amigurumi, etc.

I made my first attempt at amigurumi, the Japanese craft of making small animals out of crochet. I made a skunk for Jairus' Birthday. He's cute-ish, but not nearly as cute as the pictures in the pattern. I'm not sure if I'll try again. It wasn't hard, really... I think I just need more practice with embroidery in order to make the face better. I also made Anna a skirt out of an old sweatshirt that was in the goodwill pile, that was fun and it's pretty cute. I don't know if it looks cute here in the picture, maybe I'll get one of her in it, that'll make anything cute. I'm working on another star blanket. I found a simpler explanation of the pattern on Craftster, and this one is looking lots better than the first one.

Oh, and here's an update on the mantel, Linda saw some deer at a store downtown and I think they really helped. Thanks!

Leggings

I made a few quick things in the last two days, including a dress for Anna out of an old sweater I'd already cut the sleeves off of... her description? "This is a terrible dress". I have to agree. It didn't work.

More successful were the leggings. I made a pair of leg warmers last night-- made seems excessive in description. I cut the worn out feet out of a pair of pretty wool socks and there you go--baby leg warmers. Here's a picture.

Tonight Matthew made dinner (bliss!) so I had time to make a pair of tights/leggings out of an old scarf that was soft and pretty and that I've had in the "make something out of" basket for quite a while. These turned out really well. Anna's in bed now though, and I forgot to get a picture so you don't get an "action shot" of these. I think I'm getting pants figured out. That's exciting.

Also here's a picture of Cephas' snake. I had him here for repair, and since I won't be spoiling anyone's Christmas, here's a picture. He's made out of an old tie stuffed with poly-fil and a wire hanger to make him bendy. He was fun to make, but took a lot longer than I had anticipated. I saw the idea somewhere online...sorry I'm not sure where.

Some of everything

One of my other resolutions, not listed, was to try to update my blog more... I love to read everyone else's and want them to update more, so in golden rule light, I should update more too. But I have a hard time doing that.

It's been busy, getting back on track, but I feel like we might be starting to settle in. I finished getting the Birthday cards ready for the year, I always feel a little antsy when I haven't finished that, but now it's done and everyone should get cards and I don't have to worry about forgetting someone. It really does feel relaxing to me to get that done. Sending Birthday cards makes me happy. Getting them all organized ahead of time is like a little present to myself. I get to have the joy of sending them all year long, without the hassle. It does take a little while, but it's not too bad. I address the ones that I think will be in the same place for awhile, and by the end I have the big families addresses memorized, so that's easy, and then I just put a little sticky note with the date and file them in the Birthday box and take them out one month at a time and put them with my bills. So cards may not arrive that close to the actual Birthday, since I send them all out on Tuesdays, but it's close enough, and easy for me.

I have a student teacher this semester! His name is Adam and he's the brother in law of a friend of mine from K-State, a sweet girl I student taught with. I'm pretty excited about it, it'll be so nice to have another teacher in the classroom, we'll be able to do centers, and small groups, and he's already done tons of the little things that I never find time to do. It makes me nervous, I want to do a good job and I'm not terribly sure how exactly to do that, but at least I like teaching, so the experience can't be worse for him than my student teaching with the teacher who hated her job.

My crafting basket is overflowing. I have so many projects and ideas and things to try. Katrina gave me a beautiful book for Christmas, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I want to keep sewing clothes for Anna, and play around some more with altering clothes for myself, and I want to make a t-shirt quilt, and there are 8 babies coming! It's fun to have so much sweet project motivation.

The January mantel gives me fits. Maybe you can help. I never feel like it looks right. Linda made me these "orbs" to put in the silver bowl, because it looked funny with the empty silver bowl, but I still think something looks wrong. More orbs? Last year I had flowers in the bowl, but I didn't like that either. I thought maybe the flowers on the bottom would give a feeling of snow, and that the sparse look would be sort of wintery, but I'm not sure about any of it. I don't feel like I have this trouble with any other month. Here's a picture--input welcome.

