simple Analogy

NOOK

Continuation of last time...

I went with Barnes & Noble's Nook Simple Touch for my reader. 

Why Simple Touch?  I didn't need a fancy-schmancy-do-everything tablet.  I just wanted it for reading.

What do I like about it?

1.  Small size.  Perfect for tucking into my bag for on the go reading.

2.  Touch features.   At the time when I was making my decision on which reader to buy (October-ish), Amazon only had the old keyboard Kindle.  I definitely like the touch technology.

3.  Not backlit.  It's really easy on my eyes.  Plus they say that you sleep better if you're not looking at backlit screens before you go to bed, which is when I do a lot of reading.

4.  Lightweight.  Since I do like to read in bed, the lightness of the Nook is perfect.  My arm doesn't get tired of holding it up like a book, and I don't have to keep the pages open!!!  (Go ahead.  Say it.  "LAZY!")

5.  Convenient.  When I need another good read or the boys need a new book for school, we just search and most of the time it's there.

6.  Free books.  I like to read a lot of the classics and older books of which many are offered for free.

7.  Lower cost.  We needed to buy a book for Landon for school the other day.  Hard copy $10.  Nook version $1.  Yes, I'll share!

 8.  Support.  I can take it to a brick and mortar Barnes & Noble for any help I need.  I like that!  And their people are really friendly.

What do I wish was a little bit better?

1.  Searches.  I guess I'm just used to searching Amazon, which is super intuitive.  Barnes & Noble takes a little bit more work.

2.  Some of the older books (before 1900's) have some flaws.  When they scan the books, some of the letters and symbols get mixed up.  Sometimes a word will be misspelled or even look like gibberish.  Most of the time I am able to read through the mistakes, but there are some that are terribly flawed.  The other day I downloaded a free version of Great Expectations.  Gobbledygook!  I couldn't even read it.  [Delete]  Guess I'll buy another version later.  I understand that the book was offered for free, but you'd think they'd at least proofread them before offering them!

And there's my two cents... 

Throughout the year I'll be updating the READING tab underneath my banner, so check back often to see what's on the bookshelf!

2011 Reading List

***Warning - Really long post with no pictures!  Hee hee!***

Oh, hi there!  Totally took a little blog break there.  Christmas and New Year's was so filled with fun and family that I totally missed the "Hello 2012" rigmarole that most of the other blogs are doing right now and which you're probably tired of by now anyway.  It's good to be different, right?  So instead of jumping through that hoop, lets talk books.

Another year gone by, another list of books rated by me... 

Rating Key:   

Loved (!)   Enjoyed (*)   OK (/)    Didn't enjoy (-)   Hated (#)     

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon  (*)

Fifty Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin  (/)

Six Months to Live by Lurlene McDaniels - A blast from the past:  as in I read this when I was in junior high!  (/)  But when I was in Jr. High it was a (!!!)

Gladys Aylward:  The Little Woman by Gladys Aylward  (*)

The Case of the Dinosaur Birds by John Erickson  (*)

The Case of the Dancing Cowboy by John Erickson  (*)

Ten Boys Who Changed the World by Irene Howat  (/)

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers  (*)

The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis  (*)  I listened to the audio version, but I'd recommend going hardcopy!  This is a book that engages your mind, and there were some places where I would have wanted to re-read and think about it a little before moving on.

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan  (/)

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis  (*)

The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis  (*)

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott  (*)

True Devotion by Dee Henderson  (/)

The Tempest by William Shakespeare  (-)

The Lady of Shalott by Alfred Lord Tennyson  (/)

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young  (*)

A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken  (*)

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery  (!)

Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery  (!)

Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery  (!)

Anne of Windy Poplars by L. M. Montgomery  (!)

Anne's House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery  (!)

Anne of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery  (!)

Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery  (!!!!)  Love those manse children!

Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery  (!)

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation translated by Seamus Heaney  (*  believe it or not!) 

 The Bible Smuggler by Louise A. Vernon (-)

Ink on His Fingers by Louise A. Vernon  (-)

God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew  (!!!)  Couldn't put it down.

John and Betty Stam:  Missionary Martyr by Vance Christie  (*)

Stick to the Raft by Mrs. George Gladstone  (/)

Design*Sponge at Home by Grace Bonny  (!)

