NOT THIS TIME a novel by Vicki Hinze

Published by Multnomah
Book #3 of the Crossroads Crisis Center

Sara and Beth have been friends since school, and have a business that is doing quite well.  Then Sara meets and marries Robert, who Beth feels is all wrong for Sara, and things are set in turmoil between the 2 friends.  When Robert disappears and a wedding is disturbed by NINA, with one person dying after the attack, the police think maybe  Beth had something to do with Robert's disappearance.   Sara has an asthma attack, and is rushed to the hospital, so it is left to Beth to deal with the message that Robert has been kidnapped, and if the ransom isn't paid, he will die.
The  deeper things go, the more confused things get....

This is a great book, the suspense is very real feeling, and it is definitely a page turner. I'll be waiting for another Vicki Hinze to become available, so I can read another great book.

Florals I made today and a picture of Petey and Buddy.

I posted about Petey and his 'bug' yesterday, not realizing I had a picture of him in my album.

He likes Buddyboo, who likes Poppy's chair, so he stretches out there anytime he's here.

I received a call last evening, could I make a couple of florals for a funeral. 

I've been doing florals for about 10 years, and since I don't have much overhead, I can do them for at least half what they would cost at a shop.

These are the two I made this morning.

Exciting dog day

About 5:00pm I was standing near the door and saw a flash of gray...moving around in the yard.  Flash the wonder dog was laying on the ground asleep, and a little Tufted Titmouse hopped on him, tugged at some hair and flew off.  Flash sat up just about the time she flew.  Now I  know that birds gather hair to line nests, but that is the first time I've ever saw a bird take hair from a live animal.

At about 8:40pm Julie called, said a bug was on Petey's lip, and she couldn't get it off.  Knowing that Julie knows what ticks are, I wondered what kind of bug.  She brought him over, and it was a large bug that had attached itself to his lip and wouldn't turn loose.  I finally held him while she got a tissue and it came off.  I came away with a good scratch on my arm, lol, and Petey went to the food dish and snacked on food.

Two things I've never had happen and both in one evening.

Just Rambling Again

I got to go to visitation for Mrs. Eathel, saw lots of people I knew.  I got a bear hug from her oldest son, who said I hadn't changed a bit.  Then saw our coach from 7th grade, who said the same thing.  I took a floral arrangement and put on it 'Class of '66', and now 4 of my classmates are donating toward the cost.  That will pay for the next one that I do, as I do them for classmates and teachers who have passed on.

Now for other rambling.

We got 6 of the cabinet doors on Julie's cabinets yesterday.  I didn't get photos of them after I whitewashed them, but here are what they looked like before. Hope the blurry one doesn't make you dizzy.  The doors were built from lumber that we sawed from a huge pine that had to come down when new electrical lines went in a couple of years ago.    I promise new and better photos next time.

Just Rambling

No pictures today, I'll try and remember the camera next trip.

I have the wood trim painted on edge of cabinet.  It looks good.  We hung the first door yesterday, I still need to do a little work on it, we used a piece of really distressed wood, and it needs a little love.  Trying to decide if the distressed will look good, or if we need to buy clear wood, and distress it.

I went to Walmart yesterday, and smiled at someone, who immediately said JETTIE FAYE, a woman I hadn't seen in at least 40 years.  Guess I haven't changed a bit.  After she told me who she was, I could see it, but I didn't recognize her until then.  She was about 3 years ahead of me in school.

Then I ran into my 3rd grade teacher, who stopped and talked a minute.  She told me that one of my other teachers had passed away early on Friday.  I'm hoping to be able to go to the visitation, doubt I'll make it to the funeral.  This teacher, Eathel Freeman, was raising a family, teaching school, working a farm, and going to college.  I had her in 2nd grade in a little 2 room school house just down the road from my grandparent's house.  Then, I changed schools, she was pregnant with her 4th child, and teaching, and dad didn't think that was something a woman should do.  My how times have changed.  Anyway, they closed the little 2 room school, and in 4th grade, all the children there followed me to the school where I went until I graduated.  Mrs. Eathel, that is what we called her, followed too, and as she got more education, she moved up to high school, so I had her from 5th grade until I graduated in some class, mostly history and math.  I'm going to say she was the best teacher I ever had, if I had problems in English or any other class, she would help, and make it clear.  I hope you were lucky enough to have a teacher similar to her.  She and I have stayed in touch all these years, and I've been out of school for 46 years.......She used to call just to chat.  I talked to her oldest daughter awhile back, and she told me her mom wasn't doing well...I guess there is a time for all of us to move to the next level in life.
RIP Mrs. Eathel, See you again some day.

