Captain's Log, Stardate 12.12.2008 I was on Faithchick.com yesterday talking about the MIND-NUMBING COMMERCIALISM THAT CHRISTMAS HAS BECOME! Can you tell, I’m a little peeved. Click here to read my ranting.

Today's Wild Card author is: Sharlene MacLaren and the book: Hannah Grace Whitaker House (January 30, 2009) Hannah Grace has her life all figured out---or so she thinks. She's content working at her father's general store and courting the town's physician, Ralston Van Huff. But when the new sheriff arrives in turn-of-the-century Sandy Shores, Michigan, everything changes. Hannah's determined to ignore Gabriel Devlin's good looks. But will a runaway orphan bring them together? ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sharlene Maclaren is an award-winning novelist , retired elementary school teacher, wife, mother, and grandmother. Visit the author's website . Product Details: List Price: $ 9.99 Paperback Publisher: Whitaker House (January 30, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1603740740 ISBN-13: 978-1603740746 AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER: Sandy Shores, Michigan • August 1903 The minute hand on the nickel-cased Waterbury clock ticked away the seconds as Hannah Grace Kane primped in...

Captain's Log, Stardate 12.11.2008 Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn Miranda Carson can't wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she's sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation. But Miranda's high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian's father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda's mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost. And yet...maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all. Excerpt of chapter one: Engaging Father Christmas FaithWords (October 30, 2008) ...

Today's Wild Card author is: Joel Osteen and the book: Your Best Life Begins Each Morning FaithWords (December 10, 2008) The potential to live your best life starts with each new morning. With every sunrise, you can choose to approach the day with an attitude of faith and expectancy. Bestselling author Joel Osteen writes, "When you get up in the morning, the first things you should do is set your mind in the right direction . . . and then go out anticipating good things." Now, for the first time, Pastor Osteen presents a tool to accomplish that goal. Based on his book, Your Best Life Now, he offers prescriptions for positive living in 365 daily messages. Each message is accompanied by a relevant scripture. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joel Osteen is the pastor of the largest church in America with one of the most diverse congregations and over 30,000 members attending every week. He has quickly become a leading voice in a new generation of inspirational leaders and pastors. Under...

Captain's Log, Stardate 12.09.2008 A couple people have asked me about my making yogurt, which I started doing thanks to the French Women Don’t Get Fat book. So here are pictures of my making yogurt! It's definitely cheaper for me to make yogurt than buy it. I buy whole milk 2 gallons at a time, and at Safeway it's something like $2.50 per gallon if you buy two, versus $3.25 per gallon if you only buy one. (I’m not sure if those are the correct prices, but it’s close.) I think I calculated it and for me to make eight 1/2 cup servings in my yogurt maker, it costs me a grand total of $0.50 or $1.00 for the entire batch! Even if I bought only one gallon of milk at a time, the cost would still be a little cheaper than buying the yogurt premade. The yogurt comes out better if I use fresher milk, so I usually make several batches as soon as we get the milk, and the yogurt lasts for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. I eat 2 or 3 yogurts a day, and Captain Caffeine also uses the whole ...

Here's a list of new releases from Jill Eileen Smith: There is nothing like the holiday season to cause a mixture of joy and stress and the need for that take-me-away feeling only found in a good story. This month we've got six new releases to choose from designed to do just that! Also, don't forget to check out my new Spotlight on author Siri Mitchell . 1. A Promise for Spring by Kim Vogel Sawyer from Bethany House. Can their promise of love survive more than just years of separation? 2. Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard from Havest House Publishers. A heroine who embodies "Principles" meets the man who is all "Pride." What happens when they clash in Regency London makes adventurous innocence well worth reading! 3. Deceptive Promises , Delaware Brides, book 3 by Amber Miller from Barbour/Heartsong Presents. Living during the American Revolution, Margret Scott gets involved with a spy and a life of deception that could endanger herself,...

Captain's Log, Stardate 12.05.2008 My friend Missy talked about Christmas Shopping in Hard Economic Times yesterday, which I thought was a fabulous blog post. I wanted to blog about the same thing, but from a knitter’s perspective. This year, my sister in law has suggested we have a family gift exchange rather than buying individual gifts for the adults. We each contribute a $10-20 gift to the pile, people pick in turn, and there is some stealing going on, too (I think some call it a Kris Kringle gift exchange). Naturally, I’m thinking of knitting something. Some household item that anyone could use. The yarn cost would be minimal but the value is increased by the time put in. I’m also knitting some items for family and friends from the copious yarn stash in my room, which Captain Caffeine turns a blind eye to. (I’m trying desperately not to buy any more yarn for myself until I have reduced my stash to at least half of what it is now. A daunting task, but really, why do I need so ...