Silverthreads89: March 2013

Saturday, June 1, 2013

March 2013

It is now the first of June and I am so behind I decided to put March info here so I don't forget. My life doesn't seem that busy, but the days seem to run by so fast that the fact that I can't even get a post entered once a month is ridiculous. So here is March. I am going to put lots of pictures in and hope that I remember everything I wanted to write about back in March.

I finally made the black curtains for my office/sewing room and got them hung up in the cleaned out rooms. The front door was painted black last year so now the windows on each side of the door are black also and it looks better than the miss-mash I previously had hanging in the windows. I got the curtains from my daughter who didn't like them in her house and I traded fabric for them. I cut them in half and had the perfect amount of fabric left over to cover both windows.

The end of March I flew to Orange county to meet up with the Browns for a romp at Disneyland. We all met at the airport and then motored over to a house they had arranged for us all to stay at. It was a large home that the owner regularly lets her extended family stay in while visiting her, Disneyland, or California in general. Luckily, she trusted her grand daughter's opinion of us and let us stay there too. The house was huge and had a yard for the kids to run in, a hot tub and a swimming pool. It was so much better than being cooped up in a motel for 5 days. Here is a picture I took of the Browns at Disneyland. I am not sure at what time of day it was but I think it was first thing on the first day. The youngest had never been so were still unsure what a treat was in store, plus it was verrrry early.

The first few rides we weren't standing in line long but after that - oh brother! We managed to get the rides in FantasyLand the first day, AdventureLand the second day, and repeats the third day. We took a break of two days between the second and third day of standing in line and going on rides. The "fast pass" helped the lines a bit but it was still a lot of standing. The kids took it like champs though and we had no meltdowns or temper tantrums. They are such good kids.

Standing in line again.

Bumper cars

I got to sit out on Dumbo and just take pictures!

Kyle just being "Goofy."

The hat Aaron picked for his take-away.

Just trying on funny hats.

The hat Chloe chose for her take-away.

Trying on hats was really good for a lot of laughs from us all but only Aaron and Chloe bought them. It was truly entertaining for us all though just to observe.

Sarah trying on BiG HaT.

Emma crowned as Princess of Love and Beauty!

We spent one night dining and being entertained at Medieval Knights eating establishment. After our knight won the tournament he crowned Emma his princess. She wasn't nearly as thrilled at it as we were. Thus, ended my month of March, although a couple days of Disney were in April. Oh, well.

1 comment:

CourtneyJune 1, 2013 at 8:24 PM
You blogged! I've nearly given up on my blog. I do want to post about Disneyland though. We had such a wonderful time! We still need to send each other the pictures we took. Love you!
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One Day, by Davis Nicholls. Thought I would read this romance part way to see if I wanted to spend money on the movie. Read the whole thing and now can't wait to see the movie. I thought the couple met one day a year for 20 years but it visits the day they first spent together, every year for 20 years whether they are together or not. Loved the realistic way both characters are portrayed with their strengths and weaknesses. Ending was a totally unexpected surprise. 5 of 5 stars.

The Harbinger, by Jonathan Cahn. Through an ancient verse in Isaiah, the events of America from 9/11 onward are foretold. The revelations are specific and reveal the future of our nation as we have turned from a Christian centered nation to a carnal and materialistic one. The fictionalized story is the same as many in the Bible and Book of Mormon: when you turn away from God there are consequences that will bring nations back to God or destroy them. 3 of 5 stars.

Lone Wolf, by Jodi Picoult. When Luke and his daughter are in a devastating car accident, his son must come back home after 6 years away to make life and death decisions. What follows are alternating chapters from the view point of many characters telling the life of Luke and his family and how those events lead up to the the final decision the family makes. One of my favorite authors but more info on wolves than I wanted or believed - how do we know what wolves think? 4 of 5 stars.

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro. What does it mean to be human? That is the question 3 friends uncover as they grow up in a sheltered and protected environment without parents. The realization of who they are and what their destiny is becomes increasingly clear as they and all those they grew up with leave their childhood residence and embark on life in the unsheltered world. 5 of 5 stars.

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Summer of the Monkeys, by Wilson Rawls. A 14 yr. old boy spends much of his summer in the late 1800s trying to catch monkeys that escaped from a circus. Great and amusing story of a boy leaving childhood behind and gaining the understanding of adults. Some of the writing quirks annoyed me as an adult reader but I doubt adolescent readers would notice. 4 of 5 stars.

