On Being a Librarian

One of the favorite parts of my job is when I get to help people find things.  Whether I'm conducting a full fledged Reference Interview, helping someone to locate specific materials related to a specific topic or Reader's Advisory, where I'm helping someone find a book to read, these are the high points of my work day.  While Reference Interviews can be challenging because the search is usually for very specific information, Reader's Advisory is by far even more challenging - and fun.

As an Academic Librarian, most of my work was Reference related, and 99% of it related to database access issues.

As a Public Librarian, about 80% of my work is Reader's Advisory. 

I've been asked for a movie that features "Kids on a Train" and "Something about Mexico".  Oh, "I think it's a documentary".  (Found it!  Which Way Home)

Or, one young man asked me for "something like Harry Potter, but not Harry Potter, but more fun... Do you know what I mean?"  (We settled on Skullduggery Pleasant)

I found one young gentleman (I'd say around 6 or 7) roaming in the adult non-fiction section recently.  I asked him what he was looking for, and he responded "I need a book for a man.  I need a man's book.  I don't need books with pictures.  I want something for men."  After some very serious discussion, we ended up in the children's non-fiction section with a copy of "The Way Things Work" and "The Dangerous Book for Boys".

But, by far, my most favorite interviews are with older ladies of a certain age.  These women cautiously approach, and beckon you away from the desk.  With lowered voices and furtive looks around, they explain that they are searching for "books with lots of um... you know....."  Very quietly, I'll take them over the Romance Novels. Hushed discussion ensue until a decision is reached.  Looking furtively all around them, they'll scurry over to the self-check out, and then put their books into their very large canvas tote bags.  I have to admit, I too like to read books with lots of um... you know!!!

Presidential Debates

I attempt to stay out of politics on this blog.  My intent is not to discuss political views - one way or another.  Aside from encouraging you to get out and vote and participate in the democratic process, I try very hard to keep my views to myself.  However, after watching the debates on Monday night, I have some questions both candidates need to address.  Leave the name calling aside, and answer these questions, please.

1) What are you going to do to unite a very divided Congress?  What strategies do you have to work to come to a consensus with members of the opposite party?

2) We currently have an open seat on the Supreme Court that needs to be filled. What will your ideal Supreme Court nominee look like?  Who are your top five names?

3) EDUCATION
 a) What are you going to do about the over testing of our children?
 b) Experienced teachers are leaving education in droves.  What are you going to do to increase teacher retention?
 c) Spending on the related arts has been and continues to be cut in school systems nationwide.  (Art, Music, PE, Media)  What are your thoughts on this?
 d) Recess has been slashed across the nation.  This has been shown to be detrimental to student learning.  How are you going to address this?

4) The Digital Divide is a very real phenomenon that prevents residents in inner cities and rural areas from accessing high speed internet.  What are your plans to address this issue?


I have other questions, but these questions are my biggest ones.  The education questions concern me the most.  Our children are our future, and that future is being jeopardized by the pressure that is being put on our kids to perform on standardized testing. 

I'm not attempting to engage anyone in a political discussion here.  I'm not going to allow any comments on this post - because I don't want this to degrade into a name calling post.  I'm not going to discuss my own political views.  I just want to know the candidates thoughts on THESE ISSUES.

Taking Care of the Girls

15 years ago, my mother found out she had a very large lump in her breast. The doctors found it when they went to do an MRI while she was in the middle of a gall bladder attack.  The very large lump was removed, a mastectomy was performed, and she was finished.  I never found out what stage the cancer was, but it had not spread at the time of her surgery.

Mom was 70 when this happened.  Because she had a mastectomy, she never underwent chemo or radiation.  Keep in mind, Mom had a battle with Colon Cancer two years ago that she almost lost.  Is it related to the breast cancer?  I certainly don't know, but in my deepest heart I think it is.

Image: Burke Medical Center

Last month, her sister discovered that she had a tumor in her breast.  She underwent a lumpectomy and is currently undergoing radiation.  Her lump was Stage 1.  Small and treatable. 

I got my annual mammogram today.  15 minutes with a wonderful technician who joked with me through the entire experience.  It wasn't fun, but it wasn't horrible, either.  I get my mammogram done annually in the hopes that if I do ever have breast cancer, it is caught early and while still in it's most treatable state.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Take some time to look after your girls so that you'll be around for quite some time to come.  It only takes a few minutes.  You're more than worth it!

