Linda's Nook

2011-09-17T15:09:00.003-06:00

16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a short romance/soap opera without closure for a few of the characters which is to be expected I suppose since this is #1 in a very successful series by a very popular author. Not a squeaky clean read coffee table book, due to some minor sexual titallation, but at least there's no vulgar language.

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The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

2011-09-17T13:43:00.003-06:00

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In addition to this book's overall high ratings, its intriguing title captured my interest. Yet it failed to enchant me and clearly I'm in the minority. Her visuals were good but the characters were not engaging. I thought the writing was a bit verbose, yet overall it's probably a good book for older YA *confident* readers. After reading several books in this genre I've come to the conclusion that fantasy fiction is just not my thing.

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A Lesson Before Dying

2011-09-15T17:55:00.002-06:00

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I felt that the main character was not Jefferson, the wrongfully condemned man and the lesson he learned before his execution, but was Grant, the narrator and his anger, nay rage, and cowardice regarding the treatment of his people (Blacks), in 1940's. Both men learn a valuable lesson: how to become a man, Jefferson by dying for his people, and Grant by standing up for his beliefs. The book was slow going & somewhat repetitive until the last 100 pages when we read Jefferson's thoughts and see his transformation. I'd like to have read more about Jefferson. It almosts get there, but not quite.

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2011-09-15T17:22:00.002-06:00

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If your passion is English history, specifically the Tudor & Plantagenet dynasties and 15th-16th century succession to the throne, then this is the book for you! It satisfies academically, but is definitely not entertaining fiction. The "daughter of time" is not a person, but "truth," as opposed to "authority." Tey, the author, presents a convincing argument: the "princes in the tower" were *not* murdered by their uncle, Richard III, and he was in fact a competent & highly revered monarch. This of course is in opposition to public school history books, Shakespeare's famous play, and popular thought. Henry the VII was the real bounder. I liked it very much; but then I'm a bit of a nut for this kind of thing & wouldn't recommend it to casual readers.

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2011-08-25T17:34:00.000-06:00

Unless by Carol Shields

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is beautifully written and deals with some serious topics. The main character is a 44 year old mother of 3 girls, one of whom is a bright college dropout who is essentially homeless and spending her days/months as mute, wearing a sign around her neck that says "Goodness" and panhandling on a Toronto street corner. Any $ or gifts she receives she promptly gives to the poor. It is also a story of a self analytical writer (the mother), writing about a writer, as she attempts to unravel not only the reasons behind her daughter's disturbed state but about herself and the place of women in an increasingly insensitive society. It has a happy conclusion. Shields is Pulitzer Prize winning author of "The Stone Diaries," which I loved. This book was published in 2002, shortly before her death from cancer.

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2011-08-25T17:00:00.002-06:00

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this, afterall it is Steinbeck. Audio version could have been better because it is read slowly, making the story drag, bordering boring. I'm certain I would have enjoyed it more and appreciated Steinbeck's considerable talent as a writer if I had read instead of listened to it.

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2011-08-25T17:00:00.001-06:00

Brokeback Mountain. CD by Annie Proulx

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a disturbing novella. It starts with a rape and ends sadly with what most of society would describe as destroyed lives. Actually, it doesn't "end;" it just stops. I felt like a voyeur and did not enjoy it, but I will remember it.

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2009 Book of the Year

2011-08-19T11:15:00.001-06:00

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an absorbing family saga that moves from India to a mission hospital in Haile Selassie's Ethiopia, to an inner city hospital in NYC, and back to Ethiopia. The intersection between skillfully drawn plot and characters with accurate medical scenarios creates both a sense that the story is true and disappointment at the realization that it is not. If you read and liked The Kite Runner, this is even better and I highly recommend it. I listened to audio version which is particularly well done.

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The Man in the Rockefeller Suit

2011-08-15T18:21:00.000-06:00

The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Imposter by Mark Seal

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this especially interesting beause part of this stranger-than-fiction real life true story took place in San Marino, the town in which I was raised, and because an incident related to his life was close to home. The man who calls himself Clark Rockefeler is currently in prison for abductng his little girl and has been charged with a murder that took place in the 1980's. His preliminary hearing for the murder trial is scheduled this week.

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Sometimes a Great Notion

2011-08-15T17:07:00.004-06:00

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/529626.Sometimes_a_Great_Notion">Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic book, considered an American classic, by the author of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/853494.One_Flew_over_the_Cuckoos_Nest, told from several points of view combined with flashbacks. Suggest not trying to listen to audio version (I tried & found I had to get the print version to figure out what was going on.) A rewarding read. I know that movie versions of great books are often a letdown, but I'm going to check it out so that I can drool over Paul Newman.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2455252-linda-hart">View all my reviews

2011-08-15T16:43:00.000-06:00

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77554.The_Stone_Diaries">The Stone Diaries by http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12034.Carol_Shields">Carol Shields
My rating: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/192451154">5 of 5 stars

