I had a lofty goal of reading 100 books in 2010. I didn't quite make it. There were some lengthy books in my list this year so I don't think I'll be beating myself up too much over falling short. The sword of truth books come to mind first off.
I've been working on this list all year and I'm really happy I was keeping track. Looking over it now, there are some books I had forgotten I'd read and some I really wished I hadn't read at all.
I think I'm going to make 100 books in 2011 one of my resolutions this year.
The Reading List:
1. Alan Bradley - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
2. David Cristofano - The Girl She Used to Be
3. Robert Munsch - The Munschworks Grand Treasury
4. Jean Auel - Shelters of Stone
5. John Jeavons - The Backyard Homestead Mini-Farm
6. Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol
7. Terry Goodkind - The Pillars of Creation
8. Peter D'Adamo - The Genotype Diet
9. Jason Wright - The Wednesday Letters
10. Terry Goodkind - Naked Empire
11. Heidi Ayarbe - Freeze Frame
12. Scott O'Dell - Island of the Blue Dolphins
13. Khaled Hosseini - A Thousand Splendid Suns
14. Nicholas Sparks - The Notebook
15. Alan Bradley - The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag
16. Nicholas Sparks - Dear John
17. Terry Goodkind - Chainfire
18. Anne Tyler - The Amateur Marriage
19. Alan Bennett - The Uncommon Reader
20. Don Piper - 90 Minutes in Heaven
21. Michael Scott - The Alchemyst
22. Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code
23. Terry Goodkind - Phantom
24. Catherine Gilbert Murdock - Princess Ben
25. Brandon Mull - Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison
26. Cesar Millan - A Member of the Family
27. Paulo Coelho - The Witch of Portobello
28. Anita Diamant - The Red Tent
29. Terry Goodkind - Confessor
30. Sarah Gruen - Riding Lessons
31. Alice Sebold - The Lovely Bones
32. Kathryn Stockett - The Help
33. Stephenie Meyer - The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
34. Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception
35. Ann Brashares - The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
36. Melanie Benjamin - Alice I have been
37. Rebecca Stead - When You Reach Me
38. Cynthia Lord - Rules
39. Rick Riordan - The Red Pyramid
40. David Dosa - Making Rounds with Oscar
41. Elizabeth Hasselbeck - The G Free Diet
42. Margaret Mitchell - Gone With The Wind
43. Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony
44. Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
45. Stieg Larrson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
46. Elizabeth Berg - Home Safe
47. Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
48. Jeanne DuPrau - City of Ember
49. Maggie Stiefvater - Linger
50. Jeanne DuPrau - The People of Sparks
51. Jeanne DuPrau - The Prophet of Yonwood
52. F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
53. Jeanne DuPrau - The Diamond of Darkhold
54. Frank Bruni - Born Round
55. Sara Gruen - Ape House
56. Charlotte Bronte - Jane Eyre
57. Lewis Carroll - Alice in Wonderland
58. Lewis Carroll - Through the Looking Glass
59. Rhoda Janzen - Mennonite in a Little Black Dress
60. Kate Jacob - The Friday Night Knitting Club
61. Christopher McDougall - Born to Run
62. Philip Pullman - The Golden Compass
63. Philip Pullman - The Subtle Knife
64. Philip Pullman - The Amber Spyglass
65. Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games
66. Chris Cleave - Little Bee
67. Kate Jacob - Knit Two
68. Voltaire - Candide
69. Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged
70. Suzanne Collins - Catching Fire
71. Suzanne Collins - Mockingjay
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas Cookie Tradition
One of my favorite Newman family Christmas traditions is our annual cookie day. We gather, have lunch, catch up on family news and bake cookies until we all have reached our maximum sugar tolerance for the season. The star of the cookie show is hands down the sugar cookies! By the end of the day we each have our own tins of fudge, chocolate chip cookies, rice crispy treats, sugar cookies, and pecan sandies.
It is usually a girls only affair. The boys are sent off to buy us presents or have a sushi date or buy guns...you know, the usual boy stuff. Since Bobbo is still a small, man-child he gets to come still. Plus he needs to put some miles on his 'boy apron'.
