Monday, September 22, 2008

Fall into Reading List 2008

I'm partcipating in Callapidder Days Fall Into Reading Challenge 2008. I've had a hard time choosing books this time for some reason ~ but good or bad, here it is. Obviously the list is subject to change, on a whim!!!

So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger. I loved his first book, Peace Like a River and have heard this is also great. My book club might read this one, too. A rhapsodic novel about a father raising his three children in 1960s Minnesota is a breathtaking celebration of family, faith, and America's pioneering spirit.

Cross Country by James Patterson (release date: Nov. 17th). Another Alex Cross novel! I'm not always a huge fan of Patterson, but I enjoy the Cross series. When the home of Alex Cross's oldest friend, Ellie Cox, is turned into the worst murder scene Alex has ever seen, the destruction leads him to believe that he's chasing a horrible new breed of killer.


Where Do I Go: Yada Yada House of Hope by Neta Jackson (release date Dec. 9th). The Yada Yada Prayer group series was great, so I'm looking forward to this one.



Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons. For as long as she can remember, they were Cam and Lilly--happily married, totally in love with each other, parents of a beautiful family, and partners in life. Then, after decades of marriage, it ended as every great love story does...in loss.


Living Simply: Choosing Less in a World of More by Joanne Heim Whew! You can multitask like a pro—you prove it every day. But while you’re used to being pulled in multiple directions, that doesn’t mean you like it. You yearn for something more…not on your to-do list, but in the heart of daily living. Now Living Simply shows you how to make this ideal life your real life today!


Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamont. A friend told me about this, so I thought I'd give it a try. Anne Lamott shares the stories of her spiritual awakening and transformation. Her memoir is frank and sparkling as she spins out her stories in a kaleidoscope of images and poetry.



The Shack by William P. Young. This book has been heralded and hated, so we will see!







If You Can't Lose It, Decorate It: And Other Hip Alternatives to Dealing With Reality by Anita Renfroe. Anita is a great christian writer and comedian. This book just sounded too good!





When Did I Stop Being Barbie and Become Mrs. Potato Head?: Learning to Embrace the Woman You've Become by Mary Pierce






Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swenson Mysteries)
by Joanne Fluke. I've really enjoyed Diane Mott Davidson culinary mystery series and all the recipes ~ then heard about this one, so I thought I would check them out! No one cooks up a delectable, suspense-filled mystery quite like Hannah Swensen, Joanne Fluke’s dessert-baking, red-haired heroine whose gingersnaps are as tart as her comebacks, and whose penchant for solving crimes one delicious clue at a time has made her a bestselling favorite.

Go to Callapidder Days and check out the Mr. Linky for other blogger's book lists! At some point, there will be another Mr. Linky on the site for book reviews as bloggers share what they've read.

Friday, September 19, 2008

One of my passions

As an active member of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs and serving in both district and state positions, I am mostly proud of the fact that we own and operate a private college prep boarding school called Tallulah Falls School. Mary Ann Lipscomb, a Georgia clubwoman, started the school in 1909 to provide an education for the children in the mountains. The school became known as The Light in the Mountains.

There are boarding students and day students at the school. We also have several international students as part of the student body. The reputation, location, and teacher/student ratio of TFS is most appealing. Check us out!!!

We are in the midst of celebrating the schools 100th year!!! As a board member of the school I am privledged to be an integral part of the celebration events scheduled throughout the year.

One of the events was this week. We had a board meeting and several committee meetings. Dinner with students and lots of fun.

The most exciting part was the ribbon cutting ceremony for our new Lodge ~ The Lodge at Tallulah Falls. The lodge is BEAUTIFUL!!!! It is a great place for a family gathering, a small wedding, a church retreat. Check out the lodge and go spend a weekend in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia.

Lobby at the Lodge




King Room


Ribbon Cutting


My fellow clubwoman and traveling buddies had a great time stopping at some of the beautiful shops between TFS and home. One I have to tell you about was a hoot! It was called Goats on the Roof ~ cause there are goats on the roof. It has a country school, crafts and lots of fun ways to feed the goats.




Waiting for chow!!!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Just in time for Halloween

I walked out on my porch this afternoon and walked into this web. It was so big and strong, stretched between both posts, that as I quickly backed off of it, it just sprung right back never breaking. The spider was at the top, so I did not see it.

I waited till dark to try and take a picture. The lights on the porch brought the june bugs flying, and one was in the web. I will take a pic tomorrow with dew on it in the am if it's still there (that's if I remember of course)! I don't like spiders, but their webs are AMAZING!!!

Wish he'd stick around and be my halloween decoration!!!!!

(click on pic for better view)


Monday, September 1, 2008

Laboring on Labor Day

Usually hubby and I just veg on holidays if we don't do something with family. Not this weekend. We did eat with our kids and grandsons on Sunday after church but did NOT veg today. I got up very early and headed to buy fabric to make kitchen curtains and cover the chairs. The kitchen has been a work in progress for a while and there are only a couple of things that need to be done now!!! YIPEE!!!!!!!! First new floors, then new countertops, then new paint, and now new curtains and chair covers! Here are some before and after pics!

Old

New


New

I know that I need to clean the window! Camera flashes give everything away. Also, the walls are a great taupe color, Toasted Wheat ~ not pink like they look in these pics!

The most amazing things about all this home improvement is that I can out with only a slight scratch on my finger. I am a VERY messy crafter, painter, cook, etc. and usually end up with some type of injury. I purchased an electric stapler to recover my chairs (which was the BEST purchase I made all weekend)! I will only tell you that you have to be VERY careful when you release the safety on the stapler trigger. I shot two staples across the kitchen. One hit the dryer in the laundry room and fell on the dog and I never recovered the other one ~ but the dog is unscathed!