The ordinary life of an ordinary lady told in an extraordinary way. The characters develop and scenes unfold beautifully with nuances of language shifting rom 1st to 3rd person and back again. In one instance the main character is describing her feelings and then you go on and read how her family and friends interpreted the same thing. The publisher calls it "seductive prose" which is fitting description, It won the 1995 Puitzer prize.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2455252-linda-hart">View all my reviews

so many books....so little time

2011-07-19T17:25:00.002-06:00

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Clearly in the minority of readers, I found this NY Times Best Seller "epic fantasy" to be a verbose, bloated, complex and disjointed mess with the characters going in circles, battle after battle, flashback after flash-forward, and constantly changing voices. It doesn't even begin to come together until about page 600, and even then it doesn't really ramp up for another 250 pages, with the final result being a giant prologue to his newest fantasy series. When the 1007 page novel finally ends it isn't really over and I don't care to read another 9,000 pages of sequels to reach the real conclusion. This is one novel that would benefit from a ruthless Reader Digest condensation.

But don't decide to read it or not based upon my opinion as I'm definitely not an epic fantasy aficionado and 66% of Goodreads readers give it 5 stars; less than 1% give it 1 star. I give him high marks for masterfully crafting a complex fictional world of fauna, flora, terrains, extreme ecospheres, civilizations with multiple races, cultures, ethnicities and class structures, complete with its own Stormlight Series taboo words & phrases e.g. "storm it". Hey, there are even multiple palindromes. And I give high praise for omitting all too common obscene language, vulgarities and gratuitous sex.*

His overall theme is laudable: Life before death; strength before weakness; journey before destination. Still, the clever complexity feels more like schizophrenic disorganization. With so many books, and so little time, choose carefully.

*This is a "Squeaky Clean Reads" book http://www.squeakycleanreads.com/

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Louie Zamperini is the Unbroken in Laura Hillenbrand's 2nd Best Seller

2011-06-17T00:59:00.003-06:00

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely compelling, amazing nonfiction. Clear, evocative, and emotionally exhaustive narrative about the indomitable will of Louis Zamperini, and his fellow POWs to survive man's inhumanity to man in the Pacific Theatre of WWII. Louie, an Olympic Runner(1938 4 min. mile)known worldwide as the Calif. "Torrance Tornado", the son of Italian immigrants and his fellow airmen Phil, and Mac, were adrift 47 days(!) covering 4000 miles(!)in a life raft with *no* food & scant provisions (fish hooks but no bait, 4 canisters of water...) 4 attacks of enemy airfire, sea storms, and horrendous daily shark attacks, only to be captured by the Japanese Army and endure prison camp atrocities for an additional 2 years 4 months. I will remember these men, along with Harris and the other POWs, the Zamperini family, and the sadistic camp commander, Watanabe ("the Bird"). I will forever be grateful for these men and carry sadness for 140,000 POWs held in Japan's camps, 36,000 of whom died. This book will make you cry, rage, wonder and cheer.

Hildebrand is also the author of Sea Biscuit.

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Garden Spells

2011-06-10T15:05:00.002-06:00

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another book dripping with Southern (North Carolina) charm, that was a fun escape read. Romantic fiction with a culinary twist--think of Like Water for Chocolate. It is whimsical, lovely, magical, enchanting, and a thoroughly delightful book. I LOVED this book by a first time author!

from the flyleaf:
"The women of the Waverley family -- whether they like it or not -- are heirs to an unusual legacy, one that grows in a fenced plot behind their Queen Anne home on Pendland Street in Bascom, North Carolina. There, an apple tree bearing fruit of magical properties looms over a garden filled with herbs and edible flowers that possess the power to affect in curious ways anyone who eats them.

For nearly a decade, 34-year-old Claire Waverley, at peace with her family inheritance, has lived in the house alone, embracing the spirit of the grandmother who raised her, ruing her mother's unfortunate destiny and seemingly unconcerned about the fate of her rebellious sister, Sydney, who freed herself long ago from their small town's constraints. Using her grandmother's mystical culinary traditions, Claire has built a successful catering business -- and a carefully controlled, utterly predictable life -- upon the family's peculiar gift for making life-altering delicacies: lilac jelly to engender humility, for instance, or rose geranium wine to call up fond memories. Garden Spells reveals what happens when Sydney returns to Bascom with her young daughter, turning Claire's routine existence upside down. With Sydney's homecoming, the magic that the quiet caterer has measured into recipes to shape the thoughts and moods of others begins to influence Claire's own emotions in terrifying and delightful ways.

As the sisters reconnect and learn to support one another, each finds romance where she least expects it, while Sydney's child, Bay, discovers both the safe home she has longed for and her own surprising gifts. With the help of their elderly cousin Evanelle, endowed with her own uncanny skills, the Waverley women redeem the past, embrace the present, and take a joyful leap into the future. "

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Comingof Age in Savannah Georgia

2011-06-10T14:44:00.001-06:00

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it. A young girl surrounded by beautiful, strong, crazy, and wise women with Southern charm discovers who she is and how to let go of an unhappy past. A fun chick-lit read. I LOVED this book by a first time author! Reminded me of The Secret Life of Bees.

