In Death, Life

Tonight we celebrated Bailey's birthday. Her actual birthday is tomorrow but we will be all wrapped in the joy and glory that is Sea World until late in the evening, and so tonight was our opportunity to share in food and presents and cake and singing and all the other festivities that a birthday requires. As we gathered around the table lighting candles and singing happy birthday, in the midst of us sat the beautiful wreath that our friend, a florist, invited our girls to come and create with her to honor Gramps. I love that their memory of that wreath is one of happiness and laughter, of creating and making things beautiful. I love that the day after we paid our tribute to Gramps in death, that we pay our tribute to Bailey in life. As hard as it is, I understand that the difference between the two states is merely one breath. It seems only fitting that the two should be celebrated closely and with equally shared laughter and tears.

  My Bailey has known the depths of grief this week, so close to the joy that only a child brings to her birthday. She sobbed almost inconsolably yesterday, both out of her own very real sorrow, and out of shared grief with the pain she saw expressed by those she loves most dearly. What she doesn't remember is that a great many hours of her earliest days were spent as a balm for a grieving family. We lost my own father within days of her birth, and many of my earliest pictures of her are of various family members, holding her close, breathing in her newness, the promise of hope and a future she represented and thus, appeasing their own loss in some small measure. I am no less culpable in this having spent many night wrapped around her tiny sleeping form and shedding my own tears of loss and sorrow.

  Thus my Bailey enters her tenth year, closer to sorrow than I would willingly choose for my child to be and yet filled with a radiant joy and resilience that is the hallmark of innocent youth. Tomorrow we will wake up and head off to a magical day of celebration and laughter, but I know that her thoughts will occasionally turn to that place where tears are close to the surface and the heart cracks again.  Having tasted sorrow, life will be sweeter and yet pain more real and easily recognized. It is a bittersweet baptism this kiss of mortality, and I am loathe to let her taste it so young, and mournful of yet another little bit of innocence lost.

God is Near

Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

Today we said our final goodbye to Gramps. I would post more, but I am so tired.

Friday Felicities 11/28

Any minute now untold numbers of people will be here after Gramps' viewing. This was the hard part. Now it is time to heal. So before everyone busts in...

* For family

*For Kleenex

* For old friends we don't see enough of

*For this house where people can come and find rest and food

* For friends who are taking care of us, the caretakers. There aren't strong enough words for how they have filled my heart with blessing this week

*For going home

* For  large grief, because it is preceded by great love.

*For hunky, who amazes me more every day.

*For my girls who bring joy simply by being

* For all of you who have sent me love and hugs over the internet lines. Thank you so. You also have filled my heart beyond measure.

*For the quiet that will come....soon.

Thanksgiving Thursday 13

The really fast because I am just about exhausted out of my mind.

1.) Today was very, very hard and there was a lot of crying.

2) It was also without a doubt the smoothest and most relaxed (for me) Thanksgiving to date. Despite the turkey taking a glacial age to cook, everything else was prepped yesterday and I spent almost no time in the kitchen.

3) It is harder on my kids watching their parents and grandparents grieve than dealing with their own grief

4) My Dad will be gone 10 years next month

5) I am totally and completely and somewhat shamelessly addicted to touching pregnant bellies. At some point I will have to apologize to my sister in law-- but first I must rub her belly.

6) My daughter would be happier if the entire meal were sausage based.

7) Vodka in eggnog tastes like pudding.

8) Laughing makes me feel good.

9) Crying makes my head hurt.

10) Today's weather should be bottled and served up on every major holiday. What an incredibly gorgeous day.

11) Kids going with grandparents to the hotel is very, very good

12) I'm not sure I can do another 48 hours of this

13) I will survive the next 48 hours regardless of what I think I can do.

Portwood Thanksgiving 2008 #1

 I have radically changed my thoughts on Thanksgiving over the last fifteen years or so. It used to be a time to be off school, hang out, enjoy my brothers and any strays that joined us for the day, over time it became a day to lounge about in morning, and then travel over to my in-laws and spend the day with my husband's family, never for certain which combination of brothers and sisters would be there. Soon it morphed again into something we spent together, holed up in our home whilst I made ridiculous amounts of food for two adults and children who weren't even old enough to eat what was prepared yet. Again into a holiday where husband's family traveled to our home to eat the still ridiculous amounts of food I prepared and to share each other's company. That's a lot of changing, and yet I think what has changed most in the whole thing is my heart. As the years pass and God works on breaking my heart further, teaching me that each breath is speaking the name of the creator in quiet little whispers of worship every. living. moment. As each year passes and the miracles mount, thanksgiving is not simply a concept, it is becoming a way of life, my living sacrifice, a sacrifice of thanks giving for all these things which I do not deserve. This year more so, as we plan to bid farewell to the patriarch of the family. My inlaws have spent weeks and weeks taking care of Gramps, so my main goal is to just spoil the goo out of them and try to cater to their needs this entire weekend. It's a worthy goal, I think.

So having had the pre-Thanksgiving talk with my mom this morning (where we compare menues and baking methods and I mourn not having her apple pie) I am now prepared to hit the ground running, doing the cleaning and baking that can be done pre-holiday and encouraging my kids to play nicely while making as little mess as possible. We'll start with twice baked sweet potatoes and baking the squash for butternut squash soup. I must be off to take a shower.

Wordless Tuesday?

Since tomorrow will be wordy....

Literary Therapy

Lately I find myself more and more often curled up in any cozy space I can find, sipping something lovely and reading away.

In fact, there's more of that on the menu tonight. I promise a long lovely blog post tomorrow.

Gloaming

It's the time of gloaming and as I sit here and watch the dappled sunlight fade through the trees and listen to my children's voices as they echo off the house and drift on the wind, I ponder what to write today.

What a strange, hard, grief-filled, encouraging, love-filled, blessed week it has been. How does one coast the highs and lows of a week like this without having to lay down exhausted and simply breath for a little while. Sorrow happens. In the midst of sorrow there is joy, or perhaps in the midst of joy there is sorrow. I have ceased to attempt moving beyond being just-this-side of tears as I find that life is more poignant and of sharper flavor here on this razor edge where grief and glory meet. Sometimes my feet stray to one side or the other, but most often I find myself now in glorious suspension: ecstacy and agony were never meant to be experienced in isolation, but instead the continual breaking becomes something that is expected, and not just expected but necessary on this journey.

It is part of this learning to lean that allows me to look into the next week and not be so overcome with sorrow and distraction that I miss the joy in the moment. The simple pumping up of bike tires, stopping to consider a unique specimen of spider, taking just a moment to lie in the spot where the sun falls perfectly, become not only pleasant distractions from the task at hand, but become the tasks themselves, and what was formerly so important simply slips away, to be picked up when the important tasks have been fully realized. 

