Five Random Things

It's Friday.

Sit back and relax.

I have some random, this and that, things for you.

Thank you, Nancy!

*

Since today is Good Friday and Easter is Sunday,

here is a reproduction vintage postcard celebrating the holiday.

No artist, publisher or date was listed.

Can you hear the music?!!!

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

**

Sometimes the kitties think simplest toys are the best.

Like an empty box.

In this case, it was a waded up piece of paper.

I think the sound got Cassie's attention.

I threw it across the room, Cassie fetched, and we had a game going that's lasted all week.

Of course, the other two had to get in on the act and two more pieces of paper gave their all in

two furious games of soccer for Teddy and Mina.

***

I mentioned that I finished a counted cross stitch project.

I couldn't share it with you as it was a birthday gift.

The gift has been delivered and here is the project all finished.

This is a kit I purchased from The Stitchery.

****

I'm taking part in the Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap.

This is my first postcard swap and the reason I liked it --

I could use photographs of art I had previously made.

Five postcards (goes well with 5 random things) could be made of one image or more.

I made five different postcards using 4 Index Card a Day images and one tea image.

Kat Sloma put the swap together and I should be seeing postcards in the mail by mid April.

I'll share as they come in.

Thank you Kat!

*****

I've started reading As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis Devoto

Food, Friendship and the Making of a Masterpiece edited by Joan Reardon.

What a lovely book and what lovely letter writing.

It really makes you think about the lost art of writing ... and writing letters.

I'm taking the letters a few at a time.

Wishing YOU well and much joy this holiday season.

Happy Spring!

Five Random Things

I have Five Random Things for you today.

Sit back and relax!

I've been stash busting.

All of this yarn was left from the Christmas afghans I made two years ago.

I like lapghans and thought there was enough to make one for me.

Not bad!

It's just simple granny squares.
It is a little lop-sided, but then so am I.
It fits nicely!
I finished it just in time -- the days are getting longer and warmer!

**

One of my favorite things to do when the weather cooperates

is to walk into my Village and have breakfast or lunch. 

I was leaving the restaurant with my ice tea to go in one hand and a book

in the other when a very handsome man in a three piece suit walked into the restaurant.

He was tall -- basketball player kind of tall.

I am short -- as in getting older every year, shrinking, now under five feet tall.

Mutt and Jeff.

I said "Good Morning".

He said "Good Morning".

And then he was opening the door for me.

I said "thank you very much".

And he said "you are welcome very much".

Wow.
(I could have opened the door using the *back end* method.)

Now, I'm no spring chicken and I'll tell you ladies --

I appreciated a very handsome man with good manners.

His Mama taught him well!

I was smiling the rest of the day.

And, my baseball Owls won their game that evening.

***

Maybe it was the luck of the Irish or perhaps the Easter Bunny made an early visit.

 I won the Martha White giveaway on a Semi Homemade Mom.

Mina had to supervise as I unpacked the goodies.

The blue Martha White tote bag held all these goodies.

There's a t-shirt, an apron, muffin cups, a cupcake timer, 6 packages of

Martha White cornbread mix, spatulas, wooden spoons, hot pads, grocery lists, recipe holders.

Martha White has recipes on their website. 

It's a good thing that I LOVE cornbread! 

****

Since St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner,

here is a vintage reproduction postcard for you.

Many thanks to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

*****

Lastly, I am reading

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

by Candice Millard.

It is not my usual kind of read -- it is not fluff!

I'm the first to say that my American history is not very good.

I remember very little of what I learned in school.

I knew Teddy Roosevelt was a president and some thing of a wild man.

This book is fascinating - a real look at his personality and an amazing tale of

exploration in the Amazon along the River of Doubt.

Candice Millard is an historian and a former writer and editor for National Geographic.

She's made the whole adventure come to life. 

I am half way through the book and had to take a break and come up for air! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy! 

This and That

It's Friday and the sun is shining!

YeeHaw!

After a week of dark, dreary, cold (for us) days it is nice to see the sun.

So, what am I going to do today to celebrate the sun?

I'm going to sneak a quick walk into the village and perhaps have some ice cream!

I'm working on a baby blanket. It's a little different in that the edge is made first

(the granny squares) and then the body is crocheted (easy, peasy chain and single crochet).

I like the pattern and think it would be a good stash buster lapghan.

I've started reading Prayer of the Dragon by Eliot Patison.

This series set in Tibet is one of my favorites.

