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...
.

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.
.

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!
.

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.
.

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.
.

(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