Autumn is the season when things lie down to sleep, when the harvest is gathered in and the preparations made for the days of winter. And so I do. And so this week will we bid farewell to a loved family member and in the same hour laugh with and love each other with wild abandon. We shall celebrate the harvest of all this year has brought and mark it with the celebration of birth days remembered, and the more importantly the birth of He who gives birth to all. The days wind down on my calendar, and I am not sorry for their passing.

I look ahead to what will be the year of Deepening, and I trust that what will come, will come. 

 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, 
       whose confidence is in him.

  He will be like a tree planted by the water 
       that sends out its roots by the stream. 
       It does not fear when heat comes; 
       its leaves are always green. 
       It has no worries in a year of drought 
       and never fails to bear fruit."

                             Jeremiah 17:7-8

Content

"I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colours are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and its content."
-  Lin Yutang

Friday Felicities: Cold Weather Style

Friday Felicities is a meme in honor of our Nattie Pie. It's hosted by the lovely and snarky Miss Bedky.

*That there's Always Enough for Joy

*It's fall ya'll. I mean not just seasonally, but temperature-wise. It isn't snowing but it is cold enough to warrent jackets and heaters and gloves even. FALL! WOOT!

*Christmas clothes for my blog. I was going to wait, but why? WHY? When it took me two minutes to bring such happiness to my blog.

*Sweet friends who comfort me with words and prayers and food deliveries. 

*Pictures. We spent last night looking through years and years and years of pictures after we got the news about Gramps. What a hoot! The girls loved it.

*Wrapping up  the Thanksgiving shopping. The bird is in the freezer and the cabinets are bursting. What a lovely and delicious  day we are going to have!

*Peppermint Stick Ice cream from Publix. I swear it's the best food on the planet.

*A fresh coat of paint. I love the changes we have made in our house this year. It's beautiful.

*God providing Becky with FREE HEALTH CARE!!!!! (I knew it would happen)

*My hunky. He just makes my heart smile. All the time.

 We love you.

I'm messy

God made me that way.

Breathing Underwater <------------- read it.

I have nothing to say

No, it's true...darn you nablopomo. I have to say something because I haven't missed a day yet and I don't intend to start now (especially since I fell off the wagon at the book blog-oy!) But it's 10:30, and my computer fan is insanely loud and distracting (when I am ready to give my computer up for six weeks we'll get it fixed.) So let's go for bullets:

*It's cold. Colder than it has ever been here in November in the fourteen years I have lived here. I love it.

*Today Craig came in wearing his jacket and Olivia asked why he was wearing a costume. And then when I laughed it made her cry!!

*Being upset with someone over the choices they made/ are making only affects me, not them.

*There are so many things I will never understand, and I just have to keep giving them to God.

*Why has my nose been fairly unstopped all day and now that it's bedtime, it is stopped again?

*And why is there no nighttime alka-seltzer cold medicine in the house?

*There is a pair of walking sticks that have been procreating on the back porch for four days. Today Bailey said, "That is one long piggy back ride!" Indeed.

*Hanging clothes on the line is soothing to me. I don't know why.

*I have my Thanksgiving menu all made out and not one item on it in the house (wait, no, I have rice)

*Tomorrow is library day.

*Tonight in Disciple we pondered the reasons why Ezekial's Temple vision/ prophecy (in ch 40-48) still include an alter and sacrifices...since the prophecy has not yet been fulfilled it stands to reason that there will be sacrifices to God in the future. Interesting.

*We came to no conclusions, but it was a great ponderance.

*It's awesome to have people to discuss these things with without having to argue or come to conclusions but just to look at things from a lot of angles.

* I finished a book yesterday and have not yet picked up another one.

*None of them FEEL right.

*I hate when that happens.

*I am planning what will hopefully be a cool home school plan for December.

*I might need to find some cough medicine.

*My heart hurts for a lot of people tonight.

*Investing in people is painful business. Loving them is even worse.

*Great, now I am singing the 80's song "Love Hurts"

*That's just wrong.

*Good Night.

Simple Woman's Daybook 11/17

FOR TODAY (11/ 17/ 2008)...

Outside my window... the night is delightfully cool and enjoyable. We have the windows down to a small crack for fresh air, but to have them open would be too cold. I love this weather

I am thinking... I might be fooling myself thinking that I can finish this blog coherently. Sleep is coming on me fast! Darn Cold!

I am thankful for... time to rest and let my body heal. My busy weekend paid off, and resting a bit isn't causing chaos, only promoting healing

From the learning rooms...planning our December studies; Chrismons, Israel, Hymn and Advent

From the kitchen... tea, lots and lots of hot tea

I am wearing... jammie pants, long sleeve T-shirt, sock, bathrobe, covers. Chilly much? I don't think I have a fever though

I am creating...snot. I want to crochet hand warmers, but my drippy nose won't let me

I am going...to sleep soooo sooooon

I am reading... I just finished "The Cruelest Month" (an Armand Gamache mystery) and I haven't decided what's next. Several things on my dresser but none quite make the cozy feel I need tonight.

I am hoping... that I feel more like normal tomorrow, that God will heal our hearts as Gramps passes from this life, that L-bug doesn't mind her new glasses

I am hearing...my children playing on the computer. They have been SO LOUD all day. It hasn't been a good combo: my sick self dragging about as best I can, their yelling, running, bounding, sliding, crawling, wrestling, squealing, gigglings, door slamming selves

Around the house... freshly painted bedrooms and unorganized closets

One of my favorite things... breathing

A few plans for the rest of the week: Well honestly with Gramps, things are up in the air. But what we planned is Weds at the park, Disciple classes, youth group, family walk, library and maybe a movie night. All plans subject to change

Here is picture thought I am sharing... This is my friend Molly. That is her 18 mo old Christian in her lap. He is Vietnamese and they are shown here in a plane going back to Vietnam to pick p his baby sister, her sixth child. I almost feel as though I am birthing this baby with her, having been part of the adoption process (and one of her references) from the beginning. Tomorrow is the adoption ceremony for baby Sophie!

Lilies

  I have called this past and passing year "The year of Lilies" based on the scriptures in Matthew that exhort believers to "consider the lilies of the field, they neither toil nor spin." I felt that this year would be a year of recognizing God's provision in every area of my life, a year of resting in Him and finding joy in His purpose for my life. As usual, I didn't really understand what I signed on for. Resting in God's provision means first allowing yourself to be stripped of things that are not within His will for you. This is a task that may sound easy enough, since as Christians we are called to live lives that honor God making it easy to distinguish the good things from the bad things, right?

Yeah, not so much.

