2011 Book Reports and Update

 

Shock Wave by John Sandford

Another great Virgil Flowers story. Virgil is sent to defuse an exploding situation in southeastern Minnesota. Literally, bombs are going off daily as a bomber tries to stop a super store from coming to this small town.  Virgil is brought in to stop the bomber from lighting another fuse.

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg

What started as a recipe and story blog, Orangette, turns into a book that is entertaining and fun to read. Molly takes us from her childhood memories to present day life through food. 

V is for Vengence by Sue Grafton

A slow spin for Ms. Grafton and at times a bit of a sluggish read.  But, if you're a Grafton fan and are following her ABS series you'll want to read the antics Kinsey gets herself into next.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

A Christmas season does not go by without me reading Winter Solstice. I love this story of compassion, loss and friendship.  Five people unexpectedly coming together, supporting one another and creating a wonderful holiday in snowy northern Scotland. 

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley

It's Christmastime and a film crew has arrived at Flavia's home estate to film a movie. When the plot turns from fiction to fact, Flavia de Luce isn't far behind to root out the murderer. This eleven year old sleuth will have you laughing out loud, wishing to know her better and sad when the last page is read.

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston

A novel in pictures. Ms. Preston uses vintage memorabilia cut outs to tell a story about a woman in the 1920's. This easy read book is fun, different and will have you turning the pages quickly to see what Frankie will get herself into next.

That's it for my 2011 Book Reports

I read 58 books this year

AND

now, that I was given a Kindle for my birthday, I'll have to see if I read more or fewer books for 2012. I've noticed since I started Attic Whispers and writing myself,  I've read fewer books.  I should (if I believed in the word should) be reading more to see how the craft is done by the experts.  

12 lessons for 2012

Recently, Brand and Bloom's business coach, Andrea Mansfield, was asked by Design Sponge to share some fundamental goals for small (medium or large, too) business owners.  Her 12 lessons for 2012 is a concise, well written start to focus on what you want to get out of your business (or life) starting now.  Here's your link to the article:  Design Sponge

And it keeps on coming.....

From our little 2"-3" snowfall the last few days overnight we got another 7"=10" I measured it around the house at various spots and had a reading from 7" to 12". And the BIG SNOWSTORM is suppose to start late this afternoon throughout Wednesday. Oh Goodie....

I know for those east of the Cascades, Rockies, or Mississippi River our snowfall seems puny, small, nor worth mentioning - but here in the NW it's making the news, keeping everyone over the age of 17 indoors and brings our city is at a standstill. When our rain freezes and blankets us as snow - we pull out the cameras to document the event, hunker down and wait for the sun, rain and warmer temperatures to arrive.  

Some shots I took this morning - just snapshots nothing artistic

 

 

 

 

Bellingham finally got snow, too

 

There have been many times - many - when the weather forecast announcement is:

Bellingham Washington

rain mixed with light snow flurries

disappearing overnight

HOWEVER, at the Mansfield house

there will be snow

disappearing maybe by the end of the week

We have seen the snow zone start at our driveway and end next door - they along with the rest of Bellingham will have rain, we'll have snow.

Granted we do live in a forest that I like to call the thousand acre woods and our driveway climbs hundreds of feet up from sea level to our house but when it snows it's the driveway from hell.  We just stay indoors and admire the winter wonderland going on outside and wait a week or so until it's all gone. With all the tower trees the driveway is protected (nor sees the light of the sun) and it will be a long time before we'll venture out (or down). 

Do you see the little red barn below - that's on the street level entrance to our home. We have 5 hairpin turns (you're looking at turn 3 - or as we call it The Clincher (it'll get ya if you're not careful), climbing up to the house and when it snows I'll give the neighboring kids five minutes to grab their sleds or skis and come play on the snowy slope. Of course this packs the snow into ice and takes us an extra couple days of warm temps to melt and let us use the driveway - but, it's fun watching them zoom down the driveway taking those turns like Olympic athletes.

We've had snow at our house since last Friday.

The rest of Bellingham finally caught up to us this morning --  it snowed!

