Weekly Recap #23 and #24

{June 6 through June 12, 2016}
{June 13 through June 19, 2016}

General

• I struggled most of these two weeks with one week being pretty much shot. I was very sick for awhile with IBS and Diverticulitis. And, then I got severely depressed. I ended up reading and watching TV. I got sucked into a series called Gravity Falls while I was sick and depressed. I am not going to say much more other than to say not much got accomplished.

Gardening; Yardwork

• We did some canning. We made two jars of pickled green beans (pictured on the left) one evening. We also pickled the rest of the cucumbers from the garden another evening. I tried a cider vinegar recipe this time around and we have yet to try them. I am hoping they turned out well. By the way, I have used up all our pint jars.
• I finished mowing our huge yard. I did this work in sections. I worked on the front, the sides and around the barn (shed) and finally the immediate back yard. Dan does a itty bitty section out front that I am not confident in mowing. I ended up doing most of the mowing in the mornings instead of the evenings.

Kitchen (New Recipes)

• It is not often I try new recipes; but, I am making an effort to come up with new dinners to have that are both delicious and gluten free. Dan and I made two this past weekend.

• I tried a new recipe, Salisbury Steak, this past Saturday that was absolutely delicious! We made mashed red potatoes and had some of our pickled green beans for a side. Note: I like my "steak" on top of the 'taters. Dan likes his on the side with some beer.
• We also tried making some Baked Chicken and Black Bean Taquitos. These were delicious too! A thousand times better than the store bought gluten free kind. However, they are time consuming to make! So, this is a good recipe to make in advance. I'd make them for dinner and freeze the rest. We had thirteen left over and I froze all but three (going to have some for lunch soon). If these turned out great, I will be a very happy camper because I prefer these over the store bought kind.

DIY Shed aka "The Barn"

• The porch roof is now up and it looks wonderful. The roof work was so much slower mainly due to the fact that I am a coward (afraid of heights). Dan did the vast majority of that work by himself while I kept him company when I could.

  We also painted most of the barn this past weekend. We were very fortunate that a co-worker had a much bigger paint sprayer than ours. Now that I have used one of these tools, I am wanting one of our own. I think it's worth the cost. We still need to paint our house and shutters. It makes the work go a lot smoother not to mention quicker!

  All that is left is touch up of the paint, finishing/staining the deck, and getting the roof on the main structure. I will post pictures of the barn soon.

Miscellaneous

• I read The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society by Beth Pattillo. This book was a fairly quick and easily forgettable read. A few ladies within the community would get together to share their latest knitting project and discuss the assigned book to read. But, it turned out to be much more than that when the leader brought a rebellious teen into the group. It is considered to be Christian fiction. I would add "with a touch of clean romance". I gave it three stars on Goodreads.
• I also read The Dog Who Saved Me by Susan Wilson. Another quick read but much better than the first (above). A K-9 cop "retired" and reluctantly returned back to his hometown as an "animal control officer" and avoided both his father (former alcoholic) and brother (a bad dude). This is fiction, romance, and animals I gave it four stars on Goodreads.

Some Links to Share

• Pretty Pincushion and Catnip Toy
  {Includes a Youtube tutorial}

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

~ Confucius ~

Weekly Recap #17

{April 24 through May 1, 2016}

Gardening

• I harvested a few more strawberries. I am cleaning, flash freezing and packing them up into freezer bags. If I can collect enough of them, I want to make strawberry jam. If not, I will most likely make a dessert or two with them.
• The cucumbers in the main garden have flowers. The peanuts have also sprouted flowers. It is beginning to look like I will have success growing onions this time around and I am shocked! If they are actually successful, I will have five or six onions -- a very small crop. But, I planted just a few to determine if they will grow in our new space.
• I purchased a food dehydrator. I did not want to spend a fortune and this particular machine got decent ratings at Amazon and elsewhere. I purchased some more Clean-a-Screen trays so that I can utilize all the trays that came with the dehydrator to dry herbs. I am going to purchase more Add-a-Tray and Clean-a-Screen trays in the near future as the machine allows a maximum of twelve trays!

  There is just something about cutting herbs straight from the garden and laying them out in a single layer for the dehydrator that makes my soul sing. I started two layers Sunday morning – Parsley and Basil. They should be done between 20 - 24 hours.

DIY Shed aka "The Barn"

• Dan managed to get all the wood cut for the trusses (the roof). He is now working on the things that support the trusses. His allergies hit him hard Sunday; so, he called it quits. There is no hurry. It will get built sooner or later.

