A Place Like This......

Two More Days Left For the 19 Book Elsa Beskow Giveaway

Hurry......Don't Forget!!!!!

 

It has been the most exciting time hosting the Elsa Beskow giveaway.  I wouldn't want you to miss it. Here are the details. Do as much or as little as you like. Good Luck!

One lucky winner will receive all 19 books sent directly to their home. The contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the world, who has normal mail delivery. Here's what you have to do:

Subscribe to Jump Into A Book so you know exactly when these giveaways happen. Inbetween giveaways we have a lot of fun crafts and activities to do as well, straight from the pages of our favorite children's books. This is the only must do in the giveaway. Everything below is optional.

For 4 extra chances: Become a fan of our Jump Into a Book page on Facebook.Please leave a comment on the wall and you will be entered 4 more times.

For even 4 more extra chances: Follow us on Twitter and tweet about us.

For 10 extra chances blog about this giveaway and link back here. Be sure to place your post in Mr. Linky .   Please feel free to leave a comment as well. 

I've given you lots of ways to win. This giveaway will close on Sunday, July 31st 2011 at 8 pm. Winner to be chosen by random generator. Winner to be announced on August first 2011. Good Luck!

Here's a list of the books to be given away:

• The Sun Egg
• The Land of Long Ago
• Princess Sylvie
• Children of the Forest
• The Curious Fish
• Peter in Blueberry Land
• Emily and Daisy
• Pelle's New Suit
• Around the Year
• Woody, Hazel, and Little Pip
• The Flowers' Festival
• aunt Green, Brown, and Lavender
• Christopher's Harvest Time
• Peter's Old House
• Ollie's Ski Trip
• Peter and Lotta's Adventure
• Uncle Blue's New Boat
• Peter and Lottas Christmas
• The Tale of the Little, Little, Old Woman

 

The French

Maybe I've mentioned it before but I come from a large family and I married into a large family. Summer has always been a time for gathering and this year is no exception. My sweet Zuzu is on a world wide tour just visiting family. Starting in Montreal to pick up "the cousins" she headed to France to stay with a sector of the family simply known as "The French".

It doesn't really matter what your native language is, for when we refer to this corner of the family it's always in English and simply stated "The French".

Throughout the years it has been very well known that these cousins wait all winter for the moment when they will be together again. And when they gather, fun is had by all. 

Today's little adventure takes us down a french river in a kayak.

Well someone's excited. She has everything she needs and is rearin to go. Notice how cousin Alexis finds her amusing.

Now we're rolling down the stream. Just go where the water takes you.

Look they've made it all the way to the castle. A little tired but joyeux  none the less.

These photos were taken by a variety of "The French" and placed on facebook where I took them to share with you today. Nothing gives me more happiness than to see these "kids" who have grown up together, continue to actively pursue summer and family time together. They truly are each other's best friend. We have so many wonderful memories  circling the globe together.  For the photos that follow I can show you similiar photos during the last couple of decades. Each summer the same tradition of just being together.

I did have one last question though.  Do I sense that we now have a family uniform? Did we all go shopping on the same day or what? I love and miss you all. 

Weekend Musings

Maybe I should call this post Reading & Movie Watching but that's what I did this weekend. Believe me when I tell you I have a myriad of deadlines looming, one of which is a book deadline and my little artistic attention went to one of the best books I've read in a long time and a great Woody Allen movie.

There's one thing you must know about me and that would be that I LOVE WOODY ALLEN MOVIES. Sorry, I'll stop shouting from the top of my lungs. His latest movie, "Midnight in Paris" is now my new favorite woodman movie. Not only do I love this movie, I wanted to live inside this movie.

Owen Wilson stars as the Allen-esque lead as a successful Hollywood screenwriter and struggling novelist vacationing in Paris with his fiance played by Rachel McAdams.  But she doesn't get him.  She doesn't understand why he wants to move to Paris (preferably in the 1920's while it's raining).  She doesn't understand why he wants to write books that mean something to him rather than bad screenplays that pay ridiculously well.  In short, she doesn't get that he's a romantic.

Paris played the part of the  beautiful muse for Woodman and the city of lights plays a major lead role in this movie. 

