"A Good Kid In Trouble"

I just had the privilege to read another book from one of my favorite Authors, Jack Darnell. He is also the Author of the Shipslog blog. I'm sorta Partial to Jack. Hes one of my favorite peoples. We are from the same area, and have a lot in common despite the age gap. haha.
"You can't say I don't know Jack". Haha.
Go check em out.

I have other blogging friends that have written books as well such as Rick, Diana, Fran, and R.MacWheeler to name a few. I love these people!
Hmmm. Wonder if I can write a book? ha, Na don't think so, I can't even write a blog post that makes sense most of the time.

This is the third book by Darnell I've read. Mary Ann being the first. The second one of his books I read was The Appalachian Trail. I found this book to be very interesting and I even learned some new things. There was a chapter in the AT book that mentioned running up on a troubled boy named Johnny. Not much is said about Johnny but enough to make you wonder where he came from and where he went in life. 

Well the latest book by Jack Darnell is called Johnny, The Trail and Trials will pick up on the Johnny story. I'm glad I read this book as it solved my wondering about this teen. However, you do not have to read the Appalachian Trail to understand this book. You will enjoy it either way.


I loved this book! It was large print and easy to read (which I like). It was interesting from the very beginning. My nose was buried in the pages from the start. The people and places in Jacks books are all so familiar to me as some of the settings often take place in towns and places around me. Though some names have been changed, I can often relate to who the real person is he's talking about. Then again some names stay the same [wink].

While reading this book, I felt like I was actually sucked into the story somehow. [literally]. It was a fun read that would jerk a tear one minute and trigger a laugh the next. There are twists in the story that will make you not want to put this book down. If you have ever lost a loved one, raising or know a teenager or are a teenager yourself, you may be able to relate to this book. 

Again, I am impressed that Jack can write a book while RV traveling with his beautiful wife, remodel a home and keep his blog going daily. I do good just finding time write a comment sometimes. 

Johnny, The Trail of Trials along with Jacks other books are all available on Amazon.com in paperback or e-book.
You will enjoy it. 

"Teenagers aren't bad, just misunderstood".
                                            

           

Learned Some Things

This weekend was beautiful with the temperatures reaching almost 80 degrees. "Perfect! Just perfect".

I spent most Saturday morning doing a little spring cleaning. Didn't make it past the kitchen but still, I can say its clean now. I rearranged it a bit. Well, like Four times! I'd move things from one side of the kitchen to the other. I was so unsatisfied. 
You see, I want a coffee bar, so I moved some appliances around to where I had a whole corner space for a coffee bar. I did a lot of switching around until I had a look I was going for. Then I grabbed things I already had stashed away and created a rather cute coffee area. But it didn't appeal to me. The more I looked at it, the less I liked it. I didn't like the way the toaster looked in it's new place of where the cofee maker used to be.

  

So I changed it all back. I did end up creating a coffee tray bar. So everything sits where it originally was but just in a new fashion. I still have to doll it up with some decorations and things but you get the idea.
I also added new curtains and new rugs to brighten it up. 

Speaking of "new". I learned some new things this weekend. 

1. My husband found an old Navy foot locker in the attic of his dad and moms house while cleaning it out last week. 

 

By the name and address, he was able to locate the widow and daughter of the past owner and it was returned. I learned what a foot locker was. 

2. This little piece of tin.

 

It was in the kitchen of his Dad and moms old house. I took it home, cleaned it up and then googled it. I learned it was a steamed pudding pan. It's adorable and I will have to attempt to make a steamed pudding. I've always wanted to make "figgy pudding" at Christmas so this might be the year. 

3. I learned to crochet a polka dot pattern.
 
 

It was a fun stitch and I may make some more of these dandy little dish cloths. I put this set in my shop. Hope they sell. 

4. And this! Did you know that a blender blade will fit on a mason jar? For a country girl, this gets me tickled. 
Yep no more making smoothies and pouring them into the jar. 

 

Just put the stuff in the jar itself, screw on the blade thingy and put it directly on the blender. Isn't that just the coolest thing ever? 

Now off to face the work week. Hope everyone had a great weekend.


Ps- Husband just told me I didn't mention the biggest thing I learned this weekend. 
"Whats that?" I asked.
With a laugh he said "that the coffee maker doesn't work on the right side of the kitchen because I'm left handed".
"Haha Nick, your funny".