♥ Books...A "Grrrrrrr"...A question...Etc.

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I'm *falling down* on mentioning books, before  I return them to the library.  One with a twist-and-turn-plot, (which I have no, no, no idea how authors write such) I already returned.   -sigh-   And of course, can't remember the name now.  It was YA Lit...  As are these two above.  2 very different books.  Very interesting, both.

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BTW, how could I resist a book, with the word "Hollow" in the title??????????  ,-)  I couldn't, of course!  ,-))))

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Question...  What do you Dear Reader, prefer to find, in a blog entry?  But FIRST, I am not casting any doubts or any praise, for any particular form of blogging, by asking this question.  Again and always...  We are free to do our blog, as we wish.   And people are free to read it, or not, as they wish.   There!  I got that DISCLAIMER, out of the way.  ,-)

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So----Just your opinion----When you  click on posts, what do you like to find?????

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I admit, I like pictures.  Photos taken by the blogger, or something she found on the Net.   How about you?

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 Now, as to number of words posted, to be read?  Me, I keep tending to at least 5 pics, with not-too-many words, in between the pics.  So I seem to like the not-too-many-words-in-a-post.    How about you?   How many words do you prefer to show up to be read, when you click on a post?  If there are *too many words,* do you sometimes tend to *skim*????   Yes, I do.  -looking ashamed-  ,-)

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("Just because" photo op...)

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(Another "Just because" photo op...)

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Another question...   Do you answer your phone, on a regular basis?  We do not.  We have our answering machine set, to only 2 rings.  Family knows we'll call back.  If any caller really wants us, they leave a number/message.  Why?  Too damn many robo-calls.

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Lookie!  A Yahoo news blurb about
"Complaints About Automated Calls Have Risen Sharply." 

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So, why do people keep answering?

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Our cell phones get them too, although we basically use them, just between ourselves.  We disabled our cell phone answering thingy, because if a robo-call goes to it, we have to pay for it!!!   And since we use cell phones rarely, we have cheapest setup.

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 What think you, Dear Reader?????????????

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(Another "Just Because" pic...  Multi sheet posters, on a store wall...)

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♥ A combination weekend... Ugh and Great... ,-)

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I read the first book, on the left, ages ago, and loved it.  Then when I wanted to re-read it, I couldn't remember the name.  -sighhhhhhhh-  I remembered the plot of course, and kept thinking the name was some version of "The Apothecary's Daughter."  I looked in Book Blogs on the Net...  I talked to my library friends, who also love YA lit.  NO LUCK!   "Oh bother..."

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Then!  Somehow!  I found the name!  And, and, and, there is a second book, carrying the story farther.  Hoooooray!

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So basically, our heroine and her father are Herbalists, who were the earliest Apothecaries.  My husband being a Pharmacist, was fascinated by what I told him, of the use of plants, in the book.   Having been a Pharmacist for over half a century, he remembers an earlier time, which was closer to "the old ways."  When not everything "came in bottles" from a manufacturer.    

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So, he read the first book, too.  While I read the second.  And now, he is reading the second.  

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This kind of reading, makes one want to look up more, about the topic.  All about plants and their uses, being this one.  Wow, and Ouch!  The Plant World is powerful!  Something which "Olden Peoples" knew.  But which we so-called-modern Peoples, forget.   WE should NOT forget.

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And of course, since this girl could heal (by knowledge of plants), she had to be careful, not to be looked on as a Witch.  -sigh-  Humans...  They wanted the healing, but feared the Healer.  -sigh-

 On Saturday I was sick, from over-doing the eating of certain foods...  Some things I can eat, in moderation, and taking "L*ctaid."  But a week of over-doing this and that...  And I "PAY".  I "paid" on Sat.   ~~~   So on Sun., I made a Pound Cake for Uncle A. and a G/F plain Cake for myself. 

On Sunday, which was purrrrrrfect early Autumn weather (especially after my "sick" Saturday), 'Uncle A.'  wanted to get me out of the house, and into the fresh air.   :-)   So we took a couple of little rides.  One to the east and one to the west.  To the east, we visited a big farm stand, where apples have been available every Autumn, for as long as I can remember.  And I had lots of Photo Ops.  This big, big pumpkin and Mums above, being one of them. 

Of course, we picked out a bag of Mac Apples, for the first Apple Pie of the season!!!

Usually, people can go "pick-their-own-apples" here at this orchard, and all the orchards in the area.  But the apple crop was so hurt by weather, that there is no "pick-your-own-apples" yet.  ~~~~~   And the pumpkin crop is just being brought in now.

