MOG'S BLOG

Holy Communion Day.

2011-06-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was a very special day for many children who attend our church.

After weeks of preparation by our parish priest the fourteen children were ready to receive Our Blessed Lord for the first time. The whole of the parish were invited to attend and as you can see by the photo above the church was packed.

Some dear family friends were also present and making their first Holy Communion and it was a delight to be able to capture such a unique occasion with my camera.
God Bless, B,E, and her pretty sister W.and all the other children.

Time flies ...

2011-06-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

... when you are having fun! Yes, I am back , the weeks have flown by with shearing,housework and wedding preparations.
The weather has helped a lot with the farm work ---- most of the shearing completed (although the Swaledales won't be ready for a couple of weeks) and hubby has now started cutting the grass for either silage or hay, depending how long this glorious sunshine lasts. If it is short lived the grass will be made into silage , brilliant sunshine will give us very good hay, so the next few days are very important to this farmer.

Weddings...

2011-05-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

...both Royal and otherwise have been on my mind recently. Two of my daughters joined myself for a wonderful day watching the Royal Wedding. It was fantastic! Her dress , the service , the bridesmaids were all so lovely. Yesterday , the bride was seen supermarket shopping , pushing her trolley along as we all do, (although I don't think there are security men following me in Morrisons, lol!) but she is obviously enjoying her 'normal' married life.

Now for the 'other' weddings ; well two of my daughters are tying the knot this year, one in September and one in December, so there is plenty of wedding talk in this household. Up to now we have one wedding dress, two bridesmaid outfits and one mother of the bride outfit. The priest, choir , church flowers are all arranged and cars and cake are being organised as I type. All the above are for the Septmeber wedding and most will be repeated for the Winter bride.

There is much preparation to be done for 'the' day , but it is exciting!The day will be wonderful although I'm sure there will be a few wedding nerves, I can't imagine how nervous William and Kate must have felt in the Abbey, and her father with such a long walk to the altar, oh my perhaps we have nothing to be nervous about after all!

Easter Sunday

2011-04-23T11:44:00.000-07:00

'HE IS RISEN !'

Wishing readers all the blessings of Easter.

Palm Sunday

2011-04-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

'The next day the crowds who had come up for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took branches of palm and went out to meet Him, shouting,

'Hosanna! Blessings on the King of Israel, who comes in the name of the Lord.' John 12, 12-13.

Photo courtesy of this site.

The Pelican Brief

2011-04-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

The Pelican Brief by John Grisham.

'He seemed incapable of creating such chaos, but much of what he saw below could be blamed on him. And that was fine. He was ninety-one, paralyzed,strapped in a wheelchair and hooked on oxygen'.

These are the first lines of this action packed thriller. The 'He' in question is a legendary high court judge and the first of the assassins victims.
As the story unfolds the killer's appetite for murder continues , all judges or law lecturers.
The U.S. President is drawn into the plots and his contact with unscrupulous business men is made apparent.

However, when an innocent law student who has written her own account of the business dealings involved is made known to the killer ,she is literally running from state to state for her life.

This was my first John Grisham novel and it won't be my last. A fantastic novel , very well written , the author has not resorted to sex and swearing , which is an added bonus for me.
Highly recommended.

Passion Sunday.

2011-04-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-06T03:39:00.000-07:00

'Follow my Leader!

More pics can be found

here.

Mothering Sunday.

2011-04-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Mothering Sunday.

Tomorrow being the fourth Sunday of Lent is Mothering Sunday. Traditionally a day when mothers are honoured in the U.K. This custom began many years ago and as time progressed the Church under her title 'Mother Church' was also honoured. The Church and all it represented was recognised as a spiritual help in combating evil and protecting people from harm.

As the years passed the church festival and 'Mothering Sunday' combined to form what day we experience now.

In addition to remembering our earthly mothers let's not forget our heavenly Mother, Our Lady. For she is a devoted Mother and we are her children. Our Lady is always with us, always ready to help and guide us through our earthly life.

So as well as buying gifts and cards to show our appreciation to Mum, lets not forget that we are also children of Mary.

Lord,

I ask but one favour of you this day,

That of dwelling in your Church

Not as a scholar,

Nor as a philosopher,

Not as an athlete,

Nor yet as a hero,

But simply as a child of Mary,

your Mother. Amen.

by Pierre Charles, S.J.

April.

2011-04-02T04:34:00.000-07:00

Always Marry An April Girl

Praise the spells and bless the charms,

I found April in my arms.

April golden, April cloudy,

Gracious, cruel, tender, rowdy;

April soft in flowered languor,

April cold with sudden anger,

Ever changing, ever true --

I love April, I love you.

by Ogden Nash.

Beyond the Sunset.

2011-03-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

'Beyond the Sunset' by Anna Jacobs.

The first part of this novel is set in Western Australia. The year is 1864 and the four Blake sisters have travelled to Australia on the wishes of their Aunt . Twins Maia and Xanthe and their older sisters Cassandra and Pandora have left their home in Lancashire and not all are happy 'down under'.
Living in the Migrants' Home Pandora dreams of the cobbled streets of the U.K.Back in their home town the Aunt has died and these girls have inherited her shop in Oldtham. To contact the girls Zachary Carr , a responsible employee of the shop is sent by solicitors to trace the sisters and encourage them to return to claim their inheritance.
The journey to Australia takes months and Zachary has adventure on the way , but these are insignificant compared with the return journey. Not all the sisters are keen to leave their new home . When Zachary returns with his passenger life in Lancashire, and particularly the shop has changed and not all for the better.

This is my first 'Anna Jacobs' novel and I can't recommend too highly. The descriptions of the Australian outback compared with the Lancashire town were well written and the romantic adventure is certainly a page turner.
Excellent.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

Camera shy?

More pics can be found here.

Third Sunday of Lent.

2011-03-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

'We beseech Thee , O Lord, grant us that taught by wholesome fasting, and abstaining from harmful vices, we may the more easily obtain Thy pardon.'

Unfortunately the World's top University...

2011-03-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

... didn't win the boat race.

Today saw the 157th University Boat Race on the river Thames in London. Oxford v Cambridge.The winners last year were Cambridge, the world's top university,but unfortunately couldn't succeed in the race today.

As you can guess I am a great fan of the Cam rowers and the Uni having two very close relations in their alumni, so today was disappointing but --- next year Cambridge , next year!!!!

Info from this source.

Three hands in the fountain.

2011-03-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

Three Hands in the Fountain by Lindsey Davis.

A Marcus Didius Falco Novel.

Rome, August - October, AD 73.
In ancient Rome , water fountains were numerous and as such there was often blockages around the pipe work. These pipes led to and from the aqueducts and the sewers. Lowly workers were employed to maintain these waterways. The water pipes were laid for the convenience of the public , both in the communal baths and in private homes.
The time between the hot months of August and October the fountains were used constantly . The heat of the sun and the excitment of 'games' in the arena made for thirsty citizens. Many people having travelled far and wide to be spectators.
As one fountain is reduced to a trickle workmen investigate the cause , only to find a human hand blocking the outlet. Marcus Didius Falco and his assistant, Petronius are summoned to solve this barbaric mystery.
When another hand is found in a fountain across the city the public panic and officials commission other investigators.
Now Marcus is a pretty 'laid back ' guy but when the city is bustling with travellers enjoying the last of the summer he springs into action to try and find this sadistic killer . Can he find the culprit before another hand is discovered?

This was my first 'Marcus' novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it, the sights and smells of ancient Rome were very evident and made for an interesting read.

Friday Funny.

2011-03-25T12:29:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-23T04:06:00.000-07:00

More pics can be found here.

