Granny's First Baby Quilt

Portia had some of the precious aqua blue alphabet fabric left over from the bedskirt she made for our expected grandson's crib. After we made a couple of pillows for her window seat there was still a lot left over so I made this quilt for him using it and the some polka dot and orange fabric she is using as accent fabrics.

I haven't made a quilt in--oh I forget how many--years. So I wondered how much I would remember about the process. Woo-hoo! A lot more than I thought I would, that's for sure. It's not a perfect quilt but came out pretty well.

Can't wait to wrap that little baby in it....

Book Review: The Wolves of Andover

The Wolves of Andover is the prequel to The Heretic's Daughter, which is a novel about the Salem witch trials in colonial Massachusetts, written by a descendant of Martha Carrier, one of the women executed for witchcraft. As a descendant myself of one of those women (Mary Ann Averill), I was interested in these novels and since both had good reviews, decided to start with the prequel and read them in sequence.

Well, that may have been a mistake. The Wolves of Andover did not fully capture my interest or imagination. I appreciated the historically accurate descriptions of the difficult living conditions of the day, but ultimately did not find the protagonist, Martha Carrier, a sympathetic or engaging character. If the author depicts her accurately, then perhaps others in the community felt the same way, thus setting the stage for the accusation of witchcraft and her execution that comes in The Heretic's Daughter. But since I haven't read that book, I don't know how she is depicted in that book.

Spoiler Alert: Martha falls in love with a mysterious farmhand who turns out to have had a pivotal role in the execution of King Charles I during the English Civil War and is being sought by assassins in the pay of his son, Charles II. The chapter that fully discloses this part of the story is set in italic print, which I found annoying, hard to read, and unnecessary. I didn't find the love story very convincing, either.

The Wolves of Andover is not a bad novel--parts of it are well-written and evocative of its time and place.  On the whole, I would give it an average rating. I don't plan to read The Heretic's Daughter any time soon, but if you are interested in these novels I recommend you read that one first because it has more positive reviews.

Friday Five: Books!

I haven't played the RevGals Friday Five in quite a while, but today's meme is about books, so here goes:

1. What books have you recently read? Tell us your opinion of them.

I just finished Ron Chernow's Washington, A Life. That one is over 900 pages long, but I read it on my IPad. It is well worth the time (a month) I put into it, too. My full review is here.

2. What books are awaiting your available time to be read?

Unprotected Texts by Jennifer Wright Kunst and The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson by Jerome Charyn are two books I have received as advance copies from publishers and committed to review as part of book blog tours in February. Right now I'm working on Unprotected Texts because that is scheduled February 1.

I just got the latest Matthew Shardlake mystery, Heartstone, and can't wait to get to it but must discipline myself to finish these other two first.

3. Have any books been recently recommended?

The two books mentioned above that I received from publishers for review.

4. What genre of books are your favorite, along with some titles and/or authors you like best?

For me, as a history buff, the most enjoyable recreational reading is historical fiction or medieval mysteries. My favorite series is the Matthew Shardlake mysteries set during the reign of Henry VIII. Fabulous! They should be read in order, so start with Dissolution which deals with the dissolution of the monastaries under Henry VIII.

5. What have you read lately that you have a strong urge to recommend? (or to condemn?)

Let's stick to the postive! Elizabeth's Women by Tracy Borman is a fascinating study of Queen Elizabeth I and her female relationships--a facet of her life usually neglected by historians.  America's Prophet by Bruce Feiler is an intriguing study of the influence of Moses on American history and culture.

Diva in the News

Our own Diva was pictured in the Houston Chronicle this morning singing an aria from Dead Man Walking, the opera that will open shortly at Houston Grand Opera. Yes, this is an adaptation of the book which was also made into a movie. You can see Sister Helen Prejean in the picture looking on!

Presbytery of New Covenant's Executive Presbyter, Rev. Mike Cole, was among the group of local religious leaders gathered in opposition to the death penalty at this event.

