Currently Reading: Agatha Christie’s “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”

Dawn

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie is currently sitting next to my bed (finished).

Agatha Christie wrote and published The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1920. The novel is a mystery set in England during World War I. Hercule Poirot, the novel’s protagonist, is a Belgian refugee living in London. Poirot is assigned to investigate the murder of Emily Inglethorpe, a wealthy woman. To solve the case, Poirot must employ his detective skills. The novel is one of Christie’s most well-known works, and it has been adapted for film and television numerous times.

The title of the novel refers to the mysterious events surrounding Emily Inglethorpe’s death.

When The Mysterious Affair at Styles was first published, it received rave reviews. It was lauded for its masterful plotting and Christie’s use of the detective genre to craft a suspenseful and thrilling story. The book was also hailed for its portrayal of Poirot, who was regarded as a distinct and intriguing detective.

Currently Reading: Agatha Christie’s “The Murder at the Vicarage”

Dawn

“The Murder at the Vicarage” by Agatha Christie is the first in her series of mysteries featuring her famed sleuth Miss Marple. The story opens on a quiet morning in St. Mary Mead, an English village, in which nothing exciting ever happens… until … Colonel Protheroe is shot dead while visiting the vicarage on this particular morning, which is far from calm.

As the police investigate, they immediately discover that there are far too many suspects to go around. Everyone in the village where Miss Marple grew up appears to possess a motive, and no one is safe.

Miss Marple teams up with Scotland Yard’s Inspector Slack to figure out what happened and why. There are numerous speculations as to who may have done it, ranging from Protheroe’s wife to his mistress and everyone else who detested him. Throughout their inquiry, Miss Marple employs her keen abilities of observation and deduction to assist Slack in discovering the truth about what occurred that tragic day at the vicarage.

As with most of her books, I thoroughly enjoyed Agatha Christie’s “The Vicarage Murder.” The novel, which was first published in 1930, offers a look into the often quaint village life. Take that and place it in stark contrast with the vicar’s wife, Griselda’s murder’, and you have a recipe for mystery. The plot is very well-developed, and I had fun figuring out whodunit. I would strongly recommend this novel to Christie fans.

Christie expertly weaves clues and red herrings together, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The Murder at the Vicarage is a classic mystery novel that will appeal to Agatha Christie fans as well as newcomers.

The novel was a huge success upon its initial release and has since gone on to become one of Agatha Christie’s most recognized works. It has been adapted for television multiple times, notably a 1986 version featuring Joan Hickson as Miss Marple.

Conditioning Your Old Fimo Until It’s Like New

Dawn

We know that MixQuick belongs in every Fimo artist’s toolbox. But why? If you have ever worked with polymer clay you know that old clay can get hard. Never fear, you can actually save even hardest clay. I had a block I used for a necklace almost six years ago and I got it back to an almost new state.

Here I would like to show you how I do it with the slightly harder Fimo and their MixQuick conditioner.

Like I say, life is too short to knead hard Fimo until it is soft, and you know me, I like to make things as simple as possible!

My favorite little helper when it comes to hard Fimo is my trusty carrot kitchen grater.

I start by laying out some Seran wrap over the counter to catch the crumbs and keep my kitchen safe since polymer clay will eat up certain types of plastic. Then I put the kitchen grater on it and begin grating the hard Fimo. The Seran wrap is important since the crumbs really will go everywhere, and nobody wants a Fimo sprinkle mess.

One disadvantage of the kitchen grater is that you can cut yourself if you aren’t careful like I have in the past. I usually don’t use them unless I have no other option.

Once I have it broken down into a sandy pile I place some chunks of MixQuick around so that it can soften the hard polymer clay. I then wrap it up nice and tight with the ceranwrap and leave it set for at least 24 hours.

Now that you have the hard part done you can begin with the fun part. Kneeding. I usually use a noodle machine for this process but if you Fimo is really hard you might need to work it by hand first until you get a workable mass. THis can be cumbersom and take a long time depending on how much clay you need to condition.

Still, I hope you do not have too much old / hard Fimo laying about because this can be a trying job. But if so just try to have fun with the processing stage, afterall, it is part of the sculpting process!

Oh one more thing when it comes to make your old clay usable again, do not save on the wrong end, buy the MixQuick. It is cheaper than a new block of clay. And do not, I repeat DO NOT come to the idea to use oil or whatever else you may put in there there is no alternative. Imagine how – haha, funny – it would be if you invested your precious time in your expensive Fimo and are too cheap for MixQuick and it just ruins everying. Don’t do that to your Fimo. And certainly do not do that to yourself.

