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Woodland Mist Academy

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Posts posted by Woodland Mist Academy

  1. Skeptic here. Even if I thought it was possible to communicate with the dead thanks-but-no-thanks.

     

    However:

     

    (1) I have close friends who are believers and I do not consider my friends' beliefs to be ridiculous, just different than mine.

    (2) I love visiting and touring cemeteries, especially old ones.

     

     

    ETA: I have never read The Tomten! Must rectify...I just requested it through my library. 

     

    I hope you enjoy The Tomten!

     

    If someone finds comfort and hope in a belief, I find no reason to intervene. As you mention, people have differing belief systems. That said, if someone is being taken advantage of in the midst of grief or is developing unhealthy coping mechanisms, it gets a whole lot trickier. 

     

    I also have a fondness for cemeteries, especially old ones. A deep respect for the reality and finality of death doesn't preclude an understanding of or connection with the myth, rituals, and power that death holds.

     

    A related reference book:  Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography

    • Like 7
  2. No, I don't believe in clairvoyant's. The whole thing just creeps me out and makes me wonder how they got the information about their customers. Yes, beyond skeptical here. ;)

     

     

    Sometimes the whole thing is fake (the "customers" are planted in the audience), sometimes people have filled out questionnaires, sometimes there are hidden microphones, sometimes it's just a knack for cold reading - tossing out lots of information or questions in quick succession until something sticks....  We remember the *hits*, but forget the *misses*...

     

    http://www.skepticreport.com/sr/?p=207

    • Like 6
  3.  

    I finished two books this week:

     

    Ronja Røverdatter (Ronia the Robber's Daughter) by Astrid Lindgren. 

     

    Astrid Lindgren!! The Tomten!  :001_wub:

     

    51Z6H8spdXL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg   91hGGdc4oSL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg  412ZgSmRHHL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg

     

    I'm so glad you mentioned her! It brought back so many memories...  I've been wondering lately why we keep packed away even our favorite books from the younger years. I imagine we would like to look through them on occasion. Such perfect timing with the upcoming holiday season; I should have time to get them out. Thanks!

    • Like 11
  4. Minor subplot, right? Might it be The Shellseekers? I liked that bit, having been in the position of people telling me I would adjust to being away from home when adjusting just wasn't going to happen, so I remember it.

     

    Nan

     

    Eureka! It wasn't The Shell Seekers, but that book led me to it! I didn't have any memory of reading any Rosamonde Pilcher books, but that means nothing. Clearly my memory is the problem here.  ;)   Anyway, I went to Amazon and did a quick search inside and that book wasn't it. But then I saw some of the author's other books and September jumped out at me. I had a flashback of wanting to get it finished in September (years ago) to not mess up my seasonal reads. I did a quick search inside and, sure enough, that's the book! I have no memory of anything else about the book, but the young son running away from boarding school made an impression. 

     

    Thanks to everyone who tried to think of it and special thanks to Nan for sending me to the correct author! 

     

     

    51zBE9T2IrL._SX347_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

    • Like 9
  5.  

    Eta. I just started looking around in Good reads and naturally started with Kate Morton, I have read two, The Lake House and The Forgotten Garden, the only one marked as Want to Read is The Distant Hours with the same cover as in your comparison. The painted one.....told you it made me want to read the book.

     

     

    I looked through an old book journal to see if I could find clues about the book I'm trying to remember. No such luck, but I did read my reviews of The Forgotten Garden and The House at Riverton. At least now I know which other Morton book I read several years ago.

     

     

    • Comfort books ~ I call them brain candy, but the easy books that are your guilty pleasure

     

    That's what I call those types of books too. Coincidentally, in my reviews of the Kate Morton books, I refer to them as brain candy.  I knew they weren't my favorites, but over time I've forgotten how I felt about them when I read them. Mediocre and  brain candy are included in my descriptions. Certain parts of The Forgotten Garden have stayed with me, though. I had forgotten I read The House at Riverton. Maybe that's where my mystery memory of a boarding school subplot is! I tried to use the search inside feature on Amazon to find it. No luck. There are a few other scenes from other books I cannot place. Ah, the mysteries with which one must live!

    • Like 9
  6. 51rs8BG8DIL._AC_UL320_SR212,320_.jpg         71Uo6rXjUzL._AC_UL320_SR206,320_.jpg

     

    Searching (in vain) to find the title of the book I'm looking for, I ran across these two covers. They remind me of choices 2 and 3. Again, I'm drawn to the cover most like the second one upthread (so the first one in this post). 

    Anyone else game for another round of Choose a Cover?  ;)  Do you prefer the counterpart to your choice in the first round? 

    • Like 8
  7. The middle book cover reminded me of some of the older hardback covers of Kate Morton's books, which is one reason I liked it.

     

    51wwAE5J6EL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

     

    Sooo...thinking of Kate Morton's book covers led me to thinking of her books. Then I starting thinking of a subplot in a book and realized I have no idea what book it is from. It's driving me around the bend! I thought it was a Kate Morton book, but I think I've only read The Forgotten Garden and maybe one other, but I don't remember which one. The subplot is not in The Forgotten Garden.  I'm pretty sure the book is another chunkster, though. IIRC, it's a minor subplot and involves a young son being sent to boarding school against the mother's wishes. Eventually he runs away and the headmaster and both parents agree it's not a good fit. This is only a small part of the story, though, and I don't remember any of the rest of the book.

     

    Ring any bells for anyone? Pretty please?

