Leaves

"How silently they tumble down

And come to rest upon the ground

To lay a carpet, rich and rare,

Beneath the trees without a care,

Content to sleep, their work well done,

Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly

Until they nearly reach the sky.

Twisting, turning through the air

Till all the trees stand stark and bare.

Exhausted, drop to earth below

To wait, like children, for the snow." 

-   Elsie N. Brady

The Big bang Theory 9.2

In a hilarious second episode, we are greeted with an astonishing scene of Sheldon and Penny kissing passionately to punish Leonard. This turns out to be a nightmare Leonard is having. Spurred on by the horrifying mental picture, Leonard looks into marriage counseling which turns out to be much more expensive than he thought.

Meanwhile, the little group of friends is still tip-toeing around the news of Leonard and Penny's latest issue. It turns out that Howard and Bernadette have known for two years, infuriating Raj. Sheldon is still wrapped up in his own imploding drama and uses Fun With Flags to express his new emotions, giving him unrealistic hope when Amy blows up and demands he take down the video. This episode was even funnier than the first one and breaking up Sheldon and Amy was probably the best thing for this show, as long as they don't do the back and forth thing like Leonard and Penny.

Doctor Who 9.2

Clara awakens to find herself tied upside, hanging from her feet in a tree, while Missy is nearby ominously sharpening a stick and telling a story about the Doctor and how he once escaped a horde of androids. This story has a point and explains how Clara and Missy survived the Daleks' weapons and how Missy is still alive. When Missy is convinced that Clara won't be sandwiches, she unties her and they survey Skaro, sizing up the challenge before them. On one side is the might of the Dalek empire, on the other is two women with a pointy stick and trust issues. "Can I have a stick too" Clara asks. "Make your own stick." Missy barks and they set off.

While they're climbing around the Dalek sewers trying to sneak inside, the Doctor is being all clever and attempting to escape. While this proves hilarious, he fails and Davros continues to interrogate him, hiding his true motives till the last possible second. When Missy tries to manipulate the Doctor into unknowingly killing Clara, she earns his wrath and she flees, threatening to get up to more mischief. We also learn that on the Time Lords' home world, Missy/the Master had a daughter.

While the first episode had one high point and several unanswered questions, this one had lots of laughs, a few answers and an interesting twist that could spell doom for the Doctor further down the road. I still hate the Daleks though. Why can't we have new fresh enemies for once?

Summer Shower

A drop fell on the apple tree,

Another on the roof;

A half a dozen kissed the eaves,

And made the gables laugh.

A few went out to help the brook,

That went to help the sea.

Myself conjectured, Were they pearls,

What necklaces could be!

The dust replaced in hoisted roads,

The birds jocoser sung;

The sunshine threw his hat away,

The orchards spangles hung.

The breezes brought dejected lutes,

And bathed them in the glee;

The East put out a single flag,

And signed the fete away.

~ Emily Dickinson

The Big Bang Theory 9.1

In the new 9th season of The Big Bang Theory that aired last night, we pick up the thread of drama where we left it last Spring and step right into the story. Sheldon, completely knocked off balance by Amy breaking up with him, calls Leonard to tell him not to get married. Still working through the news she learned about Leonard, Penny tries to enjoy their simple little wedding ceremony, not knowing that their little group of friends watching the live stream is caught in a tug-of-war between Sheldon and Amy.

More drama than comedy in this opening episode, the rest of the season is set up to be a blast. Can't wait for more! *huge grin*

Doctor Who 9.1

Doctor Who came back in its 9th season with a twisty new episode that promised much and gave little. Finding himself on a distant planet, the Doctor throws his sonic screwdriver to a boy stranded in a mine field and encourages him to stay calm and save himself. He asks, "What is the name of the boy who won't die today?" The answer leaves him stunned, faced with an impossible decision that goes against his rules, his past, his morals and his conscience.

