jane eyre

 So maybe I'm totally behind, but there's a new 

Jane Eyre movie coming out this month?!

Thanks to my momma, I have been reading 

and loving this wonderful classic for years, so 

I find myself in that funny spot of being 

simultaneously thrilled for the potential of a 

fabulous new version, and terrified of a 

horrible new version.  Anyone else there too?  

Trailer here if you're curious...

*via

bookworm

I have been an avid John Grisham

fan for years.  I have read all

the books, seen most of the movies,

and even briefly considered becoming 

a lawyer just because he makes 

it sound so darn interesting.

There have been a few misses

in recent years that I haven't enjoyed

as much as the other books, but I just 

finished devouring The Associate and it 

was great.  It read like his early books - 

super engaging and fast paced - and I 

happily powered through it, enjoying 

each word and plot twist.   

There's really nothing like a 

good read, is there?

another use for books

Check out this
super cool Etsy shop...
full of interesting pieces
all made out of books.

I'm not one for destroying
books, but this seems
like the best possible reason
I've seen yet!


*via here

reading.

I have a few books
vying for my attention

(some new, some that I've just
been ignoring for a while)

and this picture makes me
long to go sit under a tree and
start devouring one of them!

What are you reading
these days?


*image via tumblr

amazing.

How great are these built-ins?

I love that they go over the door frame, and think the loose color organization is pretty beautiful.

What do you think about each shelf being the exact same square shape and size? I can't quite decide what I think about that...


*via desire to inspire

weekend end...

So not only is fall here, but it's gorgeous this year.

These colors make my heart sing - aren't they beautiful?


Fall is also a good excuse to bring back the warm, cozy foods...like pea soup!

Definitely made a huge pot of it this weekend, and it was so yummy.

(Thanks, A.K., for lending me your wonderfully roomy kitchen to cook in!)



Twin and I hung out with these goobers on Saturday night. They were fun as always.

(There's nothing like a dog who just wants to cuddle up next to you...)

And fairly patient models - I have probably another twenty pictures like the one below before she got completely aggravated and demanded that I pet her.


And finally, I powered through this book over the course of Sunday.

It was a fun read, and I think the wonderful Miss Abby sums it up best:

"It's like cupcakes - really fun but with no nutritional value."



Ps - only 2 days before we leave for this!!!

Totally Random

This past weekend, as Twin and I were rushing through the grocery store, I felt an urgent need for beauty and impulsively bought 5 kinds of flowers. I'm pretty sure the woman at the checkout through either (a) someone had just had a baby, (b) someone had just died, or (c) I was some kind of a crazy, flower lady.

(Definitely option c, by the way.)

Anyway, I had a great time putting together these great bouquets - 2 for our apartment and 1 for our sweet landlady downstairs. And every single time I walk by them, I'm glad I did. The colors and textures are just stunning, and our house is much more cheerful because of them!



Also, look how cute those little pumpkins are...



Anyone remember my excited blathering about finding this book?

I finished it, and while I didn't love it as much as Flying Changes, it was good. Definitely a little more intense than its sequel, but still an enjoyable read.

You probably shouldn't read it if you're going through any significant life issues, since the entire book is about difficult life issues. Unless you like to feel better by seeing how other people's lives are worse than yours, it might push you over the edge.



So then I immediately picked up her other book, which was completely different in tone, subject matter, and character development. (So um, pretty much everything.)

The writing is a little tricky at the beginning and it took me a little while to get acclimated to what time period things were happening in (there is lots of switching between past & present) but overall I think it was enjoyable.

If you have a tender heart towards animals, this book makes you fiercely love some characters and really hate others...not to mention that you learn lots of pretty sketchy stuff about the old-school circus circuits.


Twin and I are starting to get creative in our food storage...aren't these little mason jars pretty with the dried beans and peas inside?

It very much makes me want to start making more warm and cozy cold-weather meals. Pea soup anyone?

(I'm impressed if you're still reading right now...although I did warn you that this post was totally random, in my defense.)


Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about how lovely Twin was all weekend. It was a super busy grading weekend for her (which you can see above) and yet she was endlessly sweet and patient with me.

I was fighting a nasty cold, trying to work on the message I was teaching at my church, and just generally tired and overwhelmed. She, despite being more than busy enough on her own, took lots of time away from her grading to make me food and listen to my many rough drafts.

Even though I'm sure someone would want to debate this, I would like to assert that I have the best friend out there. Plus she makes a mean cup of hot cocoa...so top that!

a good read...

What is it about a good book?

There's that feeling that wells up inside - pure joy and contentment just bubbling to the top - above everything else going on in life.

I always want to savor that feeling - take my time, and yet on the other hand I love to rush ahead at full speed and devour every last word.



In typical fashion, I picked up this book off a table at Barnes & Noble quite a while ago.

It was a completely random choice, although in my defense (a) it was an attractive cover, (b) there was a horse on the front, and (c) for some reason I just liked the title.

Well, all of those things aside, this book was fabulous. I love the writing style - easy but not over simplified - and I love Sara Gruen's treatment of serious topics in a sincere and unassuming way.

And, to be honest, it was really lovely to read a book about horses. I've always loved horses, but have never had the opportunity to spend too much time riding or caring for one.



So imagine my delight when I realized that this book was actually a sequel - there was another whole book with the same characters and style out there waiting to be devoured!

Granted, it would have been good to figure this out before reading the whole book, but I'm just so glad to have another good read that I'm fine with reading them out of order.

Yesterday I started this one, and right now I'm trying to savor it - fighting that urge to rush through - because it's definitely a good read so far.

I'll keep you posted once I'm finished...


*top image via E Tells Tales