First Book of 2023

I'm participating in Sheila's First Book of the Year!  I first met Sheila when I started to blog in 2012, my first FULL year of retirement. I knew I wanted to read more, and so I looked for book bloggers. I spent many enjoyable years in the "reader community".  Then I was "bitten by the quilting bug", to quote Kathyrn of Kathyrn Quilts .  This the 6th year that I have participated in First Book, hosted by Sheila of Book Journey.   I haven't always made a blog post, but I have sent my book title and photo to Sheila and she posted it on her blog. It's been fun to see what others are reading. I enjoy that information shared on quilting blogs too. I 've gotten lots of good recommendations from Diann at Little Penguin Quilts, from LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color, from Linda at Flourishing Palms, and lots of others. Kathyrn from Kathyrn Quilts had a book blog called Book Date.  Check it out!

My first book in 2016 was:

I posted about it here in late 2015!  What thrilled me when I looked up the old post....was that this is my first book for 2023. 

You can tell she is a favorite author. I'm looking forward to this one.  It was a gift from DS. He shopped from my Amazon list!  There were two other books too!!!!!!  I'll share those as I read them. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

TO-DO Tuesday #120

I'm joining Linda at Texas Quilt Gal to share my list of to-dos and show you all the progress or lack there of that was made!!  This is Linda's last day to host To Do Tuesday. Thank you Linda for making this a fun and safe place to come to share our successes and failures. I know you pass the baton to a very capable successor. Carol, welcome!  Looking forward to visiting your blog and the others in January. Quilt Schmilt-For the Love of Fabric

Last week
Dec 20 - 26


1. Work on Kawandi mat. ✅

It is done. See my post on Friday at The Joyful Quilter's Table Scraps Challenge link-up. I'll edit this link when Joy goes live. 

2. Maybe cross stitch Christmas guest towels. ⁉️ I started but did not bring the correct floss with me.  I'm short maybe 7 skeins for the chart I decided to do. I have tons at home and am not willing to purchase more when I already own some. It it too late for Christmas giving anyway....so next Christmas is the goal.

3. Christmas Eve movie date. ✅

We were all in agreement!  We give it ★★★★★

4. Find a recipe for mulled cider for Christmas Eve. ✅

This recipe looks like one I could duplicate:  Bobby Flay's Mulled Cider . I like Bobby Flay's other recipes.  A neighbor brought spiced cider to share, so it wasn't necessary for me to make my own.  We enjoyed. 

Next week

Dec 27 - January 2

1. Start my new book for 

2. Keep stitching on Autumn Stamps

3. Try to start knitting a sock! 

4. Write my plan for 2023 Rainbow Scrap Challenge!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful !

Happy New Year First Book of 2018!

I have participated in this event for the last couple of years. So I wanted to be a part of it again. This book is one that was chosen by my book club, Page Turners. We will discuss it on the 3rd Tuesday of January. I am not sure, just yet, how I feel about it. Stories about this time in history always depress me. Even though I did enjoy "All The Light We Cannot See", "The Book Thief", "Sarah's Key", "Fall of Giants", and "The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" I find them hard to read. I have to take breaks pretty often. 

I am only on page 81, but I like the character development.  The quick synopsis from Goodreads, says, " Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades." I am hoping for some feel good parts. 

I just looked at Sheila's post and there are lost of good book suggestions. I'll be making a list and trying to read some of them this year. My Goodreads goal is 30 books, that should be doable even with my added sewing/quilting challenges. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy
Judy

Welcome 2017....I've Been Waiting for You!

This is the 3rd year I have participated in the First Book of the Year event, hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey. The year my pick is Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline.

I have had this book for a few months.  I have been wanting a special time to read it and there is none better than celebrating the First Book of the Year.  I am looking forward to getting involved with this one.

Last year I  joined several book challenges. I failed miserably at all of them except for the Triple Dog Dare Challenge.  That one was to only read books from my TBR shelves, from the first of the year until April 1st.  But all the other challenges were not completed. You can check out my 2016 challenges by clicking on the tab at the top of my blog.  This year I will do no other challenges as far as books go. I have lots on my shelves and downloaded on my Kindle.

I am doing some quilting challenges this year.  My Local Quilt Group, does a yearly challenge where we complete a UFO every 2 months. We write up a challenge sheet that has 6 projects that need to be completed or at least finished to a certain specification. One member rolls a die and whatever number the die lands on, that is the numbered project we work on. Then there is a show and tell 60 days later. I have the UFO's picked out, but we haven't met yet to submit our lists. When we do, I will have another post.

