Books of 2017

What I Read 2017

You know I love to tell you all what I read in 2017. I read 32 books. It would seem I am more partial to non-fiction.

Favorite 5
Chosen because these are the books I talked the most about in 2017 and to me that is a mark of a great book.

The Life We Bury by A Esken
The Magnolia Story by Chip and JoAnn Gaines
Outlier by M Gladwell
Cafe by the Sea by J Colgan
The Story of a Good Marriage by A Patchett

*runner ups
The Sound of Gravel by R Warnier
Dear Bob and Sue by Matt and Karen Smith
The Woman in Cabin 10 by R Warner
Trespassing Across America  by K Ilgunas

Here is the Monthly Breakdown

January
Better Than New by Nicole Curtis
Wish You Happy Forever by J Bowen
The Life We Bury by A Esken

February
The Sound of Gravel by R Warnier
The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

March
Girls of Riyadh by R Alsanea

April
A Tender Struggle by K Bremer
Rise  by C Brookins
Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden

May
Finding Fraser by KC Dyer
Outlander by D Gabaldon

June
The Last Season by E Blehm
Life in Motion by M Copeland
Sisi by A Pataki
The Daring Ladies of Lowell by K Alcott
The Moon in the Palace by Weina Dai Randel
Trespassing Across America by K Ilgunas

July
The House by the Lake by T Harding
The Other Einstein
Voyager by D Gabaldon
The Wild Truth by Carnie McCandless

August
Traveling Light by L Branard
Unearthed by A Risen
At Home in the World by T Oxenreider
Dear Bob and Sue by Matt and Karen Smith

September
Outlier by M Gladwell
Cafe by the Sea by J Colgan

October
True Crime Addict by J Renner

November

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

December

June by M Bevelry -Whittemore
The Duchess by D Steele
The Story of a Good Marriage by A Patchett
The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne
The Whistler by J Grisham

One LITTLE word of 2018

I have participated in Ali Edward's One Little Word project for several years.

2007- action
2008- seek
2009- stand
2010- live
2011- act
2012- maverick
2013- endeavor
2014- evolve
2015- launch
2016- progress
2017- burn

My word of 2017 was Burn.  I know that is unusual but it really suited last year. I burned lots of calories hiking for Trek for the Treasure and I burned away some the expectations I had.

I struggled to come up with one word for this year but I settled on Clarity.

Why Clarity?
I need some new goals but not just any goals . Goals with direction.

Need to see other's one little words

Ali Edwards
Money Saving Mom

December Daily Part 1

Doing December Daily a little differently this year.  December Daily is a project that Ali Edwards developed to document and scrapbook the holiday happenings in December. I am using project life digital app to document.  I am going for one picture a day. I am doing this as simplistic as possible.  I find myself incredibly busy in this season but I still take pictures and I still need a creative outlet.  When I am being creative, I am less stressed so this is a perfect opportunity to incorporate creativity in a busy season

Dec 1 - Dance Recital.  It was fun way to start the holiday season and a great way to see my friend " The Princess of Quite A Lot" dance her bun off.

Dec 2 - Lynden Lighted Christmas Parade  - Headed out with our friends and watched the parade for a bit

Dec 3- Fulfilling a Bucket List Item - My best friend and I got to attend a Seahawks game.

Dec 4 - Holiday Letter Board

Dec 5 - Winter Sunrise

Dec 6 - Charlie showing off his french horn to our babysitting kid

Dec 7 - Lego Vignette

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Almost Christmas Linky

Reinventing the Poinsettia  - This explains why the poinsettia I had last year lasted all the way until April. About my Poinsettia last year link

Holiday Gift Guide for Someone Who Has Autism - Good Read

8 Benefits of a Daily Walk - I know not Christmas related but in the season of indulgence it is a good reminder.

Autism Linky

Just some round up of some interesting stuff about Autism.

How to Make a DIY Weighted Blanket

The Good Doctor - Autism Perspective - This is one I haven't watched

Unexpected Entrepreneurs: Parents Looking to Help Their Autistic Children Land Jobs Find Themselves Launching Businesses Instead

Almost All Students With Disabilities Are Capable of Graduating. Here is why they don't. 

The transition to college can be tough even more so if you have Autism

Linky

orange Christmas Cactus Bloom

Jello Sugar Cookies - Made these for a bake sale. Bright and Pretty and also Yummy

The Life Issue of a Third Grader - This cracked me up

If you're hiking for an Instagram Photo, Get the hell off my mountain

More Playing Outside, Less Wobble Chairs- Hallelujah Mavis

Libraries are Transforming Columbia's Machine Gun City

French Horn Spotted in the Wild

What I Learned This Fall

I am linking up with Emily P Freeman and What I learned this fall. Check out the other contributors.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

My youngest joined the band.  So for the first time really since 1990, I have been going to High School Football Games.  It's weird.  I am with the band. I am a Band Mom.  I played viola in the my high school orchestra.  I literally only know about band  thanks to my band friends from High School. My son's high school field show was  " New World" with music from Antonin Dvorak. Their field show is based on NASA's Apollo 11 Mission .  We even had our own Apollo 11.  I thought they did incredible.

* all scrapbook layouts made with digital project life

GROWING BEETS

While people were deep into talking politics, I decided to grow beets.  I don't think they are that controversial. Now, brussel sprouts that is a controversial vegetable

WRITING 31 DAYS

My topic for 31 days was a bit different this year. I always learn something about myself when I post for 30 days.  I love the discipline of it.  I have learned I write better when I pre-write these type of series.  I managed to pre- write about 80% and I think that leaves some flexibility to be spontaneous. Here is the link to all that goodness.

TITANIC 

Love this kids imagination - we have a Lego Titanic. Lots of hours have been spent sinking the Titanic

My before school kid is totally into the Titanic.  His parents and I have no idea what sparked that.  But it has led to some interesting before school activities

I was told this was an artifact - ha ha

of course we made icebergs

Wordy Wednesday - Letter Board Wisdom

I figured some of you out there might need these words of wisdom. It only took me three times to get this sign right. 

Magnolia Linky Love

Well I am a big Chip and JoAnn Gaines Fan

I thought I would share some interesting linky's about them

The Tiny Shotgun House - featured on Fixer Upper and now for sale

Hearth & Hand: My Top Picks - Healthy Northwest Mama

We Need to Talk About the New Magnolia Line at Target

What I Read November

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone is reading.

Sometimes November reading is hit or miss.  When I am stressed, I like to re-read books I have read already.  I have been re-reading Outlander perhaps not the best use of my time but a lovely diversion from my real life.

Something new to me I read was the Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware.  This book had been hyped a lot last year.  Since I get my books through my local library, it seems like I read books a year later than everyone else. I thought it was good and suspenseful. The general story line is Lo, a travel writer, boards a luxury yacht/cruise ship on its maiden voyage and sees something unsavory.  I really didn't see that ending coming .  I liked it.  I also love that it is a book I can recommend to my Mom.

Wordy Wednesday- Letter Board Mayhem

I put up this great saying in honor of my Birthday

Look what I found my sign turned into.  I tell you what no one respects their elders.

November Linky Love

The Fragile Generation - Interesting Read

Bridging the Divide - talking about the digital divide

Epic Battle of Book Spine Poetry Trash - This is really cool.  I had never heard of book spine poetry before.

12 Things Introverts Absolutely Need to be Happy

Eisenhower Decision Matrix - I read about Eisenhower boxes on Modern Mrs Darcy.  I didn't know what that was so I googled it.  I think this could be a helpful decision making tool.

Veteran's Day 2017

To all those who served - Thank You

To all those who are serving - Thank You

I am a vet and my husband is a vet.  Both of our father's served during the Vietnam Era.  Both of our grandfather's served during World War II.  Both of of our grandfather's were in the Army.  My grandfather in the 160th Engineer Combat Battalion, C Company and his in the 341th Army Engineers.  My husband's grandfather is a living World War II veteran He turned 97 this year.

Here some words written by my Husband's grandfather about WWII

Invasion Day. I had to wait till the second day, crossing on landing craft because the first soldiers could clear the mines and "X" barriers before we could land our heavy equipment, trucks and jeeps.  All the engine wires were plastered wit good like play clay to keep the water out, and the exhaust were lengthen high above to prevent intake of water by 1 1/2 inches.  When we landed we had to remove all the goop.

Drove a Colonel around for a while. He was rally nice. Then they needed a cat skinner, and I got the job. When I climbed on the cat, a guy told me i wast he 7th one, the previous six had died.  So I told him, seven was my lucky number! And it was, I made it without a scratch from Normandy to Munich.

I would dig up dirt and fill all the coverts to cross then demolish them after the troops went through so the Germans couldn't use them. Once I was up on my perch clearing the road, and there were 3 tanks that had gotten stuck our side. I can see the two 88mm artillery shells as they went just over my head and  hi the hill behind me. Think the tanks were empty, I was surprised when all three turned their turrets toward the German artillery nest. Needless to say they didn't attack me again. when we went to see the damage, one gun was upside down and the other on its side.

Election Day

I found this t-shirt at value and it perfectly sums up my election philosophy.  I feel bad it wasn't in my size.

Happy Halloween

I had a little time on my hands yesterday and made this creepy house picture.  Drawing instructions found at Art Projects for Kids

We carved our pumpkins on Sunday.  I used the Digital Project Life to document.

Word to Your Mother - Halloween

You know I would have word decor in my Halloween decor, right.

totally crooked and then fell - The story of my life

I have a whole eye thing going on. Letter Board is now hanging in my entryway.

Magnet Google Eyes 

Link for zombie baseball eyes

More details about dollar store eye wreath

link to the whole series
check out Write31Days

Word to Your Mother- Monday Wisdom

link to the whole series
check out Write31Days

Linky Love

Should be Eating Our Jack-o- Lanterns   Love Me Some Mavis Butterfield

Canadian Geocachers Rescue Stranded Camper in Remote Part of Woods - Ah finally a good geocaching story that doesn't involve a dead body

Open Letter to Women Not Putting Their Needs First

Word to Your Mother - Lego Words

Legos by virtue of having children especially male children  have been become part of my decor.

Throwback photo of Big E and Niki the dog

My boys are now 19 and 15 so I thought my Lego days were over.  However I now watch a 7 year old and Legos are very much a thing.  Glad I hung onto our massive bin.  Sometimes, I get bored and go rogue.  7 year olds don't appreciate my greatness.

Lego Silent Scream

link to the whole series
check out Write31Days

Word to My Mother - Clipboards

I like temporary word art, photo displays, and art.  I like to mix things up.  Below is a clipboard that I have had  displayed in my laundry room for ages.

Laundry Basket Angel

___________________________________________________________________________

INSPIRATION
___________________________________________________________________________

Check out I Should Be Mopping and their Fall Triptych displayed on clipboards

How to Make a Clipboard Wall

link to the whole series
check out Write31Days

Word to Your Mother - Enevelope Art

My sister is an artist.  All the mail we receive - Birthday cards etc from her has these amazing drawings on them. I frequently have these hanging on my magnet board.

She also gave me one of my favorite pieces of word art. It hangs in my entry way.

link to the whole series
check out Write31Days

Word to My Mother - Being Quotable Runs in the Family #TBT

"The bond of loyalty is stronger than any chain of iron."

When my oldest was about 10, I found this quote on his desk.  He is 19 now.  I have no idea if he keeps quotes written down now but at 10 he was collecting quotes. He however is a writer so maybe one day people will be quoting him.

link to the whole series

check out Write31Days

Word to Your Mother - Wordy Wednesday - Letter Board

The weather has been it's typical Pacific Northwest self.  Lots of rain and wind happened last week.  I thought this was fitting as we enter the Halloween Season.

link to the whole series
check out Write31Days

Word to Your Mother - Post it Notes

Somehow post it notes have worked their way into my decor. One year I spelled out Jingle with post it notes for our Elf but not Elf on the Shelf.  Instead of a elf that causes mischief, we have a bear named Stitch that causes Stitch Mischief.

It appears that I am using Post It notes as the main decor on my desk. Don't be me!

post t note on the right says - O Sweet Adventure, please last forever and keep my heart wild too. The cow is courtesy of my youngest son.

Where is the weirdest spot you have been left a post it note?  I WANNA KNOW!!!

link to the whole series
check out Write31Days