Potpourri

It's Friday and it's Potpourri time with a little Journal Friday
and a book review thrown in.
This is the By The Sea page I've been working on from Pam's class.
I've added the words.

The words will be familiar to some of you *wise* folks.
I took the chorus from "By The Beautiful Sea" to journal.
(Words by Harold Atteridge in 1914)
In many ways I'm not happy with the page,
however, it makes me smile so not all is bad.

I finished reading The Celtic Riddle: An Archaeological Mystery by Lyn Hamilton. I have a good friend in California who I call my Saurian Sister. We both were book pages on AOL back when chat rooms were just getting started (Lzrd and Dragn) and we've stayed friends through the years. She sent me a box of books with other goodies for my birthday. This is one of the books she sent along with several more Archaeological Mysteries by Canadian, Lyn Hamilton.

Lara McClintoch is the co-owner of a Toronto antiques store. Her travels take her all over the world. In The Celtic Riddle, Lara accompanies her employee, Alex, to County Kerry, Ireland for the reading of an old friend's will. Eamon Byrne left each of his quarreling heirs a clue - a piece of a puzzle that would lead to a mysterious treasure - but the family would have to work together to find the treasure and that's not likely with this group! An ancient Celtic poem serves as the key. Lara and Alex are fascinated by the intricate riddle and come closer and closer to the secret. Murder and mayhem and long lost treasure. Sounds like the perfect summer read to me!

(Photo by Tommy LaVergne)

Lastly, a snapshot of Rice Owl third baseman Anthony Rendon in action.

He has been named the 2009 Collegiate Baseball National Freshman of the Year.
Owls are off to Baton Rouge to play LSU in the Super-Regionals.
Good luck OWLS!

Potpourri

It's Friday so it must be Potpourri Time.
I'm starting off with another journal page that I've done
following the process in the Visual Journalism 101 class I'm taking.
I do love the gesso resist.

I've added collage elements to both sides of the page.
Next step is to doodle and journal --
the two hardest parts for me.
I like what I've done so far.

For some reason I haven't been in the paint mood.
I'd rather be knitting or doing cross-stitch.
I've also noticed that my fingers are itching to work with fabric.
Maybe I should listen to my fingers???

I did get some reading done this last week.

I bought Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber at Sam's Club and took it with me to my dental appointment the same day. I read while waiting to have my teeth cleaned. When I got home, I read until I finished the book. This is the latest in Macomber's Blossom Street series. Quoting from the book flap, " Knitting is a lot like life ... dropped stitches and all!"
"Knitting and life. They're both about beginnings - and endings. That's why it makes sense for Lydia Goetz, owner of A Good Yarn on Seattle's Blossom Street, to offer a class called Knit to Quit. It's for people who want to quit something -- or someone! -- and start a new phase of their lives."

I enjoy the setting of a yarn store, although Macomber really doesn't spend much time there. These are nice, cozy romances. The good guys and gals come out winners and the bad guys and gals fade off into the sunset. Some nice, quiet brain candy. And, did I mention, Macomber always includes a knitting pattern?!



The Art Thief by Noah Charney is a book that Mr. Dragon found, read, and then passed it on to me saying "I think you'd enjoy this one. I did." Can't beat a recommendation like that! In The Art Thief, three thefts are simultaneously investigated in three cities, but these apparently isolated crimes have much more in common than anyone imagines. A dizzying array of forgeries, overpaintings, and double-crosses unfolds as the story races through auction houses, museums, and private galleries. My favorite character is a minor one in the novel, Professor Barrow. I’d love to take an art history course from him. I'm going to "borrow" some of his comments on my next tour!

Some people say a really good author writes about what they know. Charney certainly knows all about art and art theft. He is the founding director of the Association of Research into Crimes Against Art (ARCA), the first international think tank on art crime. He holds degrees in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art and Cambridge University, and he divides his time between New Haven, Connecticut; Cambridge, England; and Rome, Italy. The Art Thief is his first novel.

Potpourri

It's Friday, so it must be Potpourri Day!
I'll start off with the journal page -- visiting the sea
and using some of the techniques from Pam's class.

