{RS Book CLub Activity} The nb.1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Our next RS Activity is Book Club time!

Come join us to discuss

THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY

by Alexander McCall Smith

this coming Thursday night Feb. 18th

at 7pm

at Kathy Lee's home

You are always on time to discover the fun of reading together. Our next book will be number 6!
As a little reminder, books are provided by Lois Frost. You just have to come to our activity to get one and then remember to give it back after a month on our next meeting.

THIS BOOK:

Meet Mma Ramotswe, proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and follow her adventures as she navigates the cases of her clients and the complexities of her personal life with charm, wisdom, and a healthy dose of humor.

"One of the best, most charming, honest, hilarious and life-affirming books to appear in years." --The Plain Dealer. More info ~ No.1 Ladies' FAQ,

THE AUTHOR:

Alexander McCall Smith iis the author of over sixty books on a wide array of subjects. For many years he was Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh and served on national and international bioethics bodies.

Then in 1999 he achieved global recognition for his award-winning No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, and thereafter devoted his time to the writing of fiction, including the 44 Scotland Street and the von Igelfeld series.
His books have been translated into forty-two languages. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife Elizabeth, a doctor.

{know more about the Author} 

THE TV SHOW:

HBO has teamed with the Weinstein Co., the BBC, and filmmakers Anthony Minghella and Richard Curtis for a drama series of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." 

The series stars actor and singer Jill Scott as Precious Ramotswe, Anika Noni Rose as Mma Makutsi, Ramotswe’s quirky secretary, and Lucien Msamati as Mr J L B Matikone, Ramotswe's love interest.

 Minghella recently finished filming a two-hour pilot in Botswana, from a script he co-wrote with Curtis. The two began working on the project for the Weinstein Co. last year before HBO and the BBC came aboard. The movie aired on the BBC on March 24, 2008. Watch the show here

Alexander McCall Smith meets with Jill Scotto (Mma Ramotswe) on the set of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency

THE NO.1 LADIES' OPERA HOUSE:


Alexander McCall Smith has long taken an interest in the musical scene in Botswana. On each of his regular visits to Botswana he has sponsored a concert to coincide with the visit, and this has usually featured strongly local singers. He has also supported musical training programs, and last year--in collaboration with David Slater, a well-known music teacher and performer in Gaborone--he established a tiny opera house.

The No. 1 Ladies' Opera House is accommodated in an old garage converted for the purpose. During the day it is a restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch at tables set out under shady trees on the terrace. It has a tiny white van and an enthusiastic staff. And if you're visiting to Botswana this is one spot you won't want to miss!

READ How a dusty Botswana old Garage became the No.1 Ladies' Opera House, by Alexander McCall Smith

{There is more to know. For more info go on the official website of Alexander McCall Smith}

{RS Activity} The Traveling Chef is back from Italy!

Come join us for a fun night cooking some delicious FRITTATAS,

demonstrated by Holly Gardiner

this Thursday February 11th

at 7 pm

Central Building

Relief Society Room

Don't miss it!

{pict. by this mama cooks and my recipes. Both of this have also recipes so go ahead and take a look}

{RS Activity} Book CLub & Humanitarian Aid

Come to our

Relief Society Activity

Thursday January 14th 2010

at 7 pm Central Building

book club and humanitarian aid night and refreshments!

Two activities at your choice!

We'll have our RS book Club meeting up after the reading of our 4th book "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver. PLEASE remember your book that night so Lois can return the complete set to the library. Thanks! Book 5th will be next so you are welcome to join us for the next book.

At the same time we'll have a Humanitarian Aid Project going on for Children's Hospital. If you have a sewing machine, ironing board, or a pair of good scissors, please bring them on Thursday night!

Don't miss it!! Come join us, for some time of fun reading or quilting some colorful blankets.. or let's just say it, to just get out of your daily life and have a healthy chat with some friends :)

If you haven't heard, the enrichment interest groups have been consolidated and we have returned to the regular monthly Relief Society meetings.  The second Thursday of each month is our scheduled night for Relief Society activities.

