Writer's Workshop: Perfect Picture of Summer 8/31/10

This is my first time choosing a prompt from the Writer's Workshop prompts that can be found over at Mama's Losin' It.  I desire to improve my writing, so I figured this was a great opportunity. Here is the prompt I chose:

 What five images paint a perfect picture of summer to you? Put those five images together in a piece of writing.


As I close my eyes and think of summer I see the girls playing outside in the sprinkler. The water is spraying the lawn as the girls hesitantly draw nearer.  Drops are falling all around and each one is hitting the ground as the girls are too afraid to have the water fall on them.  A little urging gets them nearer, a few drops on the arm, a drop on the face, hesitating again.  "It's okay," I reassure them, "Go on, it's just like the rain coming down. Let's get wet and cool down."  They walk along the edge, letting a few drops of water splash down on them, laughing and screeching, having a ball.  Eventually, they draw closer to the sprinkler itself, getting braver and sillier.  Running, but never daring to go over the source of the water, where the force behind the water would drench them.  Drench them, as the garden beside us is getting drenched.

A garden with splashes of color just outside my kitchen window.  That is what I dream of, that is what we hoped for as we purchased seeds and plants.  A garden growing the food we will enjoy as it ripens.  A plot of land that began barren and brown was tended to with loving hands.  Seeds were planted and watered with the afore mentioned sprinkler and occasionally by the loving hand of God in the form of gentle rain.  Okay, sometimes it can also be a drenching downpour, I have to admit it.  Either way the gardens, not just ours, but the neighbors' as well, thirstily drank the water provided for them.  And seeds began to sprout, growing taller as we watched day by day.  In the heart of the summer we look around and see gardens producing crunchy green beans and tender peas nestled in their pods, carrot greens sprout up hiding the color beneath the ground, huge heart shaped leaves keep zucchini hidden from view.  A mosaic of shades of green,with little splashes of color dot the landscape.  This is the miracle of our food that has sprung up from a tiny seed.  We are grateful to have our garden, though as I look out our kitchen window, I am disappointed that our garden doesn't look like the picture in my mind, like the garden down the street with gigantic plants. Yet, it is ours.  A supply of bright red tomatoes that are ripening faster than I can eat them.  

Beyond the garden, past the chain link fence, the town park beckons the children and I.  Evenings, when the day is finally cooling off after a day of sweltering heat, would find us walking through the grass or along the dirt path headed to one of three swing sets, where the girls could gallivant to their hearts content.  They would swing and slide til it was time to go for our walk.  Taking turns that sometimes only lasted for a few seconds before they wanted to experience something different.  

And of course what summer in America would be complete without a Independence Day fireworks display.  Time together watching the flashes, sparkles and shimmers high above our heads as we lounge on our blankets in the deepening night.

I end my summer musings with an image that speaks volumes to me.  Kick off your shoes and enjoy the feel of the cool grass on your feet.  Be free to enjoy the wonders and blessings of summer that the Lord our God has provided for us.

What is the perfect picture of summer for you?

Friday Fun August 27, 2010

It is Friday again already, I can't believe it.  I know I haven't gotten a lot of posting done here on my book blog.  I haven't gotten a lot of reading done either.  The baby is getting older and is more easily distracted while nursing, so reading while nursing is not quite as feasible.  And when I do get books read I do not have time to write a decent review.  Did you know it is difficult to write a review for a book after having started another book, at least for me.  And it is impossible to wait a week and remember the details and important points I want to include.  So, I am sorry I have not been real active here.  I plan on rectifying the problem soon, a notebook to write notes down will have to stay within reach.  Hoping I can get some more reading done too.  Especially because I need to catch up on these challenges I signed up for.  Nancy Drew is going a lot slower than what I thought it would.  I have found quite a few Christian Suspense books for the Thriller/Suspense Challenge.  My list for The Summer Reading Challenge is looking impossible right now. Time to revamp that a bit. We'll see if I can make the 100 book mark by the end of the year.  Granted I didn't start any of these challenges at the beginning of the year, because I didn't know about them.  

