Thankful Thursday

Well... if it's Thursday and we are going to have a thankful list.... and if its summer in Southern Indiana, then I am thinking the list must include fresh from the fields watermelon.  I mean this was picked... it was  brought in to church.... it was GOOD.  So I am feeling quite thankful for watermelon and for the nice friend who shared some with me.  Don't you wish you had a friend like that too? 

I am also feeling grateful that......

• here we are on Thankful Thursday and here is Monogirl actually blogging and making a thankful list.  Another Thursday miracle. 
• the first Thursday miracle was the fact that I also completed 2 book reviews I've been needing to get done.  Monogirl is on a blogging roll today! 
• that it is a day at home day....was really ready for that.  Not feeling fabulous this week CFS wise BUT I've made it to work.  I've gotten lots done in spite of that... so hey, more thankfulness!
• Kids Hope starting again for the new school year.  Got to see my girl yesterday for the first time since summer.  It was awesome! 
• Fresh Indiana peaches which yes, there are still some in the kitchen!
• books.  books.  more books.  that is all.
• texting my husband from another room in the house to ask for a bottle of water and him telling me I am "cute"
• that he also thought I was cute when I told him the story of how I was worried that I broke the car.  Good news and more thankfulness... .I did not break the car.
• that the stress of getting ready for vacation is about to be over... which could only mean one very good thing. 
• new shirts that go very nicely with my anniversary cross necklace
• cute vera bradley stuff.  Have you seen their newest arrivals? 
• Miss Sophie.  We just love her. 
• Air Conditioning!  Is it this HOT and HUMID where you live?  Goodness.
• crocheting.... even when it includes things like 8 treble back post decrease stitches....
• my husband finishing the project he's been working on for his Dad's birthday
• getting to do crafts in Sunday School
• Saturday pancakes
• candy crush friends who send me lives! ha.
• date night
• Amish church cookies
• approval for several more ARC books from netgalley. 
• kindles to do said reading on.
• my husband's hugs
• prayer
• God's promises and protection
• singing at church

and now I am thankful that I finished a whole list.  It's been a while!  Thanks so much for hanging in there with me and continuing to visit my blog!  You are appreciated!  Blessings.

Herb of Grace Book Review

Two book reviews in one day?  Yes.  It's a Thursday miracle right here. 

Book review for Herb of Grace by Adina Senft.  Publisher FaithWords, August 5, 2014.  320 pages.

Here is a summary of the book from the publisher:
Amish widow Sarah Yoder has been struggling to raise her two teen aged sons and provide a home where family and members of her Old Order Amish church can find fellowship and friendship. Though she is close to her in-laws, lately it feels like her relationship with her boys is splintering. Her stepson Simon wants to move out west with his cousins to find work. And her youngest, Caleb, is spending far too much time over at the tumbledown home of a man who left the church long ago. Henry Byler only returned recently to Willow Creek when he inherited the family farm--under protest--and now seems caught in a struggle between the faith of his childhood and the world he's come to know.

Ruth Lehman, the local Dokterfraa, believes Sarah should use her gift for growing plants to become an herbal healer, too. Sarah is reluctant, however, uncertain if caring for others will take her away from her family--the place where she believes God wants her. But when she feels called to help members of her community, she soon discovers that the heart can be scarred as deeply as the body. As she compiles her herbs, she waits for God to do his healing work in a man who rues a harsh decision, in a lonely prodigal who has lost everything, and maybe even in a herbalist-in-training who firmly believes she will never love again.

I first discovered author Adina Senft at my local library.  As soon as I enter the library....which is often... I am drawn to the New Books shelf like our friend Homer the cow next door is drawn to apples!  I am especially partial to Amish Christian Fiction so when I spotted her Amish Quilt series well you know I was all over that one.  It's a fab 3 book series with each book focusing on a different woman in a circle of 3 friends. 

I was excited to see she had a new series starting with this book, Herb of Grace which again takes us back to the Amish Community. 