Kitchen (Canning)

• We made some grape jelly from a mixture of store bought red and black grapes. We did not get any wild grapes last year. I believe the reason is lack of rain during the summer. I am hoping that this year will be different. If so, I will make more jelly from wild grapes.

  In the meantime, I bought grapes on sale to make jelly for Dan and myself. We canned Sunday (May 1) using the Heritage Collection purple Ball jars that I had for some time now. That is why it looks so dark.

  We managed to make a mess and I burned my thumb. In spite of this, it is so worth the effort. Dan's words upon first tasting was "We are never buying store bought jelly again"! I am in agreement.

Miscellaneous

• I started reading and finished a book, The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. I first learned of this series (The Wheel of Time) years ago long after the first book was written. It is considered to be a classic among the fantasy genre. The first book was no longer being sold. And, I am one of those folks who have to start from the first book in a series. I finally landed the first and second book at Half Price books not too long ago.

  This book was an extremely good read. It has been ages since I was sucked into another world via written words. There were times I was in so deep and then I would be jolted out of the world mostly by Abby Gail (my cat) who demanded my attention. These are the kinds of books I once loved and the kind of books I used to seek because they were my escape from the harsh reality of life and loneliness in my youth.

By perseverance the snail reached the ark.

Charles H Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Weekly Recap #13

{March 28 through April 3, 2016}

Gardening

• The lemon tree that split in half is doing great under the circumstances. I am real pleased. the flowers have burst forth from buds. But, since this is the first year, I am not sure if they will become lemons. We are pampering the silly tree (along with the others). I have even added organic food spikes to help nourish it. I might have to add magnesium (via Epsom salts) if signs indicate the need for this nutrient.
• I also did some yard work by weeding some nasty dandelions. These are the ones that hog the lands and water for themselves starving wildflowers and more from growing. I do not touch the false dandelions as I like these very much and they do help butterflies and bees. It took me two days to pull them all up along the driveway. The first day, my muscles started to hurt. I mean, pain hurt. So, I quit. The second day, I just got real tired and had the shakes after I finished the work. Now, it is just maintenance (getting rid of new ones).

  I have been seeing small little sunflower plants popping up since I pulled the nasty dandelions. I looks like I might have a decent border of sunflowers again this year in spite of the fact these weeds existed. I am usually vigilant and pull them whenever I see any pop up. The backyard is practically free of them this spring. There are some around a crepe myrtle tree out front that I need to pull up. But, all in all, the result of two years of effort is making me happy.

Quilting; Crafts

• Finished Section 1 of the Gypsy Wife Quilt. I blogged about it here. I was extremely pleased with what I've done. Now, onto section 2.
  

DIY Shed aka "The Barn"

• We finished establishing the joists for both "the barn" and the deck (porch). Let me tell you, I felt victorious when I managed to dead lift the joists for the deck of the barn. It made me think of my oldest niece who is into lifting weights. Even though I managed to lift it, I could not shuffle sideways. Sheesh. But, I was able to place my end on where we wanted it to go and slide it the rest of the way. I most likely will post pictures this Wednesday if I can find the time and inclination to do so.

Miscellaneous

• I started and finished reading One Good Dog by Susan Wilson. It was a fast clean read and I finished it in two days. I think I could have read it in one day if I did not have other things to do.

  This book was both sad and victorious. Susan Wilson has a way with written words and an ability to get into what could be a dog’s thoughts. This is the second book I have read by this author and I picked up this book at Half Price Books.

  You can read more on what the book is about on both Goodreads and Amazon.

  I gave this book four stars on Goodreads.

Some Links to Share

• Mug Organizer
  {Sewing; Re-purposing a mug.}
• Can a Christian Experience both Faith and Unbelief?
  {Inspirational, Christian, Devotional}

...and sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles.

~ The Doctor (of Doctor Who) ~

Weekly Recap #11

{March 13 through March 19, 2016}

Gardening

• The garden is coming along great so far. Almost everything we have planted has sprouted. We have had a few more severe thunderstorms; but, no damages to either property, trees or garden. A cold front came through dropping temperatures real low. Fortunately, not into freezing zone.

Quilting; Crafts

• I finished making blocks 2 and 3 (Section 1) for the Gypsy Wife Quilt. I have chosen fabrics for blocks 4 and 5 (Section 1).

  I have taken some pictures of the blocks; but, I have not yet uploaded them to my new computer. I need to get back into the blogging mind frame. I just love that phrase or term – gives me delicious shivers. It really should be “frame of mind”. Anyway, someday real soon I will get back into doing some blog posts.

