Roni Recovers and Reads in 2021: 5rd Edition

This is a local Kansas painter with a recent painting of the Flint Hills. I love both the original and the painting and am thinking of commissioning him to produce a similar painting for over my mantel at the new house.

I am at my house in Salina. The van arrives next Tuesday. The cats are settling in.

Goals for 2020

Read 150 books and 50,000 pages. 184 books, 58,525 pages
Read at least 30 books off my own bookshelves. 16
Acquire no more than 80 books. 45 I did read 31 of the books I acquired this year
Send 50 books out the door. 17 books, 15 through PaperBackSwap this month. I have others waiting for schools and libraries to open up.
Read at least 12 nonfiction books—10

Goals for 2021

I don’t think I am going to push myself this year, so I will keep the same goals. Except I know I am going to deaccession a lot more books this year so as not to move them.

Read 150 books and 50,000 pages.
Read at least 30 books off my own bookshelves. Acquire no more than 80 books.
Acquire no more than 80 books.
Send 50 books out the door.
Read at least 12 nonfiction books.

Welcome home, Roni. The timer is off now, and you can settle in at your own pace, with no deadlines to meet. Stressful as moving is, this has to be the best part. Making the new place YOURS!

January
1. The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer
2. When the King Comes Home by Caroline Stevermer
3. Magic Be With You by Jamie Brindle
4. Owl Be Home for Christmas by Diane Duane
5. A College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer
6. A Scholar of Magics by Caroline Stevermer
7. Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend
8. How the Multiverse Got Its Revenge by K. Eason
9. The Apple Stone by Nicholas Stuart Gray
10. The Tears of the Salamander by Peter Dickinson

February
11. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
12. The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay
13. The Dark Archive by Genevieve Cogman
14. Trader's Leap by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
15. The Debatable Land by Graham Robb
16. The Deep End by Julie Mulhern

March
17. Calculated Risks by Seanan McGuire
18. A Pale Light in the Black by K. B. Wagers
19. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
20. Take a Look at the Five and Ten by Connie Willis
21. The Barnabus Project by the Fan Brothers

April
22. No One Noticed the Cat by Anne McCaffrey
23. The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
24. Empire by Paul Strathern
25. All Systems Red by Martha Wells
26. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
27. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
28. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
29. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
30. Network Effect by Martha Wells
31. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

May
32. The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold
33. The Silent Strength of Stones
34. Spirits That Walk in Shadow
35.The Big Over Easy
36. The Assassins of Thasalon
37. Love the House You’re In Rien, Paige
38. Angel of the Overpass McGuire, Seanan
39. Decluttering at the Speed of Life White, Dana
40. Snowdrift and other Stories Heyer, Georgette
41. The Sword of Happenstance Brust, Steven

June
42. Unlocking Harry Potter Granger, John
43. The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry Waggoner, C. M.
44. Chaos on Catnet Kritzer, Naomi
45. Cast in Conflict Sagara, Michelle

July
46. Eye Spy Lackey, Mercedes
47. Spy, Spy Again Lackey, Mercedes
48. Witness for the Dead Addison, Katherine

August
49. The Edge of Winter Neels, Betty
50. Adair of Starlight Peaks Summers, Essie
51. To Bring You Joy Summers, Essie
52. The Star Beast Heinlein, Robert

September
53. Ink & Sigil Hearne, Kevin
54. Paradise for Two Neels, Betty

October
55. The Last Graduate Novik, Naomi
56. Scales and Sensibility Burgis, Stephanie
57. Mad & Bad Real Heroines of the Regency Kock, Bea
58. The Hands of the Emperor Goddard, Victoria
59. Burning Water Lackey, Mercedes

Happy new thread!

>1 ronincats: Just that the picture works if it is local to LibraryThing.

Books Acquired in 2021

January
1. Afro Puffs Are the Antennae of the Universe by Zig Zag Claybourne
2. OWL Be Home for Christmas by Diane Duane
3. Trader's Leap by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
4. Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey
5. Oddity by Eli Brown
6. The Deep End by Julie Mulhern

March
7. Calculated Risks by Seanan McGuire
8. The Farm: Growing up in Abilene Kansas in the 1940s and 1950s by Mark Curran

April
9. Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory by Martha Wells
10. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
11. The Silent Strength of Stones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
12. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

Obviously I need to update everything above, but this will do for a start.

Hi, everyone. Did you see that Network Effect won the Locus Award for best SF novel? Go, Murderbot! N. K. Jemesin won the fantasy novel award in an outstanding field. And I discovered a lovely little story featuring Little Free Libraries that won best novelette which is free to read here: https://www.tor.com/2020/04/08/little-free-library-naomi-kritzer/

I've really only read two books in the last week and a half. One was by Naomi Kritzer, Chaos on Catnet, which is the sequel to her Catfishing on CatNet and which I think was probably better. That was my final dead tree book from the San Diego Library. And then the next book in Michelle Sagara's Elantra series, Cast in Conflict, downloaded on Tuesday, as soon as I was able to get an internet connection at my mom's, and of course I devoured it asap. I have to update my spreadsheets and then the lists above, and figure out why the photo isn't loading...

Thank you, Shelley and Susan. I have the picture uploaded to my gallery--it's a painting of the Flint Hills and I'm thinking of commissioning the painter to do a similar one for above my mantel--you can see it there if you go to my home page and then my gallery.

Happy new thread and happy new home, Roni.

I'm glad the kitties are doing okay, mostly.

Nice to see you settling in, Roni!

If you can see the picture, copy what's below and it should work for you. I've no clue if this is the picture you want to display, if you don't then I'll delete or substitute it.

<img height=400 src="https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/21/9d/219d01ebd216647636d46597951415742564944_v5.jpg">

Thank you, Susan. That did work, and that is the picture I wanted to display!

Hi, Karen and Laura!

Very nice, Roni! Happy new house! Happy new thread! I look forward to enjoying both with you.

Happy new thread Roni and all the best wishes for your new home!
Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy new thread, Roni.

A new thread in you new home, how appropriate. Good to hear you're doing well and the cats are settling in.

Happy new thread, happy new home!

Happy new thread and happy moving in to your new home, Roni! Hope you have a wonderful weekend and all your things arrive without a hitch.

Happy new thread, Roni, and happy settling in!

Happy new thread! Glad you are moving into your new home.

Happy New thread and New Home, Roni!

i know getting a new home set up the way you want is a big project but, as Shelley says, you can at least take it on at your own pace.

Great to see the Murderbot enthusiasm. I enjoyed Chaos on Catnet as much as the first one.

GOOD morning, Peggy, Thomas, Paul, Paws, Charlotte, Mary, Katie, Lori and Joe! I actually got a full night's sleep last night for the first time in I can't tell you how long! Woke up with all three boys alongside me, so they are relaxing too.

I've seen the news out in the last couple days about a second Good Omens production being in the works, and worried a bit about it, but this blog by Neil Gaiman talking about how he and Terry had plotted it out long ago has reassured me. https://journal.neilgaiman.com/?fbclid=IwAR3o8tk2RS0mRoCrfzllohb6Q8sq5LgVyMIwQWA...

Today is laundry--I'm about to run out of clean clothes since I am still living out of my suitcase. And taking my furniture measurements around the house to be sure of where I want each piece. My recliner sofa and loveseat were delivered Wednesday and reign in lonely splendor in the middle of the living room. At least I have a comfy spot to read in.