Second Sunday of Lent

2011-03-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

'Understand my cry:hearken to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God: for to Thee will I pray, O Lord.'
Psalm 5. 2-4.

Photo courtesy of this site.

Friday Funny.

2011-03-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

Check out more photos here.

Teaser Tuesday

2011-03-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here is the format for Teaser Tuesday----

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser----
'I had warned Marina again to take care because the aqueduct snatcher might be working in her neighbourhood. She, quite reasonably, had then enquired whether I really thought any pervert would pluck up the courage to attack two of the Braidmakers' Old Girls after their monthly meeting night out? A ridiculous idea , of course.'

Page 209 , 'Three Hands in the Fountain' by Lindsey Davis.
More teasers can be found here.

First Sunday of Lent.

2011-03-13T13:06:00.001-07:00

Encouragement for Lent.

'Lent is the springtime of the ecclesiastical year. From the dying kernels of divine wheat a wonderful harvest will come:first, souls ripe for Baptism, second, an interior purification of cleansing by means of penance, a sort of second Baptism for sinners, and third, an opportunity for all the faithful to be reinforced and strengthened by necessary mortification and self-denial in their life's journey toward the final happiness that awaits them in heaven.'

The above lines are taken from 'Forty Days' by Bishop Bruskewitz, Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Our parish is fortunate to have the full text printed in its weekly newsletter.

Thankyou Father.

The Matters at Mansfield.

2011-03-11T10:56:00.001-08:00

The Matters at Mansfield by Carrie Bebris.

This is a Mr and Mrs Darcy mystery.So three guesses which Mr and Mrs Darcy? Yes that's right this follows the life of Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, oh silly me I mean ,Elizabeth (nee Bennet)and her husband Fitzwilliam Darcy.

The author manages to incorporate characters from Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
At this stage in their married life Elizabeth and Darcy are happy in their state with a lovely baby , namely Lily-Anne. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is recovering from Darcy's decision to marry Elizabeth instead of her daughter and so must find a suitable suitor for Anne.

Whilst Lady Catherine is preoccupied with this task Anne elopes with a mysterious man. Lady Catherine calls on her nephew, Darcy and his wife to help trace the couple. As Anne and her man flee to Gretna Green to wed their happiness is soon destroyed as Anne's husband is named as a bigomist and as if this is not enough trouble, a murder is committed and Anne's 'husband' disappears. All this fuels Lady Catherine's temper!

To solve the murder and mystery Elizabeth and Darcy must use all their powers of deduction and their ability to use a pistol.

This is the first 'Darcy mystery' I have read, in fact the first book by this author and it was sheer delight to read. Incorporating a great mystery and humorous in places it brought the characters from the Jane Austen books truly alive. I highly recommend it.

Ash Wednesday...

2011-03-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

...is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days (40 days not counting Sundays) before Easter. As Easter is a different date each year , so Ash Wednesday can fall anytime during February or March.These forty days commemorate Our Lord's time in the desert.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered after the palms or Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned.

Receiving the ashes on the forehead during the Ash Wednesday service denotes the recipient's wish to turn from sin and to contemplate our own sinful lives. To try and live a life more focused on God we are encouraged to contemplate Our Lord's 40 days in the desert .As He began fasting and praying at this time we are encouraged to follow His example and fast and abstain from any meat and it's products both today and on Good Friday.
To refrain from chosen foods, treats, pleasures and give alms to the poor during the whole of Lent helps us to concentrate on the prospect of Holy Week and Easter Day itself.

'Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return.'

Genesis 3, v 19.

How I have spent my Sunday......

2011-03-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

... well it has been a lovely relaxing day. Martha and her Mummy and Daddy have spent the day here after Mass, enjoying a Sunday lunch and tea. Not a traditional roast beef meal but roast ham with a gorgeous lemon sauce and vegetables.
I make the lemon sauce the following way ----

Recipe for lemon sauce.

I mix one tube of low fat creme fraiche with one teaspoon of wholegrain mustard and one teaspoon of caster sugar. To this mixture I add a dash of lemon juice and enough olive oil to make a fairly soft consistency . Unfortunately I don't have a photo as it has all been eaten. Believe me it is delicious served with hot/cold ham and so easy to make.

My visitors left for home around 6pm(nearly Martha's bedtime) and since then hubby, oldest daughter and myself all attended Benediction at church.A fitting end to a Sunday!

How did you spend your Sunday?

Friday Funny.

2011-03-04T09:39:00.001-08:00

A Classic!

The month of March.

2011-03-01T09:51:00.001-08:00

"March bustles in on windy feet
And sweeps my doorstep and my street.
She washes and cleans with pounding rains,
Scrubbing the earth of winter stains.
She shakes the grime from carpet green
Till naught but fresh new blades are seen.
Then, house in order, all neat as a pin,
She ushers gentle springtime in."

- Susan Reiner, Spring Cleaning

A Morbid Taste for Bones.

2011-02-28T12:36:00.001-08:00

'A Morbid Taste for Bones.'by Ellis Peters.

The first chronicle of Brother Cadfael.
This being the first novel in the brother Cadfael series the first part of the book introduces the reader to this kindly man.
A Benedictine monk, as he is now who's main occupation is tending the herb garden in the grounds of the monastery in Shrewsbury.
Cadfael's early life was as a crusader in the Holy Land, a life that encompassed many friendships including romantic attachments.

Due to these life experiences his 'take' on the Benedictine life and society in general was quite worldly and as such he was a very astute man.
In this novel the monks of Shrewsbury become obsessed with the bones of Saint Winifred and are keen to travel to a remote Welsh village to bring the relics back to Shrewsbury.
Brother Cadfael , being fluent in Welsh is the Prior's first choice to lead the monks .
On arrival in Wales the monks are confronted by one of their congregation succumbing to fits of ecstacy and young lovers who seem doomed to the single lives. Once a murder takes place Cadfael is keen to implore Saint Winifred for help, and this is obtained in a most remarkable way.

This was not a large book, 190 pages, but it did pack a good story . Highly recommended.

The Final Act of Mr Shakespeare.

2011-02-27T07:09:00.000-08:00

'The Final Act of Mr. Shakespeare' by Robert Winder.

A novel set in the time of James 1, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The year is 1613 , and William Shakespeare has retired to the genteel life in Warwickshire. His days of penning plays are over, or so he thinks until...
his mind becomes restless or his writing hand itchy, but he returns to London and there reunites with his 'famous' actors ,known as the 'King's Men'.
London is trying to recover from the Gunpowder plot of 1605 and many people remain nervous of the politics surrounding the city and royal spies abound.
This is the reign of James 1, some may think this a peaceful time after living their time with Elizabeth 1,others still hanker after Elizabethan ways.
To try and script a play in these times is dangerous work and Shakespeare and his 'men' need all their wits about them to create this masterpiece, namely writing the truth about Henry V11.

Tension mounts at every rehearsal and every time pen is put to paper...

''Things have not changed Will,' said Armin.'If anything they are worse. We are the King's Men in name only. There are spies everywhere, Take that new house of yours -- it is a well known Catholic safe house; they have been watching it for years!That is why we are slinking about here in Spitalfields, is it not? My God: a play that sets out to blacken the name of Henry Tudor. I don't know , Will...''

A good novel but I found the ending disappointing!

Booking through Thursday

2011-02-17T12:42:00.000-08:00

Here is today's meme----

What’s the most romantic book you’ve ever read?

(Mind you, I don’t mean the hard-core stuff you hide in plain wrappers under your mattress. I mean True Love, Romance, deeply emotional, heart-tugging, and all that stuff.)

And, secondly, did you like it? Is it your usual kind of reading, or did it take you by surprise?

