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It's time once again for my favorite upbeat linky party of the week, Mamarazzi's My Happy List @ Dandelion Wishes.  Please join the party here.  To tell you the truth, I need this party more than ever this week!

Friends, please note that our internet is very sketchy right now.  We have service for maybe half an hour or an hour, and then it goes away again for several hours. Please be patient, and I will eventually get around to emailing all of you who have been so kind to leave comments.  You all have touched me so much with your care and concern for Alabama and other Southern states.  Bloggy friends are the very best!  


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My Happy List has a theme today:  Water for Elephants




1.   Fantastic Book:  Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is one of my all-time favorite books.  If you have not read it yet, you are missing out!  Good books make me happy!!! You can read my Literary Friday post about Water for Elephants here.


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2.   Delightful Tea Party:  How about a Water for Elephants themed tea party? How much fun is this! This is my birthday weekend, so everything is all about *me*  :D  We are enjoying a full afternoon tea with tiny finger sandwiches and even smaller chocolate biscuits instead of dinner.  Water for Elephants is set during the depression, and a popular dessert of that era was chocolate biscuits (not cookies, but Southern biscuits), especially in the South. Tea parties make me happy! 


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We must save room for popcorn because....


3.   Tear-jerker Movie:  We have passes to see Water for Elephants tonight starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon.  Going to the movies makes me happy!  I do not picture Reese as Marlena, but she is so talented that I bet her performance is Oscar-worthy.


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I am so excited!  I have many other blessings that have made me happy this week, real blessings, but I thought it would be fun to stick with a theme today.

Linking to Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Through Life.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill


My Happy List #10

Saturday, April 30, 2011

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This week I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen for the second time.  I wanted to re-read it before seeing the movie.  I am so happy I did because it is such a well-written book. My book club read it about three years ago, and it was one of the best book discussions we have ever had! Some of you probably have a keeper shelf: books you will keep and revisit for the rest of you life. Water for Elephants is definitely on my keeper shelf, and if it is not part of your library yet, it really should be.

Water for Elephants is basically about the train circus culture during the Great Depression. Gruen highly researched this topic for the book, and I appreciate the attention to detail she shares with her readers: the language (or slang) used by circus folk; the unspoken but diligently followed rules between the workers and performers in circuses; the tragedy of those affected by "jake leg," or paralysis from drinking Jamaican ginger extract; hobo jungles and speakeasies; and the hunger and deprivation of the era.  Part of the book takes place in the present-day as the book's protagonist, Jacob Jankowski, is eagerly anticipating the arrival of a circus down the block from his assisted living home. Most of the story is told in flashback about his adventures when he was a young man working as a veterinarian for the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth during the summer of 1931. When Jacob's story begins, he is sitting for his final exams during his senior year at Cornell.  He is studying veterinary medicine, and during one of his exams, his professor interrupts him to tell him that his parents have been tragically killed in a car accident.  His father, also a veterinarian, mortgaged his home and practice to pay for Jacob's Ivy League education.  For many months folks paid his father in beans and eggs, so the bank gets everything because the entire estate is mortgaged.  Jacob is so distraught he cannot sit through his exams, so he begins walking until he meets a circus train and hops aboard.  He is soon hired to look after the circus's menagerie.

The antagonist in this book is the circus's animal manager, August Rosenbluth.  He is a cruel, psychotic, paranoid schizophrenic.  He is married to the beautiful Marlena, the star of the circus's horse act.  Marlena and Jacob meet, and it is love at first sight for both of them. When the circus's owner buys an elephant, Jacob, Marlena and August must work together to train Rosie for the new elephant act.  The elephant does not understand English: she only answers to Polish commands, and Jacob is fluent in Polish. He tutors August in simple Polish commands and trains with Marlena, Rosie, and August for several weeks until the act is perfected.  This is not a great situation because Marlena and Jacob are growing closer, and August is a sadistic jerk.  I hate him.  I hate him more than almost every other fictional character I have ever encountered in a book. The couple must also endure one of the most horrible circus disasters of all time.

