Going Gray Gradually

 I started the process back in December 2017. We added highlights to my hair and achieved a dark blond. I thought it looked rather nice. I also had my hair cut shorter.

I resisted going lighter for ages, but I actually enjoy the lighter color as I can go longer between hair appointments. I also changed my shampoo and conditioner to help with the lighter hair, one of my favorites so far is Rusk.

Feb 8, 2018 I continued with the highlights and shorter hair. As you can see it's getting lighter.

And now in August we have...

Grey hair.

Revenge in a Cold River (William Monk #22)

Revenge in a Cold River by Anne Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well this time it's Monk that winds up in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Thankfully Rathbone has been reinstated to the bar in time to defend him.

McNab's enmity toward Monk seems to have grown and Monk is suspicious when McNab brings him into what should be a matter for Customs when one of their escaped prisoners is found dead with a bullet in his back (the bullet makes it a matter for the River Police). The investigation soon brings Monk in contact with men and women from his past that he doesn't remember. Apparently he was in San Francisco during the Gold Rush Days.

Runcorn is able to shed light on McNab's enmity but when McNab accuses Monk of killing one of his men it's Beata York that will save the day by confronting her former friend Miriam Clive about why she was meeting secretly with McNab and what happened in San Francisco almost 20 years ago. Miriam's testimony will set Monk free but destroy her husband Aaron Clive. When Aaron kidnaps Miriam from Beata's home Monk and Gillander (a former friend from his San Francisco days) will rescue her.

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Fire & Blood (A Targaryen History #1)

Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love Fire & Blood, it's a prequel to A Song of Ice and Fire otherwise known as Game of Thrones.


It starts with Daenys the Dreamer foreseeing the destruction of Valyria by fire and the Targaryens leaving Valyria for Dragonstone. Eventually Aegon Targaryen (dragon Balerion the Black Dread) decided to conquer Westeros along with his elder sister/wife Visenya (dragon Vhagar) and younger sister/wife Rhaenys (dragon Meraxes). The Starks of Winterfell aren't going to play much of a role seeing the destruction of Harrenhal (Balerion burned it to the ground, even though it was built of stone), King Torrhen Stark of Winterfell bent the knee saving the lives of his men and keeping his Kingdom although he would be known as Lord of Winterfell afterwards.. The Baratheon's on the other hand play a very large role. Orys Baratheon is Lord Aegon's bastard half-brother, and was hand of the King after Aegon conquered most of Westeros. Dorne managed to hold out by their rulers disappearing into the desert whenever Aegon attacked. During one of their attacks Orys was captured and his sword hand was taken, during their attack on Hellholt Meraxes was shot in the eye with a Scorpion killing the dragon and Queen Rhaenys. When Prince Nymor proposed peace for some mysterious reason King Aegon I agreed. During King Aegon's reign the White Cloaks were created Queen Visenya modeled their vows on the vows of the Night Watch.


Before Queen Rhaenys died she had a son with King Aegon. Aenys was the eldest son and the King's heir much to Queen Visenya's displeasure (her son was Maegor the Cruel). King Aegon I had no daughters so the Targaryen tradition of wedding brothers to sisters wasn't an issue at this time. Aenys wed a cousin Alyssa Velaryon (daughter of the Lord of the tides Aethan Velaryon) they soon had a daughter named Rhaena for her Grandmother. Maegor Targaryen would wed Lady Ceryse Hightower.


When King Aegon I died Aenys became King and he named Maegor his hand. This was a bad decision as Maegor was untrustworthy and wanted to be King. Maegor declared his wife Ceryse barren and without the King's permission set her aside marrying Alys Harroway in a Valyrian rite. This cause a rift between the brothers and King Aenys sent Maegor into exile.


Children of Queen Alyssa and King Aenys I:
Rhaena (forced to marry Maegor after Aegon's death) - Dragon Dreamfyre)
Aegon the Uncrowned (killed by Maegor)
Viserys (killed by Maegor)
Jaehaerys (King)
Alysanne (Queen)


King Aenys I made a serious blunder when he wed his daughter Rhaena to his son Aegon (dragon Quicksilver) and named Aegon Lord of Dragonstone (a title that had belonged to Maegor before his exile). This set the Targaryens and the Faith at War. Upon King Aenys' death Maegor (dragon Balerion) returned from exile and claimed the crown. Aegon and Rhaena had twin daughters Aerea and Rhaella before Aegon and his dragon were killed battling his Uncle.


Alys Harroway was killed by Maegor when she gave birth to a stillborn boy who was deformed. (Maegor claimed the deformed boy was a bastard) Ceryse supposedly died of a sudden illness but rumor had it that Maegor had her killed for making a shrewish remark. Upon their deaths Maegor forced Rhaena, Lady Jeyne of House Westerling and Lady Elinor of House Costayne to wed him. Aerea was named as Maegor's heir after he wed her Mother and Rhaella was sent to be raised as a Septa. Some say the two switched places at a later date.


