tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80440086540577106022024-02-02T15:40:43.316-05:00GROWING WITH STELLAStellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-44800898363996351212014-08-13T21:56:00.002-05:002014-08-13T21:56:27.286-05:00Well, hello old friend.Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-25678517047364608262013-01-25T11:27:00.004-05:002013-01-25T11:27:37.622-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17032840-the-aquariums-of-pyongyang"><img alt="The Aquariums of Pyongyang" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356093196l/17032840.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<br />
Continuing with the North Korean camp prisoner theme, I had to go outside our library system to reserve "The Aquariums of Pyongyang" mentioned in "Escape From Camp 14..." It was originally published in France in 2000 and translated/published again in 2001. Author and prisoner Kang Chol-hwan wasn't born in the camp. When he was seven years old, he and his entire family - grandparents, uncles, his father and his sister - were imprisoned because the "authorities" deemed them enemies of the state. His family had actually emigrated to North Korea from Japan because his grandparents believed (wrongly) that they could return to North Korea and help re-build the country. First, the grandfather's Volvo was confiscated by the authorities. Then the grandfather was taken away one day (he just disappeared). And, finally, the authorities came for the rest of the family and hauled them away in the bed of a tarp-covered truck. They spent ten years in the camp before they were finally released, but unfortunately they never determined what happened to the grandfather. As we know from his account, Chol-hway managed to flee across the border. We can only hope the "wall" comes down between North Korea and the rest of the world, so people don't have to leave their homeland just to survive. Sooner rather than later. Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-77744746840696836942013-01-08T15:43:00.005-05:002013-01-08T16:12:04.152-05:00<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img alt="Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" height="200" id="coverImage" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347954566l/11797365.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<br />
The first half of Escape From Camp 14 reads like a documentary, but that doesn't mean it isn't a page-turner. We all know, I'm sure, that North Korea is a "sealed" country - no news/information comes out of the country that isn't controlled by the state. And I'm sure most of us also know that the North Koreans have been starving for years. But how many of us know that there are "concentration-like" camps within the country? Camps where people are brutalized daily? Where the only difference between these camps and Hitler's is that no ovens exist to exterminate prisoners on a larger scale? <br />
<br />
The prisoners in these camps are worked to death, starved and tortured. They are executed if they try to escape. They are rewarded, usually with a scrap of food, if they snitch on each other, which happens often. No one trusts no one. Parents don't trust their children. Children don't trust their parents or their fellow students. And teachers beat the kids constantly. <br />
<br />
These camps have existed for years - with generations born into the camps that have never known freedom or what the outside world (just outside of the prison camps) is like. Shin Dong-hyuk was a prisoner by virtue of his birth only. He knows nothing about the outside world until a political prisoner shares tales of grilled meat and other foods. It is then that Shin begins to desire freedom. The freedom to eat and never be hungry again. <br />
<br />
Shin is the only known prisoner born into a North Korean prison camp who manages to escape and tell about it. And, as Kongdan Oh, coauthor of The Hidden People of North Korea: Everyday Life in the Hermit Kingdom, says, "Mr. Shin's story, at times painful to read, recounts his physical and psychological journey from a lifetime of imprisonment in a closed and unfeeling prison society to the joys and challenges of life in a free society where he can live like a human being." Shin says, "I am evolving from being an animal. But it is going very, very slowly. Sometimes I try to cry and laugh like other people, just to see if it feels like anything. Yet tears don't come. Laughter doesn't come." <br />
<br />
Shin's existence within Camp 14 will shock you. Especially when you discover early on that he snitched on his mother and brother, who were planning an escape, and in return, he is tortured and then forced to watch their execution - all at the age of 14. And it only gets worse for Shin (believe it or not) until he escapes about 10 years later. <br />
<div id="review-like">
<div class="like_it" id="like_it_500212025">
</div>
<a class="lightGreyText" href="http://www.goodreads.com/flagged/new?resource_id=500212025&resource_type=Review&return_url=%2Freview%2Fshow%2F500212025" id="flag_link500212025" rel="nofollow" title="Flag this review as inappropriate.">flag</a></div>
Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-73913716708091662372013-01-05T09:43:00.000-05:002013-01-05T09:43:05.972-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjHCdAIH0jrohPCJYS4BtI68PQqAcGMgP3U66yNchGRses1nJSgY_CcNLMbT7Mz8Yujmj839rZY7hKXA95dbZsZvMdNDHfYMdvw_hxq0Mc-sq5rNSSrcSLZzrDGXJDpqlzrQ0xRarIzI/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjHCdAIH0jrohPCJYS4BtI68PQqAcGMgP3U66yNchGRses1nJSgY_CcNLMbT7Mz8Yujmj839rZY7hKXA95dbZsZvMdNDHfYMdvw_hxq0Mc-sq5rNSSrcSLZzrDGXJDpqlzrQ0xRarIzI/s1600/book.jpg" /></a></div>
Can ONE PERSON make a difference in another person's life? Laura
Schroff lives just two blocks away from Maurice Maczyk in downtown
Manhattan in a brand-new penthouse apartment. Maurice lives in a
one-room apartment(yes, one room)in the projects with eleven other
people who come and go (when his mother isn't in jail and they still
have a roof over their head).<br />
<br />
Laura is a highly successful executive at
USA Today. Maurice is an eleven-year-old boy begging on the streets.
