Book Club 2013: My Reviews

I haven't read much besides our book club selections this year, so I thought I'd just review those for now.  The others will get their review at the end of the year.

 

MY RATING SCALE:

* Ehh. Didn't like it at all.

** Just okay.

*** Good. Borrow it from the library.

**** Really good. Well-written.

***** Excellent. One for your personal library. 

 

MARCH: The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani    (3 stars)

(Historical fiction, Italian immigrants)

I led the discussion on this one, and while it was an engaging story, it didn't naturally provoke a lot of questions for me.  So I found it hard to know what to ask the group.  Personally I found the heroine admirable, but sometimes hard to identify with because she was such a go-getter and rarely revealed her faults.   

 

APRIL: Peace Like A River by Leif Enger    (4 stars)

(American Midwest fiction, family searching for outlaw son)

I LOVED this book!  While the plot was somewhat interesting, the excellent writing and sheer wit made this book a thorough delight.  Enger captures the simple delights of family life, the imagination and innocence of childhood, and the powerful love story between parent and child. 

 

MAY: An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales by Oliver Sacks    (2 stars)

(Case Studies, Neurology, Psychology, ie: Temple Grandin)

I wanted to like this one more, but I struggled to finish it.  Thankfully, my favorite chapter was the last one--Temple Grandin--and I was already familiar with her story due to the fabulous biographical film made in recent years starring Claire Danes.  The case studies were interesting, but the chapters were too long and detailed for my tastes...and I am a fan of detail.  I found the surgeon with Tourette's and the young man with Asberger's and a photographic memory that could draw a whole cityscape the most fascinating of the remaining cases.

JUNE: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien    (5 stars)

(Classic, young adult, adventure fiction)

I do not read sci-fi or fantasy, and steer clear of most young adult fiction.  However, I completely enjoyed this book!  I doubt I'll read The Lord of the Rings...I haven't completely been converted to the genre, but because this one was written for a younger audience I found it's scary/weird factor to be tame enough.  I won't be introducing it to my kiddos until they are at least tweens, but it will definitely find a home in our personal library.

 

JULY: What Is The What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng by Dave Eggers         (3 stars)

(Lost Boys of Sudan)

This was a long one, and a sobering story at that.  Eggers chronicles the story of Valentino, just one of many Sudanese boys who were torn from family and village by the terrors of civil war.  Their struggle to survive the long walk to a place of refuge, facing hungry lions, rebel groups, and death all around, was simply overwhelming.  The book also described the challenges of acclimating to the United States for those that were able to get refugee status and gain sponsorship here.  This one provoked a lot of discussion among our group.  The main critiques were that certain parts could have been condensed, and the lack of emotion/introspection from the main character.  Personally, I felt the latter criticism was due to a survival mindset that continued even after he left Africa...too much pain and he probably dissociated. 

 

AUGUST: My Antonia by Willa Cather    (3.5 stars)

(Classic American literature, Nebraska pioneers)

Slow-moving plot, but a rich, coming-of-age story of a young boy and his childhood friend.  An interesting look into the Mid-western immigrant experience.  Cather's writing is vibrant and descriptive and should be handled like a rich meal...slowly, bite by bite.  I now want to read "O Pioneers".

 

SEPTEMBER: The Testament by John Grisham    (3 stars)

(Legal thriller, inheritance, Brazilian missionary)

I've read this book at least 3 times already and it is an enjoyable ride.  I appreciate that of the Grisham titles I've read, this one has an obvious faith element and is cleaner than most.  While there are a few seedy characters, they are portrayed in a bad light and the language is very minimal.  (So much so that I had trouble remembering if there was any.)  All in all, it is a read that makes you think about wealth and how it influences your attitudes and choices, as well as faith and how it changes everything.
 

OCTOBER: The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher F. Chabris and Daniel Simons    (4 stars)

(Cognitive Psychology, Memory, Perception)
I continue to think about the everyday illusions it turned upside down weeks and even months later.  Do you use a cell phone in the car?  Do you fancy that you are good at remembering details?  How confident are you and how much stock do we place in other's confidence?  There are 6 illusions the book addresses, and I must say that not only did it spur a great amount of conversation in our group, but it begged some serious questions.  If you aren't familiar with the basic premise of the book and want to try the experiment, check out this link.

