Diary of a Wimpy Kid 4

Today was our first day back in school after a five day break. School was closed to due to the high number of flu-related illnesses. We re-opened today, but still had many gone. The halls seemed quieter and the mood was definitely mellow. I spent the morning reading reviews and tidying my shelves. This afternoon, UPS delivered my copy of Jeff Kinney's new book. I picked it up while I ate lunch and began to read. Confession time: (I read the whole thing. I tried to put it down, I really did, but I HAD to finish it.) I felt like a kid trying to text during class. I kept the book down low and read while it looked like I was busy on my computer. The fact that I kept laughing out loud was probably a dead-giveaway.

In this book, Greg is faced with summer vacation. His parents are cutting back on spending and not taking their annual vacation to the beach. When presented with the alternatives, Greg would rather spend the summer indoors watching TV and playing video games. His mother has other plans. . . I don't know if it is the fact that I have a middle school son that makes this book so hysterical, but I love this series. So do boys. . . order copies for all the boys on your Christmas list this year. It will be their favorite gift.

Massacre at "M" Mountain

If you are at all squeamish, a vegetarian, thinking about becoming a vegetarian or a card carrying member of PETA, read no further. . . Seriously. stop right now. This is not the post for you.

Some good friends of ours were going to butcher their meat chickens last Saturday, and invited us to join them. Lance immediately declined (he joined us for dinner because you don't ever turn down a chance to eat Connie's cooking). I am always up for an adventure so I joined another set of friends, (also city transplants) for a day of murder and mayhem. . .


The chickens are everything an organic cook could wish for - they live in a beautiful cage free stall, eat from the garden and range (safely fenced) on the property.

On death row. . . literally.

Getting ready to be put on the chopping block. I could not carry the live birds, but I did hold the wire (with my eyes closed) that kept them on the block. Myron performed his duties as executioner quickly - yes, that is my children laying on the trampoline watching. . .

Honestly, when someone says they were "running around like a chicken with their head cut off" , it will carry a whole new meaning for me.

Um, yes, he is holding what you think he is. . . I prefer to think of him as a biologist in the making. . . One of the chickens "ran (w/o a head)" under the truck and A very calmly crawled under and pulled it out. . . country kids are very tough.

Yep, that's my boy. . . This was about as close as he got, well this and racing his scooter through the trail of blood on the floor in the shop. . .

My girl - she even worked up the courage to pluck the chickens with us. Very strong kid!

This smelled as bad as it looks. . .

An automatic chicken plucking machine - created by our high school FFA program. It did not work too well for the chickens so we ended up working by hand. . .

Right about now, I am so grateful for my college diploma and job in a library. . .

As we worked, Connie, who grew up Amish shared that her mother (with the three oldest children) would butcher 50 chickens at a time. What a life. . .

Really, it was a great day. Perfect weather, amazing friends and lots of laughter. I left with a renewed sense of gratefulness for my "easy" life. Would I do it again? Sure, if Connie is cooking dinner. . .

(photos taken by Elaine Sanders)

I'll read anything, except. . .

I am a pretty adventurous reader. While I have my favorite authors and genres, I will try anything, except. . . science fiction and horror. I have no desire. I still remember watching my first (and nearly last) horror movie in junior high. I refused to take the trash out alone for weeks afterward. I hate horror. . . I don't mind an occasional sci-fi movie (loved the Matrix and X-men series), but I have never read sci-fi. I have long held the theory (recently confirmed) that only REALLY brilliant people read science fiction. My husband, one of the smartest men I know, reads sci-fi almost exclusively. Our G/T coordinator at school prefers sci-fi (she was an astro-physicist in a former life), and my brother-in-law (very brilliant mind) reads sci-fi (he also reads other books - that I would consider textbook quality - for fun). Like I said, brilliant minds. . .

Last month our book club re-convened. Bigger, more diverse and better than ever. In hopes of keeping our few males members interested, we all agreed to read their book of choice. Hyperion by Dan Simmons. I half-heartedly started the book, and by the second page, I was so confused, I nearly quit. In all honesty, it took almost 100 pages for me to enjoy the story, but by then I was hooked. We all were. Only one member of our club quit, the rest finished, though for most, it was really outside of our comfort zone. It was a cleverly crafted story and most members of our club are already on the second book. In October, we're reading a mystery (a Nero Wolfe novel) and in November/December we are reading a western by Cormac McCarthy. Anyone want to join us?

I picked up a new YA book this week. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. It is a horror story about (wait, brace yourself. . .) zombies. Seriously. I read the whole book on Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the story. It has a strong female character, which I love, and is an easy, entertaining read. I thought the book ending somewhat abruptly, leaving me to wonder if there would be a book two. . . If so, I will read my second horror story.

So, now as I wander the stacks in search of the perfect book for a student, I can no longer say, "Well, I will read anything, except. . . "