool off a bit for you and your garden! Miss having lunch with you from time to time :(

>131 ronincats: That might work quite well beside a door, but otherwise only seems to add 50% to the shelf space, and that's not counting doubling - I could fit a lot more books on the same wall space with deep shelves going from the outer wall to the farthest extent the cases roll out.

>131 ronincats: So cool!

>125 ronincats: Your garden and pottery room look delicious.

>131 ronincats: My bookshelves are in a similar vein but the wheels are disintegrating for the second time in about 15 years which will mean emptying all the books out yet again to get them fixed. The last time wasn't that long ago; maybe a year or two before lockdown and I think I'm still recovering from the shifting (I know my son is quite traumatised because I spread the books over the guest room bed and he couldn't watch TV in comfort).

Actually, in my case, the movable shelves (there's a fixed layer behind them) have been a bit awkward almost from the beginning, once I discovered what looked like mold growing on the outside of the shelves, so we installed electrical dehumidifiers. Because the shelves move, the wiring had to be extendable and flexible so they ended up tangling in the doors. Now I want to dismantle the system and just put the shelves against a wall - but there isn't really a wall to spare.

That kiln has a pretty weighty electrical cord on it. Does it need special supply?

The pictures look amazing.

Congratulations on your kiln and pottery wheel!

>131 ronincats: *covetcovetcovet*wantwantwant*

>125 ronincats: Studio and garden are looking lovely indeed, especially the garden given the heat.

*smooch*

Visitors!! Yes, I am waiting to hear from the electricians re: re-wiring the garage for the kiln's needs, Stephen. Thank you, Reba, Kim, Nina, Ardene and Richard! Susan, you are quite right, although double shelving does have its problems. Nina, interesting problems with the moving shelves indeed--makes one think again about it.

Posted this in the Interesting Articles thread just now.

Did you know that readers live longer than non-readers? Probably so we can get to all those unread books on our shelves...

https://www.freethink.com/health/readers-live-longer?fbclid=IwAR3ExTQmclt5-IPi0F...

>139 ronincats: Well, we're functionally literate so more likely to be able to actually understand the directions - and we sit in safer spaces for significant periods of time.

Hi Roni. Your garden looks wonderful and I can hardly wait to see what amazing pottery you are going to create! I've been reading a lot lately and can actually see my bookshelves shrinking! We have been having a much more liveable summer this year than last so I have been spending a lot of time reading outdoors.

Good points, Susan.
Thanks, Judy. The electricians are coming Wednesday and Thursday to upgrade the wiring in the garage.

I'm hoping to get back to some more reading, but I haven't even managed to put down here what I have been reading, little as it is. I will try to update this weekend.

Oh your garden is lovely, andI'm so thrilled your kiln and wheel have come in! Reading will come. Is it still super hot? We had such hot weather for far too long, then yesterday a massive storm, including hail, that set our garden back quite a bit.

Nice! How exciting to have your very own kiln! Enjoy :)

Thanks, Anne. We had the really hot weather last week, but it's been much cooler, in the 80s, this week, although with really high humidity. But also some rain which has been very welcome. The tomatoes are really growing, and I have cucumbers and red string beans coming out my ears already.

The electricians finished today with the massive rewiring of the garage, as well as installing a new ceiling fan here in the office. Hopefully I will get out this weekend and play with clay, but I won't test fire the kiln until I can borrow some cones, hopefully, from the potter in town next week--they are used to confirm that the kiln is firing to the proper temperature. Last week when I had the handymen in to install the sunroom shades they also installed a window air conditioner back in the studio and the electricians made it a separate circuit so I wouldn't blow anything while running the wheel and the air conditioner and all at the same time. So I'm all set when I get the time! Still spending the two days a week over with Mom, plus the final class reunion planning meeting over there today, and lots of appointments and things coming up too. But all of my commitments are pretty well met--got my sister's curtains finished and the fabric squares cut for reunion decorations, and nothing else to do for others at the moment, so no pressure.

