Halloween for Babies

The smallest grandchildren are preparing for their first Halloween. This was a weekend of previews before "Sandy" the largest hurricane in our lifetimes comes and goes, hopefully in time for kids to celebrate Halloween on Wednesday.  Schools are already closed for tomorrow and Tuesday!

This year the babies debut as "The Dark Knight" and "A Piece of Sushi." 

Is that the Bat Signal that I see!

What are these things on the ground?

Yes, I will be happy to save you.

Sushi me and soy sauce make three!

The Litigators by John Grisham

The Litigators by John Grisham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Probably one of the better openings among Grisham novels, "The Litigators" finds Harvard Law educated David Zink on the morning of his "breakdown."  David is on his way to his cubicle job as a well-paid 80 hours per week associate in a huge law firm.  As narrator, he guides us through his haphazard journey to happiness.

I love reading the thoughts of narrators that the other characters don't hear.

David takes a leap, makes a grab for happiness and embarks on the best adventure of his life.  Only taking the risk when he "hits bottom," he pursues justice in Grisham's signature style.  I am still hooked on Grisham.

Recommended with enthusiasm.



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"Back of Beyond" by C.J. Boxer

Back Of Beyond by C.J. Box

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


With a wonderful flavor for the settings in Montana and Yellowstone National Park, this mystery/thriller capitalizes on the great outdoors to unravel an edge of your seat tale. As raw and uncompromising as nature, the action is brutal, the consequences final.

Every character has a back story.  My favorite was Gracie, a smart pre-teen and observer of human nature.  Confined with her sister, father and tour group to the trails of the Park, they are dependent upon Jed, their guide, to lead, feed, house and protect them.  Through Gracie's eyes the reader sees the strengths and weaknesses of her companions and gets the first clues that things are not as they seem.

Cody Hoyt, a troubled cop, discovers that his son Justin is on the wilderness adventure in the company of a killer.  His race to get his son and identify the killer in the group provides the action.

A great story....

"Calico Joe" by John Grisham

Calico Joe by John Grisham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Grisham writes good short fiction. I enjoyed "Bleachers" a while back and this one was just as good.

This time the sport is baseball. The protagonist is Paul Tracey, son of hard-drinking and self-absorbed Warren Tracey a pitcher for the Mets. Joe, of the title, is a home-run hitting rookie phenomenon from Calico Rock, Arkansas playing with the Cubs.  The story revolves around the game during which the two players meet. Reading it is like peeling an onion.  Every layer reveals more about each character, the impending conflict and its satisfying resolution.  Saying more would spoil the story for future readers. 

A good read.



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"Girlfriends" Quilt

Honoring the special relationship women share with their girlfriends, this whimsical and inspirational quilt pays tribute to women who are challenged by breast cancer. 

The fabric is "Girlfriends, Sisterhood of Quilters" by Jody Houghton for Lyndhurst Studio complimented by gingham checks in pink, black, tan and green.  The quilt design is by Patti Carey.  The quilt is machine-pieced and quilted by me.

I loved the fabric when I first purchased it but had no immediate ideas about a quilt design.  Later, I saw Patti Carey's design in the Summer 2010 issue of Fons and Porter Easy Quilts magazine.  I remembered and located the article when I decided to use this fabric for a 2012 Thriving Survivors quilt.

I made it with love, send it into the world with a hug, and hope that it will bring comfort to someone dealing with cancer. 

It will be donated to the Nutley Thriving Survivors for their 10th Anniversary Brunch.