Quilt Challenge #2 Saturday Snapshot 8-31

Today I have posted the photos from a Quilt Challenge I participated in last year. Earlier in August I posted the first set of pictures and explained the challenge. You can read  that post HERE. In essence, a group of quilters participated to interpret in a quilt their ideas from a quilt received from another quilter. Each one did not see the previous quilts or the beginning photograph. 

This a the photo that the first quilter received. She knew this place. It was taken by her husband of the place where they buried their beloved family pet. You can see the large piece of sandstone they used as a gravestone.

Her interpretation of the special place is to the left. She left the stone marker, and the tree, but the sky and the rest of the landscape were not a literal interpretation. 

This quilter saw a grave marker and this is her interpretation. She called it The Last Gate. There is a broken fence, a path to the hilltop hangman's tree and 3 lonely crosses marking the graves of some other unfortunate souls hanged for their sins. Even the sky is sad and ominous. 

The third quilter stated that she received The Last Gate quilt on the same week as the Sandy Hook School shooting in Connecticut. She was so sad that week that she felt like the only way to do this interpretation was to wander over the hill from the hangman's tree and find a church to pray. To know that death is not the last gate. 

The quilter who received the church says she thought of county churches, Little House on the Prairie, etc, but finally focused on the stained glass window in the church. This is her uplifting and colorful rendition of a stained glass window. 

The last quilter has recently experienced a death in her family. Her focus was on rebirth. Her faith and denomination use  a butterfly to signify rebirth and so she quilted a beautiful butterfly with silver edged wings.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at  West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky (at West Metro Mommy). Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

I will be away all next week. We are camping where there is no internet service. I have a new smartphone but as yet have not figured out how to use it to access the blogging world.

So until next time
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Wondrous Words Wednesday 8-28

 Wondrous Words Wednesday is hosted by BermudaOnion each week. It's an opportunity to share new words you've encountered in your reading, or highlight words that you particularly enjoy. Click on over to BermudaOnion to link up to share your new words, or at least to peruse the words that others have discovered. 

Here are two new-to-me words from Winter of the World by Ken Follett.  All definitions from Dictionary.com.

peroration    noun  the concluding part of a speech in which there is a summing up and an emphatic recapitulation.
It was two and a half hours before Hitler reached his peroration.     pg 61

mendacious - adj    not truthful; lying or false

Lloyd had been released with profuse apologies from the German Foreign Ministry, and an explanatory statement that was abject yet at the same time mendacious, implying that he had got into the brawl through his own foolishness and then been held prisoner by an administrative error for which the authorities were deeply sorry.   pg 77


I love discovering new words. Today is my mom's birthday. If she were still alive she would be 91 today, but she passed away just a little over a year ago, one month before her 90th birthday. I miss her a lot. She loved words too and both she and my dad were good readers and instilled the love of reading in all four of their children.

Until next time
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

First Chapter First Paragraph Intros - E-Short Story by Jennifer Weiner

Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the first paragraph or maybe two of her current read. Anyone can join in. Go to Diane's website for the image and share the first paragraph (or2) of the current book you are reading.

"The girl's name was Caitlyn. That fall, it seemed like they were all Cailtlyn, or some oddly spelled variation of the name. Judging from the way she kept crossing and recrossing her long, denim-clad legs and flipping her silver cell phone open to check the time, she wanted to be anywhere but in the Coffee Beam and Tea Leaf on Beverly and Robertson, sharing a table for two with my laptop and me. "

This is the first paragraph of an e-short story I downloaded onto my Kindle. It was one of the first that I downloaded after receiving the Kindle for Christmas and I have yet to read it. We are camping all next week, Tues - Sunday, while Mr. Busy flies his RC aircraft at a fun fly in a neighboring community located in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. I am looking forward to solitude and reading time, also some stitching time and more than a few naps! I may get this story read and start on another, we will see.  No promises!  LOL

So would you keep reading?  I peeked further down the first page and it looks like the young girl is just entering college and talking to an application consultant. 


Until next time, 
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Wondrous Words Wednesday 8-21

 Wondrous Words Wednesday is hosted by BermudaOnion each week. It's an opportunity to share new words you've encountered in your reading, or highlight words that you particularly enjoy. Click on over to Kathy's blog and link up to share your new/or favorite words. 

Here are two of my favorites  words from  my most recent read. All definitions from Dictionary.com.

These words are from my current read Winter of the World by Ken Follett. This is a huge book and I should have been reading it all summer, as it was the summer selection of my F2F book club.  But as always, I procrastinated and so am trying to get it read before the 2nd Tuesday in September. I will probably be successful. I am enjoying it very much. 

seditious- adjective.  A person, group or words that urge people to rebel against the government or other authority. 

"This is a seditious gathering. Communists and  subversives are not wanted in today's Germany. This meeting is closed."

truncheon - noun. 

1. obsolete: a short thick club

2. any staff or baton used as a symbol of authority.