The problem is that there are many, many, many good things to choose from in this world, but not all of them are for me. We look at the glut of activities, organizations, opportunities even ministries and run in full throttle thinking "Look at all the wonderful things God has provided for me to be a part." When what God is probably saying is, "Wait, listen and I will show you the perfect thing for you."  We go to God looking for the Providence buffet, when what He wants to do is stop and wait for the gourmet meal.

That was a hard lesson for me to learn this year. God shifted things, removed them, sharpened my focus, pared down my desires, and none of it was really entered into very voluntarily by me. The problem is that we use these things, these sometimes wonderful and valuable activities and opportunities, to provide for us what God wants to provide for us: esteem, worth, the ability to be something, the ability to change somethings, a way to be needed, a way to feel loved. It's a form of idolatry, this level of frenzy we work ourselves into. It robs God of what is rightfully His: our hearts- to fill, to soften, to refine, our lives - to shape, to mold, our minds - to occupy and develop.

We can't receive God's provision for us because there is simply no room for Him to put another thing, and what we fail to recognize is that His things are the best things, and the rest is just filthy rags. So much foam and dross to be carried away when the wind shifts again.

I went into this year not understanding what God meant by provision, not understanding even a fraction of the depth encompassed in the idea. I hung on, and still do in some ways, with every shred of my self to things that weren't of God for me, things that were certainly part of His plan, but not part of His plan for my life, things that I had built up as idols allowing them to fill me in a way that is a pale shadow of what God truly desires for me.

So as we come to the end of the year, we are no richer, though certainly we are richer than most of the world in respect of lifestyle. We are no better off financially, in fact as the economy goes, we lost ground. We subsist entirely on the generosity of others each and every day, a prospect that ought to sober me in light of a world in economic upheaval. Yet God's faithfulness to me does not cease to amaze me every single day. His goodness and His loving kindness are beyond measuring. His provision stymies the means of measuring or quantifying, but in my soul, I am filled. 

Do Not Worry
  ²⁵ "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
  ²⁷Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 
  ²⁸"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 
  ³¹"Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or "What shall we wear?' ³²For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

God is Gangsta and other observations about reading the Bible

 Last night I made what may be a rare statement, "God is gangsta." What precipitated this comment was reading about Jephthah in Judges 10-12.  I know; it's probably not your favorite Bible story, but it just recently became one of mine. Let me tell you a little bit about Japheth. He's the bastard son of a prostitute who is driven out of his father's home by the father's legitimate sons. He moves to a seedy section of Israel and starts a gang. He's the leader of a group of young thugs who go around causing mayhem, and God makes him the leader of Israel. At this point I find myself likely to say something like "Really, God? This guy?"  (By the way, the story ends with him making actual bling- don't believe me? Read it. You've got the address).  Yeah, that guy. I don't pretend to understand or even have a glimpse of God's motives behind the choosing (well, I know it was to work things out for His glory, but beyond that...), but reading this story only reiterates what has been pounded home to me since August. God is cool like that, gangsta cool.

Lately I know you have read a lot about me and the Disciple Bible study. I have a secret to share, I don't necessarily think it's that the study itself is all that, it's more the fact that every. single. day God's got my attention: in the word, on my mind, in my conversations, sometimes in my dreams. Every single day I read something, learn something, make a connection that I never saw before and I have to tell you,  IT IS SO STINKING EXCITING! Disciple works for me because it is a form of accountability to which I can adhere. But the fact is, this is not something that you can only experience with a fancy red workbook and a study group. God's word is available to you right now. And I have to say it kills me, it kills me how few Christians are actually reading it!

One of the areas I have focused on this year with my class is Old Testament prophecy and history. I have never been very historically minded, dates and places and faces all seem to fuzz together in a great big ball of sin and retribution, but this year, taking the time to read the prophecy in historical context, tracing the historical timeline of God's people...it is mind boggling! The tapestry that God weaves, the sheer scope and magnitude of managing the events of history.... I am in awe, literally face down on the floor when I try to even grasp just the most infinitesimal amount of what must be happening in the mind of God. His ways are higher than our ways? NO KIDDING!

Then there is Old Testament law....have you looked at it recently? Most people think it's just a bunch of dusty, dry rules that have no bearing on the Christian life today, but I beg to differ. If you want to really see and understand the heart of God, to even begin to understand the breadth of distance between our humanity and his divinty...if you want even a toe hold on the magnitude of grace, you simply must get to know the God of Israel. I love the gospels and the epistles of Paul, but sometimes we get so focused on the love of the New Testament, we forget the awesome power of the True and Holy God. He came in fire, and light and even as death. Men were stricken in His very presence if it wasn't observed with worthy reverence. This is the God of discipline and refinement. This is the God of majesty and sweeping national establishment. This is the God that is almost completely unknown by the very people who claim to want to know Him more. 

We, as the church, like to speak of blessing and forgiveness. We like to feel good about ourselves in light of salvation. We ask to do more, to be more, to understand more, but how much are we as individuals actually seeking our Adonai? Are we? I am literally on fire in my bones to know the One True God- all of Him. As much as my little mind can comprehend, as wide as my heart can open to hold Him, in the laminin of each cell I want to feel His prescence, and do you want to know where I have found the key? Right in my Bible; I own  four or five. I bet you do too. The most amazing source of Godly power on this earth sitting unused on our shelves, sliding around the floorboards of our cars, decorating our coffee tables. A precious living gift that changes each time I open the cover. God's very Word in my very hands.

Read it. Love it. Live it.

Join me on the adventure.

Wet Paint

I know this is a cop out. I know it, and I don't care. I've been painting for two days. Today it was 3/4 of an entire room. Tomorrow I will get the last 1/4. After that it was church and Disciple and now, well, now I am just tired. I have this whole long blog going in my head, but I don't think I can be coherent long enough to get it out. And my book is calling. I haven't read in two days. I want to find out who done it. I want to cuddle under the covers until the wee hours reveling in the coziness as the cold front drops in. I want to make clandestine popcorn while the rest of the house sleeps around me. I want to just sit and be for a bit. It's been awhile.

So consider this blog entry a space holder for some more thoughts tomorrow. I'm kicking back and taking tonight off. I deserve it.

CARPE CLEANUM! The November edition

Last month's carpe cleanum made me soooooooooo happy! So many things accomplished that helped the following weeks be far more stress free. So, in light of the upcoming Turkey Day Extravaganza....we begin.

8pm - Not to leave anyone hanging in suspense (you know you are) But here is the final tally:

*all the laundry is washed, dried, folded and put away

*all the base boards in the hallway and LR are painted (I did the hallway at the last second on a whim)

*1/2 the base boards in the Dr are painted--one wall left for tomorrow

*Kitchen is deep cleaned and ready for Thanksgiving

*hair colored and brows shaped

*bedroom straightened, dusted and vacuumed. A few items decluttered

*Dining room bookcase is almost decluttered and organized

*all windows inside are washed

*back windows outside are washed

* I did not get to cleaning in the front room or vacuuming the laundry area. Still, I am VERY happy and still have the weekend to finish up some loose ends. HAPPY ME!

