2022*3: Lizzie Loves to Read

At Last!!! A new thread!!!!



Nostalgia in August. Here I am with my Five Fine Friends, a life-long group some 20 or 25 years ago. I'm tempted to add a picture of four of us in kindergarten and four of us the last time I was able to get together with them. I'd have fun doing it, so I might someday just for me.

READ IN AUGUST
32. The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci
In Love with George Eliot - DNF
33. Owner's Share (probably letting this series rest for awhile)
34. Slow Horses
35. Thunderstruck
36. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (reread)

Into the House in August
67. Border Keeper - Tor Freebie
68. The Alloy of Law - Tor Freebie
69. Celebrity in Death - PBS
70. The Abbess of Whitby - PBS
71. Resurgence ✔ - PBS
72. A Thing Done - Kindle
73. The Night Raven - Kindle freebie
74. Extinct Languages - Kindle deal through BookBub
75. Dead Lions ✔
76. Eifelheim - AMP
77. Lingo - Kindle deal through BookBub
78. The List ✔

READ IN SEPTEMBER
37. Dead Lions
38. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (third reread)
39. The List
40. Convergence
41. Three-day Town (reread)
42. An Experiment in Love

Into the House in September
70. Agatha of Little Neon ✔ - VERY early birthday gift! (Thank you!!!!!)
80. Schooled - Kindle September free
81. The Grief of Stones Kindle semi-deal
82. The Mutual Admiration Society - AMP
83. Ancestor Stones - Kindle deal through BookBub
84. Real Tigers ✔
85. The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez - Kindle deal through BookBub
86. The Borrower - Kindle deal
87. The Ink Black Heart ✔
88. The City We Became - Kindle Daily Deal
89. An Experiment in Love ✔ - PBS
90. The Quality of Mercy - PBS
91. Lost Christianities - AMP
92. A Memory Called Empire ✔
93. The Silk Roads ✔ - AMP
94. Empress of Salt and Fortune - Tor freebie

READ IN OCTOBER
43. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (reread)
44. The Ink Black Heart
45. Agatha of Little Neon

Into the House in October
95. Starship Troopers - Kindle deal
96. Harlem Shuffle - Birthday! --- as will be the next few until I run out of $
97. Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
98. Shrines of Gaiety
99. The Dark Forest
100. A Desolation Called Peace
101. Demon Copperhead
102. Dead Letters from Paradise - and that has to be all!

READ IN NOVEMBER
46. Real Tigers
47. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (reread #4?)
48. The Hands of the Emperor (reread)

Into the House in November
103. Last Tango in Cyberspace - AMP
104. The Dictionary of Lost Words - Kindle deal through BookBub
105. Ravage & Son - Molly at BLP - proof, to be released 8-'23
106. The Ice Harp - Molly at BLP - proof, to be released 7-'23
107. The World We Make - absolutely the last birthday one
108. Spook Street
109. Death on the Pier - Real deal with Kindle credit
110. A Local Habitation - PBS
111. The Revolutionary Samuel Adams - Good enough Kindle deal
112. A House Unlocked - Kindle deal through BookBub
113. Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans - AMP
114. A Catalogue of Catastrophe - Kindle deal through BookBub
115. Map of Knowledge - AMP

READ IN DECEMBER
49. Melville: A Biography
50. At the Feet of the Sun
51. The Benefit of Hindsight
52. Petty Treasons (reread)

Into the House in December
116. At the Feet of the Sun ✔ - Kindle
117. The Maid - Kindle daily deal
118. The Institute - Kindle deal through BookBub
119. The Complete Enderby - AMP
120. Buried in a Good Book - AMP
121. The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles - CHRISTMAS GIFT from one who knows me well!!!!!
122. Moments of Being - CHRISTMAS GIFT #2!!
123. The Benefit of Hindsight ✔
124. The Only Way to Cross - AMP
125. The Talisman - Gorgeous Easton Press copy from Karen
126. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin - The Same
127. A Change of Circumstance - Kindle with Christmas GC
128. The Sway of the Grand Saloon ✔ - AMP
129. Inaugural Parade - AMP
130. Band of Angels - Kindle daily deal

OPEN FOR DECEMBER READING


(Just because they're open doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to get to them this month.)

BEST or Most Memorable of 2022

Pleasure of Ruins
The Damnificados
The Locked Room
The Woman in the Library
Legends and Lattes
The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci
Slow Horses
An Experiment in Love
The Ink Black Heart
Melville: A Biography
At the Feet of the Sun

I thought you would have done 500 posts on your last one at least!

Happy new thread, dear Peggy. xx

Happy new thread, Peggy!

Two books to finish, as they are due, and then I will start reading the last Wheel.

Happy new thread, Peggy.
>1 LizzieD: Which one of those lovely ladies is you?

Glad you finally got around to it :)

I love having visitors on a new thread! Thank you for coming by, Stasia, (yep), Laura (I'm the right end), Anita (sounds good), and Paul (going for 500 didn't even occur to me, doggone it).

Wordle 415 3/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Way to start a new thread!!!!! If only I had used word 2 first! arose, unity, unfit

Happy new thread, dearest!

>1 LizzieD: You and your five fine friends look fabulous. I was pretty sure it was you on the far right…

Congrats on Wordle 3. My starting word luckily gave me a 2.

Stay cool! Read good books! Hi to your ma and your DH. Miss being able to visit. ☹

I've reached the part of Pilgrim where Lady Quartermaine dies in the avalanche. What a shock.

Happy new one!

Many thanks for good wishes and for visiting, Anita!

WOW, KAREN!!!! Another 2 for you! You're accumulating them nicely!!! I do so miss being able to visit too. Did I say that I asked Brownie when Mama saw him last week whether I was being stupid not to relax? He said a resounding NO. Among other things, at that time 85% of the population has had COVID, and a huge proportion of those are due to BA.4 and .5. 100 people a day still die in the USA. If that rate continues, that's 36,500 deaths in this year when it's safe to get back to normal. He also said that the first time he relaxed his defenses, he got it. First COVID was assumed to need 15 minutes of contact with people less than 6 feet apart. Now a short elevator ride will spread it. I may have written all this somewhere earlier, but I don't mind at all having it as part of this new thread.
Thanks for the compliment, Karen. I think we looked pretty good for 50+ too. It's clear why my daddy's first thought on seeing my mouth when I was born was, "If she's ever caught in the rain, she'll drown." Then he looked at my nose and thought, "No, if she's standing up straight, she'll be all right."

OWNER'S SHARE by Nathan Lowell

I don't think I have to read any more of these right now. I may have to skim a bit of the next one just because I like Ish back at the academy, but the last three aren't as good as the first six, so I'll just look and MOVE ON!!!!!

>9 LizzieD: Thanks for identifying yourself in the photo, Peggy!
>12 LizzieD: Your dad's quip made me chuckle.

Happy new thread Peggy!

>12 LizzieD: I'm sorry you're reaching the end of the good bits of that series...I miss dead-to-me series characters every so often.

Happy new thread, Peggy! *smooch*

Happy new thread!

Happy new one!

Hi, Laura. Thank you for coming back. My daddy was a funny man. His pappy was maybe even funnier. I wish I knew more Granddaddy stories.
Hi, Susan. You're always welcome here!!!
Hi, Richard! I'm stunned at how many good things are suddenly on my Read Now table and vying for my attention. I'm sipping in book after book like a crazy thing.
Welcome, Arlie! I don't think we've ever visited each other, have we? I sneaked over to your thread and see that you read a LOT!!! I wish you an easy retirement. Once I gave myself permission to think about it, there was no going back.
Hi, Jim, and thanks.

Wordle 416 6/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 adore (I just can't use the same first word over and over; should have), unity, salty, batty, cafes, patty Oh well.

I have 2 bits of doggerel fighting in my head.

From my mama's ancient "Thought a Day" calendar, her repository for all dates family and friend (Uncle Ed was born today in 1918.)

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it!
Whenever you're right, shut up.

And from my DH's memory on our walk yesterday, so it's 3 times now removed from the original. The last verse of a dour old Scot listening to the young women warble about the handsome, unmarried, young, new preacher's beautiful blue eyes.

I've never met his heavenly gaze
Nor looked into his orbs divine.
When he prays, he closes his eyes.
When he preaches, he closes mine.

You're welcome.

Wordle 417 5/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, climb, clink, cling What can I say? If I have the choice of two possible words, I will inevitably choose the wrong one first.

Just saying a word that I'm reading something besides N. Lowell again although I read a bit of my next in his series too. I'm concentrating on Slow Horses and Thunderstruck. Both are holding my attention, and I'm thrilled to be reading something different. I love factoids from Larson like the one that says that they left behind 14,212 umbrellas in their lost and found department when they moved to New Scotland Yard.

Wordle 418 5/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, plane, clean, glean Mediocre.

Stopping by! The Beyond the Fringe (pre-pre Monty Python) fellows did a whole number on a thousand or more pairs of heavy woolen dark blue trousers in the Lost and Found at one of the London train stations of men sent out to leave the trousers in various locations. Very funny!

>22 LizzieD: Your 4 & 5 are the same as my 3 & 4...we're just orderly, dear lady, we go into things in order.

*smooch*

>22 LizzieD: I am racing through Wheel 14, Peggy, already halfway :-)

>25 FAMeulstee: Holy Moly, Anita! For some reason I didn't think that you were starting 14 until next week. I've read a few pages, but I can't get into it, and my reading is a bit fragile these days. I'm certainly not going to be able to catch up with you, so I may put it aside.

>24 richardderus: I thought it was logical, but orderly works too! *smooch*

>23 sibylline: Always happy to see you, Lucy. I'm a big *BtheF* fan - can recite a number of sketches from my 2 (I think) LPs. (I think we talked about this once long ago. "Yes, I could have been a judge...") When I saw them at Davidson in the early 60s, everything was a little different but so, so funny. I had forgotten the trousers.

>26 LizzieD: The prologue was a bit difficult to get into, Peggy. When I got to chapter 1, I was completely into the story.
I could pause a week, or ten days, if you want.

'Morning, Peggy! I hope you have a good day.

I got Wordle in 4 today, so there's that.

Morning, Anita and Karen. Back from the COVID swab. It was raining a little and relatively early, and I expected nobody else to be there. I was car #4, so it wasn't a bad wait.

No, Anita. By no means should you pause. I'll forge on since you say that chapter 1 will hook me.

Me too, Karen. Me too. Almost unprecedented!

Wordle 419 4/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 unity, arose, leach, label YAY!

>29 LizzieD: Yay! We used the same words #3 & 4 today.

*smooch* for a happy weekend, Peggy.

I'm tickled to be in such good company, Richard. *smooch*

We're so cool today that I just got back from a walk. Yay!

BAH!

Wordle 420 6/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 aisle, round, unity, funky, junky, hunky The one day when 'unity' would have been a good first guess, I didn't use it. I also confess that I cheated. At guess 6 I had four words, none of which seemed likely, so I looked them up online to see if they were even acceptable. The third one on the list had complaints about being the word, and I shamelessly used the information.

'Morning, Peggy!

Sorry about the six, especially the online spoiler. I shamelessly admit that I downloaded the list of 2,309 solutions and check my guesses against it, although adieu is NOT one of the solutions but is so good at vowel determination. why should I guess junky when it's not even possible? Only funky and hunky were 'unky' words

Well, I'm a stuck record: 6 > X. And how you get there is how you get there, no fair judging yourself! Wordlebot tempts me not at all because they want money, which I haven't got and frankly wouldn't spend that way if I did.

Karen, that's really odd. 'Junky' was the only one that I was sure was a real word.

I'm not tempted by Wordlebot either, Richard, for that reason plus my stubbornness. Ptui.

Wordle 421 6/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 NOt again! Yes. Again.

'Morning, Peggy!

Six beats a skunk, of course.

Enjoy the teensy bit cooler weather today, but tonight! 65F for you and 66F for us. Glorious.

Happy Sunday, Peggy. Happy New Thread! I love your Five Fine Friends photo. I really enjoyed Thunderstruck. I think that is an overlooked gem by Larson. How are your feeders doing? Seeing anything exciting?

Hi, Mark! We've been so hot and dry that the birds have been mostly gone. The wood thrushes left around the 2nd week of July, and that's normal, I think. Everything else has been pretty silent. We do see the little birds - chickadees and nuthatches and (#))(!& purple finches at the feeder, but walking is a sadly silent business. OH! I don't know whether I said. Our bird guru and photographer and hero, bullied and cajoled his neighbor into leaving the tree standing in which Mississippi kites had their fledglings - the tree feller was within feet of starting on it when Charles arrived. The neighbor's parting words: "Please let me know when I can cut down MY tree on MY property." He did.
I agree about *Tsk*. Old murder mystery lover that I am, I had expected to be most entertained by the Crippen passages, but Marconi was an interesting character, and I can follow the bit of science fine. Amazing!

Hi, Karen! Behold our newest family member, BATMAN, who will be Bratman or Brat to me.



I'll have to come back later to see if I can get him right side up.

>39 LizzieD: Happy new cat Peggy!

Happy new thread and happy new cat, Peggy!
I’m petless at the moment. My little Cairn terrier companion died about a month ago. I’m not sure when I’ll get another pet but when I do, I’m thinking of a cat.

Hi, Jan! I'm sorry about your little dog. It's hard to lose a pet. I can't tell you how much we miss having a dog, but it's just impossible to have one now. I'm not home, and my DH can't manage one more thing alone.

Thank you, Susan. We're rapidly becoming friends. So far he is a darling. I just can't spend time tonight fixing that picture. I will give it a try soon.

