What I read in August

"The Lightkeeper's Daughter" recommended to: people who want a light read with a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance and who don't mind a moderate amount of befuddlement (the characters aren't befuddled, the reader is and not because the reader is dense about mysteries either).




"Chess for Dummies" recommended to: those who want to learn how to play chess. Not recommended to cheese enthusiasts, however. (I also watched some videos on playing chess and WOW. #1 Can't some normal people get interested in chess anymore?!?! Floods and untamed cowlicks are not a requirement people!!!
#2 Someone needs to make a new video. The only one I could find came out circa 1990. The music was awesome. Karate Kid meets Chariots of Fire).






"Team of Rivals" recommended to: Americans with a forgiving attention span. People who want a greater appreciation for an admirable, to say the least, past president. People who don't give Lincoln enough credit and need to be put in their place.




"Ghostwalk" recommended to: People who enjoy lovable and quirky minor characters. Those who don't mind an intriguing story being effectively murdered by the protagonists insufferable blandness.









"My Fair Godmother" recommended to: teenagers. Women who want to take a break from reading books about chess, historical figures, bad mysteries, etc. and want to pretend they are 15 for a day. Please ignore the silly cover, this book was so fun!

Warning: reading this book may result in neglected children and burned food.







"Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague" recommended to: People who have read the first two books of this series and want a reason to read the last two books of this series. This is the hump that SAVED the camels back.

Hourglass (LIVE Music Video) - Mindy Gledhill - feat. Robbie Connolly

I LOVE the "Anchor" video (posted previously) but this song is really beautiful. Even more so now that I have a son of my very own!

What I read in July

Okay, Okay. I read this in June. Somehow it got left off the list and some crazy part of me can't let the random blogger void think that I read this in July when I did not. There. I feel better.

"Wait Till Next Year" recommended to: Memoir readers. Baseball lovers. Yearners after a simpler time and darn good writing.






"Fablehaven" recommended to: Fantasy lovers. Series lovers. People who promised their husbands they would read this series and are going to see it through to the end because he promised it gets better.





"Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star" recommended to: Once again, fantasy lovers and series lovers. And now I can see a slight light at the end of the tunnel but that thing better get brighter and fast!





"Big Stone Gap" recommended to: People who like quirky, lovable characters. Women in their 30's who want a little romance and haven't found it yet and want to believe it's still possible. (It is.)










"Stardust" recommended to: People who haven't seen the movie. People who haven't ever read a book and ended up liking the movie more and want to experience that.










"Still Alice" recommended to: Anyone who ever wondered what it was like to have Alzheimer's. Anyone who never wondered what it's like to have Alzheimer's but like to read well-written, clever books that make you think.

Roasted Red Pepper Salad

I love this!!! It isn't a very kid-friendly dish so you may want to save it for a social occasion where you need to bring something. OR, you can do what I do and fix this for the adults and make mac & cheese for the kids.
This picture is to help you realize HOW blackened the red peppers need to be. I have gotten mine blacker than this in the past and pulling the skins off was a breeze. I got a little impatient this time around and let them cool off at the point you see below and it was torture getting the skins off. LESSON LEARNED. Be patient and let those skins get nice and black.
A friend of mine gave me this "recipe" which is really a list of ingredients. Basically if you are one of those people who likes to play around with ingredients and amounts (me) then this "recipe" is for you. IF, however, you are one of those people that follows directions down to the last 1/8 of a teaspoonful, well then... you may want to look elsewhere.

