Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge

I like reading challenges. My yearly challenge is to read 245 books and I keep falling behind, but I think that has to do with all the driving I have had to do recently. I also discovered the joy of audiobooks (it has kept me from falling behind by more than one book). I download the books on my phone or my tablet and let them play while I drive and then girls and my husband have been able to listen to the books as well. We have been enjoying the books and it is good to hear the girls laugh at some of the corny things that happen in the books. The challenges don't have a time limit (thank God) as some of them are hard to get since it is Cozy Mysteries only (regular mysteries to get the state). The other challenge is just for me, I want to see how much of the world I can read. It is any book, any genre, any author. It just needs to be somewhere in the world. I am not putting a limit on it as the world is a very big place and I want to enjoy this, not feel stressed because I wasn't able to finish it. What reading challenges do you enjoy? Do they change yearly? Do you try to increase how much you read yearly? Or just try to stay the same?

I will try and put a copy of my US Reading challenge on the side of the blog. Maybe even try to do one that is for the world.

Jelly Belly Jelly Beans and the Beanboozled Challenge

My kids are at an age where I talk jobs and college with them. Today, as we were driving to their art class, we talked about the beanboozled challenge from Jelly Bellys. If you haven't tried it, be warned...it isn't good. You will get a bunch of jelly beans that are supposed to be two different flavors - one good, one bad - same color. For example, banana and pencil shavings or sour apple and minion farts. I did this with my middle girl as she was so excited about it. It did not go well. So today, as we talked about the game, I said can you imagine being the one who has to taste the jelly bean that is supposed to taste like dog food? Who has that job and how many employees do this job? Do they play rock, paper, scissors to find out who tastes the next one? Do they taste one called dog food and spit it out and say not yet...try again. How much do they pay this poor person who has to do the tasting? To my way of thinking, they need to be compensated very well for these services.

When I got home, I decided to look up the company (factories/warehouses in CA, WI and IL) and they are hiring someone for Research and Development. The job is in CA and only pays about $100,000 to 120,000. I don't think that is enough to willingly eat skunk spray over and over again.

So I remind the girls that there are some real interesting jobs in this world, they just need to decide what they want to do when they "grow up" and find out what you need to have to have that job.

Things I Have Learned - Roof and Dead Trees

Saturday, the 1st day of September, Lebanon, OH had a huge storm move through and we lost a shingle. Courtesy of this we called for a roofer to get him here so we could get a quote and I called the insurance company to get a claim started in case there was more damage than we could see from the ground. This is where they sent me an adjuster and he provided some interesting information.

1. The roof we have is meant to be on for 20 to 25 years. This is the interesting information...at 14 years the shingles start to bend and twist and fold when the wind blows and the best way to stop that is to have them sealed every two years. This is a very inexpensive thing to have done to the roof. When the roof is 15 years old the insurance companies start paying a reduced amount on the roof if there is damage to it. So if your roof is 14 years old and gets blown off, it is fully covered. 15 years, it is covered but for less than it was covered at 14 years and this amount reduces every year. Also, once you have the roof sealed, keep doing it every two or so years. This will help the roof stay for a longer time.

2. There is magnesium on the shingles and when that wears off the water going down the roof and landing on the siding is what causes the discoloration.

3. If you have a dead tree near your house, but it isn't your tree if you want to be sure that your insurance can recoup the monies from fixing your house, should the tree fall on it, you need to make sure that the owner of the tree knows that it is dead. The way to do this is: first notify the owner face to face and then send them a letter certified, signature required. Keep this for your records. If they don't remove the tree and something causes the tree to come down you are able to get your house fixed and not have it count on your insurance.

This month has been an interesting month for us with the damage from the storm and then we did have to have a dead tree removed and two trees pruned. The biggest tree cost $300, the other two trees were $40 each. Worth every penny. The men who came said that the trees were too close together and the strongest tree would pull all the nutrients and cause the other trees to stunt or die. The one tree that had died was actually having other issues, but it is gone now and the trees are looking good. (We used Cardinal and they did a fantastic job and the people that came out were very polite and informative).

Have an informative day.

