July 24, 2026
I liked the idea of ravens/crows on a fence but the colours turned out to be a bit more suited to fall than to summer. However it was a fun one to stitch.
Happy Birthday Deloise
Before the Swallows Come Back
Author: Curnow, Fiona
I’ve been consolidating a few of my book lists; this one was on it and the library actually had it on their shelves. It was compared favourably to Where the Crawdads Sing but I didn’t enjoy it as much.
Tommy is from a Tinker family and, because of their past experiences, they keep pretty much to themselves. Charlotte receives a bike from her ailing father for her twelfth birthday. The two meet on the banks of a nearby river and become friends instantly. Trouble lies ahead for both children but they maintain a friendship over several years when Tommy and his family return to their summer camp.
Goodreads Rating: * * *
Rather be the Devil
Author: Rankin, Ian
My to-read shelf is getting taller every week with Pat bringing home books from the library sales. This was one of ours and I was ready for a good detective story and this author never fails.
Rebus is newly retired but hasn’t yet quite let go of the excitement of the chase. An old, unsolved case comes to his attention and to fill his time he starts digging. During his search he encounters several cronies from his past but a more current crime seems to be more intriguing than solved the cold case. And Rebus inserts himself into the investigation.
Goodreads Rating: * * * *
Tayla
This was the last project in the Little Handfuls of Scraps book that Stacia, Deloise and I worked on each month for the past couple of years. I finished it at the Guild’s January retreat this year, well behind Stacia and Deloise.
I originally intended to use straight lines down and across (maybe with my serpentine stitch) but everyone thought I should blanket stitch the butterflies. I was afraid to start that but once I got going it went quite quickly and I was pleased with the results. I used the serpentine stitch to outline each of the blocks.
I fully intended to pass the book along when I finished this last project but in the meantime I’ve used some of the patterns, or pieces of the patterns, for other projects so I think I’ll hang on to it.