Mr. Levi

Reminder

Today (Friday) is your last chance to vote over at the Homeschool Blog Awards. It is also your last day to enter my book give-away!

McKinnon

I had it all planned to share pictures of Levi with you today, but my plans were derailed. I had a photoshoot with Levi's friend, McKinnon. The pictures of his sister, Monet, (here and here) turned out so much better than I expected, which put the pressure on me to get some great ones of McKinnon as well. You can be the judge, but I was so excited to share them (and I know his mom would love to see them as soon as possible).

McKinnon was one of the best little models I've ever had (in my long, aspiring career, ha!) and almost every picture (I took so many!) turned out. It was so hard to choose, and I'm terrible at picking favorites. I finally whittled the selection down to these:

Still:Body2

(And a not-so-still:body sneak peek at Levi...)

Mr. Leif

To Know Him is To Love Him

Still:Body

Inspired by SouleMama and Martha.

In the Spirit of Thankfulness

********** TIME'S UP! *************

I'LL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS ON MONDAY.

THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING!

In the spirit of thankfulness (for you, my blog readers) and in honor of the fact that I finally posted my Forty Favorite Fiction book list, I decided to give away some of my favorite books. I've ended up with duplicate copies of a few for one reason or another. Surely a handful of my readers might enjoy receiving a book (or four) in the mail. No?

Three lucky winners will receive a vintage copy of The Little French Girl by Anne Douglas Sedgwick.

This obscure book, published in 1924, found its way into my top ten for some inexplicable reason. It is not a children's book. It does not have an adventurous plot. It deals with some mature content (though beautifully, in my humble opinion).

Alix, the French girl, is fifteen or sixteen when she is sent away from her home and mother in France to live in the English countryside with a family she has never before met. Removed from everything she has known and loved and thrust into a new life, Alix becomes her own person, full of observations and reflections of that around her.

As she awakens to adulthood, Alix is left with a blind spot. She cannot see her mother in any other context than that of an adoring daughter. Her new-found friend and kindred spirit, Giles, gently helps her come to terms with the truth about her mother.

The Little French Girl is beautifully written, introspective, and filled with picturesque descriptions of characters and sights in both France and England. I may be the only person who loves this book (or possibly has even heard of it, for that matter), but there you have it--one of my all-time favorite novels.

(If anyone has read, or happens to read this book in the near future, could you please let me know what you think of it? I'd love to hear/read another review!)

For the grand give-away, one winner will receive The Little French Girl by Anne Douglas Sedgwick (vintage copy), From Jest to Earnest by E. P. Roe (vintage copy), A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, and North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

To enter, leave a comment on this post and share a book title (or two, or three) from your top ten favorites.

Make sure you include your email address or a link to your blog so that I may contact you if you win! This contest will end on Friday, November 21st (midnight, Pacific time) and I will announce the winner some time on Monday, November 24th.

I leave you with a small taste of The Little French Girl:

pg 5

They were kind women; but very ugly. Like jugs. All the people that she had seen since landing on this day of grey and purple flesh-tones had made her think of the earthenware jugs that old Marthe used to range along her upper shelves in the little dark shop that stood on the turn of the road leading down from the chateau to the village. Their eyes were joyless yet untragic. Their clothes expressed no enterprise. She did not think that they could feel ecstasy, ever, or despair.

pg 11

But it was as if, from the earliest age, she had had, as it were, to be happy round the corner. One's heart was there, aching, if one looked at it; and one tiptoed away cautiously...

pg 50

"She is like someone in a tower." So she tried to fix her feeling.

"Even in a tower one may oneself be insignificant," said Maman, and to this Alix had replied: "Not if one is the tower oneself."

pg 65

He had a tall head and a meditative eye; but there was something of the sheep in his appearance, too. If he had had the close curled wig, that went with his type he would, Alix thought, have looked very like a silent, dignified sheep that may, in the meadow, as it looks at you, emit once or twice a formal baa.

pg 238

"You think of yourself as very strong" he said suddenly..."You think you can do as you like with life. You're not afraid of life; and that's rather splendid of you--if I may say so. But it's never occurred to you to be afraid of yourself. And the time might come, you know, when you'd be carried away, too."

Have You Voted?

Some kind, anonymous friends have nominated me for Best Artistic Content Blog over at Homeschool Blog Awards. I almost didn't want to mention it after browsing through the other gorgeous blogs that have been nominated. I feel privileged to be listed among such artistic talent!

You are likely to find several new favorites if you have a chance to spend some time checking out all the blogs (or even just a few) nominated in each of the catagories. Be sure to vote for the best of the blogs listed!! Voting ends this Friday, November 21.

