Saturday Snapshot: The Unveiling Of The New Bookshelves! SSSQQQUUUEEE!!!!

 

Good morning!    It is the morning of my family gathering here at the house and I am feeling really good!  I have worked hard the last couple of days prepping the house, the deck (which looks awesome!), the garage and yes, the finishing of the book room. 

Now I know a lot of people who would not get excited about book shelves…. but I believe you, fellow book lovers, know how exciting it is to have room to put your books where you can find them and enjoy them.  They look fantastic!  So before I post the pictures know that most of these books are my private collection I have accumulated through the years.  Library book sales, garage sales, ordered on-line and from my local Indy store… these are books that I have either read and loved, want to read, love the author so picked up others by the author… and yes, I admit some are unread and chosen because I love the cover or have heard good things about the book/author.

Ok…. ready?

 

This is the outside of the book room. I pulled two of my cases to the outside and really like the look.

 

Ok before we move into the room I need to explain how we came to have such a space unclaimed in the house.  Originally, this space was two bedrooms.  When we moved here, we added on a master bedroom off the back of the house and finished off the basement and put a bedroom down there as well.  Then Al (buddy) made this space his office for our business.  After a couple of years we put an office at the business which is, quite literally, out behind our house.  Al moved all his office things to the new space and I was left with a big space and wondering what to do with it….

for the past 4 years it has held book shelves and my writing tools…

and now…

 

If you open the doors and look immediately to the left, this is what you see.

This is the left corner – these are review books, giveaways, and ll my food related books – cook books, memoirs, etc…

This is the left side – right corner if that makes sense and these are all alphabetized by author – upper shelf starts with “A”. These are all my personal books.

 

 

Ok. Standing in that left side and turning completely around – this is the right side of the room. I know, I know… I am so good with descriptions…LOL  Oh yeah, and as I took the picture – Mater walked in.  Hello Mater!

 

This is the close up of the right side and this is the continuation of the alphabet from M – Z.

 

 

This is the right side, right corner. Yes, that is ET. This space currently is used for books I have two of so I remember to do a giveaway when I review them It also hold my Bookies years in Reviews since 2002 and books that have come in this week for the Sunday Salon mention.

This is the right side of the room, left corner. This is where my current reads are, books I am using for research – anything I need to get my hands on quickly. Yes my long suffering copy of Jane Eyre is in this grouping.

This is the 5 remaining book shelves (there is on to the far left as well) in the room that you see when you enter the doors and look directly across the room. They have not been organized yet because I don’t want to eliminate them and need to think of their purpose. Eventually I may try to narrow in down so I can fit in a comfy chair again.

Ok… there it is.  While working on this project 3 bags of books were donated to the library.  4 more bags will be going to my book club for first pick in October and those they do not want I will take and donate to the Friends Of The Library sale.

Thanks you Alyce for hosting Saturday Snapshot where we can post the pictures of our lives.  Stop by Alyce’s spot at At Home With Books and see what other things people are taking pictures of.

I am about to enjoy a beautiful fall day with my relatives.  Maybe, those will be next weeks pictures…

Morning Meanderings: We Are Off To See The Author!!!

 

Good morning.  What a week and it has not ended yet.  I have a full morning and then a friend from Book Club and I are going to the cities to have dinner with Sandra Brannon and then go to her book event at Magers and Quinn Booksellers.  While I am tired now, I suspect as the time draws nearer I will get more and more excited. 

For Saturday Snapshot today I was hoping to have pictures for you of my new and finished book shelves – but no, while the racks are up… the shelves are not.  So… I will show you before and current state… and next week, hopefully the finished look.

One end of the book room before… (do not judge…)

 

 

Another section of the room

 

 

 

After I emptied the room….

 

 

And now, the beginning phases:

I am excited to get the shelves up and start organizing books!   

Ok, final thing this morning…. winners from the BBAW week:

The Gods Of Gotham :  Lindsey from Literary Lindsey!!!

Seconds Away by Harlan Coben audio Elizabeth from Silver’s Reviews!!!

Night Road by Kristin Hannah:  Joys from Joys Book Blog!

and the $15 gift card goes to Karen White!!!

Thanks everyone – winners email me your mailing info (no po boxes please) to journeythroughbooks@gmail.com and I will get those shipped to you this week. 

