I joined a book club in January and since then have started reading more during this school year. This isn't a usual thing for me because evenings are taken up with school work, but I have been making time to read.
For the book club I read "Geography of Bliss" by Eric Weiner. Not a book I'd pick up to read on my own. I made the mistake of buying it, too. The same day I had heard an interview on the Diane Rehm Show with the author of "Dewey: The Small-Town Cat Who Touched the World" and decided to get it as well. It was a nice book with a heart-warming story though a little repetitive. A third book I also purchased that day was "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. I just finished it on Saturday morning.
"A Thousand Splendid Suns" takes place in Afghanistan and is eye-opening to what life was like for women during the time of the Taliban. I had wondered how women could put up with the treatment they were receiving, but now realize that for many of them it was all they knew and for others there was violent repression of their rights. The author tells a gripping story of two women Mariam and Laila. I can't say more without giving the story away. Read it if you haven't already.
My book club selection for February is "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. I got it from the library this time. I'll let you know how it is.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
An Official Snow Day
Today is the first official snow day - I have off of school because of it.
The forecast was for snow starting after midnight so when I woke once last night I peered out to see if it had started yet. Nope. I awoke again at 4 am and still no snow. I resigned myself to the fact that the forecast was in error and went back to sleep until the alarm at 6 am. I lay there then and listened to the announcer give the forecast. He said it was snowing! Good I thought but will they close schools if it has just started?
I hiked down to my study and turned on the computer. Sure enough - School's Out message came through that my school system was closed for the day. How nice! A snow day! Even if it means adding another day to the end of school. A snow day is a gift day!
When Dan left for work taking my car, I rode with him to the top of the lane to fetch the newspaper and then walk back. It was a very pleasant walk, made even better by taking the path through our woods instead of hiking up the steepest part of the driveway. The snow made a lovely sound falling among the trees. I fell only once when I stepped across the frozen creek onto the part that is always wet. It was a sheet of ice hidden under the snow and I went down.
When I got to the yard I refilled the suet feeder and then sat on the swing enjoying the birds that returned once they got their courage back. The cardinals never did summon enough courage to join the titmice, chickadees, sparrows, juncos, and assorted woodpeckers.
Once back in the house I watched the cardinals return. At one time there were 6 males vying for spots at the feeder or waiting for an opening. I've sprinkled sunflower seed next to the deck, protected by the eaves but few birds have found that source yet. They will as the snow gets deeper.
The forecast was for snow starting after midnight so when I woke once last night I peered out to see if it had started yet. Nope. I awoke again at 4 am and still no snow. I resigned myself to the fact that the forecast was in error and went back to sleep until the alarm at 6 am. I lay there then and listened to the announcer give the forecast. He said it was snowing! Good I thought but will they close schools if it has just started?
I hiked down to my study and turned on the computer. Sure enough - School's Out message came through that my school system was closed for the day. How nice! A snow day! Even if it means adding another day to the end of school. A snow day is a gift day!
When Dan left for work taking my car, I rode with him to the top of the lane to fetch the newspaper and then walk back. It was a very pleasant walk, made even better by taking the path through our woods instead of hiking up the steepest part of the driveway. The snow made a lovely sound falling among the trees. I fell only once when I stepped across the frozen creek onto the part that is always wet. It was a sheet of ice hidden under the snow and I went down.
When I got to the yard I refilled the suet feeder and then sat on the swing enjoying the birds that returned once they got their courage back. The cardinals never did summon enough courage to join the titmice, chickadees, sparrows, juncos, and assorted woodpeckers.
Once back in the house I watched the cardinals return. At one time there were 6 males vying for spots at the feeder or waiting for an opening. I've sprinkled sunflower seed next to the deck, protected by the eaves but few birds have found that source yet. They will as the snow gets deeper.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Snow!
Okay, so most people reading this have had their share and more of snow already this winter. Well, we have not here in Maryland, so I'm excited to report that it's snowing today. Don't know if it will last, but the sky has the right color for snow.
I walked in it earlier today and then the sun broke through and it was done. But it started up again and has laid down almost an inch.
The birds are grateful that I filled the feeders and replenished the suet.
Monday, January 12, 2009
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