L.M. Montgomery Challenge - Conclusion!

And so we have come to the end of the L.M. Montgomery Challenge It's been an interesting month for me in many ways as I chose to spend my month learning about the woman who held the pen. I learned a lot. I thought and processed a lot. I also grew in my love for Anne and Prince Edward Island.

I did not cover as much ground as I was hoping to and yet at the same time, I confess that I'm ready to move on! I like being able to focus on particular authors and works but by the end of it all I'm ready for something new. That's about where I'm at. I will host this challenge annually, always in January. So if you didn't quite make it to Anne (or anything else) this month, come back next year and we'll give it another whirl. I don't mind starting my year out with a favorite author and its a nice chance to review my favorite works or pick up new things. For now, this is what I covered:

I read a YA biography entitled Maud: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery, by Harry Bruce.

I re-read The Poetry of Lucy Maud Montgomery to see if my feelings about it had changed. They really haven't.

I learned that Montgomery committed suicide.

I read The Alpine Path: The Story of My Career to see what Montgomery had to say about her writing success.

I read The Story Girl which ended up being my only piece of fiction for the month in relation to this challenge. (I meant to get to A Tangled Web but that didn't happen.)

I kept watching The Road to Avonlea and, of course I watched the movie (with my husband)!

I asked Kathie to talk about her modern day life on Prince Edward Island.

Lastly, I concluded my personal challenge by reading The Selected Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Now I'm anxious to see what everyone else read, learned and thought about this past month. Here's the Mr. Linky! I'll be out of town for a few days but when I get back I intend to go around and visit you all to see what you had to share. If you don't hear from me promptly, it's because I'm offline for a bit.

Part of the point of this challenge was to visit with each other so I do hope that you'll not only leave a link to your thoughts and reviews but that you'll visit each other also.

Hope you had fun! Thanks for being a part of this.

Reader's Diary - The Faerie Queen Book II by Edmund Spenser

I'm positively giddy with excitement. Why!? Because I just finished reading Book Two of Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene. I was hoping to finish it up by the end of January and here we are in the last week. So WOO HOO and all that. (Not a very poetical statement, but it adequately expresses the emotions that I feel about this!)

If you haven't read my Reader's Diary of The Faerie Queen Book I, you'll want to do that first. Otherwise, this particular review is going to make very little sense to you as I have absolutely no intention of repeating everything I said the first time. (You too can breathe a sigh of relief over that one!) In quick summary: book one was about Una and the Red Cross Knight and focused on holiness. Book two focuses on the virtue of temperance. (Each book focuses on a different virtue.)

I would not have made it through book two (and just barely did at that!) without the Cliff Notes. For the record, I have NEVER made use of Cliff Notes in all my born days but I'm in way over my head with Spenser. Coupled with the fact that I really can't admit to liking poetry, Cliff Notes are a must. I'm still not sure why people do like poetry. At the same time, there were a few lines in this book that made my spirit soar and so maybe that happens to others on a regular basis - I don't know. And I will never know. The Faerie Queene, I feel I can safely say, will be the extent of any poetry that I might be even remotely tempted to devour in my lifetime. (Excepting Lucy Maud Montgomery's, of course, but I have a feeling that doesn't really count.)

In Book Two we are introduced to Sir Guyon who is put to the test to learn the art, benefits and blessings of temperance. (Definition of temperance: moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control.) Spenser is making a point with this portion of the story that in order to live life well, normal desires must be under control of the right reason. Whether it be anger (a normal human reaction to things), sensual pleasure (expected), ambition (hoped for), etc., it must all be kept under control of good (a.k.a. solid) reasoning. We should not just give over our flesh to its natural desires and inclinations for that can often lead us into heaps of trouble. In this book, Guyon faces numerous tests and temptations but by surrounding himself with a wise counselors (Palmer) to whom he listens to and follows the advice of, he avoids both danger and death. Although Guyon finds himself in tricky and testy situations resulting from all manner of deceitful and crafty enemies, he is spared disaster on account of good sense and accountability.

My favorite part of this book was in Canto vii when Guyon comes up against a wretched guy named Mammon. At this point in the story, Guyon is briefly separated from Palmer and probably has a rougher time escaping from Mammon than was really necessary. Mammon tempts and teases Guyon to change his holy course and accept both riches and a beautiful maiden (Mammon's daughter) but Guyon refuses. After managing to get away from Mammon without falling prey to the temptations, Guyon faints dead away.

At this point, an angel comes and takes watch over Guyon until Palmer reenters the picture and stands guard over the body as his master recovers. While Guyon is passed out, two really really bad guys (Pyrochles & Cymochles) come upon him and wish to do him evil. They manage to remove his armor but before they can kill him, Arthur (yes, THE Arthur) arrives on the scene and pretty much saves the day, destroying Pyrochles and Cymochles both. The picture this paints is of Christ coming to save the day and spare the lives of His beloved. While we were yet sinners (asleep) He came to save.