After both Lady Jeyne and Lady Elinor gave birth to stillborn children who were deformed (supposedly due to a potion Tyanna of the Tower gave them) Maegor was called cursed and Lord Rogar Baratheon Protector of the Realm and Hand of the King declared Jaehaerys King. Maegor died on his throne how is unknown.


Jaehaerys I (dragon Vermithor) wed his sister Alysanne (dragon Silverwing) much to his Mother and Lord Rogar's dismay. But contrary to their fears the people accepted this and Jaehaerys managed to get the faith to rule that the Targaryens were not subject to the Faiths laws against incest. Lord Rogar married the Queen Regent Alyssa to King Jaehaerys' displeasure but he didn't make an issue of it. Nor did he make an issue of Rhaena marrying Androw Farman, the second son of a minor lord, without the King's leave (rumor has it she had a thing for his sister Elissa Farman) Queen Alysanne did much good while she was alive and managed to pass a law ending the nobles rights to a brides first night. She also visited the wall on her Dragon (Queensgate is named for her) and it was thanks to her that the Night Watch got the money and land they needed.


Elissa Farman would steal three dragon eggs from Rhaena to finance a ship when she disappeared. Androw feeling slighted after his sister left and his wife turned to other female companions, poisoned them. When Rhaena discovered what he had done she feed him to her dragon.


Aerea (dragon Balerion) upset that she was no longer in line to be Queen took Balerion (or he took her there is some speculation that she couldn't control him and he returned to the land of his birth) and disappeared. She reappeared years later as she was dying. Speculation has it she visited Valyria where she was attacked by vile creatures conjured by Valyrian dark magic that laid their eggs inside her. Balerion was also badly wounded when they returned.


King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alysanne's Children:
Aegon (died soon after birth)
Daenerys (died of the fever in childhood)
Prince Aemon, Heir and married to Jaehaerys's half-sister, Jocelyn Baratheon. He died before King Jaehaerys, he and his wife had a daughter Rhaenys)
Baelon (named heir after his brother died)
Alyssa (married her brother Baelon)
Daella (Married the Lord of the Eyrie, Rodrik Arryn. They had one child together, a daughter named Aemma Arryn that Daella died giving birth too.
Gael (drowned herself in the Blackwater, some speculate that she had been seduced and was pg)


When Prince Aemon died in battle The Council of Lords choose to pass over his daughter Princess Rhaenys (The Queen who Never Was) and Baelon who was married to his sister Alyssa was named the heir. Setting a precedent that the oldest male Targaryen would be the heir. When Baelon died of a burst appendix his son Viserys, was named the heir. Jaehaerys showed great wisdom when he allowed the council to have a say in his successor, unfortunately Viserys wasn't as wise and refused to follow the precedent that made him KING.


Rhaenys married Corlys Velaryon (The Sea Snake) and had two children with him, Laena and Laenor Velaryon.


Baelon and Alyssa's Children:
Viserys (heir and became King after his Grandfather Jaehaerys' death)
Daemon (married Laena Velaryon after her death he married his niece Rhaenyra Targaryen)
Aegon (no idea what happened to him)


Viserys married his cousin Aemma Arryn (Daella Targaryen's daughter) their only surviving child was a daughter Princess Rhaenyra who was dubbed "the realm's delight" as a child. Aemma died in labor birthing the king's son and heir unfortunately the infant died a day after Aemma. While the king was bereaved, his brother Daemon was observed in a brothel in the Street of Silk making drunken japes with his cronies about the "heir for a day". When word of this reached the grieving Viserys, his grief turned to rage. After the mourning period was over Viserys held a lavish ceremony and had Rhaenyra declared the heir and Princess of Dragonstone in response to his ungrateful brother's ambitions. Hundreds of lords and landed knights did obeisance to the princess and swore solemn oaths to defend her rights of succession (including the Starks, who always no matter what keep their oaths).


This would have been fine IF Viserys hadn't remarried and gone on to Father SONS by his second wife. He married the daughter of his Hand Alicent Hightower.


Viserys and Alicent's Children:
Aegon (named King after his Father's death, known as Aegon the elder due to Rhaenyra naming one of her boys Aegon)
Helaena (Aegon's Queen) taken prisoner by Rhaenyra she jumped from her window in Maegor's Holdfast, she was only 21 when she died.
Aemond one eye - When they were children Rhaenyra's three bastards attacked him and put out his eye.) Died during the Dance of Dragons
Daeron the Daring -Died during the Dance of Dragons


Viserys refused to name his son as his heir. He forced Rhaenyra to marry Laenor Velaryon (who was gay) rumor has it her sons were bastards fathered by Ser Harwin Strong heir to Harrenhal and son of the King's new hand. Otto Hightower (Alicent's Father) was dismissed when he tried to get Viserys to name Aegon as his heir.