I love this film.  I love the setting.  I love Owen Wilson's character and performance, and really the entire cast including McAdams, Michael Sheen, Marion Cotillard, and Adrien Brody. There were parts of this movie where I was literally belly laughing and of course embarassing my daughter but hey, it's a Woody Allen movie.  And, of course, I love the music (as I do in all of Allen's films) and wish Woody Allen would put together a soundtrack for me that follows me everywhere I go.  I do realize that I'm a francophile ( someone who loves France) or should I say extreme lover of Paris and perhaps I'm extremely biased. All I can do is hope you'll forgive me and have a look at a great film for yourself.

Next on the weekend list is the book The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. I've never read any of her work but this one just grabbed me and I spent many late nights reading through this 600 page beauty of a book.

A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book—a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-fi rst birthday, they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and very little to go on, "Nell" sets out to trace her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell’s death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. A spellbinding tale of mystery and self-discovery, The Forgotten Garden will take hold of your imagination and never let go.

Here's the lovely book trailer

and if just must know more here's an interview  with the lovely Kate Morton as well as the first chapter of the book.

Reflections On My One More Time Around the Sun

A first glimpse of myself at 48 years old. No make-up, no shower, didn't brush my teeth, hadn't eaten breakfast. Just a first look at authentically me.

 Someone very dear to me today asked "What does it feel like to have lived almost half a century?" That question gave me pause and as I went to the gym to do a pre-cake workout I had a moment to think about that. 

I'm often asked how I get everything done? Where do I find time? How do I plan my days etc?

What I know so far: Slow down. Focus. And love what you are doing. This has been my mantra for the last few years. Everything below is just an extension of the above little thought.

• We don't stop playing because we grow older, we grow old because we stop playing. No problem there. I have more play in me than most three year olds. Play, Play, Play!
• Create something everyday even if that's just a good  cup of coffee.
• If creating something feels daunting, break it up into three minute increments but create something everyday. It's a life practice.
• No, there will never be enough time. One will never find time. Time is made in the mind. By slowing down and creating my day, my calendar does not and cannot abuse me.
• Living in just this day , in just this moment, has helped me to release fear. Fear lives in the future with all of the "what ifs" but the future is in my mind and not  now. By living my now the scary future takes care of itself and isn't so scary. The best way to predict the future is to create it. Peter Drucker said that and I really have to agree with him there.

 

I love this poem by Shri Ravishankar Jee:

Sound when stretched is music,

Movement when stretched is dance.

Mind when stretched is meditation.

Life when stretched is celebration.

At about the age of thirty something, I started asking myself the question "Who am I? Why am I here? I've learned that I needed to stop asking myself those questions and just put my life into motion filled with those things I love to do most. So I said to myself " Self, don't ask! Act!" It's the only thing I really have to do in life. Do the thing, anything, anything at all from the heart, the rest will follow. No need to think about being inspired or waiting for that perfect moment or feeling. Inspiration arrives after you start working on the thing you were searching for inspiration about.

The rest of what I've learned through almost half a century of living is that love really does solve it all. I surround myself with family, friends, colleagues, bloggers, and creatives alike who love explicitly and implicitly throughout their lives and share those feelings whole heartedly.

For all of you I am inherently thankful. And that's the last idea I will leave you with. What I am thankful for gets multiplied exponentially. I would not change one thing about my 48 years. I would live every moment again all the good, sad, indifferent, scary, lovely life....but I don't have to because I'm still on this incredible journey ......which starts again each day.......today.

Thank you family and friends for sharing it all with me! You make each day unique and special!

Enough of the reflections ....it's time to party. 

Thank you kids for a lovely brunch complete with gnome plates.

Bonne Fete Nationale de la France!

 

You see in France my birthday is truly a national holiday. It is Bastille Day in France which resembles our 4th of July. 

I wish all of you a wonderful day. Let us eat cake! Au revoir !

 

One More Time Around the Sun

It was 22 years ago today that my sweet Zaina was born.

I found it only fitting that I create a little montage for you to get a glimpse into the world according to Zaina.

Always smiling and always happy, Zuzu spent her first birthday with her grandparents in Oregon.

She was always one for grand style.

Ingenious solutions.

Filled with observations and opinions. Even then she was working her way up to be a journalist.

She has always welcomed with open arms, first a sister.

And then a brother.

Always poised.

 

These past few years have seen her blossom into a very astute, and talented young woman. Her talents have taken her around the world,

and keeping company in the most inspiring circles. Zaina is 4th from the right. She is at CNN New York with Anderson Cooper.