Catherine says she is in "mezzo heaven" because she has the opportunity to work with international star Frederica von Stade  in what will be her last performance before retirement.

Book Review: Washington: A Life

It's taken me a month to finish reading Ron Chernow's highly acclaimed (and rightfully so) new biography of George Washington. This effort has definitely cut into my blogging.

The hard copy of the book is over 900 pages long, but I read it via IBooks on my IPad, which made it much easier to handle a work of this size and scope. In the process I learned how to highlight, bookmark and make footnotes digitally, and became quite comfortable with those techniques. Hooray for IBooks!

Chernow set out to explore every facet of Washington's complex character and brilliantly succeeds in bringing the reader to appreciate both the greatness and the shortcomings of the man recognized as the "Father of our country". I did not realize the vast collection of documents, letters and other papers that were available to historians because Washington was acutely aware of his future place in history and carefully saved virtually every scrap of paper that documented his life and career. His influence on the creation of our country, government, the capital and even our way of life is so pervasive that only a monumental biography like this one can begin to uncover it.

This biography is so extensive and well-documented that it is hard to know how to write a review in the relatively short format of a blog. There are so many things I learned in the course of reading it that I would love to share, but in the interest of keeping my readers with me, I am going to focus in this review on Washington the slaveholder and Washington the man of faith.

It seems fitting to reflect on the slavery issue as I am writing this review on January 16, now a national holiday celebrating the birth of a descendant of slaves, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Washington held two types of "slave property"--those he owned outright and those that were "dower slaves". Although Washington owned outright about 100 slaves at his death, most of the slaves he held were dower slaves. These Dower slaves were given to Martha as gifts when she married her first husband. Under the law of the day, dower slaves would pass to Martha's children by her first marriage and therefore George had no legal authority to free them.

Over the course of his life Washington became more and more convinced that slavery must end or else ultimately would be the destruction of the republic. He decided he would not purchase slaves nor would he sell them away from their families. The resulting growth in the slave population on his Mount Vernon plantation and other properties came to be one of the causes of economic strain in the latter part of his life. 

Chernow recounts that 47 slaves were documented as runaways from the Washingtons. George Washington did attempt to reclaim them, despite his stated aversion to slavery. 

A memorable incident recounted by Chernow involves the case of the slave Oney  "Ona" Judge. Ona, Martha's personal maid, was the mulatto daughter of a slave and an indentured servant at Mount Vernon. She fled from the President's residence in Philadelphia to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, after learning that Martha Washington had promised her as a wedding gift to her  temperamental granddaughter, Eliza Custis, upon their return to Virginia.

President Washington advertised a reward for her capture and return and furtively attempted to arrange her kidnap from the free state of New Hampshire. Ona later wrote that the Washingtons never taught her to read or write or gave her any "moral education." When Washington's stated ideals about slavery conflicted with his financial interest his ideals were ignored and his actions hypocritical.

In the last year of his life Washington secretly wrote a new will giving the slaves he owned outright to his wife Martha, but providing that upon her death, they would have their freedom.   An unforseen consequence was that his widow became fearful for her safety because the other slaves knew that they would be free upon her death, so she freed the remainder of these slaves the following year.

Chernow points out that Washington was the only one of the Founding Fathers who actually freed his slaves, albeit posthumously.

There has been a lot of sentimentalization about Washington's faith by later generations. Washington was a regular in his attendance of an Anglican church in Virginia, but his statements about faith seem formal and stilted to the modern reader. This does not mean he did not have it, but rather that his ways of expressing it are very different from what is viewed as "authentic" today. 

Washington did believe in religious toleration and carefully attended worship at churches in other denominations to set an example for others.

I highly recommend Washington: A Life. It is well worth the effort I put into reading it. I'm buying a hard copy for El Jefe, who still isn't onboard with digital books.

