Day 12: Reading material

As a young girl, I was relatively famous for my reading habits. 

I read every single book in the small school library. I loved receiving books for gifts and treasured them. I made paper covers and a bookmark out of cardboard to slip inside each one. I read Little Women at least ten times and owned all four books in the series. The Secret Garden was probably my favourite book and I was more than a little in love with Dickon.

My friend, Janet, told me once, years after we had left England, that the thing she remembered most about me was how I was always reading and chewing on my leather bookmark. I still remember the taste of that old bookmark.

I also used to tear off little pieces of the page corners and eat the paper.

True story.

If Jeff had known the depth of my dysfunction, he probably would have run, screaming, for the hills, instead of luring me away from my friends and family.

This little gem is all that remains of a favourite book of both Anne's and mine.

Little Old Mrs. Pepperpot. It is about a little old woman who has the annoying habit of shrinking to the size of a pepper-pot at the most inconvenient moments.

I should probably toss it, as no one will ever read it again, unless I can convince some of my younger grandchildren to sit still long enough to listen to it. It is cover-less and falling to pieces. But it is a remnant of that innocent time and I cherish it.

Does it make me a hoarder if I confess that I still own most of the books that were mine as a child? 

The Little Women series, all brown-spotted and ragged, but with paper covers and bookmarks still intact.

For many years, I have been a fan of the murder and mayhem as promoted by such authors as James Patterson and Patricia Caldwell. Lately, I have lost patience with the increasing brutality and decreasing chapter size and quality of the writing and have been looking further afield for my reading pleasure.
Lately, and with no particular intent, I have been reading books that are set in the time frame of the Second World War. Here is a quick list of some of them that I think you will enjoy.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. By Jamie Ford. A tender little tale of a love that never died, angst between father and son, and the Japanese internment camps in Washington state. There are some twists that make you want to read the book again in order to catch the clues.

The Zookeeper's Wife. By Diane Ackerman. This is an immaculately-researched book about the Zabinskis, a couple who ran a zoo in pre-WWII Warsaw and who saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during the war. The details of their life as they continued to live at the zoo with a variety of animals and transient Jews in hiding is fascinating. Antonina Zabinski, the wife, kept a journal, so many of her thoughts and fears are taken directly from the journals. I loved this book.

Sarah's Key. By Tatiana de Rosnay. A little-known event that took place in Paris in July, 1942, is the basis for this story. The French police were told by the Nazis to round up Jews for deportation, which they proceeded to do with great diligence. The plot bounces back and forth between present-day Paris and 1942, and has some horrifying, as well as redeeming, turns. It is an easy read but will twist your heart inside out.

The Book Thief. By Markus Zusak. I'm sure I am the last person to read this book, but I loved it and have to recommend it. The format is a little strange and takes some getting used to. It is narrated by Death and bounces around a bit, but once you get it figured out, the unfolding of the story is mesmerizing. I read it in about 24 hours; I think I stayed up until 2 o'clock in the morning to finish it! The story is about Liesel, a girl in  World War II-era Germany, the people she loves, and the books she steals. It is a story about selfless love, nightmares, the Jew in the basement, and the value of a good book. This book will make you laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time.

Today I am thankful for authors who write good books, books that are well researched and tell worthwhile stories of human courage and foibles and the love that can be found in the cracks of history.

Day 11: The ultimate sacrifice

A letter from William Richard Nock to his father, George Nock, written in Europe during World War I.

Dear Dad,
Sorry I couldn't write before, but better late than never, but don't seem much good writting for I can't tell you anything, only the same old thing. I could tell you a lot, but it would only be scratched out like the last one and I didn't write much in that. I hadn't much time to thank you in the last letter for the cigarettes, but I don't know what I should have done without them for I had no money at the time and we went up the trenches the same day, but I took good care of them and I had a few when we came out and a good job too for we went back to a village for a billet and you couldn't buy a smoke at any price. I think this is all this time.
From your loving son
Bill.

Willy was my great-uncle and he died in "France and Flanders" on August 18th, 1916. This is the only written record we have of him.
I don't know the details of William's death, but it was probably in the Battle of Ypres, on the Western Front. Over a period of a few months, the British lost 310,000 men and the Germans 260,000. There was little change, after this most costly and controversial offensive, in the momentum of the war. It was the epitome of the wasteful and futile nature of trench warfare.

