Just Playin' Around....(Scary Story part 1)

I was blog-hopping tonight, and I ran across an old contest on a publisher's blog from last Halloween. It was called the "Scare your pants off" contest. I read all the entries, and apparently, it was supposed to be just a couple of paragraphs that were the 'teaser' to a scary story.
I thought it sounded like fun, and even though I'm a year too late (typical me) I wanted to play anyway.
I broke all the rules, I'm sure, and it's way way too long, but the contest is over sweetie, so get over it! Hee hee....

Anyway, without further ado, here's my non-entry:

The moonless late October night was too delicious for Charlene and her friends to let pass unexploited. Fall semester had been stressful and difficult, and they needed to break out and let loose some frustration.
They exited the library, and loaded into Brent's car.

"Where to guys?" Brent asked, glancing in the rear-view mirror.

"Do you want to check out that Spook Alley that just opened up the street?" Derek offered.

"Naw - that's lame," Cindy complained, "let's go ride out to the old Wheeler place, or somewhere really creepy like that!"

"Are you sure you want to do that girls?" Mike teased, the wheels turning in his head. He sensed an opportunity for some real mileage here - scare the girls half to death, and they could get real clingy...

"I know just the place." He elbowed Derek with a wink when the girls all approved.

They drove down a long country road, giggling and trying to out-do each other by recounting frightening urban legends.

Tina sat quietly, pressed next to the back passenger door. She hated it when they got this way. Being scared was not her idea of fun.
She wished she had opted to stay at the library and just walk back to the dorm, but the truth was, she was afraid to cross campus by herself on a night as dark as this...

They drove through the old rusty gate which hung precariously by one hinge.

"Last chance to change your mind girls," Mike tortured, with an evil grin.

"You have got to be kidding!" Charlene protested when she realized where he had taken them. "Not this old deserted cemetery!"
The girls grew quiet, having second thoughts after all.

There were no street lights in this out-of-the-way relic of a small town's past.
Many of the neglected old graves were just mounds of earth, and some were so ancient that they had since sunken into deep eerie depressions. Most of the headstones no longer stood as straight monuments, but tilted, cracked, or toppled over all together.

Tingling with nervous tension, they all climbed out of the car.
"Leave the lights on Brent, it's too dark to see where we're walking," Cindy requested, a shudder passing through her.

"Okay," Brent acquiesced, nudging Mike and Derek.
He held his fingers to his lips in a shushing gesture.
He motioned for the other guys to follow him, and they quietly crept back into the car. Brent turned on the lights - and then started the engine.

He drove past the girls, his window rolled down - all of them guffawing and waving at the girls as they drove around the trail and back out through the gate.

Tina froze, as the other girls screamed and ran after the car, engulfed in the cloud of dust that trailed behind it. Out of breath, they huddled together, cursing themselves for letting themselves get into this situation to begin with.

Without the aid of the headlights, they stood, frozen.
They were afraid to move in any direction, not knowing where the graves were located, and terrified of tripping over, or worse - falling into one of them.
Several terror stricken minutes passed, when finally they saw two specks of light which were Brent's headlights returning to the scene of the crime.

Filled with relief, but at the same time frothing with righteous indignation, the girls plotted their revenge.
They practically fell over each other clambering back into the car, and ordered Brent to "get them out of there - NOW!"

Brent peeled out, throwing gravel as the wheels spun through the gate. All of the boys had a second laugh at the girls' expense.
The mood was ugly on the return trip, as the girls minced no words letting the boys know just how funny their little "joke" had not been.

They arrived at the dorms, and unloaded, deciding what - if anything, to do next. They were at a stalemate as to whether to go get ice cream, or just call it a night.
Cindy turned to make sure everyone had given their input. She looked panicked, searched left and right, then said, "Uh, guys - where's Tina?"

Everyone stopped talking, stunned.

"Cindy, do you remember seeing her get back into the car?"

Cindy, suddenly very pale, croaked, "...No, I don't remember seeing her at all since we first got out of the car!"

Now, all of them feeling panicked, ran to Brent's car and urgently climbed back in...
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

...Tina groaned, and pushed herself up from the ground where she had landed after everything had gone black.
She brushed off the gravel that clung to her cheek.
She looked around disoriented. Where was she? It was too dark for her to get her bearings. She turned, looking up into the star sprinkled sky.

She took a step, and dropped. She found herself waist deep in - what, a ditch? Just then, horror gripped her as she realized where she was. She had fallen into an ancient grave!
She scrambled desperately to get out, losing a shoe in the process. She shuddered as she stood, planning to just leave it there, but the realization hit her that she was also all alone, and that she was going to have no choice but to walk home.

She knelt and with a trembling hand, reached into the hole to try and retrieve it.
She heard the crunch of gravel behind her, and felt a whiff of warm breath cross her neck. Relieved, she turned and grouched; "It's about time - where have you... wha?...

Aaauuuuugggghhhhh!!!!!

...To be continued - or not...

Weekend Festivities

Well, Halloween is over, and we did party it up a bit.
I did a Halloween dinner that was lots of fun. (This is not a regular thing - I've always wanted to do it, but this year is the first time ever that I've actually had the time.)
Here's our Tricked out Halloween treats:
Horrid Hors D'euvres

Chili with Bat cheese

Mummy Dogs


Not all of my family dressed up, but here are those who did:
My oldest daughter was a belly dancer, and yes, she does dance too. (she made her costume herself)


My youngest daughter (in the red) & friend - they write and illustrate their own Manga-type stories, and were dressed as characters from them.

My grand daughters:


My son and his wife were James Bond and his Bond girl - awesome costumes, but I'm afraid my photo of them wasn't great.
That's our celebration in a nutshell.

In Closing...
...Can I just say that I am a fan of Christmas music, I really am - but hearing it played on the radio the day after Halloween is something I'm never going to get used to! I know the retailers are frantic to make a profit this season, but geeze! It still grates on the nerves a bit...
...Just one person's opinion.
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Travel Recap

Sunday's family time is over, so playing catch up.
We had planned to go North for our sister getaway, but that didn't pan out, so I suggested a place my younger sis had told me about down South - and we switched gears.

