Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Hi, Honey!

So, don’t be mad but I really feel like the best way to tell, you know, all the people, how good these books are involves you. And by involves you, I really mean me telling you the thing I try not to say too often to the man who is the most wonderful husband ever.

You see, I know that I was a bit girly about the love I had for the completely awesome female assassin main character when I tried to push the book on you. I can see now that perhaps that wasn’t quite the right track to take with you. I could have mentioned more of the plot, or a few of the fairly awesome male characters. Probably I should have told you that thing about the beautiful witches with their iron teeth and nails and how they just “play” with men before, you know, eating them (unless, of course, they are just out killing for fun). And how by the end of the books you won’t hate them and how I think that’s pretty indicative of some amazing writing.

But I didn’t.

I just kept telling you that you were going to love it and badgered you until you finally started reading the first one. Then, of course, I’m sure you remember how I annoyed you until you read it faster so you could get to the amazing parts. That was foolish of me. I’m sorry. But, not even, when you went to the library in another town to pick up book three because you’d be able to get your hands on it sooner did I actually say “I told you so!” like I totally could have.

So sorry, for telling, you know, all the people, about all that. But I want them to believe me (or, really, it’d be believing us now right?) about how great these books are and how they should definitely read them!

Thanks for your help!

Love you!

Would I recommend them? Yes! (And I think John might too, if he’s still speaking to me after this…)

It’s Still Coming

The last weekend in February was warm.

Fifty plus degrees warm.

And sunny.

So sunny that two of us ended up sun burnt.

The snow melted, sandals and shorts were dug out of closets (because this is Wisconsin) and we all enjoyed the hint of things to come.

And then, on the first of March (because this is Wisconsin), it snowed.

A perfect, beautiful fluffy snow.  And people howled as if spring had been stolen from them.

icicle

It’s still coming.

Can’t you feel it?

The sun beams warm the patches of floor they fall on.

Can’t you see it?

The chickens are laying more eggs.

speckled chicken egg

The forgotten tulip bulbs have sprouted in their bags.

Even the garlic can’t resist the call of spring as it sends out tiny green tendrils from it’s dark corner of the kitchen.

It’s not here yet.

It’s not time yet.

But a little snow fall can’t stop it.

snow drops

It’s still coming.

 

Mundane Monday: Rug

My mom tells people that her house is decorated in “Early Cottage” style.  This is not so secret code for “Yes, our furniture is mostly made up of unwanted pieces from the summer cottages, half of which may border on antique, but that’s merely by happenstance.”  The cottages are old.

There was a time in my life when this embarrassed me to no end.

Of course that was during those years where the fact that I had parents that interacted with other people embarrassed me to no end.

Those times are gone.

I now happily go out in public with either of my parents and have a house complete with a few “Early Cottage” touches of it’s own

rug

I love my “Early Cottage” rug and thought it would be a perfect addition to this weeks Mundane Monday even if the clouds did roll in before I caught the beam of sunlight that often falls across it.

Escape from Witchwood Hollow by Jordan Elizabeth

I sit with the sleeves of my stained, maroon sweatshirt pushed up so the holes in the cuffs don’t catch on my thumbs and interfere with my typing. My pants, though rivaling the age of my youngest daughter, must be eight years younger than their counterpart but without holes or stains to create a matched set. Nor do they have a shape or distinguishing feature of their own. Just baggy black pants that swish round my ankle as my barefoot swings under the table.

I’d be lying to you if I said this was just my blogging outfit.

That’s right, I went out into public in this fantastic get up.

Twice.

Today.

So, it’s a bit surprising to me that in thinking back on this book, so much of my memory revolves around clothes – and I liked it.

Perhaps I liked it because of those snap judgments we make on the people around us based on their clothes. Don’t worry, I’m not looking for reflections on my own appearance (though I bet you’ve got opinions now, and if shopping hater and cheapskate were on your list you’ve got me at least partially pegged). This book, littered with clothing descriptions, instantly rounds out the characters as they are introduced.