{I'll be flying back home to LA that day, so see you soon :)}

{Humanitarian Aid} Succesful Night!

It is all worth it for a smile like this

Thanks to all of you for taking the time helping us out on the making of 180 pillowcases and a beautiful quilt for the Children's Hospital.
We appreciate your willing and helpful hands!

We are making some kids very happy this Halloween!
Thank you so much and see you soon with our next project :)

{Humanitarian Aid} Activity!

We are back with more pillows to be covered!

~ in Halloween Theme ~

Join us this Thursday October 8th '09

from 6 pm till 8:30 pm

help us make 

165 Halloween-themed pillowcases for the Children's Hospital

and to tie a beautiful quilt

If you took pillowcases home to iron, please make sure to return them by Thursday night or contact a member of the Relief Society Presidency to arrange pickup.

If you have a sewing machine and are willing to bring it, please contact Heather Phillips.

You are also welcome to bring ironing boards!

We welcome all of your willing hands!

Thank you and see you soon!

{picts. via Sevana and via House of Secrets }

{Book CLub} The Guernsey Night!

28 September 2009

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO MEET AGAIN ON OUR SECOND BOOK CLUB EVENING AT THE DISCOVERY OF THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK:

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY

YOU STILL HAVE 2 DAYS TO COMPLETE THE READING.. PLENTY OF TIME SO COME ON

WEDNESDAY OCT.30TH 09 ~ 7PM ~ AT KATHY LEE'S HOME ~ 820 W.KENNETH ROAD, GLENDALE CA

WE CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ALL YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS AMAZING BOOK AND NEW IDEAS OF NEW BOOKS TO READ!

HAPPY READING AND SEE YOU SOON AT THE GUERNSEY NIGHT!


if you want to come prepared here are the questions and Topic for Discussion of this book:
1. What was it like to read a novel composed entirely of letters? What do letters offer that no other form of writing (not even emails) can convey?
2. What makes Sidney and Sophie ideal friends for Juliet? What common ground do they share? Who has been a similar advocate in your life?
3. Dawsey first wrote to Juliet because books, on Charles Lamb or otherwise, were so difficult to obtain on Guernsey in the aftermath of the war. What differences did you note between bookselling in the novel and bookselling in your world? What makes book lovers unique, across all generations?
4. What were your first impressions of Dawsey? How was he different from the other men Juliet had known?
5. Discuss the poets, novelists, biographers, and other writers who capture the hearts of the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. What does a reader’s taste in books say about his or her personality? Whose lives were changed the most by membership in the society?
6. Juliet occasionally receives mean-spirited correspondence from strangers, accusing both Elizabeth and Juliet of being immoral. What accounts for their judgmental ways?
7. In what ways were Juliet and Elizabeth kindred spirits? What did Elizabeth’s spontaneous invention of the society, as well as her brave final act, say about her approach to life?
8. Numerous Guernsey residents give Juliet access to their private memories of the occupation. Which voices were most memorable for you? What was the effect of reading a variety of responses to a shared tragedy?
9. Kit and Juliet complete each other in many ways. What did they need from each other? What qualities make Juliet an unconventional, excellent mother?
10. How did Remy’s presence enhance the lives of those on Guernsey? Through her survival, what recollections, hopes, and lessons also survived?
11. Juliet rejects marriage proposals from a man who is a stereotypical “great catch.” How would you have handled Juliet’s romantic entanglement? What truly makes someone a “great catch”?
12. What was the effect of reading a novel about an author’s experiences with writing, editing, and getting published? Did this enhance the book’s realism, though Juliet’s experience is a bit different from that of debut novelist Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece, children’s book author Annie Barrows?
13. What historical facts about life in England during World War II were you especially surprised to discover? What traits, such as remarkable stamina, are captured in a detail such as potato peel pie? In what ways does fiction provide a means for more fully understanding a non-fiction truth?
14. Which of the members of the Society is your favorite? Whose literary opinions are most like your own?
15. Do you agree with Isola that “reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones”?

