Aprons - Stylish and Useful

Great-Grandmother's Apron

     Well, I hate to say but I strayed from my summer reading list that I posted earlier. I spotted a unique book about aprons. Sometimes I do that. It was a quick read. I couldn't help myself. Being a hugh fan of aprons, I had to know what was inside. My interest stems mainly from seeing my Great-Grandmother don many over the years and later knowing she had sewed all of them. 
     While at Cracker Barrel, after we had finished our meal, I saw this lovely full apron with a ruffled skirt that I knew would be perfect for Thanksgiving. Don't they have the best breakfast and unique clothing/items? 

     One summer I spotted this watermelon apron and thought it was just what I needed for when I'm cutting up melons. 

For preschool, I purchased a solid blue full apron to hold small puppets and toys for the children. While painting, the children often wear aprons to keep the paint splashes off of their nice clothes. 
     I have also given aprons as Christmas gifts. I think they express the love and hard work that goes into making a holiday meal and should go to women who tirelessly labor for others. Aprons help keep ones clothes nice and clean. Years ago, housewives would wear an apron throughout the day while going about their daily chores and activities. Sometimes men wear aprons while cooking or barbequing. Most professional chefs wear aprons. Many professions still require aprons. Do you wear an apron every time you prepare a meal or do you know someone who does?
     Many interesting historical facts are contained in the book. There are also sewing instructions on how to make a few types of aprons. Beautiful photographs of vintage aprons are shown. Tidbits of information, recipes and a section of memories throughout, titled, every apron tells a story is included. Although it was published in 2006, this book isn't going to go out of style.

The Apron Book. 

Promote Reading Challenge

To guess the name of the book and the author by reading a passage from the book.

     But it had also been suggested by the book that he had just taken out of the drawer. It was a peculiarly beautiful book. Its smooth creamy paper, a little yellowed by age, was of a kind that had not been manufactured for at least forty years past. He could guess, however, that the book was much older than that. He had seen it lying in the window of a frowsy little junk shop in a slummy quarter of the town (just what quarter he did not now remember) and had been stricken immediately by an overwhelming desire to possess it. Party members were supposed not to go into ordinary shops ("dealing on the free market," it was called), but the rule was not strictly keep, because there were various things such as shoelaces and razor blades which was impossible to get a hold of in any other way. He had given a quick glance up and down the street and then had slipped inside and bought the book for two dollars fifty. At the time he was not conscious of wanting it for any particular purpose. He had carried it guiltily home in his brief case. Even with nothing written in it, it was a compromising possession.

Promote Reading Challenge
To guess the name of the book and the author by reading a passage.

     She didn't know why it was so important, but she enjoyed the fact that the roomful of books belonged to the woman. It was she who introduced her to the library in the first place and gave her the initial even literal, window of opportunity. This way was better. It all seemed to fit.
      Just as she began to move again, she propped everything and asked, "This is your room, isn't it?"
     The mayor's wife tightened, "I used to read in here, with my son. But then..."
     Liesel's hand touched the air behind her. She saw a mother reading on the floor with a young boy pointing at the pictures and the words. Then she saw a war at the window. "I know."
     An exclamation entered from outside.
     "What did you say?!"
     Liesel spoke in a harsh whisper, behind her. "Keep quiet, Saukeri, and watch the street." To Ilsa Hermann, she handed the words slowly across. "So all these books..."
     "They're mostly mine. Some are my husband's, some were my son's, as you know."
     There was embarrassment now on Liesel's behalf. Her cheeks were set alight. "I always thought this was the mayor's room."
     "Why?" The woman seemed amused.
     Liesel noticed that there were also swastikas on the toes of her slippers. "He's the mayor. I thought he'd read a lot."
     The mayor's wife placed her hands in her side pockets. "Lately, it's you who gets the most use out of this room."
     "Have you read this one?" Liesel held up The Last Human Stranger.
     Ilsa looked more closely at the title. "I have, yes."
     "Any good?"
     "Not bad."
   

Summer Reading List

Have my funny books of course. Excited to read The Last Collection to review for Goodreads. Always learning and reading from The Bible. Others were chosen through friends suggestions. Can't wait to get started. Click to read about them if you are interested in any. Happy Summer Reading!

Clear Springs: A Family Story
Debby Wood's Florida: A slice of paradise
The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank
The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
The Rent Collector
Holy Bible: KJV Large Print Edition: Two-tone Pink / Brown (King James Version Bible)

     Voting is now closed for the NPR Summer Reader Poll: (Funny Books.) Here are the ones I submitted:
   Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat: Yuletide Yahoos, Ho-Ho-Humblebraggers, and Other Seasonal Scourges
Thursday Night Confessions...
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
   When My Love Returns from the Ladies Room, Will I Be Too Old to Care?(basically any Lewis Grizzard book) and
   Queen of the Turtle Derby and Other Southern Phenomena by Julia Reed
     These books will not only make you laugh out loud but some will make you cry while you're laughing. Not ever done that before; well everybody needs a good belly laugh by either getting one or more of these books for yourself or a friend or by watching a good comedy show! I think reading is much better. Don't you?

"A good laugh heals a lot of hurts." Madeleine L'Engle
"Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand." Mark Twain

What's the Name of the Book that includes these lines?

(She knelt before the bookcase as though it were an altar. She crossed her hands on her breast in an ecstasy of delicious indecision. Should she take the volume of
    The Sherlock Holmes Collection because it had a lot of reading to it? Or the slim volume of Sonnets from the Portuguese: A Celebration of Love because it was so beautiful-soft green leather binding and tasseled, gold cord bookmark?
Carl looked down at the heavy coil of hair at the back of her head, held in place by two bone hairpins. On an impulse, he pulled out the pins. She jumped up with a yelp when she felt her hair cascade down her back. She demanded her hairpins, and he challenged her to try to get them.)

