Lilie The #Westie And Logan The #Cavapoo's Socially Distanced Vet Trip - #Pets #Dogs #Covid19 #Coronavirus

Hi everyone.  This is Lilie the Westie.

 

A couple of weeks ago, me and my Cavapoo brother, Logan, got to go to the vet place.  We were meant to go on June 23rd, but the vet called and asked if we could come on June 26th instead, and Mummy said that was fine.  So our vet trip was on Friday June 26th 2020.

 

Mummy and Daddy both came with us, because Logan doesn't like to go places without Mummy, and Mummy has trouble managing both me and Logan with that stick thing she has to use.  This "trouble" naturally has nothing at all to do with the fact I love the ball on the end of it and keep trying to play with it while Mummy is trying to use it.  Nope.  I don't know what she's talking about, because it's nothing at all to do with that, and I certainly wouldn't do a thing like that anyhow.  Nope.  Not me. *innocent doggy look*

 

Anyway, they said right now - because of that Avirus thing - they're usually asking for just one human to come with the animals, but were willing to let both Mummy and Daddy come because of how Mummy has broken eyes.  We all thought that was very nice of them.

 

So, we had a ride in one of those taxi things, because it's a bit too far for Mummy to walk.  Probably Logan too, because he gets tired real quickly.  Me and Daddy could have done the walk if we were going on our own, but we weren't.  Never mind.  Even though I love walkies, I also love rides in the taxi things, so it's OK.

 

Usually when we get to the vet we go right in, and then we have to sit on the chairs while we wait for our turn.  But because of something called, "Social distancing," the vet asked Mummy and Daddy if they'd wait outside.  I don't know what that actually means, but Mummy and Daddy say it has something to do with that Avirus thing again.  A lot of strange things have been happening this year because of Avirus. Anyway, whatever social distancing means, the vets left us outside and wouldn't let us go in.  I was really confused.  It wasn't because both Mummy and Daddy came either, because we saw them doing the same thing with the person who was just finishing up when we got there, and the one who arrived while we were waiting for our taxi to go back home.

 

At least it was between thunder storms, so none of us minded staying out there too much.  Except for how I was confused, like I said.  Besides, with how hot it was that day - in fact, that week - it was actually nice to be out there with the breeze, instead of inside where the wind wasn't allowed.

 

I was starting to wonder what the point of going was if we were just going to stand outside.  But then the vet came and asked which one of me and Logan wanted to be first.  I did really, but Logan started bouncing like an idiot, so the vet took him first instead.  Mummy and Daddy told me I'd get a turn, and I was worried I wouldn't, but then Logan came back out, and the vet took me inside.  So I guess Mummy and Daddy knew what they were talking about.

 

The vet poked and prodded me, and stuck a sharp thing in my neck.  He also weighed me.  I was a good girl and let him do it all while wagging my tail.  Mostly I was just enjoying the attention.  Apparently Logan was good too, apart from how he took a lot of persuading to go with the vet after he noticed Mummy wasn't following.  Serve him right for insisting on being first.  He'd have known that was coming if he let me go first like I wanted to.

 

Me and Logan are both a bit heavier than we're meant to be.  I weigh 10.6 kilos, and Logan weighs 16.6 kilos.  About 0.3 kilos of that is probably where we need haircuts - or did when we went, since we've since had a grooming appointment - but that still makes us a little heavier than we should be.  The vet was nice about it because of how we've been locked down, and keeping Mummy home as much as possible because of Avirus has meant less walkies, but says Logan especially needs to watch the treats.

 

Logan says he does watch them.  He pointed out he watches them very closely so he can grab any that come close enough to eat.  But I told him I'm pretty sure that's not what the vet means.

 

Anyway, while we were there, we picked up the packages with the funny tasting treat we sometimes get because of worms - I'm three, and that still doesn't make sense to me - and the wet stuff they put on our neck because of fleas.  The vet gave us enough of those for three months.

 

Even though he's now well and truely over a year old, Logan still isn't getting his neuter, because it's not essential for it to be rushed, and the vets are still not doing things that can wait until Avirus is over.  Mummy says she's half glad because she hates when we have to have surgery for any reason, and half disappointed because she agrees it's always a good idea to spay and neuter your pets.  Well, at least I got my spay when I was a puppy, so there won't be any accidents at home, and Logan's always on a lead when we go walkies.

 

So, that was what Mummy calls our socially distanced vet trip.  I'll tell you about the groomer another day.

 

Lots of licks,

Lilie

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 09-07-20

Someone reading should be someone intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one’s hand.
~Ezra Pound

 

*~*~*

 

Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post!

 

*~*~*

 
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.
 
Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.
 
If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.
 
Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
 
Unless otherwise stated, all music videos are via YouTube.

 

*~*~*

 

OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this week, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right?

 

*~*~*

 

• Reading:

This week I finished reading the book I was in the middle of this time last week, and started another I  haven't had time to finish yet.  So, here's the review for the one I was able to finish.

