Sunday, August 30, 2015

Summer

Where did it go?

So I guess summer is sort of over for me, as Curtis went back to dad's for the school year. This is hard for us, even though we know that it's a necessary step.  I enjoy having him here, because we get do a lot of things together. He learns a few new recipes for his cooking/baking skills each year.  This year I showed him how to make lasagna, Beef & Broccoli stir-fry, pan-fried zucchini disk and he made a chocolate chip cake for a Scout's function with the help of Mom's trusting old Betty Crocker book.  We went shopping, to see Jurassic World and did a Boy Scout 10 mile walk - when only 5 of it counted. In the picture below, he was working on his Map & Compass requirements. This picture was taken early in the walk and it reminds me a lot of his Father.

"So we have to go this way says the compass."

We worked on swimming skills and he went to the big Boy Scout camp @ Camp Rotary again. And earned himself 8 badges and him looking forward to next years.  He turned 13 just before he went back to dad's and had another grow spurt just about the same time.  It's hard to believe that he can almost look me straight in the eyes and I shake my head because come next summer, he very well could be doin' just that.  We worked out his first quilt, where he has done which step with little assistance from mom.

"Yea... {insert eye roll here}The preheat buzzed"

"Needs MORE Chocolate Mom!"

But what his leaving means is that  I can drag everything back out to the dining room table. Since we was busier this year with a variety of Boy Scout functions, doctor appointments and various other things, I find that I'm so far behind on all things quilty. Like a test pattern for Bea due in Sept., the sandwiching of a quilt top from TQPM and some hand stitching.  Along with some other projects that I was wanting to start too.

I also decided I wanted to knitting a dress for my Grand-daughter, even though I have no real skills yet and jumped right into the fire with this pattern.  My friend is helping me - and still can't believe of all of her patterns; I picked this one. Which by the way is not a beginners pattern.

Cordie's Pink Camo Dress

And there is a special project that I started August 28th.  I was able to cut out 3 of the 36 combined total blocks once I pushed myself away from the computer in the afternoon.  I then started hand stitching the pieces together on the first block when I sat down @ 9pm before heading to bed at 10pm.  I got 4 HST blocks stitched. It's not quite the speedy beginning, I had set out to do; but I can continue on the block this evening.  I have a personal goal of one block in a week.  I had changed that from one block = one night. These blocks are 12 1/2" unfinished blocks.  I don't want to feel rushed and I still have to do some others things that I'm committed to.  But I guess I can show you a few things about this special project in the pictures below.  The Top Right Fabric is the Focus Fabric for all of the blocks. I will try for better photo when I get new batteries for the camera, but you can kind of see the colors. These are Gail Kessler's "Old English Rose" collection.

This is the Special Project


These are some of the fabrics.

I recently checked out a book on how to do Vintage eyes & hair-do's. So today, I am working on the 1920's Sultry Eyes. I'm not so sure about this, as it has me lining my bottom water edge. My eyes are watering and the bags under said eyes are even more noticeable. But I tell my self to keep with it as I have an event in October that I need to understand my make-up and the failure called hair.  It just won't hold a curl for the life of me.  And I'm afraid that I will burn it if I keep trying that curling iron.  I see it's time to turn my head upside down and give the split ends a trim.  I had stopped for a moment and tried to remember when I had a proper hair cut last, when I realized it was mid-December of 2007!  WOW! But if all goes well enough, the reason for all this self-torture will be worth it. So I continue onward & upward in the world of make-up.  I guess this 43 year old still have a few tricks to learn yet.

In other news - I was told - I no longer could run around barefoot due to having a lift added to the right side of things. The outer voice was like: umm okay,  whatever you say doctor.  The inner voice was: WAIT WHAT!!! I have to wear shoes all the time!!!!! The horror of it all!! NOOOOOOoooooooo! This can't be what we just heard!  What? He is saying all over again.  Dang Nab IT!!! It's true. So this is what my view of my footsies look like these days.

Now where is that fainting couch 'cuz I sure could use it right about now.

Even my reading suffered some this summer but I would say over I didn't miss so much while my son was here.  I know that winter is slowly creeping in at a snail's pace where I'll have time to pick it back up when I'm snowed in.  I have some that I can do reviews on but those are on my Booklikes.com blog. So I won't clutter this one all up with those.

The girls has had some outside time in their makeshift rope harness's, much to the dismay of that obnoxious chipmunk. Which has been seen or heard of ever since then. At least not from the back yard.  And the girls still like to watch the bunnies in the front yard every evenings when the inside door is open.

Looks!! It's that Dang Chipmunk!!!

Hey Honey!  There be our bunny friend again!!

As you can see there is plenty of things going on around here.  With more than enough to keep me busy, so I'll try to keep this little blog going by posting more often then once a month.  If I fail to do so - feel free to send me a reminder.  Until next time...


Toodles,

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Into The Mist By Judith Ingram

Look what time it is. Yep - you guessed it, It's time for another BBT book.



