Preparing for the church season of Lent

To begin with I am not Catholic....  There is a large Catholic community here that observe this season.  I have been asked the question for many years about what I would be giving up for the season so that started my journey to know more about Lent.

I am a protestant pastor's wife in the Southern Baptist tradition.

We don't do Lent in the traditional manner with Ash Wednesday and fish on Fridays and such.  Lent is something I came to terms with as an adult so I don't tend to be traditional in my approach.  I don't celebrate or observe it out of any obligation but more out of a respect for how it can focus our thoughts on the coming Resurrection Sunday observance.  It is the biggest day in the Christian list of observed holidays.  

Some years I give something up and some years I add a new habit or goal to work through.  I am currently reading the Bible through again this year in the NASB translation.  I have completed Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and will complete Deuteronomy by the second week of March.  I decided on a list of three things this year that I will focus on.

Over the forty days of Lent I will...

1.  Give up clutter  

I am taking the challenge of 40 Bags in 40 Days and will be cleaning and clearing my home of one bag of trash, giveaway or donate items, or boxes of books per day.

2.  Read a book per week 

chosen from this stack of books.... I am starting with the Prayer 101 by Warren Weirsbe.

3.   Focus on healthier eating

trying some new recipes each week and working through some new menu planning to get back on track with my eating.  I am moving back toward a more paleo way of eating... with the exception of potatoes and rice and maybe the odd bowl of granola from time to time.  

I have added a daily green smoothie to the morning routine.  

I have reestablished my nutritional supplement routine, too.

Road Trip North...

I love going to Las Cruces, New Mexico.  It has my favorite bookstore in the whole world and a few yarn places I like to visit.  It also has a yearly event called Tournament of Bands (TOB).  This was our 10th year of going with our kids.  It was a magnificent overcast cool day for a band contest.  Thought I would share a few photos from the day for you...

The first thing I did this morning was head to Coas Bookstore for a book signing with Bruce Wilson.  He just published a new book called Death in the Black Patch.  He just happens to be the father of a sweet friend of mine.  I love historical fiction so this is right up my ally.... if I can keep it long enough to read it before my husband snags it I will do a review for this one, too.

The rest of the day was spent looking at this magnificent sky!

and a plethora of bands

This band is the one my son is part of.

It was a great day.

I also came home and wrote over 3,000 more words for NaNoWriMo.  I am sitting just under 9,000 words right now.  I am still plugging away and doing a little reading for inspiration tomorrow.

Hope you guys had a great Saturday and that your Sunday will be one that is a day of recharging for the week ahead.

It's almost time for the October Readathon again!

The date has been set for October 22, 2016!

Are you reading?  

Are you cheerleading?

Are you participating in the challenges?

There is so much fun to be had and lots and lots of prizes to be won.

I hope you join us!

Learn more at www.24hourreadathon.com

A Summer Reading Plan...

I am currently reading four books.  

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

It Starts with Food by the Hartwigs

In conjunction with that I am reading Whole30 - the new one they just released

For review I am working on:

The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly by Matt McCarthy

&

Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans

You know me.... I read more than one all the time.  

I am reading two for review and two for me.  All of them are proving to be great books so far.  

I had a stack of books I was collecting on my desk that just got moved to underneath the table by my bed and that is my go to list for summer reading so far.  It might change but I needed to narrow it down to save my sanity. 

These are the ones I am allowing myself to choose from and I am cutting off all purchasing of new books for the entire summer.  I mean, if I am in a used bookstore and find a treasure I will allow it but if it can wait I won't buy it.  I am good at holding myself back on such things...  LOL  This list may change but this is where I am beginning.  I have plenty of books within my four walls to keep me busy for years.  I think this is a good variety of different genres to keep my mind going with no boredom (as if I could ever be bored with books?!?!)

I will break this list down more as I move through the summer and share each one with you.  I won't finish this whole stack and I already know that but this is my limited selections... again... so I don't become so crazy overwhelmed trying to pick the next one in line.  That is not to say I won't wander off the list and grab another one from another shelf that catches my eye but I am trying... really.... I am!  LOL

 I have some books on my NOOK that are possibilities, too.  

