I’ve been doing lots of reading here in Florida. In fact, I’ve been reading two books at the same time, something I never do at home. I have one book on my Nook, and when that’s charging, I read a paperback. I’m partial to the cozy type of mysteries. They involve an amateur sleuth like Miss Marple, not a PI or a cop.

Right now I’m reading a series by Nancy Atherton involving a ghost figure called Aunt Dimity. I had never heard the word dimity, and thought it was just an unusual name. That is until I opened the other novel I’m reading. Written by Tracy Chevalier, The Last Runaway is historical fiction set in the 1850’s in Ohio. I was surprised to find the word dimity there too. Thanks to the built-in dictionary on the Nook, I found out that dimity is a type of fabric that was often used to make curtains. Who knew? I’m a quilter and never heard of that fabric.