From goodreads.com review:

"Steel Magnolias meets The Help in this Southern debut novel sparkling with humor, heart, and feminine wisdom

Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.

In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah's perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women. From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapons, to Tootie's all-knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.

Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching, Beth Hoffman's sparkling debut is, as Kristin Hannah says, "packed full of Southern charm, strong women, wacky humor, and good old-fashioned heart." It is a novel that explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship and gives us the story of a young girl who loses one mother and finds many others."

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Gorky Park--A Cold War Era Russian Crime Detective Novel

2011-06-10T14:27:00.001-06:00

Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a time-tested popular classic crime fiction, obviously much appreciated according to its high ratings, but this is not a fun read. I admit that Smith is a word smith (no pun intended), but this is not my favorite genre --international intrigue, labyrinthine crime thriller with lots of bloody violence, gore, and more f-words and macho sex than I care for.

Although the mostly corrupt characters are well drawn, except for bumbling Pasho, I didn't care for any of them. Irina is self absorbed, shallow, completely lacking in moral strength, but hey, she's so gorgeous that even ragged shabby clothes look terrific on her. Arkady, the good guy hero, scorns almost everyone & everything. He is arrogant, morose, cynical, and emotionally conflicted. I couldn't decide if he was skilled or just plain lucky with his unrealistic, "gut feeling" approach to exposing corruption and dishonesty. But he was a maverick with integrity and afterall he was successful.

Having been to Moscow & Leningrad in the early 90's, and being somewhat famiiar with Russian history & cultrue, I got right into the dark feeling of the book, but I felt the first 1/3 of it dragged.

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Y is for Yorick, A Slightly Irreverent Shakespearean ABC Book for Grown-Ups

2011-05-29T19:29:00.001-06:00

Y is for Yorick: A Slightly Irreverent Shakespearean ABC Book for Grown-Ups by Jennifer Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this little book!! It's a humorous tongue-in-cheek quick reference on Shakespeare's characters and works. "C is for Claudius. He killed his brother and married his brother's widow, Gertrude. However, he forgot to take into account the stepchildren.(Hamlet). . ."U is for Ursula, a maid who nobody remembers...If you want to be remembered it is better to be a queen, king, murderer, cross-dresser, or ghost.(Much Ado About Nothing)"

The book includes a brief synopsis of each of his plays. I enjoyed it so much that it is my current bathroom book and am now reading it a second time. In addition to being a great graduation gift, I highly recommend it to anyone who, like the author, "has a general affinity for civilized dark humor and all things British." (flyleaf)

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The Scent of Rain and Lightning

2011-05-29T18:50:00.002-06:00

The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story kept me involved with sustained suspense. I didn't expect the truth until the big reveal at the end. The plot, sub-plot and characters are all successfully developed. I felt the joys and the pains of each of the latter as their individual stories unfolded. The novel is a well written, stand alone mystery reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark. It would have earned 5 stars from me were it not for the occasional "f-bombs" and some adult content. This is my first read from Pickard and won't be my last.

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Moon Over Manifest

2011-05-22T22:00:00.002-06:00

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's easy to see why this is a 2011 Newberry Award winner, but difficult to credit as Vanderpool's *debut* novel. The plot is cleverly complex with a pervasive air of mystery; the voices of the characters are clear and distinctive; the 1936 town and its 1918 incarnation come alive; and the whole thing is written with a steady hand. Please, please don't dismiss a book because it is labeled as a children's or YA book. There is plenty of substance in there for us big people. There are many nuances and undercurrents, and imho many under age 15 would not "get it" and may find it slow & boring. (If you want to get teens to read, give them Printz Award winners.) That being said, this is a beautiful coming of age story about a girl finding out about herself and the world around her. It is an absolute gem.

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Intrigue and Suspense

2011-05-22T20:21:00.001-06:00

Einstein's Trunk by Jim Haberkorn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This mystery/thriller piqued my interest immediately and I didn't want to put it down. The plot is exciting, suspenseful, gripping and keeps the reader wondering what's going to happen next. The good guy is really "good:" an international spy who believes in no sex before marriage, and who doesn't drink, smoke, or cuss. No gratuitous sex or vulgar language. The characters are so well drawn and the locale so well described that 2 weeks later I still have visual pictures of both in my mind and am waiting for the next adventure from this talented author. I can imagine a movie being made of this.

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EINSTEIN'S TRUNK

2011-05-07T00:00:00.001-06:00

Einstein's Trunk by Jim Haberkorn

I'm only into this suspense novel a little way and don't want to put it down. This promises to be a great quick read!

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When You're Holding a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail

2011-04-08T15:50:00.004-06:00

Tennessee middle school assistant football coach, age 26, fired for a song he wrote & sent to his family & friends by private email. When you go to the link for the song, there are a couple of sites that give the news on the firing. This could be the next number one hit country song. It's the best effort yet at encapsulating the outrage at the oversteps of this government in an entertaining song .. Apparently the guy was fired over the song because some parents complained. Shameful if it´s true. If you like it, help it go "viral" by passing it along to everyone you know.

