“Y’know, Mayhem, I have to say I’m not pleased with Mom deciding to rip apart our living room just because she wants some stupid new furniture.” -Chaos
“No kidding, big kitty. She didn’t even ask us about it! She really hurt my feelings.” *sniff* -Mayhem
“Hmm. I wonder if I can open these doors…” -Chaos
“But big kitty, Mom is giving away this cabinet! What if you get locked in and given away?! What if she gives the cabinet to the vet???” -Mayhem
Trek’s collecting Box Tops for Education again and is holding a contest through the end of February as part of it.
Wendy’s giving away a Signe mitten kit – leave a comment by 4 pm, EST, January 29, to be entered in the contest.
Knittymama’s hosting the Knitter’s Coffee Swap again and there might even be a few spots left!
Reading Update
Angel’s Blood (A Guild Hunter Novel) by Nalini Singh. Please note that I received this as a bound galley in a contest held by the author and as part of that have promised to write something a bit longer more than my usual “short, pithy reviews.” The book will be available in early March.
Wow. I haven’t read any of Singh’s previous books as her Psy-Changeling series never intrigued me, but after discovering how involving and well-written Angels’ Blood was, I have to admit that I’ll be checking out more of Singh’s other work.
Some basics – this is the story of Elena, who’s a natural born vampire hunter living and working in New York City. Vampires are created by angels (who are not the usual heavenly host) and in payment for the angels’ doing so, vampires are basically indentured for the first 100 years of their lives. When vampires renege on their service, it’s up to Elena and the others in her guild to track them down. I didn’t get totally sucked in until the second half of the book (after all the story set up was complete), at which point I could not put it down.
I don’t want to tell you too much about the plot because I personally hate hearing a lot about a book before I read it, beyond someone I trust telling me it’s worth my time. So, if you enjoy paranormal romance, this book is definitely worth your time.
Demon’s Kiss (Compact of Sorcerers, Book 1) by Eve Silver. Hmm. I’ll give this series a book or two to see if the writing smooths out a bit.
Passionate Thirst, Luscious Craving, and Eternal Hunger (Candace Steele, Vampire Killer, Books 1-3) by Cameron Dean. This is a trilogy. This is only a trilogy. I’m ambivalent about it. It was a decent read, but the ending of the final book frustrated me.
My Sister Is a Werewolf (The Young Brothers, Book 4) by Kathy Love. I actually read this a year or so ago, but hadn’t read the first three books. Definitely got more out of it this time. A quick, fun, chick litty paranormal romance.
Over the Moon by Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson, Virginia Kantra, and Sunny. Ok collection of werewolf stories, although I confess to not reading the story by Sunny, because I would really need to read the prior books in her Mona Lisa series for it to make sense.
Season of Strangers by Kat Martin. Not your usual paranormal romance – no vampires or werewolves at all! This was about alien abductions.
The Twilight Before Christmas and Dangerous Tides (Drake Sisters, Books 2 and 4) by Christine Feehan. The Drake Sisters are seven daughters of a seventh daughter and they all have mysterious powers. This reminds me a lot of something Nora Roberts might have written, although the writing isn’t quite as smooth as The Nora.
I was at Ridgedale Library last week and found an interesting display in the young adults section – Love Bites (Vampire Love), complete with vampire reading list and a tub of plastic fangs to take home. How could I resist?!
*sniff sniff sniff* -Mayhem
“I’m waiting to see if those things snap onto your nose before I get any closer, Mayhem.” -Chaos
“Well, May’s ok, so they must not be dangerous.” -Chaos
“What the heck are they, anyway?” -Chaos
“I have no idea either, big kitty!” -Mayhem
“Well, let’s see how they taste. Maybe they’re kitty treats.” -Chaos
“Mmmm… kitty treats…” -Mayhem
“Nope, they sure aren’t kitty treats. I’m stumped.” -Chaos
“Me, too, big kitty! These things are silly.” -Mayhem
Some of you noticed that I was wearing the Shaped Cardigan in the party pictures. I started this sweater in August of 2007 and finished it on January 13, 2009. I have no good excuse for why it took me such a long time to finish this sweater. I quite like knitting with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece and don’t mind knitting with black. I think I just got really bored knitting stockinette back and forth, especially since I added several inches to the length. Whatever. It’s done now!
I iz dork.
Be scared that’s the best picture I got from multiple photo sessions. But I had to include it since you can barely tell it’s a sweater from the floor shots below…
“A-ha! Perfect Chaos camouflage!” -Chaos
“No one will ever suspect!” -Chaos
“I think this is probably my best plan ever.” -Chaos
“Hee hee!” -Chaos
“I am Stealth Chaos!” -Chaos
“I hope you’re not trying to hide, big kitty, because if you are, I have to give you a FAIL.” -Mayhem
“You can’t see me, May, so stop pretending you can.” -Chaos
As you may have read already, Wendy was in town for the opening of the Bohus Exhibit at the American Swedish Institute. Catherine and her husband hosted a party in Wendy’s honor at their condo, which had the most amazing view of downtown Minneapolis. (Please excuse the graininess of my pictures – I was using the “available light” setting on my camera for most of the shots.)
Here’s a picture of the knitbloggers gathered together (yes, I know, everyone who was there has a variation of this picture on their blog – but in this one, my eyes are open!) – from the left, Wendy, kmkat, me, and Susan.
And now… the blackmail shots! 😉 Probably best if no one tells Lucy that her mom was consorting with strange Ragdolls, hmm?
Over the weekend, I stopped at IKEA and couldn’t resist picking up a new cat bed. I think Chaos likes it.
“Don’t let that paw get any closer to my new cat bed, Mayhem!” -Chaos
“But Mom bought that for both of us, big kitty!” -Mayhem
*zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz* -Chaos
“Big kitty, how long did you say I’d have to sit here before a snowflake will land on my tongue?” -Mayhem
“I don’t care what you think, Mom! This is to0 a kitty bed!! I don’t understand why you always chase me away from it just when I get comfy.” -Mayhem
Today is Jeanne’s birthday! She went blog-free this year, so I can’t send you to her blog to wish her happy birthday. Hmm. You could leave her a message on Ravelry if you’re over there. Or maybe she’ll read the comments here… Let’s lure her in with some pictures of her own cats, shall we? You can gift her with comments on them!
First, the noble and stealthy Kreature, who could almost be a rock (with a purple harness, the latest in rock fashion accessories, you know).
Next, the not-quite-as-stealthy-as-Kreature, but instead very fluffy and annoyed Greta.
And finally, a picture of Puddinhead artistically sharpened so you can’t tell how blurry it was originally.
Have a great weekend, everyone! Hopefully next week I’ll get around to summing up 2008 (although I originally typed this sentence as “Hopefully next year…”).
*lurk lurk lurk* -Mayhem
*peek peek peek* -Mayhem
*strike strike strike* -Mayhem
And stay warm and safe when you’re out in all that white! I’ll type at you all again next week.
“Fine. You can take our picture for your Christmas Eve post. But we’re not going to smile or acknowledge you’re there.” -Chaos
“Yeah! What the big kitty said!” -Mayhem
Happy Solstice, belatedly! Spring can’t come soon enough – I’ve had enough of winter already. Friday night and Saturday it snowed. Sunday it was bitterly cold and windy. The kitties and I hung out. I finished a few last minute present details. The kitties napped. I read. The kitties napped. I knitted. The kitties napped. You get the picture. 🙂
Here’s a little kitty nap action. Can’t you just feel the excitement?!
*zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……..* -Mayhem