Books I read in December 2015

X by Sue Grafton. (library) Nearing the end of this series and I enjoyed the minor mystery of Henry's neighbors more than the main story in this book.
The Jump-Off Creek by Molly Gloss (library) very enjoyable story of a pioneer woman in Oregon 1800's. I highly recommend.
Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves (library) he wrote this after 9/11 about traveling the world to learn about other cultures and also to be that American overseas that is not "ugly"
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores by Jen Campbell (library) just what it says and entertaining to anyone who has worked retail and/or loves books
As If by Jen Chaney (library) About the making of the movie Clueless, if you are a fan of the movie, you really should read this one
This is Your Life Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison  (library) very good a woman whose husband has died goes on an Alaska Cruise that he had won for them prior to his death. Along the way, her husband's ghost visits her and she reconnects with her estranged daughter. I enjoyed it
Descent by Tim Johnston (library) super quick read for me. Great thriller along the lines of Gone Girl or The Room. I highly recommend if you like that sort of thing.
Dry Bones by Craig Johnson (library) a Longmire novel I really enjoyed this one with info about dinosaur fossils in Wyoming.
Falling From Horses by Molly Gloss (library) this one concerns a guy who wants to be a Hollywood stunt man doing Westerns during the 30's I loved it!
Among the Ten Thousand Things by Julia Pierpont (library)
The Whites by Harry Brandt (library) corrupt police in NYC very good, it played like a movie in my head
A is For Arsenic by Kathryn Harkup (library) the poisons used in the Agatha Christie novels
Wild Life by Molly Gloss (library) since I read Jump-Off Creek and enjoyed it, of course I am going to read everything else by this author!! LOL
The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss (library) enjoyed this one VERY much! WWI era Oregon and a woman who breaks horses.
The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki (library) Very interesting about Empress Elisabeth of Austria. I am woefully ignorant of European History, so books like this help me fill in some gaps. 
The Box Wine Sailors by Amy McCullough (library) a couple with very little money live on their sail boat and sail down the coast of California.

Monday's Postcard 2015: Wyoming

Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote. Yellowstone is the first official National Park (1872) Wyoming has the lowest population of all 50 United States. The first coal mine in Wyoming was in Carbon in 1867.  The largest coal mine in the USA is Black Thunder located near Wright.  Wyoming lead the country in coal production in 1994 with 3 million tons per week.

Merry Christmas Ornaments!

A talented woodworker in Virgina made this ornament!

It's that time of year again when I talk about my Christmas decorations!

Pacific Northwest is represented on my tree!

Got this ornament when I was working on filling up my McMenamins Passport

I had been wanting one of these sea urchin ornaments for a while and was happy to find one at a craft fair in Virginia

Ryan got this one for me for Christmas a few years ago

A Cowbell ornament I got at Oxfam in England last year

This is an oil diffuser, makes the house smell like Balsam, perfect since I have a fake tree!

Monday's Postcard 2015: Wisconsin

The nation's first kindergarten was established in Watertown in 1856. Its first students were local German-speaking youngsters. Wisconsin snowmobile trails total 15,210 miles of signed and groomed snow highways. The first Ringling Brothers Circus was staged in Baraboo in 1884.

Monday's Postcard 2015: West Virginia

 

West Virginia is considered the southern most northern state and the northern most southern state. Outdoor advertising had its origin in Wheeling about 1908 when the Block Brothers Tobacco Company painted bridges and barns with the wording: "Treat Yourself to the Best, Chew Mail Pouch." West Virginia's nickname is the Mountain State and its motto is "Mountaineers Are Always Free."

Monday's Postcard 2015: Washington

The state of Washington is the only state to be named after a United States president.

Washington state produces more apples than any other state in the union.

Before it became a state, the territory was called Columbia (named after the Columbia River). When it was granted statehood, the name was changed to Washington, supposedly so people wouldn't confuse it with The District of Columbia.

Books I read in November 2015

Saturn Run by John Sandford and Ctein (library) a science fiction thriller by Sandford with help from Ctein. Moves along fast...if you liked the Martian, try this one. Especially if you don't usually like science fiction.
Make Me by Lee Child (library) the latest Jack Reacher. Bad things happen in a mysterious town called Mother's Rest.
Jim, the Boy by Tony Earley (library) so I was reading a magazine article about the 50 books that represent all 50 states (yeah, I had read most of them already!) But this book was for North Carolina, where I am from!! and I had never heard of it. It was really good and totally reminded me of North Carolina.
The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon (library) creepy ghost story type book. I am on a quest to read all the books by this author, but they are unsettling.
The Brixton Brothers, The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett  This is a kid's book that has been on my to read pile for quite a while and I am finally getting around to reading it. Very cute mystery series book.
The Brixton Brothers, The Ghostwriter Secret by Mac Barnett  super cute story and all my Children's Mystery Collector friends ought to read this one!
Mad River by John Sandford I just love these characters in these books. And the action moves so fast....you have to read read read and then it is over and whew, it was such a ride
The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon (library) another creepy book by McMahon, this one concerns a serial killer
361 by Donald Westlake another classic noir thriller worth a look if you like this genre
Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon (library) When I say I am going to read everything by an author, I am not kidding. Lots of great creepy atmosphere and twists and turns.
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson (library) That book I read last month about the divers who found the pirate ship, well this one is about their quest to find a German U-boat
Somebody Owes Me Money by Donald E.Westlake Yup, another instance of me reading everything I can get my hands on by one author.
A Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd (library) A Bess Crawford mystery. Bess is a WWI nurse and becomes involved in a mystery through a former patient
Stu Who?  Forty Years of Navigating the Minefields of the Music Business by Stu Phillips. Great book about composer and music producer, Stu Phillips, who was behind the music of so many TV shows and TV movies, including Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys! Quincy, Knight Rider, Battlestar Gallactica and many many more.
Long Upon the Land by Margaret Maron (library) A Deborah Knot novel where we learn more about Deborah's mother and why an educated city girl married an older moonshiner
A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin (library) I loved this book and they made it into a movie. Sherlock Holmes as an old man and he is getting Alzheimers.