Instantly Slims You

I originally ran this post years ago on an old blog, and then re-posted it once before on this blog.  I bought a new pair of jeans over the weekend that had a "slimming panel" in the front, and it brought this post to mind!  I dug the original post out and decided to repost it again, because so much of it is still true!  Enjoy!

With the arrival of hot weather here on the East Coast this week, I pulled out my old, comfy shorts.  After a good, hard look at said shorts, I decided that I needed to buy a couple of new pairs that aren't so ragged and paint covered.

I went to the local department store and found shorts of the required length.  Now, these are not just any shorts!  The bright green label on the front of the shorts scream "INSTANTLY SLIMS YOU".  I figure I can use all the help I can get.  I attempt to work out on a regular basis (You know, like once a week.  I don't want to be excessive about that exercise thing.)  So, I figure I can use all the help I can get.  I pick up a pair and look more closely at the labels.  "Tummy Control"  and "Slims Your Figure" are listed on this tag.  Sounds like a winning combination to me.  The shorts are on sale, so I buy two pairs. 

I brought the shorts home and went back to my room to try them on.  I was followed by the two cats, who are always intrigued by the large plastic bags that they can jump onto and roll around in.  As the cats waited patiently for their new toy, I explained to them that these shorts were going to solve all of my problems.  They would suck my tummy in for me, and take a couple of inches off my profile, and I'd look even better than I already do.

I pulled on the first pair of shorts, buttoned them up and turned around to see the cats staring at me.  I swear, that if those cats could laugh, they would have been rolling around on the floor, holding their stomachs and pounding the ground with their paws.  As it was, I swear I could see Luna, the female, shaking her head in pity.

The shorts did feel a little odd.  I could tell my stomach was sucked in, but there was definitely more going on.  I slowly walked over to the full-length mirror, dreading what I was going to see.

You've heard the phrase "muffin top"?  Muffin top doesn't even begin to cover what I saw.  Have you ever gotten a really loaded ice cream cone?  You know how it's all stiff on the cone part, and then where the ice cream part starts, there's a ton of ice cream just pushing out all over the top of the cone in every which direction?  That was me.  Ice Cream Top.

Yes, the shorts are slimming.  They take an amazing two inches off of my stomach.  The question I should have asked myself at the time is; "What happens to all of that fat that's no longer on my stomach"?  It's being pushed up above the waist line on my pants, that's what's happening.  I look like I have a 2 keg beer belly pouring over my belt.  The pants are stretch pants, but I honestly feel like I'm stretching them to the very last inch of their stretchiness.  If I stretch them out any more, they are going to explode off of me.  Try explaining that while handing out food at the middle school picnic.

The funny thing is, I bought a regular, non-slimming pair of capris from this same manufacturer in this same size last month.  They still fit me just fine. 

Nursing my bruised ego, I pulled the shorts off and took a closer look at the interior construction.  There is a control panel across the front of these shorts.  It looks as if I can take the control panel out with some patience and a good seam ripper.  Hopefully, once the control panel is removed, then all of my flab and fat can distribute itself where it normally sits around my tummy.   It's a little easier to hide that tummy when it's evenly distributed. 

While I'd really, really like to whittle a couple more inches off my tummy, I think I'd be better doing it the old fashioned way with diet and exercise. Or maybe a pair of Spanx.  Yeah, maybe Spanx AND my slimming shorts...

Rabbit and Dragonfly

Note- I am receiving no compensation for this, I just found a nifty little literary related business that I wanted to share.  It's a small, locally owned business, and I enjoyed my time in this space!

 

We went up to Lancaster, Pennsylvania a couple of weeks ago.  While wandering through town, we stumbled into this beautiful little courtyard and found a most wondrous place called the Rabbit and Dragonfly.  It's a nifty little coffee shop that is run by a group of local artists and writers.  The space is inspired by the space in England where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis (among many others) would meet, talk, hang out and write.  The space here in Lancaster is filled with tributes to Lewis and Tolkien.  We entered through the courtyard, but the entrance on the street side is guarded by Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.  Inside, you will find art work related to the works of Tolkien (including a mounted Smaug head and a wardrobe leading into Narnia), as well as a small collection of used books for sale.  My favorite part of the space were the tables and games.  You can pick up some coffee and something to eat and then sit at a table and play a board game with a group of friends.  It's a space that invites you to come in and linger, talk, and spend some time with like minds.

