DOA's Answer Key for the Nancy Drew and the Mystery At Lilac Inn Word Find

 

DOA's Answer Key for The Diamond Eye A Word Find

 

DOA's Answer Key for the Shadow Rising A Word Find

 

DOA's Answer Key for the Scrambled Paragraph Puzzle April 24, 2022

 

 

Loosen the balloon by stretching it in all directions. Pinch the neck of the balloon with your index finger and thumb. Take a deep breath and "kiss" the balloon. Blow air from your lungs into the balloon. Work to overcome the initial resistance. Pinch the balloon shut if you must take a break. Stop before the balloon risks popping. Tie it off.

 

Garden Foray #1

 I was going to call the post “Today’s Haul”, but Garden Foray sounded more civilized. 😉

My plan was to look for cool weather vegetable plants and annuals, with a few herbs and at least one strawberry plant, and some “climbers”. So reasonable! 

Suddenly there were perennials and biennials in my cart. After looking at my tiny patio picture, I decided I don’t really like yellow flowers. Ohhh, what a pretty gaillardia!

I chose some of my vegetables for their pretty foliage. They’re all going in pots, whether they like it or not, so ornamental is good.

My cool weather plants snuggled in the garage under lights till they’re potted. The perennials will go in the ground, of course.

 Cool Weather Plants and Perennials

Geranium Flower Fairy White Splash

Alchemilla Thriller

Aster Churchill

Crush Burgandy Dianthus

Aquilegia Carol Ann

Heuchera Marmalade

Clematis Elsa Spath

Hollyhock Fiesta Time

Campanula Clockwise Deep Blue

Allium Millenium

Dianthus Constant Cadence Peach Milk

Chrysanthemum Fireworks Igloo

Lactuca sativa Romaine

Lettuce sativa Iceberg

Beta vulgaris Bull's Blood

Gaillardia Arizona Apricot

Papaver Royal Wedding

Curled Parsley

Halo Blush Hollyhock

Oenothera Siskiyou

Gypsophila Filou Rose

Carrot Bolero

Cabbage Ruby Perfection

Strawberry Toscana

Lavender Goodwin Creek

I meant to get no warm weather loving plants today, but there they were, some pretty climbers and pink pastel shades (mostly) of annuals.

These are in the bedroom window, with nice Eastern light and no chance of cat depredations .

Warm Weather Group

Hibiscus Cherub

Lophospermum Compact Rose

Thunbergia Arizona Pink Beauty

2 Rieger Begonia (No variety name listed, but both are pink and not the same)

Double Impatiens Silhouette Apple Blossom

Nemesia Pinkberry

Nemesia Sugarberry

First Line Friday April 29, 2022

 

“After all,” murmured Poirot, “it is possible that I shall not die this time.”

The Hunter’s Lodge Case

By Agatha Christie

 

Survivor April 27, 2022

 It's one of those laughter and tears episodes tonight.

I thought the Immunity Challenge was hilarious, right out of some slapstick film.  Everyone had to stand on a narrow board on a floating triangle in very choppy seas. (The picture below isn't from the episode).

We've seen the choppy waters in a previous episode. These little floating devices were like bucking broncos. People were being pitched off of them left and right.  After not much more than a minute, only Jonathan and Lindsay were still on the platforms, and Jonathan barely won.  I laughed so much at this challenge.

The twist of the episode was that the players were divided into two teams for this challenge, and there would be two tribals and two people voted out.  Suddenly everyone was split up from their alliances and things got fractured fast.

On Jonathan's team, he wanted to control the vote, he thought his big moment had come.  He wanted to flush out Drea's idol, but he tells Maryann she'll be the split vote.  What his actual plans are, it's hard to discern, as he has a discussion with Lindsay laying it all out, but she tells him it makes no sense.

The first group to go to tribal votes out Rocksroy, despite his alliance with several of them.As edited, it looks like it's Omar's machinations at work, since he doesn't feel as if he can work with Rocksroy going forward, meaning he can't manipulate him, but he can manipulate the other target Romeo.

When the second group enters tribal and they see the jury of Rocksroy and Chanelle, Drea breaks down and says she's using her idol tonight because she's not going to be sitting on that jury full of people like herself.  It happens every time she says, the people of color just all of a sudden get voted out, boom boom boom.

Maryanne, also feeling targeted, says she will use her idol tonight too.  

The two were so emotional and sad, their feelings so raw.  Nothing but complete respect for them both.

The unusual tribal ended without the usual visits to the voting station. Jonathan had immunity, and he and Lindsay would vote for Tori, it was openly stated, so Tori went to try the Shot in the Dark. Tori was not safe, and is now the third member of the jury.

What's Cooking April 28, 2022

 Ah, Taco Bell's meat filling really is the best.  So light, just the perfect hint of spices.  Try Slow Roasted Italian's recipe for a Taco Bell taste alike:

https://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/2022/04/taco-meat-taco-bell.html

 

You know how they're always eating Hot Cross Buns in books? Time to make your own!

