We are Fine

Several of you have called or emailed wondering if the flooding and severe weather has affected Clyde and me. We are fine - weary of the gray skies and water everywhere but other than that Okay. Others we know are not doing nearly as well. Because we live in Aquidneck Island and actually live in Middletown - the high ground of the island - we are not affected like their rest of the state or even others on Newport and Portsmouth. We have members in our stake that have their basements flooding but I have not heard if any of our stake members were among the evacuees. Schools are closed, universities and even the state offices were shut down today because sewage treatment plants are failing. It is wiser to keep people home rather than spread them over the state and thus put pressure on the the roads, sewage and electricity in areas that are struggling. This is worse than any hurricane that has ever hit. We are pretty well saturated. Our yard around the apartment is a swamp and there are places where the road and lawns are one - curb and all. Today is drying out a bit. It has been misting today but no heavy rain. Hopefully no more rain until we dry out completely. Please pray for those that are struggling. Our economy is tanked anyway and to have this happen on top of it - I cannot imagine what will happen to some of the people now. One woman they interviewed said she was trying to sell her house, doing everything she was supposed to do to move from Rhode Island and take a job in another state. Now her house is underwater and she felt like her prospects for a future were with her house. Pretty sad. You don't realize how blessed you are until see others so close struggling so hard.

Tuesday Book Review

For book group this month we can read any Joanne Fluke book or "Blood Brothers" by Elias Chacour. I have read all of Joanne Fluke's books (and loved every one) and so that only left me one thing to do - read the other choice. I didn't want to but I am glad I did.

"Blood Brothers" gave me a completely different perspective of what is happening in Israel. Elias Chacour was living there before the Zionist Jews came in and took over the country - basically making the Palestinians non-entities (and even some of the Jews that had been living there before the European Jews appeared). The thing about the book is that he is Christian and it is a very Christian outlook on what is happening. His family literally turned the other cheek and kept getting it slapped until they died. There is a newer copy of the book than the one I read and it has a postscript as to what happened after the 1980's when the books was written. But what the book taught me - and what I am learning more and more everyday is that the media and the government twists and turns things for their purposes. I am getting more and more cynical and realizing that especially when it comes to the media and governments - nothing is quite what they are saying.

Not only was "The Twelve Sacred Traditions of Magnificent Mothers-in Law" entertaining, it was educational and very informative. I thoroughly enjoyed the advice in this book and will take it to heart. Haywood Smith had a way of putting things that was logical and straightforward, yet very entertaining. If you know someone that has a child getting married in the near future or is even a long time mother-in-law - this is an excellent gift. It will certainly make newlyweds life easier if this is given as a shower gift to the mothers! I am going to start giving this to prospective newlyweds mothers. One of the quotes in the books is: "If you want a happy family, no grudges allowed." For in-laws (or out-laws - whatever you want to call them) this is wonderful advice. This was probably my favorite book of the week. I love free downloads on my Kindle! I probably would not have read it had it not been free - but I am delighted that I did.

"A Rush of Wings" was not as predictable as you thought when you first started. I thought for sure I had the ending figured out and though it ended somewhat like I thought (she did get her man) it was not the way I thought it would be. A great book. I will definitely read the other Kristen Heitzmann books in this series. This was a free download on my Kindle.

"A Passion Most Pure" by Julie Lessman was a free download in my Kindle. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be reading the rest of the series. It was about two sisters that were somewhat rivals - both very jealous of what the other didn't have and how they finally resolved their issues. It also is about love and finding the person that is the best fit for you. A really good read. It takes place during WWI and the places are between Boston, Massachusetts and Ireland.

