Bilbo's Last Song by J.R.R. Tolkien, Pauline Baynes (Illustrator)

Bilbo's Last Song by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Would be perfect to read to young children beautiful illustrations.

View all my reviews

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig (Goodreads Author)

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wonderfully written Matt Haig explores what life would be like if you didn't age like other people. He follows the life of "Tom Hazzard" a man who has had many names and many lives, the challenges he dealt with and the fear he has felt over being discovered.

The book begins in the present day, Tom is looking for his daughter. The daughter he abandoned because he was a danger to her and her Mother. When he came back years later to comfort his dying wife he discovered that Marion also didn't age like normal people and that she too had been forced to flee.

View all my reviews

The Fall of Gondolin (Middle-Earth Universe)

The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I would have given it 5 stars but it's not an easy read. Really wish Christopher Tolkien would have just used his Father's notes to tell the story and not clutter it up with all the explanations and alternate versions.

Basically Tuor (Man from the House of Hador, Turor's Father is Huor.) at the behest of Ulmo (think of him as Neptune) sets out to find Turgon (Elf King of Gondolin, the second son of Fingolfin) and the hidden people and deliver a message. With the help of Voronwe (Elf of Gondolin, the only mariner to survive from the seven ships sent in the West by Turgon.) Tuor finds Gondolin. Due to his heritage he isn't put to death and is given an audience before the King. Tuor delivers his message and lives in Gondolin. Predictably he falls in love with the King's daughter, Idril and they marry. Tuor and Idril have a son Earendel, who is Elrond and Elros' Father (Lord of the Rings: Aragorn is descended from Elros and marries Elrond's daughter ).

Idril talks Tuor into building a secret tunnel as she distrust her cousin Meglin. Her mistrust was well earned as Meglin betrays Gondolin to Morgoth. Gondolin falls and Idril, Tuor, Earendel and some of the Elves flee through the secret tunnel and survive.

View all my reviews

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand (Goodreads Author)

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Found the way it was constantly shifting between past and present annoying and it kept me from connecting with any of the characters.

The book begins with Merritt's death, and the discovery of her body by Celeste. If you are hoping for a murder mystery abandon it her death is ruled accidental (which it was).

The book mainly revolves around Celeste and her relationships with: Her parents (Her Mother is dying of cancer), her fiancee Benji (she just wants his money) Benji's best friend (Shooter), and the maid of honer (Merritt). `

Celeste is the most whiny unappealing bride ever. A very rich man falls into her lap and she whines constantly about how she doesn't LOVE him, but she enjoys his money and loves his apartment, but inconsiderately his best friend Shooter has her falling head over hills in love. How can she ever choose between all the financial things Benji can giver her and her LUST for Shooter. Really don't feel her and Shooter are in love or have a clue about love as they barely know each other. And really don't like Celeste although she spends a lot of time trying to convince you that she wasn't wrong to accept Benji's proposal even though she didn't love him and already supposedly had feelings for Shooter. After all she did it for her parents. She allows Tag and Greer (Benji's parents) to spend a small fortune on her wedding to Benji but ... hey that's OK she did it for her parents.

Merritt whose body Celeste found as she was leaving to meet Shooter at the ferry barely has her character developed. She is portrayed as a shallow influencer with a penchant for sleeping with wealthy married men. Featherleigh the other husband stealing slut gets more attention then Merritt. And it's really really hard to care that Merritt went swimming in the middle of the night and drowned, Celeste barely gives it a thought as she agonizes over running away with Shooter and giving up the comfy lifestyle she enjoys as Benji's fiancee.

View all my reviews

Dining Room Wall, Laundry Room Pantry, and Outside

 This is the Dining Room the top half is Emerald Ice and the Bottom half is Flood Tide, there will be a Chair Rail in Urban Sunrise once Bo is finished.

 I decided to put shelf paper on the shelves in the Laundry Room Pantry.  I found this gray and white pattern that I thought went well with both the Glass Slippers, Flood Tide and Urban Sunrise.

 I also found these neat baskets with the teal and gray and they are so handy I keep my cleaning supplies in one and I can just pick the basket up and carry it to where I need them without having to spend time gathering up what I need. I also have my cleaning towels in one. And I love the Simplehuman  Pet Food Storage Container. I got an X-large for the dogs food and it's wonderful. There is a scoop for scooping out the dog food it attaches to the top with a magnet and it truly is air tight. The dogs eat the food at the bottom with the same pleasure they show when I first open a bag.

I really need to get one for the cat food. Bo did a good job on spacing the shelves and I have it pretty well organized.

 I used the granite from where they cut my cooktop out for a small table outside.

 Eventually I need to find something better for a base and to get it smoothed out and polished. It's the perfect size for me to sit my coffee on in the morning.

Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Rogan walks into a meeting and sets off a suicide vest it looks like an open and shut case, but Eve quickly learns he was coerced into it by threats against his wife and child. Before she can track down the killers they strike again this time in an art gallery. The motive is money but Eve must race to find out who is behind the bombings before another family falls victim.

On a personal note Roarke acts as Peabody so Peabody and McNab can accompany Nadine to the Oscars which Nadine wins.

View all my reviews

Cabinets and Counter

 The cabinets were custom built and installed by Mercier's Cabinet and Woodworking, Inc.

 I can't wait until you see the new light fixture. It was a surprise Bo arranged for me and it's perfect.

 I didn't have to wait long to get my counter top. It looks marvelous, these pictures don't do it justice.

W. E. Wade Tile Company fabricated the granite and installed it. They also did the flooring in my family room.

In this picture you can see the pattern a little bit with the different colors but this is one granite that you need to see in person to get the full effect It's gorgeous when the light hits it and the blue/green pops out. And just wait to you see it with the backsplash.