Lucky Day

Oh, lucky day!

There was a box waiting for me when I arrived home today. Look what was in it! Ten copies of Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward for my book club. I won them in an on-line contest - - can you believe?

We've already selected all of our books for 2012 but it looks like we have our first selection for 2013.

What was the last thing you won? What are you reading?

i never thought i'd do this

full disclosure this morning. that is my night stand. please don't judge.

i am a book girl. i'd say that's obvious considering the photo i just shared. i love books. is it possible to have a book addiction? if so, i probably need to attend book-lovers anonymous...

now here's another full disclosure statement. e-readers. i never thought i would want one. i always felt that there was something about holding a tangible book. turning the pages. the smell of fresh print. but i think i've changed my mind.

i've been researching e-readers for weeks now. i've settled on a kindle. i've been looking at the kindle touch and the kindle fire. i've heard good things about both from friends that have one or the other. the only downside i've heard is that the kindle fire may be more difficult to read on as it does not have a matte screen (so there is a glare depending upon the light).

there are many blog related books available in only an e-format. they'll never go to print. i would like to read them. there are also books for my book club that i think i would purchase in an e-format vs. print. i have purchased many of our book club books for reading and then they've remained in my personal collection yet they're not ones that i care to keep.

given the fact that i've been considering this purchase for 3 weeks now, i think it's safe to take the plunge. surely 21 days is long enough to contemplate, right? do you have a reader? i'd love to hear your feedback.

this, that and other

i've been absent from these parts for a long time but for good reason. the last 3 weeks have been filled with friends, family and lots of laughter. there's also been late mornings, late nights and lots of football. as of this week, routines are returning to normal, or near so anyway.

see that cup above? santa brought me two of those and i absolutely love them for drinking my tea. thinking i may have to get a couple more because i have a hard time keeping them clean so there is always one at the ready.

and reading? there's been plenty of that too by all of us. i have yet to read the book in the photo but i have read this and am currently reading this.

i spent new year's day giving the kitchen a good once-over. emptied out the pantry completely and threw away the food items that had expired or hadn't been touched in months (yes, it's embarrassing). and last week was a pantry challenge week around here whereby i used what we had. i should do that more often. it can be quite surprising how well you can eat when you force yourself to get creative. and, the family never once suspected. there was also an ulterior motive for cleaning out the freezer. we're getting 1/4 of a cow next week from my brother, the rancher. i can not wait to have beef in the freezer and know exactly where it came from. i grew up on grass-fed beef and believe me, when i was out on my own and had to start buying meat, it nearly killed me. not only was it expensive but i literally could taste a difference. so, the pantry challenge also stretched my grocery budget. i have about $140 more in my budget for the rest of the month.

the new year is always a time of resolutions and setting goals. did you make any? we've made one as a family - - running a 5k in march. there. now that the word is out, i will have to follow-thru because you can hold me accountable. i've been spending time at the gym because of it; 11 days out of the last 15 to be exact. and i ran for 13 consecutive minutes on thursday. my best so far. lawman has always told me running is mental, not physical. i'm beginning to think he might be right. we shall see.

this will be our last week to have alison home. college classes resume mid-january so she'll be returning to campus. i can see so much personal growth in her since august when she left. it truly is amazing!

well, let's call this a wrap and i hope to get here more often now that normal life is resuming.

since the clock has changed

since moving our clocks back, my motivation has dwindled. happens every year. if it's dark when i get home from work, i want to put on my lounge pants, whether they be of flannel or yoga variety, and do nothing. there's something about driving home with lights on at 5pm that leaves me with no energy. when it's dark, my body feels as if the day is done.

my evening routine changes with the changing of the clocks. more reading. more hot tea or cocoa. in the last few weeks i have read the hunger games series (loved it!). now i am anxiously awaiting the movie release in the spring. another book i've read is crooked letter, crooked letter (a selection for my book club). a page turner of a mystery. if you've not read them, i recommend you add them to your list. started this book last night; it's gonna suck me in too.

sharing your library

If she has extra cash, she'll spend it on books. If she has extra time, she'll read. If you need a book, she'll share.

