What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

It has been months since I talked about books. It doesn’t appear that I have read as much as usual, and I think I have forgotten to review a few that I did read in that time. One book took over a month to finish due to its length. Then, during the hurricane aftermath, I had nothing new to read as I had finished the books checked out of the library, and the plan was to take them back on that Saturday and pick up more. But, it was another 3 weeks before I could do that, so I ...

Today, I hope you will enjoy a review of some previous projects and ideas, mainly involving handwork. I enjoy doing embroidery by hand, and working with wool fabrics. These projects are easy and finish quickly with no raw edges to mess with. Read on for a fabulous giveaway today!!

Wool projects seem to have more appeal in the fall. I do more pillows in wool than other projects. For the Cornucopia Pillow wool work project, you’ll need a 12-inch square of wool in a base color, and scraps of fall inspired colors for the fruits and vegetables. The design ...

A foggy morning last week gives the early hours an ethereal quality. I like the silence it brings as even the birds take a pause from their daybreak choral performance.

The Japanese word shinrinyoku for ‘taking a forest bath’ again comes to mind. The filtered light has a soft quality.

These turkeys came by on Monday, right before the tree guys showed up.

Gracie came by for a meal, too. Here’s your squirrel fix for the week.

Remember the lemons I had on the counter for the idea of bringing summer inside?

I decided to use them to begin ...

On the veranda, the parsley survived transplanting and I’m already using the leaves in dishes. In fact, I have been actively looking for dishes that will highlight the fresh flavor they give to meat entrees and vegetable sides.

Turning the pages in the World in a Skillet cookbook from Milk Street (now on sale for $23.95), I came across this mouth watering photo. That is cilantro in the recipe, but fresh parsley works just as well. It is mixed with green onions, jalapenos, and rice vinegar. The fresh green mixture is a garnish and not cooked. I decided ...

Moving to Daylight Savings Time has put a real crimp in my reading time. Now it is an hour later when the sun is coming up, so I don’t have that quiet hour I like to have in order to read while having my morning coffee. So, the fiction reviews may be a little thin this month, but I’ll make up for that with some great new publications I just got in ebook form from C&T, also available in print versions. Links to Amazon for the fiction titles, and C&T Publishing for the quilting and stitchery ...

I’ve been reading a fair amount, but overall, these past few weeks of books were disappointing. Many of the touted books failed to live up to the hype, and a beloved series goes a couple of books past its expiration date. Here’s my list for this month, with links for Amazon where you might want to read more on the synopsis, or find out if you can get it on your Kindle. Thank you for using my links when you can.

The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni – This book started out with so much promise – a fascinating puzzle ...

I have nothing to talk about right now, as everything ground to a halt this past week. My Sweet Babboo came down with covid, and has been confined to the house. This meant we had to miss two holiday events, and postpone dinner with friends. He has a mild case, just a stuffed up nose, some muscle aches and tiredness but no fever. When he tested positive, we immediately separated ourselves from each other. I have tested myself every day that I wanted to leave the house to be sure I was negative before seeing other people. Other family issues ...

This time of year, as the weather cools off, days get shorter and a warm fire is often a part of an evening at home, I want to read cozy novels with heartwarming characters, light situations and happy endings. I’ve been Christmas reading for you, dear readers, and some of these books just published in late October. I was able to read those pre-publication, and have collected them all up for you now, along with some other wonderful stories published before this year. Affiliate Amazon links provided for all the ones I recommend so you can read the publisher ...

Although I have been busy with many projects, my early morning reading time is still my favorite time of day especially when I am enjoying a good book. Cool mornings with a hot cup of coffee and the quiet of the early light is relaxing. Only three of my last eight have been winners, though. But these three are well worth your reading time. Two are published and available in audio form, the third will publish in October. Links to Amazon on the ones I recommend are provided if you’d like to read more of the synopsis and other ...

I’ve just finished a couple more really good books that I want to share with you. I’m also repeating a couple of reviews that I did prior to the book’s publication date, and two that I just have to mention again on a dedicated book review post in case you missed them buried in a chat post. Read on, there’s a giveaway today too!

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan – Historical fiction story of overcoming the austerity of rationing in 1941 England. Four women of disparate backgrounds enter a cooking contest to get the most of ...

