Book Club Book Review: The Last Thing On My List by Jill Smolenski

The Last Thing on my List follows complacent June Parker as she deals with the very real and very shocking experience of having been the driver and sole survivor of a car accident. Her acquaintance through Weight Watchers, Marissa, is killed when she is thrown from the car, leaving behind her recipe for Taco Soup and a list of 20 things to do before her 25th birthday. Two things are already accomplished: lose 100 pounds and wear sexy shoes. June takes on the remaining 18 in an effort to cleanse herself of the guilt she feels for having been responsible for the death of Marissa and to honor Marissa's memory.

June learns a lot about herself through this process and ends up shaking herself out of her complacency in such a way that she grows and becomes aware of her growth and is proud as a result.

I liked the book--found it very believable and not depressing at all (which I originally thought it would be though the lime greem cover really threw me there!). It's a charming tale of a woman who learns to love herself and as a result touches the lives of other people around her.

Elizabeth's purple scarf

Made from a softly spun merino wool, this scarf is much softer than you'd imagine. There are skinny white, pink and turquoise stripes. The fringe is twisted.

Celebration by Carolyn Henry and the Thornton Thimblers!

Done

pics tomorrow when it's dry...can't wait to hang it!

7 Towels for My Bathroom

The colors match the mirror in the bathroom. The pattern is called a block twill--so many variations and options one can do with this. I love each and every one of them.

My New Bed

My temperpedic bed arrived today and is set up...I'm hoping that it solves our sleeping dilemma! Updates when I know more.

I've got a secret...

...don't tell anyone but I just finished quilting the quilt bee quilt. I'll hem it tomorrow, wash it and then take its picture. I can hardy believe it!

Schedule

I'm busy working on my dissertation and weaving during the day. Resting at night. It's been a good schedule for me and I feel like I'm actually making progress...on both fronts. At any rate, I can't think of anything clever to say so I'm just letting you all know that I'm busily dissertating--whatever that means--and that I'll have pics of my lovely new towels tomorrow!

clementi sonatina op 20 no 4 mvt 2

Book Review: The Last Girls by Lee Smith

Smith departs from her usual poetic ramble through the psyche of Appalachian folk lore to write a story about women coming of age—it felt rather cosmopolitan for her, but it wasn’t really, of course.

The Last Girls is about four women (college dorm mates) who have been invited on a steamboat cruise of the Mississippi River to spread the ashes of a fifth dorm mate, Baby, who recently passed away in an automobile accident. The focal character is Harriet who must come to terms with her life choices and sexuality (or lack thereof). Charlotte, Anna and Catherine round out the quartet.

While the story is interesting, and we get enough back story on each of the characters to understand their importance in understanding Baby, I didn’t fall in love with The Last Girls as I have with every other Lee Smith book I’ve read. It fell flat for some reason—either the characters weren’t developed enough, or the true story, the more interesting one of the raft trip the girls took as college students, was embedded too deeply and mysteriously for it to be a linking thread throughout.

I liked the book, I didn’t love it. Not recommended for die-hard Lee Smith fans as they will likely be disappointed. Recommended for women who like to read about women coming of age and want to read an author who knows how to write well.

Fleece and Wool Scarf

I'm going to see if Alyssa wants it to replace the blanket that failed. It's very very soft and fuzzy feeling. I imagine it will be quite warm too.

Pillow

I have some issue with following directions, or there is some issue with the directions I follow, OR there is some issue with the yardage reported on yarns. At any rate, I did not have enough burgandy solid to make two pillows, so ended up only making one. Here it is. It looks great in my living room. I like the yarn, but don't know if it's worth the expense as there are other similar yarns that are cheaper. Use will let me know.

Pics of the Empty Nest

You start in the foyer--it's an octagonal red room. We have two chairs and an ottoman. Then you go to the salon which houses my piano, a couch and chair with ottoman, and an armoire with all kinds of storage. Next is the bedroom which we've painted turquoise. I've only shown one bed here but we have two in there for now. The stairs are in the bedroom and lead to the storage room upstairs. The office is next. David's at his desk and my desk area is vacant. Then you enter the studio. I've taken two pictures to try to capture as much of it as I can. I just love that room. The white work table upon entry is amazing.

The kitties approve of the new sofa and chair

Me and my quilt!

I have no idea how I'm going to piece a quilt top for the 2010 bee, finish hand quilting this one, AND write a dissertation in the coming year, but I guess I'll figure it out. I LOVE my new quilt. Thanks Carolyn for making it "for me" :) I love my quilt bee family!

Packed up for the Quilt Bee!

No kidding. Everything I need for 4 days is in this backpack...now it doesn't include the two giant boxes I sent with Mom last week, but not bad :)

Sunflowers

Yea!

The Weaving Studio is complete--as far as I can tell. I still need to hang pictures, but I consider that lagnaippe! Oh, it's so wonderful!

We're Nested

I LOVE my empty nest. I have a weaving studio that is gorgeous.

We have finally finished all the painting and moved all the furniture, so now we have to hang three ceiling fans (electricians coming tomorrow or Wed for that) and hang pictures and we're pretty much done.

I hope my little fledglings enjoy their new nests as much as we are enjoying spreading out in their old one!

I'll have pictures sometime next week after the quilt bee...