Wednesday HodgePodge

 

Joyce created some more good questions for this week's Hodgepodge so I'm jumping in to answer. Head to her blog to learn more about this weekly meme. 

1. What's one piece of advice you would you give a recent or soon-to-be graduate? 

if graduating from high school (our youngest niece is graduating from HS the last Saturday in June): enjoy every minute of college and don't sweat the small stuff; if you don't care for your roommate, do one thing with her and then decide if you need to switch...she might surprise you....and lastly, don't just study...have some fun too! 

if graduating from college: work at least a year before you decide about grad school (if you know they're in a field that requires a masters eventually like here in NYS with teaching 😁).  Keep in touch with the friends you made and give yourself a few days to get acclimated to life outside of college.  Know that it's normal to miss it! 

I would also say to a college graduate: pray. Pray about your career choice and know that you most likely will not get your dream job right after earning that BS (or BA). Take a full time job, get those loans paid off even if just the interest at  first, and be kind. Always be kind. 

2. May 15th marks the birth date of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. At this point in time are you more in need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain. 

Definitely not a trip back home....did NOT like where I grew up (central NYS).  I guess courage.  There's an issue I need to address with someone in my hiking group and I'm going to need patience and love (so heart, too I guess) to deal with it. 

3.  "There's no place like home" is an oft repeated line from Baum's book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement? 

When my oldest daughter and I were back from a week away in the northern Adirondack Mountains last summer. Although we loved our trip and all the little villages and lakes we visited, the hotel we were in was horrible.  As soon as I was home, unpacked and in bed that night, I  said to my husband "There's no place like home...and my wonderful bed". 

4. May is National BBQ Month...do you own a grill? Who does the grilling at your house? What's your favorite thing to throw on the grill? What's the last thing you grilled? 

Yes we own a gas grill. 

I am the one who mainly does the  grilling but Dave sometimes does on the weekends. 

Fave things to grill: Potatoes, corn on the cob, chicken marinated in a garlic-herb homemade  dressing, and Beyond Burgers. 

Last thing I grilled was boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 2 weeks ago. 

5. What's a memory you replay in your head when you need a little joy? 

this  August camping trip in 2003: Courtney had just turned 10 yrs old  in July  and Claire was 4.5 yrs old.  It was truly one of our best camping trips. (we had a pop up camper)  The photo brings joy to my heart. (they had just finished up washing and drying the camp dishes and were so very happy that Daddy agreed we would make smores. 

Moffitt Beach State Campground on Sacandaga Lake
Southern Adirondack Mountains
August 2003

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Evening Kayak paddles on Long Lake
in the central Adirondacks is so very calming. 
We used to rent a cottage here every summer from 2013-2021
That's Owls Head Mt...to the left of the dip in the range
 in the background...(the tallest peak you see there) 
Dave and I climbed it in 2014.
I was in my kayak taking the photo.  
Summer 2020

Happy Wednesday!

2026 Book Review #17:The Boxcar Librarian

 

I've seen this author displayed at my town library and had never read one of her books. 

This was fantastic. If you like historical fiction that is based on true events, and  books about books or libraries, then this is for you!  It's set in the early part of the 20th century (specifically1914,  1921, 1924 and 1936) and is just an excellent read. 

STORY SUMMARY

Millie Lang is an editor employed by the Works Progress Administration. But when she finds her self involved in a potential political scandal she's given a choice of either working out in Montana....a far cry from Washington, D.C. or a pink slip. She chooses Montana.  She needs to work on the state's American Guide Series which were travel books intended to employ America's destitute authors and editors.  The year is 1936. 

When Millie arrives in Missoula, Montana, she finds quite a diverse staff.  They say that they missed the deadlines for the guide due to someone sabatoging their work.  They believe this was done by "the Copper Kings" ...the state's powerful mining company. The reason? The company doesn't want their long and bloody history with union organizers in the Guide for the rest of the country to read.   Millie, however, begins to suspect that the answer might actually like with the town's mysterious librarian, Alice Monroe. 

