Finished Reading “The Séance” and a Crochet Project

A writer friend had a bunch of yarn (which belonged to her mother who couldn’t crochet anymore) and was going to donate it to a thrift store run by a woman’s shelter. But another writer friend who runs the store didn’t think it would sell. She knew I crocheted and asked if I wanted it. I said I’d take it and make things for the store (like scarves and hats). Writer friend #2 said she had a lot of yarn in the store and asked if I wanted that, too. I said, why not?

I had no idea what I got myself into.

But I’ve made the store lots of blankets, scarves, hats, and miscellaneous things and they appear to sell quickly (although, I think she doesn’t sell them for very much).

I had some cotton yarn that I thought (THOUGHT) would make a nice market bag. Thing is, the bag turned out way bigger than I thought, and took much more yarn than I had on hand. So of course, I used my own leftover yarn to finish it, only to find out I didn’t have enough of that, either. On to the store I went. So what started out with left over yarn, ended up with purchased yarn. I figure I can keep some of the other cotton yarn for myself. Maybe.

Anyway… this is what I made. It was supposed to be 17” across. It’s more like 24”. Doubt I make another. It took way too much yarn. But that’s what I like about making things for the thrift store. I can try out patterns. If I don’t like them, I don’t make anymore. If I do like them, I have a new pattern to reuse.  

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 29

Dates read: Jun 2-7, 2023
Title: The Seance
Year of publication: 2007
Author: Heather Graham
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Series: Harrison Investigations #5
# of Pages: 371
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased used
Blurb from Book: A chill falls over Christina Hardy’s housewarming party when talk turns to a recent murder that has all the hallmarks of the so-called “Interstate Killer” murders from fifteen years before. To lighten the mood, the guests drag out an old Ouija board for a little spooky fun…and that’s when things become truly terrifying.
    Summoned by the Ouija board, the restless spirit of Beau Kidd, the lead detective—and chief suspect—on the original case, seeks Christina’s help: the latest killing isn’t a copycat crime, and he wants his name cleared. Back in the real world, cop-turned-writer Jed Braden is skeptical of Christina’s ghostly encounters, but his police sources confirm all the intimate details of the case—her otherworldly source is reliable, and the body count is growing.
    The spirits are right. The Interstate Killer is still out there and Christina’s life is hanging in the balance between this world and the next.
My thoughts: I’m glad I picked this series to begin my binge-reading. They have ghosts (yay!) and will hopefully get me back into my own ghost story. I liked this story. The mystery had me guessing for most of the book and brought back characters I actually remembered from the previous book. I like when that happens.

My son owns the dvd series of Deep Space 9. I felt like watching it again, so I borrowed them from him. I forgot how much I enjoyed the shows. And it’s nice to watch them while I’m crocheting, too. Keeps me from eating, anyways! Haha! I’ve already watched season 1 and started on season 2. I appear to be binging a lot lately. Books, TV. Hmmm… what else could I binge? Is there anything else?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and Other Stuff

I went to bed Monday night when the Rams/Raiders game was at half-time. The Rams were losing 10-13 in a back and forth type of game. Would have stayed up if I didn’t have a doctor appointment the next morning. So happy to wake up Tuesday and saw the Rams WON! 33-13. They shut those Raiders down in the second half. Whoo hoo!

As for that doctor appointment… it was a follow-up from my skin cancer “surgery” back in February. There were some spots I’ve noticed on my face and arm which I brought to their attention. The spots I found were okay (whew), but… Yeah, she saw something else on my face and it’s pre-cancerous. Now I have to put cream on the spot to kill the skin cells. Basically it burns the skin off after 3 weeks (2x a day) of treatment. That won’t be fun. Hubby had to do that to his whole face before and he was miserable! At least I can wait until I get back from vacation to start and then I can moan and groan like he did. Okay, maybe not like he did. I don’t have to put it all over my face. Just on the spot on my cheek. Still… pre-cancerous. Ugh!!!

One of these days I’m going to go to the doctor and leave without a follow up appointment!

Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #34

Dates read: September 5-11
Title: Don’t Tell
Year of publication: 2003
Author: Karen Rose
Genre: Romantic suspense
Series: Romantic Suspense #1/Chicago #1
# of Pages: 482
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: It was a desperate plan. But Mary Grace Winters knew the only way to save herself and her child form her abusive cop husband was to stage their own death. Now all that remains of their former life is at the bottom of a lake…
    Armed with a new identity in a new town, she and her son have found refuge hundreds of miles away. As Caroline Stewart, she has almost forgotten the night-mare she left behind nine years ago. She is even taking a chance of love with Max Hunter, a man with wounds of his own. But her past is about to collide with the present when her husband uncovers her trail and threatens her hard-won peace. Step by step, he’s closing in on her—and everything and everyone she loves.
My thoughts: Man, what a page turner! I hated putting this one down. I had started reading some of Ms. Rose’s books further on in the series after I had met her at a convention and got her to sign the few books she had on hand (which I bought after someone had said they stayed up all night reading them—when I hear words like that, I gotta check them out). Then after reading those books, realized I wanted (WANTED, not needed) to read them from the beginning. You don’t have to if you don’t want (they can be read as stand alones), but man, if you love romantic suspense, you’ll want to start these from the beginning, too, if only because some of the characters will show up in future books. I have found myself another author where she’ll be an auto buy, but first I gotta get through the series (which is up to #22). I look forward to reading them all.

So… Do you prefer to binge read a series or spread them out? I’ve done both and I think I prefer binge-reading. I remember more when I’m reading them back-to-back.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Binging

There are times I love a good binge. Not with eating. That would be bad. Oh, I could totally do it (I have done it), but certainly wouldn’t feel well after. Good thing there are better (and healthier) ways to binge.

When I finished the revisions of Blind Temptation, I rewarded myself with watching the Twilight movies all in one day. That was fun. But it was my reward after revisions, not a first draft. So I wanted my reward for finishing the first draft of Ghostly Interlude to be a little more…extravagant. And what’s more extravagant than reading all six books of the Bloodlines series (by Richelle Mead)? This reward would definitely take more than one day.

But could I read the series in a week? Seems like I can! I should finish it up today. One week after I started. Best binge EVER! I haven’t felt this obsessed over characters in a long time. Of course, that probably has a lot to do with the books, too!

Downside with binge reading? Remembering to do OTHER stuff. You know, like write the Friday post to my blog. Oops! J

So… what was the last thing you binged on? Was it good or was it bad? So glad mine was good. Actually, it was awesome!

Have a great day!

Stacy