Mr. Monk Goes to Germany

Well, I finished Mr. Monk Goes to Germany last night and as usual it was a good book. Mr. Monk follows his therapist to Germany and if you know Monk at all you can only imagine how Monk does in a foreign country. While in Germany Monk spots a a six-fingered man and thinks he has finally found the man who murdered his wife. So with Natalie's help he is on a mission to prove that he has finally found the murderer. If you enjoy the TV series then I highly recommend any of the Mr. Monk books they are all fun light reads. I'm giving Mr. Monk Goes to Germany four out of five stars.

Seal

Had to share this picture..I found it quite funny but keep in mind my husband tells me that I find the cheesiest stuff funny.

more animals

Two Year Anniversary

I stumbled upon Mindy Said's Blog the other day and every Friday I guess she blogs about marriage. This Friday she asked for us to share something about our marriage. Since my husband and I will be celebrating our two year anniversary on Tuesday I thought I would participate. Now the big question is what do I want to write about....

My husband and I met at work. The funny thing is that we both liked each other almost the moment we met but we both had been hurt in the past so nothing happened really. He started working here in 2003 and we didn't begin to really talk until the end of 2005. Once we did begin to talk we didn't waste anytime. We talked on the phone nightly for hours on end for about a month and then in February we finally went out on our first date. He took me out to eat at Red Lobster and to see the movie The New World. The movie was horrible but we had lots of fun anyway. By May we were engaged and we got married in September...see we didn't waste any time. :)

I have to say I haven't regretted marrying my husband for one minute. He's not perfect but he is perfect for me.

Kittens + Water = Trouble

I think I might have mentioned that my neighbor found a couple of kittens a few weeks ago and that I took them to the clinic in the hopes of finding them a home. Well, after two weeks at the clinic they couldn't find them a home so my husband talked his mom into taking them. Long story short they ended up having ringworms along with this other kitten at the clinic which my mil ended up taking. So here she is with three kittens with ringworms. Sounds fun, huh? I told my mil that I would come by Saturday to help her bathe them. I mean how hard could it be to bathe three little kittens?? We were about to find out. We decide to start with the biggest kittens, Miracle, and she was living up to her name because she was a good as gold. Let us put her in the sink, get her wet, put the soap on her, rinse and dry her with no problem at all. Next I pick up Luke and like Miracle he let us give him his bath with no problem. So next I pick up Matt expecting him to be like the other two..oh my were we in for some trouble. I get him in the sink and he's not doing bad but not great either but I'm able to get some soap on him and that is when he started to freak out. So here I am trying to rinse all the soap out real quickly and my mil is trying to hold on to this crazy kitten and he starts biting and clawing...I have a indention on my finger nail where he bit me. Once I finally get most of the soap off I throw a towel over him and my mil scoops him up and he calms down so she can dry him off good. After we finished and checked for injuries my mil said, "I'm sure glad we didn't start with him!" lol I couldn't agree more. Next time I think we will just spot clean him.

What's on Your Nightstand??

Well it's that time of the month again to talk about what is on my nightstand. The truth is there is probably a cat on my nightstand..they have taken over my nightstand. It's a losing battle...I put a book or two on it and they knock it off so they have more room to stretch out. So since I'm sure y'all are more interested in what I'm reading instead of what is actually on my night stand I will share what I'm reading at the moment. I just started a new book last night, Mr. Monk Goes to Germany, and so far it is as good as all the other Mr. Monk books. If you enjoy the TV show Monk then you will love the books. My favorite one is, Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii. It's so funny. Since I just started Mr. Monk Goes to Germany I can't tell you too much about it...all I know is it looks like Monk is going to go to Germany since his therapist has gone to Germany. So that should be interesting since Monk is scared of flying.

I just finished reading The Reliance by Marylu Tyndall which is the second book in her Pirates series. Very good book, looking forward to reading the third book in the series.