Alison's book collection has turned into a library for several of her friends. On a regular basis for the past month, two of her friends have called to come over and borrow a book, or more likely, books. Good news -- they return them and they also loan theirs to her.

Sounds like a fair trade.

p.s. it's good to be back. thanks for sticking with me. i hope to be able to hang out around here more often again.

quick & easy reading

I was in need of some quick and easy reading material a few weeks ago. This is what I found at the library.

The top book was one that Jessica mentioned. I'm a sucker for these kind of books. It's chock full of tips/ideas to streamline your time in the kitchen....one motion storage, recipe organization, menu planning, etc.

I saw the third book on this blog months ago. I looked at it in the bookstore first and decided it would be worth the read. I asked our library to get it via inter-library loan (love that service!). Since I checked it out, I've gone through it several times and so has Madison. We've tried about 5 recipes from it in the past 2 weeks. I had to return it today but I'm thinking it may very well be a book that I purchase considering how much we've liked everything we've tried.

I'll be starting one of the Sunset books tonight. Sunset books always remind me of my grandmother.  She subscribed to their magazine for years. Seems there was always a copy of it on the living room coffee table. I probably checked them out more for nostalgia than anything else.

When I need some mindless reading material, I always reach for a cookbook. I can read it just like a novel. What's your choice for quick & easy reading?

the making of a book

Once in a while I get to spend a day out of routine but still get paid for it. Today was that day.

Several weeks ago in my office we had a discussion about creativity. Remember back to the early days of your childhood, like kindergarden. If someone had asked you if you were an artist, most likely you would have said yes. In our early years, we all tend to think we are creataive but then as we get older, something happens. It's been proven that by 4th grade very few kids would answer yes to that same question of whether or not they were an artist. By that age, we've all been judged by our peers. Our artwork has been passed over for recognition. Our confidence starts to sink. Sadly, not only does our confidence sink where art/creativity is concerned but in other areas too. All because we begin to realize that we're not necessarily as good at particular activities as we think we are.

To make a long story short, our firm decided to sponsor an artist/illustrator to speak at a local children's organization today. Our goal was to share with the young people of the community that it is ok to be creative. It is possible to get paid doing something that is FUN. The job of playing hostess fell to me. A job that I was more than willing to do today.

Our speaker/guest was Brad Sneed. I was first 'introduced' to Brad years ago when my girls were little. My SIL purchased several books that he had illustrated and she even managed to have him sign them.  I finally asked how in the world she managed to get every book signed. As it turns out, he's got ties to my hometown. His parents live in the community now and he also spent his childhood summers in the area. Oh, the world is a small place.

Today I met Brad at 9am. He was booked for three presentations and I stuck around to hear the first one. He was great! The kids loved him. He spoke about his childhood and how he first learned that he had a natural ability to look at something and then recreate it on paper. His parents and art teachers noticed it and encouraged him to grow that talent. It wasn't always easy but because others encouraged him, he's now a full fledged illustrator....he gets paid to draw and paint. Wouldn't that be a fun job? Oh my.

As a hostess, it was my job to have lunch with him. This was my favorite part of the day. We covered a lot of ground during that hour -- childhood, art, dreams, family, more childhood, creativity, etc. Such great conversation.

I also listened to his last presentation. At the end of the day, he presents me with one of his books. And, he asks if he could sign it for my girls. Why, of course!

Even at 17 and 14, my girls were appreciative of this treat. I love that we have these for the girls. Such treasures to be able to send with them someday.

Brad also told me about his newest project. Check out Felix Featherbottom. What a great idea. I think my girls may have to get this book as part of their Christmas present.

i want to live in france

I've been reading Joie De Vivre this week because my friend, Denise, recommended it. Like Denise, I had never heard of joie de vivre.

The essence of the book is so simple -- enjoy the everyday -- yet it can be such a difficult goal to achieve depending upon your interpretation of that simple statement.

Today as I was reading during my lunch break, I thought how wonderful it would be to live in France and enjoy their customs. They seem to have a much more relaxed culture than we as Americans. Americans are always busy -- breakfast meetings, work through lunch, work late. When do we rest? When do we celebrate the everyday?

