Hello Bloggy friends 
Hope you’re all well.
It’s a mixed bag today, a little bit of a stroll through the cluttered room that is my mind.
I’ve been reading.
John Buchan’s Castle Gay…..Yawn. I was seriously disappointed in that one, despite being a John Buchan fan.
The Rebel, by Hester Burton. A story of a restless English youth with utopian ideas, who finds himself on the wrong side of the French revolution. I generally like Hester Burtons novels, and this was no exception, though in the words of the Chicklette, it’s hard work reading a story whose main character has a contrary world view to your own (the main character was an atheist).
Today I finished Do Hard Things, by Alex and Brett Harris. (Which, incidentally, you can purchase a hard cover copy of from the Book Depository for less than you will pay for a soft cover with postage from Koorong).
I’m not sure what I think of it yet.
They sound like charming young men, and certainly their blog, Rebolution is worth a wander through. I am undecided whether or not the book would hold real worth for my young persons, being that they are not victims of popular culture, and we have (hopefully) instilled in the children our own views on this time of life.
Some of the content, along with free teaching resources, can be viewed/downloaded here.
My only inclination toward caution is that it may perpetuate that Pentecostal mantra, “God has amazing plans for your life”; and possibly the idea that if you are not off doing something amazing, you have somehow missed the boat.
But.. my hesitation; my much less forceful manner of reviewing than usual, is aiming to give the book the benefit of the doubt, despite that pep-talk kind of easy to read motivational flavour.
Why? Well, it could be that I am still in outrage mode over an article I read this week, in which case I could be prone to judge everything more harshly than necessary. (Not the John Buchan book – it deserves a very derisory glance!)
I will spare you the rant I have already inflicted on the good folk over at Aussie Homeschool, but here’s a taste of what rankled, from an article on the common mistakes of homeschoolers:
This, if I weren’t so prone to expressing my uncalled for views, would have left me speechless. But, I’ll resist, I will resist revisiting the subject…
On a much lighter note, have you ever wondered what to do with silverbeet? (That’s chard, for the out of town readers 
) We were given some lovely, fresh, lady-bird laden silverbeet from our farming friends, and I was feeling adventurous. So… we had lasagne without the pasta. Yes, it was silverbeet lasagne. (If Mrs P is reading, I’m sorry to offend your Italian sensibilities! 
)
But, it was good. The family unanimously declared they would eat it again happily, and it is a remarkably inoffensive way to eat so many greens. If you are brave enough to try it, make all as usual, though with less liquid, and substitute the layers of pasta with layers of green.
On to fun stuff… I’ve been playing with my camera. 
And this weekend, I will (God willing) be attending a photography workshop with a very talented and generous soul whom I hope to learn much from, along with meeting a great group of local photographers. This most serendipitous occasion is the same weekend as the lifeline book fair, which I remind my local readers of with joy.
Lastly,
want to see my new boots?
Don’t they look fun?
And that’s it, folks. (Well, I could go on, but I’ll stop before this tossed salad becomes a regular dog’s breakfast )
Jun 09, 2010 @ 23:18:52
Those boots are too cool for words, BB. Wow!! Be careful what/who you kick though!!
I love silverbeet in lasagne too, but I just put the leaves between the pasta layers instead of instead of them…if you get my drift…sorry, it’s late.
I’m off to read your rant.
Jun 10, 2010 @ 19:22:47
Hello Jeanne, they are cool, aren’t they? Thankfully, Mr BB is fully supportive of the idea of collecting boots as art, and so, being the conscientious homeschool mama that I am, I have found a way to put an educational spin on it. (you know, apart from the art aspect; they were made in Mexico – there’s geography; goat skin with lizard inserts – science; handcrafted – social studies and technology… )
I did get your drift about the lasagne
Thanks for visiting!
Jun 10, 2010 @ 05:58:36
I’m loving those boots Mrs BB! And I can’t wait to see what tricks you will make your camera do after this weekend! Sounds like loads of fun.
I have had the same questions about Do Hard Things. For my dd it has been a bit of a bridge to pop culture as it addresses pop culture ideas from a different point of view – and as she has friends who are immersed in pop-culture and has a nodding acquaintance with it herself it has been of benefit. She found the motivational pep-talk flavour of the book refreshing, after I have given her so many meatier reads this past year. There is a second book out now, and so far I have held back from buying it, but my dd is nearly dying with anticipation for it …… but she will have to wait a little longer as I am not quite ready to address it just it.
