Someone Cry For the Children

Prior to reading this book, I might be one of the few people that lives in Oklahoma that was not aware of this story.  Someone Cry For the Children is the true story about the investigation and trial of the suspect involving the brutal rape and murder of three Girl Scouts at a camp in northeastern Oklahoma in 1977.  The book, written by OSBI agents involved in the investigation, is gritty...most definitely not a book to read before you go to bed. 

I was horrified by the murder scene (and a detailed rape scene later on)...I'm telling you that this book is like reading an episode of either CSI or Criminal Minds.  Or both combined.  Only more detailed.  There were parts that, literally, turned my stomach.

This book is a solid piece of literature, detailing the ins and outs of this investigation and trial.  I felt like there was no stone left unturned, no detail left unsaid.  With that being said, are you interested in my opinion regarding the fact that this case has been left unsolved?  For, literally, longer than I've been alive... 

I don't know. 

You leave this book still unsure about whether or not Gene Leroy Hart is guilty.  There were points where you think he's most definitely guilty...other parts where you think he most definitely had to be innocent.  And after finishing the book...I don't know.  The friend who recommended this book to me, Becky AKA the other Becky, said she felt the same way.

I'll tell you what really affected me about this book though.  I remember going to Girl Scout camp as a young girl in the mid-1980s.  And I remember bunking up in a wooden-structured, screen-surrounded type of building...not the tents the girls in this book used.  And I remember the camp counselors vehemently ordering the girls in each structure to lock the door, which only locked from the inside, each night and refusing to open it for anyone (even another counselor) until the next morning when we were to come outside for breakfast.  After reading this book, I realized that this case had to be why this strict rule was enforced.  Scary stuff.

It's not often that you read a book detailing events that took place and affected events in your life.  And to not have been aware of this story at the time (my mother wasn't aware either because she lived in Dallas at the time of the murders), but to know now 20+ years later.  Freaky!

This book is extremely rare...Becky had to pay a pretty penny for it.  But, if you can find it, I highly recommend reading it.  Most especially if you're an Okie resident...and even more so if you're a northeastern Okie resident like me.

My First...

If you follow me on Instagram, you might already kinda sorta know about this quilt.  A few weeks ago, I posted this picture of the finished quilt top, complete with Molly's bored expression in the background.

This is the first time I have ever completed a real, normal-sized quilt from start to finish. 

I've been playing on the long arm quite a bit and I felt comfortable enough to try a real quilt, though only one either I or my mother would keep.  I'd muuuuch rather screw up my own stuff than someone else's.  For sure.

So, I did a mixture of meandering (on the neutrals, center section) and swirls (on the colorful, border section).

I learned a ton more about my machine, the rolling, the tension...pretty much everything...while finishing this guy.  I like how it turned out, even though this type of quilt isn't my normal "style."  I'm more girly than this, in case you didn't already know.

I don't think I'll actually use this one, rather I'm planning on hanging it in my craft room to look and ponder from time to time.  The more I do this and get the hang of it, the more I think I'll enjoy looking at this quilt.  My first, complete with all the errors and learning curves only I can really see.

Light and Fun Reads

OK, so back to playing catch-up.  I thought I'd try to catch up a little on the reads I have finished recently.  Here are just a few, all grouped into this same blog post because they are all (did you read the post title?) light and fun.

The Last Original Wife



This book is a fun, summery read.  Leslie Anne Greene Carter is the last original wife of her husband's middle-aged, upper class, golf-playing, country-club livin' co-worker and friends group.  This story tackles some serious issues and includes a douse of humor along the way.  It was a good, solid chick lit that would be ideal for a vacation read.

Summerland

I'm not sure I'd truly classify this book as light and fun...simply because there's a car wreck, a fair amount of death and infidelity in this book.  However, this wasn't really a book that bogged me down at the same time, which is why I'm including it in this grouping.  This book explores the reality of what a tight-knit community can be, especially during a tragedy.  It was well written and I enjoyed it all the way up until the end.  The girl that dies in this book I could never really understand or connect with...therefore, I only gave it two stars...sorry Elin!

The Secret Life of Bees

Yes, I've read the book and seen the movie now (though, not in that order).  This was another book that was in the massive pile from my great-great aunt's house.  I'm glad I read it because it truly is a wonderful story.  I won't explore this book any more because, unless you've lived under a rock, you're aware of the story.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

This book is in rotation in my book club.  A very whimsical, cute read that, again, tackles some serious topics (miscarriages, mental health, infidelity, etc.).  I really enjoyed this one, though about three-quarters of the way through it, I wasn't sure where the author was taking the story...  No worries, it ended up well (even if I was rather perturbed with the father by the end).  Give this one a go!

Busy, Busy, Busy Bee!

I've been a little MIA lately...sorry about that!  The truth is that I've been really busy with this that and the other.  Wanna play catch-up?  Here we go!

First up...my friend, Becky, and I drove to Kansas City to meet Maggie Steifvater!  This was a super fun girls' trip for Becky and me.  We listened to a couple audiobooks on the way, hung out on the Plaza, met up with her sister who lives nearby and I got to see an old high school buddy...not to mention the obvious fun of meeting a much beloved author!

Next...not this past weekend, but the one before was my dad's birthday.  So, we went down to Texas for his favorite birthday celebration: NHRA Drag Racing Finals in Ennis.  Got a great pic of me with my dad actually smiling (he usually only does that when a grandkid is in the frame) along with a cute pose of my aunt/uncle's Australia Shepperd, Toby.  Love how Toby's tongue is lolling out to the side.

Come race day the brothers found matching baseball hats that fit!  I have to explain the wonderfulness of this feat.  My dad wears a XXXL motorcycle helmet.  So yea, finding a hat to fit him borders along the lines of ridiculous impossibilities. 

