Musings From Inside the Hobbit Door

Waxing Sentimental

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:14:00 +0000

Lately I've been making two very yummy bread recipes: Artisan Bread and Grandma's French Bread. Both are fantastic. However, today I was feeling a bit sentimental. I had a craving for bread that I have a personal connection to. There is something soothing about making "the family bread." It's the bread my mother makes, my sisters make, my grandmother and aunts make and that my great grandmother made. There is a sense of history and connectedness when I make it using more muscle memory than brain memory. It will be the first bread I teach my girls to make. It is the first bread dough they ever tasted. It is the first bread I ever made. It is the bread that is served both for every day and holidays at home. I used to long to make the "fancier" breads. By "fancier" that pretty much meant to me, anything but that bread. Now I love the rhythm that comes with kneading the dough I've been kneading since I was in junior high (maybe earlier, I can't remember for sure). In fact, I think I'm old enough to say I've known how to make this bread most of my life. This bread symbolizes home for me and the home I'm making for Ralph and the girls. In fact, I taught Ralph to make this bread too.

Tonight is one of those nights when it is important to focus on the things that matter. Like fresh bread that is creating a sense of heritage for my girls. Feeling Bug-A-Boo pop, jump and move inside me. Seeing my girls work out some of their excess energy by having an adventure chasing a fly in the house. This way I don't focus on mounding dishes, dirty floors and the fact that there is a fly in my house.

What makes you feel sentimental? What connects you to your heritage or what things are you creating as a heritage for your kids? Is it food like me or something else entirely?

Nugget says, "Isn't my scarf pretty?" and Zita having some snuggle time with Daddy.

30 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:19:00 +0000

The Sound of Red Returning

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:06:00 +0000

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group and Kregel Publications for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a book that sounded extremely intriguing to me but I didn't know what to expect. Sue Duffy was a new author to me. I was a little skeptical when I got the book because it was thinner than what I expected based on the description of the book.

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. I could not put this book down after picking it up. It was very well written with some fascinating and surprising plot twists. I did not expect the plot twists (always a good sign). It had good pacing and I did not feel like quality was sacrificed by the length. There was sufficient fleshing out of each character without getting lost in rabbit trails. I also felt there were sufficient loose ends to attract me to the next book in the series. I will definitely be reading the other two books.

About the book:

After losing everyone she loves, concert pianist Liesl Bower has nowhere to go but to escape into her music. Searching for the peace she usually finds in her concertos and sonatas, Liesl can’t shake the feeling that she is being haunted by her past . . . and by someone following her. When she spots a familiar and eerie face in the audience of a concert she’s giving for the president in Washington, DC, the scariest day of her life comes back to her with a flash. It has been fifteen years since Liesl watched her beloved Harvard music mentor assaulted on a dark night in Moscow and just as long since the CIA disclosed to her that he’d been spying for Russia. She had seen that man--that eerie face--the night Professor Devoe was attacked. And now he’s back--and coming for her.

On the run and struggling to rely on the protection of CIA agent Ava Mullins and handsome newspaper reporter Cade O’Brien, Liesl learns she isthe prey of an underground cell of Russian KGB agents determined to restore their country to its former Soviet might. But what she doesn’t know is that she is in possession of something--a piece of sheet music--that Russian intelligence is now frantic to find. Inside that music is a secret code, the hidden transcriptions of her deceased mentor, that clearly identify a Russian mole operating inside Israel’s Department ofDefense, a mole with enough power and access to execute a daring assassination that no one would see coming.

Caught in a deadly conflict between American and Russian undercover agents, this innocent young pianist is just trying to survive her own personal trauma. Through it all, Liesl must learn that no matter how dark her world grows or how fiercely her enemies pursue her, God is still in control--if only she can yield herself to His grace. Read an excerpt here: http://www.sueduffybooks.com/#!vstc1=books

About the author:

Sue Duffy is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in Moody Magazine, The Presbyterian Journal, Sunday Digest, and TheChristian Reader. She is the author of Mortal Wounds (Barbour, 2001) and Fatal Loyalty (Kregel, 2010). Sue has also contributed to Stories for a Woman’s Heart (Multnomah). She and her husband, Mike, have three grown children.

