Adventures in Tie-dye!

A week or two ago I tie-dyed some onesies for the Beast and a few of the Elf's stained white shirts. I was so tired of putting plain white clothes on such an adorable baby. Something had to be done! Little did I know that the Imp would become emotionally attached to wearing his older brother's much-too-large tie-dyed shirts. So I vowed to dye some appropriately sized shirts just for him. Also, it wouldn't hurt to dye up the rest of the Elf's shirts and some tank tops for myself - to speak nothing of my attempt at dying wool yarn!



I laid everything outside on an old, greyish fitted sheet yesterday. I figured that it would make the sheets more fun, if nothing else. The heat was near unbearable. After being outside for only a few minutes I had sweat dripping off my nose. Heat indices have been between 106 and 115 for a few weeks.



I was supposed to let the dye sit in the fabrics for six to eight hours. After five and a half hours I just couldn't wait any more. It was getting dark and I just *had* to see my yarn! This picture was taken while the yarn was still damp. It's a bit lighter now, but I'm in love with it! I'll be using it to knit felted bowls for the Imp's birthday. My goal is for them to be nesting bowls, but we'll see how that turns out!



This morning, after sleeping on lovely and colorful sheets, I laid some of the shirts out for the Imp to choose from. Apparently he agrees with my husband and prefers the first dying attempt with the darker colors. He passed up all the new shirts and opted for his older brother's previously dyed shirt. Bah. Oh well. I suspect he'll wear the new ones eventually.



People have been posting images of themselves on their blogs lately. It seems to have all been prompted by Shaktimama.

Well, let me start this with the confession that I've never been comfortable with my physical self. Never. I was labeled "fat" by peers and ridiculed in school. It wasn't just peers and strangers, my father (who has changed considerably with age and grandchildren) was never much for tact. I'd been made to feel ashamed for who I was.

Nine glorious years with my husband have helped to change all of that. He's helped me to see that I am not repugnant. That I am worthy of love. That other people can see my beauty, even if I cannot.

So I've posted an unaltered (aside from cropping and resizing) picture of myself (in which my head looks teeny). In all my bleary-eyed glory, this is me. This is also my fabulously dyed tank top (yes, I'm quite pleased with it).

{this moment} - Learning to Knit!

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

Wandering, Wordless, Black and White Wednesday!

Look at me trying to shove so much into one post.

Wandering Wednesday:
I'm joining GardenMama's Wandering Wednesday photo challenge. Read about it here.



Here I sit (because holding babies and taking pictures of my feet while standing is beyond me today) feeding my babies much too early in the morning.

Wordless Wednesday combined with Black and White Wednesday:
Black and White Wednesday is from Natural Suburbia. I'm not sure where I first heard about Wordless Wednesday.

Giveaway winner!

I know I said I'd announce the winner tomorrow. But it's late and I can't imagine that anyone else will enter before the end of the night.



A zombie-eyed, fruit popsicle-faced Imp helped me pick a name for the giveaway. For a kid that doesn't really understand what "one" means, he did pretty well.



Congratulations Softearthart! I'll get the book sent out to you before Wednesday. I hope you enjoy it!

I look forward to hosting more giveaways in the future. Thanks to everyone who entered!

{this moment} - late and Swappables!

Yesterday was crazy. So here's my late {this moment} post.

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.


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News! I've added a page to my blog. It's called "Swappable" - there should be a link at the top of the page. It's a list of things (mostly handmade books at the moment) that I have for swapping. I love swaps, don't you? So if you're interested in a trade/swap check it out and let me know. My swaps know no bounds - international posting is totally doable.

If you'd like something needled felted, I can work on that, too.
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Also! Don't forget that my giveaway ends tomorrow (very late at night, likely). So feel free to enter!

Gift Ideas!

Okay. I've been "given" a moderate amount of money by my lovely husband to spend on whatever I want (we are not financially great which is why this is a rare thing). Being who I am, I'll probably spend 95% of it on my kids. Here's where the needing of help comes in. We're fairly new to the natural/Waldorf way of *living* - we've always been of the mindset but the implementation is recent. So there is an excess of junk in our house. I've been slowly doing away with the junk and trying to encourage the kids to play with more natural things.

A lot of what I've read in Waldorf forums is that you should just have baskets of rocks, shells, blocks, etc. That's great in theory. But my youngest two are too young for that. And we have cats. Oh my, do we have cats. So wool being left out and nature tables aren't realistic for us.

Here's what we do have: play silks that I dyed. Blocks (regular mass-made unit blocks). Plastic dinosaurs (they're too well loved for me to get rid of). Balls of all sizes. The rest is junk, in my opinion (or slipping my mind). And now, here are extremely brief overviews of the kids:

The Elf: Will by eight in August. He has a very addictive/obsessive personality. We "screwed up" with him early on and he's more quantity oriented rather than quality. For his birthday I've bought him an Earth stacker and some figures - they will all go with a felted play mat I'm going to make for him. His current obsessions are Spore (a computer game) and Toy Story 3 (ugh). I want to get him a Waldorf doll (he babies lego creations and plastic toys) but I'm not sure where to start.

The Imp: Will be two in September. He doesn't talk a great deal yet. He's recently discovered that blocks are stackable, loves to paint with (those crappy dry) watercolors, loves spoons and balls. Six months ago he accidentally swallowed a marble so we're leery about small toys now. Mostly, he seems to throw things and dump things out. I'm afraid that he's not playing "right" because he's learning from the Elf.

The Beast: He's almost three months old. He loves to watch the mobile I made for him and a knitted bird we hang in his car seat. We have a wooden teether that we'd gotten for the Imp when he was wee (a rattle, too, but I've no idea where it is).

I'm considering dolls for the older two. Is two too young for a dressable doll? They're so expensive. I can't see being able to afford the different stages that seem to be encouraged. I've thought about making them, but really, I don't have the time. Also, I'd like to actually see and touch one in person before embarking on that particular adventure. So. Any suggestions on where to have one made? Do your kids have dolls? Do they actually play with them regularly? I didn't have dolls growing up - I had stuffed animals. And well, I was never a little boy. So I'm at a loss.

I want to learn to knit, but I need someone to show me. Books and videos are not helping. So simple knitted things, I'd have to buy. Things I've thought of: knitted and felted rings and knitted/felted nesting bowls.

I'd also love to get them some wooden figures - animals and people. But my goodness, they're expensive! I'm not sure what would be best or what would be played with most. There are too many decisions!

So I need help. What toys did you love growing up? What do your children love? What have you seen that my children might love? Do you make something I should consider? Do you want to do a swap? I've birthdays and the Winter Solstice to shop for and limited funds. Help!

Needle felted tree stump

I've been working on this tree stump off and on for a long while. Mostly off, to be honest. I made the stump core and then had many failed attempts at dyeing wool brown. After I finally broke down and ordered some.. well.. I just didn't get to doing anything with it. That is, until earlier this week. Maybe I started last weekend. I can't recall.



Next time I make one of these, I'll start the inside of the core with brown - adding it after was interesting. I can't say whether or not this will stand up to being played with. In fact, I don't know that anything I've made thus far (aside from a car and a few balls) would tolerate playing well. I'm game to find out, though.



The stump (ignoring the branch) is roughly five inches tall, four inches wide, and three inches deep. Roughly. The leaves are cut from a wool blend felt that I had laying around. I can't find 100% wool felt locally and don't have the currently financial resources to buy any at the moment. So it's not all wool, but I'll live.

Next up will be a wee round gnome to live in the stump. Maybe more than one gnome - it depends on how it turns out. After that, I think I'll take up the challenge of possibly making a dragon. Of course, I also need to make the play mat that I have planned for the Elf's birthday in mid-August. I think I've found affordable plain wooden figures to go with it, though, which is an accomplishment I think.

