Thinking about the year gone by

I like Mauryhill's idea of creating some good threads for Carole to lurk through. So here is my offer.

I've been thinking through the past year about some of the highlights (and some of the lows too - but if they are resolved, I'd rather just let them go) - I've got a lot of time to do this right now since I am setting billions (that is a gross exaggeration - but it feels, physically, accurate) of white pebbles in little concrete pockets in the new bricked patio. (I'll post a photo when it is done - IF IT EVER GETS THERE!) Its freezing out there (we had -11C on the ground the other day - that's cold - and although this is a digression, I found myself wondering why hot flushes never occur when it would be convenient - like when you are working in freezing cold and your feet are ice - well, we can leave that for another thread discussion).

So to start,

I had two events that were real highlights:

I walked the Paddock Woods Half Marathon and survived the embarassment of being the 4th to last finisher. Admittedly, it is a runner's group - and there were only 8 of us who walked. But the big hurdle for me was to tolerate being so visible. Did it, and was thrilled to bits.

That allowed me to go on to do a 44km walk this autumn for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. That was exhilarating, and my friend and I came in in the first one hundred (out of more than 1000 walkers - occassionally I do get a tad competitive). Now that time I really did enjoy being visible.

I read alot - partly because of my workwork, and partly because I am, and always have been, a reader. As someone said to me years ago "you relate to books better than you do to people" - for goodness sakes who does he think writes books? But that aside - the two that stood out for me this year:

Georgina Hardings 'The solidtude of Thomas Cave'.
what an exquisitely descriptive read this is - breathtaking. Set in the 18th Century, the story is of a profoundly private man who spends the year at a whaling station on his own, and his personal search through his feelings. I know that doesn't sound action packed (although the animals scouring the area outside the canvas hut he lives in is harrowing), it is one of those books that when I finished it, I missed the character terribly. short, beautifully bound, if you are looking for a thoughtful read do consider it. I think I would put this in my lifetime top 10.

the other book is Roger Deakins Wildwood. A collection of essays on Wood in all its forms from drift wood, wood that makes up a shed, to the sculptures of David Nash - I found myself reading this book with a pencil in hand (oh, yes there is a chapter on Pencils too). Every essay was like one of those delightful conversations that you have where ideas just bounce off each other - my lucky notebook is absolutely full to the last page with new ideas and people and things to look up! My fingers are crossed that my christmas stocking is going to contain his first book 'Waterlogged' (essays on swimming), and a new notebook. I've already reread some of the essays to push my thinking even further. What a read! Just wonderful - in the literal and the figurative sense!

And in my greenhouse

I have three new hellebore seedlings for christmas. Isn't it nice when nature starts the new year for you just to remind you that the days may be short, but its still a busy time.

My warmest thoughts to all on PNW. I'm so pleased to share this space with you. And that is another one of my highlights for the year - finding Dave's garden one year ago in October. what a relief to find I was not the only one who was crazy in love with raking up leaves! Recalibrating one's self in to normalcy is wonderful! So, Here's to another good gardening year.

Laurie I love to read, But my reading level does not match yours, I am in to the old west some are true most are fiction, but most of the fiction are basted on true stories and how do you know if it really did or did not happen? (there are no actual records) I am half Indian (Cherokee) my ancestors have been traced back to the ' Trail of Tears' I ask my Grandmother where did we come from, She said over the water. It took me many years to understand what she met, then I read a book can't remember the name of the book now, that was a long time ago, But I learned the other side of the water meant the Mississippi river. And I have read allot about it. Which is very sad and have also have read that this has happened in a way to other cultures to a degree.
I must have over 200 books that I just can't part with, and they are all about the true people of North America.
I would like to read the books you mention, I will see if I can order them, they sound neat.

I spend my comute reading

Tills




This message was edited Dec 21, 2007 2:23 AM

tills - that sounds wonderful. did you have any that you can suggest?

