Shopping From The Easy Chair

I didn't have a lot of plans this weekend to keep me
busy. That meant I had way too much time to go
on-line and buy, buy, buy stuff. One of my major
pitfalls.

First, I received an email from Felix's Paydirt (if I
knew how people link without having to type out the
whole address I'd link this because it's a cool site.
Google it and go take a look.) which is run by a man
living near Fairbanks, Alaska who has several gold mining
claims. You can buy bags of his "dirt" for modest
costs, pan them out at home or give them as gifts, and
they all contain some quantities of gold. I've
ordered from him before and I've never been
disappointed. I'm sure he makes more money selling it this way than if he installed an expensive commercial operation - this way I have a chance of getting good gold-bearing dirt also, so it's a "win" all around.

Then I went to Amazon because I haven't been there for
awhile and I wanted to see what new books "my" authors
have come out with lately. I also like to cruise
through the Listmania sites and find new things and
discover new authors. Here's what I ordered this
weekend:

"Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye", by Victoria Laurie (a
re-re-order because I keep loaning it out and not
getting it back, and I want to have it because it's
the first in a series)

"A Vision of Murder: A Psychic Eye Mystery", also by
V. Laurie, the third book in the series. I think this
is actually being released today or tomorrow.

"Micah", by Laurell K. Hamilton, the umpteenth novel in
Hamilton's Anita Blake series.

"Folly", by Laurie R. King, an author I have not read
before, but I saw this listed as #1 on a "My Favorite
Books" list in listmania and thought I'd try it. The
author apparently has a couple of series in print -
this book is a stand-alone and is sort of a
psychological drama mystery. I noticed that one of
the editorial reviewers implied that the book is too
complex for the average reader and may not generate
much in sales or interest because the author's regular
readers will be put off by having to think. I was
then impressed to see over 30 reviews by the author's
readers, giving the book high marks and actually
making sense like they actually understood all the
hard words! Apparently, that editorial reviewer can
go suck an egg.

"Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am Not", CD
by the Arctic Monkeys. These guys are huge in
Britain; I usually like Brit-pop and will give them a
shot. I've read several reviews (including in our own
home town newspaper) that give them high marks.

"Beachcombing For a Shipwrecked God", by Joe Coomer, a
guy who apparently has good insight into women and the
way they think, because reviewers and readers love
this guy. I've never read him.

"The Loop", also by Joe Coomer, because I couldn't
resist the reviews. And, at 49 cents used plus
shipping, I'm not out a lot of money either.

AND, THEN, I went to Collections Etc.
(collectionsetc.com) which is one of my favorite sites
for yard and garden stuff, and just general doodads
and gizmos for the home. I LOVE this place - nothing
is over $19.99, most of their items are $14.99, and
they have sales where it's even less. I love to buy
patio and yard stuff here - wind chimes, stepping
stones, stained glass, sculpture, bird feeders and
crazy things you'd never have dreamed of.....and some
really hokey stuff I wouldn't have in a million years
but somebody must like it. Something for everyone at
a reasonable cost. Anyway, I bought 2 two-armed
shepherd's hooks to put in the yard - they also have a
solar light at the top that looks like an old
fashioned street light. I plan to hang suet and bird
feeders from these because the darned squirrels won't
be able to climb the skinny metal poles, I hope. They
eat all the bird food from the other feeders.

I also bought a new clock and thermometer for the
patio - these have a lighthouse design on them.

And, a Mosaic Sunflower Birdbath, in turquoise and
yellow, that I just love, which I have seen before and
really wanted to buy, but I thought $19.99 is too much,
and when I went in this weekend, what do you think?
The price was lowered to $13.99 - I had to have it.
Of course.

I think that's it. I think.