I can't believe it's been a couple months since I've written!  Life sure goes by fast.  I was busy creating items for an arts fair in early November.  Then I was busy setting up an Etsy shop to try to sell what was left from the arts fair.  I've sold a couple items but honestly, people aren't rushing down the door!!

Now Christmas is almost here and I've been shopping and wrapping and baking.  I just love this time of year.  So far we have not had any snow and it hasn't been too cold so getting around is still easy.

Yesterday I came across this easy gift for neighbors, co-workers, etc.  I tried it today and it smells heavenly.  Check out the rest of delicate construction too, you'll like what you see.  Enjoy.  

I'll be back soon when things quiet down here.

Fall is here and so are holiday fairs!  I've been busy preparing items to sell at various local fairs.  True to the title of my blog I've been dabbling in different mediums.  I'm loving heavy craft paper.  It has so many possibilities.  The different sized paper gift boxes are just adorable.  The opening is in the bottom.  Perfect for tucking holiday tips in!

Tell me what you think of these. 

Herb garden

The Trial of Dr. Kate, Michael E. Glasscock III

Synopsis:

In the summer of 1952, Lillian Johnson was found dead in her home, slumped in the wheelchair that had become her cage due to multiple sclerosis. An overdose of barbiturate had triggered a heart attack, but the scene was not quite right. It looked as though someone other than Lillian herself had injected the fatal dose.

Dr. Kate Marlow, Lillian’s physician and best friend, now sits in the Round Rock city jail. The only country doctor for miles, Kate cannot remember her whereabouts at the time of Lillian’s death.

As Dr. Kate’s trial approaches, another woman is determined to uncover the truth about the night of Lillian’s death. Memphis reporter Shenandoah Coleman grew up in Round Rock on the wrong side of the tracks, but unlike the rest of her unsavory clan, escaped her destiny. Now, back in the town she grew up in, she’ll have to turn every stone to keep Kate from a guilty verdict.

Although the plot line was a bit predictable, I still enjoyed the journey.  Interesting characters, well developed, held my interest yet still had questions at the end.  A sequel maybe????

Cross Country on Amtrak

I must apologize for not posting in awhile but I've been soooooo busy since I retired in July!  Don't know how I had time to work before!  

In August we made a quick decision to take a 7day cruise to Bermuda.  My husband's niece was getting married on the cruise.  I had never been on a cruise before, I get motion sickness real easy so was very leary on sailing.  However, I got the "patch" from my Dr. and no worries, sailing was great.  We loved the cruise, lots of activities kept us busy.  We will definitely cruise again.

In September we embarked on our cross country journey via Amtrak.  We left Boston, overnight on the train and arrived in Chicago the next morning.  We had what they call a bedroom.  Well that's a stretch.  It was functional and served us well but so tiny we had to coordinate our movements.  Kept banging my elbows during the night, no room to toss and turn.  The train was not smooth as I expected.  It jostled side to side and stopped at different stations.  So much movement that it was difficult eating in the dining car. 

We spent two days in Chicago, great city, great food.  Stayed at the Silversmith Hotel, a small boutique hotel that was so charming.  Within easy walking distance of attractions.  We loved it.  Spent an entire day at the Museum of Industry.  Took in a show at Comedy Central.  and off to Denver, another overnight on the train.

Denver is another great city. So clean and new, then again, coming from the East coast everything is new to us!  Had a great tour of the city, the mountains are beautiful.  Gorgeous state capitol building.  They were hosting a quilt show when we were there.  Unbelievably beautiful quilts on display.  The city has a walking mall on 14th street.  There is a trolley that runs up and down the street.  It's free and you can hop on and off.  Lots of shops and restaurants. Off to Salt Lake City.

We were concerned about the altitude but had no problem with it other than being extremely dry!  It was hard to swallow at times! Sipping water solved that problem.  Had a tour of the city that included a free organ recital at the Morman Tabernacle.  What a beautiful place and the acoustics are unbelievable.  We had lunch at the Beehive Restaurant run by the Church of the Latter Day Saints and it was scrumptious.  Outside the area was full of gorgeous blooming flowers of all sorts and colors.  So pretty.  Next day we were off to Yellowstone.

It took us most of the day on a tour bus to get to West Yellowstone.  Scenery was unbelievable.  We saw the Salt Lake!  Potatoes being harvested in Idaho.  Went through Wyoming and Montana.  Landscape is so open and the Rockies off in the distance.  We arrived in West Yellowstone and stayed at the Holiday Inn.  We were tired and hungry and decided to eat at the hotel restaurant (we don't usually do that).  Well I'm glad we did, it was this wonderful gourmet restaurant in the middle of nowhere!  And our waiter came from Massachusetts!!  Who knew?

