Alrighty now. I just finished the second book to a 3 part series called THE COUSIN WARS, or as we know it the "War of the Roses". I read THE RED QUEEN for a fun Goodreads challenge. It was a great book as was the first one named THE WHITE QUEEN.  I look forward to reading the third book of the trilogy called THE LADY OF THE RIVERS.  Philippa Gregory, the author, mentioned on youtube that there is more witchie stuff in the third and last book. Women were the healers, and they negotiated their lives by intuition. We all know how witches are treated. It should be a good book. I ordered the book from eBay and see that it is being sold to me by the Phoenix Library, in Arizona. I have been to that library and it is a top rate library.

 With this historical fiction Henry Lancaster finally became King after 370 pages of  beheadings, shady deals 

 and bloody battles. It is hard to be King and stay being King.

Last but not least there seems to be sets of china with teacups called the Lancaster.

I just had to have a cup of tea while reading this book. I had Gingersnapish , it was delicious.

Birthday Book Haul 2013

This is what I am calling my Birthday Book Haul. Four of the books I got at the Dollar Store and the 2 from Powells Books (Oregon) are the new Penguin Press Ink covers and I just had to have them for the cover art. Next is the beautiful Graphic Novel SNOW WHITE, Camille Rose Garcia is the illustrator. I bought the book THE KITCHEN HOUSE to share the reading experience with my friend Faith. She wants to get a book club started and I thought I would kick start it with this book even if the two of us are the only people so far.

I think I will be having a good time reading these. The Dollar Store has really been getting a good supply of books lately. I sort of feel bad for the authors because their books are being sold for a dollar.  I wonder what it means emotionally for an author to have their books on the shelf at the Dollar Store. 

Monster of a book

I watched a couple of Youtube videos on these bookmarks. I made one last night and then woke up thinking about Dracula and how to make one. I had a few missteps, but I finally think I got the look I want. I guess I am getting ready for Halloween......

I was also in the mood to make some frayed fabric flowers. I knew I wanted one for my hat. I take the hat with me to wear on my travel clubs adventures.

Fun last two days making crafts.  

Funny/weird book

Since I have a little trailer that I have fun glamping in I thought I would read a book about someone camping. Seems like a good idea, plus it was free on Amazon for my Kindle.GOING NOWHERE FAST is about empty nesters that are retired. The mom was a school teacher and the dad was a cop. They sell the house and buy an Airstream to travel the country in. They go to the Grand Canyon and after a nice morning jog they come back to find a dead man sitting on their toilet and their son hiding in the closet. The cops come and declare the toilet guy murdered and confiscate the Airstream. I am pretty sure the couple become sleuths and solve the mystery. It is pretty kick back quirky writing. There is always one kid in the family that takes extra care and tolerance , lol. No high drama yet and the writing isn't Pulitzer prize stuff but if you are wondering what to read that is sort of a fluff romp this may be your book.

Here is my little glamping house on wheels.

Reading First Frost by Liz DeJesus

I downloaded this book onto my Kindle and loved the cover they have for the book. I couldn't remember why I had this book on my Kindle, but I must say that I am enjoying reading the story. I loved the idea of a story time for children and then to find it was held in a Fairytale Museum was even more fun. The character Bianca's father disappeared when Bianca was the age of 10 and then at the age of 17 she finds out she is a witch and belongs to a family that she thought was only in fairytales. There are bad witches and castles and princes and stolen dreams and family love. The book moves along quickly there are a lot of surprises and fun twists. Magic everywhere. Retold/reinvented Snow White family.

Basque, beach and San Francisco

We have had smoke for weeks from all the forest fires in our state. It is nice to go to the bay area and the ocean to get some cool fresh air. I went for an over night stay with the NCTC and came home on my Birthday.

Collage and the girls.

I have been so inspired to create some collages. I have loved making collage pieces for about 25 years. I used to give them as gifts so I have none from the old days. I saw a few people making art pieces on Youtube and wondered if I could get outside my comfort zone with collage. Here are the two I have completed. They are cut off a little because the scanner was smaller then the paper.

The top one is inspired by a little statue my father bought years ago of a girl with a bird on her head. 

This one was inspired by the southwest and nature.

Here is Waterworld.  

Glamping we will go.