Spenser writes at the beginning of Canto viii:

And is there care in heaven? and is there loue
In heauenly spirits to thse creatures bace,
That may compassion of their euils moue?
There is: else much more wretched were the cace
Of men, then beasts. But o th'exceeding grace
Of highest God, that loues his creatures so,
And all his works with mercy doth embrace,
That blessed Angels, he sends to and fro,
To serue to wicked man, to serue his wicked foe.

In other words, how great is our God who would send help and care to us in our hour of need, without our realizing it or even being aware of the fact that there is danger around us? He thinks about us when we aren't thinking for ourselves or anyone else! He surrounds and preserves us when we don't deserve it. He is present in our failures and weakest moments. He proves His love for us over and over again.

THAT section of poetry swelled my heart larger than the Grinch on Christmas Day. Oh what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we might be called the children of God? His love is amazing, steady and unchanging and it is mysteriously beautiful.

Your love is amazing
Steady and unchanging
Your love is a mountain
Firm beneath my feet

Your love is a mystery
How You gently life me
When I am surrounded
Your love carries me

Mysteriously beautiful is how I would describe Spenser's poetry. I don't claim understanding but I can tell you that it is beautiful. It is beyond me but I will work at it because I think it's valuable. There are gold nuggets to be picked up here and there and I aim to find them! So if you stick around, eventually I'll get to Book Three. However, I think I shall take another little break first!

Read Aloud Thursday - Felix

Time for Read Aloud Thursday over at Hope is in the Word.


I am presently severely disgruntled because it would appear that Letters from Felix: A Little Rabbit on a World Tour is no longer in print. WHAT?!?!?!? I found this book at Borders, severely discounted (should have been a clue) some time ago and now I'm incredibly glad I snatched it up! We've been reading the Felix books and talking about traveling a bit lately as we'll be taking a few plane rides here at the beginning of this year. Felix is a great "talking point." In this book, Felix the stuffed rabbit who is separated from his little girl, Sophie, in the airport at the conclusion of their vacation together. Sophie's family promises to find Felix but aren't able to do so. Sophie, of course, is horribly sad about missing her cuddly rabbit. However, she soon begins to receive letters from Felix, who is apparently taking a jaunt around the world without her. He writes letters from England, France, Egypt and other places. But the BEST part of the book is that each letter is in an envelope that our jolly young readers can remove from the envelope and read for themselves. It's quite a cute idea and I love these books. (I probably love them more than my son does at the present moment.)

There are a whole lot of books in the Felix series. The other one that we have is Felix Joins the Circus. In this book Sophie loses Felix when they attend a circus performance together. Once again Sophie begins receiving letters from Felix from all around the country. Naturally, Felix returns at the end of his adventures and the two are reunited.

Really, these books are a cute idea and it really would be a shame if they weren't kept around a bit.

If you can find the Felix books, a fun idea for enforcing the concept of travels and correspondence is the Mailbox Treasure Hunt Party Game from eeboo.. It's a simple game and easy for toddlers or young children to grasp the concept of. The idea is to be the person who delivers the most mail. There are eight mailboxes and 20 letters to be delivered. Each mailbox is marked by an animal (i.e., a lion or a giraffe) and there are appropriately matched envelopes. You place the mailboxes around the room and have the children (or child) deliver the letters to the proper mailbox. This game is marked as a party game but wouldn't require all that many children to play. I like it because it's simple with a concept we can identify with (receiving mail!) and involves sorting and organizing. It is helpful and useful in that respect. And the little guy likes the idea of getting to put the mail in the mailbox (as our actual and real mailbox is too high for him to reach)!

Mail is a fun concept for us (as well as traveling) making both these books and the game lots of fun.

Now who do we contact to keep the Felix books in print!?!?

The Selected Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery

The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery, Vol. 1: 1889-1910 is probably the best thing I decided to read during my L.M. Montgomery Challenge and the thing I'm most thankful to have spent time on.

Prior to the Montgomery Challenge I had never spent time learning much about the author of my favorite book in the whole wide world (Anne of Green Gables). Instead I chose to spend my time reading the things that she wrote. I assumed that if I started to find out about the woman behind Anne, I might stop liking Anne. It's true that I've had a bit of an adjustment period after learning about Montgomery's suicide. (Ha! I seemed to have surprised some of you by the fact that I didn't already know about that. I tell you I have always avoided finding out anything about Montgomery!) But that has changed and I've thought a lot about Montgomery's death as well as her life. I feel like I'm now in a position to better understand not only her work, but her person. And I feel like I can love Anne honestly, with the blindfold off. It's a good way to love, really.

Vol. 1 of Montgomery's Journals document her life from the age of fifteen to thirty-six. It carries on after Anne was published but before she married Ewan Macdonald.