When we entered, we were welcomed by the wonderful owners, who had just finished up with their Saturday morning "Cereal and Cinema" program.  They have a regular schedule of events - ranging from gigs featuring local musicians to small art shows, writers support groups, dance classes, and children's story times.  It's a warm, wonderful atmosphere that fosters creativity in the community.  While enjoying our time in this space, we felt like we had been transported to another time, and another place.  Creativity like that tends to seep into the very stones of a place, and make it magical.  It was hard to leave and come back into the "real" world.

If you're going to be in the Lancaster area, take the time to stop by and explore this creative little corner of the world!

For more information, check out their website: Rabbit and Dragonfly!

Book Review: Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow

Note: This post contains Affiliate Links.

Have you ever asked yourself how an entire nation could have come under the spell of one of the most ruthless leaders in history?  Ever wondered just what happened that made people follow Hitler in the first place?  Ever wondered how so many young people bought into the entire construct?

image: Amazon

This book will answer many of these questions for you.  Written as a children's book, the author explores in depth and detail the rise of the Nazi party, and the development of the Hitler Youth program.  Reading through the down and dirty details of how the Nazi party cozied itself into the schools and set themselves up to be the major influence in the lives of the disillusioned young people of Germany, you can see how they managed to take over the minds of the young people of Germany and use their energy and enthusiasm to forward their own agenda.

The author also took a look at the martyrs against the Nazi movement.  The people who stood up for what they believed, and knowing that the penalty for speaking against the regime was death by beheading, they stood up and spread the truth anyway.

There's a saying that says "those who don't understand history are doomed to repeat it".  This is a book that takes on a time period that we all need to understand.

Monday Musings

Little Coquito
You know that we are long time family friends with Amy of "Life in Amy's World".  She hasn't posted recently, as life as overwhelmed their family.  Little Coquito is very ill.  He's in the hospital and will be there for a while.  When you have time, please send thoughts, prayers, and positive energy to Coquito. 


Cash Only Challenge
I've been working on the cash only challenge.  I lasted 24 hours before I had to charge gas for the car.  I forgot to withdraw cash before I went to the bank.  *sigh*  Six days later, I went out to dinner with a friend.  Once again, I forgot to make certain I had cash with me before I went.  I had to charge a $12 dinner.  I am an idiot.  Truly.  Why did I not check my wallet before I headed out?  Ten days after that dinner, I went out to buy a new pair of jeans.  Once again, I had forgotten cash and had to charge it all.  Everything else has been paid with cash - so I feel like I'm making some kind of progress!  It helps that my new job is less than 20 minutes away from home, so I'm not spending a ton of money on gas.  I'm filling up the tank about once every 10 days!

I had a stand-off with the geese in the Wal Mart lot.

Food Stamp Challenge
Have you seen this?  I did this a couple of years ago, during my husbands furlough.  The premise was to see if you can live and eat healthfully on the food stamp allotment from the U.S. Government.  The allotment is $4/day/person.  For my family, that's $12/day, for a total of $84 for the week. Next week, I'm going to see if we can eat healthfully for a week on that allotment.  I'll post what we eat daily.

Cleaning Out the Toys
As I continue my journey of cleaning out the house, I have started sorting through the toys.  I'd separated many of them years ago, and I've been steadily sorting them out as I've cleaned out and sorted through the pile of accumulated crap in the basement.  This past week, I began pulling out the big boxes of toys that I am keeping and putting in the things that I sorted out.  One day last week found me with the entire pile of Lincoln Logs outdoors.  They were really dusty and kind of yucky looking.  I took them outside, spread them out on an old bed sheet and hosed them off really well.  I left them out in the sunshine to dry off.  I don't know how long they'll be in storage, but when I pull them out in many years from now if I ever have grandchildren, I want to know that they will be clean enough for little kids to handle.

Fun Find in the Library 
I found this book on the shelves in the library this past week!  It looks like fun, doesn't it?  I have to say, I don't currently have a dog, but my cat does love to "help" us out with our yoga poses in much the same way.  Maybe I should publish a book called Cata?  Yogat?  I don't know, I can't make it work for cats....

