Author Topic: The Library (Read 2317736 times)

CallieOK · « **Reply #10280 on:** December 27, 2012, 07:50:38 PM »

The Library

Our library cafe is open 24/7, the welcome mat is always out.
Do come in from daily chores and spend some time with us.

We look forward to hearing from you, about you and the books you are enjoying (or not).

Let the book talk begin here!

*Suggestion Box for Future Discussions
*SeniorLearn's Archives

Cruises ego or fame lets him be whoever he wants.. He was a horrible vampire and thank heaven people agreed with me and they have not done any more..
I dont read Jack Reacher, but I suspect if Jack is a physical kind of guy, he will do a good job. I dont think he can actually act much, but it doesnt seem to matter. I actually liked him in a very funny action type movie a few years ago.. He should go for funny.. Listen to me, the guy is rich beyond belief and I think he should do something different.Rosemary, I think I was the one who asked about the Aga in connection with a Saga - but that's o.k.

Mercy! What a monstrosity!
I'd probably enjoy Joanna Trollope's books. Will make a note to look on my library's web site to see what's available at the branch nearest me.

Ginny, I used to be able to sort of squat down (what an icky word - "squat"

) to see the titles on the bottom shelves but my knees won't let me do that any more. I have just about as much trouble seeing what's on the top shelves because I've shrunk with age.

I manage both - but it isn't a pretty sight!

I agree that Baldacci's Camel Club books are good ones to start with. The series about "King and Maxwell" (male and female "discredited Secret Service Agents") is also good. The first one is "Split Second" (2003).

mabel1015j · « **Reply #10281 on:** December 27, 2012, 11:43:57 PM »

I suggested to our librarians that they get rolling bookshelves like rolling files in dctors or law offices. We could just hit a switch and have those bottom book shelves, where the book we want is inevitably located, roll right up to eye level.

I also have an upper respiratory infection. I get one every spring and fall when i pick up my g-son from day care and keep him for the evening, once a week. I call him Bubonic Brayden!

I read a good J. D. Robb, Divided in Death. She had early in that series gotten very gruesome, but she must have had negative response to those because she's moved away from that somewhat. "Divided" was published in 2004, about halfway through the series. It was quite good. I still think Nora Roberts has a factory of writers, there's no way she can write all those books. But, i enjoy them, except for the vampires and romance series, so i don't care who writes them.

Happy, healthy New Year to all!

Jean

kiwilady · « **Reply #10282 on:** December 28, 2012, 04:32:44 AM »

I have read a lot of Joanna Trollope also. A good light read.

Carolyn

Steph · « **Reply #10283 on:** December 28, 2012, 06:27:50 AM »

Years ago, I read The Vicars Wife and loved it and read quite a few of hers. Nice stories in many ways. When I was younger and cooking all the time, I wanted an Aga, but oh me, the price in the US is horrid.. There is also an American stove that is quite like it, but forget the name.. Not now, as a widow, my cooking is minimal.. Boring for one..
I am onto a Michael Connelly , I had not read.. It is a newer one.The Drop.. Excellent, but I do like Harry Bosch.

Babi · « **Reply #10284 on:** December 28, 2012, 09:58:22 AM »

I like Trollope,too, but I'd never heard of "The Duke's Children". I have Barchester
Towers and have read "The Warden" and a book about Barset..not sure of the title.
I had no idea he had written so many other books. Never ran across them in the
library.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #10285 on:** December 28, 2012, 11:22:56 AM »

I have --and have read--"
the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" very nice little book!

I know we don't have the "book exchange" here like we had at S/N, but should anyone want this book, I will be happy to send it for only cost of postage. You can pvt email me, first come first served.

kiwilady · « **Reply #10286 on:** December 28, 2012, 05:37:31 PM »

There is a smaller stove that is similar to the Aga called a Raeburn.