We were short a few of our usual attendees this year and they were noticably missed.
It is usually a girls only affair. The boys are sent off to buy us presents or have a sushi date or buy guns...you know, the usual boy stuff. Since Bobbo is still a small, man-child he gets to come still. Plus he needs to put some miles on his 'boy apron'.
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| Decorating sugar cookies |
We were short a few of our usual attendees this year and they were noticably missed.
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| Bobbo, Me, Karyl, Kayla, Nicole, Nancy, Emma & Donna |
Six Days
My little guy was born six days before Christmas. Six days.
 This time of year holds memories now, not just of the anticipation of Christmas and the joy of the season, but also blurry memories of late nights, round the clock feedings, snuggling by the fire and watching the Christmas tree lights twinkle with a sleeping baby tucked gently in the crook of my arm. This is Bobbo's first ornament. I might need to keep it for myself after he's grown. It's hard not to look at it without getting teary eyed and wishing for babies brand new all over again.  |
| "How delightful," Said Pooh, To be so brand-new" |
"A Baby is always doing something brand-new," said Piglet.
"I suppose that's what makes a baby so special," said Pooh. "That and being so huggable and sweet."
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
"We must see all scars as beauty. A scar doesn't form on the dying. A scar means, I survived."
~Little Bee
The back of the book reads:
We don't want to tell you what happens in this book.
It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it.
Nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it, so we will just say this:
This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face. Two years later, they meed again - and the story starts there...
Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds.
~Little Bee
The back of the book reads:
We don't want to tell you what happens in this book.
It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it.
Nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it, so we will just say this:
This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face. Two years later, they meed again - and the story starts there...
Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds.
So....What do you say about that?
I admit that I didn't like the book when I started it. But my sister-in-law was adamant that I read the book because she loved it. I would have put the book down if she wouldn't have been so insistent and the fact that I can't not finish a book once I've started it. My ONE fatal flaw I suppose...
But then I absolutely needed to know how the story was going to end. And I read 2/3 of the book in one day.
So. Should you read it? YES. Will you like it? Maybe. It will leave you thinking for sure. Last night I would have told you no, I didn't like it. But after sleeping on it, I think I'm changing my mind.
So what's the story? It's the story of a person who throws one washed up starfish back into the ocean. Does that make a difference in the world? It does to THAT starfish.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
NO?
You don't think I can do it?
You really should have more faith in me than that.
I just finished reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It really and truly has got me thinking about trying to out run a deer. Do you think it was really possible back in the hunter and gatherer days? If a deer can't sweat and run at the same time...and it would get overheated in just over 6 miles.....
I can totally run 6 miles...
Okay. Maybe I will work on my strategy a little bit more first. But it's got me thinking. Just like I've been thinking lately that if I could be any fictional character ever I'd be Ayla from the Earth's Children Series. I'd like to rock the tone, gorgeous, hunter/gatherer body AND know all she knows about medicinal herbs.
But that's another story. And this story is about Born to Run. Born to Run is a mix of history about the Taruamara running tribes, good running advice, and stories about some of the more famous ultra runners from the US.
Before reading this book I didn't really know anything about ultra running. I guess I thought you run marathons and that's it. I ended up changing my bookmark half way through to a piece of paper just so I could jot down things I wanted to google later. Like Jenn Shelton. If I can't be Ayla in another life then I would like to be just like Jenn Shelton someday.
Anyone who is any kind of recreational runner would enjoy this book I think. The following is my favorite part. Which will someday find it's way onto an index card and be thumb tacked to the wall in front of my treadmill right next to the list of the 1996 Churchill County Cross Country race times. That Katrina Flanders....she was fast. And I aim to catch her someday.
Caballo's Lesson #2: Think Easy, Light, Smooth, and Fast.
You start with easy, because if that's all you get, that's not so bad.
Then work on light. Make it effortless, like you don't give a shit how high the hill is or how far you've got to go.
When you've practiced that so long you forget you're practicing, you work on making it smooth. You won't have to worry about the last one - you get those three, and you'll be fast.