Please read this book if you haven't.  I have been meaning to read some of Sara Gruen's other books (especially Riding Lessons and Flying Changes since we are horse people), but I have not gotten around to it yet.  I have also heard that her latest book, Ape House, is amazing.  Have any of you read Ape House yet?  I would love to hear what you think about Water for Elephants, too.

Until next time...

Happy Reading!
Ricki Jill

Literary Friday: Water for Elephants

Friday, April 29, 2011

Yesterday's tornado outbreak unfortunately made history.  The death toll has reached 131 in Alabama and is expected to rise.  My heart is breaking for those affected close to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.  Parents are frantically arriving in Tuscaloosa looking for their missing children who are students at the university.  I saw a couple from Texas looking for their daughter, and I can't get them off my mind.

My immediate family is okay, and we did not have any damage to our property in Birmingham. Our neighborhood on Lake Martin in Dadeville, Alabama, was directly hit by tornado, but we have not heard of any injuries to our neighbors or damage to our property yet (the cell towers around Alabama are down).  I am thankful we were in Birmingham rather than Dadeville!  We did have some friends and family who sustained property damage in Jefferson and Walker counties, but they were not injured, thankfully.

I have some fun posts ready, especially one about the Royal Wedding.  I just don't feel like posting about it now, but maybe I will later on today.  I don't want to disappoint my daughters because they have been excited about the wedding.  My oldest has school today, and she was apprehensive about going.  She attends school in downtown Birmingham, and all of the Birmingham City and Jefferson County schools are closed.  It took her two hours and fifteen minutes to get to her school which is only fourteen miles from our home.

I want to thank you for all the kind emails.  Our internet went down last night, and we are now back online, but I am unsure for how long.  If I do not get back to you immediately, please understand that I am a little busy, and I have a couple of folks I need to help today.


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{The sunrise breaking over Double Oak Mountain and shining on Oak Mountain this morning.}


~Ricki Jill



A Sad Day in Alabama History

Thursday, April 28, 2011

I wanted to share the neatest bunny item with you {other than chocolate bunnies} :D

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These little white bunny gift tags contain wildflower seeds.



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Here are the instructions:

Plant this biodegradable tag in a small amount of soil.  Water and place in a sunny  location. Plants will appear in 2 to 3 weeks.  Keep moist until plants are large enough to transplant. Wildflowers will attract hummingbirds and butterflies!


We are going to try these!

I will keep you posted on their progress.

Linking to Faded Charm's White Wednesday.




Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Bunny Seed Gift Tags

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

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I just picked-up Shanley Belle's senior portraits, and I wanted to share one with you.  This is definitely her because she reads all the time, and she aspires to be a published writer. Amanda Traywick @ Precious Memories photographed Shanley.   You can visit Amanda's beautiful website here.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Shanley Belle's Senior Portrait

After the Easter sunrise service on the lake, Shelley and her friend, Eliot wanted to jump off of Chimney Rock.


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{The M&M's are making googly eyes at each other and don't seem interested in Shelley and Eliot's shenanigans.}




Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Can you survive the rock?

Monday, April 25, 2011

I was cleaning out a hard to reach corner of a kitchen cabinet at our lake cabin, and look what I found!  A cute Fiestaware sugar and creamer set!  I have always wanted to collect Fiestaware because the colors are so much fun.  If any of y'all know anything about Fiestaware and want to share with me anything about my "find" I would greatly appreciate it! I was so excited because I rarely find anything this cool at flea markets.


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Linking to Today's Thrifty Treasures @ Southern Hospitality.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill


Free Fiestaware!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!





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I am joining Mamarazzi @ Dandelion Wishes for the My Happy List Linky Party.  Please join us for the most upbeat party in blogland!

1.   I am happy that we are not living in a perpetual state of Holy Saturday.  He is risen!


2.   Living on a mountain makes me happy, especially in the morning.  We are in the clouds {fog really}.  This is the view from my front door:

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Let's hear it for developers who leave the trees!!!




3.   Filling Easter baskets for my girls makes me happy!  

The writer:

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The artist:

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I think these little peat pots with vintage Easter tags and French wire silk ribbon are fun.