Noah's Compass, by Anne Tyler. I have read many of her books and this is my least favorite. Forced to retire at 61, a schoolteacher tries to make sense of the life he has led. The review I read said this was humorous, I thought not. Just very sad and pathetic at how someone can live so unconsciously until 61 and then wonder how to fix it. 3 of 5 stars.

I Hate It When Exercise is the Answer, by Emily Watts. Humorous look at ways to exercise our bodies and spirits to get the most out of our lives. Accepting the craziness of life and being a better person in spite of it. 5 of 5 stars.

The Good Soldier, by Ford Madox Ford. Story about 2 couples who spend 9 seasons socializing together in parts of England and Italy, showing forth a good impression to outsiders. Within each of them, and within each couple much drama is going on to the sad finale. These are four pathetic self delusional people. 2 of 5 stars.

Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler. Very smutty, sometimes funny, mostly uncomfortable read. I know some of this is just exaggerated or made up but it was mostly sad. Won't read any other of her books. Worse than her TV show. 1 of 5 stars.

Philly Stakes, by Gillian Roberts. one of a series of books about an English teacher at a private school and her cop boyfriend solving crimes that seems to come into her life regularly. The books are fun and entertaining but how many murders can come into a teacher's life before she starts getting worried and moves to another town? Amanda is a delightful character with a fun way about her. I like the series but it isn't great detective writing since I usually figure out who the guilty party is before she does. 4 of 5 stars.

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. Amazing and true story of running Olympic participant, Louie Zamperini's life story. Deals mainly with his time as a Japanese POW and how he survives not only his time in the POW camps but the difficulty he faced after the war with trying to get his life back on track. Hillenbrand is an amazing researcher and story teller. Although I don't like war stories, fact or fiction, this book had me entranced. 5 0f 5 stars.

Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters. Although written in the 1970s the book takes place in the 1880s mostly in Egypt (with a little in Italy). A spinster in her early 30s embarks on an adventure to Egypt after the death of her father. Before getting there she rescues a young woman who has been abandoned by her fiance in Italy. Together they journey to take a trip up the Nile to see the sights. They get diverted by their interest in an archeological dig and much mystery and danger come their way. 4 of 5 stars.

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant. Very interesting, non religious telling of the possible story of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah in Genesis. It tells the story starting with the meeting of Jacob and Rachael through their deaths, as well as that of Dinah. Dinah's life is hard as she overcomes a tragedy brought on by her older, selfish brothers. So little is told of women in the Bible, since they were thought so little of, that the imaginings of their lives and personalities is fascinating. 4 of 5 stars.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer. The effect 9/11 has had for several years on a mother and son after the husband/father dies in one of the towers. Very perceptive and thought provoking but also tender in the way the mother handles the tragedy's effect on her son. Interesting how smart the son is in tracking the meaning of a key he found in the dad's closet. But I was most interested in the story of the Grandmother and grandfather and how a different tragedy tore their lives apart. 4 of 5 stars.

Letters in the Jade Dragon Box, by Gale Sears. What life was like in mainland China from 1949 - 1976 is told in letters from a mother to her 15 year old daughter, who was smuggled into Hong Kong at the age of 5. She is sent to live with her great-uncle, one of the first converts to the LDS church in Hong Kong. Touching but not overly maudlin and very light on the religious history. 4 of 5 stars.

The Bibliophile's Devotional, by Hallie Ephron. A great book for me to start the year reading. 365 summaries of what the author thinks are the books everyone should read at least once. I have read about a third of them and I don't agree with all her recommendations but I loved reading the summaries and now have a list of books to read or reread when I don't know what to read next. It was really fun to read all the summaries. 5 of 5 stars.

Dark Divine, by Bree Despain. Interesting young adult novel about a secret young Grace doesn't find out about until she is seventeen, which then changes her life. I didn't know it was young adult when I added it to my Kindle but it was interesting and a quick read. 3 of 5 stars.

V is for Vengeance, by Sue Grafton. Love this series and this book is one of the best of the series. Organized shoplifting, organized crime, gambling, and cheating husbands converge in a twisting and turning murder mystery. This book does not disappoint and I love it when I can't figure out how everyone connects. 5 of 5 stars.

7 Tipping Points that Saved the World, by Chris and Ted Stewart. Good book that explains a great deal of history that I never knew or understood. From 701 BC to 1939 the 7 events that the authors feel turned the tide of history toward the freedom so few countries enjoy today. It is amazing how brutal the world has been for so long for so many. 5 of 5 stars.

