Barefoot & Bookish

What I'm Reading This Week

2012-02-12T23:42:00.003-05:00

I had lofty plans this week to knock some more books off my growing to-read pile but life got in the way. My aunt was hospitalized last week and had heart valve replacement surgery on Tuesday. Although I packed several books to the hospital where we sat for a solid 17 hours during her surgery and recovery I managed to read maybe 5 pages the entire time we were there. I forgot how distracting I find hospital waiting rooms to be. Probably because I'm an incessant people watcher.

This week I'm hoping to wrap up the two books I have going right now.

Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen

and Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly.

I have to confess I have trouble getting into books sometimes because of distractions. Most of the time the distractions are of my own doing. Like the desire to check my phone or watch something on tv. But I'm also not the type to read during my lunch break or pick up a book in a crowded waiting room. I need a quiet space, a candle burning or cube of wax melting in my warmer, and all of my electronic devices turned off in order to really enjoy a good novel.

Do you struggle with distractions while reading?

Book #8

2012-02-05T23:13:00.002-05:00

John Green, the author of The Fault in Our Stars, would prefer I not spoil too much of this book. So instead I'll stick the script:

"Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel."

Did you ever read books by Lurlene McDaniel? I did. In fact, just the other day when I was digging around in my boxes of old books I found an entire stack of them. In case you aren't familiar, Lurlene McDaniel wrote Cancer Books. Capitalized for emphasis. Sappy sob stories of teenage love surrounding some horrific deathly disease. They were awful.

So initially when I heard the premise of The Fault in Our Stars I thought of Lurlene McDaniels and I just wasn't really sure I wanted to go there. But you guys, let me tell you right now. This book is not a Cancer Book. It's a book about cancer, yes. It's also an amazing novel full of witty dialog about a couple of kids who fall in love. It's funny, heart-warming, heart-breaking, thought provoking, and wonderful. And it's very much the kind of book that mocks the entire genre of Cancer Books.

It was also, easily, the best book I've read in a while. It doesn't hurt that Augustus Waters is one of the most swoonworthy male characters I've ever encountered. Or that John Green is such a wonderful writer whose fast paced dialog made me swoon all on its on.

“May I see you again?" he asked. There was an endearing nervousness in his voice.

I smiled. "Sure."

"Tomorrow?" he asked.

"Patience, grasshopper," I counseled. "You don't want to seem overeager.

"Right, that's why I said tomorrow," he said. "I want to see you again tonight. But I'm willing to wait all night and much of tomorrow." I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious," he said.

"You don't even know me," I said. I grabbed the book from the center console. "How about I call you when I finish this?"

"But you don't even have my phone number," he said.

"I strongly suspect you wrote it in this book."

He broke out into that goofy smile. "And you say we don't know each other.”

TGIF: Book Appeal

2012-02-03T09:13:00.002-05:00

When you're browsing goodreads, the library, or another blogger's reviews, what grabs your attention to make you want to read it?

I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by its cover but when browsing the library shelves the covers are what most often what grab my attention and make me want to read it. When I'm reading a physical book I love having a relatively new copy in my hands and I also like to read the books people are buzzing about so I tend to stick to the new arrival shelf.

Through goodreads I add a lot of books that friends have given high ratings to. I might not have read Divergent last year were it not for the excellent word of mouth on behalf of many of my internet friends who were raving about it. I also utilize listopia searches a lot by genre, especially when I'm looking for good romance reads since that genre can be rather hit or miss sometimes.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

2012-01-31T07:35:00.000-05:00

In order to come up with a list of ten books I think would make great book club picks I had to first envision the kind of book club I'd be picking them for. I mean I know people (my mom's boss for example) who have really stuck up and pretentious book clubs where they read the latest Thomas Friedman books and then debate politics for two hours. If I had a book club it would probably involve lots of wine and appetizers and gossip. The books would be fast reads, YA or contemporary fiction, nothing that stresses out book club members to get finished in time for a meeting.

It would also involve books I have not read. Just because.

Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn
Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation by Elizabeth Berg
Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich
Heft by Liz Moore
Big Girl Small: A Novel by Rachel DeWoskin

A blog reboot, I think

2012-01-29T16:12:00.003-05:00

It's no secret to the four people who read this blog that all I ever post about over here are the books I read throughout the year. It used to be a sort of scrapbook of my life. I started an iteration of this blog years ago at the start of my college career to document my life and attempt to be some kind of Dooce or Amalah. Which is laughable to me now. Since then the personal aspect has fallen apart.

Then I started a blog on tumblr and that was all she wrote. The politically slanted, sometimes pop-culture-y, occasionally personal blog is truly the one online venture I really care about. If you want to know more about my life the tiny little personal vignettes I post over there are probably more telling than anything I share here on blogger. And the political stuff is what I'm most passionate about. Any other life updates are found on twitter.

In an effort to simplify my online existence and avoid sounding like a broken record in too many locations I've decided I like the idea of posting more about my reading habits on this blog since I'm already sharing my 52 books goal. I'll be re-naming, and re-vamping, and heretofore will be sharing all of the bookish things on my mind in this internet location. I hope to share what I'm reading, books I'm looking forward to, and I'd like to post longer reviews on occasion. I'll also participate in bookish themed memes a couple of days each week.

I hope you'll read along as I start this new chapter!

Book #5, 6, and 7

2012-01-29T11:33:00.003-05:00

I'm hoping this year that my reading goal will be completed long before the January 1st deadline and so far I'm making great progress! I started all three of these books a week ago but managed to finish them all this weekend. Two of them are expiring on my Kindle this Monday and Tuesday so I was desperate to get them finished in time.

Swept Off Her Feet by Hester Browne -- This was my least favorite of the books read this weekend and, honestly, the entire year so far. I'm planning to read a few more contemporary romance novels (or 'Chick Lit'--a term I despise) this year because it's a genre I do generally enjoy. This was severely disappointing though.

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan -- I thought I was going to love this one and while it was better than the previously mentioned novel it wasn't as enjoyable as I expected. There were so many characters that I had trouble keeping their names and stories straight. The entire novel felt very chaotic and I couldn't really connect to anyone in the book.

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell -- I really enjoyed this novel. From the Goodreads description:

The Bigtree alligator-wrestling dynasty is in decline, and Swamplandia!, their island home and gator-wrestling theme park, formerly #1 in the region, is swiftly being encroached upon by a fearsome and sophisticated competitor called the World of Darkness. Ava’s mother, the park’s indomitable headliner, has just died; her sister, Ossie, has fallen in love with a spooky character known as the Dredgeman, who may or may not be an actual ghost; and her brilliant big brother, Kiwi, who dreams of becoming a scholar, has just defected to the World of Darkness in a last-ditch effort to keep their family business from going under. Ava’s father, affectionately known as Chief Bigtree, is AWOL; and that leaves Ava, a resourceful but terrified thirteen, to manage ninety-eight gators and the vast, inscrutable landscape of her own grief.

