Fairy Houses

Fairy Houses by Barry Kane

I found this book while browsing the "new" section at our library. It is full of pictures of "Fairy Houses". According to the book, Fairy Houses were started in a group of islands off the coast of Maine many years ago. Families would make these cute little dwellings for the fairies. I thought how fun to try this!

I sent the kids on the hunt for good natural material around the yard and woods, set them each up with a spot of their own and they made fairy houses. They put themselves into the task and seemed quite interested in the idea. It was a fun activity for all os us. I might try and build one myself in my garden.

I took the following photos as soon as the kids said they were done, but I noticed throughout the afternoon that they kept going back, adding, redoing and changing their designs. I will have to check again in a few days and see what they have come up with.

Bessie's creation

Gabe's Rachel's Hannah's Dan's

The Treasure Principle

by Randy Alcorn

I just finished this little book and found it packed with wonderful insight into the idea of giving.

As I've mentioned before, I am not a very good reviewer. I know I like something or I don't, but I often have a hard time expressing why, but here goes.

The whole concept of this book is we should be storing up our treasure in heaven and not on this earth. This is a difficult idea in our extremely materialistic world. Even among Christians there is an unwillingness to part with our stuff. Although I would not consider us terribly materialistic, the things we do have are often hard to give up.

This book challenges Christians to go above and beyond what most think of as the norm when it comes to giving and to watch our hearts change as we place our trust in God. The emphasis is on that we are stewards and that God has placed these resources in our hands, but has not given them to us. We are to provide for our needs and then use the rest of His work.

He uses a lot of scriptures and I am intending to go back through the book and look up all the scriptures and check for context, as so many authors use scripture to fit their premise instead of their premise fitting the scriptures, but I am thinking that Alcorn is probably right on as Jesus spoke so often about the giving and not holding onto worldly things.

I liked the idea of where your treasure is your heart will be and as you give your treasure to others, your heart will follow that giving and you will have a greater love for others and the work of God.

I recommend this book.

I am still mulling over a lot of the ideas in this book. Can we or should be go beyond our basic needs? Is it okay to have some extra fun things? What constitutes an excess? Most of us are living past our basic needs. If we have TVs, stereos, mp3 players, computers, Internet, extra vehicles, larger houses, the list goes on and on, we are living beyond our basic needs. Where do you draw the line at comfortable living vs. materialistic living? This is a huge challenge to find the balance.

Where is your treasure?

The Relaxed Home School

by Mary Hood

I received this book from PaperBack Swap (Thanks, De'Etta!) and found it a quick, interesting read.

There was nothing earth-shattering in this book. Most of what was in it I already knew, but reading it right now was perfect timing for me.

I have been struggling with our homeschooling the last year. When the Littles came home, I sort of freaked out because they were so far behind what is typical for children their age. I let go of a lot of the methods of schooling that had worked for us in the poast and substituted a more traditional schooling approach. It was not working for us.

This book helped me to realize that the more relaxed, eclectic method could and would work much better for us, even with the kids needing extra work. To coin a phrase that I've heard some of my cyber-friends use, we enjoy being "fun-schoolers".

I am taking our winter break to revamp our schooling. Hopefully we will be able to get back to having more fun, less stress, less busy work and more actual learning.

I would recommend this book if someone has not tried a more relaxed approach to homeschooling or for someone like me, that just needs a friendly reminder.

The Chase

by Clive Cussler

This is the second Clive Cussler book I have listened to and I really enjoyed them both. This one was a bit different than his usual Dirk Pitt story.

This one follows Isaac Bell, a private detective working for a large national agency in 1906. My mind said Pinkerton, which was a large, famous agency in the US during that time.

Bell, enters the case of a bank robber who has been hitting banks in the western part of the US. This area of the USA is still often quite wild. The robber is ruthless and extremely clever, apparently unable to be caught.

The story had a nice romance story running along with all the excitement and adventure.

One of the elements of this story that intrigued me the most was his interweaving of things happening during this time period; automobiles becoming more common, telephones and more modern photography. It was fun to note the limited forensics they could rely on, but methods that were becoming useful such as fingerprinting.

This was a fun story to listen to and I recommend it for listening or reading.

Blessed Child

by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright

I picked up this book from the library after seeing it on De'Etta's blog.

After several chapters, I almost quit reading it. I was part way through and except for the beginning chapters, it wasn't holding my attention very much. I am so glad I kept on reading.

I loved this book. I loved the imagery. I loved the way I felt after reading certain parts. I love being able to see with my mind's eye and the descriptions in this book are wonderful. I could feel God and His power.

Some books have given me wonderful pictures, Randy Alcorn's description of heaven, Frank Peretti's angels and demons and this book's image of God's love.

I found the book very powerful and it sure left me with a lot to think about. I look forward to reading the sequel A Man Called Blessed.

