This video has me laughing and laughing so I had to share. I showed it to my teenager the other day and he hadn’t seen it yet which was a good sign. Usually when I show him something I think is funny or new he tells me it is old news. Enjoy and try not to repetively click on it. I love Ellen and the fact that she fakes her out at the end is hysterical.
Author: peacefulreader
Weekend Joy.
I’ve had a great weekend. We picked out two lovely pumpkins on Friday and we’ve taken several walks to admire Fall colors. I’m almost finished reading Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill and I’m at a point where I don’t want to put it down. I read four more chapters this morning before going to church. I have to really push for other times in my days to read other than bedtime because then I only get 2-3 pages read before my eyes drift dreamily shut.
I finished the post about four of my favorite ARC’s from September’s reading. It is frustrating to plan a post in my head, finish the books, but not get to my computer all week long to write it. I have a certain glee over finishing and finally completing the post.
The best part of my weekend though was spent curled on the sofa with Groovy Girl and the dog, watching two movies on Friday and Saturday night.
My husband and I awarded her 2 movie nights for how well she prepared herself for a recent Social Studies test on Native tribes. She studied three different times with us and her hard work paid off-she scored 100 % on the test! My husband took her to our local movie store on Friday night even though we have a Netflix acct., somehow now going to the movie store is more thrilling that pulling it from the ole queue.
Friday we settled in with a big bowl of popcorn and watched We bought a Zoo with Matt Damon as the adorable widow with two adorable children. I don’t get out much apparently because I didn’t pay attention while this was at the theater so when the credits started flowing I knew we were in for something interesting with Cameron Crowe as the director. His other big movie, Almost Famous, is one of my favorites. I teared up a few times during the movie as the family struggles with the mother’s death. I know my family would also completely fall apart if something tragic happened to me. For Real-we joke about it all the time here. I appreciated the teenage son, well-played by Thomas Ford, as he tries to cope with his mother’s death. Plus who could resist Maggie Elizabeth Jones as little Rosie! We loved her impish look.
Saturday we watched Big Miracle with our favorite Office character, the handsome John Krasinski, plus Drew Barrymore and Kristen Bell. This is a great story of three whales, a mother, father, and baby California Grays, stuck in an ice swell off the coast of Barrow, Alaska. Ted Danson plays against type as the owner of an oil company angry about the whales and the environment who finally sees the reason behind trying to save them. The local indigenous tribe is in favor of killing the whales so their traditions are shared with their children. This incident did take place in the 80’s during Reagan’s administration yet the arguments are still timely as we struggle with natural resources vs. the natural world issues.
Both stories are based on real events and they were great picks by Groovy Girl. I have a whole cleaning list that didn’t get finished this weekend but I’m grateful for the time spent relaxing and sharing good stories. How did you spend your weekend? Everyone in my family is now quietly working on projects which means it must be time for me to steal away to finish Iron Hearted Violet!
4 New Books to LOVE!
At the beginning of September I challenged myself to read through my big and beautiful, ever-growing pile of ARC’s from Little, Brown and Company. I aimed for ten and finished seven. Here I bring you the top 4 realistic fiction titles to look for.
