Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Ketch-Up Day: Longwood Gardens Continued AND IWSG

 The last of the Longwood Garden Pictures in no particular order.


 










The outdoor gardens have large tents set up where you can grab something to eat and/or drink. They are quite nice. They have plastic windows and in winter are heated.Since we traditionally visit the gardens the end of November, we usually take advantage of one of the tents to get out of the cold and wind.

The gardens have a four acre conservatory and their outside grounds are over a thousand acres. They offer in person and online classes and have a lovely gift shop.  If you've never been there and have an opportunity to visit, I highly recommend it. For more information: Longwood Gardens

AND


 

The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

 

Twitter handle: @TheIWSG  

Hashtag: #IWSG 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

 

January 8 question - Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

 

Reviews in no particular order.

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

 

ENDANGERED SPECIES by Jacqui Murray

A prehistorical fiction filled with intrigue. Based on facts.

Once again Ms. Murray does a masterful job of sharing our ancestors’ history in a fictional setting filled with danger, mysticism and humanity.

The story toggles back and forth between Yu’ung, who is tasked with leading and saving her people from extinction and Jun/Shandar who is called upon to save Yu’ung and help her save her people.

There is also a fascinating canis pack whose job it is to protect Jun/Shandar.

The book is all we’ve come to expect from the author: unparalleled world building, wonderful character development—that is not limited to the main characters—and plenty of twists and turns to keep us on our toes.  Also helpful is a glossary of terms and a character index.

Jacqui Murray is a master of prehistoric fiction. Her readers and fans will not be disappointed.

Kudos on another winner, Ms. Murray. 

Available at Amazon

 

 

SWANGO by Lou Kemp

Swango is the sixth book in the Celwyn series where once again we hook up with Nemo, Jules Verne, Professor Kang the automat, Bartholomew, Celwyn’s friend and Tara, a vampire Celwyn is enamored of, to name a few.

This book is an introduction to a new character, Swango, who will soon be joining the series in the next installment.

Per usual, the characters are well-developed and the premise fascinating. The author has created a unique fantasy series while feeding us fun tidbits of history. She has written a one-of-a-kind tale, leaving us to speculate on what is coming next.

Available at Amazon

 

A GHOST AND HIS GOLD by Robert Eaton Cheadle

The author did her homework on this story. It’s a dual time line mystery sprinkled with historical facts and references.  

After a drunken night with an Ouija board, Michelle Holland encounters not one ghost but three. And one of them is out to do her and her husband harm. To end the haunting, she must learn the specters’ past.

The book is gritty and brings the Second Anglo Boer War to life.

Available at Amazon

 

 

 

JAMES K. POLK: America's 11th President (11) (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRESIDENTS SECOND SERIES) by Sean McCollum

The book is well-written and hits on the salient points of this president. While geared for young people, I found it to be an interesting read and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to an adult.

Available at Amazon

 

 


 

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Ketch-Up Day

 

Finally! Did you think I was never coming back? It's been crazy busy, but things are finally slowing down. Relatives came by train, plane and automobiles:) There were thirteen of us on Christmas Day. We took our last travelers to the airport Dec. 30.  What about you? Did you have wonderful holidays? Are things calm at your house?

Here's a couple more shots from the train, when we went to Philly over Thanksgiving.


 

Our daughter's orange tree. Can you see the green orange?

I'm thinking I need one:) What do you think?

 

As is rapidly becoming a tradition, the Friday after Thanksgiving we went to Longwood Gardens. It was beautiful as always.




A Poinsettia Tree


 



That's it for now. More Longwood pics to come. Let me know how your holidays were.  I'm anxious to hear.