What I'm Reading

Every year, like a good citizen of our fine town, I visit the public library and sign up for the summer reading club. (It has nothing to do with getting a free meal from Noodles and Company...Ok, it totally does.)

Here are the books I've read so far:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Gift Giving Handbook for the Inept Man by Timothy B. Schnabel (Funny to read from a woman's perspective, but has some good points in it.)
Manners by Kate Spade

I should mention that when I went to turn in my progress report after reading the Inept Man and Manners books, the librarian took one look at my two children and gave me a comment that said to me, "You clearly are lying because you have two children and there is no way you read two books in one week." I replied, "Yeah, spending 6 hours in the car does wonders for getting your reading list done." Yeah...she looked embarrassed.

Here are the ones that are on my nightstand (or piano bench that is next to our bed) waiting for me to read:
Bringing Up Girls by Dr. James Dobson (The first two chapters are good!)
Sarah's Key by Titiana de Rosnay (Haven't cracked the cover.)

If you have a book to suggest, post a comment!

Irons in the Fire

Ever feel like you have too many irons in the fire? That pretty much describes the last couple weeks for me. Nothing much is going on, but too much of everything is going on.

Mr. Bean has been on vacation. We've been moving things from one storage area to another and going through and consolidating all of it. I've been putting in many more hours at work than I'm supposed to in a given week trying to get ready for the school year. Plus there are several family and extended family things going on (nothing negative). Sprinkle in a few vacations and it has been crazy.

Here is hoping the craziness settles down a bit. I believe that begins with Mr. Bean going back to work in the morning!

Reading List Part 2

Our public library's summer reading program is in full swing. Previously I shared with you the first third of my reading journey. I finished my 6th book today, which brings me to having finished the 2nd third of the reading program. Here are the books I chose:

The Duggars: 20 and Counting by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. I chose this book because the family's lifestyle fascinates me. I wanted to get (in their own words) some of the reasons why they chose the life they did and how they make it all work. It was quite fascinating and a quick, easy read.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. Although I have already read a fiction book, I did not write it on my list under the "read a fiction or mystery book" section. This book fulfilled both requirements. It is written from the perspective of an autistic boy who finds his neighbor's dog murdered with a garden fork one night. Besides giving the reader an idea of how the autistic mind works, there is also a glimpse into the life of those across the pond in England.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I chose this to fulfill the "classic" requirement of the reading program. Now that I'm 30, and I'm reading it again for the first time since high school, I must say that I appreciate it a lot more. I also get the historal and cultural implications I would never have understood in high school.

For the final third of the reading program, I have no restrictions on the books that I must read. I can even do audiobooks! So, what suggestions do you have for my final three books? ( I won't be reading any Anne of Green Gables or anything by the Austen sisters. Much too girly for my likes.)

Tutu Tips

I got caught up yesterday making this for String Bean that I forgot to blog! Whoops. I'd say, "It won't happen again," but I'd probably be lying.

A few notes about that tutu if you plan to make it. My baby has a pretty small waist and is pretty short for 19 months old. I suggest you measure your kid to see where you want the tutu to fall. I made 20" tulle pieces instead of 24". Combing the shorter pieces with a smaller waist, I only needed 25 yards of fabric instead of 50. Of course, your mileage may vary as you make this, so be sure to do a bit of measuring before you start cutting!

We hired our music pastor's son to come over and clean our house today. Paying him $6 per hour, we are out $33, but our house is livable again! Crevices that haven't seen a vacuum or dust cloth in years (gulp) are now clean and tidy. Even our refrigerator and freezer were emptied and wiped down! If you need a house cleaner and you're local, let me know. I'll pass along his info and you can hire him. He's looking for summer work.

Now to enjoy the evening with a clean home and a well dressed toddler!

Reading List

I am participating in the summer reading club at our local library. 9 books in 9 weeks. String Bean is participating, too. 9 hours in 9 weeks. Hardly seems fair.

So far, I've already read 3 books. Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles, Multiple Blessings by Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson (which only took one day when all I did during naptime was read), and Infant Swimming by Cynthia Clevenger. Each book was chosen for a specific purpose. The first because it was on the Battle of the Books list and the title intrigued me (!), the second because I watch the show, am saddend by the latest developments, and had to read a biography, and the third because String Bean has developed a fear of the water, so I wanted to read up on the subject. I also needed to read a non-fiction book.

Still on my list are 6 more books one of which must be a classic. Any suggestions for the remaining 6 books?

School's out for Summer!

Today, it's been a week since school got out for Walnut and Peanut. We don't have any big plans, yet. Walnut is going to be in a Pepsi and Hot Dog bowling league and Peanut needs to get some speech therapy. All three of them need to have swimming lessons, but I'm not sure if that will happen. Lots of outside time is definitely on the agenda.

My plan is to do lots of sewing and jewelry making. I'm really enjoying my sewing machine. I've made pillow cases for the boys and just finished a skirt for Cashew. When Mandie gets back, I'll have her post some pictures of some of the stuff I've made. (I'm html impaired) I have material to make some shorts for the boys and on Wednesday, my blessed mother-in-law is taking my kids for the entire day and I'm going to attempt to follow this tutorial and make a blouse for my self.

I'm growing some plants, too. I have 3 tomato plants and 5 pepper plants growing in my back yard. I'm pretty excited about them, but I'm getting annoyed at those pesky weeds that keep popping up.

So that's the update on the Nuts. Stay tuned for news of a possible jewelry giveaway. I've made some bracelets that need a home.

One of those...Years?

I went in to work today and turned on my computer only to find it wouldn't turn on. I'm now on computer #4 in my last 19 months of employment. I believe the first one broke around this time last year, so I've managed to break 3 in a year. I must have radioactive fingers or something.

On the bright side, I've now got a sexy new laptop just in time for me to quit working for the summer!