Ramblings ~

Hello Peoples! It’s early! That’s right, it’s still dark outside. The only sound is the occasional traffic driving by. I have the windows open and the early morning air is so cool. I love these autumn temperatures. October is almost here. I love October! The leaves changing colors, the cool temps, the wooly sweaters, football, crackling fires, hot chocolate, pumpkins~ nothing like it.

“I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” ~ Anne of Green Gables

I read three really really good books this month and all three are my favorites! They are listed in no particular order. Well, here they are ~

Dawn of the Morning by Grace Livingston Hill

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

Frederica by Georgette Heyer

I HIGHLY recommend all three books.

This month I decided to order a pair of flannel jeans from L. L. Bean. It can be so cold up here on the North Pole. *haha* I decided to go for it and order the jeans. I ordered through the mail and when I filled out the order form I misunderstood the size. When I filled out the size, I thought they were asking for my inseam. They weren’t. I need to say, I am not very big, so it’s good when the nice person at Bean saw the size I entered, in the space provided and she decided to call. I was napping when she called. Rick took the call and spoke with nice person. Rick and nice person got quite a chuckle out of the size I entered. Basically a hippopotamus could have worn the jeans I ordered. Well, maybe a baby hippopotamus.😁 Rick told them my correct size, they chuckled. Of course, when I awoke from my nap Rick teased me. 🙄

The jeans did arrive safely. I noticed on the package, the jeans weigh 3 pounds!!! I will be wearing 3 pounds of jeans this winter??? I like the flannel lining. It’s blue plaid. Nice. But, 3 pounds!!!

Your favorites at the cottage in September ~

September 15, 2021 ~ Happy Birthday Agatha Christie!

September 14, 2021 ~ Top Ten Tuesday ~ Books With Numbers In the Titles

September 5, 2021 ~ The Classics Club ~ Dawn of Morning by Grace Livingston Hill

Rick and I have been watching the classic tv show Murder, She Wrote. I am happy to say, we have watched the first seven seasons! They are all good, but we do have our favorites. Highly recommend!

Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach) Sheriff Metzger (Ron Masak) Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury)

O! The sun is coming up. Must go! Have a great day everyone!

Much love ~

Kathy

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Reader Problems Book Tag

Hello Peoples! I hope you are having a good day. I discovered this tag at Mint Loves Books. Are you following her blog??? Well, why not??? Just click on the link below ~

https://mintlovesbooks.wordpress.com/2021/09/27/reader-problems-book-tag/

She found the tag at Alli the Book Giraffe, however, it was created by BookTuber About To Read.📚 Apparently, that is to say, well, I’ll be, that channel is no longer around.

You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How do you decide what to read next???

Oh my goodness!!! 20,000??? Am I a library??? Seriously though, I am pretty much a mood reader, so I would read what I’m in the mood to read.

You’re halfway through a book and just aren’t feeling it. Do you quit or are you committed to finishing?

It depends. If it’s a book I’ve purchased and I can return it, I do and get my money back. If it’s a library book, I return it. If someone gave me the book, I do try to finish it and then discuss the book with that person. Recently, I did finish a book I did not like because of one character in the story. It took me weeks to finish reading it and I had to take breaks, long breaks.

The end of the year is coming and you’re so close, but also so far away from your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and if so how?

I would just keep reading.

The cover of a series you love do not match. How do you deal with that?

Is there a problem???😁

Everyone you can think of loves a book you don’t love. Who do you talk to about your feelings?

I have had this experience, more than once, in both directions. If I do talk about it, I mention it to Rick or on my blog.

You’re reading a book and you’re about to start crying in public. What do you do?

I don’t remember that ever happening. If it did, I would get a napkin, drink plenty of liquids and buck up!

A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the previous book?

Apparently I remember I loved the first book. Yes, I would re-read it.

You aren’t a fan of letting people borrow your books. How do you politely tell them you don’t want them to borrow your books?

Well, no one ever borrows my books. I have loaned books to people, but it was my suggestion, not theirs. I’m not sure I wouldn’t let someone borrow my books, one at a time. I could have them sign a contract. 🙄

You’ve picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?

