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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Afternoon Edition! Free Kindle Book!

Boy, there have been some good ones lately!  I’m snagging this one quickly and sending it off to you just as fast without a bunch of pomp and circumstance, because there has not been much else going on here to write about and include!
Desperate Housedogs is  free today in the Amazon Kindle Store.
Book Description:
 When Caro Lamont, former psychologist turned pet therapist makes a house call to help Kevin Blackstone with his two misbehaving German Shepherd dogs, she expects frantic dogs, she expects a frantic dog owner, she even expects frantic neighbors.
 
What she doesn’t expect is that two hours later the police will find Kevin dead, his dogs impounded; and that as the last person to see Kevin alive (well, except for the killer) she is suddenly a person of interest, at least according to Homicide Detective Judd Malone.
 Looks like this is the beginning of a series:
The Author, Sparkle Abbey, is the pseudonym of two mystery authors (Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter). They are friends and neighbors as well as co-writers of the Pampered Pets Mystery Series.
The pen name was created by combining the names of their rescue pets - Sparkle (Mary Lee’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). They reside in central Iowa, but if they could write anywhere, you would find them on the beach with their laptops and depending on the time of day either an iced tea or a margarita.) Visit the authors at www.SparkleAbbey.com
I did go and read a few of the reviews before clicking to get, and this one is the one that made me get it!
I enjoyed this book so much! It's not my typical genre, but the title grabbed me. Three things I loved:

1) When the detective got bit after Caro - it's worded perfectly - I laughed out loud! (there are more than a few of those in the book - the laugh out loud parts)

2) I love the premise and that the books will tag team the cousins - a fun idea and executed perfectly via the brooch!

3) The authors descriptions are excellent; I feel like I've now been to Laguna, and met those crazy people!

Give this book a shot; you'll be glad you did!
I hope there were a lot of kindles found under trees this morning!  I’ll keep posting the freebies that I like ----I don’t post EVERYTHING out there, this blog is much more about quilting than anything else, but I love to read, and am happy to pass the freebies that I find interesting along to you!
Happy Reading!

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

The pumpkin pies are in the oven, filling the house with their wonderful spicy aroma.

Presents have been given and received with much oohing and ahhing all around.

There are plans for settling in and lounging in our jammies to watch more old movie favorites.

Soon I’ll be starting on Christmas dinner and getting that going.

But my day wouldn’t be complete without stopping to wish you all, wherever you are, a beautiful day.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not.  You are a gift to me, and I am so grateful for you!
Enjoy this little ditty --- I guarantee it will make you smile! ((I love watching this guy – he makes me happy all day!!))



PS--- isn't he a brave guy to be seen in public in that ugly Christmas Sweatshirt to begin with? LOL!!

Have a wonderful day!

With Love From The Basement ---


Saturday, December 24, 2011

Truly & Wonderfully Blessed----

And howling my brains out!

I have some of the craziest friends out there, but they know just what will make ME the happiest Quilter on the planet!

Oh how I love you guys!  Really, YOU are the reason I finally got myself kicked into gear with this whole Christmas Feeling this year ---

You were there when I didn't FEEL LIKE IT!

My door bell rang just a bit ago, and there were not just one, not just two..but THREE packages for me to open!
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Even SADIE could smell the yummies emanating from this one…so I grabbed it first…Trying carefully not to get the styrofoam peanuts all over the clean office floor --- I failed!

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OH!!  Goodies!!  And a card!!  This came all the way from Karen L who came with us on the November cruise…..the box was fairly heavy, and I set to opening it.  And you know the rules? One of the cookies was broken, so I had to EAT IT FAST.  According to those-in-the-know---Broken cookies have no calories because they've all fallen out! :cD

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Not only is the box a beautiful gift in itself, but there are matching notecards! Cookies, Bread…and a HUGE Bag of pre-cut tumblers….only about 2,000 of them!  Karen, you sneaky girl, are you trying to pass off your Millenium UFO on to me? LOL!  I LOVE IT!  Thank You!

And Speaking of Millenium stuff ---

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Tracey B sent THIS goodie!

MORE MILLENIUM FABRIC!  Just for ME!! Aren’t the M&M’s cute?  Even if they are about 12 years old by now…LOL! And that wasn’t ALL---

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She sent ANOTHER M&M’s Millenium piece!  And 4 cheddar bowties to boot!  Can you read the funniest part of all?  As far as this Millenium thing goes?