 

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent read! This is so far my favourite of the series. So many feels, and so much going on... i’m loving the character development, and there were quite a few questions from the first couple of books answered in this book too. Plus, it had a wonderful ending.

 

*~*~*

 

• Watching:

This week I watched several more episodes of "Outlander" - I'm now on season 2, and still really loving it as much as I did the books.  Although, I will say - for the benifit of anyone who wants to know - that they've changed the way several things happen, or the order they happen in, from the books.  It still essentially gets you to the same outcome (or has so far) and both the books and TV show are excellent, but I know some people like to know how they compare, so I thought I'd mention that.

 

*~*~*

 

• Listening:

This week I've been listening to very little music.  But, since I've watched so many episodes of "Outlander" this week there is one song I've heard a lot of, which I thought I'd share, since those who are fans might appreciate it, and those who aren't might still enjoy the tune.  It's the one for the opening of the show, and is called "The Skye Boat Song" - enjoy!

 

My #Poetry And #KidLit Is Enrolled In The #Smashwords 2020 Summer/Winter #eBook #Sale

It's July, which means it's time for the Smashwords Summer/Winter sale!

 

All my books are enrolled at various discounted levels, with some 50% off, some 75% off, and some 100% off!

 

That's 55 titles - 46 children's stories, and nine poetry collections - at prices ranging from $1.50 to absolutely FREE!

 

So, head over to my Smashwords author page, pick your book(s), add it/them to your cart, and grab your eBook bargain(s).

 

The sale runs from July 1st 2020 through July 31st 2020, and is exclusive to Smashwords.

 

Worried they won't have the right format for your eReader of choice? Don't be.  Smashwords offers multiple eBook formats, and I make my books available in all formats they offer, so there's bound to be a format that works for you, regardless of whether you read your eBooks via Kindle, Nook, iPad, or any other eReading device.  In fact, they also offer a PDF you can read on your computer, and since there's a html version as well, which will work with  your browser, if you can read this post, you'll be able to read my books.

 

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to my Smashwords author page today, and grab yourself some discounted eBooks!

 

Plenty of other authors have their books enrolled too, so consider checking out the sale catalogue while you're at it.  You never know, you might discover a new favourite author, while at the same time filling your eReader for less than it would otherwise have cost you.  Some don't enable all formats for their eBooks though, so be sure to check the vailability of your prefered format before buying.  Not an issue you have to deal with when it comes to my own books - like I said, I enable every single format Smashwords will let me - but watch out for it with other authors.

 

NOTE: Coupons will automatically apply themselves when you're adding my books to your cart, so you don't need to do anything except go to my Smashwords author page and grab your eBook bargains before July 31st 2020.

The Finished #Book Tag - #AmReading

Today I’m going to be doing a short tag all about what you do when you’ve finished reading a book, which I grabbed from this post on Cat's blog a couple of months ago, but am only now getting a chance to post.

As usual, I'm not going to tag anyone. But if you want to play along, that would be great. So, if you do, feel free to do so either in the comments section of this post on my blog, in the comments of wherever you read this on social media, or on your own blog. Just make sure to let me know you're doing it if you don't do it directly in the comments of this post, because I'd hate to miss your answers.

Anyway, here are the questions, along with my answers to them:

1. Do you keep a list of the books you have read?

They're on my read shelf on Goodreads, and many of them are also mentioned on my blog. Other than that though, no.

2. If you record statistics, what statistics do you record?

By checking out the books on my read shelf on Goodreads, you can find out when I started reading it, when I finished reading it, my rating, and - if I gave it one - my review.

3. Do you give star ratings for books and if so, what do you score books out of and how do you come about this score?

I give a rating out of five stars, based on how I feel after reading the book. Five stars means I absolutely loved it. Four means I really enjoyed it, but it wasn't awesome for me. Three means I liked it, but there was a lot I didn't like about it too. Two means I really didn't like it, but I suppose it could have been worse. One means I absolutely hated it. It's incredibly rare for me to give something lower than three stars.

4. Do you review books?

Yes. I used to just give ratings on Goodreads, but these days I try to do a review too, even if just a few words.

5. Where do you put your finished books?

Since I mostly read eBooks or listen to audio downloads, they just stay on my Kindle mostly. If I'm actually dealing with a physical copy of something - say if I have an actual audio CD - it will go on my bookshelves after I'm done.

6. Do you have any other rituals for when you have finished a book?

Not really. When I've finished a book, I either write its review right away, settle to sleep, go do something else, or start the next one, depending on when I finish it, what I'm meant to be doing, or how close to bed time it is.

