Facts, Facets, Fancies, and Fairy Tales

2011 Reading Wrap-up

2012-01-12T08:40:00.004-05:00

In January 2011, I listed my reading goals for the coming months, intentional reading of genres and a few specific subjects.

The fulfillment of those goals looked like this:

1 Russian novel -- 350 pages of The Brother's Karamazov by Fydor Dostoevsky (sadly uncompleted.)

1 science-fiction book -- The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin

1 fantasy book -- One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde

1 mystery book -- A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch

1 graphic novel -- Persepolis by Marjam Sartrapi
1 volume of poetry -- Delights & Shadows by Ted Kooser
1 book on writing -- On Writing by Stephen King
1 book on marriage -- Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half by Rick Johnson
2 books on Christian spiritual growth -- Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman; The Power of the Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

All told, throughout the year I read 102 books. I am amazed!

Some of my particular favorite reads:

Anne of Green Gables series books 1-4 by L.M. Montgomery

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister

A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I'd love to hear what your favorite read was in 2011. I'm always looking for great books to delve into. Happy reading!

(If you want to check out any of my monthly reading posts where I briefly reviewed a favorite read, here are the links: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September/October, November, December.)

December Reading

2012-01-10T20:53:00.003-05:00

December certainly lagged behind in my reading. This was partly due to my starting The Brother Karamazov by Dostoevsky in late November. I trudged through 350+ pages before deciding that my mood and mind needed a break. I do plan to pick it back up here and finish it soon, but December just wasn't the time.

I finished six books. The Power of the Praying Wife was a completion of my reading goal for spiritual growth/encouragement books. I also found the book insightful and convicting as I attempt to learn how to pray more specifically and meaningfully for Jeremy.

The Lightning Thief was for work. (In the next month I'll be making my way through the entire Percy Jackson series for a program at work...I've got to get reading!)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever was totally just for laughs, because those books always have something funny to offer.

The Scorpio Races was a suggestion from my friend Becca, and I certainly enjoyed it. It's a YA book. I find it hard to know how to summarize the story, so I'll just let it be.

I read Soulspace because it was about organizing, which I have a particular interest in; sadly the book just didn't cut it for me as it was very woo-woo, without much practicality to it.

And finally, I picked up The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag because 11-year-old Flavia de Luce is the perfect companion for diversion and mystery solving. I'd highly recommend the series!

December Reading
Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
Soulspace by Xorin Balbes
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The Power of the Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

Check back soon, as I'll be posting a quick wrap-up on my 2011 reading.

God Sent His Only Son

2011-12-08T14:08:00.000-05:00

I had anticipated enjoying some devotions this month specifically focused on Advent. I always looked forward to our Advent family devotions as a kid. But alas, December started, and I never quite got my act together. So, instead, I've continued on in my reading of John Piper's book The Passion of Jesus Christ: 50 Reasons Why He Came to Die. Now, I realize that might not sound like Christmas-focused reading. But, truly the reason that Jesus was born, was so He could die to save us.

In my reading this week, I read the following passage and was silenced into thought:

What then does it mean that because of Christ's death for us God will certainly with him graciously give us "all things"....
It's the same as the other Biblical promise, "My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). This promise is clarified in the preceding words: "In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:12-13).
It says we can do "all things" through Christ. But notice "all things" includes "hungering" and "needing." God will meet every real need including the ability to rejoice in suffering when many felt needs do not get met. God will meet every real need, including the need for grace to hunger when the felt need for food is not met. The suffering and death of Christ guarantee that God will give us all things that we need to do his will and to give him glory and to attain everlasting joy.

I'm not entirely sure why, but The Lord's Prayer has been often in my mind lately. In particular the petition Give us this day our daily bread. In our culture of abundance, we don't often think about daily bread. But, I believe that our daily bread goes beyond just physical food. Sometimes I think of daily bread as energy and patience and other qualities I need for each day. I don't know if that's right or not. But, knowing that God supplies what we need each day physically, mentally, emotionally is a comfort to me.

November Reading

2011-12-07T09:14:00.003-05:00

November fell short in the reading department. I never got a great rhythm going and most of the books I read were filled with highly dysfunctional families and adultery. I always find that a bit of a downer. In addition to my completed reading list, I read partway through a couple Christian growth books. And I finally started (after nearly the entire year has passed by!) tackling my goal of reading a Russian novel this year. So, I'm about a quarter of the way through The Brothers Karamazov and hoping I will finish by the end of December.

Loving Frank is the story of Frank Lloyd Wright's years long affair with a married woman. They were both from Chicago, where Wright had designed a home for Mayma Cheney and her husband. It was a tragic story filled with desertion, betrayal, and so much selfishness! The story is based on fact, though I don't know how much liberty the author took. After I finished the book I thought to myself, Should I pass this book on to anyone? While it is an interesting, well-written story, I just decided it's not a story that I wanted to pass around. So, into donation it went.

White Truffles in Winter is the story of a famous French chef Auguste Escoffier, who apparently was very influential in the creation of restaurant dining as we know it today. He and his wife lived apart for the majority of his career. And throughout many of those years, he and Sarah Bernhardt were lovers (according to the book, she had scads of them). Food is an ever-present focus. Particularly as portions of the story follow the remaining days in the life of the chef and his wife as they wither from illness and old age. Their memories spark with remembrances of foods and meals that sparkle in their twilight. Again, this story is based in fact.

A Reliable Wife is the story of a woman who answered an ad to become the wife of a businessman in rural turn-of-the-century Wisconsin. Nothing and no one is quite as it seems as there are so many deceptions from every character. I picked up the book because I've always been a bit fascinated by mail-order brides. And I found the book somewhat hard to put down, mostly because it was like watching a train-wreck and I wondered which character was going to meet their fate in the end because it could have easily been any one of the three main characters.

The Family Fang is the story of Annie and Buster, the grown children of performance artists. As children, Annie and Buster were used as "props" in their parents weird displays of performance art (which essentially involved creating scenes of chaos in public places and observing the results). Needless to say, these two grow-up in a rather dysfunctional home and find themselves as struggling adults, who both end up back at their parents house trying to sort through layers of confusion, which is made more difficult when their parents go missing.

Found and Sent were probably my favorite books of the month. (Even though I read them for work.) They are the first two books in a science-fiction series for kids. The gist of the story is that a plane full of babies appeared from nowhere one fall day at an airport; the government got involved; once the babies were taken off, the plane simply disappeared; those who witnessed the bizarre impossible pretended like nothing happened. All the babies were adopted into families. And 13 years later, the kids start receiving mysterious letters saying, "You are one of the missing." and "Beware! They are coming to get you."

November Reading List:

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
White Truffles in Winter by N.M. Kelly
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix (work)
Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix (work)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T15:41:00.004-05:00

I love Thanksgiving. I love the tables heavy with food and surrounded by family. I love a day specifically set aside to pause and remember the year's joys and challenges, to reflect on the many ways that God is always there each step of the way. And I love that Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season.

This year Jeremy and I are celebrating the day alone. Work schedules got in the way of travel. Spending this holiday as a quiet two-some is strange for me. But still, I am thankful. Today we sit across the table from each other, our plates full of turkey and mashed potatoes and we recognize that we are blessed abundantly.At the end of yoga class last Monday evening, my instructor read the following poem, which has stuck with me throughout this week as I mentally and physically planned and prepared for our small Thanksgiving celebration.

Be Thankful
(author unknown)

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made the effort.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

From my house to yours, I wish you a most happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

September & October Reading List

2011-11-17T18:24:00.001-05:00

For some reason I just haven't sat down long enough to write up my reading post for the last two months. I did complete two more of my reading goals. On Writing was my book on, you guessed it, writing! And Persepolis was my graphic novel for the year.

September brought with it a vacation and therefore some light-reading novels, because who wants heavy reading on vacation? :) And I read my last un-read Jasper Fforde book in September. So, now I'll just have to wait until he writes more. I wish I could spread a love of Fforde. Not many people seem to read his books. I am always taken with his wit and irony. He is just so funny! But, I'm certain he wouldn't be every one's cup of tea, so I'll just appreciate how much I can enjoy his books and the smile that the stories inevitably bring to my face.

October I felt like I was in a bit of a reading slump because I'd just read a fascinatingly unique book and everything else seemed to pale in comparison (review in just a moment). But, I did appreciate the humor and advice of Stephen King's On Writing. I imagine I'll pick that book up again someday.

So, what book put me into a bit of a reading slump? That would be The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Initially my interest was piqued by the upcoming publication of this debut novel because Morgenstern was being compared to J.K. Rowling. I am an unabashed Harry Potter fan. I've read all the books twice and I've seen all the movies at least once (for the last 4 movies, I've made Jeremy go to the theater with me...he hasn't minded too much!). I miss the anticipation of opening a new Harry Potter book and experiencing the adventure for the first time (though I have to say that the series re-reads quite well). Somehow, my sweet husband, scored an Advanced Reader Copy of The Night Circus for me and away I went into another world, turning the pages, completely absorbed.

Was Morgenstern like Rowling? I don't know if I'd have made the connection if it wasn't made for me. Both authors do create magical worlds that exist within the non-magical world. And there are magicians and training of magicians (though nothing like Hogwarts; the training here is more akin to homeschooling). But, overall, the stories are very different. And Morgenstern's book is not a children's story, or a story that would ultimately appeal to children.

This book is very dreamlike to read. Morgenstern moves through time (spanning around 25 years), as well as location. And, at times this was a little confusing. But, her theme of a night circus and dreaming was certainly accentuated by this method.

After all that preliminary information, I'll give you just a little taste of the story, although I've found trying to summarize the book to be quite challenging; it almost defies explanation. Marco and Celia, though they don't know each other, are both groomed from a young age to become powerful magicians for the express purpose of participating in a game, a dual of sorts, at least that's what they understand. Their instructors give them tidbits along the way, these morsels of information start to form the puzzle of their existence. The night circus, that appears without warning and is only open at night, becomes the playing field for these talented, imaginative magicians as their lives unfold for others to experience.

That's all I will tell you. If you want to know more, you'll have to read it yourself.

When I turned the last page of this mysterious dreamlike book, I felt the urge to start back at the beginning.

(A brief suggestion, if you decide to read this, don't listen to it on audio. A co-worker did that and found the moving chronology confusing to follow. Also, I'm very aware that this book won't appeal to everyone, maybe even most people, I'm not sure. It was just such a memorable, interesting read, that I felt I must share.)

Okay, I'm done gabbing. Here are my completed reading lists.

September
Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery
The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman
After the Party by Lisa Jewell
The Fourth Bear by Jaspter Fforde
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt
The Way of the Happy Woman by Sara Avant Stover
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

October
The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution by Trudy Scott
On Writing by Stephen King
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (for work)
The Throne of Fires by Rick Riordan (for work)
Misfortune by Wesley Stace
Start Something That Matters by Blake MyCoskie
Persepolis by Marjam Sartrapi (graphic novel)
Frugavore by Arbella Forge

Christmas Spirit

2011-11-06T15:00:00.001-05:00

Halloween found me dressing-up this year. I can't say I was terribly pleased with the idea, but when your boss says dress-up, well you kind of have to dress-up.

I pondered for days trying to dream up a "good" costume. I don't own anything costumey and I didn't want to spend a lot of money. Also, because I wasn't too enamored with the whole dress-up idea, I wanted my costume to be humorous, not your typical, run-of-the-mill costume. I finally settled on concocting a stereotypical spinster, librarian costume (since I'm a librarian, you know). However, when my sisters were up visiting over the weekend, we stopped in at Target and there in the dollar section was my inspiration--a remarkably hideous, red felt covered headband with five green felt Christmas trees standing up from it (not unlike the Statue of Liberty style headpiece). A pair of socks, a t-shirt, and a felt Christmas tree pail later, I was ready to construct The Spirit of Christmas.

My co-workers aren't particularly filled with a sense of humor and the creative humorousness of my costume seemed largely lost on most of them; however, I did get a few comments from patrons, including a 10-year-old boy telling me he liked my costume, a guy effusively telling me "awesome costume", and a woman asking me where I'd bought my Santa t-shirt. So, all in all, I'd say it was a pretty good costume.

In the spirit of sharing, I'll leave you with these two photos of me modeling my Christmas Spirit, complete with a crazed Christmas Spirit smile. (If you can't tell, the back of my t-shirt says BELIEVE and beneath that is the smiling face of Santa. Socks became handmits and a deconstructed, felt Christmas pail became leg patches, both thanks to my sister Margaret's handicraft spirit.)

The creation of this costume even put me in the Christmas spirit. All week I've been wanting to listen to Christmas music. And I've been brainstorming Christmas gift ideas. Are you in the Christmas spirit?!

Popping Back In

2011-11-03T18:12:00.004-04:00

October passed by quite rapidly. My weekends were filled with either work or company. We don't get many visitors in our neck of the woods, but October brought with it three family visits as well as a visit with college friends. The busyness was a nice change of pace from our usual schedule.

November's arrived and with it low-gray skies that whisper of our fast approaching winter. From everything I've heard, it's going to be a fierce winter--cold and snowy. I have to admit I'm always captivated by the first snow and I do love a white Christmas, but by the end of January, I'm ready for spring green to make her appearance once again. But of course, I live in the Midwest and that just doesn't happen.

I realize I've been rather quiet in the blogging world of late. I want to be more consistent, we'll see if November provides blog fodder. At the very least, stay tuned for a September/October reading list complete with a brief review of a fascinating new novel, as well as some snazzy photos of my impression of the Spirit of Christmas. Now doesn't that sound intriguing?

Looking Back, Looking Forward

2011-10-04T20:47:00.003-04:00

When I wake up tomorrow morning I will no longer be in my 20s. The approach of another decade has weighed on me throughout this year. And while October is my favorite month, the beauty of it's been a bit skewed this year as I emotionally adjust. This morning Jeremy prayed that I would learn to be comfortable with me age. I know that I will, but for a just a little while I'm going to mourn the passing of my 20s.

I look at my life and feel like I've let myself down because I haven't accomplished enough of anything to count for how many years I've lived. I suppose this isn't really true because accomplishments can be very quiet and unassuming, but it is difficult for me not to compare myself to all those around me and fear that I am falling short.

This past week's been frustrating at work because of little things. Last Wednesday a 9-year-old girl asked me what was wrong with my cheek. I am daily frustrated and embarrassed by the fact that at my age I still struggle with acne. The nature of it has changed and it has definitely improved, but still it is there. Always. I've taken the approach of trying to pretend to myself that others don't see it. But then a kid comes along and essentially points a finger at my face and says, "That's ugly. What's the problem with you?" Now, in truth this girl just asked me like three times what was wrong with my cheek and after vaguely trying to answer, getting more embarrassed and the girl just not getting it, I finally looked at her and said, "It's really not polite to keep asking." But, oh to be reminded of my imperfections!

