What I'm Reading

This has been a fun week. I finished reading Boundaries, which is a mystery and started on a fantasy series by Garth Nix. As I've stated before, I read a lot of Young Adult Fiction (teenagers). The first Garth Nix series I read was Keys to the Kingdom. That was totally awesome.


I mostly read mysteries, but I got right into Keys to the Kingdom. Around the fourth book I asked my husband what genre K to the K was. He likes fantasy and I never really enjoyed that type of book. I described the plot and he said, "It's fantasy."

I about fell over. "Isn't fantasy dwarves, elves, wizards and fairies?" I asked. Obviously I was wrong. So now I know I like fantasy!

After I finished the 7 books in K to the K, I started on the Fablehaven series by  Brandon Mull. My sil, SWH, recommended the series to me.

I immediately started on those books. Thank goodness it was summer, because I was addicted to the series. My husband started reading Keys to the Kingdom and then moved on to Fablehaven. He caught up to me pretty soon. We would go to bed at night and I would start reading my book. Hubby would then sit there staring at me with puppy eyes and asking, "When are you going to be finished?" He's lucky I'm a fast reader!

Once school started, I slowed down. Hubby still wanted more books to read. I found other series that Garth Nix and Brandon Mull have written and he has read them all.

And they're all waiting for me!

The Fall, Book 1

I started on The Seventh Tower series by Garth Nix. This is a simpler novel than the Keys to the Kingdom, but every bit as enjoyable. I'm ready to start the fourth book tonight.


Last night I sat down with #3 Aenir. I started at nine and figured on going to bed at ten thirty. At midnight, I put down the book. Finished. I read it all in one sitting! I love when I can do that, but it usually takes a day!

Book #4

So on to the next book: Above the Veil #4.



At the bottom of my blog, is a Goodreads widget. One is for the books I've read in 2013, and the other is the books for 2012. The 2012 books look a little skimpy because I forgot to keep track. I've set my goal this year to read 75 books. So far I've read 11 (in a third of the year) but I started slowly. That's what I'm saying now. Who knows? I might have to read 12 hours a day in December!

Design Wall Monday

I have a different sort of design wall this week. I've gotten very little quilting the past two weeks. And yes, I am doing fine...not perishing from lack of quilting.

Along with quilting blogs, I also follow a blog called A Simpler Life, Creating a Simpler, Saner Life. I've signed up for a Decluttering Class there with Beth, the blogger and person behind the simpler life. She sends out weekly Simplicity Tips and has a Declutter Calendar for each month of the year. The class starts tomorrow. I really need this class, I mean, like, really need this class. I know all of you out there are so organized and together, but there are people like me...less talented at keeping it together.

In a couple of paragraphs you will see the depth of my need to declutter. However, Beth gave a challenge to the class to take on a small task to finish before the Declutter Class began. I chose to weed and plant my lettuce.

This picture is now lost because somebody deleted it from the hard drive

TaDa!

No peeking below!  Just look at this garden box in wonder and awe!

This is my design board for the week!

Yes, I got 6 lettuce seedlings in, plus another row of lettuce seeds planted. And a row of green onions planted.The weed cloth is covering the seeds from the birds, they always forget to look there.

And what's ahead of me...this year we have had a bounty of weeds. And I don't weed until right before Spring starts. So Exhibit 1 and 2 are below. Or as I like to call them:

Yucky One and Yucky Two

These pictures are now lost because somebody deleted them from the hard drive

And here is one of two planters with strawberries coming back very nicely.

Now just follow me...keep walking, we're walking, walking...

You see, my son TGS and his OSLW are coming to visit at the end of this month. Hurrah!  I can't wait for them to get here and I'm glad it's a few weeks away. I bet a few of you know of this conundrum.

Most of the house is fine. After all, my sisty ugler was here a few weeks ago and we got the house purtified. The other things that didn't get done, we closed the doors on. I'm one of "those" people who put dirty dishes in their oven when guests come over. Ask my kids. They'll tell you the story of the time I put a plastic colander in the oven. A few days later, I turned on the oven...sniff...sniff...what's that horrible smell??? Baked colander!

I also will gather things up quickly into a laundry basket and put them out in the garage. Or in the tub with the shower curtain pulled.

Stop snickering! You know you do it too!

There's some little straightening, dusting, floor mopping, vacuuming to do. And then there's THIS!

Guest bedroom, right side

Guest bedroom, left side

 And THIS!

Back porch, left side

Back porch, middle

Back porch, right side

I'm glad none of you know where I live...not that you'd want to come after seeing this!

The sad fact is TGS & OSLW read this blog. No secrets now, blabber mouth. I just want them to appreciate how gorgeous the house is when they come. Or pat me sympathetically while they say, "The pictures didn't do it justice."

I've linked up with Judy over at Patchwork Times. Click on badge in right column to see quilts on real design walls!