  

Miscellaneous

• I I finished reading The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks and started reading the third book, The Wishsong of Shannara, of the trilogy. Like the first two books, I have read this dozens of times.

Action is the foundational key to all success.

~ Pablo Picasso ~

Weekly Recap #8

{February 21 through February 27, 2016}

Gardening

• We finished planting the trees (a Lemon hybrid and an Gala tree) and the rest of the daffodils. I am concerned for the daffodils which decided to bloom after it rained two nights in a row giving us a total of 3.25 inches of rain because the temperatures dropped to 33 degrees one night leaving frost on the ground.
• We went outside to check the grounds for gopher activity when much to our surprise, there was a gopher above ground acting funny. I have since learned via research online that they can wander above ground gathering food in their cheeks to store below ground. We didn't mess with it too much; but, when it started digging into my garden area, Dan got a bucket and a shovel, got it inside the bucket and dumped it at the back of the property. Hopefully, it will learn to stay away. Ha! We speculated that it was one of three things that caused the behavior. 1) poison (daffodils) - gophers usually avoid daffodils though, 2) sonic confusion (I have solar power sonic spikes that is supposed to drive them away from the area) or 3) it was actually searching for and gathering food.

  Anyway, I have been checking the grounds for new gopher activity as I have taken measures against them. There is evidence that what we have done for the trees is stopping them dead in their tracks. There is also evidence that they definitely do NOT like daffodils. I actually saw evidence of one gopher coming above ground and digging down to the roots of one daffodil; but, it stopped short of doing damage to the roots itself. So, I am resolved to keep the existing daffodils healthy and prolific not to mention to add more daffodils this fall.

Quilting; Crafts

• All three sewing machines are now set up for their intended purposes.
• Started planning for the Gypsy Wife Quilt and even picked out and started cutting fabrics for the first block; but, ended up quiting due to the fact I crashed (sickness).

Miscellaneous

• I finished re-stocking the newly renovated extended pantry and am extremely happy with the results of our efforts. It brings me peace now every time I open the door. All we have left to do is painting which means we will need to empty the pantry once more in the future. I am also thinking about replacing the light fixture. But, for now, it is a wonderful space. The painting will have to wait until we redo the hallway floor which includes two of the three hallway closets.
• I finished reading The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks and started reading the second book (The Elfstones of Shannara) of the trilogy. Like the first, I have read this dozens of times.
• We are taking this weekend off and doing a staycation of a sorts. We went to Fredericksburg yesterday (February 27) for the sole purpose of attending the HIll Country Home and Garden Show. We had lunch beforehand in town and stopped by a quilt shop called One Quilt Place which is a nice shop. I did not get a single thing though as I go for sales (clearance) and there was no evidence of a clearance section in the store.

  Anyway, the home and garden show was small but fun to peruse. I love going for ideas and the like not to mention getting names of businesses. I ended up buying some honey and salts from a local business that grows her own herbs and whatnot. I have always like supporting local businesses and farmers markets.

  We stopped by Kerrville on the way home. I wanted to go to another quilt shop called Creations. I went there years ago and it's a lovely store. Again, I did not buy a single thing. I am way too cheap! But, I do love going for ideas and whatnot. I ended up making two trips around (inside) the store before leaving as it was filled with everything under the sun a quilter would want.

* edited to correct a link

.

Weekly Recap #7

{February 14 through February 20, 2016}

Gardening

• We went to a nursery I have wanted to go to for over a month now. I purchased some strawberry plants. These tend to be hard to find around here and I have missed having them last summer. We also got some advice about how to ward off gophers concerning plants and trees. So, I am going to attempt growing trees once again.

  I purchased an apple (Gala) and a Lemon hybrid (Lemon Drop) tree. We needed to go by Lowe’s to get more dirt and I ended up getting another pecan tree. We need two or more (pecan trees) to cross pollinate and I have only one surviving pecan tree growing. If the one lone pecan tree we have survives this summer, it most likely will stay alive for a very long time. I will be thrilled if the new one we purchased survives too. (general rule around here is that if a tree survives three years, then it most likely will stay alive in spite of the gophers).

• We managed to get my new gardening plot dug up and tilled with added soil amendments. We also covered it with hay I purchased last year from a local person selling hay through facebook to protect it until planting day. It took us approximately two days because it was hard work digging up the land. I am very much thankful that Dan was willing to help because it was extremely hard work!
• We used the advice we received about warding against gophers and planted the one pecan tree we purchased. I also purchased a bunch of daffodils and planted those around the trees. We are planning to plant the remaining trees and daffodils today.