The fish stamp and the bubbles are my favorite things!

I just finished reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I bet most of you have already read this fine novel. It was in our bookcase and just happened to jump into my hand when I went looking for a new read. See! I can read something other than a mystery! If you haven't read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan yet, you must. I give it my highest recommendation -- five dragons!

"In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, or "old same", in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she has written a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on the fan and compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. They both endure the agony of footbinding and together reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart." (Taken directly from the back of the book ... I couldn't have said it any better!")

Look what Lori sent to me -- a beautiful skein of wool yarn with the instructions to make something wonderful for myself. I will, I promise! Lori was part of my Pay-It-Forward and the yarn was a thank you. No, thank you, Lori! Be sure you drop by and visit Lori at Pretty Things where you'll also find a link to her shop (beautiful jewelry).

Lastly, I would like to leave you with a Thought For The Day.

Potpourri

It's Friday so it must be Potpourri Time!
I'll start out with the latest journal page.
I call it prayer.
In many ways, very simple - no writing by me.

I finished Beautiful Ghosts by Eliot Pattison. This is the fourth novel in the series featuring disgraced Chinese Inspector Shan Tao Yun. I suppose mystery reviewers would call this a suspense thriller. Shan was sent to a work camp in Tibet for taking on corruption of his superiors - a very dangerous thing to do. Shan is released from the camp, but without papers of any kind, no status, official identity or the freedom to return to China. He lives with Tibetan lamas where he has learned about Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. In Beautiful Ghosts, a murder in a ruined monastery in Tibet and an art theft in Beijing are linked. The same officials who exiled Shan are asking for his help.

I love these books. Pattison brings alive the Tibetan people, their old way of life, their life under the Chinese, their hopes. It is heart breaking and hopeful at the same time. I had been saving Beautiful Ghosts to read. I don't want the series to end. I have one more tucked away.


Wormwood: A China Bayles Mystery by Susan Wittig Albert is the latest in this long running cozy mystery series. China is an ex-lawyer and an herbalist. In Wormwood, China has decided to assist her friend, Martha, with some herbal workshops in a historic Shaker village in Kentucky. It seems like a Garden of Eden, but is far from it. The restored modern version of the village is plagued with misfortune and strife - some of it sabotage. Martha, a member of the board and a relative of a Shaker who left the fold long ago, is hoping China can get to the bottom of it.

I do enjoy the China Bayles mysteries. I love the herbal lore. I'm always learning something new. In Wormwood, Albert has added lots of Shaker history. More things to learn! And, as in all good cozy mysteries, there are some delicious sounding recipes at the end. Also, at the end, lists of herbs for Shaker Gardens: A Medicinal Garden, Tea Garden and Culinary Garden.

The grand opening of the Arts of India Gallery is tonight.
YeeeeeHaaaaw!
Finally!
And I have to leave you with a little something I found on another blog.
(Did I make a note of where I found it? If I did, I can't find it! I apologize!)

Smile!
Joy to You!

Potpourri

It's Friday! Hope your week was busy, educational and fun!
Here's my journal page for the day.
Ms. Purrrrfect and Friend.
The question is:
Who is Ms Purrrrfect and who is the friend?!!

I love the words: curiosity is necessary to human nature, and especially
to you...
Also the words power and secret.
Wonder what message I was sending myself?
Whatever it is, I like it!
The kitty on the page is our Teddy and the lady can be seen at the
Seattle Museum of Art.

My gifts to Maria-Therese finally made their way out of customs.
The scarf arrived and you can see how it looks on the beautiful Maria-Therese
by visiting her here. Also, you can see the surprise that I included!

While I was reading blogs yesterday, catching up on visiting my
blogging buddies, I noticed that almost all of them had gone shopping.
Well, not to be outdone, I went to Michaels and bought some
more embroidery thread. You'd think by the looks of the picture above
that I had enough thread. NOPE. I needed three different shades of purple,
brown and yellow. I thought the thread made another nice shot
of color!