Let me just say that the French have it figured out -- a 2 hour lunch which includes a meal and a rest (not a nap, a rest) and then knocking off about 4:30 for a la pause gourmande which includes a treat, both food and drink. The author says it's the "perfect solution for the afternoon blahs."

Several paragraphs in this book have resonated with me. The first one was in reference to the potager (gardener).

The spirit of the potager is to grow a few things to eat fresh. It is not that hard to have enough fraises des bois so that everyone has two handfuls. That's really all you need.

Considering my little garden plot is quite tiny, two handfuls for each of us is about all I may produce. And that's fine. Just call me a potager.

Another aspect of the French that intrigues me is their love affair with coffee. I'm not a coffee drinker but I do like hot chocolate and hot teas and cider during the cold weather months. The French drink their coffee from a bowl. A bowl. What I love about it is that it allows you to wrap your hands around the warmth. The photo included made me think of the little bowls the Asian culture uses for teas. I think I'm going to see if I can find a couple of bowls for us to enjoy our hot drinks from next winter.

Such a lovely book. I think you might like it.

home resources

With a new year comes new goals. I've made a few myself. I have found a few books over the years that are excellent reference/resource materials. If you've made goals related to your home, maybe you'll find encouragement on achieving said goals in one or more of these. (Note: if spending less is one of your goals, check your local library first for these books.)

A Simple Choice by Deborah Taylor Hough ~ I read this book once a year. The subtitle is 'a practical guide for saving your time, money and sanity.' That it is. It's full of very practical advise and information; practical being the key word here.

Raising Happy Kids on a Reasonable Budget by Patricia Gallagher ~ At one point, this was my go to resource for all things kids. It covers the spectrum - food, clothing, education and yes, even celebrations.

Things I Wish I'd Known Sooner by Jaroldeen Edwards ~ As a mother of twelve, this lady learned a few things along the way. This book isn't a how to book nor a book of essays but a collection of topics that may arise in a conversation with this author. Each chapter is a "window" and at the end of each chapter is a "Light from This Window." Here's a sample "Light": "Out of the simplest moments of our lives can come extraordinary flashes of insight, knowledge and wisdom. The most ordinary things can become windows of light."

If your goals include lowering your grocery bill or getting a handle on the grocery budget or eating healthier, my best piece of advice is find yourself a good cookbook and a good how-to book related to all things culinary. Knowing your way around the kitchen can do wonders for your budget and your health. The books listed here would be appropriate for the beginner or one that already knows the difference between a cheese grater and a zester.

Cheapskate in the Kitchen by Mary Hunt
Miserly Meals by Jonni McCoy
The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook by Julie Fisher Gunter ~ this one happens to be my personal favorite
The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook ~ I received this one as a Christmas gift this year and I think there is a very good chance it will become my go to resource.

For family devotion time, may I recommend Family Walk by Bruce H.Wilkinson. It includes 52 weekly devotions for families. We found this to be a wonderful activity we incorporated into our evening meal together a few years ago.

I've got more I could add to this list but I'll stop there other than for one more bonus. I'm adding a new resource to my arsenal this year (per recommendation of FishMama). The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. It arrived yesterday so I'll be reading it very soon (probably this weekend).

Do you have favorite home resources? Please share them in the comments; I love hearing your recommendations.

2010 book club reads

If you've been visiting my blog for very long, you know that I'm a reader. What you may not have known is that I'm in a book club. It's a great group of ladies that I enjoy spending time with and it never fails that someone makes a very thought provoking statement about our book(s). They're really nice too because even if you don't get the book read, you're still welcome to come to the meeting. We're just that way.

We try to read a variety of genre and authors. It's either so that there's "something for everybody" or because we're trying to broaden our horizons a bit. We try to mix up the format of our get-togethers...we've gone to see authors speak (The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls) and if the book was made into a movie, we've been known to have a movie night, complete with popcorn and hot chocolate (Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons). And we've met on a boat!