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

A Giveaway!

I have had some extremely unusual luck lately with online giveaways. Karma tells me that I should pass that on. I wanted to needle felt something special to giveaway, but that would take me too long right now (though it will happen in the future). So I've fallen back on a past trade.



Once upon a time I called myself a bookbinder. It was something I picked up on a whim to make a gift for someone. The binding bug struck and I couldn't stop. The walk-in closet of our teeny one-bedroom apartment was becoming overrun with handmade books. The solution came in the suggestions of friends - sell them! So I set up an Etsy shop, my own website, and hooked up with a local artist's market.



To say that my business bombed wouldn't be fair. It would be close to accurate, though. I never made enough money to justify the costs of art shows and seller's fees (not to speak of time and supplies). People wanted my work for mere pennies and I tired of hearing people exclaim "I could buy a notebook at Wal-Mart for a third of this price!" It became stress and work. It was no longer fun or rewarding. So I stopped making and selling books.

After the birth of my second child I no longer even felt bad about having abandoned bookbinding. It was fun, but it passed and I moved on. Instead I started playing with fabric - making toys for my kids, blankets for my family, bags for my husband. Creating was fun again - because I was doing it for all the right reasons.

Years later, I've had my third child and have moved on to an obsession with wool. However, I still have a closet shelf full of handmade books that I couldn't part with (the ones I could part with were gifted - mostly to the Elf for drawing purposes).



The book in this post is one of my favorites. I love the look, the heft, the sparkle of the endpapers (those are the decorative pieces on the inside covers). What better item to offer in a giveaway than one that I hold dear? So here it is! I offer this book to one randomly chosen person. I'll ship it anywhere (with a properly given address), so don't be shy. Leave a comment - any comment (just one, though, please). Tell me the weather, what I should needle felt next, your favorite time of day, just say hi! Any comment gets you entered. If you care to share this giveaway with others, feel free to post about it and leave another comment with a link - it'll get you another entry!

I'll write everyone's names down on slips of paper and have the little monsters pick one on July 25th with the winner announced on Monday the 26th. Make sure I have some way of contacting you (email left in the comments or enabled on your profile).

Have I forgotten anything? I'm having the hardest time waking up today.

New loves.

Last weekend I made my own granola. I'd been wanting to try to make my own and this post by 5 Orange Potatoes gave me the push I needed. The thing is, though, that I don't like dried fruit. No raisins, coconut, cranberries, cherries. Ick. I really don't like fruity granola.

Okay, you know what? I wrote the above on.. Saturday? Friday night, maybe? It's Monday. Have I lost my train of thought? A bit.

Let's sum up the granola, shall we? I made granola. I looked at a mess of recipes and concocted my own basic one. It was oats, peanuts, olive oil, honey, and brown sugar. It didn't turn out particularly clumpy or crispy. However, a week later I'd finished it all off and was quite happy with it - even if it was too peanuty. So yesterday I made another batch based on the above posted recipe. Only I left out all the stuff I didn't have or didn't like. The bulk of it was oats, sunflower kernels, chopped up peanuts, and wheat bran. It's clumpier, but still not exactly crispy. I think I'll add some puffed rice next time for crispiness. I haven't had any in milk yet, though I have been snacking on it.

Last week we watched the new Alice in Wonderland movie for the first time. I've watched it at least a dozen times since. I've always loved all things Alice. Did you know that Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) and I share a birthday? That has always pleased me.

This weekend I went on a baking/cooking binge. Every weekend I make meals for the week and freeze them. This time I made more "big" dishes than usual. Cincinnati chili, stuffed peppers, the aforementioned granola, some peanut/tahini sauce for pasta that B's boss recommended for the kids, hummus, peanut butter, and oatmeal peanut butter cookies. I was going to make bread but just couldn't be bothered.

I've had too many interruptions with this post. I can't focus so I think I'll just draw this one to a close and attempt a more.. coherent post later - complete with pictures and a surprise!

Mushroom House the Second

When I took my first mushroom house to my father's to show off at his birthday party, my youngest niece expressed some desire to have one of her own. And with her own birthday coming up (it's today, in fact), how could I say no?



My youngest niece is a girly girl. She loves pink and purple - all things fairy and princess. I had a mess of wool that I'd dyed when I'd first started playing around with colors. It seemed that a whorl of pinks and purples would be perfect for a girly mushroom. I'd contemplated putting pink spots on it. Do you think I should have?



I didn't have any more of the wonderful green wool yarn left, so instead of vines I added grass to the bottom of the house. It's hard to see in the pictures but there are little blue flowers sprinkled about.



It isn't perfect and I'm not 100% happy with it. Still, I think it's serviceable. My sister (her mother) said that the dolls she was likely to use with it were about four or five inches tall. I hope that the doorway isn't too large. I just wanted to make sure that her toys would be able to fit inside.



I hope she likes it. We'll find out tomorrow!

Blog Carnival: Nursing in Public with Ease

Welcome to the July 2010 Carnival of Nursing in Public


This post was written for inclusion in the Carnival of Nursing in Public hosted by Dionna and Paige at NursingFreedom.org. All week, July 5-9, we will be featuring articles and posts about nursing in public ("NIP"). See the bottom of this post for more information.


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Nursing in Public with Ease.

I nurse in public all the time. That is to say, when I manage to leave the house, I almost always nurse in public. My youngest son is two months old. Without fail, he wants to nurse whenever we're out. And I'm okay with that. I can't remember ever being self-conscious about feeding my children in public. It's a totally natural thing, so why would I?

I've nursed in parks, parking lots, the patio furniture section of Target, waiting rooms, restaurants, walking through the grocery store, at the library, in book stores, on benches outside. No one has every come outright and said anything to me about it. I've had my share of nasty looks and snide remarks spoken just loud enough to ensure that I hear them. But I've also had women smile at me as they walk by - some even stop to say hello.

It has helped to have an incredibly supportive family. My husband has always been 100% behind my decision to breastfeed. Both he and my oldest son are always willing to lend a hand while I'm nursing. My extended family is mixed on the subject, but in all honesty I don't see them outside of their homes so it doesn't come up much.

I do not use any sort of cover when I'm nursing. I've seen some nicer nursing covers, and they work for some women and their children. But they aren't for me. That's not to say that I hop up on table and make a big production out of breastfeeding. I endeavor to take other people into consideration. When around children (as in the kids' play room at the public library) I ask the parents present (in general) if they mind me nursing there as I have no problem walking five feet away to another part of the library (for the record, no one has ever said that they mind). At restaurants I sit on the inside of the booth if I'm going to nurse - not everyone wants to see my breasts while they eat and I can respect that. I wear clothes that allow me to nurse easily and somewhat discretely. I'd rather not have the entirety of my breast flapping in the wind. However, if my child is hungry, I will feed him regardless of clothing, company, or location. And I will do it with pride.

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Welcome to the Carnival of Nursing in Public


Please join us all week, July 5-9, as we celebrate and support breastfeeding mothers. And visit NursingFreedom.org any time to connect with other breastfeeding supporters, learn more about your legal right to nurse in public, and read (and contribute!) articles about breastfeeding and N.I.P.


Do you support breastfeeding in public? Grab this badge for your blog or website to show your support and encourage others to educate themselves about the benefits of breastfeeding and the rights of breastfeeding mothers and children.

