Friday's Fave Five #367

Hi everyone!  Welcome to Friday and the Friday's Fave Five.  First off I want to say I'm sorry I missed commenting on everyone's posts from last week.  There was just some family stuff happening and family came first.  But onto a fresh new week!  Are you ready to look back over the week and find your blessings?  If so, join us!

~ family home ~ One of the reasons I was so busy was that my son, his girlfriend and daughter came home for a few days.  I have not seen my son's girlfriend for 2 years!  Between the heavy workload of being in nursing school and covid she just could never come for a visit, and we haven't been there because of covid.  So we just hung out and had a real nice catch up time.  Sunday we went to the mountains and though it was really cold it was still a great day being together.

~ Waterton ~ one of my favorite places to be.  We are so blessed to have such a gorgeous national park so close by.  So many trails and hikes for every skill level, beautiful scenery everywhere you turn, a lovely mountain village, lakes and waterfalls galore.   It was a cold day there on Sunday but the beauty was still enjoyed.  Being in Waterton always revives and destresses me.  And it was nice just to get out of town for a day.  

~ delicious supper made not by me ~ my son blessed us with yet another delicious dinner.  I love when he visits and cooks for us because he always makes us something we don't normally have.  This time it was chicken teriyaki with pineapple rice served beautifully in pineapple bowls.  It looked and smelled amazing and tasted even better.  I can get used to this!

Sorry for the shadow, just didn't want to sacrifice the time it took to take it into natural lighting, I wanted to sit down and eat that thing!

~ "movie" night with the girls ~  this is a rare occurrence as my youngest does not really watch a whole lot of movies and we have very different tastes and usually don't agree on one.  But we found a series on Netflix that kind of caught both of our attentions and also interested my son's girlfriend so we  binged quite a few episodes over a few days.  It was nice just sit in their company relaxing.

~ province starting to open up ~ yesterday was stage 2 of opening up for summer.  I for one am glad.  While I do follow all the restrictions and regulations, I am growing weary of it all.  The constant back and forth of it, so many changes for so long and not seeing my family.  That is the hardest part.  The toll it has taken on families, my family.  I am glad we are at a point where we can start taking the steps back to "normal".

What are your favorite blessings this week?

June Reading Possibilities

So late putting this up again.  Oh well.  May was a slower reading month for me.  Way too much going on that didn't leave a lot of room for long periods of reading but I did manage to squeeze out 2 books from my list.  And they were both good reads so I'm happy with that. 

For June the busyness is not stopping but I have a little pile anyway that I would like to get read.  The Read Your Shelf Challenge prompt for this month is "A book with an animal on the cover".    Now I didn't have too many of those but that's okay because my favorite author's new book is out and I am definitely getting to that.  So here are the possibilities for this month:

 READ YOUR SHELF CHALLENGE (book with an animal on the cover)         

          ~ The History of Bees by Jaja Lunde  (Yes, I'm counting a bee as an animal)

          ~The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

          ~A Hundred Flowers by Gail Tsukiyama

          ~We Bought A Zoo by Benjamin Mee

          

ON HOLD AT THE LIBRARY

          ~The Reluctant Twitcher by Richard Pope

          ~Carrying Albert Home by Homer Hickmam

A BOOK SPECIFICALLY PURCHASED 2019-2021

          ~The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin

What are you reading this month?

          

Risen - Movie Novelization by Angela Hunt (Audiobook) ~ Book Review

Publisher's Description:

A Powerful Novelization from Bestselling Author Angela Hunt.  Epic in scope, yet deeply personal, this novelization offers a unique perspective on the story of the resurrection.

 Roman Tribune Clavius is assigned by Pilate to keep the radical followers of the recently executed Yeshua from stealing the body and inciting revolution. When the body goes missing despite his precautions, Clavius must hunt it down. His investigation leads him from the halls of Herod Antipas to the Garden of Gethsemane and brings him in touch with believer and doubter alike. But as the body still remains missing, Clavius commits to a quest for the truth--and answers that will not only shake his life but echo throughout all of history.

I listened to this on audiobook during one of my many road trips to go see my mom.  I have watched the movie several times and love it but have not watched it in over a year.  The novelization was written by one of my favorite authors.  The movie is so interesting seeing Jesus and the crucifiction and ressurection through the eyes of a battle worn, hard hearted Roman centurian.  It really made me think what it might have been like.  I must admit, though, that with the novelization I was very confused for a good portion of the listening because I could not for the life of me remember the female character in the movie and she is a major part of the book with the chapters rotating back and forth between her voice and Clavius' voice.  Turns out, in the author's notes the  character was the author's addition.  She explains it this way: 

  "As I wrote, I tired my best to properly represent Scripture, history and the Risen film/screenplay. Though the premise - what would the resurrection look like through the eyes of a Roman tribune? - is entirely fictional, I took a few small liberties for the sake of the story." 

