Linda @ Linda’s Lunacy

My View

May 30, 2012 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I shared this on Facebook the other day, so I thought I’d share it here as well.

The view from my computer:

Isn’t that a lovely view? Kids in the pool and a nice glass of ice tea with a peppermint leave from my herb garden.

Have you ever tried peppermint in your ice tea? It’s so good!

What’s your favorite summertime drink?

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

Darrel Nelson

and the book:

The Anniversary Waltz

Realms (May 15, 2012)

***Special thanks to Althea Thompson | Publicity Coordinator, Charisma House | Charisma Media for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Darrel Nelson is a graduate of the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, with bachelor’s degrees in English and education. He is a schoolteacher by profession, with thirty-three years of teaching experience, and currently teaches fourth grade at Raymond Elementary School. Nelson has had an article published in Lethbridge Magazine and has written several dramatic plays, two of which won provincial recognition and were showcased at a drama festival. He won the CJOC radio songwriting contest two years running and has had one song receive international airplay. Writing has always been a passion, and over the years he has written four novels intended for the juvenile market. They are unpublished as yet, but he reads them annually to his fourth-grade students. The Anniversary Waltz is his first novel intended for the adult market. Hometown: Raymond, Alberta, Canada

Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

It’s the summer of 1946, and Adam Carlson has just returned from the war to his home in Reunion, Montana. Despite the strained relationship with his father, Adam sets out to revive the dilapidated family farm, neglected since his departure overseas four years ago. After some convincing to take a rest from his labors, he attends the town festival, where he meets Elizabeth Baxter, a young woman going steady with his former high school rival and now influential banker, Nathan Roberts.

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Realms (May 15, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1616387157

ISBN-13: 978-1616387150

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

July 1946

Adam Carlson shifted in his seat on the Greyhound bus and stared wearily out the window. He couldn’t remember being this tired, not even during the heaviest part of the

fighting in Italy. But he was too excited to close his eyes now. He had finally received his discharge and was almost home. The return voyage across the Atlantic by army transport ship made him seasick, and the four-day journey across the country by train seemed to last forever. But that was all behind him, compartmen- talized in his memory along with a thousand other images he would just as soon forget. All that remained was the thirty-mile bus ride north from Great Falls.

Running a hand through his wavy, brown hair, he studied the landscape he hadn’t seen in four years—except in his dreams. And he had dreamed about his hometown of Reunion, Montana, a great deal, especially while lying under the stars at night and smelling the earthy aroma of freshly dug foxholes. Those were the times he wondered if he would ever see the Great Plains again or feel the wind on his face. He ached to see the Rocky Mountains and gaze at the foothills as they merged with the plains and stretched eastward into infinity. This was the country he loved, the country for which he had fought. Big Sky Country—a corner of heaven.

He noticed a hawk in the distance, riding the invisible current on graceful wings, circling above a stand of cottonwood trees. At that moment, he decided, it had been worth it—all of it.

Even though he had enlisted against his father’s wishes.

As the son of Hector Carlson, dry land farmer, Adam hadn’t needed to enlist. But he wanted to satisfy his sense of adven- ture. He wanted to see the world outside the farm’s boundaries, to answer the call of plain, old-fashioned patriotism. Remember Pearl Harbor! Laborers could be hired to bring in the harvest, he’d told his father, but who was going to go overseas and fight for a cause greater than one family’s run of bad luck?

Hector hadn’t accepted this reasoning, however. He tried to talk Adam into staying and helping run the farm. When his efforts proved futile, he gave up talking to his son at all. He didn’t come to see Adam off, nor did he write once in the four years Adam was away, not even a quick note scribbled at the bottom of the regular letters Adam received from his mother, Maude.

Adam shook the memory away and felt his heart rate quicken as the bus made the last turn leading into Reunion. The anticipa- tion of meeting his parents made him feel strangely nervous. It was dreamlike, as unreal as the world he had just left.

His thoughts went to those who would not be returning. Sixteen of his friends and comrades had fallen in Europe and were now permanent occupants. They would be forever denied the thrill of a homecoming and the anticipation of getting on with their lives. They would never see the mountains again or watch the maturing fields of wheat sway in the wind like a planted ocean. In their memory he closed his eyes, fighting his emotions as the Greyhound turned onto Main Street and headed for the bus stop in front of the Reunion Mercantile.

