Sunday Synopsis - The Good Wife by Clint Richmond (Texas True Crime)

 

The Good Wife: The Shocking Betrayal and Brutal Murder of a Godly Woman in Texas by Clint Richmond
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book. I chose it because it is set in Austin, the capitol of my home state, and having a daughter in Austin, we travel there frequently. I enjoy reading books whose settings are familiar. Add that this is a true crime, and it seemed like the perfect book for me. It wasn't as good as I hoped, but I did like it.

Roger and Penny Scaggs were the picture of what a Christian marriage should look like. Roger worked in two very successful tech businesses, while Penny stayed home to keep house, take care of their adopted daughter until she went off to college, and to give her seminars on how to be a godly wife. The pair traveled on business and vacation. He was the mild-mannered church elder, and she the adoring wife and mentor to younger women on how to be a Biblical wife. Although they had been married for 35 years, Roger was having an affair with a young woman from work, maybe not getting the sex life at home he once had for about a year.

Then one day Penny was brutally murdered, hit on the head with a heavy object multiple times and stabbed with a carving knife many times. Her husband found the body. He is almost immediately a suspect, as per usual. The woman with whom he had the affair closed her bank accounts, quit her job, and disappeared for several years.

**Little Spoiler** He is convicted, but I still have reasonable doubt. It is difficult to reconcile the two identities the prosecutors would have us believe... that this calm, intelligent, unflappable man could kill his wife so savagely and full of rage.

The book only had 377 pages, and a few of those were photos, but it seemed to drag on. The courtroom scenes were very tedious and monotonous and written in far too much detail. Far too long was also spent on some of the background of the people involved including the attorneys, the neighbors, and so on. It doesn't matter if one of the lawyers once represented Willie Nelson, and in this case, it added nothing to the story to mention it. That's one thing I didn't like about this author's writing. He would go off on a tangent when describing someone or something and ended up being repetitive as a result.

If you like true crime, it's an interesting case. I'm going to see if I can find updates to see if his mistress was questioned when she returned to Austin. Maybe she could help get to the truth, or maybe she did it! A lot of evidence pointed to Roger, but some evidence pointed to an unknown intruder. Roger passed away in June of this year (2022), so unless he made a dieing declaration, we will never know.

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Crafty Scrapbooking

 

Here are some scrapbook pages I made when my sister and I went on our retreat.

The first one is from when our first granddaugter was born.

Materials

Cricut Maker

Cricut Mat

Cricut Pen

Echo Park It's a Girl Kit

Tiny white brads

Glitter Copper Pops of Color

Tiny white bow

Adhesive dots

Adhesive tape runner

Pokey tool

The second one was from our youngest daughter's wedding, and it's a double page layout.

Materials Used

Cricut Maker

Reallike Light Grip Cutting Mat

Cricut Pen

P13 Truly Yours cardstock (discontinued at Scrapbook.com)

Matting Paper from my stash

Echo Park Our WeddingEphemera

Silver brads

Metal Cross brad from my stash

Ribbon

Bling shape from my stash

Adhesive dots

Adhesive tape runner

Pokey tool

I hope you liked my pages!

Some of these links are affiliate links.  If you click and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.  This is not a sponsored post.

I'm linking up with Inspire Me Monday, Happiness is Homemade, and Crafty Creators,  I will link up with Friendship Friday when it is up and runnin regularly again.

Fun Photos

 Photos of the Rio Grande River taken from Big Bend National Park looking toward Mexico.  

Up close (We created our own trail because the trail to Boquillas was closed)

This one is my favorite

For more fun photos visit Image-in-ing and Wordless Wednesday.

Need a Halloween Costume?

 There are several costumes trending for Halloween this year, and if you are a get-things-at-the-last-minute type of person, thank goodness for Amazon and Prime shipping!  Here's what's trending now.

Costumes from Hocus Pocus, of course! 

 

Stranger Things

 

 

Spiderman

   

Believe it or not, Pokemon. 

Dinosaurs

 

 

Pirates

   

Fairies

   

Prom Corpse (and other zombies)  

Grab your costume while there's still time!

