This photo is NOT one of my family. In fact, it’s not even my photo. I got it at Jane Kirkpatrick’s blog. It is a photo of her grandmother. Do you love it?! I cannot stop looking at it! Her grandmother worked at a photography studio in Minnesota in 1911. How cool is that? Look at her dress, her necklace, her hat, the glasses and her watch. LOVE IT.
Kirkpatrick was inspired by this picture to write her new book, A Flickering Light. It’s a coming of age story of a young girl that wants nothing more than to be a photographer. But at the turn of the century, photography (as with most careers) was male dominated. And apparently the book is based on her grandmother’s life. I love it!!
Waterbrook Press asked me to review this book and I immediately said yes because I’ve always loved Jane Kirkpatrick. But when I realized what the book was about and started reading it, I got excited! The reason I post black and white pictures every week is because I am so intrigued by the story behind the picture. A Flickering Light is like a a dream come true for me—an actual story behind a mysterious black and white picture!
Here’s a cool video about the book from Kirkpatrick’s blog…which is totally interesting in and of itself…
Here’s the official overview: Wrap yourself in a fantastic journey, a remarkable commitment, and a spare and splendid story. Master storyteller Jane Kirkpatrick extols the beautiful treasures, unknown to a wider public, rediscovered in the Old Aurora Colony of Oregon ’s lush Willamette Valley.
The people and legacy of Aurora, a utopian community founded in the mid-1800s, will stir your imagination, hopes, and dreams; and remind you that every life matters—that our lives are the stories other people read first.
Featuring~ Unique and treasured quilt pattern variations, more than 100 photographs, many never-before published, from 1850 to today. Cherished stories from Aurora descendants, rich images of fine crafts from the Aurora Colony and private collections, an introduction by renowned American artist John Houser.
Aurora is about the difference every ordinary life can make—and a beautiful celebration of a time and place in which people expressed their most cherished beliefs through the work of their imagination and hands.
I wrote about Kirkpatrick’s fictional series set in the actual city of Aurora. It’s one of my favorite series ever. This new book is essentially the black-and-white picture to the fiction books.
If you’d like to win this beautiful hard-cover gift book you must leave me a comment! If you’d like an additional entry just tweet, facebook, blog, stumble, kirtsy, smoke signal or carrier pigeon about the contest. Then leave me an additional comment for every extra step you took.
I’ll announce a winner (who lives in the US or Canada and has a valid email address) on Saturday.
ps–I received both of these books for FREE to review. I am giving away one of them because I just like giving my readers free stuff. I will be paying for the shipping out of my own little purse. Yes, this is a snarky postscript response to the conversation about full disclosure going around the blogosphere right now.
Last Friday was my birthday. I spent the day at home, then went out to dinner and a movie with my husband. I also rear-ended someone on my way home. That was fun. (No one was hurt. Just my hood. And my pride.)
But I did get some great gifts. So, in no particular order, here are the:
Top Ten Gifts I Received for My 32nd Birthday
1. Belkin Laptop Hideaway
This is the most super cool thing ever. It’s a little carrying case for my laptop! It’s soft inside and hard on the outside. You just drop your computer in, stuff the cord in the opposite compartment, pick it up and drag it to any location in your house! For someone who doesn’t have a set place to do the computer, this is perfect. I can type on the couch, then drop my computer in and tote the whole thing upstairs to the playroom. It’s neat, cute, easy and keeps my laptop safe. I could seriously write a whole post on this thing. I love it! (Thanks, Mama and Daddy!)
2. Cards.
I love me a good card. Hallmark is one of those stores I could browse for hours! I pride myself on finding a good card. And if I can’t find a good one I won’t give one. Anyway, we give cards in our family–sometimes my parents give me more than one. I got a bunch of good ones this year. Including one from my parent’s dog, Charmin.
3. My Kitchen Island. This wasn’t really a birthday present but it was delivered on my birthday! That’s right I finally have a kitchen island! (Which looks a little different from the below pic, but it is the same color!) Which means one day soon I may even have my cooktop installed. Which means I may actually be able to boil water and make scrambled eggs! Oh happy day!!