We also went to the beach to watch the final shuttle launch of the year. Simply amazing! AMAZING. But I will blog more on that tomorrow.

1 PM - still plugging along. It's VERY hot, and I am tired. I'm taking the next hour to eat and read and rest a bit. Let's see where I am on the list:

• Finish LR baseboards - FINISHED - three blinking coats later. There was some other touch-up that needed doing around the room and I took care of that as well. The living room is completely clean and reassembled.
  
• Laundry continuing to cycle- LAST LOAD ON THE LINE -now to fold and put away
  
• 20 min cleaning DR - not done
  
• Deep clean kitchen - IN PROGRESS -it's taking a long time. I'm about 2/3 finished now. Maybe a bit more. The over cleaning will wait for a cooler day, probably the fridge cleaning as well.
  
• wash windows inside - DONE I also vacuumed the fans that sit in/ in front of the windows and washed outside all the windows in the back of the house. Finding and killing a black widow spider in the process.
  
• quick trip to store for outside window wash - DELETED. I just mixed Borax with water and used a rag.
  
• wash the dog - making the girl do this after lunch
  
• wash L's sheets and pillowcases - DONE and they are dry. Comforter on the line. Need to help her make the bed back
  
• 20 minutes cleaning in FR
  

I'd also like to add about 20-30 minutes cleaning my bedroom. And painting the baseboards in the livingroom. And maybe the front door as well. WHEW.

Now to break for a bit.

8:30 Am - I am pleased and fed. Everything on the early morning listy got touched on. Not everything was finished, but all at least touched on.  I recolored my hair, even darker, in a last attempt to get rid of the pink before I resort to stripping it, which I do not want to do. I ate yummy eggs with avacado and cilantro. I am finishing up my extra cuppa and deciding what my day holds next. Girls are making their own breakfasts and lounging around in jammies. They want to watch the new Tinkerbell movie again which means I need to start the next round with a second coat of paint on the baseboards. I started in there with the painting.  It's warm and rather humid today so I am hoping the laundry dries in a timely manner on the line. Rain tomorrow so I would like to get it all washed today. L-bug still has some poison ivy active on her face (poor sweetie) so I have postponed an eye doctor appointment for her until Monday. I am sure she is going to walk away with glasses and adding poison ivy to something she is already not thrilled about is just adding insult to injury. So, time to crank up the music and start the new list! Are you cleaning something today? Thanksgiving is coming! Don't wait until the last second!!

Mid morning rounds:

Finish LR baseboards

Laundry continuing to cycle

20 min cleaning DR

Deep clean kitchen

wash windows inside

quick trip to store for outside window wash

wash the dog

wash L's sheets and pillowcases

20 minutes cleaning in FR

The Early Morning Rounds:

*Disciple

*Start Laundry

*Bedroom clean-up

*Kitchen Rescue

*painting the floor boards in the LR

This is all before 8 AM. Further updates to follow.....

Out Stealing Horses

In the case of Out Stealing Horses, third time really is the charm. I have checked out and returned unread this novel two other times over the past year, and it wasn't until this week that time and tide and the phase of the moon aligned to make it the right time to read this book (other peckish bibliophiles understand what I mean when I say this, sometimes a book just has to feel right). I'm not sure what I expected when I started this book, and whatever it was it isn't what I got, not that that is a bad thing. Out Stealing Horses is the lyrically sparse and amazingly crafted coming to terms of seventy year old Trond, after a period of self-imposed exile and solitude following the loss of his wife and sister in a very short period of time. Petterson deftly weaves past and present in a series of memories and flashbacks brought on by the discovery that his neighbor is actually someone from his past, specifically from the summer he was fifteen that would forever change him. Honestly, many times, this is where a book like this loses me, however Trond is made of sterner stuff than many other protagonists I have come across. For where he is flawed and scarred and even broken, underneath lies a heart that still connects with his family, his new friend and  the life which he now leads. In coming to terms with the most difficult moments of his life, he chose "when it would hurt" and in choosing, becomes a man of whom I can say, it was an honor to spend an afternoon. Recommended.

From The New Yorker
In this quiet but compelling novel, Trond Sander, a widower nearing seventy, moves to a bare house in remote eastern Norway, seeking the life of quiet contemplation that he has always longed for. A chance encounter with a neighbor—the brother, as it happens, of his childhood friend Jon—causes him to ruminate on the summer of 1948, the last he spent with his adored father, who abandoned the family soon afterward. Trond’s recollections center on a single afternoon, when he and Jon set out to take some horses from a nearby farm; what began as an exhilarating adventure ended abruptly and traumatically in an act of unexpected cruelty. Petterson’s spare and deliberate prose has astonishing force, and the narrative gains further power from the artful interplay of Trond’s childhood and adult perspectives. Loss is conveyed with all the intensity of a boy’s perception, but acquires new resonance in the brooding consciousness of the older man.

Thursday Thirteen: The Excitement Installment

1.) This is it. We are in the homestretch for Christmas. Six weeks and counting. I want to put up my Christmas tree. I want to make Christmas foods. I want to go home. I love Christmas, and when I read this post from my sweet friend Brooke about really enjoying every moment, it just made me all the more excited.

2.) CARPE CLEANUM - tomorrow is a no-school day because we lost a kid in Orlando today (ok, by lost I mean "handed her over to the grandparents"). I did this entire day of cleaning thing last month and it was THE BOMB! If I can get many of the things hanging over on my housekeeping list I will be so ready and happy during the rest of the Thanksgiving prep.

3) LINDSAY RODE THE KRACKEN! She rode it, and she loved it!!!!! She had to overcome a boatload of fear to get on that thing, but once she faced it and climbed that first hill, she just couldn't get enough! And her Dad, well, I think he might be happier she rode it that she is. They were so hilarious all three times they rode that thing. I could hear them screaming all through the park.  What a great day!

4) More cool weather! In just 48 hours we are having a COLD FRONT (most of you call it a cool front, but here in Fl we call it a cold front). It's been such a nice fall, but the last couple days have been more reminscent of summer. I want fall back, and it's coming just for me!!!

5) HOMELESS FOR A NIGHT. Dec 5th and 6th Choose 3rd ministries is hosting the 4th annual Homeless for a Night on Tomoka Christian Church property. I so enjoy helping  these kids see how they can really make a difference in someone's life. And well, who wouldn't just live to stay up all night and then head into a very busy weekend? Regardless, I love it, and I am so excited to be part of it again.