What a mean mummy I am!
Hope you have a lovely day Mrs BB xo
Jun 10, 2010 @ 19:32:33
She found the motivational pep-talk flavour of the book refreshing, after I have given her so many meatier reads this past year.
lol! I have looked with awe at Miss Meggie’s reading schedule this year
I am not the slightest bit surprised she was excited to “rest” in Do Hard Things 
We were discussing the book at our homeschool group today, and that was helpful to me to sort my thoughts about it. (My poor brain has been a bit ..scatty lately!)
I think one of the things that I find hard is that it reminded me just a little of the “life coaching” sermons we used to endure (grimace!), and while they may possibly make you think for a day or two, it is only ever the Word that renews our minds. In this same way, the Do Hard Things book, like ANY book, will only bring a temporal change unless the heart is in submission to God already, and commitment is there to meditate on the Word.
Essentially, you could sum up the book in “Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”. This is a good message, but made palatable to a wide audience in book form.
I’m not saying the book is not worthy, but I guess still grappling with the question of how much worth it would hold for us.
Thanks for sharing your views on it
Happy packing
xx
Jun 10, 2010 @ 10:08:23
Silverbeet lasagne? Oh my… a little lost for words, my friend. lol. I am not *so* Italian that I can’t be slightly adventurous (for any true Iti is truly adventurous, even with food) but lasagne without lasagne is just too much for this lil brain to bear. However, I’m glad that your family enjoyed it. In fact, almost begrudgingly but not quite enough to be rude, I would like to ask you for the recipe as we are trying to cut down our starchy carbohydrate intake…one never knows, it just might be a hit in our tribe too!
WRT ‘Do the Hard Things’ I am in minds with what you wrote. Whilst I totally see and understand what you are saying:
… but have learned and are still learning that it is vitally important for children/young adults to know that they do have a sense of purpose. As an adult I love attempting to be busy in my own home, etc but I remember the days when I was filled with burning passion to be a part of something bigger than myself. In fact, those days have not left me, I still yearn for them. Our eldest daughter had a strong sense of purpose – knew what she was doing, why she was doing. he had something to do every day, something physical and mental with goals to work toward. DH and I have recently been discussing how beneficial this has been for her and how we see it as important for our boys. DD2 has never had that sense of purpose, has never set any sort of goal, nor worked through it to achieve…but in all that, there is balance because we don’t want our children chasing things to do just for the sake of it … in order to be busy or to look productive or spiritual. And, we only find that balance in The Father.
I also believe it is good for our young people to see that, whilst in the minority, there are some other young people who are not following the crowd either- helps them to not feel so alone.
Then again, we all have different lives and different circumstances… so for your family and your girls the book may not be as necessary as for others. I get that.
Even though our young adults may not be part of today’s popular youth culture, there is still a propensity to be lazy, idle and be consumed with self. Hmmm, this is within all of us but seems especially common at these young ages… so I still believe it is a worthwhile and beneficial read/discussion.
Loved catching up with your happenings… I have checked back here now and again and have been missing you.
Amy, I didn’t know there was a new book – I might pop over and have a look to see what it’s all about.
Love to you,
Jun 10, 2010 @ 19:44:34
Hello lovely!
For the lasagne, you make the meat sauce and cheese sauce just as you would normally, only reduce the liquid because there is no pasta to absorb it. (Tried this with cabbage once, too, and we had to call it cabbage casserole, because it was too runny to call it cabbage lasagne
) And then assemble it just as you would if you were using lasagne sheets. Have a go – it’s yum 
I hear what you’re saying about the book: it was one of the conclusions we came to at the park today. There is an audience for sure, and I can see value in the message. The story of the boys activities to date made it an interesting read, regardless of the book’s other merits.
Thanks for coming by and chatting; I’ve been reading/doing/running too much lately to put my thoughts together coherently when I do have time to pause. I didn’t mean to get involved the other day in my visit to AHS, just couldn’t resist!
xx
Jun 10, 2010 @ 14:46:54
Hi Mrs BB
Just loving those boots!
Interesting book, I haven’t read it but it sounds interesting!
xx
Jun 10, 2010 @ 19:46:39
Oh, Lisa! How cute is your new avatar!!!
