Book Beginnings, Ralph the Heir

"There are men who cannot communicate themselves to others, as there are also men who not only can do so, but cannot do otherwise. And it is hard to say which is the better man of the two."
The above is the first two sentences of "Ralph the Heir" by the brilliant Anthony Trollope.
He goes on to describe Sir Thomas Underwood as one of the first sort of man, who has many good qualities but lacks friends and the ability to make friends.
I am reading a biography of Anthony Trollope where it is suggested that Trollope's own father was a man like that. Honest, fair, caring, but unable to communicate his deepest nature to others. Also, Sir Thomas in "Ralph the Heir" and Anthony Trollope's father were both actively researching for and writing huge books which they never finished.
Book Beginnings is new to me, and I am linking to Rose City Reader who coordinates this Friday event.
Just share a first sentence or two from the book you are reading and you can join in too.

Funny lemons from one tree, Amazabobs, Wordless Wednesday

We have a Meyer lemon tree that we planted about 15 years ago in an oak wine barrel. The lemons are always standard size but this February I picked this giant lemon from the tree. What is up with that?
I am linking up with Wordless Wednesday So far 14 bloggers signed up with the number growing quickly.

Choosing a Church

Some people find us Christians a puzzling group; here are a few words explaining a little about all the goodness I find in my faith. Feel free to skip if this post is too annoying, ha ha.
I visited 5 or 6 churches before choosing the one I attend now. I love this church. It is alive with love, serving people, and following Jesus.
A perhaps surprising thing about our church is that the services are held in what looks like a huge auditorium. Folding chairs. Very high ceiling. No windows.

Plenty of room for 500 of us at a time. These are not photos of our church, I found the photos on Pixabay and they have the theme of simplicity. I am an art history major and still thrill to visit ornate cathedrals and churches with beautiful traditional architecture but this auditorium style church is the one for me now.
There are several other buildings on our church campus, with a library, children's and teen rooms, and a coffee shop open during the church hours where you can get coffee for $1 and the money goes to charity. In the lobby before going in to church is free coffee and doughnuts, a small bookstore and tables where you can learn about volunteer opportunities.
This church is lively and the music loud and full of praise.
The people who attend do so much to help people that I could in no way list ALL the things. Many are done quietly. It gives us all lots of joy to help people as Jesus wants.
I attend Women's Bible Study before the second church service each Sunday. These ladies are dynamos of doing good things, some of them sew in a program making clothes for boys which is sent to Malawi and other countries worldwide. This group began when they saw a need for a companion program to the existing one that sews dresses for girls. There are large groups and small in our church and something helpful for everyone. We have a big Celebrate Recovery program for those in recovery from drugs, alcohol, over eating, depression, mental illness, etc. I am inspired by all the helping done by our church and I just started volunteering to visit two ladies in an assisted living home.
A great group of people. I hope you have people like these in your life.
If by any chance you don't, check out some churches near your home; you might find a safe warm place there.

Wordless Wednesday Ocean and Retirement

The bay near our house in February 2016.

I have always enjoyed large bodies of water, growing up across the street from Lake Michigan, and now marveling at the changing moods of the Pacific Ocean near our home. Being retired means I walk along the ocean several times a week; the ocean is ever new and the air is so clean.

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday Camellias at Church and Retirement Volunteer

I took these photos of camellias growing at our church on February 5, 2016.

I saw this camellia on Sunday and couldn't resist bringing my camera with me a few days later to take photos to share with you blog friends.
Linking with Wordless Wednesday

I am starting my new volunteer path, being a visitor to one or two ladies at a retirement home. One I met on Wednesday February 24 and one I will meet today, March 2. I am looking forward to this new venture, and any tips you have on visiting with retirees in assisted living are greatly appreciated by me. The activity director said the gal I will meet today might enjoy me reading short stories to her.
I have a great book of compiled poems, "Poems to Learn by Heart", edited by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of JFK, that could work.
Any other ideas?

Wordless Wednesday Birdbath, Frog and Petals

Frog in our pebble bird bath with plum tree blossoms. Quiet moments of beauty in these retirement days.
Linking with Wordless Wednesday

New books for me and retirement reading

Retirement has many things to recommend it and leisure time for reading is one of those things.
Last year I discovered my newest favorite author, Anthony Trollope, and in retirement I have time to enjoy reading his books, with plots which include love interests, the lives of humble people and nobility, people in love who are separated and yearn to marry, kind people and nasty people and many more themes. I read 9 of his books last year which is a real treat.
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I do buy books at a faster rate than I can read them, but it is a good feeling to stock up. Sort of like a squirrel gathering nuts.
Here are the ten books I added to our shelves within the period of a week. All are paper copies unless otherwise noted.
1-3.The first three books by Michael Dibdin, starring police detective Aurelio Zen. I read the first one right away, Ratking, which begins as Zen is a disgraced detective and is sent from Rome to Perugia to investigate a kidnapping.
4. Kindle book "Skywalker: Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trial" by Bill Walker. I think I got this free; today it is $1.99.

5. By Its Cover by Donna Leon. This is about no. 23 in her series about a police detective in Venice. Venice seems to be a character in these novels, and food too. Brunetti investigates rare books being stolen. I read this and it is excellent, like all the others in the series.
6. The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch. This is set in London in 1866 with the gentleman and amateur sleuth, Charles Lenox and is the third in the series.
7. Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson. Dark humor about her life and struggles with severe panic attacks. I am reading this one. Apparently her second book, Furiously Happy, reveals her mental health issues are even more difficult than what she shares here.
8. Ralph the Heir by Anthony Trollope. Folio edition with slipcase. Set in England in the 1870s, the owner of an estate wants to leave it to his natural son, but the estate is entailed to his nephew. Both young men are named Ralph. I think this will have humorous aspects. Trollope is my favorite author.
9. The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander McCall Smith. An Isabel Dalhousie novel set in Edinburgh.

10. My favorite purchase is "ESV Daily Reading Bible: The Bible in One Year." What a wonderful approach to help people like me read the Bible in one year. It makes it interesting as each day has readings from the Old Testament and the New, and I spend only 15 minutes reading the day's Scripture. The Scottish pastor, Robert M'Cheyne (1813-1843) who set up the readings left us a great gift. He lived only to age 30. What a brilliant legacy.
Oopsie, can a person accidentally buy books?
Yes, I have all the signs of a bookaholic.
Since writing this post a few days ago I visited the library and got 3 more books. Oopsie indeed.
11. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, about unleashing the creativity within us. I borrowed this book; the others were all purchased. I am reading this and it is rather disappointing.
These next two were purchased at the Friends of the Library used book store which is located in the library.
12. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. The author is Swedish, and he tells the tale of a man who escapes from his nursing home and has adventures involving nasty criminals, Sonya the elephant and is a "laugh out loud debut" according to the book cover.
13. The Hog's Back Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts. Written in 1933 by Crofts who lived 1879-1957, The British Library Crime Classics republished this one about a country house and mysterious deaths and disappearances.
Also, to let you know, I do not read all day. Ha ha. I keep busy outside the home, and write books and garden, attend women's Bible study, attend our Christian writers group, exercise at a health club 3 times a week, etc. but reading is a special quiet time for me.
I am signing up to volunteer at a nursing home. I will share more about this when I know more. Ah, the joys of retirement and choosing what we want to do, for the most part.