Exciting news!!!

Wow! All kinds of EXCITING things here!!!!

You already know about grandson Evan's arrival (I've been babysitting!).

Now to announce - the advent of my daughter Wendy's new book!!!  which is available for pre-order from Amazon.com and is also on Goodreads!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Sentient-Wendy-L-Koenig/dp/0985725036/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413475337&sr=1-1&keywords=9780985725037




I'm excited!  I can hardly wait until MY copy arrives!

Wha'cha Readin'? This week's edition....

ALMOST lilac season!  Nines and Dashes is the name of my quilt

FINISHED

Science Fiction/Fantasy

I loved this!  Very cute! No One Noticed the Cat - McCaffrey

VERY cool!  Love this!  Not sure - but did remember reading the first part all over again once before - either that or my prescient memory has kicked in again! Pegasus in Space - McCaffrey

An old favorite - read MANY times and enjoyed all over again! Double Star - Heinlein

Book of many favorites - read until it's falling apart! A Knot in the Grain - McKinley

Other Fiction

Enjoyed this book once again! An Angel for Emily - Deveraux

DVD/Videos - 

Wow!  Very good! Loved this! Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - about a young boy's search for memories of his father who died 09/11

Barbara Streisand at her finest!  The Main Event - a comedy

CURRENTLY READING

Audio Book
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon  There are a total of 48 discs (I know I said 24 - it's 48) and I LOVE this book!  Part of the Outlander series.  In fact - I love it so much I have the 1st 4 books of the series!  Am currently on disc 26

Romance - quick reads -
Run, Hide - Ericson

Killer Body - James

Engaged with the Boss - James

Bundle of Trouble - James

The Pediatrician's Personal Protector - Kane

Detective Daddy - Kane

Private Security - Kane

Death of a Beauty Queen - Kane

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Deluge - McCaffrey

Other Fiction

Little Men - Alcott

Wishes - Deveraux

Nonfiction
There is No Me Without You - Greene

DVD/Videos - 

Moses - Still on my list

Origins: Nova: Disc 1 - this will also be part of my Science curricula

Textbooks
Basic Judaism -Am so far behind I wonder if I will catch up!!!!!

The Jewish Woman and her Home (Goldin) , Jewish Holidays and Festivals (Edidin), 40 Things You can do to save the Jewish People (Grishaver), This Is My God (Herman Wouk), It's a Mitzvah (), How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household (Greenberg),The Songs We Sing

Botany - both from an evolutionary standpoint as well as from an overall review of types, etc.
The World of Plants (which helps me set up my learning folder - VERY good, btw), The Evolution of Plants and Flowers (Thomas), Botany Coloring Book (P. Young),Science Scope (Stout) and any lectures online I can find  This WAS going to be a 3 month study - however it will run longer.  No problem!

Social studies - history - sort of in depth. 

Earth's history - an introduction which is what this week is.

Life on Earth by David Attenborough.  Introduction.

Usborne World History - Prehistoric World.  Prehistoric Time. What are Fossils? Clues from fossils. The Story of Life.
Thread of Life: The Smithsonian Looks at Evolution by Roger Lewin.  Introduction. 
Picture Atlas of Prehistoric Life. by Rand McNally.  Introduction: the Planet of Life. "Deep Time". A World in Change.

The Human Evolution Coloring Book by Adrienne L. Zihlman.  Introduction to Evolution.

Math - A review of basic algebra (my goal is to take calculus - but it has been soooooooooo many years!) I'm currently usingSaxon Math.  However I will have to order in the next 2 courses in math - those books were part of those that were ruined

Beginning Russian - I'm using the Power Glide language course which I like A LOT!  I also have 2 other beginning Russian books should this course appear to go too fast! So far - at one lesson a week - I'm on lesson 7 - will be going to lesson 8

Creative Writing - ummm am using the Writing Strands level 3 - which is ok for instructing kids - HOWEVER....  But then as my daughter puts it - it IS practice and that's what counts!  I'm more than halfway through that book at present.  and yes, upon completion of level 3 - I DO have level 4.