Two people, and two different worlds, come together on the day that
Laura stops and offers to take Maurice to McDonald's for something to
eat. Laura and Maurice begin meeting regularly every Monday to have
lunch together. Laura knows that Maurice is hungry and scrounging for
food throughout the week, so she packs a lunch for him to pick up on his
way to school each day. Thus begins a friendship that grows, and
remains, to this day.<br /><br />This story is an emotional roller-coaster
ride. I guarantee that you won't be able to put the book down once
you've started reading it. And you won't look at that person you see
begging, or just walking aimlessly on the street because he's homeless,
in the same way ever again. You just might begin to wonder what you can
do to help because you'll understand that one small gesture, from one
person, can make a real difference in someone's life.
Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-81518192583753469752012-12-29T09:55:00.003-05:002012-12-29T09:56:07.112-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIpotbqdP87HxYRNPh29NsIzMJQqka3K-t_RCwCRii4T6ZYFv7a7Nq7f0AzMxiJZ_qfeKnMvAmVrQ9ZOWIpDv787iWe9LGwa6P-sxincZGIpve-JJvOpCXxDvdvj69TkCjVpYHFW3wYg/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIpotbqdP87HxYRNPh29NsIzMJQqka3K-t_RCwCRii4T6ZYFv7a7Nq7f0AzMxiJZ_qfeKnMvAmVrQ9ZOWIpDv787iWe9LGwa6P-sxincZGIpve-JJvOpCXxDvdvj69TkCjVpYHFW3wYg/s320/book.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />
If you plan to commit a crime, be sure you're NOT in Italy when you do it. It seems that you're guilty in the eyes of the police and prosecuting attorneys when it fits their political needs. Apparently, about 50% of the cases on appeal are approved for re-trial because of the shoddy work of the police and court system. Raffaele Sollecito is Italian, but that didn't protect him from the police, prosecuting attorneys and judges colluding to find him, and Amanda, guilty of a heinous crime that they didn't commit. They also spent FOUR years in jail trying to prove they were innocent. Even though I knew the outcome of their ordeal, the account of how they became enmeshed in the system - and then managed to free themselves - made for a good read. Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-83723137122304030092012-12-26T07:50:00.000-05:002012-12-26T07:50:06.358-05:00Little Boy Blue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdbU0oAgUzxG1KUoiVBZfrwx79x7hte4AbOJ07pcZ4BS5dgXLyXDViH6qxTFvrrZ1rcqFsRZLpyYQeCh94Kr83Erreee70aanc1nNj53gTJjR6DVcRScVMChT4pUysrmlxb9PdwWhE9U/s1600/blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdbU0oAgUzxG1KUoiVBZfrwx79x7hte4AbOJ07pcZ4BS5dgXLyXDViH6qxTFvrrZ1rcqFsRZLpyYQeCh94Kr83Erreee70aanc1nNj53gTJjR6DVcRScVMChT4pUysrmlxb9PdwWhE9U/s320/blue.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
If you think you know what happens to animals dropped off at your local
humane society (they are eventually adopted by loving people, right?),
be sure to read this book. It will definitely open your eyes to the
magnitude of the problem of animal overpopulation and how it's dealt
with in this country. You're not gonna like what you read, but you need
to read this book anyway. (Kavin's description of the killing methods
and disposal of the bodies will break your heart.) <br /><br />Prevention -
spaying and neutering - is a major key to the overpopulation problem in
this country and you can help by donating your time, and money, to the
people out there fighting the fight every single day. You can also
foster animals until they're placed in a home; otherwise, they'll be
disposed of.
Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-15305196629537997342012-12-15T08:13:00.001-05:002012-12-15T08:14:30.782-05:00<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16054802-silent-no-more" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Silent No More: Victim 1's Fight for Justice Against Jerry Sandusky" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351213421m/16054802.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16054802-silent-no-more">Silent No More: Victim 1's Fight for Justice Against Jerry Sandusky</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6543553.Aaron_Fisher">Aaron Fisher</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Yes, this is about the pedophile Sandusky. No, it's not about the specific details of the sexual abuse although you get the picture as to what Sandusky was doing to his victims. Told from the perspective of Victim #1 Aaron Fisher, his mother Dawn and his psychologist Michael Gillum, you see how Sandusky was able to take control of Aaron and to abuse him. Aaron was only 10 when Sandusky came into his life and 14 when he tried to get away from. What's really incredible is Aaron's ability, finally, to end the abuse even as Sandusky was stalking him. I started the book last night and finished it before bedtime. I just couldn't put it down until I got to the conclusion even though I knew that Sandusky was convicted and finally jailed. <br />
<br />
I confess I was pretty agitated reading this. To think that this man could go to Aaron's school and have him pulled from the classroom - repeatedly - and the school officials chose to comply with his requests. Apparently, Sandusky had other boys pulled from the classroom on a regular basis. What the HELL did those staff people think was going on??? And don't get me started on that piece of **** Sandusky is married to, who chose to remain upstairs while the boys were being tortured - let's not mince words here - in her basement. So many people chose to let this man, no, this monster, prey on young, helpless, innocent boys because they were too comfortable in their own lives. Doing something about what they had to have known, or at least suspected, was going on would have been "painful" for them. So, instead, they enabled (yes, enabled) Sandusky to inflict mental and physical pain on boys who couldn't defend themselves.<br />
<br />
At first, Aaron just wanted to get away from Sandusky. But with the help of his psychologist, he was able to expose Sandusky for what he is and to follow through, legally, to his arrest and conviction even as the officials dragged their heels for years. For me, the power of this story lies in Aaron's willingness to expose himself emotionally to put an end to Sandusky's activities. If only other silent victims could do the same. Perhaps then these pedophiles would be run out of town for good.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/40837-stella-fouts">View all my reviews</a>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-6250017026646005302012-11-14T15:26:00.001-05:002012-11-14T15:26:34.639-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ2XyvMbYWQevKeHJxO7lBHfZYVWowCKA1HI_e9yAZaVAtcs4iupiFtQy6-WyiNrAvYZF0kPk4GcFzF9R85M6iuupBp2AIXiklbjVjC3BoM-I6NujNLK27xMvWFatJDXwRZr_H9murlE/s1600/LUCKY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ2XyvMbYWQevKeHJxO7lBHfZYVWowCKA1HI_e9yAZaVAtcs4iupiFtQy6-WyiNrAvYZF0kPk4GcFzF9R85M6iuupBp2AIXiklbjVjC3BoM-I6NujNLK27xMvWFatJDXwRZr_H9murlE/s1600/LUCKY.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After my first reading of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lucky</i>, I wondered why author Craig Inglis would choose to write a
children’s story about a dog named Lucky who is hit by a car and loses his
leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an awful thing to think about,
especially for a young child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
upon re-reading Inglis’ book I realize the power of this story for those children
who may have had a pet injured in an accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ingles, rather than dwelling on the negative and sad aspect of a dog losing
his leg<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>and being permanently handicapped,
shows the reader that all things are possible even after a tragic accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucky is still very much loved and has
learned that, by working hard, he can do anything – some things even better –
than a four-legged dog can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having
