Sunday, March 21, 2010

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #10

Activity 10 - Last But Not Least

Today the activity involves the following:In Oklahoma (where I live), we are experiencing ANOTHER blizzard - on the first day of Spring, no less.

I want you to find 5 books. These 5 books need to meet a certain criteria. These 5 books need to either be about or take place in a winter wonderland. In other words, snow, ice, or other winter-like weather needs to be involved.Create a post on your blog with the titles, covers, and book descriptions.
Come back here and use Mr. Linky to connect us to your post. Hopefully we'll get a wide variety of books from all you guys.

All of the information is from Amazon.com


1. The Shack by William P Young.



Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.
Against his better judgment he arrives as the shack on a wintry afternoon and walk back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.
In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain? The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book.

2. Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian



In a frozen wilderness steeped in darkness, the lines between good and evil, lover and enemy, are never black or white but drawn in Shades of Midnight.Something inhuman is stalking the frigid Alaskan wilds, leaving unspeakable carnage in its wake. For bush pilot Alexandra Maguire, the killings stir memories of a horrific event she witnessed as a child and evoke in her the inexplicable sense of otherness she has long felt within herself but never fully understood . . . until a darkly seductive stranger with secrets of his own enters her world.Sent from Boston on a mission to investigate the savage attacks and stop the slaughter, vampire warrior Kade has his own reasons for returning to the frigid, forbidding place of his birth. Haunted by a secret shame, Kade soon realizes the stunning truth of the threat he faces–a threat that will jeopardize the fragile bond he has formed with the courageous, determined young woman who arouses his deepest passions and most primal hungers. But in bringing Alex into his world of blood and darkness, Kade must confront both his own personal demons and the even greater evil that could destroy all he holds dear.


3. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah



Female bonding is always good for a good cry, as Hannah (True Colors ) proves in her latest. Pacific Northwest apple country provides a beautiful, chilly setting for this family drama ignited by the death of a loving father whose two daughters have grown apart from each other and from their acid-tongued, Russian-born mother. After assuming responsibility for the family business, 40-year-old empty-nester Meredith finds it difficult to carry out her father's dying wish that she take care of her mother; Meredith's troubled marriage, her troubled relationship with her mother and her mother's increasingly troubled mind get in the way. Nina, Meredith's younger sister, takes a break from her globe-trotting photojournalism career to return home to do her share for their mother. How these three women find each other and themselves with the help of vodka and a trip to Alaska competes for emotional attention with the story within a story of WWII Leningrad. Readers will find it hard not to laugh a little and cry a little more as mother and daughters reach out to each other just in the nick of time.


4. Ice: A Novel by Linda Howard



’Tis the season for mistletoe and holly, Santa . . . and suspense. And the gift that keeps on giving is Ice: premier thriller author Linda Howard’s breathless tale of a man, a woman, and a battle for survival against an unforgiving winter–and an unrelenting killer. Oh what fun it is to read.Gabriel McQueen has only just arrived home on holiday leave from the service when his county-sheriff father sends him back out again with new marching orders. A brewing ice storm, and a distant neighbor who’s fallen out of contact, have the local lawman concerned. So he enlists Gabriel to make the long haul to the middle of nowhere, and make sure Lolly Helton is safe and sound. It’s a trip the younger McQueen would rather not make given the bitter winter weather–and the icy conditions that have always existed between him and Lolly. But there’s no talking back when your dad is the town’s top cop. And there’ s no turning back when night falls just as Gabriel arrives–and discovers that the weather outside isn’t the only thing that’s frightful. Spotting strangers in Lolly’ s home–one of them packing a weapon–is all it takes to kick Gabriel into combat mode. And his stealth training is all he needs to extract Lolly from the house without alerting her captors. But when the escape is discovered, the heat–and the hunt–are on. And the winter woods are nowhere to be once the ice storm touches down, dropping trees, blocking roads, and trapping the fleeing pair in the freezing dark.




5. Snow by Ronald Malfi





When a group of travelers have their flight canceled due to bad weather, they rent a car and begin a treacherous journey home. They find themselves stranded in a seemingly deserted town. However, there's something alive in the snow...and it's hungry!

The first two books are in my TBR pile and the last three will be added.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #9

Activity 9 - What Floats Your Boat?
We all have different tastes. Today's activity is meant to help you get to know a little more about each other and talk about your favorite genre at the same time. Here is what I want you to do:
1. Create a post about your favorite genre. What do you read the most and why? Look at the books you've read this year so far? How many of those book are ones that fit in your favorite genre?

