The Monarchs R Us Weekly Link Round-Up

This week has certainly been one with highs and lows. The low would have to be yesterday when Denis called his ENT doctor about a discharge from one of his ears. Talking about brain fluid, the doctor had Denis scheduled for a CT scan within two hours and an appointment with him first thing this morning. Brain fluid? Denis and I both tossed and turned all night, anxiously wondering if his brains were leaking out his ears. Fortunately it wasn't brain fluid, but a fungal infection that the doctor took care of this morning!

Earlier in the week I sat outside in the shade during the afternoons to read and watch all the dragonflies, birds and butterflies enjoying our back garden. Yellow-rumped warblers tried to hide their bright behinds from me as they took baths underneath the birds of paradise. Goldfinches drank out of the fountain just three feet away. A big orange flame skimmer dragonfly soaked up some sun while Queen butterflies wafted past my head.

Speaking of queens, Denis and I did go to the Monarch exhibit in the Butterfly Pavilion at the Desert Botanical Garden this week. Seeing those beautiful creatures moving through the dappled sunlight made me think of Bengal tigers-- and that's not a scary thought for me. I think both butterfly and big cat are incredibly beautiful.

We also wandered around parts of the garden afterwards, watching a small covey of Gambel's quail scratching in the undergrowth for something tasty, and checking a sundial for accuracy, until the late afternoon sun became blinding and we decided to head for home.

And speaking of heading for home, I'd better head off and round up those links, eh?

Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff

• Cat leads owner to discovery of ancient Roman ruins. Here, kitty kitty kitty....
• Woman misunderstands deer crossing signs and wants them moved.
• Malala Yousufzai, shot in the head by the Taliban because she's an outspoken advocate for girls' right to an education, is improving in a London hospital.
• A 10-year-old boy with Down syndrome reported missing in Hackleburg, Alabama, on Tuesday was found on Wednesday morning along a creek near his home with a pair of puppies that rescue workers believe kept him warm overnight.
• DonorsChoose.org believes teachers are unsung heroes. 
• I got more than a few chuckles from these binder reviews on Amazon.
• Some people have all the luck: first-time treasure hunter discovers a trove of Roman-Era gold coins.
• How do you discover new books?
• Why Johnny Depp launched his own book imprint.
• Childhood stimulation (think books, folks!) is the key to brain development.
• Author Geraldine Brooks on a shelving obsession.

Social Media, eBooks & Book Candy

• Bookshout provides users with a vendor-neutral bookshelf where a reader can aggregate their content from different retailers onto a common platform. (In other words, it doesn't matter to Bookshout where you buy your eBooks.)
• A DIY book headboard.
• The 10 types of social media addicts.
•  Twitter censors users for the first time.
•  Will other genres be far behind? Avon publishers are launching a Facebook romance excerpt app. 

I  ♥  Lists & Quizzes

• 13 terrific bookish t-shirts.
• 10 authors and their favorite foods and recipes.
• 13 life lessons from The Hobbit.
• The Bomb in books quiz.
• 15 of the best compliments from one author to another.

New to My Google Reader

• Book Addict Reviews 
• Dru's Book Musings

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!