three legs instead of four does not change his ability to do tricks OR change
the way his owner feels about him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
Inglis wrote, the man and Lucky are so happy “it almost seemed like they could
fly.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The message here is that Lucky is
not just the same dog as before, he is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">better</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-20576357061608719202012-10-29T07:28:00.001-05:002012-10-29T07:28:07.107-05:00<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12430778-from-animal-house-to-our-house" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="From Animal House to Our House: A Love Story" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329543829m/12430778.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12430778-from-animal-house-to-our-house">From Animal House to Our House: A Love Story</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/481932.Ron_Tanner">Ron Tanner</a><br /><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/443986713">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />For anyone who's contemplating buying and rehabbing an old house, especially in Baltimore city, this is a must-read BEFORE you do that. I'm not suggesting that you'll choose NOT to buy an old house, but author Ron Tanner's experiences will, at the very least, give you a clearer picture of what you'll be up against. And if you love old houses, as Ron does, you'll choose to go forward in your quest to possess a grand old lady! This book is especially interesting as Ron's house just happens to be "local." If you can't get down to his neighborhood to see the house, here's the next best thing: <a href="http://www.houselove.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.houselove.org/</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/40837-stella-fouts">View all my reviews</a><br />Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-73629585173847681382011-12-03T08:55:00.001-05:002011-12-03T08:55:56.758-05:00RTN: Ghost Walk Project at OneTrueMedia.comDone. On to the next project.<br /><br /><div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=eeec839ec45ded15e8ba1c" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=eeec839ec45ded15e8ba1c&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt5" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!<br/><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.onetruemedia.com</span></a></div></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-28080642965306010542010-06-11T07:55:00.002-05:002010-06-11T09:26:13.132-05:00<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwNA4FfJzDBXJxVF0uATWw71i-yZbTmXR_vMKFRsrYn_zik1bLn_bjpYTHDPkYOk_MKBjjTXAo5yQauUKxmMw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-50398631415862631222010-03-17T11:02:00.001-05:002010-03-17T11:02:44.043-05:00The Secret Life of Cowboys at OneTrueMedia.com<div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=a433fc3c06feb63cb3e1da" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="372" height="344" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=a433fc3c06feb63cb3e1da&skin_id=1009&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:372px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt2" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Photo and video editing at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-45995167351978196812010-03-09T08:18:00.001-05:002010-03-09T08:18:46.501-05:00Josie and Grant - Summer 2009 at OneTrueMedia.com<div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=a82f09efa638a61f09cec0" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=a82f09efa638a61f09cec0&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt4" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make an on-line slideshow at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-35498991069561017192010-01-15T19:15:00.005-05:002010-01-15T19:25:06.922-05:00TGIF Drive to Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQuQK0WR1iZm1sltWe1WBbvzZnavheXQBQV9k0QQrWwQ6zOVR4qUMSAFYuLnfm3tjhqcpgE3ZXZNk1ICFjq4Pw4Cfrn76ZsUFAwSkgQWkVI2ddXSkYDw1uUJiG6NOVDDwnZGlTn4lgWY/s1600-h/P1080422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427126411321071234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQuQK0WR1iZm1sltWe1WBbvzZnavheXQBQV9k0QQrWwQ6zOVR4qUMSAFYuLnfm3tjhqcpgE3ZXZNk1ICFjq4Pw4Cfrn76ZsUFAwSkgQWkVI2ddXSkYDw1uUJiG6NOVDDwnZGlTn4lgWY/s320/P1080422.