This book was a bit haunting, definitely sad, a little mystical, and thoroughly well-written. I've mentioned before about my love of books set in Appalachia. The same applies to books set in Southwest Florida. This no doubt contributed to my love of Swamplandia.

Book #4

2012-01-18T23:36:00.004-05:00

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

“It’s a small point of pride that I was a six-pound baby, because from my limited understanding of baby weights, that’s on the skinnier side. I flaunt my low baby weight the way really obese people must flaunt their dainty, small feet. It’s my sole claim to skinny.”

Book #3

2012-01-16T13:51:00.003-05:00

I've gushed about this book a lot over the last two days. I loved it. Because I read the Laura books and because I identified so much with the author of this book, Wendy McClure. I want to be her new BFF.

“Sometimes, Laura World wasn't a realm of log cabins or prairies, it was a way of being. Really, a way of being happy. I wasn't into the flowery sayings, but I was nonetheless in love with the idea of serene rooms full of endless quiet and time, of sky in the windows, of a life comfortably cluttered and yet in some kind of perfect feng shui equilibrium, where all the days were capacious enough to bake bread and write novels and perambulate the wooded hills deep in thought (though truthfully, I'd allow for the occasional Rose-style cocktail party as well).”

“I’ve never really regretted being childless, but it started to feel different after my mother died, in a way I couldn’t describe. But here in Walnut Grove I knew what it was: I felt invisible sometimes. Not ignored, but anomalous and ghostly. I wasn’t the girl anymore, and I wasn’t the ma.”

Book #2

2012-01-13T22:18:00.002-05:00

Aftertaste by Meredith Mileti

I've been really excited about lending books for my Kindle through the library lately. As someone who loves reading on the Kindle but also loves the free price tag on library books it's the best of both worlds.

Book #1

2012-01-06T22:41:00.002-05:00

Book #1 for the year is Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great. One of the literacy groups I work with is starting it this upcoming week. I squealed when I found out. I love Judy Blume!

But this means I've already broken my resolution to read 52 new to me books this year. Oh well, that was probably a terrible idea (and stifling goal) anyway.

2012 Reading Challenge

2012-01-02T20:53:00.002-05:00

After finishing last year's 52 goal I need a few days to recover from my marathon reading in December. In the meantime I'm working on a list of the books I'm most looking forward to tackling in 2012.

The rest of the Stephanie Plum novels. I loved the first two and I hear the series gets even better after the first few.
Insurgent (Divergent, #2)
Pandemonium (Delirium, #2)
Swamplandia!
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
A Friday Night Lights Companion: Love, Loss, and Football in Dillon, Texas
The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation
The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie
The Art of Fielding
Chime
Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1)

My 2012 New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-01T09:07:00.003-05:00

Make a decision about furthering my education. This goal may or may not include signing up to take the appropriate exams for admission, getting reference letters together, and turning in an application.
Drink less soda. In the past I've tried to make resolutions about cutting cokes out of my life completely but the truth is, I can't. I need to enjoy them in moderation. Less coke, more tea and water.
Read 52 new to me books this year. I'd like to cut out re-reads. Luckily there are lots of older books I skipped as a kid.
Organize paper clutter. I stole this one from my friend Karen but I love the idea. I'm notoriously bad at throwing out receipts I don't need. Or keeping a huge stack of disorganized mail just laying on my bookshelf or desk. All of that clutter is out of control.
Grow pumpkins. I've grown pumpkins on accident in years past but this year I'd like to plant them on purpose.
Be more diligent about giving away eggs.
Cook more; eat out less. I hate eating out but that doesn't mean I don't fall into the pick up something on the way home from work because I'm too tired to wash dishes tonight routine. I want to start making more of those recipes I keeping pinning on Pinterest.
Take the time to schedule posts for my other blog the night before. Since I'm busy all day with stuff at school I rarely have time to check tumblr. But y'all, the president is following that one. I need to be on my A-game.
Keep to the maintenance schedule for my car. I was so lucky to get a brand new car in 2009. I was so diligent about oil changes and all of the stuff the book tells you to do for the first year and half that I owned it but over the last several months I've really slacked off. I need to stop letting time get away from me in between service visits.
Attend a Kentucky game. It's been entirely too long. I miss Rupp Arena and Commonwealth Stadium.

Complete List of the 52 Books I Read in 2011

2012-01-01T08:59:00.002-05:00

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani
The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann
The Island by Elin Hilderbrand
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Matched by Ally Condie
That Summer by Sarah Dessen
William & Kate by Christopher Andersen
Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Bumped by Megan McCafferty
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
To Come and Go Like Magic by Katie Pickard Fawcett
Love Me If You Dare by Carly Phillips
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Homemade Living: Keeping Chickens by Ashley English
32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
Graveminder by Melissa Marr
Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook by Anthony Bourdain
Stuart Little by E.B. White
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
All That Is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir by Ashley Judd
Elizabeth Street by Laurie Fabiano
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope by Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
Fireworks over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff
Crossed by Ally Condie
A Being So Gentle: The Frontier Love Story of Rachel and Andrew Jackson by Patricia Brady
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
Bring Me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich

Favorites: Graveminder, The Hunger Games Trilogy, Delirium, Divergent, The Truth About Forever, World War Z, 32 Candles, Sisterhood Everlasting.

Book #52

2011-12-31T18:34:00.001-05:00

Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich

And just like that I'm finished! Full wrap up and list of my top ten favorites for the year to come tomorrow.

Book #51

2011-12-30T20:53:00.003-05:00

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I started another Stephanie Plum novel but decided to check out a few pages of this book on the Kindle app on my phone before going to sleep last night. Once I began I couldn't put it down. It's consumed my day and is, hands down, one of the greatest books I've ever read. I'm not a book reviewer so it always seems silly to write more than a sentence or two about one of my selections but this novel? Oh my goodness. I'm embarrassed it took so long for me to discover it.

Book #50

2011-12-28T20:54:00.003-05:00

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Book #49

2011-12-27T10:46:00.002-05:00

One of my all time favorite books. It's just as wonderful as I remembered.

“It seems to me that we can’t explain all the truly awful things in the world like war and murder and brain tumors, and we can’t fix these things, so we look at the frightening things that are closer to us and we magnify them until they burst open. Inside is something that we can manage, something that isn’t as awful as it had a first seemed. It is a relief to discover that although there might be axe murderers and kidnappers in the world, most people seem a lot like us: sometimes afraid and sometimes brave, sometimes cruel and sometimes kind.”

Book #48

2011-12-26T13:23:00.002-05:00

Was this really badly written? Yes. Because it's the book version of watching a cheesy Lifetime/Hallmark/ABCFamily Christmas movie. I couldn't help myself.

#47

2011-12-25T14:44:00.002-05:00

Oh dear internet, I'm pretty sure I've hit the bottom of the barrel of my dignity with this choice. I don't even care anymore, I don't think.