'Morning, Peggy!

>39 LizzieD: What a sweet looking little boy. I love your take on his name, Bratman, or Brat, as I'm sure he'll become. Your DH's patience in gaining his trust is wonderful.

It took me 5 today with Wordle, but I only had green letters, not a single yellow one.

Gentle hugs for your ma, kind regards for your cat whisperer DH, and love and hugs for your own dear self.

Thank you, Karen. Love and hugs for your own dear self and kind regards for Bill and Jenna right back to you!!!

Wordle 422 X/6

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⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 I'm tired of it.

Wordle 423 4/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Well, this is encouraging. I'd have been more encouraged if I had gotten it in 3, but never mind. arose, tried, creed, gruel Nah. No way would I have gotten it in three.

Hi Peggy!

I might have gotten it in 3, but I tried cruel first.

Hi, Karen. I'm so suspicious of the double letters that I missed your more obvious one first "6 of one, 8 of the other as Mama's friend used to say."

Wordle 424 3/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Easy word? Who cares. arose, unity, twice

>48 LizzieD: We got the same result! A different path, but the same result.

Good morning, Richard and Karen, my Wordle buddies. Yesterday made me proud. Today I'm back to being Fiver even though I thought of THE WORD before I made my 4th guess. Oh well.

Wordle 425 5/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, plant, thank, twang

Hi Peggy!

I got it in 4 today.

Beautiful day. Errands then possibly a nap or hammock time with my book.

I hope your day is good.

>50 LizzieD: I followed the precise same path, though with a different 4th word. Great minds, etc.

*smooch*

Wordle 426 5/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 How's your mind on this one, Richard? Mine's not so great. I tried new first 2 words. I guess my old faithfuls would have been better. pouty, aisle, scrum, shrub, shrug --- SCRUM??? Where on earth did that come from?

Wordle 427 4/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, tread, treat When will I ever pick the right one first when there are two?

>54 LizzieD: I went at it the other way: GREAT then TREAT but took the same number of steps.

>53 LizzieD: *snerk* I'm not likely to used SCRUM anytime soon, but points for off-the-wall thinking, Peggy! *smooch*

Wordle 428 6/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 It's not that I have no words. I have too many words, and I couldn't think of one that used b,c,p,t, and w to eliminate possibilities. GRRRR. aisle, taste, caste, baste, paste, waste I'm going to read *Harry Potter*.

Hi Richard, I appreciate the *smooch*. Right back to you.

'Morning, Peggy!

I got skunked, so your six looks wonderful to me. Alphabet soup, bah.

Have a lovely time reading Harry Potter.

Morning, Karen - just barely. Sorry for the doggone skunk. We see-saw, don't we?

>18 LizzieD: I don't remember now how I came to flag your thread without commenting, but I spend time on the threads of several people who comment here.

Hurrah for retirement! I'm loving it.

Morning Peggy. I'm finally finding the mental energy to delurk!
I see Wordle is till the fave morning activity here! Hope you are enjoyng some good reading.

Good morning, Sandy! It's wonderful to see you back!!!!! I hope that this is a permanent state of things and that life is smoothing out satisfactorily (or better!) for you. We've missed you.

Hi, Arlie. Congratulations of retirement! What a great thing it is!!! It looks like the only thing I'm posting here is Wordle tries. I don't get to read a lot, and when I do, I'm still mostly in comfort mode that doesn't invite a lot of conversation. Maybe someday I can offer you a reason to keep my star.

Wordle 429 4/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, tired, merit Glad to see this. I think I started going wrong when I began to use only letters I had discovered in each try rather than eliminating common possibilities. I don't know. Anyway, 4s have been hard to come by lately.
I predict a solid 3 for Richard this morning.

>61 LizzieD: Got it in one, Peggy. *preens*

Someday those two words were going to pay off big. Today was that day.

>61 LizzieD: Thank you Peggy. I'm enjoying some visits here and have felt more positive about my reading mo-jo. Glad to see you're in good shape, even if Wordle has been vexing you.

Good for you, of course, Richard!

Sandy, I thought I had posted a reply to you earlier, but I guess I only thought about it. It's really, really, really good to see you back here AND with improving reading mo-jo. I still have to read mostly pure entertainment, but at least it's not all Nathan Lowell for a change! In fact, I'm off to read a bit more in Thunderstruck before bedtime - maybe not the best pre-sleep reading. Welcome back!!!

>39 LizzieD: He could be my Mallory's brother, lol. He is lovely.

Have a terrific Tuesday, Peggy!

'Morning, Peggy! I hope you have a wonderful day.

Today's Wordle took me 5, but that's okay. That and coffee are my first-of-the-morning pleasures. I've already had a female hummingbird visit the just-put-out-feeder, too.

Hmmm. I tend to read lightweight stuff at night, things requiring concentration in the mornings. Like now, it's off to continue with Pilgrim, Angle of Repose, and perhaps even a Federalist paper, then one of two romances I've got going. For some reason Thunderstruck hasn't called to me yet, although I've had it on my shelves for four years. I've also got In the Garden of Beasts just waiting for me to be in the mood to read about WWII. Not my most favorite time period, so it will definitely be after I finally get to Thunderstruck.

Thank you, Stasia. He is lovely. My DH, namer, is now talking about calling him JB, so we wait to see what sticks.

Morning, Karen, and a wonderful day right back to you. I read what I can at night because it's quiet!!!!! I've read and enjoyed *Garden/Beasts*. After this one, I'll have only *Splendid/Vile*, so I hope Larson is researching and writing even as I type.

Wordle 430 5/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Old Fiver is back. I just had to try a new 1-2 combination, not that anything else would have helped me much today. aisle, touch, goner, women, woven,

Hi Peggy, I start my day with Wordle as well. I usually get it in 4 or 5 but I have to brag that a few days ago, I got it in 2. ( steal, treat) My starter word really paid off!

>67 LizzieD: Steady-state 4 for moi. I'm actually pretty pleased because it's been a truly crappy few days for my health. Still managing to focus, though!

Hi, Jan and Richard. I'm happy to have old Wordle inviting communication. I wouldn't have much to offer otherwise.
TWO is a real victory, Jan, and most brag-worthy!!!!!

Richard, I'm sorry that you're having problems crop up. I say, "Take care of yourself," because I need to feel involved in your situation. Take care of yourself!

Wordle 431 4/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, enemy, needy No comment.

Wordle 432 3/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 WOO HOOO! I haven't seen one of these in a long time. I'm hoping Karen did it too, as planned. arose, unity, clown

>72 LizzieD: *happy dance* A 3-day! Yay for Peggy!!

*smooch*

Yay Peggy! Yes, I got it in 3, too. Serendipity.

Have a wonderful day.

Happy Wordling indeed, Karen and Richard!!

SLOW HORSES by Mick Herron

I loved this book! It was 5 stars for me whether or not it's intrinsically that good. It may be.

Slough House is the location for the MI5 agents, Slow Horses, who are too unreliable, having messed up at least once, to work out of Regent's Park, but not bad enough to fire. The hope is that they will simply quit. They are a dispirited group, united only in their hatred of their boss, Jackson Lamb (an updated, less appealing version of Peter Robinson's Andy Dalziel). Then a far-right group posts a video loop showing a young Asian man, whom they say they will behead on a live feed in a few days time in retaliation for white men beheaded by Muslim fanatics.
No sex. Only the aftermath of a grisly murder. Lots of character development. Spy shenanigans!

I will be reading the next book in the series soon!!!!!

Wordle 433 3/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Talk about perfect starter words!!! If I had been bold and daring, I might have gotten it in two as I thought about my second word, but I might not. arose, unity, irony

Wordle 434 4/6

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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, ruler, ruder Why did I think it couldn't be the comparative of an adjective?

>77 LizzieD: ...because it's weird that it was...? Logic. Sheesh, these Peggys and their logic. *eyeroll*

Hi Peggy!

Wordle is occasionally crazy making, isn't it?

Wordle 435 4/6

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Good morning, Karen and Richard!

Hi Peggy! I got it in 4 today, too.

What a gorgeous Carolina blue sky.

Wordle 436 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Ha! That's how it used to feel before I became a Fourder/Fiver (60 wins each). To become a Threebie I'd have to win with 3 three more times in a row. arose, unity, chief

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE by J.K. Rowling

My notes here say that this is the third time I've read this, but I don't remember #2. How I wish I had read these as a child. I would have benefited from seeing Hermione, whose academic intelligence was outweighed by her courage.

THUNDERSTRUCK by Erik Larson

Larson's gambit this time is to combine Marconi's struggle to make his wireless radio commercially viable with Crippen's life struggle to live with his flamboyant wife and then kill her and get away with murder. We get a lot of technical details of Marconi's trial and error experimentation with short glances at his personal life. We don't get into Crippen's head, thank goodness, but we watch him yield again and again to Cora/Belle's demands for autonomy and money to support her career as a singer while he longs for a quiet life.
I kept waiting for the two to meet, but the denouement is not like that. The last quarter of the book follows the police detective Dew, who investigates friends' insistence that Crippen's story about his wife's disappearance doesn't hold up. At first, Dew doesn't suspect foul play at all. When he does, we thrill with the rest of the world as Dew chases the murderer down with help from ship to shore wireless radio which the world is able to follow closely in the same way.
It's not my favorite Larson, but he does manage to entertain and educate easily. I wait eagerly to see what he does next!

Hi Peggy, and congrats on getting Wordle in 3. Took me 4 because of alphabet soup.

I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 2001, when Jenna wanted to see the movie. I insisted that we read it first, got the first book in trade paperback form at the local thrift shop for 25¢. Read it to an 8-year old Miss J. We loved it, saw the movie, got caught up to book 4, and the rest is history. Most recently I've listened to them in the car.

I still need to read this Larson.

I hope you have a good day!

Hi, Karen. I'm happy that Jenna got to grow up with Harry. My favorites are the first three, so I expect I'll read them and then move on. We'll see.
I did just say what I had to say about Thunderstruck. I expect you'll read it when you have time for it. I'm not pushing it hard, but I did enjoy it.

>82 LizzieD: >83 karenmarie: We went looking for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 1998 when we first heard about it at my daughter's school, but it wasn't yet available in a local bookstore. But we had it by 1999 I'm sure. Except for the first Becky got them read to her as they came out until she took over for herself at Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Hi, Susan! Nice to see you here again! I'm awed by how many young readers JKR created, not that Jenna and your Becky wouldn't have been readers anyway.

Wordle 437 3/6

⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
⬜🟩⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 YAY!!!! arose, unity, onset I like the result so much that I'm becoming reconciled to trying the same 2 first words every day.

Here is a list of the books that I'm dipping into as possibilities for
September:
Melville: A Biography
Never Let Me Go
Eifelheim
A Memory of Light
Dead Lions
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Convergence
In Enemy Hands
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
A Novel Bookstore

I'd like to finish Remote Sympathy. I was reading it happily, but it just isn't suiting me right now. *sigh* I know that Stasia and others of you would read all of these in 30 days without turning a hair. Alas. Not me.

'Morning, Peggy!

Your list of books has netted me one to add to my wish list - Eifelheim. I'm a sucker for anything to do with the Black Death.

I never officially create a list of possibilities for a month, preferring to wing it and be a mood reader.

Congrats on Wordle in 3 and your two new favorite first words.

Good morning, Karen. I am in my last-days-of-the-month reading frenzy dipping into and out of all the above list to see what sticks. I love it! (I also added another one to the list.) AND --- my friend, whose English friend sends her copies of books newly published there, will soon have Ink Black Heart in hand. When she finishes and sends it to me, I expect all bets are off. I hope your friend who gets them to you is in the same condition!!!!!!!

I spotted Eifelheim on a thread here when I read that unknown person's review of something else. Looking further before I ordered it, I saw that it's one of T. Spaulding's favorite books. I'll let you know.

Looking at my August list, I see the new N. Lock, Voices in the Dead House, following Whitman and Alcott through their nursing in a Civil War hospital. I want to read it, but when I started it, I found Lock's Whitman to be the most irritating character I've met in a lot of years. I'll have to take a firm grip when I get to it.

All bets ARE off. Ink Black Heart is 7 stops from my house. I pre-ordered it in January. I've also ordered the audio book, due late October.

I just read a plot summary of Troubled Blood to remind myself of where the series currently is, and I'm ready to start reading tonight!!

Wow! Wow! Wow! You GO, woman!

'Morning, Peggy! It's a beautiful day with gorgeous Carolina blue skies. The sunlight is beginning to make autumn angles, so I'm getting excited. There will still be lots of heat and humidity of course, but the end's in sight.

Only 20 pages in of the 1012 (!) pages of The Ink Black Heart and I can't read it in bed because it's just too big and heavy. So while Jenna played a game on her PS4, I put on my wireless earbuds and listened to soothing ocean sounds and read those first two chapters in 'our' Retreat last night.

I got Wordle in two today - I swear, the word just popped into my head and I thought 'let's eliminate those 3 letters right away.' However, I got the word instead.

Wow, Karen! Congrats on Wordle in 2! That's magnificent. It was the first word I thought of when I saw what I had after my first two words, but then I went and listed everything else that fit that particular pattern and eliminated the 2 other letters that appeared in those words more than once and confirmed what turned out to be the initial letter. Oh well.

Wordle 438 4/6

⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, cramp, prize Whatever Richard has to say about Peggy logic, I think that was pretty logical.

OOOO! *IBH*!!!!! Enjoy! Enjoy!! I'll be joining you pretty quickly, I think.

Yep. God's a Tar Heel.

