Michelle's Empty Nest’s Comments (group member since Oct 31, 2021)

Michelle's Empty Nest’s comments from the Hooked on Books group.

Very nice!

Ridiculously Random Prompt #36: Parkour





Parkour is the act of running, jumping, swinging, climbing, etc. based on military obstacle course training techniques.


It is often practiced in urban environments with the aim of getting from one point to another as quickly and as efficiently as possible without the use of specialized equipment.


Complete ONE of the following tasks:

🏃🏼‍♀️ 1. Read a book with a character who is in the military.
🏃🏼‍♀️ 2. Read a book set in an urban environment.
🏃🏼‍♀️ 3. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in PARKOUR.
🏃🏼‍♀️ 4. Read a book with any of these words in the text: running, jumping, swinging, climbing. {variations accepted}

Ridiculously Random Prompt #46: Triskaidekaphobia





Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.


Irrationally scared of clowns? You might have coulrophobia. Oh, and gephyrophobia is a fear of bridges.


Complete ONE of the following tasks:

1️⃣3️⃣ 1. Read a book where someone has a great fear of something.
1️⃣3️⃣ 2. Read a book with a number, a clown, or a bridge on the cover.
1️⃣3️⃣ 3. Read a book with the number 13 intact in the page count or publication date.
1️⃣3️⃣ 4. Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title is found in TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA. {3-word minimum}

Ridiculously Random Prompt #46: Triskaidekaphobia





Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.


Irrationally scared of clowns? You might have coulrophobia. Oh, and gephyrophobia is a fear of bridges.


Complete ONE of the following tasks:

1️⃣3️⃣ 1. Read a book where someone has a great fear of something.
1️⃣3️⃣ 2. Read a book with a number, a clown, or a bridge on the cover.
1️⃣3️⃣ 3. Read a book with the number 13 intact in the page count or publication date.
1️⃣3️⃣ 4. Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title is found in TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA. {3-word minimum}

Ridiculously Random Prompt #43: Lincoln Logs





Frank Lloyd Wright's son invented Lincoln Logs.


The famous architect's design for the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo inspired John Lloyd Wright to produce the interlocking log beams on a much smaller scale for kids.


Complete ONE of the following tasks:

🪵 1. Read a book where the author goes by 3 names.
🪵 2. Read a book with at least 3 Ls in the title.
🪵 3. Read a book with a log/tree on the cover.
🪵 4. Read a book set in Japan.

SUPERB!!


You may now read for Chapter 2's tasks!

Ridiculously Random Prompt #46: Triskaidekaphobia





Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.


Irrationally scared of clowns? You might have coulrophobia. Oh, and gephyrophobia is a fear of bridges.


Complete ONE of the following tasks:

1️⃣3️⃣ 1. Read a book where someone has a great fear of something.
1️⃣3️⃣ 2. Read a book with a number, a clown, or a bridge on the cover.
1️⃣3️⃣ 3. Read a book with the number 13 intact in the page count or publication date.
1️⃣3️⃣ 4. Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title is found in TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA. {3-word minimum}

No time like the present!!


Ridiculously Random Prompt #46: Triskaidekaphobia





Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.


Irrationally scared of clowns? You might have coulrophobia. Oh, and gephyrophobia is a fear of bridges.


Complete ONE of the following tasks:

1️⃣3️⃣ 1. Read a book where someone has a great fear of something.
1️⃣3️⃣ 2. Read a book with a number, a clown, or a bridge on the cover.
1️⃣3️⃣ 3. Read a book with the number 13 intact in the page count or publication date.
1️⃣3️⃣ 4. Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title is found in TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA. {3-word minimum}

Let's try a fresh link and see if that helps. Everyone else has been able to access theirs.


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Alyana and I are going to switch to NC and Kari will be joining us. Thanks!

"For these books, you will each make a Completion Post in your Team Thread, and then post a link in the Check-In Thread."


I apologize if it wasn't clear enough, but you each have to read a book for each hint. So to receive Hint #2, K.C. will also need to read a book that meets general HOB guidelines. Then you will check in with all 3 books.


Thanks! 😊

Congratulations!!! Give yourself a huge pat on the back for completing all 93 prompts in this super-sized challenge!! I hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you in another challenge soon! 😊

Awesome!

Prompt #6J: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Brewing the Coffee





The water you use is very important to the quality of your coffee. Use filtered or bottled water if your tap water is not good or has a strong odor or taste, such as chlorine.


If you’re using tap water, let it run a few seconds before filling your coffee pot, and be sure to use cold water. Avoid distilled or softened water.