My favorite genre is science fiction/paranormal/ fantasy. I love vampire novels, which has turned out to be classified as romance and I have always been interested in science fiction movies. This year I've read the Twilight series, restarted the Lara Adrian Midnight Breed series and want to read the Demonica series by Larrissa Ione and the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward. I have recently bought the first book in the series for Ione and Ward. I had bought and read the first book in the Midnight Breed a few years ago and found Lara Adrian's blog and realized I was way behind. I'm on book three now. I read a few of the sci fi.

2. Come back here and link your post to Mr. Linky.
DONE

3. After some other people have posted about their favorite genres, go by and visit them. At least a couple to say hello.
DONE

Friday, March 19, 2010

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #8

Activity #8 - Status Post

How is everything going for everyone? Take a minute to post a comment with a status update. Have you accomplished anything this week? Are you disappointed with your progress? Have you gone above and beyond your goals?

Here is the comment that I left:

Dana said...
After yesterday's activity, I am on par with my goal. I just wanted to participate in all of the activities, but I forgot to post for number one about my goal. I am really enjoying this challenge and glad that I signed up.
March 19, 2010 4:34 PM

I'm glad that this was an easy activity because I am too tired to put in a couple of hours for an assignment.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #1

This was the first activity in the http://springbreakreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/

Activity #1 - Goals

Be sure to create a blog post including your goals and come back here and link to that post using Mr. Linky. Include the Spring Break Reading Challenge button to you post if you can. Maybe you can encourage others to join us for this fun-filled week.

I originally forgot to do the post for the first activity. Since my only goal for this challenge was to participate in all of the activities, I had to make this one up.

I feel better now.

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #7


Go here to see what the seventh activity is: Activity #7 - Guess The Book Titles
I could only figure out two books.

After about one and a half hours later, I found nine out of ten of the books. That damn dog book got me.





Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #6

Here is the sixth activity over at http://springbreakreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/

Today is all about creativity. Follow the directions below and post your cover and synopsis on your blog then link back here using Mr. Linky. I can't wait to see what you guys create.

1 – Go to “Fake Name Generator” or clickhttp://www.fakenamegenerator.com/
The name that appears is your author name.

2 – Go to “Random Word Generator” or clickhttp://www.websitestyle.com/parser/randomword.shtml
The word listed under “Random Verb” is your title.

3 – Go to “FlickrCC” or click http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/index.php
Type your title into the search box. The first photo that contains a person is your cover.

4 – Use Picnik, or something similar to put it all together. Be sure to crop and/or zoom in.




Kale moved off planet to escape the bleakness of Earth. On New Earth, he found the perfect land that reminded him of the ranch from his childhood. It was surrounded by water, has a lush garden, a comfortable home and plenty of space for his horses to roam. The only thing missing: the woman he loved. She was killed by alien terrorists, along with all the other residents of her home town while Kale was fighting the aliens in Detroit. The aliens are determined to rid the Earth of all humans, so that they can inhabit the planet. Little do they know, that Kale has also built an underground compound where he is plotting the downfall of their race. The aliens can't come to New Earth because of the chemical composition of the plant life, which will kill the aliens, but is safe for humans.

The synopsis was hard because my cover sucks and I had to think about the
story. I could not think of a name for my aliens and the new planet. My
cover looks like it should be on a romance novel, but I didn't want to do
that. Why couldn't I get a sexy male cover? I guess I have to work my
way up to the good covers. (Hey wait, I'm not really an author. My bad.)
Valeria W Pickle sounds like a name for a porn star!

This was a fun exercise, I must admit.

I apologize for the crappy formatting, but I have spent way too much time on this and I'm not being paid for it.

(I looked at some of the other blogs, and their covers are awesome. Mine sucks. Oh well.)

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #5

Here is the fifth activity over at http://springbreakreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/

Activity #5 - Obstacles

For today's Activity, 1) create a blog post talking about the things that prevent you from getting things done. It could be reading, updating your blog, or anything else you try to do and 2) can you come up with a plan to get past your obstacle?

Since I have started my challenges, knitting has taken a back seat to my reading, whether it's blogs or books. When I get home from work, I only have a few hours to get myself and my son fed, washed, and ready for the next day. (Luckily, he gets his homework done during his after school activity.) I get to work about a half hour early and I knit or read and do the same during lunch. I try to alternate what I do.

Another obstacle of mine is going back to school. Money is the issue for me there, but this year I'm going to fill out the financial aid form and take what little bit they will give me. They usually say I make too much, but I don't see how. I've done the loan thing and am paying back a student loan and don't want to do it again.

I also should exercise, but laziness gets in the way. I haven't found a way around the laziness.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #4



(I finally got this friggin icon in the right spot.)


Here is the fourth activity over at http://springbreakreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/


Today's task is :

Create a post explaining what it is you would like to be able to do on your blog.

