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Posts filed under 'Becky's Picks'
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Fiction (Adult)
362 pgs.
In the midst of this bleak, gray winter wasteland, I decided to read…a novel set in the post-apocalypse. Am I a masochist? Possibly, but hear me out. Was this a relentlessly bleak and depressing reading experience? Actually, not at all.
Station Eleven, the debut novel by Emily St. John Mandel that was a National Book Award finalist, seemingly does the impossible: it's a beautiful, plausibly-rendered and yes, uplifting novel about the end of life as we know it due to a flu pandemic. But this novel is also about relationships, acting and theater, celebrity and the specter of fame…you know, our everyday concerns in our mundane, pre-apocalyptic world.
In the novel's opening scene, we meet Arthur, a famous actor currently appearing onstage in Toronto in a production of King Lear. Suddenly, Arthur collapses onstage, suffering a heart attack. An audience member hurries onstage to administer CPR, but it's too late – Arthur has died. Coincidentally, that same night, a Russian plane carrying passengers infected with a deadly flu virus lands in North America. Soon, 99% of the theater-goers in Toronto and the rest of the world that night will have something in common with Arthur – they'll be dead.
Station Eleven is about various people connected to Arthur in the years before and after the flu pandemic. The audience member who lept to Arthur's rescue is Jeevan, an ex-paparazzo-turned-EMT who shares a history with Arthur. He manages to barricade himself in an apartment after being warned by a friend. Kirsten, a child actress onstage with Arthur in the King Lear production, also manages to survive. Twenty years later, Kirsten is a member of the Traveling Symphony, a nomadic theater troupe traveling landscape that has been drastically altered by the flu pandemic.
The novel jumps back and forth in time, and I appreciated this framing device. Large portions of the book focus on Arthur's life, his prior marriages, how he became interested in acting. Woven in with those portions is the story of Kirsten's life with the Traveling Symphony, and the challenges presented to them. It was almost like reading two different books, except that Mandel kept enough threads running between the two different worlds that it worked beautifully. And, I found it realistic – after all, if a flu were to befall us next month, that does not mean celebrity gossip, social media, and all the petty things that sustain us day-to-day never existed. Mandel does an excellent job bridging those two worlds.
One of the things that I found most refreshing about Station Eleven is its lack of judgement regarding the flu pandemic and the collapse of society. Mandel does not spend her time dwelling on what society may have done to cause the pandemic, how it may have been prevented, etc. The flu–and subsequent wipeout of 99% of humanity world-wide–simply happens, and the lives of a few people are examined decades after, and decades before, this event.
Fans of dystopian, post-apocalyptic and futuristic fiction will undoubtedly enjoy Mandel's debut, but even if this type of fiction is not your usual thing, check this one out. Mandel has created a world that is at once chilling, hopeful, and above all, recognizable.
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Fiction (Adult)
416 pgs.
Jodi Picoult is an extremely popular author here at the library, and, well, pretty much everywhere else. She is one of those authors that has cranked out one book per year for the last fifteen years or so. I started reading her a couple of years ago; the audio versions of her books hooked me because they are all brilliantly performed by a full cast. Her books do follow a bit of a "form:" told from multiple first-person perspectives, about current controversial or hot-button issues, and usually involving legal situations. Picoult fans, used to her books coming out in the Spring of each year, had to wait a bit longer for this latest book, which was released this Fall. But…was it ever worth the wait!
Like most of Picoult's books, Leaving Time is intricately plotted and emotionally wrought. It deals with a very specific subject many of us know little about: animal behavioral science, specifically of elephants. If nothing else, reading this book will give you great insight into the emotional lives of elephants. What sets this Picoult book apart from others, though, is a delicate balance of science and supernatural. At its core, Leaving Time is a ghost story.
