Readin, readin, readin, keep those kiddies readin...

For me, this break has been a time to sit down and just read voraciously. I've reread between six and seven Emilie Loring's, three or four Louis LaMour's, and a few other small stuff. 

I've also devoured a new series that L2 has been reading lately, The Books of Ember series. She had the first "City of Ember" and got the second "People of Sparks" for Christmas. I read them both in one day. They were that good. Check out the synopsis here... 

A well put together and thought out fable. I'm interested in seeing the movie now.

LadyAnne

(And yes, for all those GoogleReaders out there, I know I posted this item a month after the date it says it is dated. Thanks for pointing out my folly. So glad you don't let me get a swelled head...)

My Utopia

Literature is my Utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourses of my book friends. They talk to me without embarrassment or awkwardness.
Helen Keller

~~~~~~

Every time I find the time to go back to these books I am amazed at the wisdom and insight into life I gain from them. As a child they were merely a fun, fast read. As a teenager they were just a good story, well told. As an adult they continue to teach me more about myself than I would have thought possible from a book written long ago, to another generation, with no real punch-them-in-the-face morality. 

The premise of most of them is the same: a heroin in trouble, a gentleman of upstanding character, a bad guy or spy or criminal of some kind, a lovely New England or eastern setting well described. Yet although this would seem to grow stale eventually, the author had the ability to make it new and fresh with each book she wrote. 

The love of nature comes out with the stunningly real and vivid descriptions of the land in which she lived. 

The morals of her creed are touted by each hero and heroin that comes alive on the pages. 

The sincerity of her faith comes through the little bits of references she makes to an event and a person that she feels the world needs to know and emulate.

As I re-read these favorites and rediscover old friends, I am shaken by the amazing ability she was blessed with to make her writings say vastly different things to different readers. And by the longevity of these books that were written in the mid 1900's, yet are so coveted today that they sale for phenomenal prices anywhere you can find them. Which isn't very many places. We are fortunate to own many, though not all, of her fifty some-odd books.

Over this break I have read or re-read about six of them and each time I come across something so deep it rocks me off my feet, I am convinced again that reading is, to quote Miss Keller, My Utopia. And I need to make time in my schedule for the relaxation of virtually complete and utter oblivion. My escapism...

My reading.

(Chica, This one's for you. So stop whining.)

Check it out...   Or here...

LadyAnne

The Fifteen Days of Chrismukah

"Continuing the current trend of large-scale mergers and acquisitions, it was announced today at a press conference that Christmas and Hanukkah will merge. An industry source said that the deal had been in the works for about 1300 years.

While details were not available at press time, it is believed that the overhead cost of having twelve days of Christmas and eight days of Hanukkah was becoming prohibitive for both sides. By combining forces, we''re told, the world will be able to enjoy consistently high-quality service during the Fifteen Days of Chrismukah, as the new holiday is being called.

Massive layoffs are expected, with lords a-leaping and maids a-milking being the hardest hit. As part of the conditions of the agreement, the letters on the dreydl, currently in Hebrew, will be replaced by Latin, thus becoming unintelligible to a wider audience.

Also, instead of translating to "A great miracle happened there," the message on the dreydl will be the more generic "Miraculous stuff happens." In exchange, it is believed that Jews will be allowed to use Santa Claus and his vast merchandising resources for buying and delivering their gifts.

One of the sticking points holding up the agreement for at least three hundred years was the question of whether Jewish children could leave milk and cookies for Santa even after having eaten meat for dinner. A breakthrough came last year, when Oreos were finally declared to be Kosher. All sides appeared happy about this.

A spokesman for Christmas, Inc., declined to say whether a takeover of Kwanzaa might not be in the works as well. He merely pointed out that, were it not for the independent existence of Kwanzaa, the merger between Christmas and Chanukah might indeed be seen as an unfair cornering of the holiday market. Fortunately for all concerned, he said, Kwanzaa will help to maintain the competitive balance. He then closed the press conference by leading all present in a rousing rendition of "Oy Vey, All Ye Faithful.""

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lady Anne

The Nut...

But a really sweet nut...

LadyAnne

Christmas Carol King

Funny how I feel more myself with you
Than anybody else that I ever knew
I hear it in your voice, see it in your face
You've become the mem'ry I can't erase

You could have been anyone at all
A stranger fallen out of the blue
I'm so glad it was you

Words can hurt you if you let them
People say them and forget them
Words can promise,words can lie
But your words make me feel like I can fly

You could have been anyone at all
The net that catches me when I fall
I'm so glad it was you
You could have been anyone at all
I'm so glad it was you.

-Anyone at All-Carol King

LadyAnneBurke

Oklahoma's Bradford wins Heisman!

Go Sooners!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/12/13/heisman.trophy.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Lady Anne Burke

Take my shoulder, take my hand...

Leave my heart out of this
You're too much to resist
I don't have the strength to pull away
No is getting hard for me to say
I'd love to be the way your heartache ends
But 'til it does we can't be more than friends
I'm only trying to do what's best
It's gonna hurt you more unless
You leave my heart out of this.

So take my shoulder, take my hand
Take what you need, I'll understand
Just don't take more than I can give
Leave my heart out of this
-Bryan White

White Bryan Lyrics

The House that is Home

Yo ho, yo ho, A cowboys life for me.