Click for a great song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfH46DTAkxo

Outliers: The Story of Success

2011-02-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read this. You will be talking about it to your family & friends for a long time. Many people read only fiction and that is a shame, because Malcolm Gladwell has revolutionized non- fiction writing. His first 2 books were best sellers: "The Tipping Point" and "Blink." I’ve read both and being primarily a fiction reader, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed them. But this third book, in which he explains the story of success, is my favorite.

Citing case after fascinating case of successful people & organizations Gladwell’s point becomes unforgettably clear: successful people are often talented, intelligent, and ambitious, yes, but these traits *always* converge with opportunities. These opportunities include cultural environment, where and when a person is born—even their birth month, and luck: being in the right place at the right time. Forget genius. Hard work combined with opportunity is everything. Since he writes so clearly this is a fast and fascinating read, well woth the few hours invested.

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"Bleak" is not Bleak

2010-12-18T10:13:00.002-07:00

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't remember ever hearing of this novel, considered by many to be Dickens' best narrative & social history of 19th century England. A month ago I listened to the audio book & found it extremely compelling. Then I checked out the 3 DVD (3 1/2 hr!)BBC series video from the library & we watched it in one sitting. NOW I'm reading the 900 page book and it's *still* a page turner! His characters are wonderful & the story with all its inter-related subplots is compelling. I had forgotten how much I loved Dickens prose. Next I'm going to read 2 other novels of his with which I am unfamiliar: "Nicholas Nickleby," and "Our Mutual Friend."

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A Short Guide to a Happy Life

2010-12-17T17:26:00.002-07:00

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fast read (less than 30 minutes)by one of my favorite authors. It was originally a commencement address. Very uplifting call to reality & what is most important.

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Showing Off the Silver

2009-06-04T23:35:00.000-06:00

It's been awhile since I posted something new, however in May I *did* do a "Guest Post" on my 5 daughters' blog, Bossy, titled "Platinum Princess"
You can read it & see some fun photos with varying hair colors & silly comments. Click HERE.

It's how to gracefully go from my original very dark (black)brunette: to this (I'm talking about hair color, not 7 month old Henry) & have fun in the process:
I think you'll ENJOY it.

Remember, "Comments are like chocolate to bloggers," so please post your COMMENT when you are through!

Life Really Boils Down to 2 Questions

2009-05-06T17:06:00.018-06:00

Posted with thanks to my beautiful, VERY funny friend,

MARY CALLISTER, for emailing this silly thing to me:

(I don't know whose dog & kids they are, but we've all been there before!)

In every young woman's life there are 2 Ponderable Questions:

1. Should I get a dog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?

.

.

.

.

.

2. Or should I have Children . . . . . . . . . . . ?

Hope it made you laugh!

FEEDING THE MISSIONARIES

2009-04-04T21:05:00.005-06:00

We had these WONDERFUL young men over for dinner 3 weeks ago. It has taken me too long to post about it.
Elder Garcia, from Texas, and Elder Naylor, from San Diego, Calif.,
Elder Naylor's mom, Diane, is a blogging friend of my daughter, Robin. When she found out that Robin was from Boise she posted a comment on Robin's blog that her son was on a mission here. I went to Diane's blog & recognized him as the new Elder in our ward! Now she, her son, & his companions refer to me as "the blog stalker!" Look at Diane & Robin's really GREAT blogs--click here:
Diane Naylor and RobinSmith

Our cute granddaughter, Hannah, joined us which made it an especially enjoyable evening.

We really love having the missionaries in our home, but having Elder Naylor here is especially fun because of the blogging connection between his mom & my daughter. They met each other online through mutual blogging friends & family!
This was our Dinner Menu:

Thai Chicken Curry (recipe below)
Saffron Rice
Egg Rolls
Fruit Salad
Coconut-milk Pudding Rolls (recipe below)
Vanilla Pecan Fudge

Thai Chicken Curry
(neither I nor Alan care much for curry, but this was delicious!)
Makes 6 servings

1 can (13.5 oz.) coconut milk
1 Tb. chopped fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
1/2 tsp red-pepper flakes
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. curry powder
1 1/2 # boneless skinless chicken breast, cut in very thin 2" strips
2 bags (6 oz each) baby spinach
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, cut in strips (I used more because I love basil)
1/2 tsp salt

1. Puree 1/2 C coconut milk, ginger, garlic, onion, lemon rind, pepper flakes, paprika, & curry in blender.
2. Heat mixture in skillet over med-high heat. Cook until thickens & turns brighted, 1-2 minutes.
3. Add chicken, remaining coconut milk. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low & simmer, uncovered, 8-10 minutes until chicken is done.
4. Stir in spinach, basil, & salt. Stir until spinach is just barely heated through, and remove from heat.
Serve immediately, with Rice, if desired.