It's time to snuggle up next to the fire, grab my crocheting project or read a book and put a pot of soup on for dinner, cause right now looking out my window the snow is really coming down hard.

At least it is at our home.

I found this great idea on sewmanyways.blogspot. It's a dresser with the drawers taken out with storage bins used for craft, sewing, scrapbooking, yarns, etc. Wish I had the room to do this project and get better organized.

No More Moves......

I admit I came late to the party, but once there I was the last to leave.  I received the computer game, Bejeweled 3 for Christmas - I had never heard of it. I know - where have I been for the last 10 years? Not in the computer gaming world that's for sure. I plugged it in and the rest as they say is history (or herstory).  Version 3 came with no instructions, rules or directions except for a deep toned voice telling me when I did something great, awesome, spectacular and all the bells and whistles went off. Or to quietly tell me No More Moves and I'd have to start all over.  It took me about 5 minutes to figure the game out and another day to come up with strategies, what to watch for and how to move up the levels in Classic mode.  

This game is addictive and should come with a warning relating to substance abuse -- it's that good -- that much fun -- hours swiftly fly by without notice -- and I can't stop playing trying to bet my own top score. I've made it to level 15 and who knows how many levels there are in this version (again, no instructions) so I guess I'll just HAVE to keep playing to find out for myself.

Two Weddings and a Baby

TWO WEDDINGS AND A BABY

COMING THIS SUMMER TO A THEATER NEAR YOU!

with an all star cast of

Hugh Grant, Simon Baker, Minnie Driver, Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts,

Sarah Jessica Parker, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford

The story of your average American family planning
two weddings and a baby on the way
during two weeks of pulling it all off without a hitch. Or so they thought....

A fun tale of the family's planning, organizing, leaving nothing to chance with Martin Short as the wedding and event planner. You think you've seen this before - but never has such a heart warming story hit the big screen with this all star cast of zany and entertaining characters.

SCREECH-HALT-STOP THE PRESSES

This isn't the Hollywood Blockbuster it claims to be

BUT, my life!

Next summer, I'll have two new daughter-in-laws and my first grandchild

(and yes, all happening within two weeks)

I may just have to call on Martin Short to get it all done as planned,

without a hitch and make it a fun filled two weeks we'll never forget.

Merry Christmas

Tis the season to be busy, so I'm taking a little break from blogging. Merry Christmas to all of you, enjoy the holidays, your family and friends, your favorite holiday music, and Christmas cookies. I'll be back in a week or two with new postings.

Attic Whispers is still posting new stories (and all through the holidays, too) every Wednesday and Friday with the continuing Kenneth and Martha post card series every Monday. Become a follower of Attic Whispers, today and don't miss the weekly short stories being told by lost photographs.

If you could.......

If you could live in a book, which book would you love to live within?

For me, it's hands down Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher written in 2000.  As one book reviewer wrote: A story of 5 very different people by happenstance ending up in northern Scotland during the Christmas season. I've read this book every year during Christmas and when I've finished I dream of being in northern Scotland during Christmas and these are my dearest and closest friends.

Elfrida Phipps, once of London's stage, moved to the English village of Dibton in hopes of making a new life for herself. Gradually she settled into the comfortable familiarity of village life — shopkeepers knowing her tastes, neighbors calling her by name — still she finds herself lonely. She's the auntie that gives you huge hugs, never judges and opens her heart fully to those she loves.

Oscar Blundell gave up his life as a musician in order to marry Gloria. They have a beautiful daughter, Francesca, and it is only because of their little girl that Oscar views his sacrificed career as worthwhile.

A quiet, kind and thoughtful man who leans on Elfrida to get through a tragic event.

Carrie returns from Australia at the end of an ill-fated affair with a married man to find her mother and sister sharing a home and squabbling endlessly. With Christmas approaching, Carrie agrees to look after her sister's awkward and quiet teenage daughter, Lucy, so that her mother might enjoy a romantic fling in America. Carrie is always there when Lucy needs her and she needs her now. Carrie is a beautiful woman, at loose ends herself and needs a huge hug from her great aunt, Elfrida.

