The Lottery Ticket

Last year I did "A Year of Making" which entailed making something every day for 365 days in a row.  I'm not going to write about that now, but wanted to mention it as many people have asked what I will be doing this year.

My answer, besides not committing to do anything 365 days in a row, is that I will be reading more.  My goal for the year is 100 books.  I read more than that in 2014, so I know it can be done!  My reading habits are a bit different now though, as I no longer have to read a large number of young adult fiction for my job.  Yay! (I was getting a bit burned out on those)

Last year, I also started Goodreads group based on the 2015 Reading Challenge put out by Popsugar. I did not come anywhere near finishing - some of those categories were real skunks.  The group has grown, and this year we developed our own 2016 Reading Challenge.  Today I finished my first book!

The Lottery Ticket, by Jules Verne (also known as Ticket No. 9672) was what you would a call a very NICE book.  It was published in 1886, and it was certainly appropriate for young people or those wanting a gentle read.

Plot Synopsis: 
(courtesy of D. Kytasaari - http://epguides.com/djk/JulesVerne/works.shtml) 

Hulda Hansen of Dal, Norway anxiously awaits the return of her betrothed, Ole Kamp who promised her great fortune on his return. Ole works on the fishing boat, Viking, which is expected to return soon, but when it doesn't, it is feared lost. While this is going on, Hulda and her brother Joel also worry about their mother Dame Hansen, who hasn't been acting like herself, ever since that visit from a man known as Sandgoist. A guest staying with the family is Sylvius Hogg, who is taken with Hulda's story and uses his position within the government to help out. One trace of the ship is found, a bottle that contains a note for Hulda and a single lottery ticket, numbered 9672. News of the tragedy and the hope of the possible riches of the lottery ticket spread around the countryside, especially interested is the man Sandgoist. What fortunes await the Hansen family when the day of the lottery drawing arrives?

I found it for free on iBooks, and thought it would be kind of fun to have on my phone to read during those times I found myself with a few minutes to spare here and there.  It worked well for that.  Easy to pick up and put down, so to speak.

That's all for today!

sNOw

Can you see it?



Look hard!

It didn't last very long - just a few flakes and then it was gone.  Nothing to get exciting about, though rumor has it there could be a bit more overnight.  Not looking very promising, however.

Of greater interest is the clandestine, forbidden romance meeting I stumbled upon today while walking through town...



Oh my!

I also saw some ancient technology.  It doesn't get anymore exciting than this, kids.

More beach!

It's been cold here for days.  Cold enough that some of the frost doesn't melt, if it's in the shade all day.



It was another gorgeous sunny day, and despite the cold we got out for another walk.  Today we headed to Deception Pass State Park.  The walk around Cranberry Lake is one of our favorites - it's not too long, and you get a little bit of forest and a bit of beach.

Look at the happy little wave!



How can you not love this place?




We are so fortunate to live where we do.  It's easy to get out into a natural place, just a short drive in any direction will get us to a park with a beach and forest.

Ahhhhhhh.

One more day of my mini holiday.  More reading, relaxing, and another walk are in store.

Oh hello!

Today was a beautiful day.  Cold, crisp, sunny.

Perfect for a walk at Ebey's bluff!



Wow.

It's been a while since I've stopped by here.  I was rather busy in 2015, with this "Year of Making" thing I was doing.  Writing wasn't very high on my list, but I did a lot of crochet.  A LOT.  I also did quite a lot of doodle drawing, and a few other assorted things.  What I did manage to do was "make" something every day for 365 days in a row!



The only thing I usually do that often are sleep, eat, and have a wee.  Heh.

This year I'm not committing to do anything for 365 days in a row - anything out of the norm, anyhow.  I have set a goal to read at least 100 books, which should actually be quite doable.  The great thing is I don't have to read YA books anymore if I don't want to - woohoo!  I'll read one, as one category of the 2016 Reading Challenge is to read a YA book.  I do have an ARC here that I want to read, when I'm in the mood.  Maybe I'll take up blogging more regularly again this year.  I suddenly feel in the mood to write (which has also been lacking for a while).

Here is a peek inside bull kelp:



And a couple more lovely scenes from our walk.  Happy New Year!

Ideal after Strange occasions

Look at this lovely and convincing comment I got on an old blog I did for work years ago!  Apparently PVC vases are a thing that must be sold via humorously worded spam.

