And the question is --- what, if any, kind of music do you listen to when you're reading?

And the answer is -- none!  I usually have the television on or nothing at all.  I prefer nothing at all but in the evening, that isn't the case around here.  I have tried listening to internet radio while reading but it doesn't work so well because I tend to fiddle around with the radio instead of reading! 

Fathers Day 2011

It has been eleven years since  I was able to actually celebrate Father's Day with my own father.  The difficulty of these sorts of "holidays" is fading with time and I find myself remembering my father more and grieving less.  Today, however, I found myself thinking of the other fathers that have meaning for me as well.

Pat Boyette 1923-2000

My father, Pat Boyette was born in San Antonio, Texas to Aaron P. and Phyllis Giles Boyett.  He went to Edison High School and had careers in radio, television and comic art.  I think the thing he enjoyed the most, however, were my two children.  My father was a self-made, well read man -- he didn't read me stories at night -- we discussed Egyptology.  He would build kites for me, help me school "issues" -- projects, long division, and photo journaling.  I had a colorful, non-conformist life with my dad -- no 9 to 5 here -- and I loved every minute of it.  I mean, how many kids in San Antonio, Texas had fathers who made movies? 

Aaron P. Boyett, Sr.   1898-1956

My grandfather, Aaron P. Boyett, was born in Sabine County, Texas in 1898 to Robert E and Clarissa Abi Conn Boyett.  Even though I didn't have him in my life long and I didn't see him on a day to day basis, I adored him and I do have memories of him.  I remember the last Christmas I had with him -- he bought Marla and I big pandas and I got a tricycle.  The one memory that I have that is clear as day is of him laying on my bedroom floor coloring with me.  I swore I was going to keep that picture forever but it somehow got lost -- but I remember it and that is what counts.  He was affectionate and wasn't shy about planting big, sloppy kisses and giving big bear hugs. How I wish I could ask him questions about his life -- ah, the plight of all family historians.

James William Davis  1896-1969

My grandfather, James W Davis was born in 1896 in Scranton Pennsylvania to James W. Davies, Sr and Dinah Sophia Webb Davies, Welsh immigrants who came to the US a mere six years before my grandfather was born.  Short in stature and gruff in nature, my grandfather -- PaPa -- wasn't one to be outwardly affectionate with his five granddaughters but there was never any doubt that he loved us. I didn't cross him (don't slam that door again, Melissa) but he was a mainstay in my life.  I remember so  many snacks of Welsh rarebit that I would share with him at the little kitchen table (which I still have) and listened to him give me good advice and lessons.  I particularly remember one morning following him around the back yard helping him pick up pecans.  He was picking them up but I was busy re-planting them in the flower beds.  They were still coming up, from time to time, when I was grown.  He was stable and dependable and we always knew that if we ever needed him, he would be there.  He may grump about it, but he would be there.

Allen Brinkley

Allen Brinkley, born in 1947 in San Antonio, Texas to James Otis Brinkley and Helen Marguerite Bordovsky. He was my high school sweetheart, soulmate, love of my life, my rock and the father of my two precious children, Brandon and Brianna.  Oh yes, and the best grocery checker HEB ever had!  Allen has never failed me or the children, he is strong, determined, deliberate and always there for us.  I couldn't have asked for a better father for my children or husband for myself.

Brandon Brinkley

My son -- handsome, caring, compassionate, kinda goofy sometimes in a good way, strong in his faith and  the joy of my life.  It is an indescribable feeling to watch your son become a father.  Watching him with his infants, I was transported back to his infancy and all the hopes and dreams I had for him.  I haven't been disappointed.  He grew up well and is everything I had hoped he would be.  He also gave me a wonderful gift in the persons of my precious grandson Nathan and granddaughter Kathryn and the opportunity to watch it all over again.  I do recognize that this is a high school photo but I was having a difficult time trying to find a more recent one that didn't include children, food, gift opening or something else distracting.  But trust me, he still has his hair and he looks pretty much the same. 

Chris Wilcox

Chris Wilcox -- my son-in-law -- born in Hampshire, England to Chas and Barbara Wilcox. I couldn't have asked for a better husband for my daughter than Chris.  His quiet reserve is a perfect complement to her bubbly personality -- he is strong and calm and logical (stay calm and carry on!) and they have done well in forging their little family   --  which was, of course, made even better by the addition of our precious, sweet Caroline (yes, I know it is a song) in 2010.  Watching Chris with his  daughter  is really special - it is fun to watch this long, tall drink of water and this little Bean of a girl together -- of course, nobody has told him that he is tightly  wrapped around one tiny little finger but that is ok -- they are doing great just the way they are.

