Snow in Mississippi!

Book Review: The Good Husband of Zebra Drive

Another solid contribution to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive has all the characters in an uproar. It seems that everyone in the book wants to try out a different personality or characater or career, but it all comes right in the end because, after all, we are true to our basic nature.

The mysteries involved in this book focus on an errant husband (solved by Matekoni, only he actually solves a bigger more interesting mystery), a thief in a printing factory (solved by Makutsi via a suggestion from Patokwone) and three mysterious deaths in the Mochudi hospital (solved by Romatswe).

I enjoyed the book--it doesn't drift from the spirit of the series and for that I am thankful. I am also thankful to my Uncle Jackie for sending me the book after he read it. How fun!

Alyssa's Scarf

It's green, white and black. The slightly ligher stripes are dark green. She absolutely loves it!

When I was a little girl...

When I was a little girl I wove potholders. There was this little plastic potholder peg loom that you could buy at Wal Mart (though this was probably before Wal Mart!) that you used looped stretchy fabric to stretch between pegs. You did the "warp" in one direction and then using a long metal pole with a hook on the end you would then weave the loops through the warp and hook onto pegs on either side. After you were finished with that, you would start in one corner and loop the ends around each other to finish off the edges and leave the final hook sticking out so that you could "hang" it in a peg or nail in your kitchen. I probably made 100 of these.

I remember giving a sack full of them to my Aunt Linda Kay and she had the funniest look on her face. As an adult I know that look was "what on earth do I do with all these potholders!" but she didn't SAY anything, just looked funny.

I also enjoyed making the potholders where you wrapped yarn around nails on a shaped "loom" (the ones mom had were octagonal) to get a thickness of about 1 inch. Then you would take another yarn and make knots in the intersections of the yarns to tie the whole thing together. Mine weren't very good because I didn't have the strength to get the knots tight enough, but I did enjoy trying...We had lots of those too. I liked playing with colors on this type. Using one color, then another, and tying with a third for a pleasing effect...

When I look back on it now, I'm so surprised that I never got into weaving before now. I can blame it on simple lack of availability and expense of setting up a studio. Because, my goodness, I really did enjoy weaving just about everything I could!

Elizabeth's Scarf

She'll be stylish in France in this black and white creation...

A Yellow, Green and Orange Scarf

A Purple Scarf

That is just about as soft as a kitten...

Uraina's Scarf

Gaye's Scarf

Book Review: The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett

I loved this book. It was well written, funny, believable, full of adventure and had really great characters who grew and learned over the period of the book. They also have enough mystery about them that the next book in the series is next on my list to buy!

Dunnett was highly recommended on one of my favorite author's web-sites. So, I picked up the book, started reading it and was sucked in even though I didn't really get what was going on. The plot follows a Scot, Francis Culter of Lymond, in 1547-1548 as he eludes the law and his brother in an attempt to clear the accusations of him as a spy for the British. At several points I wondered how on earth there could be a series of books about Lymond since, well, he was surely going to die or be caught or both, but somehow he manages to elude capture and survive.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. It is a forerunner (published in 1961) of the genre so doesn't have a lot of the conventions that historical fiction written more recently--like historical clues, translation of dialect, etc. However, Dunnett is a talented writer who can weave a story "like nobody's business" and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tony's Scarf Finished

Tony's Scarf in Progress

Mom's Scarf is Finished!

And when I'm done admiring it, I'll send it to her. I still need to wash it and cut the fringe, but here it is. I think it came out really nice. The basket weave sections kind of pucker up and the other sections lay really flat. I got to learn how to switch weft colors, which was challenging, but allows for an interesting end product!

I hope she likes it!

I know...

I'm a little (ok a lot) obsessed...but this is so much fun! I have another scarf (for Mom) warped. It's purple and yellow strips. I will weave it with the yellow and a lighter purple and green variegated thread stripes. The yellow stripes will be woven in basket weave. I love it...I want it...but will give it to Mom and make another one for me. And the funny thing is I don't really wear scarves...until now at least :)

And now it's finished!

It's a little short. I didn't account for either stretching or my loom size or something...I'm going to increase the length of the warp on the next one and see if I get it right! I still love it!

I have a scarf warped already!

It's 11:30 and I already have my scarf warped! I'll be a weaving fiend in a little bit.

Snuggling

Finished at 4pm!