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4.   Happy activity of the day: Dyeing Easter Eggs!!!

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How are you spending Holy Saturday?  We are going on a quick boat ride before we dye the eggs.

Until next time...

Happy Easter!
Ricki Jill

My Happy List #9

Saturday, April 23, 2011

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I have always wanted to buy an old cottage and renovate it while maintaining its character.  I would try to use historically accurate materials and colors. When discussing the possibility with a friend, she suggested I read The Fixer Upper by Mary Kate Andrews (she knows how much I enjoy reading).  I think many of my followers who love DIY will enjoy this book.

Dempsey Killibrew is a willing exile to Guthrie, Georgia.  Her father, Mitch, has recently inherited the family ancestral home, Birdsong.  The house is in need of some TLC before it can be listed and sold. Mitch sends Demspey to Guthrie because she has absolutely nothing better to do: as a Washington, D.C. lobbyist in the midst of a political bribery scandal, Dempsey is jobless, homeless, broke, and unhirable within the beltway.  A home decorating magazine junkie, Dempsey accepts the challenge and heads to Georgia.

Guthrie is a tiny town about an hour south of Atlanta.  When Dempsey arrives, she meets many characters almost as colorful as the Pepto-Bismol-hued Birdsong: and they all seem to know her "bidness" (that's "business" for you folks who live north of the Mason-Dixon line).  The whole town knows about Birdsong, her scandalous firing from Hodder and Associates, and the FBI investigation. Dempsey finds that Birdsong also comes with a squatter: one of Dempsey's elderly distant cousins named Ella Kate and Shorty, her cocker spaniel.  The house needs a new roof, so Dempsey hires a talented and ingenious general contractor who helps Dempsey with the restoration. An over-zealous realtor appears on the scene and paints over the Pepto-Bismol pink with Benjamin Moore's Dill Pickle Green (I truly can't decide which color is worse).  There is also a father/son attorney duo hired to represent Dempsey as the FBI investigates her involvement in the scandal; the FBI agents are fun characters, too.

This book is a fun, easy read and would be a great book to take to the beach or lake this summer.  I enjoy books with the theme of "finding one's home" especially when it is completely unexpected by the character.  Plus, the plot has a heaping-helping of romance and DIY.  The Fixer Upper has been the perfect read for a very busy week.

Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill

Literary Friday: The Fixer Upper

Friday, April 22, 2011

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I am spending Good Friday with my husband and one of my daughters (the other one is in school today).  I hope all of you have a blessed Good Friday and a peaceful weekend.

I will post my Literary Friday post later today and Mamarazzi's My Happy List tomorrow. Hopefully I can "blog jog" later in the weekend.

Until next time...

Easter Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Good Friday

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Shelley won a gold medal today at the Greek Festival for writing the best original myth entitled "Why Hephaestus Invented Braces."  According to Shelley's myth, Hephaestus invented braces to straighten the teeth of one of Aphrodite's admirers. He was jealous of Aphrodite's many worshippers, and he was trying to "steal away" some of hers by making them even more beautiful by making braces for their teeth.

I am so proud of Shelley.  Her painting of Aphrodite was also a winner, too. She worked almost eight hours total on the project.

We are celebrating her success tonight with Chinese food, so I won't be able to post my Vintage Easter Post until tomorrow.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

An Update on Aphrodite

Thursday, April 21, 2011

{Festival}

Shelley's Greek Fest is today.  She dressed-up like Aphrodite.  The tank under her dress is to keep her in dress code.

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I am pretty busy today with preparations for the festival, so I apologize if I don't get around to visiting your blog today.

Until next time...

Have a blessed Maundy Thursday!
Ricki Jill

Get Her to the Greek

I planted pots filled with succulents over the weekend.  I am hoping they will be a little more heat tolerant than other plants.


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This is a little wall pocket I bought from the Etsy shop, Bella Inspirations.


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I planted three little plants in it.


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What new have you planted in your garden?