I've been saving two books in the series waiting (and hoping) for another in the series.

YES!

There is another! 

I've been looking around the house (closet searching)

for decorations for Valentine's Day. 

The snowmen from Christmas are still out.

It is still winter!

But, I did come across my "Box of Kisses" published by Chronicle.

40 reproduction vintage postcards that are perfect for Valentine's Day.

He looks like a very happy fellow!

I love the fashions on these cards.

Look at the gloves and beaded bag!

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing you well, much joy and a little sunshine!

This And That

We are half way through Autumn.

Hard to believe when I live with temps in the high 80s!

I looked for a postcard that celebrates Autumn and this is what I found.

Gorgeous!

Postcard of Beaulieu Vineyard, 

Entrance to Historic Vineyards "BV1" and BV2", Napa County. 

From WINE COUNTRY:30 Postcards published by Chronicle Books

***

Let me ask you a question.

Do you soak your lentils?

Last weekend the first true cool down arrived and I made lentil soup.

I wanted to make something a little different and pulled out 

VEGETABLE SOUPS: From Deborah Madison's Kitchen.

Deborah soaks her lentils.

She says "they cook better, more quickly, and seem to have more flavor when soaked".

So, I soaked my lentils for 2 hours (Deborah's suggested time).

Here's the recipe I used - a good one for Meatless Monday!

A RUSTIC LENTIL SOUP WITH SPINACH

All greens are good with lentils, and I (Deborah Madison) especially like to add them to a soup that's going to be a meal. That way you get all your good foods together in one bowl. 

1 1/2 cups brown or mixed lentils, soaked if possible

2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil 

1 large onion, finely diced (I used a red onion)

1 carrot, grated or finely diced (I like my soups chunky and I love carrots. I put in two carrots chopped.)

1 red bell pepper, roasted, peeled, and chopped or 1 bottled roasted pepper, chopped 

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon prepared mustard

1/2 cup dry red wine

1 bay leaf

6 to 8 cups water, vegetable stock, or chicken stock.

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Hefty bunch of spinach, stems removed, leaves washed and chopped

Chopped mint or parsley for garnish

Red wine vinegar to taste

1. If you haven't soaked then, cover the lentils with hot water and set them aside while you start the rest of the soup.

2. Warm the oil in a wide soup pot. Add the onion, carrot, red pepper, and parsley. Cook over medium heat, stirring now and then, until the onion is softened and starting to color, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, then stir in the tomato paste and mustard, working both into the vegetables and cooking until there is a film on the bottom of the pot. Pour in the wine, scrape up the pan juices, then simmer until partially reduced after a few minutes. Drain the lentils and add them to the pot with the bay leaf and water, using the larger amount if the lentils were soaked only briefly, Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan, and cook for 30 minutes. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and continue cooking until the lentils are soft, another 10 to 20 minutes. Taste for salt and season with pepper.

3. Add the spinach to the soup and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Taste the soup and add the mint and a little vinegar to sharpen the flavors.

This makes a LOT!

***

It's supposed to rain this weekend.
That is good.
Musashi's Garden needs the rain.

I'm planning on reading.
I've been saving THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
by Louise Penny for several months now -- just waiting for the right moment to visit
with Inspector Gamache.
This is the weekend!
A cup of tea, a kitty (or three) curled up next to me and a good book.

And when I'm not reading I'm going to do this:

Many thanks to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

Light and love to her and to her family.

I'm also joining On The Menu Monday.

Remember to pray for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Wishing you well, much joy and a fun filled weekend!

This And That

It's very early in the morning and already it is HOT.

It's September for goodness sakes!

One of those BER months that is supposed to mean

NOT SO HOT! 

The weather people have promised a cool front this weekend which means

highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s.

If i get the 60s, I'm walking into the village and having crepes for breakfast!

***

So, what did you do during your August break?

I had a list of things I wanted to do and I didn't get to them.

Several CALs (Crochet A Longs) I wanted to start, but didn't.

BUT

I did read and found I had a theme going in my reading --

FRANCE!

I started off by reading a charming little book titled

JULIA'S CATS: Julia Child's Life in The Company of Cats.

After hearing Martin Walker on NPR, I decided to try one of his mysteries

BRUNO CHIEF OF POLICE 

which led to reading

THE DARK VINEYARD

and purchasing two more!

THE TENTH MUSE is the biography of Judith Jones starting with her life in France

and of course, including Julia Child.

Have you visited with Vivian Swift?

