The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

I seem to be behind the times regarding literature, as of late. How did I miss this fantastic novel for six years?

This intriguing novel, by Kim Michele Richardson, is inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s. It is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman's belief that books can carry us anywhere—even back home. Oh my gosh, what a tale. This novel had it all and it truly was unputdownable.

When asked, "What do you hope readers will ultimately take away from the protagonist's story?" the author stated, "Poverty and marginalization are not so much economics or politics or societal issues as much as they are human issues. They are best grappled with by reaching deep into the lives of those suffering them. Knowing one small piece of this world—the earth, the sky, the plants, the people, and the very air of it—helps us to understand the sufferings and joys of others ourselves.” Wow!

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My Last Mixtape...

In 1997, my girlfriends and I decided that our Christmas presents had to be homemade vs. store bought. The gift I gave out, almost 30 years ago, was a MIXTAPE.

Did you ever make one of these compilations, a deeply thought out playlist that you wanted to repeat endlessly? Better yet, were you ever the recipient?
My one and only mixtape was titled Denise's Driving Ditties and when played while on the open road, I was giddy. I only wish I could digitize this compact, historical record of my musical loves.
What's the playlist you ask (hint, I'm an 80's girl). Side One: 1. I'm Gonna Be (The Proclaimers), 2. Something to Talk About (Bonnie Raitt), 3. Best of Times (Styx), 4. You and I Will Meet Again (Tom Petty), 5. Love Song (The Cure), 6. 65 Love Affair (Paul Davis), 7. Juke Box Hero (Foreigner), 8. The Song Remembers When (Trisha Yearwood). 9. Good Stuff (B52's), 10. The Girl from Ipanema (Stan Getz), 11. Working for the Weekend (Loverboy).

Side Two: 1. Kiss on my List (Hall & Oats), 2. Things Can Only Get Better (Howard Jones), 3. Call Me (Blondie), 4. You've Got A Friend (James Taylor), 5. Two Princes (Spin Doctors), 6. My Best Friend's Girl (The Cars), 7. Who Will Save Your Soul (Jewel), 8. Take My Breath Away (Berlin), 9. You Dropped a Bomb on Me (Gap Band), 10. Free Fallin' (Tom Petty). What a list!
“The times you lived through,
the people you shared those times with —
 nothing brings it all to life like an old mixtape.
It does a better job of storing up memories
than actual brain tissue can do.
Every mixtape tells a story.
Put them together,
and they can add up to the story of a life.”
― Rob Sheffield

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Temecula's New Independent Bookstore!

I am a literary contradiction, I absolutely love independent bookstores but my frugality encourages most of my bibliophile addictions to be satisfied at library book sales or Little Free Libraries (sorry author friends).

When I learned there was a new bookstore in town, I knew I had to get there and support it. 
Temecula's In Bloom Bookery is a romance bookstore where stories of love, connection, and personal growth take center stage. They believe that romance is for everyone, regardless of gender or background. The shelves are filled with carefully curated romance novels that celebrate diverse voices, strong characters, and powerful stories that resonate with all readers.
The store's mission is to create a welcoming space where readers can explore the transformative power of love stories. Whether one is looking for a heartwarming contemporary romance, an epic historical love story, or a genre-bending adventure with romance at its core, it has something for you. "In Bloom Bookery is more than just a bookstore—it’s a gathering place for book lovers, a cozy spot to enjoy a cup of coffee, and a community hub for those who believe in the magic of a great love story."
I thought ROMANCE was a misnomer. It is not my favorite genre yet I found more then to love. In addition to a large range of various titles, it is a booklover's paraphernalia resource extraordinaire! Oh man, this store could be dangerous, in a good way.
And what was my novel of choice? The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman called my name. Picture me on my 10+ hour flight to London, absorbed in a story about a high society amateur detective, at the heart of Regency London, who uses her wits and invisibility as an ‘old maid’ to protect other women. This is described as "a new and fiercely feminist historical mystery series from the New York Times bestselling author". This is just one more reason I'm excited for our flight Across the Pond.

