Another roaster here, August 11, 2025. My mother’s birthday.

A little over a minute of video:
I’ve read the first chapter of this book and am SO BLOWN away by the writing, I had to set it aside for a minute.

By the way, if you’re like me and are often in a reading pickle because a book (or three!) you’ve been on the waiting list for (often for months) has come up for you to borrow (we’re talking the Libby app here), but you’re reading something else, I have the greatest workaround.
You have to have two devices. I usually read on my phone, so I use my phone and iPad.
If you open the book on your iPad or kindle AND TURN THE WIFI OFF, when it comes time for the book to be returned from your phone, it’ll remain on the other device.
Ta da! Problem solved.
I don’t mind reading more than one book at a time — no surprise there, I suppose — but sometimes it gets out of hand.
Today, I delayed delivery of two library books and took Vuong’s out, even though I’m reading something else (two something elses actually).
Just finished Broken Country yesterday. Recommend.

I kind of cringe to read this slapdash and incomplete review, but I’ve given myself permission to just jot something down. It really doesn’t have to be perfect. Plenty of other people on Goodreads do the whole “this is what the book is about” thing. I don’t have to.
But I’ll tell you, it’s about the death of a child and a love triangle. Tragedy all round but somehow not a complete bummer to read.


Dee~ Ugh, humidity and heat, but the guy on the roof looks happy! What a beautiful smile.
Yeah he was great. Down the street
Coming off of 6 days of heat advisories, over 100 most days. today will be a cool 90…Our monsoon rains and winds in New Mexico are coming back this week; muggy days and maddening as well cause the rains comes in fits and starts, rarely a solid length of time.
Marveling at your use of color and prints; you have such an uncanny knack of combining both to create glorious quilts. Nice to hear your voice describe process and the origin of bits of cloth.
In the mood that I am in these days, I’m re-reading Dr. Sharon Blackie’s book, Hagitude, Reimagining The Second Half Of Life: One quote from the book grabbed my attention: “the nearest humanity approaches perfection is in the presence of good women- and especially perhaps in the persons of kind, intelligent, healthy women past their menopause, no longer shackled by the mechanisms of sex but creative still in other kinds, aware still in their love and sensuality, graceful in experience, past beyond ambition but never in aspiration.””
Brutal. I hope you have AC. Today here in New England it’s supposed to reach 98. Real feel 104. I’ve been getting out to weed and fill the bird fountains but not much else. ~ tHank you for your kind words about my quilts. And that quote! I may insert it in my next post I love it so much. It’s just id the serious side of the new insta trend — the hilarious “we do not care club.” You can search that phrase online and find her I think. Melani Sanders. A slightly younger cohort but still.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMxqw7QM7FH/?igsh=MTdtaHp2aGZwbXV0cA==
Always appreciate book reviews … thanks!! We had crazy hot weather here too. And now flooding that you probably heard on the news. Never thought I’d see such a disaster here in Milwaukee. We had no problem along with my daughter and grandson … are basements stayed dry. So many many people were no so lucky .. some are still even without power. CRAZY!!!
It just keeps happening, the flooding, doesn’t it? I’m glad you and your daughter are okay!
Ocean Veong’s The Emperor of Gladness is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful books I have ever read, it ripped out my heart and handed it back to me with such deep light
Well out! It deserves all the prizes. All the accolades. I’m almost half way. I listen to him whenever an interview crosses my path. He is so sweet and kind and inspiring.