So, these are the fathers in my life.  They all have a special place in my life and in my heart and they always will.  Happy Father's Day!

Friday Night Sew In

Last night was the latest meeting of the Friday Night Sew In group.  I discovered this group through Not So Plain Jane and decided to participate.  If you would like to participate in future events, sign up at http://craftyvegasmom.blogspot.com.          

I was all ready to go! We had take out pizza from Rocco's -- our favorite, independent pizza place.

It was lovely -- mushroom, black olive and carmelized onion.   Fantastic.  After dinner I got hubby all settled in to watch "Die Hard 2"  (I think).  It has Bruce Willis with hair so it was old but Hubs  was enjoying it.  I was enjoying the fact that it would be over for me to watch "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" which I find to be hilarious but rather sad.  I also had my big glass of iced tea waiting for me.

I have been working on some Christmas stitchery for a couple of months now and my latest project was this piece by Little House Needleworks.

However, when I began the project a few days ago I decided to make it smaller by using smaller gauge fabric -- 18 ct. to be exact -- but the only 18 ct. I had in the house was a lovely pale pink.  I thought it would be nice.  Well, I was wrong.  It was too pale and so last night, in mid-FNSI, I decided to start over on a more natural fabric. I was almost half done on the pink fabric but now I have only done the lettering and about an inch of the white lacy edging on the top.  I guess I will have my own Saturday Night Stitch In tonight!

I have to admit that my first time participating in this group turned out to be a comedy of errors.  Not only did I decide to start over on the project, I had many failures with my equipment.  I couldn't see well while sitting in my usual chair -- I blocked my own light from my lovely but dim lamps so I had to move to the sofa which doesn't recline like my chair but is in better light.  Then, the clip-on light that I had on my Q-snap kept popping off and.....the phone kept ringing which meant that I had to keep putting everything down to answer the phone.  Now, a more organized soul would have simply put the phone next to the sofa but that would have required much more thought that I was apparently capable of last night.

In spite of it all, though, I stitched through the movie, I stitched through the gypsies, I stitched though the change of fabric and I really enjoyed the idea that I planned to do this and gave myself permission to attend the "event" and didn't feel the least bit guilty about leaving other things undone! I will attend again in the future.

Friday Night Sew-In

Just saw this while visiting Not So Plain Jane (see the list of blogs I enjoy) and decided to check it out.  I am so going  to be there! I just hope I can remember to take photos.  I will be working on some Christmas cross stitch that I have been working on for a while now.  So, why don't you join us for this little activity -- a little sewing, a little wine, a little movie watching -- sounds like Friday to me! Visit http://craftyvegasmom.blogspot.com for the details.

Friday Finds

It is Friday (yay!) so, over at Should Be Reading, it is time for Friday Finds.  I have always wanted to participate in this but never really had anything to post but this time I do.

I tend to listen to controversial conservative talk radio while in the car.  For some reason I can't listen to rock music anymore -- too distracting -- and classical puts me to sleep so I listen to people talk. My favorite venue is KLIF Dallas and that is where I heard the interview with Rita Cosby, radio talk show host. 

Rita Cosby has written a book about her father entitled "Quiet Hero: Secrets From My Fathers Past".  It is about her father's imprisonment in a World War II POW camp, his freedom and his life after the war.  While growing up and being inquisitive, Rita would ask questions but be told that her father had a rough time growing up and they just didn't talk about it.  The family was estranged when her father just picked up and left one day and they lost touch.  Upon her mother's death, while she and her siblings were going through her mother's things, they happened upon an old suitcase that contained the remnants of her father's "other life" -- the one before he came to the US.  At that point, Cosby decided to find and reconnect with her father, which she did and the result of that reunion was this book.

Listening to the author talk about her work was compelling.  She was so full of passion for this book and for her father.  I can't believe that a book written with that much feeling wouldn't be a good book so I went looking for it.  I went to all the local Barnes and Noble stores but it wasn't in stock so the store that I frequent has ordered it for me and for the store and I hope to have it next week.  I could probably find it as an e-book but I feel like this one should be read in a "real" book format.

Booking Through Thursday

With the advent and growing popularity of ebooks, I'm seeing more and more articles about how much "better" they can be because they have the option to be interactive..videos, music, glossaries..all sorts of little extra goodies to help "enhance" your reading experience, rather like listening to the directors commentary on a DVD of your favorite movie.  How do you feel about that possibility?  Does it excite you in a cutting edge kind of way? Or does it chill you to the bone because that is not what reading is all about?