Our medieval feast didn't work out either (no kitchen here) but hey - if this pack of wandering grannies are anything - we are flexible! We opted to eat out! (A better plan anyway - no work, and no dishes!)

After quilt shopping, pharmacy hopping, and a short dash to the hospital (long story - I said pack of grannies didn't I?) Nothing serious, we just had to buy a part - ha ha! ...We found us a Chili's. (We don't get Mexican at home, so why not?)

Then we went to the B&B to party. We read poems, told stories, and yes, even danced a little in our crowns of Autumn leaves - just celebrating Fall, and Sisterhood.

This is our B&B - it is in a little neighborhood of old restored pioneer homes. We rented this whole house, which sounded big in the description, but was only a 2 bedroom with a fold out sofa and a roll-away... Hard to believe that a family of 10 once lived here! ...luckily, when they restored it, they added plumbing!

For some reason they spoiled me and gave me the biggest room. It looked so authentic in every detail - we had been talking about "hauntings" earlier, so when we went up there, I said; "Well, if any room in this house is haunted, it would be this one," just because some of the other rooms had things that were not true to the period, but this one looked like someone from that era could still be living there.
As soon as the words left my lips I regretted it, because then I was freaked out and couldn't go to sleep!
This bed was SO cozy - it not only had a down comforter - it had a down mattress cover too! Ahhhhh ...Like curling up on your mother's lap.

...The desert is still blossoming like a rose... The weather was perfect.

We needed an extra person to take photos, because we were always one short - but oh well. My 3 sis's on the front porch.

This lovely lady in the center had made us all quilts! She had a little story about each one, telling why she chose the colors etc. Truly touching and amazing!

We were right across the street from this historical building - I've driven by it a million times, but never been inside. This time we took the tour.

This is another famous landmark that I've been hearing about for years, but never been to. They serve a killer "malted" called a "concrete" that everyone needs to try before they die - we had that and one of their deli sandwiches, and I seriously didn't need to (and couldn't if I'd wanted to) eat anything else all day long!

I've hiked around the canyons here, and seen all the volcanic rock, but I had never seen the volcanoes they came from. This time we checked them out.

...All that and a little bit of shopping was as much fun as we could cram into a day and a half, but it was worth it. Hoping to do it again before too long...

*One faraway sis wasn't able to join us this time - so this travel log is dedicated to her - we missed you sis! Hugs!

With this I take my leave and bid thee fond farewell - and to exit on a "medieval" note, take a peek at this, and have some silly fun!
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Book Report - "Wesley the Owl" ....*Spoilers*

I haven't been doing many book reports here anymore, but this latest book I just finished impacted me to the point, that I just wanted to talk about it.

Many times I'm attracted to a book by it's cover & title, and this one was just "cute" enough to get me to look. As I read the description, it captured my imagination, and it "followed me home."

Wesley the Owl is not a novel - it's a memoir, written by a young botanist from Caltech, who was entrusted with a rescued baby owl to take home to raise and observe.
Owls are the type of creature who "imprint" on the person (or creature) who takes care of it, and bond for life - thus, as the quote from the Little Prince goes; "If you tame something, you are responsible for it forever"

It was so fascinating to learn about Owl behavior in the wild - and in captivity. Many survival techniques are taught to the creatures by their "parent", but when the "parent" has no knowledge of that behavior - what then?
Wesley appears to learn a few behaviors from his human parent, that are foreign to owls in the wild - and misses out on learning some that would have been crucial for him to return to it.

Not just an interesting story, but also a touching one - it is apparent through the book, that this Botanist also "imprints" on the owl - as she chooses her bird over "the latest boyfriend" time and time again, and, at the end of the book, ends up still single. ("Love me, love my owl.") Mainly because many aspects of the owl's care are difficult for the average human to tolerate (Like the mouse thing - ick.) and they are put off by it.

I also learned a bit about the behaviors of Botanists, which can be even more strange than wild creatures they care for! ...Such as the one who became obsessed with black widow spiders to the point that he not only kept them and raved about their "cuteness" at the office, but refused to kill them or damage their habitat at home - letting them breed freely and take over his house and yard - until he ended up in an "institution" of a different kind. Hmmm...

As the book progresses, Stacy (the botanist) and her owl not only bond, but learn to communicate with each other, and is a very touching and tender story. But this book conveys a little more than that - it teaches that all living things are individuals and have a soul - it also passes on a reverence for all life.
I don't think I'll ever look on any creature in exactly the same way.

Read it - you'll love it!

Summer Book Trek 2008 Wrap Up

The Summer Book Trek is over - here's my wrap up...

1. How many fiction books by LDS authors did you read?
Officially six - but I read a few others on the side...

2. Did you read more than you would have read if you hadn't participated in this book trek?
Absolutely.

3. Did the reviews posted by other participants influence which titles you read? How?
Yes, I did find many other books that I want to read in the future.

4. Did the Whitney awards influence which titles you read? How?
No, it didn't - sorry.

5. Did the many, many virtual blog tours that happened this summer influence which titles you read? How?
I only got in on a couple of those, but I would say that it was helpful because I like reading the author interviews and reviews by other bloggers.

6. Did you finish all the books you had planned to read? If not, why?
Pretty much, I did remove one or two from my list toward the end because I was also trying to keep up with my church book club and was getting a bit overwhelmed.

7. Did you discover any new authors whom you now love?
Yes!

8. Did you nominate any of the books you read for Whitney awards?
No - but I may still.

9. Would you be interested in another LDS themed reading challenge either this winter, or next summer?
Yes, I believe I would...

Time to Move the Books...

Moving the reading list so I can start over for Fall...

