PetKid Pals: Puffer

Hello everyone. This is Artemis the Hermann's Tortoise.

Today is a very special day, because we have three things happening for the first time on this blog today. The first is that this is the very first post with the new "PetKid Pals" title, since our recent rebranding of the feature. The second is that this is the first time that I, Artemis, have interviewed anyone. The third is that this is the first time we have a fish for a guest. Isn't that exciting?

So, let's meet our PetKid Pal, shall we?

Hello, fishy friend, what’s your name? If you have an unusual name, or there’s an interesting story behind it, I’d love to hear about what your name means, or the story behind it, so please share if applicable.

PUFFER is my name. I am called this because I have a tendency to puff up and out if frightened or startled.

That makes sense. So, I know you're a fish, but what species and breed are you?

 A saltwater fish -spiny Boxfish Chilomycterus schoepfii. I can’t even pronounce it! Can you? 

Um... I'm not even going to try. OK, Puffer, for those who don't know what one of those looks like, do us a favour and describe your appearance.  Your human has provided us with a photo I'll be showing everyone in a moment, but please describe yourself too, for the benefit of those who can’t see the photo.

 I am a boxfish who is covered with spines and black stripes. I have beautiful dreamy blue eyes and a large mouth than can swallow whole cubes of food that my owners give me.

You're certainly quite an impressive and handsome fish. So, tell us, what sort of place do you live in? Who do you share it with?

I live in a 95 gallon saltwater tank with other fish. There are at least 12 other fish plus 2 red starfish and two anemones.

Sounds like you have quite a few roomates. I hope you also have some time for yourself. Speaking of which, what’s your favourite thing to do?

I love to swim swiftly back and forth at the top of the tank always on the lookout for more food. Staying at the top I will be the first one to eat!

You sound like a smart fish! Do fish play? If so, do you have a favourite toy? If yes, what is it?

I don’t have any toys in my tank but I do like to chase other fish away from my coveted spot at the top of the tank.

Well, if that's the best food spot, I don't blame you. I'm a big fan of food too. Hey, speaking of food, what’s your favourite food?

I love to eat cubes of fish, shrimp, bloodworms, clams and whatever my owners throw into the tank. I’m not picky! That may explain my large girth around the middle.

Possibly. But I'm a big fan of food myself, so I'm not going to judge you for it, even if your menu isn't to my tastes. Mummy provides me with the kinds of things I do enjoy though, like romain lettuce, kale, and things like that. I'm glad your human does that for you. Speaking of your human, what’s the one thing your human does that you love most?

My owners are generous with the fish cubes because they know how much I love to eat. I gobble all the food before any other fish can eat. They usually get my castoffs or whatever comes back out of my mouth. You may say yuck, but they love it!

Hey, as long as everyone's happy. I bet there's some things the humans do that you don't like though, so what’s the one thing your human does that you hate most?

What I dislike the most is that my humans do not feed me more than twice a day! Honestly, don’t they know that I need to eat 24-7? Of course, if I did they would have to purchase a larger tank.

I hear you loud and clear on that one! I hate when the food runs out and the humans won't hand over more. Anyway, changing the subject slightly, but still sticking on the topic of your human: I know your human is a writer.  Has she written anything about you? If yes, can you tell us about it? If no, do you think she will in the future?

Sadly she hasn’t written a single thing about me. I don’t know why she doesn’t appear to be interested enough to do that. After all, she has written about a crayfish, hermit crab, dog and a cat that were her pets before me. I should be given my due. I am beautiful, don’t you think?

Absolutely! I hope she comes to her senses and writes something about you soon. In the meantime, what do you do while your human writes?

I swim back and forth tirelessly while my human types away on her machine. I can’t see her do it but I can hear her read aloud her work. I think she would become famous if she wrote about handsome me!

Hopefully she can see you, even if you can't see her, and seeing you swimming around will inspire her to write about you soon. Anyway, Puffer, we should probably end this. Before we do though, is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?

I am a sweet fish with a lovely personality. If you want to survive in my environment you must give up most of the food in the tank. Don’t you want to keep your figure? Me? I really don’t care, the bigger I get the better! That way I can control the food in the tank. Ha!

I hope all your roomates are willing to play by your rules, and give up most of the food. Though do let them keep enough to survive, there's a good chap.

Oh, before I end this, it looks like Puffer's human has a few words to say. So, what did you want to say, Janice?

It was a fun experience being here on your blog, Tori and Artemis. Thank you so much for inviting me and Puffer today.

Maybe one day I will write a book about Puffer. That will surely make him happy.

You're very welcome, Janice. We're glad you and Puffer could visit. Also, it's great to see you're at least thinking about having him star in a book some day. Yes, it would make him very happy; he'd love having a book out there about him.

***~~~***

About the human
Janice is an award-winning author with 12 children's books for PS-Gr 4, 9 middle-grade/preteen/young adult books, written under Janice Spina, and 3 novels, and a short story collection written under J.E. Spina. She is also a writer of poetry, blogger, avid reader, reviewer and a copy editor. Janice has always loved writing and started very young writing poetry, then stories. All Janice's books are available on Amazon.com, Kindle, BN and other online book sites. One of her sports' poems was published in The Lawrence Eagle Tribune in October of 2008. She is currently working on Book 4 of Abby & Holly series for girls and a Dragon series for young children. A YA fantasy series will be coming in 2020 and beyond along with more children's books. Her hobbies are crocheting, walking to keep fit, hula hooping, going to the movies with her husband, and spending time with her five grandchildren. Janice loves to hear from readers and appreciates reviews.