These are all books I have had on the NOOK for some time with the intention of reading them but have just put them off.  I will admit that reading on my NOOK or Kindle is not my favorite but the prices on these books is fabulous so I have copies of books I want that I could not afford otherwise.   I have not even looked at the selections from my Kindle I could read, yet.  I want to start on the NOOK first.  I am trying to take an e-reader instead of a stack of hardbound books for traveling this summer.  It sure saves space in a travel bag but I cannot promise I won't grab one or two of the "real books" just because I love them so!

I will post books as I finish and there will certainly be some review books added along the way I will want to share with you.

So, what does your summer reading plan look like?  

Have you even begun to contemplate that, yet?

If you post books I would love to see your list.  Leave me a comment with your link or share your list there if you don't blog.  

Happy Summer Reading!

Computer damage....

Mercy, I cannot catch a break with computers.  I have now spilled water on my newest computer and it is in time out until Sunday.... in rice.... hoping it dries out.  Prayers are appreciated.  I am setting another computer up with a monitor for the weekend for the Read-a-thon just to be able to use something other than my phone for checking the blog for all the fun stuff.  I am on my daughter's computer right now.  She is at school and gave me "permission" to use it.  She really does not mind at all.  

Secret Church is happening tomorrow night and I am scrambling to find a good way to set that up, too.  I was going to use my computer and it would be simple but now I am not and it just got more complicated.  Pray for this event that is being held all around the world.

Dewey's Read-a-Thon happens all day Saturday.  If I long term use of someone else's computer I will be online and if not I won't.... but I will be reading!  All day....

I also got my book in the mail today....

Full weekend ahead for me but in such a fun and relaxing way.

Pray for my computer.... God can even restore those!

Thanks, my friends!

Preparing for the Read-a-Thon...

This is a very fast and thorough video guide to prepare for the coming Dewey's Read-a-Thon.  You might enjoy checking out some more of her videos when you have time... she is very "newsy" and cute.  LOL  There is a plethora of Booktubers over on Youtube for your enjoyment, too.

Read Every Day...

I endeavored to read a book a week as we began this new year and I have failed miserably.  I am approximately 8 books behind but I have five books in progress.  I am relentlessly famous for reading several at a time and taking forever to finish any one of them in an expedient manner.  It is a flaw.... a chink in my armor, so to speak.

I have evaluated this mess and come to the conclusion that I need to set daily goals to become successful at reading more.  I have done some research and made some lists and here are some things I have learned along the way.

1.   I, personally, want to read the Bible first... every day... before I read anything else.  

I want to open God's word before the computer comes on or the phone draws me in or before any other book is opened.  I have no excuse for not doing this.  There are helps all over the internet for this and Bibles specifically designed to lay out my reading plan each day.  The key is doing it!  I need to set that alarm and open that Bible first thing and read.  I have been reading through it again this year in the HCSB version and I am using a plan from an official Read the Bible in a Year website through the YouVersion.org app.  This does mean I have to turn a phone or computer or reader on to see the passages for the day but I am training myself to go just to the app and start without being drawn into all the other bells and whistles on the devices.  I have even taken to listening to my Old Testament passages through the auditory feature provided and it has done wonders for getting me through the Leviticus and Numbers sections.  I have stayed on track much more this year by using that feature.

2.   Why Should We Read Every Day?

Other people... smarter than me, have written about this so I thought I would share a quick list of my favorite reasons in link form to those articles.  The benefits are great for everyone in many facets of our lives.