I'm at work, so I'll make this short for now. I'm looking for the book Bringing Light to Shadow to read to give me some more training insight for my little headstrong Silken B-----. It's a story of one gal's experiences working with her Border Collie and getting him to be able to live in the regular world with the rest of us, one little tiny step at a time.

oooooooooo - a reader I am. But then, I read anything that is put in front of my face.
Please recommend books & books & books...I am one of those who revels in non-fiction. I want to know what happened when, to whom, and why.
Yes, that would sum it up nicely: I was the "why" child in our family...

So to read about private musings & such is pure delight. I can lay on the bed with the dogs, warm blanket, a quiet house & an oh-so-necessary-cuppa, and hours will pass while I devour the written word. Until the sun and warm reappear, that is!

With this kind of a thread, this could be a verrry interesting winter, indeed!

Can I "third" the book recommendations? I need some reading inspiration. I've been an avid reader most of my life but am in a lull right now.

Katye-cuppa-tea or coffee or??

Katie59 - I just checked abebooks and they have several copies of Bringing Light to Shadow - I love that website, have found some of my most impossible to find books on it. Heres the link

www.abebooks.com

Susy - at this point a cuppawhatever will do! Preferably something hot...

One of the best series of books I read was the "White Indian" wrote by Donald Clayton Porter, a very good writer and most of the his writings is from true facts, but made into the the series of the many books he wrote.( over 20) and each book picks up where the last one ended, good reading and you get hooked want to know what is next.

The other writer that I love is Terry C. Johnson, has wrote many books and most of them are series too. Love them!!!

and I have many others, And they are about the old west and how the west was, i know everyone saw "Lonesome Dove" on TV but did anyone read the book first?
If was different.

I am not into the lustie books, dont like some of Zane Greys books but some are ok.

Hey Laurie - thanks. I'll take a look at the link you sent. My headstrong little girl has been great lately. It's odd for a sighthound, but she really likes a lot of correction and discipline. Most Silkens would shut down with too many rules, but Sahara is very different.

Just for kicks: Two of my friends have had Silken litters. One just had a litter of one, the other has just had a litter of 5. Puppies are soooo cute.

http://www.tangaloor.net/leonidas.html

http://www.talismanhounds.com/architectureday1.html

Ohhhhh boy - just when I hit "weak mode" you go showing me cute puppies!
Glad I am not currently able to be a new mom - this would be a tough opportunity
to let go of...

Katie59 : Have you read the book "The Horse Whisperer", very tragic book baste on a true story, (not the movie, didn't like it, the book was alot better) There is "The Dog whisperer" And is going to have a all week long series this week on channel 276 if you have satellite ? he is very good.
Maybe can help???
Tills

Hi Tilly -

I have read the Horse Whisperer book. It was attention-grabbing - I can't imagine a movie doing it justice. And I'm pretty familiar with Monty Roberts, the guy who calls himself the horse whisperer.

I like Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer and I agree with him totally that dogs need to live within the context of the "pack". I've read quite a bit about dog behavior and about this I am in close contact with Sahara's breeder and co-owner about what's going on here. She isn't a problem at all in other ways out or at home or with people. This is a single, very specific situation. Worst-case scenario, I'll send Sahara back to eastern washington to live with Auntie Allison at doggie boot camp. :-) But then, of course, that won't deal with our household and what's going on here.

I think that working with more formal obedience for structure and more informal obedience (agility) for play will do wonders for Sahara. What Sahara's doing is just really unusual for the breed and in this context, so we're investigating lots of theories. It's just a recent development with this particular dog, so deducing the source of the problem is a little puzzling.

The female dogs are so much more complicated than the boys. Argh!!!

Hello, and Happy Christmas to all the other side of the pond. Eat alot, doze in front of the fire/tv, hum a few carols while doing the dishes, and Enjoy.

all the best, Laurie

Laurie1, what a nice thread!!!! I'm glad you shared that with the NWers. I'll respond when i have the time. thanks, Jim King

Merry Christmas everyone!
No reading today - I am knitting instead...
Is it snowing in your area? National Weather Service is saying it will produce a "bit of snow" this afternoon.
Please, no. I need to drive to work off this hill tomorrow. Rear wheel drive is such a pain...

