Adult Colouring Books

A while ago, on a trip to Chapters, I splurged and bought myself this colouring book.

On the first page I used both fine point markers and pencil crayons, and decided I liked the look of pencil crayons better; purging through some of M's cast offs last week, I expanded my pencil crayon count from 24 to 72.  I've completed a few pages and Nolan and I have coloured together a bit, and it's been a fun thing to have close by.

I've seen a number of other colouring books geared to adults lately, enough to know that is is a 'thing', and today I got an email from Margaret Feinberg (Author, Bible Teacher, Joy Seeker) talking about the one she has for sale - with Scripture! Her email highlighted 5 reasons why colouring is so great - read it here if you'd like.

While I was talking to Mom on the phone.

I loved the idea of an adult colouring book with Scripture.  Shipping was too high to order from her site, unfortunately, but it got me looking around online. I found this article from Business Insider saying that the best selling books on Amazon right now are adult colouring books! This one I've got was #2, and the #1 book was The Secret Garden by the same Author / Artist.

I know M has had some more intricate colouring books over the years that I've enjoyed with her - what about you? Have you been captured by the beauty of some of these new books? Are you thrilled with this new trend?

Summer Memories

August is trickling away... I know there are more hot days to enjoy and we even hope to get in another camping trip, but it is change time.

We often get out camping right at the beginning of summer, and this year was no exception.  This was the first time we went with the Ward clan, though, and it may be the start of an annual thing, it went so well.  We camped on Madge Lake in the Duck Mountain Provincial Park, which has become one of our regular places, and it was great. Clear water, all our campsites right together, lots of cousin time...  The only downside was that a certain somebody had to miss out to go to summer school.

Nolan's first tube ride.

Another crazy ride with Dad.

Monica photobombing a mother daughter shot.

 Also in July this beauty turned sixteen, and chose to celebrate with a load of physical upgrades - makeover, nails, hair, ear piercing...

August saw M at camp for a few weeks, and then an adventure filled road trip week with her Aunt & Uncle & cousins, to Minneapolis, Chicago, then Toronto, where she flew home from while they went on to visit relatives on the east coast.

I was just looking through my August photos and I think that will have to be another post.  I was reminded of all the little fun things we did - good memories!

Books, Books, Books

Good Morning, Friends!  We just got home from camping and I averaged a book every two days.  That's a good trip.  These are the ones I took with me, plus another I'm half done.

The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani - 9 - Set in Italy and then in America, it follows the story of one couple who emigrate because they have to, and how they find the better life.  The description of Italy makes me want to get on a plane (and a time machine).  Nicely written, and great characters.

Decider by Dick Francis - 9 - Always love his books.

The Innocent by David Baldacci - 8.5 - Just picked this one off the shelf and was pleased with it.  Lots of shooting and death, but the good guy figures it out and wins in the end.

Thunder and Rain by Charles Martin - 8.5 - A Texas Ranger love story isn't what I'd normally pick up, but I really like the others I've read by him, so figured it was a safe bet.  I enjoyed it.

Also read in the last months and worth a mention:

The Secret Place by Tana French - 9.5
Faithful Place by Tana French - 8
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - 9.5
Landlines by Rainbow Rowell - 8

The Unexpected Pilgrimage of Walter Fry by Rachel Joyce - 7 - A sometimes funny story of an older man almost stuck too far in life's rut to make any changes, who ends up on a journey walking from one end of England to the other.

Home Front by Kristen Hannah - 8 - Full of  marriage issues, woman soldier issues, and dealing with injuries, it stays believable.  A decent read.

The Accident by Chris Pavone - 8 - I expected a little more because I really enjoyed the Expats, but this was still good.

419 by Will Ferguson - 6 - Have you ever got a Nigerian scam email?  This book is a story of a Canadian family who is deeply affected by one, and their search for the root of it.  It's also the story of the Nigerians who do this for a living.  Some parts I enjoyed, like the part set in the Nigerian village before it was all spoiled by the Oil companies.  Mostly it was just sad. 

