Peacefield

Hello and welcome, Marie! Glad you joined us If you're expanding your reading to include American authors, I would highly recommend Katherine Howe. She has written two books, The Physic Book of Deliverance Dane and The House of Velvet and Glass. The former is my favorite and one I'll read over and over .

That fair looks cool, Pontalba! I love DC...so many cultural pursuits there! The shutdown affects my job indirectly, but there are others at my company that are really affected. Not because we are govt employees, but because we provide some services to those who do work for the govt Here in the upper midwest of the US, gardengirl, October is a very pretty month with all the colored trees and grasses. Here are a couple of photos that my friend took when we drove down to the southern part of the state last autumn:

Thanks, Pontalba, I'll be very careful! When is the Book Fair up there? Hopefully this whole shut-down issue will be resolved by then. I almost said hopefully those people in DC will get this figured out soon but then I thought, who am I kidding?!

That's so nice of you to take your neighbor out, Chrissy! One of the things I remember fondly about my trip to the UK was a big fish and chips dinner in Canterbury . Good healthy feeling-better vibes to you, gardengirl! I would also recommend loads of vitamin C. Kylie, I've often thought that being on a bicycle-built-for-two would be fun, but now that I've heard your story... no way!! Happy birthday-month, Athena! I hope you have a lovely one. How is it already October?! The leaves are starting to change here in the cities, and up at the cabin even moreso and it's beautiful! I'm always of two minds about autumn. It's my favorite and my least favorite season, precisely because of what comes next . My hand is healing well and the bruises are virtually gone! It's a busy time at work, so I'm glad to be able to use both hands without any problems, woo! I hope everyone has a great week ahead of them!

I had no idea, Pontalba! Cool!

Woo for new glasses, Chesil! Sorry, you guys, I just assumed everyone knew what a skyway was. They are basically square tubes connecting buildings about two stories off the ground. Is Minneapolis the only city that had them, I wonder? Anyway, we have them because of our horribly cold and snowy winters - that way people can walk from building to building without going outside Muggle, I didn't realize that about the sunrise on Cadillac! I can't wait to get back there some day.

Thanks mucho, Muggle! I remember the top of Cadillac mountain... it was so beautiful it was hard to leave! It was super windy, though, and kind of cold, and some lame person insisted on yelling into his cell phone "I'M IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK!" Talk about annoying. I usually had one night class a term when I was in college, but I lived in the dorms and they were connected by skyways so going home at night wasn't bad, Sabry. I also had weekend classes, ugh. Keep in mind this was all so I wouldn't have to get up before 9:00am every day and I also had one day off every week

Thanks for the encouraging words, everyone! Muggle, I had carpal tunnel surgery performed on my left hand back on the 12th. Good times! Your photos are beautiful! That last one, is that from the top of Cadillac mountain?

Jealous, Muggle! Sounds like a dream trip A few years ago a friend and I drove through New England for 2 weeks and it was one of the best vactions I've had. You're right about Acadia National Park, too, it's beautiful! I'd love to see more of New York. I've only ever been to Manhattan but a lot of my ancestors settled around where you guys visited, I think. They were in Ulster and Dutchess counties, which is part of the HRV, isn't it? I came back to work for a half day yesterday, and today I'm here all day. I have a brace on my wrist but even without it my hand feels good. I get the stitches taken out tomorrow, yeah!

Thanks for the good luck wishes everyone - I always miss this place when I'm away . My carpal tunnel surgery went off without a hitch and I've been recuperating nicely. Already have the bandage off but it sure isn't pretty! Stitches are still there and won't come out for another week or so. I'm off work this week and will continue to recover. I hope everyone is well and I will check in again soon!

Hi, guys!! How goes the reading? I read and LOVED Joyland last month, and cannot find enough words to say how much I enjoyed it . It's King with all of his nostalgia and east-coast US charms but without the bizarre and gruesome elements, if that makes sense. Last week I read the first story in King's short story book Full Dark, No Stars - called 1922. Talk. About. Creepy. Man! Also very dark, so I'm taking a break from old-King-ness to read Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley. It's the third installment in his Flavia de Luce mysteries and it's already making me laugh.

