Changes to this Blog

You've probably noticed that there was no book list last week.  That's one of the changes... I will no longer post a regular list of the books I've read, but I WILL mention books fom time to time.  

I'll start now, in fact, by saying that of course I read ''A Christmas Carol'' by Charles Dickens on the 24th!
There will be other  changes, which will be introduced gradually.

I'm back to say.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR!!!!

This Year's Resolutions

Well, here it is Advent again, and that means it is time for this year's resolutions.  I make them on the First Sunday in Advent instead of on January 1st.

 1: Pray more chaplet every day than I did last year.s.  This can mean either praying different chaplets, or praying the same chaplet twice or more in one day.

2: Read at least one nonfiction book a week, not counting plays/autobiographies/biographies/memoirs/journals/diaries.

Books Read In The Past Week

A # indicates a book read for the first time

Books are listed by author (or series creator)

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

I liked the book I used last year better 

"The Way of the Fathers
Praying with the Early Christians" 

by Mike Aquilina

[Catholic spirituality]

"The Home Has A Heart"

by Thyra Ferre Bjorn
[nonfiction; Christian (Protestant) themes, recipes, 
anecdotes]
(December chapter only)

''P.S. Longer Letter Later''

(openlibrary.org loan)
''Snail Mail No More''
(physical copy)
by Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin
[children's/YA fiction]

''B is for Betsy''
''Betsy and Billy''
''Here's A Penny''
(physical copies)
''Penny and Peter''
''C is For Cupcake'' #
(openlibrary.org loans)
''Penny Goes To Camp''
[physical copy]
by Carolyn Haywood
[children's fiction]


"Whose Cat Is That?" 

by Virginia Kahl
[picture book]

(openlibrary.org loan)

''If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?'' 

by M. E. Kerr

[YA fiction]
(openlibrary.org loan)

''Lassie and the Kittens'' #
by Robert Maxwell and Co.
[picture book based on the tv show]
(openlibrary.org loan)

''The New Diary''

by Tristine Rainer
[nonfiction]

''Sideways Stories From Wayside School''
''Wayside School Is Falling Down''
by Louis Sachar
[children's fiction] 
( openlibrary.org loans)

''Dorrie's Book''
by Marilyn Sachs
[children's fiction]

 "Pink Slippers, Bat Mitzvah Blues"

by Ferida Wolff

[children's fiction, Jewish] 
 

Draft, Parts One and Two

When I began writing this post, I gave it the title New Collection: Yes?  No?


DRAFT, PART ONE
I'm thinking about starting a new collection, since my current collections seem to have leveled off.  At least, I haven't been able to add to them lately.
So, what shall I collect?  Space and cost will be factors in my decision, since this will be a physical collection.]
I definitely won't collect stamps; too expensive, and with my perceptual problem and poor eye-hand co-ordination, I don't think I'd be able to put them into a stamp album properly.  More to the point, I've never been interested in collecting stamps.
Also, whatever I decide to collect, should I have a general collection, or limit it to a specific category?   For example, if I collect postcards, should I have all kinds, or just scenic cards?
New postcards, vintage, or both?                                                                   
Of course, I may not decide on postcards at all.
Actually,
[I stopped here]

And now, I will finish this draft and turn it into a post.

DRAFT, PART  TWO

So did I start a new collection?

The answer turns out to be a loud YES... I've started a new offline, physical collection... BOOKMARKS. I have three so far, and each one came free with a book I'd recently ordered.
I plan, in the future, to BUY some bookmarks online, both new and vintage.
Right now my collection is in a plastic bag, the kind that changes color on top when sealed, but I might, sometime in the future, move it to a box.

FINAL NOTE:

I could, of course, have simply rewritten the original draft, but this was SO much more fun!

Books Read In The Past Week

A # indicates a book read for the first time

Books are listed by author (or series creator)

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

I liked the book I used last year better 

"The Way of the Fathers
Praying with the Early Christians" 

by Mike Aquilina

[Catholic spirituality]

"The Way of a Pilgrim

and The Pilgrim Continues His Way"

author unknown
Translated by Helen Bacovcin
Foreword by Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.
[Spiritual life: Fiction? Non-fiction?]