Exciting to hear you're wired and ready to test! I'm in Iowa for a long weekend with my sisters, and the temps have dropped into the 80s with low humidity. I'm enjoying it while I can. We had a lovely evening yesterday celebrating a couple of birthdays outside.

>145 ronincats: That's a lot of progress. I hope your reunion goes well and that you get to play with clay soon.

>145 ronincats: No grass is growing beneath your feet, Roni. I hope your busyness is a signal of your contentment with the change.

*smooch*

First throw in over a year! Told my mom it was just like riding a bicycle, and it was.

>149 ronincats: Nice! Bet it felt good to get back to it!

>149 ronincats: Yay! Good riding!

>149 ronincats: Hurray! I'm so glad everything is set up and can't wait to see your creations.

>149 ronincats: It's lovely! I've missed seeing your pottery creations.

You must so happy to be able to throw that clay around again!

Thank you, Misti, Susan, Laura, Lori and Lucy!! I enjoyed it a lot.

So we really need this?

>149 ronincats: Nice!

I was admiring the patterns on your pottery wheel too - until I realised they were made by the ... er ... throwing(?).

>149 ronincats: I am happy for you, Roni.
>155 ronincats: Well I just realized that I don't love everything to do with books after all.
By the way - where are the books going to go when I'm lying in it?

>155 ronincats: I think I need it. It would be great to store my funeral customs, mummification, and infectious disease books on.

>157 SirThomas: If the above are the books I’m storing on the shelves, they will probably go to my fiancé, who also has a morbid side.

We do not need that bookcase! How about one that converts to butter croissants?

>155 ronincats: .. ???!!!

I don't know what to say about that bookcase!!

Hi Roni, great to see you back at the pottery wheel.

>155 ronincats: Very strange!

>149 ronincats: Congratulations on your first throw! I imagine you are very happy now that you have your pottery items in one room! I admire your fortitude Roni. You accomplished so very much in short period of time!! I envy you. I started to paint one of the upstairs bedrooms (a very nice dark blue,) but the weather became way too hot for painting for any stretch of time in that room. I will finish this with grand daughter's help sometime this fall! Unfortunately when they installed the new furnace and air conditioning unit, it wasn't done right. The upstairs rooms are cool, but not cool like the downstairs rooms.

>155 ronincats: What the heck? Who came up with this barbaric idea?

>161 DeltaQueen50: Like Judy, I am glad to see you back at the pottery wheel.

>155 ronincats: LOLOL

Someone'll have to move the urn of my cremains to make the coffin.

The bookcase is a hoot!
And I'm glad to see you're handling clay again.

Laughing at all your comments about the casket/bookcase, Thomas, Cassie, Lucy, Stephen, Judy, Linda, Richard and Ardene! And indeed I am so happy to be back at the wheel. Today my sister and her best friend came over to see the house (the best friend hadn't been here since last summer) and go shoe shopping, and afterwards I threw a bowl for them, since they hadn't ever seen the process. Luckily, the clay decided to play nice today and didn't embarrass me! I love throwing so much. Thanks for the support, and ha-ha, Nina!

So glad to hear you're back to work on pottery, Roni! How great it must feel to have your space all set up for that now.

The coffin bookshelf is very odd. Not something I'll be needing, I think.

>149 ronincats: It looks great! I'm so glad you're able to get your hands in clay again and know you're enjoying it -- even with your own studio!!

Nice to see you are back making pottery again, Roni.

Thanks again to visitors! I do read this daily, I am still alive and kicking. And busy. Which is a good thing, but I miss spending time with you all.

Maybe these bookshelves are more the thing?

>169 ronincats: Those shelves are nice, but I would probably fall down the steps while trying to reach over to get something from a top shelf!

>169 ronincats: Ooh. How much will you take for them?

>170 foggidawn: Love those shelves! One would really need to be careful while grabbing books though…

Karen O

>170 foggidawn: Glorious! Except of course one needs to clear off the useless dustcatchers (that vase is ghastly and a school bus?!) and get some decent lighting.

