The book list - January 2016

Hunter experienced a huge disappointment at the library yesterday.  He excitedly signed up for his own library card, carefully selected 6 books, then marched up to the checkout.

The librarian (one whom I've never seen before) looked at me and said, "These are adult books.  He can't check them out.  There are no kids books here.  Why isn't he checking out kids books?"  (Unfortunately our favorite librarian wasn't there.  She totally "gets" Hunter and loves to see what he is reading.)

I carefully contained my annoyance and handed her my library card to put them on.  (I felt like I was buying booze for an underage kid.)  She said he couldn't check out "adult books" until he was 16.   Hunter stood there trying not to cry and said "Then what is the point of me having a library card?!  Just throw it away!"

The offending books?  The topics are:  wind energy, woodstoves, solar water heating, A/C, refrigeration, and plumbing.  Oh my.

We'll speak to our favorite librarian about this next time we see her.

How We Love: Discover Your Love Style, Enhance Your Marriage by Milan & Kay Yerkovich - A bit over a year ago, I read about this book on Trina Holden's blog.  I have always been fascinated studying personalities and why we are the way we are so the idea of this book - that the "intimacy imprint" we receive from our family when we are very young, shapes how we love and interact with others when we are an adult - intrigued me.  I didn't get around to reading this book until earlier this winter and I am so glad I did.  I would rate this as one of the most helpful books I've ever read in my life.  It was written by a Christian husband and wife that work as counselors and is based on attachment styles.  When I read the chapter on the "avoider style" I felt like I was reading my autobiography.  It was amazing.  For the first time ever, I feel like I truly understand why I have always had the particular challenges I do in relationships of all kinds.  There are five "love styles" described in the book.  The book focuses on marriage and how our particular styles bring challenges to our marriages.  However, knowing your "style" will help you understand ANY relationship better.  The back section of the book is a workbook, with many questions to help you dig deeper and then bring awareness and healing where you need it.

Some of Hunter's book knowledge (and things he's learned from repair videos on YouTube) came in handy last week when he helped me fix the freezer in our refrigerator.  Again.

Solomon's book recommendation: All my children have loved the McDuff book series by Rosemary Wells.  They are books about a little white terrier named McDuff, and are written and illustrated by the author of the "Max and Ruby" series.  I collected used copies of the books when Tabby was little and she loved them, Hunter loved them, and now it's Solomon's turn.  He was fascinated by the special treat McDuff would get to eat - vanilla rice pudding with sausages sliced on top.  So we decided to make some.  He thought that was so exciting to help me make the pudding and serve it for supper.  Turned out, none of us really cared for the rice pudding, but the sausages were good and it made a fun memory. 

Solomon eating "vanilla rice pudding with sausages sliced on top"

Ishtar's Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide - Several years ago I came across a book called Tabitha's Travels: A Family Story for Advent.  How could I not get that book?!  (Tabby's real name is "Tabitha.")  It was a book that had a small reading each day for the Advent season.  It was about a girl named Tabitha and her adventures leading up to the birth of Jesus.  The author is a master storyteller and we really enjoyed the daily stories, each ending with a scripture and though provoking tie-in.  After reading that book, I learned that there were two other books in the "Advent adventure series": Bartholomew's Passage and Jotham's Journey and we read those too.  I was happy to discover a new book in the series last year, Ishtar's Odyssey.  I read it aloud to my family most nights of the Advent season (we missed some and finished in early January.)  This particular book focused on a son of one of the wise men.  Of course these books are fiction, but they seem to be very well researched, and really make you think.  And it's fun how the characters in the different books meet each other.

NOTE: Arnold Ytreeide also wrote Amon's Adventures: A Family Story for Easter which we also really enjoyed.

Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati - I read this book during Tabby's recent hospital stay for some "lighter reading."  I had wanted to read it after learning it was spin off of my all time favorite movie - The Last of the Mohicans.  The author mixes both fact and fiction in this historical adventure book, which picks up when Hawkeye is a grandfather.  This book was both interesting and annoying.  The historical aspects and story in general was interesting.  But I didn't realize until I had begun the book, that it was "historical romance."  I never read books like that and found it annoying when the story would keep stopping for some light romance.  The book is 876 pages long and could have been knocked down a couple hundred pages if all those descriptions were left out!  My apologies to those of you that enjoy those books.  That's fine.  They just aren't what I choose to read.  ;)  I was very glad to finish the book right before Tabby was discharged from the hospital. 

By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder - I've been continuing to read through the "Little House" series to Hunter and Solomon and they just can't get enough of the stories.  We read at least one chapter most every day, which makes me happy too!  In this book, the Ingalls family moves to Dakota Territory and Pa works for a bit for the railroad.  Hunter was fascinated with Laura's detailed descriptions of how the railroads were built.  After the railroad company moves on to the next spot to work at, the Ingalls family spends the winter in a surveyors house, joined by another couple.  What was it like to live like that with no one around for over 40 miles?  In the spring, Pa files for a homestead which ends the family's further travels west.

