Worked on the shelves some more, so far I have 1550 books, the majority of which I haven't read, or would like to re-read. I've discovered some duplicates, not surprising since I've never really cataloged them before. What is surprising, is that with all those books I didn't have more duplicates.

Still need to work on sorting boxes, and moving them out of that room so that we can start the remodeling. It needs wallpaper taken off one wall, the border removed and then to be painted. I'd like to do that before we start buying guest bedroom furniture, but it probably won't happen.

Taxes were done last night, the refund will certainly help with the purchase of the furniture. Realized while doing taxes, that if I hadn't worked at all last year we would have gotten back about $2000 more. I'm enjoying this housewife thing, so if I do go back to work it will probably only be part time.

No update on any crafts, since I haven't touched them at all in the past three days.

I'd have a progress report, and a progress picture to post on my 17C English Sampler, except that I obviously can't count. Over the past couple of days I've had to unstitch and restitch part of Band 3 several times. So, I've set it aside in punishment for a day or two, until it learns to behave better.

So instead I've been working on a huge project. Organizing my books. Dave has completed enough of the wall to wall, floor to ceiling bookshelves that I can start putting my books away. They still need to have cabinet doors put on the bottoms, and molding, but the frames are up.

I'm alphabetizing as I go, as well as cataloging in an Excel spreadsheet. So far, I have over 1200 books. That includes mass market paperbacks, which aren't on the shelves yet, and I don't imagine they are going to fit, so I'll have to find alternative storage.

I still have at least five or six boxes to go, but I can't reach them, so Dave will have to help me sort and dig out the boxes in the "storage" room.

Book Review:

I was selected out of a hat to receive an Advance Reading Edition of this book from the Harper Collin's First Look program. I usually turn in a couple of requests a month, and this was the first time I was chosen. It's a really great book, I highly recommend it to anyone who likes Christopher Moore and Carl Hiaasen, or vampire comedy.

My review follows, the photo is a link to Amazon.



The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo
Rayo a Harper Collins Imprint

Mario Acevedo has written a winner! Besides being the first in a series, The Nymphos of Rocky Flats is also the debut of this talented and funny Latino author. Felix Gomez went to Iraq to fight for a cause, now he's home a little older, a lot wiser, and afflicted with vampirism. Settling into his new career as a private detective, he travels to Denver when an old friend asks him to investigate strange events occurring at the government installation of Rocky Flats. It seems that all the female workers are turning into nymphomaniacs and nobody knows why. Felix vows to uncover the cause whatever it takes, but may have bitten off more than he can chew. Between the vampire hunters, government assassins and horny women on his tail, he just may die trying.

Modernizing the vampire mythos, the author allows his monsters to face the daylight with a liberal dose of SPF 90 sunscreen. The new breed of vamp isn't against using modern technology to get the job done, even if it means blood comes out of a bag and guns are standard issue. Action packed and full of fun, brimming with pop culture and chock full of interesting characters this one has something for everyone. Watch out Christopher Moore, there's a new author on your block!

Thanks everyone for the comments on my haircut. I haven't been able to exactly duplicate the way the stylist did it (I haven't really tried all that hard), but it looks pretty good fresh from the shower messy.

While I was waiting to get the threads for 17th Century English Style Sampler, I finished one of the small projects that I had started last year. This is a freebie from Lizzie Kate called Santa Stop!. I still need to find a small wreath button to hang on the front door. I didn't enjoy stitching on this very much, it's done with 6 strands of floss over two on 16 count Heatherfield. The floss felt thick and awkward, and the color of the fabric and its nature made finding the correct hole difficult. I think I'll stick with my 40 count.



17th Century English Style Sampler doesn't officially start until February, but since I'm the coordinator I'm supposed to work a little ahead in case of questions. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) I've stitched the first two bands, and I really like the colors.

Haircut is barely shoulder length, but very cute. It actually bounced, my hair hasn't bounced that I can remember. I'll get Dave to take a picture when he gets home, since I'm never going to get it to look as good as the stylist did.



Hobby Lobby had all the floss that I needed, so I've got some ironing to do on the fabric and a set of stretcher bars to find and some basting and I'm all set to start.

Finished the Loopy Socks last night at Sampler Guild, sure I was supposed to be stitching not knitting but I was so close. Besides that, several of the other ladies were also knitting so I didn't feel too badly.



I'm a member of the Cyberstitchers Chapter of the EGA. One of the bonuses about that, is that we do online Group Correspondence Courses. I've done several so far, and I've signed up to be the coordinator for the 17th Century English Style Sampler. The instruction booklets arrived yesterday, and I want to jump and get started (I'm supposed to work a little ahead of the group in case they have any questions) but I don't have all the floss I need, and the car isn't currently driveable.

I knocked the passenger's side mirror housing off its mounting yesterday, and it's just dangling. Dave asked me not to drive it until he can either take it off, or re-attach it. So until he gets home, I can't get to Hobby Lobby. Rats!

Here's the only picture I could find of the sampler online. It's pretty small and doesn't show too much of the detail. I'm sure it will look much prettier stitched.


I have an appointment scheduled for a haircut tomorrow, I'm hoping to do something different with it this time. I've basically had the same hairstyle for years. It's getting a little too long, even if the cat does like sleeping in it.