Highly recommend.

Give Thanks

We received this book in the mail yesterday from Christian Children's Book Review. CCBR is a blog dedicated to reviewing Christian Children's Books. During the month of November, they are having a daily giveaway and we won this book.

Give Thanks to the Lord is written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Amy June Bates. I love this book. Based on Psalm 92, it talks about all the wonderful things about Thanksgiving. The Illustrations go so well with the story and throughout the story you read "It is good to give thanks to the Lord."

Click on the link above to check out the contest at CCBR or see their graphic in my sidebar. Also make sure you check out this book.

Ivy Malone

Invisible and In Plain Sightby Lorena McCourtney

I've read the first two books in this series and am enjoying them very much. Ivy Malone, in her own words, is a scrawny little old lady, but that doesn't keep her from solving some pretty big crimes.

She gets herself into quite a few tight places, but manages to work her way out in some very interesting ways. Along the way she gets help from various people she meets and I am enjoying the character development of Ivy and other repeating characters.

These are definitely "cozy mysteries". They are fun and easy to read. I have been able to figure out "who dun' it' by the end of the book, but that doesn't detract from the pleasure of the story as you follow how Ivy figures it out.

I look forward to reading more about Ivy and her adventures.

Latest Audio Book - The Treasure of Khan

by Clive Cussler

I have never read a Clive Cussler book before, but Brian enjoys them. I think they are the adventure story lovers version of a cozy mystery.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this story. The plot was somewhat predictable, but quite enjoyable and enough twists and turns to keep you wondering. Also...he does kill off some of the characters, so except for the main characters, you are never really sure who might survive.

Here is the summary from the back:

"When Dirk Pitt is nearly killed rescuing an oil survey team, it appears a simple act of nature. But when the survey team is abducted and Pitt's research vessel nearly sunk, however, it's obvious there's something more sinister involved. All trails lead to Mongolia where a mysterious mogul is conducting covert deals for supplying oil to the Chinese while wreaking havoc on global oil markets utilizing a secret technology. The Mongolian harbors a dream of restoring the conquests of his ancestors, and holds a dark secret about Genghis Khan that just might give him the wealth and power to make that dream come true."

This was an unabridged version...14 CDs and 27 hours long. I get a lot of stitching or other handwork done while listening to these audio books. I enjoyed listening to this book very much. There was no swearing and any inappropriate behavior was only inferred. The main characters have a high level of honor and attitude of doing what's right, displaying an old fashion chivalry. There was quite a bit of violence, but it is not graphic and not the focus of the story.

I will probably either get some more on audio or try one or two of the books.

Recommend!

Humility: The Journey Towards Holiness

by Andrew Murray

Here is the book description from Christian Book Distributors:

"When Jesus "made himself nothing ... taking the nature of a servant," He modeled for all believers true humility. Murray calls this "our true nobility" and "the distinguishing feature of discipleship." In twelve brief but powerful chapters, Murray journeys through Scripture and Christ's life, underscoring the utmost need for humility---as opposed to pride---in the Christian's life. With insightful, penetrating clarity, Murray calls all Christians to turn from pride, empty themselves, and study the character of Christ to be filled with His grace. Often called the best work on humility ever written, this edition has been edited for today's reader."

I am not a very good reviewer...I like a book or find it helpful or I don't. I found this book very helpful, full of insight and depth as the author looked at humility as the most important trait to seek after in a believers life.

Here are a few quotes from the book that give you just a taste of what the book has to offer.

"Since the time Christ so exposed his pride, the Pharisee has put on the garb of the tax collector. The confessor of deep sinfulness and the professor of highest holiness must be on watch. Just when we are most anxious to have our heart be the temple of God, we will find the two men coming to pray. And the tax collector will find that his danger is not from the Pharisee beside him, who despises him, but the Pharisee within, who commends and exalts himself."

"The cross, death, and the grave, into which Jesus humbled himself, were His path to the glory of God. And they are our path too. Let humility be our one desire and our fervent prayer. Let us gladly accept whatever humbles us before God or men - this alone is the path to the glory of God."

I would highly recommend this book.

Monk's Hood

by Ellis Peters

This is book three in the mystery series about Brother Cadfael, a 12th-century Benedictine monk from the monastery of Shrewsbury.

Brother Cadfael has taken the cowl late after a very full life as crusader and sailor. He now enjoys the peace, quiet and solitude of his herb garden and workshop at the Abbey, but life isn't always so quiet as Brother Cadfael entwines himself in solving murder.

I had read these books many years ago and enjoyed them very much. I am now listening to the them on audiobook.

The stories are very interesting and although you can usually figure out "who done it!", the methods and means of how Cadfael proves it all is always a surprise until the end. And there are usually a few twists and turns that keep you wonderful what he is up to.