6) DISCIPLE!!!! Every week I get such a kick out of sharing what God is showing other individuals in reading His Word. If it's even half of what He's showing me, it's mind blowing stuff. I still am simply amazed that this is my calling. This is so not me, but it so IS me.

7) Using my mower again. It's a sickness. I am in LOVE with Brunhilde.

8) PEPPERMINT ICE CREAM! It's out, right now. At Publix. It's almost enough to make a girl get dressed and go get some.

9) DEEPENING! This week has been such a blur I haven't had time to blog about my theme for next year. I think it's going to be a hard, disciplined year but I am totally stoked about 2009!

10) NIGHT TIME SHUTTLE LAUNCH!!! It's going up tomorrow night and me thinks the girls and I will go to the beach to watch it go up. Just another little spontaneous fun thing that I am trying to do more of and be more open to.

11) TALE OF DESPEREAUX MOVIE! It's coming out for Christmas this year. I loved the book with a love that is pure and good and wonderful. I canNOT wait for the movie.

12) The FUTURE. I have no idea what God has planned for us, I truly don't but now that I have stopped fighting our present, I have such peace about where we are now and whatever may happen will happen. That is not to say I never get frustrated or aggravated, or that I am done working through all my "issues" but for right now, in this place, I am happy. I have hope and a future.

13) BEDTIME! I am just exhausted. No really, I plan to be asleep within the hour. Goodnight my lovelies.

Wordless Wednesday 11/12

Teaser Tuesday 11/11

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

Hosted at Should be Reading

"She sank to her knees and bent over him and laid his head in her lap, but she did not say anything, only shook her head as if he had been a naughty boy for the seven hundred and fiftieth time and she was about to surrender. At least, that's what it looked like from where I stood."

Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson   pg 89

Freeze yer Buns

The Crunchy Chicken Blog is hosting the 2nd annual "Freeze yer Buns" challenge which is encouraging everyone to turn down their thermostats and live a more environmentally (and fiscally) responsibly this winter. Living in Fl, it may seem silly to bother joining this challenge, but we do run our heat occasionally in the winter; we have already run it this year, and the forcast shows days in the near future that we would probably run it again. So instead we are pulling out the extra blankets and turning the thermostat off! 

Since it isn't a huge sacrifice for us, I am also going to be turning off my dryer for most of the winter as well. This forces me to stay more on top of the laundry than ever and will be a far more energy conserving move than the heat.

Simple Woman's Daybook 11/10

Please visit Peggy and the rest of the Simple Women at Peggy's new daybook blog 

FOR TODAY: November 10, 2008...

Outside my window... It's dark, dark, dark and getting chillier. And very quiet tonight. I miss my froggy friends

I am thinking... the holidays are creep, creep creeping up on me. This week kind of did the same. It's going to be harder to balance the things that keep me sane with the things that demand my attention. And that we aren't going to finish our pilgrim study before Thanksgiving. And that Homeless for a night and the $150 we need to raise are BARE WEEKS away. 

I am thankful for...my new-to-me couch that keeps me warm and cozy. My friend the Geejster (Gigi) who forced me into a co-op and into a homeschooling community that is very very good for me.

From the learning rooms...We spent the day at the Pioneer Art Settlement learning and seeing and doing and experiencing. This week we will finish up our spelling levels for the year. We are studying Pilgrims and early American colonies. This will lead us into next year when we try to cover the highlights of American History until June.  Also I won $50 worth of free products from Mammoth Math 

 I love them. Not just because they give me free stuff, but because it's a great curriculum. Check them out and be sure to sign up for the news letter. You could win free stuff too!

From the kitchen... Ahh, still nothing new. I am not doing a good job with my plan to use new recipes. This week. Must do it this week.

I am wearing...jammies. I want to live in the jammies. Oh my jammies.

I am creating... too many lists and not enough time. And new blogging friendships. I forgot how fun those are.

I am going... to Seaworld on Thursday! 

I am reading...Oyster Catchers, but I am not loving it. And it truly is me and not the book, which is well written. It's just not hitting it for me right now. Also Ezekial, Joshua and Judges.

I am hoping...to find my balance this week. To mesh the have-to's with the want-to's and not lose my temper in the interim.

I am hearing... Hunky Hubby typing beside me. I love that man

Around the house... touch up paint and bedroom painting. Day to day chores and making ready for Dan the bug man.

One of my favorite things... cathing up with bloggy friends at the end of the day.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Sea World, painting, more blankets on beds, clean sheets

Here is picture thought I am sharing..

Fatal Grace

Last year I read Still Life on a whim when I saw it in the library. I am trying to stretch my mystery reading (as I have not done much) and this was a new series. I'm always glad to find that since old series I have to start at the beginning and obsessively read each and every single book until I catch up.  What I found in Three Pines was a charming area of characters with just the right amount of quirk, irascibility and heart set within an idyllic if somewhat forgotten little town in Quebec, Canada. Best of all is Police Inspector Armand Gamache who is charming and intelligent and madly in love with his wife.  Soft spoken, gentle detective Gamache inspires loyalty in his team and is well deserving of the respect and esteem given him. He is by far one of my favorite heroes in the mystery genre. 

A Fatal Grace opens with the expectation that you have read and are familiar with the characters and incidents in Penny's first book. I admit that due to the passage of time this was a hardship for me and I had to stop reading and reacquaint myself with the plot and the general who's who from the first story. If you read this in book in isolation, you will be lost for at least the first 1/3 of the book.  This book also widens it scope to continue to reveal elements of Gamache's life outside the Three Pines investigations that are only hinted at in the first of the series. While the mystery itself is solved by the end of the book, these farther reaching plot lines are left very much unresolved, and will be picked up again in the third installment (which I should be picking up sometime this week.) If a cozy mystery is what you have in mind, I highly recommend Louise Penny's Three Pines series.

From Publishers Weekly
When sadistic socialite CC de Poitiers is fatally electrocuted at a Christmas curling competition in the tiny Québecois village of Three Pines, only the arcane method of the murder is a surprise in Penny's artful but overwritten sophomore effort (after her highly praised 2006 debut, Still Life). CC had cobbled together a spiritual guidance business based on eliminating emotion, but the feelings she inspired in others were anything but serene. Everyone around the cartoonish victim—from a daughter cowed by lifelong abuse to the local spiritual teacher whose business she threatens to ruin—has a motive, and the crime also links to a vagrant's recent murder as well as to the pasts of several beloved village residents. The calm but quirky Chief Insp. Armand Gamache, who arrives in Three Pines from Montreal to head the investigation, is appealing as the series' focus. Though Penny gorgeously evokes the smalltown Christmas mood, the novel is oddly steeped in holiday atmosphere for a May release, and the plot's dependence on lengthy backstory slows the momentum. (May) 
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Blog Advent Tour

Marg over at Reading Adventures is hosting the second annual Blog Advent tour. In her words:

 Each day anyone who wants to participate could take turns sharing a little treat with our friends here in blogland. For example it could be something about a holiday tradition, or a recipe, or a picture of a hot guy dressed as Santa, or a favourite Christmas memory, movie, book, song...anything you like. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas we would like to hear about what your family does during the holiday season, whether it be celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or anything!

