Category: Ruminations

Saturday Snapshot: Christmas Decorations

On By cherylmahoneyIn Saturday Snapshot12 Comments

Last weekend was fairly Christmassy–I spent part of Saturday decorating, and part of Sunday wrapping presents.  I have a small apartment, so I just get a little tree to set on a table.  But I seem to have bought small presents this year, so everything fit under it too.

Christmas Tree

I discovered that the tree looked far more interesting photographed in the dark!

I also put up my musical shepherds every year.

Christmas Shepherds (1)

These gentlemen and their flock were part of my grandpa’s Christmas decorations when he was growing up, so they’re probably about 75 years old.  You can still see the price stamped on some of the pieces: each sheep was five cents, and each shepherd was twenty-nine cents!

Christmas Shepherds (2)

Here’s a closer view.  I love how each shepherd is so individual, with his own personality.  Some day I must write a story about them.  They’re a bit worn–but that just means they have history!

What are your favorite holiday decorations?  I’d love to hear about them!

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2013 Reading Challenges!

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations7 Comments

We’re coming in towards the end of the year, and I’ll be posting in a couple weeks about challenge results for 2012 (must finish those last Garth Nix books…!)  Today, I’m already looking ahead to 2013–which may account for my frantic efforts to finish up 2012 goals, to clear the field for next year.

I’m trying (really!) to rein in my challenge commitments for 2013, and that’s mostly down to Challenge #1…

The Chunkster Challenge

I have a fear of long books.  Well, not a fear exactly, but there are definitely books I want to read but have put off picking up because of their size.  The logic goes something like this…if it takes me three times as long to read this book as an average book, then that’s two less books I’m reading.  And there are so MANY books to read!  So, I’m trying to reduce challenges to help me fight that issue.  And I’m joining the Chunkster Challenge…which is an annual challenge that hasn’t been posted for 2013 yet, but should be soon.

If the levels are the same again this year, I plan to officially commit to Level 2, reading 6 Chunksters, mostly because the other reading levels get more complicated in terms of length-requirements.  Privately, I’m hoping to read, or at least try, a Chunkster each month, to finally tackle some long and long-waiting books.  My rule is that if I read 100 pages and hate it, I can drop it guilt-free.  And let’s be honest…I have that rule because I plan to tackle Lord of the Rings and I’m not sure how that will go!  But I think the first book on my Chunkster list will probably be Les Miserables.  After that…we’ll see.

FTSRC

Finishing the Series

I’m joining in with the Finishing the Series challenge at Socrates’ Book Reviews for another year.  This past year, I’ve finished…well, stay tuned for my 2012 Challenge update (but it’s over ten series!)  I still have a few lingering series that I want to continue to finish up, but the scope will be much reduced (see “Chunkster Challenge” above).  I’m setting the goal at three series to finish (or catch up with, if they’re still being written), and I define a series as three or more books.

Books to Reread

Revisiting Old Friends

I have far too many beloved books on my shelves that I haven’t opened in years.  I feel like I’ve been failing to stay in touch with dear friends.  So, one of my goals for the year is to reread.  I haven’t been able to find a challenge with this focus for 2013 (if you know of one, let me know!) but I thought I’d state it as a goal here anyway.  The picture shows some of the books I hope to reread…

Stainless Steel Droppings: Carl’s “Experiences”

Some of my favorite blogging experiences have involved the reading Experiences Carl hosts throughout the year.  There’s the Science Fiction Experience in January and February, the Once Upon a Time Challenge in the spring, and Readers Imbibing Peril in the fall.  I will definitely be participating again.  Keep an eye out for a more detailed Sci Fi Experience post soon.

I think that covers my plans as of now…I’m super excited to dive in!  I’ll have an update for you on 2012 Challenges before the end of the year, and of course I hope you’ll come by throughout 2013 for updates on my new challenges!

Saturday Snapshot: Notre Dame Cathedral

On By cherylmahoneyIn Saturday Snapshot20 Comments

During the week, I reviewed Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame–a wonderful and surprisingly complex Disney cartoon.  Naturally, for Saturday Snapshot, I thought I’d share some pictures from my visit to the cathedral last September!

Notre Dame (1)

I went in the morning, on the theory that it would be less crowded.  Contrary to what this picture suggests, this actually worked–it was even busier by the time I left.

