I absolutely endorse this book for anyone who wants to, or does move out to the country. There is so much I could relate to even though the author is in Pennsylvania and I in Tasmania. A timely read for me as we are 9 days from moving to our 35 acres…10/10
OMG ! Breathtaking. A young girl’s story of her life through the holocaust ! Livia Bitton-Jackson writes so well. This is actually a book for teens, but also for adults.
WARNING !
Get the tissues, it got me right at the end when a child in a cattle truck says ” mummy ’ and then dies. Shi* that’s some strong imagery and truth there,10 out of 10.
I really enjoy this writer, I feel attuned to him. He isn’t big headed or boastful, but is so honest with what he writes. I loved this book. 10 out of 10. I begun to read it the day after we put an offer in on the house ( farm ) we will are going to buy and his words basically consolidated what I needed to hear, that we are doing the right thing. He was like a counsellor without even knowing it. I love this man’s work.
Not to be confused with the book of the same name by John Edward, this is the story of a lady running away from her Amish roots. I quite enjoyed it but felt it lacked real depth. She wrote in a fairly superficial way I thought, would have appreciated more information on her upbringing prior to leaving the order. 6/10
Ok, I began by loving this book, but by the end I found it boring and annoying, repeating the same thing over and over. It’s ok, but the amount of typos in it too, not my scene. 5/10
I enjoyed this book too. Lots of common sense ideas for bringing out the inner beauty in all of us, no matter what size we are. I like how Moran writes, she is like a mate you’d have a chat with over a cup of herbal tea. A quickish read too in that she writes in short chapters. Hurrah.
Yet another great book. After the events of 9/11, the author, a Manhatten-ite moves out to a more rural area and finds the small pub/store and Irish family within, many colourful locals and a new place to call home. I am enjoying it !
Yes, another fantastic book. I so related to his need to get away but to also be part of the bigger world too. To find the balance between a monastic like existence and a technological existence is a tricky one, one I am constantly questioning. I loved how he wrote, his story was interesting, and I found him to be a fine non-fictional author. I will read more of his stuff. Thanks Jon, your book rocked. I would love to have a little cabin house atop a mountain too…
We went to the movies on Friday night, Ifan, Morgaine and myself and we went to see Pixar’s latest creation. I love Pixar. I quite enjoyed this film, but what was evident was that Disney had a far more heavy hand in the character creation than John Lassiter…the characters were less Pixar and more Disney, I swear Colette has essence of Pocahontas in her make up. But nonetheless it was enjoyable, even if not up to the standard of Nemo and Toy Story.
Morgaine began to cry when Ratatouille was separated from his father, and we had to assure her it would work out all right. She kept whispering ” but he’s all on his own ”.
It was a great family night. Anytime I get to eat Morty’s noodles is a good night.
Today’s fitness took the style of a rainforest walk. I forget that we have Notley Fern Gorge on our doorstep ( well ten minutes away )that we can visit with total ease. I was puffing pitifully by the end but what I really enjoyed was the silence and stillness and the occasional babbling brook sound. I felt like I was in the middle of a meditation mp3 on my ipod. I will be back at work tomorrow so there I will be back to my morning routine with walking, and to be honest I look forward to that. I have flu symptoms today however and feel extremely ordinary, oh well,
I ‘ll just tell it to go away,
Loved it ! 10/10. Geraldine A Larkin, a Zen monk from the US and three others make a pilgrimage to Korea. Infused with Buddhist wisdom, history and diary entries…even gives you a tongue in cheek look at how to make your tea ceremony last three hours without giving the impression you are a little bored. So good, I went and bought three more of her books from Amazon.
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
I wanted to love this book, I did love the cover and the style. But the content seemed to say the same thing over and over again. I was very bored by it, but as I have this silly rule that once I get well into a book I have to finish it, I did so. I didn’t feel an ambience or anything from it at all. Disappointing.
We are always getting ready to live, but never living.
How true is this ? We are always thinking ” ooh when I ” or ” I can’t wait for ”, or ’ it’d be so much better if/when….” etc etc etc.
So take time today to simply observe what you are doing in the now, not what you should do in an hour, a day, a week…or perhaps try to do just one thing at once. Even as I type this, I am eating my breakfast, thinking about the cleaning I need to do…and so many times it crosses my mind that ” if only I …..” life would be right.
The truth is, life is perfect now. It is as it should be, the rought, the smooth, the downright annoying, it’s all as it is meant to be…so live now.
Oh and I will take a leaf out of my own preaching too, promise.
Aside from some walking, last night I had the pleasure of dancing at the Princess Theatre dressed as a very large person, in a fat suit, with a leopard skin cardy, tartan high boots and a black skirt. My make up was decidedly gothic, and I felt like I was 14 all over again ( at least make-up wise ). I was soooooo knackered after the dance finished (I didn’t do it alone, we were a troupe of mothers from the dance school ) and also the last act of the night. I was still puffing many minutes afterwards. It’s hard carrying all that fake foam fat around.
I will post the official picture once I purchase it from the dance shop in town.
By Catherine Goldhammer. I am really enjoying this. The true story of a lady who after her divorce moves from a hooty-snooty area, to a ramshackle place by the sea with her 12 year old daughter. Chickens abound….brilliant.
So this is great. My stomach feels no bloat, I am very active in the elimination area, and I just feel so much cleaner already. The one thing I think doesn’t do me any favours, bloatwise is bread. I love bread, especially Beaconsfield bread, which is THE best bread you will ever find on the planet, even better than stuff from “Trader Joes” in the US. But, having eliminated it for the past couple of days, there is a noticeable difference with how the old gut feels.
I have only had one lesson so far, and have two scheduled for next week. Last time I was so sore and for three days the soreness got worse, until ut became downright painful. It just went to show how, despite all my daily walking, I was not fit at all, not bendy, just creaky. Still that’s half the challenge isn’t it ? To move from one state to another, especially an improved one.
Ok I have read it lots of times, but just to break from the book I am currently reading, I did read this one last night. The way I feel about it changes every time I read it however. 8/10.
Love Pie
A couple of days before you want to eat it, freeze a blended mix of sieved flax/almond milk, mango and ripe banana in a heart shaped cake tin lined with cling film. About half an hour before the meal is going to start, take the base out of the tin and put it on a plate.
Then place thin slices of strawberries on top, layered on each other like feathers.Take a strip of dried mango and cut it into really thin slithers and make a swirly pattern on top of the strawberries with it. The cream is made with soaked brazil nuts, normal dates or raw agave nectar, water and raw sunflower oil -- blended very heavily with a hand blender (wand).Then you can add some young lemon balm leaves to the top of the heart,these are refreshing to eat in between mouthfuls.