Spelling - working on some of the rest of the 12,000 most frequently mispelled words. (Schools teach ONLY 4300 AT MOST! and based on the high school kids I teach - schools don't teach it well!)  I'm using Spelling Power - which WORKS!

Exercise - We Win - which is a book for a 1 year program.  Thought I would try it myself this year!

Wha'cha Readin' (yup - Tuesday comes late this week!)

FINISHED

Romance - quick reads -

Deception
Mason
Dade
Gage
The Texas Lawman's Last Stand
Standoff at Mustang Ridge
A Game of Chance (Howard)

Tears of the Renegade (Howard)

OTHER BOOKS

Gifts from the Heart (Hart)
Lily's Pesky Plant (Disney) - a kids book - but should be fun - I hope!

Mystery and other reads - light and otherwise
Above Suspicion by LaPlante (Not Helen McInnes who had book by the same name)
Turn of Mind
The Bells of Freedom  - I've read this before - but it's been YEARS!  A kid's historical fiction read
Marmee & Louisa - the untold story of Louisa May Alcott and her mother.  AWESOME book!

Nonfiction
The American Kitchen 1700 to the Present (la Plante) actually this one SHOULD go back but I enjoy reading about the kitchen things in all the different periods of time

Other Reads
Now we come to my text books! this is the BTDT group, mind you!

Botany - The Private Life of Plants (Attenborough),

Social studies - history - sort of in depth.  Finishing up learning folders in/on archaeology. The ATlas of Archaeology (Taylor), 

For now, I just need PRACTICE - which I am definitely getting!!!!  Handwriting - something I do periodically - that is, if I want to read my own writing!!!  I'm working on Italics Now!

Have discontinued membership until next Oct., Nov. - it's GARDEN time!  Woohoo! Exercise - which until gardening season happens means I don't get enough!  Currently am using both exercises dil showed me - takes about 10-15 minutes, plus going to the gym (Planet Earth) to work on strength training and bicycling on rainy days as well

CURRENTLY READING

Audio Book
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon  There are a total of 48 discs (I know I said 24 - it's 48) and I LOVE this book!  Part of the Outlander series.  In fact - I love it so much I have the 1st 4 books of the series!

Romance - quick reads -
Run, Hide - Ericson

Killer Body - James

Engaged with the Boss - James

Bundle of Trouble - James

The Pediatrician's Personal Protector - Kane

Detective Daddy - Kane

Private Security - Kane

Death of a Beauty Queen - Kane

Science Fiction/Fantasy

No One Noticed the Cat - McCaffrey

Deluge - McCaffrey

Pegasus in Space - McCaffrey

Double Star - Heinlein

A Knot in the Grain - McKinley

Other Fiction

Little Men - Alcott

Wishes - Deveraux

An Angel for Emily - Deveraux

Nonfiction
There is No Me Without You - Greene

DVD/Videos - 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - about a young boy's search for memories of his father who died 09/11

The Main Event - a comedy

Moses - I KNEW there was something I forgot during Passover!!!!  These is part of my curricula for Passover!  Had these movies set out - and totally forgot them!  there are 2

Origins: Nova: Disc 1 - this will also be part of my Science curricula

Textbooks
Basic Judaism - a review over basic tenets - this quarter I'm reviewing holidays, etc. and level of celebration  Currently finishing up a learning folder on Passover.  Should be beginning Holocause Rememberance Day which is on the 8th.

The Jewish Woman and her Home (Goldin) , Jewish Holidays and Festivals (Edidin), 40 Things You can do to save the Jewish People (Grishaver), This Is My God (Herman Wouk), It's a Mitzvah (), How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household (Greenberg),The Songs We Sing

Botany - both from an evolutionary standpoint as well as from an overall review of types, etc.
The World of Plants (which helps me set up my learning folder - VERY good, btw), The Evolution of Plants and Flowers (Thomas), Botany Coloring Book (P. Young),Science Scope (Stout) and any lectures online I can find  This WAS going to be a 3 month study - however it will run longer.  No problem!

