Ferris Wheels, Daffodils, & Hot Fudge Sundaes Book Review

In her beautiful new gratitude journal, Ferris Wheels, daffodils, & Hot Fudge Sundaes, Laura Jensen Walker has managed to capture life's bountiful blessings in a litany of delightful lists for our observation and celebration. I must admit that at first glance I couldn't imagine the big deal about a listing of seemingly incongruous information. And admittedly, I wasn't having a very good day. But by the time I'd read a couple pages, I was laughing, crying, and praising God. In a deceptively simply way, reading a blessing list has a cumulative, exponential effect. By the time I was finished, I was not only blessed, but adding my own personal joys. And that's the point. By proving to readers that blessings abound in our lives, from the overwhelmingly obvious, to the present but overlooked, to the definitely obscure, we are encouraged to "take note" and come away profoundly grateful to God for all of life. Walker knows about treasures found in darkness. She started her list while undergoing chemotherapy for life-threatening breast cancer, yet found reasons for praise. After reading the blessings she found in her "dark night," I came away knowing that God could bless me in any situation. I am thankful to Walker for the prompt to count my blessings and grateful to the God who supplies them. Because I have a feeling my journal will fill quickly, I've got several blank notebooks waiting in the wings!

Remember when you were a kid and everything delighted you? Little things like a butterfly lighting on your finger or a jawbreaker that lasted for hours? Laura Jensen Walker's book reminded me of just that. I wrote my own list and felt immensely grateful when I lifted my pen from the journal. Wow, all of a sudden it was the little things that surround me that brought a sense of childlike joy. Good job, Laura. For a moment, you opened my 42-year old eyes to the pleasure of small wonders. This will be a favorite part of my daily quiet time!

Laura Walker's gratitude journal is one of a kind. An exceptional amount of work that brought tears to my eyes, inspired me to think about my own blessings, and write down so many things I'm thankful for, miracles large and small. So in between those crazy moments of everyday life, sit down with a cup of tea and Walker's journal--you'll be amazed at how much you have to be grateful for. I can't wait to buy a few more for Mom, sisters, and best friends!

I got this book from the library before I bought it to confirm it's worthiness and it got top ratings from me! The instructions are *VERY* clear,so even if you've never made friendship bracelets before,you can start right away beacause it includes *ALL* the materials you need.The designs start at the easiest,so you can learn the basic knot before you proceed to more complex designs.
The Lowdown: A great book for the experienced crafter,the person trying to reach that level,or the pure beginner. Enjoy.

When I was a kid, my friends and I loved to make friendship bracelets out of embroidery floss. We would weave different designs and give them to each other as gifts. It was so much fun.

My best friend's daughter is turning 8, and when I saw this book, I knew this would be perfect for her. She is creative and loves jewelry. This book is the perfect starter kit for making friendship bracelets. Along with step by step instructions with illustrations for making simple to complex patterns, this book also provides a handy measuring guide and all the supplies needed to make many plain and beaded friendship bracelets. A variety of colored floss and beads (including blue, red, green, pink, white, and black) means that just about every taste is covered.

I highly recommend this product as a gift for any creative or crafty girl (or boy)!

After going to camp and making some bracelets I decided I wanted to try some on my own. I went and researched almost every book that had to do with this subject. I narrowed my selection down to three books then decided on this one. I was very skeptical but I can honestly say it's extremely easy to follow and was a great choice. The pictures are helpful and there are many variations of bracelets to make. It's great for beginners but there are also complicated designs for the advanced reader. It comes with everything necessary and I loved the colors of string it came with. I DEFINITLY recommend it!!!

Well all i will say is read this book and yes see life differently .... ....beautifully. It's written in simple language - those who have heard sri's cassettes will immediately feel him talking to them . The book does not try to lecture anyone ... it just somehow sinks in ... touches deep within and each word ...each thing somehow applies to you .... no matter who you are ... where you are .

I am 23years old and i am ever so grateful to come across this book while i was so young - bcoz it gave me the chance to just live life so beautifully ... so for me this was the beginning of the journey ...... a fun filled and joyful one!!!

Wow! all I can say is Wow! Increadable! Totally liberating. Nothing I have ever read makes more sense than this book. Totally uplifting and fullfiling for the soul. This is carrot juice for the soul. Instantly gratifying.

The essence of this book is that fill you life with lot's of fun and live it. MAke it worth living. Be in the present moment and enjoy the moment.

Wonderful book which compliments attachment parenting. Baby animal is shown nursing, no bottles to be found. Baby animal is sleeping with his mama. My son enjoys the illustrations while trying to pull it into his mouth. I purchased both this book and the Papa Papa book which is equally well done.

This book is beautiful - the words and rhythym are so peaceful and loving and the pictures are soothing and life-like. This book embraces the delicate and eternal bond between baby and mom. I know this sounds like an awful lot for a [price] board book, but believe me, it is amazing.

