Happy Fourth of July!

This is wallhanging size and the design is by Jan Patek.

We're having a quiet holiday this year, Skitty-sitting while Owen, Sarah, and Violet go hiking and camping. Tomorrow is their fifth wedding anniversary and John's 65th birthday.

Books Read - July, 2013

1. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
2. The Last Kind Word by David Housewright
3. Unintended Consequences by Stuart Woods
4. Six Years by Harlan Coben
5. French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano (NF)
6. Paris Street Style by Isabelle Thomas and Frederique Veyssett (NF)
7. B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
8. C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton
9. A Bespoke Murder by Edward Marston
10. Pretty Girl Gone by David Housewright
11. D is for Deadbeat  by Sue Grafton
12. Instrument of Slaughter by Edward Marston
13. The 9th Girl by Tami Hoag
14. Penance by David Housewright
15. Dearly Departed by David Housewright
16. Strong Women Stay Slim by Miriam E. Nelson and Sarah Wernick (NF) 
17.  E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton
18. F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton
19. Awakening by S.J.Bolton
20. Death by Degrees by Eric Wright
21. Smoke Detector by Eric Wright
22. A Question of Murder by Eric Wright
23. The Last Hand by Eric Wright
24. Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag 
25. The Broken Places by Ace Atkins

Books Read - June, 2013

1. The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
2. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
3. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
4. Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein
5. Follow Her Home by Steph Cha
6. A Hard Ticket Home by David Housewright
7. Practice to Deceive by David Housewright
8. A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny
9. Buried on Avenue B by Peter De Jonge

10. Silken Prey by John Sanford 11. Shadows Still Remain by Peter De Jonge 12. Still Life by Louise Penny 13. Lost by S.J. Bolton 14. If You Were Here by Alafair Burke 15. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny 16. The Blackbird Papers by Ian Smith 17. Dead Scared by S.J. Bolton 18. Curse of the Jade Lily by David Housewright 19. Tin City by David Housewright 20. Jelly's Gold by David Housewright

Books Read - May, 2013

1. Bad Bird by Chris Kropf
2. Ice Cap by Chris Kropf
3. The Tooth Tatoo by Peter Lovesey
4  The Man on the Balcony by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
5. Little Green by Walter Mosley
6. Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner
7. Head Wounds by Chris Knopf
8. The Boyfriend by Thomas Perry 
9. The Body in the Piazza by Katherine Hall Page
10. Dead, White, and Blue by Carolyn Hart
11. The Locked Door by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
12. Cop Killer by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
13. The Terrorists by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
14. Two Time by Chris  Kropf
15. Robert Parker's Wonderland by Ace Atkins

Books Read - April, 2013

1. Murder by Mudpack by J.G. Goodhind
2. Menu for Murder by J.G. Goodhind
3. The Fire Engine that Disappeared by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo
4. Death of Yesterday by M.C. Beaton
5. The Hunter by John Lescroart
6. The Man Who Went Up in Smoke by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo
7. Somebody Owes Me Money by Donald W. Westlake
8. Night Watch by Linda Fairstein
9. Short Squeeze by Chris Kropf
10. Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman
11. Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson

Books Read - March, 2013

1. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman (Book on CD)
2. A Walk with the Dead by Sally Spencer
3. The Missing Madonna by Carol Anne O'Marie
4. A Taste to Die For by J.G. Goodhind
5. Deadly Stakes by J.A. Jance
6. The Family Way by Rhys Bowen
7. Blood at the Root by Peter Robinson
8. The Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankel (Book on CD)
9. In the Woods by Tara French
10. The Corporal Works of Murder by Carol Anne O'Marie
11. The Man Who Smiled by Henning Mankel (Book on CD)
12. Advent of Dying by Carol Anne O'Marie
13. Murder at the Monk's Table by Carol Anne O'Marie
14. The River King by Alice Hoffman (Book on CD)
15. Murder in Ordinary Time by Carol Anne O'Marie
16. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankel (Book on CD)
17. Firewall by Henning Mankel (Book on CD)
18. Deadly Lampshades by  J.G. Goodhind
19. Murder Makes a Pilgrimage by Carol Anne O'Marie

Books Read - February, 2013

1.  Hard Truth by Mariah Stuart (Book on CD)
2. Standing in Another Man's Grave by Ian Rankin
3. The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
4. Blackstone and the Great War by Sally Spencer
5. Cold Truth by Mariah Stuart (Book on CD)
6.  The Abominable Man  by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö
7. Death Goes on Retreat by Carol Anne O'Marie (Book on CD)
8. False Knight by Peter Turnbull 
9. The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman (Book on CD) 
10. No Stone Unturned by Peter Turnbull 
11. Suspect by Robert Crais
12. Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd
13. Death Takes Up a Collection by Carol Anne O'Marie (Book on CD) 
14. Hit Man by Lawrence Block 
15. Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society by Amy Hill Hearth
16. Death of an Angel by Carol Anne O'Marie (Book on CD) 
17. Walking with Ghosts by J.G. Goodhind

Simply Sweet QAL

I spent the entire day sorting, cutting ironing, and piecing scraps to make the Sweetly Sweet quilt as featured on Cheri's webpage.   I pieced some blocks I didn't like and rejected and auditioned a fabric for the 2" setting squares which I decided I also didn't like.  I hand pieced them as the smallest blocks finish at 1" square so all of this made it take longer.

Here's a photo of the four patch squares.  I did add the 2" squares to them, but by that time it was too dark to get a decent photo.  I'll try again tomorrow or Friday.  I'm working tomorrow and I hope I'll at least get a chance to peek at the latest instructions on Cheri's page.  I won't get a chance to work on it again until Sunday or Monday.

