Peaceful Reader

Bloggiesta complete

The Finish Line

Here is what I accomplished:

1. Finish post for Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony (check) 2 hours
2. Finish reading The Greengage Summer and review started (check-started not posted) 2.5 hours
3. I still do not have my post done for the Dalai Lama-I am overwhelmed by this task obviously.

In trade though I did accomplish two other ideas-

4. I closed out one email account, transferring my friends and
family to my gmail account. Simplifing my life, just a bit. I then plan to open a seperate gmail
account just for blogging. I have half this project completed. (check) 2 hours

5. I applied for an indiebound account and now will be able to link directly through them and earn tons of extra dough (??!!!) selling books through my reviews! My true master plan is revealed!! 1 hour

6. I spent another 4 hours reading other posts and commenting on my regular blogs.

11.5 hours spent Bloggiesta-ing! Fantastico!

I loved the community of participation. I would have loved to do more exploring but I failed to figure in the 2 hours spent chatting with friend and the library and the 5 hour drive to Chicago for stepdaughter’s H.S. graduation. The five hour trip did give me new post ideas and a chance to read the second book in Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series. Peaceful girl and I are reading the first Harry Potter and what a joy it is to reread this, relishing in how well-written it is. Such a true gem, J.K.!

That’s it folks! My first foray into Maw Book’s Bloggiesta!! Thanks Natasha for hosting such a fun event!

Restoring Harmony

by Joelle Anthony

(2010)

Never has a book made me want to pull up my American roots and transplant myself in Canada. Restoring Harmony did! Anthony, a Canadian, has done an amazing job of highlighting the U.S.’s decline against the more agrarian and successful Canadian landscape. This is a dystopian novel for a middle grade audience and a glimpse into a future that I can imagine much more readily than the worlds created in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games or Michael Grant’s Gone series, both more shocking and scary societys.

Synopsis:

Molly McClure lives with her family on a secluded Canadian island where they grow their own food, rely on solar panels for energy, and horse-drawn wagons and boats for transportation. It’s a simple life with a happy family where Molly begins her days playing fiddle on the front porch. Through a cyberspeak conversation (skype-like) Molly’s mom, who happens to be pregnant, has reasons to believe her own mother may have died. Molly’s dad and siblings hold a meeting in the barn and elect her to be the one to travel to Oregon and bring her grandfather back to the safety of the island. Along her travels she meets a cast of very interesting and likable characters, including a handsome ruffian nicknamed Spill.

My thoughts:

Reading the inside jacket cover of this book inticed me so much I read it within days of opening the envelope it came in. I loved how the title and the cover illustration matched so well. I was drawn to Molly’s character and the way she handles her adventurous trip to the states after the Collapse of 2031. I love having a book in my hand that keeps me reading and commenting (out loud) as I progress. While the U.S. of 2041 is not in great shape (I loved how train travel was slow and erratic but really the only means to get anywhere) it still has vestiges of community. It shows, without being overly didactic, how important simple skills might be: like tending your own garden.

Molly’s ability to adapt, improvise and think made her a true heroine of the future and in this way she did remind me of the great Katniss (The Hunger Games). I loved how it dealt with real problems of today-oil is gone, the infrastructure is crumbling and big cities are in greater trouble than small communities. Even though there are easy solutions within the story structure I think Anthony raises very real issues born from our own self-centered, enviormentally -abusive ways. Our dependence on crude oil will eventually get the better of us. I hope Anthony has a sequel in the works so I can read more about Molly and her extended family.

Rating:
5/5 stars
highly recommended
for middle grade and above

Other reviews to enjoy:
Jen of Devourer of Books
S. Krishna’s Books
Tina’sBookReviews
Jessica at Shut Up! I’m reading
***I won this book in a giveaway hosted by Joelle Anthony at The Debutante Ball. Thank you, Joelle, for personally signing and sending my copy! I’m glad to have my own copy because I think I’ll reread this one, even though I’m not a rereader.

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?