A Win at the Library!

This year I joined an adult Winter Reads program at my local county library. It only runs for two months (January and February), and it even ends before the month of Feb. ends, so I am not able to enter my final February book review (see previous post). I guess that's OK. It was a bad review, and I feel bad posting a negative one, although I do like to be honest. I only posted three reviews, because the book I read in January was over 700 pages long and took me the whole month to read. Well, I will join again next year and will maybe read a lot of short books in January and February.

As a member of the Winter Reads program I was eligible to win a prize, and I won! I thought I'd get something like a mug. I was right! I won a mug! However, it was full of pens, pencils, a Caribou Coffee gift card, and an ice scraper. AND.. drum roll.. I got to pick five books off a packed book cart - FREE! Oh, I was so excited! I got some great ones. Here is a picture of my wonderful prize.

Enough talking! I'm going to go read!

Book Review: Emily, Alone

Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan

This is #2 in a series. I did not read any of the others. Based on this one, I would not go out of my way to read the others. This one was boring.

It's the story of a widow, Emily, and her life alone, missing her husband, and going about her daily routines. She is getting on in years and mostly thinks a lot about her life, her late husband, her children, her future which will probably be short. Some of it, as a senior citizen, I could relate to. I do contemplate some of the same things Emily does. However, the chapters felt like lists to me.. old people think about these things. Old people do these things. Old people spend a lot of time alone. Old people wonder about x, y and z. Ho Hum.

I didn't mind that basically nothing happens. I don't demand fast action plots. I have read quiet books which I have loved. In this book I would have enjoyed more depth. Spend your time wisely by reading something else.

Blocks!

I made these blocks for the March Lotto at Sunshine:

And I put this top together from blocks made by the members of my small group, Loose Threads. We had a challenge and exchanged blocks. I also used a printed/paint block (that middle planet-looking one) made by another friend; I bought it quite a while ago.. I'm not sure how to describe the method she used. Putting this together was a fun challenge.

[Later: found out it's called a gelatin print]

Quilts!

Our niece is going to have a baby in April. I made this quilt at the very last minute to give to her (them) at the baby shower. I had to bring it back home to finish a bit more of the quilting and to get the binding on. I did get it done, so its next job will be to cuddle the future Little One.

Now it's really done.

Here are some quilts and tops I finished for Sunshine recently. Four are for Quilts Beyond Borders and one is for Wrap a Smile. Those are the two programs that Sunshine officially supports. If you want to know more, ask, and I'll tell you about these fine programs.

Book Review: The Missing One

The Missing One by Lucy Atkins

After being estranged from her mother for quite some time, a young woman is shocked when her mother dies. She goes on a search for answers to her lifelong questions about her mother's past. Their relationship had been rocky, and she wants to know why. As she goes on her quest, she begins to unravel some mysteries and secrets.. the book becomes a very gripping page-turner.

I really enjoyed reading such a captivating book. I could hardly put it down, especially the last half. It's not the type of book I usually read, but this one was well done and worth the time it took to read all 440 pages.

We are getting lots of snow -- great reading weather!

Another Find from MIL

When cleaning out my mother-in-law's home, this old apron was found. This is my daughter when she was about eight (that would be 30 years ago)! I had forgotten all about the apron. Isn't it cute?! Obviously, Grandma used the apron; it has splatters all over it. I'm not sure if I try to wash it what would happen to the computerized photo. After all, it was created 30 years ago, and who knows how wash-proof it may be!? Does anyone have any ideas before I experiment?

I wasn't intending to use the apron myself but to give it to my daughter. I will still do that, but today, since it is snowing and snowing and snowing (again), I decided to make chocolate chip cookies. And I wore the apron.

After I think about how to clean it, I will give it to my daughter.

Rainbow Scraps: Yellow

The second month of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is Yellow. I made only one block so far. I don't have many yellow scraps and am even low on yellow in my stash. I might make one more, but that will come later in the month, if at all.

Edit on 2/15/19.. I did find more yellow and made two more blocks

You can see other yellow blocks made for the month here.

Book Review: The One I Was

The One I Was by Eliza Graham

A woman returns to her childhood home to nurse an elderly, dying man who was the home's next owner. They each have pasts which haunt them, secrets they had tried to keep hidden. There is also some mental illness, some war trauma, and some regular old tough/happy life in this story. Well told, with interesting twists and turns (some I guessed, others I didn't).

It's a book that explores the effect secrets can have on one's personality and life choices. I found it very interesting; read it in a day and a half. Four stars instead of five because of a couple minor things that might be a bit far-fetched, but overall it's well written and compelling.