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Review: The Artisan's Wife

9/30/2016

Nuts about Books sent me this Judith Miller book called "The Artisan's Wife". It's a sweet romance that touches on a hard subject. Do note that affiliate links may be used in this post, provided for your assistance, and may prove beneficial to my blog. Any help you offer is much appreciated.

In the world of the late 1800's in West Virgina, Ainslee McKay is in for a shock. Her twin sister has eloped and left her holding the bag.

Someone has to manage the tile works, and Ainslee needs to be the one to handle it, whether she wants to or not. She finds herself in need of a new employee, enter Levi Judson, a talented tile maker who is also a designer... with a need for long term employment.

What follows is how two people, work past secrets and learn to trust each other.

There were some good thoughts scrattered throughout the book, this one in particular caught my eye.

So what did I think? I enjoyed the another book in this series called The Potter's Lady, and thought that another would appeal as well. One of the things I appreciated in Judith Miller's writing is that, the book is not all about the romance between two people. It's also about a greater issue, and in this one the characters needed to learn about honesty, trust and seeing people for who they really were, loving them notwithstanding. If I can find it sometime, I think I'd like to read the first in this series.

The Artisan's Wife

By Judith Miller
Series: Refined by Love

Publisher: Bethany House

Pages: 333
Type: romance, light, historical, fiction

Overall verdict: Good book

#fmfparty - Word Prompt is Collect

9/29/2016

Kate has a new word prompt for us this week.... .it's . If you want to know how to participate, it's really easy.

1. set your timer for five minutes
2. write, no editting, just a five minute free write
3. link up
4. encourage at least one person who went on before you

So this week.. the word is COLLECT.

Go 1013
Collect.
hmm... When I was a child one of my duties to was to collect the eggs from our chickens. I LOVED our chickens, and I still love them, and wish I could have a flock of them.

I would tie them up and take them for walks, I had names for them all, and as I got older I even get the job of picking out what chickens we would have. I chose Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rock, Plymouth Rocks and a couple of different banties. Chickens are cool.

But hey I digress. I used to collect the eggs.
We were fortunate in that we didn't have any egg eaters, but we did have hand peckers. Grumpy always had her eye out for a quick peck if she was anywhere near the nestboxes. I learned to go in quietly and talk with the chickens before I took their eggs, The more I communicated with them, the easier the collecting was.

It makes me think about how God quietly and determinedly communicates with us his people. He collects us into family groups that are all part of a larger family group. His collection of people whom he calls with deliberate conversation with us.

And hey.. that's five minutes already!!!! :)

STEM: Sand Art

9/29/2016

The question is this: How is sand art STEM?

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Science: Chromotography - figuring out how when some colours meet and mix, they combine to make a new colour.

Technology: The funnel this kit came with was a bit small...This required some problem solving. I used a homemade funnel made of paper, and my son used a skewer to help push the sand through the funnel. Also the sand art wand was next to useless so we needed to create a work around for that. Straws, toothpicks, careful shaking, and moving the funnel to direct the flow were our options.

Engineering: Each sand art jar was shaped differently, my son chose the bottle he did because it seemed to him the best bottle from which to learn how to layer sand.

Math: The sand particles shift and settle. This meant we needed to add more sand than we originally thought. It took careful shaking to get the sand to settle without messing up the design we so carefully created.

This is the kit we used. I don't know where I picked it up, but it came with four bottles, six colours of sand, a shaping wand, and four stoppers.

We learned quickly that putting the bags down on the table would result in leakage, so we found some cups to store them upright in. Here my son is demonstrating the use of the skewer to help the sand through the funnel.

Settling was an issue, how much more would it need? Far more than we thought it would. It seemed to always take just a wee bit more. The funnel seemed useless here.

Now.. the sand art wand was next to useless and it never glowed in the dark which was a tremendous disappointment to the lad, but we have a fun creating and thinking, and that's kinda the end point of it all. :)

Have you tried Sand Art as a STEM activity? Though I do suppose, that it includes the A as well eh? The "A" being for art... aren't they interesting once they are complete? Sand art also shows off our individual expression! :)

Chaos Organized, pt. 2 - The Joy of Plastic Bins

9/28/2016

Don't you just hate it when you are looking for a pen or pencil and you just can't fine one? Or if you have a child constantly saying, "MOM, do you have jar I can use to do _______? Do we have any wood in the house mom??" or "HUN! I need tape! Where is it?!?!" All these questions....repeated constantly....with the needful demand behind them, and sometimes I felt like I couldn't keep up.

