Whatcha Reading February 26, 2013

I’ve been bouncing from reading to quilting and back again this past week.  It may have something to do with the foot of snow we received last week.  Judy’s Tuesday challenge has pushed me to keep track of my reading a little better than I  have in the past.

I finished up An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon after posting last week — but that didn’t take much — I probably only had 20 pages to read.  But it did leave me wanting to read the next installment and wondering why I thought I knew things that clearly were not mentioned in the book.  But for now I will wait and find other books to read.

I followed up Echo with Jennifer Chiaverini’s Sonoma Rose.  I don’t know if it was the abrupt change in writing style as I moved from one author to the next, or if it was something about this story, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I have Jennifer’s other books.  I have two more of Jennifer’s book on my bookshelf waiting to be read.

The next book up was The Black Lyon by Jude Deverdux.  This one I read on my Kindle.  I think this was one of her first books.  I have copies of nearly all of her books, but don’t think I’ve read this one – or if I have it’s been 20 year ago.  I had a bit of trouble getting started – but once I got past the first bit of the story I enjoyed it.

The Seduction of Elliot McBride by Jennifer Ashley is set in Scotland in 1884.  The heroine has been left at the altar.  While her matron of honor’s husband is out looking for the missing groom, the bride-to-be tries to console herself in the small chapel where she inadvertently sits on the matron of honor’s brother who is asleep on the pew.  The wedding proceeds with a substitute groom and the rest of the story is how the couple works together to over come this unlikely beginning.  

Lightning Only Strikes Twice by Stanalei Fletcheris a time travel book that I read on my Kindle.  Annie has just sold the old ghost town she inherited to pay off her grandfather’s debts.  Luke, the president of the development company which bought the property, is letting her walk around the property one more time when the two of them are thrown back in time to when the town was prosperous.  The town thinks the two of them are courting as they do their best to get back to their own time.

The last book I read is The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter.  A recently widowed Amish woman decides to give quilting lessons and her first class consists of three men and three women who all have problems at home.  Meeting each week in addition to the wall hanging they are making, they are making friends and working on their problems.

Who knows what I’ll read next, but first I need to make something with cinnamon.  My husband found a recipe for me and I think I’ll give it a whirl for dinner tonight.  That is if we still have power.  Snow Part II hit over night.

Don’t forget to check out what others are reading by following the links over at Patchwork Times.

Whatcha Reading? February 19, 2013

Since I last reported, I have finished both The Fiery Cross and A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and I’m nearly finished with  An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon.  The next book will be Jennifer Chiaverini’s Sonoma Rose.  It’s due back at the library Saturday!

I’m linking up to Patchwork Times.

Whatcha Reading? February 5, 2013

Judy is hosting a link for what we are reading.  As much as I love to read — have since I was a little girl — I have to say I’m reading too much.  I know this because I’m not quilting!  I really need find some good books on CD.  It’s not as good as reading, but at least I can quilt.

Four or five years ago a friend told me about Diana Gabaldon’s books.  I started listening to them on CDs.  Sometimes it would take months for my name to come up on the list to get the next volume.  I guess it’s been 2 years since I finished listening to An Echo in the Bone.  Talk about a cliff hanger.  I can’t wait for her next book to come out Written in my Own Hearts Blood.

A few months back I spotted two of the books at a garage sale and picked them up.  Then I was on a quest to get all of the books.  The last one I needed to complete my set was ironically the first book of the series Outlander. Naturally I started reading them.  Last night after I finished Drums of  Autumn I started The Fiery Cross.

The things I laughed at when I heard the story I’m laughing at again as I read them (think of a large trout as a weapon).  Also, I’m picking up on things that I didn’t get listening to them.   When a new character is introduced I can’t wait to get to some piece of their story that takes place later.

The book is romance, history, time travel all rolled up in one.  Claire, while on a belated honeymoon in Scotland, is accidentally thrown back in time from 1945 to about 1745.  It’s the story of her survival and more. To read more about the series check out Diana Gabaldon’s website.

I’m linking up to Patchwork Times.

February Recap / March Plans March 1, 2013

February had a few squishes in the mail.  I won the pattern God Bless Texas Quilt from Doris Rice over at The Quilting Queen.  It was one of her Friday Freebies.  There’s another giveaway posted today.

The lavender/purple crochet flower is a Crocheted Spool Pin Doily that my friend Mary sent me for Valentine’s Day.

The five stacks of charms are from Connecting Threads.   The solids collections are Oceanfront, Berry and Foliage.  The Mirage collections (on the right) are Home and Garden.

In this shorter month, I read nine books (including one more since Tuesday); attended the Topeka Symphony Orchestra after a week’s worth of dress shopping;  fixed 4 new recipes (Cinnamon,  Berries, Sweetened Condensed Milk, and Peanut Butter);  and last but not least did a bit of quilting.

The month started off with a bang with the “B” block in the Dorothy Young Alphabet quilt. Then I coached my young quilting friend through her second quilt. The following weekend my friends and I worked on a birthday quilt and I did a bit of hand quilting on my Double Wedding Ring.  I also started a new quilt.  The blocks are finished, but they need framing and sashing.

Did I get everything done on my Getting It Done list?  No.  Did I get anything finished this month?  No.  Did I get to the gym more than once this month? No. (That had more to do with the two snow storms and a flare up of bursitis than a lack of motivation).  Am I over it all?  Yes.

So what’ s up for March? Whatever I get to.  I still need to work on Eeyore. My young quilting friend wants to make a quilt for another cousin and her aunt. Now that I’m  not hurting I need to get back to the gym and I’m itching to start a new quilt (thus the charm pack purchases to pick a fabric color).

I will read some more, do a bit more cooking (dinner tomorrow involves orange juice), make the  “C” block, and work on Twas the Night Before Christmas.  Beyond that it’s anyone’s guess.