Spring / Summer Reading List

* "Breaking Dawn" Stephanie Meyer
* "Howel's Moving Castle" Diana W. Jones
* "Far World - Water Keep" J.Scott Savage
* "The Princess and the Hound" Mette Ivie Harrison
* "All's Fair" Julie Coulter Bellon
* "Delicious Conversations" Jennifer Stewart Griffith
* "Fool Me Twice" Stephanie Black
* "First Day" Allyson Braithwaite Condie
* "The Accidental Tourist" Anne Tyler
* "Dreamland Lake" Richard Peck
* "Love, Stargirl" Jerry Spinelli
* "Austenland" Shannon Hale
* "The Counterfeit" Robison Wells
* "Wake me When it's Over" Robison Wells
* "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons"
* "Voice in the Night" C.Paul Anderson
* "Closing In" Kerry Blair
* "On Second Thought" Robison Wells
* "Stargirl" Jerry Spinelli
* "Digging up the Past" Kerry Blair
* "Hazardous Duty" Betsy Brannon Green
* "Stargazing" Peter Hill
* "The Glass Castle" Jeannette Walls

Book Review - The Princess and the Hound

*****The Princess and the Hound
by Mette Ivie Harrison
Dust cover description:

When duty steers Prince George into betrothal to an enemy king's daughter, he is surprised to find he admires the prickly, forthright princess, despite her apparent indifference to any but her beloved pet hound. As George attempts to win Beatrice's heart along with her hand, evidence of treachery back home leads him to startling truths about animal magic—the stigmatized gift of animal speech, which he secretly possesses—as well as information about his betrothed.

This is a very different kind of fairy tale - one in which the princess is not necessarily drop-dead beautiful, and she doesn't swoon at the sight of the prince, yet I love how they grow together as they learn who each of them is, and help each other not only to come to terms with that, but to become better because of it.

I didn't say that well at all - this book is way better than my description of it LOL! The first few chapters give background information about "animal magic," and that was a bit slow for me and took some time to get through, but it was well worth it.
I will probably read this one again someday...
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Summer Diversions

With gas prices up the wazoo, and busy, busy schedules, (not to mention the added expense of extra family members living here - and don't forget the "billion dollar dog")...there won't be much vacationing going on in our household, so we are doing our best to find relaxing diversions here at home.

We have finally started filling up the back yard pool, we attend the local celebrations (see "Men in Skirts" below), we read, and rent videos - but if we want to go somewhere and see the sights - it's the Travel Channel all the way! My armchair will be as far as I'm going this Summer...

I love ghost stories - and I love lighthouses, but put them both together and I am one giddy, giddy girl!

So, Friday night when my daughters turned on "Most Haunted", and it was an episode on haunted lighthouses, I joined them.

It reminded me of earlier this Spring, when we had our "Sister's Tea" - and we had to find Victorian ghost stories to share. I had looked and looked, and had the hardest time finding anything, but then I remembered looking up some lighthouses on the internet and reading that some of them were haunted, so I did a search on "haunted lighthouses". I was amazed at how many I found! Lighthouses for some reason are especially hauntable. Apparently, lighthouse keepers are such dedicated and meticulous folk, that they continue to do their work - even after they're dead!

Here are a few of my favorite stories that I found:

Owl's Head light:

The story is told that the ghost of the lighthouse keeper here returns and not only keeps the brass polished, but frugally turns down the thermostat. (If I'm ever haunted, I want a ghost like him - one who cleans!) It is also told that he appeared as an "imaginary friend" to a young girl of a more recent lighthouse keeper and told her to wake her parents and tell them to sound the fog horn. There are a few other great stories about this light - less ghostly, but cool. You can find them here.

Tillamook Light:


Or, "Terrible Tilly" as some call it, is a pretty creepy place. It is no longer in use because it isn't up high enough to be safe from the crashing waves, and it was rendered unusable by one nasty one several years ago.
It was built on a rock that the native Indians considered to be inhabited by evil spirits. Only weeks before the cornerstone was laid, a terrible storm sank several small ships, and 25 people lost their lives. Witnesses to the tragic event, reported spotting a ghostly ship making it's way among the wreckage, as if picking up the souls of the dead. Keepers at the light often reported hearing bone-chilling groans on the stairwell leading up to the light. A Coast Guard vessel once reported seeing a ghostly ship breaking through a dense fog.
Tillamook Rock is currently being used as a depository for cremated human remains!
Creepy, creepy place!


Seguin Island Light:


Seguin Island Light was the scene of the most gruesome story I found, so if you are prone to goosebumps, skim over this one!
Seguin Light sits on an island 10 miles from Boothbay Harbor. Although it's fairly close to the mainland (3 miles to the nearest shore), in the winter it would get very isolated. One keeper, newly married, brought his young wife out with him to tend the light. Becoming very bored, the wife complained about not having anything to do. Thinking it would occupy her, and keep her mind off the boredom, the keeper ordered a piano to be brought to the island before the next winter set in. Winching it up the side of the rocky ledge that is Seguin, he proudly presented it to her. The wife was delighted, but could not play without sheet music. Fortunately, one song had come with the piano, so she set to playing it. By this time, the island was icebound, no other deliveries could come in. She played her piano, though. The same song, over and over and over again, driving her husband insane. Even when he had had new sheet music brought out to the island, she kept playing the original tune. Finally he'd had enough, took an axe and chopped the piano to bits. When she complained, he turned to her and chopped her up with the axe. Then he killed himself. It's said, on a quiet night, you can hear the tinkling of the piano floating up the Kennebec River. The keeper has also been seen, still tending to his duties.

Haceta Head:
My favorite haunted lighthouse of all is Haceta Head in Oregon.
The ghost here haunts not the light itself, but the lighthouse keepers cottage.
It is supposedly haunted by "the grey lady" who they have lovingly dubbed "Rue." They suppose that she is the mother of a baby who had drowned, and is buried in an unmarked grave on the property. It is said that she wanders still, searching for her baby. She has been attributed to moving objects around, and has even been seen on few occasions. One such occasion was when a workman was doing some work in the attic, and turned around to see her watching him. He fled the attic and refused to go back.
Later, when he was working on the upstairs windows, he broke a pane of glass. He then repaired it from the outside, but refused to go in and clean up the mess he had made. That night, scraping noises were heard in the attic, and the next morning, when someone else checked out the attic, they found that the glass had been swept into a nice neat little pile.
This lighthouse keeper's house is now a bed and breakfast, is on the top ten list of "most haunted" lighthouses, and is on my top ten list of places I want to visit before I die.


