Friends!

I am so blessed!

even on a day/night like today when I wasn't feeling quite myself, just a tiny bit depressed; my friends drew it out of me with laughter and togetherness and to think it was all over the internet!

First Book, First Lady

January 2, 2011

I promised myself I would blog more, I figure if I blog about books I love other things to blog about will flow...hey, that's just the way my brain works....

First Lady- I simply adore Susan Elizabeth Phillips! This was the first book of hers that I read and I was hooked. I love the characters and how they relate to one another, how they learn to trust, how they learn to love. I love the resilient Cornelia Lynchfield Case aka Nealy aka Nell Kelly. On her journey she meets Mat Jorik and his charges; the sulky teenager Lucy and baby Butt. The best thing about this wonderful author is she wrote another book, FANCY PANTS. All about Dallie Beaudine, Francesca Day and Teddy. Teddy grows up and meets Lucy in CALL ME IRRESISTABLE, which comes out in a few weeks, oh yeah there’s also Meg, child of Fleur Savagar and Jake Koranda, see the books GLITTER and WHAT I DID FOR LOVE! I could go on, but you really need to read her books!

here's a list of more of her books

NATURAL BORN CHARMER
MATCH ME IF YOU CAN
AIN’T SHE SWEET?
BREATHING ROOM
THIS HEART OF MINE
JUST IMAGINE
LADY BE GOOD
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
NOBODY'S BABY BUT MINE
KISS AN ANGEL
HEAVEN, TEXAS
IT HAD TO BE YOU
HONEY MOON
HOT SHOT
FANCY PANTS

new year, new beginnings

it is now officially 2011....

time to look forward to new adventures!

remember this is just the beginning, who knows what will happen next!! i'm ready, so let's get started!!

Holidays

Christmas is over, well the main day is done, we are now into the 3rd day of Christmas and French Hens! The end of this week will find us waiting for the New Year, 2011, to begin.

I don't normally make resolutions, I do try and set goals. Ok, just semantics but the word resolutions is contains the word resolute, "marked by firm determination", and I'm not so sure my "goals" are marked by firm anything!!

I have decided and yes, since I'm blogging on it again I have to do it, starting next week I am going to blog about a book a week!

Thanksgiving

There are 2 pieces of literature that come to mind when I think about Thanksgiving...I thought I'd share them

We Gather Together



We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;

He chastens and hastens his will to make known;

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,

Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.



Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!



We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,

And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.

Let thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

Amen

--Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn

(A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)

 
 
"A Boy's Thanksgiving Day"
 
 
Over the river, and through the wood,

To Grandfather's house we go;

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood—

Oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes and bites the nose

As over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood,

To have a first-rate play.

Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ding",

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood

Trot fast, my dapple-gray!

Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,

For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood—

And straight through the barnyard gate,

We seem to go extremely slow,

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood—

Now Grandmother's cap I spy!

Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie



by Lydia Maria Child

not pushing panic button just yet

ok, I'll admit it, I know that it's 89 days until the running of the first cup race of the 2011 season, the Daytona 500 and yes, the 2010 season just ended 2 days ago in Homestead.

I'm fine, really, I'm not Jonesing for a race, I mean why would I? After all it's only Tuesday, the anticipation of race day doesn't start until Thursday night and I figure this week I'll be out like a light thanks to the tryptophan, you know the amino-acid found in turkey thats basically a natural sedative. Of course I'll wake up Friday wondering what time practice starts and worrying about qualifying, then pit selection...wait, that's when I'll be going through withdrawls, oh dear, what will I do???

Inspiration

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."



— Louisa May Alcott





Sometimes you see something that just sticks in your mind, today for me it is this quote from my 4th cousin several times removed. These words remind me of a dear friend who is always smiling, always has words of encouragement and lives her life as if her highest aspirations are mere inches away. Whenever I feel like I can not even come close to my dreams, hopes and aspirations I think of this friend and know that life is possibilities not impossibilities.

Thank you Lori <3