Social studies - history - sort of in depth.  Finishing archaeology. The ATlas of Archaeology (Taylor).  Starting Sunday I will be working on the Pre-Cambrian History - Archaean first!  Am using the Nova DVD's, some things gleaned from (of all places!) Pinterest, plus my Coloring Book of Evolution.  Additionally - I have LOTS of dinosaur and pre and post dinosaur videos as well.  DO need to make a timeline of some sort to hang up!

Math - A review of basic algebra (my goal is to take calculus - but it has been soooooooooo many years!) I'm currently usingSaxon Math.  However I will have to order in the next 2 courses in math - those books were part of those that were ruined

Beginning Russian - I'm using the Power Glide language course which I like A LOT!  I also have 2 other beginning Russian books should this course appear to go too fast! So far - at one lesson a week - I'm on lesson 7 - will be going to lesson 8

Creative Writing - ummm am using the Writing Strands level 3 - which is ok for instructing kids - HOWEVER....  But then as my daughter puts it - it IS practice and that's what counts!  I'm more than halfway through that book at present.  and yes, upon completion of level 3 - I DO have level 4.

Spelling - working on some of the rest of the 12,000 most frequently mispelled words. (Schools teach ONLY 4300 AT MOST! and based on the high school kids I teach - schools don't teach it well!)  I'm using Spelling Power - which WORKS!

Exercise - We Win - which is a book for a 1 year program.  Thought I would try it myself this year!

Wha'cha Readin'?

I am a firm believer in the policy of borrowing books from the library.  I borrow 2, take back one, renew the other and borrow 6 more!  At least!

FINISHED
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Winter Witch
Book of Magic: Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce

Romance - quick reads -
Copy That
Cowboy to the Max
Her Stolen Son
The Missing Twin
Certified Cowboy
Cowboy in the Extreme
(The next group of 4 were taken back immediately - I had just read them 2-3 weeks prior)
Cooper Security: Secret Identity
Cooper Security: Secret Hideout
Cooper Security: Secret Assignment
Cooper Security: Secret Agenda

CURRENTLY READING
Audio Book
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon  There are a total of 48 discs (I know I said 24 - it's 48) and I LOVE this book!  Part of the Outlander series

Romance - quick reads -
Deception
Mason
Dade
Gage
The Texas Lawman's Last Stand
Standoff at Mustang Ridge
A Game of Chance (Howard)
Tears of the Renegade (Howard)
Gifts from the Heart (Hart)
Lily's Pesky Plant (Disney) - a kids book - but should be fun - I hope!

Mystery and other reads - light and otherwise
Above Suspicion by LaPlante (Not Helen McInnes who had book by the same name)
Turn of Mind
The Bells of Freedom  - I've read this before - but it's been YEARS!  A kid's historical fiction read
Marmee & Louisa - the untold story of Louisa May Alcott and her mother.  AWESOME book!

Nonfiction
The American Kitchen 1700 to the Present (la Plante) actually this one SHOULD go back but I enjoy reading about the kitchen things in all the different periods of time

Other Reads
Now we come to my text books!

Basic Judaism - a review over basic tenets - this quarter I'm reviewing holidays, etc. and level of celebration  Currently studying Pesach or Passover.

The Jewish Woman and her Home (Goldin) , Jewish Holidays and Festivals (Edidin), 40 Things You can do to save the Jewish People (Grishaver), This Is My God (Herman Wouk), It's a Mitzvah (), How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household (Greenberg), The Songs We Sing

Botany - both from an evolutionary standpoint as well as from an overall review of types, etc.
The Private Life of Plants (Attenborough), The Evolution of Plants and Flowers (Thomas), Botany Coloring Book (P. Young), Science Scope (Stout) and any lectures online I can find  This WAS going to be a 3 month study - however it will run longer.  No problem!

Social studies - history - sort of in depth.  Currently readings in/on archaeology. The ATlas of Archaeology (Taylor), Guides to History Plus (Stout), and some other info that I  used when teaching my kids. 

I'll be starting (next week) the unit on Pre-Cambrian history - both on the Archaean and Proterozoic eras - and will be using several other books then as well which I will list next week.  

