The Needle in a Haystack

What I'm reading...

In between  planting, caring for baby chicks and spring cleaning I have been in quite a reading mood lately. while its not uncommon for me to have two books going at once... it is unusal for me to ahve 4 or 5...but that's how it is... I thought I would share..

First up... The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough I love all of his books. Chris and I recently purchased Truman on audio that we hope to listen to soon

My Mother in Law and I decided to read  Respectible Sins by jerry Bridges I am anxious to have a good discussion on this book when we finish. we have given ourselves a nice long time of 5-6 weeks and then we will meet over lunch and talk about it.

Kristy and I are reading two books together Created to be His Helpmeet by Pearl ( no hate mail please.. I am not drinking hte kool aid and neither is Kristy but there are several good points to take away from the book no matter what your opinion of the Pearls are) and A Confident Heart by Renee Swope.

.. and lastly Coalwood Way by Homer Hickam this is for my Book Across the States project I have been working on for... ummm 4 years now.

 

 

The pollen has been so bad lately that when I am not in the garden it has been good to plop down and read a  bit...

  This morning the daily Bible verse really made me think about our business..

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth . . .

That is exactly how we want our business to be known, by our good name..

..have a fine day...all day long!

 

A Day @ Duke University..... Book across the States N.H.

Yesterday and today have been simply beautiful here in the Carolinas. We left early yesterday to run errands and take care of some business calls in Durham and decided  a walk around Duke University campus and lunch at the Bryan Center was in order. I love the feel of sitting on the steps of an the old buildings and doing a bit of people watching. Unfortunately ( or fortunately) there was a funeral for the oldest surviving member of the Duke family so only foot traffic was allowed. We were able to eat lunch on campus but this is as close as we could get to the Chapel which was our destination.

We decided to walk a few trails  and just enjoy the sunshine ( and work of the milkshakes :) )

One thing I was curious about was this sculpture

The Scientist and Nature  You can read about it, the commision and meaning  ,here

 I finished the day with my sewing group. These ladies are the sweetest there is! I am 75% finished with my first project and 50% fiished with another. Too fun!

  We had breakfast and a business call in South Boston, Va this morning... then Chris had a service call and I had a busniess appointment  in the afternoon.

  I got home at 5:30 qith NOTHING planned for dinner. With chciken strops, arugala, tortillas, shredded cheese and ranch dressing  we whipped up snack wraps ... just like MC"d's... for have the price ..they were very yummy!

I finished my New Hampshire read .. a Gather of Days..interesting...a young adult reader... but with great content on early settlements in NH and the under ground rail road, I giv eit three thumbs up

 

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.

– 2 Samuel 22:17-18 (NIV)

 

Good stuff huh?   Be safe...and have a fine day.......all day long!

 

Jan 6&7, 2012

So it really did seem like a good idea to give our old lab, Raven, a beanie baby to keep her company while we were at work now that she is an only dog....

           bad idea

..what you can not see in this picture are the 200billion gazillion small plastic pellets that now cover every inch of our living room rug.... they are like Christmas tree tinsel.....or Easter grass....we'll pretty much be cleaning them up for the next 10 years

  We worked the last two days at the shop.  despite that I was able to do a bit of stitching...a couple smalls. The first is almost done despite the short amount of time I had to work on it.

... this is from Sprite stitch

AND today was simply two little snowmen to go on the tree at the shoppe... We decided to do a season tree all year...

.. And keeping up with Pammy Sue's CAL

I was able to finally get to the next color in my ripple.  I have plans for this ripple I do believe a upcoming birthday in the next couple of months... 

Horrible picture... but its late and I am cleaning up plastic pellets..

So, I was able to finish up Mourning Gloria

This is a China Bayless book and I loved it as much as the others I have read...

In my read through the Bible in a year I am up to Genesis 20 and Matthew 6:18

  .One of the great things about our shoppe is the wonderful deputies that do off duty on Sat. afternoons.  They are all friends of our LEO son and we appreciate getting to know each of them better. Craig and I were having a discussion about this verse today... and I thought I would share ( he preaches at his church from time to timeand I know he is a blessing to them, he was to me!)

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

– 2 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

Very fitting for police officers I think.. and for all of us!

Hope and pray you all ahve a fine day.................all day Long!

Jan 3, 2012

 After so many beautiful days ..it was just plain COLD today.   We decided to forgo our errands we had planned and stayed inside drinking hot cuppas and working on small projects around here.  All the Christmas decos are packed away except the tree which will stay up til Jan 6th. I really will miss it, a small tree, but so pretty.

