peacefulreader

Natasha at Maw Book’s is hosting this blogging party. Click on her link for more information. I spent most of tonight siesta-ing on the sofa from a massage/acupressure session that was incredible. I’m still downing tons of water to flush out those nasty toxins. Okay, yeah (enough of that) but for the rest of the weekend I will be hard at work with chips, salsa and a proverbial margarita! Ole!

I plan on finishing and posting my reviews for Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony, The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden and my trip to see the Dalai Lama. I also plan to visit a lot of blogs for some fresh ideas-Natasha has a nice list up of help topics available written by a variety of wise bloggers.

I want to spend some reading time as well-finishing the parenting book I’ve been working on for 3 weeks and start something new and exciting from either my library bag or my own book shelves.

Let the bloggiesta begin!!

Two days in…

and this is what I’ve accomplished:

1. Watched my Netflix movie, The Holiday, which has been sitting around my DVD player for about 2 weeks. The movie was okay but the highlight was Jude Law-he is seriously handsome albeit a bit of a cad. Now I can send it back. Our turnaround on Netflix movies is slow!

2. Took my son for a short summer haircut. He will be fishing and camping from late June through July and needed one good cut to get him through. He’ll still come back with his long curly locks framing his face.

3. Got up early to do the mom thing with my daughter. Generally, she is still sleeping when I leave for my school and her and dad struggle through breakfast, hair brushing, etc. on their own. I feel extra special when I get to help. This morning my husband and I biked her to school. She still fits on the tandem bike so it takes only about 4 minutes to get to her school by bike! (it’s mostly downhill) Today is her last day of school so I’m also going to have lunch with her for the last time as a second grader. (tears dripping just a little)

4. I’ve done tons of loads of laundry and after daughter left for school I putzed in her room, putting laundry away, making her bed, picking up a few toys-doing all the gentle things I imagine most stay-at-home moms do (but I’m sure they don’t really as I know they have full agendas as well).

5. Here’s the grossiest thing I did so far on my quest for a cleaner house-I cleaned out the bottom drawer of our freezer, which has had a fozen blueberry melty stuff all over it for quite a while-I don’t want to get into specifics but it has been a year ago that the big storm knocked out our electrictity for 3 days and I’m just saying maybe…) I know it makes me shudder to think I did not take the 10 minutes to get it up months ago but it wasn’t hurting anyone:)

6. My plan is also to write every day, not necessarily blogging but actually writing. I did that yesterday and plan to do it today also.

7. I have two books to finish and three posts to write and I’m participating this weekend in Mawbooks Bloggiesta festival to do some clean-up blog stuff! I’m thrilled to participate in this event for the very first time.

8. I made brownies for son’s soccer banquet this evening. The recipe is from my King Arthur cookbook.

Hurrah to summer for giving me the time to catch-up on my own life!!!
Now if I could manage to get up just a little earlier so I could start my early morning yoga routine again I would be completely happy!

and you…how’s your day shaping up?

Summer is here and the time is right…

I’m done with school as of today at about 4:39!! I’m not planning on going back tomorrow either! I’m not on the beach but this is just how I feel. Whoop Whoop!! I have a serious agenda for this summer and only some of it includes playing and reading. My day was jammed packed with finishing up three huge projects and now the bliss begins! I hope your day is ending well and you can think cartwheels if not do them!

Nonfiction Saturday

Well, all my great library books are due today so here is my quickie review of the top three fantastic nonfiction books peaceful girl and I picked out.

What’s Inside? Fascinating Structures Around the World by Giles Laroche (2009)
Includes a great glossary of each structure.

This is such a cool book for any child who loves to explore. Each page opens the door to the amazing discovery on the next page. Like this: King Tut’s tomb is hidden underground(shown on the opposite page), but this brightly painted building was constructed on the rocky crest of a hill so it could always be seen silhouetted against the sky. Monumental rows of Doric columns support triangular pediments at each end and surround a sanctuary that shelters a statue of this Greek city’s namesake. What’s inside? Turning the page you discover an ivory and gold statue of the goddess Athena! Along the left side of the page are specific details about each structure. The Guggenheim Museum in NYC, a Shaker dairy barn in Massachusetts, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia are just a few shown. Wild Rose Reader has a more extensive review-click here-as well as an interview with Giles Laroche.

If Stones Could Speak; unlocking the secrets of Stonehenge by Marc Aronson with the generous cooperation of Mike Parker Pearson and the Riverside Project. (2010) This is as much a story of the mysterious Stonehenge structure as it is a look at archaelogist Mike Parker Pearson. Aronson tags along with Pearson as he guides a tour around Stonehenge. I would love to see these boulders placed in circle formation more than 4,500 years ago but in case I don’t make it this book gives a really close look at the types of rocks used, where they came from and the many theoriesof how it all came to be. This is a fascinating detailed look for budding archeologists. Includes glossary and timeline as well. Another review is here at Shelf-Employed .

