wishy washy weather . . .

Can you believe the above?  That was from Wednesday. The official high that day was 77 degrees.  The official low was 27 degrees. Today is March 6th and there is ice all over the place. Tomorrow our high is 55 degrees. Aye yi yi! How is it that this is the deep south??

Speaking of early in March . . . Tuesday was Bibliophile Files day and I missed it. I am doing some reading this month, along with my morning quiet time reading that's a yearly goal.  This month I'm reading a Bethany Publishers book for review.  Beverly Lewis's The Love Letters, to be specific.  I've actually started that one and so far it's quite intriguing!

I've also checked out a library book to read. It's the second novel of the Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series, Hollow City by Ransom Riggs.  The first book of the series was fascinating -- kind of fantasy/intrigue/historical fiction -- so I'm looking forward to reading the second.

And the third book is How Sweet the Sound, by Amy K. Sorrells.  I actually downloaded this as a freebie on Amazon for my kindle. It's free through today, I believe, if you want to check it out on Amazon.

UPDATED:  I just saw on my favorite tea blog, Tea with Friends that Amazon is offering another Kindle freebie:  Jesus, Me, & Afternoon Tea, by D. L. Stalnaker. I don't know how long it will be available, but *I'm* sure going to add it to my reading list for the month!! Doesn't the cover just appeal to you all that are tea drinkers?? I can't wait to download it and 'flip' through the pages. I think I've got a little bit of Earl Grey and lavender tea that would be the perfect brew accompaniment to an afternoon read.  :)

The positive side of ice storms in March is an unexpected day off . . . which meant I got in some more nook time!  I printed off the photo for the back of my Kentucky Crossroads block and got it bordered . . .

And then sandwiched the front and back together and choose a quilting design (at least for the center of the block). 

You probably can't quite make out the markings on the piece, so I'll make it easier . . .

I liked this design because the points traveled nicely up the length of the 'crossroads'.  I'll do something scrolly in the red portions, and then probably outline stitch all the way around in the light border, just off the red.  The binding will be the darker blue.  Should be a pretty little finish to put in the mini quilt stand!

So that's it for me. Tomorrow we're headed out to spend the evening with the collective families, celebrating the first of our family's March birthdays . . . my Jocey! Happy Friday, Happy weekend!!

:)

booking it . . .

Today is the first Tuesday of the month, so guess what??

It's The Bibliophile Files day!!

My three books (because one book covers two of my monthly challenge rolls) are as follows:

Someplace Safe With Somebody Good, by Jan Karon. I have long awaited the release of this book and then had to wait a long, long time for it to be my turn to check out the digital library copy. I'll buy this one, actually, but not until it comes out in paperback . . . to match the rest of the collection!!  ;)

Next up is The Hardest Peace, by Kara Tippets.  Have you heard of the blog, Mundane Faithfulness? She's an amazing person - wife, mom, and daughter of the Most High - and struggling with cancer. She chronicles her struggles in a very real and beautiful and compelling manner. 

And finally, this month (this week?!) is Trim Healthy Mama, by sisters Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett. After all the struggle I've been through in dieting and weight loss, this is such a refreshing change! I admit I'm already about a quarter of the way through it, but it's really making eye-opening sense to me!



So, so far this month, this is what's on my reading plate! Hop on over to sarah did it! to see what other bloggers are reading about . . . you might hear about a book that interests YOU!

:)

slashing stash . . .

Well now . . . I'm rather pleased to have the past week behind me and the present week ahead of me! I guess that's how it's meant to be, eh?  I had some movement in my stash this week, so I wanted to make sure I reported it:

Five yards out!  I donated it to the guild.  They are starting up a Traveling Stash Box for the guild year and I, having experienced the joy of traveling stash on several occasions, wanted to help them to be able to start it off right!  Linking up to the stash report at Patchwork Times.

Speaking of guild, I gave up the newsletter for this year.  Yay!!  Three years may have been one year too long.  LOL!  But I really enjoyed being on the board and so I partnered with another lady and am co-chairing the Library position. That means I'll be in the library books.  A lot.

I've already checked out these two for the next month.  The Halloween one has some *darling* projects in it!  

So . . . design wall . . . I'm working on a little project for Everley. Joc wanted a bigger stuffed animal for Evie's monthly photos.  We found a cute little elephant that she liked, and I drew out a pattern for it:

I had fun sketching him out and getting him (or her??!) just so.  I've also picked out and ordered the fabric for it . . .