Then yesterday afternoon when I got to work I was greeted by a co-worker with a reprimand, this co-worker is in no way my superior. She is someone I struggle with and one of a few women at work that seem to relish pointing out others faults. The conversation went something like this:
Co-worker, "Hi. How are you?"
Me, "Oh fine. How about you?"
CW, "It's been quite the morning." (This is all said in a chipper voice with a smile on her face.)
Me, "Bad?"
CW, "Yes. On Thursday night you ran the wrong tape from the cash register and that totally screwed up today. So, you really need to watch out for that."
Me...completely taken aback, I remain silent. I've worked at this job for two and a half years and I've never run the cash register tape incorrectly. I'm not denying the fact that I made the mistake, but I did not need a talking to.
CW continues, "But, other than that the day's been fine."
Me...mentally sighing and taking a deep breath. After my co-worker left for lunch I happened to glance at the cash register and there next to the key position for running the correct register tape at the end of the night is a teeny-tiny blue square of tape. As if, after this long I have suddenly become an idiot and don't know how to close out the cash register. This sort of encounter is very difficult for me to deal with. I 100% know that I make mistakes, but I am intelligent and the work I do at the library doesn't take a whole lot of intelligence but some of the women there make such a big deal out of minor little thing. I really have to hold my tongue.

But back to turning 30. I guess I need to embrace whatever comes next and try to fill my life and time with positive living. Back in August as I realized how close the end of my 20s truly was, I set out to make some positive changes to my daily schedule. I now get up by 5:30 a.m. (on my early work days, a bit later for my other days) and do 20-30 minutes of yoga and my daily devotions before Jeremy gets up and I prepare breakfast. I'd originally hoped to add some writing time in there as well, but so far my brain isn't alert enough to do that. However, this small change has made a big difference in the way I approach my day. And it's reminded me to stay more calm throughout the day as I interact with co-workers, argue with patrons about fines, and try not to be embarrassed by kiddos. (An aside, really, it's not all bad. There are just phases.)

I've rambled on long enough about all of this. If you've read this far, well, thanks for listening. :) Tomorrow I start to learn to embrace a new decade of life that will include my many imperfections, as well as my daily attempts at positive living.

Here's to the beauty of October--a month that I'm happy I was born in--and another year of life with God daily directing my path!

August Reading

2011-09-07T16:43:00.002-04:00

My August books were largely forgettable (perhaps that was my fault for picking so many memoirs) but I enjoyed them while reading. Of course, Anne of the Island didn't disappoint.

I did copy down a few quotes from the most thought provoking book I read this month by Alan Jacobs, The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction. What pleased me about this slim volume was the author's opinion that reading should be enjoyable and not just based off of a list. Sometimes I feel guilty about the "frivolous," but just plain enjoyable books I read, while so many others are embarking on massive reading lists largely comprised of classic titles. I wonder if I'm wasting my time and my brain. While I truly enjoy reading classics, I don't care to read them only. I believe wholeheartedly that there are worthwhile books that have been written in my lifetime and I want to read a variety. So, as Jacobs exhorts, I read at whim. And while reading from The Best of...lists might strike your fancy, I'd also like to suggest that you pick a few books up merely to read at whim.

Quotations from The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction:

Read what gives you delight--at least most of the time--and do so without shame.

So the books are waiting. Of this you may be confident: they'll be ready when the whim strikes you.

The existence of the text is a silent existence, silent until the moment in which a reader reads it. Only when the able eye makes contact with the markings on the tablet does the text come to active life. All writing depends on the generosity of the reader. (Alberto Manguel)

Our goal as adults is not to love all books alike, or as few as possible, but rather to love as widely and as well as our limited selves will allow.

Completed August Reading List:

The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs
Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch
My Year With Eleanor by Noelle Hancock
Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
Planting Dandelions by Kyran Pittman
Yoga Bitch by Suzanna Morrison
29 Gifts by Cami Walker

Read for Work:
The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseodonymous Bosch
How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowel
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowel

My Nephews

2011-08-04T13:20:00.002-04:00

My awesome, funny nephews.

Three readerly brothers...

and one little, smiley guy, still figuring out the reading thing.

My Family

2011-08-03T14:48:00.001-04:00

I want to show some family photo love...

My Parents

My Siblings

Technically there are lots more amazing people in the family now, but way back when, it was "just" the nine of us. :)

Some things that have made me smile...

2011-08-01T18:06:00.001-04:00

Isn't this bowl of cherry tomatoes beautiful?

For over a year I've been looking for a cabinet or shelf to fit in a narrow space next to my stove--I found this vintage cabinet at the thrift store for $10 and it fits perfectly! Hurray for more storage space.

Although I didn't really need a new purse, I scored this awesome green one for under $4 at the thrift store! I was pretty excited, as I recently passed up a purse at Kohl's I really liked because I couldn't justify spending $15 on myself.

July Reading

2011-07-31T17:33:00.003-04:00

July was a light reading month. I can't pin-point why, but I just didn't get through much in general, or much of great consequence. I re-read The Book Thief, which is a marvelous book and well worth reading at least once. And I listened to Anne of Avonlea. (I'm hoping to work my way through the series throughout the rest of this year.)

In place of a brief book review, I want to give you two quotes from my reading this month. Beautifully written sentences make me happy.

My few English words were blades of grass plucked from a meadow. To learn a new language would be like mowing that meadow blade by blade. (from When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt)

She felt the stirring of creative impulse, but didn't act on it right away; she must coax it from its hiding place, like a fox from its den. (from The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri)

My Completed List:

Mrs. Pollifax on Safari by Dorothy Gilman
Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (audio)
The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt

A conversation at 6:20 a.m.

2011-07-27T14:51:00.001-04:00

Me: We need to order a new filter for this. (referring to sink filtration system)

Jeremy: We need to send you back to school.

Me: Why?

Jeremy: Because you have a good mind.

Me: What does that have to do with the water filter?

Jeremy: I don't know. I just thought about it.

Obviously we don't always communicate clearly, especially over breakfast early in the morning. :)

Many Happy Returns!

2011-07-26T17:40:00.004-04:00

This past weekend was all about celebrating the life of this guy! (By the way, those dimples make me a little weak in the knees!)

Friday afternoon was a theater visit to see Captain America.

Saturday evening was supper at a Mediterranean restaurant (mmm, falafels!).

Sunday afternoon was gifts, chocolate tweed pie, and a solo rendition of Happy Birthday.

I am so thankful for my husband! Happy Birthday, Jeremy!

It's Pie Time!

2011-07-20T16:48:00.000-04:00

It's summer and it's hot! I want salads and grilled meats for supper. And for dessert? Summer fruit pies.

So far this July I've made a strawberry pie, a sweet cherry pie, and a peach-blueberry pie. The peach was definitely my favorite. I'm hoping to make a blueberry pie before too long. And likely another peach pie. I have two disks of pie dough in the freezer waiting for my next pie baking venture.
Lest you think that Jeremy and I are gorging ourselves on pie, well, we're not. I found a 6-inch pie pan at the thrift store and it makes a beautiful little pie, just right for two people.

What's your favorite flavor of pie?

First Harvest

2011-07-19T16:43:00.000-04:00

I harvested my first zucchini from the garden! While watering the other day, I looked down and there was a full-grown zucchini. I'm sure I didn't see it the day before. :)

I'm loving fresh herbs from my garden, but I'm looking forward to more zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers. I'm cautiously optimistic that I'll enjoy a good harvest. Unfortunately we won't be enjoying any fresh green beans, as some rabbits helped themselves to the plants. Oh well, that's a row I can devote to some spinach and lettuce this fall.

How are your gardens coming along?

Nephews

2011-07-18T16:35:00.004-04:00

I am of the opinion that I have some of the cutest nephews around! They are a rowdy bunch, but full of fun and really just plain funny guys. I'm fairly certain that Max is just waiting to grow up to join in the activity.

I somehow didn't get any pictures of Calvin and Patrick on our recent camping expedition, but here's one of Titus modeling his new bike helmet. And one of Max snoozing away in Papa's arms. Aren't they adorable?

I Can Draw Stick People

2011-07-14T18:24:00.003-04:00

Do you know something I love about my husband? His artistic ability. These skills don't get exercised as regularly as I'd like to see. But every time he sits down to sketch or doodle, I'm impressed.

Back in the day when we were dating and he was "putting some moves on", he wooed me with little drawings, notes with sketches, and even once a watercolor. As our relationship progressed and then turned into marriage, well the doodle love notes diminished. (Kind of just the way it goes, isn't it?) :)

So, last night when I finally got home after being gone for nearly 12 hours, I was surprised by an envelope left at the door for me. A love-note sketch accompanied by a mixed CD. Jeremy was gone at an appointment, leaving me alone to soak in my gift. I popped in the CD, sat in our big comfy chair and read my note. Tears pooled in the corner of my eyes, a few trailing down my cheeks. I felt so loved.

I am always impressed that even in Jeremy's quick sketches, he conveys so much detail. I wish I could give you a glimpse of his talent, but we don't have a scanner. So, you'll just have to believe me when I tell you that my husband is artistically talented.

Camping

2011-07-06T09:48:00.003-04:00

Three years ago I camped with my family, one final time before I got married that fall.
Two years ago Jeremy and I camped with my sister and brother-in-law.
One and a half years ago Jeremy and I attempted a fall camping trip alone.

I love to camp, but after our ill-fated camping trip (unseasonable cold+majorly damp wood=ridiculously cold and no fun), I had little desire to try again.

This past weekend I joined my whole family for what might just become an annual excursion. We spent three days relaxing, eating, talking, eating, playing games, eating, and generally enjoying the out of doors. I was able to bring along my bike, which was fortunate, as the closest toilet was at least an 1/8 of a mile away. The bike got some good use. :)

If you do the math, we had three campsites, three dining canopies covering three picnic tables, seven tents, four kids, 13 adults, 17 chairs, one cot, one tricycle, two munchkin-size bikes, and five regular-size bikes.

As you can imagine it was a busy and very happy place to be over the 4th of July weekend!
(Sadly I don't have pictures to show, but I know the memories will last.)

I like this quote...

2011-07-06T07:51:00.002-04:00

June Reading

2011-07-05T13:32:00.003-04:00

June was definitely a slower reading month for me, but I did complete one of my reading goals for the year--a book on marriage, Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half.
A couple posts back I briefly mentioned my enjoyment of Erica Bauermeister's book Joy for Beginners. This book chronicles a specific year in the life of seven interconnected woman. Their friend just in remission from breast cancer gives each woman a challenge to accomplish in the coming year. For one, it is learning to bake bread. For another it is taking a trip on her own. For a third it is getting a tattoo. The subsequent chapters focus individually on each woman and how the challenge changes her...most of the woman wonder how their friend so perfectly chose each challenge. Because I hope some of you might choose to pick this book up, I don't want to give too much away. So, that's all I'm going to say on this.

My completed reading list:

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half by Rick Johnson
Only the River Runs Free by Bodie and Brock Thoene
Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister
South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

Two Quotes

2011-06-29T07:45:00.000-04:00

We want to create, but we also don't want to create so as to spare ourselves all this anxiety.
from Mastering Creative Anxiety

It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not.
from unknown source

The Sound of Words

2011-06-27T15:49:00.000-04:00

During the final relaxation segment of my weekly yoga class, my instructor reads a poem. He has a very mellifluous voice that's well suited to the reading of poetry. I don't know how he chooses the poem he reads each week, but they are nearly always thought provoking and positive. This is the poem he read last Monday; lines from it flitted through my mind throughout the week.

NUMBERS

I like the generosity of numbers.
The way, for example,
they are willing to count
anything or anyone:
two pickles, one door to the room,
eight dancers dressed as swans.
I like the domesticity of addition--
add two cups of milk and stir--
the sense of plenty: six plums
on the ground, three more
falling from the tree.
And multiplication's school
of fish times fish,
whose silver bodies breed
beneath the shadow
of a boat.
Even subtraction is never loss,
just addition somewhere else:
five sparrows take away two,
the two in someone else's
garden now.
There's an amplitude to long division,
as it opens Chinese take-out
box by paper box,
inside every folded cookie
a new fortune.
And I never fail to be surprised
by the gift of an odd remainder,
footloose at the end:
forty-seven divided by eleven equals four,
with three remaining.
Three boys beyond their mothers' call,
two Italians off to the sea,
one sock that isn't anywhere you look.
~Mary Cornish

Three Things

2011-06-26T20:09:00.008-04:00

Sometimes you just need a little sweet drink. On occasion I make orange julius for an after-dinner treat for Jeremy and I (which transports me to childhood when we'd make orange julius and popcorn snacks). No sugar needed, just refreshing, icey, orangey goodness in a glass.

I bought this citrus press last weekend to help in my weekly lemonade making endeavors. And I'll tell you what, it makes juicing lemons so much quicker! I whipped up a fresh batch of lemonade this afternoon.

I found this jar at the thrift store for under a dollar. I love that it says drinking jar on the bottom. It indeed makes a great drinking jar.

Book Brain

2011-06-25T09:20:00.003-04:00

I'm guessing any of the dozen or so people that read this blog are aware of the fact that I have a bit of an addiction--reading.

Take today, for instance. It's the first sunny day since Tuesday. My kitchen is a mess. My floors need dust-mopped. Laundry is waiting to be done. And I have a farmer's market and grocery list as long as my arm. But, the minute that Jeremy walked out the door for work, I sat down with a cup of coffee and finished reading my book. I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything else until I settled in to turning the final pages of the story.

Now I can breathe easier again. And that book-filled space in my brain is momentarily freed up and ready to focus on food and cleaning and the necessities of life (that is until I pick up another page-turner).

I just finished Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister. Her two books (the other is The School of Essential Ingredients) are lyrically beautiful stories. Read them. I'm still processing--which I'm quite capable of doing while working on chores or walking to the farmer's market--and absorbing the story.

I shamelessly took this quote out of context from my reading this morning--in fact it's from the middle of a sentence--but while reading, this thought made me pause for a moment and realize that as believers, this is how we should approach life as recipients of the greatest gift, life that is paid for by Jesus Christ:
...each particular moment made more beautiful with the sense that it had been paid for...

Okay, I'm done procrastinating. Now on to story absorbing and housework. Have a wonderful Saturday!

While reading...

2011-06-18T10:22:00.002-04:00

I was impressed by this phrase thought: a woman needs to cultivate a "garden" of creativity and to actively tend her dreams.

Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

2011-06-14T10:11:00.000-04:00

I am so pleased to be gardening this season! Last year I tended a tiny little plot out my back door. It's on the south side of the house, but is fenced in, so is pretty shaded. However, I managed to grow a few tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs. This year I decided to plant it out in flowers, herbs, and just one tomato plant.

But the great news is that I have a garden plot at work! The children's department where I work hosts a kid's garden club. The staff partners with a few local master gardeners and they teach kids about gardening, butterflies, bees, and such.

At the suggestion of a co-worker, I approached my manager and requested permission to plant a garden in the same area where the kid's garden club meets. I got the okay and was finally able to plant it a week ago. It's another smallish plot, but very sunny and with room for a few herbs, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and some bush beans (which I'm hoping grow).

