Summertime Reading

I got inspired to have a summer reading program called "A Book A Week" after seeing a flickr friend's picture of some library books.  I am always interested to see what others are reading.  Her comments about the books peaked my interest enough to go on my library's website and search for them.  I got a few books headed in my direction, went and picked them up when they arrived in Inglewood and started reading.  Now mind you I'm not a speed reader nor do I have a ton of time on my hands.  I read before bed, on my lunch break at work and if it's a good book I'll spend some time on the weekends on my porch reading.  I finished one of the books within a week and started in on another. 

Another computer friend inspired part two of my summer reading program.  I really, really want to review the books that I read but the questions and comments that I was coming up with were too complicated and I was trying to be more literal than I am.  I had almost given up until today when a blog post changed my mind.  www.mommycoddle.com posted a book journal that she has going for her children.  Juvenile and simple as it may be, it was the simplicity that I needed to review my summertime books.  I made my own version, sticking with the points she used, and printed it on a regular sheet of paper, cut it in to fours, and taped it in my journal.   I will stick to just one journal and cram it with all sorts of things... including this.

A Book A Week  -  Week One

Title: Magic or Not?
Author: Edward Eager
Dates Read: May 25-31, 2011
Rating: 5 stars

Thoughts: This will be one of those reads that I revert back to in my imagination for a while.  I loved how vivid a picture that author painted and I was able to see each character and place like a dream.  I really enjoyed the way the stories in each chapter came together full circle and magically tied in at the end. 

I don't want to give away what the books are about.  I had no idea what they were about until I checked them out and started reading.  For instance, book one is a juvenile fiction book.  I don't even venture to that area of my library until now.  And I have been back since then I tell you!  That is part of the fun of it.  The "Thoughts" section of the review is simple.. so I will keep it that way.

I would love to hear what you are reading and also your thoughts on the books I am going to be listing if you pick them up for yourself. 

I can also email you a pdf file of the Book Journal entry sheet that I made if you so wish!

Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me

Did you learn that song as a kid?  I did... and the dance moves.  You needed a few partners for that one.  I'm pretty sure it was more of a square dance.  Well in this case it's not flies I am shooing but gnats.  Tiny, annoying gnats that in some cases are called fruit flies.  I'm not sure why they want to hang out in here.  I don't leave food out, or fruit.  I can't figure what it is they are attracted to but they will buzz in your face like they are telling you to open the door and let them out or leave some fruit out please.  Regardless I complained about it in front of the right person at work and she dropped a really good hint that has worked.  Not that we were infested or anything but one or two is enough to want them gone.  Try it if you need to... I promise... it works!

Fruit Fly Gnat Magic!

1 cup water

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1 tablespoon dish washing liquid

Stir ingredients together and pour into a few small bowls or glasses.  Make sure everyone in your home knows not to drink it... it resembles lemonade!  Place in areas that you have seen the gnats.  The gnats are attracted to the smell of the cider vinegar and when they pop in for a drink the dish wash soap gets them and they sink to the bottom.  It's quite lovely! 

Working up the garden

When I hear my wonderful husband say, "I'm going to work up the garden!"  it means he is fixing to till between the rows in order to loosen that hard as a rock dirt so the roots of the plants can breathe better.  This is a wonderful thing and very necessary and if I'm out there while this is going on everything is usually alright.  It is when I am not out there that things go awry. 

The night before last I planted dill seeds (for the second time) and lavender seeds it two little nice and neat rows in the front right part of the garden which belongs solely to me and contains mostly herbs.  Needless to say if I had the following little project completed at the time of working up the garden this morning I would still have the two lavender rows that I planted.  Bless his heart, he felt so bad.  No big deal.. I have seeds soaking to replant them tomorrow and in the mean time I made some markers to my herbs so next time he'll know what I've done.

This is a simple, quick craft that requires only a few household items that most people I know already have. 

Items needed: used canning lids, wire coat hangers, pliers, a hammer, one nail and a permanent marker.

First cut pieces of the coat hanger using the pliers or wire cutters.  They can be any length you choose.  I got three out of each hanger.  Next hammer a hole in to the canning jar lid with the nail.  I stuck mine between pieces of wood on our porch.  It worked great and I didn't poke a hole in anything other than the lid... the second time.

Next take the wire pliers and bend one end of the wire cutting over to make a loop.  Thread the canning lid onto the wire and loop it on over so the lid doesn't come off.  Label the jar lid and you are ready to stick it in the ground or pot where you need to label what you've planted.  So as to savor your efforts.

HACKED!

I'm back online!!!!  Wwhhhhew.  My advise for today is... keep up to date with your anti-virus if you want to remain a PC user.  I have always been very meticulous about keeping virus scans, updates, software and subscriptions current but given the current status of my bank account I opted out.  Not a good decision.  I could have lost it all!  Luckily... I have a computer angel who saved my files and my little laptop.  What a jewel to have someone like that!

It turns out that I contacted a virus on May 21st that totally took over and hid all of my files and programs and pictures and bloggy material on May 23rd.  I noticed something was wrong but it totally kicked me off and in to recovery mode. 

Today, I am back up and running although it took me almost an hour to find my internet connection.  The virus put all of my programs and files into "Hidden" mode.  So whatever my wizard did not unlock I have to find along the way and fix myself.  I almost called him a while ago and thought nope... I can figure this out myself.  And I did.

So right now I have all of these blog post wonders swirling around in my head.  I have begun a Summer Reading Program that I want to share, along with a recipe or two but I feel as if I need to attach pictures of what I am talking about within my posts.  So until I find my uploader... it's good to be back!

Happy Late Memorial Day!  I hope you had a good one!  My was camping in the Blazer under the stars with wonderful friends and PC free... kinda like the old days!