First Chapter First Paragraph Truesday Intros -

 Diane at Bibliophile By The Sea hosts this Tuesday meme as a place the share the first paragraph (or a few) of the book you are currently reading or hope to start soon. Join us to get a glimpse into what some other book lovers are reading.

Placerville Colorado
November 2011

Melanie McLaughlin positioned her cursor in the SEND icon, double-clicked, and waited for the window telling her that her mail had bent sent to pop up. She signed off her e-mail account, then moved her mouse to exit the complicated graphics program she'd help design last year. It was her biggest job to date, and she was happy to be finished. She did want to work during the upcoming Christmas season. Fortunately, she was her own boss, so she make the rules. She just wanted to enjoy the  holidays without any professional commitments, no last-minute, all-night projects to finish. She'd worked diligently through the Thanksgiving holiday to make sure her schedule was completely  clear until after the new year.

This is a compilation of 4 "sparkling tales" of the "seasons's most joyous presents". I have read Fern Michaels before and enjoyed her storytelling. The other authors are new to me. So I am looking forward to some light, hopefully happy reading for the next couple of days. Would you continue to read this collection of stories?

It's a busy week for me. Some holiday gatherings to prep for, some presents to wrap, some cheesecakes to bake.


Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Dec 1st

This Monday meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  Join us by grabbing her button and linking up your own What Are You Reading post.



December 1st - and counting!  Happy Birthday to my sister!!  This week is very busy, I have 4 Christmas parties to attend before next Monday. Also, I will be starting some Christmas Themed reading.
On my nightstand:

Secret wishes, sweet surprises, and gifts straight from the heart. Delight in this season's most joyous presents with these four sparkling tales. . .

"Making Spirits Bright" by Fern Michaels

Melanie McLaughlin desperately wants to adopt two orphaned siblings and give them a real home for Christmas. A just-for-the-holiday marriage to Bryce Landry fits her plan perfectly. . .until unexpected sparks have Melanie dreaming of forever by his side. . .

"Runaway Christmas" by Elizabeth Bass

A glass of wine, lounging in pajamas, and catching up on movies—that's Heidi Bogue's idea of a perfect Christmas. Until her thirteen-year-old niece makes a surprise visit—and a snowstorm turns Heidi's café into a community refuge. Now one handsome cop is giving Heidi plenty more reasons to celebrate. . .

"Home For Christmas" by Rosalind Noonan

Jo Truman needs a replacement Santa for her gift shop's Christmas Eve party. She'll do whatever it takes to convince lonely soldier Sam Norwood that he's perfect for the part...and that the season for love is always. . .

"Christmas On Cape Cod" by Nan Rossiter

Maddie Carlson would do anything for her best friend. And helping Asa Coleman babysit a rambunctious puppy Christmas Eve night is her one chance to help the troubled teacher put his past to rest. . .and give the sweetest gift of all.

And on my Kindle:

I don't think this one is particularly Christmas reading , but the cover makes me think Christmas.  And maybe it is a story of the real meaning of family. We will see. 

When Christine Blacksworth's larger-than-life father is killed on an icy road in Magdalena, New York, a hundred miles from the 'getaway' cabin he visited every month, she discovers a secret that threatens everything she's always held to be true. Her father has another family which includes a mistress and a daughter. Determined to uncover the truth behind her father's secret life, Christine heads to Magdalena, prepared to hate the people who have caused her to question everything she thought she knew about her father. But what she finds is a woman who understands her, a half sister who cherishes her, and a man who could love her if she'll let him. The longer she's around them, the more she questions which family is the real one...

That should get me in the spirit.  I started decorating a little today too. You all know that I also quilt, so I have a few quilted or fabric type decorations. This one is on the entertainment center in our living room. 

The stitchery banner is from Shabby Fabrics. It was a block of the month in 2012, the table runner is appliqued funky santa and  a snowman. I'll show a better picture later in the week. The candle is hand make by my sister.  It's a start!. 

Until next time

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Thanksgiving Dinner Changed Up

Check out all the Weekend Cooking posts Beth Fish Reads. Then join the fun. I don't regularly post to this meme, but every once in awhile I do something "foodie".