My Pregnancy with Heather

Heather's pregnancy was not my least stressful. In December, at about 5 months, my thyroid goitered. They ran as many tests as they could without harming Heather and realized I had cancer of the thyroid. All we could do was wait. In the meantime the business (Staffels) that Clyde worked for, did not have health insurance and we had to pay for Heather out of pocket. Whenever you do that it is always more expensive and always up front. By mid-January, we had to have the whole payment into the hospital or they would not let us deliver in May! Suddenly my sister comes to save the day. She sent us a check from money she had been saving on her mission. It covered exactly what we needed to pay for Heather. It was the greatest miracle and blessing I had ever witnessed up to that time. It turned out that 1979 was a year of miracles. Heather's birth was miraculous and uneventful when in hindsight we realized she was a preemie (but she weighed over 7 pounds). Because of my thyroid it had caused her to grow faster than normal. But her fingernails were only halfway into the nail beds and she had stubby eyelashes (whereas her sister's had gone above her eyebrows). She was a jaundiced and later as I was struggling with her in school and some other issues and I was studying the affects of pre-mature births on education - it suddenly hit me full force that technically Heather was pre-mature even if she hadn't fit when she was born. She was very early but the only people that seem alarmed by that were my father (a physician) and my OBGyn. My pediatrician didn't pick up on it. We were sent home 24 hours after her birth (which was the norm in those days - for about a year).

Because of Heather's early birth and some other circumstances, I was able to have my surgery earlier than planned. Miracles and blessing occurred then that are for another blog. But today I wanted to say, I am grateful for a loving sister that saved the day. I am sure we would have scraped the money together somehow but Marianne made a stressful time, less stressful by her generous gift. I will always be grateful to her for her loving gift and for her sacrifices to make the gift possible.

Happy Birthday Heather!

This is a picture of Heather - just a couple of months after her birthday! I love you, Heather Lou! Happy Birthday!

Heather was so excited to get here - she showed up a little bit early. Her due date was the first part of May. Today is her birthday. We were glad she the only thing wrong with her was she was a little bit jaundice. From the first, Heather has done things on her own terms. She has been a delight and a blessing to our home. We have truly been blessed with each of our daughters. My only regret is that Heather and her family are so far away right now but I know that even that will end some day.

Have a wonderful Birthday, Heather!

Who Are You Really?

Carianne did this and so did the rest of our daughters. I thought I would follow suit. Anyone else that wants to join in - feel free.

Favorite Color: I tried to narrow this down to one color and I couldn't. I love the whole rainbow! I like to decorate with green. I like to wear pink and bright colors. I like it when Clyde wears blue (and Clyde would like to decorate everything with blue). I have always wanted a red and white kitchen and a living room done in a really pale color of sage - almost off white it is so light - but still has some green in it.

Earliest Memory: I was about 2 1/2 years old and we had just moved to San Antonio. Mom was pregnant with Marianne and laying down for a nap. Aunt Norma and I were so hot (it was July and there was no such thing as air conditioning in those days) we were laying on the bare floor and giggling with each other.

Favorite Christmas: All of them! I love Christmas and it would actually be easier to tell about the two that were the hardest on me. The Christmas before Carianne was born, we couldn't afford to go to San Antonio and it was first time that it was just Clyde and me. I dreaded Christmas but it ended up being a really fun one. This last Christmas Day was an interesting one. Christmas Morning was wonderful because I was able to watch the Pfiester's unwrap presents and see the joy on their faces. But I spent the rest of the day flying home to Rhode Island. Between flight delays and nothing being open in the airports - it was an interesting day. However on the first flight the flight attendants had decorated the plane and were wearing reindeer antlers or Santa hats - to make everyone feel more festive. It was quite the party plane. The next leg of the journey Christmas was not even mentioned. The attendants were sullen and even rude. The difference of Southern hospitality and Northern indifference.

Favorite Book: My hands down favorite book is "Mrs. Mike." I noticed with my daughters that their favorite books were from about the same time in their life too. I first read "Mrs. Mike" when I was in the 5th Grade. I have read it almost every year since. It is a biography of a woman from Boston married to a Canadian Mountie at the turn of the 20th century.

Favorite Movie: I have to two favorite movies: "The Bishop's Wife" and "Enchanted April."

What do I collect? Why or why not? I have collected Santa Claus in all forms for years. That collection is quite large is everything from salt shakers to dolls, books and porcelain figures. In the last few years between my daughters and my grandchildren I have acquired 2 more collections. One is very unusual for a grandparent and that is Webkinz animals. It is the gift that we can give to each other in person and send gifts via the Internet - so it truly is the gift that keeps on giving! My grandson Noah Pfiester was the first person to give me a Webkinz but he and his siblings plus Bella Nordell (his cousin and one of my other granddaughters) all had a hand in naming it.
My third collection is Willow Tree figures and boxes. This is mostly contributed to by my daughters but Carlye - my oldest granddaugther - actually gave me my largest figure. She said it was me hugging her.