*smooch*

>169 ronincats: Yes! If only my stairway was wide enough! Maybe what my house needs is a library outback with a second staircase so we could have an alternate fire route. Yep, it's all about safety!

>174 quondame: But then, of course, you'd be stopping to collect all the books you wanted to save ... ah, I see. A fireproof second staircase. With a library. Excellent idea.

Good afternoon. The kiln is firing up for my first bisque firing; it's raining and 58 degrees outside, so the studio won't get too hot. I've made tomato sauce and tomato puree from my tomato surplus. Love the ideas you all have had above!!

And the Goodwill Librarian Facebook page just has the best posts.

>176 ronincats: Sounds like a lovely day, Roni. It's been hot and smokey here for the past couple of days but is supposed to clear up later today. It's OK with me if that means the end of summer :)

Hi Roni, I am also dealing with heavy smoke in the air and I find it definitely affects my breathing. I will be glad to see this end! Sounds like you are busy and happy and that is certainly a good thing!

Popping in to say Hi! Hopelessly behind but there's hope for the future. : )

Just popping in to wish you well Roni!

Hi, Reba, Judy, Kim and Thomas. I'm still doing well, just keeping quite busy. Had to think of all of you when I saw this, though...

>181 ronincats: Yes!!!!

>181 ronincats: What a wonderful idea, Roni. When I finally get around to doing my own house this will be a must!

>181 ronincats: OOoooooo! Fancy!

>181 ronincats: That's what I want too!

>181 ronincats: Awomen! *drool*

Love it!! Great to hear from you and know you're doing well. It's amazing how busy life can get, isn't it? With you moving near to old friends and family I can image it's double but even with a new place and new people I'm amazed at how busy I am. Keep enjoying and stay in touch when you can.

>181 ronincats: It may not be a secret room so much as where to put that one extra bookshelf.

Hi Roni, just stopping by to say hello! Hope you are well.

Ebook versions of Witness for the Dead and The Grief of Stones are on sale for $.99 at Rebellion Publishing now.
https://rebellionpublishing.com/product_author/katherine-addison/

>190 ronincats: Well, there's no point now, is there? I've just bought it and it's sitting on my desk, waiting to be shelved. See ... oh, I have The Goblin Emperor. Hmm ... where did you say we can get them books again?

>191 humouress: Hope you found it, Nina!

Still keeping busy, had a long-time friend come for the week last week (36 years) and we had a fun time. Working on 4 books in short spurts. Seasonal reread: A Night in the Lonesome October designed to be read one chapter each day of October. Highly anticipated new books: the newest Scholomance book The Golden Enclaves and the newest Kencyrath book Deathless Gods. A Kindle Unlimited book: The House Witch sounded interesting but is pretty mundane. Committed to a small craft fair in Abilene in December, so need to get busy crafting Christmas earrings and pottery nativities.

>192 ronincats: Love the sentiment, Roni!! Glad you had a fun visit last week. You sound well-established in your new life.

>192 ronincats: So true, Roni!
I just keep on reading :-)

>192 ronincats: >194 FAMeulstee: Whereas I, on the other hand, probably wouldn't get much more done. So I might as well keep on reading :0)

>192 ronincats: This also describes me quite well ;-).
All the best for you, Roni.

Today is my 15 year Thingaversary!

Happy Thingaversary, Roni!

16 books?

Lovely to see you posting by the way.

>197 ronincats: Congratulations and may the guilt free books pile up!

Happy Thingaversary Roni!!

Happy Thingaversary, Roni!

>197 ronincats: Happy 15th Thingaversary, Roni!

>197 ronincats: Oh, I missed it, I'm sorry! I'm glad you're here, Roni. *smooch*

Happy belated Thingaversary, Roni!

Belated HAPPY THINGAVERSARY, Roni! I'm grateful that we both found this friendly place!

Have Fun!!!!!

Happy Thingaversary (one day late) Roni! Always nice to find you when I log on.

Happy Thingaversary!!