She has a wonderful blog.

She writes books about her travels (or not traveling) and includes her wonderful illustrations.

LE ROAD TRIP is her Journal of France.

That was my unplanned month with France!

***

I had a cataract removed from my right eye this week.

I now have 20/15 vision in that eye.

What is amazing is how clear and bright everything looks.

Having a cataract turns your world brown -- literally.

Guess I don't need to boost the color in my photographs anymore!!! 

The left eye has a date in the future with a new lens.

Wishing you WEll, much JOY and a FUN filled weekend!

This and That

It's Friday and It's Becoming a Habit: This and That Day!

Today it is hot and humid and cloudy.

Amazing how much cooler I feel when I look into the garden and see and hear the fountain.

I cut the white roses this morning.

 They are the very first blooms from one of the new roses that I planted this year.

This rose is called Chardonnay and is a hybrid tea.

The scent of this rose is a real delight. 

The hand full of green beans came from my balcony garden and I'll put them into my salad.

Delish!

The strange looking hook/needle looking thing is a Tunisian Crochet Hook.

I'm taking a class on-line at Craftsy to learn more. 

Now that my special tours are over at the MFAH, I have time to go to  class! 

The Rice Owl baseball team has three games at home against our cross town rival the Cougars of the University of Houston. In between baseball games I plan on reading the next book in the Haunted Bookshop Mystery Series: The Ghost and the Femme Fatale.

Are you old enough to remember the wonderful black and white film The Ghost and Mrs Muir?

You might enjoy this cozy mystery series if you do!

***

It is Friday and that means Postcard Day.

The first card is a vintage linen look card of the Buccaneer Hotel on the Seawall on Galveston Island.

When I lived on the Island, the hotel was still there, but was retirement facility.

Alas, the Buccaneer is no more. It was demolished to build a better facility.

The back of the card does have a message, but it is written in pencil and badly smeared.

There is a 1937 postmark and the stamp has been removed.

The second card also from Galveston Island is a modern one.

From the back of the card:

"On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike roared ashore on Galveston Island bringing a massive saltwater storm surge that killed thousands of trees, including many of Galveston's stately 100 year-old oaks that had been planted after the Great Hurricane of 1900. Many of the trees have been carved into whimsical sculptures." My favorite is the dog and the water hydrant!

A big thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

This and That

It is way too HOT.
In the words of one our local news broadcasters:
"and we haven't gotten to Ughust yet!"


***

I wanted to finish my little crochet owl.

The pattern is in the Summer 2011 issue of Interweave Crochet.

It never crossed my mind that I would have problems finding

sew on animal eyes for his face.

I can find the stick on kind, but I want the sew ons.

My sista is looking in her part of the world. 

If all else fails, I'll hit the button box and come up with something.

Meanwhile, I've pinned on the face.

You can change the owls attitude by placing the face

high or low.

Fun!

And, the blue owl is for the Rice University Owls (blue and gray)!

This is a great way to use up your stash.

I can make a whole parliament of owls! 

***

Many of you have asked about Cassie.

She went to see the vet again.

This time for her annual exam and shots.

She's doing very well.

Her hip and knee problems seem to be genetic.

As long as she has no pain and the problems don't become chronic,

we will leave well enough alone

(especially while she is still growing).

She is pretty much back to running, jumping and playing with Teddy 

with no problems.

She was on my shoulder this morning, purring and loving. 

(In the picture above, the baby sock is stuffed with cat nip, her favorite toy.)

***

   

Dr. Siri Paiboun is the 73 year old national coroner of Laos. He is off to the north to attend a communist meeting, something he is definitely not looking forward to. While there, he is kidnapped by Hmong women who believe he is Yeh Ming, the 1000 year old shaman who is supposed to inhabit Siri's body. Meanwhile, back in Vientiane at the morgue, Nurse Dtui discovers that a body delivered for autopsy has been booby trapped. Curse of the Pogo Stick is different from the previous novels in the series as Dr. Paiboun and his staff are separated, with two different mysteries going on. 

Curse of the Pogo Stick (and yes, there is a pogo stick in the story) by Colin Cotterill is the fifth novel in this mystery series set in the late 1970's in Laos. It is one of my favorite mystery series. I was hooked from the beginning by Dr. Paiboun. Laos is an exotic location. There are endearing and quirky characters including Dr. Paiboun, Nurse Dtui, Madame Daeng, and many others including a transvestite fortune teller. There is plenty of political satire, otherworldly phenomena and most importantly, Cotterill shows a deep understanding of the Laotian and Hmong cultures. I finished this book in two days. I enjoyed every minute. Please start with the first book in the series, The Coroner's Lunch, and read them in order. I'm an out of order reader, but even I read this series in order!!!!!