Fast-forward to our times and Clara leaves school early to meet up with UNIT when all the planes freeze in the air. Without explanation, Missy is back and crazily taunts Clara, saying she's the Doctor's best friend and archenemy. With his last will and testimony mysteriously in her hands, Missy drags Clara off to find the Doctor who's throwing himself a big three week party complete with an electric guitar, a tank and the word "dude" in what appears to be Medieval times. A snake-like messenger has been combing the universe searching for the Doctor and when he finally catches up, the Doctor comes face to face with his old archenemy Davros, and must make his impossible decision.

This episode really frustrated me. As my husband and I discussed, the Doctor is now criss-crossing over his own timeline and messing up all his own fixed points, creating paradoxes and no longer following any of the rules he's previously laid out in past episodes and regenerations. I think we can safely blame Moffat for that. Darn script writer. If he goes back in time and kills Davros as a boy, the Daleks will never be created but then the Time Lords will still be alive and the Doctor won't have had to destroy them. Everything he's done and become will have been for nothing. On the other hand, he could go back and positively influence Davros, possibly changing the future without killing him. But then Clara will still die in the future. I don't particularly mind that; I'm really tired of her. And they didn't explain how Missy is still alive! I hate that!

September Midnight

Lyric night of the lingering Indian Summer,

Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing,

Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects,

    Ceaseless, insistent.

The grasshopper’s horn, and far-off, high in the maples,

The wheel of a locust leisurely grinding the silence

Under a moon waning and worn, broken,

    Tired with summer.

Let me remember you, voices of little insects,

Weeds in the moonlight, fields that are tangled with asters,

Let me remember, soon will the winter be on us,

    Snow-hushed and heavy.

Over my soul murmur your mute benediction,

While I gaze, O fields that rest after harvest,

As those who part look long in the eyes they lean to,

    Lest they forget them.

~ Sara Tresdale

Hot Mama Book Review

Title: Hot Mama: 12 Secrets to a Sizzling Hot Marriage

Author: Kathi Lipp and Erin MacPherson

Genre: Christian, Marriage, Women, Self-Help, Sex

Plot: One of the fun things about being happily married is being able to read delicious books I normally wouldn't buy at all. I mean, who needs a marriage book if they're not married?

Two authors who've already established themselves and been around the block once or twice team up to answer women's questions about sex, marriage and how to get/keep the heat in their relationship - especially on those days that drag by and the kids or chores or workload leave you exhausted. With an understanding nod, a little encouragement and a nudge in the right direction, these funny and honest authors give you the boost you need to pick up the strings, lock the bedroom door and get back to bare basics like you used to do and still secretly long for. Laid out in a simple easy to understand way, this book is a breeze to read and so wonderful! There are tips, tricks, funny stories, a list of questions and answers at the back, lots of helpful advice and a really fun bucket list at the end of each chapter that should give you some ideas to try out. I personally can't wait to put some of those ideas into action.

Likes/Dislikes: My husband was skeptical when I got this book but I'm pretty sure he won't complain too much when I start making it work for him. *wink* I love the cover and the layout; the advice was pretty sound, very God-honoring and some of the stories and word choice were so funny. I kept giggling while reading it which my husband eventually tuned out. I did get him to tell me his five favorite things about my body so now I wiggle my toes at him all the time. I kinda wish there had been a little more attention to homeschooling moms who can't exactly escape for a nooner when the kids are in school but that's okay; we're creative.

Rating: PG-18 and up, mainly for content {it's a marriage book after all}.

Date Review Written: September 8th, 2015

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Indian Summer

These are the days when birds come back,

A very few, a bird or two,

To take a backward look.

These are the days when skies put on

The old, old sophistries of June, --

A blue and gold mistake.

Oh, fraud that cannot cheat the bee,

Almost thy plausibility

Induces my belief,

Till ranks of seeds their witness bear,

And softly through the altered air

Hurries a timid leaf!

Oh, sacrament of summer days,

Oh, last communion in the haze,

Permit a child to join,

Thy sacred emblems to partake,

Thy consecrated bread to break,

Taste thine immortal wine!

~ Emily Dickinson