Sarah and Henry give us a wonderful story.  Sarah and her struggle to survive as a widow and single mother.  Henry and his foray back into the Amish community that he has been separate from for so many years.  Henry's friendship with Sarah's son is a wonderful conduit to a relationship for these two adults who really did need each other. 

Loved Sarah's gift for herbs and gardening and her creativeness. I also admired her care of her friends and neighbors even when they perhaps were not so neighborly. 

Adina has a wonderful writing style that will easily draw you into this peek into this fictional Amish world she has created and you will find yourself not being satisfied with that peek.  You will be wanting to settle right in with Sarah and Henry and their families for a nice long visit. 

I was provided with a copy of this book for a fair & honest review courtesy of FaithWords via Netgalley

Huckleberry Summer Book Review

Yes.... You are now so glad you visited today because yay!  It is book review day! Especially for this wonderful book.  So fun.  Let's get started.

Book review for: Huckleberry Summer, by Jennifer Beckstrand.  Publisher, Zebra Books, June 3, 2014, 353 pages. 

I was first turned on to The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series because I was eager to read anything by Jennifer Beckstrand after enjoying her Forever After in Apple Lake series. Loved it and yes, had to have more! 

Enter Huckleberry Hill which came out in January of this year.  Huckleberry Hill is book one in the Matchmakers series.  LOVED it.  and loved loved "the Matchmakers" who are Anna and Felty Helmuth... the sweet lovable grand parents of the story.  Or should I saw Mammi and Dawdi? 

I was tickled to find out their story would continue in this book 2, Huckleberry Summer.  (Not to mention the Upcoming Huckleberry Christmas and Huckleberry Spring) And OK.... after typing Huckleberry that many times you'd think I'd be doing a better job at spelling it! Ha. 

Here is a summary of Huckleberry Summer from the publisher:
With one of their grandchildren happily married, Anna and Felty Helmuth are ready for their next matchmaking success. Because there's nothing more rewarding than sparking unexpected love--and putting Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin, on the map for romance. . .

Cautious to a fault, Lily Eicher strives to live up to her dat's high standards. She's certainly not the kind of proper Amish girl who would make time for someone as impetuous as the Helmuths' grandson, Aden--even if his lively spirit and caring ways are showing her just how wonderful following her heart can be. . .

Recklessly doing the right thing got Aden into big trouble. A fresh start at his grandparents' is just what he needs. And shy, pretty Lily is turning his world upside down and making him want to prove he can do good within the rules. But now both must find enough faith and understanding to risk pursuing their dreams--together. . .

This was a wonderful story.  Anna & Felty are just wonderful.  Anna has a mission and that mission is to introduce her grand kids to their perfect mate.  Anna is not the best cook..... she might be the best knitter.... and she is certainly the best grandma and wife!  Love how Felty thinks anything Anna does is wonderful.  Felty's license plate obsession is also quite entertaining.  They are just way too cute. 

Anna works to bring together Lily Eicher with their grandson Aden.  They don't have the best meeting due to Aden's giant loveable clumsy dog, Pilot.  I found myself laughing out loud as Lily referred to him as everything from pie crust to pie dog.... never seeming to be able to remember the name Pilot.  Too funny. 

This was a wonderful story of forgiveness and second chances, of not making judgements about people based on reputations and things other's have said, and of love.  When you have the beautiful setting of Huckleberry Hill, Grandma Anna and her freshly knitted scarf perfect for all occasions... even in the middle of summer.... and add in a young couple falling in love.... what's not to enjoy.  And of course... we can't forget Pilot the wonder dog. 

Highly recommend this book, this series, and anything else you can get your hands on by Jennifer Beckstrand.  Enjoy!