I've found the language very rich, the characters wonderful and description of life during this time to be very interesting.

I would highly recommend these books.

Guess Who's Coming to Die?

by Patricia Sprinkle

I really enjoy this series. The characters are quite likable and the plots are good and keep you wondering until the end. I did have this one figured out, at least who did it, but not necessarily why!

Georgia Magistrate MacLaren Yarbrough gets herself mixed up in solving murders much to the dismay of her husband Joe Ridley. Some how she keeps managing to discover dead bodies!

I enjoy the values in these books...family and God play a top roll in the stories.

I would recommend reading this book, but I feel it is important to read them in order.

The Tale of Hill Top Farm

by Susan Wittig Albert

When I first heard of this series, I wasn't too sure I would like it. It is about Beatrix Potter and her animals and I was thinking it would be too silly. I was surprisingly mistaken.

The story was fun and not silly at all. The animals do talk, but only to each other. The humans often complain about the animals making so much noise! The people are involved in solving the local mysteries, but so are the animals in their own way.

The writing was good and I found it interesting how the author introduced the ideas of major changes happening at the turn of the century...women wearing shorter skirts (the ankles showed!), owning property and even wearing pants!

Here is the blurb from the back of the book:

"England, 1905, A Londoner-a female Londoner-has just bought a farm in rural Sawrey. The locals don't know what to make of Beatrix Potter. They've never heard of an unwed woman buying and running a farm. Some meet her with genuine warmth; others keep her at arm's length. Beatrix, recovering from the death of her fiance', believes she can heal in the countryside, a quiet place to work on her children's stories. But when a villager dies unexpectedly, with allegations of foul play, Sawrey turns out to be anything but quiet..."

I found this book entertaining and enjoyable. I would recommend this book.

The Merchant of Menace

by Jill Churchill

This is book #10 in the Jane Jeffry Mystery series by Jill Churchill. These mysteries feature suburban mom Jane Jeffry and her neighbor Shelley Nowack.

These book are light and fun. Jane and Shelley get into all sorts of trouble as they try to help Jane's boyfriend Detective Mel VanDyne solve crimes. Jane is a widowed mom of three teenage children.

Here are bits from the blurb on the back of the book:

"'Tis the season to be jolly and suburban mom Jane Jeffry's in a mad scramble to finish her cookie backing and household chores before her teenage kids arrive home. Also expected are two moms-both the late husband's mother and the disapproving mater of Det. Mel VanDyne, Jane's significant other. The kitchen is a disaster zone, the dog has decorated the house with hair, and the earsplitting racket coming from the neighbor's tacky, music-making Christmas display is driving Jane crazy. Now she has to get the green icing out of her hair and be ready to host her post-caroling dinner party.

One thing Jane isn't ready for is a surprise visit from a muckraking TV "action reporter," disguised as Santa Claus. The nasty old St. Nick is out to wrap a happy holiday caroling into a package marked "scandal," but before he has a chance to color the event with yellow journalism, his red-suited body slides off the neighbor's roof to land, silenced forever, on the horns of a plastic reindeer."

And so the adventure begins for Jane and Shelley. I enjoy these books very much. Jane works very hard to be a good stay at home mom for her kids. There are enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting and each books builds on relationships that are fun to follow.

I recommend this series, but would advice reading them in order!

The Yada Yada Prayer Group

by Neta Jackson

I loved this book! Thanks, De'Etta for the recommend on the second in this series.

It is hard for me to write why I loved it so much. It is well written, but not what I would call a great literary book. It is a nice story about a group of woman from very different backgrounds that meet at a Christian Women's Conference and are almost forced into a prayer group. Something happens while the women are at the conference and they decide to keep the prayer group going.

As I read the book, I found myself challenged with my idea of how to come to the throne of God. About worship and prayer and how I looked at it. I found myself identifying with Jodi in the book who doesn't quite think she needs prayer as much as some of the other ladies because she leads a very normal life.

I was also struck by the idea that somehow I feel more worthy of God's love because I have led a good life, but in that I also don't feel the intense love of God that comes from having someone love you when you don't deserve it! And then realizing that none of us is good enough to deserve God's love, so none of us is any better than another. These ideas were really driven home for me and gave me so much to think about. I'm still working it all through in my head. I found it very humbling.

I am looking forward to continuing with this series. This is a definite recommend.

The Mermaid Chair

by Sue Monk Kidd

This is the most recent book on tape that I have listened to. I really enjoyed the author's first book, The Secret Life of Bees, but was not sure how I felt about this one until I was almost finished.

I think if I had been reading this story instead of listening to it, I might not have finished. There were a lot of parts that disturbed me, but also kept me wanting to find out if the characters came to some resolution.

I have to say that it had a happy ending as much as can be had in this type of story. It is not a fluffy read, but I am going to recommend it.

