What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

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 ...

Reading fiction, and playing with project books is fun when the weather turns chilly. Cooler days mean wearing cozy sweaters, bowls of hot soup, a crackling fire, and a good book. I like reading fiction books set in the fall season at this time. It is also a good time to look at project books and plan something fun for the holidays or gifts. For Autumn Jubilee this year, I have two recent reads that you will enjoy. Then, I’ll show you some of my bookshelf and maybe give you an idea or two to learn something new.

Turning ...

For your Labor Day enjoyment, I have a few book reviews from the past few weeks worth of reading. Two books in a row were just OK, not the stellar reads I thought they might be based on other reviews. Then, two books that were so good, they made up for the mediocre ones. One was beyond excellent, and I’ll save it for last. I had to go ahead and post with only four books because you have to know about the last one now. Links to Amazon provided for you to see the publisher’s synopsis if you ...

In the garden this week, the apricot gladiolas have come into full bloom. There are a bunch of them dotted over the mountainside behind our home. Some, I think, were planted by the previous owners of this house, but some must be squirrel planted as there are more of them every year. I have dug some up and transferred them to the front flower bed, but they still persist in the back. The first blooms on the bottom of the stalk have faded, but there are more buds to come.

Lovely color, aren’t they? Some years they bloom at ...

I did manage to get a bit of sewing time this week to make a couple of sunglasses cases. My Sweet Babboo had taken me shopping for some extra pairs of sunglasses to keep in the cars. He doesn’t want to have to turn around every time I forget the ones I usually have with me, LOL! But of course, that meant I needed cases for the new ones, and I color coded them to the car colors. The red case goes in the MINI. They came in handy last night, as we did a huge MINI event. More ...

So many things to chat about today! Several projects were made this week, with specific purposes in mind. First, a dear friend is moving away, and I wanted to make her a special card. It will have a little gift inside. The card is a trifold, with stamped thread spools on the front with ribbon and a cord with a bow.

Inside, two sentiments let her know she will be missed, but is wished well in her new home.

I finished two fabulous books that I recommend highly! Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – A woman with her own mind ...

I have been really busy lately, focused on My Sweet Babboo’s recovery while doing the last publicity chores for the quilt show this past week. I also organized our longarm booth and hurriedly finished off the quilts and cards I wanted to sell, so I’ve had precious little time to read. This week has been pretty busy too, so I thought I’d go ahead and share the books I’ve finished over the past month. Links to Amazon are provided if you’d like to read the synopses.

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins – Magical realism genre ...

I usually take a book with me just about everywhere I go. I can get a few pages in while waiting for My Sweet Babboo to get something from the hardware store, or while waiting for my grocery pickup order to come out. I like to read in the early morning quiet as well, and of course while spending time in waiting rooms for appointments. So, I had a lot of time these past couple of weeks to get in some reading. I did Amazon (affiliate) links for you if you’d like to read the synopsis, or order the ...

For our Sunday chat pleasure today, I have several books to tell you about, along with a fabulous new recipe made from my Milk Street Vegetables cookbook. So shall we read first, then eat? I adore the Seasons series, and I finished the fourth one. I am trying to read them in the months that they are set. It was appropriate to take a shot of it next to the orchid, as I am still waiting on it to bloom. The amaryllis leaves are getting bigger, but I am still waiting on it as well.

Waiting Season by Melanie Lageschulte ...

Colder temperatures have brought the birds to the feeder this past week. My Sweet Babboo put a new suet cake out for them and it was eagerly pounced upon by this downy woodpecker.

The cardinal pair came by too, along with an entourage of goldfinches still wearing their winter drab. But they are brightening up a bit here and there and in a month or so will be vibrant yellow again.

The male shares the feeder with another goldfinch.

There were four bluebirds here one day. I got two of them in one photo but they wouldn’t cooperate to ...

Another busy and crazy week is behind me, with meetings and presentations, pickleball to burn off some stress, and unfortunately, a memorial service for a dear friend who passed away last week after a hard battle with a terrible illness. Not covid this time but still a blow. So, once again little to no time to sew. I did get a quilt loaded on the longarm for a friend, but that will be the last one I do for others for a while. I do need to concentrate on some of my own projects, and finish up the two charity ...

This week was one of those kinds of weeks, where it seemed like I should have gotten more done with the time I had. I did have a couple of meetings, but those were short. The zoom class on Wednesday was fun, and I think all the participants enjoyed it. I did manage to get one small project pieced and quilted, and I’ll be working on the binding today while watching the playoff games. Outside, cold weather this week brought the birds to the feeder in large numbers, and I got a few good pictures of them, like this ...