Alice Metcalf, a scientist who studies elephant behavior, has been missing for ten years. One night when Alice's daughter, Jenna, was a toddler, a late-night altercation at the family elephant sanctuary left one person dead (presumed to be trampled to death by an elephant) and one person – presumed to be Alice – missing. Now thirteen, and still searching for her missing mother, Jenna enlists help in the form of Serenity Jones, a washed-up former celebrity psychic, and Virgil Stanhope, the detective who worked on her mother's case. As Jenna, Serenity, and Virgil navigate the past, they finds things to be less and less as they appear.
The spooky story winds its way through tales of infidelity, police cover-up, fiercely protective elephants, and the mind of Jenna's brilliant but mentally-ill scientist father who is languishing in an institution. Picoult keeps us guessing until the end, and I was impressed by the way she tied the story together. If you're new to Picoult, this would be a good one to pick up, and if you're a long-time fan, you won't be disappointed. Leaving Time is a striking book that is not quite like anything out there.
The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro
Pub Date: October 2012 Fiction (Adult) 368 pgs. **The Art Forger is the TTL Book Club selection for November. We will meet tomorrow night, Thursday November 6, at 7pm in the library meeting room. All are welcome and refreshments will be served. If you have read this book, please stop by!** I am no artist. I possess little artistic talent, and although I enjoy visiting art museums from time to time, the technicalities and intricacies of fine art don't interest me greatly. With that said, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Art Forger and how much I learned. Claire Roth, a young artist living in Boston, makes a living forging great works of art, legally. She works for a company called Reproductions.com, painting exquisitely accurate copies of famous art works. She is also tinged by scandal, after her affair with her older graduate school professor ended with his suicide and the question of who actually painted his acclaimed new painting hanging in the MOMA. Three years later, Claire finds herself faced with an intriguing prospect. A rich, charismatic gallery owner approaches her to paint a reproduction of a famous painting in his possession by Edgar Degas. A painting that was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. But Claire, with her expert eye, suspects that the apparently stolen painting may be a forgery itself. From here, Shapiro takes on an incredibly interesting ride. Her story is brimming with rich characters and unfolds at a good pace. You will learn a lot about techniques of art forgery, and it's all fascinating! Shapiro inter-cuts her narrative with juicy letters – alas, wholly fictional – written by Isabella Stewart Gardner herself, as well as flashbacks to Claire's relationship with her professor, Isaac, three years earlier. She twists together several narratives, throws in some mystery, and it all works beautifully. One of the best parts is the local setting, featuring places with know and love: South Boston, Newbury Street, and especially the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I have actually never been to the museum myself, but after reading this book, I can't wait to visit. -Becky
The Husband's Secret and What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Pub Date: July 2013
Fiction (Adult)
416 pgs. / 12 audio discs
What Alice Forgot:
Pub Date: January 2009
Fiction (Adult)
496 pgs. / 13 audio discs
Lately I have been listening to more and more audio books (with a toddler, I would love to be able to sit down and read more often but that is easier said than done!), and recently devoured this double-serving of Liane Moriarty, an author new to me. She is now one of my new favorite authors and I am eagerly looking forward to her next book (Big Little Lies, just published this month!).
I started with What Alice Forgot, on the recommendation of a patron. The narrative follows Alice Love, 29 years old, happily married and about to give birth to her first child. One day she wakes up on the floor of her gym after a fall and a bump on the head. She sees friends and family members she recognizes, but they react to her strangely. Instead of commenting on her pregnancy, they are talking about her three kids, her impending divorce, and her upcoming 40th birthday. What happened to Alice's life? How did she get here?
What follows is Alice's attempt to piece together the previous 10 years. Moriarty's novel is well-paced and by turns funny and poignant, thought-provoking and engaging. Tamara Lovatt-Smith's narration is delightful. She deftly portrays the point of view of not only Alice, but also Alice's long-suffering sister Elisabeth and their heartsick grandmother Franny. Not to mention I could listen to her lilting Australian accent all day. I almost couldn't bear to turn the novel off!