NOVEMBER: Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali    (4 stars)

(Memoir, Africa, Women, Islam)

This was another sobering memoir, much like WHAT IS THE WHAT, but more enjoyable for me personally.  Not only was the writing great, but Hirsi Ali chronicles her life in a very purposeful way.  At times I wondered why she included a certain section, but afterward I understood.  She paints a compelling portrait of what it means to be a woman within a Muslim culture, and how we in the West are vastly ignorant of those implications.  While it is just one woman's testimony, you can't help but ask what she would gain from making any false claims--she's already sought asylum more than once due to attempted death threats.  A very relevant book and one I'd highly recommend.

Still to come...

 

DECEMBER: The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time by Mark Haddon

(Young adult fiction, mystery, autism, humor)

JANUARY (2014): Cleaning House: A Mom's 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma

(Christian living, parenting, organization, humor)

FEBRUARY: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

(Historical fiction, American Civil War, Gettysburg)

Chicken and Dumpling Soup

This is the epitome of comfort food, folks.  :)

Don't let the long list of ingredients fool ya...it isn't hard to make!  I just itemized them into an easier format.

CHICKEN AND DUMPLING SOUP
Makes 8 servings

(3 c. pre-cooked, cubed chicken breast, OR...)
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 c. flour
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 onion, diced
1 carrot, peeled and shredded
1 stalk celery, diced
2 tsp. minced garlic

1 Tbsp. cornstarch
4 c. water
4 c. chicken broth (I use Better Than Bouillon, Vegetable Base)
1/2 c. half-and-half
1 tsp. poultry seasoning (onion pwd., garlic pwd., thyme, rosemary, sage and paprika)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

For dumplings, dump into a quart freezer ziplock:
3/4 c. half-and-half
1 c. flour
1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS:
1. Over medium heat, melt butter in a large skillet, dredge chicken breasts in flour, and brown on each side 6-7 minutes.  Set aside to cool, then cube.
2.  In a large soup pot, melt butter and saute onion, carrot, celery and minced garlic over medium until tender, about 4-5 mins. 
3.  Mix cornstarch into the water, then add to soup pot with broth, half-and-half, seasonings and chicken.  Bring to a low boil/simmer.
4.  Knead dumpling ingredients inside the ziplock until incorporated.  After soup has simmered for 5 minutes, snip off a tiny (1/4") corner of ziplock and using a kitchen scissors, cut 1/2" pieces of dough into simmering broth.  (The dough is really sticky, so make quick cuts with the scissors.  If needed, dip scissor into hot soup to loosen dough.)  Simmer for 10 minutes more.

Enjoy!

 

Lentil & Bacon Soup

Nothing warms the belly like a steaming bowl of soup on a chilly autumn night.  This recipe was something I threw together after searching for a tomato-based lentil soup recipe that would please my carnivores without being a full-on meat meal.

Bacon.  It's the answer to everything.  :)

Alas, I am the only one that LOVED it...the hubby is not a fan of beans, particularly thick bean soups.  So now I make it for book club, and teacher luncheons, and other such things so I can snag a serving.

LENTIL and BACON SOUP
*Makes 10 servings

The cast of characters:


Chop up and brown in a heavy-bottomed soup pot. 
      1 lb. bacon  (I pull it right from the freezer and chop it crossways with a chef's knife.)
Remove bacon and set aside on a plate lined with paper towel.
Discard all but 1 Tbsp. of bacon fat from pot and cook the following over medium-low heat, about 4-5 minutes.
      1/4 c. finely chopped onion
      2 tsp. minced garlic
Add bacon back to pot with the following and simmer for 1 hour until lentils are tender.
      12 c. water
      2 1/2 c. lentils
Add and simmer 1/2 hour more.
      1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
      1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
      2 tsp. salt
      1 tsp. black pepper
      1/2 tsp. marjoram

Serve with finely shredded fresh parmesan cheese and crusty bread.

