Autumn approaches

I think we are finally approaching fall--the nights have turned cooler, and the days are still, sigh, hot hot hot. But we will weather the heat, and watch the colors on the trees turn to gold, shades of red, and finally brown, before they drop. Poison ivy and sumac are both beautiful to see with their deep red leaves in the fall, but not something you want to use as indoor decor. Our hummingbirds are really hitting the feeders, getting ready for their trip south. Now our cat wants to help them on their way, but she is limited by the screens on "her" porch. At least we can once more enjoy our porch, instead of being driven in by the heat. Hurry, autumn!

Book Pages--I just read a purely "escape" novel, and wanted to share it--Shoe Addicts Anonymous--by Beth Harbison. If you read Jane Heller, this is another one of those witty chic-lit books. It's about four women addicted to shoes and shoe buying. Out of desperation, one of the ladies starts a club for her addiction, and they all find friendship, therapy, and finally shoe/financial success through their addiction. Read it and laugh!

Beading hobby

I have been creating jewelry for friends lately, and of course for myself, but the most fun is making something for a new bride, for her wedding ensemble. Here are some examples--hairpins and a crystal necklace. It's a joy to see these brides wear their pretties!

Book Pages

Want a great reading adventure? One you cannot put down, because the action just draws you through the book? Well, here it is, Alex Kava's newest--Whitewash. It takes place in Florida and Washington DC, and centers on a scientist who discovers the environmentally "friendly" company she works for has a big secret. Her co-worker and supervising scientist mysteriously disappears, and she notices illegal effluent going directly into the river. As it turns out, this effluent contains dioxin, and the dioxin comes from Hurricane Katrina damage delivered by the dumptruck loads at night, and churned into energy in the daytime at the plant. The plant is supposed to use the thermal conversion process to transform chicken parts into oil, an admirable cause. But in actuality, it has tapped into hurricane wastes as its main source of oil, and in so doing, has broken many barriers and laws. Of course the bad guys at the plant are now after Sabrina, the scientist, so she has to run to her brother Eric, whom she hasn't seen since her mother's death. And Eric also has some big secrets to hide. A congressman turned murderer, a retired housekeeper with tons of cash hidden in her freezer pork chop bags, a hired assassin, a group of beach bums who have hidden secrets and skills which could help Sabrina, a couple of congressional aides with secret agendas, all stir up this exciting "goo". It reminds me of Michael Crichton's books, good suspense thrillers, with a scientific lesson woven in for us laypeople. Run, don't walk, to your local library or bookstore and check this out!!!

Long hot August

This has been an extremely long hot August--the dog days won't let us go here in the heartland! So watering the garden and flowerbeds and pots is a regular morning thing every day. And refilling the bird bath is also a daily thing. And checking all the fountains and waterfall to make sure mama deer and her babies have enough to drink at night is also becoming a daily chore. I would like to take a moment to thank Thomas Edison and Willis Carrier for the inventions of electricity and air conditioning. Oh and Nikola Tesla, for alternating current, according to my hubby the engineer.

Book pages: Try your hand at The Wild Trees by Richard Preston, author of The Hot Zone. It describes the awesome beauty of the giant redwoods, and the flora and fauna of their canopies. This is a fascinating glimpse of nature, and a breathtaking look at those who climb up 300 feet into the canopy, using ropes to become "spider-men and -women", flinging themselves through the limbs, the deadwood, and the air. A great summer read, and a lesson about the BIG trees of America!

Book Pages

I have another book to recommend: this is for everyone who liked/loved Da Vinci Code:
Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber. It tell the story of a lost manuscript of one of William Shakespeare's plays, never seen by anyone because it was hidden away after being written. It begins with the discovery of letters by one of his contemporaries, and a secret coded series of letters which describes the lost play. The characters are compelling, the action moves swiftly, and the author weaves in the problem of how no one really knew Shakespeare, because the only written documents were his plays, posthumously collected and published by his friends. There are many "what if's" designed to add spice to the plot, and some interesting characters, including a documents historian, librarian, Russian mobsters living in the eastern US, scam artists, a copyright lawyer and his family, and several great chase scenes out of the movies. The lawyer talks about who might play him in a movie based on his adventure, and I am also curious, because I think it would make an excellent movie. Pick this one up before the summer cools--this is hot reading!