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Happy Tuesday, Friends!  How is your summer going so far?  I hope that you are enjoying sunny weather somewhere with your family and friends.  

Today I'm sharing my Tablescape for America 250 as part of a summer tablescape blog hop party with fifteen other bloggers hosted by Sweet Rita from the Panoply blog.

But before I get started, I must announce the winner of the darling MacKenzie-Childs tote bag giveaway from our most recent Tales of the Traveling Tote blog party held on May 15th:

Congratulations to Kim from the Exquisitely Unremarkable Blog!  You're our winner!


Thank-you, Rita, for hosting!  You always do such a wonderful job with these hops!

I created a table that's All-American as apple pie.  Literally!  Our breakfast room table is set for dessert featuring pie dessert plates, Americana elements, and MacKenzie-Childs collectibles.  I chose this theme because I am so thankful to be an American, and as we celebrate 250 years of the greatest experiment in human history, I pray that we can save and strengthen our Constitutional Republic.  

For those of you who are following me, we recently had our kitchen remodeled, and we have definitely pared-down a lot of stuff, including many sets of china and dinnerware.  I have not let go of any of our MacKenzie-Childs or table linens:  I have collected both for almost forty years.  I will continue to collect both, so don't be disappointed if you see the same MacKenzie-Childs elements on my tablescapes because I will bring in new and different via linens, floral/plant arrangements, and new MacKenzie-Childs pretties.




I hung these little garlands in our window.  I purchased the ribbon one on Etsy from @KathyJacobson.



Americana elements are featured on the table in the linens and the baseball.



The napkin rings, another Etsy find, are made from a favorite American invention, old blue jeans.
The vintage wine cups are from France.  I wanted one element on the table to be French, to honor their help in our War for Independence.  



I like the MacKenzie-Childs collectors' mugs from last year, and June's patriotic mug is one of my favorites.  I have featured four of the collectors' mugs on this tablescape.





Platestack



Here are the four dessert pie plates.
I matched them to flat-rimmed MacKenzie-Childs dinner plates; I used them as chargers.

Our dessert will include apple pie, of course, as well as coffee, tea, and dessert wine.







This vase is my latest MacKenzie-Childs acquisition. 
This year MacKenzie-Childs is offering collectible vases monthly, and the stars vase is June's vase.
I had to add the pretty sunflowers to enhance the yellow stars on the vase.


Resources:

Placemats:  Williamstown Home
All other table linens and scatter stars:  Pier1
Ribbon banner and napkin rings:  Etsy
Pie dessert plates:  Mary Lake-Thompson
Wine cups:  Vintage
All other ceramics on table:  MacKenzie-Childs
Flatware:  Horchow
Flowers:  Trader Joe's
























Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill



Tablescape for America 250

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

 


Hello, My Lovelies!  On today's What I'm Reading Wednesday post I'm sharing Fearfully and Wonderfully Broken:  Fighting for Faith When You're Falling Apart by Sydney Anne Bennett.




When asked to participate in this book tour I must admit that I was intrigued by the title.  We are all familiar with the Bible verse about being "fearfully and wonderfully made," but broken?



About Fearfully and Wonderfully Broken: Fighting for Faith When You’re Falling Apart

• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 28, 2026)
• Paperback: 240 pages

Are you battling chronic struggles—whether physical, mental, emotional, relational, or social? Are they eating away at your faith? Sydney Anne Bennett has been there.

She knows what it is to live in a body that is unraveling, a world that doesn’t understand, and a church that doesn’t always know what to say. With compassion, wit, and quiet strength, Sydney invites you to remember that some of life’s fiercest battles are fought flat on your back—and not one of them is wasted.

In Fearfully and Wonderfully Broken, Sydney shares her story of becoming disabled just two weeks after her honeymoon and learning to live with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)—a condition that disrupts the brain’s ability to send correct signals to the body, resulting in daily seizures, mobility loss, and chronic pain.