-Is there something you really want to create, but don't know how?
-Would you like your blog design to be different?
-What about organization? Is there something about the arrangement you want to change? If ---you feel comfortable enough with the blog use you, feel free to take this time to make some changes and tell us what you did.


I would just like to be able to get my pictures where I want them and not where the blog decides they should go. I would also like to be able to use animated widgets and come up with a unique design for my blog. I also want to figure out how make a link without acually using the link. This is still new to me, a work in process. I think I need to find a "Blogging for Dummies" manual.


Constructive advise and tips are always welcome. (Telling me to shove my blog someplace where the sun don't shine, does not qualify as constructive advise.)

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #3


Here is the third activity over at http://springbreakreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/


1. Title and author of the book you are reading.

Midnight Awakening by Lara Adrian


2. Include the cover of the book.




3. Synopsis (From Lara's blog):

From the back cover:
HE HAS RESISTED TEMPTATION FOR CENTURIES, A STONE-COLD WARRIOR WHOSE FROZEN HEART REFUSES TO THAW--UNTIL HER . . . .
With a dagger in her hand and vengeance on her mind, Darkhaven beauty Elise Chase prowls Boston's streets in search of retribution against the Rogue vampires who took from her everything she cherished. Using an extraordinary psychic gift, she tracks her prey, well aware that the power she possesses is destroying her. She must learn to harness this gift, and for that she can turn to only one man--the deadliest of the Breed warriors, Tegan.
No stranger to loss, Tegan knows Elise's pain. He knows fury, but when he slays his enemies it is with ice in his veins. He is perfect in his self-control, until Elise seeks his aid in her personal war. An unholy alliance is forged--a bond that will link them by blood and vow--and plunge them into a tempest of danger, desire, and the darkest passions of the heart . . . .

4. What do you think about the book so far?

I'm only a couple of pages into the book, but I'm sure I will like it because I liked the first two in the series.

5. Does the author have a website or blog? If so, insert a link in your post.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Spring Break Reading Challenge Activity #2

I've signed up for the Spring Break Reading Challenge over at http://springbreakreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/ and this is the second activity.

1 - Using keywords related to your interests, find a blog that is new to you. Be sure to give us the Blog Title, Link, and Short Description of the Blog.

The blog is located at http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/ and is called The Galaxy Express and has discussions, issues and reviews of science fiction romance novels. (I have found out that this and vampire romances are my favorite romance genres. Go figure, I didn't think I liked romance novels.)


2 - A blog belonging to an author from a book in your To Be Read pile (just a random one if you don't have a To-Be-Read pile).

http://www.jrward.com/bdb/index-books.html I want to read the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

3 - A book releasing THIS MONTH you want to read.

http://juliarachelbarrett.net/my-books/beauty-and-the-feast/ Beauty and the Feast by Julia Barrett will be released on March 16, 2010.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

My Everything

My Everything (Will take you to the excerpt)

Posted using ShareThis

This is the second book that I have finished by Julia Barrett and I like her.

This is a story of Grace and Ben who find each other ten years after they spend part of the summer together and realize that they love each other. Ben was 24 and on his way to advance training in security and Grace was 18 and about to go to college to study nursing. The story opens with Ben arranging to return to the states after disappearing for almost two years. Grace ends up in the same city and hotel as Ben because she is attending a medical conference. Grace suffers from migraines and is suffering from one when Ben finds her sitting outside his hotel room. Ben takes her into his room because he doesn't want to leave a vulnerable woman in the hall and as he is placing her in the bed, he realizes who she is. The next day, they rekindle their love and Ben finds out that his little sister has been kidnapped. The rest of the story has Ben looking for his sister and the kidnapper looking for Ben.

At first I had a problem with the story because I didn't understand why Ben was being so secretive and hiding. Once I realized that it had to do with the way his wife had been killed, it all made sense to me and I was really able to enjoy the book. This problem could have just been my issue and not Julia's writing. I like Julia's writing style and can't wait for her next book to come out.

Her next book is called "Beauty and the Feast" and is due out March 16, 2010. By the way, she is having a contest over at her blog. If you leave a recipe, your name will go in a drawing for her new book. http://juliarachelbarrett.net/

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Captured

Captured (This will take you to the excerpt for the book)

Posted using ShareThis

I finished this book yesterday and thought it was pretty good. As I explained in a previous post, I won a contest and Julia emailed me two of her books. I had never heard of her and did not know what to expect , but I really did enjoy this book. Ekkatt kidnapped Mari from Earth so that she could be sold at the Market on his home planet. For Ekkatt, this was strictly a business and he thought of humans as cattle. When Mari wakes up early from stasis, she proves to him that humans are more than animals and should not be slaughtered for meat. This pretty much goes against everything that he was taught and believed in. Falling in love with Mari is also against the law on Attun-Ra and if they are found out, Ekkatt would be put to death.