But near or far, she is ever and will always be our Zuzu. Loving sister, daughter, and friend

Happy Birthday Zuzu we love you!

Weekending

This weekend gave the gift of getting away. Before leaving however, I noticed a new fairy family moved into the neighborhood. I wonder who they could be?

A very rare and special occasion lend-ed itself to my best Swedish buddy Jenny and I as we headed up to our little mountain cabin aka "The Stuga", to have breakfast.  As we ate our neighbor was fishing nearby. 

As we poured the coffee, the knitting needles came out as we talked about children, crafting, and of course our favorite topic Sweden and when we can all get there again. Believe it or not, Jenny and I have known each other before children. In fact I met her and my future husband on the same day in a french course in Switzerland. We later were flat mates and then she moved back to Sweden. She was with me when I gave birth to my sweet Zaina who turns 22 tomorrow. I can't believe that!!!

What do you think the likelyhood of her moving and living one mile from me with her family 25 years later would be? Slim to none I suppose so I'm beyond happy that she lives so close .

This week will be a busy one. I'm working on at least 6 or 7 craft articles at the moment and then it is officially birthday week here. First Zaina's tomorrow and mine on Thursday Bastille Day. We'll get here when we can with fun birthday update photos.

One of my greatest birthday wishes was to be able to give away every Elsa Beskow book I could get my hands on. If you haven't heard, Jump into a Book is giving away 19 elsa Beskow books. Contest is open until July 31st. Find out more! 

Have a great Monday everyone!

This Moment

Joining Amanda in a moment I want to savor and capture. Happy Weekend!

Don't forget we have the 19 book Elsa Beskow Book Giveaway happening.

KAL and the 19 Book Elsa Beskow Giveaway

I haven't shown you my KAL that I'm doing over at Linda's for a couple of weeks because my cardi became attached and it started looking like a straight jacket. After frogging that mess back I ended up knitting in the wrong direction for a really long while. See what happens when you talk and knit? So back to frogging I went. Finally this week I'm back on track but I'm really thinking of making this a long cardi/vest so I can wear it while I take my long walks. 

At first I was doubting my yarn choice but now I think it will be so cozy and I can see the lovely pattern clearly now. I don't think this is a sweater for a giant any longer but a chunky version of the exsisting pattern. I'll just keep knitting happily along.

On a different note completely....

Today I've gotten to realize one of my dreams and that is to give away all of the existing Elsa Beskow books I could get my hands on. Over at my children's book blog Jump Into A Book, I'll be giving away 19 Elsa Beskow books to one person/family. I have many more giveaways planned throughout the summer  and fall. I think one of the best things in life is to play inside our books but the next best thing is to give them away. To find out all the details head on over to Jump Into A Book. Good Luck

 

 

Cornwallis

June 1776

~As I was walking to the weavers this morning I couldn't believe my eyes. As I was standing there, riding right toward me and then in front of me was General Cornwallis, servant of King George the III, himself.

Earlier this morning the red coats came and captured the Capitol building and are holding it. 

This was only a forwarning of what was to come. Later that afternoon, Cornwallis's men and the retinue marched on the city of Williamsburg. 

600 hundred strong they were. They marched up from North Carolina with the mission to hold Williamsburg's allegiance to the King.

They took over the town green and we waited. We waited for Cornwallis himself.

Finally he arrived.

He brought a message. "Anyone who is found not to be loyal to his majesty King George III, will be arrested and tried for treason. His properties will be conviscated, and sold. God Save the King!"

I expected there to be complete silence as his strong words grabbed hold of people's hearts but instead there was loud booing and jeering and shouts of "We the People". Who knows what the future holds for this small town? Who knows if the colony states will join together to combat the King. I do know that everyone is waiting to see what this state of Virginia will do, being the largest state and all. We hear that the Intercontinental Congress is preparing a declaration which will separate us from England. There is sure to be much blood shed and all we can ask is for God's protection.

As I watch these lobster men set up their camps, I can only wish for a speedy resolution and the departure of this army who knows us not. God Save the People and God Save Us All.

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. It meant so much to us this year after having just been to Colonial Williamsburg. We all wore our tri-corner hats which we deemed Patriot hats but many of our barbeque friends were asking why we were dressed as pirates. You know what they say, "One man's patriot hat is as good as another's pirate hat".