I noticed these Red Hot Chili Peppers, in the sun.  They were so beautiful-a-RED, that I just *had* to snap a picture of them!!!  :-)

This old poster, which they had hanging in the shop, caught my eye too.  Sooooooo, I took a pic.  :-)

And another "Because-I-Can" photo op!  LOL!!!  Now how could I pass by this huge gaping hole of rusted bumper?!?  Rust just *calls me.*  -giggggles-

So as not to end with "RUST"...  -gigggles- 

I'll show a pic of these old fashioned Pure Maple Sugar Candies.  Do any Dear Readers remember them?  Maple Sugar Candy made in little molds?  I didn't get this package, but I did get a single Maple Sugar Leaf-mold-made one.  Very sweet and very rich.  A small piece can last a long time.  :-)))))

It was a purrrrrfect early Autumn day...  Breeze, brilliant sun, blue skies, puffy white clouds...  Perfect day for a ride (or 2) in the country.  :-) 

I love, love, love the area of our Beloved Country, in which I am lucky enough to live!!!

 

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♥ Holidays and decorating and this and that........

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ADDITION:  RE:  PICMONKEY

This is still a quite-new-computer.  I have not installed all the "bells/and/whistles" which are randomly called for.   Like, I can see some videos, and can not see other videos.  Without "doing something."  I have a horror of messing with my computer settings.  Have had horrible experiences, in the past, doing so.

So basically, I do not try to "add this and that," which some sites tell me I *need* to.  I choose this.  

Those I-can't-see-videos, I can easily live without.  Programs like Pic monkey and all the jazzzzz they allow, I can also live without.  If any place tells me to do this or do that, to view them.....  I move on.  :-)))) 

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Yesterday I rewarded myself for all my previously done work, by bringing down some Halloween Decorations.  !!!!!!!!!!!!   Then I had to take the stuff off the mantle, and that's as far as I got.  lol.  But it's a start anyway!

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Just a Deva black cotton hat...  Which I found, in my de-cluttering...

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But I had hung it over the spindle of the old rocking chair...  Same way as I hang my straw hat over the other spindle.    Then I noticed!!!!!  This way, it looks like a Witch's Hat.  -grin-  How purrrrfect for the season!!!!

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We like to keep our ready-to-be-spooned-into-coffee-sugar, in a secure glass jar.  We had a much chunkier glass jar, but it was kind of unwieldy...  Taking it out of cupboard and putting it back in...   I was going to look for a smaller sized container.

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But, I finally realized I had the perfect solution, right here.  In among my "glass-jars-which-food-came-in-and-I-can't-put-in-the-recycling-stuff".   ,-)  I don't keep as many of these, as I would like to keep.  -sigh-  Just some.  And this one was a perfect size. 

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We needed a jar, tall enough to allow the sugar spoon to be kept right in it.  :-)   And WHY did I tell you this, with pictures?  Mostly, "Because I Can" I guess.  -grin- 

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And a Surprise Photo Op!  Walking from kitchen to hearth room, I happened to notice (out through patio door/window) how pretty a neighbor's tree looked!  The afternoon sun was perfectly highlighting how lovely the pink flowers on it, looked.  So........  Grab camera.....  Go out for a Surprise Photo Op....

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Picture taken from our back patio steps, across our fence, and then across D-i-law's back yard and back fence....  And finally picking up Kathy's pretty tree.  :-)

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Would I have noticed, and gotten as much pleasure out of that random moment....  If I wasn't tuned to "notice" neat Photo Ops?  Maybe yes.  Maybe no.  But I choose to think Yes.  It was because I love my camera.  :-)

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(Source)

Ahhhhhhh, Autumn.......  I'm getting "in-need" of changing my Blog Look.  To something less summer-y, and more in keeping with the coming season.  But oh, how to find a background?!?   Yes, I used to make-my-own, but then Blogger got one pic of mine, STUCK in the place-we-make-our-own-Backgrounds.  :-((((  And I couldn't replace it, with another.  Got "my panties in a twist," and gave up and haven't gone back since, to try it again.  -pout-

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Yes, there are 3 million, 2 hundred, and 99 free Background Places.  But so many of them, look toooooo brrrrrrright to me.  Just me again.  But our own blog should make US happy.  

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A Dear Reader told me how she makes pretty Headers herself, and thus can use an all-white-blog-look.  Which is so, so, so pretty on her blog.  ("BJ")   I tried to use Picmonkey, but it says I have to Download 'Something'.  And to Download this 'Something', I may have to 'Disable Something' on My Computer.  NOOOOOOOOOOO!  No!  No!  I will not take chances with Settings, on my Computer.  I have had disasters in the past, doing such.  Eeeeek!  So....  There goes my easy use of Picmonkey.  

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I'll just have to do without those pretty, cute, different, constantly changing Header Looks.  Which means, I just use a picture of mine, as a big Header.  And just-my-pic, along with all white blog look, is boring.  Soooooo, I continue my Quest for a *purrrrfect* seasonal Blog Look.  :-))))

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♥ Me-thinks my "gas tank" is gettin' empty... ,-)

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My heart goes out to all my fellow countrymen/women,

effected by "Isaac".  Past... Present..  And Future...

