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Post by Claire on Jul 29, 2015 20:38:26 GMT 1
Lol Susan, I haven't read Four Ponies or its predecessor. Had you read The Merrow Ponies first? I'm afraid I have been seduced from the path of righteousness! I had started reading Sea Ponies by Jenny Hughes, but then picked up the latest psychological thriller by Mo Hayder which was lying around at my mum's and haven't been able to put it down since. And I have left Sea Ponies at my mum's! Oh well if I finish the Mo Hayder book before I get Sea Ponies back I will start on Black Swift, which I think must be the only JPT pony book I haven't ever read. EDIT: Updated smilies. Sorry it's taken a few days since last update but I had to move the whole thing around to fit in Kunuma's 4 extra books - there's always one isnt there...? Lol BTW Kunuma who is the author of the Emma books as I need to add that in. Hope everyone is having fun!
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Post by susanb on Jul 29, 2015 21:40:36 GMT 1
No, haven't read Merrow Ponies...I think it must come after Four Ponies, because in FP the Merrow girls get their ponies. Merrow Ponies appears to be scarce, so I won't be reading it anytime soon!
I know what you mean about drifting from the path....finished one needlework piece and picked up another that has been languishing...its one of those "I must have been insane to pick this pattern, why didn't somebody stop me" multi year projects. I don't think the urge to work on this one will last.....it's all cross-stich, which can get kind of dull, but fiddly with many, many, many color changes. I've got a project in the wings that is much smaller, but incorporates a number of more interesting stitches (satin, eyelet, smyrna cross, etc) as well as a few glass beads.
On top of that, just took a mystery out of the library last night, so I'll have to read it in the next two weeks!
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Post by Claire on Jul 29, 2015 22:08:44 GMT 1
No, haven't read Merrow Ponies...I think it must come after Four Ponies, because in FP the Merrow girls get their ponies. Merrow Ponies appears to be scarce, so I won't be reading it anytime soon! That's interesting as I have Merrow Ponies as coming first in series order (and published first) on my web page. I'll have to double check it. Anyone read them both and can enlighten us? I also have a Judith Campbell short story which I may scan one day if anyone is interested in reading it. Haha Susan I know exactly what you mean about cross stitch. I have had a piece I've been on with for literally 6 years!! I keep losing it, finding it again and thinking I must get round to finishing that off, but by the time I've summoned up the enthusiasm to do it, it's disappeared again! I'm not very good at 'proper' embroidery, cross stitch is all I can manage. My gran was an amazing embroiderer tho. I'd love to see your work some time if you ever photograph it.
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Post by susanb on Jul 29, 2015 23:01:43 GMT 1
I took a look at the British Library catalog, and they give the publication date of Four Ponies as 1958 and The Merrow Ponies as 1960. And, boy, did she do a lot of writing about the Royal family and their horses! Re the embroidery....don't be too impressed, I'm intermediate at best....I look at the more advanced stuff and just drool, but I know I will never, ever get there! I actually took advantage of my purging mood and went through the stash of patterns....disgarded a bunch I know I would never even consider doing! This is a link to the designers page for my looney multi-year just cross stich design. I have so little done....just head and bodice and a bit of the skirt and shawl. Sigh. www.tiag.com/designs/LL-20jpg.htmlAnd here's the little one I finished...a Christmas Pudding! Still not ironed, but otherwise done. Phone camera did weird things with color....linen is actually brick-red, not orangy. Checkerboard part of base is Smyrna Cross, bit beneath that is satin stitch, berries are eyelet stitch. Now I just need to find a good job so I can afford to frame it
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Post by kunuma1 on Jul 30, 2015 14:40:57 GMT 1
EDIT: Updated smilies. Sorry it's taken a few days since last update but I had to move the whole thing around to fit in Kunuma's 4 extra books - there's always one isnt there...? Lol BTW Kunuma who is the author of the Emma books as I need to add that in. Just trying to keep you busy!! lol I've read them all now, they arrived yesterday and I just walked around reading them for the next couple of hours (they are only short books) they all get a smiley. Author is Sheila Hocken. So does Dark Sunshine although I admit to being left with a sort of "and???" feeling about it - and I hated the killing of the snake. I was thrilled the last time I saw an adder and stood a couple of feet away and watched it for quite a while, kept the dogs by my side, we left it alone - and it left us alone! Did chuckle at the endurance part as it's a carbon copy of another story (or the other story is the copy) but I'm blowed if I can remember which book it was in? Someone falls off during the ride and so the other rider has to gallop for help and give up their chance at a prize. It's a sport I never took to I'm afraid, I like riding for the fun of time spent alone with my horse, not interested in against the clock or riding with other people.
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Post by Claire on Jul 30, 2015 18:38:38 GMT 1
I think I probably got the dates for the Judith Campbell books from the British Library too. Mind you they may be correct as sometimes reading order is different to publishing order. Nice fun piece of embroidery Susan. You look pretty good to me. Well done Kunuma you seem to have completed your challenge already. I should have had more short books on mine.