<center><a href="http://www.nursingfreedom.org/p/carnival-of-nursing-in-public.html" title="Carnival of Nursing in Public"><img src="http://www.babydustdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/inip1.png" alt="Art by Erika Hastings at http://mudspice.wordpress.com/" border="0"></a></center>

This post is just one of many being featured as part of the Carnival of Nursing in Public. Please visit our other writers each day of the Carnival. Click on the links below to see each day’s posts - new articles will be posted on the following days:

July 5 - Making Breastfeeding the Norm: Creating a Culture of Breastfeeding in a Hyper-Sexualized World

July 6 – Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers: the New, the Experienced, and the Mothers of More Than One Nursing Child

July 7 – Creating a Supportive Network: Your Stories and Celebrations of N.I.P.

July 8 – Breastfeeding: International and Religious Perspectives

July 9 – Your Legal Right to Nurse in Public, and How to Respond to Anyone Who Questions It

Blog Carnival: Tandem Nursing a Baby and Toddler

Welcome to the July 2010 Carnival of Nursing in Public


This post was written for inclusion in the Carnival of Nursing in Public hosted by Dionna and Paige at NursingFreedom.org. All week, July 5-9, we will be featuring articles and posts about nursing in public ("NIP"). See the bottom of this post for more information.


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Tandem Nursing a Baby and Toddler.

My second child (the Imp) was eleven months old when I became pregnant again. Many people thought we should wean. I cannot even begin to tell you the looks of utter disbelief I received when I declared that we would continue nursing throughout my pregnancy and beyond. "You won't be able to handle it" I was told. "There's no way you can do that" complete strangers exclaimed. Even my obstetrician was concerned. I stuck to my convictions, assuring her that I'd done the research. I knew the "risks" of pre-labor and that I was competent enough to seek help if I felt it was needed. My pregnancy was not high risk, there was little reason to be concerned.

We nursed without any problems throughout the entire pregnancy. I didn't experience the soreness some mothers report. I never felt that he was asking too much of me. Instead, it was a blissful peace in our otherwise crazy days. We could slow down, cuddle, bond. I knew it would be a great comfort to him, especially when the shock of a new baby was likely to turn his world upside down.

The day my third child was born was a joyous day for me, but not so much for the Imp. He was confused, tired, cranky, maybe even feeling deserted. My husband kept the older children at home while I recovered in the hospital with my wonderful mother-in-law and my new baby. When the boys came to see me the next day, the Imp was not a happy camper. He didn't want me to hold him, he clung to his father in a way that made my heart hurt. But when I offered to sit with him and nurse him, he crawled into my lap like he had never left. He looked into my eyes and I imagined my love and reassurance passing to him through my milk. It was like a little bit of magic and I knew the temporary rift was closing fast.

In the days that followed, the Imp began to nurse more frequently. Having read about how toddlers and older babies handle tandem nursing, I wasn't surprised at all. It was a comfort to him (and to me, truth be told). He needed to know that I was still his - still accessible to him. We had some rocky moments when he didn't want to wait, when he didn't - couldn't - understand why I was nursing this tiny person instead of him. I think he truly came to accept his brother when I put them both to breast at the same time. It wasn't always easy and sometimes required a bit of juggling (or the extra hands of my spectacular husband), but I really think it helped to show him that I belonged to them both.

It's been two months now. My little one is thriving, my toddler is contented, life is good. The Imp has come to understand "in a minute" and "as soon as the baby is done " do not mean "no." He even tries to help me when I nurse his brother - bringing me blankets and pillows, petting his brother's head gently. There are still times when I nurse them both together. The Imp lays his head on the baby's legs and
smiles so contentedly. His obvious joy at nursing is enough to show me that I made the right choice.

I can't say it's always been easy. My husband and his mother have been extremely supportive, as has a friend of mine who recently had her first child. Most people still look at me askance when they find out that I'm breastfeeding both of my younger children. Some come outright and tell me that I should wean the older of the two. This experience has helped me gain confidence in myself (something I've always lacked). I don't feel that I need to defend the choices I've made, but that doesn't mean I will let the naysayers walk all over me. I hold my head proudly when I nurse my children in public, ignoring the nasty looks I may receive. I applaud (sometimes literally) other mothers that I see nursing their children when we're out. I've tried to lend my aid and support to every breastfeeding mother that might need it. I'm proud to be tandem nursing my children and take comfort in knowing that I am doing what is best for myself and for my family.

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Welcome to the Carnival of Nursing in Public


Please join us all week, July 5-9, as we celebrate and support breastfeeding mothers. And visit NursingFreedom.org any time to connect with other breastfeeding supporters, learn more about your legal right to nurse in public, and read (and contribute!) articles about breastfeeding and N.I.P.


Do you support breastfeeding in public? Grab this badge for your blog or website to show your support and encourage others to educate themselves about the benefits of breastfeeding and the rights of breastfeeding mothers and children.

<center><a href="http://www.nursingfreedom.org/p/carnival-of-nursing-in-public.html" title="Carnival of Nursing in Public"><img src="http://www.babydustdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/inip1.png" alt="Art by Erika Hastings at http://mudspice.wordpress.com/" border="0"></a></center>

This post is just one of many being featured as part of the Carnival of Nursing in Public. Please visit our other writers each day of the Carnival. Click on the links below to see each day’s posts - new articles will be posted on the following days:

July 5 - Making Breastfeeding the Norm: Creating a Culture of Breastfeeding in a Hyper-Sexualized World

July 6 – Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers: the New, the Experienced, and the Mothers of More Than One Nursing Child

July 7 – Creating a Supportive Network: Your Stories and Celebrations of N.I.P.

July 8 – Breastfeeding: International and Religious Perspectives

July 9 – Your Legal Right to Nurse in Public, and How to Respond to Anyone Who Questions It

I'm partcipating in a blog carnival this week. It's about nursing in public and is being organized by Code Name: Mama and Baby Dust Diaries. I have two posts that have been assigned days, so I'm trying out this whole "scheduling posts" thing.

Basically, this is a test to see if my post shows up immediately or tomorrow.

In needle felting news, I'm working on a mushroom house or my younger niece's birthday next weekend. It's slow going and I need to dye some more greens and purples.

Food. Why is it such a problem in our house?

We are a family of five - though I only need to account for four of us at the moment. We don't eat red meat - in fact, the only meat we eat is poultry. The problem is that there isn't a whole lot that we like or that we can get the kids to eat. Pasta, rice, bread - not a problem. Vegetables? Fruits? Those are harder. Tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, corn, onion, zucchini, yellow squash - okay, no problem. Apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, pineapple, watermelon. But not everyone eats all of these things. The Elf loves fruit, not so much with the vegetables. The Imp.. he has a whole mess of issues with eating at all. Mostly, the Imp will eat meat. And cereal. And popsicles. Oy.

We want to eat healthier. We want to *be* healthier. We also want our toddler to realize that there is food beyond breast milk. I just have no idea how to do that. Food shouldn't be such a problem, should it?

We've cut back (massively) on prepackaged/processed foods. I make our taco seasoning and chili seasonings. I want to try baking sandwich bread so that we can stop buying the mass-produced stuff. I don't think I can ever give up my Eggo waffles, though. Maybe when the kids are older and I have more time in the mornings I'll be able to make my own. It's just not realistic right now (and I loooove my Eggo waffles). I'm going to make my own granola this weekend. But we're unlikely to give up boxed cereal, either.

Right. Am I missing the point? Did I have a point? The Imp is scaling window sills and carrying around a step stool - it's a little distracting, I must admit.

Blergh. I cannot, for the life of me, manage to make a sheep that looks decent. For now, I give up. Perhaps in time I'll try again.



