~My Old Dollhouse~

This dollhouse was my Grandma’s. She was born in Ohio but immediately moved to New York.  I’m not sure how old it is or exactly when and where it was built (my Grandma died at a very young age so no one had the opportunity to ask her). I do know it was shipped out from New York to California in the 50’s.

My mom used to play with it—in New York and California, when she was little. To me, it appears to have great detail. It looks like the lights used to really work when it was first built. I love the stained glass window over the fireplace. The staircase goes all the way through and all the doors open and close. I have a lot of old furniture and things and things that go with it (some of them are in storage because even I wasn’t allowed to play with them when I was little because they were old back then). When I was little, and the dollhouse was moved from my Grandpas to my room, my aunt put in new wallpaper and carpet and my Grandpa fixed some of the broken pickets on the fence—other than that I don’t believe anything has been changed…it’s always been black and white—though the green base is original I do believe that has been painted.

I LOVE to picture my mom and Grandma playing with it when they were young girls! And it's amazing to see my daughter play with it now...and someday I may get to see my granddaughter(s) play with it...I find it comforting and extraordinary to think about four generation of little hands and big imaginations running through that old dollhouse.

I find it remarkable that this dollhouse, such a simple objet, can reap such use and pleasure over lifetimes…I often think about the person who built this amazing dollhouse and wonder… as he was building, creating, and finishing each and every detail did he consider the young girls who would enjoy his work of art…did he hope it would last for generations…did he ponder that his dollhouse would bring enjoyment and history long after he was gone….

Can you see the address? I used to think about this address when I was a kid...I wondered if it was my Grandma's old address...as you can see I've always had an active imagination!

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Good morning… goodnight…wherever you may be—I wish you a very blessed and Happy Easter!

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~Awesome Review for Across Eternity~

I don't usually blog about the reviews my books get, but this review was so awesome. It's very rare, as an author, to have a reader/ reviewer totally “get” their story. Well, this reader, Megan, over at The Book Addicted Girl totally “got” Across Eternity. So check out her review below. And I’m very excited that the story has YA appeal too.

Across Eternity by Aris Whittier

                                                               Format: eBook

Published: 12^th November 2009

Number of Pages: 298

Book: For Review From Author

Genre: Romance, YA-Child Crossover, YA

Recommended Age: 15+: Teens Who Want To Move On From YA Romance

Contains: A Few Swearwords and Love Scenes, But No Graphic Sexual Descriptions

Born a genius; education, wealth, and prestige came easy to Logan Richards. Actually, there wasn’t much that Logan couldn’t learn or acquire. However, he knew there was more to life than money and power. Logan was determined to find the woman who he'd dreamed of his entire life and know what it was like to love her before he died.

Amber Lewis, a waitress for a five-star restaurant in, Dana Point, California, was overworked, stressed, and wary of life since her sister, Heather, had passed away. Then, one evening while working she fell hopelessly in love with Logan Richards, a chivalrous man who felt deeply familiar.

For Amber, it was the beginning of a voyage of self-discovery and renewal. For Logan, it was the completion of life. For each of them it was the deepest sort of love.

Aris Whittier got in touch with me, asking if I would like to review her book.  The blurb appealed to me, and it was my first for-review book, so of course I said yes!  And I can honestly say I loved it.  It was amazing, and I’m so glad I said yes now!

Review:

One love for all your lives.  The concept is so beautiful, so intriguing and is what made this book incredible and unique.  Once I’d started, I just couldn’t stop reading.  It was another of those so-beautiful-it-actually-hurts books, and I loved every minute of it.

Logan first met her when he was three, before she was born – well, born in this time, at least.  No one else could see her, because she was his, and he was hers and it had always been that way.  It all changed when he was ten, because she had to be born.  Her leaving was the most painful thing Logan had been through, and all that kept him going was the knowledge that she was out there somewhere, and that one day he would find her.  And he did, twenty-seven years later, and the connection was there for them both.  For Logan it wasn’t the first time: they were made for each other, and their love survived across all eternity...