Macbeth by William Shakespeare  (*)

Boyhood and Beyond by Bob Schultz  (*)

***** Move to an new era... e-reading*****

D. L. Moody A Worker In Souls  by Gamaliel Bradford  (/)

Lessons From the Life and Death of D. L. Moody by R. A. Torrey  (/)

Rolf and the Viking Bow by Allen French  (/)

Mystery of History Vol. 2 by Linda Lacour Hobar  (*)

How To Pray by R. A. Torrey  (/)

The Life and Times of John Wycliffe:  Morning Star of the Reformation  (*)

My Mates and I by Mrs. O. F. Walton  (/)

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens  (*)

A few friends have asked me if I like e-reading as well as hard copy reading.  To tell the truth, I didn't know if I'd like it as well.  But after several months of e-reading, I can say I love it.  This post is long enough, so next time we'll talk about which reader I use, why I picked it, and why I love it.

Happy New Year!  And happy reading!

On My Coffee Table

Yep, that is a library bar code you see on the new book from Design*Sponge.  Usually it takes FOREVER for my library to get in the newest craft/design books, but not this time!  I requested it before it was even released, and I am the first one to crack this copy's pages.

I had some free time last night .  I sat on the couch reading for over an hour and didn't even get through the first section- "Sneak Peaks".  Looking at vignettes from beautiful homes is inspiring.  I found that I am very drawn to grey walls, groupings of pictures in similar colored frames (big suprise there), and long heavy dining room tables.  Can't wait to finish reading the rest of it.

If you love decorating, this book will not disappoint!

2010 Book List

 
Just cleaning the reading slate for 2011.  These are the books you've seen under the Currently Reading tab during 2010 but with one added feature... my rating scale!

Key:   Loved (!)   Enjoyed (*)   OK (/)    Didn't enjoy (-)   Hated (#)     

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (!)

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (!)

Gilgamesh the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean (*)

Persuasion by Jane Austen (!)

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (!)

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise J. McGraw (!)

Domino:  The Book of Decorating by Deborah Needleman (!)

A Puzzling Pair by Amy LeFeuvre (*)

Willie's Trunk by Hon. Mrs. Greene (/)

Hittite Warrior by Joanne Williamson (/)

Gee's Bend:  The Architecture of a Quilt by Paul Arnett, etc. (!)

Sea Life Art and Activities by Judy Press (*)

A Beginning, a Muddle, and an End:  The Write Way to Write Writing by Avi (*)

The End of the Beginning:  Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an Even Smaller Ant) by Avi (*)

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

Enoch Roden's Training by Hesba Stretton (/)

The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer (*)

Macbeth by William Shakespeare (*)

The Well-Educated Mind:  A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had by Susan Wise Bauer (*)

Little King Davie by Nellie Hellis (/)

The Theban Plays by Sophocles (-)

The Odyssey of Homer by Homer - Duh! (translated by Richmond Lattimore) (#)

The Aeneid by Virgil (translated by Robert Fitzgerald) (*)

The Last Days of Socrates by Plato (translated by Hugh Tredennick) (-)

Aeschylus I:  Oresteia:  Agamemnon by Aeschylus (translated by Richmond Lattimore) (-)

Blackships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliffe (*)

Outcast by Rosemary Sutcliff (*)

Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Stucliff (*)

Fanny Crosby:  The Hymn Writer by Bernard Ruffin (*)

The Twleve Caesars by Suetonius (tanslated by Robert Graves) (#)   Actually I did not read the entire thing.  I got through the first few Caesars but skipped over the personal life sections of each.  Too debauched!  Then I got bored and quit.

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare (/)

The Inheritance by Christoph von Schmid (*)

Tom Watkins Mistake by Emma Leslie (*)

Alabama Studio Style by Natalie Chanin (!!!)

Craft Hope:  Handmade Crafts for a Cause by Jade Sims (!)

Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose (*)

Called to Die by Steve Estes (*)

My Weekend (Or What Occupied It)

 
The bad part first.  I wasted spent a great part of my weekend reading Greek literature.  In the last few months I've loaded up on Greek books.  Why?  We homeschool classically and are in the time period of ancient Greece.  One of the things that I really want to do now that Landon is in high school is discuss the books he's reading.  Let him form an opinion and give reasons to back up that opinion (rhetoric).  In order to do that I have to know what he's talking about, right!  Also, I need to know if I really want to make him read some of the ones on the list.  You know, so that in later years he doesn't blame me for his hatred of reading because I bored him to death by making him labor through books I, as an avid reader, could barely get through. 

I HATE SOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY!  There it's off my chest.

 
Moving on to the good part...  I wanted to sew, didn't have anything in mind, dragged out the knit scraps, played with making flowers, and then had to make a notebook cover for the flower to go on.  This was my first flower.  They got better as I went along, and you'll be seeing more coming down the pike.  I'll be updating the shop soon.  I'll let you know when.

We also spent some time together in the pool and with family, so the weekend was a success even though Socrates (for saying it) and Plato (for writing it) got put on my black list.  Right up there with Moby Dick and Last of the Mohicans. 

Book Fair: Day Three

Sea Life Art and Activities 

I am about to be submerged until July 9th.  The VBS theme this year is under the sea (SeaQuest).  Sooo fun!  What better way to find crafts for my preschoolers than utilizing the resources at the library.  I went searching for this one.  From all the sticky tabs at the top you can see how useful this book was to me.

Favorite Things:

1.  When it says "Creative Learning Experiences for 3 to 7-Year-Olds"  it really means it!  The projects/activities in this book are perfect for that age group.

2.  The craft projects.  Duh!  They are really easy for the children, and not too much preparation for me as the teacher.  And fun!  Actually, I'm in love with the paper plate seahorses.  I'm making a ton of them to use for decorating my seascape.  I used my finger to "brush" glitter glue onto the fan and glued sequins to the tummy.

   

3.  The suggested learning activities/games are fun and educational at the same time.  Can't wait to toss some seaweed (green bath pouf) around with the kids.

4.  Poems and rhymes.  This poem is to be said while playing the game "London Bridge".

  

5.  Story Corner.  At the end of a 4 hour session with the kids I'm pretty tired and so are they.  What better way to decompress than to read some fun books together!

We'll have more fun than Ariel and all her friends in our underwater adventure thanks to this book!

 

Book Fair: Day Two

 

Domino:  The Book of Decorating

Decorating is a hobby of mine.  Several years ago, my sister and I drooled our way through Domino and Blueprint Magazines.  Sad, sad day when they flew the coop.  Lucky for me they printed a book!  OK, I know this is not a new release or anything, but it was my first time looking through the whole book.  I can hardly believe that it was on the shelf when I passed by the arts/crafts section of the library.  I figured it'd be wait-listed/requested by a million people.

If you're even thinking about the remotest decorating project, you should check it out!  Inspiration galore!

Some of my favorite things about this book?

1.  The "so you're gonna be decorating but don't know how to start" section in the front.  Steps 1-8 will get you onto the yellow brick road.

  

2.  Have a specific room you want to decorate?  It's in there!  From entry way to bathroom, bedroom to living room-  each room has it's own chapter.

3.  Tips, tricks, and what to do with small spaces ('cause most of us don't own enormous houses).

 4.  A game of Dominoes and the effect.  (You'll see what I mean!)

If you don't already have a project planned, I bet you'll start one after looking through this book!  Decorator heaven I tell you! 

Book Fair: Day One

The other day I was talking with one of my favorite kindergarteners about school, and she told me that they had had book fair.  Oh, I remember the excitement of book fair:  looking through all those luscious books and choosing a few to buy.  I remember one of my favorite fifth grade finds was about a girl with leukemia.  She went to a cancer camp and had fun like a normal kid and even met a boy just like her.  I laughed.  I cried.  I read it a gillion times.  And the next year I bought the sequel.  So fifth/sixth grader-ish!

I thought it'd be fun to have a book fair here on the blog!  The only difference is that I did not purchase any of the books I'll be talking about (I checked them out at the library), and I promise none of them will be in the fifth grade drama genre.  So get out your library card!  You have endless book fair privileges!

Sometimes I know what I'm looking for when I go to the library, but many times I'm surprised by what I find.  This is one of my surprises...