I tried to base it on a kit I found on Etsy (big surprise there, right?) but it appears that I'm just destined to fail. The face is too small, the ears are crooked, the tail is pathetic, the body uneven and not round enough. Oh well.



At least I got to use some of the brown wool that I'd purchased for my tree stump. It's luxuriously soft - much softer than I expected. And the Imp seems to like the sheep, even if it does look.. well.. sort of like a dog, really.



Not sure what I'll move on to next. I need to try and make a monkey, I know. And I ought to work on that tree stump. Oh. And my younger niece wants a mushroom house for her birthday (in a couple weeks! eek!). Not to mention the really great book I'm reading (that will actually get reviewed, too!). I also want to try wet felting with the Elf some time. There's a great tutorial here that I want to try out as soon as we acquire some bubble wrap. So many things to do!

Needle felting - Part three

The Beast let me put him down! My hands are free! Though I really ought to wake the Imp. He's just so adorable snuggled on the couch. Due to the unusual quiet, I thought I'd try to wrap up my recently-made-needle-felt-creations posts.

A friend of mine expressed an interest in having a needle felted sheep (she also mentioned a monkey, but I haven't gotten there yet). How could I resist trying?



You can say it (she did) - it looks like an exceptionally fluffy polar bear. Well, it does. And that's what comes from using the same techniques and base ideas for two very different animals. You live, you learn, right?



I have another sheep in the works. My hopes are high that it will look.. well.. like a sheep! In the meantime, the Beast was in need of a mobile. When the Imp was a baby I rigged a mobile out of scraps of paper (colored with contrasting patterns), an old record case/envelope/thing, and some string. It was sad. But he loved it. I couldn't bring myself to be so sloppy this time.

Based on (you guessed it) a mobile I found on Etsy, I decided to make little felt squares with needle felted contrasting patterns. The Elf helped me sew them up before I stuffed them. I'd wanted a better way to connect them to the ceiling, but with the urging of my husband to *just finish it so he can enjoy it!* I rigged it all up to a piece of cardboard with hemp cord. Needless to say, the Beast loves it. He'll lay and coo and giggle at it. This, of course, makes it all worth it.



Thus concludes the backlog of things I've needle felted. Whee!

Needle felting - Part two

I was able to attend a breastfeeding support group meeting this morning. Having the opportunity to discuss some of my tandem/toddler nursing issues and concerns with a lactation consultant (and a group of fairly like-minded women) was.. refreshing. Calming. I feel better able to approach life in general today. So I thought I'd attempt this post while the younger kids are napping. Of course, since typing that the youngest has decided to sleep nowhere but in my arms - which makes typing... special.

After completing the mushroom house I decided to try making a hollow tree stump similar to a sewn one I'd seen on Etsy. By the time I'd gotten the core done, I'd discovered that dying roving brown was harder than I thought it would be. Using things I had on hand I managed really great red-oranges, tan, beige, purple - but no deep browns. So I eventually gave in and bought some from an Etsy seller. This was at least one month ago. I have yet to actually open the bag of wool, let alone complete the tree stump.

One of many things that distracted me from the tree stump was the realization that I needed to make a birthday gift for my father. I don't know how it started, but the man loves polar bears. With that in mind I set out to make him one.



My husband lent his critical eye to help me round it out some. As my first animal sculpture, I think it turned out rather well. Which is more than I can say for my second animal attempt (to be seen in a forthcoming post).

Needle felting - Part one

I've been meaning to post for a while now. It's taken me this long to bother tackling adding photographs here. This is what happens when you've gotten used to one journalling platform, I suppose.

In the recent past I fell in love with needle felting. It was a fluke, really. A lark. But it grabbed me and hasn't let go.

At first I just made dryer balls. I had wanted to buy some through Etsy but couldn't justify the cost. As it is, I hardly ever remember to use the ones I've made. Mostly the Imp plays with them - or the cats do when they're left out unattended. Oops.

For Earth Day I took one of the dryer balls and added blue and green to it to make an Earth ball for the kids to play with. I also made a little green car with wooden wheels (and had plans to knit a road despite my lack of knitting skills).

Eventually I came across a neat video tutorial for a toadstool house. Being an avid mushroom lover, how could I resist? I can't recall how long it took me to completely make the house. With small children it's a wonder it was finished at all. I used roving that I'd dyed myself and a bit of yarn that had come as part of a swap from the amazing Suzanne.

Here are some photos of it. I've learned some things since making this and have thought about going back and touching it up some. The thing is, I've never seen (in person) nor held anything needle felted, so I've no idea if I'm doing things the "correct" way. In any case, I enjoy it. When I get the opportunity to work on these projects I find a bit of peace.

I'm doing it again. I'm losing steam with this whole review thing. And yes, having a newborn (not to speak of the other two monsters) will do that to a person. Mostly I'm just reading for brainless fun. I don't want to have to think, let alone form coherent sentences describing why I do or do not like what I'm reading.

So this blog will be veering. Temporarily? Permanently? Who knows. Life is all about change, right?

Right now my main focus in life is my kids. They're very time consuming. In the midst of all the family craziness, I'm trying to simplify my life. Which is a little laughable since I seem to keep adding things to it (children, crafts, hobbies). But in my own way, I'm working on it. Less junk, less waste, less spending. At the same time, I'm working on more. More patience, more fun, more mindfulness. Clearing out the clutter (mentally and physically) to let in the air. I think it's time, don't you?

Last week I was unofficially diagnosed with migraines (and there's apparently nothing to be done about it while I'm nursing). For the most part, I get some visual hallucinations that last twenty to thirty minutes (this is apparently called a migraine aura) and a slight increase in the headache that I've had for two weeks now. Sometimes, though, I get the awful stereotypical migraine headache pain. This makes for shoddy mothering skills, to speak nothing of my inability to care enough to review books.

I'm fighting a lot of doubt in my ability to be a decent mother, an adequate homeschooler, a reasonable wife. The constant pain clearly isn't helping.

Strangely (or not so much), I have still been managing to read. It helps that I've packed my ebook reader (Cybook Gen 3) with "quick reads" that aren't terribly thought-intensive. I've enjoyed all the books that I've read so far, but I can't bring myself to care enough to actually review them. Suffice it to say, these are good books and you should read them if you get the chance:

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
Changes by Jim Butcher
Lover Mine by J. R. Ward
Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier

Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth

I was lucky enough to receive this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. The premise for the book is that Nathaniel Cade is a vampire in the employ of the President of the United States. He's bound to stop the forces of the Other Side.

This isn't a new concept. Think Hellboy crossed with general political thrillers. With a little Heroes thrown in, maybe. But it was still original enough to be intriguing. I didn't expect much from the story and was pleasantly surprised to find that I had a hard time putting it down. I'm fairly certain that I was supposed to become more endeared to Zach as the book progressed. Truth be told, even at the end I still felt that he was a sad replacement for Griff. Cade, on the other hand, was awesome. How could you not like a vampire who has a conscience, but also freely admits to being evil?

I look forward to future novels featuring Nathaniel Cade. The paranormal aspects of this book made the political thriller side of it less dull and predictable. I'd like to say that I have someone in mind to pass this book on to. But most people I know who like politcal thrillers aren't really big on the whole paranormal thing. There's an audience out there for this book, no doubt. I just don't know them personally.

And then there were five.

Well, the Beast was born a week ago Thursday. I'm finding that reading has taken a back seat to life for now. Reviews will resume as I find the time.

I'm still working my way through the fourth (third for me) Indiana Jones book, but it never seems to be conveniently located. My ebook reader is soon to be filled with fast and fun books to read while nursing the monsters - provided I can manage to have my reading glasses handy.