*Someone told me that if you cook your lentils with tomatoes it takes much longer than if you cook them in water.  I haven't tried it with the tomatoes thrown in earlier to prove the theory, but my cook time is accurate.  Anyone want to play Test Kitchen?

 

Enjoy!

 

Weekend Getaway

Crisp cold air, scents of earth and moss and pine, quiet rustling leaves and the creaking of tree trunks as they gently sway...

 

  

...the warmth of sunlight as it crests the ridge and illuminates the colorful edges of the trees...

 

 

                            ...the sound of my children's happy voices as they explore and play.

 







 

It's a humble little place, with just enough "conveniences" to be easier than camping, but that's fine with me. The woods is one of my favorite places to unwind and recharge.
 

 

We had perfect weather to enjoy the cabin's woodstove and outdoor fire pit.  Brisk enough for layering up, but also plenty of sunshine to make you want to be outdoors all day.

 





 

Anything turns into a horse with this girl...LOL.  Adam is such a good sport.

 



I had brought along a book and so in between meal duties I sat out by the fire and kept it going.  That was all I had on my agenda for the day--mission accomplished. :)



 

The kids had fun "helping" Pete, Great Grandpa, and my Uncle Jim move some wood across the creek to the shed.

 

 

True to form, they made the work fun by giving the kiddos rides on the zipline.

 





And Uncle Jim gave them a demonstration on how he uses his tree stand to hunt.

 



 

Now we're back home and I'm working on the laundry, but I feel rejuvenated.  I personally need those doses of solice and quiet--away from my normal routine.  It fuels me to come back to my day-to-day, ready to dive in.

Family Updates

We've now been in full-swing school mode for 2 months.

Natalia is in 2nd grade, LOVES her teacher, is making new friends and enjoying continuing friendships from previous years.  The social aspects of the school day continue to be her favorite part, but she is a real worker bee and is striving to do her best despite the challenges that learning poses.  On that front we are making some progress in figuring out the balance that will help her, and it is a process that is stretching and growing us all in valuable ways.  My hope and prayer for this year was that not only would Natalia start to experience some success to keep her going, but also that her teacher and anyone else that works with her would get a good pulse on Natalia; that they would understand what motivates and works for her.  Already I've seen that prayer answered in numerous ways. 

Adam is in a 3-morning Preschool program at our district's high school.  I have been so impressed by the head teacher, the high school "teachers", and just the content that they pack into the morning.  Adam has a good grip on the alphabet, can write, and is starting to read some words, but his foundation will only solidify with this program, not to mention the classroom disciplines he's learning.  Every morning he wakes up and asks if he has school.  :)

My days have been more busy than I anticipated simply with the kids varying schedules--and the fact that we have now been re-zoned as walkers.  It's a good hike up the hill (1 mile round trip) and we make it twice a day when the weather allows.  (Que the familiar, "when I was your age I walked 2 miles to school, in the snow, uphill boths ways...")  Next year when Adam starts Kindergarten I'll make the trip 3 times!!!  To think that after letting my gym membership expire for financial reasons this winter, I was praying for God to open up a scheduled time for me to exercise...  :)

We've been wrapping up our pastured poultry operation for the year.  In alittle more than a week we will finish with the last batch for a grand total of 450 birds for 2013.  Hard to believe we've been doing this for 4 years...an exciting, provisional adventure.  We continue to keep our eyes open for a single family property in our area with 1 1/2 acres.  Our dream is to keep raising chickens, add a handful of egg layers and maybe a goat.  So far it seems an impossible dream on a teacher's salary, but who knows!  God has provided in many big ways in the past.  If it's to be, it will be.  I've learned a lot about contentment through this process, and it's always a challenge, but just what I need.

 

With autumn's onset, we've been enjoying campfires with friends, as well as a trip to the Science Factory in Lancaster and Strasburg Railroad courtesy of the library's free passes/reading program.  Other highlights have been our local farm show, numerous extended family weddings, and the father/son campout at church.  Pete and I will take the kids to the mountains for a weekend soon.  It's become one of our favorite yearly traditions, and it thrills me to carry on the memories of my childhood romps in the woods. 

