Saturday, August 25, 2012

A Sweaty Weekly Link Round-Up



Sometimes I wonder about myself. Do you ever wonder about yourself? I hope so. There are times when I don't want to feel alone....  The humidity's high, it's hot, we've even had three days of rain, and what have I been doing? Going out almost daily to sweep, rake, prune, bag, drag, and sweat. You would think that a reasonably intelligent woman like myself would find a different time of year to do a lot of yardwork, but there you go. Now you know why I'm wondering about myself. I wasn't a total ignoramus about it: Sweatband, hat, covered up, sunscreen, plenty of breaks to sit inside, cool off, and drink gallons of water. It's just that, when the mood comes over me to do stuff like this, I know I'd better take advantage. At least I had a pool to walk into when I was finished for the day!

It certainly doesn't make for an interesting intro to the links, though-- does it? So without further ado, here are those links! (Once I get these posted, I'm off to bed to dive back into Louise Penny's wonderful The Beautiful Mystery!)


Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff
  • Barnes and Noble is gearing up to open its very first Nook Store in the UK.
  • I recently discovered a neat little website called Book Lover's Gifts.
  • It's sad, but it happens: a history of book pulping.
  • Steve Hockensmith (one of my favorite authors) talked about how the covers for his books are chosen.
  • And while I'm talking about book covers, here's a post about the book cover for Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear. (I'm not a cover junkie, but I've always liked the covers chosen for this series.)
  • Parajunkee recently posted an interesting article with the results of a poll she conducted. Everything from scandal to memes to turn-offs to social networking. I'm not as "out of it" as I thought!
  • The authors have been shortlisted for the Crime Thriller Awards (Jo Nesbo, Anthony Horowitz, Kathy Reichs, Stuart MacBride and Ann Cleeves). Vote for your choice and you could win some books!

I  ♥  Lists

Looking towards Future Fun

What's this, you ask? Well, I didn't find any links for book candy or new blogs, so I thought I'd share links to the places we'll be calling "home base" during our trip to the UK next year. Denis and I like to stay in cottages and plan our visits with family or our days for exploration from them. Much more comfortable than staying in hotels and cheaper, too. Here are the three we've chosen (complete with photos):

  • Coldham Cottages is a wonderful place we've stayed at before. It's perfect for our family who live in Milton Keynes and Hertfordshire, and this time we may even catch the train for a day or two in London. The cottages are on a farm outside a lovely little village.
  • Long Lees Farm Cottage is on the banks of the Rochdale Canal. We're staying here to visit one of our lovely nieces who lives in Rochdale, outside Manchester. One of the day trips we'll be taking is to Eyam, the "plague village" that may be familiar to any of you who've read Geraldine Brooks' Year of Wonders.
  • You know me... if I'm going to the UK, we'll be going to the Highlands. This time we'll be staying in a small village outside Invergordon right on the shores of the Cromarty Firth. Oyster Catcher Cottage, here we come!

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!

18 comments:

  1. Do those cottages have an extra bedroom? ;)

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  2. Cathy - Oh, I'm so pleased you'll be getting the chance to travel next year! How wonderful! I hope you'll richly enjoy it. And I know what you mean about doing things - even wanting to do them - that don't make a lot of sense. I do that too sometimes. Thanks for the links!

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    1. We're well overdue for a visit across the pond, although I know why it was postponed!

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  3. You do have to take advantage of that will power when it comes! I understand that feeling...its a nice surprise. I can't wait to check out those cottages, so I can dream!

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    1. Fairy tales can come true, Missy. Beginning at about the age of 8, I started dreaming about visiting England and Scotland.

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  4. I look forward to your weekly roundup. I love some of the lists...going to check out a few of them...THANKS.


    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    http://silversolara.blogpsot.com

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    1. You're very welcome, Elizabeth. I'm glad you enjoy the links. :-)

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  5. You're not alone doing the yardwork on a miserable day. I'm doing the same thing only I don't have a pool to get into when I'm done.

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    1. I'd gladly share with you, but I'm a muggle, unfortunately!

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  6. I guess this is one time I'm glad I live in a city apartment with air conditioning. No yard work! No brutal sun beating down! But then again no pool and no feathered friends.

    Time for iced tea and reading I say in July and August, no stress and strain.

    The trip to England sounds wonderful. I will look forward to reports and photos.

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    1. That reminds me-- I'd better make sure I have a stash of memory cards for my camera! LOL

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  7. The cottages all look really lovely, I hope the weather is good for you when you get here!

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    1. I'm realistic about the weather over there. Besides, living where there's bright sun over 300 days per year (and less than 7 inches of rain per year), it's a bit of a novelty... especially when we know we're heading back to the sun afterwards! :-)

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  8. I have to be honest - the urge to do yardwork hardly ever strikes me. :) But I am the same way when it comes to rearranging my books. I'm off to check out many of the links!

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    1. Well, the only reason why the urge ever strikes is because something is in dire need of doing.... ;-)

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  9. Yardwork, again I can't imagine it. I am someone who gets the urge to do housework on rare occasions, and when I do, I lie down and let it pass. (I'm paraphrasing a quote by Bernie Rhodenbarr in one of Lawrence Block's books; Bernie was referring to "jogging.")

    I would much prefer to read or read great blogs like this one.

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    1. So would I, Kathy, and I happen to hate housework even more than I do yardwork. Trouble is, it's easier for me to keep things picked up in the house than it is for me to persuade Mother Nature to stop making the trees and shrubs grow! At least we have desert landscaping, so this doesn't have to be done very often (unlike housework, cooking, or laundry-- blech)!

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