3. chiefly Brit: a policeman's stick or billy

"A spotty-faced boy carrying a truncheon, put a hand on Werner's back and shoved energetically,....."

I am familiar with these words, but I like them, so I am sharing them today. This book is set 1933-1949 in both Germany and the United States. Some in England too. It is a sequel to Fall of Giants  by Ken Follett. 

What wondrous words have you found in your reading?

Until next time, 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros Pretty Poison

Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the first paragraph or maybe two of her current read. Anyone can join in. Go to Diane's website for the image and share the first paragraph (or2) of the current book you are reading.

Pretty Poison by Joyce and Jim Lavene

It was too late for Peggy Lee to stop when she saw the car. There wasn't time to sound the air horn that scared away dogs and small children. It was like being in a slow motion movie.

The green Saturn Vue pulled out of the parking lot, and her bike glided right into the driver's side door. The over-sized front tire absorbed most of the shock. The impact jarred her but didn't knock her down. She put out her legs to brace herself and stared belligerently at the man behind the wheel. 

This is the paperback I have been carrying in my go-bag. It is a cozy mystery and easy to start and stop while reading in line at the bank, waiting at the doctor's office, etc.   What do you think, would you keep reading?

Ebook Challenge Twice Tempted.

Twice Tempted by Marquita Valentine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Zoe Ambrose is a spunky quick witted author, whose agent is also the agent of the most talked about and infamous movie actor in LA. You will not be surprised to find that their paths cross. Of course, the paparazzi have a hay day with the pictures and the underlying intrigue. You can feel the heat that radiates from the tablet screen (I read the Kindle edition). There is plenty of steamy sexy scenes, as well as a bit of mystery. A truly wonderful romance novel.
If you blush bright red at graphic nude sex scenes, this story may not be for you. If you just get a bit amorous and you have a partner by your side, enjoy!


View all my reviews

This is my review of the book I quoted in First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros on 8-13-13 here. It really was a cute story and I will read the next episode with pleasure.

Mailbox Monday 8-19

Mailbox Monday  is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their home last week(s) and explore great book blogs. Mailbox Monday is currently on tour, hosted by a different blogger each month. The host for August is Kathy at BermudaOnion's Weblog. Kathy is filling in this month for a blogger who for whatever reason did not post the first and second Monday's in August. You can check the link above to see who is scheduled to host in September. 

Last week was a strange on for me. I had been selected to be in a jury pool for our district court system. So I was called to come to the courthouse on Monday. I was selected to sit on the jury for a criminal case involving stalking, kidnapping and aggravated assault and battery. It was a very intense case and we the jury struggled with a unanimous verdict. So little reading was done. We finished by noon on Wednesday and Thursday I had a date with my regular stitching group. Friday I was still in a "funk", so off to the bookstore I went. I found the following 3 titles on sale. HOORAY!

 I probably should have backed away a bit, but then you would see the dust on my buffet!.  

1. Distant_Heart Tracey Bateman for $.99
2. A Time to Dance by Karen Kingsbury for $4.99
3. On Hummingbird Wings by Lauraine Snelling for $3.99

I have read Lauraine Snelling's Dakotah Treasurers series, Daughters of Blessing series and Red River of the North series and loved them all.. I have not read the other authors but know that Karen Kingsbury writes Christian Literature and I always enjoy that. When I looked up a link to Distant Heart, I discovered that Tracey Bateman writes Christian  Fiction too, and is a Goodreads Author. Distant Heart is #2 in a series, so being the OCD person I am I will look for the 1st in the series before I read the second. A Time to Dance is #1 in the Timeless Love series. On Huimmingbird Wings looks like a stand alone story. 

Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Quilt Challenge #1 Saturday Snapshot

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at  West Coast Mommy Reads. To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky (at West Metro Mommy). Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Below are some pictures of a quilt challenge that I was a part of, last fall and winter. The premise is: quilter #1  receives a photo and she interprets that photo in a quilt.The rendition had to be 20X25, not substantially larger or smaller. Quilter #2 received the quilt from quilter #1 and she then interpreted a quilt from that. She did not get to see the original photo. This continued on , one at a time to quilter #5. It was interesting to see each small quilt and to see how each quilter picked an element or object from the preceding quilt to inspire her.

 This is a photo of our Wyoming state flower, the Indian Paintbrush.

 Quilter #1 's interpretation of the photo. The thread painting on this is amazing. The photo doesn't do it justice.

 Quilter #2 went with the native american actually using a paintbrush, painting hieroglyphics.

 Quilter #3 expanded to the landscape surrounding the hieroglyphs and the accompanying persons there.

 Quilter #4 zoomed in on a part of the landscape and she "saw" a small river in among the rocks.

Quilter #5 again zoomed in on the water and rocks and she "found" greenery and some flowers. Surprising that the 1st quilt was of a flower and the last also included flowers.