Well, there you have it..what's on my nightstand or at least what would be on my nightstand. Perhaps next month I will get my nightstand back from the cats......

Major Book Giveaway

Attention all book lovers: The place to be in September is Deena's blog, A Peek At My Bookshelf. She is having a major book giveaway...one book will be given away every DAY!! Need I say more?? So what are you waiting for go check out her blog!! :)

Just click on the 30 books in 30 days logo to get more information on this awesome event. :)

The Reliance

This weekend instead of cleaning house and washing clothes I ended up finishing this book. This is the second book in M.L. (Marylu) Tyndall's Legacy of the King's Pirates series and it did not disappoint. From the first chapter you are swept away to an extraordinary adventure on the high seas. It's one of those books that has you saying, "I'll go check on the laundry when I finish this chapter....um, one more won't hurt...just want to see what happens..." then before you know it you've read five chapters.

The Reliance picks up three years after the first book ended. Charlisse and Merrick are married and happily expecting their first baby. Of course, things pick up pretty quickly when pirates attack the town they are staying in so the flee and that is where the adventure begins. Without giving anything away, Merrick thinks Charlisse gets killed only she is alive and has problems of her own. So it's up to Charlisse (with God's help) to overcome some obstacles to find her way back to Merrick who has taken a few wrong turns in his grief.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the third book in this series. So if you haven't read the first book, The Redemption, go get it and join me on the high seas in this excellent pirate series. I'm giving The Reliance four out of five stars.

Death of a Domestic Diva

Finished reading Death of a Domestic Diva by Sharon Short the other day. Death of a Domestic Diva is about Josie Toadfern who runs the local laundromat and is pretty much a stain expert. Trying to get her town back on the Ohio map she comes up with a plan to get the famous Tyra Grimes (think Martha Stewart) to come do a show in Paradise, OH. Everyone is town thinks her idea is a little crazy and a few are down right hostile about having Tyra come to town but that doesn't stop Josie and she writes her letter to Tyra asking her to come to a show on stains in Paradise, Oh. Imagine Josie's surprise when Tyra actually comes but that is where the fun starts.

This was a nice light read and I really enjoyed it. I liked Josie and found myself laughing at some of the things she got herself into plus all the other characters that are running around Paradise, OH makes for a very good read. This is the first book in Sharon Short's stain busting mystery series and I plan on reading the rest of the books in this series. If you looking for a nice cozy mystery then pick up Death of a Domestic Diva. I am giving this book four at of five stars.

Blog Tour: Children's Extravaganza + Giveaway

I'm so excited! This is my first time participating in a blog tour. :) There are three children's books in this blog tour. Now I don't have children so I can't tell you what little Lucy thought of the books but what I can tell you is what I thought of them. I absolutely loved the illustrations for God Loves Me More Than That and When God Created My Toes and I'm sure any little kid would enjoy the little rhymes in each of books. God Gave Us Heaven really tackles a subject that I'm sure can be hard to explain to little ones but I think Lisa Tawn Bergren did a lovely job and if I did have kids they would certainly have this book. I also thought the illustrations for this book were really nice...Little Cub is too cute. :)

If you would like a chance to win a set of these books then leave a comment and a way for me to contact you and I'll pick a name next Monday (August 25). I'm sorry only United States and Canadian mailing addresses please.

God Gave Us Heaven by Lisa Tawn BergrenLittle Cub awakens one morning with some important questions on her mind: What is heaven like? How do we get there? Will we eat in heaven? Will we be angels?

During a delightful day spent wandering their arctic world, Papa gently answers each question, assuring Little Cub that heaven is a wonderful place, “a million times better” than she can imagine. He explains how God has made a way for those who love him to enter their heavenly home forever after their lives on earth are over.


