Saturday, January 31, 2015

Saturday Farmer's Market - Indoor Gardening



Created by Heather at Capricious Reader, and now hosted by Chris at Stuff as Dreams are Made on.


The plants in my Terrarium have grown quite a bit over the past year.





I have only had access to familiar house plants so far, and have been working on finding ones that will flourish in a humid environment.

So far, only two have made the cut: Spathiphyllum or Peace Lily, and F. Benjamina or Ficus, but they are both doing well. 

My Peace Lily is blooming for the second time right now. 
 
The first flower was tiny, but this one is almost the size of my hand.

An issue that I will soon be facing is that both of these plants grow large.

In fact, the Ficus wants to top out at about 98 feet. 

I'm thinking that it will be an issue quickly, as I only have a 55 gallon terrarium.

I found a few sources online for plants meant for small humid situations like closed terrariums.




Oh, I also have a couple of Tillandsia or Air Plants.

I started with four,
but two of them didn't make it.

The other two, however, have doubled in size.





 If you look real close you can see pollen from the Peace Lilly on the leaf below the flower.
 

Peace Lilies
- Cathy Smith Bowers
I collect them now, it seems. Like
sea-shells or old
thimbles. One for
Father. One for

Mother. Two for my sweet brothers.
Odd how little
they require of
me. Unlike the

ones they were sent in memory
of. No sudden
shrilling of the
phone. No harried

midnight flights. Only a little
water now and
then. Scant food and
light. See how I’ve

brought them all together here in
this shaded space
beyond the stairs.
Even when they

thirst, they summon me with nothing
more than a soft,
indifferent furl-
ing of their leaves.

from: A Book of Minutes. Copyright 2004.


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Work without Hope

- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

                     Lines Composed 21st February 1825

All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair—
The bees are stirring—birds are on the wing—
And Winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring!
And I the while, the sole unbusy thing,
Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.

         Yet well I ken the banks where amaranths blow,
Have traced the fount whence streams of nectar flow.
Bloom, O ye amaranths! bloom for whom ye may,
For me ye bloom not! Glide, rich streams, away!
With lips unbrightened, wreathless brow, I stroll:
And would you learn the spells that drowse my soul?
Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve,
And Hope without an object cannot live.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Kilt Monday! (Oops! Dont you Hate it When You Forget to Push the Button?)

'Cause let's face it,
Mondays can be so rough, hard, difficult.


Sunday, January 25, 2015

What Work Is

- Philip Levine

We stand in the rain in a long line
waiting at Ford Highland Park. For work.
You know what work is—if you’re
old enough to read this you know what
work is, although you may not do it.
Forget you. This is about waiting,
shifting from one foot to another.
Feeling the light rain falling like mist
into your hair, blurring your vision
until you think you see your own brother
ahead of you, maybe ten places.
You rub your glasses with your fingers,
and of course it’s someone else’s brother,
narrower across the shoulders than
yours but with the same sad slouch, the grin
that does not hide the stubbornness,
the sad refusal to give in to
rain, to the hours of wasted waiting,
to the knowledge that somewhere ahead
a man is waiting who will say, “No,
we’re not hiring today,” for any
reason he wants. You love your brother,
now suddenly you can hardly stand
the love flooding you for your brother,
who’s not beside you or behind or
ahead because he’s home trying to   
sleep off a miserable night shift
at Cadillac so he can get up
before noon to study his German.
Works eight hours a night so he can sing
Wagner, the opera you hate most,
the worst music ever invented.
How long has it been since you told him
you loved him, held his wide shoulders,
opened your eyes wide and said those words,
and maybe kissed his cheek? You’ve never
done something so simple, so obvious,
not because you’re too young or too dumb,
not because you’re jealous or even mean
or incapable of crying in
the presence of another man, no,   
just because you don’t know what work is.


from: What Work Is. Copyright 1992.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Saturday Farmer's Market - A Little Mid-Winter Whining



Created by Heather at Capricious Reader, and now hosted by Chris at Stuff as Dreams are Made on.


Autumn color and Summer blossoms grace the same garden.

Frost damage and Spring greenery also share space.

Out of this chaos, regardless of my actions, will come beauty and fruit for all, human and otherwise.

I lost about three months this year and am way behind with the garden work. Being physically weakened and lacking stamina I don't see myself catching up anytime soon.






