Since my asthma has gone into overload, I haven't been on my blog much, haven't been reading much, haven't been doing anything much.  I have to get that turned around today.  Soooo I am reading a book, doing a bit of cleaning (don't want to overdo it you know) and crocheting.  I also have a new passion coloring.  It is so relaxing and fun.   I need more hours in the day and I don't even have a job to go to!

I thought this was cute!

and just for fun here are a couple of my 'works of art'...................if you can't draw, color

Found on Mental Floss 15 Things you Might Not Know about Beatrix Potter.

• Her first name was really Helen
• The Tale of Peter Rabbit was inspired by  a letter
• Peter was based on a real rabbit
• Potter's house was basically a menagerie.
• Peter Rabbit did not start out as a success.
• She understood merchandising
• She was a naturalist in a time that women usually weren't
• She sometimes wrote in a secret code
• She disappointed her Mom
• She wrote much more than you (probably)
• She didn't want one of her books published in England
• Her later books had to be cobbled together from earlier drawings.
• A lost work of her's was recently rediscovered.
• She also farmed sheep
• You can visit her house

For the full article by Claire Cock-Starkey check here

Valentine's Day is upon us. I can't believe it is already here.  Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers out there in cyber land.  I hope your day is filled with love, family and hope.  If you are like me and don't have a significant other, I hope you have a warmth filled day - maybe with chocolates, coffee and a good book.

Here is an article I found on Read it Forward by Abbee Wright:  30 Characters From Literature We'd Want as Valentine's  Who would you want off the list for your Valentine?  I'm tied between The Lorax and Jack Reacher (not Tom Cruise but the true Jack Reacher)

Oh you have to check these home libraries out!  Some of them are totally wonderful and I could spend my days there easily.   31 Classic Library design ideas  What is your favorite?  This is my first and second, although I'd be happy with any of them.

Have you ever seen those book shelf chairs?   I've always wondered how to make one and have thought it would be so cool to have one.

Well, drum roll please.......................I found a tutorial and I'm going to share it with you all.

Book shelf chair

I've looked this way often for this very reason

Here is a great giveaway if you'd like a Kindle.


Choosy's giveaway

14 Signs You Were Born to Read!!!

by Julia Seales

• You were picking up books at an early age.
• You are fascinated with learning.
• You have a great imagination
• You are an empathetic person
• You'd drop everything if a story was involved.
• Bedtime was your favorite.
• When you first went to a library you thought you were in heaven.
• You know the best way to unwind from stress.
• Words fascinate you.
• You started hoarding books at an early age.
• You have confused book plot lines with your own memories
• You like having alone time
• Your family reads a lot.
• You want more than reality.

Complete article can be found here

Trivia and interesting fact of the day:    The Eagles' song Witchy Woman was based on Zelda Fitzgerald's biography.  That's right the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald.   Here is an article that gives you the high points of Zelda's life and then under the picture I have listed some biographies written about her life.  10 Roaring Facts about Zelda Fitzgerald by Suzanne Raga  The article was found on Mental Floss

Biographies of Zelda Fitzgerald:

• Z:  A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Theresa Anne Fowler
• Zelda Fitzgerald:  The Tragic Meticulously Researched Biography of the Jazz Age's High Priestess by Sally Cline
• Zelda A Biography by Nancy Milford
• Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald:  An American Woman's Life  by Linda Wagner-Martin

All of these and more can be found on Amazon.

Poet Benjamin Zephaniah is a British Jamaican Rastafarian writer.  Like me, you might be asking what a Rastafarian is?  So, since inquiring minds want to know including mine, I looked it up.

The Rastafarian religion started in the slums of Jamaica in the 1920's and 30's.  It is politically base.  Some Rastafarians see it as a way of life and some as a religion. There is no formal structure and beliefs vary widely.  You can learn more at Religion Facts/Rastafarianism

Zephaniah is a performance poet (poetry is composed for or during a specific performance).  He is also a reggae artist.  He left school at 13 unable to read or write - he was dyslexic so that probably played a part in his inabilities and leaving school.

He describes his poetry as being based on 'street politics' based in Jamaica.  He published his first book of poetry in 1980 called Pen Rhythm

He has received many honorary doctorates from many prestigious universities.   Zephaniah has also written a few novels and several children's books.  

To read about Benjamin Zephaniah here is an interview with Writers and Artists, The Insider Guide to Media.

Information gathered from Wikipedia and PoemHunter.com  Each of the links go to the page about the author.

RIP Alan Rickman probably most recently known for his part in Harry Potter as Professor Snape.  Did you know over his career he brought 6 prominent literary characters to life.

Here is an article at Bustle that tells you which characters.  6 Literary Characters Alan Rickman Brought to Life  There are more characters he played and he played a villain well.  Here is How to Play a Villain  The many faces of Alan Rickman.