At our last book club meeting when we discussed Orphan Train, which we all enjoyed, Nat gave me a sort of a recommendation. She looked askance, and was curious about what I would think of it.
We are reading this book for next book club and the name of the book is Afterwards by Rosamund Fulton. I enjoyed this book so much I also read her first book, Sister. Both books are a bit quirky in concept but, since I love characters, and these books are definitely filled with characters, I was a happy reader.
In other news, I was gifted last Sunday with a laundry basket's worth of cut flannel strips. So I have 68 pieced 6 inch blocks for a nice warm toddler sized quilt. I think. Perhaps. We shall see.
Stay tuned.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Friday, August 1, 2014
What are You Reading Now???
I made a comment in a post on Ravelry yesterday that I save my rants for my blog. I don't rant nearly as much as I THINK about ranting, because that just alienates people.
But we were discussing books that we enjoy that are labeled as Young Adult reading. Even though I don't seek out stories that feature fairies, vampires, ghosts or zombies (who are also showing up in adult fare), I think that a well-written tale is suitable for all ages.
Looking at the above list, I am particularly resistant to zombies.
Gretchen Rubin, a favorite of mine, is a great lover of kid lit, and has started groups of other adults who admit to the same addiction. Some of our favorites at Book Club have been books we never got to as children. Anne of Green Gables, for instance. (Sometimes you get tired of crime, gore, forensics, abuse, and evil---and escape to reading.) Sometimes you'd just be happy to hang out in a sunny place with kind people and bumptious children.
Online we have been reading The Book Thief and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. I enjoyed both of these books immensely---though I had to listen to the Major as an audio book. Slow going compared to the pace at which I can read. Supposedly I can knit while I listen, though.
After that I read a couple of quickly read library books on my Nook, and I have at least three good reads stacked up from books I was given in swap packages. One by Kathy Reichs and one by Phillipa Gregory.
I don't catch people using the Little Free Library, but the contents of it change from time to time and it must be visited.
One day two young girls stopped and knocked at my door to ask if they could really "just take a book??"
I told them by all means, if they could find anything suitable for them to read. I should go check out a used book store and put some kid lit in there on purpose. They were really cute though, because they were so excited about getting something for nothing. Sort of like finding a dime on the sidewalk.
We read Orphan Train for our August book club meeting. That's another book I'd recommend, both for its historical perspective and to highlight the plight of present day foster children. There's that "higher purpose", but I just liked the characters.
(If you want to leave a comment, Jane, just leave one as "anonymous" and put your name at the end. That's what Sandy does when she comments.)
Pardon the personal message inserted above, but my family say that they read my blog, but that commenting is made difficult by Google. That may be true, but I only avoid commenting in places with "verification" which drives my astigmatism crazy. I suppose some famous people get a lot of nasty spam and they have to do that, whereas I am basically anonymous. It suits me fine.
Read on. It's still summer after all. Thanks for reading to the end.
But we were discussing books that we enjoy that are labeled as Young Adult reading. Even though I don't seek out stories that feature fairies, vampires, ghosts or zombies (who are also showing up in adult fare), I think that a well-written tale is suitable for all ages.
Looking at the above list, I am particularly resistant to zombies.
Gretchen Rubin, a favorite of mine, is a great lover of kid lit, and has started groups of other adults who admit to the same addiction. Some of our favorites at Book Club have been books we never got to as children. Anne of Green Gables, for instance. (Sometimes you get tired of crime, gore, forensics, abuse, and evil---and escape to reading.) Sometimes you'd just be happy to hang out in a sunny place with kind people and bumptious children.
Online we have been reading The Book Thief and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. I enjoyed both of these books immensely---though I had to listen to the Major as an audio book. Slow going compared to the pace at which I can read. Supposedly I can knit while I listen, though.
After that I read a couple of quickly read library books on my Nook, and I have at least three good reads stacked up from books I was given in swap packages. One by Kathy Reichs and one by Phillipa Gregory.
I don't catch people using the Little Free Library, but the contents of it change from time to time and it must be visited.
One day two young girls stopped and knocked at my door to ask if they could really "just take a book??"
I told them by all means, if they could find anything suitable for them to read. I should go check out a used book store and put some kid lit in there on purpose. They were really cute though, because they were so excited about getting something for nothing. Sort of like finding a dime on the sidewalk.
We read Orphan Train for our August book club meeting. That's another book I'd recommend, both for its historical perspective and to highlight the plight of present day foster children. There's that "higher purpose", but I just liked the characters.
(If you want to leave a comment, Jane, just leave one as "anonymous" and put your name at the end. That's what Sandy does when she comments.)
