What’s blooming

 

Better use for a shelf

The shelving unit, behind the door in my sewing closet under the stairs, was very organized. 

It held craft supplies. But in recent years, I never used any of them. In fact, I had not utilized anything on those shelves in many years, maybe nearly a decade.

JoAnn Fabrics went out of business earlier this year. As they had sales, I bought bolts of 108” and 120” wide quilt backing. I also bought a few bolts of 42” fabric to sew together as backing. And I bought bolts of white cotton in a variety of widths. I use white as my background fabric on a lot of quilts these days. 

It occurred to me that the shelving unit was exactly the right size for all these bolts. The bolts were sort of  everywhere. They needed an organized spot. 

These bolts are temporary. Eventually they will all be used. I will not replace them. (Then this shelf will be ready for something else.)

My husband cleared the shelving unit for me. He stacked the craft contents in middle’s old room. She is going through them at a future date. 

I organized my bolts. And it is a very good use of space. 

The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication by John Steinbeck (1957)

The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication by John Steinbeck (1957) is political satire. Normally this is not my thing, but since this book is so short, it kept my attention and I enjoyed it. Bonus, I was able to increase the audio speed which helped too. 

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

I put my name on the Libby waiting list for this book, Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb (2025), months ago. I was able to get on the list well in advance of publication. 

It is rare I read a book right as it is released. 

This is the third book by this author, I have read all three. 

My husband and youngest (I think) read the first book by this author, it was on her book group list. 

I loved the first one, rating it a 5. The second book was a 3 for me. This third book was a 4. 

What I love about these books is the strong African American family voice. I also like that the main characters are all black males who are professional musicians.

   

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson (2003)

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson (2003), a historical nonfiction book, was assigned by one of my book groups. 

This book alternates topics. Part of the story is the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The other is a prolific Chicago serial killer in Chicago during this same time span. Lots of people traveled to the Chicago Worlds Fair, the two events are linked in history. It makes sense to combine them in one book. 

We had a large discussion group turnout for this group, eleven people. We agreed it should be labeled as historical fiction (not nonfiction). The author assumed a lot about the serial killer and his victims. 

My husband happened to read this book when it came out in 2003. 

What else did I think of the book, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America (2003) by Erik Larson? 

First, there are a lot of names. Too many names in fact.  I just let all the names flow over me and paid attention to the stories. 

Second, I found the first hour and 15 minutes of this book to be confusing. I thought about listening to it a second time, immediately, but did not. I finished the whole book and then went back and relistened to the beginning. It was not confusing the second time. 

Third, I enjoyed the story of the Worlds Fair. I found the Worlds Fair to be more interesting than the serial killer story. But it made total sense to combine the two stories. Other people in my group loved the serial killer part and thought the fair descriptions too tedious. 

The only thing I knew from either one of these stories, prior to listening to this book, was the Ferris Wheel. 

That (above) was the very first Ferris Wheel (ever) designed and built by George Ferris. It was built to rival the Eiffel Tower built by Gustavo Eiffel for the 1899 Paris Worlds Fair. 

I looked up the dates and locations of Worlds Fairs. This is not a complete list, but gives the highlights.

I also looked up the killer, Herman Webster Mudgett aka H H Holmes. He was captured and executed in 1896.

There is a historical fiction book, The Scarlet Mansion by Allan W Eckert, about just HH Holmes, the killer, which I did not read, because it was not available in audio format. 

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

The Wayward Bus (1947) by John Steinbeck

I am making purposely slow, but steady, progress on my Summer of 2025 John Steinbeck project. I simply fit these books in around my assigned books. 

I am not trying to read them in publication order. I am simply reading them as they become available on Libby waiting lists. Or I read them based on their length and my available time.

The Wayward Bus (1947) by John Steinbeck became available at the end of last week. I listened to it over the holiday weekend. 

It had no real linear plot until the very end. It was a series of little stories about people living along a backroads bus route and riding the bus in California. It was very much Steinbeck’s style. 

I enjoyed it, my husband would likely enjoy it. The era is very distinct. Steinbeck has his own style. (But it is probably not for everyone.)

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Looking at a quarter at a time helps

Last year we rearranged the rectangle garden a bit to divide it into four sections. 

I think my backdoor neighbor with the dogs originally suggested it. 

Dividing this bed in four was a great idea for several reasons.

This provided a pathway for easy access to the center of this large flower bed. 

It also reduced the volume of planting space. 

And most importantly, it makes this bed feel much less daunting to maintain. We look at it 1/4 at a time.

About an month ago, we weeded two of the quarter sections. It had rained the day before, that made everything easier. We started with the goal of one section. It proved fairly easy, the second one was quicker than we thought.

A couple weeks later we weeded and rearranged another 1/4 of this bed. We condensed the great blue lobelia and added three phlox. 

There is only one 1/4 of this bed left and it is the easiest, I pull weeds as I see them.

We did the harder ones first. That proved to be smart. 

State of Wonder (2011) by Ann Patchett

State of Wonder (2011) by Ann Patchett was a recent assigned book. 

What did the group think? One hated it, she tends to hate most books. Everyone else liked it. Several said they are going to read more Ann Patchett. 

It was my second time reading this book. 

Yes, I have had a variety of seconds in the last couple weeks. Two books reread, two books by the same author read nearly back to back, two books published in 2011 read back to back. 

I did not remember much of this book before I read it the second time, other than I knew I liked it and had recently  recommended it for my husband, who also liked it. 

It was just as good, for me, the second time through. Although I still thought the beginning was muddy. On both reads, I thought there was something confusing with how the book starts. Then, in the middle of chapter one, the muddiness clears and the story begins. 

Middle read it recently for this same group. She liked it also. She agreed about the beginning. 

Note - This listen, I used a pace of 1.40 which is very fast for me. It sounded normal, no chipmunks. 

I have read all of Ann Patchett’s fiction and nonfiction in the past. I think I read State of Wonder first, I read it for a different book group in 2013. I loved it and went on to read the rest of Ann Patchett’s fiction and nonfiction books. 

When I originally read this book, in 2013, I had been immersed in classics for several years straight. State of Wonder was one of several contemporary books to really catch my interest and help me realize, there is a world of modern literature. 

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Quilt labels

A quilt label is sewn on the back of a quilt to identify the maker, year made and usually the location. Middle feels very strongly that my quilts need labels. I prefer machine embroidered labels.

In 2022 or 2023 I went on a quest to find someone to machine embroider quilt labels for me. I had a very hard time finding anyone. 

When I finally did, I had her do very short labels with just my first initial, last name and the year. That is 9 characters total, very simple. I had her make labels for 2023 and 2024

That shop is now gone. 

Since my long arm quilter stall appears to be over, I need labels for 2025. I have a lot of quilt tops in progress.

I went to my local quilt shop and explained my problem. Owner said her DIL would make labels for me. (The last time I was looking, it was too close to the holidays, everyone was backlogged.)

I texted with the DIL, dropped fabric, and a sample at the shop for her. 

So I should have 2025 labels shortly.

I have one label left from 2023 and lots left from 2024. I can cut the year off these labels and just put my name on the back of non-family quilts to use up the out-of-date labels.