 "A screenplay is not nearly as long as a novel, so of course I found it necessary to add several additional developments in order to flesh out the story".   

I sort of wish there had been a note to that in the beginning of the story to avoid the confusion for ones such as myself who have seen and are a fan of the movie.  Some of her additions might not sit well with some Christian readers but it was a reflection of what the history and times might have presented and as always with the story of Christ there is redemption woven into the telling.  The audiobook was a good listen.  I thought the two voice actors did a good job in acting and narrating the voices.   Had I not seen the movie several times I probably would have enjoyed this better as I would not have been distracted with trying to remember characters.  But because I did, the movie ran in my head during Clavius' chapters, and kind of stalled with the other characters voice.   All in all, it was a good listen, but not what I expected.

I rated it 7.5/10
 

Friday's Fave Five #366

Hi everyone!  Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  We're here again encouraging one another in looking for the good things in our lives whether they are easy or not to find, whether they are obvious or whether we have to more intentional search them out or remember them.  Please join us.  

~sunshine and warmth ~ well after a week of rain and grey skies we have been slammed into a heat wave.  And while I realize that the term is quite relative and that these temperatures are actually cooling off for some of you, 34*C  (93.2*F) which we hit today, is our August type of weather.  And not often do we actually hit 34* even then!  We've actually had to turn the air conditioner on already which is unusual for this time.  

~ hibiscus ~ even though we start melting in this kind of heat my hibiscus has soaked it in and is looking gorgeous!  I've never grown hibiscus before.  We are not actually zoned for it and I've had to bring the pot in on those nights that dip below 10*C (50*F) but they can be grown here as a seasonal plant outdoors and then brought in for the winter or just let die out in the fall.  Now they are super expensive around these parts and this was gifted to me or I never would have bought it for myself.  I'll try and help it survive over the winter indoors but around here it really is survival of the fittest when it comes to plant life.  However they sure are making me happy right now.

~ evening walks ~ since this whole covid thing shut my gym down permanently I have struggled to keep up with any fitness routine.  While I was also shut down for 3 months I would go on long daily walks with my hubby, but when I got back to work the long hours made longer with extra cleaning and the daily stress just saw me slipping out of my usual routines.  But since we have a new dog with a puppy's great surplus of energy, I've decided that I was going to try and walk every evening with him so he could burn some of that off before bed.  Though some nights it's been hard, once I'm out the door, it has become an enjoyable part of the evening.  

~ crisp cotton scented linen sprays ~  I use it on the mattress pad between changes, the couch, the spot on the rug where the dog likes to sit.  Anywhere that needs a little freshening.  It's not an over powering scent like some of the other ones can be and just makes things fresh.

~ new bicycle seat ~  I've been looking for a new gel seat cover since last summer but have not been able to find one anywhere.  Apparently there is a bike parts shortage.  So I bit the bullet and bought a new gel seat.  So far so good.  They said I could return it if after using it a week I didn't like it.  But I think it will do especially seeing that the seat itself actually contains gel.  And this one I chose also has a spring system in it.  Now if all that doesn't make for a more comfortable ride I am out of luck.

What have been your favorite blessings this week?

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons

Eudora Honeysett is 85.  Considering her age, she is in pretty good shape.  She still lives on her own and still attends daily swim sessions at the pool.  She doesn't need anybody and she is content that way.  But she is done.  At 85, she wants to be in control of her own passing from this earth.  She's lived her life and she doesn't want to wait until she is desperately ill or incapacitated with people having to do everything for her.  She wants her end to be on her terms while she is still able to decide.  Upon hearing of a clinic in Switzerland who will help her with this, she makes her application and sets about setting things in order.  But then Rose Trewidney, a precocious 10 year old filled with a zest for life and happiness and a penchant for twirling and overly bright clothing choices moves into her neighborhood.  For some reason Rose has decided to befriend Eudora.  Resisting at first, Eudora is put off by Rose's constant interfering and suggestions but slowly the infectious Rose draws her and her other senior neighbor, Stanley into her circle.  As the three odd friends grow closer through tea parties, shopping sprees and celebrations, Eudora starts to open up her closed off heart.  And as they wait for Rose's baby sister to be born, Eudora starts to remember and reflect upon her own childhood where she lost her beloved father to WW II and the devastating impact it had on her family and in turn her whole life. 