For those you who enjoy decorating blogs, antiques ...
Eddie Ross is having a give-away of berry spoons.
Click here if you are interested.
I love berries and I signed up!

One more thing: I mentioned the blog camp on the Blog of the Week post.
Here's a link to a separate blog devoted to Blog Camp!

Just a note about Blogoversaries: mine is in 27 days.
My birthday is several days before the anniversary.
I thought about 10 days before *B* day, I'd announce a give-a-way.
There will be three prizes: one for the 100th post (long ago),
one for the anniversary,
and one for my birthday.
Stay tuned!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Potpourri

Happy Friday everyone!

Today I have a journal page, cross stitch and a short review of a cozy mystery.

The journal page "Life is a Garden" was fun to do.
I cut and pasted, and cut and pasted, and cut and pasted, and .....
I stamped some, too - but didn't like it and tried to cover it over.
All in all, I like Ms. Flora in her garden.

Isn't this cute? Now I have to get it framed.
I have cross-stitch urge.
Good thing.
I have a huge tote bag full of counted cross stitch that needs to be done!

Lastly, I finished The Silver Needle Murder: A Tea Shop Mystery by Laura Childs. This was number nine in this cozy mystery series set in Charleston, South Carolina. I sometimes wonder why I have continued to read this series. The mystery is usually an easy one to figure out or one that comes to a completion in a moment and makes no sense. I decided I continue to read them because I like the setting and the characters. Theodosia Browning and the staff of the Indigo Tea Shop are "the cats pajamas" (thank you granny). Theodosia has a dog named Earl Grey who occasionally is in the spotlight; Drayton is a master tea blender; Haley the young baker extraordinaire; Delaine Dish owns the Cotton Duck Boutique; Detective Tidwell and Charleston is, well, Charleston!

In The Silver Needle Murder the Charleston Film Festival brings a busy week of catering jobs to the Indigo Tea Shop. The first job is for the opening night gala at the historic and newly renovated, Belvedere Theatre. The festival starts off with a bang when famous director Jordan Cole is shot on his way to the podium and the entire audience witnesses his death silhouetted across the scrim.

Theodosia is asked to stand in as a judge when two of them quit. She agrees and gets pulled into the investigation of the murder.

As in all good cozy mysteries, Theo finds out who done it by accident. She's in the wrong place at the right time. But the conclusion was a little abrupt and not well concluded. There are some nice recipes at the end and some suggestions for tea parties.

So, will I read another in the series? Yes! I love the characters and all the talk about one of my favorite subjects, TEA. I want to hear what new blend Drayton has come up with and what Haley's menu for the day is. Yum!

If you like cozy mysteries, these would be good summer reads (especially if you like TEA). Most of them are available in paperback at your local used book store.

Happy Friday!

Potpourri

Friday is Potpourri day.

I'm going to start with the latest journal page.
For some reason, my muse has taken a short vacation.
At least, I hope it is short!

I decided to use this journal page as a diary.
I went out and bought one of those *old-fashioned* date stamps.
I'm not sure you can see it in the photo, but I've date stamped each entry.

It was fun and I'm going to do another page similar to this.
I got a kick out of the background:
little gold, gold fish, giant angel fish swimming in the trees,
a pink palm tree on one side and a yellow palm tree on the other side.
All hard to see in the photo, but they are there.


It is almost time to announce the Edgar and the Agatha award winners.
I've posted the Agatha nominations previously.
Here are the Edgar nominees:

Best Novel:

Missing by Karin Alvtegen (Felony & Mayhem Press)
Blue Heaven by C.J. Box (St. Martin’s Minotaur)
Sins of the Assassin by Robert Ferrigno (Simon & Schuster - Scribner)
The Price of Blood by Declan Hughes (HarperCollins – William Morrow)
The Night Following by Morag Joss (Random House – Delacorte Press)
Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (Simon & Schuster)



Best First Novel By An American Author:

The Kind One by Tom Epperson (Five Star, div of Cengage)
Sweetsmoke by David Fuller (Hyperion)
The Foreigner by Francie Lin (Picador)
Calumet City by Charlie Newton (Simon & Schuster - Touchstone)
A Cure for Night by Justin Peacock (Random House - Doubleday)


