Country Living Fair Recap

This is how excited we were driving to the fair! 



We had so much fun walking around Ohio Historical Village looking at all of the goods and vendors that were there for the fair. There was a mixed bag of things--cottage decor, vintage, primitive, food, woodworking--a little something for everyone. These are some of my favorite pics from the weekend.



Owls are the new thing, we saw them everywhere!

I saw this bike and thought it was so cute. How much fun would it be to ride this bike around town?

We saw this and thought it was really cool--priced at $75--but because my sister is crafty, we know it can be made for a lot less.

I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I had hoped. It was so overwhelming looking at everything from the fair decor to the hundreds of things that were being sold. I could have gone back for another day just to take pictures. The things that I didn't get a picture of where the things we bought. Christy found an old chicken feeder and a basket. I walked away with a wooden tray and an old well bucket (to use in our new bathroom!) and my mom found a wooden white dove that reminds her of one she saw in her backyard. We all came away with goodies and can't wait to go back next year!

A Christmas Prayer by Amy Parker, Illustrated by Marijan Pamljak

As a mother who enjoys collecting seasonal books for her family, I am happy to add this one to our collection. A Christmas Prayer by Amy Parker is a sweet story of a little girl who has chosen to be thankful for all of the gifts God gave us through Christ's birth rather than desire toys and dolls under the Christmas tree.

This colorful and family oriented book uses a poem to introduce Gabriel, the animals, Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The little girl uses her own toys to recreate the manger scene as you work your way through the book, while it teaches that we should not only be thankful for the season and for Christ's birth, but for everyone who was there when Christ was born and the role they played. The soft illustrations are very sweet and inviting and the padded cover and board pages make it a book that will last for many years. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has small children.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


On another note, someone asked about my Top Ten 10 for books. Here they are, in no particular order, with the exception of the first one, which is my favorite all time book...

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
A Chance to Die by Amy Carmichael
Abba's Child by Brennan Manning
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
A Grace Disguised by Gerald Sittser
Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
The Shack by William Young
Christy and Julie by Catherine Marshall
Savannah Series by Denise Hildreth
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

I have to offer a disclaimer here....I read these books at different times in my life....over the course of the last 18 years or so. Some of them are fun reads, some serious, some are "learning books," some are chick books (that will make you laugh out loud). With that being said, they impacted me because of where I was in life at the time. They each provided something that I needed at the time and I can honestly say that each book changed my life. If you have read any of them, I would love to hear what you have to say...

A Post about Reading

I have been working through my summer reading list and am finally down to the last 4. It may not sound like a triumph, but when you consider that at the beginning of the summer, I ordered 4 books from Amazon and already had 3 in my pile to read. Add that to the 4 or 5 my sister lent me and I am well on my way. Needless to say, I love to read.

In any free time that comes my way—early in the morning, on the treadmill (no, I don’t get sick), free minutes in the afternoon, and especially before bed every night—I am reading. For as long as I can remember I have always had a book I was reading; The Babysitters Club series and Sweet Valley High books took up the majority of my bookshelf growing up, and then as I got older I began reading books like Christy and Julie by Catherine Marshall. When I started blogging, it opened up a new arena for me to learn about books from all genres and as I came to love the writing of certain blogs, I found that their reading selections/recommendations were not to be missed (Chatting at the Sky and Flower Patch Farm Girl). I have my all time top 10 books that if anyone asks for a recommendation, those are the ones I am quick to refer.

Thankfully my husband shares a love of reading (although he tends to read more theology and apologetics, then switches to Louis L’Amour) and we have, since we decided to start a family, been growing Anna Claire’s library as well. She has caught the book bug as well and we are thrilled!

Okay, now on to the point of this post, I came across a blog somewhere (I have no idea where, who, what….) and she was reviewing a book. She explained that she received FREE books from publishers and in exchange, because she had a blog, they requested a short review of the book. In addition to posting it on her blog, they also require you to post it on another order site (amazon, Christianbook.com, etc.).

Now, for me FREE + BOOKS = an opportunity to not pass up as we build our family and personal libraries. And with having a blog…well that works out perfectly. I began thinking about what books I might like to read and review and I think this will give me a great opportunity to read outside of my comfort zone. I don’t read a ton of non-fiction and I will be honest when I say, I do judge a book by its cover, it has to be pretty for me to read (anyone? anyone?), so I think this will be good for me to read and expand my reading repertoire (I don’t think I’ve ever used that word). Rest assured, Nesting in Pleasant View isn’t going to become all books, all the time, I just figured that since I already read, I’ll just share what I’ve been reading. So, if you enjoy reading, and I’m kinda under the assumption that you do on some level since you are reading this, there might be something that I come across that interests you as well.

I received my first book over the weekend and will be reviewing it tomorrow. Head’s up…it’s a children’s holiday book.

A Good Mail Day

Every day Mike comes home from work, and asks, "did we get any good mail today?" What that means is, did he get the newest issue of This Old House?  Did someone take a peek at our wish list on Amazon and send us a package?  Did we get a handwritten note from someone? Did we get our winnings from Publishers Clearinghouse?

A bad mail day consists of bills, those flyer things that are full of pizza coupons, and a piece of mail that belongs to the person that lived in this house 10 years ago. 

Yesterday was a good mail day for ME! I'm about ready to come out of my skin I'm so excited!

Friday's Random Thoughts

1. It's been a whirlwind of a week. Anna Claire's Papa and Didi (my parents) came for a visit this past weekend.

2. This weekend, her Granny and Granpa are coming for a visit. I'm not sure there is another little girl out there who has so many people that love her.

3. My sister sent me these flowers this past week. Via email. She's nice like that.

4. Auburn played last night. They won. My husband is happy.

5. Have you seen the new HGTV show, The All-American Handyman? My husband would have ROCKED on that show.

6. Anna Claire had her first time-out yesterday. She sat for 1 minute. Well, maybe 40 seconds...probably more like 30. I'll be honest, it was closer to 20. We're working on it.

7. I'm headed to the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio in a couple of weeks. I'm can't stand it. I'm so excited!

8. I'm ready for soups and chili's to replace my pasta salads and sandwiches on my menu planning.

9. Ahhhh....it's Friday!

3 Years

Happy Birthday Allison and Emily, my sweet girls.

I woke up with tears ready to fall from my eyes, not sure if I was dreaming or just woke up anticipating today. 3 years old--I say it every year---it seems like forever ago that I held you but in the same breath and moment it feels like just yesterday. What would a birthday party for 3 year old girls look like? Only Jesus knows as I am sure you are celebrating in heaven.

There are so many things going through my mind. Things that I want to say and share about you. But I will keep it simple because it comes down to just a few things...

You are loved. You are missed. I can't wait to hold you again.