- A 54 day rosary novena offered when you need it the most
- The memory of the fun you had sewing and the inspiration to make time for little projects
- Encouragement to create beautiful things with nature, regardless of how small they may be
- Dreams of places unknown
- A Challenge. I challenge you to use these images and links as starting points or inspirations to do something new, fun and invigorating at least once every month. Do you accept the challenge?
Sunday, February 3, 2013
My Gifts to You this Year
The Armchair Traveler
Before your travels begin, please familiarize yourself with the various loos that you may encounter.
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| International Necessaries |
Meet National Geographic's Digital Nomad
Andrew Evans is National Geographic's Digital Nomad—always traveling and always wired. Share in the adventure as he explores destinations around the globe.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Light Mind Candy
Free at a library near you.
"A “cheerfully engaging”* novel for anyone who’s ever asked herself, “How did I get here?”
So
imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a
gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital where she
discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, , she
has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct
the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to
reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her
sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those
super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must
discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s
possible to start over…"
"In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s painted a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on fans, compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together, they endure the agony of foot-binding, and reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart."
"A regular
contributor to MSNBC.com, Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn
nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose
Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads,
moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a
charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's
imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to
embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't
stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an
"excitement addict." When the money ran out, or the romance of the
wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia
mining town. Jeannette and her
brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another
as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the
resources and will to leave home. What is so astonishing about
Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and
intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such
deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all
odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family
that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to
carve out a successful life on her own terms."
"Popular blogger and cookbook author Drummond shares the story of her
courtship and marriage to her husband, whom she refers to as Marlboro
Man. Though Drummond grew up in Oklahoma, she never imagined she'd end
up there for good. After four years of college in Los Angeles, Drummond
was only making a pit stop home before moving to Chicago. A chance
encounter with a devastatingly masculine cowboy in a local bar changes
everything. Though several months elapse before Marlboro Man calls her,
the spark between them ignites as soon as they start dating. A rancher
with deep roots in the land he works, Marlboro Man isn't going anywhere,
which means Drummond has to decide whether, to be with him, she's
willing to give up her dream of moving to Chicago. By the time Marlboro
Man proposes, the decision is made, and Drummond prepares to marry the
love of her life and discover what being a rancher's wife will entail.
Charming and bright, Drummond's story will be an inspiration to those
who despair of finding old-fashioned, lasting love"
"This is not a book for the timid, this is a melancholy story with four parts that eventually overlap. This emotional roller coaster ride of a story covers the period from 1964 to roughly the present day in the hard luck country of Afghanistan. Splendid Suns follows the lives of two Afghani women, Mariam and Laila, as they move from children to adults. The book spans 30 years, beginning with the Soviet invasion and ending with the overthrow of the Taliban. It's difficult to explain more of the story without spoiling the plot, but these two women go from being enemies to unlikely friends. A Thousand Suns is a moving story about the power of love, the bonds of friendship, the love of country, and the struggle to survive."
"The world is ending not with a bang so much as a long, drawn-out
whimper. And it turns out the whimper can be a lot harder to cope with.
The Earth's rotation slows, gradually stretching out days and nights and
subtly affecting the planet's gravity. The looming apocalypse parallels
the adolescent struggles of 10-year-old Julia, as her comfortable
suburban life succumbs to a sort of domestic deterioration. Julia
confronts her parents' faltering marriage, illness, the death of a loved
one, her first love, and her first heartbreak. Karen Thompson Walker is
a gifted storyteller. Her language is precise and poetic, but style
never overpowers the realism she imbues to her characters and the
slowing Earth they inhabit."
"Mackenzie Allen Phillips's youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in this midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change his life forever."
"The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery."
Short Online Essays and Stories
"The Moral Obligation to be Intelligent"
"Three Hermits" by Leo Tolstoy
"Experience" by Emmerson
"The Lost Art of Reading"
"A Crazy Tale" by Chesterton
Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.
"In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s painted a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on fans, compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together, they endure the agony of foot-binding, and reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart."
"This is not a book for the timid, this is a melancholy story with four parts that eventually overlap. This emotional roller coaster ride of a story covers the period from 1964 to roughly the present day in the hard luck country of Afghanistan. Splendid Suns follows the lives of two Afghani women, Mariam and Laila, as they move from children to adults. The book spans 30 years, beginning with the Soviet invasion and ending with the overthrow of the Taliban. It's difficult to explain more of the story without spoiling the plot, but these two women go from being enemies to unlikely friends. A Thousand Suns is a moving story about the power of love, the bonds of friendship, the love of country, and the struggle to survive."
"Mackenzie Allen Phillips's youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in this midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change his life forever."
"The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery."
Short Online Essays and Stories
"The Moral Obligation to be Intelligent"
"Three Hermits" by Leo Tolstoy
"Experience" by Emmerson
"The Lost Art of Reading"
"A Crazy Tale" by Chesterton
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