Monday, December 16, 2013

Monday Malarkey - Books, Christmas Spirit, Cats in Trees

A little Christmas spirit for starters, today:


That's part of my mantle decoration.  

I had only received 2 books until today and then Kiddo came in bearing a stack of books.  He just happened to be outside when the mailman arrived.  

This week's arrivals:
  • The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein from Norton for TLC Book Tour
  • Brownie Groundhog and the Wintry Surprise by Susan Blackaby and Carmen Segovia - from Sterling Kids, for review (have already read this and I love it).
  • The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen - from Bethany House for tour.  This one's an 8 1/2" x 11" bound ARC -- the early-early kind like what you get if you have a binding done at your local office supply store.  Haven't seen one of those in a long time!
  • The Annotated Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana, annotated by Rod Scher -- Rod is husband to Les of Prairie Horizons.  It's a stunning hardback (sent by the publisher).  I can't wait to read it!  
  • Reached by Ally Condie - via Paperback Swap
I can't currently load photos to my computer ("full hard drive" again!!!!) or I'd take a shot of those. 

Last week's posts:
I'm currently about 5 reviews behind.  As soon as I finish my backlog, I'll probably shut down for the holidays, although there's no hurry.  Kiddo is home from school but working so I don't feel like I'm neglecting anyone.  

I am currently reading:

  • The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure
  • Ancient Egypt: Everyday Life in the Land of the Nile by Brier and Hobbs

Still haven't picked up the Calvino but I keep carrying it from room to room. I have the best of intentions.  I finished reading Jack Absolute by C. C. Humphreys and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, last week, and also read Brownie Groundhog and the Wintry Surprise pretty much the moment it arrived . . . in the rain . . . and the UPS guy didn't ring the doorbell.  I thought I had those guys trained!  Thank goodness for bubble-wrap envelopes.  

The cats have been holy terrors:


I have had to extract Isabel from the tree, at least twice.  We have a pre-lit artificial tree and I worry about those cords.  She's occasionally tried to bite them but when she hangs around the tree (only when it's lit, I've noticed) I'm always lurking . . . usually with the camera, of course, but also prepared to clap or use my stern voice.  If she ignores me, I reach for Izzy and she'll usually back away -- obviously not always or I wouldn't have had to pluck her from the tree at all.  Fiona has spent her time knocking rocks out of the fireplace and occasionally declaring herself Guardian of the Christmas Tree, which is actually helpful. She'll occasionally chase Isabel away.

That's all the malarkey I've got, for now.  Happy Monday!

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10 comments:

  1. You know, Casey is crazy, but she hasn't climbed the Christmas tree yet. I am a bit surprised by that frankly. She mostly ignores it... She hasn't even knocked any ornaments down!

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    1. I don't know what has possessed Isabel, but she didn't climb the tree in 2012. Maybe she was still having too much fun discovering new spaces, since we'd only been in the house for 3 months . . . and now she's bored? Hard to say. You're lucky! It's entertaining but also scary when a cat climbs the Christmas tree. Too many dangers to kitty. I'm not really worried about the ornaments, even though most of them are glass.

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  2. We're minding my brother's new kitten at the moment - it took one look at the Christmas tree (not a real one) and went straight up it, scattering balls and decorations willy-nilly. It was very, very funny.

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    1. It is definitely funny to watch a kitty climb a tree! So far, mine hasn't done any damage, thank goodness. I'm always torn between taking her picture (she's so cute in the tree!) and plucking her out but I worry enough about the electrical cords that plucking wins.

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  3. You got Rod's book! I'm hoping to receive one as well, I'd love to spread the word about his work. Love the kitty in the tree, perhaps she is the best ornament you could have. Well, I do love our kitties (even out of trees)!

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    1. I did and it is beautiful! I hope you get a copy. Maybe we could do a read-along? Izzy kitty still looks at the tree with longing, chews on the branches and bats at ornaments but apparently I've filled it up a bit much for climbing. She seems to have given up on that. She was definitely pretty to look at when she was in the tree. I love her sweet little face. Fiona has been better behaved but she doesn't climb as much as she used to so that's not been a problem with her. I think she needs to do a little working out on the treadmill. She's not the only one. ;)

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  4. Cats... Gotta love 'em. My dogs are going to Day Care today and they are already pestering me about being late. The place opened 12 minutes ago and we aren't even in the car yet. I told Oscar I just needed to comment on Miss Nancy's blog first... He is sitting and staring at me with a cool glint in his eye.

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    1. LOL Poor Oscar! So cool how much he loves doggy day care!

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  5. oh how O loved this post for the cat tales! I LOL'd @ "I have had to extract Isabel from the tree, at least twice. " I have two cats and have not had a tree as long as I have had them because I could not take the madness that would ensue!

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    1. LOL Thanks! The cats have been a hoot, this morning. Isabel overturned a paper shopping bag, a few days ago, and has been alternating between sleeping inside of it and pulling out the tissue to curl up on but today she was in the bag with Fiona reaching in to give her a few whacks. And, then Fiona ran away and Isabel came out, attacked the tissue paper and slid across the bedroom floor. I guess I kind of love the madness. They keep me smiling. :)

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