(Also posted today at QG's Book Reviews.)

The Bump Shot

Averill posted a "bump shot" on her blog today, showing her progress at 32+ weeks. 

Here it is.

Doesn't she look fabulous? Not that I'm biased or anything.

The nursery is looking good and we are getting very excited Chez QG!

More Blackberry Blues

The Wall Street Journal, whose readers have GOT to be the most technology addicted in the world, ran an article this morning for every spouse, child or friend who has been dissed by a Blackberry: Your Blackberry Or Your Wife.

El Jefe has heard me sing the Blackberry Blues on many occasions, accompanied by the backup duo of Portia and Babs. We even have a picture of our late nephew Patrick commandeering El Jefe's Blackberry just before Portia's wedding ceremony!

This past Christmas Eve El Jefe deliberately left the BB at home while we went to church. Along comes a driving thunderstorm during the service so he ran out to fetch the car with one of the church's umbrellas only to realize he couldn't call us to let us know where to come to meet him for pickup. No good deed goes unpunished.

 

A technology fast sounds very appealing. But my chances of getting you-know-who to participate are slim. and. none.

 

The Maverick With a Mission

Steve Saint (yes, his real name) is a missionary who developed this flying car, called the Maverick,  to help natives in remote regions of the Amazon access health care in fulfillment of a promise he made to the Huaronai tribe in Ecuador that killed his missionary father and four other missionaries in 1956. 

The tragedy was recounted in Elizabeth's Elliott's book Through Gates of Splendor and also made into a movie. Steve Saint wrote his own book about his father, The End of the Spear, which was also made into a movie.

The video is about 6 minutes long and doesn't discuss the purpose of the flying car until close to the end. It's well worth watching. Christianity Today had a lengthy article about Spear and his flying car here. For more information, you can check out the Maverick's website.

The FAA has certified the Maverick as airworthy, and surely God will bless the mission Saint developed it for.

Beatrice Blogs: Tilda Update

Matilda "Tilda"

Woof! 

Beatrice here. QG and El Jefe figured out that I am technically Tilda's Aunt Bea.

Lately I've been feeling more like Tilda's Great-Aunt Bea.

I mean, that pup is full of energy! She rushes in the house in the morning when Portia drops her off before going to work and wants to wrestle and pin me to the ground. Not very dignified for a young lady dog of my age!

So when I jump on a chair or couch to get away from her, she barks! Then QG comes and scolds her and takes her away to give me a bit of peace and quiet.

I am taking her in hand--er, paw. She is learning to do business very promptly outside and to walk on a leash. I've shown her all the best places to look for rabbits or little mice in the yard. She has a good nose and runs pretty fast, but not as fast as me.

Although I really hate the crate, I find it amusing to get in there before Tilda does. Just to show her that I can.

I'm kind of relieved when she goes home, but then I find myself looking for her in the morning. I still miss Olivia, but I think Tilda will be a good dog, too!

Yours for contented canine companionship,

Beatrice

Who Is The Foundation For A Better Life?

Anybody else out there wondering who is behind the Foundation for a Better Life? 

They seem to have stepped up their advertising significantly during the college bowl season. I think I've seen two or three of their ads during every bowl game we've watched. I started noticing because we have had the tv on much more than usual lately because El Jefe is an avid college football fan.

Some of them are memorable--like the one about the girl with Down's Syndrome who was elected homecoming queen at her high school (a true story, I remember reading about it because it happened at a Texas high school). Some are heart-wrenching--like the video shown to the tune of "You Can Let Go Now Daddy". And several that I have seen are meh--like the one that seems like the old Coke commercial "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony." It's called We Shall Be Free.

That costs a LOT of money. Made me start wondering where the funding is coming from. The website for the organization is values.com. I went through it but can't find any information about the funding, so I went to Wikipedia and found that it is solely funded by Philip Anschutz, who is identified as an  the 34th "richest person" in the US and a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Wikipedia reports that he donated more than 23 million dollars to the Foundation for a Better Life and the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

He is also a major supporter of the filming of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and owns a large entertainment company.

