A NEW POST AFTER ALL THIS TIME

I'm making a new post. Is anybody there?

If you are there, tell me.

I want to write this again.

BOOKS

September. I have accumulated a book every day this year. They have taken over a corner of the living room, spilling over into the dining room. I used 2 cardboard boxes to make bookcases to hold a few of them. The cardboard box is a wonderful thing. Books are wonderful things.

ACCUMULATING BOOKS

I am in to the third month of accumulating one book a day and bringing it into the house. It has been such an experience. Most of the books are coming from Mama's house. I have found pictures, clippings, cards, and notes in many of the books. Without giving each book it's own day for attention, I would have missed a lot of these things.

MADISON BROOKE

Madison Brooke will 2 years old on January 25. She is such a sweet little girl. She loves books.

The Books Come

I did give The Goldfinch another try and now I am lost in it. I'm glad since I like to lose myself in a long drawn-out book, live with the characters inside their lives. 

I have accumulated a book every day in January. This is a fine idea, set upon me by Amanda. My only problem is not accumulating a bunch of them every day. But that would take out the fun. 

The best of reading days were the ones that brought a new James Michener to the bookstore and then to my house. I could hardly contain myself and barely raised my head from the page until I read the last work. 

Now the quest if for a book case to hold the accumulated books. It will show it's face when I least expect it. 

2014 Book Acumulation

It is January 5, 2014. So far, it's not too late to keep up with my New Year's Resolutions. Those resolutions are to read more and accumulate more books. Amanda, (I spend a lot of time with Amanda) and I were Facebook chatting the other night and we decided I should bring a book into this house every day this year. It may not be on the exact day but I can catch up. Easily. Without buying them. Although, I reserve the right to buy some. In fact, I have ordered an advance copy of Alice Hoffman's The Museum of Extraordinary Things. I will have to read it as soon as it arrives.

I'm reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. But I'm not called to it. Mostly, I'm sitting beside it. I doubt I ever finish it. Well, maybe. Probably not. It is a pretty book. I'm on p. 38. That tells the tale. I've restarted it twice. I used to think I had to finish every book I bought or started. I don't think so anymore. There are too many things I love and I will spend my time on them.

So I think I will move on to S. I need a table to read this book. I could take out the inserts, as Jane Hicks told me, but I can't seem to bring myself to do that. So it will be a delicate adventure. I will love it.

So when the rain stops and it isn't below 0, I will go get books from Mama's house to catch me up in my 2014 Book Accumulation. I am not opposed to accumulating more than 1 book a day, in case somebody wants to donate to my cause. Note: Hardcover 1st edition with dust jacket, no Danielle Steele shit type stuff, no remainder marks. Advance Reader Copies most welcome, as these are my favorite, any binding accepted. Signed copies of anything, any binding.  (Well, not Danielle Steel)

And I don't have a house cat. I want a little calico kitten. I know I can't look for it, she will have to find me. And she will tell me her name.

I'm going to give The Goldfinch one more shot.

THE MAGNOLIA PEARL RANCH

The MAGNOLIA PEARL RANCH is for sale.
 http://www.magnoliapearl.com

It is the most beautiful place. I haven't seen it with my own eyes but Anne at http://fionaandtwig.blogspot.com has made the most wonderful photographs.

I hope silly people don't buy it. The place needs someone who will be in love with every thing about it.

The Magnolia Pearl clothes are so beautiful. We should wear them every day.

EYE GLASSES

I have new glasses. I can now see to read a real book.

2013

January 1, 2013

I wish I knew what the year will bring. Well, really I don't want to know.

I intend for 2013 to be a reading year. I will have new glasses with new eyes. I should be able to read now.

Other than reading, I don't know what I want to do with the year. But what else is there.

460

This is post #460. I should spend more time on this blog than on Facebook. I really should. Then I wouldn't be distracted by all manner of things that aren't any of my business. I forget most of them anyway. I wouldn't get in trouble. I wouldn't make people mad. But I would miss out on a lot of funny things. And sad things. I should be woman enough to be both places.

A LETTER TO MY MOTHER

Billy and Wellington

My uncles, Billy and Wellington Matthews. Aren't they dashing? Such characters, full of stories, poems, tears, and laughter.