Morning Meanderings…46 Degrees…. Feels Like Fall

Good morning.  I know many of you are waiting for fall and love the cooler weather but for me…. I already am missing summer.  My house is a little cool this morning as I sit here in the chair with COFFEE CUP and a blanket.

The one good thing about fall is that I suddenly do not wish to go outside in the cool weather so that means more blogging and boy.. do I need that!  Thank goodness Bloggiesta is at the end of this month because I am behind on reviews, challenge updates, and well… everything! 

Life is still busy here.  Tomorrow I am organizing our annual tailgate party for about 250 people at church.  I have a great team of helpers so I am pretty relaxed about it and how it will go.  On Monday I am meeting with the library after work and setting the Banned Book Week window.  Then that evening I have a library meeting.  Tuesday is book club and while I found the book HORRID (oh yeah, I said it….) I have a fun plan for the food.  Wednesday is out Church Annual Meeting, I think I have a good handle on that right now, Thursday is dinner with friends, Friday is out for Al (hubbys) birthday, and Saturday I go to the Cities with some Bookies to have dinner with Sandra Brannan and then attend her book signing.

Yup… life has not slowed down. 

For this mornings Saturday Snapshots (Hello Alyce!!! )  I though I would post some memories from a year ago… I opened up my picture files this morning and looked at last August September and thought it would be fun to reflect on a year ago:

 

Fall 2011: We went riding with friends (hubby in picture)

 

 

Fall 2011: Brad was home for two weeks from the Navy!

 

 

My friend Amy and I had finished our first mud run – The Warrior Dash

 

 

We took a trip to the North Shore!

 

Stop by At Home With Books to see other participants of Saturday Snapshot.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday!  Doing anything fun today?

 

 

Morning Meanderings… A Recap Of My Week At Camp Benedict

This is my first morning since this past Monday that I will not be hearing “Good Morning Campers!” 

I cam home yesterday from my week at Camp Benedict, a camp for adults, children, and families dealing with AIDS.  Camp Benedict is in the bar just underneath my blog header year around.  If you click on that link, it will tell you my background story and connections to the camp.  This year was my second year at camp and I didn’t think I could be even more impressed on than last year…. but I was.  This week for the Saturday Snapshot (check out Saturday Snapshot at Alyce’s At Home With Books) , I am going to share with you a few pictures from this weeks camp experience:
The camp brings in people from around the state (occasionally beyond) for a week of connecting, sharing, and education.  My friend Connie who organizes the camp offers this week to the campers for free.  You read that right.  She does not want the cost to be a burden to anyone so the money we raise at the spring benefit dinner and then the summer CCB ride, all goes to support the camp and pay for the week.  And… it is a nice week.

 

 

The camp is beautiful – right on the lake with education each morning and evening, and afternoon free time activities like horse back riding, swimming, pontoon rides, tubing, and more. 

 

Morning Exercise and meditation with the ball

 

On Tuesday morning we were all lead in a group exercise session using the ball. This was a lot of fun and it was exciting to see everyone give it a try.  Some of the moves were basic stretches and some more advanced.  We ended the session with a time of meditation, relaxing laying back and reflecting.  Many people mentioned how much they enjoyed this.  I personally love working out on the ball and I picked up a few new tips to try at home.

 

Meal prayer

Before every meal we are led by Camp Staff (and occasionally a few bonus people) in a prayer.  The prayers are always set to a theme song… this one is said to the Superman tune. 

 

The education classes are wonderful, a speaker came in and talked to us about stigma, an emotional talk where people could share their stories.  We also had a repeat speaker, Bill, who does a wonderful job of sharing the latest information on medication, up and coming information, and the importance of being consistent on the meds.  Another speaker spoke on the companies that can assist you with getting the medication you need, and yet another doctor was there to answer any questions.  There may….. have been a few camp pranks played….. I am not at liberty to say. 

It is always a roller coaster of emotions during the week.  Some moments are sad, and other time we are laughing and on a pontoon on our way to get ice cream at the Dairy Queen.  It is definitely a week I will reflect on throughout the year.  Some of the people have been there before, and some are new… and for the new ones, it is amazing to watch them blossom throughout the week as they feel the acceptance of the camp and make connections to keep themselves healthy and to new friends as well.  In the past two years that I have went to this camp I have left with old friendships being stronger, and new ones being developed. 

