End of November

I can't believe how quickly we've arrived at the end of November! I guess it's because I was busy in "Santa's workshop" with my head down and sewing machine pedal to the metal.

Since secrecy prevents me from sharing recent makes, I'll just say that I'm happy with November's fabric use. Eight-plus yards out!

Only ⅔ yard fabric in, and I blame that on a friend! She gave me this print because she thought it was one I'd use. She's probably right. 

With a net output of almost 7½ yards this month, I'm happy and looking forward to December and tallying all of 2024. 

Two things I can share.

One is my finished selvedge rug. It measures 24" wide (using all 24 pegs of my peg loom) and 36" long. I ran out of selvedges (the unprinted side) before reaching the 60" length I'd hoped for. But in truth, it was becoming cumbersome to work with. This is a very heavy rug.

The variety of colors makes me happy. 

Each time I loaded pegs, I had to slide selvedges down the weft, composed of string and fabric twine. To do that, I had to first slide all the previously woven selvedges further down the weft, to make room for those coming off the pegs. My explanation is doubtlessly difficult to picture, but I spent as much time pushing selvedges (using a point turner) along the weft as I did weaving selvedges onto pegs.

  

I also finished my latest 5" X 7" yarn wrapped board. With only three colors - gray, white, and blue-green, it's less colorful than the previous board, but the sheen of DMC embroidery threads and perle cotton is very nice. 

Book Recommendations
Dead End is the last book - #3 - in Nancy Mehl's "Kaely Quinn Profiler" series, and I enjoyed every one of them. 

In Dead End, FBI Special Agent Kaely Quinn has just heard that with the discovery of multiple female bodies, there's another serial killer in Des Moines. This killer's modus operandi is suspiciously similar to that of Kaely's father, Ed Oliphant, who murdered 15 women more than a decade ago. The chief of police summons Kaely to Des Moines to ask her for help. They want her to go to the federal prison in Anamosa to talk with her serial killer father to find out how this serial killer knows things that only the police know.

Kaely and her partner and friend, Special Agent Noah Hunter reluctantly go to the prison to talk with him. Even though she doesn't want to confront him, she must overcome her emotions and be the behavioral physiologist who uncover the facts before more women are killed.  Linda's score: 4.4/5.0

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren is an improbable story about Anna Green who, desperate for a place to live as she attends UCLA, marries "Wes" Liam Weston so they can live in married student housing.

Their arrangement is purely practical until three years later when Liam's elaborate fabrication of a wife hits the wall. The couple must attend Liam's sister's elaborate, exclusive island wedding. 

Liam and Anna agree on terms for Anna to continue the guise as wife. After extensive body pampering and shopping, Anna accompanies Liam on the head on the trip her a lifetime. Immediately upon arrival, Liam's dysfunctional family is challenging for both of them. Anna learns more about his family's wealth, requirements for his enormous inheritance, and his father's expectations. She comes to understand Liam and the hurt his family has caused. She wants to help make it right in ways that go beyond the expectations of their contractual agreement. 

As much as I enjoyed the unlikely premise of this story, graphic details of intimate relations were frequently embarrassing. This is definitely X-rated. Linda's score: 3.9/5.0

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris was absolutely captivating! A real psychological thriller.

 

From the beginning, hosting a lovely, normal dinner with friends, Jack and Grace seem like the perfect couple, living in a perfect home. But as the author flashes back to "before," the reader learns that Jack isn't who he pretends to be. Seemingly a successful lawyer and charming man, it's difficult to accept that he's controlling and lives for the sight and sound of a woman being held against her will. 

When Grace realizes it's not her he wants, but Grace's sister, Millie with Down's Syndrome, Grace must figure out how to escape her imprisonment and save them both. But who will believe her when everyone sees only a devoted couple?

In the moment, this book made me feel anxious. Yet I couldn't stop listening - needing to know if Jack would get what he wanted - Millie - or if Grace could figure out how to get away. This 8 hour 41 minute book was nearly a non-stop listen! Linda's score: 4.5/5.0

Having read Tuesdays with Maury many years ago, I thought this four-hour book by Mitch Albom would be as impactful. 

The Time Keeper begins with Dor and Alli, children at the beginning of the world. When Alli is dying, Dor runs to the tallest structure in the world, thinking to save her. Thus begins his 6,000 year-long life in a cave where he never ages, yet grows long hair and a beard - becomes Father Time. As he does nothing but carve shapes on cave walls, he listens to thousands of voices coming from a pool in the cave.

One day, it's time for him to help two people: Sarah Lemon, an insecure teenaged girl; and Victor Delamonte, an elderly, wealthy man who's dying. 

Dor uses his magic hourglass to control time and learn about the new world he inhabits. He also comes to understand how he can help two people who can ultimately also help him. 

Linda's score: 4.0/5.0

Of the 12 audiobooks I listened to this month, I gave these nine titles a score of 4.0 and higher. 

1. 4.5 - Behind Closed Doors, B.A Paris, 
2. 4.5 - Just for the Summer, Abby Jiminez
3. 4.4 - The Wrong Daughter, Dandy Smith
4. 4.4 - Mind Games, Kaely Quinn Profiler #1, Nancy Mehl
5. 4.4 - Fire Storm, Kaely Quinn Profiler #2, Nancy Mehl
6. 4.4 - Dead End, Kaely Quinn Profiler #3, Nancy Mehl
7. 4.4 - What Divides Us, Kilteagen Bridge series #2, Jean Grainger
8. 4.2 - Paw Enforcement, #1, Diane Kelly
9. 4.0 - The Time Keeper, Mitch Albom

I hope I've added some good books to your reading list!

This morning it was only 50-some degrees and slightly windy when I went power-walking. The sky was a glorious shade of blue. I couldn't help but notice how the wind seems to play with jet plane contrails.

Besides seeing stripes, I saw an asterisk! *

Oh, the glory of creation! Linda