Over the holidays, we had a memorable time: Amelia's wedding, Christmas Eve party, sampling local restaurants, watching great movies, sharing presents, singing Christmas songs of worship and celebration, and loving all my family being under one roof. It rained almost every day and as a result, there wasn't much to do outside. L & R came with Baby D and Big D was out of school. We tried to walk the dogs when we could but it was basically a muddy mess everywhere. The rivers jumped their banks in a few places and most of the washes had water flowing. There was fear of a dam break at one point. And then it snowed.

I already mentioned The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I read the two other books in the series: Catching Fire and Mockingjay. While the novels are written as junior fiction, there were some interesting story points and the reader was compelled to keep reading to find out what happens in the end. The third book answered a lot of questions that come up along through the first two books. There are many parallels for contemporary society. When I was young, there were films, novels, and short stories written about the future: think Harrison Bergeron, Farenheit 451, Planet of the Apes. While the Narnia books and Lord of the Ring books came as a result of the war to end all wars ( World War I ), the literary world of my youth was a result of the Cold War and post WWII seeming abundance. It seems now there will be another abundance of "what will happen in our future" books. One of the major themes in Collins' books is what will happen in a post-apocalyptic world -- who will be in power, who will have control, how will we live, how will we cooperate, will we cooperate, etc. While I don't think these books will go down as classics, they are a good read. I should caution parents: the games are violent, and children having to fight (and kill) other children. The third book brings out a terrible vice-filled world of excess, greed, and more violence. Everything is not as it seems -- there is a price for victory. That brings up another theme: what price would we pay for seeming victory? what price is paid for the spoils of war?

The other novel I want to review is True Grit by Charles Portis. There is a current movie -- not a remake of the the incredible John Wayne verson, but one that can stand on its own. The producers of the new movie said it was closer to the novel, but after reading the novel, and watching both movies back to back, I can honestly say the John Wayne version is about as close to the novel as the new one is. That means they both stray in their own ways, and they both are close adaptations. I see the ending as the biggest variation: in the novel, Maddie Ross breaks her arm, is bitten by a snake, and loses her arm. In the John Wayne version, Maddie breaks her arm, is bitten by a snake, but doesn't lose her arm. In the new version, Maddie gets bitten by a snake and loses her arm. I don't remember any mention of it being broken. The other difference is Rooster Cogburn survives in the John Wayne version and it is one of the best movie endings I have ever seen. I had purchased the original novel some time ago at a used book store, but I couldn't find it. However, I received a new one at Christmas (thanks L & R) and enjoyed reading it thoroughly.

So Many Books

Here are two of my new favorite pictures:

B and I drove almost 2200 miles to b-ball tournaments -- first to Anaheim and then along I-5 to San Francisco, then the Pacific Coast Highway to Seattle, then home. On the way home, we picked up L and Baby D. It was fun having them here with us for the holiday. We also went to Grand Junction for another tournament. Along the way, I read a lot of books having picked up a sackful from our local book exchange. Some of them were good, some not so much. The standouts were The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle and The No. 1 Ladies Detectives Agency by Alexander McCall Smith series (I've read the first two and have four more to go!!). When I got home there were three books waiting for me: Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls (have read twice prior but can't wait to read it again), Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons From My Grandmothers by Adriana Trigiani, and Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack. I also fell in love with a new song: Valerie (original by the Zutons, covered by Amy Winehouse, covered again by Santana (Naya Rivera) on Glee).

I really liked the Josi Kilpack books and plan to get others -- not only for the stories but for the recipes. I've read the first two chapters of the grandmother book by Trigiani and am totally loving it. If The Hunger Games trilogy doesn't show up under the Christmas tree, it will probably be an after-Christmas purchase.

My book club is reading The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens, a great story to read at Christmastime. I've read it previously but it is almost scripture and can be read again and again to remind us who He is and why it is important to know Him.

It is hard to believe that it has been a whole month. Wow! I guess time really does fly when you are having fun. My book reads this month were limited. I read Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray for our Book Club and really enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the homemade cake we had at the Book Club lunch! (recipe from the book)

Since I didn't have any new books to read, I read magazines. Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living. I went to the Book Fair and listened to a review given by one of my favorite people (Marilyn Arnold) on one of my favorite books Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks was also being reviewed at the same time.

Baby D came along and seemed to enjoy being out in the crowd. He's a very good baby. Easy to please. We had a good time taking care of him over the weekend while the parents were playing in the woods. Anytime, I say! We love being grandparents.

Recently, I purchased three new books: Hope Is the Thing With Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds by Christopher Cokinos; Bittersweet: A Daughter's Memoir by Marilyn Arnold; and The Quickening by Michelle Hoover.

