Non-fiction book review - Anatomical Oddities

 

Anatomical Oddities by Dr. Alice Roberts

Most books about the human body, unless you get quite deep into your study of anatomy, focus on the basic elements of our body systems and the major organs. Not this book. Here we learn about names for pathways and channels, aspects of organs and sectors of the brain. Dr. Roberts explains the function of these parts of the body and how they got such unusual names. The result is a combination of biology and medical history. It highlights how our understanding of bodily functions has changed. This is a fascinating read for anyone interested in scientific trivia. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Gone Wolf

 

Title: Gone Wolf

Author: Amber McBride

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett 

                      The Giver by Lois Lowry

Rating:

 

thought provoking

Summary (provided by publisher): In the future, a Black girl known only as Inmate Eleven is kept confined—to be used as a biological match for the president's son, should he fall ill. She is called a Blue—the color of sadness. She lives in a small-small room with her dog, who is going wolf more often—he’s pacing and imagining he’s free. Inmate Eleven wants to go wolf too—she wants to know why she feels so Blue and what is beyond her small-small room.
In the present, Imogen lives outside of Washington, D.C. The pandemic has distanced her from everyone but her mother and her therapist. Imogen has intense phobias and nightmares of confinement. Her two older brothers used to help her, but now she’s on her own, until a college student helps her see the difference between being Blue and sad, and Black and empowered.

My opinion: This is a book that is going to require some patience and emotional intelligence to properly process. At first, it seems quite straightforward. The narrative about Inmate Eleven is clear and easy to follow. The messaging is accessible and the general thrust of the plot is simple enough. Then, at a pivotal moment, the focus shifts. And we begin to understand what this book is really about. That's the point that requires a great deal more reflection and careful consideration to properly process. It's a fantastic read, well worth the effort.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Stocking cap

 In addition to my Christmas crafts, I spent December making a stocking cap for my mother. This is a style that was popular when she was a kid but she never had one. I was determined that she would get one this year. The pattern I used was sized for a child but it took very little fiddling to get it adjusted for an adult head.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 1

 It's Christmas Eve and that means I like to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. This didn't turn out quite as I had planned. I was going to make a little pocket that I would applique to the front of the star. I think I like this version better.

Wishing each of you a joyful, peaceful Christmas.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 2

 If you've seen one of my countdowns before, you know I like to include at least one puppet. Some of my favorites have been inspired by holiday foods. And that includes this year's Christmas cookie.

The cookie is made primarily of a foam mattress pad covered with t-shirt scraps. The sprinkles are diamond painting gems. There's a bamboo skewer anchored in the top half and a channel made from a section of straw in the bottom half to allow for movement.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 3

 When I spotted this Christmas dinosaur online, I knew I wanted to make my own version. I made mine with cardboard and construction paper rather than wrapping it with yarn. It's a simple thing but one I rather enjoyed.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 4

 I wasn't going to make any Doctor Who themed Christmas crafts this year. Then I sat down to make a scottie dog pin out of felt and this happened instead.

 

that felt insisted on being K9

Once the Doctor Who door opened, I figured I'd just roll with it and made this ornament as well.

 

Crafty Christmas countdown: 5

 I've never been into the idea of a Christmas village but my opinion changed a little when I found these little wooden houses to paint. This year I just decorated the houses but it's possible that they will spawn a whole scene in future.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 6

 Ever start to fill someone's stocking and realize that something you bought won't fit? This has become a big problem in our house since we now share the stocking stuffer responsibility. Last year one person had to put everything they bought in plastic bags hanging next to the stockings. This year we decided to get ahead of the trouble by buying some of those folding bins for stocking overflow. And to keep them from being boring, I decorated them with craft foam.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 7

 Just one week left until Christmas! Today I took some felt penguins that I made ages ago and repurposed them into a wall decoration with some cord and pompoms.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 8

 I'm not a big fan of angels aesthetically so I don't make them often. When I include one in my crafts I prefer a simple rustic design, like this clothespin angel with a wire halo and overhead star.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 9

 I have made many, many finger puppets over the years but this is the first time I've tried this particular design. It's meant to be used with two fingers, allowing you to open the mouth in a pinching motion. 

