BOOK REPORT....UNLEASHED

Unleashed - David Rosenfelt

Product Description(Amazon.com)
Andy Carpenter's accountant, Sam Willis, is stunned to receive a phone call out of the blue from Barry Price, a high school friend he hasn't spoken to in years, pleading for help with something too frightening to discuss on the phone. Barry needs Sam's financial acumen and lawyer Andy Carpenter's legal expertise―and he needs them immediately. But when Sam almost runs over an injured dog lying in the road on the way to Barry's house, he can't drive off without waiting for help to arrive. By the time Sam makes it, Barry's already taken off on a private airplane headed who-knows-where.
Assuming their help is no longer needed, Sam and Andy turn their full attention to helping the dog Sam found recover from his injuries. Then they learn that Barry's plane has crashed, and they come to the terrifying realization that Sam was also supposed to have been killed on that plane. Barry was in far more serious trouble than either of them knew, and for Sam and Andy, the trouble is only beginning. 
Series: An Andy Carpenter Novel (Book 11) 
Paperback: 320 pages 
Publisher: Minotaur Books; Reprint edition (June 24, 2014) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 1250048974 
ISBN-13: 978-1250048974

MY THOUGHTS:  Although this is a series, it is also a good stand alone book.  Andy has one big case, to prove Denise didn't kill her husband, Barry.  Andy hasn't got much to go on so he starts the team on the look for anything and everything to prove this.  Andy's team finds some interesting stuff about Barry.  He's moving lots of money to an off shore bank.  What could this mean?  And why are people that Andy talks to come up dead?  Does this really have anything to do with Barry?  Or Andy's client Denise?  Just when Andy is ready for the defense to start it's case, his client accuses Sam of having an affair with her and Andy of knowing this and not telling the court.  Sam is arrested for murder and Denise has a new lawyer.  Andy has to prove that Sam didn't commit this crime or he will spend the rest of his life in prison.  Can Andy and his team do this?  You'll have to read the book to find out.  I give this book 5....

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.....
What an Animal Challenge
52 Books in 52 Weeks

TOTALLY USELESS SAL.....

What the heck is this?  Well, for people that stitch, it's the trimmings of fabric, thread ends, yarn ends and whatever else is left from stitching, quilts, embroidery, cross stitching, knitting, crocheting,  well you get the idea.  Daffycat is the host for the Totally Useless Stitch a long.  Once a month we share all our snips of leftovers.  As usual, I've forgot to do mine.  So I'm doing mine now.  This is a 3 month TUSAL.  May, June and July.....

WILD PLACES......

We have a corner in our yard that has grown up "wild".  Lots of plants and "critters" live here.  It's like it's own Eco-system.  I'll try and name a few of the plants here, but don't know all of them.

Climbing the wall is Honeysuckle and Trumpet Vines.  There is also some Wild Poke to the left.  It has fallen down, but there is still a small piece there.  They are done right done, but some lilies and daffodils are in here also.  The little bird house has nesting English Sparrows.  They raise their babies and they fly away.  As for the trees in the background, they are mostly maple trees, with the exception of the Blue Spruce.  It is over 60 ft. tall and still growing.  But it is getting a little raggedy with age.  Here's another view....

This window is our living room.  When your sitting there you can see everything going on in this Wild Place.  Did I mention there are squirrels and chipmunks roaming around here?  I haven't seen any, but I'm almost sure there are some bunnies living in here.    I'm linking up with Kim over at Little by Little.  Hop over and take a peek at Kim's place.

TOMATOES AND A DOG......

We have a place out back that we dump our garbage, all the "critters" come to eat this.  Once in a while something pops up in the garbage pile.

Tomatoes...just hoping they get to turn red.  They are kind of tiny now, hoping the frost doesn't get here too early this year. 

There is a Cantaloupe in there too.  It's just now starting to bloom.  Don't think this one will get a full melon on it before frost time.  And of course what's summer without a good roll in the dust.

Toby having a roll-fest in the dust. 

I'm linking up with Jesh over at Art Work from Jesh for Seasons.  Hop over and check  out all the photos everyone is sharing.

NEEDLEWORK.....

I finally got the Dot Quilt tied.  Now to finish it off.  What's in the hoop now?  The Christmas Quilt is in the hoop awaiting tying. 

I've also been working on my Red Work baskets.  I just finished block 4.

I've started on block 5.  It has lots of French Knots, so this one is going to take a little time.

I've been thinking about starting a Band Sampler.  Don't know what this is?  Head over to Sharon's place, Pintangle, she has an article about Band Sampler history.  She has a Band Sampler that she's been working on.  You can see her Band Sampler here.  Sharon's Band Sampler is 96 feet 5 inches long, she's been working on it since 2009.  She shows some pictures of the Sampler.
Have you done a Band Sampler? 