The only thing that I didn't like about this book, was that it wasn't long enough. I hope she creates more Mari and Ekkatt books, so we can see how their relationship develops.

I thought I hated romance novels, but there are many sub-genres of romance novels and I never knew that. I'm finding that I like sci-fi, paranormal, urban fantasy romance novels. I used to read Harlequin books when I was a teenager and they ruined me. I can't tell you how long I had waited for my prince/pirate/cowboy/billionaire to come and rescue me from my hum drum life and it never happened. Technically, I'm not still waiting, but I believe an alien or vampire will come before the prince/pirate/cowboy billionaire.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Valentine's Day and My Swap Package







Happy Valentine's Day Everyone.

My Valentine is only 12, but I took him out to Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que. That is one of his favorite restaurants and we had a good time. On our way out the door, I saw that the mail person left a package by my door, yesterday. (They didn't bother to knock on my door, to let me know it was there.) I put the package inside and went to the restaurant.

When I opened the package, I was in heaven. My upstream swap partner, Patty, bought me a Jenkins Turkish Delight in Burmese Rosewood. It is very pretty. I also received a corridale batt from Dykacraft, silk hankies, washed and scoured Lincoln locks (I believe that means they are clean.), caramel kisses, gum, a finn wool sample, Winter 2009 Spin-off Magazine and an Aveda bag to carry my spindle in. It was all wonderful and it made my Valentine's Day.
I've also made good progress on my Helena cardigan.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Ravelympics 2010 and Julia Rachel Barrett

Today is the start of the Ravelympics which coincides with the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The purpose is to pick projects that are challenging to you and have them completed by the closing ceremonies. (You aren't allowed to start until the opening ceremonies.) You also decide which events you want to include your project in. I believe the length of time is either 16 or 17 days. I'm on Team Not Just A Cardi and I'm doing Helena by Allison Green Will. This a baby/toddler cardigan with lace. I've entered the Sweaterboard Cross and the Stash Compulsary Dance because I'm doing a sweater from stash yarn. I cast on at 9:01 EST and stopped about 10 minutes later because I confused myself. About ten minutes after that, I figured out what I'm suppose to be doing, but I will wait until tomorrow to work on it some more. I'm off work next week, so I hope to get in a lot of knitting time. I all pictures of my progress as I go along.

I also won an ebook by Julia Rachel Barrett called "My Everything" I entered a contest over at the Stumbling Over Chaos blog. Julia also sent me her ebook entitled "Captured". Both have been downloaded to my Sony Pocket Reader and I will begin reading those shortly.

I got my ereader last month and I just love it. I have 38 books on it already. Some I have purchased and some are free. I check the Sony Ereader Store every day because they put up new free books all the time and you never know how long they will remain free. I figure you can't go wrong with free because you can just delete the books if you don't like them. Books on Board usually offers a free book weekly. I chose to go with Sony as opposed to the Kindle because of the price and I like being able to get my books from different sellers.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Literacy

I've decided that I am blog illiterate and should probably stop. I can't post my pictures correctly or steal buttons. I need remedial training or something. I also can't believe that I have two followers. Hey Fiberfreek and Darcyknottyknitter.

WWSIPDay - World Wide Spin in Public Day




Monday, August 10, 2009

The Spindle Addicts Swap








I received my package from Skitz and she really did spoil me. I loved everything in the package. I got green millends, a stretchy band for my wheel, BFL that she processed from fleece and dyed, silk hankies, handmade soap, two project bags, coca, tea, fish notebook, some sticky notes, a guardian angel, essential oil and a diffuser, and a wine container to hold my spindle and some fiber in. The spindle is a Grafton Fibers Flagship in the Sunrise colorway. I love it.
Since I don't think anyone reads my blog, I added a picture of what I sent to my swap partner. For now, I won't add her name or where she lives until she receives it. It's the picture with the white and blue canister in it. I list her items when she gets the package, also.
One day, I'll learn how to work the pictures.






Saturday, August 1, 2009




The Tour de Fleece ended last Sunday, and the above is what I completed with my spindles.
Today, I also signed up for the Son of Dish Rag Tag. Go on over to YarnMiracles' blog and read about it. http://yarnmiracle.com/2009/08/01/sonofdishragtag






Sunday, July 12, 2009

Tour de Fleece Day 9

This is what I have been working on for the tour.

Silk yarn for 1 oz of Silken Sunrise silk hankies.










Wool and Alpaca

Wool and Mohair




Friday, July 10, 2009

Phat Fiber Giveaway.

Today's Phat Fiber giveaway is from one of My favorite Etsy Sellers, Rachel of My8kidsmom. She's giving away a skein of her sock yarn.
http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/2009/07/my8kidsmom-giveaway.html