There were 4 groups of 5 quilters each. I will show the other groups on some other Saturdays this fall .

Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

EBook Challenge 8 of 10 CD Level

What Matters Most by Bette Lee Crosby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. It kind of hit home in a lot of ways. We are retired, my husband has selective hearing and I tend to be a worrier. Not to the extent that Louise is, but somewhat. We almost moved to a different part of the country at retirement, but luckily we visited the area first and discovered that we would not be happy there.

I think Louise and Clay both learned to give a little during their relocation and find that happiness is what you make it. That friends can be found in new places too, that sometimes what seems to be perfect is not, and love is the most important.

I have enjoyed Bette Lee Crosby's other titles and will continue to choose and read them.


View all my reviews

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros 8-13

Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the first paragraph or maybe two of her current read. Anyone can join in. Go to Diane's website for the image and share the first paragraph (or2) of the current book you are reading.

"The first thing you need to do in Vegas is get laid."  Zoe Ambrose choked on a gulp of water. Her sister-in-law, Melanie, pounded her on the back. "Cough it up!"

First paragraph from Twice Tempted by Valentine Marquita on my Kindle. Granted it doesn't really tell you  what the book may be about, you can tell it is a chick-lit read.

Would you read on or would you be turned off by the rather crude language?  I'm an old lady but I am not a prude. I would read on, I already like Zoe!.  This month I am also reading Winter of the World by Ken Follett, so I needed a light fun easy read.

Until next time
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

WRAP UP What's in a Name 6 and Quilt for Little Prince - Saturday Snapshot

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky (at West Metro Mommy). Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

This is a wrap-up finally done picture of the Winnie the Pooh baby quilt I made for my oldest granddaughter and her husband's new little guy. He is due the first week in September and the quilt is done before he is born. Almost a first for me. I am a bit of a grandiose idea but procrastinator type finisher!  I tried to get a picture of the whole quilt, it is very colorful, the pictures are from a panel I bought online, the interior sashing frames are a brown and cream dot, and the outer border is a large aqua  check. It is backed in chocolate brown minkee. Soft, soft and cuddly.


This week I also finished the What's in a Name 6 Challenge at Beth Fish Reads. I read the following books since the start of 2013 for this challenge. You can check the button link on the right hand side of my blog.
1. Book with UP or DOWN in the title:  The Mountain and the Fathers: Growing Up on the Big Dry by Joe Wilkins
2. Something you find IN THE KITCHEN in the title:  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
3. A PARTY or CELEBRATION in the title: Steps to the Alter by Earlene Fowler ( ok, this was a reach but it's about 2 weddings._
4. A book with FIRE or an equivalent in the title:  Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan.
5. A book with an EMOTION in the title:   Joy School by Elizabeth Berg
6. A book with LOST or FOUND in the title:  The Lost Wife by Allyson Richman.

I have participated in this challenge 2 years and always enjoy searching out the titles


Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Steps to the Altar - a review

Last week I finished #9 in the Benni Harper Mystery series by Earlene Fowler. I so enjoy this series. They are fun easy reads, great to intersperse between books more thought provoking or even dark as is my current read, Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Next is my review that appears on Goodreads. And I am using this as the final entry into the What's in a Name 6 challenge on

Beth Fish Reads  .         

Steps to the Altar by Earlene Fowler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one is one of my favorites of the series so far. Benni is having some real feelings in this one. Gabe is being a jerk, which makes me sad. And Elvia and Emory are finally getting married.

Usually Benni seems to go looking for a mystery to solve, but in this story the mystery sort of falls in her lap. Or is at the very least thrust upon her by an associate. And this murder is an unsolved cold case, so not so very pressing to find the murderer.

As always, Grandma Dove has words of wisdom for Benni when she "just knows" that Benni and Gabe are having problems. And as always, Dove makes me laugh as she prepares for her own "perfect" wedding to Issac.

This story is really a love story more than a mystery. I enjoyed it a great deal.


 I think it fits the book with a party or celebration in the title. It is a bit obscure, but I have been looking and looking for another and even the ones that other participants have read do not speak to me as titles I might want to read. So Steps to the Altar means a wedding and celebration to me.

Until next time
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Saturday Snapshot 8-3-13 Summer Storms

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at  http://westmetromommy.blogspot.com/. To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky (at West Metro Mommy). Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

We have been experiencing late afternoon thunderstorms lately. Lots of lightning, thunder and heavy rain that only lasts 30-45 minutes.   We had just returned home and did not notice this beautiful cloud until we noticed that two riders on Harley motorcycles had stopped just across the street and were taking pictures of this cloud. I used my camera on my cell phone, because it was handy and the sky  was changing quickly. This cloud was to the east of us, so this is the beautiful side of a rather large thunderhead that was moving toward the Black Hills of SD. It really was much more spectacular in person. The moon was just rising over the left 1/3 of the cloud, just above the middle group of trees. If you look closely at the third photo you can barely see the tiny moon.  So special!








Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy