My 2016 Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

I truly enjoyed participating in the 2016 Reading Challenge from Challies.com. My achievement level in number of book categories completed was certainly mediocre, but each book that I read for the list was enriching. I realized my personal bias toward certain genres when confronted with "A book about a current issue" ("Oh, please no!" I often read to escape) or "A book published in 2016" (I prefer books published nearer to 1916 and rarely buy new books) - and I never did get around to reading a book in either of those categories.

As a non-competitive free spirit, I indulged in books that just wouldn't fit into a category on the challenge list - "A book for children" was checked early in the year, but many subsequent evenings found me curled up with another nice little piece of juvenile fiction that didn't fit any of the other check boxes. Looking back, I realize that I didn't allow the reading challenge to stretch and mature me to the extent that I could have, and if I do something like this again, I will try harder to branch out of my comfort zone of Spurgeon and Dickens and try "A graphic novel" or "A book on the current New York Times list of bestsellers". But very few categories were skipped out of indifference. Most of the list was not completed for lack of time. I look wistfully still at "A book by Francis Schaeffer" and "A book with at least 400 pages" never completed. Maybe I will keep the list going until it is all done...in three years perhaps.

Here, though, are twenty-seven books that I did complete, and my brief reflections on them.

~ A book about Christian living - Future Grace by John Piper
I completed this book early in the year as I neared the end of pregnancy with our second child. The winter was cold, we had recently moved, I was often unwell, and the pregnancy went long overdue. Future Grace encouraged me immensely many afternoons spent on the couch while our son napped. It was just what I needed to help me carry on - whatever happens, your covenant-keeping God will be there for you. Thank God for books like this.

~ A biography - John Bunyan - Tinker of Bedford by William Deal
Written for middle-schoolers and published by a homeschool curriculum company, this was not a typical grown-up biography, but it made John Bunyan's life more real to me and filled my heart with wonder at the grace of God to this man so humble and weak, yet so greatly used for good.

~ A classic novel - Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
This category was not hard to complete, but it was hard to choose! My husband came to my assistance as I stood staring at the bookcase - "Read Robinson Crusoe - you can't get more classic than that!" I was glad I read it - I hadn't realized what a strong Christian message it contained. Crusoe's journey to faith in the God who ruled over even the worst tragedies of his life resounded with true Christian experience. It was encouraging! Besides that, just about anyone enjoys the classic adventure tale of survival by resourcefulness and perseverance in dire circumstances.

Two Children's Songs

I love finding fun and singable ditties for teaching preschool kids - ones that have a good melody line and are not pure goofiness - and was feeling like something new today as I  pondered this morning's class over my breakfast. These two I came up with and can't wait to teach them!

B-L-U-E Spells Blue - to the tune of "Happy Birthday"

B-L-U-E spells BLUE!

B-L-U-E spells BLUE!

Like a clear sky (stretch up arms)

Or a blue-bird (flap arms)

B-L-U-E spells BLUE!

B-L-U-E spells BLUE!

B-L-U-E spells BLUE!

Like the ocean (stretch out arms)

Or the blue whale (join pointed hands and make diving motion)

B-L-U-E spells BLUE!

The second song I made for "J" week and think it will be fun to play with.

If The Jellyfish Are Coming - to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It" 

(Student 1 volunteers to be jellyfish and stand next to the teacher looking menacing and dangling fingers. Student 2 volunteers to be daughter and stand on other side of teacher)

If the jellyfish are coming, get away! ( All march in place)

If the jellyfish are coming, get away!

If you see them in the water (shade eyes and look appalled at 'jellyfish')

Get to dry land with your daughter (teacher clasps hand of 'daughter' and 'flees' to the other side of the room)

If the jellyfish are coming get away!

Students can rotate taking turns to be jellyfish and daughter until everyone has a turn and knows the song!

I'm Going To Write a Book

I think if I tell myself the above often enough, I will believe it. Books are not just things that other people write. I may write one if I please. But a sequel to the well-known classic, Stuart Little? As a first book? Isn't that a little ambitious? I am going to try. A boy's question (thanks to his mother, Bekah, for posting it on Facebook when I was on to read it) - "What happened to Margalo?" is ringing in my ears, and the story that never yet happened begs to be written.

I knew I should write, but not where to start. Here is a place to start: "What Happened to Margalo?" 

Will anyone publish it if I write it? I don't know. But I know someone who will read it. It had better be good.  Here goes!

A sadly worn little copy of George Herbert's poems, which I discovered in the used book store around the corner and down the street, has proven itself far more precious than the two dollars I paid for it. Now that I have fixed the cover (stiff fusible interfacing wrapped in cotton fabric) my dear friend is much better prepared for the frequent handling he receives.


Herbert is intensely devotional as well as a lover of colorful words. Hence I like him very much; his verse is like good medicine. Here is the one poem that I cannot get out of my head for the love of it:

"The Dawning"

Awake, sad heart, whom sorrow ever drowns ;
Take up thine eyes, which feed on earth ;
Unfold thy forehead, gathered into frowns ;
Thy Saviour comes, and with Him mirth :
Awake, awake,
And with a thankful heart His comforts take.
But thou dost still lament, and pine, and cry,
And feel His death, but not His victory.

Arise, sad heart ; if thou dost not withstand,
Christ's resurrection thine may be ;
Do not by hanging down break from the hand
Which, as it riseth, raiseth thee :
Arise, Arise;
And with His burial linen drie thine eyes.
Christ left His grave-clothes, that we might, when grief
Draws tears or blood, not want a handkerchief.

Love!

At Last!

The quilt is finally done! Basically, I did all the piecing and Mother did all the quilting. (just because she really likes to quilt). Here we are with it -

A Good Way to Use Less than Modest Clothing

I almost threw this shirt away but found a better use for it in cutting out a square to cover a jar and create a cute vase!

A skirt!

I had fun making this skirt out of odds and ends. The denim part of the skirt was already partially together. The pockets are stenciled with acrylic paint (I have, unfortunately, found it does not wash out of fabric - but that's good in this case) :o)

Mexican Cornbread

This is my version of a recipe found in Country Magazine. It's delicious, hearty and high in protein, so it's almost a meal in itself!

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk, sour milk or milk soured with vinegar
1 egg, beaten
1 can (8.75 oz.) cream-style corn
Dash hot pepper sauce
1/4 cup oil, or bacon drippings
1/4 cup minced green onion
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Combine first five ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in center; set aside. In another bowl, combine milk and egg; add corn and remaining ingredients. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until blended. Do not over-mix. Pour batter into greased 8x8" baking pan. Bake at 400 F for 35 minutes, or till browned at edges and springy in the middle. Cool 5 minutes; cut into 9 squares.

Banana Bread

This recipe for banana bread is my favorite. I have made it countless times, and know the ingredients by memory. It is great for using up overripe bananas, great for a snack, and great for a simple encouraging gift to a neighbor or friend. Plus, it's naturally sugar-free!

- 1/3 cup sour milk (if you don't have sour-milk, or buttermilk put a tsp. or so of vinegar or lemon juice in bottom of measuring cup and fill with milk and let sit. Do this first)
- 3 very ripe bananas
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil

In medium bowl, mash bananas with fork, stir in vanilla. Set aside.

In mixing bowl, combine
- 1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
Make a well in center. Set aside.

Using fork, beat eggs into banana mixture; stir in sour milk and oil. Dump wet mixture into flour mixture, stir only until combined. Put batter into greased bread or muffin pans. Makes two 7x3 loaves, one 9x5 loaf, or a dozen+ muffins. (approximation)

Bake at 350... till done. (Toothpick inserted in center comes out dry, or edges are brown - around 30-45 minutes for loaves, 15-20 minutes for muffins) Remove from pans, let loaves cool before slicing.

Options:
- For non-wheat, substiute 1 1/2 cups brown rice flour, 1/4 cup tapioca flour, and 1 tsp. xantham gum for the whole-wheat flour.

- Drizzle honey on top of loaves before baking for added sweetness and a nice brown top.

- Put 1/2 tsp. vanilla and add 1 tsp. of cinnamon to flour mixture.

- Substitute leftover papaya or overripe plantain for part of the bananas. This is best with the cinnamon option.

- Add chopped dates to the flour mixture

"Wheat and Non-Wheat Banana Bread"

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. - 1 Tim. 4:4-5 ESV