Well the book that comes to mind in a big way is a classic. A wonderful book about a strong, independant woman who believes that true love will never be hers. However after many trials her dream comes true. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte , I love it both the book and the Zelah Clark version of the Jane Eyre movie.

More romance can be found here.

Book beginnnings on Friday

2011-02-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you feel so moved, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be here at A Few More Pages every Friday.

Thanks to Becky at Page Turners for starting this meme and to Rose City Reader for inspiring it.

Here is my teaser----

'The measurement of human emotions is not an exact science;there are very few remedies for real sorrow. Misery may be biological, born of some inherited uproar in the blood, or it may be circumstantial -- down to bad luck, heart-stopping loss, or the cruelty of others.'

page 1. 'The Final Act of Mr. Shakespeare.' by Robert Winder.

More lines can be found here.

The Book of Tomorrow.

2011-02-10T09:52:00.001-08:00

'The Book of Tomorrow' by Cecelia Ahern.

Set in Ireland this book tells the story of a rebellious teenager. Tamara Goodwin is a rich kid. The type of child you really don't want to meet. She has been thoroughly spoilt by her parents, nothing is too big for Tamara and no amount of money is too large.
When her father dies suddenly her world is turned upside down. She and her mother must go and live with her mother's relatives in the country. So far away from her spoilt and obnoxious friends Tamara must start a new life . A life where the most excitement is the food for the next meal.
But suddenly there is a handsome boy on the scene , the librarian in the mobile library. His books are pretty old fashioned and not really to her liking till she comes across a very unusual issue . This book will change many aspects of her life and it may even change Tamara...

Well I had read a review of this book in blogland and was instantly drawn to it , I thought it might turn out to be 'ugly duckling to beautiful swan book'. It was so much more , a fairytale for adults but there was not just romance , there was a great mystery to solve with the help of her library book, and in doing so Tamara's world is changed forever. I really enjoyed this,much more than I anticipated.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

More pics can be found here.

One down...

2011-02-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

Book beginnings on Friday.

2011-02-04T11:38:00.001-08:00

This is a new meme for me, sounds interesting I'm going to join, how about you?

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you feel so moved, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be here at A Few More Pages every Friday.

Thanks to Becky at Page Turners for starting this meme and to Rose City Reader for inspiring it!
Here are my lines---

'In a way they were born to be aunts. Emancipated, eccentric and brave, the Norchester sisters lived in a tall grey house in Bloomsbury, within a stone's throw of the British Museum.'
From 'A Song of Summer' by Eva Ibbotson.

These lines made me think that these characters were going to be independant women , perhaps a little out of the ordinary but adventerous.

Check out this site for more first liners.

Booking through Thursday

2011-02-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here is today's question ----
“How would a teen-age boy who is going to work with his hands ever use Literature of England in his work?”

The age-old “How am I going to use this in real life?” question. How would you answer it?

My answer---

Firstly I think this teenager as do all teenagers need the ability to read and hopefully they enjoy the experience.
To actually apply for a job whether one using your hands or a more academic type reading is paramount. To fill in application forms , read work contracts reading skills are needed.
Now although reading in general is needed in all walks of life I am a great believer in reading for pleasure, it can be such a relaxing pastime , one to savour at the end of the working day whatever our work entails.
More answers can be found here.

Sunday Scribblings.

2011-01-30T09:40:00.000-08:00

A meme where the prompt this week is SAFE.

As I trudge through the ice and snow,
My thoughts return to warmer times,
The Summer days of sun and sand seem oh so far away,
My path is hard on this December day,
Each step is hard to keep,
I long to be in my own sweet bed,
So warm and safe, to sleep.

More can be found here.

The Winter Garden Mystery.

2011-01-29T09:40:00.001-08:00

The Winter Garden Mystery by Carola Dunn.

Set in Cheshire, England in the 1920's. A large country house occupied by a very respectable family are about to receive a visit by one of their offspring's school chums. No ordinary visitor , Daisy Dalrymple is a feisty flapper. A woman who is proud of her independance and always keen to help solve mysteries.
The family she visits are not all pleased to see her as the Mater of the house accuses Daisy of leading her daughter astray.
However,soon after her arrival the gardener discovers a body in the flower bed. This is identified as a missing maid. Consequently Daisy is flung into the limelight with her beau Alec Fletcher, a Scotland Yard officer much to annoyance of the Mater.
In probing the murder family secrets are disclosed and the life of this high born family will never be the same again.

A fairly good read, although a little slow in places.

A pleasant afternoon.

2011-01-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

I have just returned from a really enjoyable afternoon. It was the first W.I. meeting since the Christams party. About 6 weeks have elapsed since meeting friends and we lost no time in 'catching up.' This meeting is the one where our subscriptions are due so once the finances were finished and the business papers read we settled down to an entertaining talk.
Given by a gentleman who seems to have spent his life involved in coincidences. It was quite fascinating to hear how his life's path had been influenced by names of places and people beginning with the letter 'B'. Now this might seem quite random but hearing of links between Barnard Castle, Bill Bryson and even Buenos Aires was intriguing.
I can't say my own life has such markers but I did visit a farm as a child and years later I married the farmer's great nephew(who often visited the same farm!)

Any coincidences in your life?

Teaser Tuesdays

2011-01-25T10:14:00.000-08:00

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

So here is my teaser -----

'Her employment had obviously reduced to vanishing point whatever status her title had given her in Dunnett's eyes. She remembered how Alec had dismissed her views while he thought her a mere society butterfly, but taken her seriously when he found out she was a working woman.'

page 56 'The Winter Garden Mystery' by Carola Dunn.

More lines can be found
here.

This is a murder, mystery set in 1920's , it is written in a light hearted way, when reading I expect Bertie Wooster to pop out on the next line. A good read.

Dickens and the workhouse.

2011-01-22T05:36:00.000-08:00

In today's Daily Telegraph a page is given to work of a researcher. Ruth Richardson an historian and author believes that she has located a building in central London that Charles Dickens used as a model for the workhouse in Oliver Twist.
The building in Cleveland Street is a short walk from where Dickens spent some of his childhood and early adult years. He probably walked past it often. Dickens was vehemently against such treatment of children and adults in these workhouses, hence the story of Oliver Twist.
Today the building is assessed for demolition and names from the theatre are opposing this . Would Dickens have agreed with the action proposed , we will never know, but pondering how his books all showed society in it's darkest and meanest sense perhaps he would have signed in favour.
The full story can be found here.
Photo courtesy of the above site.

Sister of the Angels.

2011-01-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

Sister of the Angels by Elizabeth Goudge.

This novel focuses on Henrietta an 11 year old whose Mother died many years ago. She lives with Canon and Mrs Fordyce in Cathedral Close , Torminster. Her father Gabriel Ferranti is a poet and general 'arty' man who lives and works away.
Henrietta shares her home with an orphan boy called Hugh Anthony , another child the Canon and his wife have adopted.

It is near to Christmas and Henrietta's excitement knows no bounds --- her Father is coming to stay for Christmas. There is the cathedral to decorate and the old crypt has lost none of it's fascination. Here Henrietta finds a stranger deep in thought as he admires the partly finished mural in this dark and somewhat frightening place. Always been keen on Art herself she takes a particular interest in the scene.

Well, firstly I did not realise this was a children's story. I ordered the book from the library after reading a review on a blog 'somewhere'.
For children or not this was a lovely read. Written in 1939(the library ticket dates back to May 1954!) it shows how childhood has changed over the years. Children have lost so much innocence. Such a pity!

Highly recommended and one book I am going to try and buy for my grandaughter, even if she is only 16 months , it can be kept for a later date.
I intend to read more from this author.