Happy Thingaversary! Does this mean cake and ice cream? (Or at least cookies and punch?)

Belated happy thingaversary, Roni :)

WAAAAAY belated Happy Thingaversary!! Did you scare a few books? : )

Greetings Roni. Hope you're crafting up a storm and having fun as well. I recently read a science fiction novel by a new-to-me author, Ray Nayler. The mountain in the sea was excellent - about consciousness and (how) would/could it be possible to communicate with another intelligent species.

Here is a a link to Nayler's short storyYesterday's wolf, which won the 2021 Clarkesworld choice award.

Yoo-hoo! Roniiii!!!

Hello!! Thanks for all the Thingaversary wishes and just keeping in touch with me! I am here to announce that I just unloaded my first glaze kiln--still not a lot as I am still experimenting with the new glazes, but some items for my first Kansas show on December 3.



The tree ornaments on the bottom will be wire-wrapped so they can be hung.

>213 ronincats: Love the bowl in particular, Roni!

Wonderful to see you posting. I do so miss your regular presence here. xx

>213 ronincats: Oooohh, pretties!

>213 ronincats: Oh those are gorgeous! I like them all, but the leaf especially stands out to me.

>213 ronincats: Roni, your creativity never ceases to amaze me! You are incredibly talented. I send all good wishes for a wonderful holiday with your friends and family.

Good luck with your December showing!

>213 ronincats: Congratulations on your new kiln. Still rushing yourself off your feet, I see.

I spot a lot of new designs there.

>213 ronincats: It's good to see your pottery again! I love the nativity sets, particularly the one in the middle.

>213 ronincats: Ooohhh, I love them but, like >216 bell7:, I'm most delighted by the leaf plate.

The new wrapped-ceramic trees are lovely! Are you going to use gold and copper colored wires as well?

Hope the show goes like gangbusters!

Very much like the blue bowl and the leaf!

Yes, especially the nativity in the middle -- but all of it is beautiful. When in your show?

Looks wonderful Roni? I love the Xmas decorations.

Lovely! Glad you've got the kiln in action.

Good Morning Roni, I wish you a wonderful day with your wonderful pottery, wonderful friends and wonderful books.

>213 ronincats: Good to see new pottery, Roni!
I love the bowl and the leave plate, both have beautiful colors and great shapes.

Lovely! Lovely! Lovely stuff!!!! Abilene will no doubt be excited to see your things.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR RONI! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Blessings for your personal new year!

Is today your birthday? Happiest of birthdays to you!

Indeed!! Hope you have a very happy birthday!!

Wishing you a very happy birthday Roni!

Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday Roni!

Adding my birthday wishes to you as well!

>213 ronincats: Absolutely beautiful!

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Happy Birthday Roni.

Thank you, dear friends. While the next few weeks will be incredibly busy with company and preparing for the craft show on Dec. 3, I really do want to get back here on a more regular basis. And after a lovely family dinner with gifts last night, I had a lovely relaxing day in a warm house and finished my 75th book of the year, a reread of A Hat Full of Sky! Thank you for showing up here despite my neglect this year.

>236 ronincats: Sounds like a lovely birthday celebration.

Congratulations on 75!!

We keep coming back for the ceramics and jewellery ;0)

Happy Birthday! I am so very glad you are surrounded with family, love and laughter.

And, congratulations on reading 75 books. I know it's been a busy few years for you. I admire your talent, your ability to move on, leave California and return to Kansas. You are quite a strong person! I am glad to know you.

Good luck on your upcoming craft show. I imagine it is a lot of stress to get everything in order.

>237 humouress: ---- and the BBs! Thanks, Roni, and congratulations on 75!

Birthday and 75 books - what a day!
And all the best for the craft show.

Belated happy birthday, Roni!

And congratulations on reaching 75!

Happy belated birthday, Roni and congrats!

Belated Happy Birthday, Roni!

Long time no visit – and I’m skippety-skip-skipping along here.