Outside with camera

I decided to go see if I had any flowers blooming on the north side of our property.

I found this little bee really enjoying the weeds that are blooming.

I've never noticed any bees this color before..

Just regular old honey bees.

I also saw this pretty guy, and his bee friend to his right.

Another shot of the 'orange' bee.

And here is the cabinets, dishwasher, and new tops.

I didn't take the camera yesterday, so you'll have to imagine a wood trim piece

on the cabinet edges

Smitten by Coble, Billerbeck, Hunt, Hunter

Smitten Vermont is a small town with only one major employer, so when the mill shuts down, people wonder what they will do. Several decide to try and make Smitten a Destination Vacation spot, and go to work to get things started. Most of the older population aren't so sure.
This is a book of 4 short stories by 4 different authors, which, together, make a novel.
The stories are:

Natalie: Birthday Wishes by Colleen Coble.
Natalie is raising her neice, who her sister says was fathered by one of the Smitten family, Carson Smitten. He denies the charge, so Natalie isn't too friendly with him, until they are thrown together trying to get things ready for his brother's wedding.

Julie: Small town, Big dreams by Kristin Billerbeck.

Julie was working for a large spa in NYC until her mother broke her leg and needed Julie's help, so home she came. She's always been attracted to Zak her older brother's best friend, but he's never given her any hope. So, when her mentor from NYC shows up to help her with a spa, and picks Zak's place, she refuses, and her mentor leaves in a huff. Will she put in a spa anyway, or will she go back to New York?

Shelby: You've got a Friend by Diann Hunt

When her home catches fire, and she has 2 weeks to get things together before her classes for Social Graces, her business that she runs from part of her home, are scheduled to start. Before long, she and fireman, Nick, are working together, but things are a little strained, because of his daughter, Willow.

Reese: All Along by Denise Hunter

Reese is opening a Outfitters store to supply climbing, hiking, and skiing gear to the town. She has the help of Griffin Parker, who has admired her from afar for a long time. But, Reese had been in love with Carson Smitten forever, even though she wouldn't have anything to do with him after he supposedly fathered a child by Natalie's sister. Would Griffin be able to convince her he was serious?

I was given a copy of this book to read and review, no other compensation given. I'm not required to give a good review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A very enjoyable book, with some twists and turns along the way to keep it interesting. I like the fact that is is 4 seperate stories combined into a novel.

Harriet Beamer takes the Bus by Joyce Magnin

Published by Zondervan Publishing

Harriet is recently widowed with one child, Henry, who lives in California.  He is married and his wife, Prudence, is a lawyer, he is an author.  Harriet is 72, and they worry about her being in Pennsylvania all alone in the house.When they show up for Christmas, and find Harriet on the floor, where she fell while trying to hang an ornament on the tree, they fuss.  Of course, being a betting woman, Harriet bets Prudence that her ankle isn't broken.  Prudence says if she wins the bet, then Harriet has to move to California and live with them.

4 Months later, Harriet has sold her house, and is prepared to fly to California, she's shipped her salt and pepper collection ahead.  But, being Harriet, she decides to do things her way.  She ships Humphrey, her Basset Hound to her son, and decides to take the bus, but not Greyhound, she is only taking public transportation.   About 2 days into her trip, she ends up in a YouTube Video, when she stopped a purse snatcher in a bus station, after he took an older lady's purse.   Henry and Prudence almost have a heart attack when they see it.  And this is just the beginning of her adventure.

This is a funny book, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  It is just the right length, 311 pages, with just the right amount of seriousness to make it realistic.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review, with no expectation of a favorable review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Hooked on Words with Friends, and then

Yes, that facebook game has me hooked, I love playing it, even though I'm not the greatest player.
But, now, they have so many stupid pop up ads on it, that I'm getting one after every play.  I'm considering paying what it costs to go Ad Free, if it isn't too much.  None of the other games I play have the ads.

I hit a home run!

