Woke up today to snow and temperature in the 20s.  By 11:00 most of the snow has melted and the sky is a bright, clear blue.  My spirits have soared with the clearing sky.

I've been crocheting granny squares like crazy, using up bits of old yard.  The twins are arranging the squares into an interesting color pattern.  While working on the border, I noticed that I had used two different crochet hooks, supposedly the same size. Supposedly but not actually the same size.  Consequently, there are two different sizes of granny squares.  As I dream of making beautiful yarn creations, my granny squares don't even match up.  The twins don't care; they think it's beautiful.  Both of them have been busy making their own creations.  They aren't afraid of mistakes.  Indeed they turn their mistakes into their own unique styles.  Why can't I be like my children.

I picked up The Wisdom of Menopause by Christiane Northrup.  All because of the title.  'Wisdom'.  If there's any wisdom in this foggy brain, I want to find it.  First time I flipped through the book it fell open to the page on belly fat!  So appropriate.

On religious thought, I finished a book by Marcus Borg.  Can't recall the title right now, but it seemed a rehash of some of his other books I've read.  Along with that, I read Jesus Through Pagan Eyes by Mark Townsend.  I appreciated it.

For current reads I have Paul and Jesus by James Tabor (so far worthwhile) and I Don't Believe in Atheists by Chris Hedges (no opinion yet).  I'm finishing up the Wicked Years with Out of Oz.  If I leave too many years between books, I'm apt to forget what happened in the story.  Then I have to go back and re-read.  No wonder it takes me so long to read anymore.

And....

I'm so sick of scandal, popes retiring, cardinals resigning, the vatican imploding, conservative know-it-alls and liberal know-it-alls.  let's throw them all out along with the representatives in washington and start over.  with a new plan.  would it be any better?  could it be any worse?  i need earplugs and blinders.

Christmas Books

The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans
The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola
The Christmas Box by Jo Anne Stewart Wetzel
Mary, The Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola
Christmas Tree Memories by Aliki
The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

Christmas Books

The Christmas Cobwebs by Odds Bodkin
Spirit Child A Story of the Nativity by John Bierhorstill; by Barbara Cooney :)
The Angel of Mill Street by Frances Ward Weller
Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant
Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble
Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
The Attic Christmas by B.G. Hennessy

More Books....

The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan
Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco (an absolute favorite)
Holly Claus The Christmas Princess  by Brittney Ryan
Guess Who's coming to Santa's for Dinner? by Tomie       dePaola
Welcome Comfort by Patricia Polacco

Tonight we shall trim the tree!

Books....

We pulled out the Christmas books and hit the library.  So far we've read:

Christmas in the Country by Cynthia Rylant
An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco
Santa Claws: A Scary Christmas to All by Laura Leuck
Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve by Jan Brett
Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
Christmas Mouseling by Dori Chaconas
A Cowboy Christmas: The Miracle at Lone Pine Ridge by Audrey Wood

We're finishing up The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

I'm reading A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym

BG constantly has her nose buried in a Warrior book.  How many are there?

Abby finished the final Unfortunate Events book and is now reading The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.

Off to read some more Christmas books.

Health

For me: I finally had to make an appointment for another endoscopy with dilation. My esophageal stricture has been getting worse and worse. This meant that first I had to see my regular doctor, get a blood test and then get the endoscopy done. So far, nothing has been covered under my insurance policy meaning nothing has even applied toward my $5,000. deductible. I'm keeping my fingers crossed about the endoscopy. They also took a couple biopsies since my esophagus was more red and inflamed than 3 years ago when I had it done. $$$$$ Plus, they want to prescribe Nexium (I haven't tried that one yet). I hear it's expensive, and I have no prescription coverage.

For Tim: His 'annual' 3 year check up resulted in a blood test, an MRI for his back (to compare with the last one in '08), a trip to the cardiologist, and a sleep study test. Fortunately, his insurance, while not as good as it used to be, is far better than mine.

The joys of being over 50, I guess. It's the only time I'm cognitively aware of my age - at the doctor's office.

Looking Back Over 2011

A little late, no doubt, when most people look back over the previous sometime in January. Still, March is pretty good for me. And by looking back, I mean the important things! Books that were read.

January

The Tale of Oat Cake Crag by Susan Wittig Albert

The Shooting in the Shop by Simon Brett

Grace Will Lead Me Home by Katherine Valentine

On a Wing and a Prayer by Katherine Valentine

Halloween Party by Agatha Christie (for the 7th or 8th time)

Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie

February

The Boomerang Clue by Agatha Christie

The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore by Deepak Chopra

March

Hmmm..... I'm sure I read something....

April

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith

The Earth Path by Starhawk

A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear

May

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

Claude and Camille: A Novel of Monet by Stephanie Cowell

Aunt Dimity Down Under by Nancy Atherton

June

Busy out of doors, I guess.

July

The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West

The Gospel According to Biff by Christopher Moore

August

Wild Strawberries by Angela Thirkell

In the Company of Others by Jan Karon

Less Than Angels by Barbara Pym

Death in Five Boxes by Carter Dickson

Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie

September

Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym

A Graveyard to Let by Carter Dickson

Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza

October

Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh

Drood by Dan Simmons

Led by Faith by Immaculee Ilibagiza

November

Bishop of Rwanda by John Rucyahana

An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography by Paul Rusesabagina

December

Friends at Thrush Green by Miss Read

No Holly for Miss Quinn by Miss Read

Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

High Rising by Angela Thirkell

The Fountain Overflows was a very pleasant surprise. None of the books was very taxing; my brain wasn't up to handling too much, and this list reflects that. The books about the Rwandan Genocide were very difficult to read. For weeks I found myself thinking about the tragedy - especially at night. Tim then read them, and that led to quite a few discussions, usually at night. Why do we always get into these deep, disturbing conversations at night? I've been wanting to watch Hotel Rwanda and Sometimes in April. After watching them I can make a better decision about Abra viewing them.

This list feels incomplete. I'm sure there were some other Christie books and such that I never listed. I have an almost complete list of our read alouds. That's another post.