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/hot-cross-buns/

 

For Saturday morning, some Cherry Turnovers from My Baking Addiction

https://www.mybakingaddiction.com/cherry-turnovers/

 

I can't recommend these Foil Wrapped Potatoes from Spend With Pennies enough.  The recipe is for the grill, but put them on a cookie sheet in the oven for 40-45 minutes, and they're an easy, filling, customizable meal.  A medium Yukon Gold potato for each person is just right.

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/grilled-potato-packets/

 

We also really enjoy Crockpot Chicken and Gravy from Plain Chicken.  I like it with a bit more gravy, so I use a can of Chicken Broth.  It tastes much better on egg noodles than on rice, we think.

https://www.plainchicken.com/crock-pot-chicken-gravy/ 

 

 

Tiny Patio for Potted Plants

 I used to have this little sunny spot out in front of the house with various potted plants.  For some reason, I took it out.  Now, since I plan to put most plants in pots anyway, and an extra little place like this is needed.

 

We will be putting it back this spring, sans weeds :)

It could be a small herb garden in pots.  Or a refuge for sun lovers. One year I had a large hibiscus here.  Lots of possibilities!

Review: The Fires Of Heaven (Book Five in The Wheel of Time Series) by Robert Jordan

 

Rand and the Aiel armies move through the Spine of the World, following close in the bloody trail of the false He Who Comes with the Dawn, Couladin.  

The world is already in turmoil and civil war, and the never before seen Aiel armies of thousands strike terror in the hearts of those they pass.

The city of Cairhien, already rocked by civil war, is now surrounded by Couladin's armies, who are surrounded by the Aiel army of the Dragon Reborn. How to drive them away from the city? Mat, who keeps wanting to run away, has been experiencing memories not his own of brilliant tactics that he uses to help free Cairhien.

In Caemlyn, Queen Morgase is literally under the spell of Lord Gaebril.  On his behalf she has exiled all of her allies in the city, and has been cruel about it.  She's the puppet of Gaebril, who is actually one of the Forsaken, Rahvin.  Two of her loyal retainers help Morgase fight free of the mental fog she's been in, and they make a daring escape from the city.

Siuan, former Amyrlin Seat, her former Keeper Leane, and Min are on the run with Logain, the False Dragon who was gentled.   They are betrayed by Logain who accidentally burns the barn they've spent the night in and he steals a coin purse from the farmer whose land they're on. Logain escapes, but the three women are brought to trial.  They swear an oath to work to repay the debt owed, though they're innocent themselves.  Led by Siuan, they've no intention of staying at the estate of Gareth Byrne, and will escape at the first opportunity.  They're headed to a secret city where Aes Sedai who fled Tar Valon now reside.

The Children of the Light are everywhere throughout the land.  Elayne's half brother Galad has become one of the Children. When he comes upon Elayne in a small city, he's determined to get her home again.

Elayne, Nynaeve, Thom Merrilin, Juilin and the  great heroine Birgitte travel with a menagerie show, trying to remain hidden from The Children and Galad.  Elayne does a high wire act and Nynaeve is the target for Birgitte's arrows in a thrilling act.

Everyone is on the move in this novel, trying to get someplace or just trying to escape.  It's constant peril for everyone. Action packed, yet the characters become even more defined as they try to do the right thing and stay alive.

Book Notes April 26, 2022

 Incoming, a new Agent Pendergast novel from Preston and Child.

Have questions about the upcoming Bosch: Legacy?  Here you go:

CrimeReads 10 New Books:

https://crimereads.com/10-new-books-coming-out-this-week-april-18-2022/

 

Clearly they don't write mysteries.

You'll remember my nice big stack of April Books I meant to read.  I did well, but did not get everything read. Here is the pile I did read, oops Diamond Eye should be in the pile.

 

I'm also now out of sync reading a classic a month--I'm a bit of the way into The Prince and the Pauper but...not going to be ready for an April post.

I also somehow missed the fourth Trixie Belden, likely because when I was picking out five to read earlier this year, there was only a Kindle copy or a used book version.  I don't care for either, but I'll pick up The Mysterious Visitor for May on Kindle.

Nancy Drew, which I got as a Christmas gift in a set of five I'm up to date on.

I'm secretly one behind on my Poirots, good thing nobody reads this stuff or someone may have caught it. 

Diamond Eye can count as a historical, I'm certain.  I've now read two, one in January and one this month, and haven't noted them on the Historical reading challenge site.

I had purchased Fires of Heaven and Lord of Chaos in the Wheel of Time Series, and meant to just have them tucked on the shelf. Instead I zoomed through Fires of Heave, which was a real page turner somehow, and then I had to just peek at Lord of Chaos, and of course I'm a quarter of the way in.

I can't be trusted and will not be purchasing the next two, nope, not till I'm a bit caught up on other reading.