I purchased a first generation Nook to help relieve my ever-bulging bookshelves because I cannot, apparently, do anything about my insane book shopping habits and library real estate in this house is at a premium.  My thought process was that if I bought an ebook and really, really liked it, I would purchase a hard copy (on sale or used) for my library.  This has generally worked for me except I am drawn like a moth to the candle to the sale tables at B&N and there just doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it.  At least they are on sale.  Whatever.  I digress.  In any event, I have never used any of the "extras" on the Nook except the word look up -- twice.  I have never listened to music on it, played games on it and the web browser is more trouble than it is worth.

I also purchased a Nook Color to use as a tablet -- definitely not a reader because it doesn't have e-ink pages and it is like reading a computer screen and for those of us who like to read for hours on end -- that isn't really good.  I have tried to read on it and ended up with a dreadful headache and so much eye strain I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head.  It is good for "Angry Birds" however.

The new Simple Reader from Nook is, in my opinion, a great option for those who just want an e-reader to-----read! It is smaller, quite light weight and of a size that can be held easily or carried in a purse or bag without adding unnecessary weight.  The battery life is improved as well.  In this format, I just see the e-reader as another book -- a collection of books so to speak.

Does the idea of e-readers "chill me to the bone"?  No, of course not because everybody's reading experience is different.  I do, however,  think of reading as an escape from a hectic, electronically charged world and while it sounds redundant to use an e-reader to escape our hectic world, I think that if it is used without all the added goodies, it is no different than a book except that you aren't going to have to buy more bookcases.

And the questions are:

What are you currently reading?

"Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger 

What did you recently finish?

I recently finished "Aunt Dimity's Death" and "Heaven is for Real:  The Story of a Little Boy's Trip to Heaven and Back"

What do you think you will read next?


 I will probably take up the next in the Aunt Dimity series -- "Aunt Dimity and the Duke".  However, I have added a few really interesting titles to my nook so I am not really sure.

Teaser Tuesdays



Since I am still reading Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger, I will "tease" you with an excerpt from a book that my husband picked out for me.


Flippy, and Floppy, and Flappy are three
Dear little ducklings that sail on the sea.
Sail in a tin, and a boot, and a box--
What do they care for the sharks or the rocks?


This is from a gorgeous little book called The Little Big Book for Grandmothers.  It has stories, poems, recipes, activities, songs, etc. -- all manner of things to entertain a child.  The illustrations are really pretty and the whole book is reminiscent of books I had a child.  Thanks Hubs!

The question for today's Musing Monday's, hosted by Should Be Reading, is what's the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn't put it down?

My clear and honest answer would have to be nothing.  See, I am programmed to turn into a zombie at 9 p.m. and if I am not in bed by 10:30  p.m. I  turn into a pumpkin.  So, I don't stay up all night for anything or anybody unless one of my grandchildren is being born.  I have been known to get up about 4 a.m. for royal weddings but I won't say the rest of the day is pretty.

HOWEVER I do have my moments of being caught up in books and have been known to read through dinner preparation time, in the car on the way to anywhere, and in the tub. 

As to what the last book I read that I couldn't put down was -- well, that is difficult because the last several books I have read have been page turners.  In the Company of Others by Jan Karon certainly comes to mind but I have also been really caught up in the Aunt Dimity series.  Right now I am reading Franny and Zooey and it is going quite slowly, not because it isn't good but because I have been really busy but I intend to spend time on it today.

So, there you go -- not very interesting, eh?

Sunday

It is Sunday.  It is early.  I woke to the song of the mockingbird that has taken up residence in the recently planted oak tree on the other side of the fence.  He is definitely a song bird and he has quite a medley.  What a great way to wake up.  The day isn't fully awake yet and the garden is quiet -- except for -- what shall I name him?  Bennett -- for Tony Bennett.  Another great singer.

A wonderful day planned for us.  Church first, then just a light lunch at home and then DD and her husband and our granddaughter -- Bean -- will be over to swim in the paddling pool.  By that time, it will be hot outside and the cool water will feel good -- hope she doesn't mind sharing with my feet!

This evening will be filled with sewing and needlework --  getting a jump start on Christmas and I have a birthday gift to complete for the Sweet Bean who will be turning one soon.

All in all it looks like the day is shaping up nicely -- I wish the same for everyone here! Happy Sunday.

hair

Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there hair, shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there momma, everywhere daddy, daddy
Haaaaaaiiiiiiiirrrrrrr!  