Links
Website: https://Jemsbooks.com
Blog: https://Jemsbooks.blog
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/user/show/17094469-Janice-spina
LinkedIn: http://LinkedIn.com/com/pub/Janice-spina and http://linkedin.com/in/janice-spina-a0132159
Pinterest: http://Pinterest.com/janicespina
Twitter: http://twitter.com/janice_spina
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/Janice.spina.9, http://Facebook.com/janicespina7, and http://Facebook.com/jespina77

***~~~***

Drystan the Dragon and Friends Series, Book 1 Drystan and Durward Save the Day 

This is a magical series about Drystan the dragon and his friends. These dragons are colorful, engaging and fun to read about. They teach children the importance of friendship, caring for one another, being kind to others, and it’s okay to be different. All dragons are of different colors and their names begin with the letter ‘D’ – a fun way for young children to learn the letter ‘D’ and colors.

In Book 1 Drystan makes a new friend, Durward who invites him to visit the Land of the Rainbows. While they are there they have an adventure. Find out what the dragons do to save the day.

Grab your copy today from Amazon.Com or Amazon UK.

***~~~***

I hope you enjoyed getting to meet Puffer today, and learning about him and his human, Janice. Why not leave them a comment, or share this post around, to show them how much you enjoyed it. Better yet, do both, which will make them extremely happy, and make me and Mummy happy too.

By the way, we're always eager to make new friends, and looking for guests. It doesn't matter to us if you're furry, feathered, scaled, or whatever, we want to hear from you. So, if you're a bird, cat, chinchilla, degu, dog, fish, gerbil, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, rat, tortoise, or other non-human creature, you share your home with a human calling themselves a writer - yes, blogging counts - and you'd like to be our guest, please get in touch. To find out how, go to the "PetKid Pals" page (which used to be the "Friends Of Furkid Friday" page, but we recently changed it) where you can not only find out how to get your turn in the spotlight, but can also meet all the PetKid Pals we've had as guests in the past. Don't forget to tell your friends to get in touch so we can get to know them too!

In the meantime, thanks for visiting.

Artemis the tortoise

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 27-02-20

Hold a book in your hand and you're a pilgrim at the gates of a new city.
~Anne Michaels

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. So, here's what I read, along with my book reviews.

The Poinciana Tree by Rita Lee Chapman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was an enjoyable read. It’s well-written, has an intriguing plot, and contains a cast of interesting characters. However, while it was a wonderful read in many ways, it didn’t grip me the way this author’s previous mysteries have. Maybe it’s just me, and has nothing to do with the book. I don’t know. I mean, it was a great book, with plenty of twists in the plot, etc. But it didn’t grip me the way the author’s previous books have. I still thoroughly enjoyed it though, and would still recommend it to mystery lovers.

Leith's Vegetarian Bible by Polly Tyrer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was brought for me by a family member as a gift, and I'm glad it was, because it seems like an excellent book for a vegetarian - or even a vegan - to have a copy of (I'm a vegan at this point, but was still vegetarian when the book was brought for me). I love how you get all kinds of information on the vitamins and things you can find in various foods as well as the recipes. I'm no expert, but from what I've read elsewhere from those who are, it seems like pretty reliable information. It's great that you get measurement conversions too. As for the recipes: well, I haven't tried any yet, but they look amazing, and generally pretty straight-forward to follow. Plus, many seem to either already be vegan friendly, or could be easily adapted to become vegan friendly, which I was glad to see. I only don't give it the full five stars because I think the way the recipes are organized is kind of weird (it's done by main vegetable ingredient, rather than course) and also because I haven't actually tried the recipes yet, because I was so over-whelmed with the number of choices that I never got around to picking one to try.

• Watching:

This week I watched the last of "NCIS" season 13, as well as several Disney movies that were on Sky Cinema Disney this week (because I couldn't be bothered to get up and put a DVD on). I'm not going to bother listing them. Just know they were mostly the old classics, apart from the new "Aladdin" movie, but I'd seen them all at least once before (in some cases so many times I could probably tell you what happens next at any given point in the movie if I tried).

• Listening:

This week I've been listening to all kinds of things. Mostly panpipe music though, because all the storms have been hurting my head (a Glaucoma related issue I still have to deal with; it's a pressure thing) and I find panpipe music soothing. So, here's some panpipe music for you to enjoy some too.

#Vampire #Fantasy #BookRelease - "War of Nytefall: Eradication" by @cyallowitz

Is the Orb of Durag the key to Clyde and the Dawn Fangs destruction?

[caption id="attachment_30952" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Cover Art by Alison Hunt[/caption]

As Dawn Fang vampires are found dead across Windemere, their infamous leader will remember what it is to be afraid.

With the truce between Nyte and Nytefall nearing its end, an old enemy has emerged to rekindle the vampires’ most ancient feud. A Duragian priest is on the move and he is wielding a weapon that can depower and kill Dawn Fangs. This follower of the Sun God has claimed enough victims that Lord Tempest wants the weapon for himself and Clyde is beginning to worry that his fledgling kingdom is in danger of extinction. When it becomes clear that the mysterious relic and Clyde’s transformation into the first Dawn Fang are connected, he will be forced to face a past that he can barely remember.

What can Clyde do to defend his people, his life, and the child he does not know is on the way from the terrifying Fist of Durag?

Excerpt: Stirring

The thick darkness that greets Clyde’s eyes is suffocating and disturbingly familiar. A disconcerting numbness flows along his skin and plunges all of his senses into a mental fog. He groans as he sits up and touches the warm ground beneath him, his fingers finding it rough and jagged. The memory of being in Gregorio’s lair strikes his mind like a perfectly aimed arrow and he tries to stand up. A dull ache courses through his legs and forces him to remain on the floor, which trembles for a brief moment. Picking up a stone, he can feel the faint carving of half a sun with a grinning face. With a yawn, the vampire throws the rock away and waits for it to land, but the sound of it bouncing takes several minutes to reach his ears. Clyde scowls when the noise ends with a strange thud that reminds him of a fist punching flesh. The distant gurgling of a stream draws his attention to the right and he squints at a strange form that is gradually taking shape in the gloom. Finding the energy to rise, he gets to his feet and wipes the dirt from his body, which he learns is unclothed. The Dawn Fang’s senses steadily return to their full strength and he realizes that his vision has been blocked by his own hair. Luscious and tangled tresses cascade from his head to cover everything from his scalp to his elbows. Wrapping all of the strands around his left hand, he uses his right to slice them off and is about to use his fingers like scissors when his body locks.

