Puppets and Lights, Child Delivers Christmas Tree, and Vera Wong Mystery Novel

 

I took this photo of my living room wall. The swirling lights only appeared for a few moments and only one time. I had my phone camera nearby. My son said the lights look like Jesus' thorns. I had not seen that but they do. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, the puppets appear to be floating.

I enjoyed this book "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers" by Jesse G. Sutanto. It is set in San Francisco's China Town today, when Vera discovers a dead body in her old tea shop that has almost no customers. Vera is energized to solve the murder and has a humorous take on life. She is about 64 and considered old, but I am lots older than her!

And a child delivering a child sized Christmas tree. We'd best get ready for Christmas friends. I am writing Christmas cards, ordering and wrapping gifts and I attended church last Friday night for hymn singing and fun for little kids and a candle light service. This year I learned of a political prisoner in another country and mailed him a Christmas card to the prison. Many countries have political prisoners, sad to say. I like to spread light and joy especially at this time of year.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

 Hello friends world wide. I hope all of you have a great day. Today in the USA we celebrate Thanksgiving. Family and friends gather for a feast and fellowship. This photo seems Thanksgiving-y to me, perhaps it is because it is nostalgic.

One thing I have been appreciating this year is the beauty of the sky and the ever changing clouds. 

"The Heavens declare the glory of God." Psalm 19:1

Can you see the kite someone was flying near my house? I hope you enjoy your day. Mine features my sons and I and our pup Bounce at my house and a 15 pound organic turkey and lots of other goodies.

Photos Only Today

 

My little dragon friend, coffee shop gardens and portrait of me

 Let me take a look at my photos and find some to share here.

The gardens at my favorite coffee shop. Well, my only coffee shop. I like independent shops and never go to Starbucks where they insert politics into their business. Plus I love to sit outside and relax and chat with friends. Do you see the two benches?

Can you see the little dragon? He was across the street from my house and a block away for several months. Then one day he was gone. I hope the sculptor moved him or he flew away on his own. I always look for my cute little dragon. Maybe he flew to your house, have you seen him?

Above is a portrait of me that my blog friend Diane had made for me as a surprise gift. Diane is wonderful and lives across the ocean from me in the Philippines. Each of you blog friends is unique and talented and I enjoy visiting you here in blogland.

Strange sea creatures, Mystery house and George Washington

 

Who knows what these prehistoric seeming sea creatures are? I gathered them on a beach in Florida 60 years ago. I will put the answer at the end of this post. 

A few more shells found on the beach on Sanibel Island on a camping trip with my family.

Above and below a mystery house near my home. Mr. B and I walked past it at sunset and I took these photos. "The heavens declare the glory of God."

Our American hero and first President, George Washington. People asked him to become king and he said no, he agreed to become President. I am praying for the USA and for all of the other countries struggling now. Right now the governor of California signed a law limiting freedom of speech and making it illegal to post comic AI generated political memes. That is a slippery slope, he is against free speech he doesn't like. Free speech is under attack worldwide and we aim to defend it.

The sea creatures are Horseshoe Crabs. Many of you already knew that. I love how they look.

Funny Quotes and Photos

Everyone with telekinetic powers raise my hand. -- Emo Philips

Before you judge a man walk a mile in his shoes. After that who cares? He is a mile away and you've got his shoes -- Billy Connolly (I love Billy)

Wait you're serious? I love that.

A day without laughter is a day wasted. -- Charlie Chaplin 

I'm in shape. Round is a shape. -- George Carlin

August 9 is National Book Lovers Day

 

 

I love books and I know many of you do too. As you may know I am a librarian. You might want to treat yourself to "Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship" full of stunning art by Ruth Chou Simons, a busy mother of six sons. Yes, six! Below is another of her books I have, "Graceland: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart". Her paintings and art adorn each page.

When I learned August 9 is National Book Lovers Day I thought now that is my kind of holiday. Everyone should be given the day off to stay home and read. Or go to a park and read, or visit a library or bookstore. I posted this two days early so you can get ready for the 9th. This is a USA Day but people worldwide who love reading can join in. Blog friends Baili in Pakistan and Monica in Sweden and others around the world, I know you love reading too.

Jeff Minick wrote about National Book Lovers Day in The Epoch Times and he mentioned one book, Middlemarch, He will celebrate by reading the last 20 pages of what he calls one of mankind's greatest literary achievements. I have not read that book. Have you? 