Pardon the personal message inserted above, but my family say that they read my blog, but that commenting is made difficult by Google. That may be true, but I only avoid commenting in places with "verification" which drives my astigmatism crazy. I suppose some famous people get a lot of nasty spam and they have to do that, whereas I am basically anonymous. It suits me fine.
Read on. It's still summer after all. Thanks for reading to the end.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
You Look Marvelous!
What do you do when the time comes for reunions??
I know that some of the people who live in our local area never, ever attend. There are a great many that I would love to see again, but I'll have to take a little ride and set up a lunch date or something. Some folks travel across the country and wouldn't miss a reunion for the world.
Anyway, we don't have far to travel anymore and we enjoy seeing our old friends and classmates again.
Last week on Thursday at noon, I had fun with a group from my nurses' training days. We do this every summer and each bring food and spend the afternoon together. We had a couple extra neat things this year, since one of us came with her daughter and granddaughter as well. What charmers! Plus one of our classmates phoned and talked to many of us while we were all together. That was a nice treat too.
I came away feeling blessed and healthy which is always good, too. Not everyone's health is great as they age.
From Thursday night through Saturday night our high school class had get-togethers all over town and outlying areas.
On Thursday night a big bunch met at the pizza parlor. On Friday, some guys golfed together, and the whole class was invited to lunch at the golf course facility with an excellent feed that was provided out of the class treasury. This was far and away the best chance to mingle and talk to others. There was lots of time to visit before the food appeared and we weren't rushed to eat and make way for others.
And Saturday night we had a sit down dinner at the very best local eatery. Some folks only make it to this event, so it was nice to have some time to walk about and find out what's happening with the "newcomers".
Through the years, some of the folks I enjoy the most are the spouses of classmates who didn't graduate with us at all, but we've spent lots of time visiting over the course of many events.
All in all, a jolly time was had by all, I hope. Huge appreciation was heaped upon the organizers who work hard to make sure things are planned well ahead. The same folks usually do the job and they are the experts. I'll thank them here as well, even though they may never know. I'll write a note.
I hope you are having fun events this summer, too. People hereabouts are eating strawberries out of their garden patches. I have tons of flowers on my raspberry bushes, and I have bees buzzing around in there, too. I hope that results in some actual berries this year!
(Leave me a comment, if you can spare a minute.)
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
The Nearest Sea
This morning I changed my header because I found a picture from last summer that I fell in love with all over again. If you've visited here in the past, you know I'm not a photographer.
I'd like to be a photographer, but even when I remember to take a camera along, I seldom remember to photograph anything. But last fall, when we took a road trip around Lake Superior, I made a point of taking pictures each day.
This particular picture was taken of the beach at Grand Marais, Michigan. By the autumn, the tourists are gone, and things are pretty quiet once again. In fact things were quiet on the shoreline almost everywhere we stopped, all the way around the Lake.
I should explain that I'm a big fan of Lake Superior. After I left Great Lakes country to live in Virginia in the mountains (briefly), I was so lonesome for lakes that I could taste it. One Sunday we skipped church to take a ride to "a lake". It turned out to be a dammed up river reservoir and it was a grey nasty day, but I was touched that my husband made the effort.
When we left Virginia we were within a ten minute walk of Lake Michigan, which is a very satisfactory substitute for Lake Superior. If we could have deleted the city of Chicago, it would have been darn near perfect.
Water, sand, and me. Just right.
I'd like to be a photographer, but even when I remember to take a camera along, I seldom remember to photograph anything. But last fall, when we took a road trip around Lake Superior, I made a point of taking pictures each day.
This particular picture was taken of the beach at Grand Marais, Michigan. By the autumn, the tourists are gone, and things are pretty quiet once again. In fact things were quiet on the shoreline almost everywhere we stopped, all the way around the Lake.
I should explain that I'm a big fan of Lake Superior. After I left Great Lakes country to live in Virginia in the mountains (briefly), I was so lonesome for lakes that I could taste it. One Sunday we skipped church to take a ride to "a lake". It turned out to be a dammed up river reservoir and it was a grey nasty day, but I was touched that my husband made the effort.
When we left Virginia we were within a ten minute walk of Lake Michigan, which is a very satisfactory substitute for Lake Superior. If we could have deleted the city of Chicago, it would have been darn near perfect.
Water, sand, and me. Just right.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Last Week's This and That
I had my usual happy boring week, with several days spent sewing and gabbing with my sisters. But I had more sad news than usual when talking with others.
One of my nursing classmates is the superintendent of gatherings---and she makes sure we all make the effort to get together every summer. So when I talked to her, she assigned me some folks to call and make sure they were going to show up (and contribute to the meal). One is gearing up for a hip replacement and having significant pain, and one was out at her first physical therapy session after back surgery.