Monday, November 22, 2010
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman is a trilogy consisting of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. They have been on my TO READ list for a while now, but I kept putting them off. I had heard they were chalk full of controversy and on the Church's banned book list. I'm not sure why I cared about it being on the boycott list by the Church, they don't approve of Harry Potter either and I didn't care. I really kind of feel like a book is a book is a book and at the end of the day I have to be responsible for my own beliefs where ever I acquired them. And besides, I'm not the kind of person who believes something just because some one told me to.
As I was reading I made a mental list of all the possible reasons the books would have been on the do not read list. Here's what I came up with:
Fallen Angels
An Angel who poses as the authority (God)
a plot to kill God
Witches
Alternate, Parallel Universes to ours
Talking animals
Portraying the institution as corrupt and inherently evil
Passages to other worlds in the air
Souls existing outside people as daemons
Original sin appearing as dust that gathers around people
Maybe if you are good at the whole drawing implied references out of fiction you would have taken more offense to the storyline. But I think I already established that English wasn't my strongest subject. The story at face value was really good. Good as in I liked it like I liked Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia or the Percy Jackson books.
What I learned from wikipedia is that the trilogy was written to be somewhat a retelling and an inversion of John Milton's Paradise Lost. (crickets chirping) Which means I guess maybe I should add that to my TO READ list as well now.
In the Golden Compass, we meet Lyra and discover what the Authority has plans to do by way of severing children from their deamons. Severing this bond releases a large amount of energy that can be used to open up doors into other worlds. Lyra also finds the golden compass (the elithiometer) and learns how to read it. It is a truth telling device that will answer any question you ask of it if you know how to use it properly. We also learn that there is a prophecy about Lyra. That she is meant to do something great but she must not know about it ahead of time.
Its not until the Subtle Knife that we learn that there are a large number of parallel universes to ours and it is possible to use the Subtle Knife to cut a door from any world into another. The Subtle Knife is a continuation of Lyra's mission and the book where we are introduced to Will. He will also have a significant role in Lyra carrying out the prophecy.
In the final book we learn what exactly the prophecy about Lyra is and see it be fulfilled.
My Favorite Characters:
Lorek Byrnison is an armoured bear. He has been tricked out of his rightful role as king of the bears and Lyra helps him to regain it. Afterward, he is instrumental in Lyra fulfilling the prophecy.
Lee Scoresby is an aeronaut from Texas. I loved him because he is good hearted deep down but extremely blunt (as in has no people skills), if it doesn't directly help him out then he's not for it. He loves Lyra like a daughter and would protect her with his life. There is also something about strong-willed Texans. I liked Lee Scoresby just as much as I liked Richard from Texas in Eat, Pray, Love.
Serafina Pekkala is a witch that is all at once old and young, and extremely knowledgeable. I saw her as a mother figure to Lyra. Serafina in the beginning is the only one who knows the prophecy about Lyra.
Marisa Coulter, turns out to be Lyra's mother. She wishes to destroy Dust and thus Original Sin. Mrs. Coulter seems to switch sides regularly and the whole time I was left wondering if she was truly good or evil at the core.
Now, I am off to find Paradise Lost at the library.
As I was reading I made a mental list of all the possible reasons the books would have been on the do not read list. Here's what I came up with:
Fallen Angels
An Angel who poses as the authority (God)
a plot to kill God
Witches
Alternate, Parallel Universes to ours
Talking animals
Portraying the institution as corrupt and inherently evil
Passages to other worlds in the air
Souls existing outside people as daemons
Original sin appearing as dust that gathers around people
Maybe if you are good at the whole drawing implied references out of fiction you would have taken more offense to the storyline. But I think I already established that English wasn't my strongest subject. The story at face value was really good. Good as in I liked it like I liked Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia or the Percy Jackson books.
What I learned from wikipedia is that the trilogy was written to be somewhat a retelling and an inversion of John Milton's Paradise Lost. (crickets chirping) Which means I guess maybe I should add that to my TO READ list as well now.
In the Golden Compass, we meet Lyra and discover what the Authority has plans to do by way of severing children from their deamons. Severing this bond releases a large amount of energy that can be used to open up doors into other worlds. Lyra also finds the golden compass (the elithiometer) and learns how to read it. It is a truth telling device that will answer any question you ask of it if you know how to use it properly. We also learn that there is a prophecy about Lyra. That she is meant to do something great but she must not know about it ahead of time.