Indiana Jones and the Seven Veils by Rob MacGregor

I first heard about this book when reading The Lost City of Z. It was what inspired me to search this title out. Had it not been for my oldest son, I would have bought this one from the garage sale and left the rest. Boy am I glad I didn't. This particular Indy book was so very disappointing.

Indy and Deirdre set off to the Amazon to find Colonel P.H. Fawcett and perhaps prove that the ancient Druids established a tribe in South America. Sounds good, right? It could have been. It really could have. One of the great things about the Indiana Jones movies was that an element of mysticism was always present - but not over done. That is, until they brought the aliens into it. But you don't want me to go there.

In this book they took the fantastical and blew it so far out of proportion that my disbelief could not be suspended any more. Fawcett was also less than realistic. Perhaps if I hadn't recently read a book about him it wouldn't have bothered me so much. He just wasn't true to type. In some instances he was convincing. In others, he was this completely different person.

Here's hoping the next book is better.

Indiana Jones and the Dance of the Giants by Rob MacGregor

My seven-year-old and I found this (and all the other Indy books I own) at a garage sale. We're both big fans of the movies and thought it would be fun to read the prequels, too.

This book was everything I thought it would be. I was looking for a quick read with some action and very little need for active thought on my part. It delivered on all these fronts. I suspect that none of these books will live up to the movies, but it's unrealistic to expect them to.

Indiana Jones has his first teaching job at the University of London. There he falls for his boss's daughter, accompanies his boss (and her daughter) on a dig, is repeatedly attacked, captured by crazy druids, and (of course) saves the day. Oh. And he gets the girl - for the most part.

It was fun. It was quick. It wasn't too much for my very pregnant brain to deal with. In those regards, it was perfect. I have some issues with the way Indy is portrayed. But he is supposed to be younger in the books - so it's probably me with the problem, not the writing.

The Sand Dragon by Michael F. Stewart

This newest novel by Michael Stewart brings a fresh, new (to me, at any rate) angle to the popular dragons and vampires. An uncovered skeleton, presumed to be a dinosaur, sparks a series of traumatic events in a small town. Madness, disease, and terror run rampant as townsfolk are "infected" by an unknown malady. A small group of people remain to save the day, and perhaps the world.

I found the beginning of this book a little jumpy. I often felt like I was missing paragraphs here and there, if not whole pages. Scenes would spontaneously switch and I'd spend a few minutes backtracking, trying to figure it out. At first, I also found the mining lingo confusing - having no prior knowledge of it at all. But that was easily overcome as the story picked up. The characters were real and believable - a rarity in horror novels for me. Kim seems to be the main character throughout the book and I really started to feel attached to her. Jaime was another favorite. His trasformation - both literally and figuratively - was amazing to witness. His fiance, Alice, irked me in many ways but I rather think she was supposed to.

The mythos and legends in this book were lots of fun. They reminded me of the brilliant blending of belief systems in Stewart's previous book 24 Bones. I've read a lot of vampire novels, and this one was definitely unique. The concept of their creation and purpose as well as their evolution was just amazing. The dragons, as well, were taken portayed in a way I've never encountered before.

If you're looking for a new take on some old favorites, I highly recommend this book. It's quick to read, action packed, and ever-so-slightly spooky. I think I'll be haunted by thoughts of the power generator at Kim's mother's house for many days to come.

The Fall of The Kings by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman

Having read the other two books set in this world, I simply couldn't resist this one. Of course, I did somehow manage to put off reading it for a couple years. That's what happens when your "to be read shelf" becomes a "to be read bookcase" instead.

I cannot summarize this story for you. It's simply too complicated. Suffice it to say that it is a story about magic, love, madness, treason, and family. The characters are amazing - as expected. The plot was thrilling and kept me interested even when I wasn't reading. It had such amazing potential. And then, the ending came. It was so disappointing. It felt like the authors got bored and just ended the book as quickly as they could. Essentially, someone swooped in and saved the day. It was just.. so disappointing.

Even with that complaint, I'd still recommend the book to anyone who ejoyed the others.

And I realize this review is less than stellar. But as hugely pregnant as I am (and with my two little monsters at home, to boot), it's the best I could do.

Sabriel by Garth Nix

I've been having trouble writing a review for this book. No fault of the book - just outside influences. Life is busy this Spring.

I bought this book from a used book store at least a year ago. It was sitting on my to-be-read shelf looking sad. So I decided on a whim to pick it up and give it a shot. I assumed it was young adult because of a vague recollection. So bonus, I could screen the book for my seven-year-old (who reads above his level and loves fantasy). Verdict: I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it so much that I squealed with delight when I found the second book of the series at a used book store yesterday. As for my seven-year-old, I think he'd like it. But I'm going to put it off for a little while. It has a bit of romance that I don't think he'd care for (not to mention the ginormous list of books he wants to read already).

The premise: Sabriel is the daughter of the Abhorsen - a necromancer from the old kingdom. Unlike most necromancers, the Abhorsen does not raise the dead, but rather ensures that the Dead do not return to Life. Sabriel is raised on the other side of the Wall away from the Old Kingdom and must venture back to save her father and, well, the world.

I particularly enjoyed the way Nix described the descent into Death. The river, the gates, the frost - it was very well done. The characters are thought out and well developed (which I find rare in YA books). I enjoyed the characters so much that I was disappointed to find that the sequel takes place a full fourteen years later! My only bone to pick was the ending. It was too abrupt. I felt that a lot of things that could/should have been wrapped up (or at least embellished) were left to hang. That's probably a personal preference, though.

All in all, Woo! This book was fun. I'd recommend it to just about anyone.

Midnight Fires: A Mystery With Mary Wollstonecraft by Nancy Means Wright

I received this book as a part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

Mary Wollstonecraft has accepted the position as governess to the King family in Ireland. In a house full of crazy children and neglectful parents, she is charged with the education of the three oldest girls. Along the way she becomes friendly with some of the Irish tenants living nearby. This leads to murder, mystery, and intrigue - all of which she is determined to unravel.

I don't know why I request, borrow, and read mystery novels. I don't particularly like them. However, this one was rather good. While it is, technically, a murder-mystery style novel, it wasn't as formulaic as others that I've read. Mary was an amazingly written character who brought back memories of a paper I'd written about her long ago in high school. Margaret, the oldest of the King girls was also very well formed. A lot of the "extras" were easy to lose along the way, though. Lord and Lady K were so ridiculous that I had a hard time believing in them. Lady K is portrayed as fairly mentally unstable - one minute thinking herself progressive and educated and the next minute acting the simpering, flirting, airhead. I was never sure if she was not a bit insane.

While there isn't a great deal of suspense, I did find myself wanting to read more whenever I had to set the book down. I was also reminded frequently of Bronte's Jane Eyre though that is likely because I'd read it recently and that it was also centered around a governess.

The book was very enjoyable and I would not hesitate in the slightest to recommend it to others. I gather there will be another novel focusing on Mary's exploits in London and I suspect I will, at the very least, borrow it from the library.

The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte

I have, for the most part, enjoyed every book I've read thus far by Arturo Perez-Reverte. That being said, I'm not sure I liked this one very much. I guess that I should have looked at it more carefully instead of buying it because of the author. This book is a mystery novel. I'm not a fan of classic mystery novels. The story leading up to the big confessions. Clues doled out and then the long monologue by the detective or guilty party. It's just not my thing.

Here's the premise: Julia restores artwork. She's working on a painting called The Game of Chess. There is a mystery about the people in the painting which transforms into a modern-day murder-mystery involving people she knows. Aided by her adopted father-figure Cesar and a chess player Munoz, Julia works to puzzle things out.

