Winter reading has cometh

A chilly Phrynekinns curious about the water on the INSIDE of the window!

Yes, my lovelies, Winter has certainly made itself known.  But in case I was in doubt the negative temperatures, freezing winds and excruciatingly blue skies were a bit of a clue.  On the plus side this has meant more time spent indoors - to escape the cold - snuggled up somewhere reading a book {at them moment I'm rereading the Guild Hunter series}.

In the past 4 weeks I have purchased a few items from Book Depository, but in small lots - none of those huge splurges I made last year, fun as they were.

Recently I bought two more titles from Susanna Kearsley's bibliography, The Shadowy Horses and Mariana.  Enjoyed both thoroughly.  While not action packed and full of adventure, they are a slow steady romance that always seems to comprise of a time travelling element.  Still quick to read as I need to know what happened, but not as exciting as my Urban Fantasy books.

Also added two new (to me) authors to my shelves.  Alice Thompson's The Book Collector, which sounds amazing, yet is rather on the shorter side, and Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers.  I have already started this Lord Peter Wimsey mystery as Sayers was a contemporary of Agatha Christies, whose Miss Marple books I'm reading this year.  Only a fraction of the way through this tiny book, but I'm cerainly getting my dose of snooty entitled upper-class attitudes with this little number.

Bought one pre-order this month, Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan.  Although I enjoy the way her books are written, they are all starting to sound the same - same alpha male, same in distress female... I don't know whether or not I will continue with this new series.  I'd like to read something different from her after all these years of same ol' same ol'.

Book Depository was full of good deals for me this month.  Found a heavily discounted edition of Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs.  I love the Mercy Thompson world.  The books are amazing, and full of the mystery, humor and romantic moments that I love.  However, this anthology of short stories was a little disappointing in that it only included one story from Mercy!  Yes, just the one - and it was tiny.  However, it is nice to have all the short stories from the associated series all in one bind up, so there's that at least.

Have been trying to stay away from the book section of Big W lately, but when you go through the checkout you have to pass a bin of bargain books.  So, while I was waiting in line, I caved and just started looking through it.  And, of course I spied a name I recognised.  Sarah Pinborough.  Luckily the title they had, Mayhem, looks to be the first in this series, trilogy?, and it sounded amazing, so for the princely sum of $5 it came home with me.

Oh, I did happen to win a book as well!  Yes, I seem to have had a little bit of luck with IG giveaways from Allen & Unwin ;-D This is only an ARC copy of The House Between Tides, and it's now on the shelves at my local Big W, but it looks, and sounds, so interesting that it's jumped up my TBR list and I'm hoping to get to it sometime this winter.

And finally, I picked up The Fireman by Joe Hill from Big W about two weeks ago.  This massive chunker of a book clocks in at 752 pages and has to be at least 2 inches thick!  A monster to be sure, but I am looking forward to reading it at some point in the future.

Which leads me onto my biggest disappointment on the book front.  It concerns the condition my AbeBook's items arrived in.  The first two to arrive, The Stand and Misery, were in fairly good condition, some tears to the cover, and yellowing pages.   However, I'd ordered the 'very good' condition copies so while I was annoyed, it was okay.

Then arrived Bag of Bones and Carrie.  This was the book that started me on the quest to get the six editions of the King Classics that Hodder released in these interesting covers.   Ah, Carrie... you weren't in 'very good' condition, and you reeked of cigarette smoke to boot!  Seriously, my whole unit smelled of disgusting smoke for days - and nothing I tried seemed to take the pong out of it.  Finally had to leave it outside for about 48 hours (sunny days and freezing nights!) but at least the smell came down to a barely detectable level.  Still not impressed as I am allergic to the smoke, so I had itchy eyes, scratchy throat and a stuffed up snoot.

So, that's what's been happening in my neck of the woods on the bookish front.  Making a new Book Depository order in the next few day - have my eyes on so many new stories.

Until next time,

Hot Water Bottle Makeover

Sorry about the poor quality of this pic.  Taken with old phone 📷

So, after over 12 months of not being able to get out the sewing machine and create, I have done just that over the last few days.  I've decided not to let my bum wrists stop me from doing some of the things I want to do - and sewing/quilting is right up there, creative wise.

finally getting back to last April's project

On Sunday I tentively set up the sewing machine on my large coffee table, in front of the Miss Marple episodes I was watching on DVD, and thought I'd just get one or two little items finished off so that I could pack them away properly.  However, by the end of the hour I had put together another couple of the basic blocks... and I was hooked all over again!

and so the sashing begins

So, I sashed the basic blocks (and ironed them, but that's another story) and was wondering what to do when we got hit with some more freezing cold mornings.  That meant that the hot water bottle became the target of my attention as I don't have a nice cover for it.  Thus began my plans...

sorry about the poor quality pic, taken with old phone

Yesterday, after I got home from the hospital physio, I sorted through some fat ¼'s, made a template from my own bottle, and after I got all the other bits and bobs I'd need (batting, backing fabric, sissors, ruler, cup of tea) I started designing.

yep, another pic taken with old phone.  wish I could adjust the photo quality, but there you go.