 The links in this post are affiliate links. If you click and purchase an item, I may receive a small commission. This is not a sponsored post.

Happy Random Tuesday Halloween Edition

 Halloween is not my favorite holiday.  Why, you ask?  It's not the adorable trick-or-treaters in their cute costumes saying "Trick or treat!"  I took my own kids trick-or-treating for many years.  It's not the pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns!  It's not that everything is pumpkin spice, and I don't like pumpkin spice!  It's not even the fact that it's not a real holiday (unlike Dia de los Muertos ). No.  

There's really two reasons.  The first is that I don't like to be scared.  I don't understand how come people PAY to go see a movie, or worse, to go to a haunted house, that is going to scare the beeeeep out of them, and they like it!  I don't get it!  The ghouls, and zombies, and walking dead... that's scary, and scared is not a feeling I enjoy (which is in direct contrast to my true-crime obsession.  Go figure.)

But the MAIN reason is because I am a teacher by trade.  Yes, I retired from teaching a couple of years ago, but 31 years of pre-and-post-Halloween nonsense has given me scars that have not yet healed.  It's the craziness of trying to teach a useful skill when students are hyped up before Halloween looking forward to their shenanigans  and when they are hyped up on the candy afterwards.  Not to mention, my previous school always lumped in Red Ribbon Week (which does absolutely nothing to prevent kids from doing drugs - that's another post for another day) with things like crazy socks day, super-hero day, dress like twins day, and crazy hair day.  I feel so sorry for teachers this year with Halloween being on a Monday. Next week is going to be rough!

I don't HATE Halloween.  I'm not a monster!  But I'd rather eat turkey and give gifts.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are more my style!

Moving right along...

Remember this mask?  I do!  How did we even breathe with these masks on!

And last, but not least...

At least Grumpy Cat agrees with me!

Have a great week!

Visit Happy Tuesday and Random Tuesday Thoughts for more fun!

Looking for a costume????  Here's what's trending.

Crafty Friday-An Update and Handmade Key Fobs

 

Whew!  My first post this week!  It's been a little crazy around here.  My sister and I were on our girls' trip.  We have done at least once a year since my dad passed, sometimes more than one.

On the last day of our trip, our mom took a fall.  We were able to see what happened on the camera we installed in her "apartment." When we got back from our trip, I went straight to the hospital.  She ended up only having to stay one night, but we have been visiting her more often since then.   She had multiple tests and blood work, but nothing is broken, and they aren't concerned it caused any damage. Thank goodness!  My father-in-law (age 93) has had a few scares recently, too.

My sister had her six-weeks-after-chemo and radiation CAT scan.  All clear for now!  Repeat in six months.  I pray it stays that way.

My blood pressure has gotten out of control.  I'm starting a new medication and I have an echo-cardiogram (not the same as an EKG) on Saturday.  Yes, Saturday.  Weird, right?  I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, so I have to get checked every so often.

Now the fun part:

I made these key fobs!  It was super easy!

 

Actual materials used:

• Cotton fabric from JoAnn.
• Lightweight fusible interfacing
• Key fob hardware
• Key fob pliers
• Fabric Scissors
• Iron or heat press
• Sewing machine (I purchased mine at JoAnn)
• Universal needle
• Bobbin for Brother sewing machine
• Thread

To make it, cut a 12x4 piece of fabric and 12x4 piece of interfacing. Fuse the interfacing to the back of the fabric.  With right side down, fold fabric in half longways and press.  Open up the fabric and turn each side to the middle and press.  Fold over once more and press.  Sew a straight stitch along both sides of the fabric. Fold so that you bring the two raw edges together and press.  Sew the short raw edges together to make a loop.  Give it one final press.  Attach the hardware, and that's it!

For more crafty fun, visit Friendship Friday, Happiness is Homemade, and Crafty Creators.

Have a great weekend!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  If you decide to purchase something through those links (from Amazon), I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  This is NOT a sponsored post.

My Favorite Scrapbook Page (this week)

 I am at a crafting weekend right now, and my sister and I have been scrapping weddings (my daughter's, her son's).  Here is my favorite page so far.

