Thursday’s Tale: The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner

by Carol3 Comments
I'm feeling a bit lazy today, so how about a quick fable? This is one of Aesop's. The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner A trumpeter, bravely leading on the soldiers, was captured by the enemy. He cried out to his captors: “Pray spare me, and do not take my life without cause or without inquiry. I have not slain a single man of your troop. I have no arms, and carry nothing but this one brass trumpet.” “That is the very reason for which you should be put to death,” they said; “for while you do not fight yourself, your loud trumpet stirs up all the other soldiers to battle.” Moral:  He who incites strife is as guilty as they who strive. Good point. Just because he didn't actually kill people, he was still as much a part of the battle as the soldiers. And a bit about Aesop from Wikipedia. The Greek historian Herodotus mentioned in passing that "Aesop the fable writer" was a slave who lived in...
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Homemakers by Brit Morin

by Carol5 Comments
I was so excited when Homemakers showed up in the mail. It's bright and happy; I love crafts, do-it-yourself projects, and cooking. I like her writing style and she's fun and friendly. There are a lot of ideas and projects in the book, and it's all presented with vibrant, colorful photographs. It's a visually appealing book. Unfortunately, I just don't think I'm the right audience. Some of the info I appreciate, like what type of glass to use with which wine - not that it really matters, because I usually drink it out of coffee mugs. She covers a lot of topics, from recipes to making cement serving trays, but most of the recipes were dishes I had already cook or don't care about and most of the projects are a little  silly. Like covering a footstool with pompoms - cute but just not practical. Some of the apps she mentions might be useful and her vision of what the future will...
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St. Patrick’s Breastplate

by Carol5 Comments
Since today is St. Patrick's Day, I though I'd share my favorite prayer, St. Patrick's Breastplate. According to tradition, St. Patrick wrote it in 433 A.D. for divine protection before successfully converting the Irish King Leoghaire and his subjects from paganism to Christianity. It's possible that it was written by someone else or possibly even closer to the 8th century, but in any case it's lovely and meaningful. St. Patrick's Breastplate I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise today Through the strength of the love of cherubim, In the obedience of angels, In the service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In the predictions of...
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Readers’ Workouts – 3/17/2015

by Carol6 Comments
So, here are my steps for the week. I actually made my goal every day. That's the difference spring can make. And here's my current workout plan. I've backed up a little, to readjust to when my run is in May.  I just finished week 7, more or less. Tuesday - 4 miles on the treadmill followed by 20 minutes of arm machines. Wednesday - 1 mile walk with the dog. This workout from Self using a 10-lb plate and did reps instead of time to make it 30 mins. Thursday - 60 minutes on the elliptical Friday - 1 mile walk with the dog Saturday - Campbell- Dickinson 5K. I ran it in 31:15. It was so cold and rainy though. Sunday - 1 mile walk with the dog Monday - 1 mile walk with the dog How has your week been? I registered for the Pittsburgh Pirates Charities 5K on April 18. It's one I've run the last two years and is always fun. It doesn't hurt that registration comes...
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Everything Old is New Again: Guest Post by Andra Watkins, author of Not Without My Father

by Carol1 Comment
Today, I'm happy to welcome Andra Watkins, author of Not Without My Father, to my notebooks. She's talking a bit about her walk on the Natchez Trace. Everything Old Is New Again by Andra Watkins For 10,000 years, souls both animal and human have walked the Natchez Trace. It’s older than Egypt’s pyramids, more ancient than the hanging gardens of Babylon. Animals first trekked its natural ridge line thousands of years ago, migrating from the Ohio River Valley to Mississippi’s salt licks. When the Native Americans arrived, it was natural for them to settle along the Trace. Who wouldn’t covet a ready food supply and ample space to build ceremonial mounds visitors can still experience today? I’m no athlete, but I was curious. Walkers ruled the Natchez Trace for millennia, but in the 1930’s, they were displaced by a ribbon of pavement from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. A historic footpath overrun by cars and camper vans. With no facilities for through hikers, almost...
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Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy

by Carol4 Comments
Really, really enjoyed this romance. It was sweet, sexy and just nice. There was a happy ending and not too much stress getting there. Tamara wants to take it slow, which is totally understandable and Elec might just be the perfect man. It didn't make me cry, it didn't make me want to yell at the couple to just get their act together. For me, it was what a romance should be. Elec and Tamara are both honestly good people. Tamara did annoy me a little at times, especially her harping on about her stretch marks. Granted, Elec couldn't have cared less about it, he thought she was gorgeous, but I felt like her body issues were a little over the top. Other than that, though, they both felt like people I could enjoy hanging out with. Sometimes audios don't work well for romances with sex scenes, but this one was good. It was sexy, but didn't trip over into cheesy and...
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