Acquired Hollywood at the Races: Film's Love Affair with the Turf by Alan Shuback (University Press of Kentucky)
Horse racing was so popular and influential between 1930 and 1960 that nearly 150 racing themed films were released, including A Day at the Races, Thoroughbreds Don't Cry, and National Velvet. This fast-paced, gossipy history explores the relationship between the Hollywood film industry, the horse racing industry, and the extraordinary participation of producers, directors, and actors in the Sport of Kings. Alan Shuback details how all three of Southern California's major racetracks were founded by Hollywood luminaries: Hal Roach was cofounder of Santa Anita Park, Bing Crosby founded Del Mar with help from Pat O'Brien, and Jack and Harry Warner founded Hollywood Park with help from dozens of people in the film community. The races also provided a social and sporting outlet for the film community -- studios encouraged film stars to spend a day at the races, especially when a new film was being released. The stars' presence at the track generated a bevy of attention from eager photographers and movie columnists, as well as free publicity for their new films. Moreover, Louis B. Mayer, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Betty Grable, and Don Ameche were all major Thoroughbred owners, while Mickey Rooney, Chico Marx, and John Huston were notorious for their unsuccessful forays to the betting windows.
Acquired Scotland Yard (Ravensburger)

It’s a covert game of cat and mouse set on the streets of London! Criminal mastermind Mr. X has escaped Scotland Yard and it’s up to you, the detectives, to catch him! Use your travel tickets to anticipate his movements, chasing him by taxi, bus, and underground, around Picadilly Circus, along the River Thames, and through Paddington Station. Will you apprehend this dangerous criminal or will he disappear in the London fog?

How to Play:

1. Choose a Mr. X and give that player a player piece, travel log with cover, and special travel tickets. Give the remaining players – the detectives – their player pieces and travel tickets.

2. Players draw cards indicating the number of the station where they will begin play and place their player pieces on those stations. Mr. X draws a card indicating his starting space and notes it in his travel log without placing his player piece there.

3. Players take turns selecting the appropriate travel tickets (taxi, bus, underground) to move them from station to station, anticipating Mr. X’s arrival. Mr. X notes his moves in his secret travel log, surfacing only on specific moves but revealing the ticket he uses to get to his next undisclosed location.

4. Players work together to anticipate where Mr. X will surface next and beat him to that station.

5. If a player piece is on the station Mr. X noted in his secret travel log, that player wins the game. If all players use all travel tickets without capturing Mr. X, Mr. X wins the game.

Recommended Age: 8 and up
Players: 2-6
Play Time: 45-60 minutes
Includes: 1 game board, 6 playing pieces, 29 start tickets, 130 tickets for different means of transportation, 1 travel log for Mr. X, 1 visor for Mr. X, 2 inserts, 2 rings for bobbies

Purchased from Puzzle Warehouse. Should arrive in a few days via ground shipping.

I got an original version of this when I was about 10 and remembered loving it.

Acquired The Stars: A New Way to See Them by H. A. Rey (HMH Books for Young Readers)
This is a clear, vivid text with charts and maps showing the positions of the constellations the year round.
I’ve always wanted a copy of this book since I was little. Now I’ve got it.

I’m planning on integrating this into my memory practice shortly as well.

Acquired Guide to the Stars (Map) (ISBN: 978-1928771012) by Ken Graun (Ken Press)

The 5th edition (published 2013) of the 16-inch diameter plastic Guide to the Stars chart is an instrument to help you identify the constellations. You simply dial-in your observing time and date to find the set of constellations visible in your sky (this is accomplished by turning the clear top piece). Although this chart is designed for beginners, seasoned amateur astronomers will find it useful, too.

This chart can be used anywhere in the world between latitudes 30 and 60 degrees North, which includes the US and Canada, England, Europe, Northern China and Japan.

The 16-inch diameter is large and easy to read, ideal for families, teachers and seniors! The 5th edition has been improved by indicating more binocular objects and providing more pertinent information on the back, all without increasing clutter or decreasing the text size.

The front chart indicates 70 Constellations, the Names of 55 Stars, the Milky Way Band, the Ecliptic (which is the path of the Sun, Moon and Planets), 54 favorite Double Stars, the Summer Triangle, Winter/Summer Tours and 56 Galaxies, Star Clusters and Nebulae that can be observed with binoculars or a small telescope. Additionally, favorite star patterns are noted, like the Great Square of Pegasus, the Circlet of Pisces, the Northern Cross of Cygnus and others.

On the back side, there are useful tables and other astronomical information, including: Mythology, Yearly Meteor Showers, Moon map, Phases of the Moon, Facts about the Planets, A Short history of Astronomy, the 10 Brightest Stars, Information about the Binocular & Telescope Objects (those on the chart), Why Stars Twinkle, additional instructions for using the chart and more.

PLANET NOTE. Most star charts, like this one, do not indicate, on the chart, the position of the Planets or Moon because these objects move through the constellations of the zodiac, along a path in the sky called the Ecliptic (indicated on the chart). Website support is provided to help identify the planets that are visible in the sky.

