Monday --

It is Monday.  It is cold and getting colder.  I forgot to take my allergy meds last night so I am all stuffy with a headache.  Should get a flu shot today.  Need to go grocery shopping just in case the weather gets very bad -- I don't think it will but we have been known to have ice in November and I don't want to be caught without the necessary paper products, milk, allergy meds and a turkey.

Fortunately I have lots of reading material and sewing projects.  I stocked up on flour, sugar and eggs so I can do some baking if I wish.  Must get some gas in the car just in case.  All this prep should shoot the temps back up into the 70's right?  Isn't that how it usually works?  I have lived in North Texas for 24 years and am still baffled by how much different the weather is here than "home" -- San Antonio.

Getting on with my Christmas prep.  Going to start some decorations of the homemade variety today.  Have a few things ordered and on the way.  My minimalistic thinking has finally crept into the holidays -- token gifts this year.  Nobody "needs" anything we have to give anymore.  When the kids were first married there was always something for their house or their kitchen,now, not so much.  When the kids were tiny there was always some new toy or new clothes but now, their needs have changed as well.  We have a new "little" on the way which could probably use some wintery things since she is coming in the middle of this cold snap so that will probably be in order but for the most part -- a few things to let them know we love them and have thought of them -- a hug and a kiss and watch them grow another year.  I have watched my daughter stress out over trying to declutter their house -- mostly outgrown clothes and toys -- and I have made a mental note not to add to that.  Nothing is worse than trying to live in a house that has too much stuff.  Both my children live in adequate -- even large -- houses but realistically -- no house is meant to store unlimited amounts of stuff no longer useable.  So, I will do my part to help them out and my gifts will be thoughtful, small and not of the variety that will generate guilt if they decide to toss them.  Nothing is worse than having to hang on to things because "somebody made it" or "somebody bought that for you".  They are things and unless it is valuable -- like jewelery or coins or such -- I don't expect my kids to keep what I buy for posterity.  Well, maybe the books.

I do like giving books as gifts.  When I was a child reading was a wonderment to me -- I was thrilled when I learned how and from that time on my main source of entertainment was reading.  It still is.  And coloring in color books.  I still love that as well -- yes, I color but I use colored pencils now and color by number books for adults!  Shhh-- don't tell anybody but the latent artist in me -- you know, the one who can't draw a straight line with a ruler -- loves to color.

I digress.

Speaking of books, I am almost 3/4 of the way done with the new Jan Karon work "Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good".  As usual, she has done a beautiful job of creating an environment that I can get lost in.  I can recommend the whole series without reservation.  Great cold weather reads.

I bought a couple of books off the internet last week.  The next in the Agatha Raisin series -- "The Terrible Tourist" and a book I saw my daughter reading "An American Childhood".  I have been reading the Raisin books on my Nook but have discovered that I can get them cheaper by either going to Half Price Books or Ebay.  I don't really want to start collecting the whole series but I have to be cognisant of my quest to get want I want at the very best price I can.  Obviously the best price would be free and I am going to make an effort to frequent the library but it is a habit I have gotten out of and I am sorry -- note to self -- must do better in that department.  I honestly don't know why I am acquiring books in any form at all -- I have two complete shelves on my bookshelf devoted to yet unread books.  Reading, to me, is a bit like quilting -- I have to be in the mood for something so my reading really has no rhyme or reason -- just what hits me at the moment.  Sort of like my entire day to day existence.

Blah.

Ok, I am getting very rambly now -- don't really have much to say and no really great pics to share.  I am enjoying the pics of the poppies and in the Tower of London moat -- such beauty to represent such sorrow -- very striking photos though -- I hope they leave them there indefinitely.

Have a wonderful Monday, all!

A Rant, A Craft and a Plan


Ok, first the rant.  I went to Joann Fabric and Craft Store over the weekend to purchase some Wilton decorations for cupcakes.  While I was there I decided to look for some cute Thanksgiving decor.  I don't do much decorating but I love to set small stuff around just for color and atmosphere.  I was taken by surprise when I discovered that there was nothing there! No little pillows or pictures, nothing with inspirational words, nothing orange/gold/green -- no TURKEYS!  Instead I found myself in an ocean of red and green peppermint stripes! Really?  When did we do away with Thanksgiving?  Is this political?  Is this an effort to make American's forget our history?  If it is that easy to just simple abolish something as traditional as Thanksgiving is Christmas next? Probably not -- too much money involved there.  While I am sure it is just a "retail thing" my imagination makes me think there is something more sinister afoot.  If nothing else, America needs to slow down.  Way down.  We are just charging through life like a lightening bolt.  I don't like it.  Not one bit.  Something has to change but I am afraid that it has to be the people that change it because I don't think the retail society will do anything but get worse.  I for one am closing out the retail world until after New Years. Bah humturkey.