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King: This was my absolute favorite story. I’m now a huge fan of A.S. King and her coming-of-age, coming-to-grips tale of Astrid Jones. She’s unusual and knows it yet longs for the shelter of a loving family and honest friends. She struggles with her own identity, familial disfunction, her sexuality, and what it means to be a good and true friend. This story is a marvel and Astrid is a character that I think about often. Buy this for your library or a teenager in need. Booklist Online has a very creative interview with A.S. King – read it, it will make you laugh. (ARC provided by Little, Brown, and Company, release date October, 2012)
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher; The Matthews family is broken in every way. Jaime, the youngest, narrates the story of this family’s critical loss. Rose, Jaime’s sister and twin to Jasmine, dies from a terrorist bomb in a local park. Jaime’s mother, trying to heal herself, attends a local grief group, meets someone else and leaves the family. In order to douse the overwhelming pain Jaime’s father drinks. Eventually Jaime, his sister, Jas, and father move to the country to get out of London and away from the Muslim’s. Jaime’s father blames all Muslim’s for the death of his daughter and he emotionally abandons his two living children while grieving for Rose. This book brings out the blanket racism that clouds good judgement as Jaime, in his little country school, befriends a local Muslim girl. This book by debut author Annabel Pitcher is beautifully written with rare wit about a topic that will have people talking. (ARC provided by LBC, August, 2012)
DJ Rising by Love Maia; Music is Marley’s world. With a scholarship to attend a prestigious school and a job busing tables at a hip restaurant he has his hands full just trying to make it on his own. In the midst of his own teenage life he juggles caring for his drug-addicted mother who never recovered from the death of her husband, Marley’s music-loving dad. Marley has two dreams: one is to DJ at a fancy club and the second is that the beautiful Lea Hall will talk to him. When his mother tries to recover, and the DJ world starts to suck Marley in, will he be able to accomplish any of his real goals as he learns to figure out what is most important? This book is well worth reading as you want Marley to triumph over the life he’s been handed and Maia’s lyrical writing make it a quick read. Soundtrack to come according to her website. (ARC provided by LBC, Feb., 2012)
The Boy Recession by Flynn Meaney; At first glance this could appear to be a fluff YA chick read but there is much deeper stuff below the surface. Budget cuts leave Julius P. Heil High without a football coach or a team causing several affluent families to take their young players to private schools. With so many young men gone the girls start looking at the second and third tier of eligible guys. The theatre geeks, the band boys, and the stoner dudes suddenly all have a place at the table. Through this new adventure Kelly begins to see her old band-friend, Hunter, in a new light; he could be truly crush-worthy if the plastic girls (the “Spandexers”) can keep their hands off him. I enjoyed this story as it explores high school stereotypes and told through Kelly’s and Hunter’s alternating chapters. Hunter is a boy I would have loved and you will cheer for him as he finds his true voice. Flynn Meaney is also the author of Bloodthirsty. (ARC provided by LBC, August, 2012)
These four easily captured my attention. I have several others still to review including an elementary fiction title and four picture books and I am happy to share these exciting titles. The common denominator is identity which is something teens struggle with whether gay, straight, male, female, rich, or poor and these titles raise awareness for this angst.
Thank you Zoe!! You make my day with your monthly emails.
Everyday Food; A reason to make brunch…
 |
| (Source) |
This recipe for Walnut-Chocolate Sticky Buns is a perfect reason to invite a few friends over for a late morning meal. I love this small recipe magazine from the Martha Stewart publishing company. It fits easily in my bag so I can take it to the store with me and each edition has a wide variety of recipes.
While writing this post though I could not locate the recipe on their website-frustrating-as I wanted to use the photo from the mag. It also has a side note that says I can find a video for this recipe using my iPad-I couldn’t find that either. Once I make them I’ll share my own photo. For now, enjoy…
Walnut-Chocolate Sticky Buns
Makes 9
(I’m going to make a double batch, of course)
2/3 cup heavy cream, divided
1 1/3 plus 2 T. packed light-brown sugar, divided
1 packet (1/4 oz) active dry yeast
2 1/4 cups unbleached (spooned and leveled), divided,
plus more for work surface
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, divided, plus m ore for bowl and pan
fine salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts (I think pecans would be great also)
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1. Heat 1/3 cup each cream and water and 2 T. sugar until liquid registers 110* – 115*. Add yeast. Let sit until foamy (my favorite part), 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and add 1 cup flour. Using mixer, beat on medium to smooth. Melt 2 T. butter; add to bowl, along with 1 tsp salt and egg, and beat until combined. Beat in remaining 1 1/4 cups flour until combined. Transfer to a buttered bowl; cover with plastic top. Let sit in a warm place until doubled, 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 350*. Butter a 9-inch round baking pan (2 inches deep). In a pot, bring 3 T. butter, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 T. water, and 1/2 tsp salt to a simmer over medium. Cook until sugar is dissolved; whisk in remaining 1/3 cup cream. Pour into pan.