• I took the time one day and made twenty-five seed starter pots out of empty toilet paper rolls. They were so easy to make. The cats completely enjoyed being outside while I did this task. I have a few seeds that need to be started a couple weeks before planting and I plan to get them started today.

Quilting; Crafts

• I continued to shop amongst my fabrics for the gypsy wife quilt and I had a blast! It was Like being in a quilt shop. I took my time and came up with what I thought is a wonderful combination of fabrics.
• I managed to get more hand quilting of Dan's quilt done. I am getting closer to being done with this thing!
• I worked on getting my mother’s sewing machine which was an old Kenmore that is older than me! It had some old duct tape on the plate (base) that was deteriorating. It was like fine sand. I think she used this as a guide. Anyway, I cleaned it all up and got it running smoothly. Dan helped me oiled the machine because it was so darn heavy! It was tons of fun loading the bobbin and I found a needle threader my mother had that was totally cool. I used it to thread my Brother machine too! Yes, I worked on getting the Brother machine set up and running too. I think I am all set to go with the exception of my Janome. I need to replace a part so that I can do some free motion quilting on that machine.

Miscellaneous

• Abby Gail caught another gopher. This time (her third), she was pure huntress and killer. The last time she caught one, she still behaved like a kitten – curious and wanting to play with it. This time, not so much. I got the feeling if I had not gotten to her in time; she would shaken her head violently and killed the thing. I got a good look at the gopher and it look just like a rat. They are just rats that live below the ground. Ugh! Dan and I have talked and we have pretty much come to the conclusion that we do not care if she kills them; we just do not want her eating them. So, I will not panic so badly next time.
• I started reading The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. I have read this book dozens of times and this book about had it. The pages are falling out. I first read it when it was released in the late 1970s. In fact, it is the first fantasy book I ever read and it was just before I entered high school.

  I am reading it once again due to the fact the Shannara Chronicles is on TV. The TV series started with the second book (The Wishsong of Shannara) of the trilogy. I have been reading the book while I am down and out due to sickness (had stomach troubles one day and a minor cold with an ear ache and sore throat another day). I also tend to read while outside with the cats. I would stand out there with Abby’s leash attached to my wrist and just read. Gracie is usually so well behaved that I do not need to have her leashed up and almost always, she listens to me and stays within her boundaries that I have established.

Turning down the volume of life allows you to listen to God. .

~ Our Daily Bread ~

Weekly Recap #2

Food

• My oldest niece posted on facebook a picture of Lance gluten free sandwich crackers and said "Take my money please!". Everyone, more or less, in the comments said Target had them. Well, Target was too far away for me to go looking. So, I went looking on Amazon. I found and ordered some of the sandwich crackers. My. people. were. NOT. kidding! These are delicious and I wanted to cry because they do not sell crackers only. But hey, I now have some delicious snacks to snack on. So, I am passing the word on about these excellent sandwich crackers that are also gluten free.

Books

• I started and finished Curse of the Bane (The Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles, #2) . I gave it 4 (out of 5) stars on Goodreads. Surprisingly, I felt that this was a much better read than the first one in the series. In spite of this, I will not be getting nor reading any more books in this series. I have way too many books on the shelves that I have not read yet and would rather read. Ha!

DIY, Quilting, Crafts

• Finished making t-shirt wall art. The above picture is a sneak peek and I plan to blog a DIY (how-to) soon due to the fact a friend asked me too once she learned I was making some for the guest room.

• I discovered that I did not have enough batting to completely sandwich a quilt. Dan suggested that I get a roll (bolt) of batting to use on the "longarm" frame. So, I went shopping online and found Jo-Ann was having a 50% off sale on batting online only. I nearly had a heart attack discovering the regular price for a bolt of batting. 50% off helps out so much! Even then, I had to ask Dan because I do not think he was expecting it to be so much money. I ended up purchasing a bolt and am now anxiously waiting for it to be delivered at our house.

• Finished putting fabrics on "bolts" I purchased during our vacation. They are now residing on the fabric shelves in my room. That reminds me, I need to do a tour of my studio and blog it. But first, I need to tidy it up a bit and I have the perfect reason to do the next couple of weeks. Guests are coming to stay the last weekend of January and at least one will be sleeping in my room.