I tried a couple of new recipes this year. Our granddaughter is dairy-free and coconut-free and just recently has cut gluten out of her diet. So Thanksgiving was different than usual.

Turkey Breast in the Crock Pot.I saw it on Pinterest, and the pin links to  Jamie Cooks It Up. It is a can of cranberry whole berry sauce, 1/2 cup orange juice and 1 envelope of onion soup mix. Very good. The sauce thickened to make a wonderful, faintly sweet gravy.

We have a family traditional cranberry salad that uses real whipped cream. I made two versions, the regular one for my husband and me, and one without the whipped cream for our granddaughter. Her husband doesn't do jello salad of any kind and the baby(15 months) did not like it either. Oh well, those of us who are original family like it.!

The real winner was a new dessert: I wish I had taken a picture of the delight in our granddaughter's face as she tasted the first bite.  I found the recipe on Pinterest too. You can find the recipe here on my page and then visit the site.  Here are my "tweaks"

2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup melted butter  melted lactose free margarine
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 eggs but you could substitute 1 cup applesauce
1 cup almond flour   gluten free rice flour with 1 tsp xanthum gum added
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk honey, melted margarine, vanilla, eggs until smooth. I used a small hand mixer. Add flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Stir to blend. I added it in small batches. Pour into a greased 8x8x2 pan, Bake approximately 25 15-20 minutes until center no longer jiggles and top feels cakey. Cool on a wire rack at least until sides pull away from the pan before cutting. (Cutting with a plastic knife helps)

I frosted them before cutting with regular off-the-box Hershey's chocolate frosting recipe, with a few substitutions. It made more than what I put on the brownies. I'll save it for another recipe, then stored them in the fridge.
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine, melted (used the lactose -free margarine)
2/3 cup cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla
I added 1 pinch of sea salt

They were chocolaty, gooey and I topped each brownie with a scoop of Haagen Daz Raspberry Sorbet. 'heavenly'.  I was lucky to find sorbet at our Walmart. The dairy free options for ice cream are not prevalent in this part of the country, especially because our DGD can't do coconut. Many more options exist in larger markets. Our daughter-in-law lives in Phoenix and she has many option for dairy substitution. Our son does a pumpkin cheesecake that she loves and he says is really awesome too.

Today, our granddaughter and family will be here again, while her husband helps my husband hang more insulation and sheet rock in the garage. We will finish up Thanksgiving leftovers. YUM!


Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Catching UP 2014 Ebooks

As we count down to the end of the year, I find I need to post my last ebook reads.



I read from October 30 to November 1st
Bluebonnets for Elly by Sandra Nachlinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elly's fiance has betrayed her. Her grandmother has fallen and injured her ankle. Her parents are in Italy. So what's a girl to do? She moves in with Granny to help her out. While she is staying with her grandmother, Elly decides to tackle Granny's abundance of treasures. There is one problem with this situation, Elly is only supposed to stay with her grandmother for 30 days, according to the rules in the retirement village where Marge Macauley lives. Elly must rely on various disguises to avoid the prying eyes of the president of the Geriatic Government.

There is one in this seemingly smothering situation. The landscape guy is hunky Derek White. He makes Elly wonder if maybe she has been celibate too long!

This story is your consummate chick lit. Young beautiful red-head, strong viril gardener, a feisty out-spoken grandmother, and of course a jealous ex-wife. But Sandra tells the story with out being schmaltzy or too predictable. It is well written, I immediately became engaged with the characters. I'm more Marge (Granny) Macculey's age, but I could identify with Elly too. It is a great story.

I read from November 4th through the 9th.
I.O.U. Sex by Sandra Nachlinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I started this book I thought it would be a fun read. I was not wrong, but it turned out to be more than that. It is a story about friendship, life lessons, and second chances.

When June and Peggy and Kiki decide during an evening of girl talk and drink, to look up their old boyfriend and pay them back for the sex they withheld in high school, I thought: that will be a disaster!

Each of the stories, June's, Peggy's and Kiki's are different, but are a happily ever after ending. I'm not really telling any spoilers as it is pretty clear from the start where this book is going. The character development was great, I felt I knew each of these women. Maybe it was pretty exceptional that the men they looked up were ready, willing and available, but that makes a good chick lit story.

