school holidays are the best
the best
I love them and I will not apologise for it
and I think these boys happen to be spectacular!
love you more than a short term xxx
Monday, October 13, 2014
forty one of fifty two
does anyone else find it weird that when four turns into forty it loses the u? just me then?
school holidays are the best
the best
I love them and I will not apologise for it
and I think these boys happen to be spectacular!
school holidays are the best
the best
I love them and I will not apologise for it
and I think these boys happen to be spectacular!
Friday, October 10, 2014
A Good Place to Hide - reading that challenges
I actually received this book a while ago to read and review but I had to wrangle it off The Atlas who caught sight of it on my 'to-read' pile.
A Good Place to Hide by Peter Grose tells the story of a French community who refused to bow to occupation or to exclude others when they themselves were in need. It is a community that took risks, didn't ask questions or tell tales, a community who were prepared to put the needs of others before their own. This beautiful community was skilfully lead by 2 staunch pacifist preachers, a community credited with saving the lives of thousands.
This is the kind of book the world needs to be reminded of. In a climate of anti-refugees and closed borders and in a world where the news tells tales of genocide against minorities we have lessons to learn from this book.
As I look at the side of this book there are folded corners where I have nodded and thought 'I need to revisit these thoughts'.
No-one was turned away, no one was asked why they were there, and no one was asked if they were Jewish. They were unquestioningly supplied with false papers, including ration cards. p200
As a non-fiction account it isn't a quick read but it is a hopeful read, a challenging read and a book that resonates as much with our times as with the specific history to which it refers.
Even at the conclusion of war and occupation the community was encouraged and admonished to keep their generosity and gentleness towards the enemy as they had towards all who came to them in need during the war.
These coming tests will tell us all what kind of people we are. There will be those who choose the selfish life, who seek to profit from the suffering of others. And there will be those who will instead allow themselves to be swept up by a spirit of enthusiasm, sacrifice and devotion. p 229
I don't love war books and although I do like studying histories I generally avoid war and the atrocities of WW2 because it is so heartbreaking. Even with this attitude I found this book interesting and engaging. It doesn't labour the terrors of war instead it profiles and tells the stories of many wonderful and courageous people who were 'ordinary people' who chose to live extraordinarily during a terrible time for them, their country and others.
I love that the book included a 'whatever happened to..' section for some of the key characters.
This book is well written and very readable. There are times and dates and French locations and phrases but on the whole it is very accessible. If you want a book to inspire and challenge or if you love history I think you will really enjoy this account of a place I had never heard of.
Details A Good Place to Hide, Allen and Unwin May 2014. RRP $ 32.99 also available as an ebook.
A Good Place to Hide by Peter Grose tells the story of a French community who refused to bow to occupation or to exclude others when they themselves were in need. It is a community that took risks, didn't ask questions or tell tales, a community who were prepared to put the needs of others before their own. This beautiful community was skilfully lead by 2 staunch pacifist preachers, a community credited with saving the lives of thousands.
This is the kind of book the world needs to be reminded of. In a climate of anti-refugees and closed borders and in a world where the news tells tales of genocide against minorities we have lessons to learn from this book.
As I look at the side of this book there are folded corners where I have nodded and thought 'I need to revisit these thoughts'.
No-one was turned away, no one was asked why they were there, and no one was asked if they were Jewish. They were unquestioningly supplied with false papers, including ration cards. p200
As a non-fiction account it isn't a quick read but it is a hopeful read, a challenging read and a book that resonates as much with our times as with the specific history to which it refers.
Even at the conclusion of war and occupation the community was encouraged and admonished to keep their generosity and gentleness towards the enemy as they had towards all who came to them in need during the war.
These coming tests will tell us all what kind of people we are. There will be those who choose the selfish life, who seek to profit from the suffering of others. And there will be those who will instead allow themselves to be swept up by a spirit of enthusiasm, sacrifice and devotion. p 229
I don't love war books and although I do like studying histories I generally avoid war and the atrocities of WW2 because it is so heartbreaking. Even with this attitude I found this book interesting and engaging. It doesn't labour the terrors of war instead it profiles and tells the stories of many wonderful and courageous people who were 'ordinary people' who chose to live extraordinarily during a terrible time for them, their country and others.
I love that the book included a 'whatever happened to..' section for some of the key characters.
This book is well written and very readable. There are times and dates and French locations and phrases but on the whole it is very accessible. If you want a book to inspire and challenge or if you love history I think you will really enjoy this account of a place I had never heard of.
Details A Good Place to Hide, Allen and Unwin May 2014. RRP $ 32.99 also available as an ebook.
love you more than a book that brings you hope and a kick in the pants at the same time xxx
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Make My Week - Disco Chair
Well I have decoupaged another awful chair - this time into a frenzy of disco awesomeness - the before photo is somewhere in-between the old and new computer and frankly it just feels like way.too.much effort to locate it - so you'll just have to believe me!
I think I picked up this fabric from Lincraft (cheap quilting fabric that was almost transparent!)
The seat required re-strapping underneath which required some effort especially as I have no staple gun here.