3. On a floured surface, stretch or roll dough into a 12 x 18-inch rectangle. Spread remaining 3 T. butter on dough, leaving a 1-in border on long sides. Sprinkle with remaining 2/3 cup sugar, nuts, chocolate chips, and 1/4 tsp salt. Starting with one long side, roll dough into a log. Cut crosswise into 9 pieces. Arrange over sauce. Bake until sauce is bubbling and rolls are golden, 30-35 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes. Run a knife around edge before inverting onto a platter. Serve warm.
Is your mouth watering? Mine is.
Weekend Cooking is a delicious meme hosted by Candace at Beth Fish Reads. Click on her link to find many interesting food-related posts.
Edward Tulane!
 |
| I love how Edward looks-Groovy Girl does not like to look at these beautiful illustrations while we read. It is all in the imagination for her. |
I’ve had a writer’s crush on Kate DiCamillo for years. I loved Winn-Dixie first, then fell head-over-heals with The Tale of Despereaux, understood both Tiger’s Rising and The Magician’s Elephant more than most people and now I’ve swooned over The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane! Groovy Girl and I finished reading it tonight and were thrilled by Edward’s crazy long journey!
The quote that stuck to us:
“I am done with being loved,” Edward told her. “I’m done with loving. It’s too painful.”
“Pish,” said the old doll. “Where is your courage?”
“Somewhere else, I guess,” said Edward.
“You disappoint me,” she said. “You disappoint me greatly. If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless. You might as well leap from this shelf right now and let yourself shatter into a million pieces. Get it over with. Get it all over with now.”
“I would leap if I was able,” said Edward.
“Shall I push you?” said the old doll.
“No thank you,” Edward said to her. (189)
Okay, I know this quote shares the true meaning of this tale which makes it a spoiler but one I had to pass on anyway. I specifically marvel at the line “where is your courage?” If you’ve read it, you know it and if not, hopefully it will spur you to read it.
Buy it for a young friend for the holidays!
Edward Tulane’s website.
Judy Freeman’s Reader’s Theatre of ET.
Kate’s website.
Top Ten Series I haven't finished but should…
This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Most of these are unfinished due to the time crunch that is my lovely life.
1. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. I’ve read the first three and want to finish.
2. Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I read the first two and moved on.
3. Rick Riordan writes faster than I can read. I have the last book of Percy Jackson and the two more Kane Chronicles and I haven’t even started on his other series…
4. Michael Scott’s The Alchemyst. I’ve read these first 4 and have two more to go.
5. Anna Godberson’s second series, Bright Young Things. (not as riveting as The Luxe)
6. Lois Lowry’s The Giver series. Keep meaning to get this done and now the last one is coming out.
7. The Daughters series by Joanna Philben. I’ve read one and want to read the next two.
8. Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series. I loved the first one. Promise to finish series before movie arrives in theatres!
9. Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue. I’ve read the first two-loved them.
10. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I want to read the second one, Lola and the boy next door, before the last one is out.
When I first started writing I thought I was keeping up but my list easily kept growing! Thanks to the lovely ladies at The Broke and Bookish for reminding me of all I need to read this Fall. I’ve already clicked around to many other TTT and I have a new list started, Series I need to read!
Just being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo
Just being Audrey
(2011)
I smiled when I saw this lovely cover sitting on the new shelf at my public library. Our oldest child (a jr at Oberlin now) has a love of all things Audrey and I love her also. Roman Holiday is one of my favorite films. Give me a quiet Saturday, a bowl of popcorn, and this movie and I’m set! Hard to believe it was her first film. Audrey exuded grace and confidence during her life and is a wonderful role model. This beautifully illustrated biography shares Audrey’s spirit with everyone.
While I’ve adored her movies I’ve never read a biography about her and this picture book shares much about her life. I did not know Audrey’s mother was a Baroness, that she lived in Brussels, or that her family hid during WWII? The book explains how she changed her interest from ballet to acting and landed a few small roles when she met the French writer, Colette. Colette thought she would be perfect for her Broadway show, Gigi, which is how Audrey landed in NYC.