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Post by brumby on Jul 31, 2015 1:28:29 GMT 1
Two more SMILEYS please Claire,one is for TRIPLE BAR which I thoroughly enjoyed. When I first started reading I didn't think I would like it as Lida was planning the foals future as a show jumper soon after he was born. But it really was a good read. The other smiley is for PONY OF GOLD, although not in the same league as Triple Bar it was quite good. There were a few things in the story that jarred: the unpleasant end to one of the hunting scenes and the talk of teaching the pony to be 'obedient' and the use of a few good 'whacks' with the whip! Although cannot find a date on my copy the pony book bible (Claire's website) dates it at 1948, so I'm not really surprised that some of the ideas in the book are out of date.
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Post by trixiepony on Jul 31, 2015 2:36:47 GMT 1
A smiley face for A Hoof in the Door, I'm reading Divergent by Veronica Roth now considering how Meeny outher books I'm reading I think I'm doing well.
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Post by susanb on Jul 31, 2015 21:04:44 GMT 1
Finished Pony Trekking Summer by Jane McIlwaine, smiley please! Utterly mad....deer poachers, trekking, a BBC crew filming a documentary on pony trekking, it had it all. A bit episodic, but still enjoyable. Warning to the faint-hearted, one of the protagonists lives on a real working farm....they don't raise sheep to decorate the landscape or chickens as pets. While the actual dispatching takes place off stage, as it were, you know it's been done and the resulting fried chicken is apparently delicious
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 1, 2015 5:32:38 GMT 1
SMILEY please for Red Embers. Thanks!
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Post by Claire on Aug 1, 2015 11:24:58 GMT 1
Two more SMILEYS please Claire,one is for TRIPLE BAR which I thoroughly enjoyed. When I first started reading I didn't think I would like it as Lida was planning the foals future as a show jumper soon after he was born. But it really was a good read. I really like Triple Bar, I think it's far and away her best book. Will add smilies tomorrow folks when I have a bit more time. I hope everyone is enjoying the challenge.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 11:51:07 GMT 1
Two more SMILEYS please Claire,one is for TRIPLE BAR which I thoroughly enjoyed. When I first started reading I didn't think I would like it as Lida was planning the foals future as a show jumper soon after he was born. But it really was a good read. I really like Triple Bar, I think it's far and away her best book. Will add smilies tomorrow folks when I have a bit more time. I hope everyone is enjoying the challenge. I enjoyed that one too
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Post by garej on Aug 1, 2015 18:55:57 GMT 1
I am currently reading Joe and the Race to Rescue. Enjoying it so far.
I am thinking of buying some rl rosettes to anyone who completes the challenge. Dont expect anything fancy, but still if anyone wants one, I thought that it would be nice. Since I have to buy no more than 9 rosettes it shouldnt be too expensive, so it's an incentive to anyone who is struggling.
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Post by kunuma1 on Aug 2, 2015 13:05:19 GMT 1
I am currently reading Joe and the Race to Rescue. Enjoying it so far. I am thinking of buying some rl rosettes to anyone who completes the challenge. Dont expect anything fancy, but still if anyone wants one, I thought that it would be nice. Since I have to buy no more than 9 rosettes it shouldnt be too expensive, so it's an incentive to anyone who is struggling. That would be great fun Garej, I'm a sucker for rosettes, I've kept every one that I have ever won, I used to have the posher ones on display = but I've moved house too often and now they are all packed in boxes.
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Post by garej on Aug 2, 2015 21:53:02 GMT 1
A big fat smiley for Joe and the Race to Rescue. I particularly enjoyed the tractor references so much so that I pointed the relevant parts out to my Dad. My dad owns a International Harvester tractor so I just imagined Dad's tractor in the field. My uncle owns a Ferguson TE20 so it was easy to imagine once it was pointed out that they were the same. It's turning out to be my favourite book so far.
Not sure what I am going to tackle next - though I am now halfway which is good. Only one more book to read and I get a rosette.
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Post by Claire on Aug 3, 2015 20:56:31 GMT 1
I am thinking of buying some rl rosettes to anyone who completes the challenge. Dont expect anything fancy, but still if anyone wants one, I thought that it would be nice. Since I have to buy no more than 9 rosettes it shouldnt be too expensive, so it's an incentive to anyone who is struggling. That's a lovely idea Garej. Unlike Kunuma I don't have many real ones. I wasn't much of a competitor I really enjoyed hacking about best. Apologies for not updating the web page/smilies as promised. Having technical problems. The laptop charger/lead blew up and that laptop is the only one of my many internet enabled devices with the right software on to do it. I'll get it done as soon as I get a new charger but not one from PC World as they are charging £44!
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 3, 2015 21:03:37 GMT 1
Still on same GOT book (getting there now, it won't beat me as i have enjoyed the others so much and i'm enjoying the chapters about characters i like still but finding others very slow going).
But i have read 3 of the Linda Chapman books, and enjoyed them far more than i initially expected to! Smileys please for Loving Spirit, Hopes and Dreams.