8 Harnesses and 10 Treadles

Some Assembly Required :)

10pm...we have the main frame of the loom complete. We still have to put all the treadles and harnesses together, and that looks like it's going to require more coordination than either David or I have right now, so we're calling it quits for today...more updates tomorrow.

Progress

At 11:30 we had the warping reel and the bench oiled and in pieces on the porch.

They were built by 1pm.

Then we went through all the pieces of the loom and have oiled them once at 3:45...there are LOTS of pieces.

It's here!

In boxes and didn't get here until 10pm last night. I'd given it up for lost and was trying to figure out what to do with myself since I'd finished everything I needed to do so that I could spend the weekend putting everything together. At any rate, this is what it looks like at 9:30am. I'll put updates as major progress is made throughout the weekend.

The loom!

The loom is out for delivery! I can hardly wait until it gets here. I'll have pictures of the whole thing in progress as it's built...

Basking in the Sunshine

It may be cold outside, but the sunshine is indeed warm!

Happy Birthday Alyssa and Elizabeth!

The Holidays are Officially Over

This I know because I took my tree down yesterday and the Aggies lost their bowl game!

I do have a couple of friends coming over last night and I guess we'll stay up until midnight and ring in the new year...and wait for our children to come home who are out ringing in the new year elsewhere...but that's it.

Looking Back and Forward

As the old year ends and the new year begins, we always tend to look back and think of all the things we didn't accomplish and try to set better goals for ourselves next year...I think that's such a negative way of looking at things. This past year has certainly been topsy turvy for me, at many times I thought "what the hell am I up to anyway?" but I've learned a lot and am certainly in different place than I was last year--for better and worse--and that's pretty much been the theme for my entire life. I grow, I shrink, I think, I act rashly, I love, I hate...but no matter what I do I try really really hard to do my best at everything...and honestly that can be a bit overwhelming as I think we humans have a reservoir for stress and mine has flooded so many times....

A few of the highlights and lowlights from 2007:

• I passed my comprehensive exams in June
• I quit my regular day-to-day job and went independent in February
• I fired a client in October, much to the dismay of my financial outlook
• I learned to weave in October
• I passed my preliminary proposal in December
• I went to Europe in May/June
• I've made new friends this year
• I've made big strides to improve my marital relationship
• I've tried really hard to be a good parent to teenagers, though my tongue is raw most days (from biting it), I think I'm doing a fairly good job
• I did not lose the 20 pounds I wanted to
• I did not do a good job of staying away from sweets

Things I definitely want to accomplish in 2008

• Experiment with weaving and try to become good at it
• Pass my proposal
• Lose 20 pounds and keep it off
• Be a good parent to my teenagers and help them get prepared for life on their own
• Be a good wife to my husband and prepare ourselves for a life of our own
• Continue to develop my good friendships
• Go to Europe in May/June

It shipped!

Should be here by Wednesday!

Merry Christmas!

I wish a Merry Christmas to all...I hope you got everything you wished for. I did. It's been a very happy Christmas for all around here.

My presents included:

• 2 needlepoint canvases--Cat Hugger and Sunflower House
• 3 books
• a Tiffany gift card (to buy a heart charm for my collection)
• a journal to write my weaving progress in (should I ever get my loom)
• 3 cross stitch patterns
• and in my stocking 6 different yarns from a "grab bag"...I love them all.

Anniversary Gift

In the big box Mom asked about was...the beautiful red purse I have on my shoulder in the previous entry...and a turquoise heart charm to go with my collection. A very nice "haul" indeed :)

17th Anniversary

David and I celebrated our 17th anniversary on Saturday by going out to dinner and spending a fun evening together.

Just a Quick Update

Things here have been going and going...here are a few high points:

• Today is David's birthday--Happy Birthday David!
• I'm still waiting for my loom!
• Elizabeth got her braces off one month ago. I'm still waiting to get a picture of her for the blog
• I'm buying yarn and doing everything I can to set up my weaving studio...but...
• I'm still waiting for my loom!
• I'm having good responses to my pre-proposal. That means I'll be writing a dissertation proposal in January.
• I'm very happy and comfortable with my half-time employment and graduate student status.
• My 17th Anniversary is Saturday. I cannot wait to open that big box that's been sitting in my room for WEEKS now!
• I'm really enjoying The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett. I like it so much I know I can stop in the middle of a page or chapter and get right back to it because I'll be thinking about it most of the time I'm not reading.
• I have jury duty next week. Not looking forward to it, but it will be a fact of life for the next year.
• We are hosting a Christmas party next weekend. Really looking forward to that. I'm cooking pumpkin pasta--vegetarian--and Christmas pasta, both from Rachel Ray's 365 No Repeats (the best cookbook I've ever owned).
• I'm beginning to seriously plan a trip back to Wimberley for more weaving lessons.
• My loom still hasn't arrived!

