Tune in Tuesdays--Nicholas Sparks

For this entry I would like to share not only one book, but an author who I like to read. His name is Nicholas Sparks. I will admit I saw Message in a Bottle and Nights in Rodanthe as movies, before I realized they were part of such a great list of books from this author. Once I discovered them, I read them as quickly as I could get my hands on them. Many of his books are not only bestsellers, I believe about 8 have been movies, and in my opinion, pretty good movies with decent adaptions of the books.

MOVIES: (and if I remember them, the leading man AND MY RATING of him, LOL)
                 The Notebook (where we all first fell in love with Ryan Gosling, at least me)
                 The Guardian
                 A Walk to Remember
                 Message in a Bottle (Kevin Costner, yummy, but ending is the reason DH doesn't like me picking movies, he only likes happily ever after)
                 Nights in Rodanthe (Richard Gere, meow, didn't let DH watch this one, I knew better, LOL)
                 Dear John (Channing Tatum!)
                 The Lucky One (Zack Efron, not bad)
And coming out for Valentines Day, Safe Haven (starring another one of my boyfriends, Josh Duhamel)

Some of the Books that haven't been movies: The Best of Me, The Choice (positively gut wrenching), The Rescue, A Bend in the Road, The Wedding, At First Sight and True Believer.

I am not sure I have listed them all, but wow, these are ones I have read and they are wonderful, every one of them. Mostly I would say these books are of the romance novel type, but most have some unexpected twist to them, which draws the reader in. Coupled with the plot is a beautifully described setting, that makes me want to travel to the southeastern part of this country every time I pick up his books. Books are basically set in modern times, but he does a wonderful job of adding in back story that helps set the stage as well as sharing a glimpse into the future that helps readers like myself who are nosey enough to want to know even after a beautiful well written ending, what happens next? ;)

The books are what I would call a 'short read' although I think they are considered novels, most are readable in a few days tops, of course maybe I should explain, when I get caught up in the story, I can rarely put the books down outside of doing what I absolutely have to, so I can get them read that quickly. I was sick a few days ago and re-read, The Choice and A Bend in the Road BOTH in one day, but it was a day that I didn't feel like doing much else. The only warnings that I will share are these: they aren't always 100% happily ever afters and you will be drawn practically instantly!

Trying to get some 'to-do's' done so maybe I can convince The Farmer that date night to see the movie would be fun,
From Tulip~
KH

Liebster Blog Award

Jamie at This Uncharted Rhoade nominated our blog for this award today. It's for blogs with less than 200 followers. Kinda of a 'Kudos to you' for up and coming bloggers.

I was nominated by a blogger who is working hard to help farm families like ours tell our story. I have to say that I think sometimes that my blog is set at our farm and might not always be farm related, but I try to show my readers that we are first and foremost a farm family and we live a well rounded life full of variety.

In order to 'accept' the award, I need to follow some rules and they are:
1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.
3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award. 5. No tag backs.


So #1, 11 random facts.........
1. My mother grandmother and myself were all 23 when we had our first child, and we are each other's first child. My husband, his dad and his dad's mother were all 28 when their first born child was born and they are all firstborns, does that make sense? Hope so because I have retyped that four times trying to think of a better way to expain it and this is as good as it gets.  

2. A self proclaimed night owl, I always say I can get to 5am way easier than  I can start there.  

3. I was sad for the longest time when my big boys wanted to wrestle and didn't play basketball, then I was sad this year when the littlest didn't want to wrestle, but quickly got over it when I watched him play basketball.  

4. I am left handed, so is my dad and my oldest son. I used to get mad when Mom would not let me do things because it looked so backwards to her, but now I understand when I try to help Jenna do things, it's very hard to teach her and try to start things backward so its easier for her.  

5. I have been 19 states, would love to see the other 31 and lots of the rest of the world. Particularly Europe and maybe Australia.  

6. If money were no object, I would go back to college and I think I would like to be a history teacher. I would also have a maid, new living room furniture and buy The Farmer a new truck.  

7. I think my lucky number is 5, its the date of my birthday, it's how many years older The Farmer is than me, and there's 5 people in my house that I would lay down my life for I love them that much.  

8. I talk to my grandmother every day, I know at my age that is a privilege.  

9. I have the same New Years Resolution every year and that is to simplify my life, organize it, and maintain it.  

10. The week of the Missouri State Fair is possibly something that I look forward to as much or more than I do my kids birthdays, our wedding anniversary and Christmas.  

11. For someone who loves to talk/type/write as much as I do, this was hard to do and I know as soon as I 'publish' this blog post, I will think of 30 other things I could have written.  

