My Fall Desk Tour-Yea It's Saturday-Thankful Treasures-Charity Quilts Update

 

Welcome. Snoopy is joining me today to share my little tour!

Once a month or so I totally clean my desk and redecorate.

It's a good time do a really good . . . 

dusting

I work at my desk and eat my lunch and breakfast here before I go to my real job.  So I am sure to keep up with the daily wiping down. 

And then once a month or when the mood strikes.  I might be prompted by a season.  Or some little treasure I received or bought recently.  Which is the case today.  I got this in the mail...

My sweet DIL surprises me with prints.  She emails photos almost weekly but when she does an order she sneaks in a few for me.  I loved this shot of my sons boots and spurs.  

I like to surround myself with things I love.

I retired from teaching preschool a couple of years ago. I got this cute little pumpkin from a student. 

Isn't the little coffee sticker cute?  My phone did that!

I added it to cover a little hole in the doily I thought I didn't get it in the shot but I did.  It made a perfect place for a little cup of Joe!

I love this little set of drawers.  From Pier One back in the day. Probably 2001.  My daughter bought it for her first apartment.  When she got married she didn't think it fit.  I took it.  I just love the colorful drawers.  Perfect for little treasures. 

I love stemware.  Even if it is only Dollar Tree.  Makes your water feel more festive.  

There are always 2 or a few books sitting on my desk. 

I left the little paper and wood butterflies out I received in a paper swap to remind me I need to go to the post office. 

I have plans for the pink ones to go to two special ladies that are patiently waiting for junk journals from me. 

And by the computer the little touch of fall. 

See the little scarecrow? .25 at my crazy Kroger.  Found him and a couple of friends at Valentines. 

So my desk is all cozy and homey for me when I sit and write a review or a blog post. 

Is your desk cozy?

Before I go I want to update on my quilt project and  share a few more quilt tops that I have worked on this week to send to Houston.

I hope to find backing and begin quilting today.

Another one needing backing and binding fabric. 

This one is finished and will go to my binding girl.  She is super fast and super good!

And one more waiting for backing. 

Thanks for visiting.  

Have a great day.

Book Review-The Pretender by Ta'Mara Hanscom

About the book (provided by Litfuse)

The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise (Reata Publishing, September 2017)

Set in South Dakota in 1975, where eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beer in a bar, and loaded guns were kept under the counter.

Frankie Valli sang “My Eyes Adored You,” and American soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.

It’s within this tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen, and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined—and had been for many years—yet they had no idea.
​
From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart—and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride’s deception.

And I thoughts 

I knew this was a christian romance.  But my first thought as I opened it to the preface I was impressed.  It was refreshing to see the book starting with I Corinthians 1:4-5.  Love is patient . . . 

a beautiful way to begin a beautiful story.  

The Pretender is book 1 of the series.  This installment gives the reader a heartwarming beginning to the and promises a great series.

Gear up and expect a long read.  The Pretender had a saga type 

quality.  Not a bad thing.  But this is not a story than you can sit down and read in a setting or a few hours.  

I enjoyed book 1 and look forward to reading the remainder of the series.  

I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse.

This review will appear on Amazon and Good Reads.

Available

Amazon

Giveaway

Click here

And it Rains-Thankful Thursday

Simply I am Thankful today because it is raining..

We don't get much rain during the end of summer or early fall.

So even a good 30 minute soaking makes a Happy time for all.

I am happy tonight that it is in the 70's.  Maybe it really is Fall.

I sure hope so!  At any rate.  I am Thankful for rain!

Wordless Wednesday Add A Caption

Add A Caption ____________

Book Review-These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart

About the book (from the author's website)

What a wonderful story! Filled with true-to-life characters (including some four-footed ones) and fascinating historical details, These Healing Hills is a beautifully written, heartwarming story of life in the Appalachian Mountains at the end of the Second World War.” ~ Amanda Cabot, best-selling author of A Stolen Heart

Francine Howard has her life all mapped out until the soldier she planned to marry at WWII’s end writes to tell her he’s in love with a woman in England. Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service.

Deeply affected by the horrors he witnessed at war, Ben Locke has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky. His future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains, he’s at a loss when it comes to envisioning what’s next for his life.

When Francine’s and Ben’s paths intersect, it’s immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of healing old wounds . . . and revealing tantalizing new possibilities.

And I thought 

I suspected that I would enjoy this book by Ann H. Gabhart.  