Rant over.


I haven't said much here because my daughter in law prefers her privacy and I respect that wish but, in the middle of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas plans, we are expecting a new addition to the family.  A baby is due to my son and daughter in law in mid November so  we are planning for this event as well.  I was asked to provide some crafty items so I spent last weekend working on these and this is what I came up with.

It is common practice here to decorate the hospital doors with something festive to let the visitors know who is new and who is living in that room for a day or two.  I have done this with my other three grandchildren and this one is no different.  So, this is what I did for the door --

Painted some wooden letter with Wicker White craft paint and pink paint pen for accents

Sewed some pink fabric from the quilt to some green fabric and backed with fusible interfacing (Pellon)

Placed in an embroidery hoop and glued the edges down -- secured with clothes pins till dry

Blank canvas waiting for embellishment

Glued on the name and then a cute little wooden bunny.  The bunny was chosen because there is a bunny in the quilt fabric

I chose these ribbons to go with the colors of the fabric

Big puffy bows aren't my strong suit but it looks ok

Finished product! Hanging by a sheer white ribbon

I am making a quilt but I am not finished.  It isn't a secret so I will share some information about it.  It is a wrapping paper quilt -- or striped quilt-- the fabrics are peach/pink/green/turquoise and a stripe.  It is the striped fabric that also has a little turquoise bunny.  It sounds boyish but it isn't -- it is very girly and I really like the way the colors work together to make a very lively, yet babyish quilt.  I will post photos when done.

I was also asked to make a dresser scarf and a nightstand scarf.  I did that as well but I didn't have enough quilt fabric to use so I just chose a white fabric with very pale pink polka dots.  It will blend nicely with the quilt even if it doesn't match perfectly.  Unfortunately I was in such a hurry to get the project completed I didn't take photos but they were very plain so you can imagine what they looked like.

So, that brings me to "The Plan".  It has occurred to me that my record keeping practices need to be improved upon.  Maybe that should read "implemented" as I don't really keep records of any sort about anything.  Then, when I need to refer back to a project, a purchase  or a recipe I don't have anything to look at and my memory is good but I am finding that it isn't as easy to recall some things as it used to be.  I do have a recipe box which works nicely for the recipes but I decided that I needed a notebook for just that -- notes.  While in my neighborhood Target store the other day I noticed that they had cute little 5 X 8 loose leaf notebooks with all the supplies -- paper, dividers, etc.  I was headed out this a.m. to get one but one look at the pouring rain and I decided to look around and see what I had in the house that would suffice.

I just love it when I practice what I preach!  Shop your own house!  I found a 1" white loose leaf binder that is brand new, unused.  I still buy school supplies in August, even though my children are grown, and I have a huge supply of notebook paper.  I picked up a bag and what did I find but a new set of dividers.  So, I didn't have to go out in the rain and I didn't have to spend any money to buy what I already had.  I felt so accomplished! 

Now that I have the "household" notebook and a set of 8 dividers I am going to organize my purchases, recipes that I use routinely, ongoing lists, holiday lists, etc.  And I am keeping it where I can find it and refer to it -- no putting it away.  Oh, I also have a brand new box of page protectors so I can use those as well.

So, that is what I have been up to.  In the next few days I will be finishing the quilt and some Christmas projects I have started.  I will share all of it when I am farther along

Oh yes -- Happy Guy Fawkes Day to all my British family and friends!

October Is My Favorite Month


I have always felt like October is the perfect month here in Texas.  It is still warm, for sure, but you can feel the change in the air.  There are also a lot of activities during October and we participated in a couple.  Here are some photos from our adventures.  These photos were taken at Hall's Pumpkin Farm in Grapevine,  St. Gregory the Great School in San Antonio, Texas and some local spots in San Antonio.  Thanks to our kids for inviting us to tag along on their adventures.

Hall's Pumpkin Farm

So Many Pumpkins!

Picking out a pumpkin requires deep thought

The Hay House -- Achoo!

This was my favorite pumpkin but it didn't come home with me

St. Gregory the Great Catholic School -- San Antonio

The gym

Classrooms

drink booth

Courtyard between classroom wings

Kiddie Park -- San Antonio, Texas

Miscellaneous San Antonio

Really good independent coffee shop in Alamo Heights

Great hot chocolate

So, that was pretty much October for us -- hate to see it end!