Hmm...this post seems boring to me. I'll try to get some Anna cuteness or projects posted soon.

Resolutions

I have too many New Year's Resolutions bouncing around in my head. I know that I ought to narrow it down to two or three resolutions that I really try to stick to...but I'd like to lay them all out here to look at first. We'll see later about the narrowing.

I've also thought about putting them into categories, so that I just have two or three big resolutions, with lots of bullet points, but it's really the same thing as having lots of resolutions, isn't it? Just more organized.

Be more healthy:
1. 5 fruits and veggies a day.
2. 8 glasses of water.
3. 7 hours of sleep a night. (even in a resolution, I know 8's just not realistic)
4. Get up before school to use my new treadmill!
5. Incorporate new fruits and veggies into our lives.

Be more happy:
1. Try to sit more, not rush from one project to the next.
2. See more friends, make time to talk on the phone.
3. Be nicer to Matthew.
4. Enjoy Anna.

Be more holy:
1. Don't sleep too late to go to church. Enjoy both services.
2. Read through the Bible. I got a 90 day Bible last year and made it to day 15. :( Try again. :)
3. Pray more in a more focused way. I'm good with spotty prayer, little moments during the day, but not so much with the dedicated time.


And then there are the things that seem to me to be more like goals than resolutions. I'm not sure what the difference is.

1. Support more local business and buy more handcrafted things.
2. Take the GRE and start my master's program.
3. Find more new music to love.

So...15 things. We'll see how it goes.

Happy New Year!

Weekend projects

I had a big weekend of crafting. I have a whole pile of things I've been meaning to try, I finished two of them this weekend, and I finished the monster Christmas quilt I've been working on forever. We decided to stop the quilt a little early, to try to tame the hugeness a bit, and I bound it from the front instead of the back to help with that a little too. It fits nicely on the bed now. Matthew says I can't put it on for real until after Thanksgiving, but here's a picture.

I also made a crochet snowflake. I've wondered about thread crochet, and if it would be fun or terrible, and I would say, after completing this, that it's neither. Once I got the hang of it, (which took quite a while) it wasn't terrible, but I never really enjoyed it either. I was always looking ahead and counting down, hoping to be finished. I do think it looks pretty cute though, and it'll be nice to have something I made on the tree. I did the glue and pins thing tonight, so here's a picture of it all spread out and drying.

I started and finished another project yesterday which I am very very very excited about, but I'm not showing pictures because of gifty conflicts. :)

And I started the practice version of Anna's Christmas Dress, the one I'm going to make out of my bridesmaid's shawl. I'm making this one out of a pretty denim fabric that Megan gave me, and using a pattern for the first time in 20 years. I made the (lined!) bodice tonight, after 2 phone calls home. Mom helped me cut it out yesterday. For some reason, this kind of sewing makes me very nervous. Something about having a pattern maybe? There is a right and a wrong way to do this, and if I mess it up, it won't fit. The other times I'm just making it up as I go, I figure there's a good chance it won't work anyway, so there's no pressure. Maybe that's it. It's strange to feel so nervous about it. And Mom's so calm about it, and gets nervous about her quilting. It's funny how we're different. Here's a picture of the bodice.

Oh, and I wanted to mention a failure too, just so you know it's not all glory. Last weekend I tried to make Anna a pair of leggings out of the sleeves of an old sweater, and it didn't work at all. I couldn't get the pieces to come together right or stay stitched, one leg was longer than the other, it was a mess. But if anyone has a sweater they don't want anymore, I'd love to try again, so bring it or send it, and I'll cut it up! I eventually gave up on the pants and stitched what was left of the sleeves into little gift bags, so if you get a funny looking Christmas present, that's why. Desperate lemonade.

If only I could knit...

then maybe you would all receive these for Christmas....

"Knitted masks make great gifts! Skiers love their sporty look..."