On that last point, I'm off to see if I can find a suitable substitute to get me weaving in the down time while waiting on the loom. I have a peg-loom but I wasn't really very happy with it, so I'm going to see if I can find Harrisville's Easy Weaver that has a warp already on it. It's pretty simple but will allow me to work with the yarns I already have and make something more interesting than a 9x11 thing...

More Dreams

I think my recent spate of vivid dreams is probably more because of the fact that I'm finally sleeping without stress...

Last night I dreamed that David was out getting food--all kinds of "bad" food. Jelly Bellies on the counter in a giant 5 pound bag (they really have them, btw, just go to Office Depot!), cakes, cookies, bags of stuff from Chili's. Candy, ice cream...you name it. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to eat it all but I did. I couldn't choose just a little bit of something and knew if I started eating I wouldn't stop until it was all gone. Some of it was gross, too, having sat on the counter for several hours while I slept.

I woke up with the dream unresolved. I always have dreams of guiltily eating "bad for you" food when I'm trying to eat healthily. Sometimes it's so delectable that I can't believe I went this long witout chocolate cake...sometimes I feel so guilty. This time I was over-awed.

Betsy

I name all my angels and since my dear Aunt Betty bought this canvas for me, I've named my Angel Tree in honor of her!

Dreaming

My dreams have been kind of crazy lately. I've been dreaming of my typical dreams--new parts of my house that I didn't know about or use, climbing hills/stairs, being angry or frustrated with the kids. I've even been dreaming of weaving again, which is nice because I worried when I stopped that my infatuation with weaving was just that and after I went and spent a lot of money on a loom and accessories to set up my studio, an infatuation just wouldn't satisfy!

But, I've also been having weird dreams where I'm dreaming that I'm dreaming and talking in my sleep. Imagine this. I'm dreaming that I'm working on a puzzle and I figure it out, I say enthusiastically "Score!" and I wake up thinking that I've just said it outloud. I've had other dreams where I've been talking to David or going places and waking up thinking that I was really doing the talking and not just dreaming the talking. David has assured me that I haven't awakened him with my talking, but that doesn't mean I'm not talking in my sleep (or is it my dreams?) I've even had dreams that I'm talking in my sleep and realizing that I'm doing it and then I'm really embarrassed or worried about what I've said.

It's weird and keeps happening...it's almost as annoying as my losing my teeth dreams--and don't worry, I'm still having those too!

Christmas Tree

Didn't get it...

Didn't get the job. I'm surprised and a little disappointed, but not overly so...

Back to focusing on dissertation writing and waiting for the appropriate job!

Job Interview

I have a job interview at USM this afternoon. I have mixed feelings about whether I want a full-time regular job. I've enjoyed consulting and being able to set my own schedule, but I haven't enjoyed the lack of certainty about contracts and paychecks. Plus I had committed to spending the next year focusing on my dissertations. The question that arises is will the job, if I get it, interfere with the dissertation or push me to complete it because I'll be less stressed? Or will I be more stressed since I'll be working in yet another position that has not been in place before (in other words, I'll be the first "me" again as I have been in every single job I've had in Mississippi)? There's the old panic of when I'll manage to get everything I've been doing the past year at home (shopping, clothes washing, cooking, accounting, etc.)? But, there's a paycheck, regular insurance, tuition reimbursement, etc...stability.

Book Review, of sorts

I loved Faking It! by Jennifer Crusie. She's a terrific writer, has a great easy-to-read style, and her characters are so much fun. I found myself not wanting to finish the book because I didn't want my time with these people to be over.

Other than that, I don't have much to say--or I have too much to say and I'm simply too tired to say it. If you like a contemporary, fun, light and easy-to-read book that won't challenge you too hard, go read Crusie...there's just something about her that makes life fun. And that's a good thing!

I've been a busy girl

At least I think I have. I've been tired in the evenings and feel like my whole day has been running from one project to the other, but I don't know what specifically I've managed to accomplish other than getting the Christmas tree up, finally, and wrapping presents as they are delivered.

My good news is that I have a job interview on Friday. I feel good about the interview and hopeful that it'll turn into an offer...guess we'll see where it goes.