I am also participating in the All People Quilt  2017 UFO Challenge.  This one is for 12 projects. A number is posted every month and that is the project that is to be worked on each month. I have filled out the project sheet for the All People Quilt Challenge, and the challenge coordinator has announced the number for January at bit early. It is #6 Here is a copy of my list.

 I have 36 completed blocks, 5" unfinished. I need to decide if that is enough or if I need 6 more.

My stacks of crumb blocks. I have 36 so I think I will set it 6 X 6. The blocks are smallish and oh so busy, I will sash them with black 2" unfinished sashing and red cornerstones. I'll keep you posted. Hopefully!! It is a work in progress, no pattern,  so fingers crossed that it isn't TOO UGLY!!!


Well, that's as good as it gets for now
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/3/16

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you are and about to be reading over the week.  It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever-growing TBR pile!  This meme started with J Kaye's Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. So share what you are reading this week and link up with Book Date. 

Print Book:

August Shroeder, a burned-out teacher, has been sober since his 19-year-old son died. Every year he's spent the summer on the road, but making it to Yellowstone this year means everything. The plan had been to travel there with his son, but now August is making the trip with Philip's ashes instead. An unexpected twist of fate lands August with two extra passengers for his journey, two half-orphans with nowhere else to go.

What none of them could have known was how transformative both the trip and the bonds that develop between them would prove, driving each to create a new destiny together. 

I am enjoying this one. It was my choice for First Book of 2016 and I am still working on it. 


On my Kindle: 

from Goodreads:

Twenty-four-year-old Pax Tate is an asshole. Seriously. He's a tattooed, rock-hard bad boy with a tough attitude to match. His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with an intense guilt that he doesn't understand. What he does know is that he and his dad were left alone, and they have never been close. Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the black void in his soul. He pretends that the emptiness isn't there and this has always worked . . . until he meets Mila.

Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air that Pax has never known in his life. He doesn't know how to not hurt her-but he quickly realizes that he'd better figure it out because he needs her to breathe. When the memories of his mother's death resurface to haunt Pax, Mila is there to save him from his overwhelming guilt. Mila restores his broken heart, even as she evokes his powerful, sexual desires. Now for Pax to keep Mila, he needs to work on his issues-and stop being an asshole. But is that enough to make her stay? 

This one is a bit on the steamy side. I'm not put off by that, it's just different from the books I have been reading. I hope to finish them both this week. 


Stay Busy and Stay Happy

First Book of 2016 Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde

I am participating in the First Book of 2016, hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. The reason I chose this book is that it is our January read for my face to face book club, Page Turners.  Since we picked this title I have seen it and a few other of the authors titles around the blogosphere.

 It is Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

from the back of the book:

" Burned-out teacher August Shroeder has been sober since his nineteen-year-old son died. Every year he's spent the summer on the road, but making it to Yellowstone this year means everything. The plan had been to travel there with his son, but now August is making the trip with Phillip's ashes instead. An unexpected twist of fate lands August with extra passengers for his journey: two half-orphans with nowhere else to go.
What none of them knows is how transformative the trip - and the bonds that develop between them- will prove, driving each to create a new destiny together."


I think one of the reasons we decided to read this, is the setting on the way to Yellowstone, ( we live in Wyoming) and also the fact that most of the Page Turners are or were teachers!


Wishing you all a Happy New Year. I sincerely hope your new year is filled with blessings, good health and happiness.


Stay Busy and Stay Happy

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 12/28/15

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you are and about to be reading over the week.  It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

I have lost my reading mojo!  I am blaming it on the holiday flurry of activities and subsequent letdown. I had to renew the library book that I have been reading all week. I am liking it, but by the time I get to it, it is bedtime and I can only read four or five chapters!  

This is my first Lisa Scottoline book but it won't be my last. I also put the reading of Emma on hold. I really need to concentrate when I read that one. I am thinking of checking out an audio version to read along. I did that when I read Wuthering Heights in 2012. 

Our daughter was here for Christmas and she introduced us to House of Cards on Netflix. Now we are hooked and have been binge watching when we get the chance. That could be the problem with my reading!

On Thursday I want to start reading my First Book of 2016:

How is your week looking? Are you a reading machine or are you too in a slump?

Stay Busy and Stay Happy