Learning to live with this disability, as well as the loss and pain that comes with it, has been one of her greatest struggles as well as the way in which God is building her strength. But Sydney doesn’t just talk about disability—she lives with it, coaches on it, and laughs through it, inviting her readers to join her journey. Fearfully and Wonderfully Broken aims to:

  • discover practical strategies for coping with chronic struggles and limitations;
  • make peace with questions and embrace the daily fight for faith;
  • uncover strength in weakness and dignity in dependence; and
  • receive heartfelt hope and encouragement to keep going—even when healing doesn’t come.

Sydney will be your unafraid guide through whatever valley you are walking through, normalizing doubt and the daily fight for faith, and recognizing the presence of God there.


About the author

Sydney Anne Bennett is a writer, disability advocate, and speaker who helps people struggling with chronic illness and pain find confidence and hope again—while pointing them to Jesus.

Two weeks after her honeymoon, Sydney became disabled and was later diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition that disrupts the brain’s ability to send correct signals to the body. She experiences daily seizures, chronic pain, and mobility loss—and often uses a wheelchair.

In 2022, Sydney began sharing her story on Instagram as a way of processing grief, faith, and the strange in-between of being both young and disabled. Today, she encourages a global audience of over 300,000 people with honesty, humor, and hope that leans hard on Jesus.

She lives in Idaho with her husband, Colton, their sweet daughters, Hadassah and Felicity.





My Thoughts

This book is primarily a memoir about Sydney's sudden onslaught of FND and how the chronic illness has affected her faith.  Sydney went from perfectly healthy to having seizures and not being in control of her movements.  These things happened shortly before her wedding and before she became an upperclassman in college.   See does an excellent job of describing her crisis of faith, how she struggled to find the words to pray.  Her practical ideas about making peace with questions and embracing the daily fight for faith are perhaps the most helpful because God doesn't always answer our questions.  There are many lessons about dependence on God that we can learn from Sydney, and just because one doesn't suffer from a disability like her doesn't mean we shouldn't be as dependent on God as she is.  

But what has really made an impact on me while reading the book and learning about Sydney is how, in spite of her disability, she has become an advocate for those with disabilities.  Instead of dwelling on herself and wallowing in self-pity, Sydney has become an advocate, encourager, and minister to thousands of people around the world. 

We can all learn from her example.

I have been encouraged and inspired by reading this book, and I think it would do the same for you, too.


Disclosure:  I received a paperback copy of Fearfully and Wonderfully Broken from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.  


TLC Review Tour Schedule

Monday, May 11th: @chapterswithcollins

Wednesday, May 13th: @danamarielovestoread

Thursday, May 14th:  @teaandbookstoo and Reading, Writing, and Pondering

Friday, May 15th: @readingpastdark.marcia

Monday, May 18th: @dana.loves.books

Wednesday, May 20th: @deannaturnsthepage

Thursday, May 21st: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Friday, May 22nd: @beckys_bookshelves

Wednesday, May 27th: The Bookish Dilettante

Thursday, May 28th: @gigithebibliophile

Friday, May 29th: @oilycaffeinatedmama

Sunday, May 31st: @nissa_the.bookworm









Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill


What I'm Reading Wednesday: Fearfully and Wonderfully Broken

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

 


Happy Tuesday, My Lovelies!  Let's also wish a very happy Pub Day to Elizabeth Penney's Dungeons and Danger, book two in her Ravensea Castle Cozy Mystery Series!

Y'all who have followed me for a little while know how much I appreciate a well-written cozy mystery series.  For me, it's all about the characters and community, and Elizabeth Penney has created a lovely little seaside town in Yorkshire replete with a profusion of quirky and intriguing characters.  And as the two titles above hint at, the community also has a castle reached by a causeway from the mainland.  The castle has been in the Asquith family for almost a century, and the family are the main characters in the series.  Herbalist Nora Asquith has recently converted the castle into a bed and breakfast in order to keep it in the family.