Speaking of Cats
I believe I've mentioned before that Luna loves her pumpkin bread.  She can't get enough of it, and will try to grab it out of our mouths if we don't share a piece with her.  This weekend, I made a batch of Cranberry-Orange muffins.  I put the tin on the kitchen counter to cool while I took a shower.  Don't you know, that cat came through and ate the tops off of all the muffins while I was in the shower....

Wegmans
We had a new Wegman's open yesterday.  Daughter and I are headed over there in a while to go check it out!  They built it on the site of the old Solo Cup factory.  I've heard they've done a lot with the property.  Can't wait to see what it looks like now!

Enjoy your week and stay safe!

Banned Books

What are banned or challenged books?  They are books whose presence on library shelves in schools and public libraries has been challenged because the material has been found to be objectionable. Books that have been challenged include the Harry Potter series, The Color Purple, Looking for Alaska, and The Bible. 

When a book is challenged, a committee meets and discusses the reasons the book is challenged, and will sometimes meet with the complainant. Both sides of the issue are thoroughly discussed before a vote is taken on whether or not to remove the material from the shelves. These discussions can become very heated. I've been fortunate that every committee that I've ever sat on has been very professional and respectful. I've heard stories from others that not all committees have this experience.

In recognition of these challenged books, the city of Washington DC has set up the ultimate scavenger hunt!  They have hidden banned and challenged books throughout the city.  The books are scattered at private businesses throughout the eight wards. Each book is covered with a wrapper that explains why the book was banned. If you find a book, it is yours to keep!

The hunt began at the beginning of the month, and runs through the end of the month. 

If you're in the area, come join in the hunt!

Old Blue

Have you seen this?  Mike Rowe reads a letter from his mother.  Be prepared to laugh!



Gotta love Mike's parents!  Mike's mom is an EXCELLENT writer.

This made my entire week!  Not only the letter, but also Mike's face while reading the letter.  Enjoy!

Sunflowers

Overheard in the sunflower patch: a young child telling parents "That must be a really talented farmers to have planted all the seeds so that the flowers all came up facing the same direction!"

Book Review: I Am Malala

Disclaimer Notice:  This post contains Affiliate Links.
Everyone has heard the story of Malala by now.  At the age of 15, she survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban.  She was shot point blank in the head while sitting in her school bus.  This was in an attempt to silence a very vocal voice of protest against the Taliban and their policies that kept women and young girls from getting an education.

But did you know that Malala's voice was not the only one in the family that was raised in protest against the Taliban?  Malala's father was also on the Taliban's hit list.  Not only did he run a school for girls, he was a very vocal critic of the Taliban and their policies that impoverished the people and encouraged a culture of ignorance and hatred.

Malala shares the story of her family - from her father's struggle to gain an education and share that opportunity with others through the rise of the Taliban, and the effect the Taliban had on the politics of what had previously been a very peaceful community.

I was enchanted by Malala's tale.  She doesn't dwell on her near death experience.  Instead, she spends most of her time explaining the politics of Pakistan, sharing her love of her homeland, and describing the ins and outs of U.S. Politics on the rise of alternative political parties.

This is a fascinating, well written story that should be required reading for us all.  The courage of one young girl - and her family - to stand up for what is right is inspiring. 

Monday Musings

Do you remember where you were 15 years ago?

9-11 Memorial  (c) 2013, Library Nut

It was the day after our world changed forever. 

Overhead, the sky was empty.  At that time, we lived under the flight path for BWI.  Overhead, we heard nothing.  No airplanes rumbling overhead, no sound of the engines powering for a landing, or the *swooosh* as they climbed higher and higher.  At times, I expected to find tire marks on the roof of our house, it seemed that the planes came in so low.  But on this morning, 15 years ago, I heard nothing.  Occasionally, we could hear the swooshing of the F-15's flying up and down the Eastern Seaboard.  We would also hear the pounding of  a helicopter overhead.

Phones were finally working again, and late that night, all of our relatives had been accounted for, and we had been able to get word out to family that we were all safe and sound.  I wish we could say the same for all of our friends.  The wait to hear something - anything - was agonizing.

I don't know what life was like in your corner of the world, but in the Washington DC suburbs, it was as if everyone was holding their breath.  People came together and hugged, long conversations were had on street corners, in churches, grocery stores, and parks as people gathered, took stock, and attempted to adapt to our new reality.

In the months following the attacks, we had the Anthrax attacks.  Remember?  Anthrax was sent through the mail.  Several postal workers caught Anthrax from this secondary attack.