I like gardening and being outside and seeing my work bear fruit. I'm no gardening expert, so I'm interested in seeing how my attempts go this summer. Though I'm hoping for success, I feel a bit like this year is an experiment. So, we'll see.

I am truly thankful that God provided places for me to dig in the dirt. :) It's been a desire of mine for awhile now, but I didn't see how it would come to pass considering I'm an upstairs apartment dweller.

(One day I might actually remember to take photos of my gardens to share with you. I seem to be forgetful about that.)

Healthy Eating

2011-06-13T12:50:00.006-04:00

Sometimes I pity myself for the extra work and money I have to invest to provide healthy food for Jeremy. The burden feels heavier on the days that the grocery "budget" is low (still haven't figured out a good system and weekly quantity), or the day I don't have leftovers to send for Jer's lunch and I can't just throw together a pb&j.

Each bite of food that Jeremy takes has to be considered. And as I am the cook in the house, I'm the one doing much of the considering. Restaurants, pitch-ins, dinner at friends, none of these can be approached without careful thought and planning. In trying to cut down costs and provide lesser processed foods, I grind my own grains (well those grains I have ready access to); I "make" my own flour; I'm learning to make yogurt; I make ice cream; I make chicken stock; I soak and cook dry beans. And while none of this is actually all that difficult or a big deal, it takes extra planning and time.

It can seem like a lot of work and yet, if I step back and really think about it, I am privileged; God has entrusted me with the work of bringing health to my husband!

I spend countless hours flipping through cookbooks, reading blogs, researching, and trying out new recipes. My quest of late has been healthier sweeteners that don't mess with the blood sugar so much. I've long had a thing against artificial sweeteners. Not only are they pure chemicals, but they leave a nasty aftertaste in the mouth. Coconut sugar (also called palm sugar) and stevia are the two natural sweeteners I've been experimenting with recently. Though pure maple syrup, raw honey, sucanat, and agave nectar are also in my cabinet. I do still have a bag of conventional sugar that I use sometimes, but it's not my go-to sweetener. The natural sweeteners are much pricier to keep in the pantry, but the price also makes me stop and think before I bake which is probably a good thing as we don't need lots of sweets, right? :)

One new recipe we've been enjoying lately is Stevia Lemonade (recipe from The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook). I love lemonade--the frozen concentrate kind, not the powdered kind--but have you noticed that high fructose corn syrup is nearly always the first ingredient? Instead this spring we've been enjoying fresh-squeezed lemonade. My half gallon jar is sweetened with just 4 teaspoons of powdered stevia (which by the way is the fine ground powder of an herb), and it's not just delicious, it's also nutritious. I feel good serving Jeremy lemonade for supper if he wants.

If you're interested in more natural sweeteners, I suggest you research coconut sugar and stevia. They don't work for all recipes, but they're great sweeteners to have in your repertoire.

May Reading

2011-06-08T15:15:00.000-04:00

May came with lots of reading--11 books total. The first half of the month was quiet, quite rainy and unusually chilly. The second half was busy with travel and substantially warmer. Nevertheless, I used both my at home time and my driving time to read.

I listened to Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the first time. Honestly, this was my first ever reading of a Dahl book. I also listened to Anne of Green Gables for the first time. I absolutely loved it. I've long been a fan of the movie, but somehow never got around to reading the series. There will definitely be more Anne reading in my future!

I marked off one reading goal, a mystery. I read A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch. This is the fourth installment of the amateur detective Charles Lennox. I find the stories an easy read, but with definite mystery. I'm usually left guessing the culprit until the very end. I'd highly recommend this series.

On a whim I picked up a book written by a man who cycled the Tour Divide. A 2,800 mile Rocky Mountain mountain biking race that starts in Canada and goes to Mexico. Eat Sleep Ride was an interesting read as I knew little about bike racing and the man who wrote it set out, more or less, to come in last. :)

However, the book I want to somewhat briefly highlight is A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz. I checked the book out of the library for three reasons: the review I read in Book Pages, the cover featuring a paper doll suit of clothing (I was an avid paper doll fan as a girl and still have quite a soft spot for them), and the male author perspective on Austen. I am so glad I did.

When I concluded this slender volume, I nearly turned it back to the beginning to start again. I felt certain I'd missed something. Part memoir and part literary analysis, I soaked up Deresiewicz's thoughts about Austen's six novels. My favorite chapter was on Mansfield Park. What intrigued me in part was that it was his least favorite novel and yet he brought deep appreciation for the lessons of the text. I actually have never read Mansfield Park, but have plans to.

I want to share a few excerpted quotations of Deresiewicz's analysis of the novel. I hope, despite them being taken out of context, that you might get a small glimpse of this book. Though these flow chronologically through the chapter, they are not necessarily thoughts that tie together as interim story is left out. To get the full picture, you just need to read the book. I think it will be worth your time.

Shame, gratitude, terror, happiness, jealousy, love: her [Fanny's] emotions were not always pleasant, but she felt them with her whole body. "Fanny's feelings on the occasion were such as she believed herself incapable of expressing; but her countenance and a few artless words fully conveyed all their gratitude and delight."....Life was simply much more real to her than it was to Mary or Henry or Tom or Maria. Its risks were more threatening, its pleasures more precious. One of Austen's highest lessons, I realized, is that the only people who can really feel are those who have a sense of what it means to do without.

Being a valuable person--a "something" rather than a "nothing"--means having consideration for the people around you...But the novel's most important word of all was "useful."....Lady Bertram, not surprisingly--it was the worst thing that Austen could say about her--"never thought of being useful to anybody."

I resisted accepting this, for a long time, as a standard of behavior. It seemed so, well, utilitarian--so petty and practical. Is that the best we could do for one another, be "useful"? What about support and compassion and love? But eventually I started to see the point. Usefulness--seeing what people need and helping them get it--is support and compassion. Loving your friends and family is great, but what does it mean if you aren't actually willing to do anything for them when they really need you, put yourself out in any way? Love, I saw, is a verb, not just a noun--an effort, for just another precious feeling.

To listen to a person's stories, he [Edmund] understood, is to learn their feelings and experiences and values and habits of mind, and to learn them all at once and all together. Austen was not a novelist for nothing: she knew that our stories are what make us human, and that listening to someone else's stories--entering into their feelings, validating their experiences--is the highest way of acknowledging their humanity, the sweetest form of usefulness.

...I knew perfectly well that I fell far short of the standards that Austen was holding up, so I started to watch myself, and I started, yes, to exert myself. I made a deliberate effort to be useful to the people around me, whether it was something small, like showing up on time for dinner, or something bigger, like proofreading a friend's dissertation. Most of all, I practiced sitting still and listening--really listening. To friends, to students, even just to people I met, as their stories came stumbling out in the awkward, unpolished way that people have when you give them the freedom to speak from their heart. People's stories are the most personal thing they have, and paying attention to those stories is just about the most important thing you can do for them. I never did come to like Fanny's story, but that's the deepest lesson that finally listening to it had taught me.

(excerpted from the chapter Mansfield Park: Being Good from the book A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz)

Okay, I've babbled on long enough here. I'll just leave you with my completed reading list for May.

Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Tony Diterrlizzi (children's, read for work)
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (children's, read for work)
A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch
A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz
The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (audio)
Turkish Delights and Treasure Hunts by Jane Brocket
The End of the Alphabet by C.S. Richardson
Eat Sleep Ride by Paul Howard
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Happy Reading to you all!

May June

2011-06-07T20:18:00.003-04:00

A week of June has already flown by and even more weeks than that since I last wrote here. I think about blogging and feel rather in slump with it.

In May I met my newest nephew, Max. I celebrated my youngest brother's graduation from high school. I also helped celebrate my mom's birthday and conclusion of 26 years of home schooling (how she did it I'll never know!). I made two trips back home, so got to see family much more than usual, which I always enjoy. All of this happened and I have few photos and no blog posts to show.

Since I did such a poor job of relating life in May, I'm going to strive for a better record in June. So, plan to stop back by for posts on such exciting topics as reading, gardening, and cooking.

Carded

2011-05-21T22:40:00.002-04:00

After running some errands this morning, Jeremy and I stopped at a restaurant for a late lunch. We sat in a booth in the bar, which is not unusual if we go to this restaurant.

The waitress, a girl around my age, walked up and greeted us. Then she gave me a very decided once over and said, "Honey, can I see your ID?"

(I think it was the "Honey..." that particularly peeved me this time, because it's not terribly uncommon for me to get carded, but it's usually requested in a manner that conveys they think you're old enough but just have to make sure. This waitress looked like she thought I was likely in the wrong place.)

I felt a little annoyed, though I knew she had every right. Seriously, do I look ten years younger than I actually am?

Jeremy said it made him proud. :) I guess I should be flattered because ten years from now I'll be happy if people think I'm ten years younger than I am. And, I guess it's better than looking ten years older than I am.

It's a Small World!

2011-05-17T21:01:00.002-04:00

Jeremy and I are currently hooked on the show Hoarders. Part of me feels bad watching other peoples horrendous troubles, but I'm also incredibly intrigued (and very often horrified and disgusted!).

Last night we were watching an episode and the second hoarder being featured lives in our city. We sort of gasped and laughed. As they continued on with the bio, etc. the man said he was a beekeeper. I looked at Jeremy and said, "I'm pretty sure this is the guy I buy honey from!" Fast forward to about a third of the way through the show and there is a shot of the man walking in our local farmer's market delivering his honey to the very stand where I buy my honey! (It is some of the most delicious, raw honey I've ever eaten!)

Jeremy asked if watching the show put me off from buying his honey. It doesn't. He wasn't one of the worst hoarders by any stretch and all the honey stuff happens outside the four walls of his house.

It was such a strange thing to watch my world shrink before my eyes. But I also enjoyed that small twist of fate. :)

What's in a Name?

2011-05-11T09:49:00.003-04:00

Working daily in a library provides strange name fodder. Here's a few of my favorite unusual first names of cardholders that use my library...

Talon
Gryphon
Romayne
River
Petal
Meadow
Marin (pronounced Marine)

Where I Live

2011-05-05T12:48:00.002-04:00

I am not a fan of the city we live in. It just doesn't do much for me (except of course house our jobs and home). But, in my continuing quest to be thankful and contented with the many blessings in my life--no matter how small--I do try to look around and acknowledge particulars that I appreciate about said living location.

Today, I stepped out of my super cute apartment and set out in the May sun to walk to the farmer's market. It's a year-round farmer's market and only a mile away! Crazily enough, this was my first trip there on foot, but certainly won't be my last. I breathed in the fresh spring air as the sun dried my recently washed hair. I walked along the river (which is very high right now!), listening to it gently lap the bank. I bought local eggs, popcorn, and asparagus, and peppers and zucchini (which may not be local, but they're fresh!). And I got in a two-mile walk.

I would say that's a definite perk of where I live!

April Reading List

2011-05-02T07:05:00.005-04:00

I felt like April was a slow reading month. It wasn't exactly, but I did read some shorter books, as well as a couple re-reads, so it was slower overall. I did, however, mark another goal off my reading list: poetry. I read three volumes of poetry by Ted Kooser (commented on in previous posts).

I also re-listened to Michael Pollan's enlightening and interesting book, In Defense of Food. If you haven't read or listened to this book before, I highly recommend it! You won't think about food the same way again (I guess there are pros and cons to that, aren't there?). :) I started Pollan's book The Omnivore's Dilemma this month, but only completed about a third. As I understand it In Defense of Food is a practical response to The Omnivore's Dilemma. Have you read either?

I want to briefly highlight my reading of Howard's End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading From Home by Susan Hill. This bookish book is by a British author who, while looking for a particular book in her collection, realizes that she has many unread books in her personal library and sets out to explore them. Her reading traverses many authors I'm not familiar with or haven't read yet. I enjoyed her rambling essay-esque style that sipped from authors and genres, piquing my interest.

I love this paragraph about a children's alphabet book Hill flips through near the end of her reading year:
True, the alphabet book had coloured letters and beside them pictures of objects. Apple. Bear. Cherry. Dog. And the book had them in lines and repeated patterns, some with curves and curls, some with thick strokes, some with thin, some with flourishes, some plain. Still, it boiled down in the end to just those twenty-six letters. Out of these few marks, plus some small dots and curves of punctuation, every book in this house has grown, every meaning been inserted and extracted, every character created and poem balanced, every lesson taught and learned. All of it packed into and expanding out of twenty-six letters. 'It makes your hair catch fired,' as Charles Causley said.

I'll leave you with that thought and give you my completed April reading list.

The Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Rescue by Kathryn Lasky (children's, read for work)
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (audio)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Braided Creek: A Conversation in Poetry by Jim Harrison and Ted Kooser (poetry)
Valentines by Ted Kooser (poetry)
Delights & Shadows by Ted Kooser (poetry)
Man Walks Into a Room by Nicole Krauss
The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew
The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure
Howard's End in on the Landing by Susan Hill

Spring for real, right?

2011-05-02T06:54:00.004-04:00

May, thank you for arriving and bringing with you sunshine and warm temperatures. Stick around for awhile, okay?!

Finally Poetry Installment

2011-04-30T10:04:00.002-04:00

I promise not to keep posting poems, but as part of my reading this year I purposed to read a volume of poetry and in April I've read three.

Ted Kooser was the Poet Laureate of the United States. Last year he wrote a wonderful picture book, Bag in the Wind, about recycling (gorgeous artwork as well!). After reading that book I decided to spend some time reading his poetry and checked out the three volumes my library owned (sadly I was the first or second person to them out, even though they've been in the system for years).

This last volume I read, Delights & Shadows, had several beautiful poems in it and I thought I'd share three I particularly liked.

A BOX OF PASTELS

I once held on my knees a simple wooden box
in which a rainbow lay dusty and broken.
It was a set of pastels that had years before
belonged to the painter Mary Cassatt,
and all of the colors she'd used in her work
lay open before me. Those hues she'd most used,
the peaches and pinks, were worn down to stubs,
while the cool colors--violet, ultramarine--
had been set, scarcely touched, to one side.
She'd had little patience with darkness, and her heart
held only a measure of shadow. I touched
the warm dust of those colors, her tools,
and left there with light on the tips of my fingers.

THE EARLY BIRD

Still dark, and raining hard
on a cold May morning

and yet the early bird
is out there chirping,

chirping its sweet-sour
wooden-pulley notes,

pleased, it would seem,
to be given work,

hauling the heavy
bucket of dawn

up from the darkness,
note over note,

and letting us drink.

TECTONICS

In only a few months
there begin to be fissures
in what we remember,
and within a year or two,
the facts break apart
one from another
and slowly begin to shift
and turn, grinding,
pushing up over each other
until their shapes
have been changed
and the past has become
a new world.
And after many years,
even a love affair,
one lush green island
all to itself,
perfectly detailed
with even a candle
softly lighting a smile,
may slide under the waves
like Atlantis,
scarcely rippling the heart.

Sometimes it's the little things...

2011-04-28T20:34:00.004-04:00

I was pretty excited yesterday to see pristine copies of the past year's back issues of Food Network Magazine donated to the library book sale. I snagged 8 issues for only $1.50.