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SARK: A Re-Found Inspiration

I have a yet-to-meet pen pal in Texas. Susan is one of the creative goddesses that inspire me and recently we shared a serendipitous love of SARK.

I, like my pen pal, discovered artist, writer, motivator Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy in the early 90s. Her vision, then and now, is for all of us to live a creatively free, authentically expressive and abundant life, sharing our unique gifts with the world, no matter what has happened to us. Hers is a magical world where transformation can start in the tiniest of ways, releasing long-term stuckness and making our dreams REAL.
I had recently re-discovered SARK when I bought this book at a library sale. It was one that both I and Susan owned and couldn't figure out where, along life's journey, we discarded our tattered copies. She mentioned SARK in a letter right after I had purchased this treasure and I knew, even more so that we were kindred spirits.
This has always been one of my favorite pages. "Letters are chances for the soul to speak. A mood captured in the fibers of the paper, a world in an envelope WHICH will not exist until it is opened. Love letters make love stay visible. You can rub it, smell it, touch it, share it, and sleep with it under your pillow." They don't have to be love letters, they can be friend letters, too.
The other delightful thing Susan shared was SARK's Inspiration Line. SARK says about this phoning treasure, "About 25 years ago, I created something luscious called The Inspiration Line. It’s free to call 24/7 at 415-546-3742. I record an outgoing message on a phone line and people call in from all over the world to listen and leave me private messages. Sometimes I sing or read poetry. It’s spontaneously spoken- whatever it is. And it’s an introvert’s dream – no person will suddenly pick up – yet it feels very intimate too. You are welcome to just listen and hang up, or leave me a message at the end." I've called a couple of times and I've hung up feeling better for the effort. Such a find.

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing,
taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes,
and having fun."
- Mary Lou Cook

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Our Closing JOANN Store...

Jo-Ann Fabrics has been a part of my entire life. It was my go-to store for fabrics and more. Our Temecula location has been threatening closure since February. Today's stop proved the end is nigh!

For those who don't have the crafting bug, JOANN, a once-dominant fabrics and crafts retailer, has a history rooted in 1943 when three German immigrant couples opened the Cleveland Fabric Shop. The store, which later became Jo-Ann Fabrics in 1963, catered to a community rebuilding after World War II, fueled by the need for affordable sewing supplies. Over the years, it expanded, acquired other chains, and eventually became a publicly traded company. In 2018, the company rebranded to JOANN to reflect its broader offerings beyond just fabrics. However, it faced challenges in recent years, including high debt, management upheavals, and a changing retail landscape, which has ultimately lead to its bankruptcy and the closure of all stores in 2025. Our Temecula store has two more days. I actually got teary thinking about it. Thankfully, I got a fantastic deal to ease my sorrow.
It was a spontaneous decision to stop today and boy was I rewarded. I was perusing the remaining 12" X 12" scrapbook paper when I heard someone trying to get my attention. Behind a shelving unit, between me and the checkout line, was a woman offering me a buying opportunity. It was rather comical. "Hey lady, if you buy all the remaining paper at 90% off, I will give you 50% off your total purchase!" I'm not too quick with math and I didn't need all those sheets of crafting goodness but paper products are like a drug to me and I am very easily tempted. I took the bait and went even deeper into the rabbit hole and asked if I could purchase one of the storage racks. "If you take all the paper, I'll throw in two of the racks! You are really doing me a favor." Oh my gosh, she was feeding my addiction and I was hooked.
The manager was actually a very sweet gal who was trying to do her job and also make a magic moment for me. She put me in the hands of cashier Jacob who stacked all the paper up and measured it (knowing that this paper is roughly .005" thick, he charged me for 6 inches of it at the least expensive price- 7￠a sheet). Needless-to-say, it was one of my best shopping bargains and it truly was a magic moment.

I just had to set it all up to showcase my haul. The retail value would be many hundreds of dollars. The receipt states that I saved $372.67 (a conservative number to say the least). And how much did this treasure trove set me back? Drumroll please...$23.77. That said, we're going to have to build a shed in which to store it all but what a deal!