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 4, 2015 1:57:15 GMT 1
CLAIRE when you get your laptop back together (or get a new one!), may I add a DOG book to my list? Searching the Richmond Public Library for Dark Sunshine made me think about more childhood reads, and I want to re-visit Zachary Ball's Bristle Face. Sputters, too, if I have the time, but Bristle Face right away for the summer. I know we've had folks pick a dog title here and there in the past.
Thanks, and if it's too late to add one more book, I completely understand!
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Post by kunuma1 on Aug 4, 2015 13:31:23 GMT 1
Still on same GOT book (getting there now, it won't beat me as i have enjoyed the others so much and i'm enjoying the chapters about characters i like still but finding others very slow going). But i have read 3 of the Linda Chapman books, and enjoyed them far more than i initially expected to! Smileys please for Loving Spirit, Hopes and Dreams.lol You are just hanging on waiting for the next GOT book to come out - like quite a few others!! Have you got to the good dragon bits yet??
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Post by tintin on Aug 4, 2015 15:20:05 GMT 1
Please could I have a smiley face for "Island of Lost Horses" please, original with deft handling of pretty serious themes
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 5, 2015 21:30:12 GMT 1
Still on same GOT book (getting there now, it won't beat me as i have enjoyed the others so much and i'm enjoying the chapters about characters i like still but finding others very slow going). But i have read 3 of the Linda Chapman books, and enjoyed them far more than i initially expected to! Smileys please for Loving Spirit, Hopes and Dreams.lol You are just hanging on waiting for the next GOT book to come out - like quite a few others!! Have you got to the good dragon bits yet?? Haha, that makes it sound better! I'm still restricting myself to not watch season 5 until i've finished this one...well i might have watched 3 episodes. Is the dragon action in A Dance With Dragons? I'm almost ready to start them now.
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Post by Claire on Aug 6, 2015 14:30:21 GMT 1
Hi all, sadly no new laptop but have scrounged a charger til I get a new one lol. So smilies updated and have added your extra book Rallycairn. Well done everyone, we've all got rosettes now and Kunuma has her gold cup for completing the challenge. Don't forget to let us know what your favourite book was Kunuma so I can award it a star.
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Post by tintin on Aug 6, 2015 15:48:10 GMT 1
About a third of the way through Hobby Horse Hill
If these children don't start being a bit more co-operative/mellow with each other they may be getting a frowny face...
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Post by brumby on Aug 6, 2015 22:50:00 GMT 1
Big SMILEY for BLUE RIBBON SUMMER - PATSEY GRAY really enjoyed this book as it was a bit different to the average showing type book, the characters were well rounded and very likeable.
Also a SMILEY for HERO - SAM ANGUS, this was a really interesting book, many of the events in the book were based on fact and it really explored the effect of war on children that were displaced from their families. There was a lot going on in this book (at times I felt too much) but the ending was extremely well done, definitely worth a read.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 7, 2015 8:02:11 GMT 1
Ok back to pony books, there will be a new one from Karen Wood soon Under the Flame Tree meant to come out in shops in September that will be my new book. Loved all the others she has written, oh yes except the little ones Trickstars haven't read those.
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Post by susanb on Aug 9, 2015 4:09:58 GMT 1
Sooo.....a bit shockin', but I'm a little pony-booked-out...haven't been able to face a book in a week now...any chance of swappin' out at least some of my books?
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 9, 2015 20:32:19 GMT 1
Can i have a smiley for Linda Chapman Secrets too please. Quite a nice little series on the whole, got the obligatory (it seems in modern books) hint of romance throughout and touches on a budding relationship between cousins (who realise it would be difficult shall we say). I like the showing backdrop, it's not an overly common theme and the natural horsemanship, that one character is interested in, makes an interesting comparison in a world that's traditionally the opposite end of that spectrum. The only thing i have issue with is the tangible ghost, after Spirit has died, but that's a personal thing and we've been here before with another book i'm sure.
Edited to add if you don't like people communicating with horses, as in full blown conversations, then this series isn't for you, it touches on reiki as well (I assume although it's never named) which is nice. I guess it has shades of The Pony Whisper series by Janet Rising in the communicating sense...i wonder which came first!
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 10, 2015 6:59:38 GMT 1
I have just finished Ticket to Ride, loved it it's been ages since I read it before as some bits I had forgotten.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 10, 2015 7:00:34 GMT 1
Oh forgot to say a smiley face please for Ticket to Ride.
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Post by kunuma1 on Aug 11, 2015 14:23:36 GMT 1
Hi all, sadly no new laptop but have scrounged a charger til I get a new one lol. So smilies updated and have added your extra book Rallycairn. Well done everyone, we've all got rosettes now and Kunuma has her gold cup for completing the challenge. Don't forget to let us know what your favourite book was Kunuma so I can award it a star. Right I'm going to go out on a limb here and award my star to the children's book of the group - because it was a bit different! so star goes to The Horses of Hemlock Hall. Claire you are about to have me on the phone wanting advice on DVD drives not working and if those cleaner discs actually work - I've got some photos of the new pup but can't put them on the puter cos they are on a disc and the drive has packed up! Grrr I hate technology!
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