Oh, Autumn

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"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." - Albert Camus

Kafkaesque

This tremendous world I have inside of me. How to free myself, and this world, without tearing myself to pieces. And rather tear myself to a thousand pieces than be buried with this world within me. - Kafka

The Old Man

Once upon a time in 8th grade, I was introduced to Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. Immediately, I thought, "Ick. How long was that turtle description? The whole book just felt way too long. I'm never going to read Steinbeck ever again unless I'm forced to." Well, it's many many many moons later. I have read The Pearl, Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row and Travels with Charley. Somehow, good ol' Steinbeck has grown on me. I'm now onto his epic classic East of Eden. It's HUGE! That's okay I like big books and I cannot lie. 

"All I'm Saying Is, Kindness Don't Have No Boundaries."

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This summer has been the summer of reading. One of my current summer reads is The Help. Yes, the book that every book club lady has been talking about forever. Well, I read up to page around 300 and had to take a break. I just couldn't bear to read on. Nothing too terrible had happened to the main characters just yet. A few broken hearts and embarrassing moments here and there. The suspense is totally building. I couldn't bear to hear about awful things happening to any of them. I was telling my hubster these sentiments. He just giggled a bit. How could I be so attached to the characters? Well, that's how I know it's so well written when I'm that emotionally attached. It's such a heartfelt read. If you like The Help, I totally recommend The Color of Water.

My Kind of Party

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On Night

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"Night, the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree."

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Restless

"My soul is impatient with itself, as with a bothersome child; its restlessness keeps growing and is forever the same. Everything interests me, but nothing holds me. I attend to everything, dreaming all the while."


- Fernando Pessoa

What I Carry

"...she believes so much in me. It's like a rock in the center of my chest, her certainty that I'm special. That I'll make something beautiful and brilliant out of my life..."

from Sister of My Heart

"There is Nothing Free Except the Grace of God."

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At the airport, I impulsively bought True Grit. The description in the back and the first paragraph totally caught my attention. I love reading books with a strong female lead. Mattie is a fourteen year old girl and the main character of the book. She retells her story of how she sought to avenge her father's untimely and unnecessary death. Mattie's narrative voice is full of spunk and determination. At times, she sounds childish. At times, her insights are so profound. It's an easy read. Good for any plane ride or day at the beach. 

Day 3: A Book You Love

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One of my all time favorite books is Le Petit Prince. I really wished that I found it sooner, but I believe that I found it at the right time. It was on the verge of adulthood that I read this book. There are so many truths about adulthood. I carry this quotation close to my heart, "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." It's the quotation that I live by. I'm looking forward to sharing this book with my soybeantios.

Why Read?

Why are we reading, if not in hope of beauty laid bare, life heightened and its deepest myster probed? - Annie Dillard (1945-Present)

Beyond Measure

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure,
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented,
and fabulous--
Actually, who are you not to be?


You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people
Won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone,
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
Give other people permission to do the same. 


- Marianne Williamson from The Art of Possibility

Got the Gimmes: E.B. White

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Books, Books, & More Books

This is my favorite bookstore in town. Why? It's named after my favorite medieval author. It's mascot is a cat. It has the most unique book selection. It has the most enchanting children section.

R, R, & W

My plans for this weekend: 

Rest:

Read:

Watch: 

Les Champignons & Bonheur

Over this holiday break, I began reading The Geography of Bliss. In the chapter about Switzerland, biophilia is introduced. It's about our relationship with nature. "Proximity to nature doesn't just give us a warm, fuzzy feeling. It affects our physiology in real, measurable ways. It's not a giant leap to conclude that proximity to nature makes us happier." 

Before I get all into nature, I must admit that I haven't always been nature's biggest fan. It wasn't until my hubster took me along on his hikes that I began to entertain the idea of going out and enjoying nature. Most important, it wasn't until I had a camera in my hand that I really enjoyed being out in nature. I love looking at the details. After seeing this fantastic mushroom photo, I went out on my own quest to find some interesting mushrooms to photograph. Yes, I was happy when I stumbled across these toadstools. 

Thanks Olivia!

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I just wrapped up working with the 2nd grade kiddos. One of my favorite memories is when a kiddo coming up to me in the library. I had introduced her to Olivia a few weeks ago. Ever since then, she's checked out an Olivia book each week. This week and last week, she came up to me and said, "Thank you Mrs. Trac for showing me Olivia. I now like the books a lot." There's nothing better than sharing my favorite books with the kiddos. I love Olivia because she's hilarious. Ian Falconer simple illustrations are so lively. His books remind me of my favorite books when I was a wee one.

Inspired By: Suzy Lee

From Wave

From Shadow

I am always mesmerized with books by Suzy Lee. Wave was the first of her books that caught my eye at our local bookstore. Then, I saw Mirror. Her latest book Shadow just had to be mine. It's amazing how Suzy Lee can tell a story without words. Her illustrations speak volumes. Each of her books are endearing and enchanting. They're made of sweetest aspects of childhood. 

On Courage

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage" - Anais Nin  (1903-1977)

On Happiness Part Deux

“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you”

-Nathaniel Hawthorne

from Ninotchka's Art & Photography FB Page