No, I wasn't playing softball, my creaky old joints wouldn't allow for that..
.I'm talking about with one of my auction purchases.  2 years ago, I purchased a 'package deal' at an auction, got lots of large sheets of Formica and some other things that have already been used for $10...Yesterday we dug into the stack of Formica, and found enough to do the tops of Julie's cabinets, in something I thought she would like.  She called as soon as she walked in the door, to tell me it was perfect.  That saved her about $170 in money, and it cleared 1/8 inch of space next to my wall in the garage.

The big shaper/ router went out on Tuesday, so here we sit, trying to figure out what to buy so we can build her cabinet doors....Not that there isn't work we can be doing, like putting the poly on the cabinets, and re-installing the sink, but it would have been nice to have been able to work here on days that we didn't want to drive over to her house.

Look for 2 new book reviews on Monday....
J

A Little of this, and a little of That

Or as the title says, Jettie's Ramblings....

I was over at Nana Diana's blog this morning, where she was talking about snow, and braving the roads to get a cup of coffee....her addiction is STARBUCKS

I'd be right behind her, if there was no coffee available to drink, at the house.

Several years ago, we had company visiting, and getting ready to leave.  I got up to find that the coffee pot had died since the morning before, which even in the best circumstance, is very bad.  Normally, I'd be fine with the loss of anything else, but that cup of coffee has to be ready shortly after I crawl out of bed, or there will be heck to pay.  Since the company and my husband were not big coffee drinkers, they couldn't figure out what my complaint was....as I got more and more agitated....I finally jumped into the car, ran up to the store locally, and grabbed the largest cup they had.   And then I went to town and bought a new pot...

Cabinet doors are on hold, our big shaper Router decided it didn't want to work, just as we started the first door.  A couple of hundred dollars, and a week of waiting for shipping, and we'll be back in business..I'm going to try and find a part to fix it, just to have a spare.

I want everyone to know that I have the greatest aunt in the world.  Actually a couple of them, but this time I'm talking about my Aunt Charlene, she is such a special person, and so good hearted.  Say a prayer for her, if you will, because she is 86, and I want to keep her forever.

Have a great day.

A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH, by Donna Fletcher Crow

2nd in the series, The Monastery Murders
Published by Monarch Books

I received this book from Kregel publications to read and review.  No other compensation was given.
All opinions expressed here are my own,  I'm not required to give a positive review.

Felicity receives a message from her mother, her parents are divorcing, and mom is on her way to visit.  So she decides to go on retreat, to avoid her mother, who she feels has been distant and career orientated during Felicity's childhood.

Religious Icons are disappearing from several monasteries, and Antony, who she has helped solve a murder with before, wants her help.  He shows up with her mother in tow .  Of course they get into trouble, and even think they are about to be killed. .

I enjoyed the story,  my only complaint is the extensive descriptions of religious history at the various monasteries.  Anyone who is more a history buff of this era, than I am, probably would really enjoy the story more.
.

DOWNFALL by Terri Blackstock

Where oh where is the stars button, this book deserves at least 5.
Published by  Zondervan publishing

Emily Covington has been a drug addict, liar, and about everything else.  She's turned her life around, and moved with her mother and brother to Atlanta, started college, and is working at Haven House, a drug rehab where people are 'sentenced' to spend some time, to get off drugs.

Someone plants a bomb under her car, then 2 wives of former Haven House patients are killed, and suddenly she is accused of murder.  Who is trying to get her arrested? And why?

Arrested and transferred to Alabama, Emily is attacked by a mentally ill woman, and breaks her ankle.  Why is God giving her these obstacles, now, when she has turned her life around.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review by Zondervan, no other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed here are my own, I am not required to give a positive review.

He fired them

JD, my grandson, broke his leg on Dec 12th.  His friends who were with him at the time, offered to carry his books, get his lunch tray, and stay with him inside, during his recovery....Well, Jeb didn't keep up his part, so Jd fired him...And another or 2 friends stepped in, but didn't meet his expectations, so they also got fired.
Sidney is the only one who hasn't been fired, leave it to a girl to do what she has promised.
On Friday, I told Sidney that when he is able to walk without crutches, that Jd owed her lunch.  Jd, being a stinker, said no, she is the one who told me to jump, when I broke my leg.  His mom told him that he should buy her a CandyGram at school for Valentines Day...No, wouldn't do that either...If I were Sidney, I'd smile sweetly and tell him to carry his own books, wouldn't you?

