It's hard to believe that, once upon a time, doctors told all their patients with breathing-related problems to come here to the desert to get healthy. Having a climate like this means that something is always blooming, so if you have chronic allergies, this isn't the place to live. Or... you could be like me and have no idea you were deathly allergic to olive trees in bloom until you move here. Fortunately, there are laws in place now saying that olive trees must be treated so that they won't bloom. I've never seen anything like olives for the amount of pollen they throw out, so I thank that law for being able to breathe this time of year!
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| Stage 1 of Operation Craft Room Completed! |
It's been a rather quiet week here at Casa Kittling. I did finish putting together my craft room, which will be the subject of my Saturday Snapshot post tomorrow, so if you're interested, don't forget to stop by to take a look! I can feel some of you twitching as you look at the photo to the left. The sight of all those empty shelves make you nervous? Never fear! They're all filled up again. I'll prove it tomorrow!
Now, on to those links!
Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff
- Courtesy of the Arizona Republic: there's a new app that helps local bookstores compete with superstores.
- How does he do it? James Patterson to release 13 books this year!
- Shame on them! Amazon is a virtual no-show in hometown philanthropy.
- The final chapter for a trusty bookmobile?
- How to reorganize your bookshelves using the honesty system.
- I had fun with the Harry Potter Alphabet.
- I laughed when reading Confessions of a Newbie Bookseller, Part Two: Euphemisms.
- A bookstore in Athens, Greece offers a place for people to freely think.
eBooks, Blogs & Social Media
- Kobo to start its own publishing division to compete with Amazon's.
- F+W Media will be developing a series of subscription-based digital book clubs, since tablet reading is becoming more mainstream.
- Do your children use your tablet a lot? Be warned.
- How to track your website's content on Pinterest.
I ♥ Lists
- Young adult books adults will love.
- 10 of the most precocious authors in literary history.
- 10 of the best geeks in children's books.
- Top 10 father and son stories.
Book Candy
- Take a look at these bookends made by Knob Creek Metal Arts.
- I have a couple of commonplace books I wouldn't mind covering with these bookcovers... if only I knitted!
- The Spoon Sisters have figured out a way to read larger books one-handed: the Thumb Thing.
- A multi-tasking bookshelf that can turn into chairs if needed.
- A Cubit modular shelving unit.
- The book-infused photographs of Joel Robison.
- The Canto Corner bookshelves.
New to My Google Reader
That's it for this week. Don't forget to stop by next weekend when I'll have a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure!
That room looks great! I envy you getting to fill those shelves up. :-)
ReplyDeleteThere's something about filling up empty bookshelves that's just plain good for the soul, isn't there? :-)
DeletePollen kills us here in the south but I never thought about it in the desert! I hope you get some relief soon.
ReplyDeleteAs long as my nose isn't a perpetual faucet, I'll be okay. Thanks, Kathy!
DeleteI woke up sneezing this morning. I thought it was the flu, but now I know it was blooming things that caused it!
ReplyDeleteChances are excellent that it's that darned pollen count!
DeleteHmmm...Austin is considered the "Allergy Capitol of the World" by those of us that live here. I have horrible allergies here, but none in the desert. It's all a matter of what you are used to I suppose. Or, if I moved to your part of the world, I would likely develop allergies to something. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThe first year or so that I lived here, I was in heaven because I'd gotten rid of all my Midwest allergies. I don't suffer much anymore unless the pollen count is astronomical.
DeleteThe pollen is already horrible here too. I took out my contacts yesterday -- hoping to ditch the glasses again soon.
ReplyDeleteIck. Well, there's one reason why I'm glad I don't wear contacts! LOL
DeleteCathy - We have seriously high pollen counts around here, too :-(. Thank goodness for good allergy medication; otherwise I'd be in serious trouble.
ReplyDeleteI'm just glad that my allergies are so slight that I don't have to take meds. I remember how they made me feel. But I certainly do empathize with everyone who must take them!
DeleteWhen my grandparents moved to Phoenix (for her health), they decided the reason everyone had allergy problems was because they all planted everything they were familiar with - grass, pollen-bearing plants, etc.
ReplyDeleteYou asked how does James Patterson do it? He has other writers write them for him, that's how. And the books show it.
That's definitely one major problem, Barbara, and I can get in a fine old rant about it: You now live in the desert, people. If you want your property to look like you're still in Michigan (or wherever), I suggest you get your butts back there! LOL
DeleteHard to believe oaks don't give those olive trees a run for the pollen. Soon my car will be yellow from it for weeks and my allergies are already bad...
ReplyDeleteThey probably would, Caite, but there aren't many oaks to be found in my corner of the Sonoran Desert!
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