Just thought you'd like to know, in case you were wondering, like me!

Adieu, 2010

This year began with the joy and excitement of planning a wedding for Babs and P-Dubya which we celebrated with family and friends on May 1. 

A couple of months later we rejoiced with the news from Portia that she and DK were expecting their first child in early March of 2011.

Then came Patrick's tragic accident in early October and the grief and pain of his passing on December 1.

A stanza from the old hymn, In The Cross of Christ I Glory, keeps echoing in my head and it seems to sum up the meaning of this year 2010:

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.

Gentle Readers, regardless of the banes or blessings the New Year brings you, may you have that "peace that knows no measure" and "joys that through all time abide."

Looking Ahead....

It's almost like the good old days when Portia and Babs were in college and home for Christmas break: they both took off the week between Christmas and New Year's! So we have had fun doing some Mom-Daughter things.

Today I'm off to the spice store in the Heights and lunch with Babs at a trendy restaurant. This evening El Jefe and I take Portia, DK and the in-laws out to dinner at our favorite wine bar/bistro in Sugar Land. We are all eagerly anticipating the birth of our grandson in early March!

In between, I'm starting to look ahead to the New Year and decided it was time to clean up my sidebar. So down comes the link to Presbyterians Today, since I won't be writing Best of the Blogs next year. And up goes a link to the books I am planning to review--hopefully in order that the reviews will appear! 

I am hosting book tours for The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson on February 8 and for Unprotected Texts sometime in February to be determined. (A book tour means that I have accepted a copy of the book for review from the publisher and agreed to post a review on a given date.)

So far I haven't had much luck driving readership to the book blog, but I do think it is useful to have my reviews collected in one place. I would like to do more book reviewing since general blogging is really falling off everywhere.

In the new year I also take on a new position at church: Clerk of Session. It's a long story, but to make it short, after reviewing the officer roles some changes were made this month that put me in that position rather than the one I was originally assigned. 

The main charge, other than the administrative Book of Order role, is to educate the session about denominational issues and upcoming votes at presbytery. Since we vote on the NFOG in February and the Belhar Confession in May that should keep me busy!

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room!

Christmas Eve 2010

Up early this morning, made breakfast tacos and clementines for breakfast washed down with lots of good coffee.

Next on the schedule is listening to Lessons and Carols from Cambridge University via KUHF in Houston. It always reminds El Jefe of the year he spent there and his part in the service reading one of the lessons: "the Lord told the faithful Abraham that in his seed would all the world be blessed."

Then off with El Jefe to see about trading in his car during the end of year sales. We'll see.

Back home for an afternoon with Portia, DK, Babs and P-Dubya getting ready for Christmas Day dinner Chez Portia (woo-hoo!) for the extended family and friends. Hope its chilly enough for DK to fire up his new firepit in the backyard!

Christmas Eve candlelight service at 5:30 at Portia and DK's new church home in Sugar Land, Christ United Methodist Church. Then off to St. Betty and the Old Marine's home for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.

A Blessed Christmas to all!

They Don't Have White Christmases In Houston

SO TRUE! It's 75 degrees and we're sipping ice tea on the porch in our flip-flops. Love this!!

The Digital Nativity

So clever! Yes, the media may change but the message is the same.

Book Review: Legacy

There's just something about Elizabethan England that keeps me interested in books about the period. This one is a novel, Legacy by Susan Kay.

I've read a lot of books about Elizabeth I, both history and fiction, and I think this is the best historical novel I ever read about her.

Legacy won both Britain's Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize and the Betty Trask Prize for a first novel, and deservedly so. Kay's story is highly readable and presents Elizabeth I as multi-talented, politically shrewd, enigmatic, emotionally stunted, and conflicted. 