>213 ronincats: Ooh, congrats on getting the pottery room fixed up. I love the results of your first glaze kiln, especially the bowl and leaf dish.

And an early Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Belated birthday wishes! I hope you had a great day!

Good job on completing your 75th book!

Happy birthday (belated) and happy Thanksgiving (early—I’m assuming I may not be back on LT until after Thanksgiving)!

Crivens! 75 books -- well done!

Congrats on reaching 75! The Tiffany Aching series was my first introduction to Terry Pratchett/Discworld and A Hat Full of Sky is certainly an excellent one for the milestone :D

Okay, trying to catch up with all my visitors!

Thanks for all the Thingaversary recognition last month, Paul, Susan, Nina, Thomas, Anita, Richard, Mary, Peggy, Reba, Natalie, Cassie, Stephen, and Kim!

>211 markon: I will definitely check out that author, Ardene. He's not been on my radar yet.

>212 humouress: Yoo-hoo back, Nina!

And thanks to those who commented on my pottery post, Paul, Cassie, Mary, Linda, Nina, Misti, Richard, Lucy, Reba, Charlotte, Ardene, Thomas and Anita!!

And finally, thank you for the birthday wishes and 75 book congrats, Peggy, Mary, Reba, Nina, Misti, Susan, Mary, Anita, Ron, Linda, Thomas, Anita, Shelley, Karen, Jim, Anita again, Cassie, Misti, and Mary again. I so appreciate every one of you.

Book Title Author Date Read
The Gathering Edge Lee & Miller 1/1/22
Neogenesis Lee & Miller 1/2/22
Crystal Soldier Lee & Miller 1/5/22
Return of the Thief Turner, Megan Whalen 1/7/22
Crystal Dragon Lee & Miller 1/9/22
Belgarath the Sorcerer Eddings, David & Leigh 1/13/22
Polgara the Sorceress Eddings, David & Leigh 1/16/22
Pawn of Prophecy Eddings, David & Leigh 1/17/22
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Lencioni, Patrick 1/20/22
Queen of Sorcery Eddings, David & Leigh 1/21/22
Magician’s Gambit Eddings, David & Leigh 1/22/22
Castle of Wizardry Eddings, David & Leigh 1/23/22
Enchanter’s Endgame Eddings, David & Leigh 1/24/22
Fair Trade Lee & Miller 1/28/22
Guardians of the West Eddings, David & Leigh 1/29/22
King of the Murgos Eddings, David & Leigh 1/29/22
Demon Lord of Karanda Eddings, David & Leigh 1/30/22
Sorceress of Darshiva Eddings, David & Leigh 1/30/22
The Seeress of Kell Eddings, David & Leigh 2/1/22
On Basilisk Station Weber, David 2/4
The Honor of the Queen Weber, David 2/8/22
The Short Victorious War Weber, David 2/9
A View to a Kiln Jacobs, Holly 2/9/22
The Witness for the Dead Addison, 2/16/22
Empires of the plains Adkins, Lesley 2/27/22
The Rats of NIMH O’Brien, Robert 3/8/22
The Jewish Gospels Boyarin, Daniel 3/20/22
The Forgery furore Doyle, Melissa 3/26/22
Pratchett’s Women Roberts, Tansy 3/30/22
Forged Ehrman, Bart 4/6/22
The Pinhoe Egg Jones, Diana Wynne 4/12/22
Spelunking Through Hell McGuire, Seanan 4/25/22
Good Neighbors Burgis, Stephanie 4/30/22
Fair Trade Lee & Miller 5/7/22
Nettle & Bone Kingfisher, T. 5/5/22
A Master of Djinn Clark, P. Djeli 5/9/22
Amongst Our Weapons Aaronovitch, Ben 5/10/22
Lady Hester Stanhope Childs, Virginia 5/15/22
Mother Carey’s Chickens Wiggin, Kate 5/17/22
Light From Uncommon Stars Aoki, Ryka 5/26/22
The Grief of Stones Addison, Katherine 6/15/22
Legends and Lattes Baldree, Travis 6/16/22
Wicked Crown Joy, Luna 7/11/22
Barbary McIntyre, Vonda 7/6/22
Raven’s Haven for Women Kirtlan, Anna 7/16/22
A Proper Dragon Wheeler, D. B. 7/17/22
An Elusive Dragon Wheeler, D. B. 7/24/22
A Subtle Dragon Wheeler, D. B. 7/20/22
The Gates of Europe Plokhy, Serhii 7/29/22
Wrapt in Crystal Shinn, Sharon 8/11/22
Trader’s Leap Lee & Miller 8/16/22
The Kaiju Preservation Society Scalzi, John 8/22/22
Beguilement Bujold, Lois McMaster 8/28/22
Legacy Bujold, Lois McMaster 8/29/22
Passage Bujold, Lois McMaster 8/30/22
Horizon Bujold, Lois McMaster 8/31/22
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen Bujold, Lois McMaster 9/12/22
A Natural History of Dragons Brennan, Marie 9/18/22
The Tropic of Serpents Brennan, Marie 9/21/22
A Curious Beginning Raybourn, Deanna 9/22/22
Voyage of the Basilisk Brennan, Marie 9/23/22
Be The Serpent McGuire, Seanan 9/7/22
A Perilous Undertaking Raybourn, Deanna 9/24/22
Labyrinth of Drakes Brennan, Marie 9/25/22
A Treacherous Curse Raybourn, Deanna 10/1/22
Deathless Gods Hodgell, P. C. 10/12/22
The House Witch Delemhach 10/13/22
Into the Broken Lands Huff, Tanya 10/16/22
You Sexy Thing Rambo, Cat 10/29/22
A Night in the Lonesome October Zelazny, Roger 10/31/22
Killers of a Certain Age Raybourn, Deanna 11/8/22
A dangerous collaboration Raybourn, Deanna 11/12/22
The Wee Free Men Pratchett, Terry 11/14/22
Let Sleeping Dragons Lie Nix, Garth 11/13/
A Hat Full of Sky Pratchett, Terry 11/19/22