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - 9 - I quite enjoyed this tale of a girl growing up in Brooklyn in the mid 1900's.  Loved her character and the way she details the setting.


We are off to the library today to get some more.  :)

Indoors Day

With the wildfires up north sending loads of smoke our way, it was an indoor day today.  We played Planes Fire & Rescue up in his room on his train set and on the Planes play mat... while I hand-sewed up some bean bags.  It clouded over & rained this afternoon, but the morning sun was nice. 

Just a few shots to say hello...
xo

A Prayer for You

I love my blog, even though it is sadly neglected at this point.  I am not gone, just sewing or out for a bike ride or being with my family.  Thanks for sticking around to read what I have to say when I get a chance to say it. 

I pray for your health - that the way you feel physically does not get in the way of how you want to live.  May the aches and pains of your bodies be understood and healed at the source and gone forever.

I pray that you would enjoy good healthy friendships; that you would have people that you pour into selflessly, and that those people would continue to fill you up, too.

I pray for the hard relationships; the ones that drain you & leave you weary.  Your children, maybe?  I pray you get a glimpse of the big picture, and the good you are doing by sticking with them and being a loving presence.  May you find deep within yourself, a strength to continue to love, and a knowledge that the One who gives you that strength has an unlimited strength and love that he offers to you.

I pray you are content in your circumstances, and that you also have goals you are striving for.  May you see progress in your working toward those dreams.  May you experience breakthroughs and success and joy.

May you be refreshed today, and may the Kingdom of our Jesus come in you and through you today.

Amen and Amen.

A Blank Journal

Madeline gave me this beautiful journal this past Christmas. The girl knows what I love. And, it came with chocolate. Mmm.

A beautiful journal - ok, seriously, any new notebook - is hard to break in. There is something pristine about all those blank pages... All that potential. Once you make that first mark, it's gone, so deciding what to use it for can be tough. I've had notebooks sit blank on my shelf for years before using them.

I was happy to come up with a use for this one pretty quick, though, which is nice - it gets used pretty regularly instead of sitting untouched.  It has become a place to copy out verses I like.  Like these:

Sometimes Nolan helps.  Notice the red lines on a few of these?

Ok, some are nicer than others...  But God's Word - it's always beautiful.

Blessings on your Sabbath.  Rest well. 

xo
Carolyn

The Latest

I got an exciting email yesterday - an official acceptance to have a booth in the Cathedral Village Arts Festival street fair on May 23!  I've thought about being in that one for a couple of years now, and this year took the plunge.  I bought a canopy and three 4 foot tables; one of these nice days I will set up in the backyard and make sure the canopy works fine and do a trial run set up; all my sales so far have been just a table, but in this one I have a 14x10 foot space.  That means I have to get sewing and build up my stock!!

Spring...  It's beautiful here now.  There is one snowpile out in the back alley that will take a while yet to disappear, but it's nice enough to go for walks to the park or get Nolan's bike out.  Sean is still working on sleds, but that is an ongoing thing.  With his buying, fixing, & selling we have five sleds in the garage right now.  The latest is this one...

M's knee is still on the mend, but she has the physio's approval to play sports this spring.  She loves soccer and her girls on that team, but decided to play rugby on the school team to try something new instead.  She's got the mouth guard, now we just need to get another knee brace...

In other M news, she is sporting some new ink on her arm.  She has wanted a tattoo for a long time, but of course our answer was no.  The long story of why we changed our minds and what it symbolizes for her is not fully my story to tell, so it will wait for another day.  It says Strong&Courageous Joshua 1:9  She went with her Aunt Carla and they bonded over getting tattoos together. :)

Strong&Courageous Joshua 1:9

Because Reading is Sometimes All I Want To Do

Having an evening with nothing pressing to do, with a boy who went to sleep on his own well, a husband working out in the garage and a girl hanging out in the living room with me, and a book that is gripping, is pretty much heaven. 