I was provided with a copy of this book for a fair & honest review courtesy of Zebra Books via Netgalley 

Ten on Tuesday

1) Ever have one of those moods.... one of those days where you just don't care? ..... You know those days right?  Well today?  Monogirl is tired... she has a headache... she is tired... and she just doesn't care.  She isn't sure what it is she just doesn't care about?  But whatever it is?  She is sure she just doesn't care.  Now... if you are a guy?  You are like huh?  But if you are a fellow woman... a fellow Monogirl?  I know you completely understand because being a girl.... you know that it just doesn't have to make sense on those days. 

2) So since I am failing miserably at being a good little blogger here lately..... let's once again try to get caught up by going in reverse date order and start with the most recent picture which would be this one!  Our niece Lauryn and our nephew Cole and their co-birthday cake, blowing out their co-candles.  I think they even managed not to spit all over one another.... however Monogirl who was in her parent's close quarters RV at the time did not manage to get a picture showing both faces..... so this will have to do.  Besides... we got to eat DQ Chocolate Extreme Blizzard cake after the blowing out of the candles so all is well. 

3) Here you have a hornets nest.  They picked a fight with my husband and as you can see.... he won.  He went up to fix a rotten board on the roof and after getting stung discovered there was a nest in the eaves of the house.  After we thanked God that he did not fall off the ladder or break his glasses (when they fell off) after the sting... he then armed himself with some spray and went back to do battle.  He took them all out... including multiple larva.... ewwwww.... and the queen who was twice the size of everyone else.  Yikes.  They may have won the first battle... but Darrel won the war.  Of course he did.  He is good.

4) Monogirl actually stopped at an ATM today just so she could get cash so she could buy a strawberry daiquiri smoothie.... Yes.  It was HOT and it was that just don't care day remember?  Well Monogirl hasn't used an ATM in like literally years.  She usually just whips out the ol' debit card.  Today cash was required.  So she pulls up....she inserts her card... and then looks for instructions which there were none... on whether one was supposed to swipe their card, or put it in and leave it in.....Couldn't they have given Monogirl a clue on a rough day?  My husband tells me now that they changed it recently and even he wasn't sure which way you had to do it.  This made Monogirl feel somewhat less um.... clueless .... on how one operates an ATM machine for future reference.


5) What can I say?  There was a sale.  A CBD.com sale.  How's a girl supposed to pass that up especially when it includes free shipping?  Am I right?  And now look at all this Amish/Christian/Fiction goodness sitting here waiting for me to dive in.....

6) A new crochet project has been started!  Did I finish the old one I was telling myself I had to finish first?  No.  The desire to try out the stitches for the new one won out.  This might have something to do with the fact that it has stitches like 8-bptr dec.... I know... it's like huh?  What the heck is that?  And then... once you figure out it's an 8 stitch, back post, treble crochet decrease.... You're like well goodness.... who even thought of that?  Yikes.  I have to admit though... it's pretty cool looking.... and OK... fun.  Sorry to inform ya'll though... it's a "secret" crochet project... so for now... no peeking. 

7) As I mentioned on facebook, the translation for this picture is Tanner saying... "will someone PLEASE get the stinkin' kitten OUT of MY BED!  Well...we could do that..but it wouldn't help unless we are going to hog tie her or something because the game goes like this.  Tanner lays on bed.  Kitten jumps on dog.  Dog jumps up grumbling and groaning and growling.  Kitten lays on bed.  And repeat.  Could the dog win the fight?  Absolutely.... but he seems to think we should be taking care of it. 

8) Have you seen this COOL little 4x4 size mini album on Pink Paislee's blog?  LOVE.  Totally had already been thinking of doing a little travel album something like this with Hilton Head pictures and now?  So inspired and can't wait to make one of my own.  I mean it's SO cute right?

9) We recently had an all day date at the State Fair.  Yes.  It's one of our favorite days of the year and this year did not disappoint.  We had SUCH a good time.  This was our "we are off to the fair" selfie.  Not to bad for trying to cram both of us into the picture in the car.  ha! 

