Author Topic: The Library (Read 2079815 times)

PatH · « **Reply #19760 on:** February 14, 2019, 10:28:54 AM »

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

PatH · « **Reply #19761 on:** February 14, 2019, 10:30:06 AM »

Barb, I HAD to figure out the story of Beowulf, because I first read it in a college English Lit. Class.

bellamarie · « **Reply #19762 on:** February 14, 2019, 10:40:31 AM »

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19763 on:** February 14, 2019, 02:31:34 PM »

Pat did you figure it out? Any clue's you can share would be heaven...

Yes, Bellamarie - Happy Valentine's day -

Remember when we were all in 7th grade and we had to memorize the beginning of the Courtship of Miles Standish and then we would all read and read looking for the love part that never was like the movie love we saw among stars in the movies. Well found two copies of The Courtship of Miles Standish to read today and be transported back to our youth.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54414

http://www.hwlongfellow.org/poems_poem.php?pid=191

The image I remember from the book that was in our 7th grade reader...

ANNIE · « **Reply #19764 on:** February 14, 2019, 03:20:34 PM »

Happy Valentine’s Day to all! I finished my super book about Gameche by Louise Penny. Have to find a read that is as good as that one. Am spending the day awaiting another great granddaughter to be born! It’s taking longer than I expected so am getting uptight. Please pray for us.🤓🙏🙏🙏

PatH · « **Reply #19765 on:** February 14, 2019, 05:36:04 PM »

A Valentine baby!

ginny · « **Reply #19766 on:** February 14, 2019, 09:51:24 PM »

Congratulations, Ann! Let us know what the Valentine's Baby is, boy or girl and the name. I think the names are really interesting lately, they seem to be swinging back to past names. We'll find out.

Happy Valentine's Day, All!

Actually Barbara, I noticed your post on grinding using water wheels. The Romans were adept at grinding grains, without water. Here is a bakery in Pompeii showing the grinders, that cap fit over a pointed rock and poles were put in the holes pulled or pushed by a donkey or a man, and the grains were ground in that way.

Soldiers on the march carried their own personal grinders, they are very clever looking ones, too.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19767 on:** February 15, 2019, 02:15:13 AM »

Thanks Ginny - that would be fun to learn when flour to make bread was available in different times and parts of the world and how they made bread - and when leavening was introduced - reading on a different product, wool, in Raw Material: Working Wool in the West and learning that unless there are those who know how to shear wool and enough shearers to do the work, all the sheep in the world will not supply an access of wool for trade or to make other products and so, it sounds like unless there is a way to grind grain there is no flour.

I remember reading years ago that during ancient times to preserve grain is why various alcoholic drinks were made, beer etc. which came before grinding grain. I'm thinking it was in one of Joseph Campbell's books.

I wonder also if some of the techniques for grinding grain went dormant when the Roman Empire died out since where I first encountered the story of Bread being a new product in France during the 12 century was related to a 12th century house that is now a museum - Part of France was part of the Roman Empire and so if these water wheels were used by Romans you would think they would be a part of the subsequent French culture - although thinking on it maybe not - during the times of the Roman Empire, France was Gaul and inhabited by the Celtic tribes - that must be the difference - need to see if there is a book or an essay that puts together the story of grain and bread.

Good news y'all that live in the North - all day today and this evening we, in this neighborhood has been out in the streets watching in awe - several huge flocks of Robins and Cedar Waxwings have been circling, landing in our trees, then lift off flying north - We saw several thousand birds filling the sky, and swooping down, almost bending heavy tree limbs, not really settling eating any berry they could find, chattering and chattering, no singing - Spring is coming - they say it takes them about 6 to 8 weeks from here to central Illinois.

ANNIE · « **Reply #19768 on:** February 15, 2019, 07:09:45 AM »

Baby’s name is Ava Marie Alden!

Frybabe · « **Reply #19769 on:** February 15, 2019, 10:25:51 AM »

Annie, congratulations to you and your family on the birth of another great-granddaughter.

