Monday, November 28, 2011

Thanksgiving ~ Fun, Family, and Food!

Every other year we celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.  On the years we are not with the nuts from my family tree (and I love each and everyone of you!), we celebrate with my husband's side of the family.  This year we had a special treat.

The wonderful parent-in-laws invited us to have the big meal at their new (to them) lake house at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.  They own half this duplex, condo, town home, whatever the correct term is!


The five grandkids had a blast exploring...


skipping rocks,


riding scooters,



and even taking a boat ride in the inflatable, two person kayak.

after Mimi and Poppa had their turn of course!

We all had a nice relaxing time at the lake.  We enjoyed great food (which I forgot to get pictures of), fun with family, from sun up

to sun down (and then some!)

I hope your Thanksgiving holiday was a blessed as ours and may we remember to give thanks for each day we have with friends, family and loved ones!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Book Review - The Realms Thereunder

I reviewed this book for Booksneeze.  I picked the e-book format so I could get the book immediately and start reading it right away.  The description of the book was that intriguing.  I also found out after reading the book it is the first in a trilogy. Within the first few pages, I was drawn in.  I didn’t want to put it down.  Freya and Daniel were connected in their past, separated, and then in young adulthood, they needed each other again. 

Unfortunately, after the first few chapters, the book got strange, hard to keep up with, and hard to understand.   Old world spelling is used for very different names, which for me were unpronounceable.  The story kept jumping from the past to the present, from reality to illusion.  When I finished the book, and I did struggle to finish, I had no sense of learned anything from the story.  I wasn’t sure why the characters had to struggle, why certain things happened, or even why some characters and scenes were in the book at all.

I don’t have “get” something from every book I read, but I don’t want to feel confused by a fiction book I am reading for enjoyment.  Usually when I read the beginning of a trilogy, the beginning of a saga, I can’t wait to find out what happens next.  I am content to leave Daniel and Freya where they were when The Realms Thereunder ended. 

I love reading and will not stop investigating new (to me) authors.  I love finding a writer that engages my imagination and challenges me to think through concepts and ideas to gain understanding.  This book jumped around from time to time and from real world to fantasy world to much to understand if there was symbolism in the places and characters.

I cannot recommend this book to my fellow readers.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Happy Birthday

Last week was my birthday.  I got a great pair of earrings and a nook cover with a notepad inside from my guys.  They also made me a cake. Yum!


I was sung to five or six times, received many birthday wishes on Facebook, was texted by friends, and opened loads of birthday cards from friends and family.

Thanks everyone.  It was a great day.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Must Do List

This week there is a LOT going on.  Here is my to-do Must-Get-Done list and the deadlines:

Sew Cubbie patches on a few vests - Tonight
Sew ATA patches in a new student uniform - Tonight
Take Black piping off my husband's uniform - Friday
Sew red piping around the collar of my husband's uniform - Friday
Teach school - every morning
Bake and decorate a cake - Friday
Go and cheer my men on at the karate tournament - Saturday

I better keep this short.  I have a few things to do!