A Few More Pictures From My Favorite Beach

We really love China Wall. We call it our family's swimming pool. We especially loved having visitors to take to China Wall to share in our joy. Here are a few from the in-laws' visit and the Johnson family visit. Warning: You might feel a little jealousy.

With Zac's Parents

 

With the Johnsons

And my absolute FAVORITE:

My husband rocks!

Halloween 2012

The Morph Suit/Green Man:

Mr. Werewolf:

And the two together make...well I don't know what they make, but I sure had fun seeing them in their costumes this year.

Oh boys!

"16" – For Serious

Yes, we've reached that point. My Tim is now sixteen years old. He can now date and drive. Thankfully, he is still a wonderful kid. He is talented, funny, smart and has great taste in cake. He requested a super-chocolate birthday cake. I did my best–triple chocolate–and it tasted yummy.

Dragon Fruit

We recently tried another exotic fruit–Dragon Fruit. I loved the color. The texture was nice, the taste a little bland, though it had a gentle smack of melon or kiwi. The fruit is super easy to eat; simply cut in half lengthwise and scoop it out like you would an avocado, then cut into edible bite-size pieces. It's wild, the things I'm willing to try these days!

Starfruit

A new first for this week: Starfruit!

A co-worker brought in a sack of these beauties from her tree. I have never tried this type of fruit before; it was delicious--kind of like a plum/grape.

In case you were wondering how to eat a starfruit, I'll provide some directions:

Take the fruit and with a knife, cut off the ends; make a shallow cut down each spine to shave off each hard edge. Then make slices along the fruit to create the star-like shapes this fruit is named for (they are so cute!). You might have to pull out a few small seeds, similar to what you would find in a grapefruit or an orange. Then eat and enjoy! Mmm! So good.

Two More

I have two more books to blog about and both were books I would gladly recommend to a friend.

The first book, Room, by Emma Donoghue, was a book I found while wandering around Barnes & Noble. You see, our family loves the bookstore. We often make a trip to the bookstore for a treat at the cafe and then browse the various racks of books and magazines. I love everything about our bookstore. Anyway, I had picked up this particular book each time we've gone for the past month now. I've read a chapter or two and then put it back on the shelf. The last time, I was too engrossed to place it back on the shelf. Instead, I bought it, took it home, and finished it the next day or so.

What is so great about Room? The perspective of the narrator for one; the story is told by a five-year old little boy. Emma Donoghue does an excellent job at allowing the reader to see the world through the eyes of a small, innocent child. I loved the descriptions of play toys, games, television shows, food and daily routines that are ever so important to Jack. The setting is another interesting aspect of the book. Most of the story takes place in a very small room--a shed really. Though small it is the only world that Jack knows. I can't even imagine how difficult it would be for a person to live day in and day out in such a small space.

I also enjoyed the intriguing relationship of mother and son. The situation and circumstances they find themselves are more than what can be described of as unique--a heart-breaking ordeal really--yet the daily struggles and joys are familiar (i.e. getting your child to eat his vegetables, playing games and enjoying a laugh together, etc.). The mother takes her difficult position and makes the best of it; she encourages good habits, teaches her son without the aid of others and in return gains the reverence and respect of a wonderful little boy. I found the idea very inspiring.

...........................

Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay, came to me through a friend. She slipped it into my bag after church one day and told me I needed to read it. I had actually seen the movie recently and knew the basic details of the story; I agreed to read it.

The book was fascinating. A double-story is told for the first half. Each chapter fluctuates between the character of Sarah, a ten-year old, Jewish girl living in Paris in July of 1942, and Julia Jarmond, a present day American journalist, living in Paris, married to a Parisian and researching the round-up of Jews that took place in France. The subject matter is stirring and heart-breaking, but out of the haunting details of this horrible historical event, comes a tale of compassion, love, fierce independence and reverence for those who have come before us. The link, which forms between the lives of these two very separate lives, connects all at once and leaves the reader stunned. There is so much to this tale. It truly is worth reading.

I would also recommend seeing the movie. Kristin Scott Thomas plays as Julia Jarmond and I feel she gave a stellar performance. Plus, you get to see the images of Paris before your eyes, not just in your mind, and they use a lot more French than what is found in the pages of the book (I wish they the author would have included more actual French). Both, genres deliver excellent representations of an intriguing story. 

Number 11

I love, love, love this birthday boy!