What a lovely thread for my lurking - I just came across it.

No reading today for me - I've been cleaning. Doing weird cleaning like the laundry room where there are things that need to be given away. Stuff like that.

And lurking.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Snowing here, put the new bikes under the big Ponderosus pine in the front yard for the kids to fine, when they pulled in the driveway with big red bows, Wasnt snowing then, they where suppose to be here a noon, started snowing at 12 pm they show up at 2 pm. and they where covered in snow. And they asked who where the bikes for, I said I think Santa left them for you, they wanted to know why Santa left them out in the snow, I told them that the inside of the house was to small and Santa could not get them in the house, so he left them out side. LOL to funny

That's a wonderful Christmas memory for those kids to be telling THEIR kids and grandkids someday, Mary!!

We had some sloppy wet snow this afternoon, but quickly turned to rain.

Tills
Hello Dorothy here. Just came across this thread. (Hello Everyone and Happy Holidays.) You might enjoy books by Tony Hillerman. If you are not familiar with this author, start with his earliest stories so you can get to learn the main character - If (A big IF) my memory serves me, his name is Joe Leaphorn. From the Hillerman stories, I have learned so much about Indian folklore and customs - very rich and wonderful and full of life's lessons. The lead character is a police officer (indian) who has the task of blending everyday detective /law /crime solving with all the teachings of his ancestors. He uses both skill bases and experiences to solve the who dun its! You can get the early books at great cost reduction (paperbacks) and just work your way up if you like.

Also about cultural loss - have you heard or read about the Melungeons? An entire culture of people who PURPOSELY made the decision to forget their past to protect their children against prejudice. Of course cultural habits, songs, dress survived without clear intention to preserve. It is only in recent times an mostly through the work of one man who sought to learn who he was and where his ancestors came from that the Melungeon tale has been told. Great reading and a very interesting tale.

Missing
Will have to get back to you , I have so many books, but I don't think, have read the ones you have mentioned. But if not, I would love to read them. Will have DH order them for me.
I'm am reading a book now that is so weird that makes no sense?
I read 'Larry McMurtry' "Lonesome Dove" And I love that book, He has a book out now called " The Berrybender Narratives"( The Wandering Hill)
I don't even get it , Its not even rational how this could happen then again could it have?

Merry Christmas

there's a lot of good reading suggestions here. I haven't read a book in I don't know how many years. just garden related material. I think I'll curl up next to the fireplace and read a good novel. I'll have to skip the forums to do it. though. Jim

Mary, what a treat to read about your heritage and also your great reading experience!

When I was younger, I read all the time - and I do mean all the time (I suspect my kids at times wanted to scream at me to put my book down). As years went on, my reading has become more sporadic, often being nothing but garden or bird (watching) related. I got into silly love stories a few months ago and read them one right after another. Right now I have a new Audubon bird watching book and a new gardening book (both from stepsons) so will probably mostly concentrate on them.

Oh, my - the puppies are precious!

I am so enjoying everyone's comments, stories, etc. - actually made me come out of lurking mode.

Good, Carole! Glad to hear we have given you a bit of distraction (oh, I do know that peculiar cleaning syndrome - me, I start sweeping when I am distracted).

Missingrosie how nice that you found this thread - I'm really tickled to have tempted you forth.

I have read some of the Hillerman stories, and I agree with you, they are a good read. Quite a different approach to detective writing. tills, I think you would enjoy them. And that also puts me in mind of the writer whose first name escapes me: Doig, wrote a fictionalized series about the Scottish emigrants to the Montana area - I spent a summer up in Bozeman one year, years ago, and came across his books then. Remember really enjoying them (although to put that in context, I went to Montana to escape the distraction of the library (that worked), and to crash through the writing of my dissertation (that sort of worked, quite possibly one of the worst written dissertations ever - that is an objective opinion, I have supervised a fair number of them now, and have sent better stuff back for rewrite!) - so reading anything else seemed DELIGHTFUL!!) But I do remember them as being very colourful and I got absolutely hooked on them.