Into the Mist (Moonseed series Bk. #3)

Author: Judith Ingram
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel, Paranormal
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing, LLC
Publish Date:07/24/2015



For the past six months, time-traveler Victoria Ashton has been living life as Katherine Kamarov on a ranch in rural California, circa 1890.
For the past six months, time-traveler Victoria Ashton has been living life as Katherine Kamarov on a ranch in rural California, circa 1890. A contrast to Katherine’s brash personality, shy and gentle Victoria has won the hearts of Katherine’s family and particularly her cousin Michael. Despite her deepening love for Michael, she has rejected his offer of marriage and sent him away, knowing that she must return to her own time on the night of the new spring moon.

In this third and final book of the series, sinister forces threaten Victoria’s new family, her property, and even her life, testing her for courage and ingenuity. A confident new self emerges, and when Michael unexpectedly walks back into her life, she questions whether she must remain a victim of fate or can find a way to determine her own future.

Meanwhile, Katherine has been living a parallel year of exchange in Victoria’s modern-day life, married to the handsome but remote Ryan Ashton. Hardened by her past, Katherine nevertheless falls for Ryan and, like Victoria, begins to search for a way to defy fate and keep the life she has come to cherish.

As the night of the new spring moon approaches, both women must search their hearts to discover how to hold onto what matters most, even if they should be forced back through the barrier of time.

Available @ Amazon




Excerpt:

He didn’t hear her slide the door open and step out behind him. Her arms circled his waist, and the faint scent of ginger spice shot twin arrows of joy and pain through his body. Wordlessly, he turned and brought his mouth down on hers. Enveloped in the soft twilight hush, they shared a kiss that was deep and long and achingly sweet. When they pulled reluctantly apart, Ryan let his eyes linger over her, already naming the vision being etched in his memory. This is how my love looked in twilight.

She was wearing her white robe, and her blond hair curled softly, just brushing her shoulders. It’s gotten longer, Ryan thought. He suddenly wanted her to cut it again, as if keeping her hair short would somehow help her to keep her claim on this body—on this life—and prevent Vicki from coming back.

Tori moved to the rail and stared out over the city deepening into dusk. “It’s started, Ryan,” she said quietly.

He moved to stand beside her. “What’s started?”

She turned and leaned an elbow on the rail, holding him with a steady gaze. “What we’ve dreaded. I dreamed about the bridge.” She lifted a shoulder. “It’s only a week away. I should have expected it.” She drew in a breath that trembled. “She was already there, standing on the bridge. Waiting for me.”

At his look, she put out her hand and covered his. “Don’t hate her, Ryan. She didn’t ask for this to happen any more than I did.” She smiled faintly. “I would have, though, if I’d known you would be here. I wouldn’t have missed this time with you for anything. No matter what happens, I’ll carry you in my heart until the day I die.”

Ryan couldn’t speak. He couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. He could do nothing but stare at her in mute despair.

She turned her back on the glittering city and leaned both elbows on the rail, staring through the glass doors into their living room. The soft light of the table lamps was growing imperceptibly brighter as the dusk surrendered to night.

“Do you ever wonder, Ryan, what Victoria will be like when she comes back?”

“She’s not coming back.” His voice cracked.

“She’s had a whole year, Ryan, just like me. A lot can happen in a year. She may surprise you.”

“She won’t get the chance.” His jaw tightened. “I’m not letting you go, Tori. I can’t. Vicki doesn’t belong here anymore. This is your home, with Christina and me.” He covered the crack in his voice with harshness. “How can you stand there and calmly talk about Vicki coming back while you just up and vanish from our lives? Like it’s already decided, like it’s so easy for you—”




Judith Ingram weaves together her love of romance and mystery as well as her training as a counselor to create stories and characters for her novels. She is also the author of a Christian guide to forgiving and posts weekly devotionals on the role of forgiveness in healing relationships. She lives with her husband in the San Francisco East Bay and makes frequent trips to beautiful Sonoma County, where many of her fiction characters reside. She confesses a love for chocolate, cheesecake, romantic suspense novels, movies that require three hankies, and all things feline.

Website, blog and free weekly devotional: http://JudithIngram.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudithIngramAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@judithingram20

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/judith-ingram/a/122/62

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5356538.Judith_Ingram




Well let me say first, that I have not read the first two books, so I felt like I  was a bit lost on the bases of the back story.  I would recommend reading the two previous books before this one. But let me go on to say that I did enjoy the book overall.

You can see that the intricate details of the characters took up some time to develop in the series and is evident in this book as well. There at times, the author shows us that when it come to write each new event that it can be difficult to write each character in a parallel universe and to keep it straightforward and not cause the reader to become confused. I know that I have come across this problem in other books/series, that I have read before this one; this isn't always the case.

The only reason I had a touch of trouble with the book was because I didn't read the previous books in the series.  I do believe this book still deserves 4 out of 5 stars. It would most likely get a 5 once I have read the other two books.

 

Of course there is a Give-A-Way and what a give-a-way it is with lots of goodies to have a chance at.  Be sure to enter in the form below or at the direct link listed below.

They are as follows:

Tour giveaway July 27- August 24
2 e-book (.pdf or .epub) bundles of trilogy Books 1 & 2
2 signed paperback copies of trilogy bundle Books 1 & 2 with bookmarks
2 e-book copies (.pdf or .epub) of Into the Mist
2 signed paperback copies of Into the Mist with bookmarks
4 $25 Amazon gift cards 
4 purse charms featuring book cover and story theme charms



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Well that is another edition put to bed. Until next time...
Toodles,
Tricia