>1 ronincats: That's beautiful Roni! If we had any wall space left I would be thinking about contacting him myself.

And...happy new thread and happy new home!! Enjoy nesting.

Happy new thread, Roni, and happy new home!

>22 ronincats: Nothing better than a good night sleep, and waking up with your pets.

Congrats on the successful move and hope you are settling in to your new home!

It's great you are home, Roni. Happy new thread.

Glad to hear that you are "Home on the Range!" You and Paul can trade moving stories as he is in the middle of moving from one apartment o another in Kuala Lumpur. He is moving all of his books too! You will have to let us know how they celebrate the Fourth in Salina. Maybe you can take a drive and see all those golden fields of wheat along with the grass in the Flint Hills.

I am happy to say that I finally got my Birkenstock's back from Olson's Shoe Service in Manhattan. I had dropped them off on my way back to Alabama on June 5. Olsen's repaired them and then mailed them to me in Alabama. They didn't come and didn't come and finally I called Olsen's. They were mailed from Manhattan on June 9 and finally arrived in Tuscaloosa on June 30th. Olsen's was able to track the package because they had sent it Priority Mail. It spent about 2 weeks in Dallas before it moved on through the USPS pipeline. But I have them now - so I am happy.

I am going to be doing the last class in a two class knitting course tomorrow. I will be driving up to Gadsden, Al so will be listening to a murder mystery while driving. I am going to learn how to do a Kitchner Stitch and am looking forward to being able to add that to my list of knitting skills.

Hi Roni - congratulations on being in your new home. I hope the cats are now more settled. Next week will be busy with all the unpacking.
I'm off now to see if my library has Chaos on the CatNet.

Happy new one!

Congratulations on the successful move!

Thank goodness you're home at last...here, I mean, not Salina, that's old news. Heck, even the cats are settled in.

An unfurnished Fourth sounds interesting, no?

Happy new thread, Roni!

How wonderful that you're settling in to your new home, even if it's not fully furnished yet.

>22 ronincats: Intriguing; a Good Omens sequel that you're reassured about. Having read the book a few times, I was satisfied with the one series but the first thing my husband asked after we watched the last episode was 'Is there another series?'

>27 benitastrnad: I'm glad you eventually got your shoes back, even if priority mail took nearly a month :0)

Lovely to see you, Reba, Anita, Natalie, Beth, Benita, Kerry, Jim, Jess, Richard and Nina!! I am going out on some errands today after staying home all day yesterday and that may include a library stop. Tomorrow I head over to Abilene for a holiday overnighter and family time. Back on Monday and then Tuesday is the BIG day--all my STUFF arrives.

>33 ronincats: that may include a library stop

I see that you have your priorities straight. That's exactly what I would do first :0)

Woo-hoo! You got to Salina and are settling in nicely, you're expecting your stuff to arrive soon, you had a good night's sleep, the cats are happy, and you will be checking out the library today (which is one of the first places I check out when I move to a new place), and you've started a new thread on LT! Perfect!

I like the painting! Very calm and peaceful.

Enjoy the 4th in your new digs!

Happy new thread, Roni. Just read up on your move complicated as it was by recovering from surgery. Good to see that everything went well, you are now in your new home and your cats have forgiven you.

I'm a bit late to the party, having been absent from LT for ages, but so delighted for you with all that you have accomplished recently! Go Roni!!!

Congratulations on arriving home! Glad to hear the kitties have settled in. Is today The Day? Moving van arrives and fills up the vast, echoing emptiness? I hope you have plenty of help moving stuff around and unpacking.

Hope all your stuff arrives safely and promptly, Roni!

I thought it was strange there were so few new messages on your last thread.... Happy new thread and happy new home Roni! Glad to hear you have the internet back and the cats are starting to adjust. Hope all your furniture and bits arrived safely and you can start unpacking and properly settling in.

>1 ronincats: Love that landscape!

Actually, I got a call yesterday morning from the central office of the van lines that my driver was trying to get ahold of me because he was only a few hours out, and the number HE had was the old land line in San Diego. So I rushed back to Salina (after a very nice family 4th!) and they showed up about 1 in the afternoon and it was then an absolutely exhausting 9 hours of unloading where I needed to check off every box as it came off the truck and direct it wherever it was supposed to go. It was after 10 when it was all unloaded. And stuff that wasn't supposed to come was packed up...

Today I have been unpacking kitchen stuff into a kitchen that eventually will perfectly hold what I need but at the moment is lacking stuff I had like tall narrow compartments for baking sheets, for example. It's a mess at the moment but I suppose progress is being made and eventually I will have a new home for everything. Eventually.

Thank you for visiting, Nina, Mary, Meg, Hannah, Chris, Mary and Heather!

>41 ronincats: Excitement!! I'm happy for you.

'And stuff that wasn't supposed to come was packed up...' Always happens. As long as all the stuff that was supposed to come did get packed and arrived safely, that's what matters.

>41 ronincats: Whew, I'm glad someone was able to get hold of you!

I actually enjoyed getting my kitchen set up after our recent move. Also fun: ordering various things for organizing the cabinets better. Most of my silverware & utensil trays worked just fine, but I needed a couple more and something that would better hold stacks of dishes. Almost as much fun as organizing books ...

Just one "pro tip" comes to mind: understand your movers' policy regarding damage claims and be timely in filing them. We had a few damaged items, and I took photos and notes as we unpacked, but I wasn't in a rush and it did take us a while to unpack all the boxes. I had read somewhere that we had 9 months to file a claim, and after filing learned that the first claim needed to be filed within 3 months, and all claims within 9. I still haven't found that in writing, but I was *just* within that window and yesterday received a check for the damages, so it all turned out okay.

>42 humouress: agreed. I hate losing stuff, and no matter how careful we are, we always lose stuff in moves.

>41 ronincats: I'm glad it's DONE. Now you can make your new kitchen (and new home) truly YOURS.

Wow! Nice surprise I guess but surely didn't lead to a calm 4th! Every step you take from now on makes things better though :) Take it easy and enjoy your nesting.

>41 ronincats: How weird...early, no less. And how great to have the stuff in place!

*smooch*

Hi Roni, it's great to see you posting and hear that you and the cats have arrived safely. One of the things I had the most trouble with when I moved, was remembering where I put the kitchen stuff that I don't use everyday but need to be able to put my hands on when I do need it. I think most of that was simply the fact that I lived in one house for thirty years and knew exactly where I kept things. I still have to stop and think about certain things like serving dishes that I only use at Christmas etc. but that's the joy of having a new place, it makes you think.

How's the weather in Kansas? We've been having a horrific heat wave, but it has moved further east and we are now experiencing our usual West Coast seasonal weather.

Glad your stuff arrived. Hope you will enjoy your new place.

Stopping by here. Love that painting! I remember an epic camping trip in my childhood trying to put up our tents in the prairie winds.

Hope you are recovering from the arrival of the movers. What madness!

Happy new home and say hi to the fur babies for me! Glad everyone is adjusting well to the new location.

Dear Friend, Happy New Journey in your life. May this new adventure be filled with love and laughter overflowing. Love you lots.

>47 DeltaQueen50: Well I still stop and wonder if that cake tin I want to use is mine or my mum’s even though I moved out of my parents’ house last century and they’ve moved house four times (and countries once) since then. (Don’t worry, I still know where they live.)

>52 humouress: It's half funny, half sad when my memory doesn't work as well as it should. Getting old isn't for the weak!