Within these pages of Montgomery's journal (which, btw, were not authorized to be released until 1992) we find a bright and sparkly girl full of optimism and hope for her future. Although some have described the grandparents who raised Montgomery to be hermits, if you will, refusing to allow Montgomery a social life under their roof, I didn't actually find them to be at all abnormal. Montgomery herself seemed to attend a great deal of social functions outside of the home in her early years. She had all of the friends, parties and boys to flirt with as a fifteen year old could possibly want. It is true that when Montgomery was in her thirties, tending to a grandmother who didn't like social calls (in her late 80's!) well, can you blame the woman? At this point in time, most of Montgomery's childhood girlfriends were married and living their own lives. Montgomery chose a different path and therefore was sort of thrust into a position of being alone without people to "hang" with. I really don't see this as being a fault of her grandmother so much as a fault of Montgomery and/or her time and/or her situation of living in a place where the snow really could keep you home bound! It's also a natural thing in life for married people with kids to lose touch of their single friends. It's regrettable but natural. If such friendships are going to last, it's going to take a lot of effort on both sides and it doesn't appear that Montgomery OR her friends put forth the effort. (The internet would have been a handy thing for them!)

Also, a lot of people seem to note that Montgomery lived a very depressed life. It IS true that she seemed to let her blue mood take over more often than not the older she got. I noticed her foul mood seemed to set in during the winter months, when snow would force her to stay home and indoors. She wrote less in the summer when she had more freedom to be out and about and she was also happier when it was warmer. In some ways, she was very much a victim of the time in which she lived in that no one seemed to be pointing out to her that she might be suffering from seasonal affect disorder. If Montgomery had traveled south in the winter, I bet she'd have been a much happier camper.

However, that's purely speculative. It is clear from Montgomery's journal that she was not a Christian, instead favoring the idea of being able to explore a wide variety of religions and gathering up whatever truths she found along the way. This makes me wonder why she thought it would be a good idea to marry a minister and why her minister husband thought it was a good idea to marry her. Red flags should have been waving all over the place but apparently they were not. I've always assumed that Montgomery attended church but didn't really believe what she outwardly stated on a weekly basis. My suspicions were confirmed in reading her journals.

Next, you have to examine the fact that she kept all of her joys and sorrows inside of herself. She 'kept her cards close' if you will. I do recognize that in the society which Montgomery lived it was inappropriate to "air one's dirty laundry" and she commented often that she would rather die (literally) than have anyone know of her personal mortifications, fears and anxieties. This is the most tragic part of Montgomery - she felt alone.

Who out there has ever felt alone? Raise your hand. And in the middle of all of those raised hands you'll find mine. It's not only raised by I'm waving it about madly!

Of course, we've all had our moments where we feel alone, lonely and are convinced that we are quite different than every other single, solitary person within a 1,000 mile radius. While it is true that we are all different, possessing different skills and gifts, we are also created to fellowship with one another. We weren't made to walk through life alone. God knew that it would be bad for man to be alone so he created him a helper -- and a friend. God created a companion so that man would not have to be all alone, different from everyone else. God created man (AND woman!) with a desire to be in communion and fellowship with other people and to shut yourself away is unnatural. Sometimes it's justified and frequently it's in everyone's best interest to remove each other from direct fellowship but solitary confinement in reality or mental confinement should never be the rule.

It IS painful to open one's self up for the inspection and possible ridicule of another. At the same time, it's a risk worth taking if you ever want to give love or feel it in return. The sad (and pathetic, really!) part of Montgomery's life is that she thought that she was above other people in needing to open up and share her heart and mind with others. Either it was a case of her feeling superior in a social circle or her feeling above people mentally. I confess I too look for companionship with people who are like minded and have the same sense of humor. Wouldn't we all find it easier to be around people who are LIKE us?! It is then humorous to realize that God doesn't work that way. He made us to interact corporately as a body. (Read 1 Cor. 12) If all the "hands" got together and tried to serve a dinner they wouldn't get very far without the "mind" organizing the meal and the "feet" providing transportation from the kitchen to the dining room table. No, we are all necessary to one another and the sooner we realize that the better off we shall be!

I feel sorry for Montgomery because the older she got the easier she found it to remove herself from society. This could be depressing to anyone and so I'm not really surprised that she was depressed. I think weather had something to do with it, as well as her living situation. (That said, I do not fault her grandmother for living a long life and having preferences as to company when she was older.)

These journals ARE helpful to examine not only Montgomery's life but my own. I found a lot of similarities between us. We are much the same. But in some ways we're different and I'm glad of that. In other ways I WANT to be different and will work on becoming so. It's always enlightening reading someone else's journals because you can imagine yourself writing, saying and doing the same thing. Montgomery's journals hit close to home in the best way they possibly could and I'm happy to read of her later years. But not now. I think I need a little break from Montgomery for awhile.

Stubborn Twig

My review of Stubborn Twig just went up over at 5 Minutes for Books. I just finished reading this book yesterday and I can't quit thinking about it. As I mentioned - I really felt this book. It breathes and lives in a way that's hard to wrestle into words.

I'm not going to reiterate everything I said in my full review, so pop over to 5 Minutes for Books to gather my full thoughts.