Circle of Rice, Cycle of Life; A Story of Sustainable Farming by Jan Reynolds (2009)

This is a very detailed and lovely look at the cultural and environmental aspects of traditional Balinese rice farming, a model of sustainable food production. Everybody eats rice-every culture-but this book shows how the island of Bali has coordinated life around the rice cultavation. Because the Balinese were so adept at sharing water and growing rice, the Indonesian government decided (red flag) Bali should produce more rice. They provided Bali farmers with a hybrid rice-set to grow faster and produce higher yields and the farmers were told to ignore their ancient water schedules and integrated systems of field rotation. Bali’s rice production suffered under these new practices. “This type of chemically enhanced agriculture was not sustainable. It could not maintain healthy, abundant crops of rice year after year, even with the aid of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.” Eventually farmers were able to go back to their system with the help of anthropologist, L. Stephen Lansing from the University of California. This book is a wonderful tool to build understanding on how sustainable agriculture affects every form of life. Fabulous photographs are included as well as a glossary and pronunciation guide.

Have fun exploring these interesting and informative titles.

Enjoy!

Fablehaven

(what a great cover)

by Brandon Mull
(2006)

I picked this one up from my book fair about a year ago and it’s been sitting on my shelf just waiting for me. My husband has even tapped it, saying things like…”why don’t you read this one-it looks good.” Even with that sales pitch from a man who hasn’t read it, I still didn’t take the bait. Then I read on someone else’s blog that the fifth book in the series was out and my mouth hung a little. So much for being behind the times-I have plenty of excuses but I don’t need to share them-you’ve heard them all before!

Fablehaven is a mysterious safe haven for magical creatures. You know here in the 21st Century we tend to shun all things odd-we like butterflies but not fairies. I’m sure there would be quite an ebay bidding war if ever a fairy were to be found. So all magical creatures have been moved to a variety of large farms. Kendra and Seth’s grandfather happens to be caretaker of one of the largest and most secretive (off the map) of these sanctuaries. The siblings end up staying with their grandfather while their parents are away on a cruise. Grandpa Sorenson gives Seth and Kendra a list of rules they are to abide by and it doesn’t take but about 10 minutes for Seth to start breaking the rules; as most 11-year-old boys would do. He goes exploring in the woods-right where his grandfather has asked him not to-and naturally, he meets a witch. Kendra is more cautious but even she gets lured in by some of Seth’s wanderings. Seth had an excellent sense of humor and it is a joy to watch him test the waters of this new world to explore.

I was fully engaged in Seth and Kendra’s story and the land Brandon Mull has created and I loved living vicariously through Seth’s escapades-except when he looked out the window. I was cringing then, like a typical mother, thinking “oh, no, you’ve gone too far this time”-knowing there would be serious consequences. Now I’ve got a lot of catching up to do to get to book 5! If you haven’t read this one, give it a try!

4/5 peaceful stars

highly recommended-midlle school

plan on reading the rest of the series, soon.

Check out Dog Ear review here.
Brandon Mull’s website

Baked Goods

My family loves baked goods and I’m not talking about the kind you get at the big box bakery or even the small local bakery, although they do eat those if you put them within reach. The kind of baked goods I’m referring to are the ones whipped up in our own kitchen. My family feels “cheated” if there isn’t something freshly baked. I’m not even a pro at baking but they don’t seem to mind, at all.

The question every week is do I actually make them something sweet to eat or do I get by with a package of Matt’s Cookies? What do you do? Do you bake, buy or completely abstain?

Tonight I was in the process of making a long time family favorite, Alice Bachman’s Chocolate Cake. Yes, it has always been called that-even growing up-my mother made it and we always referred to it as Alice Bachman’s CC. Alice was a family friend and while I don’t think she “invented” the cake she brought it to many potluck functions thus the cake became hers. My older brother, Mike uses it for many of his own family celebrations. I tend to just make it on a whim. I do make it with as many organic ingredients as I can-a change from the original but it is not exactly “healthy”-it has two sticks of yummy butter. Hmmm! Good thing I have an active family! Click on Alice to find the recipe.

Trader Joe’s shopping spot.

Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew-Teaser Tuesday

What a lovely holiday it has been. Something very special about having an extra day off. Tomorrow is Tuesday and back to school.Ugh! Graduation project must be done-check. Inventory and state reports need to be done. No more classes to brighten my day. Reports cards need to be done. Lots of quiet time with paper work will fill my day!

Without further ado Teaser Tuesday is waiting…Should be Reading has all the rules posted so you too can play along.