#MondayMotivation - #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 06-07-20

In truth, the heart must crack open if the soul is to become free. And you simply cannot think your way into that.
~Terry Patten

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
~Thich nhat Hahn

A smile is the lighting system of the face, the cooling system of the head and the heating system of the heart.
~Unknown

There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.
~John Holmes

Sometimes the greatest messages come out of the greatest messes.
~Steve Maraboli

Because anger and hostility destroy our peace of mind, it is they that are our real enemy. Anger ruins our health; a compassionate attitude restores it. If it were basic human nature to be angry, there’d be no hope, but since it is our nature to be compassionate, there is.
~Dalai Lama

People inspire you, or they drain you. Pick them wisely.
~Hans F. Hansen

Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.
~Roy T. Bennett

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
~George Bernard Shaw

You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.
~Bob Marley

Everything happens for a reason & a purpose, & it serves you.
~Anthony Robbins

Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know.
~Pema Chodron

Artemis The #Tortoise On Being In A #Pet Themed Colouring Book

Hi everyone.  This is Artemis the tortoise.

Did you see the post Mummy did on Wednesday?? The one about how I'm featured in a colouring book... Well, actually, I'm technically featured in two of them, because there are two versions of it.  Pretty cool, don't you think?

Me and Mummy plan to work on a story or two about me in the future, and Mummy's already written a couple of poems about me that she'll put in a future pet poetry collection, but it's nice to get some attention in the meantime.

It's called "Magnificent Pets" - which I think is an appropriate title, because I am magnificent - and was officially released on June 27th 2020.  There are two versions, like I said, and you can get both versions of it (a children's version, and a mandala one for adults) from Praise My Pet.

So, if you like colouring books, or know someone who does, and would like to get your hands on a copy of one of them - whichever version you'd prefer - you can do so via Praise My Pet.  To save you some time though, I've got the direct links for you, so just click here for the Colouring Book For Children or click here for the Mandala Coloring Book For Adults.

Artemis the tortoise

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 02-07-20

Some books you read.. Some books you enjoy. But some books swallow you up, heart & soul.
~Joanne Harris

 
Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post!
 
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.
 
Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.
 
If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.
 
Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
 
Unless otherwise stated, all music videos are via YouTube.

 

~

 

OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this week, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right?

 

~

 

• Reading:

This week I read one book, and started another I haven't finished yet. So, here's what I read, along with my book review.

 

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was loads better than the first in the series; I still didn't quite enjoy this book enough to give it a five star rating, but definitely enjoyed it more than book one. The plot is more solid, with plenty of scenes that were either filled with emotion, action-packed, or entertaining - sometimes more than one of those at once. Also, it was wonderful to see some excellent character development, which we got to see a great deal of in this book. I look forward to seeing what will happen in book three, and how the characters will continue to develop throughout the rest of the series.

 

~

 

• Watching:

This week I watched the rest of "Game Of Thrones" season 6, which I've been slowly watching on DVD for several months now.  I'm still enjoying it, but still don't think the TV series is as good as the books.  Of course, I'm now at the point of the plot where it's gone beyond what's happened in the books, but still.

 

I also started watching the "Outlander" TV series on Amazon Prime.  If you're a fan of historical romance with a time travel element, or interested in 18th century history - especially that of Scotland and America - I recommend you check it out too.  I'm really loving it, though again think the books are a little better.  Still, "Outlander" does so far seem to be one of those shows that actually comes incredibly close to being as good as the book it's based on, so I give it five out of five stars.

 

~

 

• Listening:

This week I've been listening to 90s pop music, since apparently I'm in the mood for some of that right now.  So, let's have some Westlife, which was one of my favourite bands in the 90s, and their version of "I Have A Dream" - one of my favourites that they do.  Enjoy!!

 

Magnificent Pets; #Pet Themed Colouring Books Featuring My #Tortoise

If you - or anyone you know, be they children or adults - happen to be a fan of colouring books, especially those with an animal theme, you might be interested to know that my Hermann's Tortoise, Artemis, is featured in two versions of the "Magnificent Pets" colouring book from Praise My Pet.

You can find Artemis in both the Colouring Book For Children and the Mandala Coloring Book For Adults, which were officially released on June 27th 2020.

About the Colouring Book For Children:

"Magnificent Pets: A Coloring Book for Children showcases over real pets (photos of whom were submitted to us by our pet-loving community) in coloring book form. The perfect gift for creative children!"

About the Mandala Colouring Book For Adults:

"Magnificent Pets: A Mandala Coloring Book for Adults showcases over 100 real pets (photos of whom were submitted to us by our pet-loving community) in coloring book form. Studies show that adult coloring books -- and particularly those in the mandala style -- are excellent for stress relief. It's the perfect gift; especially for yourself!"

To get your hands on a copy of whichever version you'd prefer, Click here for the Colouring Book For Children or click here for the Mandala Coloring Book For Adults.

If you grab a copy of either version, I hope you enjoy colouring Artemis' photo, as well as those of the other pets featured.

The Mid-Year Freakout Tag - #AmReading

I've seen this one in several places, including on this YouTube channel, which is where I eventually grabbed it from.