Wordle 439 5/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I cheated. I'm not proud of it, but there it is. Now I can get on with my day. arose, unity, quill, cumin, fungi

>94 LizzieD: I never once considered using your word #4! Hm. Will have to keep it in mind.

I'm a 4 for today. It's one of those words that, no matter how often I look at it, looks...wrong...somehow. Like hyena, and stopper.

Getting better and better and better daily, to my great pleasure! *smooch*

'Morning, Peggy!

Took me 3 today, but I did a bit of 2,309 word spreadsheet cheating.

Gentle hugs to your ma, kind greetings to your DH, and lots and lots of hugs for your own dear self.

I didn't read any of The Ink Black Heart yesterday, but since I finished the Friends stuff I needed to get done for Pete for our taxes, got the last of Jenna's tax stuff of to our accountant, AND took out a Zoe offering, I deserve to read.

Good afternoon, Karen. Congrats on getting that word in 3; I wouldn't have gotten it at all without some help. You DO DESERVE TO READ!!!! I think you deserve to read every day of your life, but especially after dealing with taxes, you should have people (not Zoe) laying your favorite nibbles and drinks around you all day. Many hugs back!

Good news, Richard!
That word looks and sounds ostentatious to me. I hope I never have occasion to say it!

Wordle 440 5/6

🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 No comment. arose, unity, larch, chard, charm

>75 LizzieD: I will get to that one. . .eventually!

Have a fantastic Friday, Peggy!

>99 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia! Fantastic Friday back to you! I'm enjoying Dead Lions at a quarter through it. My friend says that it's the weakest book of the series as far as plotting is concerned, but I'm enjoying a bit deeper look into the character of the slow horses.

Wordle 441 5/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Fiver is back to stay, I guess. arose, unity, yucky, plumb, gully

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Saturday to you.

We both got 5 today.

Jimmie from Bill's work is out bush hogging the pastures. This makes me happy.

>101 LizzieD: *sigh* It was an all-6 for me, because of course it was. Guessing-game days really do irk me.

Happy-weekend *smooch*

Good morning, Richard and Karen. I wish you both and the entire 75 gang a lovely Sunday!

Wordle 442 3/6

⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Oh yeah! When my first two work, they really work! arose, unity, inter

Wordle 443 4/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Hmmph. arose, unity, gloom, whoop

Hi Peggy. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Wordle in 5, all quiet on the central NC front.

>105 LizzieD: Me four. It was inescapable after I guessed SHOWY on round 3.

*smooch*

Wordle 444 3/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 HA! arose, unity, taunt This was good because I wanted to know where the t went. HA!

I'm in a good reading place. Dead Lions, Convergence, and *HP2* keep me entertained, and *Melville* adds education to entertainment. My only wish is to read longer and faster.

Wordle 445 4/6

⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟨⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, every, leery I don't ask for miracles.

'Morning, Peggy dear.

4 is respectable. I also got 4.

I'm beginning to love the fact that fall's approaching. Different sun angles, different outside sounds.

I'm very glad you're in a good reading place.

Mick Herron's series seems to make bibliozombies out of everyone who picks it up...shambling along behind him moaning "booooooooks" until he chunks another one down, then scrambling in great seething hordes to get to it.

Must start it soon! *smooch*

Good night, Richard and Karen! I'm looking forward to a little rain and cooler weather - maybe, maybe, maybe breaking the back of this summer although I doubt it.

Yep. I've become one of the seething horde. Of course, it doesn't take a lot to suck me in.....

'Morning, Peggy! We got some decent rain yesterday, and it took me 5 for today's Word.

I put Slow Horses onto my wish list in April, courtesy of drneutron.

I'm currently a bibliozombie over other books though.

Morning, Karen! We didn't get decent rain yesterday, but we live in hope. At least it's cooler!!!

5 for me too. I feel pretty stupid in not thinking of the obvious first third.

Wordle 446 5/6

🟨⬜⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose,unity, clasp, clash, class

>116 LizzieD: It was 4day for me Wordlewise. I'm on to a new thread, so nothing like beginning as I mean to go on.

booooooooooks

>115 richardderus: Gooooooooood!

>108 LizzieD:. Dead Lions sounds like a book for me. I’m glad to see you’re able to read so much.

Hi, Jan! By all means read Slow Horses, the first in the series first! In fact, I'll cruise by your thread to tell you so. Doing less rereading - especially of the very same stuff I had just reread - is a pleasure these days!

'Morning Peggy. Happy Friday to you.

Zoe Rose is on the desk, playing with anything she can get her paws on - I've moved an eyeglasses holder, a scrunchie, and cashier instructions away from her. Children...

I got Wordle in 4 today.

Good morning, Karen and Zoe Rose. My only cat report is that little Batman had his second vet visit yesterday, and was the best boy my DH has ever taken to the doc. He didn't make a sound, and sat in the crook of Mr. Lizzie's arm and purred the whole time.

Wordle 447 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
⬜🟨🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I wish I were not so in love with the letter L ..... arose, unite, Lethe, theme Richard surely will do it in 3 again.

>120 LizzieD: Yup. 3fer today for moi. Did you read Slate's talk with the Times game dude about how Wordle's just not hip anymore? I snorted a little....

Thank you for the article, Richard. My reaction: Whom cares?

Into the weekend!!!! *smooch*

Good morning, Peggy. And Mr. Lizzie and B(r)atman. Hello to your ma, too.

Yay for Batman, sweet boy. Zoe is semi-feral and Wash is a scaredy cat and so we have to drug them to get them in the carriers. One pill the night before, one pill two hours before the vet visit. Inara just screeches.

Congrats to RD for Wordle in 3. It took me 4 again today. And yes, who cares? I lerve it.

Yes, into the weekend.

Good morning, Karen! 4 for me too, and I was relieved at that! Wouldn't it be great if this cool weather caught on right now???

Wordle 448 4/6

⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, potty, lofty

We've never had to tranquilize the cats to vet them. They mostly just yowl through the whole experience.

>124 LizzieD: It was 4day for me, too. I hadn't thought of your #3 but had my own weird bolt of inspiration. Happy reading!

Thank you for the reading wish, Richard, and back to you! I'd just as soon NOT have thought of my #3 although it fixed the vowel. 3day for the 3 of us tomorrow!

DEAD LIONS by Mick Herron

Oh my yes! I'm definitely a fan although this one was a bit more fantastic than #1. We get the death of a very low-ranking ex-agent combined with an ambitious MI5 suit's effort to appropriate a Russian oligarch. London's Needle = Shard is a prime setting. Two new horses enter Slough House and one old one is killed. I think I'm going to read the novella that comes next before embarking on the third entry.

Meanwhile, I plug along in the Melville bio. I wish I had more time to read it; it's very good. I'm also getting into developing action in Convergence after 100 pp or so of recaps. Since it's been more than a year since I read Visitor, those recaps are helpful.

Wordle 449 5/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟩🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I have nothing to say. I was totally at sea. arose, unity, magic, plait, tibia

Morning, Peggy. I will refrain from commenting about being at sea...I hope the cruise is lovely.

...wait...I was supposed to refrain...oh well

Richard, your restraint confounds me. Take a look at this!

Wordle 450 6/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, whole, midge, evoke, booze It may be not quite ten in the morning, but I could use some.

Otoh, my copy of The Mutual Admiration Society is supposed to arrive today! YAY!!!!!

'Morning, Peggy. Happy Monday to you.

>129 LizzieD: No yellows! A green-letter day.

Hi, Karen. I hadn't noticed that. Oh brother!

>129 LizzieD: I'm so glad you didn't get skunked, Peggy. On those dratted guessing-game days, it feels like the English language makes up new words to keep us guessing.

Lovely week-ahead's reads! *smooch*

Thanks, Richard. It feels - not good. Today was a little better.

Wordle 451 4/6

🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, alack, alpha

'Morning, Peggy!

I hope you have a good day. I've got errands to run today. Lunch with the Librarian was cancelled - she fell last night. She's young, early 40s, so I think she was packing to move out of her apartment and into a small house she just bought. Grocery store, Friends bank, maybe PO. Workout of course. *eye roll*

My usual 4 to match your 4...

And good night, Karen. I hope you got it all in and that the librarian isn't badly hurt.

Melville spent several months setting up pins at a bowling alley in Honolulu. That's the kind of useful fact that I enjoy!

'Morning, Peggy!

Fascinating about Melville. I still feel bad about abandoning Moby Dick, but not enough to pick it up again any time soon.

I ended up running 7 errands yesterday. The Librarian was icing her knee at the Library yesterday, but ice... ugh. She was happy to get a corn bag - when I sprained my ankle in July Jenna put one in the freezer for me and I've started keeping one in there for the non-melty and long-lasting relief. And I've always refused to sacrifice a bag of frozen peas. I got a 50-lb bag of deer corn and will finally finish off the ten corn bags I still have from my sister. I also paid $47 plus tax for a 50-lb bag of black oil sunflower seeds - absolutely ridiculous but even more at Amazon and Walmart. Sheesh.

Another 4 today for me in Wordle.

Sheesh indeed! If I knew what to stock in the face of the railway strike, I'd send my DH out, but I have no clue. Bless you for the corn bags! Mama is devoted to hers, and we sometimes add mine too. (Is it possible to wash them????????? Opening, emptying, and resewing is not a thing I'd try for the sewing part.)

I finally got a Wordle in 3. First time in nine days, I see. I was thinking about abandoning my two fine starter words too.

Wordle 452 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, thyme

>137 LizzieD: A great result today...the strike isn't, I mean, the Wordle is.

*smooch*

Many thanks for the visit, Richard, and the *smooch* which I return.

I actually read a little today --- I'm really, really enjoying the Melville bio. I expected to like it, but I'm finding it fascinating even if I read only a few pp a day. I have HM back in the USA with material for Typee, Omoo, and maybe even White-Jacket, which I didn't know about.

And then there's this ---------

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS by J.K. Rowling

MAGIC! HOGWARTS! YOUNG HARRY AND CO.!!! I enjoyed it.

Oh dear. What will remain with me, I'm afraid, is that she uses "ancestor" when she means "descendant." When did this become a thing????? (Hi, Stasia. The usage jerk remains active.)

Blood work done for Prolia Monday. Breakfast calls!

Wordle 453 4/6

⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟨🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, tough, doubt I'm always surprised when a #4 guess works.

>140 LizzieD: You shouldn't DOUBT your instincts! *smooch*

Heh Heh Heh - Hi, Richard!

Bah! Humskunk!

Wordle 454 X/6

🟨🟨⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟩
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟨🟩🟩 arose, unity, clear, maker, wager, vaper

I'm sorry you didn't get the Wordle word today. I lucked out with my choices.

I wish you a good day, my dear.

Hi, Karen. I got over it, baked the big, soft, chewy oatmeal cookies, cleaned up, and have enjoyed my sofa time tonight with the Melville bio. What a good book!

THE LIST by Mick Herron

Here's a novella with only minimal participation by our Slough House regulars. Lady Di, Jackson Lamb, Catherine, and River make cameo appearances, but the main player is very low-ranking MI5 hanger-on, John Bachelor, who discovers that the retired German asset that he's been overseeing for years before he died has an unidentified source of income. Short and M. Herron funny. I enjoyed it, and I'm likely on to Real Tigers, the next novel in the series.

Wordle 455 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟨⬜⬜🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 AHA!!!! Here's encouragement. arose, unity, chute

OH! I am about to get The Ink Black Heart. Melville will just have to fend for himself for awhile.

Wordle 456 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I'll take it. arose, unity, stilt, stick

I did manage a few more pages of Melville last night. It's a good book!

>147 LizzieD: It was a 3day for me, Peggy, so *there there, patpat*

Why, thank you for the comfort, Richard. I'll remember to return the kindness if our scores should ever be reversed!

Wordle 457 4/6

⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 For once my strategy at try 3 paid off. arose, unity, packs, trice

I'm impressed, Peggy! Three for you, Twinsies - four for both of us.

Have a good'un. Gentle hugs for your ma, kind regards to your DH, and love and hugs to your own dear self.

Look again, Karen. Four for me too... I commented on my third guess, and that's what misled you. (((((Karen)))))

Wordle 458 4/6

🟩⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Tried the wrong one at 3. Oh well. arose, unity, alive, alike

The Ink Black Heart is in my hot little hands! Bye, y'all.

>153 LizzieD: I got lucky. My try #3 was in alphabetical order so it paid off.

Ah, Richard. The alphabetical order works so well until it doesn't. I decided to try the first word I thought of. Wrong.

I'm home and breakfasted from a semi-early doc's appointment. I'm well but have to go back for more blood work (the phlebotomist was waiting for the delivery of some equipment). Got my flu shot though! Also --- I learned that Prevnar has a new pneumonia shot with 4 more valents (?) than in their last. My doc says that it will be good to get it, but it's not a pressing matter.

Wordle 459 4/6

🟨🟨⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟨🟨⬜🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, paler, recap If I had used the 3 letters that were correct in the first word, would I have done better? I'll visit around and see.

>155 LizzieD: I understand exactly what you mean. It's a satisfying puzzle to work out!

Good early afternoon, Richard. So such problem today! I don't know that I've ever gotten all 5 letters and one in place in my first two tries. I needed the lift!

Wordle 460 3/6

🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜🟨🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, saint

Back from getting my eye shots. A vein in my right eye popped up just as he put the needle in, so I'll have a very red patch for awhile. It's a good thing that I stay in. I'd scare small children.

