February Book Reviews…In October

I read these books – and wrote their reviews – back when there was still snow on the ground.  Somehow this never got posted.  Better late than never, I say!

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan

I cannot recommend Michael Pollan’s writing–books, newspaper articles, and his website–enough.  He’s absolutely brilliant!  Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma first introduced me to his thought-provoking, yet easy to read, work.  Whereas The Omnivore’s Dilemma took us on a journey through various types of food industry, In Defense of Food is more of an eater’s guide. 

Pollan begins with a simple mantra:

Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants.” 

From this simple yet profound statement Pollan expands his philosophy into an entire book full of revolutionary food thought.  I normally find non-fiction works difficult to read, but Pollan’s fresh, absorbing writing keeps you glued to his books all the way to the end.

A Three Dog Life: A Memoir by Abigail Thomas

If you thought the timeless marital love depicted in “The Notebook” was the ultimate tear-jerker, then you haven’t read this book.  It’s proof positive that love can conquer ALL and still leave room for happiness to find a way in. 

In her book, Abigail shows us that, while it may be impossible to find meaning in a life-changing disaster, it’s possible to build a new, happy life filled with love and companionship.  At 182 pages, this book is a short, yet deep read.  I highly recommend it!   

TThe Lost Symbol: A Novel by Dan Brown

Typical Dan Brown style, The Lost Symbol will not disappoint if you liked Angels & Demons or The Da Vinci Code.  Brown is obviously a master at creating fast paced thrillers, including plenty of plot twists, that require him to do a massive amount of research.  That said, this wasn’t my favorite Dan Brown book–Deception Point still holds that honor–probably because science will capture my fancy faster than religion any day.  While his other works have represented Christianity and the Catholic Church as institutions highly susceptible to corruption, The Lost Symbol casts religion in a slightly more redemptive light.

The Return & Nightfall by L.J. Smith

No offense to L.J. Smith, but I’m not even sure why I keep reading The Vampire Diaries books.  They’re just not worth it, in my opinion.  That said, if you enjoyed the first books, there is a major plot twist in these that you won’t want to miss.

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January Goals

2010 brings a new format to my goal-making.  My priority for the next few months is our House Project List.  So, for the next few months my goals will be 80% home improvement, 10% 101 in 1001, and 10% other.

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1. Find and buy a dress I can wear in the winter. (#42)

2. Read The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.

3. Apply KILZ paint primer to stains on dining room, guest bedroom, office, and living room walls.

4. Paint downstairs ceilings & office ceiling (white semi-gloss).

5. Clean grout around bathtub.

6. Re-seal grout around bathtub.

7. Paint upstairs ceiling repair.

8. Move old water softener, hot water heater, and dryer out of basement & discard.

9. Purchase and install blinds on front door.

10. Look for a new refrigerator.

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Holiday Letter

One of my goals for this month and my 101 in 1001 was to write a Christmas Letter.  It’s done (yes, it’s late–it’s going out as an e-letter this year), so here it is:

Happy New Year from Our House to Yours!

Dear Family & Friends,

We hope this finds you in the best of health and enjoying the holiday season!  As we look forward to the New Year and reflect on 2009, we thought it would be nice to let friends and family know what’s been going on in our world. 

On May 19^th, we celebrated our 2^nd wedding anniversary by visiting The Wilds, a 10,000 acre wildlife conservation center in Cumberland, Ohio.  Besides that it was FREEZING COLD and—of course—we chose the open air tour bus to see the animals better, we had a great time.  In August, we spent a week on Bald Head Island, NC with Tim’s parents, brother, and sister-in-law.  It was an absolute blast (despite the millions—literally—of stinging jellyfish) and we dream about a repeat trip.  On our way home from NC, we took a detour through Richmond, VA to visit a long lost friend of Alverna’s.  It was a VERY happy reunion and the guys got acquainted in the way grown men prefer: playing video games.     

Tim has become quite the handyman this year.  He replaced our hot water heater after our old one went kaput in the middle of the winter (brrr!) and, at the same time, he installed the almost brand new, high end water softener system we were generously gifted with.  The combination of the two new systems has made a huge difference in our ultra-hard well water situation.  Tim also built a new door for our chicken house, built porch steps, and installed a tile floor in our formerly carpeted kitchen.  (Seriously, who carpets a kitchen!?)  He also worked on his golf game, but unfortunately the weather prevented him from showing off his mad skills at the Bugh Family Reunion.  Instead, we mingled with the rest of the family on the Inn’s porch and generally goofed off.

Alverna has now been working at Twin Maples Veterinary Hospital as a veterinary assistant for a year.  Although it doesn’t offer her a career path, she enjoys the work and the people, feels blessed to have a job during these tough economic times, and LOVES the shorter commute.  Alverna’s also been trying to keep up a regular reading habit, and in the process has been bitten by the Twilight bug.  (Well, she IS in the over 25 demographic after all.)  Other books she’s found especially enjoyable this year are The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan (in fact, she still can’t stop talking about it) and the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris.  Alverna also keeps a blog (www.AlvernaH.wordpress.com), which keeps her writing, if on an admittedly irregular basis.  