Crafty Christmas countdown: 10

 I had one of these little pre-printed canvases in my craft storage and this seemed like the perfect time to use it. While it's not strictly Christmas themed, a little winter decor is always nice.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 11

 I saw a cute display online made from a square of cardstock and decided to make my own version with construction paper. You were meant to use paint and glue some items standing in the snow. Instead, I perched a sleigh hauling a tree in it. And since it looked empty, I added a giraffe pulling the sleigh. And a rock wearing a Santa hat.

 

Crafty Christmas countdown: 12

 Today's craft is another one from a kit. When I was a kid we used to get little cross stitch ornament kits as Christmas presents and I always loved doing them. So I got this one a year or two ago out of pure nostalgia. I had forgotten how satisfying cross stitch can be.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 13

Our property includes a lot of swamp land. Which means a lot of cedar trees. When out front railing needs decorated, then, it's only natural that we use cedar branches. I tied these down with some binders twine and finished it off with some red berries (no idea what kind - just red and nice looking).

Crafty Christmas countdown: 14

 One thing I love this time of year is craft kits. I love to buy pre-cut felt or foam shapes to glue together. Or, like this guy, a wooden shape to paint. This little skating gnome fits our decor nicely.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 15

 It's time for my annual Christmas card. As always, this was hand drawn with colored pencils (though I used a white paint marker for the highlights).

Crafty Christmas countdown: 16

 Have you ever seen the ornaments people make from puzzle pieces, usually painted to a uniform color? I wanted to try it myself but using the natural print of the pieces. We had some puzzles that were missing pieces so I salvaged a couple of handfuls to make these two ornaments.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 17

 I think my favorite Christmas theme is stars, so I tend to make a lot of them each year. This year I made this star shaped snowman from some scrap t-shirt, a few bits of felt, and a little flannel. He's sort of chubby and a bit reminiscent of Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

 

Crafty Christmas countdown: 18

 I like to make holiday peg dolls every year, usually inspired by some favorite show or movie. This year I chose Heat Miser and Snow Miser from The Year Without a Santa Claus.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 19

 I've come to enjoy punch needle quite a bit and I've always loved capybaras. So I made this little Santa capybara to hang on my wall.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 20

 When you find yourself unexpectedly babysitting, you dig into the memory banks and come up with a holiday craft to do with the kids. I made these wreaths from contact paper, construction paper, and sequins with a 5 year old and 2 year old.

And as a special treat for the 5 year old, we made this holiday puppy sock puppet while his sister napped.

Crafty Christmas countdown - 21

We don't want to leave out our animal friends during the holiday season so I thought I'd make a dog toy. I've made simple tug ropes in the past but decided this time to make a wreath. This was done with a simple overhand knot around a central core of cord for strength.

 

Crafty Christmas countdown - 22

 These little ornaments were simple to make but I think all the better for their simplicity. I used a base layer of white paint on some precut ornaments and added decoration with paint markers.

Crafty Christmas Countdown - 23

 I got this decoration for free last year because it was flawed. While I certainly didn't want to put it up as-is, I could see potential in it.

The first step was to pry off that bottom bar. I set that aside for use in a future project. While I was at it I pulled off the tree too. That left me with a nice surface to repaint. I find the red glitter too much, so I made it a more natural camper color. When I was satisfied with the overall look, I decorated it for Christmas with a little wreath and some red and green pennants.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 24

 It's December and that means it's time for my annual countdown to Christmas. We're starting small today with a simple trio of paper ornaments. I cut these shapes from scrapbook paper, added contrasting paper for the tops, and some interest with a bell in the center of each one. These ornaments could hang on the tree or would make nice wall decorations.