Book Review: When You Reach Me

A short review today ...

I looked forward to reading this book, as I collect Newbery Award winners. One of my daughters gave this to me as a gift, knowing my love for children's literature.

I was ... dissappointed.

It's very likely I would have enjoyed it more if I had recently read Madeleine L'Engle’s classic A Wrinkle in Time. But it's been eons since I read that classic, so I missed a lot of the references in this book.

My two main objections?

I suppose I just got too creeped out by the notes Miranda was receiving ... notes from the future. This, of course, is likely what lots of kids like about the book ... the creepiness that comes with imagining time travel. To me, it was like having a stranger invade my space and steal from me. I'm super-sensitive to that scenario.

I also thought that the characters could have been drawn more distinctly. I was left with an image in my mind of only two of the minor characters, none of the main characters. That's pretty unusual for me.

I do recommend going over to Amazon.com and reading their Exclusive Q&A with the author, Rebecca Stead. Perhaps I would have enjoyed the book more, if I'd taken that step.

But I think it's a shame that I couldn't just enjoy this book on its own merits, picking it up blind and delving between the covers.

On a five star rating, I give it three stars.

WIP: Single Rose 3

I had a nice block of time to stitch today, so worked on my Single Rose some more. The bottom 2/5 of this piece is just about done. For comparison, to the right is what the last update looked like:


And here's my latest progress:

I was hoping to get all the backstitch done in this section. I have just one more branch in the bottom left corner to finish outlining.

I've been enjoying the stitching on this piece quite a bit. I haven't used a blended needle very often, and this piece has a number of blended colors. Such nice subtlety!

Through the Rain

Road to California

This photo was taken last March when Jodie and I were on a road trip during her Spring Break.

Words Have Power

Nuance matters.
Choose wisely.
It's not all just semantics.

Irony

Bus Stop

At Our Doorstep

The tulips and grape hyacinth have finally arrived at our front door.

At Our Doorstep

The lilacs can't be far behind!

Sunday Secrets: May 15, 2011

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. I find it to be an insightful sociological experiment.

I could relate to the following two secrets from today's post:

It sucks that he picked alcohol over me and his daughters.

It ended up killing him.

We are thriving.

I didn't have the nerve back then

But I told him over 30 years later.

I still like him and keep in touch. 

We're like siblings now - only better.

Sunday Secrets: May 08, 2011

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. I find it to be an insightful sociological experiment.

PostSecret was full of Mother's Day cards last weekend. These were my favorite three:

When Julie was an infant, 

she saved my life as my marriage fell apart.

A sweet baby on my lap gave me hope 

when hope seemed lost.

My older daughters assure me of this over and over.

They're worth it.

Amen.

My mom taught me how to be a good mom.

Tomorrow would have been her 90th birthday.
Happy Birthday, Mom!

WIP: Single Rose 3

I've made a fair bit of progress!

This piece is a joy to stitch -- so far!

WIP: Single Rose 2

OK, so this isn't the most impressive post in town.

But I did get a chance to stitch for a few hours again today. Too bad it doesn't look like I got much accomplished. But as I was stitching along, I could tell that this was the type of design where I could get lost in the stitch count much too easily. So I pulled out some blue sewing thread, and stitched a grid.

The stitched lines on my fabric now match the dark grid lines on the chart, thus making it much easier to keep track of where I'm supposed to place my stitches. This, in turn, keeps the frustration level down and keeps those darn frogs at bay.

One thing a stitcher really hates is rippit, rippit, rippit!!!

WIP: Single Rose 1

I started my next cross-stitch project. This time, I'm stitching something for myself! It's called "Single Rose" and is a Dimensions Gold Collection petite kit. This is how it will look when finished.


I found this kit last year when I was on a trip to Denver to visit my daughter. I had the luxury of stopping at a little shop called Country Crafts in Greeley, CO and spent hours there, pawing through every rack and every basket and every flat surface.


Much of the background on this chart is stitched using a half cross stitch. I've begun in the bottom left corner.

The colors in this lovely piece go swimmingly with the decor in my living/dining room. So when it's stitched and framed, it will be displayed on a wall in one of those two rooms.

Happy Dance: Easter

After several weeks of not stitching, yesterday I got around to finishing up this quilt square for my charity group. This Easter bunny square is for a quilt that will incorporate holidays from throughout the year.

The chubby bunny is a web freebie that I found on a French blog: Bienvenue chez Echevette
http://echevette.over-blog.com/article-3911091.html
#16 - Joyeuses Pâques

The little basket in the original chart didn't quite work for this square, so I found another Easter basket chart that I hoped would work. Unfortunately, that basket was about twice as big as I needed. So using that chart as inspiration, I created my own little Easter basket design to stitch at the bunny's feet.