Find out more at www.sueduffybooks.com.

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/8B9HT

About the giveaway and party:

Win a Kindle Fire from @SueDuffy2 and @KregelBooks in the "Red Returning" Giveaway!

Sue Duffy and her publisher, Kregel Publications, are celebrating the release of The Sound of Red Returning by giving away a Kindle Fire prize package worth over $200 to one lucky winner!!!! (1/23-2/11)

Enter the Sue Duffy’s Giveaway today and you could win:

* A brand new Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi

* The Sound of Red Returning (Book One in the Red Returning series) by Sue Duffy

To enter click one of the icons below. But, hurry! The giveway ends on 2/11. Sue will be announcing the winner of the “Red Returning” Giveaway on February 13th on the Litfuse website!

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Blog tour schedule

More Grandparent Love

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:34:00 +0000

So I've been a little lax on posting lately and I realized the girls are changing so much! We needed to get a few videos up here for the family to catch up on these sweet and squirely girls. This is a bit of bed time fun I caught tonight when I came home from work. Enjoy!

A Little Something for the Grandparents

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:20:00 +0000

Here is a sweet little video that will probably only interest the grandparents. Nugget is just singing and playing with the Noah's ark animals. It was just so sweet and cute I had to share. Enjoy!

A Snowy Night's Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:38:00 +0000

I haven't posted about our food in awhile. Trust me, we are still cooking and baking up a storm here at Helm's Deep. Tonight I made Minnesota Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup. It just sounded so perfect for this snow day. I had a little trauma while making it, though. I only had 0.5 cup of wild rice soup. As Ralph had to run out today anyway, he went to Trader Joe's to get some. We know they at least will always have wild rice. Well, when he got home with it, I realized it was wild rice from CALIFORNIA!!! {enter shudder here} How does one make a MN wild rice soup with wild rice from CA?! Well, I just had to go with it but it's very sad. The soup, however, was very good. We absolutely loved it.

Now, to make a dinner of soup perfect, you need to have bread. I have been wanting to make bread bowls for awhile and decided today was the perfect day. These Italian Bread Bowls are absolutely fantastic! They are not hard at all and definitely add something to the soup. I will be making these a lot in the future. Check out both recipes I highly recommend them both.

Sleep Is A Beautiful Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:37:00 +0000

I woke up very refreshed this morning after basically passing out last night. We've had several weeks of various sleep disturbances with the girls: colds, nightmares, loosing Nuks, etc. We were starting to think that we would not sleep through the night again until after Bug-A-Boo comes and starts to sleep through the night. You know, like in October.

Then a miracle happened. Despite their colds and coughing, they went to bed in the same room AND slept through the night for the first time in weeks. It really has been weeks. I feel awesome! I bet Ralph feels even better because he gets up on his own the nights before I go to work. He thinks I should be well rested to hand out narcotics and monitor sick people. He's a smart guy. Definitely a keeper.

Now I've been following along with Ann Voskamp and her Joy Dare. I think it's been helping my perspective overall but I'm telling you today! Today I feel like I could blow up my 1000 Gifts App. Hearing the girls playing happily in their room until just before 9. Making Egg Nog pancakes, trying to use up left over Egg Nog. Finding syrup in the pantry when I thought we were out. My yummy coffee this morning. Ralph meeting with a new client. I can see some sun shining through the clouds.

Now, not that my day's perfect. I need to finish a project by Sunday and it probably won't happen. I have one extremely fussy girl, despite sleeping all night. My house needs some attention but probably won't get it until next week due to a crazy weekend and the above mentioned project. However, it all seems much more tolerable with a little sleep under my belt.

27 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:30:00 +0000

Nap/Rest Time Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:35:00 +0000

Now Nugget is mostly potty trained during the day. For her nap/rest time, we no longer use a diaper and she just calls us if she has to go. Today I heard her calling and went to get her. I open the door to see her wearing her shirt and a pair of tights instead of the jeans she had been in. The room also smelled strongly of Lysol. She said she had to go potty so away we went. She is also wearing a different pair of panties and they are on backward.