Freedom Tower, 2013

And then there was the DC Sniper.  People in the area lived in a defiant state of fear - determined to go on about their lives, but also scared to death.  I'll never forget walking quickly into the grocery store during that time with my daughter.  I was behind a woman who was jumping up and down and weaving side to side.  When we got in, I gave her a questioning look.  "I'm just trying to make it harder for him if he does decide to shoot me."    Those words have stuck with me all these years.

The day after.  And the days after that.  One day at a time, until we get here, 15 years later.  We have moved on, but we will never forget.

I hope you find the time to hug someone you love today.  Call someone you haven't seen in a while.  Maybe get together with some old friends later this week. 



Life can change in an instant.  Grab hold of someone you love and let them know how much they mean to you this week. 

Roasted Veggies and Saffron Rice

I was searching for something to use up a large quantity of produce and decided to stick them on skewers. I love the saffron rice our local Mediterranean cafe makes, so I attempted to replicate it. The resulting rice wasn't even close to theirs, but it was still really good!  If you've got a boatload of produce and access to wooden skewers and a grill, these roasted vegetables are a filling dinner!  Cooking them outside on the grill will ensure that your house stays cool during these last hot days of summer!

Roasted Veggies and Saffron Rice

Rice- 

1 cup rice, uncooked

3 cups water

2 vegetable bullion cubes

5 threads Saffron

Mix all ingredients together in a large saucepan. (Make sure it has a lid.). Bring to a rolling boil. Stir well, cover, and lower heat to low. Simmer, covered for 20 minutes. 

Roasted Veggies

In season produce, cut into chunks

(We used patty pan squash, heirloom tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers)

Wooden skewers

Black pepper (we used a 4 peppercorn blend in a pepper grinder)

Grape Seed Oil

Soak skewers in water while chopping vegetables. 

Thread vegetables on wooden skewers. 

 We put our threaded skewers in a 9 x 13 inch pan as we finished. As we finished one layer of skewers, we sprinkled that layer with Grapeseed Oil, and then ground pepper over top until it "looked good". 

Once all the skewers are threaded, grill on medium high heat, turning as needed. Remove from heat when the veggies are sizzling & the onions are translucent. Your standard for when the veggies are done will be different from mine. I like my vegetables to still be a little crunchy. 

Serve immediately over rice. 

Note- I threaded the skewers first, then started the rice while husband grilled the skewers. Everything was finished at the same time. Total time, prep + cooking = 1 hour. 

How to Bake Pi

Disclosure Notice: This post contains affiliate links.

I am not a fan of "doing" math.  I enjoyed math up until I got to Calculus in college.  That class was my Waterloo, and ever since then I have never willingly picked up a Math book.  Don't get me wrong - I managed to teach elementary school math, and my kids all had it down cold by the end of the year.  I helped my own kids with math through Algebra 2.  So, I do understand Math, and I am good at it.  I just hate the entire concept of reading higher level math text books.  Since both of my boys are Math majors, I decided I would pick up the book and read it and see if I could grasp a deeper understanding of the higher levels of math.

I enjoyed the fact that the author tied Math into something I enjoy - food.  Specifically, baking.  With the detailed explanation tied into some of the more basic concepts of higher math, I was able to make some connections I had not been able to make before. Unfortunately, once I got to the section on Calculus and smaller and smaller boxes, I just couldn't understand.  It's a mental block that I have, not a fault on the part of the author.

I did enjoy the explanation of Topology, though. My youngest son loved Topology.  This section (for me, the Calculus Dunce) was written in such a way that I understood and enjoyed the information.  While I'll never be able to discuss Topology with him, I now understand his fascination with the topic.  If I had ever been capable of passing Calculus, this is would have been my absolute favorite subject.

If you're looking for a book that puts higher levels of Math on a level that the common lay person can understand.

In the meantime, here's how to bake a pie you can really sink your teeth into:

Apple Pie

2 prepared commercial pie crusts
(What, you expected home made?  Do I look like Martha Stewart?)

7-8 Apples, peeled, cored, and cut into thin pieces
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
2 TBSP butter or margarine

Spray a 9 inch pie pan with cooking spray.
Put one pie crust into the bottom of the pie pan.  Press firmly into bottom and sides.

In a large bowl, gently mix the apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

Pour the apples into the pie crust.

Cut the butter into small pieces and put it on top of the apples.