***

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week.

This and That

I feel like a This and That Day!

I thought I'd start with a knitting project that I've almost finished.

Pretty colorway -- Bernat Mosaic Ambrosia.

I needed to knit 12 fans.

I put them together to make the scarf.

I enjoyed this pattern. 

Knit one fan a day and two weeks later .. a scarf!

(I still need to weave the ends.)

Teddy had to help me photograph the finished project.

It takes 3 skeins of the Bernat Mosaic.

I ordered the kit (from Mary Maxim I think) and received the 

Bernat Mosaic booklet with 10 knit and crochet patterns.

This is an acrylic yarn that feels much like cotton!

***

Sappy and homespun, Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani was my perfect summer read. Set in the real place of Big Stone Gap, Virginia we meet Ave Maria Mulligan. She is 35 years old, a pharmacist, a member of the rescue squad, and calls herself a spinster. The highlight of her week is the arrival of the bookmobile. (Remember bookmobiles? I do and just knew I'd like this book because Ave likes bookmobiles, too!). Ave's favorite book is about the ancient art of Chinese face reading.  A surprise, family secret sends Ave Maria on a quest. There are the requisite Southern quirky characters: "sexpert" Iva Lou who runs the bookmobile and crusty, chain-smoking Fleeta. I was delighted when I found out there are three more in the series! 

***

I started ICAD (Index Card A Day) on July 1 ... one month behind everyone else.

Here are my three newest ICAD's.

It's been fun to see my work pop up on Tammy's blog as she reviews the latest ICAD's of the group. 

Wishing YOU well and a  joy filled week! 

Yarn Along!

It's been awhile since I've joined Ginny at Small Things for her Yarn Along.

She believes folks who knit and crochet love to read and I agree!

This is the Bear Blanket Buddy I finished yesterday.

The little blanket and all the bear pieces are knit.

Mary Maxim has a kit for several different Blanket Buddies.  

He even has a tail!

My Grand God Son is due any day.

This little bear and a crochet blanket will be on their way soon. 

I finished HEARTSTONE the fifth book in the Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery series by C. J. Sansom. I love historical mysteries and this has to be one of the best series I've read. The detail in each book is amazing. You are in Tudor England while you are reading.

In HEARTSTONE it is the summer of 1545 and England is at war. Henry VIII's invasion of France has gone wrong and a massive French fleet is preparing to sail across the Channel. Matthew is given a case by an old servant of Queen Catherine Parr which deals with the corrupt Court of Wards. Matthew and his assistant, Barak, travel to Portsmouth (where the French and English fleets are massing) to look into the case. While they are there, Matthew plans on looking into the mysterious background of Ellen Fettiplace, a young woman incarcerated in the Bedlam hospital for the insane that he has befriended. Somehow, someway, Sansom weaves all of this together (in 600+ pages).

The other book I finished is THIS IS GETTING OLD: Zen Thoughts on Aging with Humor and Dignity by Susan Moon. Susan is a writer and longtime Zen Buddhist who teaches popular writing workshops. This book is a collection of essays on the "sometimes confusing, sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious condition of being a woman over sixty." With chapter titles like "Where Did I Put My Begging Bowl" (those senior moments), "Leaving the Lotus Position" (joints that refuse to work), "The Tomboy Returns" (return to childhood), "Tea with God", "Alone with Everyone" (something I'm going through now after the death of Mr. Dragon), I really did think this would be the book for me. I was disappointed. I'm not sure what I expected, but I didn't get it ... then again ... maybe I did and I just haven't realized it yet!!!!! (I tried to upload a picture of the cover of the book and Poor Blogger ... it wouldn't let me.)

To see what fellow *yarners* are reading and working on,

visit Ginny at Small Things.

Wishing YOU well and a lovely day. 

Teacup Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday is hosted each week by Martha and Teri.

Be sure you visit to see all the teacups on parade!

I'm going to do something a little different this week.

I have quite a collection of books, including cook books and books on tea.

Culinary history is an interest of mine and developed while I was a docent at the museum.

I did a food and feasting tour for a local community college once a year and I loved it.

Of course, I needed books to do my own research!

