Archive for January, 2017



Betsy-Tacy Treasury (P.S.)Betsy-Tacy Treasury by Maud Hart Lovelace

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Picture me at age 9-12. I was probably the same height as I am now, maybe even an inch taller, as I was the tallest 6th grader at 5’6″. (And I have shrunk and inch.) I can’t remember how old I was when the librarian took me to the Besty-Tacy corner of the library. She was used to me coming in every couple weeks and checking out the limit of 10 books. No, I didn’t read every book. But in that haul, I was guaranteed to find a few treasures. But the Betsy-Tacy became my favorites. I read every single one. I do remember being disappointed that the trio grew up and, yawn, got married. But that didn’t stop me from re-reading my favorites–the ones where the three girls were my age at the time.

Now as an adult, I was a little afraid to read these books. How could the mature (there are those who doubt that–even I doubt that) me enjoy these books as much as I did as a girl? But I did! The difference besides being older, is I have now lived in places that have lots of cold and snow rather than Sunny Southern California I can relate even more to what the children had to deal with. Not only that, now I could understand the adults in the books. I saw how what seemed impossible then, in the story, now seems more like serendipity. And I have had experience with that.

Whether Betsy and Tacy had anything to do with it with their sales of sand, my brother and I used to go door to door to sell rocks. People bought them because well, my brother used his cute right up on these ventures!

What I loved about this treasury was getting to read the four books without stop. Then at the end of the last book, there is a treasury about the author and how Maud Hart Lovelace used many of her own life experiences for Betsy, Tacy, and Tib adventures. There are many photos of the author and her friends that made this book even better.

And speaking of pictures, I always knew I loved the illustrator, Lois Lenski. I was so happy to see her pictures in the picture books I read to my own children. There was a biography of Lois at the end of this book, too! Everything just tied right in for my own life and loves!

Best of all were the forwards to each of the books. One that resonated with me most was that of Judy Blume! I’m glad I am not alone in having such wonderful memories of these books and the memories of my younger years that fit just right.

I think I will try to check more of these out from our e-reader library.

Oh! Just a note. As I started the first book I was disappointed not to have text-to-speech or any audio to help me out. I was able to use Natural Reader to get me through. The rest of the books in the treasury did have text-to-speech making my life a lot easier.

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got-wall

Impenetrable?

Ask Jon Snow!

I just need to add the only thought I have about the word. It seems to be the most defiant word of all. Anytime someone says something is Impenetrable there is someone or something trying to prove that otherwise. Maybe a less defiant word would be better and safer?

jjj-20173The following copied from Linda G Hill. Thanks for all the inspiration!

Thanks to Blog Woman!!! for our prompt of the day, “impenetrable.” You can find her here: https://blog-woman.com/

And a special thank you to Shan, for the wonderful job she’s doing as host. Let’s hear it for Shan! 😀https://shanjeniah.com/about/

It’s not too late to join in Just Jot It January. Click the following link to participate and read more amazing posts: https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/16/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-16th17/


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The Just Jot It January 15th prompt brought to you by BarbCT of Gallimaufry,  is “Mercy.”  Use it any way you’re inspired to. And make sure you stop by and say hi to BarbCT as well! Here’s her blog: https://barbct.wordpress.com/.

And thank you to Linda G Hill for hosting this fun project and Shan for helping out.

Mercy

Since I just finished my review for Say Goodbye for Now, I am reminded that the author, Catherine Ryan Hyde who also wrote:pay-it-forward

and set up a foundation with those philosophies to pay our mercies forward. I so love that idea.

Christmas and birthdays bring up times that put us on the balancing act. So often we try to pay gift for gift translated to price for price. If we are the ones on the lower end, our present isn’t nearly as pricey or good as what was gifted to us we can feel horrible. When you have lived your life financially insecure most of those gift-giving opportunities leave you feeling sad.

This year I felt a lot better about my position. With donated yarn, I have been busy since last spring making hats and comfort items for the homeless or hospital patients. Every moment I can I am knitting or crocheting. Most of the time it is for the charity but every now and then I get to make something for my family, friends or even myself. I no longer feel guilty if the gifts for loved ones don’t get to them on or near the holiday. They all know what I am doing and feel, in some tiny way they are a part of the gift that goes elsewhere.

There are other niceties that happen to a person where a person just feels grateful but at a loss as to what to do in return. For example, the kind person that lets your car into the lane rather than make it impossible to proceed. Of course, you can’t return that favor to that person, except for maybe just a wave of thanks. But you can watch for opportunities to lets others go before you, open the door for someone.