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. Reread this book after seeing the movie, now want to rewatch the movie. About how many white women in Mississippi during the sixties treated their black help. Wonderful book similar to the impact of To Kill a Mockingbird. 5 of 5 stars.

The Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova. Psychiatrist tries to help a painter who is arrested trying to attack a painting. The story intermingles the story of the modern painter, psychiatrist, and the artist of the painting from the 1800s. A mystery and a love story intriguingly told. 4 of 5 stars.

Thoughts of a Grasshopper, by Louise Plummer. Collection of essays on variety of life's topics with LDS point of view without gagging you with sugar and unrealistic expectations. I enjoy the author's style and have read several of her fiction pieces also. One tidbit: "Sometimes living in a family means suffering." I hope to be able to find a copy to buy. 5 of 5 stars.

Still Alice, by Lisa Genova. Wonderful story about a brilliant woman who gets early-onset Alzheimer's and told from her point of view. The author has a Ph.D in neurosience and very knowledgeable in this field. This is a sad and tragic story but one we all need to know about since we are living longer the chances of getting regular Alzheimer's is high. The symptoms are the same just the age and speed of progression is different. 5 of 5 stars.

Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen. Second novel by this highly acclaimed author. However, I am not intellectual enough to appreciate his writing. I wasn't fond of his first and not of this one. I thought the characters were annoying, although true to life. I don't want to know this much about unhappy people. It follows the long unhappy (?) marriage of a couple into their 50s. The husband is helplessly in love with his wife most of the time, but she is never sure of her feelings until into her 50s. They were tiresome people but that may be because they are so realistic. I'm not pedantic enough for his writing. 3 out of 5 stars.

Rescue, by Anita Shreve. I think this is the 9th or 10th book of hers that I have read. Great story teller, although not a "great" author. I like her take on what could be an ordinary story but she looks at it in an interesting way. This one is about an EMT who helps to rescue a drunk driver in an accident and how they come together. Not my favorite of her books but interesting. 31/2 of 5 stars.

Laughed 'til He Died, by Carolyn Hart. This is one of the series called Death on Demand. Death on Demand is the name of a bookstore in a vacation community on a South Carolina island. It's owners are wealthy and attractive and everyone likes them and they solve murders. The writing is mediocre as is the plot and the solving of the murders. Characters are explained more than shown. I won't be reading more of this series. 3 0f 5 stars.

Indemnity Only, by Sara Paretsky. This first of the V. I. Warshawski novel reissued this year. I can see why this series is popular. I liked this complicated case of murder and it was not easily figured out "who done it" and why. I will read more of this series, but I can also see how this could be improved as Sara as an author honed her craft. 4 of 5 stars.

Birds of a Feather, by Jacqueline Winspear. Reread this book that I read last year. Don't know where I got it last year but it was the abridged book and this was not. This one did not have all the errors in it and had more info, therefore, much more enjoyable to read and a good follow up to the first book which had so much background info in it. 4 of 5 stars.

1776, by David McCullough. This was a read for Independence Day 2011. I have been meaning to read it for 3 years and finally got around to it. Every adult should read it to know what a difficult time it was for the colonies to first declare independence (on July 2, 1776) and then to achieve it. It also took a long time until we were granted independence and the war with England ended. Then perhaps we would be more understanding about those countries we help win their independence. We did not fight alone; we too, had help from other countries helping us fight England. McCullough writes for the average reader to understand and not just history buffs. It is easy to read and understand. 5 of 5 stars.

The Double Comfort Safari Club, by Alexander McCall Smith. The 11th book in my favorite series. Mma Ramotswe solves the problems that are presented to her in a gentle, humane way. She remembers the things she has learned. "Do not complain about your life. Do not blame others for things that you have brought upon yourself. Be content with who you are and where you are, and do whatever you can do to bring others such contentment, and joy, and understanding that you have managed to find yourself." 5 of 5 stars

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith. A great classic that I had never read completely. Not the typical novel as it doesn't have a plot but a great coming of age story. I had thought it was a teen read but it is definitely written for the adult reader. It was originally written as a memoir but changed to a novel. The men are not in general portrayed at strong but the women are so interesting. I loved Francie's mother, Katie, she was a great role model. The friendship and support between brother and sister was amazing. Francie and her family grow from extreme poverty to a very comfortable living situation but her observations of people and places is spot on. 5 of 5 stars

Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear. 1st book in the series. Takes place in England just after WWI, but written about 9 years ago. Very good mystery and background story to set up the series. Maisie is a determined independent young woman who has been mentored by caring people to be able to step out of her class enough to be independent. Women were like possessions and she had few opportunities in that time in England, but with her intelligence and mentors she overcomes many obstacles. 4 0f 5 stars

