Collectorz - review

I have always loved the public library. When I was growing up I dreamed of having an extensive home library. As a homeschooler, that dream has become a reality... and now the problem has become keeping my collection pared down to where I have room for it. Just about every room in our house has at least one bookcase. They are loosely organized in a way that makes sense to me, but I often lose track of which books I own and where they are when I need them.

Recently, as a member of the TOS Crew, I had the opportunity to review the Collectorz software for cataloging books. It is pretty straight-forward and very easy to use. All I had to do was type in the ISBN from a book cover and it would automatically list the title, author, cover art, and other pertinent information for that particular book. Or if you have a barcode scanner, you can simply scan the bar code. I haven't had the time to enter my entire collection, but I can see that it would be a helpful program to have to better organize my library and keep track of my books. Collectorz also offers similar software for DVDs, CDs, and other types of media.

The Book Collector Standard Version costs $29.95, while the Book Collector Pro Version costs $49.95. The Pro Version has extra features for larger collections.

A Day in the Big City

 

We have been enjoying perfect fall weather in the northwest this week. Yesterday was our day to take in the "big city." Seattle has a reputation of being gray and damp most of the time, so we were thrilled when it turned out to be another clear, sunny day. Great walking-around weather!

We spent the day browsing shops and visiting museums, and then went up in the Space Needle in time to watch the sunset. As usual, my camera doesn't begin to do it justice.

The sunset tinted the city and Mount Rainier (in the distance) a soft pink. It was such a beautiful evening.

It was dark by the time we got back to the ferry. We went out on the deck to see the city lights. Again, my camera's limitations, along with the vibration of the boat, makes this picture a poor representation of the actual sight.

It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful day!

Cape Flattery Trail

 We hiked to the "most northwest corner of the continental United States" today. (Does that count as an "uttermost part" of the earth? If not, what is an uttermost part?) The hike was about 3 miles round trip, and the views were spectacular. It was an absolutely beautiful day for November. I fully expected the coast to be fogged in, but it was sunny and clear with the temperature about 60.

 There were 5 different scenic overlooks along the trail. We ate our lunch while we watched the waves and the sea gulls.

The two tiny black pecks in the middle of this picture are sea otters who were floating along on their backs in the waves. A couple of guys we met up with on the trail said they had seen 3 sea lions, but we didn't catch a glimpse of them. It was a fun day!

25 years ago...

...on this day, I married my best friend.

He's still my best friend...

...and I'm more in love with him now than I was then.

What I can't figure out is...

...how could 25 years possibly go by so quickly?

Happy Anniversary, Lyle!

Thanks for choosing me!

Anniversary Getaway

In celebration of our 25th anniversary, Lyle and I are enjoying  a few days away from our normal responsibilities. My mother kindly offered to come "keep the girls company" at home. We are staying at a lovely bed and breakfast out in the country on Bainbridge Island, just west of Seattle. We plan to ride the ferry into the city later in the week, but yesterday we enjoyed a much-needed day of rest and relaxation.

Our hostess has a special knack for creating a beautiful garden and grounds. It's definitely fall in the northwest, so everything is damp and drippy. Actually, that's probably pretty much the norm year 'round... but it's warmer than it's been at home. It's very cozy to sit inside and watch the rain in the courtyard. And the weather is supposed to clear up tomorrow, I think. So we'll probably get out and do more then.

Part of the hospitality committee includes the friendly old dog, Camille, who watched us through the French doors for awhile before curling up for a nap on the mat...

...and the resident horses, Skippy and Harley, who live just beyond the pasture gate (in the first picture). I didn't get acquainted with them very closely yet, but I understand they are also quite friendly.