7 Unconventional Reasons Why You Absolutely Should Be Reading Books

Why You Should Read Every Day

10 Benefits of Reading:  Why You Should Read Every Day

3.   Pick a Book and Make a Plan

Pick books you know you will enjoy.  I try to read authors recommended by people that like the same kinds of books I do or I read books by authors I already know I enjoy.  I read books on topics I really want to learn more about or on something that really sparks my interest.  I have put books down.  Life is too short to read a book you hate.  If it is going nowhere in about 50 pages I let it go.  If the author is just not connecting with me or insulting me I cut them loose.  No one needs to read stuff they don't enjoy.... unless it is necessary for a degree.  Those I have to finish.  LOL

Once you know what you are reading make a plan on how much to read each day.  Set aside time to read and hit that goal each day and in no time at all you will finish another book and your brain will thank you.

Here are more suggestions for making your plan from others who have found what works for them...

Read More:  The Simple System I'm Using to Read 30+ Books a Year

How to Fit Reading Into Your Schedule and Actually Finish the Books You Want to Read

Read More Every Day By Creating Reading Triggers

and my favorite...

How to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks and Save Yourself $21,000

Now that I have some ideas of how to make this work for me I am sitting down with pen and paper and writing out some goals that I will put into effect immediately in hopes of getting back on track with my reading for 2015.  I won't let it defeat me!

I hear Dave Ramsey quote Charlie Jones all the time.

Motivational speaker Charlie Jones said,

“You’re the same today as you will be in five years except for two things: 

the people you meet and the books you read.”

So, what are you waiting for.... get reading every day and see how it changes you!

from EvolutionStopsHere (click photo for link to photo resource)

One more little bonus link for my bookish pals.  

If you want a cool list of literary events for 365 days of the year this is the one.... Flavorwire's Ultimate Literary Calendar.  

Check it out!

Cold Antler Farm

I have, now, officially read every book Jenna Woginrich has written except her book on chickens.  I plan to read that one when we get chickens again.... sometime.  

Her most recent book summarizes her adventures to date.  I have to say that the first book I read by her is still my favorite.  The first book I read was Barnheart.  It was charming and personable.  The second one I read was her first book called Made From Scratch.  This, too, was charming and personable.  

Each book was about the latest phase of her journey to a homestead/self sufficient lifestyle.  The most recent one shares new stories and new struggles with a bit more about her philosophy and how the journey has changed her over the years.  She shares vignettes about different aspects of her life on Cold Antler Farm and the community that surrounds her.  There are recipes, too.  It is a great memoir.  

I recommend you read her books if you are interested in rural farm stories from the life of a writer/farmer living and working in the northeast.  Reading her stories makes me brave.  I walk away feeling like I could move more toward that life, too.  It doesn't seem easy because it is anything but easy but she makes it seem more achievable.  It can be a stand alone book without the other books but it is really nice knowing the background of where this all started for her so if you are a completist like me then start at the beginning and work your way through them.  Feel free to check out her website, too.  

She is open about the fact that she is not a Christian and she is more into celebrating the more Celtic/Druid way of life and farming.  She is not crazy outspoken about it but she does mention it several times.  This particular book was not as full of that as the previous smaller book she wrote called One Woman Farm.  OWF was a bit of a gift type book precursor to Cold Antler Farm.  As a Christian I was not offended or put off by the things she shared even though I don't always agree with her.  She is not negative about those who have different beliefs from her.  The bottom line for her is a shared experiences and adventures with friends and neighbors in a peaceful and lovely setting.  

The Year Ahead in Books

Things are coming together nicely around here.  I am building routines and daily discipline in my home and daily life.  Part of my daily routine includes daily reading.  I am building a Pinterest Board to keep track of all that entails.  I am also keeping a record on my GoodReads page.  It is not too late to commit to reading more this year.  You have a variety of challenges to choose from that will fit your schedule and plan wherever you are in your journey.  

Here are a few I have saved to spur the imagination toward new reading adventures.

The 52 in 52 plan... a great list from SugarPop

26 Books in 52 Weeks Plan

12 Books in 12 Months Plan

12 Great Books to Read in 2015

I am sure there are a bazillion more challenges out there but these were my favorites.  Do you have one that you are using?  Please feel free to share that with us in the comments so we can all check it out, too.

