There and Back Again A Year's Pictorial Journey: Week 30

I'm still on blog-cation until the wedding is over, but I'm home alone this afternoon so I thought I'd recap the week in pictures or by the time the wedding is over I'll never be able to recall it . . . and I really want to try to make it through this project 365 at least once.  (I'm pretty sure I won't continue into next year)

every Sunday we go to grandma's house and every Sunday I post a flower from her yard

(July 18)

these are the planter boxes on her front porch

Monday I stuffed wedding invitations into their envelopes

(July 19)

and started putting on address labels

Tuesday I spent with my mother doing the weekly doctor visits and shopping

it was a whopper of a day

so I treated myself to one of my favorite comfort foods

"A whopper combo meal"

This cup came with the meal

(July 20)

I've mentioned before I'm team Jacob

so he was good company while I ate

(by myself in my car, with the windows rolled down to the breeze)

funny thing was, the ice in the cup caused condensation on the outside of the cup

and Jacob actually broke out in a little beads of sweat for me *sigh*

I was feeling wolfish today--apologies to those who were bitten

*      *     *     *     *

Wednesday was the Bridal Shower

the brides sister's planned a spa night

we softened our hands and feet

shaved our legs

and exfoliated our faces

we were feeling good when we kicked our heels back and watched the bride open her gifts

tradition holds that the bride must wear a gown made of the wrapping paper

(July 21)

and then the groom must arrive

and remove the bridal gown . . . ooh, la, la!

Thursday we went to the big city for a doctor's appointment

I didn't take a picture of anything--but day lilly's are blooming everywhere

these are my mother-in-laws

(July 22)

Thursday I took my mom out to dad's grave for his birthday

then it was over to the family reunion for a hot dog roast, visiting and live entertainment.

Each year they hold an auction . . . and let me tell you, these people are not tight with the cash

I was up into the wee hours of the morning finishing my aprons

(July 23)

Each apron was reversible with a pocket on one side

and the words "Peacock Cash Store" on the other

They went for $40 each (I made 6)

this is the only one I got a picture of

top left is my daughter eagerly bidding on some hand stitched flour sack dishtowels

The reunion is held on our uncles cattle ranch every year "The Lazy P"

so what else would we have for dinner . . .

(July 24)

BEEF

grilled to perfection

and branded with a smaller version of "The Lazy P" branding iron

and since today was also my dad's birthday

we joined mom in our annual

birthday cake with a sparkler

(July 24)

except we had brownies

Happy Birthday Dad!

photo's by

Hosted by Chris

Wednesday Wanderings: Happy Birthday

This is my dad--his birthday is on Saturday

He would have been 82

in this picture they were visiting some friends in Alaska and didn't have any birthday candles

so they used a sparkler instead

I'm pretty busy

what with

dad's birthday (spending the week with mom)

a reunion

a bridal shower

wedding invitations

and a wedding 3 weeks away

I'm taking a little blog-cation for a few weeks

project 365 will probably suffer some days MIA at this point

c-ya on the flip side ;P

Sepia Scenes hosted by Mary

Tuesday Teaser: Return With Honor

Return With Honor

by

Captain Scott O'Grady
with Jeff Coplon



"I'd just gotten the worst news a pilot can get--I'd been locked up by a target-tracking radar, the type that guides a missile to its mark. There wasn't much hope of a false alarm at this stage, someone was shooting at me."

This is the true story of Captain O'Grady's experience when he was shot down while in enemy air-space over Bosnia. I enjoyed the television documentary aired shortly after his rescue and I am looking forward to reading this book.

hosted by Miz B at Should be Reading

Monday Movies: I'm Bored

hosted by Molly at the Bumbles

This Weeks Topic is . . . alleviating boredom, as in what movies do you watch when you're totally bored


funny thing about being bored.  I've mentioned before on the this blog that I grew up in a rural community on a small farm.  If I looked like I was bored or even dared let the words escape my lips my parents found plenty for me to do--pulling the dreaded iron weed that seemed to grow everywhere, dung out the chicken coop, move wood piles around . . . clean my room!  So I more or less learned that it was much better to keep myself busy than to let my parents find something for me to do.