In this post, I will give mini reviews for both books in the series.


In my opinion, endearing animal characters are a must in cozy mysteries.  Meet Rolf the English Mastiff and Ruffian the cat.


About Bodies and Battlements

Format         288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published May 27, 2025 by Minotaur Books

The first in a new cozy mystery series by Elizabeth Penney investigates a suspicious murder in a haunted British castle-turned-bed and breakfast.

Herbalist Nora Asquith is delighted to welcome Ravensea Castle’s first guests to the picturesque village of Monkwell, Yorkshire. After a thousand years of ownership, her family has decided to convert the castle into a bed and breakfast. But when Hilda Dibble, a self-appointed local luminary, is found dead in the knot garden the next morning, Nora’s business is not only at risk—she’s a prime suspect.

Hilda had opposed the hotel plan every step of the way, and although she didn’t succeed in stopping the venture, her disagreements with Nora seem to only further her motive. One of Ravensea’s guests happens to be Detective Inspector Finlay Cole, who is new to the area and now finds himself with a murder case in his lap.

Nora and her actress sister Tamsyn decide to investigate for themselves. They look into the entangled dealings of their newly arrived guests, while also getting hints from Sir Percival, one of the castle ghosts. As they learn, Sir Percival’s tragic death centuries ago sheds light on present-day crimes. Surely they can get to the bottom of this mystery while keeping their new business afloat . . .

My Review

I love the atmosphere of the story, especially with the ghostly characters who actually help Nora solve the murders.  Sir Percival tries to not only give hints about the crimes, but he also protects his family from danger.  I also like Detective Inspector Finlay Cole.  He gives Nora enough room to investigate, and he knows when it's appropriate to step-in and help.  There are absolutely no red flags where Finlay is concerned, and I love that he and Nora are a match.  There are many twists and turns in this mystery, and one was extremely surprising to me.  And although the first books in any new cozy mystery series must establish setting/world building, Elizabeth Penney does a fantastic job describing Monkwell and Ravensea Castle without doing the plot and characterization a disservice.  I love this book, and it's definitely a promising start to the series.




About Dungeons and Danger

Format                         288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Expected publication May 26, 2026 by Minotaur Books

The second in Elizabeth Penney's Ravensea Castle cozy mystery series, set in a haunted castle-turned-B&B in Yorkshire, UK.

As Halloween approaches, Ravensea Castle is bustling with excitement as Nora Asquith welcomes the fall season guests to her family's newly converted bed and breakfast. A historian studying the movements of the Vikings has traced their exploits to Ravensea. A certain Viking woman, known as the Red Maiden, landed here and the historian believes she buried a treasure hoard before the castle was built. He is hopeful he can find the hoard now. Nora can't help but wonder if the enigmatic castle ghost she's always referred to as the woman in red could be this very Viking?

Meanwhile, a team of four ghost hunters is coming to stay at Ravensea for the filming of Britain's Got Ghosts. Former students of the historian, the group arrives with their own rivalries and baggage. They try to see who can make the most paranormal contacts and end up getting more than they bargained for.

When the historian is murdered during a Viking festival on castle grounds and his notes go missing, Nora can't help but wonder if the treasure was why he was killed . . . and could it be connected to the visiting ghost hunters? Additional "accidents" befalling the hunters raise the stakes as Nora races to find the killer—and the treasure—before another death occurs.

My Review

One reason I enjoyed this one is that we get to see more of Nora and Tamsyn's brother Will and their father Arthur.  Will is the founder of the Viking festival meant to promote his mead business.  Nora struggles helping her brother with the festival as she attempts to keep tabs on the four ghost hunters and the historian. The professor promises to find the Viking hoard(treasure) and split the gains 50/50 with the Asquith family.  There are many areas on the castle property that are dangerous, and when the ghost hunters seem more interested in hunting treasure without supervision, Nora is concerned about her guests' safety and true motivations.  The mystery is very riveting in this installment, and none of the guests seem trustworthy.  I love the ending and conclusion to book two, and I cannot wait until the next installment.

