Check out this morning's harvest!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Oh. My. Garden.
The garden is in full bloom...of veggies that is. (click on the first pic) Look how tall my neighbor's sunflowers are.
I'm talking like 8-10 feet!
This little bunny was about 3 feet away when I noticed him inside the fence. By the time I got to the camera he ran out, but it showed me his escape hole in our fence. So, I was able to patch/block his way in for next time.
Because I have to protect these precious tomatoes!
This year, I have cherry,
roma,
and big boy tomatoes.
And by big boy they must mean big, perfectly round tomatoes...because they are. But it must also mean, the plant gets so dag gum huge that no amount of poles or tomato stakes will hold this plant up. It continues to grow so yay for me!
The green peppers are slow growing but I have confidence.
The cucumbers, however are another story. Mine are so yellow and puny. I have harvested a couple but they are fat and short.
Cristina's cucumbers are green and luscious. I don't know what went wrong on my side. They get watered the same amount and are about 7 feet apart inside our fence.
The corn is also not doing so well. But that could be from neglect. We decided to share this year and neither of us has the energy to de-weed this plot again. The corn is short and yellowish. Though I did see some ears today, I doubt we will get more than a handful.
But we don't let the corn get us down. Because we have had many great harvests lately!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Book Review!
Its summer reading time! I know, I know. In high school, all I could do was roll my eyes and give a big sigh of frustration at the thought of summer reading. But that was because they made us read things like The Old Man And The Sea. Snooze fest! Its like watching Clint Eastwood in The Bridges Of Madison County...only longer.
Now that I can choose my own syllabus, reading is much more enjoyable. In fact, I have been on a roll lately. I read 8 books in the past month! It really has cut into my tv watching time. And the house is not exactly up to my standards as far as cleanliness goes. But I couldn't but the darn things down! So, I wanted to give you a list of good reads just in case you were looking for a good book. Especially since most of these are being made into movies in the near future.
I have really been into these dystopian earth novels lately. The Hunger Games was a huge hit for me... and the rest of the planet, and there a lot more books out there with the same "what happens when the world starts to crumble" type theme.
First up my favorite read of the summer.
Divergent-
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
This is a trilogy. Insurgent is just as good as the first book and Allegiant will be out this fall. I can't wait. The movie is set to come out in 2014. They haven't released the trailer yet but as far as the cast goes, they picked a super cute hunk to play Four. I couldn't tear myself away from this story. The main character is a strong female who is brave and stands up for herself and her friends. I also liked the fact that there was a specific love interest...not a love triangle. The author describes things beautifully and you feel like you are there. If you feel like this post is too long and take nothing else from this...know that this one, out of all is the most worth reading.
Second,
Enders Game-
In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut--young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.
Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers, Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.
Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If the world survives, that is.
This book is a little older and could be considered somewhat of a classic. I totally felt for this kid the whole way through the story. He never really had a choice and strives to excel anyway. This film is set to release Nov. 2013 with a star filled cast including Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, and Abigail Breslin.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1731141/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Third,
The Darkest Minds-
Fourth,
The Maze Runner-
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
This book was great and slightly frustrating at the same time. Since you follow Thomas through the whole story, you know just as much as he does. Which is nothing. Reading this book is like watching Lost. You have no idea what is going on, but you can't tear yourself away until you get answers. I am currently reading the second book, The Scorch Trials, and the author has somehow given me all the answers to the first novel but keeps me completely in the dark now that I have moved onto the second. Though I care about what happens to Thomas, 60% of the reason I am still reading is because I have to know the secrets that are being kept from me. Maze Runner the movie is set to release some time around Feb 2014.
Fifth,
The Mortal Instruments-City Of Bones-
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .
This book has nothing to do with the dystopian theme I have been sticking to lately but the movie is coming out soon (Aug. 2013) so I had to read this....and the other 4 novels that are in this series. (one more will follow some time next year) I thought this book was interesting from the start because the "shadowhunters" are super humans created by angels to help police and rid the world of demons. The love story in this novel/series is serious. I'm talking Twilight serious. The huge difference is that Clary is much stronger and way more brave than Bella ever thought of being. So she is worth respect. And though Jace has been perfectly casted in the film, the only question I have is...Where is Clary's famously red hair?? Oh well, the trailer still looks interesting.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1538403/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
*all book descriptions came from Amazon.com
Now that I can choose my own syllabus, reading is much more enjoyable. In fact, I have been on a roll lately. I read 8 books in the past month! It really has cut into my tv watching time. And the house is not exactly up to my standards as far as cleanliness goes. But I couldn't but the darn things down! So, I wanted to give you a list of good reads just in case you were looking for a good book. Especially since most of these are being made into movies in the near future.
I have really been into these dystopian earth novels lately. The Hunger Games was a huge hit for me... and the rest of the planet, and there a lot more books out there with the same "what happens when the world starts to crumble" type theme.
First up my favorite read of the summer.
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
This is a trilogy. Insurgent is just as good as the first book and Allegiant will be out this fall. I can't wait. The movie is set to come out in 2014. They haven't released the trailer yet but as far as the cast goes, they picked a super cute hunk to play Four. I couldn't tear myself away from this story. The main character is a strong female who is brave and stands up for herself and her friends. I also liked the fact that there was a specific love interest...not a love triangle. The author describes things beautifully and you feel like you are there. If you feel like this post is too long and take nothing else from this...know that this one, out of all is the most worth reading.
Second,
In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut--young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.
Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers, Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.
Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If the world survives, that is.
This book is a little older and could be considered somewhat of a classic. I totally felt for this kid the whole way through the story. He never really had a choice and strives to excel anyway. This film is set to release Nov. 2013 with a star filled cast including Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, and Abigail Breslin.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1731141/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Third,
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her
had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the
garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal
government 'rehabilitation camp.' She might have survived the mysterious disease
that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged
with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control. Now
sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby
barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find
the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids
who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby.
But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not
after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is
as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at
work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.
Spoiler alert* psychic/telekinetic powers is the "mysterious disease" that this generation of kids is developing. What amazes me about this book is how scared the adults are of these children. You really feel for the kids and can't believe that their parents...and the world aren't even giving them a chance. The author does a great job at describing the surroundings to the point that you can picture every detail. And though there are some heart pumping and heart breaking parts of this story, the author still manages to make you laugh out loud with certain characters that she has created. The second book comes out Oct. 15th. I have pre-ordered.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
This book was great and slightly frustrating at the same time. Since you follow Thomas through the whole story, you know just as much as he does. Which is nothing. Reading this book is like watching Lost. You have no idea what is going on, but you can't tear yourself away until you get answers. I am currently reading the second book, The Scorch Trials, and the author has somehow given me all the answers to the first novel but keeps me completely in the dark now that I have moved onto the second. Though I care about what happens to Thomas, 60% of the reason I am still reading is because I have to know the secrets that are being kept from me. Maze Runner the movie is set to release some time around Feb 2014.
Fifth,
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .
This book has nothing to do with the dystopian theme I have been sticking to lately but the movie is coming out soon (Aug. 2013) so I had to read this....and the other 4 novels that are in this series. (one more will follow some time next year) I thought this book was interesting from the start because the "shadowhunters" are super humans created by angels to help police and rid the world of demons. The love story in this novel/series is serious. I'm talking Twilight serious. The huge difference is that Clary is much stronger and way more brave than Bella ever thought of being. So she is worth respect. And though Jace has been perfectly casted in the film, the only question I have is...Where is Clary's famously red hair?? Oh well, the trailer still looks interesting.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1538403/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
*all book descriptions came from Amazon.com
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