 

Tailgate Party!

Mid week we have a tailgate party where people who live around the lake and the camp come and grill for us.  Our weather this week was perfect! 

Camp K staff doing their typical good bye at the end of the week!

Connie and I at the CCB Ride this year.

Of course… the final day is bitter-sweet.  It is always hard to say good-bye hoping you will see people next year.  The people who go to camp are amazing people.  If you want to know more about this amazing camp, please check out the website here:  Camp Benedict.org  and my original connection to the camp is posted here:  My connection to Camp Benedict.

The bus leaving at the end of the week.

Today hubby and I are heading to the Minnesota State Fair.  We have not been there in years so this should be an experience. 

Morning Meanderings… What I Learned by WorkingThe Book Sale

Good morning!

Yesterday I spent my whole day volunteering for our Friends Of The Library Book Sale.  I was really excited to do it having for years been a part of the other side of it… waiting outside for the doors to open, rushing in and working my way through all the people to find just the right books for 50 cents a piece, supporting my local library and supporting my reading habit. 

I eagerly started my shift at 8 am, my job at that time was to go through all the books on the tables, add books from the boxes underneath the tables if there was room, and make sure there are no trip hazards.  When the doors opened at 9:00 am and the people started coming in I was surprised to see it was a slow trickle.  My morning started out by offering to take people’s books from them to the front and bag them if they had a huge handful and filling in book gaps to keep all the books standing upright and pretty.  As it became late morning the traffic at the sale became more steady and I found myself having a lot of fun looking for books for people, or subjects, and answering bookish questions.  Here are some of the things that I was asked:

Do you have any books on WWII?  (we did)

 

Where are your books on the Renaissance era?  (nowhere that I knew of)

 

Do you have Jodi Picoult?  (we did)

 

Do you have Stephen King’s The Dome?  (we did not)

 

Where do all the books come from?  (people donate them to friends of the library for the sale)

 

Do you have to read the Sue Grafton Books in order?  IE. A Is For Alibi, B is For Burglar, C Is For Corpse…  (I had never read Grafton but was familiar with the series and told the lady that I did not believe you would have to read them in order as Sue Grafton was now on “W” and I think that would deter new readers if they thought they had to start at “A” and work their way to “W”.  However, I told the woman I would “phone a friend” (I don’t think she got my humor) and ask the ladies at the check out table.  They informed me that while the series has to do with the same Private Investigator Kinsey Milhone,  you did not have to read the books in order.

 

 

There were a few other fun tidbits of information I picked up by walking the books of the sale for 11 hours…

Author who had the most books there:  Danielle Steele (there were boxes and boxes of paperbacks and hardcovers)

 

The book we had the most copies of for sale:  Dan Brown’s The Davinchi Code in hard cover.  There were 10 of them.  I strategically placed them throughout the books hoping to entice someone, I think when I left last night they were still all there. 

 

Author asked for the most?  Stephen King

 

There were 12,000+ books at this sale.

 

For Alyce’s Saturday Snapshot this week,  if you seen my post yesterday morning, I did purchase books at the sale on Thursday:

and yes, you guessed right, there was no way I worked a book sale for 11 hours and walked out with nothing… here are my finds from Friday:

 

The Ella Minnow Pea book was a book mentioned to me by my roommate from BEA this year, Gail from Ticket To Anywhere.  I was fascinated about the book and THRILLED when I found not one, but two copies of it at the sale – both pictured above.  I plan to use this book in a way during my beloved Banned Book Week that will take place September 30 – Oct 6.

When my shift was over at the book sale I was sad to go, I really had a lot of fun talking books with people, answering questions and just being in an environment surrounded by books and bookish people. 

Be sure to stop by At Home With Books and see other participants in the Saturday Snapshot meme. 

Have a super day, my hubby and I are looking for a vehicle today, hoping we can do this quickly and painlessly…. and then my Saturday is open and I am glad.  I am a little tired out today and could use a day with a little book time. 

Morning Meanderings…. Late,but posting anyway

Good morning!  I am currently in Wisconsin getting ready for the Muckruckus which we will do at 11:30 this morning.  Funny enough, where we went to eat last night had a poster on the wall advertising a book sale in Hammond Wisconsin so……. we are going to stop by there before we go to the Muckruckus…. yup, that is how we roll.