"Misses' ski mask starts with a warm dickey, ends with a gay pom pon on top"

--McCall's Christmas Make-it Ideas 1967

Kiki's Wedding Part 2

Out of order...sorry. This will be ridiculously long and overly detailed, for Megan and Sara and anyone else who missed the day.

The wedding day was warm and sunny with a slight breeze. I never would have predicted such weather for October 20, but I should have known that God would deliver for Katrina.

We went and got our hair done in the morning, mine was flippy and cute and I went against the hairdresser's advice and got a red headband to match my dress, and was very happy. Katrina's hair was woven up and was glossy and gorgeous. We all went to the salon together, and then ran out to Claire's together to get my headband and some clips for Brandi. It was funny to run errands together, the day felt normal and not, normal and not, all day long.

We went back to Katrina's house and had some lunch in the basement, peeking out every so often to see the tent and the deck, all prettied up with curtains and tulle and red flowers and bows. It was all so pretty and perfect and so Katrina. Then we did our makeup, and Katrina did mine, just as she has for every major event in my life. I felt bad, having the bride fix me up, but she's Katrina, and didn't mind a bit. (And really, she'll be much happier with the pictures this way. I'm a disaster. There's a reason she always helps me.)

Anna arrived and Brandi fixed her hair. She sat still for the curling, and was adorable in her white dress. We girls all got into our dresses, and prayed and cried with Jeanne just before we went upstairs. The music started, stopped, and then started in earnest. The grandparents and parents were seated, and there was a nervous moment when I couldn't remember when I was supposed to start down the steps. Also there were lots of wasps. We all walked in to "Window in the Skies" by U2. I was nervous and excited and happy and very very shaky. Watching the girls walk in was unreal. The ring bearer came in with his red suitcase, looking dapper and proud. Anna slowly came down the aisle, pausing to drop petals, spin around, offer petals to individual guests, until finally Joe cajoled her to the front. Katrina walked in to Mark Cohn's "True Companion". Her red shoes were perfect, we could see them as she started down the steps, all white dress and bright red shoes. She did have to pause at the bottom to shake the wasps out of her veil, but kept her composure mightily. I've been trying to research wasps at weddings, to find the country where they're good luck, surely there is one, but I can only find information about WASP's at weddings, and I get frustrated. A prize to anyone who can find it for me!

She walked in with Bobby, and we all cried, but not as much as Joe. Kent did a great job with the wedding. He told Joe how lucky he was, and it was clear how much he meant it. What a blessing to be married by someone who loves you enough to choke up. After the ceremony, I heard a couple of the groomsmen commenting "That pastor was actually pretty cool". I felt so proud. I'm sorry I can't say more about that, I was trying not to cry, to enjoy the moment, to dodge the wasps and steel myself for the sting, willing myself to be silent and not ruin the wedding if it did happen, to watch Anna, to not fall over when Anna pushed me, and to be "in the moment". (We had a conversation about mindfulness on the way home from Denver, and I'm trying to practice that more) (Obviously I need the practice).

After the wedding we took pictures and then got to sit around under the tent and chat for a couple of hours before dinner. It was just what Katrina wanted, a day that she actually got to spend with people, and have some time to enjoy it.

The dinner was delicious and fun, and then we headed out to the Knight of Columbus Hall for the reception. We had lined the tables with white cloths and black table runners, with red candle holders and white votives and red and black guitar picks personalized for Katrina and Joe. They were a big hit, everyone said they were a great idea. Whoever thought of that is a genius. :) Their cake was three layers, with a red ribbon around the middle and lyrics from
"True Companion" written around the outside of the top and bottom layers. It was gorgeous and cool and delicious. Chelsea and Brandi and two groomsmen gave toasts and did a lovely job. We did the Grand March all the way through, Katrina and Joe danced to "Picture in a Frame" by Tom Waits(?) She told me 3 or 4 times and I never remember. Matthew and I got to dance a little, the bridesmaids all got to dance a little, Anna danced with Joe, we had cake and beer and cheese and meatballs and got to see lots of people.

