Out of the blue a few weeks ago , I recieved in my email box , a request sent from someone I did not know. At first I was going to delete it, as I usually do with email I am not sure about.. But for some reason, I did not do that, and I opened and read..
OK.. so it was from someone asking me to write a review on one of two CD selections that were availiable.. After reading about the two, I chose to review the music DC project called, " Stand UP - Big Band Praise".. As i read the email from the one to share it with me, I was hesitant about the Big Band Praise part.. I am not a huge big band era follower to be honest.
But Oh how I was surprised in listening as it arrived to my home not more than a week later. I first looked at some of the song choices below, and decided that it might be an interesting musical project to listen to.. and it was, yes, a pleasant surprised as I listened not only once, but twice in the very same day.
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Forever
Hosanna ( Praise is Rising )
What a Friend we have in Jesus
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
Stand up, Stand Up for Jesus
From the very first song, " Just a Closer Walk ", I could not help but move .. It was if every fiber of my being was taken on a culinary musical ride as the promised " Big Band" swing took me right away to a place of wanting to praise in dance.
So with toes wiggling, body wiggling,and voice warbling ( not such a good singer :-( ) I sang along to the new, and the old praise songs of all time that were included in this CD project...
With every song, a different part of the big band musical instrumentation, from horns to other instruments all just seemed to flow nicely from song to song. Nothing seemed predictable to me in listening . It all was as if each song had it's own swing band orchestra, yet , in all the different types of songs that we all might know, and love, each performance was as if it was its very own Big Band leader. It was, and is a CD project that I am hoping there will be MORE OF..
I highly enjoyed this .. and for to recieve it free , just for listening to it from the comfort of my own home, and now permenant place in the car, I am most grateful that I have it in my repotoire of " fine Praise Music"..
Friday, July 1, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Plain Wisdom.. A book Review
I found the book, "Plain Wisdom" to be a wonderful bit of insight into Old World Amish life versus the Englischer life . I felt like I was taken back to life's basics, including homemaking, homeschooling, and other areas of life that women today are interested in, even today.
Plain Wisdom, by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam FLaud turned out to be a very simple read for me. I enjoyed getting to know both the authors ,as well the Amish way of life thru the pages of this book .
Miriam is " Old Order Amish "while Cindy is an Englischer . I think the success of this book is key to how they've enjoyed a close friendship for a number of years. Their lives, though different in beliefs, and customs are drawn into the readers heart as they deal with the same topics we all face in life, though they are handled differently. The same cares of life, the same worries, the same joys - but because of two customs, they are experienced in a different ' flavor' in the respective lifestyles.
Each chapter deals with an individual topic and both Cindy and Miriam wrote their own thoughts about the topics. This book is well written ,and gives good, solid advice, plus the unexpected thrill for me in yummy sounding recipes. A book that anyone would find helpful.
I am not required to write a postive review of this free book as part of the Blogging for Books free book review program.
Plain Wisdom, by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam FLaud turned out to be a very simple read for me. I enjoyed getting to know both the authors ,as well the Amish way of life thru the pages of this book .
Miriam is " Old Order Amish "while Cindy is an Englischer . I think the success of this book is key to how they've enjoyed a close friendship for a number of years. Their lives, though different in beliefs, and customs are drawn into the readers heart as they deal with the same topics we all face in life, though they are handled differently. The same cares of life, the same worries, the same joys - but because of two customs, they are experienced in a different ' flavor' in the respective lifestyles.
Each chapter deals with an individual topic and both Cindy and Miriam wrote their own thoughts about the topics. This book is well written ,and gives good, solid advice, plus the unexpected thrill for me in yummy sounding recipes. A book that anyone would find helpful.
I am not required to write a postive review of this free book as part of the Blogging for Books free book review program.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Corruptible..a Book
Mark Mynheir, the author of a free blogging for books reading selection, titled," The Corruptible"
blew me away as I have just finished reading the entire 340 page read. It not only kept me glued to my chair, but it kept me wondering, " whats next" in this second " Ray Quinn" mystery.
Ray Quinn, an ex homicide cop, turned Private detective, along with " Crevis", his partner, set out to look for another ex - cop , who also changed jobs, but this time as a security officer who bolted with very important ( and sensitive ! ) information.