Here's the general idea:
2 large red peppers
2-3 hearts of romaine
2 grilled chicken breasts
1 handful pasta of your choice
1/4 C. red wine vinegar
1/2 C. extra virgin olive oil
1 T. crushed garlic (I buy it in the pre-crushed jar)

to taste:
crumbled bacon
parmesan
salt & pepper

Now- I wrote in amounts trying to gauge about what I do when making this. But if you like it meatier, pasta-ier, more lettuce, etc. It's really not gonna mess this up. You almost can't ruin it. First you cut the peppers in half and broil them until blackened. I would say 7-10 min. (as previously stated, I DO mean blackened, just don't murder them). Let them cool. I baste my chicken in EVOO salt & pepper before grilling and I grill them butterflied (because that's how I like to do it) while the pepper is cooling. Then I peel the skins off the peppers and cut them into slices. Marinate the pepper slices in the EVOO, vinegar and garlic as shown below.
I've always let mine marinate for at least an hour, but again maybe you like your peppers less vinegar-y. The rest is super easy just toss everything (assuming you have also cooked your pasta) in a large bowl. I save the oil and vinegar mixture and pour the desired amount over the salad. Usually the amount it took to marinate is way too much for the dressing- but I don't like much dressing. Be creative- add some ingredients I don't have listed. I've been thinking of trying sauteed mushrooms in this for a while but I always wimp out. Afraid to ruin a good thing I guess.

Now, I know that a close-up picture of a hand isn't very appetizing but I just couldn't leave this out. As I was taking my peppers out of the oven I burned my wrist. This occurred TWO MONTHS before I took this picture. It looked pretty nasty. My daughter was very impressed that it looked like a heart. Please, even if you happen to like hearts, be careful in the kitchen!!! (I realize that most likely no one will ever read these posts except for myself and my daughters so this is a mom speaking to her children down through the years. Be careful. If you are anything like me and I know you are.)

The Knight Books

"The Kiss That Missed" This book was our introduction to David Melling. Dew Drop Fairy picked it out at the library one week and it was an instant favorite for all of us. The drawings are so clever, comical and full of detail. Another plus: it's short. There are many children's books that I love but I wish that they weren't quite so wordy. No one gets tired of reading this story or tries to sneakily leave out parts to speed up the read.

A somewhat quick rundown: the king is in a hurry (from the pictures we gather he is on his way to a royal bath with royal rubber duckie in tow) Instead of properly bestowing a good night kiss on the prince he haphazardly blows a kiss to his son. As you may have guessed from the title the kiss misses. A trusty knight, whose horseback riding abilities are questionable at best, rides off to catch that kiss. He finds himself in a rather sticky situation surrounded by slathering beasts when the kiss floats past and SWAK's each animal in turn sending them off to dreamland. After being chased by a good night kiss giving dragon the knight successfully returns with the kiss and everyone is happy. The king has learned his lesson and even takes the time to read everyone (slathering beasts included) a bedtime story.

"Good Knight Sleep Tight" The continuing story... there is now a princess who has a special extra-soft bedtime pillow. The royal kitty destroys said pillow and the knight is once again sent on a quest. This time to find something soft enough to fill a new pillow and assist the very unhappy princess off to sleep. He tries bear hair (too coarse) leaving open patches on the bear's bottoms showing material which I can only assume are the boxer shorts bears wear under their fur. The wolves are too bristly, owls aren't enthused at giving up their feathers and take the knight to the feather tree. The knight returns to the sleep deprived castle with a nice fluffy pillow but it doesn't help the princess sleep. The prince, who as the story began was unconvinced of the new princesses charms, gave his little sister a cuddle and she calms right down. Everyone in turn gets a hug and some much needed rest.

While I didn't find this story as clever as Melling's first story it was undeniably adorable and the pictures held the same charm to the delight of my children!

August Author of the Month: David Melling

#1 I was torn over whether to say author of the month or illustrator. From what I gather David Melling thinks of himself more as an illustrator than an author... but he also writes and what I've read is delightful.
#2 I'm taking a small leap in the dark here. I do have several authors in the back of my mind for future authors of the month who I am more familiar with. BUT, we have LOVED David Melling's "The Kiss That Missed" for many years now. It has been one of those that we never want to return to the library, we renew it the optimum amount of times and then when returning it I always ask myself "Why have we not bought this book yet???" SO... I am going to take a chance. We have checked out all the books we can get our hands on by him and will be reading them this month for the first time! I hope you will join us. If "The Kiss That Missed" is any indication we are in for a big treat!