The Husband's Secret, one of last summers most buzzed-about titles, is three intertwining narratives of three separate women: Cecelia, Rachel, and Tess. Cecelia accidentally comes across a letter written to her by her husband to be opened only in the event of his death. Cecelia's husband is still alive….and Cecelia can't stop thinking about the letter. Like Pandora before her, Cecelia opens it. And the consequences for the three women begin.
This was a darker book that has elements of a thriller in parts, but retains Moriarty's engaging, well-written female (and male) characters and her gift for depicting complicated relationships. The audio version's narration by Caroline Lee is equally captivating. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Kristen Hannah, and Sue Miller would enjoy Moriarty's books.
The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
Fiction (Adult)
448 pgs.
The Aviator's Wife follows the life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh and an aviator herself. The story is narrated in the first person by Anne, and Benjamin offers a unflinching, honest look at a complicated marriage. We follow the Lindberghs from Charles' historic flight and their marriage in the 1920s, to Charles' death in the 1970s. Benjamin mixes historical details of aviation in the '20s, Lindbergh's Nazi ties in the '30s, and life during wartime, with a deeply personal narrative of Anne Lindbergh's life at home with her children and with and without Charles.
This was a deeply moving book. Benjamin keeps you fully in Anne's psyche as she navigates the years of her life that she spends with Charles and their children. You spend a lot of time with Anne, and she is a fascinating, fully realized character. Benjamin offers her readers pieces of information not necessarily readily known to those who've heard of "Lucky Lindy." For example, did you know that Anne herself was the recipient of numerous prestigious aviation medals and awards, and was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame?
The biggest appeal factor of The Aviator's Wife is character, specifically the characters of Anne and Charles. I devoured this book, both in print, reading in bed at night, and in audio, on my daily commute. (The audiobook is wonderfully performed by Lorna Raver.) The setting and plot also feature here, as several sensational things happen to the Lindberghs, but I would recommend this book to readers wanting to delve into the marriage and personal life of one half of a famous twentieth-century couple.
Kiss me First by Lottie Moggach
Fiction (Adult)
320 pgs
As Freddie Mercury once sang, "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" For some, the physical "real world" is supplanted by another world, the virtual world. Property is purchased, relationships are formed, and lives are lived mainly online. In Lottie Moggach's fascinating first novel, we meet twenty-something Leila, who lives in a depressing London flat, works a data-entry job and spends most of her time caring for her ailing mother. After her mother passes away, reclusive Leila goes from spending most to all of her time online. As Leila withers away in her apartment, she blossoms online. In online forums, she finds she is more comfortable participating in discussions and expressing her opinions than she's ever been in so-called real life.
When Leila discovers a debate forum called Red Pill, she quickly makes a name for herself as one of the top commenters, and gains the attention of the site's founder, the mysterious Adrien. When Leila and Adrien meet in person, Adrien offers Leila an intriguing opportunity to change her identity. Leila is asked, essentially, to become another person.
Tess is a beautiful, charismatic, troubled woman. She is preparing to commit suicide but wants to spare her friends and family pain. After her death, Leila will assume her online identity. This requires lots of intense research on Leila's part, which she throws herself into whole-heartedly. Before long, Leila becomes consumed with details of Tess's past and present. But what actually happened to Tess?
Moggach's novel could be considered a psychological thriller. It's an intense study of "reality" versus "illusion," complete with an unreliable narrator. Although the subject matter is very current, Kiss Me First is an old-fashioned mystery at its core. It is not a warm-and-fuzzy book, but a shrewd, meticulous, and intriguing read with twists and turns to keep mystery fans happy. Give this unique novel a try.
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
Fiction (Adult)
400 pgs.
The title may sound…familiar. It may even seem like you can't pick up a magazine, turn on the TV or get a good book recommendation lately without hearing about it. And with good reason. Shades of Grey is the wonderfully clever, inventive new novel from Jasper Fforde, author of the beloved "Thursday Next" literary fantasy series. I assure you, you've come to the right book.
