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Shakespeare, Crochet & Pennies

March 29, 2012 at 10:31 am by Claudia

esterday I tackled Acts 3, 4 and 5 of The Tempest. Now I can work outside today and not feel guilty. I’ll have to take another pass at the script in a few days, but the bulk of my research is done. That creamy crochet? A special order for my blogging friend, Meri. Have you ever visited Meri? She’s very talented and I’m proud to say that I am the lucky owner of some of her creations. Crocheting these scarves is such fun, but especially so when I’m making one for a dear friend. If you have a special order in mind, don’t hesitate to ask. Meredith just completed a special order for Belinda – a flower scarf in her favorite University of Tennessee colors.

There you go, Meri, a close-up of this pretty color. I’m using the bamboo/silk yarn for this so it will be especially soft. It’s taking me a bit longer than usual. I’ve been crocheting so much lately and I’ve also been digging and wielding a rake and shovel. This has caused some soreness in my right hand with swollen fingers to boot. Don’t worry, I will list it on Etsy for you in a couple of days!

Don has been an actor for 40 years and has done a lot of televison over those years. Actors get residual payments – that means that when an episode is re-aired, a certain percentage of the initial payment to the actor is calculated and a check goes in the mail. If it’s a first or second residual, that paycheck can be a nice chunk of money. Sometimes, it’s not so much.

No, you’re not seeing things. One cent.

When I said in yesterday’s post that we were saving our pennies for a new mattress, I wasn’t kidding. As Don says, it cost more to mail it.

Let’s see, how many penny quotes does this conjure up?

A penny saved is a penny earned. – Benjamin Franklin

A penny for your thoughts. – Proverb

Penny wise is often pound foolish. – French Proverb

If it’s a penny for your thoughts and you put in your own two cents worth, then someone, somewhere, is making a penny.

There are more, but Steven Wright’s is my favorite, so I’m going to quit while I’m ahead.

By the way, I have a book review up today for Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims. Just scroll down one post.

Happy Thursday.

Book Review – Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims

March 29, 2012 at 9:34 am by Claudia

Today I’m reviewing Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims by Lynda LaPlante for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This 3 book series of Prime Suspect mysteries has recently been reissued. Originally written in the 90’s to accompany the very successful TV series of the same name starring the marvelous Helen Mirren, they are just as riveting today. I reviewed the first two books here. This book, Silent Victims, continues with the story of Jane Tennison, a DCI in the London police force, whose work ethic and talent for investigation is often overshadowed and marginalized by the sexism running rampant on the force.

In this story, Jane is starting a new job as head of the Vice Squad and a new case involving the gruesome murder of a 16 year old ‘rent boy’ lands on her desk. Rent boy is the British name for a young male prostitute – emphasis on ‘young.’ As Jane investigates further, she discovers that public figures and politicians are linked to the scandal and she is pressured to go in another direction with her investigation. This case could threaten her career.

I won’t say more than that. As in the first two books, this mystery is tightly plotted, with a cast of memorable characters. LaPlante has a gift for creating a vivid picture of life in a London squad room as well as the seamier side of life in the city. I really love the fact that the characters, including Tennison, are fully realized, warts and all. They make mistakes, they have biases, they care about their work, they get exhausted, they drink too much. Tension and the pressure to solve a case, which can be enormous, take their toll. This is a gritty look at Jane’s world and the work that consumes her.

I know you will love this mystery. I cannot say enough about LaPlante’s writing talent or this series. Oh yes, I could: I wish there were more books in the series!

About the author:

Lynda La Plante’s fourteen novels, including the Prime Suspect Series, have all been international bestsellers. She is an honorary fellow of the British Film Institute and a member of the UK Crime Writers Awards Hall of Fame. She runs her own television production company and lives in London and Easthampton, NY.

A Bed, PicMonkey and Bronson Pinchot

March 28, 2012 at 8:52 am by Claudia

We need a new bed. Not a new headboard, or new sheets or pillows. A new mattress. Our bed has been with us a long time – too long – and it has overstayed it’s welcome. I wake up several times during the night. Every morning, I wake up with an aching back, hip and shoulder. When I first arise, I walk around hunched over and I look ridiculous. We are going to begin saving our pennies as good mattresses are not inexpensive. I’d love a king-sized bed as Don is 6’4″ and I am 5’8″ – but our tiny bedroom would be filled with BED. Maybe a California King? Or maybe just another Queen. Whatever the end result, a new mattress is on my urgent wish list.

PicMonkey

I wrote about PicMonkey, a wonderful photo editing site, in a previous post. Did you know that the founders of PicMonkey were formerly with Picnik? That’s why I like it so much! There’s a great interview with the founders of PicMonkey on ShePosts. Here is the link. Read it. You’ll get excited – especially when they talk about the Collage Tool they are coming up with. Hold on to your hats, they’ve got lots of wonderful plans in the works.

The Bronson Pinchot Project

Have you seen this new show? It’s on the DIY Network and I’m crazy about it. Bronson Pinchot, a very talented actor, is also an extremely talented restorer of older homes. He fell in love with a house in a small town in Pennsylvania and restored it. He has since bought several other homes in the same town that he is also restoring. First of all, I love his taste and clear passion for older homes. He’s also very funny, slightly eccentric in the best sense of the word and has surrounded himself with a colorful cast of characters who help him realize his renovation dreams. In a world of DIY shows hosted by pretty or impossibly handsome young things (which make my eyes glaze over and bore me to tears) this show really stands out. Take note, HGTV, with your choice of ridiculously young, model-like hosts.

The first season is just about to end – I think there were 6 or 7 episodes. I’ve been watching it on the “On Demand” channel on my cable. If you click the above link, you can find out when it’s airing. I think you’ll really like it.

And now, on to The Tempest, Act III. It’s supposed to rain today so it’s shaping up to be a work-indoors-kind-of-day. Yesterday I worked outside most of the day. The garden beds are all cleaned out. Hurrah!

Shakespeare, Crochet & Pennies

Book Review – Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims

A Bed, PicMonkey and Bronson Pinchot

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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