I was introduced to her work when I was offered the opportunity to read Murder Comes In The Mail from her Hidden Springs Cozy

Mystery series.  Followed by book 3 Murder is No Accident.  

I enjoyed the cozy mystery series very much. 

These Healing Hills is very different from the Cozy Mystery Series I am used to.  Taking place in 1945 in the hills of Kentucky the reader is introduced to the Frontier Nursing Service. (click here for information).

While Francine begins an adventure she struggles with her families opinion about her calling.   Her mother has disdain for the lower class folks.  While Francine's grandmother supports her and her work.  

A little romance is woven into the story when Francine meets Ben whose return home is shrouded in the memories he has from the war.  

These Healing Hills is just a good sweet story.   A book for most any audience.   

I enjoyed reading it and look forward to more books by 

Ann H. Gabhart.

I received a complimentary copy from Revell Books. 

This review will appear on retail sites where available.

This review will appear on Good Reads.  

Visit the author

The authors website provides a link to read an excerpt of the book. 

There are also book club resources and discussion questions. 

Click here to visit. 

Available

Amazon CBC

Happy Homemaker Monday

Welcome to my regular Monday feature where I join Sandra and a few friends to share my plans for the week. 

Sandra provides a great photo to share and prompts to chat about. 

In the kitchen

https://longbournfarm.com/2016/10/06/beef-stroganoff-from-scratch/

The Weather

Looking for fall. Summer won’t let go.  Still in upper 90’s.  I we

get  some rain this week.

Right Now I Am

I am behind.   I’ve been spending all my spare time which isn’t much working on quilts to get sent to Houston. 

On My Reading Pile

My pile is so big.  I usually just share the one I am reading this week.

I am enjoying this one.

And itching to read this one . . . 

I Am Thankful For

Restaurants.  Sunday we stopped for lunch a great Chinese place.  It was nice to sit and relax after a week of cooking every night.

In The Garden

Pumpkin vine with no pumpkins.  What’s up with that?  I am not sure I’ll get a garden in.  Hopefully I can find some broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage at Walmart  to plant.

On the menu this week

A week of food from the freezer.  I am diligently trying to clean out the freezer of left overs and on sale purchases.  I try to be frugal but I overwhelm myself. 

Monday—Chuck Roast, Potatoes and Carrots

Tuesday—Tortilla soup from diced smoke chicken from freezer

Wednesday—Stroganoff w/Noodles, Green Beans

Thursday—Simple maybe order a pizza

Friday—Kielbasa and Red Beans/Rice a mix

Last weeks meals . . .How did I do?

Monday—Pork Chops, Stuffing, Green Beans  Check

Tuesday— Shrimp Alfredo for the Cowboy, Spinach Chicken Sausage for m (from the freezer) Salad, Bread  Check

Wednesday—Pinto’s Cornbread, Fried Potatoes  Didn’t do the pinto’s don’t know what I did!

Thursday – Oriental Pepper Steak (sirloin from freezer, Fried Rice, Salad  switched gears and marinated the sirloin and pan seared it.  Served with fried okra from freezer and fresh cauliflower on sale at Kroger.

 Friday – Leftover smorgasbord  anything I can find! Ended up pulling some pork cutlets out. 

In The Kitchen

 

Planning on trying this recipe this week.  I don't make it often because I don't have a recipe and actually I don't think to do it! 

Click here to see the recipe I am using. 

Adding a new topic...

I AM Inspired

My friend Debbie Dabble shared her Fall tree. 

It is so fun I was inspired to set up my Cabin tree for fall then change out the silks and ribbons to Christmas and add the Christmas ornaments. 

Very cool idea.  Thanks Debbie!

From the camera

  

A lovely book at a clients house.  I am fascinated with tea parties.

Fabulous Features

 Favorites from my party...

Victoria at A Modern Homestead shared this great post. Click here.

Fabulous Feature

 

Fabby always sets a beautiful table.  Click here to read her post. 

On Of My Simple Pleasures

The beach.  I wish I lived close

Devo./ Scripture

 My Sunday feature is Simple Sunday.  I share an illustrated scripture I have found on the inter net.  From now until Christmas I

am sharing photos I've illustrated and drawings.  I am compiling a 

journal for my daughter for Christmas.  

Thanks for coming over and sharing my weeks plans. 

I am linking with 

Happy Homemaker Monday, Create with Joy, Menu Monday,

The Art Of Homemaking, Grammies Grid, Amaze Me Monday,

Busy Monday, Merry Monday, Make It Pretty Monday, 
Dagmar's House