A WANTED MAN by Lee Child......A CHRISTMAS GARLAND by Anne Perry.......... A Wanted Man was interesting and A Christmas Garland is rather bland but enjoyed both. Started to read Ridley Pearson's newest, The Risk Agent, but got bogged down...takes place in China and just the names of both people and places was a bit too much. May finish later but I do not recommend. Disappointed as I ususally like his novels. Well we finally got a dusting of snow on Fri, then about an inch the next day and it was cold enough..25 degrees, so that it stayed on the ground until tonite when it rained and the temp came up to about 45.... Right now snow just about gone and very, very foggy out. Netflix...am watching series from 1988...Wish Me Luck, set in the spy world of WW2. Busy week for me coming up....Mon Bridge, Tues see Dr. Connor about my eyes, Wed Bridge again and Thur Norma comes to help me in the house.

SLEEP NO MORE BY Iris Johansen......and PRIVATE GAMES by James Patterson.............. Read Sleep No More, an Eve Duncan mystery novel. The forensic sculptor is very involved in big family changes this time which take us into the evil world of asylums. Always like her stories. Right now am finishing Private Games by James Patterson (with the help of Mark Sillivan). Very suspenseful novel revolving around the Olympics, with dark forces conspiring to end them. Recommend both. Was taken out to dinner yesterday and had turkey with all the fixings. Much more than I could finish so it is now sitting in my fridge. Also had pumpkin pie. Went with my sister and friend. Feeling very tired today. Took bath this afternoon. Had smoked chicken sausage with basil seasoning for supper with rice and brussels sprouts. Watched PBS Newshour and will watch Washington Week at 8pm.

DOLLED UP FOR MURDER......BY Jane K Cleland........................................... Finished Cornwell novel and decided to read this litle unasked for mystery that the library sent me. It's not bad and only 243 pages, apparently part of a series..Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery. Quiet week..no bridge for me. A friend drove me to foot clinic on Wed and then to the CVS to pick up a prescription. The man from the flooring place came to measure my dowstairs bath room Wed pm. Bad news he says he has never seen the likes of my floor ... apparently a slab of concrete which is not in good shape. Cannot just put vinyl flooring on it as it is. So I may not be getting new flooring as I cannot afford to spend thousands on this. My home helper came Thurs and did the regular...change my bed, scrub tub, laundry, vacuum then wash floors, takes out all trash and recycling....etc. She is on vacation next week so will not see her for two weeks!! Am cutting back on my TV covererage, basic for the next 5 months. Nothing more to say tonite. Want to watch Washington Week and McLaughlin Group on TV at 8pm as usual.

THE BONE BED.....by Patricia Cornwell.................................................. Finished City of Promise on Nov 7 and started Bone Bed. Patricia Cornwell has written many good books but her last few have not kept me on the edge of my seat. Her heroine, medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, is now spending too much time analyzing her own actions and feelings. Heard about the "body" on page 30 or so and "got to the body" on page 103. Too slow for me!! So if you are a fan, as I am and keep hoping she will go back to writing the tight interesting mysteries of yore, you may want to read it any way. I have about 60 pages left and may finish it tonite, or fall asleep trying. I was very pleased with the outcome of the elections. Obama won and so did all the women I was rooting for, Hassan will be our new governor and although she was not my first choice as she has foolishly "signed the pledge"...no income tax or sales tax"...better her than radical republican, Lamontaigne. The storm Sandy that hit the coast did a great deal more damage than officials expected. Many people are still without electricity and many have lost everything. What a disaster. Today was one of the hottest November days I can remember...about 66 degrees!! I planted the paper whites my daughter got for me Sat when we went shopping. Made cabbage soup yesterday using my new 8 quart stock pot!.. It's very yummy..... My cat Bella is doing pretty well for 16...she takes her early am pill about every other day at the same time I take mine then we have to wait at least 1 hour before breakfast. Bella is supposed to take one a day but I am not going to try to force it into her mouth. We usually both go back to sleep for over and hour!! No bridge this week and going to foot clinic on Wed. Man is coming over to measure my bath room and I will at last have new flooring in January. Taxes up again as usual and due Dec 1.....making big inroads into my savings....worry, worry, worry!!

CITY OF GOD....CITY OF PROMISE....................................................... Two weeks since I last blogged. Did finish City of Glory that day and have now finished City of God and have about 100 pages left of City of Promise. Have enjoyed these books tremendously and hate to see the story end. The books continue the story of mostly two families with additional characters all blended into NY City history and giving a real sensae of the city as it must have been with all the innovations of the era. I highly recommend these books by Beverly Swerling. I did not realize that there was a first one Shadowbrook....so please start there. Life here is just the same, reading, netflix and Bridge once or twice a week. Fortunately for us here in NH there was very little impact from hurricane Sandy. The pictures of NJ and NY show terrible damage to property and loss of life in too many cases. Many people are homeless and the weather is turning cold. With no electricity it will no doubt impact the outcome of the election. CT and RI were also hit but not as severely. The bad news is that there is now another storm just starting its way up the eastern coast. This one is predicted to come staight up toward New England! Supposed to hit ? Wed nite.... I intend to play bridge on Mon and Wed. I am promised a ride to the polls on Tues...hope they do not forget me!! I will be voting for President Obama as I did last time.