Here's what I've read since last book post:

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline - 7.5 - Not bad for a random pick off the shelf.  The second half picked up and the story twisted pretty good.

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson - 8.5 - Her characters are so much deeper and stronger than anyone in real life, but she tells a good story.  I have liked her books for a long time.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - 6 - I have seen this one on many 'Have to Read' lists, but while it may be an important work as a portrait of someone descending into insanity, I didn't enjoy it much.  Oh, well!

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple - 8 - Funny.

Holes by Louis Sachar - 9.5 - Awesome.  I loved it.  It's a kids's book, and I know M read it years ago; there's a reason it's won so many awards.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - 9 - So excellent. I couldn't do anything till I had read the last page.  And then I couldn't do anything because I was crying.

Happy reading!

Oh, I'm also reading through the Gospels during Lent.  There is no better story ever written...

Funny Things My Kids Say

The other day I got out Nolan's Bible to read to him at breakfast.  He pointed to a picture on the cover and said, "Read that one.  The one with all the animals and Jesus."
I said, "Noah."
"No, it's Jesus.  But I like Noah and Jesus."

And at lunch:  "Nolan, will you say grace?"
"Thank you Jesus for our food. Amen.  You pray, too."
I said the same thing he did, but he came back with, "No, you pray lots more things than that."

"Mom, is that lady walking a pig?"
"No, it's a dog, called a bulldog."
"Oh.  Well, it has a funny face."

Dad: "I'm eating you up!"
Nolan: "No!  I have ribs in there holding me together!"

Madeline was at the dentist the other day getting some fillings and was quite frozen on the one side, making her talk funny.  Of course, I was laughing at her, and even more when she told me to "Thuth!"

And at supper, Dad to M: "Hey, do you know what gets rid of the freezing really quick?"
M: face lights up, gets all excited.
Dad: "Nothing!"
M: face falls.
Dad: laughs and laughs and laughs...

And one from last night.  I went up to bed and found Nolan sleeping on the floor (his bed is a twin mattress on the floor).  He half woke while I picked him up. "Mom?"
"I'm just putting you back in bed, buddy."
"Why?"
"Because you were sleeping on the floor!"  All tucked in, I give him a kiss.  "I love you."
"I love you."
"Good night."
"You're welcome."

Discussion Questions for An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

As I said yesterday, the last book we read for Book Club was Chris Hadfield's An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth.  This particular book was Lisa's pick, and in our group that means that this month we met at her place, and she led the discussion on the book.  Usually you can find discussion questions for books online, but Lisa said there was nothing out there that she could find.  So, being the competent teacher that she is, she wrote her own.

And here for you, and all other book clubs that might be looking for discussion questions on An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, are the questions, courtesy of Lisa Ashton. 

Chris Hadfield: An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
Discussion Questions by Lisa Ashton

1.   What was your reading experience? Did it take you awhile to get into it? How did you feel reading the book? Amused, confused, bored?

2.           Have you had a similar goal or job that you broke down into daily tasks like Chris did when he was 9 years old? Example: If I want to be an astronaut should I stay up late, or wake up early and read a book?

3.           What has been your experience with the theme of space? As a child were you fascinated? What elements of space interest you?

4.           What have you learned about space exploration from this book?

5.           How do you think his marriage survived?

6.           Describe Chris’ personality traits.

7.           Does he remind you of anyone you know? Explain.

8.           Does Chris change throughout his life? Grow and mature, or remain the same?

9.           What themes does Chris explore?

10.       What passages strike you as insightful or profound? Read these passages.

11.       Has the novel changed you? Broadened your perspective?

Another Book Post

In my 'To Read' list on my phone, (which I have recently alphabetized by author to make browsing the library shelves easier), I've started moving the books I've read to the bottom of the list along with a rating, to make it easier to share with you.  I'll delete them after I've posted them here for you, and voila, you get my thoughts on everything I've read again, and my list stays up to date.  (I do keep an author's name in the list if I liked them, so I can look for more of their work.)

