Sunday, September 22, 2013

Autumn Dreams


The calendar declares Autumn has arrived.
I close my eyes and
 long for morning's chill and scarlet leaves
I am left to dream,


with silent whispers,
                                             and promises
                                                                     of soon...
                                                                                              be patient....
                         I'm on my way.

And this is how it is in the south!

Happy Autumn!



Saturday, September 21, 2013

Summer's Encore

Today summer prepares to take her final bow;
make her exit for another year.
Although I am not her biggest fan, I am willing
to admit she unselfishly offers up a generous bounty.
 As the curtain begins it descent,  I
offer up thanksgiving for the moments with family
and the everyday little things.

Summer's Encore...

Farmer's Market bounty







for the body.

Walks this side of the garden gate






for the soul.

Garden visitors 




for the heart.

Celebrations



for the spirit.

Weekend travels



for adventure.

Idle pleasures



for escape.

And, a super moon


for dreaming.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Book Notes

When is the last time you read an old fashion, nail biting, "girl, get out of there" mystery?


As a child mysteries were my favorite genre';
Nancy Drew my sleuth of choice.

During fourth grade, library day was my favorite.   My best friend and I would rush to the bookcase holding all the Nancy Drew books.  With heads together we browsed, consulted one another and made our selections.   At the end of the day, if we had planned well, one would go home with the other to spend the night.  After a snack, giggling and sharing all the secrets we thought we knew, and the obligatory time playing outside, we would end up stretching out on the sofa, heads resting at opposite ends, reading our latest find.   Forced to go to bed,  we continued to read until sleep overtook us.  The first one to wake the next morning would rouse the other and we would continue our reading before breakfast.   Our reading skills were comparable;  most often we finished our books within minutes of the other.   One would close her book, then the other.  We always claimed we had just finished our favorite, giggle,  then exchange books to be read before returning to school the next Monday.  This routine was repeated long after we ran out of Nancy Drew mysteries.

   

A few weekends ago the heat was nearing 100 and oppressive.
 After a quick trip to the farmer's market, breakfast and a few errands it was time to retreat indoors.  I couldn't think of anything more desirable than to stretch out with a good read.   I pulled several books, read the synopsis, and without a "BFF" to consult,  made my selection.

Cornelia Read's first novel, A Field of Darkness, was the perfect choice, and a most delicious escape.   I was hooked the moment I opened the front cover.

"There are people who can be happy anywhere.  I am not one of them.  When the house on the next street went up in flames for the second night in a row, I wondered again what the hell I was doing in Syracuse. " 

Madeline Dare, the poor relation of a wealthy Long Island family, is unhappily and begrudgingly living in Syracuse.  Working as a lifestyle reporter for the local newspaper she becomes obsessed with the brutal murders of two young women nineteen years earlier.  Upon receiving a set of dog tags belonging to a favorite cousin, and believed to be tied to the deaths, she convinces her editor to allow her to research the story.  Madeline must risk her own safety and return to an unwelcome past to uncover the truth.

Curled up on the sofa, Willie at one end, I at the other, totally immersed in A Field of Darkness,  I was once again that fourth grade girl clenching a book, totally immersed, and begging our gutsy heroine to turn and run.

It has been a long time since I found myself captivated by a mystery.
 Ms. Read delivered!

Have you read a really good whodunnit lately?

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Words of Meditation



 This morning a friend sent this prayer out to our Christ Care group.  It was written by 
Father Mychal Judge, the chaplain of the New York Fire Department who died in the towers with the men he loved and served.


"Lord, take me where you want me to go.
Let me meet who you want me to meet.
Tell me what you want me to say.
And keep me out of your way. "


In my friends words, a message for today and everyday.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Another Reading Year

September not only takes me back to the classroom, but also ushers in a new book group year.   Our first meeting of the season is always my favorite to host.  Everyone brings a list of books they have either read or want to read.  As I have said before we are an eclectic group with varied interest and taste in literature, making this night so much fun, entertaining and informative.

It is an evening to enjoy a favorite beverage,


a few tasty bites,


but it is really all about the books.



My suggestions this year were:
Jane Austen's England, Leslie Adkins
Everybody Was So Young, Amanda Vaill
Howard's End, E.M. Forster

Everyone came with wonderful suggestions.  We try to include at least one non-fiction and one classic.  After the nominations, discussion and voting we came up with our final list for our seventh year of reading together.

The Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline
Tell the Wolves I'm Home, Carol Rifka Brunt
The Forgotten 500, Gregory A. Freeman
The Maid's Version, Daniel Woodrell
The Orphan Master's Son, Adam Johnson
Secret of Lost Cats, Dr. Nancy Davidson
Howard's End, E.M. Forster
The Dovekeepers, Alice Hoffman
In Harlem's Way, Robert Pucci

I'm excited!
Did you see anything that peaks your interest?



Happy Reading!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Dreams of Autumn

"Fall is a Southerner's reward for surviving Summer"

Autumn...


colors


sounds


traditions


and flavors.


Oh, the joys of autumn.

Labor Day is history, and
I am anxiously awaiting the first day of autumn.

Are you?