I served with an easy Saffron Rice package mix:

Coconut-milk Pudding Rolls--these are FABULOUS!
Recipe by Eleanor Kondo Ream, Salt Lake City. (I found the recipe in either LHJ or BH&G.)
If you look closely at the picture, you will see a pudding on the pan bottom....from the coconut milk added after the dough rises --sort of a reverse frosting. Yummy!
Makes 24 small rolls (9x13 pan)

1 pkg dry active yeast
3 1/4 cups plus 1 Tbsp. flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted & cooled, plus more for buttering bowl
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 can coconut milk

1. Dissolve yeast in 1 cup warm water. Stir in 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, melted butter, salt, and egg until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 more flour & knead into soft dough, adding up to 1/4 cup more flour, as needed. Put dough in large buttered bowl. Cover & allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. (Note: I do all of this in my bread maker, on the "dough" setting. It is so much easier, faster, & less messy.)
2. Whisk together coconut milk, remaining 3/4 cup sugar, & 1 Tbsp. flour until smooth. Set aside.
3. Divide dough into 24 small balls. Put them in a 9x13 inch pan. Cover, & allow to double, about 30 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour reserved coconut milk mixture over raised rolls. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Serve warm.

The Elders with me (Linda), & Alan. I'm not sure if he is adoring, amused, or contented, or what, but I love the after-dinner look on happy hubby Alan's face!

New Supermarket

2009-03-12T21:23:00.000-06:00

--- **The scent of freshness**---

With thanks to my cousin, Keith Sorenson, for this :

A new supermarket opened in Pulaski, Wisconsin.

It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh.
Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and
the smell of fresh rain.

When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and you
experience the scent of fresh cut hay.

In the meat department there is the aroma of charcoal
grilled steaks and ribs.

In the liquor department, the fresh, clean, crisp smell of tapped Miller Lite.

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and
cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of
bacon and eggs frying.

The bread department features the tantalizing smell of
fresh baked bread & cookies.

I don't buy toilet paper there any more . . . . . .

Bossy Daughters

2009-02-23T23:35:00.000-07:00

Once again (this is a copy of an older post), here is a great blog by my gorgeous and extremely talented daughters, the bossy sisters, that you ought to check out. Sometimes it is very funny. Sometimes it is very serious. Sometimes it is tender and heart warming. Sometimes it contains great advice, even for seniors like myself. Today it made me cry. Despite its name, never is it bossy in a boring or dogmatic sense. These girls are truly awesome and sometime I will do an individual blog post on each of them. Always it is entertaining and worth reading. It will become famous.

Check out the bossy little girl in the header. That's Ruby Jane, and she's delightful. Sometime I will blog about her and all of my 16 wonderful grandchildren.
In the meantime, visit http://thebossyblog.blogspot.com/
Leave a comment! Ask a question!
--they really do have all the correct answers:

Hitler Driven Crazy by Ham Radio

2009-01-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

This is like a location joke,e.g. you had to be there, or know the guy, to appreciate it. If you know anyone who is a ham (amateur radio operator) like my husband Alan, send this to them. They will love it. If you live with, are related to, or are good friends with a ham, you will love it. If you don't know any hams you will still be amused.
fyi:
hihi = Morse code for I'm laughing;
cq =short for I want to talk with (insert other ham's i.d.) i.e., seek you;
SS = single sideband (a mode of transmit/receive operation e.g. short wave radio) can also mean signal strength;
QSL= do you understand? used at end of a transmission or = I understand/acknowledge receipt, used as answer or response to message received
5,9 = numbers on a 1-10 scale that indicates readability & signal strength ;
contests= 10 second meaningless communications on ham band where you report in & get points for how many stations can hear you/or you can hear, how far away those stations are from each other,etc
Dx = distant station;
net = a group/club/organization of hams that communicate"check-in" on a prearranged specific time & frequency, e.g. Alan is our stake communications specialist & he checks in every Wed. Night with the Bishop's Storehouse along with every stake in the area ;
73= Morse code for goodbye;
big guns = someone with very expensive antenna & station http://www.abbreviations.com/acronyms/AMRADIO/17 is a "ham radio lingo page" if you want to know more.
In any case, I think you'll enjoy the video below:
http://
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiVlvciPZx

Thanks Everyone

2009-01-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

This is from some guy named Jim Bob:

I just want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery. I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel. Or have them put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel. Nor can I sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking ones nose. Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years. I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.

I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing. Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time. I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.
I won't touch margarine, as it is just one molecule away from being plastic.
I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.
Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains, nor do I drink Pepsi or Dr.
Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans.
I can no longer buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer. And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face, disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.
Neither will I go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a men's cologne sample and rob me.
I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.
I won't shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but my own because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt. And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a mugger waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

I can't do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the brown recluse or imported funnel-web spider and my hand will fall off.

Lastly, if you don't send this post to at least 14,000 people in the next 14 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM tomorrow afternoon and the fleas from 1,000 camels will jump off, infesting your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...