So here is what I've read in the last while:

Janette Walls - Half Broke Horses   7*
Glass Castle is her story, and very good; Silver Star is fiction, and a good read.  This one is the story of her grandmother, and I found I didn't enjoy it as much as the other two, but it is still worth a read.  It's an interesting look at a time when so much was changing across the States, and the main character has great strength.

Mira Barton - The Memory Palace   5*
This one was on a recommended list somewhere - it's also a memoir of a hard life with a schizophrenic mother. I hate to diss anyone who's written a book, honestly, but there was not much here that I enjoyed.

Chris Pavone - The ExPats: A Novel   9*
Excellent read with lots of twists and keeps you turning pages. You might stay up late with this one!

Carry On Warrior  - Glennon Doyle Melton   8.5*
This author is nothing like me, and probably nothing like you.  But she has so many good things to say that I almost turned back to page one to start over the minute I finished.  This was a book club read that I might not have found otherwise - gotta love book club!  You can check out her site Momastery to get a feel for if you want to pick this up.

Night - Elie Wiesel   8*
Nobel Peace Prize winner about his experiences in the holocaust.  This was on many Have to Read lists, and I agree, it's one that should be read.  Not entertaining, of course, but well written and important.

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn   8*
Almost didn't pick this up because there was too much hype, maybe?  But I did, and the first half I didn't really even enjoy - wasn't sure if I liked either of the main characters, wasn't sure where she was going - couldn't tell who was going to be the bad guy.  But.  The twists that came made it a pretty good read, and it's stuck with me more than most.  I mentioned it at book club last night and there was lots of discussion already; we've decided to do it as out May read.  So pick this one up.  And let me know - have you read any of her others?

An Astronaut's Guide to Life On Earth - Chris Hadfield   7*
The latest book club read & the one we discussed last night.  I followed him on twitter while he was in space, and maybe had higher expectations of this one.  Good life lessons, well written, lots of interesting details.

The Dressmaker - Kate Alcott   7.5*
Set on the Titanic, this was a pretty good filler read that I picked off the shelf knowing nothing about it.

Go pick up a book!!  After you've gone for a walk.  Happy Spring!

And as always, share what you are reading & enjoying - I love to hear your suggestions!

New Products

I got an invitation from the Regina Family Child Care Homes to be a part of their craft and trade sale happening on March 7 in conjunction with their annual conference.  It's from 8:30 - 4 at the Conexus Arts Centre, if you are close by and want to come.

It gave me a boost of motivation to sew up a few things that I've had in my mind for a while - Kid Sized wheat bags that are half as long as my regular ones (9x6), and mini 5x5 wheat bags to keep in the freezer as ice packs, or 'Owie Bags.'  I figure the crowd at a child care conference may be interested in some child specific products - here's hoping, anyway!

These are the kid sized bags - I've mad a few for friends before, but never had them listed in the shop until now.  I let Nolan pick one, so the blue cars bag is not in the shop, but the rest are available here.

And these are the Owie Bags.  They have covers that are removable, just like my bigger bags, but these have a full double layer of the flannel on one side, so you can choose your level of protection from the ice, or you can use the opening as a pocket to hold the bag in place.  This first batch is quite full, so a little difficult to get in and out of the cover; I think the next batch I will try a third less filling. You can find these in the shop here.

These next two are favourites - I love using N's hands to show the size of the bags.  He's a fun little hand model.

This one shows a regular bag and a kid sized one for comparison.  The owls are fun.

I found some time too, to make up new regular wheat bags - I've got 11 new patterns that I've just listed today.

I'm also hoping to have a booth at the Cathedral Village Arts Festival May 23rd, and at the Etsy Made In Canada Sale on September 26th.  I'll keep you posted on those as they get closer.

Thanks for having a look!
Alice&Victor

2015 Word of the Year

I didn't think too long or hard about picking a word for this year; in fact, in December I thought that I wouldn't do one this year... and that's when HEALTHY popped into my mind.

Yeah, that fits.

I want our teenager to find a healthy state of mind, and healthy ways of dealing with life.

