I have lots of favorites! Now, the actual reading of them, well with small ones in the house it’s hard to find the time and place. When I found out I was pregnant the first time I started what’s going on a 5+ year spending spree on books. I buy books routinely for “the children” (read because I want them in the house) and regular trips to the library happen for both the kiddos and myself. I was fortunate enough to grow up around a lot of books, and even more fortunate to find a box of those childhood favorites on my screen porch one day when my mother decided to send them our way. The thing is, I find myself overly protective about what the children are exposed to. And not in any way I could have predicted.

Take Beatrix Potter for example. I started reading a story to Zuzu while I was nursing early on. The next thing you knew, a fox had stolen some duck eggs. a rabbit was being called bad and I didn’t want those associations with our tender moments. I was surprised. As Zuzu got older I brought home videos of Charlie Brown and The Muppet Show- some of my favorite childhood fictional characters. When Snoopy morphed into the World War 1 Flying Ace I had to cut off the gun fire for my two year old. Then that same 3 year old asked me a year later why the pig kept hitting the frog and I was at a bit of a loss to explain why it was ok or funny. I think for some children they wouldn’t be so bothered. Certainly plenty of our friends are well versed in Disney, but each time I try, I end up cringing away deciding once again they are too young for some of the life lessons presented. So, it’s back to Winnie-the-Pooh, Sandra Boynton, Little Hoot, Pea and Oink for us. I still have a collection of “classics” and maybe someday they’ll feel appropriate, but not yet. 

 As for myself, I’m drawn to fiction that is character developed rather than plot driven. I tend to be fond of regional characterizations as well. Midwestern writers and Southern in particular. A. Manette Ansay, Jane Hamilton, Chris Bohjalian, Anne Tyler, Anne Lamott, Barbara Kingsolver, Jodi Piccoult, Eudora Welty, Rebecca Wells, Michael Cunningham…and I have to say, I really enjoyed the characters in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. I don’t know if it was because my brain was fried from just having had a baby when I read them- and maybe all I could process at the time was the a level of tween sophistication. 

But mostly what I like about fiction, what I really crave, is to have it read to me. It must be some sort of flashback to a childhood memory of being content in storytime at the library and having my mom read to me I’m sure. The main reason I’m glad that I commute to work is because I get an hour of unadulterated being read to with books on CD in the car. I’ve found that I’m much more interested and find it easier to get into a novel that is being read to me rather than one I’m trying to focus on and read myself. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver for example, I tried for weeks to get into it with the book itself and could not buy in. Then within days in the car I was hooked. I find that once I read one set book based on a given character I crave more and find myself going back looking for that author’s voice and story. Like with Jodi Piccoult. Although with her I swear I end up in tears with the stories on the way into work more often then not. For a while I was doing mystery novels which is very unlike me. I can’t tolerate television shows that have any violence or action in them. Of course I have been known to miss my turn off when the murderer walks into the room at the peak of the novel. A hazard I’ll have to live with!

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday post hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by Francesca.. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world:

 Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

Many months ago I started a list of suggestions for corner view topics. Words that seemed asthetically appealing at a given moment. And then I waited. When I saw the note from Francesca to give a topic I happily forwarded my list of suggestions unedited. I didn’t have a strong preference or favorite at the time she asked. I hate to say it, but now, well now I’m not really sure what I meant by room. Maybe to talk about and display your favorite room in your home, a room you like to visit or maybe I was mid- real estate browsing and enjoying others room. Maybe the conversion of a room. The more I’ve thought about it this week the less certain I am about what originally struck me about the concept. So you are left with a few views of the rooms in our home- since I’m not entirely sure what the original inspiration was! These are not the most artistic shots I’m afraid. I don’t take a lot of photos in our house. I tend to fill the frame with the girls or whatever the subject may be. The light isn’t great and I tend to be more inspired to shoot when we’re out and about- be it the park, our yard, a playdate or a trip to see other people. Alas- I couldn’t exactly not post since it was my topic!

the wild west...or the girl's room...

the kitchen & one of it's cooks

the living room in all it's festivity!

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday post hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by Francesca.. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world:

 Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

Daily lunch for me really isn’t anything very photographable I’m afraid. I’m still in process of shedding those baby pounds and my priorities for when I get my calories are not exactly focused on body mechanics, so much as heart mechanics. I really want to be able to eat a healthy meal that is joyful in the evening with my family. We’re a family that does a very basic breakfast- the children eat fruit, cereal or cereal bars and Lovey and I function best with a light cereal-based breakfast we well, circled by a serious amount of coffee. We both love a hot breakfast, especially cooked by someone else. But we both find that pretty much puts us in a lull for the rest of the day. Since lunch for me on most days is at my desk at work I’ve spent the last 4 months trying to minimize work snacks so that I can happily enjoy my dinner and not set my daughters up to always be thinking in terms of diet meals, but rather learn by seeing their parents eating healthy portions of a variety of foods. I really want food to not be an issue for them. At a New Year’s Day brunch this past January, a friend who was doing an extremely strict diet noted that when we’re overweight we’re simply eating more calories than we need. It was such a profoundly simple sentence, especially in light of the diet books I had been reading and my history with Weight Watchers. I really found that this year I wanted to stop thinking about food so much. I. love. food. I love to read about it, to think about it, to have it with me, to plan for it, dream about it. I love to cook it and especially love to inhale- both nasally and gastrically what others have prepped. If someone wants to talk about food,  I’m all ears and all mouth.

Friends and family that know us but don’t spend every meal with us have often wondered how Lovey stays so fit, considering his deep love of BBQ, donuts and a series of other wheat-based delights. The thing is while he does seem to have been born with a hollow leg that he can fit the ribs of a pig in to. He seems to be more camel in nature and those meals others take part in with us are typically the exception to our daily routine.

So, corner view- what’s for lunch? Well if we aren’t on a weekend sidetrip- touring the local cuisine, like the Quail enjoying some of Big Mista’s , tasty, tasty brisket; or downing some fried apple pies and duck hash at the illustrious Grits & Groceries; you’ll find me at my desk eating the pb&j of my childhood along with a very plain salad sans dressing and an apple and carrots. Lovey refers to this practice as doping for the next BBQ we come across, but living in the south…you just never know when the opportunity will strike and its best to have yourself at the ready!

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday post hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by  Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world:

 Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

The nest that keeps: The House of Two Gables

On home:

The best way to keep children at home is to keep the home atmosphere pleasant and let out the air in their tires. ~Dorothy Parker

I have been very happy with my homes, but homes really are no more than the people who live in them. ~ Nancy Reagan

When you’re safe at home, you wish you were having an adventure; when you’re having an adventure you wish you were safe at home. ~ Thornton Wilder

A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams. ~Unknown

Home is not where you live, but where they understand you. ~Christian Morganstern

I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself. ~ Maya Angelou

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday post hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by  Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world:

 Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

Time does not change us. It just unfolds us. -Max Frisch

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday post hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by  Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world:

 Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday post hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by  Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world:

 Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine