I've been reading like crazy the past year. Being so sick and not having any energy, I started going to the library and taking tons and tons of books out, especially murder mystery series. I don't know why, I had never been interested in murder mysteries before but here are some that I have read and what I felt about them:
The Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier These murder mysteries are all centered around a holiday or important event.
I love these books. They are an easy read and the characters are pleasant. I love Lucy, she reminds me of me in a lot of ways, being a mom of a lot of kids, moving to the country after having been a city girl her whole life. She has an old farmhouse that needs tons of work, she heats with wood, has chickens and is crafty! Of course, as she gets older and their financial situation betters, they improve their home--they have a furnace, no more chickens, she doesn't have time to be crafty or cook or bake like she used to---I wish that hadn't changed, I could relate to her before better than now. I still love the books though, and I am looking forward to a new one!
The Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke
These are the first mysteries I started reading---or actually, listening to on CD. When I was first starting to go to the library, I started checking out the books on CD section, I do a lot of baking and cooking and I thought it would be fun to listen to a book while in the kitchen.
I really like Hannah, she's smart, she's a regular woman--not too thin--normal sized, not overly pretty, not fake. She runs a bakery and all the mysteries are named after baked goods. She has two boyfriends (I'm rooting for Norman!) and she nearly always finds the dead bodies in her little town of Lake Eden, Minnesota, much to the chagrin of her mother! The cast includes her cat crazy Moishe who is always causing come kind of trouble, her sisters Andrea and Michelle, her partner Lisa, her boyfriend Norman who has proved handy in helping to solve some of these mysteries and her other boyfriend, Mike---whom she should just dump because he's not good enough for her! The books are all starting to become predictable and the fact that Hannah leaves Norman hanging all the time when it is SO obvious that they are perfect for each other is irritating, but it is a fun read, or a fun listen---whichever you are inclined to do!
The Jaine Austen Mysteries by Laura Levine
Jaine is a Hollywood girl with a very non-Hollywood job. She is a writer but her biggest claim to fame is writing a slogan for a plumbing company. She also has a crazy cat, hers is named Prozac although her forgetful or just plain ditzy mother calls the cat every other antidepressant out there but prozac! Jaine is another who keeps finding dead bodies, usually having to do with a job she needs to take to pay the rent. The books are breezy and fun with a delightful cast of regular characters that keep Jaine hopping.
The Benni Harper Mysteries by Earlene Fowler
I think these are my favorites of all. First of all, the titles are all names of quilts and Benni herself is a quilter along with many of the woman in the books. These stories seem more real than the others---more serious with real issues that aren't glossed over with humor or unrealistic situations. Benni lives in San Celina, CA, a small town with a lot of big town murders! She is a curator for an artist co-op and she is married to the chief of police, Gabe, who is a strong, silent type---a Latino man who is either very passionate or very cold. Benni usually gets pulled into solving murders against her wishes, but she always seems to find information that the cops, including her own husband, can't find. All of the main characters are wonderfully fleshed out and realistic---which makes this a series that has more staying power to me. I just read finished reading the 13 books and I have to say, they are getting better as the series goes along, not losing steam like some of the others. Benni doesn't have a crazy cat, she has a well trained lab mix dog who is any dog lovers dream! She also has horses and cattle and ranches---lots of stuff going on in the background. It's a wonderful series, I hope Earlene keeps it going and I also hope that she gives Benni and Gabe a baby---they needs something that'll pull them together even more!
I recently joined Facebook----I had been holding out for years but my brother called me and told me that an old friend that I've known my entire life had found him on Facebook and was looking for me. I got in touch with her and it was great, we've got a lot of catching up to do but I look forward to doing so. After that I decided that I would take the plunge and join Facebook and see who else I could find. OMG, I have found so many people from high school, from early childhood and from after high school, it's been great! I've been reminded of great memories from my school years. And, I'll get the chance to meet some of hubbys' family who live far away whom I haven't met yet.
One of my old friends is having an anniversary, she met her fiance on Facebook and they are celebrating 1 year since they met----how romantic! Congratulations to you both and may you have the rest of your life together!
That is what my trip to Amish country is supposed to be all about---fabric. Well, we'll see how things are next week!
I'm hoping to get a lot of sewing done this weekend, it just depends on what hubby wants to do. Jeremy is helping Grandma this weekend so he'll be gone and Sean and Jaret don't want to be saddled with helping Seamus all weekend, so if hubby is up for spending a lot of time with Seamus, then I'll be able to sew. I used to sew at night, way into the night but I just can't do that anymore. My all nighters are few and far between anymore. I have tons of fabric left over from my SCA garb making days, I want to use a bunch of it to make shopping bags for me and for other family members. I also want to make up some cute purses for my daughter and my niece and some plushies for my little nieces. I have an apron pattern I'd really like to make--but I'll need to get more fabric for that. Heck, if I were able to make all the things I'd like to make this weekend, I'd NEED a trip to Amish country for more fabric!!!
Click on the pictures to be taken to the sites where the patterns are---some are free patterns! Make sure to check out the awesome websites, too!
I have no energy today. I just feel like laying around and reading a good book, or some good blogs. I was going to go make a few batches of bagels and a couple loaves of bread but I just don't feel like it. You'd think after the good news I got yesterday, I'd be all energetic and ready to go. Nope, I just wanna sleep! LOL! I suppose to compromise, I could go take a little cat nap and then tackle the baking. Especially since the longer I sit at the computer, the more tired I will feel. It's starting to snow, we're suppose to get a winter storm tonight, possible 3-5 inches. The fire is going, the boys are quiet, playing the Wii, I could just cozy up in the rocking chair in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and a nice magazine or book. Now that sounds like a plan, one I intend on playing out! TTFN!
