Swans are Fat Too

 

Swans Are Fat Too by Michelle Granas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this contemporary fiction novel set in Poland. I loved Hania, the protagonist. She was so real, as were all of the characters. This author has a gift for characterization. Because Hania’s job is editing a history of Poland, the history of Poland is woven throughout the exciting story. I really hope there is a happily ever after sequel to this book. I want to know what happens to the characters and that the horrible parents get theirs! 4 + stars from me.

View all my reviews

To the Land of Long Lost Friends

To the Land of Long Lost Friends by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another funny, calming book in the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series. I enjoyed it, but didn’t like this one quite as well as many of the others. It didn’t seem that the cases had quite the intrigue. It was exciting that Charlie got engaged, though. These books are always a good read.

View all my reviews

Cosy

 

Cosy: The British Art of Comfort by Laura Weir
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this book that analyzes what it means to be coxy while in England. It is about finding the art of “cozy” in our lives: warm fires and drinks, sweaters, socks, and friendships, et. The English know how to do cozy and so do I after reading this book.

View all my reviews

The Flight of Gemma Hardy

 

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Though this book is an obvious retelling of Jane Eyre, I enjoyed reading it. I liked it because I read it while traveling in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The author describes in perfect detail the things I was seeing and experiencing. The first of the book was very hard to read as Gemma was so abused by everyone. But it is a story of perseverance and overcoming obstacles and eventual triumph. It is a book of seeking one’s roots and, of course, romance. I think it’s worth 3 stars.

View all my reviews

Geraldine Verne's Red Suitcase

 

Geraldine Verne's Red Suitcase by Jane Riley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a simple, but powerful, book dealing with grief. It was sad, funny, and full of loveable, caring characters. I am missing my daily walk with them. They taught me how to patiently care for someone going through the grieving process. I highly recommend this novel.

View all my reviews

The Daring Girls of Guernsey

 

The Daring Girls of Guernsey by Gayle Callen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Because we are headed toward Guernsey on a cruise ship, I read this book. In my opinion, it is not as good as the more famous Guernsey book, but it is good. These three women are patriotic and brave and choose to make a difference instead of just surviving the German occupation of their beloved Island. I appreciate their courage. I pray I never have to prove my loyalty and courage in a similar way.

View all my reviews

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love, love, love this book. Because we are on our way to visit Guernsey Island, I rewatched the movie and reread the book. I love Juliet and how the entire book is letters written to and from her. I can’t wait to forget the details so I can read it again. If I had a top ten list of my all-time favorite books, this one would definitely be on it (Maybe I should try to compile such a list?) Read it! You will love it! 5+ stars!

View all my reviews

The Royal Treatment

 This is the kind of movie I enjoy watching with my granddaughter, Brielle.  But Ken and I watched it together and he said he liked it, too.  Cheesy, yes.  But feel-good and uplifting and clean.  We watched it on Netflix.

Clinique Happy Heart Perfume

 This is kind of a sweet story.  Several years ago, while we were on a cruise, Ken and I went into one of the lounges to hear a musical performance.  While we were waiting for it to start, I left to go to the restroom.  While I was gone, one of the cocktail waitresses walked by.  Ken was taken with her perfume.  When she walked by again, he was bold enough to stop her and ask her what scent she was wearing.  She told him it was Clinique Happy Heart.  He wrote it down.  I came back from the restroom, and he never mentioned a word of it to me.  When we got home, he went to Dillards to buy me some.  The clerk at Dillards showed it to him, but suggested he wait a couple of weeks as Clinique's free gift promotion was coming up.  So he did.  He went back a couple of weeks later and got me the perfume and free gifts.  He then surprised me with it.  I have three perfumes I really like.  This is one of them. I really do like the scent, but even more I like the thoughtful, sweet gift from my husband.  It is one of my favorite things.

Clinique Happy Heart Perfume

Munich The Edge of War

 This was a powerful movie.  One scene plays over and over in my mind:  A young man in the confidence of Hitler has a chance to kill him, but is unable to bring himself to do it.  With what is happening in the world right now, I hope that if someone, who has a similar chance with Putin, will have watched this movie and will learn from that young man's mistake.  Think of the thousands upon thousands of lives that would have been saved had he been able to pull the trigger.  You should watch this one.  

Remember Lot's Wife

 After teaching this story from the Old Testament, I decided that this is a great mantra.  

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explains why it is so important that we remember Lot's wife:

“It is possible that Lot’s wife looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind. … So it isn’t just that she looked back; she looked back longingly. In short, her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future. …

“… I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. …

“… [Lot’s wife] did not have faith. She doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had. Apparently, she thought that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as what she was leaving behind. …

“… Dwelling on past lives, including past mistakes, is just not right! It is not the gospel of Jesus Christ” (“The Best Is Yet to Be,” Ensign, Jan. 2010, 24, 26–27).

Let's look forward; not back.  Let's remember Lot's wife.

Hampstead

 A completely unlikely romance between two people who really need change in their lives.  We watched it on Netflix.

Hiking and Backpacking

 On each second Friday I do a "fun for me" post.  Sometimes it is something that is fun for me.  Sometimes it is something that is fun for Ken.  Sometimes it is something that is fun for both of us.  This is something that is fun for Ken- backpacking and hiking.

Ken has loved backpacking and hiking since he was a young boy.  He has so many stories to tell of his adventures through the years.  Here are some pictures from our "hiking" picture file:

These from his youth:

From adulthood:

A group of hikers from our ward.

Ken hiked the Grand Canyon with the Cameron family- Blake, his dad and brothers.

Our dear friend, Kurtis, a frequent hiking buddy.

Ken and I did a little hike on Prince Edward Island through the famous Haunted Woods in Anne of Green Gables.  It was so beautiful.

We went on a hike with our entire family on the Riverside Nature trail by the Logan river.  We had so much fun.  There were a lot of Water Snakes.  The kids had so much fun picking them up and holding them.

Resting on a bench

So, from youth to Grandpahood, Ken has loved hiking!

The Beach House

 A moving story based on a book by the same name.  We watched in on the Hallmark channel.

Just Like Heaven

 I always like Reese Witherspoon, and she is really good in this movie.  It was an interesting plot and has a good twist at the end.  We really enjoyed it.  We watched it on Netflix.

Who Needs Me Today?

 I have been asked by our Relief Society presidency to prepare a short article for each month's Relief Society newsletter on spiritual preparedness.   I thought I might just as well publish those articles here as well. They publish on the first day of the month.  This is May's article.

 Sister Bonnie Oscarson, general young women president, challenged us to pray each day and ask this question, “Who needs me today?”  We can ask our Heavenly Father each morning for an opportunity to serve someone.  That opportunity may come in our family, our neighborhood, our ward, or our community.  Serving others helps them, but also strengthens and blesses us.  Service is spiritual preparedness.