As I also hinted in my full review, I didn't agree with all of the points that Kessler had to make. For one thing, she is not a Christian and doesn't think well of Christians. She makes no outright attacks, per se, but makes some pretty bold statements. What I found most ironic about the book was that Kessler spends the whole time talking about how the Yasui family were Methodists. She argues directly and in indirect ways that their Methodist beliefs should have made them more accepted by their white counterparts in Mt. Hood. Then she almost instantly decries their faith as being something that she's sure they just took on to try to be more appealing. However, it is also clear from the writings and words of actions of the Yasui family that they didn't just say that they were Methodists to say it. They lived and believed it. It's clear that Kessler didn't buy into it but I didn't find that overly distracting. I still thought the book was absolutely wonderfully written and makes a very fascinating read.

(I just want to offer this little disclaimer to Christians as they pick up the book. Pick it up expecting not to agree with everything the author says but still accepting the book as having great value. It is a VERY worthy read! I'm about a half step away from saying it's a MUST read.)

I expected to enjoy this book when I set out to read it. But I didn't expect to want to keep it on my bookshelf for future rereads. However, that's about how I feel about it.

What's on Your Nightstand?

It's time AGAIN for What's on Your Nightstand over at 5 Minutes for Books.

This month my "nightstand" is OVERFLOWING! I was just about to type the vow that I wouldn't pick up any new books until I've read all of the ones that are already on my shelf. However, I don't think we should make promises that we do not intend to keep and although I may have the best of intentions I am greatly lacking in willpower. Guess I'll just have to keep on keeping on and trying to get through my stack!

Last month I said I was going to read Book Two of Edmund Spense's Faerie Queen for my personal pleasure but that didn't happen. I also said I was going to read a lot of books by Lucy Maud Montgomery and that DID happen. It has been pleasurable but I have to say I'm ready to move on to something else and give Montgomery a break. (Shock, I know. Not that I couldn't read Montgomery forever but then you have to factor in the old proverb which clearly states that 'variety is the spice of life'.)

I also accomplished my reading for 5 Minutes for Books by reading How to Be Like Walt and How to Solve Your People Problems. Check! Check! Now moving on. . .

This month for 5 Minutes for Books I am hoping to read some fiction books:

1. In the Shadow of the Sun King (Darkness to Light Series, Book 1), by Golden Keyes Parsons. (I don't think I've ever heard of an author with such an interesting name, have you!?)

2. Then I'd like to tackle another round of Wodehouse just because he's fun. I have sitting on my shelf here Something Fishy and Nothing Serious.

For my personal pleasure I'll be reading:

1. The Remarkable Women of the Bible: And Their Message for Your Life Today, by Elizabeth George and;

2. Les Misérables. Technically, I suppose, I'm rereading Les Mis for the 5 Minutes for Books Classic Bookclub but I'm doing it out of pleasure so I'll keep it in this category.

And with any luck I'll also make it through more of The Faerie Queen. We'll see. The heart is definitely willing but the flesh is incredibly weak.

The Letters & Lessons of Theodore Roosevelt for His Sons

I just finished reading The Letters and Lessons of Teddy Roosevelt for His Sons which was published by Vision Forum and I'm feeling very inspired. There are at least half a dozen quotes from Roosevelt that I want to type up and share in this review, but I'm not sure that that would quite serve the purpose.

I confess that I really don't know very much about Theodore Roosevelt other than the fact that he was president of the United States around the turn of the last century. I've had my eye on the book Mornings on Horseback for, oh, years, but haven't quite gotten around to reading that yet. I'm more encouraged to do so now.

I would say that the main purpose of Letters and Lessons is to prove the point that T. Roosevelt was a family man. He was a manly family man, devoted to his wife and children, who pursued the best and called on his son's noblest instincts to rise up and be manly men themselves. Although it sounds sort of cheeky to use the phrase "manly men" (and I say it with something of a grin) it isn't really something I'm laughing about as much as I'm inspired to in the raising up of my own son and in continuing to learn how to honor my husband.

The first section of this book contains letters that Roosevelt wrote individually to his four sons. The second half of the book contains more history on who Roosevelt himself was, how he was raised and includes essays and speeches in which he calls for courage and bravery from men around the country.

Roosevelt never did seem to have much patience for weak and cowardly men. There was nothing namby-pamby about his own existence. Although he was fond of boxing, hunting and general sporting, he makes it clear to his sons that although he desires them to be physical fit, he also expects them to place more emphasis on character than either brawn or brain. Character mattered to Roosevelt and he cared deeply that it mattered to his sons as well. Secondly, Roosevelt was quick to point out that he was not a strong or fit child when he was growing up, nor did he come naturally to physical activities. He stated that any sport or activity he picked up, he had to work hard at to even have half a chance at succeeding. He was generally unsympathetic to the son or man who would make an excuse as to why he was unable to succeed at a given task. Wisdom and prudence, coupled with courage and bravery (and an honest hard day's work!) should produce adequate results of which one could be proud.