One thing to note, never use more than a third of the overall weight of MQ when you do this, you will lower the quality of the Fimo if you do.

Currently Reading: Agatha Christie’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”

Dawn

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a classic Agatha Christie mystery that will keep readers wondering until the very last page. The plot revolves around the investigation into the murder of business tycoon Roger Ackroyd, which quickly becomes more complex than it appears. Christie’s writing is superb, and the novel is chock-full of red herrings and plot twists that will keep readers guessing. Finally, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a thrilling and well-crafted mystery that will appeal to Christie enthusiasts.

I recently finished Agatha Christie’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” which was originally published in 1926.

The novel is set in the fictional village of King’s Abbot, which is based on the actual settlement of Great Missenden in the English county of Buckinghamshire. The plot revolves around Roger Ackroyd, a wealthy widower who is assassinated in his study. Mrs. Ferrars, his housekeeper, admits to the murder, but she is subsequently discovered dead in her own home. Inspector Hercule Poirot suspects that there is much more to the matter than meets the eye.

Agatha Christie’s career took a significant turn once she published The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. It was her first major success and branded her as a mystery writer to be reckoned with. Hercule Poirot, Christie’s most famous detective, made his debut in this book as well, making it Christie’s first novel to feature him. Before this, Christie had built her reputation on writing humorous and cheerful love stories and comedies. She demonstrated to the world with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd that she was capable of penning intricate mysteries that were thrilling and kept readers wondering right up until the finale. Due in large part to the success of this novel, Agatha Christie is considered to be one of the best-selling authors of all time.

The novel is a classic murder mystery with numerous twists and turns. Christie does an excellent job at suspense-building and keeping the reader guessing until the end. This is a book I would recommend to everyone who appreciates a good mystery.

An All Inspiring Green School

eFrog

This school is so inspiring that it makes students want to achieve their dreams.

In South Africa, Alba Brandt is working to establish the country’s first “green school.” The school is based on a similar model to one in Bali, Indonesia that Brandt’s family became familiar with on a six-month trip. Brandt and her husband co-founded the school with the hope of raising a new generation of ecologically conscious citizens.

The Green School curriculum is centered on joy and wonder, with the goal of teaching children, families, and teachers how to live sustainably on this world. The teaching style at the school is designed to promote focus and engagement, with breaks built in and a focus on open communication between students and faculty.

The school’s founders are hopeful that their project will inspire other similar initiatives.

A Desire to Learn, Enabling Girls Access to Education

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Girls’ education is not a priority in many developing countries. This is due to the misconception that girls are not capable of learning as much as boys, or that they will only marry and have children, so it is pointless to send them to school. However, studies have shown that education can be an effective tool for breaking the cycle of poverty that live in from generation to generation, as well as improving their health and well-being, not just for the girls but the people in the communities in which they live.

Scholarships are one way to help girls in developing countries get an education. Many organizations provide scholarships to help students pay for their tuition, books, and other education expenses. This can make a significant difference in a girl’s ability to attend school.

Another thing you can do is donate to institutions that contribute to enhancing girls’ access to education. These organizations frequently advocate for policies that encourage girls to attend and remain in school, train teachers on how to better support girls’ learning, and work very closely with girls and their families to help them better understand the value of education.

You can also help by spreading the word about the significance of girls’ education. This can be accomplished through social media, discussions with friends and family, or even writing to your local representatives about the significance of investing in girls’ education in developing countries.

The most important part is to act and take steps to assist, because:

  • Education for girls is critical for breaking the cycle of poverty and bettering the lives of girls and their communities.
  • Consider the importance of scholarships and support for organizations who help girls achieve education in the developing world.
  • You can help by raising awareness about the importance of girls’ education.

Here are some organizations you can look into:

  1. One Girl: onegirl.org
  2. Room to Read: roomtoread.org
  3. Malala Fund: malala.org
  4. Plan International: plan-international.org
  5. The Global Partnership for Education: gpe.org

Currently Reading: Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express”

Dawn

Agatha Christie’s novel Murder on the Orient Express was first published in 1934. The plot revolves around a murder that occurs on the Orient Express, a train that runs from Istanbul to Calais. Belgian investigator Hercule Poirot is on the case. He questions each passenger in order to narrow down the suspicions. He eventually solves the case.

