Eddings, David - Domes of Fire

Ah, I have begun the Tamuli. It is the three book series that has the same characters as the Elenium, but on a different adventure. I finished book 1 yesterday while lounging about the house resting from the busy trip to Duluth. I need to locate a copy of book 2 before I can read that. (My library didn't have it, and the two used bookstores I checked also didn't have it. And my Kindle also doesn't have it...so, it may be a few days before I can read it...as I'm opposed to paying full price for it.)
rj

and the other scenary

the fall flowers

the fall leaves

The Sepia Shot

The Original:

And as Sepia:

Saturday, Sklyine Drive, and Duluth

Saturday was a wonderful day. Curt, Rick and I wandered up to Duluth to take some pictures. And while it wasn't a sunny day, we still got some great shots. I'll post several of mine.

I think I'll post them in small batches...to separate them out a bit. I took 200+ pictures, but only liked about 20 of them. I do love digital photography.

rj

The pain recedes

I am feeling a bit better today. Less throbbing pain in my legs and arms. Less crabbiness. This is a good thing. And it is Friday. And tomorrow I am planning to go to Gooseberry Falls with Curt and Rick to take fall pictures and enjoy a beautiful fall day. I'll post some of my favorites on Monday.

Holly will say I feel better because I went swimming last night. Is that true? How will we ever know? I do know that right after swimming I felt sore and much ache. But this morning I woke up feeling much better. So perhaps the bit of exercise in my nice, warm pool was helpful.

rj

Madeleine L'Engle - A Wind in the Door

After swimming last night, I finished up the second book in the L'Engle series. This book was a good, quick read. Very easy to get into and perfect for preteens.

I have one more of them on hand, and then I am going to switch to the Tamuli or to one of the other books on my "to-read" shelf.
rj

I want a magic pill...

I hurt.
Stupid fibromyalgia.
Everything aches from the inside out.
The legs throb.
The arms are weak.
Every step jabs pain through my feet.
Why me?
So crabby it makes me.
How to be hopeful when it hurts?

Eddings, David - The Sapphire Rose

I finished the Elenium last night.

I am anxious now to re-read the Tamuli...which has the same characters on a different adventure.

I can't say enough how much I love the way David Eddings writes...truly great characters. And when I read his stories I feel like I am right there with them...

rj

Amy Lilly Naps

A quick snapshot I grabbed while at Holly's place this weekend.

She is as soft as she looks...

weekend pictures

Curt and I found a new park to take pictures at. It's just up the road from where I live.

Here are some of my favorites. The leaves haven't started changing much yet, though we did find one tree that was yellows and oranges. It looked really odd with all the green around it.

Next weekend Rick, Curt and I are going up to Gooseberry Falls...hopefully the leaves have changed more up there and we'll snag some good pictures.

on Friday

I love the smell and taste of a fresh, hot cup of coffee. Happily I just poured one.

Today is a busy day with database work at my job. We are converting from one platform to another. The training for the employees is on 10/1. That gives me a week or so to add them to the database, give them the access they need, and learn the system inside and out for myself. The vendor is sending someone to train us, but I still want to know it fairly well so that I can answer questions after they are gone. So, I have a busy week ahead of me.

But today is Friday. And a weekend of rest awaits...

Alright. Enough of a break. Back to my database.

rj

Why The Last Jihad isn't finished...

Part of the reason I haven't finished The Last Jihad is that I can't find it. I know it's somewhere in my home, but I haven't chanced upon it in the past week.
The other reason I haven't finished it is that I've been interested in the Eddings' series.
I do like The Last Jihad, and I'm half way through it...I just probably won't finish it until I'm done with the Elenium and then the three books in Eddings' Tamuli series.
~That should give me some time to find it in my home...
rj

Eddings, David - The Ruby Knight

Last night I spent most of the evening reading, and I finished book two of the Elenium. Such a wonderful series. I truly love the way Eddings weaves a story.
Hopefully I'll be able start book three tonight...
rj

Apple Picking

Saturday morning, Rick, Curt, Scott and I wandered out to Afton Apples to pick some apples. We got there, got our apples, did our shopping in their store, and made it back to the car before the rain started. It rained the rest of the day, so we had perfect timing.

Here are some favorite pictures:

Pumpkin Bread

Rick loves pumpkin bread. He particularly likes the bread that Caribou sells. Unfortunately, they have lately been out of it. So I figured we could hunt down a recipe and make a loaf fairly easily.
And it worked out really well. I sat on a chair in the dining room and directed Rick each step of the way...so, technically he made it, and I just advised.
It was yummy. I thought a little more sugar, but Curt and Rick thought it was great the way it was...

Baked Pumpkin Bread
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup solid pack pumpkin puree
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large bowl. Mix in the pumpkin, brown sugar, buttermilk, egg and butter until well blended. Pour into a 9x5 inch loaf pan and smooth the top.
Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.


And here's a picture of it:

Grandma K's Apple Pie

After we went apple picking, and after Rick and I made Pumpkin Bread, we made an apple pie. I used Grandma K's recipe...and I did it from memory. Which would have been just fine, but I forgot to add a little flour to the apple mix, so the liquid inside the pie was a little runny. Rick and Curt said it tasted wonderful, and I managed to eat my piece fairly quickly as well. The cinnamon ice cream Curt brought over was a perfect addition.


