Looking Forward and Looking Back

Hi everyone. This is mostly a pre-post I had written. I've been down and out with either a weird virus or a reaction to the allergy shot I had Wednesday. It started with a high racing heartbeat and now a fever and aches and pains. My allergist seems to think it have the flu, but between the fact I had the vaccine last fall,  had a negative flu test result yesterday and have no respiratory or cold like symptoms, I don't think she's right about that. Who knows, but I do think it is time to give my allergy shots a break just in case this is a reaction.  Anyhow, I wanted to mention this as I am back into catch up mode at Art Journal Journey, Try It On Tuesday and on everyone's blogs.
Here's my pre-written post.
Today is the last day before we change our clocks and spring ahead here in the US. Although it makes the mornings tough for a few days until I get used to it, the longer evenings makes the time change  so worth it!
  I am back with another Green page for you. Green the is the challenge this month at Art Journal Journey which is being hosted by Eileen.

So I thought I would introduce a new project to you. I found a green Irish paper and ephemera stash on Etsy awhile back.  Since it was winter, and there was a general lack of color in the outside world,  I was very interested in this ephemera pack. (Plus it wasn't very expensive.) Now I am not of Irish descent, but I love green, so I got this idea to make a vintage travel journal. I hope you don't find it too cliche, but I was working mostly with the ephemera and papers that I received with the kit, as well as a few items I had in my stash.

I decided that 1957 was a good year to set the journal as much of what I have is vintage style. Here's the cover. I used some paper and a piece of wallpaper strip that came with the paper ack, as well as the Ireland map piece and the large shamrock image. I added some washi tape, the green metallic trim on the left as well as the letter and number stickers, all of which came from my stash.

I'll have more to share with you another day.

And I thought today would also be a good day to do my February book post.

 February was a good reading month and there were no bad books, but interestingly I did a whole lot re-reading.

One series I really enjoyed was Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series. This series was the basis for HBO's True Blood series. The books have some fascinating characters like mind readers, vampires, fairies, maenads, and many others. Plus there are murders and some fun  romantic twists. 

I originally finished this series in 2013 when book 13 (the last of the series) was released, and it is time for a reread, or should I say listen this time.

  I listened to the first 3 of the series this month.

Ten more books to go. And I know I will enjoy them!

And I also read the latest release in Elly Griffiths forensic archeology series. 

The Lantern Men was as good as it gets and very very much enjoyed by me.

And I listened to this book about traveling in Australia which was narrated by the author. I had also read this book many years ago, and I remembered enjoying it.. And I must say I really enjoyed it 

again. It was funny as well as informative. Bill Bryson is one of my favorite authors. 

And another favorite author is Louise Penny. I also want to reread some of the earlier Louise Penny murder mysteries, and this is her third book. I reread books 1 and 2 at the end of 2019. I don't think Louise Penny can write a bad book. And Gamache, he is a great inspector and character.

If you have a travel hankering (OK, I do), the Seine is an enjoyable read. The author does spend several chapters in Paris, but this book is not just about Paris. She has stories about the life and people all along the Seine, as well as those about the river itself. I guess if I can't take a trip there, I might as well enjoy it from my couch.

And my last February listen was this short freebie about caffeine. It was just enough science as well as a lot of fascinating stories and facts. I learned a lot, and definitely enjoyed it. 

And that was February. 

Thanks for visiting, and I hope everyone is having a much better start to the month than I am.