Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Books read in 2024

                                                 

Just for my records and for fun, I found this on Goodreads.

 

Driving Under the Influence by Jenna Martin 

Shortest Book
192
pages
The Angel Tree by Lucinda Riley
Longest Book
672
pages

Average book length in 2024
370
pages

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Most Shelved
4,092,028
people also shelved
When Life Gives You Lemurs by Tim Husband
Least Shelved
16
people also shelved

My average rating for 2024
4.9

The Women by Kristin Hannah
Highest Rated on Goodreads
4.60 average

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

My first review of the year

it was amazing
Loved this book, could not put it down.

MY 2024 BOOKS
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
it was amazing
The Angel Tree by Lucinda Riley
Santa & Company by Fern Michaels
Somebody like Santa by Janet Dailey
Belly Dancing for Beginners by Liz Byrski
Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran
The Book Spy by Alan Hlad
Dead Tide by Fiona McIntosh
Summer Stage by Meg Mitchell Moore
Gone by Midnight by Candice Fox
it was amazing
Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena
The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding
Untouchable Girls by Jools Topp
Foul Play by Fiona McIntosh
2 Sisters Detective Agency by James Patterson
The Way It Is Now by Garry Disher
Crimson Lake by Candice Fox
The Caretaker by Gabriel Bergmoser
The Last Dance by Fiona McIntosh
it was amazing
Redemption Point by Candice Fox
A Dark and Stormy Tea by Laura Childs
Gathering Dark by Candice Fox
Driving Under the Influence by Jenna Martin
Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
12 Months to Live by James Patterson
The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery
The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes
it was amazing
A Country Vet Christmas by Alissa Callen
A Maiden's Voyage by Rosie Goodwin
Glass Houses by Louise Penny
The Tea Ladies by Amanda  Hampson
The Murder Inn by James Patterson
Hard Road by J.B. Turner
Hard Kill by J.B. Turner
Hard Way by J.B. Turner
Wartime Sweethearts by Lizzie Lane
it was amazing
Zero Day by David Baldacci
War Baby by Lizzie Lane
Home Sweet Home by Lizzie Lane
Gone Bad by J.B. Turner
Hard Fall by J.B. Turner
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Luck of the Titanic by Stacey  Lee
Hard Shot by J.B. Turner
Hard Target by J.B. Turner
it was amazing
Hard Vengeance by J.B. Turner
Hard Exit by J.B. Turner
Hard Fire by J.B. Turner
Hard Power by J.B. Turner
The Girls From Mersey View by Lyn Andrews
Reckoning by J.B. Turner
Requiem by J.B. Turner
Rogue by J.B. Turner
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
it was amazing
The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers
Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
Pageboy by Elliot Page
Crosshairs by James Patterson
The Hunter by Tana French
Take Two by Danielle Hawkins
Nightingale by Fiona McIntosh
Three Women Disappear by James Patterson
it was amazing
The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin
The Banksia Bay Beach Shack by Sandie Docker
The Cottage at Rosella Cove by Sandie Docker
The Redgum River Retreat by Sandie Docker
Weyward by Emilia Hart
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Things She Would Have Said Herself by Catherine Therese
Farewell to The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
it was amazing
Two Shakes of a Lamb's Tail by Danielle Hawkins
When It All Went to Custard by Danielle Hawkins
Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy
The Lost Bookshop by Evie  Woods
Evening Class by Maeve Binchy
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy
Sisters at War by Jina Bacarr
Miami Requiem by J.B. Turner
it was amazing
The Long Hot Summer  by Mary Moody
Windswept & Interesting by Billy Connolly
The Daughter's Tale by Armando Lucas Correa
The Fallen by David Baldacci
The Talented Mrs Greenway by Tea Cooper
Happily Ever After by Harriet Evans
Feijoa by Kate          Evans
The Wartime Book Club by Kate          Thompson
The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan
it was amazing
A Wrens' Wartime Christmas by Vicki Beeby
The Night Travellers by Armando Lucas Correa
The Locked Door by Freida McFadden
One Illumined Thread by Sally Colin-James
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
A Time to Remember by Josephine Cox
The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
 
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
it was amazing
The Coffin Confessor by William  Edgar
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini
Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Rambling Man by Billy Connolly
Charles III by Robert Hardman
Deep Fear by Rachel Lynch
Bitter Edge by Rachel Lynch
it was amazing
Fault Line by Robert Goddard
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
Mothers and Daughters by Siân O'Gorman
Did I Ever Tell You This? by Sam Neill
The Night House by Jo Nesbø
The Echo of Old Books by Barbara  Davis
The Austrian Bride by Helen Parusel
Outspoken by Sima Samar
it was amazing
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule by Jennifer Chiaverini
The Lighthouse Bookshop by Sharon Gosling
Burial of Ghosts by Ann Cleeves
The Lyrebird Lake Ladies Choir by Sandie Docker
The School That Hope Built by Madeleine Kelly
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
Minds Went Walking by Michelle  Wright
The Afterlife Confessional by Bill Edgar
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
it was amazing
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Killing Moon by Jo Nesbø
Maiden Voyage by Sarah Jane
The Paris Cooking School by Sophie Beaumont
When Life Gives You Lemurs by Tim Husband
The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
The New Girl by Ingrid Alexandra
it was amazing
The Reacher Guy by Heather   Martin
Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini
Tiny Uncertain Miracles by Michelle   Johnston
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
Another Life by Kristin Hannah
Tombstone Courage by J.A. Jance
Desert Heat by J.A. Jance
Shoot Don't Shoot by J.A. Jance
Skeleton Canyon by J.A. Jance
it was amazing
Rattlesnake Crossing by J.A. Jance
The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel
Devil's Claw by J.A. Jance
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

\

My last review of the year

it was amazing
Here is to another year of good books.

