Cool!

Thank you all so much for the good reading suggestions. It just tickles me to death when so many of you "participate" and leave comments. And if any of you are interested in finding a good book, check yesterday's comments for suggestions as well as a few below.

I had my applique and basket block out and the pieces positioned to work on tonight, but I've realized there's nothing on television I'm interested in watching! So, I think it's early to bed for me with the book I'm reading instead of working on applique.

Elaine mentioned in a comment that when she comes home from work, she's too tired to do much other than collapse, and I've heard the same thing from other people. And who doesn't understand that sort of tiredness? For me, quilting is my "play" time--it re-energizes me. I also think that quilting uses a different part of my brain--the creative side--than what I use all day long at work, so maybe that's the difference for me. I DO find that when I'm between projects, the thought of coming home after a day of work and STARTING something new is awfully daunting, so I'll often put it off. Maybe it's that big step that keeps some of us from quilting after work? Or maybe it's just the press of other duties and chores? But if you come home from work and collapse, and you're not happy with doing that, I'd suggest that after dinner, instead of heading to the couch, head to your sewing place--just for a half hour. A half hour a night isn't that long, and just think how much you can accomplish over the course of a week or a month. But more importantly, I bet you'll find that at the end of a half hour, you're having fun and not ready to stop. And I bet that once you get into a habit of being creative in some way each evening, it will become second nature. And no, I'm not advocating you abandon spouse and children each night. I suspect they won't really miss you in a half hour but if they do, find some hand work you enjoy that you can work on while you socialize with the family--embroidery, applique, working with wool, whatever. But if night time quilting isn't for you, then there's always the weekends for "play"! And on week nights? Well, there ARE books, of course!

Thanks to your suggestions, I've ordered The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and The Friday Night Knitting Club. I've read a few of the other books mentioned and I've added some to my "wish list" too. Tell me this, though: Have any of you read Olive Kitteridge? I started reading it and was bored to death--I felt like I just didn't "get it," so I set it aside. I think most of all, I didn't really like the characters much. The book is still on my nightstand and I wonder if I should pick it back up and read a little further or take it to the office and give someone else a chance? After all, reviews of the book suggest plenty of people enjoyed it--maybe it's just not for me. What do you think?

Another book I was wondering about: The Time Traveler's Wife. Someone loaned it to me ages ago and I haven't read it. I've heard some good things about it but I was worried it might be a little too Sci-Fi for my reading tastes. Any input?

Now here are a couple recommendations from me for good reading--as you may notice, I enjoy series books. First Will Thomas' series that begins with the book Some Danger Involved. I've mentioned the book before but it's worth mentioning again--kind of Sherlock Holmes meets Wild Wild West. I'm anxiously awaiting the sixth book in the series, but I think it will be a little while. Hubby likes this series too. Check it out.

Charles Todd's Inspector Ian Rutledge series that begins with A Test of Wills. The main character is a shell shocked WWI vet who returns to his Scotland Yard job accompanied by an imaginary "friend" of sorts--kind of a dark and quirky series but really well written and thought out. And, oddly enough, I believe this is the series that is written by a woman and her son, but they do it seamlessly!

Finally, along somewhat similar historical and genre lines, there's the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. I like Maisie!

Time now for bath, bed, and book. Oh, and maybe a little hot chocolate too! Thanks for visiting!