Grandma K's Apple Pie
2 9-inch pie crusts (we used Pillsbury refrigerated...grandma K always made them from scratch)
8-9 tart apples (we used 6 McIntosh and 3 Red Barrons)
2/3 cup sugar
1 TB flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
(we used Apple Pie spice instead of the individual spices...about 2 tsps)
1 Tb butter

Preheat the oven to 350. Place one of the pie crusts in the bottom of the pie tin. Push it down so that it conforms to the pan's shape.
Peel, core and slice (1/8 of an inch thick) the apples. Mix the apples with the sugar, flour, and spices. Pour into the pie crust. Dot the top with bits of the butter.
Put the top crust on. Fold the edges of the crust where they meet.
Cut 4 small slits in the top of the pie.
Bake for 50-60 minutes until the apples are cooked through.


Here's a picture of the one we made on Saturday:

L'Engle, Madeline - A Wrinkle in Time

This is a book that I might not ever have read had Holly and Jordan not brought the book-on-tape along for a car ride to Princeton. We listened to it all the way there and all the way back. That left us about half way through the book.
I had a coupon for $5 off any book at Borders, and the book was only $6.99, so I bought it a couple of weeks ago.
I finished the story off last night.
I really liked the characters and enjoyed the story. Perfect for Jordan. (I can lend you two the book if you'd like it.)
However, I must say I enjoyed listening to it more than I enjoyed reading it. The author read the book on tape, and she did a wonderful job.
There are 5 books in the series. I may pick them up some day and read them. I have so many others on the shelf though...
rj

Eddings, David - The Diamond Throne

This is the first book in the Elenium. It's a trilogy. I read it several years ago, but enjoyed re-reading it very much.
Today I am going to the library to pick up books 2 and 3 of the series.
I love Sparhawk and Flute...and even the big horse Faran.
rj

Go Green, Live Rich

I got a new book from my book club the other day. It's not really the kind of book to sit down and read straight through. It's called, "Go Green, Live Rich - 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying)."

Tip 1 is to take an online test to calculate your carbon footprint.
My score was 253. I haven't flown in years...and I think that helped keep my score low.
There are also some great resources on the site for how to Go Greener...
You should check it out.

rj

Baked Zucchini Chips

These are a perfect "fried" treat...So delicious. I think I'll make some this weekend.

Baked Zucchini Chips
2 Medium Zucchini (about 1 pound)
1/4 Cup Egg Substitute mixed with 2 Tablespoons Water
1/2 Cup Dry Italian Breadcrumbs
2 Tablespoons Reduced Fat Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/8 teaspoon Pepper

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Cut zucchini into 1/4 inch thick slices. Pour egg substitute mixed with water into a small bowl and set aside. Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and pepper in a small bowl and set aside. Dip zucchini into egg mixture then dredge through breadcrumb mixture and place on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake each side approx. 5-10 minutes or until brown and crispy.
Serves: 8Per Serving: 55 Calories; 1g Fat (24.2% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; WWP: 1

Sinus Infection

I have one.
Went to Urgent Care last night.
Waited 1.5 hours.
Saw doctor.
Spent 5 minutes with her.
Got prescription.
Filled it there at their little Med ATM.
Went home.
Took antibiotic.
Started to feel better within 20 minutes.

Love Antibiotics.

Beef Stew

I found making this in the crock pot makes it even easier.

Beef Stew
1# of stew meat
1/3 cup flour
4-5 potatoes, cut up (I actually used several baby potatoes from the farmer's market)
4-5 carrots, cut up (again from the farmer's market)
1 onion (I had some small ones from the market...and just chopped them in half)
1 package beef stew seasoning
2 cups water

Preheat frying pan with some oil in it for a couple of minutes. Put the flour and stew meat together in a big bag. Shake it up. Remove the pieces of stew meat and place them in the frying pan to brown. After they are brown, pour them into the crockpot.

Add the chopped up potatoes (1/2 inch size) and carrots (1/2 inch size) and onions. (I added a can of drained corn to my stew as well...but that's a personal preference.) Sprinkle the beef stew seasoning on top. Add the water. Mix everything up. Make sure the liquid covers the veggies/meat. (add more if needed). Put the crockpot cover on. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Reichs, Kathy - Devil Bones

At the beginning of my vacation week (before I started The Mallorean), I read this book. It came out in late August. I love Temperance. Such a wonderful character. And I love the show (Bones) too. I watched the season premier last week as well.

Eddings, David - The Mallorean

The Mallorean is the part II of The Belgariad. Each series has 5 books in it. You could read one without the other, but they go together very well.

This is my second time through the series. While I was on vacation last week, I read all 5 books in The Mallorean. I love the characters. Eddings makes them come alive. I totally connect to each of them, and even though I've read the books before, I enjoyed it just as much. (It has been 15 years after all...)

I highly recommend it.

I've moved on to Eddings' next series...The Elenium. I guess I'm in the mood for a little Fantasy fiction.

Four Favorites from Friday

Curt bought a new camera on Friday, so we took it to Central Park for a little run-through. These are some of the favorites I took with my camera...
It was a bit cloudy and chilly, but a nice walk was had nonetheless.

Pictures of the 'Bou

I just discovered a new feature on my camera. I love the way these turned out.

I'm going to definitely try this out with some of the fall pictures to come...

Vacation Week is Over

Ah, a lovely vacation week has come to an end.
I read 6 books, took naps every day, petted cats, baked peanut butter bars, made stew...and even got out to take some pictures.
It was truly a great week.

Alas, I avoided the computer, so there was no blogging.

However, I will post some pictures and update my book journal as soon as I can.

rj