Books, Brenda, and the blustery day

This morning I had to drive Christopher to the community college, wait for him while he was in math class, and then drop him off for work. I needed to take that car as the one I use had little gas in it... even if it meant getting out much earlier than otherwise needed before seeing my doctor and getting my insulin "tweaked" again.

I'd awakened a couple of times during the night to the sound of heavy rain hitting the windows and trees shedding leaves in the forest... which is all around me. It was with great relief that by morning, the heavy rain had become a gentle sprinkle even if the winds remained, well... windy. Whenever we have a windy night and day, I think of Pooh and his adventures in his "blustery day".

If one reads Stephanie's blog (Cottage Thoughts), one will notice a very literary influence just about every day. I have very fond memories of the two of us hunting for Pooh sticks when we lived in Holland (Michigan) and following Pooh tracks in the snow during those four, five, and six year old years (and older if we were being silly). (Today she cut my Hobbit's curly locks... sigh.)

Anyhoo, I digress... When the weather begins to turn cooler and not as pleasant, I enter the "reading season"... usually October through about May. I read in warm weather but not with as much as in late autumn, winter, and early spring.

I have been remiss about sharing books I've read recently. I keep a list of most books I'm reading on the side bar, as well as books I plan to read next. However, every trip to the library (especially when I'm at the college waiting for Christopher) finds unexpected reads finding their way into my line of sight... and in the basket to be read before those I own (normally).

I almost always have a deeper book and light reading going on at the same time. I used to regularly read books for whatever we were studying in our homeschooling classes, too. Gosh, did I learn a lot! Then there are always cookbooks and decorating books and magazines... some I own and others borrowed from the library. I received the Holiday edition of Tea Time today and I can hardly wait to peruse it.

I just started a book called The Attentive Life; Discerning God's Presence in All Things by Leighton Ford. So far it looks like it is going to be an excellent book. I'm going to concentrate on it this evening. His first chapter has a lot to do with C.S. Lewis so it can't be bad!

I brought two "light fiction" books home from the library this morning... Debbie Macomber's Twenty Wishes (I've enjoyed her Blossom Street books) as well as Laura Childs' The Silver Needle Murder. I love all of her Tea Shop mystery books and I don't think I've read this one (I tend to read them over and over, even if they are mystery books).

I have three cookbooks checked out of the library. I enjoyed each so much I went online and renewed them (thankful that no one had a hold on any!). They are Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen by Trisha Yearwood (and her mom and sister); Get-Togethers with Gooseberry Patch and Coming Home with Gooseberry Patch.

Trisha's book is full of delicious "down home" recipes and what can I say about the Gooseberry Patch books? I covet them, I want to own them, I want to be able to reach out and look through the pretty pictures and make the good recipes at any time. Sheesh... calm down, they are "only" beautiful cookbooks!

Christopher went to see Thomas Friedman when he was speaking at the University. His friend's parents decided not to attend at the last minute so they gave their tickets to the two boys (young men). I had talked with him about Friedman's first book (The World is Flat) and thought it quite interesting. Christopher surprised me with an autographed copy of Hot, Flat, and Crowded, Friedman's latest book and the subject of his talk. I think it is next on my "deeper books" list.

I continue to use The Valley of Vision as my devotional... loving the very sound of the prayers and how the coming together of the quaint English brings beauty and peace to my mornings. I must admit I continued reading a few today instead of opening my Bible. I awoke with quite a headache (probably from the weather changes) and my eyes hurt... the Puritan Prayers brought me relief. :)

I will try to be better about sharing my reading! Some of my favorite books are shown on my profile page and others are the same as Stephanie's. Perhaps regularly sharing my all time favorites will be a good thing...