and it was like the candy store.
albeit a small candy store. but still.
~~~~~~
Saturday was the start of the book sale at the library. All childrens books $0.50 a piece.
The sale was scheduled to begin at 9am, when the library opened. I had $20 to spend on books for Lauren's preschool. Another $20 of my money, for books for us.
There was no way I was gonna miss out on the best of the best of the fifty-cent books, so I was there at 8:45. And the parking lot was empty. Did I get my days wrong? Does the sale start on a different day? Why on earth are there not hoards of people?
The sign was still up on the door, announcing that it did, in fact, begin that day. So I walked around the block. And another block. And marvelled that the little coffee shop downtown isn't open on Saturdays. Of course, downtown was pretty dead, so maybe it makes sense that they are closed Saturdays. But I would've gone in and gotten some tea, had they been open.
Then I went and sat outside at the library. at 8:58 another lady arrives, and she just stands by the door. I join her. There's an employee on the inside looking at us. I ask Other Lady if she's there for the book sale. Nope, just there to use the computer. There's a book sale, huh? Umm, HELLO!!!
Finally they open the doors. I beeline for the children's section. It's pretty small, but I'm not discouraged. I am the only one there. seriously? Well I'm not complaining, but seriously? Maybe 10 minutes in, with my stack 10 inches high, a friend (who I told about the sale, thankyouverymuch) arrives. I keep adding books to my stacks - now there are two, each about 10 inches high.
Finally, at about 9:30, a few more people wander in. And see me add to my piles. "Ma'am, are these books you have set aside?" "Yes, those are mine." Had we both actually said what we were thinking, I think it would have gone more like this: "Ma'am, are ALL these books set aside? Really, you are buying ALL THESE books? Umm, don't you think you should leave some for the rest of us?" "Yes, those are mine. Book sales are serious events. Next time you better be here at 9. Don't you dare touch my piles, I bite."
But, as the crowd grew (to, umm, 5), I felt a bit self concious that my stacks were so high. So I left with 42 books. 25 for the preschool, and 17 for us. Never fear, though, I went back Monday and got 15 more for the preschool, and 1 more for us.
And, when we were at the library for story time on Wednesday, I didn't even let myself walk over near the sale shelves. I have incredible restraint, loads of will power. Just don't tell me about a book sale ever again.
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
ah, the library
I love the library!
We try to go every Wednesday for storytime (skipped today, though, because of an awful cough that hasn't yet gone away).
I logged on to the library today to renew a book, and I learned that so far, in 2010, I've saved $294 by borrowing rather than buying. At this rate, I'll save $1200 for the year. That justifies a shopping spree, don't you think? ;-)
The book I renewed is Michael Pollan's The Botany of Desire. Interesting stuff. And now I want to learn more about the real Johnny Appleseed. (When googling the book to create the link, I learned that pbs made a documentary based on the book. Have I told you lately that I love pbs?)
What are you reading?
We try to go every Wednesday for storytime (skipped today, though, because of an awful cough that hasn't yet gone away).
I logged on to the library today to renew a book, and I learned that so far, in 2010, I've saved $294 by borrowing rather than buying. At this rate, I'll save $1200 for the year. That justifies a shopping spree, don't you think? ;-)
The book I renewed is Michael Pollan's The Botany of Desire. Interesting stuff. And now I want to learn more about the real Johnny Appleseed. (When googling the book to create the link, I learned that pbs made a documentary based on the book. Have I told you lately that I love pbs?)
What are you reading?
Friday, October 23, 2009
a little of this, a little of that
In an attempt to make up for my lack of blogging....
Andy's encountered some odd sexism lately. Nearly every time he leaves Wal-Mart with our cloth bags, he's asked to show his receipt. Only one time have I been asked, and I had a 'big ticket item' in the cart. Now that he's been shopping there a few months, it doesn't happen every time, but there is still one greeter (an older gentleman) that doesn't seem to be sure of a man using cloth bags without his hippie wife by his side.
~~~
Organic king size sheet sets on clearance for $19.99. woohoo. That made my day yesterday. They are dreamy-soft. And, because it is the little things that make me so happy, the sheets came packaged in a fabric bag that can be added to my collection of cloth produce bags. :-)
~~~
Spinach is my favorite food. Wilted down with onions and bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Or covered in the best dressing in the world*, and tossed with a handful of pecans for lunch. Mmm. I'm eating it every day these days.
~~~
Aubrey's home sick today. The severity of her sickness is questionable, seeing as she's wanting to be all over the place, very chatty and non-sick-like. But, she began sobbing in the middle of the night with stomach pains. She doesn't remember, but I do, so even if she's feeling better now, to have been in that much pain not that long ago, she'll stay home today. thankyouverymuch. At the moment she is reading Garfield to Oscar. Very appropriate.