I Have a Pen Pal!

When I was a child we received a publication in school called Weekly Reader.  There was a section in each issue for pen pals -- children across the world that would like to write to someone.  I was always intrigued by this activity and I tried but nobody ever wrote me back.  Well, now I have a real pen pal and she writes back!

Recently Elizabeth at Cornish Cream decided to organize a pen pal scheme for any of her readers that would like to participate.  I signed up immediately and after a few days I received an email from Elizabeth giving me the address of the lady she paired me up with.  I was excited so I sat down and wrote a letter -- a real letter -- right away.

This past Saturday I received my letter from my pen pal and I was thrilled.  Elizabeth did a great job pairing us up as we have so many things in common.  Her letter was lovely, she was very friendly and seemed very interested in having a pen pal as well. 

My pen pal's name is Mary and she is from the UK.  We have read each others blogs so we know a bit about each other already.  Mary is very thoughtful and has decided to give one of my favorite authors a try so she is reading "Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good" by Jan Karon.  I am currently reading this as well so I am anxious to see what she thinks of it.  We seem to like the same hobbies and are both fans of M. C. Beaton's character Agatha Raisin.

I think Elizabeth's idea of a pen pal is a great idea.  However, it has been a long time since I have written real letters and the process is so different than dashing of a quick email or a facebook comment.  It takes thought and time which I think is wonderful.  I think our lifestyles have made it too easy to scratch the surface of friendships -- with a real letter you have to sit down and concentrate on what you are doing to communicate well with another person.  I have found my handwriting has changed as well.  Since I don't write as often I feel like I have forgotten how.  My first letter to Mary I actually printed because I can't write longhand anymore -- my hand cramps up and it becomes illegible almost immediately.  The printing was better but oh my goodness I didn't expect that!  Hopefully I won't be printing forever but I am afraid I am going to have to actually practice longhand again.  Who knew!??

I just wrote my second letter to Mary tonight and it will go out in tomorrow's mail.  I am anxious to see what she thinks about the book and I am very interested in her Christmas projects.  I think she will be very inspiring and make me want to be more creative than I have been of late.

So, I am very excited at the prospect of making this new friend and going back to doing things "old school" because I think it is important.  This exercise has just shown me that while technology is great we can't lose the skills that we used to have.

Fall Has Indeed Fallen!


The mornings have been quite lovely, the afternoons warm enough to be enjoyable and the evenings have been slightly crisp.  I just love October -- it is my favorite month of the year -- well, except for December.   I think I especially love the colors.  So, with that, I would like to share a few photos from our yard.  We don't have a huge amount of fall coloring but what we have is lovely.

The berries on the hollies are abundant and beautiful -- shiny little orbs ranging from yellow to deep red.  I am surprised the birds haven't taken them all

The salvia still growing strong -- still looks springy in it's lovely purple hue

The crabapple tree in a blaze of glory

Not in the garden, of course, but I had to include a photo of the pumpkin bread I made this week! It was yummy!

So, that is what fall looks like at Casa Brinkley- I will take photos of the pear trees when they change but they really aren't too spectacular -- they become a lovely yellow and within a day all the leaves are on the ground -- but I won't neglect to share them as well when the time comes.

Musing Mondays is hosted by Miz B at shouldbereading.wordpress.com.  This meme gives readers the opportunity to discuss all aspects of their reading experience.

Lately I have been reading the Agatha Raisin mystery series by M. C. Beaton.  The books are about a 50-something Agatha Raisin, retired PR firm owner, who has moved to the Cotswolds to enjoy quiet, village life.   Her life, however, has been anything but quiet.  When she first arrived she had quite an adjustment to village life as compared to her busy life in London.  She made an effort to involve herself in village events which proved to be a disaster.  She angered people and she was annoyed by almost everybody -- except her next door neighbor, James Lacey.  As time has gone on and the series has progressed she has made friends, she has settled into the rhythm of the village, she has acquired cats and she has managed to lose her cottage -- but in the latest "episode" that is being resolved.

I guess whenever we read we have a mental picture of the characters and when I think of Agatha Raisin I see a thinner -- but not too thin -- Dawn French.  I know there is a tv series currently being filmed based on this series and the actress is definitely not Dawn French but I will always think of her when I read these books. 

The books have gotten mixed reviews on Goodreads.  I think they are the sort of thing that you either like or you don't.  Well, I do.  They are short which is great because I can sandwich one or two between longer reads, they are engaging which is a necessary attribute and they are, in a word, entertaining and, in my opinion, that is why I read for the most part, to be entertained.