I am concentrating, today, on reading The Big Oyster. I've gotten past the Indian and very early settlements and just learned about the oysters themselves, their biology and ecology. Next up appears to concentrate on the growing Dutch settlement.

bellamarie · « **Reply #19770 on:** February 15, 2019, 11:48:42 AM »

Annie, CONGRATULATIONS on you new great-granddaughter Ava Marie!! What a beautiful name, I am sure you are over the moon, what a great Valentine's Day gift!!

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19771 on:** February 15, 2019, 01:52:37 PM »

Lovely name Annie - Ava Marie Alden - just lovely - good wishes for this new infant and for you and your family.

ANNIE · « **Reply #19772 on:** February 15, 2019, 03:15:12 PM »

Ava didn’t arrive until 11:48am today! Long labor but mom and Ava are doing quite well.
Thanks for all the good wishes from my friends on SL. You are special!

ginny · « **Reply #19773 on:** February 15, 2019, 05:43:38 PM »

Congratulations, Ann!!!

Barb, Pliny the Elder wrote of Leaven and his recipe sounds a lot like a sourdough starter to me.

PatH · « **Reply #19774 on:** February 15, 2019, 06:15:59 PM »

Annie, I'm so glad mother and daughter are both doing well. A long ordeal, but worth it.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19775 on:** February 15, 2019, 06:20:12 PM »

You really have me curious Ginny and I found a couple of books on the history of bread, and grain production and making flour that I've either ordered and one I can get from the library that they are sending to my local branch - so far it appears the early ground grain was very rough and only the upper class enjoyed it as a baked product - it appears that gruel was typical in Greece and they then would take the gruel and it sounds like they either baked or cooked it in pans to make what it sounds like today we would call pancakes.

So far I have not read much about grounding grain into the kind of flour we associate with Baguetts or other loaves of bread - it appears early bread did include a rye and something like a pumpernickel type bread made with rough grain -

Thanks this opened another adventure of discovery about something so simple - one thing that I read that surprised me is that starting in the nineteenth century we do not eat near the amount of bread as consumed during earlier times and that before the nineteenth century for the working class most calories were from drinking beer and whisky which they did say came about as a way to utilize and preserve the grain.

it is like reading the social history of mankind - I'm thinking even wars were probably affected by food stuff - we all read some early sea adventures and they ate hardtack - well onward...

Talk about crazy weather - today the temp hit 91 degrees can you believe and a norther is expected either Sunday or Monday that will plummet us back to 45 degrees - this is insane.

Jonathan · « **Reply #19776 on:** February 15, 2019, 10:45:35 PM »

A great big welcome to little Ava Marie. May she have a long and happy life.

It's been a long brutish winter in Canada. An inch of ice covered my car the other day. It's exciting to hear that the robins are on the way. Spring seems like a miracle when it comes. More about beautiful Canada another time.

Frybabe · « **Reply #19777 on:** February 16, 2019, 09:53:56 AM »

Barb, the first part of The Big Oyster is really interesting. Now, I've learned more about Peter Stuyvesant, his background (which I knew nothing about), and his strict rule over New Amsterdam, which I knew practically nothing about except for his name and association with it. Apparently, Stuyvesant was the first to introduce slaves to the area when he moved up from the Caribbean. The first city hall, when they won a real government rather than company rule was a tavern. Around the mid-1700's various groups around the area, including New Jersey, started regulating oyster fishing, in part to protect their beds from others, but also in part to conserve them. I also learned that Broadway was originally an Indian path. The name is a convolution of the Dutch name eventually given to it. So now, I am up to Part 2 and the 1800's.

Oh, almost forgot. If you are interested I did a paragraph about ancient Roman oysters in the Classics Forum. I am not going to duplicate it here.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19778 on:** February 16, 2019, 11:29:28 AM »

Facinating - really - I remember I think here on Senior Learn we read something about the early settlement in New York but nothing was included about oysters or for that matter growing crops or hunting but I do remember about Peter Stuyvesant and his slaves - seems to me if I remember they were on the same level as indentured servants but the indentured servants had a time limit. So glad you shared - I will be back later, probably this evening and check out the oyster connection to ancient Rome.

