Captured By Love--- Book Review

I am a book reviewer for "Bethany House", I am given the book for free, in exchange for an honest
review. I am a little behind. I just finished July's book review. The book I read was
"Captured By Love" , by Jody Hedlund.

"The British Army has taken control of Michillmackinac Island forcing the Americans who live
there to swear an oath of loyalty if they choose to remain there.
Pierre Durant, a fur trader, has been away from the island for years. He comes home to find his mother frail and almost blind and  that his brother Jean is away at war with the Americans.
 His childhood friend Angelique Mackenzie has grown into a beautiful young woman.
Pierre and Angelique fall in love, even though Angelique has given her word to Jean that
she will be married to him when he gets home from the army.
  What will Pierre and Angelique decide to do. Where does their loyalties lie? How much will they risk for love? You will have to read the book to find out."

 I am not sure if it was just me or not, but this was just a book that I had a hard time getting into,
it just seemed to be the same thing over and over and could not hold my interest. I will have to say
though, that the last couple chapters of the book were the best.
On a scale of 10, I would give it a 6. It was just not one of my favorite books.
But you may read it and love it.I did enjoy the history and it made me think of the hardships
that people during that time had to endure just to survive.

Summertime Fun!

School will be starting in our area next week, so I will be on call with my nursing job.
I have totally enjoyed this Summer so much. I was able to take each of my grandchildren for a day of fun. We went out to eat at the restaurant of their choice, went to a movie and shopping for a toy and outfit.       

Me and My Granddaughter Riley

Me and my Grandson Cole

Me and my Grandson Jake

We also celebrated Jakes Birthday this weekend, my son rented our local parks swimming pool, so everyone had so much fun. Happy 5th. Birthday Jake!!!! You are growing so fast.

Spider man arriving at his party.

Yummy Birthday cake

Opening gifts

Steph, Riley and Mat

Pappy and Maw with the Birthday boy!

Luke and Jake

Rhonda, Luke and Jake

God answers prayers!

You know I have posted many times about my daugther and her battle with an eating disorder,
this had been a part of her life for at least 9 years. As a mother it broke my heart to see her struggle,
I shed so many tears and prayed until I felt I couldn't pray anymore , but I continued to pray and trust the Lord to take care of her.
I want to tell everyone don't give up if you are going through a battle, just keep praying and trusting in the Lord.
Well my daughter has been trying so hard, she finally a few months ago was able to get health insurance and now has an insulin pump. Which is another answer to prayer.  She also is a part of a support group on facebook.
And she has a blog talking about her journey on her road to recovery.
I want to share her entry that she wrote today.
Stephanies Journey to recovery

Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my daughter.

New creations.

Only two weeks until school starts so then my few days of me time will come to an end.
I have totally cleaned my entire house which I haven't done this for years, got rid of so much junk
that accumulates over time. I have done some fun things with my grandchildren and decided to make myself some fall creations. Usually I never make myself something, only things to sell.

I finished a fall cross stitch called "Black Jack" a country rustic pattern and also a pumpkin riding a crow.I used a pattern by, Brenda Garvaris. I tweaked the pattern a little and added arms and legs to the pumpkin man and decided to attach the crow to a rusty bed spring. Summer is going fast all the fairs are happening now, after that seems
like fall is here. Hope you are enjoying your Summer as much as I am.

Giveaway Winner

Brenda of "The Rusty Thimble" hosts monthly giveaways. Last month she gave away several
pumpkins and I was the lucky winner of one of her pumpkins. He is quite an adorable fellow.
Brenda is one talented lady and is so generous in her giveaways.
Stop over at her blog and check out her creations, you are in for a treat.
Thank you Brenda for hosting such a wonderful giveaway. I love my pumpkin guy.

Wonderful Doll!

I want to show you the wonderful doll that I received in the mail today.  Lara from
"A Primitive Homestead" hosted a wonderful giveaway to make a Memory Garden,
in honor of her son. He loved gardening with Lara.
 I was the lucky winner of  Hannah. Hannah is a beautiful doll. She is ragged stuffed. I just love prairie and amish things and she reminds me of both of these. She is so beautiful in person!!!!
Lara does beautiful work, and I am so honored to be the owner of one of her dolls.
Thank you for hosting your wonderful giveaway Lara, I will give Hannah a good home and
cherish her forever!!!
Check out Lara's blog!!!!

Scrap Table Runner and Table Square

I still have some leftover squares that I already had cut out from making my scrap quilt that I recently made. I kept thinking what can I make, what can I make.
 I don't know if you are familiar with "You Tube" or not, but you can pretty much learn anything you
want to by watching their videos. I am a hairdresser too, so I am always looking at new haircuts and styles, it is kinda like setting at home watching a hair show.
 If you have never watched any of the "You Tube" videos on tutorials for the "Missouri Star Quilt Co.", you just have too. Jenny has so many tutorials on all of these short cuts to quilting and how to make different quilt blocks. I was watching her tutorial on making a zig zag table runner and decided that I would make one  to use up some of my leftover squares, plus I thought this will match my quilt. Here is a link to that tutorial Missouri Star Quilt Co. zigzag table runner tutorial
I also made a table square and made it using the disappearing four patch technique, you can also find that tutorial on the tutorials by Missouri Star Quilt Co. Disappearing Four Patch tutorial

  I quilted both the runner and square using the stitch in the ditch technique, I want to get a special presser foot so that I can to the stipple pattern.
 I have a hard time with the binding, but watched a tutorial on it also, see I am learning all sorts of things. But I machine binded the table square this time. The next time I will hand stitch the back, I think that is much neater.
 I try my best to be perfect with my quilting but I am not, I guess that comes with practice. No matter how hard I try it always seems like I have some squares that don't come out even, but I know I will improve with practice.
Now for some photo's of my runner and table square.

