This is my first non-Project 52 post in quite a while. Unfortunately I can’t take part in this week’s Project 52 assignment as I was away all weekend and I knew I wouldn’t have time to take and edit the photos. Especially since I had almost 1200 photos to go through after spending four days in Cochrane, Alberta with my niece and her ringette team. What’s ringette, you ask? Why let me tell you . . . *big grin*

Ringette is an ice sport, played primarily by girls (but boys are allowed too). The girls wear ice hockey skates and hockey padding (including the helmet and neck guard) and they skate with sticks. Unlike hockey sticks, there is no blade on the end of a ringette stick. And unlike hockey, the athletes play with a rubber ring (hollow) instead of a puck. The rules are quite similar to hockey, and it’s a fast-paced game. My niece’s mom couldn’t attend the tournament, so I offered to go instead. We had a blast! The kids have an absolutely FABULOUS set of coaches and assistant coaches, and the parents are a ton of fun too. The kids played their hearts out, and I spent each of the four games alternating between cheering as hard as I could and snapping pictures. If you’re interested in seeing the photos, check out
http://kladckrs.zenfolio.com/p823124189

Anyhow, since I spent all kinds of time on a bus (8+ hours each way, not including stops), I got to fit in some reading. And because the books I read were really that good, I wanted to share them with you, my loyal readers.

The first book I read was “The Dog Who Knew Too Much” by Spencer Quinn. This is the fourth Chet and Bernie mystery, and it doesn’t let readers down one bit. Bernie is a detective and Chet the Jet is his sidekick (a dog, of course). The book is narrated through Chet’s point of view, and Quinn does a great job of being doggy. Chet gets distracted by cookies, other dogs and all kinds of stuff, but that just adds to the feeling of the book. It is well-written and fun to read. If you enjoy mysteries and you’re a fan of dogs, I highly recommend any of Quinn’s books in the Chet and Bernie series. You won’t be disappointed.

The second book I read was “Part Wild” by Ceiridwen Terrill. This book is a work of non-fiction, written by the author about her life with a wolfdog that she bought as a pup. Terrill discusses how she balanced life with her wolfdog Inyo – keeping Inyo safe and allowing Inyo to fulfill some of her more wild desires. She talks about the struggles they endured, like having to move several times due to neighbors and others with issues, and she talks about some of the joys they shared, such as hikes out in the mountains. Terrill skillfully weaves science, history and her own personal experiences without interrupting the flow of the book. I found this book very enlightening and extremely enjoyable. For anybody with an interest in dogs, wolves and the similarities and differences between the two, I would recommend this book in a heartbeat.

That, my friends, is my blog post for this week. Enjoy your weekend and keep your eyes peeled for a Project 52 post next week.