Wordle 461 3/6

⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Hallelujah! arose, unity, glory

Wordle 462 4/6

🟨🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I should have followed my usual practice of trying the first one I thought of first. Instead, I went alpha. Oh well. arose, unity, crate, grate

Wordle 463 6/6

🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨⬜🟩⬜
🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟨⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 So sad. At least I finally saw the light. arose, unity, attic, await, ambit, admit

CONVERGENCE by C.J. Cherryh

This isn't exactly a pot-boiler, but it thoroughly recaps the high points of the last two books, and that's about all. I needed that because I had read Visitor more than a year ago. I deplore Cherryh's tendency to go over the same material again and again and again, and she yielded to that as Bren is in Mospheira, presenting the 3-way treaty and preparing for the Reunion population to move from the space station to the island. Meanwhile, Cajeiri is on his great-uncle's estate, partly to enjoy his mecheita and partly to affirm his father's favor for his uncle. I may need to revise my 3½ stars for this one in appreciation of Cherryh's exploration of the growing maturity and self-awareness of this young gentleman.
I do miss Ilisidi and real time spent with Banichi and Jago. On to the next pretty soon, I think! The stage is set.

THREE-DAY TOWN by Margaret Maron

Deborah and her husband (I'm trying not to spoil it for Karen who may eventually read these) are taking a belated honeymoon in NYC, staying in SIL's apartment while the tenant to whom she has sublet it is away. On their first night the building super is killed in the apartment while they are out. Sigrid Harald, NYPD whose grandmother lives in Colleton County, is with them and gets the case. I loved the Sigrid Harald series and I love Deborah, but nothing much is gained by putting the two together. My preference that Deborah stay home remains. This is not a bad mystery, but it's not close to being among Maron's best. Definitely on to the next!

‘Morning, Peggy! I hope you have a wonderful day. (((hugs)))

>157 LizzieD: At least you can go to a local doctor instead of the hour-long (?) drive you had before. I’m sorry about the vein popping up in your right eye and hope it's calmed down again.

>161 LizzieD: I do want to continue the series, so thank you for thinking of me. Right now I’m still very into my romances. It’s now been 5 months with no signs of let up. Until my stress levels calm down more, I’m just going to go with it and figure out when I want to pick up Pilgrim, The Federalist, Angle of Repose, and The Ink Black Heart again. Woosah, as Jenna would say.

Good for you, Karen. I'm still very much reading for comfort as you see. I'll be concentrating more on *IBH*; somehow "soothing" is not quite the word for Cormoran and Robin.
And yes, I like my young doctor who shows up here once a week very much. MY right eye is still scary, but it's better each day.

Wordle 464 3/6

⬜🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 YIPPEEE! arose, prism, brisk

>163 LizzieD: Yay for a 3day! *smooch*

Kind words, Richard, and *smooch* right back!

'Morning, Peggy. Congrats on your three. I seem to be stuck in mostly-fours right now.

All you have to do is wait, dear Karen. As you see, I'm four for the day. I didn't think they'd accept my #3, or I wouldn't have entered it - maybe. Just a little more time and I might have hit on it in three - maybe.

Wordle 465 4/6

⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, sophy, soggy

Hi, Peggy, I finally got a copy of TheWoman in the Library and couldn’t put it down. The complexities of the plot kept me turning the page. Thanks for the recommendation. I loved it.

Hi, Jan! I'm really glad that you enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to getting back to the series proper one of these days, but I can't get there yet.

'Morning, Peggy.

Looks like we will get remnants from Hurricane Ian Friday-ish. 🤞 that it's no more than that.

Wordle in 5 today.

Amen to Ian wishes, Karen!

Wordle 466 4/6

⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Should have been 3. I was in a hurry and didn't think. arose, unity, usury, usurp

>171 LizzieD: I thought, and stared, and thought some more. It took 5...and I was plenty pleased to get it at all!

*smooch*

Ah, Richard. How we react to each word never ceases to intrigue me.

I was trying to read An Experiment in Love as my small memorial to Hilary Mantel, but I thought that the book was shorter than it is. I don't know that I'll finish in two days, which was my goal. It is very much worth the time. I appreciate everything about her writing; I'm so sorry to lose her so soon.

Shoot! Help somebody! Richard? What is the name of the figure of speech that uses the same word with two different meanings? I love it when used sparingly --- HM wrote, "turn of phrase or wrist." I love it and should go back and copy the whole paragraph, but I won't this late. Oh!!!! Zeugma!!!!! I'm happy that I found the word which I could not pull up from my very faulty memory.

'Morning, Peggy.

...waiting patiently for Richard's answer...

In the meantime, I just had an oatmeal cookie for breakfast, and it was wonderful. And, I got Wordle in 4.

Top of the Morning to you, Karen!!!!! I'm happy to have spread oatmeal goodness. I can eat porridge, but Mama refuses no matter how I tart it up. The cookie, however, is a great success.
I got it in 5 today. (I had written 4 - wishful thinking.) Given 2 choices, I will almost always use the wrong one first.

Wordle 467 5/6

🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟨🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, slack, scalp, scald

You got it without my input...Zeugma still sounds like a Greek ruin in Eastern Anatolia. But a great word, and concept, indeed.

I'm getting to the end of my dreadful respiratory clogging that started with terrible allergies.

Congratulations on losing the crud. Breathing cleanly is such a wonderful pleasure!!!!

*grinning about that Anatolian ruin* Once or twice a book is a great and entertaining sufficiency. Mantel was such a writer. I read her easy, elegant writing, and then she does something that stops my breath with delight.

'Morning, Peggy. Stay safe and dry and I hope you get just the right amount of rain to make this all worth it.

Another Wordle in 4 day for me.

Morning, Karen. As my pessimist feared, looks like it's coming in at Myrtle Beach rather than Savannah or Charleston, which will put it directly over us on its way to Greensboro. We'll see. Our river is very, very low, so it would take 15 inches of rain to even begin to flood, I think.

Wordle 468 4/6

⬜🟨🟩🟨⬜
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I had a choice of 3 at guess 3. I'm just happy that I chose the right one for guess 4. arose, unity, shorn, scorn

>179 LizzieD: I got it in 3 because I have alpha-order-itis.

*smooch* for a dry, calm weekend!

Again, Richard, I typed in the first word I thought of instead of seeing what else it might be. At least I used alpha for my other two choices in try four.

AN EXPERIMENT IN LOVE by Hilary Mantel

I'll try to write this later or tomorrow. We were without power for 4½ hours this afternoon, but right now we're fine. However, as I came back across the street to my mama's house, we heard popping and thuds as tree branches fell in the neighbor's yard. We will likely lose power again. The rain is pretty much gone, but trees are heavy and the winds haven't completely died. I'm working on dinner while we still have the power! Good night in case I don't get back!!!!!

Hi Peggy! I hope this finds you and yours safe and well, with power and no damage to your houses or town. We're fine. Power's out, but we have the generator.

Last night I'd just gotten baked potatoes started in the toaster oven when the power started flickering, so I switched them to the gas oven, along with salmon. We feasted, but I don't know what I'm going to do for dinner tonight, although I can make turkey tacos... If we get power back by Monday, I'll be thrilled.

Gentle hugs to your mama, kind regards to your DH, and many hugs to your own dear self.

Dear Karen, we came through in good order, thank you! I'm happy that you have the generator and can manage. I join you in hopes of power restored quickly - way before Monday!!!! Plenty of hugs to you and my best to Bill and Jenna.

Meanwhile, I am so dumb I can hardly stand myself. Sheesh!

Wordle 469 5/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜🟨🟩
⬜🟨🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, maple, clave, leave

>183 LizzieD: Every one of those words makes perfect sense...I wouldn't have used #4 because I'm surprised it's on their list! Anita from the Netherlands used a word I haven't read since college (I think it was in The Lais of Marie de France IIRC) in the same place as yours SWEAL so it's my day to get strange-worded.

Anyway...stay well, dry, and gruntled.

Hi, Richard. I went to your thread and posted there or on Karen's my surprise at their acceptance of my #4. I am well and more gruntled, thank you!

Hi Peggy...I'm simply checking in to see how you and those your love are doing during this frequently-changing hurricane.

Much Love and prayers.

Linda, I'm happy to see you posting and thrilled to see you posting here. We are fine as frog hair, and that's pretty fine! Thank you!

Wordle 470 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟨🟩🟨⬜
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, thine, twine I'm off to see whether Richard was bitten by alpha order too.

'Morning, Peggy, and happy Sunday to you.

I'm glad Ian's behind us.

I got Wordle in 3 today, but that's because I've started consistently checking the 2,309 word list AND the list of words already used.

Good morning, Karen! I wish you a good Monday!

Wordle 471 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜🟨🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 *sigh* I thought I had looked carefully at the left letters, but I didn't see the obvious one that would have given me a 3. arose, unity, stink, sting

>189 LizzieD: My last two guesses were the same, Peggy, also in four today. I was sure it would be word #3.
peony, mirth, stink, sting

>190 FAMeulstee:, >189 LizzieD: I was sure it would be y'all's #3 but went all alpha-order so I got it in 3 instead of 4!

*smooch*

Hi Peggy. I'm very happy that you are "fine as frog's hair." This made me laugh!

And here's the frog to go with it!



Happy Tuesday to you, Peggy.

Wow! Visitors!!!! Thank you for commenting Anita and Richard. Today's was like pulling teeth for me.
Linda, I owe that one to my SiL, who is full of these little gems. Thank you for the frog, Karen. I'll post a picture if I can manage to get it off my phone...... or it may be on the defunct phone. Boo.

Wordle 472 5/6

⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, mould, pouch, bough Again, I wish I had thought for 30 seconds longer at #3. Apparently, I'm not going to learn better.

>194 LizzieD: Same Wordle result for me. I did not like it. At all. Drated guessing-game days.

Anyway. Happy Tuesday, smoochling.

Good Wednesday morning, Richard. After I beat myself up for 30 seconds, I'm tired of it, so maybe I'm learning something. Anyway, alpha order was obviously not the way to go today.

Wordle 473 4/6

🟨🟨⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, harsh, marsh

Wordle 474 3/6

⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Happy Day! arose, unity, sloth

Wordle 475 6/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I even named one of our beloved cats this. arose, unity, candy, handy, gandy, dandy: when I remember to use a letter twice, I'm almost always wrong. Today I didn't remember.

I'm going to go read Agatha of Little Neon. Stasia and I are enjoying her!

>198 LizzieD: It would've been 5/6 for me if I hadn't eliminated the "c" in my 3rd word choice. As it was I got it in 4 *nailbuff*

Good morning, Richard. I'm certainly happy with 4 today after a miserable near-fail yesterday.

Wordle 476 4/6

⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, rigor, vigor

>200 LizzieD: Heh...we're among the many who used the same third word!

Happy weekending, wherever it may take you. *smooch*

>200 LizzieD: I managed to get #476 but I was signally unimpressed which as an Englishman you might imagine!

Alpha order, Richard. Alpha order.

I'm grinning, Paul. I savour your sense of humour.

Both of you enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Happy Sunday, Peggy!

We've got beautiful Carolina blue skies and crisp fall weather. They both make me happy.

Wordle in 4.

They're making me happy too, Karen. I love October in NC!
Good for you with Wordle in 4! Your first word paid off today. Really, though!!!!!!

Wordle 477 5/6

⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟨🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, cocky, wooly, howdy

Hi Peggy, we're Wordle twins today...both 5ers. I'm all about The Streak.

Heh.

Wordle 478 4/6

⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Well, Richard, I'm sure you got it in 3 as I might have if I had thought for 30 more seconds. As it is, I still have a streak of sorts. arose, unity, envoy, enjoy

Streaks are ALWAYS good, Peggy, so no self-tsking needed. I did indeed manage a 3day but I kid you not it took a while of just STARING at the pattern before it emerged from the swamp I call a memory.

Wordle 479 4/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Four again, but I'm happier with this one. arose, unity, plaid, valid

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN by J.K. Rowling
This is my favorite of the series. I've brought *Goblet* over here, but I'll be much slower to reread it.

In fact, I have realized that I am reading and lusting after chunksters only, except for *Agatha*, so I won't be adding to my numbers this month or next.

>209 LizzieD: I don't remember the series too well after twenty years, but I *think* that was the one where we learn about Patronuses and Dementors...?

I got it in a satisfying four, too. *smooch*

Hi Peggy!

Congrats on Wordle in 4 and finishing up HP3.

Beautiful day here in NC...

Good morning, Richard and Karen. Dementors and Petronus and Sirius Black and Remus Lupus all appear in #3! I did start #4, but it won't go quickly.

Wordle 480 6/6

⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟨
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Streak saved, but I do want to spit on somebody. arose, unity, toxin, tonic, conic, ionic

>212 LizzieD: Rotten luck, Peggy! Guessing-game days make me frothin' mad, too.

Good morning, Richard. Today I cheated and checked a word list because I'm late.

Wordle 481 4/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, beaux, equal

Wordle 482 4/6

⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 There. Gotten by the sweat of my brow. arose, unity, chord, floor

Hiya, Peggy!

You beat me by one. Took me 5.

Today makes me very happy that I live in NC - it's gorgeous out. I hope you're having a good day. Hi to your ma and to your DH.

Thank you, thank you, Karen. We do go back and forth except that you're more usually the four. Gorgeous walking by the river! Good day to you - hope you're hurting less and reading more!

>2 LizzieD: I received The Empress of Salt and Fortune as a freebie from Tor, too. The second installment of the series is a good read, When the Tiger Came down the Mountain.

Thanks for the tip and the visit, Greg. I don't know when I'll get to it, but it's certainly stockpiled against the possibility of the Worldwide Book Famine.

Wordle 483 5/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩⬜🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 When will I ever learn that sometimes alpha order is the way to go? First word I thought of, of course, and then I didn't use it and was paddling through alphabet soup. arose, unity, match, claws, catch

Hi Peggy! Have a lovely Saturday.

