COUSIN CONNECT


Monday 29 September 2008

Reading, Writing and Ranting: Lazy Days#links#links

Reading, Writing and Ranting: Lazy Days#links#links

THE MANOR DEATH by BERNARD KNIGHT


I know that I will be cutting the deadline very finely, but have had to wait for nearly 3 weeks for the last 2 books on my list - this one and the Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith.

I enjoyed The Manor of Death which is set in the West Country of England in the late 12th century.
Crowner John is tested by both the murders he needs to solve, and also his personal life which is getting much too complicated for him.
The story revolves around piracy and smuggling, and Sir John, and his able side kicks, Gywn and Thomas, are thwarted at every avenue in solving a series of murders.
John's wife, Matilda, retreats to a convent, where she refuses to have any contact with her husband, and John's friendship with Nesta, his mistress, is closing its chapter, when Nesta decides to marry a stonemason from Wales.
Richard the Lionheart, requests that John take up a post in London, and we are left wondering whether Matilda will join him there, or will John sweet talk Hilda, another of his loves into accompanying him.

Bernard Knight knows his stuff, coming from his background as a Home Office pathologist and also Professor of Forensic Pathology at the University of Wales College of Medicine.

Great read, and would rate this as a 4.

Reading, Writing and Ranting

Reading, Writing and Ranting

CROSS STITCHING


Here is another completed project, and also made into a Coaster:

It's a crossword, and a design from the Crimson Moon site.

GREEN TREE SNAKE CROSS STITCH COASTER



Here's hoping that the photo looks okay on the site.

Trisha.
This was a free pattern that I stitched and is featured on the website:

www.TheCrimsonMoon.co.uk 2008 (it;s a freebie).

Tuesday 23 September 2008

*~Postcards~*#4 - Swap-bot

*~Postcards~*#4 - Swap-bot

North Woods Stitcher

North Woods Stitcher

RESEARCH ON GUTEKUNST

I always feel the thrill of the chase, when I do some family research for someone.
This time is has been on the surnames of JUNIPER and GUTEKUNST.
The Gutekunst name is German and the family came to Australia (Adelaide) from Nagold Germany.
Such a wealth of stories that are waiting to be told, when you start locating not just names and dates of births, deaths and marriages, but photos and also details on the National Archives site.
I usually hand over to my friends what I have found on my initial searches, and then hope that they become addicted like I have with the research bug.

Monday 22 September 2008

Cross Stitch Happy: Cross Stitch, Coffee & Cats

Cross Stitch Happy: Cross Stitch, Coffee & Cats

CROSS STITCH

The month is nearly finished, and this is my first post. My excuse is that I have got back into my cross stitch, and also machine embroidery, and as any craft person will tell you - time just seems to slip away.

One of my favourite cross stitch designers is Jill Oxton, and I was lucky enough to obtain her Volume 1 magazine through the Bookmooch site. As my budget permits, I have been acquiring the back issues of the magazine - Jill Oxton's Cross Stitch Australia and the patterns are wonderful.
Have started an aboriginal design - a Platypus, which is stitched in vibrant colours, and I can see myself sewing the others in the series.

One of the ladies in the craft group had a clean out of some!! of her craft books, and I was able to obtain more cross stitch magazines.

Back to my sewing.