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(Just one leaf...)

Yesterday I kept going...  Still running-on-adrenalin (and JOY) from yesterday.  :-)  Cleaned our bedroom and our *Sort Of Brand New* (because it's finally empty) Walk-In-Closet.  Even found more "stuff" to make a garbage bag, to put out in our regular garbage collection, yesterday.  (Which we also pay for, btw.)  And found a bunch of old winter clothing, which I will wash and give to our Franklin Community Center.   (Our city's  "Good Will" place.) 

By noon, I was tired and had had-it!!!!!  ,-)  Ate, rested, showered and went to my Heart-Doc regular check-up.  My blood work results are *Golden*!  He's happy with me.  Gooooood news. 

But I'll tell ya', as evening came on, I really, really, really began to run down.  I had, had, had to go to bed at 8PM.  Nope, didn't watch Convention coverage.  I know for whom I am going to vote.  No need to rev me up.  :-)))))))))  

Anyway, conventions are NOT REALLY conventions any more.  At 75, I remember when you sat up all night to watch wrangling and deal making and I-do-this-for-you-if-you-do-that-for-me stuff going on.  Real old time conventions.  Today, they are just a big Party.     

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(Just bricks...)

 

I had hoped to continue with the *de-dusting* of the next bedroom and closet, today.  I had.  But by afternoon yesterday, my allergy reactions to alllll that dusttttttt, began to really manifest themselves.  Ugh................................  

Plus, getting so tired that I about folded-up, so early in the evening, last night.......   I figure I will have to put off the continuing *de-dusting*.  In fact, perhaps "Uncle A." will have to do the rest.  We'll see.  

But I want to keep going, with *de-dusting*.  That has to come before putting 'our' things, into all the free closets.  And before moving his office into another bedroom, which will be a better place for it.  I WANT   TO   GET   IT   ALL   NEAT   AND  DONE....  So we can really SEE the results of the Purge.  -sigh-

But health comes first.  Must *rest-my-lungs* a bit.  And "Uncle A." has already begun the big job of closing down the pool for the year.  And since we are now coming into cooler weather, when doing upstairs work will not be quite as hot a job, there is time.   There is time.  :-)  Think I'll just do regular cleaning downstairs today.  :-)))))   Both of us do that too. 

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("Caught...!")

My photos today, are actually all just "Because-I-Can-Pics."  :-)   Gotta' do one of these posts, now and then.  There are just so many *FUN* post topics, to be thought up.   My muse runs dry.   And just so many *FUN*pics to post, too.

And my Dear Readers can look at just so many "Pretty Houses."  I'd better space out my showing of pretty houses and cute, neat things, around my city.  Or your eyes will begin to glaze over, from an over-abundance of "P-R-E-T-T-Y"...  LOL! 

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(Gnarl in a tree...)

Hope I'm not the only one who likes to notice moss growing on trees...  And the almost artistic way an old tree protects itself, where it has lost a limb...  ,-)

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And it's about time I added some acknowledgement of the next Holiday, to be on the horizon...  Halloween!  I'm not a fan of spiders.  Nor am I totally freaked-out by them.  But I liked this cute little spider, on this cute little pumpkin.  A free Halloween decoration.  He is almost sweet...   ,-)

 

(Source)

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♥ WHEEEEEEEEEEW!!!! :-)))))))))

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WARNING:

If you can not get rid of your own stuff...

If you can not get rid of stuff, your kids left at home...

If you are still keeping boxes of family stuff, left over since the Civil War...

Then, Reading and Looking At pics in this post, may make you uncomfortable. 

 -chuckle- 

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Are any Dear Readers old enough to remember the old song....  "Earth Angel"?   ,-))))   Well, these are my "De-Cluttering Angels"!!!  Come to give me one of my fondest and oldest wishes.  To get rid of all the no-longer-useful accumulation of over 50 years of marriage.  Plus items left here, by our children.  And stuff we got for our Grands.  

Plus a huge, huge, huge amount of old, useless, moldy stuff, from down cellar.  That which "Uncle A." (aka "Pop") could never, never bring up those cellar stairs, by himself.    Down cellar was his first work shop, years before he make a work shop in the garage.  Anyone familiar with a work shop, can imagine the Old Stuff Left Down There.  -sigh-

You can't appreciate the stuff disposed of, without a "Before" picture, so I took one.  Scott is beginning to learn that I am a *Mad Snapper*.  Poor guy!  But he was very good about it.  :-)   They both were!

Some accumulation gone...

More...

Last, goes "Over The Top"...