I would recommend these books to anybody who likes mysteries.  My only suggestion is that you start with the first book as they do build on each other.

Happy reading!

Sad Day


Yesterday was a sad day.  I had a falling out with a family member.  It was over nothing -- a meaningless subject.  Somebody's temper flared -- not mine -- and somebody was yelling at me in all caps on the computer.  Somebody was issuing orders to me about what I could and could not talk about.  Somebody flopped his/her big foot into my personal space.

A year and a half ago I had a health "adventure" and I decided then to make a few changes in my life.  I decided to eat healthy and clean -- something I am still working on due to the call of the muse cookie.  I decided to get more sleep. I decided to live a more natural life, get rid of plastic, let my hair grow, give up makeup, quit striving to aspire to the "expected" and quit being a sheep. I decided to quit worrying about things I couldn't change. I decided to do what I wanted to do and not what other people expected me to do.  I am 64 years old and have spent the majority of my life doing what others wanted/needed/expected or just demanded. It was time for me. 

Part of that, unfortunately, means getting rid of toxic people.  Now, by that I mean toxic to me.  One lesson we learn as children is that "not everybody is going to like everybody else".  Sometimes people just don't click.  That doesn't mean that they aren't good people or wouldn't be a good "friend" fit for others -- just not me.

So, I have a family member that I have never met face to face but we have a phone/email relationship and have had for years.  This person finds it perfectly appropriate to tease me about my age mercilessly.  This person also finds it acceptable to let me know that my place of residence (Texas) is substandard as a dwelling place because of the climate.  This person can't let it go.  It is constant and never-ending. If I say something that this person doesn't agree with -- which is a lot -- I am bombared by demands in all caps -- the computer version of yelling.

Yesterday a benign conversation about safes turned into a screaming match and I was appalled.  The conversation included the name of a popular talk show host that this person seems to have strong negative feelings about and I mentioned the name.  The family member went ballistic.  At this point I thought about my new "rules" for myself -- no toxic people.

Family member went on a verbal rampage telling me that when he/she says to stop talking about something I better stop and that  my conversations are too pushy.  So, I decided to relieve said family member's misery and I have departed from the conversation -- now and forever.

Unreasonable?  Probably but my goal is to keep my stress levels down and I didn't understand all the concern about a talk show host who I don't even listen to because I am not a fan and even if I was I don't have time! I didn't like being yelled at and ordered about.  I am a gentle person who feels that everybody has a right to an opinion -- even me -- and my opinion is that I don't like being yelled at or bossed around.


I understand that this person has health issues as well and a lot of physical pain.  For that, I am sorry but again, I also don't enjoy being on the receiving end of so much anger.  I don't feel it is good for me. So, I wish this person well but I have to take care of myself and reducing my stress level is part of it and if that doesn't set well, I apologize.  

Jumping off soap box now.

Boo!  Yes, I know, Halloween is still more than two weeks away but our weather changed and it feels SO FALL! I love it! It is cloudy and windy and just grumpy outside -- so spooky like!

Ok, enough of that.

I have never been huge in the decorating department for any holiday.  I like decorations, I like looking at decorations, I like the atmosphere that decorations impart.  I do not, however, like the hefty price tags on ready made decor (or for the components to craft lovely handmade items)  and even more, I don't like having to put it all away with so little storage space as I have.  So, I am a minimalist decorator.  However, this year I added a couple of things and thought I would share.

My header shows the small decorations outside my front door.  My front door is inside a wall with a gate and the area is more courtyard- like so I like to keep things uncluttered.  Some of us are clumsy normally, a condition that doesn't improve with age, so I try to keep the fall/stumble/trip risk to a minimum. 

Moving indoors, I would never do anything major for a holiday such as Halloween but I do like adding a few fall touches just to warm up the space.  This is what I add to liven things up -- not much for sure but just enough for me.

This little guy has been around since my kids were little. He is very cheerful.

Decided to dress up the table with new placemats - they reverse to Thanksgiving so I will share that later

Trying out a bit of a banner on the mantel -- I might do this again for Thanksgiving and Christmas -- depends on my available time

This cute clear glass pumpkin was purchased last year -- it is small and almost sparkly

So, there is my interior decoration.  I might add a bit to it if I run into something really cute but if I do, it will be autumn inspired and not Halloween -- I like things I can use to span the entire season because as I said -- putting the stuff away is not my idea of a fun time!

Happy Fall!

It's a Mystery

Somebody help me -- please!  My name is Melissa and I am an addict.  It seems I have become addicted to mystery stories and I just can't help myself.