I hit up a $1 day sale at a local thrift store last weekend and scored 3 shirts for Jeremy, 2 skirts and 2 shirts for me all for $7. Plus 2 pairs of brand-new looking shoes for $5. I call that a good deal!

I am so thankful to have inexpensive and well-taught yoga classes just across the street from me.

Another Poem

2011-04-27T08:43:00.000-04:00

Splitting An Order

I like to watch an old man cutting a sandwich in half,
maybe an ordinary cold roast beef on whole wheat bread,
no pickles or onion, keeping his shaky hands steady
by placing his forearms firm on the edge of the table
and using both hands, the left to hold the sandwich in place,
and the right to cut it surely, corner to corner,
observing his progress through glasses that moments before
he wiped with his napkin, and then to see him lift half
onto the extra plate that he had asked the server to bring,
and then to wait, offering the plate to his wife
while she slowly unrolls her napkin and places her spoon,
her knife and her fork in their proper places,
then smoothes the starched white napkin over her knees
and meets his eyes and holds out both old hands to him.

from Valentines by Ted Kooser

True Story

2011-04-25T15:57:00.000-04:00

The other day I
nearly stepped out my door
for work wearing
my green with purple flowers flip-flop
slippers

I reason, the soles are hard

Easter weekend in my kitchen.

2011-04-24T17:43:00.007-04:00

Gas prices and a recent unplanned trip back to see family kept Jeremy and I home for Easter this year. It's always a little sad to know that family is gathered but you aren't there (though I heard the group was smaller this year).

I spent much of my time in the kitchen this weekend. During the week I don't draw as much enjoyment from cooking, mostly because it feels quite rushed. But on weekends, I enjoy trying new recipes.

Yesterday morning after a trip to the farmer's market and grocery store, I came home and whipped up a breakfast cheesecake and a frittata. In the afternoon I cooked a pot of black beans and made a vanilla custard topped with balsamic strawberries (amazing!).

Although it was just the two of us celebrating Easter today and Jeremy was sick with a respiratory thing and therefore I attended church alone, I still wanted to make something special for our meal. The menu included: sweet potato egg cups, chicken-apple sausage, lemon roasted asparagus, and the leftover breakfast cheesecake topped with strawberries (all pictured above). I also made a batch of granola and chocolate walnut brownies made with coconut flour.

Now I'm sort of pooped! I'll be posting some of the new recipes on The Cooks Next Door throughout the next couple weeks if you're interested.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter Day!

Poetic Thought

2011-04-17T14:53:00.003-04:00

Some beautiful words of short poetry I read yesterday. I love that these small verses contain such profound thought, both about humanity and about nature.

All those years
I had in my pocket.
I spent them,
nickel-and-dime.

You told me you couldn't see
a better day coming,
so I gave you my eyes.

The face you look out of
is never the face
your lover looks into.

I prefer the skyline
of a shelf of books.

The hay in the loft
misses the night sky,
so the old roof
leaks a few stars.

What is it the wind has lost
that she keeps looking for
under each leaf?

The butterfly
jots a note on the wind
to remind itself of something.

The patience of the spider's web
is not disturbed by dew.

All from Braided Creek: A Conversation in Poetry by Jim Harrison and Ted Kooser.

March Reading

2011-04-04T16:24:00.004-04:00

March was a busy month of reading for me. The highlight of which was probably reading Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet series for the first time. Though honestly, I read so many great books!

The Guardian's of Ga'Hoole books I'm reading for a program at work. In fact I'm designing a board game for trivia questions about the books. We'll see if 4th/5th grader's can outsmart the game. :)

I checked a couple reading goals off my list this month, namely a fantasy book (read several of those!) and a science-fiction book. I also feel like Mary Beth Chapman's book, Choosing to See could count for a spiritual growth book as it was filled with reminders of God's faithfulness even in the face of enormous pain and confusion about His plan; the Chapman's story of faith following the loss of a little a daughter at five is a remarkable testament to God. Definitely worth reading.

I will draw your attention briefly to Hamlet's Blackberry by William Powers. Such a worthwhile and timely book examining our highly connected lives and what it means to live well when we're attached to everyone and everything through phones, email, social networks, etc. While I am far from the most connected person (hello, I don't even have texting on my phone!), I still found many useful thoughts to ponder and maintain perspective in a world that rarely lets us alone. There is value in being connected, but there is much value in being disconnected as well. Learning to live well while balancing these opposing ways of life is at the heart of the book. I'd highly recommend a read of this book.

Completed reading list for the month:

Guardian's of Ga'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky:
The Capture
The Journey

Time Quintet by Madeleine L'Engle:
A Wrinkle in Time
A Wind in the Door
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
Many Waters
An Acceptable Time

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
One of Our Thursday's is Missing by Jasper Fforde
Hamlet's Blackberry by William Powers
Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman
The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin
Two-Part Invention by Madeleine L'Engle

Convicted

2011-03-15T21:00:00.002-04:00

I've been talking to God a lot lately about myself and how I fit into this world He created. What my purpose is here. How I can glorify Him. He's seemed silent, but perhaps I've not been taking the time to calm the bustle of my mind and listen to that still small voice. I know He's there and I know He listens. Sometimes, though, I wish I could have coffee with Him and ask Him questions.

I've taken to carrying my daily devotional, Tabletalk, and a small Bible around in my bag. I read it before I start work or while on a break. Maybe that's too rushed, I haven't figured it all out yet. But I appreciate those minutes of focusing. Today I felt incredibly convicted by what I read.

This is just the application portion:
We might think that we are grateful to God for what He has done for us, but if we never work to serve others, especially His people, then we must question the authenticity of our thankfulness. James 2:14-26 and other passages make it clear that Christian virtues are not mere inward thoughts and feelings but are expressed in concrete acts of love and service. Let us show forth how thankful we are to God by doing good to others.

For a while now I've felt disconnected from knowing how to be involved in serving others where I live now. I don't have the answers. But I know this is something that's been on my mind and I trust that God will show me where I can give thankfulness and glory to Him. I didn't just read those words by coincidence today; they are there as a reminder that God knows my thoughts and my needs and He has a purpose for me where I am right now.

February Reading

2011-03-03T19:51:00.004-05:00

I'll be right up front with you and say that I read 11 books in February, but five of those books were the the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series by Jeff Kinney. Being the diary of a middle-school boy, this is certainly not something I'd normally pick up, but at work next Monday I'm helping lead a 4th/5th grade book club on that series. I will also say, the books are funny; funnier than I anticipated. For a laugh, just pick up the first book. You won't be disappointed.

The book I'd like to highlight this month is Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. I actually started this book back in December and read it off and on (it's a hefty almost 700 pages), but my slower reading is in no part a reflection on the quality of the book. It is excellent.

Gaskell was a contemporary of the Bronte sisters. And even wrote a biography of Charlotte Bronte. She writes with depth, developing her characters through normal life circumstances. This is the second Gaskell I've read (Cranford being the other title) and I find them gentle books, but not fluffy or overly romantic.

Wives and Daughters follows the maturing years of Molly Gibson. At the start of the book she lives with her widowed doctor father. A stepmother is introduced before too long. And while she's not the "wicked stepmother" type, she is definitely a manipulative, self-centered woman. She brings along a daughter not much older than Molly. Molly is a kind-hearted girl who is trying to figure out her place with her father, her stepmother, her stepsister, and two brothers who are friends (but could they be more?).

The book wasn't filled with tragedy or comedy, though both were wielded with a gentle pen, but rather the day-to-day joys and confusions of a young girl coming-of-age.

Even if you don't pick up Wives and Daughters, I'd highly recommend you acquaint yourself with the works of Elizabeth Gaskell. And if you aren't enticed to read one, then perhaps you'll at least enjoy watching one over her novelized mini-series put out by BBC.

Without further ado, my complete February reading list:

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Last Straw

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Ugly Truth all by Jeff Kinney

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath (also children's and read for work)

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

52 Loaves by William Alexander

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam

Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider

Thoughts on prayer

2011-03-03T16:03:00.002-05:00

I plan to post my February reading list by the end of the week, but until then I wanted to share a passage from the most recent book I finished, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

This is a conversation about prayer between the 17-year-old protagonist, Cassandra, and the vicar in her town.

"...Prayer's a very tricky business."
"Goodness, is it?"
"Well, for inexperienced pray-ers it sometimes is. You see, they're apt to think of God as a slot-machine. If nothing comes out they say 'I knew dashed well it was empty' -- when the whole secret of prayer is knowing the machine's full."
"But how can one know?"
"By filling it oneself."
"With faith?"
"With faith..."

Most likely the theology in this passage isn't totally sound, but I still found the analogy quite perceptive.

My Splurge

2011-03-01T18:54:00.000-05:00

After work on Friday I dropped by Aldi. You never know what produce price surprises you'll find. It was a good day. Fresh mushrooms were $0.49 a half pound. Onions were $0.69 for three pounds. Multi-colored peppers were $1.49 for three. Roma tomatoes were $0.79 a pound. I felt like I scored! :)

(Yes, I do realize I'm talking about produce prices on my blog...what have I come to?!)

Since I'd gotten such a great deal, I decided to splurge a little and as a treat for myself and our home, I bought a small pot of lucky bamboo.

Not long after I got married, my mom gave me a bamboo plant. Two and a half years later that bamboo plant is healthy and growing like crazy. (Every time Mom sees it she exclaims over its size. I think it's gotten so big it looks sort of ridiculous in its tiny pot.) I love little spots of green in our house, so I thought another pot of bamboo would be a perfect addition to my desk.

Do you have any houseplants you particularly love?

Outfit for Less

2011-02-16T09:55:00.002-05:00

Today I’m wearing a patterned olive green ¾-sleeved shirt from Target, a pair of black corduroy pants from Ann Taylor Loft, and a pair of black Faded Glory flats. Each item was purchased at a thrift store and I spent a grand total of $8 on the entire outfit. These items are used but not worn looking. I’m definitely not the belle of the ball, but I’m far from frumpy and some might even admit I have a little style. :)

If you didn’t already know this about me, I’m a fan of thrift stores. I don’t find as much there as I used to (maybe because I think their prices are often a little too steep for my taste), but I still enjoy ducking in to browse every so often. Now that I have my own place, I typically frequent the housewares sections more often than the clothing and shoe sections, but when I have the time or inclination I enjoy poking around any section that suits my fancy.

When I look around my house and through my wardrobe, I’m thankful I can find treasures for less and that I’m content buying used when it fits my needs.

Do any of you enjoy thrift shop scavenging?

Spring is on her way...

2011-02-15T21:35:00.002-05:00

This morning as I left for work at 7:30, the sun was already perched along the horizon painting broad strokes of orange against the pale blue backdrop.

I love sunshiny mornings and light on my way to work!

My Weekend

2011-02-14T16:13:00.002-05:00

Last week the temperatures hovered in the teens. This week, it's in the 40s. Our mountains of snow are melting into deep pools of water with no place to go. Ah well, weather provides a topic of conversation, right? :)

We made a long weekend trip back home (somehow home still feels like where we moved from, instead of here...here is where we live and have a home. Make sense?). I stopped at all my must-shop places that I wish were much closer to me. On Thursday Mom, my sister Liz, and I stopped at a salvage grocery (slim pickings!) and a thrift store where I added a few items to my wardrobe. Friday Jeremy and I feasted at P.F. Changs, picked up some necessities from Trader Joes, and enjoyed shopping at our favorite used bookstore, Half Price Books. I usually find a couple books at HPB, this visit I bought 10! (And I likely left some treasures behind.) Five books by Elizabeth Gaskell, two by Jane Austen, one by Louisa May Alcott, one by Johanna Spyri, and one unfinished novel by Charlotte Bronte.

I did get some good visiting time with my sisters and my parents, as well as a two-hour coffee date with my high school friend, Rebecca, who I hadn't seen for two years.

Now I'm back here and starting another week. I am off today, so have grocery shopped, cleaned the bathroom, tidied-up, etc.

Jeremy's taking me out tonight to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Hope you all are enjoying a pleasant Monday!

Snow Day

2011-02-02T22:00:00.003-05:00

Jeremy and I both scored snow days today. So, instead of working all day at the library, I worked all day at home. :)

I cooked and de-boned a chicken; made chicken stock; cooked a pot of beans; made a pot of chili; baked a loaf of bread (my first from scratch gluten-free yeast bread and it turned out pretty well!); cleaned the kitchen; washed 3 loads of laundry; ironed a large pile of shirts.

There are still some messy spots in the house, but I'd say these were hours well spent.

When Jeremy and I have quiet days at home, it always makes me thankful that I married a man that I can pass such a companionable day beside.

January Reading Wrap-up

2011-01-31T11:56:00.001-05:00

It's been a decent month of reading. I want to highlight two books I read and then I'll finish with the completed reading list for the month.

Poser by Claire Dederer is a memoir based on the author's journey into the world of yoga after the birth of her first child. Dederer titled each chapter after a yoga pose and wove throughout the chapter her experience with the pose as well as life story. She did title five chapters "Child Pose" and each of those dealt with her eccentric upbringing in the 70s. As with many memoirs, the author is finding herself and that journey can be a bit self-centered, but I am by nature a curious girl, so I went along for the ride. Dederer is a writer, wife, mother, and yogi with the knack for weaving a tale.

In general I enjoyed this read, particularly because of my recent foray into yoga. I could relate to some of her distress from different poses and the personal comparison to others in the class. However, my one complaint was what she wrote in her Author's Note at the beginning: Some of the events and people in this story have been "run through the scrambler," to use Clive James's phrase. I've tinkered with the chronology of a few events for the sake of narrative flow or discretion. I've changes the names and identifying characteristics of some, but not all, of the people. Those changes aside, this is a true story, constructed from memory.

Okay, I appreciate the fact that Dederer was adhering to the pattern of full disclosure; however, knowing this made me question which friends were true to life and what facts she twisted to fit into her yoga-pose pattern for her book, etc. Would that bother you?

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin was my first read of 2011 (Betsy's Wedding aside as I had to finish that series first!) and a fitting read it was! Outside of my reading goals, I'm not so much of a New Year's Resolution kind of girl. But, I do know that something I want to focus on this year is contentment and cheerfulness.

The Happiness Project follows Rubin's year long project of focusing on building happiness in particular areas of her life. This is a very methodical project with monthly measurable goals that build on each other. Marriage, work, parenting, organization, fun, self-fulfillment are some of the categories she tackles.

I found myself encouraged by this book; it caused me to think more deeply about my life. Rubin doesn't come from any sort of spiritual perspective, so some of her process I took with a grain of salt, but I was quite glad I read the book. And even contemplated embarking on my own happiness project (nothing started yet, but the seed was planted). If you're in need of a happiness perspective boost, consider reading this.

JANUARY READING LIST

Betsy's Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Crispin by Avi (read for work)
Poser by Claire Dederer
The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis (read for work)
Feed Me!: Writers Dish About Food, Eating, Weight, and Body Image compiled by Harriet Brown

I am currently in the middle of Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell and have a pile of library books waiting to be read.

Did you read anything good in January?