It is another quiet weekend with lovely cool mornings spent on the veranda, a nice place to read while enjoying the quiet and a hot cup of coffee. Sometimes it is hard to get going with it being so nice outside as it is so tempting to linger a bit longer. The haze from the Canadian wildfires hasn’t been too bad this week, and it is mostly cleared now with a southerly wind pushing it back north. In the garden, my pretty day lilies are starting their blooming season. These flowers only bloom for one day then fade. I ...

It’s been a great month for books, some recently published and some older. I’ve been lucky with my choices, based on some recommendations, and one from NetGalley that I read pre-publication that just published. I’ve linked to the Amazon page for all so you can read more about them, or find an audio version. Thank you for using my links when you can.

The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis – Rare book dealer Ashlyn comes across a bound diary telling a story of love lost and regret. Days later, she finds a companion, bound the same ...

Because I have been required to rest a lot after my knee injections for three weeks in a row, I have gotten a lot of reading in. I mentioned last month that I’ve signed up for the book site NetGalley, where publishers offer e-books pre-release in exchange for honest reviews. I have three more great ones for you today! But first, I have three books that were enjoyable that are older.

Who is Maud Dixon? By Alexandra Andrews – A roller coaster ride that begins slowly, and builds to a stunning peak with unexpected twists. Brilliantly plotted, with pacing that ...

This month, I tried something new. I got two books on cd to listen to while I quilted. The longarm makes a lot of noise, so earbuds or headphones are the only way to actually listen to something while I am using that machine. I’ve done audiobooks before, but only sporadically. My blogger buddy, Vicki, does this all the time while she quilts and she gets so much done! Anyway, here is what I listened to and read in print this past month. Links to Amazon provided for more information on plot synopsis of recommended books, and if you ...

I finally got some time to do some sewing this week, finish a book, and take some photos of the garden. The daffodils continue to produce more blooms, such happy faces. I now have three separate areas in bloom, with a fourth one on the way.

This one next to the retaining wall is doing well.

In the front, these are in the hosta bed, and are the first things to come up.

In the front flower bed, three little hyacinths are trying to put on a show. The creamy yellow one looks pretty, and smells so good.

Near the ...

Settle in for a long post about a lot going on, things to see and read, and projects where you can participate. Around the feeder we have a lot of pretty birds, and hungry birds! This week there has been a variety of avian friends chowing down on the seed and suet, including some newcomers. When two new species showed up for the first time this year, I had to do another bird count and send it in. Here, a red bellied woodpecker shares the seed with a two goldfinches and two titmouses (hanging off the backside).

The bluebirds are ...

This month was an eclectic mix of fiction and non-fiction. The second book took me down a rabbit hole for a while with a book leading to a movie, then to music from decades ago. But, let’s start with my favorite North Carolina author writing in her style of magical realism.

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen – A lovely tale of lonely people coming together, with Addison’s signature touch of magic. A young woman comes to a hidden away complex to claim her mother’s apartment. When one of the residents dies, the other residents reveal their stories ...

It has been a fun holiday weekend. Thursday was football and food, chatting with friends online and on the phone. Friday brought out the sappy little Christmas movies, leading off with Miracle on 34th Street as I packed up all the autumn and Thanksgiving decor, and brought out the Christmas boxes. I pulled my table toppers and quilts from the cedar chest, and began laying them on tables to decide what would go where. When I unpacked this stoneware Christmas set, I noticed something fun. I’ll show you the idea that came to mind on December 6 as I ...

Last week I showed you my Thanksgiving cactus, and it continued to put out more blooms. Several more golden yellow ones appeared, along with many more pink and red.

These flowers are just so interesting in their forms. Here’s a look at the underside.

I do marvel at the intensity of the colors.

Near the cactus, the amaryllis put up a new leaf. It should have gone dormant by now, but I think it will do so soon.

It turned chilly this week, and it was a good time to finish off the latest book. I had mixed feelings ...

Lots of other things going on in the past month, with Autumn Jubilee plus more car club events and more, so reading time was a bit more sparse. If it wasn’t for the early morning hours, I wouldn’t get much reading done. But four books for today’s reviews are spectacular, all highly recommended with one dud. The first two books were recommended on my blogger buddy Vicki’s blog, Colorways By Vicki (also a great site for hand dyed fabrics). She listens to audiobooks and gets more reading done that way than I could hope to ever ...