Still waiting on my loom and hoping that I haven't totally forgotten everything I learned in weaving class!

The Holidays have Officially Begun

David and I are talking about how we'd like to decorate the tree. The kids are asking when we're going to put it up. We're planning our trip to Texas for Thanksgiving and are even getting to meet up with friends we met in Europe along the way. The Christmas cards are addressed, stamped and awaiting the family photo. Presents are even bought and some are wrapped--others are on their way.

Oh, and my birthday is this week...always a marker for the "start" of the holidays even though it's 2 days after Thanksgiving this year.

Let me know some of your favorite holiday traditions. I'll be writing about some of mine after I get back from my trip.

...And I take a bow...

...Because I believe I'm the first person in America who is actually finished with her Christmas shopping!

Book Review: The Second Mrs. Darcy by Elizabeth Aston

The Second Mrs. Darcy by Elizabeth Aston is really quite an enjoyable book. I had a little trouble getting into it, but once I did, I didn't want it to end. I really enjoyed the main character Octavia. She developed into a fully grown and enjoyable woman who was independent and willing to do what it takes to fight for that independence.

The synopsis of the book is that Octavia Darcy is recently widowed and left very poor by her husband, Christopher Darcy whose first wife gambled him into serious debt. Since his property is entailed, it goes to the nearest male cousin. Fate would smile on Octavia, however, in the form of a great-aunt who died and left her her vast estates and wealth. Octavia, overnight, becomes a very wealthy woman.

The remainder of the book is focused on love matches between several of the characters a-la Jane Austen, and is quite fun and interesting to read. As I said, I really didn't want this book to end, and I can only hope that Aston revisits Octavia, but if the past four books are indication, she won't. I enjoyed this one more than the previous three, I think, because Octavia is a young woman, not a teenager growing up. If you like a good story, get this book.

Vignette #6

Alyssa and Elizabeth got in from church around 8:30 last night and brought up some conversation they were having with their youth leader that had to do with old laws on the books that aren't really applicable any more.

And the one that E quoted was that Mississippi law made illegal "any sexual positions but the military position."

"Missionary" Alyssa prompted, but David and I were already rolling in the floor.

That "Thornton" Luck

David often comments about "that Thornton luck" when referring to why I tend to win things that have no skill involved (drawings, slot machine, etc.). What he's referring to isn't "technically" Thornton, but we'll pretend that it is since the name Thornton is associated with all the lucky people in my family.

First there's my grandmother, Emma Thornton. She seems to always win little things from the radio, newspaper, etc.

Then there's my dad who won a new truck a few years ago in a local raffle.

And mom who won several thousand dollars in Las Vegas on only a few spins of the slot machine. She wisely didn't temp her luck, or she may have left Vegas a millionaire.

I've always won things. When I was a kid I had a knack for picking out the cereal boxes with the winning game piece. I had so many junky games and toys in my closet when I moved to college that it was a little surprising. I won a $1000 worth of jewelry from a local jewelry store when I was a freshman in college. I won a pizza party for 15 of my favorite friends from a radio station that same semester. While I've never stuck it big in the casinos, I do tend to leave with more money than I came with--same at the horse races...so I do consider myself a lucky person, though I've never won the lottery, which is really a dream of mine. Imagine $20 million. What I could do with that.

Another "lucky" trait I have is being called for jury duty. When I moved away to college Limestone County called me several times even after I'd registered to vote in another county. Since living in Mississippi, I've been called 6 times...this most recent for federal jury duty. I have to go to Jackson today to see if I'm going to be picked for the jury. I really hope not because I'm in the smack middle of so many things that putting them on hold for however many days/weeks it takes for this trial to work itself out may be really frustrating.

I've been fussed at by one of my friends for wanting to shirk my civic duty, but I do have to ask if being called for jury duty once a year is typical. And I can't seem to get the picture out of my head of me sitting in the jury box bored out of my skull and wanting nothing more than to run away and scream...

Where did the week go?

It's been a busy week. I can't think of anything major that I've accomplished other than revising and turning in my pre-proposal (a nice step, but not much work). I have gotten my hair done--it looks nice. I took my ring in for re-sizing, ordered and purchased a weaving loom and supplies for my studio, went to book club and hosted sewing group. My friend from California has been here to go to his friend's funeral--she died of leukemia and was about 5 years younger than me. I've also gone through all my quilts and quilting fabric and made a fairly substantial donation to the children's quilts of our local guild. They are working on quilts for children of soldiers deployed to Iraq.