~~~
I love, love, LOVE the Twilight books. Read them all about a month ago, then re-read Breaking Dawn, and am now starting over again at Twilight. Took me long enough to get to them, because I thought they sounded ridiculous. Really? A book about high schoolers AND vampires??? I'm almost 30. I'm too mature for that. Ha. Turns out I'm not too mature. Not too surprising, actually, seeing as I've been known to leave inappropriate comments on my friends' blogs (completely unrelated to vampires, but incredibly high school-ish!). ;-) And, anyway, they aren't nearly as immature as I imagined them to be.
~~~
The deer thought that my soon-to-be-a-jack-o-lantern pumpkin would be better as a mid-October dinner. I have pictures of the before and after. But my camera cord has gone missing. Again. So picture this: A big, pretty, bright orange pumpkin standing tall and proud by my front step. Now picture a sad orange pumpkin laying on it's side, half eaten. Note to self: keep the pumpkins in the house until October 31st, unless your plan is to feed the deer all month long.
~~~
Speaking of pumpkins, I think the stem is almost as important as the pumpkin. A crooked stem adds so much character.
And, Andy has a recipe for the tastiest pumpkin pie. The secret is that the pumpkin is not pre-baked at all. Just ground up raw (which is quite a job - pumpkins are tough, and not every blender or food processor is up for the job) and then mixed with the appropriate ingredients and THEN baked in the crust. Mmmm. I want pie.
~~~
Lately we've been cooking bone-in chicken in the pressure cooker. It's ugly as can be, but fall-off-the-bone tender. And EASY.
~~~
I'm trying to figure out what to do for my nieces (13 and 15) and nephew (13) for Christmas. I have no clue. Besided money. It'll probably just be money. Not creative enough for me, but oh well.
~~~
I'm so enjoying the church we've found here. It's significantly smaller then our WI congregation, and is 'in transition' - we've got an interim pastor and there are lots of changes afoot. Changes that aren't apparent to me, as a newbie. But apparently big changes. Oh, and as far as big changes and the 'big' church go - the ELCA assembly opens ministry to partnered gay and lesbian lutherans. This makes me happy. Very happy. I think God's church should be welcoming to all. After all, we are all sinners and we all need saving. Rev. Lee M. Miller, II: "I am not saved because I'm a heterosexual. I am saved because of what God has done." Indeed.
Andy's encountered some odd sexism lately. Nearly every time he leaves Wal-Mart with our cloth bags, he's asked to show his receipt. Only one time have I been asked, and I had a 'big ticket item' in the cart. Now that he's been shopping there a few months, it doesn't happen every time, but there is still one greeter (an older gentleman) that doesn't seem to be sure of a man using cloth bags without his hippie wife by his side.
~~~
Organic king size sheet sets on clearance for $19.99. woohoo. That made my day yesterday. They are dreamy-soft. And, because it is the little things that make me so happy, the sheets came packaged in a fabric bag that can be added to my collection of cloth produce bags. :-)
~~~
Spinach is my favorite food. Wilted down with onions and bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Or covered in the best dressing in the world*, and tossed with a handful of pecans for lunch. Mmm. I'm eating it every day these days.
~~~
Aubrey's home sick today. The severity of her sickness is questionable, seeing as she's wanting to be all over the place, very chatty and non-sick-like. But, she began sobbing in the middle of the night with stomach pains. She doesn't remember, but I do, so even if she's feeling better now, to have been in that much pain not that long ago, she'll stay home today. thankyouverymuch. At the moment she is reading Garfield to Oscar. Very appropriate.
~~~
I love, love, LOVE the Twilight books. Read them all about a month ago, then re-read Breaking Dawn, and am now starting over again at Twilight. Took me long enough to get to them, because I thought they sounded ridiculous. Really? A book about high schoolers AND vampires??? I'm almost 30. I'm too mature for that. Ha. Turns out I'm not too mature. Not too surprising, actually, seeing as I've been known to leave inappropriate comments on my friends' blogs (completely unrelated to vampires, but incredibly high school-ish!). ;-) And, anyway, they aren't nearly as immature as I imagined them to be.
~~~
The deer thought that my soon-to-be-a-jack-o-lantern pumpkin would be better as a mid-October dinner. I have pictures of the before and after. But my camera cord has gone missing. Again. So picture this: A big, pretty, bright orange pumpkin standing tall and proud by my front step. Now picture a sad orange pumpkin laying on it's side, half eaten. Note to self: keep the pumpkins in the house until October 31st, unless your plan is to feed the deer all month long.