I want us to have healthy ways of dealing with our teenager!

I want our 3 year old to have a healthy level of attachment - to be able to go to sleep on his own, to be able to go to Sunday School on his own...

I want all our of relationships to be healthy.  I want for us to seek to understand each other and love each other well.

I want an always healthy marriage.

I want a physically healthy family & to feed them healthy meals.

I want us all to have healthy friendships and healthy hobbies.

I want our businesses to be healthy and growing.

I want us to have a healthy thriving church family that we are active in.

Of course we are not unhealthy in all those areas - like everyone, we have lots of ups and downs in lots of areas.  But in thinking about what is important to me and what I have been focusing on lately, healthy seems to be a word that fits in all areas. 

Having one word does seem to be a help as I pray - a springboard to know where to start and what to ask for. 

May your year be a healthy one, too.

(My words from other years are here.)

Recommended Reads

I got a message from my cousin Sandra today asking for book recommendations, and I realized that I haven't talked books much here lately.  I haven't talked much of anything, really, because I have a now 3 year old who never naps and that's life for now.  But M is home from school today so I just send the kids off to play together so I could blog books.

First off, this year's book club reads:
A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout - a journalist from Alberta and her story about the 15 months she spent in captivity, kidnapped for ransom in Somalia.  I didn't love it, but it was still interesting.
Peony in Love by Lisa See - set in long ago Japan, and a story about love and longing; interesting on the other culture level, but as the main character is a ghost for most of the book, sort of strange...
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell - found this one very interesting and plan to read for more of his.  This one's about success and why some people have what it takes to excel.
Luminaries by Eleanor Cattan - set in New Zealand in the gold rush days, this is a really interesting trip to another unfamiliar time and place.  She writes with so much detail, including the many characters wound throughout.  It is a massive book, and some in our group found parts of it tough, but I quite enjoyed it all.
In the next few months we will read:
Carry on Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield (I gave this one for Christmas last year meaning to borrow it back to read, but haven't done it yet.  Looking forward to it.)
Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King

Other books I have read in the last while that have stuck with me, which makes them recommendable in my mind, are these:

I read Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay sometime in the past and mad a note to look for more of her books.  I recently picked up a couple more - The House I Loved, which I recommend; it's set in Paris during the rebuilding, when many old streets were razed to make way for the new modern Paris.  I also read The Other Story which while well written, was not as enjoyable.  I like to like the main character, and this guy didn't quite get there.

Jeannette Walls is another author I read before (Glass Castle - highly recommended), and I picked up The Silver Star.  I enjoyed that one, too, and need to find her other one, Half Broke Horses.

Rainbow Rowell - I read Eleanor & Park (fun & recommended), and Attachments (also pretty good).  She has a few others that I will keep my eyes open for.

Kate Morton - The Secret Keeper.  She writes bigger books that are easy to get lost in.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - read and enjoyed.

The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson.  Ridiculous and fun.  Will check out more from this author.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  Really liked this one.

Twelve Years a Slave.

The Giver by Lois Lowry.  Quick read, a classic that you should have on your read list.

Tana French - Haven't read her in a while, but I quite enjoyed her Irish murder mystery stories The Likeness and In the Woods and Broken Harbour.

There you go - a whole handful of maybe new-to-you authors and books to look for when you are looking for something to put on hold at the library.  What have you been reading?  My list to read is long, but I'm always looking for more recommendations.  Leave a comment and add to the list!

Massive Layout Catchup

Most of these I made or started at the retreat last October - they are from fall 2013 up to last spring.

I really like the pocket pages for getting the everyday kind of photos in the albums.  There are lots of little bits I want to remember, especially with Nolan changing so much.

This one's about selling my stuff retail and how it felt so pro.

Nolan loves keys...

and dishes / water.

The first stuff I cut with my Silhouette.

Nolan's 2nd birthday...  Almost exactly one year ago!

My favourite boy.

And my favourite girl.

Parked on the flight path watching planes take off.  Fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Thanks for looking!