Comedy Diet

2011-01-30T20:31:00.004-05:00

We've been on a comedy diet around here.

Jeremy and I don't really share much of the same taste in movie/TV viewing. He indulged me a bit more while we we're dating. :) I enjoy The Bourne Identity and Italian Job like movies, but can't handle watching them all of the time. And those are actually on the tamer side of Jeremy's enjoyment. And Jeremy quickly gets his fill of my BBC shows, Gilmore Girls, Everwood, etc.

However, we both love to laugh and I am an adherent of the "laughter is the best medicine" thought. Plus, it's winter and we can always use more laughter during these sunless days. So, a few weeks ago Jeremy suggested that we go on a comedy diet--mostly TV on DVD--and I'm so glad he did! I still watch my BBC sometimes and he still watches his thriller/suspense movies sometimes, but in general, our together viewing time is comedy related. It's been quite fun and laughter filled!

Our newest discovery is The Big Bang Theory. Nerd related comedy is hilarious! Before our comedy diet plan ever started we'd watched lots of The Office, some Arrested Development and some Flight of the Conchords. M.A.S.H. and Seinfeld are staple shows we watch in snip-its. (Update: I forgot to mention that we thoroughly enjoyed both The IT Crowd and Modern Family.)

We're always on the lookout for other great comedies. So, what's your favorite show? What are we missing out on?

Donuts and Money

2011-01-28T20:43:00.004-05:00

About every 2 months, at the end of my grocery shopping, I'll treat myself to a donut. I figure that I deserve a little treat for all the shopping I do each week. (Terrible logic, I know! But I do crave my gluten-ized baked goods on occasion.)

Today I picked a cinnamon roll. As I enjoyed my donut it brought me back to childhood days. We lived in a smallish town, home to Comstock bakery. On our birthdays we'd have fresh baked donuts for breakfast. The best donuts I think I've eaten. Though I suppose memory can alter such reflections.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After I finished my grocery excursion today and prepared to climb into my car in the Meijer parking lot, I was accosted by a flustered, youngish man with a story to tell. He expressed great embarrassment at his situation, but asked if I had some change to spare. His unemployment check wasn't deposited on time, he had little money and needed to get to a city about 3 hours away.

I feel uncomfortable giving money to strangers as I feel the likelihood of it being misspent it quite high. However, today I handed this sincere fellow a $5 bill. I can't say that will put much in his gas tank, but perhaps he'll receive some other charitable gifts from grocery-shoppers.

Reading Goals for 2011

2011-01-10T18:29:00.000-05:00

It's January, which means I evaluate and plan my reading goals for the new year. I'd read no matter what, for me it ranks up their with breathing and eating, but I find purpose and enjoyment in setting myself stretching, but attainable goals.

The last two years I've set myself quantity reading goals (a book a week in 2009, a classic book a month in 2010). This year I'm going in a different direction with my goals. I tend to read a variety, but this year I hope to be more intentional about it. And perhaps if I'm really on top of it, I'll take time to review the books that are the fulfillment of each goal.

My reading goals for 2011:

1 Russian novel (because I haven't even read one and I've been told to so many times)

1 science-fiction book

1 fantasy book

1 mystery book

1 graphic novel

1 volume of poetry
1 book on writing
1 book on marriage

2 books on Christian spiritual growth

Along with the above list, I hope to continue reading classic literature and a few more non-fiction books this year.

Do you have any reading aspirations for 2011?

Snow Angel

2011-01-09T14:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday Jeremy was scheduled to work. But, inches of snow kept him home. We watched from our upstairs window as snow piled high all around. A 36-hr stretch resulting in some 30 inches snow.

Dinner with friends canceled, we settled in to an unexpected evening at home. After a morning/afternoon of cleaning and catching up on busywork, we were a bit stir crazy.

We bundled up and headed out into the winter wonderland. The snow was so crunchy that many cars and trees looked like cakes covered in thick, molded frosting. We walked down the narrow tire tracks left by plows; right down the middle of streets, deserted of all but snowed-in cars.

On our return, just down the alley from our apartment, I could tell Jeremy was getting antsy to do something mean to me. Sure enough, he toppled me to the ground in a bank of unmarred snow, spread eagle on top of me. I naturally spluttered and shrieked and demanded he get off because I couldn't breathe.

Since I was already snow covered, I laid down in a parking lot nearby and made a snow angel; something I haven't done for several years.

We both came back refreshed, with smiles on our faces and very cold noses!

2010 Reading Log Conclusion

2011-01-06T20:25:00.005-05:00

This is my second-half of 2010 reading list. You can find the half-way list here.

I came in with a total read count of 69. My goal to read 12 classics was fulfilled, though not how I imagined, as I did read some classic children/YA books, not just the longer adult fiction. So my classic count came in at 18.

No Impact Man by Colin Beavan (NF)
The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman (F)
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana deRosnay (F)

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (F)

The Doctor and the Diva by Adrienne McDonnel (F)

Home Game by Michael Lewis (NF)

The Writing Circle by Corrine Demas (F)

Romancing Miss Bronte by Juliet Gael (F)

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell (classic)

The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale (F)

The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais (F)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J.K. Rowling (audio)

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees (F)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (YA)

Bitesize Theology by Peter Jeffery (NF)

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte (classic)

Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker (F/classic)

Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas (NF)

A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse (F)

Between the Dreaming and the Coming True by Robert Benson (NF)

At Home by Bill Bryson (NF)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (audio)

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (YA)

Great House by Nicole Krauss (F)

Edible Stories by Mark Kurlansky (F)

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (F)

Louisa May Alcott: a Personal Biography by Susan Cheever (NF)

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (classic)

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball (NF)

Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott (classic)

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (childrens…read for work)

One False Note by Gordon Korman (childrens…read for work)

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace (classic childrens/YA...series spans age 5-22 of Betsy)

Betsy-Tacy and Tib

Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown

Heavens to Betsy

Betsy in Spite of Herself

Betsy was a Junior

Betsy and Joe

Betsy and the Great World

The Stats:

41 books

14 Classics
13 Fiction

8 Non-fiction

2 Audio

2 YA
2 Childrens
7 Re-reads (Harry Potter books and first 5 Betsy-Tacy books)

Looking over this list I'm reminded of the many fantastic books I read this year. Though Cranford, Northanger Abbey, and A Novel Bookstore were probably the most delightful reads of the fall. At Home was definitely the most informative and interesting read. Shades of Grey was the most bizarrely entertaining read (Fforde never fails to entertain and bring an ironic twist to his fiction). And finally, I ended my year re-reading/reading the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Revisiting old favorites from childhood proved to be two weeks of sheer reading pleasure! (Sadly I couldn't fit the tenth book into 2010, so Betsy's Wedding was read #1 for 2011.)

What was your favorite book you read in 2010?

It's Snowing...

2010-12-06T09:42:00.002-05:00

The snow's been falling for 12 hours. And I'm thankful I'll be home all day. Wednesday morning a car nearly hit me sliding at an intersection. Saturday I had to run a newly red-light because my braking wasn't effective. So, let's just say winter weather and I aren't on particularly good terms right now.

I got Jeremy out the door this morning for his 1-mile drive to work. And I made my way back upstairs into the warmth. Poured myself a cup of coffee (which promptly cooled down) and sat down to type a blog post about scones over at The Cooks Next Door. And now I plan to spend the next 6 hours or so baking cookies, reading The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball, sipping a hot drink, and if I feel like it, ironing the stack shirts in the living room.

All of that to say, I actually enjoy the snow when I can contemplate its beauty through the window or while traipsing about in it, not from behind windshield.

I hope you all are safe and warm inside and enjoying this wintry Monday.

Food for Thought

2010-12-03T09:47:00.002-05:00

Although I'm sitting here with Christmas music playing and a warm cup of coffee perched on the desk, acting as if I have all the time in the world, I actually have to leave for work in a half an hour. So, I'll keep this brief. In my reading this morning, I came across the following two quotes (different sources, one a quote book, the other a devotional). While they aren't exactly related, both provided some food for thought and I wanted to share them with you. Perhaps they'll be mental fodder for you as well.

We are not citizens of this world trying to make our way to heaven; we are citizens of heaven trying to make our way through this world. That radical Christian insight can be life-changing. We are not to live so as to earn God's love, inherit heaven, and purchase our salvation. All those are given to us as gifts; gifts bought by Jesus on the cross and handed over to us. We are to live as God's redeemed, as heirs of heaven, and as citizens of another land: the Kingdom of God...We live as those who are on a journey home; a home we know will have the lights on and the door open and our Father waiting for us when we arrive. That means in all adversity our worship of God is joyful, our life is hopeful, our future is secure. There is nothing we can lose on earth that can rob us of the treasures God has given us and will give us.

There is indeed a war going on in the heavens, so we should not be naive about the enemies we face. Still, we can be confident that the hands of God envelop us, and so we should ask Him to deliver us and to give His Word success when we are proclaiming it to people. Let us place the weight of emphasis on the Lord and His abilities and not on Satan's capabilities, for they are nothing in comparison to the power of God.

I do hope to be back with more consistent posts about life. But for now, this is what I have to offer. Have a blessed weekend.

Today...

2010-11-25T21:10:00.004-05:00

I give thanks for a loving Heavenly Father who cares for my every need and is the reason I have purpose in life.
I give thanks for a husband who loves me more than any else.
I give thanks for job for both Jeremy and I.
I give thanks for family, without which I wouldn't be here!
I give thanks for friends, both old and new.
I give thanks for an apartment with character, warmth, and most of all a place to call home.
I give thanks for a church to worship in.
I give thanks for abundant food on our table three times a day.
I give thanks for the beauty of nature that is a reminder of God.
I give thanks for the beauty of the written word, music, and deep conversation.

As a believer, everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving, yet, I'm thankful for a particular day to remember the blessings of the year.

Today has been a very different Thanksgiving for me. In fact, it's the first Thanksgiving in my life that I haven't spent with my family. I'm not going to lie, that was a little sad to me. However, I decided that I still wanted to make this day special for Jeremy and me. I love Thanksgiving and holidays are very important to me (whether there is just the two of us or a whole bunch of family.

So, we had a quiet celebration today. Lunch was around 3. I made a turkey breast (6 1/2 lbs of it!), mashed potatoes, corn, steamed broccoli, green beans with lemon vinaigrette, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. This evening we put up our little Christmas tree. We spend quite a lot of time together normally :), so today wasn't terribly different. But, we did spend some time thanking God for this life and the many blessings He's given us.

I know it's late in the day, but Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

It's only the beginning...

2010-11-06T12:15:00.003-04:00

The trees outside my window are trimmed in winter white. Much too early for my liking! For one particular reason (my commute to work which doubled when we moved back in March) I've been dreading this winter with greater intensity. And then Lady Winter decided to display her imminent approach with a half a day of snow flurries on the 5th of November! Oh dear.

Twice I've encountered this poem in books I've been perusing this week, and while it is indeed true and beautiful, I'm still not excited about 5 months of winter...

If we had no winter,
the spring would not
be so pleasant: if we
did not sometimes
taste of adversity,
prosperity would not
be so welcome.
~Anne Bradstreet

If you're not familiar with Anne Bradstreet (though likely many of you are), she was, I believe, the first female poet, maybe even writer, of the New World. In my freshman year of college I wrote an American literature paper comparing and contrasting Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley (African American poet of the 1800s, I believe). For that reason, I've got a bit of a soft spot in my heart for Anne.

Well, enough about winter! I'm off to spend some time in my cozy kitchen baking some pumpkins, trying out a couple new recipes, and generally keeping myself entertained on this wintry-like Saturday.

Family

2010-11-01T09:18:00.002-04:00

This past week's been full of family, which is a rare treat around our place. Last Sunday evening my sister Alaina drove up with her boys (a little absorbed in Mary Poppins at the taking of this photo). They spent two nights with us. I don't get to enjoy the company of my nephews all that often, so it was fun to have time with them. Calvin and Patrick indulged us by reciting their many history statements their learning for school. Hearing words like Renaissance and plague and Charlemagne come out of their mouth is endlessly entertaining. Titus would have happily joined in, I'm sure, if he had all those words to say. Instead, he played with us and gave many, many smiles. Alaina and I enjoyed chatting, as well as talking food and blog related stuff.

Then this past Saturday night my younger sister Elizabeth and her husband Luke drove up. There purpose was two-fold...to deliver a futon and cabinet to us, and to visit. We didn't do much beyond talking, eating, playing some euchre (very evenly divided...guys won one, girls won one), and watching a movie called Frozen which I plan not to watch again. We also checked out an awesome new restaurant a couple miles from us.

This week is back to work as usual, which means I need to hit the shower and run a couple of errands before I head to work.

Happy Monday!

Resting

2010-10-11T21:54:00.003-04:00

I have been a Christian for essentially my entire life. And I admit there have been a few moments where I thought maybe I was getting it all figured out, but the longer I pursue the journey, the more I realize I have to learn. And if arrogance ever seeks to overtake me, Jesus reminds me in gentle and not so gentle ways, that I must trust Him for everything.

This weekend I had a meltdown moment, of which the details are inconsequential, and I found myself despairing of myself and my circumstance. Through some Bible verses, my husband gently reminded me of my ever loving Savior, who has called me to be anxious for nothing.

Then on Sunday morning we sang the following song in church and I found tears dripping down my cheeks as I realized how frequently I choose not to rest in Jesus. After 20+ years, why do I still need to be reminded so often to let my fears go and trust in Jesus?

Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting

Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee
And Thy beauty fills my soul
For by Thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole
O, how great Thy loving kindness
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee Beloved
Know what wealth of grace is Thine
Know Thy certainty of promise
And have made it mine

REFRAIN
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness
Of The loving heart

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus
Earth's dark shadows flee
Brightness of my Father's glory
Sunshine of my Father's face
Keep me ever trusting, resting
Fill me with Thy grace

REFRAIN
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart

As further food for thought and a reminder of the importance of being in the Word to foster that faith and trust in Jesus, this evening I was reading from 31 Days of Prayer by Ruth Myers and the following quote from George Mueller was included:

"Faith is not a matter of impressions or probabilities or appearances. Faith is the assurance that what God has said in His Word is true, and that God will act accordingly. This confidence is faith."

This Morning

2010-10-04T19:33:00.002-04:00

I felt like my mom this morning, in a very good way. :) After Jeremy headed off to work around 8:40, I spent the remainder of the morning in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, all with the radio tuned to NPR. That is so Mom! And I was happy to be imitating her.

I made sauteed shredded zucchini, a pot of Creamy Dilled Carrot Soup, and a pot of Green Soup with Mushrooms.

For supper tonight we enjoyed the carrot soup, along with mustard-glazed salmon.

I haven't been much in the mood to blog lately, so pardon my long absences. I will be back soon.

Hope you all passed a pleasant Monday.

Reader input

2010-09-25T12:20:00.004-04:00

Because I'm always on the look-out for a new good read, I'd love to know your favorite book of 2010. I'm reading Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall right now, with a couple more classics waiting in the wings. The new books I'm anticipating aren't released until October and November (The Great House by Nicole Krauss, Distant Hours by Kate Morton, At Home by Bill Bryson).

