{I've Been Reading} Off the Grid

Off the Grid by John Hunt

When a book isn't at all what I was expecting, it tends to be because I  either didn't read the cover copy closely enough, or I managed to forget part of it between adding the book to my Kindle and actually starting to read it. In this case, it's because the book veers wildly away from its description.

In the prologue, Graham Richards visits and outlet mall with his wife and son and all three are victims of a senseless mass shooting that only Graham survives. He moves to a cabin in the woods, shunning society, and of course when the man with the horribly scarred face purchases rope, a chain, and a padlock just before a local girl disappears, he becomes their only suspect.

The book shifts to the investigation of the girl's disappearance, then to the perpetrators and victims of another crime entirely. There are SO many characters here, all with more back story than we ever got about Graham. There's also a lot of graphic violence.

When the book gets where it's going things get interesting, but I didn't love this one.

Disclosure -- The publisher sent me an advance review copy. This post contains affiliate links.

It Didn't Snow This Week

Have you seen that meme about the weather forecast, the one that predicts either eight feet of snowy apocalypse or a lovely sunny weekend? That's the sort of game my weather app was playing with me last week. I couldn't decide whether to cancel appointments or not, or when I was going to go grocery shopping. The one day it seemed most likely to snow was my youngest son's birthday so I worried about that, but the roads were totally dry and not frozen. 

We had a tiny bit of snow that didn't stick. I don't know if the roads got icy or not, because for the most part I chose to stay off of them. First because I'm afraid of ice and then because I got sick. It's just a stupid cold, but I'm shocked at how fast and hard it hit. 

I'm doing a much better job of keeping up with my planner. Jotting down quick notes helps keep the days from flying by in such a fast blur, and it definitely helps to write down what we had for dinner each night so I know just how old those leftovers in the fridge are. I'm also really liking the habit trackers. It's not all stuff that needs to be done every day, but it helps to see how often I'm getting these things done.

I'm determined to keep better track of my projects and finishes this year.

Stitching Along the Roofline

I'm starting to remember what I loved so much about stitching buildings. They have edges and corners that make it easy to keep track of where I'm stitching. 

I haven't looked at the entire chart, but what I've done so far makes me wonder if this is going to be an easy project that just happens to have sixty-seven thousand or so stitches.

Needlework Masterpieces from Winterthur

I've been trying to be more selective when it comes to the needlework books at the thrift store because at three and four dollars piece, the expense adds up quickly. It's a great price for a book I really want, but I'm trying to pause and make sure that whatever treasure I just picked up really needs to come home with me.

It was half price day when I stumbled across Needlework Masterpieces from Winterthur.

I flipped through just enough to find these two pillows with ladies fishing in their finery. I'd never stumbled across the Boston fishing lady embroideries before. 

I think I also caught a glimpse of these little purses. The best part, a twining section of gold and black, is actually on the bottom of the large one.

And there's fruit. I don't know why that pineapple makes me want to stitch it, but I was already happy about the ladies and the purses and a dollar fifty for a hardback book full of gorgeous eye candy is definitely worth it, whether or not I ever make time to stitch any of the projects.

There's lots to be read in here, about the history of needlework and printed fabric and once I got home and looked up Winterthur I fell down a fun rabbit hole of videos about the estate itself.


This post contains affiliate links.