I liked the chess and the style of writing. Munoz was an interesting character, though I always felt that he could have been developed a little more. The chess game governing the direction of the mystery reminded me a little of Katherine Neville's books The Eight and it's sequel The Fire.

If you like mystery novels and can wrap your brain around chess moves, you'll love this book. It's a fairly quick read and definitely keeps you guessing.

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig

This book is the sixth in the Pink Carnation series. I know I've said this before but.. I love this series. It's my guilty pleasure. I look forward to each and every one of these books and think longingly of sitting down with them all over again (preferably with a nice cup of coffee on a brisk, sunny day).

In this book Penelope (Lady Staines) is taken off to India with her new husband Freddy (Lord Frederick Staines). All is not marital bliss between the couple. They are escorted to Hyderabad by Captain Alex Reid and are later joined by Freddy's old acquaintances from England. Romance, intrigue, and unexpected serpents ensue. Meanwhile, in present day, Eloise is determined to find Colin's sister a new boyfriend while uncovering new and interesting facts about their crazy family.

I never do these books justice. The Regency story was awesome. It was everything I expected and more. Penelope was such a great character. She has weaknesses and flaws, but is amazing and strong and sarcastic. Alex complimented her temper perfectly. Descriptions were vivid, too. Here I was, reading in my bedroom (the coldest room in the house) in February and I actually felt the heat of India and the sting of mosquito bites. The modern side of the story wasn't as involved this time around - it was definitely background music.

Would I recommend this to others? Duh! Of course I would. In a heartbeat, if not sooner. My only complaint is that I have to wait until October for the next book!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I had half of a review written. It was eloquent and everything. And then *POOF!* it was gone. This version is likely to be less than stellar.

Jane Eyre is an orphan. She is raised in a family devoid of love before being sent to a charitable school. There she spends eight years - two as a teacher. Upon leaving the school she becomes a governess for a private residence. And there the "real" story begins.

I don't know what it is about these books written by women in the 1800s. I find it very difficult to review and summarize them. The stories are twisting and convoluted. But at the same time they are linear and terribly predictable. Is it me? Is it them? Once upon a time in high school I wrote a many-paged paper extrapolating that Wuthering Heights and The Great Gatsby were essentially parallels of each other. Was I more fluent then? Or was it only so much crap written for a grade?

I enjoyed this book. Jane was fairly fascinating, though at times I wanted to smack her for her weaknesses. The way she would just give in or instinctively follow orders set my teeth on edge. Her temper and quick tongue did help to make up for it, though. Mr Rochester was a veritable Heathcliff to me (is it unfair to compare the characters of one sister to that of another?) - his moods and tempers were erratic at best. I often wondered if *he* were not the lunatic of the house.

Speaking of lunatics. Is in the Bronte sisters in particular or the time period in general that leads morbidity to be mixed with romance so freely? It is jarring and natural all at the same time and certainly adds... something.. to the work itself.

I'm glad I read this book. I almost passed it by yet again and left it collecting dust on my to-be-read shelf. I'd say that I'd recommend it to people, but I seem to be the last person on the planet (of a certain age) to have read it!

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

The Lost City of Z is incredibly popular right now. I think it just came out in paperback. I remember hearing about this book and having a passing interest in it. And then I saw the National Geographic articles about the new satellite images that show roads and geometric patterns in the Amazon. I've always been interested in ancient cultures and have even visited Mayan ruins. I will admit to always having had a romantic Indiana Jones-esque daydreaming tendency.

The author, David Grann, learns of the famous lost explorer "Colonel" Percy Fawcett and is completely intrigued. Throughout the course of the book, Grann extrapolates the life and adventures of Fawcett using previously unreleased documentation from his descendants. Fawcett is an astounding character - arrogant and sure, determined, innovative. The story of his life and how he came to be an explorer was fascinating. It almost read like fiction - which makes it all the more amazing, because it's all true! Grann brings to life a man that few ever realized existed. In addition to research, Grann also undertakes his own trek into the Amazon to discover the fate of Fawcett and his party. His experiences are amazing to consider an average person embarking on. The conclusions that he comes to are those of an extremely educated and logical mind.

Overall, this book was fantastic. The history mixed with adventure is sure to excite even the most jaded readers. Grann did a remarkable job of showing the cultural and environmental importance of the Amazon while not straying from his main topic. I didn't think this book would grip me the way that it did, but honestly I found myself unable to put it down. It is definitely something I'd recommend to others.

Guest post: The Elf reviews Vampirates.

The Elf's (my seven-year-old home-schooled son) first book review. Dictated by him, translated by me (for coherency and grammar).

Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper

After the death of their father, Grace and Connor Tempest steal their father's ship. During a big storm the twins get separated. Two different pirate ships rescue each of the children. Connor ends up with pirates while Grace is taken aboard the Vampirate ship. Each is striving to find the other.

I really enjoyed the fighting scenes with Connor and the pirates. My favorite character was the Vampirate captain. I particularly liked the description of his mask and cape. Overall, I think that the book was excellently paced and would definitely recommend the book to others. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Kitty's House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn

I've always found it difficult to review books when they're fairly far along in a series. With each installment, my reviews seem to get shorter and simpler. Oh well.

This is the seventh book in the Kitty Norville series. The premise is that Kitty is joining a cast of supernatural celebrities (plus a skeptic) at a remote hunting lodge to film a reality show. Things, as usual, go from bad to worse to happy-ish ending.

I found Kitty's "I'm a talk show host, so I'll act like I'm forever on air" attitude at the lodge kind of annoying and a little forced. Gradually, though, it wears off and she acts more like a person and less like a cliche. I especially loved the way she sort of channeled Cormac during the crisis. Cormac has always been my favorite support character in these books. It was nice to have him back, even in that limited capacity.

The suspense was amazing. I actually caught myself daydreaming all of these horrible "there are people outside of my house waiting to ambush and kill me" thoughts. I admit that part of that is due to my overactive imagination (especially while pregnant - like I needed the encouragement to be paranoid!). The end of the crisis - the big save - was way too convenient for me. I won't ruin it by telling you why I think this, suffice it to say that it just seemed phony to me.

All in all, if you've read the first six books of the series, you're going to read this one too. You know you will. And odds are, you'll enjoy it - otherwise you wouldn't have read all the previous books, right?

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

I've always loved the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, so when I found this retelling I was excited. It is shelved in my local library as Young Adult, and I couldn't agree more with that designation.

The story itself is interestingly set in Persia. I found the religious references and the folk lore fun to read. The majority of the story is set in both Persia and India. These were my favorite parts. I was hoping the Beauty part of the story would vary more than it did. But again, we had to travel to France and meet an oh-so-sweet girl who is destined to free the Beast from his curse.

I was honestly disappointed with the lack of originality in the end. This did not stop me from enjoying the book for what it was - a retelling of a classic aimed at a younger audience than myself. I will definitely be recommending it to my niece and my own children when they're a bit older.

The First Crusade: A New History by Thomas Asbridge

I have to admit that this book took me a while to get through. My fascination with the Crusades is deep, but not boundless. The section of the book explaining probable causes of the crusade, the politics, the preparations, etc. was very dry to me. Asbridge expounds upon the history of history - which I give you has merit. Each detail he gives adds a dimension to the overall picture and it is all relevant. I just found it a bit hard to get through. After that, though.. wow! Just wow! The descriptions are amazing, the facts fascinating, the pace quick. I love that he admits where only speculation is possible rather than trying to pass it all as fact. The moment the crusading armies set out I found it hard to put the book down.

If you like history, amazingly balanced history, then this book is for you. I even managed to get my homeschooled seven-year-old interested in the Crusades with this book!