I sure love this little guy's attitude! He makes me smile each time I see him.

A Little Extra Love

Let's hope we can teach the next generation more about love and kindness and diplomacy and cooperation and forgiveness than we do about retribution and retaliation and evil and hatred and revenge.

It's a harsh world with bitter realities. It's also a world where those who hurt are helped by those who are able and willing to give.

Let's teach our children balance.
If we err in balance, let's error on the side of love.

Dry Run

My daughter Julie got hired at Silverwood theme park for the summer. Yesterday was the park's first day of the season, a dry run for the employees. Friends and family were invited into the park so that new employees could have a chance to get some on-the-job training before the public at large is invited in.

We had a charming time. It's always nice to spend time at Silverwood. The western theme town includes an old-time mercantile, a saloon with live musical acts, a theater that plays black & white flickers from the early 20th century, a candy store, a general store, a live theater that boasts a magic show, the Sugar Shack with freshly-made confections to satisfy your sweet tooth, an opportunity to dress in western gear and 'have your picture took,' and more.

Garfield the cat and his sidekick Odie can be found wondering main street. Then there is the whole midway and amusement park area with wild roller coasters and calmer rides for the more faint at heart. As the weather warms, the vast Boulder Beach water park will open.

A 'must' ride for old timers and bitty kids is this classic narrow gauge train ride through the wilds of Idaho. You get to see a herd of bison, cross the tremulous trestle, and then find yourself in a ghost town where hustlers board the train to rob you at gunpoint. The local marshal saves the day, of course, then serenades you until you're safe at the depot once again.

Engine No. 7

We took it slow, wandered through the town square, and were headed to the amusement park when the sky opened up with rain and hail. I've never seen a theme park clear out quite so quickly!

The the season has just begun. We will return. It's good to be transported to another time for a day.

Revenge of Mr. McGregor

On Easter Sunday afternoon,

Julie and I went for a walk in the neighborhood.

We saw this horrific site through a car window.

Bunny BeGone

Could be Flopsy

Could be Mopsy

Could even be Dropsy

Definitely not Cottontail

Have a Heart

On Valentine's Day, 

Julie and I headed down to the Spokane River.

The water line was low, 

a bit of pebbled beach was exposed

at the foot of the rock slope

where stone and roots are usually covered.

Heart of Stone

We had fun

creating works of art

and heart.

Simon's Cat Wishes You

A Happy Easter!

Jo & Mom

Jodie & I took a walk 

at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. 

A good day.

On the Boardwalk

from the archives: 04-17-2009

Jodie ... from days gone by

While jostling with the photos on my computer, I came across this oldie but goodie of Jodie when she was in 8th grade. She'd won a makeover and photo shoot from a local modeling outfit. The photos they took of her were ... unimpressive. So she asked me to take some photos of her after school that day, while she was still dolled up. I'd forgotten about this one! Likey!

Glamour-puss

Gratitude

I am Grateful ...

For being the wife

Who says it's leftovers tonight,

Because I am home,

Not working the late shift,

And we had more than enough to eat last night.

For my husband

Who is fell asleep early,

Because he worked hard all day,

Has a good job,

And is home with me.

For my teenager

Who is complaining about being stretched too thin,

Because it means she is a superb student, has a job,

And spends time with a great group of friends.

For my young adult

Who landed back at home

After completing grad school,

Because it means she had a soft place to fall

And trusts us to boost her to the next level.

For my daughter

Who struggles to just feel normal,

Because she hasn't given up

And is still alive.

For my job as family Trustee,

Because despite the frustrations,

It means my daughters, nieces and nephews

Had a chance to go to college.

For the taxes we pay,

Because it means

We are doing our part

To help the common good.

For the mess to clean after a party,

Because it means I was able

To give my daughter a memorable prom night.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug,

Because it means

I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work,

Because it means

I am out in the sunshine.

For a lawn that needs raking,

Windows that need cleaning,

And doors that need painting,

Because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining

I hear about the government,

Because it means

We have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot

I find at the far end of the parking lot,

Because it means I am capable of walking,

I have a gym membership,

And I have been blessed with transportation.

For our huge heating bill,

Because it means

I was warm this winter.

For the baby who won't stop crying

At the next table in the restaurant,

For I can hear

And don't have to cook.

For the pile of laundry and mending,

Because it means

I have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles

At the end of the day,

Because it means I am

Capable of working hard.

For the doctor bills,

Because it means I'm one of a minority

Who gets preventative care

And has health insurance.

For waking at dawn,

Because it means I am alive

And my husband is stirring beside me.