Life on the farm continues.  The horses are ornery as ever and the dogs love their yard just as much as always.  Karli (the Border collie mutt) managed to get her paws on a squirrel.  We’re still not sure if she caught it herself or found it already dead.  Of course, she’s convinced that she caught it herself and is about to catch another at any moment.  Kori (the Pembroke Welsh Corgi) has decided that our new horse farm neighbors across the street have four-legged aliens which must be watched (and barked at) at all times.  In June, our meager flock of 3 hens was joined by a brood of baby chicks which arrived in the mail all the way from Webster City, Iowa.  The “baby” hens are now laying eggs along with the “big” girls, which means we collect upwards of 6 eggs a day.  (Anyone need some eggs!?)  Tim was instrumental in the garden expansion project we undertook this year.  We were able to enjoy fresh fruits & veggies for most of the summer and are fortunate enough to have some veggies in the freezer to eat over the winter.  The highlight of our garden was our first watermelon EVER!  Tim waited SO long for it to ripen, but it was worth the wait. 

Basically, life is very, very good.  As we look ahead to 2010, we wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Happy Holidays,

Alverna & Tim

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December Goals

Trying to keep it simple this month…

1. Finish knitting project before Christmas.

2. Winterize my garden and flower beds.

3. Complete 5 items on our home improvement “to do” list.

4. Finish reading Dune.

5. Move more sand into the arena.

6. Give blood.

7. Write and send Christmas letters & Christmas cards.

8. Make cool, fun, interesting plans for New Year’s Eve…and send 2009 out in style!

9. Come up with a super cool, super unique New Year’s resolution.  Ideas, anyone?

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November Goals: Recap

I caught myself coming and going both ways this month.  It was absolutely crazy!  The sad part is, December is bound to be just as bad, if  not worse.

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1. Write Christmas lists.  Yes – here.

2. Read 3 books.  Partially – I finished The Good Guy by Dean Koontz and am in the middle of Dune by Frank Herbert.  Dune has taken me a loooong time to get into, but I’m starting to like it.

3. Winterize my garden and flower beds.  No.

4. Find & purchase a soap dish.  Yes! – Exactly what I wanted for 99 cents!

5. Make mulled wine.  No.

6. Complete my barely started knitting project.  No.

7. Get a group together to go see ”The Twilight Saga: New Moon”.  Yes! – So much fun!  I’ll post about it sometime soon.

8. Try a new type of wine.  Yes – had a glass of Valley Vineyards‘ Vidal Blanc tonight.  I want to try more Ohio-grown wines.

9. Make dish(es) for Thanksgiving dinner!  Yes – I made Cranberry Fluff, Cranberry Muffins, Coconut Macaroons, Pancakes (for the morning after), and Mashed Potatoes.  The only thing that didn’t turn out was my Cappuccino Pie–it never set up.  Bummer!

10. Buy at least two Christmas presents.  Yes – two down, many more to go!

11. Pick up manure in arena & haul at least 10 loads of sand into the arena.  Yes – I thought my back was going to crack in two the day afterwards! 

12. Ride my horse at least 3 times per week.  Yes – except when the weather was bad and over Thanksgiving week, but that was a given.

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November Goals

I’m not even sure it’s possible, but I’m hoping that November is even more productive than October!

To-do for this month:

1. Write Christmas lists.

2. Read 3 books, possibly including:

1. In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan
2. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
3. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger or My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

3. Winterize my garden, front flower bed, and both side beds. 

4. Find & purchase a soap dish.  (This may sound way easy, but it’s really not.)

5. Make mulled wine.

6. Complete my barely started knitting project. 

7. Get a group together to go see “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”.

8. Try a new type of wine.

9. Make dish(es)–pie(s), mashed potatoes, etc.–for Thanksgiving dinner!

10. Buy at least two Christmas presents. 

11. Pick up manure in arena & haul at least 10 loads of sand into the arena. 

12. Ride my horse at least 3 times per week.

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October Goal Recap

I’m not really sure why, but October was a bit of a crazy month for me.  Goals were a good thing, even if they didn’t all get completed!  And I already started my list for November!

Here’s the post-month report:

1. Find & purchase at least one bookcase.  No – I located one on Craigslist, but then got the flu and it was gone by the time I was up to trying to go get it.

2. Look for a new dining room table.  Yes – I looked.  Didn’t find anything though. 

3. Find & purchase a photo album for our wedding photos.  Yes, love it!  Also ordered the first 100 pictures & they’re ready for their new home. 

