Aww, you guys! I can’t believe how fast the chick and pincushions went. There will be more of both just as soon as I can get to them. Too bad I have an actual full time job. It just keeps getting in the way of the fun stuff! My biggest problem during the week is actually being able to take pictures. It’s dark now when I get home, and mornings can get a little hectic. I’d like to make a light box, but I’m really trying to clean my workshop out so I can paint and fix it up all pretty, not bring more stuff in. There must be a space-saving light box contraption out there somewhere, or maybe I just have to invent one myself.

This picture was not taken with the use of a light box, just the pale morning light from my kitchen window, which is quite nice, really. If only it didn’t hang around for such a limited time each day.

Enough about that, I actually wanted to talk about books again! First of all, I finished one of two books I’m working on for the shop, and have listed it. The second one is a little bigger, and nearly done too. I’ll let you read all about it over there, if you are interested in that sort of thing. I think I have enough of this lovely French printmaking paper left for one, or maybe two more books. I should look for a less expensive alternative, but it’s just so nice, and stands up well to ink and watercolors. It’s just right for a commonplace book, or a travel journal.

I’ve also squeezed in a bit of reading, some from the list, and some not. First of all, those of you who recommended The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, what are you trying to do to me?! Heart-wrenching would be the best description I can give you. For those of you interested in WWII/Holocaust books, put this one at the top of your list right now. And even if you’re not interested in that period of history, it still should be high on your list.

I’ve also continued with the Fablehaven books, and I think they are getting better. I finished the second and just started the third. I think kids that are Harry Potter fans and looking for something else to read would really enjoy this series. Fantastical, magical creatures are always fun, and the stories are suspenseful and keep you reading.

The Dew Breaker is also on my list, and I have the CD recording of it from the library, so I can listen while driving to and from work. I have to be in just the right mood to listen to a book, so maybe I’ll get to this one later this week. Looking at my to-do list I don’t see any spare time for reading, so this may be the best way to fit it in.

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Why was Kenley not auf’d? Why? I’m really not liking her and her attitude. How can a person be rude to Tim? It’s just wrong.

And seriously this:


Was way worse than this:


That’s all I can say about this right now. The final three better be Leann, Korto and Jerrell. Please discuss :o)

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Miss Cara Lou!

I’ll send you an e-mail, Cara, to get your address. I hope to make it to the post office sometime this week, so your book will be on its way very soon. And, for the rest of you, the good news is that you can still read The Book Thief for free, just by going to your local library. Speaking of my library love, tomorrow if you show your library card at your local Chipotle (if you have a local Chipotle) you can have a free burrito or bowl! Guess where I’m going for lunch tomorrow?

I hate that feeling I get when I finish a book that’s so good it makes me want to keep reading and I realize I have nothing waiting in the wings. I feel like I have quite the treasure trove of books to read now, so I won’t have to worry about that feeling for awhile. Thank you all so much for your recommendations!  I’ve already requested a few from the library. And thanks for the GoodReads friends adds too! Now I feel a little bit more popular :o)

This is mostly for my own reference, but maybe some of you will also find it helpful. I’m listing all the recommended books right here (with some additional comments from me, in italic)

Random Acts of Heroic Love by Danny Schienmann

London by Edward Rutherford

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Nature Photography Field Guide by John Shaw

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (recommended by my adorable nephew)

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (I actually listened to this one on cd and really enjoyed it. I also liked his other book, A Spot of Bother)

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The Nazi Officer’s Wife by Edith Hahn Beer

In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke

On Hitler’s Mountain by Imgard A. Hunt

The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (two recommendations! And since Debbie has bossed me, much like I bossed everyone into giving me recommendations, I’ve already requested it from the library!)

Night by Elie Wiesel

Molokai by Alan Brennert

When Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holithe

The Kommandant’s Girl by Pam Jenoff

The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks (Melissa, if you like books about survivors, I highly recommend Endurance, by Alfred Lansing. It’s the true story of an exploration ship on its way to Antarctica, trapped in the ice and how they survived. It took place in 1914, and even pictures they took on their adventure survived. It’s a fascinating story)

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (I’ve read this one too, and liked it, but not enough to rush out and read other books by the same author. I do like historical fiction, though, so I’ll probably read some of her others eventually)

Brother Cadfael books by Ellis Peters

First There is a River by Kathy Steffen

The Train to Estelline, A Place Called Sweet Shrub, and Dance a Little Longer…(A strong young schoolmarm in early day west Texas.) all by Jane Roberts Wood (This reminds me of another book I love, Letters of a Woman Homesteader, by Elinore Pruitt Stewart. It’s not fiction, however, but her actual letters to a friend after moving to Wyoming with her daughter. She eventually marries the man she works for, but also claims her own homestead. I love that tough-woman, can-do, self-sufficient pioneer spirit, and this woman has all those qualities.)

