Favorite New Reads

Lately it has been hard to find any new adult novel authors that interest me. So I moved on to youth fiction. Here are a couple of interesting ones:


This is a three book series and I am currently about to finish the second. If you like The Hunger Games you will like this series too. I am really enjoying this one and can't wait to figure out everything in the last book.



I have found this one enjoyable also. I believe the author is already up to book 5 but I am about to start book 3. On Amazon it is recommended for 8th grade and up but I think more like 10th grade and up due to some thematic content and language.

Grace just finished Nobody's Princess and is anxiously awaiting the second in this series from the library.

While Grace is waiting on the sequel to Nobody's Princess she has decided to start the Divergent series. I will also start this one after she finishes it.

Last Child in the Woods Chapters 12, 13, 14

At this point I am still digesting alot of what I read over the past couple of days from the chapters. I guess something that really stood out to me from the chapter The Nature Child Reunion is "We need to draw an important distinction between a constructively bored mind and a negatively numbed mind". While I am collecting my thought be sure to visit Nicole here for her take on the last three chapters.

Index Card Challenge Week 5

Grace - Prompt - Butterfly

Grace - Prompt - Zebra Inspired

Grace - Prompt - Confetti

Grace - Prompt - Dramatic

Me - Prompt - Butterfly

Me - Prompt - Pink Collage

Me - Prompt - Thesaurus 

Me - Prompt - Zebra Inspired

This week Grace decided to join me with the index card challenge. As you can tell from the pictures, my work is mostly paper and collage while Grace's is drawing, because I can't draw. But I am practicing. Grace is so much more talented than myself, I hope she really takes it somewhere with her life.

What If....

What if you wanted to quit your job and create a whole new lifestyle for you and your family. What would that look like? For us we would garden more and sell at farmer's markets throughout the year. Raise more chicken and eggs and sell them. Hubby would do more artwork, maybe create homemade toys, or write a children's book. Lots of ideas running around in my head these days. Wanting hubby to be home more and us be our on boss. Most debt for us will be paid off in a year except for the mortgage. We are currently looking at some alternative plans for our lives. Not sure what it will look like or even if it is possible, but still searching and praying for something different.

Recycling

In the process of cataloging book for the lending library I noticed that I also had magazines that I didn't want to throw out. Hobby Farm, Poultry magazines, Mother Earth, The Old Schoolhouse, and some National Geographics. All magazines that have good information for future endeavors. So my next step was how to store them.....? On the shelf in the kitchen was about 5 empty boxes from cereal that I am collecting to paint black and use for the puppetry class. Well, with as much cereal as my crew goes through I knew there would be more, Out came the scissors, glue, and an old flip art calendar. Now I have 5 magazine holders. Still need about 10 more to finish the job, but it is kind of a creative outlet too, so I really don't mind.

The Never Ending Saga of Summer Gardening

Scott's prized Zinnias.

Rows and Rows.

A new tomato for us - Amish paste.

First potatoes for this year.

First carrots for the year.

Because we had such a great garden last year we expected the same for this year. Well, don't count your chickens before they hatch. Last year seeds and plants were purchased at the local Walmart and Lowes. This year we meticulously went through many organic catalogs  and purchased the best. Eight weeks later had to replant because alot of the seeds didn't come up, especially all the herbs and cucumbers. Next problem was lack of rain and this weekend temps in the 100s. Last year we had lettuce running out our ears, not so now. The best crop so far has been beans. Hoping the potato crop is as good as last year.

Lending Library Progress

This and last weekend I have devoted a good bit of time to cataloging the books for the lending library. All fiction has been alphabetized but still needs labels. The cataloging process is slow. Each book is researched through our library system's website to get the correct number. Some books are not in the system so I have to do the best I can with putting them into a category and labeling them. But it does feel like I am accomplishing alot. A couple more days and all the books will be labeled and shelved properly. The next step will be research if I want to go old school with library pockets and cards or buy software for the computer to keep track of everything. I am leaning toward old school, just because of cost and in my humble opinion the uncertain future with technology and such. I still have a long way to go before opening my doors to other families. For one thing, lots more books need to be purchased. Only one thing holding me back, MONEY! Times are hard for everyone and just about every dime is going toward bills, gas, food, and daily living. I will be attending an used book sale in a few weeks and the time frame we will be going everything will be half price. Hoping to find some treasures to build up my inventory.