Twelve Days of Christmas

Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What would happen if you decided to "kill someone with kindness"? Would it change them? Would it change you? And being a Macomber book - would it help lead you to happy ever after?



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Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet

Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet by Leonard David

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Gorgeous photographs, amazing artists concepts pictures. The book is a companion piece to the National Geographic show that starts on Nov 14. It talks about the history of Mars exploration (yay Space Robots!!) What challenges need to be overcome to get boots on the ground. How the technology is just sooo close right now. Information as recent as Scott Kelly's year in space twin study. What challenges will arise to actually colonize the red planet. The challenges of terraforming it so the colonists could actually survive outside their habitation without space suits. The psychological issues of the big blue marble becoming a tiny insignificant dot. The physiological changes to long term low gravity living.

One of my favorite features is in between chapters it does a career highlight on someone involved in the drive to get a person on Mars, the last of which is Buzz Aldrin.

Great forward by Ron Howard ( a lot of times I skip the forward but read this one).

If the show is half as good as the book it will be amazing!



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Self Striping Yarn Studio

So nothing new to show you.  Started a pair of cabled knit socks and a crochet shawlette/scarf.  My husband sat on my beaded shawl and I dropped stitches (no lifeline lectures please) and I've been too hectic to sit down and figure it out.  I recently picked up 2 knitting books from the library so I'll post those instead.


Self-Striping Yarn Studio: Sweaters, Scarves, and Hats Designed for Self-Striping Yarn by Carol J. Sulcoski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Excellent for the adventurous beginner who's had a few projects under their belt. It goes over the differences in yarns, variegated vs striped, near stripes, wide vs narrow stripes, even vs variable, self patterning yarns, transitions, sharp vs gradual, gradients, ply-shifters, repeats, predicting what your yarn will do, joining a new ball, common trouble spots and fibers.

Honestly, it appears that the patterns are well written, but the only one that actually tempts me is the Saturnalia Vest.



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The Gold Bug and Other Tales

The Gold-Bug and Other Tales by Edgar Allan Poe

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Poe just isn't my author



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Highland Guardian

Highland Guardian by Melissa Mayhue




Not that much like book one in the series - although near the end we catch a brief glimpse of the main characters of book One. I like that both books revolve around modern day characters who have inherited Fae magic and have to learn to deal with it. Already requested book 3 from the library!



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Thistles Seem Popular

At the restaurant we had brunch on Friday, the Angie took this picture with thistles in the arrangement.  The centerpieces at the wedding had thistle mixed in with huge sunflowers, and when we stopped for dinner Sun night there were more!