So what do you think?  Now is the perfect time to get in on this series with only two books in it so far.  Both will make lovely editions to your Summer TBR.

DISCLOSURE:  I received both books from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill



Ravensea Castle Cozy Mysteries Series

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

 


Happy Tuesday, My Lovelies!  It has been a week.  Last week started out with a visit to my doctor suspecting an earache or possible sinus infection.  Instead, I ended up at an endodontist yesterday for a root canal.  Root canals are not for sissies.  I have to return to my dentist for the permanent filling on Thursday, and hopefully I'll be right as rain before we leave for the lake for the long Memorial Day Weekend.

Today I'm sharing a new book written by a go-getter (I follow this young woman on Instagram) entitled From Dreams to Drive: Trust God's Plan, Embrace Your Gifts, and Walk in Purpose.  Taneshia Yerby has written a fantastic book that is the perfect graduation gift.  If you have any family members or friends graduating this spring or summer, you might want to consider purchasing copies for them.

About From Dreams to Drive: Trust God’s Plan, Embrace Your Gifts, and Walk in Purpose

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication date: May 12, 2026

In From Dreams to Drive, Taneshia Yerby shows you how to discover your God-given purpose and step boldly into your calling. As the founder of the Christian Entrepreneur Organization, Taneshia shares her personal journey of spiritual and professional growth and combines it with biblical wisdom to guide you toward your mission.

With faith as your guide, you’ll be empowered to overcome obstacles in both your personal and professional life. Taneshia teaches you how to overcome self-doubt and fear by focusing on God’s promises. With prayers, affirmations, and exercises to deepen your faith and trust in God’s plan, From Dreams to Drive offers clear and compelling advice, helping you keeping your eyes on your goals and your faith strong. 

You will:

  • Learn how to ask God the right questions to align your life with His plan.
  • Break through fear and doubt, and confidently step into the purpose He has for you.
  • Find the spiritual strength and clarity you need to align your business goals with God’s higher purpose, making sure your efforts are fulfilling and meaningful.

As you build unshakeable faith, you’ll gain the courage to face challenges and stay on your divine path. Taneshia’s powerful message of resilience encourages women to trust in God’s timing, let go of fear, and take action. With a practical three-phase plan, she helps you move from preparation to practice to making bold decisions. From Dreams to Drive will help you replace self-doubt with confidence, impatience with trust, and resistance with obedience. Let the journey begin!

About the Author



Taneshia Yerby is a wife, mom, and entrepreneur living just outside of Washington, D.C. She is the founder of Christian Entrepreneur Organization—widely known as @ceoforwomen on social media—where she equips women with practical, faith-based advice to boldly pursue their God-given purpose. A proud graduate of Norfolk State University, Taneshia holds a degree in Communications and uses her voice to inspire and empower Christian women in business and life.


My Thoughts

This book is lovely because it actually functions as a workbook.  I love how it's structured, and it leads the reader through four parts using logic and scripture:

  1. Follow God's Blueprint
  2. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
  3. Identify Homegrown Hurdles
  4. Find the Courage to Move Forward

Each section includes a wrap-up, and there's plenty of room for the reader to write her thoughts and conclusions.  I do love the workbook aspect of it!

So now you understand why I think From Dreams to Drive would make a nice graduation gift.  But I also think it's a lovely book for readers at any stage of life who might like confirmation of God's purpose for their lives.  I'm already working on it myself because we are facing a very happy life change this summer!  It truly is an insightful little book.

DISCLOSURE:  I received a hardcover copy of From Dreams to Drive from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.