Today I'd like to share a lovely little book on green tea: The Green Tea User's Manual by Helen Gustafson.

Helen Gustafson is the tea sommelier for Chez Panisse so she knows her stuff.

This delightful little book covers sixteen of the most popular types of green tea.

She includes interesting anecdotes, quotations, and bits of tea lore and recipes.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS DERIVED FROM TEA

A nice old cup of tea (British): A sweet person.

Chali (Chinese): A tea gift given to a woman upon her engagement.

He has no tea in him (Japanese): Said of a person with little life in him.

Hock nit kein Chainik (Yiddish): Literally means, "Don't bang a teakettle." Don't make such a big fuss. Don't bother me.

Let the tea steep (German): Forget about it.

Na Chai (Russian): Literally, "For the tea." The tip one leaves in a restaurant.

Not for all the tea in China: Not at any price.

Not my cup of tea: It isn't anything I like.

Teetotal: To abstain from intoxicating drinks.

Tempest in a teapot: Much ado about nothing.

That's another cup of tea (British): Another angle on a story.

What's that got to do with the price of tea?: Why is that important?

Gustafson is also the author of The Agony of the Leaves: The Ecstasy of My Life with Tea.

I haven't read it yet, but I will!

(Image from Art and Tea by Karen Park Buddha's Palm Oolong Tea)

Lastly, I'd like to share a blog with you that I've been following since I first started in the blogging world: Art and Tea. Karen Park knits, makes jewelry, enjoys mixed media, and works for the Upton Tea Company, one of the tea companies that Gustafson recommends. Karen shares a cup of tea with her readers on Saturday. She describes the tea, tells how the tea is brewed, shares the history of the tea. Please drop by and visit with Karen and learn more about the world of tea.

Happy Tea Tuesday!

Wishing all of you well.

Reading

The Open Road: The Global Journey of the XIVth Dalai Lama by Pico Iyer



I don't know where to start! I mentioned several times to Mr. Dragon that I never write in books ... just one of my *laws*, but I sure wanted to write in this one. Finally, after hearing me say this daily, Mr. D looked at me and said "write in the book"!!! So I did. There is just so much in it that I want to remember and look at again. Pico Iyer in this book "tried to be a general reader speaking to other general readers, and bringing little more than the curiosity and interest of a journalist who has never practiced Buddhism and knows little about it but is intrigued to see how it might expand the thinking of anyone, Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike." He looks at the paradoxes of the Dalai Lama's position -- religious leader, monk and the head of state of a government in exile. He looks at the Dalai Lama's work and ideas as a politician, scientist, philosopher and the idea of globalism. There's just to much to talk about and review. One of the delights of this book comes at the end under the section READING ... book after book on Tibet, Buddhism, the life of the Dalai Lama ... a lifetime of reading. Iyer first met the Dalai Lama through his father some 30 years ago and has published five books on modern globalism.

They Keep Me Company ....

They all keep me company. They've been especially helpful during the last few months, when Mr. Dragon was first diagnosed, through his chemotherapy and radiation, through his surgery. All the long days of sitting and waiting.

Some were old friends like Miss Julia (Ann B. Ross author). Miss Julia on a motorcycle is something I'll not soon forget! Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett -- the street of my dreams -- a street devoted to books and (wait for it) .... FOOD! Or going on an adventure with Lyn Hamilton to find the Orkney Scroll (one of the last mysteries she wrote before her death). Knitting and crocheting with the gang at Lambspun in beautiful Colorado - thank you Maggie Sefton.

I made a few new friends like C. J. Samson and his historical mysteries with Matthew Shardlake. I'm in the middle of the third in the series and am still entranced by the time period (Henry VIII) and the wonderful writing. (Do any of you watch the Tudors on television? The new season is about to start. But that's a whole other post!)

Another new friend, Henning Mankell. I really like Inspector Wallendar. Thanks to a blogging buddy for the introduction. Mr. Dragon and I are both hooked! And, along came a baseball friend delivering some odds and ends like Brian Haig and Secret Sanction. Mr. Dragon is the military/spy guy, but we both enjoyed Secret Sanction so much, we will put Mr. Haig on our list.

That's a very short introduction to some of my friends -- old and new. I have my ever present cup or glass of tea and the pink scarf in the background is knitted. No pattern ... just fun yarns ... an experiment. I'll add some beads to the tail when it is done.

Reading For Pleasure

Now I ask you. How could I resist sharing this email from the Daily OM about one of my favorite subjects -- Reading For Pleasure? I've even included a couple of reviews at the end!


