Friday 56: Finding Your Own North Star


LadyD Books participates in the Friday56 meme with http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here
 

It's that simple

Here's my choice for today. The book, Finding Your Own North Star: claiming the life you were meant to live was given to me; what a nice gift!


Finding Your Own North Star


 Pg. 56 is a worksheet:

Your Own Best-Case Scenario


"It's an incredibly beautiful day. The air is clear, the scenery dazzling, and you're setting out to do: (A. your most high-energy activity) with (B: your favorite person)"


-- Martha Beck

If I were to fill in the blanks it would be about my birthday on Monday. The day began with a slight rain shower that cleared the air. I chose to take a walk around the harbor and then out on the pier with my husband. Later on, we dined on shrimp and scallops. It was a beautiful day... Today, I choose to see the beauty in this new day as well.

Now,  you'll find a bit of the book description here:


From Publishers Weekly

"A fixed point in the sky that helps mariners stay on course, the North Star emerges as a symbol for realizing one's true potential in this cheerful and perceptive but too-long book. Though her navigational metaphors lose force with repetition, Beck's voice is light, down-to-earth and refreshing. Having found her way on her own journey from academia (she was a professor and researcher at Harvard Business School) to becoming an author (of Expecting Adam, a warmly received memoir about the birth of her Down's syndrome baby), Beck currently consults with clients on redirecting their lives. She teaches that each individual has a core personality that encompasses one's desires, emotions and preferences, which is sometimes blocked by a social self that responds to external influences and cultivates survival skills. By far the most fascinating material is on how to read warnings from the essential self: low energy, lapses into illness, forgetfulness, addictions, Freudian slips and mood swings. She advises steering toward the correct path by eliminating negative influences and practicing elaborate self-esteem exercises. A section on navigating change weighs the book down while suggestions for dealing with serious emotions like grief and anger are somewhat breezy. In the end, however, the numerous self-quizzes, exercises and chances to laugh will allow many readers to overlook these weaknesses. (Mar.)Forecast: Given the success of Expecting Adam and Beck's freelance contributions to Mademoiselle, Real Simple and Redbook, the author is likely to shine in a constellation of media venues and has a solid shot at capturing the imaginations of self-help seekers."
Have you read this one? What are you reading now?






“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis



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Wordless Wednesday: Marmota monax



Photo Credit: http://www.dulemba.com

Wordful Wednesday

OK all you Midwesterners and Easterners, I’ll be thinking of you and hope you come through the next few days in good shape. 

Looks like the ground hog will not see its shadow tomorrow-- should be an early spring.
http://www.groundhog.org/ 

Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or marmots, are the largest members of the squirrel family. Did you know they have been found in Alaska ? 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog

I didn't realize just how much trivia about groundhogs is online. Here's a few:

Want to play a game? How about the  Groundhog Game

Photo credit: http://www.juniorsociety.com

Aren't these cute? Find the recipe at:
http://www.juniorsociety.com/2010/01/27/punxsutawney-phil-pudding-pops/

Also, there's a Groundhog Cookie Recipe! Yes, order a groundhog cookie cutter at
www.groundhogstuff.com

2 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup soft butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg yolk
1 egg, slightly beaten
Currants or raisins

Sift together first seven ingredients. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Blend in molasses and yolk. Stir in flour mixture and mix well. Form into a ball.
Wrap in plastic wrap. Chill overnight, several nights or freeze.
Place small amounts of dough on a sheet of plastic wrap, and cover with plastic wrap. Roll 1/8 inch thick. Cut out cookies with lightly floured cutter.
Place cookies on greased baking sheet. Brush with slightly beaten egg. Decorate with currants or raisin eyes. Repeat until all dough is used.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in a preheated 350-degree oven. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. Makes 72 or more medium-sized groundhogs.

 


I must confess, the #1 favorite movie for my hubby and son is Groundhog Day!! 




How about you?







“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis



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