All posts by Sherry

Oleander Girl

Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

It didn’t take me long to read this one – but then I spent a day on (or waiting for) the ferries and a day recuperating from my travels. The fact that is was due at the library in just a few days spurred me on as well.

Korobi (meaning oleander) has been raised by her grandparents in their ancestral home in Kolkata. Her mother died when Korobi was born and she never knew her father. Korobi is about to marry a young man from a wealthy family when her grandfather suddenly dies. With his absence, secrets concerning the death of her mother begin to emerge, as well as new information about her father. Korobi travels to America to search for him. Will she find him? Will she be seduced by the freedom she finds in America? Or will she return to the life that was planned for her.

Goodreads Rating * * * * (I recommend it)

It’s been awhile

Saturday, December 15, 2018

My first “away” trip was to Texada for a long weekend. It was a busy one, but even when I’m busy over there I come home relaxed. Friday night we went out for dinner, Saturday I was at a quilter’s Open House (for her birthday), Saturday night Pat was playing at a fund raiser for the Syrian family, and Sunday we went to the United Church’s all-music service.

We got home late Sunday afternoon and by mid-morning on Monday I was on the bus to Christy’s. Travelling by bus makes for a long day; I had almost a two-hour wait on a ferry out of Langdale (Gibsons) and then it was a mad dash (on an Express bus) to get from Horseshoe Bay to the West Coast Express station. It all worked out and I had less than a five-minute wait for Christy before we got aboard the train.

It wasn’t the best time to visit because everyone was working and/or at school. I was there for Dylan’s 13th birthday so the timing couldn’t be changed. I was able to walk Taylor to school every day (usually in the pouring rain) and picked her up once after school. I cooked supper a couple of nights – Dylan and I were alone for supper on his birthday and that felt very special (I made him his favourite dinner). Rick’s family came for cake in the evening; George’s Mum was there so it wasn’t a quiet event.

 

Dylan loves Lego and he received two cars for his birthday. Even though both boxes say 16+, he had the first one done in just over three hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taylor is getting ready for her first gymnastics competition. Some of the things she does with her little body is quite scary. Imagine giving yourself a head massage with your feet!

There were wind warnings up for Friday when I was leaving so I got to the ferry terminal early in case some sailings were cancelled. Both of the ferry routes I was taking were going through relatively sheltered waters and everything went smoothly. I even avoided rain most of the trip.

Today I’ve been busy catching up – lots of Cranberry Hall work, a bit of Guild work, and lots of my own e-mail messages. I had a short nap this afternoon – I’m fighting a cold. There is still work to be done tonight but I may not carry on much longer. I have a book due back at the library on Monday and I could probably get it done tonight if I worked at it.

Silent Voices

Author: Ann Cleeves

 

The gang are all back in this Vera novel – Vera, Joe, Charlie and Holly.

If you’ve read any of the Vera novels you will be surprised that, while exercising at the pool, Vera finds a dead woman in the steam room. Clues are hard to find, but there are a list of characters that might be suspects. I had my suspicions, but I never would have guessed who the murderer was.

 

Goodreads Rating * * * * (I recommend it)

Happy Birthday Dylan

December 12, 2018

Yankee Puzzle

 

Some of the fabric in this card is the same as I used in a small case I made for Dylan a few Christmases ago. A puzzle seemed appropriate for Dylan as he was such a whiz at puzzles even when he was little. I’m happy to be spending Dylan’s 13th birthday with him – where has the time gone?

I didn’t see the mistake in this one until after it was quilted and the binding was on. By then it was too late to fix it and still have it ready on time.