I've kept a running list of the books we've read since I joined the group and not counting our 2010 selections, there are 59 titles and authors listed. I like reading through the list...it's a reminder of what I've read, what I liked, and what I didn't... and I could not come up with all 59 titles off the top of my head. Secretly I hope that someday my girls will find that list of interest. My Grandma Rachel was an avid reader. She was educated through the 8th grade but she was a life-long learner through her love of books (and crosswords)...and I personally think she was one of the smartest ladies I've ever known. There have been many times I wished that I had a list of what Grandma read. I think it would be fun to read those same books.

So, without further ado, here's what we'll be reading in 2010. They are:

The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

March by Geraldine Books

Louisa May Alcott, The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reisen

The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Lawman got this one in his stocking!)

The Possession by A.S. Byatt

We also have what we call 'traveling' books...you read it and when you're done you pass it on to someone else in the group. The best part is that you can write your thoughts about it inside the cover. This year's traveling books are In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.

Have you read any of these? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you have a reading list for 2010?

call me old fashioned but i prefer books

During our Thanksgiving travels, I happened to glance around me while I was waiting at SEATAC and did a quick count of those reading books. 13 of us within just 2 rows of seating.

Recently there's been a lot of talk about electronic readers like Kindle and nook. I don't own one nor do I have a desire to.

While at a tradeshow in October, the gentleman in the booth next to me saw me reading a book and asked if I owned a Kindle. I told him no and that I didn't want one. When asked why I responded with, 'I like the weight of the book in my hand and turning the pages. I've been a book girl for a very long time and I don't intend to go electronic where books are concerned.' He was surprised.

Why must everything be electronic? Some things are left best unchanged and I think a book is one of those things.

I love browsing in bookstores and libraries. I find such satisfaction in selecting and reading a book. It's a great escape. A favorite way to unwind at the end of the day. Call me old fashioned but I'll keep my books, thank you.

Is an electronic reader on your list? Amazon says it's one of the most requested gifts this holiday season.

A Day at the Movies

Julie & Julia. Have you seen it? I was pretty sure I would like it. It's about Julia Child. It's about food. It's about blogging. What more could I want?

Are you familiar with the premise of the movie? Julie is unhappy in her government job. She's nearing her 30th birthday. She decides to cook her way through Julia's Mastering the Art of French Cooking - 365 days, 524 recipes. And she blogs her journey.

I loved the movie. I want to see it again. I want to read Julia's book, My Life in France and I also want a copy of her cookbook. I want to make beef bourgignon.

Before the movie I had thought to myself, "If I were going to cook my way through a cookbook in a year, what cookbook would I choose?"

I narrowed it down to 2 choices. First choice would be The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook because it is my absolute favorite cookbook and the first one I reach for. My second choice is
the copy of my mom's Farm Journal's Country Cookbook (similar to this one). This was my mom's cookbook of choice. I know I ate lots of recipes from it as a kid. I think it would be fun to cook-thru the recipes that my mom relied on.

So now it's your turn. What cookbook would you select to cook your way through in a year? And why?

And, if you haven't seen the movie yet, put it on your list of must see movies.

An Addition to My Collection

Last week, Small Notebook posted this question: "What Do You Collect?" which made me pause and consider what it is I collect. There are lots of things I have because I like them but not necessarily because I collect them. One thing I do collect is vintage cookbooks.



I don't think I started this collection intentionally. It evolved. I've enjoyed reading cookbooks for years. My reading of cookbooks started when I was 8 and received the Betty Crocker New Boys and Girls Cookbook as a gift from my mother. I remember looking at the photographs in it for hours and wanting to make every single recipe in it. I branched out and began reading other cookbooks that were in mom's pantry.



Fast forward 18 years when I was a new bride and I wanted to cook for Lawman. I started reading cookbooks and cooking magazines again. I started testing recipes. I found my love of cooking. My mom soon saw my love of cookbooks and she gave me some that had been in her collection as well as some from her mother. Now as I sit here writing, I can see, at a glance, 11 vintage cookbooks. The oldest copyright date that I can find in my collection is 1926. Most of them are from the 50's, 60's and 70's.