Click to see larger

The materials I used:

Stamperia cardstock paper from the New England pack (pictured above my page)

Design Cut with a View solid shimmer pager

1 small lace doily

Doodlebug Design Fancy Frills cardstock stickers (white) 

Ribbon from my stash

Flower from 49 and Market Flower Mini Series 1-Cobalt (also from my stash)

Plain white cardstock from my stash

Adhesive glue tape runner

Aleen's clear gel tacky glue

Pearlized blue gems

Ruler

Cricut Metallic Blue 1.0 gel pen

Cricut Maker (any cutting machine will do)

I hope you like my page.  It was so much fun creating it!  I'll be sharing with Friendship Friday at Create with Joy and Crafty Creators at Life as a Leo Wife.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.  This is NOT a sponsored post.

13 Things You Can Make with a Cricut

 Since it's Thursday, that means 13 things.

I recently upgraded to the Cricut Maker (previously using Explore Air 2) thanks to my husband's thoughtfulness, and there is soooooo much you can do with it!  It cuts more than 300 types of materials.  Here are a few of my ideas:

1.  Cut removable adhesive vinyl to decorate your walls.

2.  Cut permanent vinyl transfers for acrylic keychains or heat transfer vinyl for canvas bags and or tee shirts like I did in this post.

3.  Engrave cool designs on metal or make doggy/kitty tags.

4.  Create one-of-a-kind greeting cards like this one.

5.  Cut letters for titles on school projects, presentations, or scrapbooking with tons of fonts to choose from!

6.  Cut designs to use in scrapbooks.

Image Credit

7.  Make paper flowers like Abbi Kirsten.

Image Credit

8.  Deboss designs on paper or cardstock.

Image Credit

9.  Transfer foil designs and text to paper for cards or other paper crafts.

Image Credit

10. Create adorable gift bags and gift tags.

Image Credit

11. Create 3D objects with cardstock or vinyl such as a Santa mailbox, a purse, or a haunted mansion.

Image Credit

12. Cut chipboard to create something functional such as the Cricut tool holder and organizer I am making next week courtesy of Jennifer Maker.

Image Credit

13. Cut fabric up to 24 inches with the 12x24 mat, perfect for when I made my granddaughter’s quilt.

Visit Thursday Thirteen for more lists.

Most of the links in this post are affiliate links.  If you click through and choose to purchase something, I may receive a small commission.  If not, that's okay, too!  This is not a sponsored post.  All ideas are my own.

Fun Photos

 Here are a few photos taken on the Lost Mine Trail at Big Bend National Park.  It was a sunny day, and I got to wear the hat I made!  Maybe I look a little goofy with the hat and sunglasses, and I usually have the  camera around my neck, but, oh, well!

Did you notice the "black bear warning" in the sign?  We actually saw a young bear, not a cub, but not fully grown, on two different days.  Glad we didn't run into its momma!

Up, and up, and up we went!  Going down was much easier and took less time!

I love taking photos of interesting trees!

We didn't make it to the very top, and part of the upper trail were closed due to mudslides, but the views were still spectacular!

For more fun photos, visit Image-in-Ing and Wordless Wednesday.

Some, not all, links in this post are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase from one of these links, I may make a small commission at no cost to you.  This is NOT a sponsored post.

Prime Early Access Days Oct. 11 and 12

 

It's Day One of Amazon's Prime's Early Access Holiday Deals! (Depending on your time zone). Hopefully, you can take advantage  and get some early Christmas shopping done!

We might need to get this for the new granddaughter! 

 Or this!  They didn't have these when my children were babies. They had to deal with cold wipes!

And, oh my gosh, these cat socks are the cutest things! Not for the babies, but for me and our older daughters. Two of them love cats as much as I do!) I just might need this cute pink keyboard, too! I purchased a robe from Amazon about six months ago, and it is already falling apart, so I am defnintely in the market for a new one...from a different seller, one that will last! And as I mentioned, my daughters and I love cats. Isn't this cute? I just love the color of this blanket! I might need to get it! My husband and I actually bought one of these Ninjas, and we love it! We use it as much as possible rather than using the regular oven that heats the whole room when you use it. I highly recommend this gadget! (I am not being paid to say that!) Anyway, Christmas will be here before we know it, so while I take advantage of Prime Early Access, I will need to be able to wrap those gifts, or at least put them in a bag with a cute tag! I hope you're able to take advantage of these Prime Early Access deals. Starts today and goes through tomorrow. If you choose to make a purchase from one of the links in this post, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. This is not a sponsored post.

