All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

  “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.” 
― Julian of Norwich

I loved this book.  Although it is long, it never dragged.  This is a story of family and relationships and how we deal with hard things.  The main character, Annie, is a great lens for viewing the story of her family, which includes her estranged father, her strong mother, her vivacious older brother, both of her grandmothers, and her little brother.  Set in Michigan during the Vietnam War, this story touches on the race riots in Michigan, the war itself, and complicated family relationships.  There are many charming period details, which was nice for me, especially since this is not an era I am very familiar with.  The author weaves letters in between the narration, and I liked the format very much.  The characters were believable, varied, and well-drawn.  I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from the publisher, Revell, for the purpose of writing a review, but all opinions are my own. 

Kentucky Renaissance Fair

Yesterday, there was a break in the rain for most of the afternoon, so we headed for the Kentucky RenFaire!  Jeff joined us for a fun day.

Don't let Malachi's lip fool you; he had a great time.

Gyunay loved the misting bridge.  He probably would have played on it for an hour.  As it was, I let him play there for about 15 minutes.  Twice.

Jeff and Elijah were having a good time at the archery, so Lydia wanted to try.  Now she wants to practice at home.  Elijah was actually shooting pretty well, especially considering that he hasn't picked up a bow in a year.

And to finish off the day, Gyunay was knighted by a Viking Queen as "Sir Gyunay of Bulgaria".  She and her companion encouraged him to choose any country, so he picked the one he knows is associated with him.  It was really cute, and he loved it.  The couple was very nice, and we chatted a bit.  It all started because they were trying to take a selfie, and Jeff offered to take their picture.  It ended with the guy telling us that he is a ranked knight, and the lady knighting my son - a nice ending to a great afternoon.

 Here are some cute pictures from our quick trip to visit with family:

Book Review - Living Lies by Natalie Walters

  Natalie Walters' debut novel, Living Lies, keeps the reader interested.  I was drawn to the characters, and I enjoyed the storyline very much.  I was immediately drawn into the story.  The main characters, Lane and Charlie, seemed very real.  The author deftly  wove together the romance and suspense, as well as the tension with each character's personal issues.  The author also treats the subject of mental illness with compassion and respect in this story, and I appreciated that.  I didn't want to stop reading the book, so that's always a good sign!  I recommend this book, and I look forward to seeing what else the author writes in the future.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Revell, for a review, but all opinions are my own.

Malachi's Graduation and Etc

I now have 2 in high school!  Malachi was also awarded a new school award for problem solving and critical thinking, as well as recognition in math, science, and band.

Yesterday, the boys, Nathaniel, and I took my parents to an event at our history center.  (Lydia was camping with her girl scout troop.)  The boys learned to use hand saws.

Later in the day, Malachi and I learned how to make moccasins.  We each have finished one shoe.  I am not sure when we will finish the second, maybe after the blister on my finger heals.

And lastly, Lydia had some fun with the camera:

May Harvest Totals

May Harvest Totals

Arugula - 7 cups*

Baby Bok Choy - 5.5 cups

Carrots - 2

Eggs - 144

Onions, green - 2

Pea pods - 5 ounces

Peas, shelled - 1.3 ounces

Radishes - 19

Strawberries - 18 cups*

*I could have harvested much more arugula, but I'm the only one who currently eats it.  Also, the strawberry harvest is still going, and I know we had more than 18 cups because Lydia and Gyunay ate a bunch while outside playing, so I'd guess that the actual count is well over 20 cups.

Peep and Peek-a-boo

We had a very busy and full weekend.  First, our family and friends that come on Memorial Day weekend came on Saturday afternoon.  We had 21 people in the house, and everyone had a great time.  On Sunday, Nathaniel and most of the adults went on their kayak trip.  The kids and I went to Mass and then hung out with the other kids, a friend, and my in-laws.  Mostly, my friend Polly and I were here with our kids, as my in-laws took my niece and nephews back to the hotel for a nap.  Things quieted down by last night, when just our friends and 4 of their kids remained at our house.  Then, we discovered that our hen has hatched two chicks:

Did you see Peek-a-boo?  She was actually playing peek-a-boo with us, peeking up out of her mom's wing, then going back down.

There are two chicks.  The other is bright yellow, so it is named Peep.

Also in chicken news, Malachi took a picture of this tiny egg we got yesterday:

The traditional stairs picture only has a few of the kids in it, since we once again forgot to take it when everyone was around.  In total, there were 11 kids here, but as you can see, half did not make it into the picture.  We've decided to do the picture first next year.  We'll see if we actually remember!

Sir Panther and Lady Midnight

We have the most adorable cats.  Lydia has been calling Panther "Sir Panther the Great" and his sister "Lady Midnight."  Sir Panther really does fit him; he looks quite regal most of the time.  Lydia recently heard the song "Duke of Earl" for the first time, and she absolutely loves it.  She was telling me about it and was impressed when I could sing a verse and the chorus for her.  (And let me tell you: Lydia is not impressed by much I do these days!)  Since then, she has also been referring to Panther as Sir Panther, the Duke of Earl. He doesn't seem to mind.