I loved being a bridesmaid. I think, maybe even more than being a bride. But there was a dance, so it's not really a fair comparison. Bridesmaids get to be bossy, and I do love that.

The next day there was a brunch out at Lance and Jeanne's house, I was glad to get a chance to talk more with Jeff and Brandi and Jenny. And then they opened presents!

It was a great week.

Kiki's Wedding Part 1

I know I'm way behind everyone on this one, but late is better than never.

I'm so thankful for all of the time I got to spend with Katrina doing wedding stuff. It was such a special time to spend together.

We went to Denver for her Bachelorette, and I got to spend a regular evening at home with the couple. We watched the Rockies play, ate Burritos, cleaned the apartment, it was fun to see them together at home. It's so strange still that she's married, and that Joe is a part of my life now, but a happy strange. It's made me even more thankful for my friends, who are still so much a part of my life, because it is funny to all of a sudden share someone with a husband. I'm also really thankful that Joe is a fantastic guy who loves her and I think he'll be a great addition to my friend-family. (Framily?)

Anyhoo, we went downtown on the train and ate sushi and then went to Mynt and Hush. Katrina got free drinks and we danced and were reminded that it's always good to take Chelsea with you. We got in the back door free at Hush, because she's so darn cute. Or, "scrumptious", according to the guy we walked by on the sidewalk.

On the way home the next day, the four girls from High School once again shared a car. Katrina, Chelsea, Brandi and I had a wonderful time. We talked the whole way, about this and that, like no time had passed at all. It's amazing how our lives have all gone different directions. I like to think about our different paths, coming from the same center, and back to the center again for the wedding. It's a pretty flower in my head. Were I a writer, I think we'd make terrific Chick-Lit.

The week preceding the wedding was full full full. Anna is a dream. She took good naps in Katrina's basement while we wrapped silverware and made programs and tied bows and, and, and. It was fun to spend so much time with Lance and Jeanne, and to remember that I'm a part of that family too.

The wedding day itself was beautifully surreal. I think maybe it deserves it's own post.

Craftiness

We've been super busy this month, maybe I'll have time right now to catch up, this post will be all crafts.

I can post pictures of Katrina's quilt now that she's received it. She was very happy, and I can't wait to see it in her new little home, to watch movies with her snuggled up in it.

I used the rail fence pattern and 30's reproduction prints. I set out to make a red and white quilt, with some other accent colors, but when I got it all put together, I realized it's much more blue and white. I didn't realize how much my tastes influenced it until I laid out the finished top in the living room to look at it. It was PERFECT in that room. At least, it has a lot of me in it, and that's a nice quality in a gift, yes? Also, I intended to do a variation of the rail fence pattern that makes sort of open and close boxes all throughout, but I didn't realize until I'd sewn all of the blocks that I would need to sew half of them flipped. I thought I could just flip them around and then sew them together. So this is what it looks like and I'm still pleased, just a bit wiser.

Anna picked the fabric for the back. I held up two and asked her which one Kiki would like better.

I made another gift quilt a while ago, can't post pictures of it yet, but Matthew said when he saw it "That's so (name of recipient)", so maybe I'm getting better at picking out fabric for others.

I also made Katrina a nightie out of an old U2 Concert t-shirt, I was really really pleased with that. I'm excited about all of the t-shirt possibilities. I forgot to take a picture of that before I gave it to her, but surely I'll make more.

Right now I'm working on a Christmas quilt for our bed. I picked out the fabrics and cut out the blocks, and then Matthew made up a plan for how to put them together. It's my favorite way to quilt, it's fun to do something together. It's a monster though, I think I may have done something wrong in the mathematical step, it's going to be HUGE. Here's a picture of the grid.

