Book Review Catch Up

I'm catching up on some of my book review, which Rel has posted in recent days/weeks.  Clearly having plenty of time on my hands has not meant being diligent in keeping up with posting these things!

First, my review for Home Run by Travis Thrasher has been posted here.  This is book is a novelisation of the movie by the same name.  It was sooooo good I now want to get the movie!!

My reviews for Before the Dawn and Sweet September are in one post together here, given they are the beginning of a 24-part series.   Fascinating set up with different authors contributing and collaborating on this project.  Kathleen Bauer is the pen name under which the series is written.  I would imagine there are many readers who would be a bit confused about a single story being written by so many different people.  Anyway, you can read my review to see how I felt about that aspect.

Breakfast with Jen Hatmaker

Jen Hatmaker at my breakfast table...via YouTube

I first 'met' Jen this time last year when a friend directed me to her blog and a post about brave mothers raising brave kids.  She had a lot to say about boys, and given I have a boy (my friend doesn't) my friend thought I would find this post of interest.  I laughed long and hard - she's a very witty lady with a sense of humour I 'get'.  That post began our 'friendship'.  I laugh out loud long and hard over Jen's posts quite often.  My kids don't get it, even when I read out what made me laugh.  In the same way they don't laugh as hard as me when we're watching The Cosby Show.  Because they're kids and they don't get humour that is specifically related to  parenting.

The other day I was reading Jen's blog, and a post in which she talked about how she was taking steps to reduce the amount of time she is away from her family and be in her life again.  Wise, wise words.  I had my own moment on Sunday (remember, we just got back from holidays on Saturday?) where I started to panic about something I had said yes to at church.  You know, something worthwhile and important and it was only for six months and no one else has stepped up to lead this group and you would be so good at it.  You know, that kind of thing.  I know you know!!  Anyway, on Sunday I stepped back and prayed about the thing I said yes to and then spent some time with Nehemiah and I was again struck by his response to the people who were deliberately trying to derail his work to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  He told those men "I am doing a great work; I can't come down.  Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?" (Nehemiah 6:2-3 - The Message).  Indeed...why should my family, my work and my study suffer or stop because I have been asked to do something that is not within my season to agree to?  God took me out of ministry in a very clear way when I began my degree and I still have a year left to go of this season.  On Monday I emailed the leader of this group and explained all this to her and she accepted my change of mind very graciously. 

All that to say Jen's post really resonated with me in a very personal way.  Again!

Then I found heaps of stuff on YouTube with Jen speaking on different things and so I have been indulging myself in listening to some more of her wisdom and perspective on what it means to be a Christian in the 'West' in our modern lives.

So because YouTube makes these things possible I had breaky with Jen this morning.

Book Review: The Girl in the Glass

My review for 'The Girl in the Glass' by Susan Meissner has been posted here at Relz Reviewz.  I always love books written by Susan and my very high expectations were met completely.  I also thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Italy through the pages of this book.  I won't say more - I said it all in the review!!

Beginning 2014

Shallow Inlet - Victoria

 

Where to begin with this first post for the year?!  Firstly it seems I had disappeared for a bit and truly we did.  We've just returned from two weeks away camping down near Wilson's Promontory.  We found a little bush caravan park on Shallow Inlet that was much quieter than the Prom camping ground and where it is much easier to get a site.  We did drive down to the Prom a couple of times because it is beautiful and the beach was lovely.  We've spent a couple of weeks relaxing, reading, swimming, fishing and playing games together in the evenings.  Such a simple existence.  Just what we needed to begin what will no doubt be a busy year.

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I've been busily reviewing books for my dear friend Rel and am very excited to report I am into my 17th book for the summer.  My goal is 20 by the time I go back to work.  I have 8 days.  Not a problem!!!