I did finish this little doll quilt, but with some changes.  Here's a photo and there's more on in Only Doll Quilts. 

Making Preparations

It's that time of the year again when the electric might go out or it might ice up or snow making it difficult to leave the house or, God forbid, we get the flu or a bad cold.

There's plenty of food in the house but I've added a few more items to my grocery list--jello, canned chicken broth, herbal tea, ginger ale, instant cream of wheat, oranges, bananas, berries, and oh, yes, chocolate.  It's important to have emergency chocolate on hand, always.

The medicine cabinet was checked--Theraflu, Nyquil, Tylenol, Vicks vapor rub, and diabetic cough syrup.  I have plenty of sugar free cough drops. John bought a case of Kleenex last fall.  We've had our flu shots.

I have a stack of books to read on my nightstand along with a small flashlight with fresh batteries in case the electric goes out in the middle of the night.  John has plenty of portable, battery operated lights in his shop. He checked the generator a few weeks ago and it worked fine. There's enough firewood. And a big stack of quilts.

I have knitting and quilting projects to work on and all the supplies I need.  I'm making sure to keep my Ipod, Ipod-touch, netbook, and cell phone charged.  

I wonder what I've forgotten?

Books Read - January, 2013

1. Dying Fall by Patricia Hall
2. Private London by James Patterson
3. The Black Box by Michael Connelly
4. The Buzzard Table by Margaret Maron
5. Death by Election by Patricia Hall
6. Deep Freeze by Patricia Hall
7. Shaky Ground by Steve Brewer
8. Kinsey and Me by Sue Grafton
9. The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly
10. Dead on Arrival by Patricia Hall
11. Skeleton at the Feast by Patricia Hall
12. The Likeness by Tana French
13. Treasure Trove by Peter Turnbull
14. Roseanna by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö  (Book on CD)

My One Little Word for 2013

I came across this post and thought for a while about what word I wanted for 2013.  I made a list.  They included look, light, grace, open, create, calm, soar, simplify, hope, present, play, and open.  Then I thought of grow. 

I have a beautiful little granddaughter who was born on the first of November.  Her name is Violet.  And she is growing. It reminded me of that that old saying, something I often said when my children were small:  they grow up so fast!  I made another list of sayings I like which included the word grow:

How does your garden grow?
Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be.
Grow deep roots
Love grows
Growing old is not for sissies
Grow where you're planted

One can grow physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually.  One can grow kinder and calmer, more playful and more open. 

I like this word grow.

Distracted....Again

It's December 2nd and I am on vacation until January 7th.  I have an entire month to do what I want but, like when my sons were small and I unexpectedly had a few hours or even an entire afternoon to myself, I end up wandering around what to do first.  I have to do some house cleaning and decorate for Christmas, make Christmas cookies, get presents and wrap them, and put up the tree.  I did get John to put the six boxes of Christmas ornaments and decorations down and into the spare room and there they sit. 

 

I'm working on a Fair Isle knit stocking for my new granddaughter Violet, but I'm it finding it hard and I'm worried about the after thought heel.  Will I get it done in time?  Maybe.  Or perhaps I'll sew her a Santa bag instead.

I'm knitting two scarves for myself.  Scarves are boring.  Maybe I'll put them aside until January.




Then there's quilting.  I thought about making this quilt:

 

and pieced six of the star blocks.

 

While looking for fabrics, I came across the blocks I'd made last winter for a quilt I'd called Homecoming. I posted photos of these blocks then and here's the link. 

Now I've decided to re-purpose them, along with the six star blocks, into a Winter quilt.  This way I can add snowmen, more stars, animals, people, and sheep.  Yep.  Just what I need.  Another project to add to the list. 

Books Read -- December, 2012

1. At Ease with the Dead by Walter Satterthwait
2. Aftermath by Peter Turnbull
3. Backlash by Sally Spencer
4. The Killing Floor by Peter Turnbull
5. The Cruise of a Deathtime by Marion Babson
6. Sweet Humphrey by Peter Turnbull
7. And Did Murder Him by Peter Turnbull
8. Deep Cover by Peter Turnbull
9. Fire Burn by Peter Turnbull
10. Accustomed to the Dark by Walter Satterthwait
11. Harry Lipkin, Private Eye by Barry Fantoni
12. Paradise City by Archer Mayor
13. Bones are Forever by Kathy Reichs
14. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
15. Death Comes Silently by Carolyn Hart
16. Faithful Place by Tana French
17. The Round House by Louise Erdrich
18. Broken Harbor by Tana French

Books Read -November, 2012

1. The Racketeer by John Grisham
2. Death's Little Helpers by Peter Spiegelman
3. Black Maps by Peter Spiegelman
4. Red Cat by Peter Spiegelman
5. The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham
6. Shatter by Michael Robotham
7. Suspect by Michael Robotham
8. Say You're Sorry by Michael Robotham
9. A Flower in the Desert by Walter Satterthwait
10. Wall of Glass by Walter Satterthwait
11. The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd
12. Deathtrap by Peter Turnbull
13. A Christmas Garland by Anne Perry
14. The Hanged Man by Walter Satterthwait

Books Read -- October, 2012

1. The Hanging Tree by Bryan Gruley
2. Chelsea Smile by Peter Turnbull
3. Deliver Us from Evil by Peter Turnbull
4. The Dance Master by Peter Turnbull
5. Lambs to the Slaughter by Sally Spencer
6. Once a Biker by Peter Turnbull
7. Chill Factor by Peter Turnbull
8. Improving the Silence by Peter Turnbull
9. Bleed for Me by Michael Robotham
10. Lost : A Novel by Michael Robotham