Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If you haven't read this book, immediately stop what you are doing & get to the nearest library and check out this book! (If you are into audiobooks be sure to listen instead of read the narrator is excellent.)

I cannot believe I waited this long to read/listen to this fabulous novel.  (BR - why didn't you tell me I HAD to read it ASAP?)



Let's see, what's not to love? It's set in Savannah during the late 60s.  and the characters are a group of strong but diverse women. 


I wish I could just jump into the book a la Thursday Next.


And I don't know which character I love better or would want to be ... CeeCee, Aunt Tootie, Oletta, or Mrs. Goodpepper.


I was a bit nervous when I began it, poor CeeCee has a challenging life with her mentally unstable mother, and thought something awful would happen to CeeCee.  But it turns out a-okay.


This is a wonderful story about the healing power of love.  I wish we all had such a tribe as CeeCee does.


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7 months, 4 days: a confession

Hello my name is Jane and I am a pattern-holic.

It's been three days since I purchased a pattern.  I was doing so well.

I hadn't bought a pattern all year but I couldn't keep away and visited JoAnn's on Monday to celebrate the national holiday in typical American style: I consumed.

I only purchased four new patterns (McCalls) for the bargain price of 99¢ each.

Yahoo!

I'm sure you're dying to know what I purchased, no?

M6346 - a loose-fitting dress with optional ruffles

M6277 - a lined, princess seamed dress with optional flutter sleeves (Laura Ashley)

M5805 - another lined dress with a fitted bodice and empire waist (Laura Ashley)

and M5718 - a loose fitting, lined coat or jacket with yoke (I just can't help myself when it comes to coats.  Someday I'll be brave enough to make one.)

Either of the Laura Ashley dresses would be perfect for Mena's theme for Sew Weekly: American Apparel

What will I make first?  I need a plan. 

Wordless Wednesday: Amazing Amaryllis

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I really wanted to give this 3 stars but I cannot bring myself to do it.



First, it is an enjoyable book.  I loved the stories about her family & her Mennonite background.  But she needs a better editor.  Perhaps I would feel different if I had read it instead of listening to it.


I don't know.


I really didn't like how the story was laid out.  The reader gets the impression that out of the blue her husband leaves her.  We find out later on that their relationship had always been tumultuous.


Then in the chapter about her brothers she (or the narrator) regularly interchange her brothers names.  One minute Caleb is the older one and Aaron is the younger, then vice-versa.  It was very confusing.


I also had hoped for a little more depth on why she left the Mennonite faith when the culture is so obviously ingrained in her personality.  Plus, I wanted her to delve more into her relationship with her father.  He is mentioned in passing.


A bit disappointing intellectually, but cute anecdotes about growing up Mennonite.







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July 2011 Mini Goals

One of the many excellent blogs I read is Move to Portugal.  It's about a lovely woman, Laura, in the UK who is simplifying her life and working towards the grand goal of moving to Portugal.

Every month she posts about her progress on her goals.  I am going to borrow the idea.

So ... let's do it.

Mini goals for July:

1. Lose 5#
2. Exercise four times a week: two aerobic & two yoga sessions
3. Read one Shakespearean play
4. Sew two dresses (i.e. FINISH, including hems & buttons)
5. Design a new header for blog
6. Save $100