The Bare Naked Bride by anonymous (I can’t find this one anywhere Hatti, are you sure about the title? It sounds intriguing!)

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

These is My Words by Nancy Turner

Jim the Boy by Tony Earley

The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat

No County For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (I’ve read All the Pretty Horses, his stuff is good, but dark. I sort of liked the movie, but how can you actually like a movie like that? I don’t think that’s the right word. It was good but disturbing)

Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

Quiet Please: Dispatches From A Public Librarian by Scott Douglas

In the meantime, I’ve also finished reading I am the Messenger, by Marcus Zusak, the author of The Book Thief. It’s quite different than The Book Thief, but it was so very good. I really liked it. I also read Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull. I liked that too, but some of the dialogue was a little stiff and it reminded me a bit of The Spiderwick Chronicles (the movie, I haven’t read the book or books?). But it was the first of a series, and I’m looking forward to reading the later books to see if the author has loosened up a little :o)

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Due to my current allergy situation (and resulting grumpiness), I’ve not felt like doing much more than reading in he evening. A good book is definitely something that can cheer me up and make me forget about my snuffly nose. In the past I’ve tried to keep a list of what I’ve read and books I’d like to read, but my record keeping has been pretty sporadic. Recently I discovered GoodReads, which makes keeping track so much easier. If you join, please do feel free to add me as a friend. I think you can invite me using my lucy at heylucy dot net address. It’s so easy to find, add, and rate books. I’ve been adding books I’ve read over the last couple years here and there.

So, I thought I’d share some recent reads, and ask for some recommendations. I am waiting for a couple books to arrive at the library, but you can never have too many book recommendations to fall back on, can you? Speaking of the library, does your local library have their catalog online? I love that I can just go to the San Diego County Library website, find a book, and have it sent to my little local branch. If you haven’t tried doing that with your local library, I would suggest trying it out.

My first, and strongest recommendation is The Book Thief. Set in Germany during WWII, and narrated by the Grim Reaper himself, it’s the story of a young girl growing up during the Holocaust. There were so many great characters, and I don’t want to spoil anything, but I sobbed at the end of this one, and I’m not really one to cry when reading books or watching movies.

I also recently finished Water for Elephants, which is one of those books everyone has read and loved. I did like it, but I wouldn’t call it a five star read, but I’d give it a solid three stars. There were some quirky characters, which was a lot of fun, but the story itself was a little predictable, or at least as predictable as a story set on a circus train during the Great Depression could be.

Like most women, I love Jane Austen, and can’t get enough, but I’ve always drawn the line at cheesy fan fiction. So I was a little reluctant to give Pamela Aidan’s Darcy Trilogy a fair chance, but I have to say, I really enjoyed what she did with the character. The first book, An Assembly Such as This, covers the first few meetings between Elizabeth and Darcy during his stay at Netherfield. The second book, Duty and Desire, wasn’t nearly as good, mainly because there was so little Elizabeth. It started to veer into Gothic mystery territory, but luckily didn’t go all the way there. Then, the last book in the series, These Three Remain picked up the pace, and of course had all the really great stuff, so it was worth slogging through the second book to get there.

Finally, a quick little read that I really enjoyed was The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It’s a YA book, and I checked it out from the library on the recommendation of a friend. While not really a graphic novel, there are a lot of really lovely illustrations. This story of a boy living in the walls of a Paris train station, fixing the station clocks is a big, thick book, but only took about an hour to read.

And now, a surprise for those of you who have scrolled this far in this long, long post, since you must obviously like books as much as I do. I loved The Book Thief so much that I want to share my copy with another reader. It’s the copy that I read, so it’s not a brand new book, but if you don’t mind slightly dog-eared corners, hey, it’s free! Just leave a recommendation for one of your favorite books in the comments, and I’ll draw a name this weekend, and send it to the winner! So give me your recommendations! Do you like when I get all bossy? I can’t help it, I’m an oldest child.