Good question. I’m not sure I’ve had a reading slump. I’ve read several heavy classic reads this past twelve months and I’ve needed a break, however, I just take a couple of days off from reading and that takes care of it.

There are so many new books coming out that you are dying to read. How many do you actually buy?

I check the library. If I can get it at the library, I will. If the book is hard cover, I will wait for the paperback. So, I will purchase a few, but not all.

After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to read them, but how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?

I have been known to sit in the bookstore, read half of the book, and then purchase it before I leave. The cashier has to fight me for the books so she could ring it up. *haha* A book can sit on my shelf for a few weeks too.

Now it’s your turn. I’d like to read your answers. I thought this was an interesting tag. Have fun with it.

Much love ~

Kathy

Tomato ~

Good morning Peoples! I went to the grocery store and picked up a tomato. When I arrived at the check-out/cashier, below was our brief conversation.

Cashier ~ (holding tomato) What type of tomato is this?

Me ~ Red.

LAUGHTER!

As my neighbor was known to say, “Never in all my born days.”🙄

Yesterday I went for a walk and it was a beautiful, autumn day. It had been raining and the leaves are changing and some leaves are falling to the ground. So brisk, fresh and autumny.

I made blueberry crisp. Yummy. with the cooler temps I’ve been using our oven more. Tis the season for comfort food. Yummy. Mac & cheese is my favorite comfort food! What’s yours???

I snapped a photo of Split Rock Lighthouse when we visited Lake Superior. Yesterday I took my camera disc to the photography shop and had the photo enlarged and put on artist’s canvas. It will be ready in a week. I love lighthouses! I’ve visited many of the lighthouses on the east coast. If lighthouses could talk . . .

https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock

What I’m Reading ~

Racing the Devil by Charles Todd

This is an Ian Rutledge mystery and it is so good. I’m almost finished. I recommend the Ian Rutledge mysteries. I recommend reading them in order.

Have a great weekend Peoples! SMILE!

Much love ~

Kathy

Discovering the Nightingale by Traci Borum

A Chilton Crosse Novel

This is the perfect time of year to read this comfy story. Please sit in a warm cozy chair, with a blanket wrapped around you, sipping a hot drink. Nothing better.🤗

A BIG thank-you to the author for e-mailing her book to me. I enjoyed it. It was the perfect read after all the heavy classic novels and mysteries I have been reading. And! I love the cover art.

Chilton Crosse is a warm story of love, romance, choices and the consequences, second chances, a good sense of community . . . well . . . Mrs. Pickering we are concerned about.😉 It’s a community where we meet old friends and new.

Discovering the Nightingale is the story of Chelsea and Luka. Luka was always considered the bad boy in town. He unexpectedly left Chilton Crosse, breaking Chelsea’s heart. Now years later, Chelsea is a teacher in the community and Luka has returned.

I don’t even know where to begin. I have read all the Chilton Crosse books and loved them all. Discovering the Nightingale is a gentle story with quaint, charming cottages, warm fires crackling in the fireplace, scones, hot tea, good friends, and so much to keep one busy. A Renaissance Festival is in the planning and the high school students are putting on Romeo and Juliet. The author has included a quote at the beginning of each chapter, most are Shakespeare, but there are a few other ancients quoted.

The book is beautifully written and wonderfully smooth to read. Do read them all. I think, each book can stand alone, however, I like to read in order. Yes, it is safe for everyone.

The Chilton Crosse Series

~ Painting the Moon

~ Finding the Rainbow

~ Seeking the Star

~ Savoring the Seasons

~ Discovering the Nightingale

http://www.traciborum.com/

Happy Reading!

The Classics Club ~ Shirley by Charlotte Bronte

Well! Finishing this book IS an accomplishment and I do feel I have accomplished something. The first one hundred pages were torture to read through. I almost stopped reading. However, the second half of the book was much more interesting. This is not a quick read. It is slow and difficult. I felt like I was plodding through it most of the time.

Jane Eyre is one of my favorite classic reads. I have read Jane Eyre more than once. Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall also by Anne Bronte are also favorites. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte while, in my opinion, a little different, I did like it. I’ve always enjoyed reading books by the Brontes. Shirley is the exception. I’m not sure I can write a review or even where I should begin.