10) At the fair we headed straight for the Amish soft pretzels first off.  YUM.  I need one of those daily I think.  There was also the famous milkshakes and some awesome Asian noodles and teriyaki chicken with veggies stir fry to enjoy.  We got to see the huge draft horses too.  Including this really cool show where the guy stood on the back of 2 horses while driving 6 of them!  It was amazing.  And the Belgian horses?  Gorgeous.  I had no idea they were so giant.  I think my husband was totally in love.  Surprised he didn't try to hitch one to the back of the car.  So... as I leave you for today... Two more pics of the horses.... oh... and one of my husband with the pretzels! ha! 

And for tonight, I say goodnight and blessings!!

Ten On Tuesday... maybe

1) I want to crochet this wrap/throw for our new... OK in progress new living room.  I keep telling myself I can't start this project because I have not finished the last crochet project so I must do that first.  I don't feel like finishing the previous crochet project.... so therefore I am stuck and am crocheting nothing.  Do ya think I could just give myself permission to start the new project in that pretty green yarn that is going to look oh so nice in the room?  Apparently not... I don't have issues do I....

2) Have you seen the new trend.... well OK... new to me... of having parties or classes where everyone makes their own painting?  I've seen a few online friends who have posted their creations and thought it was a fun idea.  Well today I hear that my LSS is hosting a "Modern Social" class which is one of these painting classes.  It's in November and it will be for a Christmas painting.  When I was looking at samples on their facebook page it turns out the one I like is one we can make in the class.... REALLY tempted to sign up.  Any other Doodlebug girls going? 

3) Just finished the book Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate and A Fall Of Marigolds by Susan Meisner.  Both were SO good.  5 out of 5 stars.  They are not Amish.... *gasp*  You just might LOVE them too.  Run now to your library or Amazon and hook yourself up with a copy immediately. 

4) And on that reading note.... I am up to 60 books completed towards my goal of 100!  Go Monogirl.  Planning to make a BIG ol dent in that last 40 on our upcoming vacation.  All books are better when read sitting by the ocean.  It's a fact.  I looked it up. 

5) Currently Miss Sophie and Miss Tris are chasing one another around the room.  Well... Tris is chasing.  I think Sophie is saying look little kitten... back off... judging from the amount of hissing I am hearing.  And actually I am not sure Sophie has made up her mind.  One minute she seems to want to play.  The next minute there is a hiss that seems to be communicating STOP pouncing on me kitten before I slap you good.  It's quite entertaining.

6) Did you hear the news scrappers?  Project Life now has Heidi Swapp Project Life stuff.  Yes. Me and my bff were alllll over that.  Can't wait to see it in person Cause you know... I might have ordered a thing... or two. 

7) And now.... we arrive at the reason for "maybe" Ten on Tuesday... cause here we are at 7... and Monogirl is out of things to say.  Who knew that was even possible huh?  I'll work on doing better for next time... but for now?  I need my Amish Church cookie... my diet Pepsi and my book. 

Blessings!

A Very Amish Sunday

Since we made a variation from La Carreta for lunch today... I was thinking that was newsworthy.  Right?  I mean we are pretty much a Sunday fixture there and the waiters bring us our queso and jalapenos and 2 diets before we even have a chance to ask for them!  Although that is awesome in Monogirl's book.... we do still have a taste for Non-Mexican food on occasion.    Today that taste took us to Amish country for lunch.  And yes.  It was good.  They had fresh strawberry stuff.  They had fresh homemade bread.  They had mashed potatoes... need I say more? Good stuff for a good Sunday lunch. 

After lunch we decided to take a ride out on the surrounding country roads.  This will take you past many Amish farms and today.... a buggy or two.  LOVE.  Very fun to see some of my Amish stories walking around in actual life.  And OK... the stories are fiction and probably the Amish would think me silly to assume they are correct about real Amish life.... but it was entertaining to me today so please don't bump into my happy....