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>If I time it just right I avoid most traffic, including the schoolbuses, as I pass through Manchester in the morning. If I had been five minutes later coming into town this morning, I would have behind traffic backed up all the way to Manchester pool (like yesterday).</div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-59141609381639800712010-01-15T18:49:00.002-05:002010-01-15T19:14:56.196-05:00Cutie Pies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYePvkQWnHN_gys1yB8GD-FX-6oayr7be8ZGy89ILxAFPfpmH2yHf-_hH5evO45fryf-77v-XjviM4F3dHAMj7SygN3CbyVzosrjjLBSzpB56-Su7mT0vnM5KIzdrLMATyPIytbJwp2c/s1600-h/P1080302.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427123241080069474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYePvkQWnHN_gys1yB8GD-FX-6oayr7be8ZGy89ILxAFPfpmH2yHf-_hH5evO45fryf-77v-XjviM4F3dHAMj7SygN3CbyVzosrjjLBSzpB56-Su7mT0vnM5KIzdrLMATyPIytbJwp2c/s320/P1080302.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxjt1Y1Be_yuaWmoAhubnUrq3XvNYilutBNbLdTNhQjS9qbp_FgXyh-RgZjxV8nf6gmb6N4sA30nekD-OSFZokpBiA1QSkrerkuh8OIRDOCcRaXxe1rdIMhKJWBpL1Z7R6AiJOHoGnBA/s1600-h/duck2P1080333.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427120754454050978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxjt1Y1Be_yuaWmoAhubnUrq3XvNYilutBNbLdTNhQjS9qbp_FgXyh-RgZjxV8nf6gmb6N4sA30nekD-OSFZokpBiA1QSkrerkuh8OIRDOCcRaXxe1rdIMhKJWBpL1Z7R6AiJOHoGnBA/s320/duck2P1080333.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-91200988769292234482009-08-11T06:53:00.001-05:002009-08-11T06:53:23.487-05:00The Fuplers: True Romanth<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/XgeUkiHMUiA' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/XgeUkiHMUiA'/></object></p><p>Gotta love this family--especially the mother!</p></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-19059946917294876072009-08-02T09:45:00.002-05:002009-08-02T09:55:20.081-05:00TIGER LILIES<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdBwlaOm0sT9_x6S8bf4weZZmpOnaXmKWDE6I1LgREn-lkfVDLPOO6XKoV_XPEyzNA2ZVu0Hx3ibklUGAt_xrL7KVgpTjrE_meDpgPq3vnvtk1X1tpAQS6y40vo82Tgeam-9oW-H8YMo/s1600-h/P1060078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdBwlaOm0sT9_x6S8bf4weZZmpOnaXmKWDE6I1LgREn-lkfVDLPOO6XKoV_XPEyzNA2ZVu0Hx3ibklUGAt_xrL7KVgpTjrE_meDpgPq3vnvtk1X1tpAQS6y40vo82Tgeam-9oW-H8YMo/s320/P1060078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365380037604355890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjy9sOhML5HUvRcr7ZujfUpVhPT32YM37IGaTZn-YcBzvTKaHHFTmcwc0GqslljqgawSMPBwBjogGPCwopA83dDdurzZWNAxAQmY8gTxBXE3NDfEVFoVbAqOyZ11o0GNal3wEZrfpTV0/s1600-h/P1060081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjy9sOhML5HUvRcr7ZujfUpVhPT32YM37IGaTZn-YcBzvTKaHHFTmcwc0GqslljqgawSMPBwBjogGPCwopA83dDdurzZWNAxAQmY8gTxBXE3NDfEVFoVbAqOyZ11o0GNal3wEZrfpTV0/s320/P1060081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365379744647172210" border="0" /></a>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-85337946386105892482009-07-27T18:04:00.002-05:002009-07-27T18:25:22.919-05:00SOUTHERN READING CHALLENGE - HAIKU<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehZC7UB_cfxSxJ_nwUyhmUaWofjVCjIOHOMayprSQPVMKnf22ZQS9xsYDVWNN8LrSTPAVEs1WfOI4M0WqQ9BBQD7ulFJcZwwoam0OSFmpFOEEN8g0snwlv0Y_YoQuEdjjJ5R_eJLCTpk/s1600-h/queenpic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363284980349413506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehZC7UB_cfxSxJ_nwUyhmUaWofjVCjIOHOMayprSQPVMKnf22ZQS9xsYDVWNN8LrSTPAVEs1WfOI4M0WqQ9BBQD7ulFJcZwwoam0OSFmpFOEEN8g0snwlv0Y_YoQuEdjjJ5R_eJLCTpk/s320/queenpic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Sweet Potato Queens<br />Say men taste just like chicken<br />Makin' The Promise </div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-70534137627321468042009-07-20T19:09:00.007-05:002009-07-20T20:27:25.358-05:00BOOK REVIEW # 2<em>The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love</em><br />by Jill Conner Browne<br /><br /><em>The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love </em>is the first in a series of books by Jill Conner Browne about the Sweet Potato Queens. The Sweet Potato Queens consist of Browne and a group of bad girl belles in Jackson, Mississippi, who are the main attraction in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. These girls love a parade. These girls love to have fun. In essence, these girls love life. And they’re not afraid to show it with their antics.