 

As is usually the case, I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to play along, feel free to do so.  If you do this on your own blog - or YouTube channel - make sure to let me know though, so I can be sure not to miss your post or video.

 

For now though, here are the questions, along with my answers:

 

1. Best book you read so far this year?

 

"Outlander" (Outlander, #1) by Diana Gabaldon.
 

2. best sequel you read this year?

 

"Dragonfly in Amber" (Outlander, #2) by Diana Gabaldon.
 

3. New release you haven't read but want to?

 

"Viper's Daughter" by Michelle Paver.  Amazon cancelled my order, because they couldn't get a copy, so I still don't have a copy of it.  I'll be trying again to get a copy soon.

 

4. most anticipated books of 2nd half of year?

 

"Peace Talks" (The Dresden Files, #16) by Jim Butcher, "Warriors" (Hell Divers, #7) by Nicholas Sansbury Smith, and "Immortal Angel" (Argeneau, #31) by Lynsay Sands.
 

5. Biggest disappointment?

 

"The Dancing Bear" by Michael Morpurgo.  The ending was a huge disappointment... His books are usually better.
 

6. Biggest surprise?

 

"City of Bones" (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare.  I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, so am glad I picked it up after all.  I'm now working on the rest of the series.
 

7. Fave new fictional crush?

 

Jamie Fraser from Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series.

 

8. Fave new character?

 

Brianna from Diana Gavaldon's "Outlander" series.  I wasn't interested in her at first, because I wanted to just hear about Jamie, but she's really grown on me, and become one of my favourite characters.

 

9. Book that made you cry?

 

"Survive" (Atlantis Grail, #4) by Vera Nazarian.  So many emotional scenes...
 

10. Most beautiful book you recieved or bought?

 

This one's impossible to answer.  All good books are beautiful in one way or another.

 

11. What books do you need to read before the end of the year?

 

The main ones I really want to get to are Nyxia Uprising (The Nyxia Triad, #3) by Scott Reintgen,  the second half of the "Artemis Fowl" series by Eoin Colfer, the rest of Cassandra Clare's "Mortal Instruments" series, and Darlene Foster's "Amanda Travels" series.  But there are several others too... I have a very long to-read list.

#MondayMotivation - #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 29-06-20

The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.
~W B Yeats

Set wide the window. Let me drink the day.
~Edith Wharton

I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.
~Mahatma Gandhi

I am out with lanterns, looking for myself.”
~?Emily Dickinson

I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable...but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.
~Agatha Christie

Its good to leave each day behind, like flowing water, free of sadness.
~Rumi

Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.
~Helen Keller

The way we choose to see the world creates the world we see.
~Barry Neil Kaufman

Growth itself contains the germ of happiness.
~Pearl S. Buck

Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. However difficult life may seem, there's always something you can do & succeed at. It matters that you don't just give up.
~Stephen Hawking

We are here to uplift not to outshine. The sky would be very dark with just one star.
~Unknown

May you grow still enough to hear the splintering of starlight in the winter sky and the roar at the earth's fiery core.
~Br. David Steindl-Rast

#Pet #Photos: A Beach Trip For Lilie The #Westie And Logan The #Cavapoo

Hi everyone.  This is Logan the Cavapoo.

Me and Lilie went to the beach a few weeks ago.  It was nice out there: not wet and windy, but not too hot either.  Well, we went other times too, but I wanted to tell you about this time, because it was slightly different.  Anyway, like I said, it was a few weeks ago.  Well, almost a month ago now.

Mummy and Daddy took us.  Although, Daddy left us there and went away for a long time.  That's what was different.  I don't know why he did that.  He usually doesn't leave Mummy by herself with us outside for long, but this time he did.  We were out there for ages and ages, and only Mummy was with us.  Mummy tried explaining, but it makes no sense to us.  Whatever the reason, Lilie was upset that Daddy went away - I wasn't too pleased myself, but Lilie made more fuss about it - but Mummy said it was OK that he did, which made us both a bit confused.  Mummy promised Daddy would come back, and we were really worried she was wrong, but he did come back for us, so it was all OK in the end after all.

We weren't upset the whole time though.  In fact, even Lilie mostly forgot to be upset after a short time, though she kept remembering and looking in the direction Daddy had gone and whining from time to time.  But nobody could stay upset when being called cute by other humans that were on the beach and wanted to say, "Hi," to us and even pet us.

That's right: people are talking to us again.

For ages and ages - much more time than Daddy left us on the beach with just Mummy; for so long that I found it strange and scary at first that people were doing differently - people wouldn't talk to us, and definitely wouldn't pet us.  Mummy and Daddy said it wasn't our fault but because of that Avirus thing they keep talking about.  But now they want to be friends again.  Mummy says to tell you they did so from as far from her as our leads would allow though, so it was fine.  I don't know why that matters, but she says it does, and you'll be glad to hear it.  I'll have to take her word for that.