I have to say that it would be great to hear men talk like this again as a general rule. President or no, Roosevelt had a courageous spirit about him that is worth admiring and patterning one's self after. (He kinda reminds me of Harrison Ford in Air Force One, except Roosevelt is real and Harrison Ford's president wasn't. However, reality aside, Air Force One is one of my favorite action movies of all time because of the message it promotes -- COURAGE!)

My favorite essay by Roosevelt in this book, first published in May 1900, is entitled "The American Boy" in which Roosevelt says:

"Of course, what we have a right to expect of the American boy is that he shall turn out to be a good American man. Now, the chances are strong that he won't be much of a man unless he is a good deal of a boy. He must not be a coward or weakling, a bully, a shirk, or a prig. He must work hard and play hard. He must be clean-minded and clean-lived,and be able to hold his own under all circumstances and against all comers. It is only on these conditions that he will grow into the kind of American man of whom American can be really proud.

. . .

A boy needs both physical and moral courage. Neither can take the place of the other. When boys become men they will find out that there are some soldiers very brave in the field who have proved timid and worthless as politicians, and some politicians who show an entire readiness to take chances and assume responsibilities in civil affairs, but who lack the fighting edge when opposed to physical danger. In each case, with soldiers and politicians alike, there is but half a virtue. The possession of the courage of the soldier does not excuse the lack of courage in the statesman and, even less, does the possession of courage of the statesman excuse shrinking on the field of battle. Now, this is all just as true of boys."

In a day and age where men are encouraged to take a softer, more feminine (aka "peaceful") approach to living in general, and women are encouraged to charge outside their home and stand on equal footing and ground as their male counterparts - this book is needed. It is needed to light a fire under men and inspire and remind them both who they are and what they were created to be. And what is that, exactly? Courageous and brave, unafraid to meet the worst of obstacles with frank discernment, a clean conscious and steady hand. Men were meant to do big things. God didn't create them to do small things. Neither, for that matter, did God create women for simplicity. But that's another speech for another day and I'm sure I've gotten myself into some hot water already. This book is about men and for men. (So why am I reading it?) Because I also think it does the women some good to read it and be inspired to think of men in a more honoring way. Each of the sexes have their own unique roles to play and while women are scrambling about trying to gain equal footing, in a lot of ways they are tearing their men down. We women need a vision adjustment and to that end, it might behoove us to read some more of Roosevelt's writings describing honorable manhood. This book is a good place to start.

Love of peace is common among weak, short-sighted, timid, and lazy persons; and on the other hand, courage is found among many men of evil temper and bad character. Neither quality shall by itself avail. Justice among the nations of mankind, and the uplifting of humanity, can be brought about only by those strong and daring men who with wisdom love peace, but who love righteousness more than peace. ~ Teddy Roosevelt

The Barefoot Book of Knights - Giveaway

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING! Random.org selected #12 - Sky! CONGRATS, Sky! You're book will be on the way to you shortly!

In accompaniment with Bloggy Giveaways, I bring you the Barefoot Book of Knights.

The Barefoot Book of Knights is hands down one of the best story books on Knights that I have yet to find for children. Having a son and desiring to instill in him knightly character traits (such as honor, respect, dignity, etc.), I'm eager to find good resources to foster both his admiration and imagination when it comes to knighthood. Written by John Matthews and beautifully illustrated by Giovanni Manna, this book contains the tales of knights in a variety of different countries. It includes tales from Britain (of course), Germany, Russia, Brittany, Persia, Japan and France. These are all stories that have been collected down through the ages and are presented as to a ten year old boy who is on his own quest to become a knight.



The story of The Knight of the Kitchen (Britain) tells a story of King Arthur. The red cross knight makes an appearance in this tale and reminds me of my reading of Edmund Spense's The Faerie Queen. (By the way, I have begun reading Book Two so keep a look out for that Reader's Diary in the near future.)

Not only is this book full of stories which you can read aloud (there is a storytime CD included with this book so that you can listen to the stories as well) but it is informative as well, giving information about the history of knighthood as well as the process of achieving it.

Barefoot Books are synonymous with quality in my opinion. I have yet to see a book of theirs that I didn't like and this book is no exception. The stories are woven together in an artful manner, illustrated in complimentary fashion and are educational as well as entertaining. You couldn't ask for a better combination than that, really!

Not only are Barefoot Books top quality but they are also generous in offering a giveaway of this title to one of you lovely readers. If you would like to win a copy of this book, here's what you do:

1. Leave a comment telling me what you like about this book (the concept, the artwork, the stories, etc), OR something that you've learned about the process of becoming a knight OR a comment suggesting some other reading materials for children (and adults!) on knights and castles. Leave recommendations! I love them.

It's that simple, really.

For more information about this book, be sure to visit Barefoot Books. Browse their site as they really do have some top notch books to offer. I've reviewed several of their books for 5 Minutes for Books and I'm consistently impressed by what I've seen.