Ah, so that's why you and I love having books everywhere we can possibly have them in our houses! We are hedging against the Worldwide Book Famine. Yay us. *smile*

Five is better than six, is better than zip. paddling through alphabet soup Vivid visual.

Oh yes, Karen. The effect of the WwBF is a thing to be guarded against at all costs. We are certainly protecting ourselves.

Wordle 484 4/6

🟨⬜⬜🟨🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I wish I didn't feel compelled to try my second word. Oh well. Better than yesterday. arose, unity, shade, spade

Is anybody working on the Halloween Hunt? I've done the easy ones and probably won't take time for the rest.

'Morning!

I just checked out the Halloween Hunt, but Halloween is really not my thing. However, #9 in the Hunt was easy because it introduced me to LibraryThing and #1 was easily looked up. So now I'll get my ghost badge.

We're in agreement as usual, Karen. I guess I'll look up #1 because I don't think I knew it. Otherwise, not so much.

>221 LizzieD: Excellent Wordleing, Peggy! That is a gorgeous pattern, isn't it?

I don't really care about the number of tries anymore for my Wordleing because the pattern-identifying exercise is, I believe, good for my brain.

I'll come let you know when I post pictures from my Valerie visit. Happy lovely-fall-Sunday vibes!

Good morning, Richard. I'm trying to emulate you in caring more about the exercise than the number of tries. I confess that I am completely set up by this morning's results - the first 3 in almost three weeks.
AND I look forward to seeing your pictures from the Valerie visit!

Wordle 485 3/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, stein I don't know when I've gotten all 5 letters in two tries!

'Morning, Peggy! I hope you have a great day.

Yay for yesterday's three - I got it in three today.

Beautiful Carolina blue sky, nice and chilly - fall's teasing us.

By the way, how's Batman? Or, as you said one time, Bratman? Settled in? Getting along with the other kitties?

Yay for your 3 today, Karen! I got it in 4. It is gorgeous. However, the repairman promised to have the part for Mama's heating unit installed by 9:00, and there's no word. The DH is cleaning her gas log and will fir it up as soon as he's convinced that it's OK. The house is 72°, but that's not going to hold long with this wind.

Batman, Bratman, Catmandu is flourishing. He is a sweet boy, but he devils the other three cats on the back porch (he hasn't figured out the cat door into the house yet), so most of the time he's in Pussky Prison.

Wordle 486 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨
⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜
⬜🟨🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, deist, exist

>227 LizzieD: Your word #3 wouldn't've occurred to me but I've now got it in my mental Wordle folder. Well chosen!

Happy reading, Peggy! *smooch*

*smooch* right back, Richard. I don't know........ I look at my left-letter list and miss common words for trying to find words using most common letters.

Hmmm. I am so focused on using what's left of the most common letters that I don't even think of common words that fit the pattern, Richard. Happy Reading and reviewing right back to you with a *smooch* for good measure!

Here's what's nice: I'm beyond the halfway point in both the Melville bio and *InkBH*. I have some hope of finishing those two at least before the year is out!

Off to bed!

‘Morning, Peggy!

>227 LizzieD: I hope your mama’s heating system is back up and running. It’s 28F here this morning.

Awww, I really want to meet Bratman. Silly boy to devil the other kitties. Funny – we called our Kitty William Katmandu, kept the K because of the Kitty in his name. Great minds, eh? KW went to kitty heaven in 2019. We waited 6 months then got our gingers, Zoe Rose and Washburne Ryder.

Yay for progressing on the Melville bio and The Ink Black Heart. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on my guilt levels, I’ve just stumbled on a new romance series and between that and various and sundry don’t envision getting any serious reading in anytime soon. However, I am listening to Chernow’s Grant biography in the car.

Took me all 6 tries today on Wordle.

Good morning, Karen! I really want you to meet Bratman too. He is one sweetie and was up and out and ready to play or cuddle after the coldest night of his little life. Great minds indeed!!!

I am delighted to be able to read something of a little substance at last. My third book of the moment is Agatha of Little Neon that is highly readable and sensitive. I also pick up *HP4* for a minute or so now and then. I have a lot of new things coming in with birthday $, but I can't get to them. You will REALLY enjoy *InkB♥* when you are ready for it.

6 is not defeat. I am chuffed to have gotten it in 3 although it took a good bit of staring blankly at the screen.

Wordle 487 3/6

⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
🟨⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, quirk

Wow, wordlemania here! I play a puritanical version -- (my name for it). I let a random word come into my head, and if I like the feel of it, put it in and go from there. I also ONLY put a green letter in the spot it belongs and I MUST use the tan one(s) somewhere. I do all right. Mostly 4's, then a balance between the 3's and 5's, together about half the # of the total 4's. Three 2's and a dozen or so 6's -- I've only failed twice. I have learned that it is wise before trying a 5th to go away for awhile and let my unconscious do some work.

That's interesting, Lucy. When I started (and had my 99-day streak), that's sort of what I was doing about starting words. Then I got more interested in at least nailing down the word pattern in 3 if I could. My scores were better early on, but they've evened out so that --- well, here are my numbers today. I've been doing it a lot longer than you have, I think.

98% success
1. 0
2. 5
3. 69
4. 85
5. 70
6. 32

My current streak is 133 days old...

1: 0
2: 1
3: 46
4: 68
5: 15
6: 3

I'd say my band is definitely clearly established!

I'd say so too, Richard.

I'm at 98% also -- I never build up much of a streak as I frequently forget to play!

Let me see -- I am 0, 3, 43, 69, 44, and 16

'Morning, Peggy!

Took me 4 on Wordle today. Plus coffee and the scale gave me good news this a.m. So far things are shaping up to be a good Thursday.

Gentle hugs to your mama, kind regards to your DH, and lots of fierce hugs for your own dear self.

*I* took THREE to Wordle today...because I got one letter in its correct place and three others not. Still.

My oatmilked and caffeinated self sends smooches

Still early enough to wish Good Morning to Richard and Karen! I'm back from eye shot and getting Mama up and both of us breakfasted. I still am working on my second mug of COFFEE!!!! BIRTHDAY COFFEE!!!! Congrats on 3, Richard! Here we stand, Karen!

Wordle 488 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, fiend, denim

Hi Peggy!

Oof to the eye shot, glad it's in your hometown instead of the trek you and your DH were making until recently.

It took me all 6 tries on Wordle today. I'll be heading off in about 20 minutes to go to the UNC Healthcare Orthopaedics Clinic for my quarterly steroid shot(s?) in my knee(s?). Question mark on plural because of the new crap going on in my left leg. Sigh.

Have a lovely day, my dear.

Oof to the knee(s) shot(s), dear Karen. I'm afraid that yours hurts a lot. I wish you may get through the rest of the day with not much pain and hopes that this one lasts the whole quarter!

Sorry about the 6, but I'm glad you nailed it. I needed a big bowl for my alphabet soup. The first word I thought of would have given it to me in 3, but I went with alpha order instead. Oh well.

Wordle 489 4/6

⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, drone, grope, grove

Still loving *InkBH*. I've read over 900 pp of it and still have another whole book's worth to go. I'm glad it's good!

>243 LizzieD: A grudging *smooch* from a Phew-having grouchy me.

Any *smooch* is a good *smooch*, Richard. Anyway, it's a rare thing when the Phew and the Splendid are in my favor.

Hi Peggy! It's so gorgeous out! Happy Saturday to you. Having said that, I just heard some rifle shots anticipating the Nov 12. start of gun season. There's no hunting in my little subdivision, although nothing about setting up a shooting berm/range...

>243 LizzieD: I must admit that the shot in my left knee was a tad more painful than usual, but I do think it's helping with everything going in my left knee since I got 6 hours straight sleep last night (with the help of some serious drugs, but hey! they're there for a reason).

Congrats on your 4 yesterday, it took me 6. Today I got it in 3, though, so am doing a hobble-y happy dance.

Good morning, Karen! Happy 3 dance for me too although I have no idea how the word came to me. I feel like my friend's super-savvy computer guru, who responded when asked how she had come up with a brilliant short-cut, "I don't know. I just fore-play with it a little bit." (It's the "I don't know" part that I identify with.)

I'm more pleased to hear about your 6 hours of sleep. I fervently wish that you are starting a new trend! I hope the left knee feels better and better. Enjoy the day and be safe!

Wordle 490 3/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, spiel

>247 LizzieD: Top-quality Wordleing! I took 4 but got there in the end. It was a good word choice today, no?

*smooch* from a happier camper than yesterday...lots of sleep.

I thank you kindly, Sir Richard, with a curtsy and a *smooch* for the rest of your weekend.
Lots of sleep is very, very good. I'm off soon for some sleep!

Oh well. At least I waded out of the soup before it was too late.

Wordle 491 5/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, bully, gimpy, mummy

>250 LizzieD: It was *phew*day for me. My 137-day streak is alive, I remind myself.

In a grouchy grumble.

*smooch*

Good morning, Richard. I'm sure that you and Karen also added a bead to your streak necklace. I was my usual impatient self and didn't think about other possibilities before trying my third word. I had been at it too long.

Wordle 492 4/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, vault, fault

Wordle 493 4/6

⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟨🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I'll take it. In fact, that's how it is here today. arose, unity, godly, foggy

>253 LizzieD: I had a 3day because of that same reason, Peggy! *smooch*

Hi Peggy, and happy Wednesday to you.

Took me 5 on Wordle today. I had lots of fun sorting donations to the Friends of the Library yesterday.

Good morning, Karen and Richard! I needed 5 today too.

Wordle 494 5/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜🟨🟩🟨⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, quoth, clout, flout Oh well. #3 was especially dumb.

>256 LizzieD: Ave, Peggy...I was 4 for this one but it EASILY could've turned into the dreaded guessing game!

Happy Humpday. It's foggy and dank so I'm less perky than a coffeemaker. I'll go now before my ill will and outrage at Humanity's inhumanity get you down, too.

Dear Richard, I can only repeat, "Lord have mercy on us; we have none on ourselves."

Wordle 495 4/6

🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩⬜🟨🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, chary, carry

>259 LizzieD: Lovely Wordleing, Peggy! I hope it's a sign of things to come that your word #3 was my first choice of the correct answer but it didn't fit with the letter I already had in proper position.

*smooch*

Good Omen, indeed, Richard!

'Morning, Peggy, and happy Friday to you.

Another gorgeous, if a bit cool, Carolina day. I've got a couple of errands this morning, then it's just hanging out, reading, and making chili for supper.

Happy Friday to you to, Karen! Your day sounds marvelous. Chili sounds extra-marvelous, but I don't make it well. I may, otoh, make my cabbage soup today, so we'll be equally warmed at supper.

Wordle 496 4/6

🟨⬜⬜🟨🟨
⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟨🟨⬜🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, least, essay, sneak I do wish I could prevent myself from mistakes like my #2 guess, but I'm happy that alpha order got me there in 4 today.

>263 LizzieD: It's a gorgeous Friday here, too. It's only 50° so I am a thrilled cold-lover, and it's sunny and sweet to top it off.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads! *smooch*

Nice, Richard! We had a very lovely day today too, and we voted and my DH took in our absentee ballots. That was the big thing of the day.

THE INK BLACK HEART by Robert Galbraith

I do believe that I've said how much fun I had reading this book. More tomorrow if I can think then!

'Morning, Peggy!

I hope you have a good day. I'm still trying to wake up, but did correctly guess the winner of a Premier League soccer match based on goalie kit color - this amuses Jenna and Bill beyond measure, and I'm actually 4-5. Fun times in the Pitt.

I got Wordle in 4 today. Yay for finishing The Ink Black Heart. I just got the audiobook and since I've tried twice to start the book, may put the audiobook of Grant by Ron Chernow on hold and listen to The Ink Black Heart. Decisions, decisions.

Best of the day to you, Karen!

Wordle 497 5/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟨🟨⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, field, pixel, libel Oh well.

*InkBH* will be quite a change from Grant. I greatly enjoyed it, but I'm not sure that listening is going to be the best way to go because there are so many characters and we learn only bit by bit who has what identity in the twitter, instagram, game, cartoon world. At least you have the book and can check back. Good luck!
And congrats on Wordle in 4! Not me.

Hi Peggy! Happy late-fall Saturdaying to you and the family. *smooch*

Good night, Richard. *smooch* back for your relaxing/renewing Sunday!

'Morning, Peggy!

Wordle took 5 today. Fun times.

And same back to you, Karen. I'm thrilled to have gotten it in 4. It took forever.

Wordle 498 4/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, patch, waltz

>271 LizzieD: Didn't it just?! Staring and thinking and typing and erasing...then, finally, an answer!

Not every day is easy, eh what? *smooch*

Good morning, Richard. MUCH easier today! That's fun too.

Wordle 499 3/6

🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, aptly

>273 LizzieD: Three's a great day indeed, Peggy. Happy Howl-low-weeeeeeen! *smooch*

Many thanks, Richard, and good night!

AGATHA OF LITTLE NEON by Claire Luchette

Many thanks to Stasia for the gift of this book that I would never have found on my own. Agatha and her sisters, novices together in an uncloistered Roman Catholic order, are transferred to Woonsocket, Rhode Island to manage a half-way house. ("What's Methadone?" asks Mary Lucille.) Agatha has always been an observer, but we observe her offering more active charity and good will than the other three in every situation. She is a lovely woman, and readers must close the book wishing her all good things.

ETA: If you are the least bit squeamish in reading about cruelty to animals, do not read chapter 64. I wish I hadn't.