Several people were waiting on the sidewalk, anxiously craning to see inside the bus. A face appeared in the barbershop window next door to the Mercantile, peering out to study the scene. Two doors down a woman clutching several garments paused before entering Yang’s Dry Cleaners and glanced toward the bus stop. In a small rural community like Reunion, where grain prices and the weather were the main topics of conversation, the arrival of the Greyhound attracted attention.

Inside the bus the driver announced, “Reunion. Please remember to take all your personal belongings. I’ll set your lug- gage on the curb.” He opened the door, and those who were get- ting off made their way forward.

Adam remained in his seat, looking out the window. He watched as each person emerged and was immediately engulfed by waiting arms. It was heartwarming to see people embrace, cry, and laugh all at the same time. He wondered if his father would be this demonstrative, but he already knew the answer to that.

The bus driver reappeared in the doorway a few minutes later. “Isn’t this your stop, soldier?” He smiled sympathetically. “Sometimes it’s as hard coming home as it is leaving, isn’t it?”

Adam nodded and eased his six-foot frame out of the seat. He put on his service cap and adjusted his uniform before making his way up the aisle.

“Good luck,” the driver said, patting him on the shoulder. Adam stood in the door of the bus for a moment, watching

the happy scene. A woman in a blue cotton dress made her way through the crowd. It took Adam a moment to recognize his mother. She had aged during the past four years and looked so frail that he wondered how she got through the crowd without being snapped like a dry twig.

“Adam . . . Adam!” she called, her voice filled with so much emotion she could hardly speak. Tears formed in her eyes and ran down her cheeks as Adam quickly descended the bus steps. She took him in her arms and embraced him with surprising strength. “Oh, my son, God has answered my prayers and brought you back to me.”

Adam held her for a long time, his eyes closed, his lips quiv- ering. Maude silently wept on his shoulder and rubbed the tears with the back of her thin hand. Finally she held him at arm’s length as if unable to believe her eyes. Adam smiled reassuringly and gazed out over the crowd.

“He didn’t come,” she said, in answer to his unspoken question. Adam looked into his mother’s face. “But at least you came.” She reached up and stroked his cheek, her hand trembling.

“Of course I came. Wild horses couldn’t—” She changed the topic abruptly, likely realizing it would only serve to emphasize her husband’s absence if she didn’t. “Where’s your luggage?” she asked. “Let’s get you home so you can rest. You look exhausted.” So do you, he wanted to say, but he just smiled at her. It was obvious that the intervening years had taken their toll on her too. Adam led her toward the passengers who were sorting through the luggage, which was now sitting on the curb. He had no dif- ficulty identifying his two suitcases. They bore little resemblance to the ones he’d purchased four years earlier at the Mercantile. They were now held together by rope and packaging tape, and both of them showed evidence of journeys they’d taken aboard buses, trains, ships, army trucks, jeeps, and, on one occasion, an Italian farmer’s hay cart.

Maude had no difficulty identifying her son’s luggage either. As she reached for one of the suitcases, Adam quickly intercepted her. “I’ve got them, Mom,” he said, picking up the suitcases and adjusting his grip on the sweat-stained leather handles.

“The truck’s parked in front of the dry cleaners,” Maude said, taking hold of his arm and leading him through the crowd.

Adam nodded to the bus driver, who gave him a thumbs-up gesture, and followed his mother down the sidewalk, answering her questions and asking a few of his own. He realized the words of greeting he practiced on the bus were unnecessary. He hoped it would be the same when he finally met his father. But somehow he doubted it.

As the farm came into view, Adam drew in a deep breath. The surrounding fields of wheat and barley, a vibrant green beneath

a robin’s egg sky, were a pastoral setting of majesty and peace- fulness. But in many ways, returning home was like riding into enemy territory. Several times during the war, he had run into an ambush and barely escaped with his life, using every skill possible to survive. Today he felt like there was no refuge. He could only proceed directly into the line of fire and hope for the best.

His mind raced wildly as the pickup truck rattled through the gate and stopped in front of the house. He reached for the door handle but hesitated, taking everything in one more time in case it suddenly vanished . . . like a dream upon awakening.