February 22, 2010
Reading For Pleasure
A Whole New World When reading we remove ourselves from the confines of reality to immerse ourselves in the intrigue of the unfamiliar.

Every book has the potential to touch the human soul deeply, arousing patterns of thought that might otherwise have lain dormant. The pleasure we derive from the written word is unique in that we must labor for it. Other forms of art provide us with stimulus and ask nothing more than our emotional response. Reading is an active pastime that requires an investment of emotion as well as our concentration and imagination. The words we read are merely a starting point for a process that takes place largely within our minds and hearts.

There are few activities as comforting, relaxing, and healthy as perusing the pages of a good piece of fiction or nonfiction. Curling up with a book and a cup of tea is one of the simplest ways we can remove ourselves from the confines of reality in order to immerse ourselves in the drama and intrigue of the unfamiliar. The pleasure of transcending reality is only one aspect of the reading experience, however. Each time we read for enjoyment, whether we prefer the fantastic nature of fiction, the empathy awakened within us by memoir, or the instructive passion of nonfiction, we create entire landscapes in our mind’s eye. The books we choose provide us with the inspiration we need to accomplish such a feat, but it is our own creative reserves that empower us to use our imaginations for this unique and beautiful purpose.

The tales you lose yourself in can lead you on paths of discovery that take you out of your own life and help you see that existence can unfold in an infinite number of ways. You can learn so much from the characters and mentors who guide you from page to page. Your emotions are awakened each time you read, allowing you to become vessels of the passion that pours forth from line after line of print. Ultimately, the books you absorb—those that touch you deeply—will become a part of who you are, providing you with a rich and thrilling world within that you can revisit anytime you wish by simply closing your eyes. If you haven’t read a book for pleasure lately, try and allow yourself the time—you deserve it.

A couple of reviews for you from my Goodreads list. The first a non-fiction book and the second a cozy mystery. There's a book out there, somewhere for you -- no matter what your interests. Go for it!

Play by Play: Baseball, Radio and Life in the Last Chance League by Neal Conan



Most of you know how crazy we are about college baseball. We've just recently started reading baseball books. Play by Play was one we found at Half-Price Books. It is about Neal Conan (of NPR and Talk of the Nation fame) and the year he took off from NPR to follow his dream of being a baseball play-by-play announcer.

From the book jacket: " Following nearly twenty-five years as a prominent voice at National Public Radio, after being shelled, rocketed, bombed and held captive in the desert as one of their top foreign correspondents, Neal Conan decided to pursue a lifelong dream -- to become, of all things, a baseball announcer. And, that's what he did, specifically with the Aberdeen Arsenal, a franchise of the independent Atlantic League. Not the majors, alas, but it afforded him a rue opportunity to use the surge of conflicting emotions that we refer to as midlife crisis to rethink what he'd done and what he was doing. It also allowed Neal to marry his two lifelong passions - radio and baseball - and gave him the chance to return to the grassroots of each. He decided to put the fun and challenge back into things he had become bored with."

Lot's of fun baseball trivia in Play by Play. For instance: " One of Tyrone Horne's bats is in Cooperstown. In 1998 Tyrone did something unprecedented: he homered for the cycle. Hitting for the cycle is unusual, once a year or so, somebody will get a single,double, triple and home run in the same game. Four homers in a game is much rarer, and, so far as anyone knows, Tyrone is the only professional ballplayer every to hit a solo shot, a two-run job, a three-run homer and a grand slam in the same game." Conan shares other stories throughout the book.

If you are baseball fan or a fan of Conan's from NPR, I believe you'll enjoy this book.


Dropped Dead Stitch by Maggie Sefton



Kelly's friend Jennifer is a top notch knitter and a bit of a party girl. But she's always stayed one step ahead of trouble, until the night a stranger follows her home. As Jennifer recovers from the dangerous encounter, she looks to Kelly and their other close-knit friends for comfort and support. A retreat in the mountains, stitching and talking seems to be just what the doctor ordered. Surprise! The owner of the ranch turns out to be Jennifer's attacker and when he ends up dead - Jennifer is at the top of the suspect list.

All the usual characters return in this cozy mystery. Sefton gets 5 stars for the banter between the characters in this novel. She gets two stars for the story itself and the way it was written. I haven't quite put my finger on it, but I didn't think this one was written as well as the previous novels in the series. Perhaps Sefton has reached the *too many books in the series* itis! I enjoy visiting with the characters and love the knitting/weaving/crochet shop - Lambspun.

