Finding Joy: November 2008

Monday, November 17, 2008

Just because. . .

. . . I realized that I never posted any of the Price kids on this blog. It was fun to have them in town and now I'm hoping Amy is not dying in her new job. Not that she has time to check such things as blogs anymore, but thinking of you, Amy.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Savvy Shopper

I am becoming quite the savvy shopper. I never was one to be that on top of details. All this finding and then shopping the sales was so time consuming and overwhelming, I kind of didn't try to get a handle on it. When is something on a good sale? Why, when it says "power price" on the florescent orange sign below it, of course. Besides, I really have never liked buying large quantities of anything. How much will we eat and how fast? I didn't pay that much attention.

But, as I've made a push to get our food storage in order and was researching different options. . .namely freeze dried. . .I stumbled across this blog and website and this was it. I'd always wanted to have a grocery store in the basement pantry like my in-laws super deluxe one. That idea of food storage (stocking up on what you normally eat and would naturally rotate) always sat well with me but how was I to know how much of something we would eat and when it was on a great sale? Well, now I know. If you're in Utah and need someone to spell out weekly what is selling for a great price and where and how much you should buy for a year's supply (roughly), check this website and blog out. Loving it. Now I stock up with confidence, price match with ease, and grocery shopping is fun.

Enjoy!

www.myfoodstoragedeals.com
www.myfoodstoragedeals.blogspot.com

Monday, November 10, 2008

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

We had a wonderful party last night. It was great to be together to celebrate Mom. She makes the world a happy place.

This is Mom with her new BLUE and DIGITAL camera. (It matches the inside of her new oven. Ahh, blue. I love you too.)

Wish you all could have been there. We would have shared.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Cute for my sake

A few mornings ago Caleb and Katie ran over to me where I was lying on the floor doing sit ups. Giggling, they laid down by me and threw up their legs in the air like mine and then looked over at me giggling some more. Katie jumped up and then Caleb too, and he toddled after her squealing with delight for more sibling fun.

I thought to myself, their cuteness is entirely for me right now. Only I am here to see and enjoy their deliciousness. They will never remember how cute they are at this age, but I will. I love kissing their chubby cheeks and cuddling them to me. Lucky me to be a mom of little ones.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Happy, happy Halloween

Hope you had a spooky good time!

Readings

"Star of the Morning" by Lynn Kurland. I'm really taken with how this book takes a different person's perspective each chapter. It added a demention to the characters to contrast being inside their head with viewing them through others around them.
"Fairest" by Gail Carson Levine. I like this author's fairytales quite a bit. Good, clean fun. Something I would let my young-adult read.
"Heart's Blood" by Juliet Marillier. Another winner by Marillier. A beauty and the Beast kind of story.
"The Hunger Games" bySuzanne Collins. So, when is the next book coming out? What a fast read and I'm ready for more. I had to laugh at some of the similarities to the reality shows (Bachelor, Idol, etc.). I liked.
"The Chosen" by Carol Lynch Williams. A rather disturbing look at life for one young girl in a Polygamist society. Very well written.
"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Charming and delightful. Written as letters between the characters.
"Fire in the Bones: William Tyndale--Martyr, Father of the English Bible" S. Michael Wilcox
"Daughter of the Forest", "Son of the Shadows" and "Child of the Prophecy" by Juliet Marillier. Sevenwaters Trilogy. Beautiful and full of heart. I really connected with this author and her rich development of themes and characters. Great messages about love and loyalty. However, these aren't for everyone. I have a neighbor friend that offered her "edited" versions so there may be a few objectionable paragraphs. Too bad there's not a clean flicks for books.
"Heir to Sevenwaters" by Juliet Mariller. Not my favorite but a good read. A compelling story.
"Wildwood Dancing" by Juliet Marillier. A lighter read. Again, I thought this author developed the characters and relationships expertly. I like what she said about love and friendship.
"A Curse Dark as Gold" by Elizabeth C. Bunce. I read this awhile ago. If you want to escape from thinking about finances, don't read this book. Although the main character's struggles with money could identify with a modern audience. A good read.
"How to Talk and Talk So Kids Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
"Siblings Without Rivalry"
"Sarah's Quilt" by Nancy Turner. Will I be booed if I say I didn't really like this book?
"The Truth About Forever" by Sarah Dessen. A beautifully written story about healing and then, ahhh, summer romance. Great book club read.
"Enchantment" by Orson Scott Card. I've always like this author. I thought this book was well written. A retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story jumping between the modern and medevil world. I liked the thoughts on community in this book and how we've lost much of that in modern, big city, more transient society.
"Pretties" and "Specials" by Scott Westerfield. Fast reads for me. I think I may have liked the first one best though. Thanks for suggesting these, Cari. I thought they dealt with some good issues. I've started talking in my head like a teenager though. And that's just so unmature making.
"Uglies" by Scott Westerfield. Why oh why didn't I request the next two books in this trilogy from my library at the same time I did the first? Now I have to wait for half of Springville to finish so I can gain some closure and move on with my life. Great Book Club read.
"Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson. Won a Pulitzer Prize. A man, a minister, witing to his son before he dies. Written stream of thought style. A bit hard to get into for me but there were some good messages about faith and friendship.
"The Thief" by Magen Whalen Turner. This was a Newberry Honor book. I didn't think I was going to like it for the first fourth to half of the book but by the end, I'm a fan. Fantasy Fiction.
"Celia Garth" by Gwen Bristow. This was a blast from the past. . .literally. A great historical fiction. It used to be one of my favorite reads but now it is out of the libraries and out of print. I bought it from some antiques book store and had fun re-reading it after so many years. I still like it a lot. I'll have to get Bethany to read it and tell me if the Revolutionary War facts are all historically correct. Let me know if anyone wants to borrow it.
"These is my words : the diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 : Arizona territories : a novel" by Nancy E. Turner. Wonderful story. I loved many of the descriptions and feelings related about being a wife and mother. It was a great escape for me but yet so many of the struggles and joys of this lady are my reality. I devoured it this past weekend. (Sorry for ignoring you, Brad.) Thanks for picking it for book club, Brooke.
"The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman-- great read for book group. I'm not an atheist yet. . . there's still time though. I'm on to read the sequel.
"The Sneaky Chef"-- In true New Years' fashion, I've been making a little healthy push by trying out recipes in this book. I spent one Saturday shopping and pureeing like a crazy chef and it was fun.

Finding Joy