Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Reading Challenge

 I met my challenge for this year - just......

46,432
pages read
Susan Palmer
140
books read

Updated less than a minute ago.
Newly completed books appear after a delay.

The Tea Set by Cary J. Hansson
Shortest Book
24
pages
The Butterfly Room by Lucinda Riley
Longest Book
672
pages

Average book length in 2025
331
pages

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Most Shelved
1,375,809
people also shelved
Adorable Animal Quilting by Ingrid Alteneder
Least Shelved
34
people also shelved

My average rating for 2025
4.9

Diamond Promises by Anna Jacobs
Highest Rated on Goodreads
4.60 average

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan

My first review of the year

it was ok
Could not get into this one

MY 2025 BOOKS
Exit Wounds by J.A. Jance
it was amazing
Partner in Crime by J.A. Jance
A Midlife Holiday by Cary J. Hansson
A Midlife Gamble by Cary J. Hansson
Dead Wrong by J.A. Jance
Damage Control by J.A. Jance
FIRE AND ICE By Jance, J. A. (Author) Mass Market Paperbound ... by J.A. Jance
Marriage Matters by Cynthia Ellingsen
The Life & Loves of Becca Valentine by Laura  Pearson
Blessing of the Lost Girls by J.A. Jance
it was amazing
Random Acts by J.A. Jance
Dustfall by Michelle   Johnston
The Mother-in-Law by A.J.  Carter
Geneva by Richard Armitage
Are You Awake? by Claire McGowan
Logging Off by Nick Spalding
The Fallen Woman by Fiona McIntosh
The Hidden Girl by Lucinda Riley
Long Way Home by J.B. Turner
it was amazing
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley
Scrublands by Chris Hammer
Auntie Poldi and the Handsome Antonio by Mario  Giordano
Before We Grow Old by Clare Swatman
A Time for Renewal by Anna Jacobs
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
One French Summer by Gillian  Harvey
it was amazing
Fall Down Dead by Stephen Booth
The Love Letter by Lucinda Riley
Kitty's War by Eimear Lawlor
The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner
The Ledge by Christian  White
The Butterfly Room by Lucinda Riley
Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce
Yours Cheerfully by A.J. Pearce
Mrs. Porter Calling by A.J. Pearce
it was amazing
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
My Daughter's Boyfriend by Daniel Hurst
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner
The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley
The Art of Landscape Knitting by Anne Le Brocq
Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park by Molly Green
Destiny by Madalyn Morgan
An Orphan in the Snow by Molly Green
Midnight in Paris by Gillian  Harvey
A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls by Patricia McBride
it was amazing
A Midlife Marriage by Cary J. Hansson
Evening Stars by Susan Mallery
Dark Waters by J.B. Turner
Barefoot Season by Susan Mallery
Sisters by Choice by Susan Mallery
Field of Bones by J.A. Jance
Missing and Endangered by J.A. Jance
A Winter Wedding at Bletchley Park by Molly Green
it was amazing
The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan
The Other Woman by Daniel Silva
Three Sisters by Susan Mallery by Susan Mallery
Letters From the Dead by Steve  Robinson
Hard Duty by J.B. Turner
The Summer Cottage by A.J.  Carter
Smoke Season by Amy  Hagstrom
Memory Man by David Baldacci
The Tea Set by Cary J. Hansson
The Other Wife by Claire McGowan
it was amazing
No Way Back by J.B. Turner
The Killer's Home by A.J.  Carter
The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse
My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
Mistress of Marymoor by Anna Jacobs
The Secrets of Eastby End by Anna Jacobs
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
it was amazing
The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C.J. Archer
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Dirt by Sea by Michael Wagner
Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron
The Next Girl by Pip Drysdale
The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley
Greek Secret by Francesca Catlow
Mothers and Daughters by Erica James
Elizabeth & Elizabeth by Sue      Williams
it was amazing
Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth  George
The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak
Silver by Chris Hammer
A Scent of Bluebells by Meg Henderson
The American Girl by Kate  Horsley
The Nurses of Eastby End by Anna Jacobs
Walking Your Human by Liz Ledden
Oi Aardvark! by Kes Gray
An Italian Girl in Brooklyn by Santa Montefiore
it was amazing
Here in the After by Marion Frith
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Golden Dreams by Anna Jacobs
Silver Wishes by Anna Jacobs
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
Gooseberry Fool by Emma   Davies
Blackberry Way by Emma   Davies
Fear Thy Neighbor by Fern Michaels

Dirt by Sea by Michael Wagner

My last review of the year

it was amazing
Love a good Aussie children's book. ...more
Interesting to look back on.
Merry Christmas and I wish you all the best for the coming year.








