Death of an Irish Diva (A Cumberland Creek Mystery)

by Bryan, Mollie Cox

  Vera turned and looked at Beatrice. “I’m afraid I’ve made a mess here, Mama.” She watched as the river carried away her wedding photos.

  “That’s all right, girl. The river’s going to take care of it,” Beatrice said quietly. “Let me help you out of there.”

  By the time Vera made her way out of the rocky, shallow river, Sheila, Paige, Annie, and DeeAnn were coming up behind Beatrice. They were all out of breath and sweaty.

  “Oh, girl, what are you doing now?” Sheila said, shaking her head full of wiry hair.

  “It’s done, I’d say,” Beatrice said, taking a deep breath.

  Sheila stood and took it in, the photos drifting, swirling in the currents. “Finally,” she said, then wrapped her arms around Vera.

  Glossary of Basic Scrapbooking Terms

  Acid-Free: Acid is a chemical found in paper that will disintegrate the paper over time. It will ruin photos. It’s very important that all papers, pens, and other supplies say “acid-free,” or eventually the acid may ruin cherished photos and layouts.

  Adhesive: Any kind of glue or tape can be considered an adhesive. In scrapbooking, there are several kinds of adhesives: tape runners, glue sticks, and glue dots.

  Brad: This is similar to a typical split pin, but it is found in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. It is very commonly used for embellishments.

  Challenge: Within the scrapbooking community, “challenges” are issued in groups as a way to instill motivation.

  Crop: Technically, “to crop” means “to cut down a photo.” However, a “crop” is also when a circle of scrapbookers gets together and scrapbook. A crop can be anything from a group of friends getting together to a more official gathering where scrapbook materials are for sale, games are played, and challenges are issued, and so on. Online crops are a good alternative for people who don’t have a local scrapbook community.

  Die-Cut: This is a shape or letter cut from paper or cardstock, usually by machine or by using a template.

  Embellishment: An embellishment is an item, other than words or photos, that enhances a scrapbook page. Typical embellishments are ribbons, fabric, and stickers.

  Eyelet: These small metal circles, similar to the metal rings found on shoes for threading laces, are used in the scrapbook context as a decoration and can hold elements on a page.

  Journaling: This is the term for writing on scrapbook pages. It includes everything from titles to full pages of thoughts, feelings, and memories about the photos displayed.

  Matting: Photos in scrapbooks are framed with a mat. Scrapbookers mat with coordinating papers on layouts, often using colors found in the photos.

  Page Protector: These are clear, acid-free covers that are used to protect finished pages.

  Permanent: Adhesives that will stay are deemed permanent.

  Photo Corner: A photo is held to a page by slipping the corners of the photo into photo corners. They usually stick on one side.

  Post-Bound Album: This term refers to an album that uses metal posts to hold the binding together. These albums can be extended with more posts to make them thicker. Usually page protectors are already included on the album pages.

  Punch: This is a tool used to “punch” decorative shapes in paper or cardstock.

  Punchie: The paper shapes that result from using a paper punch tool are known as punchies. These can be used on a page for a decorative effect.

  Repositionable Adhesive: Magically, this adhesive does not create a permanent bond until dry, so you can move an element dabbed with the adhesive around on the page until you find just the perfect spot.

  Scraplift: When a scrapbooker copies someone’s page layout or design, she has scraplifted.

  Scrapper’s Block: This is a creativity block.

  Strap-Hinge Album: An album can utilize straps to allow the pages to lie completely flat when the album is open. To add pages to this album, the straps are unhinged.

  Template: A template is a guide for cutting shapes, drawing, or writing on a page. Templates are usually made of plastic or cardboard.

  Trimmer: A trimmer is a tool used for straight-cutting photos.

  Vellum: Vellum is a thicker, semitransparent paper with a smooth finish.

  Scrapbook Essentials for the Beginner

  Getting Started with Scrapbooking

  When you first start to scrapbook, the amount of products and choices available can be overwhelming. It’s best to keep it simple until you develop your own style and see exactly what you need. Basically, this hobby can be as complicated or as simple as you want. Here is all you really need:

  1. Photos

  2. Archival scrapbooks and acid-free paper

  3. Adhesive

  4. Scissors

  5. Sheet protectors

  Advice on Cropping

  Basically, two kinds of crops exist. An “official” crop is when a scrapbook seller is involved. At an official crop, participants sample and purchase products, along with participating in contests and giveaways. The second kind of crop is an informal gathering of friends on at least a semi-regular basis to share, scrapbook, eat, and gossip, just like the Cumberland Creek croppers.

  1. In both cases, food and drinks are usually served. Finger food is most appropriate. The usual drinks are nonalcoholic, but sometimes wine is served. But there should be plenty of space for snacking around the scrapbooking area. If something spills, you don’t want your cherished photos to get ruined.