And by now, I could hardly stop coughing, from all the raised dust and mold!!!  Don't anyone tell me that I didn't *suffer* some too!!!!!!!  -grin-

Now comes the really HARD part....   ,-))))   Writing the check.    (Scott is probably happy, to be getting away from this "Mad Pic Snapping" Nana!)

Yes, you can see the tired tole on "Uncle A.'s" face.  It was difficult for him.  I was hopping up and down with glee, and he was not quite so enthralled.  

But after, he too was so, so, so glad we did it!  So relieved to get all this stuff out of our house and from beside our house.  A job, which we have been trying and trying and trying to do, little by little, ourselves, for years.  WE  COULD  NOT  DO  IT  PIECEMEAL.  Perhaps younger people can.  But we COULD NOT!  And we are both, both, both so relieved, that it is done!!!!

Now we clean upstairs, like we could not do, when rooms/closets were "Junk Rooms".  Now we can place our OWN Keeper-Items, in those closets.  Make clean rooms, out of empty kids' bedrooms.  His Office up there, will be neat and free of piled debris.    We can again USE our bedroom's Walk In Closet!  He can move his Office to a front bedroom, which he can use in summertime too!

W H E E W ...

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♥ 'Just because I took 'em' shots... ,-)

Day time moon...

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Another shot......  Not very clear.....

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Yet another moon shot....  Not clear.....

Definitely "Just Because I Took 'Em" shots.  lol...

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♥ SEEEEE... I've not given up writing WORDS, for the sake of bigger pics....

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(Little bird, on top of bird bath fountain...)

Thank-you-much for all your replies, to; "How does my new blog look, appear on your computer screen?"  Like lots of things......  Some see it easily, and some do not.  Thank you for telling me.

Answering the question of worry about running out of space for saving-of-pics....  I have to pay a bit, for extra space, when they *holler.*  But I just do it.  (I don't make a game of not-yet-being-told-I-have-exceeded-my-allotted-space.  ,-))))))  But that's just me.  I don't buy stuff for the house, to wear, or go 'thrifting'.  I guess I figure I can spend *Mad Money* on pic space if needed.  -grinnnn-
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A misty, moisty morning, again.  The foggy-mist is pretty.  Not quite like "the mist is on the moors," but.....  Guess this has to do, in the NE of the US.   We certainly are getting more rain fall over all, than in that drought period.  But actually, it looks as if some plants really "got-snookered", in that drought.  And are sor-of-tired-out, already.  Like Hosta....
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("Four O'Clocks" in afternoon)

Been reading books and not reporting.  -grin-  I finished the last of my Mary Stewart books, for now.  Think I have run-the-course of M.S. books for now.  It gets so I kind of know-the-plot-lines.  Time for a change.  "43 Old Cemetery Road -  Over My Dead Body" by Kate Klise is a kid's book, but so cute and so fun.  (Mmmmmm, I have a feeling I already wrote about this one.  Oh well...)
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("Four O'Clocks"--  A little later)

And I finished "Gone Girl."  Wow, wow, wow.  Kept me reading, and kept me guessing.  Rather disappointed at the ending, though.  Anyone else read it????????????
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('Spider Plant flower')

Nearly forgot "Pretty Little Liars" (tv) on Tues. night, and only saw less than a half hour of it.  Mmmm, think that might be the best amount of that show to watch.  LOL.  Not Shakespeare, but pretty people and pretty clothes.<---Very *deep* viewing...  NOT.
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('Spider Plant flower'  ---  With bee in bottom left corner  --  Un-noticed before)


Do not even watch "Dallas" any more.  "PLL" is going on hiatus, after next week's episode and I almost look forward to that.  (Not having to remember to watch a show on Tues. night.)   And since "Vampire Diaries" has been on hiatus, that will probably be returning soon.   Some may bemoan the change...  From old time winter-of-new-shows and summer-of-re-runs.  But I kind of like this new (is it cable?) way of having shows run, at different time of the year.
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(Poor Tree.....)    

When you add something to say........a cup of coffee...Do you ever wonder how long it takes the new ingredient to really, really get spread throughout the whole amount of liquid, in the cup?  If you only give a couple of swipes with the spoon, does some of the addition, fall to the bottom of the cup?  Or if you are a lots-of-stirs person like me, does that insure that each and every sip, will taste the same?

 Or is this too much silly deep thinking?     -grin-

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(White Phlox...  I like the pink better...  Surprise?  -chuckle-)

Ready for the Full Moon tomorrow????  

According to the Farmers' Almanac:

"• Full Sturgeon Moon – August   The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon."

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See above?  Bigger 'Lucky's' black tail  ----    Smaller 'Bad Kittie' facing me, 'cause I was *reprimanding* at her.  LOL..  Guess they are trying to both be there.   Or trading places.    ----    Still think "Uncle A." needs to try to make a larger sized sitting triangle, at that spot.   -grin- 

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