Hey, Nina, Laura, fuzzy, Reba, Richard, Judy, Lori, Lucy, Cassie, Linda and Nina and Judy again! Looks like people have pretty much given up on me. I've been alternating unpacking here with going through stuff at my mom's, and today some local movers moved some of her dressers and other small furniture over from Abilene to my house, so I'm pretty well set now with furniture other than the custom chairs I ordered in April that now have a January delivery date. Doh! That's okay; I can do without them for a while. More unpacking scheduled for tomorrow now that I have the last of the furniture here--two vintage dressers and nightstands, a recliner and credenza and end table and jewelry armoire and metal tea cart for the porch. Hitting the boxes tomorrow after I take the Highlander in for servicing. Love you all. Still loving my house.

>54 ronincats: It all sounds terribly lovely there. sounds like you're settling in very quickly.

Hi Roni. I hope the settling in goes well.

Nice to hear from you, Roni. I'm glad your unpacking is moving along and that you're happy with the new digs.

>54 ronincats: Sounds like you're making great progress. Your custom chair story is familiar. We ordered a couch, rug and chair for the family room on February 3. Couch (choice of grey or brown) and rug came right away but the chair (choice of fabric from a huge book) was promised for 18-20 weeks. I called when it was due and they told me it "looks like late July" now. Still waiting.

I'm most impressed that you're helping your Mom sort stuff while you aren't even fully moved in yourself -- not to mention that huge sale you helped her with. More reasons why she's delighted to have you back in the area I'm sure.

Don't forget we're all waiting to see some photos of your house all "Roni-ed up" :). That said, don't forget to take some time to just enjoy your beautiful new home and surroundings.

>54 ronincats: Progress! We love progress.

*smooch*

Oh Roni, you're home! Congratulations and best wishes to you as you unpack. It much be such a relief!

Hello, Chris, Karen, Laura, Reba, Richard and Anne. Still unpacking. Will send pictures when I can take some that aren't filled with boxes!! My sister did all the work for Mom's garage sale so I can't take credit for that.

Hi Roni

I am glad the move went well. I ordered chairs in November with an estimated arrival date of February. That got pushed to May, and then July, and now the end of August. But I am anticipating another delay. I changed the pillow fabric because I did not like the design and now they are “custom”. The funny thing is I have heard every excuse for the delay: COViD, Suez Canal blockage, Texas ice storm, now the rep is just saying manufacturing delay. I hope to see them before next November!

Looks like you are still busy settling in, Roni. Best of luck with it all.

Hey, Jess, I feel your pain. Hi, Meg, and thanks.

Finally caved and paid what Tor wanted for the Kindle version of Witness For the Dead and read until I finished the book at 11 p.m. While the long names make recognizing recurring characters somewhat a challenge, this is a complex and rich society that it would have been a perfect waste to use for only one tale (The Goblin Emperor). Celehar is not the immediately sympathetic character that Maia is in the first book, but he is a complex character navigating complex personal and political streams and it is SO well done. More, more!

Richard, read this!!

>64 ronincats: A library copy is on its way to me next week, so I'm glad to see you loved Witness for the Dead so much, Roni!

>64 ronincats: Wasn't it great!?! In some ways a better story than The Goblin Emperor, and I loved the three different cases and all the competing powers.

>64 ronincats: I'll have to wait a bit to clear my time of other stuff, but I will also pay what Tor wants for the Kindle version. Glad to hear that it's worth the $, Roni.

Also glad to hear that the settling in is proceeding without major upsets.

>64 ronincats: *grumble* ooookaaaayyyy I'll get it for my Thingaversary next month. Full price? Really? *sigh*grumble*

>64 ronincats: You've got things so under control you can read a book in one sitting? Wow! Good on you :)

>64 ronincats: Hey, roni, remember all those BBs I sent your way? Now it’s my turn to be shot! Loved “The Goblin Emperor” so I’m going to have to check out this one.

Just dropping by to wish you well, Roni. No reading updates from you for a while, dear lady??

I wanted to let you know that I read book number 6 in the Wayward Children series last night. Across the Green Grass Fields might be the best one in that series. It is different than the others but was a very good evenings entertainment.

Hi Roni, I too, loved The Goblin Emperor when I read it so I'm adding Witness for the Dead to my ever-growing list!

{{{{{Roni}}}}}

Glad to hear you are making progress with your unpacking and enjoying your new house. I have a copy of The Witness for the Dead and hoping to get to it very soon so glad you enjoyed it.

Hi Roni.
Glad to see (read) that you are fully in your new home. At least, I think you are... I have been skimming threads having gotten derailed (family drama etc) so not properly keeping up.

How is the dry summertime in your new location? I hope not too droughty.

Howdy, Mary, Susan, Reba, Richard, Peggy, Cassie, Paul, Benita, Judy, Heather, Sandy, and my faithful Richard again! I'm still hanging in there, unpacking in stages. Looking for the shelf connectors for my Elfa shelves. Unpacking office stuff Yesterday. Packed my mom's good Fostoria crystal Friday and brought it over here, but not unpacked yet. Unpacked 5 boxes of cats today. Three more to go but I think one is missing along with the clothing tub with the tray of my Laurel Burch in the middle of it. Not much reading happening, although I have A Song for a New Day on my night stand.

>77 ronincats: I hope your missing box shows up soon.

>77 ronincats: Bummer! Were these boxes sent through UPS or FedEx, USPS, or professional movers? I know I’ve had delayed items from the first 3 recently.

Roni, attempting to catch up with you, though I have not finished reading through your previous threads. Hooray for being arrived at the new home and the delivery of all the things. I am wishing you happy as you continue to settle in and make the new house a home.

>64 ronincats: I am very happy to read this - I will gladly pay the full price on your say so. Craig and I both loved The Goblin Emperor. I agree with you that not writing anything more in that beautifully built world would be such a waste.

>77 ronincats: There were a couple of things that I almost gave up on finding when we moved and then, in one of the last boxes, they turned up...and we packed ourselves so one might think we would have known where they were. I hope you're unpacked enough to live comfortably and feel comfortable. I'm sure you'll be completely settled very soon.

Still no shelf connectors, so many of the books are not in their new homes, but I did load up the built in shelves in the basement last week.



And I'm working on the office now.



My sister came over and took me out to lunch today. She didn't want me to be alone, as this is my husband's birthday and our wedding anniversary.

Thanks for visiting, Susan, Cassie, Mamie and Reba!

>82 ronincats: A good sisterly deed, indeed. I'm glad for you that you've got the support system in place there.

Lovely view! And that's a perfect sunflower mug for the day. *smooch*

>82 ronincats: Sweet. Glad that folks in your family are sensitive to these events rolling around. I'm very pleased to know this.

Hope your missing box with the shelf connectors show up soon.What an unsettling niggle.

Beautiful pictures, Roni.
I'm glad your sister is taking care of you.
All the love and good for you!

Hi Roni!

>77 ronincats: I love Laurel Burch. I have two pair of cat earrings and a glorious coffee mug. I hope that tub shows up soon.

>82 ronincats: Happiness is books in shelves and a sister to take you out to lunch on an emotional day.

>82 ronincats: Being very close with my sister (even though we're ten years apart), I appreciate sisters looking out for each other. I've been away from the threads for about a year and a half. I had a lot to catch up on. The key thing for us, any of us, to remember is that we are not alone. Roni, I believe humans are deeply connected the way trees are. I've been sending you good vibes and thinking of you with fondness, and I know that's made a difference for you, even when you didn't 'know.'