I finally made contact with her later in the day and she has been through a very hard and painful year. This woman was the most high energy, busy, productive person I have ever known, and it pains her to be inactive. I felt so sad for her.
Then, after I had been mulling this over for a day or two, I got a text message from my sister that her good friend's house was on fire. She's out in the country with no fire hydrants and her beautiful wooden house, full of quilts and valuable antiques was a total loss. Total. Loss. I was pretty upset.
But, just like the jaunty sayings that say, "It isn't what happens to you, it's how you react to it." I wasn't nearly so upset when I heard that she was happy that she and the dogs were all okay, she'd made arrangements for shelter, and she'd take it one day at a time.
My own personal victory for the week was a "lace-learning" project. Since it was nice and small, and fairly complicated, I could take it row by row and figure out what me error was, and go back to correct it. It's a minor accomplishment, but I'm proud anyway.
It is washcloth sized, not afghan sized, so don't be too impressed.
I'm reading, too. The Book Thief. I'm enjoying it.
And I'm piecing a quilt top that's a present. Not that the recipient ever comes here, but it isn't together enough to share yet. Maybe soon, though. Come back and see.
We are supposed to have a nice cool week and I'm painting outdoor woodwork. Once in a while. I don't have much stamina since my shoulder needs a rest every half hour.
Have a great week!
One of my nursing classmates is the superintendent of gatherings---and she makes sure we all make the effort to get together every summer. So when I talked to her, she assigned me some folks to call and make sure they were going to show up (and contribute to the meal). One is gearing up for a hip replacement and having significant pain, and one was out at her first physical therapy session after back surgery.
I finally made contact with her later in the day and she has been through a very hard and painful year. This woman was the most high energy, busy, productive person I have ever known, and it pains her to be inactive. I felt so sad for her.
Then, after I had been mulling this over for a day or two, I got a text message from my sister that her good friend's house was on fire. She's out in the country with no fire hydrants and her beautiful wooden house, full of quilts and valuable antiques was a total loss. Total. Loss. I was pretty upset.
But, just like the jaunty sayings that say, "It isn't what happens to you, it's how you react to it." I wasn't nearly so upset when I heard that she was happy that she and the dogs were all okay, she'd made arrangements for shelter, and she'd take it one day at a time.
My own personal victory for the week was a "lace-learning" project. Since it was nice and small, and fairly complicated, I could take it row by row and figure out what me error was, and go back to correct it. It's a minor accomplishment, but I'm proud anyway.
It is washcloth sized, not afghan sized, so don't be too impressed.
I'm reading, too. The Book Thief. I'm enjoying it.
And I'm piecing a quilt top that's a present. Not that the recipient ever comes here, but it isn't together enough to share yet. Maybe soon, though. Come back and see.
We are supposed to have a nice cool week and I'm painting outdoor woodwork. Once in a while. I don't have much stamina since my shoulder needs a rest every half hour.
Have a great week!
Monday, July 7, 2014
The Big Bang Theory
I'll bet you could see this coming!
Around the Fourth of July there seem to be two kinds of people. People who love fireworks (and their attendant noise) and people with animal companions.
Neither one of my female cats seem to pay the slightest attention to the banging and popping------and no, it isn't because there's so much of a din in our house all the time, either. They just don't seem bothered by it. On the other hand, our male cat who is quite brave under other circumstances, is very nervous when the fireworks noise begins.
We actually seemed to have less of it this year than other years. Or maybe it just wasn't as close to our house. But we actually saw some pretty displays quite near us. I think they might have originated just across the river in Wisconsin. Very pretty, and I didn't worry about them setting my roof on fire.
Anyway, it's mostly over now, and we can settle into our comfortable quiet neighborhood.
Our neighbors next door have been re-siding and replacing all their windows this summer and had a mishap when they went to remove the largest front picture window when it fell and broke in a spectacular way. His daughter told me that all Roger said was, "Well, I guess that one won't go to ReStore." Such a cool dude.
That was our other Big Bang of the week.
I'm off to spend a couple of days sewing and knitting with my sisters. I can't wait to see what amazing stuff we accomplish this time. (Muffled laughter.) Beside chocolate consumption, I mean.
Oh, and one other thing. I have a phone that isn't a Smart Phone, but seems to have some sort of artificial intelligence anyway. While I was sitting in the dentist chair this morning, with my phone in my purse, my daughter got a phone call from me. She texted me later asking if everything was okay with us, because she heard a bunch of laughter and what sounded like a party. (Oh yeah, that's us at the dentist, all right!) Isn't that the strangest thing?
