Jo's Country Junction

I was looking for an audiobook to listen too but everything that I was interested in was coming up as not available.  I love our online library but, honestly, they need more books.  Rarely do I get a book that I really want without putting it on my wish list and reserving the book.  As I was scrolling through trying to find something, I stumbled upon this book….The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had
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I downloaded it only to find out that in was classified as a children’s book…UGH.  I thought I would give it a try before I just went and tried to find a new book.  Imagine my surprise when the book opened like this, “I’ve been wrong before.  Oh heck, if I am being real honest, I’ve been wrong a lot.”  I took that quote as a sign that I should keep listening.  I am SO glad I did!

This is honestly one of the better books I’ve listened to in a long time.  The story is set in Alabama in 1917.  ”Dit”, a white boy, the middle child of a family of ten, is excited for the prospect of a new kid coming to town.  Poor Dit is SO disappointed when a black girl, Emma,  gets off the train.   Emma is everything Dit doesn’t want in a friend.  She’s a girl. She’s black, proper and even smart…everything Dit wasn’t interested in.

The story reminds me of the old TV show the Waltons in the way the characters speak, in the description of the towns folks.  It also reminds me of the book To Kill a Mockingbird.

When my kids were in upper elementary, I often picked a book to read to them…this one would be perfect.   It portrays historical events in a way children can understand.  Seeing racism through Dit’s immature eyes, brings it to light in a real and honest way.  I can’t think of single bad thing to say about the book.  Don’t worry that it’s juvenile fiction…I am not a juvenile and I LOVED it!  Finding this book, The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had, was actually the best bad luck I ever had in finding a book.

I finished my quilt!!  It’s been so long since I finished a big project…it’s just what I need for a little pick me up.

Here is Bargello in Plaid….

If you are looking for the pattern it’s a Bonnie Hunter book  Scraps & Shirttails: Reuse, Re-pupose, Recycle! The Art of “Quilting Green”.   I’ve made another quilt from the book (Perkioman Daydreams).  I have more started and am now becoming inspired to finish them.

The quilt is made from recycled shirts and some fabric that had been sitting around here for a long time.  It’s going to be a graduation present for one of our daughter’s good guy friends.

I think it makes a nice quilt for a boy…sometimes boy quilt ideas are hard to come up with.  I think it also looks perfect for a picnic quilt!  I was hesitant to put so much yellow in it, but I think it is a good addition.

Here’s the back.  My chunk for blue fabric wasn’t quite big enough so I tried to piece a back together with some fabrics and shirt leftovers that I had sitting around here.

If you haven’t made a quilt from shirts…you just might want to give it a try.  The fabrics are so soft and cuddly.

Hubby was actually happy with this quilt back.  He said if I am going to piece a back, this was perfect.  Coming from him, that’s a compliment.  Now that this one is finished, I have that baby quilt in my sights….it’s time to finish it!!