The deaths of her mother and stepmother, Catherine Howard, combined with the erratic and often abusive treatment she received as a child from her father who was sometimes loving, sometimes distant, sometimes threatening and never predictable are presented by Kay as the reason for Elizabeth's conflicted relationships with the three men she loved most in her life.

Robert Dudley, undoubtedly Elizabeth's strongest relationship, is introduced early in the novel as one of her nursery playmates. He continues to be her most trusted friend throughout the dangerous period between the death of her father and the death of her older sister, Queen Mary. Kay depicts Dudley as a multi-faceted character who truly loved the Queen and was frustrated by her refusal to marry him.

I won't spoil the novel for you by giving away the last chapter, but I found it quite moving, albeit fanciful.

Fans of historical fiction, particularly of the Tudor period, will enjoy Legacy.

Note: This review is also posted at my book blog, QG's Book Reviews.

Sappy Christmas Song 2010: It is Finished!

By the power I invested in myself as sponsor of QG's annual Sappy Christmas Song contest, I hereby declare the Sappy Christmas Song for 2010, "Good Pastor Wendy", FINISHED!!

Huzzahs for all the contributors: Nik, Robin, ceemac, Reformed Catholic, Singing Owl, and earthchick.

All hail to two special lyricists who were not only amazingly prolific and clever but also teamed up to use the ferrets and the youth group to solve Good Pastor Wendy's Christmas crisis AND bring her true love in the New Year:

NIK and REFORMED CATHOLIC !!

~applause applause~

And now, one more time, here's the complete ballad. Grab your hanky!

GOOD PASTOR WENDY

Good Pastor Wendy won't come out
of her little study,
She is feeling very stressed
Her Christmas spirit's cruddy.
Bills stack up  upon her desk,
The choir master quit her.
Church finances are a tangled mess,
Down her cheek there falls a tear.

--Quotidian Grace

Yorkshire-ese Ahead!!

Ey oop Wendy, cheer oop lass,
Thon's bin in worser pickles;
t'snow's piled high so light a fire
let flames yon bills to tickle...
t'choir man he wore tone deaf
of very little merit
Off thee go and have a pint
and play with yonder ferrets

[translated:
Hello Wendy, cheer up,
things could be worse,
it's very snowy outside so get the fire on -
burn the bills.
the choir master wasn't particularly musical,
nothing to recommend anyway.
Go and have a beer
and play with those ferrets over there instead.]
 --Nik

Pastor Wendy wiped her eyes,
On her Christmas stocking,
Wondering if it could be time,
Just to head out walking.
Could there be another spot,
One less aggravating?
Could it be that she should look,
For a job less ja-aaaa-ding?
--Singing Owl

Wendy left her office cold,
headed for the Starbucks.
"Double-espresso choc-o grande,
with a shot of milk, Chuck !!"
Out the door she strode that day,
sipping on her coffee.
After Christmas, she did say,
another job I'll be seeking.

--Reformed Catholic

Pastor Wendy went downtown
Thought she'd look for presents
Ran into the youth group there
They were planning nonsense
All dressed up like reindeer they
Pranced around the food court
Singing loudly all the day:
Hallelujah Chorus!
    --Robin

From the pet store suddenly
Came the Christmas ferrets
As their cages they did flee
Absconding with some carrots.
Pastor Wendy quickly spied
The youth group chasing after
Shoppers screamed, so horrified
What a big Dis-aaa-ster!!
  -- Quotidian Grace

Pastor's Wendy's thinking
'Bout her days in D-school
All those late-life students
Thought it's fine to switch the rules.
Stops at Borders for a look
Maybe a career change?
Gets herself an L-SAT book
Knows that now she is de-ranged!
   --Robin

ALERT: YORKSHIRESE AHEAD...