• Started a tangle challenge, It's a String Thing #127. The deadline is not a hard and fast rule for me. I tangle when I feel the need to tangle and calm myself (Axiety and worry is a problem of mine). I have been practicing Puchong and am ready to draw it on the string.

Miscellaneous

• We attended a Pet Adoption Event in a nearby city that waived adoption fees. If we adopted a pet, which we did not, we would have left a donation. There was only one dog appealed to my heart and he was a very calm puppy among a bunch of them. He just sat patiently gazing at us both while the rest were scrambling about and over one another, yipping and whatnot. But, the puppy would have been too much for me (us} and he most likely would have an easier time finding a home than the older ones. We are wanting a young dog but not a puppy either. So, we will continue looking.

Quotes

Yeah, I need to unstickify it.

(I said this in response to Dan not liking the residue left behind by a label on a jar).

Weekly Recap 1

First of all, I think my "word of the year" or motto for 2016 will be:

“Reject Apathy”.

I wrote this down on the 29th of December and the phrase has been with me ever since. It originally came from an Our Daily Bread devotional. I think this will be my “word of the year” or motto for 2016. On the other hand, when I see, read or think this phrase, I also think “survive” or “survival”. You know, some days, it is all I can do to just survive. So, maybe 2016 will have two separate words for me. Ha!

"Survive"

My previous words of the year were:

2011 – Do
2012 – Finish
2013 – Anew (Afresh)
2014 – Focus
2015 – Persevere [Endure] [Pursue]

2016 – "Reject Apathy" or Survive [Survival]

At this moment, I cannot decide which one to pick. So, I am going to use both.

source: B.C. Comic Strip on GoComics.com

Honestly, I do not think I will have a new "New Year" resolution list. I will just keep on keeping on what I have been doing in the past. I still do a #finishyear list started years ago. I carry it over to the New Year.

Instead, I think I will just have a weekly recap post. This effort will probably die just like the rest of my efforts do. Ha! But hey, I am going to try. At the very least, I am hoping to have at least one post a week if not more. There were periods of time on my blog where I was gone for months and this worried a few of my friends.

Anyway, this post will cover everything from the 1st of January through the 9th of January. So, slightly more than a week. From hereon, the weekly recaps will cover Sundays through Saturdays. And, the posts may cover anything or nothing. It will be whatever I decide. Ha!

• Town Squares

  We went visiting town squares and did some antiquing on our vacation which was December 19 through January 3rd. In case you do not know it, I adore town squares. There is something about old towns that makes me happy. I love it when Dan decides to drive through an old town square even if we do not stop. I just love viewing the old courthouses and the buildings in the square. I have been taking selfies at courthouses whenever we deliberately stop and roam. I thought they would be proof that we were at those places! Ha! And besides, the pictures will be kind of like a picture journal of town squares.

  Anyway, we went to Lockhart and New Braunfels on January 2nd. Lockhart had a fairly healthy town square that I loved. If only the weather was more cooperative! It was raining and miserably cold. I have been to New Braunfels before and their "square" is extremely unusual. A gazebo in the middle of a oval roundabout with the courthouse on the outer edge. I would return to both towns again.

  We often stop at antique stores and I was delighted to have found not one; but, six lane mini chests on this trip! Getting six chests let alone one is a very unusual thing to do. We also found an upchucked nightstand (or end table) for $36. We will be fixing it up and re-purposing the item.

  FYI: I plan to blog about our vacation. At least, the loot I ended up with on our vacation! Ha! :-)

• RV Supersale Show

  We are shopping around for a camper and trying to decide which one we would love to have and get. We do have a budget and it is not all there yet. Most likely, we will buy a gently used one because that is the best way to go within our budget. But, it does not hurt to attend these shows and get a first hand look at the campers we may be interested in. There were three campers that we liked. Now, it is a matter of research and looking at other models/brands. We had fun and it was a good "date" if you want to call it a date. Ha!

• Sickness
  • I was sick from January 3rd (evening) through the 6th. I started to recover on the 7th. I am not sure what caused me to crash other than two out-of-town trips (three days at Christmas and the day trip I mentioned above) along with eating food that I do not usually eat including on New Year's Eve with some gluten free food that I never tried before. I did try to stay gluten free while out and about; but, it can be so dang hard! Anyway, I crashed with a terrible headache, body ache and stomach troubles. And, from then on, I slowly but surely recovered with bouts of stomach issues. So, because of this, most of my week was wasted.