There are two things I've been pretty obsessed with this past year: books and TV shows. This year I've watched all seasons of Justified, Parks and Recreation, Mad Men, Friday Night Lights, Parenthood, and probably more that I can't think of. And I developed a love for a genre I didn't even know I liked, the procedural crime drama. First I became obsessed with Bones and promptly watched all episodes. And when I ran out of those I was told I should watch Castle. So I did and am terribly obsessed with that one as well.

Long story short, Heat Wave is the first in a series of companion novels for that show. It's like glorified fan fiction with an ABC seal of approval. And it's not very great.

Yet I have no shame.

Book #46

2011-12-22T08:48:00.005-05:00

I've been meaning to read One for the Money by Janet Evanovich all year long. I've checked out the library's ancient copy at least four times with the intent to introduce myself to Stephanie Plum but I could never make myself do it. Can I make a weird book confession? If a paperback is too old and tattered (like not the good kind of old and tattered, just the gross kind) I can't bring myself to read it. It's why I usually stick to the new arrival shelf. So anyway, long story short I downloaded it to my Kindle because it's Christmas and as a concession to not asking for a Kindle Fire I've decided I can use gift cards to purchase all the books I want.

And I picked this one because I really wanted to read the book before I saw the movie.

The plus side is I'm officially addicted and excited that I have 17 more Plum novels (plus Christmas novellas) to catch up on.

Book #45

2011-12-20T09:58:00.000-05:00

Christmas Spirit

2011-12-19T09:02:00.004-05:00

I often neglect this blog when I have lots of other things going on but I'm back now. I've spent the last two weeks nursing my poor mother back to health after she contracted MRSA. (Right? Crazy? It totally was.) It's been an ordeal. I'm trying to re-discover the Christmas spirit this week before the holidays begin this weekend.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate. Though I try every year to be an egg nog kind of person.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? When Santa was still visiting my house he just sat out the presents. Often assembled and ready to play. My parents bought tons of presents each year so it was always a living room FULL of toys. In retrospect this is a bit ridiculous but at the time? SO MAGICAL. Now I wrap everything. I love unwrapping gifts.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? - I like white lights for the most part.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? - Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up? - Thanksgiving weekend. Thought this year it seems there are still boxes full of things to put out. Oh well.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? - Ham and hashbrown casserole. Christmas is all about the cheesy potatoes for me. And homemade Chex Mix.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? - In 1994 we brought my brother home from the hospital on Christmas Eve to a house full of well wishers. My entire extended family came over and brought Christmas dinner and presents. He was truly the best Christmas gift ever. I'm so thankful to have a sibling.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? - I was around 8 or 9 I think. I had it figured out for a while but I didn't want the magic to stop.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? - Yes. My dad grew up opening every single one of his presents on Christmas Eve so my parents compromised their traditions by allowing for a few presents to be opened the night before. My dad still lobbies each year for us to open all of them on Christmas Eve though. He's never gotten his way.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? - It really depends. Some years we do white lights, others multi-colored. Mostly it's sentimental ornaments but I've done fancy trees in the past too.

11. Snow! love it or dread it? - Let's be honest, I don't love winter and I don't really look forward to ice or snow. I don't mind a snow day but I hate when it's slippery and I have to actually leave the house.

12. Can you ice skate? - I would never even attempt such nonsense. I can't stand ice.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? - My brother totally counts, right? Other than that goober I really enjoyed my barbie convertible power wheels car and a kitchen set.

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? - Having the time after a long year for relaxation and reflection.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? - I'm constantly switching things up and rarely make the same things two years in a row so I really don't know that I have a favorite.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? - Baking and movie watching.

17. What tops your tree? - A bow.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? - Both. Of course I love giving. But c'mon, who doesn't love being on the receiving end of the perfect gift?

19. Candy canes: yuck or yum? - Double yum. Peppermint is one of my favorite flavors.

20. Favorite Christmas movie? - Christmas Vacation. At last count we've watched it four times this season. I am Clark Griswold.

Ellen: You set standards that no family activity can live up to.

Clark: When have I ever done that?

Ellen: Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, funerals, holidays, vacations, graduations...

21. Saddest Christmas song? - "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" -- preferably the Judy Garland version from Meet Me in St. Louis. This song has made me ugly cry. Not even kidding.

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? - See the aforementioned. It's perfect.

this year's Christmas card

Book #44

2011-12-18T12:40:00.003-05:00

While I've made no secret my love of the dystopian YA novel this year I have to say that with Crossed I've really exceeded my quota. No more. At least until next year. I didn't love the first book in this series, Matched but I still wanted to give the next one a try. There wasn't improvement. I thought Crossed was incredibly boring. Which is a bummer because I hate wasting my time with boring books.

Book #43

2011-12-11T19:43:00.001-05:00

Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff

Book #42

2011-12-09T23:28:00.002-05:00

A few people had told me that since I enjoy YA Fiction I should read Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries. So I did, and I didn't love it. I'm not even sure I liked it that much. The plot was lacking and the character development was poor, if not non-existent. I, shock of all shocks, actually preferred the movie in this instance. And we all know that should NEVER happen.

{10 more books and 22 days to go.}

Book #41

2011-12-05T07:49:00.002-05:00

Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope

Top Ten Tuesday

2011-11-29T07:20:00.000-05:00

Created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme for those who love lists and want to get to know their fellow bloggers. Each week features a new theme, and anyone may participate. This week’s theme is…

Top Ten Books On My To Be Read List For Winter

Book #40

2011-11-27T22:03:00.003-05:00

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I can't believe I made it to Book #40. Only 12 books to go and 34 days in the year left to read them.

Book #39

2011-11-25T20:49:00.001-05:00

"A long, hot summer with Leonard in his un-air-conditioned apartment, followed by two months in their unit at Pilgrim Lake, had given Madeleine a good idea of what it would be like to be “married to manic depression.” At first, the drama of their reconciliation had over shadowed any difficulties. It was a rush to be needed the way Leonard needed her. As the summer wore on, however, and Leonard didn’t noticeably improve—and especially after they moved to Cape Cod and he seemed, if anything, worse—Madeleine began to feel suffocated. It was as if Leonard had brought his hot, stuffy little studio apartment with him, as though that was where he lived, emotionally, and anyone who wanted to be with him had to squeeze into that hot psychic space too. It was as if, in order to love Leonard fully, Madeleine had to wander into the same dark forest where he was lost. There comes a moment, when you get lost in the woods, when the woods begin to feel like home."

-Jeffrey Eugenides, The Marriage Plot

Thanksgiving Wrap Up

2011-11-25T08:56:00.002-05:00

I came, I saw, I wrestled a bird.

We had a small gathering at my parents' house for Thanksgiving and then took extra trays of food to my aunt and uncle.

I spent Wednesday baking pies and making desserts and rolls.

I need a new roll recipe before Christmas, though. They were pretty but the texture was off and has been for the last few batches. Such a bummer.

I made turkey, ham, dressing, green beans, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, homemade turkey gravy (a first for me, I've been mastering various gravies all year long and felt confident enough to attempt turkey sans recipe this year), broccoli casserole, baked beans, and deviled eggs.

