words spilling off the page

I've been reading a lot lately, which is one of my passions.

I just recently finished 2 books which I absolutely loved.

The first was Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. This is such a humble account of what could have turned to be a very self-righteous endeavor: her family living a whole year eating only local food or that which they produced themselves. They had a few exceptions, for example, coffee and organic whole wheat to make their homemade bread. Her family sets the goal, and accomplishes it well, growing closer together and learning about the effort it takes to grow food in a sustainable way. Kingsolver helps you to feel part of the undertaking, sharing stories about her adventures with livestock (chickens and turkeys!), the monotony yet joy of pulling weeds, and watching the kaleidoscope of colors emerge as her heirloom vegetables bear fruit.

The book really inspired me to want to grow things myself. I am also inspired by the undertaking of promising to eat locally, and hope I can do better. Check it out.

Another book I just finished that really warmed my heart (and was almost impossible to put down!) was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It's a retelling of the book of Hosea, set in the 1850s in the gold rush in California. Angel, a prostitute from childhood is whisked away from bondage by Michael Hosea who marries her. The story alternates between breath-taking and heartbreaking as Angel goes in and out of bondage. I found myself identifying with several of the characters: Paul, Michael's friend who is self-righteous and wrongly judges Angel; Angel, who can't ever imagine herself as worthy and who goes back to her old life and way of thinking as a dog returns to vomit (Prov 26:11); and Michael, who loves unconditionally, but still sees the need for grace and forgiveness in his life. I hope someday to be able to feel the inner guiding of God's Holy Spirit as clearly as Michael Hosea does.

I wasn't always impressed with Rivers' writing in this book, but I heard it's not her best as far as writing goes. I think I'll have to check out her Mark of the Lion series. If you want a story that so clearly shows God's redeeming love, this is a must-read!

may photographic inspiration

This is a photo by an acquaintance of mine, Lindsey Vinson. I think it was taken by a film SLR. I love the soft light and the short depth of field.
This photo is awesome because of the coloring, and it's a great action shot! It really makes me want to put on some floaties and jump in the pool right after her!
This was taken by another acquaintance of mine, Elizabeth Davis. I love this family, the Harlachers! This is Audrey and her baby sister Natalie. Natalie is probably the happiest baby I've ever seen. Check out Elizabeth Davis Photography.

new music to check out

There are a couple of new albums coming out that I would like to hear more of. This is a debut album coming out for Sleigh Bells called Treats. They use a lot of feedback and buzz with their dance-pop sound. I really liked their song "Crown on the Ground", and there are more songs that have come out on the interwebs recently, like "Tell 'Em". Their album comes out May 11, 2010.

I have not been the hugest fan of The National when I first heard of them in 2007, but having heard some of their album High Violet which comes out this month, I think I'm interested in giving them another try. The New York Times ran an article on them, and at this point is streaming some of their music: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/magazine/25national-t.html

Also, a lady that writes for a blog I love to follow http://theblisslist.typepad.com/blisslist LOVES The National, so I had to give them a fair shot. High Violet will also be released May 11.

photographic inspiration

I was searching the net, and I was feeling inspired by photography.

This photo of mother and baby is so SWEET! I love the natural light streaming through the window.

Courtesy of A Cup of Jo and Keith Davis Young




I love the subdued colors of the last 2 photos. I wonder if it was a different type of photography that this blogger used...lomography? It produces this same kind of coloring affect. But it might just be something that can be created in Photo shop.

Courtesy of Freckle Farm


More inspiration to come...

Book List, 2010

Books about God
Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster
See Yourself as God Sees You, Josh McDowell
The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonheoffer
Girl Meets God, Lauren Winner
The Reason for God, Tim Keller
Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton
With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray
Searching for God Knows What, Donald Miller
Traveling Mercies, Anne Lamott

Popular Culture
The Narcissism Epidemic, Jean Twenge & Keith Campbell
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver
Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser
Hope's Edge, Francis Moore Lappé
This Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved, Sandor Katz
In Praise of Slowness, Carl Honore
Guyland, Michael Kimmel
Disposable People, Kevin Bales

History/Culture
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families, Philip Gourevich
India After Gandhi, Ramachandra Guha
A People's History of the United States, Howard Zinn

Biography/Memoir
Dry, Augusten Burroughs
Things I've Been Silent About, Azar Nafisi
My Life in France, Julia Child

Travel Writing
I'm a Stranger Here Myself, Bill Bryson

Essay
A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf
Armageddon in Retrospect, Kurt Vonnegut

Poetry
Babel, Barbara Hamby
Lira Mistica, Santa Teresa y San Juan de la Cruz

Literature
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
Everything is Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer
The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Díaz
Unaccustomed Earth, Jhumpa Lahiri
Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte
The Autograph Man, Zadie Smith
The Innocent, Ian McEwan
Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Michael Chabon
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
Everything That Rises Must Converge, Flannery O'Connor
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon

Books Read, 2009

Reading Lolita in Tehran, Azar Nafisi
Invitation to a Beheading, Vladimir Nabokov
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Grace (Eventually), Anne Lamott
Just Courage, Gary Haugen
Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell
Amsterdam, Ian McEwan
Daisy Miller, Henry James
White Teeth, Zadie Smith
Mansfield Park, Jane Austin
A Plea for the Poor, John Woolman
Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie
Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert
Sailing Alone Around the Room, Billy Collins
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
When Engulfed in Flames, David Sedaris
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkein
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, Dai Sijie
Affluenza, John De Graaf
A Long Way Gone, Ismael Baeh
Watership Down, Richard Adams
Financial Peace, Dave Ramsey
In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan
How to Succeed at Being Yourself, Joyce Meyer
Good News About Injustice, Gary Haugen
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

hilarity in NZ

so my friend Lauren and her friend Camden are in New Zealand to work on an organic farm. i received an email from Lauren detailing some of the adventures they've had so far. i am including two of them here:

Day 2 of Journey, By Camden

Able Tasmen Hike--full of danger, back pain, flushing toilets and baby seals. Some call it the hike of pain. Only manly amounts of endorphines or chocolate will save the wayward hiker. It is here that men become Mormon and woman become Quakers. Here we find The Lauren and A Camden, wandering, in a manner similar to Gollum or well worn pack mules, through the nature infested wilderness. They came and they got conquered. Beaten by Poseidon's tide and balls (in the form of shells); ignoring all warnings and advise from the local New Zealand sages--the Americans knew better. They crossed the low tide route during high tide. First the water was at their ankles, so they took off their shoes. Then it was at their knees so they rolled up their knickers. Then up to the waist....and they gave up. Their future children got cold at that crossing. With puddles in their panties the survivors continued on. Wet clothes and a ruined camera.

The Panties Boy, By Lauren Stafford

I was awake at the arrival of knife girl, but unaware of her dangerous gang weapons in the room. I thought Camden got out of her bed and sat so gingerly on my bed. But in fact it was not a Camden but a German boy who was in his panties. He tried to get under the covers (as most boys do) of the Lauren's bed. That's when I spoke with all my early morning vigor and authority, "I think your bed is over there." He complained about my words in his mother tongue & decided to put on more clothes in the closet door. Then I heard water sounds abounding from the closet--it reminded me of my time in Asia spent in peaceful Buddhist temples with spotted fish and gongs. After the zen-like stream ended, there were sounds of struggle and strife with the sliding closest door. But after the epic (almost lost) battle to such man-made hindrances, the drunk German found the bed he had been assigned.