LINE OF FIRE and CITY OF GLORY.......... Finally finished Line of Fire on Oct 14. Not a memorable book. Started City of Glory on same day. This continues the story in City of Dreams and I am almost finished. Enjoying this family story which is intertwined with the American history of 1814. Bought this one and the next 2 in series at Amazon.com...large paperbacks. My son was here for a week and this of course slowed down my reading. I enjoyed his visit very much. He only comes once a year. I was OUT every day he was here, usually only get out once or twice a week and occasionaly not at all!! Met my grandaughter and her husband at Wentworth by the Sea Hotel in Portsmouth,NH for lunch on Sun Oct 7. Daughter and her husband were also with us... so nice to be together. My son took me shopping for staples and I am pretty well stocked up for the winter!! He also took me to my favorite beach...Ogunquit, ME. We did a few errands and he did some chores around the house..fixed my back door, put up storm windows on doors and attacked the terrible vine which is threatening to take over my house!! My son was here from Oct 6 to Sat. Oct 13. The following week played Bridge Wed only...four tables and won second place == $1.....lol. This week I plan to play both Mon and Wed. My house helper was here this past Thurs and did her reg routine and also helped me finish what I had started on Mon and Tues.....all containers by back door are stripped of plants and piled up under, and beside table....Kept 3 begonias on back porch in their pots just to see if they can survive the winter there. I saw the 2nd presidential debate and still heard lies from Romney...doesn't matter, I am for OBAMA again and hope women all over wake up to the fact that the GOP is out to repeal Roe vs Wade and take away your freedom of choice. The GOP is also trying to pass "personhood" bills which if passed would outlaw birth control!! All this from a party who wants a smaller government but wants it in your bedroom!!

Thurs Oct 4.."MISSION TO PARIS" by Alan Furst........ Just finished ..it was slow reading but not bad story. Played Bridge Mon and Wed this week, bad cards on Mon but much better on Wed had about 3800 score but did not win... 3 tables. Have not done much this week as I had a head cold with runny nose and stuffed head. Started on Sun. It just made me feel tired and tried to get extra sleep...much better today. Helper was here today and got all caught up on laundry...I did one load before she got here. Also took bath this am as I did watch the debate last nite. Everyone saying Romney won but I did not see it that way..Romney was acting as if he was "on" something...irritated, and granted, more aggressive than I have ever seen him BUT he was telling all the same old lies. I just don't understand why the president did not call him on them...they were so blatant. I'm still going to vote for Obama....the GOP has really scary ideas...really bad ideas and women will certainly pay the price if they ever get in!

A SUNLESS SEA.....by Anne Perry........................ Have been watching "Hawthorn" from Netflix. Story of strong nurse,CNO that started off very well but in the third season is not quite as good .. or I am sick of it. I finished reading "Excavation" on Sun and started "A Sunless Sea" by one of my favorite authors. This is one of her William Monk stories set in England in 1864. He heads the river police and has a very charming wife Hester who was a nurse in the Crimean war and now runs a clinic for stret women. She always gets involved in his cases. I can't remember how many Perry has written with these same characters but they have all been very good as is this one. Each book can stand alone but it is better if you have read them all. Am trying to get dining room picked up so my son and I can eat in there. He will be arriving a week from this Sat. Played Bridge on Mon but played badly and had bad cards. Wed went to Dr. Schnieder who performed my lumpectomy. Says all is OK and will have mammogram in Dec. Have been feeling very tired lately and plagued by my usual trouble which seems to be worsening. Kathryn took me to the MD on Wed and also to Biron's to look at flooring for my downstairs bathroom. Brought home 2 samples and got an estimate. Really want to do this. We also went to Beaver Pond Farm..I got corn. Later did grocery shopping.

Operation Napoleon and Excavation Finished Op Napoleon on Tues. A fast read and rather exciting story about a plane lost in the Artic. Started an old book Tues nite, Excavation, written in 2000 but I cannot remember reading it. Usually look it up in my book diaries but did not bother as I usually remember after reading a few pages. Pretty interesting about a dig in Peru with all the usual disasters. So far a booby trapped grave site and a collapse trapping our main characters! Got up late but did watched some of my usual political talk shows Sun and played Bridge on Mon but was not invited for Wed. Made a small cabbage soup on Tues...delicious. Had soup for supper tonite and an hour later had half a ham salad sandwich with my favorite dill pickles..Clausen. My helper came today and she did the usual..change bed, laundry, tub, vacuum and wash floors. Also takes care of all the trash...out to bins and dumpster. Also helped me to move table by my chair in the living room so that I could vacuum there and clear off table and put a little polish on! Am still picking up from that... will finish tomorrow. Got a special match from My Heritage ... something new, absolute correct match they said. It turned out to be the facts about my own father which was not new info to me!!!!!!! Also answered contact re a match to one of my grandfather's brothers. Must be a correct,match as born on the same day and year in the little town of Pierreville, Quebec. I've been there so I know it was a very small town. Am taking a break from genealogy today. Plan to play a little gin on the computer.

