Author: stacybuckeye

Weekends with Gage – Lola Goes to Work and Gage hits the hot tub

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lolagoestoworkWe took a trip to Michigan this week to visit Jason’s family.  After visiting the Livonia and Flint areas we’re back home getting into our routine.

Jason’s dad has a big pool but Gage kept wanting to go in the little pool, aka  the hot tub, so I let him sit on the top step when nothing else would do.  I brought a few books to Michigan, Lola Goes to Work, is his new favorite, so it was awarded hot tub status.  Kathy wrote a great review of this one and then sent it on to Gage.  I wasn’t sure he’d like it since he doesn’t have any favorite books with photos, but from our first reading, Lola has been a hit.  He likes to finish reading each page for you, but I should mention that Gage’s  ‘Lola’ sounds suspiciously like ‘Lellow’, but no matter, it only makes her cuter.

Lola is a five-pound Yorkshire Terrier who wanted a big job so she worked very hard to become a therapy dog.  I wish I had taken a picture of the page I stress to Gage, “I learned to sit and stay, to lie down and wait patiently.”  Lola eventually passes her test and becomes  a therapy for the elderly and classrooms.

This is a sweet book that all ages can enjoy.  It was written and photographed by Lola’s mom, Marcia Goldman.  It’s 32 pages and even has a page at the end for teachers so they can better use the book in the classroom. Visit Lola’s website for some cute photos.

(courtesy of Birdbath) I know Lola’s not French, but I think she could pass with that sassy red scarf, don’t you?

France 102A friend we found at Versailles (you’ll probably have to click on it to see).  A few days later Jason and our friends would be dining on his family and friends.  I don’t understand how that is possible after meeting the little guy.

Saturday Snapshot- Notre Dame entrance

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France 161France 244Notre Dame from a distance.

France 232A little closer.  Beautiful.France 233

I hope you click on them to see them up close.  The craftsmanship is amazing.

 

 

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy.  It’s easy to participate – just post a picture that was taken by you, a friend, or a family member and add your link on Melinda’s site.

(courtesy of Birdbath) I’m having fun looking through our France photos again 🙂

Tell No One- the French movie based on the Harlen Coben book

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(courtesy of Birdbath) Enjoy this month in France!

Tell No One (2006).jpgTell No One, 2006

Tell No One was my first Harlen Coben book and after I devoured it I went out and read everything he’d written.  As much as I love some of his others, this still remains my favorite and I recommend it often.  I was thrilled to learn that it had been made into a movie, even willing to embrace the fact that it would be a French movie with subtitles.  Subtitles and I have a rocky relationship.  I saw it at the theater when it came out and watched it again this week with my mom.  I liked it better the second time because I followed all the characters a little better.

How does a New York story transfer to Paris?  Very well.  It is different, but the idea is the same.  A doctor is contacted by his dead wife eight years after her murder, only the police and paid killers are after him too.  I thought this fast paced movie was great.  For all Harlan Coben fans, he has a cameo, pay attention or you’ll miss it.

France 052This has nothing to do with the movie but I loved this window we found in Bordeaux country.

Paris in July – Paris Versus New York

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(courtesy of Birdbath)

Paris Versus New York: A Tally of Two CitiesParis Versus New York by Vahram Muratyan. Finished 7-1-13, rating 5/5, travel, pub. 2012

Love, love, love!  I have loved New York since the first weekend trip Jason and I took there to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1997.  After many trips and a 5 month stay in 2000 I felt like I was a decent tour guide to out of town guests.  I loved the city, but Jason and I both agreed that it would only be doable long term if you could afford to get out of the city on weekends.  We only spent five days in Paris so any real comparison between the two would be superficial, but it is safe to say that both cities are favorites of ours.  I probably prefer New York and Jason, Paris.

This book comes from a blog by graphic artist Muratyan and features a contrast between the two cities with pictures and one line captions.  I thought this was a fun 15 minutes and  I’ve found myself flipping through again and again in the past few days.  I think there are some stereotypes in his 100+ comparisons, but some stereotypes fit the bill.  I think this is a fun gift for someone who loves both cities.  It’s also a great book to look through at the library or bookstore since it doesn’t take long.  I checked this copy out of the library and I’m a little sad to have to return it.  Totally fun, but not a serious expose of either city.

parisvsny1parisvsny2parisvsny3

France 271I found the Pompidou Museum interesting, but some of the exhibits disturbing.   We spent quite a bit of time here with our friends and it was a mix of very cool and very gross.