Click the link to her blog at the top to see the details to sign up. Don't miss what looks like a Holly Jolly Time!

Sunday Salon #1

I wanted to spend a little more time reading today, but real life kind of interrupted those plans. I was reading Oyster Catchers by Susan Fletcher earlier this week. It is beautifully written and lyrical, but was totally eclipsed when I found Fatal Grace at the library. I absolutely loved Still Life when I read it last year and the idea of reading a cozy mystery through the weekend was simply too delicious to pass up. So Oyster Catchers took a backseat and over the last 24 hours I've read about half the book, and am eager to pick it back up again right about the time I get done with this blog. Excitingly enough, I found the my library is late in getting this on the shelf, and Louise Penny has written a third Three Pines mystery which is available in the county library system. So I have The Cruelest Month on hold and will be enjoying cozy Canadian mystery fun for the rest of the week (and somehow finishing Oyster Catchers as well).  

I did manage to finish one book this week, which I also very much enjoyed. I reviewed If Today be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar here. If you don't have time to look at the review, I recommend that you read the book. It was great.

I also joined the 999 challenge this week. It's the first one in a year so here goes nothing.

As far as Nablopomo goes, I have managed an entry every day this month with the exception of one. It's been a good habit to get back in to.

Forging ahead

I realized today, as I looked back over my blog, that I never did get around to any goal setting this past week. Not that I let the week go by without doing anything, far from it in fact, but I never had a chance to really sit down and set some little mini-goals. What I did accomplish this week:

• All the raking is done, until more leaves fall, which they are doing right NOW and I need to rake again.
  
• Front flower bed is weeded and mulched. It looks so happy and cheerful. Now it needs a few mums.
• mowed and mulched leaves 
• spent some time cleaning and organizing every room in the house
• read a book
• had some awesome family time and even awesom-er hubby time
• Educated, educated, educated 
• Continued my Disciple studies
• Kept up with Nablopomo. So far I have not missed a day on this blog, and have missed only one day at Think Pink Reads

I am finding that I often expect too much of myself when it comes to getting things done. My daily responsibilities in just schooling the girls and day-to-day maintenance are such that they truly can take up my entire day, add to that my Disciple and youth group responsibilities, add to that simple, relaxed quality time with my family, and you see how much extra time I really end up with.  To have simply accomplished the outside work this week that I did is a big deal. 

This week I am going to shift my focus again to more indoor areas.

•  I want to do a little more simplifying and purging. I'd like to deep clean the kitchen in preparation for Thanksgiving.
•  I want to nail down the menu for that day and look ahead to some grocery purchases.
•  I have GOT to do something with the homeschool books and binders and the bookcase in the dining room. It simply can't continue or I may have to hurt something.
  
• Deep clean and organize L's room in preparation for painting.
• Have the house Dan the Bug Man ready since he' ll hit us one day this week.
• EXERCISE! Cheri and I are challenging each other on this one.

I also am joining the November procrastination challenge over at Virtually Organized

There are several things I have been putting off doing and will tackle them not only this month, but before Thanksgiving:

• wash windows inside and out
• paint baseboards in DR
• paint baseboards in LR
• paint baseboards in B & O's room (are you sensing a trend?)
• paint L's room
• clean out my closet and dresser (this last one is iffy for this month)

I's also like to blog some about my theme for this quickly passing year: Consider the Lillies" and the theme God has given me for next year: "Deepen"

And there is my week in a nutshell. I'm excited to get started!

999

Having laid off the challenge wagon for nearly a year, I think I will take on one challenge for 2009. The 999 challenge offers me flexibility and variety which is what usually gets me in trouble and causes burnout. Here are my categories:

9 classics

9 award winners

9 Mystery/ thriller

9 International reads

9 blog recommended reads

9 non-fiction

9 2009 pubs

9 that are already on my shelf (TBR)

9 new-to-me authors

Late

It's 11:15 at the end of a very long day.

I can't think of anything to say so I leave you with this:

Finally. A place to put their butts.

Friday Felicities 11/7

Today you get the world's fastest Friday Felicities:

*Because my husband and I have a date

*And  the kids aren't coming home

*So we get the whole night to ourselves

*and the morning

*and the house is clean so I just get to wallow in it

*There will be smooching

*Oh and Brooke and Tim are COMING HOME!

*And it's FRIDAY

*tomorrow we are all going on a little in town mission trip

*and there's Disciple

*and in case I didn't mention it= THE NEXT 15 HOURS WILL BE 100% KID FREE

*and completely clothing optional

amen.

My Reading Personality

I've seen this quiz floating around several sights. Here are my results:

 

Involved Reader: You don't just love to read books, you love to read about books. For you, half the fun of reading is the thrill of the chase - discovering new books and authors, and discussing your finds with others. 
Serial Reader: Once you discover a favorite writer you tend to stick with him/her through thick and thin. 
Eclectic Reader: You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors.

If Today Be Sweet

I walked by this book for a month before I picked it up. I have tried books written by and about India before (Inheritance of Loss and The God of Small Things) and not been able to connect with them or understand the underlying emotions and motivations well. Perhaps that is my own shortcoming, in expecting a book to bridge cultural differences and be something that I could relate with my own experience. I don't know, but I won't say it hasn't bothered me at times as some form of literary feebleness related somehow to my intrinsic American attitude.  However, knowing that the third time's the charm and being unable to resist knowing more about the sliver of the beautiful woman hiding behind the door, I brought this book home. What an absolute delight I had in store for me.  Thrity Umrigar has woven universal elements: loss, grief, acceptance, belonging, family, uncertainty, isolation and community, and brought them to the place where cultures retain their identity and are bridged by their commonalities. I was enchanted at the slices of life in Bombay that were revealed throughout the story. I was educated in the cultures of Indian and Parsi peoples. I invested in Tehmina and Sorab and Rustom beyond their ethnicity as individual characters with whom I shared a common tie. I sympathized with the cultural clashes and was encouraged by their solutions. This was a great book, realistically depicting the difficulties in melding individuals within a family and within a culture and compassionately revealing the wonderful humanity of us all. Highly Recommend.