While this book is not a book of comedy, I found myself , for some reason chuckling at the characters that Mynheir created to fill these pages.. Each one , I found endearing, charming,and exciting in their own roles within the cover of the book.
For the ex cop, Ray Quinn, a man who turned to " drink" to cure his woes, his fictionalized role seemed to grab my haert strings, as I soon began to see him as a " friend" whom I could relate to in his quest for finding the bad guy, Logan ramsey - the dirty cop we all hear about in other books of crime fiction.
I saw ,however, how the author used hard times that some sadly, find as an escape, ( Quinn's drinking problem )to weave a story of fiction, with that , but taking it to a new level in this well written ( and CLEAN ) " who dunnit" ,as the reader could envision hope, and redemption at the end of the journey.
A story WELL worth the read, as it will make you chuckle ( or at least it did me! ), make you find yourself cheering on the characters so well defined, that you will count them as your dearest friends.. Would I recommend this book, AND this author? Most certainly. I didn't realize that I have read Mark Mynheir before.. His writing is not completely different in style , as the one I read , but he carries some of the same powerful character definitions from book to book - meaning, he has the ability to draw you into the story, without realizing you are " there" ...
I recieved this books, free of charge, as a participant in the Blogging for Books, free Blogging program. I am not under any guidelines to write only positive reviews.
Ray Quinn, an ex homicide cop, turned Private detective, along with " Crevis", his partner, set out to look for another ex - cop , who also changed jobs, but this time as a security officer who bolted with very important ( and sensitive ! ) information.
While this book is not a book of comedy, I found myself , for some reason chuckling at the characters that Mynheir created to fill these pages.. Each one , I found endearing, charming,and exciting in their own roles within the cover of the book.
For the ex cop, Ray Quinn, a man who turned to " drink" to cure his woes, his fictionalized role seemed to grab my haert strings, as I soon began to see him as a " friend" whom I could relate to in his quest for finding the bad guy, Logan ramsey - the dirty cop we all hear about in other books of crime fiction.
I saw ,however, how the author used hard times that some sadly, find as an escape, ( Quinn's drinking problem )to weave a story of fiction, with that , but taking it to a new level in this well written ( and CLEAN ) " who dunnit" ,as the reader could envision hope, and redemption at the end of the journey.
A story WELL worth the read, as it will make you chuckle ( or at least it did me! ), make you find yourself cheering on the characters so well defined, that you will count them as your dearest friends.. Would I recommend this book, AND this author? Most certainly. I didn't realize that I have read Mark Mynheir before.. His writing is not completely different in style , as the one I read , but he carries some of the same powerful character definitions from book to book - meaning, he has the ability to draw you into the story, without realizing you are " there" ...
I recieved this books, free of charge, as a participant in the Blogging for Books, free Blogging program. I am not under any guidelines to write only positive reviews.
Monday, May 2, 2011
brick -layer? or Bricoleur? that is the question..
"bricoleur" (pronounced brik uh leyr), one who evolves the meaning of things by reinterpreting them in the context of one’s life story.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
When Sparrows Fall..
When widowed Miranda falls off of a cliff and winds up in the hospital, her long lost brother-in-law, Jack is called in to serve as temporary guardian to Miranda's six children, in the book, " When Sparrows Fall ", written by Meg Moseley, a first time author.
Jack, a college professor, soon learns the children have been homeschooled in a very strict, and fundemental household where anything " worldly" is not allowed.. Although the children's mother, Miranda, is a character with a mothers heart for her children, she struggles with her own faith, as she, and her fellow church members find themselves stuck in the selfish teachings of their pastor, who harbors secrets of his own.
While Jack, and Miranda differ in their ideas of child rearing, I was entertained in how each of the personalities of the children was so detailed. I found the strength of Miranda, in her faith journey, as well as in motherhood, and how it really " jelled" in seeing the kids the way I did in the story.
It was not the best book I have ever read, nor was it a page turner for me, having a few times, wanting to just not finish . But, I did continue on, and in some way, was glad I did. A first novel, in its shaky, and almost uncertainty, but an author, if given more time, and encouragement, will become one that captures hearts in future books.
