Linda the Librarian

Bittersweet October.  The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. ~Carol Bishop Hipps

When Mr. Krauthammer died earlier this year, this book enjoyed a new popularity in our library system.  I put it on my "want to read" list and now I've finally read it.  This is a book of essays about many things including politics, baseball, dogs, and people who influenced him along the way.  I enjoyed a walk down memory lane of sorts.  Essays dealing with the cold war, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and other people and incidents had me saying, "Oh, I remember that!"  I couldn't help but notice the truth of the adage, "the more things change, the more they stay the same."  Some of the issues of the last three decades (abortion, partisan politics, monuments) are still in the forefront of our news broadcasts today - and we still haven't resolved the debates. I found his essay about Soviet funerals for heads of state compelling.  I'll quote from it here, because my description won't do it justice: It turns out I'm not the...

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. ~L. M. Montgomery

I've been struggling with a cold lately.  I spent the weekend reading and drinking tea and hot cocoa with extra mini marshmallows.  This series is just what the doctor ordered for a lot of relaxation.  The first book, Treasured Grace begins in 1847.  The Flanagan sisters are on a wagon train headed to Oregon territory when illness strikes.  Oldest sister, Grace, loses her husband to illness, she and some of the travelers opt to winter at the Whitman mission.  Some local Cayuse attack the mission, because they're convinced Dr. Whitman is trying to poison them when he fails to cure their people of the measles.  Life for the sisters changes drastically.  Can they overcome?  Will they heal?  The next two books in the trilogy Blessed Hope and Cherished Mercy complete their story. This was a lovely way to spend recovery.  The main story about the Whitman mission attack is based on a historical event.  The Flanagan sisters are fi...

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree. ~Emliy Bronte 

I read The Clean 20 by Ian K. Smith and 100 Days of Real Food on a Budget by Lisa Leake over the last week.  These are great books to read together.  Ms. Leake's book zeroes in on strategies to eat more real food and less processed without breaking the bank.  Dr. Smith's book takes the idea of eating real food and adds weight loss and fitness.  What I liked, the books' eating plans are very similar.  In a world of conflicting nutritional advice from experts this was a welcome change.  Neither author advocates a diet that removes any food group.  Both allow meat, dairy, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.  Neither plan restricts the number of times you eat or has a "no snacks" policy.  Both present a mindful approach to eating.   I thought both authors were clear and easy to follow.  Dr. Smith includes exercises in his book.  I felt that the directions made sense.  I'm currently participating in a 10,000 step...

We're moving into the season of donating money, time, and goods in part to lighten our own load and, hopefully, do some good for others less fortunate.  Before you decide to donate your used items to your local library, women's shelter, rescue mission, etc here are a couple of things that you may not think about if you have never been on the receiving end of such donations. Before you give your item to the library, women's shelter, rescue mission, etc, look at it with the eyes of the person receiving it.  Seriously, if you would be grossed out or offended if you received those books, clothes, baby gear, etc chances are really great that the person on the receiving end will not feel blessed by your "gift."  Before you give your item to one of the aforementioned charities, ask yourself if you'd be willing to pay to have it hauled away with the recyclables or trash.  Your "gift" is more than likely costing your charity of choice money to have it hau...