Cherry sat with them by the fire till it died away to nothing. She longed to go, to get home among the living, but the old man talked on of his family and their little one-room cottage with a ladder to the bedroom, where they all huddled together for warmth, of his friends that used to meet in the Tinners’ Arms every evening. There were tales of wrecking and smuggling, and all the while the young man sat silent until there was a lull in the story. “Father,” he said. “I think our little friend would like to go home now. Shall I take her up as I usually do?” (44)

Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew; Stories and Essays from a Writing Life by Michael Morpurgo

Why is it I can never just pick two sentences.. the whole quote works so well for me.

Enjoy!

A little Sunday Peace

At church this morning we sang a beautiful song that spoke to me and I’m compelled to share it out:

The Peace of the Earth (Guatemalan traditional-translation)

The peace of the earth be with you, the peace of the heavens too;
The peace of the rivers be with you, the peace of the oceans too.
Deep peace falling over you.

The peace of the earth be with you, the peace of the heavens too;
The peace of the rivers be with you, the peace of tthe oceans too.
God’s peace growing in you.

We chanted this together as a congregation-a capella and it sounded amazing!
While snooping around the net, trying to locate a version of the song, I discovered this cool
organic farm blog, Peace of the Earth Farm. I love the gorgeous vegetable photos.

So far my weekend has been great, with lots of reading. I finished Restoring Harmony, Joelle Anthony’s new book. For a dystopia novel it was filled with great hope. I still have reviews to write about Fablehaven (Brandon Mull) and my day in the presence of the Dalai Lama! Right now though I need to go help my husband paint a portion of our house. Yeah-sounds like fun, in 90 degree weather! What fabulous things are you reading or taking care of today?

The Year the Swallows Came Early

by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
(2009)

Sadly, this lovely little book was left languishing on my bookshelf all year. I finally pulled it off, finished it and now can return it back to my school library shelf. Next year I’ll be able to talk many students into reading this book.

Eleanor “Groovy” Robinson is a precocious, eleven-year-old girl living near a California beach. She loves to cook, keeps a journal of her cooking ideas and recipes and her best friend is a boy, Frankie. The description from the very first page is striking:

“We lived in a perfect stucco house, just off the sparkly Pacific, with a lime tree in the backyard and pink and yellow roses gone wild around a picket fence.”

There is chaos among this “perfect” setting, of course, and Groovy’s dad is soon picked up by the local police officer as they are walking out of a shop. The rest of the story unfolds as Groovy comes to accept the reasons behind her father’s arrest, her anger and eventually her understanding and forgiveness. Weaved throughout are Groovy’s dreams to go to cooking school and her great-grandmother, Eleanor’s gift, which has something to do with everything.

There are many things to love about this story including her mother’s faith in the daily horoscopes and that a good makeover can change everything. Frankie’s story has a touch of crisis as well and it is interesting to watch the friends help and hold back; counting on each other to know the right thing to do. The characters are very well done and the setting does seem so picture perfect.

My favorite quote introduces Groovy’s great-grandmother:

You see, your great-grandmother was very smart. She had so many books stacked up along the walls of her apartment that it was hard to walk without accidententally kicking over a pile of them. Some of the piles were as high as my head. She always said that good writers are even better readers, and she was a great reader. She probably liked reading better than talking to most people. (81)

This wonderful character description could describe me or my friends!!

And my second favorite quote reminds me of my own childhood in a small town:

Here’s the good thing about living in a small town: You get to know most everyone. Here’s the bad thing about living in a small town: You get to know most everyone. (154)

I know many students who will enjoy this book and its connection to family and dealing with a family member’s arrest and jail time.

Highly Recommended for elementary-middle grades

5/5 peaceful stars

Stroll over to April’s Cafe of Dreams and find all kinds of great stories about author Kathryn Fitzmaurice.
At books are my thing, Tina says this about The Year the Swallows Came Early!
Click for the author’s website.

The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden and The Year the Swallows Came Eary by K. Fitzmaurice

I’ve not read one book yet for the 451 Challenge I signed up for, which is such a shame because it’s an interesting challenge and I only have 6 to read. I’m finishing up the very wonderful elementary chapter book, The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice but am also a few pages into The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden. I’m going to share a few lines from both today for my teaser selection.

The bells on the glass door to the Swallow chimed as I pushed it open. Inside the smell of flour tortillas and cinnamon greeted me. Add to that all the onions, peppers, and chilies heating up on the stove, and you could tell it was th ekind of place people liked coming to. p. 31 The Year the Swallows Came Early (2009)

and

The garden was light, but it was a young light without sun, clear and stained green by the shrubs and trees. The peace I had felt at the gates of Les Oillets filled me again and I could have whistled like the birds for well-being and joy. Then, as I stood there in my pajamas looking down, a man came down the iron steps. p. 32 The Greengage Summer (1958)

Two very different books but similar feelings evoked from both random chosen passages…I didn’t notice the similarities until I typed out the second one. And I love that she’s wearing her pajamas!

To check out the 451 Challenge-click here.

To check out Should be reading’s Teaser Tuesday-click here.

Click for Kathryn Fitzmaurice’s site.