Notre Dame 1The lighting is very bad for photos inside the cathedral, so apologies for the fuzziness–but I managed to get a shot of this lovely statue of Mary and Jesus.  And after I got home and rewatched Hunchback, I realized this is the statue Esmeralda addresses her beautiful song to, “God Help the Outcasts.”

Notre Dame (2)After seeing the inside of the cathedral, I went around the corner and got in a long line to go up in Quasi’s towers–and up many, many narrow winding steps.  Google brings back differing numbers on how many steps it is, but the majority opinion seems to be 387.  I believe it!  If you watch Hunchback, look for a scene of Quasi and Phoebus on steps that look a lot like these.

Notre Dame (3)It’s worth all the steps for the views from the top!  And definitely worth it for the gargoyles.  After all, I had to go up and see Quasi’s gargoyles. 🙂

Notre Dame (4)After I came down from the towers, I went in search of another literary/movie reference–also by Victor Hugo.  Apologies, as it’s somewhat grim…but I remembered that in the 1998 film of Les Miserables, when Javert went into the Seine there was a beautiful view of Notre Dame behind him.  So I went down to the walkway beside the Seine, and I’m pretty sure this is the spot…

Not to mention, from down there you can’t see all the crowds!

All in all, Notre Dame was wonderful to visit–a beautiful place, and then there’s all the literary references too.

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It’s…Sunday, What Are You Reading?

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations, What Are You Reading?30 Comments

itsmondayAs I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, there’s a fun meme by Sheila at Book Journey inviting people to share their reading plans.  Normally it’s on Mondays…but I have a book review already scheduled for tomorrow, so I’m posting early!

I went through my pre-Thanksgiving stack, and weathered the long library close over the holiday weekend.  Legacy was, well, a behemoth.  Mort was enormous fun (of course!) and Roughing It was excellent when Mark Twain demonstrated his talent for tall tales.  When he got into actual history, it was (with exceptions) not as exciting.  But the tall tales and weird adventures were good fun.

Reading Stack

I’m currently reading Lady Friday by Garth Nix.  Next in my line of books is Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier, the next book in her Sevenwaters series–and another book for my Finish-the-Series challenge, though I don’t expect to finish this one by year’s end.

After that, I’m deeply curious about The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz, ever since seeing his TED talk.  I’m hoping he’ll help me solve that moment, when you’re on Netflix’s streaming catalog and there are ENDLESS choices and yet nothing looks quite interesting enough.  Not exactly a large-scale problem, I admit!  But I’m always fascinated by why the brain works the way it does.

And after that, probably, Villette by Charlotte Bronte, because I so love Jane Eyre, and this was recommended to me as another good one.

However, everything gets rearranged if either of my two on-hold-at-the-library books come in.  I’m presently #1 of 142 holds for The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom–when I got in line I was around #65.  I’m also #6 of 46 holds for Son by Lois Lowry; I was about #25 when I got in that line, and I’ve had time to reread all three previous books in the quartet while waiting.  Sometimes the library is a little slow about new books…but no matter, they come eventually!

So covers my plans for the next couple of weeks.  What are you reading?

Saturday Snapshot: Teatime

On By cherylmahoneyIn Saturday Snapshot20 Comments

It’s raining all this weekend.  I thought about sharing rain pictures, but found out that it’s not so easy to photograph rain.  But rain makes me want to curl up somewhere cozy and drink tea, so I thought I’d share tea pictures–particularly fun tea pictures, from my London trip.

Tea at the Orangerie (4)This is the Orangerie in Kensington Gardens.  If you’re ever there, it’s off the Broad Walk near Kensington Palace.  They’re known for their excellent afternoon teas–two different friends who had lived in London recommended them to me!

Tea at the Orangerie (5)

This was my experience of tea–not actually the fancy version, which they serve on a pretty tiered tray and has cakes and sandwiches and enormous amounts of food.  But I wasn’t that hungry and they kindly let me just have very tasty tea and scones, even though the option wasn’t on the menu.

Tea at the Orangerie (3)

This is the view from the Orangerie’s patio.  Somewhere beyond that path is Kensington Palace.

Tea at the Orangerie (1)I also had breakfast at the Orangerie another day–the eggs tasted better than they look in the picture!  That day I ate inside, and got this picture…

Tea at the Orangerie (2)It’s a beautiful place–and not as busy Sunday mornings as it is for afternoon tea.  If you’re in Kensington Gardens (where you MUST go if you have any interest in Peter Pan), then the Orangerie is an excellent place for a very charming breakfast or tea!

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