Book o' the Week: Eventide

This week's book of the week is Eventide by Cindy Martinusen, who wrote The Salt Garden, my book of the week from a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed this book, as well. It was also set mainly in Harbor City, CA, just like The Salt Garden, and was written from the perspective of three separate characters that all intersect in very different ways. I also liked that it was Christian fiction, but it wasn't "preachy" and the characters were very real. I'd love to tour Italy with the ladies in the book!

Tolkien Knows What's Up

I'm really feeling this quote today and wanted to share:

"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." - Tolkien

I know I have my priorities straight, and my son and I are blessed to be surrounded by courageous and wise people who know what is truly valuable in life.  

I cannot wait for the rest of 2015 to unfold!

Love, Me and This Sweet Kid

Book of the Week: There Is A Season

This week's book of the week: There Is A Season by Lynn and Gilbert Morris, a father/daughter author team, is the final book in the Cheney & Shiloh series. I'm a big fan of the series, which follows the Cheney Duvall, M.D. series I was finishing up earlier this month. The M.D. series consists of eight books, at the end of which, Cheney marries. The Cheney & Shiloh series picks up next with their continued travels and medical experiences. I'm sad the series is over!

2015, What, What!!

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." -- Neil Gaiman

This picture hurts my eyes, but it's our last picture of 2014!
Happy New Year, from Magoo and me!!

Book of the Week: The Salt Garden

This week's book!  The Salt Garden by Cindy Martinusen is a great book. Set in California around the year 2000 or so, this book actually follows the experiences of three different women. Sophia, a reclusive writer in her 70s, and Claire, a newspaper reporter in her mid-20s meet. Together they research Josephine, a woman who survived the 1905 shipwreck of the Josephine (named for her), which sank under mysterious conditions. It was a really fun read and made me wish I was in a lighthouse overlooking the Pacific Ocean!

             

Nerd Day!

Today I showed my true roots! Nerd activities only. Magoo and I started strong with church, and followed up with a pretty serious bout of train choo-chooing after.

I read a new book this afternoon, and L.O.V.E.D. I.T. I'll put up that post tomorrow or Tuesday! Anyway, that was the first and last nerd activity for the day.

I found this sweet Lassie puzzle in my parents' basement last night and put it together this afternoon.

                                 

I am SO not a puzzle person, but this one was only 100 pieces, so it was definitely the way to go! Anyway, this particular puzzle had me all excited so I decided to put it together in ten minutes or less, and whipped out a stopwatch. It took me much longer than that!! :( But I love the picture!  Magoo has some pretty great artwork in his room, and this would fit right in there. I should find a vintage Lassie photo to frame for his art wall.

After a viewing a short game of broski vs. canines living room hockey, the fam packed up and we went out to watch The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies. So, just to be clear here, I grew up with J.R.R. Tolkien's books. My father read multiple book series to my siblings and I as a pre-bedtime ritual since before I can remember, and the Lord of the Rings series made the list of books read by dad. I loved the books, and didn't want to see the first movie they made back in 2002 or 2003, whenever they started the movie franchise, because I was afraid the movies would ruin the books for me. However, after watching the movies, I absolutely loved them!

I was disappointed that Peter Jackson chose to split The Hobbit into three movies, because it required a lot of deviation from the books to come up with enough material for three movies. That said, I (after not really enjoying the first two Hobbit movies) really enjoyed the final movie!

It was more because of the tradition of seeing the movies with my family. I've seen each of the movies in theaters with my dad, and initially with my brothers, as well, though they haven't been in the area during the hobbit movies yet. This movie was really special because I was able to see it not just with my parents, but also with my younger brother, who will be deploying in a few weeks. Plus, it was really neat to be able to say I had seen both trilogies in theater with my dad, especially since they were based on books of which I have such great childhood memories!

Dog hockey photo, so that no one would be deprived.

                    

       

Book of the Week: Halos

Last week's book of the week was Halos by the author Kristen Heitzmann.

It was definitely not one of my favorite books, nor is Heitzmann one of my favorite authors. The story seemed a little flat, the characters too stereotypical, and overall, not too interesting. I have, in the past, enjoyed another one of her books, Freefall, which I would definitely recommend in lieu of Halos!