Being thousands of miles inland - this is as close to the beach as I can get.
So, Happy Travels, from my own little piece of the beach!
:)

Book Review - All's Fair

****I read on the internet that Julie Coulter Bellon would be at a book signing just a few miles from me on Saturday, so I ran over to meet her.
She was the nicest sweetest lady!

Dust cover description:

"Dr. Brandon Shepherd is finishing out his tour of duty at a small medical outpost in al-Qaim, Iraq. During an emergency evacuation of two wounded soldiers, the helicopter carrying him and his colleague, Dr. Rachel Fielding, is shot down and they are captured by insurgents. They are chained to a wall and pushed past their limits of endurance while their hope for rescue dwindles by the day.

Back in the States, political opponents Kristen Shepherd and Ryan Jameson are squaring off over a heated campaign. When Kristen finds out her brother Brandon has been kidnapped, both Kristen and Ryan band together and use all of their political connections to find him. They soon find themselves swept up in international intrigue that could cause Kristen to lose everything she holds dear. Will she risk it all to bring her family together once again?

All's Fair is a book of suspense, adventure and romance that will keep you guessing until the last page. Is all really fair in love and war? Only you can decide."

I've already finished reading "All's Fair." It grabbed me right from the opening scene where Kristin has run out on her own wedding, and ends up hiking through the rain and the mud in her wedding gown - great stuff!
This book is full of edge-of-your-chair action, politics, and military intrigue. I had a hard time putting it down!

I really admire Julie for joining in on "Operation Care and Comfort" for our soldiers in Iraq.
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Review - Delicious Conversation

****Susanah, a 30-ish single gal, is forced to re-arrange her life's plan when the company she works for goes belly up. A new home (which needs a lot of work), a new business, and a new singles ward keeps her very busy as she tries to sort it all out.

*Warning: If you are contemplating going on a diet, you may want to hold off on this one for a while - all the talk of delectable food could be distracting! Ha ha!

I read a few harsh reviews of this before I picked it up, so I was a little hesitant, but personally, I thought it was delightfu.
It did drag a little for me at first, but it picked up a few chapters in.
I would consider it a "light" read, but it definitely has it's moments - (the description of the over thirties singles ward had me laughing out loud!)...and I love the idea of the "Chocolate Bar"!
The author has a fresh writing style, and an interesting sense of humor.
The situations the heroine encounters are quite unique (and some are just darn funny,) - not your usual stereo-typical scenarios (like the home demolition projects, and the 187 year old tortoise...)
It does end a bit predictably, but happily - so who cares, right?

(OK, maybe it was a little convenient that both "husband" choices were not only hunky, but rich, rich, rich)

A fun read, and I may just throw caution to the wind and try some of the yummy recipes too!
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Review - Fool Me Twice

*****Fool Me Twice by Stephanie Black

First of all, I want to know how someone as nice a Stephanie (I'm assuming here) could contrive a plot as twisted as this! LOL!
Don't turn your back on anyone in this book - almost everyone has an evil agenda of some kind!
Seriously, so suspenseful - a real page turner!
There was a point where I wondered how the main character could ever come out of her predicament in one piece...
(But I'm not telling!)
Awesome, awesome book! Five stars.
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Summer Reading Thing 2008

Here we go again...
I love all these Summer Reading challenges, because hey - it's too hot to go outside, so what else am I going to do?
I'm going to use the same reading list as the other challenge - I hope that's ok - there's only so much one woman can do, after all...

****Austenland Shannon Hale
****First Day Allyson Braithwaite Condie
*****Fool Me Twice by Stephanie Black
****All's Fair by Julie Coulter Bellon

I've already finished the first two, so I'm adding:
*****The Princess and the Hound Mette Ivie Harrison
and:
****Delicious Conversation Jennifer Stewart Griffith (it's about chocolate - it's got to be good, right?)

Summer Book Trek Review - "First Day"

*****Frist Day by Allyson Braithwaite Condie

Jobs. Missions. College. Love. In the sequel to Yearbook, the characters are in the middle of it all. Two and a half years after we left off, Andrea Beckett is a junior at Cornell University in New York. She's caught up in the whirlwind of finals, decisions about jobs . . . and decisions about love, too. Dave Sherman has returned home from his mission, and they will have to decide where their romance is going. In addition to everything else, Andrea just received the assignment to teach early-morning seminary to a group of eight high school students, who all have their own decisions to make and challenges to overcome. Meanwhile, Andrea's brother Ethan is serving a mission in Brazil. The language is new, the culture is different, and sometimes being Elder Beckett is harder than he expected.

I didn't realize when I started this book that it was a sequel, but I never felt lost or that I missed a lot by not reading the first book (Yearbook). This book totally stands on it's own.
It started out a little slow for me because of the switching back and forth between characters, but I soon got the rhythm of it and got into the story.
I really enjoyed this story about individual growth and making choices, and I absolutely loved how the author summed it all up at the end - but I won't spoil that for you...
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Summer Book Trek Review - "First Day"

First Day by Allyson Braithwaite Condie
This one started slow for me until I got used to it switching back and forth among the different characters.


I didn't realize that this was a sequel until I got checking around and read some other reviews of it. This book totally stands on it's own - I never felt that I was lost, or that I missed something somewhere, as often occurs in a sequel.

Blog Tour...

Jumping on the bandwagon for the "Farworld" blog tour...
I've been following J. Scott Savage's posts on "The Frog Blog," and he's been pretty excited about the release of this book for quite a while.
It's the first in a new young-adult series of fantasy novels, entitled the "Farworld" series.
There is a contest posted here to win an advance reader's copy not even available to the public yet! How cool is that?
Congratulations on the new series Scott, (to be released in Sept.) I hope it's a smash hit for you!

Summer Book Trek Review - Austenland

****Austenland by Shannon Hale
I received this book as a gift from my daughter who enjoys Jane Austin as much as I do.
It is a fun story of a young girl, (Jane) who is nearing that precarious age, which in Austin's time, would have crossed her over that borderline into "spinsterhood."