4. Winterize my garden, front flower bed, and both side beds.  No. 

5. Place a ”for sale” ad for my horse.  Yes. 

6. Update boarding ad(s).  Yes. 

7. Complete my barely started knitting project.  No.

8. Mail care package.  Yes.

9. Buy at least one Christmas present.  No. 

10. Figure out our holiday plans.  Partially – hubby’s family knows what they’re doing, but my family likes to procrastinate 😦 

11. Pick up manure in arena & haul at least 10 loads of sand into the arena.  Partially – I’ve hauled 3 wheelbarrows full of poop out, but have a LONG way to go. 

12. Take hubby to Columbus for his now belated birthday weekend.  Yes – and it was awesome.  See pics here. 

13. Meet up with some old friends at the Circleville Pumpkin Show October 21-24.  No – it rained all day…and have I mentioned that I’m a fair-weather-only kinda person?  I was very bummed we didn’t make it though.

14. Donate to a charity.  Yes – I donated to Robyn’s Nest, a non-profit animal rescue and adoption organization.

15. Read at least 3 books.  Yes – 4, actually.

16. Request absentee ballot for Nov. 3 election.  Yes – voted AND convinced hubby to vote, too!

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October Books

Gone to the Dogs by Emily Carmichael

Chic lit, way girly, only finished it ’cause the main character is a Corgi and I’m a sucker for stubby, fox-faced canines.  Nothing wrong with the book, it’s just not my style.

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Best Sookie Stackhouse book yet.  Loved it!  Sookie’s character has never been boring, but I find it difficult to identify with her.  (Blond, busty,  promiscuous, and usually ditzy–not too much in common.)  In Dead and Gone, she jumped off the page a bit more for me.  Now I really can’t wait for book #10 (due out May ’10).

Dancing with Werewolves by Carole Nelson Douglas

Urban fantasy filled with buku amounts of old-timey/classic film and lit references.  This book was littered with crassness which–in my opinion–was unnecessary and didn’t add to the story.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with vulgarity when well placed, but I felt the book was cheapened rather than enhanced by the language.  Very unique writing style–which I admire–but ultimately the book wasn’t my favorite.

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Another urban fantasy novel, this one featuring Kate Daniels, who by the way just might be my new favorite heroine.  Kate is a mercenary whose specialty is killing supernatural monsters.  She’s kick ass, has a big mouth, and pretty much takes care of herself.  She also has a proper appreciation for good horse, which makes her just about perfect in my book.  In Kate’s world, there’s been a magical apocalypse leaving a conflict between magic and tech (technology).  Sometimes electricity, cars, and such work, but, during magic influxes, the world changes drastically.  I’ll definitely read Andrews’ next Kate Daniels book, Magic Burns.

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Things That Make Me Happy IV

The completion of #26, my list of 100 things that make me happy:

1. Naps.
2. Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream.  (And I don’t even like cherries, go figure.)
3. Lasagna & garlic bread.
4. Pay day.
5. Thinking about going back to school for my Master’s degree.
6. Greek mythology.
7. Comedians.
8. Potlucks.
9. The Burrito Buggy (unfortunately for me, it’s in Athens, Ohio).
10. Waterfalls.
11. Onion rings.
12. Rainbows.
13. Sunflowers.
14. Volunteer plants in my garden.
15. Giving/receiving a smile.
16. Receiving random email/texts from my oldest brother.
17. Hearing my younger brothers’ voices on the phone.
18. Clay face masks.
19. Watching Kori (the Corgi dog) rub his face.
20. Mimosas.
21. Back scratches from my hubby.
22. A barn full of gorgeous hay.
23. Fresh shavings in the horses’ stalls.
24. Headache-free days.
25. When my husband calls me to tell me he’s on his way home.

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Things That Make Me Happy III

Still working on #26, my list of 100 things that make me happy.  This has actually been way more fun than I had thought it might be!  Here’s #51-#75:

1. Clean sheets.
2. A good run.
3. Warm, freshly baked bread.
4. When my husband sings to me.
5. Black & white photographs.
6. That time in the spring when I break out my flip-flops again.
7. The color blue.
8. Pickles.
9. Seeing a movie in the theater.
10. A toasted bagel with cream cheese.
11. The feel of freshly shaved legs.
12. My aunt’s apple pie.
13. Doggie play dates, especially when my mutt-dog behaves.
14. Penn Station french fries.  LOVE THEM!
15. Thanksgiving with the Hesses.  Turkey Day is my favorite holiday!
16. Visiting my Aunt Nancy & Uncle Ed at their farm in Pennsylvania.
17. White Elephant gift exchanges at Christmas.
18. Learning new things.
19. Ace-ing tests.
20. Eating dinner out.
21. Getting my Practical Horseman magazine in the mail.
22. The full moon.
23. Boats, even though I get slightly motion-sick.
24. True Blood on HBO, and House and Fringe on Fox.
25. Ferrets.

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