And by the end of the evening I looked over and Molly had a seat at the table.

Typical.

Book #38

2011-11-21T10:03:00.003-05:00

I'm off all this week because of Thanksgiving. (Yay for paraeducator schedules! Boo for paraeducators salaries.) I'm hoping to use the extra time off to make a significant push toward 52 books. My local library had a ton of books I'd been hoping to read this year on their new arrival shelf on Saturday so I have lots of material to work with these next few days.

A fellow bookish friend recommended The Night Circus to me a while back. I was so excited to see my library carrying a copy. It did not disappoint. It's a visually stunning novel. (Is that possible? I'm going to assume it is.) I couldn't help but think of what a beautiful film it would make.

Book #37

2011-11-16T22:12:00.003-05:00

Two books in one day! Elizabeth Street is a novel based on true events surrounding a family of Italian immigrants at the turn of the century. The book was by no means the greatest I've ever read. I think a reviewer on Good Reads hit the nail on the head when she said she felt the book fell into the typical immigrant story cliches. It was a nice tale nevertheless and I did enjoy deciphering the various Italian phrases sprinkled throughout the novel.

Book #36

2011-11-16T15:09:00.003-05:00

I've long admired Ashley Judd. I still regret turning down an opportunity to attend a campaign event she was hosting in Louisville a couple of years ago. Her worldview is fascinating to me, her charitable work is inspiring, and we attended the same college. This memoir was a mixture of stories about her childhood, her recovery from codependency, and rich chapters about the work she does with women across the globe in her capacity as an ambassador for YouthAIDS.

Her struggle with recovery and her reflections of a childhood with Appalachian grandparents really resonated with me.

"Best of all was when Mamaw and I would gather up all the soft pillows from the bedrooms and make a nest on her bed. She would cut off the air-conditioning, as I do today. Cuddling on her bed, we would play cards, giggle, sing ditties, or just listen to the katydids chirping in the Kentucky twilight. That downy, soft bed was the high altar of my childhood."

Although I'm sure you've seen this

2011-11-14T23:29:00.004-05:00

I can't stop watching.

Who doesn't enjoy a little Biggie Smalls when they're having a bad day?

Book #35

2011-11-11T19:59:00.002-05:00

Like Sarah, Plain and Tall this book was another that I've had to read in order to not look like a total idiot in front of a group of 2nd graders. Maybe it's cheating by counting it toward my reading goal. I don't care. I'll read Game of Thrones or something else that's gigantic to make up for all of the puny books lately.

P.S. For what it's worth, How to Eat Fried Worms was not my favorite when I was forced to read it with my class in 3rd grade. I'm still pretty meh about it.

A Great Disney Deal

2011-11-08T11:59:00.003-05:00

A while back I talked about planning a Disney World vacation. I still think about going all the time. Which is so strange because I never really had a desire to go as a kid. Anyway, I thought I'd pass on this great deal Disney has going on right now. If you book before December 17 you can get a free dining plan with your package for stays in January thru March. I have lots of decisions to make about school to make this month since a program I'm interested in begins in January so I don't know if I'll be able to take advantage of this. But, I thought it might interest some of my readers!

I've read free dining plans are something frequent Disney visitors hope for and rave about. It really does save you tons of money during your stay and takes the stress of buying food off your hands. Seriously, free food? It really is the happiest place on earth.

No YA Shame

2011-11-05T23:47:00.002-04:00

I had to share this picture from this lovely blog.

I remember from my middle school years until her death during my senior year of high school my grandma used to read a lot of the same books I did. It didn't click then but I know now it's because Grandma knew what was up.

Book #34

2011-11-02T00:18:00.003-04:00

Don't let the cover or title fool you. I promise I was recommended this book by actual smart and bookish people and it was a pretty decent read. (Don't you love my two sentence reviews? Good lord...)

This makes #18 out of 34 books this year that have been YA Fiction. I'm sensing a pattern.

Book #33

2011-10-24T00:16:00.003-04:00

From Dracula to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It's been a strange day of reading. LOVED it though. Another one of those books I'm not sure why I've never read before.

“I couldn’t understand the Herdmans. You would have thought the Christmas story came right out of the F.B. I. files, they got so involved in it–wanted a bloody end to Herod, worried about Mary having her baby in a barn, and called the Wise Men a bunch of dirty spies. And they left the first rehearsal arguing about whether Joseph should have set fire to the inn, or just chased the innkeeper into the next country.”

Book #32

2011-10-23T18:21:00.003-04:00

It took me a week to finish reading Dracula. I had a little trouble getting into it and I started several other books in the process due to my own attention span issues. I did end up liking it. However, reading it reminded me that I don't necessarily enjoy epistolary novels all that much.

Book #31

2011-10-19T12:40:00.002-04:00

I've been reading Stuart Little after lunch each day with one of my 2nd grade classrooms but I've never read it before now. I think I was too busy devouring Beverly Cleary, Ann Martin and Judy Blume books at that age to take a second look at a book about a mouse. I took some time this morning to finish it during my off day.

Should I ever teach I would most likely pursue the logical (and easiest) option and get my middle and secondary certification in social studies but I've found this time with elementary school children to be a fun way to catch up on some of the children's fiction I seem to have missed as a kid.

This also adds to my E.B. White selections for the year. If you'll remember book #22 was Charlotte's Web. I might have to round out the trifecta with The Trumpet of the Swan before the year is up.

Whatever, kid

2011-10-14T22:41:00.001-04:00

I never gave you permission to grow up.

Book #30

2011-10-09T22:53:00.001-04:00

Book #29

2011-10-03T21:26:00.003-04:00

I'm working on Sarah, Plain and Tall with one of my reading groups this week. I've never read it before and I wanted to be better prepared to lead discussions.

And yes, even though it's only 60ish pages I'm totally counting it toward my reading goal. Hush.

Weekend Update

2011-09-30T00:08:00.005-04:00

I've been working as an instructional assistant at an elementary school for the past month. At first I didn't love it. Then I became tolerant of it. And this past week I actually began to enjoy my job. Of course it doesn't really pay my bills but I kind of don't want to leave it. On a really good day I start researching graduate teaching programs and looking at GRE practice books.

So there's that.

***

Jill has been especially cute lately. I've never met such a sweet pup. Terribly spoiled but totally sweet.

If you follow any of my other online ventures you already know all about the double yolk eggs I received from two of my hens this week. If not, now you do. I collected them early in the week and then scrambled both for my dinner on Wednesday. I couldn't wait to crack those babies open and marvel at the oddity of it. Such a fun surprise!

Last weekend I had to have Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I don't eat there often and don't particularly love their lunch and dinner options but something about the entire experience of eating there for breakfast gives me such a rush of memories from my childhood. Trips to the country with my grandparents and general store items and those little games they have on the table. So weird. I was definitely craving some kind of nostalgia.

My little unabomber. I just want to squeeze that face.

Baking day! All thanks to Pinterest.