Participants in this contest need to be U.S. Residents only, please. The contest will remain open until Thursday, January 29th. Winner to be selected using random.org.

Thanks for stopping by! Good luck.

Giggles Software & Giveaway

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! RANDOM.ORG SELECTED MAYBE MAMA AS THE WINNER. (And she won by subscribing and leaving that second comment!) CONGRATS! And thank you all for participating!

As many of you are aware, I'm branching out a bit with this site and am beginning to explore things that will engage my two year old son and foster a love of learning. Enter: Giggles Software for Babies. This company has to be one of the most amazing providers of children's computer programs out there. Designed for babies 6 months through 36 months old, they are made for you to pop into your computer (PC or Mac) and then sit back and relax, pretty much! Your child can whack away at any key on the computer keyboard and no harm will come to your it. (For a non-technie like me - this is particularly encouraging.)

In honor of Bloggy Giveaways, we thought we'd talk about these computer programs now and offer a giveaway.

My son, being two, and would really like to be able to use the computer "just like mommy and daddy!" My husband browsed online and found the Giggles Software for Babies company and we checked out their work.

In our home - this is a hit. In two days, our son had learned how to navigate the program with the mouse. He could run the whole show all on his own and loved doing it. He is most particularly fond of the My Animal Friends program as with the touch of a few buttons he can make puffer fish puff, lightening bugs light up, penguins slide and cats and dogs rain down from the sky. He can tour a farm, a zoo and go on a safari. And the best thing!? He can do it ALL. BY. HIMSELF!

(Ok, I should point out here that since the time my son was born he has wanted to be in constant physical contact with us. You know how you can put most little babies in a swing and they'll coo and play and let you get your household chores done? Not our kid. For the first six months of his life he refused to take a nap unless he was being held or was asleep on the couch right next to us. Even now he always wants to "play [with] mommy!" or "play [with] daddy!" To find a toy that he will play with on his own is an indescribable gift - to us! To LEARN while playing - well, that's the added bonus!)

I'm delighted that Giggles also produces a game specifically for ABC's and 123's. We can sing our alphabet and count to 20 but having something that engages his imagination and helps to make a connection from the alphabet song that we're singing and its various usefulness is something I appreciate. As he is nearing 2 and a half, I've been focusing more on what sounds individual letters make and we've been working on letter identification so this program is particularly useful if not just plain enjoyable.

But even more so, I can get excited about the fact that this company has generously offered to give away one copy of each of their four software programs to one of you. One of you will win the following:

1. My Animal Friends.
2. ABC's and 123's.
3. Shapes.
4. Nursery Rhymes.

Winning qualifications:

1. You must be a U.S. Resident to win.

2. You must visit the Giggles Software website and come back and share something that you learned about the software.

3. You can win an extra entry by browsing my blog, reading one of my book reviews, and coming back to this post to tell me what it is that you particularly enjoyed (or did not enjoy!) about one of my reviews. If you decide to do that, just leave one extra comment OR you can subscribe to my blog. If you do that, leave a comment saying so. (If you are already a subscriber to my blog AND you leave frequent enough comments so that I clearly know who you are, just leave two comments and we'll call it good. I know who you are and we're friends. I trust you. ;)

The contest will be open until Thursday evening, January 29th, so make sure and leave a comment (or two!) before then.

In the meantime, even if you don't win I do encourage you to check out Giggles Website as they are amazing company with an amazing product. As I've begun to explore educational toys to help our son find learning exciting, this product is currently ranking up near the top of the list.

(And, of course, you can check out more Bloggy Giveaways by clicking here.)

Prince Edward Island

I asked Kathie at Island Sparrow to talk about her life on PEI. Kathie probably has the most unique perspective of all of the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge participants in that she was born and raised on the Island. What most of us readers can only visualize and dream about in our mind's eye, she lives on a daily basis. I asked her if she'd share a bit about her family history, the influence that Montgomery still has on the Island, what people think of the tourist who flock to PEI, and where her favorite place was on the Island. Here are the things she had to share. The autumn and coastal picture you see below were taken by Kathie. The shot in the snow was taken by a friend of hers. The flower pictured below is the province's floral emblem, the Lady Slipper.

Anyway, meet Kathie and visit her blog to learn more about her family and life on the Island. I'm amazed and filled with jealous emotions every time I visit it but visit it I do! (It's like I'm some kind of emotional masochist or something . . .)

Anyway, thank you, Kathie, for sharing. I love reading what you have to say and I'm enjoying getting to know you a wee bit better. Thank you for your time!

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I'm not surprise that you began your interview with the question "How are you related to Lucy Maud Montgomery?" One of the first questions that Islanders, especially old-timers, like to ask when they are introduced is "Who was your father?" Then they proceed to try and make a connection to someone they know. I've heard that it is a unique characteristic of Islanders around the world. I'm related to LMM through my grandmother who was a Campbell. We are distant cousins. Montgomery wrote about her Campbell cousins' homestead in Pat of Silver Bush.