The farmyard had changed. The two-story, clapboard house looked tired and faded, and several shutters hung at odd angles. The veranda tilted slightly to the south, and the railing was missing several spindles. The pump out in the yard had only a stub of a handle, and the clothesline beside it sagged noticeably. The woodshed and the barn were badly weathered, and the poplar tree near the garden now held only remnants of the tree house that he and his father had built years earlier.

Perhaps the farmyard had always looked like this and he hadn’t noticed. But a fresh coat of paint would do wonders to hide the wrinkles and blemishes, and he resolved to paint every building before winter. He would shore up the clothesline, repair the front step, fix the shutters, replace the handle on the pump . . .

A burst of energy surged through him. He would make it up to his father by getting the farm back in shape. It would be like he had never left. He would show his father that he did care.

Maude put her hand on his. “Before we go in, there’s some- thing I want to say. Despite your father not coming to meet you today, he does love you.”

Exhaling slowly, Adam turned toward her. “He has a funny way of showing it.”

“He has a hard time expressing his feelings sometimes, that’s all.” “He didn’t write once in four years.”

Maude stared out of the truck window, focusing on nothing in particular. She seemed to be searching for the right words. “I can’t say I agree with how he’s handled things, son. And I’m not trying to make excuses for him. But it’s been hard on him too. I just wanted you to know that.” She patted Adam’s hand. “I just hope the two of you can let bygones be bygones.”

Adam leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek. “You’re a good woman, Maude Carlson.”

She smiled in appreciation, but her smile faded as the barn door opened and her husband stepped out into the sunlight. She glanced over at her son, who squared his shoulders and pulled on the door handle.

Adam was struck by how much his father had aged. His hair was much thinner, and his sun-hardened, wrinkled skin was stretched like tanned hide on a pole frame. His complexion resembled buckskin, rough side out, and his leanness added a sharp edge to his features. A permanent scowl creased his fore- head, and his mouth sagged at the corners.

Hector remained motionless, as though he was a gargoyle guarding the farmyard. His expression looked equally sullen and fierce, and Adam slowly approached him. Staring down the enemy in the fields and streets of Italy had not been this hard.

Maude hurried toward her husband. “Hec, it’s our boy! Adam’s home!”

Adam studied his father’s face, looking for any sign of wel- come . . . or forgiveness. But Hector’s granite-like countenance remained unchanged. Adam stopped several paces away and stood before his father like a disobedient child.

Hector met his son’s eyes momentarily, and then his gaze wan- dered over Adam’s uniform. The silence deepened and Adam felt the tension increase.

Maude narrowed her eyes. “Well, Hec, say something.”

Hector scratched his stubbled chin and cleared his throat. “They treat you okay?”

What a strange question, Adam thought. Was his father refer- ring to the army or the enemy? In all honesty, neither of them had treated him well. The army had removed four years of his life with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel, and the Germans had been far less subtle than that. They had tried to kill him.

Adam felt numb as the memories of the past four years flooded his heart, a trickle at first and then a gush. The experience had been more overwhelming than he ever expected. And with one question his father had reduced it to insignificance.

“You know I don’t agree with what you did,” Hector said. “But

I’m glad you didn’t go and get yourself killed.” Adam forced a smiled. “I’m glad I didn’t either.”

Maude looked anxiously from one to the other. “Hec, this calls for a feast of the fatted calf. Get some beet greens from the garden, and I’ll cook a roast with all the trimmings.”

Hector remained motionless.

She shooed him away from the barn. “You go on, now.” Embracing Adam, she said, “Go have a bath and get some rest, son. I’ll call you for dinner. There’s so much to talk about.”

Adam glanced at the retreating figure of his father and returned to the truck to get his luggage, aware that his mother was reverting to her proven formula for restoring peace on earth, good will toward men: a delicious meal. In the past, good food had settled more arguments in the family than had any line of reasoning, logic, or argument. The way to a man’s heart . . .

I loved The Anniversary Waltz. Such a beautiful love story. Amid war and hardship, true love makes a way. The chapter above doesn’t begin to do the story justice. I highly recommend The Anniversary Waltz.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free book in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What’s For Dinner?