Inspiring Project Night!

What an inspiration night! I've honestly loved it so much.

Heidi came with so many information, showing us some of the many ways we can do family history. She's amazing! Did you know she wrote a book about some stories of her family/ancestors? Yes she did and she did share with us a good part of it. She did a great job putting together so many stories, info and details in such a delightful way.

For those of you who couldn't make it last Thursday night, here are some of her tips to start and do Family History.
(I wish I had my camera that night, but I forgot it in my.. other purse. So you'll just have to be ok with some images I found around).

-Make your own Family Health Chart 

it just looks like a normal family tree chart only you add a list of health information. With different colors you can sign the health history of each individual. Also you can add body feacers, medical problems, and anything else you can think of.

Doing this you'll see different patterns health related. Not only it is interesting, but mostly it can be of great help as information for us, our kids and generation to come.
{pict. by ancestry.co.uk }

-Fun and good Personal Bulletin Board

you don't need to take lots of time trying to make a perfect collection of family memories. A simple way to make history is just by punching that special movie ticket, that beautiful birthday card, that picture of my dream home and those family pictures on a bulletin board.

I personally love this kind of approach. The best part is that it is simple. Out on a wall where it can be of inspiration reminding us everyday of beautiful memories. 

{picts. left by Country Living, right by Design Sponge  via Iffer's little nest}

- Index Card Memory Puzzle

before sitting down and write your own book of family stories, this is the process you need to do.
Make the best out of your memories by taking some time getting back to those stories, details that your memory has hidden somewhere in the secluded parts of your brain. Hey, we all have those!

Index cards are so useful this way. Wright in the middle of a card a key word  of your choice. Something that reminds you of your childhood, or particular moment back in the days (it can be written smaller then what shows in the pict.).
Then fill up the paper writing all around that word, with memories, details and things that your mind will remember about those times, related to that key word.
This can be done in a long period of time. Heidi says it could be that you take a year filling up cards before being able to sit down and actually write your stories.
Simple and useful way to remember details you haven't thought about in a while. Like smells, colors, shapes, etc. The more you can remember the more rich your stories will be, and ooh you'll be surprised of the things you will then start to remember.
All I have to say is that .. I'm on it!
{pict. by eHow }


-Your Family Stories Book/Compilation

and now we come to the greatest goal. A book or compilation of your stories. Add pictures, and other material you have to make it as more rich as possible. And a book doesn't mean fancy paper and cover, but the contest is what really matters. Get together all your index cards and well, start writing :)
{pict. by Asamy Murakami via arts.ac.uk }

GREAT THANKS to Heidi for her time and for sharing with us so much. Especially her amazing stories we loved to listen. She has been of great inspiration and I personally enjoyed it so much.
I really hope we can do another evening together. What do you guys think? Don't forget your index cards!

{Project Night} Family History

I’s time for Project Night!

Come join us

Thursday September 10^th

At 7 pm

820 West Kenneth Road, Glendale CA

{Kathy Lee’s home}

An interesting evening

at the discovery of

Family History

Instruction by Heidi Knight

 (picture via ce.byu.edu)

our Book CLub is set!

we met yesterday night for the first time, and after a little overview on our ideas, we all agreed with Lois to read this book, our first as  book CLub: 

The Guernsey Literary and

Potato Peel Pie Society

Mary Ann Shaffer

And Annie Barrows

  for info go here

I'm so excited to get back on reading something for fun and in a scheduled way. It gives me prospective and I actually do it if I set my mind on it. 

For most of us it's our first time in a book CLub, but we have plenty of time to discover all the secrets behind it.

You are invited to join us in the reading of this book and to come to our next meeting on

Wednesday Semptember 30th

7 pm

at Prieto’s House

1411 N. Brand Blvd #E

Glendale, CA 91202

(2nd flour – 2nd door on left side)

brings your comments for discussions and new ideas of other books to read!

{Thank you Kathy for hosting us yesterday night}

Happy reading!

