CHECK IT OUT

A new feature on my blog starting today.  As a former librarian, okay, para-librarian, I'm still reading and sometimes I run across wonderful books that are not written by the hot authors of the day.  You know which ones I'm talking about..John Sandford, James Patterson, Danielle Steel (I really don't read any of hers).
I like bloody suspense once in a while but I also like historical fiction, non-fiction and just plain good literature, which, sadly, there is a lack of. 

One of the surprising historical fiction/christian books I recently finished taught me something I should have known about a long time ago. It's called Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin. The story takes place in eastern Kentucky during the depression where a young librarian from Chicago travels with her aunt and uncle. She was corresponding with the Kentucky librarian and decided to deliver boxes of books that she collected for the library. Little did she know what she was getting into. Not only was she awakened to the poverty of the area but she was educated about the pack horse librarians. The story is about the pack horse librarians of eastern Kentucky. The pack horse librarian program was the brain child of the Roosevelt’s and the WPA program in 1935. It was a way to give women jobs as well as bring desperately-needed reading materials to the folks living in the hills with little or nothing. I've been in the library world for over 30 years and I never heard of the pack horse librarians. It was a terrific story and it led me to search for more information on the subject. I found another book entitled Down Cut Shin Creek by Kathi Appelt and Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer. It's a children's book but chocked full of wonderful photographs. Both are worth your time and are available from your local library.

And, one more

The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure.

I had no idea there was a Little House on the Prairie cult but this book proves it. How anyone could be obsessed with Laura Ingalls Wilder and her life was shocking to me but apparently there are thousands of Laura wanna-bees around the world. This author took her husband and went on vacation visiting every known place where Ma and Pa Ingalls and the family lived, and there were many. I am probably the only person in the world that never read a “Little House” book and after reading The Wilder Life I won't have to. I learned everything there is, and then some, about the Ingalls family, Laura and Almanzo and their daughter Rose. And, some very surprising revelations, I might add. Even if you're not a Little House fan, this book is well worth reading. It's funny and poignant and, again, there's a lot of late nineteenth century historical stuff that I always find fascinating.

I have no pictures to share today.  I'll have to get busy on that again.  Please leave a comment and tell me what you think about para-librarian book reviews.  Worth reading?

Pay It Forward

One of our members at quilt guild came to our meeting a few months ago with odds and ends she discovered while cleaning either her stash or her mothers.  One of the items she showed us was this  pillowcase that was stamped with trains and train tracks and the train tracks were partially painted with embroidery paints. 

I opened my big mouth and said, "Oh, my neighbor just gave me a whole set of those embroidery paints."  In the blink of an eye, the pillowcase was in my lap.   Weeks, then months went by with the pillowcase in my "To Do" basket.  From time to time I would look at it and think I really need to finish this but then what would I do with it?  My bedroom decor is not quite into trains and I have a little grand nephew who might be able to use it but ...a pillowcase?  As I was running ideas around in my head I thought wouldn't it be nice if I could find some train fabric that looks like those two trains on the pillowcase.  Then I could make a simple child's quilt and put it together.  Thanks to the wonders of Internet, I found the perfect fabric.

It's called "Train Crazy" from RJR Fabrics.  And a further search led me to River City Quilts in Mankato where they had it on hand.  I always like to save the shipping costs whenever I can.   I cut the train strips and inserted other fabrics to come up with  a child size quilt.  I fussy cut the train signs from the top strip and fused them to the black fabric and zig-zagged them down.

You can see that the top two black strips are not quite done.  One thing I have trouble remembering when I blog is to take the picture before I do something.  LOL

After all the applique was done, I used a poly batt and put on a red and tan plaid backing.  I stitched in the ditch for the quilting and with the poly batt, it made for a nice cushy little quilt.  Next, I finished painting the pillowcase.  I painted the trains the same color as the ones on the quilt.

And, here is the completed project of the quilt and pillowcase together.

This will be going back to my friend Ruth at the quilt guild to give to the Children's Crisis Nursery.  I hope some little boy will find comfort in having his very own quilt and dream about future train rides.  I hope there are still trains to ride when he grows up.