Carolyn

mabel1015j · « **Reply #10287 on:** December 28, 2012, 06:02:37 PM »

I just opened my Lion Brand newsletter and look what they are pushing this week.

http://www.lionbrand.com/6030/PictPage/1922245718.html?utm_source=201228_Dec28&utm_medium=Emails&utm_campaign=Weeklynewsletter&utm_content=MarthaStewartLoom

Of course since its Martha Steward you get a whole package, not just the "potholder" loom.

My dgt's present to me was a day at Longwood Gardens. That is the estate of Pierre Dupont which has an enormous conservatory filled with thousands of flowers, and magnificent gardens and fountains. Of course they are decorated for Christmas. Dozens of Cristmas trees, each decrated in one or two colors. The sections of the conservatory were decorated by color: white and green in the first section with white hydrangeas, lilies, poinsettia, orchid ( smelled wonderful) as well as green and white hostas, etc. my favorites were the blue section and a pink/lavendar section. They had a salmon/pink wrinkled petals poinsettia that was just beautiful. I had never seen those. They had a lot of lilies, begonias, azelias and geraniums. Fun! Fun! Fun! In the spring and summer the gardens are lovely.

We were leaving about 4:00 and hundreds were coming in to see the Christmas lights and fountain light shows.

Jean

maryz · « **Reply #10288 on:** December 28, 2012, 06:17:37 PM »

Longwood gardens is one of our favorite places. The first time we were there, we went in the morning and were going to Winterthur in the afternoon . We just stayed at Longwood, and never did get to Winterthur. (John worked for duPont for 30 years, but never in the Wilmington area.)

JeanneP · « **Reply #10289 on:** December 28, 2012, 07:18:36 PM »

I took all the books I had tried reading this last week, back to the library. Just brought home 2 for the weekend. Will go back Sunday if I don't like them. One I have not heard of the writer before. (An Irish country Village" by Patrick Taylor. The Irish are known for Humor so maybe it will work. Also Going to try "The Poisonwood Bible" again.
I have some good one that have a waiting list on them. Maybe some will come in soon. Until then I have a few DVDs from Books to watch.

maryz · « **Reply #10290 on:** December 28, 2012, 07:38:39 PM »

Good luck with your books, Jeanne. I liked some of Kingsolver's earlier books, but I never could get into Poisonwood Bible. I tried twice, but decided when I hated the characters to give it up.

CubFan · « **Reply #10291 on:** December 28, 2012, 07:56:17 PM »

Jean -

One summer my daughters and I spent three weeks in Pennsylvania and without a doubt one of the high points was an afternoon at Longwood Gardens.

Mary

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #10292 on:** December 28, 2012, 10:58:36 PM »

Jeanne I will be anxious to hear what you think but I have really enjoyed the Patrick Taylor Country Series - about an older Doc in a small Irish village with a new young Doc coming to his practice - there is one about the young Doc's wedding and a Christmas one - I forgot but there are about 6 books in the series - all independent of each other although I think you have the first one - nice cozy easy reads with just a bit more depth much like Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher.

Steph · « **Reply #10293 on:** December 29, 2012, 05:49:37 AM »

Oh, that brings back such memories.. Longwood Gardens. I grew up in lower Delaware and a huge treat at Christmas was all of the entertainment.. summer,winter any time at all, that is the loveliest place and there used to be a tea room very close that was the last word in elegant when you are a small town farm girl .. Thanks for bringing back lovely memories.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #10294 on:** December 29, 2012, 01:53:23 PM »

You are welcome Steph, it was my pleasure to go there.

I had a slight AARRGGGHHH this morning.......about a decade ago my dgt gave me her palm pilot when she got a new blackberry at work. I used it only to document the books i was reading. They were in categories like we have here and by author. I also had my TBR lists by categories on it. When i opened it this morning, everything was blank!!! Fortunately i had also written most of what i had read in my little green notebook, just as a backup. But my TBR lists are gone. It was so convenient to take to the library so i could choose books tbr and to make sure i wasn't bringing home something i'd already read. (sigh)

To get on.....its gloomy and rainy here today, perfect day for kntting or crocheting......huuuumm which UFO shall i pull out?

