Tradition - Wheeler Farm

On the Hayride
Sam the pony man!

Looking for the perfect pumkin!

Oooooh scary batman!

We had a wonderful day!

Sam and I have a tradition and every year we go to Wheeler Farm for their Scarecrow days. We go on a hayride, pick out pumkins, walk around the farm, Sam goes on pony rides and of course Sam gets his face painted which he loves. This is was especially beautiful. We were there for about four hours just taking in the beautiful day. We got to see baby pigs and chickens. We fed the ducks. Sam got candy at the fish pond. It was a great day. We just could not go home because they weather was too nice so we grabbed some lunch and went to Liberty park. I think we were outside for a good six hours. It was glorious. I love fall!

Maisie Dobbs - Review

I read one of the sequels first so I was a little surprised by how this book flowed but I loved it nevertheless. I usually read straight mysteries with very little character development (you know like Agatha Christie novels where Miss Marple does not grow, change or develop in any way – I am not saying it is bad I am just saying it is true!).

But this mystery is about Maisie and how the mystery affects her. I can’t say that I enjoyed reading about the war but it made the characters actions much more understandable. At the beginning Maisie is hired to investigate a seemingly simple case of infidelity and is soon enmeshed in a case that sends her back into her past and forces her to face pains she would soon forget.

Through a series of flashbacks we discover that Maisie lost her mother. Then her father, who loved her very much but couldn’t support her, sent her to be a maid in an aristocratic family, I love how she would sneak into the Library to read their books. The Lady of the house recognizes Maisie’s talent and intelligence and arranges for Maisie to be tutored while continuing her employ as a maid. Eventually she qualifies to attend Girton College at Cambridge. But sadly before she could complete her education the Great War breaks out and she joins up as a nurse. She falls in love with a young doctor. She then manages to survive three years of harrowing experiences. But sadly just before the war is over she is badly injured and her doctor dies. After recovering she finishes her education and becomes a private investigator using her knowledge of working class as well as her connection with the aristocracy.

As you can see the mystery is secondary to the development of Maisie. I think this is a great book. I would recommend it to any reader. You don’t have to be a mystery reader to enjoy Maisie Dobbs. I have also read a couple of Jacqueline Winspear other books and would highly recommend those as well. Happy Reading!

November is the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho which I am frantically reading because on November 1 to November 30 I will be participating in NaNoWriMo (which you may remember from last year is writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days).

Darth Vader Theme

So this morning we are driving into work and Sam is sitting in his booster chair singing at the top of his lungs BLAH, BLAH BLAH (yes he was saying blah!) the Darth Vader theme song. It was so funny that I almost got in an accident. The more I laughed the louder he got. He is going to be the blue storm trooper for Halloween. He is VERY excited about that. I just wanted to take moment to tell the world that I have the best son. He is the most humorous, loving, funny, frustrating, maddening, cuddly, happy, grouchy, helpful boy in the world. I am one fortunate mommy.

Today is my birthday ... na, na, na, na ,na

I love birthdays. I know some people don't but I do. It is just fun. Even if it means getting one year older. I gotta alota love today. I have great friends, wonderful co-workers and awesome family that have made my day great. The only downside today has been me locking us out of the house this morning. I walked out Sam in front me with my bag, Sam's lunch and backpack but no keys. The door shut and boom we were locked out. I tried our looser landlord but since he is never there when you need him I guess I should not be surprised that he was not there even though his garage door was open with his car inside. Maybe he was running. Or maybe he took the bus. Whatever. He was there! Anyway. So I go back to my house and decide I am going to try and break in. I take my blockbuster card out of my wallet and go at the door. Guess what! It WORKED! I got the door open. It was a happy moment for as long as it took me to get the keys but then I thought, honestly, if I can break in who couldn't. So rethinking the way my front locks. But other than that it has been a glorious and wonderful day. Thanks to all for making me feel loved and special. You are all the BEST!

Mormon Scientist

I do not often branch out of non-fiction but I was pleased with this read. The book, Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring, was a suggestion from a friend. I enjoy biographies but I was not sure about the science part. I would not say that it is a quick read but it was not laborious either. I found Henry’s whole story fascinating. He was a family man, a man of science and a man of faith.

To me he exemplified how we can live in this world today. I loved the idea that viewing the world is like a puzzle and just because things don’t match up exactly now does not mean that they will not. Science and religion can work together. One of my favorite quotes from the book was F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.” I love that: see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise. I think my favorite section of the book was the chapter Master of Contradictions.

I liked how he knew who he was and was never embarrassed about it. It never bothered him if people did not like him because his family was a polygamist family or that he was a Mormon or the way that he lived his science. I hope I can develop and understanding and confidence in myself that is that strong. To be able to stand up and say this is me – live with it.

Another one of my favorite quotes was what Henry Eyring said about one of his students. His son (I think) asked him why he did not give it to him (the student for not performing well) and Henry Eyring said: “The world knocks them down. I try to build them up.”

I admire his confidence, his belief and his determination. I liked when he said, “If an idea is wrong, it will fail; if it is right, nothing can stop it.”

I really enjoyed this book and I am glad that I purchased it because I would like to read it again.

Knife Clasp

So I went to the chiropractor. Come to find out that I have a deformity called Knife Clasp. I was born with it ... apparently. Anyway the lowest vertebrae is missing a part and the one above grew an extra long piece so when I bend backward the extra long piece sticks through my spin and hits my spinal cord causing pain. Fun huh. No more back bends for me. That is why it is called Knife Clasp because it hurts like a knife. So I guess when I say my back hurts I am not kidding. He said that it will only get worse as I get older. But that he can help me get back to almost 100% and then have a good place to start from. I'm young. I'm spry. So I have several appointment this week and then two weeks of two and I will learn some stretches and stuff and then once a month for a while until he gets it fixed as much as it can be fixed. Then we got to have the dreaded weight conversation. That is one of my favorite conversation. Like I don't know that I am overweight. Well now I had added motivation to get healthy. Knife in the back. Good motivation.

My Big Helper

Sam has been such a great helper since I hurt my back. He LOVES to do the dishes and he was very excited to get them all done. He also helped me make my bed (and he made his bed all by himself without me asking!) I need to do laundry tonight and I am sure he will happy to help.

This is a cute outfit that Sam's paternal grandmother sent him. I love it. He looks really good in orange I decided. He must have my coloring. But then again I look pretty darn good in any color (how's that for humble pie!) We are just heading off to school and work. I wanted to take pictures to send to Omi.
Sam loves Lego's and I mean he LOVES them. He gets the Lego magazine and he wants to have his picture taken with one of his creations and have it sent to the magazine. So this is one of them. This is called an "Intelligent Weapon" that is what he called it. I think he just learned the world intelligent because he uses it all the time. That and boring. Everything is boring. Which is funny because I read a lot of British literature and they like that word too. The Lego magazine is really fun but sometimes it has stuff in it that drives me crazy. Like they showed the new death star Lego thing and guess who wants it? Sam does. Guess how much it costs? Come one ... guess. $400. No I did not make a typo. It is FOUR HUNDRED BUCKS! Who spends that kind of money on Legos? I guess someone but certainly not us. So Sam's loves are Lego anything, Shiny Knight anything and Star Wars anything.

As a side note I am going to the chiropractor today at 3:00 p.m. and I hope I am feeling much better tomorrow. Here's to hope.