August 24, 2009
August 23, 2009
10 Books That Will Always Stick with Me
Got tagged on FB.
Rules:
* Don't take too long to think about it.
* List 10 books you've read that will always stick with you.
* They should be the first 10 you can recall in no more than 10 minutes.
Here's My List... No particular order....
1. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
2. Horton Hatches the Egg - Dr Seuss
3. East of Eden - John Steinbeck
4. Blink - Malcolm Galdwell
5. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
6. Galileo's Daughter - Dana Sobel
7. The Dance of the Dissident Daughter - Sue Monk Kidd
8. Animal, Vegatable, Miracle - Barbara Kingsolver
9. Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser
10. Nickel and Dimed - Barbara Ehrenreich
What is your list?
Rules:
* Don't take too long to think about it.
* List 10 books you've read that will always stick with you.
* They should be the first 10 you can recall in no more than 10 minutes.
Here's My List... No particular order....
1. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
2. Horton Hatches the Egg - Dr Seuss
3. East of Eden - John Steinbeck
4. Blink - Malcolm Galdwell
5. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
6. Galileo's Daughter - Dana Sobel
7. The Dance of the Dissident Daughter - Sue Monk Kidd
8. Animal, Vegatable, Miracle - Barbara Kingsolver
9. Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser
10. Nickel and Dimed - Barbara Ehrenreich
What is your list?
August 22, 2009
Four Muses
Was feeling out of sorts yesterday, so decided to play with art supplies. Always makes me feel better. Instead of playing in my journal, I decided to create pieces that I could easily send in the mail. Here are the 4 cards I made yesterday. Click on images to enlarge. Really like how they turned out - it's never like I first imagine - somehow it is always better.
So let's play a game. I will send out one of these cards (randomly selected) to one reader (also randomly selected) of this blog. To enter the game, you need to leave a comment about what you do to soothe yourself when you are out of sorts.
Entry deadline is midnight August 31, EST.
So let's play a game. I will send out one of these cards (randomly selected) to one reader (also randomly selected) of this blog. To enter the game, you need to leave a comment about what you do to soothe yourself when you are out of sorts.
Entry deadline is midnight August 31, EST.
August 21, 2009
Visual Journal
I pre-painted this page - love the warm colors. Reminded me of summer and bare feet.
Am loving the fresh veggies from CSA. So many strange and wondrous things. I clearly need to work on my veggie drawing :-)
Summer feels like it is finally here. Love sailing season. The Boston Harbor Islands are such a gem and yet so many people have not been on them. This is the view from a mooring off Peddocks Island.
Bags. An obsession. Must have been a nomad in a past life.
Am loving the fresh veggies from CSA. So many strange and wondrous things. I clearly need to work on my veggie drawing :-)
Summer feels like it is finally here. Love sailing season. The Boston Harbor Islands are such a gem and yet so many people have not been on them. This is the view from a mooring off Peddocks Island.
Bags. An obsession. Must have been a nomad in a past life.
A friend passes
Attended a Celebration of Life for my friend Shan Bowers last night. It was lovely and exactly how she would have loved it - lots of tears and laughter and stories. She will be missed.
August 20, 2009
pTown West End
One of the incredible things about pTown is that you are surrounded by water in all directions. The light is incredible.
pTown Mooring Field
pTown Carnival Theme
pTown was one of our stops on the bday cruise. The town was getting ready for carnival week - theme was Summer of Love - Peace, Love and Go-Go boots! Some retro stuff.
August 19, 2009
Recent Reads
1. The Golem's Eye
Yes, this is a YA series, but so much fun. Book 2 of the Bartimaeus Trilogy. Read this book last week while hanging out at moorings, and loved it. I am not usually into fantasy books, though there are several memorable exceptions to this rule. Am spacing the last book of the trilogy out - something to look forward to. Love when I find books like that.
2. Judy Moody
Have been researching good books for my nieces (ages 7 and 6), and tried the first in this series. A good read for that age group. Will see what the girls think. A fun thing about reading books for kids, is that it takes me back to hanging out and reading as a kid myself. Such great joyous memories.
3. Sacred Hearts
Am currently reading this book and really liking it. If you have not read anything by the author, I would highly recommend starting with this book.
Yes, this is a YA series, but so much fun. Book 2 of the Bartimaeus Trilogy. Read this book last week while hanging out at moorings, and loved it. I am not usually into fantasy books, though there are several memorable exceptions to this rule. Am spacing the last book of the trilogy out - something to look forward to. Love when I find books like that.
2. Judy Moody
Have been researching good books for my nieces (ages 7 and 6), and tried the first in this series. A good read for that age group. Will see what the girls think. A fun thing about reading books for kids, is that it takes me back to hanging out and reading as a kid myself. Such great joyous memories.
3. Sacred Hearts
Am currently reading this book and really liking it. If you have not read anything by the author, I would highly recommend starting with this book.
Home Again
Back home after what feels like a long time. That is one of the great things about being out on the water, time slows way down. It finally feels like summer.
Came home to the news that my friend Shan passed away. She was only 56. Still cannot take it all in.
Came home to the news that my friend Shan passed away. She was only 56. Still cannot take it all in.