Have a wonderful day.... Oh, by the way.... A German scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail or forum posts with their hand on the mouse. Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.

Uncle Jay Explains: Year-end! 12-22-08

2008-12-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

This is very funny. Hope it makes you laugh.

HUNGER RELIEF

2008-12-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

Will work for food? The Mormons really let you-
BY JOHN HENDERSON
The Denver Post December 18, 2008 http://www.miamiherald.com/living/v-print/story/816079.html

I've lit candles with Hindus in Malaysia, raised toasts with Muslims in Tunisia and danced with Buddhists in Bangkok. I never thought about breaking bread with Mormons in Salt Lake City.

They've been made into organized religion's comic strip, what with the mysterious underwear, weird liquor laws and more rules than the monastery I visited in China.

But there is one aspect of Mormon culture that not even Bill Maher could satirize. It stands in a 13-acre lot just south of downtown Salt Lake City.

If you've been there, you've seen Welfare Square without knowing it. Its trademark white grain elevator stands 178 feet high. It holds 16 million pounds of wheat.

That's only part of the food the Mormon Church gives to the needy. The guiding principle: Come for food, but work for it later. From 60 to 200 people of all faiths come through what they call the bishop's storehouse every day.

''Government welfare is primarily a dole system,'' said James Goodrich, group manager of Welfare Square. ``We think that dole leads to dependence rather than encourages people to be independent. We've chosen to stay independent.''

Fiftyish and wearing a dapper suit, Goodrich hails from the tiny town of Tridell, Utah. He went on a mission to New Zealand and has a master's degree in public health from Brigham Young University.

The system works like this: Mormons in need go to their bishop, who spends two weeks evaluating their needs. They fill out a form and take it to the bishop's storehouse, which is like a well-stocked small-town grocery. It has about 145 products ranging from fresh bread to canned tomatoes to cartons of milk. There are 139 bishop's storehouses nationwide.

Then comes the twist: ''It's the bishop's role to find something the family can do to work for what they've received,'' Goodrich said. ``They may cook meals for a widow who's ailing. They may tend to children so a woman can go to the doctor. They may clean the buildings where we work. People receive according to their needs and work according to their abilities.''

It's not just church members who are eligible. ''It's up to the bishop,'' Goodrich says, but ``the majority are not members of our faith. If they're willing to work, we'll provide them with some food.''

I asked him if this was a subtle way to populate the flock.

''It is not an objective,'' he said. ``If an individual is desirous [to learn] about the church, we are certainly willing to accommodate. But we do not . . . seek welfare converts.''

In 2003, Ethiopian officials impressed with the church's efforts asked if it could help produce atmit, a nourishing porridge. It was originally made out of oat flour and goat's milk, but BYU helped the church develop a powdered product that could be reconstituted with boiled water. They added vitamins and minerals and a little salt and sugar for taste. In the first year, the church sent 600 tons of it to Ethiopia.

''Here, look at this,'' Goodrich said.

He handed me a picture of a bald 8-year-old girl who weighed 20 pounds. Next to her was a 6-month ''after'' picture.

Her smile was nearly as big as her hair.

-------------------------------

This article was sent to me by a friend and I located the article online at the above Miami Herald url, but apparently photo is not available online for non-subscribers. I would assume her hair is as big as some of the BYU co-eds.'

RUSSIAN ANALYST PREDICTS DECLINE AND BREAKUP OF USA

2008-12-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.drudgereport.com/flashrur.htm

A rather dire prediction from abroad.

A leading Russian political analyst has said the economic turmoil inthe United States has confirmed his long-held view that the country is heading for collapse, and will divide into separate parts.

Professor Igor Panarin said in an interview with the respected daily IZVESTIA published on Monday: "The dollar is not secured by anything. The country's foreign debt has grown like an avalanche, even though in the early 1980s there was no debt. By 1998, when I first made my prediction, it hadexceeded $2 trillion. Now it is more than 11 trillion. This is a pyramid that can only collapse."

The paper said Panarin's dire predictions for the U.S. economy, initially made at an international conference in Australia 10 years ago at a time whenthe economy appeared strong, have been given more credence by this year's events.

When asked when the U.S. economy would collapse, Panarin said: "It is already collapsing. Due to the financial crisis, three of the largest and oldest five banks on Wall Street have already ceased to exist, and two are barely surviving. Their losses are the biggest in history. Now what we will see is a change in the regulatory system on a global financial scale: America will no longer be the world's financial regulator."

When asked who would replace the U.S. in regulating world markets, he said: "Two countries could assume this role: China, with its vast reserves, and Russia, which could play the role of a regulator in Eurasia."

Asked why he expected the U.S. to break up into separate parts, he said: "A whole range of reasons. Firstly, the financial problems in the U.S. will get worse. Millions of citizens there have lost their savings. Prices and unemployment are on the rise. General Motors and Ford are on the verge of collapse, and this means that whole cities will be left without work. Governors are already insistently demanding money from the federal center.Dissatisfaction is growing, and at the moment it is only being held back by the elections and the hope that Obama can work miracles. But by spring, it will be clear that there are no miracles."

