This week’s memory text – Deuteronomy 10:12

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I haven’t done a memory text in awhile. This week, I’m going to learn the same text in both English and Japanese.

And now, Israel,
what doth the LORD thy God require of thee,
but to fear the LORD thy God,
to walk in all his ways,
and to love him,
and to serve the LORD thy God
with all thy heart and with all thy soul
Deuteronomy 10:12

イスラエルよ、今、あなたの神、主があなたに求められる事はなんであるか。ただこれだけである。すなわちあなたの神、主を恐れ、そのすべての道に歩んで、彼を愛し、心をつくし、精神をつくしてあなたの神、主に仕え

Some of the grammar for the Japanese text is a bit above my skill level. It might take me more than a week to learn it!

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A month of nonfiction – week 1

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In my last Nightstand post, I talked about how December is going to be a month of nonfiction reading. Now that week 1 is complete, I wanted to give a quick update.

Reading nothing but nonfiction is hard! Hubby and I like to read shortly before bed every night. At the end of the day, especially one where I’ve studied Japanese for an hour or two already, the last thing I want is heavy reading. I know not all nonfiction is heavy. It’s just so much easier to curl up with a novel!

So far I’ve read:

Lost in Shangri-La

Vermeer: A View of Delft

Up next:

The Girlfriends Guidebook

Behind the Veils of Yemen
I’ve already started reading The Girlfriend’s Guidebook. It’s a review copy so I’ll have a post about it here when I’m finished. Actually, both of the books next on my list are review copies. Someday I’ll start reading the massive pile of books already stacked up in my spare bedroom!

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D9P backing and the beginnings of a new quilt

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Yesterday, hubby and I visited Joann’s and picked up the backing for my double 9 patch quilt. I had such a hard time deciding what to use! Should I buy a solid or a print? Should it be a subtle print or something bold? Purple? Pink? Blue? Green? I looked at the walls of fabric and felt completely overwhelmed.

I found a simple floral print I liked, printed on a white background. However, I’ve been hesitant to use any white in my backings as I know it will get dirty very fast. I decided that since this quilt already contained fabric choices that were not… wonderful… I would just go for something simple: a light pink to offset the very bold top.


I’m not sure I made the best choice, but I’ve found I learn better by trial and error. If this doesn’t work, then I will know better for my next quilt.

Over the weekend, while I waited until we had an opportunity to visit the fabric store, I started another quilt. I just couldn’t help myself. Since high school, I’ve been wanting to make a denim quilt, one I saw on HGTV. I couldn’t find the exact pattern, though I had printed it years ago. Who knows where those papers disappeared to! I’m still not sure exactly what pattern I’ll use, but I decided to start prepping the fabric.
A bucketful of jeans
I’ve been saving jeans for years. Some of the jeans have holes in them; others I grew too fat or too skinny to wear. Now I only wear skirts so all of these jeans are going into my quilt. Who knows? Maybe I’ll have enough denim for more than one quilt.

What I have cut so far
What still needs to be cut

While at Joann’s, I found the perfect flannel backing for my denim quilt! Even better, it was 70% off! I bought the rest of the bolt.
Kitties!

There is still a ton of prep work to be done on the denim. I haven’t cut squares out yet. I’ve only cut the useless parts of the jeans away from the usable fabric. Once I determine the size of my squares, I can actually begin cutting the blocks. First, though, I need to finish the double 9 patch quilt. I just needed something to keep myself busy while waiting to buy the backing fabric!

Happy quilting!

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Double 9 Patch Quilt – Borders Added!

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It’s really late for me to be posting but I was so excited that I just couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

I finished adding the borders to my quilt!!


I’ll have to see about getting a better photo of the quilt, probably laid out on my living room floor. My photo accidentally cut off part of the blocks in the top corners! It’s hard holding anything up in the air when you’re in the middle of an intense workout program…

At the beginning, I wasn’t sure I liked this quilt. It’s a bit too bold for me. However, I had to work with the fabric the church gave me and then supplemented with a couple trips to Joann Fabric. The quilt is growing on me now. It still won’t be my favorite, but at least I’m willing to admit now that I made it!

On Sunday, we’re headed to Joann to buy backing for the quilt. Then I can start the sandwiching process and the quilting. I can’t wait!

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30 Day Challenges – Recap and December’s challenge

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I have finished two 30 day challenges, both of them relatively easy and not much of a “challenge.” First was the Get Dressed challenge. That one went very well and I got into the habit of changing out of my pajamas or workout clothes as soon as possible. I’ve spent the last six weeks wearing skirts and sweaters around the house, being much more presentable on a moment’s notice! It’s been nice and lends itself well to productivity.

My second challenge was to drink more water. This challenge didn’t go as well as my Get Dressed challenge, but it did make me more aware of my water consumption. I don’t drink enough! I’m currently on week 4 of the P90X workout program, plus I run several times a week. With all of the exercise, and living in a very dry state, I don’t drink enough water and am almost constantly dehydrated. November went far toward helping me rehydrate, but I still don’t drink enough several days a week. Thankfully, the challenge helped me to keep water nearby and make sure the water filter remains filled.

For my third challenge, I am choosing something more difficult. For the next 30 days, I will be reading nothing but nonfiction. I mentioned this briefly on my Nightstand post. I read a lot of drivel, or what Charlotte Mason calls “twaddle.” Knowing that, I decided to challenge myself to read nothing but nonfiction for an entire month. My nightstand post outlines what I plan to read but I’ll update periodically as I finish books. I can’t wait to see what things I might learn this month!