Book #28

2011-09-21T17:03:00.002-04:00

I adored everything about this book. Everything. This was a fantastic ending to a series I almost can't believe I began reading in high school.

Seasons Changing

2011-09-10T22:05:00.001-04:00

Around here eggs are finally being laid on the regular. 4 out of 6 hens are laying!

The garden is still producing. The second round of zucchini.

And more jalapenos and green peppers.

And the tallest Okra I've ever grown. I was super diligent about clipping it each week this year and it's still producing.

The tomatoes still haven't ripened in full force. There are so many still left to pick in the next couple of weeks. And quite a few that will probably be able to be wrapped in newspaper and stored in a box to ripen in the garage. I love fresh tomatoes at Thanksgiving!

The fall garden is taking off.
Including acorn squash.

And a bed of lettuce, cabbage, spinach, and brussels sprouts.

I'm still not finished planting everything for autumn and winter.

And the corn behind my parents' house is drying out. A sure sign that it's time for me to drink warm apple cider and find a place to pick pumpkins.

#27

2011-09-05T19:24:00.003-04:00

Graveminder by Melissa Marr was the perfect book for a day like today. I consumed it in no time while wrapped up in a sweater and drinking cups of coffee. Perfect!

Book #26

2011-09-04T23:40:00.002-04:00

I knew there were so many things about his life I couldn’t fix, no matter how hard I tried. It was probably why I worked so hard to handle the things I did. Getting us settled, taking care of details, keeping the chaos we’d chosen as neat as possible. I couldn’t mend his broken heart or give him back the love of his team. But getting a new toaster, making sure we had enough soap and paper towels, and agreeing about the pickles? That, I could handle.

--What Happened to Goodbye, Sarah Dessen

I Love

2011-09-02T21:18:00.003-04:00

Being employed again.
Having three day weekends until January.
That Autumn is right around the corner.
Hanging out with the coolest 16 year old I know.

Everything ever made with a rooster on it.

Pinterest.
Fresh eggs.

Unhealthy Chinese food.
Crocheted granny square quilts.
Pumpkin in all baked things.
Lazy dogs.

My mamaw.

Book #25

2011-08-23T22:56:00.003-04:00

It's been a month tomorrow since I finished my last book. I'm not sure that kind of time off is the best strategy for completing a reading goal, but oh well.

The political references in this book made it a fun read.

Barry, let me give you a history lesson, Ladybird Hope-style. When the Vietnamese got kids hooked on drugs and we had to fight a war to stop it, did we give in? No! We said, “Crack is wack!” and we made sure everybody could have guns instead of drugs. Back before the British were our friends, and they had a mean king who made us pay too much tax instead of just having hot princes who go to nightclubs, they wanted to keep us from bringing freedom to the people of Mexico and making it a state, and George Washington had to chop down that cherry tree and write the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and that’s the reason we fought World War II, and why we keep fighting, because those freedom-hating people out there want to take away our right to be rich and good-lookin’ and have gated communities and designer sweatpants like the ones from my Ladybird Hope Don’t Sweat it line, and they want us all to learn to speak Muslim and let the lawyers stop us from teaching about Adam and Eve and that will be the day that every child gets left behind.

Ladybird Hope, presidential candidate (Beauty Queens by Libba Bray)

Not So Extreme Couponing

2011-08-09T22:13:00.004-04:00

I've spent the last few days working on making a binder for my coupons. Long story short: I had a job, then I hated the new job, then I ended up quitting the new job for a variety of great reasons I won't get into. So, I needed something to do with my time in between writing cover letters, sending resumes, and generally feeling useless. Coupons seemed productive.

So I made a binder.

Today I couldn't bring myself to take it with me into Kroger. I know that might sound silly but I've never been so obvious with my couponing before. It feels weird.

Mama Jill

2011-08-08T19:20:00.002-04:00

The First Egg (in which I nerd out, again, over chickens)

2011-07-30T21:13:00.004-04:00

a pale green egg from Loretta next to a regular white grocery store egg

Loretta was acting strange this morning. Lots of bawking and squawking and doing this weird feather thing that I can't even begin to describe with words. For a minute I wondered whether today was first egg day. I went so far as to grab a nest box, fill it with straw, and stick it inside of the coop.

And then I thought twice about it, emptied the box, and stuck it back in the corner of the run. I assumed I couldn't be so lucky as to have a chicken lay at 18 weeks. I just knew for sure my hens would take forever to mature, possibly pushing up into the 24 week range. I also assumed there was no way on earth the first egg would come from Loretta, the runt of the flock.

Thinking no more about her strange behavior I left the house to run errands, one of which was picking up layer feed for the flock.

This afternoon Jonathan rushed inside and announced in a somewhat frantic voice that he needed me to follow him immediately. "It's nothing bad," he swore and smirked mischievously. I knew.

There in the corner of the run where all of the chickens had hung out all day long was a lone tiny green egg. It was, quite possibly, the best moment of my year. It's incredibly gratifying to raise healthy chickens from babies to egg laying.

The little grey girl laid first. I just can't believe it.

Monday Evening

2011-07-25T23:00:00.001-04:00

Anyone tired of chickens yet? Whatever. This is now my life.

Book #24

2011-07-25T12:58:00.003-04:00

Amazon has a Kindle sale going on and I managed to go on a little buying spree over the weekend. (After having just ranted on my other blog about Kindle prices. Perfect timing.) 32 Candles was one of the novels I purchased and it did not disappoint. I tend to say I love everything. But I'm serious, I loved this book. It was totally engrossing. It's been several books since I'd read a page turner and I'd started to forget what losing yourself in a novel was like. I'm happy to have re-discovered that feeling.

"PMSing-which I personally thought could be better identified as 'the one time of the month when women saw shit clearly."

"I will never let a man hand me an Invitation to Crazy."

Sunday

2011-07-24T22:20:00.003-04:00

Tonight I threw an impromptu dinner party for my aunt and uncle. I pulled together a meal and managed forage together a baked ham, fresh corn and green beans, mashed potatoes and cornbread. For dessert I served two options: Peach Cobbler and Peach Ice Cream. The adventurous folks opted for both together. Not to toot my own horn or anything but it was all so yummy.

But of course everyone comes for the chickens, not the food, these days.

They don't disappoint.

******

Life update.

I don't work this week because my temp job is over. (It was so bittersweet leaving my temp job buddies on Thursday.) I was so stressed about what in the world I was going to do after it ended when another job just landed in my lap. I mean, literally. I applied and within a day was hired. So awesome! This Friday I begin a job as a receptionist with a roofing company. It's not what I want to be doing with my life, obviously. But it's something. I'm comforted by the fact that I won't have a lapse in paychecks and also that it pads my resume with some office experience that I'm sure might be helpful in the future. The steady employment should look good as well.

Now I get to put together a wardrobe of office attire. That's really the part I'm most looking forward to.

Saturday

2011-07-23T23:43:00.000-04:00

Old friends.

Friday

2011-07-22T23:47:00.002-04:00

I did a number of things today. I bought straw bales. Got an oil change. Picked up half a peck of peaches at Hinton's Orchard in Hodgenville.