He also cited the "vulnerable political setup", "lack of unified nation allaws", and "divisions among the elite, which have become clear in these crisis conditions." He predicted that the U.S. will break up into six parts - the Pacific coast,with its growing Chinese population; the South, with its Hispanics; Texas,where independence movements are on the rise; the Atlantic coast, with its distinct and separate mentality; five of the poorer central states with their large Native American populations; and the northern states, where theinfluence from Canada is strong.

He even suggested that "we could claim Alaska - it was only granted on lease, after all." Panarin, 60, is a professor at the Diplomatic Academy ofthe Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has authored several books on information warfare.

What is your response to this? Please click comments & let readers know.

Bailey the Unknown Reindeer

2008-12-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is such a happy, fun short video.span>
http://www.dogwork.com/dogsnow/
It will make you LAUGH!

We are house sitting and taking care of the pets for my sister & husband while they are in Australia. I say "we" but Alan is the real pet sitter, and he's good at it.

Pets include: 3 cockatiels, 1 dove, 2 cats. These are the indoor pets.

Outside there are more pets to feed, including: a few hundred doves, several dozen hummingbirds (8 feeders need refilling daily), various squirrels, and at least 1 cottontail which Alan spotted this morning.

Alan views most of these animals as good target practice, but left his 22 at home in Boise, Idaho. We don't feed the coyotes which visit occasionally, at least not directly. I suppose fattening the other animals here ultimately leads to good coyote feedings. There are no dogs at their house, but I suspect it is a temporary condition, since there have been dogs, the best pets in my opinion, in the past.

I went to www.dogwork.com, the website that created the above video, and it is a great page to peruse. If you like dogs, you will like it. They have the following comment:

Going to work with your dog should be allowed in most companies.
If every dog has its day, that day may be now for thousands of dogs around the country, and all they're missing is a paycheck. Many companies have begun allowing employees to bring their pets -- specifically dogs -- to the workplace.
If you would like to convince your employer to adopt a more friendly policy towards workplace dogs, here are just a few helpful discussion points:

• Dogs in the workplace increase staff morale and productivity.
• Dogs also tend to increase camaraderie among employees.
• Dogs make employees happier, resulting in enhanced job performance.
• Dogs can also serve as an effective criminal deterrent.

This website also has some more funny dog videos and some good tips if you have a dog, or (like my daughter Robin & kids, along with my son David's kids) are hoping/thinking about getting that doggie in the window for a Christmas present.

Things Mom Would Never Say

2008-12-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

1. "How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?"
2. "Yeah, I used to skip school a lot, too"
3. "Just leave all the lights on ... it makes the house look more cheery"
4. "Let me smell that shirt -- Yeah, it's good for another week"
5. "Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I'll be glad to feed and walk him every day"
6. "Well, if Timmy's mom says it's OK, that's good enough for me."
7. "The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It's not like I'm running a prison around here."
8. "I don't have a tissue with me ... just use your sleeve"
9. "Don't bother wearing a jacket - the wind-chill is bound to improve"

Bossy Sisters

2008-11-01T21:35:00.000-06:00

Here is a great new blog by my daughters, the bossy sisters, that you ought to check out. It is very funny. It will become famous.

Leave a comment. Ask a question--they have all the answers:
http://thebossyblog.blogspot.com/

"Flunked"

2008-10-10T21:27:00.000-06:00

Two months ago Alan and I attended a screening of "Flunked," a well done, informative, and uplifting documentary focusing on the crisis we are facing in education today.

"Most people are well aware of the declining test scores and competitiveness of the average American student, as well as myriad other problems facing education today. Complaining about the problem, while easy to do, produces little productive results." Instead, this film focuses on many of "today's schools nationwide that are 'getting it right'---attaining great results in terms of college preparation, high test scores, and graduating competent workers for tomorrow's economy."

"FLUNKED---A story of failure. A formula for hope."

"Something is definitely wrong in American education. That's why
"Flunked"
went out and found educators who are doing something about it."

website: http://flunkedthemovie.com/new/index.php

This week in politics

2008-10-03T18:25:00.000-06:00

McCain and Obama AGREE on $700 BILLION bailout: Congress PASSES bailout:
President George W. Bush signs into LAW an unprecedented $700 billion plan:

The American voters respond:

The question is, will we REALLY be any better off with this:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And of course, there was the Vice President Candidates' DEBATE last Night.......
What has happened in America that the media can be so callous and powerful??