Boy...you can't tell they're brothers at all, can you?

These flowers in my back yard are currently making me happy.  I have nooooo idea what they are, but I transplanted them out of my grandma's yard last year.  I was already taking some tiger lilies (which reproduce like crazy in her yard) when she told me to take some of these too.  She said they reproduce like mad as well and I have to admit that she's right; they've already doubled in quantity.  I can't say the same for the tiger lilies though...the bunny rabbits that get into our yard seem to think they're too tasty to let bloom...bastards.

Almost last up, I got a shock of hot pink (technically the color is labeled magenta) in my hair.  A close friend of mine has a couple of pink spots that I thought were cute, so I thought I'd give it a try.  The verdict?  I'm still undecided...what do you guys think?

Speaking of pink...how do you like my cute cards that I'll enclose with my Etsy orders? 
Love the mud splatter on the bright pink!
 

I'll try to get more in the swing of blogging again this week.  I've got a couple of craft projects to share, not to mention quite a few book reviews.  Stay tuned, I promise I'll be back soon!

Classic and Contemporary Mysteries

As you regular readers know, I'm not much of a mystery fan.  However, I've been on a tiny bit of a kick lately and want to share a couple with you that I think are absolutely fabulous. 

Let's start with classic mystery...this is another Agatha Christie.  Don't even try to pretend to be shocked.  Now, prior to reading this one Death on the Nile was my favorite Agatha Christie.  After this...I'm not so sure...they're pretty tied for first place.

 

To tell you the truth, the main reason why I absolutely loved Murder on the Orient Express was the ending.  And the endings are what make Agatha Christie so special.  I haven't read an even remotely similar ending in all of her books that I've picked up.  And because I don't want to spoil it (because I DO want you to read this one) I'm NOT going to tell you what's so magical about this book.  Pick it up.  Soon, you won't regret it!
 

Like half of the western world, I read Gone Girl earlier this year.  And my book club has since become obsessed with reading all of Flynn's previous works.  This is the first one I've picked up because...honestly?...I was way too hyped up about Gone Girl.  It was a really good book and fantastically twisted, but because I knew it was supposed to be fantastic going in...it's just easy to get let down.  Now, when I picked Dark Places up only the girls in my book club had reviewed it and they all said positive things.  About the book/plot...not what actually happens in the book.  Because this is another sick and twisted Gillian Flynn.  And I have to say, it's fantastic as well.  Verrrry twisted (that's the last time I'll use twisted as an adjective, promise) so be prepared.  Two thumbs up.

So, in case you were dropping by my blog looking for a new book to read...there ya go!

Reading Lately...Meh?

I've picked a few books lately that just didn't measure up to my expectations.  None of these books were bad...but, none of them were anything I'd probably recommend?  In fact, all except this first I gave a mere two stars out of five.

The Light in the Ruins
(Three stars)

I've seen this book everywhere...bookstores, recommended reading lists, etc., etc.  It's a murder mystery connected to a point in time in the not-so-distant past.  It was just OK for me.

Sisterland
(Two stars)

I'll be honest and say that this book is extremely well written and that I was fully engaged...all the way up until the last quarter.  The main character did something at this point in the plot that I just could not get over and, therefore, the book soured for me quickly.  And because of her distasteful choice, I also found the ending unrealistic.

Kiss Me First
(Two stars)

The premise of this book is very dark; it's another assisted suicide novel.  However, this book is much more disturbing than the beautifully written Me Before You (click here for my review of it).  Plus, the further I got towards the end of this book, the more I just felt sorry for the main character.  She's hopelessly socially inept and she's horribly taken advantage of because of it.  This is not a feel-good book and though I know it's not supposed to be, I still didn't quite appreciate it.

Freud's Sister
(Two stars)

I really thought this book had potential!  This is a historical fiction novel that is based on a true story; it narrates the story of Adolphina, Sigmund Freud's favorite sister.  When the Nazi's were closing in on Vienna, Sigmund was given an exit visa and could take anyone with him that he chose.  He took with him his wife, doctor, maids, wife's sister and even his dog...but, not one of his four sisters.  Sadly, this book was very dry, though there were a few interesting tidbits throughout that are probably true facts.  I think I might have been expecting too much on this one...I might like it more the longer it's been since I've read it.

Quilting Catch-up

I tend to perform marathon sessions of whatever interests me in a particular moment...or day...or week.  This past Friday it was my quilting to-do list.  I've had a few quilts that I'd been piecing together and was just ready to be finished with that aspect of it.  In other words, I was ready to throw them in the to-be-long-armed pile.  So, I finished three quilt tops on Friday, starting in the morning and finishing up around 9 o-clock that night.  I love how each turned out and can't wait to quilt them on the long arm!

This first one is my scrappy rail fence...Molly's not impressed, if you can't tell.

This hot air balloon quilt is a compilation of blocks that my mom received in a block swap.  A block swap is where, in this case, 25 quilters (from all over the country) all make 25 of the exact same whatever-themed block (in this case, hot air balloons).  Then, each quilter sends all their blocks to the organizer of said block swap.  The organizer arranges the blocks so that each quilter then receives one of each other participant's block.  Hence, everyone has the same 25 blocks to work with and assemble their quilt.  Here's how our quilt looks assembled:

And finally, this one is my creation.  You might recognize some of these blocks from this post back in June.  I wanted the quilt to be larger than just the log cabin blocks, so I've interspersed them with hourglass and plain red blocks.  Can't wait to play with this one on the long arm and then snuggle up with it this winter!

You know how the older you get the more you seem to be like your parents?  Well, with these quilt tops...I totally can see myself turning into my mother!  Haha, why fight it?