The Sound of Red Returning by Sue Duffy

15 years ago, Liesl Bower saw her mentor shot down.  Now, as she starts toward the piano to give a concert for the President and First Lady, looking out into the audience, she sees a familiar face in the 2nd row, the man killed him.  As she leaves to go to her hotel, her driver tells her they are being followed.  And again, a few days later, she barely escapes being snatched, why are they after her?

I love the suspense in this book, and how it keeps building.  Sue Duffy makes you feel you are right there in the dark, trying to escape the danger.

I received this book to read and review, from Litfuse.  No other compensation was given.  I am not required to give a positive review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Princess Stories, Real Bible Stories of God's Princesses by Carolyn Larson

The day this book arrived, my 8 1/2 year old granddaughter was visiting. I told her the book would be hers as soon as I reviewed it online. She misunderstood, and packed the book in her bag, and took it home. She read it before I had a chance to do my review, but she did give it back, only long enough for me to review.

This book tells the story of God's Princesses. Eve is the first one listed, and #30 is You. Every chapter tells a story of a woman in the Bible in words that young children can understand. I highly recommend this for every little girl. It is easy to read, well written, and makes little girls feel like a real princess.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review, by Tyndale House Publishers. No other compensation was given. I am not required to give a positive review, all opinions expressed here are my own.

The Road Trip, Sidecar adventures with God, by Jo Lynn Crozier

We've all awakened with a headache, but nothing like Liz woke with, one morning. The next minute, she's talking with God himself.
And her conversation with God is amazing. He wants her to take a trip with him, not in a car, but in sidecar on a motorcycle.
 The Road Trip is a great book, very interesting, funny at times, and makes you think about what God really wants us to do in our lives.  It is a quick read and keeps your attention.


I was given a copy of this book to read and review, no other compensation was given.
All opinions expressed here are my own, I'm not required to give a favorable review.

The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

Mattie bakes cakes, she does wonderful work, and she owns her on shop.    Sol, her boyfriend, hunts, when he isn't making pallets for his family business.  When the cake shop catches fire, Mattie runs back inside, thinking she saw her niece in the shop.  Someone contacts Gideon Beiler, her former fiance, and he goes to the hospital, only to run into Sol.
During the holidays, Mattie goes home to see her parents, while waiting on the insurance money, to rebuild her shop.  There she is thrown in constant contact with Gideon, who she feels dumped her to date an Englisher lady.
I think that Cindy Woodsmall is one of the best writers of Amish fiction I've ever read.  I highly recommend this book.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review, no other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed are my own, I'm not required to give a favorable review.

1.  Where do you like to vacation?

I'm pretty much a home body, so a day trip is my favorite thing, to a park, a museum, or something simple.

2.  Do you have pets?

Yes, 3 dogs and a bunch of cats which aren't really pets, they just show up and I feed them.

3.  What is your favorite color?

Teals, greens, lavenders, chocolate browns, black

Most colors, but I don't wear reds or pinks.

4.  How many are in your family?

2 of us

our 3 kids

and 3 grandkids

5.  What is your least favorite thing to do?

Laundry or dishes

6.  What is your most favorite thing to do?

Craft, read and write.

7.  If money were no object what would you like to do when you retire?

I am retired, and if money were no object, I'd build each of the kids a new house, set up a trust fund for each of the grands so they could attend the college of their choice.

8.   What is your favorite season?

I love spring, but I also love fall, so guess it is a tie.

9.   What book are you currently reading?

The Christmas Singing 

10. What time do you go to bed, get up in the morning?

about 10:00pm and get up about 6:30am.

11. How long have you been blogging?

I think I opened this blog in 2007, but I didn't do a lot for quite awhile

Now if you are adventurous

copy and past this to your blog, and answer the questions.

The LOOM by Shella Gillus

Shella Gillus has hit a home run on her first try. 

Lydia is a light colored house slave on a plantation in the south, pre Civil War. She hates being owned, and tries to escape, only to be caught and beaten badly, almost dying. She falls in love with John, but even being in love, she still wants to escape. When she sees her father beaten to death, she figures out how to escape, by pretending to be white. Soon she is in another town, being treated well by the friend of her former owner's daughter. He asks her to marry him, and soon Lydia finds that being 'free' isn't freedom. 

I really enjoyed this book, I love the era in which it is set, and feel that Ms Gillus did a wonderful job of portraying the era, and the people. 

I recieved this book to review from the Publisher. No other compensation was given. I am not required to give a favorable review, all opinions expressed here are my own.