I recieved this book as a free book review from the Blogger for Books free book program. I am under no obligation to post only a " good " review.
Jack, a college professor, soon learns the children have been homeschooled in a very strict, and fundemental household where anything " worldly" is not allowed.. Although the children's mother, Miranda, is a character with a mothers heart for her children, she struggles with her own faith, as she, and her fellow church members find themselves stuck in the selfish teachings of their pastor, who harbors secrets of his own.
While Jack, and Miranda differ in their ideas of child rearing, I was entertained in how each of the personalities of the children was so detailed. I found the strength of Miranda, in her faith journey, as well as in motherhood, and how it really " jelled" in seeing the kids the way I did in the story.
It was not the best book I have ever read, nor was it a page turner for me, having a few times, wanting to just not finish . But, I did continue on, and in some way, was glad I did. A first novel, in its shaky, and almost uncertainty, but an author, if given more time, and encouragement, will become one that captures hearts in future books.
I recieved this book as a free book review from the Blogger for Books free book program. I am under no obligation to post only a " good " review.
We Be Big.. The Mostly True Story...
The book, " We Be Big..the Mostly True story of how two kids from Calhoun county,Alabama became Rick & Bubba"
by Rick Burgess and Bill Bussey , is a story of two radio hots , and what
happened as they followed their faith in God, and their own instincts.
These two men are two of the most unlikely radio hosts, yet thousands upon thousands of faithful listeners, never miss their radio show.
Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey- affectionately knows as Rick and Bubba, play on radio stations from east to west, and everywhere in between. Being taken into their private lives of both laughter, and deep, deep sorrow , these two men bring listeners, and the reader, into their lives to experience events that will both cause us to laugh, to cry, and to appreciate their faith in God, and how they incorporate that into their radio show in an unassuming, but honest way.
BOth funny, and heart wrenching, this book is a personal story of these men who God has led on a journey that was both unplanned, and unexpected..
I really enjoyed reading about their humble beginnings, and thier journey as millions of people who listen each week,also enjoy.
This book is easy to read, yet not so easy to put down, as their gentle, and straight forward humor, and thoughts keep the reader entertained in every page.
I thought it would be more about their professional current life instead of their whole upbringing and childhood but for some reason, what was written added a depth to the stories that I have already heard, and therefore, was not all disappointed . A wonderful , uplifting, and fun book in my humble opinion.
I received this book free from the publisher through the Booksneeze.com bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
by Rick Burgess and Bill Bussey , is a story of two radio hots , and what
happened as they followed their faith in God, and their own instincts.
These two men are two of the most unlikely radio hosts, yet thousands upon thousands of faithful listeners, never miss their radio show.
Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey- affectionately knows as Rick and Bubba, play on radio stations from east to west, and everywhere in between. Being taken into their private lives of both laughter, and deep, deep sorrow , these two men bring listeners, and the reader, into their lives to experience events that will both cause us to laugh, to cry, and to appreciate their faith in God, and how they incorporate that into their radio show in an unassuming, but honest way.
BOth funny, and heart wrenching, this book is a personal story of these men who God has led on a journey that was both unplanned, and unexpected..
I really enjoyed reading about their humble beginnings, and thier journey as millions of people who listen each week,also enjoy.
This book is easy to read, yet not so easy to put down, as their gentle, and straight forward humor, and thoughts keep the reader entertained in every page.
I thought it would be more about their professional current life instead of their whole upbringing and childhood but for some reason, what was written added a depth to the stories that I have already heard, and therefore, was not all disappointed . A wonderful , uplifting, and fun book in my humble opinion.
I received this book free from the publisher through the Booksneeze.com bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
One Log..at a Time
Life is a lot of work. Thinking right now about what it is that keeps me plugging along in life, when I want to sometimes just throw my hands in the air, and say" Enough's , enough!
But, I've come to a conclusion... It is as new, as it is old. It is as strong, as it is weak. And, it is as it was, last week, month, year - and that is Life is a heck of a lot of hard work!