>83 richardderus: *smooch*
>84 SandyAMcPherson: I hope so too, Sandy, as it doesn't look like Elfa makes them anymore and the new ones don't fit my shelves.
>85 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas!
>86 karenmarie: I had pretty much all her cat jewelry, Karen, and fortunately had a fair amount in other cases, but that was a huge chunk of them.
>87 lottpoet: Thank you so much, April, (we are 8 years apart) and welcome back to the threads.

Which connectors are you looking for? I have a lot of Elfa bits, might be able to help.

I'm so glad your sister is taking good care of you and hope the day passed full of good memories and not too much pain.

>77 ronincats: I was a bit startled because I thought you meant live cats and I wondered why you weren't more concerned about the missing box :0)

>82 ronincats: Bliss!

That's sweet that you got married on the same day. I'm glad your sister took you out; it must be really nice having her close by now.

>90 RebaRelishesReading: What Reba said - I'm glad you didn't have to spend that day on your own.

>77 ronincats:, >91 humouress: 'Unpacked 5 boxes of cats today. Three more to go but I think one is missing'

I also got very confused by this until I remembered your cat ornaments! Very relieved no real cats are missing but I do hope the missing boxes turn up.

>64 ronincats: I'm reading Witness for the Dead right now and really enjoying the quietness and ordinariness of Celehar's world (I'm not sure if that makes complete sense given he is investigating a murder which is not very ordinary but that's how I'm feeling about it). Agree about the names being confusing though and I wish they had included a list of character names.

>89 jjmcgaffey: I evidently moved them, Jenn, probably in order to photograph them for you, but now I've lost them too. Grrrr. They are clear plastic, maybe an inch and a half long by under an inch wide, with a metal peg at one end and a small ledge for a shelf to rest on. They are for where two shelves come together over a bracket.

Thank you, Reba, Nina and Heather. It was very nice. And today I found THAT missing box, which had all my expensive cat collectibles in it. There is still a box missing with some of my cats, but they are less expensive, more folksy cats--although that is probably the same box my connectors are packed in as well, as they were all in the same room.

Love the photo updates! Yay for built-in shelves!

Have you lined up a local pottery studio yet?

I'm starting to dabble in jewelry-making. But now what I thought would be a simple beaded necklace job looks like it will be a bead embroidery pendant instead. With a deadline. But this is good for me. I need goals and deadlines. Anyway, made me think of your long experience making jewelry. Maybe I'll get to your level someday...

I missed the fact of your anniversary/husband's birthday. It is GOOD that you are now close to your family, who love you and are doing right by you! Peace, friend.

If you found the first box then im sure the other will turn up.

Hi, Roni! I somehow lost track of your thread this whole year, but now I am here! Glad you are enjoying settling in to the new place.

>82 ronincats: What a beautiful sight!

Dear Friend. I am glad that you are setting in. Naturally, I wish you are good memories in your new/old local. Congratulations on finding the first box. All good wishes to you! And, much love.

Hi, Chris, Peggy, Cassie, foggi, Anita and Linda! Continue busy with both unpacking here and packing up at my Mom's, but my commissioned painting arrived tonight!!!


Very happy with it! And I started a book last night...

>100 ronincats: How lovely, and it looks exactly right above your mantel!

*smooch* enjoy your new book.

>100 ronincats: Oh lovely. And it fits ever so well!

>100 ronincats: GORGEOUS!!!! It was meant to be there! (Are those your pots on the mantel??? They are also gorgeous!)

AND you started a book! I'm happy that things are looking up for you.

>100 ronincats: It looks homely and comfortable. You’re settling in nicely Roni.

>100 ronincats: Beautiful!
I'm glad you're settling in well, Roni.
Have a wonderful weekend.

>100 ronincats: The painting looks fabulous, Roni. Perfect for that spot, and surrounded by your pottery no less. Beautiful.

>100 ronincats: Roni, that looks wonderful! I'm glad you're getting unpacked and settled. Enjoy the book!

Your painting looks lovely, Roni.

Yay! That you felt able to start a new book. I've been through a few of those no-reading times, such a relief when you know you can sit and read again without a million things filling your mind with 'musts'.

The painting over the fireplace looks magnificent.

I can't wait to start Witness For the Dead -- have some obligatory reading to do first, argh!

>100 ronincats: I love the painting and that looks like absolutely the perfect place for it. Actually everything in that photo looks perfect. What a beautiful home you're building.

"packing up at my Mom's" -- is she moving?

>93 ronincats: Also, I'm intrigued about your shelf connectors because we used to have an open-faced cabinet with shelves held similarly to your connectors.

I know our shelving was a different brand but I bet there's every chance you could identify a stock type of hardware used across the industry.
For example, we solved our lost shelf hardware after storing something while having the flooring installed and this website helped identify what we needed.

I also find where to look for hardware items by using "google images" and fine-tuning the description (like searching images "clear plastic peg with a metal peg at one end and a small ledge for a shelf to rest on").

Even better if you can find the ones you wanted to photograph. So many people on LT are good detectives with finding items on the internet and posting a photo here will have us puzzle-solvers pleased to help, I am sure.

>100 ronincats: What a classy view of your mantle and art piece. Nice pottery display and the painting looks (as much as I can tell on the photo) very like the work Dean Francis does here in Saskatchewan. Splendid that you are making the house a home.

>100 ronincats: That looks lovely, Roni.

Great to see that you are getting settled.

>100 ronincats: What a lovely painting, Roni!
And the vases match so well with the colors in the painting.

Hi Roni.

>100 ronincats: Everything about that pic is pleasing to the eye. Yay for the commissioned painting.

HIYA RONI! (hadda shout, the acoustics are all wonky so far from the ocean)

A big shout out to all my visitors! Richard, Susan, Peggy, Nina, Thomas, Laura, Mary, Beth, Lucy, Sandy, Paul, Anita, and Karen--I totally agree with you. I love my painting and am so happy with it and how it (and I) fits into this house!

Peggy, only one of the pots, the green pitcher on the left is mine. The rest are pieces I've picked up from potters over the years.

Reba, Mom moved into an apartment at an assisted living facility at the beginning of June. So her lovely big house full of art work and glassware and floral arrangements and STUFF needs to be packed up so she can sell it.

Sandy, Elfa is pretty specialized and they don't make them any more and I can't find the few extra ones I had--moved them with an eye to photographing them and then lost them somewhere. So frustrating. They have to be around here.

HIYA, RICHARD! *smooch*

So, I had my first Kansas meet-up (had a Kansas City MO one in 2011, but that wasn't in Kansas) with Benita, who was bringing her mother down to Salina for a doctor's appointment. She's heading back to Alabama tomorrow. As always with LTers, we had a good visit.

>117 ronincats: How great! Happy faces indeed.

>117 ronincats: Oh that's great! I did wonder when Benita mentioned being in Kansas if a meet up with you was possible. I'm so glad it was.

We had a very good time. My mother was happy to have met Roni and my cousin Trudy joined us as well. Trudy lives in Salina and is a current elementary teacher so we all had plenty to talk about. It was a great way to spend a very hot summer afternoon. Thanks Roni for meeting mom and I. I know that you will enjoy your new home and Salina.

Trudy took the picture of us.

>117 ronincats: LOVE!

>117 ronincats: >120 benitastrnad: I am happy for you!

Glad you had a fun meetup!

