My Commonplace book... Poem: "Come Little Leaves" by George Cooper

 Well, Fall/Autumn has come to my part of the world. The mornings are colder and the days are generally cooler. I came upon this poem and, although there are generally no trees where I live at this time in my life, I remember the leaves from Tennessee and this poem makes me homesick. The poem is titled "Come Little Leaves". It is from the book "In the Nursery of My Bookhouse" - Volume 1. The book was edited by olive Beaupre Miller; published by The Bookhouse for Children 1920

My Commonplace Book... Poem: "Theme in Yellow" by Carl Sandburg

 It is starting to be fall. I grew up in Tennessee and I remember the many different colors of fall. Orange, red, yellows, browns, and even greens. I then saw this poem in the Good Old Days Sept/Oct. 2021 issue. It brought back so many things to mind. So, I clipped it from the issue to put into my commonplace books.

My Commonplace Book... Poem: "When I say, "I am a Christian"

“When I say, I am a Christian,” written by Carol Wimmer, in 1988. It was first published by Hi-Call Gospel Magazine in 1992. It has been misattributed to Dr. Maya Angelou and/or Author Unknown. It has also been changed at different times.

My Commonplace Book... Snippets in Time: Virtuous Womanhood

What does womanhood mean and what does it entail?  Miss Bailey who writes the blog: Big House in the Little Woods attended a lecture titled "Women of Virtue".  I would have loved to attend this lecture, also, if it had been in my area. Something Miss Bailey said about this lecture really made me think.

"Feminine strength calls out masculine strength in men. What happens when a man feels intimidated by a strong woman? In a nutshell, that's his problem. A woman does a man no favors by weakening her nature, suppressing her opinion or silencing her voice. True men of virtue can handle true women of virtue. If they can't, they need to mature using feminine strength as an inspiration to discover masculine strength. Beyond this, there is a danger in becoming weak, because weakness calls out the wrong kind of strength in a man -- a bullying, authoritarian, obtuse strength.

Being weak doesn't do anyone any kind of favors."  ~ Bailey 

Food Allergies

 

Many people do not understand allergies. They say that you are making it up, or you could not possibly have such allergies.  But has anyone ever really thought about allergies? Allergies are pretty serious conditions and can cause death.
 

For example, I am highly allergic to fish oil.  I cannot touch fish oil in any way or I have a "simple" allergic reaction where my hands get numb, red and itch like crazy.  I have a big problem if I were to ingest fish or fish oil in any way, shape or form. I would have to get to the hospital quick in that case. I also am unable to be in the same room where it is being cooked or I start to sneeze and my eyes water, get red and itch. I can eat Shellfish though!! :D  My parents use to joke that I had expensive tastes.



Ever thought about wanting to just go to church and being unable to because of an allergy?  Well my mother has to think of this.  She is highly allergic to smells and can get migraines because of them.  She is unable to even attend church because of the perfume that people wear and shopping is a literal migraine inducing nightmare because of the perfumes, candles, and other strong smells


Another allergy that can be this severe is Peanuts or Nuts. Although Peanuts are not in the nut family, people can be allergic to both and this allergy (I have always heard) is almost always extreme.  Children could have an allergic reaction from even, say, touching a door handle where someone who has just eaten PBJ sandwiches has touched.

I have heard about two specific people with these kinds of allergies in just the last couple of weeks.  One story was heart warming for the way that people were helping to get Fletcher for Bailee. Fletcher is an allergen alert dog that was picked for this beautiful little girl. The other was how some cruel kids nearly killed a classmate with a severe nut allergy in Sweden. Two extremes on the emotion scale and two ways of thinking.

I don't know about anyone else, but I want to understand and help people who have extreme allergies such as these.  I would love to find some books that have real world problems that the characters deal with if anyone has any recommendations. :D

My Commonplace Book... Snippets in Time: Neil Gaiman

“Don't ever apologize to an author for buying something in paperback, or taking it out from a library (that's what they're there for. Use your library). Don't apologize to this author for buying books second hand, or getting them from bookcrossing or borrowing a friend's copy. What's important to me is that people read the books and enjoy them, and that, at some point in there, the book was bought by someone. And that people who like things, tell other people. The most important thing is that people read... ”

― Neil Gaiman

I had seen where someone was being put down for looking for bargains on books.  I say Shame on those people. Many people are unable to afford Brand New, Hardback Books! I would think all authors would be like Neil Gaiman and would want their books to be read, at the least. If I really like a book, I may even save the money to buy that New book. 