And, Jim, I am so glad you like the thread - look forward to your input - remember, it started as highs of the year - so you don't have to stick with reading to put your thoughts in.

Laurie
About the Melungeons -- 'The Lost People" many think (and still do think) that they are Scottish because that is what their great great grandparents told them. Many settled in the hills in Tenn. Virginia, NC and at one time were quite successful. Mountain songs, crafts and much culture comes from these immigrants whose ancestors made a conscious effort to erase their origins.


HostaJim -- a great read to get you back into the 'business' of reading would be The Glass Castle - autobiographical (a CNN correspondent) about her childhood --- unbelieveable..unbelievable.. tale of fortitude, survival, inventiveness, optimism, love and acceptance of less than perfect parents. It is humorous, It is heartwrenching. It is astounding.

missingrosie, Glass Castle, about her childhood, tale of fortitude, survival, inventiveness, optimism, love and acceptance.? that sort of describes my last 2 years fighting lung problems and my turning 60. I'll look for it. Oh! and I'm getting better. I'll never take good health for granted, ever again. Jim

Laurie,
Such a wonderful post! Such a pleasant way to start a reading club...lol Thank you!

Tills,
Before you order any of the books by Hillerman let me check around first, I have quite a few still around I believe. I can pack them up and sometime this spring get them to you. I am also native...Apache/German...lol what a combination...I love my heritage and grew up going to Pow Wows and learned a lot of the German traditions also. It is a wonderful lesson to learn about our pasts!


I am going to look up some of the other titles in this posting also, you can never learn too much!

Jim, I didn't know that you'd had health problems - I'm so happy that you are doing well!! Keep up the good work!!!

Murmur, thanks, I'm working on it. I've gone to the Northwest garden show 2 years in a row, with pneumonia. I just couldn't miss it. but there were some plants that I could only get at the show. so I was determined to get them. I'm so much better that I don't think I'll have it this year. Jim

Ohmygawd, Hosta! That is plant dedication - gotta get to the plant show even with pneumonia!!!? Jim, you definately win the plant person of the year award!! I have to say, I am standing with my mouth open and my eyes wide on that one. Glad to hear that you are regaining health.

Missingrose - I had never thought of the Scots going into the central East Coast, but there is absolutely no reason why they wouldn't - I wonder what period that would have been, and why they would have wanted to eradict their history. Interesting. I wonder if their migration was related to the 16th century founding of the Roanoke colonies in Virginia. Good area to do some research in.

Coco, would just love that! Maybe when we get together to go to Dragonfly this spring ( right around the corner)
That's kinda funny in a way I am Cherokee and Irish with a little German thrown in. Took German for 2 years in school the only thing I can remember is how to count to 10 and a few others words but not much. LOL

Hey Jim still plan on helping, just that work work has turn into a bad dream, you know tis the season, think goodness its over and hopefully I get off the night shift soon, will let you know, havent forgot. and did not know you have be ill. Glad you are doing better.

Very glad to have you back Murmur, miss you.

I have been reading some books by William W. Johnston said to be USA Today Bestselling Author. Just love them, very good reading if you like the frontier type books and He has many The frist one is called " Eyes of the Eagle" and others

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/catalog.cfm?dest=dir&linkid=1521&linkon=subsection

Hi
Laurie - Google Melungeons and you will be astounded about the difficult choices and course these folks made and took. I think that claiming to be Scottish or Irish or English was safer for them. They were chased from everyplace they landed --so they decided to erase their past. They did it so well there is still speculation about where their originations. Supposedly still many many people still living who have no idea their ancestors are part of these original settlers.

Jim -
We have a nursery that has great fame in the hosta world for the plants that they grow/create. Plants Delight Nursery - Tony Avent as the owner. Have you heard? Wonderful catalogue and free too! (He says if you don't purchase in a few years he wants you to send a box of chocolates or stamps to remain on the mailing list!) I am the director of a pul rehab program here in NC and I know how difficult it probably has been for you dealing with lung issues and at the same time trying to do the things you love. Well Done!

