Friday, November 24, 2006



*Dead Days of Summer by Carolyn Hart*

This was one of the first mystery series I read. This book is part of the Death on Demand series. Annie Darling runs a mystery bookstore on a quaint SC sea island named Broward's Rock.

Dead Days of Summer brings back memorable characters: Annie and Max Darling, Emma, Henny, Ingrid, Laurel....this time they must solve the mystery of who set Max up for murder.

There are several things I enjoy about this series. I enjoy the relationship between Annie and Max. I always like a book that shows a married couple working together and enjoying one another's presence. I am also a book addict and love the little asides on various mysteries and authors that Carolyn Hart includes.

This specific book kept me guessing a bit longer than most. I enjoyed that.

I've tried to read Ms. Hart's Henrie O series and haven't been able to get into it - but maybe I'll pick it up again one of these days - soon. {G}

The Day AFTER....


I'm baking a couple of turkeys. It may be a late night as I need to get them deboned and bagged so I can take them to the base tomorrow a.m. We're doing a Praise Band Concert, turkey sandwhiches/football thing for students.

Josiah had to work...ugh.


The rest of us brought decorations down from the attic. We brought in all the fall decorations and get them stowed away. I thought we'd do the lights but Jamin flat out wasn't going to do them without Josiah and Dad around. He had some valid points...so we focused on the inside.


Last year the tree went where my birthday hutch now resides. We moved furniture around and around and things simply weren't going to fit this year. The younger ones really wanted the tree up. Have you ever noticed that a room that is FULL can often fit "one more thing"? The 7.8 foot OR pine is now in my bedroom. The recliner and table that were in the corner are now blocking Mike's dresser....LOL The crib was moved from the foot of the bed to block my side of the bed. BUT - it all fits.
Boxes and boxes of decorations
Stacia offers support as Jamin puts the tree together
We used to hang all stockings from the mantle...but they don't fit any more. Several years ago we began to use wreath hangers to hang the stockings on bedroom doors. I still put the "believe" up because it always reminds me of that wonderful word study. {G} BreAnne and Krista's stockings hang at the mantle waiting for their return. The sled on the right is mine from childhood.
We moved the recliner and set up our "main nativity" here...the crate holds all our Christmas books
The hutch with winter finery....former home of ye ole Christmas Pine
We took everything but the sound system & aquarium out of the entertainment center. I filled it with nativities and a few snowmen. Jamin put the Christmas Village along the top.
This year we decorated only with the picture ornaments we've given the kids each year....and the new ornaments that Mom sent for this year


Piano has ornaments with the children's picture hanging from it & snowmen


When Cy got home from work, we finally opened the 11 boxes Mom and Dad had sent last week (several were shoe box size). Each year Mom gives everyone an ornament so we hung those on the tree. There were some birthday gifts and some Christmas gifts that we put under the tree.


My Mom's packages are notorious for being well-taped.


Stacia claimed the pink tea cups and saucers....