Math - A review of basic algebra (my goal is to take calculus - but it has been soooooooooo many years!) I'm currently using Saxon Math.  However I will have to order in the next 2 courses in math - those books were part of those that were ruined

Beginning Russian - I'm using the Power Glide language course which I like A LOT!  I also have 2 other beginning Russian books should this course appear to go too fast! So far - at one lesson a week - I'm on lesson 7 - will be going to lesson 8

Creative Writing - ummm am using the Writing Strands level 3 - which is ok for instructing kids - HOWEVER....  But then as my daughter puts it - it IS practice and that's what counts!  I'm more than halfway through that book at present.  and yes, upon completion of level 3 - I DO have level 4.

Handwriting - something I do periodically - that is, if I want to read my own writing!!!  I'm working on Italics Now!

Spelling - working on some of the rest of the 12,000 most frequently mispelled words. (Schools teach ONLY 4300 AT MOST! and based on the high school kids I teach - schools don't teach it well!)  I'm using Spelling Power - which WORKS!

I could probably add in exercise - which until gardening season happens means I don't get enough!  Currently am using both exercises dil showed me - takes about 10-15 minutes, plus going to the gym (Planet Earth) to work on strength training and bicycling on rainy days as well

Wha'cha Readin'?

Wow - am reading a LOT of things - BUT a lot are for home-designed study courses I'm doing.  I also seem to have this - um - disability.  You see, I take back books regularly.  I take back 4 - and check out 6, take back 4 more, check out another 6.  Somehow this is starting to resemble my stash!

FINISHED

Science Fiction/Fantasy 
Book of Magic: Sandry by Tamora Pierce
Book of Magic: Tris by Tamora Pierce
Book of Magic: Daja by Tamora Pierce

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Romance - quick reads -
The Reckoning
Hitched and Hunted
Camouflage Cowboy
The Man from Gossamer Ridge
Major Nanny

Nonfiction
A Child's Garden: enchanting outdoor spaces for children and parents
Design for Gardens
The American Kitchen, 1700 to present


Mystery - light and otherwise
Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish Dorothy Gillman.  Read MANY times!  A FAVE!


CURRENTLY READING
Audio Book
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon  There are a total of 48 discs (I know I said 24 - it's 48) and I LOVE this book!  Part of the Outlander series


Science Fiction/Fantasy
Winter Witch
Book of Magic: Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce

Romance - quick reads -
Copy That
Deception
Mason
The Texas Lawman's Last Stand
Standoff at Mustang Ridge
Dade
Gage
Cooper Security: Secret Identity
Cooper Security: Secret Hideout
Cooper Security: Secret Assignment
Cooper Security: Secret Agenda

Nonfiction
The Evolution of Plants and Flowers
The Private Life of Plants: a Natural History of Plant Behaviour by David Attenborough


Mystery and other reads - light and otherwise
Above Suspicion by LaPlante (Not Helen McInnes who had book by the same name)

Turn of Mind
The Bells of Freedom  - I've read this before - but it's been YEARS!  A kid's historical fiction read
Marmee & Louisa - the untold story of Louisa May Alcott and her mother.  AWESOME book!


Other Reads
Now we come to my text books!  (the plants above in the non-fiction are a part of it)

• Basic Judaism - a review over basic tenets - this quarter I'm reviewing holidays, etc. and level of celebration
• Botany - both from an evolutionary standpoint as well as from an overall review of types, etc.
• Social studies - history - sort of in depth.  Currently readings in/on archaeology.  
• A review of basic algebra (my goal is to take calculus - but it has been soooooooooo many years!)
• Beginning Russian
• Creative Writing
• Handwriting - something I do periodically - that is, if I want to read my own writing!!!  I'm working on Italics Now!
• Spelling - working on some of the rest of the 12,000 most frequently mispelled words. (Schools teach ONLY 4300 AT MOST! and based on the high school kids I teach - schools don't teach it well!)  I'm using Spelling Power - which WORKS!
• I could probably add in exercise - which until gardening season happens means I don't get enough!

