Daily Face: December 10th

My morning run of 6 miles this morning was exhilarating. I read a book of poetry and quotes called To See a World in a Grain of Sand. I like this quote from Josh Billings "Life consists not in holding good cards but playing those you do hold well."
 My life is not perfect, but I am thankful to God, and try to be happy each day no matter what difficulty I am facing. When I smile instead of frown I feel so much better. It does not take away my problems but gives me hope of a better tomorrow.

Autumn at my Home: Welcome

My Front Porch

Welcome to my home. It's slowly becoming my most favorite time of the year Autumn. I have so many fond memories of playing outside, reading a book, playing in the leaves. I miss having the front porch of my childhood, but I'll work with what I have. I found this deacon's bench at an estate auction. It fits perfectly. I can sit, have coffee and read while the cool air fills my soul. (Click picture for closer look)

Mantle

The Dining Room

Salt & Pepper Birds. Great find at thrift store.

Large painting from estate sale.

The Kitchen

Kitchen table

Good Night

I am a Runner!

 I am a runner. I'm no professional but, I love to wake up at 5 a.m. put on my running gear and go. My neighborhood is great for short runs and we live close to a trail for long runs. I am happy with my short run pace, if only I could keep it when I run longer.

I've met a lot of older women in their 70's who are my role models. They still get out there and do it. That's the way I want to be.

Although I am not consistent with my art, I can say I am at running and reading. I don't feel like I'm in my fifties.

Literary Friday: Currently Reading

 

Daily Candy A to Z- An Insider's Guide To The Sweet Life. I picked this book up because I loved the art work by Sujean Rim. The book is a guide to style, love, work, shopping and friendship. Daily living 101 with a few laughs thrown in.

I love Philippa Gregory's historical fiction. I recently read her book The White Princess in her "The Cousins War Series". I was delighted to watch how STARZ would interpret the story. Although they are staying true to the books I was disappointed that they felt it necessary to inject nudity into every episode. The story line is so good "WHY". I've been recording it so I can skip the nudity. If you are interested in reading her books in this series this is the order in which you should read them:

The Lady of the Rivers
The White Queen
The Red Queen
The Kingmaker's Daughter
The White Princess
The Last Rose (not yet released)
Since we moved I am really behind on my reading goal for this year. However I am determined to accomplish my goal.

Reading: Just For Fun

As I was at the library I came across a funny book cover so I decided to pick it up. It's called Fashion Kitty and the Unlikely Hero by Charise Mericle Harper. I thought my fashionista daughter would like it. Of course I couldn't resist reading it for myself. It was so funny, it brought back my inner child because sometimes you need a laugh.

Fashion Kitty has met her biggest challenge: school uniforms" The school principal thinks fashion has become a distraction and no one is learning so now Kiki and her friends have to wear uniforms. Ugh!

AEDM: Face 21 - Will You Tell Me How Long You Loved Him?

This is one of my favorite lines from Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice Jane's question to Elizabeth about her feelings for Mr. Darcy.
"Will you tell me how long you loved him?
Elizabeth's reply "It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began, but I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberly" lol. This always makes me laugh.
Day 15 of AEDM another  illo of a couple.

Goal Accomplish - 60 Books Read in 2010

Another Year has past and I accomplished my reading goal. My husband found a quote that I really like:

"A man who won't read is no different from a man who can't."

