Bloggy Book Tour ::: Less Than Dead

Some secrets just won't stay buried.
When strange bones surface on a U.S. senator's property, the FBI enlists forensic entomologist Nick Polchak to investigate the forgotten graveyard. Polchak's orders are simple: figure out the mess.

But Polchak, known as the "Bug Man" because of his knowledge of insects and their interaction with the dead, senses darker secrets buried beneath the soil.

Secrets that could derail the senator's presidential bid.

Secrets buried in the history of a quaint Virginia town.

Secrets someone is willing to kill to protect.

With the help of a mysterious local woman named Alena and her uncanny cadaver dogs, Polchak sets out to dig up the truth.

But with a desperate killer hot on his trail, he'll be lucky to wind up anything less than dead.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Less Than Dead, go HERE

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!! A great mystery / who-dun-it and very interesting characters. If you enjoy CSI-type television shows (and this book is not at ALL gory like I find CSI or it's spin-offs) then this book is worth checking into. :)

Kids Pick ::: The Great Blueness & Other Predicaments

The Great Blueness and other Predicaments found its way into our library basket a few weeks ago and became an instant hit. (A shame because it's out of print!)

Arnold Lobel is probably most famous for his Frog and Toad books - a favorite of mine and my sister's as a child. The Great Blueness tells the story of a time where there was no color in the world. Every thing was gray; thus the period was called the Great Grayness. :) A wizard, who liked making things in his workshop was puttering around one day and came up with an interesting concoction - he called it BLUE! Once the townspeople saw the blue (and because they were so tired of the Great Grayness) they asked the wizard to share his blue with them and soon everything was blue.

Well, of course, there were problems with everything being blue, so the wizard makes another color. And another. Until finally the color challenged townspeople reach a solution that makes life wonderful and splendid!

When I asked Noelle why she liked The Great Blueness, she said that she liked the colors in the story. She also like the people and the beautiful dresses that the author drew. She also wanted to add that she liked it very, very much! :)

If your library has this in stock, I recommend that you check it out with your child. And, if Arnold Lobel is a new author to you, he is worth a look at as well.

This post is written in conjunction with Five Minutes for Books' Kid's Pick Tuesday. Head over to their site to see other books recommended by kids for kids!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - October 20

Do visit Peggy's to see all the other daybook posts this week!

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window ... the barest hint of frost on our cars and the rooftops. The temperature is 41°. I love cool fall mornings!

I am thinking ... that this was a busy weekend! We had our Fall Festival at church (which T coordinated this year) so he was busy all the live-long day on Friday and Saturday and ALL of us were pooped on Sunday. But the girls had so much fun and it was great event on Saturday - perfect weather and lots of folks there.

I am thankful for ... lessons I am learning. Some fun, some not so fun. All profitable.

From the kitchen ... thinking breakfast burritos for dinner tonight - yum. We haven't had those in a while. Tuesday is dance/crockpot day so I'll be trying this recipe. Also in the plans this week, mini pumpkin pies for Thursday tea with the girls and probably some mexican food one night.

I am creating ... a clean workspace at my desk. It's taken some time, but I finally (I think) have my desk rearranged to my satisfaction where there is room for my laptop and still lots of space for writing and laying out papers as I scrap or work or plan school. *sigh of relief* Up next, a cleaning plan for our home!

I am going ... to have a quiet week this week, but I think I say that every week with some hope. :) One of us has something every day this week with the exception of Friday, but most of those commitments are not mine so my goal will be keeping things here running steady as others run hither and yon.

I am wearing ... Land's end nightgown that I have had far too long. Super comfy. :)

I am reading ... The Time Thief, 2nd in a series by Linda Buckley-Archer. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, and this one just happened to be at the library when I ran by to pick up a hold so I felt I *needed* to take it so I could find out what happened! :)

I am hoping ... for a safe arrival of a few babies this week. I am eagerly anticipating news that they are here. (Both are arriving by c-section, one on Tuesday & one on Wednesday!)

I am hearing ... little girls chattering and eating a bit of dry cereal. (Trying to hold them off breakfast until N1 awakes so that I'm not making breakfast several times this morning).

Around the house ... Signs of fall are popping up - our jack o' lantern has been carved and we are enjoying lighting it in the evenings. Tis the season to stock up on yummy candle scents (my favorite time of the year for all the fall flavors!) Last night we burned a mulled cider one and the house smelled wonderful.

One of my favorite things ... a clean fridge. I took our fridge apart on Saturday and it looks so good now. A project that I had definitely been avoiding for sometime - and actually, not because there was anything growing in there. I just needed to unload all the shelves and get in there and do a serious wipe down and clean of all the glass and drawers. A tricky job with my three assistants, but it looks so much better and more organized!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... This coming weekend is our church's annual missions conference so Saturday night is a pot-luck dinner and special services on Sunday. I want to take N1 (well, all the girls) out to find a few big leaves this week and try and do leaf rubbings. Also thinking about some plans for Thanksgiving - school-ish things - as far as talking about thankfulness.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Friday Felicities ::: October 17

Things that make me happy...

~ little girls that are beyond excited to go for a ride in the truck with their Daddy

~ sunny weather in the 60°'s for the weekend!

~ a husband that brings home Chinese on a Friday night

~ and offers to go get me Happy Juice today :)

~ these two books about the Penderwicks - absolutely delightful!

~ autumn colors - the reds, the oranges, the burnt yellows, the browns - all my favorites and there can't be enough of them

For more Friday Felicities or to link up yours, head over to Becky's!

On Marriage...

