All posts by Sherry

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Books

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

I was looking for an e-book to take with me on a recent trip. Several books that were on my list weren’t available on Libby but when I saw this one I remembered that I had heard of it even if I hadn’t added it to my “To Read” list.

Evelyn Hugo is an aging Hollywood star. She hasn’t granted an interview or been photographed for several years so it is quite an surprise when a popular magazine is asked to send Monique Grant (and no one else) to interview the star. When Monique arrives she finds that she is not being asked to write a single interview; Hugo wants to tell her life story to Monique but it isn’t to be published until after Hugo’s death. It is a very interesting story with a twist at the end.

I dug a little deeper and the author has said Evelyn is loosely based on Elizabeth Taylor, who was married eight times to seven men.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

The Queen of Dirt Island

Books

Author: Donal Ryan

This novel outlines the lives of the Aylward women of Tipperary. Nana’s son is married to Eileen. Just days after the birth of his daughter, Saoirse, he is killed in a car accident. Nana and Eileen raise Saoirse on their own; although it doesn’t always seem like it they love each other immensely. Saoirse is just eighteen when she becomes pregnant with Pearl and, after her birth, the four generations continue to live together.

This is a lovely story and although not deep you definitely feel the love between the generations. Each chapter is only two pages long so it isn’t hard to believe that “just one more chapter” can easily lead to many more chapters.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Bridal Shower for Madison

Journal

April 12, 2025

As I worked on various projects for the past while I’ve been putting them aside for Madison’s shower if they seemed appropriate.

Place the turtle on the kitchen floor. Please don’t kick him out the door. He is there to help you with the task of mopping up that spill. So place your foot upon his back and push him around and around. When the spill is there no more, just leave him lying on the floor.

This little cleaning turtle was an idea that Gail wanted to make so we worked on it at our Friday sewing sessions. The back of the turtle is a towel (to soak up the spills). Not long ago Madison had a turtle as a pet so this seemed somewhat fitting.

These sashiko-inspired cat coasters were another patten that Gail found. She had never done any sashiko so was a bit slower. I had time to make a set of four.

These placemats were a Guild challenge project from a few years ago. They weren’t done in time to show them at the year-end party that year but all they needed was to be quilted. The challenge fabric was the little skunks in the centre.

And what kitchen is complete without some microwave bowl cozies and pot holders?