Like I said, I wasn't sure what to think of it at first, and was kind of scared when people were suddenly wanting to come say, "Hi," and pet me.  OK.  Fine.  I was a lot scared.  But only at first.  Then I saw how happy Lilie was, and how much she was enjoying it, so decided I wanted to be a part of that.  I hate being left out, and I do love attention, it's just that I'm only a little over a year old, and most of my walkies months it's either been such bad weather everyone is in too much of a hurry to get out of the wet to be friends, or they've not wanted to because of Avirus, so this wanting to be friends with me thing was new, strange, and real scary.  I think I do like it though, and hope they'll want to keep doing it from now on... Especially if they're going to be giving Lilie attention, because I want to be included if she is.

Anyway, Mummy played with the flashy thing while we were out there, so here are the photos of me and Lilie it made:

   

Lots of licks,

Logan

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 25-06-20

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier.
~Kathleen Norris

 

Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post!

 
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.
 
Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.
 
If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.
 
Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
 
Unless otherwise stated, all music videos are via YouTube.

~

 

OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this week, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right?

 

~

 

• Reading:

This week I read two books, one of which was a short collection of poetry I was given in exchange for a review. So, here's what I read during the past week, along with my book reviews.

 

Light and Shade; serious (and not so serious) poems by K. Morris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is another enjoyable collection of poems by this author, where the poems are split in to a couple of different sections: one for more serious and thought-provoking poetry, and another for humerous poetry. As is generally the case with collections like this, while I liked all the poems, I did enjoy some of them more than others, with “The Point of Poetry” and “The Weather Was Chill” being my favourites from the first section of this collection, while “Vanity” and “When a Young Lady Named Leigh” were my favourites from section two.
*Note: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This fact has in no way influenced either my opinion of the book or the contents of this review.

 

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thought this was a great read, but not as amazing as many have made it out to be. I also saw some of the things revealed near the end coming early on, which is perhaps partially responsible for me not finding it as amazing as some people I know have. Still, I did really enjoy it, and look forward to finding out what happens in the next book.

 

~

 

• Watching:

This week I watched some new episodes of "Fuller House" I discovered were on Netflix - excellent series ending!

 

I also watched "Artemis Fowl" - a movie which was very recently released, and I'd been waiting to be able to watch.  For those who don't know, it's a movie based on a series of books.  Now, I did have the books all read to me when I was younger, but I don't remember much about them.  However, I've also read some of the books more recently.  Because of this, I noticed a few places where the facts of the book were ignored.  Things like - to use something that's not a spoiler - Butler's name, which wasn't supposed to be widely used (Artemis' knowledge of the name is something only revealed a couple of books in to the series, and he's rarely called anything but "Butler" in the books).  So, as a representation of the books, it was only "OK" - good, but not great.  On the other hand, as a movie in its own right, without giving consideration to how they've changed things from the books, it was excellent; action-packed, and thoroughly enjoyable, with some entertaining scenes.  Anyway, if I was rating it based on how it compared to the books, my rating wouldn't be all that high... Just three stars.  But, since I try not to base my reviews of movies based on books on how well they compare to the books, I'll be doing so this time again, so I give this movie four out of five stars.

 

~

 

• Listening:

This week I've been listening to quite a variety of music again, including "The World Goes On" by Jamie O'Neal, which is the song I'm going to share with you this week.

"Snowlilie's Brother" Is Now Available In #Paperback - #KidLit #AnimalStories #Pets #Westie #Cavapoo

Getting a little brother is a good thing... Right?

When Snowlilie the West Highland White Terrier first meets her new little brother – a Cavapoo puppy, who tells her the humans call him Rascal - and realizes having a little brother means having a new doggy friend to play with, she’s excited. That is, until she realizes it also means sharing everything with him – including her favourite ball, some of her food, and Mummy and Daddy’s attention.

Will Snowlilie be forced to tolerate a little brother she doesn’t like? Or can she learn to like Rascal, and accept the changes having a little brother means?

Having been released at the start of this month, but previously only made available as an eBook - links for which you can find in this post - "Snowlilie's Brother" is now also available in paperback.  If you'd like to get your hands on a copy, you can buy the paperback version from Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Amazon US, and various other Amazons, as well as places my books get distributed to, like Barnes & Noble.

An audio version will become available as soon as one can be arranged.

Regardless of your prefered format, if you're on Goodreads and want to add the book to your shelves, it does have a Goodreads page where all formats currently available are listed.