''Lavender Laughs In The Chalet School''

by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

[children's fiction] 

''If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?'' 

by M. E. Kerr

[YA fiction]
(openlibrary.org loan)
{I found a way to read books here again,
 in spite of continued computer problems.
Still can't read books in my Kindle Cloud Reader}

''The New Diary''

by Tristine Rainer
[nonfiction]

''There's A Boy In The Girls' Bathroom''

by Louis Sachar

[children's fiction]

 ''Franny and Zooey'

"Raise High The Roof Beam, Carpenters"

"Seymour- An Introduction''
by J. D. Salinger

 ''Two P'S In A Pod" 

 by Susan Terris

 [children's fiction]

Never Again? Wrong.

I've read several books set before, but written after, WWI in which somebody says that there wouldn't ever be another war, that wars were part of history.                                                                                  

 I used to think the same thing about presidential assassinations; they were a part of history; America would never again lose a president in that way. 

I believed that until this day in 1963.                        

Books Read In The Past Week

A # indicates a book read for the first time

Books are listed by author (or series creator)

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

I liked the book I used last year better 

"The Happiness of Heaven" 

by Fr. J. Boudreau, S.J.

[Catholic spirituality]
(finished on Saturday)

''The Chalet School In Exile''

''The Chalet School At War''

''The Highland Twins At The Chalet School''

''Lavender Laughs In The Chalet School''

by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

[children's fiction]

''Lark Rise to Candleford''

by Flora Thompson

[autobiography] 

Reliving One Day From Your Past

Years ago, someone asked me, "If you could go back and relive one day from your past, would you choose a bad one, and fix what had gone wrong, or a good one, and savor it more fully?"

"Neither,"  I said, "because it would probably mean missing out on a day I haven't had yet."

Besides, I can always relive, savor, and change the past by using it in my stories!

Books Read In The Past Week

A # indicates a book read for the first time

Books are listed by author (or series creator)

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

I liked the book I used last year better 

"The Happiness of Heaven" 

by Fr. J. Boudreau, S.J.
[Catholic spirituality]

''The Chalet School And The Lintons''
''The New House At The Chalet School''
''Jo Returns To The Chalet School''
''The New Chalet School''
''The Chalet School In Exile''
by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
[children's fiction]

''Bittersweet Beginnings''
by Hedy and Devora E. Fleischmann
[YA fiction, Jewish]

"Giant Pumpkin Suite" 
by Melanie Heuiser Hill
[fiction, all ages]

''Emily's Trouble
and What It Taught Her'' #
by Religious Tract Society, London
[children's fiction](free online book)

'Lark Rise to Candleford''
by Flora Thompson
[autobiography]

Sleeping Positions

I don't think there is any sleeping position known to man... or rather, cat.... that Winky hasn't used at one time or another.  In fact, I think he may have created some new ones!

Books Read In The Past Week

A # indicates a book read for the first time

Books are listed by author (or series creator)

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

I liked the book I used last year better 

"The Home Has A Heart"

by Thyra Ferre Bjorn
[nonfiction; Christian (Protestant) themes, recipes, 
anecdotes]
(November chapter only)

"The Happiness of Heaven" 

by Fr. J. Boudreau, S.J.
[Catholic spirituality]

''Rivals Of The Chalet School''
''Eustacia Goes To The Chalet School''
''The Chalet School And Jo''
''The Chalet Girls In Camp''
''Exploits Of The Chalet Girls''
''The Chalet School And The Lintons''
by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
[children's fiction]

''The Go-Getter''
by Peter B. Kyne
[fiction, novella]
(free Google book)

No More Flitting

Those of you who are familiar with this blog know that for a long time I was flitting from one Book in the Bible to another, in no particular order.  Well, that has changed.  I'm now reading my Bible from cover to cover.  This may not work for everyone, but it works for me.                                             Besides, I can always turn to a favorite passage when I feel like doing so.

 And yes, I still select a reading from one of the Gospels at bedtime.        

