Photo Story Friday: New Year Wishes.

Many years ago when celebrating the new year

our daughter shouted out "Happy New Hair!!!"

she thought the confetti looked like hair

the greeting stuck

so . . . .

Happy New Hair to you :)

2010 Wrap-up

I participated in the following challenges for 2010

Woolf in Winter Reading Group--4 books through January and February --completed 1/30/2010 (2 of 4)

1.  Mrs. Dalloway
2.  To the Lighthouse

2010 Fantasy Reading Challenge-- my goal was 4 fantasy books
completed 12/31/10 (read 12 books)

1. The Hobbit
2. The Lord of the Rings
3. Erak's Ransom
4. Fablehaven #5: Keys to the Demon Prison
5. Silver Borne
6. The Kings of Clonmel
7. The Dragon Slippers
8. Murder at Avedon Hill
9. A Great and Terrible Beauty
10. Rebel Angels
11. The Sweet Far Thing
12. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Bronte Challenge--this challenge ended in June so made a goal to read 2 works I had not read yet; --completed 5/20/2010 (2 works)

1. Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell
2. Agnes Gray by Anne Bronte.

Buy a Book Challenge--only 1 book is required so this shouldn't be to hard to complete.
completed 12/31/10 (read 6 books)

1. Running With Angels
2. Fablehaven #5: Keys to the Demon Prison
3. The Kings of Clonmel
4. The Book Thief
5. Return With Honor
6. Return to Christmas

E-book Challenge--Since I purchased my Kindle most of my reading is in e-book form
completed 12/31/10 (read 42 books)

1. The Undaunted
2. Mrs. Dalloway
3. The Lost Quilter
4. To the Lighthouse
5. Moving In
6. The Hobbit
7. Erak's Ransom
8. The Lord of the Rings
9. Silver Borne
10. The Remarkable Soul of a Woman
11. The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte
12. Agnes Grey
13. Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell
14. The Ordinary Princess
15. Murder Takes the Cake
16. Murder at Avedon Hill
17. The American Collection of Short Stories (read 5)
18. A Dog's Tale
19. Midnight in Madrid
20. Suite Scarlett
21. A Curse Dark As Gold
22. The Goose Girl (Hale)
23. The Goose Girl (Brother's Grimm)
24. Book of a Thousand Days
25. The Continuous Atonement
26. The Story Teller's Daughter
27. A Great and Terrible Beauty
28. Rebel Angels
29. The Sweet Far Thing
30. Curly Grandma's Letter's
31. Seven Miracles That Saved America
32. Elvis Takes a Backseat
33. The Life of the Prophet Joseph Smith
34. Dead Reckoning
35. The Forever Queen
36. An Amish Christmas
37. Caroline's Christmas Angel
38. The Paper Bag Christmas
39. A Country Christmas
40. Grandma's Night Before Christmas
41. A Christmas Story
42. Stars:Reflections on Christmas

Fairy Tale Reading Challenge--I've read many of these books based on Fairy Tales and really enjoyed them.  I'll set my goal for 5
completed 12/31/10 (read 5 books)

1. The Ordinary Princess
2. A Curse Dark As Gold
3. The Goose Girl
4. Book of a Thousand Days
5. The Story Teller's Daughter

Take Another Chance Challenge--There are 12 challenges so I'll try to complete 1/month-- completed all 12 challenges 10/1/2010

1. The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. The Lord of the Rings (#40 on Radcliffe's Rival 100 best novels)
4. We Band of Angels
5. Dragon Slippers
6. Curly Grandma's Letter's
7. To the Lighthouse
8. The Goose Girl (Hale), The Goose Girl (the Brother's Grimm)
9. Murder Takes the Cake and Murder at Avedon Hill
10. The Undaunted
11. Bronte (Agnes Grey/Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell)
12. The American Collection of Short Stories (read 5) then read a novel A Dog's Tale

TBR Challenge--I like to do things in clusters so I have selected three months that I will read from my TBR list
completed 12/31/10 (read 9 books)