From Booklist
At the opening of Umrigar's poignant new novel (after The Space between Us, 2006), Tehmina, a middle-aged widow from India, is visiting her 38-year-old son, Sorab, his American wife, and son at their home in Ohio. (Sorab left his native India for graduate school in the U.S. and has lived there ever since.) Heartbroken by the death of her beloved husband, Tehmina is hardly in a position to face the life-altering choice before her: to settle in with Sorab in the safe, antiseptic Midwest or to live out her days in earthy, chaotic Bombay. Tehmina must make up her mind soon: her tourist visa is about to expire, and the lack of privacy in their home is putting stress on her son and daughter-in-law. Meanwhile, Tehmina's quiet, private life becomes very public when she rescues two neighborhood children from domestic abuse. Umrigar renders a sublime, cross-cultural tale about lives driven by tradition and transformed by love. Block, Allison 

Thirteen Thinkful Things for Thursday 11/6

I've been sitting here for an hour trying to decide what direction to take today's blogs. My head feels full, full, full of thoughts and wonderings and ponderings. So without further ado, Thirteen Things that Clutter my mind today:

1) Sometimes it is ok to be totally exhausted at the end of your sabbath. It was not a work free day. It was a good day. We spent the morning at the Ponce De Leon Inlet lighthouse. We climbed all 203 stairs to the top. We climbed all 203 stairs back down to the ground. We contemplated living totally and completely media free for a week. We tracked raccoon and heron tracks through the sand.  We walked out on the jetty and contemplated the life and death of fish at the end of a pole. After lunch the oldest and I shopped and talked and treated ourselves to starbucks and  the day was heralded as "the best day of her life."  No, it wasn't the most restful day ever, but it was one of the most worthwhile I have spent recently. If that doesn't give glory to God, I don't know what does.

2) Consequences - individual choices, national choices, global choices. So many pieces and parts of things make up all the pieces of our lives. While so much of this week is consumed with the world view of our nation's events, I feel inundated with watching things unfold on a much smaller and individual level.  Lives are changed, lost, broken, sometimes permanently sometimes on the weight of one choice.

3) Simplicity - It must seem that I talk about this subject more than any other. Yet more and more I find myself drawn to its freedom and promise. The less I have the more I find contentment. How little do I really need and how much have I bought into the concept of consumerism? How do I live in the world and not of the world? How do I redefine the "finer things" to align with the concept of "God's best" ?

4) Self - sustainability - I have been reading more blogs on this concept. It isn't one my family will willing enter into without some serious proof that it works. But I want to learn more anyway. Why pay someone for something I can do myself or grow myself? 

5) Intolerance - I hate that word. I hate the way it pigeon holes everyone and everything that thinks differently from what another person does or thinks or wants. I hate it.  I'm sick to death of being called it when I truly am attempting to live a loving and generous lifestyle while not compromising what I believe to be holy expectations of my Lord. I'm not sorry that I have chosen this life. I'm not asking anyone to be sorry they have chosen theirs. But don't expect me to kowtow to something I don't agree with, and don't label me a close minded hater because I won't.

6) Integrity - what it means, how to live it, how to walk it, how to inspire it, how to model it, how to see it in other people.

7) Growth - Personal, spiritual, ministerial. How is it measured? Can it be quantified in numbers? As it occurs do we hang on to things from the past or do we let them go because they burden us? How do we make peace with the things from long ago that seem to have no real place in our lives now, but which still are a part of our lives? Or do we? And to what end?

8) Shrinking - Dude. I am taking Cheri's butt DOWN with this exercise challenge. More pounds GOT TO GO.

9) Procrastination - I am good at it. Recovering from it. Constantly combatting it. It all ties back into the simplicity factor. More time for less busyness, but in order to achieve it I must do things when they need doing, not let them mount up and bury me.

10) Education - How to raise well rounded, individually thinking, self motivated, creative, service minded ladies with a heart for the Lord. How much is didactic instruction and how much is life experience? Will I ever feel like I am doing enough? Will I ever really know how much I have done? It's the quantifiable measure of growth factor again...

11) Friends - I have some of the most amazing, caring, thoughtful, wonderful ones ever. More than I deserve. More than I know what to do with sometimes. I am so blessed to love so many and have that love returned in kind.

12) Calling - Must it always be answered? Do we really have a choice? If we ignore it, does it eat at us like a fire in our bones as it did Jeremiah? How do we know we've heard it correctly? How do we know we are doing enough?

13) Sleep. I'm tired and my bed is calling me.

Wordless Wednesday 11/5

The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases. Ps 21:1

I Remember Autumn

The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop away from you
like the leaves of Autumn.

Fall poem by John Muir

Florida is actually having somewhat of a fall this year, and it is delightful. Granted it isn't fall as some would recognize it, but fall enough for flannel sheets already, and sweatshirts and long sleeves all day and hot chocolate in the morning.

Having lived here now for many years, I've grown accustomed to Thanksgiving in shirt sleeves, sometimes even with the air conditioner, but every year my heart wants to see the leaves change and the shadows lengthen, to see the first glittering traces of frost on the grass and the crisp smell of fire places in the air. To wear gloves and jackets and hats and flannel lined blue jeans. To see my breath plume out before me like a harbinger of warmth and life. To sit under a blanket while the day darkens and the branches rattle as the wind blows harshly just outside.

I remember autumn and the turn of the seasons. That the dying of one season simply means that new life lies waiting down deep for just the right moment to emerge translucent spring green in the sun.

I remember and home feels a little less like home this year, like maybe I'm just resting here for a time until it's time to move to another place brimming with new life, new hope and new promise.

But first I'll take what has been given and embrace it as it falls away into winter. Enjoying the rustle of leaves under foot, even if they fall without color. Enjoying the cool of the day, even if the gloves are still on the closet shelf. Enjoying the brisk walk in the watery sun even with no plume of breath before me.

I remember Autumn.

Tuesday Teaser 11/4

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading:
*Grab your current read.
*Let the book fall open to a random page.
*Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

" It had seemed so clear to him on the days after his father had died. He stayed in Bombay for six weeks (thank God good old Malcolm was still at the company then; Grace would have demanded that he return superditiously fast immediately after the funeral), meeting with lawyers and accountants, taking care of all his father's papers. Mamma was like a zombie during those days, taking her orders from him, deferring to him on every major financial decision, walking around in a haze of shock and grief."
-- If Today be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar pg 178

Habit Forming

I discovered a treasure today that I am very excited about:
Printable monthly Habit List

You can click the link to see what it looks like. Essentially it's a monthly tracker to help me be accountable for forming habits. It's also comforting to find out that I am not the only person so OCD that they don't like putting items that ought to be habitual on a daily to-do list. I'm excited about using this tool to help me build better habits and more discipline into my life.

