October '26 Books Read

Nine books read during October - some of them for the second or more times.

big little truths by Lianne Moriarty is the follow up to her book, big little lies which I read in December 2024.

Biting the Moon by Martha Grimes and Redemption Road by John Hart are two of the books I read again. There was enough time between readings that it was like reading them for the first time.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is one of my favorite books and one that I've read at least four times. I used to buy copies and give to friends because I loved it so much. This copy was given to me by our friend Becky.

Some Men Are More Perfect Than Others by Merle Shain was given to me on my 35th birthday (1978) by friends Bonnie and Jack in Denver, CO. It was also the weekend I attended the Denver Broncos-Green Bay Packers football game at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos won and I've been a Broncos fan ever since.

When The Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart is set in North Carolina during the Civil War. (Always one of my favorite eras to read about.) 

French Braid by Anne Tyler is the story of a Baltimore family across decades from 1959 through 2020. Tyler has a talent for writing insightful novels about ordinary people.

More Than Enough is Anna Quindlen's latest book. When friends give teacher Polly Goodman an ancestry test kit, it leads to a match with a stranger. Polly is certain it has to be a mistake, but is it?

Famous Last Words is by Gillian McAllister a new author for me. I like mystery thrillers so I will be reading the other three novels by this author that are available at my local library.

Happy reading and Happy Halloween. 🎃

These Precious Days

When you compare your lifetime to a year, you begin to realize how little time you have before your time is up. And the days grow short when you reach September. Now October's days are almost done, but what a golden month it has been. 

September Song

Oh, it's a long long while
From May to December
But the days grow short
When you reach September
When the autumn weather
Turns leaves to flame
One hasn't got time
For the waiting game

Oh, the days dwindle down
To a precious few
September, November

And these few precious days
I'll spend with you
These precious days
I'll spend with you

Oh, the days dwindle down
To a precious few
September, November

September Song was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1938 musical Knickerbocker Holiday.

My favorite rendition of the song was by Willie Nelson on his 1978 Stardust album.

Celebrating the Life of a Good Man

Once upon a time, from 1954 until 1978, we were a family of six. First we lost Betty at age 28 in 1973, then Dad (Louis) at age 61 in 1978. Mom (Ruth) lived almost to 85, dying six weeks short of her January birthday in December, 2003.

Two weeks ago our brother Ronald died at age 86. Now we are two, me and my little brother Les.

Last Saturday, Ron's Celebration of Life was held and it was just that - a celebration - much more comforting and joyful than a funeral.

This has always been a favorite photo - Ronald and his wife Ruth in 1974 with the twins Andrew and Lorrie.

Their first born, Jennifer Lynn, only lived three days. She and our mother, Ruth, both died on December 16, Jennifer in 1972 and Mom in 2003.

One of the last pictures taken of Ron and his four grandsons.

Left to right - Aidan Yoakum, Nicholas Lynam, Carston Yoakum and Erick Yoakum. Aidan and Erick are twins.

Ron with his adult children - Left to right, Christine, Ronald, Lorrie and Andrew.

Christmas 1954. I was looking at the camera, or at least a camera. Were there two because my siblings were all looking somewhere else.?

Ron was 14 when Les was born; Betty and I, 8 and 10. We were so happy to have a little brother to play with and spoil.

Ronald could not have been any cuter.

Cowboy Ron - complete with hat, gun and chaps.

 

And all dressed up for his birthday. 5th or 6th.

The stand in the background is one our Dad made in shop when he was a freshman in highschool

It's my night stand in the bedroom now. 

I do not remember this picture. I think it was taken up at the other place.

Betty and our cousin Frank on our pony, Queenie.

Ron with 'rifle', me with a six-shooter. Obviously we were the good guys hunting down the outlaws.

The freedom and fun of childhood, making up our own stories and acting them out. A wonderful way to grow up.

A picture I took and one of my favorites of Mom and Ron.

He was the best big brother, helpful, kind, generous, funny as well as serious.

As his sons-in-law spoke about him at the service I began to see how much like our mother he was - non-judgemental and always willing to help.

Ronald's obituary and more photos can be found here: https://www.nblfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/ronald-lynam

No Killing Frost Yet, But.....

Our lovely Autumn weather continues. We've had our first frost, but not a killing frost yet, so technically this warm spell is not Indian Summer. Maybe next week....

 Indian Summer

Along the line of smoky hills
The crimson forest stands,
And all the day the blue-jay calls
Throughout the autumn lands.

Now by the brook the maple leans
With all his glory spread,
And all the sumachs on the hills
Have turned their green to red.

Now by great marshes wrapt in mist,
Or past some river's mouth,
Throughout the long, still autumn day
Wild birds are flying south.

By: William Wilfred Campbell (Canadian Poet 1860-1918)

Ties to Home

My old blue chambray shirt

Worn through at the elbows

Haphazardly stitched together just so

I could wear it a little longer

Soft, comfortable, holding memories

Worn over a white t-shirt and jeans

Not just looking like a farm girl

But feeling like one - like myself

The farm, once and then again, my home

I would go back if I could

So many memories, good and bad

They do take me back - in my mind

 

October!

October

Crispy air and azure skies,
High above, a white cloud flies,
Bright as newly fallen snow.
Oh the joy to those who know October!

Colors bright on bush and tree.
Over the weedy swamp, we see
A veil of purple and brown and gold.
Thy beauty words have never told. October!

Scolding sparrows on the lawn,
Rabbits frisking home at dawn,
Pheasants midst the sheaves of grain,
All in harmony acclaim, October!

Brown earth freshly turned by plow,
Apples shine on bended bough,
Bins o'erflowed with oats and wheat,
And satisfaction reigns complete. October!

Radiant joy is everywhere.
Spirits in tune to the spicy air,
Thrill in the glory of each day.
Life's worth living when we say, October!

(By Joseph Pullman Porter)

September '26 Books Read

 I managed to read ten books in thirty days this month. 

The Wedding Game, Runaway Groomsman and The Reunion are all by Meghan Quinn, a new author for me. I thought the first book was a bit lame but the other two weren't too bad.

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger was sent to me by my son Douglas. This is an author we both like. This will go back to Doug to read.

September is one of my books read long ago and pulled out to read again. British novelist Rosamund Pilcher was one of my favorite authors. 

Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden was touted as "a book every woman should read even if she is happily married". 

Beach Music by Pat Conroy is another of his books I decided to read after reading his South of Broad last month. This one wasn't nearly as good, in my opinion.

Sleep No More is a collection of "six murderous tales" by English novelist P. D. James.

Border Music By Robert James Waller is another dip back into my own collection of books.

Our Noble Selves is Kate Atkinson's latest novel. She is one of my adopted authors and has been a favorite of mine. I was a bit disappointed in this one which is based on the 1951 Festival of Britain. Her Jackson Brodie books are the best, in my opinion.

With all the rain we've had this month, books were good companions.