May 28, 2012 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

We’re having a cook-out today for Memorial Day. I no longer stress over big cook-outs. See my Preparing for a Large Cook-out to relieve some of your stress and have a great cook-out.

Saturday – Sabbath- Make ahead meals- Breakfast for supper

Sunday – soup & sandwich day – Chicken Salad Sandwiches, carrots, and PB&J for those that want it.

Monday – chicken – Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, stuffed eggs, fruit salad, watermelon, chips

Tuesday – pizza/pasta – Chicken Parmesan, salad

Wednesday – super simple – leftovers

Thursday – beef – Spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans

Friday – Sabbath Dinner -Hamburgers over fire, potato salad

For more ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday

Saturday on the Farm

May 27, 2012 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I really need to get better about posting this on Saturday. Oh well, let’s pretend it’s still Saturday. lol

This week is all flowers! Before long, I hope to be sharing awesome pictures of some awesome vegetables!

The Lamb’s Ear in the Bible Garden is starting to bloom.

The Day Lilies, also in the Bible Garden, are in full bloom.

Wild Roses grow in abundance around here. We transplanted some into the flower gardens and keep them trimmed. This one is in front of the house growing on an old wagon wheel. (just ignore the weeds 🙂 )

Here’s one last picture of the Iris. They are now gone for the year. They put on quite the show while they are here, though.

Here are a few links I found interesting and helpful:

Make Your Own Gardeners Hand Scrub
How to Make an Herbal Oil
Control Garden Pests the Natural Way
Edible Flowers – Lavender
Extend Your Gardening Season – Up to 4 months longer for less than $10.
Pruning Tomato Suckers

Epsom salt in garden – video
Growing Potatoes in Straw
Growing Chamomile
How to Plant and Care for Hostas
How to Propagate Geraniums Using Cuttings

[Read more…]

Wish You Were Here – Book Review

May 25, 2012 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Allison Denman is supposed to get married in five days, but everything is all wrong. The huge wedding. The frothy dress. And the groom. Still, kissing the groom’s brother in an unguarded moment is decidedly not the right thing to do. How could she have made such a mistake? It seems Allison’s life is nothing but mistakes at this point. And pulling a “Runaway Bride” complete with stealing, er, borrowing her best friend’s car doesn’t seem to solve her problems. Can Allison find her way out of this mess? Maybe she just needs to stop orchestrating everything. Allison prefers being the one in control, and giving it up is not going to be easy. But to find her way again, she will have to believe that God has a plan for her and find the strength to let Him lead.

About Beth:

Litfuse

Beth K. Vogt provides her readers with a happily ever after woven through with humor, reality, and God’s lavish grace. She’s a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor-or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Beth has discovered that God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She writes contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us. Beth earned a journalism degree

from San Jose State University and met her husband Rob when he knocked her down at a karate studio. They’ve been married for 31 years. They have four children, ranging in ages from 28, 25, 23 and – thanks to a funny thing happening on their way to the empty nest-a 10-year-old. The Vogt Team, which now includes a “daughter-in-love” and “son-in-love,” enjoys hiking and camping in Colorado. Read more about Beth at her website:http://bethvogt.com

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/aQTEk (Not an affiliate link)

My Review:

Wish You Were Here is a Christian Romance novel. It follows Allison as she prepares for her wedding day. She realizes at the last minute that they shouldn’t be getting married. And by last minute, I mean already walking down the aisle. Yes, Allison is a runaway bride who runs off with her maid of honor’s car. She runs away to another town, and checks into a hotel, all in her wedding dress.

What caused all this chaos in her life? She kissed her husband to be’s brother, Daniel. Not good. After leaving town without telling anyone where she is, Allison realizes she has feelings for Daniel. How can she be in love with the man that was going to be her brother in law? Through it all, Allison learns that neither her family or God had abandoned her. She begins to hand over control of her life to God. Then, and only then, does she find happiness.

Wish You Were Here is a fun read. There is a Group Reading Guide in the back of the book with discussion questions. You can use it in a book club setting, or on your own. There is also an author question and answer section.

Celebrate with Beth by entering her Wish You Were Here Giveaway!

