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I am Sandra - faithful steward. listener. shepherd. dream believer. hard worker. collects brass bells, boots. Jesus follower. contented. star gazer. homemaker. farmer. prayer warrior. country woman. reader. traveler. writer. homebody. living life large.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Hot, Hot, Hot

 ~ sunset brings a tad cooler temps ~
Boys Howdy, is it hot where you're living? My parents live in central Virginia and they said it got up to 105 F yesterday; it was "only" 95 F here at Thistle Cove Farm. I'm thinking that's hot enough to turn a sinner's heart, eh? It was so hot, I forgot to put up Sabbath Keeping! That's never happened before and I apologize; I feel a right proper slackard!

Tonight, at midnight, is the deadline for last Monday's drawing and likewise for Tuesday and Wednesday. I have other things to giveaway and will get to them but I'm moving slowly, slowly these days. It's just taking me so dang long to get most anything accomplished in this heat. One thing I did accomplish is my guest post at From My Front Porch which is Misha's blog over in Tennessee. She asked me to do this and it's been great fun, thinking about early days and going through my thousands of photographs. If you're interested in early days, here at Thistle Cove Farm, have a visit with Misha; you'll learn more than you wanted to know! -smile-

I've been knitting again...for some reason, my hands and mind wanted the comfort of yarn and needles; I can't imagine why in this extreme heat but...there you have it. I'll show you the two spiral necklaces I've knitted as soon as the second one is off the needles. The farm building office and bath are finished; photos as soon as I've cleaned both rooms.

I have been reading; here's a partial list of books on my table; TBR means "to be read" and I bought a lot of these books, on the $1 table at BAM and some I bought for fifty cents at Big Lots...jackpot! Yeah, I know these books are a couple of years old but the words are still new to me -grin-. I've still got a bunch from the library that are stacked and either ready to read, finish or return.

~The Mercy Seller by Brenda Rickman Vantrease - one of the best historical fiction books I've ever read, bar non! This one is going to be a giveaway soon. Briefly, in 15 century Europe and England religious intolerance is spreading like wildfire and folks are being burned, drawn and quartered and tortured for their Christian faith! I am not ashamed to say I cried as I read this book. I cried at man's inhumanity to man and woman in the name of God.

~Traveling While Married by Mary-Lou Weisman - to be read but a skim through says funny!

~ The Woman Who Walked to Russia by Cassandra Pybus - TBR, looks interesting.

~ Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher: A Political Marriage by Nicholas Wapshott -TBR. Frankly, I think Reagan was one of our best Presidents and have long admired both  he and Margaret Thatcher. At that time, in a world gone, seemingly, mad Reagan and Thatcher formed an alliance that made them indomitable allies and both stood for low taxes, free markets, and a strong defense against communism; to their detractors I ask, "So what have you done to outshine their legacy?"

~ A Bull in China - Investing Profitable in the World's Greatest Market by Jim Rogers - TBR but I read and heed anything Jim Rogers says or writes. The man is brilliant!

~ Casa Nostra: A Home in Sicily by Caroline Seller Manzo - TBR, a non-fiction that weaves a spell of the extraordinary culture and world of Sicily. It's going to be good, really good and is another one of those books where she just GOES and live somewhere else. Okay, she married the guy and then they traveled but, eventually, ended up at his home in Sicily. Gosh, I love traveling like this...going and living like the locals! Second best is reading about it.

~ The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman - TBR, an historical, fiction, romance novel that tells the story of a woman captured and sold, in 1599, into slavery in the Sultan's harem. Joy gives her review and I think I'm going to like it although it will, probably, make me angry -smile-.

~ The Crimson Portrait by Jody Shields - TBR, set in 1915 England it's been called "historical fiction, psychological thriller, suspenseful, chilling tale of detection"...sounds good!

~ Malory: The Knight Who Became King Arthur's Chronicler by Christina Hardyment - TBR and think this will take me a long while to read and may never finish. Again, the 15th century and a review that says, for the most part, a successful write.

~ Sea of Faith: Islam and Christianity in the Medieval Mediterranean World by Stephen O'Shea - TBR and another book to dig deep. Perhaps you know Christianity, Islam and Judaism have a long and shared history; the Sea of Faith addresses early days in this fascinating period. Check his blog as well.

~ We've Always Had Paris...and Provence: A Scrapbook of our Life in France by Patricia and Walter Wells - reading now and it's delightful but I can't see me having a chin wag with these two; maybe them and Martha Stewart but not me.

~ The Lady in the Palazzo: At Home in Umbria by Marlene de Blasi - TBR and I'm sorry I've not yet stumbled upon her first two books in this series. Views From the Slow Lane give a great review. Again, one of my favorite type books, it tells the story of moving somewhere and starting a life amongst everything new. Recipes included...how great is that!?!