Books I Read in 2010

60. Holy Bible

59. Giovanni's Light by Phyllis Theroux

58. The Christmas Letters by Lee Smith

57. Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris

56. Lift by Kelly Corrigan

55. The Mitford Snowman by Jan Karon

54. Blockade Billy by Stephen King

53. Overcoming Speechlessness by Alice Walker

52. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger

51. Unexpectedly Eighty by Judith Viorst

50. The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke

49. La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith

48. Black Monday by R. Scott Reiss

47. The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie

46. Enchantment by Orson Scott Card

45.River Whispers by Glynn Marsh Alam

44. Kiss by Ted Dekker

43. White by Ted Dekker

42. Red by Ted Dekker

41. Black by Ted Dekker

40. Green By Ted Dekker

39. The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb

38. One Second After by William R. Forstchen

37. Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

36. Spells by Aprilynne Pike

35. Green with Envy by Shira Boss

34. Lucy's Eyes and Margaret's Dragon by Giselle Potter

33. The people of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

32. The Dead and Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

31. Lord Sunday by Garth Nix

30. Wings by Aprilynne Pike

29. The Cross Gardener by Jason Wright

28.Pure Drivel by Steve Martin

27.This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

26. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

25.The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

24. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

23. Alex Katz Paints Aada by Robert Storr

blockquote>22. The Essential Edward Hopper by Justin Spring

21. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

20. The Picture Of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde

19. D is for Dahl by Wendy Cooling

18. The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud

17. Wake Up Our Souls: A Celebration of African American Artisit by Tonya Bolden

16. The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue

15. Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow

14. Little Bee by Chris Cleave

13. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

12. The Tale of the Unknown Island by Jose Saramango

11. Keys to the City by Joel Kostman

10. Beach Road by James Patterson

9. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

8. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

7. Books by Larry McMurtry

6. Last Light by Terri Blackstock

5. The City & The City by China Mieville

4. The Gold Bug by Edgar Allan Poe

3. The Legend of the Vila Della Luna by Jana Fayne Kolpen

2. The Goddess of Kitchen Avenue by Barbara Samuel

1. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Painting in Progress

I was very excited about painting this new picture but then I had to refocus and finish my reading goal for 2009. So instead of painting I finished my last two books. Yeah! I didn't want to do what I did last year by not completing my goal. Although the book was over 500 pages, my sister said that I should count that as 2 books but that'a not my way of counting. Hopefully I can work on the painting some more before my vacation is over.

IF: Hoarding: The Sunday Newspaper

Does anyone still read the Sunday paper?

50 Book Club Challenge 2007

I have accomplished my goal by reading 50 books for the year. I enjoyed most of them. To see my complete catalog of books click on the sidebar for Librarything. Books Read:

1. The Prydain Chronicles

2. The Black Cauldron

3. The Castle of Llyr

4. The Amulet of Samarkand

5. The Dream Bearer

6. 50 Self-Help Classics: 50 Inspirational Books to Transform Your Life, From Timeless Sages to Contemporary Gurus

7. Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory

8. Lirael by Garth Nix

9. Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracey Chevalier

10. The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan

11. Dear Zoe by Phillip Beard

12. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

13. DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

14. Restoring Grace by Katie Fforde

15. Highland Fling by Katie Fforde

16. Rebecca's Tale by Sally Beauman

17. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordan by Stephen King

18. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

19. The Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

20. The High King by Lloyd Alexander

21. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason

22. The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue

23. Use What You've Got by Barbara Corcoran

24. The Rebels of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd

25. Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey

26. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J.K. Rowling

27. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

28. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

29. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

30. Start Late, Finish Rich by David Bach

31. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

32. Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez

33. Affluenza by John De Graaf

34. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

35. Sabriel by Garth Nix

36. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

37. Lady Friday by Garth Nix

38. The Stranger by Albert Camus

39. The People of Sparks by Jeanne Duprau

40. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

41. Where I Want to Be by Adele Griffin

42. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

43. A Good Year by Peter Mayle

44. Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon

45. Fantastic Beast & Where To Find Them by Newt Scamander (Harry Potter)

46. Holy Bible published by Thomas Nelson

47. The Spiderwick Chronicles -The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

48. The Spiderwick Chronicles - The Seeing Stone by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

49. The Spiderwick Chronicles - Lucinda's Secret by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

50. The Spiderwick Chronicles - The Ironwood Tree by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

51. The Spiderwick Chronicles - The Wrath of Mulgarath by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black