The #Disney #Book Tag - #AmReading

I found this tag among those on The Sassy Geek, and with my love of Disney movies, I knew I had to do it. Well, that and I'm totally obsessed with these tags. Basically, with the theme and the fact it's one of these tag things, I just had to! I know you're not surprised. *wink*

Anyway, like I always say, I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to play along, feel free to do so, either in the comments section, or on your own blog. Just make sure to let me know if you do the latter, and tell me where I can read your answers, because I'd love to know what you'd pick. For now though, here are the questions, along with my own answers:

1. The Little Mermaid – A character who is out of their element, a “fish out of water.”

I'm going to have to pick Harry Potter. Why? Because, quite frankly, though I'm a huge fan of the series, there's one thing I know for sure: Harry would not have survived if it wasn't for a combination of luck and his friends. He was completely out of his element, and had no idea what he was doing. Like I said, if it wasn't for a combination of luck and his friends, he wouldn't have even survived to see the end of the first book.

2. Cinderella – A character who goes through a major transformation.

There's a character who goes through a physical change in almost all of the books in Lynsay Sands’ "Argeneau Vampire" series, but it's a different character each time, because the whole point of it is that the vampires find their lifemates, which often results in them finding a mortal lifemate who then needs to be turned. There's a lot more to the series than that, and trust me when I say it's a lot more exciting than the first sentence in this paragraph made it sound. It's a series that's most definitely not for children though, so I don't want to be giving too much detail (especially not in a Disney themed tag). But if you enjoy vampire themed paranormal romances with some... Erm... Descriptive intimate scenes, you might want to check it out. Assuming you're old enough to be reading that kind of thing (thought I better add that part, in case there happens to be someone under age reading this).

3. Snow White – A book with an eclectic cast of characters.

"Fatemarked" by David Estes. In fact, all the books in David's "Fatemarked" series.

4. Sleeping Beauty – A book that put you to sleep.

There aren't any. Books don't put me to sleep. Some end up being less interesting than others, but a book has never been the cause of me falling asleep, even though I do usually fall asleep listening to an audio book. It's not the book in question though, since I can listen to the same book when feeling more alert and it won't do that.

5. The Lion King – A character who had something traumatic happen to them in childhood.

"The Bad Beginning" - the first book in Lemony Snicket's "A Series Of Unfortunate Events" series. In fact, the whole series deserves a mention here, since the point of it is about all the terrible things that happen in the lives of the three Beaudilaire children, starting with the deaths of their parents.

6. Beauty and The Beast – A beast of a book (a big book) that you were intimidated by, but found the story to be beautiful.

I've never been intimidated by the size of a book. I'll read anything from drabbles (I think that's what they call the flash fiction that's only like 100 words or something these days) to huge 1000 page novels, and anything in between. Got something longer? I'll read that too! As long as the book description makes it sound like something I might potentially enjoy reading, I'll read it eagerly, regardless of length.

7. Aladdin – A character who gets their wish granted, for better or for worse.

I'm going to go with "Be Careful What You Wish For..." (one of the books in the "Goosebumps" series) by R.L. Stine. It's definitely well titled, and is a perfect example of why you should be very careful what you wish for.

8. Mulan – A character who pretends to be something or someone they are not.

Besides Mulan herself - and I can't use her anyhow, because I've seen the animated movie, but not read any book version of her story - the first that comes to mind is Polly Perks from "Monstrous Regiment" (book 31 in Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" series) who pretends to be a boy so she can join the army to look for her brother.

9. Toy Story – A book with characters you wish would come to life.

Oh, WOW! Where do I start? There are so many! But, if I have to pick just one book/series, you know it has to be the characters from the "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling. I need to be friends with Luna Lovegood and Hermione Granger, and go to Hogwarts, and... Well, you get the idea.

10. Disney Descendants – Your favorite villain or morally ambiguous character.

I'm going to be giving a shout-out to the "Harry Potter" books again, because my pick for this one is Bellatrix Lestrange. I didn't even need to give it much thought. She's evil and crazy, and such a great villainess!

#MondayMotivation - #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 22-06-20

We don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.
~Howard Zinn

Some things in life are out of your control. You can make it a party or a tragedy.
~Nora Roberts

Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.
~Laini Taylor

We make realities out of our dreams, and dreams out of our realities. We are the dreamers of the dream
~Roald Dahl

All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.
~Edgar Allan Poe

No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.
~Cinderella

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.
~James Dean

For in dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own.
~Albus Dumbledore

Go after your dream, no matter how unattainable others think it is.
~Linda Mastandrea

Participate in your dreams today. There are unlimited opportunities available with this new day. Take action on those wonderful dreams you've had in your mind for so long. Remember, success is something you experience when you act accordingly.
~Steve Maraboli

Success occurs when your dreams get bigger than your excuses.
~Unknown

Things are only impossible until they're not.
~Jean-Luc Picard

Lilie The #Westie On The Release Of "Snowlilie's Brother" - #NewRelease #KidLit #Pets

Hi everyone.  This is Lilie the Westie.

Just in case you didn't see when Mummy talked about it last week: I've got a new book out.