The disco glitter vinyl is a little thick for my liking but as I am limited to Spotlight and Lincraft in the city - neither of which seem to be specialising in cotton laminate - well, needs must and all that.
I do like the triangles though.
This wee guy wanted to get in on the act so you can see it modelled on a real five year old.
I like it.
I actually have another chair that is ready for a makeover and now that I am armed with an electric sander - oh er! (Which came accompanied with a card from Flip and The Atlas saying we love you so much we bought you a sander - actually Flip wrote it and he included the price in the card to emphasise the real depths of their love. He also commented afterwards, "I think this will be an invaluable gift, don't you?").
Joining in with the fabulous Leonie who this week sent me crocheted bunting for my bike basket (and it arrived the day Ma n Pop left and I was in need of some love), yes she is that lovely.
I think I picked up this fabric from Lincraft (cheap quilting fabric that was almost transparent!)
The seat required re-strapping underneath which required some effort especially as I have no staple gun here.
The disco glitter vinyl is a little thick for my liking but as I am limited to Spotlight and Lincraft in the city - neither of which seem to be specialising in cotton laminate - well, needs must and all that.
I do like the triangles though.
This wee guy wanted to get in on the act so you can see it modelled on a real five year old.
I like it.
I actually have another chair that is ready for a makeover and now that I am armed with an electric sander - oh er! (Which came accompanied with a card from Flip and The Atlas saying we love you so much we bought you a sander - actually Flip wrote it and he included the price in the card to emphasise the real depths of their love. He also commented afterwards, "I think this will be an invaluable gift, don't you?").
Joining in with the fabulous Leonie who this week sent me crocheted bunting for my bike basket (and it arrived the day Ma n Pop left and I was in need of some love), yes she is that lovely.
love you more than a little disco in the dining room xxxx
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Holiday Reading - Half the World in Winter
I love grabbing some hours to read in the holidays and while I am reading a very moving non-fiction account of a village in France during WW2, it was nice to take some time to read a novel at the same time.
Do you have more than one book on the go at once? I remember doing this as a child too.
Half the World in Winter is a novel set in 1880 in London. Reading this book I could tell it was really well researched, the long list of articles, books and websites at the back confirmed this. I love that it was such an accurate insight into life then - a time when even your notepaper had to be in keeping with the stage of mourning the family was in after a death (the width of border and colour changes over the months).
The central characters are The Jarmyn Family - rich, important and reeling with the grief of loosing their youngest daughter. As the edges of their family begin to crumble there are new characters and stories woven into the narrative. Families whose life is so dissimilar to theirs it appears impossible for them to be linked and yet they are.
The novel also explores social attitudes between the classes and the value systems of the rich that end up keeping the poor poor - it's a story for our time too. Perhaps our richness doesn't look the same to us but the systems that make life difficult for the poor and the attitudes that lead to inequality cannot be ignored.
The novel reads like a drama, I can imagine it would make a good movie - dark and with powerful drama in it. Don't think you can predict how things will happen I was surprised on more than one occasion.
Maggie Joel the author is a new-to-me author and she writes well. She creates characters that are believable and very human. I think anyone who enjoys stories of people who are dealing with the conflict of doing the right thing over doing the easy thing, people who are grieving and novels that historically accurate then this is a perfect read.
I read this one fast as I do with novels but it is one to take time over and enjoy with a beautiful cup of tea on a comfortable couch.
Details - Half the World in Winter published by Allen and Unwin, September 2014. $29.99 Aus, also available as an ebook. Thanks to A&U for this review copy.
Do you have more than one book on the go at once? I remember doing this as a child too.
Half the World in Winter is a novel set in 1880 in London. Reading this book I could tell it was really well researched, the long list of articles, books and websites at the back confirmed this. I love that it was such an accurate insight into life then - a time when even your notepaper had to be in keeping with the stage of mourning the family was in after a death (the width of border and colour changes over the months).
The central characters are The Jarmyn Family - rich, important and reeling with the grief of loosing their youngest daughter. As the edges of their family begin to crumble there are new characters and stories woven into the narrative. Families whose life is so dissimilar to theirs it appears impossible for them to be linked and yet they are.
The novel also explores social attitudes between the classes and the value systems of the rich that end up keeping the poor poor - it's a story for our time too. Perhaps our richness doesn't look the same to us but the systems that make life difficult for the poor and the attitudes that lead to inequality cannot be ignored.
The novel reads like a drama, I can imagine it would make a good movie - dark and with powerful drama in it. Don't think you can predict how things will happen I was surprised on more than one occasion.
Maggie Joel the author is a new-to-me author and she writes well. She creates characters that are believable and very human. I think anyone who enjoys stories of people who are dealing with the conflict of doing the right thing over doing the easy thing, people who are grieving and novels that historically accurate then this is a perfect read.
I read this one fast as I do with novels but it is one to take time over and enjoy with a beautiful cup of tea on a comfortable couch.