I'm also working on a little star baby blanket, trying to use up some scraps. I'm using small yarn and a small hook and making a blanket in a shape! All big steps for me. I think it's coming along alright, I've modified the pattern a bit as I go, I think my version is better. *warning--crochet terms coming* I think it's better to use a decrease rather than skip stitches when making an inside corner, I don't like the holes that the skipped stitches make, and I don't understand the point of the slip stitches and chaining in one corner, they're not pretty. But perhaps I just don't know enough about pattern making. The other problem I'm having is size. I can sort of envision what size a square or rectangular baby blanket should be, but the star shape is throwing me for a loop. How big?

And Joanna just sent me two beautiful old fabrics and some neato pieced oval/diamonds, I don't know what I'm going to do with it all, but it'll be fun.

Oh! And, with our bridesmaids dresses we got shawls out of matching satin, and I'm going to try to make Anna a Christmas dress out of mine. Eeek!

Laura K 10K

I did it!

The 10K was this morning. I was super nervous all day yesterday and couldn't get to sleep last night, but the race was this morning and was so much fun. We started at the zoo and ran down 4th, and past the Cancer Center, and then south on Main out to Sagebrush, and then back through the zoo. It was fun to run with a group of people and I didn't get lost. :) I kept my pace with my heart rate monitor, and finished in 1:10:22 (Is that how you write it?), which was my goal. I was 75th out of 140, so not at all last. I can't believe that it was fun. I'm excited for next year.

Here are a few pictures.

Me before the race.

My fans.

Anna greeting me at the finish.

After the race they did a one mile fun run through the zoo for the kids. Anna was excited and very serious about her race, though she was easily distracted by the animals, and rode for a lot of it on her Daddy's shoulders.

It was a great day.

Happy Birthday Susu!

Happy Birthday Susan!

This is one of my favorite pictures of you.

And as a special present, here's one where you look cute and I look super dorky. Why the awful glasses, why?

Happy Happy Birthday.

Anna's fashion

Anna's been dressing herself lately. She often prefers jammies, but today when I came home from school this is how I found her. So stylish.

And then she said "Hi Mama, glad a see you! How school today? Teach little kids Spanish?"

What fun!

Up all night

Whew.

Anna's been sick tonight, 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30. I can't decide whether to go to sleep or stay up another 30 minutes to see what happens at 3:30. I've washed 3 sets of sheets, and blankie twice. This last time blankie escaped, so I don't have to stay up to get it out of the dryer, but I don't know if I'll be so patient if I've gone back to sleep. I'm glad I decided to call the subline the first time she was sick.

I'm glad I'm a night owl, and that I had a huge nap today because of allergies. I think I'm going to risk it. But I'm laying down on the couch, not back in my bed.

Night night.

**EDIT** And again at 4:45...stumbling back to couch.

Inservices

Last Spring the 2nd grade teacher called and asked if I would be on their Technology team this year, they needed a fourth person. I said OK. This Tuesday, I found out what I agreed to...a zillion meetings, a lot of work, presentations, papers, etc. Serves me right for not reading all of my school email I guess. I'm sure I got something about it before she asked me.

I'm not really upset though. It'll be busy for sure, I've got three meetings this week (and two quilting classes, but that's fun) so my week's hugely full. But I have the chance to earn some extra money, and I've been wanting to make a Spanish website for the school, so it'll be a chance to do that. It just makes me laugh that I had no idea what I said OK to.

I was thinking about inservices, and how lots of the time they're annoying, but sometimes you really do learn things that you need to learn. And sometimes they're very basic, but sometimes you need basic, etc. I got to thinking about real life inservices that I wish we could take.

I would like Matthew to take one on the difference between a bolt and a sippy cup. If he tightens the lids, I can BARELY get them off, and I usually get a little angry. Maybe someone could make up a PowerPoint presentation for him, and then they could practice.

I would like one on raising a two year old. VERY specific...These are the things that are going to wreck your baby up, these are the things that are OK.

I think Anna needs a lesson in efficiency. She's the piddliest little thing.

Any others?

AA

Hello, my name is Betsy, I live in the country, and I have a problem with Ants.

I know, it's just a part of living out here.

And I know, it's not that big of a deal.