Strong Poison, by Dorothy L. Sayers. British mystery written in the 30s. Interesting, amusing but dated mystery writing. I found it interesting that the main female was okay with living with a man but wanted nothing to do with marriage - and this in the 30s not 90s. 3 of 5 stars

I Still Dream About You, Fannie Flagg. A delightful novel about "older" ladies, one in particular. Maggie is not happy with the way her life as gone since becoming an adult and comes up with a plan to solve her unhappiness but something keeps interferring with her perfect plan. "[The novel] is equal parts southern charm, murder mystery, and that perfect combination of comedy and old-fashioned wisdom...." 4 of 5 stars

Leaving Home, by Jodi Picoult. Short stories by an excellent story teller. 5 of 5 stars

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson. Very good conclusion to the series. Lisbeth fights for her life on multiple levels and her "friends" fight for her to prove her innocence and expose corruption in the government of Sweden. 4 of 5 stars

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, by Beth Hoffman. Totally charming and moving story of a young girl who is moved from a sadly deplorable life into the southern comfort of her great aunt's home, and how this changes not only her life but who she thinks she is. Great first novel by Hoffman. 5 of 5 stars

The Christmas Gift, by R. William Bennett. A quick entertaining Christmas story that is sentimental but not excessively sugary. It is a lesson we could all do with a reminder to remember more often that things are not always what they seem. 3 of 5 stars.

The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins. Three good books that you must read together to get to the end. I really enjoyed reading them but didn't think the girl was really 17-18. She just didn't think or behave like one so I had to give her the benefit of the doubt that her society would make her more mature. She seemed more like a woman in her mid twenties to me, as did the men who loved her. But a fun read and good discussion books. I would not recommend to any of my junior high kids, just high school. 4 of 5 stars

Follow the River, by James Alexander Thom. This was a reread for my book club. The novel is based on a real woman and her escape from an Indian tribe who captured her and her two children, after killing her mother and others in their small settlement. She walks over 800 miles in early winter with only a blanket and another old woman who escaped with her. It is really an amazing story and highly recommended reading. 5 of 5 stars.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, by Helen Simonson. Delightful romance about an English widower in his late 60s and a Pakistani widow woman in her late 50s. The English sense of humor took a while for me to understand but when I did I had to go back and reread some to see what I had missed. A charming and happy read. 4 of 5 stars.

A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson. Bill and a friend of his decide to walk most of the 2200 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Along the way he gives the reader an amusing look at the trials they endure and an interesting look at the history, as well as editorial comments on the history and events of his journey. He is a funny writer of the things he observes and writes about. 4 of 5 stars.

The Silence of God, by Gale Sears. An historical novel about the first LDS family in Russia. It takes place during the Russian Civil War when the soviets were taking over and not letting people use churches. Gale is a neighbor and has written other books but this is my favorite. It has enough notes so that I understood the politics of what was going on in Russia during this time. 4 of 5 stars.

Smart Women, by Judy Blume. Yes, that Judy Blume - but this is for adult women not young girls. Interesting story but she is definitely a youth writer. The writing is not very sophisticated (? I think that is the word I want to use.) but the story does ring true for many of the situations. I read it many years ago and just reread it - I will now give it away. 2 0f 5 stars.

Fly Away Home, by Jennifer Weiner. Senator's wife takes off for her childhood vacation home when she finds her husband has cheated on her. While there she evaluates her life, her husband's and daughters'. The three women go through major trials and meet at the oceanside home to reassess their lives. Nothing profound but Weiner is a good story teller though I missed the humor from her other books I have read. 3 of 5 stars.

becoming Kate, by Dixie Owens. Very clever plot idea. A young girl is given a brain transplant from a young mother who died in a car accident. Stirs some very interesting questions. I think the story moved a bit too fast and there were many other problems that could have been hashed out but on the whole it was a great quick read. 3 1/2 stars of 5

Last Night in Twisted River, by John Irving. Covers life of young man 12 years old into his 60s and how he deals with major events and losses during that 5 decade span to the present time. We don't have always have a choice on who comes into and out of our life; we only have a choice on how we deal with them in a positive or negative way to the benefit or detriment of our life and memories. 4 of 5 stars.

A Nun in the Closet, by Dorothy Gilman. I read this for our book club selection. A short, quick mystery read. It is rather dated in many references but that adds a bit of charm. 3 of 5 stars.