While in the bathroom, I asked her what happened to her jeans? Nugget says, "They got wet." From what, I ask? "From my potty. I cleaned it," she says. With what? "The spray." Where is it? "Behind my shoes." Where are your jeans? "In my closet," this is where we keep their dirty clothes. Then when she finishes going, we go back in her room. She shows me where she cleaned the floor with "the spray" and laid a diaper liner over it "cuz it's still wet." Sure enough she has stashed the Lysol from the top of the closet (which she climbed the shelves of) behind her basket of shoes.

The whole time I just nod and keep calm. I can't reprimand her because I'm trying so hard not to laugh, my eyes water from the effort. She was quite pleased with herself for fixing her problem. It doesn't even occur to her that she should never have had the Lysol, isn't supposed to be in her closet or drawers (despite being given explicit instructions at the onset of rest time) or that she should have let me clean the mess. I can't imagine where she gets her independence!

Santa

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:41:00 +0000

Cute dresses from our friend Joy.

We told the girls on Friday that Saturday we would be taking them to see Santa Claus. Nothing special, just a Santa at the local Fred Meyer. Nugget woke up bright and early so excited to see Santa. She kept asking, "Are we going to see Santa now?" When we got to the store she practically ran down the aisles dragging Ralph with her. She got all the way up to where he was (wonderfully, there was no line!) and promptly hid her face in my side. She wouldn't go anywhere near him. It was very funny. Zita sat up on his lap briefly and then broke down. Oh, well, maybe next year. They thought it was way more fun to walk us around and show us toys than to sit with Santa and tell him what they wanted.

Christmas Baking

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:52:00 +0000

The Christmas baking around here started with us letting the girls decorate some sugar cookies. It was messy and tons of fun. The girls had so much fun and did I mention made a terrible mess? In a future post I'll tell you about how I made the page above. It's from My Memories Suite. It's such a fun program, looking forward to sharing it with you.

Then tonight I made a batch of these Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies. However, you know I can't make any recipe using a mix. This recipe called for a cake mix so I switched it up a bit. It just so happens that Pioneer Woman has our favorite Red Velvet Cake recipe in her book. I decided to use that recipe for the "mix" part and move forward. It took a bit of tweaking on the liquid side of things but I figured it out. They are super yummy and I definitely recommend making these sooner rather than later. I'm not sure why but I always think of crinkle cookies as "Christmas cookies." I think I remember Mom making chocolate crinkle cookies most often around Christmas time. I think these will be part of our regular Christmas tradition.

What have you been baking lately?

Bug-A-Boo's First Picture

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:45:00 +0000

Can't wait to meet this little peanut!

Nugget's Third Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:25:00 +0000

Such a fun day! We had our Life Group family (both some past and present) over for a family style birthday party. Unfortunately, I did not get as many pics as I was planning on but we had a good day. Thankfully, every one was very gracious as I was not quite as prepared in the set up department as I had been hoping for. It was fun to have everyone pitch in to help, though.

The birthday girl was so excited to have everyone there. You could tell she really got it this year as opposed to her 1st or 2nd birthday parties. It was fun and sad to see her growing up all at the same time. Do you see the picture of her feeding the baby? I almost can't believe she's not the baby anymore! We put her hair up in rags for the first time last night. The curls were really pretty in the beginning but they faded fast. I may try hair spray next time.

Pinterest gets all the credit for my inspiration. This pin was my original inspiration. I found it by accident when looking through the online mag that it's in. Someone had pinned something else in the magazine, etc, etc. Then this pin was the inspiration for a lot of the food ideas. Ralph even drilled holes in a log for me like they did! So fun. We made this Best Chocolate Cake for Thanksgiving and decided it deserved a repeat performance at the birthday party. A word to the wise, if using a spring form pan, line it with parchment paper first. We did not do this at Thanksgiving and it was a problem. A big problem.

Thanks to my husband, Ian and Matt for getting our table outside so I could have the set up I was envisioning in my head. And then Ralph and Ian for putting it all back again. Erinn and Joyce helped me finish off the food prep. It truly was a community effort. Such a fun day to celebrate a very fun little girl.