Beth Vogt Wish You Were Here iPad2 Giveaway

One “happy” winner will receive:

A brand new iPad with Wi-Fi (The must-have, do-everything gadget!)
Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon worthy.)
$15 iTunes Gift Card (Music, books, apps, & more.)

Hurry, the giveaway ends on 6/4/12. The winner will be announced 6/6/12 on Beth’s website!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Beth’s giveaway
on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Cowgirls N’ Angels – Movie Review

May 25, 2012 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I recently was able to watch the new movie Cowgirls N’ Angels. The movie opens tonight in theaters, but I was able to watch it online so I could tell you about it.

Cowgirls N’ Angels is a heartwarming movie that tells the story of Ida, a feisty and rebellious young girl, who has dreams of finding her father, a rodeo rider. While searching for her dad, she connects with the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, a team of young female rodeo riders run by former rodeo star Terence Parker. Recognizing Ida’s innate talent for trick riding, Terence recruits her for their ranks. Accepted wholeheartedly by her new “family,” Ida finds a new passion that redefines her life, and may also help her find the father she’s been searching for.

Did you watch the clip? Cowgirls N’ Angels is a great family movie! The main character is Ida, a young girl who lives with her mother, and never knew her father. She finds her mothers old journal and finds out the name of her father, who was on the rodeo circuit. Ida has been hanging around a horse barn where girls train for the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, who are trick riders. She is able to talk them into letting her learn some of the moves. She then writes a note from her mother to the organizers, and tells them she can participate in rodeos.

She has a reason for being deceptive. Ida believes if she travels the rodeo circuit she will be able to find her father. Of course, she is in big trouble when her mother finds out what she did! Her mother finally agrees to let Ida travel with the Sweethearts of the Rodeo. I won’t tell you how it turns out, you’ll have to watch it!

I only saw a couple of things that some people might not want their kids to see. An unmarried couple kiss, and they are drinking beer. When the leader of the team finds them, she removes the girl and reminds her that she shouldn’t be drinking.

Cowgirls N’ Angels is a great family. My kids haven’t seen it yet, but they are really going to like it. My 11 year old wanted to know why everyone would like it if it was about cowGIRLS. lol He will love it, though!

If your going to the movies this weekend, look for Cowgirls N’ Angels You won’t be disappointed!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free online viewing in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Our Homeschool Week in Review

May 25, 2012 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Last week was Sabbath week, so this was our first week back. To make things extra exciting, we started a new schedule this week, too. Of course, my kids didn’t think it was so exciting. lol But they have adjusted well.

They had the hardest time with having to have their morning list done by 9. That would include getting dressed, putting clothes in the hamper, making their bed, eat breakfast, and an assigned chore or two. Then school started at 9.

Sounds great, right? Well, for them to be able to have all that done by nine, they have to be in bed by 10, especially the 11 year old. So going to sleep at midnight meant some late starts. Overall, though, the new schedule is a help. Even though they would rather start school later, they do enjoy having the majority of the afternoons free. Lots of pool time!

So now were back to school for another 6 week term. With only a couple of scheduled days off. We weren’t going to take time off from school other that our Sabbath weeks. However, July is shaping up to be busy. One week is Sabbath Week, another week, three of the kids will be going to church camp Monday through Friday. And the Olympics start. We always do an Olympics Unit Study, which this year, we are starting before the Olympics actually start. So with all that going on, I think it would be better for us to take the month of July off.

Shhhhh…….Don’t tell the kids!

I’ve posted a couple of reviews for the Old Schoolhouse Review Crew in the past week. Head on over to those posts and read what I thought about Heritage History and CapJaxMathFax. The crew recently voted on all the products reviewed this year. See all the TOS Homeschool Crew Blue Ribbon Awards.

Here are a few links I found interesting and helpful:

Public School is Not a Childs Ministry – Awesome article! Definitely worth the read, includes several videos.
Free Algebra Tutorial Program Download for Homeschoolers
Using Summer Break to Get Things Back in Order

Kindergarten Sign Language Alphabet File Folder
Stealth School
Free Lapbook Templates You Can Type On
Memorize the Presidents Easily – video

100 Awesome Engineering Projects for Kids
Wycliffe Online Bible Quiz
Addition War Card Game to make

To see more homeschooling posts, visit Weekly Wrap Up.

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