So, to help me span the gap between decades old books and those fresh from the publisher, tell me...

What's the best book you've read so far this year?

Foodie Friday

2010-09-24T09:47:00.006-04:00

Today I am participating in Foodie Friday over at The Cook's Next Door.
Go over and check out their inspirational cooking blog, along with other reader food/cooking entries.

Earlier in the week I decided to surprise Jeremy with an Asian meal. When it comes to food, he's a huge fan of Asian food, but as he has Celiac disease, we cannot eat at most Asian restaurants. And, of course, homemade Asian food just isn't quite the same. However, I still make an effort to periodically try my hand at different recipes. This week: P.F. Chang's-style Lettuce Wraps and Thai Vegetable Soup.

I found the Lettuce Wraps recipe here, but had to make several modifications because I didn't have all the ingredients. Therefore, they weren't true P.F. Chang's-style. I used diced cauliflower in place of the water chestnuts and in place of the rice wine vinegar (which I really need to buy!) I used a combo of balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar, sesame oil, and some spices. The verdict, pretty good, but still needs tweaking! Maybe part of that was because I didn't make any of the special sauce to go on top. I'd definitely make them again.

The Thai Vegetable Soup came from Elana's Pantry. I followed the recipe, with the exception of substituting chicken broth for the vegetable broth, baby bella mushrooms for the shitake, and adding dried cilantro, because I didn't have any fresh. I took a sip and tasted a heavy lime juice flavor. Jeremy said, "Interesting," (which isn't good coming from him) "it tastes kind of like soap." Well, I didn't think it tasted quite like that, but I felt the flavors didn't meld like they needed to. However, I did eat leftovers for lunch the next day and found it tastier.

Unfortunately Jeremy finished up this intended special meal with a plate of Fritos. :( He was still hungry after the lettuce wraps and the soup just wouldn't cut it.

But, I won't count this a failure, just another experiment in the kitchen that still needs a little work!

Do you have any spectacular Asian recipes? Because I'm always looking for new ones.

September 13

2010-09-15T15:09:00.006-04:00

Monday marked our 2-year anniversary! I intended to schedule a post to go up, but that just didn't happen.

We had some time off, so headed down to visit family for a couple days. Then on Monday, Jeremy surprised me with a night stay at a hotel, as well as an amazing dinner at The Melting Pot (see photo).

It was wonderful to get away for a few days and relax together. I find it pleasant to pass the time with my life companion.

I'm so thankful for this man that God put into my life. And I continue to pray He will draw us closer together and to Him as we walk this journey of life side-by-side. I love you, Jeremy!

Here's to many more years!

Being Reminded to be Thankful

2010-09-06T13:53:00.004-04:00

Yesterday Jeremy was tossing a football with a little cousin and he tripped on a brick fire ring that he didn't know was behind him, fell backwards and cracked the back of his head (no blood though!). He told me when it happened he thought he might die. I didn't actually witness the accident, but it sounded awful. Thankfully he's got one tough head and everything seems fine.

But the scare gave me pause:

Today I'm very thankful for a pancake and eggs breakfast with my husband. And I'm thankful for the time we spent doing dishes and listening to NPR together.

I'm a reading junkie.

2010-08-30T20:48:00.004-04:00

One thing I enjoy about my job is perusing all the books that come in and out throughout the day. Often I'll snag a book I've never heard of, but piques my interest (usually after checking amazon for reviews). Last Thursday night I'd just finished up the book I'd been reading and was waiting on others to be returned. The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale stopped in my grasp, the intriguing black cover with splashes of golds and reds and greens catching my eye. Tucked inside my bag, the book traveled home with me and I started to read.

Set in England during the late 1700s, the book tells the story of Agnes Trussel (don't you love the last name?). Finding herself pregnant (not exactly raped, but not exactly consenting either...she seemed more naive than anything), she takes on unexpected escape after stealing some money. In London, she searches for a place to work and lands in a pyrotechnic workshop. She learns to grind and mix chemicals and assemble a variety of fireworks. Her master is a solemn, middle-aged man seeking to make the best fireworks, but also seeking the elusive combinations of chemicals to create color. They strike up a companionable working relationship and Agnes eagerly laps up all the knowledge her master will share with her. The 350-pages cover the 9 months of Agnes's pregnancy and her desperate plans to make herself an acceptable woman in a culture where unwed pregnancy is scorned. I thought I knew how the story would turn out; I didn't. It's an interesting, beautiful story. I admit to not following all the chemical combinations discussed, but I did ponder the amazing amount research that went into writing the book.

Now, here's why I'm such a reading junkie...Last night we turned the light out at 10 and sighed inwardly because I really wanted to keep reading, I saw the conclusion of the story within my grasp. I woke up at 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep because our room was so stuffy. When I moved out to the couch, I actually thought about turning on the light and reading; instead I went back to sleep. At 8, I cracked open the book and started reading. 9:15 rolled around too quickly and it was on to showering and breakfasting and off to work. I snatched 15 minutes of reading on my break, but wanted more. When I got off work at 3 I called Jeremy (he had today off) and told him I thought I'd stop at Starbucks and get an iced tea and read. I literally couldn't wait until I got home. I knew I would get caught up in supper and such and I had to finish the book first, so I could concentrate on other matters. I bought iced tea and settled into a soft chair outside of Starbucks and read until I closed the cover. Now I could get on with my grocery shopping and the rest of the what the evening would require of me. I was peaceful once again.

I'm hopeless in the face of a good story.

Autumn

2010-08-27T15:30:00.002-04:00

The days, while very sunny, have cooled down significantly. I imagine a burst of heat is still to come, but fall is definitely in the air. I've always loved fall (as a little girl, this love may have originated with both my birthday being in October, as well as fall being my dad's favorite season). The crisp mornings and evenings. The smell of nature bedding down for the winter. The sound of leaves crunching under foot. Soups and stews bountiful on the supper table. Apples and pumpkins and leaves coloring the world. And doesn't the word autumn not only look awesome and fallish written out, but also roll off the tongue in a way that sounds perfectly like what it's describing?

I think I'm subconciously switching to thinking about fall cooking. This week I filled my crock-pot with a spicy white chicken chili. When I came home from work I popped some cornbread in the oven. Then realizing it is indeed still August and summer, I threw together a salad topped with tomatoes from my garden and fresh mozzarella. It was pretty much a perfect supper.

As much as I love fall, I'm always a little sad that it leads into winter, because of that I'm not such a fan. Oh well, the winter makes me love spring all the more! I guess that's the beauty of the four seasons God created.

Yoga

2010-08-26T13:08:00.002-04:00

This morning I attended my last yoga class. I'm quite sorry to see it end. I so much enjoyed my mornings there. The other women in the class have all been attending these yoga classes for some time (one for 5 years!) and they started a tradition of all going out for breakfast after the last class. So, we all headed out to a local breakfast place for some eggs and pancakes. Definitely a strange little bunch (male yoga teacher, 3 50/60-something women, and my friend and me).

I wish I could continue the morning classes, but unfortunately my work schedule keeps me from going twice a week. However, Jeremy and I are going to attend a class together on Monday evenings starting at the end of September. And the best part (besides that it's insanely inexpensive and with this same teacher) is that it's going to be across the street from us. We can walk there!

I think yoga's going to be around in my life for the long-haul. If you ever have the chance to take a class like I did, do it. It's so worth it!

Owning Books

2010-08-24T09:42:00.001-04:00

When I don't know what else to write about, books are my fallback subject. I'm sure you've probably noticed this already. :)

Jeremy and I own a ridiculous amount of books. We both love to read and most nights you'll find us lying side-by-side in bed with books held in hand, reading. We go to bed early and we read. It's very peaceful.

While I love being surrounded by books, I do feel like we need to have a limit, particuarly because we are apartment dwellers. Frequently I peruse my shelves to see if there are any books I can part with. I don't want to own books just for the sake of ownership, once upon a time I think I felt like that. I'd say about two-thirds of my books, I've read. I have a large collection of children's books and a moderate collection of chapter books I loved when I was a kid. Throughout college I collected many books for classes, some I've parted with, others not. While working at the bookstore, I accrued so many other books; some I've read and passed on, others I haven't gotten to yet. As much as I love my books, I want to be deliberate in what I own.

So, this is my question for you, if you're a lover of books/reading...What is your criteria for shelf-worthy books?

Staff Picks

2010-08-22T22:26:00.002-04:00

There is a display island at my library and each month it offers a variety of books and media resources based on a given theme. This month, is staff picks. One of the reference librarians took each of our photos with a favorite book and then she taped them around the island where we then picked books to display by the picture. The librarian told me, "Watch your face." It took me a moment to figure out she was referring to my photo and the fact that I needed to restock "my face" with additional books when my picks were checked out. I've enjoyed this and am happy to report that 3 weeks in, 8 books I've selected have been checked out. This might not seem like such a big deal, but I don't necessarily read main-stream books, so I enjoy seeing some of my choices making the rounds.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbury
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper by Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Love Soup by Anna Thomas
How to Read Like a Writer by Francine Prose
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

Aromatics

2010-08-20T08:38:00.003-04:00

Just after 10 last night, Jeremy and I headed to bed to read for a bit before sleep. Jeremy was a few steps ahead of me and as I headed down the hallway I inhaled the overpowering smell of garlic. In the bedroom, even stronger. The vent apparently carrying cooking smells up from downstairs, like it was a strong wind. Jeremy looked at me and said, "I don't think I can sleep in here." He went to the couch. I settled in to read (Romancing Miss Bronte) and noticed a broccoli smell mixing with the garlic bread smell. Thankfully the smell faded significantly before I turned out the light to sleep, but my stomach did growl a little in the process. I saw visions of spaghetti and garlic bread, a meal I haven't eaten in months, I wanted a plate of it right then!

Thursdays

2010-08-19T11:53:00.002-04:00

Thursday is one of my favorite days of the week. I wake up at a reasonable, but slightly later than normal time (7:30ish) and start my morning slowly before yoga from 9-10. Once I'm back from yoga, I pack Jeremy's lunch and then we head off for an hour long coffee date before Jeremy goes to work at noon. As I don't work until 5 on Thursdays, I spend the rest of the day catching up on laundry and cleaning (or sometimes it's finishing up a good book or watching a movie...I just like for you all to think I keep a perfectly clean home and don't in fact spend so much time entertaining myself.:).

Hope your Thursday started off as pleasantly as mine.

Pet Peeve

2010-08-18T07:05:00.002-04:00

The misuse of loose for lose.
As in: I hope we don't loose this game.

I see this mistake with frequency. I'm not as obsessed with it as Lynn Truss is with the misuse of the apostrophe (see Eats, Shoots & Leaves) ; however, I do cringe every time I read a sentence containing the misuse of loose. :)

My morning

2010-08-05T12:01:00.003-04:00

This morning I headed off to yoga. The sessions this week stretched me a lot! Working on twisting shows me how much flexibility I don't have. :) But, I'm enjoying the class and feel like I'm learning.

Upon my return, Jeremy and I headed off to a coffee shop downtown for cups of coffee (obviously!) and conversation before he worked at noon. We spent a pleasant hour or so there. Just kitty-corner from us was a man, the most bird-like human being I've ever seen. Sitting straight backed with long neck extended. His nose prominent and beak-shaped. As he focused intently on his computer screen, his mouth stretched into a sort of close-mouth smile and his eyes narrowed to tiny slits. Occasionally he'd surface from the screen and turn his neck to observe a passing person outside, or someone walking by the cafe, his beady eyes widening a bit and blinking as he followed their movement until his neck turned and honed back in on his computer. Never did his posture falter. It was excellent.

So, we're enjoying ourselves, me in an over-stuffed leather chair, Jeremy in a leather love seat next to me. And a woman, (eating an ice cream cone at 11:30 in the morning I might add) walks deliberately over to us and sits directly next to Jeremy. Is this as odd and invasive as Jeremy and I felt it was? It sort of ruined our moment, so we extricated ourselves promptly and went for refills of coffee.

On to the next phase of the day: ironing, washing dishes, doing laundry.

Shakespeare

2010-08-01T15:59:00.003-04:00

I never really learned to enjoy Shakespeare until I took a class in college. Once immersed in his language and times, I found my interest and enjoyment grow. And I found I understood so much more of what the plays had to offer when actively involved in studying them. It's been five years since that class and that steady diet of Shakespeare.

Last night Jeremy and I took in a free performance of The Taming of the Shrew at a nearby park, put on by actors from several nearby universities. It was fun to get out and do something different. I packed along a picnic supper (frittata, roasted potatoes, blueberry scones, fresh blueberries and peaches) and we set up our chairs and settled in for the play. Unfortunately the acoustics made it nearly impossible to hear the actors unless they were facing forward. Since it was Shakespeare, this it made it doubly hard to follow what was going on. Still, it was fun to see a play as it's been a long time for me.

Here's to new experiences in this city we're still learning to appreciate!

When the stars align.

2010-07-30T18:24:00.004-04:00

*Alternative title for this post: Thank you, Jesus.

Sometime this summer, Jeremy's car decided to stop starting. This was frustrating, though not entirely impossible for our life, as we live close enough to Jeremy's work for him to bike there if necessary. So, we put off doing anything about the car trying to make a good decision about whether to repair it or not. It's served us well for the couple years Jeremy's owned it, and as he purchased it for less than a thousand dollars, you'll understand when I say, the car was a bit rough (our awesome brother-in-law, Luke sold him the car and it was huge blessing!). Since then Jeremy's dashboard was torn up when a kid broke into his car and stole the CD player. So, the car was not long for this world.

This week we finally got the car towed in to the mechanics to get an estimate for repairs. We'd set a price limit and the estimate came back over a $100 higher than our limit. And so we had the back and forth conversation of what to do; should we donate it, sign it over to the mechanics, or talk to my mechanic brother. We decided to talk with my brother to see if it was a possibility for him to purchase parts and drive up here to fix it some weekend. And then we could buy ourselves some time to look for a replacement vehicle, but still have functioning vehicles. That's where we landed sometime on Wednesday.

This morning Jeremy and I set out to the mechanic's planning to call AAA when we got there and have the car towed back to our apartment and await Elliot's repairs some time in August. Although I asked Jeremy on the way there if we were crazy to be doing this, and he said "probably", we thought this was best for us.

Instead, we bought a car.

Our mechanic came to us recommended by several people and we've been pleased with his work; he's always been honest with us. Not only do they repair cars, they also sell cars there, but every time I've glanced through their cars, nothing we'd want to purchase has been in our price range. As we've known our future would be including the purchase of another car, sooner than later, we've spent some time saving money as well as talking about price range and kinds of cars we wanted (with Hondas and Toyotas at the top of the list).