The 75 books of 2022!!

I also did a Sharing Knife reread this year. I don't see Knife Children on your list, have you read that one yet? (It was my first time this year).

>250 ronincats: What a list! I'll check back when I have a mind to register BBs!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I actually did what I had to do to make tomorrow enjoyable. YAY!

I join you in thanks for family and friends, of whom you are one high on my list!

Thank you as always for books, thank you for this group and thanks for you. Have a lovely day, Roni.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Roni.

Happy Thanksgiving, Roni!

Happy Thanksgiving, Roni! And belated good wishes on both your Thingaversary and your Birthday! I have fallen behind with everyone as I have been busy setting up my next years Category Challenge. I have also been reading the Sharing Knife series and have the first two books completed and will get to the next one at some point next year. Have a lovely holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! We had a busy but very good day--hope you did as well.

Thanks! :)

Well, it finally happened. I came down with a stuffy head--and it was Covid. Tested positive on Saturday, nasty congestion and headache, sore throat from drainage and start of a chest cough. Was able to get Paxlovid on Monday, and happy to report today that doing much, much better. Only a bit of nasal drainage, other symptoms gone, and my energy back, which is good because they still want me at the craft show on this coming Saturday and I still have a whole bunch of stuff to do to get ready. But I used it as an excuse to spend all of yesterday reading the copy of Cast in Eternity that downloaded onto my Kindle yesterday, and a very pleasant day and read it was!

Kriti, I have read Knife Children but didn't reread it at this time.

Oh crap.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Roni!

Sorry the dreaded bug got you but glad you're doing well now and that you had a good day yesterday. Good luck at the craft show.

>259 ronincats: Sorry you got sick. Glad you got some meds and it sounds like you're on the mend.

Also, Cast in eternity sounds interesing.

>259 ronincats: Oh no! But I'm glad you're feeling better already. Enjoy the show.

>259 ronincats: Thank goodness the evil plague-monster ran away so readily! Keep improving, Roni, it's good to see you!