In Britain more than 500 years in the future–centuries after the ominous-yet-vaguely-titled "Something That Happened"–the world has become a Colortocracy, its hierarchy based on the amount of pure color perception one has. Our narrator, Eddie Russett, is a Red. Reds happen to be the second-lowest color on the totem pole, above only Greys, who have no or very little color perception at all. Nonetheless, Eddie cheerfully accepts his lot in life, following the ridiculous Rules laid out by "Munsell" centuries before, and planning his marriage to Constance, a union that will guarantee Eddie a lifetime of cushy complacency.
But then Eddie and his father are unexpectedly sent to the Outer Fringes, ostensibly to conduct a "chair census," and Eddie meets a feisty, disagreeable Grey named Jane. Eddie is instantly smitten. Jane, less so. Soon, Eddie finds his worldviews challenged and his eyes opened to a vibrant underground network of Grey dissidents and other like-minded radicals. Eddie finds himself in love with Jane, although she attempts to kill him, multiple times, and even ends up pitching him into the mouth-hole of a carnivorous tree. How does that turn out for Eddie? You'll have to read on to find out.
This book blew my mind. It's the only book I have ever felt compelled to read twice in a row, in two different formats. First, I listened to the audiobook version–it's a treat on audio, voiced with acerbic perfection by John Lee, a renowned British voice actor. I enjoyed the audio immensely but felt like I was missing something, and immediately obtained the print version after the audio was over. I'm so glad I did. The audiobook whet my appetite, but this is a book that can really be savored in print–Fforde adds so many absurdist touches and clever details that I got so much more out of it the second time. Also, some may fear dystopian novels like Shades of Grey to be too dreary or heavy-handed—but then, they haven't read Fforde. Shades of Grey manages to be satirical, absurd, serious, insightful and extremely funny all at once.
So go on, pick up Shades of Grey, and see what everyone's talking about. And then tell all your friends–you'll be glad you did.


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We go about our lives and take for granted that we will live to old age as will our loved ones. My mother lost her mom at nine years of age. My grandmother, Luz Maria, had four children ranging in ages from nine to one year old. Her children were raised separately as the two youngest were children from her second marriage. I met my aunts when they came to the U.S. when I was a little girl. My youngest aunt was 16 or 17 at the time, and I was seven. She was so fun, full of life. She loved to dance and taught me so I could dance with her. She later had a family of her own, four beautiful children. This past Saturday, her boyfriend attacked her while everyone was asleep. He was assumed to have gone home after an argument. He returned, though, and stabbed her in the neck and stomach area and then hurt my aunt's second youngest as he fought to disarm that man and her other two sons tried to stem her bleeding. At the age of 48, she was gone, very early Sunday, March 6. March 5 was the seventh anniversary of my mother's passing at age 50 -- her eldest sister.
How anyone can take a life is incomprehensible. That anyone would hurt my aunt -- a warm, loving, happy person -- is unfathomable. There is no comfort for her children nor the rest of the family. We are shell-shocked. We are angry. We are grieving. It seems within reach to turn back time to just three days before and protect her. Logic is out the window. How can it be possible that everyone's lives, especially her children's, are altered so horribly in seconds? Yes, I do believe that we will join our loved ones in Heaven, which means that she is finally in her mother's arms and surrounded by my mother and many others we've lost over the years, especially these last seven years. Is it selfish to not be comforted by that thought? Why did she have to go in such a painful way? What fear, what panic she must have felt when she realized she was mortally wounded. My cousins must be reliving the horror every moment. They feel there was something they could have done to save her. The bastard -- no lesser word is appropriate -- took her life, and he took their security, their peace... he took their lives when he took my aunt's. I hope that the law brings at least a small amount of peace. I hope he never has a moment of peace nor a moment of happiness. I hope that his own life as he's known it is forfeit.
