Books and Bookmark How-Tos

Hi All!

Well, I am feeling slightly better (again) this morning. Let's all hope that it stays that way!

It is COLD here in Texas - only 26 degrees!**Editor's Note: Yes, I KNOW 26 degrees isn't cold in some parts of the country and that those same parts are having even colder temperatures but, come on, this is TEXAS! I was thinking of walking again this morning for the first time since I got sick but, I thought better of it and stayed in bed for an extra hour instead!

Today I have a couple of book reviews for you and then an explanation of just how my elastic bookmarks work.

Here is the first book. The Red hat Club Rides Again by Haywood Smith. My Aunt Donna gave me this book and even though I had not read the first book, I enjoyed this one.


The Red Hat Club, composed of six women who have been friends for a LONG time (I can't remember exactly how long), meets once a month to have lunch and a lucious talk. This time the club members "ride" to the rescue of one of their own, Pru, who is lost in the throes of drugs and bad company. The club travels to Las Vegas, courtesy of the rich member of the group who has a private jet, and kidnaps Pru and sets her up in an exclusive rehab.

The group then undertakes a special "make-over" cruise once Pru is out of rehab. During the trip to Vegas, the cruise, and everything in between, the group follows the ten rules they have created for their group and their lives work through various complications which add interest and reality to the characters.

Like I said, I haven't read the original (I did pick it up at Half-Price books recently with my coupon!) but I will say that this book was a fun read. I had no problem identifying with the characters and becoming involved in their exploits. A fun book.

Next up is Emma's Secret by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Again, this book was given to me by Aunt Donna and it isn't the first in the series. However, this book stands alone well enough that you don't need to have read the other books written about the same characters.


Three clans, the Hartes, the O'Neills, and the Kallinskis, are intertwined due to their long history together which began with great-grandparents. The three families are powerful in business but the grandchildren are hardworking and dedicated despite the family money.

In this book, a young woman from America, Evan, comes to London to seek Emma Harte, the matriarch of the Harte clan, whom her grandmother has told her to seek out. She is dissappointed to learn that Emma has been dead for thirty odd years but decides to remain in London and takes a job at the Harte business, a prostegious department store chain.

Evan's appearance causes quite a disturbanc among the clans. Her appearance, at first glance, reminds people of Paula, the current matriarch of the Harte clan. The resemblence starts a search of the family tree to determine if Evan is a part of the family or not (and as such, a possible threat to the inheritence of the grandchildren).

During the course of the investigation, the family "black sheep" returns to London and attempts to stir up trouble as he seeks revenge against Paula for past slights. This puts a slight kink in things and before it is all over, a family secret is revealed for the first time in thirty odd years.

I really liked this book. However, I do think that the ending was a bit abrupt. Perhaps this is because there is another book concerning the same characters? In any event, the book was interesting and a good read. I might even go back and find the other books written about the same characters. They should be interesting as well!

Okay - time for the bookmark "how-to" session.

As I said in my previous post, the bookmark is made from flat, black elastic. There is a decorative button on one end and a buttonhole/loop on the other end. Like this:

To utilize the book mark, you follow these steps.

First, insert the elastic into the book where you want your place marked.

Next, close the book and bring the two ends to the front of the book (I suppose you could bring them to the back just as easily).

Now, stretch the elastic so that the two ends come together (this is hard to do when you are taking a picture of it so forgive the awkward looking picture!)

Finally, loop the buttonhole/loop around the decorative button.

That is all there is to it! Simple! These are fun to make and look cute as well. In my first efforts, I cut a buttonhole into the flat elastic but I didn't like the way that worked so for this one, I sewed a loop of thinner flat elastic onto the end. I think it will work well.

Trisha

Voice Update: My voice is having some issues - probably due to the fact that I haven't been talking much lately. I DID do my massage and exercises yesterday though.