Best Paperback Original:

The Prince of Bagram Prison by Alex Carr (Random House Trade)
Money Shot by Christa Faust (Hard Case Crime)
Enemy Combatant by Ed Gaffney (Random House - Dell)
China Lake by Meg Gardiner (New American Library – Obsidian Mysteries)
The Cold Spot by Tom Piccirilli (Random House - Bantam)

***

Among the Mad: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear. This is the sixth Maisie Dobbs novel and, I believe, the best yet. Even Mr. Dragon reads the adventures of Maisie. These are historical mysteries set after World War I in Britain. Mr. Dragon has always read histories about WWI and, along with the mother/son team Charles Todd, these are his favorite historical mysteries.

It's Christmas Eve 1931. Maisie Dobbs is on the way to see a client when a man commits suicide by detonating a bomb on a busy London street. The following day, the prime ministers office receives a letter threatening a loss of life if certain demands are not met and Maisie is mentioned in the letter by name. Maisie joins a Special Branch investigative team to try to avert disaster.

Miss Winspear does a wonderful job describing London between the wars. These books are another example of falling in love with the characters and wanting to find out how they are doing! While there is a story behind each novel, it is the characters and the history that carry the day. If you haven't read the Maisie Dobbs mysteries, I'd recommend starting at the beginning and reading them in order. You need Maisie's history to completely understand the nuances.

Potpourri

It's Friday so it must be Potpourri time! I'm going to start with the latest, finished, journal page I call TO DO. Everyday, I should do the following: Dance, light a candle, hum or sing a tune, have a cup of tea, listen to the birds, smell a flower and give someone a hug. Good thing Mr. Dragon likes hugs! Dancing came from a Tut note from the universe -- that I was to add *do a little dance* to my To Do list. There you go ... TO DO EVERY DAY!

Here's the TO DO page with its buddy, TAKE 5.

Pay attention. Listen. Take a few minutes for myself every day.

Things are moving at a little slower pace around here.
I finished one of my year long projects this last Thursday.
I decided it was time I sat down and started thinking about Pay It Forward.
Just what will I make for these two lovely ladies?
I asked Berry Chocolate Pie for her help.
She was more than willing!

Miss Pie and I looked in my yarn stash.
She loved this Homespun yarn by Lion Brand.
It's so cuddly and the color was certainly hers!

She helped me look through this pattern book for ideas.
We both are in a spring time mood.

Perhaps a scarf with flowers.
But which one?

This one?

Maybe this one?

Or a combination?

I ran across this pattern from Knit Picks while searching.
Three scarf patterns all knitted at once!

Oh, my. This looks like it is almost finished!

Miss Pie and I came up with some good ideas and some surprises
for Pay It Forward. I'm going to have some fun and
I think the ladies will have some fun, too.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Do a little DANCE!

Potpourri

Here's the Friday Journal Page. I think it says it all. Everyone needs to "Take Five" every now and then! I had a great time putting this page together and I finally used some napkins that Sharon sent to me back in December. Better late than never. The wrinkled feet are because my journal book is wrinkled. That's okay. I'm wrinkled, too!

Sharon is doing some videos now. You can find her on YouTube.
I did want to share this video from her blog on the use of napkins.
This is part one.

I'm getting ready for summer with lots of "brain candy". Abby Cooper: Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie falls under brain candy and fun. In the first book of the series, Abby's work as a psychic intuitive can be very rewarding but when a client winds up dead it seems that Abby may know too many details about the murder for her own good. She doesn't know if she can solve the case, but the killer thinks she can! This was a fast and fun read. There are at least five more in this series and Laurie has another "ghost busting" series. Between Miss Julia from last week and the Laurie books, I think I can stock up with some brain candy for summer!



A Lifetime of Peace: Essential Writings by and about Thich Nhat Hanh Edited by Jennifer Schwamm Willis is a whole different kind of brain candy. This is at least the fourth time I've read this book. I sit down and read a chapter ... put it down for awhile ... pick it up again ... read another chapter. You get the idea. I learn something every time I read it. I guess you could say it is one of my favorite books.