UGH!!!! It drives me crazy, so over the years I decided to create a full proof system.. and it's WORKING!!! Even hubby can find pens and tape when he needs them. :)

So what is my system? It's a bin organized system. Lots of bins. :) Mostly see-through which is a very good thing, as it means anyone can see what's inside without having to open bins you don't really want to waste time opening. :)

Pencils and erasers in one drawer.
Scissors in another.
On top.. our cardstock... useful in the making of minecraft figures, and other papercraft items. Useful to for making unit study/modified colour lap books.

Pencil crayons and pens.. all in one spot. Markers and compass kits. Sorted and easy to locate.

And our Lego.. not the neatest right now and my giveaway pile of books is sitting in the way, but when it is organized we have room for lego creations to sit on top, and pieces are sorted by type and size. Makes it SO easy to build lego which makes me happy.

I used to scrapbook. I don't do it anymore, but I still have my scrapbooking drawers. :) Some of them still hold the remnants of my scrapbooking, which unsurprisingly, are useful with creative children.

I've added two rolls of tape drawers, and a paper cutting drawer. oh.. and I think I have stencils drawer in there somewhere too.

The sticker and paper drawers remain (though their supplies are getting reduced). I do not consider that a bad thing.

Between the table and the window I have my large storage bins. When you have a child who can and will make items out of anything, having "stuff" to make it from comes in handy. :) It goes up and down in the amount of materials available as I regularly purge it (or bring it along to craft based co-op days), it works...and keeps it all contained. A good thing that eh?

The thing I like about plastic drawers is they are portable, it's easy enough to move them from room to room, it's easy to shift drawers around as you don't then have to shift everything from one drawer to another.. you just move it! :)

So tell me.. how do you store things such as legos, pens, pencils and what not. What have you done to ease the craziness?

More in this series:
Part One, Organized Chaos - Science Materials.

Art Series: The Renaissance

9/28/2016

Today I have a lovely information book about The Renaissance to share with you. This book is part of the Odysseys in Art series, and talks about the art movement that began in the 1420's.

Anne Fitzpatrick shares the Renaissance with us through word in image.

In this book one would find lots of vibrant images. 16 full colour images scattered throughout the book, some as single pages, others as double pages.

Each image comes with commentary about the picture as well as some of the history around it.

I loved this statement at the beginning of the book "The history of the world can be told through accounts of great battles, the lives of kings and queens, and this discoveries and inventions of scientists and explorers. But the history of the way people think and feel about themselves and world is told through art." (p9)

So the words in books tell the story, but so do the images made in the time period. They tell the story and if you think about the pictures, how the people felt about it. It's a great way to add to any study of history. :)

As you read the book, you will notice words in red, these words are part of the glossary found in the back of the book.

I love how cultural history is combined with the art history. It weaves together so well and provides depth to the art work of this time period.

Occasionally red pages pop up in the book.

As you can see, these pages show art work, along with some history.   It fits together so nicely.   Me... who enjoys art but doesn't think about it a whole lot, found this book so interesting to combine the art with the history in time.

A fun fact: Tommaso Guido was nicknamed Masaccio which means Clumsy Tom because he was so obsessed with art that he didn't take care of anything else.   He would combine the style of different artists when we worked on frescos.   He died suddenly at age 27.

And did you know that the folks who invented painting with oil tried to keep it a secret?     Oh the intrigue in the world of art. Seriously... I learned things I never even dreamed of. :)

So, if you are looking for a good book with fun facts and great images, that ties history and art together well, this book will meet that end quite nicely.

The Renaissance
Odysseys in Art
Author: Anne Fitzpatrick

The Creative Company
6.36 x 8.98 · 80 pages
Ages 12-15

Reviewed for Raincoast Books

Affiliate Links, provided for you ease of locating product, and they help me provide you with quality material. :) Canadian link: The Renaissance: Odysseys in Art American Link: Art with Odyssey, The Renaissance

Rabbit and Rice Casserole Supper

9/27/2016

So I've been trying to come up with meals that our Brazilian Student might like beyond hamburgers and pizza (which he adores) and I've been well... watching his face and noticing some unhappiness lately, so I thought I'd try something different tonight.

