First Lines Friday and 56 ~ 2/1/19

Today's "First Lines" and "56" are from:

Savannah, December 20, 1870

Gunfire exploded to the right of the stage, a burst of sound that temporarily deafened her.

 

 Page 56

 
Philip filled two plates and motioned India into the hallway.  "It seems the chairs are all taken.  Do you mind sitting on the stairs?"

 

Colletta
 

Also linking up to:

 

Thankful Thursday ~ 1/31/19

~Tuesday was my SIL's bday!  Kelly spent her birthday having her gallbladder removed :(  So the cake was put on hold until she is able to enjoy it.  Prayers for her continued recovering are much appreciated :)




~Kaylee's friend, Bree, stayed the weekend!  She lives about an hour away so the girls don't get to see each other often.  They had a great time with shopping, playing video games and loading up on snacks :)


~My Moogly CAL Block #2 was featured on the Moogly Facebook cover photo!  So exciting as there are a lot of blocks to choose from :)


~I rejoined Planet Fitness and took Kaylee as my guest!  It is so cold and icy out and impossible to go outside for a walk like we did in the summer and fall.  We went for the first time yesterday.  I'll be posting more about this over at Colletta Is Losing It!  I'd love for you to come visit and follow that blog as well :)


~Damon is a goose!  I'll leave you with this picture of him on his train with his "hat" on :)

What are you thankful for today?

Colletta



Wednesday Medley ~ 1/30/19

Come join Terri @ Your Friend From Florida every Wednesday.

NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY – January 30

NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY

In the United States, National Croissant Day is observed each year on January 30th. Croissants are a buttery, crescent-shaped rolls that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  

The key to a perfect croissant is laminating the dough. Laminating the dough is a process by which butter is folded into the mixture creating multiple thin layers of butter and dough. The result is a mouth-watering flaky crust and airy body.

Legend surrounds this pastry, as is often the case with a popular, worldly treat. What is known, is that crescent-shaped breads have been found around the world for ages. One of these was the Kipferl which originated in Austria as far back as the 13th century. This nonlaminated bread is more like a roll.

Credit for the croissant we know today is given to an Austrian military officer, August Zang. In 1939 he opened a Viennese bakery in Paris introducing France to Viennese baking techniques.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Stop by the bakery for a fresh, warm croissant or try making your own using this recipe: Croissants recipe.

1.  Well, I do love croissants when they are fresh, but day-old croissants need to be turned into a donut.  I happen to really like the croissants that have a donut-like glaze on them!  Sugar overload but so good.  So... do you like croissants?  What is your favorite way to eat them?

Cronuts are DELISH and would be my favorite way to eat a croissant!

2.  Speaking of food... How do you handle stress?

Unfortunately, I handle stress with junk food but I'm trying to change that :)

3.  Out of the negative emotions of greed, anger, jealousy, and hate, which one would you say affects you the most?

I hate to admit to any of those but jealousy would probably be the one that affects me the most.

4.  Out of the positive emotions of compassion, positivity, enthusiasm, and initiative, which one is your biggest strength?

I humbly say compassion and hope that it is true.

5.  What do you get every time you go grocery shopping, other than the staples such as bread, milk, butter, flour, sugar...

That would be the above-mentioned junk food that is supposed to be for the hubby's lunch but so often gets emotionally eaten!

6.  Please tell us something random about your week so far.

It is supposed to get extremely cold over the next few days!  Stay warm!

Colletta

Book Review ~ Rising Darkness by Nancy Mehl

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Blurb:

 

Sophie Wittenbauer left her strict Mennonite hometown under a cloud of shame and regret. After a rough childhood, her teenage poor choices harmed others, leaving her with no choice but to change her life. Her entry-level writing job at a newspaper puts her in the right place at the right time to overhear office gossip about a prisoner who has information on a decades-old unsolved crime. While the other reporters write off the tip as the ravings of an angry criminal, Sophie can't ignore it because she knows the name of this prisoner from her old life.

Upon learning from the man that one of the other suspects is hiding out in the Missouri town of Sanctuary, she takes on a false identity to investigate and meets the young pastor of a local church--the very man she'd loved as a troubled teenager. As she gets closer to finding the suspect, will the truth of her own past come out before she discovers the identity of the criminal--or the very person she's seeking puts a fatal stop to her investigation?     

 

My Thoughts:

 

Nancy Mehl is a wonderful mystery/suspense/romance author.

This book had it all!

I really enjoyed Nancy's series about Kingdom, Kansas where Sophie and Jonathan were from.  Although I didn't read the first two books of this series, Finding Sanctuary, I felt like I was picking up right where I left off.

At times Sophie seemed a bit naïve, but I think a lot of that could have been that she was fairly young and grew up in a Conservative Mennonite town.

It was fun getting to read about Jonathan again and the changes he had made to his life.