A letter from Kate to her sister, Sarah Anne Nock:

My Dear Brother, Sister,
I am very sorry to hear about your dear boy. It must be very hard for you both to lose your only son. This war is a terrible thing for nearly everybody. It don't seem to ever end. Dear sister, I have often thought about your poor little Willie. This is a dreadful time for most everybody one way or other with the Zeppelin coming over us again. It is dreadful, we never know when we go to bed that we shall see the morning. I think I told you in my last letter that my husband has joined up. He has been gone 7 weeks on Monday next. I expect that you are thankful that George have not to go. I miss my husband every day. He has been home twice, one leave for 2 days. I wish the Old War was over! They only pay the married men 3/6 a week, just enough for a drink. Luv, everything is so dear, I get (one pound, six shillings and sixpence) per week from the army. I have 3 clubs to pay and I send my husband 5 shillings per week so you can see I have not much left. Don't you think they have got a fine cheek taking your husband from you and giving you what they like best! I think the people who started this war ought to go fight them all..........
Dear I have wrote more letters since my dear husband has gone, I write to him twice a week. He wants me to write to him every day, but I have nothing to say. I wish I could come see you in your trouble it is a long time since I saw you. 
With love
Sister Kate.

Sarah Anne Nock, as the story goes, could not stand to live after her only son was killed, and she threw herself into the canal and died on September 30th, 1916, at age 49.

On her memoriam card is inscribed a doleful poem:
A sudden change, I in a moment fell,
I had not time to bid my friends farewell;
Think this not strange, death happens unto all,
This day 'twas I, tomorrow you may fall.

My intent was for this to be a thank you to all who have served and fought for freedom, but I'm not sure what it has become.
Perhaps a tribute to all of the men, mothers, wives, and children who have missed out on the sweetness of life and the companionship of those they love.
And gratitude for the belief that they will, in times to come, be together again.

Day10: The songs of life

Music permeates my days.
If I'm not teaching a piano lesson or leading a music therapy group or conducting a choir, I am singing along with the radio in my head. Jeff tells people that if he wonders where I am in the house, he just follows the humming.
I figured out that in an average week, I spend ten hours or more teaching piano lessons, four or five hours leading music therapy groups, two or three hours working with my church and senior choirs, and usually another hour or three arranging music or learning new songs. Around this time of year the totals tend to be higher because I am preparing musical numbers for various Christmas programmes, such as piano recitals and choir performances at church and in the community.

And practising with the bell choir.

I am so lucky!

Here is the best Christmas song ever, to get you in the mood for the season.

I am thankful for
my musical friends who collaborate with me and go along with my optimistic plans
for my lovely group of piano students who make me smile and always challenge me to up my game
for my family members who humour me by singing and playing with me
for my clients, both very old and very young, who sing with me enthusiastically
and for my friends who aren't so musical, but claim to enjoy the results of my labours.

Because, you see, my dirty little secret is that I am only a mediocre vocalist, a tolerable piano player, a fair-to-middling conductor, and an unexceptionable guitar player. But, somehow, the combination of my skills and enthusiasm, and the people who surround me and work with me, allows me to not only make a living, but to also get some pretty good results for my efforts.
So, today, hooray for music!

Day 9: Bounteous harvest

I have been blessed to always live in countries where food is plentiful. 

Not that we haven't had our challenges with putting food on the table, especially in the early years, but there was always a way to do it. I cultivated friends who, like me, had to be imaginative with their grocery budgets. I had friends who would call me when they came across free gallons of milk, or when they heard that farmers were letting gleaners onto their fields. We ate well, in spite of being cash poor.

Not until I spent time in Haiti did I understand that many people in the world just don't have a way to get food to eat, for themselves or their children. I have learned a new appreciation for my three squares a day and all the snacks in between. And I have gained a new sense of responsibility to help where I can in Haiti, where most people go to bed at night with empty stomachs.

Today, I am thankful for the easy access we have to food, and for the many choices that are available. We can eat as healthily or as badly as we choose.

I am trying to choose more healthy food. Today, I tried a recipe that has been calling to me for a couple of weeks. You can find the original recipe here, or you can try these Apple Scones the way I made them.

These are delicious served warm and are low in sugar, high in fibre and nutrients.

Double Apple Scones with Raisins

Stir together: 

3 c whole wheat pastry flour

1/3 c brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbs B.Powder

1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon

Cut in 1/2 c cold butter with a pastry blender. 

Mix in 3/4 c grated apple, about one medium apple, and 1/2 c raisins.