On the homefront I was able to make applesauce again this year as well as freezer corn and canned peaches.  Those are my staples and all I tackled this year.  Our small garden did okay, but not great.  I was hoping for zucchini, cucumbers, and meadow tea but something got to those plants.  The tomatoes however are still producing!  I have grand visions of having a garden in our own backyard someday...gonna' have to grow a green thumb though first.  That is definitely not my strength. 

Last, but not least, there is book club.  Oh, how I love it, let me count the ways... 
I haven't been reading nearly as many books as in the past, but I'm definitely being stretched to read new things, and the fellowship we have over our meal together with the book discussion afterward has been a highlight for me every month.  Look for my reviews and ratings soon.  :)

After An 8 Month Hiatus...

It was partly intentional, but also a bi-product of the season I was in.  As always, this blog was meant to be a creative outlet.  Not a priority when life got busy.  I've missed it, but not in the way that I expected.

Posts that are upcoming:

FAMILY UPDATES

WHAT I'VE BEEN READING

THOUGHTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: The How, The Why

and of course some NEW RECIPES!

Stay tuned...

Learning

It's hard to watch your kid struggle.

I've shared a bit before that academics haven't been an easy road for my girl.  Yes, she's only in first grade, but the year and a half has felt much longer!

In the years leading up to this we've definately foreseen that focusing and attention issues would play a part for her, but didn't know to what degree.  We had no worries about her intelligence.  She is bright and imaginative and very expressive, not to mention a social butterfly.  But how that translates at school has always been the question.

Since starting Kindergarten we noticed her struggling with certain disciplines (primarily in reading) but it was a time of big transition.  So aside from taking advantage of the specialized reading help available at school, we recognized that it might just take her longer.  And that has carried over into this year in first grade.

But it's now the end of the 2nd marking period, and clearly something is still blocking her from moving forward.  She has made some progress, but is noticeably struggling and frustrated.  While it's true that kids are pushed to perform earlier and earlier these days, I've been thankful for the school that she is enrolled in, and their efforts to provide the extra help she needs.  Yes, the process can feel long sometimes, but being a parent means you need to be an advocate, and it does us no harm to have to stay on top of things. 

Through formal and informal evaluations conducted by the school and us, the best we can determine so far is that she is having retrieval issues (the concepts are there but pulling out the correct word is difficult) , some short term memory difficulties, she's a visual/right-brained learner (but most of curriculum is auditory/left-brained oriented), and she probably has ADD.

So, the last two months have largely been dedicated to gathering information on what to try next.  I've had very timely discussions with other moms, home and public schoolers, the special education teachers at Natalia's school, and again and again I've seen the kindness of God.  In the times where I've lacked answers and just wanted the issues solved already, He's quieted my heart and my whirlwind thoughts.  When I've struggled with comparing my child to others and discontent has threatened to take root, He has made me aware of the blessings that are disguised in this hardship.  When I've doubted and feared that I can be the parent I need to be in this season, His joy and assurance have steadied my limbs.  And He's given me a good man to stand beside...a tremendous means of grace!

So...what are we doing?

Well, one resource shared with me on brain integration therapy has yielded some helpful things.  When I've felt completely at a loss to even know what questions to ask, Dianne Craft's website has allowed me to determine Natalia's brain, eye, and hand dominance, along with corresponding factors that can help or hinder learning.  A good look at focusing/attention issues were included, and I appreciated her practical tips (such as using more right-brained strategies and her encouragement to adjust expectations), but also that she recognized the dilemma of natural vs. popular medicine. 

In keeping with the very real possibility that Natalia may need medication for her heart condition in the coming years, we're trying to avoid mainstream "go to" drugs for her focusing issues unless nothing else works.  If we don't have to add to her health equation we don't want to.  We're not purists, but there are alot of options out there that are non-chemical.  We figure that it can't hurt to try.

Another thing we're trying are these revamped sight word flashcards.  I must confess that because this type of thing is right up my alley, I enjoyed the challenge and task of making them so much that even if it only makes practicing more fun for her, it was worth it!  But we're also hoping they help stimulate both sides of her brain and make those pesky sight words stick!  :)

The idea is to represent the single word within the image or with a short phrase.  (Double click on the images if you want to view them larger.)