Saturdays are made for lounging.  I managed to stay in my pajamas until 9:45 a.m., at which time my husband arrived home and requested help with his bee hive stands.  Wahoo!  We're entering the next phase of the bee project, with a planned retrieval of the hive of wild bees transferred from Lu & Katie's tree to our hive box.  I'll report on that on Monday.  For the record, here is a photo of Mark working on that project a couple weeks ago:



Since then he's bought a real bee suit. 

But enough about bees.  Back to my gift for you!

I've got some books to give away to good homes, and if you want them, holler in the comments.  Most are from my reviewing gig with Children's Lit. First come, first served.  (BTW, I always wonder if  I should hyphenate that.  Jana, Oh Thou Glorious Grammarian, please rescue me from my hyphen failure -- I'm afraid I haven't improved since I left you.) 

Ahem.  Books will be sent media mail via USPS, unless you are an existing LJ/Bookcrossing friend in another country. 

1.From the Editors of Girls' Life: Ultimate Guide to Surviving Middle School

2. For Neil Gaiman or Charles Vess fans, F&G of Instructions.  ("F&G?" you may be asking.  Basically, it's the pages of the book sans the binding, and in this case includes the dust jacket.  It's the Advance Readers Copy of picture books, generally speaking.)

3. The Timekeeper's Moon by Joni Sensel

4. Salt by Maurice Gee

5. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

6. The Freedom Writers Diary by The Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell

7. Ballistics by Billy Collins (hardcover!)

On a separate but similar note: I am in the possession of 3 Book Crossing books I need to pass on (and have needed to pass along for quite some time).  All 3 are by Alexander McCall Smith: Friends, Lovers, Chocolate; The Unbearable Lightness of Scones; and The World According to Bertie.  If you love Scotland, if you love serials, if you love mystery series, and yet you haven't met Bertie, or Isabel Dalhousie, or (for crying out loud), Precious Ramotswe, start at the beginning of each series and enjoy yourself.  If you want any or all 3 of these McCall Smith titles, let me know.  Many thanks to my friend Mike, who generously shared them with me.  Without him, my life would be bereft of Bertie.

Please leave me a way to email you for contact information if you aren't a regular reader (that is, someone related to me, known to me for years and thus likely in my address book).  Or visit my Web site, www.kericollins.com to email me.

Happy Weekending!

** Update on 06-15: books crossed out above have been claimed.  Bev Walls, 2,4, & 6 will head your way.