Here is another author I love, P.G. Wodehouse and one of his books I have: "A Bounty of Blandings." The ninth Earl of Emsworth and his fabulous loved prize winning pig The Empress of Blandings  get me to laughing every time. Enjoy your day.

Some funny quotes to lighten our day

 "Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest." Larry Lorenzoni

"Parents should leave books lying around marked Forbidden if they want their children to read." Doris Lessing

"Women's clothes: never wear anything that panics the cat." P.J. O'Rourke

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg though he knows that you are slightly cracked." Bernard Meltzer 

Ha ha, slightly cracked, I like that. The photo is from coffee I made, plus I used my milk frother. Have a good day and remember to laugh.

 

Solzenitzen Graduation Advice and Funny Quotes

 

It is graduation time in my town and I happened upon Aleksandr Solzenitsyn's commencement speech he gave at Harvard in 1978. His words ring true today.

His words were a warning to the west of the dangers of materialism and the dangers of legalizing immorality in the name of freedom. He put much blame on the media for this situation, "The press is more powerful than the President, the Congress or the judiciary community. Americans have a right not to have their divine souls stuffed with gossip, nonsense and vain talk." He warned that our spiritual life, "our most precious possession" is damaged by the media.

Solzenitzyn was born in Russia in 1918 and raised in the Russian Orthodox Church, a crime in Russia. He wrote a letter to a friend critical of Stalin that caused him to be sent to Siberia and prison camp for eight years, which was usually a death sentence. After the prison camp he was put on a plane and sent into permanent exile, not his choice. He lived in the USA for many years, returning to Russia in 1994 to live in a house on ten acres given to him. 

What an amazing life he led from Siberian prison to Nobel Prize. He warned the West of the dangers of spiritual emptiness and called for a return to the teachings of the Christian faith.

 Bounce wearing his LED collar for walking at night with his mom, that's me.

For those who like to giggle, I just bought "The 2,320 Most Hilarious Quips and One-Liners" and I will be sharing some here in future posts. In such serious times I crave lots of giggles. Here is one: "The hardest years in life are those between 10 and 70." Helen Hayes at 73. 

And one more funny: "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!" Dave Barry

Dandelion Bouquet, Dandy Lions

 

There are a lot of bright yellow dandelions blooming in my backyard. One man's weed is sometimes another man's flower, as they say. This is the first time as an adult that I made a dandelion bouquet. How about you?

I am reading "Cultivating Delight" by Diane Ackerman and after I picked my bouquet I read what she wrote about these plants. The French thought the serrated leaves look like the teeth of a lion and called them "dents de lion" or teeth of the lion. The English heard this as "dandelion". She wrote that she sees home owners patrolling their lawns like serial killers, hunting for dandelions to kill. She thought of holding up a sign "Dandelions are flowers too" but decided not to, in accordance with the first rule of friendly gardening "Mind your own garden."

When I was in grade school, maybe about 9 years old, I loved my teacher. I lived close to school so my friend and I walked to school. One day I was a few minutes late to school because I stopped to pick a fabulous golden dandelion bouquet for teacher. She was charmed by the bouquet and as I recall, she did not mark me tardy that day.

Sigrid Nunez, Anne Tyler and Edmund Crispin: A Perfect Trio of Novels

 Did you ever read three books in a row that you liked very much and read quickly? That happened to me recently. Often I read excellent books but rather slowly. The three I found to be page turners are Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler, The Friend by Sigrid Nunez and Buried for Pleasure by Edmund Crispin. 

 

Breathing Lessons centers around Maggie and her husband Ira in a 24 hour period. They attend a funeral in the morning and pay a surprise visit to their ex-daughter-in-law and grandchild age 7 in the afternoon. Maggie is a force of nature, she is known for trying to fix and change people and hopeless situations, sometimes with disastrous results.

 

My favorite of this trio of books is The Friend by Sigrid Nunex. I had not read any books written by this author so was delighted to find this book so refreshing and interesting. It is about a woman writing in the first person and the dog Apollo, a Great Dane dog she is stuck with, and her relationship as a dear male friend of many years to Apollo's owner. Apollo is wonderful. Nunez writes perceptively as the main character thinks while watching dogs play: You know nothing of envy. No yearnings or nostalgia. No regrets. You really are a different species.

 

I had not read any of the Gervase Fen mysteries by Edmund Crispin, and Buried for Pleasure              was fun to read. Fen is a light hearted Oxford Don and amateur detective and there are 10 books in this series. Fen was bored with his routine of teaching and decided to run for MP in a small rural area. During his campaign he works to solve several murders and mysteries, and starts to hope he will lose the election. Fen's quips and thoughts are entertaining.

