the start of a good life

“Books serve to show a man that those

original thoughts of his aren’t very new after all.”

Abraham Lincoln

Whew – what a week, I feel like I’ve been behind every single day! Not a good feeling. And with so many library books, I’ve been reading like mad the past few weeks in order to get them all read on time. But, I finally conceded and gave up on finishing one, and never even started another.. . . For some reason I always feel slightly guilty getting a book from the library and not reading it. Like I’ve wasted its time or something. Am I the only one who feels that way? But then my friend suggested a novel to me and suddenly it wasn’t so hard to not read those biographies. I’ve decided that more than one biography at a time is too much. 

So, let’s get on with it shall we? ~~~~~

• Boundaries in Marriage – by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend – I am loving this marriage book that i am reading for the book study i’m a part of- ( Meaningful Marriage Study). I am finally in chapter 6 and think that I am liking it enough to buy instead of just renewing it from the library. which reminds me, i think it is due soon.. shoot… So this book teaches you proper boundaries in your relationships , specifically your marriage. It teaches you why they (boundaries) are vital for a great relationship, how to protect your marriage from intruders (no matter what form they take) , how values form the foundation and walls of your marriage and why each partner needs to have personal boundaries…and much more. It is not a book focused on changing your spouse, but yourself. It is an absolute-must read. 
• The Heart’s Pursuit – by Robin Lee Hatcher – this was a new novel for me!! i have never read a book by Hatcher that I didn’t end up loving and this one follows in that list. Wonderful. Wonderful. Silver Matlock is determined to find the man who left her at the altar – and stole all her family’s money. Jared Newman is on the trail of the man who murdered his family. For Silver to join Jared on the trail is to tarnish her reputation but they set off in the desert against all odds to find the two men. Along the way, they must learn to trust and forgive.  
• Climbing the Mango Trees – by Madhur Jaffrey – This was a very good read. I enjoyed learning about another culture and world. Madhur grew up on a family compound – where forty of more family members were present for dinner – and climbing the trees in the orchard on their land.She was a curious, independent and sensitive child and loved to learn about her family’s history.  Not only does she share stories of her childhood (which are riveting) but also how food can bring back memories. 
• Orphan Train West- by Jane Peart – a trilogy – bk 1 Homeward the Seeking Heart – I pretty much grew up reading this trilogy and absolutely love it. I haven’t read it for years so it is fun to have it be -almost-new again. Sadly, I had to put this one aside as I tried to catch up on my library books but I think I can finally start reading it again! yay! It is set in 1890 and focuses on three best friends as they leave an orphanage near Boston and  travel by train to be adopted as part of the “Orphan Train”. The girls – Toddy, Kit and Laurel – vow to be ‘best friends’ no matter where they are placed. The first book focuses on Toddy who gets adopted by wealthy Mrs. Hale who has a sickly granddaughter, Helene to be her companion. As Toddy brightens their lives with her optimism, she tries to hide the devastating fear brought on an angry maid’s words.  – side note, as i look online it says that H. the S.H.  is book number 2, while my personal book has it as the first. . .. sooo, who knows what is right. but it’s  a great trilogy either way!
• Enduring Courage: Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed – by John F. Ross – This was the biography that I had to give up reading. Which was sad, because it was quite good and I was enjoying it. But, I figure I’ll get it again from the library and make it all the way through.. .. It is based on Eddie Rickenbacker (obviously) and how he became a national icon (i know, you’re like who??)  during World War 2. Starting out racing cars on the dirt tracks and becoming an ace pilot, Eddie was a confident daredevil, innovator and skilled aerial dualist and squadron commander. Part of why I enjoyed this book (what I read of it) was how it tells the story of the beginning of the automobile and the effects it had on life as we know it. 
• As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto: Food, Friendship, and the Making of a Masterpiece – by Joan Reardon –Now this is the one that I dived into whenever I got the chance. It was so fun reading the letters of these two women, one we obviously know, but Avis was a well-known player in her own part. There are over 200 letters between these two friends, who would have never met if not for Julia writing a letter to Avis’ husband about an article about knives in a magazine. They became best friends, pen pals, travelers together and Avis was the champion for the cookery-bookery (Julia’s words) that Julia (and Simca) were putting together over the course of several years. Full of every bit of life they cover politics, cooking and McCarthyism and so much more. If you enjoyed the movie, Julie and Julia, I encourage you to read this book. It shares so much more of the struggle they had of getting the thing put together and then getting published. 
• The Merchant’s Daughter – by Melanie Dickerson – honestly, I am only on page 5 right now, so I can’t make too much of a review on this one other than I got sucked in by the first sentence. Which I LOVE it when an author can grab you that quickly. (does anyone else get annoyed by having to wait a few chapters before you’re really involved in the story?) It is a re-write of beauty and the beast as far as i can gather. Annabel is faced with an unexpected choice. She is the daughter of a once-wealthy merchant but now is the indentured servant to the beastly and reclusive, Lord Renulf. But even worse is the advances of the baliff. Thinking that a life as a nun is the best way to uphold her faith and get away from the baliff, she is surprised to find herself drawn to Lord Renulf during their encounters. She must decide to stick with her plans or to listen to God’s whisper on her heart. – Right??? I mean, man, i just want to pick it up and read. It has been a while (ahem, a few weeks) since I read a new, really good novel and I’m so excited. 