Details - Half the World in Winter published by Allen and Unwin, September 2014. $29.99 Aus, also available as an ebook. Thanks to A&U for this review copy.
love you more than an afternoon of indulgent reading xxx
Monday, October 6, 2014
Week 40
Exploring in the beautiful Botanical Gardens
and reading with Ma, "I like it when you are here Ma because you read to me" (bless)
and learning to use our new computer with less grace than I should, lucky I have The Atlas who is more gracious than I
and reading with Ma, "I like it when you are here Ma because you read to me" (bless)
and learning to use our new computer with less grace than I should, lucky I have The Atlas who is more gracious than I
love you more than a magical hide hole xxxx
Friday, October 3, 2014
Alison Lester - Mama and Bounce Review Together
Lately Bounce (and I) have received 2 fabulous Alison Lester books to read in the mail.
On the surface I wouldn't guess the books were written and illustrated by the same person. One is simple, well crafted (you know how bad rhymes make me feel!?!) rhyming couplets with a quite stylised illustration style and the other employs rhyming but in a less obvious way and the pictures have much more complexity.
Imagine is a 25th Anniversary Edition and is a beautiful large hardcover book. The book flips page by page between 2 children having imaginary play in their rooms and the 'real' scene.
The books goes from jungles, to farmyards to under the sea and the detailed illustrations include a 'coded' map at the back so you can identify the huge variety of animals listed in the borders.
Bounce's verdict "I liked how they drawed [sic] the jungle and I liked how they drawed the animals. I liked looking for the animals on the pretending page before the real page."
Imagine by Alison Lester, 25th Anniversary Edition published 1 Sept 2014 by Allen and Unwin. RRP $24.99 Aus. There is also a mini edition in hardback for $9.99.
Noni the Pony - goes to the beach is the second book about Noni. In this one Noni and her friends Coco (a cat) and Dave (a dog) plus 'the ladies from next door' (cows) go for an excursion to the beach. I love the way Lester uses different perspective in this book for the illustrations and the whole story romps along with a great sense of fun. Bounce was particularly taken with Coco and I can see why. The story-line is very simple but it works and I think this book could be enjoyed by very young children while still appealing in a humorous way to older children.
Bounce's review "I like how they drawed Coco and how Coco nearly gets her tail nipped and I liked how they drawed the dolphins and the fish."
Noni the Pony - goes to the beach by Alison Lester published 24th Sept 2014 by Allen and Unwin. RRP $24.99 Aus.
Alison Lester is also involved in community art projects and spends part of every year travelling to remote indigenous communities using her books and talents to help both children and adults write and draw about their own lives. I so love hearing about how creative people can make an 'on the ground' difference for people using the talents they have.
On the surface I wouldn't guess the books were written and illustrated by the same person. One is simple, well crafted (you know how bad rhymes make me feel!?!) rhyming couplets with a quite stylised illustration style and the other employs rhyming but in a less obvious way and the pictures have much more complexity.
Imagine is a 25th Anniversary Edition and is a beautiful large hardcover book. The book flips page by page between 2 children having imaginary play in their rooms and the 'real' scene.
The books goes from jungles, to farmyards to under the sea and the detailed illustrations include a 'coded' map at the back so you can identify the huge variety of animals listed in the borders.
Bounce's verdict "I liked how they drawed [sic] the jungle and I liked how they drawed the animals. I liked looking for the animals on the pretending page before the real page."
Imagine by Alison Lester, 25th Anniversary Edition published 1 Sept 2014 by Allen and Unwin. RRP $24.99 Aus. There is also a mini edition in hardback for $9.99.
Noni the Pony - goes to the beach is the second book about Noni. In this one Noni and her friends Coco (a cat) and Dave (a dog) plus 'the ladies from next door' (cows) go for an excursion to the beach. I love the way Lester uses different perspective in this book for the illustrations and the whole story romps along with a great sense of fun. Bounce was particularly taken with Coco and I can see why. The story-line is very simple but it works and I think this book could be enjoyed by very young children while still appealing in a humorous way to older children.
Bounce's review "I like how they drawed Coco and how Coco nearly gets her tail nipped and I liked how they drawed the dolphins and the fish."
Noni the Pony - goes to the beach by Alison Lester published 24th Sept 2014 by Allen and Unwin. RRP $24.99 Aus.
Alison Lester is also involved in community art projects and spends part of every year travelling to remote indigenous communities using her books and talents to help both children and adults write and draw about their own lives. I so love hearing about how creative people can make an 'on the ground' difference for people using the talents they have.
love you more than a new and inspiring author discovered xxx
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Make My Week - more pillow cases
More parties
more presents
after one of the parties birthday mama said to me that the pillow case gave someone confidence to sleep in their own bed again, and a certain birthday person went to sleep cuddling their pillow - best birthday gift feedback ever!
Super simple but well loved.
Joining in with inspiring ladies here
more presents
after one of the parties birthday mama said to me that the pillow case gave someone confidence to sleep in their own bed again, and a certain birthday person went to sleep cuddling their pillow - best birthday gift feedback ever!
Super simple but well loved.
Joining in with inspiring ladies here
love you more than 3 birthday gifts sorted xxx
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