~~~~

As I was putting this post together, I realized that the stinking upload thing, besides being slow and obnoxious, puts them in there backwards to how I wanted them. Sigh. I thought I had the hang of this but I guess not.
This is just one of many many fun fancy fall displays that my Mom is really good at. This is the front room/Parlor.
This is my own version of a pickle tray. Actually I was just having way too much fun with the food. And people ate them too. Even after I had my hands on it...a lot. (They were clean hands.)
My Mom has always had a lot of her brass collection around but this little guy had joined the family since I'd been home. I felt an instant affinity for him.
This guy was new too, but there is something about his face I just don't trust. A weakness about the eyes maybe. We all know you can't trust quails...
Plus he stands funny...
This is the end table in the Parlor. See how good my mom is at decor?
This fun little urn/pitcher thing was new as well. It looked very nice and dignified standing there. I'll have to get to know it better over Christmas break.
This is one of two antique lamps I gave her a while back. It fits in very well with the decor. Plus it's just so pretty.
See, I think he is stalking somethin'...

I was laying on the floor in the parlor taking all these pictures. This is an ant's eye view of the front door. It's blurry cause the dog was sprawled on top of me. He thinks he is a lap dog...
Here's another ant looking at the mirror in the entry area.
And the light fixture in the parlor. Very cool-ish. (I love this picture.)

This is the very cool mantle over the very cool fire place in the very cool family room/living area. (Again, doesn't the artistic abilities amaze you?)
This is a glass thing.
For as long as I can remember,.. Well, for a very long time... these jelly jars and sugar caddy thingie have been on the top of the micro. It made me have a warm cuddly feeling, so I had to take a picture of another proof I'd come Home.
This is a way cool shot of the ceiling fan in the kitchen nook/breakfast area/place. 
Also for as long as my feeble mind can go back, I remember there always, always being aloe vera growing in the kitchen for burns...
As well as lots of other green and growing things.
Ahh...homemade rolls. I made them. Well, no actually I didn't, I put them on the pans. BUT I COULD'VE!
More glass things, on the cool half wall/railing thing between the kitchen nook and the family room.
The chandelier in the dining room. Fancy. I love love love it. 
A closer shot of the crystals.
The chandelier against the really cool mural thing on the dining room wall. I actually like it. A lot. It'll look even better when we get a dining room table.
Our family Bible in the front room. Just another thing that means this is home.
I might have posted this shot already, but I like it well enough to do it again. See the pretty fall leaves? Yay.
This one is cool too. I like you can see the bricks and bushes outside.
Again... I spent too much time on the floor in there I think.
I like this one. Pretty, pretty.
I think I fell asleep with my finger on the shutter button.
Vera. (I once knew an old lady named that...)
Some plant. Pretty leaf-ed thing. On the window sill of the big picture window in the breakfast nook.
These are the cabinets in the nook. Mom hates it. I think it's kinda cool...
My mom's kitchen is red and blue with roosters. Aren't they cute? They wouldn't come down and talk though. I tried.
See, it's cool. It's unique. I still say I like it.

That's my tribute to the new house that became Home as soon as I walked in the door. Some of the pictures (and comments) are goofy, but that's that mood speaking.

God Bless.

Lady Anne Burke

Knocking Around

The many and varied thoughts knocking around in my head this week (s) are just too many and varied to mention. Suffice it to say, my week has been interesting and fun and crazy and exciting and scary and annoying and busy and I think I've sufficed it enough.

I'll kinda start at the current and work backward till I fall over out of exhaustion. Works for me as a new blog technique...

~~~~~~

Yesterday evening, several of us went to the Cincinnati Ballet performance of the Nutcracker. It was really cool, even with all the tights. There were a few UN-named individuals that chose not to go just because of the tights, but my group were tight-tolerant to a VERY SMALL degree.

I have some pictures, but my card is being obstinate, so I can't get them on my computer yet. There might be some coming, but don't get your hopes up. Or do. Makes no difference to me.

~~~~
Yeah, pretty sure these are not going to be in order.

Last weekend was the GBS Christmas program. It was a lot of fun. I don't have any shots from the program, ( was singing, silly) but I have some of the semi-dressed rehearsal.

He lookes pretty good in the hat, huh?

LadyAnne

S,N C. Twelve somethings...

My Thanksgiving Creation...

Bits a pieces of Thanksgiving break, as well as other fun times and people I am thankful for.

LadyAnne

Giving of the Thanks

My new favourite picture of all the times I've captured the Arch.
They got along really well eventually.
He bought himself a Wii with his first job. I am so very proud of him...the little business man. Or not so little.
My mother is a decor genius.
They are way too cute!
A lovery dove that lives in our back yard.
We finally surprised her. Hasn't happened in a while. She might have cried. A lot...
He is so pretty. Sorry, I meant manly...
A big Ole' load of Christmas trees traveling to the balmy southwest from up north. "Must be beautiful in Vermont this time of year...all that snow."

~~~~~~

That's just a few of the pics from Thanksgiving break. I am planning a more in depth post on the house, one on the hiking trip we took day after Thanks, and one on this past week or so of craziness. Meanwhile, my current life is hitting me over the head continually. Yay, the proof I am alive...

Just not kicking. I need some volunteers to stand near me. Any takers? I won't wear my steel toed boots...

Maybe.

LadyAnne

AnOTHer OnE...

oNE oF MaNY...

Dumb Weight

There is one thing that is very, very important. Well, there are lots of things, but this one is more so than others, right now at least.

When aspiring to be the big bad photography person, please have with you at all times (1) at least two batteries, one in your camera, one fully charged back up in your bag, and (2) a handy-dandy battery charger in said bag.

One other thing they should mention...in an action packed week with lots of picture taking, check that the fully charged backup in your bag, is indeed fully charged! And maybe check it the night before the coolest road trip to the coolest science museum and the coolest market for coolest foods.

Anyway, I was able to take two pictures with my "fully-charged back-up battery."

They came out nice, but that doesn't really reduce the annoyedness...It's a dinosaur, that demonstrates the effect of weight/counter-weight. Cool.

LadyAnne