Alison surprised me with a new addition last week, The Split-Level Cookbook by LouAnn Gaeddert (photo above). I can't tell you how happy that made me. And, the fact that she found it at a thrift sotre made it even better. I love that she knows what I like; it makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside.



As I read through this book last weekend, I had to smile. The copyright is 1967 which I believe is about the time that the suburbs became popular with American families. The introduction states, "The leisurely family dinner with Father presiding at the head of the table has, for millions of families in this country, become a sometime -even a rare - thing. Blame Father's commuter train, his business duties which often keep him at his desk long after his secretary has gone home, or his huge business lunches." Sadly, I'm not sure much has changed since then as the majority of families don't have dinner around the table together.

In a recipe for Beef Packages, the instructions read, "Bring the sides of the foil up and wrap loosely with druggist's folds." I know I've never seen that before.

One recipe title gave me the giggles...Smoked Butts with Crab Apples. I had this scene in my head of Lawman coming home and asking what was for dinner. My reply, "Smoked Butts, dear." Oh the hysteria. Surely you think it's funny, right? Please tell me it's not just me.

With each recipe is listed a suggested menu, including dessert. I don't make dessert every night,do you? I'm not a June Cleaver.

We're Baaack from Vacation

Hello again. I've missed you all this week. I can't tell you how nice it has been to disconnect from reality. Honestly, it made me consider if I want to continue my blog. I enjoy sharing bits and pieces of life here with you all but sometimes it feels like "one more thing to do." Eliminating it from my to do list the past week was so freeing. I've got ideas for new posts so I know I'll continue. Besides, I couldn't eliminate my connection with you, my blog world friends!

Much to share.

First, no pictures. I've got issues. Computer issues. (Other issues too but I don't need to tell everything, right?) Our memory is nearly at full capacity which means I need to save our last year of photos to CD ~ I don't have any blank CD's and I don't want to go buy any so that means until I get this taken care of, I can't download any new photos to share. Sorry. Stay with me though and I'll have more up soon I hope. This week will be a busy one with enrollment and the first day of school.

Vacation started out a bit rough. Alison and I both had sinus infections so we were home for a couple of days while Lawman and Madison went camping/boating with friends. All I can say is thank heavens for antibiotics and the day that they kicked in!


We packed our bags and headed out of town as planned. Had a great time with our friends at Lake of the Ozarks. Lots of boating, floating, reading, sunning. Eat, sleep and repeat again and again. I managed to read one book in its entirety ~ The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingslover. I read her Animal, Vegetable, Miracle last year on vacation but hadn't read any of her fiction. I really enjoyed it.


The lake was gorgeous. And BIG. And the houses? Oh my word! I can't imagine what some people must do for a living in order to have a multi-million dollar vacation home. I personally found the older homes built in the late 60's and 70's to be the most charming. They looked like what a lake cabin should be. We did notice that there were alot of homes for sale. More than the last time we were there 4 years ago. I'm sure the economic downturn is the reason why.


On our last day there we visited Ha Ha Tonka. A beautiful place. We docked the boat and hiked up the 1/2 mile trail to see the remains of the castle, stables and water tower. There's another route to take besides the trail -- 216 steps. We did that route last time. We were hot after the hike so we found a place to anchor near the spring. We swam over to the side of the lake where you can exit and then enter into the spring and let the current carry you out to the lake (it isn't very far). The spring water is C.O.L.D. A constant 55 degrees. I sure felt cool after that little dip! It made the lake water feel like a hot tub. As I was being carried out to the lake I thought to myself, "This is what it must feel like to be packed in a bathtub full of ice."


Since returning home we've managed to pack in a couple more fun vacation activities ~ G.I. Joe and a water park. Lawman loved the movie; he's the reason we went. As for the water park? I had more fun than anyone else. I took the girls there 2 years ago and they loved it. Today it was "too little kid." I guess I'm of the age where I don't mind acting like a kid. Note to self: It's not cool when you're a teenager.

She Makes Me Smile

Seeing this girl reading makes me smile. I'm easy to please.

Since summer began, she's been of the mind set that it isn't necessary to do anything related to school in any way, shape, or form. In her mind that includes reading. She and I have differing opinions when it comes to this.