Wha'cha Readin'? It's Tuesday - don'cha know? Just LOOKS like Friday!!!

FINISHED

Science Fiction 
Under Twin Suns   by W. L. Koenig  Have read this several times!  LOVE it!  It's part of a series!
Sunlight Night, Coffee and Dreams by W. L. Koenig  Short stories and contains one of my favorites!

Romance - quick reads -
Mountain Ranger Recon

Top Gun Guardian

Green Beret Bodyguard

Eyewitness

Obsession

Nonfiction
Botany for all ages: Learning about nature through activities using plants - this book I'm returning - although it is quite nice, it isn't what I wanted.

CURRENTLY READING

Audio books
A Breath of Snow and Ashes

Science Fiction/Fantasy
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
Winter Witch

Romance - quick reads -
The Reckoning
Copy That
Hitched and Hunted
Camouflage Cowboy
The Man from Gossamer Ridge
Major Nanny
Dade
Gage

Nonfiction
A Child's Garden: enchanting outdoor spaces for children and parents
Design for Gardens
The American Kitchen, 1700 to present
The Evolution of Plants and Flowers
The Private Life of Plants: a Natural History of Plant Behaviour by David Attenborough

Mystery - light and otherwise
Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish Dorothy Gillman.  Read MANY times!  A FAVE!
Above Suspicion by LaPlante (Not Helen McInnes who had book by the same name)

Other Reads
Turn of Mind
The Bells of Freedom  - I've read this before - but it's been YEARS!  A kid's historical fiction read

Wha'cha Readin' now????

Oops - this is Thursday - and I had hoped to get this post out on Tuesday!  I missed!  I want to get this linked to Judy L's blog - Patchwork Times!

FINISHED

Other Books 

The Zenith by Duong Thu Huong I didn't get a chance to finish this - am about half way through.  BUT it was on 14 day loan and I had checked it out twice and am overdue anyway!

The Spoiler: a novel by Annalena McAfee This is also on 14 day loan!

The Heat of the Sun by David Rain  I have to return this - also a 14 day loan.

Green Prints - a Weeder's Digest

Young adult fantasy

Pegasus in Flight by Anne McCaffrey

Romance 
Navy Seal Security

A Silverhill Christmas
 CURRENT READS:

Audio:  A Breath of Snow and Ashes - this audio book has 24 discs - which will keep me busy for a while!  Looks AWESOME!

Science Fiction
Winter Witch by Elaine Cunningham - still reading this one 

Romance - quick reads - 

The Reckoning

Mountain Ranger Recon

Top Gun Guardian

Green Beret Bodyguard

Eyewitness

Obsession

Other Genre:

Havah - I love this book
He Who Lifts the Skies ( temporarily on hold)

Non-fiction
Encyclopedia of Country Living -by Carla Emery Re-Read Food Preservation

Other Genre:
Havah - I love this book
He Who Lifts the Skies ( temporarily on hold)

Non-fiction

Encyclopedia of Country Living -by Carla Emery Re-Read Food Preservation

Other books

Actually, most of the time, I've been working on a study course I designed so that I can both review over things I've learned as well as re-learning things I messed up on way back when!  Subjects I'm tackling include a study of my religion, Science (plants this time), A brief (VERY brief) intro to archaeology, Mathematics (OK - so I'm doing a review of basic math - sue me!  Working my way up to calculus and analytical geometry), Russian (Mandarin is temporarily on hold), Creative writing, re working my handwriting which has gotten SLOPPY!, Spelling (don't even go there!) and VERY lite course in basic art - VERY basic!  Music - I will probably work on (as well as art) as I journey through the ages - PLUS I will work on it A LOT when I eventually re-purchase a piano - which I miss dreadfully!  I miss Beethoven's sonatas, Rachmaninoff's Concertos and Chopin's Fantasia like crazy!  And recordings do NOT do the trick!