Logan And The Magic Fish by Otto Scamfer

My seven year old son read this one evening. He really enjoyed it - said that it was a quick and fun book. He didn't particularly care for the pictures as he prefers drawn or painted illustrations. Personally, I thought that the layered felt look was spectacular.

The Dragon at the Edge of the World by Charles White

This is the story of three Vikings, one conniving opportunist, a handful of Native American tribes, a group of Asian pirates and the crazy adventures and conflicts in which they participate.

I really enjoyed this book. The story twisted in so many ways that I never really knew what to expect. I was never bored and the pace was excellent. There were a few spots where things seemed to change/happen abruptly - such as someone who had previously been elsewhere suddenly entering a conversation. I found it a little jarring, but it did not detract from the story at all.

As stated by the author in the Members Giveaway description of this book, it was written in a humorous manner. I saw the humor. I can understand why and how it would be funny. I just didn't find it so. I think this was more a problem with me and not the book - I read and enjoy Pratchett's Discworld books and yet I don't find them all that funny, either.

Overall, this was an excellent book and I'd earnestly recommend it to people with a better sense of humor than myself.

Flight of the Hawk by G. R. Grove

This is the second book in the Storyteller series. While I enjoyed the first book, Storyteller, this book really blew me away. Was it because the characters were already familiar? I don't know, but when I started reading this novel, it felt like coming home.

I found the characters to be real enough to touch and the emotions charged and believable. I do not often get emotional with books - but this one got me. Sadness, anger, joy. This book is truly alive. The pace is active enough to keep the reader interested, but not so speedy that you can't put the book down for an hour or even a day when the need arises.

I agree that this book seems much more plot-driven than it's predecessor. The characters have a purpose - a beginning and ending point, though the story clearly could go on for many more books. I felt that Neirin's task set by Taliesin wasn't wholly completed, though that could have been because I was more interested in the personal aspects of the story rather than the political.

This was a great book and I look forward to reading more by G. R. Grove in the future

24 Bones by Michael Stewart

I snagged this book through LibraryThing's Member Giveaway program. And let me tell you, I'm thrilled that I did. This book was amazing. I'm not going to summarize it for you - others have done that. I'm just going to tell you how much I loved it.

When I first began reading this book, I had a rough time reconciling an ancient "mystery" cult with modern times. As I read, however, the whole thing was more than believable - it was compelling. From the very first page things happen. The action is constant and gripping, without being over-the-top.

The history mixed with mythology mixed with religion might be too much for some. I can imagine someone who isn't crazy about Egyptian mythology feeling mired. Personally, I ate it up. Hungrily. I've read that some people did not feel that the characters were fleshed out enough. I did not find this to be the case. Sure, I didn't know their favorite foods or colors or who they had a crush on as a child. But I felt that they could be real-live people. Which made all the twists and turns in this book so much fun. You may think you have someone figured out, but just you wait!

Nothing I say about this novel will do it justice. This is one of the great keepers for my shelves.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

There is no way to tell you what this book is about. It simply encompasses too many things. Simply put, it is a story about life and love in Scotland around the 1740's. Claire is from 1945, but finds herself transported back in time. Armed with her knowledge of the future and the new life that has built itself up around her, we follow her on her journey. And yet, it's about so much more than that.

The blurb describing this book for the LibraryThing Member's Giveaway certainly did not do this book justice - in fact, I almost didn't request it. To say that it's about time travel is to say that the original Star Wars trilogy is about a farm boy. Sure, it's there, but it doesn't begin to cover the vastness of it all.

Before I even finished this book I purchased two more books in the series. That's how much I enjoyed it. For a book well over 700 pages, there wasn't a dull one in the bunch. This was one of the most enjoyable historical fiction novels I've read in a while.

Mugworts in May by Linda Ours Rago

I heard about this book through a blog that I read. I can't recall which one now (I read so many amazing nature-oriented blogs). I had to get this through Interlibrary Loan because our library didn't have it. I guess it's out of print now, which is unfortunate, because I'd really like to own it!

This little book is pack with great tidbits of history and lore. It is exactly the sort of book that I'd been searching for. Not only is it enthralling to read, but the pictures are amazing as well. They all appear to be block printings. I thought that they really helped to make this book stand out. In addition, the books itself is printed on lush, thick paper. Everything about it makes my heart sing.

If you've a soft spot for herbs, legends, lore, history, and knowledge - this book is for you.

Rromane Paramicha (A Collection of Romani Folktales) by Hedina Sijercic

I really enjoyed reading this collection of stories. I found them to be quite poignant - some of them haunting my thoughts for days on end. One of the truly remarkable things about this book is the printing of them in their native language. I liked being able to look from the original to the translation and pick out words here and there. I think this will be of great value to any one who wishes to study Romani history and dialect.

The stories are also wonderful for reading to young children. My seven year old was very interested and loved the illustrations.

I look forward to reading more works published by Magoria Books - including both dictionaries projected to be released this year.

Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance

Whee! I love Karen Chance's books. This novel delighted me by tying a couple short stories I'd read recently into the plot. Of course, it took me a little while to realize why the characters seemed so familiar.

Dory is the daughter of Mircea who is the brother of Dracula. Her roommate has gone missing and her father has asked for her assistance in recapturing her uncle. Craziness ensues. Dory is a dhampir, and thus looked at as an outcast by the vampires. She gets tangled up with just about everyone from the supernatural community that you can think up.

I really had fun reading this book. If you've read anything by Karen Chance, then at least a few of the characters will be familiar. Some of the action scenes were more drawn out than I'd have liked, but that could have been more that I was anxious to find out what would happen in the end. Chance's descriptions are vivid and really stick with you. My husband was surprised to hear that there weren't any real sex scenes until very late in the book. He classifies all my fantasy as "vampire porn" these days - and he's often not far off. Midnight's Daughter, however, cannot be termed thusly. Sure there's sexual tension and the occasional tease, but there's *real* story in there, too.

If you like reading about vampires, fey, and other craziness, definitely check this book out (along with the Cassie Palmer series).

Storyteller by G R Grove

I was given a digital copy of this book through LibraryThing's Member Giveaway program.

This story follows Gwernin, a young man who seeks to become a bard. At first he is traveling with a companion named Ieuan. Each chapter is a new adventure on their way. I couldn't bring myself to like Ieuan. I found him to be a complete idiot and none of his pitfalls surprised me in the least. Gwernin took a while to grow on me. I think that as the story progresses, he matures greatly - even if it is only the matter of one year.

While I did not find the story compelling enough to keep me glued to the pages, I did enjoy it. Once I got past the literary devise of "...that, O my children, is a story for another time.." being at the end of every chapter, I found myself thoroughly interested in the outcome. I cannot speak for the print version of this book and, indeed, I cannot site exact examples, but there did seem to be some spelling errors in the text. I realize that this is not a reflection of the story at all. But I personally find it jarring to come across typos. It is difficult to remain immersed in a story when you are jolted back to your own reality by stumbling over words.

All in all, this was a great book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well. If you're fond of tales regarding Wales near the time of King Arthur, you might enjoy this book as well.

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Let's see. The Weres have "come out" to the world, leaving everyone confused. In Bon Temps a grisly murder is discovered at Merlotte's and Sookie is caught up in the middle of it. And to top it all off, the Fae have decided to pop out of the woodwork and wreak havoc. It's never a dull moment for Sookie Stackhouse.

When I started reading this book I realized that I didn't remember the previous book very clearly. This is, of course, because it's the only one I hadn't read multiple times. So there were some blank spots in my memory that had to be worked around. I, of course, enjoyed the book. How could I not? I'm admittedly a little flustered with the "formula" that seems to be developing in this series - Sookie is in mortal danger! Sookie has relationship problems! Bill still pines for Sookie! But I'm hoping that some of the developments in this story curb a few things in the next book.

