The five of us made a gratitude table a la Nerd In the Brain.
We didn’t have our Thanksgiving meal on it, but surrounded by family and fun we didn’t need to be sitting at it to be reminded of all of the great things in our lives.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Dead Dog Day by Jackie Kabler
Conversation stops as my husband stares at me and asks, “How do you know that?”
There I stand, once again flummoxed that not everybody knows whatever random nugget of information just popped into conversation.
It can only mean one thing.
I read it in a book.
While it’s true that I love a good fantasy realm, many of my favorite books are grounded in fascinating reality.
Murder mystery and romance set amongst the facets of everyday life.
Not my everyday life but someone who lives in a different area. Works a different job. Lives a different life.
A single, childless, woman living in England who works as TV news reporter?
Yup, that’ll do for different!
While I hope never to be enmeshed in a murder mystery in any way, I suspect the life and times of a TV news journalist will filter to the surface from time to time. Once again conversation will stop as my husband gives me that questioning look.
“Oh” I’ll say, “I read about that in The Dead Dog Day.”
Would I recommend it? The beginning had me hooked. The end was riveting. I felt that the action fell off a bit in the middle as we muddled through the who-done-it with the main character, but it was consistently fun to hear about shenanigans at the news station.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!
Weekly Photo Challenge: Trio
Mundane Monday: Worn Quilt
The quilt has lost it’s sharp lines and crisp colors but old quilts have their own soft beauty.
The faded colors a testament to the love the quilt has weathered.
The hole in the corner a memory of a long gone puppy.
The frayed fabric a sign that the quilt is good for beds, picnics and blanket forts.
While the edges, still bright, bring a memory of when it was crisp lined and fresh, a graduation gift made by my mother-in-law before she was my mother-in-law.
While I still have a hard time applying the label “mundane” to my things I am enjoying the Mundane Monday photo challenge. Click through the link to see more amazingly un-mundane photos!
Black and White Sunday: Sleeping Dragons
Never wake a sleeping dragon.
Or cat.
Furthermore, I am quite certain that they are close enough relatives that neither should be left out of your calculations if you happen to live near one.
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Birthday Giggles
We helped celebrate 91 years of laughter today.
Happy birthday Granny, keep on smiling!
Winter is Coming
They say winter is coming.
The area is full of winter storm warnings, dire predictions and people shivering at the mere thought of snowy weather arriving.
Napping in the autumn sun.
But not me.
I’ll welcome the true winter weather when it comes.
Unfortunately, I suspect we are heading into nothing more than the transition period. The time of cloudy days and freezing temperatures with no snow but plenty of frozen puddles and icy mud patches that precedes real winter. 
I hope I’m wrong. Maybe winter will show up for good tonight.
We’ve been spoiled by a long fall of gorgeous weather but it’s about time for a little cold. It may come with beautiful snowfalls and freezing temperatures or it may be a month of slush, but I’ve got my warm fire and a pile of books to read.
I’m ready!
Update: It’s snowing!!! It may all melt tomorrow but first snow is always magic!
Puppy Sitting
I’ve been called crazy.
Twice.
Today.
But this tiny guy is only a visitor.
Besides, how could I turn him down when he, clearly, fits in so well?
His name is Jasper and after our stellar first day of puppy sitting I suspect you’ll be seeing him again!
Scotch on the Rocks by Lizzie Lamb
“Romance novels are birthday cake and life is often peanut butter and jelly. I think everyone should have lots of delicious romance novels lying around for those times when the peanut butter of life gets stuck to the roof of your mouth.”
– Janet Evanovitch
Life had too much peanut butter in it. I needed a birthday cake of a romance novel and, thankfully, Scotch on the Rocks was on the menu.
Why a birthday cake of a romance novel?
Well… because like birthday cake, you aren’t expecting nutrition from your romance novel. You don’t expect your latest romance or slice of birthday cake to make you a better person. And you don’t actually want much of a surprise. “Surprise – your birthday cake has nuts!” Is not something anyone wants to hear.
The comfort of predictability, reliable sweetness, a touch of decadence, and a great big pile of happy… that’s what makes both a good birthday cake and romance novel.
Scotch on the Rocks was a true birthday cake of a romance novel.
The woman is beautiful, but in a girl next door way: Yellow cake.
The man is gorgeous: Chocolate frosting.
And rich: Chocolate ganache frosting.
The banter between the two is witty: Two layers!
The steamy scenes are steamy without being raunchy: Extra big slice!
He, on occasion, wears a kilt: Frosting roses!
There is a super sassy parrot: Sparkler candle!
But then, of course, there is the terrible, everything has to fall apart so they can get back together section.
I hate that part.
It’s like when your husband pretends to steal all your frosting and then gives it back right at the last second. You’re pretty sure that since he hates frosting, he’s going to give it back but it’s always a relief when it’s back on your own plate. Just in case this is the time he changes his mind.
Sure, it adds some drama to the experience but I don’t actually want drama. I just want to eat my frosting and be happy. It was a relief that, while reading this birthday cake, frosting was merely scooped off my plate with a flourish before I received a wink and it was plopped right back on top!
Would I recommend it? Well… do you like cake?
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!
New Toothbrush?
I have always struggled with remembering when it is you are supposed to get a new toothbrush. I’m sure there is a rule of thumb, I’m just unclear what it is.
Once a month?
Every six months?
When the bristles squish out?
I’m sure there are “rules” about this, but my squeamishness of all things tooth related makes me unwilling to google it. (Sort of like how someone with arachnophobia would be unwilling to google “Black Widow” no matter how much they love their Marvel universe). I suspect it doesn’t matter. In our house a toothbrush would never make it that long anyway.
Because a new toothbrush is probably warranted when they fall in the garbage.
Or when you lose it.
Or when you forget to pack one on vacation.
Or when a dog chews on it.
Or when the kids use it to scrub the sink and mirrors.
But one thing I know for certain.
When Jane explains to me that she had to use her toothbrush to push the used toilet paper off the seat into the toilet because otherwise her hand would get dirty. Then it is, for sure, time for a new toothbrush.
This has nothing to do with toothbrushes of any age. Cassie is just cuter than any toothbrush I’ve encountered.
Afterwards, when the horror had left my face, and I was done explaining why that was a bad idea as well as why she no longer had a toothbrush. I thought about the matter of fact way she used her toothbrush to do her dirty work while I was watching and wondered what else I hadn’t seen…
New toothbrushes – all around!
Behind the Willows 