My Garden rejuvenates both Body and Soul, and I never realized how much I needed it until I was kept away from it this year.










"Ancient poetry and mythology suggest, at least, that husbandry was once a sacred art."
- Henry David Thoreau, Walden.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Homeric Hymn to Demeter

When grief strikes a mother,
there is no end to it.
The earth parches, its
glittering waters gone.
Everything is barren. Cattle starve
for lack of grain. Nothing grows.
Even the gods are destitute,
even the altar flames blow out.
such is a mother's grief; bitter
and endless, for her lost child.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Monday, January 19, 2015

Kilt Monday!

'Cause let's face it,
Mondays can be so rough, hard, difficult.


Sunday, January 18, 2015

Song: to Celia

[Drink to me only with thine eyes]
- Ben Jonson

Drink to me only with thine eyes,
         And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
         And I’ll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
         Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,
         I would not change for thine.

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
         Not so much honouring thee
As giving it a hope, that there
         It could not withered be.
But thou thereon didst only breathe,
         And sent’st it back to me;
Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,
         Not of itself, but thee.

Friday, January 16, 2015

God's Funeral

- Thomas Hardy

I
I saw a slowly-stepping train --
Lined on the brows, scoop-eyed and bent and hoar --
Following in files across a twilit plain
A strange and mystic form the foremost bore.

II
And by contagious throbs of thought
Or latent knowledge that within me lay
And had already stirred me, I was wrought
To consciousness of sorrow even as they.

III
The fore-borne shape, to my blurred eyes,
At first seemed man-like, and anon to change
To an amorphous cloud of marvellous size,
At times endowed with wings of glorious range.

IV
And this phantasmal variousness
Ever possessed it as they drew along:
Yet throughout all it symboled none the less
Potency vast and loving-kindness strong.

V
Almost before I knew I bent
Towards the moving columns without a word;
They, growing in bulk and numbers as they went,
Struck out sick thoughts that could be overheard: --

VI
'O man-projected Figure, of late
Imaged as we, thy knell who shall survive?
Whence came it we were tempted to create
One whom we can no longer keep alive?

VII
'Framing him jealous, fierce, at first,
We gave him justice as the ages rolled,
Will to bless those by circumstance accurst,
And longsuffering, and mercies manifold.

VIII
'And, tricked by our own early dream
And need of solace, we grew self-deceived,
Our making soon our maker did we deem,
And what we had imagined we believed,

IX
'Till, in Time's stayless stealthy swing,
Uncompromising rude reality
Mangled the Monarch of our fashioning,
Who quavered, sank; and now has ceased to be.

X
'So, toward our myth's oblivion,
Darkling, and languid-lipped, we creep and grope
Sadlier than those who wept in Babylon,
Whose Zion was a still abiding hope.

XI
'How sweet it was in years far hied
To start the wheels of day with trustful prayer,
To lie down liegely at the eventide
And feel a blest assurance he was there!

XII
'And who or what shall fill his place?
Whither will wanderers turn distracted eyes
For some fixed star to stimulate their pace
Towards the goal of their enterprise?'...

XIII
Some in the background then I saw,
Sweet women, youths, men, all incredulous,
Who chimed as one: 'This is figure is of straw,
This requiem mockery! Still he lives to us!'

XIV
I could not prop their faith: and yet
Many I had known: with all I sympathized;
And though struck speechless, I did not forget
That what was mourned for, I, too, once had prized.

XV
Still, how to bear such loss I deemed
The insistent question for each animate mind,
And gazing, to my growing sight there seemed
A pale yet positive gleam low down behind,

XVI
Whereof, to lift the general night,
A certain few who stood aloof had said,
'See you upon the horizon that small light --
Swelling somewhat?' Each mourner shook his head.

XVII
And they composed a crowd of whom
Some were right good, and many nigh the best....
Thus dazed and puzzled 'twixt the gleam and gloom
Mechanically I followed with the rest.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Here's An Old Favorite . . .

Hope is the thing with feathers
- Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.


from: The Poems of Emily Dickinson, Copyright 1999.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

The Obligation to Be Happy

- Linda Pastan

It is more onerous
than the rites of beauty
or housework, harder than love.
But you expect it of me casually,
the way you expect the sun
to come up, not in spite of rain
or clouds but because of them.