But I am SICK of ants! Last summer, the first time we found them, I cried. I thought it meant I was a terrible housekeeper and a bad person. Now I know that ants are a part of life in the country, they can get in anywhere and they will eat anything. I've found them in my bed, on a trail to the snotty hanky under my pillow. In the mudroom, carrying back BITS OF DIRT! There is plenty of dirt outside, why don't they eat that? And of course, on the kitchen floor and on the floor by Anna's highchair, the obvious places. I'm tired of following the trail and spraying just a teensy bit of Ant Raid on the entrance spot, and then worrying about poisoning our little family. I'm tired of staring maniacally at the floor looking for moving dots. I'm tired of cleaning up ants and then feeling like I have them crawling all over me for the next hour. I'm tired of stumbling across a new path and literally getting ants in my pants.

I love living in the country, and I love creation. I can even admire them sometimes. How do they do it? I found them a few nights ago coming in by the doorway that separates the mudroom from the rest of the house. In the middle of the house! They were not in the mudroom, just coming out the floor by the door to it. It's impressive, but I still want them all dead.

Eeeeeewww.... I feel so creepy crawly all over.

BTSF

Back To School Fatigue

I always forget about how tired it makes me to go back to school. I also always forget (until Open House) how much I love this job. I love the kids, I love teaching Spanish, it's so much fun.

We're using the new curriculum this year, I taught today using the books, and it's fun. It feels like cheating, to just do what the books say to do, but I think it will be nice this year, to have a break, and still feel like the kids are learning, and really immerse myself in this curriculum, to see what it does.

I'm also training for a 10K. I've never done anything like this before, and I hesitate to mention it here, because then if I don't make it, it'll be public, but I want to do it. They're having the first annual Laura K (Kleysteuber) 10K on October 6, and I decided I wanted to do it. It's raising money for the cancer center. I've been running this summer, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I found an 8 week training program online, so this is what I've been following. Anyone want to do it with me? I'm a slow jogger, but I'd welcome the support. I'm off to bed now, I've got three miles scheduled for the morning. :)

Home again, home again

We're back from the cabin. It was a lovely week. This week we're back to work though, in every sense. No more lounging about, eating junk and letting other people take care of Anna. There's laundry up to my ears, a house to pick up, things to put away, and inservices to go to. I LOVE my job, but the first month back is a kick in the pants.

My favorite quote from the trip comes from my Dad, talking to us about how Mom was worried because we kids got there a bit later than she expected: "I don't worry, worry is not a productive emotion." Hmmm, where DO I get my attitudes about the world?

We read the last Harry Potter out loud together, driving Mom crazy in the process. But we finished, and I'd be happy to discuss it with anyone, but I don't feel like I can here-because of the spoiler issue. So just talk to me sometime.

One interesting question from the books though--What would your Patronus be? Mine, obviously, would be a flamingo. Quite intimidating. AND-the subject of much debate during the reading aloud-What is the proper pronunciation of the word Patronus?

This 'n' that

I've been working on a new quilt lately, and thinking more about the skipping steps problem. For this quilt, I went to a quilt store and chose fabric, instead of using what I already had, or someone else's scraps. I don't know if it is because this is a very special one, or because I paid more for the fabric, or what, but I'm trying hard to make this one nice. I keep calling my Mom to ask what I would do next if I were trying to do it right. I've ironed in between each step, something I NEVER did before. I'm redoing seams that aren't quite right, I'm double checking before I cut and paying attention to my seam allowances. I was thinking...maybe our Moms don't skip steps because they have more experience. The more I sew, the more I realize the importance of each step, and can see the difference in the product, and the more I think that I CAN take the extra time and do it right and still get it done. Maybe by the time Anna wants to sew, I won't skip steps either. It's been interesting to watch myself make this one.

I finished the piecing today, but the fabric I bought for the border doesn't look quite right, so I'll have to do a bit more shopping. I really like it. I hope the recipient does too. My only concern now that it's almost all put together is that it really looks like something that I would like. I tried to pick out things that she would like, but it ended up being very me. It's a good thing we're friends, I guess.