More than 10 years earlier, Alice had created the Boxcar Library to  deliver books to isolated mining towns where men longed for entertainment and a connection. Alice thought she had found the perfect librarian to run the Boxcar Library:  Colette Durand, the only daughter of a miner who happened to carry around a shotgun and too many secrets in her eyes. 

No one in Missoula will tell Millie why both Alice and Colette went out on the inaugural journey of the Boxcar Library and that only Alice returned. What happened to Colette? 

MY THOUGHTS

This story is loosely based on a real librarian (the name Alice is fictionalized) who created the Boxcar Library.  It's about three very courageous women who were strong and who survived the rough and rowdy West. They had power by standing together to fight for the miner workers' lives.  

Through all of this history, books shine.  Books bring connectivity and light to people who need it most. 

I really enjoyed this historical fiction although there were many editing errors! 

The character development was rich and diverse.  I really liked Colette's character. She was my favorite because of her spunk and perseverance. 

Each chapter features one of the 3 women: Millie, Alice, and Colette.  The author gives the name of the character, the location in Montana and the year.  It's very organized and helpful for the reader.  

There are so many good themes running in this plot.  The main ones are: Fighting against corporate and political corruption (not much has changed, has it in this nation??!),  the importance of labor unions, females who are independent and emotionally strong, friendship, the father-daughter relationship, and the transformative power of books and reading. 

I highly recommend this story.  Usually it would only take about a week for me to read such a book but it took me longer as I've been  super busy with other things and haven't done much reading. 

I also liked that the author has notes in the back of the book about the real history revolving around the Boxcar Library. I've discovered a new to me author so I plan on looking for more of her books. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9. 

Sunday Stealin' Meme

 Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves. To play along, head here. 

Random questions from some meme called Thursdays Thunks. NO idea why it's called this but the questions are fun. 

1. Is there anyone whose home you enter without knocking? Does anyone (who doesn't live with you) have permission to enter your home without knocking?

Yes, when both my in-laws were still alive, we would arrive and just walk in but we always gave the doorbell a quick jab so we wouldn't surprise them. We did the same thing with my parents.  

When I was a teen, I would just walk into my friend Cheryl's house. Her parents never locked the door. And vice versa. 

No one can get into my house without knocking as we don't use the front door so it's always locked and deadbolted (I live in a suburb where yes there are crimes at times) and our side door which opens to the kitchen from the garage stays locked if the garage is open. The girls usually text that they're on their way and they each still have a key to that door. My neighbor has been known to just walk onto my deck though in the summer and call out my name.....the sliding glass door is almost always open and the screen unlocked,  but only during the day in nice weather. 

2. Tell us about a school trip you took.

One of the first field trips I remember was when I was in 3rd grade circa 1969. I was 9 years old.   We went to this village (so famous for baseball!) to a place called The Woodland Museum.  I still have the little wall pennant! The village was only about a 35 minute drive from the town I grew up in. The Woodland Museum was founded by Louis Busch Hagar of the Anheuser-Busch family. There was an old stone dairy barn where we watched a woman doing weaving. I can't remember what else was in there. There was a fun playground and a train.  There were little animals...like a mini zoo and I remember seeing a spider monkey for the first time outside of a book. There was  a reconstructed village from the late 1800s or early 1900s,  but it wasn't as vast as the still running Farmer's Museum in the same village. I also remember there were swans and a gift shop.  Because I loved that field trip so much, my parents took me and my 2 younger sisters (Joy and Hope...Jill hadn't been born yet) to it the next summer and then it closed down the year I turned 14.  I'm thankful the Farmers Museum is still up and running...I took my youngest daughter there when she was 10 and my oldest was on a trip with my husband with her junior high youth group. Here is an old photo of the Woodland Museum I happened to find online. 

people waiting for the trail at the Woodland Museum
Cooperstown NY 

3. Name three things within arm's reach right now (but they can't relate to your phone, computer or laptop).

My coffee mug, an historical fiction library book, an empty cereal bowl

4. Weather permitting, do you dry your clothes outdoors on a clothesline?

We don't have clotheslines in this neighborhood, but in the summer months, I often bring out my portable drying rack and set it up on the  deck to air dry my hiking clothes, cotton tee shirts, swimsuits. 

