Saturday, January 31, 2009

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

IF: Climbing

Every child should have a tree to climb. My favorite climbing tree was in the back yard of my friend Cindy Phillip's house. We would climb the tree after school and have a snack. Life was good.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Inkdeath a real page turner.

I love to read a book that is so well written that you can't wait until the end to find out what happens but at the same time you don't want it to be over. I couldn't put this book down and when I did have to I couldn't stop thinking about it. This book is the conclusion to the Inkheart trilogy. Which was also an excellent book. However don't be fooled by that disastrous thing they called a movie Inkheart. Every time I see the trailer I am filled with disgust. They have ruin a really good book. My children look at me every time they preview it on tv and I start complaining. I don't want to see how they butcher such a wonderful story. Well if you have never read Inkheart I highly recommend it. The second book called Inkspell took me a little while to get into but it was very satisfying also. After I finished Inkdeath I wanted to read it over again. I was in the Ink world. It is not a short read, 663 pages but oh so good. Put it on your reading list after you have finished the 1st two books.Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Painting A Larger Picture

My painting has improved more than I expected it to in 2008. I have done several 11 x 14 paintings and one 18 x 24, which I am quite happy with. For example my painting I call "Sitting in the Orange Room". I was so confident with this painting that I framed it and gave it to my youngest sister for Christmas. So I thought I was ready for a larger canvas. My attempts are not as pleasing to me. My 1st painting of a large tree did not turn out the way I envision it. I tried several things to try to improve it. Alas I gave up. I painted over it to paint "Three Sisters in Unity" although it is not finish I am still not happy with it. I hung it up in my living room to see if it would look right but I am not happy with it either. My family doesn't think I should paint over it. But I think I should be happy with a painting if I plan to display it. Are you always happy with your own paintings?

Need for a change

As I grow older my taste is changing. I use to love the country look. I called my look "Formal Country" no plaids for me, but I no longer enjoy that look any more. My ladder back chairs just don't make me happy any more, so I made some slipcovers for them. It's not exactly the look I want but it doesn't look so country anymore. The pictures are of my dining room.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Monday, January 5, 2009

IF: Resolve: You Don't

I loved this song when I was younger. It made me think of resolve.
YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS
Music by Neil Diamond Lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman
You don't bring me flowers,You don't sing me love songs,
You hardly talk to me anymore
When you come through the door
At the end of the day.
I remember when
You couldn't wait to love me,
Used to hate to leave me.Now after lovin' me late at night,
When it`s good for you
And you're feelin' all right,Well, you just roll over
And you turn out the light.And you don't bring me flowers anymore.
It used to be so nat'ral to talk about forever.
But used to be's don't count anymore,
They just lay on the floor 'Til we sweep them away.
And baby, I remember all the things you taught me.
I learned how to laugh. And I learned how to cry.
Well, I learned how to love
Even learned how to lie.
You'd think I could learn how to tell you goodbye
'Cause you don't say you need me,
You don't sing me love songs,
You don't bring me flowers anymore

My 2008 Book List

I did not complete my 50 Book Challenge for last year. I only reached 48, but that is because I chose to read a 500 page book at the end instead of picking shorter books and we went out of town to stay with my father for the holidays instead of staying home. Although there is car reading I find it a little harder to get it hours of reading when relatives are stopping by. My selection was the Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory. I really enjoyed it so although I didn't meet my goal I had a great read at the end.
1. Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
3. Mary Cassatt by Sophia Craze
4. Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces by Carrie Park
5. At Home: Domestic Interiors in Art by France Borzello
6. Ways of Drawing Eyes by Simon Jennings
7. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
8. The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
9. The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky
10. Little Guide To Your Well-Read Life: How To Get More Books In Your Life… by Steve Leveen
11. The Double Bind by Chris Bohajalian
12. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
13. Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith
14. Life or Debt by Stacy Johnson
15. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
16. 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
17. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley
18. Love Over Scotland (44 Scotland Street)by Alexander McCall Smith
19. The Man of Feeling by Javier Marias
20. Lady Friday by Garth Nix
21. Mister Monday by Garth Nix
22. Hoop Girlz
23. Just Who Will You Be? by Maria Shiver
24. The Forest By Edward Rutherford
25. Creative License by Danny Gregory
26. Left behind by Jeff LeHaye
27. Superior Saturday by Garth Nix
28. The Hundred Dresses
29. the Body Artist by Don DeLillo
30. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy, Ph.D
31. Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix (reread)
32. Sabriel by Garth Nix (reread)
33. Lirael (reread)by Garth Nix
34. Abhorsen (reread)by Garth Nix
35. The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau
36. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
37. Book Basic and Beyond! by Lisa Vollrath
38. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
39. The Forgetting Room by Nick Bantock
40. Simplify Your Life by Odette Pollar
41. The Giver by Lois Lowry
42. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
43. Goblins Attack (The Spiderwick Chronicles) by Holly Black
44. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens (Minature Edition) by Sean Covey
45. The Black Violin by Maxene Fermine
46. The World of Edward Gorey by C.Ross and K.Wilkin
47. The Boleyn Inheritance by Philipppa Gregory
48. The Entire Bible