Why Did It Take Me So Long?

Why did it take me so long to finally read a mystery by Peter Lovesey? I keep shaking my head wondering! Now that I've finally picked up a couple to read, I'm hooked. It's a good thing I don't mind reading out of order! I have lots of good reading ahead of me.



The first one that I tried was The Secret Hangman: An Inspector Peter Diamond Investigation by Peter Lovesey. I started reading and I didn't want to put it down. It flew. Well written. Charming characters. Wonderful editing. Good story. Lots of red herrings. Wit. Plot twists that will please the most picky mystery reader. Suspense.

Condensed from the book flap: "Peter Diamond is being pursued by a secret admirer even as he pursues a serial killer. First, Delia Williams, a waitress with two young daughters, is reported missing by her mother. She is found dead in a park, hanging from the crossbar of a swing set. Looks like a suicide, but it isn't. Other deaths by hanging follow with Mrs. William's ex-husband among the victims. The search for the secret hangman begins."



The second Lovesey that I read was The Circle: An Inspector Henrietta Mallin Investigation (with a cameo appearance by Peter Diamond). This one had a different feel to it -- wittier, laid back, but with three murders by fire.

Condensed from the book flap: "The members of the literary circle come from all walks of life and practice many forms of writing, from fantasy to torrid romance to household hints. Yet there sems to be nothing about any of them to incite a serial killer. But it becomes clear that there is an arsonist in their midst who is determined to burn his victims to death. Detective Chief Inspector Hen (Henrietta) Mallin is in charge of the investigation of the Chichester murders by fire."

Getting to know the members of the literary circle is key to solving the crimes. This is an old-fashioned whodunit written with style and deviousness. More red herrings, plot twists, digs at writers of the unpublishable and at publishers. Black humor. Another good one.



And, finally, Literary Feasts: Inspired Eating from Classic Fiction by Sean Brand. This is a delightful little book that I think readers and food lovers would enjoy.

From the flap: "While Leopold Bloom fortified himself for his rambles through Dublin with a hearty breakfast of grilled kidneys with pepper, thinly sliced bread and butter, and a large pot of tea, James Bond started his days off with a half pint of chilled OJ, three scrambled eggs, two cups of black coffee, and a pack of Chesterfields. The lucky revelers invited to Jay Gatsby's mansion feasted on baked hams, pastry pigs,and turkeys bewitched to dark gold, all washed down with champagne served in glasses the size of finger bowls. And of course P.G. Wodehouse made sure that Bertie Wooster always dined in style."

The book is divided into Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, Dinner, Eating Outdoors, Children's Meals, and Special Occasions with visits to literary treats like Dickens, Fielding, Melville, Shakespeare, Austen, Twain, Fitzgerald and others. This is when cooks really cooked. No prepared, in the box foods here!

Happy Reading!

From One Extreme to Another

From one extreme to another -- a book I really enjoyed and a series mystery I won't read again. So where to start? How about with the one series I'm finished with?

I enjoy brain candy - cozy mysteries written around subjects I'm interested in like needlework. I hadn't read a Monica Ferris mystery in awhile (having forgotten why I gave them up once before). When I saw Thai Die, I was intrigued -- by the cover and the subject -- Thailand. This is number 12 in the needlework series by Ferris and that is probably the problem. By the time you get to number 12 there just isn't anything new. The characters that I enjoyed in the past were even blah. The editing was horrible and I just plain didn't enjoy this read that took me one day. At least, I spent only one day.

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Now Dark Fire: A Matthew Shardlake Mystery by C.J. Sansom is a completely different matter. This historical mystery, set in 1540 was superb, beautiful prose, excellent editing (nothing jumped out at me), an interesting story with interesting characters. YeeeeeeHaaaaaw! A real winner. So good, in fact, that I ordered the others in the series. Mr. Dragon enjoyed it so much, he is currently reading Sansom's stand alone about Spain.

From the back cover: "In 1540 Henry VIII has been on the throne for thirty-one years. Lawyer Matthew Shardlake has been called to help a young girl accused of murder who refuses to speak in her own defense even when threatened with torture. On the verge of losing his case, Shardlake is suddenly granted a reprieve. His benefactor is Thomas Cromwell, the kings' feared vicar general, who offers him two more weeks to investigate further. In exchange, Shardlake must find a lost cache of "Dark Fire", an ancient weapon of mass destruction. What ensues is a page-turning adventure filled with period detail and wonderful characters."