Well, OK, I suppose it's Logan's book too.  Either way, Mummy tells you all about it in this post from last Tuesday, which is when the book was officially released.  But I'm excited about being in another book, so I wanted to tell you about it as well, in case you missed seeing her post.  Well, also because it's exciting

It's called "Snowlilie's Brother" and is all about when I got my little brother, Logan, last year, even though I wasn't sure what his name was meant to be at first, or even how I felt about having a little brother.  I know how I feel about it now, but you'll have to read the book to find out for sure, unless you've figured it out from our posts.  Even if you have, you should read the book anyway, because we're cute, and because Mummy promised to buy us new toys with the money from book sales.  We love getting new toys, so would love for that to happen.  You would too, right? *cute sad puppy dog look*

So, here's a picture of the cover, and all the details of what the book is about, and where you can get a copy - just to save you having to go read Mummy's post.  Jacob Blackmon did the cover - he's someone Mummy and Daddy talk to on the computer - and Daddy's really impressed with how well he drew us.  He did do an awesome job, didn't he? Almost as cute as our actual photos...

Getting a little brother is a good thing... Right?

 

When Snowlilie the West Highland White Terrier first meets her new little brother – a Cavapoo puppy, who tells her the humans call him Rascal - and realizes having a little brother means having a new doggy friend to play with, she’s excited. That is, until she realizes it also means sharing everything with him – including her favourite ball, some of her food, and Mummy and Daddy’s attention.

 

Will Snowlilie be forced to tolerate a little brother she doesn’t like? Or can she learn to like Rascal, and accept the changes having a little brother means?

You can now buy “Snowlilie’s Brother” in a variety of eBook formats from multiple online retailers, including – but not limited to - Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Amazon US, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.

The book is available in all formats those places offer,, so there should be a version that works for you from at least one of the places it's for sale, regardless of your chosen method of reading eBooks, whether that be via Kindle, Nook, some other tablet or eReader, smartphone, or even your computer.

However, if you're one of those people who isn't a fan of eBooks, don't worry, Mummy and I haven't forgotten about you.  Audio and paperback versions are to be arranged as soon as possible.  Hopefully very soon.

Regardless of your prefered format though, you may be interested to know that the book also has a Goodreads page.

If you buy a copy, I hope you enjoy it.  I know Logan and I will enjoy the toys Mummy will get us with the book sale money, that's for sure, so thank you if you buy a copy and help us get some new toys.

Lots of licks,

Lilie

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 18-06-20

Reading one book is like eating one potato chip.
~Dia ne Duane

 
Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post!
 
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.
 
Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.
 
If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.
 
Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
 

Unless otherwise stated, all music videos are via YouTube.

 

~

 

OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this week, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right?

 

~

 

• Reading:

This week I read three books.  Well, finished one and read two others. Either way, here's what I read during the past week, along with my book reviews.
 
Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As much as I'm a fan of the series, I have to admit this one only just managed to scrape the four star rating I'm giving it. I mean, I really enjoyed this book for the most part, but didn't totally love it, and can think of several things I didn't enjoy about it. There were a few places in this book where I felt like the events or details were drawn out a bit more than they needed to be, a couple of times where the scene - while interesting - really didn't do anything to move the plot forward, and a couple of deaths of minor characters I wish hadn't happened. Also - while the ending isn't a cliffhanger, and I did think it was a lovely ending in many ways - I found it frustrating that things were left as they were as regards Roger and Brianna's part of the story. Other than that though, this was a nice addition to the series, and I look forward to the next book.

 

Immortal Born by Lynsay Sands
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is an excellent addition to this series; a sweet romance, and an action-packed paranormal tale, with plenty of entertaining scenes. If you enjoy those kinds of things, you should read this book, as well as the previous books in the series. No, it's not essential to have read the others before you read this one, since you won't be lost if you don't know who everyone is. I do suggest you try to though, since there are some things you'll only know about some of the characters if you've read their stories in previous books.
 

The Dancing Bear by Michael Morpurgo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My actual rating is 3.5 stars, but I rounded up. It would have been a five star read for me, but the ending felt kind of sudden and lacking in emotion. Up until that point I thought it was an excellent and beautiful read, but the ending was a disappointment, which took away a lot of my enjoyment of the rest of the story.

 

~

 

• Watching:

Actually, I've got nothing to say for this part, because this week I watched absolutely nothing.  I didn't even do a good job of keeping up with YouTube videos from channels I follow.

 

~

 

• Listening:

This week I've been listening to soothing music like panpipe music, when I've listened to anything at all.  So, here's some music like the kind I was listening to - in fact, one of the songs I listened to - for your listening pleasure... Enjoy!
 

#WriterWednesday: An Authorly Update And Some Writerly #Quotes And Links - #AmWriting 17-06-20

In case you didn't see it, but would like to go check out the post: "Snowlilie's Brother" - my latest release, featuring Lilie and Logan - was featured in the Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore this past Sunday (June 14th 2020) along with a review of "Witchlet" - one of my older titles.  My thanks to Sally for doing the post to start with, as well as to Robbie for reading and reviewing "Witchlet" a while ago.  Also, thanks to anyone who shared the post, or does so at any point in the future.