Guilty Pleasure: Playing Webkinz and reading non-stop. While I was gone our ward's book group was held and they chose the books for the next year. Of the books on the list - I have already read over half of them for my own pleasure or out of curiosity.

The Way you Could Spend the Day if you Could: I would do something with all of my grandchildren - together. Probably go have a picnic in a park and just listen to them while they filled me in on their lives. Just being by them is the best thing in the world! I can't think of a better way to spend the day.

When (time period) would have lived if you could? I love that I am living now. I have lived all through the 50's and 60's. I do have to say that the early part of 70's were more exciting than the latter part. But all said and done - I am happy with my lifetime. My grandparents always told me too much of the 'horrors' of pioneer life - so I never fantasized about it. When I told my Omi that I envied her being a newly wed during the 'Roaring Twenties' one time - she went on to tell me about the high mortality rate of babies and ringer washers and the lack of indoor plumbing in many homes still. In other words my family pretty much killed my fantasies pretty quickly.

Something people would be surprised to know about you: I am extremely shy and very much an introvert. I have to psyche myself up to even leave the apartment and go out into the world. I would very happily stay holed up and never leave the confines of my apartment if I could get away with it. Unfortunately I cannot. Very often on Saturday nights I am awake most of the night psyching myself up so I can be up and outgoing for Church. It is very hard work for me.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Back to Switzerland and more specifically the Interlocken Valley. I would also like to go to Australia and New Zealand someday.

Tuesday Book Review

"A Bride Most Begrudging" by Deeanne Gist was a free download on my Kindle. I have to admit that I was not enamored with the plot and put off reading it for a couple of weeks. However on our trip, I was running out of things to read while I was waiting around - so I started reading this. It ended up being well written and quite fun. It is about a Lady Constance from Britain, who sneaks onto a prison ship setting sail for the America Colonies in the early 1700's - specifically Virginia to see her uncle off. Because she has no one with her, the captain 'claps her in irons' and throws her below decks, making her a prisoner and sells her as a bride. The plot is that Drew - her husband in name only - must look for her her father and send her back to England or after a year they will be truly married. Drew has his own issues and really doesn't want to be married either. It works out fairly predictably from there but is a great book. I am so glad I read it! I highly recommend it. Wow - that will make all the books I read this week highly recommended. That has to be a new record for me.

"Turning the Paige" by Laura Jensen Walke is one of the 'Getaway Girls' novels that she is writing. It is about a woman that is totally dominated by her mother. I like the way that Ms. Walker writes. This one was the least preachy of the three books I have read by her and I have picked up some other fun books in the process of reading her novels. I highly recommend this book but I suggest that you start with "Daring Chloe" then read this one and then move on to "Becca by the Book".

Several years ago I started reading the Miss Julia books by Ann B. Ross. I love them. They are about an older Southern woman, who is well respected in her North Carolina community and how she 'fixes' the lives of her family and friends. I have no other way of describing her. In "Miss Julia Paints the Town", Miss Julia tries to save the old Courthouse and make it a landmark but somehow it doesn't work out as she plans. It is wonderful light read. I highly recommend it.

"Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell was a book we listened to on the way to Virginia this last weekend. We listened to the unabridged book and it even had an interview with the author on the last CD. Clyde and I thoroughly enjoyed "Blink' and "The Tipping Point" so we were fairly confident that we would enjoy this book also. We did. It was a book on why men like Bill Gates and others were successful but not a 'how to' book. It just explained how basically the stars were aligned just right so they became the people they became. I highly recommend the book. We are currently listening to a book on Einstein and as we listen to it we see how he fits into the pattern of being an 'outlier'. As I listened to this book I kept thinking that my son-in-laws, Chris and Andy would LOVE this book. I hope they read it.

An Evening wih Kat and Mitch

We are in Virginia. Clyde has an appointment this afternoon so I tagged along so I could see Katherine (my niece) and meet her husband Mitch and their son, Joseph. We took them to Joe's Crab Shack last night and had a great time. The wonderful thing about going to Joe's Crab Shack it the meal lasts a long time but there are enough diversions for children that it isn't boring for them. We had a wonderful time (but we were only there an 2 hours instead of the 3+ like we were in Vegas!). We had a wonderful time and a great visit. I didn't get very many pictures but I did get a few. I will download them as soon as figure out how! I sure hope it isn't another 6 years before I see Katherine again. We somehow have to remedy this problem of not seeing that side of the family more often.