Gee's Bend:  The Architecture of the Quilt

This was sitting on the shelf, so I picked it up, thumbed through a few pages, and put it in my take home stack.  Just looking at the quilts will inspire you, but reading about the lives of the quilters is also very interesting.

My favorite things about the book:

1.  The quilts of course!  Click any picture to see it larger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Each quilt pictured has the name of the quilter, the pattern used (if any), the fabric used, and the dimensions.  Many of the quilts (like the one following) were made out of corduroy - can you imagine what your shoulders would feel like after working with that heavy stuff?

3.  They also include some pictures of the architecture around Gee's Bend that inspired some of the quilt designs.  I'm really taken with the bus picture.  Love that red circle!

 

  

Take some time with this one.  The more you look, the more inspired you'll be. 

How To Draw 101 Funny People

This came in Noah's stocking this year and has quickly become a new family favorite!!!!!  He struggles with drawing more than Landon and likes step by step instructions.  This book is perfect!

It's fun!  The boys and I sat down together and drew for several hours.  Yes, I said hours.  My boys!

It's easy!  Even the hardest is way within our ability, although I must say that my "toddler" had the biggest club foot you've ever seen.  Sorry little guy!

The steps are easy to follow!  There are six steps to follow for each person.  Many of the steps have several items to add, but still very doable.

They also have other titles:  How to Draw 101 Animals, How to Draw 101 Monsters, How to Draw 101 Cartoon Characters.  If you want instant gratification, we bought ours at Michael's.  I highly recommend these!!!   Noah provided the artwork for this post.

2009 Book List

Time to make room for my 2010 reading list.  Good news!  I didn't hate any of the books I read, unlike last year.  Here's my coding system:  Enjoyed (*)    Didn't enjoy (-) OK (/)    Hated (#)    Loved (!)

No Woman So Fair by Gilbert Morris (/)

The Court of the Stone Children by Eleanor Cameron (*)

Good Design Can Change Your Life by Ty Pennington (*)

The Royal Diaries: Anastasia The Last Grand Duchess by Carolyn Meyer (*)

Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson by Peter Kurth (*)

The Negotiator by Dee Henderson (!)

The Guardian by Dee Henderson (!)

The Truth Seeker by Dee Henderson (!)

The Robber's Cave by A.L.O.E. (*)

Tom Gillies by Mrs. George Gladstone (/)

The Healer by Dee Henderson (!)

The Protector by Dee Henderson (!)

Probable Sons by Amy LeFeuvre (*)

The Rescuer by Dee Henderson (!)

The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise (*)

Me and Nobbles by Amy LeFeuvre (!)

Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe (/)

Winter Is Past by Ruth Axtell  Morren (*)

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (*)

I Am David by Ann Holm (*)

Surviving Hitler by Andrea Warren (*)

Shipwrecked But Not Lost by the Hon. Mrs. Dundas (-)

One Yard Wonders by Rebekah Yaker and Patricia Hoskins (*)

Color Your Cloth by Malka Dubrawsky (*)

The Court of the Stone Children by Eleanor Cameron (*)

Good Design Can Change Your Life by Ty Pennington (*)

The Royal Diaries: Anastasia The Last Grand Duchess by Carolyn Meyer (*)

Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson by Peter Kurth (*)

The Negotiator by Dee Henderson (!)

The Guardian by Dee Henderson (!)

The Truth Seeker by Dee Henderson (!)

The Robber's Cave by A.L.O.E. (*)

Tom Gillies by Mrs. George Gladstone (/)

The Healer by Dee Henderson (!)

The Protector by Dee Henderson (!)

Probable Sons by Amy LeFeuvre (*)

The Rescuer by Dee Henderson (!)

The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise (*)

Me and Nobbles by Amy LeFeuvre (!)

Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe (/)

Winter Is Past by Ruth Axtell  Morren (*)

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (*)

I Am David by Ann Holm (*)

Surviving Hitler by Andrea Warren (*)

Shipwrecked But Not Lost by the Hon. Mrs. Dundas (-)

One Yard Wonders by Rebekah Yaker and Patricia Hoskins (*)

Color Your Cloth by Malka Dubrawsky (*)