Books Read In The Past Month

A # indicates a book read for the first time

Books are listed by author (or series creator)

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

I liked the book I used last year better 

"Dream On, Amy"
"You're Fab, Rachel"
"Nice One, Tara"
"Fight It, Alex''
by Kate Andrews

[children's fiction, "Making Friends" series]

"The Home Has A Heart"

by Thyra Ferre Bjorn
[non-fiction; Christian (Protestant) themes, recipes, 
anecdotes]
(October chapter only)

"The Happiness of Heaven" 

by Fr. J. Boudreau, S.J.
[Catholic spirituality]

''The School At The Chalet''
''Jo Of The Chalet School''
''The Princess Of The Chalet School''
''The Head Girl Of The Chalet School''
''Rivals Of The Chalet School''
by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
[children's fiction]

''The Ocean Within''
''Tides''
by V.M. Caldwell
[children's fiction]


"Half Magic"
"Knight's Castle"
"Magic By The Lake"
"The Time Garden"
"Magic Or Not?"
"The Well-Wishers"
"Seven-Day Magic"
by Edward Eager
[children's fiction]

''Papa Married A Mormon''
''Mamma's Boarding House''
by John D. Fitzgerald 
[fiction]  

''Mary Todd's Last Term''
by Frances Greenwood
[children's fiction]

''The Books You Read
Devotional Edition''
Edited by Charles E. ''T.'' Jones
[nonfiction]

"The Burglar and Other Stories"
"The Lemonade Lesson and Other Stories "
by Libby Lazewnik
[YA, short stories, Jewish]

"Betsy and Joe" 
by Maud Hart Lovelace
[YA fiction]

"The City Boy"
by Herman Wouk
[fiction]

The First Book I Ever Loved

This past week, I bought on amazon.com a copy of the first book I ever loved.  Of course, it's a picture book...''Baby Farm Animals'' by Garth Williams.   I can see myself now, sprawled on the living-room carpet, looking at the pictures. That's one of my earliest memories.

And I can't BEGIN to count the times I asked to have it read!

Even now, I could read it over and over.  Even now!

Computer Issues

I've been having problems with my computer, which is why I haven't posted lately.  Good thing I dropped my Currently Reading list!

Books Read In The Past Week

A # indicates a book read for the first time
Books are listed by author (or series creator)

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

I liked the book I used last year better


"Just Do It, Mel"
"Watch Out, Sky"  
by Kate Andrews
[children's fiction, "Making Friends" series]

"Johnny Headstrong's Trip To Coney Island" #
by Anonymous
[picture book]
(free online book)

"The Happiness of Heaven" 
by Fr. J. Boudreau, S.J.
[Catholic spirituality]

"The Bad Times Of Irma Baumlein"
by Carol Ryrie Brink

"The Story About Ping"
by Marjorie Flack
[picture book]
(openlibrary.org loan)

"The Peddler's Clock"
by Mabel Leigh Hunt
[picture book, fiction, historical, 1820s]
(openlibrary.org loan)

"Raising Consumers
Children and the American Mass Market
in the Early Twentieth Century" 
by Lisa Jacobson
[nonfiction]

"Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis The Menace 1951-1952" #  
[comic panels]
(openlibrary.org loan)

"The Burglar and Other Stories"
by Libby Lazewnik
[YA, short stories, Jewish]

"Betsy and Joe" 
by Maud Hart Lovelace
[YA fiction]

"The Only One Club"
by Jane Naliboff
[picture book]
(Kindle book)

"Bea and Mr. Jones"
by Amy Schwartz
[picture book]
(openlibrary.org loan)

"The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins" 
by Dr. Seuss
[picture book]
(openlibrary.org loan)
I won't buy his books due to his and
his widow's support of Planned Parenthood

"The Book of Sirach"  
[Bible book]

"Kids Speak 1
Children Talk About Themselves" 
compiled by Chaim Walder and translated into English by Shifra Slater
[children's/YA, true stories, Judaica]
the original edition was unnumbered

"Zig Ziglar's Life Lifters" 
[nonfiction]
(Kindle book)