  • An incident landed me in the local urgent care just after midnight January 9th. I woke up with my left eye screaming in pain from something - most likely a speck of dust. We tried flushing the eye which was successful in the past; but, it did not help this time around. Dan looked and could not find a thing. Because I was in extreme pain, he / we made the decision to to get me into local urgent care which is open 24/7. They put drops in my eye which deadened the pain and gave me immediate relief. I was still feeling like something was scratching my eye; but, pain killers helped me cope. They could not find anything and flushed the eye out. The doctor mentioned a variety of possibilities including an ulcer and we found that one unbelievable.

    Dan and I talked when we got up in the morning and we both think I must have been rubbing the eye in my sleep scratching the eye causing the pain. I still had aches and the eye area was puffy that morning; but, it was a heck of a lot better. I have medicated eye drops and if I still have issues, I will be seeing an ophthalmologist.

• DIY, Quilting and / or Crafts
  • I framed the five 100 blocks that I won through a recent blog hop by Quiltmaker.
  • I decided to join 2016 Finish-A-Long: Quarter 1 and I will be blogging my list soon to officially join the "party".
• Books

  I managed to start and finish Revenge of the Witch {The Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles #1) while sick. I gave it a 3 (out of 5) on Goodreads. Maybe I am spoilt by all the good books I have read in both child- and adult- hood that makes me think this is not the best writing for young adults. Do not get me wrong. It was a good story with a good plot line and whatnot; but, I think it could have been better. Maybe the author improved with the second book? I will know when I read that one. Yes, I have it. I actually have Seventh Son which contains Books 1 and 2 of the series. By the way, the book is young adult fantasy.

A Week in Pictures (#12)

Source: iheartfaces.com via Lee Ann on Pinterest

The View from Here 12/7/2012

{To see a larger image, go here).

Sunset view from on top of the house. I knew it was going to be a beautiful sunset and I practically begged Dan to let me get up on the roof. Yes. Me. Afraid of heights! Get up on the roof! He set up the ladder. I climbed and then crawled to the top. Ha! No way was I going to stand up. He was more than a little amused at me. It was a gorgeous sunset.

Shopping 12/8/2012

We did a lot of shopping on this day – running around like a mad hatter. I had coupons and wanted to check out sales. We needed stuff for the house. Etc. and etc. It was a very full and busy day.

Decorated 12/9/2012

I needed an excuse to make these adorable melted snowmen cookies. I’m a huge fan of snowmen. Today’s challenge gave me that excuse. These cookies turned out really well. And, they were delicious; although, just on the sweet side due to all the frosting! I wasn’t a fan of the peanut butter flavor; but, Dan loved the taste.

Stripes 12/10/2012

A Trio of Stripes – Apron, Oven Mitten and Bowl! By the way, one of the colors on the apron is going to be used on the kitchen walls.

On the Shelf 12/11/2012

I collect the Hallmark ornaments trains. The problem is I do not like hanging them on the tree. We put the trains up on top of the craftsman style casing (trim) in the kitchen. This is just temporary until we get the casing/trim up in the den (living room). And yes, we are currently putting up the casing/trim on all the doors and windows throughout the house. I absolutely love the look! What we currently have is unfinished as we also need to paint them.

A bit a trivia all of you: Chessie, one of our cats, is actually named after the railroad mascot of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

Sweet 12/12/2012

Mini M&Ms. I only eat these when I take drugs as I cannot swallow pills. Most drugs are nasty tasting. 'Nuff said.

’Tis the Season 12/13/2012

Luke 2: He is the Reason for the Season - not Santa Claus, not presents, not the tree or lights and not even mass. It's all about Jesus. Why did He come to earth as a baby?

Book Review: Echo by C. L. Kelly

Book: Echo: A Silent Plea to Be Heart, a Desperate Cry to Be Found
Author: C. L. Kelly
Publisher: Zondervan Publishing Company; ISBN: 9780310263043
Date Published: July 1, 2007

Product Description:

In book two of the Sensations series, Cassie Dixon's getaway to the mountains with her friends and their thirteen-year-old deaf son becomes a high-stakes search when the boy disappears. Danger stalks the slopes.

Synopsis:

The trip to the Cascade Mountains had been Cassie's idea. But what she thought was going to be a time to rejuvenate and relax with old friends may cost one of them their lives.

Cassie Dixon just wants a little time away to forget and to heal after her failed venture in the perfume industry. A camping getaway with the Fergusons and their thirteen-year-old deaf son, Cody, seems like the perfect solution.

Cassie watches as Cody grows increasingly restless, chafing under the suffocating protectiveness of his mother. Encouraging him to explore and to have confidence in his God-given talents, Cassie aches for the boy, knowing that hearing is both the audible and inaudible ways in which we hear each other – and God.