Gently place the pie crust on top of the apples.  Press together the top and bottom crusts of the pie.  Cut several steam vents into the top of the pie crust.  Cover the edges of the crust with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning of the crust.

Bake 40-45 minutes.  Remove foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.

Birthday Party in a Box

My niece celebrates her birthday next week.  She is also studying abroad in France.  We will miss spending some time with her around her birthday.  Never fear!  We came up with a solution to help her celebrate, even without us!  We packed her a birthday party in a box!  Included in this tiny little box is a tiny little Pinata that we found at Target, candy, candy, and more candy, stickers, and a couple of banners that she can hang in her room in order to make it look more festive!  We also enclosed one of those obnoxious, singing birthday cards that has the Eiffel Tower on the front, and Marie, the little French kitty cat from the Disney movie "The Aristocats".  It plays Happy Birthday with a flair... hahahaha!

I don't know if you can read the words in small print?  It says "some assembly required".

 

We shipped it out on Sept. 1, and her birthday is Sept. 12.  According to the post office, it should get to her before the end of this week!  We kept the box as small and light as we could, as we were worried about the cost of International Shipping.  We were very fortunate - the cost of shipping came up to less than $20.  Not bad for a parcel traveling across the Atlantic Ocean and off to some small village in France!

I hope she has a marvelous time!  

Bon anniversaire!

Book Review: Hitler's Last Days

O'Reilly, Bill.  Hitler's Last Days.  2015.  Harry Holt and Company, LLC.  New York, New York.

Written as a children's book, this well told tale that encompasses the last 90 days of Hitler's life will enthrall you.  Even though we know how the story ends, the in-depth look at the inner workings of the Allied Army and Nazi Germany presented almost side by side will put a very different spin on how you view the end of World War 2.

I especially appreciated that O'Reilly alternated chapters between what was going on with the Allies and what was going on within the Nazi army.  The tale covers the last gasp of the Nazi army, beginning just before the Battle of the Bulge.  Reading through the book, you realize just how close the Nazi army came to winning the battle and potentially changing the course of the war. I came away from the book with a new respect for the genius of General Patton.  If not for his cunning, the war on the European front could have lasted much longer.

I also appreciated the look into Hitler's inner circle in his final days.  As his paranoia and circle of distrust grew, this charismatic leader became a shadow of the man he was.  I don't think I ever before understood the struggles that surrounded the Nazi leadership in its final days.

Curious about the events that surrounded the final days of Nazi Germany?  This book will clarify many points that have been shrouded with the passing of time.  Sometimes, we need to be reminded of what has happened before.  Harsh lessons were learned that should never be forgotten.

Monday Musings

Pet Peeves-

When you get into line at Target and the person in front of you decides that they need to find their Cartwheel deals - as in click on them & add them to their cart AFTER the cashier has rung them up & they're waiting for payment.

When the person in front of you in line whips out their cell phone to argue with the cashier about the online price of items vs what the register shows.  Then when the cashier tells them that they can't change the prices at the register & they need to go to Customer Service and that person refuses to move and threatens to call the police.

How about when the person in front of you is attempting to return something that they bought at entirely different store - an entirely different chain - and claims they should honor the refund because "this store carries that brand". 

And then, when you're all hot and angry because you've encountered all three of these scenarios in quick succession and you are peeved with the nature of humanity, you stop by Starbucks and go to pay at the window and discover that the person ahead of you paid for your order...  I tell you, it just totally takes the wind out of your sails. Especially when there's nobody in line behind you so you can't return the favor.

Even worse, you get home and find out that your wonderful husband has already started dinner....

May your day today be filled with the warmer side of humanity, the kindness of strangers, and some random acts of kindness!

Happy Labor Day!

Thoughts....

I reviewed My Near Death Adventures on my Books for Teens Blog earlier this week.  If you want to read my book talk, the link is above.  It is a wonderfully well written piece of historical fiction that I really enjoyed reading.

But the book got me thinking.  I don't want to head into my deeper thoughts on my Books for Teens Blog, as that blog is intended to be strictly a book talking blog..  So I'm going to share them here.

The books is set in the 1890's.  The mother in the story was abandoned by her husband soon after their child was born.  As the story opens, the mother has been granted a divorce by her husband.  He has charged her with abandonment, and she signed off on the papers in order to move on with her life.

