Maran Illustrated Windows XP

Ok, I have finally found a book about Windows I can understand. I started at the beginning and am surprised how much I know already -- good, right?

Then I find a new thing, but so far it is mostly cool.

The Santa Fe Trail by Ralph Compton

I don't think I have read him before but it looks like he is pretty prolific.  This is from the Trail Drive Series: Book 10.   I like it.  Fast paced and the girls get to ride herd on some of those beeves.  Too bad they were always in the dust but you know the male author never tells us how much water they brought on the drive to wash the girls faces, etc...

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

This is the first book in the saga.  I have it on my Digital Editions software from the library.  I am about half way through the 800+ pages.  My favourite characters so far are Tyrion, the Imp, Jon Snow the bastard, and Dani, the young princess who was given in marriage to form an alliance with the Dathraki.  The HBO series seems to follow the book closely but I have only seen the first episode.  I guess I prefer reading

I like it, the writing style reminds me of Dan Brown's da vinci code.  Good though.

It looks like the book will disappear from my software before I get much further.  I can't sit and read all the time.  Sometimes I have to do a little Zen Doodling...

The Body in Motion - Its Evolution and Design

I guess I am just a sucker for anything with a design in it.  Theodore Dimon, Jr. really does it here.  A great way to get a handle on how our bodies move and how they should work in a non repetitive strain world.  Really easy to read and understand.  Lots of lovely illustrations of how my body should be.  And maybe a few hints on how I can carry on.

Short too.

He compares our spines to bridges - I'm pretty sure mine isn't like this beauty in South Carolina.

I'm thinking mine is more like this swinging bridge in Souris, Manitoba.

Memory in Death by J.D. Robb

Here is another of Nora Roberts murder mysteries.  I really like her Eve Dallas character.  She and her husband Roarke are a swashbuckling pair or heroes.  The plot moves quickly and efficiently.  This one involved a woman who had been Eve's first foster mother so again we get a bit more of Eve's past explained as well a mystery solved...

Peabody has her own subplot with her ongoing relationship with Murphy who now lives with her.  She is meeting the parents....in Scotland...

Oh, yeah, and it's Christmas time...

Heart of Lies Book 2 Irish Angel Series by Jill Marie Landis

The second book in the Irish Angel Series continuing Laura Foster's search for her sisters.  In this book she finds Megan who was brought up on the the bayou by a Fagan-like character.  Pinkerton Tom Abbott has been looking for over a year for Laura's sister who was torn from her when the

Homecoming

Another book by Jill Marie Landis.  I just got this from the library after enjoying the Irish Angel series.  This one takes place in the same town, Glory, TX that Laura Foster (McCormick) lived.  Well done.  This one is about Eyes-of-the-Sky who discovers her white past and future with Hattie's son Joe Ellenberg.  She was taken by the Comanche as a child and 'freed' by the army when she is an adult.  Quite a culture shock.

The Sight of the Stars

My mom gave me this book.  I remember now that I don't like Belva Plain.  I've read her books before and not enjoyed them.  This one was a bit better but not so good.

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The Pioneer Woman, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

This love story is written by Ree Drummond.  What a light hearted, humourous romp - the Marlboro Man is delicious.  But I have to read it quickly as it's a New & Notable (which means no extensions from the library)

Here is my representation of the pioneer life that I chose before I realized that the book was present day.  (It's from the old shed at my family farm )

I just finished the book today.  (I started this a few days ago) - I highly recommend this read.  If you are married it will remind of the early days - something we all need to remember - in a marriage.  By the end I thought that if I had written the book, I would not want my 'marlboro man' to read the result as it would give him a fat head.  

Very romantic and sweet.

Movies - Back When we were Grownups

Quite a tour de force with a wonderful performance by Jack Palance.  (I loved him in City Slickers)  Poppie (JP) is celebrating his 100th birthday and his family is there for him... Sort of slow but a nice look at how we could all turn out.

Movies - Secret Life of Bees/Lost in Translation

The Secret Life of Bees
   A lovely drama about a young girl searching for her mother's roots and a place for herself.  Queen Latifah as the bee keeper is wonderful.

Lost in Translation
    With Bill Murray playing 'the man' for a liquor company and his brief relationship with the wife of a busy man (while they are in Hong Kong - or somewhere)  Very well done.

The Farmer's Wife by Laurie Aaron Hird

I bought this book from Shirley's in Moosomin, Saskatchewan.  I have been seeing blogs of people making the blocks but the articles in the book are lovely, inspiring and encouraging.  The newspaper that they are reprinted from invited farm wives to explain if they would encourage their daughters to become farm wives.

So far I have just been reading...

Heart of Stone - Irish Angel series - Book 1

Jill Marie Landis gives another good story of her folks in Glory, Texas.  I am still trying to figure out which of the other characters there I have read books about.  This one is about Laura (Lovie) who was sold into prostitution by her uncle when she was young and turned her life around until she became a respected boardinghouse owner in a small town.

Blameless by Thom Lemmons

This novel is very well thought out and a lovely love story.  Thom is inspired by the book of Job and the ceaseless tribulations he encounters.  But I really liked this from Ezekiel 16:8,
     'Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness.  I gave you me solemn oath and entered into a convenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.'

Angela's Ashes

Frank McCourt has written this book (in 1996) about his early life as a desperately poor existence in Ireland.  He treats the topic with accuracy and detail.  And a certain acceptance of the way it was.  No whining.  I found it a bit depressing but in the end  I admired his ability to portray a segment of his personal life in a fairly objective way.

Better with Buttermilk

The subtitle of Lee Edwards Benning's informative book is 'the Secret Ingredient in old-fashioned cooking'.  What an eye opener.  As a lover of real, simple ingredient cooking and old fashioned tasty products, this book is amazing.  There is even a recipe for making your own butter extender using buttermilk.

My Passion for Design

This beautiful book by Barbra Streisand is a great lazy afternoon curled up on the couch read.  Loads of pictures and lots of back story on her collecting and travels.  And of course she had a beautiful house (or houses I should say) to work on.  And she is very fond of roses hence the rose picture from my garden.

Manufacturing Guilt, wrongful convictions in Canada

Dawn Anderson & Barrie Anderson point out the mistakes and wrongful convictions of people in Canada accused and convicted of serious crimes.  It is very interesting especially as most of the cases are ones I remember hearing about in the news.

It also points up the fallibility of our judicial system - judges, lawyers, police and even the witnesses that were coerced and bought off.  Yikes an indictment to be sure.  However, it must not be forgotten that these cases are the few. (very few)  And that as a result of these high profile cases changes have been made to the system to help in the future.

Very interesting read though.

Wicked All Day

This new episode in the series is about Zoe and her Marquess.  Of course it looks very bad at the beginning but they all manage to sort themselves out in the end.  Opps, did I spoil it.  Oh, right, it's a romance so that's how they all go.  Liz Carlyle is a favourite of mine and this series about the Scots (Lord Rannoch and Evangeline ) carries on in grand style.

Guided by a Stone-Mason

Thomas Maude leads you through an exploration of the cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Britain in this small book.

It was an informative read set out like you are on a walking tour of the cathedrals without the walking.  He explores the bones of the church in a structural way that makes you feel that you will see any old building with new eyes.

When our children were young we travelled and churches were often on the agenda.  They were beautiful, free, and usually welcoming to families.  Many of his descriptions reminded me of the cathedrals I have seen in Halifax, Montreal, Seattle, Salt Lake City.  Perhaps not even all very old.  It is a testament to the early stone masons that with our modern materials we wish to repeat the patterns from a thousand years ago.