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I have many things that I would like to talk about, but I’m too busy sniffling with the worst allergies I’ve had in several years. What the heck is blooming that is doing this to me? I don’t like it one bit. I get no sleep because I can’t breathe. I even went to to the doctor for the first time in nearly two years, and he gave me a prescription for Zyrtec, which seems to have made my taste buds non-functioning. The sole purpose of this entire paragraph is just to illustrate how grumpy I am right now, was I successful? Also, thanks for all the shorts love, I really like to respond to comments as much as possible, but I just haven’t had it in me to deal with e-mail either. I’ll get to it eventually, so please don’t think I’m being rude and ignoring all the nice comments and good advice about the blue birdcage.

So, this is just a quick drive-by post to discuss Project Runway (and to let you know that I am grumpy and sniffly and tired. And my eyes itch. And I have comments to reply to.). How about that Leann? Yes, I called it way back in the beginning. She is definitely my favorite. Her last two designs have been really great, I thought.


I don’t think this picture does her design justice, but I thought it was really pretty. I loved Korto’s look too:

Too bad about Stella, although she was kind of on borrowed time, anyway. It was a close call between her and Joe this week, but his drag queen outfit was so good a couple weeks ago, I think that may have helped him stick around to see another week.

Who do you think will make the final three? I’m going to go with Leann, Korto and maybe Terri? Discuss please.

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Miss Mona tagged me to tell six random things about me (hers are here. I’m with you on the bathroom thing, Mona. I am regularly disgusted at work by people using the ladies room and leaving things behind when exiting the stall. Seriously, just check and at least make sure everything has flushed as it’s supposed to, it’s not that hard.). I recently re-watched one of my favorite movies ever, Amelie, and I had forgotten about the part (it starts at about 3:09) near the beginning, where several characters are introduced by noting several things they like and several things they don’t. I love that part! Coincidentally, my brother did something similar recently too. So I’m going to copy them both.

Off on a tangent, I have recently realized that the measure of how much I like a movie can be determined by whether or not I own the DVD and Soundtrack. I don’t generally buy DVD’s or soundtrack CDs, so I must really like something to invest in both. Movies that fall into this category? A Room with a View, Amelie, and Strictly Ballroom. Yep, those are easily my three favorite movies. But then, I also have some soundtracks, but not DVDs. The movies in this category are Master and Commander, Howard’s End, Sense and Sensibility, and Napoleon Dynamite. I would be happy to own any of the above on DVD, I just don’t think about buying DVDs very often. I would say these movies fall into my top 10 or 20 list.

Okay, back on track. These are the rules:

Here are the rules …
1. Link to the person who “tagged” you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up

I am going to break rules 4 and 5 because I am a rebel that way. Also because I have a hard time asking people to do things (bonus 7th random thing about me!). But, please play along if you’d like! Leave a comment and a link if you’d like to share six random things on your blog.

1. I like pedicures, and luckily, I’ve just had a new one, because I obviously needed one in that picture. I’m not much of a salon girl, and generally just go to Supercuts or the equivalent for my haircuts, and never get manicures, but my feet get terrible callouses and pedicures are practically a necessity. Especially because…

2. Comfortable brown sandals are a Summer necessity in my life. I wear them for as many months in the year as possible. These Born sandals are an acceptable replacement for the Simple sandals I’ve worn for the previous seven Summers. Those sandals went through a lot, including a few trips to the repair shop, once because Bear actually ate (not just chewed, but swallowed!) one of the straps off. At the end of last Summer, however, the sole actually broke in two. I still mourn those sandals.

3. I really like animals. There have been very few cats that I haven’t been able to charm (one being my mother-in-law’s cat. I just really don’t like that cat and his big, bad attitude. Stupid cat). Every time I go to the zoo or Sea World, I remember how much I like animals and wonder why I didn’t apply for the exotic animal training program at the local community college when I was growing up. I guess my cats, dogs, chickens and goose will have to suffice.

4. There are very few foods I don’t like or won’t at least try. Liver is one of them, unless, of course, it is in the form of pate. I do like a nice chicken liver pate.

5. I don’t like people invading my personal space. I think my personal space perimeter is perhaps larger than average. I especially dislike people crowding me while waiting in line at the grocery store. I leave plenty of space for the person in front of me to unload their shopping cart and would appreciate the same courtesy from the person behind me. Thank you. These personal space issues don’t really apply to animals. Winston, in particular, isn’t happy unless he is laying right next to me, with as much physical contact as possible.

6. I am a technical writer by day, but seldom proofread my blog posts, so there are often typos and grammatical errors that would make me cringe if I saw them while editing a document at work.

So, in summary:

I like:

pedicures
comfortable (and somewhat stylish) brown sandals
animals

I dislike:

liver
people invading my personal space
proofreading outside of work hours

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