Eiffel Tower Quiz – guessing closed

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(courtesy of Bookbath)

France 139She looks majestic even on a gloomy day, doesn’t she?  Let’s see if you can guess the titles of these books with this beauty on their covers.  This will begin a new round of quizzes (details here) open to everyone!

For Paris in July I will also be giving away a few things, so if you participate you’ll also be entered in my giveaway at the end of the month!

Just leave your guesses (you only need to guess one to be entered for the prize) in the comment section.  I will periodically hide the answers so you can’t copy off your fellow bloggers 😉  You have until Sunday night.

eiffel11.Paris by Rutherford  2.Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Izner  3.Madeline by Bemelmans  4.Three Weeks in Paris by Bradford  5.The Paris Enigma by DeSantis  6.Paris Versus New York by Muratyan  7.We’ll Always Have Paris by Bradbury  8.Paris My Sweet by Thomas  9.Paris in Love by James  10.The Last Time I Saw Paris

eiffel2

Paris in July starts today

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(courtesy of Bookbath)

I’ve decided to participate for the first time this year.  I plan on taking the month to show you pictures from our France trip three years ago, read a few books set in Paris that I have sitting on my shelves, watch a few French movies, and come up with some quizzes to test your France knowledge.  Oh, yes, and I have a few giveaways of things French.  Whew.  That seems like a lot doesn’t it?  I think it’s going to be a fun and I can’t wait to see what Tamara at Thyme for Tea and Karen at Bookbath have planned.

Jason and I had good friends who moved back to France in 2008.  We were sad to see them go and promised to visit in two years, so at the beginning of 2010 we started planning our trip, plane tickets and hotels.  And then a funny thing happened, at the end of February I found out I was pregnant!  We were going in April so I would be in my second trimester, but after a miscarriage a few years earlier and my advanced age (38 :)) there was still a decision to be made, reservations or not.  Thank goodness we decided to make the trip.  Yes, I had morning sickness every day, but who knows when we will be able to take another trip like this one.

We were there ten days and stayed 5 days with our friends in Lyon and 5 days in Paris.  It’s a beautiful country and Jason and I both fell in love with Paris.  I have to think that if we are able to go again it will only be better since I will be able to drink the wine and eat all of the cheese!  The pregnancy did slow us down, I made frequent stops to rest and even though we walked everywhere, I did it at a very leisurely pace.

I’m going to post a favorite photo everyday.  Hope you enjoy France 🙂

France 136We had already made our plans for Paris, but our friend recommended Pere Lachaise cemetery so we walked over after our train arrived in the city and I fell in love.  We only had an hour, but I could have easily spent a whole day admiring the chaos and the history there.  This is the metal door of an above ground burial house.  Can you see inside?  This cemetery had discoveries like this everywhere, much like the city of Paris.

Weekends with Gage…If You Were Me and Lived in …

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If You Were Me and Lived In... Mexico: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the WorldIf You Were Me and Lived in Mexico  by Carole M. Roman

If you were me and lived in... South Korea...: A Child's Introduction to Cultures around the WorldIf You Were Me and Lived in South Korea by Carole M. Roman

These fun books for 3-8 year olds were sent to me by the author.  Each is just over 20 pages long with colorful illustrations and enough text to give kids the basics of life around the world through the eyes of someone their age.  Gage wasn’t as interested in the learning as he was the pictures, but I learned a lot 🙂  We learn where each country is on the globe, information about their capital city, common names, what they call members of the family, big attractions, food, fun, traditions.  It covers all the simple facts and I think these are great additions to any child’s library.

mexicoFor the Mexico book Gage colored a map.  It may not look like much to you, but since he used other crayons in addition to the purple one it is a huge accomplishment.  The author also sent us a blow up globe and as Gage looked through the book and colored I blew it up.  When I gave it to Gage to show him where Mexico was this is what happened.