Ey-oop lass and hasten quick
T' ferrets have escap-ed
Yonder youth group's in the nick
For their daft-like capers:
Forced 't ferrets into Mall -
They danced around the Yule tree.
Alas thon youth group's all locked up:
Charged with animal cru-el-ty.

[translation]
Oh gosh, best hurry
the ferrets have escaped.
The youth group have been put into prison:
they were really rather unkind to the wee ferrets
And made them dance around the Christmas tree in the mall.
Alas, the youth group have been locked up
because ferrets are sentient beings and really shouldn't be treated with such disrespect]
--Nik

Wendy thought about those kids
chasing after polecats.
Wish they had such energy
at Sunday evening youth camp.
I better go and bail them out,
then go call their parents.
So off to the precinct thus she went,
forgetting to buy presents.
--Reformed Catholic

So Wendy went back to the Manse,
turned on her computer.
Amazon, Sears and HSN,
online shopping's easier.
No ferrets running all about,
or shoppers wild expressions.
Christmas wrappings only 3 bucks,
Shipped directly to-oo them.
--Reformed Catholic

Pastor Wendy's debit card
Sadly was rejected.
Her account was overdrawn,
Her balance sheet neglected.
Christmas bonuses were naught
For Wendy or her staff
When she once asked about them,
Everyone did laugh.
--earthchick

Wendy sighed and went to bed,

"Its really time to leave now.

Stewardship is but a joke,
We're spending our reserves low.


Troubled dreams our Wendy had,


tossing all the night long.

Knowing that this Christmas Eve


May not have the he-eat on !!

--Reformed Catholic

The weeks flew by 'fore Christmas Eve,


Wendy was so busy.

Planning Advent services, 

left her in a tizzy.


Still the bills piled up each day,


Wendy was so frantic.

Will there be enough to pay,


for the food bank baskets ??
--Reformed Catholic

Alert Again: More Yorkshirese!

Hearken lass and look'ee here
And stop wit yonder gurnin'
Pop whippet oot o' bath right smart
If wants t'make some earnin's.
Off to 't track gang you 't now
And get that whippet running
One hunnert poon's in't 3'o'clock
And ye'll not lack for fu-un-ding.

[translation:
Wendy, my sweet little mince pie pay attention
And stop pulling faces.
Go and fetch the whippet from the bath quickly
If you want to make some money.
Go to the track
And make that whippet earn its keep
I suggest you put £100 on it on the race at 3pm -
It's a 'sure thing' and you'll have all the money you need.]
--Nik

Off to 't track oor Wendy went
to place a bet on't whippet.
"'Eee by 'eck a winning run
would see t' church in credit!"
But conscience is a reet rum thing:
And childer all were looking.
Lightbulb flashed inside her head -
A charity looney dooking...

[translation:
Wendy went to the track
and was going to gamble rather wantonly.
"Gosh, if the dog wins
our church money problems will be over!"
But it's a bit of a bother when one has an over-active conscience...
And the children were looking - so a bad example.
She had an idea
She'd raise the money for the church via a sponsored jump into icy cold water on New Year's day.]
--Nik

Poor addled Wendy's looking for
A good wetsuit for the ducking
Else she freezes to the core
And frigid water sucking.
Where is Santa and his sleigh
With a miracle to save her?
Throw all the kiddies' toys away
Shower her with filthy lu-u-cre!
--Quotidian Grace

4th Sunday in Advent comes round,
Wendy is there preaching.
The usual members sit in back,
at least they're not there sleeping.
Old Josh sits in his same seat,
Never misses a Sunday.
Notices that Wendy's not,
preaching in the same way.
--Reformed Catholic

 

YOU GUESSED IT! MORE YORKSHIRESE!!

From 't pulpit Wendy spied
Josh gowkin' at her queer-like;
Saw his eyes bulge further wide
at entrance of the youth tykes.
Christmas ferrets all rushed in -
Oor Wendy saw Josh sof'nin'
as tykes 'n ferrets pranced aboot
gathrin in t'off'ring.

