Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

This month my book club read Copper Sun. An amazing story about a girl in Africa who had never laid eyes on a white person until the day they came into her village and killed her entire family and took her and the other young and healthy men and women in her village away in irons. Marched them to the coast where they were branded like cattle sold to slavers and shipped to the colonies. This girl Amari has to learn how to be a slave and what that word even means. Her body is no longer her own, and at the age of 15 she is abused by many. This story should be read by everyone. It gives an amazing depiction of one girls life from freedom to captivity and slavery to her escape and the trials she must face even seeking the freedom she craves. Sharon Draper put this story together so well.. the emotions, how the people of that time Black and White, felt. The horrors of what slaves went through and the sadness they endured. And not only did she bring us into the life of a slave she also gave us an education on indentured servitude. Amari was sold to a rich plantation owner who also that day bought an indentured servant about her age. This girl sold her services to pay off her families debt. Most people didn't know anything about indentured servants. They were just as abused as the slaves only thing is that they could become part of society after a time because they were white. But the indentured servants indenture could be sold to anyone. Essentially if they made their masters angry the master could sell them to whore houses or other horrible sickening lives. I didn't give many details about this book on purpose. I want people to read it. It was an unbelievably fast read. I hated putting it down. The story was fast paced, it never bogged down. This was not a book I would pick up on my own. But I'm so glad I read it and recommend it for ages 16 and older. Mostly giving this age rating because Amari is abused, severely beaten, and other emotionally gut wrenching, but necessary scenes that are needed to tell this story and for it to have the impact it was meant to have. If you have read it I would love to hear your comments and if you haven't you really should then let me know what you thought. Until next time..

Schools Out For Summer!!

This year will be the first summer holiday for my youngest daughter. I don't know if she is really looking forward to it or is excited about not having to go back to school or is true to form...just goes with it. My oldest is an old pro at summer and really enjoys the lazy days.. as long as she has a book (big glowing smile!). So for this summers activities I have planned weekly Library trips and some crafts. I decided my oldest was old enough to read the Twilight series much to her excitement so she is in the process of devouring number 1. My youngest is happy to read her books to her 'class' of stuffed toys because she plans on being a teacher like Mrs. Taylor. So this weeks library visit is out of the way. As for all the crafts planned for this summer most are cheap (my fave!) and relatively easy and because they love boardgames we are going to make some! Every year we paint rocks.. we have zillions of them and the painted rocks look pretty in the flower beds. SO this year I decided instead of slopping paint on them like they have been in the past the girls will have a couple of projects. I found 2 large mostly flat rocks that they are going to pain a Checker board on (with a little help from masking tape and me) and on the second large rock they are going to paint a Backgammon board (again masking tape). They have to figure out what colors they want to paint the two sides then how to mix the paints. Then they have to find 30 small rocks for the game pieces. I'm going to be a bit specific about this since they are going to be for both boards. I want the game pieces to be flat rocks so they can paint them the colors they want them to be but on one side paint a gold crown for when a checker has been Kinged. Now they will have an outdoor checker set and backgammon set to play. We also drive a lot in the summer to Oklahoma and back. So I thought it would be fun if they made their own roll up checker sets and backgammon sets and maybe become really creative and make a chutes and ladders sets (if you hadn't noticed they like checkers and backgammon). to make these I thought we would buy felt in the colors they choose for squares and the triangles of the checker and backgammon boards, and buy pretty material they choose to glue it to (this may actually have to be sewn.. I will see) And they can pick the color/style of buttons for their game pieces. Because we are going to use felt I can buy Velcro to help the pieces hold on to it, so I need to make sure I have some hot glue for my gun to glue that on. The Chutes and ladders one will take some extra thought but think a fun print with red felt chutes and gold felt ladders would work. I can make little pouches for all the pieces to go in with a drawstring top that they can leave in the game and just roll the whole thing up and tie closed. I haven't planned anything else until all these are done! I'm really hoping they work out it sounds like so much fun to do and the girls are really excited. Keeping them busy, active and creative is really important! If they finish we may try recreating or making up other boardgames. Pictures etc to come of these projects. Wish us luck! If you have any summer projects please share! Until next time...

A Post About Nothing!