~~~
Speaking of pumpkins, I think the stem is almost as important as the pumpkin. A crooked stem adds so much character.
And, Andy has a recipe for the tastiest pumpkin pie. The secret is that the pumpkin is not pre-baked at all. Just ground up raw (which is quite a job - pumpkins are tough, and not every blender or food processor is up for the job) and then mixed with the appropriate ingredients and THEN baked in the crust. Mmmm. I want pie.
~~~
Lately we've been cooking bone-in chicken in the pressure cooker. It's ugly as can be, but fall-off-the-bone tender. And EASY.
~~~
I'm trying to figure out what to do for my nieces (13 and 15) and nephew (13) for Christmas. I have no clue. Besided money. It'll probably just be money. Not creative enough for me, but oh well.
~~~
I'm so enjoying the church we've found here. It's significantly smaller then our WI congregation, and is 'in transition' - we've got an interim pastor and there are lots of changes afoot. Changes that aren't apparent to me, as a newbie. But apparently big changes. Oh, and as far as big changes and the 'big' church go - the ELCA assembly opens ministry to partnered gay and lesbian lutherans. This makes me happy. Very happy. I think God's church should be welcoming to all. After all, we are all sinners and we all need saving. Rev. Lee M. Miller, II: "I am not saved because I'm a heterosexual. I am saved because of what God has done." Indeed.
~~~
Since I can't seem to stop talking about food-related things, I'll add that Andy thinks our pantry smells liked chocolate cake. (Aubrey and I think it sometimes smells like dog food, but that's not the point of this story.) Andy gets mad every time he opens the door. Then I laugh at him. Then he cusses at me and demands I make a chocolate cake. "Make me a chocolate cake, Woman!" Then he closes the door and walks away. Then he gets me a snack while Sasha is nursing, and the entire cycle starts over again. I bought him a lava cake yesterday to satisfy his chocolate cake craving, because I am not going to make one (if I do, then he will enjoy a piece and go to work, leaving me with a pan full of cake just screaming at me to enjoy. I'm too much of a softie to ignore things that need me, and when a chocolate cake is begging to be eaten, how can I disregard it's wishes???).
~~~Sweet Garlic Vinegarette (aka the best dressing in the world)
3/4 C extra virgin olive oil
1/4 C maple syrup
1/3 C balsamic vinegar
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/8 t dried, crushed oregano
Put all ingredients together in cruet (old salsa jar, tupperware... anything with a lid that you will then store the dressing in). Shake well to mix. Store in fridge.
Variations: I've swapped honey for the maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar for the balsamic, while omitting the garlic. It makes it much milder, and is Andy's favorite version.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Book Review: The Jolly Postman by Janet & Allen Ahlberg
I grabbed this book at the library for the girls - without even opening it up. I was in a hurry and wanted to just grab and go. (Yes, I feel just guilty enough sneaking to the library without them that I check stuff out for them.)
The story is simple enough, the postman is delivering mail to characters in fairytale land. Cute, for sure, but is it really that great of a book? Each letter that is being delivered comes out of it's own envelope and is a work of art unto itself. In our house, the little ones LOVE getting their own mail to open, so a book full of letters that get opened ROCKS. It really is that great of a book.
What a treasure! Such darling little bits of work have been worked into this book, it is truly amazing.
Whether you have young children or not, you should pop into the children's section of your library and read it. :-)
The story is simple enough, the postman is delivering mail to characters in fairytale land. Cute, for sure, but is it really that great of a book? Each letter that is being delivered comes out of it's own envelope and is a work of art unto itself. In our house, the little ones LOVE getting their own mail to open, so a book full of letters that get opened ROCKS. It really is that great of a book.
What a treasure! Such darling little bits of work have been worked into this book, it is truly amazing.
Whether you have young children or not, you should pop into the children's section of your library and read it. :-)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Book Review - American Wife
I just finished reading American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, and I really enjoyed it.
The story is fiction, but it's based, quite obviously, on the life of First Lady Laura Bush, beginning as a child and ending about 2 years ago. I couldn't put it down. 558 pages by an amazing author. Her other boks will be checked out by me as soon as possible.
She could have very easily written this novel with much less respect shown to the real life folks the main characters portray, but I think she did a great job of fictionalizing their lives realistically (sounds oxymoronic, right?) and respectfully. It's so easy to forget that our leaders are human, especially if we don't like some (or all) of what they've done. My opinion of President Bush hasn't always been a favorable one, but this book reminds me (was that the author's plan?) that he is only human, and I should look for the best in him - and all our leaders - in the same way in which I try to look for the best in everyone I encounter personally.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)