Tuesday Teaser: The Sweet Far Thing

The Sweet Far Thing

by

Libba Bray

"A bright white light forces me to close my eyes. My body falls away and I am inside a dream."

location 8858 on my kindle

Teaser Tuesday hosted by Miz B at Should be reading

Monday Movies: Child Stars

Monday Movies hosted by Molly at the Bumbles

Today's topic is . . . Child Stars

Two women came to mind when I saw the topic

the first--Jodie Foster. She had a wonderful career as a child star but was also able to transition into adult roles. Jodie Foster is one actress I've always enjoyed watching, pretty much any film she is in can be counted on to be worth my time watching.

the second--Drew Barrymore. Ever since she first smiled for the camera she's been charming the world. I enjoy her movies most of the time.







Over the weekend . . .

I watched a movie "Remember Me" starring Robert Pattinson (Edward of Twilight) and Emilie de Ravin (Claire of Lost).  I watched it because my daughter wanted to know what I thought.  I didn't like it over all.  It began with death and ended with death and was filled with sorrow and melancholy, right down to the music.  The ending was what got you---if you can make yourself sit through it (I folded laundry, it helped to be busy) it is a movie that made you do some reflecting on what is important in life.

Book Review: Rebel Angels

Rebel Angels

by

Libba Bray


Published: December 18th 2007 by Random House Children's Books
(first published August 23rd 2005)
eBook, 592 pages
ISBN: 0307433676 (ISBN13: 9780307433671)
Series: Gemma Doyle #2
Literary awards: ALA Teens' Top Ten (2006)

About the Book:
In this sequel to the Victorian fantasy A Great and Terrible Beauty, Gemma continues to pursue her role as the one destined to bind the magic of the Realms and restore it to the Order--a group of powerful women who govern the world of the realms. (Good Reads)

Read 21 things you don't know about the author here

My thoughts:
Rebel Angels follows Gemma Doyle as she discovers that she is "The Lady of Hope" of the Eight Realms.  In the previous book Gemma destroyed the crystals formed by the order that kept the magic of the realms contained.  The magic is now free in the realms and chaos is taking hold.  Gemma's task in this, the second novel is to find the temple and bind the magic to herself.  The story continues with plenty of 16-year old girl silliness alternating with experienes pertaining to the occult and the impossible task of bringing order to a magical realm.  The contrast is what makes the story interesting.

At one point in the story the girls visit an art museum with their teacher.  They are captivated by a painting of the Son of God wrestling with the Son of the Morning or the Rebel Angel.  The author brings this symbology in at the end of the story as Gemma finds herself in a similar situation.

And now it's on to volume #3 "A Sweet Far Thing"--I wonder what adventures await Gemma and her friends?

Book#10

Book #28

There and Back Again, a Year's Pictorial Journey: Week ????

I've lost track of time over the last few weeks while I took care of my wedding. I failed in my project 365--I didn't get a picture a day! But I did take enough pictures at the wedding to compensate for it. And I have been busy sharing them here on my blog.

So today at the 11th hour of Week 35 I'm trying to get back on track with my project 365.

The summer apples are on--Mr. J loves them, I can tolerate them if I eat them with salt.

Aug. 22

It's true

Aug. 23

I'm officially an empty-nester

this is what an empty room looks like that was once full of things my daughter loved.

But I'm happy, now she's living with the one she loves the most.

I love the movie Spanglish--that scene where the guy comes home

and trips over all the toys in front of his door . . .

Aug. 24

I can totally relate to that

Wednesday I was in charge of Relief Society at the local nursing home

Aug. 25

my daughter came and played the piano

and my friend led the music

I gave a little talk about the importance of music to our spiritual welfare

then the residents picked their favorite Hymns and we sang them

we had a really good time

The little ones are back

(where did summer go?)

Little Bear was playing outside

when all of a sudden he throws the door open and screams for me

Aug. 26

A big truck delivering a bed for my daughter and her new husband

had arrived on our doorstep.

It scared him to death!

Ahhhhhhh!

The last week of summer . . .