IMG_2094He really just wanted to blow it up like mommy.

For the South Korea book the author sent a flag and I thought it would be fun to make our own.

skflagThis is what happened.

skgageNo matter how much I tried to get him to color the flag (I even tried to bribe him with purple!) all he wanted to do was run around the deck waving the flag.  So, I made it myself.

skfinished flagand then Gage was interested. He decided his sand table needed it.skdoneFun times 🙂

I know there have probably been quite a few of you who have made it to Mexico, but are there any who have visited South Korea?

June’s 5 word movie reviews

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A good movie watching month.  When I look at these movies posters I realize that I need to watch more movies starring women!

You know the drill, add your 5 words to mine and earn $1 for charity.  Once we get to $100 the person with the most reviews will choose the charity.  Click here to see the past winners, the charities they chose and to see the other reviews you can add to.  We are over halfway there with $62 so far.  Anyone is welcome to join in at any time.

Woman in black ver4.jpgThe Woman in Black, 2012 (Cast-Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds)     Grade B+

Gothic. Spooky. Quiet. Poor children. 

Creepy good, but ending…meh.  (Michelle)

So-so story, spooky, unforgiving ghost.  (Heather)

Searching for bobby fischer.jpgSearching for Bobby Fischer, 1993 (Cast-Max Pemeranc, Joe Mantegna, Joan Allen, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne)       Grade B+

Chess ability shapes a life.

Fascinating biography of young chess-player.  (Heather)

Now You See Me Poster.jpgNow You See Me, 2013 (Cast-Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher)   Grade B

Magically entertaining. Kept me guessing.

Interesting story, not great ending.  (Heather)

Right stuff ver1.jpgThe Right Stuff, 1983 (cast-Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, Scott Glen)    Grade B

Seven astronauts conquer outer space.

Best of Best conquer space.  (Sheree)

One word – Chuck – and others. (Kay)

You’ll believe astronauts can fly.  (Tony)

TheIceman2011Poster.jpgThe Iceman, 2013 (Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, Chris Evans)    Grade B-

Killer loves family. Predictable, good.

Virgin River by Robyn Carr

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Virgin River (Virgin River Series #1)Virgin River. Finished audio 6-27-13, rating 3.75/5, pub. 2007

Unabridged audio, 12.5 hours.  Read by Therese Plummer

“Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against the backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal-clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.” When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she’s made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.

from Goodreads

Mel needs a break from Los Angeles, the memories and pitying looks are too much for her.  Virgin River sounds like just the place, beautiful country and 600 people who don’t know about her husband’s murder, so she packs up everything she owns and heads north.   But Virgin River isn’t anything like she expected and she is ready to turn tail and run until an abandoned baby keeps her there.

Mel and the old doc werre oil and vinegar and I loved the relationship between the two of them.  He did things the country way and displayed wisdom and fire and I just loved listening to him banter.  Jack, ex-Marine and owner of the town’s bar, was a sexy and complex character.  I loved how central he was to the town.  Mel eventually found much more than she had expected.  She found friends, mystery, danger, love, life, and death.  Not bad for a girl who thought the country would be boring.

There were a few things that I could have done without.  I didn’t think that the sex scene between a hot-to-trot 14 year old girl and a horny 16 year old boy added anything to the story.  Actually I wrinkled my nose more than once while listening.  And I know we like to read about beautiful people, but I started to feel pretty bad about my own backside after the 20th time Jack mentioned Mel’s sexy butt.  But these were minor annoyances probably made worse by listening instead reading.   My eyes tend to quickly pass over things like this when I’m reading, but with an audio you are forced to hear every word.

I thought the reader, Therese Plummer did an excellent job.  There were lots of characters and none of her voices annoyed me at all – a real rarity!

I know lots of bloggers love this series, but it was Mary‘s review that finally made me seek out the first in the series (that and the fact that my library had the cds).  I liked the town and the people in it and can see how it would be comforting to check in with them all.  Although I can’t say I loved it, I can see myself giving the second book a try someday.  Sometimes it takes a series a few books to grow on you and this one has potential.