Sure enough that norther pushed through - so yesterday it was hot reaching 91 and today it is 42 - need to run - late for a meetup.

Mkaren557 · « **Reply #19779 on:** February 16, 2019, 11:38:37 AM »

This is truly a voice from the past. I really didn't drop pff the face of the earth, but I came close. At the end of July 2018, a neighbor found me unconscious. Luckily I had left my door unlocked so she could walk my dog as I had not been feeling well. I will condense this long story. It seems that I had a cyst on my brain that burst producing symptoms like meningitis. For several weeks I was in and out of a comalike state. I was in ICU for a while with a very high temp and sepsis. I am now in a rehabilitation center in Sarasota and will be moving into an assisted living apartment soon, I hope. My condo has been cleared out and most of my possessions have been disposed of as no one expected me to recover enough to need more than clothes. I am stubborn however and I am once again able to read, write and discuss. I do not think as quickly as I used to and my memory is not great, but I improve almost daily. I can walk with a walker and pretty much tend to my needs, I know that I cannot live alone. I am looking forward to having laundry, cleaning and meals taken care of for me. I just wanted to let you all know where I have been and I will keep checking in. I miss my Latin classes most of all, but right now reading in English is challenging enough. Anyway, I have no idea what my relatives did with all my Latin books. If I find them I may start over again. That will be a real challenge. I hope all of you are well and happy. Karen Mathews

Frybabe · « **Reply #19780 on:** February 16, 2019, 11:57:25 AM »

Karen, I am so glad you are back and on the mend.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #19781 on:** February 16, 2019, 02:09:54 PM »

Glad you made it through that horrible experience! Welcome back!

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19782 on:** February 16, 2019, 02:24:05 PM »

Oh oh 0h Karen - quite an experience and here you are back into action again - wonderful to hear from you - after reading of your experience life has a new meaning - and our things - wow to see our life as valuable separate from our things - makes us rethink what our life is all about - Karen hope you do improve each day - that is the prayer... and that you continue to have the spunk and courage to work at improvement - what a role model you are. Thanks...

jane · « **Reply #19783 on:** February 16, 2019, 05:39:19 PM »

Welcome back, Karen! You are obviously one determined lady...and HURRAH FOR YOU!!

PatH · « **Reply #19784 on:** February 16, 2019, 07:02:17 PM »

Oh, Karen, it's so good to have you back, but what an ordeal. Thank goodness you had the strength and determination to claw your way back. Keep on talking with us whenever you feel up to it.

Are you by any chance a music lover? Listening to music has been shown to be of help in this kind of recuperation.

bellamarie · « **Reply #19785 on:** February 16, 2019, 07:09:27 PM »

Karen, it is so good to have you back with us. What a horrible experience and I am glad to hear you are improving daily. I have so often thought of you and wondered how you were. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for a full recovery.

ginny · « **Reply #19786 on:** February 16, 2019, 09:19:02 PM »

KAREN!! Is that YOU? How good it is to see you and what an awful ordeal you have been through! I wish we had known, somehow, but we are glad to see you now, anyway.

I am so glad you are "stubborn!" It has served you well, and I hope you continue from strength to strength.

Welcome back, we have missed you, a lot!

What a happy day!

Hooray, Karen is BACK!

bellamarie · « **Reply #19787 on:** February 17, 2019, 11:16:22 AM »

Food for thought.......
Female Librarians on Horseback Delivering Books, ca. 1930s

http://historydaily.org/female-librarians-on-horseback?fbclid=IwAR03QHEdFPJe6pr-CmtQ8NgteCDyekiHa0a-f51ptymFALJn6PVr7sPN67Q

PatH · « **Reply #19788 on:** February 17, 2019, 12:46:18 PM »

That's fascinating, Bellamarie. What a good thing to do. My mother was a librarian in the 30s too, until she had Joan and me, but her life wasn't that colorful; first a children's librarian and then working for the State Department.

ginny · « **Reply #19789 on:** February 17, 2019, 09:23:13 PM »

Or mule back as the case may be.

bellamarie · « **Reply #19790 on:** February 18, 2019, 01:14:35 PM »

PatH., How exciting your Mom was a librarian! I now know where you and Joan got your love of reading. I never had access to any books until I got in High School, now I can't own enough of them, I make visits to our library and our Barnes and Noble frequently.