'Morning, Peggy!

The lure of coffee and the chance to chat with Jenna this morning overrode my desire to go back to sleep.

Wordle took me 5 today. Darned alphabet soup.

Good morning, Karen! I'm all for coffee and Jenna time!!!! Sorry about the alphabet soup - not such an appealing drink in the morning. I had the starter words!

Wordle 500 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, piney Yippee!

>277 LizzieD: YAY! Boy does remembering to use Mary's Troublesome Letter™ pay off.

"What's Methadone?" *chuckle* I love the sound of it, but will never, ever read it because the backlog is such that I need to read more books than a normal person does in a lifetime just to "catch up."

Hi, Richard. I'll drop you a note on your profile page to show why else you might have enjoyed the book without spoiling it for potential readers.

Oh! I put *Dead Letters* on my Kindle right away. Absolutely the last of my birthday $ that I'm spending, but I couldn't resist Winston-Salem/Old Salem in 1960.

*smooch*

Thought of you immediately, Peggy.

Exactly, Richard! Thank you and good night!

Hi Peggy, and happy Wednesday to you.

>280 richardderus: Yup, RD.

Congrats on your 3 yesterday. Today's took me 4.

Good morning, Karen! Today's took me 4 too. I might not have guessed my #3, but I didn't think it would accept it, and I was growing impatient. I felt particularly inept.

Wordle 501 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, intel, inept

>280 richardderus: roflmao

Good morning, Arlie! Richard is worth following, and I'm always happy to see his footprint on my thread. Yours too!

Wordle 502 3/6

🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 *sigh* - with happiness....... arose, unity, aloud

>285 LizzieD: *smoochiesmoochsmooch*

Happy 3day!

Same back to you, Richard, with hopes for an equally good tomorrow!

'Morning, Peggy, and happy Friday to you.

Wordle in 3, coffee in hand. I'll be reading and playing with my new acquisitions today.

Sounds like a perfect day to me, Karen! I'm not sure what I'll do today. I have a couple of things that I might make for us to eat, but we've been getting along fine without them. I'd like to read some too!
Congratulations on your 3! I'm satisfied with my 4.....didn't think of the association between my #s 3 & 4.

Wordle 503 4/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟨🟩🟩🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, booth, photo

>289 LizzieD: 4days are good days, IMO, since I have so many of them.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads!

Hi Peggy! Still dark, Bill and Jenna are both abed. Kitties have been fed, cat door opened and they've gone out and come back in.

I've started listening to The Ink Black Heart and just started the social media stuff. So far it's not hard to follow, but we'll see. I envision using both paper and CD to get through this one.

Good morning, Karen! What a lovely day! We are so dry that I even look forward to "damp, drizzly November." Right now though, I'll be glad in what we have.

I do hope you enjoy *InkBH* as much as I did. I haven't written about it, but I've said from time to time what needed saying, maybe. I don't think I could listen to it. In the game people may be talking on several threads, and the reader just has to sort out what is meant for whom. It's not hard reading. I also wished that I had kept a list of characters as they get additional identities, but by the time I thought of it, I had them pretty straight in my head after some frustration.

Wordle 504 3/6

🟨🟩⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yippeeee! arose, cream, dream For a whole day my 3s will outnumber my 5s by 1. I'd complain about betrayal by alpha order except that I didn't think of the word until after I had thought of the wrong word. I also didn't try "bream," which occurred to me first.

We both dodged that one Big bullet, thank goodness!

*smooch*

'Morning, Peggy.

This morning was confusing. I woke up and did a bit of reading on my Kindle, which I have set to display the time. Came downstairs, made coffee, fed the kitties, and etc., then looked at my cell phone and laptop, both of which had 'fallen back'. I'd forgotten it was switching back to standard time this morning, and my Kindle needed to be reset.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

And good morning to you, Karen! I set back most timepieces last night, but I haven't checked the Kindles. Oh well. I had hoped to get extra sleep but played around so that I got only 7 hours. That's more than an hour's worth in its effect though.

Wordle 505 3/6

🟨⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟩🟨🟩🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yippee! It's been a long time since I had 3 twice in a very short row. arose, slate, stale

Happy Time Change Day! Hoping you're all groggy and grouchy today like the rest of us. I MEAN heh of course I mean AREN'T groggy and grouchy, of course I meant that not the other thing, naturally.

Anyway, *smooch*

Well, Richard, a *smooch* is a soother. And one right back to you!

I forgot to say, and you are probably with me, that lovely Molly at BLP has sent me uncorrected proofs of the new J. Charyn and the new N. Lock, both to be released next summer. I'm thrilled. I have yet to read Lock's Whitman/Alcott-in-military-hospital book. I started it, but the Whitman character's voice is almost unbearable. He sings himself indeed, and I fear Lock may not have exaggerated.

>294 karenmarie: I didn't wake until I'd had almost 10 hours of sleep! And no back ache! Oh frabjous day! That extra hour was well spent!

>299 quondame: GOOD for you, Susan! A day without back pain is a day worth celebrating for sure!!! I was sleepy all day, and I'm now headed to bed to work on that.
Lovely to see you here! (Wish there were more from me for you to see!)

Hi Peggy. Happy Monday to you.

Wordle in two today.

>299 quondame: 10 hours of sleep. Wow, Susan, lucky you. To continue the quote - callooh, callay!

WORDLE IN 2!!!!!! (((((((KAREN)))))))

Wordle 506 6/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
🟨⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Behold! I almost gave up. arose, unity, lined, whine, elfin, begin. I think I looked at begin early and pronounced it BEG-in, which sounds vaguely Arabic, but no joy.

So I have my streak, and I'm sorry about Richard losing his on a technicality. Boo and likewise Hiss.

>302 LizzieD: Thank you for the hiss, because that's the very fit I wanted to throw but made myself not. *sigh*

Hi Peggy. Happy Tuesday.

Jenna and I will drive to Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church to cast our ballots after she comes home from work tonight. Bill went the absentee ballot route, but I'm excited to actually to go our polling place on Election Day this time. We've voted early for years now, but it will be fun to go with Jenna.

Once again I have a different word, at least from Fameulstee. Am I in an alternate universe? It definitely feels that way sometimes.

Gentle hugs to your dear almost-101 mama, kind regards to your DH, and many fierce hugs to your own wonderful self.

((((((Karen)))))) Good morning! I think it's fun that you can vote with Jenna. I'm on tenterhooks.

I'm interested to check out your word.... Here's miine:

Wordle 507 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟨🟩⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, sleep, spell

Just a note to say that our little BatBrat has had his great adventure, is awake after the surgery, and doing well. We can pick him up later this afternoon.

Our BatBrat is still a little wild this morning, but that may just be the cool.

Meanwhile, HOORAY for my starter words!

Wordle 508 3/6

🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, rainy

>307 LizzieD: Oh yay! I was a 3fer today as well! Hoping it's a brighter day chez vous now that we awake in a country that's only lost half its mind.

Half a yay for sure, Richard - although I congratulate us both again on our stellar initial words and our stellar ability to make something of them. I'm really sorry about NC's new senator and about our local candidate's loss of the House seat, and a couple of judges. Otherwise, a sort of disaster but mitigated.

We hope to get some rain (!) and nothing else from the Nichole storm, whatever it turns out to be when it gets this far north.

*smooch*

My friend Nicole and I had a laugh about the fact we were both on the hurricane-names list this year. She got her storm but it doesn't look like I'll get mine (whew). Rain shouldn't be too horrible, no?

I fervently hope we don't get to Richard this year! We need rain very badly - not 15-20 inches as we did with Matthew, but more than an inch or two.

‘Morning, Peggy! Happy Thursday to you.

>306 LizzieD: Yay for BatBrat’s Great Adventure.

>307 LizzieD: Congrats on your 3 yesterday. Took me 4. Today I got it in 3.

Good morning, Karen!

Today my BatBrat is finally back to his snuggling, purring self. Whew!

If only I had thought for 15 seconds before plugging in my normal second word, I would have gotten it in 2. Nevertheless, I'm a happy Wordler this morning.

Wordle 509 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, unite

>314 LizzieD: It was 3day for me, too, Peggy! Happy Wordler indeed.

*smooch*

Good morning, Richard! At least I'm not a defeated Wordler.

Wordle 510 5/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟩⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, cheap, legal, medal

I keep hoping to make time to quote some of my Melville bio here. I've read only Moby-Dick and Billy Budd, so I had no idea that his social conscience was so highly developed and a focus of his writing. I will almost surely read *Bartleby* and maybe even *Benito C.*

Benito Cereno was an excellent tale, though not a cheery little bagatelle. Bartleby the Scrivener was such a tremendous impactor on my youthful psyche that I can't fairly assess it. But Melville deserves his resurgence, even the much-maligned Moby-Dick.

Anyway. Happy weekend-ahead's reads, my dear lady.

Thanks for the encouragement, Richard. I love Melville's humor in *M-D*, and I love the layer upon layer upon layer of meaning and Ms. Robertson-Lorant's thoughtful commentary in this exhaustive biography.

Here's a brief quote as she discusses *Bartleby*. It hit me because it's a thought that I had, completed and expressed beautifully.

"He never reflects on the absurdity of a civilization that allows huge amounts of livable space to be set aside for banks and office building when so many families live in tenements or on the city streets. Wall Street's emptiness on Sunday mornings and throughout most of the night mirrors the emptiness of a civilization that takes better care of objects than people."

I return the wish for wonderful weekend reading!

'Morning, Peggy, and happy Saturday to you.

Took me 4 on Wordle today.

Good Saturday morning to you too, Karen! Now must seem like afternoon to you....

Wordle 511 5/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Oh well. arose, unity, teach, pleat, valet

ETA: I always mean to say that the tallest woman all in black is Barbara, best friend, who is now living in Fearrington. Now, 26 years later, you'll recognize her if you see her!

Yippee!!!

Wordle 512 3/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, inane There AROSE a UNITY of intolerance for the INANE. (Hmmph. Not very good, but I'll save better tries for another day.) I didn't expect this to be correct. I just wanted to place the two vowels. Hee Hee Hee!

AND ----- At the Feet of the Sun, the direct sequel to The Hands of the Emperor comes out on Kindle on December 1. I've just pre-ordered it; first time ever!

>321 LizzieD: Those are the best wins, aren't they? The ones you figure you'll get a placement or twi but it's the actual word! Yay for a Sunday giftie!

'Morning, Peggy, and congrats on yesterday's Wordle 3. I seem to be in 4-land lately.

It's a beautiful day out, if a tad cold. Enjoy it.

Gentle hugs for your ma, kind regards for your DH, and lots of fierce hugs for you, dear one.

Good morning, Karen, with hugs and regards right back to all of you!

Here I am in 4-land. My second word hasn't been extremely helpful lately, but I can't let it go.

Wordle 513 4/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, blame, maple A controversy arose about cutting down the tree, but our unity of purpose fixed the blame on the woman who didn't want to rake her lawn and saved the beautiful maple.

>324 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I had a 4day today, too. It was just that hard a wood, I mean word!

>321 LizzieD: I just re-read The Hands of the Emperor to be quite current for At the Feet of the Sun

'Morning, Peggy.

Wordle was a 5 for me today, alas. I hope you have Less Than 5. The Less Than symbol cut off the end of the sentence. Sigh.

Good morning, Richard. Look below!!
Hi, Susan! I'm excited about the *Feet*! I had been hoarding *Fitzroy*, and I won't be able to read it too before the first.
Morning, Karen. Look below. I owe some of it to you, as you know.

Wordle 514 2/6

🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, snarl I arose to the cold rain with a snarl.

>328 LizzieD: That's great, Peggy! And a more heartfelt sentence I'm not gonna read today.

*smooch*

Thank you, Richard.

In fact, I'll do that tomorrow. Today is my mama's birthday. She is 101!!!

>330 LizzieD: Happy birthday to your mama, Peggy. 101 is amazing!!

Happy birthday Peggy's mom! Did you do anything special to mark the occasion?

Hi Peggy!

I hope your mama had a wonderful day. Such a stunning milestone.

I got skunked in Wordle today. Can you say alphabet soup?

Good morning with thanks for birthday wishes for my mama! She is amazing for 101, and she'll be pleased with greetings, Anita, Karen, and Laura. She enjoyed calls and cards and flowers and a brief visit from the pastor and his wife who brought a DVD of church members wishing her happy, so that was enough excitement. We'll eat our special meal today.

Karen, I misread your message and thought your skunk was yesterday. I can not only say alphabet soup, I can eat it - as you see; I was in a hurry. I'm sorry for the skunk though.

Wordle 515 6/6

🟨🟨⬜⬜🟨
🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜
⬜🟨🟨🟨⬜
⬜🟩🟨🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, renal, heart, pared, maker, baker I arose happy not to have renal or heart failure, wishing that I had pared away all the extraneous things that prevent me from being a maker and a baker.

O.K. Four phone calls on Mama's landline (2 from my DH, so they were OK) tells me that it's time to get on with the day.

Happy not-skunked Wednesday, Peggy! May your mama's next 101 be even happier.

*smooch*

Many thanks, Richard.

Off to walk, help her shower and shampoo, and then get the meal I don't cook!!!!!

Hi Peggy. I am thinking of you today and hoping all is well. Fall is here and the leaves are coming off the trees. Snow is predicted for tomorrow. While it was a hot summer, I do not look forward to the cold.

I hope you are well and enjoying every minute of your mother's life as you so lovingly help her!

Dear Linda, I'm very happy to see you feeling well enough to come here! We're getting cold too, but no snow!!!! If I could get Mama to eat like a person rather than a small cat, I'd be completely happy. She is putting away her birthday chocolate though, and that will add some fat, which she desperately needs.