Watched Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) from Amazon Prime
Directed by David Yates. With Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Johnny Depp. The second installment of the "Fantastic Beasts" series featuring the adventures of Magizoologist Newt Scamander.

Rating: ★★★★

Purchased a copy tonight on Amazon Prime. Dozed off somewhere in the middle. Definitely a darker ending than it’s predecessor.

Watched Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) from Amazon Prime
Directed by David Yates. With Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler. The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

Rating: ★★★★½

Purchased digital streaming license on Amazon Prime. Surely we’ll watch this a few more times. This was Evie’s first time seeing it.

Acquired American Museum and Natural History: Birds of North America by Francois Vuilleumier (Editor) (DK Publishing)

Ideal for the armchair bird enthusiast or dedicated bird watcher, this book includes stunning full-color photographs, revealing each species with unrivaled clarity.

A lavish introduction describes bird characteristics and behavior, while stunning full-color photographs reveal individual species for easy identification.

The 550 most commonly seen birds are pictured in clear, close-up photographs, with images of similar birds provided to make differentiation easy, from game birds and waterfowl to shorebirds and swifts to owls, hummingbirds, finches, and more. Discover which species to expect when and where with up-to-date, color-coded maps highlighting habitation and migratory patterns.

The most commonly seen species are given a whole page in the species catalog, and each full-page profile includes images of plumage variations, subspecies, information on similar birds, and artwork of the bird in flight that reveal their outstretched wings.

Rare birds and vagrants who occasionally stray into North America are also described, making AMNH Birds of North America one of the most comprehensive guides on the market and essential for anyone interested in birding.

Publish Date: November 10, 2020
Pages: 752
8.6 X 11.0 X 1.8 inches | 6.45 pounds
Hardcover
ISBN/EAN/UPC: 9780744020533

After doing some research on various bird books, I’ve picked up this massive textbook as the structure for creating a bird memory palace. 

Purchased from Amazon.com for $26.60 on 2020-12-07; arrived today.

Acquired knitting supplies (Michael's )
Loops & Threads Impeccable: Pumpkin medium yarn (285yds, 127.5g, medium 4, 5mm hook, 100% acrylic);
Loops & Threads Charisma: daisy/marguerite yarn (109yds, 100g, US 10.5 needles);
Loops & Threads anodized aluminum knitting needles (US 7, 10in);
Loops & Threads anodized crochet hook set of 6 (US E, F, G, H, I, & J sizes) Loops & Threads Knit Quick plastic needles (2.87in, 2 pieces)
two balls of yarn and chrochet and knitting needles with receipt on black leather car seat
Acquired Star Wars Origami: 36 Amazing Paper-Folding Projects from a Galaxy Far, Far Away... by Chris Alexander (Workman Publishing)

Kids love origami--and what could be cooler than transforming a piece of paper into Boba Fett, Princess Leia, Yoda, or R2-D2? And not just any paper, but custom-designed paper illustrated with art from the movies. Star Wars(R) Origami marries the fun of paper folding with the obsession of Star Wars. Like The Joy of Origami and Origami on the Go, this book puts an original spin on an ancient art. And like Star Wars(R) Scanimation(R) and Star Wars(R) Fandex(R), it's a fresh take on Star Wars mania.

Chris Alexander is a master folder and founder of the popular website StarWarsOrigami.com, and here are 36 models, clearly explained, that range in difficulty from Youngling (easy) to Padawan (medium), Jedi Knight (difficult), and Jedi Master (tricky!). A front section introduces origami definitions and basic folds. Bound in the back is the book's unique folding paper, two sheets for each figure. Illustrated with original art, it makes each creation--the essential lightsabers, the Death Star, and much more--true to the movies.

Star Wars Origami includes a foreword by Tom Angleberger, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back, and is scheduled to be published at the same time as Angleberger's upcoming book, The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee.

Look what I found hiding in our Little Free Library! This is awesome and will give us hours of fun through the holidays.
Acquired Mid-Century 8-Drawer Dresser - Acorn (west elm)

Our Mid-Century 8-Drawer Dresser is a roomy storage solution that's built to last. Made in a Fair Trade Certified™ facility, its sturdy frame is made from kiln-dried, sustainably sourced wood and covered in water-based finishes. Better yet: It's GREENGUARD Gold Certified as being low VOC.

  • Kiln-dried solid eucalyptus wood & engineered wood with an Acacia wood veneer.
  • All wood is FSC®-certified. Your purchase of this product helps support forests and ecosystems worldwide. Learn more.
  • Covered in a water-based Acorn finish.
  • Eight drawers open on solid wood glides.
  • Beveled front edges.
  • GREENGUARD Gold Certified. Meets or exceeds stringent chemical and VOC emissions standards.
  • Made in a Fair Trade Certified™ facility, directly benefiting the workers who make it.
  • Anti-tip kit hardware (included) is highly recommended to provide protection against tipping of furniture.
  • Make sure it fits! See our guide on measuring for delivery.
  • Made in Vietnam.
More furniture has arrived! The room’s starting to smarten up.