August 12, 2009
Boston Sunset (1)
It is finally sailing season in these parts. I see the most amazing sunsets on the water. Here is what it looked like a couple of nights ago - looking towards Boston from a mooring on Peddocks Island. A warm front was coming in, and the mares tails looked unreal. (Click on pics to enlarge).
August 10, 2009
Recent Reads
1. The Wednesday Sisters
Yes, a chick-lit book, but I enjoyed it. Not great writing, however the story of women friends, the trials they endure, the ways they grow draws you in. Loved the writing angle and the Miss America and the moon landing background. I laughed. I cried. I stayed up way past my bed time to finish it. Want a good beach read? Get this one and dive in.
2. A Disobedient Girl
Another book based on the lives of women. Picked this book up based on 2 things - the cover and the title. A good read, if a little light on the politics of the situation in Sri Lanka. 2 stories that intertwine in an interesting way. Having grown up with servants, I am drawn to reading about books told from their point of view.
Yes, a chick-lit book, but I enjoyed it. Not great writing, however the story of women friends, the trials they endure, the ways they grow draws you in. Loved the writing angle and the Miss America and the moon landing background. I laughed. I cried. I stayed up way past my bed time to finish it. Want a good beach read? Get this one and dive in.
2. A Disobedient Girl
Another book based on the lives of women. Picked this book up based on 2 things - the cover and the title. A good read, if a little light on the politics of the situation in Sri Lanka. 2 stories that intertwine in an interesting way. Having grown up with servants, I am drawn to reading about books told from their point of view.
August 6, 2009
Moon Viewing
After a fun day at Walden pond, we headed out to watch the moon rise - full moon time. Of course if we're going to be out, we gotta practice Judo. Beautiful evening to be out.
August 5, 2009
Recent Reads
Had the boys over yesterday, and of course one of the things we did was read books. Here are the current faves:
1. Biscuit
These are part of the "My First I Can Read Book" series. Luke reads these to us - simple funny story about this cute dog.
2. Bathtime for Biscuit
Ditto above. The boys giggled at the antics.
3. Goodnight Goon
"A petrifying parody" and quite fun.
4. Red Fox and his Canoe
You know as you read that this story is going to get worse before it gets better :-)
1. Biscuit
These are part of the "My First I Can Read Book" series. Luke reads these to us - simple funny story about this cute dog.
2. Bathtime for Biscuit
Ditto above. The boys giggled at the antics.
3. Goodnight Goon
"A petrifying parody" and quite fun.
4. Red Fox and his Canoe
You know as you read that this story is going to get worse before it gets better :-)
August 2, 2009
Summer Music
It finally feels like summer. I love the Lowell Summer Music Festival - a fantastic non-profit that brings some really great music to town. Last night we were joined by our pal Kathie to listen to Catie Curtis and Melissa Ferrick. It's a little hard to understand why they are both considered folk artists - their music is so different - though I hear it's all about whether you use an acoustic guitar (even if plugged in), as opposed to an electric one. Maybe someone who knows more can enlighten me. Either way, had a fab time - was a perfect night to be outside under the stars listening to good music.
I was able to capture some shots of Catie (she's the one in the green shirt) and gang while they were setting up before the concert. And yes, the woman at the far right is holding the cello like a guitar - she rocked too.
I was able to capture some shots of Catie (she's the one in the green shirt) and gang while they were setting up before the concert. And yes, the woman at the far right is holding the cello like a guitar - she rocked too.
August 1, 2009
Digging deeper
I'm sure you know by know that I keep a journal. Sometimes several at the same time. On paper or in a Word document. There is something about writing though - the squeeze of my fingers as I hold the pen. The slight scratch of the pen's nib as it moves along the paper. It simply makes me happy.
For me, journaling is like digestion. Think of what you would miss if you ate a great meal, and then no digestion. What great stuff would be lost. I find that keeping a journal enables me to live twice. Once as I actually experience an event, and then again as I write, ponder, question, reflect, rant about it in my journals.
It takes practice not to simply write a left brained entry - I did this, I saw that, Then I did this. Real reflection takes time and effort. It is often not easy to dig deeper. But I plod along anyway. To aid me in my efforts, I read voraciously on the topic of writing, especially journal writing. Am currently reading Old Friend from Far Away and am loving it. Here is a quote from the early pages:
Interesting what comes up no?
For me, journaling is like digestion. Think of what you would miss if you ate a great meal, and then no digestion. What great stuff would be lost. I find that keeping a journal enables me to live twice. Once as I actually experience an event, and then again as I write, ponder, question, reflect, rant about it in my journals.
It takes practice not to simply write a left brained entry - I did this, I saw that, Then I did this. Real reflection takes time and effort. It is often not easy to dig deeper. But I plod along anyway. To aid me in my efforts, I read voraciously on the topic of writing, especially journal writing. Am currently reading Old Friend from Far Away and am loving it. Here is a quote from the early pages:
The muscles of writing are not so visible, but they are just as powerful: determination, attention, curiosity, a passionate heart.So here is an exercise I did this morning. Get comfortable. Set a timer for ten minutes. Tell me what you will miss when you die. Ten minutes. Go.
Interesting what comes up no?
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