simple Analogy

Pillow Talk

I picked up my new Stitch magazine yesterday.

I've had pillows for the living room in the back of my mind for a while.  After reading this magazine I'm ready to buy fabric and make it happen!   I'll for sure make the one on the front cover using my newly acquired improv skills.  There are  several other great pillows inside too!  The round one out of fabric wedges is a favorite as well.  So far my living room is very neutral, but that is about to change with these pillows!  I've gotta hunt down some great lime, orange, white fabrics! 

Oh, and my gallery wall is almost ready to come together.  Still making the final choice on which pics to use.  That and the pillows should brighten up the space!

Wrapped Up In a Mystery

The boys and I have been studying some Russian history this week.  The story of Anastasia, youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II of the Romanov family, has captivated me for years.  I wanted to see if the mystery surrounding her would take hold of them like it did me.  And yes - they want to read more.  I am so excited!  I won't spoil the intrigue for you, but if you want a good read and a little mystery try these:

Anastasia:  The Last Grand Duchess  (Royal Diaries Series) - This one is the original story.  It was written for kids, but I enjoyed it!

Anastasia:  The Riddle of Anna Anderson - the mystery.

The old movie is very good, although definite artistic liscense taken.  Not too enthralled by the cartoon version.

2008 Reading List

I love to read!  I don't always have as much time as I would like to curl up with a good book, but I did manage to read these.  Some I enjoyed (*).  Some I didn't (-).  Some were just ok (/).  Some I hated (#).  Some I loved (!)

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare  (/)

John Newton:  From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by Jonathan Aitken  (*)

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain  (/)

Winter Passing by Cindy McCormick Martinusen  (*)

Blue Night by Cindy McCormick Martinusen  (!)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain  (/)

North of Tomorrow by Cindy McCormick Martinusen  (!)

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens  (/)

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper  (#############)

Simple Contemporary Quilts: Bold New Designs for the First-time Quilter by Valorie Van Arsdale Shrader  (!)

The Fabric Stamping Handbook by Jean Ray Laury  (*)

Rethinking Worldview by J. Mark Bertrand  (/)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  (*)

The Wave by Todd Strasser  (/)

The Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton-Porter  (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein  (*)

Prisoners of the Sea by Florence M. Kingsley  (*)

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  (*)

The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton  (*)

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane  (-)

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein  (*)

Two Miserable Presidents:  Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War by Steve Shienkin  (*)

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall  (*)

J.R.R. Tolkien:  The Man Who Created the Lord of the Rings by Michael Coren  (-)

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall  (*)

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkein  (hard to get into - on hold for now - I'll let you know later)

I love to read!  I don't always have as much time as I would like to curl up with a good book, but I did manage to read these.  Some I enjoyed (*).  Some I didn't (-).  Some were just ok (/).  Some I hated (#).  Some I loved (!)

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare  (/)

John Newton:  From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by Jonathan Aitken  (*)

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain  (/)

Winter Passing by Cindy McCormick Martinusen  (*)

Blue Night by Cindy McCormick Martinusen  (!)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain  (/)

North of Tomorrow by Cindy McCormick Martinusen  (!)

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens  (/)

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper  (#############)

Simple Contemporary Quilts: Bold New Designs for the First-time Quilter by Valorie Van Arsdale Shrader  (!)

The Fabric Stamping Handbook by Jean Ray Laury  (*)

Rethinking Worldview by J. Mark Bertrand  (/)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  (*)

The Wave by Todd Strasser  (/)

The Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton-Porter  (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein  (*)

Prisoners of the Sea by Florence M. Kingsley  (*)

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  (*)

The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton  (*)

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane  (-)

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein  (*)

Two Miserable Presidents:  Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War by Steve Shienkin  (*)

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall  (*)

J.R.R. Tolkien:  The Man Who Created the Lord of the Rings by Michael Coren  (-)

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall  (*)

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkein  (hard to get into - on hold for now - I'll let you know later)