Living a life of kindness, showing mercy when you can, has rewards of feeling good about yourself and the planet. When you are treated with goodness be thankful. And let it become a part of your being. It is playing the karma game for good.


Say Goodbye for NowSay Goodbye for Now by Catherine Ryan Hyde

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Do you remember ‘Pay It Forward’? If you live under a rock or somehow never got to see it, I’m about to give a spoiler. Skip to the next paragraph where I will strictly talk about this book. The author, Catherine Ryan Hyde, wrote that book which became the most up-lifting and crash ending movie. I bought the movie because I loved that concept so much. But the ending of the movie, when the main character was killed, keeps me from watching it ever again. Ms. Hyde, though set up the foundation of Pay It Forward which is a marvelous way for folks to live. Maybe I will buck up and give it another try for the meat of the movie (or read the book). I would have loved to know that about the author before I began reading this book. But unfortunately, that information was in the back of the book after the book club questions.

A series of events in the 1950s gives the reader so many character-lines to follow that one wonders where this is leading. A wolf-dog hit by a car. An abused but wiser-than-his-age boy tries to find help for this poor creature. Seem to make it look like a simple book, a boy and his dog, kind of thing. But the story gets deeper and deeper. Some surprises happen as opposed to how the reader may think they would. The story was well-written and draws one in. The characters are deeper than some books offer. Sometimes I wanted more. But I think the author knew how to pull us through.

Yes, there is a bit a romance but it isn’t the leading subject. But neither is the dog. Have I made this vague enough to incite interest? Don’t come into the book thinking, like I did that it was going to be a sweet book about a boy and his dog. This book is worth the read. I wish there was a book two as I already miss these character and wonder what happens next.

By the way, I received this book free of charge from NetGalley. Thank you!

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This post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday and Just Jot It January. The prompt for this week is the letter “p,” with the challenge to start and end the post with a “P” word… thus the potato. Click the following link to join in and read all the other awesome posts! https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/13/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-and-jusjojan-jan-1417/

Potato

Do you really want to see my stream of consciousness? Well, my first thoughts are about how I am writing this on my tablet instead of my laptop. Pampered Pets. That’s right. I didn’t want to disturb the cat and dog sleeping on the end of my bed by dragging my must-always-be-connected laptop and cords over said beasts so as to do my blogginess. They wake and all kinds of chaos would erupt so in the name of peace, I squint to read what I’m writing, while typing on a tiny keyboard.

I keep looking at the word ‘potato’ and realize I have a bunch that need to be cooked up  before their eyes look like monster arms. But our kitchen is very cold and the water to wash said potatoes is too cold for my hands. But on these cold days, I imagine how tasty potato soup would be, or fried potatoes with onions and other goodies. Guess I’m going to have to buck up and don many layers to get this done.

Frost doesn’t start with a ‘p’. Frost is on our windows and everything outside. This morning as I walked the dog it looked like PIXIE dust was floating in the air. So sparkly, pretty and peaceful! I did it!

Politics is the ugliest ‘p’ word at the moment so I will avoid it and hope that the greater good for all and our planet happens somehow.

People provide the best entertainment. I miss going to malls and people watching. We live an hour and a half from the nearest city and when we go it is all business. So television provides.

This post is getting too long, I have no picture to break it all up so I think I should end with a period.


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The Just Jot It January 13th prompt, brought to you by Charlene Bullard of FaithtoRaiseNate.com, is: “Hospital.” Use it any way you’re inspired to. And make sure you stop by and say hi to Charlene as well! Here’s her blog: http://faithtoraisenate.com/.

And again, thank you, Linda G Hill.

Hospital

That is where many of the hats and goodies that I make go to. Here’s the one I finished today.

img_20170113_181435

It is called the Ombre Beanie by Loom A Hat. I made it with the opening in the top for the Messy Bun or ponytail. I love making things for others. I imagine those who still have hair on chemo or a patient who is having a bad hair day could pull their hair up into the top and yet keep their ears warm.


The Diaries of Ethel TurnerThe Diaries of Ethel Turner by Ethel Turner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don’t know that any book of my entire life has taken me this long to read. But this wasn’t fiction. This was someone’s diary. It was the day by day mind meanderings of a writer who lived in Australia in the 1800s. No protagonist, no antagonist, no plot. Even so, far better than my own diaries in which I would eventually give up and write that I breathed in and out that day. So I doubt anyone will write anything about mine. They have probably begun to degrade into the earth like the trees the paper was made from.