For those who aren’t familiar with the genre this is one of the most known and well-loved murder mystery novels of all time, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express has been lauded by critics and fans alike for its cunning storyline, intriguing characters, and thrilling writing. The 1934 novel follows detective Hercule Poirot as he investigates the murder of an American businessman on the eponymous train. All of the passengers are potential suspects, making it much more difficult for Poirot to solve the case using his sharp deductive talents alone.

Christie has been hailed by reviewers for her intricate planning, which keeps readers guessing right up until the final page. Readers have praised her clever character development and the way she uses red herrings and false leads to keep people guessing. The characters in Murder on the Orient Express are complex and well-drawn, making them both believable and sympathetic. Not only is Christie’s plot exciting and excitingly written, but her style is straightforward and simple.

In sum, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is a timeless story that justifies its status as a literary classic.

It is an interesting side note, but Christie travel by this express significantly which ran for three centuries, between 1883 and 2009, and the Orient Express lived up to its name as a luxury train service. The service was known for its European routes that included stops in Paris, Istanbul, and Vienna.

This was an excellent read for me. Which means that it was a quick read with good suspense. I didn’t realize just who the murderer was the first time I read it untill the very end. Anyone who enjoys mysteries should read this book.

The novel is a classic murder mystery  that follows world-famous investigator Hercule Poirot as he tries to investigate a murder aboard the Orient Express. The book is full of unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader thinking until the very end. Christie’s writing is excellent, and the novel is a page-turner. If you enjoy mysteries, this is a book you will not want to miss.

Murder on the Orient Express on Film

Sidney Lumet directed the 1974 film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel “Murder on the Orient Express,” which starred Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot. The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won three of them.

Poirot investigates the murder of a wealthy American traveler aboard the Orient Express in the film. The suspects are all train passengers, and Poirot must use his analytical skills to find the killer before the train arrives at its final destination.

The film stayed mostly true to the text, with a few alterations to match the medium of film. The film, for example, consolidated the book’s numerous timelines into a single chronology. A storyline involving a love triangle involving three of the passengers was also introduced to the film.

The film’s superb performances, notably Finney’s portrayal of Poirot, and gripping plot were hailed by critics. Some people thought the film’s finale was unsatisfying since it diverged from the book’s resolution.

Albert Finney refused to reprise his part as Hercule Poirot in later film versions of the books because he believed he had done everything he could with the character. He also believed that other performers should be given the opportunity to play the role. Apart from that, he despised wearing the “fat suite” on the sweltering sound stage.

The film adaption of “Murder on the Orient Express” starring David Suchet was released in 2010. Suchet played Poirot in the television adaptation.

The film stayed mostly true to the novel, with a few alterations to the plot and characters. For example, Poirot in the film is more emotional and vulnerable than Poirot in the book, and the film introduces a new character, Miss Lemon.

The film received positive reviews from critics for its superb performances, specifically Suchet’s depiction of Poirot, and for its realistic interpretation of the original story.

Kenneth Branagh directed the 2017 film adaption of “Murder on the Orient Express,” which starred Branagh as Hercule Poirot. Critics gave the movie mixed reviews.

The film stayed mostly true to the novel, with some alterations to the plot and characters. The film’s Poirot, for example, is more narcissistic and vain than the novel’s Poirot, and the film adds a new character, Dr. Arbuthnot, who does not appear in the book.

The film’s graphics and performances were acclaimed by critics, but many believed that the changes made to the source material were unwarranted and that the picture was too long.

Suchet’s performance is my favorite since it feels the most genuine.

Did You Know? Moon Phases

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The moon goes through 8 phases in 29.5 days, exactly, not quite 30, but close enough.

The new moon phase is the first. When the moon is not visible in the sky, it is said to be a new moon. The waxing crescent phase is the second phase. When the moon is visible in the sky and becoming larger, it is said to be waxing. The first quarter phase is the third phase. The moon is half visible in the sky during the first quarter. The waxing gibbous phase is the fourth phase. When the moon is waxing gibbous, it is visible in the sky and growing larger. The full moon is the sixth phase. When the moon is fully visible in the sky, it is said to be full. The waning gibbous phase is the sixth phase. When the moon is waning gibbous, it is visible in the sky and getting smaller. The third quarter phase is the seventh phase. The moon is halfway visible in the sky during the third quarter. The waning crescent phase is the eighth and final phase. The waning crescent takes place when the moon is visible in the sky but shrinking.

The moon has really been observed for as long as mankind have lived on Earth. The moon is the most visible celestial object in the night sky, and its phases have long been used to measure time. Throughout human history, the moon has also been the topic of myth and folklore.

