Does the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook count for Brit food week? :D Finished The Transall Saga today with my kids. Sorry, but I found this book oh so boring. Very glad it's over. I'm in the middle of The Catcher in the Rye. First time reading it.

Considering you are a Wodehouse fan, I completely trust your opinion. :D

I'll have to look for the Tennant version as well. I just finished Eligible which is one of the series of modern remakes of Austen novels. It's based on P&P. I have several other books going. Most audio books with the kids because we drive a lot. Plus, I just came to the realization that I can listen to an audiobook while walking around campus instead of reading a book in a chair. Win win! I wait for my ds while he takes 2 classes on Wednesdays. Although next week I plan on taking my younger two along and bike riding in the park that is close by.

Barely hanging on with my teeth so I don't check in here as often as I'd like. This year is starting quite slow with reading. I haven't finished anything but maybe because I am reading too many things at once. I'm also working on ds's blanket in spare moments instead of reading. Maybe I will be able to post a finished book this week. I will also be joining Brit Tripping at Bertram Wooster level with the one caveat that I will attempt to avoid multiple engagements. My dh gets annoyed when I find myself in such guffaws.

Robin, thank you. Package arrived and I envision future nights of just me and Ben&Jerry and binge watching.

Hope you get hot water soon. Our well started working by the afternoon as it warmed. I'm alternating between Mort and Bloodlands; Europe between Hitler and Stalin. I read as much as I can from the gruesome, heartwrenching, depressing Bloodlands and then switch over to Mort to help get back a bit of love and hope for humanity.

I, for one, like hearing about her travels, but I would much prefer being her travel companion. :D Maybe we should plan a trip with Negin as our guide. Better safe than sorry. I know people make fun of southern states being wimpy about snow, cold, and ice, but we really aren't prepared for it. When the roads get icy we don't have the equipment to deal with it. Many people don't have heaters in their homes or cars. We don't have the proper attire. So weather below freezing temps is serious in these conditions. I don't have any water this morning because my well froze. Luckily, I had cold brew coffee in the fridge that I could just warm in the microwave. No tea this morning. Can't make tea without water. Anyway, with the highly stressful and scary driving experience I just went through recently in NC on icy/snowy roads that had not yet been salted, I'm not taking the "possible ice on roads" lightly. Shall we discuss planning a joint trip now?

Jumping in quickly. I'm having a hard time keeping up with my online things I like to do and this thread is one of them. I've only read two books so far and neither is anything to write about. Meh books. More importantly, I kept forgetting to post that this month is national hot tea month. Well, according to my calendar it is. I have been enjoying Celestial Seasonings Gingerbread Spice, Decaf Chai, and Sugar Plum Spice. I must say I try a lot of different teas and brands and I just find that Celestial Seasonings has almost never let me down. I know I am snubbed by many tea purists but I don't care. I am currently reading Mort by Pratchett. I'm so happy to all of you here who introduced me to Pratchett.

Very cool list. Thank you so much. I fear I will lose some time studying it. It won't be a waste of time though. Very interesting. Do you know the reason behind the superstition? Boy, I will be very busy with all these links!

Robin, where did you get the flowers for each month? I would love to see a new/different list. I have always been under the impression that February's flower is the violet. Each list I looked up had a few flowers different than what you posted. Wiki was fun as it listed the British version vs US version. Curious to see your list source. I don't know why but I like looking at birth flower months, birthstones, anniversary lists, meaning of flowers, and so forth. I finished bingo! Finally! I was rushing to get it done this week now that Nutcracker is over. B Prime Number: 3 Men in a Boat Flufferton: Faro's Daughter Eastern Europe: The Master and Margarita Best Seller 2001: Valhalla Rising Steampunk: A Darker Shade of Magic I Science Fiction: I, Robot Name in Title: Vanessa and Her Sister Short Stories: 1001 Arabian Nights Seaworthy: Mr. Midshipman Easy Middle Ages: Macbeth N Western: Roughing It Ancient: Ovid in Love Free Space: Love Among the Chickens Dystopian: Paper and Fire Mystery: Stories of Sherlock Holmes G Translated: Harry Potter und Die Kammer des Schreckens Outer Space: Zero-G Classic: Walden Finance: The Millionaire Next Door 1 Word Title: Farside O Picked by Friend: Born a Crime Debut Author: To Kill a Mockingbird 500+: A Short History of Nearly Everything Local Author: Oh, Florida Female Adventure: Girl Waits with Gun