Forty Favorite Fiction

I meant to post my list of favorite fiction over a year ago when I first posted my top five and next five favorites (books marked with an asterisk below). I may not be timely, but I usually get around to things at some point. Today is that moment for my Forty Favorite Fiction list.

It is an eclectic list and somewhat arbitrary, not meant (obviously) to be a 'greatest fiction of all time' list, but merely what books have sparked something inside of me as I was reading. Some of them entertained me, some informed me, some warned me, some allowed me to experience a new world. I am sure that I have forgotten several great titles that I haven't read recently. A few of the books on my list are childhood favorites, or books that would have been childhood favorites had I read them before adulthood.

Forty Favorite Fiction

1. Adams, Richard. Watership Down. So much more than a book about rabbits, I was blown away by this story of exemplary leadership. Excellent reading for older children or adults.

2. Alcott, Louisa May. Eight Cousins. I adore this book and cannot wait to read it with Levi this next year!

3. Blackmore, R. D. Lorna Doone

4. Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451.

5. Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre.

6. Bunyan, John. Pilgrim’s Progress.

7. Card, Orson Scott. Ender’s Game. This book was completely out of my normal reading zone, but I thought it, also, was an excellent book on leadership.

8. Christie, Agatha. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

9. Clancy, Tom. (I can’t seem to decide which book to choose.) Is it a mortal sin to put Tom Clancy on a list with C. S. Lewis, John Bunyan, and Harriet Beecher Stowe? Well, since it is my list…. I haven’t read another modern author who is able to create an intricate plot as well as Tom Clancy (which is possibly not saying much, considering I’m not entirely fond of modern authors). His books are almost as satisfying (and arguably more relevant in today’s society) as The Count of Monte Cristo—which is saying a lot. Once I am in a few chapters, I cannot put the book down.

10. Collins, Wilkie. The Moonstone (or The Woman in White). The Moonstone is a terrific blend of mystery, humor, character personality, and Gothic atmosphere. A classic that happens to be a great choice if you are looking for something highly entertaining.

11. Costain, Thomas B. The Silver Chalice.

12. Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe

13. DeJong, Meindert. The House of Sixty Fathers.

*14. Dickens, Charles. David Copperfield. Or A Tale of Two Cities. Must I choose?

15. Douglas, Lloyd. The Robe.

*16. Dumas, Alexandre. The Count of Monte Cristo. This is no light-weight book at 1243 pages, but it is (and will likely remain) my favorite book of all time. I first read it over 15 years ago and have read it several times since. Do not miss this one (and read the unabridged version...trust me).

17. Gaskell, Elizabeth. Ruth (North and South, Wives and Daughters)

18. Goudge, Elizabeth. The Dean’s Watch.

19. Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows.

20. Holme, Ann. I Am David. This book is a vivid memory from my childhood reading.

*21. Hugo, Victor. Les Miserables.

22. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World.

23. Konigsburg, E. L. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

*24. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. As Sherry at Semicolon says, “Great book.. Great movie, but even better book. Lots of nuances and subplots are in the book, but couldn’t be included in the movie. And you can imagine Gregory Peck while you read about Atticus Finch.”

*25. Lewis, C.S. The Chronicles of Narnia (I know it is cheating to list an entire series, but... I loved his Space Trilogy as well.)

*26. Lowry, Lois. The Giver.

27. MacDonald, George. At the Back of the North Wind

*28. Milne. A. A. Winnie the Pooh

29. Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables.

30. Moody, Ralph. Little Britches. Not technically fiction, but I don't mind breaking the rules occasionally.

31. Nesbit, E. The Railway Children.

32. Roe, E. P. From Jest to Earnest

33. Saint Exupery, Antoine de. The Little Prince.

34. St. John, Patricia. Treasures of the Snow (Star of Light) Another vivid literary memory from my childhood, Levi and I will be reading Treasures of the Snow this Christmas.

*35. Sawyer, Ruth. Maggie Rose: Her Birthday Christmas.

*36. Otis Skinner, Cornelia and Kimbrough, Emily. Our Hearts Were Young And Gay: An Unforgettable Comic Chronicle of Innocents Abroad in the 1920s (I don’t know if it counts as fiction, but certainly a hilarious romp either way.)

37. Scott, Sir Walter. Ivanhoe.

*38. Sedgwick, Anne Douglas. The Little French Girl. (More about this one in a couple days.)

39. Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

40. White, E. B. Charlotte’s Web

I have never been so glad that I have years and years of reading ahead of me! My list has glaring holes where classics should be that I have not yet had a chance to read.

What would you recommend that is absent from the above titles?

I'm making up my intentional reading list for 2009. Now's the time to chime in!

(Whispering.) A give-away just might be coming up in the next few days...

Abide in the Vine

John 15:4-5, 8-9

Abide in me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,

unless it abides in the vine,

neither can you, unless you abide in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches.

