Two Year Blog Anniversary

Today is the two year anniversary since I starting blogging. A lot has happened in that two year period. Some of the events during that time period have made me take pause.

In May of 2009, my mother passed away. Definitely an unexpected loss for our family. There has been a great void in our lives since then. I miss her each and every day.

In the fall, a nephew came to live with me so that he could attend college here. I have been trying to think of a name to give him for blog purposes and so far I've come up with nothing. He has to be the New York Yankees #1 fan. Maybe something along that line. Or maybe something to do with weather since that is his focus in college. Something will come to mind.

In September, I finally had surgery on my lower back. At the time, I thought I made the greatest mistake in my life. The pain did not seem to ease up. Thankfully, young nephew was with me during the day to help me get around. He was my lifesaver for 6-8 weeks while I was recovering. He still does so much for me around the house and never complains. Now I can walk and stand again with virtually no pain. I do know when I've done too much because my back screams with pain. So I know my limitations. Goal is to walk two miles a day again.

Knitting was not the greatest in 2009, but I hope that 2010 will be different. So far I've finished a baby sweater that is a gift for a friend and there is another one on the needles for yet another friend. Also, I have a baby blanket on the needles for a friend who will be a grandmother soon. It is my decision this year to knit birthday gifts for the family instead of store-bought presents. I sure hope they like their gifts.

Hopefully, 2010 will be a great year with memories to be made and more to write about on the blog!

Snowbird

Flashback Challenge - Book #1: Heidi

Finished reading the first book in my Flashback Challenge -- Heidi -- real early this morning. Have a real bad cold so nothing to do but sit up in the recliner to keep from coughing and read. Not a long read really -- 14 chapters.

The author is Johanna Spyri. The original title was Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning and published in 1880 in Germany. Title was shortened later to Heidi.

What I like about the book is the simplicity of life and people. You can see the dramatic affect a change of scenery had on Heidi from the known (life on the mountain with grandfather) to the unknown (life in the City of Frankfurt, Germany with Clara and Grandmamma). Some people adjust well to changes and others do not. Her lack of adjustment was more out of love for those she left behind as well as the environment. It doesn't mean that she didn't learn to care for Clara and Grandmamma because she did. She learned powerful lessons from Grandmamma. Grandmamma helped her to adjust her thinking regarding prayer and reading. The book that she learned to read from was no doubt one based on scripture stories of the Bible. In fact, it was the story of the Prodigal Son that Heidi read to her Grandfather that changed his heart regarding people he had abandoned in the past when she returned home to the mountain. The story starts and ends with a simpler life.

Sequels to the book Heidi were published by Charles Tritten in 1958. One is Heidi Grows Up and the other is Heidi's Children. I have not read either.

So I am on to my next book. Thinking about a book I read in 6th grade and did a book report about -- Annie Oakley. Again, it should be a short read, but one that should take me back a few years in my life when I can definitely say "life was simpler".

Happy reading to all!

Snowbird

The Flashback Challenge

If you love to read, then this is a very exciting challenge. It is not an exhausting challenge, but one that will let you revisit your childhood, teenage years and adulthood thru the memories of books that you have read and loved. Just browsing thru blogs, I found this challenge on Scrabblequeen's blog. She is linked to another blog Booklust for the signup.

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The challenge runs from January 1 - December 31, 2010. The reading levels are as follows:

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Bookworm - Up to three books

Scholar - Four to six books

Literati - Over six books

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Within these levels, there are mini-challenges! These are:

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1. Re-read a favorite book from your childhood;
2. Re-read a book assigned to you in high school; and,
3. Re-read a book you loved as an adult.

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Probably will go for the Literati in the challenge. I can think of a number of different books that I want to revisit and will probably start with the Heidi series from childhood; The Robe as a teenager plus others from literature class; and, heaven only knows which ones I will pick from adulthood as I have many on my list of favorites.

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Happy reading!

Happy New Year !

Snowbird and part of family went to the downtown festivities last night and enjoyed the music, the Moon Pie rising and fireworks! My first really big big outing in quite a while.

Today, I made my family a semi-traditional New Years meal that included: Hoppin' John, cornbread and collards. The collards were drained and patted dry from the can and buried in a pizza with turkey pepperoni, lowfat mozarella cheese, feta cheese, and tomato sauce. I thought if you can put spinach on a pizza, why not collards. Pretty much covered all that was needed for good luck and wealth in the food that was made.

I have picked up the knitting needles again after a really long absence from knitting. The surgery and recovery along with going back to work has not helped my creativity one bit. Hopefully, I can get going again with the knitting. I can think of all sort of gifts I want to knit for Christmas this year. Just need to set my mind to it and get the needles clicking.

My best to all in this new year of 2010!