The author also wrote one of my favorite books A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Harper Perennial Modern Classics).

All are excellent books. You might want to read them or give them as gifts.

THE LIFE CHANGING METHOD OF TIDYING UP

     Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Are you following through with them? Most people want to lose weight or make some type of lifestyle change. I chose to declutter and organize, hoping to reach the goal of having it finished by the end of the year. I invite you to participate along with me. Marie Kondo is a real motivator. Even though I'm not following all of her advice exactly, getting rid of unnecessary items is very important. Having an uncluttered life should make one feel lighter, right?
     I'm choosing to work on a different room each month. This is not the Marie Kondo way. She wants you to start with your clothes and gather all of them from all of the rooms in your home. Let's face it, many people have and store clothes all over the house and in many closets. If you do, you might want to watch her show on Netflix or read her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. You might decide to declutter using her method.                                                                                                                                             

Starting in the kitchen on my "once in a lifetime task" has already given me the confidence to move forward. If you would like to join me in this adventure, you still have time, the month is not over. You can start with any room you like or follow the Konmari method. I am starting with the kitchen because I like to cook so I am needing everything organized and cleaned. There is also a chance to redecorate while tidying up. Do we really need all those bowls, dishes, tupperware and silverware? We might be surprised with what we can live without. My kitchen drawers are no longer full of junk with everything just thrown in. I plan to do a lot of tossing, donating or selling. Anyone need a juicer? I haven't used it in a long time and already have a blender.
     You know when you clean up you find items you had been looking for; it always happens. I have found a few things. I encourage you to declutter and simplify your life along with me. I have to go clean out the refrigerator.


                                                                                 
                                                                       

WHISKEY IN A TEACUP

by Reese Witherspoon

     While visiting with my friend, Barb, at Barnes and Noble, I picked up this delightful book. We chatted (it's so fun visiting with a friend that shares your same interests - ours are writing and books.) On this day we discussed our writing group. I got caught up on the happenings. I never get to attend because I am working. We also discussed The Great American Read and as with all my book friends I asked her to choose her favorite ten out of the 100 that are on the list. It is fun to compare and see who likes the same books. Our top ten differ because she loves mysteries and I enjoy anything but, which goes to show you can still read in different genres and share the love of reading! 

     Reese Witherspoon writes of all things Southern in her book Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking BiscuitsSee how I used her first and last name. You will learn why when you read her book. You will relate and wish that she lived next door. Everyone has that one favorite movie that she stars in; mine was Walk the Line (Widescreen Edition). She was southern as southern gets while playing June Carter Cash. She speaks about it and country music while including a southern playlist which lists a couple of my favorites - Boondocks and Jolene - a chapter is included concerning the writer of that song that you won't want to skip. 

     She shares beautiful photographs of her family and home. I believe all the recipes she has added may well have you placing the book into your southern cookbook collection. My favorites that I plan to try out are: Smoked Pecans, Mint Juleps, Lemonade Stand Lemonade, Fried Okra, Strawberry Fields Salad and Pecan Crusted Chicken Skewers. 

     I will end my book review so that I do not spoil it for you. But I do want to tell you that I think this would be the perfect gift for a friend. She includes the chapter, The Beauty of Female Friendship. I ended my day by visiting with my friend Debbie. We also discussed books. I don't know what I would do without my friends. I thank God for them and pray he blesses them because they sure are a blessing to me.

     My favorite parts in the book are the road trip games because I just played one not too long ago, her love of books and the fact that her and her mother watched Saturday Night Live together. She can't go without her lipstick and I can't go without my lip gloss. She loves wallpaper and so do I. I enjoyed her writing about honeysuckle. If you know me, you know I love honeysuckle. I would place this book in the categories of non-fiction, southern, cooking, and memoir/biography.

     

Faith to Foster

by T.J. and Jenn Menn

     T.J. and Jenn Menn's Faith to Foster: An All-American Story of Loving the Least of These will inspire and inform you about the ins/outs and ups/downs of the children's foster care program. Together they tell their experiences of fostering at least 22 children. This young couple manages daily life by making important decisions as a team. They encourage each other and are brave enough to say yes when many say no. A child in need or trouble would be lucky to have the Menns as foster parents. They share their faith and encourage others to become foster parents. Whether you're interested in becoming a foster parent or not, this book is a great read. The Menns found their calling in life and encourage you to find yours. Truly an inspiring story that tells how God used them to make a difference in the lives of children and their community.

Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

     Ira Wagler writes a memoir detailing an Amish way of Life. In it, he tells his story of growing up in the Amish community and church. We find out he has a difficult time staying knowing there is a different kind of world outside of it. Long hours of hard work, dedication and regulations are what is required to be Amish. Several times he leaves and rejoins the community. Unfortunately heartbreaks and broken ties occur but Ira, with a clear mind, eventually finds a a life with an unknown future that he can claim for his own, which includes God and for him means - "unchanging and always there."


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The Little Book of Snowflakes by Kenneth Libbrecht
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful book for this time of year. Pictures of snowflakes are majestically captured by a photographic telescope especially built by the author. Each unique snowflake is shown in an up-close and technical view. One is able to see what our Lord masterfully designed when viewing the pictures of this lovely book. What a blessing that the author chose to show us what we are unable to see with our own eyes.


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