When we had dessert at the Gasthof I managed to grab the last "Amish Church Cookie" which I only recently learned that is what they are called.  They are like an iced sugar cookie, but the cookie part is soft and cake like and the icing isn't overly sweet.  I always look for them at the Amish Buffets around here and today not only did I snag the last one on the buffet, I also got to bring a box home.  YUM.  Seeing them called Amish Church Cookies in the bakery my husband wondered aloud why they were called that.... Well I just happened to have the answer to that query because of spotting this article on facebook recently.  I liked the article but was annoyed they did not give an icing recipe..so color me happy when I found this recipe today.  So perhaps when my dozen disappear... we will have to give baking a try?  Maybe mine will be so yummy the restaurant will want to buy some from me?  It could happen.... ha. ha. 

Blessings!

Date Night Report

Yes.. It's been a long time since I've shared a date night report hasn't it?  So I figured you were due for a treat today.  You're welcome.  

Since Monogirl has been fighting a cold for a few week's we've been kind of house bound for date night.... but not this week.  This week?  I asked my husband out.  He liked that.  Made him smile all cute and everything.  I would recommend it for wives everywhere.  After asking him out I was thinking I couldn't recall like EVER asking a guy out.  I am thinking it was that pesky fear of rejection thing.... however with my sweet husband... no worries of that so I went for it.  I asked if he'd like to go to the drive in.  They were showing a movie we wanted to see.... Into The Storm... and the second feature wasn't a total dud.... which seems to be a requirement sometimes, so we headed out for date night.

First order of business?  Dinner.  The drive in we went to was in Mitchell IN.  Little Mitchell IN doesn't have a huge variety of restaurant choices so we headed to Bedford first.  We remembered a little Chinese restaurant we had eaten at years ago with Darrel's parents and lo and behold... still there!  It was GOOD too.  We were surprised.  It was a small buffet, but with like authentic food rather than the mass produced version one often seems to get at many of the Chinese buffets these day.  There was shrimp tempura... SO good.  There was also vegetable tempura.  I mean have you had Broccoli tempura?  YUM.  We hadn't found a restaurant that offered that since we lived in the Joliet IL area and that was pre 2001!   There was also great Chicken Teriyaki, and Generals Chicken.  Two of our favs.  GOOD stuff and I'd definitely visit again. 

It was good being in Bedford although I knew it was making my husband think of his parents and his Mamaw... which it was.  Darrel's Mom grew up in that town and his Mamaw lived there her whole life I think??? She was a great great lady and we miss her so much. 

After dinner onward to the drive in.  It was early but we like to get a good spot and have a relaxing time reading and talking waiting for the movie to start.  We have been to this drive in before and it's pretty nice.... as long as you don't need the ladies bathroom.  The bathroom is old... and LITTLE.  I mean little as in my 5 ft 2" self can see over the stall doors.  Which is probably a good thing because Monogirl might go all claustrophobic in the stall otherwise because it is tight!  You have the door....you... and the toilet.  All touching. Just standing there!  A girl barely has room to unbutton or unzip a thing!  It must have been created for munchkins or were people just way smaller back in the early 60s when the place was built?

Finally... time for the movie.  We had our bucket of popcorn and our drinks.  We had chocolate... and we had wonderful drive in weather.  It was actually cool and breezy for an August night so we enjoyed open sun roof and open windows. 

When the movie starts they play several Ads for the concession stand and all of them... like this one were obviously filmed in the 50's or 60's.  They crack us up and we actually enjoy them.  They make me feel like I am in the drive in scene in the movie Grease! ha. 

Our movies were Into the Storm and Guardians of the Galaxy.  Into the Storm was great.  Lots of action and affects.  We liked it.  Movie 2 would not have been my pick... but it wasn't bad.  There was action.  There was humor.  There was... "I am Groot".....yes that was funny.  We liked it.  Story was a little hard to follow since I am not a comic book reader who would already know and understand the characters, etc.  but not bad, especially for the dreaded 2nd feature which as I mentioned is often.... a dud. 

A date night success.  And it all started with a GIRL asking a guy out.  Perhaps we will have to try that angle again.....