If you have found some great books to read let me know about them.

Happy Birthday and Freya Stark, Romantic Traveller on Camel and Horseback

 This is happy me, celebrating my birthday from Wednesday to Wednesday. See the two bouquets from my sons, the yellow orchid and pink cup that says Best Mom? Saturday they treated me to dinner at our favorite restaurant that we walk to from my house. On one Wednesday two friends treated me to lunch and on the next Wednesday another friend treated me. Such good people.

Do you love Freya Stark, woman adventurer in the Middle East? She explored on camels and riding horses in tough conditions in the desert in 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. She had great spirits and endured danger and heat and thrived and lived to be 100, from 1893-1993. I like the romantic inscription in my used copy: "March 2003 Juanita, another book to inspire our travels. Your passion for me and for travel inspires my own life. Love Joaquin." I would like to meet Juanita and Joaquin.

The last photo lists the books Freya Stark wrote. Some memorable titles: The Valley of the Assassins, Letters from Syria, The Minaret of Djam, Dust in the Lion's Paw and many more.

Old Gnarly Radishes, South African Flowers and American Tableware

Are these old radishes frightening? They were left in my garden over the winter and are gigantic.

The above photo of Leucospermum from my garden was taken the day I picked them. The next photo shows the blooms about 10 days after picking.

Above are leucospermum flowers from my two garden bushes. They need sun and rather dry conditions and are from South Africa. The flowers last a long time, several weeks, in a bouquet.

It is sad to me to see entire industries disappear from the USA. Factories provide good jobs and help our economy be strong. Many countries face this same situation as manufacturing is dominated by communist China. The above beautiful tableware is made by the only remaining USA tableware manufacturer. I like to support them and bought a set of stainless steel highest quality silverware for my table. I chose the Annapolis design, they offer many designs. If you are interested visit www.libertytabletop.com I am not connected with them but I am praising them. Here is the link: Liberty Tabletop
 

Shakespeare's Gardens and My Two African Market Baskets

 

Do you have an African market basket? I think they are beautiful in form and in function. The one with my gardening books in it I bought from my neighbor. He immigrated to the USA from Ghana and is married to my neighbor. He imported about 30 baskets from Ghana to sell at a yard sale. The red basket is from Togo and I bought it at World Market and it holds papers for recycling.

I have a special basket made in Africa that holds some of my garden picture books. "Shakespeare's Gardens" is a favorite book. The first photo shows the gardens and the birthplace and childhood home of Shakespeare. Decades ago my hubby and I toured Stratford-upon-Avon, saw a play in the old theater and visited a few homes related to The Bard. Shakespeare lived and worked there for most of his 52 years. The book is written by Jackie Bennett with photographs by Andrew Lawson.

In reading this book I was stunned and saddened to learn that Shakespeare's grand and final home "New Place" was torn down in 1759 because the current owner couldn't stand the sight seers and because of some sort of legal squabble. All that remains is the handsome gardens. Towns people were outraged when New Place was demolished and hounded the man out of town. That is a harsh loss to the world of literature and gardens and admirers of Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote 20 plays during his time as owner of New Place.

Have a Happy and Blessed Easter

 Here are two cards with Easter greetings.

Yes, Christ was crucified and rose from the dead, and he offers eternal life in heaven to all who say yes to him and become Jesus followers. That is the best gift offered to anyone ever. The certainty of seeing our loved ones again in heaven and being ever joyful there.

Thank you Monica for this adorable bunny card that flew to me all the way from Sweden. And now we all know how to say Happy Easter in Swedish, Glad Pask.

My sons and I attended church today, saw many baptisms, about 8, and we cheered for each person as they were submerged in water and committed to follow Jesus. Then we went to my house and had an Easter feast. A very good day. Best wishes to all of you no matter your religious views.

Pretty Painting from Swedish Book, Large Heart Stone, Camelias

Here is a heart stone displayed at the school a block from my house, and I include Bounce to show the size of the stone, it is quite large. Plus I include Bounce because he is Bounce!

 

The painting above is from a Swedish children's book and it was sent to me as a postcard from blog friend Monica at Beyond the Lone Islands https://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com/.. The painting touches my heart, it speaks of longing and of goodbyes. The boy is holding a goose and saying goodbye. The book is "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" by Selma Lagerlof. 

Above are camellia flowers from my camellia bush blooming in March It survived the neighbor's tree falling right above it.