P.S. I forgot to add the link for Nugget's outfit inspiration or for the AWESOME chili recipe Ralph found that is now on my Pinterest.

Nugget's Third Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:27:00 +0000

Nugget's day in pictures with an interview at the end.

Our favorite cinnamon rolls made by Ralph.

Her "present baby" she named Susie. Took me 2 years to make but she's done! Check out this original post.

Waking up to balloons.

Birthday Breakfast

Playing with our presents.

Flower blueberry lemon cupcakes per Nugget's request.

1. What is your favorite color? purple

2. What is your favorite toy? Scout

3. What is your favorite fruit? Banana (pronounced "panana')

4. What is your favorite tv show? Yo Gaba Gaba

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Honey and biscuits (what she had for lunch today)

6. What is your favorite outfit? my polka dot dress (currently wearing)

7. What is your favorite game? Muppets

8. What is your favorite snack? Gold fish

9. What is your favorite animal? dog

10. What is your favorite song? ABC Song

11. What is your favorite book? Amelia Bedelia

12. Who is your best friend? Auntie Amanda

13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Bike (just got a tricycle for her birthday)

15. What is your favorite drink? water

16. What is your favorite holiday? Easter

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Scout, the baby (she got for her birthday), blankie, Nuk

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Yogurt (plain Greek with fruit and honey)

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? burritos

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A baby in my tummy (I am pregnant)

She is such a funny, smart and beautiful girl. I am so proud to be her mama. She can say her ABC's, recognize many of the letters, and count to 20. She loves to laugh and play and love on her sister. I love her smile and infectious laugh. She is stubborn and strong willed. She is fearless until the lights go out. She cuddles more now than she ever did as a baby or toddler. Such a precious girl.

Nugget's Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:42:00 +0000

Meet Susie. She arrived just in time for Nugget's third birthday. Nugget named her herself. More pics to come.

20 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:19:00 +0000

I thought that at 20 weeks I could start posting belly pics. I have had to be in maternity clothes from about 6 weeks on but in my vanity, wanted to wait until it was more "legitimate" to be showing. *grin* The coffee mug is there for perspective. Pretty soon Bug-A-Boo will create a nice shelf for me to rest my coffee on. Hee, hee. Have a happy Thanksgiving, all! I'm off to make some Layered Jello, Pumpkin Cheese Cake, Best Chocolate Cake, Cranberry Sauce and Fresh Green Bean Casserole.

Over the Rhine

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:50:00 +0000

Friday night found us once again at The Triple Door. We were there for our annual Over the Rhine concert. It was such a an awesome thing to find that they make an annual trip out here each November. Last year we were able to go with our dear friend Ian. This year we attended with our good friends Matt and Erinn. It was such a fun double date! It's been so long since we've had one of those.

As I sat there, finishing my dinner and enjoying the music I was amazed at how far we've come. Ralph introduced me to Over the Rhine. We've now been married seven years. Some days, that is still shocking to me. I feel like we've only just begun. I suppose when you compare it to my grandparents almost 60 years, it really is nothing.

OTR @ The Triple Door November 2011

A blast from the past! From the first OTR concert we went to together! It was one of the Christmas shows.

Over the Rhine always makes me think of our friends. They are the music we would plan parties with and create annual traditions around. Friday I was thinking about all of our dear friends some back in Dayton and some who've moved on as we have that we've enjoyed OTR with. I was also loving that here we have friends who also enjoy them and that we are able to make new traditions, memories and connections here. We are so blessed in the friendships we have.

The Volga Germans

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:17:00 +0000

This is the second book of The Volga Flows Forever Trilogy. I was really looking forward to reading it but due to receiving it a wee bit late, have been unable to get it read in time to review. I did want to tell you about a giveaway for the first book, Catherine. Head on over and check it out! Also, just because I haven't had a chance to review it doesn't mean you can't hear about it. Check out the tour page.

About the Book The Volga Germans
The Meiningers had set out for Russia seeking to improve their lives, to escape the political and religious turmoil often surrounding their otherwise picturesque German homes and villages. They dreamed of the faraway place awaiting them. They colored the soil beneath the vast steppe rich and black in their minds ready to be tilled. And there would be a neat little house ready to receive them. In their wildest dreams, they could not have imagined what actually awaited their arrival. There were no houses, no fields nothing but grass as far as the eye could see. It was almost evening; they were hungry, wet and cold and felt like orphaned children.