The Girl Who Played with Fire, by Stieg Larsson. This is the 2nd of a trilogy. (see below) A good mystery but the author tells too much back story for each and every one of his characters. He could have easily knocked off 150 pages of this book. Liked the story but he goes into way too much detail. 4 of 5 stars

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. This is the 50th year since publication and having read it in the 60s decided it was a great time to reread. It is more impressive now to read than it was when I was a teenager from the far north. It seems more real now, especially with the way people are acting over the illegal immigrant problem. So many of us do not learn from the past or even from the religion we profess to believe in. Maybe this should be required reading for adults rather than teens. This is in the top 5 of books I have read. 5 of 5 stars.

Birds of a Feather, Jacqueline Winspear. A mystery in 1929 London written in 2004 (?). The second in a series of Maisie Dobbs mysteries. Good story but the proof reading was annoying, more errors than I have found in any other books. 4 of 5 stars

Remembering Isaac, by Ben Behunin. An interesting Christian novel. A potter is hired to take over from an old potter who has died with interesting conditions attached. He learns some stories and "lessons" from those in the town who stop by to share a cup of tea and their story. 4 of 5 stars

The Constant Gardener, by John Le Carre. Le Carre is the intellectual mystery writer. The plot is complicated and the words are sophisticated and the story is heart breaking. Not a quick summer read but an excellent mystery. I would say he is the mystery writers' mystery writer. Now I am off to rent the movie, also. 5 of 5 stars

A Lantern in Her Hand, by Bess Streeter Aldrich. Reread this book for the third time. One of the best written examples of what it is like to grow older. Each young person has hopes and dreams for the future that often do not come to fruition because of various circumstances. The next generation does not understand their parents and their choices because they don't seem to know the right questions to ask but family and love holds us all together. 5 of 5 stars

The Book of Awesome, by Neil Pasricha. Have been reading a few pages a day since receiving this for Mother's Day. Just delightful! Even went so far as to mark the pages I totally agreed with, LOL. Then I went to his blog so I could even read more now that I am done with the book. Helps make a positive outlook.
4 of 5

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson. It took me 100 pages to realllly get into this and then I couldn't put it down and stayed up until 4 in the morning trying to finish. Almost 600 pages but a real page turner with 2 mysteries (maybe 3) going on. Excited to get to the next in the series of 3.
4 of 5 stars

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, A Memoir, Laugh out loud funny remembrance of growing up in Iowa in the 50s. It did bring back the memories of growing up in Minnesota also during that time. Have read this twice (I really needed a good laugh) in the last few years and will go get another book of his soon.
5 of 5 stars

Look Again, by Lisa Scottoline. Good very quick read about an mother who adopts her son and then a few years later learns he had been kidnapped as a baby. I would have preferred a different ending but since Scottoline is a mystery writer the ending fit with her genre.
4 of 5 stars

The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young. Not impressed. Nothing new or novel in the book I didn't already think about. I don't get what all the hoopla was about that I was hearing on this book unless it is from people to whom belief in God is new.
3 of 5 stars

The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell. Fascinating book on the psycho/sociological reasons on what starts epidemics of ideas, fashion, products, crime, etc. Written so very easy to read and understand. Great follow up to his book Blink which was also great.
5 of 5 stars

Can't Wait to get to Heaven, by Fannie Flagg. Fun book about an old lady who dies and comes back to life for another year before dying again. The lives she has influenced and the far reaching effects of her kind deeds are gradually revealed. I even made the "heavenly" cake recipe that was included. Have now read this twice in the last couple of years and even baked her cake for my book group.
5 of 5 stars.

Good Hope Road, by Lisa Wingate. Great read about a young woman and an old woman brought together by a tragedy and how they both change and grow to become better people and help those around them. Positive, inspiring story without being sappy. 4 of 5 stars.

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, by Alexander McCall Smith. Love this series and this book is no exception. Precious is aptly named as a character - I love her! 5 of 5 for adults.

Little Bee, by Chris Cleave is quick read but sad read about how countries and individuals treat immigrants without concern about the individual situations involved with their immigration. It made me sad. 4 of 5 stars.

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale is great for the 8-18 but not for me. I totally would have recommended this when I was teaching to the young girls but I can't believe the reading group of over 40 women wanted to read this. I felt it was a waste of time so I listened to it on CD while quilting. 3 of 5 for adult women and 5 of 5 for teens.

Silverthreads89

Saturday, June 1, 2013

March 2013

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