Okay- I took a break for a minute to watch some videos on his website. It was definitely worth my time. If you are fascinated by what goes into illustrating OR if you enjoy a British accent regardless of the topic you should check these out. (the star faced crocodile was my favorite video, but I'm glad I watched them sequentially) I find that it helps me have more enthusiasm when I read if I know more about the author and I hope I can pass on an interest in authors/illustrators to my children. It's great for them to know that these books don't magically appear in front of us, but that someone has put a great deal of work into creating something that can entertain us. In fact, that's part of the reason I started doing these author of the month posts . I have found that my children (at least my oldest) is more familiar with certain authors now.

PS. If you are heading over to watch the videos now just a heads up- they take a few seconds to load and if you are as impatient as I am you will pause the video, surf the web elsewhere for a moment, and then come back to it... it doesn't take long, really, I am just THAT impatient.

Me From A to Z

A
- Age: 34 years
- Annoyance: People who don't keep commitments, when TP etiquette is not observed.
- Animal: Simon the cat.

B
- Beer: husband says if I drank beer it would be Killian's Irish Red because it's more crisp and less bitter. But I don't. Drink beer.
- Birthday: February 16th
- Body Part on opposite sex: Eyes.
- Best feeling in the world: Getting out of a cold swimming pool and lying on warm cement, getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist, pedicure @ 8 mos. pregnant.
- Blind or Deaf: Definitely deaf- I could read without trying to ignore husband and screaming children.
- Best weather: A crisp fall day, wading through leaves, blue sky against bright fall colors.
- Been in Love?: Still am.
- Been on stage?: Yes, unfortunately. I pray all video recordings have been destroyed.
- Believe in Magic?: Yes- my daughter is magic.
- Believe in Santa?: Of course. Silly question

C
- Candy: Take 5, luckily they are hard to come by.
- Color: #1-Red, #2-Green, #3-Orange, #4-Brown (I know, Brown?!?!?, but seriously, yes)
- Chocolate/Vanilla: Chocolate
- Chinese/Mexican Food: Depends on my mood and whether or not I'm pregnant.
- Cake or pie: Pie, definitely. Apple, preferred.
- Continent to visit: Any of them, I'm a travelin' (wo)man.
- Cheese: Feta for salads, smoked gouda for crackers
- Cuddling: Not a fan, and it drives husband nuts (what is wrong with you?) get right to it I say.

D
- Day or Night: Day AND Night. Why must sleep be a requirement? Why must I love it so much?
- Dancing in the rain: Dancing? I say walking in the rain, kissing in the rain, sliding on my stomach on the grass in the rain, falling asleep to rain pinging on the roof/windows ... all of it, I love the rain!

E
- Eyes: Like: it's easier for a camel to go through than a rich man.... ?
- Ever fail a class?: Poly Sci. Hated the teacher and the early hour, stopped attending, neglected to drop the class- oops

F
- First thoughts waking up: Wow, I feel awake enough to exercise today...ZZZZZzzzzzzz
- Food: Ahhh, my great nemesis.

G
- Greatest Fear: Anything bad happening to my kids/husband
- Goals: Mostly to do with traveling, sights to see. Also books to read.
- Gum: Cinnamon
- Get along with your parents?: Yes, I no longer live with them.
H
- Hair Color: Brown (I should say something more alluring, like Russet Brown, nope, connotes potatoes....ideas on how to make brown sound good? Chestnut, perhaps?)
- Height: 5' 4" ish
- Happy: ha ha, I'm listening to "shiny happy people" on my ipod right now, how odd.
- Holiday: I dislike saying Christmas because it's so typical, but come on, it lasts a whole month!
- How do you want to die: When I am very old, having lived a full and active life, surrounded by family.

I
- Ice Cream: Breyer's natural vanilla stirred up into a shake with crumbled oreos or plain chocolate OR Friendly's Buttercrunch.
- Instrument: piano, guitar, clarinet all played at a mediocre level- I guess that's another goal.

