book « Robin Writes

Well, I’ve had about enough of this land search, and I’m sure you have too! We’re still a second on the property we’re most interested in, but it’s looking less likely. We haven’t had time to go look at any new ones—plus, it’s been cold.

Now, I’m not a fan of cold, especially when it’s also windy, but I’ve been trying to desensitize myself a bit. Not that it’s working out too well . . . I decided that 40 degrees is about my limit. You know, like being inside a refrigerator.

I received some lovely, fuzzy earmuffs for Christmas and they are AWESOME. They certainly help my ear issues (wind), and I don’t feel like I’m so bundled up I can’t move. I also received some mitten-gloves, which also helps—when you need your fingers to check maps.

Yes, I know all about layering, I just hate to do it because when I come back inside, there are all those layers to remove. And that requires, first, removing my boots. Maybe I’m lazy, but when I’m dressed, I stay that way all day.

Anyway, I do NOT like the cold. Could I stand it if I had to? Sure. But until then . . . 46 days until spring!

So, what can you do to prep if you’re NOT going out in the cold? A lot of things:

Go through your house, closets, cabinets, room by room, and get rid of the excess stuff. Stuff you can use, if it’s not an immediate use, box it up. Stuff you can’t, start a pile in the garage for a spring yard sale.

As long as you’re pulling stuff out of all those spaces, wipe down the inside of the cabinets and the closet shelves. Clean the closet floors. Heck, that’s a lot of “spring” cleaning you’ve already finished—in winter!

Rotate and inventory your supplies. Admit it. You keep meaning to do this, but haven’t quite gotten around to it. Do it now.

Wash the inside of your windows, as long as it’s not TOO cold. All that grime built up . . . ugh. There is no rule that says you must ALSO do the outside at the same time.

Plan your garden. Your state ag extension office will have a lot of suggestions, including how much to plant, a common question, as well as where and how.

There. That should keep you busy until week’s installment of Prep Monday. At least!

Everyone reads books, right? Well, no, in fact, adults read less now than they used to. And as far as books go, no, Facebook doesn’t count!

Me, I prefer real books. The smell, the feel, the printed page . . . But I’ll read just about anything in a pinch: cereal boxes were a favorite when I was a child, because my mom didn’t like me to read at the table, even the breakfast table, because I could drag it out for an hour.

What kinds of books do I like? Some science fiction—I like to be able to pronounce words, even if only in my head, without a struggle each time; and it has to be believeable, as in “what if?” I like historical fiction, too, both the regular kind and the mash-ups, the “what ifs.” Murder mysteries, yes, especially series. Paranormal, magic, other-worldly, ghost-type stuff. Things that make you go “hmmm.” I like westerns, too.

To be specific, in no particular order, I like:

Stephen King

Dean Koontz

John Grisham

James Patterson

Tim LaHaye

Frank Peretti

Sidney Sheldon

Walter Farley

Patricia Cornwell

Zane Grey

Danielle Steel

Louisa May Alcott

Laura Ingalls Wilder

I also have a lot of author friends, and I’ve read many of their books—which I loved! But I also haven’t read and re-read them over decades, because, well, they weren’t available until the last few years. So if I left you off the list, don’t worry—ten years from now, you’ll be on a new list!

I have, at the moment, three favorite books whose authors aren’t mentioned above because I’ve only read one of each of their books:

Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

Elizabeth Goudge, The Little White Horse

Mira Lode, The Grandma in the Apple Tree

And I highly, highly recommend all three! Obviously, the first one will take a sort of time commitment from you; the second would be considered, today, YA, and the last one is a children’s book. But they all fired my imagination, I still think of them fondly, and yes, I own copies of each.

What books and authors are your favorites, old or new?