New Bear

I finally finished those two beautiful light colored mink bears.  They'll be going to their new home on Friday.

The one on the left is wearing a banner with the name of the coat's owner embroidered on the lining.  So many of the mink coats that I get are custom made and their names or initials are embroidered on the lining.  If there are only initials I'll put them on the paw pads if they fit. 

Now, I'm caught up with the bears.  On to some felted wool projects and I have a couple of quilt tops to quilt.  I'll share those when they are finished.

Today was a beautiful day for the 9th of November.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky.  Minnie and I went on our walk around noon and it was glorious with the sun shining and the yellow leaves raining down.  Went for a ride to the next town, visited a thrift store and stopped at a flooring store for some ideas on floor covering.  My washing machine is terminal so it's only a matter of time before I'll have to put it out of its misery.  Since it will be leaving the laundry room in the near future, I've decided to replace the flooring.  One thing inevitably leads to another as things go.  Not looking forward to the expense and disruption in my life but things need to be kept up and fixed. 

Looking forward to a quiet weekend and hopefully no snow.  The holiday season is fast approaching and there's always lots to do.  Having an early Thanksgiving get-together with out-of-state friends next Monday and I promised to make pies for the occasion.  Mmmmm - I'm told I make darn good pies.  My mother was known for her pie making and I guess I inherited the pie gene.  I must have because she never taught me. 

Have a good weekend everyone.

Out and About

Daylight saving time ended this morning.  I'm never sure why it's called "Daylight Saving".  How can you save daylight?  And, I wasn't sure whether it starts or ends today.  All I know is that I wake up at 2 a.m. instead of 3 a.m.  The dog wants her supper at 3 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. and I want my supper at 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.  Life is too complicated sometimes.

Today was the Holiday Expo & Craft Show.  I shared a booth with  my friends Pat and Teri and we had a good afternoon visiting with folks, looking at some neat stuff, selling our goods and buying more.  Here are some pictures of our day.

Pat and Teri setting up our booth.  You can see why we should probably have two spaces next year.

Awesome jewelry made out of some type of fiber material.

Dream catchers made by Prairie Willow from Mankato.  They also had handmade jewelry.  Very nice

This was the view from our booth.  Lots of vendors, lots of space and a good crowd.  A very successful day.  Now I'm tired and I'll be ready for bed soon.  Oh, it's only 5:00 but my body says it's 6:00.  Do I dare go to bed at 8:00?  Will I stay awake that long?  Sigh!

HOLIDAY EXPO & CRAFT SHOW

I'll be one of the vendors with two friends selling our wares at the...

 

9TH ANNUAL

EXPO & CRAFT SHOW

Sunday, Nov. 6

9-2 p.m.

Le Center Middle School

150 W. Tyrone St.

FREE

Over 45 Vendors

One Last Halloween Post...I Promise

Last night the kids came to the door in the most wonderful costumes.  And I had intended to take pictures of them but once they got the candy, they turned and were gone.  When we had a lull in the action, we dashed up to "The Halloween House".  Joe and his brother put together a spooky house last year which was a big hit.  They expanded their talents and got more friends involved and came up with an incredible display.
These are some of the characters and ghouls we encountered.

                                                               
                                                                      And this is Joe

Needless to say, some kids were scared out of their wits.  And there was a sound system of spooky music and moans and groans.  What a hoot.  I can't wait for next year. 

Minnie Ballerinni

Last night I got a costume out for Minnie that she wore when she was a few years younger and, I discovered, a few pounds lighter.  She has a ladybug costume that I just couldn't fix so that she was comfortable.  Ever since Minnie has lived with us, she has greeted the Tricks & Treaters in costume.  Last year she was a hot dog.

I just couldn't repeat the hot dog costume again so I got busy this morning with a new creation.  I dug through my stash and came up with satin and lace and grabbed that pattern I bought at the garage sale a few weeks ago.  And here's my little ballerina

LOL  Happy Halloween