Saturday, October 5, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Stitching It Up...
A Galene Cowl for my daughter...
A Feather & Fan blanket for Stella...
A Reading Wrap for a friend...and Lucy helped!!!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
A Bit of Verse...
Seamus Heaney ~ 1939-2013
When all the others were away at Mass, Sonnet 3 from Clearances (1986)Monday, September 2, 2013
August Book Report
Romance (Contemporary)
Source: My Own Bookshelf
Format: Kindle
Rating: 2.5/5
Didn't connect with the major characters because there did not seem to be any depth to their stories. Enjoyed the subplot involving our hero's sister and her husband more than the main characters' story. This was the August selection for the Barnes & Noble (Burlington, MA) Romance Readers.
The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan
Fiction
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: DNF
I loved Sullivan's Maine, but The Engagements just wasn't doing it for me. Not sure why--maybe the format of jumping from couple to couple through various years without seeing the continuity? I will say, though, the touchstone among the stories--the story of Frances Gerety, penner of the "A Diamond Is Forever" slogan--was wonderful, and I might have thoroughly enjoyed a book telling her unique story.
Fiction
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4.5/5
Usually when I finish a Mary Alice Monroe book, Post-Its are flying out from all corners of the book. Not so with The Summer Girls--not because there was nothing to mark, but because I was so engrossed in the story of the reunion of these three sisters that I just kept reading. And once again, Monroe reveals through the story about human families, love, and forgiveness a glimpse of the natural world around us, this time introducing us to the fascinating and complex world of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Wonderful summer reading.
Mystery
Series: Her Royal Spyness #5
Source: Library
Format: Kindle
Rating: 4/5
The fifth in Bowen's Royal Spyness series finds Georgie heading to Nice to retrieve one of the Queen's snuff boxes. Things get complicated, of course, and the unraveling of the mystery and murder is helped along by none other than Coco Chanel. An Inspector Clouseau-like chief inspector adds to the fun and intrigue on the Riviera.
Romance (Historical)
Source: Library
Format: Kindle
Rating: 3.5/5
It is spring of 1915. Spoiled twenty-one-year-old Clemency Jervis and her Fifth Avenue entourage board the Lusitania, bound for England, where Clemency is to marry the dashing Lord Hugo Hazzard of Loburn. Who survives and what she does is told in The American Heiress, originally published in 1980. I think I will read more from this author because I found the contrast to the frenetic, fast-paced romances written today most enjoyable.
Mystery
Series: Andy Carpenter #1
Source: Library
Format: Kindle
Rating: 4/5
I was drawn to this series because of the mention of a golden retriever. What's not to like about a book that includes a golden? But then I find our lead character, Andy Carpenter, to be not only a smart aleck but (horrors) also a devout New York Yankees and Giants fan. How could I ever warm up to this character? Well, I did and will start down the trail of yet another series....
Fiction
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 3/5
Themes of loss, love, and sacrifice are central to the The Lemon Orchard, and Luanne Rice makes you think about an issue about which some may have strong opinions. A good story and interest in the main characters kept me reading.
Fiction
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 3/5
Yet another story about a widow who finds that her recently (and suddenly) deceased husband had a whole other life she never knew about. This version had some good mother-daughter interaction which I found better than the widow's story. The ribbon-wrapped explanation came too quickly and smoothly to be believable.
I also read some knitting related books in August. I will mark a knitting book (or magazine) "read" when I have gone through it cover to cover, made notes in my knitting notebook, and flagged with Post-Its patterns I may want to try. I appreciate, too, the great number of knitting books available through the library in both hardcover and Kindle format.
Source: My Own Bookshelf
Format: Soft Cover
Excellent selection of stitches enhanced by detailed colored photos. Only drawback is that it is not spiral bound; and because of narrow inner margins which would cut off some text, it cannot be rebound at Staples.
Format: Soft Cover
There are a lot of bright, stripe-y patterns in this book. Color choices aside, all of the patterns are fairly basic--no frills--just what you need to knit up a bunch of mittens and hats for kids (...and adults, too!).
Source: Library
Format: Kindle
Remember years ago when in a Family Circle or Woman's Day magazine you would read that Isabel Homemaker would be receiving $10 for sending in her household hint and that when you read the hint, you recognized it as something you did all the time? Well, this book reminded me of that. At Knit's End has lots of thoughts and tidbits about knitting and yarn--all of which knitters have probably thought at one time or another. Difference is, Pearl-McPhee wrote them down and published a book.
Friday, August 30, 2013
September Bookticipation
Several books scheduled to be released in September have piqued my interest and landed on my library reserve list.
The Wrong Girl by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Following up on last year's The Other Woman, Jane Ryland and Jake Brogan team up again to investigate an adoption agency that may be hiding a terrible secret.
W Is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
I've been with Kinsey Millhone since "A" and hope to be right there for the final "Z"!
Sister Mother Husband Dog by Delia Ephron
The promise of essays on bakeries, dogs, movies, and Delia's beloved sister Nora had me flagging this book as soon as I heard about it.
After the publishing doldrums of summer, we are heading into the abundance of new releases of fall. New books from Elizabeth Gilbert, Anita Shreve, Amy Tan, Adriana Trigiani all have me looking forward to chilly days and curling up with a nice cup of tea and long hours of good reading!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Outside the Back Door
Mother's Day petunias still in full bloom...
Marigolds in full bloom...
A happy peppermint portulaca...
Hmm...the herb pot could use a little attention...
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
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