These German immigrants and their descendants civilized this bleak Russian frontier, converted the harsh steppe into fields of waving grain dotted with wind-driven flour mills, and in this isolated place, developed a culture that was uniquely their own. They survived savage attacks of marauding tribes, the unpredictable often harsh climate, and the vagaries of tsarist edicts. Sigrid tells the fascinating story of these remarkable people in The Volga Germans.

The Volga Germans is the second volume in Sigrid Weidenweber’s trilogy The Volga Flows Forever. Catherine, the first volume, brings to life the fascinating historical character of Catherine the Great who invited her native countrymen to settle the Russian frontier. In the final volume, From Gulag to Freedom, she follows the Volga Germans through the hardships of collectivization and deportation during the Soviet years to finally immigrate to the San Joaquin Valley of Central California.

Memories and Mayhem

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:02:00 +0000

A picture of our evening. Zita dressed in Nugget's Pooh costume, sobbing over we're not sure what.
Both girls have colds and are worn out from a busy weekend without their parents. Ralph was running media at a men's retreat and I was working. They were in the care of friends from our LifeGroup.

Nugget says out of the blue, "She's the crying-est Pooh ever." Makes me think about a conversation my Mom and a dear friend, Patty, had one day in the house I grew up in. I can still picture it. We still had the orange carpet and orange counters. Mom and Patty were sitting at the kitchen table. We somehow got onto the subject of changing a baby's diaper. I am not sure if we were talking about one of us or one of Patty's girls (she just had 2 at the time). When Patty made the comment, "She was the pee-ingest baby ever!" All of us got the giggles and laughed until we cried. Such a funny random memory. Makes me smile to this day.

It was nice to have a memory that made me smile in the midst of the tears and crankiness that surrounded us yesterday. Thought I'd share one of the happy moments of Zita playing independently. She is growing so much!

A Lasting Impression

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:57:00 +0000

This book was provided by LitFuse Publicity in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun book to read! I could not put it down. I honestly can't remember the last time I read a book set in the Civil War era. For awhile, it seemed every book I came across was using either the Civil War or one of the World Wars for their setting. It got to be where I just started avoiding them. This book caught my eye, however. If you're looking for a fun, light hearted book with a good message this is it. The story is enjoyable and the love story is very sweet. The themes that would naturally follow a Civil War era book are present but not the focus of this book. The characters have their own stories to share. It prominently features one of my favorite coffee drinks, cafe au lait. That's always a win in my world.

I do not believe I have read anything else by Tamera Alexander. I am now curious about her other books and will have to look them up. If you haven't ready anything by her either, I recommend starting with this one. Thanks for the great read, Tamera!

About the book:

A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

About Tamera:

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious--and precocious--silky terrier.

For more information please visit www.tameraalexander.com

Link to buy the book:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0764206222/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=sprightly-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0764206222&adid=1SZK3Y9GZE37X3HZPY6J

About the contest:

Kindle Fire Giveaway and Facebook Party from Tamera Alexander!

While Tamera and her book, A Lasting Impression, are traveling across the country virtually
(with a few international stops as well!), she will be hosting a Kindle
Fire Giveaway (11/4 - 11/15) and preparing for a lavish Southern-Style Facebook Party (11/15) (dripping with hospitality, of course). She will be giving away Southern Food Baskets, books, and an array of other fabulous freebies! Don't miss a minute of the fun. Swoon!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 15th. Winner will be announced at A Lasting Impression Facebook Party on the 15th. Tamera will be wrapping up the A Lasting Impression celebration with an author chat and giving away Southern Food Baskets (Loveless Cafe Food Baskets, books, Amazon & Starbucks gift certificates, and copies of Christy Jordan's Southern Plate cookbook), six gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com, and copies of A Lasting Impression! So grab your copy of A Lasting Impression (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Tamera on the evening of November 15th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about the 1860's?) and lots of Southern-inspired giveaways (complete listing here).

