Book ~ "Hidden Beneath" (2023) Barbara Ross

From Goodreads ~ Julia and her mother, Jacqueline, have come to the exclusive summer colony of Chipmunk Island to attend a memorial service for Jacqueline’s old friend Ginny, who’s been officially declared dead half a decade after she went out for her daily swim in the harbor and was never seen again. 

But something seems fishy at the service - especially with the ladies of the Wednesday Club. As Julia and Jacqueline begin looking into Ginny’s cold case, a present-day murder stirs the pot, and mother and daughter must dive into the deep end to get to the bottom of both mysteries.

Julia and her mom, Jacqueline, get invited to a memorial service on Chipmunk Island, the fancy summer community off the coast of Maine, which isn't far from their home on Morrow Island. The service is for Jacqueline’s childhood friend, Ginny, who disappeared five years ago during her daily swim and was never found. Everyone assumed she drowned. Though Jacqueline and Ginny haven't seen each other in about 35 years, Ginny had appointed her as the executor of her estate. It's the busy time for the family's business so things are stressful with this extra responsibility. As Julia and Jacqueline start going through Ginny's things and distributing them, Julia finds Ginny's diaries and starts reading them, hoping to figure out what happened to her.

This story was written in first person perspective in Julia's voice. It's a quick read and a cozy mystery so there is no violence, swearing or adult activity. At the end of the book, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story including apricot squares, fried chicken and lobster fried rice. The "whodunnit" made sense and I was okay with that. It's been two years since Julia had broken up with Chris, her boyfriend of a couple years, and she's still dwelling on it. It was good to see there was finally some movement for her on this.

This is the eleventh (of 12) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. It works as a stand alone so you don't have the read the previous ones to know what's going on. I started the series recently and will keep moving through (only one more to go!).

HOTHOUSE, Toronto, ON

I had supper this evening at HOTHOUSE at Front Street W/Church Street with Franca, my pal of about 30 years (we worked together many years ago) and Anne, my pal of a few years. It’s been a while since we’ve gotten together so it was nice to catch up. 

Here we are ...

Anne, Franca and I

I had Chicken Brochette (Moroccan spice marinated grilled chicken skewer, served with lemon scented rice, herb fingerling potatoes, tzatziki … I think it was just plain rice as I didn’t taste any lemon).

Franca had Cape d’Or Salmon (pan-Seared organic Newfoundland Atlantic salmon, lemon scented rice, butter poached broccolini, sauce vierge).

Anne had Spaghetti Alle Vongole (fresh Spaghetti Quadri, fresh Canadian Manila clams, heirloom cherry tomatoes, parsley, aglio e olio). 

Patty was friendly and took good care of us.

Book ~ "Muddled Through" (2022) Barbara Ross

From Goodreads ~ When Julia spots police cars in front of Lupine Design, she races over. Her sister, Livvie, works there as a potter. Livvie is unharmed but surrounded by smashed up pottery. The police find the owner Zoey Butterfield digging clay by a nearby bay but she has no idea who would target her store. 

Zoey is a vocal advocate for turning four blocks of Main Street into a pedestrian mall on summer weekends. Other shop owners, including her next-door neighbor, are vehemently opposed. Could a small-town fight provoke such destruction? When a murder follows the break-in, it's up to Julia to dig through the secrets and lies to uncover the truth.

Julia is a bit stuck in between stages of her life ... recently she’s lost her apartment, moved back in with her mother, ended a relationship and is helping out with her family’s clambake business while figuring out what’s next. 

Things in in Busman's Harbor, Maine, start to heat up when local business owners start arguing over a plan to turn a few downtown blocks into a pedestrian mall on summer weekends. Some love the idea while others hate it. Julia’s sister, Livvie, works at a pottery studio owned by Zoey, who’s all for the pedestrian mall. Her next-door neighbor, Phinney, is one of the loudest opponents. When the pottery studio is vandalized and then someone ends up murdered, suspicion quickly falls on Zoey. Julia doesn’t believe Zoey could be guilty so she decides to dig around herself. 

This story was written in first person perspective in Julia's voice. It's a quick read and a cozy mystery so there is no violence, swearing or adult activity. At the end of the book, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story including butterscotch cookies, lobster stew and mushroom soup. The "whodunnit" was a bit of stretch but I was okay with that. It's been a while since Julia had broken up with Chris, her boyfriend of a couple years, and I thought she spent a bit too much time still dwelling on it. It seems, though, there are a couple new possibilities entering her life.

This is the tenth (of 12) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. It works as a stand alone so you don't have the read the previous ones to know what's going on. I started the series recently and will keep moving through (only two more to go!).