"Wicked Business","Operation Napoleon" and Genealogy! Finished City of Dreams Tues nite before going to bed. Started Wicked Business Wed. and finished it Fri. It was rather silly, although I like Janet Evanovich, I doubt if I will read any more of this series. I think Operation Napoleon will be much better. I did look up Beverly Swerling online and found three other books she has written all about old NY. Hope to get them from library as I cannot get them for my Kindle. They are all City of...Glory...God... and Promise. Played Bridge Wed and had ok cards. Played and made bid of 6NT .... was my best hand of the week!! Three tables ... was fourth out of twelve players. My daughter was here today and we went to the Pet Store, Market Basket, Hannaford and Leo's. Got home and found I had forgotten my key! Have not done that for years. Kathryn was able to get in by the side porch..which I now have locked up. She also rehung one of my wall baskets which I had taken down one night when there was a chance of frost. Cannot get it up myself because of my bad shoulder. Soon all the flowers will be gone but they have been beautiful. I did write my French email!! It was in answer to a reply I got from My Heritage. I have made a little progress on the family tree...found Adeline Hitchcock in the 1852 Canadian census with her husband Eugene Rousseau and five children which must be hers. The youngest is 2 but there is no Cornelia. As Adeline is only 34 at this time, I assume she may have had more children. Am still digging!! Very time consuming but most interesting. Some areas of the census include how many animals, fruit trees and guns the families had!

"City of Dreams" Finished Zoo...very well written and unusual story. Started "City of Dreams" Wed nite. Published in 2001, I picked up a hard cover at a used book store ages ago but had not gotten around to reading it. Author is Beverly Swerling. It is a story about New Amsterdam and early Manhattan. It is rather long .. 591 pages but I am enjoying it very much. It starts in 1861 and follows certain family members thru the years to 1878. Less than a hundred pages left to read. If you are interested in New York you would like this story. I will have to look this author up online as I cannnot remember reading her before. I made a mistake re the pricing of My Heritage space for my family tree...It is $108 for 2 years and I did get it. Have checked on one match and got an email from Canada but it has not helped yet....early days. Email was mostly in French so will try to answer it in French sometime soon ...will be challenge as I have forgotten most of my French learned at home and my writing will probably be "terrible". Played Bridge today and will play Wed. Had no luck ..was third. This flexible Mon group is what I call the nurses' group as everyone is an retired RN with the exception of one NA who we trained to become surgical asst. I don't think there is anyone younger than 70 and the oldest is 95! It is always 4 nurses but not always the same four. It is a fun group but playng serious Bridge! Hve finished watching "Lillie" on Netflix..4 discs telling the story of Lily Langtry the actress.. will get 4 stars from me.

Am up to 188 people on my family tree site at My Heritage. Here's the funny thing. I had about decided that I would join in Jan if my children did not give me a subscription for Xmas. The cost was $75....which is fine but yesterday I was offered a special deal...28% off and the price was $107!!! Strange indeed... Don't know what to do now... No contact email anywhere...just a blog which I wrote on to see if I could get their attention!

I did play Bridge twice last week. First place on Mon with great cards but very bad on Wed, did not win the booby though! Started Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva on Mon 8/27 and did not finish it until Sun 9/2. It was good story, a bit far out but I like his style. It was one of his Gabriel Allon novels, so it was about spies and art. The only reason it took me so long to read this book is the fact that I am also working on the family tree. My paternal grandfather's side has already had quite a bit of work done. I posted all of this on my family tree site then decided to go back into my grandmother's family. Much to my delight and surprise it lead me directly back to Acadia. The last birth date I can be sure of is one in 1713 in Acadie as it is called in French records. Am still digging!! Also tried to find records further back in my grandfather's family...so much material to plow thru ...leaves me feeeling crosseyed!! Also started looking at Ellis Island sites for my husband's family. Am now reading Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Very unsettling idea....animals becoming more aggressive and killing humans left and right. Well written though, started it last night and have already read 242 of its 527 pages...it is large print. My daughter drove us out to my sister's at the lake this afternoon and we stayed for dinner. Visited with her grandaughter, who is there with husband and 2 children. Watched some TV and then turned it off at 10:30....enough!

Started Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich yesterday. I seldom read books with characters performing magic but I like Evanovich and did not know what book was about. I'm already on page 300 out of 375 and it is crazy funny as her stuff usually is so try it...you might even laugh out loud! Looks like I will be playing bridge Mon and Wed this week..that's good! I am stll watching New Tricks on Netflix. British cold case unit with a twist..pretty good.. gave it 4 stars after I got into it..Am on season 6 (2009)and it was still playing in 2011 I think. Daughter came yesterday and took me grocery shopping....she also cornered my cat Bella and put the flea stuff on her.She is a tremendous help to me. Could not manage without her. Am also working on family tree on MY Heritage site. Have gotten a lot of info in. Have to pay to follow connections to other family sites. Maybe after Xmas. Says you can put in 250 names free and it has not told me yet that I have reached that number!