I agree that sometimes one can get stuck in the why me and fall into a depression. However, I think why me can also be useful when turned into a learning or growing experience like Robin's priest stated above. This only applies when one is ready to for it though and has gone through the grieving stage. I have not read Coraline, but I'd like to. I might make that my next October spooky read.

Gaiman has a few children's books. You can do a search on amazon We have read and enjoyed The Graveyard Book, Fortunately, the Milk, Odd and the Frost Giants, and a few of the picture books. Sure, that would be great. I'll PM my address.

Glad I saw this today. Just ordered a fun book for me and a book to read to the kids that I've wanted forever.

I once read something brilliant about the 'why' question. Don't just ask why; ask how. 'How' and 'why" are important questions. 'How' is closely related to why and will lead towards answers and investigation. I don't want to live in a world where people don't try to figure things out and learn from what has happened. Using the examples of crop failure and children dying from diseases, if there weren't those who had asked why and how then we would not have made medical advances or learned about more advanced agriculture. If everyone accepted that things are just as there are because of a diety, mother nature, supreme power, universe, higher plan, etc. then we would stagnate in learning more about life and how to improve it. Yes, bad things happen. That is life. However, I'm glad we are always striving to improve quality of life as much as we can when we can. Short version: I don't agree with the don't ask why philosophy. Humans asking why is how we move forward. Meteorologists make it easy and split the seasons at the beginning of a month. Dec 1st is beginning of winter, Mar 1st is spring, Jun 1st is summer, and Sept. 1st is fall. (obviously northern hemisphere....reverse for the southern). That's how my family does seasons now cause it's easier. Well, now you've piqued my interest. It's like the forbidden fruit and I want to read it just to see what your objection is. ;) I finished The Small Bachelor last night. This might be my favorite Wodehouse now. It was hysterical.

What are their interests? My older teen loves to bake and adores Alton Brown. Each year we get him kitchen tools recommended/used by Brown. Gift certs for food are usually liked by teens. Subscription to Audible. Artwork or other bedroom decoration. My younger teen loves Lamborghinis so I bought him a copy of a vintage Lamborghini license plate to hang in his room. Do they like sports? Books? Drawing? Hiking/camping?

I am working on the last two books I need for bingo. Silly me thought I would have lots of time to read during my ds's rehearsal. I got zero reading done.

Personally, Cruise doesn't work for me in any role. I handed my teen Pratchett's Mort because he asked for a suggestion. Don't you love it when you hear your child laughing out loud while reading a book you handed over?

Hugs, Hornblower.

I believe the outer rim blocks are the bonus 18 mystery squares. Not sure if all those 18 are supposed to be in the mystery category. For example a mystery written by an author with your initials. A mystery with a size in the title and so forth. Correct? Or are the 18 mystery squares any category?

I finished Becoming Brilliant and didn't learn anything new. Not one thing. Great book for someone who has not read anything about child development and how children learn. I did find it interesting that the authors never once mentioned homeschooling as an option. 1.5 more books and I'm done with bingo.

That's very interesting. Thank you for posting that. Something all parents need to know.

Thanks, I'll check these out

Lost my post... I have never read Nancy Drew. My older boys have read The Hardy Boys and enjoyed them. I'm thinking of getting the Nancy Drew set at Costco. They might enjoy them. Maybe I would enjoy them. They also liked The Mad Scientist Club.

You could always do black or nude fishnet. :) Or get black sheer hose with the seam up the back.

I listened to the creator of Headspace today on the radio. I would like to try a meditation app. Does anyone have a free one you like? How about for kids?