Whoever abides in me and I in him,

he it is that bears much fruit,

for apart from me you can do nothing.

By this my Father is glorified,

that you bear much fruit

and so prove to be my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.

Abide in my love.

Keeping it Simple~ Decorating Essentials

As I mentioned a couple days ago, I am moving my decorating philosophy much closer to a simple, less-is-more mantra. I have always enjoyed shopping for decor, but I now have very specific ideals to focus on when faced with a purchase decision.

With three little boys and a small home, I don't have space for a large collection of beautiful elements that can wait around for specific seasons or a nesting mood to strike. Storage is certainly at a premium, and too many decorative items on display at once can easily add to a cluttered atmosphere.

For those of you interested in either paring down a large amount of stuff into something more manageable, or in the beginning stages of gathering your own collection, I will share my personal list of decorating essentials.

A Clean, Uncluttered Home

Speaking as much to myself as anyone who happens to be reading, if I don't spend some time cleaning and decluttering my home, no amount of decorating is going to make it a peaceful place to live. Sometimes I need to take down all the peripheral stuff and take a look around. Just one beautiful centerpiece can look stunning when it isn't competing with chaos. And, again, too many decorative items on display can create a cluttered atmosphere of their own.

A Spot For Beauty
I've mentioned it before, but having one area that you have dedicated to beauty keeps the idea of decorating from being overwhelming.

Choose an area (a simple white shelf, a mantel, the top of a piano...) and commit to keeping it free of life's clutter (keys, wayward mail, sippy cups...). Don't be afraid to experiment. Practice your arranging skills. Change items seasonally.

You will find that your eye rests in that spot and gives you something to smile about. And that feeling is contagious. You'll want to keep the room picked up and maybe even extend the beauty to a new spot.

White Dishes

On my essential list: platters, pedestal bowl and cake plate, and pitchers. These don't have to represent a significant investment. Scout out thrift stores or even the dollar store.

The pedestal bowl is my favorite way to elevate (literally and figuratively) simple items into a beautiful centerpiece. I use it year-round, easily adding natural groupings which do not have to be stored for the next season.

A white platter becomes a piece of art when placed on a wall on its own or in a grouping. I used craft paint and a foam paint stamp directly on a platter to create additional interest. (It washed right off when I was ready to put it back in the cupboard with my other dishes.)

(A silver platter or a few colored/patterned dishes give new life to a set of basic white dishes rather than having multiple full sets of colored or seasonal dishes.)

Vintage Books

I am on the constant look-out for vintage books with interesting bindings. They come in handy to elevate smaller items or to add a pop of color. When they are out of service, I return them to a decorative bookshelf where they look lovely as a larger collection.

Larger beautiful books of fine art, gourmet cooking, interior design, or gardening can be used in similar ways. I love the colors and illustrations on quality children's picture books.

Candles and Various Candle Holders
Candles serve multiple functions in decorating. Nothing compares to the ambiant lighting of a small flickering flame.

I like to have a selection of colored taper candles on hand (inexpensive and easy to use up), but I tend to purchase pillar candles in neutral tones since I don't use them as quickly and they represent a larger investment.

Look for various textures (I love beeswax candles for a natural look) and don't forget the versatile glass religious candles.

Simple White or Glass Vases

If you have the space, it is wonderful to have various sizes of vases for fresh flowers or other natural displays. I'm not one of those lucky people with cupboard space to spare, so I've had to think outside the box. I prefer to find pieces with more than one function. Glass or white pitchers, canning jars, or even drinking glasses all work as well (or better) than standard vases. Again, most thrift stores would be a terrific place to pick these up.

Garden Ornaments
Don't be afraid to bring the outside in. Metal barn stars, trellises, statuary, watering cans, old wagons, armillaries, terra cotta pots, even bird baths can look fabulous in the home. When they aren't being used, they just head back outdoors.

Natural Items

This might be my favorite catagory. Inexpensive, easy to recycle, don't require storage, and speak volumes of the seasons. Moss, fruit, nuts, pine cones, stones, branches, fresh flowers, potted wheat grass, sheaves of wheat, shells, sand, gourds, leaves. The list really is endless.

I don't know if they would be considered natural items, but baked goods can be displayed (though they don't last long in my house) such as a glass cookie jar filled with home-made treats, and nothing says home to me like a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie.

Vintage Treasures

Many elements in my decorating collection are simple, basic pieces, but I do find that I like to have a couple one-of-a-kind, unusual, or vintage finds to spice things up. This is where personalities can really shine through.

A few ideas for you: old telephones, typewriters, or cameras; empty picture frames; old window frame, doors, or shutters; pottery; paint-splattered wooden ladders (really!), records, card holders, world globes...

I have more to add to the list in a couple days, but this should certainly get you started!

What decorating pieces can you not live without?