A general guideline is called the "Golden Ratio" - one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. This can be adjusted to suit individual taste preferences.


Check the cup lines or indicators on your specific brewer to see how they actually measure. And remember that some water is lost to evaporation in certain brewing methods.


Your brewer should maintain a water temperature between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal extraction. Colder water will result in flat, under-extracted coffee, while water that is too hot will also cause a loss of quality in the taste of the coffee. (However, cold brew does not need any heat.)


If you are brewing the coffee manually, let the water come to a full boil, but do not over boil. Turn off the heat source and allow the water to rest a minute before pouring it over the grounds.


Coffee usually cools rapidly after being served, depending upon the container from which it is being served. And, many coffee drinkers may add cream or milk which also has a cooling effect. Ultimately, the temperature at which any individual coffee drinker will prefer their coffee is a personal preference, like so many other things that make coffee special. These are some of the reasons why it is best to serve coffee right after brewing, when it is fresh and hot. Cupping quality standards suggest brewing at 200˚F. When serving hot beverages, especially in retail or clinical care settings which present risks for burning or scalding, lower temperatures should be considered. Coffee drinkers often desire to add cold milk or cream, or just allow the hot beverage to cool to reach a comfortable temperature for drinking. One study has shown that coffee drinkers typically drink their coffee at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or below.


The amount of time that the water is in contact with the coffee grounds is another important flavor factor.


In a drip system, the contact time should be approximately 5 minutes. If you are making your coffee using a French Press, the contact time should be 2-4 minutes. Espresso has an especially brief brew time — the coffee is in contact with the water for only 20-30 seconds. Cold brew, on the other hand, should steep overnight (about 12 hours).


If you’re not happy with the taste of the final product, you're likely either:


Over-extracting - the brew time is too long
Under-extracting - the brew time is too short


Experiment with the contact time until you get the right balance for your taste.


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book where a character comes into contact with water in some way.
☕️ 2. Read a book with less than 195 pages OR more than 205 pages.
☕️ 3. Read a book you felt was too long OR too short to do justice to the storyline.
☕️ 4. Read a book set in a hot climate.

Prompt Name / #: Thrillers #20





The Postcard Killers
Published: August 2010


NYPD detective Jacob Kanon is on a tour of Europe's most gorgeous cities. But the sights aren't what draw him -- he sees each museum, each cathedral, and each cafe through the eyes of his daughter's killer.

Kanon's daughter, Kimmy, and her boyfriend were murdered while on vacation in Rome. Since then, young couples in Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, and Stockholm have been found dead. Little connects the murders, other than a postcard to the local newspaper that precedes each new victim... Wish you were here.

Now Kanon teams up with the Swedish reporter, Dessie Larsson, who has just received a postcard in Stockholm -- and they think they know where the next victims will be.


Complete ONE of the following:

1. Read a book set in Europe.
2. Read a book where a character sends or receives a piece of mail.
3. Read a book published in August of any year.
4. Read any James Patterson novel.

Ridiculously Random Prompt #72: Zorbing





Zorbing is considered a recreational sport that involves rolling down a hill in a transparent plastic orb – essentially a “hamster ball."


It is generally used on hills, but can also be used on water, as well as flat surfaces. Orbs with no harnesses can carry up to three people, whereas a harnessed orb can only carry 1 or 2.


Complete ONE of the following tasks:

🐹 1. Read a book with a Z in the title.
🐹 2. Read a book with something made of plastic on the cover.
🐹 3. Read a book with the word TRANSPARENT found in the text.
🐹 4. Read a book where the author's last name ENDS with a letter in HAMSTER.

Alyana wrote: "Michelle's Empty Nest wrote: "I'm ready to join team challenges again now that my health issues have calmed down. In for competitive!"

Hi Michelle, can I join you?"


Absolutely!! 😊

Ridiculously Random Prompt #5: Wedding Veil





The longest wedding veil was longer than 63 football fields.


If you thought Meghan Markle's wedding veil was long, get this: there's a woman in Cyprus who set the Guinness World Record for the longest wedding veil. How long was it, you ask? Nearly 23,000 feet, which is the same length as about 63.5 football fields.


Complete ONE of the following tasks:

👰🏻‍♀️ 1. Read a book with something related to a bride on the cover.
👰🏻‍♀️ 2. Read a book where someone gets married.
👰🏻‍♀️ 3. Read a book that is long - more than 400 pages.
👰🏻‍♀️ 4. Read a book with a 6 and a 3 in the total number of reviews.

I'm ready to join team challenges again now that my health issues have calmed down. In for competitive!