Aunt Narda, rest in peace. Do not worry about your children and grandchildren. They are surrounded by love and all the support we can give them. When you see my mom, please give her a big hug and kiss for me. I love you.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
2 comments:
What a dreadful, dreadful thing to have happen. I feel for your family. Especially your aunt's children. What a disgraceful and traumatic thing to witness. I hope they have a heap of wonderful memories to overtake the memory of their mum's last moments and I hope the boyfriend looses his freedom for a very long time.ReplyDelete
Thank you, Paula. The case has dragged out, but I hope that he gets what he deserves.ReplyDelete
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subset: commoncrawl


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Plxf152 Mobile X Ray Bed 12290 - Chinaprice: contact company for price
machine This x ray bed is a device for the hospital's consultation,
treatment and surgical use. It applies to X-ray medical inspection.
Dimension of mobile x ray bed for medical x ray machine Size of the bed
surface 200mm(length)×700mm(width) Height of the bed surface 500mm
Moving range of cassette hanger 1680mm Features
1.The surface of the bed is made of medical fiberboard.
2.The bed can rotate in 360°flexibly and the foot switch brakes quickly.
3.The bed is low so it can meet the need of seriously-ill patient for special check.
4.The linear movement range of grid box is large and with hand switch.
5.The longitudinal center of bed is in accordance with grid box center, which ensures the symmetry of photography and film.
Plxf152 Mobile x Ray Bed 12290
Please inquiry for your need now
Company Contact:
- Posted By: Perlong Medical Equipment Company
- Phone: 8613905192907
- Address: nanjing, nanjing, China
- Email:
- Website: http://pl999.net
Published date: November 1, 2012 -
- Business Description: involved in international trade import export of goods, products, and services
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Ongoing Research Title
|Name of Research Sub committee
|Name of PI
|Approved Project Title
|Year of implementation
|Crop Improvement
|Mr. M. A. Patel
|Collection and evaluation of local turfgrass germplasm of the South Gujarat region
|Crop Improvement
|Dr. Sudha Pati
|Induction of variability in Spider lily (Hymenocallis littorallis) through colchicines treatment
|Crop Improvement
|Dr. Sudha Pati
|Induction of variability in Spider lily (Hymenocallis littorallis) through chemical mutagens
|Crop Improvement
|Dr. Sudha Pati
|Genetic improvement through hybridization in Gladiolus
|Crop Improvement
|Dr. Sudha Pati
|Collection and evaluation of local spider lily germplasm of the South Gujarat region
|Crop Improvement
|Dr. Alka Singh
|Genetic improvement through hybridization in Adenium
N. M. College of Agriculture
Aspee College of Horticulture
College of Forestry
Aspee Agribusiness Management Institute
Vanbandhu College of Veterinary Sci. and Animal Husb.
College of Fisheries Science, Navsari
College of Agriculture, Bharuch
College of Agriculture, Waghai
College of Agricultural Engineering Dediapada, Narmada
Aspee Shakilam Biotechnology Institute, Surat
Polytechnic in Agriculture Bharuch
Polytechnic in Agriculture Vyara
Polytechnic in Agriculture, Waghai
Polytechnic in Horticulture - Navsari
Polytechnic in Horticulture, Paria
Polytechnic Agricultural Engineering Dediapada Narmada
Polytechnic in Animal Husbandry, Navsari
Research Centers
Main Sugarcan Research Station, Navsari
Main Cotton Research Station,Surat
Main Sorghum Research Station, Athwa
Regional Rice Research Station, Vyara
Regional Cotton Research Station, Maktampura,Bharuch
Soil and Water Management Research Unit
Soil-Science Department
Agriculture Experimental Station Paria
Agricultural Research Station, Tanchha
Agricultural Research Station, Achhalia
Livestock Research Station, Navsari
Mega Seed, Pulses and Castor Research Unit, Navsari
Fruit Research Station, Gandevi
Wheat Research Station,Bardoli
Niger Research Station, Vanarasi
National Agricultural Research Project, Bharuch
Cotton Wilt Research Sub Station,Hansot
Agriculture Research Station, Mangarol
Hill Millet Research Station,Waghai
Extension Centers
Krushi Vigyan Kendra: Navsari
Krushi Vigyan Kendra Vyara
Krushi Vigyan Kendra Waghai
Krushi Vigyan Kendra Dediyapada
Krushi Vigyan Kendra: Surat
Agricultural Technology Information Center
Sardar Smruti Kendra Navsari
Bakery Training Unit: Navsari


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Happy Fourth of July!!!
