Thursday Thirteen

 I would not describe myself as having a green thumb AT ALL.  But my husband and I have been trying to keep some plants alive for a long while.  Some are dying, and a few are thriving.  These are the plants:

Amaryllis (pictured)

Jalapeno

Cilantro

Ivy

Cactus

Basil

Orchid (pictured above)

Asparagus Fern

Elephant Ear

Sago Palm

Ficus

Dracaena

Philodendron

What plants are you trying to keep alive?  Or does it come naturally for you?

 Let me know in the comments.  Share any secrets you have!

Please visit my friends at The New Thursday Thirteen for more fun lists!

Happy Random Tuesday

 I'm gonna go hit the sack after I write this post.  I suppose everyone knows that "hit the sack" as well as "hit the hay" both mean going to bed to sleep.  But do you know why those expressions are mainstream?

One theory is that sheets were cut from items such as burlap bags and grain bags (sacks).  Hit the hay could mean sleeping in the barn where a farmer's hay was stored, but it also referred to mattresses that were stuffed with hay.  Regardless of meaning then, we know what it means now.  But hitting the sack does not always equal sleep.  In fact, more often than not, it's a struggle to get to sleep no matter how tired I am.  You, too?

And if not for insomnia jeopardy, reading is often the culprit.

Sometimes the Internet gets the best of me.

Here's hoping we can all sleep tonight!  Please visit my friends at Happy Tuesday and Random Tuesday Thoughts.

Sunday Synopsis

 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is so much amazing content in this book that is not covered in the movies! So much! This is also where the series turns even darker. That began at the end of book four, but book five is dark, and it needs to be.

Just before Harry is to start his fifth year at Hogwarts, he must fight off dementors that have come to Privet Drive and threaten not only him, but Dudley. In order to save them, he must use magic. This is not his first offense, so Harry must defend himself in court or risk expulsion. It doesn't help that the Ministry of Magic refuses to take seriously the threat that Voldemort has returned.

In response to Voldemort's return, the Order of the Phoenix is formed and consists of The Weasleys, Dumbledore, Mad Eye Moody, Sirius Black, and even Severus Snape as well as a few others. Harry has a hard time believing Snape is actually on their side. At school, several teachers are let go by new headmistress Delores Umbridge, appointed head of the school by the Ministry of Magic.

Harry and his school chums begin meeting in secret to practice Defense Against the Dark Arts because Umbridge is teaching directly from a textbook rather than practical skills. They call themselves the DA, Dumbledore's Army. Most of his classes are teaching what he needs to know to pass the OWLs, Ordinary Wizarding Levels. Meanwhile, Snape begins teaching Harry Occlumency to try and prevent Voldemort from breaking into his thoughts. But when Harry discovers something Snape does not want him to know, he refuses to teach his any longer, and Harry begins having even more and more vivid dreams involving the Dark Lord.

I won't spoil the book, but suffice to say, it is amazing! This series is one of the best I've ever read.

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Happy Random Tuesday

 

Image Credit

This might fall under the heading, "You know you're from Texas when..." but I remember that in middle school in the 1970's, part of physical education classes was a unit on dancing in both 7th and 8th grades.  This was the only time P.E. was co-ed, and it was embarrassing!  We didn't learn the "cool" dances of the 70's either.  We had to do the Cotton Eyed Joe, the Schottische, and (shudder) square dancing.  Did you ever learn these dances or have dancing in school P.E.?  I'm 100% sure they don't do that unit today!  It gives us something to look back on and laugh!

Here's a few laughs!

Have a great week, and don't forget to visit Happy Tuesday and Random Tuesday Thoughts.

Sunday Synopsis

Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stephanie Plum, bond enforcer. It sounds a lot more glamorous than it is, and frankly, Stephanie is tired of all the "bad" in life. While she is questioning her career choice, Grandma Mazur has gotten herself into a pickle. Her husband of 45 minutes has died, and his mobster cronies believe Grandma has the keys, literal keys, to financial freedom. The problem is, Grandma doesn't have the keys, doesn't know where they keys are, and didn't even know they existed.

And Stephanie has more than just finding the keys on her plate. She makes her living by locating FTA's (failure to appear) and getting them "rescheduled for their court dates." She has some doozies this time including a professional shoplifter who is able to give her and Lulu the slip multiple times. Stephanie's and Lulu's shenanigans provide much comic relief, and the love triangle with cop Joe Morelli and security expert Ranger provide romance.

Janet Evanovich manages to keep the storylines fresh even through this 26th book. But if you haven't read the previous books, you could pick this one up and still have a funny, twisty, read.

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