December 31, 2009

The reading challenge has begun and I have finished my first book. I will add to this list as the year goes on.

1. Kiss of Death by Meryl Sawyer - mystery/romance

2. Eye of the Beholder by Merline Lovelace - mystery/romance

3. A Necessary Risk by Kathleen Long - mystery/romance

4. Epiphany by Rita Herron, Debra Webb & Mallory Kane - romance

5. The Charm School by Susan Wiggs - romance

6. The Hidden Heir by Debra Webb - intrigue/romance

7. The Hollow by Nora Roberts - paranormal/romance

8. Lover's Bite by Maggie Shayne - paranormal/romance

9. Artic Drift by Clive Cussler - adventure/thriller

10. The Ride of our Lives by Mike Leonard - non fiction/humor

11. The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter - paranormal

12. Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Andersen - intrigue/romance

13. The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showlater - paranormal

14. Dark Paradise by Tami Hoag - intrigue/romance

15. Whose Lie is it anyway by Abby Gaines - romance

16. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich-intrigue/romance/comedy

17. Baby Jane Doe by Julie Miller - romance/intrigue

18. Operation Midnight Rendezvous by Linda Castillo - intrigue/romance

19. Everything but the Baby by Kathleen O'Brien - intrigue/romance

20. Stork Alert by Delores Fossen - intrigue/romance

21. A Woman with Secrets by Inglath Cooper - intrigue/romance

22. The Puppet Master by Jan Coffey - thriller

23. Trace Evidence in Tarrant County by Delores Fossen - intrigue/romance

24. Under the Mocroscope by Jessica Andersen - intrigue/romance

25. The Quilter's Kitchen by Jennifer Chiaverini

26. Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris - mystery

27. The New Year's Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

28. The Front by Patricia Cornwell

29. The Quilter's Homecoming by Jennifer Chiaverini

30. Justice for a Ranger by Rita Herron

31. Mozart's Sister by Rita Charbonnier

32. Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts

33. Zapped by Carol Higgins Clark

34. Mayhem in Miniature by Margaret Grace

35. A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris

36. Killing Kelly by Heather Graham

37. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

38. Dead Giveaway by Brenda Novak

39. Wicked Game by Lisa Jackson

40. Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin

41. Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer

42. Remember When by Nora Roberts

43. Total Control by Pamela Britton

44. Marry Me Christmas by Shirley Jump

45. Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil by Nancy Atherton

46. The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith

47. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

48. Case of Lies by Perri O'Shaughnessy

49. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

50. The Widow by Carla Neggers

51. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

52. The Man from Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller

53. Sula by Toni Morrison

54. Season of Glory by Ron & Janey Benrey

55. Season of Strangers by Kat Martin

56. Heart of Fire by Kat Martin

57. Wanted Man by Ellen Hartman

58. A Wanted Man by Linda Lael MIller

59. Sleep Softly by Gwen Hunter

60. Thriller edited by James Patterson (short stories)

61. Body Guard Confessions by Donna Young

62. A time to Come Home by Darlene Gardner

63. Nine-Month Protector by Julie Miller

64. Lawman by Diana Palmer

65. The Winter Lodge by Susan Wiggs
66. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
67. Copy Cat by Erica Spindler
68. Heart of Courage by Kat Martin
69. Fools Rush In by Kristan Higgins
70. No Holding Back by Liz Allison & Wendy Etherington
71. Body Movers 3 Men and a Body by Stephanie Bond
72. Beyond the Limit by Lindsay McKenna
73. The Red Hot Empress by Meredith Blevins
74. Scots on the Rocks by Mary Daheim
75. Divine Evil by Nora Roberts
76. Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea by Nancy Atherton
77. Twilight of a Queen by Susan Carroll
78. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
79. Hot Rocks by Lev Raphael
80. Jigsaw by Jerry Kennealy
81. Secrets of the Model Dorm by Amanda Kerlin
82. The Boelyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
83. Hounding the Pavement by Judi McCoy
84. The Bride Finder by Susan Carroll
85. Murder Talks Turkey by Deb Baker
86. The Sudoku Puzzle Murders by Parnell Hall
87. An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris
88. 5 Bodies to Die For by Stephanie Bond
89. Armagedon Children by Terry Brooks
90. Murder Grins & Bears it by Deb Baker
91. A Deeper Sleep by Dana Stabenow
92. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
93. Death of a Prince by Susan Baker
94. Aunt Dimity Detective by Nancy Atherton
95. Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs
96. Riptide by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
97. Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
98. The Last Wife of Henry VII by Carollyn Erickson
99. The Water Lily Cross by Anthony Eglin
100. Sonnet to a Dead Contessa by Gilbert Morris
101. Cruel & Unusual by Patricia Cornwell
102. Spring Muslin by Georgette Heyer
103. The Mermaid in the Basement by Gilbert Morris
104. The Queene's Christmas by Karen Harper
105. Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris
106. Twin Killing by Marshall Cook
107. The Vampire of Venice Beach by Jennifer Colt
108. A Christmas Visitor by Thomas Kinkade & Katherine Spencer
109. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
110. Dead Man's Puzzle by Parnell Hall
111. The Queene's Cure by Karen Harper
112. Medusa by Clive Cussler & Paul Kemprecos
113. Unhallowed Ground by Heather Graham
114. Kaleidoscope by Dorothy Gilman

Total pages read for 2009 38,505

I stitched on Day this past week. I got alot done as I was off on Monday and Friday. But my days off have come to an end. I have used up all of my 2009 vacation time. Back to working full weeks in January. Ugh.

Stitching will slow down for a while as I have lost my stitching chair/light to the Christmas Tree. I plan on reading instead until the tree departs.

This week I was supposed to be stitching on Pinecones but I found more excuses for not working on it. I have decided to take it back out of my rotation until I feel the urge to stitch on it.

I did manage to make my cat ornaments into ornaments. This is my first time doing this kind of finishing. This past spring some of the Hoosier Stitchers had me over for a lesson. I took my first attempt (cotton balls glued to a pop tart box that then warped). Cici and Ana showed me the correct materials to use (mat board and fluffy stuff from the fabric store). I brought home a finished ornament to use as my guide. I finally got my act together and gave them a try this weekend. Not bad still room for improvement.

The frog necklace represents the necklaces I made with my nieces on Thanksgiving. I bought 9 different kits from Michaels ($1.00 each quite the bargin). I let each of the little girls pick out which kit they wanted. Felicia, MaryJane, Glory and Jessica were all able to string the beads on their own. I just tied the knots. I did help Elizabeth (who is 2 I think) string her beads. The girls want me to bring a different craft project for Christmas. They are home schooled and arts and crafts is not my Sister-in-law's thing. The older kids took their kits home as they were busy playing Monopoly.

This week I am back to stitching on Butterfly Fairy.

This past week I worked on my train piece. I have also been working on cleaning the living room to get the christmas tree up. Once the tree is up, I lose my stitching light which limits the time I can stitch as it is too dark to stitch at night.

I am switching to the dreaded pinecone piece. Hope to make some progress as I would like this one done and out of my rotation. I need to practice my queen stitches. Hoping I have something to show on this piece next week.