The ruins of the Duragian temple are laid out before Clyde, their details making it clear that they are the genuine articles. Bodies of civilians and priests are strewn about the area, all of them having been drained of blood. A white-bricked wall has been marked with scratches that the vampire knows are a foolish attempt to keep track of time, which he abandoned after he had run out of prey. Far in the distance, he can see the tower where he was once held prisoner, its top seven floors having snapped off as it sunk. Light pulses from the enormous structure to drive the cavern’s darkness into the corners. Smaller shrines help to illuminate the streets, which are littered with debris. The smell of rotting meat is thick in the air, the stench emanating from the abandoned food and corpses. Not far away, the vampire sees a cleared area with a burn mark in its center. It takes him a moment to recognize the battered ruins of the execution square, its right side having slumped into a sinkhole.

A pang of doubt and anxiety races through Clyde’s mind as he recalls getting struck by the fake Fists of Durag. He begins to walk through the ruins in search of signs that he is being tricked, but it becomes clear that he is not trapped within an illusion. All attempts to see through the spell are met with failure, which feeds a primal rage in the pit of his soul. Coming to a broken fountain, he kneels and scoops up a handful of stagnant water to drink. The foul liquid makes his tongue burn and his stomach twists to the point where he has to vomit in order to avoid passing out. Focused on his own body, Clyde releases his severed hair when he realizes that his heart is no longer beating. Jamming a finger between his ribs, he touches the organ to find it wrinkled and still. With a growl, he swings his fist at the nearest building only to find that he cannot knock the whole structure over. The vampire stares at the hole in the wall and flexes his fingers, which make the gestures for a claw-growing spell. He curses loudly when he feels his nails lengthen and harden into natural blades.

“What in all of Windemere is going on?” Clyde asks.

Get War of Nytefall: Eradication on Amazon for $2.99!
Add it to your Goodreads To-Read Lists!

*****

Start the adventure from the beginning with War of Nytefall: Loyalty!

[caption id="attachment_24146" align="aligncenter" width="232"] Cover Art by Alison Hunt[/caption]

Then, follow the vampire-filled fun with War of Nytefall: Lost!

[caption id="attachment_26326" align="aligncenter" width="230"] Cover art by Alison Hunt[/caption]

Afterwards, continue the action-packed journey with War of Nytefall: Rivalry!

[caption id="attachment_27419" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Cover Art by Alison Hunt[/caption]

Interested in more Windemere? Then don't forget to check out Charles E. Yallowitz's first series: Legends of Windemere

[caption id="attachment_24017" align="aligncenter" width="640"] All Cover Art by Jason Pedersen[/caption]

About the Author:

Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After spending many years fiddling with his thoughts and notebooks, he decided that it was time to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house with only pizza and seltzer to sustain him, Charles brings you tales from the world of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and drawing you into a world of magic.

Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Website: www.charleseyallowitz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyallowitz

Of #Hygge Moments For #SelfCare, #Cavapoo Grooming, And Late #ValentinesDay Meals

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.
~Thích Nhất Hạnh

In an effort to get rid of the last of this cold/flu thingy before my appointment at the hospital next week, I've been trying to make as much of my time as possible be relaxing. Not always possible, because of real life and being a grown up and all that, but I've been enjoying as many hygge moments as I can, and letting those and all other aspects of self care be my main focus. Like I said, that's what I've been trying to do anyhow.

So, this past week has involved a lot of petkid cuddle time, especially with Logan and Artemis...

(You wouldn't think a tortoise would love cuddle time, but Artemis sure seems to).

Plenty of petkid playtime, especially with the ever energetic Lilie...

As well as time curled up in bed with Lilie and Logan while reading, or hanging out in the living room watching TV with Mollie and Artemis (Logan, and sometimes Lilie, were with me watching TV too, of course).

Love is the spoken word that fills our hearts. Love is the simple way of saying silently: I take care of myself to take care of you.
~Alan Maiccon

Logan had his grooming session too...

(Lilie only had her nails done, so we didn't bother with an after grooming photo for her, especially since both dogs were rather excited to see us when we went to pick them up, so getting Logan's photo was tricky enough).

Plus, we had our late Valentine's meal. Well, I should say, "Meals," because it ended up being both lunch out and take-away, since we had a lot of time to kill after learning only when we arrived at the bank that the thing we wanted to deal with now has to be done by post, so we went to have a drink at the cafe across from the groomer - which is called "The Market Cafe" - and discovered they're now more careful about what they cook their chips in, so they at least were vegan friendly (they couldn't guarantee it before, so it's nice they're considering that now). Since we were both hungry, I had some chips, and Kelly had burger and chips. But we also ordered pizza from home one evening last week, because Papa John's (the place with the good vegan pizza) had sent us a voucher for 50% off everything, so we thought we'd make use of it. They sent it to everyone, because I guess some people had ordered food during the bad storms, and there had been some issues with deliveries, so Papa John's sent out the voucher as a sort of, "Sorry, 'just in case' we need to be," gesture. Had they not done that, we might have gone for ordering Chinese food, but since they did, we figured we'd take advantage of the saving, because... Well, pizza!

Of course, this week hasn't all been hygge moments, because life just doesn't work like that, especially these days. There was the thing with the bank, as well as errands that needed running, chores that had to get done, and all that other grown up stuff to deal with. But I'm choosing to focus on the good things, like how the predicted stormy weather wasn't as bad as expected, and being told by the woman at the reptile place we got Artemis from that based on my answers to questions she asked me about how I'm doing certain things with my tortoise, it sounds like I'm doing a wonderful job at being a first time reptile Mummy. So, I'm making this about the fact I was able to make a lot of the week be about hygge moments and self care, which was nice, and probably did me some good. In fact, I'm positive it did.