Here is a review from Amazon.

"Sue Monk Kidd's The Mermaid Chair is the soulful tale of Jessie Sullivan, a middle-aged woman whose stifled dreams and desires take shape during an extended stay on Egret Island, where she is caring for her troubled mother, Nelle.

Like Kidd's stunning debut novel, The Secret Life of Bees, her highly anticipated follow up evokes the same magical sense of whimsy and poignancy.

While Kidd places an obvious importance on the role of mysticism and legend in this tale, including the mysterious mermaid's chair at the center of the island's history, the relationships between characters is what gives this novel its true weight. Once she returns to her childhood home, Jessie is forced to confront not only her relationship with her estranged mother, but her other emotional ties as well.

After decades of marriage to Hugh, her practical yet conventional husband, Jessie starts to question whether she is craving an independence she never had the chance to experience. After she meets Brother Thomas, a handsome monk who has yet to take his final vows, Jessie is forced to decide whether passion can coexist with comfort, or if the two are mutually exclusive. As her soul begins to reawaken, Jessie must also confront the circumstances of her father's death, a tragedy that continues to haunt Jessie and Nelle over thirty years later."

Peter Pan

We just finished Peter Pan by J.M Barrie. It was a fun read and Gabe loved it.

I am sort of a stickler about reading the unabridged version of books, but some of the parts were a bit strange...at least for me, like when Mr. Darling isn't sure they can keep the children because they are expensive. Explaining this idea to a child who is himself adopted, was a bit difficult, although I'm not sure Gabe understood the implications to his early life.

I am also always on the lookout for some moral discussion and couldn't come up with many except that Peter was so very naughty most of the time!

It was a very fun read and enjoyed by both of us.

We inadvertently picked up a Children's Illustrated Classic version of this, which was abridged, so I set it aside. This has turned out to be a good mistake as Gabe can read it on his own and loves going back over certain parts and noting the differences.

Prickly Porky

We just finished reading Prickly Porky by Thornton Burgess.

These little stories are not very long and are a fun read inbetween our longer classic books we have been reading. We have read several of them including Peter Rabbit, Buster Bear, Grandfather Frog, Danny Meadow Mouse, Chatterer the Red Squirrel and Reddy Fox. There are many more titles.

The animals get into all sorts of adventures and troubles. There is usually plenty of topics to discuss on why the animals get into trouble and how they get out.

No deep reading reading here, but very fun and enjoyable.

Murder With Peacocks

Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews

I can't remember who recommended this series of mysteries, probably someone on the SHS yahoo list. Whoever it was, thank you! I enjoyed this book very much. It was funny and very entertaining. The character development was very good and I enjoyed getting to know Meg and her crazy family. Here is the blurb from the back of the book:

"So far Meg Langslow's summer is not going swimmingly. Down in her small Virginia hometown, she's maid of honor at the nuptials of three loved ones-each of whom has dumped the planning in her capable hands. One bride is set on including a Native American herbal purification ceremony, while another wants live peacocks on the lawn. Only help from the town's drop-dead gorgeous hunk, disappointingly rumored to be gay, keeps Meg afloat in a sea of dotty relatives and outrageous neighbors.

And, in a whirl of summer parties and picnics, Southern hospitality is strained to the limit by an offensive newcomer who hints at skeletons in the guests' closets. But is seems this lady has offended one too many when she's found dead in suspicious circumstances, followed by a string of accidents-some fatal. Soon, level-headed Meg's to-do list extends from flower arrangements to bridal registries to catching a killer-before the next catered event is her own funeral."

Other books in the series include: Murder with Puffins, Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos, Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Lion and We'll Always Have Parrots.

I look forward to reading more about Meg and Micheal and her very crazy family.

The Moffats

by Eleanor Estes

We finished this book tonight. This is such a wonderful book about a time gone by, about Janey, Joe, Sylvie and Rufus, Madame and Catherine the cat and their everyday adventures at the Yellow House on New Dollar Street.

It has been great fun reading stories to Gabe that we had read to Bessie, like visiting old friends. I look forward to reading them again in a few years when the Littles are ready for chapter books.

Gabe really liked this one and looked forward to a new chapter everynight to find out what was going to happen next. There are several other books about the Moffats including The Middle Moffat, Rufus M and The Moffat Museum.

Pinocchio

Gabe and I finished Pinocchio this week. Bess and I had read this story years ago when we were doing Sonlight Curriculum and it was fun to read it again with Gabe.

This particular version or translation is different than the one I read to Bessie and it was extremely good with a lot of wonderful old language that gave the book a richness that the previous book did not have. There were a lot of words that I didn't even know, but we enjoyed looking them up and comparing the meaning to what we thought they meant.

The illustrations were really funny and added to the story. This was a very enjoyable read and was a special time for Gabe and me.