Always happy to see two of my friends meet-up and obviously enjoy each other's company. Hopefully one day I can join you both. xx

>122 SirThomas:, >123 drneutron:, & >124 PaulCranswick:
All of you came up in our conversation about LT yesterday, and yes we had a good time. I was still smiling about it when I went to sleep last night.

Happy to see the meet-up photo!

I didn't realize your Mom was moving too. You must be expert at packing up long-lived-in houses by now! Hope you get it all done soon so you can settled down and enjoy your new environment.

Hi Roni, I am back after spending a couple of weeks visiting my Mom. It was so great to finally be able to spend some time with her, it had been almost 2 years since we last were together. I noticed quite a difference in her and she has to be watched all the time as she tends to wander. She forgets very quickly, but remembers her past and her family. I can imagine you are very happy to be close to your Mother and other family again. I love your new painting, it certainly fits well where you have placed it. Hopefully that missing box will turn up and you will be able to secure your book shelves.

>117 ronincats: Fantastic that you and Benita got to meet up, and thanks for posting the picture.

I won't be back to Kansas until sometime around Christmas, so it was a good thing to get together now. It was a fun afternoon.

Glad you are having good times in your new home—the place is looking great!

Hello there! SO glad the move went well and I love the painting over the fireplace. Hurray for meetups and for caring sisters. : ) Enjoy the weekend!

Howdy do, Roni, hoping the new week is treating you well. *smooch*

>117 ronincats: Ooh - an LT meetup! That looks like fun and sounds like you had a lot to talk about.

>117 ronincats: Oh a LT meet up sounds good. And that commissioned painting looks great too.

Hello, Roni! Love the look of that painting over your mantel. And hooray for a meet-up!

I took a page out of your book yesterday and felt the better for it. Somehow I hurt my back this last week and have been having trouble maneuvering for most of the week. Yesterday I ran a nice hot bath, put in scented Epsom salts, got my copy of Last of the Wine and laid in the tub for an hour. I felt much better when I got out. Unfortunately, it was a bad day to be inside, as the temperature was in the 70's and there was a nice breeze blowing. Today the outside temperature is going to be much higher (low 90's) and I did want to do a few little things around the yard. That is going to have to wait for another weekend.

I have classes scheduled to teach next week that will involve individualized instruction so I am hoping that I feel much better by Wednesday and Thursday.

Things are moving along. Had a really busy week this last week, but the coming week looks like some sustained settling in work, as nothing to do over at my mother's for a while. Still not much reading, but I'm hoping to drop in some comfort rereads this week to get me going.

Thanks to my visitors--much appreciated, Richard, Susan, Peggy, Thomas, Jim, Paul, Reba, Judy, Karen, Cassie, Kim, Nina, Stephen and Mamie. I had a great time, Benita, and definitely will want to repeat when you are back in the state.

And now, for all of you...the perfect cat tree.

{{{{{Roni}}}}}

Glad to hear you are making progress on the various houses (yours and your Mom's) and the painting and mantelpiece in >100 ronincats: look wonderful together.

>137 ronincats: Perfect! (Should that be purrfect? Sorry, I'll see myself out....)

>137 ronincats: Meowvalous! (Right behind you, souloftherose….). :D

>137 ronincats: Love the cat tree. Glad you're getting a bit of a break this week. Hope you get a lot done including some great comfort reading.

Hi Roni!

Sounds like things are moving along nicely.

>137 ronincats: I did not realize that my kitties snuck away to pose for that picture. Two gingers and a calico. See 'em?

Hi, Heather and Cassie! Cat neologisms are always appreciated here; no need to rush away.
Feels good but really unusual, Reba.
I see them, Karen. Only one of mine made it into the picture, but he's in typical form at the top right.

So, I proved yesterday that I CAN still read, at least as long as it's not challenging. On my basement shelves, they are deep enough that I can double shelve, not something I am usually in favor of, but what I have done is gotten out books that were in boxes in the attic in SD and put them behind the SFF, so they are now accessible. This includes my complete collections of Betty Neels and Essie Summers Harlequins that I devoured in the 70s when going through a divorce, the Regency Romance Christmas collections, and my L. M. Montgomery books. So yesterday I read a Neels and a Summers--these are the days when books were 185 pages long, so a book a day was pretty common back then. Not so much now when 300 seems the lower limit! Light, undemanding reading and my first completions in over a month. And today I will try a book Stephen recommended, The Ickabog by J. K. Rowling.

>142 ronincats: I truly appreciate those books that came in around 200 pages. The DAW's were great for that.

Glad you are settling in and I really like your painting at >100 ronincats:.

>142 ronincats: Success! Finishing something can feel like a major feat when things have been so discombobulated. As to >137 ronincats:, I am clearly not included in that "offer" since I don't want to be....

Yay! You've had so much on your plate, I'm glad you can take a breath and read a bit.

How are the cats settling in to their new digs?

I’m glad to see you’re getting some time to relax and read, Roni.

Dropping in to wish you a wonderful weekend.

How marvelous that you had a meet-up!

And so so glad you are starting to have time to read. When I've been busy with practical matters reopening that reading part of my brain takes awhile. (And the right book!)

Roni, I didn't post here yesterday? Did you already vote on my Extreme Anxiety Crisis? There was an exact tie at 5pm, the original voting deadline, so I've settled on TOMORROW (Saturday 4 Sept) at 5pm for the final decision. Please come vote! https://www.librarything.com/topic/334521#7593915
(I've been assuming you were one of the "undecideds"...)

No, I actually voted for the first book. I always check you out, even when I'm not posting.

Hi Roni. Simply catching up here.
Count me in as a fan of those old DAW paperbacks that were around 200 p.
I am increasingly a crab pot about the chunkster 450- to 500-page books. The stories could be so much more effective with tightening up and shedding about 50% of the verbiage, no?

>149 richardderus: *smooch* looks like your team's winnin' then, Roni!

>151 SandyAMcPherson: It does burn me when 200 pages of story get spread out into 350+, especially if the pacing sags.

Hey, Ron, Richard, Janet, Nina, Sandy and Susan, thanks for visiting. Quite agree with the advantages of the tighter book.

I've been keeping busy. I read The Star Beast as filler and then Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne from the library. I don't find it as engaging as the Iron Druid books, especially the first ones, but still entertaining, and the second is due out any time.

I continue to keep busy. While downstairs is mostly done, I am awaiting the delivery of a bookcase and haven't organized my files yet. I've received and assembled 3 side tables and organized the garage. Upstairs I'm working on the vintage linens, between 50 and 100 years old, in the spare bedroom. My BIL finished the reassembly of one of my wood bookcases and brought it over last night. I spent today organizing the linen closet and then emptying 10 or so boxes of books to fill the bookcase.


And it is all my fault. My sister and BIL had been looking to downsize for about a year now, but she had pretty much put that on the back burner as of June after Mom moved into assisted living and she helped me pack and move later in the month. But a house that looked better than any they had been looking at came on the market and I insisted she check it out. Reader, she fell in love and she fell hard. And their offer was accepted. And so now we are prepping her house for photos as it goes on the market and then I will be busy helping her pack and move, especially as she is back at work full-time and I am not. Three moves in 5 months, all from houses where we had lived for a LONG time. So no rest for the wicked...

What a handsome bookcase!!!! I do so wish I could read the titles!!!!! I'm happy to see your place looking like your place.

Congrats to your sister and BiL!

>154 ronincats: But at least the wicked are well nested!