I've told her that she needs to read throughout the summer. "I don't care what book it is, but find one." Hearing your mom say that for the first 4 weeks of summer gets old.

She found a book last week. I thought it would be something light hearted, an easy summer read. No. She's reading Rachel's Tears. Not only am I happy that she's reading but this book has also provided material for discussion.

Do your kids read during summer vacation? If they'd rather not, how do you encourage it?

This & That

I've been struggling with the fact that I have nothing to blog about. Nothing.

It's been cold. Grey. Dreary. Very run-of-the-mill for late January. Boring and dull would be good adjectives.

Which I guess is a good thing given the daily news. We have jobs which allows us to continue as normal. My heart goes out to the millions who have chaos in their lives due to job loss.

Oh, this post sounds depressing. I'll try to improve the tone. Enough already.

Today I've got random items to share.

Last night was my book club meeting. Turns out I was hosting. Not originally planned but I volunteered as the scheduled host had a sick boy in her house. Mind you, I worked until 5pm and we were meeting at 7:00. Between 5 and 7 I had to do some taxi-ing of kids + feed myself & Lawman.

Dinner had to be quick & easy. I received a recipe from my SIL on Monday for an Omelet in a Bag. What? I know, sounds strange. Turns out, it works great.

Start with quart size ziploc freezer bags and eggs. 1 ziploc + 2 eggs per person.

Crack the eggs into the ziploc, close and give it a good shake to mix up the eggs. Add your favorite omelet fixin's; we used green pepper, shredded potato and shredded cheese.

Zip bag and place into a pot of boiling water and boil for 13 minutes.

Remove bag(s) from pot and dump the omelet onto a plate. Wala! Dinner is ready. I plan to make them again with the girls as an experiment of sorts. I think they'll enjoy it.

It is customary at our book club that the hostess provide yummy drinks and dessert. Since I didn't have time to bake and my magic wand was broke, I knew the chance of me pulling something fabulous out of thin air was slim to none. Popcorn and hot choclate would have to suffice. We were watching a movie after all. The movie version of our book. I thought it would be perfect. Turns out it was. Here's the popcorn recipe I used.

Now for a thought that's been bouncing around in my head for a few months. A No Spend Month or 30 Days of Nothing. Have you heard of it? I've read accounts of several families experience with this. Basically, for 30 days you eliminate all non-essential spending. I mentioned this to my family last fall. Not interested. I mentioned it again in late December. Amy's family is having a No Spend Month in February. Mary's family has done this more than once. I read Rachel's account this fall.

I mentioned this idea to Lawman again on Monday thinking that if we were going to do this, we better make a plan as February is literally only days away. Lawman's response? "Every month is a no spend month in this house." Obviously, he's not excited about this little plan. So I let it go. Some battles aren't worth fighting.

His little comment did give me something to think about. Is every month a no spend month? For the most part, he's right. We aren't frivolous. We don't eat out excessively. We don't spend every weekend at the mall. We see a movie at the theatre about once every 6-8 weeks (if we're lucky).

What I had hoped to accomplish with a no spend month was an educational opportunity for our girls. I know the 12 year old doesn't grasp the amount of cash it takes to keep this family functioning. The 15 year old (B2) has a better understanding. She knows how much we pay for the mortgage and utilities. It's good for her to know but we have the understanding that the information she is privvy to does not leave this house. If we didn't think she was mature enough to be responsible with this information, we wouldn't have shared it. My folks didn't discuss finances with me and I don't want to make that mistake with our girls. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to budget when I left home and the absolute worst thing was that I got a credit card in college. Suffice it to say that I learned some financial lessons the hard way.

I know B2 has taken my rambling to heart. She did a no spend week for herself last week. No lunch out for her. She made a lunch every day.

Have you done a no spend month? Something you'd consider? I know we spend more during the warm weather months when it's easier to go out and do something. Maybe we'll re-consider this spring.

I Love a Good Book

I am a reader and this is the stack of books on my night stand.

There's always a stack. The titles will change but the stack never leaves. Some are books that I have selected, a couple are books that my SIL read and recommended and one was a gift.