For my personal plan I have committed to read the Bible through again this year.  I am using the YouVersion Read the Bible in 365 Days plan.  I am currently on track and enjoying my time with God's word first thing each morning.  I have also committed to the Hello Morning Group this year to push me to focus on God, Planning and Moving.... Study God's word each day, a daily plan to keep me on track with schedule, chores, appointments, etc... and a daily exercise plan of some kind.  I am still struggling to get the Move part down but the other two are going well.  

I am also trying for the 52 books plan but if I hit somewhere between 26 and 52 I think I will be overjoyed and well read for this year.  I am a bit behind but I just finished my first book for the year yesterday.  Cold Antler Farm by Jenna Woginrich

This one counts as a memoir if you like but for me it is one that I started last year but put down for no good reason.  I am counting it as my book already started but now finishing.  I started another one yesterday called Tolstoy and the Purple Chair and I am reading this one on my NOOK.  

I will be doing all my reviews on my Goodreads.com page for the books I read this year.  

What are you reading right now?  Please feel free to recommend great books in the comments.  

Break for a Read-a-Thon

Today is all about the reading of books and the Dewey Read-a-Thon blog and twitter feed.... stay tuned for updates all day as I am able to get on and post.

Revised to add this...

Opening Meme:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

I am in El Paso, Texas

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

Chickens in the Road by Suzanne McMinn

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Afternoon tea and biscuits

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

Wife... mother of four... baker extraordinaire, gardener, crocheter, seamstress, blogger, reader

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? 

I am going out for a class but then I will be home more today than last time.

Let's do this!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled posts....

To bring you an update on the Bi-annual Dewey's Read-a-Thon.  It is coming on October 18, 2014 and a few warm up posts have been put up already.

The first one is called The One Book Read-a-Thon Stack

The premise behind this post is that we might consider choosing one or two books to focus on for the read-a-thon instead of building a huge stack of shorter books for the day.  I tend to lean more toward the one book approach so this was easy for me.  I have chosen a book by an author that I have read three other books by and loved.  She is a homestead blogger named Jenna Woginrich and I have her newest book (Cold Antler Farm) in my stacks so I am pulling it for this challenge.  She blogs at Cold Antler Farm blog.  I also have a backup book from a blogger I enjoy reading.  Her name is Suzanne McMinn and her blog and book go by the same title... Chickens in the Road.  She is a former romance novelist turned homestead blogger and author.  She tells great stories!

The second one is called The Preparedness Plan 

This post is about pre read-a-thon preparation.  For my preparation...

*   I will be making a little list for snacks and tea and coffee for that day to purchase in advance

*   I will spend time cleaning the house a few days before so that I don't have to think about any of that during the day.

*   I will still attend my Korean Class and a band contest that day so I will have a book in hand as I go to each for reading during downtime.

*   Other than that I will try to check into the blog and do a few challenges.  I probably won't be doing as many as last time just because of my schedule for the day.

*   I also won't be staying up all night because of church on Sunday and my need to be alive, awake, alert, enthusiastic.  LOL

Two more warm up posts from Dewey's Read-A-Thon page are...

Reading Around Work - encouraging us to read every day.

and Advice for Newbies - Some great advice and room to share tips if you have done this before in the comments.

Editions

There is a really cool post on finding first editions to go with this particular challenge.  You can take a look at the post at The Blue Stocking Society.

Here is my book for the challenge and it is under the old system where they just come right out and tell you what edition it is.  LOL  The new number system is fascinating, though.

My copy is the sixth printing

Makes me hungry

I read a lot of foodie books and cookbooks but one of my most favorite books is called Katish: Our Russian Cook by Wanda Frolov.  

It is Foodie Fiction with a plausibility in real life.  It is a novel with tons of recipes sprinkled throughout.  I made nearly every one as I was reading the book, which could explain why it took me so long to read it.  I had to stop at the end of every chapter and see if I had the ingredients to make everything.   I also loved the illustrations... hand drawn and so perfect for this story.

