GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!
This gal has some of the most fabulous designs and she does a TWO giveaways a week! Isn't that awesome!!! You should definitely check it out.
If you have a little girl, seriously, check her out. She is opening up a shop soon and I know it will be fabulous!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
North and South *****
I just finished reading North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. The author was very highly recommended by my good friend, Dizzie Lizzie. In fact, I believe Liz said that this was her favorite book of all time.
Well, let me tell you, Liz has good taste.
I loved this book! I will admit, it was much more difficult to read than what I've been reading lately, so it has taken me a lot longer to finish than normal. That has nothing to do with how much I enjoyed it though. At first I found this strange, but as I thought about it, I realized it was like a bowl of ice cream. On the few occasions that I allow myself that indulgence, I get out a baby spoon. I take tiny bites and eat really slowly, so that I can enjoy it for as long as possible. I could only read this book in quiet moments, rather than when the kids are playing or watching a movie. So, those moments I could steal away it was an indulgence and even though I only got a baby spoonful at times, I savored it bit by bit.
This story is about Margaret Hales. At the beginning of the book she is returning to her home and parents in the southern town of Helstone from her aunt's home in London. She loves her parents very much and I love the way the relationship was built. Her father is a vicar, but develops doubts in his beliefs and feels he can no longer maintain his position in the church and thereby must leave their home. Feeling it would be too painful to be in any country that resembles Helstone he opts to move his family to as different a place as possible, Milton in the north. Milton is a manufacturing town, with all the grit and grime that come along with that. The family are shocked and despaired by the move, but make acquaintances and even friends in the new town that is struggling through its own crisis of a strike.
I loved the way the novel explored so many levels of human thought and emotion, as well as social thought and emotion. The sociology major in me was intrigued by the battle between the working class and the masters and then in the "experiments" that occurred toward the end.
I loved the romance and the admiration that was felt for Margaret. I loved the builing up of admiration and romance within Margaret. I loved the study into the role of women in different classes. I loved the way it was written with chapter titles; I thought I knew what the chapter would entail and then I was surprised as the title would be fitting to another aspect of the story. I loved the theme of faith throughout the book. I loved most of the side characters and the depth they all brought to the tale.
I think most of all, I loved Margaret. I loved the way she started as so good. And I love the way she developed and became better. I love the way she was respected by all for the way she lived and treated others even though she did not fit the "mold" of either the north or the south ladies. She was truly a commendable character and one that I feel better for having "known." She exemplary in so many ways, goodness, virtue, purity, charity, humility. The list could go on. One thing I loved about her was that she was always thinking of how to help others... I also felt very sorry for her in this regard. She would put off her own needs forever if it had been needed of her. She never thought of herself as all of these things but only saw ways to improve. Yet, she didn't really sink into self-loathing either. She was just awesome and in so many ways the woman I hope to be.
Aside from two things this book was practically perfect. Those two things for me are: the dialect of the workers in Milton and the ending. The was the dialect was written was so difficult for me to read and understand. I found myself reading some passages two or three times to gain their meaning. This, I'm sure, is a fault ofmy own and not of the writing. The ending, however was extremely abrupt and there is no follow up to the happiness we hope will ensue. All in all, though I have to give this one 5 stars. From the first moment I started reading it, I loved it. I was anxious to see where it went and I was not only satisfied, but happy as it got there. Five stars *****!
Well, let me tell you, Liz has good taste.
I loved this book! I will admit, it was much more difficult to read than what I've been reading lately, so it has taken me a lot longer to finish than normal. That has nothing to do with how much I enjoyed it though. At first I found this strange, but as I thought about it, I realized it was like a bowl of ice cream. On the few occasions that I allow myself that indulgence, I get out a baby spoon. I take tiny bites and eat really slowly, so that I can enjoy it for as long as possible. I could only read this book in quiet moments, rather than when the kids are playing or watching a movie. So, those moments I could steal away it was an indulgence and even though I only got a baby spoonful at times, I savored it bit by bit.
This story is about Margaret Hales. At the beginning of the book she is returning to her home and parents in the southern town of Helstone from her aunt's home in London. She loves her parents very much and I love the way the relationship was built. Her father is a vicar, but develops doubts in his beliefs and feels he can no longer maintain his position in the church and thereby must leave their home. Feeling it would be too painful to be in any country that resembles Helstone he opts to move his family to as different a place as possible, Milton in the north. Milton is a manufacturing town, with all the grit and grime that come along with that. The family are shocked and despaired by the move, but make acquaintances and even friends in the new town that is struggling through its own crisis of a strike.
I loved the way the novel explored so many levels of human thought and emotion, as well as social thought and emotion. The sociology major in me was intrigued by the battle between the working class and the masters and then in the "experiments" that occurred toward the end.
I loved the romance and the admiration that was felt for Margaret. I loved the builing up of admiration and romance within Margaret. I loved the study into the role of women in different classes. I loved the way it was written with chapter titles; I thought I knew what the chapter would entail and then I was surprised as the title would be fitting to another aspect of the story. I loved the theme of faith throughout the book. I loved most of the side characters and the depth they all brought to the tale.
I think most of all, I loved Margaret. I loved the way she started as so good. And I love the way she developed and became better. I love the way she was respected by all for the way she lived and treated others even though she did not fit the "mold" of either the north or the south ladies. She was truly a commendable character and one that I feel better for having "known." She exemplary in so many ways, goodness, virtue, purity, charity, humility. The list could go on. One thing I loved about her was that she was always thinking of how to help others... I also felt very sorry for her in this regard. She would put off her own needs forever if it had been needed of her. She never thought of herself as all of these things but only saw ways to improve. Yet, she didn't really sink into self-loathing either. She was just awesome and in so many ways the woman I hope to be.
Aside from two things this book was practically perfect. Those two things for me are: the dialect of the workers in Milton and the ending. The was the dialect was written was so difficult for me to read and understand. I found myself reading some passages two or three times to gain their meaning. This, I'm sure, is a fault ofmy own and not of the writing. The ending, however was extremely abrupt and there is no follow up to the happiness we hope will ensue. All in all, though I have to give this one 5 stars. From the first moment I started reading it, I loved it. I was anxious to see where it went and I was not only satisfied, but happy as it got there. Five stars *****!
Monday, October 06, 2008
Tag I'm it...
I have been tagged 4 times in the past few weeks... they are all similar enough that I'm just going to do one. So if you're dying to know 7 random things about me, here you go...
- I love cheese! Simply delicious... although not the yucky stinky kind my brother got from Switzerland. Tillamook medium cheddar is the best!
- My closet is color coordinated.
- I love to bake... since I'm not eating treats lately, I have been making the most delicious granola.
- I love children's shows. When I was in the hospital and could watch whatever, I found myself watching Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel. I'm seriously hoping they release it on DVD, it is my favorite! I also will watch Arthur or Cyber Chase over most other shows.
- My house is always a mess. And I usually don't care, as long as its not that messy.
- I used to be a morning person, but now I'm not. I'm not a night owl either, though. I just really like to sleep.
- I'm supposedly training for a half marathon, but I've only run twice in the past 3 weeks. Go figure (just not in the direction I'm hoping for).
- I'm not really into tagging people, so you're off the hook (unless you want to do it).
Auction and Giveaway on My Tiny Star
An amazing artist, Star, is having a giveaway and auction on her blog. All proceeds of the auction go to the NieNie fund. You should definitely check out her work! You can also go to her etsy shop.
I hope to be getting my etsy shop up and running by Thanksgiving, but I've got a lot of work to do. I'll keep you posted on the progress!
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