• Home
  • Blog Posts
  • Gallery
    • 2022 Quilts
    • 2021 Quilts
    • 2020 Quilts
    • 2019 Quilts
    • 2018 Quilts
    • 2017 Quilts
    • 2016 Quilts
    • 2015 Quilts
    • 2014 quilts
  • Free Resource Library
  • Sunday Meditation
  • Technical Editing
  • Pattern Testing
  • About Me
  • Home
  • Blog Posts
  • Gallery
  • Free Resource Library
  • Technical Editing
  • Pattern Testing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sunday Meditation
  • Terms and Conditions
  • About Me

Patchwork Sampler

Make quilts. Use fabric. Have fun.

books, recipes · April 20, 2013

April Book Club and Book Festival

A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.
                                                                         Mark Twain

My book club met this week and we discussed Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Over the past few months several of my friends have recommended this book and I was looking forward to reading it.  Overall I thought it was a good book and was well written.  My only complaint is that it  manipulates the reader a little too much.  It takes you down one path, then turns around and steers you in a different direction.  There’s really no opportunity for the reader to try to figure out what happened.  Anyway, I enjoyed it and was happy that it was my turn to host and lead the discussion because my research led me to an interview with the author where she justified the book ending.  In reading other reviews, it seems that hardly anyone likes the ending. I felt physically sick when I got to the end, but after reading the interview I realized it was the only logical conclusion.

 

For snacks I made a couple of pretzel dips.  One was Snickers Dip and it was so-o-o-o good.  I have to spoon it into a very tiny dish and quickly put the lid back on so I don’t eat the whole bowl.  It’s a really easy dip and is good with pretzels (sweet and salty), graham crackers and apples.

Snickers dip

There are dozens of recipes for this dip on the internet and Pinterest that are basically the same but here’s how I made mine.  Most recipes use more brown sugar and omit the caramel sauce but I think it adds a little more caramel flavor and makes it easier to dip.

Snickers Dip
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 (8 oz.). container Cool Whip
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping
8 Fun Size Snickers bars, chopped finely

Beat the cream cheese then stir in the remaining ingredients.  Chill in the refrigerator overnight to allow the flavors Snickers bars to melt and the flavors to blend.

This is just a literary week around here because it’s also the Fox Cities Book Festival.  The festival hosts over 60 events over the course of about 8 days.  Many local and national authors speak on subjects like writing techniques, inspiration, and how to get published.  Many also give readings from their own works.

Last night my husband and I went to hear Lisa Genova speak.  She is the author of one of my very favorite books, Still Alice. 

Lisa is an excellent speaker and it was wonderful to hear her tell about transitioning from being a Harvard trained neuro scientist to writing novels in Starbucks.  It was informative to hear how she uses her scientific background to open doors and authenticate the subjects she writes about, Alzheimer’s disease, left neglect syndrome and autism.

Today I listened to Holly Harden speak about writing for Garrison Keillor and the Prairie Home Companion show.  She is an amazing storyteller and you could just picture Lake Wobegon as she was talking.  Holly writes the column A View from Mrs. Sundberg’s Window for the Prairie Home Companion.  It is just so interesting to see how authors can turn simple observations into an interesting story.

Over the next couple of days I look forward to attending a few more sessions, including a talk by Lisa Scottoline.  If you have a book festival in your town I highly recommend attending some of the events. 

Related Posts:

  • Book Review: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
    Book Review: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
  • Sunday Meditation: Soundtracks
    Sunday Meditation: Soundtracks
  • White Ivy cover
    White Ivy Book Review and Sugar Cookie Showdown
  • Sunday Meditation: I John 4:19-21
    Sunday Meditation: I John 4:19-21
  • Friday Finish: Barbed Wire
    Friday Finish: Barbed Wire
  • Weekly WIP: Be Attitudes
    Weekly WIP: Be Attitudes

In: books, recipes

You’ll Also Love

Book Review: Thank You For Your Service
Book Review: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
DWM: Sideways and Byways

Comments

  1. Mary Ann says

    April 21, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    Just found your blog this past week and love reading it.

Next Post >

Fat Quarter Baby Quilts

Recent Posts

  • Motivation Monday: The Humility Block
  • September Challenge: Jelly Roll Quilts
  • August Challenge: Disappearing Nine Patch
  • August Charm Square Challenge
  • Friday Finish: Portsmouth Choose Your Own Adventure Quilt
Do you like scrap quilts? If so, the Celebrate Qui Do you like scrap quilts? If so, the Celebrate Quilt will be a favorite. It's just one block with a few filler units each month. This is block 6 of 12. Did I mention the patterns are FREE? Just click the link in bio to find out how to get them.

#thecelebratequilt #patchworksampler #scrapquilt #blockofthemonth #quiltsofinstagram #quiltersofinstagram
This is the fifth chunk of the Celebrate Quilt. Yo This is the fifth chunk of the Celebrate Quilt. You will celebrate cleaning out those scrap bins when you make this quilt!

#thecelebratequilt #patchworksampler #scrapquilt #blockofthemonth #quiltsofinstagram #quiltersofinstagram
Do you have bins of little scraps? Use them in the Do you have bins of little scraps? Use them in the super scrappy Celebrate quilt. It's a free chunk of the month. Follow the link in bio to get the patterns.

#thecelebratequilt #patchworksampler #scrapquilt #blockofthemonth #quiltsofinstagram #quiltersofinstagram
Here is a look at block 3 of the Celebrate quilt. Here is a look at block 3 of the Celebrate quilt. It is a great way to use your smallest scraps. Check out the link in bio to see how you can get the free patterns!

#thecelebratequilt #quiltsofinstagram #quiltersofinstagram #patchworksampler #freequiltpattern #freeblockofthemonth
Are you making the Celebrate quilt? It is a 12 mon Are you making the Celebrate quilt? It is a 12 month FREE chunk of the month that started in March. Sign up for my newsletter for access to patterns in the Free Resource Library. Just click the link in bio. 
#thecelebratequilt #quiltsofinstagram #quiltersofinstagram
Block 1 of The Celebrate Quilt block of the month Block 1 of The Celebrate Quilt block of the month is here!

It's fun, it's free, and it's a great way to use scraps and stash. Sign up at the link in bio.

#thecelebratequilt #patchworksampler #blockofthemonth
What are you celebrating today? Why not celebrate What are you celebrating today? Why not celebrate using fabric, making a quilt, and having fun. The Celebrate Quilt block of the month starts today! 

Each month receive instructions to make a chunk of this quilt...a 12" block plus little filler units. It's a great way to use scraps and stash and it's FREE!

Sign up at the link in bio.

#thecelebratequilt #patchworksampler #quiltsofinstagram #quiltersofinstagram #scrapquilt
Week 3 of the Origins Quilt Along. These bright bl Week 3 of the Origins Quilt Along. These bright blocks make me long for spring!

#originsqal @liftinglimitsquilting #patchworksampler
First three blocks of the Origins Quilt Along comp First three blocks of the Origins Quilt Along completed. Are you sewing along? If not, there's still time to head over to @liftinglimitsquilting to pick up the pattern and get started. It's a fun quilt to make!

#originsqal #patchworksampler #quiltersofinstagram #quiltsofinstagram #quiltalong
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • Home
  • Blog Posts
  • Gallery
  • Free Resource Library
  • Technical Editing
  • Pattern Testing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sunday Meditation
  • Terms and Conditions
  • About Me

Copyright © 2023 Patchwork Sampler · Theme by 17th Avenue