You’re beautiful
Jun 10, 2010 @ 22:11:33
Thanks Mrs BB….it was taken last Friday night as dh and I were heading out the door to a gala fund-raising black-tie event….so I was all done up and looking especially nice…
xx
Jun 11, 2010 @ 20:41:20
Ah, be sure to tell dh that he needs to take you to black tie events regularly: it’s clearly good for you
Jun 12, 2010 @ 16:59:12
Thanks Mrs BB…it might become an annual event for the company! I’ll try to post some photos on my blog…
Jun 10, 2010 @ 15:32:20
how do I get rid of that nasty picture??? I have a much nicer (and very recent)one that I’m want to share with you all, but I can’t for the kife of me figure out how to change it….grrr
If anyone can help, I’d appreciate it….it took me an hour to figure out how to change my profile pic on AussieHS!!!
Jun 10, 2010 @ 22:12:42
avatar all changed, this one is NOT the nasty one I was refering to
Jun 10, 2010 @ 16:52:14
I actually read this post last night and then got side tracked reading the rant at Aussie Homeschool. Then of course I got reading other threads over there and….
Now I am finally back. I have some thoughts on that rant but I didn’t comment as I felt a lot of it had been covered. I don’t seem to get over there very often and am obviously missing some great discussions!
Expect you are out boot scooting in those classy looking heels!
It is good to see another post here, BB, and I must say I was fascinated with your Mac computer post. I seemed to have follow up comments in my mail for weeks afterwards!
Jun 10, 2010 @ 19:49:06
lol! Ruby, I got sidetracked when I went there too – it’s the nature of the place
Ruby, I wonder if maybe that it is that I am such an irregular blogger that I have to make the most of my scanty posts?
Jun 10, 2010 @ 22:28:17
Perhaps….either that or you just write really riveting posts? or you have very chatty blog friends? any which way it makes for some fascinating reading!
Jun 11, 2010 @ 20:43:05
Aw, Ruby, my vanity would love to believe it’s the riveting posts, lol, but if I had to put money on it, I’d confess my deeply held belief is that it’s really my very darling, very chatty, bloggy friends
Jun 10, 2010 @ 17:01:33
Lisa, I think you can change your avatar through your google account and/or your blogger account. It depends on what you sign in with- your google account or open id or whatever.
If it is a gravatar, then you need to login at gravatar.com and change it.
Does that help? LMK if you need more help
Jun 10, 2010 @ 17:20:26
Thanks Susan…it was Gravatar, I had totally forgotten all about it…that’s what I get for not transfering my bookmarks over from my old desktop!
Hopefully I’ve got a new pic now!
xxx
Jun 11, 2010 @ 03:37:58
Love the boots, and the discussions. Very informative.
I haven’t read the book, so I am just responding to the comments.
I echo your concerns about us feeling we need to be out doing HUGE things. Though sitting idle is not okay. My favorite is doing small things with great love. Although I may not be curing cancer, I am serving God wonderfully by loving his children, being a good neighbor, etc. Sometimes those little things are belittled, as here in the US it is important to be THE BEST, #1, etc. I want my children to strive to be their best, whatever that holds.
Jun 11, 2010 @ 20:51:35
I like your thoughts, Tami, and the struggle I have had with this book is deciding whether it is delivering a contrary message, (to the strive to do your best, even in humble circumstances), or simply a different message. Jury is still out for me, but yes, I wish there were more recognition for the value of being faithful in little things.
I sort of think this generation already believes they should all go straight to management level and a company car, in any career, simply because they draw breath. I know this is not the place to go into a whole new tirade about the ‘merit tsunami’, that overwhelming tendency of schools to reward students for extremely underwhelming proficiency, but.. oh, I should save it for another day, I know, lol! (It’s way too easy for me to slip into soapbox mode!!) Thanks for visiting
Jun 11, 2010 @ 14:12:27
Have you ever read anything by Jack Kerouac? The picture you took is somewhat described in his book “On The Road.” I took much appreciation to the book after driving across country myself.
Jun 11, 2010 @ 21:00:49
Hello Eric!
I haven’t. I confess I had to google him, and didn’t think he sounded like a very cheery fellow. Clearly he painted great word pictures, though, for the book to have come to life after your own driving experience.
Have you had any further response with your call for artists yet? The tricky thing, I suppose, is not just finding artists, but like minded ones who will be able to bring something to the discussion of your genre.