Another reason it was such a slow read for me was the small font. Luckily the entries were kept short so I would only sit and read an entry and let it go.

Writers will find this interesting, seeing Ethel Turner’s passion for writing, especially for children. Those interested in history, this diary takes place before the first world war. She witnessed world happenings from the land down-under. As a young woman, she sees Women’s Suffrage. At first, she sees no sense in it but as she matures her writing reflects the need for social change for men and women for more equality.

I found that interesting in that in the home she grows up in as a teen, they have servants. No wonder she sees no need for equality. She was able to spend her time studying languages, piano, and singing. Her life was full of social amenities, dances, etc. But still, she spends most of her days working on writing. She was and for me is an inspiration.

Seven Little Australians, her book, I will be reading next.

This is worth the effort it took me to read. Maybe you will like it, too.
Oh, this is a BookCrossing book BCID 128-5141612. Not sure who is next for the read but I’ll mark the site accordingly.

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The Just Jot It January 12th prompt, brought to you by Tessa of the blog Always A Writer, is: “Tingle.” Use it any way you’re inspired to. And make sure you stop by and say hi to Tessa as well! Here’s her blog: https://finallyawriter.com/ 

JusJoJan is brought to you by Linda G Hill

Tingle

As if my husband knew what today’s prompt was: this morning he was in the way of the television when I wanted to change the channel. I warned him then clicked the right button on the remote. “Oh,” he said in a girly voice, “I felt a tingle!”

I have to admit to finding that quite funny! Guess that’s why we’ve been together for so long. We still make each other laugh. We’re still best friends. We still giggle about tingles!


SHOVEL BUDDY

Bam! I made it through 11 days of posting! Take that! But obviously, I am not good at one-liners! And since we have no car we have no need to shovel or buddy to go with.

But that brings up that my little Kali and I got to take a walk today. We haven’t been able to with all the snow and ice the last few days. It was warm enough not to wear my Alaska coat. Note the orange thermal fingernail polish that is pink until cold enough to wear the orange coat.

me-in-alaska

Nope. Just a couple cotton shirts under my black windbreaker. And Kali actually let me put her coat on for the walk. But we didn’t stay out long. The snow was slippery and icy. I nearly killed us with my ungraceful ice walking/skating (?). And we got cold. Sooo. We go back inside and shrug off all those extra clothes. I should have worn my sunglasses for even that short time gave me a bit of snow blindness. And no sooner are we inside than it starts snowing, a lot! Weird! It had been sunny while out there. The sky was blue! But now the SNOW was so thick I couldn’t see the little hills just 12 miles away. So Kali and I decided to take a snow nap. SMILE!

Just Jot It January and One Liner Wednesday brought to you by Linda G Hill. Come Join the fun!

Review:


All Our Wrong TodaysAll Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It has taken me a long time to read this book. That mostly has to do with the formatting for Kindle/text-to-speech. On almost every page there is a S32 or N33 or words not connected. L ike th at n eeds t o b e f ix ed! By the way, things like f ix get read by text-to-speech as ‘f’ 9.

But I got used to the crazy formatting problems. Most ly. I did have to keep an eye on the text to make sure I understood what was being said. THEN there are several pages of F*ck and Sh*t. I understand that Julie Andrews is a fairly competent cusser along with being a fantastic actress and singer. Since I have my TTS set to be British female who sounds like Julie Andrews, I had to read all those pages to make sure my TTS was really working and not a reincarnation of a bad Mary Poppins. Honestly, that wasn’t needed in the story. Sure the character was angry and in shock but a good writer could have shown it with more class.

This was a good science fiction story. That is why there are three stars and not just one. It was a time travel adventure. And I love the concepts presented, though very slow in the lecture not showing. Still, I forgave that and kept with it. I didn’t like the main character most of the time. I’d give you his name but it changes a lot. Only toward the very end did I feel the character had something redeemable.

Gee, the more I write this the more I feel it should be a two star or less. But I want to encourage the author to clean this up. I am absolutely surprised that this book had as many editors and readers as is indicated in the author’s notes. This coming from a person who cannot edit worth beans. But this story has promise. It could be a fun adventure. But make the main character more real and worthy of the reader’s care. But the subject matter brings the story to–2.5 stars round up.

I picked this copy up from NetGalley. I’m thankful for the opportunity. And I hope others get a chance to read a better copy.

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