And underneath it all, all I want to do is weave...and I can't, so I bide my time and try to keep myself from itching too bad until the loom gets here sometime around Christmas...

Taking the Plunge

I took the plunge and ordered a 36" 8 shaft, 10 treadle hand weaving loom today! I'm very excited and don't know how I'm ever going to wait the 6-8 weeks it will take to be completed and delivered.

In the meantime here's a picture of my loom during class...it's smaller than the one I'll get, but the same logic.

Vignette #5

Elizabeth comes in from hanging out with her friends and sits on the couch next to me: You know I think you and dad are hypocritical.

Me: You'd better explain yourself or leave.

E: Well, you expect us to get a job but you won't buy us a second car so that we can both get to the job.

Me: Your dad has offered multiple times to drop you off and pick you up whenver you're working and don't have the car. You don't need a second car for that.

E: But getting me a new volkswagon beatle convertible--in green if you want to make it really special--would save you the trouble.

Me: Or you can get a job nearby and walk to it. McAlister's or Gold Post would be really easy. Or, if you want, you can just deal with being dropped off because we're not buying another car.

E: I'll be happy with a USED one if you need it.

Me: This is going nowhere. I'm not buying you a new car. You'll have to deal with things the way they are.

E: But is SO EMBARASSING to have your parents drop you off at your job.

Me: Oh well...

Weaving Class Day #3

I was too excited to tell what I did yesterday...I played with patterns. After warping the loom and getting the warp ready to weave, she told us to play around with different patterns. The bottom half of the picture above was completed on Day #2. I found that I have a significant interest in patterns...so much so that I couldn't sleep last night dreaming up new ways to do patterns!

Today we learned to read weaving drafts, which are like blueprints for weavers. Then we got to play with fibers, or threads. We could pick anything in the shop that was on a cone and weave to our heart's content. I did not do any fancy patterns, this time, but did enjoy getting to feel all the different kinds of threads available.

So, above you have me and my sampler. I absolutely LOVE weaving. I have to go home now and figure out how to make room for a loom and all the weaving accoutrements you need! Donations are accepted :)

WEaving Class Day #2

I'm hooked...

Weaving Class Day #1

Today I

• planned a project
• created my warp
• tied the warp off
• threaded the warp through the reed
• threaded the warp through the heddles
• tied the warp to the back bar
• tied the warp to the front bar

It really was quite a lot of work and whew! I'm tired! Thankfully Janice is making a dinner that smells yummalicious!

I'll have pictures when I get back home as I forgot to bring my cords! yikes!

Vignette #4

E, running in the house and slamming down the car keys—clearly in a tizzy: I’m not ever driving her around anywhere.

A not screaming but clearly high-pitched and distressed: Well, what am I supposed to do when you were about to hit a car? Be silent and get hurt?

E: I wasn’t about to hit a car!

A: Yes you were!

Me: Can we stop screaming please? What’s all this about?

E and A simultaneously: “She yells at me when I drive”
“She doesn’t drive like I do and we almost hit a car.”

Me: Let’s talk about this reasonably—I attempt to do so, doesn’t work, I send them to their room to calm down until they can talk reasonably.

About 10 minutes later:

E: I’m serious, I’m not driving her around.

Me: That’s fine, then you don’t drive.

E: That’s not fair.

Me: Sure it is. It’s my car and I can decide who drives and when. If you won’t share the car then you don’t have the right to drive it.

At this point they start arguing with each other again.

Me breaking in: I will sell the car if the two of you can’t come to some agreement about how you’ll drive and ride together.

A: I won’t complain about how you drive, but I will mention if we’re about to hit another car.

E: That’s fine and I’ll do the same.

And it was over. No other mention, no more upset feelings, no anger…just over.

Vacation Pictures

As promised, pictures from our vacation...

Aaah, Vacation

David and I had so much relaxation on our vacation that coming home as been rather shocking...not because anything is bad, but because we can't spend our days as we did on the beach...and we really enjoyed ourselves at the beach. I should have a pic or two up on the blog in a few days.

In a nutshell we:

• played lots of games: monopoly, dominoes, backgammon and battleship
• put together a 1000 piece puzzle
• read 2 books a piece
• talked
• went out to dinner
• walked on the beach once--but it was too windy to really do much else
• drove around looking at all the new construction...did you know that for only $3,000,000 you can buy a 5500 square foot condo?
• slept late
• shopped
• met our friends in Mobile for lunch on our way home.

