Ally's Books & Stitches

  What Am I Reading This Week? June 26 – July 2, 2022   Continuing: The Complete Persepolis by Mariane Satrapi Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott National Velvet by Enid Bagnold – NRN – this isn’t the right time for this book.   Book Lovers by Emily Henry – I am enjoying this one. The banter is fun and the story isn’t what I expected, which is good. I’m on page 356 out of 373, so finishing it up soon.   #Mermaid Marathon – June 27 through July 10 – I have been waiting for the Mermaid Marathon all Spring and here it is. Above is my potential TBR for the two-week marathon hosted by @TheBrightSideGirl on Instagram and YouTube. There are 5 reading prompts and photo prompts for each day. I used the photo collage for Monday's TBR photo. I’m starting with Between Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore. It is about a young mermaid who becomes a Siren whose sister, also a Siren, disappears on land and she goes to look for her. It’s a short audi

  First Line Fridays - June 24, 2022  Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most–but it's still not enough. This is the first line from "Defy the Night" by Brigid Kemmerer. I love what she writes. I read all of the Cursebreakers Series and I am attempting to read the rest of her backlist. This one is starting out great!  Go over to Reading is My Superpower and see all the links to the First Line Friday participants.  Happy Reading! Alleluialu

  Cross-stitch Camp 2022  Since I started this blog to share my stitching, I really should show some of my cross-stitch. I am stitching this, Happy Independence Day by Primrose Cottage Stitches, for my June project during #crossstitchcamp2022 put on by Colorado Cross Stitcher. I'm stitching on 14-count Natural Aida by Wichelt using DMC and some fancy floss from my stash. In May, I started doing smaller projects to make pillows for my dough bowl (which I haven't purchased yet). I stitched some Spring and Summer projects, so I wanted to continue with Patriotic projects in June. I stitch slow so I'm pretty sure this is the only one I will complete by the end of June. Then it's on to Jolly July - Christmas holiday stitching.  I came back to cross-stitch during the pandemic and haven't stopped since. Some of the designers I like are: Stitching With the Housewives, Primrose Cottage Stitches, and Lizzie Kate. Fat Quarter Shop supplies a lot of my cross-stitch supply needs

  What Am I Reading This Week? June 19 – June 25, 2022   Holy Bible – New Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition: Every morning, for the past 166 days, I have listened to the podcast, The Bible In A Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz. We are reading through the Bible according to Ascension’s Bible-in-a-Year reading plan, then Fr. Schmitz gives commentary on what has been read. It has become a habit for me and I HAVE to do it even if I have to get up at 5 AM to get it in before other commitments. Right now we are reading 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and several Psalms. New things that I don’t remember reading before come up every day!   New this week: As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson I am back in the head of Pip Fitz-Amobi, the heroine of the first two books in this series, and I didn’t realize how much I missed her. Same feelings, same rush, same What-will-happen-next vibe. So exciting. I’m going to have a giant book-hangover when I’m done. Holly Jackson, you are doing it again! Thi

    What Am I Reading This Week? June 6-12, 2022   National Velvet by Enid Bagnold – This is my Children’s Classic for June. I plan to read at least 1 chapter per day. I have borrowed this book from my local library.   The Complete Persepolis by Mariane Satrapi – This graphic novel was a gift from my daughter last Christmas. I read 1 chapter per day.   The Anomaly by Herve' Le Tellier – I am listening to the audiobook version of this selection. I heard it was for lovers of the TV show LOST which I loved. I have seen all the episodes at least 3 times. I’m anxious to see if it lives up to that.   The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner – I borrowed this book from my local library. It is one of the 10 books I have chosen to read this summer from the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide. The story follows a couple of time lines and so far I am enjoying it very much.   Where the Last Rose Blooms by Ashley Clark – This is #3 in the Heirloom Secrets trilogy b

  Summer Sock Camp 2022 I have never knit a pair of socks before, but I have always wanted to do it. Sooo, when I saw the video by the Crazy Sock Lady about Summer Sock Camp 2022, I knew I had to try. This is my progress so far. I'm pretty proud of myself! The first row is the hardest and I managed that. Now I'm on the round-and-round-and-round part. The information on Summer Sock Camp 2022 can be found on Ravelry.com or just search for it on You Tube or Instagram under Summer Sock Camp 2022 or Crazy Sock Lady. It's fun. Have you ever knit a sock before?