Dancing on the Head of a Pin...



Dancing on the Head of a Pen by Robert Benson is an absolute gem.  As a writer I often get so overwhelmed with the logistics of it all I can do is quit.

 

But writing isn't about logistics.  It definitely plays a part and it has a time and place, but writing is about passion and heart.  For the writer, writing is about finding that place of peace with words that brings happiness to both the soul of the author, as well as to the reader.

 

Benson's wit and humor combined with his honesty makes this book not just a how to putting pen to paper, but instead about finding "your" personal flow with eloquence and ease.  His short concise tid bits take the how-to out of writing that can make it seem so daunting at times; and he makes it this beautiful process that anyone can be a part of.

 

It's simply beautiful.

 

 

I recieved this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review

The Nourished Kitchen Review...

 

"Traditional foods are the foods of our great-great grandmothers- the foods of gardens and farms.  They represent a system of balance, emphasizing the value of meat and milk, grain and bean, vegetables and fruits."

~Jennifer McGruther

The Nourished Kitchen: Farm to Table recipes for the Traditional Foods Lifestyle

 

 

I simply could not wait to get this cookbook by Jennifer McGruther as I thoroughly enjoy her blog, also about traditional food practices.  And I certainly wasn't disappointed when it finally arrived. 

 

McGruther presents her recipes in stunning form...both in photographic appeal and food education.

All of the recipes are exquisite in nature...as if they would be best suited for a four star upscale restaurant, but her approach is very down to earth and she details even the simplest of techniques such as blanching nuts for example.

 

Within the contents of The Nourished Kitchen, McGruther turns traditional food preparation into an art form...with recipes like salmon baked in cream with sweet bay, thyme and dill; pan-fryed savoy cabbage with bacon; and strawberries in minted honey syrup.  And while the recipes may seem intimidating at first, all of the handy charts, definitions and explicit directions take the reader from overwhelmed to inspired.  Where there is one picture of a beautifully prepared bean dish, there is also a list of every bean known to man along with its flavor description, nutrition and suggestions for preparation.  McGruther leaves no stone unturned in educating the reader on whole foods and how to incorporate delectable and healthy meals into everyday living.

 

I particularly enjoyed all of the explinations on cultured dairy products and fermented beverages.  I can't wait to try her kombucha recipes!

 

At the back of the book, McGruther also lists a number of resources to support your quest in the traditional food movement, which is nice to be able to go to find even more information specific to your location.

 

Overall I would certainly recommend this book to anyone looking to transform the way they eat.  It is obvious, from cover to cover, that the traditional foods movement doesn't have to be scary.  But it can and should be rich, diverse and elegent...while being simple all at the same time. 

 

 

I recieved this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

 



Yarn Along...

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~

 

Joinging Ginny for her weekly Yarn Along...

 

 

I'm a slow knitter.

 

My Scarf With No Name is not complete as I expected it to be.  Sometimes life happens and little time is left for knitting.  I have accomplished a few rows here and there, but right now our daughters are in full bent revolt.  They bicker, they complain, they ignore (me)...I suspect it's a phase.  I pray with all my might it's just a phase.  Because while the girls are busy not getting along or sassing mama, their brother is scaling table tops and attempting to pull blinds down.

 

My goal each night after the children are in bed is to relax with my essential oils and my knitting... hoping to actually get something accomplished.

 

But inevitably, as soon as my butt hits the bed I'm out.  Motherhood is exhausting.  And I'm well aware this is nothing new to most of you.  But some seasons are just so jam packed with "stuff" there's nothing else left at the end of the day. 

 

That's where I'm at right now.  But I hope...I realllllllly hope...the tides will turn soon.  And I'll find that place of welcomed respite.  A place where little ones play quietly and nicely...where one year olds don't constantly try to defy gravity.

 

I look forward to that place and time...if there is such a thing.

 

As for reading...I'm bringing you a review and giveaway of Nicky Epstein"s Knitting ReImagined.

 

As I looked through all the patterns tucked beneath the covers of this book I wondered how in the world I was going to review it in a favorable light.  I, personally, just couldn't grasp the lines, the detail or how modern the knits were.  All I could imagine was how nice a coffee table book it would make.  Really more of a book best admired for it's photographic splendor rather than actually attempting the work within.

 

This is not your Grandma's knitting, for sure.  ReImagined is an understatement in my opinion.  The patterns are very avant garde...with unusual lines and boxy shapes.  If I could combine Andie Walsh (you know...Pretty In Pink heroine) and Katniss Everdeen into a sweater, that might give you a good idea of what to expect.  It is not my style of knitting, nor even remotely on my skill level.  The pictures are lovely to look at, though.  Epstein presents her knits in stunning form.

