Surprise In A Book

I found something very special in a used copy of Marguerite De  Angeli's autobiography, Butter At The Old Price.  I ordered the book as a replacement for the copy that was lost when I moved.
This is the way the book was described:
"Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 
ISBN: 9780385068130 
Binding: Hardcover 
Book Condition: Good"
When I received the book, I found that it was autographed by Marguerite De Angeli "For Marilla, with  much love."
That, however, is not what made this particular book extra-special.  The real treasure I found was two note-cards with personal messages to this same Marilla.
I thank God for these bonuses.  I'm even thankful that I lost my original copy of the book.  After all, if I hadn't, I wouldn't have needed to replace it!

Books Read In The Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

Books are listed by author (or series creator),
 and not necessarily in the order read.

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

"Go For It, Alex" #

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

"Olivia and the Little Way"
by Nancy Belanger
[children's fiction, Catholic]
(Kindle book)

"The Ocean Within"

"Tides"

by V. M. Caldwell

[children's fiction]

"The Art Spirit"
by Robert Henri
[nonfiction]
(Kindle book)

"Harry Bentley's Second Chance"

"Harry Bentley's Second Sight"
by Dave Jackson

[Protestant fiction, Yada Yada Brothers novels]

"Who Do I Talk To?"

"Who Do I Lean On?"

(physical copies)
"Who Is My Shelter?"
(Kindle book)

by Neta Jackson
[Protestant fiction, Yada Yada House of Hope series]

"The Middle Sister" #
by Miriam E. Mason
[children's fiction, historical, 1800s]

"Big Trouble For Roxie"

(openlibrary.org loan)

"Kathy's Baby-sitting Hassle"

(physical copy)
by Hilda Stahl
[children's fiction, Christian, Protestant, denomination(s) not specified, series]

Retro TV Viewing

I've gone retro in my tv watching...  and I'm not talking about the programs.  I'm talking about the way I watch television now.

It all started when my cable and my Internet went out.  When I tried to access a website... any website... I got this message:

"Please Call 

We are unable to connect you to your  service 

due to an issue related to your account. 

To get your service up and running again, 

please call"

(I've removed the name of the provider as a precaution.)

Kathryn and Paul own the attached house I live in, and my cable and Internet are included in my rent, so the bill comes to their house.  (They live a few blocks away.)  Kathryn called the company and got ALMOST everything straightened out.

The "issue" was that a neighbor changed providers, and the company accidentally shut my service off as well! And this isn't the first time that has happened.  GRRRRRR!!!!
So what WASN'T straightened out?  Well, when I tried to access my DVR, I got a NOT AUTHORIZED message.  Kathryn spent a good long time on the phone, trying to get it fixed.
She messaged me that the company had sent a software update to my tv.  Still no DVR.  Kathryn told me to turn off the cable box, wait five minutes, and then turn it on again.
Well, the only way to do that was to UNPLUG it... and when I did, the wire fell behind the dresser... and I had to pick it up again.
But did I get my DVR back? EN- OH, NO.  So I messaged Kathryn, "Maybe the best thing would be to cancel DVR.  We can always order it again, right?"
She messaged back, "Yes."
So that is what we're doing.
And that's why I've gone retro in my tv watching.  I know I said that I wasn't talking about the programs, but that's not 100% accurate.  I will be watching some of the old shows.
So I guess you could say I'm gone DOUBLE retro in my TV viewing.

Books Read In The Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

Books are listed by author (or series creator),
 and not necessarily in the order read.

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

"Reuben"
(Kindle book)
by Mary Christner Borntrager
[fiction,  Amish/Mennonite, "Ellie's People" series]

"In This House of Brede"

by Rumer Godden

[Catholic fiction]

my favorite novel

  
"The Art Spirit"
by Robert Henri
[nonfiction]
(Kindle book)

"Harry Bentley's Second Chance
A Yada Yada Brothers Novel"
by Dave Jackson
"Where Do I Go?
A Yada Yada House of Hope Novel"
by Neta Jackson
[Protestant fiction (several denominations), series, spin-off]
(parallel novels)


"Hangin' Out With Cici"
by Francine Pascal
[children's/YA fiction]

"Chelsea and The Outrageous Phone Bill"
"Big Trouble For Roxie"
by Hilda Stahl
[children's fiction, Christian, Protestant, denomination(s) not specified, series] (openlibrary.org loans)

"The Middle Button"
by Kathryn Worth
[YA fiction, historical, 1880s] 

some racism, reflecting both the
time the novel takes place, and
the time it was written. 

Winky's New Bed

Remember the old riddle, "When is a boy not a boy?"  The 

answer is, "When he's abed."

Well, that would describe me lately. No, I haven't been abed, but I have been a bed. Specifically, I've been a cat bed.

Winky has been sleeping on me almost every night.  He waits for me to get settled down, and then there he is.

Books Read In The Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

Books are listed by author (or series creator),
 and not necessarily in the order read.

"My Daily Spiritual Companion"

by Marci Alborghetti

daily devotional reading for 2017

"Grow Up, Amy"
by Kate Andrews
[children's fiction, "Making Friends" series]

"The Home Has A Heart"

by Thyra Ferre Bjorn

[Protestant nonfiction;  anecdotes, recipes]

(February chapter only)

"Daniel"
(openlibrary.org loan)
"Reuben"
(Kindle book)
by Mary Christner Borntrager
[fiction,  Amish/Mennonite, "Ellie's People" series]

"Skippack School
being the story of Eli Shrawder and of
one Christopher Dock, schoolmaster 
about the year 1750"
by Marguerite De Angeli
[children's fiction, historical]

"In This House of Brede"

by Rumer Godden

[Catholic fiction]
my favorite novel

  
"The Art Spirit"
by Robert Henri
[nonfiction]
(Kindle book)

Sunday Books?

You may have noticed some changes to my reading lists these past few weeks.  The words Reserved For Sunday no longer appear.  

Well, there is a reason for that.  I realized... and why it didn't occur to me sooner I don't know.... that by reserving these books for Sunday, I was actually depriving myself of some good
Catholic reading during the other six days. My Bible readings and daily devotions were not enough, so I decided to read more
Catholic books during the week.

But I still have a rule when it comes to my Sunday reading:

I don't read any secular books that I don't already know and love.