I received this book (and the Papa, Papa book) as a gift when my daughter was born. I read the books to her almost every day. The poem is absolutely delightful! Especially the last part -- I almost cry every time I read it (and I'm not generally sappy).
Buy it!

Naxos audio maintain their high reputation with this excellent production of Milton's classic; wonderfully read by Anton Lesser, with Laura Paton as Eve.

Paradise Lost can be a difficult read. Personally, I could never get round to comitting myself to the book, but this reading really brings it to life, and is well worth spending the time and money. Milton creates many wonderous and fantastical images and characters. Satan is shown as a tragic hero, tormented by the innocence of Adam and Eve, and prompted to revenge. Milton actually uses his characters to play 'devil's advocate' (literally!) by asking many paradoxical questions of the biblical story. Considering this book was first printed at the height of the witchcraft paranoia of the seventeenth century, it's amazing he managed to get away with it.

Full of allegory and layers of meaning, this is a CD set you can enjoy again and again.

Merritt Hughes was a Quaker??
Anyway, despite the date of publication (1962) which leaves the commentary a little outdated, in that it doesn't really address Stanley Fish or Joseph Wittreich or some other big Milton scholars' recent contributions to the subject, this edition is great, for beginning milton readers and more advanced alike. The introduction and footnotes are among the most complete available anywhere with good references to hebrew, classical, and other motifs within the poem. It addresses the ptolemic vs. copernican debate (sun round earth or earth round sun) and Milton's astronomy in some depth in the introduction, maybe beyond what will be interesting until you've finished the poem.
A timeless edition, I would say, which is why its still popular after 40 years, much better than the penguin classic edition.

Who are these presumptuous people who are reviewing Milton??? They just want to see themselves in print. I'm just reviewing the printing itself. I like it a lot. It's a small reddish hardcover. It is VERY plain. No forward, afterward, footnotes, line numbers, or ANYTHING. And that's what I wanted. It's just the poem! (with milton's beginning paragraphs of course). Pretty high quality job. I don't recommend it for the first time reader, but for more experienced ones that want to read it without dealing with everyone else's interpretations, etc. I want to read a poem not a textbook.

This book is tremendously powerful and the information provided can change your life, provided you actually put it to use instead of using it as a tray to rest your Super Size French Fries. I started doing the exercises and didn't stop. I've never read a "self-help" book that I didn't get totally bored with after the first chapter. I have a much better understanding of why I continue my bad habits and why I failed in the past. I have a much better understanding of my body and my emotions. Thanks for such an eye-opening and informative book. I hope there is more to come from Dr. Hall!

Dr. Hall doesn't waste any time. She gets right down to the point in every chapter. Her no-nonsense deal-with-the-facts attitude is apparent in her writing. Dr. Hall constantly makes you feel like you have so much potential and so much control--and you do! I'm so happy that I purchased this book. I will read it over and over again. Highly recommended! Two thumbs way up!

A coworker urged me to buy and read this book. Wow! The truth sure can set you free. Seeing things for what they are - understanding why I act and think like I do - gave me the knowledge I needed to make some positive changes. I was enlightened about why I do some of the things I do and had some tools to change myself. Like my coworker, I suggest getting this book by Dr. Hall. You can have a new outlook on life & losing weight and start immediately to improve how you act and how you think and feel about yourself.

"Hell's Bottom, Colorado" benefits from sharp, focused writing and real-life details, which make the stories ring true. Though each story stands alone, there is the connectedness of family saga as we are introduced to distinct, evocative members of this modern-day ranch family. A truly pleasant read.

Pritchett evokes the vivid images of landscape, ranching and families in the West. Set along Rocky Mountains, these stories show the beauty and sometimes messy reality of farming, ranching, and living. When writing in her clear-eyed prose, Pritchett has perfect pitch: all of her charcters and stories ring true. Highly Recommended.

This is an outstanding book! Pritchett' interconnected stories are a matter-of-fact and essential portrayal of the contemporary American West. Pritchett's characters are vivid in spite of (or beause of) her simple prose. Through the characters you get a feel for the beauty and stark reality of raising cattle, and families, in the Intermountain West. A refreshing read among the usual clutter of literature today.

I first saw this book back in 1985 when it first was published and I will never forget the menacing stare of James Kimberlin, drifter, in Hobbs, New Mexico. A very powerful set of images. Almost made me want to become a drifter myself, wild and free on the American plain. Carry me back to the lone prarie, where the coyotes howl and the wind blows free. Best photo book ever.