Linking to Fishtail Cottage's Flora Thursday, and Tootsie Time's Fertilizer Friday.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Succulent Pots

Wednesday, April 20, 2011


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                                            Tarnished Reflections
                                                     9" X 13"
                                              oil on gesso board


Linking to Faded Charm's White Wednesday, and Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday.










Don't forget our What We're Reading Linky Party tomorrow!  Bonnie @ The Boatwright Family is hosting.  Please share your book love with us!






What We're Reading


Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

A Glass and Metal Study

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

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I have been given some pretty crosses over the years.  I thought I would share them today for the beginning of Holy Week and Mosaic Monday @ little red house.

Easter blessings!
Ricki Jill

Holy Week Blessings

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Shelley participated in her first horse show of the season today at her barn, Fox Lake Farm.

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She placed third in equitation and first in her first jumping class, and third in her second jumping class.

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Shelley rode Buddy today. He was a good boy!


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Here are Shelley and two other riders in her class getting critiqued by the judges after their classes.

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It has been a perfect day for a horse show.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Horse Show at Fox Lake Farm

Saturday, April 16, 2011



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My Happy List only has one item this morning:


1.  We survived the storms and tornadoes.  We are safe. The sun is shining.  We are truly blessed.


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Linking to Mamarazzi's My Happy List.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

My Happy List #8

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This week I read City of Fallen Angels by Casandra Clare.  It is the fourth installment in The Mortal Instruments series, which is the best young adult series out there.  I am also a fan of her other series, The Infernal Devices. You can read my review of the first book in that series entitled Clockwork Angel here.

If you have not read the series yet, please quit reading this post and go out and either buy it or check it out from the library.  Although I will not post any spoilers about the fourth book, I am afraid that this post might contain some spoilers for the series.  Please be forewarned! Also, in my opinion, it would benefit you to read Clockwork Angel before reading City of Fallen Angels.

The action in City Of Fallen Angels begins about six weeks after the end of City of Glass. Clary Fray has returned to New York City to begin formal training as a Shadowhunter at the New York Institute. She is semi-famous now with Downworlders as she averted an all-out war in Idris. Her mother, Jocelyn, is planning her wedding to Luke, and is cautiously accepting Clary's relationship with her boyfriend, Jace.  Simon is having a more difficult time at home as his mother is suspicious of his behavior.  Plus, Simon is dating two pretty girls, Maia and Isabelle.  I think he is enjoying his newfound sexy-vampire persona a bit too much: neither girl knows that Simon is dating the other. Simon has become a player!

Clary should be on top of the world with all the good happening in her life, but she is not. Jace begins acting a bit distant toward Clary, and she cannot understand why.  Plus, Shadowhunters are turning-up dead all over New York in very suspicious areas meant to incriminate different Downworlder groups.  A new character enters the mix as well.  His name is Kyle, and he has a personal interest in Maia and Simon.

I must admit that I loved Book Four in this series; I could not put it down!  The antagonist is the most frighteningly evil being I have ever seen and makes Valentine look downright lovable.  I also liked the tie-in with Infernal Devices, as this series is the prequel to Mortal Instruments. Simon is truly developing as a character, and I hope that the next installment will have an even stronger Simon storyline.  Unlike some readers, I loved Jocelyn in this book.  So many young adult books portray the adults as either incompetent idiots or completely absent.  I think Joceyln is a great mom who only wants what's best for her daughter.

I am not sure I like where the Clary/Jace storyline is going.  I think they are a great couple, and I hope Jace is strengthened from the events in this book. There are so many cliffhangers at the end of this book: major cliffhangers.  I have so many questions about what happened, especially concerning Camille.  I think that some questions will be answered in Clockwork Prince (I hope).

I do not think this series is appropriate for younger teens unless they are very mature.  My oldest daughter Shanley loves Cassandra Clare's books, and I do, too.  Clare is a gifted urban fantasy writer, so if you enjoy the genre, you will love her writing.

Don't forget about our What We're Reading Linky Party on April 20th! Bonnie will be hosting this month.

What We're Reading

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Literary Friday: City of Fallen Angels

Friday, April 15, 2011


Hello!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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