Sniffy days.

2011-01-22T02:52:00.000-08:00

Well these last few days have been very sniffy , to put it mildly .Both Hubby and myself have had foul colds, he is worse than me . Today we had tickets to go to the
Ballet, but I'm afraid we're not up to it. So my daughter and her fiance are going alone.

There is one consolation to this week though I have finished a couple of books.
Reviews to follow. Hope you all have a good weekend.

The Auschwitz Violin.

2011-01-19T09:40:00.000-08:00

The Auschwitz Violin by Maria Angels Anglada.

A classical music concert in Krakow in the winter of 1991 begins this moving story. It is here that an elderly woman, Regina, breathes life into the strings of her violin. Her music is exquisite and after hearing her play another musician is keen to discuss the beautiful instrument.
The violin was made in a Nazi camp by the Regina's father.That in such a brutal place such a remarkable instrument was crafted is amazing . To find out the full story the musician engages Regina till 'the' story is told.

This is a short book , some 109 pages but what it lacks in pages it more that makes up for in prose. A moving, frightening and courageous tale unfolds, where the human spirit reigns supreme under the most appalling conditions.

'During the Spring Cleaning he had felt more concern for himself than pity for the condemned.But now suddenly, hearing in the distance the shouts directed at the newly arrived prisoners, he marvelled that his heart had not completely died, that he could still feel for others, that compassion for other men could spring from him like a tiny blade of grass emerging not from some wasteland but from the rich earth.Despite the derision and his forced smile this morning, despite the months of cold, hunger, and threats, his body bruised by beatings, the tremendous effort to stifle the cries when he was whipped, learning not to long for anything, not to think of anything beyond the immediate, despite it all, his heart was alive.' page 86.

Highly recommended. A book that will stay with me for a long time.

How I am spending my Sunday.

2011-01-16T07:41:00.000-08:00

Today in Mogsville it is fairly quiet.All the animals are fed and watered and we are having a relaxing afternoon.
This morning was taken up with a Traditional Latin Mass at our local church. A very peaceful Mass. After which we arrived home for coffee and a look at the Sunday papers, which are not very inspiring!
Sunday lunch , courtesy of moi was a Turkey and Bacon risotto(using up the last turkey leg from the freezer) , it proved a substantial meal although I have tasted better.
This afternoon I have been completing my Advent and Christmas readings from the above book.In today's gospel the theme was the Marriage Feast of Cana and Saint Francis de Sales in the above book discusses this and the Last Supper, Jesus' first chronicled miracle --- changing water to wine and his Last Supper where wine became his blood.
Not an easy read in places but very thought provoking.
There are also books by Saint Francis de Sales on Lent, Our Lady and Prayer(all on my wishlist)-- roll on my birthday!

How are you spending your Sunday?Hope you enjoy your day.

For Martha and me.

2011-01-14T07:18:00.001-08:00

As you can see I've made another trip to the library, but now that Martha is passed the tiny baby stage and has reached the ripe old age(!) of 16 months I borrow books for her on my ticket. This has proved quite a hit when she comes to the farm for a few hours and as we always keep a toybox here she doesn't seem to get bored, although my kitchen cupboards are very interesting!!!

So here are the books ---- Martha's picture books proved quite hilarious to the librarian as she thought the cat on the front looked as though it was on 'speed' or somesuch substance.

'To kill or cure' by Susannah Gregory is following in the path of
this post.We are talking medieval murder and Susannah Gregory has never failed to capture my imagination in the books that I have read so far.

'England's Hour' by Vera Brittain, focuses on the Summer of 1940 and the dogfights over London skies. This one is for hubby , it is always a challenge to find a War book he hasn't read, so I do hope he enjoys it.

'The Auschwitz Violin' by Maria Angels Anglada. I read about this book on a blog and was immediately interested. The cover states ir is more than just a novel but a documentation of the strength of the human spirit.

'The Winter Garden Mystery' by Carola Dunn. A mystery set in the 'flapper' era with Daisy Dalrymple being the 1920's 'Miss Marple' ----sounds good to me.

'The Final Act of Mr Shakespeare' by Robert Winder. Always one for historical fiction the back cover had me hooked ---
''Now Shakespeare fizzed with a warming glint of rebellious principle. The King and his henchmaen might treat him a lackey, but there was power in him still, and he would exercise it in the service of one great adventure. It would be called ''The True and Tragicall Historie of Henry V11''. It would remind the world about the callousness of kings.'

Are you a 'Jason' or 'James' fan?

2011-01-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

There were three 'Bourne'... that gives you a clue to how I am spending a leisurely night. Jason Bourne and the Bourne Ultimatum. The first of the three films was shown on t.v. last night and we began to watch but the adverts did get in the way of our viewing. It was then that we remembered that the trio of movies were on the shelf upstairs. So without further ado we watched our own version and tonight we are continuing the trilogy.
Seeing these at the cinema years ago I was quite surprised at my enjoyment . I have never been keen on 'James Bond'type movies.But these are much better imho. Consequently 'Jason' has the edge over 'James'. A great nights' viewing.
Have any of you seen these films ?What are your views?

'The Killer of Pilgrims'.

2011-01-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

'The Killer of Pilgrims' by Susannah Gregory.

A medieval murder set in the Winter of 1358. The place is Cambridge, England. Here the town is suffering under freezing temperatures and it is here that Matthew Bartholomew a doctor is drawn into the lives of both his patients and the colleges.
As pilgrims flock to the nearby shrine of Saint Simon Stock , many are keen to see and own relics of their beloved saint. In amidst this calm and serene atmosphere the body of one of the town's richest landlord is found in most unusual circumstances.Matthew is called to examine the body but his inquiry is hampered by the rising tension in the colleges.

This is the sixteenth chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew. A great read. Thoroughly recommended.

Mog's take on...

2011-01-08T10:59:00.000-08:00

...Heston Blumenthal's Waitrose Christmas Pudding.
Now each year I cook my usual recipes for Christmas cakes and puddings. Last year was no different , the old recipes books were opened and so I began the 'bake in'. However when I saw the 'Heston' advert , and it was a much shorter version on t.v. than you see above , I was hooked. This could be different and all that orange was bound to give a great flavour.
I had already cooked my usual version and lacking in confidence I kept that as 'the best 'pud and set to make the 'orange' one. Using the same recipe but adding the orange I waited patiently (or impatiently really) for Christmas.
Christmas day I used the old version but on the 27th there were 8 for dinner and no other dessert, dare I try it , well yes I dare and it was delicious!!! A real winner!!
I did find out in the press a week after cooking that I should have used a candied orange(which wasn't shown in the advert I saw) and not just a rindless one, but no matter the orange had permeated the pudding and all was well.It gave it a slight 'Marmalade flavour'.

p.s. I did read that the Waitrose pudding and was in short supply and selling for £150 on ebay , well dare I next year... watch this space!!!

Twelfth Night.

2011-01-06T11:36:00.000-08:00

The Adoration of the Magi.

After a very long absence blogging has restarted on Mog's Blog. The weeks since my last post have flown and it is difficult to believe that we are in a New Year. The twelve days of Christmas have passed enjoyably here on the farm with visits from daughters, son in law and my dear grandaughter.
Today saw the crib, tree and all decorations removed and stored in their boxes for next year. The house looks so bare, but a New Year means a new beginning and I must be positive.
I close this post by wishing all readers God's blessings for this New Year.

W.W.W.

