book of the month

I was able to finish my February book just in the nick of time... It's a Newbery Medal winner by the author of 'Coraline.' I enjoyed it--here are some of my favorite passages:

"I called you boy, didn't I? But time passes in the blink of an eye, and it's a young man you are now, isn't it? How old are you?"
"About fifteen, I think. Though I still feel the same as I always did," Bod said, but Mother Slaughter interrupted, "And I still feels like I done when I was a tiny slip of a thing, making daisy chains in the old pasture. You're always you, and that don't change, and you're always changing, and there's nothing you can do about it."

-AND-
"I want to see life. I want to hold it in my hands. I want to leave a footprint on the sand of a desert island. I want to play football with people. I want," he said, and then he paused and he thought. "I want everything."

-AND-
"Face your life
Its pain, its pleasure,
Leave no path untaken"
"Leave no path untaken," repeated Bod. "A difficult challenge, but I can try my best."
So?

It was entertaining, sweet and full of adventure. I happen to have a fondness for graveyards, so having epitaths and stories of people from other centuries wound into a modern-day murder mystery kept me wanting to turn the pages. I recommend it with gusto.

just when you think you're sunk

My ship was boarded--I was sidled up to by a PIRATE.

The kind that takes no prisoners--leaves a wake of trouble in his path. The Captain was a full four years of determination and spunk.

And he was on a mission.

Arghh! He said, when he spotted me curled up in the corner and mumbling nonsensical things under my breath and looking glassy-eyed. What be your intent? I asked, in the gruffiest rumbly pirate voice I could find.

Ahoy matey, I want fluff, said he.

Fluff?

Aye, yeh scurvy dog. I be hungry. (is it lunchtime yet?)

Arghh yerself, I said. Fluff is not a healthy choice.

Okay, but how about fluff with hot chocolate? he bargained.

One of my gifts is to understand the need for sugar when it presents itself. And chocolate.

And I'm happy this little pirate ransacked my family room, and basement, and pretty much whatever fell into his path today, and busied himself (while I was not watching him or paying attention to what he was doing) with making his face look mustachioed and pirate-y while I was watching my own ship go down.

Because actually, he popped the stuffing back into my deflated will simply by showing up. Mess and mustache and all. And dang if he didn't get his fluff. And hot chocolate. Because that's what pirates like best for lunch.

May Day

my ship is sinking... I'm following counsel and 'staying IN the boat.'

But we're taking on water:

(ie fevers, coughs, mountains of laundry, dirty dishes, sleep deprivation, sticky floors, RS lesson to prepare for Sunday, school projects, no husband until late Saturday, no motivation.)

Cranky reigns.

Stability level: dangerous
Where's the Calgon when you need it most?

American.

http://www.bornagainamerican.org/

Someone just sent me this video from a group called BORN AGAIN AMERICA. Seems to not have any political or religious affiliation, but rather just standing as one as Americans to make a change......not to mention some really talented musicians.

provident living in action

Big logging truck unloads next year's supply of firewood.

because it's Monday

I share this with you.

God IS on your side my daughter.

Found this last week:

I love you, my sweet.