Okay, I have GOT to share this book I am reading with ya'll. I can't contain my enthusiasm..... the name of it is, The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova.
She has also written, The Historian and The Swan Thieves.

Barb,

Quote

Macedonia, Bulgaria's next door neighbor we hear of from ancient times but Bulgaria not - seems like a modern name - maybe the land area was part of either Greece or Macedonia back in the day. I have heard of the city of Sofia - I wonder if the city is named after the famous ancient poet Sofia

Barb, there is no mention as to how the city got it's name, but there are so many places nearby they are traveling to throughout Bulgaria. Alexandra lives in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina and decides to go teach in Sofia, Bulgaria. Once she lands in Sofia the story has taken her to, Velin Monastery in Bovech, then to Plovdiv, next to Gornno, and now I have no idea where their next destination will be. The people, culture, politics, arts, landscapes are simply visually amazing.

This is the first time ever reading this author, and this area of the world for me. I started reading yesterday and could not put the book down. I fell asleep with it next to me. I have never devoured a book so quickly as this one. It's full of descriptions of the many regions the protagonist and her companion travels to, trying to return an urn of ashes she accidentally took with her, when standing beside an elderly couple and their son waiting for a taxi. It has become a mystery with many dangers to avoid. It appears she or the taxi driver, have in their possession something someone is trying to retrieve, making them a target, yet they have no idea which of them have what ever the person/persons are trying to get back. All I can say is, I could just imagine our discussion if our group was reading this book together. Oh, oh, oh..... although, I am glad I am reading it alone, because I can go at the speed of light to keep reading without having to stop at sections assigned in our discussion. It's just under 500 pages and I am already on page 223. I suppose I will complete it by the end of today, and will be wishing it had not ended.

Oh the joys of a good book, on a snowy day!!!

Frybabe · « **Reply #19791 on:** February 18, 2019, 02:29:26 PM »

Marvelous, Bellamarie. I'll have to take a look-see. I bought The Historian for my sister when it first came out, but as far as I know she still hasn't read it. Back then she was big on Ann Rice's vampire stories.

bellamarie · « **Reply #19792 on:** February 18, 2019, 02:44:53 PM »

Frybabe, This author covers a lot of history in this book, she takes us back to the WWII, and describes how a family managed through the bombings. A few characters reminisce back and tell their stories. If your sister has not begun reading The Historian, I can guarantee she won't be disappointed, this author is truly amazing in her writing.

Frybabe · « **Reply #19793 on:** February 18, 2019, 03:13:00 PM »

I don't know much about the area either, except that originally the area was populated by nomadic tribes. Back in the centuries BC and even well into the first millennium AD, the boundaries were in flux. The Thracians (many only know them by the Roman gladiatorial combat style), the Persians, the Macedonians, and I think, the Romans all had a go at the area too. The first Bulgarian attempt at empire was in the mid to late-6th century AD. Or so says Wikipedia, which lists quite a bibliography. I think I will see if I can find old histories on Project Gutenberg (I thought I already had something downloaded, but no, must have been my imagination. My interest in the Pontic and Black Sea area has been growing, and you've just spiked my curiosity even more.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #19794 on:** February 18, 2019, 04:08:52 PM »

Glad you looked up some of the history of the area frybabe - interesting area of the world - not quite Asian and not quite European either - appears to be a less developed area of the world. I forget till I look on a map how close the Ukraine is and we never hear of Georgia any longer and it too is in that part of the world.