Aug. 27

school starts on Monday.

yummmmm

Aug. 28

I love tomato season :)

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son

Proverbs 10:5

photo's by

Hosted by Chris

Wedding Cake

My daughter Heidi made the wedding cake

I thought it was very romantic looking.

The cake is a beautiful shade of blue with decadent drapes of fondant flowing from tier to tier.

Each drape is sprinkled with red ribbon roses.

The cake topper is the delicate figurine from Willow Tree called "Promise"

The stack of books includes two Jane Austen books and a book of poems.

The goblets and the ink pot were hand-turned by the grooms father.

The photograph of the happy couple by Robert Dyer Photography.

This layer is a scrumptious banana pineapple requested by the bride.

The bottom layer also a request of the bride is a refreshing orange flavor, 

and the layers in between are the most decadent, gooey chocolate cake ever.

The groom is a chocolate kind of guy.

the cake was then sliced and served ala mode to the wedding guests

Check out more cakes at

Cakes by Heidi

Tuesday Teaser: Libba Bray

This week I've been reading a series authored by Libba Bray

Book #1
A Great and Terrible Beauty

teaser:
"Our eyes are shining, our skin is rosy, our all-knowing smiles are back.  Oh, God, the great and terrible beauty of it."

Book #2
Rebel Angels

teaser:
"This is what I know of the story of The Order.  They were once the most powerful women imaginable, for they were the keepers of the magical power that ruled the realms."

Tuesday Teaser hosted by
Miz B at Should be Reading

Book Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty

A Great and Terrible Beauty

by

Libba Bray

published: December 9th 2003 by Random House Children's Books
details: ebook
series: Gemma Doyle #1
literary awards: ALA Teens' Top Ten (2004), Iowa High School Book Award (2007)
isbn: 0375890491 (isbn13: 9780375890499)

About the Book:
A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel. Read more about this book at Goodreads.

Twenty-one things you didn't know about the Author can be found on her Goodreads author page.

My thoughts:
This story follows the adventure of the protagonist, Gemma Doyle as circumstances take her from her home in India to Spence a finishing school for girls in London.  Gemma has visions that she doesn't understand, but soon she is lead, through the help of a spirit, to a diary that sheds light on an organization of powerful women called "The Order" and 8 magical realms that they governed.  Gemma finds that she has the ability to enter these realms.  With the help of her friends and the diary Gemma begins to unravel a great and terrible mystery. 

This story took me by surprise.  I'm not sure what I expected when I started reading.  It has the elements of fun and frivolity that you would expect from a story about teenage girls in a boarding school, but the story has deeper and darker elements that left me feeling a little creeped out.  The book is well written, with a good story line and enough of the occult to leave me shivering.  I can't wait to continue the adventures of Gemma Doyle in the next two books of the series. (Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing)

Book #9

Book #27

Wedding Flowers

My oldest daughter designed the floral elements for my youngest daughter's wedding.  The groom preferred traditional flowers and the bride likes things on the whimsical side--so the two sides were married and this is the result:

the grooms boutonniere--two roses wrapped in blue ribbon with orange and red berries for accent

the brides bouquet--dark red roses, Gerber daisies, red lilies in several varieties, red carnations

 and accents with the red and orange berries,

to add the whimsical touch--blue beaded wires were twisted into curly-ques,

blue ribbon daisies were  glued to the centers of the Gerber's,

sheer blue ribbon and blue and white dotted ribbon with beads tied to the ends were added for a final flair.

For another touch of whimsy my daughter used ruffling

 from the same fabric as the little girls petti skirts 

tucked between the flowers.

the picture below is a little over exposed but it gives a general idea.

The brides favorite flowers are the big red lilies.

boutonnieres--a red rose and a pixie carnation

mother's corsage--carnations, lily, and a Gerber daisy, surrounded by touches of whimsy

grandmother's corsage--carnations, roses, lilies and touches of whimsy

single flowers for the tables--to dress these flowers my daughter added red ruffles,

blue ribbon and blue satin daisies

the underside of the petti-skirts (more pictures to come of those)