More Patterns

It has been awhile, but getting on the computer gets harder when we get closer to testing. My girls being homeschooled means some of the lessons are on the computer and some aren't, the tests though are on the computer and so I can only get on very early or very late. But these are from my email and facebook. They aren't sorted as usual, but then I was rushing. Just have fun and see if you find something you like and don't forget, these are links to the patterns, not something I created, but something I am saving for myself. If it helps another then it is a bonus.

Blanket Yarn Unicorn - this would be so super soft and fast.
Charizard
Bulbasaur Baby Shoes
Lip Service Dishcloth
Summer Fun Bikini Dishcloth
Trellis Border Garter Stitch Lace Shawl
Hills and Valleys Shawl
Celtic Cables Wrap
Natural Leaf Wrap
Italian Wheat Hat
Seifenblasen Lace Scarf
Crochet Cacti
Fiesta Crochet Shell Afghan
Pink and Red Crochet Hearts
Crochet Teddy Bear
Free Market Tote
Buttercup Bear
Calla Cowl - free pattern from Darn Good Yarn
Butterfly Amigurumi
Snarky Tote - Crochet vs Knitting
Crochet Springtime Cloth - Dishcloth
Crochet Cabled Messy Bun Hat - with a tutorial
Crochet Cat Sack Hideaway - my cats would love this.
Moss Stitch Shawl - Uses Caron Big Cakes
Crochet Market Bag - with a tutorial
Crochet Version: Postcards from Sweden
Crochet Mitered Square Afghan




Blog: Mia's Atelier - some really interesting patterns.
PBS The Great American Read-Athon - what have you read?

Almost Easter

Easter this year is on April Fool's Day. This day is special to my family and we love to celebrate this day. I love the fun things that can be made to decorate and just things to make with my children. This year, though we have been battling the state of Ohio that is trying to fast track Kasich's Legacy, HB 512. This bill is bad for the state, for the children and all future children. The people for it think that if they push this out that they will have "workers," but what they will have is an exodus, from the state. Kids who don't want to be a restaurant worker or a construction worker or a road worker will leave. They will leave to other states where they can be what they want to be.

21 Day Anxiety Challenge 30 Day Happiness Challenge How To Make a Stress Ball

Printable Bookmarks

Hiking to Haunted Tower in OH

History Timeline

Slow Cooker Bread - lots of recipes

Knitting and Crochet Patterns:

Bunny Garland
Winter Trellis Hat
Kitrick the Leprechaun
6 Free Poppy Patterns
Crochet Viking Hat for children.
Crochet Candy Heart
Yet Another Unicorn
Trauma Teddy for Red Cross - pattern link is on the site.
Magic Tail Scarf - English
Crochet Neva Hat (Crochet Olympics Hat)
40 Cute and Easy to Make Amigurumi
Spin a Yarn Christmas Ornaments - super cute patterns. I really need to make these this summer so we can use them this Christmas.
Block A Week CAL - 2014
Gustav the Balancing Elephant
Crochet Scrappy Slippers
Neck Warmer Scarf
Log Cabin Quilt Crochet Afghan
Cu-Pig - super cute cupid pig

April Emails

Still cleaning out the emails. It seems that taking a break from clearing it out let it grow. So time to work on it again. I may have to make a deal with myself to work on this for an hour or more a day. If the kids would just get on board and let me work.

Afghans:
Medallion Circular Crochet
Rainbow Sherbet Afghan
Shells and Stripes
Modern Squares Throw - Crochet this is from Red Heart

Amigurumi:
Lorelei the Lady Bug
Links for Horse patterns
Links for Amigurumi - you can search for specific patterns.
Nannette Crochet - she has some really well-written patterns for the Pokemon and my favorite, Harry Potter!
Epic Yarns - so many Pokemon patterns!
List of Pokemon Patterns - Very important to keep!
Kat's Creations - Gorgeous and fun patterns!