Can't wait to get back!

A Happy Couple

This happy couple is about to take a bona fide business retreat. We are both much in need of some serious downtime. So, until Thursday next week, I'm at the beach!

The Tunnel

David and I have started walking daily on our local rails-to-trails bike and walking trail. It's not always lovely considering that south Mississippi is probably always the most humid in the morning, but it is nice to have a destination and then be required to come back. I can't wimp out and say "I'm too tired or hot or whatever to continue." About 3/4 mile into the walk there is a tunnel that goes under a busy street. It's a fairly long tunnel--probably 20 yards or more--and it' actually dark inside, and cool and all the other wonderful things you want when you're hot and sweaty.

This week we upped our mileage to three miles and when I see that tunnel on our return trip--about 2 1/4 miles, remember, I'm thinking..."there's the tunnel and I can see the light at the end of it."

And metaphorically that's where I am today. I completed my first draft of a 133 page report. It was a grueling couple of weeks, but I'm proud of it tonight. When I look at it on the other side of the tunnel tomorrow, it may not be so pretty, but today I'm happy...very happy actually...so happy that I could just fall asleep on the couch and not move until I get up to do my 3 mile walk tomorrow morning...

...and I can honestly say that I think I'm looking forward to the beach even more than I thought possible!

And btw, this is a picture of a tunnel in Ireland which, though it doesn't look exactly like our tunnel, reminds me of it somehow...

Busy...

Been busy lately, that's why I've been incommunicado...I think if I were to actually go back and look, I've been working 10-12 hours every day for the past two weeks. The big crunch is over on Friday, thank goodness...then David and I be here for 4.5 days.

One Happy Girl, Part II

Elizabeth got her driver's license today!

Sheer Joy

I bought this amazingly soft fuzzy blanket in Ireland 3 years ago, and Lochi tried to eat it, so I had to put it away. I got it out yesterday to warm my cool feet, and she immediately hopped on, laid down, and got comfy. She's barely moved since (and luckly isn't trying to eat it).

When I was a little girl...

...I liked to organize things. I could entertain myself for hours playing with simple things like buttons and organizing and reorganizing them according to whatever whim happened to come across my mind at the time: color, shape, material, number of holes, etc. I organized the cans of food in the cabinets, the dishes, my clothes, my mom's clothes.

One of my favorite things to do was let things in my room get really really messy so I could clean it up. I would organize my light bright pegs by color. I kept them in old egg cartons. I had a process by which I organized the colors. First I would throw them all on the floor and mix them up really good, then I would create a design of my choosing on the entire light bright board. Then I would take the upper left-most colored peg and have that as my "base". I would then take all the other pegs on the board of the same color and start switching them with the ones next to the base color so that they lined up left to right and up and down. I would continue doing this until all the colors were organized. Then I would remove the pegs by color and put them in the egg cartons. I could be amused by this activity all afternoon.

Upon reflection I'm kind of surprised that I was never suspected as being mildly autistic.

Book Review: Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

Normally I would wait to give the book review for book club until the day we meet, but I'm afraid I can't curb my enthusiasm for 2 more weeks.

I loved this book--for the 3rd time reading it. I wrote two papers about this book, and a couple of others by Cather, in graduate school. Cather is one of the truly good American writers. You almost get the feeling of reading poetry in her prose, every word is so carefully chosen and every sentence of meticulously constructed. Yet, her writing isn't difficult to read or understand and flows off the page almost in a dream like way.

Death Comes for the Archbishop is the story of two priests who go to "tame" the diocese of New Mexico. Their charge is to build churches and missions throughout the region and to bring the Catholic faith to the Native Americans. The story is based on the real lives of Fathers Lamy (Latour) and Machebeuf (Vaillant) and traces them from their arrival as young men to their deaths as old men. Vaillant is by far the more aggressive and hands on missionary, but Latour is more reflective and spiritual. His acceptance of the native faith and appreciation for the giving nature of the Mexicans impresses the reader.

Told in a vignette style, we meet the many faces and facets of life as a priest in the "wild west": The rich landowners, the native spirituality and unrest, the lawless man, the spiritual woman, the giving mother, the repentent sinner. They are all there. Nature provides the backdrop fo growth and development of all the characters as well as the church which seems to be the central theme for Father Latour--build the church and establish a permanence in the region.

Death Comes for the Archbishop is one of my favorite Cather books. I love her writing style as well as her character development. Her love of space and landscape and how it impacts the people involved is unparalleled.