Monday's books on Tuesday....that's me, a day late and a dollar short!

 I finished 2 books since we last chatted about books...maybe more but this was all I could remember! LOL!  I started reading this series several years back but lost track so I'm starting over.  I have a few of the books but want to read them in order per my usual obsession.  This is the first book, Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson and it was very good.  The main character, Goldy Schulz, is newly divorced, a single Mom and doing catering to make a living for her and her youngish son.  They live in Colorado and there are recipes included in the book which I haven't tried yet but plan on.  They should be great recipes as you wouldn't put bad ones in a book you're trying to sell, right?  (NYT's Bestselling author)
Catering a wake where her ex-father-in-law is poisoned, Goldy is accused and her catering business shutdown until the mystery can be solved.  Goldy can't wait for the police so she takes to investigating it herself which turns up family skeletons and secrets.

The next book I finished was If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell.  My book fairy, Sue, brought me this book and a few more in the series I think.  I really enjoyed it and it is the first book in this series.  The main character, Melanie Turner, has taken over her father's construction business and has made quite a name for herself remodeling historic homes in the San Francisco Bay Area.  At her newest renovation project, a run-down Pacific Heights mansion, Mel is visited by the ghost of a colleague who recently met a bad end with power tools.  Mel hopes that by tracking down the killer, she can rid herself of the ghostly presence of the murdered man.  This would be a good read for Halloween!

The books I'm presently reading have no covers with pictures as some are old books which at one time probably had dust covers but not anymore!  One Acre and Security by Bradford Angier is a reprint of a book from the 70's about "how to live off the land without ruining it".  Bradford Angier was one of the pioneers of the "back to the land' movement of the 60's and 70's.  It tells you how to  build your own log cabin, raise livestock, garden and much more.  I may not have the energy to do this anymore but I still enjoy reading about it.
  I'm about 3/4's finished with it.

The dark blue book in the middle I picked up at the Thrift Store I think or a library sale.  I love old books and this one is excellent so far!  It is a biography of George Washington Carver by Rackham Holt and was published in 1943.  There's a book plate inside the front cover that states it was a book from the library of Doris and Allan Nash - Great Falls, Montana - September 15, 1945.  This book is fascinating and I've discovered I've been in many of the places that Dr. Carver frequented during his life.  I love biographies and this one is one of the best I have ever read!  There are also black and white photos interspersed throughout the book which truly make this book a "keeper" for sure!  I'm not even halfway finished and I know this will get 5 stars for sure!
As for the third book, Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie.....tis the season!  I just started this last night so we shall see.  It features Hercule Poirot and starts off with a murder at a youngster's Halloween Party and off we go!
If you're looking for some books to read for Fall or Halloween, the Cozy Mystery website  is just the place!  She has lists for Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving and lists by geographic area and occupation of main character etc.  It is such a great website!  I looked on Pinterest but their Fall/Halloween lists tended to be really gross and more terror and some had nothing to do with Fall at all.  To me there's nothing like a good mystery (nothing graphic or horrid) on a rainy, foggy evening with a fire in the fireplace......ultimate cozy!  Enjoy your Fall!

YOP Sunday

You wouldn't believe the last 2 weeks I've had but I'm here and well and ready to boogie...I mean blog! LOL!  To make a long story short; my pc crashed and I had to get a new one, my backups won't restore to the new pc (thus no YOP image as of yet), my insurance company ran my house insurance payment through my bank SEVERAL times in one month causing a "bouncing" effect which I am STILL trying to straighten out.! I setup my pc only to find out it is not "wireless" (talk about going "backwards") so now I have all those wires to deal with again although I've heard I can install something that will make it wireless capable....for a price, of course.   I fell down and scraped and bruised myself but nothing broke TG (since I have osteoporosis and I'm senior) and I burned my fingers using oven mitts!  Crazy right?  But....I survived and no worse for wear and tear.  It could've been worse...lots worse!  Oh, I also messed up my scarf a bit and it is noticeable but I'm forging ahead as it would send me to the asylum to rip it out now! LOL!  It was probably because I had my mind on other things these past weeks that I messed up in the first place as it had been going so well.  Maybe I should go back to reading my horoscope so at least I might have a "heads up"?
I will try and catch up with all of you this week and get back on track with my blogging.  I must say I am loving this new pc.  I got a desktop with a big screen and it is so fast I can't believe it!  Enough said...on to the good stuff!
You've seen the scarf a zillion times but it is almost done!  I am on the third and last skein and that skein is getting pretty small so hopefully next week there will be an FO maybe? 

 See the "screw up" below?  Don't ask me what I did as i have no clue how it actually happened but I tried backing out and it still didn't fix it...a lifeline would have come in handy...thank you Ruth for the link you sent me about them.  How can I mess up a scarf????  Evidently the knitting neurons were NOT firing that day!  It's probably an accurate picture of how my mind was going....in all directions! LOL!   But it's a nice big warm scarf that my son will probably leave at some restaurant anyway so it's the thought and love that counts, right?  Since he's not a knitter he probably won't even notice it....I hope.

I'm making Christmas presents now......

This is for my cousin who I made a Grandmother's Favorite for awhile ago and she requested a bigger one so instead of casting on 44 stitches I cast on 64 and I think she'll be pleased, hopefully.

 I finished the hook holder and now need to find some coordinating fabric to line it with and sew pockets for the hooks.  Below I am back to working on the granny squares but thankfully was reminded of how to crochet and work in the ends at the same time....whew!  These were before I learned that! LOL!

I'm also immersing myself in this beautiful season and crocheting up some Maple leaves.  

I can't wait to crochet those next colors appearing in the skein!  These will definitely need to be blocked and starched even so i can hang them as a garland. 
Have you seen the new Lion Brand catalog?  The blanket below is knitted , felted and then sew together and embroidered.  It's a story quilt and you can pick from their motifs to embroider what you want.  It's a free pattern on Lion Brand but of course they're hoping you buy all that yarn to make it.   I am planning on using my already felted wool fabric that I use in my wool applique and rugs and do it that way.  I know...another blanket!  LOL!

There was also this cute owl rug or blanket...I can't remember but be sure and check out their catalog for Fall online.  Wouldn't that be a cute "nap mat" to send off to school with your kindergartner or don't they do that anymore?    I love Lion Brand as I think it is good quality and reasonably priced.  No, I get nothing for saying that!  I wish!

Well...that's all for this week folks!  I'll be by later but for now I have to go do my "chores", enjoy this beautiful day, sit down and do some handwork, watch some football and finish baking off some molasses cookies I started last night.  I hope you have a wonderful day and week ahead and that you do what makes your heart sing....whatever that is!  TTYL!