I grabbed some rabbit out of the freezer this morning (front and hind legs) and thought, perhaps I can tempt him with these.

This is what I did.

Brown rice (cover bottom of casserole dish well).
Cover that rice with rabbit.
Cover the rabbit with a mixture of cream of mushroom condensed soup + one can bouillon + 1/2 can water.

Stick in oven, 350 for about an hour and a half.
Put some veggies on for a side dish KNOWING that your student won't eat them but wanting the colour on my plate. :)

And watch one 15 year old take THREE HELPINGS!!!!!

Success. This is the most I have seen him eat in one sitting. :)

Letters to Pastor's Wives, Depression: A Dark Valley

9/27/2016

This chapter, Depression: A Dark Valley is written by Mary Somerville, who has helped her husband/pastor through the dark valley of depression.

First off, know this... depression can hit anyone. Even a person who is cheerful, resilient, athletic, and hopeful. Even they can become depressed.

Causes of depression are varied: overwork, injury, loss of employment, hormonal imbalance, exhaustion (physical/emotional) and more. One doesn't always know the cause, but it's real.

Depression can range in severity from mild to severe.   Symptoms are: depressed mood, diminished pleasure in activities, weight gain or loss, insomnia, loss of energy, purposeless physical activity, feelings of worthlessness, diminished ability to think, indecisiveness, thoughts of suicide, and more.

So how does one deal with depression?

Get a thorough physical check up.
See if there is anything physically going on that could cause a depressive spirit.   Check hormones, thyroid, and such like. Check your sleeping and eating habits. Do you exercise? Are meds needed? If so, for how long?
Examine your guilt.
Often, depression and guilt go hand-in-hand. So examine yourself, is there something you need to repent of? Christ's blood covers ALL our sin, just seek it out, repent of it, and be cleansed of it.
Seek Counsel.
Seek help from others, another pastor perhaps, or even a biblical counsellor.   They can help you see blind spots, encourage you, pray for you, be a sounding board etc.
Fight the fight.
Know that you are in a battle, depression knocks warriors out of the battle, and can steal your hope, your spirit, and your soul. Don't believe the lies of hopelessness you are being fed. FIGHT!
Read your bible and pray
If you are depressed, take the time to read your bible, to turn to the great counsellor.   This is a daily battle, read about others who have fought this battle and won, see their struggles and their winning, the way the Lord sustained them and helped them.
Pour out your soul
Talk to the Lord, tell him your struggles and your needs, your worries and your fears. Confess to him how sometimes you just can't see him, or hear his voice, find things you can praise him for, your health, a bible, a book, a flower.. anything, find it and praise him for it.
A view beyond yourself
Realize that you need to see beyond yourself. Even if you are depressed you can still pray for others, you can still call, visit or write to people.
The bride of Christ
Access the church, attend services, don't withdraw even though you will want to. The Bride of Christ is there for all her people. You need the prayer, support and help from the whole church.
Do your duty
Fulfill your responsibilities as much as you can. Ask God for help if needed. Don't pull away from meaningful work and activities, because if you do so, it only adds to your depression. Rest often, but work as well as you can.

Most of all DO NOT GIVE UP! God can and will see you through this time.   Remember that "weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning." (Ps 30:5)

Philosopher: Michel De Montaigne

9/27/2016

A French Philosopher and writer, Michel De Montaigne, is considered an important philosopher from the period of the French Renaissance.

Fame and tranquility can never be bedfellows.

Unlike some of his contemporaries, Mr. Montaigne believed that seeking one's own glory or fame, keeps one from living a tranquil life.

If you are set on living a tranquil life, then the opinions of others should not matter to you, but if you seek fame, then you are obligated to seek their opinion, and since you are seeking their opinion, you can no longer be tranquil.

