Reading Right Now....Windsnap and Shannara

I go through peaks and valleys of reading. I am at a peak right now. I read every possible 
second that isn't occupied with other necessary work. I am discovering a new found love 
of YA (or, young adult) books. They deal with issues surrounding the common teenager 
today but generally in fanciful or exaggerated settings. I love the dystopian themes and 
the raw angst that accompany them.   One thing I've noticed is that there are cycles of
YA that tend to repeat themselves over the years. One year a whole slew of YA about
end-of-the-world issues will emerge. The next year it will be depression/suicide themes.
I find this interesting. I don't know enough about the publishing industry to know if this is
something that has roots in the authors own creative process or if these books are being
specifically selected by publishers for a "theme" of sorts. Does anyone know?
   Two books I've read over the past few days are The Tail of Emily Windsnap by
Liz Kessler and The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. Both are written for the 12 year
old on age group. Both are "fluffy." If you know what I mean. Ok, I like the fact that my
name is in the title of Liz Kessler's book. And I also think that these mermaid books have
great potential to get reluctant readers excited about reading. I don't think it was great
writing. It was heavy with dialogue. The characters were half-baked.
But was it a good read? Yes.
   The Sword of Shannara was, granted a very different subject, surprisingly enjoyable.
I don't generally like fantasy. It isn't my thing. I mean, I enjoy it now and then, but its not
what I reach for as a comfort read. This book, though not well written, has really great,
excellently fleshed out characters. You will want to know them. And  you will side with
the good and deplore the bad. Which is always a good sign in a book as far as I'm
concerned. Also, for all those kids that were read Tolkien and now want something
similar, this is the ticket.

All Clean

Organizing A Second Fridge

   If you are like me, you make almost all your food. I quickly learned that I could save time, money, and utilities by making double and triple batches of things and then freezing them or refrigerating them. We also have chickens which means that the eggs need to be stored in a cool area.

1. Before you put ANYTHING in it, sketch out a plan of what you want where in the fridge. Remember, the top is warmer then the bottom of the fridge so plan with that in mind. 

2. Try to keep vegetables and fruits on seperate shelves from dairy and meat. 
For example, have your stash of cheeses and bulk goat milk on the bottom shelf where it stays coolest, but keep that ten pound bag of apples on the top shelf. The messier spills (and more contaminating) are easier to clean up if they don't drip down onto everything else.

3. Utilize the shelves on the inside of the door for condiments. If you make 5 quart jars of saurkraut, keep those all together so you can visually see as they are depleted and you know you need to make more.

4. Do a weekly once over. It will only take 2 minutes. Bring your meal planner with you and jot down what needs to be used sooner. Those 10 pounds of apples? Maybe you kids are going to be having apples slices and peanut butter for snack all next week. You get the idea....

5. Do a MONTHLY purge. If you have chickens, like me, this is treat time for them! Move anything that you need to use asap into your main fridge so you can see if when you open the fridge. This will jog your memory when you see it and you can offer the kids that last jar of homemade mustard for example with their pretzels.

Feels Like Summer

   It totally feels like summer today! I know it is only just barely spring, but that feeling is in the air none-the-less. The sprinkler is on and the girls are wearing suits. The sun is dappling through the antique lace curtains and I have cuttings I'm attempting to sprout all over the house. All true signs of warmer weather to come!

The Rest of My Life

   When I think about what I want to do with the rest of my life, I am not confused or uncertain at all. I know EXACTLY what I want to do with the rest of this life I have to live. Be it a day, a week, a year, 50 years. I know, without a doubt.
   I want to love people. I want to care for people. I want to spend all that I have and then go even further, until it hurts, loving people. I want to look babies, teenagers, the elderly in the eyes and share my soul with them. I want to love them. I want to love people.
   I have known this for my whole life. It has manifested itself in different ways. It has become clearer and clearer to me as the the past years have emptied themselves, one into another, that I am meant to offer myself for those who have no one else to love them.

All You Beautiful Humans

People are beautiful. Every human being is amazingly beautiful. It is our sameness. It is our differences. We are beautiful, because we are human.

How much time do we spend trying to make ourselves look difference than we are?

Isn't it these differences that make us unique and special?

This woman, for example. She has more wrinkles than I've ever seen on anyone ever. When I look at the picture, all I can think is how beautiful she is. Doesn't her soul just radiate through the picture? Do you think she minds that she has wrinkles? Do you think she cares that she would be considered "ugly" by Hollywood standards?

If you met this woman on the street and you waited for a bus together, what would you ask her? What would you want to know?

I don't know. I don't know what I would say or ask her....