Friday Felicities
are up over here: http://herdofsteph.blogspot.com.
A Little Catch Up
Where to even begin with catching up. Not that there has been anything that big that has happened. Just life, and lots of it. Lots of playing outside, enjoying the fall (cooler) weather that has arrived. Lots and LOTS of reading - my own and with the girls and it has been good! Lots of plans being made for the next several months. Nothing major, but I’m trying to be more deliberate in my days with the girls. Making plans and sticking with them - a concept I love, but had slid by the wayside a bit. 
A few details…
- Thursday Tea - we’ve instituted a late afternoon tea-time on Thursdays. We get out fancy tea cups, eat a special snack, and read together, starting with N1’s Awana lesson for the coming week. (Confession: this idea is not original to me, but from one of my favorite homeschooling blogs.) Sometimes we do a craft, but that changes week to week with the temperment and nap schedules of the littlest girls. (Ie., no/poor nap = no craft!)
- We have cut out a lot of the girls’ TV and computer time during the week. For the most part, Monday through Friday is TV free. We have a family movie night on Friday night - and by family I mean something for the girls! - and then they might watch a little bit either Saturday or Sunday. The computer wasn’t as big of a deal to me as the TV, but the baby was always wanting to see what the big girls were doing on the computer and trying to climb up on the table and on them so it just worked to cut the computer out unless E was sleeping. They might get 20-30 minutes before she gets up from her afternoon nap, but that’s it, if any.
- This past weekend was the annual Fall Festival at our church. Travis was in charge of coordinating the afternoon (and he did a GREAT job with it!) and I spent the day following around N2 for the most part. N1 had a blast and ran from booth to booth while N2 was a little more cautious. E mostly “assisted” her aunt at the hot dog and hamburger stand, but she also had a big time watching Daddy play in the band, as did we all.
- N1 and I are reading Charlotte’s Web together. She has seen the movie (once, maybe twice?) so she has a some understanding of the story. It’s been a LONG time since I’ve read it and we are thoroughly enjoying it together. Especially since we have pledged to watch the movie together when we finish the book.
- I downloaded Sara Groves’ Christmas album today. Delicious. I highly recommend it if you are in need of new Christmas music to listen. Mellow, soothing, calm music. And some wonderful arrangements of some classics.
- I’m blogging back at my blogger blog for the time being. I missed some of the features of blogger, and I’m trying to decide if I want to leave my blog up on my own domain or combine mine with Travis’ site. Either way, I’ll probably keep blogging at my blogger address, and redirect it later. Sorry for all the switcheroos on this, but if you don’t mind changing your bookmarks to here, I would appreciate it.
Well, that’s enough for tonight. I have a little church work that I need to wrap up and Travis will be home from music team rehearsal at church shortly and I want to hang with him some. Oh, and there is a Diet Coke and my current library book calling my name, too.
Free Scrapbooking Class
I’ll be taking this … it’s free!
Let me know…
Are you getting new posts (the same book review posts) in your feed readers over and over? I am … it’s the same few posts so I don’t know if it’s my feed reader or something funny with my blog.
If you haven’t noticed … just disregard.
Bloggy Book Tour ::: Less Than Dead
Some secrets just won’t stay buried.
When strange bones surface on a U.S. senator’s property, the FBI enlists forensic entomologist Nick Polchak to investigate the forgotten graveyard. Polchak’s orders are simple: figure out the mess.
But Polchak, known as the “Bug Man” because of his knowledge of insects and their interaction with the dead, senses darker secrets buried beneath the soil.
Secrets that could derail the senator’s presidential bid.
Secrets buried in the history of a quaint Virginia town.
Secrets someone is willing to kill to protect.
With the help of a mysterious local woman named Alena and her uncanny cadaver dogs, Polchak sets out to dig up the truth.
But with a desperate killer hot on his trail, he’ll be lucky to wind up anything less than dead.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Less Than Dead, go HERE
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!! A great mystery / who-dun-it and very interesting characters. If you enjoy CSI-type television shows (and this book is not at ALL gory like I find CSI or it’s spin-offs) then this book is worth checking into.
Kid’s Pick ::: The Great Blueness & Other Predicaments
The Great Blueness and other Predicaments found its way into our library basket a few weeks ago and became an instant hit. (A shame because it’s out of print!)
Arnold Lobel is probably most famous for his Frog and Toad books - a favorite of mine and my sister’s as a child. The Great Blueness tells the story of a time where there was no color in the world. Every thing was gray; thus the period was called the Great Grayness. A wizard, who liked making things in his workshop was puttering around one day and came up with an interesting concoction - he called it BLUE! Once the townspeople saw the blue (and because they were so tired of the Great Grayness) they asked the wizard to share his blue with them and soon everything was blue.
Well, of course, there were problems with everything being blue, so the wizard makes another color. And another. Until finally the color challenged townspeople reach a solution that makes life wonderful and splendid!
When I asked Noelle why she liked The Great Blueness, she said that she liked the colors in the story. She also like the people and the beautiful dresses that the author drew. She also wanted to add that she liked it very, very much!
If your library has this in stock, I recommend that you check it out with your child. And, if Arnold Lobel is a new author to you, he is worth a look at as well.
This post is written in conjunction with Five Minutes for Books’ Kid’s Pick Tuesday. Head over to their site to see other books recommended by kids for kids!
A Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ October 20
Do visit Peggy’s to see all the other daybook posts this week!
FOR TODAY
Outside my Window … the barest hint of frost on our cars and the rooftops. The temperature is 41°. I love cool fall mornings!
I am thinking … that this was a busy weekend! We had our Fall Festival at church (which T coordinated this year) so he was busy all the live-long day on Friday and Saturday and ALL of us were pooped on Sunday. But the girls had so much fun and it was great event on Saturday - perfect weather and lots of folks there.
I am thankful for … lessons I am learning. Some fun, some not so fun. All profitable.
From the kitchen … thinking breakfast burritos for dinner tonight - yum. We haven’t had those in a while. Tuesday is dance/crockpot day so I’ll be trying this recipe. Also in the plans this week, mini pumpkin pies for Thursday tea with the girls and probably some mexican food one night.
I am creating … a clean workspace at my desk. It’s taken some time, but I finally (I think) have my desk rearranged to my satisfaction where there is room for my laptop and still lots of space for writing and laying out papers as I scrap or work or plan school. *sigh of relief* Up next, a cleaning plan for our home!
I am going … to have a quiet week this week, but I think I say that every week with some hope. One of us has something every day this week with the exception of Friday, but most of those commitments are not mine so my goal will be keeping things here running steady as others run hither and yon.
I am wearing … Land’s end nightgown that I have had far too long. Super comfy.
I am reading … The Time Thief, 2nd in a series by Linda Buckley-Archer. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, and this one just happened to be at the library when I ran by to pick up a hold so I felt I *needed* to take it so I could find out what happened!
I am hoping … for a safe arrival of a few babies this week. I am eagerly anticipating news that they are here. (Both are arriving by c-section, one on Tuesday & one on Wednesday!)
I am hearing … little girls chattering and eating a bit of dry cereal. (Trying to hold them off breakfast until N1 awakes so that I’m not making breakfast several times this morning).
Around the house … Signs of fall are popping up - our jack o’ lantern has been carved and we are enjoying lighting it in the evenings. Tis the season to stock up on yummy candle scents (my favorite time of the year for all the fall flavors!) Last night we burned a mulled cider one and the house smelled wonderful.
One of my favorite things … a clean fridge. I took our fridge apart on Saturday and it looks so good now. A project that I had definitely been avoiding for sometime - and actually, not because there was anything growing in there. I just needed to unload all the shelves and get in there and do a serious wipe down and clean of all the glass and drawers. A tricky job with my three assistants, but it looks so much better and more organized!
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week … This coming weekend is our church’s annual missions conference so Saturday night is a pot-luck dinner and special services on Sunday. I want to take N1 (well, all the girls) out to find a few big leaves this week and try and do leaf rubbings. Also thinking about some plans for Thanksgiving - school-ish things - as far as talking about thankfulness.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…
Friday Felicities ~ October 17
Things that make me happy…
~ little girls that are beyond excited to go for a ride in the truck with their Daddy
~ sunny weather in the 60°’s for the weekend!
~ a husband that brings home Chinese on a Friday night
~ and offers to go get me Happy Juice today
~ these two books about the Penderwicks - absolutely delightful!
~ autumn colors - the reds, the oranges, the burnt yellows, the browns - all my favorites and there can’t be enough of them
For more Friday Felicities or to link up yours, head over to Becky’s!
A Bloggy Book Tour ~ A Beautiful Fall
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Beautiful Fall
David C. Cook (October 2008)
by
Chris Coppernoll
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Coppernoll is the founder of Soul2Soul Ministries, with his interviews with Christian artists airing weekly on 650 radio outlets in thirty countries. He has conducted hundreds of interviews on faith issues with personalities such as Amy Grant, Max Lucado, Michael W. Smith, and Kathie Lee Gifford. He also serves as a Deacon at The People’s Church in Franklin, Tennessee, and is currently working toward a Masters in Ministry Leadership degree through Rockbridge Seminary.
His “Inspirations” column is published monthly in the mid Michigan newspaper, The Jackson Citizen Patriot.
Chris Coppernoll is the author of four other books including Soul2Soul, Secrets of a Faith Well Lived, and God’s Calling. Providence, his first novel, is his fourth book.
ABOUT THE BOOK
High-powered Boston attorney Emma Madison is celebrating her latest courtroom victory when she gets a call from a number she doesn’t recognize. Area code 803 home. Juneberry, South Carolina eight hundred miles, twelve years, and a lifetime away from Boston. Emma’s father has had a serious heart attack. Emma rushes to his bedside, and a weekend trip threatens to become an extended stay. She has to work fast to arrange the affairs of his small-town law practice so she can return to her life and career in Boston.
And then Michael Evans shows up. They’d shared hopes, dreams, and a passionate love as young college students during a long-ago summer. But Emma walked away from Michael and from Juneberry to finish college and start a new life. Michael has never forgotten her.
Enveloped in the warmth of family and small-town life and discovering that she still cares for Michael Emma knows she’ll have to make a choice between the career she’s worked so hard to build and the love she left behind.
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Beautiful Fall, go HERE
On Marriage…
It seemed to her that sometimes that the most important thing about marriage was not a home or children or a emedy against sin, but simply there being always an eye to catch.
Mrs. Miniver, p.32
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