It seemed to her that sometimes that the most important thing about marriage was not a home or children or a emedy against sin, but simply there being always an eye to catch.

Mrs. Miniver, p.32

Bloggy Book Tour ::: A Beautiful Fall

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Beautiful Fall
David C. Cook (October 2008)
by
Chris Coppernoll

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chris Coppernoll is the founder of Soul2Soul Ministries, with his interviews with Christian artists airing weekly on 650 radio outlets in thirty countries. He has conducted hundreds of interviews on faith issues with personalities such as Amy Grant, Max Lucado, Michael W. Smith, and Kathie Lee Gifford. He also serves as a Deacon at The People’s Church in Franklin, Tennessee, and is currently working toward a Masters in Ministry Leadership degree through Rockbridge Seminary.

His "Inspirations" column is published monthly in the mid Michigan newspaper, The Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Chris Coppernoll is the author of four other books including Soul2Soul, Secrets of a Faith Well Lived, and God's Calling. Providence, his first novel, is his fourth book.

ABOUT THE BOOK

High-powered Boston attorney Emma Madison is celebrating her latest courtroom victory when she gets a call from a number she doesn't recognize. Area code 803 home. Juneberry, South Carolina eight hundred miles, twelve years, and a lifetime away from Boston. Emma's father has had a serious heart attack. Emma rushes to his bedside, and a weekend trip threatens to become an extended stay. She has to work fast to arrange the affairs of his small-town law practice so she can return to her life and career in Boston.

And then Michael Evans shows up. They'd shared hopes, dreams, and a passionate love as young college students during a long-ago summer. But Emma walked away from Michael and from Juneberry to finish college and start a new life. Michael has never forgotten her.

Enveloped in the warmth of family and small-town life and discovering that she still cares for Michael Emma knows she'll have to make a choice between the career she's worked so hard to build and the love she left behind.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Beautiful Fall, go HERE

Bloggy Book Tour ::: Home Another Way

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Home Another Way
Bethany House (October 1, 2008)
by
Christa Parrish

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christa Parrish graduated high school at 16, with every intention of becoming a surgeon. After college, however, her love of all things creative led her in another direction, and she worked in both theatre and journalism.

A winner of Associated Press awards for her reporting, Christa gave up her career after the birth of her son, Jacob. She continued to write from home, doing pro bono work for the New York Family Policy Council, where her articles appeared in Focus on the Family’s Citizen magazine. She was also a finalist in World magazine’s WORLDview short story contest, sponsored by WestBow press. She now teaches literature and writing to high school students, is a homeschool mom, and lives with her family in upstate New York, where she is at work on her second novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After her mother’s death and her father’s abandonment, tiny infant Sarah Graham was left to be raised by her emotionally distant grandmother. As a child she turned to music for solace and even gained entrance to Juilliard. But her potentially brilliant music career ended with an unplanned pregnancy and the stillborn birth of her child.

In an attempt to escape the past, Sarah, now twenty-seven, is living life hard and fast–and she is flat broke. When her estranged father dies, she travels to the tiny mountain hamlet of Jonah, New York to claim her inheritance. Once there, she learns her father’s will stipulates a six-month stay before she can recieve the money. Fueled by hate and desperation, Sarah settles in for the bitter mountain winter, and as the weeks pass, she finds her life intertwining with the lives of the simple, gracious townsfolk. Can these strangers teach Sarah how to forgive and find peace?

A story of grace, of God’s never-ceasing love and the sometimes flawed, faithful people He uses to bring His purpose to pass.

If you would like to see a video book trailer of Home Another Way, go HERE.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Home Another Way, go HERE

Daily Life ::: October 6 ::: Simple Woman's Daybook

Do visit Peggy's to see all the other daybook posts this week!

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window ... dark. I hear cars driving up and down our street.

I am thinking ... that I am very glad that the birthdya weekend is over. :) It was wonderful and fun and much loved by my little five year old, but Mommy is exhausted!

I am thankful for ... my husband taking special care of me this evening. Wisdom teeth were taken our earlier today and he has been very solicitous and bought me fudgesicles. :)

From the kitchen ... please note aforementioned fudgesicle.

I am creating ... a week in the life album. I followed along with Ali's posts last week and am excited to see this album develop.

I am going ... to have a quiet week this week. I'm not planning to be incapacitated by this wisdom teeth thing, but I thought it best not to plan too much just in case. I am wearing ... my jammies and am curled up under the afghan my mom made me for college. My "blankie," the girls call it.

I am reading ... Gideon the Cutpurse (a young adult book about timetravel). I just finished Miss Read's Village School and am in chapter 2 of 1 Peter for Bible study.

I am hoping ... for some time in this beautiful fall weather this week. We have a family at church that apples available to pick and I want to try and take the girls out there the end of the week if nothing unusual comes up.

I am hearing ... Heroes on the television, and fingers tapping on the laptop.

Around the house ... things are picked up and girls are a-bed.

One of my favorite things ... fall. I'm am loving the cooler weather, the falling leaves, and am looking forward to making some pumpkin treats for the girls this week.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... like I mentioned before, not much. N1 has ballet tomorrow and we have Bible study and Awana on Wednesday. Other than that, nothing!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Daily Life : October 5

Tickles with Grandpa. :)

Daily Life : October 4

The girl's birthday cake for her jungle themed party. Round cake. Green icing. With a tree and monkeys.

She pronounced it perfect. :)

Daily Life : October 3

Someone is five today.

(Photo idea shamelessly stolen from Cheri!)



Someone is also still very silly. :)

Happy Birthday to my firstborn baby girl.