Jean

ANNIE · « **Reply #10295 on:** December 29, 2012, 03:01:56 PM »

My gosh, Mabel! I went to the Martha Stewart site for the loom and watched the video! I thought it might be fun to buy until I paid closer attention to what all she is doing on that plethora of different looms and decided I didn't want to try it after all. Especially when I saw the price! What if I bought it and didn't like it? Who would I give it to???
My great grandson, age 7, received a knitting loom for Christmas and his mama says he was as thrilled as if it were a PlayStation. He already knows how to knit but this is different??
These kids are not into electronics yet and maybe won't be for a long time. I send them online Jackie Lawson BD and Easter cards. I wonder if they see them? Oh, yes, I know he does as his mother repeated his comment about one last year. Anyway, these boys are being raised without a lot of the the junk toys that are on the market. We will see how long that lasts in today's world.

My granddaughter is a teacher in a non-traditional state approved school and her boys attend the school. My grandson's wife, Laurie, graduated from this school and then went on to college thinking she would be a psychologist (like her mother, who was the school's psychologist for 25 years). Laurie now has a master's in occupational therapy.
So we await to see what our grandsons will do. Oh, I don't think we will live that long. What am I thinking?

JeanneP · « **Reply #10296 on:** December 29, 2012, 07:23:43 PM »

Barb. I think that Irish Country Village could be his first one shows 2008 but does mention that the older Dr. Fingal O'Reilly made his first appearance twelve years ago by 2 other people. In this one the young doctor has just been hired for a year. Will look and see if library have others. I had never heard of Patrick Taylor before. I just like books about Ireland

MaryPage · « **Reply #10297 on:** December 29, 2012, 09:36:14 PM »

I love Longwood Gardens. Have never been there for Christmas, but have seen lots of photographs of what it is like then.

My daughter Anne has an Aga. They have a very gourmet kitchen, as both love to cook, and it seems to me most of their stuff is very oversized. They have 3 fridges (not all in the kitchen; one is in the pantry) and a freezer (ditto in the pantry).

I adored Trollope, and if you do as well, then read Angela Thirkell, if you can still get her. Try used book stores. She wrote of the same places as Trollope, but years later. I adored her and inhaled every book she wrote. But that was all, sigh, eons ago!

http://www.angelathirkell.org/

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #10298 on:** December 30, 2012, 03:34:28 AM »

Mary - I love Angela Thirkell! Some of her books have been republished, and you can get many of them on Amazon UK.

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #10299 on:** December 30, 2012, 06:19:34 AM »

Trollope..read him in college.. Did not like, but later read a few I did. A bit on the too many words type person.

Babi · « **Reply #10300 on:** December 30, 2012, 08:53:43 AM »

It's always fascinating, isn't it, ANNIE, to watch the kids and grandkids grow
and develop? To see what their interests and talents turn out to be, the person
they become, the careers they choose.

My library does not have anything by Angela Thirkell. What are some of her titles?
With recommendations from Marypage and Rosemary, I'm definitely interested.

MaryPage · « **Reply #10301 on:** December 30, 2012, 12:55:31 PM »

Babi

http://www.thriftbooks.com/searchresult.aspx?searchtext=angela+thirkell&searchby=author&intsortby=1&intsortorder=0

and

http://www.betterworldbooks.com/Angela-Thirkell-H0.aspx?SearchTerm=Angela+Thirkell

MaryPage · « **Reply #10302 on:** December 30, 2012, 01:03:13 PM »

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Angela-Thirkell?store=book&keyword=Angela+Thirkell

Amazon here in America wants too much money for Thirkell books. You might try Amazon.UK though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Angela+Thirkell

JoanK · « **Reply #10303 on:** December 30, 2012, 03:15:44 PM »

Checked Amazon. You can get some of them used cheaply. The Kindle books are all audible and expensive.

JeanneP · « **Reply #10304 on:** December 30, 2012, 04:30:16 PM »

I find that our library has 20 books. by Angela Thirkell but none in LP. I will order one in Reg.print. They may be older as she died in 1961 and print could be very small.