Moving on in the 1890's.  How did a woman do that?  In this story, her brother was in charge of a lumber camp, and he hired her to cook for the winter.  While she was there, her own mother was busy trying to find a husband for her.  Moving on - as in getting a new husband.

So, in the 1890's, what options did women have?

Think about that for a while.  I've been pondering that.  We hear stories of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to become a doctor.  Florence Nightingale, the first nurse.  Annie Oakley, the sharpshooter.  And there's the occasional woman who owned and operated a business owned by her husband that she inherited and ran after the death of her husband. 

But, for the average, every day, run of the mill woman...  What were her options? 

I've made a very fun, well written book into a deeper question.  These questions are mine.  They were not raised in the book itself.  The book is a story about a young boy struggling to come to grips with his new reality in the rough world of a lumber camp.  It is a good story!  It's a Black Eyed Susan Nominee for the state of Maryland!  I recommend reading the book!

It's just that it made me think deeper thoughts about life.  Isn't that the sign of an excellent story?

2016 Resolutions

This was the month that I knocked one of the big items off of my Bucket List.  We went to Niagara Falls!  The falls are amazing - absolutely stunning.  They are just so much MORE than I thought they would be.  Words can't describe the experience of standing by the falls and watching the might and majesty of the river.

The best part of this trip was that all 3 kids were able to go with us!  We had a great car trip, spent a lot of time telling stories and laughing, and we explored new places together.  With the kids growing up, graduating from college, and getting jobs, I just don't know how many more big vacations like this we're going to get.  They are something to treasure!

My 2016 Resolutions:

1) Remodel the Hall Bathroom
Silly girl.  Third year in a row this has been on my list.  I'm still not certain this is going to happen this year.  Our kitchen became a priority this year, and now that we've started it, we need to finish the final touches so that it's not coming back to haunt me in a couple of years!

You can follow the tale of kitchen woes here:
Kitchen Woes
We Have Running Water in the Kitchen
 Progress
Progeress of One Kind and Another
It Only Looks Like We're Not Making Progress
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back







2) Improve My Health
Looking beyond the numbers on the scale, I am going after the big picture numbers that add up to an overall look at my body chemistry and how my body is functioning as a system.  This led me to three separate categories:

a) Lose Inches Off My Waist
My goal for the year was to lose a total of three inches.  That took longer than I thought it would! Eight months to lose three inches.  I'm happy to see those inches come off!  For now, I am content.  Those were 3 very hard inches to lose! 

b) Get My Blood Pressure Down into the Normal Range
YES!!  120/60!  No lecture from the doctor this year, instead I got a hearty "Keep up the good work!"
This time last year, my blood pressure was at 140/80.  Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!

c) Go Down at Least One Clothing Size.  
Not just one size, I'm down 2 sizes now!  Funny story here - I did not buy new shorts at the beginning of the summer.  I figured I was safe, since most of them are elastic waist pants, I didn't worry.  Elastic stretches both ways, right?  A week or so ago, I put my cell phone in my pocket.  The weight of my phone was enough to cause a wardrobe malfunction.  Good thing I was still at home, right?  Did you know - those drawstrings in pants don't actually go all the way around?  They're just decorative.  I'm now wearing capris all of the time.  I have two pairs that are only one size too big on me.  It's a great feeling!


3) Restart my Vegetable Garden
This spring has been so wet, everything that I put into the ground was drowned.  For now, this is just not going to happen.  My herb pot is a success, though!   We went from too wet to super hot with no transition in between.  This is going to be an epic fail.

4) Learn to Pressure Can
SO, we have a glass top stove.  Pressure canners do not work on a glass top stove because they can't consistently keep the temperature up high enough.  This one will be a wash.  Another epic fail.  If I ever do put in an outdoor kitchen, I'm going to make certain I have a propane or gas stove so that I can pressure can - and I'll be able to do it outside and keep the heat out of the house.


5) Daughter's Quilt

I finally have decided upon a format for daughter's quilt!  I kept putting it off because I never could make myself happy with the fabric I had chosen.  While we were cleaning out her room, we found all of her old bandanas from Girl Scouts.  Guess what I'm going to do?  Make a quilt from the bandanas!  I've picked up some extra bandanas that match her history (the cow print bandana, and the John Deere bandana are part of her history).  So, I've got the fabric, and I've got the time!  I'm going to get all of this sewn together this week!  This is going to be one very bright and unusual looking quilt! She has a t-shirt that was her favorite - with cat facts written on it.  I'm going to embroider the cat facts on one of the bandanas, maybe two of them.  We'll see what happens!  I'm looking forward to having the best time planning this quilt out!  Putting this quilt together is going to be a lot of fun!  I can't wait to see what the finished product looks like


6) Clean Out and Organize the Carport
The kids did this for me when they were all home the weekend after Mother's Day.  Thanks guys!