5. If every flower in the world only bloomed in one color, what color would you like to see?

That blue that Cape Cod hydrangeas get.  It's like a sky blue and so peaceful looking. Either that, or the bright orange of daylilies. I'm not  an orange fan meaning I rarely have articles of clothing or home decor that's orange (Other than pumpkins at Harvest time) but there's something about the orange of day lilies that screams "hope".  Peace and hope. something our world truly needs. 

HAPPY SUNDAY!

And if you're a mom, Have a blessed Mother's Day!  I'm off to spend time with my daughters. 

Mother's Day Saturday 9

I've never heard of this singer and when I clicked on the link, I listened to the song and can't stand her voice....ew...but I like the questions so am playing along for the Saturday 9 meme. Click here to join in!

Saturday 9: Like My Mother Does (2011)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Lauren Alaina tells us she knows she's beautiful and strong because she sees herself as her mother does. Who in your life consistently sees the best in you?

two of my friends see the best in me: Maggie and Joan. They are dear friends, members of my hiking group, Maggie is in my book group and both are sisters in Christ. I feel closer to them than my biological sisters! 

 

2) She sings that her mother is her "rock." In this context, what do you think that means?   

Probably because her mother is her greatest fan. Her mother probably supports her and she knows she can count on her mom.  My rock? God Almighty!  My earthly rock? My husband and 2 daughters! My dad was my rock growing up.....we were very close.

 

3) When Lauren performed this song in concert, she brought her mother Kristy up on stage and held her hand as she sang. Kristy said she was touched, but also embarrassed because her daughter was the entertainer, not her. Do you get shy when all eyes turn to you?

Absolutely not.  I'm not shy at all. I was in grade school. But being a piano major and in theater and music ministry  totally took that away along with having to take Communication/Speech in college and then conduct IEP meetings all through my teaching career. 

 

4) Lauren began reading in pre-school and always read well above grade level. As a child, were you a big reader? Are you a big reader today?

I was an early reader as were both of my daughters. We are all avid readers. I've read books my entire life! Currently, I have 3 books going!

   

5) According to the National Restaurant Association, we like to eat out on Mother's Day, and brunch is especially popular. If you could have whatever you want for brunch, what would you order? 

Avocado on multi-grain toast, some kind of veggie omelette or tofu scramble with all kinds of fresh veggies; fresh fruit or berries like raspberries, blackberries, blueberries. But because of church and my husband serving on the Production team this week, the girls reserved a table for the 4 of us (and possibly Courtney's boyfriend) at my fave Mediterranean restaurant for lunch. 

6) Mother's Day is the third biggest card-sending holiday in the US, just after Christmas and Valentine's Day. Who received the last card you purchased?

My sister Joy. She's a single mom so I sent her a Mother's Day card. 

 

7) While flowers are the most popular Mother's Day gift, jewelry comes in second. Are you wearing any jewelry as you answer these questions? If yes, did you receive it as a gift or buy it yourself? 

Yes, I have on my wedding and diamond engagement ring, and my birthstone ring. I also have on silver drop earrings that I think either my husband bought me years ago or I treated myself. I honestly can't remember! The birthstone was a Mother's Day gift from the girls about 20 years ago when the ring my parents bought me lost the stone while camping on Cape Cod! 

 

8) According to the National Retail Federation, more and more of us are celebrating our mothers by taking her to a paint and sip event, a pottery class, or candle or soap making. Which of those four options do you think you'd enjoy the most?

Definitely the paint and sip.  When our youngest (Claire) turned 21, she wanted to do paint and sip with her big sis, me, my sisters Joy, Jill, and Hope, and Jill's 2  daughter's Emma and Mady. We all went except for my sister Hope.  it was great fun and I'd love to do it again. 

9) While there's a spike in phone traffic on Mother's Day, these days it seems the trend is texting. On holidays, do you receive more calls or texts?

Texts. 

Happy Saturday and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms who read this!