Sitting on the lot today was a '98 Toyota Avalon with just over 135k miles on it, in pristine condition. Just out of our discussed price range, we decided to negotiate. Jeremy got it into our price range and threw in his old Honda to keep the price lower (plus it got it off our hands). They agreed, let us test drive it, then gave us $20 to put gas in the car and drive it home to come back later with a check and the Honda title. And so, as of 4:30 today, we own a new-to-us car; a very unexpected, but huge answer to prayers and many potential frustrations.

I was supposed to be at work today. But, one of my co-workers had surgery and isn't recovering as fast as anticipated and so I switched my schedule to work for her tomorrow. Ordinarily, we wouldn't have had this day and this time together to be making such decisions.

God worked so many details together perfectly today to provide for us in an area of uncertainty, one in which we'd been praying for guidance for some time. And as I drove home in my Honda (the one that the tailpipe fell off of this week!) with Jeremy somewhere behind me in our new car, I couldn't help but breathe this prayer, "Thank you, Jesus."

Learning Something New

2010-07-28T16:20:00.004-04:00

So, last Thursday I started something I never imagined I'd ever do...a yoga class! Somehow I never thought the yoga-train would stop my way, but when a friend asked me if I'd like to join her in trying it, I found myself saying "yes". And you know what, I'm glad I did. So far I'm really enjoying my relaxing hour Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Happy Birthday!

2010-07-25T21:12:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday to this guy!

Yesterday was his official birthday, but somehow sneaky guy that he is, Jeremy managed to make a birthday weekend of it. :)

Friday night we had some friends over for supper: chicken piccata, salad, and homemade chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

Saturday we slept in until almost noon! (Neither of us could believe it.) Then spent some time out and about just enjoying the day and enjoying each other. We ended the day watching movies on the couch.

Today on the spur of the moment we decided to head to Lake Michigan for a few hours of sun and relaxation. Then when we left around 4:30, Jeremy surprised me with a special dinner at a nearby restaurant/winery.

Jeremy doesn't have to work tomorrow, but I do. So, I think the birthday celebrating might be over. But, we've still got lots of time to enjoy life together. And I'm truly thankful for another year with him!

I love you, Jeremy!

When Books Collide

2010-07-12T13:38:00.002-04:00

About this time last year I was busily making a quilt for Jeremy's birthday. To keep me sane during the crush to complete the project I watched all the Harry Potter movies and listened to an audio book called The Wild Trees. The Wild Trees is the story of the giant Redwood forests in California and the many scientists and tree-huggers striving to save the forests. Quite interesting. I have to admit that there were times I couldn't follow all the science, particularly the many different plant lives living in the boughs of the Redwoods. But, I was glad I listened and I learned a lot!

This weekend I read The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman. I was pleased and surprised that part of one of the story lines involved the giant Redwoods in Humboldt county. It brought back memories of feverishly sewing last year. I also loved the descriptions of rare books woven into the story.

I love when my various reading endeavors intertwine and my mind is expanded. I can't imagine life without books!

Night Thoughts

2010-07-09T01:35:00.003-04:00

It's 1:30 a.m. and my alarm will be going off in five and a half hours. My body tells me I'm tired. My mind tells me I can't sleep. Where is the off-for-sleep-switch for a busy brain?

Remember my post last week where I mentioned watching the documentary No Impact Man? In true Stephanie-style, I promptly placed the book on hold at my local library (the book that was the reason behind the whole year-long experiment of living with no environmental impact that the DVD documented). I just finished it tonight before attempting to settle down to sleep and I think that's just a small part of why I'm still awake. For a week and a half now I've been pondering how I live.

I wouldn't ever go to the extremes that Colin Beavan and his family went to as they explored their relationship with the environment. I'll keep electricity and I want to enjoy foods that can't be found locally, but still I've been thinking. A lot. And I suppose that's really why the book was written in the first place.

Jeremy's car died about a month ago. At first it would start sometimes. Now, it's stubbornly sitting in our driveway, unwilling to turn over. We'd hoped to drive it when we went down to visit family as my brother is a mechanic and he thinks he knows what the trouble is and is willing to work on the car. Now that she won't start, we're questioning our next step. A big part of me would like to try to be a one-car family. To bike and walk more. The trouble is, Jeremy is the one who gets stuck at home on days that I work he doesn't, or the one that bikes or walks to work in whatever the weather because he works so close by. Because I work so much further away, I'm the one with a car 90% of the time. So, he's not as keen to go down to one car. But, I've been pondering the environment (not to mention finances) and wonder, could we do it for a year? Give it a try?

When we moved to our new apartment, we left behind TV. We own a television (a nice big one!), but use it only for watching movies as we don't own an antenna to bring in local stations. Although I'm not terribly hip, as I can't stay up on current TV shows, I can't say I miss having the TV. It's so often a big time waster, as well as a relationship stifler. I don't know if that's related to the environment, but it's definitely related to how we live.

Just about a mile from home is the year-round farmer's market. I'm striving to buy more fresh produce there. Ideally, I'd like to get a basket for my bike and ride there.

The saddest aspect of the No Impact Man book is the very real sense that Colin is searching for meaning in life as well as greatly pondering what comes after life. He holds no security in Christ and yet realizes that the material goods we gain here aren't going to do much for us after we die. I'm thankful that I can say that my hope and security rests completely in Christ. And I know material wealth won't gain me riches in Heaven. But I'm still figuring out how to be a wise steward of this life and this earth that God created. And so, I'm glad to have stumbled across both the documentary and the book. I think they'll be sticking with me as mental companions for awhile.

Thrift Stores

2010-07-03T11:29:00.003-04:00

I used to frequent thrift stores and bought the majority of my wardrobe from them. Then, the prices seemed to almost double and suddenly new clothes on clearance at Kohls, Old Navy, and Target became comparably priced. And while it didn't bother me that my clothes were used, I figured new for the same price was better.

On top of the price hikes, I also moved to a city with pretty pitiful thrift stores. Seriously, one Goodwill I went into had rows of housewares piled on the floor (I don't know if this was an in-process moment or what), rows of clothes so close together that you touched the clothes on both sides while walking down the aisle, and rather strong shoe/foot odor when you walked past the shoes. Needless to say, I don't go there.

But, of late, I've been dropping in at a couple thrift stores I pass on my trip to and from work. Mostly looking at housewares. Today, though, I went to look at clothes. In honor of July 4th, the local Salvation Army's are selling all their clothes for $1. Now, I can handle that. I popped in and looked through the shirts, found several and then stood in front of a mirror trying them all on over my own shirt. Wonderfully this eliminated 9 items and left me with 6. So, I bought $6 worth of clothes, which earlier in the week had I picked those same items out would have cost $21. Thrifty indeed!

Now I do have to say that thrift store shoppers (and sometimes workers) don't seem very aware of personal space. If they see something in front of you they want to look at, they just go for it often without so much as an "excuse me". Today I'm standing in front of a 2 foot section of shirts, systematically looking through them and a woman comes down the aisle and starts looking quite close to me (mind you we're the only people in the row!), then she goes around me and starts looking, still close. Then she stands right next to me and starts pulling the shirts in front of me towards her and her arm is actually touching mine! She says nothing as if this is perfectly normal. I finally looked at her with maybe not the happiest face and she says, "excuse me." But honestly, what is the matter with people?

Despite all of that, I am pleased with a few new shirts. And while I'll continue to drop in on occasion to look through housewares, I'll not be looking at clothes again until there is another sale.

2010 halfway point Reading Log

2010-07-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

Here's my up-to-date list of completed books for the year thus far. As I've mentioned before, I like to set myself yearly reading goals. Last year's was 52 books for the year. This years I'm attempting to read 12 classics. We'll see if I make it.

Feel free to ask me further about a book if you're interested (I reviewed a few along the way) and I may write up quick reviews on this for another post.

Enjoy perusing the list!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (YA)
All-0f-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor (children's)
The Girl With Glass Feet by Ali Shaw (F)
Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler (F)
Castle Waiting by Linda Medley (graphic novel)
Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf (F)
French by Heart by Rebecca Ramsey (NF)
My Life in France by Julia Child (NF)
The Blue Orchard by Jackson Taylor (F)
Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt (NF)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (YA)
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake (F)
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (F)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (classic)
The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran (F)
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (F)
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (F)
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (F)
Jane's Fame by Clare Harman (NF)
The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton (F)
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (classic)
Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman (NF)
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (classic)
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (classic)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (NF)
The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby (NF)
Digging to America by Anne Tyler (F)
The Family Nobody Wanted by Helen Doss (NF)

The stats :)

28 books

1 graphic
1 childrens
2 re-reads (Ex-Libris and All-of-a-Kind Family)
2 YA
4 classics
8 non-fiction
12 fiction
22 female authors

**Addition**
My top favorite reads from the list:

Non-fiction
My Life in France
Jane's Fame
Ex Libris
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Polysyllabic Spree

Fiction
Jane Eyre
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
The History of Love
The Kitchen House
The Wednesday Sisters

What have you been reading?

Can it be June 30th already?

2010-06-30T21:29:00.004-04:00

One last post before June turns into July. Hard to believe summer is almost half finished already. AND 2010 is half over. Where has the year gone?

Jeremy and I have a Netflix account, which we don't put to as much use as we should to get our money's worth. But, our libraries charge for DVDs (even for employees) and Netflix has a greater selection. The other night I was having trouble sleeping, pretty much par for the course for the week, and I decided to watch a documentary I'd had my eye on. If you have Netflix, you know they stream some movies, and that's how I watched No Impact Man. Although a couple days have passed, I can't stop thinking about it.

No Impact Man is the story of one New York family's quest to cause no environmental impact for an entire year. It's fascinating. I don't agree with all that they did--some was quite extreme--but it got me thinking about my stewardship of the environment. I've been striving to recycle more and also go to my local farmer's market. Next, I need to invest in a bike lock, so I can do some biking nearby. Anyway, I recommend you check it out. Even if it doesn't strike a bell with you, it's really just interesting. The couple are quite unique as well. I told Jeremy I'd like to re-watch it with him. We'll see what he thinks.

My little garden is coming along. Only about two-thirds of the flowers survived, for reasons I can't tell. My tomato plants are happily caged and growing. The Lemon Boy is growing like I've never seen a tomato plant grow; it reaches to my belly button. The Roma plant is much smaller, but still healthy, I think. The cucumber is happily climbing up the small trellis I bought, although he keeps trying to reach out and intertwine with the tomato. I stop in every day or two to make sure they are properly separated. :)

Last night I tried a recipe from a new blog I discovered Nourishing Meals. I am always seeking flavorful, healthful, filling recipes and this site seems to have much to offer. I want our table to be filled with foods that satisfy and please. Lately I've been in a terrible rut with cooking. I think I fed Jeremy fried rice three times last week. He's quite the trooper and doesn't complain. I'm blessed with any easy man to feed. Anyway, back to the new recipe: Fresh Vegetable Curry. Oh my, it was delicious! I didn't have all the vegetables suggested so mine included red potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, napa cabbage, orange bell pepper, and green beans. I'll definitely be making it again.

Since I can't imagine life without books, I've been reading a lot. The summer reading program at my library has a separate program for the staff. For each book I read I get a chance at a the grand prize drawing of a $25 restaurant gift card! So far I've read 6 books to enter (they must be library materials)! And I'll keep going. I'm going to post my halfway through the year reading list in a different post. Stay-tuned for that in the next couple days.

Thanks for stopping by. It's nice to know there are a few of you out there reading this sporadic blog of mine. Happy Summer to You!

Folks on the Street Corner

2010-06-25T09:19:00.001-04:00

Have you ever stopped and given some sort of help to a person standing on the side of the road holding a cardboard sign (Hungry Kids at Home Any Help Appreciated God Bless You)?

There are certain spots along my usual route that seem to be regularly populated by sign-holders. I inevitably feel a twinge of sadness and pity for them, but don’t stop and often try to avoid any sort of eye contact.

My rational behind not offering anything runs along the lines of, I won’t give them money because I figure they’ll misuse it and I don’t have any food to offer them, so I guess I’ll sort of pretend they’re not there.

Several years ago, when my sister and her husband lived in Florida, I went for a mid-winter three week visit (it was a blast!). The three of us planned a weekend camping trip, but while driving to the campground a storm started blowing in and we decided to abort the trip. On the return trip we passed a guy asking for help. We hollered across a couple lanes of traffic while at a stopped light, asking if he’d like some apples. We gave him chocolate milk and apples and the look of utter gratitude and the way he immediately bit into an apple, was heartwarming.

For several years I’ve figured it wouldn’t hurt to occasionally buy some non-perishable food items and keep them in my car to hand out. But I never remember that plan until I see another person holding a sign.

At New Years as Jeremy and I drove home from family Christmas celebration, we passed a man asking for help. I had a little food with me and I asked Jeremy if we should ask the guy if he’d like an apple (what’s with apples coming up every time?). Jeremy rolled down the window and asked. The guy said no, that someone else had already given him an apple. This sort of floored me that he was turning down food, but that was his prerogative. It was bitter cold out and it was nearing evening, so Jeremy asked if the guy needed a scarf, and the man once again declined.

That whole experience left me befuddled and wondering if all the cardboard holders are that picky.

What’s your take on it all? Have you ever interacted with any of these folks before?

Music Reviews

2010-06-23T08:35:00.003-04:00

A brief review of two groups I like because of their recent CDs...

Back in college at the suggestion of my sister, Elizabeth, I purchased a CD called Hopes and Fears by the British group Keane (I'm sure I've mentioned it here before, but Liz and I started an annual tradition of buying one new CD each on our trip back to college for second semester). I absolutely loved the original piano-driven rock melodies. I became an instant fan. When their second CD, Under the Iron Sea, was released, I bought that one too and while it didn't hold the same pleasure as the first album, I still loved it. Perfect Symmetry came out sometime in the midst of wedding planning and well, it got bumped to the wayside until I checked it out of the library some months later. Still a great group, but the songs didn't catch and hold my attention quite so completely. Recently while perusing new books and music being released, I noticed Keane was releasing an album, Night Train. I immediately put a hold on it at my library and eagerly brought it home a couple weeks later. I was disappointed. I think I listened to it maybe three times before returning the CD. Not only were the songs rather forgettable, but also at least two tracks were collaborations with a Canadian rapper. I don't like rap, period. But when combined with a favorite group, it's just plain unfortunate. And the songs sounded nothing like the Keane I knew and loved. I hope Keane returns to it's roots in Hopes and Fears when I couldn't get enough of the lyrically haunting melodies, supported with some gorgeous piano. (As an aside, I was looking on Amazon to see what sort of reviews the album received, and well, from the looks of it, I'm not in the minority at all!)