 Sometime within this next week I hope to update everything.  For now I am linking up with the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy For Books.  If you are new here, please know I will be getting back into the swing of things soon.  I hope.  I am excited because I have my first review copy coming from a publisher soon, more on that later.  Let's get this Friday Fun going:

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list!!

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun!  This is a weekly event!  And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added!  We get over 300 links every week!! 


Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

RULES:

1.  Enter your book blog link in the Linky List at Crazy For Books blog.

In your link, please state the main genre that you review:  eclectic, contemp. fiction, ya, paranormal, mystery, non-fiction, etc.  Please do not list every genre you review - if you are review a variety, please put eclectic!  The Hop gets jumbled up if the title is too long, so please limit to one genre.  I will be limiting the number of characters in the title to ensure the Hop doesn't look messy!  Thank you!

Example:  Crazy-for-Books (literary fiction)
NOTE:   You no longer have to enter the length of time you've been blogging, but do let us know if this is your first time hopping with us!

2. Post about the Hop on your blog.  Spread the word about the book party!  The more the merrier!  In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!).  If you have a question that could be used in a future Hop, leave it in the comments!  Thanks!

This week's question comes from:
Books Are A Girl's Best Friend

Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?

3.  Visit other blogs in the Linky List!  Make new friends!  Follow new book bloggers!  Talk about books!  Rave about authors!  Take the time to make a quality visit!  Check out other posts and content, make a new friend!  Don't randomly follow someone if you never intend on actually following them!  No spamming please!  (Please do not leave your link and not visit other blogs - it's just not cool and not in the spirit of the Hop!)

And just as an FYI - this event is not something you should feel that you have to participate in every week.  If you want to join in and link up once a month, GREAT!  It's up to you how often you participate!

So, have fun HOPPING and enjoy your BOOK PARTY weekend!!!

In answer to the above question:

I have enjoyed looking at some other blogs to see how they rate books.  I am still not quite sure the specifics of the way I rate, I am somewhat vague in my thinking here.  

If I have really enjoyed a book and would recommend it I give it a 5

If I had some difficulty with following the book or inconsistencies, or just wasn't that fond of it I give it a 4

If I really couldn't follow a book and wouldn't recommend it, I would give it a 3

If I would tell someone not to waste their time I would give it a 2

If I couldn't finish the book it gets a 1

Anyhow, I just clarified the rating system in my mind as I was typing.  Need to get that posted on my sidebar, so others will know what my rating means if they read a review.

Now, onto Friday 56 hosted by Tonya, over at Storytime With Tonya and Friends.

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blogor (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Well, the book closest to me is Dr. Seuss's ABC and I don't think it has 56 pages, so let me see what I can find. Since we moved the desk to the living room I am not as close to my box o' books.  So we will go with "And Then There Were Two" by Gilbert Morris, this is the second book in the Dani Ross Mystery Series (yes I know I haven't written a review for the first one but lets say right now I would give it 5 stars).  

-"I'm doing it because I believe Jesus wants me to.  But I do need some help with my investigation of Mr. Denver's accident. If you think of anything that could help me find the truck that forced him off the road, would you give me a call?"

And last but not least, on to Friday Finds hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading

I am looking forward to reading a Christian Suspense book I found at our church library.  I processed the book myself a while ago, but at that time I wasn't interested in suspense, so I didn't think any more of it until I saw it in our book return box.  I asked the lady who returned it if she had liked the book.  Her affirmative answer convinced me I should read it, so after I finish some of the books I have out from the public library I will see how I like it.  It is called, "Before I Wake" by Dee Henderson.

Friday Fun August 20, 2010

Time for some Friday fun:

Jennifer at Crazy for Books hosts Book Blogger Hop.

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun!  This is a weekly event!  And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added!  We get over 300 links every week!! 


Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

RULES:

1.  Enter your book blog link in the Linky List at Crazy For Books blog

In your link, please state the main genre that you review:  eclectic, contemp. fiction, ya, paranormal, mystery, non-fiction, etc.  Please do not list every genre you review - if you are review a variety, please put eclectic!  The Hop gets jumbled up if the title is too long, so please limit to one genre.  I will be limiting the number of characters in the title to ensure the Hop doesn't look messy!  Thank you!

Example:  Crazy-for-Books (literary fiction)
NOTE:   You no longer have to enter the length of time you've been blogging, but do let us know if this is your first time hopping with us!

2. Post about the Hop on your blog.  Spread the word about the book party!  The more the merrier!  In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!).  If you have a question that could be used in a future Hop, leave it in the comments!  Thanks!

This week's question comes from Libraryscatbooks!

How many blogs do you follow?

3.  Visit other blogs in the Linky List!  Make new friends!  Follow new book bloggers!  Talk about books!  Rave about authors!  Take the time to make a quality visit!  Check out other posts and content, make a new friend!  Don't randomly follow someone if you never intend on actually following them!  No spamming please!  (Please do not leave your link and not visit other blogs - it's just not cool and not in the spirit of the Hop!)


And just as an FYI - this event is not something you should feel that you have to participate in every week.  If you want to join in and link up once a month, GREAT!  It's up to you how often you participate!

So, have fun HOPPING and enjoy your BOOK PARTY weekend!!!

So, how many blogs do I follow?  My book blog is quite new so I am not following that many yet.  After counting I realized I never followed Crazy For Books (oops), guess I need to go do that as soon as I can.  Right now I am following 19 book blogs.  I am following a lot more homeschooling/mommy blogs that it took a while to scan through them.  When I have more time I plan on making sure I have them all.  They are now listed on the left side of my blog.

More fun:

Tonya, over at Storytime With Tonya and Friends, hosts The Friday 56.

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blogor (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

My Friday 56 comes from "Mommy, Teach Me to Read!" by Barbara Curtis. She is a Montessori teacher who has homeschooled her children (of which she has 12).  The quote is actually quoted from reading specialist Toni S. Gould.

At the preschool level they had the free time to learn and to develop an interest in learning.  Without exception, they experienced success in learning to read. 

Friday Fun August 13, 2010

Hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books.  It's a Blog Hop.  Come find new friends to follow who are as crazy about reading as you are.  Here are the rules, directly from her blog:

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for BOOK BLOGGERS and readers to connect and share our love of the written word.  This weekly BOOK PARTY is a chance for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read! 

So, BOOK BLOGGERS! 

1. Grab the logo

2. Post about the Hop on your blog

3. Start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below! 

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun!  This is a weekly event!  And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added!  We get over 200 links every week!!

In order to add your link to the list, your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.  If your blog does not meet these requirements, it will be deleted from the list.

RULES:

1.  Enter your book blog link in the Linky List below

In your link, please state the main genre that you review:  eclectic, contemp. fiction, ya, paranormal, mystery, non-fiction, etc.  Please do not list every genre you review - if you are review a variety, please put eclectic!  The Hop gets jumbled up if the title is too long, so please limit to one genre.  I will be limiting the number of characters in the title to ensure the Hop doesn't look messy!  Thank you!

Example:  Crazy-for-Books (literary fiction)
 

NOTE:   You no longer have to enter the length of time you've been blogging, but do let us know if this is your first time hopping with us!

2. Post about the Hop on your blog.  Spread the word about the book party!  The more the merrier!  In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!).  If you have a question that could be used in a future Hop, leave it in the comments!  Thanks! 

This week's question comes from Michelle from Michelle’s Book Blog! (waiting for her blog link!)

How many books do you have on your 'to be read shelf’?