TLC tour schedule:


Monday, May 11th: @beckys_bookshelves

Tuesday, May 12th: @lmw_reads

Wednesday, May 13th: @kati.nicole02 on TikTok 

Wednesday, May 13th: @megsbookclub

Thursday, May 14th: @gallaghergirlreads

Friday, May 15th: @nurse_bookie

Sunday, May 17th: @nissa_the.bookworm 

Monday, May 18th: @cozycraftyreads

Tuesday, May 19th: The Bookish Dilettante



Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill




Bookish Feature: From Dreams to Drive

Tuesday, May 19, 2026


Hello, My Lovelies!  Welcome to my Friends and Family Edition of Tales of the Traveling Tote!  We have not been traveling much recently, only to visit friends and family in Louisiana and Michigan.  We went to Louisiana in December because I was a hostess for our niece's baby shower.  We stayed at the lovely Southern Hotel in Covington, Louisiana, which is one of my very favorite small hotels.


La Countess de Monet loves the Southern Hotel, too.

We visited Covington the first weekend in December, and the Southern was decorated for Christmas.






The gardens surrounding the hotel are so beautiful, even in December.




Our niece Molly
I promise we did not coordinate outfits for the baby shower!

It was nice spending time with Molly and seeing her extended family and friends at the shower.  Molly and Brandon welcomed a baby girl in late January.  Shelley and I had such a nice time, and we love visiting Covington with its quaint shops and lovely restaurants.

In February we visited friends in New Orleans for a Mardi Gras ball and a couple of parties.




The weather was gorgeous while we were in New Orleans.  We stayed by Audubon Park and took a couple of walks around the park.  We loved our walks!



We did just a little shopping this trip, and one of our favorite stores is the Tasc flagship store on Magazine Street.
Tasc is a New Orleans based business that manufactures activewear made out of bamboo.  My son-in-law loves their golf shirts, and I love their yoga pants.  I wear them to my stretch and yoga classes.


One of our favorite Mardi Gras parades is presented by Le Krewe D’Etat, a highly satirical krewe that pokes fun at politics and pop culture.  The male-only krewe is led by a "Dictator" (The Dic) whose identity is kept secret (I kid you not).  We have several friends who are members of this krewe, and they invited us to their den party.  A den party allows revelers to preview the floats before the parade.  Below is one of my favorites.  Keep in mind that no one is safe from this krewe's disdain:  They are equal-opportunity lampooners.


Poor Elmo!  He's on fire!


Last month, I went to Ann Arbor to visit our daughter and son-in-law.  It was a working trip to help them redecorate a special room because:







We are so happy!

We are not really able to take big trips until our home renovation is complete.  We are hoping to get away a little this summer to Lake Martin, and of course I will be flying to Ann Arbor a lot!

As far as our renovation goes, I'm still waiting on one project for the library to be finished, and a couple of tweaks in our kitchen.  I'm hoping that in two weeks both will be DONE!  

The Ferguson people delivered our new bath and bath fixtures for our bathroom today.  The bathroom renovation will start soon, and I'm hoping it goes a little more smoothly than our kitchen.  Our library went extremely well, though.

I have been doing a little bit of gardening.  I planted our giant planters out back, and our New Dawn Rose was spectacular a couple of weeks ago.


Plumbago always performs well in this spot.



Our New Dawn Rose


That's all I have to report for now, but I think I shared some pretty big news!  


We are also giving away this lovely tote:


So please leave a comment here on my blog in order to win!
You must have a Google account to leave a comment on my blog; I do no allow anonymous comments.


Please visit the other participating blogs.  Links are below!

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader (You're here!) 









Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill


Tales of the Traveling Tote: Friends and Family Edition

Friday, May 15, 2026

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Hello, Lovelies!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

Labels

Literary Friday297 Book Review260 Home Decor258 Family Life205 Flowers181 Recipe168 Art118 Things I Love118 MacKenzie-Childs96 Tablescapes49 Books and Flowers38 tales of the traveling tote24 Craft23 Lake Martin12 Cozy Mysteries11 Healthy Living9 Lake Living9 book feature9 Home Library6 Independence Day4 Patriotic Decor4 Tag Journal4 Vintage Decor4