Then Cody disappears … and Cassie feels responsible. Even if she manages to find the boy alive, she isn?t sure she can convince him that God has a plan for his life. But the danger stalking close at hand may settle that concern for both of them.

I picked this book up for dirt cheap in the clearance section at either Mardel or Family Christian stores. It is not often a person can read books, fictional or otherwise, that has deaf characters or is about the deaf. The synopsis was intriguing and the price was right.

For what it is worth, I didn’t realize that this book was part of a series. I just picked it up and started reading it. You don’t really need to read the first book, Scent, before reading this one because it stands on its own.

I found myself identifying with Cody who is also deaf. The author had an empathy and understanding of what it is like to be deaf in the hearing world. The difference lies in the fact that I was born severely hard-of-hearing (HOH) and became severely and profoundly deaf by the time I reached 6th grade. Cody lost his hearing when he reached age 6. So, he knew what it was like to hear.

This book really begins when Cody is about to reach age 13. Cody is very intelligent and well-read even though he’s pretty much isolated due to Mother’s over protectiveness. Cody is a very good lip-reader and speaks well. His Mother and the experts wanted Cody to learn to sign so that he would get everything – total communication. Cody refused because he thought it would rob him of all that the world could offer him. He wanted to be anything his heart desires. So, there was a struggle between him and his Mother over his refusal to sign and over his dreams. He was deeply angry and withdrawn.

This book is not just about Cody; but, it also deals with the characters of both of his parents.

I don’t wish to spoil the book for any of you who have not read it. Suffice to say that I really enjoyed it. It is Christian fiction with suspense and is introspective. At least, it was introspective for me. By the way, the suspense part did not start until the latter half of the book.

My personal rating: 4 out of 5 stars. But then, I may be biased. I have a slight identification with one of the characters than most people would have.

Book Review: A Capital Holday by Janet Dailey

Author: Janet Dailey
Publisher: Zebra Book; Kensington Publishing Corp.
Date Published: October 9, 2009
Category: fiction, romance

Synopsis

"All I Want for Christmas..."

Life in the White House means never having a moment to yourself. As the President's daughter and official hostess, Jocelyn Wakefield longs to escape the media circus that surrounds her every move for just one day. Impossible? Not with a wig, some very different clothes, a secret tunnel, and a grandmother with a butler, both of whom are willing accomplices...

But being anonymous in Washington, D.C. at Christmas time may turn out to be an impossible dream after all when she collides with political columnist Grady Tucker—a man who could publish her exploits in papers nationwide. But Jocelyn is about to discover that Grady is more than just a journalist looking for a story—and that the magic of love can never be disguised...

This book was recommended and loaned to me by one of my sister-in-laws last December. She said it was an excellent book for a curmudgeon or scrooge like me. I haven’t liked or enjoyed Christmas for some time. She said it was clean and simple.

I haven’t felt like reading a romance book until now. I just picked it up last week and read it in less than a day. My sister-in-law was right. This is a good read and an excellent book for me. It is a light and quick read. And yet, it was profound in many ways for me – made a person think about the holidays. It was also surprising for me that this book could also be considered “Christian” – that is just my opinion.

This book could be considered a modern day “Roman Holiday” crossed with “Miracle of 34th Street”. It has humor and was filled out with some good characters such as Joycelyn’s Grandmother and her “butler” and a mysterious person by the name of “Obediah”. Both help the main heroes out in the book. All are very likable characters. At least, I thought so.

I plan on picking up this book again just before the holidays to read it again. Yes, that means I’m not returning the book to my sister-in-law any time soon.

By the way, if you’re looking for a romance books that has steamy sexy scenes or full of romance, this is NOT the book for you. And, if you’re looking for a typical secular romance book or even a typical “Janet Dailey” book, this is NOT for you. However, if you're looking for a light on romance, clean, and quick read, this might be the book for you.

My personal rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Bookends

Author: Liz Curtis Higgs
Publisher: Multnomah Books (May 4, 2005), paperback, ISBN: 978-1590524374
Date Published: October 1, 1991
Category: Christian, fiction, romance

Synopsis

Opposites attract? Maybe not.

Emilie Getz and Jonas Fielding are as different as two people—of the same age, with the same faith, living in the same charming Pennsylvania town—could be.

She loves history; he loves new ideas. She sticks to the rules; he likes to break them. She’s into saving relics; he’s into saving souls. The one trait they share is a penchant for controlling every aspect of their lives, including their stubborn hearts.