My Commonplace Book... Missions Mosaic (Oct 2012)

This month's Missions Mosaic has so much in it. A lot of it has been near and dear to my heart for a while also. For example, not many people are aware that Slavery and Human Exploitation is alive and well even here in the United States. *Imagine being scared of the UPS driver because you have been told he is immigration and is looking to arrest and hurt you. Look at the maid, nanny, hair stylist, manicurist, prostitute on the street corners, or the  cook and other staff at your favorite shops? Chances are that they could be "slaves" and not doing this of their free will. Granted they may be, but not all the time.  A statistic says that 'slavery' is 2nd only to the drug business in the world. It is an international problem and needs to be eradicated.

I am planning to write down some quotes and ideas from the Missions Mosaic magazine, so that I can keep them close even when I no longer have the magazine.

"The Young Women: Time to Invest.  Designed for the younger woman, myMISSION is a missions organization centered on missional Bible study and prayer, community events, and missions projects.  The organization is Web based and can be found at myMISSIONfulfilled.com  This Web site offers six interactive blogs:

• The collegiate
• The girl-next-door
• The young professional
• The mom
• The myMISSION leader

         Courtney Simpson Pg 5

"Noting to Call My Own: Backpacks with Hope. Fill Backpacks for Children in Transition. The biggest thing is that they usually come with nothing and are scared and embarrased to have to use other people's things." Angie Quantrell pg 6 & 7

 There are all kinds of things to put into backpacks that the children can have and know that it is theirs and no-one will take it away.  Things such as blankets, slippers, sanitary supplies, a toy or two, a Bible, paper, journals, etc... It would make these children's lives better in a small way.

I am single and have never been married. This one paragraph really speaks to me. I just changed the age to reflect me. The author was 39 at the time of writing this.

 "Ever since I was a little child, I have dreamed of nothing more than being a mother and a wife. Those desires have only strengthened over the years. Now as a [38-year-old] single female, I still struggle with those desires. God has not promised me a husband or children, but He has also not told me 'no.' " Anna Kathryn Hardin Pg 14

"Reflection & Respond: My Ministry Attitude

• What ministries am I involved in?
• What scares me about moving out of my comfort zone to minister to others?
• When was the last time I thought about the example of Christ I portray?
• Does my ministry involvement reflect an acceptance of others or a holier-than-thou attitude?
• Evaluate yourself. Describe your attitude toward those to whom you minister.
• Ask another trusted believer and/or someone you have ministered to in the past what kind of Christ impression you make on others. Encourage her to answer honestly, and graciously accept her opinion.
• Study Jesus' example in Mark 1:40-41; Mark 10:13-14; Luke 19:1-10; and John 4:5-42.
• Pray for Jesus' compassion to pour through you to others. Ask Him to show you how to appropriately respond to all people in all circumstances while upholding His truth.
• Make a list of at least three characteristics that Jesus displayed as He ministered to others. Rate how well you demonstrate each one on a scale from one to five.
• Practice, practice, practice! Write down an action plan for your ministries. Think of ways you can demonstrate Jesus' love more when you minister.

'For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himslef will be exalted.' (Luke 14: 11) " Laci Post pg 24 & 25

 *WMU Missions Mosaic October 2012 issue pg 17 "It Happened to Me." by Jean M. McLean

Ladybug's Doodles Days and Nights

Here we are with a Dewey's Read-A-Thon update. :D  I am having fun trying to get through my Dickens pick.  :D  It is going slow, but I am steadily working on it.

Total pages read: 400 in Little Dorrit; I don't know how many pages are in the Westerns.

Time I have Spent Reading: 5hrs
What I am Currently Reading: STAR GATE by Andre Norton and LITTLE DORRIT by Charles Dickens
Books I have Finished: BILL CAREY RIDES WEST/THE TOWN NO GUNS COULD TAME by Louis L'Amour (Two Audio Dramatizations of short stories by L'Amour
Blogs I have Visited: about 10, I have been more reading than visiting the 5 hrs working on my reading. :D  


The Mid-event survey time:

1. What are you reading right now?

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens and Star Gate by Andre Norton

2. How many books have you read so far?

I have finish two books actually, since I am counting the Louis L'Amour CDs.  I am working on others.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I am really looking forward to finishing Little Dorrit and Casting the Runes by M.R. James

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

I have been unable to free up the whole day.  I was able to listen to audio books as I was doing other things though. :D  I think that will count?

