I add old coffee grounds every now and then but never tea bags. Maybe? I’d think a better use would be for you to put them anywhere you’d want to repel pests, I’ve read mice don’t like the aroma.

I just put Kristen Hannah’s The Women on hold at my library. I am number 1261 in line. 😮😂

If you want to watch and don’t mind waiting a bit, I’ve found films like this often show up on disc at the library.

That was one of my favorite reads last year! The movie with Cate Blanchett is pretty good but did not do justice to the ending of the book. This looks really interesting, putting it on my library request list. Another heavy topic though, I may have to add a couple of cozy mysteries (or even a bodice ripper ☺️) to my TBR pile to mix things up lol.

Did a reread of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way because a friend wants to discuss it. An old standby for creative types. I also finished a YA novel called this is where it ends by Marieke Nijkamp. It’s the story of a high school shooting as it progresses. The action takes place over 54 minutes, told from four separate perspectives. I will put this in the category of books that some people probably need to read as a wake up call. But it definitely should come with a trigger warning. I would not recommend it to one of my kids I share a lot of books with who has experienced text exchanges with school friends during active shooter lockdowns, or another of my kids who has lost students to gun violence. I’d rather hand it to some acquaintances who don’t believe in common sense gun regulation (i stop there lest I get too political 🤐). I keep saying I’m going to do light reading but keep picking up these angsty and philosophical things instead. Off to look through all the stuff I’ve saved on kindle for some fluffy bedtime reading.

Setting sprays really vary in price! One of my girls swears by one by Bobby Brown, but I buy inexpensive elf brand and it works fine for me. I think a small container is under $5. Agree. Just be sure to tell them how much color you want - more natural or a little more glam. They will use products and techniques that will help you show up better in pics.

I know who you are. Please stop.

Thanks, yes, Hans and 5 sons. It was Organic Valley, not horizons. Glad to see Colleen’s sons appear to be doing well.

Yes Colleen was the wife of the (German, I think?) dairy farmer who sold to Horizons. I forgot Julie may have also been married to a dairy farmer. Same She was the baker. I remember she baked fantastic desserts for restaurants. I don’t recall her opening her own but my memory isn’t exact.

Another thread derailed by poutine 😂

Looks like a Sheila to me. So cute. Take your vitamins and keep running shoes handy, she looks like a breed that wants to be very active. Adorable!

Ok is this the gal who was eating poutine somewhere? And the whole thread about her rabbit trailed into what the heck is poutine anyway and how could anyone like the stuff?

I imagine what she meant is that they waited until the kids were out of school before making a public statement so the kids wouldn’t be inundated by questions and comments from peers and school staff. Our kids were young when my dh got his cancer diagnosis. We waited to tell them until we had a clear picture of what he was dealing with and what a treatment plan would look like. After that we shared basic news with them. We were open to whatever questions they had and answered at levels commensurate with their ability to understand. Info was always shared with a desire to help comfort rather than give them info which led to greater worries, if that makes sense.

Wow. That was not on my radar, I definitely wasn’t thinking cancer. God bless her. What an ordeal for this family. No wonder William appears stressed, a double whammy with both his father and wife getting simultaneous diagnoses.

We also have year-round resident Canada geese here. It’s actually pretty common, many flocks do migrate, but not all.

I see a lot of Canada geese, they are cool in flight but they fly right over honking at dawn (sometimes middle of the night!) either landing or taking off in the lake behind my house. I like to sleep with my bedroom window open so I can hear owls at night, but I do t like being awakened by the geese so I can’t say I love them lol. I am fascinated by snow geese, how high they fly and in such great numbers. @sheryl I bet you’d really love to see a squadron of pelicans. They fly in much more precise formation than geese, truly amazing.

Rosie Rosie Rosie where is your like button??? <totally stealing the “go to blazes” line>

I think your sis was taken aback by the kindness in your response and had to come up with something. Not saying she’s lying, but perhaps grasping at straws to cover her behavior. She could have easily shared this info with you instead of her original bitchy “back off” message. In your shoes, I would not even reply to this. She’s likely expecting a very cowed response from you, I wouldn't give her the pleasure of that. Just leave it. And don’t do anything else unless asked.

After I read The Four Winds, I watched the Ken Burns Dust Bowl documentary. I’m convinced that’s what Hannah got some of her story ideas from.

You have to go in knowing she’s not going to let all her people get a happily ever after. I love her storytelling but yeah, I come away with a pile of used tissues and a melancholy book hangover every time I read one of hers. So good, though!

I wish I could choose what parts of my body the hair falls off of. 🥴

Just finished The Art Thief by Michael Finkel. It details the antics of the most prolific art thief in history (c1990-2005). Crisp writing, fascinating topic. Nonfiction. I also listened to the audiobook version Better Living Through Birding: Notes From a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper, read by the author. This is the guy that was birding in Central Park and got “Karen”ed by a woman with an off leash dog. This title appealed to me because I remember that event, and I am a birder. I thought it would be mostly about birding but it was about a LOT more. It is basically Cooper’s memoir as a birding enthusiast who is also a world traveling black queer Marvel comic book editor with FOO issues. It was really interesting so I didn’t mind the extra-birding parts. I always enjoy when an audiobook is read by the actual author. Hoping to get in at least two more before March ends, I am behind on my 52 books schedule.

In our area some people are having luck at grocery store pharmacies. They tend to have a smaller customer base therefore lower demand. In our case we are limited by insurance to a specific pharmacy chain and can’t go elsewhere unless paying full price (name brand 40mg Vyvanse appx $450 for a 30 day supply yikes).

Ok now stick to this! Make her ask you directly - maybe ask dh if she contacts him about stuff she wants you to do, his programmed response should be “you’ll have to ask saraha about that.” I think you were quite restrained, much nicer response than I’d have made! Really though, if you want to meet the girl, pop in and meet her. She would probably like to see your smiling face to associate it with a name she might need to call on in an emergency. Five minutes, that’s not checking up on her. Your control freak sil will just have to get over it. Otherwise, though, I would not do anything else. If your sil does actually contact you directly, you don’t have to say yes to whatever she asks. Just tell her you can’t, your schedule is full. And I’m sorry you’re having one of those pressure cooker sort of days. Hoping tomorrow will be brighter for you.

Not sure that’s actually Kate. After she looks square into the camera, she turns her head forward and down and the profile does not look right. Folks on sm are saying that’s likely a gal named Heidi something [eta Heidi Agan] and her William-look-alike friend, who often mess with the paparazzi. Who really knows, though. I’m waiting for the Easter Bunny or a palace statement, whichever comes first.