2010-09-22T06:37:00.000-07:00

I can't believe a whole week has gone by since my last post,it has been a mix of the usual chores, plus nice chores like making Christmas Chutney (will post the recipe soon) and enjoying the company of my daughter , son in law and grandaughter.
Anyhow today I found a new meme to try, this is what you need to do ---
Answer the following questions---

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

My answers:
Heartstone by C.J. Sansom, a Tudor novel set in the time of Henry V111, when the lawyer Matthew Shardlake is asked to help one of Katherine Parr's servants. Have read very little lately so can't give much of a synopsis.

My last book was the Red Queen by Philippa Gregory , this novel followed the life of Margaret Beaufort whose son became Henry V11---- a great read.

I'm thinking of reading a library book next, although I may change my mind, but 'From Mother to Daughter' by Vivienne Bolton is a book discussing traditional housekeeping secrets , it incorporates recipes , ironing tips even making soap, I will read it if my daughter can put it down!!!

More books can be found here.

Welcome...

2010-09-15T23:46:00.000-07:00

... Holy Father !!

This morning sees the first state visit to Scotland and England of a Pontiff. A wonderful opportunity for Catholics and the country in general to lift up their hearts to God and join with Pope Benedict in praying for help in this secular, modern society.

The media coverage of the Pope's visit seems to be covered but if you need a supplement to this great occasion you may like to check out
this blog. This is written by another pious man who is an inspiration to all his flock in this area. He is transferring his blog at the moment so you are lucky,can catch some of his earlier posts as they appear.

Prayers are offered for the Pope's visit.

Viva Il Papa!!

Teaser Tuesday

2010-09-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Brinkburn Priory.

2010-09-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we spent a pleasant few hours in Northumberland, a county I have always loved . Our visit was to Brinkburn Priory near Rothbury. In this ancient building the chapel was decorated and prepared for a Solemn High Latin Mass.The service was very inspiring with music provided by the Rudgate Singers and St Bede's Schola.
After Mass there was time to enjoy our picnic with fellow Mass goers from various parts of the diocese.A wonderful day was had by all.

Celebrations...

2010-09-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy few days on the farm recently and this was not due to the animals . In the past week we have celebrated my grandaughter's first birthday, my oldest daughter's 30th birthday and two engagements. Yes two, my oldest and youngest daughter both became engaged within days of each other. Both proposals were in romantic settings---- on the top of Mount Snowden ,and the other in beautiful Northumberland.

The top photos show one of the birthday girls enjoying her special tea and looking quite bewildered with her cake. The other birthday girl was a little more 'laid back' about the cake and was pleased to see only one 'token' candle.

The engagement rings are , on the lower photo an aquamarine with diamonds on a white gold band and above , a sapphire with diamonds on a gold band.
To complete the weekend both rings were blessed by our parish priest . It was a wonderful time and much love to all.

The Red Queen .

2010-09-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

'The Red Queen' by Philippa Gregory.

Margaret Beaufort was a strong woman. A pious woman. A woman driven by ambition, whose childhood shaped her future life in a dramatic way. In the Spring of 1453 her childhood dreams were all about feminine strength and virtue and she took as her model Joan of France, otherwise known as the Maid of Orleans.
Margaret was the heiress to the House of Lancaster, although due to the raging War of the Roses she was dismissed as 'an also ran' and was given in marriage firstly at the tender age of twelve to Edward Tudor.One son was the issue of this marriage and his life was given over to his uncle after his father's death. Being widowed at such an early age Margaret thought that her lifelong ambition was going to be realised and she would be allowed to enter a nunnery, but her Mother had other ideas.
So her life progressed with two further marriages to men that were old and frail . As her son grew he was taken to France by his Uncle for safety reasons. Margaret never gave up hope of him becoming England's reigning monarch. With much dealings with Elizabeth Woodville , the York Queen, Margaret's cause grew in strength and her faith appeared to support her in these most turbulent times.

A fantastic book , a great insight to a Queen I knew little about. Since finishing the book I have discovered that although deprived of a classical education herself. Margaret founded colleges of Cambridge University,namely Christ's College in 1505.
St John's College in 1511.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-01T12:59:00.001-07:00

More pics here.

Teaser Tuesdays

2010-08-31T09:40:00.000-07:00

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This teaser isn't my current read as I have just finished it. A review will follow in a couple of days.

'Somehow, over the ten years of my marriage with Thomas Stanley,
my son's cause has become a forlorn hope even to me. But Jasper, far away in Brittany, keeps the faith; there is nothing else he can do. And I keep the faith, for it burns inside me that it should be a Lancaster on the throne of England, and my son is the only Lancaster heir, but for my nephew the Duke of Buckingham, left to us.'

page 231' The Red Queen' by Philippa Gregory.
More teasers here.

Rumpole and the Reign of Terror.

2010-08-30T11:35:00.001-07:00

Rumpole and the Reign of Terror by John Mortimer.

Rumpole's latest case involves his 'old' clients/defendants the Timpsons. Here is a family who appear to enjoy their time in the 'dock', at least that is Rumpole's opinion. The number of times he has represented them is numerous and consequently they are quite'dear' to him as they have 'paid' his bills for a number of years.
Quite a 'mottley' crew normally so when a glamorous Timpson , who has escaped the usual squalor of the family's life requests Rumpole's help ,he is intrigued to say the least.
Terrorists and criminals are on the same wave length in Rumpole's book . A terrorist is what concerns the glamorous Timpson.
Not only is this case intriguing but why is 'She who must be obeyed'/his wife Hilda hiding in the box room of their flat for hours on end?

A quick , light read. I have seen most of the series on T.V. and the characters come to life in the books. However for those not familiar with the programmes the book would still be hugely enjoyable. It is hilarious in places, I was laughing out loud over many a page!!!!

Tan Hill and the Eden Valley.

2010-08-29T05:48:00.000-07:00

It's a Bank Holiday weekend here in the U.K.I normaly never stray far from my front door on these weekends as the traffic is usually appalling and sitting in traffic jams is not my idea of fun. After saying that hubby and I did venture off the farm last night . A trip around the Eden Valley and a spell in the
Tan Hill Inn. The roads along this route were fairly quiet , so we must have picked a good time to drive. This is the highest Inn in Great Britain. Being 1732 feet above sea level, it was quite a climb to get there. The wonderful scenery over the Eden Valley made it worth the while. Once there I was surpised at the number of people 'downing' their pints. A cosy place but noisey , as I'm not a lover of pop music played loudly in every room I don't count it as one of my favourite places. However the scenery was wonderful . Travelling form Bowes along the A66 towards Kirby Stephen you really see the countryside at its best!

Hope you are all enjoying a relaxing weekend.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-25T09:53:00.001-07:00

A Summer morning in Teesdale.

More pics can be found here.

Teaser Tuesday

2010-08-24T02:36:00.000-07:00

My book this week is the much awaited 'The Red Queen' by Phillippa Gregory.I've just started it but it's proving very addictive already
So here we go---

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser----

'I spent that night , all the night, on my knees praying for the victory of my House of Lancaster. The servant said that they were gathering outside London and would march to meet our forces that are mustering in thousands, somewhere near Oxford.'

page 189, 'The Red Queen' by Phillippa Gregory.
More teasers can be found
here.

Sacred Treason

2010-08-22T05:51:00.001-07:00

Sacred Treason by James Forrester.

In 1563 the English people are unhappy, even worried. Queen Elizabeth is on the throne and people with religious faith are concerned not only for their own lives but for their families and friends.
When the herald William Harley receives a visitor one dark night he is concerned . The visitor is fellow Catholic Henry Machyn and Henry is not their to pay his respects. Believing that the Queens men will persue him he begs William to look after a manuscript. This contains information that doubts the Queen's claim to the throne.