Each two-page spread is illustrated with gorgeous drawings. The text tells just enough to keep us interested with out tiring out young readers and the illustrations match each segment perfectly.
I’m so happy I picked this one up!
Find the author, Margaret Cardillo here.
Watch this simple video as it shares the outstanding artwork by Julia Denos and visit her adorable blog, The Cinnamon Rabbit.
Top Ten Tuesday; Top Ten Bookish people I'd like to meet
Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish this top ten list are the authors I would love to meet for dinner, coffee or maybe even a glass of wine. I’d be so nervous to meet them I’d have to have a list of top ten questions to use for talking points!
1. Barbara Kingsolver; I would ask about what inspired The Bean Trees and we could talk a long time about sustainable living.
2. J.K. Rowling; I would nudge her to talk about magic and her wonderful HP characters. I might ask her even about her new adult book.
3. Anne Lamott; I could listen to her stories for hours-she can make me laugh about parenting like no other! And then when we are all done laughing we could talk about our faith as well.
4. Judy Blume; Just to give her a hug and tell her thank you for all those stories that helped me go from elementary to middle and beyond. Thank you.
5. Louisa May Alcott; I would love to take a walk in the garden with her, just to listen to her tell stories about her sisters.
6. Henry David Thoreau; Same here, a walk would suffice and I’m sure he could give me advice on the simple life and civil disobedience.
7. George Washington Carver; I think of all his accomplishments but would love to just talk about gardening with him.
8. Kate DiCamillo; I’ve loved everyone of her stories and have a huge crush on her writing style. The Tale of Desperaux and Winn-Dixie are two books I could read every year.
9. Mildred D. Taylor; Roll of Thunder, Hear my cry is one of my favorite novels and I would love to have the opportunity to sit and share a meal with Ms. Taylor to talk about Cassie and her family.
10. Alice Hoffman; Alice Hoffman’s writing style fascinates me and I don’t think I could keep up but I would love to hear her speak.
Honorable mentions go to Dr. Seuss and President Barack Obama! I’ve heard the president speak but would love to have a one-on-one conversation about some important issues over a cold White House brew. Michelle could come also. What bookish person would you love to eat or chat with??
Weekend Cooking; One World Kids Cookbook
One World Kids Cookbook;
Easy, healthy and affordable family meals
by Sean Mendez
(2011)
“The most important ingredients in any meal are: Love, bonding and sharing.”
Great advice for families everywhere! Groovy Girl and I checked this book out from the library and browsed through it two days ago while we ate breakfast together. Many of the recipes included odd ingredients that made her not interested. We did love the photography and the sage wisdom sprinkled throughout made it a perfect start to our day.
“To the above, all you need to add is a dash of patience, a pinch of creativity and a heaped cup full of enthusiasm?”
Each two-page spread features a country with a map, facts and proverbs related to food or culture. This would make a wonderful tool for school as students research about another culture or country.
Russia’s food proverb:
“The rich would have to eat money if the poor did not provide food.” (perfect moment for this conversation)
We settled on Rice with vegetables (like I need a recipe for that…) but this dish is from Somalia and we plan to try it soon. I have to admit adding the wide variety of spices to the recipe will make it very new for me. Groovy Girl liked the vegetable choices except she requested we use only 1 garlic clove not 3!
Rice with Vegetables (Somalia)
1 cup basmati rice, rinsed
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
2 courgettes/zucchini, diced
2 peppers, any colors, diced
1 vegetable stock, cube
4 cardamon pods
4 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp curry powder
2 1/2 cups water
4 T olive oil
salt/pepper
Heat half the oil in a large pot. Fry onion and garlic for about 8 minutes, stirring often. Add the cinnamon stick and spices, and cook for 3 minutes to release their flavor. Pour in the rest of the oil.