Bellamarie the story you share sounds so familiar - I saw a movie something about someone returning ashes - hope it is not a spoiler but the move showed after they find the family they do not want the ashes since they believe the soul is where ever you die - something about a memorial funeral - sorta remember a taxi cab driver that takes her miles and miles and I'm remembering a guy, maybe a guide with her and the family essentially chased them out of town with the ashes that they have no clue what to do with - I forgot how it ended or started - saw the movie over a year ago - I know there were subtitles but do not even remember the language in the film - the scenery was stark, cold, and everyone looked more like 1930 although, it was during at least the 1990s or later.

I know I do have a copy of The Swan Thieves - one of the many books I start and something waylays me - I need to look - seems to me I may even have a copy of The Shadow Land on my to be read pile.

Another area that to me is fascinating to learn about is where all the '...stan' nations are located. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan - I wonder why Afghanistan has had all their troubles but these next door nations do not and are they similar in any way. Forgot how the Germans got into Afghanistan but remember reading their influence when we read The Kite Runner. Maybe that is it - Europe did not 'mess' with the other nearby nations - I wonder why Afghanistan.

Well no snow but cold - after 91 on Friday we are down into the 40s and 50s - today upset tummy so a nap is next...

Frybabe · « **Reply #19795 on:** February 18, 2019, 04:33:23 PM »

Okay, so I found a book about the first Bulgarian Empire, written by Steven Runciman who spent time in the area and wrote many books about the Crusades, called A History of the First Bulgarian Empire. Published in 1930, it was not easy to find, but Dickinson College up the road from me has a copy. I put in an ILL for it. We'll see what happens. Otherwise, I will try and read the online "free sample" from Questia, a website for researchers, scholars, writers, college students and such. Joining Questia would cost, but I don't know how much. I hate when a website doesn't tell you right up front what the cost is.

Barb, have you read any interesting books from that area? My interest in that area includes Afghanistan and centers in the "Great Game" era of the 1700-1800s when the Brits were busy trying to keep the French, Russians and Germans from slipping down into India from the overland routes, and when they were trying mightily to open trade with China from the overland routes. They were not at all keen on having trade competition. If you haven't read it you might want to look at The Great Game by Peter Hopkirk. Another good one is The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan by Ben MacIntyre. This last is of particular interest to me because the subject was a Pennsylvania Quaker and he was the inspiration for Kipling's story. Kipling's Kim also gives you a sense of the intrigue and danger of the "Game".

PatH · « **Reply #19796 on:** February 18, 2019, 09:43:22 PM »

Frybabe, the"Great Game" is of interest to me, coming at it via Kipling's Kim, which I loved as a child, and still admire as an adult, in spite of its flaws. JoanK and I led a discussion of it here a long time ago. Hopkirk also wrote Quest for Kim, which equates places and people in the book with their real life equivalents.

On a frivolous note, science fiction writer Poul Anderson's book Game of Empire is a reselling of the story as space opera. It's one of a long series of his, the others having nothing to do with Kipling. It's amusing to see the close correlations of story and character in a different universe.

Frybabe · « **Reply #19797 on:** February 19, 2019, 06:54:11 AM »

Didn't know that, Pat. I must look into it.

This morning I am in the "envious" position of having three furry supervisors with me.

BBC article I found this morning that may be of interest: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190218-are-we-on-the-road-to-civilisation-collapse It is part of a series of articles.

Mkaren557 · « **Reply #19798 on:** February 19, 2019, 08:40:45 AM »

I taught geography for a few years. It is funny what I remember from all the info I taught. One piece of info is that Bulgaria was then one of the world's largest producer of roses. Because it was part of the Communist Bloc, I always pictured it as bleak and very black and white. The roses changed my perception. I had The Weight of Ink on my kindle and started reading it. It is long but I am enjoying it. However, time will tell if I stick with it. My patience and focus have definitely been affected by all this brain stuff. Thank you all so much for all your warm, welcoming words. I feel like I have reunited with long lost friends.

PatH · « **Reply #19799 on:** February 19, 2019, 11:05:12 AM »

We feel the same way, Karen. It's good to have you back.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2079815 times)