Today I looked up Over the Rhine on a whim, and they have a new CD coming out the end of August. It's playing on their record player on the website, and I love it. I've pre-ordered it. I just love the jazzy, saucy, dark room with candles and red wine feeling of it. Have a listen, maybe you'll love it too.

Book List

OK, I'll play too.

* Bold the ones you’ve read.
* Italicize the ones you want to read.
* Leave in normal text the ones that don’t interest you.
* Put in ALL CAPS those you haven’t heard of.
* Put a couple of asterisks by the ones you recommend.
* Put a ++ by the ones you started but didn't finish.


1. The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)

2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) **

3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee) **

4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)++

5. The Lord of the Rings:Return of the King (Tolkein)

6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings (Tolkein)

7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)

8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)**

9. OUTLANDER (Diana Gabaldon)

10. A FINE BALANCE (Rohinton Mistry)

11. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Rowling)**

12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)

13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)

14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)

15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)

16. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)**

17. FALL ON YOUR KNEES (Ann-Marie MacDonald)

18. The Stand (Stephen King)

19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)**

20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)

21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)**

22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)**

23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)**

24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)

25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)++

26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)

27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)

28. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)**

29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)

30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)

31. DUNE (Frank Herbert)

32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)

33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)

34. 1984 (Orwell)**

35. THE MISTS OF AVALON (Marion Zimmer Bradley)

36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)

37. THE POWER OF ONE (Bryce Courtenay)

38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb)

39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant) (Megan just gave it to me, it's on the stack)

40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)

41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)

42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)

43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)

44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)

45. The Bible ++**

46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)**

47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)

48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)

49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)

50. She's Come Undone (Wally Lamb)

51. THE POISONWOOD BIBLE (Barbara Kingsolver)

52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)**

53. Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card)

54. Great Expectations (Dickens)**

55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)**

56. THE STONE ANGEL (Margaret Laurence)

57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)

58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)

59. The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)

60. The Time Traveler's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)**

61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)**

63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)

64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)

65. FIFTH BUSINESS (Robertson Davies)

66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

67. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)

68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)

69. Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)**

70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

71. Bridget Jones's Diary (Helen Fielding)**

72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

73. Shogun (James Clavell)

74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)

75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson)**

76. THE SUMMER TREE (Guy Gavriel Kay)

77. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (Betty Smith)

78. The World According to Garp (John Irving)

79. THE DIVINERS (Margaret Laurence)

80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)**

81. NOT WANTED ON THE VOYAGE (Timothy Findley)

82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)

83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)**

84. WIZARD'S FIRST RULE (Terry Goodkind)

85. Emma (Jane Austen)

86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)

87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)**

88. THE STONE DIARIES (Carol Shields)

89. BLINDNESS (Jose Saramago)

90. KANE AND ABEL (Jeffrey Archer)

91. IN THE SKIN OF A LION (Michael Ondaatje)

92. Lord of the Flies (William Golding)**

93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)

94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)

95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)

96. THE OUTSIDERS (S.E. Hinton)

97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)**

98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)

99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield) (We listened to it in the car once)

100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

Yum yum!

Anna and I made cookies tonight, and they are really tasty. Like little peach cobblers. Easy too! It's Martha's "Cookie of the Month"

Fresh-Peach Drop Cookies
~4 dozen

2 cups + 2T all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 large ripe peaches, peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/4" dice
1/3 cup peach jam or preserves
2 T fine sanding sugar (I used reg. sugar)
1/8 tsp cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 375. Whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda.
2. Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 4 min. Reduce speed to low. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture, and beat until just combined. Add peaches and jam, and beat until just combined.
3. Using a tablespoon, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment, spacing about 2" apart. (If not baking all of the cookies at once, refrigerate dough between batches, dough can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two days.) Combine sanding sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle each cookie with 1/8 tsp. cinnamon sugar mixture.
4. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown and just set, 11-13 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, and then transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.