Thanks for stopping by. I did warn you there wouldn’t be too much serious blokey stuff here, but you’re a brave man for visiting regardless, and always welcome
Jun 12, 2010 @ 02:34:41
Jack’s words aren’t always cheery, more of a realism about what life is. I’m actually taking one of his books with me to get some reading in over the weekend.
Yes I have had a little bit more luck with finding a soul or two. I truly appreciated your words. It’s refreshing to find people to help you without charging a fee.
I’m not a manly man. I am only a man. I enjoy whatever I do, no matter what laughs may come at my expense. If you need proof, I can show you clothes I have worn during my youth.
Jun 13, 2010 @ 20:36:20
Eric, I’m sure we’ve all worn things that should make us blush.
A soul or two is a good start. If I had to choose (and clearly I am not in a blogging league where this is likely to be my reality
) but if I did have to choose between hundreds of people commenting casually/insincerely, or my little band of faithful, chatty and honest bloggy friends, well… there’s no contest.
A handful of good souls is of infinitely more worth than the graceless masses.
Hang in there. You’ll find them eventually, or they’ll find you
Jun 12, 2010 @ 16:55:29
Love the boots – look like to fun to wear.
I buy all my books from the Book Depository – saving heaps of money which I then spend on more books. I try and tell as many people as possible out this website.
Love that photo – have fun in the workshop.
Never heard of this book – sounds interesting.
Jun 13, 2010 @ 20:40:32
“I buy all my books from the Book Depository – saving heaps of money which I then spend on more books”
I had to laugh at this, Jo: it sounds like such womanly logic
(The kind that’s right up my ally!)
If you haven’t heard of the book, you might like to take a wander through the website – it’s worth a look even if you don’t have children in that age group.
And thanks, the workshop was fun! Amazing, exhausting, scary….but tons of fun
Jun 12, 2010 @ 21:40:20
I love the sound of your silverbeet lasagne!
Oh dear, where is my password for the forum?!!?… you know how I love a good rant/debate/shin dig LOL. Do I need my flame resistant suit? hahaha
Jun 13, 2010 @ 20:59:52
Well sweetie, those suits are like fire extinguishers – you need to test them regularly
Branching out in my silverbeet experiments, I made a soup in the slow cooker to come home to after yesterday’s mammoth outing. It sounds AWFUL, and if I hadn’t eaten it at Mama’s house this past weekend, I would never have considered attempting it – primarily because of the turnip. (Blurrrrkkkkyyyy!!)
Jun 13, 2010 @ 23:04:02
Mrs BB,
You’re back!!!
Entertaining as always.
H
Jun 15, 2010 @ 11:01:42
Thanks, Heidi
I’ve been off adventuring this weekend, and learned heaps in my photography workshop, after which I took my information overloaded brain and weary body to the book fair – could a weekend be more perfect?!
I hope to put up some pics from the weekend, but it will take me a while to sort them..
Thanks for visiting
Jun 22, 2010 @ 00:05:37
Well a little late here, but glad you’re back a bloggin’. Snort – I can’t figure out why there aren’t any “negative” comments left on “Bold Christian Living’s” amazing article?! Heh heh. I was tempted but resisted the urge.
Nice boots Mrs BB. I myself had a lovely girls weekend away and purchased my first ever pair of long, black boots. I’ve gotten over the fact that I think I’m too short!
Fee x
p.s. I LOVE my new boots. Perhaps I will have to go and post a photo on my blog? Maybe tomorrow …
Jun 22, 2010 @ 22:29:49
Hello Fee
You resisted? I would have found it interesting to follow, should you have chosen to go that path
I can’t imagine how they have come off still smelling sweetly in internet land, after some of those statements. Still, I suppose when the readership is primarily women, you can get away with a lot more. And to be fair, there were some good points, but I was too busy choking on the .. the… ‘arrogance’ sounds harsh, but.. maybe ‘prideful’ or perhaps ‘misplaced authority’ could work?
And perhaps those of us who were tempted to have something to say about it realized the futility of speaking. If the man expects a woman to take his word over her husbands, he is not likely to be the sort of person who is going to listen to a woman commenting on his website…
Oh, new boots! Fee, you know it’s my weakness, lol! A photo would be great
Jul 03, 2010 @ 14:00:08
love that pic!
the clouds…
Jul 03, 2010 @ 18:03:36
Thanks, Vimal.
This was taken moments before they dumped water, and I had to run for the car. (no easy feat when wearing gumboots and lugging camera gear!)