This is one of my favorite holidays. It's even a major part of one of my novels, I love it so much. Summer air, barbeques, celebrating freedom, swimming, 5k/10k runs, FIREWORKS. So much fun. I am grateful I was born in this beautiful country!
I'll be taking a short hiatus from blogging for the next few busy weeks of summer celebrating, traveling, camping, reading, seeing family and celebrating my birthday--woohoo! Expect me back in August. See you then! :)
Image courtesy of noppasinw /FreeDigitalPhotos.net


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Floral Padded Hangers Gift set
Looking for a gift then maybe our pretty pack of 2 floral padded hangers gift set might do the trick .
In our signature duck egg blue rose print design this pair of padded hangers is certainly both pretty and practical .
The fabric is 100% cotton and sumptuously padded around a wooden hanger .
They are trimmed with pure cotton bows and tied together as a gift set.
If you need some matching items then take a peek at our Totty hot-water bottle cover or our new Lolly laundry bag all in the same design .
We also have matching bathroom accessories with wash bags ,cosmetic bags and Shelly shower hat all in our pretty blue.
Perhaps you want your bedroom to be the same colour as your hangers with this duckegg blue paint.
Floral Padded Hangers Gift set
- Hangers measure 46 cms
- Pack of 2 tied with cotton ribbon
- wooden hanger
- 100% cotton print
- padded for extra protection for clothes
- matching accessories


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Timbre Concerts Presents:
Belle And Sebastian
With Guests JAPANESE BREAKFAST
Thursday June 28, 2018
The Vogue Theatre Vancouver, BC
Doors: 8:00 PM / Show: 9:00 PM
Advance tickets $50.50 (plus appl. s/c)
Available online, Red Cat Main St and Red Cat Hastings St
Age Limit: All Ages
Thursday June 28th, 2018
Friday June 29th, 2018
Belle and Sebastian have partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket sold will go to support War Child and their work with children and families in communities affected by war throughout the world (www.warchild.ca).
Scottish indie rock band, on tour to support their latest EP trilogy release "How To Solve Our Human Problems".
Belle and Sebastian Online:
Website: https://belleandsebastian.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belleandsebastian
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bellesglasgow
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bellesglasgow
Japanese Breakfast Online:
Website: http://japanesebreakfast.rocks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japanesebreakfast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jbrekkie


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The Winter 2010 edition of Somerset Gallery will be hitting the newsstands on December 1 and if you turn to page 97 you'll see my piece entitled The Perry Girls Ride the Range.
That's my 4 year old self in the Hoppalong Cassidy shirt and my older sister Becky, looking like she might rather be somewhere else. Every Christmas when I was young I got new six shooters and a new cowboy hat - but the addition of the shirt was extra special.
This was an extremely fun piece to work on as it brought up wonderful memories of a very happy childhood.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
I'm In!
Posted by Erin in Morro Bay at 6:00 AM
Labels: Assemblage, Somerset Submissions
2 comments:
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Oh, Yeah!
30 comments:
- Linda at Lime in the Coconut! said...
Um. Yeah...I'd be doin' the happy dance inside that bed too!
Love those chairs...love the beddy...REALLY love the quiet courtyard! Can you show us pics of your Brazil casa...purty pulease (did you hear my fake Texas acccent??)
- October 15, 2009 at 5:43 PM
- High-Heeled Foot in the door said...