When Emilie’s search for an archaeological treasure leads her to the one piece of land she can’t have (thanks to Jonas), they choose opposing sides in an engaging battle of wits. Emilie, a no-nonsense sort of woman, is determined to have her way. But Jonas is on a mission as well: He wants to hear Emilie laugh. Often.

I picked up this book at a nearby Mardel on clearance. In fact, I picked up a total of five books (really nine books because two were trilogies) for a total of $8.00.

Bookends is a nice clean read, which is what I like most of the time. Both characters are older than your typical romance novel characters, which is great considering I’m older than your average romance reader. Their issues and struggles are realistic and the courtship is unusual. The storyline has humor throughout. Emilie’s reaffirmation of her relationship with Christ may also appeal to many readers.

My personal rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Dewey: The Small-town Library Cat Who Touched the World

Author: Vicky Myron with Bret Witter
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, ISBN: 0-446-40741-0
Date Published: September 2008



Synopsis

DEWEY is the heartwarming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa, as told by his owner and companion of nineteen years, Vicki Myron, the librarian who found him on a frigid January morning when he was abandoned as a kitten in the book drop slot. It is also the story of a remarkable small town, which burned down at the beginning of the Depression, only to rebuild itself, and which was almost shuttered during the farm crisis of the 1980s, before regrouping and rededicating itself to small town American values. Dewey's local charm and worldwide fame became a symbol of hope for this recovering town. Through Dewey's antics, we come to know and love many of the colorful and inspiring people of Spencer. But perhaps the most inspiring person in Spencer is Vicki Myron herself, a single mother who survived the bankruptcy of her family farm and working in a box factory to put two of her brothers through college to become one of the leaders of the Iowa library system. Dewey is one lovable, roguish cat who managed to transform an entire town and inspire people across the globe.

I have wanted to read this for some time. I have always loved animal stories. I’ve read Marley & Me and loved every bit of it. I’ve have also read James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small series in my youth and loved them all.

I was expecting the book to be about Dewey the cat. But, it turned out to be more than just about Dewey. It was about the small town, Spencer, in Iowa and about the author herself, Vicki Myron. Because of this, it is not your typical cute cat stories. Most everything is all intertwined into Dewey’s story.

He is the perfect library cat – who wouldn’t love an outgoing and calm cat like him? Because of his personality, he became famous worldwide.

Personally, I liked the book Marley & Me more than Dewey, which is surprising because I am a cat lover.

My personal rating: 4 out of 5 stars. The only reason why I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 is because it sometimes went into details about either the small town and about the author that didn’t relate much to Dewey himself. It just didn’t seem to flow or intertwine together well. But, that is just my two cents.

Book Review: Stranger in a Strange Land

Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Publisher: ACE trade, first edition, paperback, ISBN: 0-441-78838-6
Date Published: October 1, 1991

Summary (from Goodreads)

One of the greatest science fiction novels ever published, Stranger in a Strange Land's original manuscript had 50,000 words cut. Now they have been reinstated for this special 30th anniversary trade edition. A Mars-born earthling arrives on this planet for the first time as an adult, and the sensation he creates teaches Earth some unforgettable lessons. "A brilliant mind-bender."--Kurt Vonnegut.

I’ve heard so many talks about this particular book recently that I finally got around to purchasing the original uncut version at a deep discount to read.

This book may be classified as Science Fiction; but, I don’t think there is much that classifies it as science fiction other than the fact that people went to Mars and one lone orphan of two highly intelligent people, raised by Martians since a baby, returned to earth as a young adult. This book is more philosophical in political (libertarian?), religion, and sexual areas. I totally understand why this book became a cult classic of the hippie movement.

With that said, I must say that this book was not my cup of tea. It was a huge disappointment. It was slow going at first. But, the story started picking up in Part II. Even then, it was tedious to wade through. I did “grok” the book. However, it was ideological to the point of being an impossible dream. Also, there were some aspects that I did not care for nor agree with.

For example, near the end, the “discorporation” of people just because wrongness existed within them bothered me. I have always felt that no matter how evil a person is, there is always room for redemption for them if shown the way.

Another thing that bothered me was the free-love and “polyamorous” relationship thing. I think the concept unrealistic simply because we are human. I also think that sex should be reserved for the marriage bed – between husband and wife and none other.

I also did not like how the main character had a messianic complex.

If you’re a devout Christian (like I am), I would highly recommend that you do NOT read this book.

My personal rating: 2 out of 5 stars