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Hello, Elle!
I have no idea what Miss Austen's heroines thought.
They are unknown to me!
I am not keen on authors from the past, although I did read one or two of Thomas Hardy's.
I have been tempted to buy "Walden" by Henry Thoreau.
I liked the idea of his life in the woods but suspect it would be a bit too intellectual for me.
So, I'd best leave it alone!
I think I should stick with Bill Bryson and Miss Peckwitt!
Miss O rarely has a bacon roll.
Usually soup, or a cheese toastie.
My spellchecker disapproves of "toastie"!

Hi, Rusty!
I do possess the entire works of Jane Austen!
I had read her books many years ago...but was prompted to read them all again more recently, when I bought the book-set as a bargain offer from Amazon on Black Friday last year.
I do not think you would enjoy them though.
I do not know "Walden", and all I know of Henry Thoreau is that he was a transcendentalist, which I think means that he thought that society corrupts and one should live an independent life?
But you mentioned earlier that you had ordered some books?
What did you choose?

Hello, Elle!
I will take your advice and stay away from Jane Austen.
It was the thought of Thoreau living on his own in the woods at the pond that appealed to me.
Much like Mike Tomkies, I imagined, but probably not.
Walden is supposedly an American classic.
My books are on the way.
California Dreaming, by Lawrence Donegan,
A Fine Place to Daydream, by Bill Barich,
Die Hard, Aby, by David Lister,
The White Spider, by Heinrich Harrer,
and A Gallery of Poisoners, by Adrian Vincent
I had The White Spider before but loaned it and it wasn't returned.
It's about the first successful ascent of the Eiger Nordwand.
It is very good, and I will not be lending this one out!

Good morning, Rusty!
A damp morning here, but warmish.
What is it like in your neck of the woods?
You sound to have ordered a goodly lot of books.
I do not know any of the titles or authors?
The only "Donegan" whom I know is "Lonnie", of skiffle fame!
I too have been caught like that in lending out books........one or two old favourites never to be seen again.......
I now make sure that at least I have my name written in any book that I loan....in case the problem of return lies in the forgetting from whom the book is borrowed!
(But I don't think it helps!)
What time is Miss O collecting you to go to the Pine Cone?

Good morning, Elle!
Dry but chilly here!
I know Donegan, he used to write for the Guardian.
I read two of his books,
"Four Iron in the Soul" and "No News at Throat Lake".
I liked "No News" a lot.
He went to live in Creeslough (Throat Lake) in Donegal.
It was funny!
I have found that people rarely return books.
Miss O is collecting me later.
She is hopeless at punctuality, but one day she may surprise me!

Hi, Rusty!
I have a lot of paperwork to sort out.......
I have made a few feeble attempts to knuckle down to this....but keep finding excuses for postponing it!
Maybe.......just maybe, mind.... I shall make a start.......after I have had a coffee!
Or I might take a look at the crossword first......
I hope Miss O is not too late in arriving to pick you up....she will be telling you all about her holiday.
Enjoy your outing!

Hello, Elle!
Miss O was 10 minutes early!
Incredible!
She liked California!
The highlight was meeting Minnie Mouse!
She said the California folk eat a lot healthier than the Florida folk and there are no fat folk compared to Florida.
And the Pine Cone was busy!
We had a nice time!

Hi, Rusty!
Good! I am glad that you enjoyed yourselves!
Had Miss O and her boyfriend always intended to visit California this time around - or was it a decision influenced by the hurricane damage in Florida?
( I wonder where her allegiance will lie for the next visit? )
Unsurprisingly, I have not exactly knuckled down to my intended paperwork!
But we have had a visitor for much of the morning.......so I had a good excuse, didn't I?
I have, however, made a start on the crossword...I've done about a third.
Although I probably ought to be in the garden, helping my husband clear up some storm damage - not a lot to do......mainly leaf sweeping, and removing the "battening" that we put in place against the heavy winds.
Are you in for the day now?

Hello, Elle!
They intended to go to California.
But she prefers Florida.
Thinks the food is better there.
Well, maybe not better, but more to her taste.
I have finished my puzzle.
I thought it was a toughie, today!
I have it all parsed except for one letter in 19a.
Yes, home for the day.
My son will visit later.

Hi, Rusty!
It is still damp here...the forecast was way out, as we were told it would be a dry day!
Now.....I have not finished the crossword, but, as I go about it systematically, I have passed - and done - 19A!
I have got "Hermes" = Herald (messenger of the Olympic gods)
her - the female
me ('s) - setter (for today's)
But I cannot see how this can be grammatical....you cannot have "me's" ??
But how else to get the "s"?
I am not happy with this .......
What do you think?
So far I am stuck on 14 A?
One's coming in at nine o'clock making the most sound (6)
I have W?S?S?
I had to look up "enneads" - that was a new word for me!