Today, working with some scraps of fabric, in every color, shape, width or pattern, I began seeing how these very scraps in my scrap pile, are being utilized for a common goal - a King Sized Log Cabin Quilt. Seeing them all of a sudden be sewn to the next log, and the next, it makes my heart sad thinkiing that never again will I have them to look on, once I send off the quilt to the ones whom I am gifting it to.
But because of the desire to see them become beautiful in the setting in which I am using them , I began (a little reluctantly to be honest), to pull each one out into the open where I knew they would end up under my sewing machine needle , in which to add to the final product. for my friends once it is finally completed.
But you know what? Just as it is difficult to think of using all my fabric scraps, where I know there will not be more, I began thinking about something else - and that is, " Life is hard work" as a quilter. Having to decide what fabrics would suit the color scheme of any given pattern, or design, to thinking how much yardage would be needed to complete that pattern.. Some patterns being so intriquite, while others, like the ones I favor, are scrappy in nature, where rhyme nor reason, is not important to the completed quilt.
But, like life, the very key to enjoying the process of creating, is to know that each part of myself, as a quilter, is exactly where I want to be at any given time..
Every part of my thinking, or my attitude, or even my " vision" if you will, is important in the personal satisfaction that what my hands are doing with each piece of cut cloth, will be what my heart set out to accomplish when the project began.
Life is like a " box of chocolates ", as Tom Hank's character once said in the movie, Forrest Gump". "You never know what your'e going to get".. and for those of us who enjoy doing quilting projects that are scrappy in nature, or those projects called Mystery Quilts, that is exactly what this saying represents - the not knowing what the end result will be.
From the first single piece of fabric, to the last , a mystery begins to develop as you sew one piece to another, to another , all the while, never knowing where each fabric piece has been, or where is might end up. You never know the colors next to each other, until they are sewn. You might never know if points will be pointed, or seams alligned the same direction in a difficult pattern - yet as a quilter, we trust our instincts in doing what we think we are capable of doing .
Today, working with these scraps, pulling out the various lights, and darks to complete each " log" , it is becoming clear that the life of this quilt top is definitely something that will move the ones who will recieve it eventually.
It will move them in directions of wondering where , and why this project was even made for them, ( although they know it is coming, they just dont know the changes to it yet ). And hopefully they will see the heart of the quilter who made it , and the joy she's had in doing that so far.
My hope is that as they open up the box it will arrive in, they can see that each log, has been sewn with careful attention to being ' sewn' securely next to the next log. That with each piece added, a new memory was also added as I think about where that piece of fabric had been before I pulled it randomly from my scrap basket. Wondering just where each strip came from, and the places where it had traveled from origionally, and whether or not the origional owner of the scraps , had small blessings of encouragement added to their lives when they might have recieved them, as I have done.
You see, with a spirit of determination, for my friends, I continue adding log by log, to make a converging of memories.. Pressing on to complete this is becoming both tedius, yet so fulfilling because I know the end result will bless their lives, as it is mine in the making of it.
With each log added, it will become become, I hope, something to treasure for my friends. Something, that they will see as unique, just because of the various times, dates, and places where each piece of scrap origionated from. It will be, with the few changes I am making, a surprise. Just like our lives are sometimes surprised by blessings given to us from people that we might not know personally.
Life is like that.. its a surpise. Its an experience that in any given day, challenges come up, where decisions need to be made. Challenges come where choices are rejected, much like some of my fabric scraps are in this quilt project. But, like life, some challlenges, and experiences work out better than ever dreamed possible, because at the right time, and the right place, convergence happens.. ( remember that word from my last note? ) .. To come together, to make a final product, just as this pile is doing today -
So all that to say, each of this quilt top, scraps uniquely their own, will turn into something of a lasting memory for my friends. My blessing will be poured out, measured out, emptied out , as each scrap makes it way into the individual blocks that make up the " whole"
.. and for that, I am so excited to finally finish it when the time comes.. but , even though coming together is slow, I remind myself that Rome wasn't built in one day, nor was my patience as I have had to rip out scraps because I sewed them in the wrong light/ dark placement.. aww, such is the hard life of a weary quilter this afternoon.
But, I've come to a conclusion... It is as new, as it is old. It is as strong, as it is weak. And, it is as it was, last week, month, year - and that is Life is a heck of a lot of hard work!
