Face Down on an Herbal (#2 in the Lady Appleton series)

by Kathy Lynn Emerson (read Apr 2006)

Click here for book review.

Finding New Eyes

My current "bathroom" book is My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen. Most of the chapters are 2-3 pages - perfect for a brief stay in the 'library'. In a chapter titled, Finding New Eyes, Remen suggests reviewing your day for 15 minutes every evening, asking three questions and writing down the answers. The questions: What surprised me today? What moved me or touched me today? What inspired me today?

A few summers ago I kept a "gratitude journal" where I listed three things everyday (most everyday, anyway) that I was thankful for. It turned out to be one of the best summers of my life. After reading 'Finding New Eyes' I decided I needed to get that journal going again. Maybe revise things so I write one thing I'm grateful for and then answer the three questions Remen suggests.

Remen says it's harder at first but after awhile you start watching for these things and then noticing them when they happen. I know I used to think of millions of things everyday I was grateful for and it was hard to decide which three to mention in my journal. One thing for sure, my life really did seem blissful. So you might ask, Why didn't I keep going? That's a good question!

The Curse of the Pharaohs

by Elizabeth Peters (read Apr 2006)
Reviewed here.

Two New Mystery Series

Recently read two recommended mysteries. From Shaneen's list I read the first in the Kate Shugak mysteries, A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow. It's about an Aluit woman who is an investigator for the Anchorage District Attoney's Office. I'm interested to learn more about Kate and the people she is close to. I especially want to know more about her strained relationship with Jack.

Pam suggested A Body in the Belfry by Katherine Hall Page. Faith Fairchild is an unlikely heroine, but very likeable. She is married to a young minister and has a young baby, but neither stop her from searching for clues to the murder in her small Northeastern town. Here's a quote: "Tom would draw Robert out, unraveling the thread of his discontent, then help him knit it all back up into a more wearable garment."

Both books are the first in their series. Good for carrying in your purse and reading when you have a little snatch of time. I look forward to reading more of these series.

The Jello Belt

Okay so this isn't a book, but I was reading so I think this entry is appropriate for my reading blog. My nephew Ben is really a great guy with a fun personality and a charming smile. I was reading his Furiousblog tonight and found an article about the Jello Belt. WHAT?! Hard to believe but this is an actual entry on Wikipedia.com.

The Jello Belt is a colloquial term in American English that refers to the parts of the Western United States with large populations of "Mormons" (properly called Latter-Day Saints). In academic literature, the area is more commonly called the "Mormon culture region.

The name "Jello Belt" references the affection that Mormons supposedly have for Jell-O (a gelatin-based food), particularly when served with shredded carrots, or blended with canned fruit and set in molds. Green Jell-O, for some reason, is the most stereotypically Mormon of Jell-O flavor-colors. Jell-O has been designated Utah's official state snack food.

And of course, they include the map. So funny!