<br /><br />If you didn’t know that Southern women are just downright different from most other women, you’ll know soon enough as you begin reading <em>The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love</em>. Sure, Southern women talk with funny accents. And plenty of Southern women have big hair. But one thing most Southern women aren’t is STUPID—especially relating to men. Browne shows us how she and her fellow Queens manipulate (did I use that word?), I mean encourage, men to do their bidding. As she says, “Queens love men. They taste just like chicken.” Browne shares the Queens’ magic words they use to get any man, any time, any where, to do their bidding. But, as Browne is quick to point out since her momma is probably gonna read her book, the Queens never have to follow through on their Promise. Just the Promise, most especially with an audience to hear the words, will get the Queens anything they want from a man.<br /><br />Browne is a funny person. She’s also a funny writer. This makes for a laugh-out-loud kinda book. And the Southern expressions (many of which I’m familiar since I’m a Southern girl) are quite entertaining. It’s been a long time (I’m a Southerner transplanted to the North) since I’ve heard the expressions/words “he was fixin’ to,” “he don’t know jack shit” and “there’s a nekkid man,” but I was instantly transported back to the South as I read Browne’s words. You don’t have to be a Southerner, however, to understand and enjoy <em>The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love</em>. You’ll get it.Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-28312806846609563352009-06-29T09:02:00.001-05:002009-06-29T09:02:56.400-05:00Man Of Constant Sorrow - Ralph Stanley<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/EIpMJ7hizSs' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/EIpMJ7hizSs'/></object></p><p>Ralph Stanley will be at the Farm Museum on Saturday, July 11th. God willing.</p></div>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-46027324072613991332009-06-29T08:51:00.002-05:002009-06-29T08:54:54.762-05:00Look Down That Lonesome Road - Tim O'Brien<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08202014215383245 visible" href="http://youtube.com/v/vMbNkyTCTG8"></a><object width="425" height="350"><param value="http://youtube.com/v/vMbNkyTCTG8" name="movie"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://youtube.com/v/vMbNkyTCTG8" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></p></div><br /><br />Tim O'Brien will be at the Farm Museum on Sunday evening, July 12th. Can't wait!!Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-80951441638956978492009-06-02T13:16:00.005-05:002009-06-02T14:05:47.708-05:00BOOK REVIEW # 1<em>Blood and Grits</em> by Harry Crews<br /><br />Until I took a look at some of the authors and titles that <a href="http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/search/label/Southern%20Book%20Ideas">Maggie</a> had listed on her blog as suggested reads for the <a href="http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2009/05/southern-reading-challenge-three.html">Southern Reading Challenge 3</a> this year, I had never heard of Harry Crews. However, Crews’ non-fiction book, <em>Blood and Grits</em>, seemed a logical choice for me because I’m a non-fiction reader for the most part, I’m from the South and I already know what grits are. Plus, the juxtaposition of those two words is pretty stark, so I was hooked from the start. That image of red blood and white grits flew out the window, though, once I started reading this book. It just goes to show ya’ that you don’t always know what you think you do.<br /><br />In Southern vernacular, a Grit is usually a fellow Southerner. He can be a tough and uncompromising realist, possess an abrasive personality, be a sumbitch or even a shit. But we usually love him anyway because he’s a <em>real</em> son-of-a-bitch. If there’s one thing a Southerner can’t tolerate, it’s puttin’ on airs. And trust me, you won’t find any of that here. If you want a pretty little story all wrapped up in a bow, don’t read <em>Blood and Grits</em>. And if you want to read about people who treat each other with respect, you’ll want to skip this book.<br /><br />Each chapter of <em>Blood and Grits</em> is a stand-alone story, originally published in <em>Playboy</em> or <em>Esquire</em>, with Crews as the narrator as well as participant. The settings are mostly in the South although one of the stories takes place in Valdez, Alaska, and the time frame is the 70s. If you’re thinkin’ trippin’ on acid, ridin’ a big rig while yakkin’ on a CB radio, or watchin’ Big Oil install their big oil pipeline in Alaska, you’re ready for Crews’ stories.