Had very bad luck at Bridge on the 15th and have not played since. Monday Bridge cancelled due to illnesss of one member's son and lack of substitutes. Am only a sub on Wed and was not invited. My sister did come over Sun Afternoon and we played Hand and Foot. My other sister did not come this summer for her usual 3 weeks and I missed her a lot. Started Bring up the Bodies on the 16th. It is the sequel to Wolf Hall and it wanders even more. It continues the story of Thomas Cromwell. They finally kill Ann Boleyn but it took ages to get to it. Can't recommend it. Did not finish it until the 21st. Started What Doesn't Kill You by Iris Johansen and I like it. Lots of story and action. Will finish it today. Have read other books by this author and all are good. My son is coming from CA in October. It will be great to see him. He was here last Oct also. He told me to plan on where I want to go but I'm afraid that every year leaves me less able. I do know we will go out every day and that is good for me. Hate not driving and being without a car!! My daughter is coming tomorrow to take me shopping. Have huge grocery list. Made my "hot" macaroni and beef dish this week as well as tuna/mac/pea salad.. Have been trying to just use Half and Half and not to buy milk but guess I will get one quart this week as I think I may make another coffee cake next week. The one I made with fresh blueberries was delicious. Have eaten half the frozen cheese cake I got from my grandaughter for my birthday. Excellent from Jimmy's in Brooklyn,NY. Time for the news now..............

Finished Bloodline last night. Good adventure /action story. A bit depressing to think of what science is capable of when used in a criminal way. Going to play Bridge with Claremont Bridge Club soon. Thank goodness....getting tired of all that reading!

Took berries (which I had spread out in single layer in two pans) out of freezer this morning and put them in 2 ziploc bags and then into a freezer bag and right back in freezer. They look fine hope they will taste ok in a couple months. Did not read much today. I got up late and watched my usual assortment of political talk shows. Lots of chatter today about Romney's choice for vice president. I think Ryan is a very real danger to women. Romney had been slipping in the polls and this may help him with his base but I cannot believe it will help him with women or the elderly. Ryan is against birth control and wants to end Roe v Wade. He is a Catholic and he will do what his church wants him to do, not what is best for women!! He wants to eviscerate social programs and says he will change the social security system. He says not for people over 55, can you believe him?? I do not! I understand that there should be some changes made in various programs but not end them. His plan would continue huge tax cuts for the wealthy and lower the tax on corporatons from 35%(which I doubt any of them are currently paying anyway) to 25%. Ryan may not be the fanatic Santurum was but he is close. This is not the person I would want a heart beat away from the presidency. I hope some Republicans wake up to what they are doing and decide not to vote for this ticket. I am a Democrat and will vote for Obama AGAIN as I think most women should, young or old!! Of course this news took the heat off Romney for not disclosing his IRS records, but just temporarily I hope. My sister came over this afternoon and we played cards until 4:30pm....Hand and Foot. My Mon bridge is cancelled again so hope to play Wed.

Finished Wolf Hall on Fri, 8/3 then read Cop to Corpse overnite, by Lovesey. He writes good short mysteries. Got 3 books from library so started Third Gate by Lincoln Child on Sat. You will like this book if you like books set in Egypt...I do so enjoyed it. Story is about looking for the tomb of the first king of Upper and Lower Egypt with mystery and intrigue. Finished this on Mon 8/6. In the meantime had a kindle book online become available so read that next. The Dogs of Riga is the second mystery novel in the series about Wallander the Swedish detective. They are good read. Finished this on Thurs am 8/9. Read Judgment Call by J A Jance in 2 days. She is an excellent writer and the story just flows. This one is part of her series about Sheriff Joanne Brady. I finished it last night before going to bed. Today 8/11. I have just started Bloodlines by James Rollins. Have had good corn on cob and my daughter brought me fresh picked blueberries on Wed when she came to take me to the MD for routine yearly checkup. She also took my Bella to the vet for her due shots. I have been having fresh pineaple and blueberries for breakfast....yummy and ice cream on blueberries for dessert.. more yummy!! Monday Bridge was cancelled because our 95 year old fell in her yard and had ?broken rib and a usual replacement was away. Hope to play Mon and Wed this week. Made a blueberry buckle this am but really is more like a coffee cake...this recipe needs more berries in it.. 2 cups was not enough. Tastes good just the same. Now I am trying to freeze a few. We'll see how that works....

Damn computer shut down right in the middle of my blog and I am not writing it over right now!!

