I’m collecting research on teaching ESL and tutoring German:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/health/views/11klass.html?_r=1&ref=science

The New York Times published this article on Oct 10, 2011. By Perri Klass, M.D.

Yesterday, I put together a package bound for the UK only to find out that I had grossly underestimated the shipping costs. Even a medium flat rate box was going to cost $40.00. Needless to say, I rethought my approach and in the end opted for the smaller flat rate box. It was tiny in comparison and cost only $12.00 to ship across the Atlantic.

Today, I faced a similar scenario. I wanted to buy my friend in England a book for Christmas. How much would this cost? I researched prices online,  and that’s when I remembered amazon.co.uk. Yes, I bet England has Amazon, too. But, would they accept my US credit card and ship directly? It would be great if I could cut out an extra step of shipping.

So I gave it a try. Logged onto amazon.co.uk, signed in with my usual (US) amazon log-in.

And, voila. It totally worked. I paid $14.00 for the book + shipping. Total. That’s about the amount what I would have spent on shipping alone, had I gone the conventional route. But thanks to a bit of creativity, and international, internet-based corporations, there was a better way.

So this Christmas, let Amazon do what it’s good at. Let Amazon do the shipping.

Winifred Gallagher's book is available at amazon.com

Book Review: House Thinking by Winifred Gallagher

I just picked up this book that “investigates and explains the emotional impact our homes have on our lives,” according to the book’s back cover.

And already the introduction has me captivated:

“… after years of routine house-keeping and not much house thinking, it wasn’t really supporting our needs, much less engaging our minds or delighting our hearts as it should.”

This books fits hand-in-glove with the books, The Pattern Language and The Timeless Way of Building, and their approach to looking at life.

In The Timeless Way of Building, Christopher Alexander explains how space either creates or resolves inner conflicts. When we come into a room, we gravitate toward the light, while simultaneously wanting to sit down and be comfortable. If there are places to sit by the window, our inner conflict is resolved — we can do both. Otherwise, we are forced to choose and have to live with the residue of internal stress.

As I continue to read, I hope House Thinking will explore how to take a fresh look at our homes, how to see in it who we are and how to shape it intentionally so that our home helps us live more fully.

Church building near Falls, NC, north of Raleigh

I’ve been practicing the “art of seeing”, like a tourist in my own backyard. Not only that, but I’ve been looking for beauty, for the things that capture not only the eye but also the imagination. This past weekend was a superb opportunity for both. Our friends Matt and Jacey invited us to spend a weekend with them in their house on Stone Mountain, near Asheville, North Carolina.

Here are some pictures of the relaxing weekend: Drinking in the view of the mountains from the living room couch, enjoying the company of friends, visiting the near by town of Black Mountain for pizza lunch and a stroll through the streets and specialty stores, and exploring the property on an afternoon hike. Enjoy!