As the novel progresses William is caught up in the contents of the manuscript and needs to discuss it's relevance with the people involved . All of these being Catholic his dangerous task is throught with danger for not only is he trying to discover the meaning of the document he must guard Henry's wife and his own family from the 'State'.Can they all survive without betraying their faith...

This is the first novel by James Forrester (I understand there is another book due out next year), it was a fantastic read. You are transported to Elizabethan England in a vivid and horrifying way. Who would you betray your God, your country, your kin?...
If you are a fan of
C.J.Sansom you will love James Forrester's book.

Highly recommended.

Teaser Tuesdays

2010-08-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My Teasers:are-----

'Greetings , murderer,' hissed Spaldyne, as he passed.'Killed any patients recently?other than Father Thomas and Margery Sewale, that is'.

page 34, 'The Devil's Disciples' by Susanna Gregory.

More teasers can be found
here.

The Redemption of Sarah Cain

2010-08-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

' The Redemption of Sarah Cain' by Beverly Lewis.

Sarah Cain is a successful , career woman. Working for an estate agent she is keen to close every deal and therefore further her career.
Her sister is somewhat different --- giving up the modern way of life , Ivy and her husband have joined an Amish community and along with their five children enjoy a simple life away from the trappings of the modern society.
But their happiness is shattered when firstly Ivy's husband dies and then Ivy herself. What will become of her children. Knowing of her fatal illness she has emphatically requested that Sarah(her only living relative) cares for the family.
This is certainly going to disrupt any career path Sarah planned , how can she persuade other Amish members that she is not the right person to 'foster mother' children.

A current t.v. programme about the Amish way of life sparked my interest in this book. It was a very easy read and had a good if fairly predictable storyline. I would recommend it for a light story perhaps as a holiday read.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-11T05:13:00.001-07:00

More photos can be found here.

Teaser Tuesdays

2010-08-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday so there must be a teaser here somewhere...

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is mine ...

''Still, she found it difficult to believe that Ivy and her husband had gotten the notion to join the Amish from him. But it was her sister's prayer that her children would' live their lives to the fullest measure, even if I should die prematurely' that struck Sarah as most significant.''

page 223-224 'The Redemption of Sarah Cain' by Beverly Lewis.

More teasers can be found here.

Pride and Prejudice.

2010-08-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

As such a 'high profile' book I know that most readers if not all will be certain of the storyline. Suffice to say it was a re-read but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Jane Austen combines wit and seriousness to her writing that I never grow too tired to read.

This book was part of the 'You've got Mail' challenge.

Check out this blog for more details.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

The River Cam at Cambridge.

More pics can be found here.

Musing Mondays

2010-08-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

This week's topic ----

What book tops your TBR (to be read) pile right now? Is it something you own, or something you have to borrow, or something you’ll be purchasing? Why do you want to read it so badly?

Well as you can see from the photos there are two books at the top of my 'pile' . Now I don't own these books yet but they are on order. The 'Red Queen' is the new Phillippa Gregory book due out on August 19th and the 'Sacred Treason' by James Forrester has just been released , so hopefully that will grace my pile very soon.
The Red Queen is the story of Margaret Beaufort, a character I know little about , other than she married Edmond Tudor. The Sacred Treason book is set in 1563 , and it's principal character is William Harvey, Clarenceux King of Arms.
I'm very keen to read these as I do love a good historical novel and after reading summaries and reviews I'm sure these books are not going to disappoint.

More books can be found
here.

A Change in Altitude.

2010-08-02T10:36:00.001-07:00

'A Change in Altitude 'by Anita Shreve.

A novel set in Kenya. Margaret, a journalist and he doctor husband Patrick have moved to Kenya from the United States, purely for Patrick's work. He practises equatorial medicine . Their new home offers a diverse way of life which neither seemed prepared.
The heat , the poverty , the crime and the sheer extent of the vastness of the squalid shanty towns all wear them down . Consequently when an offer comes for some excitement in the way of climbing to the summit of Mount Kenya they are very enthusiastic. They will climb in a group which includes their best friends, who are also ex-pats. However not all their plans are fulfilled and as a terrible accident occurs Margaret is struck by persistant feelings of guilt which torment both their lives well after the climb is completed.

Reading this book, although I have never been to Africa, I felt it ran true to such an extent I was there -- the scenery and the culture were all described in a vivid way. Unfortunately I found the storyline lacking in substance, as I turned each page I waited for the climax , the punchline but non came. Consequently it was a disappointing read.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

Barnard Castle.
More pics can be found
here.

Teaser Tuesdays

2010-07-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

All you have to do to join in is the following ----

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

' No water, no electricity, no drains, no way of disposing of garbage,' Patrick continued.'Every once in a while , the police come along and bulldoze a hundred or so huts.'

page 127, 'A Change in Altitude.'by Anita Shreve.

More teasers can be found here.

Saint Peter's Fair.

2010-07-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

'Saint Peter's Fair' by Ellis Peters.

This is the first book in the second Cadfael omnibus. (The other 2 books are --- 'The Leper of Saint Giles' and 'The Virgin in the Ice.')

The year is 1139 and the date 30th July. This is an important day in the calender for the people of Shrewsbury for this is the preparation day , the eve of the festival of Saint Peter ad Vincula. He being one of the patron saints of the nearby abbey.
Following on from this festival is the fair for all the folks of Shrewsbury and merchants from afar. At this there is selling and buying of goods and the people generally enjoy themselves with much drinking and joviality.

Certain amount of money from the fair is given to the townspeople , via the abbey for the upkeep of the town walls and tracks , this they find insufficient and are most distressed when the Abbot refuses to suppliment their needs. So the seemingly happy fair is not starting in a very convivial way.

Now as all fairs proceed, some men are only around to cause trouble and these quarrels are usually between merchants from different areas. When one merchant is involved in a riot and then appears missing his only relative at hand a young neice is forced to employ the skillful ways of Cadfael in the hope of finding him. When the uncle is eventually found floating in the river and then another murder is committed Cadfael feels that the Fair is in chaos and as he persues the suspects prays that the Fair will have a peaceful ending, both for Abbey and townsfolk.

A very good read as all 'Cadfaels' are in my opinion.

A lovely day...

2010-07-24T06:11:00.000-07:00

spent in Whitby. That was how we passed the time yesterday. The weather couldn't have been better, sunny but not too hot and with a warm breeze.

Whenever we visit this charming little town a visit to the ruins of Ht. Hilda's abbey is always on the agenda. This is only achieved after climbing the 199 steps. A good way to walk off the excellent fish and chip lunch, well you can't visit Whitby without fish and chips to eat.
To reach the East cliff where the abbey is situated we normally walk across the metal bridge overlooking the harbour unfortuanately this was closed for maintenance work so a flotilla of ferries had been employed to take the visitors across. Not being a great lover of travelling on water I was relieved to find the journey took about 2 minutes at the most , no chance to look for my 'sea legs ' there. It was worth the wait in the ferry queue as the view from the Abbey is wonderful as the bottom photo shows.

The town itself was quite busy although it will probably get much busier as the local schools start their Summer holidays today. We parked on the West Cliff not far from the Captain Cook statue, I wonder if he would have approved of his headdress in the photo!These gulls and gannets were fearless; one couple lost part of their lunch to a hungry bird down by the harbour , what a hoot!

After spending a good few hours there we set off home after a very enjoyable day.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

Raby Castle, Staindrop, Co. Durham.

More pics can be found here.

Teaser Tuesdays

2010-07-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

Here are the 'rules',

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser for this week,

'He had been waiting , silent and motionless , in his shadowy corner, refraining even from setting foot in the chapel until her vigil was over, and the resoluton with which she had suddenly ended it flung her almost into his arms. She uttered a startled gasp, and he put out reassuring hands to steady her, and was in no haste to let her go.'

page 101 'Saint Peter's Fair' by Ellis Peters. A 'Cadfael' mystery.

