"The Island" review

Hi friends,
This is my own slice and observation of the "The Island":


Overall, despite its potential for a depressing storyline, I found The Island a light, positive and good read. I appreciated how the author managed to cram a little fact into her story to produce a slice of readable Greek history. The truth that Spinalonga was off territory for the Nazis during WWII, was an interesting fact as well.


I could take or leave the flowery and bland introduction and exit of Alex, as a matter of fact, the first time I picked up the book, it did not capture my interest, but thankfully, it forms only a small part of the story. I found the relationship between the book's main characters, Anna and Maria, so interesting and at the same time very sad. How different we are as people!! Even in the same family..
By contrast, the story of the abandoned lepers in Spinalonga was vibrant and real and surprisingly happy, and I took a real relish in picking up the book to catch up. I enjoyed sharing the trials and tribulations of some real characters on the Island. Overall, this is a good read.
A little slow at times, but, for the most part, good twists and turns throughout.

"The Island"

When my sis arrived from Norway this summer she brought a book with her titled

"Øya" (The Island) by Victoria Hislop.

She could not put the book down and decided to share it with me.

The synopsis of the book is as follows:

"Something a bit different, a bit special. A well researched family history which takes the present day characters back to Crete and the horrors of leprosy. From 1939 to today we follow a tragic and eventful story with believable characters and a believable storyline."

I am reading the Norwegian version and am not able, at this point, to share my own opinion of the book since I have not gotten very far, but perhaps some of you have read it or heard of it? I am ready to let the writer take me through the pages of the terror of leprosy and its effect on precious people.

Pool Time..

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, celebrating the arrival of a little baby boy, young and old gathered by the pool-side where the young ones had the best of times. It was a scrumptious time, it was a delightful time...Laughter and giggle was in the air, it was a good for the soul time.......Grand-children
Our daughter is watching the fun below
And here she comes...
Splash!!!! Did you see me, mommy?

Yes, we did, Sofie...You did good.

Another milestone..

Maddee was good to have by her side, but needed to go home with mommy.

Our youngest grand-child started pre-school the other day. Need I say anything more?

I'm glad I'm a woman

I love the fact that I am a woman; a grown woman, yet not at all; a wise woman, not quite yet; a passionate woman, oh yes, I am; a loving woman, at times; a lover of life with its surprises, oh yes, I am that too.

Here is Maya Angelou's perspective on her womanhood :

Phenomenal Women:
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I am telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips,
I'm a woman
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing of my waist,
And the JOY in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's the arch in my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman.

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about.
When you see me passing
I ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

by Maya Angelou

It started one year ago...

I am proud to announce that I have now been a blogger for one year..It all started August 31. 2009 and my life has not been the same. I do have a facebook account, which I have deactivated, but nothing has been as enriching as hearing from my blog-friends.
You are all the greatest and you have supplied me with humor, recipes, patterns of all kinds, family history, travels, thoughts about life and doings, book reviews, sharing love for your animals, the greatest photographs, happenings in Colorado, in England, in Norway, in Canby, in Georgia, Washington and in Canada...I have chosen you as the cream of the crop and look forward to continued friendships over the world of the net...
I don't know you, yet I do...I can tell that you all have strong character and deep values, something I aspire to...
I do look forward to many months and perhaps years of new discoveries from you, my new friends.

The Island in the Sun

It is our yearly tradition to travel to a most tranquil sight on Vancouver island in Canada.

Yellowpoint Lodge, (click on the title which is the link to the Lodge), is the name of this peaceful place and it sits on 165 acres of land filled with forests, meadows, ponds and an oceanfront landscape that is magnificent. This is the place we have loved and enjoyed for the past 16 years.

A salt water pool (pumped in from the ocean) sparkles in the sunshine and is often filled with swimmers

Friends are everywhere. These are the needlepointers.

The Lodge hovers over the landscape

Deer fill the grounds

Bing and Gwen are faithful Kayakers

Richard, the owner of the lodge, takes us on weekly trips around the point and informs us of an interesting history

Whales were seen in these waters while we were there.

Even birds like Yellowpoint. Eagles were chased by local seagulls.

Perfect seating is everywhere

See you next year, Yellowpoint.......