The list…

Where has this year gone? I mean really. It seems like just yesterday we were finishing up the holidays - and they are already here again. I had a major moment this morning. I suddenly became "ready" for the holidays. Call me kooky, but it was a sudden change in feeling. It's time!

I can't help but think back to this time last year. And realize that things are sooo much better this time around. All that stuff mainly centered around the 9-5, and the unknown of what was going to happen which turned into taking a pay cut and moving. And while the pay cut is still there and the move still happened, life is ever so much more peaceful. Full of possibilities, ideas, and largely filled with joy. I don’t think I truly realized all of that until I typed that just now.

And with the holidays come the "list". Not the New Year's resolution list, but the list of things you want accomplish in the next year…..

§ Revive Scrapista and hold our first event

§ Hone my photography skills

§ Complete another Beth Moore study (I officially finish the study on  Esther tomorrow!)

§ Read and review even more books

§ Practice writing (those book reviews will help)

§ Keep scrapbooking, or whatever crafty thing that sparks my interest, and find my "voice"

§ Live life intelligently, don't just let it pass by, enjoy every stinkin' moment of it

Those are the big ones. There are so many little, bitty ones and I'll work on those too!

What's on your list? And, do you really, really believe it can happen? I do!

And finally, I leave you this hilarious wish from Kolette Hall. Have a great Thanksgiving!

 

There’s no 1…..

Seems like forever since I did a two page layout.  It’s so amazing how preferences change.  I remember back in the day when I though it was just crazy to do a one page layout, because then the two facing pages wouldn’t match.  The nerve!  Now, it’s rather awkward to create two facing pages.  But it’s fun to get out of my comfort zone a bit.  And it helps when I can use 12 photos at a time!

Freeze

Another layout.  I’ve been hanging on to this Cosmo Cricket paper for what seems like forever, just waiting for the perfect photo.  And the contrast between the crisp, clear photo of JBoy and grungy paper….delicious!  I also used a ton of the tags that came with this kit behind the photo.  I’m not a huge tag person, so this is a great way to use them.  And then you don’t have to cut into a full sheet of paper for tiny piece.

Sweet Lydia….

It’s taken forever to get a good photo of this one, but here’s sweet Lydia’s debut on the blog and scrapbook page.  She’s such a cutie patootie! 

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall…

The last of the herbs and tomatoes from the back porch….of which I take zero credit!

And the first fall batch of monkey bread….of which I take full credit!

It’s officially fall and it’s rainy, but beautiful.  Happy, happy fall!

Book Review #2 - The Glimmer Palace

So, I said  I was going to start reviewing a few more books and then I suddenly got nervous!  What if my reviews don’t have enough depth?  What if they are too simple?  I almost decided right then and there to not post another review.  But, I’m going to keep going….and push past my insecurities….

The Glimmer Palace is the story of Lilly Nellie Aphrodite’s journey from abandonment to silent film star.  The story itself spans the surrounding events of both World War I and World War II.  Throughout the story, the reader gets a wonderful glimpse of German life.  And not just the cookie cutter German life, but the seedy, dirty parts as well. 

This book was beautifully written, poignant and while it doesn’t come across as charged with emotion since the main character herself is rather detached, the depth of feeling is amazing. 

To me, the best part of this book was the chapter introductions.  Each one reflects a “historical” moment in film that alludes to a portion Lily’s life.  Here’s the first one:

“Berlin, a word that chimes in your chest like a bell. Berlin, a place so bright it pulls down the stars and wears them around its neck.  Berlin, a city built on the scattered sand of circuses and the scuffed floorboards of theater spectaculars.  Roll up, rollup to see the living photographs.  Max Skladanowsky and his brother Eugen, still wearing black around their eyes, out of habit rather than necessity, present their electromechanical effects.  The spectacle of the year, the highlight of 1895, guaranteed.

The houselights dim, and the air is filled with the sour taste of hot celluloid and blue smoke form a hundred burning cigarettes.  A blond girl looms up suddenly on a white sheet.  She laughs, a flickery shiver on the taut cotton; she seems to speak but her voice is mute, until quite unexpectedly, a black patch appears where her heart should be and she disappears into the burning hole in seconds.

The audience gasps, and one child chokes on his chewed-up ticket.  The couple in the front row insist it is a trick with mirrors; a woman in a red heat peeks behind the sheet but finds no one there.  And all the while, trickles of kohl from India fall down Eugen’s ashen face as he comes to realized he’ll never again see the girl he left behind in Lubbenau.”

Hope you enjoy!  I’d love to hear what you think of the book!

A few things…

Inspired by Ali Edwards who was inspired by "The Simple Woman's Day Book".

Outside my window…lots of pine trees and gray skies. But this morning, for just a moment, the sun was shining and it was beautiful.

I'm am thinking….I am excited for for everything that's planned for this weekend.

I am thankful for…for being here, right now. For amusing friends who text back and forth with you while you watch a silly television show that she's already seen, and friends who "get" how important it is to be creative and friends who listen even when they're probably tired of listening.

From the kitchen…eMo's chili…with beans

I am wearing…for the first time since unpacking it from the fall, my favoritest sweater

I am creating…stories and layouts in my mind

I am going…to run errands then go home to prepare for this weekend

I am reading…too many things at one time! And loving having options.

I am hoping…for freedom in my heart

I am hearing…one of my favorite songs ever…and the hum of my space heater. I *heart* white noise.

Around the house…I don't want to think about it. It's moldy there (from the deadly deluge of 2009)….and messy.

One of my favorite things…knowing there is a book on tape waiting on me for the ride home.

A few plans for the rest of the week…marking items off of my to-do list, scrapbooking, small group

Happy fall weekend!