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!

Blog Tour Schedule

Catherine

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:24:00 +0000

This book was provided by Media Guests in exchange for my honest review

I must admit I was so excited to read this book. The first chapter captivated me. In fact, the whole first half of the book captivated me. Catherine the Great was someone I remember reading about in history. I could not really remember that much about her. I was intrigued to learn more about her in this engaging format (more engaging than as straight up history book).

However, I felt the book climaxed shortly after she was crowned. After that, I felt like it just drug through her reign. Yes, lots of things happened, many wars, etc but it felt purposeless after the struggle of getting her to the throne. The last chapter or so right before she died were also very interesting. However, there was a lot of book between those two parts.

I'm hoping the other 2 books in this Volga Flows Forever Triology flow a little better (pardon the pun).

About the Book: Catherine: Inside the Heart and Mind of a Great Monarch…

“You look astonishingly pretty,” admits Johanna when Sophia steps out of her bedroom dressed in Ulrika’s magnificent gown. Sophia is stunned, halting in mid-step. This is rare praise from her cold mother, so she must, indeed, look very good. At Frederick’s side during the elaborate court dinner, Sophia shines and sparkles with youth and wit. The monarch is very pleased with his choice. Indeed, he is so enamored with the girl that he opens his purse to outfit mother and daughter, both woefully deficient in material matters appropriate for court life.

So begins the transformation of Princess Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst into Catherine the Great of Russia. The personal and professional triumphs and tribulations of this remarkable woman are retold by Sigrid Weidenweber, whose research into the life of Catherine reveals a new perspective on Catherine, from the inside out. Sigrid portrays with heartfeld understanding what it was like to have been such a major European political and military, social and cultural figure during the eighteenth century.

Purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Inside-Monarch-Forever-ebook/dp/B00580JPEE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320098424&sr=8-1

About Sigrid Weidenweber: Born in Germany in 1941, Sigrid Weidenwber remembers the horrific aftermath of fascism. At the end of the war, she found herself living under communism. After the Berlin Wall was built, she managed to escape the repressive environment with the help of friends and a French passport. To this day she does not speak French.

She holds degrees in medical technology, psychology and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Concordia University of Portland, Oregon for her trilogy “The Volga Flows Forever.” In her trilogy she brings to life Catherine the Great in her multiple roles as monarch, woman, lover, mother, grandmother and head of the general staff of the army, in Volume one. The following two historical volumes deal with the Volga Germans brought to Russia by Catherine’s edict.

Three years ago she moved to Santa Rosa Valley, California from Portland Oregon. She has passionately embraced California together with her family that also resides here.

Visit the Author’s Website

The Baker's Wife

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

This book was provided in exchange for my honest review by Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson.

I loved this book. It was refreshingly different from a lot of what I've been reading lately. Once I picked this up, I really didn't want to put it down. The author was new to me. I haven't read anything else she's written. After this, I will be looking for more books by her.

I loved the originality of the story. Her characters felt real and weren't perfect but not exaggerated in their imperfections. Each of their stories added something to the whole. I love the added spiritual dimension, the inexplicable and unexplainable.

I loved the connection to baking bread that Aubrey and Geoff do together, first as a hobby and second as a career. Ralph and I love to cook and bake together. We love to use it to bless other people. I really connected with that part of the story as a result.

I strongly recommend this book and truly enjoyed it.

About the book:

To save her husband and son, Audrey Bofinger must rescue her enemy.

The Bofinger family has lost their church ministry in a scandal exposed by Officer Jack Mansfield. Hoping to heal and to restore their reputation, Audrey, Geoff, and their son Ed take over a failing bakery in the small community.

Driving to the bakery one morning, blinded by fog, Audrey hits a motor scooter owned by Jack’s wife, Julie. The mangled scooter is crushed and bloody. But Julie is nowhere to be found. Her disappearance coincides with a sudden illness that nearly cripples Audrey.

Jack believes the Bofingers have hurt Julie to take revenge on him, but the evidence dries up and her trail goes cold. At a breaking point, Jack takes the tiny bakery and its patrons hostage, issuing only one demand: Audrey has six hours to return Julie to him, or lose Geoff and Ed forever.

