Saturday Snapshot

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme, post a photo that you (or a friend of family member) have taken. Then leave a direct link to your post on West Metro Mommy. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.


What's for Breakfast?

so, do I chose the cinnamon rolls, the peanut butter cookies, the raisin bagel or the fruit?  Maybe a combination of the fruit and the cinnamon roll. Plus coffee, how can I go wrong?




Until next time, 
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Friday 56 Sugar Queen

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice. These are the rules from her blog. So click over to Freda's blog and link up.
Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

The Sugar Queen
Sarah Addison Allen
Bantam Books/June 2008

"Here, eat this, quick," Josey said as she opened her closet door. She put the bag in front of Della Lee, who was sitting on the floor on the sleeping bag.

I am loving this magical book about friendship, love and possibilities.


Until next time.
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Wondrous Words Wednesday

Wondrous Words Wednesday is hosted by BermudaOnion each week. It's an opportunity to share new words you've encountered in your reading, or highlight words that you particularly enjoy.

I found no new words in my reading this week. So I logged on to Your Dictionary, already loaded on my laptop and in my toolbar to find a word of the day. Instead I found an article about words that defined 2013. So I am sharing them there today. I chose the Social Issues article.

Social Issues

2013 brought forward several new challenges in our society, on the media and on websites that connect us more and more each day. The news has covered a number of stories on young adults choosing to be agender and redefining how we see male or female. A more self-focused generation literally can’t get enough of themselves with the selfie and is focusing on a YOLO, live life today lifestyle. The goofy, sexy, all over the Internet interest in twerking brought us many highly-viewed videos (often of Miley Cyrus!) on the television and the web.

1. Agender - someone who does not identify with the male or female stereotypes.

2. YOLO - stands for "you only live once," meaning you should live your life to the fullest.

3. Selfie - a photo you take of yourself, often with a cell phone camera.

4. Twerk - to bend over and dance with a rhythmic, repetitive motion.

I have decided I am definitely not up on words that the rest of world thinks are awesome. 

I had not heard of #1 or #2, of course I knew #3 and #4.   There are other catagories on the website, check it out if interested Your Dictionary Defines 2013 with 10 Trending Words.

Until next time

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros 2-4-14

Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the first paragraph or maybe two of her current read. Anyone can join in. Go to Diane's website for the image and share the first paragraph (or2) of the current book you are reading.

Chapter 1

Everlasting Gobstoppers

When Josey woke up and saw the feathery frost on her windowpane, she smiled. Finally, is was cold enough to wear long coats and tights. It was cold enough for scarves and shirts worn in layers. like camouflage. It was cold enough for her lucky red cardigan, which she swore had a power of it's own. She loved this time of year. summer was tedious with the light dresses she pretended to be comfortable in while secretly sure she looked like a loaf of white bread wearing a belt. The cold was such a relief. 

  I checked this book out at our library, it is the February read from Love of Reading group on Goodread, and it fits the 2nd item in the What's in a Name 2014 challenge, read a book whose title refers to a position of  royalty.

The Sugar Queen
by Sarah Addison Allen
Bantam Books June 2008

So what do you think?  Would you read on?  Maybe there is something to be said for all this recent cold?
 I will start this probably sometime today. It is due back at the library in 2 weeks.


Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

It's Monday! What are you Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  As she says, it’s “a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!”

I am still reading:  or rather listening to on my Kindle. I am enjoying this story, but for me it was a slow start.I am not sure just where the painting of The Goldfinch fits in the story, but I am anxious to find out.

Also on my Kindle but actually reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. 

This is slow going, like many non-fiction, self help books. But I took the quiz and no surprise, I am an introvert. We will see if I learn any new things about me.


On my bedside table is :

This was a win from Audra at Unabridged Chick in late 2011. I am just getting around to enjoying it. It is well written, gritty and truthful as each short story tells about a time in the life of Veda. A young woman looking for and eventually finding herself. 

Mr. Busy and I are listening to the audio book 

As with all David Baldacci books, this one is mystery and unsolved murders. There is also a good amount of sexual tension building between Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. This one deals with a secret location run by an unknown agency, working to find a mathematical equation to make the computer world as we know it obsolete. Also we just may find out why Michelle ( Mick) Maxwell is such a driven, take no prisoners slob. I have my suspicions, and as it looks now I may be right. 

