The Tattoist of Auschwitz

Books

Author: Heather Morris

I’d heard a lot about this book and it was recommended by many of my friends. It is a novel, but based on a true story.

Lale, a Slovakian Jew, is transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. He makes a vow to himself that he will do whatever is necessary for him to leave the camp when the war ends. He ends up getting the job of tattooing numbers on the wrists of the tens of thousands of people who enter the camps, many of whom will never leave. He falls in love with Gita, who won’t even tell Lale her last name because she never expects to leave the camp.

Life for both of them is unspeakably hard although Lale’s connections help Gita get a less strenuous job in the camp. The stories Lale tells are so inhumane it is so hard to fathom how anyone could do these things to anyone else.

After three years they manage to leave the camp, but not together or at the same time. They eventually find their way back to one another, with the help of the Red Cross.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Good to a Fault

Books

Author: Marina Endicott

I’m not sure where I got this book from or who recommended it but it’s been on my shelf for a long time. I know I was avoiding it; when I went looking for a book I saw it but never wanted to read it.

It’s a good book so whatever put me off it was silly. The story takes place in Saskatoon, although you’d never know it except for some mention of street names (8th Street, Avenue R, etc.) and a few locations (The Senator and the Pat).

Clara is a forty-ish woman who has taken care of both her mother and father as they were dying. One day she is involved in an accident with another car that held an entire family. When the mother, Lorraine, is taken to hospital it is discovered that she has lymphoma. Clara brings the rest of the family to her home – Clayton, the husband, three children, and the mother-in-law. Clayton disappears in her car but is soon replaced by Lorraine’s brother Darwin.

Clara loves the children and she is making plans for what she will do when Lorraine passes. But what happens when Lorraine recovers and lays claim to her family again?

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Great weekend

Journal

Monday, March 8, 2021

It was a fun few days quilting (virtually) with Stacia and Deloise. Our monthly miniature went together very quickly.

Our theme was donation quilts and I had a pattern and a start on one. I wasn’t very far into the second day when I realized the quilt I was making was one I would probably rather keep for myself so I needed something else. Deloise mentioned a pattern that she has used before and it was one that both Stacia and Deloise were making so I joined in with them.

I have a bin of flannel and I had enough fabric to make mine all from various flannels – mostly novelty prints. I still need to stitch down the binding and once that is done I’ll post a photo. You won’t be surprised to know that Stacia finished five quilts and Deloise finished two quilts and has another top done.

Apparently Covid vaccination has started in Powell River and I think we’ll get our first shot earlier than we expected. I was due for my second Shingles vaccine at the end of the month and I was concerned that having the two vaccines too close together might mess things up. The pharmacist suggested I come in and get the second Shingles shot and I’d be good when my turn comes up on the Covid list. I was able to get in right away and so far I’m not feeling any affects from it.

I’m trying to get my sewing room put back into some sort of order. I had all sorts of flannel pulled that didn’t work out for the quilt and I had several pieces pulled that I thought I might be able to use as backings. I had to shift a lot of things around to get to my flannel bin and to clear off my quilting machine. I’d be smarter to put everything back when I’m finished with it; I try and try but sometimes it just doesn’t work!

We are heading across to Texada tomorrow for a couple of days. I have a few quilts that I want to sandwich and I have more floor space over there than I do here. One of the projects I need to get quilting on is the Guild’s mystery. Since I am leading it I feel obligated to have mine finished by the June wind-up meeting where we do the reveal.

I have a Board meeting tonight. Some meetings I’m able to turn my camera off and carry on with something else but I’ll have to pay attention to this one. Another reason to get things tidy in here.

March Mini

Quilting

Another sewing session with Stacia and Deloise and another mini completed.

The top went together very quickly. I thought of a couple of ways to quilt the project but in the end went with my tried and true eight-pointed star. I didn’t even need to do any marking on it.

I pulled out a few choices for backing but there was no logical colour for the binding based on the fabrics I used in the top. I delved into my small collection of binding ends. There was only piece that was long enough for the binding so then I had to go back and find a backing that would match the binding. This one worked out quite well I think.