You take very good care of yourself!

Wordle 516 4/6

⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Alpha order got me again. arose, unity, three, there

>339 LizzieD: Oh heck. I got it in three and was pretty pleased with it but never so much as thought about your third word!

It was the first one I thought of, Richard, so my brain was just mildly disordered because I didn't think of the word until I had to.

*smooch*

REAL TIGERS by Mick Herron

The disgraced MI5 agents at Sough House are once again sent out to do the dirty work in some mean internal politics. Katherine Standish is kidnapped by a Tiger Team (hired agents paid to test the agency's prowess), and things go downhill.

I note that my last two books have featured very young adolescent boys' dreams of derring do. In Ink Black Heart a Neo-Nazi group was organized with secret codes, handshakes, and a rune name for each member, his rune tattooed on some body part. (The Adam's apple; is that even possible?) In this one a para-military private security firm sends its boys out with weapons, body armor, and Vietnam-era search-and-destroy training.

I can't wait to see what happens to the Slow Horses next!

>338 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. My grandmother died at age 88. She was there for me throughout some very tough years with my selfish mother. It was a delight to help her as she aged. She did so very much for me. I always told her that I was who am because of her. I miss her, but am so very glad that she no longer suffers from the pain of kidney cancer.

She is still with me, and actually connected with me three times after her death in a way that I could not doubt it was her.

Like your mother, she was so very thin. Even ensure didn't help put the weight on. She loved Chinese food, so I always made sure she had won ton soup. I have so very many wonderful memories of our time together.

All good wishes for a wonderful holiday.

Much Love to you!



Pamela Zagarenski is one of my favorite illustrators/artists!

Thank you, Linda! I'm grateful that you had your grandmother to love and guide you. Now you're doing the same with Kayla.

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Friday.

It's a gorgeous day. I love the cold - it's only now just gotten up to 30F. I'm grateful for heat. Speaking of which, the HVAC guy is back to try to actually fix the emergency heat that kicks in when it gets to 45F or below.

Today was a 4 for me. I'm happy with that.

Good morning, Karen. I don't love the cold, but I'm glad to see our weather back in sync with the time of year. We fretted about BratBat alone in Pussky Prison last night, but he was out in the sun this morning unfazed and purry, so that's good. And it is gorgeous to look at from inside a warm house. I wish your HVAC guy success!

Wordle 517 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I semi-cheated - looked up right letters but one that I had in the wrong order. arose, unity, glyph

O.K. This was fun!
Wordle 518 3/6

🟩🟨⬜⬜🟨
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, alert, avert

>347 LizzieD: I took 4 to get there because, well, AlphaOrderMan is my name. But it was a good puzzle, wasn't it!

I'm so glad the Slow Horses books are holding up. I have some now, all Kindled up, and am thinking 2023 will be their year.

*smooch* from the 40° coast of the North Atlantic!

>348 richardderus: Good morning, Richard! If only I were AlphaOrderWoman, I might have gotten it in 2. I had the word on my list 3 seconds after my second try. The list was so long that I got rid of some of the consonants in guess 3 (was surprised to see it accepted), and did go alpha for #4. I'm satisfied.

I hope you enjoy the Slow Horses whenever! Do read them in order though.

Wordle 519 4/6

🟨🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, crane, dight, brave No way am I making a sentence with those words!

*smooch* for the day

Hi Peggy! Happy Sunday to you.

I think I'd have a hard time coming up with a sentence for those words, too. Congrats on 4, it took me 5.

>349 LizzieD: what >350 karenmarie: said

*smooch*

Good night, Karen and Richard! If I go away now, I can get 8 solid hours of sleep!

I hope you got your 8 hours in. I was up at 5. Sigh. A nap might be in my future today.

Wordle was 4.

Good morning, Karen. I"m sorry that you were up so early. As usual, I managed about 7½ hours because I just can't make myself stop after being terminally sleepy from sunset to around 10:00.

Good for you for 4. I'm pretty gobsmacked. I never expected to do more with my $3 than give the vowels a chance to settle.

Wordle 520 3/6

🟩⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, axiom I've been using Joe's (?), Mark's (?) technique of putting the letters I have in the grid with unknown spaces marked with an x. I saw "a, x, i," and thought, "Why not?" Thanks, Joe or Mark!

>354 LizzieD: What a great idea! It got you there in record time. I do a similar thing with Mary's Troublesome Letter™ which, ironically, is Y!

*smooch*

I'm always happy for useful ideas, Richard!

*smooch*

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE by J.K. Rowling

I had no intention of reading this one now, but somehow I did. I liked it better than the first time too. LT says that this is my 4th reread, but I find that hard to believe.
No promises either way about #5. This is about my level of concentration when the TV is going. *sigh*

Stupid! I didn't see the orange on the end at three and wasted a word. Oh well.

Wordle 521 5/6

⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟨
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, crimp, grime, prime

Just stopping in here to say Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

I and mine thank you, Lucy, and return the wish. Friends here and the possibilities of this place are very near the top of my thankful list.

Wordle 522 5/6

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⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 A completely deserved 5 with a lot of alphabet soup to swallow.... arose, unity, crimp, bribe, drive

Thank you as always for books, thank you for this group and thanks for you. Have a lovely day, Peggy.

Thank you, Paul! I'm waiting for my DH to come home from feeding his sister's cat. Then we'll get everything together and have our feast!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everybody!

Oh - and I did this...
Wordle 523 4/6

🟨⬜⬜🟩🟨
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟨🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, tease, feast (I thought these were supposed to be random!)

Feast well, dear Peggy! I'm so grateful we're connected here, at last. *smooch*

We did, and I'm thankful for you, Richard! *smooch* right back!

Hi Peggy! I hope you, your ma, and your DH had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I'm grateful for you and our friendship.

>357 LizzieD: The first time I read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was when it first came out. I read it out loud to Jenna, and the blast-ended skrewts had us howling with laughter.

Today's Wordle took 4.

Good morning, Karen! Thanksgiving was wonderful, but I'm happy to be back to normal with leftovers!!!!!

You know that I am thankful to have you in my life!

No wonder you love the HPs so much! I'd love someday to find a child to read them to.

We're back to our Wordle see-saw. Tomorrow, I'll be down, but I don't consider 4 "down."

Wordle 524 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, itchy

We had a shooting in our local Wal-Mart today, which sounds like a typical RobCo occurrance except that it was inside the store, and the shooter was quoted as saying, "I'll kill everybody in this store." The person argued with and shot is in the hospital, but his wound is not life-threatening. This was at 10:30 this morning, and the shooter fired off 5 or 6 shots. We have shots fired or somebody knifed somewhere every day, but this one is scary.

WOOO exceedingly HOOO!

Wordle 525 3/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, clean I don't mind easy ones from time to time.

>367 LizzieD: I'm so glad you and your DH weren't anywhere close to it. Scary for sure - I was actually in a Walmart on Wednesday (one of perhaps 3 times since the pandemic began).

>368 LizzieD: Yay, congrats, and WOOO exceedingly HOOO for sure.

Good morning, Karen. The shooting was around the time that my DH goes to pick up groceries, but he would have been in the parking lot, and never on Friday or Saturday. Even so.l...

Wordle 526 3/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, happy Lucky second word and lucky guess! I am so.

>370 LizzieD: That is near-perfect Wordleing, Peggy, brava for your 3day!

Thank you for the kind message, Richard. It certainly isn't true today. I had walked away and came back with word 3 without noticing that I was using a letter in the same wrong place.

Wordle 527 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, thief, tepid

>372 LizzieD: That's what I did today, as well. *sigh*

>374 LizzieD: That's a sad way to welcome you to my world, Richard. *sigh* too

I'm still fretting with my 7 books list and becoming appalled at what I've left out. I'll have to make another list that reflects my serious plunge into science fiction, especially hard and military and space opera types, for the last 30 years or so. Meanwhile, how could I have left these out???

#7BooksToGetToKnowMe (Fiction) - Original List

Little Women
Pride and Prejudice
In This House of Brede
Gaudy Night
Bleak House
Grass
Infinite Jest

#7BooksToGetToKnowMe2

*The Lord of the Rings*
Hands of the Emperor
The Doomsday Book
Cyteen
The Road Home
*The Foreigner Series*

Uh oh ---- I still haven't chosen from the hard scifi that has been so important to me. Neither have I reflected my reading the diaries and letters of Virginia Woolfe and almost all of Henry James when I was in my 40s and 50s...... or *The Raj Quartet* or *Dance to the Music of Time* or *Chronicles of Lymond* or *Porter Osborne Trilogy*. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

>374 LizzieD: You absolutely have the privilege of waving vaguely at your book catalog/shelves and saying, "there's the evidence, Your Honor(s)" and resting your case, Peggy.

Actually, Richard, I think I'm through except for nailing down the one or 2 or 3 representative hard scifi. It was mostly fun.

THE HANDS OF THE EMPEROR by Victoria Goddard

I love this book and reread it to be ready for the sequel, which will appear on my Kindle on December 1. Yippeee. (I also reread it because I wanted to.)

>374 LizzieD: >376 LizzieD: I just did a re-read of The Hands of the Emperor but more to track Fitzroy Angursell references, which had just been absorbed into the general background in the first read.

I'd look at the 7 book not as a favorites though I love all of these, but well, formative or representative of particular aspects of me and what I like

The Stranger - my mother's obsession with existentialism & French
Just So Stories - my father's strong connection with imperialism and humor (also he quoted from this a good deal)
Pride and Prejudice - my competitive tendencies toward romance and social satire, with humor and excellent writing.
Prince of Foxes - my delight in adventure, romance, and fast plotting
Warrior's Apprentice - it's the people that make SF work for me
Night Watch - fantasy that's rich, involved, and says something

Others might chose very similar reasons and very different books as I could easily slotted in The Hands of the Emperor for #7, it's just old love versus new crush.

Hi, Susan, and welcome! I had started *Return/FA* but hadn't gotten far into it. I'm eager for the sequel.

Thanks for your interesting list. I've read the Camus but not Kipling and love Bujold. I don't know about Shellabarger, and I can't make myself read Pratchett, so there you are. At least we share a love for *P&P* for all the right reasons. Off to bed before I fall asleep on the keyboard!

>378 LizzieD: Years ago, I dated someone who loved Kipling. I too became a fan. I since learned that while he thought it was great to "Take up the white man's burden," he was no longer a proponent of war when tragically his son died. Kipling lived with guilt as he felt his son signed up for service as a result of his father's beliefs.

Kipling is an excellent writer, and now I am called to revisit his works.

I hope you were able to sleep last night as I know you were very weary.

Hi Peggy! It’s a lovely clear Carolina Blue sky this morning, a bit crisp at 39F.

>374 LizzieD: and >375 richardderus: Fun making lists, and I agree with RD.

I got Wordle in two AGAIN today – two days in a row. Unheard of.

WOW, Karen!!!! You are the WOMAN!!!!!!!! I was relieved to get it in four. (I've done 2 only 6 times in my whole Wordle career.)

Wordle 528 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, uncle, undue

Dear Linda, I'm very happy to see you here. Susan has done a good thing to send you back to Kipling. I can almost always sleep; that gets in the way of my reading big time.

>379 Whisper1: >381 LizzieD: Kipling has long been a treasured author, from Puck of Pooks hill to the Jungle Book and especially Kim. The ways in which I associate him with my father's rather Victorian, though not strictly prudish, attitudes has many aspects.
He even read Just So Stories to Becky a couple of times when we could get them to overcome their mutual terror of each other, he being a formidable old curmudgeon to her and he being fully aware that he'd done a piss poor job of relating to his own small children but not having much of an idea of how to do better.

Oh, Susan. I had forgotten *Puck*! I loved that book!!!!!

I suspect that family love with no bridge to the other person is not that rare. It's sad though.

>383 LizzieD: I believe I was the one young child, though only after about 7, that he ever got along with - I had somehow absorbed what not to do from watching my siblings and just sat near him as he worked on various manual jobs and later shared books, mysteries and F&SF, with him. All 3 of my siblings couldn't hide their desire/need for his approval and he could not deal with that. Among other major issues. Yes, love in itself doesn't solve problems, just sets the stakes.

'Morning, Peggy.

Gloomy and rainy day. Perfect for staying home.

Today's Wordle took me 4. Anything less than a skunk is a win in my book.

*I* Wordled in 3 today, so nyah nyah >385 karenmarie:! serves her right her and all those 2days hmmmf

It's a gross day here, too, and I got jolted awake at 2am by my dearly beloathèd roommate. It's gonna be a LONG day.

Happy Humpday, smoochling.

Good morning, Karen and Richard. Gray, wet, dark, dank - what I think of when I think of November, Ishmael and I do.....

I'm with you today, Karen, without the 2s for ballast.
Sorry about the rude awakening, Richard. I hope he goes somewhere else today. I wish you at least a tolerable Humpday and send a *smooch*.

Wordle 529 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟨⬜⬜🟨🟩
🟨🟨🟨⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 #3. I had to do it. arose, unity, tushy, study

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Thursday to you.

I almost got skunked today. As they say when you get it in 6, Phew! I hope you have better success.

It's a beautiful Carolina blue sky day. I'll be out to visit the chiropractor and stop for take out on the way home.

Good morning, Karen! Sounds like a decent few hours for you with the rest of the day to ---- read or cook or do what you please! 6 is WAY better than losing the streak!

Wordle 530 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, telex, eject

Wordle 531 4/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I chose not to use the word at 3. Oh well. arose, unity, blame, chafe

>390 LizzieD: I'm in the same place as you, Peggy. Unskunked for almost 200 days!