Oh yummy, fun, minky, purple fabrics! The print will be the front and the minky will be the back and the ear. Five yards out this week, two yards in next. Hopefully it will go together fast and I'll have it out again! Well, it has to be finished by October 10 -- her one month old birthday! Que sera.

(Editing to add:  Linking up to the design wall post at Patchwork Times!)

Got into the fall baking spirit again little today . . .

Yup, another apple pie!  Makes the whole house smell so good.  

Fall is in the air!

:)

bibliophile files . . .

Last month Sarah, from sarah did it!, issued a book reading challenge.  I took her up on it for several reasons.  I *love* to read, that's number one.  Reason number two is that I wanted some direction and diversity in what I was reading.  And number three ... don't laugh ... I needed a challenge to keep me from being *lazy* in my reading!  LOL!

So I picked four categories . . . books that have been recommended, books I've borrowed from the lending library, books I'm reviewing (blogging for books), and books that are faith/walk strengtheners.  I'm happy to say I finished all four (and then some) of January's books.  I'll be doing a review of Shades of Mercy later this week -- and I have giveaway copies!

This month, I've sort of picked a one-two-three punch for the first three criterion.  All three are by Davis Bunn, a favorite author of mine, and all three are part of a single series.

Recommended book:  Lion of Babylon (which is also the first of the Marc Royce Series)

Library book:  Rare Earth (the second of the series)

Review book:  Strait of Hormuz (the third--and possibly last--of the series)

So yes, I'm a bit single-focused, but it's all good.  My fourth book actually both fits the 'faith/walk strengthening' category and is recommended reading. It's also required reading.  LOL!  Our group of MSC missionaries is walking through it together. It's called The U-Turn Church, and I started it last night -- so far it's very good and very relevant to the work Todd and I are doing!  But I realized that it was probably not the best book to take to bed ... I wanted to underline/highlight too much!

So . . . that's what is on my library shelves this month.  What's on yours?  And be sure to head over to Sarah's Bibliophile Files linky party!!

:)

fickleness thy name is weather . . .

In trying to gauge a good pattern for posting, I've looked at several options . . . pick set days and post (whether I've got something to share or not) . . . set a number of times per week . . . or, perhaps, I could just post every time our weather changes!  That would have me posting consistently about every forty-eight hours, at least.  Sheesh!  When I last posted we had 70's and daffodils ... this morning we had frigid temps and snow flurries.  In between we had tornado watches ... and we've had flash food warnings *every*day* for the past two weeks.  Gracious. Anyway, I posted seven times in January, which wasn't bad for an overall number (maybe a little on the low side) ... it's just that they were clumped up and not distributed nicely.  I'll try and avoid that in February.  No promises!

Right now we have a wide variety of birds hitting the feeders ... cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, tufted titmouse, nuthatches, and green finches.  And before you go running for your bird books trying to figure out what the heck a green finch is, it's how Todd and I lovingly refer to our wintering gold finches. 

They turn rather olive colored.  Even the cardinal did a double-take.

(That's a very 'fluffy' cardinal, by the way).

It's hard to believe that our brilliantly yellow-colored summer birds are this drab in the winter!  Of course, the cardinals look much better in January than they do in May.  I guess it all evens out!

I spent the day with Joc and Ellie yesterday.  It was Ellie's second library visit. We spent an hour or so in the pre-school section.  

We didn't do a whole lot of reading . . . why read books when there are so many other things to occupy oneself?!?  Besides, the books come home to be read. That's what I did.  I figured I might as well check out the embroidery and quilting books since I was already there and all.

I got a nice stack to peruse (at home)!  Just to flip through and get ideas.  :)

Back at Joc's, Leia was waiting for us.

That's okay, Leia.  Don't get up.

Ellie's hair is getting long enough that she can sport the "Pebble's" look:

I know, I know ... the plant behind her makes it really hard to see, but I promise that there are at least 20 or so strands of hair standing straight up!  She's such a dear little dolly!

And I thought I'd share my Lesson Four finishes from the redwork course. . .

I loved, loved working the bonsai tree ... the stacked French knots are such fun!  At first I wasn't sure it was going to happen, but as I built the rows, I could see it taking shape and it was very cool.

Super Bowl Sunday is in sight!  Go Baltimore Ravens!  (Or, as the natives say it, Go Bal'mer Ravens!)  Sawyer is spending the night with me that night -- we're going to have our own super bowl party.  Anyone else have special plans?!

And don't forget -- book review -- Declutter Now! -- posted tomorrow with a giveaway!

:)