Maybe it’s that in a book that draws characters from multiple time periods, clothing differences were an important distinguisher.

Or, maybe, it’s just that I like a unique witch-y mystery, and the main character happened to like fashion.

Would I recommend it? Yes. Young adult fans, this is nicely written and it’s got just the right amount of spookiness in it for those of you who are horror wimps like me. You can trust me on this. I have way better taste in books than clothes!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Weekly Photo Challenge: Seasons

The snow melted and we lurched out of winter and landed, with a giant squelching plop, right in the mud season.

Mud season, where we have weeks of grey skies and squishy ground, cool temperatures and muddy dogs. Weeks where even the emergence of the first snow drops can only boost a mood so far.

But, I found if I stand in the green house and look at the grey skies and bare trees from just the right angle it can be a remarkably pleasant view.greenhouse flowers

Weekly Photo Challenge: Seasons

 

Out and About: Where’s the Fire?

Hello!

Thanks for visiting Behind the Willows today but we aren’t home…thanks for visiting

…we are out and about with Barb Taub!

When one of your favorite authors and bloggers asks you to write a guest post for them, first you grin really wide and goofy for a long time while saying “How cool is that?” to anyone who asks (or doesn’t). And then, of course, you tell them yes. 

Go on over, visit Barb Tuab’s site, read my post, Where’s The Fire? but don’t stop there. Stay and poke around a bit, check out her books, find a book review or two, be sure to read a few old blog posts and enjoy yourself at one of my favorite corners of the internet.

And Then There Were Six

Ancona ducks in the snowThere are risks to letting the birds free-range during the day.duck feather in the snow

Two ducks disappeared.duck feather in the snow

Nothing was left of them but a few feathers in the falling snow.duck feathers in the snow

There are risks.drake ancona in the snow

But I like to think it’s about the quality of life.Ancona ducks in the snow

Between the legions of furry, sharped-toothed animals and the freezer, many of our ducks won’t live long. But they’ll all live well.

Ancona ducks in the snow

And that makes all the difference.

For those of you who have been wondering, the ducks do fine in the winter. They always can go in and out of their house and on very cold sunny days they usually sit inside soaking up the rays coming through the windows. But, as you can see, even when it’s snowing, they’d rather be outside. 

Lousy Rotten Stinkin’ Grapes by Margie Palatini and Barry Moser

“Here’s the plan.”…

Sort of like the sly, clever, smart fox (his words, not mine) in this book, I always have a plan. I’m a planner. I change my plans. I amend my plans. I make new plans. But there is always a plan.

The fox is plotting a way  to get some grapes and it’s trickier than expected. Undaunted, the fox keeps making new plans. I like this about him. But he also causes himself all sorts of extra difficulties because he doesn’t listen to the other animals who try to help him out. Never a good thing.

I like to think I make better plans and listen to other people better than the fox does. But John has taken to adding, “voila!… Grapes!” to the ends of my more complex ideas and “No grapes.” when things don’t pan out.

It seems I have a little work to do there, but don’t worry, I have a plan…

 

Would I recommend it? It’s my current favorite book to read out loud. It’s got phrases that have worked their way into our daily vocabulary. But, I have to tell you, it has a porcupine that claims to be able to shoot it’s quills.

It hurts me to read that to my children. I have to stop and remind them, porcupines don’t shoot their quills.

Ever.

But, I love the rest of this book so much I’m willing to overlook a quill shooting porcupine, it’s that good.

 

I Got Pooped On Today

I got pooped on today, but it’s all right.

It was just a little bee.honey bee

And I was wearing John’s jacket.

honey bee

During the winter bees won’t defecate in their hive. Instead they wait for a bit of mild weather and then fly out on “cleansing flights”. Which is a very polite way of saying that if you are out walking near the hives when the snow stops and the sun peeks out for a moment you might be lucky enough to get pooped on by bees!