If you go by how my cold/flu thingy is doing, it definitely did, since I'm still kind of sniffly first thing in the morning, and coughing a bit at night, but I'm doing very little of either, and not feeling so drained and achy. I think the cold/flu thing is almost gone. I mean, I'm still not feeling 100%, but I am feeling hopeful I'll at least be rid of most of it by next week, if it isn't already completely gone by this time next week. *crosses fingers, and begs the cold/flu thingy not to do that thing where it acts like it's going away and then comes back worse than ever*

You cannot control the results, only your actions.
~Allan Lokos

#Love & #Friendship #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom For #ValentinesDay 24-02-20

Since Valentine's Day is this month, all my February Monday posts are filled with quotes about love or friendship. Enjoy!

***~~~***

You are loved just for being who you are, just for existing.  You don't have to do anything to earn it.  Your shortcomings, your lack of esteem, physical perfection, or social and economic success--none of that matters.  No one can take this love away from you, and it will always be here.
~Ram Dass

If you’re not willing to love someone through their struggles, you don’t deserve them during their joys.
~Unknown

True friendship never questions what it costs you.
~Stephen Richards

Sometimes all we need to soothe our soul and ease our burdens is the loving hand of a friend gently touching our heart and lifting us towards love
~Mimi Novic

Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.
~Shannon Alder

To live in the hearts we leave behind is to live forever.
~Carl Sagan

When forever becomes a place...when forever ceases to be just a word… when it ceases to be just a measurement of time…but instead becomes a place where soul mates can dance to the song in their hearts... that is a reflection of true love.
~Steve Maraboli,

Connecting our hearts through love yields a nectar so sweet we are forever full.
~Amy Leigh Mercree

Hearts, like flowers, cannot be rudely handled, but must open naturally…
~Louisa May Alcott

True friendship is as rare as twin lotuses on a single stalk.
~Lauren Bjorkman

Don’t let life harden your heart.
~Pema Chödrön

Find someone who loves you the way my dog loves my socks. Meaning they pick you up when you've been discarded, carry you back to bed, and take a nap with you.
~Rick Riordan

A Petkid #Photo And #Video Roundup - #Chinchilla #Westie #Cavapoo #Tortoise

Hi everyone. This is Logan the Cavapoo.

Mummy was playing with the flashy thing again recently, and she pointed it at us lots, so we thought you'd like to see the photos and videos it made. The ones Mummy didn't already show you herself anyway.

First, here's me, claiming my spot in what Mummy thinks is her chair. Ha! Keep dreaming, Mummy!

I'm 10 months old now, so take up lots of the chair. Inside I'm still just a little puppy though, so I did let Mummy share the chair after she said I could cuddle on her lap if I did. I love cuddle time! It's almost as good as food.

As Mummy told you herself, she made a playpen for the thing that moved in recently, which she says is a tortoise, which she won't let us play with (we aren't allowed to play with either the tortoise or the playpen). I think you already know the tortoise is called Artemis, even if you only come here for our posts on Fridays, since Artemis did a post on here a few weeks ago, and Mollie and Lilie both mentioned Artemis. Well, if you didn't, you do now. Either way, Artemis likes to wander around in the playpen Mummy made. I don't think it's much fun to watch, which is why Mummy was able to do some photos and videos while I played by myself nearby (you might hear my bell and tags jingling in the videos... If you can hear them over Mollie's TV shows and the stormy weather). Anyway, here's the photos and videos of Artemis wandering around in the little tortoise playpen, since you'll probably find it more interesting to watch than I did.

Now, this is something I can understand the tortoise being interested in. Artemis could spot another tortoise in the side of the playpen. Mummy says it's something called a reflection. Neither me or Artemis are sure what that means, but she says the same to me when I'm trying to make friends with the dog that floats outside the window when Mummy hasn't shut the curtains but the light is on some nights. I see the same dog in the bathroom mirror. It's so strange. Anyway, Mummy doesn't have a video of me making friends with the other dog, but she does have one of Artemis making friends with the other tortoise, and here it is.







Here's a photo of me again, just because I'm so cute:

Next, here's a closeup of Mollie, wanting to know what Mummy's doing pointing the flashy thing at us:

(I don't think she was too happy that Mummy pointed it at her when it was daytime... She doesn't seem to like getting up in daytime, and usually won't get up and say, "Hi," to me until dinner time, no matter how much I whine at her cage).


Mummy also got some videos with me and Lilie in. One where Lilie is barking...







A short one of me and Lilie playing together...







One of me and Lilie getting attention from Mummy...







(She put the camera on the table and made it film that one by itself).

And the last video Mummy got was one of Lilie impatiently waiting for Mummy to throw the ball, wishing she wouldn't drag it out so long. I don't blame Lilie for being impatient. Even I was starting to wish Mummy would throw the ball already.

Next, here are a couple of photos of me and Lilie:

Oh, and here's Artemis again, this time on the table, coming to check out Mummy's phone...

Mummy's phone had made noise, so she was seeing what it was about, and Artemis tried to look too, so Mummy did something with the phone that made it act like a camera, and took a photo of the tortoise.

Anyway, the last photo I have for you today is one of Lilie by herself. So, here it is:

I hope you enjoyed seeing the photos and videos of us. Although, why wouldn't you? I mean, we're super cute... Especially me and Lilie!

Lots of licks,
Logan

P.S. Mummy says sorry if a lot of the photos and videos aren't great. It was stormy the day she did most of them (as you can hear in the videos... Especially the ones of Artemis in the tortoise playpen) plus she did them all herself, and because her eyes are broken she didn't realize it was dark enough that she should have put the light on in the living room (especially before trying to do videos).