>154 ronincats: Wow! And here I was hoping you'd return to us soon. Wishing them the best of luck with selling their house.

The bookshelf looks fabulous. You've really set off an avalanche or . . . domino fall effect . . . of moving!

Hi, Peggy, Susan, Nina and Lucy! Peggy, your wish is my command.

>159 ronincats: *aaahhh* much milder!

You're laboring enough for one Labor Day. I hope it goes well with your sister's move!

Hi Roni!

Things are coming along nicely - I love the new bookcase.

Yikes. Another move. At least you've had practice...

>154 ronincats: OMG Roni, you are all gluttons for punishment! I'm glad though that your sister found a house she loves, as did you, so it will all be worth it in the end. I hope her new house is at least as close to you as the old one.

Is it an optical illusion or does that bookcase fit perfectly into a recess in the wall? Whether it really does or not, it looks great there and it sounds like you're making great strides at getting all settled in and ready for a cozy winter.

>159 ronincats: Ooo! OOOO!!!OOOOOOO!!!!! Thank you on behalf of all of us, Roni! So, here's the first question. Should I start Kage Baker's *Company* novels. I liked some of her (I think "her" is right) very old stuff..........

>137 ronincats: Oh my, I LOVE that!!

I enjoy seeing all the photos of your new home, Roni, as you and the cats settle in. Are they out and about? Also glad you got to have a meet-up with Benita. We met a couple of times (Chicago, Seattle) and, as you say, it's always fun to meet up with LTers.

I'm typing this with my laptop balanced precariously on the arm of my chair as HRH Carson is a lead weight on my lap. It makes for slow and awkward typing. But I would not disturb the feline.

Congrats to your sister and BIL. Finding a house with which to fall in love is truly a wonderful thing.

>159 ronincats: Wow, nice pic!

We had a productive day at my sister's. Winnowed and organized the linen closet. Then I organized the book cases, a task that I am quite qualified for if I do say so myself, so that books fit neatly and were piled on top or in front of other books. The goal to is have the house neat for pictures by the realtor.

Watching Novac and Brooksby--great tennis!

Thanks for stopping by, Richard, Karen, Reba, Peggy, Ellen and Jim. It IS an optical illusion, Reba--no niche. And the new house is perhaps half a mile closer to me. And she is in love. Peggy, the Company books are quite good. Most of mine are paperbacks that are in another bookcase so you aren't seeing them. Ellen, I've not posted many pictures of the new house furnished as I keep adding stuff, but the last three major items will hopefully arrive soon and then I will post a batch. And congratulations!

>159 ronincats: Brust, Bujold, Hambly, Lee&Miller, McKillip, Moon, Prachett, Tolkien, Willis, White. I think I've read the complete works of and own many books by. Though I don't think we buy Brust and I've only a few Hambly's. Not that I haven't read some of the others on that shelf, but those are the ones I recognized immediately without a closer squint.

I love the bookcase photos Roni. I would say you are more than qualified to be in charge of the reorganisation of the bookshelves for your sister!

Best wishes for you and yours, Roni.
Your bookcase looks great!

The semester is now three weeks old and I am pooped! I have classes or somebody wanting a Zoom reference meeting every day and my regular duties on top of that. I know that it will slack off by the end of September, but every night I go home and plop down in a chair content to stay there. I have loved the rainy days we had last week as it kept me indoors with books. Hurricane Ida did knock a tree down in my yard, but it was a tree that I wanted to get rid of anyway so I am not sorry to see it flopped over. I decided when school started to let the tomato patch go to weeds, so am not doing a thing with it, but I am still trying to keep the flowers and green plants looking nice.

My biggest worry is that my computer is not working. I can't get the university to help me with it, because it is a personal PC and not a university PC. Never-mind that I use it for work all the time when I do Zoom meetings with students outside of the regular 9 -5 hours. I am also having trouble printing in my office as Windows 10 doesn't recognize my printer because the printer is so old. I was on the list to get networked to two of the other printers we have in the building but they haven't had time to do it. In the meantime, I am running up and down flights of steps to pick up printing and since I am printing lots of labels right now, it is a pain in the patootie. I put in this request before school started, but it still hasn't gotten done.

I know it will all straighten out, but it is creating problems for me and I just don't have the patience I need. And then there is COVID. The students simply refuse to wear masks unless they are forced to do so. They have to wear masks in classrooms, but the library is not the classroom. The students know that and so they play fast and loose with the rules. Another aggravation.

I am doing reading at night and glad of the mental relaxation.

>159 ronincats: Oh this was so much fun to peruse.
Thank you Roni!

>154 ronincats: WOW! GO big or go home. To 3 new homes!! Good luck with all the moving and purging and assembly. And then good luck with your computer/printer woes. Yikes woman!! Hang in there.

Nice bookcase, and I hope your sister’s move goes smoothly!

>170 benitastrnad: Right there with you, fellow librarian…I feel your frustrations.

Hi Roni, I love the look of your bookcase - eight shelves is great to have. My built in bookcases have 6 shelves and then I have smaller book cases off to the side that have three shelves - still, I could use more!

Congrats to your sister and BIL on finding a house that they want to move to. Hopefully all goes smoothly with the sale of their current place and then the move. You are going to be busy!

I haven't been by in a while, Roni -- glad you're settling in, and love the bookshelf photos!

Greetings, smoochling. I was clutching my mug at 7.50am praying to Pomona for the caffeine to kick in and reveling in the perfect fit of it in my hands.

Oh, the cartoonists are at it today!

Hi Roni. I watched that Novak Brooksby match and it was quite good. I have to admit that i'm not a Novak fan but what he is about to accomplish, if he accomplishes it, is pretty amazing. Now I'm watching the women's final, kind of rooting for Raducanu but honestly I'm impressed with both of these young women.

>177 ronincats: I love both of those!

Thanks for the congratulations. I'm excited about the new role and the first week went pretty well. I know it will be hard and of course it will cut into my reading time for the next year or two. But I'm happy to be trying something new and hoping it means I wrap up my career on an up note.

My current read is Once There Were Wolves, a beautiful and tragic novel.

I hope you're having a great weekend!

>177 ronincats: Too late. The Texiban is fully in control.
–and–
Ha!! That last one...I think Grant Snider lurks among us here.

Okay, two of my biggies got delivered this morning. My dining room ceiling fixture is here but not installed yet, but with the carpet and bookcase, the living room is ready for photos.



There are still pictures to be hung sitting on the hearth, and the upholstery lady is not going to get to the platform rocker until next month, but it's pretty much done. And the dining room is as well, minus the light and some photos on one of the cabinet.



Other rooms still in progress...well, and I haven't filled that new bookcase by the fireplace yet.

>180 ronincats: Oh, Roni! It's just so perfectly *YOU* and so exactly right that I can't stop smiling.

Your new home is coming together very nicely, Roni. It looks lovely. Thanks for posting pics!

Very nice!

I love the built-ins in your house, Roni. It looks like you are moved in. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Beautiful, Roni! It must be so satisfying to take your time and get things exactly as you want them. Congrats!

What beautiful, cozy spaces you have created, Roni!! Just in time for cozy weather to begin :)

Gorgeous, Roni.

>180 ronincats: Oh wow! Excellent room. I quite like the blue on the carpet as well.

>181 richardderus: Look at that wonderful table cover. Did you make that yourself?

That cozy chair looks perfect for reading. Quite nice :)

Your new home looks great! It is coming together nicely

>180 ronincats: Very serene and comfy looking. I'm sure you will have lots of restful moments there once you've moved and settled everyone else into their new homes.