Her favorite aunt (who knows of her secret desire to meet a "Mr. Darcy") bequeaths her a fantasy trip to a theme park in England ("Austinland,") where she will be able to mix and mingle with characters like those of Jane Austin's time.

I could sympathize with the main character's feelings - how she felt awkward and embarrassed in this role, but at the same time was willing to immerse herself and give the fantasy her best try. (And every once in a while feels the need to sneak back into the "real" world.)
I don't want to give away any of the plot, but it ends well, and she learns along the way that fantasy isn't always what it's cracked up to be.
I enjoyed this book, and will look for others by this author.
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(Pat's) Summer Book Trek 2008

I found this on a friends' blog, and it sounded like a lot of fun, so I'm going to give it a try (since I'll be reading all summer anyway)


Here's my reading list for starters:

****Austenland Shannon Hale
****First Day Allyson Braithwaite Condie
*****Fool Me Twice by Stephanie Black
****All's Fair by Julie Coulter Bellon

I've finished my first two, so I'm adding:
The *****Princess and the Hound Mette Ivie Harrison
and:
****Delicious Conversation Jennifer Stewart Griffith
OK, I'm an idiot. I thought I was buying "Book of a Thousand Days," but when I got home and looked it was "First Day," (the covers are so similar!) Luckily it's published by Deseret Book, so I'm thinking it still counts.....anyway, I'm adding that and bumping the other one further down the list. Middle-aged moments, gotta love 'em.

Summer Reads

Just a quickie this morning - I just finished reading the sequel to Stargirl, it's called (oddly enough) Love, Stargirl. If you want a quick, fun little read for the Summer,may I recommend these books! They are young adult fiction (but I think some of the best writing out there is in this category), The books are about a quirky but completely selfless young lady, who is just trying to fit into her new surroundings. It is just the cutest sweetest example of how one person's life can affect those around her.
I was so happy at the end where.....
...But then if you're going to read them, I'd better not finish that! ha ha!
(Sorry if that sounds like an episode of Reading Rainbow)

(I'll probably be talking a lot about books, since that's pretty much what I do these days - hope I don't get too boring...)

I've been messing with my music again - added some Summer themes, hope you like!

On Motherhood...

I wrote a silly commentary on my own experience in mothering this morning, but have since re-thought it.

I am so much better at sarcastic "tongue-in-cheek" (or foot-in-mouth) than I am at "heart-on-sleeve". But those type of comments are really un-worthy for mother's day.
The truth is that my mom is not here to be celebrated any more, and it still hurts to think about her.

My mom truly cherished her role as mother. One would have to to be willing to bring 10 souls into this world! At times I have wondered how she managed to learn this role so well, seeing as how she lost her own dear mother at the tender age of 12. It must have been very difficult.

Whenever I think of her, I see her doing things - sewing dresses, making bread, herding cub scouts, leading music in Primary - she was always busily "doing" and "caring" for all of us.
She was so much fun to be with, and had a way of making each and every one of us feel that we were her "favorite".
I know that I always felt that I had a special bond with her, because I had so many of the same interests, and I loved to go places - any place with her.
At an early age, I became her "designated partner" for funerals and weddings, because my dad was often too busy and not able to go with her.

She encouraged us to develop and use our talents - music, art, homemaking skills, etc. My sister and I were taught to sing parts at a very early age, and sang together at many church and family activities. (This was a mixed blessing, as I was chronically shy, and terrified of performing in front of crowds - and mom often made us matching outfits to wear, which was sometimes a little embarrassing.)

Later, as I entered the dreaded dating years, mom served as "buffer" between me, the rebellious teen, and my very strict father.
(I still owe her for that!)

I recently found a stack of letters that she wrote to me when I was away at college, and in almost every one, she had slipped me $5.00 here, and $10.00 there, so that I could have not only the things I needed, but a little fun too. After a year, I transferred to a college closer to home, and my journal has many entries where she had come and picked me up and taken me shopping or to lunch. She was always mindful of me.

I was so blessed to live near her after I was married and raising a family of my own - she was always there to help with each baby that was born. When I was expecting my second baby, she knew how badly I wanted a little girl - she was there at the hospital for the birth, and as soon as she learned that it indeed was a girl, she ran right home and whipped up a lacy pink quilt - and had it finished for me to bring her home in the next day!

She was such a sweet grandmother to the kids, and they loved to go and visit her because they knew that there would always be ice cream and chocolate cake!

Many years later, after my dad passed away, she was unbearably lonely and restless until my younger sister and her sons moved in with her. Mom had two little boys in the house to give her love to, and she was content again - being a mother - for the rest of her days.

No matter how many years I occupy this earth, I will never accomplish all the things that she did in her too short time here, nor will I ever be able to make up for all the thoughtless and inconsiderate things that children often put their parents through.

Thanks for allowing me to share -
Happy Mother's Day.

Pubbed again!

The special card issue of "Ready Set Create" is out, and I'm excited to say I have made it into another issue! ...actually, 5 of my cards are in this one!
What a fun thing to wake up to! :)

Winter's Reading list

Spring is finally here (?) so I'm moving my Winter reading list over to make room for my Spring one....(Besides, it was filling up the whole side over there - it's been a looooong winter!)

Winter Reading List
* "Counting Blessings" Kerry Blair
* "This Just In" Kerry Blair
* "Mummy's the Word" Kerry Blair
* "American Bloomsbury" Susan Cheever
* "Ghost of a Chance" Kerry Blair
* "Country Brides" Debbie Macombre
* "Tending Roses" Lisa Wingate
* "Life Artist" Ali Edwards
* "When Christmas Comes" Debbie Macombre
* "The Gift" Richard Paul Evans
* "Home to Holly Springs" Jan Karon
* "Cape Mayhem"
* "Dead Man's Float"...a Jersey Shore mystery
* The Memory Keeper's Daughter (CD)
* Finding Noel - Richard Paul Evans (CD)
* And Then Came Heaven - LaVyrle Spencer (CD)

If Only......

I've been working tonight - 7 hours just circling numbers in the phone book...
Everyone went to bed and my MP3 player has played through 2 batteries, so here I sit, alone in the silence circling....
At times like this, I give my imagination license to run free and unfettered - and my dears, tonight it ran completely amok.

This is where my thoughts led me tonight....

If only....I were a writer - I would begin by re-writing every fairy tale, and start liberating princesses!
Cinderella would no longer be held hostage by unattractive and evil tempered step-persons. She would make her escape by dark of night, and wander the kingdom until she was taken in by a kindly retired school marm. She would exchange cooking and light housekeeping for an education. After which, she would win a scholarship and attend the university where she would study by day, entertain at the karaoke hut by night, and volunteer at the local orphan's day camp on the weekends.
When Prince Charming strolls in and tries to pick her up - she will tell him to take his sorry Royal butt back to his throne and park it!
Cindy prefers the not-so-charming but much more sincere abacus nerd.
She will marry him, and when the Prince's kingdom is invaded by Huns and overthrown, she will be snug and secure in her million dollar compound with her doting mate and their slightly clumsy but genius children. (Heck, maybe she will even mastermind the overthrow and instate a democracy!) She will hold seminars during the summer empowering young maidens to take charge of their own happiness because as everyone knows, Princes are overrated anyway - they are big-eared mommas boys who cheat on their wives! Ha ha!

If only.....I were a painter - I would find a way to infuse music into my paints. Music is pure emotion pesonified - so when you looked at my work, you would not only be enthralled by my use of color and light, you would also be profoundly moved by it's rhythm, passion and love. You would leave my gallery emotionally spent, but ever so much the better person for it.

If only.....I were a dancer -
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I'm sorry - I've been hunched over my desk for 7 straight hours, my muscles are tense, cramped and aching - there's no way I can even imagine this one - this division of the arts that will have to do without me!

If only......I could do any other job besides circling phone books!

Good night - it's time to put my imagination to bed.

How to Deal....

I left this as a comment on someone else's blog a while back, but I dredged it up today, because I'm feeling the need to take my own advice. Life has been a bit of a struggle lately. So, here's some advice to me - apply it to yourself as you will...

Here are a few of the solutions that I apply, depending on where I'm at in life...
1. Wallow. Sometimes I just allow myself to feel dang stinking BAD! I cry, I stay in bed all day, I watch stupid stuff on tv...you get the drill. It purges all that yucky karma out of me, so that I can just get over it and move on. *NOTE, The moving on part is very important here, as people do not enjoy being around people who choose only to wallow - all the time. It's very annoying. (That is why wallowing is best done alone - it is not a group activity!)
2. Laugh. Sometimes, bad things happen, then more bad things happen, and on and on until it just begins to feel so ridiculous, that there is nothing else to do but laugh about it. Laughter then produces more laughter, which scientists have proven produces hormones which actually make you feel better, which then makes the problem seem smaller - after all, how can bad things happen to happy people?
3. Escape. Removing my self completely from an unhappy reality is often the only way I can cope. Read a book, re-arrange a room, take a weekend vacation...do something positive to change your situation (or at least your outlook!)
4.Talk. Talk to a trusted good friend, who knows you well enough to take what you say for what it's worth, feel your pain, comfort you, and then tuck your "secrets" deep inside and hold them there forever.
5.If all else fails, as the song says: "Search, Ponder, and Pray."
(I've had to use this one a lot over the last few years...maybe that's why my knees are so bad!?!)

Love is in the air....

It's been a slow weekend, and not much blogworthy to report, the highlight of our weekend was going to see the movie "27 Dresses" (cute movie!)... so I thought as it's the week of Valentine's, I would like to share some Valentine ideas/recipes/etc. this week.
The first one is this yummy looking "Baked Hot Chocolate" that I saw on "Good Things Utah" (a local morning show) I haven't tried it yet, but the lady who sampled it on the show said it tasted like liquid brownies! Mmmmmm!



Baked Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:

9 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 ounces butter
4 whole eggs
1/4 cup sugar

Combine chocolate and butter in a mixing bowl and melt over a double boiler; combine eggs and sugar in a separate mixing bowl and warm over double boiler until warm to the touch; transfer egg mixture to mixer and whip until fluffy; fold whipped eggs into melted chocolate; divide evenly into 4 bake proof dishes and bake at 350 degrees for 17 to 20 minutes.

Chef: Kevin Donovan
Executive Chef - Log Haven
Original Recipe credited to Heidi Friedlander

For more information on Log Haven Nature, Nurture, Nourishment
Visit: www.log-haven.com

Puppy Ponderings...

What makes dogs think they are people?
Seriously.
If say, you brought a goat into the house and fed it and cared for it, would it jump up and wag it's tail whenever you came in the door? Would it protect and defend your home as if it were his own? Would he grovel at your feet and roll over for a belly rub?
I think not.
So then, what is it about dogs that make them think this is proper behavior?
The canine pictured above is our resident "pup" who goes by the name of Anthony.
After our last dog.....left home.....I made a decree that there would never be another dog in this house. I was tired of the mess and the smell, and the animal hair in the carpet, and all other things associated with having a pet, and I was done.
(This doggie had to be taken away because he did not do well around small children - and there were a lot in the neighborhood. He was always biting them, then the police would come - not good.)
The kids went over my head and brought this one home anyway. (Typical!)
For that reason and that reason alone, Anthony and I can never be friends.
(At least not while anyone is looking!)
He does however, think he's one of us, and as I am matriarch of the family, he tries to appease me.
There have been times that I've been "lonely" and "bored" enough to pay him a little attention. (wink wink) .....I do take him on walks with me, you know just for - "utilitarian purposes" - no one else will go with me, and a woman does need a little protection in this world after all...
Sometimes I like to "mess with his head" and play little "psych" games with him, (you know, like "who's there Anthony? - go get 'em!) ...but this only confuses him and he doesn't even get what I'm trying to get him to do (he's a lot like my husband in this way...) The dog I had as a kid would play this game with me - proving that not all dogs have the same mental capacity - but I digress....
I did manage to teach him several tricks (thanks to The Animal Planet) which he does very well - but he's not great at obedience otherwise...
One day, I was feeling unusually magnanimous, and I sat down on the floor next to him and patted my lap for him to come and sit with me.
He was stunned.
He looked around as if to say; "Who, me?...really?....are you sure?" Hilarious.
I did finally convince him that I was sincere, and he did come and sit on my lap for a bit, but he didn't stay long, and he went directly downstairs to his bed - possibly to wake up from such a bizarre dream!
One year, hubby decided we needed a new family picture, so he invited his niece to come over and do some for us. Anthony sat back and watched as we arranged everybody on the couch, and once everyone was in place, he trotted right up to the center of the group, turned around and smiled for the picture!
Cracked. me. up.
I could go on and on about his little quirks, like how he paces the floor and lets the kids know it's time to go to bed, or how he loves to go camping so much that he completely freaks out whenever hubby goes out and moves the trailer, and will even charge down the stairs and ram his head into the front door, but I don't want to be a bore...
E.B. White said that

"A really companionable dog is an accident of nature. You can't get it by breeding for it, and you can't buy it with money, it just happens along."

For whatever reason, this dog has chosen us and made us his.
Period.

(I tease the kids that I would never waste my scrapbook supplies on him, but I never said I wouldn't blog...ha ha!)

Aftermath

Yesterday's storm was definitely one for the books. Heavy snow and high winds caused chaos across the state. It started here around 9 am and continued until around 4:30 pm.
Over 200 accidents occured across the state - the worst one was right at the front door of my little town. 12 deisel trucks, and over 20 cars were mashed and mangled together, closing the freeway for hours, and sending all that traffic up my street until late in the evening.
*** You may have to click on this link [# 1/28/08 - Extreme weather causes problems across Utah] on the extreme left to watch the video - it does run a commercial first, sorry...

Here in my back yard, the canopy that cover(ed) hubby's hot tub is now belly up against the shed. We had a swimming pool ladder standing next to the gazebo - and it is now on the roof of the shed! I would have liked to seen that, I can't figure out how that happened!


I was used to this type of storm where I grew up at the mouth of AF canyon, but I have never seen one like this here. It was one of those days I was very thankful to have nowhere I had to go.

Aauuggghhhh!!!!!

White out!!!
It's a blizzard out there, and I am not amused!
I was supposed to go meet hubby and go to SLC to a Jazz game tonight, but there is no way I am leaving this house with the snow coming at me in horizontal waves!
Chicken you say?
Lilly livered house hider?
You bet. That's me.
I'll be under the bed if you need me.

In other news, I just finished the book "Tending Roses." Such a heartwarming story - I really loved it, but it also stirred up a lot of emotions for me. The story relates to an aging grandmother, which reminded me a lot of what we went through with my mom. I wish her final days could have been more like this instead of the family turmoil we had.

I suppose by now, that the whole world has heard about the passing of Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley. We are so sad. He was more like a loving grandfather than the leader of a worldwide organization. I loved his sense of humor and his humility.
I will miss seeing his face and hearing his voice.

The best of both worlds

...is what I'm hoping for.
Hubby and I had a long talk the other night, about things I'm having a really hard time coping with. I told him how useless I feel not being able to go back to work because of current health issues, (and how afraid I am to try.) So, he went and found me some work I can do at home! It's going to be a little random - sometimes lots of work, sometimes not so much, and it's a tedious and boring job (as are many of them over there)...but it pays fairly well. I will have deadlines, but can work on my own schedule.
Not exactly my dream job, but for now it's a solution for something I've been needing.
Sometimes prayers are answered before they're even prayed.

This guy's been here!

My sister forwarded this to me the other day, and I had to laugh out loud - Jeff Foxworthy knows a lot about rednecks, but how did he get to know us Utahn's so well?
(Ha ha - yup, I know all these people!)

Enjoy!

FORGET REDNECKS; THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAD TO SAY ABOUT UTAHNS!

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September to May, you live in Utah .

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Utah .

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Utah

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Utah .

If 'vacation' means going anywhere south of Salt Lake City for the weekend, you live in Utah .

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Utah .

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Utah .

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Utah .

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in Utah .

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Utah .

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Utah .

If the speed limit o! n the highway is 75 mph -- you're going 80, and everyone is still passing you, you live in Utah .

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Utah .

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Utah .

If you find 10 degrees 'a little chilly' you live in Utah .

If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your friends, you live in Utah .

Bling Bling

- A winter diversion...
I've had a hard time sleeping lately, and things have been slow on all my favorite online "hang outs", so I went on a "treasure hunt" for some others last night....just want to share some of the "eye candy" I found...

I've always been fascinated by the Art Nouveau style, it is so romantic and elegant - with an ornate simplicity (if that term even makes sense!)
So, I Googled "art nouveau" (then clicked on "search images") and found these amazing ones: (I've added links to the websites where I found them so as not to get in trouble for hi-jacking images!)

Is this ring not just the coolest?

...and I love this necklace!

...and this one... Wow!

And wouldn't you love to live in this place - like the set of a silent movie...

One of those stained glass panels that this era was so famous for;

A common subject of Art Nouveau artwork is the fairy - so that sparked another search...and I found this amazing piece of artwork titled "Oak Fairy"

Then I came across something that reminded me of another artist I've been interested in (Carl Larsson), so I searched him next - LOVE this painting of his...

...which led me to stumble across some beautiful dolls by Annette Himstedt that were inspired by his artwork...(There are so many gorgeous dolls out there in haute couture and perfect hairstyles, but the ones that look unkempt and frazzled are the ones who always win my heart...kindred spirits?)

Now you know why I never get any sleep - one thing leads to another, and I just go round and round...and round and round.... Ha ha!
(See #1 of Granny's top 10)
There were so many more gorgeous images I would love to share, but I can't possibly list them all - this post would be way too long (and it would take me all night to upload them!)...so if you get bored one night and feel so inclined, check them out (the jewelry is my favorite!)
Now you know why I stumble around all day with bags under my eyes the size of steamship luggage...it's all in pursuit of artistic inspiration.....yup - that's my story.

Book Club Revisited...

My book club has started up again after the holiday break. It was nice to get out and talk to other "grown ups"! I've been holed-up in the house too much lately. We're going to be reading "Tending Roses" by Lisa Wingate this month.
Yay! Something to look forward to!