Its not until the Subtle Knife that we learn that there are a large number of parallel universes to ours and it is possible to use the Subtle Knife to cut a door from any world into another. The Subtle Knife is a continuation of Lyra's mission and the book where we are introduced to Will. He will also have a significant role in Lyra carrying out the prophecy.
In the final book we learn what exactly the prophecy about Lyra is and see it be fulfilled.
My Favorite Characters:
Lorek Byrnison is an armoured bear. He has been tricked out of his rightful role as king of the bears and Lyra helps him to regain it. Afterward, he is instrumental in Lyra fulfilling the prophecy.
Lee Scoresby is an aeronaut from Texas. I loved him because he is good hearted deep down but extremely blunt (as in has no people skills), if it doesn't directly help him out then he's not for it. He loves Lyra like a daughter and would protect her with his life. There is also something about strong-willed Texans. I liked Lee Scoresby just as much as I liked Richard from Texas in Eat, Pray, Love.
Serafina Pekkala is a witch that is all at once old and young, and extremely knowledgeable. I saw her as a mother figure to Lyra. Serafina in the beginning is the only one who knows the prophecy about Lyra.
Marisa Coulter, turns out to be Lyra's mother. She wishes to destroy Dust and thus Original Sin. Mrs. Coulter seems to switch sides regularly and the whole time I was left wondering if she was truly good or evil at the core.
Now, I am off to find Paradise Lost at the library.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Friday Night Knitting Club
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Is knitting making a comeback in the younger generations?? Some would argue yes. There are two or three of the 20-30 age range who go to the library knitting meetings regularly.
The Friday Night Knitting Club offers a glimpse into the everyday life of single parent, Georgia Walker, and her daughter Dokota. Georgia runs a knitting shop in New York City. What started as a costumer here and there staying late after shop hours to discuss knitting projects or life in general evolved into a weekly gathering of a handful of funny, caring, you-are-gonna-love women who come to depend on each other for more than knitting and purling advice.
I really liked the novel. Even if you aren't a knitter if you like Chick Lit I predict you will enjoy The Friday Night Knitting Club. One word of advice though: It has a interesting twist very late in the story, so don't go reading the back of the sequel (like I did) before you are done with the first. I was sad I ruined the ending for myself.
Is knitting making a comeback in the younger generations?? Some would argue yes. There are two or three of the 20-30 age range who go to the library knitting meetings regularly.
The Friday Night Knitting Club offers a glimpse into the everyday life of single parent, Georgia Walker, and her daughter Dokota. Georgia runs a knitting shop in New York City. What started as a costumer here and there staying late after shop hours to discuss knitting projects or life in general evolved into a weekly gathering of a handful of funny, caring, you-are-gonna-love women who come to depend on each other for more than knitting and purling advice.
I really liked the novel. Even if you aren't a knitter if you like Chick Lit I predict you will enjoy The Friday Night Knitting Club. One word of advice though: It has a interesting twist very late in the story, so don't go reading the back of the sequel (like I did) before you are done with the first. I was sad I ruined the ending for myself.
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| What I learned to make at my very own Saturday-Afternoon-Knitting-Club... |
Monday, November 15, 2010
NEWS FLASH
Umm...did anyone else just realize it's the middle of November already.
How did that happen???
It's been busy over here at the homestead. Let's see, since I posted last, Halloween happened, an unfortunate dog-tried-to-eat-one-of-the-chickens incident happened, voting happened, a baby shower happened, 15 jars of jalapeno jelly and 12 jars of stewed tomatoes happened, another baby shower happened.
Here are some of the highlights:
Hopefully the next few weeks will slow down and there will be a lot of fires in the fireplace, movies on the TV, and sweet things in the oven.
How did that happen???
It's been busy over here at the homestead. Let's see, since I posted last, Halloween happened, an unfortunate dog-tried-to-eat-one-of-the-chickens incident happened, voting happened, a baby shower happened, 15 jars of jalapeno jelly and 12 jars of stewed tomatoes happened, another baby shower happened.