Ah!!!! Love it!!!!! So happy that Avery seems to be enjoying it as well!!!
Love the gloss!
- October 15, 2009 at 6:07 PM
- maureen @ The Inglenook Decor said...
Gorgeous! Did they come in lacquered or did u do it yourself? I am coveting both of them! i'm still looking for Chippendale chairs i can afford.
- October 15, 2009 at 6:09 PM
- Vintage Junky said...
Fabulous!!!! i love it! Can't wait to see it with the pink bedding!
- October 15, 2009 at 6:20 PM
- marty (A Stroll Thru Life) said...
The chairs and the bed are both just wonderful. Love them. Hugs, Marty
- October 15, 2009 at 6:21 PM
- sarah @ realestatestyle said...
AWESOME! Everything turned out great!
- October 15, 2009 at 6:46 PM
- Sarah Ann said...
Your projects turned out beautiful!
- October 15, 2009 at 6:50 PM
- Allison Hasel said...
They look beautiful! Want to come to my house and help me paint my desk? Haha. It doesn't look half as fabulous as your chairs and bed. Can't wait to see them in action. :)
- October 15, 2009 at 6:56 PM
- sara said...
They look awesome!! Given your little one's obvious excitement, I think you have a budding designer on your hands!
- October 15, 2009 at 7:19 PM
- LindsB said...
Woah! That came out awesome!!!! It is pure perfection and I can NOT WAIT to see all the pink with it, so so so cute!!
Oh and the chairs are to.die.for- love them!!
- October 15, 2009 at 7:37 PM
- my favorite and my best said...
youz a rock star! those look amazeballs.
- October 15, 2009 at 7:45 PM
- brynalexandra said...
oh my gosssshhh can you please share how you got it so glossy and perfect? Please? Gorgeous!
- October 15, 2009 at 7:59 PM
- nestegg said...
Love it!! The colors are beautiful. And the glossy finish.. mmmm.!!
- October 15, 2009 at 9:03 PM
- Arianna Belle said...
Wow! Everything looks amazing!
- October 15, 2009 at 11:02 PM
- bluehydrangea said...
Wow!! I am all for do it yourself but sometimes a pro is SO worth it!! they both look fabulous!!
- October 16, 2009 at 4:30 AM
- Karen@StrictlySimpleStyle said...
That picture is priceless! I love the chair.
- October 16, 2009 at 4:44 AM
- ms. less is always more said...
It looks fantastic! Can't wait to see it in the room with the bedding, etc. I just love the blue. GOOD CALL!
- October 16, 2009 at 5:11 AM
- spark! (Ada-Marie) said...
Alison -- looks great! I can't wait to see the finished room. It's going to be amazing!
- October 16, 2009 at 6:04 AM
- Style Redux 2 said...
- October 16, 2009 at 7:04 AM
- Sarah - La Jeune Marie said...
They are PERFECT! Swoon!!!!
- October 16, 2009 at 7:14 AM
- Rachel said...
I love it! What a fancy bed for such a cute little girl!
- October 16, 2009 at 9:15 AM
- The Townhouselady said...
Wowzers! Gorgeous bed and chairs!
- October 16, 2009 at 10:31 AM
- laurie @ bargain hunting said...
I'd be excited too! Those look fabulous! laurie
- October 16, 2009 at 8:25 PM
- The Southern Lady said...
I know I'm a little late in the fame, but Alison, what a wonderful job!
The gloss is so pretty, too. I don't blame you or Avery one bit of doing a very happy dance.
- October 17, 2009 at 3:55 AM
Oh my goodness!!!!! It all looks FAB.U.LOUS!!!!!
- October 17, 2009 at 2:49 PM
- Melanie said...
GORGEOUS! And mini me looks adorable too:)
- October 17, 2009 at 6:00 PM
- Lindsey said...
- October 18, 2009 at 5:26 PM
- paula said...
these turned out amazing! great work.