Reuniting the best-selling author-illustrator team from God Gave Us You, this gentle story provides satisfying answers for a young child’s most difficult questions about heaven. Parents, grandparents, childcare professionals, librarians, Sunday school teachers, and others will appreciate the gentle approach to a topic that’s on the minds of so many “little cubs.”Through captivating, full-color illustrations and tender, biblically sound storytelling, young readers and those who love them will find reasons to rejoice in knowing that God Gave Us Heaven.




Lisa Tawn Bergren is the award-winning author of nearly thirty titles, totaling more than one million books in print. She writes in a broad range of genres, from adult fiction to devotional. God Gave Us Heaven is Lisa’s fourth children’s book, following in the tradition of the best-selling God Gave Us You. She makes her home in Colorado, with her husband, Tim, and their children, Olivia, Emma, and Jack.


Illustrator's Bio: Laura J. Bryant studied painting, printmaking, and sculpture at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. She has illustrated numerous award-winning children’s books, including God Gave Us You, Smudge Bunny, and If You Were My Baby. Laura lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

God Loves Me More Than That and When God Created My Toes two new books from best-selling children’s author Dandi Daley Mackall, clever rhymes and delightful illustrations help young children, ages three and up, understand God’s huge love for them and his joy in creating them. These enchanting picture books from the writer-illustrator team of Dandi Mackall and David Hohn will instill awe in young children as they revel in each page. Parents alike will appreciate the engaging stories that communicate God’s perfect plan and his divine purpose for little hearts.

In God Loves Me More Than That, children learn that God loves them deeper than a wishing well, wider than a semi-truck, louder than thunder, and softer than a kitten’s sneeze. Each question, presented with charming child-like faith will help young ones grasp the great love of God through comparisons and descriptions they can easily understand. In short, they’ll discover that His love is bigger, wider, higher, and deeper than anything they could imagine!

In When God Made My Toes, kids are drawn into the wonder of their creation by God. Their masterful artist who fashioned them just right for amazing and delightful adventures, such as roller skating, finger-painting, doing flips, and drinking cocoa. Children will come to an understanding that God shaped each part of their amazing bodies with joy, delight, and humor.

Dandi Daley Mackall has published more than 400 books for children and adults, with more than 3 million combined copies sold. She is the author of WaterBrook’s two other delightful Dandilion Rhymes books, A Gaggle of Geese & A Clutter of Cats and The Blanket Show. A popular keynote speaker at conferences and Young Author events, Mackall lives in rural Ohio with her husband, three children, and a menagerie of horses, dogs, and cats.


Illustrator's Bio: David Hohn is an award-winning illustrator who graduated with honors from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has worked as both a staff artist and an art director for a children’s software company in Portland, Oregon, a position which led to his art directing an award-winning project for Fisher-Price. Hohn’s recent projects include Lisa Tawn Bergren’s God Gave Us Christmas.

Felix

This week I got some sad news, this beautiful kitty you see is very sick. He has FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) which is a serious immune system disorder. There is really nothing the vet can do so she asked me if I wanted to go ahead and have him put down. I very quickly said no. He still eats and seems to be feeling fine..doing everything he always has been doing. At first I was wondering, doubting myself actually, if I had made the right decision. I mean I don't want to be selfish and keep him here if he's in pain or anything like that. When I got him home from the clinic Thursday my doubts were erased...Felix hopped out of the carrier went into the kitchen to nibble on some food then he went out the cat door to sun himself for awhile. But when he came and plopped down on me later that evening purring and totally enjoying getting his head rubbed I knew I had made the right decision. Only God knows how much longer Felix has and I intend to love him every moment God allows me too. Felix is the sweetest cat you could ever meet...he's just a big old love bug and I'm so glad that I took pity on him that day I saw him hanging around the house...I have not for one moment regretted adopting him.