I am married to my HS sweetheart, but when I was talking to my sister about this premise, she doesn't even want to look up her HS crush. He spent time in prison and turned out to be a pretty shady character. Most of us are probably glad we moved forward from whom we were attracted to in high school.

I enjoyed reading this book and I enjoyed Sandra Nachlinger's other novel, Bluebonnet's for Elly. I would recommend either of them to anyone looking for a feel good, easy read.

Happy Thankgiving

The turkey is in the crockpot, the pie has been baked, the salads are in the fridge. Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Coffee and pumpkin donut holes on the table by my chair. We are having a small family celebration, our granddaughter, her husband and 15 month old son. I tried some new tweaks this year. Our granddaughter had given up gluten in an effort to "feel better". She is already dairy and coconut free. I found a recipe for gluten free, dairy free brownies and will serve them with raspberry sorbet. Her husband is making a gluten free, dairy free pumpkin pie to bring.
I also picked up gluten free croutons for stuffing, and our traditional cranberry salad has two versions this year, one with whipped cream and one without.

If the new recipes pass "muster", I will share the recipes tomorrow on Weekend Cooking at  Beth Fish Reads.

Until then,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Challenges for 2015 - Book related and Quilt related

The end of the year is fast approaching  and I will attempt challenges again. One of my FAVORITES is the What's In A Name Challenge and Charlie at The Worm Hole is hosting it again this year.

Here is what the button looks like. Click on the link to Charlies' blog above, find the button on her sidebar and it will take you to the sign up post. Then on January 1st you can join us as we read at least 6 books with titles that fit the categories that Charlie has presented.


Also I have decided to try this challenge. I have been reading lots of Cozy Mysteries and I might as well challenge myself to read more. If you want to join me. then check out Yvonne's blog, Socrates Book Reviews for the sign up post and let go cruisin'.  I will sign up at:Level 2 - Investigator - Read 7-12 books

I think I will only do these two blog associated challenges. I probably will do a few monthly or quarterly challenges on Goodreads too. Plus I have my F2F bookclub that will have monthly reads in 2015.

Then, I shouldn't forget that my quilting group will have a 6 part Finish Up Your UFO's challenge next year. I will share this challenge with you when I sign up for that one. Yikes!! I may be in over my head.


Until the new year
Stay Happy and Stay Busy

Traveling With Pomegranates

Sue is almost 50. She is struggling with where her life will lead her now. She sees in herself a relationship to Mary, mother of Jesus.
Ann is 22. Graduating from college she thought her life would be to attend graduate school then teach Greek history. She was enamored by the thought of Greece, the connection she felt to Athena.
Sue and Ann are mother and daughter, and this memoir is told from both their perspectives. The chapters are titled either Sue or Ann and where the memories are taking place. Athens, Paris, North Carolina.
I am enjoying this book.

Traveling With Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story by Sue Monk Kidd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As I was coming to the end of this book, I was thinking about what I would say here. How I would explain or try to relate to others what this book said to me. I am not sure if I am able to do that.

Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter Ann, traveled together numerous times, to Greece, Italy, France and other places along the way. They each were struggling. Each with a individual journey. But as they traveled, took note of places and mythology associated with those places, and wrote in their own individual journals, each of them discovered a coming together in this mother-daughter story.

Ann was struggling with becoming 50 and what direction her writing was going to take. She kept coming back to a short story about bees in a wall. Ann, thought she wanted to attend graduate school and teach ancient Greek history. Her rejection letter to the school of her choice, left her floundering with no idea of what she would do now.

Both women write in a wonderful lyric style. It is beautiful to read and breathtaking to "listen to". I am a fan and I must admit Sue Monk Kidd is my new favorite author and I hope Ann Kidd Taylor writes more, so that I can say that about her.

I have only one small regret. That is that I wish I could listen to my inner self, listen to my dreams and come to a contemplative,spiritual calm with myself and I wish the same for my daughter. We do not have the kind of relationship that Sue and Ann have, but I wish that we did.

This is a book that I will read again and again.


View all my reviews