*smooch*

That's generous, Richard. I'm unskunked for 77, working back to equal the 99 before my first failure. I hate to even speak about it. Hmmm. The Maid is a Kindle deal today, so I scooped it up even though I won't be reading it anytime soon.

Wordle 532 3/6

⬜🟨🟨🟩⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, torso

I love a 3-day!!! A 2-day is a rare gift. I know I've earned a win in 3.

>393 LizzieD: I took an extra step than you did but felt it was worth it because I popped a word I'd forgotten I knew out of my memory, STROP, before TORSO burst forth.

I'm just happy that strop didn't surface first for me. I'll tamp it back down now to wait until wanted.

100 pp into At the Feet of the Sun. I wish I could just read it and do nothing else.

I just read about the worst thing I've ever run across anywhere in my Melville bio. (I have a copy of Andersonville, but I've never read it, so I don't know whether he covers this.) Read the spoiler at your own risk. Apparently, Union prisoners were so hungry in the Confederate prison camps that they sorted through the feces in the latrines in hopes of finding an undigested bean or kernel of corn to eat. That makes me ashamed to be human.

>396 LizzieD: That is a story that is hard to digest, Peggy (sorry).

>374 LizzieD: The seven most important books to me?

1 Lord of the Rings for nothing else but its importance in getting me into loving storytelling and reading.
2 The Return of the Native was important in my nascent reading journey and I have admired Hardy as a novelist and poet ever since.
3. David Copperfield Dickens must be on any seminal list for me.
4. The Albemarle Book of Modern Verse has followed me across continents after winning it in a school prize at 11 years old. I would not have written poetry without it.
5. A Fine Balance is simply the best novel of my lifetime
6. Half of a Yellow Sun opened me up to the beauty and brilliance of African writing
7. Germinal because Zola is simply my favourite author bar none

I know RD will be aghast at 1, 3 and 4 but I have to say those books are important to me.

>397 PaulCranswick: *shudder* at those titles but you're onto something good with A Fine Balance!

>396 LizzieD: Ugh! Horrors!

Sunday happinesses to expunge the memory.

Good morning, Paul! That's a fine list by me, and I'm ashamed to have left Tolkien off mine, but Tepper's feminism was important to me.

Good morning, Richard! I'm not sure I'll ever be rid of that memory. The Confederates had so little to eat themselves that it's no wonder that they didn't feed their prisoners. They should, however, have let them go. A wish for Sunday happiness is very welcome, and I send it right back.

In the county where I used to go for my eye shots, 40,000 are without electricity this morning as a result of vandalism to many places on their power grid. I don't know what to say. Maybe another wish for Sunday happiness would help.

Otoh, I confess that this helps!!!

Wordle 533 2/6

🟩🟨🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, adore

Hi Peggy!

>396 LizzieD: Ugh. I knew Andersonville was hell on earth, but that’s even worse than I could have imagined.

>399 LizzieD: Bill told Jenna and me about the Duke Power vandalism. Wow. Just…. Wow. I’ve never heard of vandalizing the power grid down here.

Two!! We both got it in two although our first word was different. *high five*

>399 LizzieD: Wow, your Wordled in two, Peggy!

Wishing you a happy Sunday.

>399 LizzieD: Way to go, Peggy!

>399 LizzieD: I took three but it was very obvious after both my words.

>398 richardderus: The national news covered it, too. Appalling to me that this level of insanity prevails here.

Good morning, Paul, Anita, and Karen with thanks for my wonderful ability to choose a great first word! High fives for sure, Karen. I knew your first word would give it to you too. Richard may do the same, but he'll have to think harder than we did, and you had to work harder than I did.

>399 LizzieD: Yowch! Not impressed with your semi-local vandals.

>395 LizzieD: That's what happened to my Saturday. I didn't even turn on the computer. Just read. Of course I'm all done now and miss it.... I'm wondering if I missed what happened to the big basket of dirt. If you know, pass it on.

>406 quondame: *sigh* I don't know whether to envy your knowing how it works out or to be glad that I'll have less time than you to wait for book 3. I'll keep a look-out for that dirt, but I'm only 11% into it - reading about Rhodin and the Merrions and enjoying a visit with Bertie, Ghilly, and Toucan.

>405 ArlieS: I suspect bored white kids in pick-ups with rifles. The vandals shot up the machinery at 2 sub-stations, and Duke Power is saying that it will likely be Thursday before they can replace all the equipment. This was in the poorer section of Moore County, not Southern Pines, Pinehurst, and environs of golfing renown.

'Morning, Peggy, and happy Monday to you.

We used to get our mailbox baseball-batted but never shot up. Street signs on Hwy 64 were and are frequently pockmarked.

I'm really liking The Ink Black Heart. I'm listening to it in the car, so it's slow going.

Morning, Karen. (I'll message you later!) We hear gunshots from across the river at least twice a week, but never anything like the Moore County attack. I heard on NPR this morning that the street lights in Southern Pines went out, so I now think the whole county was affected.
I'm tickled that you're into *Harty*. I don't believe I could have waited to get on with it only in the car. Meanwhile, I'm LOVING *Feet/Emperor* and wish you thought you could abide it.

Wordle 534 5/6

⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Oh well. THE WORD was actually the first one that came to mind, and I pushed it aside in an effort to be methodical. Go streak, go! arose, unity, coven, women, woken

Hi Peggy! Just returning your lovely visit. As I mentioned on my thread, I'm a champion lurker and I really should say hello and respond to your posts more often.

Looking at your Wordle choices today, I like the idea of a COVEN of WOMEN in UNITY!

>407 LizzieD: Ah, and then things go all mythic! I do so much re-reading because I haven't any restraint in my initial story upload process. And Goddard makes it so easy to absorb vast amounts of story.

Gadzooks. I darn near fell into your #3's clutches and would've had a 6day instead of a 5day had I done so. *whew*

'Morning, Peggy!

I'm coffee-ing up. Jenna's getting lunch and snacks ready for work, will leave in about 10 minutes. Wordle took me 4 today.

Sleep was elusive and I woke up at 3 something, dozed a bit, then finally got up about 5:15 or so. Today's book sorting, so at least I get to touch and play with books and perhaps go out to lunch with the group.

I'm sorry about the sleep, Karen, but happy about book sorting. Have fun! Hope you see some treasures that you can claim at some point.

Wordle 535 4/6

🟩🟨⬜⬜🟨
🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, alter, anger, amber When I go with my first thought, it's wrong. When I go alpha, that's usually wrong too. No complaints though.

>414 LizzieD: The first-letter-placement fairy gave you a one-less-than-usual day, though!

*smooch*

Wordle 536 3/6

⬜⬜🟨🟩⬜
🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I love it when my words are good. arose, unity, joust

>416 LizzieD: I chose a new second word to see if I could coax the Wordlegoddess to give me a second 2day. She ignored me and I got it in 4.

Have a lovely! *smooch*

Good morning, Richard! My words were good again today, and I hope you used your most helpful second word. *smooch*

Wordle 537 3/6

⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, infer

'Morning, Peggy!

Took me 5 today. A RL book club friend is coming over today for a visit. We got Covid-derailed a couple of months ago, then both got busy, but today's the day. Bill's home, but Jenna's at work.

Her very special Christmas present and an accessory are coming today from Amazon - we thought we'd have to give her an IOU for them, although I think we WILL give her an IOU for them then pull 'em out of our hats in a sneaky sort of way.

I hope you have a good day, my dear. Gentle hugs for your ma, kind regards for your DH, and lots of (((hugs))) for your own self.

>418 LizzieD: I used MURKY today and would've done better with MIRTH! Oh well, a 4day is not a bad day.

Happy Thursday, Peggy!

Hi Peggy! Happy Friday to you.

Wordle in 2 today. Jenna goes to work early on Fridays to work 7-4 instead of 7:30-4:30. Kitties are fed, don't know if Bill's going to work today or not.

Whoa! Congratulations on the two!!!!! I feel content with my four.

Wordle 538 4/6

🟨🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, frail, braid

A note for those interested: my very dear sister-in-law died this morning. At 89 her lungs just gave up. To the last she was vibrant, generous, funny, take-charge-organized. Our world will be less kind and less fun without her, but it was time. As my DH says, pneumonia has long been known as the old person's friend.

On another note I'll quote my *Melville* bio (now 82 pp from the end) about the shameful scandals of 1869: "Pundits quipped that both major political parties shared the motto 'What's the Constitution among friends?'"

>423 LizzieD: I am so sorry for the loss to your family. Your sister-in-law must have been a joy in your family.

I'm so sorry about your dear sister-in-law, P.A. Deepest condolences to your DH, you, and your extended family.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Peggy. I hope all of your fond memories sustain you and your DH during this time.

>423 LizzieD: Oh, that is saddening news. I'm glad for her sake she's not facing longer, worsening quality of life but sad with y'all that she's gone.

Safe journey home.

Thank you, Richard, Laura, Karen, and Susan. Here's what her younger daughter posted on fb:

"I was just not ready but yesterday I saw Mom for the last time. She squeezed my hand and patted my head and hugged me, for the last time. As with everything I’ve ever seen her do, she left this life with fierce strength, independence and beauty. Heartbroken but I know it was her decision and she was ready. "

I continue to Wordle.
Wordle 540 3/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, naive

So sorry for your loss.

>428 LizzieD: that's very sweet.

Hi Peggy!

Thank you for sharing what your niece wrote on FB.

I continue with Wordle, too. Today it took me 4.

Thank you, Jim, Laura, and Karen. I thought Lizzie was well worth quoting.

Wordle in 4 for me today too.

Wordle 541 4/6

🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟨⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, allay, apply

>432 LizzieD: Ooo, I had a 3day today! I was very pleased. The new 2nd word gave me the last letter, but I had it and the first letter and no others. Very strange.

Happy week-ahead's reads. *smooch*

You are the MAN, Richard. We were even for 2............
*smooch*

>397 PaulCranswick: What a great list. I would have to think awhile about this topic. I've remained committed to the top three books for many years and haven't changed.

To Kill A Mocking Bird Harper Lee-- because living in a small town, I had no idea about racial inequality. I did know the difference between the haves and have nots, but reading this book as an assignment in high school English class opened my mind to a lot of things.

A Prayer for Owen Meany because this is so very well written, and the story resonated with me. I laughed and I cried. John Irving could never top this book in my mind. I know he wrote many books after this one, but they didn't impact on me like A Prayer for Owen Meany.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte I like the stubborn way in which Jane stayed true to the person she was. Always, on the bottom, but knowing she truly belonged at the top.

'Morning, Peggy!

Brrr!!! I'm grateful for being able to stay warm.

I hope you have a good day.

Wordle in 5 for me today.

Good morning, Karen!!! Brrrr for sure and much gratitude for warm house and warm food! Wordle could have been 3 or 5 or fail for me, but I decided to try the very first word on my possible list in 4th place. Streak the streak and look forward to tomorrow!

Wordle 542 4/6

⬜⬜🟩🟨🟩
🟩⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, stone, smoke, spoke

>437 LizzieD: Once again, I've benefited from my new 2nd word...I had another 3day. I'm pleased. I need to remind myself not to count on it...but I like the direction the streak's heading!

*smooch*

>438 richardderus: That's a good trend, Richard, and I hope you stay with it today. It comes and goes for me.... today my words delivered.

*smooch*

Wordle 543 3/6

🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, unusual>

>439 LizzieD: Mine too...I've decided to keep going with the current #2 until I take 4 to get the word again. Then I'll switch back to the original #2. Not today!

Hi, Richard. I hoped that you had used your new 2. Your streak within the streak is growing!

Back to 4.

Wordle 544 4/6

🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, chair, rival

On the reading front, I'm about to end Melville's life and my Big Book - a bit less than a 50 page chunk yet to read, but those 50 are the time equivalent of at least 120 in a normal book with normal print. I've enjoyed it. I think I didn't say how tickled I was when I found out that HM referred to Byron's Don Juan as "the Bible."

'Morning, my dear! I hope you have a good day. It's gloomy and rainy here, but I don't mind those kind of days at all, even if I have to be out in them. I might go to the PO and/or work out today.

You beat me - took me 5 today.

Sigh. I just bought an Easton Press edition of Byron's Don Juan on eBay. I am absolutely entranced with the idea of a book written in ottava rima - I'd never heard of this form before.

Ya HOOO!!! Don Juan is funny, funny, funny. We read a bit of it in a satire course I had as an undergrad, and I read the whole thing after I graduated but haven't read it since. I hope I get to...

>444 LizzieD: I hope you get to bring the whole of your life's irony to the read, too. It can be very satisfying to get into the guts of a work; but, at our ages, it's just as much fun to know how it works and watch it run while looking at it, awestruck by how beautiful it all is.

>445 richardderus: What a good wish to start the morning! Thank you, Richard. *smooch*

Wordle 545 5/6

⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Alpha soup for me because I did not GO Alpha. You'd think I'd learn.... arose, trope, prone, prove, probe

>423 LizzieD: Belated condolences.

Hi Peggy!

>444 LizzieD: According to the eBay tracking #, it’s due by Wednesday.

>447 LizzieD: Ugh. I hate alphabet soup. Even with only part of a cup of coffee revving me up, I got it in 3 today.

Thank you, Arlie.

That is good news, Karen. Maybe we can read it together sometime next year???

The musician in me is angry to have taken 4 for this one, but a 4 is my typical number.
Wordle 546 4/6

⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 arose, unity, world, chord

>450 LizzieD: ...!!...

Well, it keeps the streak alive, Peggy.