My name is Madalyn Jones, and I am twenty years old, the second oldest child in our family. I live at home, teach my six year old brother school, and help out around the house. Here are some of the things I like to do.

Reading

I like to read a lot. Some of my favorite authors include

George MacDonald - a Scottish preacher from the 1800's who also wrote novels. He wrote them in Scottish dialect, so it takes some getting used to, but I have come to love the way he uses the Scottish brogue.

C. S. Lewis - a college professor at Oxford in the 1920's - 50's. I grew up reading his Narnia series, and now that I am older I also enjoy his nonfiction works. I think Mere Christianity is probably my favorite, with the Screwtape Letters as a close runner up. He was a good friend of another of my favorite authors -

J. R. R. Tolkien - also an Oxford professor in the 1920's - 50's. I have also read his books since I was a kid.

Sir Walter Scott - I just love his Waverly Novels. I think "Red Gauntlet" is probably my favorite.

Lloyd Alexander - The Prydain Chronicles

Terry Brooks - Shannara series

Mom taught me how to sew out of self-defense, I think. Before I had to sew my own clothes, I was the world's worst about tearing my clothes, staining them, loosing buttons - you name it. After I found how much work went into making clothes, I started taking a lot better care of them! In the process, I found that I really like sewing.

Language Arts

I enjoy trying to learn languages, mainly Spanish right now. I can speak a little (a very little!) but I can't really understand it when I hear it, because I don't know anyone who speaks it that I can practice with. I also like to try speaking with different accents. At present I am going through an articulation book, and trying to expand my vocabulary (in English). I like finding words that are more descriptive than the ones I normally use.

History

I like history a lot, but I skip around, instead of studying one paticular era. In American history I mainly studied the Revolutionary War, and a little of WWII. I also like Scottish history, and some English history. (This is all in addition to what I learned in school. In school, I had to study everything, not just the parts that interested me!)

Music

I like a pretty wide variety of music. John William is my favorite composer. I really love his soundtracks, at least, the ones I have heard! In classical music I really like Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Dvorak. In Christian music I like to listen to Phil Keaggy, Keith Green, Annie Herring, 2nd Chapter of Acts, PFR, Rich Mullins, and some Wes King. I also like Celtic music, especially with harp.

I like to play musical instruments, although I'm not very good at it. I play the flute best, then the pennywhistle, and piano, then a teeny, tiny, little bit of harp. Mom and Daddy just got me a piccolo for my birthday, so I am trying to learn that, now. The fingering is the same as on a flute, but you have to blow a little differently. I also sing in a choir.

Cooking

I like cooking, mainly bread baking, and in a family of this size, I have plenty of opportunity for practice! One of my specialties is focaccia, and I think our family favorite is doughnuts. I recently started making a sourdough bread that my Mom just loves. She says it is just like the bread she used to eat in Germany when she was there as an exchange student 30 years ago.

Well, that's all I can think of right now. I hope you enjoy my web site.