And there you go friends! I hope you find something worth trying out in this list! I am starting a series for the month of September called the  Blog-tember Challenge – where I am taking the challenge to blog every day! I am excited about it  so come back and see me often! 

 What books have you been reading this month??? 

~Laura

“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be given when you can’t help it.” -Oscar Wilde

I am so excited, I will be taking a trip to go see one of my closest-I’ve-known-her-forever friends next week!!! We have been planning this trip for a few months now and I cannot wait to get there. I haven’t seen her daughter in two years, and it just so happens that I will get to help celebrate her third birthday while I’m there! We have some fun times planned already and then figure the rest we’ll figure out as we go! I am trying to plan what snacks and such to take – with my food allergies it’s always best to be prepared. (I really hope you read those last two words in a song from Lion King, because that’s how I typed it. only, I’m not planning on killing my brother, the king, in order to starve the whole kingdom… but anyway) 

So, because of the trip, I will be taking a week off from the blog. I have gone back and forth about prepping posts but I think it will be good to just take a break from so much time in front of this laptop of mine and enjoy the moments a little more. Although I am torn because I wanted to join the link up wit the flok

So, today we will have  our monthly book review a week early. ( and I hope you will forgive the lack of photos of the books I’m reviewing today, I have been in a lot of pain this week and do not have the energy to take the photos. enjoy this one from unsplash though!)

Take Hold by Ariel and D’vorah Berkowitz –  has it really been three months since I started this book? oy! I am determined to finish it, no matter how long it takes. It is a super interesting book, apparently, the difficulty is in my actually picking it up…. This book teaches about the unity and equality between Jewish believers and non- Jewish believers through Messiah;  the inheritance of non -Jewish believers through the covenants of Israel. As the back cover states “What is your relationship to the Land, the People and the Scriptures of Israel?” 

Your Older Dog  by Jean Callahan – I got this book because I realized, that yes, Lady Abigail is getting old. Once I read the chapter on signs of aging, I saw that a lot of her behaviors that she has recently ‘picked up’ are because she is old, not just being a pill. slow response times, sleeping a LOT more, wears out quicker on walks, etc… she’s old. The book had some great information in it, if you are thinking your dog is being a brat and she’s getting close to age 10, you might wand to grab this book! 

DIY Dog Grooming by Jorge Bendersky – I really only read one chapter of this book, but I did like that in the opening chapter it helps you determine what type of hair your dog has, so you can know how to properly groom them. For some reason, it took me a while to figure out, according to the book, what type Lady had…. Good book. Cover is a little off-putting. 

A Tiger in the Kitchen by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan – This was a ‘food memoir’ that i found at the library. it was very well written and interesting. She is Singaporean, so the food that she learns to cook is very different from what I grew up eating. I did a more thorough review in last month’s book review – book-review-june-2014

Finding Betty Crocker by Susan Marks –What a fun book! This is the one I kept by my bedside to read each evening. It contained recipes, photos of ‘betty crocker’ and her kitchens through the years and it was very interesting  to read how this person that transformed so many people’s lives, came to be! 