 

Ok… the above paragraph is no longer true.  I STARTED to write this post YESTERDAY morning in Wisconsin and it was taking SO long to upload pictures I could walk away from my computer, have some coffee and come back and still wait.    With two other girls waiting for me so we could get moving… I had to give up… however, since I did have something I wanted to say for Alyce’s Saturday Snapshots, I still am posting…. as well as ending with a little Sunday Salon.

 

For this mornings Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Alyce from AT Home With Books, I wanted to post some pics from last weekends (August 4 and 5) Camp Benedict Bike ride…. I biked 104 miles day one (My first 100 (Century) in a day)… and I biked 75 the next day.  It was wonderful weather and wonderful people to hang out with!

The Riders!

Left: Sheila, Me, Belinda

LUNCH TIME – day one!

After day one… riding 104 miles (the most miles I have EVER rode in one day)… we thought this would be a funny picture

The shirt I wore day two….

At the end of day two, Me, Connie, Belinda, and Sheila

Two gorgeous riding days, 173 miles combined…. I wish this ride was more than once a year!  LOVE this ride.  LOVE the people who ride it. 

Ok, now for the Sunday Salon…
Yesterday, as I mentioned above, I was in Wisconsin for the Mudruckus (which,I am pretty sore from but that is a different story….)  We drove there on Friday and went out to dinner Friday evening.  AT the restaurant we ate at they advertised a book sale in Hammond Wisconsin on Saturday… about 24 miles away from where we were staying… AND in the opposite direction from where we needed to go.

Did I mention the two girls I was with are both from my book club?

SO yup, we traveled the 24 miles in the wrong direction for our event early Saturday morning so we could check out there book sale.  While not an overly impressive one (mainly older titles), they were still 50 cents a book and I walked out with these treasures:

Turns out they were 12 for $3.00 (top two are movies, and the right side one is audio. )  I paid $4.00 for the stack.

Later this week, I am getting new books shelves in the book room.  It will be a huge project to empty that room out, but I think the ending results will be wonderful and give me a home for all my books as well as help me get organized.  When all is said and done I am pretty sure I will have a nice pile to donate to the library.  I will be documenting the “before, during, and after as well.

Today, I will be laying low.  After a slide into mud yesterday during the Mudruckus I landed so hard on a rock it took my breath away and I am still hurting.  I think I am just bruised with a capital “B”.  At least I am able to sit a little more comfortably today. 

Morning Meanderings… A Weekend Up in North Minnesota

Good morning!    I have a brief amount of time here this morning as I type this I am in full bike gear, my bike is loaded on the back of the jeep, I am packed and ready to go out and bike the 150 mile ride this weekend for Camp Benedict.  SO far, the weather is overcast but dry (fingers crossed!) It has called for storms today and we biked last year in storms that first day and well… I really would rather not

 

Last weekend I went to the North Shore and stayed at our cabin with my Cousins wife Rhonda, and friends Belinda and Sheila.  We had wonderful weather and a lot of fun.  We biked the Gitchingama trail and I forgot to take my camera…. yup, left it right on the counter in the cabin kitchen.  Here are a few shots I did get throughout the weekend though:

 

Left back: Belinda (front) Sheila, Right back: Rhonda, (front) Sheila -me!

 

Hanging out by a fire in Two Harbors Minnesota at the Viking Legend

 

Sheila, Rhonda, and Belinda by the fire

 

 

My morning reading material… on the deck of the cabin.

Bikes in the cabin overnight

 

Wild Flowers!

 

Thats it – I am off, a review up later today and then I will be back tomorrow later afternoon with the review of the book I am taking with me!    Connect with Alyce at At Home With Books for your own Saturday Snapshots, and to see others as well! Have a great weekend you all!  I hope to pop in and see you when I return.

Morning Meanderings… A Few Things From The Yard

Hi all — I am up North today and the first part of tomorrow… laptop is safely on the kitchen table at home because I have no internet at the cabin so this is a timed post and I am hoping it all worked well and it went live Saturday morning and you are all like “wow… that Sheila, so clever!”  LOL….NOT.