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

The glory of a good tale is that it's limitless & fluid; a good tale belongs to each reader in its own particular way.
~Stephen King

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 is another where I read a lot of short books, so ended up reading several, with the result that I read six books this week. All by the same author too. Yes, really. Like I said, they were short ones, though most definitely not because they were children's stories, so please bear that in mind. Anyway, here's what I read, along with my book reviews.

Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 3 by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I'm giving this the whole five stars, but my actual rating is 4.5 stars; I'm rounding up. Why? Because mostly the stories were fantastic, and in all cases the characters were interesting and the worldbuilding was wonderful, but I was a bit disappointed with the ending of "Princess Sapphire" which seemed to come too easily. Other than that though, this is another excellent collection of stories by this author, which are great additions to the overall series.

Relationships by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great collection of enjoyable and sweet stories.

Rogue by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an excellent addition to this series, and it was great to get to learn more of Hal's story, while having more of the overall story filled in.

Mumbai Dreams by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A sweet and enjoyable quick read.

Joint Operations by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fast-paced action-packed read, with great characters and an interesting plot.

More Fairy Tales Revisited on Silvery Earth by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
These are really quite sweet fairy tale retellings. If you're a fan of m/m romance - or simply don't object to happily ever after not always being between people of different genders - and enjoy a good fairy tale retelling, you'll enjoy these stories.

• Watching:

This week I watched very little. I watched Disney's "The Little Mermaid" and a few random episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" that happened to be on TV when I was in the living room. But that's it.

• Listening:

This week I've been listening to a lot of different music, including "One Of A Kind" - the new song by one of my favourite artists, Ronan Keating (featuring Emeli Sandé) - which is the song I'm sharing with you this week.

#WriterWednesday: Writerly #Quotes And Links + #WritersLife 19-02-20 - #AmWriting

To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the music the words make.
~Truman Capote

This week wasn't nearly as productive as the past couple had been. I got some writing done, but very little, because the cold/flu thing had me feeling so drained it was taking me a while to get anything done. But never mind. I'm happy I got any writing done at all, so I'm not complaining.

No one can take writing away from u, but no one can give it to u, either
~Meg Wolitzer

Are you struggling to actually sit down and get some writing done, despite knowing you should, and wanting to write that book you keep saying you'll finish? Then take a look at these simple strategies for writing when you'd rather do literally everything else. You'll be glad you did. After all, it's not (just) about how much time you spend writing.

Bear in mind, talking about writing isn't a substitute for actually writing. So, what are you going to write today?

If you write 10k a day, you will end up with a book. If you write 1k a day, you will end up with a book. If you write 500 words every Tuesday, you will end up with a book. If you write 100 words before bed, or 50 whenever you can, you will end up with a book.
~Victoria Schwab

Whatever you're writing, remember: there are reasons why you should always finish your drafts, no matter how long it takes you to do so.

Sometimes, the best time to write is when no one's reading. But, if you're in the situation where you're getting all the work, none of the reward (yet) and it's getting you down, find ways to reward yourself for your work while you're trying to reach the point where you'll see your efforts paying off.

The hardest part is believing in yourself at the notebook stage. It's like believing in dreams in the morning.
~Erica JONG

Next, here's the 1 thing writers fear most (and how to keep writing anyway).

Of course, there will be moments where you're going to doubt whether or not it's all worth it. But, you know what? In some ways, doubt is the best thing that will ever happen to you. Yes, really.

Why write? To write. To make something.
~Claude Simon

OK, let's assume you're actually writing. So...

If you're a romance author - especially if it's romantic comedies you write - check out these posts on the things your female character needs to have and essential 'abilities' of the romantic hero.

When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.
~Ernest Hemingway

No matter what genre you write in, or the kinds of characters your book contains, check out these foreshadowing tips, and help the lead up to your book's main event be an exciting one.

Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.
~Stephen King

Have you considered the potential possibility of the duel use of fiction meta-content to both work on worldbuilding and character development, and also create content for marketing purposes at the same time? If you're the kind of person who does a lot of planning and outlining, perhaps you should consider it. If you want to read more about this idea, here's part 1 and part 2 of the series on the topic.

Keep your head in the clouds and your hands on the keyboard.
~Marissa Meyer

Speaking of things you can potentially use to aid in your marketing efforts: a lot of people say you should have social media - like Twitter, for example - if you're a writer. Well, maybe. Maybe not. After all, Twitter is distracting. It's also extremely beneficial to aspiring writers sometimes though. Same goes for all forms of social media. The thing is, you don't "have to" have them, but they can be great ways of connecting with fans, as well as like-minded individuals. Just remember to use them wisely, and not let yourself get sucked in to scrolling through your newsfeeds when it's meant to be writing time. Not that I know what that's like or anything. *whistles innocently*

Everything can nourish the writer. The dictionary, a new word, a voyage, an encounter...a book, a phrase learned.
~Anais Nin

Being Featured, A Typing #Tortoise, Hoover Monsters, #StormDennis, Lingering Colds, And Delayed #ValentinesDay Plans

I was featured in this post about describing blindness to others, after having responded to Holly's Tweet on the topic recently. Feel free to check it out. In fact, if you want to understand more about what it's like living with blindness, Holly's blog would be a great one to explore in general, so you might want to go check out some of the other posts on Life Of A Blind Girl when you get the chance.

In the meantime, I'm going to fill you in on the things that happened during the past week, with a little help from Artemis...

Hmmm... Looks like Artemis wants to follow in Mummy's footsteps and do some writing. The tortoise will have a book out one of these days at this rate. Might take a while though... Artemis is fast for a tortoise, but... Well, Artemis is still a tortoise, and they aren't known for speed as a rule. Plus, poor Artemis is so light at this point the keyboard's keys were barely getting pressed when the tortoise was stepping on them.

