Book Chat - 5/14/2026

And we’re back! I have a few books I’ve recently read to discuss.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evan’s

Former attorney/court clerk, Sybil Van Antwerp, sits down every day in her retirement and writes letters to friends, colleagues, and even celebrities. She’s lived a full and eventful life. The letters fill in the information about her past as well as serving to moved the story forward. There’s one recipient of her letters who remains a mystery until the end of the book. It was so good.

Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center

This book tells the story of Lanie Coates - a wife and mother who has spent her married life putting herself last. When she and her family make a big move for her husband’s career, she starts to remember that she once had dreams for herself too. She starts making a few changes, and pretty soon, people take notice. It was good.

Chasing Stardust by Erica Lucke Dean

Zoey’s mom has died. Her former music journalist grandmother has hinted that her grandfather was David Bowie. She sets out to spread her mom’s ashes along the 1972 Ziggy Stardust tour. It was cute.

Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore

In 1970s Ringgold, Georgia, Catherine Grace Cline is dying to escape. She’s the daughter of the Baptist preacher and is tired of her small town life. She and her sister go to the Dairy Queen every Saturday afternoon, eating Dilly Bars, while she plans her getaway. It was a quirky and delightful read.

And that’s it for now.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 4/13/2026

I watched a couple of flicks this week. 

Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale is a treat for all the Downton fans in the world. Dame Maggie Smith, who played the Dowager Countess in the series and in the other two movies is sorely missed. Her sassy quips added so much to n story. Most every one of the other actors returned to reprise their roles. The 1930s are upon us, and as time marches on, Earl Grantham is having a hard time handing Mary the keys to the big house and property. I liked it. It was a nice ending to the story.

Kristin Scott Thomas, Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham star in My Mother’s Wedding. Scott Thomas also directed the film. Three adult daughters return home for their mother’s nuptials. They are forced to face some unresolved issues. It was good.

Recent Streamers:

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast - Netflix

Shrinking, Season 3 - AppleTV

Too Much - Netflix

Diary of a Ditched Girl - Netflix - dumb

Age of Attraction - Netflix - dumb

 

MK out.

FO Friday - 4/10/2026

Y'all! I finished something, and it’s my first knitting make for 2026. 

This shawl took a month to make, and I don’t have a good reason why it took so long. The pattern is called Playtime by Meg Gadsbey. I used Yarn Carnival High Wire 3-Ply in Water Gardens and Yartini Semi-solid Sock in gin. Both yarns are lovely to the touch.

And I discovered that I never showed you some sewing makes.

I alluded to this quilt made from my son’s baseball tees back in April. A year ago…I finished it a year ago!

I made these scrub caps to gift before Christmas.

I made these scrub caps in February. They are currently in the gift box.

That’s all!

MK out.

Book Chat - 4/9/2026

I set a challenge to read 24 books again this year. I know I will read more, but I really don’t want to add deadline pressure to my life. I have plenty of ”have tos.” Readings supposed to be fun!

Let me tell you about a few I’ve read so far this year.

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A graduate student, while researching an author of horror novels, since his evil spirits on campus. She remembers a story. Her grandmother had told her about their families encounter with witchcraft. Related? Perhaps.

Excuses Begone! by Wayne W. Dyer

Dr. Dyer proposes that by changing our negative/limiting thinking, we can improve our happiness and success in life. Try it.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn

Hannah and Hilde were school friends, but got separated when Hannah‘s family moved away. Years later, they meet up again when Hannah is a Jewish prisoner in a ghetto and Hilde is a supporter of the Nazi cause. Each wants a favor from the other.

Bad Date by Ellery Lloyd

In this novella, Faye is a famous actress, raising a son on her own. She’s very unlucky in love, as every decent man she dates tends to disappear without explanation. She’s on a mission to figure out why.

Tune in next time - weeks from now - when I tell you about more books that I’ve read.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 3/23/2026

I had the chance to watch the movies nominated for Best Live Action Short Film.

The Singers - a sing-off takes place in a bar.

Two People Exchanging Saliva - In this dystopian world where kissing is illegal. If you’re caught, you end up in a box that’s thrown over a cliff.

Butcher’s Stain - a Palestinian butcher is accused of tearing down hostage posters in the break room.

A Friend of Dorothy - an unlikely friendship forms between a young man and a grandmotherly woman.

And my personal favorite:

Jane Austen’s Period Drama - a period (not the grammar kind) causes much confusion between a young couple. It was very witty and clever. Pay attention to everyone’s names.

All were very good. The Singers won.

MK out.

WIP Wednesday - 3/18/2026

I’m still trimming those dang squares. 

I haven’t spent much time in the studio lately because of the dash, but when I do go up there, I take the time to trim at least 8. Don’t ask me how I settled on that number…

So, there’s not much to see here.

MK out.

The Oscars are Tonight!

I finished with watching the films nominated for Best picture and the acting awards last night. This should be an interesting Academy Awards ceremony.

Nominated for Best Picture, Best International Feature Film, and Best Actor (Wagner Moira), The Secret Agent tells the story of an academician on the run from an authoritarian government in 1970s Brazil. It was good, but I’m not really sure why it’s so acclaimed.

Weapons is a horror film. All but one kid from a classroom of student students disappear one night and most of the movie shows how the mystery is solved. Amy Madigan has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress for playing dying, but crazy Aunt Gladys. I’m sure it was a fun role for her to play. She did a good job, I must admit. I don’t see any standouts in this category other than her performance. Typically, when faced with making a choice and one can play “One of these things is not like the others,” that one thing is the answer. I thought it was a stupid film, but I am highly biased against horror movies, unless they have a good measure of substance.

Timothée Chalamet stars in Marty Supreme as Marty. It’s loosely based on real life table, tennis player, Marty Reisman. The film is a bit mad cap and a wild ride. Marty Mauser has a dream to win the British Open and bring American attention to the sport. By day, he works in his uncle‘s shoe store. Away from the store, spends quite a bit of the time trying to fund his dream. Let’s just say, he’s a bit of a hustler, on and off the table. Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin O’Leary (of all people - but he is suited for the role and did a great job) also star in this film. It’s been nominated for Best Picture and Chalamet is up for Best Actor.

I really loved Hamnet, and I can see why Jesse Buckley was nominated for Best Actress. She deserves the award. The film is based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell and it focuses on how William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes (aka Anne Hathaway) dealt with the grief of losing their son. Each coped in their own way. The play, Hamlet, is long believed to be Shakespeare’s tribute to his son. The film is quite moving. It has been nominated for Best Picture, but in going with the latest trends, it may not be out there enough to win.

Now that I’ve seen all the movies nominated for Best Picture, I thought, Hamlet, Train Dreams, Sentimental Value, One Battle After Another and Sinners would have made a tough field of contenders. Now, that would’ve been some contest. Those other movies would not have gotten nominated if I were in charge. I’ll be happy if any of my five win. Word on the street is that it’s between One Battle After Another and Sinners. 

There were many good performances in all the acting categories. It will be interesting to see which one wins.

Enjoy the show!

MK out.