It took nearly all of yesterday - as I have to take regular breaks for my wrist and back - but I finally put together a cover that I was mostly happy with.  I love the fabrics, and while I might alter one or two things the next time 'round, I gave it a test run last night (while reading Hot Six, and half listening to Season 4 of Fringe) and it kept my trusty old hot water bottle warm all night!

So happy!

Until next time,

Freezing cold and a reading slump to boot

It's been about 2 weeks since I posted anything - sorry 'bout that - but I have just been so busy lately.  I've been a cleaning fiend, inspection by landlord, and between that, and the absolutely icy winds that have been howling in from the west, it's just been a really crappy time to read.  Now I know it should be the best weather for snuggling up in a blanket on the couch to read... however, when there is no heating in your home it's not really conducive for reading for any length of time.  So instead I have been bundled up in my quilted jacket, under some blankets, and watching old TV series that I like.  Yes, I'm under a blanket, but at least my hands/arms aren't out in the cold holding a book!

I'm hoping that this is either my last winter in this unit, or perhaps in this town (?), as although I do love the cool weather - I really do need either a warmer climate, or a place that has heating.  I'd even settle for a place that's draft proof.  But until then I've been re-reading some old favourites during the odd times that I've felt like reading.  I'm hoping to snap myself out of this little slump.  It's been so annoying.  I was so looking forward to Siren's Call by Jayne Castle to be released, but when I finally got a copy I read it and blah!  I've really enjoyed all the books in this futuristic paranormal romance, and yet this didn't do anything for me.  I'm hoping that it's just a result of being in a reading funk - and not that the book might be wishy-washy.

Oy, now I'm feeling blue.  Off to make some brownies I think.  Need a little chocolate-y goodness to cheer me up ;-D

Hope that your reading this month has been more productive than mine.

Until next time,

 

Have to cut back on the typing, doctor's orders

PS - had to take this photo 4 times to finally get one that wasn't fuzzy!

The worst thing about getting older is the sense that you are falling apart.  Well, at least that's how I'm feeling at the moment.  Over the past 18 months I've been having trouble with my feet - turns out is was plantar fasciitis - and with my right wrist.  For the longest time I was told it was just tendonitis.  I have a brace for it as the pins and needles at night were excruciatingly painful.  Then my left wrist started to display the same symptoms.  I had an ultrasound scan on them a few weeks ago, and it turns out that I have carpal tunnel in both wrists.  I don't do things by halves, do I?

Winter is a particularly unpleasant time, as the cold weather is making my wrists (and ankle) rather stiff and sore.  Hopefully now that I know what it is I can finally get either some physio, or in the future surgery if needed, to make this very painful and irritating condition go away.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, for starters, it means that typing out long reviews or posts is very hard.  Taking photos is a pain as I find that I get the shakes and end with fuzzy pictures... I hate that!  It also means that reading has become a bit of a marathon as holding a book for hours, and turning the pages if I hold it in one hand, can set of hours of pain in my wrists.  However, with a little bit of ingenuity - and a small travel neck pillow - I now have a small book holder that helps at times.

So if I don't post anything for a week or so you know know why.  I'm taking the doctors advice and resting my wrists.  Totally inconvenient when there are also house chores to be done, but I'd rather be a bit behind in my laundry then suffering through hours of pins and needles that leave me feeling like my hand has just been skinned!

But I will be soldiering on and adding reviews, photo's and stuff... I'll just be a tad slow about it.  I love uploading photo's and even if only one person comments, then I'm happy ;-D

Until next time,

Oh, I'll try to have my Top 5 Wednesday post up tomorrow.  

I'm frozen!

Need I say more?

Until next time,
 

Freezing my butt off!

It's been so cold here at night.  The weatherman commented, on the news tonight, that this is the coldest start to June in over a decade!  Last night was almost 10°c below average!  As you can see, we're in for more of the same tonight, so I've rugged up and I'm sitting in bed under the doona.  Brought a bottle of water and an old favourite to bed so I don't have to get up any time soon ;-D

Fingers crossed that I don't wake up to heavy frost covering everything.

Until next time,
 

Did I mention it's cold?

Hi there, my lovelies. I may have metioned it a time or two over the last few days, that it's getting cold.  Today I really mean it... I'M COLD!  As I sit here typing, I have a hot water bottle snuggly sitting on my lap, some woolly wrist warmers keeping my wrist warm (obviously), layered long sleeve shirts, a beanie, track pants (uh, sweat pants in America?) and warm woolly socks with Ugg boots on.  If I could, I'd be rugged up in my thick blanket as well.

