Some Fall Color and a little bit about books

Have popped my head outside in the backyard a few times this last week, during the rain breaks. ;-)

The Sunset Maple, we got it for the colors for fall. Red-orange, or sunset colored:

You can see some of the leaves are their normal dark purple color, but then it turns yellow-orange. It's been fun watching it grow over the years:

I bought this at the Norm Thompson sample sale a few weeks ago. I love owls and this was quirky. Trying to get enough sun during the day to recharge the solar cells. Did you know that some solar cells don't charge on cloudy days? They truly need "sun" to charge. It's a little green light when it does come on at night.

Isn't he fun?

Looking over the roof to the front yard, you can see the two sweet gums on either side of the driveway. I think its funny how they change at different rates. This is the one on the left side of the driveway as you look at the house:

The one on the right side of the house. It's always behind the others in the cul de sac:

The nasturtiums went into hibernation when I forgot to water the box. With all the rains, they popped up and went green and have been throwing out blooms and being all cheerful. I love that they reseed themselves and return each year.

No comments about the sweater posts, but I have one or two that I'll write up and post along with another new project.

I have been an avid reader since grade school. Family will tell you that I was often found deep within the pages of a book. I've had problems reading the last couple of months. It's really weird. Authors that have usually sucked me into their world I've struggled to read their books. I'm at 75% for my goal of 100 books for the year. I've had books that I've had to return to the library unread because of struggling to finish a book. A couple of times I admit I just gave up and left it as something to possibly be read in the future. Others, have been put back on request to be read.

Have you ever had this problem? Does anyone pay attention to the little bookshelf over on the right? Read any of these books? Did you know if you hover over the book it will show the review I gave it?

Last project of 2011

I was knitting right up to 2012 but finished the second shortie finger glove in the pair for Brandon. The pattern calls them fingerless gloves, but to me those are ones that you don't knit each of the fingers on. The fingers aren't enclosed, so they aren't mittens. Most pairs have you stop at the first knuckle, but his request was to the second knuckle. I also found that I needed to pick up a couple extra stitches than called for on the ring and pinky fingers for him. Big hands = big fingers. He's happy with them and that's the important thing right? ;-)

I also finished out the year reading two more books than I had the previous year. Cool! 112 books read. Okay, some of those books I didn't fully read because they were anthologies and I didn't read all the short stories in them, but they were read so counted as a book. Two of those books were non-fiction even, not my normal urban fantasy/paranormal reading. I received a Kindle Fire for Christmas so I can possibly read more books, but also have internet access where there's free WiFi when out and about. Better for me than an iPad.