Thanks, Muggle! They are one of my favorite apples too. I was at the farmer's market this morning and they said they were expecting them soon from the University. What a cool thing to make up new apples! I hope you get perfectly-tasting ones soon!

I don't know if I've met you yet, Carelia, but congrats on your wedding!! Ditto on the lovelyness Good luck with everything you've got on your plate, Kell! I hope you can start seeing your sister again, June - it's very encouraging for you, I'm sure, to see that she has such a great support system. It's been so long since I've posted, you guys, so forgive me! My family has gone home and my mom has just returned from a reunion up in Canada. Today is the 1 year anniversary of my step-father's death and it's unbelievable how fast the time has gone by. It was at the same reunion last year that he had his heart attack so this year it was bittersweet yet mom was so appreciative of her time there because she was surrounded by family . Thursday I have my left wrist carpal tunnel surgery scheduled, so I won't be online for awhile after that! I'm on leave from work until the 23rd, so we'll see how well I do with the typing after that I'm just glad it's finally getting done since last December I ended up getting the chicken pox and had to cancel the surgery! Anyway, I hope to post loads this week before the big day so talk to everyone soon! PS: Muggle, that's a shame about the Honey Crisp! They're not out yet up here but aren't they a MN-bred apple? Or MN-concocted breed, I should say. Yum!

Hey there and welcome to BCF, Sabry! Glad you joined us

Hey there and welcome, Carelia! Glad you joined BCF Excellent fave authors you have - I share many of them! Hope to have some great discussions with you.

Let's hope it's not a repeat performance, BSchultz! I will admit though, some of my best game memories are seeing the Northstars play the Blackhawks. Talk about good games!

The season was so short here because of the lockout, and I didn't get to see any live games which I don't think has ever happened! Seeing Chicago take the Cup was depressing so I hope I'll be more enthused by the time the '13/'14 season starts.

Vallejo, California

Hey there, Cheryl! Welcome to BCF - it sounds like you'll fit right in .

I too read The Fountainhead when I was young-ish and was quite taken with it. I've since re-read it a couple of more times and while my head is in a different place I still enjoy analyzing and pondering it's meaning. Keeping an open mind is key, Frankie! I'll echo also the fact that Secret History is really worth a read. It's another one I've read more than once and I still love it.

I mostly enjoyed Under the Dome, Bobbly, and I completely agree that it was like reading King in his prime! It reminded me so much of staying up late at night during high school and reading The Shining . Ugh, the TV show . This is just my opinion you guys, but I had to stop watching after 3 or 4 episodes because it was so bad. They've changed so much that's important in the book, it's not even the same story anymore. I've read that the US series is meant to go on as a regular ongoing show, not a mini-series, which makes me think that the Dome issue will never be explained/resolved properly. There are main characters in the book who I loved but are completely missing from the show, and even the essence of the Dome structure itself is different! Both things I think are important to the story so I just had to quit watching the TV version.

I managed to finish the behemoth a.k.a. Under the Dome while I was on vacation, as well as Dead Ever After. I was busy after that trying to squeeze in time with my family, so I just re-read bits of Circle of Friends for the hundredth time. Tonight I'll start a new book, but I just haven't decided on which one yet...

My vacation is over, and I'm back at work today . I even woke up this morning and immediately felt a little tear-y at the fact that my sister and nephew are no longer here visiting. 2,000 miles is just too far to live apart. I'm really hoping I can go during the winter for my birthday and see them again. We had a great relaxing time up at the lake, though, with equal parts cabin-work and total vegging out by the lake had by all. I'm heading back up for a long weekend at the end of this month and am so looking forward to it. It's been perfect weather-wise, here, (between 21-26C) so I'm trying to appreciate it to the fullest before the dreaded winter season comes upon us. Good luck on selling your house, Kell! I hope everyone stays cool and has a lovely week ahead of them .

Hey there and welcome, Serah! Glad to have you .

The cabin is indeed relaxing! Just being at work the 3 days this weeks makes me want to run back up there. Luckily I leave on Thursday and won't have to be back to work until Monday the 12th! Good luck on your new job, Lily, and welcome back, Talisman When you're having fun, Athena, there usually isn't time to realize how tired you are! I hope you have a great time on your holidays.