Next day we left early for a guided bus tour of Yellowstone.  I cannot even describe the beauty of Yellowstone.  Breathtaking.  We weren't in the park 10 minutes and we saw Elk on the side of the road.  We saw lots of buffalo, they sort of meander around. Huge animals.  We stopped at what they call the Yellowstone Grand Canyon.  Unbelievably beautiful, the colors, waterfall, cliffs all in shades of orange and red, just beautiful.  We had lunch at the lodge in Yellowstone and ate outside waiting for Old Faithful to erupt.  Sure enough she was right on time and off she went.  Amazing.  We were lucky enough to see another geiser nearby erupt too!  Then we went to the hot springs.  Wow, again I was amazed with the colors, little geisers go off here and there.  Smells like sulfur though.  On our way out of the park we saw a coyote and another herd of buffalo.  I would have liked to see a bear but maybe next time.

Back to Salt Lake City to board the train for San Francisco.  Scenery was something else, flat, tons and tons of sagebrush, and everything was brown.  Felt like I was in the old west with tumbleweed rolling by.  Next day we arrived in San Francisco.

Another great city, we stayed at a Sheraton right near Pier 39 the hot tourist area.  We had been there about 30 years ago and couldn't believe how much it built up.  Lots of people around, two cruise ships, a huge conference and the America's Cup Race!  We were fortunate enough to see the final race.  The boats are so sleek and graceful.  We took a tour to the Muir Woods and Sausalito. Next day we took a boat tour of the bay, road under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. (we had been to Alcatraz before).  We ended our stay with a dinner at a restaurant on Pier 39 with a beautiful view of the bay.  It was quite a trip, well worth it.  What a beautiful country we live in and there is still more to see......another trip????

Book Review - To Sin With A Viking, Michelle Willingham

To Sin With A Viking, Michelle Willingham

This is the first installment in Michelle Willingham’s the Forbidden Vikings series and it’s a winner!  The writing is so vivid in describing 875 a.d. Ireland, the countryside and the lifestyle that you easily transport yourself there.  The setting is during a famine and the people are dying.  Those left are weak.  Our heroine, a strong, outward woman in an era when that was taboo is engaging.  Caragh Ó Brannon defended herself when the Vikings landed.  She did what she had to to protect her 17 year old brother.  She captured the head Viking by striking him over the head, then, with the help of others, she chained him prisoner in her house.  Now she finds herself alone with one very angry Viking.... 

Styr Hardrata sailed to Ireland intending to trade, never expecting to find himself held captive in chains by a beautiful Irish maiden. 

The fiercely handsome warrior both terrifies and allures Caragh, but he is forbidden territory. He

The tribe was slowly starving to death.

Caragh O'Brannon stared at the grain sack, which was nearly empty. One handful of oats remained, hardly enough for anyone. ..Her older brothers, … had left a fortnight ago to trade for more food.

'Is there anything to eat, Caragh?' her younger brother Brendan asked. At seventeen, his appetite was three times her own, and she'd done her best to keep him from growing hungry. But it was now evident that they would run out of food sooner than she'd thought.

Instead of answering, she showed him what was left. He sobered, his thin face hollow from lack of food.

'We haven't caught any fish, either. I'll try again this morning.'

'I can make a pottage,' she offered. 'I'll go and look for wild onions or carrots.' Though she tried to interject a note of hope, both of them knew that the forests and fields had been stripped long ago. There was nothing left, except the dry summer grasses.

Brendan reached out and touched her shoulder. 'Our brothers will come back. And when they do, we'll have plenty to eat.'

In his face, she saw the need to believe it, and she braved a smile she didn't feel. 'I hope so.'

288 pages that I could not put down!!!  Loved it, looking forward to the next installment which is coming soon.

RITA ® Award Finalist Michelle Willingham has written over twenty historical romances, novellas, and short stories. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her husband and children. When she's not writing, Michelle enjoys reading, baking, and avoiding exercise at all costs. Visit her website at: www.michellewillingham.com.

Strawberries and Peaches Crumble

I spent some time yesterday baking.  Haven't done that in awhile.  Haven't had the time it seems.  But strawberries are in season and the market had some nice looking peaches sooooo 


I threw this strawberry and peaches crumble together, doesn't it look srumptious?

Before the topping

Add the brown sugar, oatmeal and butter topping and bake. 

Hot from the oven

This won't last long in my house.


I hope my photography skills improve.......