I’m brainstorming ideas of what I might challenge myself to do in 2012. I want to keep the challenges somewhat related to homemaking, as that is one of my primary focuses in life. God, my husband, and my home. I want each challenge to improve one of these areas in my life, not just something I do for the sake of doing something. Any ideas? Want to join me on a 30 day challenge?

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Thanksgiving in Wyoming

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I have returned from my trip to Wyoming. Overall, it was a good trip. I’m so glad I got to see my grandparents. My grandfather is 84 and isn’t doing very well. We have plans to see him next July for a family reunion but thought it might be wise to make this trip Just In Case.

Buffalo
Snow!
Grandma playing Angry Birds on my tablet
Josh trying to get Grandpa to try a temporary tattoo
Three generations of boys
Grandpa, Josh, and I
Josh and I with the grandparents

In addition to visiting with my grandparents, I was also able to see an old friend of mine. I hadn’t seen her since my wedding six years ago. It was nice to be able to chat face to face! Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pictures of the two of us.

Hopefully we’ll all be together again next July. If not, at least we were all able to spend some time together this Thanksgiving. For that, I am thankful.

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What’s on My Nightstand? Nothing but nonfiction!

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What's On Your Nightstand

Looking over my list this month, I haven’t had very good luck with my selections. Most of the books were mediocre. My best read was a children’s novel!

COMPLETED (links are to my full reviews)

Children’s literature

  • The Time Garden by Edward Eager – 2 stars. I would have loved this book as a child but it just wasn’t good as an adult reader.
  • Meet the Austins by Madeleine L’Engle – 3.5 stars. Great book, would make a good read-aloud. I can’t wait until I have children and can share quality literature with them.
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry – 4 stars. My favorite read during the month of November!

Christian Fiction

  • John 3:16 by Nancy Moser – 3 stars. A quick read. I stand by what I’ve said before: her historical fiction is better!
  • Thicker than Blood by C.J. Darlington – 3.5 stars. A good debut novel. Can’t wait to read more!

Classics

  • Fernande: The Story of a Courtesan by Alexandre Dumas – 3.5 stars. A very serious book by the author of The Three Musketeers. Great moral application, still applicable today.

Secular Fiction

  • The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus – 2 stars. I bought it to read on a plane. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
  • My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult – 3 stars. This was my first Picoult book. My sister-in-law loves her books so I’m giving the author a try.

IN PROGRESS

  • Lost in Shangri-La (Memoir) by Mitchell Zuckoff – Still working my way through it. It’s a good story but I’m reading it in spurts.
  • Eight Cousins (Children’s Lit) by Louise May Alcott – Almost done! This will be another favorite.

For the month of December, I am tackling something completely different, something very unusual and difficult for me. For 31 days, I will be reading nothing but nonfiction books. Why? I came across a video on TED about 30 day challenges, trying something new for 30 (or 31) days. As evidenced by my list above, I read fiction almost exclusively. It is only recently that I’ve been branching out and reading classics. I decided it’s time I push myself even farther out of my comfort zone and try reading nonfiction only for 30 days.

What’s on my reading list so far:

  • The in-progress books listed above, except for Eight Cousins. I should have that novel finished tomorrow.
  • Behind the Veils of Yemen: How an American Woman Risked Her Life, Family, and Faith to Bring Jesus to Muslim Women by Audra Grace Shelby – A review copy that I am very excited to start reading.
  • December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World by Craig Shirley – A review copy. I had no idea this was such a huge book (544 pages!) until I received it in the mail.
  • Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman – If I am somehow able to finish all the books I am currently reading, plus the two review copies, I will tackle this book.

Whew. I am not going to pressure myself to start and finish all of these books before Christmas. I will do the best I can, but hopefully with the variety I have in my stack, I will not find myself longing for a novel. One can hope!


31 days of nonfiction

Happy December reading!

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Fast week!

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I’ve been feeling contemplative all this week but haven’t yet felt like I could share online. I’m slowly figuring out what is most important to me and reorganize my time around those priorities.

One change I’ve made this week involves my weekly room assignments. I designate one weekday to each room in our house. That’s where I will concentrate my housekeeping efforts on that day, though the entire apartment will get a quick pick up/vacuum almost every day. Fridays are always busy because I’m prepping for the Sabbath, making sure we have church clothes, a meal for Sabbath afternoon, a tidy house, and that all has to be complete by sundown. Come sundown, my work week is over and I’m ready for the Sabbath.

Prior to this week, I would clean the bathroom on Friday. While it’s not labor intensive, it does take time to thoroughly clean the mirrors, sink, toilet, floor, and shower. Cleaning the bathroom, on top of my normal Friday activities, always seemed so hectic. This week, I decided to clean the bathroom on Thursday. Wow! That made a huge difference on how rushed I felt today. I was able to take my time with each chore, cook, clean out the fridge, wash and put away the laundry, and tidy the apartment. It was such a nice change, one that I will definitely be making permanent.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! I’m off to tend to our supper and relax.

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Quilting Update

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My husband had a four day weekend so I have yet to brainstorm my schedule and priorities. We went to church, played games, watched a movie, and just enjoyed the time at home. However, I did spend a few hours working on my quilt! I would consider that productive.

The only thing left on the quilt top is to add the borders. Then I get to shop for backing! I’m excited that this quilt is almost done. I have no idea what’s next on the project list, though I have a few ideas in mind. I guess we’ll just have to see how long it takes me to finish this quilt.

So many quilts and so little time!

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