My most favorite and most used recipes from the book are the Stroganoff and the Mushrooms in Sour Cream Sauce.  

A reading snack recipe for you

I am a huge Mexican food fan.  So, for my reading/foodie buddies I thought I would share a lunch for today with you.  I am having Quesadillas with Pico de Gallo.

For my Quesadilla I am using cheddar and avocado as the filling.  You can use whatever you like on yours.

For the Pico de Gallo:

1 jalapeno pepper seeded

1/2 a medium onion (I used a white one)

about a dozen grape tomatoes or the equivalent in other tomato size chopped up

1 handful of cilantro

juice of half a lime

salt and pepper to taste

I put everything in a small food processor (my processor of choice is the manual one from Pampered Chef) and then chop until mixed and small bits appear.  

Serve on top of Quesadilla or with tortilla chips.  

Good Grief

Checking in again for the Read-a-thon.... sorry if this is driving you crazy but I am checking in several times today so there will be posts for each time.

I am always frustrated at read-a-thon time because my family does not stop so I can read.  I still have to make a run for laundry soap stuff, do dishes, make sure laundry is done for Sunday, drive children to events(track meet today and piano competition today) and make meals.  No one else will do these things (except the older children do their own laundry) and I always think it is caught up before I start only to find out someone (read youngest and hubby) forgot to bring me clothes or has been hoarding dishes in their CAR!!! So, to quote my favorite pessimist Charlie Brown.... GOOD GRIEF!!!



I have not read much and now I am hungry so I started the dishwasher and am now making lunch and then I am going to my room and closing the door until 4:00 pm to read.  At that time I have to make dinner and then family time happens.  Out of a 24 hour period I might get about 6 to 8 hours of reading done.  I check into the website to see if I won anything and see what challenges and fun is up and then it is over.  BUT... I love it anyway... love being here... love the posts and the people... love the challenge of stretching my reading wings.... and the other books I find out about through this that I put on a wishlist to find later.

So, with that said.... I am eating and then reading.

Peace out!  ;)

And so it begins....

For the record, I will not be reading through the night on Saturday because I have to be lucid for church on Sunday but I started reading last night some.  

I started at 10:00 pm and read until about midnight.  I spent time reading in A Cup of Tea.

This morning I am beginning here...  with the official start time of 6:00 am for Mountain DST Zone

Currently reading:  The Bible -  catching up my John reading today and reading in Holiness by DeMoss

Books finished:  

Pages read:

Running total of pages read:

Amount of time spent reading:

Running total of time spent reading:

Snacks:  Coffee and a bowl of gluten free cereal with bananas and almond milk for breakfast.

The Lineup

I have a stack of books lined up for tomorrow.  I won't read from them all but I want a variety of things to choose from.  One of the best things to do for the 24 hour reading period is to have books that are shorter or that have short stories in them.  This breaks up the day unless you just want to read one book start to finish.  I often need a little variety to wake the brain up.  Here is my stack for tomorrow.

From top to bottom... 

(In progress) is A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron.  If you recognize that last name you would be right that she is related to Nora Ephron.  I started this book in February but put it down for no real reason.  I am picking it up second during tomorrow's reading time.  

The Pace of a Hen by Josephine Moffett Benton - this is one I have read before but it is literally 100 pages long.  It is non-fiction and was published in 1961 by the Christian Education Press.  It is spiritual lessons for housewives.  It is one of my most favorite reads of all time.

Some Days There's Pie - yes, this is the title of my blog but also the title of a book written by Catherine Landis.  I might get some time to start it but it is more of a longer novel.

Irish Girls About Town by various Irish Women Authors including Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes and Cathy Kelly (plus 13 other authors).  This is a book of Irish based short stories.  This book is about instant gratification for tomorrow.  I can finish up a story and then stop for a cuppa, checking into the read-a-thon website or a stroll out into the garden to perk my brain back up for another round.  

A Plain Life: Walking My Belief by Scott Savage - a book that has been on my shelf taunting me for several years now.  It is non-fiction and a memoir in nature.  It will bring a nice change of pace to the day.