Not only do I always have a stack by my bedside but I also read 6 titles a year for the book club that I am a member of. Our selection for this month is Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith. I hate to admit it but I won't have it finished by the time we meet. Tonight. I am enjoying it though and I will finish it.

Not only will we be discussing that book but we will also be selecting the books we will be reading in 2009. We are supposed to bring suggestions. I have a tendency to always have a running list of books that I want to read and it's quite lengthy. I'll be considerate and limit my list. Here are my top suggestions.

• Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
• The Alchemist by Paul Coelho
• The Shack by William P. Young (I've read this one.)

Have you read any of these? Are there others you would recommend?

Book of Lessons

"Miss Jeanette Bivens, one of the high school English teachers, was the Wave's faculty adviser. She was a quiet, precise woman who had been at Welch High School so long that she had also been Dad's English teacher. She was the first person in his life, he once told me, who'd showed any faith in him. She thought he was a talented writer and encouraged him to submit a twenty-four-line poem called "Summer Storm" to a statewide poetry competition. When it won first prize, one of Dad's other teachers wondered aloud if the son of two lowlife alcoholics like Ted and Erma Walls could have written it himself. Dad was so insulted that he walked out of school. It was Miss Bivens who convinced him to return and earn his diploma, telling him he had what it took to be somebody. Dad had named me after her; Mom suggested adding the second N to make it more elegant and French."

The above is a quote from the memoir of Jeannette Walls called The Glass Castle. It's a story filled with pain, poverty, and despair. It's also one of survival and overcoming difficulties. I'd venture to say she (Jeannette) would tell you Miss Blivens was a very positive influence in her life as well.

I found her story to be amazing. One that I couldn't put down. As I read this book, what I saw was the shortcomings of her parents. So talented and smart yet totally unable to be a responsible adult and parent. It was easy for me to see that because I've had a pretty easy life. I had a warm place to sleep, clothes to wear and food to eat. My hardships look like a day at the beach compared to what this family endured.

Last night, I heard Jeannette speak. She was wonderful. She was wise. She was funny. She was a teacher and a story-teller.

I was struck by a comment she made. I'll paraphrase.....every difficult situation has a gift wrapped inside if we will only allow ourselves to receive it.

Think about that. I can speak from experience and say that every difficult situation has taught me something. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right?

She has come to terms with her past. She does not hold a grudge against her parents about what they did or didn't do during her childhood. She has learned how to find positives among all the negatives (a trait she might possibly get from her very optimistic mother).

(left to right: B2, B3, Jeannette Walls, me -- She's tall!)

[left to right: The Bookclub -- (Honorary Members B2, B3), Rechelle, Jeannette Walls, Kim, Dina, Jenny, me]

Photos courtesy of Rechelle

Friday

It's dreary here today. Rain and clouds. Just the kind of day I like to spend at home. The weekend forecast is more rain & gloom. I'm hoping to be home this weekend; here's what I'd like to accomplish.

1. Bake banana bread or muffins. DONE.



2. Bake (more) cinnamon delight bread (scroll down). I made 2 loves on Wednesday and they were both gone by the end of breakfast today. Yummy.



3. Clean my laundry room. DONE.



4. Read my book, the girl who stopped swimming. DONE, finished the book.



5. Play cards with my girls. DONE.



6. Watch a few episodes of the OC with my girls; we're hooked.



7. Dinner with Lawman and friends on Saturday. I'll be trying a new recipe for Italian herb bread to take with us. DONE. This bread is excellent!

Surprises

Once-in-a-while I am surprised by my oldest daughter. Highlights from Wednesday --

She popped a new CD in the car for our listening pleasure; Adele19. Very artsy. A nice change of pace from the top 40 hits.

Admitting that she didn't really need anything but supplies for back-to-school.

A revision to that statement followed only moments later. "Ok, maybe a complete outfit for the first day." She is 15 you know.

Reading again. This girl used to read the back of the cereal box at breakfast. She took a book with her when we went grocery shopping. She read 5 books during the month of July, none of which had fewer than 400 pages.