Although there was some light reading about Church Potlucks, etc., the author also wrote about some pretty tough issues in this book.  I don't want to give too much away so I'll leave it at that.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and makes me want to read the first two books in the series just to visit Sanctuary again :)



Colletta

What I Am Reading ~ 1/28/19

Today I'm reading:

When the illustrious India Hartley is accused of murder, she has to uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, the famous and beautiful actress, is now alone in the world after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia low country and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.  

What are you reading?


Colletta

Make It Monday ~ "Flame Square" and "Festive Julie Ann" ~ 1/28/19

BAWCAL 2019 #2

The second Block-a-Week 2019 hosted by Julie Yeager is a pattern by Jessie at Home called Flame Square.

The original pattern used flame colors of red, orange and yellow.  There were lots of back post stitches in this pattern.  I don't mind back post stitches but they do slow me down a bit even though the effect is lovely.

Moogly Block #2

The Moogly CAL second block is called "Festive Julie Ann" by Linda Dean at www.lindadeancrochet.com.

I really love the texture and "scalloped" look to this block.  The effect was made by using the Long Loop Front Post Double Crochet a row below the round.  I'll admit that I had to start this one twice as I wasn't placing the LLFDC in the right spot to get the off-set color placement.  This block came out to about 10" so I added a few rounds to get it up to the 12" needed.

I now have seven 12"+ squares ready for Laken's Ombre Afghan.  Only 18 more to go!!

Colletta

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 1/27/19

This Week's Memory Verse:

 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.


Galatians 6:1 NIV

Colletta

Song I'm Loving ~ Best News Ever by MercyMe

Have you heard the best news ever?

Colletta

First Lines Friday and 56 ~ 1/25/19

Today's "First Lines" and "56" are from:

 

There was something about the smell of a prison that made me feel an almost overwhelming urge to run.

 

 Page 56

 
Esther said, "But that is not the case in this town."

 

Colletta
 

Also linking up to:

 

Thankful Thursday ~ 1/24/19

~I promised a picture of my painting from Kaylee!  I asked for beach and blues.  She delivered.  It is now hanging in my bedroom where I can see it when I wake up in the morning :)

~I'm ahead on my Goodreads Challenge!  By 1 book...but hey!  I'll take it :)  Only 49 left to go this year :)

~Kona was playing hard-to-get in the picture department!  I wanted an updated picture of her but all I kept getting was either her eyeball or her butt!  When I got this one, I figured it was all good :)

~Blueberry muffins!  A king lady from Church gave us a bunch of frozen blueberries.  What do you make with blueberries?  Muffins!  They were delicious :)


~The temperature hit 42F!  That might not seem very warm but after the 0F temps we had just 2 days ago it feels quite balmy!  I would have went outside for a walk but the ice is still everywhere.  Come on, sun.  Melt it away :)


What are you thankful for today?

Colletta



Wednesday Medley ~ 1/23/19

Come join Terri @ Your Friend From Florida every Wednesday.

NATIONAL PIE DAY

National Pie Day is celebrated annually on January 23rd. (Not to be confused with March 14 which is PI π Day.) 

National Pie Day was created simply to celebrate the pie.  It is a day for all to bake or cook their favorite pies.  Even more importantly, it is a day set aside for all to enjoy eating pies!

The first pies appeared around 9500 BC in the Egyptian Neolithic period or New Stone Age.

1.  Okay, fess up.  Tell us your top three favorite pies, please.  Will you have some pie today?

Pecan, Pumpkin and Chocolate.  I'm not planning on making any pies, but you never know...

2.  While we are talking about food... are you a picky eater or are you ready to try almost any new food?  What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?

I'm a very picky eater and very rarely try new foods.   Broccoli!  Yuck!  (But I'm pleased to say my girls love it :)

3.  Baking could be considered an art as could cooking.  How do you define art?

The act of creating.

4.  Tell us a really stupid joke that made you laugh, please.

It isn't really a joke but a funny thing I saw.  You know the facebook side-by-side challenge where you show your first profile picture and then your current profile picture?  Well, this one had an empty wallet in 2009 and an empty wallet in 2019.  It made me chuckle :)

5.  January 23rd is also National Handwriting Day. Do you have nice handwriting? Did cursive writing come naturally or did you practice in those double-lined practice books until your fingers hurt?

I think I have fairly nice handwriting.  I remember having to practice writing in school but not overly much.  It must have come naturally.

6.  Tell us something random about your week.

What a nasty week it has been so far.  Snow, Ice, Freeeezing Cold Temperatures.  I'm ready for Spring.  As my husband reminds me:  only 7 1/2 more weeks!

Colletta

Book Review ~ Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 Blurb:

 

Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.

For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady yet unexciting role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would provide her a steady environment to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.

The unexpected arrival of a striking stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.

At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with mysterious rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. And perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.

At Emberwilde, Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.     

 

My Thoughts:

 

Sarah E. Ladd has fast become one of my go-to authors.  I have loved every book I've read by her but Dawn at Emberwilde was one of my very favorites.

Isabel's character was lovable from the first page.

Colin Galloway was the perfect hero with his tragic past and hero-y heroics.

I loved the imagery the author used to describe Emberwilde and even the Black Wood Forest sounded beautiful.