I can't say this enough: the books are so much better than the television show. Duh! The hardcover comes with a "Don't miss the next season of TrueBlood" blah blah on the cover. The television show is amusing, yes. But so many things about it make me want to hurl things at the screen. If you haven't read these books, read them. They're yummy.

Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson

Betsy is returning the body of her friend Antonia to her pack. She and Sinclair are unsure of the welcome they will receive. Meanwhile, Marc is left at the mansion with Tina and Laura. Satanists have started following Laura around, begging to do her bidding. Marc suggests a crazy plan and the Devil's daughter begins to slide into darkness.

Is it just me or are these books getting shorter with each new addition? I read this in a few hours. What's up with that? It's unnatural to begin and finish a book whilt the Imp is napping. Anyway, the book was enjoyable enough. I seem to be drawn into the story despite how much I dislike them. The tone of the writing is too casual and irks me to no end. The characters are annoying and usually vapid. The plot is rinse-repeat to an extent. And yet, I read each new book as it comes out.

If you're looking for an extremely quick vampy read, this series is for you - just prepare yourself for some eye rolling, especially when it comes to the very cliched Betsy.

The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

I requested this book from my library because I knew it had a short story by Keri Arthur from the RIley Jenson series. Previously I had read The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance and I have to say that this one was more bearable. First, they should have named it "erotica" not "romance" - it's almost all what I term "porn on paper." A few of the stories made the whole book worth it, though (unlike the paranormal romance book). The stories by Karen Chance, Vicki Pettersson, Keri Arthur (though this one was mostly "porn on paper" as well), the first story by Lilith Saintcrow, Caitlin Kiernan were the most enjoyable.

Short "romance" stories just aren't my thing, I guess. It's all formula to an extent and it gets very old very quickly. Still, it wasn't the worst thing I've ever read.

The Medusa Project: The Set-up by Sophie McKenzie

This was given to me by the lovely Ally at Simon and Schuster UK.

Nico is a student at his step-father's boarding school. While he was still in his mother's womb, he was injected with a virus thought to "unlock" psychic talents at the onset of puberty. He and three other children were given this treatment. Now they are all coming of age and their powers are manifesting. Nico is facing conflicting information concerning the use of his powers and ends up getting himself into trouble.

I had to keep reminding myself that this was a young adult novel - maybe I'm finally getting old. The story wasn't bad, though I had to let go of some preconceived expectations. I was anticipating a combination of the television shows Dark Angel and Heroes with a hearty bit of teenage shannanigans. It didn't quite work out that way. I expect that the following books will be more enjoyable since the background has now been laid. Being American, some of the British slang threw me at times, but I think I got the gist of it. I think this would be a great book for pre/early teens.

The Sign by Raymond Khoury

Wow. Okay. This was not the book I was expecting. I've read Khoury's other two novels and really enjoyed them. I expected this to be more of the same. It wasn't. There was no history-mystery in this book. It was a politcal thriller, I guess you could say. And I didn't find it compelling in the slightest. I was actually just happy to be done with it so that I could move on to the next book on my list. That's not to say the story was good. It was, just not.. gripping.

The story is basically this: Global warming sucks, but no one seems to care. Insert conspiracy to "brainwash" people into caring. Throw in some war-mongers and religious fanatacism mixed with a good revenge plot. And there's the book.

Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey

Moirin is the great-great-granddaughter of Alais, daughter of the former queen of Terre d'Ange. Raised as a child of the Maghuin Dhonn, Moirin is gifted with peculiar magics. When she comes of age, her journey to follow her destiny begins. This journey takes her far and wide, opening her eyes and heart along the way.

I truly enjoyed this book, though I honestly worried that I wouldn't. For a while I felt that there were too many similarities between Moirin and Phedre. And the constant (and unnecessary) name dropping was a bit over the top. In time, I accepted it and was able to simply enjoy the story.

If you enjoyed Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series, odds are that you'll enjoy this one as well. I look eagerly await the next book.

Snippets

It's summer. It's summer and life is chaotic. So my reviews have suffered. Here are some brief thoughts about the books I've read recently:

The Sunflower House By Sharon Lovejoy. This book was a gift to me from a dear woman that has always been wonderful to me and my family. I'm ashamed to admit that this was the first time I'd really looked at the book since she gave it to us many many months ago. I love to garden. It's a passion of mine. Well, this book set fire to that passion. I find myself wishing I had acres and acres of land to work with to create magnificent gardens that my children and I could roam and dream in. If you have a place in your heart for gardening or children in your life, I highly recommend this book. It is full of wonderful things to dream about.

The Knights of the Black and White by Jack Whyte. I've owned this book for a while. It's home has been my enormous "to be read" shelf and I'm very pleased that I finally took it down. The time of the Crusades fascinates me. I love reading both fiction and non-fiction from all sides of the "conflict." The places depicted are always the hardest for me to come out of when I set the book down. Damascus, Jaffa, Acre. These places are as real to me as any I visit in the flesh. I hadn't realized at the time that this book was the first of a trilogy. I look forward to reading them. This book begins with Hugh de Payens and sidetracks eventually to focus on Stephen St. Clair. It took me a while to accept that Hugh was no longer the focal point, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I was especially tickled that Hasan and the "Assassins" were mentioned. They are another of my strange fascinations.

Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey. Let me start with this: I love Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy books. Love them. Immensely. So when I realized she had written a new and different novel, I pounced. Who knew I would be disappointed? The story has real potential. The plot isn't exactly new (though it mirrors recent events a little too closely for my comfort - it was creepy), but it was executed well. I couldn't get over the feeling of "this is a Young Adult book" though. Perhaps because the main characters were kids? Maybe I'm just getting too old. The story built up, got you interested, sucked you in, and then ended in a huge convenient rush. I'd still recommend it, but not as fervently as some of her other works.

Speaking of Jacqueline Carey, I just received a copy of Naamah's Kiss from the library. I've only read about half of one page, though. Also from the library, I have The Sign by Raymond Khoury to look forward to. And then, Ally from Simon & Schuster UK sent me a copy of The Medusa Project: The Set Up by Sophie McKenzie. My reading plate is full! And company is coming, which means I'm unlikely to get much reading done. Ah, well.

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

First, I want to thank my dear friend Brianna for introducing me to this series. It has been a joy and I look forward to each new book.

Harry is still trying to expose the Black Council while surviving the myriad things that go bump in the night and seem to always be out to get him. This time Morgan is in trouble and Harry needs to bail him out.

I think this was one of the best books in this series. The characters are all so formed and real at this point. Unlike the previous book, this one is less hack-and-slash and more oh-my-god-emotions-and-relationships (with a fair amount of hack-and-slash, of course). Molly has grown into a fun character and I look forward to seeing how she fares in the future. Thomas has been one of my favorite characters since his introduction and this book was not kind to him. All "my authors" seem to be beating my favored characters with their own arms these days. Rest assured that when the next novel comes out, I'm going to immediately snatch it up and devour it whole just to learn more about Thomas.

The evolution of this series has been absolutely amazing and I sincerely look forward to finding out what Jim Butcher cooks up next.

Slaughterhouse-five by Kurt Vonnegut

This was an amazingly strange book. It's been a while since I've read anything by Vonnegut. Perhaps that's why I found the whole thing so bizarre. There were times when I felt as though I'd read it before - some passages were very familiar. But then, as they'd say on Tralfamadore: I always have read, will always read, and will always be reading Slaughterhouse-five.