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Hahahaha!!  I think I’m going to have to fussy cut this one and hang  it front and center in my studio!!  OH, this could have SO MANY applications, couldn’t it??!  No….I don’t think the Millenium is over yet --- just wait til the next package is revealed!

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These Flat Rate Boxes are great…you just pull the zip-pull on the side and it opens so easily --- only to find a note that says PLEASE OPEN THE OTHER SIDE FIRST!! >_<  This is typical for me…just call me Wrong End Rita!  ((Or would that be Writa?)) I am a girl of many names – I’m used to it.  Most often I’m referred to as “Messy Bessy”  But I’m told it’s a term of “endearment” :cD

Okay…so I go to open the OTHER end, only now the WRONG end is wide open, and if I don’t place it wrong side down on top of a solid flat surface, everything is just going to just dump out of the bottom!

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Here we are! Right side Up!  A card!  Okay --- we’ll start there…..I will resist pulling the fabric out of the box until the card is read --- oh this is not easy for me, I can tell you!

This came from Alycia D in Marrietta, GA!  Thank you Alycia!

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UHoh!! Do you see what *I* see ((Sung to the tune of “Do you hear what I hear! – It is Christmas after all!!))  MORE MILLENIUM FABRIC!!

Found this at a Quilter’s yard /fabric sale.  Thought you would get a good laugh!!  PS…These are strings left from Roll Roll, Cotton Bowl ---
I love it!  and you know what?  Those 2000 bits won’t even be recognizable by the time I strip it up REALLY SMALL!  I’m thinking 1-1/2” is good…LOL!!!

So what about those strips in the box? Did you ever wonder just how MUCH fabric you can stuff in a Medium Flat Rate Box??

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Holy Mass-O-Scraps, Batman!!  I can’t believe you sent me all of this!  Does this mean you are wimping out on any future mystery quilts that might require copious amounts of neutral strings? :cD 

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I had to put them in their OWN tub, there are so many!  And you know what? From the looks of it, there are lots of 2” and 1-1/2” strips in here…they might have to be pulled to join the other neutral strips in the strips bins that are all so nice and neat now ---

I’ve really gotten a kick out of all the cards and emails and little gifts that mean so much through this holiday season.  I wish I could send you ALL a bunch of squishy packages, and boxes of cookies in the mail.  Thank you so much for making MY life so special, just by your being in it!

I can’t say THANK YOU enough – I just can’t.  You guys are wonderful!

God Bless Us, Every One!

Afternoon Edition–Free Kindle Book!

Bring on the good reads!

This one just came across on my radar and I snatched it right away.  It just sounds fun!

Ruby Lake by Sherrill Willis is free today from the Amazon Kindle store, and has received an average user rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 27 customer reviews. 
 
Category: Humor / Romance
 
Book Description:
 
Sydney Myers has been through several failed relationships in the past year, in addition to other trauma’s, and is now giving up on finding her knight in dented armor. When her boss sends her to Ruby Lake, a small, rural town in northern Wisconsin, the last thing she was looking for was love at first sight, not to mention a place in the world where she finally fits.
 
Add in her city-savvy best friend, a jealous ex-girlfiend, a famous father, and a coffee shop full of off-the wall characters, and it becomes more challenging for Sydney to manage than a spinning plate competition.
 
When disaster strikes close to home, Sydney is left with the unbearable choice of her family, or the love she has always dreamed of. Come with Sydney on her journey and laugh, cry and rediscover why some choices are not really choices at all, they are simply fate.
 
Sometimes when picking a book, I’ll go further down the page and read the reviews…this one has GREAT reviews!
 
This is the one that cinched it for me:
A wonderful fun read comedic love story. Filled with quirky characters that will keep you chuckling and page turning to see what happens next.
 
There is even a love to hate character masterly portrayed. If you are a fan of Northern Exposure or Lake Woebegone you will enjoy this read.
 
Ms. Willis brings to life the small town charm of America and weaves the interactions of its characters in a masterful blend, reminding this reader of the genius,wit & humor of a modern day reincarnation of Mark Twain.
 
Anyone with a sense of humor, guys as well as gals will enjoy the adventures found in Ruby Lake. This reader is looking forward impatiently for more upcoming adventures of the Ruby Lake gang.
 
You know the drill, double check to be sure it’s still free, and snatch it while you can!
 
It’s Boring-Regular-Nothing-Extra-Added-Chocolate-Chip-Cookie-Day.  Even though  it is such a no-nonsense, nothing special cookie…why do I still find myself licking the spatula?!