Tuesday, December 16, 2025

December

 I am finding it hard to believe it is December already! We have celebrated David's birthday with lunch at the Queenscliff pub with his sister and bro in law, we all enjoyed our ourselves.

The garden has been going well, we had a lot of rain in Spring which helped



Some poppies have come up and flowered which was very exciting, I spread a lot of seed last year but only got a few plants. Still better than nothing.

The cactus plant I put into the gumboot a while back has finally flowered, the flowers have opened more since I took the photo.
I have quilted another quilt sewn by Christine from a box of two and a half inch squares I had, this in #3, since taking the photo Christine has bound it, I have labelled it and it has gone to the Bellarine Quilters, to be delivered to the Geelong Hospital Wellness Centre next year.
I have been spending some time with young Finn, one afternoon we made yoghurt, banana and blueberry ice blocks, he was not impressed that he had to wait over night to eat one! He loved them and wanted MORE NOW!! Sadly it was too close to dinner time 😀
Early December I met up with the lovely Robyn and her hubby in Geelong, we had lunch together before they went off to do a little exploring before catching the ferry to Tasmania. I met Robyn and her hubby and boys many years ago on a trip to Brisbane top present Michelle with her replacement Christmas quilt. Robyn and her family put up both Raewyn and myself for a few days and drove me to and from the airport. They were very generous with their time to two strangers.
I have been having a few walks along the beach and found many of these recently
I do not want to meet one of these when out in the water, not that I have started swimming yet but it is forecast to be 30 deg tomorrow and then 34 the next day so I might be tempted! I always thought if you got stung you poured vinegar over the sting but after looking up Mt Google apparently not, you need to wash off with sea water and then immerse in hot water. You learn something new every day!
Local ladies who knit and crochet have been busy decorating the trees down the main street for Christmas

these are just two of many, they are great to see.
Looking down to the Bay today.
We have had a few challenges from the Guild for this month, one is for an extravagant Xmas hat, the other is and 8 inch square using only aqua and purple, with the assist of Circles, we are going to be challenged once a month to make different blocks, no idea what happens to them but I guess I will find out.
Another challenge was to make something to be used at Christmas at home we were given a piece of fabric - I cut mine in strips and glued it onto a metal circle I found at an op shop
Jo from Bellarine Quilters kindly got her hubby to cut me the wooden base, I covered the wire circle and stuck on the decorations and the tree and wove the little lights around everything. It looks lovely at night time and will live on the dining table for a while. Fabric is now unrecognisable. I need to get a photo of the left over bit...
that is the fabric 😀
Early December Carleen and I went to Tracee's place for a Christmas gathering, we caught up with Tracee and Marg and some of the City Girls, we had a great lunch and then Tracee had us playing games 😳


Maxine concentrating on her bumble bee gathering a ball
more bumble bee gatherers, we couldn't see what we were doing but had a good laugh! Sorry about the finger in the photo!

Ann and Gail, bouncing ping pong balls into an egg container

Carleen and Julie

Maxine and Marina

Tracee and Elyte, we had a great day and lots of laughs.
This quilt and the one below have been finished and donated.

They were in show and tell and the Bellarine Quilters.
I have been trying to be good and go for a walk each day, this day I rode the bike to Indented Head, St Leonard's pier

Indented Head beach.

I think that is enough for me at present, I have been chipping away at the Temperature tree, and in November so not too far behind. I hope to get some tops into quilts over the holiday time.
Happy stitching.



























Monday, November 24, 2025

November

 Here it is nearly the end of the month....this year had flown by!!

Today at Bellarine Quilters we gave 53 bags with toiletries to the Vincent De Paul group who support women leaving a domestic violence situation.  





