What I read October

I finally cracked open the Whatcom Reads Book, A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki.  Whatcom Reads picks a book for the whole county to read together for the year.  Usually, the book is written by a Washington State Writer.

“A time being is someone who lives in time, and that means you, and me, and
every one of us who is, or was, or ever will be."

~ A Tale for the Time Being ~

This years book is A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. The premise is a diary in a old French book, letters, and watch wash up on the beach in a Ziploc bag. A writer, Ruth, discovers the bag washed up on the beach.   Ruth is a struggling writer who lives on an isolated island. The diary is that of a young Japanese girl, Nao, and discusses her move to Japan after her father loses his job in the United States  during the dot.com bust.  She talks about her trouble assimilating back into the Japanese culture, about her father wanting to commit suicide, and her 104 year old great grandmother who is a Buddhist nun. This book might not be a good fit for all readers subjects due to some of the subject matter. Suicide and prostitution are discussed. I have mixed feelings about this book.  The book has both Ruth portions and Diary portions by Nao.  I found the diary portions challenging.  Maybe it was the teenage voice and lots of footnotes on Japanese terms.  The flow was off for me. Then there is the whole quantum physics twist.

Some of my piles of beach finds

I relate to finding things on the beach.  I love hunting for beach glass aka sea glass.

Sea Glass Collection

It is so fascinating to me what washes up on the beach. The book also discusses the trash in the ocean and how the tsunami has brought Japanese trash to the shore of  British Columbia, Canada and Washington State.  My friends are always on the lookout for Japanese trash at our local beaches. My friends found this cool tooth .

There is a decent interesting story here in A Tale for the Time Being and I can see why they chose it for this years Whatcom Reads.

I am linking up to Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker- Emergency Preparation

Dear Diary,
Who knew parents start to consume their young after 3 days of no power.  I am not cut out to be a pioneer woman. Who knew I was addicted to electricity?  I use to think running out of toilet paper was an emergency. 

We are way to electricity dependent.  I was actually in Cabela's when the power initially went out.  You would think that would be the ideal place to be in a disaster.  Cabela's is the mega store of all things camping. They had an emergency back up generator but turns out that won't help flush the automatic toilet.  Not so prepared were they?

Recently we were without power for 3 days.  We really weren't prepared.  I guess we all think it won't happen to us until it does.

The most likely natural disaster scenarios are earthquakes and tsunami's in the area I live.

Today is also the Great Washington Shake out.

Some Emergency Checklists

Red Cross Survival Kits
Life as Mom

***Check out my entire series - Diary of Mediocre Homemaker
       I am linking up with Write31Days

The Diary of Mediocre Homemaker - Confessions of a Plant Hoarder

Diary Diary
I just might be plant hoarder. Everyone knows, " I love BIG plants."  I am all about the BIGGER the better.
 

Blooming Aloe with aloe babies

I can't resist a damaged plant.  I ALWAYS think I can nurse it back to life.  The distressed plant rack is my kryptonite.   I have over 17 plants. I am a plant hoarder.

My houseplants really bring me joy.  Recently, I have been into more of the blooming plants - African Violets and Christmas Cacti .

African Violet

Anyone else into houseplants?

**** Check out my entire series - Diary of Mediocre Homemaker
          I am linking up with Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker- Right Now, Right Now

Dear Diary
Did you know that there is a Texas saying, " Right Now, Right Now"?  That is according to my husband who not a Texan.  " Right Now, Right Now" means immediately in this second PRONTO not right now in a minute.   Lately, I have been feeling overwhelmed and I keep asking myself what is that I need to do immediately. It has been helping cut through the mess in my mind and prioritize what needs to happen, " right now, right now."

There was a blog post by Hollywood Housewife call " Only What Matters, Indeed" .  The saying, " Only What Matters" she turned into her mantra. I guess my current mantra is right now, right now.

Check out my entire series - Diary of Mediocre Homemaker
I am linking up Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker- Bane of my Existence

Dear Diary,
Hey look we are back to MONDAY! It  is so rewarding packing my child's lunch at o'dark thirty.  It makes me feel so fulfilled to be awaken out of a deep slumber to make my son's a delicious nutritious lunch. OH Yeah, I am all over it. There is no bento box or cutesy note.  Are you kidding? The kid there is lucky if there is food in the box.

The icing on top of the cake is when discover I don't have the stuff to make my child's lunch. Mornings at my house can be slightly hellicious.


My little helps to get lunch in the box

My oldest son makes all of his lunches on Sunday night for the week. He eats the exact thing every school day pretty much.

The youngest son helps make his sandwich or bagel for his lunch

I have a drawer where I keep baggies, spoons, and convenience items.

I have an extra lunch box.  My kid had a year where he seemed to leave behind his lunch bag every other day.  I use to joke my extra lunchbox was going to be Barbie or Hello Kitty.  That wouldn't go over well.

I keep a stockpile of lunch items.  We are talking granola bars, juice boxes, fruit cups. 

I love This Beautiful Frugal Life's tips and tricks to help your child pack their lunch.  

***Check out my Entire Series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker
       I am linking up to Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - 31 Dayers Linky Love

Dear Diary
When you are writing every day for 31 days, it is exhausting.  It is EVEN exhausting when you have a lot of your posts pre-written. Part of participating in 31 Days is discovering new to you blogs.  There are some amazing bloggers participating. I feel guilty not being able to read  each and everyone during the series

Can you send these bloggers some love. I am just sharing a few categories ( 4 out of the 9) and my picks in those categories  You can also check it out for yourself over at Write31Days

Family Category

31 Days on Thoughts and Tips on Transition ( My Daily Bread and Butter) 
This series appeals to me because I am going through a transition as well all be it slightly different.

Kids in the Kitchen You got to check out the pumpkin pop tarts

Fashion And Beauty

Walmart 31 Day Fashion Challenge

Food, Health, and Wellness

124 Miles of Movement  Awesome photos and inspiration

31 Days of Amish Recipes - Her series last year was awesome as well, Stories from my Amish Family

House and Home

Organization for Normal People - I have a well documented love for Life as Mom .  I use her post it to do list.

******Check out my entire series - Diary of Mediocre Homemaker

Diary of Mediocre Homemaker - Secret Stash

Dear Diary
Around my house, no food is sacred.  I have 2 teenage boys living in my house.  If you want to have your special snack later, you better hide it well.   My hubby has been disappointed more than once and since learned if you want a special snack you better stash it somewhere safe. These boys can throw down some food. They will literally eat you out of house and home.

Below is a picture of what is normal in my secret cache of snacks. I refuse to disclose the location. (Hey, my kids are readers now)

Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Sticks, and Peace Tea

I was introduced to the secret stash by my best friend.  She literally had this awesome spot in her adventure van for keeping adult snacks.

Anyone else keep a secret stash of snacks?

Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker
I am linked up to Write31Days