I'm linking up with Heather over at Books and Quilts for Needlework Tuesday.

BOOK REPORT.......

Who Let the Dog Out? - David Rosenfelt

Product Description(Amazon.com)

A lawyer by day, Andy Carpenter's true passion is the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization he runs with his friend Willie Miller. So, it's frightening when there's been a break-in at the foundation building. It turns out that a recently rescued dog, nicknamed Cheyenne since her arrival at the foundation, has been stolen. Andy and Willie track the missing dog to a house in downtown Paterson, NJ and sure enough, they find the dog...right next to a dead body. The man had been murdered mere minutes before Andy and Willie arrived. Could it be coincidence? Or could the dog theft be connected to the killing?
Andy takes Cheyenne safely back to the foundation building. That should be the end of his involvement, but Andy's curiosity - and his desire to keep the dog from further harm - won't let him stop there. The cops have just arrested a man named Tommy Infante for the murder, but as Andy looks into the break-in and the dog theft, he starts to wonder if Infante might actually be innocent. When Andy takes Infante on as a client and starts searching in earnest for evidence that will exonerate him, his discoveries terrify him. The murder might be just one small cog in a plot with far-reaching implications, and unless Andy can uncover the truth in time, thousands of lives could be in imminent danger. 
Series: An Andy Carpenter Novel (Book 13) 
Paperback: 352 pages 
Publisher: Minotaur Books; Reprint edition (June 21, 2016) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 1250056330 
ISBN-13: 978-1250056337

MY THOUGHTS: Even though this is book 13 of the series, I really liked it.  It is a stand alone book and you get all the info on the characters in the book.  This is a lawyer/mystery book.  The main character is Andy Carpenter, he's the lawyer and a rich one.  He doesn't actually have to work, but he usually gets dragged into a case.   This case is all about a dog that gets stolen from the rescue organization that Andy and his wife help support.  This one dog leads to murder, several of them.  There are lots of characters in this book.  My favorite is Heck, he's the muscle of the book.  He doesn't talk much, the only word he says in the whole book is yuh.  I give this book 4....

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.....
What an Animal Challenge

BOB.......

Bob is our dog, he is part Mastiff and Labrador.

This is Bob up close and personal.  As Bella says, "he has a big head".

Back in June, Bob got hit by a car.  Thanks to his big size, that's what the vet said saved him,  nothing was broken and no internal injuries.  But he is marked, see that stripe on his back, that's where the tire of the car rolled over him.

Bob is a "Gentle Giant", he loves everyone, except for cats!  lol

FRIDAY NIGHT SEW IN.......

I was blog hopping and found this place, Sugarlane Designs.  Wendy is the host for Friday Night Sew In........Hop over and check it out.

What exactly is Friday Night Sew In.....here is some info for you....

Friday night, we all stitch or sew in our own homes, in our comfy jammies, watching movies (or if you're like me...Better Homes and Gardens!) in front of the fire/heater/aircon (depending on where you are) with a nice comforting beverage and some very forgiving chocolate!   Enjoy everyone's 'virtual' company by sharing your progress over the weekend on your blog/FB page/Instagram with hashtag #FNSI , and feel the love and encouragement from all your fellow crafters.

So what will I be working on tonight.  Well, I'm going to get caught up on my circles, work on my Dot Quilt and maybe work on my RedWork.  Don't forget to hop over to Wendy's.

TWINS 6TH BIRTHDAY....

The twins, Bella and Luke, had their 6th birthday a couple weeks ago. 

Get Ready........

Get Set.......

Blow......

WATER IN THE GARDEN.....

My son has been working on putting a water feature in our garden.  It's a work in progress.

Still moving stuff around and taking stuff away.  While still working on building the fountain.  And it sounds so nice sitting outside and listening to the water.

I'm linking up with Kim over at Little By Little for Simple Things Thursdays.

I'm also linking to Jo at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen for Share Your Cup Thursday.