  2. If you have an official crop, it’s imperative that your scrapbook seller doesn’t come on too strong. Scrapbook materials sell themselves. Scrapbookers know what they want and need.

  3. Be prepared to share. If you have a die-cut machine, for example, bring it along, show others how to use it, and so on. Crops are about generosity of the spirit. This generosity can entail something as small as paper that you purchased and decided not to use. Someone will find a use for it.

  4. Make sure the scrapbooking area has a lot of surface space, such as long tables, where scrapbookers can spread out. (Some even use the floor.)

  5. Be open to both giving scrapbooking advice and receiving it. You can always ignore advice if it’s bad.

  6. Get organized before you crop. You don’t need fancy boxes and organizing systems. Place the photos you want to crop with in an envelope, and you are ready to go.

  7. Go with realistic expectations. You probably won’t get a whole scrapbook done during the crop. Focus on several pages.

  8. Always ask about what you can bring, such as food, drinks, cups, plates, and so on.

  9. If you’re the host, have plenty of garbage bags around the scrapbooking area. Ideally, have one small bag for each person. That way scrapbookers can throw away unusable scraps as they go along, which makes cleanup much easier.

  10. If you’re the host, make certain the scrapbooking area has plenty of good lighting, as well as an adequate number of electricity outlets.

  Frugal Scrapbooking Tips

  1. Spend your money where it counts. The scrapbook itself is the carrier of all your memories and creativity. Splurge here.

  2. You can find perfectly fine scrapbooking paper in discount stores, along with stickers, pens, and sometimes glue. If it’s labeled “archival,” it’s safe.

  3. You can cut your own paper and make matting, borders, journal boxes, and so on. You don’t need fancy templates, though they make it easier.

  4. Check on some online auction sites, like eBay, for scrapbooking materials and tools.

  5. Reuse and recycle as much as you can. Keep a box of paper scraps, for example, that you might be able to use for a border, mat, or journal box. Commit to not buying anything else until what you’ve already purchased has been used.

  6. Wait for special coupons. Some national crafts stores run excellent coupons—sometimes 40 percent off. Wait for these coupons, and then go and buy something on your wish list that you could not otherwise afford.

  7. If you have Internet access, you have a wealt
h of information available to you for free. You can find free clip art, ideas for titles for your pages, or even poems, fonts, and so on.

  Digital and Hybrid Scrapbooking

  Digital scrapbooking involves using your computer and a photo-editing program to create part or all of your scrapbook page. Hybrid scrapbooking is a combination of digital scrapbooking and traditional paper scrapbooking. For example, you might print off some online scrapbooking elements, cut them out, and then use them on your traditional paper scrapbook page.

  Digital scrapbooking allows you to do the following:

  1. Print an element out on photo paper to put in a scrapbook album. Remember a scrapbook page can be 8½ x 11 inches or smaller, so you can print from your home printer.

  2. Send files to a print shop for printing, a good option for bigger pages.

  3. Upload an image of a page to an online photo gallery for sharing with others. (I highly recommend Smilebox, both for this purpose and as a way of getting used to the idea of digital scrapbooking.)

  4. E-mail a copy of a page to family and friends.

  5. Burn a copy of a page to a DVD for safekeeping or use a USB flash drive for this purpose.

  Great Ways to Learn Digital Scrapbooking

  A really good way to transition from conventional paper scrapbooking to digital scrapbooking is to explore these Web sites:

  1. Smilebox (www.smilebox.com) is a very user-friendly Web site that allows you to choose a scrapbook design, personalize it with your own photos, embellishments, and journaling, and then share your scrapbook via e-mail, social networks, burned DVDS, and print.

  2. Digital Scrapbooking HQ (www.digitalscrap-bookinghq.com) offers a blog with great tips on digital scrapbooking, as well as tutorials and sometimes freebies.

  3. Sweet Shoppe Designs (www.sweetshoppe-designs.com) is not only an online shop that sells digital scrapbooking supplies, but it is also a repository of good information and a source of plenty of freebies. My advice is to rely on freebies as much as you can until you see if you like digital scrapbooking. There are many digital scrapbooking freebies on the Web.

  Digital Scrapbooking Apps

  There are two different ways you can approach digital scrapbooking: using apps for your devices and/or apps for your computer.

  For your devices (apps I’ve used on my iPad):

  1. Coolibah. This app is free and easy to follow, and I highly recommend it. But here’s the rub: you can use only the kits they have in their gallery. They have plenty to choose from, but if you want more or a different kind of design, you must look elsewhere.

  2. Martha Stewart CraftStudio. This app is designed so well. For instance, it has little digital drawers to hold all the materials, including paper, and you open them with just a touch. It offers glitter, stamps, pens, and glue. It’s great fun to play with. This app is best for greeting cards and mini scrapbooks.

  For the computer:

  1. Photoshop/Photoshop Elements (PE). PE is a less complex version of Photoshop, and while I can see that it is user-friendly, it’s just a bit too complicated for me to learn with the hectic life I lead. But I’d like to learn more.

  2. My Memories Suite. This is what I like using the most. You can jump right in there and scrapbook with simplicity. My Memories Suite allows you to do more complex techniques, like layering and shadowing, which I have yet to get into. They offer you paper, elements, types, and more, but you can also import your own.

  Turn the page for an excerpt from the first Cumberland Creek mystery

  SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS!

  On sale now!

  Chapter 1

  For Vera, all of the day’s madness began when she saw the knife handle poking out of her mother’s neck. Her mother didn’t seem to know it. In fact, she was surprised that the blade was inside her. “How did that happen?” she demanded to know from her daughter.

  Vera just looked at her calmly. “Well, now, Mother, we need to call someone, an ambulance . . . a doctor. . . . I don’t know. Should we pull it out, or what?”

  If Vera only had a nickel for every time her mother gave her that look. A look of unbelieving pity, as if to say, Sometimes I can’t believe the stupidity of my grown daughter. Having a brilliant mother was not easy—ever—especially not as an adult. As a child, Vera assumed all grown-ups were as smart as her mother, and it was easy to acquiesce to her in all of her grown-up, brilliant, scientific knowledge. At the age of eighty, Beatrice showed no signs of slowness in her mind or any forgetfulness. Nothing. Vera almost looked forward to the day she could help her mother remember something or even tell her something that she didn’t know.

  As she sat in the X-ray waiting area, looking out the window over a construction site, with a huge dilapidated barn in the distance, she marveled once again at her mother’s strength and tenacity. Evidently, she was stabbed during her travels through the town this Saturday morning. She didn’t feel a thing—and with three grocery bags in her hands, Beatrice walked four blocks home, the same path she’d traveled for fifty years. “Four different grocery stores have been there and have gone out of business,” Beatrice would say. “Yet, I’m still here, walking the same street, the same path. I refuse to die.”

  Beatrice would not allow her daughter—or anyone—to pick up groceries for her or take her shopping. She said that as long as she could keep getting herself to the grocery store, she knew she was fine. Food is life. “It’s the ancient food-foraging impulse in me. I feel it even stronger, the older I get. I want to take care of myself.”

  How could a woman who still fended for herself every day—cooking, gardening, canning, cleaning, and writing—not feel a knife jab into her neck?

  “Vera?” said a man in medical garb who stood in front of her.

  “Yes,” she said, standing up.

  “I’m Dr. Hansen. We’ve just X-rayed your mom and looked over the film,” he said, smiling, revealing two deep dimples and a beautiful set of teeth. He held the film in his hands. “Would you like to see them?”

  She followed him over to the wall, where he clicked on a light and clipped on the X-ray to it.

  “As you can see, the knife is pretty deep.” He pointed to the blade. His nails and hands were the cleanest Vera had ever seen on a man. An overall well-manicured appearance.

  “Y-yes,” she stammered. That was a knife in her mother’s neck. A knife. Long and sharp. Menacing.

  “Here’s the thing, rather than give you a bunch of medical mumbo jumbo, I’m just going to put this in lay terms.”

  She despised his patronizing tone. He wasn’t even born yet when her father was practicing medicine out of their home. She knew about the human body. She was a dancer; her father was a physician. Her mother might be old, but she was no slouch.

  “The reason your mom didn’t feel this is because it’s lodged in an area where there are few nerve endings, which is a blessing because she is not really in any pain,” he said, taking a breath. “You just don’t see this every day.”

  “No,” Vera said.

  “We can pull it out, using local anesthesia, with great risk for potential blood loss and so on. If she flinches or moves while we’re removing it, the damage could be severe. We can also operate to remove it, put her under, which I think is the safest thing.”

  Vera looked at him for some guidance or answer. Damn it, Bill is out of town. “Have you talked to her about it?”

  “Well, yes. . . .”

  “And?”

  “She doesn’t want surgery. She wants us to pull it out.”

  “So what’s the problem? It’s her body. I can’t make decisions like that for her.”

  “Your mom is eighty years old and we’re not sure she’s thinking clearly. And the danger—”

  “Doctor,” Vera said, trying not to roar. She felt an odd tightening in her guts. She stood up straighter. “My mother’s mind is perfectly fine. It’s her neck that seems to be the problem right now, and the fact that a knife is sticking out of it.”


  He looked away. “Vera, I know this might be hard for you. A lot of times we don’t see the truth when it comes to our aging parents.”

  “What exactly are you talking about? I am very close with my mom and would know if something was wrong. I don’t understand.”

  “Well, she’s been talking to herself, for one thing.”

  Vera laughed. “No, she’s not. She’s talking to my dad. He died about twenty years ago. She talks to him all the time.”

  He looked at her as if she had lost her mind. “Do you think that’s normal?”

  “For her, it is.”