 

But as I continued through, it began to occur to me that maybe that's the point of the whole thing.  Knitting ReImagined isn't meant to appeal to your delicate, traditional or heirloom knitting.  It's meant for a new generation of fiber artists.

 

I know I wish I had learned to knit from my grandmother or even my mom.  But I didn't.  I learned from You Tube.  However, it is something I intend on passing down to my girls and when they are grown, their knitting is going to look so much different from my knitting.  Instead of it being an art on the brink of extinction, maybe it will be busy with revolution.  New rules, new fibers, new stitches, new ways of wearing the finished product.  Maybe our knitting, if pushed out of the box a little, can be left to evole into something beautiful yet modern that our children and their children can enjoy for years to come.  Afterall, knitting is about legacy, right?.  It certianly is not about what is lost, but about what is gained.

 

So even though this book isn't necessarily my style now, that's not to say it won't be someone's style later.

 

I fully intend on trying my hand at at least one of the patterns...if not more.  And I would recommend this book to any knitter looking to push their boundaries a little...explore a different technique...and live on the knitting edge. :)

 

Would you like to win a copy?  Leave a comment about your knitting legacy.  For an extra entry, share this on your blog and leave me a link in an additional comment.  I'll be choosing a recipient at random on Friday morning around 10:00 am (EST).  I'll then contact the winner via email.

 

Many Blessings to you all.

 

Sharing today at:

Small Things

Frontier Dreams

 

 

 

 

I recieved this book (and one additional copy) for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

 

Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist

I'm jumping the gun on this a little bit because I have a couple more chapters left, but it's just too good for me not to share it now.  It can't wait.

I often wonder, as a woman, a wife, a mom...heck, a human even...if I'm the only one that thinks the things I do about life and joy and sorrow and God and how it all meshes together.  For the longest time I thought surely I was alone in my musings.  Yet, having said that, half the time I can't even make sense of what is crawling around up in this mind of mine...how can I propose that anyone else can?

Enter Cold Tangerines.

Turns out, as fate would have it, I'm not alone.  The author of Cold Tangerines, Shauna Niequist, does make sense of what goes on in her brain...thus probably millions, giving a voice and understanding to what most of us don't have the courage or maybe even capacity to do.  I said numerous times while reading this (and I'll probably say it many more) I felt like she was speaking right to me.  Like she was writing about me.  Like this sister spirit of mine had entered my home, my heart, and spoke exactly what I have felt in various and sundry situations.  I dare to assume, should you choose to read this book (which I highly recommend) you'll feel the same way as well.

The subtitle of this book is "Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life" and Niequist not only beautifully illustrates God in our everyday lives, but she gives us something to reach out and touch...a tangible, wrap your arms around and love it, sort of glimpse into our emotions and our thoughts and our faith.  This book is extraordinary in nature in it's own right, that's for sure.

Through short vignettes (chapters) detailing childhood, family, adulthood, parenthood, work, death, faith (and everything in between) throughout her own life, Niequest manages to touch on almost every topic and emotion within the human spirit...with total and utmost honesty.  In fact, there were a few times in my reading I actually had to reread and reread certain passages because she had said things that I had actually thought but wouldn't ever say.  Her honestly is raw to a degree, but so relevant and relateable.  Turns out...most of us think and would like to say these very same things as well.

Every tale chronicles not only the ups and downs in life, but the splendid nature of God in the midst of it all.  The resounding theme, for me at least, was that we are not alone in this walk.  We always have a good and mighty God there with us, during the good times as well as the bad times.  I think that in and of itself is a necessary call for celebration!

Not to mention, I was astounded at the near poetic language Niequist wrote in.  Having studied both English and French literature, her wording and expression are lyrical.  You almost feel as if you're reading some literary classic love story, which I think is appropriate as God does carry on his own love story with us does he not?  On a side note: I would like to see a Devotional book written by this wise woman...I think her wisdom and way with words would give us new insight into the Word of God.

So would you read this book?  I think you should.  I also think you would thoroughly enjoy it.  Check it out.  If you'd like to purchase it through amazon, head over to my "I Recommend" link in the left hand column.

Cold Tangerines is published by Zondervan Books.  More information about Shauna and her book (including her blog and speaking opportunities) can be found at http://shaunaniequist.com/

I'm sharing this on "Works for Me Wednesday" over at We Are That Family, because...well...this book just works for me.  Check out what works for others and while you're at it...link up and share what works for you as well.

 

Disclaimer:

Shauna Niequist does not know me...nor do I know her personally.  I have received no compensation for this review.  Just wanted to share what I think is a great book!