I'm still reading Wolf Hall...on page 385 out of 532. Being familiar with this period in history makes it easier reading as the author flits about with different characters and also injects scenes from the past. One review calls it "cleanly and tightly written" but I did not find it so, rather it sprawls along but in an interesting way. It's basically a different view of Thomas Cromwell. If you watched "The Tudors" on TV or netflix, you will follow this book more easily. A friend picked me up yesterday for a foot appointment and arrived with a hot grilled cheese and ham sandwich which I ate on the way. She also brought me 2 freshly made whoopie pies. This was very kind of her. Tastes so good when made by someone else for a change!! Have to call the store as I think they overcharged me Tuesday on two items....grrrr.....Did my big monthly shopping so was tired and did not pay attention!!

Hard to believe that I have not blogged since July 10. I have been busy reading and playing Bridge twice a week plus keeping myself fed and clean!! I have read 6 books since then. Another in the Falco series set in Rome.."Ode to a Banker" in which Falco takes us through ancient Rome in a search for the murderer of a publisher killed in his library. The next 3 are mysteries from the elibrary which I read on my Kindle. "The Technologists", which takes place in Boston, has the first graduating class from MIT involved in murder and mayhem. "Well-Offed in Vermont" just a short murder mystery but good quick read. "Faceles Killers" by Henning Mankell is I think the first Kurt Wallender mystery and is set in Finland. I seem to remember something similar on TV. I enjoyed the introduction to the character and the story was good. Will look for the next one in the series. The next two I got from my town library. "Stolen Prey" by John Sandford, a Lucas Davenport mystery set in Minnesota. It involves a brutal murder and some international finagling with gold. Sandford is a smooth story teller and I always enjoy his mysteries. Then I read a first novel by Charlotte Rogan which was really good. It is "The Lifeboat" which involves a ship sinking in 1914 and what happened in the lifeboat to the main character, Grace, whose new husband was also on board. I won't tell you any more but I think it is worth a read. Today I started "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel. I got it because her new book "Bring Up the Bodies" is on the NY Times best seller list and mentioned that it was a sequel. I starts in 1500 with Thomas Cromwell being beaten by his father then gets quickly to 1528 and the time of Henry VII. It is about Cromwell but I think it will be a long slow read as there is much history involved but I like that kind of story so we'll see how it goes. Have won the last 2 Wed. at Bridge. Cannot go the next 2 as I have appointments...the group will probably be glad! Am now going to watch "Insp. Lewis" on TV.

Just finished making veg/macaroni salad for tonite. Earlier made egg salad for mid day sandwich. My tomatoes and cucumbers don't look very good .. don't know why...new containers and all new soil this year. My CA begonias are doing just fine many blossoming now. Even the callas have a few flowers. I always pick some cause I like to see them up close in the house. Missed a special birthday for my son who lives in CA. Wish I could have been there but I don't think I can face a flight crammed in with others and certainly can't stand in any long lines especially not for the bathroom. I might be able to tolerate the flight in first class but that is not in my budget right now...having just paid high NH property taxes. What I really would like to do some year is to take the train from coast to coast! I'd see a few states that I have never been to and I think it would be fun. That is on my "bucket list". Since I last posted, finished book set in WW2 and read another on my Kindle.."Helpless" by David Palmer. I enjoyed this book about revenge and having the past catch up with one of the characters. Fast read. Now reading 3rd library book on Kindle. This one is set in England in the late 1700s and is about a surgeon with an interest in anatomy. Of course, they knew nothing then so this explores that theme and involves, of course "Murder"!! The name of this one is "The Anatomist's Apprentice" by Tessa Harris.

     Finished reading "Canada" yesterday.  I liked it but it was about
the characters more than the plot.  I realized that I was out of library
books, usually just read a book I have at home.   Instead I went 
to the state lending library online  and looked at mysteries and picked
out 2 for my Kindle and got one of them immediately!  Amazing that
as I clicked on the red spot on line the entire book appeared in
seconds!!  I am reading "Mr. Churchill's Secretary"....takes place
during WW2 in England.  Always like books set in different time.
     My sister picked me up and took me to her place at the lake on
July 4th.  Played 3 handed/cut throat Pinochle until my daughter
and her husband got there.  They took boat ride and swam.  We
had delicious barbecued steak.. as well as veg/mac salad, cole slaw.
All in all another good day.

     I finished "Afraid to Die" by Lisa Gardiner today. Good
story...main characters are both female cops.  Grusome killings
get solved with an unexpected twist in the plot. Recommend
if you like mysteries.   Just started "Canada" which is narrated
by one of the twins whose parents become criminals.  Only on
page 40 but I like the writer's style.  The author is Richard
Ford, a Pulitzer Prize Winner.  He lives in Maine.
     Hot day here ...  hi 88 degrees and mostly sunny.  Went out
to water and it started to sprinkle so quit after only watering
the five plants by the fence and my wall baskets.  Of course it
did not rain enough ... only sprinkles!  Will have to go out in
the am and use the hose if no rain tonite. 
     Watched most of my political shows today and some of a
new series on netflix called "Damages" with Glenn Close.
Liked it.