PatH · « **Reply #10305 on:** December 30, 2012, 04:47:08 PM »

It doesn't do you much good, but my library system has 10 Thirkell titles available.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #10306 on:** December 30, 2012, 05:06:31 PM »

Oh lucky you Pat - East Lothian libraries have precisely none (the catalogue purports to have two, but in fact when you click on them up comes 'no record', which I believe is library speak for the book having been stolen, or at least never returned.)

Rosemary

JeanneP · « **Reply #10307 on:** December 30, 2012, 07:28:45 PM »

Looks like there are 2 Thirkell books out in LP but in UK. "The Headmistress" and Miss Bunting". Expensive. One looks like would be about $47.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #10308 on:** December 31, 2012, 03:26:34 AM »

I've now realised that the library catalogue is saying 'no availability' for everything - must be a fault, and won't be fixed till they go back to work on 3rd Jan. At least that means they may indeed have those two Angela Thirkells. I was rooting around to try to find some of Lesa Holstine's books of the year (her latest blog post), so eventually cottoned on to the fact that nothing was apparently available.

$47 Jeanne! That's ridiculous. If I ever see any here, I'll let you know.

My pressing disaster here is that I've lost my recipe for chocolate log cake! It was cut out from a magazine years ago and it's somehow disappeared between 24th Dec and today - will have to scour internet for another one, as most in my cookery books are far too fussy - the one I had was easy and didn't have any expensive ingredients.

Happy Hogmanay to everyone,

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #10309 on:** December 31, 2012, 06:09:44 AM »

Happy day before New Year..Trying to make windows 8 disgorge where they hide the documents file. I cannot seem to print directly from a file..They keep telling me they put it in the documents file. Bah

Babi · « **Reply #10310 on:** December 31, 2012, 09:07:05 AM »

Thanks for the links, MARYPAGE. Did she die in 1961? I saw one book with the date of 2008 on it.

Please explain 'Hogmanay', ROSEMARY. I've heard of it, but have only a vague idea it's some kind of celebration. And you should be able to find a good recipe for the chocolate log on-line. It's a pretty popular item.

salan · « **Reply #10311 on:** December 31, 2012, 11:45:45 AM »

Happy New Year to all!! I have my black-eyed peas, cabbage and cornbread here and ready to cook tomorrow. What are your food traditions for New Year's?

I spent the week of Christmas with my daughter and her family. They live in North Dallas (Carrollton). We had a white Christmas! My first time ever to have a white Christmas (marked it off my bucket list). The snow stayed on the ground for 3 days. I have experienced snow, but never on Christmas Day.

Sally

Steph · « **Reply #10312 on:** January 01, 2013, 06:06:41 AM »

I never thought of Dallas having snow?? No snow in Florida.. Snow is fine,,, ice is horrid.. extreme cold is not for me.. Alone, I will have black eyed peas.. but no cabbage ( a not to be eaten for veg unless raw for me).
Lots of firecrackers here. I had two unhappy dogs.. Went out for the last pee break, two firecrackers and both decided they did not need to pee, just get inside. Oh me..

Babi · « **Reply #10313 on:** January 01, 2013, 09:28:08 AM »

Well, SALLY, black-eyed peas is usually a New Year's tradition, but I'm not at all
sure Valerie thought to get any this year. I know I didn't think to put it on the
grocery list. She has to carry most of the shopping load now, so it's been really
hectic for her around her. I think I can survive happily without the black-eyes.

ANNIE · « **Reply #10314 on:** January 01, 2013, 10:11:16 AM »

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYFRIEND!

We stayed up 'til the ball dropped in Times Square and we toasted each other with a glass of wine. I'm treating my cold with the Vitamin C in the wine!

We watched or listened on PBS, the Lincoln Center tribute to Marvin Hamlisch(who died in the past year) and it was just a lovely treat. I didn't know he wrote the music for West Side Story. Have always attributed it to someone else, like

I can see his face but nothing comes!! And its always been a favorite of mine too.

