Read In February 2019

I'm still averaging ten books a month in this new year.

Picture Perfect and Mercy by Jodi Picoult As forecast, I read a number of this author's books this month.

Circe by Madeline Miller I never could keep the Gods and Goddesses of Greek mythology straight. This book will help - if I can just remember what I read about them.

Unseen by Karin Slaughter Also, as forecast, more of Karin Slaughter's books this month.

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks I knew Tom Hanks collected typewriters. I assumed his book would be about them - where he found the ones he acquired and why. Instead it is a book of short stories he has written. I was surprised by his talent in this field. All the stories were good and some were really good with characters so interesting I wish he would turn them into an entire book.

The Rain Watcher by Tatiana De Rosnay A celebratory weekend where family members hope to reconnect and resolve differences is further complicated by a flood. The real 2016 flood of Paris forms the background of this novel.

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult

Dear George, Dear Mary by Mary Calvi An interesting book about George Washington's 'first love' based on letters and other documentation of the time. It seemed appropriate that I was reading it on his 287th birthday.

More Picoult books will be read in March, but I'm going to have to find a new author or two to take the place of Slaughter until her next book comes out.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

You know how I'm always taking photos of the sky? Clouds. Jet trails.

Well while going through some of Mom's photos, I learned something ....

..... she did, too. 
This picture of her's has faded, as the older color film photos do with time. I darkened it, trying to bring out the dual heart-shaped jet contrails in the lower middle of her photo.

At first glance I wondered just what she was taking the picture of? The clouds? Yes, probably, but also the hearts. 

I love that I discovered her photo and that we are/were simpatico in this way.

Like mother, like daughter.   💕💖

100 Years As A National Park

One hundred years ago today the Grand Canyon National Park became the 17th U.S. National Park by an Act of Congress and signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.

I had heard it said many times, "Everyone should visit the Grand Canyon at least once in their life." In March of 1993, Bud and I finally got there.

In celebration of the park's centennial, here are a few of the pictures I took on that trip. (Note that I only found some of my pictures and they happen to be the ones that had some water damage. They are also faded and don't do justice to the beautiful colors of the canyon.) 😥

I saw all the warnings about straying too close to the edges, so I was scared stiff when Bud saw a small trail on the other side of the fence at one of the viewing points.  It lead down to this turtle shaped rock. "I'm going down there and I want you to take my picture." No way could I talk him out of it. Obviously if there was a path others had done the same thing. But that didn't make me any happier about him doing it. You have to look closely - that is Bud standing on the turtle's head.

It was a great trip and I am so glad we made it. Happy 100th Birthday, Grand Canyon National Park!

Time To Do The Milking

I dragged out my many boxes of photos yesterday looking for some specific ones which I did not find. Instead I found this one of my folks milking.

It is a 5x7 photo. I don't know who took it and had it enlarged, nor when. But I have the feeling it may have been my future sister-in-law, Ruthie, the first time Ron brought her home to meet the family. She was a big city girl captivated by life on the farm. She loved all the animals.

Mom and Dad must have been going somewhere after the chores were done. Mom has on the scarf she wore when she had curlers in her hair.

And look at those milk stools - a flat board nailed to a short post. No fancy three-legged stools for us!

As a teen, I disliked helping do the milking. Now, looking back, it is a fond memory - going to the pasture to bring the cows up to the barn before I was old enough to milk. Later, appreciating the warmth from them when I milked on cold days. (But hating being hit by a tail swishing flies in the summer.)

Recently I heard about a young Iowa couple who started farming with a small dairy herd specifically to make and sell artisanal cheese, which I hope to someday sample.

I could watch the video heading from their Lost Lake Farm:
https://www.facebook.com/lostlakefarmllc/

 You know - 'til the cows come home.

Full Snow Moon - 2019

This year's February Full Snow Moon wasn't 'officially' full until ten something  this morning.

So I took this photo last night and a whole bunch more early this morning before it set.

Our forecast is for another five to six inches of snow. (The moon is living up to its name.)

Which added to what we've already had will set a new all-time record - breaking the one set in 1886.

Colder temps and more snow than usual - does that presage a hotter, drier summer?

The birds are returning. The Full Worm Moon coincides with the Spring Equinox just a month away.

Will it truly usher in spring weather? I hope so. I know everyone is ready for it!

They Found Love Again

I was born during World War II which means I started high school in the 1950's.
I had learned the historical facts about the second World War, but not the emotional ones.

When I was a freshman there was a girl in my class with a different last name than her mother. There was also one in my brother's senior class.

It was quite awhile before I realized that those two girls had father's among the 400,000+  killed in the war.

Their mother's were some of the lucky ones who found love again.

Just a thought on this Valentine's Day.