In case you're wondering: yes, that is the hoover you can hear in the background. Kelly was using it in the other room. That's actually why Artemis was in the computer room with me... Apparently the tortoise doesn't like the hoover, since every time we use it in the room Artemis is in, the tortoise ends up getting agitated, and then has to be rescued from behind the tortoise cave in the vivarium. So I took Artemis out of the room this time around. It made for a much happier tortoise.

Luckily, Logan has no interest in Artemis, since he was in with us (he also hates the hoover monster). Mollie just ignores it, so thankfully she was fine. As for Lilie... Lilie tries to play with it. Yes, really. Especially if we're using the hose part to reach in to corners or whatever. One of these days, I'll try and get you a video to show you what she does.

Anyway...

There's still no sign of my snow. The promised snow didn't come, and then the snowy clouds went back North. We had a day where it was still quite chilly and windy, but sunny enough that I sat in a ray of sunshine for a while with Artemis so the tortoise could soak up some natural ultraviolet rays (something Artemis loves, which is also good for the tortoise). After that it went back to being rainy and the weather got really bad again.

As you may or may not know, we had a storm with a name again on the weekend. Storm Dennis. Or possibly Storm Denis, since nobody seemed sure whether it should have one "n" or two (though the version spelled "D.E.N.N.I.S" was most often used). At least it didn't have as many variations as the previous one, which nobody seemed sure whether to call Caira, Ceira, Ciara, or Ciera (I saw all four of those used by various sources to talk about the same storm). Not that the name really matters, especially not to those dealing with the damage the storms caused. Consistancy would be nice though. Either way, here's a short clip we took of Storm Denis on Saturday around lunch time:







And here's a longer one from a few hours later:







Yes, that's Lilie barking towards the end of the video. She has a habit of doing that.

As Kelly is in the middle of pointing out at the start of the video, there are other videos of Storm Dennis on YouTube too. Feel free to check those out later if you want, though I didn't grab links for any, so you'll need to look for them. A lot of them are likely better than mine, but I wanted my own to share. Kelly obviously got the hint when I shouted from the other room that I knew those existed, but those weren't my videos, because he kept recording the clip for me anyhow - or clips, rather, since he did both - as you can see from the fact the clips exist. *wink*

So, that was Storm Dennis, or Denis, or whatever.

Whatever the storms were called, both caused a lot of damage, which it looks like people won't have much time to clean up before the next big storm is due to hit, since that's due later this week (it's meant to be another very stormy weekend).

Anyway, apart from the fact there hasn't been much oppertunity for seeing the sun recently, soaking up some vitamin D from the sun between storms was probably a good thing for me as well as Artemis, especially since this cold/flu thing of mine is still lingering, so any extra vitamins of any sort that I could get were probably a good plan. It's had me feeling really drained this past week, so I've done very little that wasn't essential, and most of the non-essential things I did involved petkid playtime. Although, I suppose I could argue that petkid playtime is essential. Lilie would certainly say it is, and I expect Logan would agree. Mollie and Artemis - while not as quick to demand attention as the dogs - are usually glad for some attention too, so they might even agree with Lilie on this one as well. *wink*

The only other thing worth mentioning is that it was Valentine's Day this past Friday. Yes, I know you knew that. Anyway, we didn't do anything for it. We're having a late meal for it this coming Friday though. We'll either go somewhere after taking the dogs to the groomer, or order something for delivery after we're home, depending on whether Oscars is open, what the weather is like, and how I'm feeling. That's all we plan on doing to celebrate Valentine's Day. As I said to someone last week: we do stuff for each other all year round, so it's not a big deal if we do little or nothing for Valentine's Day. I do like to at least acknowledge it though, even if we don't do much, and what little we do is happening a week late.

At least this year, despite not feeling well because of this cold/flu thing, I wasn't feeling quite as bad as I had been last Valentine's Day, when I was only a week post surgery, so in a lot of pain (not to mention, dealing with what turned out to be allergies to the pain medication). Yeah... Last year I really didn't care that it was Valentine's Day, that's for sure. I'm sure you don't doubt that. *wink*

So, as I said on Facebook and Twitter that evening, I spent Valentine's Day like I spend almost every day: enjoying the company of those I love... Mollie, Lilie, Logan, and Artemis. Oh, and Kelly too, of course. *wink*

Anyway, that was my week. How was yours?

#Love & #Friendship #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom For #ValentinesDay 17-02-20

Since Valentine's Day is this month, all the quotes in my Monday posts for February are about love or friendship. Enjoy!

***~~~***

Never lie to your partner even if the truth might hurt them. Lying loses trust.
~Unknown

Sometimes, being strong is to forgive in the name of love, to make someone smile when our own heart is broken, to comfort a friend when we ourselves needed help and to keep faith when we have lost hope.
~Brigitte Nicole

Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.
~A. W. Pinero

Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.
~Barbra Johnson

Stop worrying about being that perfect person, because no one is perfect. Put your focus on being that right person that will love, understand and care for that other.
~Jonathan Anthony Burkett

Feelings should always be allowed to be free. You should not judge a future love by past suffering.
~Paulo Coelho

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
~Buddha

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
~Martin Luther King

The truth is, indeed, that love is the threshold of another universe.
~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.
~Rumi

The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.
~William Wordsworth

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
~Marcus Aurelius

Friends Of #FurkidFriday: Bond

Hi everyone. This is Lilie the Westie.

I've got a new friend for you to meet today, so let's see who it is, shall we?

Hello friend, what’s your name? If you have an unusual name, or there’s an interesting story behind it, I’d love to hear about what your name means, or the story behind it, so please share.

My name is Bond. My full name is Mr. Bond, and I prefer my catnip shaken, not stirred. I’m a tuxedo cat, and my human sibling came up with my name. When I was rescued from the shelter, my name was Brad, but that was also the name of my human sibling’s best friend. It could have been weird for everyone if my family hadn’t changed it.