Gluten Free Girl by Shauna James Ahern - an in progress book for me.  I am still not done but tomorrow might be a good day for some progress in it.  The only problem with this book is that it makes me hungry!  LOL

The Contrary Farmer by Gene Logsdon - a farming philosophical book that just piques my interest so it is in the stack.  It is also non-fiction.

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales - A 682 page book full of short fairy tales... one little victory at a time.

Food Blogging by Kelly Senyei - another in progress for me... it is one of those books you work through a little at a time and I am 145 Pages into the 296 page book.  It is fantastic but I am just slow.

One more... that I am starting with in the morning.  It is Holiness: the heart God purifies by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  It is a spiritual book that I start my day with every day lately with my Bible reading but it is on the agenda tomorrow so it counts as reading for the day.  Oh, I guess the Bible is also on the list.  LOL

See you tomorrow.... if you registered with the site then keep a lookout for the hourly drawings for winners of prizes.  I won one last year!  It is going to be a great day!!!

Read-A-Thon Spring 2014

It is upon us again... the Spring Dewey's Read-a-Thon is this Saturday!  Just thought I would put up this little reminder and hope you join me and all the readers this weekend as we read until we drop.  You can already start participating by heading over to the blog to check out their warm up posts all week.  Check out the site...

The best overview post for quick reference is here.... Warm Up:  Choose Your Own Adventure

Let me know below if you are joining in the fun so I can read along with you!  

What's on your nightstand?

I got away from using prompts a few years ago but they have such great value when you want to write and don't know what to write about.  I have shared my struggle with reading books over the years and it still plagues me to this day.  I take on too many at one time and then get bogged down in what I want to read out of the stack on any given day.  It can be paralyzing as I sit down to read and then just cannot choose.  Anyway, there is the constant stream of books flowing in and out of my stack each month and the stack looks like this today...

Here is the stack in a nutshell.  Let me take you through each one with a little more detail as the post suggests here

The giant purple book on the far left is my Bible... this is the inside cover because it is easier to read than the purple spine.  I read this every day and it sits on the bedside table 365 days a year.  It is my study Bible.  I have a small one that goes in my purse but this is the honking big one that is my favorite with tons of study notes, maps, commentary, etc...  and it is PURPLE!

I am currently reading with the IF:Equip blog and we are reading through the book of John so I pulled out my commentary on John from the HCSB publishers to give me a little extra something to ponder... as if the book of John alone is not enough, right?  It is my favorite book of the Bible to study and I am delighted to be in it right now.  I am also doing the Intentional Focus study with the Good Morning Girls group and an online Facebook group of ladies.

I am about to start this one... picked it up on a recommendation from Joel Salatin at Polyface Farms when I read an article by him.  Jenna Woginrich of Cold Antler Farm and Barnheart fame also recommended it

Yes, I am still reading this.... I got sidetracked but love and can really relate to what she shares here.  Check her out at her blog Gluten Free Girl for more about her and her books.

I picked this one up on a sale table with a gift card from Barnes and Noble.  I have been meaning to read more fairytales and this quote is the reason why...  

This book is a new book on the market but I picked it up at the used bookstore for about $4.00.  It is my never ending search to know why I feel like crap most days and my arthritis and brain are such a struggle.  I am hoping what I learn here and in Gluten Free Girl will give me some answers to make some changes to feel better and better.

and this one.... because I have Lupus and the more you know your enemy the better you can fight it, so, yeah... it is in my stack.

Em just finished this one and I am rereading it so that we can read another one that we just purchased (which I will share in it's own post when I read it).  I just need this kind of escape from time to time.

I got this one from Paperbackswap.com and it is about farms and a memoir and it has bluebonnets and a chicken on the cover... what is not to love!  LOL

This is my current book to read with a group.  We are starting the study - a live online broadcast every Monday night -  on Monday March 3rd and I will do another post on this one shortly, too.  You can go here to find out more and to join in if you like.

So what is on your nightstand???