~ Investment Biker - On the Road with Jim Rogers - reading about his travels around the world on his BMW motorcycle with companion, Tabitha. Adventure Capitalist is his book written about his second trip around the world with wife Paige Parker. Rogers tends to be a private person which his writing reflects.

~ The God Catchers - Experiencing the Manifest Presence of God by Tommy Tenney - TBR - I've read other of Tenney's books and enjoyed them; expect to enjoy this one as well.

~ L'America by Martha McPhee - TBR - I'm really looking forward to reading this one in part because of her blog. She posted of her mother's recent visit wherein her mother brought her dog, her cat and ten baby chicks. Now just consider this intriguing woman is the mother of the author of L'America; it's simply got to be a great book!

~ Searching for a God to Love by Chris Blake, TBR -a new to me author; anyone know anything about him?

Blessings ~ books ~ eyes to read books ~

Dei Gratia,
Sandra

15 comments:

  1. Hi Sandra - it was good to see you over at Misha's today, and get to know some of your background. I like the idea of your reading list. I do the same thing on Facebook where they have an app for Currently Reading. Right now I'm reading three different books on the Amish culture/lifestyle, and thank goodness, these are realistic and not sensationalized or romanticized. One is called Amish Peace, and is very God-centered. I just started it today, and there are questions and challenges at the end of each chapter for how we ourselves can put some of this peace in our lives in the technological world. With the idea to be in the world, but not of the world. Thanks for sharing with us. Take care, from KY.

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  2. Yur header picture is so beautiful! A slice of heaven for sure.
    July Blessings to you,
    d

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  3. I loved reading your "other" blog post. It was lovely. I'm sending prayers for cooler weather. We have had a break in the heat. Todays high was in the high 70's. We lost one little lamb, we think to the heat last week. Cooling breezes coming your way!

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  4. I'd send you some cool ND thoughts - but it's been pretty hot here as well - we get a few days like that - it's something to remember when it's 40 below...

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  5. We have had cooler weather this summer. More rain and low 90's. Been nice not to spend each day in the 100's. Headed north though, so hope the air conditioning works up there.

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  6. We have very hot summer, too...95 F...
    But this week the temperature dropped 20 degrees...

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  7. I read your post on Mischa's blog yesterday and enjoyed it very much. We enjoyed a cooler day yesterday with no humidity, but it is creeping back up today and tomorrow. Hope you get a little break soon.

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  8. I really enjoyed your guest post! It is hot here in Pennsylvania, too, even in the mountains. Stay cool.

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  9. It has been in the 90's here, (in KY), for I don't know how many days. Very high heat indexes as well. Stay cool

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  10. Dear Sandra, Thank you for mentioning my blog and L'America. That's lovely for me to see. You're blog looks fantastic and I'm thrilled to have found it -- thanks to your generosity.

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  11. It is hotter than h... and you're knitting? Somehow that seems right for you Sandra.

    Traveling with our minds through reading, and what a lot of interesting reading you have shown me. I just might try a few of these books!Now will someone give me some extra time for them?

    Martha McPhee's mom sounds a bit like me, now I am wondering how she travels with chicks, as I have a few newly hatched chicks and summer camping coming up.

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  12. Just came here from Misha's blog, you write beautifully, and what a great story. Your wedding and it's menu were awesome!!.. And my Aunt had a tri-color paint curly, her name was Curly!.. your black and white percheron cross is a beauty.

    Great blog, I look forward to following along.

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  13. It's lovely weather here in Vermont. So sorry about your heat wave. I enjoyed perusing your reading list. I'm always on the search for good books. I'll head over to Misha's blog now.

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  14. After all the complaioning we did this past winter looks like we got our wish and more with this hot, humid weather. I'm going to play it safe and just ask for fall...just a little bit cooler.

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  15. Kathy - I'm a bad one for saying I'm going to read a particular book but if I get a chapter into it and it fails to capture my attention, it's tossed. Life is too short to read a bad book!

    Deanna - beautiful one day and perfect the next...that's Thistle Cove Farm.

    Kelly - I'm so sorry for the lamb loss. We've had cooler temps and, last night, I felt autumn in the air.

    Affectioknit - it's cooled down, just a tad but I'll take it!

    Midlife - temps are a tad bit cooler, thank God!

    Timi - the cooler air is a blessing!

    Becky - glad you enjoyed Misha's blog; she's a great gal.

    Deborah - it finally cooled down; hurrah!

    Farmchick - cooler temps here and we're grateful.

    Martha - you're welcome and thanks for visiting Thistle Cove Farm.

    Kathy - yep, can you believe it...I'm knitting. I've finished two scarves and one was a wool blend!

    Karen - thanks for visiting and glad to hear you know of Curly horses; they are incredible creatures! Many thanks for your kind words, they are greatly appreciated!

    Mountain Woman - hope you enjoy Misha's blog; it's a great one.

    Katherine - Autumn chill is showing up in the evenings and in the cool rain; wonder what winter will bring?

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