Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Wednesday Reads and My Decorated Tree

I only finished reading one book last week and I still have four more books to read to reach my goal. Man, I hope I make it. I’m beginning to have my doubts (I must have some short ones around here somewhere). Here’s the book I read:

Dec 3: “No Good Deed” by Allison Brennan, #10 in the Lucy Kincaid series, a suspense/thriller at 461 pages. Blurb from book: Lucy Kincaid understands the dangers of corruption. As an FBI agent, she has witnessed some very bad deeds committed by seemingly good people. That’s why she’s glad to see corrupt DEA Agent Nicole Rollins behind bars for murder, conspiracy, and gunrunning. But when Rollins makes a daring escape—jeopardizing a busload of children and killing five officers—Lucy become the key to the biggest manhunt in Texas history…and the target of a brilliant killer. Some believe Rollins has fled the country. But Lucy suspects her plan is far more sinister—a taunting game of cat and mouse that hits much closer to home. First, an FBI agent with a connection to Texas is killed in Washington. Then, Kane Rogan disappears on a mission. When Rollins ups the ante again, Lucy is determined to save the people she loves—before her enemy strikes again. Time is running out. The body count is rising. Rollins wants more than revenge—she wants to destroy everything Lucy holds dear… Whoo boy! What a ride. Ups, downs, twists, turns, and some really sick characters. What’s not to love? This is still one of my favorite series (even though I would have loved to smack Sean upside the head in this book—if he were a real person, that is).

I promised an updated picture of my decorated tree, so here it is…

Hey, can you tell what design is on
the black/white/grey afghan (shown on the
lower left)? I made that!

After I decorated the tree on Monday, I then addressed and signed 79 Christmas cards. By hand (I prefer the personal touch, you know?). Doing all that took all afternoon. Whew! You wouldn’t think that would be exhausting, but it was. I’ll have to plan better next year. That’s if I end up sending out that many again. But I won’t print out labels. Or buy pre-signed cards. Nope. Not me. Some of my recipients may get a form Christmas letter, but not a Christmas card. I’ll only resort to that when I can no longer hold a pen.

Even though I sent out 79 Christmas cards, only 27 of them got my form Christmas letter. See… I don’t torture EVERYONE! Only my closest relatives and friends. I mean, isn’t that what friends and family is all about? Torture?

So… Do you send out Christmas cards? What kind and how many? Share, share, share! How else am I going to get comments? J

Happy Reading!

Stacy

10 comments:

The Happy Whisk said...

I don't know what the pattern is but it's very pretty. So is the tree. No, on the cards. Loooooonnng time ago I stopped.

Happy Christmas.

Sandra Cox said...

Love the afghan. The tree looks great too.
I probably don't send out over half a dozen cards anymore.
Good for you for sending them out. Lots of work.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Ivy - Guess I'll have to mention the pattern on Friday's blog. Maybe I'll just take a picture of the afghan. Sometimes I think I should stop with the Christmas cards, but I just can't.

Sandra - It is lots of work, but I like getting cards back. Not that I get back as many as I send out. :(

JeffO said...

We haven't sent out Christmas cards in years. It's just something we were very bad at, and now, we've lost our old address book!

B.E. Sanderson said...

Ooo, pretty tree! And awesome afghan! LOL, I had the same thoughts about Sean in No Good Deed.

I finished cards yesterday. I only do about 30. Hand signed, but I don't personalize them. And I hand address. It was a pain, but it's worth it. I like sending Christmas cards. It makes me happy. =o)

Stacy McKitrick said...

Jeff - I'm always afraid I'll lose my address book and I've had that thing since I was 16 or 17. I know I won't be able to buy anymore replacement sheets, but I haven't used them all up, either.

Beth - Yay! Someone else who hand signs! About the only personalization I do on Christmas cards is put someone's name (and I don't always do that, especially if they're getting a letter).

The Happy Whisk said...

Christmas cards are nice, I used to enjoy writing them out and all of that fun stuff but now, with the Internet, I just send drawings over email or stuff like that.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Ivy - A lot of our relatives don't have e-mail accounts. Plus, no one would want one of my drawings. Aaack!

The Happy Whisk said...

Understandable about the not having email but surely, they WOULD want your drawings.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Ivy - Uh... nope. I can't draw.