I don't have anything life altering or deep to post.. basically right this minute I'm waiting for the dryer to ding so I can hang up jeans before I go to bed. I just watched the Boston Bruins lose a chance at the Stanely Cup and the Washington Capitals (ugh) move up. I am also trying to remember what else I was suppose to do before I finally drag myself into bed and hope I finally get some sleep. HA! I'm sure it will come to me! At church tonight my Preacher said his mom always told him a clear conscience was the best sleep aid.. so now I sit here and think.. do I have a clear conscience? and If not what do I feel bad about.. For the life of me I can't think of anything I may have done or said to cause me to have insomnia so much. I normally always enjoy going to church. Just being inside makes me feel good and when my Preacher gives his sermon it nearly always feels like God wanted him to talk to me.. Bro. Patrick my Preacher does say when a sermon moves you and you say I wish so and so was here to hear that! .. It would be great if they were but those who hear it are the ones who needed to hear it.. I know he says it better but that's basically it. I've thought that many times about a wonderful, deep sermon.. how I wish so and so was here for that.. but then remember what he says and start to think what did I need out of that.. I usually get a good lesson just thinking that over.. My nerdy tendencies are at work in church.. I take notes while he preaches.. I write down all the verses we need to look at, I write down important points he is trying to say... geeky I know! I have started walking with my friends mom every morning, and I love it. We walk as fast as we can for about 30 minutes. Its great exercise and I get to spend time with a friend. I also just started belly dance classes! All I need to say is OUCH.. stomach and back muscles are sore! but again it is great! I am hoping my uncoordinated self can figure out where all my body parts are suppose to be eventually. My oldest daughter is working on 3 writing projects for end of year (lazy teachers don't want to mess with teaching anymore this year) grades.. We have to make a solar system with an asteroid belt, a poster of Earth with facts and why beings would want to live here (sigh) and one on Mars.. Surely I'm not the only parent that sees lazy teachers getting out of teaching by putting all their grade in these projects. Good thing my baby is smart, creative and loves to write (don't know where she got that!). She will be done and turned in on time. There is the dryer dinging and time for me to put jeans up.. then bed! Hopefully for a good nights sleep. One last thought.. If you have never had South African Koeksisters your missing out.. easy to make and soooo yum... worth the little effort you have to put in.. Melktert is just as yum.. its a custard type dessert with cinnamon...my next SA try will be Bobotie.. and Vetkoek.. makes my stomach growl just thinking about it. Until next time..

Life a Soap Opera?

Some days it seems the things that goes on just piles on and it should read like a Soap Opera. Some moments are less believable than others but no less real.. and you just think really?! The only thing missing is your little sister coming into the room saying she is pregnant with your husbands twin brothers love child but it could also be your husbands.. but that's only if he was the mysterious man who she met at the bar.. HA some of those scripts are hilarious.. they should just follow real people around and they would get some great stories! Brothers who swap wives every 10 years.. yep I have seen that... have to say thank heavens I'm not related to them but my half brother is.. (soap opera!) Oh my I could keep going and really clean out closets.. but then I wouldn't be a bit of a mystery.. big laugh... I know some who LOVE when their life is chaotic and drama ridden and thrive on the attention.. and others like me who just want to be left in peace and never have drama of any kind.. I know I like to keep my head in the sand.. keeps the voices down that way... and I can pretend I'm sane a bit longer. And then their are those rare ones who don't like drama but seem always to be having some.. I have to question do they enjoy it a little to have so much of it... but who honestly knows. I bet Police officers and bar tenders could really tell some stories... But I have always wondered where did all this stupid stuff come from in Soap Operas? The magic and ghosts... all the weird stuff.. I thought Soaps were suppose to be a reflection of true life.. if true life was rich women being total witches (the non magical kind) and the men being devious, dying, coming back and mysteriously having a twin.. I will admit I don't watch Soaps.. blasphemy I know.. I learn about them thru other people and commercials.. but I do remember them from when I was a little girl and my Grandmother watched them all.. no one dared touch the aluminum covered rabbit ears and try to switch channels until her soaps were over! I am sitting here watching hockey as I type this.. shows how good the game is (not) but this was just a way to make myself smile tho it is all true. Whether it does you or not.. can't say I'm too fashed about...big smile... but hope you got a chuckle out of something I wrote. So until my next chaotic ramblings.. or another terrible hockey game.....