I made my runner long 59", but you can make it any size

Backing of the ZigZag table runner

Close up of the Disappearing Four Patch pattern

Back of the table Square

Wonderful Book

I am a book reviewer for "Bethany House". The only requirement for my book reviews is that I give
and honest review of the books that I read.
 I love amish books, especially by Beverly Lewis. I was thrilled that I was chosen to review,
David/Beverly Lewis's new book, "Child of Mine".
  The story is about 8 year old adopted Natalie. She is being raised by her  Uncle Jack Livingston.
after her parents were killed in a plane crash.
    She is also being cared  by her Amish nanny, Laura Mast,
who has taken care of Natalie since she was a baby, and loves her as her own child.
 Eight long years ago Kelly Maines little baby girl was kidnapped, Kelly has hired a private investigator, to help her find her daughter. Now, finally she has a lead about a little girl only
a few miles away. Could Natalie be her long lost daughter or is Natalie's mother her amish nanny?
You will have to read the book to find out.
 The book keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time, not sure of what is going to happen.
I totally loved this book and highly recommend it. This was one of those books that I couldn't put down.

Summer time fun!

Last week my family and I were on vacation in the Outer Banks of NC. We actually stayed on
the beach Corolla where there is wild ponies. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the ponies this time,
 about 20 years ago I was there and saw them alot, they have been moved to one part of the island for their safety, as many were hit by tourists.
 I forgot the battery to my camera so I didn't get to take as many photo's as I would have liked.
I have a fear of heights, so I was proud of being able to climb to the top of a lighthouse in Curituck.
I made it to the top, took one look and went back inside, I just couldn't make myself walk around the outside of the lighthouse at the top.
 We had a wonderful time except on the second day Stephanie burnt the bottom of her feet, second degree burns. Due to being diabetic she has lost some of the feeling in her feet. She had to go to the hospital and have them bandaged and was given medications. I am pleased to say that they are healing well.
 I enjoyed seeing the grandkids having so much fun, we also had fun playing cards and games in the evenings. And we ate some wonderful beach seafood. Ronnie and I drove to a fish market one day
and got fresh shrimp that we fixed one eve. with fresh corn on the cob and fresh green beans.
We saw a beautiful sunrise at the beach one morning, and just had a wonderful family time.
On vacation we always play mini golf, love doing that with the grandkids. A few photo's.

Jake and Cole riding with pappy and maw

The beautiful sunrise on the beach one morning.

Ronnie and I

Pappy, Jake and Cole building a sand castle

Family beach fun

Playing games with the kiddies

Matt, Cole and Riley

Luke, Rhonda and Jake

Stephanie and Riley

I was able to finish a book that I am reading for Bethany House for a review, such a good book, by
Beverly Lewis, "Child of Mine", I will do a post on the book in a few days.

Little Bo was so happy for us to be home, now he can relax.
I also finished a fall pinkeep. Pattern by "Pilgrims and Pioneers"          

Little Bo, my mommy and daddy are home at last.

New fall pinkeep

Love the pattern by Pilgrim and Pioneers

Scarecrows in a Bucket

I have really been busy this summer. I am still working in my hair salon, but am off from school.
So I am trying to get alot accomplished. I have been cleaning and cleaning my house and decluttering. I have been doing deep cleaning that I have put off for years.
Yesterday my hubby and I took a whole pick up load of things to my friends Shelia's house,
we are going to have a yard sale the end of this week. I am hoping to use what money I make, (shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch), to help get new flooring for my living room.
 I think I have cleaned every closet, and every cabinet in my house.I have cleaned
from top to bottom of everything, today I even washed and waxed my car. I am tired but
it sure feels good getting so much accomplished.
  When school starts I know I will be busy I have already been asked to fill in for a nurse that
will be on maternity leave. I also want to do a little crafting before school begins. This weekend
 I decided to make something for fall.
I used a pattern by "Samantha's Accessories",  It is a Scarecrow in a can.
The cans are approx. 19" tall and filled with fall goodies, pumpkins, a sunflower and a rusty star.
I am asking $36.99 plus shipping if interested. You can contact me by the telephone link on my sidebar.
  I also have been told by several people that I should put a label on my quilt. I ordered a tag from
etsy and stitched it on my quilt, I want to show you that.
  I have several day lillies, they are blooming now and I wanted to share some pictures of them also.
Hope everyone is having a beautiful Summer. I sure am enjoying the beautiful Summer!
So hard to believe that tomorrow will be the first day of July.