1. The Undaunted
2. Erak's Ransom
3. Fablehaven #5: Keys to the Demon Prison
4. Silver Borne
5. The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte
6. The Kings of Clonmel
7. Murder Takes the Cake
8. Midnight in Madrid
9. Suite Scarlett

J.R.R. Tolkien Read-a-long--January to March 2010

January--The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring
February--The Two Towers
March--The Return of the King
--completed 3/10/2010

 Holiday Reading Challenge
 hosted by All about {n}
 requirement is one or more holiday associated books between Nov. 15 and the end of the year.  I love holiday reading. 
Completed 12/28/2010  (read 8 books)

1. Return to Christmas
2. An Amish Christmas
3. Caroline's Christmas Angel
4. The Paper Bag Christmas
5. A Country Christmas
6. Grandma's Night Before Christmas
7. A Christmas Story
8. Stars: Reflections on Christmas

Besides these challenges I had some reading goals

I set a goal to read a gospel doctrinal based book 1/quarter. (or 4 a year) 



1. The Remarkable Soul of a Woman
2. The Continous Atonement
3. The Life of the Prophet Joseph Smith
4. Stars: Reflections on Christmas

And one biography

1. Posey, The Last Indian War

and one true story

1. We Band of Angels
2. Posey, The Last Indian War
3. Return With Honor

I also participated in a monthly book club, these are the books we read
1. The Lost Quilter
2. We Band of Angels
3. Running With Angels
4. To Kill a Mockingbird
The Ruins of Gorlan (read previously)
5. The Book Thief (reread)
6. Return With Honor
7. Seven Miracles That Saved America
8. Return to Christmas

My top ten list

10. Murder at Avedon Hill
9. The Goose Girl
8. A Curse Dark as Gold
7. Paper Bag Christmas
6. Curly Grandma's Letter's
5. We Band of Angels
4. The Ordinary Princess
3. The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte
2. Stars: Reflections on Christmas
1. (Of Course) The Lord of the Rings--and the Hobbit


Month by Month reading record

January--(Woolf in Winter Reading Group)
1. The Undaunted (TBR)
2. Mrs. Dalloway
3. To the Lighthouse
4.  The Lost Quilter

February--(1 true story)
5. We Band of Angels
6.  Moving In
7.  The UnValentine

March--(Tolkien Reading Group/fantasy*)
8. The Hobbit*
9. Erak's Ransom* (TBR)
10. The Lord of The Rings* (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King)
11. Fablehaven #5: Keys to the Demon Prison* (TBR)
12. Silver Borne* (TBR)

April
13.  Running With Angels
14. The Remarkable Soul of a Woman
15. To Kill a Mockingbird

May--Bronte Challenge
16. The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte (TBR)
17. Agnes Grey
18. Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell

June--Fantasy*--or TBR
19. The Kings of Clonmel* (TBR)
20. The Dragon Slippers*
21. Murder Takes the Cake (TBR)
22. Murder at Avedon Hill*
23. The Book Thief
24. The American Collection of Short Stories
25. A Dog's Tale
26. Midnight ing Madrid (TBR)

July--Fairy Tale**
27. The Ordinary Princess**
28. Suite Scarlett (TBR)
29. A Curse Dark As Gold**
30. Posey, The Last Indian War
31. Return With Honor

August--TBR list
32. The Goose Girl**
33. Book of a Thousand Days
34. The Continous Atonement
35. The Story Teller's Daughter**
36. A Great and Terrible Beauty*
37. Rebel Angels*

September--TBR list
38. The Sweet Far Thing*
39. Curly Grandma's Letter's
October--reading break
40. Coraline
41. Elvis Takes a Backseat (audio)
42. Life of Joseph Smith the Prophet
43. Seven Miracles that Saved America

November--holiday reading
44. Dead Reckoning
45. Return to Christmas
46. The Forever Queen
47. An Amish Christmas
48. Caroline's Christmas Angel
49. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

December--holiday reading
50. The Paper Bag Christmas
51. A Country Christmas
52. All Moms Go to Heaven
53. Grandma's Night Before Christmas
54. A Christmas Story
55. Stars: Reflections on Christmas