Around the same time I introduced myself to Keane, I was introduced to another guy, Jack Johnson. It was some time before I acquired any of his CDs and listened to them thoroughly, but I was hooked. Brushfire Fairytales and On and On released in the early 2000s are laid back albums filled with Johnson's unique acoustic style and original songs. I find his music difficult to describe, so here's a quick bio quote from Amazon, which sums it up quite well, "Former pro surfer turned singer-songwriter Jack Johnson is a native of Hawaii, and his music reflects the laid back surfer attitude and crystal clarity of the water. Sweet, simple, acoustic surfer-rock is Johnson's specialty." His next albums, In Between Dreams and Sleep Through the Static didn't disappoint. Johnson's style is very consistent and if I have a complaint, it's that many of his songs sound similar, so there isn't great variety. But when I played his recent CD, To the Sea, I was reminded again how much I enjoy the simplicity of his sound. I will admit that two songs on this newest album stick out to me as I listen, and I mean more in a jarring sort of way, like they don't fit in quite as well (Red Wine, Mistakes, Mythology and People Taking Pictures). That is not to say, I don't enjoy the songs, but more find the flow of the CD is slightly disrupted. Regardless, Jack Johnson delivers a solid sound every album and that's something I appreciate. Johnson also did the soundtrack to The Curious George movie...though more childlike, still good stuff there too!

Have you listened to any of these albums? What did you think? Also, I'm always up for new music suggestions!

Ice Cream Maker Love

2010-06-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

For awhile now I've been wanting an ice cream maker. This, of course, isn't a necessity for our life, and our budget laughed at my desire to purchase one (not to mention our waistbands don't need a steady diet of ice cream). So I put it on my to-want list for my birthday or Christmas.

A couple weeks ago my friend Elora and her husband were over for supper. She mentioned she was selling an ice cream maker on Craigslist and then she asked, "Do you want it? I know you said awhile back you wanted to get an ice cream maker sometime. I don't think I'm going to get what I want out of it anyway, so I'd rather give it to someone who I know will use it."

Last Saturday, I became the owner of a counter-top, stainless steel Cuisinart ice cream maker (it matches my rice cooker, toaster, and my coffeemaker!). I haven't used it yet, but I look forward to that first batch of homemade ice cream!

My mom likes to say that this is the way that God loves us. In little ways He reminds us that He's there and He cares. For this week, He showed me love through an ice cream maker.

Storm

2010-06-19T11:19:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was a ridiculously hot and lazy sort of day. After I worked until 1 and grocery shopped my way home, I didn't feel like doing much else. So, Jeremy decided to take me out to supper (although wouldn't tell me where). We enjoyed hamburgers and pleasant conversation, but a look out the window revealed nasty weather coming and I was ready to go home. Unfortunately, the power went out of the restaurant right about this time, and because all of the world functions on technology powered by electricity, we couldn't get our bill until the computers came back up.

By the time, we made our escape, the wind was bending small trees sideways and flipping umbrellas inside-out, and huge raindrops pelted the sidewalk. Did I mention we were at the mall and our car was what seemed a mile away?! We made a run for it. I admittedly squealed many times and laughed like a crazy person as the rain changed directions and splattered against my glasses making it hard to see. About halfway to our car, we ducked under an awning to catch our breath and re-group (the laughter, though fun, was making the running more difficult). Another dash for the car--though I did ask Jeremy if he just wanted to walk as we were already soaked--and we finally reached it, shirts sticking to us, glasses impossibly covered with raindrops, and laughing at the craziness of it all.

We'd been gone for maybe an hour and a half, but the streets were strewn with branches and leaves; several homes had large chunks of trees down. Stoplights stood blank, making the already dangerous downpour, a little scarier as not every car stopped as it should. But, we made it safely home and inside to dry off and finish the evening watching episodes of The Office.

This morning after I dropped Jeremy off at work, I ran a couple errands. Every where I drove, families were out in their yards gathering storm debris and bringing order back to their yards so hastily damaged by the wind and rain.

I know it's been awhile...

2010-06-04T21:38:00.002-04:00

Because I don't have much of interest to share, I'll give you a quick run-down of the goings-on around here...

*My grandpa turned 90 on Monday and I got to help celebrate at our annual Memorial Day gathering.

*My older sister turned 31 on Tuesday. I didn't get to help celebrate, but I heard she had a great day.

*Patrons at the library have been invading my personal space a little too frequently.

*A house I pass on my way to work planted fake flowers along the edge of the yard...perpetual tulips and gladiolas and such.

*I'm 760 pages into Gone With the Wind. I decided to finish it, which I guess I'm glad about, but now I'm ready to finish it and move on.

*On Sunday Jeremy and I are headed on a short vacation to our favorite spot in MI.

*Today I found gluten-free oats marked down to $1.50/lb (regularly $3.50-$4/lb) and I gave a mental happy dance and thanked God for the provision. 8 lbs should keep up in oats for awhile.

*My landlord gave me permission to plant in a small patch of dirt outside my door. I excitedly planned and planted my "garden". But, it's not thriving and I don't know what to do for it.

*Last Friday a friend came over to watch the new BBC mini-series of Emma. If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for? It's fabulous, so check your local library and get watching.

*My favorite warm weather dessert right now is fruit with fresh whipped cream.

What's going on in your neck of the woods?

Reading and Writing

2010-05-25T20:38:00.003-04:00

I mentioned a couple posts ago that I started reading Gone With the Wind. At just shy of 1000 pages, this book is quite a time investment. Sunday I came up on the 300 page mark. And I temporarily (I hope) set the book aside. I'm afraid to stop reading it because I mostly likely won't return, but I needed a break. Why, you ask? Well, I cannot stand Scarlett or Rhett! They're conniving, selfish characters with, so far, no redeeming qualities. I'm hard pressed to understand why people love this book, let alone read it more than once. My brain hurts with trying to jive the protagonists with an enjoyment of the reading process. Have any of you read the book?

To give myself a reprieve from the silly, selfish characters permeating Gone With the Wind, I decided to pick up and re-read Anne Fadiman's book of essays Ex Libris. This collection is a treasure-trove of unusual words and wonderful essays about reading, books, and fascination with words.

Fadiman is a writer I'd love to emulate. Her style is invitingly readable, but not in the least silly. I think I mentioned in a post way back when, that I first read an essay by her--Marrying Libraries--in my creative nonfiction writing class in college. I remember being delighted as I read it, but didn't think much more about it (too many other reading and writing assignments vying for my attention). A couple years later, post-college, as I was working at a used bookstore, I happened to pick up Ex Libris and peruse the table of contents. The first essay jogged my memory with a spark of delighted surprise, Marrying Libraries. Without a thought, I bought the volume for a few dollars and started reading. When I finished the slim book, I wanted to give copies to everyone I knew that loved to read (much how I feel about 84 Charing Cross Road). I wanted to spread the wealth of this small gem. I wanted to read it all over again.

Back in my college days, I dared to dream I might just be able to write such essays that would grab the attention and leave tendrils of memories behind to be jogged several years later into happy reminiscence. These days after working, cooking, cleaning, and all the other realities of life come calling, I find myself flat of ideas, unable to imagine crafting words into anything worth sharing. But, I haven't given up hope. I read books of essays to inspire me and every once in a while I'll pull out an old essay I wrote and think, "Wow, I really did know how to write once upon a time." So, maybe there is still a little of that writer in me.

Friends

2010-05-23T14:02:00.003-04:00

For reasons I don't fully understand God placed Jeremy and me in a very transient city, where people come and go because of the University. It's been hard enough making new friendships as a young couple in a new city, but knowing that most of them will move along in a few years is hard.

Last night we had our friends Richard and Elora over for supper. Jeremy met them shortly after he moved up here two years ago and so, they can be called our oldest friends here. At the end of June they are moving to Paris for 5 months. They'll be back, but not for more than a year or two. Before we know it Richard will have completed his PhD and they'll be off to another place.

We joined a small group through our church last fall. The couple that hosted it are moving to Ohio in the next couple months. Eric just graduated with his PhD. And while he's still looking for a job, Brooke, his wife, got a teaching job.

The one other couple that we're friends with we thought we're lifers here, but Rich is currently interviewing for a job in Oregon. Of course there is no guarantee that they'll move, but still...

Some days I truly wonder what God was thinking when he moved us here. But, I do know that our aloneness here has caused Jeremy and me to grow closer. And, we don't take our friends for granted.

2010-05-20T14:25:00.002-04:00

For a week now I've been wanting to blog. But, I've had nothing much to say.

In my kitchen: I've been cooking peanut lime Mexican salad, chocolate chip cookies, pesto pasta, Danish strawberry pudding, lemon salmon with green beans.

From my bookshelf: I finished Sense and Sensibility last weekend and promptly started into Gone With the Wind.

I promise I'll be back here shortly with something more substantial. But for now, I hope you are enjoying a pleasant Thursday!

Words of conviction and encouragement.

2010-05-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

Do you ever have those Sundays where you come away particularly convicted, but also encouraged? Sunday was one of those days for me.

Pastor Mark preached from John 14:22-29. In this Jesus tells His disciples, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." Jesus does not tell us to keep his words but his word. In John 1, it says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." I am not a Bible scholar, but here are my thoughts. When Jesus tells His disciples (he is speaking to His disciples there with Him, but also to all the disciples to come) to "keep my word" it seems to me He is referring to Himself. Believe in Jesus and He will make His home in us.

Okay here was what convicted me: self-criticism. I can't remember exactly how this fit into the sermon (I promise, I was paying attention!), but near the end Pastor Mark brought up self-criticism and how dwelling in that is harmful for us. I am, and always have been I think, rather hard on myself. I demand perfection of myself and grow frustrated when I fail, which not surprisingly pretty much happens every time. (You'd think I'd learn.) I've been very much aware of late that this isn't right. God created me. He loves me. And yet I berate myself to no end. I struggle to see the beauty in myself that I know that God sees, that He created, that He loves. Having high standards for myself isn't wrong, but unattainable expectations that leave me frustrated with myself and often with God, is unhealthy and wrong. My goal in life should be to glorify God in how I live and I cannot fully participate in that with the way I have been living and viewing myself. I've been praying for God to cause me to learn to see myself through His eyes, that I might live a glorifying life. My Jeremy has also been encouraging me in this.

The encouragement: I am a child of God; I know that. However, perhaps out of laziness, I often think of my salvation as a passive occurrence. You know, that Jesus died on the cross and eventually because of that I was saved. On Sunday I was reminded that my salvation is an active act of love. Jesus didn't die and rise again for the possibility of my salvation, He went through that specifically to purchase my salvation. If I was the only person in history that was saved, Jesus would still have died. Wow! My salvation was part of that plan from the beginning. He died for me, for Stephanie! I've known this since I was a child, but what a blessing to be reminded of Christ's love for me. My eyes filled with tears as I thought about Jesus suffering on the Cross so that this girl, born in the 20th century would be saved to eternal life. That Jesus desired specifically to make His home in me.

A little family time...

2010-05-10T08:49:00.002-04:00

Last weekend Jeremy and I headed down for a visit to my family. The highlight for me, besides visiting family of course, was Mom and my trip to a local salvage grocery filled with organic and many gluten-free products. I spent more money than maybe I should have, but was delighted with purchases like 5lbs of chocolate chips for $5 (Enjoy Life brand...so tasty!), 5lbs of fruit juice sweetened craisins for $7, and a couple boxes of gf cookies for $1 a box! I'm pretty sure Mom and I will be making treks there on many of my visits, I don't think she'll mind too much.

I also enjoyed some quality time with my 3 adorable nephews. I always get to see them when I visit, but this time I had more one-on-one time with them. As they see Jeremy and I the least, they aren't quite as comfortable with us, so not having the distraction of all the other aunts and uncles was sort of fun. Titus (20 mon.) even took a liking to me, last time he cried any time he had to be left in a room with me. This may have been in part because I asked him to help me make mashed potatoes; he like that a lot, but might have enjoyed the eating of them even more!

Jane, creator of romance novels?

2010-05-08T15:44:00.000-04:00

This week I finished reading a delightful book by Claire Harman called, Jane's Fame, How Jane Austen Conquered the World. If you read and like Jane Austen, I'd highly recommend this book. Harman writes in an accessible style, mixing her critical research into a flowing narrative. I never knew there was so little biographical information about Jane. So much of her life and work is left to the imagination. Which, I suppose is partly why she is beloved. People can find in her writing, ideas they feel directly relate to them. Jane's characters are friends to any who desire their companionship.

Now, I am admittedly not a Jane Austen addict because I've not even read all of her novels. But I want to. She intrigues me. And the ones I have read I've liked. I appreciate her work, but I do not moon over Mr. Darcy.

While reading, I was surprised and a little disturbed that Jane Austen is considered the mother of the romance genre. I rather mock romance novels, but found this passage fascinating:

When the American imprint Silhouette Romances was being planned in the 1970s, everything in them was written to a formula developed by market research: Even the name of the series (perhaps subconsciously evoking Austen) came from a consumer survey result. A group of women readers were asked what the ideal attributes of a romantic novel were, from the age of the heroine to the overall length of the book. The resulting tip sheet for writers could just as easily be applied to Austen's novels: the heroines were always to be "young and virginal," the heroes "strong and assertive," the plots utterly predictable, and the endings happy. There was to be no violence, blood, or pain; no slang language or obscenity, and no premarital sex. The heroine's age should be between nineteen and twenty-seven, and she should not be "beautiful in the high fashion sense." The hero should be eight to twelve years older than the heroine, "not necessarily handsome," but virile and not married, though he could be bereaved or divorced--as long as that wasn't his fault. Austen's novels clearly contributed to this formula as well as shared the basic instincts behind it.

Of course Harman doesn't leave it completely at that, she goes on to show the differences (and Austen definitely wins my favor, while romance novels will continue to get a bad rap from me). Austen's books obviously are devoid of much physical contact between men and women. But according to Harman, "the very absence of explicit eroticism leaves her books charged with sexual feeling...In a permissive age, the restraint and decorousness of her loves scenes seem in themselves erotic, and the idea of the heroines attracting so much male attention by making so few sexual concessions becomes, for the modern woman, an unattainable fantasy of female empowerment."

Interesting, at least. Have you read all of Jane Austen? What's your favorite?

Pecuniary

2010-05-07T12:32:00.000-04:00

Do you know what pecuniary means?

A couple days ago, while working in the children's department at my library, a man sat at child-height table working on his computer. Barefoot. His military-style boots sat unused beneath the table. For a time he walked a lap around the room every 10 or so minutes. Barefoot. This you might expect of a three-year-old. But not him. I shelved some books near his table. He pulled out his ear-buds and asked, "Do you know what pecuniary means?" I said, "I'm pretty sure it has to do with money." He laughed in that way that alerted me to the fact that he might be flirting with me but it was hard to tell, and said, "I thought you might know, since you're a librarian you have a few extra IQ points. And I thought I'd borrow some of that knowledge. The wonderful thing about knowledge is that you can share it, but still keep it." And he laughed some more. I sort of acquiesced to the awkwardness of this and moved on, thinking that he was sitting in front of a computer and could have used dictionary.com and borrowed their knowledge and IQ points.

I returned to the reference desk and used dictionary.com myself. The first definition: of or pertaining to money. So, I'd steered him the right direction despite the fact that I had no context for his question. The strange thing is, I don't know why I knew the answer so readily. It was like the definition was resting in an area of my brain just waiting to be exercised. And of the handful of people that I told the story to, not one of them knew what the word meant. Strange. I guess I'm going to have to thank my dad for being a user of unusual words and my mom for all those years of teaching.

And so another day at the library passes...