But my very favorite part of today was sitting on the bench next to the chicken run after dinner.

Thursday Night

2011-07-21T23:59:00.000-04:00

I'm tired just thinking about all this.

Wednesday Evening

2011-07-20T20:23:00.002-04:00

Ignore that fact that it doesn't have a door and that I haven't landscaped around it and made it super cute yet. Instead marvel at the beauty of chickens in a chicken run with a coop. I've given them permission to lay some eggs. Any day now, ladies.

Tuesday Afternoon

2011-07-19T23:19:00.003-04:00

There is a growing list of things I've never purchased before that suddenly I've needed to because of the chicken coop. I'd never bought concrete mix or ordered lumber and stuffed it into a minivan. I'd never picked out roof shingles and loaded carts of landscape timbers and fence wire. And until this afternoon I'd never bought fence staples nor had I any idea what fence staples actually were. I love a good learning moment.

Monday Night

2011-07-18T23:17:00.002-04:00

(the first in a seven day series to document a week in my life through pictures)

The AC adapter went out on my laptop so I'm using a desktop this week. (Sigh.) Pinterest has overtaken my life. I've developed a sudden interest in nurseries, wedding dresses, and vintage clothing. It's absurd.

Book #23 (Reference Books Count)

2011-07-17T11:25:00.002-04:00

This was a great reference to chicken raising. It's actually the first I've read as most of the others I'd seen at the library were falling apart and 4000 years old. I loved the modern spin on poultry keeping that the author provided. AND, she basically proved that I do indeed need a pair of Hunter Boots to tend to the chickens in. YES!

Book #22

2011-07-13T15:41:00.001-04:00

"Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both."

I cried. It was wonderful.

Book #21

2011-07-12T23:37:00.003-04:00

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

I loved this book.

I confess to having picked it up at the library because I've never read it and it's on all of those greatest lists but mostly because it's only 97 pages and I'm behind on my goal. However, 21 books into this thing I can say without a doubt this is the best book I've read so far this year. Now I'm wondering what other classics I've neglected should be added to my to-read pile.

Book #20

2011-07-12T20:47:00.002-04:00

I'm only ashamed that I didn't pick better trash to read. This was pretty bland.

Time to Get Serious

2011-07-10T23:35:00.003-04:00

When I get asked in job interviews* what my strengths and weaknesses are I always mention how goal oriented I am as one of my strengths. I set goals and I follow through** come hell or high water. It might also be a weakness. If you look at it another way it appears I have an extreme inability to accept defeat.

This week I'm determined to make up those 8 books. I just can't promise that doing it will be pretty or intellectually stimulating. I've spotted some Carly Phillips and Jennifer Crusie novels on my bookshelf that are screaming to be read. This week is not for highbrow. It's for winning.

*I had a job interview last week. Cross all your parts that I hear good news in the next few days!
**This does not apply to weight loss goals. I fail those all the time.

Summer Recipes

2011-07-04T18:18:00.003-04:00

I used to say I hated pork except for bacon and the occasional ham. Then I realized that it's sort of un-Kentuckian of me to dislike the other white meat. There are so many local sources for great pork. I've come to realize I only hated pork because I'd been eating it wrong for too many years. Pork doesn't need to be cooked to death which is an important thing to understand.

This has become my go-to marinade for chops on the grill. Especially because it helps me utilize some of the rosemary I've been growing.

Pork Marinade (30 minutes!)
1/4 cup lemon juice, fresh if possible
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil, or vegetable
3/4 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt (kosher)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4-6 Pork chops

In a plastic bag put in the pork chops and cover with the marinade. Refrigerate for 30 minutes but no more than 4 hours. Don’t do this over night or the pork will be inedible.

*********

A few nights ago I had the best pasta salad ever. I had to request the recipe and I made a huge batch to go with tonight's dinner and for a couple of lunches this week.

Pasta Salad
1 bottle of Kroger creamy Italian salad dressing
1 bottle of Wishbone robusto Italian dressing
2 16oz boxes of salad rotini
enough tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, shredded carrot and shredded cheddar cheese to suit your tastes

Cook your pasta, rinse & drain then mix with all other ingredients.

The key is using both of those particular salad dressings. All of the homemade pasta salads I've attempted before did not turn out nearly as well as this one.

{{photo credit}}

New Goal for 2011

2011-07-04T13:24:00.003-04:00

Last night we went to a Fourth of July party at my cousin and his wife's house in Brooks. They bought a foreclosure home with 25 acres a year ago and have basically gutted the house and started over. It was tons of fun to see the progress they've made, hang out with their goats, visit with the family, and watch fireworks. However, when I got home and went through my pictures I regretted not taking more. Specifically, not taking more of actual people because I didn't want to bother anyone. (Which is a totally silly reason to leave your camera sitting at a table all night.)

My new goal for 2011 is to stop feeling self-conscious about capturing moments at social events. Candid photography is my favorite and I should have just went for it last night.

30 Photo Challenge

2011-06-26T23:50:00.005-04:00

someone you spend a lot of time with

a picture of you

your favorite boy

an old picture of you

your sibling(s)

a picture you've never posted on a blog before

a person you miss

people who knew you now and then

your favorite place

person you can tell anything to

a picture of your everyday life

a place you love

a picture that reminds you of great times

the best day of your life

a picture that always makes you laugh

someone you always have a good time with

your parents

a picture from last summer

your favorite vacation

a picture of an accomplishment

a favorite memory

a photo that makes you smile

favorite moment from last month

a picture of summer

a random phone picture

your spare time

a photo of something you enjoy doing

a photo of your town

the people who are closest to you

someone who makes you happy

Book #19

2011-06-26T20:45:00.002-04:00

It's a proven fact that if you set a book in Appalachia I'm more likely to read it. And if the author is from Kentucky and the book is recommended by Silas House (one of my favorite authors) then I'm like triple times more likely to read it and love it.

I really enjoyed this novel. It's on the younger side of YA literature but I found it to be a subtly poignant tale about life in Appalachian Kentucky in the late 1970s. This is around the same time my mother spent a good amount of time in Appalachia with her grandparents so there were lots of tiny references to things I was familiar with about that period of time in the mountains. I really liked making those connections. Overall, it was a very nice read.

Frugal Gardening

2011-06-16T22:44:00.003-04:00

Regular garden planters at Walmart: $10
Multipurpose tubs plus the screwdriver and hammer I had at home to make drain holes in the bottom with: $5

Planting tomatoes and peppers and herbs amongst the flower beds:

Excellent way to utilize space and make that flower bed work a little bit.

I love this time of year.

Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee

2011-06-09T23:45:00.003-04:00

I live approximately 40 billion miles away from a Starbucks, we all know this. I much prefer cold coffee drinks to warm ones. Up until today I didn't know how to get past these facts of life. Every time I'd attempted iced coffee from a cooled down pot of that morning's brew I'd just end up disgusted.

Then this New York Times article showed me the way.