Napoleon is at war. England is industrializing and the textile workers are protesting by destroying textile machinery.

Although Shirley is the title of the book, I didn’t fell that Shirley was the female protagonist. She inherits an estate and becomes wealthy. Caroline, seems to be our main female character. She lives with her uncle in the rectory. Her uncle, while not a brutal man, is not a loving and nurturing fellow either. Shirley and Caroline meet and seem to be on friendly terms with one another. This book is not a romance, but people do fall in love and get married. Caroline is in love with Robert but she believes Robert will marry Shirley. Shirley is in love with the tutor, Robert’s brother. Robert is not present in most of the story. I liked both men, there wasn’t any reason not to like them.

I didn’t really have a favorite character, although I did like Shirley and Caroline. Everyone seemed somewhat mundane to me. I don’t want to create any spoilers, so I will stop here. I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading a book, especially a classic, but this wasn’t a favorite of mine. I might read it again sometime to get a better understanding of the story.

Have you read Shirley by Charlotte Bronte? What are your thoughts?

https://theclassicsclubblog.wordpress.com/

Hello Peoples! It’s me again!

It’s a beautiful morning. I woke early, so I made soup. It’s simmering on the stove and, of course, the entire house has a great scent! I love soup in the autumn and winter. Yummy.

Rick decided to work in our backyard this morning. It’s a great day for backyard puttering.

I’m reading Shirley by Charlotte Bronte. I’ve been reading it for several days. It’s not a quick read, but I’m past the halfway point, so I’m getting there.

Yesterday I walked to the bakery. So, my knee is doing great. I’ve walked to the bakery three times now and all is well. I take a small detour because the city is working on the street I normally walk. I’m hoping they will be finished tomorrow when I walk.

Not much is happening here. It’s a quiet day. I slipped Frodo in the DVD player, so,, I’m watching The Fellowship of the Ring.

Have a great weekend Peoples!

Much love ~

Kathy

Happy Birthday Agatha Christie!

September 15, 1890

Top Ten Tuesday ~ Books With Numbers In the Title

Hello Peoples! When I decided to participate in this weeks Top Ten Tuesday by Artsy Reader Girl, I didn’t think I would find ten books with numbers in the title. Surprise! I did. I started at the beginning of my list and went through every book I’ve read listed on goodreads until I found ten. Here are the ten I discovered. Yes! I have read all of them.

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano

The VanDerBeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

A Tale of Two Murders by Heather Redmond

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Five Weeks In A Balloon by Jules Verne

A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart

Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie

Third Girl by Agatha Christie

And there you have it. Have a great day!

Much love ~

Kathy

Hello Peoples! Rick and I just returned from the grocery store. This particular store I don’t care for, it’s crowded and always COLD. Really cold. Extremely cold. Absolutely cold. I could get hypothermia buying food at this grocery store! I bundle up in my winter clothes whenever I shop there. Brrr. I am thankful I am at home now. I can warm up with a cuppa.

I walked to the bakery! YAY! It was the first time I have walked to the bakery since I broke my poor, pitiful knee in May! I had a nice walk. And! When I arrived at the bakery, I savored a steamy, hot, decadent chocolate. I also starting reading Shirley by Charlotte Bronte.

How is your Sunday?

Much love ~

Kathy

The Classics Club ~ Frederica by Georgette Heyer

What an incredibly fun family! I loved Frederica and her siblings!

Frederica Merriville and her three younger siblings have arrived in London. Frederica hopes to find a good match for her younger sister, Charis. She seeks out a distant cousin for help. Enter ~the Most Honourable the Marquis of Alverstoke! What a title! I need to say, the Marquis’ life is turned upside down with the arrival of the Merriville family! I personally loved the Merrivilles, even poor Charis, who was much given to tears, swooning and the vapours!

The boys, Jessamy and Felix were lively and full of great energy. The reader will visit the foundry, attempt to ride the first bicycle and have the adventure of a lifetime in a hot air balloon. So much fun! And of course, I don’t want to leave out Lufra! What a great dog!

This book was incredibly entertaining! Highly recommend it. I laughed and thoroughly enjoyed it.

https://theclassicsclubblog.wordpress.com/