Until next time,

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

  

2014 Ebook Challenge & Page Turners February reads

This Challenge is hosted by Workaday Reads. If you want to join me, log on to Sarah's blog Workaday Reads and sign up on the sign in page. Then chose a level of ebooks you think you will read. All the rules and directions are on Sarah's blog. You're going to read books on your e reader anyway, might as well keep track and meet a challenge at the same time.


Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anne Lamott writes a frank nothing is sacred little book about the 3 essential kinds of prayer. She thinks that all prayer falls into these 3 catagories.  Help - Please, God help me get through this!
Thanks - Thankyouthankyouthankyou for helping me accept this situation.   And Wow!- I'm speechless, God, that sunset is awesome!

This book is not written just for Christians although Anne Lamott professes to be a Christian. She explores all types of higher power.

I grinned and really enjoyed this small easily read book. Yes, I agree, most prayers are Help, Thanks or Wow, but maybe I needed a little nudge to remember that I do pray all day. And that is the way, my God says I should.

I am glad I have this little book. I will re read it often.  I recommend this book to all who believe in some higher power, be it my Christian God, an agnostic's "somebody up there", or something else.

This was not an ebook, but a companion read for my book club.

Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I want to believe, I really do!
Dr. Alexander writes a compelling memoir of his 7 day coma, NDE and reawakening. He had awesome medical support and care at Lynchberg General Hospital in Virginia. He experienced and is able to articulate his experiences in a way we can all understand ( almost). Some of the medical jargon and the explanation of his NDE is hard to follow. But I know, somewhere in my deepest inner thoughts, that NDEs are possible. I am just finding it hard to fully accept. Not sure why, not sure I even want to know why. 

View all my reviews

I am posting these reviews in February, but I read them in January. I will post Help, Thanks, Wow to the January ebook roundup.

Until next time
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Other Than Books This is What Else I Do! Saturday Snapshot (s)

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at  West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky (at West Metro Mommy). Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

In January, I finished 8 books. Yes some of them were audio and according to the discussion on Goodreads, maybe I shouldn't count them as read, but I do. I have 3 others with bookmarks in various places. In addition to the eight books, I am working on some sewing/quilting projects. Some of my quilting pals have stated that maybe I don't get many quilting projects done because I read too many books. Hum-mm, I think I can do it all.

One of the quilting groups I belong to, is having a UFO challenge. We all made a list of 6 projects that we wanted to complete in the next 12 months. We donated 6 dollars to the kitty. The "keeper" rolled a die and which ever number was rolled is the project we work on for the next 2 months.  The two months of January and February I am working on completing a project I started in 2011. It was a free pattern at Jenny's blog. She has awesome stitchery designs.  Here is a picture of the progress of my Give Thanks Banner.

You can see I have 9 of the twelve mini stitcheries completed, 1 ready to finish the binding (bottom right hand corner), one in the hoop, and the last one still to stitch.  Each of the small quilts , if you will, say something like " for love", " for friends" "for peaceful sleep", and they hang on a quilted banner that says "Give Thanks". I love it and am so anxious to get it done!

Also, I made a small flannel quilt ( I call it a  lovey) for a great niece born last Friday in Minneapolis. This one was also a sort of UFO. I had the pale flannel squares from a 4 in 1 baby quilt kit. ( I purchased 24 flannel fat quarters and a book, that made 4 small baby quilts).  I wanted all the butterflies to coordinate, so when the new mommy told me the nursery was planned in coral and teal, I finished it. Can you see the butterflies?

The backing is the coral fossil fern flannel and the binding is scrappy, both coral and teal. I am happy with the result. 

This little quilt, a matching burp cloth and a princess themed pillow case for Big Sister Maddie went in the mail on Monday.  Monday and Tuesday I started on a quilt for my grandson's expected little boy. The baby's mom is a Denver Bronco fan even though they live in the Phoenix area. So here is the quilt so far. I will wait for the birth information before having that info embroidered on the center square. I will send it off to be professionally quilted, bind it with a tiny navy plaid and then mail it to the new little one.  The baby is due the end of February. Fingers crossed for a Super Bowl win on Sunday! 

Guess I have been pretty productive the last couple of weeks. 

Until next time,

Stay Busy and Stay Happy