And so I smile, as if my own fidelity
to sadness were a hidden vice—
that downward tug on my mouth,
my old suspicion that health
and love are brief irrelevancies,
no more than laughter in the warm dark
strangled at dawn.

Happiness. I try to hoist it
on my narrow shoulders again—
a knapsack heavy with gold coins.
I stumble around the house,   
bump into things.
Only Midas himself
would understand.


from Carnival Evening: New and Selected Poems 1968-1998. Copyright 1998.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Kilt Monday!

'Cause let's face it,
Mondays can be so rough, hard, difficult.


Saturday, January 10, 2015

Saturday Farmer's Market - Blooming Chaos!



Created by Heather at Capricious Reader, and now hosted by Chris at Stuff as Dreams are Made on.

It is definitely winter, and much of the country is seeing white and gray right now. I hope this post brings back some warm memories.


Believe it or not, my Roses are still blooming. 
Florabundas (below) and Granifloras (above) are hardy, determined little plants.


Blooming Rosemary!


Oops! I really should have cleaned up the garden better.


These lovelies are my companions all winter long.



The Mint is still going like crazy. 
I need to cut it again. It's desperately in need of repotting and I finally found affordable pots the size I need.


The Agave is really happy. 
Of course, they come from the high desert where it routinely freezes, so this weather is nothing.


And finally, my Pussy Willow is putting out its catkins. I'm not sure if that's good or bad.


On the whole, my garden looks abandoned and overgrown, but there is a lot of life in the chaos. I think I like it that way. 

Keep warm every one, and take care.

Friday, January 9, 2015

I Think the World needs Some Milk and Cookies and a Nap.

After I wrote that, I realized that the only time I bake cookies is at Christmas for the grandkids to decorate.

How about a nice coffee cake instead?

I've been making this recipe for centuries. The ladies in my parish back in the 'old country' put together cookbooks as fund raisers for the local parochial school, and the book this recipe comes from is older than my children.

OLD FASHIONED CRUMB CAKE

2 C brown sugar
3 C flour
1/2 C butter (cold, cut in pieces)

Crumble the above mixture into a course meal. (The recipe says with your fingers, but my stand mixer does a bang up job & doesn't warm the butter.) Save 1C of mixture for topping.

To the remainder, add 1C buttermilk with 1 tsp. of baking soda added. Mix. (If you don't happen to have buttermilk on hand, 1 T of vinegar or lemon juice in the milk will do the trick.)

Divide between two greased 8" pans, cover with portion of mixture you set aside, sprinkle generously with cinnamon, and dot with chunks of butter.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes.

Come to think of it, I drink tea with my coffee cake - while I read.

I guess the title of the post should have been:

"I Think the World Needs Some Tea and Coffee Cake and a Good Book."

It just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

(By the way, this isn't a picture of my coffee cake. It doesn't last long enough to actually get a picture of it.)

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Hug O'War

- Shel Silverstein

I will not play at tug o' war.
I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.


 from: Where the Sidewalk Ends, Copyright 1974.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Mottled Tuesday

- John Ashbery

Something was about to go laughably wrong,
whether directly at home or here,
on this random shoal pleading with its eyes
till it too breaks loose, caught in a hail of references.
I’ll add one more scoop
to the pile of retail.

Hey, you’re doing it, like I didn’t tell you
to, my sinking laundry boat, point of departure,
my white pomegranate, my swizzle stick.
We’re leaving again of our own volition
for bogus patterned plains streaked by canals,
maybe. Amorous ghosts will pursue us
for a time, but sometimes they get, you know, confused and
forget to stop when we do, as they continue to populate this
fertile land with their own bizarre self-imaginings.
Here’s hoping the referral goes tidily, O brother.
Chime authoritatively with the pop-ups and extras.
Keep your units pliable and folded,
the recourse a mere specter, like you have it coming to you,
awash with the new day and its abominable antithesis,
OK? Don’t be able to make that distinction.


from: A Worldly Country. Copyright 2007.
Possibly of interest: How to Read John Ashbery.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Kilt Monday!

'Cause let's face it,
Mondays can be so rough, hard, difficult.


Sunday, January 4, 2015

Reading Challenges for 2015

I'm getting ready for the next Olympic games.


I know, I'm late. 
If my reading challenge posts are any indication, this is going to be a rough year - and it's only the third day.

