I've just got to share the good stuff I read.

I love to read. I read every chance I get. If I read something really good, I want to share it with my friends and co-workers. I make copies of magazine articles, read aloud to my students, tell others about good books I'm reading, and keep a book with me at all times.

I love teaching and learning new things. I need a place to share some of the lessons and what my students and I learn. Since my teaching situation is different from everyone else's in my school, I would like to tell all of you in the blog-o-sphere about these great lessons.

Feel free to share what you are reading, teaching and learning with us in the comments.

Saturday, December 31, 2022

2022 Quilt Review

After reading Wendy's quilt review of 2022 on Wendy's Quilts and more, I decided to look through my posts and review the quilts I finished this year.

It is easy to focus on the unfinished projects and feel unproductive.

Here are my finishes in the quilt category.

In January I took a class with Gyleen and finished this pineapple quilt. 


I made this mini quilt to honor my mom who taught me to sew and encouraged me to quilt.
It was entered in an exhibit at the Cotton Exchange Museum in Memphis, our new home.


I finished Sally, Dick, and Jane/Primer quilt.
I made it for my teacher friend who retired this year.


Hey, June quilt along was finished. 
I called it Which Way Up.
Machine and hand quilted.


A quilted project bag.


Some charity quilting - placemats for a senior center.


This one was an impulse project.
Celebrate! The plan is to hang it for celebrations.
Machine quilted with beads embellishing the candles and cupcake tops.


I tried paper piecing and finally understood the process.
Made a little mug rug.


Flannel rag quilt - another detour quilt.
I was gifted the flannel and saw a rag quilt hanging in a quilt shop.
My brain wouldn't stop thinking about it.
Here it is.


My new exhibit space.
I use C clamps to hang the quilts from the upstair railing.


Ready to celebrate the new year.

Have a great week.



















 

Thursday, December 29, 2022

December Books

December has been busy with concerts, sewing projects, super cold weather, and Covid for Mr. M & me.
After I finished The Cloisters I read All the Broken Places recommended by Mr. M.
It was written by the author who wrote The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
Interesting, disturbing, sad but I had to see how it ended.


As soon as I could get to the library I found this new book about the Darling Dahlias.
It takes me back to the time of my mother's childhood. A very comforting read.


I hope to get to these two before the year ends.


I have a new sewing book.
I successfully made two blocks.
More about sewing on my sewing blog.


Two new sewing books.
I'm trying a new technique that I thought I would never try.


One final book.
I made this cloth book for Kenton for Christmas.



That is it for 2022.
Looking forward to a great new year.









 

Friday, December 9, 2022

Just read The Cloisters/Sharing photos of recent visit to the Cloisters

I just finished reading The Cloisters by Katy Hays.

It was a great read. Not a traditional mystery with a detective but several mysteries were revealed.

In October Martin and I visited the Cloisters for the second time.
Photos from our visit follow.  































There may be more photos added later.









 

Sunday, November 27, 2022

November Books

I have read mostly book club books this month.

The Book to Screen group read the book below.
I really enjoyed the book. The movie was not as satisfying. 
The changes made by the movie makers did not show the whole journey of the main character.


The two books below were my choices after finishing the book club selections.
The John Grisham was a surprise because it was 3 novellas. Okay, but not what I had in mind.


The book below was such a surprise.
When I read the blurb, I was sure I would not like the book.
Definitely liked this and recommended it to friends.


Last book club selection.
Germantown UMC book club for November.
I had no idea what this book was about.
Short summary - back story of Doctor Zhivago.
I didn't know anything about that book and now I am thinking about reading Dr. Z.


What are you reading these days?









 

Friday, October 28, 2022

October Reading

This month I joined 3 book clubs.
Two are at the local library, one in person and one online.
The third is at a church we are visiting.


The online book club read Black Cake. Last month they read Mika in Real Life.
The books are celebrity suggested titles. Both are books I would not usually read.
Both were good reads!


Death on the Nile is the Book to Screen selection for 1st Monday in November.
I used to read Agatha Christie mysteries all the time but I don't remember reading this one.
This book has been made into a movie twice and a TV show at least once.
Even after watching the TV show and movies the book was a surprise.
It had so much more details that are lost when made into video.


The Latehomecomer was the October book for GUMC book club.
This was my first time to meet with this club. They were very welcoming.
I had not finished the book but I had so many connections since I had taught Hmong students
who were refugees like the author.


My recent adventure with paper piecing in my sewing room led to my purchase of this book.
Look on my sewing blog for posts about this one.


The Stargazey is my second Richard Jury mystery. I don't remember when I bought this but
I took it on our trip to NYC. It was hard to put down. The first book I read in this series was
a learning experience. There are so many characters to keep up with.
This second one was much easier and understandable.


Next month the Book to Screen group is reading the book above.
I enjoyed watching the series on PBS and it was on my 'to read' list.
I look forward to reading it in November.

Between reading, sewing, exercising, and picking up grandchildren I am staying very busy.

Have you read a really great page turner lately?