Whenever I’m in the country, I like to get outside and take photos. This photo was taken when I was experimenting with my camera, something I enjoy doing from time to time.
I was experimenting with the panorama feature and black and white. When I take a panorama photo I can either use two or three frames together. This photo was with two frames together.
There were many other photos taken that day, but this was one of my favorites.
Have a wonderful week!!
Neil and Claire are off on a cruise around the coast of Britain with their current and former parishioners. The plan is to stop at different religious sites. They go to Tilbury, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Kirkwall, Orkney, Tobermory, the Isle of Mull, Dublin, the Isles of Scilly, and more. They learn a lot about each other and God. New friends are made and romance blooms.
About the Author-
Pamela Rhodes has written several other novels. For many years she has presented the BBC’s Songs of Praise.
My thoughts-
I've read and enjoyed two of the other books in this series, Casting the Net and If You Follow Me. I enjoyed going with Neil and his current and former parishioners on their pilgrimage around the coast of Britain.
I liked the list of characters at the beginning of the book. The list helped me know where each of the characters were from and how they related to one another. Character lists really help when there are a lot in the book. I wish there had a list of the chapters. Each chapter had a title that gave their location. It would have nice to be able to go easily to the chapter I was interested in checking out again.
Pam Rhodes did an excellent job of combining the two parishes and parishioners. They all had such different characteristics. I liked all of the characters, but I think my two favorite were Mark and Deidre. They had been friends, and on this trip they grew closer. Mark was so supportive when they went to Dublin to see the family Deidre hadn't seen for years. I really liked to seeing that type of relationship in this book.
I liked this book. I always enjoy reading the books that Pam Rhodes writes, and I hope you enjoy them too.
Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Saints & Sailors, by Pam Rhodes, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. All links were current when posted. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Today’s society seems to think that women always need to fix the men in their lives. Men are shown as bumbling and hopeless, and they’re never able to make it.
This book shows men from the Bible, like Peter, Moses, Solomon, and Judas who struggled, but were used by God to accomplish great things.
About the Authors-
Tina Samples works with her husband, who is the pastor of Grace River Church. She wrote Wounded Women of the Bible. Dave Samples, her husband, has a blog at www.davesamples.blogspot.com.
My thoughts-
This was a book I needed to read. It was very helpful to learn about different men of the Bible, how they were weak, and the great tasks they were able to accomplish. There were twelve different men, like Job, Samson, and Gideon who were talked about. I could see some of the men I know in the characteristics of those men.
With all of the examples and discussion questions I am now better able to communicate with the men I know. I want to be able to build them up, not tear them down. I know that all men have great potential. Women need to build men up, not tear them down. Society needs to change and this book can help be the beginning.
I highly recommend this book. All wives and wives to be should read this book.
Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Messed Up Men of the Bible, by Tina and Dave Samples, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. All links were current when posted. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I’m reviewing The Climbing Knights, one of four of SimplyFun new releases.
Product Links: The Climbing Knights
Vendor Information Link: SimplyFun
Age Appeal: Ages 8 and up
Format: Three-dimensional board game over 29 inches in height for two to four people
Price: $40
It’s tournament time and the King’s knights need to climb to the castle and retrieve their coat of arms. There are two Guards (black and gray) who want to send you back to the beginning. The winner of the title, King’s Climber, is the knight who collects their two coats of arms first.
This game includes a castle to assemble, four magnetic knights, one Black Guard and one Gray Guard, eight coats of arms, three dice, and the instructions.
This game will help your children with spatial reasoning, strategy, and fine motor skills.
Our family enjoys playing different educational family games. The Climbing Knights game was no different.
It was snowing and extra cold outside. A perfect time for game playing. B and C were really excited when the box arrived. I wasn’t sure what to expect when the UPS driver handed me the large heavy box. The children opened the box, took out the paper, and pulled out the game. The game box was colorful and strong. I thought that was good, because the game would be too.
The children immediately opened the box and put the castle together. They played two games that first time. They had a lot of fun rolliing the dice and moving their knights and the Black guard and Gray guard.
Our whole family has had fun playing since then. We have played The Climbing Knights at least a couple times per week.
Mama’s Thoughts:
B’s Thoughts (boy, age 12, officially in sixth grade):
I really liked The Climbing Knights game. I thought it was a fun family game. I liked the fact that it was a three-dimensional game that stood over 29 inches tall. I thought it was cool that it was magnetic and that you could move your pieces, and they stuck on the board. I thought the castle was good quality. I relished that there were four cool colors to choose from, red, green, yellow, and blue.
I highly recommend The Climbing Knights game.
C’s Thoughts (girl, age 10, officially in fourth grade):
Dad’s Thoughts:
I liked The Climbing Knights game. It’s a simple objective that requires just enough strategy yet provides obstacles to make it a challenge.
The game board and pieces are built for a long life. The only thing I’m concerned about is the top tower. While it fits nicely into place it is rather easy to topple over during game play. A pin through each bottom tab would solve the problem.
The other thing I would like to see added is a turntable for the game base. It would be nice to be able to see what your opponents are doing on the other side of the castle.
Otherwise I found The Climbing Knights game fun and entertaining, and I highly recommend you add it to your game night.
Mama highly recommends The Climbing Knights from SimplyFun!
Social Media Links!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplyfun/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimplyFun
Instagram: @SimplyFun
Blog: http://blogs.simplyfun.com/
Last week we went to our local nature preserve to hike and watch the birds on the feeders. It was too windy to comfortably hike, and there were not many birds on the feeders. We had a lot of fun watching this squirrel trying to get the nuts out of the feeder. To get to the feeder, it climbed a post, walked on the wire, and climbed over the clear plastic dome that covered the feeder. It was a lot of fun watching. The squirrel spent most of the time upside down trying to get food. When it was done eating, it jumped to the ground.