With only an excruciating and intuitive gift, an ex-con, and Julie’s estranged daughter to help search for clues, Audrey starts the search of her life for a woman who has vanished like the fog.

Read an excerpt here.

About Erin:

Well-known to critics and reviewers, Erin Healy has established herself as an award-winning editor and a best-selling co-author with Ted Dekker. Healy received wide acclaim for her two debut novels Never Let You Go and The Promises She Keeps. Her work focuses on the psychological and spiritual, driven by high moral stakes. She lives and writes in Colorado with her family.

For more information please visit www.erinhealy.com.

Link to buy the book:

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1595547525&title=The_Baker's_Wife&author=Erin_Healy

About the contest:

Let the flour fly! Beginning October 24th, Erin's celebrating the release of her latest page turner, The Baker's Wife, with an outstanding KitchenAid baking prize package giveaway that includes a brand new KitchenAid Mixer, cook books, and all you need to whip up some fabulous bread or sweets! Then and on November 10th she'll be wrapping up the release of The Baker's Wife with an Author Book Chat Party on Facebook! Don't miss a minute of the fun!

One grand prize winner will receive:

Empire Red 4.5 QT Ultra Power KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Black & White Kitschy Apron
Black Silicone Oven Mitt
Black OXO Rolling Pin
Wilton 9X5 loaf pan
At My Grandmother's Knee Cookbook by Faye Porter
Second Helpings with Johnnie Gabriel Cookbook
The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 9th. Winner will be announced at The Baker's Wife Author Book Chat Facebok Party. Erin will be wrapping up the The Baker's Wife celebration with a book club chat and giving away a bunch of "sweet treats"! So grab your copy of The Baker's Wife (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Erin on the evening of November 10th for a book chat, some "baking" trivia and lots of "sweet" giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 10th!

Blog Tour Schedule

What Are You Thinking

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:53:00 +0000

Thanks to Media Guests for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

Title: What Are You Thinking

Author: Valerie Ackley

Category: Children’s book, motivational

Format: Hard back, full-color, 32 pages

Touring Dates: October-November 2011, available for review, guest post and interview

Tour Page

I loved the concept for this book. There are so many people today who do not understand that when they assume they can't do something and focus on that, then they truly can't. The Bible has many verses that teach us to focus our hearts and minds on things that are pure, holy, lovely, good report, the Word of God, God Himself, etc.

When the book came, Miss Nugget was enthralled with the bright colors and pictures. However, upon reading it, I feel I may have some world views that differ with the author. She very heavily emphases that one's mind/positive thoughts are the cause for good things in a person's life. While I believe that positive/focused thoughts are important, I differ in my belief that they in and of themselves cause things to happen. The book was a little bit too busy in its graphics for me but Nugget really liked them. Since it is a children's book, I will defer to my daughter on the book's appearance.

Overall, I like the idea of the book but we will not be incorporating it into our reading list.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Our thoughts, be it positive or negative, determine who we are and what we become. That is why helping our children understand the power of thoughts from an early age is essential.

Studies show that children with negative thoughts are more likely to give up; they lack confidence and motivation. On the other hand, children who think positively take on their life, they overcome challenges, they are more enthusiastic, and driven. Author, Valerie Ackley, illustrates the power of our thoughts in the award winning book, What Are You Thinking? This book introduces children to the Law of Attraction. Beautifully illustrated with fun characters and humorous situations, this amazing creation teaches the power of the mind and the importance of wisely selecting our dominant thoughts.

“What Are You Thinking?” will inspire creativity, confidence, goal setting, gratitude, and HOW to turn a bad day around! Parents can use this book as a spring board to discuss healthy vs. unhealthy “thinking habits” with their children.

Valerie Ackley (Photo: Scott Hancock)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Valerie Ackley graduated from college with a degree in Business Management and worked eight years in the telecommunications industry before becoming a full-time homemaker to her 5 sons.

After attending a seminar by Leslie Householder, author of The Jackrabbit Factor, Valerie gained a better understanding of the effect our thoughts have on our experiences. Valerie had a strong desire to introduce these principles to her sons.