Harry Potter and the Socrcerer's Stone

I'm a little backwards, I hadn't even seen a Harry Potter movie until 2006 when I started dating my husband. So he got me all caught up on the movies and so last year we went and saw the Harry Potter movie at the theaters. So after that he decided he wanted to read the last two books and since I hadn't ever read any of the books I decided to read the last two too. See, I'm backwards. So for the LOST Book Challenge I chose to read Harry Potter and I'm glad I did. It was a good as the last two books. ;) I won't bore anyone with what it's about cause I'm pretty sure that most people know. But if anyone hasn't read the books then I suggest you do even if you have seen the movies. The books let you get to see exactly how Harry feels about things and I don't know you just need to read the books. :D So I give the first Harry Potter book four out of five stars and I plan on reading the others in the series, well at least the ones I haven't read yet. ;)

Miss Aggie's Gone Missing

The one book I was able to start and finish on my vacation was this Heartsong Presents Mysteries book, Miss Aggie's Gone Missing by Frances Devine. Here's what the back of the book says:

At 10:29 AM, on a cold day in January, the Cedar Chapel Bank was robbed. At 5:41 that same afternoon, Aggie Pennington-Brown was declared missing. Victoria Storm, new owner of Cedar Lodge Boardinghouse, and her elderly boarders reluctantly agree with Sheriff Turner's conclusion--Miss Aggie's been kidnapped by the robbers. But when secrets and long-lost loves begin to surface from their missing friend's past, a horrible possibility arises. Could someone they know and love have harmed Miss Aggie? Could it be one of them?

As Victoria and her elderly friends attempt to solve the mystery and locate Miss Aggie, more secrets are revealed until Victoria begins to wonder if there is anyone she can trust--including, or perhaps especially, the dashing local reporter, Ben Grant.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked all the characters and found myself hoping that one of the suspects wasn't guilty. This is the fourth or fifth Heartsong Presents Mysteries that I've read and unlike a couple of them I didn't feel like I was being preached too. It was just a story about a someone who happens to be a Christian and is living her life accordingly..she's not perfect but she tries her best. So I'm giving Miss Aggie's Gone Missing four out of five stars.

If your interested in Heartsong Presents Mysteries then click here to check it out. :)

I'm Baaaack!

Hello! :) We got back from our trip this past Saturday and boy is it nice to be home. It's always nice to go on vacation but for me it's always nice to get back home. Always start missing my furry babies. There really isn't much to tell about my trip...just drove to Indiana to visit family also stopped in Tenn. to visit family. While we were in Memphis we did go to Graceland...I had been there before but my hubby hadn't...he said he enjoyed it and I guess I did too. :) While we were in Indiana we went to the Indy 500 motor thingy. My husband really enjoyed that...me--not so much. I didn't get as much reading done as I had hoped...only got one book read and started one on the way home. You would think you could get a lot of reading done being stuck in a car for eight hours for two days but think I did more sleeping than reading.

Vacation

Tomorrow my husband and I will be heading North to visit my family for a few days. Our plan is to head out tomorrow and spend the night in Memphis at my aunt's house then get up Sunday morning and drive to Nashville. I think we might spend the day checking out Nashville and then Monday we will head to Indiana to spend a few days visiting my Grandma, Uncles, Aunts, and a slew of cousins. I plan on taking about four books with me so hopefully I will get quite a bit of reading done and will have some reviews when I get back.

I had wanted to blog about my adventures this past weekend but getting ready for the trip has kept me really busy...although I did slip in a couple of posts this week. Just didn't have the time to devote to what happened this past weekend. In a nutshell I kitten sat for a lady..three cute little baby kittens that had to be bottled fed. I'm so glad my cats don't need to be bottled fed. ;) Then if that wasn't enough kittens my neighbor found two tiny kittens in his yard so I took them and fed them...poor things were starving but thankfully the didn't need to be bottled fed. I took them to the clinic Sunday and they are not up there waiting for someone to adopt them. They are sooo cute so I hope someone does adopt them cause I told them if they didn't I would take them....just what I need two more cats. I'm such a softy when it comes to animals....especially cats.

Well, guess I need to go and pack.....see y'all around the eleventh!