Hair -- a woman's crowing glory, to be covered, to never be cut.  Somebody should definitely hammer this into little girls heads so the idea of cutting hair into a trendy, cute, easy care style will be shunned with their entire beings.  I grew up with long hair and a fair amount of it.  I went blissfully along with hair half up/half down with bangs until I hit 15 and had a bad case of split ends.  Off to the beauty shop to deal with the split ends and returned home with a "bubble".  Did I mourn the loss of my shoulder length, brunette, hopelessly split tresses?  No.  I liked the new "do" -- I was in style, it was easy and cute and I could put little clippies with bows of all colors and designs in it.  It was great.  Plus, my mother said that if I got the "long, stringy hair cut" she would let me get my ears pierced and trust me, she was banking on me not cutting the hair because she was the worlds loudest protester of the 1960's ear piercing craze.  Can I say "winner"!!!! Me -- not her.  I scored the cute hair cut AND the pierced ears -- the summer of '65 was great!

Well, long story short (no pun intended), the short hair stayed.  I missed the long hair and even tried numerous times to  regrow it -- I mean, what was Mom going to do -- UNpierce my ears?  But, every time I got to the stage where it was a decision whether to cut the hair or cut my throat I opted for the hair so, for the last 46 years, I have worn my hair essentially the same way.  About eight years ago I decided to abandon the "helmet head", quit teasing it and opted for a less structured effect  -- much better for the North Texas wind -- but it was essentially the same.  It was about that time that I noticed a marked thinning of my locks -- mostly on the top.  I tried blaming it on my "thyroid" -- my scape goat for lots of things -- then I figured it was all the teasing for years -- distinct possibility.  Since my aunt has exactly the same hair I GUESS heredity could have something to do with it and -----my age. I don't want to go there, though.  I would say that the genetics part is what scares me the most -- can't do much about it and my dad's hair got really, really -- gone. 

So, I started worrying about the thinning hair which is probably not doing much for it but I was still being "mean" to my hair with styling appliances and all.  Yesterday, while curling my dry, product-full hair with a very hot curling iron, I noticed a significant amount of hair stuck to my iron.  It scared the #%$ out of me.  So, when I went shopping at Central Market I decided to check out some new products, re-do my hair with gentler methods and see if I could go out in public with the results.

I have been using this off and on for a while now.  It is so much different than regular shampoo and it feels good but every now and then I have to go back to shampoo but my hubby loves this bar shampoo all the time -- he even shaves with it now. It doesn't strip all the natural oil out of the hair and it makes my "greys" (actually, "whites" much more manageable.

 Then I decided that I needed something a little less industrial than my Matrix products that I have been using for years and years.  So, I decided to try this

 I used it just like I use my Salon Basics gel, it felt pretty much the same and I had the added joy of it costing about 50% of the stuff I had been using.  I was happy.
So, I preceded to dry my hair with my blow dryer on cold -- yep, cold.  It took a long time even though I went to warm for a little bit and even high for a couple of minutes but I am thinking that all the heat isn't grand for my lame locks.  


I was thinking of rolling it up on regular velco rollers -- the ones I had purchased brand new just a couple of months ago -- which I cannot find.  Of course.  I probably threw them away.  Or hid them.  Whatever, I can't find them so I went back to my curling iron and put it on the lowest setting -- I mean it was so low you couldn't even iron a wrinkle out of a ribbon with it but it did seem to add a bit of a boost to the limp, mouse like stuff on the top of my head.


I was reasonably pleased and figured I could be seen by people in the current state but I decided to try another product that I purchased.

Lavender and coconut should smell fabulous, right?  Yeah, not so much.  However, the product promises to add shine and luster.  I read the list of ingredients and I could pronounce them all, they all seemed pretty benign except for the chamomile that I seem to be allergic to but I decided to give it ago so I put some -- a little -- on my hands, rubbed them together and then just ran them through the hair and finger styled it again and went on my way -- I was really bored by then and needed to move on.  


Fast forwarding to this morning.  I am not a daily shampooer -- never have been and never will be.  So, I fell out of bed, walked to the mirror, ran my fingers through my hair and was shocked -- it went back perfectly, was puffy, shiny and looked like I had just "done" it.  I couldn't believe it.  Now, trust me, I will never, ever win any hair awards -- just not in my DNA -- but I was completely impressed that it did what it did and I think I will keep my new products for a while -- at least while I am still looking for those lost curlers!