Readathon Cheering: Give Me a B - O - O - K!

Today, I'll be cheerleading those 24 hr. readers on while they read, read, read. I'm looking forward to this opportunity to cheer on their love of reading.
I'm also excited to hear about what they are reading(more for my TBR list), read cool book blogs (purely selfish reason to cheer) and see photo's about their snacks(yummy!) and other things around them (so interesting).

Go, Go, Go Readers! Whip out those books and read!

I'll be thinking of you all day (I really, really mean that) as I continue doing all those busy things that I've committed to today as well. Hard to believe, you're 11 hrs. in and I'm just getting this down (sorry I'm slow about this) since I've been up since about 7 a.m. (like all of you) trying to do just that and be a part of it all. I love Readathon's!

Anyway, here's a few of the things I've done today while you've been reading away:

Sent my son on a 5 mile hike early this morning.

Taught a card making class plus some adorable tags at the Super Saturday craft day at our church.

Made Potato Cheese Soup for the luncheon at Super Sat.

Drove my oldest daughter to a Service Project.

Finished shopping to get my daughter ready for Science Camp on Mon.

Pumpkin Carving with my children.

Now, off to craft some more.

I'd like to make some bookish papercraft things as well today like a bookmark or two.

I'll also make sure to read a few chapters of a book today as well.

That's why I can only cheer you on. Oh, how I'd love to be reading with you. Someday, I will.

Teaser Tuesdays (8)

Introduced to me by: Bookworm Barista
Hosted by: MizB of Should be reading

*Anyone can play ~ Find your current read, share a quote from a random page plus do tell what you're reading.
*Remember, you are always welcome to share your teaser in the comments as well. I really liked that Erin did that last time. :) Thanks for participating, Erin!
*For more details be sure to look up how on the links above.


My teaser:

"Here's to responsibility," he toasted. "Twice a week."
"And recklessness every day in between," I emphasized.

pg. 164, New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

My thoughts:
I've been aiming to read this through for a long time but it is taking me a long time. I'd really like to finish it before the movie. So, that's what I'm trying to do.

I finished R.I.P. IV Reading Challenge

I finished reading the book I chose for the R.I.P IV Reading Challenge. It feels good to have fulfilled my commitment. I also wrote up my review on 5-squared too. It was a perfect choice for this year.
Now, I'm going to see if its possible for me to finish one more and review it in time. Besides, I 'd really like to finish New Moon by Stephanie Meyer before the movie comes out so that's what I'll read. I'll let you know how it goes!

Life, Death and NaNoWriMo

Life seems to have been a bit of a slippery slope for me lately. Everything from dealing with my own mood swings to more car troubles. Day by day, I find I have more to do. Reminds me of Mr. Incredible,

"No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes!"

I've been desperately trying to organize a bit of a space upstairs to help aid in the ability to enjoy doing the things I love best at home. Little by little it's coming along and looking more like the Art/Writing/Papercraft studio I've always dreamed about. Plus, I have a nice place to read and I really love my comfy chair that Jared bought for me when I had Noah. That's been a comforting place lately.

Here's a few book quotes:

“You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.”

Paul Sweeney

“Books open your mind, broaden your mind, and strengthen you as nothing else can”

William Feather


My grandmother Lillian passed away this week. Truly, a remarkable woman. I was told about it on Weds. and that her funeral arrangements were made for Fri. and Sat. After researching about tickets, I just couldn't take away the money it would consume from the family, given our current financial state, to get me to the funeral. It was a tough decision. I hated it. I've had to find my own way to feel closure. I don't deal too well with that considering I still have things I drive my husband and friends batty with because I can't get over it. I don't know how to fix that either.
So, here's what I wrote on facebook:

Things I remember about visiting my Grandma Lillian: warm hello's, treats on the orange rug, singing songs, sloppy joes, coffee table magazine's, perfume filled hugs, memorized poetry and sad goodbye's. I'll really miss my dear sweet Grandma. I'm grateful that she is not in pain anymore and reunited with Grandpa now. I'm unable to attend the funeral this weekend but I'm looking forward to hearing about it.

I'll add here that my sister mentioned Grandma giving us her hard ribbon candy and I remember Werther's or butterscotch hard candies too.

