Each Cozy Critter headed straight for the fireplace as she came into my house yesterday. Next stop, coffee pot, then the hundred year old table and chocolate chip cookies. You’ll understand that while all this activity was going on, we were talking non-stop. A good way to warm up a cold day.
Nancy told us about her church’s women’s retreat. It was a secret retreat, with no one but Nancy knowing the destination until they arrived. This is a busy month for her. She and her husband Rick spoke at two Valentine banquets. “They are always a lot of fun,” Nancy said. Her February activities included a trip to Texas to see those precious grandchildren.
This Friday, Nancy will head on up to Manhattan, Kansas where she will speak. Her topic? “Are You Stressed or Blessed?” Looking around the group of Critters, she asked us what we do to relieve stress. Answers included reading, drawing, playing the piano, being with family, taking a walk, playing with the dogs.
Jane brought a lovely table runner made from blocks from her grandmother’s quilt. Jane’s mother had put these together, backed them with pretty material, and quilted them into the table runner. Jane copied her grandmother’s signature, Miriam Belle, onto the center block and embroidered it. A beautiful reminder of her family.
You’ll also remember that Jane is an artist. She brought some charcoal and pencil drawings, watercolor sketches, and pen and ink drawings. One of my favorites was a little girl and her teddy bear. Jane has been busy with her puppy, Sadie, and hasn’t written any more poetry or children’s stories in the past two weeks.
Peg confessed that she hasn’t been reading much; however, she did share some insights into a few books she has going. Once more, she tried to get into a cozy mystery and was put off by the author’s style of jumping from one thing to another with no connecting explanations or bridges to show how they fit together. Not a good idea, authors. Take note.
She has read Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake by Sarah Graves, a well-written cozy. She is also enjoying the newest cozy mystery by Miranda James, Claws for Concern.
I read a few chapters of the third Ned cozy mystery. By the way, I’ve changed the title from Ghost of Moonlight Past to Moonstruck and Murderous. Why did I decide on a new name for this moonlight mystery? Well, you see, it takes place in March, and there’s a blue moon, and lots of weird stuff is going on. It’ll fit nicely with the first two moonlight books, Moonlight Can Be Murder and By the Fright of the Silvery Moon.
So ended another critique and we went back to our separate lives. But, we look forward to next time when our love of reading and writing and sharing the Word brings us back together again.
Jane’s quilted table runner
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