Campaign Fun! I'm in the movie--look for me! (near the end)

2008-08-30T19:48:00.001-06:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

When You Vote, Remember Who Did This

2008-08-27T19:45:00.000-06:00

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month -- and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federal government to 'Put Away' -- you may be interested in the following:
SOCIAL SECURITY
Franklin Delano
Roosevelt 32nd. President,
Democrat Terms of Office March 4, 1933, to April 12, 1945
Franklin Delano Roosevelt a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised:
1.) That participation in the Program would be Completely voluntary;
2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their Annual Incomes into the Program;
3.) That the money the participants elected to put Into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year;
4.) That the money the participants put into the Independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the General operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other government program; and
5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would *never* be taxed as income.
ALL IS GOOD TO HERE..... ...................THEN-->
Dwight David Eisenhower
34th. President, Republican,
Term Of Office: January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961
1958 is the first year that Congress voted to remove funds from Social Security and put it into the General Fund for Congress to spend. It was a Democratically Controlled Congress. Congress' logic at that time was that there was so much money in Social Security Fund that it would never run out or be used up for the purpose it was intended and set aside for.
------------------
Lyndon Baines Johnson
36th. President, Democrat
Term Of Office: November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969
Question: Which Political Party took Social Security from the Independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the General Fund so that Congress could spend it?
Answer: It was Lyndon B. Johnson and the Democrat Controlled House and Senate. Question: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax Deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
Answer: The Democrat Party.
----------------
William Jefferson Clinton (Bill Clinton)
42nd. President Democrat
Term of Office: January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001
Question: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?
Answer: The Democrat Party, with Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. (Al Gore) [Vice President Term of Office: January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001] casting the 'tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US .
------------------
THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK:
James Earl Carter, Jr (Jimmy Carter)
39th. President, Democrat
Term of Office: January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981
Question: Which Political Party decided to start giving Annuity payments to immigrants? Answer: That's right! James Earl Carter, Jr. (Jimmy Carter) and the Democrat Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments! The Democrat Party gave these payments to them, even though the immigrants never paid a dime into it! Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!
And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it!

If enough people read this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe changes will evolve. Maybe not, some Democrats are awfully sure of what isn't so. But it's worth a try. How many people can YOU send a copy of this to? Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.
AND REMEMBER.... CONGRESS GIVES THEMSELVES 100% RETIREMENT FOR ONLY SERVING ONE TERM!!!
---------------------------------------------
Thomas Jefferson
3rd. President, Democrat
Term of Office: January 20, 1777 to January 20, 1781
Jefferson said, "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have."

Fly the Flag campaign

2008-08-25T10:26:00.000-06:00

My daughter received this as an email & posted it on her blog. I am following suit because I, too, like this idea and encourage you to participate.

Please join us in this FLY THE FLAG campaign.We have less than 3 weeks until 9/11. We are counting on you to get the word out all across this great land and into every community in the United States of America .If you copy & email this to least 11 people and each of those people do the same ... you get the idea.

THE PROGRAM: On Thursday, September 11th, 2008, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this seventh anniversary of one our country's worst tragedies. We do this honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared.
Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kindsAction Plan.

So, here's what we need you to do ...
(1) Copy & forward this as an email to everyone you know (at least 11 people). Please don't be the one to break this chain. Take a moment to think back to how you felt on 9/11 and let those sentiments guide you.
(2) Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year -round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.

Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America !

Beware Charismatic Men Who Preach 'Change'

2008-08-04T10:28:00.000-06:00

That’s the title of a recently-posted YouTube video. It is a representation of a letter to the editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch written July 7, 2008 by Manuel Alvarez Jr. of Sandy Hook, Va. Manuel is a young man who escaped Communist Cuba in 1968.
Take a look at it and pass it on.

Obama's rhetoric is nothing new. I am old enough to remember how Castro came to power over 50 years ago. Americans thought he would save the Cubans and offered him much support.

I like this comment by blake78266, "I sincerely hope my dad is right. He said, 'there may be a lot of people who may THINK they are going to vote for Obama, but when they get in the booth, the hand is going to start to shake.' " I, too, hope is dad is right.

If this post bothers you, please read Alma Chapter 51 and Helaman 5:2. The similarity to our day is sobering.

Word Verification

2008-07-24T19:00:00.000-06:00

This should make most of you HAPPY: I have disabled word verification.No longer will you have to enter a nonsensical group of letters like the above in order to post a comment on my blog. This should make all of you want to quit lurking (see Tangerine Tulips, my daughter Kristen's blog. According to her, a blurker is a blog lurker who doesn't comment. ) and instead click the comment button to EASILY publish you opinions! No hassles!!

Of course there is the possibility that my blog & comment forum could be invaded by some hacker machine code, but for the time being I'll expose it to that risk for the convenience of my readers.

I'm Savvy

2008-07-23T22:30:00.000-06:00

I already have a blog by the same name at a different url but decided to switch to blogspot.

My beautiful and technically gifted daughter, Robin is helping me through this traumatic transition. agghhhhhh

Look (Robin is telling me what to type here) I can post pictures!

You are looking at a photo taken from the deck of Robin's cabin in Garden Valley. I think that is Noah cutting brush, or perhaps just walking along on "Death Island," in the South Fork of the Payette River, with South Fork Landing's Charter Mountain in the background.