To see the reading challenges I've chosen for this year click here

Wednesday Wanderings: Christmas Eve Dinner

This year for Christmas Eve Dinner we cooked and served Bolivian food

Yummy introduces us to Bolivia

Bolivian Christmas—Menu
Mocochinchi is dehydrated peach cider and is probably one of the (if not THE) most served beverages in Bolivia.
Fruit tray: sliced star fruit, sliced papaya, sliced avocado, tostones (mashed plantains)
Ensalada de Manzana - Bolivian Apple Salad
Ensalada de Porotos - Bolivian Bean Salad
Bolivian Corn and Honey Mustard Salad
Sopa de mani--Peanut Soup   Sopa de Mani is a traditional peanut soup served in Bolivia. It can be a starter or a main course. It’s slightly thickened with peanuts, has a kick from red chili pepper flakes,
Pique macho (pronounced pee-kay maacho) is a typical Bolivian food. It is a heaped plate consisting of bite-sized pieces of beef, sausage (hot dog type), and french fry-cut potatoes. Added to this mixture are onions, hot peppers, boiled egg, mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Urban legend suggests that if you can finish one by yourself you are macho. The "Pique Macho" was created by Mr. Honorato Quinones and his wife Evangelina Gomez Quinones, owners of "Restaurante Miraflores" in Cochabamba, Bolivia
Empanadas are stuffed pastries that are very popular in South America. Empanadas probably came to South America with the Spaniards, but they quickly took on their own distinctive style and flavor in the New World. South American empanadas often have a sweet dough that is a perfect contrast to the savory filling.
Empanadas de Queso - Cheese Pastries
Chicken Empanada’s --Empanadas de Pollo
Beef Empanadas - Empanadas de Pino
Lechón al Horno—Roasted Pig
Tres Leches Cake—Three Milk Cake

 

Tostones or mashed plantains

the fruit tray

Cheese Empanada--yummy!

Peanut soup, bean salad, cunapes, empanada, corn salad, pork roast,

apple salad is behind the bowl, peach cider is in the cup.

It was all very yummy

I didn't try the pique macho (because I am not a man)

I did love the Tres Leches cake but I forgot to take a picture while I was enjoying it :)

the best gift of the night

Yummy gave grandpa "last years snowman"

a jar of water with a carrot and buttons floating in it.

photo's by

Tuesday Teaser: A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story

by

Jean Shepherd

I thought about a Red Ryder air rifle in all my waking hours, seven days a week, in school and out. I drew pictures of it in my Reader, in my Arithmetic book, on my hand in indelible ink, on Helen Weather's dress in front of me, in crayon. For the first time in my life the initial symptoms of genuine lunacy of Mania, set in.

location 140 in my kindle

Teaser Tuesday hosted by Miz B of Should be Reading

Book Review: A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story

by

Jean Shepherd

Hardcover, 144 pages
Published October 28th 2003 by Broadway
ISBN0767916220 (ISBN13: 9780767916226)
original title: A Christmas Story: The Book That Inspired the Hilarious Classic Film

About the Book: (Goodreads)
A beloved, bestselling classic of humorous and nostalgic Americana—the book that inspired the equally classic Yuletide film.

The holiday film A Christmas Story, first released in 1983, has become a bona fide Christmas perennial, gaining in stature and fame with each succeeding year. Its affectionate, wacky, and wryly realistic portrayal of an American family’s typical Christmas joys and travails in small-town Depression-era Indiana has entered our imagination and our hearts with a force equal to It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street.  This edition of A Christmas Story gathers together in one hilarious volume the gems of autobiographical humor that Jean Shepherd drew upon to create this enduring film.

About the Author:
Jean Shepherd was a writer, humorist, satirist, actor, radio raconteur, TV & film personality and an American original. He was a master story teller in the league of Mark Twain, S.J. Perlman and P.G. Wodehouse. Taking bits and pieces from his own life, he weaved tales of the joys, humor, intrigue and angst of growing up. read more at the Jean Shepherd website

My Thoughts:
The most interesting thing about this book for me was to discover Jean Shepherd.  I personally didn't know him as a radio personality.  My first and only experience with him was the movie "A Christmas Story".  The movie is one of my favorites and a must see every Christmas. 