>181 richardderus: Thank you, Richard. You know I rely on your taste!

Thank you as well, both for the visit and the kind words, Ellen, Jim, Beth, Shelley, Reba, Karen, Anita, Jess, and Susan. The cover on the dining room table was made by my grandmother, Anita. And I need to call the guy about converting the fireplace to gas before it gets any copier, Reba.

Today was my nephew's birthday, so after the bookcase arrived at 11, it was time to clean up and head over to Abilene for a meal and the Chiefs game. Tomorrow I will have time to figure out which books to put into that public space, and that has to include what books will LOOK well in it, not something I usually consider. I also am in the envious position now of having more shelf space than books, at least for a while. Maybe I got rid of too many books?

Oh, and from earlier in the week, visits from Susan, Charlotte, Thomas, Sandy, Kim, Judy, Cassie, and Natalie--I enjoyed you enjoying reading my titles. Thanks for catching us up, Benita. And Richard, I love to hear you are enjoying my cup!

And if you want to see what else we've been doing, here is my mom's living estate auction that starts tomorrow.

https://bid.genkc.com/ui/auctions/69234?fbclid=IwAR10j_B1BSOrGpBXc2XPLeN53r1vdiD...

>192 ronincats: Is everything on that page to the right hers? That was a lot of work to ready!

LOVE!!!! those two rooms, Roni! How wonderful!!!!!!!

>192 ronincats: What a great idea! I hope you get all the goods get moved.

>180 ronincats: Beautiful, Roni - a house to feel comfortable in.
I am happy for you!

>180 ronincats: Roni, those rooms are gorgeous. Your furniture perfectly complements the built-ins and the overall decor.

Roni, your house looks wonderful! Great to see the progress as you move on and make it your own.

>180 ronincats: Looks right at home, Roni, thanks for sharing.
Good luck with helping your sister move.

Your home is beginning to come together! Great photos! I love the furniture and decor.

So today, among other things (new washer and dryer delivered!), I began loading the new bookcase. It is a beautiful piece of furniture, solid wood. I have never put books on bookshelves according to their looks, but in order to do this bookcase justice and because it is in my beautiful living room, books are having to meet certain criteria. Namely, they must match in height and the dust covers must be pristine. This means that many series will have only some of their books in this case, as publishers have this nasty habit of not only changing format but also size within a format. Crazy-making, I know.



"Wait!!" some of you are exclaiming. "Did I not just see many of these books in the photos in >159 ronincats:?" Yes. Yes, you did. But I have realized that if I move these books downstairs, I will have room to put my TBR books (still in boxes) in the bookcase in the bedroom. And that is good.

And another look at the bookcase.



Yes, the bottom shelf is still empty except for one book of Kansas photographs that is too large to fit in the shelf front to back. I'm sure I will find things to add there eventually.

>193 quondame: It indeed is all hers, Susan. And yes, just getting it out of cabinets and up from the basement was quite a chore.
>194 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy.
>195 richardderus: She certainly hopes so as well, Richard. She is haunting the listings.

Thank you, Thomas, Laura, Mary, Anita and Lori, for visiting and for your appreciation of my house!

Loving the pictures of your new house Roni! It's so lovely to imagine you settling in there and starting this new chapter in your life.

>201 ronincats: I shouldn't talk. Substitute dolls for dishes and my page is at least as long.

The photographs of the rooms and the bookcase(s) are just lovely. Wow. I am speechless!

Gorgeous!!!!

I hope you're sitting in front of that bookcase with a favorite beverage and just enjoying the view!

Beautiful new bookcase!! Your house looks fabulous.

I've been enjoying your photos in the new residence and was sure I'd said so... but I guess I never de-lurked!
Are you getting much reading done?

Love the bookcases, they're beautiful. Thank you for sharing the photos.

>201 ronincats: How perfectly gorgeous. I completely understand: You need to take special care with peopling such a particular stage. I love it!

Happy Humpday, smoochling.

Oooh - house photos! It looks beautiful and homey, Roni. And extra shelf space? Perfect!

Good luck for your mum's auction.

Nice photos! But I can’t help thinking something is missing….

I know—cats!! How are they settling in with the new place?

>137 ronincats: catching up on my threads, love love LOVE the cat tree!

>180 ronincats: I love your house...especially those diamond pane windows.

>201 ronincats: and that bookcase!

Howdy do...no news to share with your eager, adoring fans?

Oh wow, it's been a whole week since I posted. Richard, they are keeping me too busy! Since I last posted, I've spent a day at the State Fair (walked 5.5 miles), spent two days taking my mom around to appointments, gone to 20 miles of the statewide Hwy. 36 Treasure Hunt, gone to a production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Community Theater, supervised the online auction of my mom's house contents, put up draperies in the Murphy bed room, put shelves in the final bookcase upstairs and shelved the last of my books, got my linen closet (finally) and got it upstairs and in my bathroom for some storage, and have my chandelier to be installed on Thursday. Whew!

Cassie, the cats are still confined to the (finished) basement, which is about the size of my previous house, but I spend time down there with them several times a day.


Hannah, Susan, Lucy, Peggy, Reba, Sandy, Charlotte, Nina, Cassie, fuzzy, and of course Richard, thank you so much for visiting!

The cats look pretty content with their cat tree!

Nice! They’re obviously OK with chilling in the basement. (And I’m envious of your basement because ours is unfinished and is nothing more than access to utilities stuff, storage, and a storm shelter. No storing book overflow down there.

>215 ronincats: I'm glad the cats feel at home in the basement. How is it that you still have books on the shelves with cats in the basement?

Hi Roni!

Wow, you've been busy. it all sounds very good. Love the pic of the kitties. I forget - are your kitties indoor kitties or indoor/outdoor kitties?

By my count that's 12 "things" you've accomplished in a week!! Whew! You're due some reading/cat & puppy cuddling time I'd say. Speaking of puppy, did she (he?) end up staying with your sister? How is she/he doing (I'm so sorry I can't remember the name)?

*whew* I'm worn down just *reading* it! A day to goof off and play with your Limbs of Satan wouldn't come amiss...schedule it in.

++ on props for the new digs. And yay for keeping busy!

>215 ronincats: Is that all you did Roni? You really ought to buck up.

The cats look pretty comfortable. If they have so much space to roam around in a basement, I'm not surprised they're happy.

Still keeping busy! Chandelier is installed!



And lots of little things done today: smoke alarm battery changed, bookcase unloaded so as to access outlet underneath, and then reloaded, kitchen stuff put away and two cabinet shelves rearranged, wood floors vacuumed, Kindle books loaded, dining room table cleared off and stuff put away, Murphy bed room emptied of empty boxes still in the closet area. Still a whole lot of stuff to do, mostly about finding permanent homes for stuff in the new house and mostly in the office and craft bedroom areas. Yesterday I got some plastic shelves for the bathroom closet and organized stuff on them, as well as purchasing wine and cat toys. I have scheduled kitty play time several times a day and we all enjoy it.

Hi, foggi, Cassie, Lori, Karen, Reba, Richard, Steve and Nina!! So happy you came by.

>224 ronincats: ...just gaaawjuuusss is all, simply perfect!

Roni your house is coming together perfectly. I love how welcoming it looks. And I particularly liked how you displayed Return to Kansas so prominently on your bookshelf.

I loved the pictures of your house. Good to see that you might be spending some time at your house.