 Bible reading today was  Gen . 7-9 and Matthew 3

I finished up two books while on teh bike today. One really doesn't count as it was a book from my childhood collection on Mary Mapes Dodge. It was absolutely one of my favorites when I was maybe 10 (?).. The other was a book in my Book Across the States Project I started way back Jan. of 2009. It was another Debbie Macomber book, Dakota Born.  I really liked the other book I read by her set in WA but this one seemed perdictible.I know there are two other books in the series but I am not sure I will read them.

My cross stitch  start for today was so much fun.  I am already half finished. This will be for one of my neices.

This is a freebie from Gazette94 I love her designs so much. I have done a couple and hope to do a couple more . Pour a cuppa tea and go visit her.... bonus if you read french... un peu...becoming more fluent IS on the bucket list...

 .. and what would a cold afternoon be without a bit of sweetness with our afternoon coffee/tea...

We opted for Energy Bites.   At least we can convince ourselves these are healthy.  Christopher eats them on the way to work or class... or everytime he opens the fridge...

As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.” Genesis 8:22

...and have a fine day, all day long!

 

Still Elfing/2012 book list

 But I am on the hoem stretch now... I can't ever remember being done this far ahead... Usually I am crocheting or stitching well past midnight on Christmas Eve.

  Last night was family dinner night and we put up the tree. Taylor and Kristy came to help and we made ornaments... the attention span of a 6 yo this close to Christmas..... not the greatest... but I must say buttons strung on wire are quite nice... Pictures tomorrow hopefully.

  We put up another small tree this year instead of the big one. We actually have two trees to do this year, one at the shoppe and one here.. both are just right in my book!

  I just finished Crystal's new book @ Money Saving MOm and will have the review up on Monday. I really enjoyed it.

  Chris had permission to do a ride along with Josh... He loved it! I would be a nervous wreck I do believe... I had a whole day to stitch and hook...

I have decided enough is enough and I will FINALLY finish up my Book Across the States Challenge...its been how many years now?? 3? 4?

So, without further ado... before I read ANOTHER thing...

Here's the list:

1. Morning Gloria ( Texas)

2. New Hampshire colony

3. Her Mother's Bible

4. Suzannah Spurgeon

5. Heaven ( VC Andrews, W.VA)

6. Mystick Moon ( Terry White: Conn.)

7. One for the Money ( Janet Evanovich: NJ)

8. Tennesse weddings Heartsong

9. Wisconson Weddings

  The Rocky Road Collection ( Missouri

1. 1. The 101 Ranch ( Oaklahoma)

   2. Little House on the Prairie Books (SD)

   3. My Anotnia Willa Cather (NE)

   4. Wyoming ( Zane Grey )

   5. The Empty Land ( L'Amour) Utah

   6. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas ( NV)

   7. The Girl Who Chased away Sorrow ( NM)

OK, so the transfer from WORD didn't go smoothly, but you get the idea... I WILL finish this project..

  Our news was just filled with bad things today. The Virginia Tech thing, a deputy killed on duty a few counties away, someone open fired in a grocery store near by...

  It's good to remember Psalm 9:9

The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a [refuge] in times of trouble.

Remember the Lord..........and ahve a fine day...all day long!

Book Across the States .. "Counting on Grace"... Vermont

I know, it seems everytime folks think I have forgotten about this project ( yeah..its been three years since I started), I finish another book.

   This time I went to late 1800's Vermont with a young adult book " Counting on Grace", based  on a true story of a 9 year old girl stuck in a mill family.  The book shows day to day life before child labor laws... the frustrations, pains and upsets .

   This is the first time I had delved into this portion of history and as disturbing as it was I am very glad I did.

  Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop is my Book Across the States selection for Vermont.

Book around The states IDAHO

It has been quite awhile since I finished this book and realized I had not posted  Idaho's read...

  The book bothered me on a bunch of levels...I know so many good law enforecement agents and it is sad tothink of the hysteronics that went on from the top to bottom that created the events at Ruby Ridge.   In college psycology  we are taught that the definition of a game is " How I act , to make you behave, to justify the way I feel"...as I turned the pages of this book I felt that a game is exactly what the government was doing... behaving in such a way that would cause Randy Weaver to react in a way that justified ( in their minds) the governement actions. In the end Weaver and his family were awarded a settlement... but it the cost was America's faith in those paid to protect us.

