October 11, 2015

Weekly Wrap and FitReaders Check in.

badge for Sunday PostIt's Monday! What Are You Reading?
I will be linking up as well to the Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Sheila at Book Journey runs It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 
                                                           badge
Goal met with a little to spare. Didn't go full out but made sure I got out to walk each day.

It's Spring. You can tell that locally here by the flowers on the Kowhai (pronounce - KOR-fye) tree seen in on my front lawn. It's native to New Zealand and the tui bird loves to come and get the nectar in them. I have one that flies from one tree to another, they are a little aggressive but have a distinctive song.  Kowhai is the Maori word for yellow so quite aptly named.  And guess who loves yellow!  It's nearly as good as purple.

kowhaikowhai tree

A sister had my sewing machine for quite some months, so no quilting practice. However she finally finished the curtains and my machine came home. I had pinned the backing, front and batting together and now I am supposedly stitching in the ditch to link it all together. Actually quite difficult to  stitch along the ditch so mine wavers in and out, but will still have my first quilt at the end. (Fingers crossed).

stitching in the ditch

What I read last week:

book cover book cover book cover

book cover book cover book cover
Last two were novellas. The Precious One my audio over last weeks. Have to admit skimmed lots of An Absolute Scandal.

What I am reading at present:

Listening to:
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Reading:
book cover
This one is a microhistory for a reading challenge! Can only say... it was in the library!

book cover

Up next:

  • Every Crooked Nanny  Mary Kay Andrews
  • Cleopatra's Shadows Emily Holleman
Not sure what the latter one will be like. Sent by publicist to see if I liked it. Story of beginnings of Cleopatra's story through eyes of younger sister. Debut novel.

Posts from the last week:



39 comments:

  1. What a distinctive tree! Hope the spring weather is good, we're holding on with some decent temps here but it will be cooling!

    Have a wonderful week!

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    1. So far Spring has been great, although windy and not much rain! Love rain for the garden!

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  2. That tree is so cute! Even the mess it makes on the ground is pretty. lol. Fingers are crossed for your quilt! :)

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    1. Christy I know what a mess! In a wonderful circle and it is even thicker now. Yes fingers crossed very much.

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  3. I love the look of the tree, it's really unqiue. Some great books this week. I got hot toy as we. Have a great week.

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    1. I think you'll enjoy Hot Toy, a rapid fun read.

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  4. Great pictures of your Kowhai tree and your lovely quilt. Thanks for sharing them. Have a great week Kathryn and enjoy the Spring.

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    1. Thanks Pat, I am hoping the quilt will be something I'll be proud of when its finished and will encourage me to get into it even more.

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  5. Lovely tree...and such vibrant flowers! The leaves are changing colors and beginning to fall here--it's all about pumpkins and apple cider now.

    Enjoy your week and new books.

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    1. Apple cider sounds so fabulous and I have never tasted it!!

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  6. Beautiful tree, such a gorgeous colour!

    Have a great week!

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    1. I know, yellow is a colour associated with Autumn but spring too!

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  7. What a pretty tree. Looks like a good reading week. Lisa unger is on my list to read. Did you like it?

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    1. I did like Lisa Unger, this was only a novella and a perfect way to get a taste of her writing. Might be brave and read a full book of hers next year.

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  8. That tree is so gorgeous...and I admire your quilt making. Thanks for sharing...and I am also curious about your books. Every Crooked Nanny sounds like fun, especially since it's from Mary Kay Andrews.

    I loved Pretending to Dance and A Window Opens. Thanks for visiting my blog...have a great week.

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    1. Yes I watch what you like to read closely because it gives me a good indication of how I will find the book. The Mary Kay Andrews book I bought ages ago and now its time to read it!

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  9. the quilt is looking beautiful!

    I have you enjoy your new read, it looks good!

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  10. Is that a new Unger book?! I need to check it out! I really wish I had some sort of sewing skill. Sewing and gardening were two things I never had the knack for.

    Have a great week!!

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    1. Not a new book Brandie. A first in a trilogy of novellas. And a lead up to a series she has. I liked it. I don't garden or sew well either. The first is a have to and the second is I want to learn!

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  11. That is a pretty tree! I wish it was spring here instead of fall. The trees are pretty as the leaves change color though.

    I have The Good Neighbor on my TBR pile but don't know when I'll get to it. I also want to read All I Want. Hot Toy and Home for Christmas look like fun holiday romances. I am curious about Cleopatra's Shadow. I've been considering requesting an ARC. I hope you like it!

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    1. I think you'll happily enjoy both those. Yes I am a bit nervous over Cleopatra's Shadow, I wouldn't have picked it myself but who knows, I might end up liking it.

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  12. That tree is beautiful! That's great that you got your sewing machine back. I have dreams of learning how to quilt but I haven't made it happen yet. I read the first book in the Lily Everett series and really enjoyed it so I'm looking forward to seeing how the most recent addition to the series is. While I've read almost all of Nora Roberts' books I'm not sure I've read any of the ones under the JD Robb name. I do want to give them a try. Have a great week!

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    1. Katherine the J D Robb books are fabulous, I just about prefer them now to her Nora Roberts books. Plenty of time to do quilting - I dreamed of it for years too!

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  13. I like the colors in your quilt. I was sewing a bit this week, but I cannot thread my sewing machine needle (can't see it well enough) so I sewed by hand. I find it relaxing. Jealous that you are entering spring and summer. I hate winter.

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    1. Steph I am okay threading the needle, my machine has an automatic threader but can't work out how to use it!!

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  14. I love the patterns for your quilt and it will look great once finished. And that is a pretty tree and jealous you are entering spring. It is still so warm here in California and I can't wait for winter. I hope you have a great week!

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    1. Enjoy winter, I would think its very pleasant in California in winter.

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  15. What pretty (and unusual) flowers! I think of spring as being when the jacaranda trees flower here.

    Well done on reading your steps again!

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    1. Love the jacaranda tree too, very very pretty.

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  16. Love the photos of the Kowhai tree, I bet it looks like a beautiful golden carpet when the flowers drop. Can't wait to see your quilt finished, gorgeous purple/lavender colours and patterns. I'm so intimidated by quilting, I know how much time and effort goes in to them, my MIL does beautiful quilting.

    Curious about Cleopatra's Shadow, I love ancient Egyptian history and Michelle Moran & Stephanie Dray books got me hooked on Cleopatra. I love the cover of The Good Neighbour, maybe it's just the gorgeous colour of the door. Good on you walking each day! Have a wonderful week and happy reading :)

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    1. I think the Cleopatra book is more you than me but will give it a whirl. Yes I loved the cover of The Good Neighbour and its rich blue/green. Book was a four star and enjoyable.

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  17. That is a cool looking tree! Hope you enjoy your reads! :)

    Stormi
    Week in Review

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  18. Great wrap up Kathryn. I've got some of them on my tbr shelf too!
    Happy Monday

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  19. The blooms on your tree are gorgeous! At first I thought they were some kind of banana type fruit. Glad I could enlarge the image to really see it well.

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  20. I can't stitch a straight line to save myself, but your quilt is looking great! Nice books too!

    Have a great week
    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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