In the introduction of this book the reader discovers that it is actually a collection of autobiographical recollections written in essay form.  This book contains those stories written by the author that went into the making of the film.

I loved the author's voice as he relates vividly the experiences of his youth.  It was funny, refreshing and honest--very childlike.  This I think this is what endears the reader to his work.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection of stories.  My favorite was, "My Old Man and the Lascivious Special Award that Heralded the Birth of Pop Art".

If you are a fan of the movie you definitely will enjoy this book.

Holiday Reading Challenge 2010
hosted by all about {n}

Book #7

Book #41

Book Review: Stars

Stars: Reflections on Christmas

by

Chieko N. Okazaki

Hardcover, 144 pages
Published October 2004 by Deseret Book Company
ISBN1590383532 (ISBN13: 9781590383537)


About the Book: (goodreads)
Bestselling author Chieko Okazaki sheds new light on the familiar Christmas story in her insightful new book, Stars. In her warm and distinctive style, she shares stories, scriptures, and personal memories of Christmas to testify of her deep feelings about Jesus Christ, the babe of Bethlehem who was born under a shining star. "Christ waits to be born anew in our hearts," she testifies. "His star is in the heavens. Wise men and women seek him still."

Let a star guide you this Christmas season.

About the Author: (goodreads)
Chieko N. Okazaki was the first non-Caucasian to serve on a general board of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was a counselor in the general Relief Society presidency from 1990 to 1997. She is the author of several bestselling books and tapes. She and her husband, the late Ed Okazaki, have two sons.

My thoughts:

from the book,

"There are challenges that come at Christmastime--many pressures that crowd into already busy schedules, complications caused by the weather, by colds and flu that come with the season, by the fatigue and overload of too many delightful programs and parties to go to, by money worries about presents to buy from a tight budget.  These pressures can also make us feel like soldiers under orders, marching to a destination we didn't chose with a task we do not relish.  That's not a very happy feeling to associate with Christmas.

Stars: Reflections on Christmas has affected me profoundly.  The book was written with a great spirit contained within it's pages.  Sister Okazaki brings her knowledge, testimony and experiences with many cultures together and succinctly explains why our Christmas celebrations are important.  I thought about this book often through the holiday season and it had a great affect on my thoughts and actions. I enjoyed my Christmas much more because of the things I learned reading this book. Her chapter on "abiding" was the most touching. 

"The word Abide has two meanings: one is to stay, to continue, to wait patiently; and the second is to endure unchanged. Abide is a woman's word; it is a home word. So much of what we have to do is to endure, to be consistent, to rest unchanging, to wait, to stay, to dwell to remain. Abiding is not a flashy or a glamorous quality; it does not make a lot of noise or cause a lot of upheaval. But at the same time, it is not a passive quality. Abiding takes tenacity and integrity and a strong awareness of the power of choices. It is a verb."

Sister Okazaki talks of the shepherds that were "abiding" in the fields.  "They were where they were supposed to be.  They were in the field. The angels knew where to find them."  She challenges each of us to abide, to be where the angels can find us.  I found this thought to be very comforting.

Reading this book with an open heart will teach the reader many things as well as inviting a loving spirit into your heart and home.  This book by far was my favorite read of the year.

Holiday Reading Challenge
hosted by all about {n}
book #8

book #42

There and Back Again, A Year's Pictorial Journey: Week 52

Well here we are to the last week of the year supposedly. But I did my posts on Saturday, so I started with a two day post at the beginning. I will end next week with a 6 day week. I ended up doing 53 weeks--weird. But it's still 365 pictures. Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me. It's been more challenging than I imagined it would be. Life is pretty mundane and repetitive. This photo a day challenge helped me to look for those ordinary, yet special moments that occur each day. I've realized that each day has something to be thankful for.

My Mother-in-laws porcelain nativity set. 
The family made it together one Christmas many years ago.

It sits on the top shelf of her lighted curio cabinet.