There's a hot water bottle underneath all the blankets as well!

Last night I took a photo of my cat snuggling up to my hot water bottle - she also snuck under the blankets some time during the night! - just to show you I'm not kidding.  And to add insult to injury, it's toasty warm outside in the sun.  (Whoever designed these units needed to run his designs by his mum to make sure it would work in 'real life' and not just on the page as the living rooms share the internal wall!)  Anyhow, I'm off to enjoy a hot lunch and try to find a sunny spot to read.  Fingers crossed I thaw out soon ;-D

Winter's in the air

After some very unseasonably warm weather, Winter has finally decided to make an entrance after a truly mild Autumn.  That means that for the past week or so every morning I've woken to find my place surrounded by thick fog.  Such a magical, yet eerie, atmosphere.  My only question is why, when you can hardly see the road in front of you, does it never show up as well in photo's?

Early Winter and craft

Winter has arrived early this year, and with the cold snap - winds straight off the Antarctic! - I've started nesting on the couch with my traditional winter crafts being pulled out of the mothballs ;-D  On Friday I started searching through my quilting projects for something small that could be hand made in front of the TV (Once Upon a Time Seasons 1 & 2), as well as leftover knitting or crochet from last year.   Since I couldn't help but buy some more quilting fabric I'll have a lot of projects to choose from, but I'm leaning more towards doing some quilt-as-you-go charm squares.  My green knitted jumper still isn't finished so I think that will go in the 'must do' pile as well.  I still have to dig out my chair-side storage basket so everything is within easy reach and then I can keep myself occupied through the cold winter months.  All I need to do now is raid my TBR pile for some good books and it'll be perfect!

Spending a cold night with a good book and a cuppa

Last night was so cold here in SE QLD.  For the 11th night in a row, I had to shiver through subzero temperatures - the lowest at -4°c (or about 25°f) - and it seems there's no end in sight.  At these temperatures I should be able to enjoy having some snow falling, but nooooo we don't get snow here.  So, when I heard the weatherman make his prediction that was it.  I was calling it a night and heading off to bed.  There was no way in hell I was sitting in a chilly room (that I can never seem to heat up) trying to watch the Olympics (the only thing watchable on TV, but that's another story).  Grabbing a book at random, I made a steaming hot mug of tea and scampered off to bed.  

It was so cold that my cat wanted to get under the blankets too!  That's when you know it's really cold.  Today it's fine and sunny but the wind is howling.  As I write this I'm curled up on the sofa, cat in lap, bundled up in winter woollies.  I'm even contemplating getting a throw rug to wrap around me.  I foresee another freezing night ahead of me... I wish I had a fireplace.

Lazy Dayz

Just enjoying the warm winter sun and getting a lap sit from the cat!

Back in the Saddle

. . . for now anyway.  Seems that my contrary computer's modem is playing nice today so I can finally go online and do some studying.  The downtime has given me a chance to catch up on some reading.  I've dived back into my regency books, Stephanie Laurens only, and using this extra time have re-read some of my not-so-favourite titles - you know, just to see if time has made them any better.  Guess what?  It worked!  I was never too fond of the last book in the Bastion Club series (Christian Allardyce, Marquess of Dearne's story) but found that having not read any regencies for over 6 months, I got into it.  While it is by no means my favourite book in the series, I did enjoy it a lot more.

I'm still waiting - not so patiently now - for my Amazon UK parcel to arrive.  I  bought a copy of Jean Auel's Land of Painted Caves for mum, plus a copy of Treachery in Death by JD Robb.  I know that I could reserve a copy of the book from the library, but I'm doggedly waiting for my copy to arrive. . . someday?

On the home front, the weather has turned rather chilly the last few nights.  Not doona weather really, but you certainly need more than a light blanket on the bed.  This gave me a case of 'spring cleaning', so I attacked my rooms, dug through the linen cupboard and washed my flanelette sheets (no laughing okay) so that they would be nice and fresh to sleep in.  There's nothing nicer than snuggling down in a freshly made bed to sleep at night. 

I just thought I'd throw this in here at the end.  Our local neighbourhood peacocks are still on the loose here.  I woke up the other morning to find the beautiful male just wandering past my back door.  I rushed in to get the camera but by the time I got back to the door all I managed to get was a photo of his tail feathers disappearing around the corner of the tank.  So I crept up on the back landing, quiet as a mouse, and managed to locate them around the other side of the house.  I waited until they made their way back towards the shed before I managed to get a picture of the cheeky little buggars.  They are as quick as lightning when they want to be, and have you heard their calls?  They sound like a sick goose on steroids!  Hooooonk, hooooonk.  That when they aren't screaming bloody murder.  There's an old couple that used to live on acreage at the end of our street that used to breed them.  As a child, you'd hear them going at night, and I would have sworn it was some poor screaming her lungs out.