Inspite of the fact that I told my husband no gifts this year (our trip to East Africa was a fabulous gift!) he gave me an iPad!! So I have been playing around with it a little bit. Have not loaded any books onto it yet but think I will try to download something from the library. Just need to select a book. The reason I thought I would prefer an iPad over a Kindle is I can order and download books from a independent bookseller instead of being limited to Amazon. Try to support the local businesses when I can. Lovely Christmas Eve and Day. Beautiful church service and the church was beautiful Christmas Eve (picture is courtesy of my friend Roy). Sunday we spent with my family- a little hectic and noisy but fun. My husband was given the Steve Job bio which I can't wait to read (very long).

These are my son's favorite cookies which I make only at Christmas. The recipe is one from Fine Cooking 2006. A bit labor intensive but well worth it. And he swears they taste the best with the chocolate on the outside. Today I am baking the last Christmas bread- a braided coffee cake with dried fruit (cherries, raisin, and apricots). Have officially switched books for book club and started In The Country Of Men last night. So far really good, hooked me instantly. And I should be able to finish it well before our January 9th meeting.

There has been tiny bit of discussion about switching books. The January selection is over 600 pages! And with the holidays and craziness I suggested that we read In the Country of Men for January which is a bit more manageable and save WOOS for February. Only a couple of people responded , in favor of the switch. Most of my group wait until the dust settles and a decision has been made. I have been reading WOOS and liking it but it is not a fast read. Reads a bit like fiction although it isn't. But I know I won't finish it before our January meeting and as it is my pick I have to lead the discussion and it would be good if I had finished the book.
Have been baking cookies, have gone to a cookie swap and have finished decorating the tree. And I made these chocolate mice.

Christmas wall hanging is finally done. I started this almost 2 years ago. Had the entire top finished but needed to quilt and bind. I worked on the quilting, by machine about 2 weeks ago. Made the time this afternoon to put the binding on. Working with black I really needed to be fresh and have good light. It's a nice change from the Advent calendar that I usually put up each year ( another sewing project I made almost 20 years ago). Needless to say I haven't read much.

Started WOOS by Isabel Wilkerson (not Wilkinson as I previously printed). So far good. However busy getting ready for the holidays- making cookies, decorating the house, putting the ornaments on the tree (will post the finished tree tomorrow- maybe) etc so I haven't read very many pages. Never enough time in the day. And tomorrow I will finish the Christmas wall hanging that I started 2 yes 2 years ago. All I had to do was stitch on the binding (not my favorite part of sewing). Tomorrow.

Tomorrow night is book club, our usual potluck dinner and Yankee Swap. Will have to get creative as my gift for the swap has not arrived from the company. I bought a mushroom growing kit which looked like fun. Finished Stagestruck Friday night - late- and then loaned it to a friend. Hard to find a copy. I, of course, didn't guess the murderer and there were a couple of small mysteries and red herrings along the way. Fairly good read although it took longer than I expected. I have started The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen. I also read a book on deconstructing books- what to do with old books that have no value. Interesting ideas for jewelery, containers, wreaths etc. Not sure if I could actually destroy a book and create something out of the pages but it was definitely interesting. Our next book is Warmth of Other Suns (Isabel Wilkinson) which I hope is good as I suggested it before I had read it (one of our "rules" is to have read the book before suggesting it to the group but this sounded so good I brought it to the group's attention). Pictured are Christmas mice I made this afternoon along with some Christmas cookies.

Had a really good discussion last week. Interesting how many different views and interpretations were voiced. I liked SOW better than Bel Canto but do enjoy Patchett's writing. Started Stagestruck, which is set in Bath, England, and since I have been there I am finding it to be a good read. Our next meeting is the annual holiday party with potluck and Yankee Swap. Always a fun time. Pictured is last year's chocolate house.