"He(She) who has gone, so we but cherish his(her) memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery {R.I.P. Grandma Lil}


I did it! I did it! I signed up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and you can see my progress here. If you're doing it, I'd be happy to have you as a writing buddy. To say the least, I pretty much feel like this quote from the movie A Beautiful Mind:

Hansen: So how about it, Nash? You scared?
Nash: Terrified... mortified... petrified... stupefied... by you.

Yet another classic line:

Nash: Classes will dull your mind, destroy the potential for authentic creativity.

I'll be seeking that potential next month. I'd like to wish all who participate this year in NaNo the very best and lots of luck! Whatever comes of it, one thing is sure, it's going to be memorable!

Teaser Tuesdays (7)

Introduced to me by: Bookworm Barista
Hosted by: Should Be Reading

*Anyone can play ~ Find your current read, share a quote from a random page plus do tell what you're reading. I'm playing because I love quotes!
Remember, you are always welcome to share your teaser in the comments as well. I really enjoyed that Karen did that last time. :) Thanks, Karen! Btw, her book blog is superb so you should check it out here.
For more details be sure to look up how on the links above.

My teaser this Tuesday:

"Would you like a cup of tea?"
It was strange to be inside myself, walking steadily and rigidly past the fence, putting my feet down strongly but without hast that they might have noticed, to be inside and know that they were looking at me; I was hiding very far inside but I could hear them and see them still from one corner of my eye. I wished they were all lying there dead on the ground.

pg. 23, We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson

*My note:
I had to share this quote since I am really enjoying this book! I've been savoring each little bit. I love the atmosphere of it too. It's been a perfect read for this month.

100 Mile Fitness Challenge

I need to get walking and get motivated so I'm going to sign up and do this challenge by Trish. So the challenge is to “travel” 100 miles from October 1st through December 31st. It sounds great! I'll be glad to have an opportunity to challenge myself with exercise. So, here I go. Wish me luck.

If you'd like to join and get started be sure to look and sign up here.

Today I'll share a poem with you

Another Realm of Reality
by Julie A. Carter

Let me dream in fantasy;
haunting love
of delicious dewdrops,
magical lily pads,
where worlds are born anew.
In your caress
love blooms
as butterfly wings.
Oh, don’t flutter away
or find me lost;
Let me come to save you
from haunting deep
or tainted troubles.
That actually change
shape or form;
As if only a ghost
would know its indescribable
beauty from whence
we learn of our own
becoming…

Interesting bit - Biblio/Poetry Therapy

Some of these people need ten years of therapy - ten sentences of mine
do not equal ten years of therapy.
~ Oscar Wilde ~

I've been thinking about a few ideas of what I'd like to write about. I have found that I really enjoy reading book blogs and a lot of them participate in The Sunday Salon. I've learned so much from reading them. I've wondered about participating, feeling a bit more confidence and perhaps writing a bit more each Sunday about what I learn from reading books too.
I also love poetry and so I've been reading & writing a bit of that as well. Imagine, if you will, what I thought when I found out as I was browsing in a blog search today, in a post by Rachel Marsom, that you can actually become trained and have skills in what is now being dubbed as Biblio/Poetry Therapy. It seems like a really great concept and it would be neat to have these credentials. A very nice one really.
For instance, we can actually help people through books and poetry. It's not so far-fetched for I'd venture to say it works. As for me, book bloggers have opened up wonderful insights into books that have already helped me. I so appreciate that.
Thank you. This card is for you.

Let's see if I can get back on track...

Here's a photo of a Halloween treat pail that I've made and at one time I taught a class on how to make it. I really like how it turned out even if I do say so myself. I don't have a supply list for you since it has been a long time since it all came together. It was fun and just looking at it now gets me right back into the mood for this Halloween season!

On another note:
After I have been quite neglectful of my blog, I'm going to work toward getting back on track. I'll see if I can bring my ideas for blogging to fruition and not over think everything.
Primarily and for your information, I use this blog to concentrate on what I love to create, what I love in the bookish world like the book blogs, reading challenges or memes I may be interested in (my book reviews are on 5-squared and I enjoy my fellow bloggers in the community there), and my love of writing and sharing poems and short stories too. Oh, plus I do love food and so you can find my recipes here. I treasure these things and I hope to be able to share more. I can, I can and I will. This is my challenge.