More teasers can be found here.

The weekend..

2010-07-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

Well this weekend has been fairly quiet. We did visit my husband's relatives yesterday and had a good chat and a few laughs with my sisters -in -law. Today , other than going to church it's been reading and dare I say it--- crocheting.
The latter is not going too well. I am supposed to be crocheting a waistcoat for my oldest daughter. Now this has been 'on the go' for a few weeks and this is my 4th attempt. For some reason previous attempts have failed due to my inability to crochet in a straight line(lol). This last try is from a 1970's pattern and hopefully it WILL work. I don't have any photos (I wouldn't dare ) if it does proceed well you will be the first to see it, but please don't 'hold your breath!!'

On the reading front I have started a Cadfael novel, 'St Peter's Fair' to be exact and this is proving a good read. Just by chance this evening I watched Channel 4's the TV Book Club.
Their next book is by Iain Pears , a murder mystery , namely 'Stone's Fall'. So tomorrow I'll visit the library for a copy.If successful I'll join in the discussion next week.
Hope you have all had a good weekend and the coming week pans out well.

'The Taste of Sorrow.'

2010-07-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

'The Taste of Sorrow' by Jude Morgan.

As you may guess from the cover this novel follows the lives of the Bronte sisters. It begins in their childhood days and consequently the whole family is involved in the story. The author has taken the milestones of their lives and encompassed these into the novel. We are transported to Brussels with Charlotte , to London publishers with Charlotte and Anne . The passionate personality of Emily is seen in her sometimes abrupt and forthright remarks and Bramwell, poor deluded Bramwell is shown in his painful demise.
The story does begin at their mother's deathbed and the effect this naturally had on young children, five girls and one boy. Patrick, their father must decide on some sort of education for his family and so boarding school seems the appropriate answer but this brings it's tale of woe and so other means are explored. as the children grow their imaginations appear to be one step ahead of them and so imaginary worlds are both acted out and written about. And so their love of writing is borne and flourishes... but not all the family will live to see their rewards.

As you can see from the quote on the side bar I am a Bronte fan. This book brought the characters to life ,transporting me into their lives, their home. I could so easily see myself in the kitchen stroking Keeper's head, sitting beside Charlotte as she brings out her writing desk, watching Emily storm out of the house in a temper. And Anne, sweet, gentle Anne who sits so quietly in the corner.

An emotional, even spiritual book. I could include many quotes but this , seen on the last page sums up the book well for me ----

'Charlotte lets the sea take her thoughts. It is everything she hoped it might be, her sea --- and more. Most unexpected, and beautiful: yes, there they are, listen: she cocks her head and above the shriek of the wind and the thunder of the surf she can hear them, at last, the lost voices coming through.'

I can't recommend this book enough, it will stay with me for a long time. In my opinion Charlotte, Emily and Anne were, are and will always be TRULY WONDERFUL!

Booking through Thursday

2010-07-15T02:21:00.001-07:00

Here is this week's topic ---

Well, folks, I don’t know about where you are, but right here, it’s HOT.

So … when you think about “hot reading,” what does that make you think of? Beach reading? Steamy romances? Books that take place in hot climates? Or cold ones?

Well if this question had been asked last week I might have been able to agree with the weather but today is miserable . We has a storm last night and the rain is continuing into today.
Anyhow the topic is about books and not weather as such.
The weather doesn't affect my reading a great deal if I am in the middle of a good book the climate does not attribute to the reading experience. However I have been known to dwell on books set in romantic places, eg, Rome or Paris in the middle of Winter as a form of escapism.
More book 'talk' can be found here.

Musing Mondays

2010-07-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

This week’s musing asks…

Can you read amidst distractions? (tv, others talking, sporting events, etc)

This all depends on the book of the moment. At the moment I am reading
'The Taste of Sorrow'. This is an enthralling read, and I don't want to miss any of the story so I try to only read when the room is quiet. On many other occasions , if I feel as though I can zip through the pages of a book I will read whils tv is on or there is some chatter.
btw The Tast odf Sorrow is a fantastic book, do check it out.

More musings can be found

here.

Compendium of Quilting Techniques.

2010-07-09T09:05:00.001-07:00

Compendium of Quilting Techniques by Susan Briscoe.

I received this book as a free gift from a quilting magazine subscription I have started. There was a choice of free gift --- this book or some material. This was definitely the right choice for me. A very easy book to get into , the author begins with the basics --- choosing equipment and what is actually necessary. She then moves onto fabric , including a colour wheel and gradually works through the process of working with patterns, cutting tools and techniques.

Every chapter helps with the quilting process in one way or another from applique to binding, it is all included. To conclude the book shows and exhibitions are covered and at the very end the care and storage of your treaured quilt.

Having received this book a few days ago I have read it all through and have returned to 'dip 'into sections that I'm not too sure about.
As a fairly beginner in quilting(only 2 completed up to now) I know this book will prove indispensible in years to come. Highly recommended.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

The Bowes Museum , Barnard Castle.

More pics can be found here.

The Queen is crowned...

2010-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

So Serena is the queen----
Who will be the King?
Have you bought your strawberries ready for tomorrow? A good weekend viewing is in store.

Recipes for strawberries can be found here.

It is a special weekend for another reason in our household for today it is my hubby's birthday, so it's wine and chocs all round.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-30T02:31:00.000-07:00

A fascinating sky on my morning walk.

More pics can be found here.

Some finishes...

2010-06-29T02:10:00.000-07:00

Above are my latest projects . The top photo is a picnic cloth, after piecing the blocks were appliqued onto the rust fabric. This , I thought would be easy but not for me. I know a poor worker blames his tools, well I found it difficult to stitch the correct size of zig zag stitch so consequently the edgings weren't very neat hence the green binding around each block.
Anyhow the quilting went well and I machine quilted around each part of the blocks and the dresden plate in the centre. I do love that dresden plate it was my first attempt at that design but I don't think it will be my last.

The bottom photo is a few little bits I have made for a W.I. craft stall , this is taking place amidst a garden party at a member's home(hope the sun shines). The squares are quilted coasters and the long designs are patchwork napkin rings waiting to be sewn up and I am then going to join them in a ring with a covered button. These designs were taken from this book, which I received from a friend for my birthday, thankyou G.

So what's next ? I have already started hemming some napkins for a summer picnic.

On the farm in June.

2010-06-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Well another month is nearly over and it has proved to be very busy. Mostly busy for my husband as he has sheared 400 ewes singlehanded. It is very hard, backbreaking work, but there are only a few left to shear and they are not ready for the shears yet. My daughter and myself 'wrap' the fleeces; this comprises of removing any soiled wool and folding the fleece so that the outer side is enclosed in a 'swiss roll' type of shape. They are then stored in large sacks till the British Wool Marketing Board collect them later in the year. Once sheared the sheep are then marked with our own unique symbol in case they wander onto other land.

When the time is right for shearing the fleece appears to rise off the skin a little and then the farmer knows it's time to start. The 'rise' can be affected by the temperature of the weather and the general condition of the sheep. Luckily the weather in the last week or so has been perfect for shearing .

The few sheep that are left are of the Swaledale breed and these hardy creatures are not usually ready to shear till July.
So we might have a couple of days respite , although there is silage and hay to start ---- the farmer's work is never finished!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

More pics can be found here.

Teaser Tuesdays

2010-06-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Can't believe another week has passed. We have been busy shearing sheep(more about that in a later post) and working through the usual household chores including gardening. The weather is beautiful at the moment which is wonderful but boy does it help the weeds to grow!