Two weeks later, back in Brooklyn, I saw a sign: “Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee Served Here.” Fine, then. I threw down two bucks and took a sip. Though it pains me to admit, the difference was considerable. Without the bitterness produced by hot water, the cold-brewed coffee had hints of chocolate, even caramel. I dropped my sugar packet — no need for it. The best brews hardly need cream. It really is the kind of thing a gentleman might spend five days in hot-coffee solitary confinement for.

They ain't kidding. This stuff is liquid gold. Thine eyes have seen the light.

Here's how you do it:

1/3 cup of your favorite ground coffee
1 1/2 cups water

Mix that up in a jar, cover, and let sit at room temperature for 8-12 hours. When the time is up strain it through a mesh sieve with a coffee filter in the bottom. Mix equal parts coffee and milk over ice. Feel free to add sugar, syrup, whatever. Store the extra in your fridge.

(I doubled this recipe when I brewed mine.)

Heaven. It's simply heaven. I might not ever leave home for Starbucks again.

Book #18

2011-06-09T23:28:00.004-04:00

I read this one because it made the rounds on some of the book blogs as good feminist YA literature. Persnickety Snark wrote it its review, "It's a rare occurrence in YA as protagonists, like the characters in this book, are often categorised as saints or sluts. Vivian explores the unfairness of both labels and all the grey that exists in between."

I ended up really enjoying it.

However, I probably could have finished it faster if the cover wasn't so supremely bad. I'd have been mortified to read it in public. YA covers are the worst.

Book #17

2011-06-08T09:23:00.002-04:00

I loved this book. Just as I expected. And my dad is totally Don Fey minus the snazzy dressing and the Republicanism. (Although he is just slightly more Blue Dog Democrat than I'd like. So, SAME THING.)

Choice quotes:

"My ability to turn good news into anxiety is rivaled only by my ability to turn anxiety into chin acne."

"Politics and prostitution have to be the only jobs where inexperience is considered a virtue. In what other profession would you brag about not knowing stuff? “I’m not one of those fancy Harvard heart surgeons. I’m just an unlicensed plumber with a dream and I’d like to cut your chest open.” The crowd cheers."

"Then she took out a speculum the size of a milk shake machine. Even Michelle Duggar would have flinched at this thing, but I had never seen one before."

“Lots of teenage girls have taken comfort under the wings of half-closeted gay boys.”

Book #16

2011-05-31T15:02:00.002-04:00

Of all of my current reading options of course I would pick the YA dystopian novel to read first.

It was just okay. I think I expected more from Megan McCafferty.

A Lettuce Appreciation Post

2011-05-31T09:21:00.003-04:00

I was reading a blog post this weekend that listed the most profitable plants to grow in your garden. I noticed that several of the plants were salad mixes, arugula and herbs. I couldn't agree more. I just started growing lettuce last year and found it quickly became one of my must-haves in the garden. The upkeep is low. And organic in the backyard vs. organic in the store makes a huge difference in price. It's easy to say one big dinner salad and the plants paid for themselves. The dozens of other salads since then have been money in the bank.

A lot of varieties bolt once the temperatures get too high but I'm already researching ways to keep my bed going well into summer with various warm weather varieties and shading methods. And in the fall my favorite varieties (buttercrunch, green leaf, black seeded simpson) will definitely return to my garden.

What I love about gardening (a bonus story): My brother, who has long had a serious aversion to iceberg lettuce, wanted lunch the other day. Fed up with his options inside the house he took a colander outside and picked a variety of lettuce and spinach. I watched him come inside, rinse, and then fix his favorite salad. Yesterday I caught him snacking on peas fresh out of the pod on the back patio. Having good, nutritious, organic produce right outside of your door is such an awesome thing. Watching a kid who is somewhat known for his serious addiction to chips and junk food take the initiative to enjoy it is even cooler.

And then there were vegetable plants

2011-05-29T22:30:00.003-04:00

Since the weather finally cooperated enough to allow me to garden I spent this weekend in dirt. I helped Jonathan make 2 more raised beds from reclaimed barn wood that our dad has had in a pile for-ev-er.

Then I planted:

12 tomatoes (4 Cherokee Purple, 2 Lemon Boy, 1 Beefsteak, 1 Pineapple, 1 Brandywine, 1 Black Krim, 1 Golden Jubilee, 1 Hillbilly Potato Leaf)

3 bell peppers (2 green, 1 yellow)

6 okra plants

6 burpless hybrid cucumbers

2 zucchini

2 straight-neck yellow squash

1 crookneck yellow squash

1 container of Kentucky Wonder pole beans

Still left to plant: 1 grape tomato, 1 cherry tomato, 3 tumbling tom yellow cherry tomatoes, another container of beans (at least), summer lettuce, and whatever other things I want to test. I have several spots in the various beds with which to play around.

As for chicken coop construction? Well, it is still slow going. Even though the weather is finally nice and the chickens need a home. Why? Because I come from a long line of indecisive procrastinators. The kind who butt heads with each other over things like flooring and design and then get nothing accomplished. (Movie title: April and her Father Build Things and Discover They Are Just Alike)

Let's just say we both have strong opinions. It's his yard and they're my chickens. We might end up on Judge Judy.

Pinterest (I've Been Pinning)

2011-05-27T22:28:00.003-04:00

http://pinterest.com/apsies/

What is Pinterest? (taken from HERE)
~ Pinterest is a social media platform that comprises of making " Design Boards" or " Inspiration Boards." Inspiration Boards comprise of collections of favorite VISUAL inspiration in the form of photos and imagery. Photos and Imagery are encountered when surfing the web can can be added to Inspiration Boards. Pinterest Boards are for showcasing and curating Visual Things that you love.

I'm sure some of you crafty types might be interested in Pinterest, if you don't already know about it. I think this will be a good way to sort of group my own inspirations in one spot. Let me know via email/facebook/or comment if you'd like an invite. I just need your email address.

loaded baked potato salad

2011-05-22T21:32:00.005-04:00

Dinner tonight was such a classic summery affair. Hotdogs and brats on the grill, baked beans, and my latest creation: Loaded Baked Potato Salad. (Dessert was watermelon! Yum!)

Loaded Baked Potato Salad (modified from Rachael Ray's recipe)
1 stick of softened butter
8 oz of sour cream
1/2 cup at least (I like more) of crumbled bacon (I use hormel bacon bits)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
7 medium potatoes
1/2 tsp lawry's seasoned salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 thinly sliced green onions

Bake your potatoes until tender (or boil, whatever works for you). Peel and dice. In a bowl mix the sour cream and butter together. Add the cheese, onions, bacon, salt and pepper. Mix well then fold in the diced potatoes. Serve warm or chilled.

birchbox

2011-05-21T22:09:00.003-04:00

I received my first birchbox in the mail today. For those not in the know, a birchbox is a sort of makeup of the month club. For $10 a month they send you a pretty box full of (carefully wrapped) high end makeup samples. Each box earns you points which then count toward the purchase of full size items. (Last month's looked fantastic! http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacenda/5623264186/ ) I'm in love!