JOANN isn’t the only craft shop I frequent, but it is easily the best for buying fabric. The reason it’s such a big deal that it’s closing is because other stores don’t have the same range and quality of fabrics — or the same sales. My Mom was a seamstress and I have been known to sew a Halloween costume or two. I've spent a lot of happy hours in the aisles of JOANN. There is no other store like it and I feel a sadness at this loss. Truly the end of something good. Yes, sad.

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London: 1999

As Steve and I prepare for our next adventure, a quick trip Across the Pond, I thought I'd share our previous trips to London, England. I've been twice, Steve only once, and all during 1999 (a big travel year for us, life was is good!).

In August, 26 summers ago, I embarked on an EF tour with our older son and a group from his middle school. It was the summer after his 6th grade year and the offering satisfied by desire to return to Europe. I had been there, only once, in 1970, but as an 8 year old, that month-long adventure helped define me.
After the 10 day, 5 country group tour, we stayed on for another five days, joined by our friends, Diana and Tim. It was an exceptional opportunity to experience so much more and I was prepared not to miss a thing. It was my first trip to London, after all.
I not only did my research, I gathered it all into a very handy guide which included everything we needed to make the most of our stay. Looking back at this little booklet, I'm beyond amazed at how well it was put together.

We did it ALL. We know how to be tourists!



Three short months later we boarded a jet for a return to the UK. This trip happened somewhat uniquely. I was volunteering at the boys' school and a teacher, who knew I liked to travel, told me about a not-to-be-missed deal. British Airways was beginning a direct flight from San Diego to London. How could we pass up flights that were $298 r/t each? We couldn't! And since the boys had the entire week of Thanksgiving off, we were off on a 10-day adventure, their first to Europe.
We repeated many of the things we had just done in August because we wanted to share those memories. We also created unique, unforgettable ones as well.

We even went to The Phantom of the Opera on Thanksgiving.
Being bibliophiles, a visit to Sherlock Holmes' house was a must.
This was 1999's Christmas Card photo. What fun!

I have crafted our next London itinerary and it is decidedly different than my two previous ones. While we will be in The City for only four full days, it should be an adventure worth sharing. As Ibn Battuta astutely said, "Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." I can't wait!

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"The Women" in my Top 5!

I love Book Clubs. They have introduced me to some of my most favorite reads, titles I would have never found on my own. The newest discovery is The Women, a historical fiction novel by Kristin Hannah. 

This story of a young Army nurse and her unbelievable life in Vietnam, and even more unbelievable unwelcoming home after her two tours of duty, had me openly weeping for over 200 miles on US 395. If you don't have this in your 'must read' book pile, I fully, and wholeheartedly, recommend it. Wow.

“The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn't quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. We were there.” ― Kristin Hannah, The Women

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Our Last Couple of Days in Tahoe...

This has been a purposely laidback visit to our little mountain town. Our days have been infused with Nature and connections with friends.

Jenny and I searched for birds but mainly got caught up with life in the most beautiful setting.





Steve and I then walked the 2 miles required to dine on the patio of Base Camp Pizza. This is always a favorite thing to do no matter how briefly we're in town.
The other favorite is the hike down to Emerald Bay. I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive of hiking at 6,300 feet after being at almost sea level since last visiting Tahoe on December 1st, but I lived to write about it!





Lower Eagle Falls put on quite a show.

A picnic in Tahoe is not quite the same without a visit from a Canadian Goose looking for handouts.

Friends who have been here with me know that this is my favorite tree. I call it the perseverance tree because even though it is filled with cement, it still lives. And why is it filled with cement? I was told that, at some point, this several hundred year old tree was hit by lightning. It is an Incense Cedar and is fire resistant. The lightning most likely struck at the top and the fireball worked its way down the tree, stopping and smoldering at the bottom. A hole was then burned into the base. In order to save it, the trunk was filled. I was once told by an arborist that they stopped this technique in the 1940s and here it thrives, 80 years later. Yes, that is one stubborn tree.
Nothing like stating the obvious! What a happy escape to our Happy Place.

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