From My Book Pile:

(Note: I am changing my ratings to a 1 Low to 5 High system. Some online voracious reader friends use that ranking, so to be consistent there, I am adopting their method. Also, since I rarely rank anything lower than 6 anyway, this should work well.)

If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska by Heather Lende, rank 3. Heather writes a "Duly Noted" column and the obituaries for a small weekly paper in Haines, Alaska. The book is a collection of her essays, each based around one of her obits. It does a good job of showing what life in Alaska is like, but it's not my favorite Alaska book.

Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Seife, rank 4. This was a brain-sweat book about the whole concept of zero, where it came from, how it progressed, what it influenced, and why. It dealt with geometry, algebra, calculus, philosophy, and history. I liked it, but I could never have gotten through it had it not been on audio.

The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz, rank 5, was recommended by my friend, Marilyn, and I LOVED it! It is the (supposedly) true story of a man who escaped from a Russian concentration camp 1939 and attempted, with a few companions, to walk from Siberia to India (including crossing the Gobi desert and the Himalayas!) carrying little more than a knife and some dried meat. If it is true, it's amazing, and if it is not true is it amazing. Hard to put down!

Blue Genes: Breaking Free from the Chemical Imbalances that Affect Your Moods, Your Mind, Your Life, and Your Loved Ones by Dr. Paul Meier, M.D., rank 4. It was helpful for Josiah and me, but it contained numerous grammatical errors. (Note: as a result of this book, we have made some very positive med changes.)

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Humanity, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick, rank 3. Although interesting, this long audio book got rather tedious. History and geography are always intertwined, but history books on tapes never seem to have maps. = ) This book reminded me that in most conflicts there's not one side that is totally right and one that's totally wrong.

Mexifornia: A State of Becoming by Victor Davis Hanson, rank 4. Another audio book. Very well-researched and compelling. Again, it shows the two (or many more) sides to the immigration situation. Quite informative.

Hey Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?: Five Kids Meet Their Country by John Seigel Boettner, rank 5. I loved this book. I got it free from paperbackswap.com and even though it occurred in the 1980s, I totally got into it. A middle school teacher and his wife who were avid cyclists trained a group of six students and then took them on a bicycle trip from Washington, D.C. back home to California. Each kid carried all his own gear (minus food, which was purchased as they rode) on his bike. Amazing story!

Left for Dead by Beck Weathers, rank 4. This is Beck Weathers' personal account of the 1996 Everest tragedy, including lots of autobiographical background and psychological musings. Although his story is remarkable, the book was not my favorite Everest chronicle.

Toughing it Out: The Adventures of a Polar Explorer and Mountaineer David Hempleman-Adams, rank 3. This guy has been to both poles numerous times and climbed the Seven Summits, plus a lot of other adventures. It was pretty good and worth reading, but I am so ready for a istian to do some major exploring and then write about it.

The Most Incredible Prison Escape of the Civil War by Fred Conway, rank 4. This was really something. It reminded me of the WWII POWs who tunneled out of a German prison some 80 years later.

Quote of the Week:

"Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country." Theodore Roosevelt

Enjoyed Walnuts on My Windshield? Want more? Check out the Walnuts on My Windshield archive!

Walnut Shade Mom

Well, having my own web page is certainly something new! Katie told me I have to write something for it, so here goes.

Since most of you probably already know me, I won't bore you with too many details. In short, I am . . . well, short. (You can read my "short stats" here.) I am also very blessed and very busy. My life is totally and completely insane most of the time. I often pause in the midst of all our chaos and think, "To an outside observer, this would really look like a circus!" Walnuts on My Windshield will let you know what's going on in my life this week. We also have a Walnuts Archive. Also, if you want an update on what I'm doing today, check out my blog!

At any given time, I could be checking math, rehearsing spelling words, proofing someone's copy, making a phone call, spanking Andrew, rotating laundry, reminding Josiah to stay on track, or sending an email. If I'm not doing any of those things, you can probably find me driving the van, on the phone (often at the same time), cooking supper, making a list, driving the van, reading to Andrew, working at my desk, cleaning a mess, hollering for a kid, or driving the van. It's a very nice van, which is good, because on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, that's where I spend the majority of my waking hours!

Thankfully, all of life is not that busy. There are actually moments of total peace and quiet. In one of those moments not too long ago, I wrote the latest issue of our Friends and Family Newsletter. If you haven't already read it - or if you'd like to read it again , click here. Also, our new Newsletter Archive is now up and running!

When I want to relax, here are some of the websites I frequent:
COOLcat - Springfield, MO Library System
Sonlight Forums - GREAT homeschooling bulletin boards
Amazon.com Book Search - (self-explanatory)
Blobs - a simple, but maddening little game; I think level 18 is impossible

This page was last updated on Thursday, May 18, 2006