Children of Aegon the Elder and Helaena:

Jaehaerys Targaryen - Killed by Blood and Cheese as a child in front of his Mother, Grandmother and siblings
Jaehaera (twin sister of Jaehaerys) - forced to marry Aegon the Younger she too would jump to her death. (rumor had it the King's Hand had her killed in order to make room for Aegon the Younger to wed his daughter)
Maelor Targaryen - torn apart by Rhaenyra's supporters.


Children of Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon (Ser Harwin Strong)
Jacaerys
Lucerys,
Joffrey
(The Three Strong Bastards would die during the Dance of Dragons)



Children of Rhaenyra and her Uncle Daemon Targaryen
Aegon (known as Aegon the Younger)
Viserys


Children of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon
Rhaena

Baela - Married Lord Alyn Velaryon (the Sea Snake's bastard son/grandson after Rhaenys was killed during The Dance of Dragons the Sea Snake claimed that his gay son Laenor had Fathered Alyn and his brother legitimized them and named the eldest his heir)


Aegon the Elder fought the Queen Who Never Was, Rhaenys on their dragons. Rhaenys and her dragon was killed and Aegon the Elder and his Dragon (Sunfyre) was badly injured. His brother Aemond took the Regency and Aegon was hidden away. Rhaenyra briefly gained control but due to her paranoia (she starting killing her own supporters for no reason) soon lost control. When she ordered the death of Nut (a dragonrider from the village) her own husband, Daemon turned against her. Daemon died battling Aemond one eye, who also died in the battle. When Rhaenys fled Kingslanding for Dragonstone she found Aegon the Elder already there he fed her to his dragon but spared the life of her son Aegon the Younger. This proved to be a mistake as Aegon the Younger's supporters would lager poison Aegon the Elder ending his reign and putting Aegon the Younger on the throne. Cregan Stark was briefly his hand and meted out justice to the killers of Aegon The Elder. Most of the killers choose to take the Black rather than be beheaded. Cregan resigned and returned to the North after justice had been meted out. Tyland Lannister was named King's Hand and would rule wisely until he died of Winter Fever. Lord Unwin Peake became Hand, he would used the position to place several of his Family Members in key roles at court and was rumored to have killed Jaehaera in an effort to wed his daughter to King Aegon. His efforts were thwarted when Aegon choose to marry a very young Daenaera. After he was replaced as Hand he would be implicated in a plot to kill Aegon the Younger and his Queen but nothing could ever be proved against him, but many of his kin and friends were involved. Once Aegon came of age he would dismiss the Hand and Council that ruled while he was a minor and replace them with his brother Viserys. Viserys was married to Larra Rogare who was not popular due to her worship of foreign gods. But at the end of Fire & Blood the children of Prince Viserys and Larra Rogare would be in line to inherit as Aegon the Younger was childless.

Some important things learned, anyone can kill a dragon and you don't have to be a Targaryen to ride dragons. Rhaenyra would enlist Dragonriders from the village (known as Seeds) during her fight for the throne.

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Coloring Pages

Being Silly

Of Blood and Bone (Chronicles of The One, #2)

Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant, it picks up with Fallon on the Eve of her 13th birthday. As promised she goes to train with Mallick and makes new friends. She also gains the owl Taibhse, the wolf Faol Ban and the alicorn Laoch as companions.

Together with her family Lana (Mother), Simon Swift (Father) and brothers Colin, Travis and Ethan they go to New Hope where she teams up with Duncan and Tonia (Katie's twins) together they destroy nuclear weapons. But to late they discover that Petra, one of the cult members Duncan and Tonia rescued isn't what she seemed. The twisted and crazed child of Eric and Allegra she attacks New Hope with her parents when they least expect it leaving Duncan's best friend Denzel dead.

By combining forces Duncan, Tonia and Fallon are able to seriously wound Eric and Simon delivers the killing blow. But Petra and Allegra escape.

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Pages I Colored

Dining Room Flowers

 This basket was a Housewarming Gift when we moved here over 25+ years ago. The flowers were looking a bit worn though so I went to Michaels and got some new in the color scheme I am using. The garnet red, dusty lilac, icy green, white and indigo echo the color palette I choose to use for the Kitchen and Dining Room.

 This vase is new and the left over flowers when in it. I thought of leaving it on the dining room table but it wasn't very practical as we use the table frequently and it was in the way.

 I had to arrange the flowers in the basket several times before getting it right.

On the other hand the flowers in the vase came together perfectly first try. And the vase looks great in this corner. The table it's on is going to be painted the Tempered Gray from my color scheme.

Kitchen Light and Dining Room

 Bo had this light custom built for the kitchen it matches the cabinets perfectly.

I love the combination Emerald Ice (top) Urban Sunrise (trim) and Flood Tide (Bottom) in the Dining room. 

And finally in July it was ready to have the furniture put back in. I love how well everything looks together. 

 I just love the way the light looks in here.

~Alasandra