Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Randomness Con't...

*The minute you think of treating yourself to a mani/pedi, you break a nail to the quick. Oww! Instant savings though. No mani/pedi for me...at least not right now.

*I hope the teen that practically ran me off the road learns how to merge soon. You can keep your hands at 10 and 2 but that doesn't mean you're a safe driver.

*Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary.

*Spending time with stitchy friends is rejuvenating.

*I've decided to "let things go" and I feel better for it. I guess they call this "acceptance". Now, how do you change 30+ years of pessimism and negative thinking?

*Mind over mood, mind over mood. SERENITY NOW! Oops, I slipped a bit of Seinfeld in. Serenity Now, Serenity Now! Costanza/Stiller could always make me laugh.

*Should I rent that cottage in the woods for my birthday weekend? It's a long way off but peace, quiet, beach, trees sounds nice. Maybe I'll meet a lumberjack and he'll sweep me off my feet. I hope there aren't any wolf spiders in those woods. Spiders are scary!

*I'm wearing contacts today. First time in 4 months all because I managed to get a blemish where the nosepad of my glasses sits. Ouch! Guess this allows me branch out a bit and see the world through different lenses.

What else...hmmm. Oh yea, I've been meaning to write about this book I read. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. I had picked it up from the library and something about it caught my attention. I grabbed it as an afterthought.
I tend to like books that have a bit of a historical twist and can be set back in time. This book is fantastic and if you like books with historical twists, set back in time and in different countries...you should check this one out. It does have flashbacks and different narratives which some people may think is annoying but I was able to keep it all straight and enjoyed it. I am a very slow reader now and the book at about 650 pages took me a week to read. That was fast for me! I didn't want to put it down! The story flashes back between Australia and England. I enjoyed it so much that I went back to the library and took the author's other two books out on loan. I haven't started those yet.

Right now, I'm in the middle of reading Olive Kitteridge.
It's a collection of short stories revolving around Olive in a small coastal Maine town. It's enjoyable with bits of sadness.

My stitching get together on Saturday was fun. I had a good time hanging out with the ladies and getting to know everyone a little better. I was serious about stitching though so I did my best to stay focused on my Mary. She's coming along. I still have 1 more motif to stitch in Part 4 and I'm not quite sure if I'll be able to finish it up tonight. Tomorrow will be my one week mark from the last post but I have dinner plans in the city which means no stitching or blogging tomorrow. But if I don't finish it tonight, I have another stitchy get together on Saturday and I know I will definitely finish then so I'll be back with a Mary Part 4 finish photo soon!

**sidenote: I do live pretty caffeinated because otherwise I'd be comatose and sleeping. I don't do mornings well at all. The caffeine brings about lots of random thoughts hence the recent posts. :)

Until next time...

14 comments:

Margaret said...

I loved both those books!! You should read some of Kate Morton's other books too. She's good! Glad that kid didn't run you off the road. Your brand new car! Eeek! Cottage in the woods sounds nice.....

Maggee said...

Hey--I LOVE the random thoughts! I plan to come back to your posts tomorrow to take some notes about the books and authors--too tired tonight! Hugs.

Anonymous said...

Olive Kitteridge was such an interesting book. Not what I expected at all. But, in the end ... I really liked it.

I know just what you mean about the mani/pedi thing. Was going to get some polish and yep .... broke a nail right down to the quick. YOWZA that hurt!

Sylvia said...

A stitching get together is always so much fun. Glad to hear you had a good time.
I have the book by Kate Morton sitting on my nightstand, waiting to be read - but I think I am going to tackle Game of Thrones first so that I can understand the show a bit better.

Anonymous said...

Hi there, from one Valerie to another (creates a bond).
Carol lent me the Kate Morton book and I loved it too !
I like reading your posts too and following your adventures and thoughts...
Keep breaking a (or several) nail(s) when they at last start looking like I could paint them and have elegant hands...

Katrina said...

Both good books, we are reading Kate Morton's newest book in my book club this year.

Random thoughts are fun!!! Got to have that caffeine too, LOL.

Glad you enjoyed your stitching group have fun at the next one, can't wait to see Mary!

Pumpkin said...

I love your random thoughts Valerie! You're too funny ;o)

Do it! Take a weekend for yourself. You never know what might happen.

Thanks for the book reviews. I'm always looking for new ones to read.

Myra said...

I love your random posts. It's the RACCOONS you have to worry about in the woods my friend. LOL I say go for it! I think that would be a small slice of heaven.

Melanie said...

Ooo, I put both books on my Amazon wish list. I'm always on the look out for some good historical fiction. :)

Sally said...

Love your random thoughts Valerie:)

Jackie's Stitches said...

Yes, book the cottage in the woods with a beach!!!

Love random thoughts!

Jo said...

I'm reading the island by Victoria Hislop, which I think you might enjoy. I'm loving it!

Siobhán said...

I keep meaning to read Olive Kitteridge! You should definitely read Kate Morton's first book, The House at Riverton. I think it was her best out of the three that I've read. Another similar book that you'd love is Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale.

Julie said...

I've read the Forgotten Garden and House at Riverton, enjoyed them both very much.

Cottage in the woods sounds like heaven - go for it!!