It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (September 02): 09/02/19

Hosted by Kathryn of Book Date.

The teens are back in school. My son got his classes but my daughter didn't quite get the schedule she wanted. We have one more week to wait to see if a spot opens up in the zero period that would allow her to add her second elective.

My daughter's birthday is on Thursday, so we're celebrating today. Her big present is the "Neighbors" painting which I finished last week. It will be hanging in her room.

The completed Neighbors painting.

Now I'm starting on a new two painting series — portraits of my current cats. I've painted portraits of previous cats but not Tortuga and Salmon. I've started on Tortuga first because she's the oldest by eighteen months.

On Saturday my husband put together the smoker he recently purchased. Getting it up to our house took a lot of effort. Our home sits on a steep hill and backing up a car with a heavy box in the back was more than the car wanted to deal with. Then there was the fun of getting it out of the car and into the garage where the box could finally be opened. Our side yard has steps and rocks and the dolly wouldn't have been practical for the entire box. Anyway on Sunday we had our first ribs and corn on the cob.

What I read:

• A Killer Edition by Lorna Barrett and Cassandra Campbell (narrator); personal collection
• Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert; personal collection
• Midnight Radio by Iolanda Zanfardino; personal collection
• Clock Dance by Anne Tyler; personal collection
• The Tale Teller by Anne Hillerman; personal collection

What I'm reading:

• Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia; personal collection
• Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage; personal collection
• Wicked Fox by Kat Cho; personal collection
• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead; personal collection

Up Soon:

• Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo (Illustrator); personal collection
• The 104-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton; personal collection
• When the Sky Fell on Splendor by Emily Henry; personal collection / resarch
• Small Spaces by Katherine Arden; personal collection / research

Comments  (26)

Comment #1: Sunday, September 01, 2019 at 23:48:16

Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out

I hope your daughter's scheduling gets sorted out, my boys are making their elective choices for next year right now.

That smoker should provide plenty of delicious meals.

Have a great reading week

Comment #2: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 16:40:00

Pussreboots

It looks like she's not going to get that second elective. There just aren't enough spots in the zero period to accommodate her. She's ok with this turn out.

Comment #3: Monday, September 02, 2019 at 00:03:16

Laurel-Rain Snow

Great paintings.

I loved Clock Dance. Enjoy your week.

Comment #4: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 16:42:00

Pussreboots

Thanks. Clock Dance was good but not as compelling as previous books by this author, at least for me.

Comment #5: Monday, September 02, 2019 at 00:58:06

Kathryn

Another painting to be treasured. I am not speaking to the cat next door who is pooing in my garden, I am trying to deter her!

Comment #6: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 16:42:00

Pussreboots

The scene in the painting is all taking place next door in the cat's yard.

Comment #7: Monday, September 02, 2019 at 01:36:12

Cheryl Malandrinos

What a nice gift for your daughter. Hope she had a nice birthday.

The smoker looks cool. How did the food turn out?

So many of your books look great. The 104-Storey Treehouse seems cute.

Hope you have a great week.

Comment #8: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 16:48:00

Pussreboots

The food turned out delicious. My daughter's birthday is actually tomorrow, but that means school. I think she had a nice time with our early celebration. The Treehouse books are fun. They start with the 13 Storey Treehouse.

Comment #9: Monday, September 02, 2019 at 08:13:35

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

Your daughter will love the painting, I bet. I love to receive gifts made by the giver.

I hope you will be as satisfied with the end result of your painting of your cats. Neighbors is so lovely.

I've finally finished Moby Dick and I'm ready to take on some new books. I may read Gods of Jade and Shadow soon.

Have a great week!

Comment #10: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 16:55:00

Pussreboots

Originally I didn't know what I planned to do with the two paintings — "Let's Eat" and "Neighbors" then my kids asked for them for presents! The portrait of Tortuga is coming along nicely. I'll post my progress next Monday.

Comment #11: Monday, September 02, 2019 at 08:35:59

Laura @ Library of Clean Reads

You're a talented painter. I'm hoping that one day I'll have time to take up the hobby of painting. My daughter is back in college and my son starts back to school tomorrow. I've been wanting to read The Underground Railroad. Hope you're enjoying it.

Comment #12: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 16:58:00

Pussreboots

If you want to paint, start painting. It takes practice. Join a local art group. The Underground Railroad has been sitting on my TBR since it first released. It sort of got lost in the move.

Comment #13: Monday, September 02, 2019 at 12:10:37

Kathy Martin

Getting the smoker set up sounds like quite an ordeal. I hope you enjoy many more meals prepared in it. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

Comment #14: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 17:04:00

Pussreboots

The smoker was heavy — especially when boxed up. The most difficult part was the lifting the top half onto the bottom half. That was a two person job.

Comment #15: Monday, September 02, 2019 at 12:12:57

Katherine

Oh, I envy your smoker, even if it was a pain getting it into place. Have a good week!

Comment #16: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 17:06:00

Pussreboots

The smoker was worth the effort.

Comment #17: Monday, September 02, 2019 at 14:52:02

Wendy @ Falconer's Library

That smoker looks amazing, and I'm sure you'll be glad you put in the effort!

I haven't read Anne Tyler in years, but I sure loved several of her books when I was in my late teens. And I take it that Anne Hillerman is continuing her Tony's series? Is she his daughter, or what?

Comment #18: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 17:08:00

Pussreboots

I also hadn't read Anne Tyler in years. It was nice to revisit an old favorite author. The smoker turned out great and we're looking forward to getting lots of use out of it.

Comment #19: Monday, September 02, 2019 at 18:50:48

Sue Jackson

Wow, I didn't know you were such a talented painter! Impressive.

I loved The Underground Railroad - such a powerful and imaginative novel.

Hope the food you cooked was worth the trouble of getting the smoker up there - it all sounds delicious!