 

In other authorly news: I'm currently taking auditions for a narrator for the audio version of "Snowlilie's Brother" on ACX.  If you're a female narrator who wants to audition, you have until Friday (June 19th 2020) to submit your audition, since that's when I'm making my choice.  I just thought I'd let you know.

 

The paperback version of "Snowlilie's Brother" is also in production; I'm just waiting for the physical proof of the paperback to arrive.  Assuming there are no issues with the physical proof, and nobody from KDP finds any issues during the final approval stage, the paperback version of "Snowlilie's Brother" will become available in a couple of weeks.

 

In the meantime, let's take a look at what I've gathered to share with you this week.

 

The writing process, and writing life in general:

10 reminders for writers who don't feel like their words can make a difference

You're never 'ready' to write a story

One writer.  A million new ideas

 

“I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I’m afraid of.”

~Joss Whedon

 

Writers' block, and idea generation:

6 non-writing hobbies that can still inspire your writing

A big, bold list of creative writing activities

Creative eavesdropping

 

“You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you, and we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”

~Arthur Plotnik

 

Characters:

Things to consider when making your characters suffer

 

“The first draft is black and white. Editing gives the story color.”

~Emma Hill

 

Editing:

Do you have to be a good writer to be a good editor?

Grammar rules: who vs. whom

 

Publishing:

How to publish with KDP: Part 10, how to upload your eBook file

 

“No author dislikes to be edited as much as he dislikes not to be published.”

~J.Russell Lynes

 

Marketing:

Churn rate and transmedia storytelling

Online marketing doesn't mean lying, cheating, or conning customers

Author's notes: another terrific oppertunity

 

“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.”

~Dr Seuss

 

Book reviews:

Noobs' guide to self-publishing - reviews on KDP/Amazon

10 #Inspirational #Quotes

Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.
~Jack Kornfield

Your actions are your only true belongings.
~Allan Lokos

Let us keep courage and try to be patient and gentle.
~Vincent Van Gogh

Put yourself at the top of your to-do list every single day, and the rest will fall into place.
~Unknown

Tranquillity & peace are contagious. One only thinks of the contagiousness of illness, but there's the contagion of serenity and joy.
~Anais Nin

That’s life: starting over, one breath at a time.
~Sharon Salzberg

I think when we don’t know what to do it’s wise to do nothing. Sit down quietly; quiet our hearts and minds and breathe deeply.
~Maya Angelou

Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.
~Alice Walker

Though the world is now dark, better days are at hand.
~Celeborn

No good sittin' worryin' abou' it. What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does.
~Hagrid

#MondayMotivation - #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 15-06-20

Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.
~Vincent Van Gogh

We need the security of our certainties but we need too the stimulus and the challenge provided by uncertainty. If we climb the hill to explore the valley on the other side it is not just in search of food; it is in search of adventure.
~C.R. Milne

Raindrops are my only reminder that clouds have a heartbeat. That I have one, too.
~T Mafi

If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone.
~John Maxwell

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.
~Chinese Proverb

One can never consent to creep, when one feels an impulse to soar.
~Helen Keller

The way you start your day determines how well you live your day.
~Robin Sharma

Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
~Rumi

Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.
~Earl Nightingale

Don't let one cloud obliterate the whole sky.
~Anais Nin

It is foolish to tear one’s hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.
~Marcus Tullius Cicero

The darkest night is often the bridge to the brightest tomorrow.
~Jonathan Lockwood Huie

#Pets Are For Life, Not Just For Lockdown - #Covid19 #Coronavirus

Hi everyone.  This is Lilie the Westie.

We heard about lots of people during the locking down while Avirus was happening who got new family members with fur, feathers, or scales.  Especially people who got dogs or cats to join their families.

Now, Avirus isn't actually over, but lots of places aren't locked down any more, or not locked down as much.  This means lots of people who were at home now have to go to something called, "Work," - or so Mummy says.

So, this post is just to remind those people who got new family members while they were locked down not to abandon them now.  After all, they were there for you when you needed them for company.  Now that they maybe might need you more than you need them, remember to be there for them, since they'll still be there for you when you let them.

Maybe you have to go to the work thing now, and can't take them with you, which is fine.  Even if we don't like when our humans go away, we learn to accept it.  But let them wait for you at home, where they'll be glad to spend what time they can with you when you can be at home too.

There are lots of reasons why maybe someone can't keep a pet after all.  It's sad, but I understand that.  Not being locked down any more shouldn't be one of those reasons though, and I hope you thought about that before bringing them home. But, if you really can't keep the pet now you're not locked down any more for some reason, at least make sure you take the pet to a place where it can be looked after properly.  Only if you have to though.  After all, a pet should be for life, not just for lockdown, and there are already an awful lot of pets in shelters looking for homes.

A shelter is better than being abandoned on the street.  A real forever home is better still.

Lots of licks,

Lilie