I was tidying up my nightstand this morning, which is usually not so tidy with a stack of magazines, books, knitting projects, tissue, lotion, glass for water, etc., when I got the urge to share a picture (of the tidy version of course!)
I think what you're reading can say a lot about a person. Most of these books are not new, several are family oriented, and I have to admit all could be categorized as "preaching to the choir". So make of it what you will. Here's a brief description:
The first was lent to me by Maia's "Mommy & Me" teacher when I told her I was reluctantly going back to my old job part time. This is the subject of some future post. Yes, I have started working again, no, I'm not completely happy about it, but not because of the working part but because it's my OLD job, the one I never intended to go back to. My friend in a similar situation says I will feel much better when I get that first paycheck. I haven't started this book yet and I doubt it will have too much I can use. We have made every adjustment possible over the past 3 1/2 years and my working has mostly to do with our choice to keep the girls in Montessori school. Oh, and that darn car... the subject of yet another post.
The second was lent to me by a friend over a year ago and I have started it but can't seem to get through it. Maybe it's the yucky subject matter, maybe it's her writing, or maybe it's the dorky title, but it's important so I really should get back to it. It's about being safe, how to help your children listen to their instincts, make good choices, and avoid being taken advantage by long lost Great Uncle So-and-so (or whomever it may be).
Last Child in the Woods was given to me by my mother-in-law, Julie. She read it, enjoyed it (mostly), and said I might enjoy it too. She said we're already doing most of what he suggests, but then again, it's always nice to get some reassurance.
The Creative Family was written by a really neat blogger (
Soule Mama) who lives in Portland, Maine. She homeschools her three (soon to be four) children, sews, knits, crafts, gardens, cooks with them, and she takes wonderful pictures to share with the rest of us. I'm sure the book will have some ideas that I can use.
Affluenza was lent by another friend. It's a critical look at our consumer society. Chris and I have suffered from affluenza in the past, but it's amazing what three years of one income will do to cure it!
Grub was co-authored by Anna Lappe, the daughter of the woman who wrote Diet for a Small Planet. It seems to be written for a younger audience, which I don't exactly like, but it has great information about how eating local, organic, fair food can help the planet. And it has recipes, too!
What are you reading?
I've been seeing these in our tree over that last three days, and thought I had a new "name that bird". But once I got these pictures today, I realized that we've seen this one before. It's the female or juvenile black headed grosbeak. 