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder - Through all the sickness in January, and then a long weekend of snow and ice, we got a lot of reading done.  This was the perfect book to be reading during the 4 or so days we had ice and a bit of snow outside.  Frank was home from work then and even he got caught up in hearing the story!  (So much so he now asks the boys every night at supper "So what happened in Little House today?")  In this book, the Ingalls family is living on their homestead in Dakota Territory.  A blizzard hits hard in October, and according to an Indian that comes into town, it will be the first of a long series of blizzards that winter.  Because their homestead shanty isn't well insulated, Pa moves his family into town for the winter.  He had built a store there and had rented it out, but the renters were gone and it was a nice, solidly built home for the family for winter.  I really can not imagine what this must have been like.  Blizzards, lasting 3-4 days at a time, with only a few days of sun in between.  Temperatures well under 20 degrees BELOW zero.  The trains cease running because of the snow and that means no more supplies.  The Ingalls family runs out of coal and kerosene.  They have to twist sticks of hay to burn in their stove for a little warmth.  By the end they are only eating bread, twice a day.  These stories are all so amazing, and are based on the author's real life. 

Hunter's favorite part is when Ma makes a button lamp for a little light.  As Ma tries to remember how it was done when she was younger, before their dependence on that "newfangled" kerosene, Pa understands how she is feeling.  He says:

"These times are too progressive.  Everything has changed too fast.  Railroads and telegraph and kerosene and coal stoves--they're good things to have but the trouble is, folks get to depend on 'em."

Ha!  I just laugh and shake my head thinking "Pa - if only you could see things now!"

Laura's future husband, Almanzo, is introduced in this story.  Several times the scenes involve he and his brother Royal, eating and making buckwheat pancakes.  This got Hunter wanting to try buckwheat pancakes so we found this recipe that was inspired by the book for fluffy buckwheat pancakes.  They turned out pretty good!

easy cooking on my electric stove

On a musical aside, the boys have really been enjoying listening to a set of CDs I have from "Pa's Fiddle Project."  Music was a big part of the Ingalls family and they sung while Pa played the fiddle.  Laura mentions well over 100 different songs in her books.  Some of these songs are available on these 3 CDs: Happy Land: Musical Tributes to Laura Ingalls Wilder, Arkansas Traveler: Music from Little House on the Prairie, and Pa's Fiddle: Charles Ingalls - American Fiddler.  (note the last CD is instrumental only)  There are some familiar songs, like "Oh! Susannah!" and some hymns.  But also some fascinating songs from that period, that are like little history lessons.  Just skim the lyrics of "Uncle Sam's Farm" and you'll learn some about the Homestead Act:

Uncle Sam’s Farm (lyrics found here)

Of all the mighty nations in the east or in the west,
O this glorious Yankee nation is the greatest and the best,
We have room for all creation, and our banner is unfurl’d,
Here’s a gen’ral invitation to the people of the world.

chorus - Oh, come away, come away, come away I say!
Oh, come away, come away, come right away!
Oh, come to this country and have no fear of harm,
Our Uncle Sam is rich enough to give us all a farm.

St. Lawrence marks our northern line, as fast her waters flow;
And the Rio Grande our southern bound, ‘way down to Mexico.
From the great Atlantic Ocean where the sun begins to dawn,
Leap across the Rock Mountains far away to Oregon.

(chorus)

While the South shall raise the cotton, and the West, the corn and pork,
New England manufactories shall do up the finer work;
For the deep and flowing waterfalls that course along our hills,
Are just the thing for washing sheep, and driving cotton mills.

(chorus)

Our father’s gave us liberty, but little did they dream,
The grand results that pour along this mighty age of steam;
For our mountains, lakes, and rivers are all a blaze of fire,
And we send our news by lightning on the telegraphic wires.

(chorus)

Yes!  We’re bound to beat the nations for our motto’s “Go ahead!”
And we’ll tell the foreign countries that our people are well fed;
For the nations must remember that Uncle Sam is not a fool,
For the people do the voting, and the children go to school.

(chorus)

The Book List - December 2015

I can't believe January is almost over!  These past weeks of sickness have not been a cheerful/productive way to bring in the new year.  But thankfully, we're almost all better.  Tabby felt well enough to go back to school yesterday.  In the days before, she tried to catch up with schoolwork. 

One thing was to practice her recitation of Mark Anthony's Funeral Oration for her rhetoric class.  Thankfully Hunter can read well, so he was able to help her.  It cracked Tabby and I up because at the end of every line she got right he would vigorously nod his head "yes."

"Friends, Romans, countrymen ..."

I read a quote recently that even shocked Hunter.  That is:  Only 15% of Americans read more than 5 books a year.

"What???!!!"

The perfect end to my day is to read a book.  :)   Here is my December list:

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder (edited by Pamela Smith) - If you've had an extended conversation with me since I read this book, I most likely started talking about it!  If you liked the "Little House on the Prairie" books - this is a must read!  Before the Little House books, which Laura wrote with her daughter Rose's editing help, Laura wrote her autobiography and tried to have it published.  She was never able to. 

About 2 years ago, I learned that you could get a copy of the autobiography on microfiche from a certain library and was looking into doing that when I stumbled across The Pioneer Girl Project.  I learned that a group had transcribed Laura's original manuscript and were annotating it and adding photographs.  It was turned into a massive, beautiful coffee table sized book that was published last year.