Regency romances were where my love of reading started so anytime I can pick up a good, clean regency romance with some mystery and intrigue packed in, I'm all for it :)

Dawn at Emberwilde is the 2nd book of the "Treasures of Surrey" series but it was excellent as a stand-alone novel.  I look forward to reading the other books of the series!



Colletta

What I Am Reading ~ 1/21/19

Today I'm reading:

Sophie Wittenbauer left her strict Mennonite hometown under a cloud of shame and regret. After a rough childhood, her teenage poor choices harmed others, leaving her with no choice but to change her life. Her entry-level writing job at a newspaper puts her in the right place at the right time to overhear office gossip about a prisoner who has information on a decades-old unsolved crime. While the other reporters write off the tip as the ravings of an angry criminal, Sophie can't ignore it because she knows the name of this prisoner from her old life.

Upon learning from the man that one of the other suspects is hiding out in the Missouri town of Sanctuary, she takes on a false identity to investigate and meets the young pastor of a local church--the very man she'd loved as a troubled teenager. As she gets closer to finding the suspect, will the truth of her own past come out before she discovers the identity of the criminal--or the very person she's seeking puts a fatal stop to her investigation?  

What are you reading?


Colletta

Make It Monday ~ "Lola Bean" ~ 1/21/19

The second Block-a-Week 2019 hosted by Julie Yeager is a pattern by Shelby Shea called "Lola Bean". 

This was a fun square to make.  I learned a new stitch called the "Bean Stitch" and a light bulb just went off as to why the pattern is called Lola  BEAN!  lol 


Below is an angled shot of the center.  Isn't it pretty?  Such a gorgeous pattern.

I now have five 12"+ squares ready for Laken's Ombre Afghan.  Only 20 more to go!!


Colletta

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 1/20/19

This Week's Memory Verse:

Do everything without grumbling or arguing.


Philippians 2:14 NIV

Colletta

Song I'm Loving ~ Look up Child by Lauren Daigle

Today, I'll leave you with another Lauren  Daigle song :)  I believe it is her newest:



 

 Colletta

First Lines Friday and 56 ~ 1/18/19

Today's "First Lines" and "56" are from:

 

 

Fellsworth School

Surrey, England 1817

Mrs. Brathay's shrill voice shattered the late-morning silence like a warbler's call unsettling dawn's still mist.

 

 Page 56

 
Places have memories, Miss Creston.  Do not doubt it.

 

Colletta
 

Also linking up to:

 

Thankful Thursday ~ 1/17/19

 

~I'm not feeling very well today and am not feeling very thankful :(  My fibromyalgia is flaring and I'm sore.  However, I "am" feeling so for that I can be thankful!


~One of the reasons I'm not feeling very well is that I exercised yesterday and I'm feeling it today!  I'm glad that I was feeling well enough to walk 1 mile with my Leslie Sansone DVD :)  It felt good at the time.  HAHA


~Kaylee finished my painting!  It is a beach scene with my very favorite teals and blues and aquas.  I'll get a picture posted soon.  She did such a good job on it.  I love it!


~The hubby and I help with the Church Youth Group and we're planning a bowling night!  I haven't been bowling in years but am excited about going.  Right now we're in the "gathering info" stage but I'll be sure to let you know when we go :)


~As I've mentioned before, Kaylee has her driver's permit and we've been practicing her driving skills.   (Hard to do in the middle of winter!)  Last Friday, I had to go to Wal-mart which is about 30 minutes away to pick up a few things and Kaylee drove me there.  This was a big deal because she had to drive though "city-ish" traffic.  Her first time ever!  I was more than a little bit nervous but she handled herself and the car well.  I was so proud :)


What are you thankful for today?

Colletta



Wednesday Medley ~ 1/16/19

Come join Terri @ Your Friend From Florida every Wednesday.

Wednesday, January 16th, is National Do Nothing Day!! National Nothing Day was proposed in 1972 by columnist Harold Pullman Coffin. This day has been observed annually since 1973. Of course, the way to celebrate it is to do nothing! 

1.  To commemorate Do Nothing Day in SOME way, tell us something about your life (or the life of someone close to you) in 1973!! 

I wasn't born until 1978...so...my mother was a Senior in High School in 1973.  By 1973, my father had gotten out of the Army and was working as a Master Tire Builder.

2.  Now that we are thinking back, please tell us what your favorite past time was as a child.

Reading!  And it still is :)

3.  What is the best way to cheer you up on a bad day? 

Snuggles and lovin's always cheer me up on a bad day!

4.  How old were you when you first started dating? Do you remember your first date?

My first date was when I was probably 19 or so.  I remember my first date although I'd rather forget it and focus on my first date with the hubby...


5.  Today is also National Fig Newton day.  Do you like figs/Fig Newtons?

I could choke one down if I had to but I'd rather not!  lol

6.  Tell us something random about your week.


Today is my cousin's 31st birthday!  She's more like a sister to me than a cousin.  Happy Birthday, Steph!

Colletta