Here are some of the highlights:
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| Me and Andrea at the Halloween party |
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| A Butterfly and The Cowboy |
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| Baby showers are for girls...and sometimes cowboys |
Hopefully the next few weeks will slow down and there will be a lot of fires in the fireplace, movies on the TV, and sweet things in the oven.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Who's Kid is that Anyway?!?!
Except he's not really a stranger. Sort of. That's big Al. And just a few minutes prior to that he was doing this:
Slicing up apples and sticking them on people's thumbs then proceeding to cover them in sticky, deliciousness. And once you've shared something like that....what's a little apple cider between friends.
The Apple Hill Gang. Or at least the one's who got their faces painted. Minus Burrito. He was off drinking other people's drinks.
p.s. We did visit other places at Apple Hill besides this one, but Denver Dan's is still our favorite!! Its not anyplace that you can share some home grown cider with Big Al.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I Took a Little Run in the Woods
I have officially competed in my first post high school 5k race. I didn't die. I made it in under 30 minutes. And those were really the only goals I had. Oh, and one I added mid-race....to finish in front of the guy with the beer belly and the crazy tattoos. Which I did. By, all of 5 seconds or so.
I brought two of my favorite boys to cheer for me. Can you tell how excited Burrito is to be up at the crack of dawn NOT watching cartoons in our comfy, old living room.
Apparently, I was such a blur at the finish line that they forgot to record my time. I missed out on getting to stand up on the awards block and accept my cut little 3rd place age division trophy; but I do currently have it in my possession. Minus the $3 in my pocket I had to pay for shipping. My official (caught on camera by the hired photogs) yet unofficial time (not recorded by the organization) was 28:22
I'd like to get a few more 5ks under my running shoes and then it will be off to bigger and better longer races. I poked around on the 10k time records and I would have finished 113th or so with my pace. Little fish in a big pond I suppose.
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| Finish Line |
I brought two of my favorite boys to cheer for me. Can you tell how excited Burrito is to be up at the crack of dawn NOT watching cartoons in our comfy, old living room.
Apparently, I was such a blur at the finish line that they forgot to record my time. I missed out on getting to stand up on the awards block and accept my cut little 3rd place age division trophy; but I do currently have it in my possession. Minus the $3 in my pocket I had to pay for shipping. My official (caught on camera by the hired photogs) yet unofficial time (not recorded by the organization) was 28:22
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| Note: Fashion takes backseat to warmth on cold, running mornings... |
And then there was beer and Lake Tahoe. Of which I participated in drinking the first and not swimming in the second. Because after all, I'm crazy - but not that crazy.....at 9am in the morning when it's 38 degrees outside.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Any given Saturday (aka the knitting projects)
My first ever crochet projects were these Yodas. They definitely have some mistakes but I am proud of them! Pattern is from here.
And the Christmas stocking project is finally complete. They took me soooo long - its a good thing I started them in March. Its the same pattern but one I knitted on straight needles and the other I did on circulars. I still haven't figured out how to do heels properly (or the name embroidery). I don't think sock knitting will be in my future. I also tried to do the bobbin thing on the Boy's so I didn't have to carry the green all the way around, but his tree turned out rough looking. Maybe I will add some ornaments to cover it up. BUT, it is a lot bigger than the current stocking which was the goal. Now I can load it up with all kinds of goodies. And mine is finally big enough to fit a small puppy or a kitten inside.
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| The Yodas |
And the Christmas stocking project is finally complete. They took me soooo long - its a good thing I started them in March. Its the same pattern but one I knitted on straight needles and the other I did on circulars. I still haven't figured out how to do heels properly (or the name embroidery). I don't think sock knitting will be in my future. I also tried to do the bobbin thing on the Boy's so I didn't have to carry the green all the way around, but his tree turned out rough looking. Maybe I will add some ornaments to cover it up. BUT, it is a lot bigger than the current stocking which was the goal. Now I can load it up with all kinds of goodies. And mine is finally big enough to fit a small puppy or a kitten inside.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The Joys of Potty Training
Little bits of comic relief such as pants on backward almost make up for all the extra loads of laundry.
Almost....