Answer the Questions from my nominating blog friend:  

1. Why did you start blogging? I started about 6 years ago, way before facebook (at least before I was on it) as a way to share our stories. My consistancy on regular blogging has waxed and waned a lot through the years and I have evolved my reasons for blogging a lot over that time as well.

2. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Warm bread out of the oven, buttered. Or actually anything baked, but only while it is still warm, thankfully, I am never as interested after it cools.

3. If you could have the perfect day, doing anything at all, what would you do? I would sleep in, then maybe sew while watching Field of Dreams or any of my list of favorite movies, then I would enjoy an evening with those I love who I don't get to see very often and we would stay up till the wee morning hours just laughing and telling stories.

4. What would your dream car (or truck) be? Since my life currently requires me to have a 'mom vehicle' although its not a mini-van............. I will go the other direction and say that I want something much sportier, like a brand-new gun-metal grey Dodge Charger (not that I have thought about this MUCH)

5. What's your favorite type of music? rock and country from 70's and 80's

6. What one thing would you be completely lost without? My husband and kids first and foremost, but the rest of my family too!

7. What's your biggest pet peeve? Irresponsible adults

8. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Night Owl, ALL THE WAY!!!!

9. What was your favorite gift you received last Christmas? A blingy football ring, can't wait to see how it sparkles under those 'Friday Night Lights' (Go Panthers!!!!)

10. Mayo or Miracle Whip? Mayo (Hellman's)

11. If had to live out the rest of your life as an animal, what would you be? That's a tough one, I could say a host of things here for many many reasons............hmmmmmmm I will  have to get back on this one.  


Pick 11 bloggers to award this prize to. (that's going to be hard, especially since I read such a wide variety of blogs)  

Here goes:
Julie at In Between the Sunsets

Melinda at Farm Livin' is the Life for Me

Mylene at Life in Hatton

Laurie at Country Linked

Nicole at Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom

Lori at Girls in the Garden

Sue at Innkeeper Insights/Inn at Harbour Ridge

Chris at the Canote Notes

GloriAnn at Under the Influence of Oreos

Tami at My Ms Adventures

Meredith at Material Girl Quilt Shop


Now for their 11 questions to answer:

1. Give us your 30 second commercial for your blog.
2. What makes you smile?
3. What's your super power, real or for pretend?
4. Who's your hero and why are they so cool?
5. And your motto on life would be?
6. Stuck on a deserted island and you have your choice of 5 things, what would they be?
7. In a perfect world where you would be right now?
8. Within your family, what do think has been influenced you the most, your spot in the birth order, the cousins you grew up with, your parents teachings, or something else and if so what?
9. Tell some of your favorites and why they make the list.
10. Which sport reminds you most of life and what lessons have you learned from it?
11. If you could turn back time or freeze a particular time, when would that be and why?

Okay friends I look forward to reading your posts!
Typing till after midnight on my second post of the day,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

Monday Morning in Missouri

Back in the fall, I created for myself 'writing prompts' for this blog. My thought was that in my busy life, that opportunity to blog is sometimes small and a prompt to help get me started might be the difference between adding an entry and not. Since I began doing that, I believe this might be the first time I have added a Monday one, which I planned to share something about this great state that we live in. I wanted to share with the readers places and things about Missouri that we love. When I am compiling that list in my head, this place is right up there, if not my favorite place besides home. That place is:



The Happily Ever After Room, we consider this OUR room!

 The Inn at Harbour Ridge


This is a wonderful family owned Bed and Breakfast at the Lake of the Ozarks. It's about 2 and a half hours from home, making it far enough away to feel like a vacation, but close enough to be manageable as a 2 day/night trip and in our busy lives, most of the time that is about all the longer I can get The Farmer to goof off. Ron and Sue Westenhaver, the innkeepers are wonderful hosts. The food is delicious and filling to the point of one other meal that day will be enough! The Inn is beautifully decorated. The beds are mostly king sized. The rooms have either a two-some tub which is a extra large bathtub with jetted water, a multi-headed shower, a hottub or ALL THREE!

Our favorite room is 'The Happily Ever After' suite. We consider it our room, but are willing to share since we can't get down there often enough. There are several other 'themed' rooms, with similar accommodations. All rooms have beds made up with The Comphy Co sheets that are so wonderful that we splurged last year and bought a set for at home. I never realized just how pampered we were until we stayed in a motel awhile back and it felt like we were sleeping on sand paper.

If you are looking for something nice to do with the one you love,  I would like to suggest that you take them to the Inn at Harbour Ridge. I would say once you've been there, you will count down the days until you can go back. I know that for us, its the if we can get things planned here to go there, its always a 'yes' when one asks the other if you are ready to go back.

Wishing I was at the Inn today and hoping to get back there soon,
From Tulip~
KH
:)