The Babylonians made the first recorded observation of the moon around 700 BCE. They utilized it to forecast the shifting seasons and planet movements. The moon was also seen and used by the Ancient Greeks to keep time. Galileo Galilei conducted the first scientific study of the moon in 1609. He realized that the moon, rather than being a perfect sphere, was covered in mountains and craters.

Some moon myths include:

  • Selene and Endymion: Selene, the moon goddess, falls in love with Endymion, a mortal shepherd. Selene begs Zeus to let Endymion slumber forever so he will never age or die.
  • Tiresias and Luna: The goddess Luna turns the mortal Tiresias into a woman. Tiresias reverts to his human form after seven years.
  • The Man in the Moon is a fictional character that is claimed to live on the moon. He is frequently regarded as a kindly person, yet he can also be regarded as a trickster.

Scientists continue to study the moon today. It is visited by robotic spacecraft, and its surface is meticulously photographed. Amateur astronomers enjoy visiting the moon as well.

Home, Sweet Home Whatever You Are

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There are advantages and disadvantages to living in an apartment or a house. Here are some important distinctions:

Apartments:

Apartments are generally less expensive than houses even if you buy a condo, require less care, and are easier to clean. They are frequently placed in desirable neighborhoods, near public transit and other amenities. Apartments, on the other hand, can be noisy, and you might have less privacy than you would have in a house.

Houses:

Houses are often more expensive than apartments; they require more care and might be more difficult to clean. They are frequently found in less desirable neighborhoods, further from public transit and other services. Houses, on the other hand, provide greater privacy and quiet than apartments.

Some people prefer to live in an apartment because it offers these benefits:

  • It is generally cheaper than a house.
  • It requires less maintenance.
  • It is easier to clean and often more conveniently laid out.
  • It is frequently found in favorable regions, near public transportation and other facilities.

There are numerous reasons to prefer an apartment over a house. For me it isn’t just because apartments are often less expensive than houses. Overall they need less upkeep and are more comfortable to live in. Another advantage of apartment living is that they are frequently located in better parts of town, that means that I have access to public transportation and other services that more suburban areas won’t have.

Of course, these can also be seen as possible downsides to living in an apartment, but when I take into account the pros, they often outweigh the cons. For example, while they can be noisy – so can be living in a house and depending on where it is, and it may seem that you have have less privacy, the same can be said for a house situated in a nosy neighborhood. Given everything, I would personally say that the pros outweigh the cons for me personally.

If you’re considering an apartment, weigh the pros and cons to see if it’s the right fit for you.

How I Stay Focused: Sometimes

Dawn

When attempting to be productive, it is critical to maintain focus since it allows you to best organize your time, break down large tasks into smaller ones, and pause to recharge.

If you’re having trouble staying focused all day, there are several things you can try to help yourself. To begin, make a list of just about everything you must accomplish and keep it handy. This will assist you in staying focused on your priorities and avoiding distractions. Second, divide your projects into smaller, more achievable steps. This will make the task appear less daunting and will increase your chances of success. Finally, take frequent breaks to allow your mind to relax and regenerate. This will provide you with the energy you require to return to your responsibilities with fresh eyes.

Here Are My Three Easy Tricks to Stay on Track

Make a List of Everything You Need to Do

When you have a huge amount on your plate, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and lose sight of what’s most important. Making a list of all that needs to do throughout the day. Then keep referring to it when needed. This may mean that you are frequently looking at your list or you might need to only occasionally glance at it to stay on track. No matter what you need this will assist you in staying focused on your priorities and avoiding distractions.

Divide Your Work Into Smaller, More Manageable Chunks

Attempting to tackle a big task in one go can be intimidating and frustrating, and you are more likely to no get it done which can be discouraging.

A better strategy, one that helps you see your work progress, is to divide the task into smaller, more manageable pieces that you can work off the list. This will make this process appear less daunting, give you chance to pause, and in the end it will give you the best results.

Take Frequent Breaks to Allow Your Thoughts to Rest

When trying to stay focused, it’s critical to take frequent breaks. This will allow your mind to rest and your body to revitalize, allowing you to return to your tasks with renewed vigor.

You will be surprised how much you can get down and how easy it makes things feel when you employ these simple tricks.

Sure, it can sometimes be difficult to stay focused, especially when our lives are busy, but it is important to try to maintain a clear frame of mind and focus on what needs to be done. If you are having difficulty, take a break and return to your job at hand later. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.