Now’s the time when children’s noses
And the colour of their faces
Makes me think of orchard places
Where the juicy apples grow,
And tomatoes in a row.
From Autumn Song
by Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923)
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
May Reading
I realized that if I want to jot down what I’ve read in 2014, I’d better get going! My May reading was quite, quite wonderful. Because I am so far behind, and because I don’t have as much time to write these days, I am giving short shrift to some wonderful books. If I could I would write whole posts on each book.
23. Summer Lightning
by PG Wodehouse
fiction 1929
Kindle
finished 5/6/14
The month began with my favorite writer, Pelham Grenville Wodehouse. I’m wild about the Blandings books. I find Lord Emsworth and Co. to be the most delightful fictional acquaintances. Summer Lightning is the third in the Blandings series, but honestly the PGW books can be picked up anywhere. Lord Emsworth’s younger brother who has quite a checkered past is writing his memoirs. There is fear among all his contemporaries, as they wonder if their own youthful adventures will be in the book.
24. Disappeared - book 1 in the Inspector Celcius Day series
by Anthony Quinn
mystery 2012
Kindle
second reading
finished 5/10/14
I decided to reread Disappeared as it had been a while, and I wanted it fresh in my mind as I read the second in the series. I am very interested in the Northern Ireland of the post-troubles. It is clear that those days are not forgotten. They echo and reverberate. Men who were young then are now old, but their fervor and anger are as strong as ever. Such a good book.
25. Border Angels - book 2 in the Inspector Celcius Day series
by Anthony Quinn
mystery 2013
Kindle
finished 5/14/14
This one, though excellent, was a bit harder for me to read since the subject was the trafficking of young girls from Eastern Europe. You may read a great interview with the author here.
26. Fifty Candles
by Earl Derr Biggers
mystery 1921
Kindle
finished 5/17/14
I’ve put off reading this for a while because it was the only Biggers book I hadn’t read. I’m so sorry he didn’t live longer to write more. Such a good writer. Though I read it last, this book precedes the Charlie Chan mysteries.
27. Little Fur Family
by Margaret Wise Brown
children's book 1946
finished 5/19/14
written about here.
28. News From Thrush Green - book 3 in the Thrush Green series
by Miss Read
second or third reading
fiction 1970
finished 5/25/14
I love Miss Read. I love Thrush Green. I love the characters and the stories. Some of my most pleasant times have been in a Miss Read story.
29. Roast Mortem - book 9 in the Coffeehouse Mysteries series
by Cleo Coyle
mystery 2010
finished 5/29/14
Monday, October 20, 2014
Today's picture, and Product placement/socks
My Old Farmer's Almanac calendar's offering for this day is
They come from a terrific Vermont company called Solmate Socks whose motto is
Wear mismatched socks to bring good luck
And today Hazel Nina showed up in these socks!
They come from a terrific Vermont company called Solmate Socks whose motto is
Life's too short for matching socks
Friday, October 10, 2014
Today's Song and Pictures - October Light
One of my favorite songs is October Light by Robin and Linda Williams. There isn't a video of them singing it so I'm going to share the words, along with some photos of my own October light. There really is nothing like it. This evening there was a gentle rain falling as I took the pictures, and soon a rainbow appeared.
Each day we walk upon the hill
Each day we walk upon the hill
to watch the setting sun
play on the trees and fields until
it falls and day is done.
Yellow, orange, blue, and rose
The colors neon bright.
The evening sky is all aglow
with this October light.
We sit together in the swing
Our faces to the west
and talk of what tomorrow will bring
and what today has left.
We trace the dimming day
as dusk breaks to night
So we don’t miss a single ray
of this October light.
Oh, the long, dark shadows eulogize
the sun fleeing southward in the sky
‘cause there ain’t no saving daylight
when the tenth month comes around.
September memories take flight
as heaven’s lamp turns down.
So we feast on eventide
‘cause November’s chilling bite
is waiting on the other side
of this October light.
The evening sky is all aglow
with this October light.
We don’t want to miss a single ray
of this October light.
October Light
Robin and Linda Williams
from the album Deeper Waters
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
For the fans of dogs!
If you are like me and you see a dog in a movie, you immediately want to know if the dog is going to be okay. I don't want to watch anything where a dog dies. And now there is a website for dog lovers called Does The Dog Die.
And here is a great graph, which I perhaps shared here another time, for book and dog lovers.
And here is a great graph, which I perhaps shared here another time, for book and dog lovers.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Product placement/baby food
It’s a wonderful time to be a baby! When my kids were little there weren’t any organic baby foods. And now, there are wonders beyond wonders. Any fruits you can imagine. Interesting combinations like bananas, apricots, and baby rice. Amazing offerings like vegetables and beans. If you click on any of the links below you can see the huge range of products available.
and one I didn't happen to have on the shelf when I took the picture - Happy Family Brands.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
A Year of Afternoon Gardens - October
It worked out wonderfully today that three dear girls and their babies were here to be in the monthly garden picture! Margaret and Hazel Nina; Estée and Campbell Walker; and Margaret's friend for over 30 years, Ana and Roman Henry. As you might imagine, I was in heaven all afternoon.
