Song of Susannah - The Dark Tower VI *****

Where have I been? Well, I've been stitching, working in the yard, and reading! My most recent finish is Song of Susannah - The Dark Tower VI, and it was great. There's only one more in the series, so I should be finished by Christmas ;-)

(from Stephen King's website)
The Dark Tower VI - Song of Susannah
Susannah, now pregnant, has yet another taking control of her. The demon-mother, Mia, uses Susannah and Black Thirteen to transport to New York City of 1999. Jake, Oy, and Pere Callahan must rescue Susannah while Eddie and Roland transport to the Maine of 1977. A vacant lot in New York must be saved and ties these together. >More Info

Wolves in the Calla - The Dark Tower V *****

The Dark Tower V was once again not a disappointment. Wolves in the Calla was great! I don't know how they keep getting better, but they do! Here is a short synopsis from King's site describing it.

In the borderlands that lie between Mid-World and End-World, Roland and his friends are approached by a frightened band of representatives from the nearby town of Calla Bryn Sturgis. In less than a month, the Calla will be attacked by the Wolves-those masked riders that gallop out of Thunderclap once a generation to steal the town's children. The Calla folken need the kind of help that only gunslingers can give, and if they agree to help, the town's priest-Father Callahan, Maine-promises to give them the most potent and treacherous of magic balls. Meanwhile, in the New York of 1977, how can Roland and his friends both save the rose and fight the Wolves? Only by using magic... Time is running out on all levels of the Tower, but unless the minions of Thunderclap both in our world and in Mid-World are defeated, they will never reach that great lynchpin of the time/space continuum which, even now, begins to totter.

FYI: Check out Needle in Hand to see the cross stitch items I've been working on.

Conspiracy in Death *****

A friend from work loaned me a book, Conspiracy in Death by J. D. Robb (a pen name of Nora Roberts) that I've just finished reading. This is the first by either that I've read.

This is not the first in the series, 'in death' mysteries, but was enjoyable just the same. I will read others - possibly from the beginning to get the background.

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant who uses her instincts to track ruthless killers. Her husband, Roarke, an Irish billionaire, assists in the investigation along with her assistant and others from the force. In this episode, Eve investigates the sidewalk murders of homeless people by a killer collecting human organs.

Are you thinking reading is keeping me from stitching? Naaahh - that's not the case at all. It just seems I can't go to sleep unless I read a few pages to relax.

Wizard and Glass - The Dark Tower IV *****

First Line: ASK ME A RIDDLE,' Blaine invited.

About the Book
Wizard and Glass, the fourth episode in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, is a Western love story. It begins with world-weary Roland, and his world-hopping posse (an ex-junkie, a child, a plucky woman in a wheelchair, and a talking dog-like pet named Oy the Bumbler) trapped aboard a runaway train. The train is a psychotic multiple personality that intends to commit suicide with them at 800 m.p.h.--unless Roland and pals can outwit it in a riddling contest.It's a great race, for the mind and pulse. Movies should be this good. Then comes a 567-page flashback about Roland at age 14. Roland and two teen homies must rescue his first love from the dirty old drooling mayor of a cowboy town, thwart a civil war by blowing up oil tanks, and seize an all-seeing crystal ball from Rhea, a vampire witch. The love scenes are startlingly prominent and earthier than most romance novels (they kiss until blood trickles from her lip).After an epic battle ending in a box canyon to end all box canyons, we're back with grizzled, grown-up Roland and the train-wreck survivors in a parallel world: Kansas in 1986, after a plague. The finale is a weird fantasy takeoff on The Wizard of Oz. It is a long read, almost 800 pages -- but few will deny it's a page-turner. It was GREAT!!

Excerpted from Stephen King Shopping.

The Deathly Hallows - *****

I finished the Harry Potter series of books a while ago, and did like it. Lots of folks have mentioned that they stopped reading the series when it seemed as if Harry was whining a lot, but I stuck it out - and I'm glad. There was lots of wrapping up to do for this final installment, but it did come to lots of conclusions. Some were predictable, and others were a total surprise to me. If you stopped along the way, catch up and finish the series.

The Half-Blood Prince - *****

I finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and it was great. I had planned to go back to The Dark Tower, but now I've got to finish this series. The last one... I've heard it is VERY good, and I'm ready to know what happens. If you haven't read any of these books, you may think they're elementary. They are, somewhat, but I believe as the years have gone on, Harry and the gang have grown up, and so has the level of reading.

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter

I was telling a friend the other day about my button binge shopping spree, and she said she almost got an anxiety attack when she heard about threads or buttons and couldn't find them to buy. That sounds so familiar. I'm usually a bargain hunter, or at least a shopper. I have been looking for this book for several months, and finally found it at a price I was willing to pay. Now... Why do I 'need' this book? I don't. I have no small children or grandchildren, but I HAD to have it. Maybe there will be some images that I can use for CQ, or a quote, but it is here, it is beautiful, and it makes me smile. That must be reason enough!

