Yarn, Books, and Flowers

 

Poppuri is completed.  This afghan started with much smaller squares than I typically have to work with.  There are 48 squares here.  I think this one probably changed more in the before and after than some of the others.  I used up a good amount of my stash in lots of different colors than was my original plan.

This is the before.  Some of the squares were almost circles with just a row or 2.  Quite small.  I had a lot of yellow and some blue, dark red, and very dark green that I had planned to use, but as I started working on it, decided it needed more variety, so brought in some pink, mint, turquoise.  Was pleased with how it turned out.  This is my 6th afghan since January.  They're all stacked up to be donated as the weather turns.  I also have 3 afghans I'm knitting at various stages.  Each time we take a plane or car trip I start new one so the project isn't too big and then work on them at home in between other things.  Pictures of them next time.

A family favorite.  Mac n cheese.  It's almost always the first meal I fix when our daughters comes home as it's her fav of all time.  I use 5 different cheeses, and we like a nice crusty top.  I use Italian pasta, not Muellers elbow.  A friend is constantly telling me I can't call what I make mac n cheese because of the mix of cheeses and different pasta.  

Mothers Day Roses from hubby..  One of two vases with a dozen each.  Yellow is my favorite color

And from Darling Daughter, a gorgeous arrangement.  Notice the support for Ukraine in the container!!

The Iris were plentiful this year, and so pretty.  I have these in clusters in all 4 flower beds in the back yard.  The fern are poking up between the greenery of the lilies.  Took this picture awhile ago.  Now the fern are beginning to wilt with the warmer weather and the iris are spent and have been trimmed back.  The lilies should start pretty soon.

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.........WOW!  Couldn't put this book down.  With the current state of immigration in this country, this is truly a must read book.  You'll be sad, angry, and a cheerleader throughout.  Please let me know what you think of this book if you've read it already, and later if you do.

After the number of heavy books I've read of late, I needed to take a breathe.  Maeve Binchy's Chestnut Street did that for me.  Stories with different characters.  An enjoyable book, not a great one.  I would like to have stuck with some of the characters and had things have more closure than it seemed the book offered.

And if you know anything about Heather Cox Richardson, you know what to expect in this book, Democracy Awakening.  Another must read book in my opinion given what we're living through with this corrupt and deceitful administration and all Red Hat Wearers.

Ghosts of Sicily by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr. taught me things I didn't know about WWII.  I've been to Sicily and I would say it's probably my favorite of our European tours to date.  And yes, Mark Harmon of CSI fame is the author.  Those are two things that attracted me to this book.  I didn't know the MOB played any role in WWII, but they surely did.  A fascainating book.

Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis had me clued to the edge of my seat.  Small town in Alabama with all it's racial bigotry, deals with abortion up close and personnel.  With women losing their rights daily with this current administration, I found this book very thought provoking.

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole.  The transformation of a poet who's never left the island, beautiful letters, WWI and WWII, and love story.  Very very enjoyable book.

Trying to keep our sanity day to day is not an easy task.  But, smiling and laughing at some of these memes does help, IMHO.