When I was growing up I was a voracious reader.  It was the safest thing for me to do since I was hopelessly accident prone and not athletic at all.  I danced but, the truth of the matter is, walking was sort of a challenge for me some days so I tended to stay with quiet activities like school work, handwork, and reading.  However, I was never interested in mysteries. I was a member of the Nancy Drew Book Club and I have to say my mother and my aunt thoroughly enjoyed those books --- I, however, did not -- until now.

I don't know where my interest in mysteries has come at my advanced age unless I am channelling my mother and she is interested in what I am reading.  However, over the last couple of years, my interest in mystery books has exploded.

It all started with the Aunt Dimity series which I am well into although I am giving it a rest right now.  Then, I read a bit of Nancy Drew which was good fun although a little dated.  Now I have stumbled upon the Agatha Raisin series by M. C. Beaton.  All of these are wonderful little books -- none very long and all very quick reads.

I just finished my fourth Agatha Raisin mystery -- "The Dembly Walkers" and it was delightful.  In addition to the actual mystery, you have the ongoing quasi-romance of Agatha and her neighbor James Lacey.  In this installment the romance becomes -- well, you will just have to read it to find out.

I have already downloaded book #5 and look forward to the appearance of Agatha's husband -- thought long dead -- at a very inconvenient time.

The covers of the books are very nice and here is what I have read so far.  I have them on my Nook but being the collector I am, I see me buying the physical books for my ever growing collection.

Won't you join me in reading these great little books?

Ta!

Planning, Planning, Planning


Earlier this year I needed a planner but I needed it at an odd time of the year and not many were available  so I did some research on making my own, found a tutorial using a Moleskine and I set about DIY-ing a planner.

It has worked really well but it is bulky and heavy.  As I have gotten -- ahem -- older, I have discovered that heavy bags aren't my friend so I have started "downsizing" what I carry in a bag. 

So, because of that I started looking for a lighter weight yet flexible planner.  I don't have a lot to plan -- just keeping up with birthdays, little trips, dr. appts., that sort of thing so my needs are simple.  I googled "smaller planner" and went to the first option that came up -- MochiThings.com

This is such a cute site! So many  cute things to choose from! I mean, this like San Rio for adults! I chose this option for the planner --

It is dateless and the calendar squares are decent sized.  It is VERY plain which suits me just fine.  It is lightweight which suits me even more. It was a decent price which cinched the deal for me.  I am looking forward to getting it. I hate giving up my moleskine planner because there is a lot of room for lists and such but I think this will be a better option.  However, if you are in the market for something a little less utilitarian, they have many patterned things and all sorts of accessories and things. 

Speaking of downsizing your purse -- maybe I should say "downweighting" your purse, I recently changed wallets as well.  I have any number of wallets from leather to fabric, big, little, strapped -- all sorts.  They are all either too small, too large, too heavy, hold to much, don't hold enough -- can't find the perfect wallet.  However, I might have come close with this --

It is the Big Skinny wallet and I bought it at Office Depot.  It is nylon, it is weightless, it is stuffable -- it is actually working very well for me.  Mine isn't teal, though -- mine is red so I can see it.

I was looking at the pouches on the mochithings website and might look into some lightweight nylon makeup bags and stuff like that.  While I don't carry a lot, I do like to carry some things so maybe I can lighten the load a little more.

29 September 2014


I haven't participated in the Musing Mondays meme for a while.  It is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.  Basically, it is a place for you to talk about your reading, with or without prompts.

I thought that today I would share what has caught my attention in the literary world recently.   Of course, I obtained my copy, the day it was released, of Jan Karon's new title "Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good".  It is the next in the Mitford series, the first in a while after her two fantastic reads in the Father Tim series.  I can't tell you how it feels to read Karon's Mitford series books.  You feel like you are going "home" or to a different time/place (although they are very contemporary).  The books all take place in the fictional town of Mitford and, like all small towns, it has a cast of very colorful, loveable and not so loveable characters and there is always one you can identify with or say you know somebody "just like that".  This is the sort of book you can settle in with and just lose yourself for a while.  Yep, they are that good. However, if you are just beginning with the Karon series please start at the beginning with the first one.  They will make much better sense that way!

I have also been reading M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series.  I started out reading her Hamish MacBeth series and then started following her on Facebook and decided to pick up one of the Agatha Raisin series and give it a go.  I started at the beginning with the first one and was instantly hooked.  I am now on my third and don't see myself stopping anytime soon.  These are delightful little mysteries, quick reads, engaging and humorous.  They are being made into a tv show in the UK -- I certainly hope we get to see it here in the States!

Happy Fall!