<br /><br />Just remember, though, that things aren’t always what we think they are. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. I even had to read many of these stories aloud to my husband because I just couldn’t believe what I was reading. I would say that Crews, at least with <em>Blood and Grits</em>, is a man writing for men. But you don’t have to be a man to enjoy these stories or to recognize talent when you see it. Crews is now at the top of my list of authors that are too good to pass up. This man knows how to tell a story. And you don’t want to miss these.Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-4482815859619444852009-05-28T21:14:00.005-05:002009-05-28T21:38:05.079-05:00SAYULITA 2008<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxjytfsqm6EQUN49X4Qbl-fZV_Gn07167oFCJH8tveN58HYTqTTwyUS-xHkRPKCQw3oIvP-n1M2Q5s4Nx9ntg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-12046960401470006822009-05-24T09:48:00.006-05:002009-05-24T10:19:16.594-05:00CHICKEN COOP PROJECT - FINISHED!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_06BV8_f1qrZlaQeVgcMDt56mnWnFfqF4iUEvz9PxJC7ZeaZhP3XvRW1WqUce_-_XpBhstGFprzfb2yNyiSxgBDjafYFsxe4Gk5glVp4TMiu1v6VDlYjMuqzUEKrLya48JdWFO-f96Y/s1600-h/P1040777.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_06BV8_f1qrZlaQeVgcMDt56mnWnFfqF4iUEvz9PxJC7ZeaZhP3XvRW1WqUce_-_XpBhstGFprzfb2yNyiSxgBDjafYFsxe4Gk5glVp4TMiu1v6VDlYjMuqzUEKrLya48JdWFO-f96Y/s320/P1040777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339405643861345922" border="0" /></a>Thanks, Wendy. It looks really good. And the green paint on the chickens looks good, too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1n_D3hzvS84Cvo4gpnjqmNknymY5pmfntcLvb6Cip0IRhM-827uus3amkmTO2fEdLkJnzqku8oIxZ6NV-rE3gniZMxhwgV-ApoKBM72jo2n4rWiJTUp6vE7JMASFUChw4b26nNjqy6HE/s1600-h/P1040788.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1n_D3hzvS84Cvo4gpnjqmNknymY5pmfntcLvb6Cip0IRhM-827uus3amkmTO2fEdLkJnzqku8oIxZ6NV-rE3gniZMxhwgV-ApoKBM72jo2n4rWiJTUp6vE7JMASFUChw4b26nNjqy6HE/s320/P1040788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339404400319187538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FXmnw57HrCV_nbmeqoUA27rEtn-FxJaP8F5ZTGUC1s9AFjkaUdnitiX_Ukx1ox0QilpQSQQCZajxTC5dwkvYQInFzm5zhjmrS9Lmdr1aTLfEmU-tdt7i9Hcikqhke81yY0gBcdCm45c/s1600-h/P1040786.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FXmnw57HrCV_nbmeqoUA27rEtn-FxJaP8F5ZTGUC1s9AFjkaUdnitiX_Ukx1ox0QilpQSQQCZajxTC5dwkvYQInFzm5zhjmrS9Lmdr1aTLfEmU-tdt7i9Hcikqhke81yY0gBcdCm45c/s320/P1040786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339403482566296546" border="0" /></a>Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8044008654057710602.post-34436537301082172882009-05-06T19:25:00.011-05:002009-06-11T21:25:50.204-05:00Southern Reading Challenge Three<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2009/05/southern-reading-challenge-three.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332889294189484162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 168px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_ouNzjt6MN5znNgXva_uHB7SskbU4NQYLwLkN0bERI1O0eNwCM7saJbEOIerqvYp5x-o_Lupiae9rvzESGtpdti-7ePGTitvj7kQtxCK4fTWGuBmLucNWK9CeQx3p_-o3omM0u_FrcE/s320/3497719023_20342ae2e6_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2009/05/southern-reading-challenge-three.html">Maggie's Southern Reading Challenge 3</a> kicks off this month.<br /><br />"It's that time of year! The time when you pour a glass of lemonade or sweet tea and take your official summer spot on the porch. Lean back in that chase lounge surrounded by geraniums and ferns, and begin the summer long journey into Southern culture.<br /><br />Yes, it's hot! Yes, it does get uncomfortable, but it is well worth the effort as you discover our unique "Southern" point of view. You may choose to read any style of Southern book such as Appalachian tales, Civil War sagas, Gothic myths, Grit lit, and heart-wrenching biographies...Just as long as you read three (fiction or nonfiction) between May 15th and August 15th."<br /><br />Visit <a href="http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2009/05/southern-reading-challenge-three.html">Maggie's</a> blog for ideas/titles of books to read for the challenge.<br /><br />My SRC list for this summer:<br /><br />1. <em>Blood and Grits </em>by Harry Crews<br />2. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love </span>by Jill Conner Browne<br />3.Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337971068327055136noreply@blogger.com1