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
A Week in the Environment
Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.
~ Winnie the Pooh
This year, the Fall family vacation was camping in California. We woke up to this lovely sight every morning. It was a nice break from work and chores and time lines.
The Boy and the monsters were SO SO SO excited to get the camping fun started that they left without me. This is what two children who have been camping alone with their papa for three whole days look like.
Burrito will truthfully admit that he's only into fishing for the sunflower seeds. Oh, and the buzz lightyear fishing pole of course. He needed his big sister to put the worm on his hook, take the fish off his hook, and liberate the ones who were too small for eating.
He did however eat an entire bag of jalapeno salsa sunflower seeds (shells and all)....
A big thank you to Annabell who willingly let Burrito use her tail as a tow rope when he was too tired to continue on our hiking adventure.
Grandma volunteered to tow thing 1 and thing 2 in the bike trailer the 10 miles we road up the Bizz Johnson Trail. I'm pretty sure we'd still be out there if the task was assigned to me...
My favorite part of the bike ride is going through the train tunnels!
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| A completely unscripted act of sibling love |
No one was eaten by bears, we had delicious campfire dinners every night, and the children are more or less cleaned up now.
Off to do some laundry now.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Adventures of one kind or another
Did you hear?
I'm up for best sister ever award!!
The only one who could beat me is my sister, IF she actually takes my children all summer like I've been hinting for her to volunteer for. I have had far too little wacko-jacko time in my life lately so I volunteered to help her move these two beauties 1,000 miles to their new home. (And I freely admit here that I use HELP very liberally....in that I mostly just fed Jacko Starbursts, diet pepsi, and made sure she didn't fall asleep whilst driving)
It took us two days of what could possibly be the flattest, most, redundant scenery of driving in the whole U. S. of A. And I was thoroughly disappointed that we saw not one creature that really could be called wildlife on the drive. A bazillion cows. I need some mountains in my life, and antelope or deer or elk or something.
The place we stopped to rest on the first day was under tornado warning. That was all new territory for us westerners. Lightning, rain, wind, blaringly loud storm radios. The owner of the stable was so worried for us she met us at the gate and helped put the horses away so we could take shelter quickly. We spent the night in the neatest little cottage. It was bigger than the duplex that was my first "home".
There were two rooms in the cottage, but being the sistermates that we are we snuggled up together in one bed. I giggled to myself on the way out the door in the morning. They knew two girls were here last night, but only one bed is slept in.....what will the neighbors think??
I'm up for best sister ever award!!
The only one who could beat me is my sister, IF she actually takes my children all summer like I've been hinting for her to volunteer for. I have had far too little wacko-jacko time in my life lately so I volunteered to help her move these two beauties 1,000 miles to their new home. (And I freely admit here that I use HELP very liberally....in that I mostly just fed Jacko Starbursts, diet pepsi, and made sure she didn't fall asleep whilst driving)
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| Princeton and Tux |
It took us two days of what could possibly be the flattest, most, redundant scenery of driving in the whole U. S. of A. And I was thoroughly disappointed that we saw not one creature that really could be called wildlife on the drive. A bazillion cows. I need some mountains in my life, and antelope or deer or elk or something.
The place we stopped to rest on the first day was under tornado warning. That was all new territory for us westerners. Lightning, rain, wind, blaringly loud storm radios. The owner of the stable was so worried for us she met us at the gate and helped put the horses away so we could take shelter quickly. We spent the night in the neatest little cottage. It was bigger than the duplex that was my first "home".
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| The Cowboy Suite |
Before we left, we took a self guided tour through the barn. Jacko is green with barn envy.
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| Barn Envy |
In the end we survived and made it to the new casa. (And for the record I drove for approximately 30 minutes of the two-day road trip and had to use the horse whip one time). Apparently in Illinois they do not label rural roads nor post speed limit signs....so good luck trying to go visit Jacko.