Death of the Faceless

      Two weeks ago this Wednesday a 14yr old boy in my daughters Middle School attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself in the boys bathroom at the Middle School. He later died from his self inflicted injuries that Friday and was put to rest this past Friday. To my knowledge I have never seen this boy before, I have never spoke to him.. I don't know his little sister or his brother. His death shocked our community and put a spotlight on our schools and the big question of 'Was it bullying?' Some say yes, some say NO (the school mostly) some have even stated it was the worse case of bullying they had ever seen.. who to believe.. It obviously needs to be fixed. This boy's death has affected me in many ways.. anger at people who didn't do anything when they noticed something wasn't right, anger ,anger, anger.. The thought that this boy was so hurt and disheartened and beaten down in spirit that he would rather die than face the rest of his life has bothered me and I hope many many others here. I mourn his passing without having known him. When I passed the church the day of his funeral I seen all those cars there and had to fight that anger again.. all those people are there now when he is gone but where were they when he needed them to help him.. at that age to ask for help from an adult is almost impossible.. the adults in the kids lives have the responsibility to know when something isn't right... and the kids friends who he CAN confide in have the responsibility to take real concerns to an adult. I know these kids are great actors.. but even the best actors can't keep up a performance 24/7.. their is always a tell.
    Yesterday I found out Iris had taken her own life as well Jan. 5th on her daughters birthday who would have been 16 this year. I have never met Iris, I have never verbally talked to her. She was a chatter on Africam and later on NatureTalk. I had chatted with Iris for at least a year. Knew about some of her life and a little of what happened to her daughter. She posted poems, pictures, etc.. of her life in Norway. Her life was isolated and not many neighbors. Town was a good journey from home. Iris would have been 33 this year.. just a year and a half older than me. She lost her daughter when she was 5yrs old and never got over her death. Iris's friend Silje says she feels this is what made her take her life.. This kind woman was alone and in mourning for not only her baby.. which is probably the worst pain a person can go thru emotionally, she is mourning her parents.. she is alone and turns to a chatroom for company. We gave her something she couldn't have otherwise.. friendship with faceless people. I was happy to give that to her, she was always very nice and had a lot of stories.. some exaggerated.. but who cared.. it was a good story. She is going to be missed on chat so very much by many of us at Africam and Naturetalk.
   Two faceless people, two suicides, two very very different stories. These two separate acts of desperation to be free and seek oblivion are hard for many to understand.. some say they are weak.. some say stupid.. I say they were afraid to seek help they wasn't sure or they didn't think was there.. they were afraid to take anymore chances to reach out and find help or a listening heart. And they were tired, weary of the pains, pressures, and hurts put on them by others.. Kindness is a gift we should be sharing.. no matter how dreadful some people seem, no matter what station they have in life, no matter their natures.. God was kind and loving to everyone he met.. those that were hated by others.. adulterers.. sinners.. EVERYONE... so how hard can it be to be kind and loving.. you NEVER know the impact a simple kindness can be for a soul seeking the oblivion of death. One loving gesture or one simple kindness can bring a person back from the brink.. Instead of saying something scathing or cruel because you feel they don't deserve anything else.. a smile, a God Bless you, or reaching out and asking a perfect stranger who is hurting.. 'Are you OK?' 'Do you need help?' and sometimes telling them they are not alone will help them fight for their lives. Kindness is God's gift to man if we use it we can help save lives of those who are lost in the dark clouds of their minds.. Help bring them back instead of making the hurts worse! You NEVER know what a person is TRULY going thru and let the first man without sin cast the first stone...  These two people were both faceless to me.. one I didn't know at all, the other I knew from a chatroom.. They are both gone because they couldn't stand to face another day in their lives. Look at your loved ones today and make sure they are truly OK... Make sure you hadn't missed a cry for help. I know I have been with my family.  Until next time..... 

