But not in my garden. Look at these spent tulips. They have fulfilled their purpose – grown healthy leaves, long stems and flowers. They are now in their wind-down phase and will store energy and then rest for next year’s blooming. It’s a job well done. Something went wrong with all the tulips in my […]
Book review: After She Wrote Him
Wow. For the first few chapters, I couldn’t follow this story but I’m glad I persevered because it took me down a crazy path. Who was writing the story I was reading – Madeleine or Edward? Edward is a character in the murder mystery Madeleine is writing and he soon becomes all she can think […]
Newsletter: September 2023
Are you easily distracted? I certainly am. There are so many activities that interest me and so many possibilities (too many!) that compete for my time. Making writing a priority is important to me but, if it’s that important, why aren’t I doing it more often? That has to change. I guess acknowledgement is the first […]
Divine Daphne
At this time of the year, I’m grateful for shrubs that flourish in the cold weather. Daphne is one of these and it thrives in the frost, too. Just as well, with all the frosts we are experiencing this year. There was already a Daphne in my front garden when I moved here and I’ve […]
Book review: The Writing Retreat
I’ve always wanted to attend a writing retreat. I imagine spending mornings learning with a group and the retreat leader, afternoons writing and evenings discussing books. The food would be delicious and the individual bedrooms would be comfortable. We’d find time for walking in the fresh air, alone or in groups as we prefer. By […]
Washing quilt fabrics
As I watched rows of freshly washed fabric flapping on the clothesline the other day, I reflected on how much satisfaction I receive from simple pleasures. Whenever life seems to be complicated, I like to take a step back. During my first patchwork class last century, we were advised to wash our fabrics before using […]
Frosty mornings
We’ve had two consecutive heavy frosts at my place this week. They were thick and I could hear the crunch of frozen grass beneath my shoes as I quickly snapped some photos before scooting back inside. Frost, that thin layer of ice that forms on a solid surface, is a sure sign of a cold […]
Quilters – is too much choice a bad thing?
Is too much choice a bad thing? Is it easier to select exactly the right product for the job or does it make it difficult to decide anything at all? Recent research shows that the answer depends on whether you are a ‘maximiser’ or a ‘satisficer’. Maximisers want decisions to be perfect. They will research […]
Book review: Prom Mom
Laura Lippman sure knows how to write a slow-burning thriller. Prom Mom is the story of Amber Glass, who allegedly gives birth and kills her baby on the night of her school prom. Joe Simpson, her date, abandons her on the night so he can pursue the girl he likes more. After spending most of […]
Newsletter: June 2023
Hello and thanks for reading. I’m still hanging in there with Substack for these newsletters but it’s getting too noisy in that place for me. I guess that’s a sign of a popular site but I’ll be investigating alternative ways of sending newsletters by email. Does anyone have a recommendation for newsletter software? Quilts It’s […]