Saturday Morning Cartoons #37

This is what I have started saying to my 7-yr-old.!

Happy Saturday to all!

Scripture of the Day: D&C 105:19

Book Review: Chocolate Roses

A few months ago a I read a review of Joan Soward's book Chocolate Roses. When I learned it was a parody of Jane Eyre, but with an LDS theme, I decided I had to give it a try. Well, I finally ordered it and it arrived early this week. And I am so delighted to tell you that it was definitely not a disappointment! It was a sweet romance, clean in every way, and even centered on the temple (the Mesa one at that!).


Sowards does an excellent job of using the bare bones structure of Jane Eyre (a single woman falls in love with a wealthy, melancholy man with a daughter--and a wife who is mentally ill). My most favorite elements of the tone and plot of Jane Eyre are used; and yet, Sowards definitely does not plaigerize. A solid majority of her characters are all her own (and well developed, I might add), and much of the plot is original.


Description from the back of the book:


"Janie Rose Whitaker's world revolved around her chocolate shop until Roger Wentworth and his young daughter moved into the apartment across from Janie's. Anyone would think Roger fit the mold of the "perfect" guy, but soon Janie discovers secrets that could keep them apart forever. Though she resists getting involved in Roger's complicated life, they are drawn further into a bittersweet relationship."


This will definitely be a book a I hold onto and reread every so often. A nice addition to my chick-lit collection.



Scripture of the Day: Alma 38:5

Sweetie Peach

At dinner this evening...

Sweetie Peach: "[Kitty] loves to drink honey dew."

Me: "What?"

Sweetie Peach: "You know, that soda Kitty got at Arby's."

Me: "Do you mean Mountain Dew?"

Sweetie Peach: "Yeah! You should buy soda more often, Mom. I need to learn the names better."

Scripture of the Day: Alma 1:25

Sore

Today I attended my very first one of these:

And now I am walking like one of these:

Ouch.

Scripture of the day: Ezekiel 22:14

Saturday Morning Cartoons #36

Have a great weekend!

Scripture of the Day: Hebrews 11:27

On Today's Schedule

- I am typing away over here on a report for a consulting client. It is not due until tomorrow, but it is a long enough report that I know better than to procrastinate! I have already worked four hours today and will put in two more tonight.



- Promised the girls we would go to the store. They want to buy snacks! And since I need to buy some fruits and veggies I said they could tag along. Do the fruits and veggies I buy cancel out the junk food they will buy?



- Pancakes with fruit salsa for dinner. I will be trying a new recipe for a strawberry and nectarine salsa I saw in Family Fun magazine (actually the real recipe calls for mango, but I prefer nectarine).



- Zumba is tonight! After my extra work hours I will head down to the church for Kathya's Zumba class. It is a great workout and so much fun! Plus, Kathya is a good friend to hang out with.



- And somewhere in the middle of all that I need to do some cleaning! Dishes, a load of laundry to fold, and a general picking up is much needed around here.



I hope your day is going well and that you are getting your to-do list done!



Scripture of the Day: 3 Nephi 15:9

Book Review: Girl With a Pearl Earring

Nearly a month ago OneHM loaned me a copy of her book Girl with the Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier. If you are not familiar with this 1999 fictional retelling of how the famous painting (by the same name) by Dutch artist Vermeer came about, you may be familiar with the movie made of it in 2003 (watch it on YouTube here: part 1-- please note that it is rated PG-13). With my love for art I found this book to be very interesting; the artist does a fantastic job telling a believable story of how the painting came about. Chevalier's use of Dutch culture, religion, paint, and food as symbols is thought provoking. Of course, I loved the book more than I liked the movie (isn't that always the case?).


Summary of the book (from the above linked author's website):


Girl With a Pearl Earring tells the story of Griet, a 16-year- old Dutch girl who becomes a maid in the house of the painter Johannes Vermeer. Her calm and perceptive manner not only helps her in her household duties, but also attracts the painter's attention. Though different in upbringing, education and social standing, they have a similar way of looking at things. Vermeer slowly draws her into the world of his paintings -- the still, lumionous images of solitary women in domestic settings.


In contrast to her work in her master's studio, Griet must carve a place for herself in a chaotic Catholic household run by Vermeer's volatile wife Catharina, his shrewd mother-in-law Maria Thins, and their fiercly loyal maid Tanneke. Six children (and counting), fill out the household, dominated by six-year-old Cornelia, a mischevious girl who sees more than she should.


On the verge of womanhood, Griet also contends with growing attentions both from a local butcher and from Vermeer's patron, the wealthy van Ruijven. And she has to find her way through this new and strange life outside the loving Protestant family she grew up in, now fragmented by accident and death.




Scripture of the Day: D&C 24:8