Tuesday's Book Review

"The Someday List" was an interesting book but not quite what I expected. I at least thought that Rachelle would come up with a list somewhat like the 'Bucket List' but it ended up being s0 simple and self reflecting it was a letdown. The list she came up with could be achieved in a few weeks - it was in essence a New Year's Resolution list. The books was well written and took place in Texas - always a plus with me (between the cities of Houston and Jubilant). Will I read the other books in the series? Probably not, there are too many other books on my list that are a priority right now (unless they too are a free download on my Kindle).

"Saving Sailor" by Renee Riva, was one of the sweetest books I have read in a long time. It is a Young Adult book about and Roman Catholic family living on a lake during the summer in Idaho. Their father is the Forest Ranger. A. J. the star of our story, (Angelina Juliana) is a 9/10 year old girl that is passionate, spunky and the middle child of 5. It is beautifully told story of compassion and family love. I highly recommend this book. It is a book I will probably read again and Rene Riva is an author I will definately look for.

"Speed Dating" was a free download on my Kindle. It was a fun, fast read and pure fluff. If you want something similar to reading a comic book when you were a kid, then this is your book.

"My Name is Russell Fink" was interesting but not gripping and really not worth the bother. It most definately was not my most favorite book I have ever read. It is about a guy that thinks he is a loser and therefore is one. The last 2 chapters were Okay but it is an long way to get to that point.

Happy Birthday, Bob!

Today is my brother Bob's birthday. When I found out my my mother was pregnant, I prayed every night for a brother with blonde hair and blue eyes. My prayer was answered with Robert Maynard Brugger. I have some pretty good 'blackmail' pictures of my brother but I figured I would do this one of our Grandma and Grandpa Brugger with Bob, the summer after he was born.

This is my brother with his son and namesake, Robert Maynard Brugger, Jr. It is the most current picture I have of my brother. Happy Birthday, Bob!

Happy Birthday, Bella

Seven years ago in a land far away, a beautiful baby girl was born to an Air Force family in Italy. The mother of that family's loved ones tried and tried to get to their daughter and granddaughter but could find no way - so they patiently waited for a year to meet their very special granddaughter. Isabella Lou Nordell finally made her debut to our family a year later when they moved to Las Vegas. We loved every minute that they lived there.

When Heather was pregnant with Evie (that is who I am holding in this picture), Brandon was in Kuwait and Heather was very ill. So I flew out for several months and took care of Bella and Heather. We had a wonderful time. It is truly one of my happiest memories. (For those of you that don't know me around babies, my daughters call me 'a sleeping pill for babies'. Babies love to sleep on me because I am calm and 'fluffy'.)

I love my family. It is hard that the Nordells are so far away but Grandpa and I wish Bella a very Happy Birthday! (We tried to call several times - but as always, we were cut off mid-ring).

Tuesday's Book Review

I start making the entries for these books as soon as I finish them - thus the last entry is really the first entry. After that confusing introduction - have a great week!
"West of the Night" was truly the best read of the week. It is the autobiography of Beryl Markham, the first woman to fly East to West across the Atlantic. She also grew up in Africa during the same time frame as "Out of Africa" (In the book this is 'Blixen's wife) and "The Flame Trees of Thika". It took me a few chapters to get into her rhythm of writing but once I caught on it was a book I could not put down. It was published originally in 1942 with the forward written by Ernest Hemingway. Beryl Clutterbuck was born 1902 in England and died in Nairobi, Kenya in 1986. Her Wikipedia entry is as fascinating as the book.

"Talk of the Town" was fun because it takes place in Daily, Texas, just outside of Austin. The storyline is about a girl that is on a show similar to 'American Idol' and what they go through for her final '5' show. But more than that it is a story of community supporting one of their own. It starts out a bit slow but then I couldn't put it down.

"Becca By the Book" is written by Lauren Jensen Walker, the same author of "Daring Chloe." As with "Daring Chloe", I highly recommend the book. It is the Christian genre but it makes you think about what kind of Christian you are. Are you a 'showy' Christian or do you quietly practice what you know Christ would want us to do? Thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh, by the way, I probably have as little as I could possibly have in common with the protagonist except she was in a cast for a couple of months.