Never too late to learn something you thought you already knew!

Following Lincoln Center, the new Smith Center for the Arts in Las Vegas opened for the first time and the music and entertainers were so much fun. I just couldn't listen to 5 hours of New Year's Eve celebrations on network TV but wanted something different for celebrating the incoming of 2013. The puzzle never got put together but maybe today.
I scoured the pantry for sauerkraut or beans

No cabbage in the 'frig either!

And there's 5 inches of snow on the ground! Hmmmmm! Maybe after the plows do their job, I can talk HH into a skedaddle to Krogers for the necessities for our New Years dinner. If I made chili with beans, would that count?? Hahaha!

I don't know if I have read Angela Thirkel so will see what my library offers. And Joan Trollope? And the original Trollope! Never found myself near any of those authors. So, at age 77, there are still too many books and still so little time!

I am still reading Mary Pipher's "Seeking Peace:Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World". This book is about her life and what happened when she found herself a successful author with all that goes with it. The travels as a speaker about "Reviving Ophelia" which was her first non-fiction book left her completely scattered and depressed. As a psychologist, she works hard to lift herself up to joy again. Very different from her other books. We read and discussed in our f2f here, "The Middle of Everywhere" and "Reviving Ophelia" sometime in the past. Very well
received by the group.

JoanP · « **Reply #10315 on:** January 01, 2013, 10:23:00 AM »

Black-eyed peas are covered here...and collard greens too. Not exactly sure how to cook them, only try them once a year - on Jan.1. Does anyone have a recipe for cooking them...a really simple one?

Came in this morning with a quote from Herodotus, seems to fit into the recent atrocity in India. Keep in mind that the man wrote this in the middle of the 5th century BCE!

"All the Indian tribes I have described have sexual intercourse in public, as herd animals do." Rape too.

He was quoted in Kapuschinski's book, Travels with Herodotus published in 2007. It's our BookClub Online pick scheduled to begin on Jan.4. Not a very long book, though some of us are reading Herodotus' Histories along with it.

You are welcome to join in the discussion. We are gathering here - http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=3645.0

Really, really fascinating reading.

maryz · « **Reply #10316 on:** January 01, 2013, 10:44:56 AM »

JoanP, what I would do with collards is to wash the leaves thoroughly, strip out the tough stems, tear up the leaves somewhat, put them in a pot and simmer them for several hours. If you like, you can add in a bit of bacon grease or a piece of ham fat. I love all greens, but John doesn't like them or the smell left in the house after cooking, so I never have them (unless he's going to be gone for several days - which doesn't happen any more). I usually put a squirt of pepper sauce on mine. You could probably also wilt the leaves in a skillet with some bacon grease. Check out recipes.com or ask the cook.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #10317 on:** January 01, 2013, 01:24:07 PM »

Add some vinegar w/ the hot sauce to tyhose greens. Actually there are some canned ones that are quite good that can just be heated up, not so smelly, Mary, and then add the extras.

Jean

JoanK · « **Reply #10318 on:** January 01, 2013, 04:26:13 PM »

I had never heard of the tradition of black-eued peas on New Years, but my caretaker said she is making them and will bring me some.

According to wiki, it's a tradition for Roshashanah, Jewish New Years, first recorded in the Babylonian Talmud in 550BC. But, according to the source below, the Southern tradition dates from the Civil War. Sherman in his march through Georgia did not burn the fields of Black-eyed peas, so they became an important source of food for the Southerners.

Take your pick of stories.

http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/restaurantslocalcuisine/a/blackeyedpeas.htm

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #10319 on:** January 01, 2013, 05:05:54 PM »

going really lazy this year - wrapping them with some minced tomato and avocado, sour cream in a soft tortilla with a sprinkle of long horn cheese. I guess a Blackeyed pea TexMex Wrap?!?

Found this great idea - start the day off with a large empty jar and through out the year fill it with scrapes of paper with jotted down good happenings - at the end of the year review all the good things that happened in your life.

News:

Author Topic: The Library (Read 2317736 times)