(Dec. 19)

On the shelf directly under it is this statue of the Christus. 

I think it very symbolic and appropriate--

The Christ--humble babe, to a God in his glory.

I think it is a wonderful visual reminder.

(Dec. 19)

Monday I went with my daughter and her husband out to visit with my mother.

They introduced her to her youngest great-grandchild.

She has more than 50.

She collects Santa's.

They sit on her fireplace mantle.

(Dec. 20)

my daughter and her husband have been running a few errands this week

Grandma's newest blessing has come to stay with me three times.

Oh what joy!

(Dec. 21)

Snow also came this week.

I snapped this picture while cleaning the car off in the morning.

unfortunately it turned to rain in the afternoon and washed all the snow away.

No white Christmas for us this year, sad :(

(Dec 22)

It's a good thing the kids only have one more day to wait for the presents

They have counted them over and over

and are desperately trying to figure out which ones in the stack belong to them.

Grandma has such fun teasing them :)

(Dec. 23)

Each year for Christmas Eve we study the culture and Christmas traditions of another country

and adopt them as our own.  This year we "traveled" to Bolivia. 

My son-in-law spent two years in Bolivia on a mission for our church.

Yummy was in charge of organizing the celebration with help from Uncle J

Here he is teaching her to crimp an empanada.

(Dec. 24)

I've had several different Christmas Trees over the years--all of them themed.

These little elves along with a Santa of the same make adorned our tree

through most of the growing up time of our children.

When I got a new tree motif, the oldest daughter was just starting out in her own home.

She took the lively little elves home with her and they have seen another 10 Christmases.

She decided to retire them this year and as a gift divided them among her parents and her siblings.



along with the elves came this little card, featuring a picture of the tree

and her brother putting the first gift of Christmas under the tree. 

(but that's a post for another time.)

We had a lovely holiday--I hope you did too :)

photo's by

Christmas Wishes

Tuesday Teaser: Grandma's Night Before Christmas

Grandma's Night Before Christmas

by

Sue Carabine



'Twas the night before Christmas,
the kids had just left,
And Grandma sat down
in her chair for a rest.


She'd hugged them and kissed them
and waved them good-bye,
Then with a smile on her face she had
breathed a great sigh.


She could still see the grins on
their bright, shining faces,
See them wiggle and giggle as
she tied their shoelaces.


Merry Christmas to all my Tuesday Teaser friends:

Teaser Tuesday hosted by Miz B at Should be Reading

Book Review: Grandma's Night Before Christmas

Grandma's Night Before Christmas

by

Sue Carabine

kindle edition, 60 pages
Published October 28th 2000 by Gibbs Smith, Publisher
ISBN087905820X (ISBN13: 9780879058203)


About the book: (goodreads)

As Nick prepares for Christmas he thinks of all the kindly grandmas in the world. It seems grandma's always know what each child wants for Christmas, so Santa makes sure all the little children tell their grandmas thank you!

My thoughts:

Grandma's Night Before Christmas is a fun little rewrite of the original poem intended I think just for Grandma's. Although my grandchildren enjoyed it as much as I did. My favorite lines from the book come when Mrs. Claus asks Santa a question.

"Why don't you inquire of some grandma's tonight
Just how they spread happiness, cheer, and delight.
'What makes them persist and expect no return
And love so completely even if they are spurned?'

The rest of the poem finds shape as Santa visits the homes of several different grandmother's, observing grand mothering styles and listening in on grandmotherly conversations. Santa sums it up:

"It was right at this moment that Santa flew by;
He knew what dear Grandma was up to and why.
He'd silently watched her prepare for the season
As she tirelessly shopped and baked treats for one reason:
Those dear little grandkids were to her all that mattered,
Though her feet got quite sore and her apron got spattered.
The gifts that she'd sought must be perfectly right
So that in each child's eyes she would see pure delight--
An expression that said, "Grandma, how did you know
That this was the one gift that I wanted so?"

Being a grandmother is a wonderful blessing and this little Christmas poem summed up why it's important to be a good and loving grandmother.



book #6
holiday reading challenge hosted by All About {n}

e-book #40