Last two bags I made with odd bits of denim and left over felt and fabric.
I hope to get more photos soon.
The FB photo came in just as I was doing this post, here are all the donated bags ready to go. (Mine are on hold until next time as all the toiletries were used up this time)

I delivered several quilts to the group to go to the Oncology ward at Geelong Hospital, made by Judy and Christine. Good feeling when the finished quilts go to where they need to go.
we had a sunny afternoon one day last week so I sandwiched and pinned the Thomas quilt
and the strip quilt

Both quilts are now quilted and the strip quilt has a little more binding to sew down and both will be finished.
The Peas in a Pod blocks are coming along, I think I will get another 12 blocks from the black and gray fabric, then the joining together starts. They should have been finished but a friend visiting in the week said, next time I see you I want to see the Thomas quilt done! So of course as I am seeing her tomorrow off I went quilting and the Peas were left on the desk. Hope to get back to them soon, although we have a busy week coming up, lots of appointments and up to Ballarat on Friday to see the neuro for David.
I had better go and get veges in for dinner, I lashed out and bought a cooked roast of pork at the supermarket today - that is what happens when I don't have lunch before going to the supermarket and I am hungry!! Still makes for an easier dinner and will do two meals.
Happy stitching.












Saturday, November 8, 2025

A new month has arrived

 And I am catching up again!

David has been to see the oncologist, much was explained and advice was given and David has decided to not have chemo. Big sigh of relief from me! The information we were given was that chemo causes Parkinson's like symptoms so could cause David more damage than help and they didn't want to do that to him. So now he has blood tests every 6 months and a CT once a year to keep a check on him. David is away this weekend on a boys weekend, guys he has known since high school and Uni, I haven't heard anything but I am sure they are having a wonderful time!

I had a quiet weekend planned, was even influenced by a squirrel that popped over from Janice's place. Today was to be a day of cutting fabric as I already have the foundation paper sheets

But life had other ideas and I have had a busy day doing other things.
We are getting a lift installed to make it easier for David in the future and so we can stay in this house.
The builder has been here since Thursday, has not long left ( 5pm Saturday) and will be back tomorrow to do a little more so the lift fitters can come Monday as scheduled. I  wonder about the scheduling as their is no time allowed for the unforseen and there was lots of unforseen in this house!
We have a flat roof, no man hole, and it makes it a challenge doing anything electrical.
Yesterday afternoon upstairs floor
Upstairs ceiling ( the ceiling was too low to fit the lift so a bulkhead had to be created, lots more work that expected)
End of work today, floor, the area covered with tools will have the floor vinyl that was cut out, glued on to it, so it looks more floor like  😊
Underneath looking up.
It looks strange at present but will be much better by Tuesday. 🤞
Today I had to drive to Torquay (an hour away) to change the sim card I got for the lift - the lift has an emergency phone inside. The info from the lift company says to get a normal sim card not a pre paid. That was going to cost $50 a month. Mark the builder said NO!! Swap it for a yearly sim card that costs $76 for 12 months, much better. So he rang a contact at the Torquay shop and she said come on over and I will help. So I did and she did and she also sorted issues I was having with my phone, not a problem with my phone just something that was not explained to me ( yes I was the problem 😁)
Well worth the drive over. While there I finished at Adventure Lab in the howling wind and spitting rain

I had to sit the phone on the hand rail to keep it steady in the wind.
I found a lovely bookshop in Torquay and bought two new books, Twice by Mitch Albom ( I have enjoyed other books by him) and Nobody's Girl by Virginia Giuffre.
I also went to he Information centre and found two badges for my Aussie Travel map
Not the best photo but I got the VW Great Ocean Road badge and the 12 Apostles - of which there are only 8 left I think.
During the week I have quilted 3 quilts for Christine and Judy
Peas in a Pod
all scrappy quilts using up peoples scraps
I have started my own Peas in a Pod quilt, using jelly rolls I got on special from Spotlight

I was given a large bag of African themed scraps, so they have been cut up and are being sewn into a kind of post and rail design - I have a few large pieces that will stay large and be fitted in where ever possible. I was also given some Australian themed fabric so that will be worked in too. 
 So much for not starting anything new this year!!! Blinking squirrels!!!
A little more progress has slowly been made on the Temperature Tree, fitting in the October leaves.
I have sewn together the first few rows of the hexie quilt, I am waiting until the lift is finished as there is plaster dust through the house and my design floor is gritty!!
That is me up to date for now, off to sew a few more post and rail bits and Peas in a Pod bits, Tomorrow I will cut the edging fabric for the peas.
Hope I have not put you to sleep with a long post!!


Happy stitching.