- October 19, 2009 at 5:23 AM
- a pina colada said...
I am new to your blog...Hi! Just wanted to pipe-in and say: what darling chairs! Lovin' them! Are you picking up on the lingua over there? I lived in Portugal for some time and learned Portugese, but love the Brazilian accent. What a fun experience!
- October 20, 2009 at 12:04 AM
- corine said...
those chairs are a-ma-zing!
- October 20, 2009 at 5:22 PM


text: My first USPSA match of 2017 after a looooong break of no shooting and no dry-firing. Was super cold, super wet and one of those matches that kept everyone asking why they're out there feeling miserable. That said, there were some really fun stages including one that had all 1/2 sized targets, now that it is legal to use in Level One matches. Those are hard to shoot at! Thanks again to the PB crew for keeping the range open throughout winter.


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Humble Fare
>> Wednesday, February 21, 2007
During Lent, our family makes a practice of eating what we call 'plain food'. We do away with desserts, creams, sugar, large meaty meals (simple ones are alright). We fast every Friday - eating one fish meal that day - not the children obviously and not pregnant or nursing Mama.
Every Wednesday starting with Ash Wednesday is soup day. We eat soup and homemade bread. Soup and bread is probably my favorite meal all year round. Ash Wednesday's soup has no meat and the bread is served without butter (herbed olive oil is beautiful on bread). We will probably have a salad of plain greens (the bitterness of spinach is somehow appropriate) with a simple vinaigrette dressing. Here is what we will be having this evening:
Vegetable Barley Soup:
1/2 c. barley
2 qt. vegetable broth
2 large. onions, chopped
1 T. garlic, shopped
1 lb. carrot, peeled & chunked
1 head celery, chopped
1c. green beans, cut into bite sizes
2 zucchini (courgettes), sliced
8 oz. crimini mushrooms (or your favorite)
1 24 oz. diced tomatoes
1 T. parsley
1 tsp. thyme
2 bay leaves
Saute onion, garlic, carrot, and celery in hot oil; add salt and pepper
to taste. Add remaining ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 1 hour, or until barley is tender. Remove bay leaves. This soup is lovely with shaved parmesan!
Sally Lunn Bread
1 cup milk
1 package active dry yeast ( or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
Add ingredients to your bread machine, in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Choose "white bread" setting with medium crust (if applicable). Cool on its side on a rack. Makes a beautiful toast with jam and tea. Because of the richness of the bread itself, it does not need butter.
1c. extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon (about 1/4c)
1 T Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste.
Combine juice and mustard in glass mixing bowl. Using balloon whisk or electric beaters, slowly drizzle in olive oil until you have a light creamy consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. Fresh thyme leaves are also a beautiful addition. This is the Real French dressing, not that appallingly orange stuff from the supermarket!
Bon Appetit! (Seems a bit out of place on Ash Wednesday...)
Please remember to send me your recipes for simple meals, meatless meals and soups throughout Lent!


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Mother Toddler Curriculum
mother toddler program curriculum packages in India.
Adding fun to the regular playschool activity via a mother toddler program is another innovative skill. Sessions for mothers and toddlers under the same roof improves bonding between like minded people and is a great platform to ensure a support group.
As times are changing it is great to find that games, storytelling sessions or a puppet show improves the spirit of co-operation between mothers as well as children. The programs can be facilitated with an informal approach but adhering to a time slot. Finger painting, cotton color dabbing and cooking can be a part of the curriculum.


text:
This picture is important to the story because, alice would tell people when she got into a car and saw the bunny shaped cloud to drive slow and said it was a car phobia from the accident, when really she didnt want the zombies to come and kill them.
This image is necessary to the story as a result of, alice would inform individuals when she obtained right into a automotive and noticed the bunny formed cloud to drive sluggish and stated it was a automotive phobia from the accident, when actually she didnt need the zombies to return and kill them. – bt-photographs.internet