This book draws on dozens of sources to collect the very best writing by and about Thich Nhat Hanh. It is both a political and spiritual handbook which encompasses all of Thich Nhat Hanh's major themes—mindfulness, love, truth, compassion, and peace on earth. This collection not only presents Hanh's writing about his experiences during the Vietnam War and excerpts from his journals, but also subjects such as his advice for those entering into meditation practice and his unique insights into Buddhist and Christian theology. A Lifetime of Peace is an examination of the nature of peace—both as an inner state of being and as a real condition in the world.

Hope your Friday has been inspiring and beautiful and your
weekend is the same!

Potpourri

Okay. You readers out there. 'Fes up!

How many of you have read the Miss Julia books?

Why didn't you tell me about them? !!!

Miss Julia is quite a card.
I was wondering around Half Price Books looking for another book
when I spied the Miss Julia books.
For some reason my hand went out and grabbed the first in the series.
I figured it was a sign from the reading goddess.
I took it home and was entertained all the way through.
There are nine more for me to read.

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross is the first in the Miss Julia series. Miss Julia is recently widowed. She lives in a small Southern community. Shortly after her husband's death, she finds herself the center of attention -- not only for the wealth her husband has left her, but for the surprise that she found at her front door -- a youngster the mother says is her dead husband's child.

Perhaps it is because I'm *Southern* (well, Texan, but it's close to Southern), but the characters in this book really did remind me of people I know. It is Southern funny, witty, fast-paced, charming. There's a kidnapping, a robbery and some other "disgraceful events" in the story. I'm collecting the rest of the series. I think they'd be great for summer reading.

Here's a UTUBE I found about the author Ann B. Ross:

And a little something to make you smile!

Potpourri

I'm thinking that I should name Friday posts "potpourri". I seem to collect things during the week that I want to share and Friday would be a good time to do that.

Here's a quote I received from Big Happy Buddha in my email. Several of you are Pema Chodron fans (like me) and I thought you'd like it.

"When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it's bottomless, that it doesn't have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space."

Nice, huh?



Look! I did a journal page that didn't come out all green and blue! Pink, red, coral and a little green.


I was going through my bin of collage elements that I've been collecting and these popped into my hands. They will go on the pink journal page ... who knows where. I'll journal on favorite things (food, cooking) and memories.

***

I finished A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes From My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg last night. Some of us grow up never knowing what we want to do with our lives. Some of us never find that certain something that makes our heart sing. Molly found her calling early and sings.

I've been following Molly, her writing, her recipes, her life with her love, Brandon for some time now. I must have read about her blog while searching out information about Seattle. After all, Seattle is where THE grandson is, so anything Seattle is important! What I found was a blog called Orangette and Molly. The first time I posted was this morning when I told her I had finished her book and loved every minute. Molly is a freelance food writer. She got there in a round about way (degrees in human biology, French and cultural anthropology) and that's part of the story in A Homemade Life. I don't want to give anything away, but you'll find the kitchen and food at the center of the action. And the recipes ... yum! Like Butternut Soup with Pear, Cider and Vanilla Bean, or Slow Roasted Tomatoes with Coriander and Slow Roasted Tomato Pesto. How about Cider Glazed Salmon or Scottish Scones with Lemon and Ginger? No? Well, let's try Tomato Soup with two Fennels, Sliced Spring Salad with Avocado and Feta or Custard-Filled Corn Bread. I found out that Molly and I both love tomato soup (soul food) and Brandon and Mr. Dragon both have a thing for maple syrup. Way to go, Molly!

And finally, the universe called this morning by email (Tut.com) with this:

Excuse me, Snap, but I don't think I noticed, "do a little dance," on your "to-do list."

You do plan to dance today, don't you?

Get down,

The Universe

I mean, it is 2009 and all, Snap, but you're still a supercoolhappylovething, and that comes with certain responsibilities.

Happy Friday everyone. I'm off to do a little dance.