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Any interruptions, I just dealt with them and tried to finish as quickly as possible.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

Nothing so far

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

I really am unable to usually come up with suggestions when asked.  It is usually when unasked that I give suggestions. :D

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

I would try to free up more time, I guess

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Nope. I'm wide awake still.  Ask me in about 5 hours though. :D

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? 


Nope, nothing yet

Read-A-Thon

Image courtesy of  Kanaye @ Dewey's Read-A-Thon

Hour Six:

I have taken care of the problem with comments requiring word verification.  I had disabled the comment moderation, but was unaware that they required word verification.  I am sorry to anyone from the Read-A-Thon.   :D

I am reading Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit".  This is a really big book O_O with about 980 pages.  I have been reading it for about a couple of months, and have gotten to page 450.  I have decided to start over again, though.  I found that I have forgotten some of what has happened, and "Little Dorrit" is a book that needs to be savored and thought upon.

"When Arthur Clennam returns to England after many years abroad, he takes a kindly interest in Amy Dorrit, his mother's seamstress, and in the affairs of Amy's father, William Dorrit, a man of shabby grandeur, long imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea.  As Arthur soon discovers, the dark shadow of the prison stretches far beyond it \s walls to affect the lives of many, from the kindly Mr Pancks,...the garrulous Flora Finching, to Merdle, an unscrupulous financier, and the bureaucratic Barnacles in the Circumlocution Office."  ~Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit"~

 I really agree with the book when it says that "[Little Dorrit is] a masterly evocation of the state and psychology of imprisonment."  One thing I was unaware of was that Dickens' father had once been an inmate of the Marshalsea.  This brings the book to life for me, that Dickens' knows what he is talking about when he describes people, places and the lives they lead.  I am really looking forward to finishing this book and immersing myself in another time and place.

I started reading at 11:00am my time.  I was suppose to start at 6am, but I had a long night so decided that sleep was more needed, so that I didn't fall asleep reading. ;p

This was the questions from Hour One, and I thought would go ahead and answer them.

1. Where are you reading from today?  ~Sunny, hot New Mexico, USA
2. Three Random facts about me...  ~I love reading, I started reading when I was three, I love learning new things.~
3. How many books in your TBR pile?  Four books, but one is really a large book.
4. Do you have any goals?  Yes, to finish Little Dorrit.
5. This is my first Read-A-Thon, so no advice to give, but will accept advice. :D

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon

well, it is time for the Read-A-Thon.  It will be starting at 6am my time.  I will not be up at that time, but I will be starting it around 9am.  :D  Just too early to get up to read, would be falling asleep over my books. :D

I plan on reading:

Charles Dickens - "Little Dorrit"
M.R. James - "Casting the Runes and Other Ghost Stories"
C.J. Cherryh - "Rusalka"
Bob Dole - "Great Presidential Wit"

And many, many more.  :D  These are books that are on my reading shelf and to-read shelf, so I wanted to finish them up. Since this is my first try, I don't know exactly what I am doing; but will give a go at it. :D

Book Review: Morality for Beautiful Girls

Morality for Beautiful Girls 5/5 stars

I am really enjoying this series of books. Mr Smith writes in a way that lets me see his characters and the questions they have and solve. In this volume, Mr. Matekoni (Mma Ramotswe's fiance) is acting really strange. What could cause a person to change in such a dramatic way? Mma Ramotswe is again facing new decissions and new cases. She is also having to worry about what is going wrong with her fiance. I loved the solutions that Mma Ramotswe finds to all these problems and more. Mr. Smith also involves a side story on a "wild child" that does not know how to talk or act around people. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is wanting to read something that includes different cultures and mysteries.

The books also include Moral problems and solutions. I may not agree with their solutions to these, but the books do make you think about them. For example see the following excerpt from pgs 77-78

"Most morality, thought Mma Ramotswe, was about doing the right thing because it had been identified as such by a long process of acceptance and observance. You simply could not create your own morality because your experience would never be enough to do so. What gives you the right to say that you know better than your ancestors? Morality is for everybody, and this means that the views of more than one person are needed to create it. That was what made the modern morality, with its emphasis on individuals and the working out of an individual position, so weak. If you gave people the chance to work out their morality, then they would work out the version which was easiest for them and which allowed them to do what suited them for as much of the time as possible. That, in Mma Ramotswe's view, was simple selfishness, whatever grand name one gave to it."

I can so agree with this view of morality.

Disclaimer:

I have not received any compensation for this review.  The book is from my local library, that I just wanted to review.