A Captain for Laura Rose by Stephanie Grace Whitson – I loved loved loved this novel. Laura Rose White grew up with her brother on the Missouri river in a steamboat captained by her late father, who taught her how to pilot the steamboat. But, in 1867, a female pilot is unheard of so Laura struggles with only being a ‘cub pilot’ to her brother, Joe. But, when tragedy strikes, Laura must make the two month journey in order to save her home and her family’s legacy. The only way to survive, is by having her brother’s friend, Finn MacKnight, pilot the steamboat. The only problem? Laura fears he is still the drunk laze-about that he used to be before the war. —there is a lot more to the story of course, but hopefully that whets your appetite enough to get it and read it! I loved the twists and turns of this novel. Whitson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Boundaries in Marriage by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend – These two doctors show you “Why boundaries are vital for a thriving, productive marriage; how to protect a marriage from intruders, whether other people or personal idols ; why each partner needs to establish personal boundaries, and how to go about it ; how to work with a spouse who understands and values boundaries – and how to work with one who doesn’t.” This book has so many pearls of wisdom in it that I am taking notes as I read it. I am only in the 3rd chapter but already I think any marrieds’ should read this! I joined a marriage book study club on facebook  –meaningful marriage book study – and this is the first book that we are going through. And, apparently my OH has their book titled, “Boundaries”, which I have on my to-read list! 

The Promise of a Pencil by Adam Braun – Adam was on the road to wealth, when he decided to live for purpose, rather than money. He started a non-profit called The Promise of a Pencil, after having traveled and asking a child “if he could have anything in the world, what would it be?”, and the boy answered, “A pencil.” That started a dream to build a school, and it  turned into a thriving organization that stretched around the world. He was only 24 years old when he started and he encourages everyone to not let age stop them from doing what they want to change the world. -this book was such a wonderful read! I read 3/4 of it yesterday alone. It reminded me of the book I read months ago, Kisses From Katie (link to review I did of it in February). But somehow, this one was easier to read. Maybe because there was less heartbreak in it… For whatever the reason, I strongly recommend this book! It is very inspiring as well, so be prepared to have your heartstrings pulled.

The Heart’s Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher –  “A jilted bride, desperate to save her family from ruin. A bounty hunter seeking vengeance for a ravaged past. An arduous trek toward justice – or redemption.” Silver Matlock (great name for a woman in western times, I love it!) and Jared Newman travel together to meet their own end goals even though they knew it was a bad idea. Supplies dwindle, suspicions arise as secrets emerge and they end up at odds with each other when they need the other the most. The pair must learn to trust and face the question they haven’t asked yet ‘what happens next?’  – now, i’m only 3 pages in to this book , so i can’t tell you my opinion on it yet except that : i love the story line, i love the cover, and i haven’t yet read a book that Hatcher has written that I haven’t proclaimed to be on my favorite’s list. 

Climbing the Mango Trees  by Madhur Jaffrey – a memoir of a childhood in india. “Jaffrey grew up in a large family compound where her grandfather often presided over dinners at which forty or more members of his extended family would savor together the wonderfully flavorful dishes that were forever imprinted on Madhur’s palate.” I have actually not even started this book yet, but I know i’ll be starting it next week!  I’ll let you know next month what I thought of it, but i am excited about it as it is another food memoir!!!

                                  google book image

See you in August friends! And thanks for stopping by!

What have you been reading lately??

I did something that I’ve always wanted to – but never done before-  this past weekend! I went to the Sister’s Outdoor Quilt Show. Over 1,300 quilts were hung around town – which is deceptively larger than I’ve always believed. The first quilts we saw were in the “Quilted in Honor” by Operation Homefront group. I loved this section. We actually walked through it twice and I noticed more details the second time! 

I won’t overwhelm you with allllll the quilt photos I took in one post, so this will be a mini-series. I hope you like quilts! (If not, come back next week hehe) I learned a lot about different types of patterns and their names from my aunt – if I had been smarter I would have written down all that precious information. As it is, I only wrote down two bits! Pathetic. 

Enjoy some patriotic quilts.

                                                               “Patriot Stars”

close up – each white area had detailed embroidery in it.

                                                       “Let Freedom Ring”

                                                                             “Fractured”

                                                     “The Maple Leaf Forever”

                                                             “Freedom Protector”

I really liked this one! 

                                 “Warm Hugs -Patriotic” and “Coming Home”

                                                    “And the Flag was Still There”

This quilt (above) was made by a quilt shop owner in Morrow Bay California- close to where my mom’s family lives. It might be one of my favorites of this section!

                                                                   “Stars Of Honor”

                                                    “Stars and Stripes Forever”

To check out more information on the quilt show , click here. 

We spent about four hours walking the town, seeing no two quilts alike. We stopped and had lunch at a nice little restaurant called The Porch (here are some reviews) – it was so nice to get out of the 90degree plus sun! 

Come back later in the week for the rest of the quilts!