Sunday Synopsis - City Dark by Roger A. Canaff

 

City Dark by Roger A. Canaff
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a very frustrating crime/mystery novel! The book begins during a blackout when Lois is taking her two boys to New York City to visit their uncle. Lois abandons the boys during a blackout in the middle of the freeway and does not return. Through a lot of twists and turns, they make their way through the dark city to their destination and are raised by their uncle. I despised the segments of the boys finding their way through New York during the pitch black night. They were completely unreal and confusing.

Fast forward. Joe's brother Robbie, who was with him when Lois abandoned them, works as a custodian of sorts at a mental facility. Joe, the "successful" brother, is an alcoholic attorney who is accused of killing his mother and his ex-girlfriend. Since he gets blackout drunk most days, so he has no memory of where he was during the times the murders were committed and feels like it's possible he murdered them. His DNA is found at both scenes. On the other hand, he has some creepy sexual offenders who are angry at him for pursuing civil commitment against them and keeping them locked up after their parole.

The book alternates from 1977 and 2017, so you get the story in frustrating back-and-forth segments. It is also completely predictable like a soap opera. ***spoiler alert*** Think maniacal criminal who has access to computers and cell phones while in jail and persuades others to do his dirty work. A n'er do-well brother with an ax to grind. A secret twin brother who has been hidden away for almost 50 years.

I couldn't wait to be finished with this book!  Thank goodness it was a bargain buy!

View all my reviews

Fleece Baby Blanket

 Hi friends.  As you may know, I have another granddaughter, so I just had to make her a blanket!

I used a remnant I got at JoAnn a while back.  It was an unusual rectangular remnant which would have looked funny, so I ended up cutting it in half meaning it has a seam in the middle and the elephants don't match up there. It's still a rectangle, but the dimesions are more suitable now. For the back, I used some soft gray fleece.

I usually sew on flannel rather than fleece, and fleece is so much thicker that I had to use my Walking Foot (the same type you would use for a multi-layered quilt).  Otherwise, it was too difficult to get all of the fabric to feed under the regular foot.  I tried it.  The walking foot worked much better!

I want to make myself a shirt with this adorable  design from Creative Fabrica.

If you're a crafter, you really should check out Creative Fabrica for affordable designs!

Visit some more creative friends at Friendship Friday and Crafty Creators.

Have a great weekend!

Some links within this post are affiliate links meaning if you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  This is NOT a sponsored post.

Yuccas are not Cacti

 

Who knew?  The Yucca plant is often called a cactus but it isn't one.  Here's more than you probably ever wanted to know about yucca. (There were some yucca plants in my Fun Photos post from yesterday.)

1.  Yuccas are a type of flowering succulent.

2.  They are also evergreen, perennial shrubs or trees.

3.  There are at least 40 species of succulents.

How to grow Yucca, Better Homes and Gardens

4.  Yucca are known for their spiky, sword-like leaves.

5.  People sometimes mistake them for palms, which they are not.

6.  They grow in full sun on dry soil.

The tall part of the plant is the bloom of Yucca Whipplei

7.  Many yucca species are native to southern North America .

8.  It can take years for a yucca to bloom for the first time.

9.  The blossom stalk grows from the center of the yucca.

10. Some yucca blossoms reach up to 12 feet tall.

artifical Yucca plant

11. Yucca, agave, and cacti are all types of succulents.

12. Yucca blossoms are usually bell-shaped and white (or off-white) in color.

13. Yucca hold water in their leaves, stems, and roots which is why it can survive in drought-like conditions.

BONUS - You can actually purchase seeds  , starter plants, and (if you're like me and don't have a green thumb, artificial yuccas plants.

For more fun, visit Thursday Thirteen!

(some affiliate links, not a sponsored post.)