Book # Slacking Edition

2011-05-17T20:33:00.004-04:00

The bad thing about setting a goal to read a certain number of books in one year and tracking said goal with goodreads is the overwhelming feeling of sudden doom and failure.

I'm only four behind! I can rally! Right?

Any recommendations? Preferably picture books. I can pad my stats with a few of those I think.

How 3 semesters of Italian bought me nothing but a smug attitude

2011-05-14T21:49:00.002-04:00

Bruschetta.

Is not pronounced bruSHETTA.

In Italian “ch” is pronounced like “k."

“broo-SKET-ah”

my boy arlo

2011-05-08T22:42:00.002-04:00

I never anticipated bonding the most with a rooster. Although he's a terrible little peckerhead who orchestrates lots of mischief I adore him. And even though he'll crow I just can't bring myself to get rid of him. Thank god I'm not in a traditional subdivision.

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T22:37:00.002-04:00

Then:

Now:

I think we've aged well.

Mi piacciono i miei capelli (I like my hair.) Finally.

2011-05-04T23:54:00.004-04:00

I've been experimenting with my hair these days. After spending far too long not caring about it at all. As in, pull it up and out of my face and be done with it. And far too long wishing I had everyone's hair but my own.

I've straightened it. Bought hot curlers and rolled it. Went to bed with it damp and gone au natural the next morning. And what I've learned is that at 25 years of age I can say with authority that I finally love my hair.

P.S. This curvy girl rocked the skinny jean this week at work. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking skinny jeans are only for size twos. I love mine.

Free Rangin'

2011-05-01T10:53:00.004-04:00

Since yesterday was the first nice day we've had in a while and it was relatively warm I decided to bring all seven chickens out on the patio for some play time. They loved it. They were out most of the morning and while I expected them to venture off a bit they didn't seem interested in it. There were too many interesting things close to the house. Like bugs, worms that still lingered from the rain, and some pansies that never got planted. Chickens can eat pansies! And marigolds and various other flowers. I'm being mindful of that next weekend when I buy my mom her Mother's Day flowers.

As much fun as it is having little baby chicks I must say I'm super excited about them getting bigger. I've never had a full grown giant chicken before. I literally squeal every time I notice they seem bigger.

They are still as sweet as can be. If you sit down nearby Arlo immediately hops up in your lap. He's such a happy little roo.

Book #15

2011-05-01T00:25:00.004-04:00

I can't really be proud of anything I've read this week. This was bad. Bad dialog. Bad premise. Bad, bad, bad. I liked Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books in high school so when I saw this on the new arrival shelf at the library I thought I'd give it ago.

Other things I liked in high school that are now proven to have been against my better judgment:

people
gay boys
working hard
listening to Delilah on the radio
jeans that were too long for my short legs

So what I'm saying is that my 17 year old self can't be trusted.

I ♥ Joe Biden

2011-05-01T00:23:00.001-04:00

Blog Award

2011-04-26T22:57:00.005-04:00

Laura tagged me for this one. Thank you, Laura! I tried to come up with some new facts which was hard since I feel like I've regurgitated my whole life for the internet at least twice at this point.

1. I'm planning a huge trip to Disney World (my first!) next year for my family.

2. I really feel like I should to go to grad school. A month ago it was for education, this week it's law school. I think I'm just indecisive.

3. I've never been any further west than Alabama nor have I ever flown on a plane.

4. I'm growing strawberries for the first time ever this season!

5. I'm taking off on Friday just so I can enjoy a full day of royal wedding coverage.

6. I tend to be good at things I hate. An example of this is my current job.

7. After spending a year and half bitching about it I miss taking Italian more than any other class at UK.

If you actually read this consider yourself awarded. Let me know if you do it!

Book #14

2011-04-25T21:31:00.003-04:00

I can't even dignify this one with a response.

naming chickens

2011-04-23T22:24:00.003-04:00

potential boy names:
arlo*
beau
hank

potential girl names:
loretta
georgia
ruby*
lady bird
alice
june
hazel

*pretty sure arlo & ruby are the names of my rhode island red hen and rooster. that's right, i have a roo!

Question of the Day

2011-04-18T22:50:00.003-04:00

Could I stay in this very charming cabin for 5 days without the internet and television?

It's the internet part I'm hung up on. I'll have my phone and 3g service (hopefully). That should be enough, right?!

You see my brother wants this year's Griswold family vacation to take place in the mountains. (He said, and I quote, "I've seen the beach like 5 times and it looks the same every time I see it. WHATEVER JON.) And against all my better judgment I'm considering going back to the scene of the crime -- re-visiting the Vacation from Hell for a do-over.

Also, if you see my marbles anywhere could you give them back to me? I seem to have lost them.

Sunday

2011-04-11T22:39:00.001-04:00

Chicken Update

2011-04-03T00:04:00.002-04:00

Due to some fancy voodoo chicken feather science I've been reading up on I think these two might be roos. Their wing feathers are shorter and blunted and their tail feathers are not nearly as present as the rest. But like I said, voodoo science. It'll be interesting to see if my prediction holds true.

Just please god let some of them be hens. They're supposed to be pullets not cockerels. But since sexing isn't an exact science and EVERYONE I'VE EVER TALKED TO IN THE UNIVERSE has me paranoid that some of them have to be roos I'm worried they all are.

Other than my paranoia over their sex I've noticed they are growing so fast. Like so fast I needed to be planning a coop like yesterday. But yesterday I was sick and at work all day long. And today I was sick and joy riding just to enjoy some sunshine. And tomorrow I might need a nap.

Chickens Day 6

2011-03-29T22:19:00.002-04:00

The chicks turn a week old tomorrow. They are eating more and more. Their wing feathers are really coming in and they all have the beginnings of tail feathers. And they chase each other around their pen playing tag with pieces of pine bedding. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Book #13

2011-03-28T01:02:00.002-04:00

This was Sarah Dessen's first novel. It's a very short novel that feels too short. I kept waiting for the story to pick up and 25 pages away from the end I realized it was never going to. I don't regret reading it though. It's nice to note Dessen's progression as an author since her debut.

Chicken Blogger

2011-03-27T23:07:00.002-04:00

I'm totally enamored by my babies. Each of them has a personality. We know that Lucy, the lightest colored Rhode Island Red is the friendliest of the bunch. An as yet unnamed Easter Egger is our bravest. Ethel, another RIR, is the runt with a sweet disposition. The buff orpingtons are most skittish when they're being picked up but you can feel them relax as you hold them. The others stress them out sometimes.

They're all wonderful.

Although I've Already Updated Every Social Media Site

2011-03-24T20:11:00.002-04:00

I have to write it here.

I got chickens! A like 5 year dream in the making.

I ended up with seven. There are no guarantees and since some might be roosters I wanted a variety. But hopefully they were sexed accurately and I've got 7 ladies.

3 Easter Eggers, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Buff Orpingtons.

What comes first, the chicken or the coop?

The chicken.