Books Read - October, 2011

1. The Paradise Job by Sally Spencer
2. Skinner's Rules by Quintin Jardine
3. The Enemy Within by Sally Spencer
4. Skinner's Festival by Quintin Jardine
5. Killing the Blues by Michael Brandman
6. Worst Fears Realized by Stuart Woods
7. The Rose of the World by Alys Clare
8. The Hanging Wood by Martin Edwards
9. The Butcher Beyond by Sally Spencer
10. Son of Stone by Stuart Woods
11. Smoke and Whispers by Mick Herron
12. A Spider on the Stairs by Cassandra Chan
13. Trick of the Mind by Cassandra Chan

Books Read -September, 2011

1. The Salton Killings by Sally Spencer
2. The Bitter Truth by Charles Todd
3. The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman
4. Dirt by Stuart Woods
5. Echoes of the Dead by Sally Spencer
6. Play Dead by Harlan Coben
7. Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen
8. A Sight for Sore Eyes by Ruth Rendell
9. The Vault by Ruth Rendell
10. The Devil on My Doorstep by Stuart Kaminsky
11. Triptych by Karin Slaughter

My Week-End

I started a pair of mittens yesterday but I wasn't happy with how they were turning out. I tried several types of ribbing, different sized needles, and even tried stripes, but I didn't like any of them and ripped every attempt. I think worsted weight yarn is too thick for mittens; I'll try again with DK or fingering weight yarn.

I did made a red and white child's hat this morning. It still lacks the pom-pom on top. I will make more of these using the worsted weight, but there will be some changes.

It's cooler today with highs in the lower 80s. I've started a second hat with the worsted weight yarn and will post photographs of it and the red hat once they are finished and have their pom-poms on.

We're having spaghetti and salad for dinner tonight.

Yesterday I collected only one egg from the chickens. We have three hens and have been getting two to three eggs per day, the weather has been hot and I'm sure that's one reason why. They've also just started laying and when we get eggs will probably be erratic for the next few weeks.

I watered all the flowers early in the morning and then put the laundry out on the line. I didn't quilt yesterday but I did finish reading a book. Supper was a hamburger patty, tomatoes, cucumbers, and corn on the cob.

Books Read - August, 2011

1. The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood
2. File Under Jeopardy by Sarah Lacey
3. Sins of the Father by Sally Spencer
4. One Summer by David Baldacci
5. File Under Arson by Sarah Lacey
6. The Return of Captain John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller
7. Fatal Quest by Sally Spencer
8. The Midsummer Crown by Kate Sedley
9. Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier
10. The Dead Hand of History by Sally Spencer
11. The Witch Maker by Sally Spencer
12. Dangerous Games by Sally Spencer
13. Sante Fe Rules by Stuart Woods
14. Dying Fall by Sally Spencer
15. Death of a Cave Dweller by Sally Spencer

Bowtie Quilt

One of the first quilts I made was a bowtie quilt. I've fallen in love with this one and apparently I'm not the only one as I've heard that a number of bloggers are working on/planning to make this quilt.

I don't have any cheddar fabrics in my stash, but I do have quite a bit of what is unabashedly orange and that's what I'm going to use. Here are my first three blocks. They are 6" and I plan on making 48 and setting them 6x8.

Books Read - July, 2011

1. Inspired by Tradition by Kay Mackenzie (NF)
2. A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear
3. Orchid Beach by Stuart Woods
4. File Under Deceased by Sarah Lacey
5. Orchid Blues by Stuart Woods
6. God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours by Regina Brett (NF)
7. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
8. Fast Fade by Arthur Lyons
9. The Ring of Death by Sally Spencer
10. Whiskey Sour by Joe Konrath
11. Rusty Nails by Joe Konrath
12. The Sixth Man by David Baldacci
13. Dirty Martini by Joe Konrath
14. Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
15. Infernal Angels by Loren Estleman
16. The Body in the Gazebo by Katherine Hall Page

Books Read - June, 2011

1. Vintage Knits by Kaffe Fassett (NF)
2. Orange Peel: New Quilts from an Old Favorite by Linda Baxter Lasco (NF)
3. Short Straw by Stuart Woods
4. The Prince of Beverly Hills by Stuart Woods
5. Hard Trade by Arthur Lyons
6. Buried Prey by John Sanford
7. All God's Children by Arthur Lyons
8. A Cool Head by Ian Rankin
9. Mystery by Jonathan Kellerman
10. Misery Bay by Steve Hamilton
11. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
12. Broken by Karin Slaughter
13. Dark Harbor by Stuart Woods
14. The Killing Floor by Arthur Lyons
15. Castle Burning by Arthur Lyons
16. Trader of Secrets by Steve Martini
17. Dead Ringer by Arthur Lyons
18. The Dead are Discreet by Arthur Lyons

Thinking of the Future

This scrap four patch quilt is 38" square. The top was pieced by my husband's great aunt, Clara Wooster, and I hand-quilted it a few years ago. My thought was that it would make a lovely crib quilt for a future grand-son and I've put it aside for that. As I quilted and bound it I thought of what that little boy might be like and smiled the entire time.

And if you want to see some gorgeous quilts, check out the Bloggers' Quilt Festival here.

Books Read - May, 2011

1. False Pretenses by Arthur Lyons
2. Sixkill by Robert B. Parker
3. Live Wire by Harlan Coban
4. Three with a Bullet by Arthur Lyons
5. The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly
6. Bel-Air Dead by Stuart Woods
7. A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block
8. The Girl Who would Speak for the Dead by Paul Elwork
9. 10th Anniversary by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
10. At the Hands of Another by Arthur Lyons

Chickies Moving Outside

John put a tarp on top of the chicken yard so the chickies won't get too wet if it rains hard. Chickens aren't very smart; their heads aren't all that big and it's mostly fluff. The tarp also helps to keep it a little warmer in there. They're mostly feathered out, but not completely. They will be kept in their house (which John still needs to do some work on), which has a heat lamp, during the nights until it warms up. John built some raised beds outside the yard. That's radishes you see on the right.

Happy Easter!

A quiet, rainy Easter Day at home for me. I will quilt and knit and visit with the sons who come over or phone. Have a wonderful Easter Day!

Thank you!

Thank you to Nancy (and Bailey)! I was lucky enough to win a copy of the first issue of a new magazine, Primitive Quilts and Projects. Yay!

More Pink Tulips!

This is what I found when I got home from work. I love pink tulips and my dear husband who thought of me.

Books Read --April, 2011

1. Dance for the Dead by Thomas Perry
2. Death of a Hired Man by Eric Wright
3. The Highly Effective Detective by Richard Yancey
4. Paradise Lost by J.A. Jance
5. Santa Fe Edge by Stuart Woods
6. Mist Over the Water by Alys Clare
7. The Price of Love and Other Short Stories by Peter Robinson
8. Loitering with Intent by Stuart Woods
9. Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden
10. Gone with a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West
11. A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch

My Chickies are Artists!

John has been giving our little chicks pieces of bread now and then, along with their feed. Here is a photo of what they did with the last slice. They are so talented! I could sell this on Ebay!