Today, working with some scraps of fabric, in every color, shape, width or pattern, I began seeing how these very scraps in my scrap pile, are being utilized for a common goal - a King Sized Log Cabin Quilt. Seeing them all of a sudden be sewn to the next log, and the next, it makes my heart sad thinkiing that never again will I have them to look on, once I send off the quilt to the ones whom I am gifting it to.
But because of the desire to see them become beautiful in the setting in which I am using them , I began (a little reluctantly to be honest), to pull each one out into the open where I knew they would end up under my sewing machine needle , in which to add to the final product. for my friends once it is finally completed.
But you know what? Just as it is difficult to think of using all my fabric scraps, where I know there will not be more, I began thinking about something else - and that is, " Life is hard work" as a quilter. Having to decide what fabrics would suit the color scheme of any given pattern, or design, to thinking how much yardage would be needed to complete that pattern.. Some patterns being so intriquite, while others, like the ones I favor, are scrappy in nature, where rhyme nor reason, is not important to the completed quilt.
But, like life, the very key to enjoying the process of creating, is to know that each part of myself, as a quilter, is exactly where I want to be at any given time..
Every part of my thinking, or my attitude, or even my " vision" if you will, is important in the personal satisfaction that what my hands are doing with each piece of cut cloth, will be what my heart set out to accomplish when the project began.
Life is like a " box of chocolates ", as Tom Hank's character once said in the movie, Forrest Gump". "You never know what your'e going to get".. and for those of us who enjoy doing quilting projects that are scrappy in nature, or those projects called Mystery Quilts, that is exactly what this saying represents - the not knowing what the end result will be.
From the first single piece of fabric, to the last , a mystery begins to develop as you sew one piece to another, to another , all the while, never knowing where each fabric piece has been, or where is might end up. You never know the colors next to each other, until they are sewn. You might never know if points will be pointed, or seams alligned the same direction in a difficult pattern - yet as a quilter, we trust our instincts in doing what we think we are capable of doing .
Today, working with these scraps, pulling out the various lights, and darks to complete each " log" , it is becoming clear that the life of this quilt top is definitely something that will move the ones who will recieve it eventually.
It will move them in directions of wondering where , and why this project was even made for them, ( although they know it is coming, they just dont know the changes to it yet ). And hopefully they will see the heart of the quilter who made it , and the joy she's had in doing that so far.
My hope is that as they open up the box it will arrive in, they can see that each log, has been sewn with careful attention to being ' sewn' securely next to the next log. That with each piece added, a new memory was also added as I think about where that piece of fabric had been before I pulled it randomly from my scrap basket. Wondering just where each strip came from, and the places where it had traveled from origionally, and whether or not the origional owner of the scraps , had small blessings of encouragement added to their lives when they might have recieved them, as I have done.
You see, with a spirit of determination, for my friends, I continue adding log by log, to make a converging of memories.. Pressing on to complete this is becoming both tedius, yet so fulfilling because I know the end result will bless their lives, as it is mine in the making of it.
With each log added, it will become become, I hope, something to treasure for my friends. Something, that they will see as unique, just because of the various times, dates, and places where each piece of scrap origionated from. It will be, with the few changes I am making, a surprise. Just like our lives are sometimes surprised by blessings given to us from people that we might not know personally.
Life is like that.. its a surpise. Its an experience that in any given day, challenges come up, where decisions need to be made. Challenges come where choices are rejected, much like some of my fabric scraps are in this quilt project. But, like life, some challlenges, and experiences work out better than ever dreamed possible, because at the right time, and the right place, convergence happens.. ( remember that word from my last note? ) .. To come together, to make a final product, just as this pile is doing today -
So all that to say, each of this quilt top, scraps uniquely their own, will turn into something of a lasting memory for my friends. My blessing will be poured out, measured out, emptied out , as each scrap makes it way into the individual blocks that make up the " whole"
.. and for that, I am so excited to finally finish it when the time comes.. but , even though coming together is slow, I remind myself that Rome wasn't built in one day, nor was my patience as I have had to rip out scraps because I sewed them in the wrong light/ dark placement.. aww, such is the hard life of a weary quilter this afternoon.
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