Baby:
Deer Baby Blanket
Basket of Love Baby Blanket

Bags:
College Chic Tote
Helping Hands Garden Bag
Easy Pencil Case


Cowls/Scarves:
Stockinette Stitch Shawlette
Canaletto Cowl
Nellie Lace Scarf
Mile a Minute Scarf

Dishcloth/Coasters:
Ice Cream Dishcloth
Turtle Coasters


Flowers:
Blue Bell Flower - so pretty.
Cut Flower Bookmark
Wagon Wheel Flower

Gloves/Mittens:
Thrummed Mittens

Hats/Headbands:
Dandelion Twist Hat - From the Knitting with Schnapps blog. She has some fantastic patterns on her blog!
Baby Hat Critters
Head to Head Band

Kitchen:
Dish Cloths
Noni's Favorite Dishcloth
Apple Dishcloth
Beginner Tea Cozy
Country Charm Dishcloth - I have this on my list to make. It is very pretty.
Baked with Love Dishcloth
Americana Dishcloth - for beginners
Fruity Trivets

Pokemon: My girls are all about Pokemon. They love to use the Pokemon Go app on my phone to hunt and we have been outside more because of this. I know we go more places daily.
Pikachu
Wooper
Jiggly Puff
Skitty
Espurr
Marill
Minun or change from blue to red and you have a Plusle
Mew
Dedenne
Flareon
Leafon
Pichu
Exeggutor
Popplio
Umbreon
Bellsprout
Charmander
Charizard
Hanyosei
Dwebble
Blitzle
Chimchar
Breloom
Caterpie
Sunflora
Emolga
Nuzleaf
Larvitar
Feraligatr
Ledyba
Snubbull
Slowpoke
Castform
Mewtwo
Whismur
Combee
Snorlax
Axew
Vaporeon
Quilava
Marshtomp
Pokeball
Seedot
Swinub
Lotad
Rotom and Surskrit

Shawls:
Unforgettable Top Down Shawl
Date Night Shawl
Ocean Elegance Shawl
Old Hollywood Shawl
Shimmering Rose Shawl more of a shawlette.
Mystic Forest Shawl

Shawls, Wraps, Scarves

Laid-Back Shawl - NEW Walk by the Sea Lace Shawl Starry Night Evening Shawl Angel Shawl - Reader Favorite Printable! Summer Wedding Knit Shawl Lily Lace Shawl Filomena Lace Shawl - Absolutely Beautiful! Summer Whisper Wrap Outlander-Inspired Summer Shawl Dancing Leaves Lace Wrap

Country Open Weave Shawl Summer Romance Lace Shawl English Cottage Wrap Pride and Prejudice Shawl - Editor Fave! Hills and Valleys Shawl Lovely Lilac Lace Shawl Celestial Blue Wrap - Reader Favorite! Star Cluster Shawlette Bonus! Allegro Shawl - vintage pattern

Secret Stitches

1. Secret Stitch Pattern #1 - sweet baby dress
2. Secret Stitch Pattern #2 - slanted ridge cowl
3. Secret Stitch Pattern #3 - baby elephant
4. Secret Stitch Pattern #4 - oversized shawl
5. Secret Stitch Pattern #5 - Southern Belle knit top
6. Secret Stitch Pattern #6 - log cabin pillows
7. Secret Stitch Pattern #7 - honeycomb wrap

Mystery Patterns

1. Mystery Pattern #1
2. Mystery Pattern #2
3. Mystery Pattern #3 Owl-fully adorable - baskets
4. Mystery Pattern #4 - spiral crochet flower
5. Mystery Pattern #5 Ready for spring! - slouchie hat
6. Mystery Pattern #6 - baby blanket
7. Mystery Pattern #7 - Basket
8. Mystery Pattern #8 - curtains
9. Mystery Pattern #9 - scarf
10. Mystery Pattern #10 - slippers for a 5 year old
11. Mystery Pattern #11 - afghan
12. Mystery Pattern #12 - baby blanket
13. Mystery Pattern #13 - ripple shawl
14. Mystery Pattern #14 - bedspread
15. Mystery Pattern #15 - afghan
16. Mystery Pattern #16 - cowl
17. Mystery Pattern #17 - scarf - I have made this one and it is beautiful and fun to make.
18. Mystery Pattern #18 - clutch
19. Mystery Pattern #19 - kitchen - another that I have made and really liked. 
20. Mystery Pattern #20 - afghan