View from the front window

For Kristin and Kerrie and all the other vacationers this week that went someplace warm.

Here's what you're missing today! :)

Enjoy the sun.

Snow?

Do you think winter is over for the year?

I am getting worried that we won't get anymore significant snow fall.

There is still a lot of sledding and snowman making left to do.

<sigh>

Finished

A few weeks back I did a post about the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon.

Last week I finished them.

All 6,944 pages worth.

I gave myself a week to decompress and get some coherent thoughts together to give a review.

Honestly I am still having a hard time trying to sum up almost 7000 pages of story.

My first impression was that it was EPIC.

I still believe that.... maybe even more so.

I am not going to give specific details or plot lines. 

If you are interested  you can go to the above links to get more info.

 Also I don't want to spoil it for you.

The series as a whole is fantastic. There are though certain parts and story lines that I could have done without. The first book, Outlander, is the best. Once you get about 120 pages into the story it's captivating. I simply could not put it down until it was finished which was about a day and half later. You will absolutely fall in love with the characters and their lives.

Dragonfly in Amber is good as well but different. This book took me twice as long to get through only because it was filled with lots of details. Lots of details that you had to pay attention to and understand in order to understand the twists and turns of the story. Complicated politics of 18th century Scotland, France, and England. That then brings us into Voyager. The first half of the book is great. Moves right along and is interesting. The second half of the book is where I started to loose focus. It was long, drawn out unnecessary plot line.

I was pushed through by my Outlander mentor and friend, Kerrie, to continue.... she assured me that it would be worth it. She was right! Drums of Autumn was really good. The characters now finding themselves in Colonial America before the revolution. Lots of new characters were introduced and the pace picked back up a bit. I did feel as though I could relate a little bit better because of the Colonial American setting. That brings us to the Fiery Cross. Out of all the books, this was my least favorite. I had to really push myself through this one. Again, having Kerrie motivate me on to finish. In retrospect this book is simply a stepping stone for the next. Which leaves us at A Breath of Snow and Ashes. I found myself back into the swing of things. Captivated once again. Emotional story lines that left me teary eyed a few times.

~

The entire time I was reading the last book. I couldn't wait to go back and reread the first. It's somewhat overwhelming to think about where it starts and where it ends and everything in between. Yesterday I sat down and reread my favorite parts of Outlander and fell in love even more. Jamie and Claire Fraser are a permanent part of me now. 

As Kerrie says,"... they're family. I reread the books from time to time to visit with them again."

~

I said it before and I'll say it again....

this series requires commitment. You have to be willing to go through the sometimes mundane to get to the reward of the overall greatness of the story. You have to be prepared for an author that has a lot to say and will paint every single detail for you. (Sometimes topics you'd wish you didn't see so clearly.) But her research into 18th century life is incredible and fascinating. Another valuable entity to the story.

 

But in saying that, Outlander, on it's own is a wonderful story and can stand alone if need be.

I have to say that Outlander is one of my favorite books I have ever read.

A seventh book, Echo of the Bone, is due out in September '09 sometime. I anxiously await the next installment. In the meantime there are spin off novels by the same author pertaining to a popular character in the series. 

Do I recommend this book? Yes.

Will I read it again? Yes. (Just not right away ;)

Thanks Kerrie. :)

Happy Valentine's Day.

I think I am a member of a small, underground minority of women that really, truly don't care about this holiday. Brian is soooo lucky he married me because no one can ever accuse him of being romantic. He is off the hook, big time, with Valentine nonsense.

I was walking through Wegmans yesterday and noticed the flower department. 

It was very beautifully stocked with masses of red roses.

Red roses that cost 3 or 4 times what they did last week.

My children both had their Valentine's parties for school yesterday.

I believe that Valentine's Day is now a 2nd Halloween with all the candy and sugar they came home with. They were on sugar highs the ENTIRE day.

And what about all the people that don't have a "Valentine" but desperately want one. Or even worse, the people who have lost the love of their lives.

This, in some respects, can be a very cruel day.

It's not that I am being cynical about love.

I'm not.

I am in love with my valentine.

I am just quietly complaining and venting about this day.

Quietly because even though I don't care for it I still find myself playing the game.

I get sucked in.

I start to second guess myself and start thinking....

"If I don't get him anything does that make me a bad wife?"

"Well, so and so's husband did something so nice and thoughtful, mine didn't do anything... what does that mean???"

"Was this the first card he picked up or did he read through several and this one meant the most?" (Haha... I always love that thought, I always already know the answer.)

"Am I going to hurt his feelings if I don't get him anything?"

....and so on and so on.

Foolishness. Pure foolishness.

But that's what happens.

The pressure to prove to everyone else that you are happy and in love.

I find it much more meaningful for flowers, genuine "I love you's", a dinner out (without kids), or kisses on a random day... an unexpected day. 

So, Brian... I have declared it to the world that 

you are officially off the hook with this wretched holiday.

I won't second guess or question.

Promise. 

BUT...

...if you decide to show up with a puppy I'll really know how much you love me!

:)

P.S. For all of you that adore this day, here's a little Barry White to get you in the mood! ;)

Something like a Hiatus....

Lots of stuff going on these days.

Family in from out of town.

Work.

Schedules.

Birthdays.

A trip to Eagle Bay for some snow fun.

~

Blogging has been at the low end of the priority lists.

But I'm back... for now!

Beth does not like snow. But we forced her out in it anyway. ;)

She made her debut drive on the little snowmobile all by herself.

We took her on Fourth Lake (Eagle Bay) so that she wasn't in danger of hitting anything.

She did rather well but didn't want to do it for very long.

Sam on the other hand is an old pro.

He was outside on Saturday for about 9 or 10 hours.

Completely content... never cold.

He would live outside if we let him.

He told me, when I was tucking him into bed,

"Mom, I'm addicted to snowmobiling."

:)

Our annual trip with The Johnstons was wonderful.

It was McCauley Mountain's 50th anniversary.

Fireworks and sledding was so much fun.

Thanks again.

Running the gauntlet....

Happy Birthday!

I know that I sometimes highlight a specific birthday but if I did that this time I wouldn't have any time to do anything else. We have an incredible amount of birthdays upon us in about a 2 to 3 week time span. So I decided to just combine it all in one post.

Amanda (can't believe she's 17!!!)- January 21

Laura (my sister) - January 24

Grandpa W. - January 25

Danielle (my soul sista) - January 27

Aunt Donna - February 1

Kristin J.(BFF) - February 3

Livvie Lou (the sweetest and shyest niece ever) - February 5

My Mom and my cousin Sarah - February 6

Lisa (hair stylist extraordinaire and my cousin)- February 8

Joe (Brian's Dad) - February 10

Tim - February 11

Brian - February 22

So Happy Birthday one and all!

Love ya!

(click on image to view larger)

Our good friends left for Disney this morning.

Last night they were here for dinner.

We went through my archives of photos from our Disney trip this past May.

 Lots of fun going through them.

I love this one from Beth, it was at our hotel's pool.

I journalized the trip although I had a different forum then.

travel blog

On a cold, blustery day it's nice to look at these warm memories.

Have fun Johnstons!!!