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Rather than setting resolutions for the new year I read about someone who sets a theme instead.  I like that idea much more than making goals that probably won't ever be accomplished.  I decided our goal for the year should be "healthier" .  We have discussed the idea as a family and whilst the children were miffed a time or two when I reminded them ice-creams are not healthier everyone agreed it is a good thing after all.  For myself I have begun a journey with "The Maker's Diet".  I read the book about 7 or 8 years ago and appreciated the Biblical perspective the author gives.  Obviously there are always bits and pieces that are either impractical, impossible or inappropriate for individual circumstances and one must take a balanced view on what will work.  I do remember the first phase being a challenge but worthwhile and given the holiday season excesses it is probably quite timely to spend some time detoxing from the things I have not avoided as I should have.

Meanwhile, it is good to be home.

Of Baby Birds and Other Outside Joys

We have been watching a mother bird sitting on her nest for quite a few weeks now.  This afternoon when I went to see how she was doing she wasn't there.  What a perfect time to get a photo of what she's been caring for.  Little did I know her chicks have hatched - we have baby birds! How exciting.  I hope the new Mummy finds plenty for her chicks to eat around here.  Heaven knows the bunny that visits has been happily munching his way through our grass!

Around the few days on either side of Christmas Day I decided it was time to get my herb garden back in shape.  If you look very carefully you can see rosemary at the back there and the purple flowers of the chives.  The rest, embarrassingly, is weed.  Nice, healthy, choking weeds.

 

Herb Garden - Before

Because I am such a weakling and a wuss it took me three goes to get through the weeding.  I started and after half an hour or so I just couldn't do anymore.  I'm not so sure that's just cos I'm tired either.  In any case, I finally got to the end and I can see my herbs again.

Herb Garden - After

We still have some work to do.  The soil is quite tough just under the surface so my heroic (and very strong) hubby will need to help me pitchfork it over. I'm simply not strong enough.  Then I want to add some compost before buying some herbs and mulching the whole thing.  I've always wanted: thyme, lemon thyme, oregano, parsley.  Perhaps even some basil, though that's never been terribly successful.  

I have to say, it's completely satisfying to have the time to wander outside a bit.  To enjoy watching a mummy bird and getting that garden bed in order.  I've even sprayed the lemon tree, which is looking a little worse for wear.  Perhaps next spring I will even have the mental capability to consider a vegie garden, given my teaching degree will be on the verge of completion!

Recipe: Ice-Cream Winner

Unfortunately the photo above is all that is left of last night's chocolate ice-cream.  I've mentioned this recipe before and it has become a very firm favourite in our household.  The recipe comes from Nigellissima, and of course I've tweaked it a little.  Firstly because I don't keep the liqueur she uses and secondly because our sweetened condensed milk comes in tins that are double the weight stipulated in the recipe.  The original recipe for 'no churn coffee ice-cream can be found here.  I've tried a couple of different variations to the basic idea of this recipe - they are below for your summer enjoyment.

Chocolate Ice-Cream

1x 395g tin sweetened condensed milk

1x 600ml container thickened cream

2 tablespoons cocoa powder (or more if you want it stronger)

Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and whip until the consistency of whipped cream.  
Pour into an airtight container and freeze for at least six hours.
I find my freezer makes this pretty hard so we put it in the fridge about half an hour before I want to serve it and it scoops out perfectly.

Caramel Ice-Cream

1x 395g tin 'top 'n fill' sweetened condensed milk

1x 600ml container thickened cream

Method as above.

~oo0oo~

This recipe is incredibly easy and quick to make.  I did this first thing Sunday morning for guests that evening whilst sipping my morning cup of tea, given the mixer truly does all the work it was absolutely no burden and took no more than five minutes.  I think you'll find it difficult to go back to commercial ice-cream after trying this.  I'm wondering how it would go with lemon zest and a little lemon juice rather than the cocoa.  When my lemons start to ripen I'll let you know!

Book Review: A Marriage in Middlebury

My review for A Marriage in Middlebury has been posted here over at Relz Reviewz.  I loved Anita Higman's style and her characters were so engaging.  If you're after a book that explores deep themes ensconced in a lighthearted wrapper this is just the thing.  Pop over and read the rest of the review.