7) Exercise Consistently
4 or 5 days every week.  Even better, I'm now keeping a hard copy journal with me when I go.
I get to visibly see my progress every time I work out.  It's an excellent motivator!

8) Clean Out 23 Things a Week
Originally, the goal was to clean out 23 things a month.  Then I changed it to 23 things a week.  For the entire 52 weeks of the year, that would have required me to get rid of 1196 things for the year.  I met that goal in May. 






I really didn't do that much this month.  Starting a new job, going on vacation, moving kids into dorm rooms and apartments - yeah - that took up a good chunk of the month.  I did get two small bags of stuff to the Thrift Shop this month.  I dropped the bags, containing 46 things off yesterday.

I sent 46 things to the thrift shop.

Total number of items out of the house this month: 46
Items out so far this year:  1764.

 9) Participate in the NoSpenduary Challenge.
Thank God I did this, both in February and in March.  It has literally saved our asses as things continue to break and fall apart at an alarming rate.  I originally found this challenge on the Frugal, Debt Free Life Blog. Bless your heart, Lydia.  Because of this challenge, we have not yet gone down the rabbit hole of massive credit card debt with the huge expenses we've had in 2016:  1 abscessed tooth requiring a root canal.  1 crown for said tooth.  The van needing huge repairs not once but TWICE, (once for the a/c, once because it just stopped working late at night when husband was on his way home from choir practice.), AND 1 leaking, moldy mess under the kitchen sink.


10) Visit One Place on my Bucket List
Niagara Falls!  We spent time on both the Canadian and U.S. side of the Falls.  I loved Niagara State Park.  If you ever have time to go, make a point of heading to the state park and walking the perimeter trail around the island.  It is absolutely gorgeous!

12) Scrapbooking
I need to catch up.  I know I had years that I didn't do this.  I went through all of the albums and found the years that I have not yet finished.  These are the years I am in search of:
2006
2009
2010
2011
2012
2015
I'm chugging along on this!  I've been using Shutterfly, which has a powerful tool for digital scrapbooking.  I've then been holding onto the albums until they offer a deal on pricing, and then I order the books.  I love Shutterfly!  (In the interest of Full Disclosure, they are one of my Affiliate Links, but I was using them LONG before I even began blogging.)

I'm glad I have the opportunity to catch up on my scrapbooking.  When we went to a digital camera, and then I began compiling the kids' albums for graduation and their elementary and middle school memory albums, and my in-law's 50th wedding anniversary album, I fell well behind on the family albums.  As I'm working on 2009 now, I'm discovering why that's such a bad idea.  I don't necessarily remember who all of the people in the pictures were, and I don't always remember what we were doing at the time.

Lesson Learned: Finish albums within 6 months of the event - whether it be an anniversary, vacation, or family year. 


13) Walk or Bike a portion of at least 6 Rail Trails

A Lime Kiln on the NCR Trail.

My excuse for not doing this now is that it has been wicked hot, and those trails are not shaded.  I know, I know, I need to stop making excuses.  But it is really hot....

1) NCR Rail Trail


14) Pay off the big debt and one smaller one-
The big debt is gone.  It's nice to have one monkey off my back! 

The payments on the smaller debt have accelerated.  My goal is to have this paid off by December, but it very well might be Feb. or March of 2017 due to the extenuating circumstances we've had this year.

15) The Recipes Tab
I nicely fixed up the recipe tab so that it is easy to find recipes that I've posted on here before.  For me, this is my online recipe book.  Some of the recipes are my own.  Some, I post direct links to other sites.  You might or might not choose to use it, but I use it on a pretty regular basis, and I've found out that one of the boys does, too.  He likes the fact that most of what I've listed is food he already loves and that everything is fairly easy to make and budget conscious.  (Hey Kiddo!  Glad you stopped by for a while!  Call your mother sometime.  She'd really like to hear from you!)

How are you doing on your goals this year?