3.  Visit other blogs in the Linky List!  Make new friends!  Follow new book bloggers!  Talk about books!  Rave about authors!  Take the time to make a quality visit!  Check out other posts and content, make a new friend!  Don't randomly follow someone if you never intend on actually following them!  No spamming please!  Don’t feel obligated to visit every link!  Do what you can.  The object is to have fun – not to feel so overwhelmed that you aren’t having fun! 

(Please do not leave your link and not visit other blogs - it's just not cool and not in the spirit of the Hop!)

So, have fun HOPPING and enjoy your BOOK PARTY weekend!!!

In answer to this weeks question:

I have a whole bunch of books that I have purchased and never read.  I am thinking I will pick a book every now and then so I can read them.  They are mostly Christian non-fiction and up on my book shelf in my bedroom.  I have an easier time focusing and keeping interest with my fiction books.  Plus, I still have my "homeschool" related books to read.  Books on teaching philosophies and techniques.  Plus books on improving my writing, as it is my dream to write a novel and have it published.  

Right now I am trying to get through my books for the Summer Reading Challenge over at Julie's blog: My Book Retreat. I have 32 books left on my list (ouch), plus I have added 8 (which are in addition to the 2 extra I have already read).

No clue how many other books are patiently waiting for my to read them on my shelf upstairs.  The books I included in my count are either in the library book box downstairs, on hold at the library, or waiting to be put on hold.

All I know is, with these reading challenges and discovering new books through book blog hopping, I am finding books I would never have come across and "expanding my horizons."

Hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 

As I haven't been posting regularly, my Friday Find is a couple of weeks old.  Sad to say in the last few weeks I have found only 2 books over at the thrift  shop.  I have been concentrating on reading the books I already have, because each time I find a new book, I get interested in it and the books I have lined up to read next get pushed aside.  I found the book "The Shack" by William P. Young and "D.A.R.Y.L." by N.H. Kleinbaum, based on the 1980's movie of the same name.

And Tonya over at Storytime with Tonya and Friends hosts Friday 56

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blogor (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

My Friday 56 is again from a Nancy Drew book as it was sitting on the desk because I just finished writing my review.

So, from the "Secret of Shadow Ranch" by Carolyn Keene:

"'Maybe he's hurt,' said Bess as they walked toward the sound.  Whines and barks filled the air as the searchers called again and again, but each time the sounds seemed farther away and definitely were coming from the big meadow."

And, hope this is okay, I am going to share a second one, from the book "The Shack" by William P. Young, because technically the books were sitting side by side on the desk in front of me.  And this way you know I read more than Nancy Drew. 

"Now came the hardest part, waiting.  Mack felt like he was moving in slow motion inside the eye of a hurricane of activity happening all around him.  Reports filtered in from everywhere."

Review: The Secret of Shadow Ranch

Finally finished my 5th Nancy Drew book for the Nancy Drew challenge over at Books, Movies and Chinese food.  At this rate I will never get these books finished by the end of the year.  That's okay though, I am interested in them now, and they are quick reads, so I will continue reading them.
In this story Nancy is now with new friends, no Helen in this book.  She meets George and Bess for a visit at Shadow Ranch and it is immediately obvious that somebody doesn't want her there, so something is up, there is  a mystery or two to solve.  I have noticed that there are usually two mysteries to solve in these books which of course end up being related.  In this book Nancy needs to solve the mystery of where her friends'cousin's father is.  Is he involved in a bank robbery or is he a victim/hostage?  In addition, there is a mystery at the ranch.  Who is causing the sabotage and why?  And why/how is it connected to the appearance of the "phantom" horse?
I enjoyed this book.  The mysteries are getting more involved and it is quite enjoyable trying to figure out who the culprit is.  It was pretty obvious especially after the one was eliminated from suspicion.  It's the little hints that help Nancy to figure out all the mysteries.  I have noticed it is a little tricky to figure some things out, like how they were getting the phantom horse to work because of thinking in 21st century terms and trying to figure out what would have been technologically available several decades ago.
All in all, I give this book 5 stars.