Next week I should have cabin pics for you as I am currently with three good friends and we are biking the Gitchigami trail up by the cabin – yay Rhonda, Sheila, and Belinda!!!

This week however, while mowing I took a couple of pics of the fruit trees in my yard…. first the back story….  in 2001 our home was hit by a tornado.  We lost a good part of our home, our business, and about 40 trees out of our yard.  I am a big time tree lover and the following summer my super great friends of Wal-Mart (Cindy, Heidi, and Sara) all came over, potlucked and each planted two trees for me…. I now have two silver maples, two apple trees and a plum and cherry tree.

Today features one of the apple trees we planted in 2002:

and the plum tree:

I am a huge memory person, LOVE things that have special meaning and surround myself with just that.  These trees and their yearly produce reminds me that even in the worst of events…. life does go on, and friends are always there to lend a helping hand.

I post these pics for the Saturday Snapshot Meme by Alyce at At Home With Books.  Pop in and see what everyone else is taking pictures of

See you tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon.

Morning Meanderings… A Week In Review

Good morning!  Another gorgeous day here in Minnesota and I am excited to get out in it!    This past seven days have been a whirlwind of activity and if you have been around at all this past week you have heard some of this but I thought for Alyce’s Saturday Snapshot I would give you a peek into my “Seven Days Of Past” so you can see why I have not popped into blogs or had much of an online presence….

Last Thursday – Saturday evening I went to our cabin up North with my friend Heidi.

 

Shopping on the North Shore

 

 

My first “really bad for me food but oh so good” after the 16 day cleanse

 

 

My first non water drink in 16 days after the cleanse….. Reward!!!

 

Lake Superior!

 

 

The band we listened to Friday night… Psycho Jane…. and they were really good!

 

Then I went to The Minnesota State Fair Grounds on Sunday and met my college son Justin and a few friends and we participated in the color run. 

 

Look how lovely we are…. all clean and white….

 

 

During….

 

Justin and I

After!

 

 

Then I came home and we had a family get together to hang out with Brad, Navy son who was going back to the Navy. 

The fam: Left – Justin, Brad, Me, and Al.

On Monday, we rescued and adopted  an abused puppy…. meet Mater, 18 weeks old, part Basset Hound and part Beagle.

Mater – welcome to the family!

Sam and Mater playing on both sides of the sliding glass door.

 

 

Tuesday I was in an 12 hour meeting… no kidding, 9:30 am – 9:30 pm.

Wednesday I worked, had a meeting, and it was my anniversary!

Thursday – first day I have had nothing in the evening in over a week….. hung out at home with the pups. 

Friday garage sales, lawn mowing, an open house, and finally at 8 pm…. home.

Today – I need to do some shopping for tomorrows picnic for 300, help out at IHN tonight (working with the homeless)

Sunday – church picnic and tear down of IHN and move to the next church.  I hope to be completely done with all tasks and commitments by 3 pm.

And that…. Sunday afternoon, will end my craziness for a while *whew* 

 

For other fun pictures and happenings, be sure to go check out Alyce’s Saturday Snapshots post.  Always a good time!

Morning Meanderings… A Dogs Life

 

 

Good morning!  It is Saturday!    Tomorrow I have a 50 mile bike ride in St Joseph MN, a beautiful area to ride bike in and going with my friend Amy so this will be a wonderful time.  The weather should be descent, looks like it could hit 90 tomorrow but partly cloudy so that should help.  Last year we biked this ride and it was over 100 degrees and not a cloud in the sky…. it was a HOT ride….LOL

For my Saturday snapshot today I thought I would post a few pics of Sam, the stray dog we adopted in April.  He is soooo fabulous and quirky…

Bailey and Sam laying together on the deck

Sam, after climbing to the top of the chair, now retreats

Chilling

 

 

I am ready for my close up….

 

I have posted this one before, but it is soooo funny.

It has been a long hard day…

 

SO that is Sam.  Stop by and see Alyce at At Home With Books for Saturday Snapshot and see what everyone else has been taking pictures of!  I am off to have my bike checked out for tomorrows ride and then a bike ride to get warmed up for tomorrow.  I will be back later as I am behind on a couple posts I need to write up (the survey one and the April, May, June, recap) as well as three reviews.  These are my goals for today…. oh, and a little reading too