Soulmates and past lives are something that’s always intrigued me, and Aris really bought the two to life, making me believe that it was possible for love to be so strong it would last forever.  Normally, instant-connection-love is a little hit-and-miss, but in this case it was absolutely perfect: sweet, believable and I could completely feel the connection.

Logan was sincere, confident, beautiful and a genius: the man a girl can instantly fall for.  To begin with I thought he was a little formal, but after a while I realised that’s just how he was: too smart for his own good!  I loved how self-conscious and... humble, is the word I’d use to describe him: he didn’t like to show off how smart he really was.  That’s what made me really love him.  Well, that and how he was with Amber.  Amber was kind, sweet, with a good sense of humour.  I loved how she purposefully made Logan uncomfortable with silly things, because the way he reacted made me laugh.  Their love was what carried the book, what made it magical, unforgettable, stunning. 

The supporting characters were just as loveable, Logan’s family in particular.  They really made me laugh, and the dynamics were just so amazing that I literally could have read a whole book just about them.  His mother was by far the best, with her over-the-top reactions and her wonderful insanity.  She was a classic mother hen, and I loved her!

Aris asked me to review Across Eternity from a YA-fiction-reader angle, to see if it’s something teens would like.  I think it’s perfect.  When you’re at that stage when you feel you are looking for something a little more that what teen and YA romance books have to offer, but are too young for adult romances, I think that you are at the perfect stage for this book.  Even if you aren’t there, and just want an amazing romance with a twist, I recommend it.  It contains a few love scenes, but nothing graphic... come to think of it, I’ve seen more graphics in YA novels...  But more than that, it has a beauty about it, about how to accept death, destiny and things that are beyond your control.  So, yes, Aris, I think you can definitely call this an Adult-YA crossover.

I laughed, I smiled and I cried my eyes out.  I questioned so many things: do I believe in past lives?; do I believe is soulmates?; do I believe in love so powerful it never goes away?  And after reading Across Eternity, I feel like I do, because how can something so beautiful not exist?

Star Rating:
5 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

YA: Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Adult: Threads by Nell Gavin

Other: Before I Die by Jenny Downham

BTW, Across Eternity will be on sale for the next week or so for only .99 cents!
Buy @

Amazon

B&N

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~Haystacks...Easter Nests...Healthful...?~

We make Easter Nests every year and I just found a healthier version that allows you to get your dose of fiber for the day. They taste very yummy and everyone who ate them thought they were made with Chinese noodles…none of them guessed it was Fiber One Cereal!

 

11 ounces , butterscotch or 11 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 -4 cups of fiber one all-bran cereal

1/4 teaspoon canola oil

1 bag of mini robin eggs or jelly beans

Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Melt butterscotch or chocolate chips and oil in a double boiler, saucepan or in the microwave. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat. With a spatula stir in cereal until coated. Drop by spoonfuls of the mixture onto the waxed paper to make a tiny haystack. Top with robin eggs. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Makes about 24 depending on how big or small you make the stacks.

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~Dose of Cute~

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~ Mother Nature is Sending Me Mixed Messages ~

The daffodils and I firmly believed spring was here.  We even had a few bees and humming birds convinced. Then Mother Nature set us straight. This is a picture from yesterday afternoon.  Yes, my friends that is snow.

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~ Garlic and Herb Greek Yogurt Dip ~

I made this dip yesterday and it was so yummy! I served it with veggies (celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and cucumber) and pita chips. I think it will make an excellent spread for sandwiches too.

¾ cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt

1 minced garlic clove

2 Tbl chopped chives

¼ tea salt

¼ tea pepper

¼ tea dried dill

1 Tbl lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

ENJOY!

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~Second Hand Store Treasure~

I actually found this blouse at a local antique store this weekend. The store carries mostly antique furniture. But there was one rack of clothes in the back. Most were vintage dresses. I found this lovely blouse in the middle. When I saw the price tag I just had to get it…$1.00! I know it’s not vintage— I think the store owner was just getting rid of it.  It doesn’t have any tags so I’m not sure of the designer or the size. I really love all the embroidery and the color!

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