J
- Jewelry: Wedding rings and a ring I bought in Edinborough. Sometimes earrings and a bracelet to church. I LOVE antique jewelry. chokers on occasion.
- Jobs: EMT-Intermediate @ Gold Cross Ambulance (6 yrs.), @ IHC (desk job)(2 yrs.), working with autistic/developmentally disabled @FTC and TKJ Inc.(4 yrs.), sales @ ZCMI (when it existed)(2 yrs.) and numerous nanny jobs. (Mom is not a job, it's a calling and a gift)

K
- Kids: 3 beauties. Dew Drop Fairy (6), Drama Queen (4) and Greased Lightening (1)
- Kickboxing or karate: I've only tried karate, can't judge. Although I believe my current work-out video incorporates kickboxing.
- Keep a journal?: Sometimes, let's be honest, almost never. check mark for another goal.

L
- Love: "All you need is love, Love, Love, Love, bump a budda bum."
- Letter: I think "S" is pretty cool but I'm biased.
- Laughed so hard you cried?: watched a 5 year old girl in a dance recital attempt to keep her pants up while holding hands with other little girls. Guess you had to be there.
- Last movie you watched and with who: At the movies? "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" with husband, 2 brothers, 1 sister, 1 father. At home? I don't think you could call it "watching".

M
- Married: Yes
- Milk: Got? Yes.
- Movies: Amelie, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, Field of Dreams, movies that involve magic -especially of the everyday sort.
- McD’s or BK: McD's, they have the best salads of the fast food persuasion and they substitute fries with apple slices- something ALL 3 of my children will eat.
- Number: 37, my address as a child.

O
- One wish: don't wish, do.
- One night stands: Is that like when a Chicagoan/Mexican tries to sell hot dogs/tacos for one night and his business fails??? What is this talking about?

P
- Pepsi/Coke: Coke. But really Dr. Pepper.
- Perfect Pizza: Papa Johns, gotta love the extra guilt in a garlic butter tub.

R
- Reason to cry: No woman, No cry. My house is full of them, I oughta know.
- Reality T.V.: What's that? I don't think it really exists.
- Radio Station: X96, but now I usually just plug in my ipod or kids music.
- Roll your tongue in a circle? Yes and unwrap starbursts in >10 seconds, loop cherry stems, etc.
- Ring size: I think it's 5 1/2, but I have been pregnant (hold on... my ring still fits, hooray!)

S
- Song: Bridge Over Troubled Water- really it depends on the moment you ask. Ever changing.
- Shoe size: I don't know, I usually wear flip flops. Around 7 maybe. I've worn 6 and 8.
- Salad Dressing: Blue Cheese at a Restaurant. At home just a little EVOO with some red wine vinegar and pepper.
- Sushi: Ordered it once by mistake (the actual raw stuff) ... I got it down.
- Skinny dipped?: I plead the 5th... (which we all know means yes)
- Strawberries/Blueberries: both, yum. If I have to choose... strawberries.

T
- Tattoos?: No. birthmarks, scars, freckles and moles, YES. Hooray for au naturale, baby!
- Talent: finding new things to say that will drive husband insane.
- Time for bed: NEVER!
- Thunderstorms: "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens." Some of the most majestic moments of my life have been at my parents cabin watching a thunderstorm roll across the lake.

U
- Unpredictable: Life. For which I am eternally grateful.

V
- Vacation spot(s): Lake Winnipesaukee. Scotland. Italy. Backpacking is good but it's been a while.

W
- Weakness: Drama Queen's cry. For some reason it's easier for me to block Dew Drop Fairy out- maybe because she IS me. Greased Lightening too, in male form.
- Worst feeling: When a child dies.
- Wanted to be when you were younger: Writer/Photographer for National Geographic Magazine
- Worst Weather?: Anything that's going to cause death. No apocalypse please.

X
- X-Ray: Chest, to make sure I didn't have TB after a positive skin test. Several to check for broken bones.

Y
-Year it is now: 2011
-Yellow: Ich habe eine banane und die banane ist gelb (?) Also, Coldplay.

Z
- Zoo animal: penguins: the diving and swimming keeps the kids most entertained. For me giraffes & elephants, seriously take a closer look. They are both so oddly put together.