  

I guess I actually had 2 birthdays this year.  My daughter and
her husband arrived on Friday with a new garden sit/kneel
bench and a smoke/carbon monoxide detector to replace
the one in the cellar.  Both things I could use.  My daughter
did some paper work for me and then took me shopping at
Hannaford and the Pet Shop.  While we were gone her husband
hardwired the detector in with battery backup, put the screens
in both front and porch doors and started the attack on the
horrible invasive vine that is threatening the north side of my
house!!
     We went out for a late dinner at the New Socials.  I had a
Hawaiian Punch, sirloin steak with mustard sauce, mashed
potato with sauce and cherry tomatoes.  The usual veg medley
included 2 kinds of squash which I hate hence the tomato for
me.  Could not possibly have forced dessert down!!  Yes I
had steak and a drink 2 nights in a row!!
Got home about 9:30 and they collected their groceries and
their dog Iggy and left.  I read and wached the 11pm news,
went online and did my mail, played a few card games and
went to bed about 12:50am to read for half an hour like I
always do.   Another very good day.
    The only bad thing was that I had forgotten my daughter's
wedding anniversary...feel really badly about it but can't rectify
the fact that I forgot..... If I am still alive and compos mentis
next year I shall have to do something special.

Should also tell you that my grandaughter sent me a raspberry
cheesecake from Jimmy's in Brooklyn and my son and his
friend also called me.  Got cards from my other sister and friends.
Just discovered that $84 has been given to me as gift certificate
from Amazon from my son and his friend.  Very good day.

My birthday is almost over but I had a good day.  My daughter
called me this morning to wish me a happy bday. She is coming
tomorrow.  My house aide came today so I have a clean bed,
laundry is all done, floors have been vacuumed and washed and
 trash is out.
     Tonite I was taken out to dinner by my sister and her friend.
Had strawberry daquiri, steak, mashed potato,broccoli and
raspberry/peach pie with ice cream!  All very good. Then we
came back to my house and played cards on my screened porch
until about 11pm.   So...  enjoyable day and still feeling stuffed! 

     Started a blog earlier but must have hit something as it just disappeared.  Hard rain last night and showers off and on today....I don't have to water my plants, always a good thing.  I thought my first begonia blossoms were going to be orange but they are salmon...very nice color.  There seem to be about twice as many chipmunks this year and they are digging tiny holes everywhere in my containers but have not harmed the plants so far.
     Finished reading my first Kindle library book...very dry so unless you want to know a whole lot more about how your subconscious runs your body ...... Am still reading the Falco novel which I like.  Have 2 books from my own library on hand so will not be ordering any more kindle books for a while.
     From Netflix I am watching "Nurse Jackie"...not my usual fare ..rather raunchy but interesting story.  I've known addicts and as a retired RN I doubt that Jackie could really function as well as she seems to in real life but it's only a story so.........  My favorite series was  "Rome"...of course it did not last too long ...it seems the ones I like are all doomed.  Also liked "The Tudors", "The House of Elliott", "Pie in the Sky", also short lived and "MI-5".  Have watched some older series that I had seen a long time ago and enjoyed them...too many to name but "Cadfael" and "Nero Wolfe" come to mind.

     Saturday was still quite warm .. 89 and humid but Sunday has been just a beauty..82 degrees, humidity down and sunny.  Do have one tiny cucumber about 2 inches long!!  Am not having much luck on a special project I am working on and it is very frustrating.
    Still reading the same two books.  Love the mosaic staircase I found on my facebook pages. It's in San Francisco...called the Barr Crutcher Stairway...just lovely.  If I knew how I would put it on here but it can be found on Google....like everything else  lol.
     Talked to my sister last night ...really miss her not coming this summer.  She usually spends 3 weeks here.   Sunday I watch a lot of political talk shows so don't do much until after 1pm..........and sometimes not much then!!

Finished "Two for the Lions" Wed.   Started the next book in the series, "One Virgin Too Many" on Thurs.,  because it picks up right where number 10 leaves off.  Wanted more of Rome!!  This series gets better as it goes along. 
    Very hot again today.  Deer in the yard again this morning.   Looked like they were eating the grass which was just cut yesterday!!  Euonymous appears to be untouched today.  Hard to tell with the hosta as some of it is eaten and some not.

     Monday bridge was cancelled but I played yesterday...had mediocre cards...scored at 6 out of 12 players.  Very hot yesterday and today .. 96 degrees pretty hot for NH...  going to continue thru tomorrow.
     I asked guy who does my lawn to do it every 3 weeks...imagine, he had the nerve to tell me that if he could not mow every 2 weeks he could not do it!  Started to look for someone else but he called today and asked me if I wanted him to mow and I said ok....last mowing was 3 weeks ago tomorrow! Except for the first couple years of my nursing career I was a "boss" and I don't take kindly to ultimatums. 'Nough said!