Yeah, that would have been pretty confusing. Oh, and I'll bear that in mind about the catnip. Personally, I'm not allowed any. Anyway, Bond, I know you're a cat, but what species and breed are you?

I’m a tuxedo cat, black and white, with a white chest.

Black and white, you say? That could mean some interesting markings, so please describe your appearance in more detail. Of course, I have the photo you provided to show everyone in a moment, but please describe yourself too, for the benefit of those who can’t see the photo.

Plenty of people have commented about my shiny coat and how handsome I am. If you look at my picture, you’ll see that they’re right. My eyes range from green to gold depending on the light, and I also have a little white mustache. Some people say it looks like a Hitler mustache—whatever that means. All four paws are white, too.

I don't know what the Hitler mustache comment means either, but I do know those who say you're handsome are right, because you are. Also, that's cool about your eyes. So, Bond, what sort of place do you live in? Who do you share it with?

My forever home is in Kentucky with my parents, and I have two human sibling brothers, but I don’t see them as often. One is at someplace called college and the other has a grownup job. Sometimes when he visits, he brings his cat, Sora. She used to be pretty small and I had fun intimidating her and swiping her toys. But not anymore. She grew, and now when she’s here, she claims my cat tower as her own, sleeps in my bed, and plays with my toys. There’s been quite a disturbance in the force, and the balance of power has shifted.

Sorry Sora has claimed the spot of top cat now. Logan tried to do that when he started getting bigger too, but I soon put a stop to that. I'm top dog around here. Anyway, when you're not dealing with Sora's attitude, what’s your favourite thing to do?

I like to sit on the screened porch and watch birds. Mom also puts me on a leash, which some people think is weird for a cat, and lets me out on the patio. One time I actually caught a bird and tried to take it inside to play with it. Mom kind of freaked out and took it away from me. I never understood what the big deal was.

Ah, yes. The humans have a thing about us dogs and cats not grabbing the birds and squeaky things. Not sure why. I mean, we only want to play with them. Speaking of playing, do you have a favourite toy? If yes, what is it?

My favorite toys are balls with bells inside and feathers attached, but I usually rip them off and leave them scattered around the house. If I can’t rip feathers off birds, that’s the next best thing. Sometimes I take the bells out of the balls and hide them. Mom says she can’t figure out how I do it, but that really doesn’t surprise me. Cats are more intelligent than humans.

Yes. Cats and dogs are both more intelligent than humans. Well, most of us. That fact is debatable where Logan is concerned. Regardless, sticking on the subject of favourite things, what’s your favourite food?

I’ll only eat one brand of dry food. When I first came to live here, Mom gave me some smelly stuff in a can, but I tried to cover it up. I also get some pretty tasty cat treats every day. People food doesn’t really interest me—unless it’s popcorn or cheese. Feta cheese and blue cheese are my favorites. I’ve gotten in trouble for helping myself to some in Mom’s salad when her back was turned.

At least you know what you like. As for you helping yourself to your Mom's cheese... Well, she shouldn't have had it within your reach if she didn't want you to share. Hey, speaking of your Mom, what’s the one thing your human does that you love most?

Putting me on my leash outside. In the fall on nice days, my parents like to sit on the patio—Dad watches football and Mom reads—and I’ll lay in the sun or curl up on the couch beside Mom and nap. Football Sundays are good days.

That definitely does sound good, and I can see why you'd love it so much. But we all know it's not always nice things like Football Sundays with the humans, is it? So, tell me, what’s the one thing your human does that you hate most?

Most cats seem to like it, but don’t get that brush thing around me. I might tolerate it for a few seconds, but then it’s just annoying and I attack it and the hand holding it.

Sorry you don't enjoy being brushed. I'm a big fan of it myself. Anyway, Bond, I know your human is a writer. Has she written anything about you? If yes, can you tell us about it? If no, do you think she will in the future?

She hasn’t written about me, but the idea for her first book came from their black cat, Shadow, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge before I lived with Mom and Dad. Since he inspired the story, Mom put a black cat in the book named Eby, short for Ebony. Seems fair to me. Maybe I’ll get my own story someday.

That's interesting about the cat in her first book, and I hope she does write a story featuring you one day. In the meantime, what do you do while your human writes?

I usually hang close. She talks to me a lot and asks for my opinion on things. Sometimes I’ll curl up beside her or she’ll write in the kitchen where she can watch me while I’m leashed on the patio. She doesn’t seem to like it when I walk across the laptop.

That's great that she asks for your opinion on things. I hope she's sensible enough to take your advice. Not sure what her problem about you walking across the laptop is, but when I mentioned it to Mummy, she said she didn't blame her for that. Humans! Anyway, I hear cats sleep a lot, and you're probably due for a cat nap, so I should let you go. Before you go though, is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?

I’d really like people to know that because of some silly superstitions, black cats are the last to be rescued from shelters, if they’re adopted at all. My parents and their friends who’ve also chosen black cats say they’re full of personality and have a lot of unconditional love to give. And I promise we don’t come with any curses or bad juju. Give us a chance.

That's a great message to send out to people. Mummy says she agrees with it too. In fact, she says she had a black cat before - a long time before I was born - and agrees about the personality. So, people, give black cats a chance!

Thanks for inviting me over, Lilie! I don’t get many interview requests—even though I’m usually lying right beside Mom when she writes. More blogs should interview pets. We’re far more interesting than humans.

You're very welcome, and I completely agree! Thanks for coming over, and feel free to let any other animals you know who live with writers know we want to interview them, so they can get in touch too - regardless of what species they are.

***~~~***

About the human:

Teri Polen reads and watches horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. The Walking Dead, Harry Potter, and anything Marvel-related are likely to cause fangirl delirium. She lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband, sons, and black cat. Her first novel, Sarah, a YA horror/thriller, was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Visit her online at www.teripolen.com

Contact Links:
Website: https://teripolen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeriPolenAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TPolen6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16114393.Teri_Polen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tpolen6/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/teripolen/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/teri-polen

***~~~***

Subject A36

If genetic engineering could guarantee you and your family perfect health and unparalleled beauty, would you pay top dollar for it? Would you kill for it?

