Monday, February 01, 2010

Letter to the editor in the paper today (regarding Pat Robertson's "Haiti's pact with the devil is the cause of the earthquake" statement):

"The liberal media should know that Robertson has a history of getting accurate messages from God. For example, in 2007, Robertson said God told him there would be a nuclear attack that year. Thanks to the fervent prayers of Robertson's followers the attack was averted."

Right! If you prophesy a nuclear attack and it doesn't happen, then that doesn't mean that your prophecy was off target, it just means that the prayers of your followers are extra speshul powerful and it is actually proof of how accurate your messages from God are. Uh-huh.

posted by Birgit
0 comments at 5:25 PM

Sunday, January 31, 2010

I enjoy all of Jane Austen's books, and Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorites. When I received Pride and Prejudice (Insight Edition) as a review copy from Bethany House, I was worried that the text would actually have been changed or modernized, but the words of Austen remain the same, to my great relief. Instead, this version intersperses editorial observations, movie trivia, historical background, spiritual insights, and other tidbits throughout the text in side boxes.

I would also recommend this for younger readers or any other readers who are not familiar with Austen's time period, since it explains some terms and customs of the era that they might not otherwise understand. Any Austen trivia fan will also enjoy it.

Some of the comments were rather too obvious and didn't add too much, others were really quite funny. The added info/commentary was really a good mix of just plain good fun and informational. The conversation questions at the end would make this very suitable for book club use, as well.

I prefer the side box format to the usual footnote or margin format for "amplified" versions. It added the information without taking over the book.

This is my third version of Sense and Sensibility, and I have to say it might be my favorite. This would make a great addition to the book collection of any Austen fan.

posted by Birgit
0 comments at 11:28 PM

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Hoarfrost

posted by Birgit
0 comments at 2:43 PM

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Winter camping in Idaho in a nice, cushy camping dome!

posted by Birgit
0 comments at 5:13 PM

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Rudolph cookies have been a tradition at our house for at least ten years, ever since my oldest participated in a writing contest sponsored by a maraschino cherry company and won the cookie cutter (plus the recipe.) Very self-serving of them, because we've had to buy maraschino cherries every Christmas since.

Kira had a little too much fun with some of them this year.

posted by Birgit
0 comments at 8:39 PM

Paintings I did for a friend for a gift exchange.

posted by Birgit
0 comments at 10:38 AM

Monday, December 21, 2009

This was the gift I got from my "Secret Sister" Lidi on TeachingMom. I love it!


Our Christmas tree all lit up. The tree is probably 10 ft tall.

posted by Birgit
0 comments at 2:50 PM

Sunday, December 13, 2009

These are my favorite Christmas cookies:

Chewy Chocolate Ginger Cookies

1 bag semisweet chocolate chips
3 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 T fresh grated ginger
2 T cocoa powder
1/2 tsp each ground cloves and nutmeg
2 t ground cinnamon
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses (or honey - I like molasses)

1 T boiling water
2 t baking soda

granulated sugar for rolling cookies

Mix flour, spices, cocoa. Add butter (softened), fresh ginger, sugar, molasses; beat together. Dissolve baking soda in water, beat in dough. Mix in chocolate chips.

Chill for two hours.

Make 1 inch balls, roll in granulated sugar. Place on cookie sheet, about twelve per sheet.

Bake at 325 for 13 - 15 minutes.

Cool on rack.

posted by Birgit
0 comments at 7:23 PM