the last carpet
Today we started removing the last of the carpet in the house. The charming pumpkin colored carpet in the hallway. That was the same EVIL carpet that disintegrated and stuck to the floor in the living room. ( ok really that was the padding ,but still…). That was a 14 hour and very gross job ( before sanding and refinishing). DH was helping someone with an different , more serious floor problem to day, so I just pulled up all around the edges. Happy surprise, most of the carpet padding is just dust , only a small area looks sticky and gross.
Superpowers
remember when I reviewed Superpowers by David Schwartz?
Looks like it is up for a Nebula . Yay!
the Newbery ate my brain
Or is eating it. Not sure which is more accurate. I haven’t taken a class in a long time and this one is fun. But I swear it is all I can talk about. I haven’t yet started quzing people on the street about which ones they’ve read, but anyone that is willing to talk books for a few seconds gets the quiz:
Did you read …..How old were you when you read… what did you think and do you think you would think the same thing now…what other Newbery books have you read?
thrift stores
I am not good at thrift store shopping. I have a hard time seeing what might be useful. But I like looking anyway. I went to a local thrift store with a friend today. So Glad. She came by while DH was working in the garage — she saw the wood and other stuff that was everywhere. while we were out, she spotted this old white display piece for sale at the thrift store. It obviously held something like dowel rods or other tall narrow things that had to be sorted by size. It is really going to be for sorting wood and some other items in the garage. And it is on wheels. It is rather battered and ugly, but solid. the dividers could be removed, but it actually looks like it will be very useful as is. Price: 5.40. If you have eyes, thrift store shopping can be worth it. Thanks, J!
Of hummingbirds and bees
Today was clean the gutter day. come on, I can hear cheering in the back ground. All together “wheeeee”. Ignore all boos out there.
It was gross. and dirty. But there was a reward. no, not clean gutters. In our side yard , where I have planted lavender, rosemary, Mexican sage ,and a butterfly bush , I finally saw a hummingbird. One called Anna’s Hummingbirds. I said I want bee,s ( CA has mostly solitary bees in this area) , butterflies, and hummingbirds. But I admit it , I’ve been waiting for the hummingbirds to come. Happy day!.
Note: after touching gutter slime , moisturizes. I think it stripped all of the oil out of my hands.
The Diary of Pelly D.
I read this book last night. Oddly , the more I have to read the more I seem to be reading. Mostly kid and teen books — but I also read a mystery yesterday. Anyway , back to Pelly.
It takes place in the future after a war. An ill- educated Construction worker finds a diary written by a young woman, Pelly. Her Diary is the beginning of a war. In her diary Pelly is a shallow high school girl; comfortable and rich. Water difficulties change things on her planet and prejudices against genetic ancestors come out. The marking, the suspicion, the hiding , etc. make things feels similar to Anne Frank.
The book was compelling. I read it until I finished it. However, in the end , I was disappointed. Toni V., the finder/reader of the diary , start to feel ‘uncomfortable’. Nothing happens. I know his is a series, I know there is more to come, but I felt wanting. and not in a good way.