New Year's Resolution Challenge 2015 - Short term, through January 31
(Hosted by Joy's book blog)

{My link}







Mental Illness Advocacy Reading Challenge 2015
(hosted by: Opinions of a Wolf)

{My link}






~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~


2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge (hosted by: The Book Vixen)

Simple goal: read more books in 2015 than in 2014. The four Levels are still: Getting My Heart Rate Up: read 1–5 more books Out of Breath: read 6–10 more books  Breaking a Sweat: read 11–15 more books I’m on Fire!: read 16+ more books



I read 153 books in 2014, which was way up from the 87 I read in 2013. I was On Fire! While I'd like to reach the I'm On Fire level again, I don't know if I will be able. So I will aim to Get My Heart Rate Up, and hope for more.

{FINAL UPDATE 12/29/15} I fell short of my goal this year. It felt like I was on track, but ... nope.  There are reasons, but they are unimportant. I will try to do better next year.
  1. The Silkworm  (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith 
  2. Cuckoo's Calling (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith
  3. The Golden Notebook (audiobook) - Doris Lessing
  4. The Caves of Steel (audiobook) - Isaac Asimov
  5. There Was An Old Woman (audiobook) - Ellery Queen
  6. Double Sin and Other Stories (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  7. The Halloween Tree (audiobook) - Ray Bradbury
  8. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  9. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  10. The Cat Who Said Cheese (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  11. The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  12. The Cat Who Wasn't There - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  13. The Cat Who Went Into the Closet - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  15. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  16. The adventure of the Sinister Stranger (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  17. Voluntary Committal (audiobook) - Joe Hill
  18. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (audiobook) - Roald Dahl
  19. The Case of the Middle Aged Wife (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  20. The Case of the Discontented Soldier (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  21. Suicide Run (audiobook) - Michael Connelly
  22. Demolition Angel (ebook) - Robert Crais
  23. The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights (ebook) - Faye Kellerman
  24. Critical Mass (ebook) - Sara Paretsky
  25. Chasing Darkness (ebook) - Robert Crais
  26. Blacklist (ebook) - Sara Paretsky
  27. The Watchman (ebook) - Robert Crais 
  28. The American Gun Mystery - (audiobook) - Ellery Queen 
  29. Angle of Investigation (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  30. Switchblade (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  31. Windy City Blues (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  32. Bitter Medicine (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  33. The First Rule (ebook) - Robert Crais 
  34. Blacklist - Sara Paretsky 
  35. Serpent's Tooth (ebook) - Faye Kellerman 
  36. The Beige Man (ebook) - Helene Tursten 
  37. Total Recall (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  38. The Safe Man (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  39. The Burning Room (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  40. Killing Orders (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  41. Death on Retreat - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  42. The Golem of Hollywood - Jonathan Kellerman & Jesse Kellerman 
  43. How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back - Ruth Stout 
  44. Raging Heat - Richard Castle 
  45. Motive - Jonathan Kellerman 
  46. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs 
  47. The Brief History of the Dead - Kevin Brockmeier 
  48. Dark Tower IV: Wizard And Glass - Stephen King 
  49. Night (audiobook) - Elie Wiesel
  50. At Risk (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  51. The Front - (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  52. Hornet's Nest (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  53. The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly 
  54. Flesh and Blood - Patricia Cornwell 
  55. Death of an Angel - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  56. Death Takes Up A Collection - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  57. Requiem At the Refuge - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  58. The Corporal Works of Murder - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  59. The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (audiobook) - Philip Pullman 
  60. One For the Money (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  61. Life's Missing Instruction Manual (audiobook) - Joe Vitale 
  62. Deja Dead (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  63. An Appointment With Death (audiobook) - Agatha Christie 
  64. The Eagle Catcher (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  65. The Ghost Walker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  66. The Hanging in the Hotel (audiobook) - Simon Brett 
  67. The Dream Stalker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  68. The Spirit Woman (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  69. The Thunder Keeper (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  70. The Shadow Dancer (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  71. Killing Raven (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  72. Wife of Moon (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  73. The Girl With the Braided Hair (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  74. The Story Teller (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  75. The Lost Bird (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  76. The Eye of the Wolf (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  77. The Clockwork Scarab (audiobook) - Colleen Gleason 
  78. Death du Jour (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  79. Break No Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  80. Cross Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  81. Bones To Ashes (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  82. Bare Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  83. Wolves of the Calla (audiobook) - Stephen King 
  84. On the Move (audiobook) - Oliver Sacks 
  85. Two For the Dough (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  86. Song of Susanna (audiobook) - Stephen King 
  87. The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower VII (audiobook) - Stephen King 
  88. The Twits (ebook) - Roald Dahl 
  89. Devil Bones (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  90. Depraved Heart (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  91. The Crossing (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  92. The Promise (ebook) - Robert Crais 
  93. Brush Back (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  94. Bones In Her Pocket (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  95. Swamp Bones (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  96. Bones On Ice (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  97. Murder At the Monk's Table - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  98. Brain On Fire - Susannah Cahalan 
  99. Deadly Decisions - Kathy Reichs 
  100. Fatal Voyage - Kathy Reichs 
  101. Grave Secrets - Kathy Reichs 
  102. Monday Mourning - Kathy Reichs 
  103. 206 Bones - Kathy Reichs 
  104. Spider Bones - Kathy Reichs 
  105. Flash and Bones - Kathy Reichs 
  106. Bones Are Forever - Kathy Reichs 
  107. Bones of the lost - Kathy Reichs 
  108. Bones Never Lie - Kathy Reichs


