Two Dogs and a Book

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth My rating: 3 of 5 stars Carve the Mark is the first book in the "Carve the Mark" new series by Veronica Roth. Veronica wrote the "Divergent" series which I enjoyed a lot. Carve the Mark has a "Divergent" flare while being somewhat different. I enjoyed the first book and will read the other books in the series. I was looking for something fresh but did not quite find it. View all my reviews

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book has more twists than the song by the Chubby Checker. It started slowly and ended with a bang... or more like a splash. This is a fantastic story and the characters are well developed and each has a story to tell. I did not see this coming. Well done! View all my reviews

My garden is growing well and it is now time to transplant the pods into larger pots.  I know it is time because the roots are coming through the pods. I use mostly Jiffy pots because I can transplant, plants and pots together in the garden in the Spring. I buy rich black dirt as it it full of nutrients for the plants. I fill up the pots to about half way. I press the dirt in the centre and add a single pot. I am very careful not to damage the plant during this process. I fill the pot with more dirt and press to make sure the pod is well surrounded. I put all the pots into a tray to gather the extra water when watering the plants and for ease of transportation. I keep all the plants in a well lite area. Darren got me plastic shelf which fits perfectly all my trays. More growth is expected and I will need to make sure that the plants are watered regularly. Stay tuned for more! Happy gardening!

Pets on the Couch: Neurotic Dogs, Compulsive Cats, Anxious Birds, and the New Science of Animal Psychiatry by Nicholas Dodman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book on the behavioural conditions of animals. It helped me understand my dogs better. One of them suffers from anxiety and has loud noise phobia. This book has provided me with an insight on her condition and how I can help her. Pets on the couch is not your ordinary pet book; it goes deep into the psychiatry of animals. Some people will find this book quite controversial; especially when Nicholas Dodman compares the animal behaviours and conditions identical to humans'. I have no issue with this and agree with him. Intelligent and educational read! Here are pictures of my two girlz! Chili Sundae View all my reviews

A Darkness Absolute by Kelley Armstrong My rating: 4 of 5 stars A Darkness Absolute is the second book in the Casey Duncan series. I enjoy this series so far. The characters are real and interesting. There is no lack of action and each page has its level drama... the good kind. Casey Duncan is a detective who ends up in a town where unrelated criminals and victims pay to hide. The town is in Yukon wilderness and is surrounded by danger. Some of these threats are natural and others are of the human kind. Casey has plenty opportunities to use her detective skills, and she also finds herself targetted by the cases she investigates. Kelley Armstrong is one of my favourite authors. I love her writing style and how she develops her stories and keeps you guessing to the end. Can't wait for the next book. View all my reviews

Almost Missed You by Jessica Strawser My rating: 3 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a story of a family who has too many painful secrets and is torn apart by selfishness and too many misunderstandings. I had to stop half way because I really did not like the way the story was going. I put the book aside for a few months and picked it up again two days ago. I am glad I did. The story got better and became more interesting. Lots of my questions were answered and the conclusion was appropriate for the story. I just think that the title does not go with the story. View all my reviews

The garden is growing well. I have to make sure the earth pellets are moist, but not over water. The clear covers have been removed now that all the seeds have sprouted. Some of the herbs already emit some scents. This is an exciting time. Basil Chives Kale Red Bell Peppers Sage The part I really do not like about gardening is when I need to select the strongest seedling out of many in one earth pellet. I really do not like to kill plants. :( But it is what it is! Only one tomato plant per pellet can remain. This step can only be done once the first true leaves appear. Tomatoes with first true leaves :(

The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book. The stories of Hannah Rosenthal (born in Berlin in 1928) and Anna Rosen (born in New York in 2002) are linked through a family bond. Hannah is a survivor of World War II and tells the story of her escape from Germany when she was 11 years old and what has happened to her family over the next 76 years. Now at 87 years old, she meets Anna, her brother's grand-daughter, and hope springs forth again that the Rosenthal curse is finally lifted. The book is beautifully written and this story of love, family, and loss is touching and offers a fresh look at such a dark time for humanity. View all my reviews

This will be the second year I make a vegetable garden in my backyard. Last year, Darren built this awesome fenced garden which is the best protection against all the wild rabbits we have in our neighbourhood. It is a small area and I have to utilize the space the best I can to get as many vegetables as possible. This year, I am planning to grow the following vegetables: Roma Tomatoes Cherry Tomatoes Red Bell Peppers Mild Jalapeno Hot Peppers Orange and Purple Carrots Green Onions Radishes Kale Lettuce Cucumbers Asparagus To make sure that I will be able to enjoy the fruits of my labour early, I started some of the plants using Jiffy Greenhouses. Everything is growing well so far. I am adding something new to the garden. I purchased some hanging baskets to hang on the sides of the garden where I will be planting some herbs. I love cooking with fresh herbs. I will be growing the following herbs: Sage Thyme Basil Parsley Dill Cil...

My mom showed me how to knit when I was 5 or 6 years old. I am very grateful that she did. It is such a relaxing hobby and the results can be pretty awesome. I knitted these boot socks and matching headband for my daughter's Hunter boots. The pattern was a bit complicated and needed some paying attention. I am glad I chose it, Gabby loved them and now she wants to knit something herself. It is always nice to know that you can still inspire your child even when she is an adult! :)