Anyhow Teaser Tuesday ---
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

'Six motherless children to be educated and provided for; five of them girls, with no money to entice husbands. A dark lake of future, and sailing we cannot see the banks.'
page 16, 'The Taste of Sorrow' by Jude Morgan.

More teasers can be found here.

The Guilt of Innocents.

2010-06-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Guilt of Innocents by Candace Robb.

Set in the winter of 1372 this novel follows the travels of Owen Archer. He is the Captain of Archbishop Thoresby's guard. The Archbishop has great influence in York, being connected to the Minster and St Peter's School. When a lowly river boatman is found dead Owen Archer is called to investigate. The boatman had been in possession of a St' Peter's schoolboys purse , but would this be sufficient to cause his death...

Owen is brought on the scene to find both the killer and the importance of the purse, and more precisely it's contents and these are missing. In this book , which is no. 9 in the series Owen is helped by his adopted son Jasper and between them they need to solve the crime quickly as the captain's wife is due to give birth to their third child any day.
A harsh winter is experienced in York that year and as Owen needs to travel to find the murderer another crime is committed and he fears for his family, will the bad weather slow his progress home...

Another great book by Candace Robb. This is the third of Owen Archer books I have read and all are brilliant --- a good storyline and excellent characters. They do not have to be read in order so if you come across any give it a go!

Ladies Day and the World Cup

2010-06-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Ladies Day at Royal Ascot. I love to look at the fashions both hats and outfits. There were some weird and wonderful sights, but the above caught my eye.
As I am watching the England v Algeria match at the moment the hats in the photo seemed the most appropriate ones to publish.
More photos can be found on this site including one girl wearing 'Big Ben'on her head, that will give one terrible headache as the hour strikes. I would have published this but the comp. won't let me . Apologies.

Booking through Thursday.

2010-06-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday's question for discussion is the following ----

Do you prefer reading current books? Or older ones? Or outright old ones? (As in, yes, there’s a difference between a book from 10 years ago and, say, Charles Dickens or Plato.)

At this present time I am drawn to current books, I have just started reading The Taste of Sorrow by Jude Morgan. This is a fairly new book about a much older story, it is the story of the Bronte sisters, and although I have have only read a few pages it is proving to be a powerful read. However I digress , I can't say I have a preference between 'old' or 'new' .My choice is usually exactly what I feel like reading at the time.

More discussions and choices can be found here.

Teaser Tuesdays

2010-06-15T03:55:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

So here is my tease for this week,

''Master Nicholas is so discouraged by the threat of excommunication, and now the charges and suspicion that hound him, that he spoke to us and withdrew all the brave and inspiring things he'd said about the Church so that they could not be used against him. He's a coward.''

from page 223 'The Guilt of Innocents' by Candace Robb.
More teasers can be found here.

Musings Monday.

2010-06-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

Here is this week's topic ----

Who in your family (both immediate & extended) are readers, and who are not?

In my immediate family , ie, husband and three daughters all are readers but at different degrees.
My husband reads nonfiction, he has read many books on WW11, his favourite genre. I often try and persuade him to delve into fiction but it is all to no avail.
All my daughters are good readers, although Martha's Mum doesn't have much time now . My oldest daughter seems to prefer fiction but my youngest girl is the greatest reader reading great tomes . She has cultivated this habit since childhood , when she read with a torch under the bedclothes. Did I tell you she now wears glasses, lol!
Extended family is on my husband's side only and here one sister and brother in law read but the rest have young families and time is of the essence so reading is not a priority.

More book 'talk' can be found here.

Martha and ...

2010-06-12T07:17:00.001-07:00

...Spike.

Martha 9 months, Spike 2 years.
Watch out for her walking soon , Spike!!!

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

2010-06-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in Thee.

1920's farmers' wives...

2010-06-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

I have just bought this fantastic book. As you might already guess I am passionate about quilts and quilting at the moment and as I am also a farmer's wife this book was perfect.All the blocks were similar to quilting the farmers' wives completed at this time.
As well as 111 quilting blocks , named and templates numbered it also contains a CD with all the piecing templates. Receiving it yesterday I eagerly started my first block , namely 'Peace and Plenty'. If this turns out well I will include it in
this tablecloth.
Quilting, however is only part of the book's appeal. As a farmer's wife myself the title intrigued me. On the cover was written' letters from 1920's farm wives...'
On close examination it contained letters written to an American magazine ' The Farmer's Wife'. This was published in the 1920's (perhaps in other decades too) and in one edition it asked it's readers the following question, 'If you had a daughter of marriageable age, would you, in the light of your own experience, have her marry a farmer?'
There were over 7,000 replies to this question and obviously not all are included in the book but there are abridged samples of their responses.
One reply listed the pros and cons of farming life ---
Working in the healthy outdoors.
Eating your own produce
No travelling to work.

The cons included
Mud.
Little money
Early rising.

Although many people(including myself) thought that farmers in those days would be far behind the times, one lady chronicled the number of farmers in Wisconsin who owned cars(80%) , many had oil, gas or electric stoves, power washers, running water and even pianos. The latter must surely have been an essential form of entertainment, in fact probably the only form.

I have barely started to read the letters but I am struck by their commitment and resolution and pure hard work these ladies took on. Here I am happily living on a hill farm with sheep and all the mod cons of modern living. Would I have been so contented living on their farms in 1920's I wonder?

By the way all the letters I have read so far encouraged their daughters to find farmer husbands. Now with 3 daughters myself, two unmarried --- will they walk down the aisle with a local farmer --- I don't think so , at least they will one way if you count their father as one!

Material Obsession.

2010-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I sometimes think this is an obsession...
When your daughters buy you(among other things) metres of material for your birthday --- we are probably bordering on the obsessive. After saying that I am most grateful for all my gifts and I adore the fabrics.

The photos are my attempts at a quilted picnic tablecloth. I have decided to try and make it reversible . The sunflower fabric on the back of the couch will be cut to about 24" square for the 'first' side and I will then use scraps of the other materials used in the 'Dresden plate' design to make blocks to frame the square.
The other side will be as you see but I have only used bondaweb (at the moment) to hold it in place . The centre flower is cut from the main fabric.I'm about to start appliquing it all soon. When both sides are complete , with wadding inbetween I'll quilt it altogether.

I loved the colours and the sunflower fabric is just perfect! All we will need is the sun to come out again. After lovely weather on Saturday -- yesterday and today have been quite miserable.
Will go now and get out my 'faithful' Janome.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-02T09:40:00.001-07:00

Cambridge.

More pics can be seen here.

Quilting in a concentration camp.

2010-06-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

There appears to be a great revival in patchwork and quilting these days. Perhaps this is due to the recession that has brought to the fore the 'make do and mend' attitude or perhaps it's due to people wanting something that they have created themselves, something unique.
I have always loved sewing and found all types of stitching to be very therapeutic. When I came across an article in a national newspaper proclaiming the same benefits to prisoners during the second world war I had to do a little research.

Women and girls imprisoned in Changi camp were hungary, threadbare and lived in appalling conditions , but out of all this fear and pain they formed a group to learn how to quilt. Their inspiration was Elizabeth Ennis , a girl guide leader who formed her own guide pack in the camp and encouraged the girls in simple tasks .
The pieces for their quilt were scraps torn from their own clothes and they undid seams on old clothes to reuse the thread.

The quilt in question is exhibited in the V and A Museum at the moment as part of their quilt exhibition, dating 1700-2010 . It will be displayed there till July 4th this year and then will move to the Imperial War Museum.
I have only touched on this remarkable , more information can be found here.

There is still more here

They are truly inspirational!