Any Jane Austen Fans?

If you love Jane Austen, like me, then you will enjoy this book I just finished. I borrowed it on my iPad from my local library and it was a good read. Definitely Not Mr. Darcy is a story about a divorced single mom, Chloe Parker, with a failing business and one last hope to save her home, business, and love life. She wins a trip to England to take part in what she thinks is a documentary set in Regency (19th century) England. What she quickly learns is that she has signed a contract to be on a reality show and compete with other women to win the heart of Mr.Wrightman. Now, I was able to very quickly guess the twist but I was still eager to see how it would unfold. I will say, I am not a fan of books or movies ending the way this one did (I want to know exactly how they rode off into the sunset) but I still very much enjoyed it. Karen Doornebos did a great job capturing my attention, engaging my love of Jane Austen, and writing a love story that I want more from. I am certainly hoping Ms. Doornebos is working on the sequel!

Squirrels and Bugs!!!

As you know, I love my garden. I also love animals but just realized this year...I love them to a point. I really enjoy teaching my kids about our natural environment and how everything has a purpose or a job if you will. However, if those darn squirrels steal one more tomato they are going to be introduced to my friend Kristal and her BB gun! We do live in Texas ya know! Well, thankfully it has not come to that. I purchased some Deer Off and have applied it liberally to my tomatoes, fencing, canopy, etc. I am ashamed to admit that I did see a squirrel in my neighbor's garden and I hosed it down with water! Oh, I am awful, I know. At least he did not get a meal from her garden nor mine! So far, so good. I have over 18 tomatoes coming in and I better have all 18 there! Battle of the tomatoes, round 2 has begun.

The other nuisance in my garden are those adorable rolly pollys! My daughter loves them (I did too when I was her age). Now, I just see hungry little pests that like to eat their way through EVERYTHING! I have been tolerating them but yesterday I caught one eating my green bean! Does he not know how many I have to grow before I can make one meal? Humph! I will continue to tolerate them but they should be warned, I am watching!

Very soon I will have my potting table built and I will post pics. I found the picture of one on Pinterest and loved it. I was able to get some cedar posts from a friend for free and my husband and I have spent all weekend stripping the posts to get them ready for lacquering. Almost there!

So many shades, so little time!

I just finished reading the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy...can you say nonstop steaminess?! I have heard so many things about the books and I had them on my reading list for a while now. I finally got around to them and boy am I glad I did! Now, I have heard things like...filthy, what's all the fuss about, mommy porn, etc. I agree with everyone except the "what's all the fuss about" comment. Yes, it gets good and dirty, yes it is nonstop sexcapades, yes, yes, yes...oh sorry. Anyway, E.L. James (click on her name for link) did a great job of introducing two intriguing characters that could not be more opposite if you tried, added A LOT of steamy bedroom (or playroom) scenes, and still managed to tell a very romantic love story. Personally, I loved it. If you get uncomfortable with reading steamy (or kinky in a lot of cases) encounters then these books may not be for you. Erotica novels can be difficult but I think Ms. James told a different love story with out a lot of cursing or raunchy language. It stayed seductive enough to hold your interest without being over the top and making you feel more like a voyeur than just a reader. I did catch myself a few times wondering if Hollywood could turn these into a film without the XXX rating. Maybe like a Two Moon Junction or even 9 1/2 Weeks? You can find out more about the author, E.L. James at her website or just head over to your local book store and pick up a copy. You can also download a digital copy on your Nook, eReader, or iPad. I purchased two of the three on my iPad and downloaded one from my local library. Happy Reading!