It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (September 23): 09/23/19

Hosted by Kathryn of Book Date.

I had hoped to finish the portrait of Salmon last week but I got distracted by other things as I'll explain. The portrait has one or maybe two more hours left which I will get to later in the week.

Nearly finished portrait of Salmon

In May 2018 I got word that the new city library wanted to purchase ten of my bird paintings. On Saturday I finally got to see them in their new home — the children's library!

"Reggie" and "Chestnut-backed chickadee" ©2016 Sarah Sammis

"Goose Girl", "Angry Rooster" and "Steller's Jay" ©2016 Sarah Sammis

"Swallow on barbed wire", "Solomon the golden eagle" and "Ardenwood Peacock" ©2016 Sarah Sammis

The thing that was keeping me from painting, was ironically, painting. Or more precisely, staining. We have put a deposit down on a puppy and are in the process of getting the house and yard ready for them. Our most recent project was the construction of five foot tall gates to keep the dog in the back yard. There's also now a gate at the top of the stairs, but that's more for young children who might want to climb the hill unsupervised.

Staining a gate.

Finally, my daughter decided to spend her allowance and birthday money on a cosplay / halloween costume. She does have a blond wig to complete the look. For right now, though, I'm jokingly calling her Harriet Evergarden.

What I read:

• The Great Shelby Holmes and the Haunted Hound by Elizabeth Eulberg; personal cllection
• Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann; personal collection
• For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig; personal collection
• The Portal by Kathryn Lasky; personal collection / research
• Dragonfell by Sarah Prineas; personal collection / research
• The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum; personal collection
• The Shortest Way Home by Miriam Parker; personal collection / research

What I'm reading:

• Nevers by Sara Cassidy; personal collection / research
• The Space Between by Dete Meserve; personal collection
• The Boney Hand by Karen Kane; personal collection
• America for Beginners by Leah Franqui; personal collection

Up Soon:

• CatStronauts: Slapdash Science by Drew Brockington; personal collection
• Nate Expectations by Tim Federle; personal collection
• Dead Voices by Katherine Arden; personal collection
• The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes; personal collection

Comments  (12)

Comment #1: Monday, September 23, 2019 at 08:33:18

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

What a happy feeling to have your paintings purchased, and to have them displayed in a children's library! Congratulations.

Your daughter has a great costume for Halloween.

America for Beginners? I like the sound of that.

Have a lovely week.

Comment #2: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 20:47:00

Pussreboots

I worked so hard on those paintings for the call for art the library put out in 2016. It was a long and weird process from painting them to finally selling them. But it was worth the effort.

I'll be reading America for Beginners next week.

Comment #3: Monday, September 23, 2019 at 11:19:21

Tina

That's so cool that your paintings are in the library! That must be so satisfying.

Comment #4: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 20:49:00

Pussreboots

Satisfying and surreal.

Comment #5: Monday, September 23, 2019 at 12:02:40

Laurel-Rain Snow

Great books...and art work. Enjoy getting ready for the puppy.

Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

Comment #6: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 20:49:00

Pussreboots

Thank you. Hopefully in November we'll be able to pick up our puppy.

Comment #7: Monday, September 23, 2019 at 15:35:54

Kathy Martin

Well, it was sort of like painting. Getting a new dog sounds like fun. I also like the costume. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

Comment #8: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 20:53:00

Pussreboots

I still have more staining to do but I took today off because we're in the middle of a heatwave.

Comment #9: Monday, September 23, 2019 at 16:50:34

Yvonne

I really love the painting of Salmon. Beautiful! Hope you have a great week!

Comment #10: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 20:56:00

Pussreboots

Thank you. I finished the painting today.

Comment #11: Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 13:36:25

Wendi lee

I love your paintings, you're very talented! Dead Voices and Nevers are both on my TBR, hope you enjoy them!

Comment #12: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 20:58:00

Pussreboots

Nevers was interesting; I'll be posting my review next Tuesday. I'm looking forward to starting Dead Voices; I loved Small Spaces.