The week has been much more productive than this but these are books I want to talk about. I finished reading "The Star Garden" and it was my favorite of Nancy Turner's books. I loved the other two but this one was best written and didn't meander. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with it. It was like Nancy Turner had finally understood her purpose in writing and fully comprehended how to get it down on paper. I guess you could say she had come of age with this last one.

"A Good Woman" is one of the first Danielle Steel books I have read in a long time. I thought it was a biographical fiction at first but there is no Annabelle Wentworth that lived in New York and Newport at the turn of the 20th century. However it was so well written and intertwined with factual dates that you were sucked into the believable world of Annabelle's life. When our daughter's were in High School, my mother had them read Danielle Steel's "The Ghost'. It was one of their favorite books for a long time. It has been a long time in my opinion since Danielle has written a book that quite matched that one. This one does.

As I mentioned in my earlier blog, "Suite Francaise" is about WWII. I was about half way through it and decided that for my sanity I could not finish it. It is not the most graphic WWII novel I have ever read but it was being written during WWII while it was going on. The the writer was taken Auschwitz and eventually she died there. The whole time I tried to read the book, I had nightmares and was waking up with migraines because of the terrible nights sleep I was getting. I decided a good nights sleep was more important than reading a book for book group. It is well written and immediately pulls you in the story but it is as heartwarming as the musical "Cabaret". It is just not for me right now. Maybe there will be a time when I can pick it up and read it again. That time is not now. Oh, the writer was a well known author of the 30's in France and had several books published before the war. She was quite renowned for her writing and I can understand why. She had hoped to eventually make these two books into a 'suite' of five - like a musical symphony has 5 movements -hers would be 5 novellas making one complete novel. A great concept - I wish she could have seen her dream come true. These manuscripts were found in a trunk and just recently published and then translated - they were unknown until just a few years ago.

Nightmares and Dreams

I will post my book reviews in a little while but I wanted to get this off my mind. Our grandchildren have very active imaginations. Several are plagued with bad nightmares that start from an early age. I wonder if that is hereditary? My whole life I have had dreams and nightmares. 95% of the time the dreams are about my day or what I have been reading. On occasion I have what I fondly started calling my De'ja' Vu dreams. These dreams will always come true but usually many years later. These are infrequent but do have a pattern. I almost always know that I dreamt one when I remember it the morning after.

I have to be extremely careful about what I read and watch because of my dreams. I was reading "Suite Francaise" about WWII. In and of itself it is not graphic but I have read too many books that are. After two nights of horrible dreams of war and violence, I decided that I had to quit reading the book when two days in a row I woke up with migraines. Yesterday I read "The Cat Who Talked Turkey" and started "The Girl With the Pearl Earring". Last night my dreams were calming and even bordered on the silly (because of the "Cat who... book"). It is obvious to me that I am much too sensitive. It is also obvious to me that I am old enough that even if a book is for book group, I don't have to follow the crowd. If my gut tells me I cannot handle it, I a not going to indulge. A good nights sleep is more important than being a participant. There is too much violence in the world - I don't need to re-live or fantasize about more! I choose to read about the things I want to read about.

Monday's Heroes

Todays are actually heroines. I pay special honor to Sister missionaries throughout the world. Two weeks ago our Elders were doubled out and we had Sisters come in. Thus far it has been such a blessing and exactly what our ward needed. Sister Johnston and Sister Mortimer are so amazing. Our family has seen less than stellar Sister Missionaries in the past but these sisters are examples of ministering angels on earth. As I watch them I am filled with pride because I know that my nieces, Annemarie and Julianna Dittmar were the same caliber (and probably even better - if that were possible!) I teach the Faith in God for Girls in Primary. These are the girls ages 8-11. When I talk to them their conversations always go to the Sister missionaries and how wonderful they are. If you are going to have heroines in your life as a young girl, I find it gratifying that our young girls are idolizing such fine women who are following Christ. I am sorry I have no pictures but we all know beautiful 'Sister Missionaries'. Just envision your favorite and have them be your heroines today.

Happy Birthday to our Beautiful Anneke!

The first picture is Christmas two years ago and the other pictures are the day her mother graduated from SUU. I should really search and find something more recent but they would be pictures that have been sent to me and I wanted to use original pictures. I can't find my more recent stick so we are stuck with pictures from when she was 2(I think). But wasn't she cute! I love her in her matching dress with her Aunt Pam. I still use the picture of Heidi, Anneke and Pam walking away from everyone for my "The End" picture in presentations.

