I love this challenge & have done it for several years. Our host is Carolina Book Nook, & the game is on! In 2025, choose 6 books that have titles that contain:
(Click on the links for more examples and info)
Scott and Sue Family
2024 Reading Challenge wrap-up

My goal for Mount TBR this year was Mt. Blanc: 24 books & I exceeded it by 5 books, so yay for me!

My goal was Mount Crumpit: Read 24 books from my Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library. Because I listened to audio from the library, plus checked out print books, I far exceeded my goal by climbing White Plume Mountain at 48 books. I actually got to 59, so was one short of attaining Stormness Head. Thanks to Bev for hosting both of these challenges!
The Mystillery hosts 3 challenges. The Medical Examiner Mystery got me 79 books for a total of 300 toe tags. I racked up 7 notches in The Six Shooter Mystery, which has the goal to shoot (read) six mysteries by the same target (author). I did 3 laps in the new Mystery Marathon. The Mystillery also hosts 2 seasonal games that add some fun to the year, & I completed the 2023-24 Ten Pins bowling game, plus 3 games in the 2024 AbraCadavers baseball game. Thank you to Rick for making mystery reading so fun!

I’ve done this challenge for several years & always enjoyed it. Hosted by Carolina Book Nook, the categories for this year were:
Double letters: Paddlers, Promises & Poison (Camper & Criminals, #16) by Tonya Kappes
An NFL team: Mark of the Lion (Jade del Cameron Mysteries, #1) by Suzanne Arruda
A natural disaster: Storm in the Land of Rain by Silvia Foti
A virtue: Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James
A shape: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
Footwear: Roller Skates by Ruth Sawyer

I’ve done this challenge off & on over the years & added it in this year for some additional fun.
JAN-“Red Carpet Reads”: Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 (Twilight the Graphic Novel, #1) by Young Kim (Art/Adaptation), Stephenie Meyer
FEB-“Dynamic Duos”: Murder at the Mansions (High Society Lady Detective #7) by Sara Rosett (Olive & Jasper)
MAR-“Thrill Me”: Three-Inch Teeth (Joe Pickett #24) by C.J. Box
APR-“Who’s In Charge Here?”: I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
MAY-“Face Off”: The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton
JUN-“Comedy Club”: Dashing Through the Snowbirds (Meg Langslow Mysteries, 32) by Donna Andrews
JUL-“Creature Feature”: Horse by Geraldine Brooks
AUG-“Seasons, Elements, Weather”: Storm Warriors by Elisa Carbone
SEP-“Story of Survival”: The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton
OCT-“Wicked Good Reads”:? The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness
NOV-“An Oldie But A Goodie”: The Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel
DEC-“Cover Love”: The Man in Black: Stories by Elly Griffiths
RSC2024: December week 3

With limited sewing time this week, I focused on finishing our quilt group project. We meet weekly, in person or via FaceTime, & each sew the same quilt in our own color palettes. One member loves samplers, so we often do a sampler quilt where we are sewing 2 or 3 different blocks each week. We worked together on the sashings between the four-patched blocks, then started on the larger double sashing between the blocks. This week we met in person for lunch & a gift exchange, so last week at our final 2024 meeting we decided to finish our rows on our own. That became my only sewing this week & since it’s my least favorite part of quilting, I’m really glad it’s over & maybe I can get in some peaceful soul-filling sewing tucked in between Christmas activities.
For those who like to know, this is from the book “Sampler Spree: 100+ Fresh & Fun Quilt Blocks” by Susan Ache, published by Martingale. We left off one column for a smaller lap size, so made 80-6.5″ blocks. I went with a cool palette of blues, greens, & purples because I think the blocks in a sampler are so busy, it’s nice to have a limited palette to rest the eye. It all came from my stash & the ice blue grunge was leftover sides from a backing. I had just enough! This was a gift from one member & for Christmas 2023 I gave us all the Wholehearted pattern by A Bright Corner as our next project. This one has taken us so long that Wholehearted will be our project beginning January 2025! Life!
RSC2024: December week 2
Current progress on my RSC2024 projects:
- wonky Lori Holt paper pieced hearts (flimsy stage)
- Two-Step from Lissa Alexander’s book “Scrap School” (flimsy stage)
- split 9-patches (flimsy stage)
- rail fence blocks with 2.5″ squares (continuing on to 2025)
- Patchwork Hearts by Quilty Love (flimsy stage)
- Scrappy Hearts by Quilty Love (blocks sewn but need to be put together)

This is Two-Step from Lissa Alexander’s book “Scrap School” & I got it all webbed & sewn into a flimsy this week. It’s been busy so that’s been all the sewing that’s happened, but it’s an RSC finish for this year, so I’m happy.

After many starts & stops, I have a finish! Finished the hand-sewn binding this week on Bonnie Hunter’s Cherry Crunch. Mine is smaller than hers, so I have orphan string blocks that need to be made into a donation baby quilt. I love that red piano keys border & all the fun LV prints. It’s totally scrappy, for sure, & all from the stash. Now I’m sewing binding on her Indigo Sky Mystery quilt in the evenings.
I’ve made a list of projects for 2025. Now to re-visit & whittle it down. LOL
RSC2024: starting December

I got the binding sewed on this quilt just in time for the Festival of Trees in Salt Lake City this week. It’s part of our auction grouping for my brother-in-law, an Air Force pilot killed in the line of duty in 1995. This is the 25th year we’ve had something for auction at the Festival. It used to be a large tree, but as my mother-in-law aged, it got too hard. Since 2016, I make a quilt & Paul’s widow & daughter pick the theme & get books & toys to go with the quilt. This year we had 11 bids & it went for $750, so we were pleased. All the money raised goes for charity care at Primary Children’s Medical Center.

The big project this week was the gifts for Monday’s quilt group luncheon. I had to pivot after the broken hand as it became obvious I wouldn’t get the wool ornaments done, so I fell back on an old standard that I could actually make in my present condition, which is these Amy Smart tree ornaments. She has a free tutorial. They are quick & easy, plus cute. Win!

Squee! I finally started a bucket list quilt this week. It’s a hand-applique orange peel that I’ve wanted to do forever. I decided 2024 was the year & watched tutorials, decided on my method, & bought some background fabric to match another blue I already owned. I prepped the first blocks to start sewing the weekend I fell & broke my hand. But I took them to quilt group on Monday & was able to sew the first three while I was there & this is going to be my weekly project as we chat while doing handwork. The petals are all going to be low-volumes I have on hand. I’m loving these! In case you’re wondering, my technique is a combo of Amy Smart & Jill Finley.

I’m just slowly fussing around with these Ocean Waves blocks as another L&E project. I’ve finished four, but the first was my test block & I don’t know where I put it in my studio. (eye roll) I’m sure I’ll find it, but it will go in that empty spot to complete the bigger pattern. This is an attempt to use up all the little cut off triangles I’ve been saving for forever.