Friday, January 3, 2025

Fundraiser

 Here is the link to a great fundraiser over at Donna's blog. For a new room at an accommodation place where families of patients in hospital can stay. Great help to families.

https://chookyblue.blogspot.com/


If you can pop over and consider donating $20 or what ever you can.


Many thanks

Sue

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Chookshed Stitchers Challenge 2025

 

I have made my list but not numbered the items yet as somethings have to be done to a deadline, or maybe I will number them and change when the new month comes around. 😕

#6.School banner
This looks like a mess but actually says 150 - I have done the 1 and the 5 just the 0 to be done and then the school  logo to be appliqued and dates to be added. I cut out 400 two and a half inch squares to be signed by pupils and teachers and past pupils who came to the 150th celebrations. This needs to be done when school goes back at the end of the month. This is for the local Primary School, I somehow got volunteered to do this, the rest of the local patchwork group was to help, but it is just me. To be honest only one can sew at a time, so we will see how I go.


#1 Wattle brush - Australian Floral Mandela
I have had this kit for quite a while, so it is now time to get it made, plus the designer is coming to talk to us at the Guild.....do I need any more motivation!!


#2 Sashiko Stitchery Panel
This has been on the shelf for a while too.


#3 Quilts for Guild (2)
Two quilts I was given to quilt from the Guild.


#4 Part made quilt from Carleen
this part made quilt was taken to an op shop Carleen works in, she has passed it on to me to finish.


#5 I Spy Quilt
I was given these pre cut squares and the pieces that made the border, now to make a backing and quilt.


#7 Back and quilt Daylesford Quilt
this photo has decided to reverse itself but you still get the idea.


#8 Border and put together Guild quilts
I was given these to put together at the last Guild meeting, the Minion one is done, needs borders, the other one is not started yet.

#9 Make Sloth quilt
I was given this a while ago and need to get it made.
#10 is a secret challenge that I can't show at present, but needs to be worked on.




Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Christmas and the end of December

 We had a family gathering at the house of Adam and Beth on Christmas Day, Adam cooked a wonderful dinner, I just got to take a pavlova, cream and fruit to go on the top.

It was a first for Finn

Mmmmmm Finn likes this pavlova and cream plus blueberries

Happy to be fed for a bit!
On Dec 27th we went over to Wonthaggi to see some of David's family, that meant we went over to Sorrento on the ferry, and as it was a windy day it was a bit rock and roll there for a while.
We had a great meal at Tessa's house (David's niece)




Our two sons and partners and Finn, plus Ellen's (David's sister) and David (Bro in law) daughter and son, partner and toddler. Always so good to see the cousins together, they get on so well and even if they haven't seen each other for ages, just pick up were they left off.
Ellen and I went out to follow and Adventure Lab along the dinosaur trail from Inverloch to Eagles Rest
First stop was this model dinosaur in a park

Not far away was a mural Ellen painted for a lady who missed being on the farm

We stopped in at the RACV establishment at Inverloch to look at their dinosaur display and came across the Qantassaurus, so named at Qantas funded searching for this dinosaur along the Inverloch coast


lots of wonderful rocky coast line, the Eagles Rest landmark is off in the distance

two explorers trying to take a selfie!! 😁

interesting rock formations, 


from the car

this was taken at Cape Paterson, where we stopped to find a regular cache, Ellen wanted to see one so we walked back and forth until I found the direction we needed to go in and just off the path we found the container, signed it, put it back and headed off.
coming back on the ferry we were the very last car loaded on and boy it was squashed, luckily I was directed as to how to park the car

it was a beautiful calm day and a good ride home.
Back home I got out a kit Beth's Mum gave me for Christmas


I had to do quite a lot of unsewing but finally got it done and am happy with it.
Very happy to have it done and not sitting awaiting attention.
I am off to compose my list of 10 items to get working on this year, Deana has kindly offered to host us again this year
Off to get organised.
Happy stitching.












Sunday, December 22, 2024

More updates

 I didn't realise it was over a month since I had last made a post - life has been busy and time has zipped by once again. We were without a laptop for a week or so as it spat the dummy and we had to get it fixed. A very helpful man came out one day and fixed it, but then two days later it happened again and we had to get him back. All seems to be good now - fingers crossed!!!!

An Aussie Hero quilt has been made and sent off, this one going to Bahrain.

This year I bought dog and cat toys and food and dropped them off at the Geelong Animal Welfare Society in lieu of presents for David's family. We agreed to do this years ago but I am the only one that has followed through.

This was the lovely lady who sorted the bags and was off to deliver to the dogs.

I made a floor quilt for David's great niece, it is a section of backing fabric by Red Tractor


I found some felted animals on line to go on the play mat.

I made a quilt for David's brother in law, all his family except him have a quilt so I thought it was time to change that

We had a December challenge at Guild, we were given three pieces of fabric, mine were the purple and pinks and the challenge was somethin flora and fauna. The results were amazing and very varied.

In the garden the wisteria is flowering again

as is the hoya

and the agapanthus

some figs are coming

the daylily is happily blooming

there are three flowers on the banana passionfruit, very exciting for me!!!

we even have 2 tomatoes, remains to be seen if they ripen

plums are ripening - I hope to get some of these before the rainbow lorikeets move in!!

promise of things to come.
I have to zip off now and do Granma duties for the afternoon.
Happy stitching.