"Marjorie Morningstar" is a coming of age story of a young Jewish woman written by Herman Wouk. I have decided that Herman Wouk is not one of my favorite authors. Others I have spoken with LOVE his writing but I find him wordy and just not my cup of tea.

This is a 'book at at time blog' so that I can take some of these books back to the library as soon as I finish them. It basically starts with the bottom entry being the first book I read and the top entry the last. Below you will see my review of "The Photograph" by Virginia Ellis. In "A Day in Mossy Creek" written a few years later, they dedicated the book to her memory. I am quite saddened to know that those will be the only books I will read by her. I think there are some other paperbacks out there by her but she was not much older than me. Anyway, "A Day in Mossy Creek' is another wonderful collection of short stories. Since I had the stomach flu this week - it was perfect book to pick up and put down because there was no long plot line to have to remember. As always I highly recommend it.

I really enjoy Virginia Ellis' writing. I have come to love her in Mossy Creek. Her writing is sweet and family oriented. This book takes place in WWII. It takes you through every emotion. I laughed, I cried, I was even angry - but she resolves the book beautifully. It is not totally unexpected but it is a sweet story. I recommend it.

"From The Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs. Basil F. Frankweiler" by E. L. Konigsberg is a book that the girls and I read years ago and even saw an after school special on or a movie about sometime in the late 80's or early 90's. I have decided I enjoy E. L. Konigsberg's books because she has such a childlike innocence with her juvenile characters but her adult characters are still adults - if this makes sense. For example - Claudia and Jamie left home but Claudia knew in her own mind that her parents weren't going to worry if she simply sent a letter home telling them that she and her little brother were OK. Well of course her parents were frantic but the children were having an adventure. This also goes against what I usually read. I guess because no one actually told the children NOT to do what they were doing and they were trying to be respectful was the only reason I could read this book and not read some of the other books where people are told not to do something and they keep on doing it anyway. Maybe it was E.L. Konigsberg's spin on it - I don't know. Interesting bit of trivia. E.L. Konigsberg was the first author to win both the Newbery Award (for this book) and a Newbery Honor Award in the same year (for the first first 2 books she ever published!). She also holds the record for going to longest time between Newberry Awards - 30 years. It was 30 years between this book and "A View From Saturday".

Blogs are wonderful

I have decided that blogs are about the best thing invented. Because of them I keep tabs on all sorts of friends and family and they can find me. People that I might have lost contact with otherwise are still in my everyday life because of their blog and mine. Our family is notorious for not writing and calling even less and yet we comment on each others blogs and that lets each other know we are there for each other and we love each other. Blogs are the greatest!

Tuesdays Book Review

I know that I seem to be obsessed with Mossy Creek books but they are easy and fun books to read. This one is no exception. "Blessings of Mossy Creek" talks about weddings, holidays and giving in general in typical Mossy Creek fashion

"Off the Record" was a free download on my Kindle. It s written by Elizabeth White. It was fairly predictable but still a fun read. It did remind me of the books Marianne and I used to read in High School.

"Toujours Provence" is one of many follow-up books Peter Mayle has written after the success of his "Year in Provence". It was fun and a very fast read. I thoroughly enjoyed me time reading this book.

"Dead Pan" is another Gayle Trent book. I like her style and loved the book. Great mystery but not so heavy that it brought me down. I needed light books this last week because the weather has been so awful. I highly recommend Gayle Trent anyway because her mysteries are realistic and her stories have a ring of truth about them. Sometimes the mysteries that I read are too silly or totally unbelievable. Daphne Martin is a very believable protagonist and so are the characters around her. In fact you have probably met people just like them.

"The Wedding Dress" is a beautiful book by Virginia Ellis. It is set just after the end of the Civil War in Virginia and is about 3 sisters that decide to make a wedding dress for the youngest sister and hope a groom comes along. The premise sounds far-fetched and yet it could have been a very realistic hope for what went on back then. I could not put it down. I fell in love with Virginia Ellis reading her short stories in the Mossy Creek books. She actually helped start the publishing company that prints her books and the other authors of the Mossy Creek books. I am extremely impressed with these women and their writing plus their gumption. I guess I have been surrounded by Southern Women my whole life and have always admired them. Lexie Collie was my hero from the time I was a tiny girl.