You also realize that it's only eight weeks until Christmas, right? This both concerns and excites me. Sadly, Hunky Hubby (who was not sick last night. I don't care what rumors you heard) hammered out the Nov/ Dec calendars, and it's a wee bit skeery. Not to mention gifts to buy and make and mail and ship. We have determined that it will be a simpler Christmas and have told the girls as much. Part of their gift has already been purchased in the form of another year of season passes to Sea World. It's a chunk of money to hand out all at once, but the passes this year have paid for themselves ten times over not only monetarily, but in enjoyment, time spent together, learning...the list goes on and on. I invested $2 in a Christmas planner of sorts today from My Simpler Life. I have enjoyed her declutter calender and her weekly simplicity tips. For $2 I felt I couldn't go wrong. Here's hoping. I really want to have a laid back holiday season this year.

Committing to blogging a bit every day has made my brain work in new ways, or ways so unused they have become unfamiliar to me. It is good to consider what I want to record for rememberance from day to day, and also interesting to consider how it sometimes causes me to choose to alter things for the better rather than enduring them as is. After all, if it's going to be recorded for posterity, who wants to read about the suck day after day after day. I wouldn't want to. I find myself tweaking my attitude and my approach to those around me so that I may be honest in saying "It's been a good day" when I come here to record events. You may not also know that I am also trying NaBloPoMo over at my Think Pink Reads which is another habit I have been wanting to form for, oh, years now. If only there were a NaExMoMo (that's National Exercise More Month if you are wondering) where I could blog and exercise at the same time. I guess we can't have it all.

Keeping the House

I almost feel guilty admitting how much I enjoyed this book. Besides being a sucker for a war book, it definitely has chick lit feel,  as well as a touch of the Jerry Springer train-wreck- that-you-can't-stop-watching feel to it (complete with incestuous love affairs with family members you don't realize are family members). For a first book Ellen Baker has certainly written an engaging, mysterious, dysfunctional delight that literally had me glued to the last two hundred pages. There was just no way I was putting it down until I learned what happened to every last character. One of the most enjoyable features of the novel, in my opinion, were the blurbs and didactic advice taken from 1950's Ladies Home Journal magazines and other instructional journals of that era. While a few of the characters are a bit stereo typical and the plot has a few weak points, overall Ms. Baker has definitely hooked me as a reader. I will be watching for her next release.

From Publishers Weekly

Baker's first novel is a long and uneven multigeneration family saga set in small town Wisconsin. In 1896, Wilma comes to the rough backwoods town of Pine Rapids as the alarmed new bride of a lumber baron's first son, John Mickelson. Wilma is already regretting her jump from college to matrimony when she gets off the train and promptly falls in love: first with her brother-in-law, Gust, and then with the beautiful home on a hill that is now hers. Counterpointing Wilma's unhappy trial by marriage and motherhood is a complementary story set in 1950, when another new bride comes to Pine Bluff. Unlike Wilma, Dolly Magnuson married the man she wanted desperately. Unable to conceive, she is determined to be the perfect housewife, a plan that morphs into an obsession with the old Mickelson house, now unlived in and uncared for. The novel expands to encompass the stories of the grown Mickelson children: as Dolly begins taking care of the house, and the Mickelsons begin entering and exiting it by way of a window. Stuffed to bursting with stories of love, loss, revenge, obsession, emotional and physical violence, and general familial mayhem, Baker's book makes readers work to sort out the fates of the most engaging characters. (July) 
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

I DO spell it with an E

Dana Lynne-- without the E it just isn't as pretty

You're Anne of Green Gables!

by L.M. Montgomery

Bright, chipper, vivid, but with the emotional fortitude of cottage
cheese, you make quite an impression on everyone you meet. You're impulsive, rash,
honest, and probably don't have a great relationship with your parents. People hurt
your feelings constantly, but your brazen honestly doesn't exactly treat others with
kid gloves. Ultimately, though, you win the hearts and minds of everyone that matters.
You spell your name with an E and you want everyone to know about it.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Simple Woman's Daybook 11/3

FOR TODAY Nov 3rd,2008...

Outside My Window...Sunlight shining in shafts through the trees. After the wonderfully dark and rainy day yesterday, I am hoping for some sun and a trip to the park today.

I am thinking...that I wish it would stay this quiet for more than another 30 minutes or so

I am thankful for...this day and all the possibilities I can unlock in it.

From the learning rooms...We begin our study of Gratitude, of America's roots, of religious freedoms

From the kitchen...several new things I want to try this week inclduing a banana sweet potato recipe and a cranberry acorn squash recipe. But first there will be breakfast.

I am wearing... a t-shirt, long john leggings and my warm flannel bathrobe

I am creating...time for me

I am going...to the park, to the library, to Disciple, to church, to turn off all forms of media, to pray for this country

I am reading...Keeping the house, In a Pit with A Lion on a Snowy Day (again), Exodus, Jeremiah and 2nd Kings

I am hoping...not to get sick, to continue being productive this week, to pay less than $2.20 for gas.

I am hearing...squirrels argue and run around the oak tree just outside

Around the house...floors need washing and foam needs cutting. Girls needs training and Hunky needs spoiling. I want a cozy place to sit and be.

One of my favorite things...receiving encouragement from friends in a similar place in their walk as me

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:Finishing projects and starting with new ones, drawing something...anything. Completing at least two books. Laughing with and loving on my family. And always, learning, learning, learning

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

There are amazing things just below the surface:

Random Confessions of a Bibliophile

*There are 5 full book cases in my house and half my linen closet packed with books. To date, I have read only about 60% of these books. Some of them, I have had for years.

*I have had as many as 35 books out of the library at one time. What? Do I think they'll disappear or something?

*There are 30 book blogs in my google reader "Bookish" file. 

* I have 4 different lists of books in different places around the house

* I do not read enough non-fiction

* I own a LOT of non-fiction (I refer you back to item 1)

* I cannot STAND Christian fiction. It literally makes me want to hurl and throw things ninety nine times out of one hundred. But oh, that one that's good, is really, really good.

*I am often intimidated to comment on book blogs -- I don't know why.

*I am quick to judge a book by its cover. You can woo me with a beautiful picture.

*I am not afraid to give up a bad book. I won't waste time I can't get back on poor writing.

* I aspire to read all of the books listed in 1001 books you must read before you die.

* I came by my love of reading from my Dad, and it wasn't until I was grown that I realized my mom loves to read too. She just never had time when we were all young.

*I will avoid band wagon books just because I don't like being on band wagons.

*To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book of all time, bar none. The Book Thief holds a close second.

*I want to read more poetry.

* I love well written Chick lit. I also love Stephen King. I am a dichotomy of stylistic choices.

* I tend to read male writers more often than female.

*My idea of a great date involves Barnes and Noble.

*I cry when I read childhood favorites aloud to my children.

*Sometimes I have so many books I want to read, I get overwhelmed by my choices.