Not really sure what this thing does but my husband got it for my camera and it looks cool. I’m excited to test it out.
5. Cherry Limeade from Sonic. I bought this one for myself.
6. Willow Tree Figurine
My brother and sister-in-law gave me this. I love Willow Tree and this one is called Angel of Spring (or something like that) it’s perfect for this May baby.
7. Facebook and Twitter wishes! I got about 75 birthday shout outs from my online (and irl) friends. It was super special.
My dad has bought a few Lucky pieces for my mom and every single one of them is cute! I guess they heard me gush over them so my parents got me a necklace and earrings! I couldn’t find a picture of them online, but trust me they are super cute—turquoise, pink, brown. Love it! Here’s a few pieces I found on Amazon. What do you think?
9. Pottery.
OK, this wasn’t really a gift. The Saturday after my birthday, my family and I went to one of those paint-your-own-pottery places. The guys played Scrabble and the girls painted! It was so fun. I made a trivet. If it looks lovely, I might share it with you. It’s still being baked. Or fired. Or whatever it is.
10. Eight hours of sleep. Oh, wait. I didn’t get that. *sigh* Maybe next year…
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So I’m ready to hear from you! What’s your Top Ten today? If you need a theme how ’bout one of these: Top Ten Ways to Use Hamburger Meat OR Top Ten Places To Hide M&Ms From Your Family OR Top Ten Books I Swore I’d Read and Still Haven’t. Hey, if you don’t use those topics, I might!
After you post your Top Ten list, copy your permalink into the linky below. Then start visiting (and commenting) at the other Top Ten participants!
This eight months of no sleep is draining me! Lydia slept 12 hours a night when she was about 3 months old. I am just at a loss as to what to do for Asa.
When did your kids sleep through the night? If you say 3 years old or something, I may delete you…if I can get out of the fetal position I’ll likely crawl into.
Sixteen years ago I turned 16. I had the most fun birthday party ever. My bffs (who are really just my sisterchicks as teenagers) and I donned thriftstore cast-off prom & bridesmaid dresses and headed downtown to Underground Atlanta. We rented a hunter green Camry, ate at Mick’s and then had a slumber party at my house.
[i cannot find a picture of us at my 16th birthday party...any sisterchicks wanna save the day?]
I know it never crossed my mind that sixteen years later I’d be 32. Who thinks of things like that? Not 16 year olds, that’s for sure. I’m pretty sure all I was thinking about was how I wish I had that green Camry for myself, the guys I was crushing on and if I was brave enough to get my driver’s license.
I could have never imagined that 16 years later I’d be nursing my sweet Asa and watching him fall asleep in my arms. I would have never imagined that laying next to my sleeping son, hearing my daughter whisper “Happy Birthday” all on her own would be the best birthday presents I’d ever have.
When I turned 16 it was my entire life. Now it’s only half of my life. Time is weird. But it’s good. And full. And deep. And sad. And happy. And fleeting.
In 16 more years my daughter will be 19. My son will be almost 17. I will be 48. And just like my 16 year old self, I can’t fathom it. But I look forward to the beautiful things my heart can’t imagine today but will cherish on that day.
The Sisterchicks ran the race for the 3rd year in a row. Although the emotion of the Race for the Cure isn’t as new to me, it is still as real. There are still women dying of breast cancer. I HATE CANCER. There were thousands of people at the race last Saturday wearing pink shirts, tutus and tiaras—all to honor the strong women in their lives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The first two minutes I was there, I wasn’t really thinking of those women. All I was looking at were the shirts. Who had cute ones? Which ones had funny slogans (uh…breast friends forever…)? Did any of them look cooler than ours?
Then I saw a man with a homemade puffy paint monstrosity of a shirt. And I kinda rolled my eyes at him.
Until.
I saw his young elementary aged son behind him. Also wearing a puffy painted shirt that read:
I MISS YOU, MOM.
And I pictured him and his dad at Wal-Mart picking out puffy paint and buying white tshirts. The dad realizing how important it would be to do something to honor his wife and the mother of his child. The little boy working his hardest to make a beautiful shirt to honor his mom. His father, realizing how different the shirt would have turned out had his wife been there to help.