The Waste Lands - The Dark Tower III *****

Just finished Stephen King's The Waste Lands. It was great. The troop carries on in their search for The Dark Tower, through the Mid World town of Lud, meeting Blain and Tick Toc Man.




I think I'm going to take a break from the series and read The Half Blood Prince before I hear too much about the final book of the Harry Potter series. My son and I went to see The Order of the Phoenix over the weekend, and it was quite good.

The Drawing of the Three - The Dark Tower II *****

Ive finished The Drawing of the Three, Part II of The Dark Tower epic by Stephen King. Roland is still on the beach where the Gunslinger ended. After the man in black has told his fortune with Tarot cards, showing The Prisoner, The Lady of Shadows, and the dark shape of Death, Roland travels into the 1980's.

Enjoyed it so much I've already started The Waste Lands, The Dark Tower III.

Trace -- ****

I just finished reading Trace, A Scarpetta Novel, by Patricia Cornwell. One of my favorite authors, this is a good book, back to the old standards. Dr. Kay Scarpetta returns to Richmond and her former lab when she's asked to consult on the death of a young girl. Scarpetta suspects murder, but her investigation is thwarted at every turn.

The Gunslinger - The Dark Tower I -- ****

I've finished The Gunslinger - The Dark Tower I by Stephen King. It's not my typical genre, but son and Lesa loved it so much that I decided to give it a try. Both of them said the first book was kind of slow, but I didn't think it especially so. I'm intrigued enough to get the next in the series to see if it keeps my interest. You'll note that the photo is from an online standard photo.

Two for the Dough -- ***

I've finished Janet Evonavich's Two for the Dough and it was a light, fun read. Stephanie is a bounty hunter who lives in New Jersey, near her family, with a police officer/childhood friend, Morelli, sidekick (and more??). Grandma Mazur gets more involved with this case since it involves funeral homes, one of her favorite activities. She also gets a new apricot doo and Doc Martin's.

I think I'll give Stephanie a break and read something else next.

One for the Money - ****

I've heard a lot about Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, so decided to give it a try. The first in the series is One for the Money. Stephanie lives in New Jersey, and is out of work and money. She goes to her cousin for a secretarial job, but finds it's already been filled. There is an opening for a bounty hunter. Thus begins the funny, fast paced story with several storylines that is a quick read. I've got Two for the Dough waiting.

A Tale of Quick Book Purchase

While I had an hour or so to spend yesterday, I went to the used (also new) book store. I found a great embroidery motif book, loved it, and put it in my basket. Of course they don't allow use of store credits on most books, but it was under $20, and I loved it. Just for curiosity sake, I looked it up on a couple of my favorite booksellers, and there it was... about $3 on one and $4 on the other, plus shipping, of course. I'm not sick over it, but do think that extra cost could have gone toward other supplies.

So you're asking, What was the book? Right? It is Waverly Honor, A workbook of Embroidery Design by Martha Anne Hart & Hester Neblett. The dedicaton says, "This book is dedicated to the memory of Virgina Baskervill, who had the foresight to record these needlework designs for the pleasure of future generations..." The Publication Date is 1926, but of course mine is a reprint.

Pawley's Island - *****

I just finished reading Pawley's Island, A Low Country Tale, by Dorothea Benton Frank. This is the fifth I've read - with the next being just as good at the last. I give five stars to all Ms. Frank's works. She grew up in the South Carolina Low Country, and her writing, to date, has been about the people and/or lifestyle there. She has a friendly humor that makes you feel as if you're reading a letter or chatting with a friend.
Preview Of Pawley's Island

People have secrets. Everyone does. And, at one point or another, many people say they would like to run away and start life over in a place where no one knows their business. I know that I have felt that way. More than once. And I am no stranger to disaster, and most certainly no one would ever call me a coward. Coward or not, sometimes you just want to slip away into the night.

Stitching

I received the A-Z of Bullions yesterday, and sat and looked through it last night. I can't wait to start trying out some of them. I am happy as can be. I had ordered it through Amazon, and finally saw that it would be delivered well after Christmas. Even though it wasn't a present, I wanted it! So I found another one through Alibris and cancelled the Amazon order. I've heard others have this situation, but it was a first for me.

I have signed on for the Take a Stitch Tuesday from Sharon Bogon that will begin January 2, 2007. Take a look if you haven't and see if this would be something you may enjoy, too. As Sharon says, "The more the merrier."

Hand Embroidery Discussion

Following the discussion of casket covers, etc. I thought there may be intereste in Linda Carlson's book, ** Quilting to Soothe the Soul. If this subject interests you, as well as memorials and celebratory quilts, this is quite a good book. There is lots of information as well as beautiful pictures.

"Crazy quilt coffin cover owned by Carole Samples, Omaha, Nebraska. It is backed with casket lining and was made in the last 19th century by the Libertine sisters of Missouri. They never married and always lived together. Each made their own fan, and the cover was to be used at each of their funerals." ** page 18



"Funeral pall in honor of the life of Reverend Charles Carter's father made by Bets Ramsey, Nashville, Tennessee." ** page 21








"Countryside Casket by York Casket, York, Pennsylvania." ** page 40