In his opinion, we should not of "other people's approval and admiration as being valuable". (p109 philosophers book)

Montaigne went on to say "we should imagine that some truly great and noble being is constantly with us, able to observe our most private thoughts, a being in whose presence even the mad would hide their failings. By doing this, we will learn to think clearly and objectively and behave in a more thoughtful and rational manner." (p.109)

You know I read that and I thought "huh... that is cool"... if we, as believers, realize that God can hear our every thought and idea, would it not cause us to be think through our responses a bit more? Too often we jump the gun, and we act before thinking that we are responsive to a greater being... that being GOD. Fascinating eh?

Anyways, back to talk about this philosopher. :)

Montaigne was born into a catholic family and remained a member of the catholic church his entire life. His family was wealthy and he was educated at home. He made a great friend at age 24 with Étienne de la Boétie. This was an intellectul as well as emotional friendship and they formed a great bond. When de la Boétie died, Montaigne turned to his writing career. Two years after his friend died, he married Françoise de la Chassaigne, and of six children born, only one daughter survived.

He often wrote in a personal manner, which was not the style of the day, and some disagreed with his methods.

Sources:
IEP. Wiki. Britannica.

Hymn Study: Sweet Hour of Prayer

9/26/2016

Lyrics

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"

William W. Walford is the author is this sweet, quiet hymn. We sang it this morning and church and I have to tell you, this whole week has seemed filled with the topic of prayer, two reviews done.. both on the thought of prayer, and a sermon about prayer... and this sweet hymn... think God is trying to tell me something??

There seems to be two William Walford around at the time, and which one is the author is up for some debate. (source) The same source that gave me that information also wrote these words
When not referring to matters of taste, “sweet” indicates something that is pleasant, agreeable and delightful. The word also has an older meaning–which might have been known by Mr. Walford–and that is respected, indicating that the hour of prayer is esteemed and held in high honour. All of that surely describes well our times before God’s throne.

I read that and thought wow...that adds an extra layer to this hymn doesn't it.   To not just think of how the author appreciates his time of prayer, but how he respects his time of prayer, almost like he covets this time...

THIS THIS my readers is what I need to learn to do. To covet, to deeply respect and long for, my time of prayer.   To treat it like the treasure that it is, and through that to learn to be the prayer warrior that God calls me to be.

Back to the hymn study. :)

More about Walford.
Thomas Salmon, a New York native, spent some time in Coleshill, Warwickshire, England, where he became acquainted with William. He tells this tale of what happened one day, while he was visiting the blind pastor:

"...He repeated two or three pieces which he had composed, and having no friend at home to commit them to paper, he had laid them up in the storehouse within. "How will this do?" asked he, as he repeated the following lines, with a complacent smile touched with some light lines of fear lest he subject himself to criticism. I rapidly copied the lines with my pencil, as he uttered them, and sent them for insertion in the Observer, if you should think them worthy of preservation." (source)

Walford, a blind preacher, with a prodigious memory.   Amazing isn't it?   A person, who owned a trinket shop, so easily discounted, composing hymns that are still well-known today.    God works in such interesting ways. :)

I'm gonna be in print!!!

9/26/2016

Yes, You heard it right.

I AM GOING TO BE IN PRINT!!!

What.. little ole' me? Indeed I am.

For quite a while now I've been taking part in the five minute Friday parties, hosted first by Lisa and now by Miss Kate. Someone had the brilliant thought of.. what if we put some of these thoughts into a book and then sell it so we can help support our favourite charities??? And thus a book was made. :) I thought it would be fun to take part.

Anyways, this week is launch week so... we're selling the book and the profits will be split in two. They will go to two ministries in South Africa that Kate and Lisa have been supporting for a fair while now: The Vine School in Cape Town, and The Ten Dollar Tribe.

The Vine School helps children get a solid education. It is an independent school, and the tuition the students pay does not cover all the expenses. The help given, gives the children a better education. They exist to provide Christ-honouring education, embodying academic, cultural, physical and spiritual growth.

The Ten Dollar Tribe, is a group of people who believe that giving $10 a month can make a difference in the lives of others. $10 pays for food, a caregiver, school supplies and so much more.

So, if you want to see me in print... or if you just want to help support these organizations, or if you are just curious what a bunch of different folks can write in five minutes flat... GO HERE. Buy the book, have it shipped to you and be inspired by people writing good stuff that encourages. :)