On Making Resolutions.....

I really don't like making them - I'm not good at them.
But that doesn't mean that I'm going to quit hoping & trying to improve myself.
If I were so inclined, my wishes for this year would be to not only stay well, but to maybe even gain some ground healthwise - what a blessing that would be! ....And not to waste my energy chasing frivolous goals with my hobby, but to only do things that will be meaningful to friends & family with it. Creating stronger relationships is a constant goal.
I was just reading another favorite blogger's post, and this is what she had to say about the new year

"i'm blessed because i'm ending the year with every member of my family still here. and i'm also ending it with the same ol' Husband i started the year with.

a new year is always looked at as a new beginning. a chance to start again and to make resolutions. but the cool thing is, every day we are allowed to live is a chance for a new beginning.

that is the coolest thing of all. no need to wait until December 31st to make changes. changes can begin right now. no waiting till midnight. no waiting period."

...kind of gives you a new perspective - where it would be nice if we could be magically transformed into a perfect creature with the coming of the new year, for us change is more like a drip in a cave, ever so slowly shaping us into interesting formations!...for me, right now, I'm going to be glad for the things that haven't changed.

Celebrating with the Oldies...

New Year's Eve at my house was the anti-celbration of the year.
I was just not in the mood! I sent myself to my room and popped what I thought was the new Pirate movie in the player, and didn't realize until it was almost over that it was # 2 instead (the one that I really didn't like)...it took me that long to figure out because I slept through most of it!
When I woke up, I went downstairs to watch # 3 with hubby. I guess we had it a bit loud, because we missed all the midnight fireworks on the street outside - didn't even notice that we missed the new year!
...Then, I had planned to make up the black eyed peas today, but scratched that because I know nobody here would eat them but me - so why waste the energy? (and the food!)
...Somewhere back in the past, my teenage toes would curl! Never thought I would be this boring...
Happy New Year anyway...

The Zen of Sarcasm

My friend Lucy posted this elsewhere, and I loved it - so I borrowed.
Words of wisdom for the coming year...

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do
not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not
walk beside me either.
Just pretty much leave me the heck alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a
broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. Its always darkest before dawn. So if you're
going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the
time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be
replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like
everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both
feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try
missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a
mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize
them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is
probably not for you.

10. Give a ma n a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and
drink beer all day.

11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that
person again, it was probably a wise investment.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to
remember anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the
windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know
them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to
fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light
side and a dark side, and it holds the universe
together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women.
Neither one works.

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much
when your lips are moving.

20. Experience is something you don't get until
just after you need it.

21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

22. Never, under any circumstances, take a
sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

A Gingerbread Tale

(Explanation - my friend Beth coined a phrase (yon candied maid) and posted it on her blog, it captured my imagination, and as a result - this poem was born! I wanted to paint a picture to go along with it, but good grief, it's less than a week till Christmas, and I have better things to do!
So I borrowed this image from Sew Custom Embroidery)
Now, without further adieu,

The Gingerbread Maid
by Pat Taylor;
A dastardly tale of treachery and dough...

Once there was a cookie
So warm and soft and fair;
Frosting for her frockery,
Gumdrops in her hair.

Her gown be-jeweled with sprinkles,
Licorice lined the hem;
A pair of lemon slippers -
She was so proud of them!

She oft' did go a'strolling
Along the brown sugar beach;
She longed to see those places
So far beyond her reach.

One day, as she thus wandered
Down by the frothy sea,
She spied a rugged sailor
A swarthy knave was he!

His face, it smacked of mischief,
A glint was in his eye -
He said, "Ahoy, yon candied maid,
What brings yourself this way?"

She shyly turned away from him,
Then blinked a lash or two.
She said "My mother warned me
Of strangers such as you!"

The sailor, he laughed heartily
At such a smart reply -
He said, "You have no trust in me -
A fine bloke such as I?"

He cast his eyes upon her,
He looked her up and down;
She looked so darn delicious
In her fluffy frosting gown!

He said, "Why don't you sail with me,
Across the milky foam?
You'll see amazing places -
Oh how you'll love to roam!"

Miss Cookie then did falter,
Her resolve, it was remiss;
Alas, how could mere gingerbread
Resist words such as this?

She gingerly stepped aboard his ship,
As it rocked to and fro;
She felt the wooded deck beneath
Her lemon frosted toe.

He led her to a cabin, such fine security!
Steel bars adorned each window -
Secured with lock & key!
He said, "You'll be safe here my dear...
(from everyone but me!)

The launch, it went just perfectly,
And e'en before you knew -
They were skipping 'cross the ocean waves
'Neath brilliant skies of blue.

They journeyed on and on,
And as they traveled so,
He told her tales of wonder
of the places he did know.

The maid, she watched him raptly,
Absorbed in every tale;
She'd n'er heard stories such as this,
Some even made her pale!

As evening crept across the bow,
She said, "When do we dine?"
"I'll serve you dinner first", said he;
..."And then, you will be mine!"
(insert evil laugh)

Full stunned, the maiden sat upright,
Her eyes grew large as dishes;
"Before you lay a hand on me -
I'll go swim with the fishes!"

Just then, the wind began to blow -
The ship began to roll;
As the sailor tried to save the ship,
The maiden took control...

She sped across the starboard side,
And climbed up on the railing;
She turned and looked him in the eye,
And said, "Ta-ta, I'm bailing!"

She threw herself into the sea -
That churning milky foam...
And cried, "At last - I'm free of him!
This cookie's headed home!"

She swam for hours and hours;
Until her heart did flutter -
She kicked and kicked and kicked so hard,
The sea, it turned to butter!

At last, she crawled onto the shore,
Exhausted, sore and dazed;
Her lovely, fluffy frosting gown
Was now only a glaze!

The moral of this wretched tale?
Of course, that's right, you guessed!
You'd better listen to your mom -
She always knows what's best!

LOL! Sooo sorry - I'll admit, I wouldn't know a pentameter from a haiku, but I had fun with this anyway! Thanks for the inspiration Beth!
(P.S. You owe me two nights' sleep!!!)