Anneke, Happy Birthday! We are glad you are our very own personal Anneke!

Tuesday's Book Review

I am now caught up with Laurence and Temeraire with "Victory of Eagles" I just have to patiently wait for the next book. I think I might have written this review last week but that's Okay - it was an excellent book. This is what happens when you read all the authors books all at once.

I read the sequel to "These is my Words" and it was very well done. Whereas "These is my Words" was written over half of her lifetime - "Sarah's Quilt" takes up just one year - but what a year! I could not put it down. It is as gripping as "These is My Words" or maybe more so because we are not building characters this time but filling in details. I highly recommend it.

I love the Aunt Dimity mystery series. If you haven't read them - start with the first one and read on through. I just read "Aunt Dimity Goes West" and "Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter". These fall in my 'fluffy mystery' genre and are just plain fun. Aunt Dimity is really a journal that writes to the protagonist, Lori. Like I said, for this series - you really need to start with at least the first one, "Aunt Dimity's Death" and then it doesn't matter how you really read them thereafter. I have found them in all Barnes and Noble bookstores, on Amazon.com and in most libraries I have visited. This is one of those fun series that is entertaining and just a good read.

I probably would have had more to report on but I kind of had a life this week and had some other things to do other than read! I know! I doesn't happen often. These are all acquisitions from the library. Because of some major overhead (new glasses and trips) I am trying to be a little bit thrifty and only 'buy' the books I cannot get through the library system here. Hope you have a great week and good reading!

Monday's Heroes

Today's entry is a little different. Today I salute the optimistic people or the Pollyanna's of my life. My grandmother, Sarah Tuttle was that way as was my Grandpa Lloyd Tuttle. Grandma or Omi as our daughter's called her - wasn't overly optimistic to the point where she was unrealistic but she was always positive in her outlook and very upbeat. For the most part my daughters tend that way - some more than others. I find that I weed negative out of my life. I didn't realize that until yesterday when the speakers were talking about the 'Joy of the Gospel in our lives' and how overly optimist her mother is. I tried to think if there was someone extremely pessimistic in my life right now. And though I have had my share of people that will drag me down, I can only think of one person that tends to be more negative than positive. That person I have to take in very small doses. The other negative people I have known that pull me down, I have pretty much weeded out of my life. I have realized that I don't have to be bothered with someone that is going to make me feel worse after I have associated with them than when I began the conversation. So if you are currently a friend or even a family member, I salute you for your positive outlook on life. I tend toward the pessimistic and you lift me up. I thank you - for without you, my life would be sad, lonely and and very miserable.

Happy Birthday Clyde!

I thought it would be fun to see a few pictures of my husbands life order. Some you have seen manytimes - others not so many. Happy 58th Birthday, Clyde! I have loved spending the last almsot 37 years with you!

Blogging

Well I hadn't realized it but I have been blogging for a year! Happy anniversary to me. I have done a lot better than I originally thought I would do. Here is to an even better year!

Tuesday Book Review

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett was a thought provoking book. It was a book about Black domestic help in the South during the early 1960's. Having known maids, grown up with black maids - it was eye opening. It is truly the 'good, the bad, and the ugly' of what went on in the South for hundreds of years. It was one of those books that ran you through every emotion you ever knew from laughing out loud to total disgust to sobbing. Not many books can do that. The three main protagonists are 2 black maids and one white socialite who decides to write their story - all anonymously. I highly recommend this book. It is not a light read and it is not a book you will be able to pick up and put down at will. Once I was committed I could not put it down.

I am still reading through Lillian Jackson Braun's "Cat who..." books. I am on book 21 currently. I also just finished the 4th in the Temeraire series "Empire of Ivory" and was thrilled to find out Peter Jackson has bought the rights to the books! If ever there was a series of books up his alley this is it.

I also finished the Percy Jackson series (did I mention that last week?) Anyway I am sad about that but expected it - after all he turned 16. But it was by far the best of the series.

I am still plugging along with "The Woman in White". Since I only read it when I am in a waiting room or waiting for Clyde as he interviews - this may be months in the going. Next weeks review could be very boring if my books don't get in the library.