Sam Howard is trying to pull his life back together after his wife has left him for another. He is without home and without roots, all he has is his job. Business takes him to northern Scotland, where he falls in love with the lush, craggy landscape and set his sights on a house.

A strange twist of faith lands Sam on Elfrida and Oscars door step on a cold and snowy night.

It is the strange rippling effects of a tragedy that will bring these five characters together in a large, neglected estate house near the Scottish fishing town of Creagan.  It is in this house, on the shortest day of the year, that the lives of five people will come together and be forever changed. Winter Solstice is a novel of love, loyalty and rebirth.

It's a Wrap.....

In my family, holiday gift wrapping has become an art form.

My hubby's family use to challenge each other to create disguised wrappings to house their gifts.  Decorating a train of boxes including an engine and caboose to hide the umbrella inside. The large boxes would have a castle on top made out of toilet paper rolls, empty wrapping paper rolls and little boxes all wrapped in white. Or a silver foil ice skating rink with a forest of miniature trees. Another box may be decorated to become a gingerbread house.  A large paper bag (with gift inside) was transformed into a reindeer with a bell hanging from one antler. The wrapping usually took longer than the shopping for the gift. 

Now, I have family members (yup, that's you kids) who are very creative in designing works of art in their wrapping ideas. The elegantly dressed brown shipping/craft paper, large cut-out initials, old photos attached to the tag (without a name - guess who that present is for?). Ribbons, twine, string, yarn, paper ornaments or stamped images, buttons and a few bows to adorn the wrapping of the gifts. We all look forward to see what appears under the Christmas tree.

Here are a few holiday wrappings I've found on the web for inspiration, help get the creative juices flowing and spark this year's creative gift wrapping.

25% OFF

Flora is offering 25% OFF for a limited time

Browse the store

Spread the word 

and everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving.

There's a New Shop in Town -

There's a new shop on the Internet that is a must go and see. Flora at www.flora-prints.com has just opened it's doors and is filled with the flora work of Scott Mansfield, San Francisco professional photographer. If you're looking for the perfect holiday gift or need a little color added to your own walls -- this is the place to shop. There's a large variety of flower prints to choose from and it is super easy to pick the size you want and printing format.

The best place on the Internet to shop for flora prints, go see for yourself

flora-prints

They followed me home....

Some recently found ideas from Pinterest that followed me home.

A simple paper plate with holes punched about 1" apart, threaded with decorative ribbon.

So simple, So effective!

Great idea for those gift, holiday cookies or candies you make.

For the cupcake baker in your home.

Easy way to store your cupcake liners -- stack in a spaghetti jar.

Cute!

One old dresser - remove legs - make seat cushion and wha-la,

you've got a perfect window seat or bench with storage.

Clever-Clever-Clever

Cover a pop can dispenser with paper (wrapping paper is about the right size) or contact paper and label for storing your can goods. We shop Costco - this will be perfect to organize the bulk buys.

The Doors Are Open-Open-Open

 

Sam'Studio is all set up and ready to go at the annual Allied Arts Holiday Festival of the Arts in Bellingham, WA.  Opening this Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday with extended opened days the week of Christmas.  We're back at the same site and filled to the brim with wonderful local artisan work for sale along with local musicians to entertain you.

Get your holiday shopping done early and shop The Festival this year! 

Sam'Studio is offering new items this year along with newly designed journals and notebooks. Plus,  mini photo albums, pocket Post-It note holders, gift card sets, desk Post-It note sets, bookmarks, note card sets and origami gift boxes.

All are reasonably priced to fit every one's shopping budget.

Think Global - Shop Local

Let Me Entertain You!

It's Entertaining

It's Fun

It's all new to me.....

Join me at my new blog, Attic Whispers located at

www.atticwhispers.com

Bookmark it, Spread the word and follow me to
Attic Whispers

(during the transition set-up, you might have to use:

www.atticwhisper.blogspot.com

for a few days.

Sam's Amusing World isn't going anywhere -- it'll be here with new posts -- I now have two blogs 

One completely fictional and entertaining

and One for a little of this and a little of that