Sizzling Sixteen

I honestly do not know how she does it.  She is on No. 16. Janet Evanovich still manages to keep her books fresh and funny.  




I know the plots are not that complicated, but they are entertaining.  I read for entertainment.  Her books fit the bill.


This is link to read an excerpt:
http://www.evanovich.com/content/downloads/SizzlingSixteen_10/SizzlingSixteen.pdf


Have fun...laugh a lot.

Latest Quilt Project

My latest project involves recycling old quilt blocks that I have recovered from a flea market. 

 It is embellished with other recovered items: buttons, crochet, embroidery.  In addition, I have added some bought precut hearts. The back will be fabric from old feed sacks.




It seems that I am a real multi-tasker.  I quilt while I watch a DVD.  My current series is Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot.  Many years ago I read all 88 books written by Agatha.  Now I am watching them come to life. I think that David Suchet makes an excellent Poirot. 

When I imagine Poirot now, I can think only of Suchet.


Just finished Volume 7:
The Adventures of the Egyptian Tomb-The Underdog-Yellow Iris

I did it!

I read a lot...I am saying a whole lot!  When I find an author that I like, I want to read everything they have written, currently and on their back list.  Well, I love Barbara Metzger.  I have now finished reading all of the 43 books that she has written.  The last one was "Christmas Wishes" and is was a hoot!  






Metzger writes with a lot of humor in the genre, Regency Romance (and that's what I read...for now).  She has written one contemporary and I read it, too.  




Other authors that I have finished reading all of their books, at least until I switched genres are; Nora Roberts and Jude Deveraux.  They do not write in the Regency Period, but I loved their books.

Letters to Juliet

We went to see "Letters to Juliet" today. 

It had been recommended, but I was not impressed.  It was a "romance novel" put to film.  It didn't work.  


Good Points:  The scenery in Italy was spectacular.  Vanessa Redgrave is always wonderful to watch.  


The plot was not realistic.  The first half of the film was slow; the second half picked up.  However, it was a forgone conclusion that the heroine would dump her "workaholic" fiancé.  Then, she would end up with her other love interest.  The final scene was almost "cult" quality.  Really, a balcony with Juliet and Romeo climbing the grape vine to propose.  It was a little too much.


It was a good diversion from our usual day off.  However, it should have gone on our "rent" instead of pay at the theater" list.

It's Flag Day!

Flag Day is June 14 every year.  It is the anniversary of the day in 1777 when the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States.
Wear the Colors;
Wave the Flag; 

Please rise while we recite
The Pledge of Allegiance.


Proud to be an American...
God Bless America...
Yankee Doodle Dandy...
America the Beautiful...
Born in the U.S.A.
Coming to America...


America, My Country 'Tis of Thee...

Nothing is so rare...

...as a day in June. 


Father's Day
Flag Day, always on June 14
and a 
Wedding Day...


With love for fathers, country and brides and grooms! 

The Beat Goes On and On and On! No. 46

The beat is in Nevada.




Our daughter was married in Reno.  She worked at Mt. Rose. We stayed along with our sister and husband at Buffy's in the area.  We took a day trip to Carson City.  


Chuck and I visited Las Vegas many times together or separately.  We attended two horse race handicapping contests: one in Reno at the MGM Grand and the other in Las Vegas at the Sands.


I attended a National Space Grant Conference.  Chuck had to stay at home for that trip.


The background of the ATC above is from a postcard for the Stardust.  I was there in the 60's.  I am still here; it is not.  Neither is The Sands.  They razed it not long after we were there to build the Bellagio.


One of our favorite places, but not on our list to revisit.

A Date Night!

We felt like a vacation under the guise of a "date night".  






We headed for the River Market and an art exhibition at the Arkansas Studies Institute.                                                                                                       


We mixed and mingled;
 had a little wine; 
viewed the art. 

 Then, we headed to the Flying Fish for a shrimp salad and oysters on the half shell....delicious!  ...even brought some slaw home.  A good time was had!

Almost finished...Barbara Metzger

Well, last night I finished "A Debt for Delia" by Barbara Metzger.  It is one of my favorites to date.  Metzger writes in the Regency Romance Genre with a slant toward the history and the humorous.  


Her writing is delightful and I keep coming back for more.  She has written on "contemporary" novel, but I prefer her historical novels.  I am waiting for more.



I am a "series" reader. And when I find an author I like, I am a compelled to read everything they have written.  I am one book away from reading everything that B. Metzger has written.  I have ordered "the last one: "Christmas Wishes" from Paperback Swap and from the InterLibrary Loan Department of my library.  I am covering all bases.

The Next Stop - No. 47 Florida

I guess the first time I went to Florida it was in the 70's.  I can remember going to Cape Canaveral aka Cape Kennedy and spending the night in Saint Augustine...the oldest city in the U.S.  








The next time I went with Chuck, Sherri and Catherine to Walt Disney World.  The next time was on our honeymoon in Dune Allen Beach. 


I have to say I didn't realize how often I have been to Florida until now.  Other times: Perdido Keys with friends: Fort Meyers/Sanibel Island with Chuck when he attended a golf school: Sebring...another golf-related trip; 

finally, to Jacksonville, a First Tee related trip.  








I like visiting Florida, but have never wanted to live there.  I have a friend that lived in Fort Walton Beach, but now lives in New York State.  I have a niece that owns a condo on Santa Rosa Beach...I forgot about that trip. 

How many times is that?...nine times and counting.  

The best beaches in the world are in the Pan Handle of Florida,

but they are now being invaded oil...










so sad, tragic for all...visitors, residents, businesses.

A Secret Affair

I finished the final book of a series by my favorite Regency romance author, Mary Balogh.  If you haven't discovered Regency Romance or even Mary, you are missing wonderful stories full of history and romance.  I have been hooked on them and Mary for several years.  I have never been disappointed.  If you are a fan of happily ever after, this genre is the "read" for you.  I am; it is!


Therefore, I recommend to you the "The Huxtables" series.  There are five books in the series:  

First Comes Marriage "Vanessa's story";

 Then Comes Seduction "Katherine"; 

At Last Comes Love, "Margaret"; 

Seducing an Angel, "Stephan" ;

and lastly...saving the best...
A Secret Affair, "Con".

No. 48 Home Sweet Home

No. 48 is home...the best part of going on a trip is coming home to my own bed...ummm!


Go Hogs Go!

Counting down- No. 49

I am not sure my logic to the order in which I will post the stops on my "US Odyssey".  I am making an ATC (Artist Trading Card) for each State. 

 No. 49 is Illinois: the jumping off place on my way to the 50th, Wisconsin. 

Chicago from the Drake Hotel on Lake Michigan

Outside Wrigley Field...Harry Carey

Cloud Gate in Millennium Park reflecting the Chicago skyline.




Happy travelling! Esmee Lynne

50 States in 50 years! Done!

I can now officially say that I have been in, to, or through all of the 50 United States.  It took my 50 years, but I did it!  The last State was Wisconsin.  I didn't think it would happen.  It almost didn't.  

Chuck and I went to Chicago for an early celebration of our 25th Wedding Anniversary which will be official in August.  We took the Union Pacific North from Chicago to Kenosha.  When we reached Waukegan, Illinois, the train trip was aborted due to water over the tracks.  I thought that was it.  I wouldn't do it in my lifetime.  However, never say die!  We rented a car and drove to Kenosha; visited the Visitor's Center; ate lunch and drove back to Waukegan to catch the train back to Chicago.  What a day!  What a trip!  At least, many trips over the 50 years!