In the mean time I have closed my book store down. I liquidated all my books and tore out all the center book cases. The shop has been converted into my private weaving studio. It is up in the air now if I will even keep the business that evolved from my book store. I took the name Weaver Birds Rugs. I based the name on the little weaverbird that weaves an intricate nest. I have taught quite a few folks to weave, I have bought and sold several looms and now have become a fabric/yarn hoarder. I do try to be organized but realize that I probably will never be able to weave all the materials that I have on hand. I have mostly done my local farmers market for an outlet for my many rugs, runners, mug rugs, and bags that I make.
In the last two years a lot has happened to me in my personal life that has made it hard for me to find time to keep up, but I love my little studio. I like to call it my She Shed.
For now I will post the column that I write for a little local paper monthly for Feb. Maybe I can keep up each month and write a bit here and attach my column.
Feb
column
As
I write this on Ground Hogs Day, I am hearing that no shadow was seen
so spring will be here soon. I look forward to that, even though I
can't complain about our winter when you see what the rest of the
country has had to deal with. I am preparing for some down time
probably till spring as I am having some surgery on my hands. I say
hands because if my left one is successful I hope to do the right
one. It is a small bone that sits at the base of my thumb that will
be removed, as my longer thumb bone is grinding away on it and I
finally said enough is enough. Wish me luck.
My
winter event that I always look forward to at Stella for the Eagle
watch day, a week ago was a success. It was a beautiful day for all
those who gathered in this tiny town to view the eagles and
photograph them. A great learning experience for the kids too. I am
fortunate to be asked back each year to set up in the FEMA building
where they have their annual quilt judging. I love meeting folks
from all over and many go home with my hand woven rugs.
My
stack of books I have finished is piling up so thought I better get
busy and report on a few. So many books, so little time.
Two
Rivers
by
T.
Greenwood
I
definitely marked this author down on my list to see what's available
at the library. I Liked it very much. The main character, Harper is
a man who carries such a sense of guilt from an incident from 12
years in the past. The story line goes back to that time, giving you
bits and pieces, and then back to his presence of 1980. It is quite
clear that he is not only haunted by this tragedy but also still
grieving for his wife, who died in childbirth. It seemed that
everlasting happiness was always just out of his grasp. He ends up
devoted to a 12 year old daughter and working in the same small town
he grew up in, and mired in his grief. A big train wreck in Two
Rivers, brings a young pregnant black girl into his life, as she
begged shelter he is somehow feels that by helping her he can make
amends for his past mistakes. Soon he begins to suspect that this
girl, Maggie is not a simple case of happenstance as it first seemed.
Harper lives in fear of what she may know about his involvement in a
murder 12 years in his past. In the end what he suspects her motives
are gets turned on its ear and it has one of the best endings I think
I have ever read. If the library has this book please check it out.
Tumbleweeds
by
Liela
Meacham
I
found Meacham to tell a tale that kept me wanting to read more. The
main character is Cathy Benson who becomes an eleven year old orphan
when her parents die. She has led a very privileged life in
California, was very popular and destined to attend the best college.
She is forced to leave this luxury life to live with an aunt in a
small town in the Texas Panhandle. Her aunt is smart enough to know
that Cathy will have a hard time adjusting so she enlists a couple
young inspiring foot ball players who are her classmates to befriend
her. John and Trey both have histories of being orphaned in
different ways. With this common bond the book follows this trio
thru school and as no surprise into a love triangle that will shape
the rest of their lives. Thru tragic events they are torn apart and
then later reunited when they are forty years old. With many twists
and turns to the plot I found this to be a very good read.
Out
of the Dark
by
Sharon Sala
I
have carried many of Sala's books over the years in my book store and
was told she was a good author but I just never got around to reading
her. I saved several when I liquidated my books and am glad i did as
she is a good author and I hope to read a few more of hers. Here are
two that I read back to back. In doing research on her other books I
found that she writes under the name Dinah McCall also.
Out
of the Dark is about Jade who was stolen by her own mother when she
was a small child. This was during the Hippy Era and her mother had
taken up with a cult group. Later her mother dies and Jade endures
years of horrible treatment and abuse by the cult members who control
her. She finally escapes and lives on the run, in fear that they
will find her. She lives on the street with another young boy who
escaped with her and they survive by selling her art. In the mean
time her father Sam has never stopped searching for his daughter.
His first clue to find her was a painting of her mother that a friend
of Sam bought while on vacation. Ultimately he is finally able to
find her and takes both her and her young friend to live with him in
New York. Just when she starts to feel safe, a news paper carries
her story and picture in the paper and the cult will be able to find
her. Good ending, just leaving it at that