     Many years ago before my mother was born her father had the first car in his little town...I think it was about 1904.  I often thought about my grandfather as I was cruising along at 70.  How he would have marveled at the speed of my lovely Saab and also the fact that I, a woman was driving all over creation alone!
     Now I am excited over my Kindle and my first library book....am 25% through it.  I have had a computer (several) for a long time and I thought it was wonderful as it enabled me to see the museums of the world, some of which I had visited in person.  Also have about 5 newspapers that come every day.  Then I started to play Bridge and Pinochle online with people from all over the world!   Amazing!!     I have a cell phone which I dearly love but this small tablet which enables me to get any book from my state's library in the blink of an eye is truly a wonder!!
     My CA begonias are starting to bloom...first 2 are orange ones...planted in containers.. about 60 total!! as well as 4 containers of CA callas.  These begonias are really gorgeous flowers. They get bigger flowers as they mature and the range of colors is great. Only the frost finishes them off.

    Am very excited .... got my first library book on my kindle!!   Had requested it a few days ago and was told they would notify me by email.  Checked my mail last night before going to bed and there it was...checked it out but it did not immediately appear... so put Kindle on charge and went to bed about 1am.  It was there this am so started it as it is only for 2 weeks.  It is a book about how the brain works, "Incognito".  Not a medical tome but interesting so far.
     My daughter came on Sat...did a few errands and she put my last two flower plants in the ground for me...so hard for me to do this....guess this will be the last year I plant anything in the ground..will have to stick to container gardening!!  She also put extra drainage holes in a few of my containers.  All my other plants are doing fine.  Have one tiny tomato and cucumbers have Quite a few flowers!!

     I did finish "The Innocent" on Thurs.  Enjoyed the fast pace.    Did not start another book until Friday nite bedtime as I had relatives visiting.  My nephew and his wife have been here since  Tues 6/5 .    We ate out as a family group that nite at Three Tomatoes then to my daughter's house.   We have played cards frequently since then.  They have also taken me to various places including the Vermont Country Store and grocery shopping!  They left Wed 6/13 and are headed to Indiana to visit his sisters then back to Iowa for Father's Day with his dad and mom.  Then they will head to CA to visit my son before they fly out of San Francisco back to their home in Korea. 
     About  ?ten years ago I came across a paperback in a used book place which I bought.  It was called "The Silver Pig".   As I often do I put in one of my many bookcases and resurected  it one day when I was out of library books.  I realized that it was part of a series and have been trying to find them all ever since. I am reading them in order of publication and still missimg 3 of them. I am out of library books so I am reading book number 10.  I like stories about other time periods and this takes place in Roman Times...this one specifically in AD73 and 74.  It is the story of Didius Falco an informer and amateur detective, his adventures and home life.  Not a fast read as it is full of details re  Roman life, dress, eating, fighting, traveling etc., but I like it.  The author is Lindsey Davis.

     I finished reading "Catherine the Great" yesterday before going to bed.  She died on Nov 6, 1796 at the age of 67, probably of a stroke.  She was active right to the last and most of the land she acquired thru war and annexation remained under Russian influence until WW2.   I enjoyed the many side stories re Europe and its rulers as well as her story.  A cousin visited me last Sat and said her husband had just finished reading it and had liked it also.
     Today, a complete change of pace.  Read 340 pages of David Baldacci's  "The Innocent".   I have the large print edition which is 641 pages long.  He is one of my favorite authors.  He is an excellent  story teller and his books keep those pages turning.  Font changed on me again!!

     I am still reading "Catherine the Great".... on page 498.   She was an amazing woman for her time.  She worried  about the plight of the serfs and tried to help them but realized that they were an integral part of her country at just the level they were already in.  Freeing the serfs would have broken down her monarchy.  She had 3 children,  none of whom was fathered by her husband!  She had constant lovers throughout her whole life, changing them when she got bored.  She was very generous to her lovers and their families giving them thousands of rubles and often pensions when they left!  She fought wars and annexed land just as any man would have.  Potemkin was the most important man in her life he assured that her rule was as smooth as it could be and was instrumental in annexing the Crimea. Very interesting side issues re the Royals of Europe are also included in this book.
     Have slowed in my reading as I have been fortunate in having the company of relatives this week and enjoyed it very much.  I looks as if everything I planted has survived so far.  Unluckily the excessive rain has not helped my tomatoes....the are very leggy in spite of having been "pinched" back.  They are in containers and some are as tall as I am!! 
     The GOP continues its lies against Obama.   I wish more people would pay attention to the awful way they are tearing away at OUR president.  More Democrats need to speak up.  I often add comments when I read the Washington Post.  There is certainly a need to cut back on our spending but we aslo need to raise revenues.  As I wrote in the Washington Post....I would like to see proof that the congress means business when it comes to cutting spending by starting with .... doing away with  the tax cut for the wealthy and the cutting back on the pensions that the congress has so generously given itself!!

I did read a lot on Sun... about another 100 pages plus of Catherine the Great.  She became Empress of Russia on June 28, 1762....this a meaningful date to me...I don't mean 1762!!  If you know me you will know what I am referring to.  Today I am on page 343 and reading about her correspondence with Voltaire among others.
      Played Bridge this afternoon and won for the 3rd week in a row...will have to lose soon or no one will want to play with me!
     In the news today was a feature story about a mother in Phoenix, Arizona, who left her 5 week old baby on the roof of her car in its(? gender) carrier and never stopped when it fell off.  It was reported that she had been smoking pot!  I have been on the fence about marijuana but this incident definitely puts me against it.  I do think it should be approved for medical use if this can be done in a responsible way.  Marijuana will just add to the number of road accidents.  We alreadyhave enough caused by alcoholic drivers.  The baby luckily is OK.
    After reading this article I was watching MSNBC and they were having a discussion on marijuana one person for and one against.  Obviously none of them had read the paper I did.  Sent along a few words to inform them.