The barn where Princeton and Tux will be staying has the cutest guard dog miniature pony named Dav-E'. He has free reign of the property, followed us around like a puppy, and gave Tux a dominance run for his hooves. I hope someday I can get my kiddos out there to ride him.
the end
p.s. Sorry I said your head was too small for your body Tux. But I kind of, sort of still mean it. Please don't hold that against me next time I try to ride you.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A Pain-free Labor Day (mostly)
We had a lovely Labor Day Monday in good old Fallon. Except the part where Burrito ate it on the sidewalk and is now sporting a healthy amount of road rash on his forehead.
Sidewalk's not for that fancy walking my son, it's for regular walking.
Anyway, do you know what the best part of being from a small town is?
That you can't go to walmart without running into at least 5 people you know? WRONG
That you can kiss the beer man in the grocery store and it will be okay because it's your husbandman? WRONG
That you can count on the Eagle's pancake breakfast on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month? WRONG
It's parade candy may friends. (and oodles of soccer kids, cheerleaders, band peeps, old cars, horses, and fire trucks.)
As the mother of this operation I take my candy cut from the top....meaning any piece I want is mine, no questions asked.
I told the husbandman that if I had this truck he wouldn't have to steal the ford down the street I've had my eye on for a while.
And this is why we usually leave the mother at home:
Sidewalk's not for that fancy walking my son, it's for regular walking.
Anyway, do you know what the best part of being from a small town is?
That you can't go to walmart without running into at least 5 people you know? WRONG
That you can kiss the beer man in the grocery store and it will be okay because it's your husbandman? WRONG
That you can count on the Eagle's pancake breakfast on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month? WRONG
It's parade candy may friends. (and oodles of soccer kids, cheerleaders, band peeps, old cars, horses, and fire trucks.)
As the mother of this operation I take my candy cut from the top....meaning any piece I want is mine, no questions asked.
I told the husbandman that if I had this truck he wouldn't have to steal the ford down the street I've had my eye on for a while.
This one was the kids' favorite (naturally)
And this is why we usually leave the mother at home:
Monday, August 30, 2010
Add this to the things I never thought I'd have to say
I'm not sure what number I am on officially, so lets start with 9.
9. I have a very STRICT no peanut butter in my bed rule.
(Uttered to the younger thing when asking to eat his apple slices and peanut in my bed so he could also watch The Littles.)
9. I have a very STRICT no peanut butter in my bed rule.
(Uttered to the younger thing when asking to eat his apple slices and peanut in my bed so he could also watch The Littles.)
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg
Home Safe is about author and recent widow, Helen, who is struggling to come to terms with her writer's block as well as the sudden loss of her husband. She also comes to find out that a significant portion of their nest egg has been used to build a custom, dream retirement home meant for the two of them.
I think, at first, I had a hard time relating to Helen because of the age gap between myself and her character. It's hard to sympathize with someone who is not also caught up in diapers, working full time, and trying to figure out how date night is going to happen in the near future.
Then, I had an epiphany. Sort of. This is the non-Pixar, girl version of UP. It's the coming to terms with what to do with all the dreams you were saving up to do someday with your spouse when that's not an option anymore. And then I liked it!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Scouting
This weekend we went scouting for the perfect place to camp. A place that our little family of four will be able to swim, fish (Bobby for the first time ever), roast marshmallows, go on day hikes, get good and dirty, and take a break from life.
We checked out Echo Lake....
AND Mitch fell off that telephone pole right into the water. These are things we all remember...hilarious.
We checked out Silver Lake.....
The water was pretty cold in the shade but the kids did swim for a little bit.
We checked out Caribou Lake.....
This spot I distinctly remember from the last time we camped here. Way back before marriages and babies and camp trailers. We fished a lot. Jacko, Daniel, and Cletus came to visit us. We slept in tents. We cooked all our meals on the campfire in dutch ovens.
Can't. Hardly. Wait.
 |
| Look at all the trees! |
We checked out Echo Lake....
 |
| Grandpa Bob stood right here...once upon a time |
AND Mitch fell off that telephone pole right into the water. These are things we all remember...hilarious.
We checked out Silver Lake.....
 |
| Sandwiches on the shore of Silver Lake |
The water was pretty cold in the shade but the kids did swim for a little bit.
We checked out Caribou Lake.....
 |
| The perfect jumping off rock |
This spot I distinctly remember from the last time we camped here. Way back before marriages and babies and camp trailers. We fished a lot. Jacko, Daniel, and Cletus came to visit us. We slept in tents. We cooked all our meals on the campfire in dutch ovens.
Can't. Hardly. Wait.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Alice I have been
Alice I Have Been - Melanie Benjamin
Alice I Have Been was this month's book club pick. It also is my month to host....so I was hoping that it would be good and everyone would like it. Book Club isn't until the end of the month, so I'll have to wait a bit to find out what the girls thought of it.
Me?
I LOVED it!
A lot. lot. lot.
That's saying something because I'm not really a die hard Jane Austen fan. This book reminded me of her novels a little. Something about never being able to love the one you want to, strikes a NOT FAIR chord with me.
Alice I have been is a historical fiction account of the life of Alice Liddell, Charles Dodgson's (Lewis Carroll) muse for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It presents the friendship and falling out of the Liddell family with Dodgson, as well as how being publicly associated with Alice in Wonderland affected Alice's personal life all the way through her lifetime.
Admittedly, I don't believe I have ever read Alice in Wonderland. It's on the list for sure now. I've seen all the movies though. Before reading this book, I wasn't aware that Alice had been a real, live person. My interest is seriously piqued now.
Historically, there isn't a lot of information about Alice and her break with Mr Dodgson. Which I think makes for a good basis of a fictional account. It's also got me thinking. Isn't it interesting that the best way to start the rumor mill turning is for the tiniest bit of silence. No comments and few missing pages from a journal can lead to quite the scandalous speculations......
Curiouser and curiouser.
Read it! You know you want to.
Alice I Have Been was this month's book club pick. It also is my month to host....so I was hoping that it would be good and everyone would like it. Book Club isn't until the end of the month, so I'll have to wait a bit to find out what the girls thought of it.
Me?
I LOVED it!
A lot. lot. lot.
That's saying something because I'm not really a die hard Jane Austen fan. This book reminded me of her novels a little. Something about never being able to love the one you want to, strikes a NOT FAIR chord with me.
Alice I have been is a historical fiction account of the life of Alice Liddell, Charles Dodgson's (Lewis Carroll) muse for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It presents the friendship and falling out of the Liddell family with Dodgson, as well as how being publicly associated with Alice in Wonderland affected Alice's personal life all the way through her lifetime.
Admittedly, I don't believe I have ever read Alice in Wonderland. It's on the list for sure now. I've seen all the movies though. Before reading this book, I wasn't aware that Alice had been a real, live person. My interest is seriously piqued now.
Historically, there isn't a lot of information about Alice and her break with Mr Dodgson. Which I think makes for a good basis of a fictional account. It's also got me thinking. Isn't it interesting that the best way to start the rumor mill turning is for the tiniest bit of silence. No comments and few missing pages from a journal can lead to quite the scandalous speculations......
Curiouser and curiouser.
Read it! You know you want to.
Things You Should Read
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
When You Reach Me is this year's Newbery Medal winner.
The description (taken from the Author's website):
Four mysterious letters
change Miranda’s world forever.
By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.
But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:
I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.
The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that haven’t even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.
The book is a kinda, sorta retelling of a Wrinkle in Time (A book which I love by the way). It answers the question about whether time travel is actually possible.
**teeny, tiny plot spoiler (highlight the blank space between ** to read)**
I guessed that the laughing man on the corner was an important character but I was a little bit surprised at who his real identity was. The Husband would have totally nailed it, I'm pretty sure. He's good like that.
**end transmission**
The description (taken from the Author's website):
Four mysterious letters
change Miranda’s world forever.
By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.
But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:
I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.
The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that haven’t even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.
The book is a kinda, sorta retelling of a Wrinkle in Time (A book which I love by the way). It answers the question about whether time travel is actually possible.
**teeny, tiny plot spoiler (highlight the blank space between ** to read)**
I guessed that the laughing man on the corner was an important character but I was a little bit surprised at who his real identity was. The Husband would have totally nailed it, I'm pretty sure. He's good like that.
**end transmission**
Monday, August 9, 2010
August Break - Day 08
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| Tent City: I haven't slept this close to strangers since I went to Mexico to build houses |
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