Residents of the Colony would. And do.

Only the Insurgents can stop them.

Seventeen-year-old Asher Solomon is a premier operative with the Insurgents. He and his team have rescued countless hostages, saving them from painful deaths in Colony labs as desirable genetic traits are stripped from their bodies.

He's also suffered more losses than anyone should have to.

Then Asher gets intel that might give his people the upper hand. The Colony is searching for Subject A36. If the Insurgents determine the subject's identity first, they might be able to turn the tide of the war.

Asher and his team embark on their riskiest mission ever, and the stakes have never been higher. But even if he survives the physical dangers, the devastating secrets he uncovers might destroy him.

Grab your copy today from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

***~~~***

I hope you enjoyed getting to meet Bond, and learn more about him and his human, Teri. Show them how much you did by leaving a comment, or sharing this post. Better yet, make us all very happy by doing both!


By the way, we're always eager to make new friends, and looking for guests. It doesn't matter to us if you're furry, feathered, scaled, or whatever, we want to hear from you. So, if you're a bird, cat, chinchilla, degu, dog, fish, gerbil, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, rat, tortoise, or other non-human creature, you share your home with a human calling themselves a writer - yes, blogging counts - and you'd like to be our guest, please get in touch. To find out how, go to the "PetKid Pals" page (which used to be the "Friends Of Furkid Friday" page, but we're in the middle of changing things, so it will be "PetKid Pals" from now on) where you can not only find out how to get your turn in the spotlight, but can also meet all the PetKid Pals we've had as guests in the past. Don't forget to tell your friends to get in touch so we can get to know them too!

In the meantime, thanks for visiting.

Lots of licks,
Lilie

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 13-02-20

A story can be like a mad, lovely visitor, with whom you spend a rather exciting weekend.
~Lorrie Moore

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 was another busy reading week. Most of what I read were short books, which meant I ended up reading six books during the past week. So, here's what I read, along with my book reviews.

The Lords Of Terra by L.J. Goulding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I've been reluctant to read more of these books, since I found the ones I have read kind of dark. But I'm taking part in a reading challenge where the whole point is to read something you've been reluctant to read, so read this anyway. As it happens, I'm glad I did, since I really enjoyed it. Yes, it's dark - and quite gory in places, especially the third of the stories - but I still devoured all three stories in one sitting. A new favourite? Definitely not. But I'm glad I read it.

The Case of the Mystery of the Bells: Davey & Derek Junior Detectives, Book 6 by Janice Spina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was another great mystery by this author, which makes for a fun addition to this series, as well as an enjoyable read in its own right. The characters are wonderful, and I'm enjoying watching them grow and learn, while the story - which is a fantastic combination of mystery and paranormal elements - unfolds.

Subject A36 by Teri Polen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was eagerly anticipating this book, having thoroughly enjoyed the author's previous books, and was a little worried my hopes for it were so high I'd end up disappointed. I needn't have worried; I was not disappointed. This is a gripping read, with wonderful world building, a great cast of realistic and relatable characters, and an action-packed plot full of surprises. It had me hooked from the start, and took me on an emotional rollercoaster throughout, leaving me breathless at the end, but eager for another wild ride. The ending is tied up enough to leave a cliffhanger hater like me satisfied, while remaining open enough that I'd have immediately reached for the next book had it been out and available to read, because I'm desperate to know what happens next.
*NOTE: I was given a free advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This fact has in no way influenced either my opinion of this book, or the contents of my review. All opinions given here are my own.

Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words by Sally Cronin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an absolutely delightful collection of beautiful stories and poems, exploring a wide variety of genres and topics, and often featuring animals. It's impossible to pick a favourite, because they're all so well told, and stir the emotions and senses in one way or another. I devoured the book in one sitting, and would have gladly stayed up past bed time to continue had there been more of it to read. This is not the first book I have read by this author, and it most definitely will not be the last either.
*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 this book, or the contents of my review. All opinions given here are my own.

Topsy and Tim: The Complete Audio Collection by Jean Adamson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute collection of stories, all of which are just as good as I remember from when I read them as a child.

Royal Blood by Barbara G. Tarn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great collection of tales, which are wonderful additions to the series, as well as being excellent stories in their own right. "TheWiddow" especially was a fantastic story.

• Watching:

This week I watched the old animated "Dumbo" movie again (just because it was on). I caught snatches of several other Disney movies I've seen several times in the past too, since I had the Sky Disney Cinema channel on for Mollie, since I put it on as a quick option when she wasn't liking something on the other channel, and left it on when she seemed to be enjoying watching it (based on her sitting on one of the ledges in her cage, snacking on something while staring at the TV). I think I've found something other than crime shows that Mollie enjoys.

I also watched more of "NCIS" season 13. I might have finished it, but I also ended up watching some of season 12 again, because I asked Kelly to put it on for me, and he thought I was still on season 12, since I'd left the DVD on the coffee table (I'd forgotten to put it with the ones I'd already seen). When I was finding the episodes familiar, I thought at first it was where I'd seen some of the episodes randomly on TV. I only realized when I went to change disks (after having watched two DVDs, since Kelly changed the disks the first time they needed it, as well as having put the first one on, because I had Artemis in my arms both times) that something wasn't right. Oh well, I enjoyed watching the episodes again anyhow, and I know Mollie won't mind it taking me a bit longer to move on to a different show. *wink*

• Listening:

This week I've been listening to mainly love songs, or music with an element of that kind of theme to it, because I could, and because it's the month of love, what with Valentine's Day being tomorrow and all that. With that in mind, here's "Truely Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden. Enjoy!