BOOK REPORT...Looking for Me

Looking for Me - Beth Hoffman

Product Description(Amazon.com)
Teddi Overman found her life’s passion in turning other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques. Leaving her hardscrabble Kentucky childhood behind, Teddi opens her own store in Charleston. She builds a life as unexpected and quirky as her many customers, but nothing alleviates the haunting uncertainty she’s felt since her brother Josh mysteriously disappeared. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi returns to Kentucky, embarking on a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family—and find herself. 
Paperback: 368 pages 
Publisher: Penguin Books; Reprint edition (April 29, 2014) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 0143125435 
ISBN-13: 978-0143125433

MY THOUGHTS:  This is my book club's choice for July.  This is the second book I've read from this author.  Just like the first one, Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt,   this book is full of characters you will never forget.  Teddi has left her family farm to make a life of her own.  She has an Antique store, but she makes lots of trips back to Kentucky to visit her mother.  While there she always checks to see if Josh, her brother, has left a not at their secret place.  But none never show up from Josh.  Will she ever find out anything about her brother?  Read the book, it's really an awesome book to read.  I give this book 5.....

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.....
Women's Fiction Challenge
Fun in the Sun Challenge(Good Reads-Wacky Readers Group)

Book Report...Silent Creed

Silent Creed - Alex Kava

Product Description(Amazon.com)
When Ryder Creed responds to a devastating mudslide in North Carolina, he knows that the difference between finding survivors and the dead is time. He and his sturdiest search-and-rescue dog, Bolo, get to work immediately, but the scene is rife with danger: continued rainfall prevents the rescue teams from stabilizing the land; toxic household substances spread by the crushing slide fill the area with hazardous waste; and the detritus and debris are treacherous for both man and dog to navigate. But most perilous are the secrets hidden under the mud and sludge—secrets someone would kill to protect. For this is no ordinary rescue mission. Among the buildings consumed by the landslide was a top-secret government research facility, and Creed has been hired to find what’s left of it. 

Then rescuers recover the body of a scientist from the facility who was obviously dead before the landslide—killed by a gunshot to the head. The FBI sends Agent Maggie O’Dell to investigate, and she and Creed are soon caught in a web of lies, secrets, and murder that may involve not only the government facility, but decades-old medical experiments that are the subject of current congressional hearings. As more bodies are found under even more unusual circumstances, they come ever closer to exposing the truth—but with unknown forces working against them, Maggie, Creed, and the dogs are running out of time. 
Hardcover: 336 pages 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons; First Edition first Printing edition (July 28, 2015) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 0399170774 
ISBN-13: 978-0399170775

MY THOUGHTS:   This is the second book of the series.  All about Creed and his dogs.  The first day at the side of the landslide finds Creed up to his knees in mud.  As the ground starts shifting, Creed command his dog, Bolo, to run.  Creed is buried alive under mud and debris.  Bolo didn't run far and alerts to the rescuers that Creed is under the mud.  Creed is dug out and only suffers scratches and bruises, but has to broken ribs and a possible concussion.  When they find the first body, this person did not die from the landslide.  They have a bullet in the back of their head.  This calls in FBI agent Maggie O'Dell.  As Creed and Maggie search for info on this person, someone is stealing stuff from the wreckage of  the research facility.  But what was in that facility?  Who are the people stealing it?  Can't wait to find out, you'll have to read the book.  I give this book 5....

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.....
What an Animal Challenge
52 Books in 52 Weeks

WHERE DID THE WEEK GO?????

It's Sunday already!  Where did Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday go?  I've lost them somewhere, I do that a lot.  One day it's Tuesday and before I realize it, Friday is here and almost gone.  So today I'm going to slow down and work on a quilt.  I've got my Dot Quilt in the hoop and ready to tie, but have been putting it off forever.  So I'm going to work on that today.

I've also been working on my Quilty 365, which is the circles.  I'm combining 2 challenges here The Quilty 365 and the RSC16 Challenges.  The colors for RSC16 for July is Hot Pink with Lime Green accents.  I have 17 circles done, which means I'm all caught up, YEA!

I am linking to......
Slow Stitching Sunday
So Scrappy
Quilty Folk

DOGS.....

We have 2 dogs.  One is a Miniature Dachshund(Toby) and the other is a Mastiff/ Labrador mix(Bob).   During the week of July 4th the fireworks were going off all around us.  The dogs did not like the fireworks.  They would find hiddey holes to escape to.  Got a picture of them hiding out upstairs in the twins room.  The look frightened in this picture.

They both love being outside, but they refused to go outside for very long.  They would hear a firework go off and ran back in the house.

I'm linking up with West Metro Mommy for Saturday Snapshot.

CREATIVITY CHALLENGE #24....

We have been assigned a challenge.   Read a book on creativity.  Well, I have two such books.  Not really creativity books, but I've bought them for my use.  So I'm going to use them.  I've wanted to make a Baltimore Album quilt for years.  But never quite got around to doing one.  Why, you might ask?  Well, I guess I would say I don't have the confidence to try one, YET!  It's a someday quilt I want to make.   Here is the book and it's linked to Amazon.com if you want to take a look at it.