I have read the book - though not every single annotation - and want to go back and do that at some point.  Laura wrote her autobiography for an adult audience and so she mentions scandals and other situations that would not be appropriate in the children's books.  (Those times weren't really as innocent as we thought!). 

The scariest story in the book happened when Laura's family lived in Indian Territory (Kansas).  There were two women that ran a little house where they invited weary passerby's in for a meal.  The small home was divided by a sheet and the table by the sheet.  While the innocent person(s) were eating, one of the women would go behind the sheet, pick up her weapon, and murder them right through the sheet!  Then they'd throw the body(ies) into the basement and steal all that persons things.  These women invited Pa in, on his way home from a trip to the town of Independence.  Thank God he decided not to stop or who knows what Laura's life would have been like!  Eventually a group of vigilantes found out what was going on and went after the women - after more than 40 people had been murdered.  Goodness!  Can you imagine the horror movie this would make?  (Note - this is the last story in the book - Tabby and I both made the unfortunate mistake of reading this right before trying to go to sleep.)

It was so fascinating to get more details into Laura's real life.  Like about her baby brother Freddie that died at 2 months old.  And about when the family had to work at a hotel to make ends meet.  And - well I don't want to spoil all the goodies for you.  Just read this book!

Family movie night & Hunter's choice- he picked his favorite documentary:  Tesla: Master of Lightening . Tesla was so brilliant!

The Artistic Mother: A Practical Guide for Fitting Creativity into Your Life by Shana Cole - I don't remember where I picked this book up, but it really spoke to me.  I NEED to have creative outlets in my life.  And I have realized how much I like to create with my hands.  The book includes stories by a number of mamas who share how they fit creative time into their daily lives.  There are also a number of mixed media art projects to try, with step-by-step instructions. 

From the Tesla documentary - Hunter thinks these motors are "so cute!"

Math Works:  Montessori Math and the Developing Brain by Michael Duffy - Since Solomon likes Montessori type activities, I was curious what Montessori math methods were.  This book was a quick read.  It had good descriptions of Montessori math materials and how children learn from them.  It sounded pretty rigorous.  There was not any instructions on how to teach this math at home so if I go that route any, I would need another resource.

Pilipinto's Happiness: The Jungle Childhood of Valerie Elliot by Valerie (Elliot) Shephard - We recently watched "End of the Spear" with Tabby.  It is the story of Steve Saint, Jim Elliot, and a few other men and their families who worked as missionaries to reach the dangerous, primitive Eucuadorian tribe of Auca Indians.  The men were all martyred - speared to death.  Valerie was only 10 months when her father died.  She, her mother Elisabeth Elliot, and Rachel Saint, later moved in with the Auca tribe to teach them about God.  (How brave is that!!)  Valerie wrote this book for children, about her childhood with the Aucas, and it is really a fascinating story.  You can read all about how she learned to suck out fish eyeballs to eat and other interesting ways of life.  Valerie wrote that she and her mother ended up loving living with the Aucas because their life was so "simple, happy, and interesting."  (Unfortunately, this book currently seems to only be available as used, and is rather expensive.)

By the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder - I read this book to Hunter and Solomon.  They are as fascinated by Laura's stories as I was as a child - and still am.  In this book, the Ingalls family traveled to Minnesota in their covered wagon. They first lived in a dugout home.  Then Pa built a house.  Then their wonderful crops were destroyed by billions of grasshoppers.  Once again, as I am re-reading these books as an adult, I am so amazed at the family's resourcefulness.  I wish I had more of their skills and knowledge!

The book list - November + Facebook fraud

Earlier this week, another Trisomy mom contacted me to ask if a particular Facebook page was mine.  I clicked on it and stared at it in surprise.  It had my first and last name, and pictures of Lilly!  It said I "worked" at the "Trisomy 18 Foundation."  WHAT??  I messaged my friend back and told her that was NOT me. 

First - I don't use my regular name on Facebook.  Second - I have no idea who dared to use pictures of my child without permission!  Ugh.

We both reported it to Facebook and Facebook responded that they reviewed the case but didn't find anything wrong with it.  How frustrating is that?  How can I proved that the person pretending to be me is not me?  Perhaps the impostor knows we are on to them though, because the page is down.  Along with another one under "Lilly Eva."

Isn't that just disgusting?  To pose as someone else, and use pictures of their child for what must be some sort of personal gain?  I absolutely can not understand it.

When I started this blog, I actually felt very nervous about going public - making a site that anyone in the world could see.  But I decided I wanted to chronicle Lilly's life publicly so that people could pray for her and also to share information with any one else who had a child with Trisomy 18.  Both of those goals were accomplished and I've met Trisomy parents from all over the world this way.  So I am glad.  But if only there was a way to weed out the wrong people.

Sigh.  At least I am thankful that there was nothing nasty or cruel on the fake Facebook accounts.

Solomon riding big sister's shoulders

Trim Healthy Mama Plan: the easy-does-it approach to vibrant health and a slim waistline by Pearl Barrett & Serene Allison - This book is a condensed and simplified version of the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan.  It really was much easier to understand!  (And it's not just for mamas - the plan works for all men and women too.)  The book thoroughly explains the "satisfying" (protein with fat) and "energizing" (protein with carb) ways to eat.  It also includes helpful chapters for those who like food shortcuts, those who work outside the home, those on a tight budget, pregnant/nursing mamas, those who have trouble losing weight, vegetarians, allergen-free people, etc!  There is also a chapter on exercise and another on skin care. (Several chapters on hormones - which are very helpful - were not included.  You have to get the original book for those - Trim Health Mama.)

The companion cookbook -Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook: Eat Up and Slim Down with More than 350 Healthy Recipes - is excellent.  We have liked everything I've made from it.  And I have many many more recipes to try.  I am not a foodie but even I am inspired to cook by the appealing photos in the book!

Solomon drew a picture of his "Getting-Trim Healthy Mama" ... me!

Clutterfree with Kids:  Change Your Thinking, Discover New Habits, Free Your Home by Joshua Becker -I have days when all the stuff around our house completely overwhelms me to the point of wanting to cry.  Here is our living room on one of those days:

Mr. Inventor surrounded by pieces and parts for his newest creations - and some of little brother's toys

Actually that's our living room on most days - and in the photo it looks better than normal!  Much of the time it doesn't bother me because I am glad that Hunter is busy and learning.  But then I step on little screws or tiny parts with bare feet and it hurts!  Or I can't find a place to sit down for a minute.  Or Solomon can't figure out how to leave the room from where he has become trapped in the corner.  (We're still working on learning to keep walkways!)  Plus our living room just frustrates me because I can't figure out how to arrange the furniture properly.  (Not to long ago, Tabby and I spent part of a Sunday moving furniture all around but really couldn't find a good solution.)

Wah wah wah.  Right?  Clutterfree with Kids is written by a man who is the founder of the website Becoming Minimalist.  After spending way too many years dealing with too much stuff taking up his time, he and his family became minimalists.  They never looked back.  I used to think of minimalists as people that have very bare, stark, boring homes.  But I've learned that there really is a range.  This book is filled with practical application and inspirational stories to help you reevaluate your life and thereby change your thinking, discover new habits, and free your home.  I found the book an interesting and motivational read.

Hunter having fun and doing an experiment checking how water conducts electricity

aluminum foil is hooked to wires which are hooked to some thing he has which includes a battery and beeper - when foil touched the water it made an alarm go off

Recently an incident happened here that showed me - loudly and clearly - CLUTTER LIMITS POSSIBILITIES.  As I keep thinking about that incident, I am super motivated to continue cleaning up and clearing out around here.  I want to keep things that are needed, useful, and that are just pretty and bring me joy.  And of course stuff for Hunter to experiment with!  (And a lot of that can be thrown out after awhile.)

things that aren't useful but are pretty and bring me joy - my glitter churches and reindeer boxes

The more I get rid of excess stuff and clean up the piles around here, the better I feel.  Physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.  I still got a long way to go, but at least I'm going in the right direction.

"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. . . ." - 1 Corinthians 14:33

The book list - October (help for curly or wavy hair!)

My July 2014 "book list" post included this picture of Solomon reading Cars and Trucks and Things that Go by Richard Scarry.  I was recently contacted by Jacqueline of the blog "Deep Roots at Home" requesting permission to use this picture of Solomon in a post she was writing on Richard Scarry.  Her finished post went up this past Saturday, and it is fun seeing Solomon's picture in it.  (Post is here.) 

As an aside, Jacqueline's blog is filled with much wisdom and helpful information.  I found her post on the benefits of turmeric that she did this summer to be especially helpful for me. 

Need a quick turkey craft for your little ones?  This is one I gave Solomon yesterday.  I pre-cut everything and he glued them on.  (He colored the paper plate first.)  He knows how to spell his name and was able to put the feathers in order all by himself.

Curly Girl: The Handbook by Lorraine Massey (2nd edition with DVD) - I had nice straight hair when I was growing up.  However that began to change after I had Hunter.  Hormones can do crazy things to your hair!  And my hair kept changing after Lilly and Solomon's births too.  (Thank you Tabby for letting me keep my straight hair after your birth!)  I had no idea what to do with my hair though and just did my best to straighten it and usually wore it in braids or a pony tail.  As soon as I washed it, I would dry it while trying to brush it straight.  Then I'd use a flat iron on it.  It would look ok for a little while, but then frizz would creep in.  Ugh!  Only Diana, the woman that cuts my hair could get my hair to look like I wanted and it would stay that way until I washed it again.

Late this summer, we were invited to go swimming.  After being in the pool, my hair air dried for the first time in years.  I was quite surprised when I finally saw a mirror that day.  I had no idea how wavy my hair had become.

Then right after that, I came across a post by a women who wrote how having babies changed her hair and she posted a picture.  It looked like my hair!  In the comments to her post, I identified with several of the people and their hair issues.  Someone recommended the Curly Girl book and me, being a book person, got a copy. 

If you've got curly or wavy hair, this book identifies the different types of curls and waves and then gives step-by-step details how to care for your hair.  The author shares which types of shampoos and hair care products to avoid and warns about never using a "blow fryer."  The book also has several hair styles explained, how to cut your own hair, and a DVD summarizing much.  There are even recipes for hair care products. 

I've learned that to deal properly with my wavy hair (that has a few curls) I need to scrunch it after washing, then air dry.  (Or at least use a diffuser on my hair dryer.)  No combing or brushing except for finger combing.  I scrunch my wet hair a microfiber towel then scrunch in some hair gel.  And that's it!  It's been sort of weird getting used to wavy hair, but it has been an enormous relief.  I don't spend much time on my hair, plus it does not frustrate me anymore.

When I started this, my hair was one length and cut bluntly.

Then I recently got it cut with long layers added in. 

(So weird - I don't even recognize my hair anymore.  I suddenly don't know how I feel about this!)

Tabby has found she has some nice wave in her hair too:

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - I recently read this book to Hunter.  Solomon liked hearing me read it so much that he would come and sit in my lap - every time I read a chapter.  This story is part of a book series based on true events in the author's life and should be required reading for everyone!  Laura writes about the adventures of her pioneer family as they travel by covered wagon from Wisconsin to Kansas.  They have adventures on the way, and then we read along as the family builds a log house to live in.  Indians and wolves are all around them.  I love how the books really bring history to life.  Hunter was fascinated with the detailed descriptions on how Pa built their house, barn, furniture, dug a well, etc.  Solomon liked Jack, their dog, the best.

I have no idea how many times I have read this series, since I was little.  Tabby to has re-read the series many times.  And when I finished the book, Hunter begged me to start reading him the next book in the series.  I'm still reading from the book set I had as a child:

Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher - This is a wonderful old book, first published in 1917.  I read it to Tabby when she was younger and we both really enjoyed it.  Then I read it to Hunter last month.  He really liked the story line - plus the descriptions of how things were done "in the olden times."  (He was very intrigued with reading about a sundial being cut into the window of a pantry and about an old type of hot water heater.)  The story is about a 9 year old orphan girl that was brought up in the big city by an overprotective aunt.  The little girl is frail and afraid of everything.  But then through a chain of events, she has to go live out in the Vermont country with some farming relatives that she has only heard negative things about.  This change turns out to be the best thing that ever happens to her.

The book list - August & September AND money saving books

Considering I only managed to finish a whopping two books for August and September, you'd think I would have gotten up the post by now.  I've got an enormous stack of books on my nightstand but reading bits out of each one during the week does not leave me with the same feeling of accomplishment as reading through a whole book quickly.  But I can't decide what to finish reading first so ....

Hunter was so engrossed in his book about "how things work" that he never even noticed I took his picture

Wish Me Luck by Rebekah Joy Anast - I read the first book in this series, Holy Cow, last year and really enjoyed it and learned a lot from it.  (See my post here.)  This book continues the story of a family's living off grid on an Indian reservation.  I find it fascinating to read about how people do that.  This book's story focuses on a mystery and scandal regarding GMO's (genetically modified organisms).  I already didn't like GMO's in my food and what I learned in this book, totally reinforced that.  Overall, though I liked the story in the first book much better.  Both books have recipes in the back and additional information for topics discussed.

engrossed ...

properly surprised ...

trying to hide ...

How to Have More than Enough:  A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Abundance by Dave Ramsey - I got this financial book in a great way - FREE!  Frank brought it home from the "swap shop" at the dump we go to, LOL.  (We don't have trash pickup where we live so we haul our trash to a dump a couple miles away. They have a little shelter there where people leave stuff looking for a new owner.  A lot of it is junk (in my opinion) but the males in our family frequently find things they like.  Recently Hunter got a drop light, Solomon a Santa Claus ornament, and Frank some shirts!)  Anyway - back to the book.  In this book, financial guru Dave Ramsey leads his readers through many chapters and worksheets teaching his methods for financial, business, and family stability.  Lots of good information if you are looking for a guide like this.

this little guy loves books like the rest of us

I honestly didn't learn much from the Dave Ramsey book.  But that is probably because I spent about a decade of my life immersed in financial books.  I read Dave Ramsey's first book, More than Enough, shortly after it was published and really liked it.  Very practical, useful information.

I am a huge fan of Mary Hunt and have read most of her books.  I was a subscriber to her newsletter "Cheapskate Monthly" which later became "Debt Proof Living" for many years.  She has written a lot of books including books about teaching children about money, debt proofing your holidays, etc.  Her book Debt-Proof Living is probably the best for someone wanting to learn to be better with money.  She has a marvelous system for saving up for things called "The Freedom Account."  I highly recommend anything by Mary Hunt.

If you are looking for TONS of really practical ways to cut money, then get a copy of The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dycyczyn.  The book is a compilation of the author's subscription newsletter that was published for about six years in the 1990s.  I read the book shortly after publication and still have tips pop in my head at times.  Some of the tips really irk me.  Like reusing baggies.  I hate washing baggies out and then drying them.  I refused to do that for years.  But now I am dutifully washing baggies and setting them out to dry.  Sigh.  Saving money in lots of little ways really does add up.

Who is that masked boy?!

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” - Hebrews 13:5

The Book List - July AND Hunter's A/C unit, Solomon's snakes, and Tabby's chick!

So far the month of August has been cooler than June.  But that doesn't mean it still isn't plenty hot and humid.  Perfect for Hunter's recent air conditioning invention.  He recently took a styrofoam cooler, a fan, and ice packs, set them into a box with vents cut out, and turned it on.  To my surprise the thing cooled the air around it by 9 degrees in only minutes!

Solomon made something too.  Pasta snakes.  (LOL - he is very proud of them though it seems a little funny to post it after Hunter's project.)  Solomon picked the project off Pinterest and I bought some cheap pasta.  He strung them on pipe cleaners and we added googly eyes and a tongue.  That pasta was the best purchase I've made in a long time!  It kept him busy for hours doing all sorts of things with it. 

One of Tabby's Silkie Bantam hens sat on an egg that hatched.  Such a cute little fuzz ball:

I've been reading some books I don't think I'll ever finish this summer.  But here are two that I completed last month:

Large Family Logistics: The Art & Science of Managing the Large Family by Kim Brenneman - With only 3 children living in our home (and 2 in heaven) I don't consider us to be a "large family."  But I love reading things written by the moms of a large brood.  These moms are usually so organized and have tasks streamlined so well that I can almost always find useful hints for our household.  (And great tips for dealing with children's issues too.)  I started reading this particular book during one of Lilly's hospital stays.  I never finished it and after she died, I just didn't want to pick up the book.  But earlier this summer, I decided we needed to implement some new routines around here in several areas, and I decided to read this book through for help.  I made notes as I read and ended up with quite a bit of helpful stuff that I am still putting into action.  Yay!

It is SOOOO nice to have an older child read to a younger one

Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston - I came across this book shortly after I finished the Feng Shui book I shared about last month.  I am not sure why I like reading about organizing and all that so much - but I have for as long as I remember.  This book had some interesting things to say and I'm glad I read it.  But for cleaning out - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo remains my favorite book. 

I recently cleared out my clothes following the KonMari method.  I just love the special way of folding clothes I learned from the Life Changing Magic book.  My dresser drawers are so satisfying to look at now.  (Ha- I sound like such a geek.)  I even made some drawer dividers out of cardboard.  Of course I had to embellish them so I covered them with some wrapping paper I've had sitting around for years.

Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi - I read this book to Hunter, but thought I'd include it here.  I didn't know until a decade or so ago, that Pinocchio didn't start with the Disney movie and fluffy Disney books.  The original book was published in the 1880s and, no surprise, has some big differences.  This book was a wild story and I got just as caught up in "what will happen next?" as Hunter.  Some of the situations were too ridiculous for my taste, but the character studies that the book is full of made for some great conversations.  Unlike so many of today's stories, in this book (and in many older stories) when a character makes a bad choice - the consequences are swift and harsh.  Skipping school, disobeying parents, laziness, lying, get quick rich schemes - Pinocchio learns a lot of hard lessons due to his bad choices.  But thankfully he learns from them and in the end, has developed excellent character.

Solomon's first time of feeding ducks

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." - Psalm 19:1

The book list - June

Life has been extra busy around here the last two months.  Even though I've been reading several books, I only managed to finish one in June.

Hunter has discovered the thrill of chapter books!  Here he is reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  He still prefers reading repair manuals, but is now willing to broaden his horizons some.

Feng Shui That Makes Sense: Easy Ways to Create a Home that FEELS as Good as it Looks by Cathleeen McCandless - I've heard of "feng shui" (pronounced "fung shway") off and on over the years, but never really knew what it was.  I had a vague definition that it was some weird superstitious ancient Chinese stuff.  But this year, I kept hearing "feng shui" enough that I finally decided to educate myself about it..  So I went to our local library took check out their collection of feng shui books.  I was dismayed the books were tucked into their New Age/Mystical section.  I almost dismissed the idea again, but finally settled on Feng Shui That Makes Sense written by an American feng shui consultant that has been in the business over 20 years.

Wow - what an interesting book!  Some is still rather foreign to my American way of thinking, but much of it makes sense.  Chinese feng shui has been around for about 4000 years.  From pgs. 1-2:

"Feng Shui is the study of the environment and how it affects people. ... [It] is not a belief system, a religion, superstition, or magic.  You don't need to 'believe' in it in order for it to work.  Feng shui has nothing to do with changing your luck and everything to do with helping you create a space that promotes feelings of happiness and well-being."

The author of this book examines both the inside and outside of homes in detail with lots of examples of good and bad feng shui.  Tabby read some of this book too and now we now look at our home - and others - quite differently.  If you hang out with us you might hear one of us say "Oh that's bad feng shui!"

Thinking about what I read has helped me make sense of why I have continuously felt rather overwhelmed and unsettled by a lot of my house.  (We moved here several years ago - when Solomon was only 3 weeks old.  He was a very clingy baby and I struggled with post partum depression after we got here so lets just say it was NOT an easy move.)  As I declutter (using the KonMari method - see The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo) in our home this summer I will be incorporating some feng shui principals in too.

I think many of us know that clutter/too much stuff can make us feel bad.  (I won't define "too much" - that's up to you.)  There are a number of reasons for this.  But one that I never thought of, until I finished this book, was that clutter blocks energy in the home.  (The Chinese call this energy "chi.")  We know that molecules and atoms surround us, vibrating at different frequencies, yet because we don't see them, it's hard to remember they are there.

In the 1600s, Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens noticed that "two pendulum clocks hung side by side would eventually synchronize and begin to swing in the same rhythm." (p. 263)  Isn't that so interesting?  I keep thinking about that and that reminds me of the energy surrounding us.  What happens when you have lots of clutter or just too much stuff?  That energy is blocked.  Not good.

If you practice feng shui, I'd love to hear about it!

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." - Colossians 1:16

The book list - May & The declining Keet population

Though bringing foreign things to our country might seem interesting, I don't know that it is necessarily a good thing.  At least if left uncontained.  Living in North Carolina, one example that comes to mind is Kudzu.  This highly invasive climbing Asian vine was introduced to the U.S. in 1876.  I have seen areas completely taken over by it.  Kudzu has been dubbed "The vine that ate the south."

I've thought a lot about Keets (baby Guinea fowl) this week since our Sunday surprise.   This bird hails from Africa and thrives in a hot, dry climate.  Though once they are big enough, they are hardy and do fine here.  The trick is protecting the babies to get big enough!  They are so water sensitive they can even drown in the dew.

Sunday we had at least 15 Keets.  The next day we had 8.  Then the next two days we had 7.  The weather has been perfect Keet weather overall - HOT and humid.  We're talking 99 degrees in the shade.  (Whew!)  Last night though, we had a storm.  The earth needed it desperately - I haven't seen plants look so sadly wilted in a long time - but I couldn't help worrying about the Keets.  Sadly this morning, there were only 3 left. 

In the future, if we are able to find one of our guinea hens sitting on a nest in time, we have a plan on how to catch her and relocate her and the eggs to a safe place.

I was able to get some not very good pictures the other day of these cute little Keets:

I was able to finish three books in May, two of which I've been reading a bit at a time for months.  Most of my reading time was consumed with the 464 page utterly gripping novel Redeeming Love. 

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - I don't read a lot of fiction (except historical fiction with Tabby for school) but I am so glad I read this amazing, haunting, and thought provoking book.  It is a modern retelling of the book of Hosea from the Old Testament of the Bible.  (Hosea was one of the prophets - one who I always felt really sorry for!  God told him to take a prostitute as a wife.  She, unsurprisingly, did not remain faithful yet he went and got her and brought her home again.  Their marriage was to show the parallel of how horribly Israel was treating God and how He was still loving and forgiving.)  Redeeming Love is set in 1850, in California's gold country.  Angel was a prostitute that had been sold into the business as a little girl.  She hated men and hated her life.  An upright Christian man, Michael Hosea sees her one day and feels God calling him to marry her and to love her unconditionally.  Though shocked, he obeys.  He rescues Angel from the brothel in a very dramatic way - after she had been beaten almost to the point of death - and marries her.  It takes years for Angel to heal and trust Michael, and to become a child of God herself.  Many turbulent years, including times of her running away and Michael bringing her back.

The parallels of Michael and Angel, and like the prophet Hosea and his wife Gomer, are not unlike us in our sinful lives.  They are all reminders of the way that our God loves us unconditionally, redemptively, and all-consumingly.   This book just made me thank God over and over again for this.

Blurry picture - but you get the idea.  They enjoy duets!

The Joyful Child:  Montessori, Global Wisdom for Birth to Three by Susan Mayclin Stephenson - I continue to be fascinated with a lot of the Montessori methods, and Solomon continues to enjoy and learn from them.  He often asks for new "mont-ssori activities."  Though I found some little parts of this book a bit weird, overall much of it was very interesting and made so much sense.  It will really make you rethink giving all the plastic toys with the "bells whistles and lights" to your baby or toddler.  I love how the Montessori approach focuses on so many aspects of a little ones life, including practical life skills.  In America, kids (and many adults) just dread "chores."  But Montessori, work is given a high importance and children taught skills early.  In everything from dressing themselves to cleaning up after themselves to just doing more for themselves.  Guess what - our young kids are perfectly capable of all these things and actually LOVE it.  I think Solomon's very favorite kind of play is helping us with our chores!

On a funny note, I have to say that teaching them skills can sometimes backfire.  Last week, we met our field trip group at Jordan Lake.  We first heard a presentation on bald eagles.  Then we all stayed to have a picnic lunch and to swim in the lake.  When it was time to get ready to swim, I turned around to gather our things to take to the bath house to change.  When I turned back around, Solomon was standing there without any of his clothes on!  All ready for his bathing suit.  Ooops!  Not in public, buddy.

The author of this book has written another for older children:  Child of the World: Montessori, Global Education for Age 3-12+.  I look forward to reading this one, hopefully later this year.

Pepper - time for fresh cold water

What Mary & Joseph Knew About Parenting:  Surprising Insights from the Best (and Worst) Parents in the Bible by Rick Osborne - I admit - it was the title that intrigued me to buy this book.  I found this book a big help in picking apart and giving good insight into parents in the Bible.  The author did a great job at this.  I am not very good at really reflecting deeply and getting a lot of insights from what I read in the Bible, though I do try.  (I also often need help with practical application.)  I've often wondered why, for example, that King David had some really rotten children, since he was "a man after God's own heart."  Rick Osborne focused in on a particular verse in the Bible about David and after reading it I thought "Ohhhhh!"  I had never really thought about it.  This book has lots of short chapters.  First the Biblical story, then a discussion of it.  Then practical application on how to incorporate the lessons learned into your parenting.

The biddies are getting big!  And getting curious about that yard out there.

The Book List - April

Here it is almost June!  So I best get my April books list post done.

But first I wanted to share the link to a post by The Pioneer Girl Project about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her chickens.  (The Pioneer Girl project has recently published Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography which is Laura Ingalls Wilder's unpublished autobiography.  She later re-wrote her story (with the help of her daughter Rose) as what is known as the Little House books.)

Besides writing the Little House books, Laura wrote farming articles for The Ruralist and The Missouri Ruralist.  She also was the poultry columnist for St. Louis Farmer.  This post on The Pioneer Girl Project talks about some of her poultry articles.  I was interested to see that Laura's favorite breed of chickens was the Brown Leghorn.  We have two Leghorns.  This one is Peach - she has a very floppy comb on her head:

Peach - a Leghorn - easy to tell by the shape of the tail feathers

Silver Days by Sonia Levitin - After reading the first book in this series, Journey to America (see my post here), Tabby and I wanted to know - what happened to this Jewish immigrant family next?  (They had a harrowing escape from Nazi Germany.)  This book describes life for them in America.  Tabby liked this book better, and I liked the first one better.  This one was "too American" for me.  Meaning - not enough war and too much American pop culture from the time.  Still, it was interesting.

Annie's Promise by Sonia Levitin - This was the last book in the above mentioned series.  Definitely our least favorite!  It was about the youngest sister's stay at a summer camp, while WWII continues.  I guess I have read way too many camp stories when I was little and they're all the same.  Always the bad character that has it in for the main character and they spend time continuing to get each other back for bad things done to each other.  I just don't care.  But I did want to see what happened to the rest of the family so I pushed through to the end.

Solomon sitting in the rocking chair I had as a child and reading one of my old books:  The Little Engine that Could

 The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective by Martha Peace - This book was highly recommended to me by the woman that cuts my hair.  She said it's good for those of us with messy backgrounds.  It took me awhile to get through this book, but I finished with some real gems that I learned.  New ways to think about things that have helped me a lot.  (My hairdresser is the Titus 2 woman in my life.  She is a Christian has homeschooled and graduated 4 children and just knows so much about so many things.  I drive 40 minutes to her home, one way, just to get my haircut by her.  Besides her good counsel, she does an excellent job cutting hair.  Diana Beck at Wellspring Salon in Fuquay-Varina, NC.  Tabby gets her hair cut by Diana's daughter Lilly, at the same location.)

Mother hens are simply THE BEST mothers!  Here is Precious with 3 of Tabby's Silkie biddies

It Began with a Parachute by William R. Rang - Another book for history that Tabby and I both read. It is about a 12 year old boy in Holland, during the Nazi occupation.  One night he rescues an American navigator and hides him in his home.  That is when he finds out that his father is already involved in the Resistance!  A good book featuring a family that actually works together and respects each other (seems so rare these days).  Lots of adventure and character building moments.

Padme (another excellent mama hen!) with Leah - both are Silkies and belong to Tabby

Basher Five-Two: The True Story of F-16 Fighter Piolet Captain Scott O'Grady by Captain Scott O'Grady with Michael French - This was the last book in the Veritas Press history course Tabby recently finished.  A very exciting story!  Captain O'Grady was shot down in his F-16 over Bosnia.  He parachuted out of his plane as it exploded, and fell 5 miles down to the ground in enemy territory.  He shares how he survived - avoiding the enemy, no food to eat, depending on God - while he awaited rescue.

An Easter lily is growing on the left, 2 red Gladiolas growing on the right

Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris by Jennifer L. Scott - Ever since I read French Kids Eat Everything last year (see my post here), followed by Bringing Up Bebe, I have been fascinated in differences between the French and Americans.  Americans seem so childish, lazy, greedy, and sloppy, in so many ways.  (I'm not trying to be anti-American here - I am glad I am an American and not French.  Just putting it the way I see it.) The author of this book lived in Paris during college and learned many things from the French family she lived with.  She shares this wide variety of French things in her book. 

(I would be very interested to read this kind of book about other countries too.  If you know of any - please share the titles with me!)

The boys and I made gingerbread cookies on Memorial Day.  Solomon made gingerbread men and tractor shaped cookies.

Hunter (no surprise) made heating unit shaped cookies:  a gaspack and a ductless heat pump

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me...." - Psalm 28:7