This book won the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award for good reason!

Genteel Your Cup of Tea?

Is genteel your cup of tea? Then you'd probably enjoy novels by Georgette Heyer. Heyer wrote over fifty novels, including Regency romances, mysteries and historical fiction. She was known as the Queen of Regency romance, and was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. She also had a wry and well-developed sense of humor. Her books are being reissued.

Spending so much time at M. D. Anderson, we are getting a lot of reading done. The Talisman Ring was the first Heyer that I read. "When spirited Eustacie stumbles into a band of smugglers, she is delighted to be having an adventure at last. Their leader, young heir Ludovic Lavenham, is in hiding falsely accused of murder. Pursued by the law, Eustacie and Ludovic find refuge at an unassuming country inn. And the delightfully sensible couple who try to keep them out of trouble -- the resourceful Miss Sarah Thane and the clear-thinking Sir Tristram Shield, gamely endeavor to prevent Ludovic's arrest and Eustacie's ruin as the four conspire to recover the missing talisman ring that will clear Ludovic's name."

Totally entertaining in a very *old-fashioned* way -- "a story in the manner of Jane Austen, of domestic comedy and love affairs."

Why Shoot a Butler is one of Heyer's detective novels. Her barrister husband, Ronald Rougier, provided many of the plots for her detective novels, which are classic English country-house mysteries reminiscent of Agatha Christie. "On a dark night, along a lonely country road, barrister Frank Amberley stops to help a young lady in distress and discovers a sports car with a corpse behind the wheel. The girl protests her innocence, and Amberley believes her - at least until he gets drawn into the mystery and the clues incriminating Shirley Brown begin to add up."

"In an English country-house murder mystery with a twist, it's the butler who's the victim, every clue complicates the puzzle, and the bumbling police are well-meaning but completely baffled. Fortunately in ferreting out a desperate killer, amateur sleuth Amberley is as brilliant as he is arrogant, but this time he's not sure he wants to know the truth."

I read 108 pages of Why Shoot a Butler and wondered why I was continuing to read. And then, suddenly, on page 109 -- the book took off and was a race to the end. I guess it just took 108 pages to get all the characters and background in place!

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I have a couple of Blog Shout Outs for you. First, visit with Calamity Kim. She is celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas with a crafty pattern a day. Fun! I also found, thanks to Calamity Kim, Freebies for Crafters -- a blog full of free craft patterns and blog links. That should keep you crafters busy for awhile!

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A big THANK YOU to all of you who are sending good thoughts, prayers, vibes, juju et al, to Mr. Dragon. We spend every day at M. D. Anderson, some days much longer than others, and I'm happy to report that he is handling his chemo and radiation very well. Thank you for your emails, telephone calls. Know we appreciate all of you. I don't have much computer time (or crafty time) right now, but try to at least check in with all of you and read what you are up to. I may not comment, but I've been by to visit. Keep blogging. I love visiting! It is fun therapy for me!

Who Says A Dollar Isn't Worth Much?

Who says a dollar isn't worth much? I picked up The Yoga Teacher by Alexandra Gray at Half-Price books for one dollar. It is filled with quirky characters, was the right price and I loved the cover!

"Dissatisfied with her job as a pharmaceutical rep and struggling with the decline of her long-term relationship, Grace, a well-heeled Londoner, uses yoga class to unwind, reflect, and momentarily transcend her earthly dilemmas. While pitching her company’s latest antidepressant to the disarming Dr. James, she is inspired by his plan to study Eastern medicine in Vietnam and decides to quit her job to become a yoga teacher.

After studying at the eccentric White Lotus Foundation in California, Grace returns to London, ready for her new life. But nothing could have prepared her for the motley crew of students she amasses--from the octogenarian industrialist desperate for distraction, the supermodel who indulges yogic aspirations when she tires of kabbalah, to the American film star who uses yoga classes to conceal a scandalous affair. Overwhelmed, Grace soon finds herself relying on her bi-continental correspondence with Dr. James for solace and inspiration, his words hovering above her London life like a sweet promise.

With an eye for the absurdity in every encounter, Alexandra Gray gently skewers our society’s preference for a quick-fix nirvana in this chronicle of one woman’s quest for love and meaning in a world numbed by materialism and psychotropic drugs."

Each chapter starts with a picture and written description of a yoga pose. It is a tale of starting over. Funny. Honest. And the price was more than right!