Snagged @ the Library Reading Challenge
(hosted by: Geeky Bloggers & The Book Nympho)

Support your local Library and take pressure off your budget.

The four levels are:  
      Dewey Decimal (read 12 books)
      Thrifty Reader (read 24 books)  
      Overdrive Junkie: (read 36 books)  
      Library Card on Fire: (read 50+ books)



I'm going to aim at setting my Library Card On Fire this year.



{FINAL UPDATE 12/29/15} Well, my library card is certainly on fire this year.

  1. The Silkworm  (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith
  2. Cuckoo's Calling (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith
  3. The Golden Notebook (audiobook) - Doris Lessing
  4. The Caves of Steel (audiobook) - Isaac Asimov
  5. There Was An Old Woman (audiobook) - Ellery Queen
  6. Double Sin and Other Stories (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  7. The Halloween Tree (audiobook) - Ray Bradbury
  8. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  9. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  10. The Cat Who Said Cheese (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  11. The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  12. The Cat Who Wasn't There - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  13. The Cat Who Went Into the Closet - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  15. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  16. The adventure of the Sinister Stranger (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  17. Voluntary Committal (audiobook) - Joe Hill
  18. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (audiobook) - Roald Dahl
  19. The Case of the Middle Aged Wife (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  20. The Case of the Discontented Soldier (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  21. Suicide Run (audiobook) - Michael Connelly
  22. Demolition Angel (ebook) - Robert Crais
  23. The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights (ebook) - Faye Kellerman
  24. Critical Mass (ebook) - Sara Paretsky
  25. Chasing Darkness (ebook) - Robert Crais
  26. Blacklist (ebook) - Sara Paretsky
  27. The Watchman (ebook) - Robert Crais
  28. The American Gun Mystery - (audiobook) - Ellery Queen 
  29. Angle of Investigation (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  30. Switchblade (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  31. Windy City Blues (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  32. Bitter Medicine (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  33. The First Rule (ebook) - Robert Crais 
  34. Blacklist - Sara Paretsky 
  35. Serpent's Tooth (ebook) - Faye Kellerman 
  36. The Beige Man (ebook) - Helene Tursten 
  37. Total Recall (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  38. The Safe Man (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  39. The Burning Room (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  40. Killing Orders (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  41. Night (audiobook) - Elie Wiesel 
  42. At Risk (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  43. The Front - (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  44. Hornet's Nest (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell
  45. One For the Money (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  46. Life's Missing Instruction Manual (audiobook) - Joe Vitale 
  47. Deja Dead (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  48. An Appointment With Death (audiobook) - Agatha Christie 
  49. The Eagle Catcher (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  50. The Ghost Walker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  51. The Hanging in the Hotel (audiobook) - Simon Brett 
  52. The Dream Stalker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  53. The Spirit Woman (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  54. The Thunder Keeper (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  55. The Shadow Dancer (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  56. Killing Raven (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  57. Wife of Moon (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  58. The Girl With the Braided Hair (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  59. The Story Teller (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  60. The Lost Bird (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  61. The Eye of the Wolf (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  62. The Clockwork Scarab (audiobook) - Colleen Gleason 
  63. Death du Jour (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  64. Break No Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  65. Cross Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichsones To Ashes (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  66. Bare Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  67. Wolves of the Calla (audiobook) - Stephen King 
  68. On the Move (audiobook) - Oliver Sacks 
  69. Two For the Dough (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  70. Song of Susanna (audiobook) - Stephen King 
  71. The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower VII (audiobook) - Stephen King 
  72. The Twits (ebook) - Roald Dahl 
  73. Devil Bones (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  74. Depraved Heart (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  75. The Crossing (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  76. The Promise (ebook) - Robert Crais 
  77. Brush Back (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  78. Bones In Her Pocket (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  79. Swamp Bones (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  80. Bones On Ice (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  81. Brain On Fire - Susannah Cahalan 