     I'm still reading Catherine the Great ... on page 151.  If you do not like history you will not like this book because it is full of side issues re different characters.  I am enjoying it but not reading as fast as I usually do. I intend to read a lot today as I am very sore and tired from all the outside work I have done in the past 2 days.
     This morning on the Melissa Harris-Perry show on MSNBC the group was talking about Obama's kill list. Everyone was talking about openness and what did this list mean.  Did it mean that the government now intended to kill people instead of taking them prisoners?  The people on this list have sworn to kill as many Americans as possible. What is the problem?? The Government should be after them.   It seems to me that this is one item that is not on my "need to know" list or any one else's either. 

One of the articles I read in the paper online said Romney was doing well with Republican women.  I thought women were smart enough to see through Romney's fake "I want to help the middle class".   How is it helping the middle class and especially women when he says nothing about all the "against women's rights" legislation being passed in all the states where the Gop holds a majority???  If you all want to hold on to your birth control pills, wake up and vote for the Dems who will keep "Roe v Wade" as the law of the land. Romney is so pro business that he will not insist on the regs so needed to keep big companies on the straight and narrow!!   We'll end up right where we are just getting out of, where 8 years of Idiot Bush's policies put us. 

     I started reading "Catherine the Great" yesterday and I doubted that I would finish it as it is 574 pages of fine print and a lot of history but I persevered and find that I am getting hooked.  I like history anyway but usually read it in the winter when the evenings are long and I have no desire to go outside.   I want to know more about this young German princess, Sophia now renamed Catherine.   Am on page 95 and intend to read before going to bed for 20 minutes.
     Worked outside today.  Now have 5 tomato planrts and 12 cucumber  plants in.  Have to finish flowers tomorrow then the rain is supposed to start again.
    Left the computer for a few minutes and the print changed?????  not going to fool around with it now. 

Has everyone noticed that these posts are all on CA time?   It's 10:14 pm here in NH......

Just went to NBC.com and emailed them praising the show and asking them to renew "Harry's Law".    I hope a few other people do also.

I just saw on face book that NBC is going to cancel "Harry's Law" .  What is wrong with these stations?  I really like  this show.  It's so much better than all those junk reality shows which I will never, never, never watch and which seem to be proliferating.  I have been enjoying Sunday nights because of this show and also "The Good Wife" .   Imagine 2 shows I could enjoy on the same night!!
Might have known it would not last.  Well pass this news along.  I'm going to write to NBC right now.

Hi.. Just had breakfast.  Very good Columbian coffee which I first bought with a dollar off coupon and am still buying!  Also had two toasted slices of delicious 9 grain artisan bread, a banana and half of my usual am pills (cause I have not yet refilled my weekly containers with my vitamins). Filling 8 or 9 of  the vitamins takes about half an hour but then you can just forget about it for 8 or 9 weeks!  I usually forget untill the last one is empty!!
     Only read 7 books in May .... way less than I used to read before I got my first computer but actually the same number as I read last year.   May is a busy month for me as I am usually getting containers ready for planting.  This year I only started 2 CA begonias in the house .. on the window seat.  Used to start more but can no longer lug long heavy planters around.  I've planted about 45 CA begonia bulbs this year and have a few more to plant as back up in case some fail to show which rarely happens. Also have 4 containers of CA calla lilies planted.  All these bulbs usally do very well but you have to be patient and enjoy the beautiful leaves first ...then come the blossoms.  These begonias have huge blossoms and the colors are really beautiful.
    Have 12 cucumber plants in (in 2 long containers) but only have 1 tomato plant in. Had heavy thunder showers...downpours really..late yesterday afternoon.  My daughter has taken me grocery shopping many, many times and this is the first time we were ever were caught in this type of downpour.  Too wet to plant anything today so will try to put in the other 4 tomato plants tomorrow.  Also like to plant allyssum and portulaca between bulbs for a litle color while I wait for the bulbs to get going.   More on books and politics later................

Just finished "Catch Me" by Lisa Gardiner.   It was a pretty good story if you like suspense.  The idea of a serial killer killing pedophiles is intriguing enough but the family story is also compelling and keeps you turning pages.  Enjoyed this book and recommend it. Fast read.
     Now let me ask you something much more interesting.  What do you think of the nonsense going on in Washington.  It seems that the GOP wants us to go back to the good old days of barefoot pregnant little woman in the kitchen!!  Backroom abortions for the poor and European abortions for the rich!!
And that is just for starters!  What do you think???

Hi...Welcome to my first blog.  I will try to give you a short or fairly short review of the books I have just read.  No time now.