Well, despite still having Covid, I followed the guidelines, isolated for 5 days, and then did my craft show fully masked. It was a good success financially and all of my favorite cat mugs, which I had put out at $30 each, sold--I do have good pictures of them to keep. Some of my newer items...

>265 ronincats: Glad your show was successful!

Glad you were able to do your show and that it was successful. I fully understand why your cat mugs sold well :)

You are quite the trooper, I imagine your energy level is compromised from the bout of Covid, still you carried through with the sale of your incredible works!

I admire you!!

Wow, BBC is doing an audio adaptation of The Dark is Rising by someone who loves it. Article here:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/dec/03/midwinter-magic-robert-macfarlane-...

>265 ronincats: I'm so very happy for you, Roni - your new items look beautiful, too.
>269 ronincats: This is a beautiful article for what is sure to be a beautiful book - it's already on my Mount TBR

Sorry to hear you have covid. Glad you were feeling well enough for the craft show and that it was a great success!

>269 ronincats: Thanks for the link. I intend to listen to this one. Here is a link to the introduction to the series.

>269 ronincats:
Thanks for that notification regarding the Dark Is Rising Sequence. I listen to the BBC 4 late at night, so perhaps I will get to hear parts of it. And if I don't get to hear it on the radio, they usually offer podcasts of their radio plays. I will be looking for it.

>273 benitastrnad: Yes, I have subscribed to the podcast, as I think the time it will be broadcast is during my work day in the US.

>269 ronincats: Fascinating. I wish they'd do the whole series, though.

Hi Roni, I'm checking in to see how you feel? Are you still tired from Covid, or do you feel as though you kicked it totally?

I am thinking of you!

Yikes, Roni, sorry to hear you got hit with Covid, but hooray for a successful craft show! Hope you're feeling better and not too tired.

Hope your healing is going well, and that you have a relaxing rest of the week.

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

I like the nativity in the blue tones the best but I'm sufficiently impious to think I'd use it as a toast rack or something.

>259 ronincats: Me, too. I started showing symptoms Thursday, self-tested positive that night, called my doctor office Friday morning, and had my round of Paxlovid to start by Friday night. Feeling so much better after just 2/5 of the way through the treatment. Except for the lingering aftertaste of the meds, I’ve had no adverse effects. Hope you’re back in tip-top shape soon!

Hi Roni. I hope you are feeling better after the Covid outbreak. I send all good wishes for a warm and wonderful holiday!

I wore the Christmas earrings you made yesterday (dangling ones of red and green beads inside a swirl of silver wire) and got lots of compliments. As a result I thought of you all day. Hope you're feeling better and that you have a wonderful Christmas with family.

Hi Roni

Here is another wish for you!

I am fine, dear friends. The Paxlovid stopped symptoms in their tracks, only some low energy days linger. And family is keeping me very busy. But I love you all.

>284 ronincats: good news to hear!

>284 ronincats: I'm glad you're doing well!

Hi Roni, I hope you have a lovely Christmas and enjoy lots of time with your family. We are having a few family get-togethers here and then right after Christmas I am heading over to Vancouver Island to spend some time with my brother and the rest of the family. Happy holidays!

I'm heading over to spend the weekend with family. I wish all of you peace and good will toward all and the best of holiday celebrations!

Have a great holiday weekend with the family, Roni!

Malaysia's branch of the 75er's wishes you and yours a happy holiday season.

Wishing you the best for the holiday season Roni.

I'm glad you're feeling so much better. Enjoy your family time.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend with family, Roni!

Happy holidays, Roni. Glad you had a quick recovery from Covid.

Happy holidays, Roni!

Hi Roni!

One of my new year’s resolutions is to be a better LT friend.

Happy New Year, everyone! I just realized I need to go look for the 2023 group--I'm nearly late!

ETA and I finished the year at 85 books!

Happy new year to you too, Roni!!

>297 ronincats: Congratulations on making 85; this was a major year for you, so I think 85 is a good number!