Author Archives: paulainauckland

REVIEW The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by Colleen Coble

Posted in books by

I picked up a “new to me” author the other week. Not sure why I picked the book; the cover’s not my usual thing altho I did see a Karen Kingsbury recommend. That might be it. ocean

The author’s page and some buying links (I’m not affiliated to these) are here: http://colleencoble.com/books/the-inn-at-oceans-edge/

Synopsis: The minute she steps inside the grand Inn at Ocean’s Edge, Claire Dellamare knows something terrible happened there. She feels it in her bones. Her ensuing panic attack causes a scene, upsetting her parents. Claire attempts to quiet her nerves with a walk on the beach, to no avail. She’s at too great a distance to make out details, but she believes she witnesses a murder on a nearby cliff. When local police find no evidence of foul play, they quickly write off the “nervous” woman’s testimony as less than credible.

But Luke Rocco, home on leave from the Coast Guard, has reason to believe Claire. Years ago when his mother went missing, Luke’s father suspected she’d been murdered. He died never having convinced the police to investigate. So when an employee of the grand hotel doesn’t show up for work, Luke steps in to help Claire track down the missing woman.

As Claire and Luke put together the pieces of a decades-old mystery, they discover that some family secrets refuse to stay buried. And some passions are worth killing for.

So far (40+ pages in) I’m getting hooked. I found the intro a little disjointed, altho this may just be moving straight away from a Nora Roberts series read into this. But I’m now wondering how everyone links together and who Claire saw. I can see myself reading the older titles from this author. Maybe not the historical, but certainly her Hope Beach series. I’ll let you know how I get on with this one.

WIPocalypse Check In

Posted in stitching patterns, WIPocalypse by

WIPocalypseThis month’s set of posts was delayed, thanks to Gremlins getting into Measi’s site. Blah. Sucks that you can’t throw water on electronics (showing my eighties upbringing).

The topic for this month was: I would like to know if you look for LNS’s when you travel. What is the favorite shop you’ve ever found?

I do look for LNS (local needlework store). In fact, I had the GPS going when we came back from Newcastle to Sydney, and a list of five stores. In my defence, we had a list of 24 wreckers to find the bits for the Rodeo.

On Saturday I bribed the tweens I was transporting from their game with Wendy’s just so I could pop into Ribbon Rose in Mt Wellington. I only brought a bobbin of Nymo but it was the best 10 minutes of me time. I had taken in Stargazer & the beads I intend to use, and the sales assistant even stitched a few on the fabbie to show that the thread was hidden. Brilliant service. So if you’re in Auckland, that’s where I recommend you go.

Catchy

Posted in grateful, music, Saturday Share by

We’re heading into winter down here, and some days just need that little beat of sunshine added to them.

Then I saw something on Caroline’s blog and oooh light bulb! I’m going to play with this, but even tho Caroline doesn’t know me, this is a Mary Poppins of a play list.

Spring 2015 Playlist

Take a listen; then Shut Up & Dance With Me!
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Or shuffle from side to side. That’s okay too.
Thanks Caroline. Hope you feel blessed today.

You Can Quote Me

Posted in freebies, stitching patterns, You Can Quote ME by

preview-rainbow-cloud-pattern

YCQM is an on-going semi-weekly post, based on my One Little Word, Serenity. You would get it weekly, except some weeks I just don’t have my A into G, as my Nana would have said.

Today’s quote is a Maya Angelou. Admittedly I usually only see these on fancy or fluffy gift cards, but here’s one you can stitch. Thanks to Loretta from Stitching The Night Away – it was on her weekly newsletter. To subscribe (she has recipes!) follow the links on her site.

http://www.stitchingthenightaway.com/5350/maya-angelou-quote-be-a-rainbow-free-cross-stitch-pattern/

WIP Wednesday

Posted in family, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns by

Wow, winning! I’m back on schedule.

Currently I’m waiting on receiving Jacqui’s parcel with her RR in it, so I’ve started the fairy letter for the MIL. Conversion is not going as swimmingly as the L I did for Louise last year.

This is after about six/seven hours. At least you can’t see my frog lines!

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Me at 41

Posted in me by

I did this for Bran & it’s one of my favourite posts. So I thought I would repeat for me, & maybe you’ll learn something new. Maybe I will too.

DISCLAIMER: I stole the questions from a Spark People page. Not Spark as we Kiwis have to put up with tho! There were originally 50 questions, but of course I’ve dropped a few. Awkwardly not answering 41, but I’m such a rebel.

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Here are the questions and my answers:

  1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My middle name is a family name – it was my mother’s first name & she never used it, & didn’t like it. So logically she gave it to me!
  2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last week in sheer frustration. The office biatch told me I didn’t deserve a cake and the Screaming Teen was, well, screaming. Then the eReader crashed & I stubbed my toes and it was all over Rover.
  3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Because I type so much I do a “sample” write before I do any journaling or write in a card. I think my style is fairly unique so yes, I do like it.
  4. Not answered – this question was lame!
  5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Just the right number. I didn’t get clucky at pics of the new Princess, no not at all (looks around dodgily)
  6. Not answered – this question was lame.
  7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Oh yeah – I live with an Englishman and work with a couple. It’s the quick or the dead around here.
  8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes (what kind of question is this?!)
  9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Been there, done that – was bribed!
  10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I’m still on the hunt. Not bland stuff tho, I like fruit bits.
  11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If they have laces, but I am most often found in ballet flats.
  12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I can be. I can also be very, very stubborn and just not give up.
  13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Much Moore’s Passionfruit Ripple. But I have ice-cream maybe once a fortnight, so not a big fan.
  14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? The way they act towards others.
  15. RED OR PINK? Red. My only pink thing would be my Women in League T.
  16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I hate photographs. This one is from Anzac Day this year, so at least it’s fairly recent.
  17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? There are more questions I have for my grandparents. I wish I had more time with them.
  18. Not answered. Related to the Spark site.
  19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black suede ballet flats.
  20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Satsuma mandarins – I go thru these when in season.
  21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? LifeFM radio.
  22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Soft sky blue.
  23. FAVORITE SMELLS? English gardens – roses, lavender etc.
  24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Jigisha at one of our stores.
  25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE? Beach house – I love walking along a beach.
  26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Rugby League, which is a good thing.
  27. HAIR COLOR? Mousy brown. Yuck.
  28. EYE COLOR? Blue.
  29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I should do but I find them awkward at work.
  30. FAVORITE FOOD? Is it too cliché to say “anything I don’t have to prepare or collect myself”?
  31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy happy happy.
  32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Imitation Game. Loved it.
  33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Not. Lame!
  34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Too limiting!
  35. HUGS OR KISSES? Both!
  36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Strawberries when in season.
  37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO? Walking or swimming, that’s as complicated as it gets.
  38. Not answered – this question was TMI!
  39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? This changes nearly daily!
  40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? A mouse?
  41. ANY TATTOOS? I am not a follower of fashion so will probably get one as soon as they become passé.
  42. FAVORITE SOUND? It’s a split between the kids laughing and that moment of blissful silence when everyone else in the house is fast asleep.
  43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Again, too limiting.
  44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME IN 2015? Wellington – the other end of the North Island.
  45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Organisation. Nothing that will overwhelm the Ms World judges, sorry.
  46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Waipukerau, in the Hawkes Bay. Yeah, most peeps drive straight thru. Has a good info centre with clean toilets, however. Hope that was useful for you!
  47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Auckland – westie thru & thru (except I don’t own black jeans and I don’t go to the supermarket in my jammies).
  48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? Ok. Time to stop stalking.
  49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? White. Like the last one – so after 5 months after we brought the new car, one workmate twigged that it was different. Doh.
  50. ANY PETS? Just the fish – no cuddles. But we work full time and play hard, so to have a dog right now would be selfish.

First of May, first of May…

Posted in Mirabilia, round robin, Smalls SAL by

I won’t complete the line from an old Jilly Cooper book in case it offends anyone, but today is (for me) one of those earworm days. I also have the same experience on the 4th, only it’s Luke etc saying “May the Fourth be with you”.

I know. You really needed to know that.

I thought I would trial listing my goals for the month. If I crash & burn, it’s likely to be the last goal list, but here goes nothing.

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  • Complete Ali’s April prompts for One Little Word
  • Print out the last 10 days before Christmas & journal to complete my December Daily for 2014
  • Bead the night sky on Stargazer (which is only 4-6 hours at the most!)
  • Start & finish the C fairy for framing; it’s the MIL’s birthday in six weeks so this is priority!
  • Complete my portion on Jacqui’s RR (hoping it’s leaving Scotland today/tomorrow) – second priority
  • Chose & stitch a “Small” for the Smalls SAL

Nice to do’s:

  • Finish the stitching & beading on Mediterranean Mermaid
  • Sort out what my next big Mira will be

So that’s just three starts this month (one being a Small, and one being not much bigger as our limit was 2500 stitches) and hopefully four stitching finishes. Sounds doable.

You Can Quote Me

Posted in OLW, You Can Quote ME by

Getting back on track with my timeliness!

Today is part of my year-long One Little Word,  Serenity. Long time followers (or indeed anyone who has kids or works in a manic environment – oh look, everybody then!) knows that I am often looking to find a moment of peace.

Here’s something added to my pinterest board today. It’s going on my office wall today too. Visual aids!

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WIP (oh dear) Thursday & Smalls SAL

Posted in Mirabilia, stitching patterns by

So…this month has been a little slow on the stitching front.

20150427_184351I sussed out (finalised) the pieces for my Round Robin & completed the base framework. It was posted yesterday – before deadline! This is what it looked like – with the tiny bit of 422 that remained on my bobbin!

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I completed two small poppy badges for my Smalls entry, & to wear for ANZAC day. Sarah P received one, and mine was finished on black felt as I wanted it to be flat to go into my One Little Word Album.

I brought an awful lot of charts – see previous post – and another arrived that I swapped to receive – Mirabilia Dressmaker’s Daughter. Sulked a little as I realised the fabbie I had stashed for that was 28ct, so TOO SMALL to fit DD on it, unless I divide it into two halves (not happening, could get a different dye lot which would screw it all up). Fabric was the charted Milk Chocolate, but the chart calls for a FQ of 32ct. Stupid rookie mistake.

Persephone on Milk ChocolateThought about changing plans on that fabric and using it for Persephone – what do you think? This is from the Viewer; I still need to do a floss toss myself to confirm. Might take it to Zeb’s on Saturday & get her and Jenny’s opinions.

I didn’t complete any larger WIPs which has left me a little discouraged. I only need to do beading on Stargazer (I have decided she needs it); a small ammt of stitching on Med Mermaid (beads arrived last week) & a lot of stitching on the freebie Christmas cherub. I think the “only” needing to do the beading on Stargazer will mean that she comes to dinner with me Saturday!