I always looked forward to going to Hutch for the state fair. Of course, most of my time was spent in the 4-H building, but I also loved just walking the midway and all the food stands.

I have just completed the first month of school and it was a wing-dinger. I have finished doing most of my classroom teaching - all of it was face-to-face, and fully masked at all times. It is really funny how hot and sweaty you get with a mask on while you are talking and demonstrating. I have a work-study student that I am training and am fitting in about 6 hours per week on Zoom.

My biggest problem has been that my home PC is a total blank. I did what I shouldn't have done. I stopped it in the middle of downloading, or uploading, the Windows 10 update installs. If you have Windows 10 don't interrupt the required updates. I did and it locked up my computer so that I couldn't even turn it on. I had to wipe off all of previous installation and will be starting over from the ground up. I worked all day last Sunday and got it wiped and managed to get it to have the Windows screen, but I have to start all over on all the other parts of it. My one good thing is that because I am an employee I can load the Window's Office package for free.

The culprit in all this is Windows itself. Windows 10 has required installs. In the past you could delay these installs, but not anymore. Microsoft decided that you can delay this downloading once for 35 days and after that it overrides any delays and start to update for security reasons. I, paid no attention to Mama Microsoft's warnings and shut my laptop off because I was about to go over my data allotment for the month. I didn't want to pay extra or have the laptop run for hours doing the updates. So in order to save a little money I have now been without a home PC for an entire month because I haven't had time to do the re-installs I need.

I didn't miss it much at home because I have been so busy with the beginning of the school year stuff, but now I will have time to mess with it and get it back up and running. I was simply content to read books this last month and go to bed early.

>228 ronincats: HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! I have a TBR HOUSE!

I love and adore that dining room light, Roni. It's perfect!

>227 benitastrnad: Do you have your network marked as a metered one? That's one way to keep updates from installing - MS won't push it if you actually have a limited data allotment. It's still a good idea to _do_ them, but you'd have more control over it.

>228 ronincats: Ha. Like Lizzie, I have a TBR house. My friend Rhoda says "Unread books are like money in the bank."

Love your chandelier! It's perfect with your house and the dining room. Kitty time sounds like fun too.

Like everyone else, I'm trying to work on Mt. TBR (or at least I'm thinking about it) but then new things seem to get in the way too often to make much real headway.

Happy Kansas autumn to you and the kitties.

Your new house looks fabulous with all your furniture and updates, Roni. You are definitely keeping busy!

>228 ronincats: Heh...what >229 LizzieD: said.

The trouble with my TBR piles is usually for every book I take to Derek, I bring home several more. The hazards of having a used book store owner for a fiancé….

On the other hand, all the books stacked against the northern outer wall provide extra insulation on those cold winter nights! ;D

>235 CassieBash: Oh, GREAT point!!!! I'll use it the next time DH mutters about books everywhere!

Hi, Roni!

>236 LizzieD: Ha ha, go for it!

>224 ronincats: - Just beautiful, Roni. I love the wood trim on the door frames and ceiling beams. It's just so warm.

>229 LizzieD: - Agreed, 200%. Don't we all? ;-)

>224 ronincats: The chandelier looks wonderful!

>228 ronincats: YES I relate to that completely... speaking of my TBR, I really should fill one of the book cases upstairs now that it's been moved to where it belongs...

Roni, I'm exhausted just reading what all you've been achieving. I hope everything was highly satisfactory.
The dining room looks wonderful ~ the design of the chandelier is perfect for the house style. Cleverly done. Was it hard to source?

>224 ronincats: I see you've been slacking. Again. When you said 'chandelier', I was thinking of an affair similar to the one you replaced (>180 ronincats:) but this one suits the house perfectly. I'm a little covetous (because I love Art Deco/ Art Nouveau) but it wouldn't really suit my house. So I'll let you keep it :0)

>228 ronincats: TBR pile ... 8 books ... 😂😂🤣

>235 CassieBash: >236 LizzieD: Do you think that argument works for keeping the house cool?

Richard, Judy, Benita, Peggy, Jenn, Karen, Reba, Meg, Cassie, Shelley, Mary, Sandy and Nina, thank you for visiting! I spent the extended weekend helping my sister and BIL move stuff from the old house to the new house--books, clothes, kitchen stuff, all that good stuff. They are having the heavy furniture moved tomorrow and will then be staying at the new house as they clear out the old.

So the last few days have been spent packing for a week down in Branson MO on Table Rock Lake with three high Schoo buddies in a 4 bedroom house timeshare that one of them has. Not planning to do any shows, but lots of board games, puzzles, fabric stores, and a few days fishing and maybe some book stores--just a good kick-back relaxing time. May even get some reading done. I'm taking A Night in the Lonesome October for a read-aloud as well as my Kindle. I'll likely not be on here any more than I have been lately, but look forward to talking to everyone and starting a new thread when I get back.

>242 ronincats: Sounds like a terrific break! Hope you have a good time!

>242 ronincats: Sounds like a fun trip -- hope you have a great time!

I too have more or less a TBR house -- it's kind of pathetic with upstairs TBR shelves and then downstairs and then . . . little piles here and there!

Happy fishing!

>242 ronincats: How wonderful to get to be with your buds! Coincidentally, an old, old friend visited me from Texas and we had a lovely time, too.

See you when you get back. *smooch*

Hey, Roni. Not even trying to catch up, but glad your move is complete and hope all is well there. Any chance we might see you in Joplin this year?

>241 humouress: If they’re stacked high enough to block sunlight from coming in the windows, then yes, I think you could argue that they help cool a house, too.

Have a great time!

>248 CassieBash: Alrighty! I’m in business.

Have a wonderful trip Roni.

Roni, I have a question for you. I love Susan Dexter's novels and I've been window shopping on-line, though I really oughtn't to. Are her Moonlight and Moonshine essentially the same book and, if so, which would you recommend? I'm tempted to click that button and purchase.

Hi Roni! I see you have been very busy, and the results are something to be proud of. Love those beautiful bookcases, and the whole look of the house. Enjoy that well deserved vacation.

Happy Sun's Day, Roni! I hope you're disfruiting your time in an agreeable manner.

Hi. I'm back, but haven't had the time or energy to get a new thread started because I intend to update my books read list, and haven't managed it. Had a great time, got three books read and a lot of games played. Thanks for the well wishes, foggy, Reba, Lucy, Richard, Cassie, Nina and Ella.

>250 humouress: Yes, the same book, Nina. A republication, she may have altered or rewritten a touch but naught substantial.

>247 alcottacre: Perhaps, Stasia. I have friends from Chicago who are going to stop by on the way back from visiting a parent still in San Diego after Thanksgiving and don't know the dates of that yet. But more a possibility than at any time in the past.

I will get caught up some day!

>253 ronincats: I am hopeful that you can make it! The Joplin meet up is always the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, if that information is helpful to you.

Looks like the move has brought you into closer proximity to lots of people you know, Roni, a nice side effect of your move.

Happy weekend to come, Apple Dumpling Gang-er. *smooch*

Okay, I know I've got to get my books read list caught up and a new thread started, but here's an image I just couldn't resist.



Or maybe 2.

>257 ronincats: That would be a treat then, right?

>257 ronincats: - Yep!

>257 ronincats: Oh my...yes indeed...scary stuff! (Not the brain veggies.)

Happy week-ahead's reads!

>228 ronincats: LOL Perfect!! 8 books for a TBR pile...