My son gave me this book years ago as a birthday gift. It's not one that I look at every day. In truth , sometimes years go by before I pick it up again. Always, the images beg to define their stories. I often wonder as the years pass, what has happened to those portrayed. Only once, as I recall, did Avedon return to shoot the subject twice. That image is of a young cowboy. Avedon initially captures the hope and wonder of what his future holds. The second image taken but a few years later already shows much of that hope diminished with the realization of this is all there is. Perhaps I read too much into it, but I think that's the power of the images. We read individually into them and perhaps with more than a little bias come to our own conclusions. Anytime I need a shot of creativity to look at our world and the people and stories within so that I too can try to capture on film, or now digitally, I need look no further than Avedon's book.

When I was a teen in the early eighties, I went to see the exhibit of these photos in SF, CA with my mother. From what I understand, Richard Avedon traveled the American West, photographing people that he came across in his everyday travels. They weren't beautiful supermodels, they weren't made up actors, they were real live people. I remember like it was yesterday, the huge black and white photos included the tired and haggard teen girl on the cover, a snake handler holding a disemboweled rattlesnake, a grizzled and mean looking prisoner with jail tattoos, insane asylum patients with wild eyed stares, scruffy drifters and many more. After the show, I talked my mom into buying the book for me, and took it home, where it's been a prized posession ever since. Every time anyone comes over to my home and checks it out, it always opens up a discussion. When it went out of print, I know that I was disappointed as folks always wanted a copy after seeing my own, and I think it's great that it's been re-issued. If you are a fan of photography that captures the stark realism of the human spirit, don't miss out on this book.

For all of the Ratmouse's criticisms and scepticism (as I have stated- I am here to collect bad reviews and undermine the human race), I will hand it the humans for one thing- writing and publishing this book. Here we enter a fascinating branch of Islam- the Sufi realm of mysticism where a loving heart and selflessness are guiding principles. In the past I have drawn attention to Islam's general construct, then to the Koran's most hostile verses. Now I would like to complete this look at Islam by recommending this book. The only call to arms someone like Bin Laden might find in this book is the call to open one's arms and accept people of all races, religions, ethnicities and creeds with a loving heart. Author Kabir Helminski has here provided a kind of spiritual Jihad where loving one's neighbors is the meaning of enlightenment and life. But this book is so much more- it takes one through levels of development, like the unpeeling of an onion, until only the ocean of happy compassion remains. Not saying that the RatMouse now has a little halo over his grimy ears, but he certainly now tries to learn from the words of wisdom presented in this majestic tome. Allah, with a loving heart, is great.

The Knowing Heart: A Sufi Path Of Transformation is Kabir Helminski's latest contribution to the growing body of Sufi literature and reveals that in Sufi tradition and belief the human heart is more than just a fanciful metaphor, but an objective organ of intuition and perception able to perceive the beauty and meaning in life. Every human heart has the innate capacity and the destiny to bring the spiritual qualities of the world of divinity reality into the human world of appearances. Kabir Helminski presents the Sufi way as a practical spirituality suitable for all cultures and times. The Knowing Heart also offers insights into contemporary life and how to experience a new sense of self, transform relationships, and enhance creativity, all while learning how to meet and master the spiritual challenges of the times and realizing our own "sacred humanness". The Knowing Heart is a very highly recommended addition to personal and academic Sufi studies reading lists and library collections.

The Knowing Heart: A Sufi Path Of Transformation presents the Sufi way as a practical spirituality suitable for all cultures and times as Kabir Helminski offers insights relevant to life in today's modern, technology oriented, rapidly evolving, fast-paced and complex world. In cultivating a "knowing heart" the reader will learn to experience a renewed sense of self, transform his or her relationships, enhance creative capacity, and learn to meet the spiritual challenges so pervasive to our time. The Knowing Heart is enthusiastically recommended for students of Eastern philosopher in general, and the Sufi belief system in particular.

I'm a 12 year old reader from CA. I have read all the Clearwater Crossing books, and this is my favorite. The Melanie/Jesse thing is driving me nuts. Does she love him? Does he love her? At the end, I was almost screaming at Melanie for being so dense. The Ben thing was a little undeveloped, but very interesting. After all, if you don't like the person you're kissing, than the kiss is worth nothing at all. As for Melanie and Jesse, if they're ever going to have a serious relationship, they both need to acknowledgde their feelings, not deny them, and learn to trust each other. I hope this review helped you!

I thought that this book was really good. The book was so life like. Not like some books where they try to make it life like but no one can ever relate to them. This is practically a dictation of the average teens life. I loved this book and if you have enjoyed other clearwater crossing books in the past you're guarenteed to love this one.

Yet another wonderful book for adolescents. Being thirteen, I love to read stories that reflect all of the things Ms. Roberts includes. She has a very real approach to the world, and the topics she writes about I can really relate to. This book was very good, but overall I think I'm just a huge fan of the series. Looking forward to #9, and I recommend Clearwater Crossing to everyone!