Mix together:

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c applesauce

and add to the flour mixture will well blended.

The mixture may be sticky, so use a little flour and pat out to a rectangle about 3/4" thick. Cut into squares, place on a baking sheet, separating the squares slightly. Brush with milk and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and you're almost done. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. 

The resulting scones were a perfect snack, moist and not too sweet. The original recipe called for a caramel glaze, which seemed to negate the whole "healthy" thing, so I made do with the sugar sprinkle.

I've been thinking these would be good as pumpkin scones with chocolate chips.

Hmmmm. Endless possibilities.

And if you have a heart to share some of your bounty with a mama or baby in Haiti, go here to make a donation. 

Every bit helps.

Thanks for reading.

Day 8: Bargain Market

My life has been much happier since Grocery Outlet came to town. I mean, I have been shopping at G.O. for thirty years, and made a habit of popping in to check out the bargains every time I would pass one in another town, but to have one so close has totally changed my shopping habits. Their everyday prices are better than the outrageously-priced supermarkets, but their clearance is a steal. I hardly ever go to the full-price stores any more. 

Gourmet chocolate and deli meats, top-brand dairy, high-quality anti-aging moisturizer, and so much more. They stock lots of gluten-free, dairy-free and organic products, but you never know what you will find. It's like a treasure hunt at each visit. 

G.O. is the GO-to place for me.

A few months ago, I was invited to an event at the (then) newly-moved and -renovated Beaverton Grocery Outlet. It's a pretty swanky place, as far as G.O.'s go, but they are all clean and well-organized.

You can laugh at me if you want, but I am very thankful for our locally-owned Grocery Outlet bargain markets, where everyone can be a winner!
And no, they didn't pay me to do this.
I just love them that much!

Day 7: A good man

I was hoping (against all hope) that this morning I could have posted how thankful I was for our new president.

But, alas, it is not to be. 

Just more of the same old news.

However, as the day has worn on, I decided that I am still grateful for the campaign of Mitt Romney and for his goodness. And for the shining example of womanhood that his wife, Anne, has been to everyone who would open their eyes and see. 

I don't understand why so many people prefer to vote for more debt and bigger government and the pernicious lies and values that are perpetuated by the political left, but I am grateful that those who understand freedom will not just lie down and give up the fight.

I am thankful for facebook friends who, after the initial despondency, are posting such comments as these:

 Today I am grateful for this great country that we live in and although in a bit of denial still from last night's results, I am determined to pray and work for unity with my fellow citizens. 

 Today I am very grateful to live in this great country. I may be disappointed in the election results, but I still love living here, and wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world.

Do you all see the good that is happening? Because of bitter disappointment last night, we are expressing a renewed commitment and testimony to hold even more strongly to that which we know are the ONLY things upon which we can depend --- God. His gospel. His prophet. Hold to the iron rod. This is good! I'm choosing to be encouraged! Thank you all. 

I am grateful this morning that I have a knowledge and understanding of the plan of our GOD. That the acceptance of drugs, the destruction of marriage and family and the condoning of taking another life in the name of "womens rights" and all of the other evil that men accept as good in the world will one day be rectified by HIM!!!

Perhaps a bacon, egg and cheese burrito will make it all feel better.

Well, maybe not so much that last one, although I could have used one, but I am loving the way people are finding a positive side to our great disappointment. 

And we are disappointed that this will not be our new first family, aren't we?

They are so easy on the eyes, and so shiny bright.

I hope that the Romneys will continue to be a force for good in the political arena.

I am thankful for their sacrifice of time and privacy as they attempted to win the presidency for Mitt.

God Bless America.

Day 6: Flowers

I measure the flow of the seasons by the flowers in my garden. 

The first one to show its head in mid-winter is the lowly snowdrop, which has a spreading habit like no other!

Violas and pansies are at their best through the Oregon winters, which rarely get cold enough to do them in. They may freeze solid at times, but next time the sun shines they will be right there, bobbing their little heads in the breeze.

Then the crocuses and daffodils cover the ground with their splashes of colour.

Hyacinths and tulips and all the myriads of varieties of bulbs have a place in my heart.

Summer flowers in pots and flowerbeds keep me happy for months. 

Some are full of memories, like the gladiolus that reminds of my Dad.

Some I will never see again, like this flower on Kangaroo Island.

And, of course, let us not neglect to remember the little people who love to help care for flowers.

These are my favourite flowers of all.

Today I am thankful for the abundance of flowers in my life.