2015 Audiobook challenge
(The Book Nympho & Hot Listens)

"Audiobooks are great for those times you want to read but can’t for some reason like driving, doing chores, working out, ...

Listening is never been better; thanks to the popularity of Audiobooks just about everything is being published on audio…YAY!"






There are seven levels from which to choose:

Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5  Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10 
Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15   Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30   
My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+


I'm aiming for Socially Awkward (15-20) books this year. (Somehow, I just feel drawn to the category.)

{FINAL UPDATE 12/26/15} Wow! I just missed the Marathoner level, way past my goal. Audiobooks are great for when I am working in the garden or sewing.

  1. The Silkworm  (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith
  2. Cuckoo's Calling (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith
  3. The Golden Notebook (audiobook) - Doris Lessing
  4. The Caves of Steel (audiobook) - Isaac Asimov
  5. There Was An Old Woman (audiobook) - Ellery Queen
  6. Double Sin and Other Stories (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  7. The Halloween Tree (audiobook) - Ray Bradbury
  8. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  9. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  10. The Cat Who Said Cheese (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  11. The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  12. The Cat Who Wasn't There - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  13. The Cat Who Went Into the Closet - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  15. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  16. The adventure of the Sinister Stranger (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  17. Voluntary Committal (audiobook) - Joe Hill
  18. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (audiobook) - Roald Dahl
  19. The Case of the Middle Aged Wife (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  20. The Case of the Discontented Soldier (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  21. Suicide Run (audiobook) - Michael Connelly 
  22. Night (audiobook) - Elie Wiesel
  23.  The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (audiobook) - Philip Pullman 
  24. One For the Money (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  25. Life's Missing Instruction Manual (audiobook) - Joe Vitale 
  26. Deja Dead (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  27. An Appointment With Death (audiobook) - Agatha Christie 
  28. The Eagle Catcher (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  29. The Ghost Walker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  30. The Hanging in the Hotel (audiobook) - Simon Brett 
  31. The Dream Stalker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  32. The Spirit Woman (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  33. The Thunder Keeper (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  34. The Shadow Dancer (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  35. Killing Raven (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  36. Wife of Moon (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  37. The Girl With the Braided Hair (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  38. The Story Teller (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  39. The Lost Bird (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  40. The Eye of the Wolf (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  41. The Clockwork Scarab (audiobook) - Colleen Gleason 
  42. Death du Jour (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  43. Break No Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  44. Cross Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichsones To Ashes (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  45. Bare Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  46. Wolves of the Calla (audiobook) - Stephen King 
  47. On the Move (audiobook) - Oliver Sacks 
  48. Two For the Dough (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  49. Song of Susanna (audiobook) - Stephen King 

2015 Poetry Reading Challenge
(hosted by: Serena @ Savvy Verse and Wit)

The goal for this challenge is to read at least 1 book of poetry or 20 poems this year. Easy. Peasy. (A link is offered for reviews.)




{FINAL UPDATE 12/29/15} I just realized that I need to read more poetry.  



  1. Dog Songs - Mary Oliver
  2. Spoon River Poetry Review 39.2 (Winter 2014) Journal

2015 Cloak & Dagger Mystery Reading Challenge
(hosted by: Amy @ Bookish Girl)

"So this reading challenge is not just for all of you but for me to so that I can really get back into my favorite genre!"

5 books = Inspector Lestrade 10 books = Amelia Peabody 15 books = Flavia de Luce 25 books = Detective Simon Ziele 30 books = Miss Marple 35 books = Hercule Poirot 40+ books = Sherlock Holmes

Since my murder mysteries are my favorite genre, I'm hoping to ace this challenge at the Sherlock Holmes level.