Advent weeks flew by reet quick,
Grand crowds they'd all been gath'rin' -
Drawn in by't ferrets wondrous tricks
In't services in't evenin's.
Collection plates were fillin' fast -
So thon'on's passed round flat caps.
't ferrets proved a cunning wheeze
For building up a ti-dy stash.

[translation:
From her pulpit, Wendy noticed
Josh looking at her somewhat oddly.
His eyes then grew the size of dinner plates
as the youth group entered the church.
The Christmas ferrets then rushed in
And Josh's heart was strangely warmed
as he looked upon the charming scene of ferrets and youths working in wonderful harmony,
collecting the offering.

As is usual, Advent flew by ridiculously fast;
The church was packed with huge crowds,
desirous of seeing the wonderful performing ferrets
in the evening services.
The offerings were so multidunious they filled up the plates to optimum capacity;
to ensure all had the opportunity to give, the ferrets and youths passed around stereotyipical Yorkhire headgear amongst the gathered crowd.
Truly, the idea of using the ferrets was an ingenious one
And it appeared the church cash crisis might possibly be averted]

--NIK

 

Wendy was on top of the world,
-- pastoring's no chore now.
Chuck's attending Worship now,
they're meeting after at Starbucks.
Walking together, hand in hand.
Wendy wasn't dreaming.
Advent's ending turned out to be,
better than its begin-in-ng.
--Reformed Catholic

The Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve,
echoed with joyous singing.
Frozen Chosen no longer they --
the candles lit the ceiling.
Wendy stayed another year,
married Chuck soon after.
So this story tries to end
with happily ever after. 

--Reformed Catholic 

 

Book Review: Elizabeth's Women

(Note: this review is also posted on my book blog, QG's Book Reviews.)

Sitting in the waiting room of the hospital ICU and at home by the phone waiting for news of my nephew (who ultimately died of injuries suffered in an auto accident) , I did a lot of reading in October and November. However, I didn't have the concentration necessary to post any reviews during that time. 

Much of the reading was pure escapist stuff: re-reading of some old favorites and reading of medieval mystery stories. 

However one of the books I read was Elizabeth's Women by Tracy Borman. I have always had a keen interest in British history of the Tudor period and particularly the great Gloriana--Queen Elizabeth I. 

Elizabeth's Women is a well-researched history of the women who influenced and surrounded the queen. This is an unusual approach to writing about Elizabeth I because most historians and authors emphasize her relationships with the men around her whether they were her advisors, relatives, friends or "favorites" (presumed lovers).

The author writes about these women in chronological order, beginning with Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, executed by order of her father King Henry VIII, and ending with her life-long friend the Countess of Warwick who was with her on her deathbed.

Elizabeth lived her personal life surrounded by female attendants who literally were with her every waking and sleeping hour, as was the custom of the time. The most influential woman in her life was her governess, Katherine ("Kat") Champernowne Astley, who was her surrogate mother.

Borman covers Elizabeth's complicated relationships with her older sister Mary and her cousin (whom she never met!) Mary Stuart of Scotland. The experiences of  her stepmothers Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard reinforced Elizabeth's fear of loosing power and control through marriage while her close relationship with her father's last wife and widow, Katherine Parr, was fractured by the inappropriate attentions of Parr's husband the roue' Thomas Seymour.

One of the many interesting themes of the book is the evolution of Elizabeth's attitude toward the marriages of her ladies-in-waiting which became quite hostile by the end of her life. Another major theme is the conflict with her female relatives, the surviving Gray sisters and later, Arabella Stuart, who had competing claims to her throne which sometimes threatened her.

Tracy Borman's book is a great addition to any Tudorphile's library. Highly recommended!

The 12 Doctrines of Christmas

This is a hoot! Don't miss the 5 Points of Calvinism vs. 5 Solas stanza. Hat tip to Dave Pepper.