“After Dark Tour: The Unexplained at Colborne Lodge”, Toronto, ON

Trish and I did After Dark Tour: The Unexplained at Colborne Lodge this evening. It was dark and rainy out … perfect atmosphere for a ghost tour!  Bruce,  our Toronto History Museums guide, was entertaining and informative.

Join us for a chilling tour at Colborne Lodge in High Park. Visit the gravesite of John and Jemima Howard. Explore ideas about death and the afterlife from the 1800s and hear true tales of paranormal activities. Experience some of the museum’s dark stories if you dare!

We started in the coach house where there were lots of exhibits. 

Island Foods, Toronto, ON (Gladstone Avenue)

Trish and I had supper this evening at Island Foods at Gladstone Avenue/Queen Street W.

I had my usual ... a boneless chicken roti.

Knitted Wavy Gravy Hat

I knitted a Wavy Gravy Hat to donate. 

I found the pattern here and adapted it to a bulky yarn. I used a Caron Anniversary Cake (the colour is Tropical Breeze) and 6.5mm circular needles.

Cast on 72 stitches. Join, taking care not to twist and place marker at the beginning of round. 

• Round 1: purl
• Round 2: knit 
• Round 3: *(k2tog) two times, (yo,k1) four times, (k2tog) two times* rep from * to * to end of round
• Round 4: purl
• Round 5: knit 
• Round 6: knit 
• Round 7: *(k2tog) two times, (yo,k1) four times, (k2tog) two times* rep from * to * to end of round
• Round 8: purl 

• Repeat rounds 5 to 8 a total of 7 times. 

• Knit two rounds

Decrease for crown: 

• Round 1: *k7, k2tog* rep from *to* to end of round (64 sts remain) 
• Round 2: knit 
• Round 3: *k6, k2tog* rep from *to* to end of round (56 sts remain) 
• Round 4: knit 
• Continue decreasing 8 sts every other round until 8 sts remain 
• Draw yarn through the remaining stitches and fasten off

KC's tree, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

I stopped by Trinity Bellwoods Park this morning and visited KC's tree. The leaves on the trees in the park are still changing colours so you still have time to take them in.

Knitted scarf

I knitted a scarf to donate.

I used a skein of Loops & Threads Sweet Snuggles Lite super bulky (#6) and the colour is carnival. It’s almost 5 feet long and warm and snuggly. 

I cast on 25 stitches on a 6.5mm needles. 

I did a border of 4 rows of garter stitch.

Pattern:

Row 1: knit across the row

Row 2: knit 4, purl 17, knit 4

Repeat these rows until the length desired. 

Knit a border of 4 rows of garter stitch. Bind off.

Book ~ "Twice" (2025) Mitch Albom

From Goodreads ~ When he is eight years old, Alfie Logan discovers the magical ability to get a second chance at everything. He can undo any moment and live it again. The one catch: he must accept the consequences of his second try - for better or worse.

He grows up correcting his mistakes and saving himself from adolescent embarrassments. He even takes foolishly dangerous risks, just to see what it’s like to come close to death, before tapping back to safety.

Eventually, Alfie turns his gift to his love life, studying his crushes and going back to make himself more appealing. In time, he falls deeply in love with Gianna, the woman he believes is the one. He seems to find contentment.

But as the years pass, Alfie’s eye begins to wander. Which is when he learns a lone caveat to his power: once he undoes a love, that person can never fall in love with him again. Knowing if he gives into to temptation, he will risk losing what he has with Gianna, Alfie makes a choice that changes his life forever.

The book begins many years later, after an ailing Alfie is arrested for allegedly cheating and winning millions at a casino roulette wheel. As a curious detective interrogates him, he slowly uncovers Alfie’s incredible story, and its most unlikely conclusion.

Alfie has a secret ... ever since his missionary mother passed away when he was a kid in Kenya, he’s been able to relive any moment of his life twice. All he has to do is tap his body and say the word “twice” and he gets a do-over. The first time he lives something, the second time he knows what’s coming and can try to change it. At first, Alfie uses his ability for small stuff ... fixing mistakes, avoiding embarrassment, etc. Eventually he meets and falls in love with Gianna and tries to use his power to make their relationship perfect, which he finds isn't possible.

It's been a lot of years since I've read a Mitch Albom story and I thought this one was okay. It's written in third person perspective with an interesting twist ... it's also first person perspective in Alfie's voice when his composition book about his lives is being read. The story starts off in his present, where he’s been arrested for supposedly cheating in a casino in the Bahamas and then jumps back and forth from Alfie’s past to the present day (the chapters are labeled). I like time travel stories so it appealed to me as it has that aspect.