Madison Brooke

Madison Brooke, our great granddaughter is spending her first night in our house. She is such a sweet baby. We are so happy she has come to visit with her mommy and Shalyn.

PINEAPPLE

I'm just in love with fresh pineapple. Even if it does rip the hide off my mouth. I can even cut peel it and cut it in pieces. Chill it for a few hours and it is delicious.

I feel so guilty to be reading on the kindle for mac instead of real books. But it is so easy and gives such instant gratification.

My feral cats are being trapped to be neutered. One is in the trap and I feel so bad, I've been outside to put it on the porch. I know she's cold. But this is a good thing for her. I wish the others would get in the traps.

No snow again today. I've given up.

SCRAPBOOK

I've suffered an obsession. I couldn't find my mother's Queen Elizabeth scrapbook. I would have sworn it was in my house. I nearly it apart looking for it. I didn't find it. So I went to her house and found it under a bed. I also found other scrapbooks. 

My mother was quite taken with Queen Elizabeth and made this scrapbook during and after her coronation. She was big on glue and has glued the pictures and articles onto the pages of the scrapbook. The pages haven't held up well but all the articles can be read and the pictures are intact. There are also some newspapers that haven't been cut. One of them is from Canada and has a full page picture of the Queen. 

I'm very grateful that my mother was such such a hoarder. I in hearted this trait, I'm afraid. 

I was a purist but I have fallen into reading books on Kindle for mac. Oh, the shame. But I have to admit I'm liking it really well. I've read 5 books this year, all on the kindle.

I can check them our from the library and I might try that. If I don't have to get on waiting lists. That probably won't happen.

I need to make a new book list for 2012. Seems to be the easiest way to keep track of what I'm reading. Now if I could just do that for writing.

11.11.11

I've looked so forward to 11.11.11 and it has been  great day. I saw the time at 1:11 am, 11:11am, 1:11 pm and I'm going to try and post this at 11:11 pm.

I marked the day by climbing a 70 foot fire tower. I was on the top at 11:11. I made a lot of pictures and it was such a good time.

The fire tower belongs to Tony and Susan. They have the most interesting things, chickens, rocks, a fig tree, eggplant vines, trees, a rusted out tractor, an old car from England, a solar heated chicken house, a swing with a fire burning in front of it, flowers nipped by frost. They are such interesting people. I had the best time.

Uncle Joe

Tomorrow I'm going to the funeral of my Uncle Joe Matthews. He is the last of my mother's brothers. My mothers hasn't been dead quite 2 years yet. Her youngest brother, Billy, died in 1965 and W. V., the oldest, died in 1976.
I am the oldest of 7 grandchildren. So now I am the oldest in the blood line. I will be 65 in December. It's an odd thing to be the oldest. I'm the oldest of my Chosen Family.
The Matthews will die out with our generation as will the Adams with John Michael.
There are children but not with the Matthews or Adams name.
I'm afraid I'm going to be really sad tomorrow, I'll probably be the chief mourner.
My uncle and my mother looked so much alike, they had the same facial expressions, and they held their hands the same way, their fingers intermingled and folded. They had the same sense of humor although mama was quicker to talk and tell tales than Joe but when it did it was memorable.
I've been practicing not crying but it isn't working. Waves of grief wash over me and I can hardly stand it. But I will.

Poor blog. So neglected.

READING

I'm going to read DRACULA by Bram Stoker. I've never read it. Amanda says I should, so I will. I'm also reading FAIR AND TENDER LADIES by Lee Smith. I've read it several times. During January, I read new things and old things, some I read years ago and one that was just published. I loved them all. I only want to read things I want to read and love. I used to think I had to finish anything I started but now there are so many things i want to read or re-read that I only stay with something I love. So if you see I have read something,you know I loved it.

I read 9 books in January. 2011 is going to be a reading year for me. And a writing year. And an art journaling year. I hope it will also be a quiet year, less tv, but more music. I consider music being quiet. I'm just now getting used to it being the year 2011. I never thought I would live so long.

I'm walking with Dianne. I love walking.