Until next time... blessings!



Ten On Tuesday

1) Yes. It's me.  I'm back.  Yes.  Again.  And... I have discovered it's been so long since I've shared with you I don't know where to start!  should I start with.....

2) This picture?  Pink stuff.  More specifically pink birthday stuff.  Pink polka dot birthday stuff.  The scarf was a gift from my friend Kay and it is SO cute and I am loving tying it in my hair.  And yes, it was made even cuter when I discovered I already owned matching pink polka dot sandals..... I had to wear them together immediately.  Can you blame me? 

3) How about birthday week?!  Yes!  You missed birthday week!  How did that happen?  OK.. it was my fault.  Well let me assure you it was AWESOME.  There was chocolate.  There were presents.  What's not to love?  This was one of my favorite gifts.... a combo book mark, elastic books strap, and pen all in one with little post it flags too!  How fun is that?  Perfect for my Sunday School book!  The chocolate was pretty good too.  There was also scrapbook stuff, including sketch pens for my silhouette cameo!  He got me sketch pens all on his own?  He is amazing.  It was a wonderful birthday week and a good time was had by all. 

4) The big birthday gift?  This amazingly cute Coach Duffel.  LOVE.  It has pink stripes and orange stripes and a long strap and short straps.  SO cute and quite functional and very summery for the little bit of summer that we have left.  I just might have loaded it up immediately and carried it with me wherever I went.  You can picture that can't you?

 5) THIS was the cake.  Eclair Cake.  SOOOOO good.  And yes... there were 48.  FORTY EIGHT candles.  How on earth did that happen?  Goodness.  And yes, we put em' all on the cake and Monogirl tried to blow them all out in one puff.  Did that happen?  Not so much but eventually she got the job done.  Then we ate Eclair cake.  Lots of Eclair cake... and I am thinking we definitely need another one... made by the husband of course because he is quite good at it!

6) I should also tell you about this.  My husband made it!  I was commenting on how all my charging cords always seem to be on the floor somewhere when I need them, and wouldn't it be cool if there was a thing like I have in the pantry that holds brooms, mops, dusters, etc. that would mount on the back of the table and hold the cords. I headed over to Amazon and found this.... which looked like it might do the job... but in the meantime my husband was formulating a plan.  And yes... that plan resulted in this after a few mere minutes in the wood shop.  Hos cool is that?  And yes.  It has made my charging life much easier.

7) On my birthday we spent our 2nd day this summer at Holiday World.  I was asking Monogirl what does she like to do?  Monogirl likes to shop... so OK we could go to Indianapolis and do that or Monogirl likes to go to the beach or pool. So what did she pick?  Well sun and the wave pool of course.  It was a perfect relaxing day with my perfect date.  Isn't he cute when he's all tan? 

8) While we were apart there was also reading.  Lots and lots of reading.  Did you catch the review I posted a few days ago?  You MUST read that series.  SO good and then as I mentioned we must start petitioning Hallmark to get going on the movie series! ha.  Currently I am reading *gasp* a NON Amish book.  Yes apparently that is possible.  The current selection is Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate.  It is GOOD.  I am not too far into it just yet and while I am blogging it is sitting here calling to me... so I am thinking we must wrap up soon and take care of that.  This is my first time with this author.  I will definitely be reading more of her books.  Which is wonderful and perhaps stressful... because there are LOTS of them.  I'll need to read them all of course.  So many books.... so little time.

 

9) Also while I've been away I've been sick.  This upper respiratory thing grabbed hold of me like 3 weeks ago and just this week my voice is coming back and I am starting to sleep thru the night rather than wake up like 9 times to cough my head off.  Summer colds are definitely the worst! 

10) And 10.. I made it to 10.  After a long hiatus at least its a decent start.  Hoping to resume to our regularly scheduled program plus some new stuff for the rest of the year so I'll hope you will keep visiting with me!  Until then..... Blessings!