{FINAL UPDATE 12/29/15} Just call me Sherlock!

  1. The Silkworm  (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith
  2. Cuckoo's Calling (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith
  3. The Caves of Steel (audiobook) - Isaac Asimov
  4. There Was An Old Woman (audiobook) - Ellery Queen
  5. Double Sin and Other Stories (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  6. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  7. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  8. The Cat Who Said Cheese (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  9. The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  10. The Cat Who Wasn't There - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  11. The Cat Who Went Into the Closet - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  12. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  13. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  14. The adventure of the Sinister Stranger (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  15. Voluntary Committal (audiobook) - Joe Hill
  16. The Case of the Discontented Soldier (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  17. Suicide Run (audiobook) - Michael Connelly
  18. Demolition Angel (ebook) - Robert Crais
  19. The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights (ebook) - Faye Kellerman
  20. Critical Mass (ebook) - Sara Paretsky
  21. Chasing Darkness (ebook) - Robert Crais
  22. Blacklist (ebook) - Sara Paretsky
  23. The Watchman (ebook) - Robert Crais
  24. The American Gun Mystery - (audiobook) - Ellery Queen 
  25. Angle of Investigation (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  26. Switchblade (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  27. Windy City Blues (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  28. Bitter Medicine (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  29. The First Rule (ebook) - Robert Crais 
  30. Blacklist - Sara Paretsky 
  31. Serpent's Tooth (ebook) - Faye Kellerman 
  32. The Beige Man (ebook) - Helene Tursten 
  33. Total Recall (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  34. The Burning Room (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  35. Killing Orders (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  36. Death on Retreat - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  37. The Golem of Hollywood - Jonathan Kellerman & Jesse Kellerman 
  38. Raging Heat - Richard Castle 
  39. Motive - Jonathan Kellerman 
  40. At Risk (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  41. The Front - (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  42. Hornet's Nest (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  43. The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly 
  44. Flesh and Blood - Patricia Cornwell 
  45. Death of an Angel - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  46. Death Takes Up A Collection - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  47. Requiem At the Refuge - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  48. The Corporal Works of Murder - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie
  49. One For the Money (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  50. Deja Dead (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  51. An Appointment With Death (audiobook) - Agatha Christie 
  52. The Eagle Catcher (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  53. The Ghost Walker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  54. The Hanging in the Hotel (audiobook) - Simon Brett 
  55. The Dream Stalker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  56. The Spirit Woman (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  57. The Thunder Keeper (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  58. The Shadow Dancer (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  59. Killing Raven (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  60. Wife of Moon (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  61. The Girl With the Braided Hair (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  62. The Story Teller (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  63. The Lost Bird (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  64. The Eye of the Wolf (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  65. The Clockwork Scarab (audiobook) - Colleen Gleason 
  66. Death du Jour (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  67. Break No Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  68. Cross Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichsones To Ashes (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  69. Bare Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  70. On the Move (audiobook) - Oliver Sacks 
  71. Two For the Dough (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  72. Devil Bones (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  73. Depraved Heart (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  74. The Crossing (ebook) - Michael Connelly 
  75. The Promise (ebook) - Robert Crais 
  76. Brush Back (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  77. Bones In Her Pocket (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  78. Swamp Bones (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  79. Bones On Ice (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  80. Murder At the Monk's Table - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  81. Deadly Decisions - Kathy Reichs 
  82. Fatal Voyage - Kathy Reichs 
  83. Grave Secrets - Kathy Reichs 
  84. Monday Mourning - Kathy Reichs 
  85. 206 Bones - Kathy Reichs 
  86. Spider Bones - Kathy Reichs 
  87. Flash and Bones - Kathy Reichs 
  88. Bones Are Forever - Kathy Reichs 
  89. Bones of the lost - Kathy Reichs 
  90. Bones Never Lie - Kathy Reichs


2015 Women Challenge
(hosted by: Peek-A-Boo)

"This challenge will make us want to read more books of any kind written by women, so choose whatever you like and get involved!"

The Levels are:   
       1: BABY GIRL - read 5 books
       2: GIRLS POWER - read 6 to 15 books
       3: SUPER GIRL - read 16 to 20 books
       4: WONDER WOMAN - read 20+ books






Just call me Wonder Woman. I make it a habit to try and read as many books written by women as I am able, and I'm aiming for the top level again this year.