And... Wha'cha Readin' Now? - 02-12-13

FINISHED

Audio: Three audio books -
The White Horse Child by Greg Bear
Cell One by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
(Both of these I can play on my TV - audio only and they unfortunately don'T work on my CD player!)
Summer in Tuscany by Elizabeth Adler This is the one I'm currently playing on my CD player

And I'm so totally out of audio books - I have GOT to get some more!!!!



Romance Mystery (QUICK reads)
The Secret of Cypriere Bayou
Bayou Bodyguard



Young adult fantasy
The Circle Opens: Street Magic by Tamora Pierce  I've read this a gazillion times - and still have times when I just want to feel caught up in the book!

Romance 

Katherine's Marriage - DE Stevenson - have read this several times - love her books  ALMOST done
The Empty World - DE Stevenson - This is the first time I've read this - I did NOT like it! It wasn't her usual style and was SUPPOSED to be futuristic.  At the time it was written - that was probably true - (1930's)  But now that we ARE in THAT future - it is so far off base and I REALLY don't like it!

 CURRENT READS:


Science Fiction
Winter Witch by Elaine Cunningham

Other books
The Zenith by Duong Thu Huong I don't really read this straight through - but I am definitely liking this book!

The Spoiler: a novel by Annalena McAfee I didn't get to this one this last week.

The Heat of the Sun by David Rain  The Scope here is from 1920s to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.   I'm not too far from finishing this.

Other Genre:
Havah - I love this book
He Who Lifts the Skies ( temporarily on hold)
Non-fiction
Encyclopedia of Country Living -by Carla Emery - love this!  Re-read Oddments section as well as the Tree, Vine, Bush section.

LOL - have been checking out new garden catalogs - to see if there is anything I HAVEN'T ordered!  So far I probably have something of every kind of veggie - LOL - whether I like it or not!

And Wha'cha Readin' NOW????

FINISHED
Audio: 
Malibu Nights: a novel by Elizabeth Adler Thoroughly enjoyed this!  Although I did NOT enjoy where someone had gouged the library disc.

Romance mysteries (the QUICK reads!)
These I - uh - sidetracked on!  Just got these last week at the library - and already have read them!
Switched
Under the Gun
Daddy Bombshell
Lawman Lover (OUTLAWS)
The Vanishing

Romance
The Billionaire's Unexpected Heir

CURRENT READS:
Audio: Three audio books(hey - they count!) -
The White Horse Child by Greg Bear
Cell One by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
(Both of these I can play on my TV - audio only and they unfortunately don'T work on my CD player!)
Summer in Tuscany by Elizabeth Adler This is the one I'm currently playing on my CD player

Young adult fantasy
The Circle Opens: Street Magic by Tamora Pierce  I've read this a gazillion times - and still have times when I just want to feel caught up in the book!

Romance (These are QUICK reads - I usually go through one a night)
Still to read -
Katherine's Marriage - DE Stevenson - have read this several times - love her books  ALMOST done
The Empty World - DE Stevenson - This is the first time I've read this - not sure I like it!

Romance Mystery (QUICK reads)
The Secret of Cypriere Bayou
Bayou Bodyguard

Science Fiction
Winter Witch by Elaine Cunningham

Other books
The Zenith by Duong Thu Huong I really like this book - at least so far!  This is a novel that describes the consequences of the Vietnam War through a few families and their stories.  It's quite good!

The Spoiler: a novel by Annalena McAfee So far quite good!  It isn't exactly my usual cup of tea - but I do like it!  A novel covering "every major theater of war in the 20th century" as written about, discussed, which was published by a newsroom "Marlene Dietrich" and confronted by an expose from a "bright young thing" out to make a name for herself.

The Heat of the Sun by David Rain  The Scope here is from 1920s to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Again - I really like it - at least so far

Other Genre:
Havah (Temporarily on hold)
He Who Lifts the Skies (also temporarily on hold)
Non-fiction
Encyclopedia of Country Living -by Carla Emery - love this!  Re-read another section in the Garden Vegetables Unit  Wah!  I wanna live in the country!!!!

Scraps and Shirttails
Scraps and Shirttails II
String Fling
Definitely have 2 quilts "in progress" from String fling now - and sure want to do a bunch of others!