We were at our local nature preserve this week. The children were watching the birds and squirrel on the bird feeders, so I decided to experiment with my camera phone. I haven’t experimented with it before (the children have). It was a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed using the negative function, because it turned my hot pink Muck boots to this green color (a color I prefer).
I think the temperatures are going to be warm enough in our area of the country now, so I won’t need to be wearing these arctic boots much longer. I won’t miss the color, but I will miss the warmth and support they provide.
Have a wonderful day!!
Father Gilbert used to be a Scotland Yard detective. He is now a priest at St. Mark’s in a small Sussex town. As a detective, he has experienced death. He didn’t expect it to come as a suicide and murder in his small town. The suicide happened that day and the murder was two hundred years earlier. Could the deaths be linked?
It happens that they are linked, and it exposes an old family feud between the Todds and the Hayshams. A ring and sword are also involved.
Will Father Gilbert get involved with the case? Is there a sinister force involved?
About the Author-
Paul McCusker currently lives in Colorado. He has written many novels and audio dramas. He has written books for Adventures in Odyssey and The Imagination Station Series. The Father Gilbert Mysteries originally began as an audio drama series.
My thoughts-
I like reading mysteries. I have never heard of Father Gilbert or the audio dramas, but I enjoyed reading this book.
I liked how it involved suspense, the super natural, and the church. Daily we face evil, even though we may not see it. I liked how Paul McCusker showed evil and good. There are those in the world that desire to harm us, but there are also those who want to protect us.
I wasn’t sure who was the murderer. I had some ideas, but I wasn’t sure until the end. I like it when it is hard to figure out who did it.
I thought this was a good book. I read some of it at night, so it was a little creepy. I think it would be a good book for men. I know that women would enjoy it as well.
Happy reading!
Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Body Under the Bridge, by Paul McCusker, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. All links were current when posted. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
We love going to Wisconsin. One of our favorite things to do there is buy some cheese from a local cheese factory. It’s so fresh. It’s also fun to watch them make it.
In today’s society, a woman is rewarded for being strong and ambitious. When she comes home and continues to be strong and ambitious, her marriage can suffer. What should she do and where can she turn for help.
Like many women, April Cassidy knew this struggle. She thought God needed to change her husband, when she was the one who needed to change. God showed her how she needed to let go of the desire to control. He also showed her how to give her husband true respect.
In this book she shows the reader how to accomplish everything with God. Cassidy also includes testimonies from other women and some husbands.
About the Author-
April Cassidy currently lives in South Carolina with her family. She blogs at the Peaceful Wife blog and Peaceful Single Girl blog. She is also a part-time pharmacist. Her website is www.peacefulwife.com.
My thoughts-
This was a book I needed to read. I needed to learn how to become the best Godly wife that I can be for my husband. I need to change my heart.
April Cassidy said that this book was for the dominate wife and passive husband. I am that dominate wife. I learned that I need to do more with respect, learning God’s character, and focus on what I should be doing for my husband.
The list of ways wives can disrespect their husbands was sobering for me. I could check so many things on it. I know I need to change and am commited to do so.
Cassidy had quotes from her husband and other husbands and wives. She also suggested doing a Bible study on God’s character. She included a section on how to act with a husband who doesn’t know Christ. At the end of the book she included a list of books for further study.
I highly recommend this book. All wives and wives to be should read this book.
Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Peaceful Wife, by April Cassidy, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. All links were current when posted. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
As I look outside the window at the snow, which has been on the ground since December, I know that I am looking forward to this time of year.
I’m fortunate to live in a part of the country that has four distinct seasons, but I like the time when the trees are green. It doesn’t matter which season, but it is important that the trees are green. I forgot, the sun needs to be shining too.
To me, that is the best time of the year. What is your favorite time of year?
Master Hugh, Kate, and their two young daughters enjoy the Midsummer’s Eve fire. The following morning they hear a bell ringing at the Church of St. Beornwald. It is the passing bell. While the workers were clearing away the ash, they found bones.
It takes Hugh some time, but he discovers they are the bones of a bailiff from a manor some miles away. Why was he placed there? Since Hugh is also a bailiff, will he be in danger? Can Arthur keep him safe?
About the Author-
Mel Starr and his wife have seven grandchildren and two daughters. Starr grew up in Michigan and taught history in the Michigan public school system for 39 years. He knows a lot about medieval English medieval surgery. He currently lives in Michigan
My thoughts-
I haven’t read the first three books in this series. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Unhallowed Ground, The Tainted Coin, Rest Not in Peace, The Abbot's Agreement, and Ashes to Ashes. I’m not exactly sure what I enjoy so much about these books. It could be that it’s a mystery, perhaps the time period (late 1300's), orthe way Mel Starr wrote the books. I think it is all of the above.
The part of the book that I often notice is the point-of-view. Some books that I’ve read don’t flow when written in the first-person point-of-view, but Mel Starr’s do. I think they would make great audio books.
My favorite part of the book is still the glossary. It has been my favorite in each book of the series. I enjoyed reading and learning about the clothing, food, and times of the year. This is helpful, so I don’t need to have a dictionary handy while reading.
Hugh is certainly dedicated. He is determined to find out who the dead man is and why he died. I like his determination. We all need to have his persistence and desire to make sure all wrongs are righted.
I think this is an excellent book and series. I’m looking forward to the next book, Lucifer’s Harvest.
Readers who enjoy mysteries and/or historical fiction will enjoy this book.
Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Ashes to Ashes, by Mel Starr, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. All links were current when posted. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