The influence of L M Montgomery is very evident on Prince Edward Island today. It is really quite remarkable that one writer could shape an Island's destiny but that's what has happened. L M Montgomery's love for our green rolling hills, the shining Gulf waters, the red roads, are all lovingly described in her books. And, although there have been changes, our Island countryside remains much the way she depicted it. But even more than our pastoral surroundings, it is that one famous character - Anne Shirley - who won the hearts of so many around the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands come to Prince Edward Island on a pilgrimage to visit Green Gables. They want to walk through the house and see the bedroom where Anne cried herself to sleep that first tragic night when she discovered she wasn't wanted because she was a boy. They want to walk down Lover's Lane or have their picture taken in an old-fashioned buggy similar to the one that Matthew would have driven over to the Bright River train station. Tourism is the Island's major industry and "Anne" is most definitely queen of that industry.

I think that most Islanders are grateful for the tourists who flock to PEI. We are inordinately proud of our Island homeland and are happy to show its beauty to those who come to admire and enjoy. We are noted for being polite and generally welcoming to the flocks of visitors who triple our population in the months of July and August. And that's saying something . Why sometimes those people "from away" can cause a traffic backup on the Charlottetown bridge. We might have to wait all of 5 minutes to get to Tim Horton's for a coffee. *smile*


You were wondering about my favourite spot on the Island. I have many. I can't begin to tell you how beautiful it is here. Although I freely admit I am looking through the eyes of love. I enjoy the Island in every season - even spring, aka the mud season. I love the miles and miles of beaches, the rocky cliffs, the little villages with the fishing boats tucked away in quiet harbours. I love the tidy farmhouses and green fields and the red clay roads. Our provincial capital, Charlottetown, gives us a little taste of "city life". Although it is a small city, with a population of just over 32,000, it has a wonderful library, several live theatres, many restaurants, outdoor summer cafes and concerts. One of our favourite "date nights" is a walk along the boardwalk in Charlottetown's Victoria Park, watching the sailboats in the harbour and stopping for an ice-cream at the little dairy stand.

Most of all I love the Island people. They are "salt of the earth" people, shaped by life on an island with its clearly defined borders, which produce a strong sense of identity and community. We call our home "The Island" and we identify ourselves first and foremost as "Islanders", then Maritimers (which includes the provinces of PEI, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick), and finally, Canadians. Islanders are known to be a friendly people, loyal to a fault, kind to strangers, stubborn and resistant to change, and the best story-tellers I know.

It would be easy for me to gush sentimentally about life here on PEI - an accusation that is often levelled with some justification at L M Montgomery. We have folks who have moved here with idealistic dreams of "Island living". They want to escape from it all - the stress - the rat race - the hustle and bustle of modern life. They envision horse drawn sleigh rides in the winter and cozy evenings around the kitchen table. it's true that we have a slower pace of life on the Island. But life here can be just as stressful as most places. Just talk to any farmer or fisherman today and they will tell you about stress - about trying to make a living in tough economic times. Many of our farms are abandoned because it is too difficult to make a living on the family farm. Fishing boats were once handed down from father to son but now with falling fish stocks and international trawlers greedily taking more than their share, there is not enough money in fishing to raise a family. Our sons and daughters, and even fathers and mothers, have been forced to move west to find work in the oil fields or in the supporting industries. It's hard to watch the decline of our communities, especially our rural schools because the student population is lower each year.

But there is also a movement afoot in PEI. It's the knowledge that we posses a lifestyle worth fighting for. Our communities are strong in spirit and rich in culture. There is a determination to adapt to a changing world, while retaining, and even building, on our unique Island heritage. Innovative businesses and technology, organic farming practices, alternative energy research, an every household recycling system, and one of the top ten undergraduate universities in Canada, are all signs that PEI is determined to not just survive but to flourish.

There is another movement afoot in PEI as well. It's a movement of the Spirit of God. Long ago, in the year 1864, the first meetings to discuss the formation of a united British North America were held here, in Charlottetown. And so, we have been called the Cradle of Confederation, the birthplace of Canada. Perhaps it isn't far fetched to believe, as many do, that the Island will be the cradle of another birth - a spiritual birth - a movement of God's Spirit that will spread across this country. A revival that begins in the smallest, and least powerful, of all the provinces. It may seem unlikely, but God often surprises us that way, doesn't He? Revival hopes and dreams circulate like rumours of glory here on the Island. And also in the hearts of many who have come here, drawn by a inexplicable sense of hope and vision. It is the fire that fuels my prayers - I can not stop praying for this move of God. In rare moments of discouragement, I've tried. But this hope is like a spring of water from an invisible source. It keeps bubbling up.

And when it happens? I think even Anne will take a back seat.

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For the record, even I (Carrie) say "AMEN!" to that!

Date Night at the Movies

I'm full of Italian food and enthusiasm for the new Inkheart movie that came out tonight. We had such a fun date night out.