It is this last book that I choose to write about today. It was very good. Some difficult themes but very good. Two main characters narrate the story and they have VERY different points of view. Each have their flaws, and good points, and both are in interesting situations. The story takes place in the Midwest farming area during the Depression. A situation is presented and the reader suspects something but it isn't confirmed until the end. I guess the most interesting part of the novel is the question: what motivates us to do what we do -- childhood, parents, sorrows, happiness, values, inner nature, spouse, children . . . the list can go on and on. The resolution of the book is heartbreaking. I would recommend it as a good read and plan to give it the second read test soon.

I like it when I hear a quote from a book, play, poem, etc and know the source. For some reason, it confirms something. Not sure what exactly, but it is a confirmation of the soul. It has been fun hearing my son talk about his English Literature class. They are reading short stories and poems that I used to teach to my English classes so many years ago.

William Carlos Williams (This is Just to Say, The Red Wheelbarrow)

e. e. cummings (In Just-)

Kurt Vonnegut (Harrison Bergeron)

and more.

I'm glad we have a common vocabulary of literature.

I'm enjoying Hope is the Thing With Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds. The title is based on the poem by Emily Dickinson.

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

The Periodic Table or Why I'm Trying To Like Science

The other day, my husband and son were talking science. Now, it was in English and it was with words that I recognize are in Webster's Dictionary, but it was science. I never really enjoyed science in school. Maybe because there was math involved, or spatial relations, or something but I could never really wrap my head around it. Technology is wonderful but I just do not have a mechanical or scientific mind.

Anyway, the guys were talking about the Periodic Table. I know what it is and I think I can even name a few of the elements on it and know what they do as well as what they are used for, but . . . it still boggles me some that I don't know very much about science. As I was driving up north for a visit, I was listening to NPR and Sam Kean was being interviewed about a book that he'd written about the Periodic Table. The conversation was interesting, and somewhat scientific, and as a result, I wanted to read the book.

So, I have been reading The Disappearing Spoon. It is very interesting and has some terrific stories about how the various elements were discovered and how they have helped (and hurt) our world. Even though it is full of science, I am doing okay. There is a bunch of stuff that I'm having to read and re-read, but I've learned a lot. I'm considering taking some science classes at our local college. Maybe that will help me broaden my scientific mind.

Speaking of science, I have been conducting my own experiments in the back yard. As a result of a hot summer, lack of water, and my being gone in the summer, our back yard went the way of all the earth. This weekend, I tackled the job with the zest and vigor of hopeful steward caring for my part of the Earth. I did my usual weeding, seeding, and feeding, but added peating and re-peating to the mix. We will see if any green sprouts come out before winter's chill comes. I have been dutifully watering 3 (yes, 3) times a day just enough to keep the peat wet. My son asked me "what exactly is peat moss." I looked it up and found

Sphagnum is a genus of between 151 and 350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss(North American usage) or sphagnum peat (British usage) on the other, the latter being the decaying matter underneath. Bogs are dependent on precipitation as their main source of nutrients, thus making them a favourable habitat for sphagnum as it can retain water and air quite well. Members of this genus can hold large quantities of water inside their cells; some species can hold up to 20 times their dry weight in water, which is why peat moss is commonly sold as a soil conditioner.

I am hopeful.

Blessing Day

Baby D was blessed on Sunday. It was wonderful.

A few things that are special about him:

He will be a great big brother.

His parents so looked forward to his coming to Earth.

He is loved by so many people.

We had a great celebration. Lots of family, and good friends (who are basically our family) came to the house and enjoyed yummy food. Thanks to L & R for providing the occasion, thanks to Bob, Bec, Brooke, Carolyn and D for helping me get everything ready, and thanks for everyone who came to the party.

I'm grateful to say this again:

my cup runneth over.

There aren't quite enough words to say how I feel about

this little guy.

Fun. Exciting. Cute. Cuddly. Love. Love Beyond Love.

His parents are pretty cool too.

Being a grandparent is a lot of fun.

We made it back from the cabin where the weather was delightful and I slept peacefully each night. Came home to the heat where I was awakened at 3 am by dogs who were too hot under the covers. Now I feel dragged out and don't want to do anything productive.

I re-read Custer and Crazy Horse (mentioned in my previous post). A lot of historical information. The battle of Little Bighorn was over fairly quickly, but it spelled doom to the the Plains Indian way of life. I liked one quote specifically "At the Washita, Custer was serving his nation and helping his nation realize its destiny. Every person who has even taken a train to California, or settle there or in Kansas, or driven an automobile through the area, or eaten the wheat or beef grown on the Plains, has reaped the benefit of the Washita battle. History is not black or white nor is it propaganda. History is ambiguous, if told honestly. It is hard enough to figure out exactly what happened and why; it is impossible to play God and judge the right or wrong of a given action, even the Washita." The Washita battle was prior to Little Bighorn. It was probable cause for other battles -- two peoples defending their rights to survival. The books left me wondering about a lot of things as well as where I stand on certain issues.