Midyear Reading Challenge Update

 As June wraps-up and we hit the halfway point of the year I thought I would do a quick update for how various different challenges are going.  

 Modern Mrs Darcy Challenge
    I have completed 6/12
    I read The Jane Austen Society for the debut novel category
    I read Circle the Sun for the book recommended by a source I trust
    I read Bossypants for a book by a local author
    I read A Man Call Ove for the book in translation category
    I read Wings of Fire: The Lost Heir for the not my genre book
    And Anne of Avonlea was my reread

For the Unread Shelf Project 2020 hosted by Whitney of the Unread Shelf
   I have read 5 of my top ten list, read and 'returned'  4 of my Prime Reading borrows and have met the monthly reading challenge every month but March, which I skipped to focus on Lenten reading.

For The 20th Century in Books hosted by Ashley of The Big White Farmhouse this year I've read Anne of Avonlea (1909), Rilla of Ingleside (1921), 
Cotillion (1953), Across Five Aprils (1964), and Numbering the Stars (1989).  
At this point I have read a book from 46 of the 100 years.
         


Finally on Goodreads back in January I challenged myself to read 40 books this year.  'Sheltering at Home' and the fact that reading is one of my favorite stress relievers will likely combine to have me hitting that goal sometime next month (currently at 37) and am curious what my yearly total will be.

How is your reading year going?
   

Quick Takes #290: Mid-June Check-in

1. Hi ~  we made it to Friday. In my case a sunny morning ~ storms predicted for afternoon Friday but still a chance to put down a few thoughts. Here we are slowly resuming to going places; wearing a mask and with a lot of crowd control but expanding the bubble none the less.
2. Our community pool has opened and we have been a couple of times. The older two quickly passed their deep water test and Caitlin re-found her 'doggie paddle.  One of the adjustments for this year is that the pool is not offering lessons so it looks like it will be up to Dr Dad and me to help Caitlin organize her movements into an actual stroke.  So good to actually see people (at a respectful distance) and watch my kids play with some of the friends they are been missing.
3. One upside of the otherwise bummer of no camp is that there is a lot of options of when to do the summer work assigned in a day. After a well deserved break from school work; we are now back at it but at a more leisurely pace.  
4. In the category of 'better late than never' I finally got a couple of tomato plants in the ground, as well as some basil and trying for the first time this year summer squash.  As always we already have a bumper crop of mint, but I am hopefully that with a steady weeding the others plants might have their chance.
5. Nice weather and a still mostly empty calendar has allowed me to keep reading at a wonderful pace. Currently reading this and these titles coming up next.  I had in January set the Goodread challenge of reading 40 books this year; however in the craziness that is this year I'm likely to hit that goal next month!!
6. Another treat that June has brought is the return of HGTV's Good Bones.  While their design direction is often different from mine, I love the mother-daughter dynamic!  The show also really makes me want to go to Indianapolis; which I haven't thought a lot about since I was a kid watch One Day at a Time.
7. Wishing everyone a good weekend ~ and the dads out in blogland Happy Father's Day!!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QTs!

Open Book ~ June'20

Cotillion by Georgette Heyer is another fun Regency comedy of manners.  Kitty is being pressured into marriage by her guardian and appeals to a long-time friend to become betrothed to buy some time.  Freddy agrees reluctantly but then takes her to London and in every way behave in such a way to become one of my favorite Heyer Heroes  As I've come to expect from this author the supporting cast is wonderful and adds to the general confusion and very much to my enjoyment.






Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is the story of young love between two hurting teens.  They meet on the school bus when Eleanor moves to town and slowly come to care for each other.  Told in alternating perspectives the story is angsty and sweet in that way that good YA can without ever minimizing the serious problems they were facing.  Given the serious issues discussed and blatant examples of bullying would not recommend for young teens.












Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery is the last of the Anne of Green Gables series (book 8).  Told from the perspective of Anne's youngest daughter Rilla who at 15 is ready for her first dance and other delights. The story beginning in 1914 tells the story of WW1 as experienced in a little town on the coast of P.E.I. Wonderful characters 'do their bit' and serve from the Homefront, but the next four years are the carefree growing into womanhood she had imagined.  Written for young girls the description of the battles are not at all gory but Montgomery does convey the emotions of waiting for the latest papers.  While those who have read the series better appreciate the cameo's by the minor characters the book can be read as a stand-alone.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles is the story of Captain Jefferson Kidd who has lived through 3 wars and fought in 2. It is now 1870 and he makes his living traveling around north Texas reading the news from various newspapers aloud in towns along the way.  He is now as a favor to another former officer returning young girl, stolen by the Choctaw Indians four years earlier,  to her aunt and uncle near San Antonio.  I liked this quiet, sometimes slow moving story of breaking down communication barriers and forming relationships in this time place. Jiles descriptions of the Texas landscape are wonderful.











Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is the story of two girls in Nazi Occupied Denmark that I borrowed from my 12 year old after she read it with her class.  Annemarie is 10 years old and so is her best friend Ellen; and the book tells the story of how Annemarie's family comes to help and hide Ellen.  While clearly written for middle schoolers I really enjoyed the narrative and it peaked my curiosity enough to spend a couple of days researching the Danish Resistance.

My thanks to Carolyn for hosting this link-up!

Please click over for more Open Book!

First Day ~ Last Day 2019-20

First two trimesters spent in the brick & mortar and the last spent remote learning from home!!

Liam ~ 3rd Grade

Caitlin ~ 1st grade

 Elisabeth ~ 6th grade

Quick Takes #289: As My Remote Schoolhouse closes for the summer

1. Today is the last day of the school year give or take returning textbooks and chrome books next week. The bigs each have papers due today; and we are all a little crispy around the edges after a week of exams and finishing final projects.
2. That being said I am extremely proud of all of them and how they met every challenge given by their teachers really well.  I am also taking a moment to acknowledge how well I think I rose the challenge as well.  With a significant shout-out to Dr Dad who came to my rescue a few times when technology tried to get the better of me.
3. Memories to hold on; Lisbeth and Dr Dad discussing/commiserating how to attend several Zoom meetings a day and still get your work in on time.  Morning prayer time when they would take turns leading the Morning Offering and saying the pledge. Caitlin also tried to teach me the school song with mixed results.
4. I also had fun introducing the youngest two to some of my favorites from Grammar Rock when they were learning about conjunctions and adjectives.
5. It was also fascinating to see their learning styles up close; for example I see a standing desk in Liam's future.  Lisbeth preferred to work on the floor in her bedroom where she could spread her papers out in a circular manner; organized chaos if you like.  She also won a few prizes for her enthusiasm in zoom meetings.  Caitlin is struggling the most with missing seeing her friends but also finished the year strong.
6. As the many different options for the next year are discussed and given how many of them include as least part-time remote learning I'm glad to know we can do it if we need to.  But first summer ~ and summer work; but that is for another day!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's!

First Rosary books ~ A Review

  A couple months ago Holy Hero's very graciously send me a set of My First Rosary books and I wanted to very much take time this month (Mary's month) to share what a blessing they have been.

 

     Really well made with sturdy full-color pages I'm sure that they will hold up well through lots of use.  Intended for my 7 year; in fact my older kids very much enjoy having a turn with them during our family rosary to read the description of the mystery we are praying and they are leading.  The bead illustration also helps with keeping count with the decade being prayed.

 And in one on one time with my 7 year we can read them as if they were bible story books, where she can both learn the events of Jesus and Mary's life and begin to learn which events constitute the different mysteries of the Rosary.  Another great feature for both during our family rosary and when Caitlin explores on her own is that all the prayers of the Rosary are listed in the back of each book.

We were sent a set of the  Little Catholic First Rosary books in return for my honest review and I am so glad to add these resources to the prayer life of my kids.

Open Book ~ May'20

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner which will be released later this month is a lovely story about a village in England where the author Jane Austen lived for a while, and what a small group of townspeople did to preserve her legacy.  I found this book slow to get going but ultimately wonderful with developed characters and amusing dialogue.  The book also speaks to Austen's appeal across the generations.

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt tells the story of the Civil War from the perspective of a 10 year old; youngest son in a family living in Southern Illinois.  A quietly moving YA story (based on the experience of the author's grandfather) where a young boy comes of age practically because his older brothers leave and the work of the farm remains and emotionally as the stresses and worries of war continue over the years.

Loving My Actual Life by Alexandra Kuykendall, is a practical, funny look at the little changes that can make a big difference.  Based on a 9 month experiment where the author seeking to enjoy more of her everyday life rather than racing through, changed a few things each month to sort-out in her world what made a difference.  I enjoyed the journal format and emphasis on trial and error, as well as the author's approach being that of offering suggestions what worked in her married, four kids life. I also appreciated how Kuykendall shared how her faith effected her decisions but don't feel that this would be offensive or off-putting to non-Christians.


Please head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book