I loved this story.  Though at first glance, it seems to be a story about choosing how and when one gets to leave this earth it turns into so much more.  It's a book about love, loss and grief.  About friendship and acceptance and the different forms it can come in if we are only open to receive and give it. It's about no matter how difficult one has found life, that if we look there is always good to be found.  And it's about hope.  With parallels to "A Man Called Ove", this story was definitely driven by it's great cast of characters.  It was sweet, engaging and emotional.   Eudora's character was at times frustrating but as her story is revealed in flashbacks, just like her heart opens to Rose, the reader's heart is opened to Eudora.   In joining Eudora on her bittersweet journey, the reader is reminded to remember that there is so much more to a person's life than what they at first present, and how much in life there really is to live for.    

I gave this a 10/10  

Reading Challenge Goal:  Book from my library list, 5+ words in the title

Friday's Fave Five #635

What a difference a week makes!  From snow last week, to a week of cloud and rain, yesterday started some glorious, warm, sunshiny days!  Welcome to a sunny Friday's Fave Five!  Intentionally looking for our blessings from the past week is what we do.  Join right on in, guidelines are in the sidebar.

~ cotton blanket~ with the warmer weather it was time to take off the feather duvet and put on our lighter blanket.  But some nights the lighter blanket was a little too cool.  Oh the dilemma of fluctuating spring temps in southern Alberta.  I've been looking for a cotton blanket for many a year.  I had in my head what I wanted but could never seem to find exactly what I was looking for.  Either they were still too hot, or too stiff or not comfortable.  But I finally found one that I just love.  It's super soft, 100% cotton and just the right weight making it very comfortable.  

~ chocolate covered jujubes ~ where have these been all my life?  Saw them at the pharmacy when I went to get a prescription and on a whim picked up a bag.  Oh my.  I think I've found my new favorite candy.  I've eaten jujubes all my life but until now have never seen or had the pleasure of trying a chocolate covered one.  There's no going back.

-that first sip of a hot, fresh coffee ~ on a long weekend Monday knowing I can relax and enjoy it and not have to be rushing to work.  Monday was our May long weekend, our official kick-off to summer.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't co-operating but that just meant a morning of fresh, hot coffee enjoyed with a good book.  So nice to just relax with that first cup rather than usual weekday of running around with coffee in hand getting ready for the first dayhome child to arrive.  

~ flowers planted ~  with the cold and the rain finally moving on I got most of the flowers planted.  I love this springtime chore and I love seeing the end results when they start to grow and fill in.  

~ surprise lunch ~ Hubby treated me to a nice bento box lunch this week.  He was out and about doing his work and came home with a takeout that we really enjoy and haven't had since the start of Covid.  It was a real nice treat on what was shaping up to be a really long day.  It's nice to know he was thinking of me. 

What have been your favorite blessings this week?  When you spot them don't forget to be thankful to God for sending them your way.  My niece posted this on facebook the other day and I thought it totally suited our FFF goal!

Friday's Fave Five #634

Hi and welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  Above is the blog button I used this week but in reality this is the button I should have used if I want to give a true picture:

We are in the middle of a 48 hour snowfall warning.   Brrrr.  Hard to fathom when last weekend I was applying sunscreen for my bike ride because it was 28*C (82*F).  But it's the wet, heavy snow of spring that doesn't stick around long and we desperately need the moisture so there's that to be thankful for.  And the fact that I didn't plant my flowers in that lovely heat.

So away from Southern Alberta's crazy weather and onto the blessings from the last week we are thankful for!

~ the antics of puppies ~ as our pup has gotten more comfortable with us and his trust has grown so has his personality.  His goofy puppy side is emerging and we spend lots of time laughing at his silly antics.  Turns out he isn't complaining at all about the snow, in fact he loves it, burying his nose up to his eyes into it and racing around the yard playing in it.  I kind of feel the stress of the day melting away as I watch is silliness.

~ river bottom walk ~ we took the dog for his first walk in one of our favorite areas of the city, the river bottom.  We specifically wanted to go to the weir to see the pelicans.  We love watching them and this year didn't disappoint.  There were so many this year!  Their numbers have really grown.  I love watching them come in for a landing on the river.  It was a lovely, relaxing time.  

~Chinese food takeout ~ we haven't had it  in so long so it was a real treat to get some Chinese takeout on the weekend.  

~ flower shopping ~ I always look forward to the day I get to do this.  It's so much fun wandering the aisles and seeing all the beautiful selections.  The hard part is narrowing it down and choosing a few varieties.  

~ flower pots ~ my neighbor blessed me with 2 flower pots.  It couldn't have come at a better time as I was noticing that one of mine had a huge crack and another few were looking their age.  

What are you thankful for from the last week?