Walking group/s

Getting Started – Let’s Go for a Walk

This article was contributed by Callie Leaver, a Certified Personal Trainer.

It is as simple as that: you want to get in better shape and so you just start walking. Most of us are aware that there are many health benefits associated with walking, it is just a matter of making the time.

We hear over and over again how 30 minutes of exercise every day is good for us. Even knowing about the health benefits of walking we still have a difficult time fitting it in our busy schedules.

So how do you get started? What can you do to get on the right path to start experiencing the benefits that our doctors keep telling us about? The easiest way to get started in an exercise program is to start walking. The best part is that we all know how to walk.

wonna read more go here on discoverwalking.com

To make it easier for you, here is the list we have of people joining the walking group for now.

If you want to start walking, call one of the sisters below and get together on your own schedule and day/s:

Sharon Chalsey     Maria Brown     

Alina Yeritsyan      Cathie Price       

Carla Szele             Lisa Busch          

Keri Paur                Cibely Singly     

Janel Crane            Melissa Madsen

Ruth Sowby            Leslieh Guidetti

Christie Lesko        Jenny Lesko       

Karin Edwards                                    

-Our 3 groups for now-

please contact one of the members for location informations:

6:30 am / Lisa Busch, Carla Szele                

8:30 am / Melissa Madsen, ..                        

10:30 am / Alina Yeritsyan, Naomi Sampson

You are more then welcome to form new groups. Evenings and Saturdays are still open. All you need is 2 people or more.

Make sure to let me know if you do, so that we can give the information for other sisters to join.

Thank you and enjoy!

Join our NEW Activity Groups for You

Because the summer is about at the end, school is about to begin, and our schedules are going back to "normal" we have planned some great, fun, new group activities for you:

Last night at our RS garden party we started 2 new groups:

we'll meet for the first time 

Wednesday august 19^th

At 7 pm

820 West Kenneth Road, Glendale, CA/ Kathy Lee's home

Please bring ideas, a book you really like, something very interesting you have just finished reading, or simply your joy of reading. Lois Frost will be our group leader. This is a new group, so we'll build it together and we'll decide what we'd like to read.

This is how it works: if you can get together with another person, 2 people are enough to form a group. We can have as many as we want. No limits, as there is a lot of different schedule preferences, locations, and people.

If you form new groups please make sure to let me know (Naomi Sampson - g2wardrs@gmail.com) so that we can have all the informations.

To join, please go directly to the group member, to know more information about locations and so on.

This will start next week (monday august 17th), so please be patient. As soon as I have more information I'll make sure to post them for you. For now, just go out and.. start walking! :)

We have for now 3 groups:

- 6:30 am / Please contact Lisa Busch          

- 8:30 am / Please contact Melissa Madsen

- 10 am / Please contact Alina Yeritsyan      

we probably want to add some in the evenings and on Saturday

You all HAVE FUN!

RS Garden Party '09

Our Successful Night!

We reached around 30 people, and it was a great group to be with. Thank you all for coming! 

We loved spending the time together tasting some delicious food in Kathy's beautiful garden. I think it really was the perfect place for a relaxing evening for us ladies.

Oh wait, don't forget the very interesting stories we got to learn about each other hahaha! I can't decide which one was the best. For sure the "run over myself" story was the most unique :) Thank you for sharing and making us laugh! Till next time :)

Successful Humanitarian Aid Day

Thank you all for coming!

We had a great day and so many of you came to help out. Some for few hours, some for the whole day, thank you for participating in this great activity.

We are so happy having completed all the pillowcases and quilts we needed plus more! They look fantastic!

And we honestly can't wait for next Humanitarian Aid Day when prints and colors will all be in a Halloween theme! 

Few pictures of our day

the making of warm, soft, colorful quilts

there's who sewed ALL those pillowcases, wow!

  

hey who said some extra help isn't fair? 

we loved to have little hands helping out mothers, ha!

 

love the snow man!  and ironing, ironing.. yep more ironing!