Monday's Heroine's

Today I would like to salute the women who sit alone in Church with their children. Whether because they are the only member or because their husbands are elsewhere because of work or stake callings - you are my heroines! Yesterday our daughter Pam, wrestled with her son alone and still tried to fulfill her Primary Presidency responsibilities. I know otherwise - but she feels like she failed miserably. I had decided to do this tribute before I knew the my daughter was a Church widow yesterday. For 6 years I have admired Jennifer Mello and Diane Campagna as they sit in the meetings with their children. I must say their sons set an example the rest of the ward would do well to follow. Carol Berriochoa brings her great-grandsons and sets and example of patience week after we week. Donnatella Frey is a new sister that has just moved into our ward from Italy. Her son, Nicolas comes every other week (alternate weeks are with his father) but they too set an example of attentiveness. In fact in many ways the single parent rows set the example for the rest of us - at least yesterday and in our ward.

Those of us who have an extra pair of hands could pitch in and help those struggling young mothers when they need us. We will be happier for it and have a much richer Sunday because we will be looking at through a child's eyes, simply by helping during Sacrament Meeting or tending the babies that are too little for nursery during Sunday School and Relief Society. I have had some pretty wonderful experiences with some of the little ones of our ward.

I read "These Is My Words" while I was in Kerrville and forgot to say anything. Heidi had reviewed the book a few months back and I had been anxious to read it. Then our books group decided to read it so I downloaded it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is really unlike any book I have read. It is supposed to be like "Jubilee Trail" and "Calico Palace" by Gwen Bristow (a favorite of my sister, her daughter's and mine) but it has an edgier twist to it. Granted it was written 60+ years after those books were written but even then it is just a different writer with a different angle. I highly recommend any of the three of these books but I am really looking forward to discussing "These Is My Words" by Nancy Turner in book group next week.

This week I have also read "Dead Men Don't Crochet" by Betty Hechtman and "Murder is Binding" by Lorna Barrett. "Murder is Binding" is a little more hard core mystery than what I usually read - more on the lines of Agatha Christie. Meaning there was very little comedy relief. However, "Dead Men Don't Crochet" was my typical mystery with lots of comedy and the mystery to boot. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them. I am currently reading "The Woman In White" by Wilkie Collins - written in the mid-1800's. I am not hurrying through it and it is 700 pages long. I don't know when I will be reviewing it. So far it is much like "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre". Should be interesting.

Monday's Heroes

I should have more pictures than just the Halvorson's but since they left last week, I am using this opportunity to stick a couple of pictures of my surrogate family in my blog. The top one is of Scott in his Army Dress Blues with Karyn as they get ready to go to a military ball. The other one is a family picture with Karyn taking the picture. Taylor is on the left, Ashley and then Joshua. I am also honoring them and all the other military families that I know. I am proud to be the parents and grandparents of a military family. Brandon, Heather, Bella and Evie are officially in Okinawa while Brandon is currently temporarily assigned to Afghanistan. Obviously he is in our prayers constantly as is Heather especially during this TDY. We are proud of them and how they are handling this.

I am proud to know and learn to love so many military families. It is hard to let them go. My friend Tracy Griffin - a very wonderful younger sister at Church - has watched with me as we have bid farewell to the Halvorson's, soon all of the Ward families, the Hammill's, the Downings, and so many others. We consciously know they are only here for a short time and yet we become way to attached. I also became very attached to the Jubecks, the Durham's and the George's. This was a rough year for watching families leave. I am glad to have known you.

I am also grateful to have the opportunity to serve the OCS and ODS personnel the meals on Sundays (military students). I get to know a wide variety of wonderful people this way and I am extremely impressed with the caliber of officers we are acquiring in the Navy and Marines.

This encompasses a lot of heroes but just coming off of the 4th of July - it is a heroic weekend and these people are deserving of this. Daily they make me proud to be a member of this Church and to be a citizen of the USA.

God Bless The USA

I know - this is my second post today but I couldn't have the other post be one and only. However this may not be any better. I love the song "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood. He wrote it in 1985 and to this day it is the #1 Patriotic song for most Americans. I cannot listen to it without bawling. I was going to post a version of it but I won't. With Brandon in Afghanistan and things the way they are all over the world it makes the song even more tender now. I am proud of Brandon and what he does. I am proud to be a military BRAT and for what my father did. I love that I met my husband when he was lowly Spec 5 in the Army during a very difficult time in our hustory. I am proud to be an American. I know that we are a blessed nation and for that I am grateful. We have a great heritage and we should be proud of who we are. If you want to hear the song I am talking about go to Youtube and look for the "God Bless the USA". There is tribute to the troops along with the song. I have cried so hard now that I have headache (or maybe it is my allergies). I would like to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July. Be Proud to be an American!