Have a great week. Leave me a comment. (I'm a shameless beggar.)
Around the Fourth of July there seem to be two kinds of people. People who love fireworks (and their attendant noise) and people with animal companions.
Neither one of my female cats seem to pay the slightest attention to the banging and popping------and no, it isn't because there's so much of a din in our house all the time, either. They just don't seem bothered by it. On the other hand, our male cat who is quite brave under other circumstances, is very nervous when the fireworks noise begins.
We actually seemed to have less of it this year than other years. Or maybe it just wasn't as close to our house. But we actually saw some pretty displays quite near us. I think they might have originated just across the river in Wisconsin. Very pretty, and I didn't worry about them setting my roof on fire.
Anyway, it's mostly over now, and we can settle into our comfortable quiet neighborhood.
Our neighbors next door have been re-siding and replacing all their windows this summer and had a mishap when they went to remove the largest front picture window when it fell and broke in a spectacular way. His daughter told me that all Roger said was, "Well, I guess that one won't go to ReStore." Such a cool dude.
That was our other Big Bang of the week.
I'm off to spend a couple of days sewing and knitting with my sisters. I can't wait to see what amazing stuff we accomplish this time. (Muffled laughter.) Beside chocolate consumption, I mean.
Oh, and one other thing. I have a phone that isn't a Smart Phone, but seems to have some sort of artificial intelligence anyway. While I was sitting in the dentist chair this morning, with my phone in my purse, my daughter got a phone call from me. She texted me later asking if everything was okay with us, because she heard a bunch of laughter and what sounded like a party. (Oh yeah, that's us at the dentist, all right!) Isn't that the strangest thing?
Have a great week. Leave me a comment. (I'm a shameless beggar.)
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Independence Eve
Wowie! We long for summer and it goes by in a flash. Up here in Michigan, anyway.
The lovely thing this year is that the plants just scrambled like crazy to catch up on the time they were delayed by our endless wintry weather. And we have had lots of rain, so the lawns and gardens are growing nicely. Almost all our nights have been cool, so the AC is not running very often.
Our family has been matriculating all over the place. Grandson Samuel completed high school at the beginning of the month and he graduated with honors. He is enjoying a trip with the high school band this week as they traveled to Washington, DC to perform in the Fourth of July parade tomorrow. They are one of 15 high school bands who will be in the parade. He was very excited about that!
And just yesterday, my daughter, Kris, defended her dissertation and became a PhD. We are very proud that she had the persistence and grit to grind through the process. She maintains attaining this has less to. do with intelligence and more to do with perseverance. This was a lesson her father shared with his children, early and often.
I followed through on my resolution to not plant a garden and the plot has daisies and clover galore growing in great profusion. Whenever I go out there, I scare a few little bunnies out of the clover. The baby birds are learning to fly in the back yard too.
Once again this year the hummingbirds have disappeared again. They were here for about three weeks and then became very scarce. Are they nesting or just getting nectar from flowers? It puzzles me.
I finished the vest project and it looks okay. I am happy that I have had enough experience and access to quick help to finish it without too much trouble.
I wish you all a very pleasant and joyous holiday weekend. Whatever brings to mind a festive time for you ----------I hope that's what you have for your weekend.
Did you read to the end? Please comment.
The lovely thing this year is that the plants just scrambled like crazy to catch up on the time they were delayed by our endless wintry weather. And we have had lots of rain, so the lawns and gardens are growing nicely. Almost all our nights have been cool, so the AC is not running very often.
Our family has been matriculating all over the place. Grandson Samuel completed high school at the beginning of the month and he graduated with honors. He is enjoying a trip with the high school band this week as they traveled to Washington, DC to perform in the Fourth of July parade tomorrow. They are one of 15 high school bands who will be in the parade. He was very excited about that!
And just yesterday, my daughter, Kris, defended her dissertation and became a PhD. We are very proud that she had the persistence and grit to grind through the process. She maintains attaining this has less to. do with intelligence and more to do with perseverance. This was a lesson her father shared with his children, early and often.
I followed through on my resolution to not plant a garden and the plot has daisies and clover galore growing in great profusion. Whenever I go out there, I scare a few little bunnies out of the clover. The baby birds are learning to fly in the back yard too.
Once again this year the hummingbirds have disappeared again. They were here for about three weeks and then became very scarce. Are they nesting or just getting nectar from flowers? It puzzles me.
I finished the vest project and it looks okay. I am happy that I have had enough experience and access to quick help to finish it without too much trouble.
I wish you all a very pleasant and joyous holiday weekend. Whatever brings to mind a festive time for you ----------I hope that's what you have for your weekend.
Did you read to the end? Please comment.
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