The idea for “What are You Thinking?” was born when she was unable to find any similar products for children. She hopes this book will be a tool to open a discussion between parents and children regarding the power of the mind, and the importance of wisely selecting our dominant thoughts. Valerie has seen her children benefit from applying these principles. She believes this book, with the delightful and humorous illustrations created by Lori Nawyn, will empower children and parents to enjoy the endless rewards of positive thinking.

Valerie lives in a beautiful valley at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, with her husband and five sons.

Fall Photo Shoot and a Blast From the Past

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:48:00 +0000

Since I had an unexpected day off work yesterday, we decided to take the girls out and get some pics with our pumpkins before I roast them! We still need to take them to a pumpkin patch but it was fun to get these now.

Zita's outfit is the same one Nugget wore Fall of 2009. Nugget was 11 months old then and Zita is 18 months old now. Mom got Nugget this outfit when she was born (it is an 18 mo) for her to grow into. I think I was super excited for her to wear it!

Cooking at Helm's Deep

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie@HobbitDoor) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:10:00 +0000

We had one of those dinners last night that was just so quintessentially us. I found a recipe via Pinterst. It was pinned by one of my favorite bloggers, Tsh Oxenreider, founder of the Simple Living Media. (Those are possibly some of my most favorite blogs.)

Anyway, back to the recipe. Tsh pinned this recipe and suggested using a homemade biscuit recipe to avoid all the yuckiness that comes with such processed food. I thought that sounded like a great idea but of course had to take it a step farther. We also make our own enchilada sauce (LOVE). Our current favorite biscuit recipe comes from the inimitable, Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.

Buttermilk Biscuits
by Ree Drummond
From The Pioneer Woman Cooks , pg 44-45

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 tsp salt
2.5 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup shortening
1/3 cup cold butter (5 1/3 Tbsps) cute into pieces
1 1/4 cup buttermilk

I just throw all the dry ingredients into a food processor and give it a quick whirl. Then I add the butter and shortening and whir it until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add the buttermilk until just combined. It comes out slightly sticky but not overly dry or crumbly. Roll then out on a floured surface to desired thickness (we like ours thick), cut out and bake at 450 for 11-14 minutes. You want them golden brown.

Now, of course, for the Bubble Up Enchiladas I just measured out 12oz on my food scale and used it as directed in the recipe. Then I rolled out the rest of the dough and we had biscuits for our breakfast this morning.

I also felt the recipe was missing a few things so I added green pepper, onion and garlic to the hamburger while it was browning. My enchilada sauce is not super spicy so I also added a pinch or two of cayenne pepper.

Now Ralph and I loved this, as did Nugget who had 2 helpings. She just wouldn't eat the biscuit part, which is funny because she loves these biscuits. She had 2 with jelly for breakfast. Zita didn't eat much probably because I didn't start dinner until 6. I hadn't started the biscuits, enchilada sauce and had semi-frozen hamburger. Ahem. Like I said, a Helm's Deep quintessential meal. Anyway, an hour and a half later and countless snacks in between, Zita lost her appetite. My bad. If you're smart, unlike me, you could make up both the biscuits and sauce up ahead of time (probably even a day or so). That would save on time for sure.

So here is my much modified recipe:

Bubble Up Enchiladas

modified from this recipe

1 lb ground beef
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2-3 large garlic cloves, chopped
10 oz Mexican Enchilada Sauce (or your favorite sauce)
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce (after making the enchilada sauce I didn't have a full 8 oz left in my 15oz can so I just made up the difference with a little extra enchilada sauce)
approx 12 oz of PW Buttermilk Biscuits (or recipe of your choice)
1 1/4 cup of your favorite cheese, shredded (we used Tillamook Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brown hamburger, green pepper, onion and garlic cloves. Drain if needed. Add in enchilada sauce and tomato sauce. Drop pieces of biscuit dough into mixture and incorporate. Pour mixture into greased casserole dish. Bake for 25 minutes. Add cheese to top and bake another 10 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Should serve about 6.

I'm fairly confident we lost all resemblance to the Weight Watchers calorie goal the original recipe was going for but it sure was yummy!