Shame on You, Mindy!

 Mindy is a 

lovely-looking doll,

she is pink and pretty 

and rather small.

She has a smile 

as sweet as a daisy,

but it must be admitted 

that she is a bit lazy.

Each day the toys 

play in the yard,

but Mindy says sorry, 

the ground is too hard.

And when they all clean 

and tidy and cook,

you can usually find her 

curled up with a book.

The others are ready 

to raise quite a stink -

really, Mindy, you are 

very lucky you're pink!

♡ 

Featured: a pink softie with an attitude.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving five stars to 

Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge:

1. The Time and Place: We are in 1930, 

that breath of fresh air between the two wars, 

and in the green pastures of the English countryside, 

in the home of famed mystery novelist Agatha Christie, 

there is a body in the library.

2. She Who Must Be Obeyed: Phyllida Bright is the 

head of the household (though the butler would probably 

argue the point). Phyllida is no ordinary housekeeper. 

She is good looking, fashionable, easily the smartest person 

in the room and prides herself on her cool and calm head. 

The house, of course, is beautifully run at all times.

3. The Hidden Past: Phyllida hints to many secrets, 

to a past full of twists and turns, but the author 

is in no hurry to reveal them all. This is a 

woman worth knowing and we should take our time 

to do so.

4. The Newcomer: Our Phyllida has grown used to 

being universally adored, from Agatha and her husband 

Max Mallowan to the reluctant butler and the rest 

for the stuff (herself included). But there is a newcomer 

to Mallowan Hall who is not as easy to impress, 

who knows just how to unruffle the unflappable, 

and keeps her human.

5. Gimme More: If you're in the market for a 

light and lovely read, filled with an unforgettable 

protagonist, a few bodies and fascinating details of the 

daily life of a manor house, this is the book for you! 

Can't wait for the next book in this fun new series. 

♡

Featured: Knitted baskets, 

my winter obsession.

Spring is Here!

 The garden's in chaos,

things are quite bad,

and Spring slumbers on

snoring like mad.

A turtle goes over

and gives Spring a shake,

planning, if needed

to bribe him with cake.

"Wake up, wake up

you have to see reason -

Winter is leaving

and we don't have a season!"

Spring jumps and mutters:

"Sorry! Sorry my dear,

nobody told me

it's my time of year."

♡

Featured: A little turtle

and his bestie are

ready to enjoy the new season.

Singing in the Rain

 It was raining in the garden,

a light, harmonious shower,

and the cheery sound reminded

the tulip of a choir.

It gave him an idea -

the flowers should all sing!

Oh, the music they'd create,

the joy that they would bring.

He wouldn't be stopped

by wet and chilly weather,

he picked up a song

and got the flowers together.

The flowers started singing,

and the trees felt they would swoon -

none but the tulip 

could even carry a tune.

The flowers didn't care,

and as the music flowed

the big oak protested -

his head would soon explode.

The tulip looked to the trees

and said above the ding -

how dull our lives would be

if only the perfect would sing.

♡

Featured: a coat hanger and

felt flowers make a wall decoration.

Three is Not Enough

Three little friends

are sitting on the floor;

one needs a snack

and hurries to the store.

 Two little friends

are staying, having fun;

one is late for class

and now there is only one.

One little friend

is alone, what a bore,

he gets up to leave

and now there's just the floor.

"This is very sad",

thinks the empty floor,

"three is not enough,

next time I'll sit four."

♡

Featured: you guessed it,

three little friends.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving five stars to

the Wrexford & Sloane mysteries by  Andrea Penrose:

1. The setting - This mystery series takes us to

Regency London (aka Jane Austen time), both

to the glittering high society and the dark

underbelly, and dead bodies are everywhere.

2. The protagonists - Charlotte Sloane is a

satirical cartoonist with a complicated past;

the Earl of Wexford is a chemist with a 

complicated character. And they are both

wonderful characters that grow on you 

from one book to the next and a great pair.

3. Caring is sharing - Each book sees new

characters, many of them unconventional,

that join our little group of fighters for

truth and justice. Love the way they all

interact with out two main protagonists.

4. The history- The author likes to weave

important developments in science

and technology into the books. It is gently

done and adds an interesting background

to the stories.

5. In short - If you like a well plotted

mystery with excitement and twists, interesting

settings, attractive characters, a pinch

of history and a dash of romance,

they could well be the series for you.

♡

Featured: I lined this crochet basket

with plastic lining to house a 

strawberry plant.

A Rabbit with a Bad Habit

My little rabbit

has a very bad habit -

he likes to tweet 

while crossing the street!

I am very vexed, 

why must he text 

and not mind the way? 

has he that much to say?

♡

Featured: A worried friend,

sitting by the window,

looking at the street.