I have been reading the Mrs. Malory series by Hazel Holt and enjoying it so much I dread finishing & hsving to find new.


this "new" blog form is just not working for me & I just may give up -- we'll see.

Got it!

Jubilee Withdrawal and a gripe

Enjoyed every minute of the Jubilee. Wanted to post a photo of the Globe Thistle from my garden – we saw it at Hampton Court . I made it an addition to my garden, but it never was as large as the Queen's, but then I didn’t have the Queen’s gardener either. But, this new version of blog is creating a problem for me – says my browser is no longer supported by Blogger. Does that mean I’m going to be forced to buy a new computer in order to have a blog?
Can’t say I appreciate that approach to fixing the economy. 
And how do I adjust the type & color on this thing? or add photos? I hate it when they change things that work just fine -- grrrr..........

it's been some time

since my last post.  didn't realize so much time had passed. 
haven't done any quilting recently.  watching the Queen's Jublee -- when she became Queen, I had a British pen pal who sent me a corenation mug -- the start of my mugs-from-places-we-went collection.

   

It's been a month since my last post!  no idea how that much time has passed.  too much focus on yucky stuff like taxes. 

have read all of the Lucy Stone series by Leslie Meier. 

http://www.amazon.com/Leslie-Meier/e/B000APW6ES/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

currently reading Agony of the Leaves by Laura Childs, another series I follow. 

Goldie is doing his Spring Shed -- why? I wonder -- he's an indoor cat; sitting at the screen door a few hours during a warm day is his closest to experiencing outdoors.

in the garden the white lilac is in bloom.

Memories Teased

I'm reading Victoria Houston's series set in Loon Lake, Wisconsin.

http://www.victoriahouston.com

A very enjoyable cozy (although it has neither quilts nor cats). it had me pleasantly drifting toward sleep when .....wham!  one simple word sparked so many warm memories of a grandmother with a German heritage.

dumhof!

It's German for "stupid" -- never used to describe another, but rather in the "I am/was a dumhof" when I did that.

oh, compensating for the lack of cats & quilts, one of the main characters is a female Chief of Police.

Current Cozy Setting

Shropshire Union Canal, England -- Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie.  I'm gorging on all the Kincaid & Gemma not-yet-reads. 

(photo source info lost)
I've seen these -- part of the canal system, on a London tour ages ago.

Has the Roar Stopped?

Can we hope that Spring has come in -- and meld quietly into Summer without so much as a soft sigh?

Here are some Blue Tulips with their memories of Holland.  I think the forsythia will bloom soon -- those in back are shaded and tend to be later.  It's time to shed winter's cocoon.

Winter, Winter go away!

Another dreary day with possible sleet and snow.  I'm going to follow Rea's example [Confessions of a Pioneer Woman] and chose " to preserve my (our) resources" by curling up with a good book - another of the Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James series by Deborah Crombie. A piece of wonderfully dedicant chocolate, from Wallmart of all places, may be just extra luxury such an afternoon demands.  

With fingers crossed

that the predicted storm fizzles long before reaching here, I'm enjoying a visit to Glastonbury Abbey in A Finer End.



and the wonder of internet, as I read, a website broadcasts some of the chants associated with the pre-reformation abbey.

Fabric and the start of Lent

Were I to say that quilters love fabric, you'd be right to reply "duh!"
Which means you would enjoy, as I have, Corey Amaro's photos of the carnival in Venice on her blog titled Tongue In Cheek.  Google & take a look--imagine working with those fabrics!  certainly not "keep warm" New England bed quilt fabric. 

Farewell to Downdon

Marathon Sunday watching Downdon Abbey.  Enjoyed all of it -- even 2nd time around.  The quilter in me loves seeing the period costumes. 

The ending of Downdon was left open, so maybe there's hope for another season.

Unfortunately the next series is a Dicken's thing; I find him so bleak, even Tale of 2 Cities, so that will be a "no view".  

So sad to hear about Judi Dench -- As Time Goes By is a favorite of mine, which I watch on Ch 13 even though it's all reruns now. 

Current Reads

photos from Amazon

In the British village of Nether Monkslip, Max Tudor, a former MI5 agent, is the vicar. A 5-star read -- Max, location, supporting cast, plot, tea and crumpets, all satisfy.

Also reading Maddy Hunter ,
 
Passport to Peril series, and Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series.

why does it feel as though spring will never come -- in spite of the mild snowless days we have had recently?

Library Cat

Diesel goes to work with his human, a university librarian, on a leash.  He's named for the loudness of his purr.  Together they solve mysteries.  File M for Murder is the one I've just finished.  Only complaint -- having to wait for the next new one. 

Reading can be both yummy and mysterious.

Even cozy mysteries  need a villain.  In the Cat Quilt, this block is the "villain" --  

Goldie and Tri feel he's a cozy villain and would even curl up with him -- If they were allowed to sleep on this quilt. 

Just finished reading The 27-Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murder.  This is the last of the 3 Eugenia Potter mysteries, The Cooking School Murders, The Baked Ben Supper Murders and The Nantucket Diet Murders.  Virginia Rich was working on this novel when she died; it was finished by Nancy Pickard.  I do wish there had been many many more in this series, especially since its heroine is a "mature" lady, and not in a nursing home. 

And the Chili sounds yummy -- my bosses are reminding me that it's their dinner time.

(Who needs an alarm clock when there's a cat or two in the house?)





A Quilt Showing Goldie at Work

What a perfect wall-hanging to show how Goldie spends his mornings.

It's so exhausting that he really needs his after-lunch nap.  And, of course, I must join him.   

Currently watching

 Downton Abbey -- Very much like Upstairs/Downstairs.  Love the setting, the time period and the characters as well as the plot.  The last time DH & I were in London something was being filmed on a corner near our hotel.  We were told it was for a BBC series -- wonder if this is it?  The characters were wearing costumes of this era.

My other "must watch program", other than the nightly "fix" of Jeopardy, is Blue Bloods.  I adore Tom Seleck, and all the family crew members are great.  

Now we just need a mystery that features a cat and a quilter as the stars.  Or even a group of senior citizens such as those in "Bingoed" and "Papoosed" written by Patricia Rockwell.  

Good Day for

sitting by the hearth - or cuddling on the sofa with two cats and a good book. 

Years ago I participated in a block swap.  The theme was Cats -- cat fabric or a cat pattern.  

This is from that swap -- a Log Cabin with cats.   The center patch of red  represents the hearth fire. 

Quilt historians found that the Log Cabin design became popular in 1863 when the Union army was raising money for the Civil War by raffling quilts. President Abraham Lincoln grew up in a log cabin. The pattern may have been a symbol of loyalty to him as head of the Union. 

Just Finished

Scotched by Kaitlyn Dunnett.



photo from http://www.kaitlyndunnett.com/

a fun read. set in modern-day Maine.

Lumpkin, above, looks alot like Goldie although Goldie is gold not gray as Lumpkin looks in this photo.