In case you were curious as to whether the movie was any good - I'd say it was. I speculated as to my ability to fully appreciate or understand the storyline without first having read the book Inkheart first. I'd strongly recommend that you do so but then I typically am of the opinion that the book should be read before the movie is seen if at all possible.

Yes, the movie strayed from the book in order to keep it at a tidy 106 minutes. They borrowed a bit from Inkspell to connect some dots with Dustfinger. I didn't really mind the implications though as I thought they implied more good of him than not. I don't want to spoil the plot in case you are unfamiliar (I really think the book is worth reading) with the story so I won't say anything specific.

In short, I thought the movie kept true to the spirit of the book. It was tastefully and well-done. It was intense and my heart was pounding through some of it. The Shadow was evil, but not scary evil. Capricorn was well-played (and my husband's favorite character portrayed in the film). My favorite was Dustfinger as I thought he was most accurately portrayed. The character I was most disappointed in was Meggie. I thought they picked a great actress but that they didn't allow her a chance to really shine in her role or make the viewers come to an understanding of the relationship she shared with Mo. (She only says Mo's name once or twice and you don't really know why she's saying the word "Mo". It's barely connected with her father!)

The thing about movies is that they are sometimes frequently lacking in character development. They simply haven't the time to fully describe situations, circumstances and people on film. (Hence you should really read the book.) A lot was missing but nothing that made me dislike the film. Nicely done and I hope Funke likes it. I think it treats her well.

HOW'S THIS REVIEW FOR GENERALIZATIONS?!!?! ;D (Go read the book.)

Inkheart

This is where I'll be tonight!



It's rare that we see movies on opening night. However, this is a special occasion, courtesy of our fabulous babysitter! (I'd say she was fabulous even if I didn't think there was an off hand chance she'd see this post!)

I can't wait!!!

Wonderlust & International Recipes

Wonderlust: A Spiritual Travelogue for the Adventurous Soul is one of the more unique devotional books that I have ever come across. It is written by a woman who has traveled more than any other person I have ever heard of (excepting perhaps presidents and heads of state). Vicki Kuyper has traveled to Cambodia, Russia, France, Italy, Austria and a number of other places. She never travels alone, and is always in the company of relatives, friends and, most importantly- God. Along Inca trails and atop elephants, God speaks encouraging words to Kuyper's heart and she shares those messages within the pages of this book.

Kuyper is an interesting woman who has been a lot of places and sees a lot of things. It is obvious that she takes to heart the sights and sounds that she takes in and personalizes adventures in such a way as to make practical her application of scripture. She is stead faith in faith, persevering in difficulty, honest in her affliction and just downright fascinating. I like the way this book reads both like a devotional and as a travel journal. For example, she opens by the book by speaking of her difficulty climbing an old Inca trail in Peru. Kuyper talks about a journey of self acceptance to realize God made her a certain way and He only expects her to take one step at a time up the mountain. She might not have raced up the mountain, but she got to the top because she was obedient in inching forward. I know I can frequently become irritated because things are not happening and developing in my life as fast as I would like them to. This story was a good reminder to be patient and wait in the Lord and on His timing.

The whole book is filled with stories just like these and I find them imaginative and fresh. This is definitely a unique book and one I feel like I can heartily recommend.

The same publisher (New Hope) also offers a quirky and fun title called Stirring Up a World of Fun: International Recipes, Wacky Facts and Family Time Ideas. This recipe and idea book is pretty cool. Each recipe is marked with a symbol to tell you whether or not it can be made by the children alone or whether or not it will require adult assistance (or made by adults alone). Then the book just takes you around the world on a plate!

To describe this book, let's take for example the recipes for Thailand (my new sister-in-law just returned from spending about 4 months there). First the book gives you some history of Thailand and tells you were it's located. It talks about the tsunami that struck in December 2004 and encourages discussion between the family as to what you all might do in the case of emergency. It prompts you to talk about natural disasters and how you and yours might be helpful in providing assistance or solutions to community (and sometimes global) problems. The book then follows up with appropriate scriptures and provides two recipes for the family to make and enjoy together (Khao Phat and a Sticky Rice and Banana Treat).

I've never seen a recipe book quite like it and I wasn't sure what to expect from the title. However, the content seems solid, informative and fun. For something a little out of the ordinary (esp. for families who can't travel to many exotic places at this point in their lives), you might want to give Stirring Up a World of Fun some consideration. I think we'll work our way through this book when we're older and working on world geography projects. It looks like it could provide some fun food family adventures with interesting discussions.

P.S. And never you fear! This recipe book is not all together exotic. You can also explore the United States with this book, sampling the best - like Apple Pie and one of my favorites - chili. Apparently there's some debate over where chili originated. Some people say Mexico while others think chili made its first appearance in Texas. (I grew up in Texas which might explain why I love it so much!) This book quotes the Mexican Dictionary (1959 edition) which describes chili in the following manner: "A detestable food passing itself off as Mexican, sold in the US from Texas to New York." Let the debate continue! I don't care where it originated so much as I care that it does exist and I can continue to eat and enjoy it!