{FINAL UPDATE 12/29/15} I think this is my easiest challenge every year. I think I just need to focus on finding newer authors.
  1. The Silkworm  (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith
  2. Cuckoo's Calling (audiobook) - Robert Galbraith
  3. The Golden Notebook (audiobook) - Doris Lessing
  4. Double Sin and Other Stories (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  5. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  6. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  7. The Cat Who Said Cheese (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  8. The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  9. The Cat Who Wasn't There - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  10. The Cat Who Went Into the Closet - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  11. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  12. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain - (audiobook) - Lilian Jackson Braun
  13. The adventure of the Sinister Stranger (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  14. The Case of the Middle Aged Wife (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  15. The Case of the Discontented Soldier (audiobook) - Agatha Christie
  16. The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights (ebook) - Faye Kellerman
  17. Critical Mass (ebook) - Sara Paretsky
  18. Blacklist (ebook) - Sara Paretsky
  19. Windy City Blues (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  20. Bitter Medicine (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  21. Blacklist - Sara Paretsky 
  22. Serpent's Tooth (ebook) - Faye Kellerman 
  23. The Beige Man (ebook) - Helene Tursten 
  24. Total Recall (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  25. Killing Orders (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  26. Death on Retreat - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  27. How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back - Ruth Stout 
  28. At Risk (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  29. The Front - (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  30. Hornet's Nest (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  31. Flesh and Blood - Patricia Cornwell 
  32. Death of an Angel - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  33. Death Takes Up A Collection - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  34. Requiem At the Refuge - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  35. The Corporal Works of Murder - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie
  36. One For the Money (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  37. Deja Dead (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  38. An Appointment With Death (audiobook) - Agatha Christie 
  39. The Eagle Catcher (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  40. The Ghost Walker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  41. The Dream Stalker (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  42. The Spirit Woman (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  43. The Thunder Keeper (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  44. The Shadow Dancer (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  45. Killing Raven (audiobook) - Margaret Coel
  46. Wife of Moon (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  47. The Girl With the Braided Hair (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  48. The Story Teller (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  49. The Lost Bird (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  50. The Eye of the Wolf (audiobook) - Margaret Coel 
  51. The Clockwork Scarab (audiobook) - Colleen Gleason 
  52. Death du Jour (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  53. Break No Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  54. Cross Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  55. Bones To Ashes (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  56. Bare Bones (audiobook) - Kathy Reichs 
  57. Wolves of the Calla (audiobook) - Stephen King 
  58. Two For the Dough (audiobook) - Janet Evanovich 
  59. Devil Bones (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  60. Depraved Heart (ebook) - Patricia Cornwell 
  61. Brush Back (ebook) - Sara Paretsky 
  62. Bones In Her Pocket (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  63. Swamp Bones (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  64. Bones On Ice (ebook) - Kathy Reichs 
  65. Murder At the Monk's Table - Sister Carol Anne O'Marie 
  66. Brain On Fire - Susannah Cahalan 
  67. Deadly Decisions - Kathy Reichs 
  68. Fatal Voyage - Kathy Reichs 
  69. Grave Secrets - Kathy Reichs 
  70. Monday Mourning - Kathy Reichs 
  71. 206 Bones - Kathy Reichs 
  72. Spider Bones - Kathy Reichs 
  73. Flash and Bones - Kathy Reichs 
  74. Bones Are Forever - Kathy Reichs 
  75. Bones of the lost - Kathy Reichs 
  76. Bones Never Lie - Kathy Reichs

PERPETUAL READING CHALLENGES:

Kinsey Millhone Reading Challenge (hosted by: Darlene's Book Nook)

Begun in 2012 {My Link}






The Stephen King Challenge: A Perpetual Reading Challenge (hosted by: Michelle & Kate)

Begun in 2014 {My Link}



The Nero Wolfe Not-so-Mini Challenge (hosted by: Becky's Book Reviews)

Begun in 2014 {My Link}










Yeah, the CHALLENGE is LONG OVER, but I'LL KEEP PLUGGING AWAY!












  • The Dark Tower Reading Challenge. {My Link}



  •  
    ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 
    If you'd like to find a challenge or twenty for yourself, try:
    ~ A Novel Challenge ~