A Baltimore Album - Marsha D. Radtke 

The other book I have is also a quilt book.  I was blog hopping and found this one.  I loved the colors and shapes of it.  But once again it's a someday quilt I want to do.  I want to take different parts of the designers ideas and make my own quilt.  I have the idea in my head, but I really should put it down on paper.  Before I FORGET it.

Lady Bug & Friends - Carla Scott & Leanne Smith

Don't forget to head over to Shelly's place Prairie Moon Quilts.  She has lots of "stuff" to find there.  It's not just quilts. 

BOOK REPORT...KRAKENS AND LIES

Krakens and Lies - Tui Sutherland

Product Description(Amazon.com)
Someone has been sabotaging the Menagerie, and Logan and Zoe are on the case. But their troubles only get worse when the basilisk escapes its enclosure and the merpeople go on strike—leaving the kraken to its own devices. The race is on to solve the mystery and save the Menagerie in this riveting, action-packed finale! 
Series: Menagerie (Book 3) 
Paperback: 368 pages 
Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (March 8, 2016) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 006078069X 
ISBN-13: 978-0060780692

MY THOUGHTS: This is the finale book for The Menagerie series.  I sure hop it isn't, really great series.  I've always been fascinated with mythical creatures.  Are they real?  Have they all disappeared?  If so, where are they?  This series makes you believe they are all well and alive living in government protected areas called Menageries.  The problem is that it has to be kept a secret or somebody will take advantage of the creatures to their own gain.  This menagerie is Xandu, Wyoming.  Zoe's mom and dad run the place.  Someone is sabotaging the menagerie.  So Logan and Zoe try to figure out who's doing it.  I give this book 5......

This book is also for 1 of my reading challenges....
Fun in the Sun

BOOK REPORT...ROSE GOLD

Rose Gold - Walter Mosley

Product Description(Amazon.com)
Rosemary Goldsmith, the daughter of a weapons manufacturer, has been kidnapped by a black revolutionary cell called Scorched Earth. Their leader, Uhuru Nolicé, is holding her for ransom and if he doesn’t receive the money, weapons, and apology he demands, “Rose Gold” will die—horribly and publicly. So the authorities turn to Easy Rawlins, the one man who can cross the necessary lines to resolve this dangerous standoff and find Rose Gold before it’s too late.

In the sixties era of black nationalism, political abductions, and epidemic police corruption, Easy’s investigation will pull him—unremittingly and inevitably—into the darkest underbelly of Los Angeles. 
Series: Vintage Crime/Black Lizard 
Paperback: 320 pages 
Publisher: Vintage Crime/Black Lizard; Reprint edition (June 9, 2015) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 0307949796 
ISBN-13: 978-0307949790

MY THOUGHTS:  This is the about the 3rd book I've read of this author.  I really like the way he writes.  I really like the main character, Easy Rawlins.  He's a black PI set during the 60's in Los Angles.  Easy has lots of friends that owe him favors.  So he really gets lots done most of the time.  But this case has Easy without his friend, Raymond or Mouse as he is known on the street.  But Easy soon finds out the police don't just want him to find the girl they want him to find Bob Mantle more.  Does Easy find the girl and Bob before it's too late?  Read the book to find out.  I give this book 5.....

 

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges......
52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge
Monthly Keyword Challenge  

GWINNIE INSPIRED QAL

I was blog hopping last week at several quilter's blogs and ran across this Quilt A Long.  I decided to jump in and join them.  I was 2 months behind everyone, so I have been sewing like crazy the last few days to get caught up.  I joined in and got my center block done.  The center block theme is a basket.  This is my center block. Lori over at Humble Quilts picked the center block.

Red is one of my favorite colors.  So of course this basket had to be red.  Instead of flowers in my basket I put hearts.  I didn't like the handle on this basket so I changed it.  The handle is yarn from by stash.  I braided the yarn and used an embroidery stitch called Couching to sew it down.  The second theme was suggested by Cynthia over at wabi-sabi quilts and is Childhood Memories.

The fabric is marbles, which me and my siblings played a lot.  We collected marbles and traded them among ourselves and the neighborhood friends.  We also played with yo-yo's so had to put some yo-yo's on this border.  My sister was a whiz a yo-yo tricks.  The theme for July is Log Cabin.  I've got it started and am working on this now.  You can see all the blocks everyone is working on over at wabi-sabi quilts.  Hop over and check them out.

MOTH.....

I was in the kitchen doing something, can't remember what, I happened to look out the window and saw this big moth just hanging on the outside on the screen.

Not sure what kind of moth it is.  But I've never saw one like this. I'm linking up with Saturday Snapshot.