Critters

I have always been an animal lover. Growing up I loved cats and dogs.. normal pet animals. Then we had a sort of farm with horses and a couple of chickens even a few ducks and pigs. I loved the babies of everything. It didn't matter if that baby was a slimy little frog if it was tiny it was cute. The last place I lived with my parents was in the woods 88 acres of woods.. and beyond those 88 acres was more wood. But this is where we had our tiny little sort of farm. I watched the deer with their fawns and the coyote pups..tho wasn't often I got to see the young ones. But growing up in that setting you would think I would come to know the names of all the animals I was watching. I knew an opossum when I seen one or a raccoon. But I couldn't name a bird, or a muskrat or a hedgehog. I often would look at a bird and wonder what kind it was or hear a pretty song and wonder who was singing it. I grew up and moved out and into my own home which happened to be out in the woods.. only nearer the mountains. I became immersed in the wildlife of Africa because of Africam. I can name many many birds, mammals, etc. from South Africa and can even spout off some pretty cool facts that I have learned over several years. But I still kept looking at birds out my window wondering 'What are you?' and hearing songs and thinking 'Who is singing to me?'. I was so pleased when Critter (his nickname) of CritterWindow found a room I was chatting in (of course it was about African wildlife) and told me about his wildlife cameras in Indiana at http://www.thecritterwindow.com/cams.htm. I have been visiting his channel nearly every day since and have learned many of the most common visitors there and starting to learn the songs too. Everyone at The Critter Window are great to help and are fun to chat with, Indy one of the moderators of the chat has even put up a bird cam in her back yard so The Critter Window has a total of 5 cams to view. Tho he keeps his mostly on the bird feeder and creek. Which is my personal favorite. In summer he puts a whole roasting chicken in the water for the fish and the turtles.. I only got to see this once and it was pretty neat. I have found an excellent website to help me learn the birds and even their songs; I go to http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1189&ac=ac and put in the birds name if I know it and learn all about the bird and it even has a sound byte of the birds song. It's a really great tool to use. I still watch my Africam and am still learning birds etc  for SA animals but now I watch and chat at Critters channel too so I know what I'm hearing when I go outside. I will be outside listening to the birds singing and actually knowing who some of them are not.. so until next time....

Valentines Day?

I never understood Valentines Day... It is such a commercialized holiday I really don't care for it.. I try my best not to make a big deal of it. I buy a card for my husband and tell him not to get me anything. Not that I don't mind chocolates like any normal female out there.. but I would rather him think of buying me my favorite chocolates on his own without having a holiday reminding him I like them. It actually means more to me when he does. I like flowers but would rather have a new plant or rose to plant outside.. cut flowers just don't last and seems such a shame. I guess I'm really not romantic either because I don't care to be taken to a restaurant and treated to a candle lit dinner.. it just seems so cheesy. Take me to our favorite restaurant instead.. the one with my favorite dessert (Tiramisu)...  Because of all the hype and the pressure the kids put on their peers I feel obligated to buy my daughters Valentines presents and send it to school. Your apparently not cool if you don't have this done. I don't remember ever getting a gift sent to school except for one time I was dating one boy and he sent me 2 dozen roses to school. I was shocked and a tad embarrassed... even now thinking back I can't believe someone would waste that much money on some cut flowers. I know I am not the only person out there to feel this way about Valentines Day... and I know I'm not the only woman to say don't get me anything and actually mean it. But those poor men, they were trained from childhood to always get momma, sister, wife, and daughter a gift EVEN and ESPECIALLY if she says 'don't get me anything' because we supposedly don't mean it.. and their are those few women out there that DO say this and actually don't mean it and the guys get in trouble and make it harder on us who actually DO mean it. But when they do we accept it graciously (I hope) and with a loving smile because those sweet clueless men in our lives have tried to make us happy and make us smile. And in their way let us know they think about us and love us still after how ever long its been for you.. for me its been almost 16 years. But you have to admit its those little treats that mean the most. Like when they come home after they know you had a bad day with your favorite root beer float from your favorite place.. or your favorite coffee from Starbucks.. or even your favorite candy just because they were there and seen it and thought of you. THOSE are the times when it really means I love you.. when they didn't have a holiday to remind them to tell us. And now I sit here and wonder.. do I show him I love him in those same small ways... hmm will have to sit and think a while. Until next time.... Happy Valentines Day