Rudolph the Red-Nosed Bumpkin, died a very shiny death… Rudy-Bob Hortmann has never quite gotten the hang of making friends. He doesn’t much like peopling, mostly preferring the company of his pot-bellied pig, Ethel Squeaks to humanoid types. But there’s one exception. Rudy-Bob loves kids. So for Christmas every year he gives himself a present. He plays Santa at the annual Deer Hollow Christmas party. Only this year, Rudy-Bob doesn’t make it out of the Santa suit when the Pageant is done. Instead, Deputy Sheriff Arno Willager finds Rudy-Bob literally chillin’ in a snowbank, his bulbous nose flashing red through the snow. That’s where I come into the picture. I’m Joey Fulle, and I’m pretty good at finding bodies around my place on the outskirts of Deer Hollow. I didn’t actually find this one, of course. But I’m fully invested in locating his killer. ’Cause, with the help of my handsome PI boyfriend Hal, my sweet and goofy Pitbull Caphy, and my opinionated Siamese cat, LaLee, I’m also pretty good at finding killers. Sometimes, even before they find me…

In a small country town, justice might be swift…but rumor is swifter! My name is Joey and I’m just a simple country girl. Nothing special at all. Well, except for the fact that I tend to find bodies all over the place. But aside from that I’m just like everybody else. Oh, then there’s that really big secret in my past. The one that involves my parents dying in a fiery crash and me finding out that the person who caused their deaths might be after me too. But none of that matters right now. What matters is that I have a problem. My friend, Deputy Arno Willager just arrested his mom for murder. He’s devastated. And to make his problems worse, his mom’s beloved elderly dog is in bad shape. Yeah, long story, we’ll get into that later. Arno’s mom…well…unfortunately she can’t remember a thing. So Hal and I─oh, Hal’s my boyfriend and he’s a PI─are trying to help Arno figure out who killed the troublemaker his mom was standing over with a bloody knife. Yeah, it’s quite a mess. But with the help of my best friend Caphy (my Pitbull) and Hal, I’m pretty sure we can suss out a killer. After all, we’ve done it a few times already!

An outstanding embroidery reference filled with photos, patterns, and expert tips. From animals to airships to roses and lavender, this book features over 120 bullion designs, 146 step-by-step photos, hints, informative articles by experts, and patterns. For embroiderers, it’s a rich source of both inspirational ideas and practical advice. Beautifully photographed and illustrated, each individual motif is a miniature work of art and will enthrall experienced and novice needleworkers alike.

Take funny music seriously! Though often dismissed as silly or derivative, funny music, Lily E. Hirsch argues, is incredibly creative and dynamic, serving multiple aims from the celebratory to the rebellious, the entertaining to the mentally uplifting. Music can be a rich site for humor, with so many opportunities that are ripe for a comedic left turn. Taking Funny Music Seriously includes original interviews with some of the best musical humorists, such as Tom Lehrer, "the J. D. Salinger of musical satire"; Peter Schickele, who performed as the invented composer P. D. Q. Bach, the supposed lost son of the great J. S. Bach; Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome of the funny music duo Garfunkel and Oates; comedic film composer Theodore Shapiro; Too Slim of the country group Riders in the Sky; and musical comedian Jessica McKenna, from the podcast Off Book, part of a long line of "funny girls." With their help, Taking Funny Music Seriously examines comedy from a variety of genres and musical contexts—from bad singing to rap, classical music to country, Broadway music to film music, and even love songs and songs about death. In its coverage of comedic musical media, Taking Funny Music Seriously is an accessible and lively look at funny music. It offers us a chance to appreciate more fully the joke in music and the benefits of getting that joke—especially in times of crisis—including comfort, catharsis, and connection.

Packed with descriptions and current values for items readily available at flea markets or garage sales, this book contains listings for 25,000 collectables representing virtually every collectable category on today's market: old books, ornaments, toys, cookie jars, and movie memorabilia. 750 photos.

A guide to American popular culture includes information on history folklore, and other topics.

A dead Realtor, a cranky cat, an adorable, depressed pibl, and a boyfriend who hasn't been...shall we say...totally honest recently. Joey's got bigger problems than figuring out when she'll get her next slice of banana cream pie. Though that certainly ranks high on her list of concerns. Murder is sinking its hooks into the quiet countryside and dredging up ugly secrets. Deer Hollow is still a quiet little town steeped in Americana and known for its delicious country fare. But being named a top ten place to live just might have inspired an assassin to make the quaint country spot home. As Joey searches for a killer, her past is dragged from the murky darkness where she’s hidden it. And secrets she never wanted to discover are rising like the stink of manure on a freshly fertilized field.