I don't rewatch movies because I'm bored--I usually only rewatch them as a companion to work like babysitting, folding laundry, ironing, cleaning etc.  And if I am sitting while I watch the movie I usually have a book in my lap and I read during the commercials.

So I don't really have a movie for this subject.

And besides who has time for a movie when there is a wedding less than four weeks away?

Today I'm working on invitations . . .

I'm not bored

Book Review: A Curse Dark as Gold

A Curse Dark as Gold

by

Elizabeth C. Bunce

published:  May 1st 2010 by Scholastic, Inc. (first published March 1st 2008)

details:  ebook
literary awards:  William C. Morris YA Debut Award (2009), Smithsonian Notable Book …more William C. Morris YA Debut Award (2009), Smithsonian Notable Book, Oprah's Book Club Kids' Reading List Teen Selection, Starred Review - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, Amelia Bloomer Project Selection, Kansas Notable Book (2009), Shortlisted-Arkansas Teen Book Award (2009), Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee (2011), Fantasy and Science Fiction, Cybils Nomination (2009) 
isbn:  0545281563 (isbn13: 9780545281560)

About the Book

Upon the death of her father, seventeen-year-old Charlotte struggles to keep the family's woolen mill running in the face of an overwhelming mortgage and what the local villagers believe is a curse, but when a man capable of spinning straw into gold appears on the scene she must decide if his help is worth the price. (Good Reads)

The Author also adds this explanation about the story in her notes at the back of the story.  "The story of Rumpelstiltskin is what folklorists call a "Name of the Helper" tale, in which a character must defeat a mysterious helper by discovering his True Name (or Secret Name or Hidden Name).  Germany's "Rumpelstiltskin" is  certainly the most familiar of these . . . but the motif occurs in at least fifteen versions worldwide, including the English "Tom-Tit-Tot" and the Scottish "Whuppity Stoorie," in which the title characters assist the heroines with their spinning." 

I personally hadn't heard of these other stories so the author has sparked my interest in reading these other versions.

The author adds another note of interest, "I've also found it fascinating that in 'Rumpelstiltskin,' the heroine is known only as 'the miller's daughter' while Rumpelstiltskin's name becomes a magical talisman--an object of power in and of itself.  In a story about the potency of names the heroine is anonymous.  Charlotte Miller's story began there."

About the Author (Author's Web Page)

I write historical fantasy for young adults, and discerning not-so-young adults. “Historical fantasy” means my work is influenced by real places and cultures of the past, but I get to make up (or fudge) the details!

My thoughts:

A Curse Dark as Gold was an enjoyable re-working of the fairy-tale Rumpelstiltskin.  I like how the author kept the basic elements of the fairy tale intact by having her heroine be the miller's daughter and the man who came to her rescue could spin straw into gold.  And in the end, just like the fairy-tale the spinner exacted a heavy price of the miller's daughter.  But unlike the fairy-tale the author created a wonderful village full of true to life people and filled the pages of the book with a story that expanded and gave life to the people in this village.  I was involved in the story from first page to last.  I have added this author to my reading list.

I would like to share one of my favorite passages from the book, this is shortly after Charlotte has given birth to her first son, "Do other mothers behold their newborn sons as I did?  Do they all find themselves stopped, breathless, in what they were doing to merely stare, in wonder, at the tiny life before them?"
 
 

 
 Book #2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Book #21

There and Back Again, A Year's Pictorial Journey: Week 29

(July 11)

My daughter had a birthday during the week

on Sunday she asked me to fix her birthday pancakes

this is her plant "Sebastian" that she bequeathed to me when she got married last year

(July 12)

I took my mom grocery shopping on Monday

Two of the girlie's went with me

I bought them some treats for being so good

(July 13)

We're having a spa night bridal shower for my youngest next week

I made invitations on Tuesday

(July 14)

On Wednesday we went "over the Mountain" and had a marathon shopping day

It was the last big run for all things wedding.

We purchased wedding cake supplies

table decor

and clothes.

We had lunch at kneader's (out of this world sandwich shop)

and then topped it off by taking Honey to see "Eclipse"

I actually didn't mind this show, it was much better than the other two in the Twilight Series.