    • Like 7
  8.  

    Related to the discussion about productivity/organization type books, a friend and I are doing a year long Happiness Project challenge. Each month we are going to read a chapter in the book and try to figure out how we would attempt to make ourselves happy following her models.  The first month in her book, which she starts in January, but we've started in November because we're rebels like that, is all about Boosting Energy.  So we have each come up with ways that will hopefully help us boost our energy (physical and mental) and we are endeavouring to put those into place this month.  So far, halfway into the month, I can't say that I have more energy but I am thinking about the things that give me energy more and trying to figure out how to have less energy sucked away from me.

     

    Rubin's habits book discusses starting new projects/goals NOW --not waiting for some ideal start time. Otherwise you might lose interest or never find the *perfect* time to begin. Now is the perfect time. 

    • Like 10
  9. Oh sheesh, I had forgotten about Alexandra Stoddard. I have one of her books; I think I have Creating a Beautiful Home. And I love Simple Abundance! I have almost all of these books in a box far, far away and now I am itching to look through them again.

     

    You were wise to store them. I gave away many books a few moves ago and have had to repurchase some that I missed deeply, even if only for the memories...

    • Like 6
  10. I've been thinking about this and suspect that the title would need to be something along the lines of Rabbit Trails or Just a Minute! I am very easily distracted! I do get my goals done just not always as originally planned......case in point I could put out bunny on the cover. Robin wants titles and I am worrying about cover art! Lol

     

     

     I was already starting to stress about bad reviews, so I didn't even come up with a title!  :zombiechase:

    • Like 8
  11. IIRC, the Sidetracked Home Executives were the inspiration for Flylady. I have also wondered if the Sidetracked Sisters' Happiness File inspired The Happiness Project (which I have not read). I'm old enough that I remember when the Sidetracked Sisters were popular :)

     

    That's my understanding as well-- the "SHE's" were the inspiration for Flylady. 

     

    It does seem each generation has its own gurus. Often I'll read a blog or book and think -- This is just a current version of (insert not so current book here). Not that this phenomenon is anything new. I often have similar thoughts when reading Marcus Aurelius et al. There truly is nothing new under the sun... 

     

    When I was reading The Happiness Project, I thought of Sarah Ban Breathnach's Simple AbundanceRomancing the Ordinaryetc.  I thought of Alexandra Stoddard as well.

    • Like 8
  12. I started a post and then got sidetracked by doing work before posting it. I came back and posted then read the rest of the thread. I see I missed the whole Flylady discussion.

     

    That's very like me to jump into the middle of a discussion with a new idea that was previously discussed. LOL.

     

    Off to google time maps ...

     

    :laugh:

    • Like 4
  13. Time Management from the Inside Out is actually the one I was thinking of. The time map rocked my world. And before Flylady, there were the Sidetracked Home Executives.

     

     I found the Flylady website just as helpful as the book. I'm glad I checked it out at the library and didn't buy it. It's been years since I read it, so I might be forgetting something about it, though.

     

     Home Comforts discusses routines a bit as well.

     

    I  :001_wub:  time maps! Franklin Covey sold a couple different paper versions over the years when they carried a Julie Morgenstern line. I was sad when they discontinued it.  I stocked up on the time maps and am careful to ration them.  ;)

    • Like 6
  14. Wonderful news about the allergist! 

     

    I made my own mix for the diffuser today from essential oils I already had. I think I may stick with mixing my own. I will keep the fall blends in the rotation, though, since I already have them, and it's good to have a variety. Of course once the sales start in December, I might change my mind.  ;)

  15. Aggieamy and Woodland Mist Academy, continuing from last week:

     

    I share your propensity for time management books and reading about habits. Any favorites (old or new) you would like to recommend?

     

    The two classic that I have internalized are Getting Things Done (David Allen)and Organizing from the Inside Out (Julie Morgenstern). 

     

    The one that sent me down this path was Confessions of An Organized Housewife (Deniece Schofield). When I discovered her book, there were not many books about getting organized. It didn't matter that she was a SAHM with five kids and I was a working mom with one baby. I read it until it fell apart. I still have it - the pages secured with a rubber band. I even met Deniece Schofield in the late 1990s at an author event and I had her sign my battered copy. Fond memories :)

     

    You've already mentioned two of my favorite authors in this genre. 

     

    David Allen's Getting Things Done is reread worthy for me, as are Julie Morgenstern's books. Time Management from the Inside Out applies her organizing ideas to time. Everything has its place, every activity has its time slot on the time map.  ;)  Her Making Work Work has ideas that apply to many spheres, not just paid employment.

     

    Brian Tracy's Eat That Frog tackles procrastination. Do the most dreaded task first. (There. I save you from reading the book.  ;) ) 

     

    Franklin Covey has lots of books and helpful products. 

     

    Don Aslett has several quick reads with lots of tips on time management, decluttering, organizing, housework, etc. He's a little over-the-top though. If I remember correctly, one book suggests limiting bathroom breaks and meals to be more productive.  :blink:   Um...nevermind... I'll just continue my slacker ways...  ;)

    • Like 10
  16.  

     

    Trying to find a new read aloud for evenings with the kids (10 and 11, not that into fantasy/sci-fi and my preference is for older books because they are simply much more pleasant to read out loud).  We have been striking out lately.  Ideas welcome.  

     

    We enjoyed My Family and Other Animals about that age, but it's not for everyone.

    • Like 10
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