An incredibly frigid vase that expands already your eyes! Made of PVC vases, this doesn’t look like much until you carry out it with invalid and watch it drink silhouette! Sturdy, unbreakable, foldable and comfortable to store. Brighten your haunt or workplace. After employment you simply, kill flowers, uninspired the vase and wrap it flat.

Features:
Manufacturer new and great quality.
Noblewoman unformed vase.
Unbreakable & collapsible, multifarious from stock bloomflower vase.
While performs the done gathering as accustomed cheap flower vases one.
Charm vase made of hard-wearing and flexible soft materials.
Absolutely fill it with copiously then it takes show improvement as a flower vase.
Fatiguing davy jones's locker layer helps it continue firmly with sprinkle in it.
After operation, just bare the vase and up it reclining in search easy carrying & store.
Portable, expandable, reusable and eco-friendly.
With narcissus & butterfly patterns.
Embellishes your desktop & room.
Can be reach-me-down alone or in a group to create marvelous centerpiece.
Also ideal in the interest of all flower-giving occasions: redone baby born, birthday, anniversary, congratulations, visiting friends & patients etc.

Just top off up the vase with water and it drive automatically peculate the fettle of a flower vase.The vase:- Looks like dear glassware- Centre color spreads in every nook the water- Is simple elucidation to carry- Intention in no way bust or tear- Is utterly stable- Conditions leaks- Is crystal clear And glossy- Is massive Object of Hospital Visits, Office Say, and a short budget corporate and throng mailing gift- Is coloful and charming,unbreakable. 

Colored plastic vasesflexible vases that artlessly take their condition when filled with water. Unyielding,unbreakable, foldable and uncomplicated to store away. Opposite patterns and colours to decide from. Vamoose your where one lives stress or workplace fulgid and colorful.

3.Ideal after:
Birthdays ,Anniversaries,Strange occasions;
Lighten up your own desk at realize find time;
Visiting friends or relatives in sickbay;
At the graveside of your loved ones

Garden progress...

Oh hello!  I haven't been here in a while.  I've just not been in the mood to blog, but lately I've been more in the mood.  I was looking at Weebly as a possibility, but in the long run I think sticking with this is best.  I think it's best to put everything in one spot, since I'm not a big famous blogger with time to figure out a complex website system!  Haha.

I've been working a lot in the garden.  Now that we are without pets, I find that I have so much more time to get things done.  No dog walks, and no hours spend building the hateful cat fences!  Anyhow, here's what I've done the last couple of days...

Before

After

Not too shabby!  Lots of hard work though.  I've been spending a lot of time sifting compost and dirt this year.  The bed to the right had a double sifting.  I'll be building a new cucumber trellis there next, and planting them in a couple of weeks.

Today's bed did not get the second sifting.  I sifted the compost (necessary), but not the soil as I mixed it in.  NEXT YEAR!  It looks pretty damn good as is!  I planted corn, pumpkins, and zucchini. The side bit closest to the patio is where the borage has grown the last few years.  I need to extend it a bit, and maybe even toss in a few new seeds.  Borage reseeds incredibly well, but it does have a shelf life.

You can barely see the potatoes poking through in the back bed.  The oregano in the corner is taking over.  I've started to clear along the fence, so we WILL have sunflowers back there this year!  The long range forecast is for warm and dry - which bodes well for the garden!  WARM.

WARM.

WARM.

WARMMMMMMMM...

Time for a sanity check

Heading out tomorrow for a couple of days of fresh salt air at the coast.  I will not be complete until I see Clark contemplating a sturgeon.

We're taking our bikes, and this is one of the sights along the seaside trail.  I'm sure there will be many other things to see as well.

Sad as it is to lose Syd, there are certainly benefits to being pet free while traveling.

• We can easily stop anywhere along the way for a pee or scenic overlook without a lot of wrangling in and out of the car.
• We can stay in any room.
• I get to take my bicycle.
• I'll be able to take more photos.
• We can eat in restaurants or poke around in shops as we please.
• Nobody will be eating rotten fish or crabs off of the beach.

Things will be just a bit more relaxed.  I wish he was still with us, but he's not.

Yesterday we took a day trip over to Port Townsend for lunch and a bit of muddling around.

It was good to get out.

I'll be back soon.