Here is what Amazon had to say:

   Before the Waco incident, the cause celebre for those who feel U.S. federal law enforcement agencies have become worse outlaws than their quarries was the case of Randy Weaver, a white separatist (not supremacist) living with his family on Ruby Ridge in remote northern Idaho. According to Bock, after a government stooge baited Weaver into an illegal gun sale, U.S. marshals and the FBI laid siege to his home and shot his 14-year-old son and his wife to death. A marshal died, too, but at trial, the jury acquitted Weaver and family friend David Harris of murder. Meanwhile, defense attorneys had exposed a swamp of arrogant government misconduct. Bock stands squarely with Weaver's defense, but his report is no intemperate partisan rant. It is a thoroughgoing account of the siege, the events that shaped Weaver and led to his running afoul of the government, the government's and major news media's characterizations of the affair, the trial, and the uncertain aftermath of an appalling case of law enforcement overkill. Better, it is unputdownably engrossing. Ray Olson

 

Book Across the States Idaho : Ambush at Ruby Ridge by Alan Bock

 

I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes fromt he Lord , the Maker of heaven and earth.  Psalms 120 : 1,2

 

A Washington State Post

 Is it hot where you are?  whew, its a bit toasty here in the Carolinas.  I made 3 different types of salads early this morning and called it a day in the kitchen.. I doubt anyone will want much anyway as hot as it is...

  Anyhow, My week was totally made when I reacieved the sweetest package from a dear young friend in Washington State.  She is very creative and talented and knows I love all things artsy. I totally encourage her to expand on her talents. she is an excellent photographer and sent me a beautiful photo she had taken ..

 pardon my camera glare on the photo I am NOT a picture taker... but I do love this photo and she wona couple of awards with it

   She attended a workshop on cloth dolls recently on a camping trip and was so happy she thought of me to send one of her creations along... I am in love with it and when she is not posing for pictures in my den she sits on my bed.

While not the same pattern I did google and found this  NO SEW RAGDOLL pattern that looks like lots of fun and a great scrap user... I love simple toys... especially those made with love...

 Thanks bunches Miss Kristy for my presents... and  Congrats on your Graduation!! We are proud of you!

  AND

 Because its a total Washington post.. I finished up a book from Washington for My Book Across the States project... yes, I know I have been working on this since 2007... but I don't believe I set any limits on myself.. and it is just a totally fun thing to do as much as I love to read...

so... my book for Washington was.............

16 Lighhouse Road by Debbie Macomber.  I liked it.  The book gave a bit of flavor of Washington State... no deep plots, lots of interesting characters.  A very good lite read.  I will probably look for more of this authors books, as a matter of fact there is one I am already on the prowl for if we can work in a library trip this week. Things are a tad busy through next week..

So back to my Washington friend... as I was reading over her note again it reminded me of this Bible verse

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. 

... Friends are very good things... no matter how old or young.... tell your friends you care for them.... and have a fine day... all day long!

 

 

Book Across the States~ Colorado~ " A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains"

..I know, just when you think I have forgotten about my project ( which was only going to take a year and has now turned into going on 3), I pop up with another book.

  I am so glad I read the book " A Lady's Life in teh Rocky Mountains" by Isaella L. Bird" because her descriptions and real stories of the time period ( 1987's) were very very interesting.  The book is a journal of sorts, letters to her sister, as she traveled through the Colorado Rockies.  The word pictures are wonderful!

Amazon Link

 ordered mine for a penny plus shipping , oour library doesn't carry the book so I hope to donate it along with some other great titles and hope they don't throw it in the library sale, although if htey do then I know some one will read it...probably..

  Isabella Bird was the daughter of a clergyman and through out the book you see her pray and encourage others along her way. 

  I highly recommend this book.

..On a sad note, some acquaintances of ours in Al have suffered major damage from the storms.  3 have lost their homes and one father of nine lost his life.   We are very saddened and in much prayer for these families. Fellow homeschoolers from NC and TX are already on the way if not there to provide support and extra pairs of hands for those affected.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Pray for those in the storms

Black Walnut, blooms , and the latest book

 A beautiful day here in the Carolina's, but we are all sort of still numb from the recent storms... the devestation is horrible...

We had a day full of errands.  Honey pick up which is good since I was OUT.  We have friends that have happy bees that give us wonderful honey...then we had grocery runs, plant runs, a run to the battered womens shelter to drop off a few things, and a run to pick up a couple of tools needed for Chris's latest project. 

  We're tired but not so tired that I couldn't enjoy a stroll around the woods with the animals ( not Chuck, he was "spent" from a day of mousing)

Chris was excited to start his new project ( and I was really excited for him)... He had been saving this piece of black walnut for some time  waiting to see what it needed to be.

He is using hand tools on it  and I must admit the wood is lovely!... You'll have to stay tuned to see what it is!

Now, very exciting is the launch of my brothers new book " We Surround Them", a journey with the 9/12 project.

My bother is quite a mover and shaker( unlike his big sis here who just trembles a bit)  and I think if you lean right and conservative you will enjoy his account of what brought him through the 9/12 ranks and the journey to where the 9/12 project is now.

 all the creative juices flowing around me is making me itchy to make something... so I am off and about

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 1Peter 4:10

Have a fine day...all day long!