Add the remaining vegetables. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Rinse rice until water runs clear. Add rice and water to pot, crumble stock cube in and bring to a simmer. Cook rice according to package instructions.
Remove cardamon pods and cloves, if you can find them!
Tasty Tip: This dish is also nicely finished off with a handful of raisins or your favorite fresh herbs. For those addicted to spice, sprinkle some Tabasco over your dish and tuck in!
Directions include step-by-step photographs featuring young chefs which really adds to the kid appeal.
My favorite proverb comes from Spain:
“For wine to taste of wine, you must drink it with a friend.”
Countries included:
Russia, Brazil, USA, China, New Zealand, India, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Morocco, Columbia, Somalia, Spain, Philippines, Iran, Australia, U.K., Ghana, Greece, and Jamaica.
My favorite recipe hailed from Morocco-couscous with chickpeas and peppers. An extra section on smoothies is included plus lots of cooking tips.
Check out Superchef‘s review with another recipe, Chicken and Spinach Curry from India.
This post is linked to Weekend Cooking, a meme hosted by Candace at Beth Fish Reads. Click to her site for many more food-related posts.
Soaring with Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
Ask the Passengers
October, 2013
I started my September ARC (advanced reader’s copy) challenge with a bang! This book seriously blew me away with how wonderfully-written it was. Carrying just enough sarcasm, wit,and angst mixed with profound love; it made me smile, laugh, shake my head, and cry in rapid secession, it gave me such HOPE!
Ask the passengers is Astrid Jones’ story. She’s a high school student in a small town where her parents have settled her after a major move from New York City. Her parents craved the hometown experience without realizing the affect it would have on their two young girls; Astrid and Ellis. Astrid feels she’s never quite fit in to this small-town, small-minded community. Ellis, on the other hand, seems to have made a life with the popular kids. In a way each member of the Jones’ family struggles with new identity after the move and they’ve gotten stuck in crisis mode. Eventually they come to realize it is just another way to not accept themselves. A.S. King weaves this drama around this family’s journey back to each other.
But first the gossip. Lots of gossip. Small towns are never as idyllic as they seem. Astrid’s family feels rocky and she takes her life cues from this. She’s busy keeping a major secret for her neighbor and best friend, Kristina, and her boyfriend, Justin. They fool everyone into thinking they are the perfect couple-prom couple perfect. But when Kristina and Justin go out on their cute weekly Friday double dates they actually are dating the other person. Yep. Kristina and Donna, and Justin and Chad have it all worked out. Nicely. Modern set up. Astrid keeps their secret. See how small towns are not what they seem to be…
What Kristina doesn’t know is that Astrid has her own secrets and she’s not ready to share at all. Instead she sends her love out to passing airplanes. Better to give it away than store it up or throw it away.
“So I send my love, and I ask the passengers: Where are you going? Can I come with you? I could finally feel at home.” (98)
When she talks to the plane passengers we get a message back, showing us the profound effect an outpouring of positive emotion can have. So while Astrid misses the big city idea and what that represents the plane people are having their own problems thousands of feet above her. And the small town people might catch her off-guard; people are filled with surprises as she discovers along her journey. Through her narration we hear odd angles like her humorous thought-process of small town gossip:
“They say: I bet her and that Justin Lampley will have some damn pretty kids. They say: I can’t figure out why she hangs out with that weird neighbor girl.That’s me. (Astrid)” (4)
The proverbial “they” is always a fear; whether in her mind or truthfully being told it’s hard to bear the fact that in small towns people are watching your every move. And one night the double daters and Astrid are caught in their secret world, busted, and tossed back to their families. Do they recover from stepping outside the small-town boundaries? Maybe. Yes. No. Out of negative we know that good often occurs and this book has so much good mixed in with everything. I could read it all over again!
I let a friend borrow it today-she sent praises within the hour! This book deserves much attention as a story filled with love, redemption, and what it means to be yourself where ever you live. I’m curious about A.S. King’s other titles-what wonderful messages might be revealed within their covers.
ARC received from Little, Brown, and Company. Thank you Zoe!
Peaceful Reader 