I am seriously "Team Jacob" 

 

but at least they beefed Edward up and gave him some personality in this movie

(July 15)

Thursday was a sick day, I slept and drank lots of fluids

(July 16)

I've been sewing some aprons for the family reunion auction next week--these are the tie belts

(July 17)

yummmmm, first squash from the garden for dinner

photo's by

Hosted by Chris

Book Review: Suite Scarlett

Suite Scarlett

by

Maureen Johnson

published:  December 29th 2009 by Scholastic Press (first published May 1st 2008)
details: Kindle Edition, 368 pages
literary awards: Sakura Medal Nominee for High School Book (2010), Florida Teens Read Nominee (2009)
asin:  B0030MTPW4

About the Book (good reads)
Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City, and Scarlett lives there with her four siblings - Spencer, Lola, and Marlene.

When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest called Mrs. Amberson.

Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deceptions. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.

About the Author (good reads)
Maureen knew from an early age she wanted to be a writer. She went to high school at an all-girls' Catholic school and graduated from University of Delaware with a degree in writing. She now lives and writes in New York City. 

My thoughts:

Suite Scarlett has an original story line with fun and creative characters. Scarlett does not live the typical teen-age life that all her friends do but her rather unusual life style provides the opportunity for her to have adventures that the typical teenager can only dream of. Scarlett has developed a close relationship with the members in her family and over the course of the summer when she finds herself in need of helpp it is her family that comes through for her.  I enjoyed reading this light-hearted story. 

 Book #9

Book #20

Summer Stock: Dandelions

A sure sign of summer around here is an abundance of dandelions

“You cannot forget if you would

those golden kisses all over the cheeks of the meadow,

queerly called dandelions.”

~Henry Ward Beecher

photo's by

Summer Stock hosted by

Robin at Around the Island

Wednesday Wanderings: Free Dance

I didn't take this picture

my friend did

my little grand daughter was dancing at a recent out door concert

she was totally taken in by the music and performed so gracefully

I was enchanted by her dancing

as well as this picture

. . . and so I share it with you

sepia scenes hosted by Mary

Tuesday Teaser: A Curse Dark As Gold

A Curse Dark As Gold

by

Elizabeth Bunce

Do other mothers behold their newborn sons as I did? Do they all find themselves stopped, breathless, in what they were doing to merely stare, in wonder, at the tiny life before them?

This story based on the fairy tale "Rumpelstiltskin"




tuesday teaser hosted by Miz B at Should be Reading

Monday Movies: A Gem

hosted by Molly at the Bumbles

Today's Topic is . . . Movie Gems




A movie that I have enjoyed that I have never seen floating among the titles featured each week in this movie meme is "Kiss Me Goodbye" (1982) starring Sally Field, James Caan and Jeff Bridges. Of course anything with Sally Field in it can be counted on to be excellent, and then add James Caan and Jeff Bridges--you know you're in for a real treat.  The film is a romantic comedy that features a love triangle.  The twist, one of them is dead.  You will laugh and you will cry but I promise you will never forget this film.

and here's a little gem for all you non-twilight people

There and Back Again, A Year's Pictorial Journey: Week 28

I was pretty tuckered out from last weeks vacation, on top of that Heidi worked this week so I was called upon to tend the girlie's three. The oldest daughter had a couple of days of training as well so the boys joined us too. I think I got my camera out twice during the week--so I didn't end up taking a picture a day this week. So instead, working with the pictures I managed to take I made a collage to represent the week.

#1 Honey applies a beauty cream to Yummy's face

#2 We ate a lot of cereal this week--breakfast, lunch and dinner

#3 The bowls really stack up when that's what you are eating

#4 Summer weather has arrived and the wading pool came out for use--I sat in my chair watching them play

#5 Yummy fills the pool

#6 We spent one afternoon shopping for clothes for the wedding--colors are blue and red

#7  I read my kindle a lot while I sat outside with the kids

#8  The youngest daughter had her wisdom teeth out on Thursday, she's got her arms around her comfy pet

photo's by

Hosted by Chris