Parades

Today is Bristol, Rhode Island's 224th 4th of July parade. Nice to live in a patriotic state. Since I don't do parades - I will never go. On April 28, 1979 we were supposed to go to the Battle of Flowers Parade in San Antonio. My father had gotten us really good tickets but Heather had surprised us by being delivered over a month early and so we were home bound (plus we were just barely over being quarantined for Scarlet Fever!). I was at Mom's and we were watching the preliminaries of the parade on TV when we saw where we would have been sitting. It was a great area and I actually was feeling a bit bad I didn't get to go when a sniper started shooting from a Winnebago. He killed 2 people and seriously injured 30 others before he was finally killed by the SWAT team. One of the people killed was a wonderful sister from the First Ward who was there with her granddaughter. She saw what was happening and threw her granddaughter down on the ground and covered her with her body. Her granddaughter was underneath her grandmother and protected for over an hour. She ended up with some chemical burns but no other injuries. Whereas everyone else in the area had bullet wounds. I know - I have never heard of a sniper incident since - but I don't like crowds anyway and every time I hear about a parade, I have this incident roll through my head. My father presided at the funeral with all the media there. He said it was very distracting - but the people wanted to know all they could about this brave woman.

I am sorry to be such a downer on such a wonderful day. So now I will say - Happy Birthday to my youngest grandson, Dutch Bailey Davis! He is one-year-old today. If I was going to only say one thing about him it would be he is the laughingest baby I have ever been around in my life. He laughs at everything! I hope he continues to love to laugh for the rest of his life.

Last Night

Last Night I had to say goodbye to the Halverson family. I will write more about that when I won't sob my way through the blog. Clyde had a stake meeting in Mystic, so I flipped through the channels trying to find something to watch. Our meager showing is even worse because it is summer plus Cox decided to get rid of one of our PBS channels. Quite upsetting. However as I flipped through, I notice that "Chess - in Concert" was on Great Performances and settled on that. It was especially easy when the two leads were played by Josh Groban and Idina Menzel (the wicked witch in the original WICKED). I had heard the music of Chess from one of our daughters' friends when we lived in Ephraim. I thought it was OK but last night, I sat mesmerized. I couldn't even move long enough to brush my teeth and put my pajamas on - and I was really tired from my late night excursion the night before. I still can't decide if I liked it enough to buy it or not. I will still wrestle with that decision. I know I liked "Borders around my Heart", and some of the other big production numbers. They are tricky and counterpoint. Really unusual and ordinarily that bugs me, but last night I found it fanscinating and exciting.

The words were by Tim Rice and the music by the guys from the ABBA team - 10 years before they wrote Mama Mia. If it pops up on your PBS station, or you have a chance to watch it otherwise, do. I don't think you will be disappointed. (Sorry, I am not savvy enough to upload music - I tried.)

Tuesday Book Review on Wednesday

I am home and while I was at Pam's I read 2 amazing books. One was "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. This was an amazing book that took you through twists and turns you never would expect. It is fashioned after the 'Gothic books' of the 19th century with a few modern twists. I have to say this is a book that is not for everyone but Pam and I could not put it down! It really made me think and led me on a totally unexpected journey that I am glad I took.

Yesterday before I left Pam's house, I started, "Once Upon a Marigold" by Jean Ferris. This is a delightful Young People's fairy tale. Because my flight was delayed in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, I finished it before I even got home (I was supposed to get in at 9 and didn't arrive until 10:30 but even that was earlier than we were supposed to be - our flight time initially said after 11. More about that later.) "Once Upon a Marigold" is an original fairy tale with a happily ever after ending. Jean Ferris just released "Twice Upon a Marigold" (it is set up for that at the end of the story) and I can't wait to read it. It was a fun read and helped me get my mind off of the long wait and just the absurdity of the situation I found myself in yesterday. I highly recommend this book with no reservations to anyone that wants a fun, fast read.

Jean Ferris has a fun sense of humor. At the end of the book they interview her and she tells about her first book. She said when she was 7 she wrote her first book called Sioux City Sue which was about a baby girl that was born while her parents were on vacation. She lived with her aunt until her parents came home. "Obviously more research was needed." Jean said to the interviewer. Even people that don't particularly like fairy tales will enjoy this fantasy. It has a good message - even though it is quite predictable. Sometimes that is just plain fun!