Great thread Laurie!

Some of my favorite authors are: Anita Dimant, Jame Herriot, Rebecca Wells, Maeve Binchy, Barbara Kingslover, Lilian Jackson Braun, Joanne Fluke, Anita Shreve and Jennifer Crusie.

Tills- You should check out Sherman Alexie's writing, he is a wonderful storyteller.

Jim- Glad to hear that you are feeling better!

Missingrosie -

I read up on Melungeons some on the Internet today. Very interesting. Can you share which of the available books you read? Are any of them here?

http://www.melungeon.org/?BISKIT=3245384863&CONTEXT=cat&cat=10082

missingrosie, I get the Plant Delights catalog. your right, it's an excellant one. and I have read all of Tony's excursions, along with Dan Hinckley, and Darrell Probst. I need to catch up on their excursions. Tillysrat, Murmur, I'm looking forward to seeing all of you this spring at Dragonfly Farms Nursery, again. I might be showing more of the spheres that I have made. I'm making more over the winter. you saw some of them last time we got together. Jim

This message was edited Dec 27, 2007 5:27 PM

Jim, your spheres were fabulous - you're quite an artist, to say the least.

Murmur, thank you, for the compliment, I didn't know I had it in me. but I saw some pictures on the hypertuffa and concrete forum on DG. and I thought I can do that ( isn't that how hobbies start ) so it took me awhile to work out a mortar formula that would make them strong enough and what to use as forms. so everytime I worked on them I was thinking how to make them better. I started using acrylic paint, now I'm also using the Metallic, Bronze, Copper, Gold, with blue or green patina. I really am pleased with the way they are looking. but I'm always looking for ideas for different finishes. Jim

Hey Rachel will look in to it, Hows the farm? haven't heard from you in a while, or I lost touch?

Jim; I am interested in some spheres, but not sure of the color theme would work for my woodland project, since its mostly a shaded area, but want color when there is none, but not real big, any ideas? oh has to go along with my non animal, animals

heres another side of it, hope I didnt lose any thing this spring. this was taken last summer when I started it have much more to add.

Katie
I read both the books with Brent Kennedy as the author or co author.
Got intrigued when I wanted to understand what/how could drive an entire people to make such a life changing decision --erase their past -- and how this might impact those that came after. I did learn that you can't take the music and the traditions out of a people, even when survival is thought to be at risk! It made me think of the 'blue people' and how they take a chemical each day to turn them pink and how hard it must be not to be able to just 'be.' Anyway, too deep for this thread. I was also interested because being 'pure italian' I know I have bits of pieces of many many different people and heritages..Normans, Romans, Spanish, Turks, etc., once the ships were sea worthy and the compass perfected...and Sicily became a crossroads destination, it set the stage for a 'me' in the making! I have dark hair and green eyes, my brother has blond hair and blue eyes, another has reddish hair and brown eyes..(14 of us!!) but our features are very similiar - no doubt siblings (you all thought the milkman may have been making special deliveries.. didn't you...? In our italian neighborhood it would have been the fish peddler or knife sharpener anyway!)

Jim, do you have a photo of your spheres?

Son and daughter in law gave me a bowling ball cracked right up the middle for Christmas...that and several nice-sized pieces of tempered glass...(still need to be smashed) to get me started on a project for the garden. They just bought their first house and I suspect they want the fruit of the 'project' for their garden. (I ain't dumb!)

Tills, I have a similar space (several) in my yard. And did much the same thing as you (suprisingly all the plants under the trees have done well - moisture wize but not so much deer wise...) but I put a big boulder in the area too recognizing the need for something else (no moving that sucker out) and planted ferns around it. A spere would be very nice, especially an oversized one.

Rabbit...you have done a terrible thing. All those authors that I now have to look up....meet and greet their wonderful books. ..oh the pressure of it all!!!