"Outside a dog a book is man's best friend, inside a dog it is too dark to read!" -Groucho Marx========="The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid." -Jane Austen========="I don’t believe in the kind of magic in my books. But I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book."-JK Rowling========"I spend a lot of time reading." -Bill Gates=========“Ahhh. Bed, book, kitten, sandwich. All one needed in life, really.” -Jacqueline Kelly=========

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Sunday Salon...April 28

Weather: A little of everything: rain, sun, hail, wind, clear, cloudy, calm.


Easter: Last week we hosted dinner for a few folks, including our grandson and his cousin, both under two. Both of the little guys were so stinkin' cute. Ian had his first Easter egg hunt and he was so serious about it. We hid empty plastic eggs and he seriously collected them into his little basket, worried only if the eggs popped open or if the puppy, Bingley, grabbed one in his mouth and ran off. Ian didn't care that the eggs were empty. The hunt was the goal and we had to re-hide the eggs several times so he could find them again and again.


Dedicated: The week before I was in Eugene with my mom and sister. My dad was honored by the Wesley Center at UO for his past support of many, many years of this ministry by having a library room named for him. A dedication ceremony was hosted by the campus minister and his team and mom invited many friends from church or who also had connections to campus ministry. It was such fun to be involved in the ceremony and to take a stroll down memory lane as Dad's history of involvement was highlighted. His life was such a blessing to many people.


Bronchitis: On my way home from Eugene I started to feel badly and by the time I got home congestion had settled into my chest. Over the next few days it developed into a mild case of bronchitis and has now bloomed into a full sinus event. Two weeks and counting. Ugh.

Sadness in the world: The senseless attacks in Sri Lanka, the attacks on the synagogues in New Zealand and San Diego, the fires set on black churches in the South. Yesterday a Korean shop owner was killed after handing over the contents of her cash register. She lived and worked a block from our church. My heart is breaking. Such anger and sadness around the world.

Tulip field 2018

Though sick, I have been reading this month, mostly as part of the 'My Own Books' Reading challenge (click on the hyperlinks for reviews, if available):
  • Gilead by Marilynne Robinson---print; 'My Own Books' and Pulitzer challenges; finished April 3rd. 
  • On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan---print; 'My Own Books' and Mini-book book; finished April 5th.
  • The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur---ebook; poetry; finished April 7th.
  • Redeployment by Phil klay---print; 'My Own Books' reading challenge; read-along with Heather S.; short stories; finished April 9th.
  • Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson---print from library; memoir written in verse; finished April 10th.
  • My Brother's Book by Maurice Sendak---print from the library; children's book; poetry; finished April 10th.
  • The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka---print and audiobook; 'My Own Books' and My Personal National Book Award challenges; finished April 12th.
  • The Four Things that Matter Most by Ira Byock, M.D.---print and audiobook; 'My Own Books' reading challenge; nonfiction; recommended by my mother; finished April 15th.
  • The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata---audiobook from the library; My Personal National Book Award Reading Challenge; Middle grade, coming-of-age tale; finished April 16th.
  • Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Elliott---print from the library; poetry; finished April 17th.
  • A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen---print; 'My Own Books' challenge; memoir; finished April 19th.
  • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates---audiobook from the library; My Personal National Book Award Challenge; letter from father to son; finished April 23rd.
  • The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Mary Street---print; 'My Own Books' challenge; romance; the Pride and Prejudice story from Mr. Darcy's POA; finished April 24th.
Currently reading:
  • The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai---audiobook from the library; novel about the AIDS epidemic; 45%.
  • Small Wonder essays by Barbara Kingsolver---print; 'My Own Books'; essays; 17%.
  • East of Eden by John Steinbeck---print; Classics Club Spin book; 2%.
San Francisco: Next week we travel to see our younger daughter who lives in San Fran. We know we'll be touring Alcatraz, seeing a Broadway show, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and hope to see more sights.
Ian and Dylan, cousins or baby models?

16 comments:

  1. How special that a library was named in recognition of your father’s service. So glad that you are spending time with family.

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  2. How wonderful that your dad received that well-deserved honor! Ian is very cute and is obviously enjoying his Easter. The shop owner's son has been my long time neighbor, and it's heart wrenching. What a tragedy!

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    1. We knew one of the sons years ago and we were crying for him last night. Is the father still living?

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  3. The Easter photos just adorable, and I think that the library dedication is a lovely way to honor your father. It looks like you had a great reading month... I've read several of those books, too, and will click through to the reviews. Hope you are feeling better soon.

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  4. Easter with little kids is so much fun; for them it is sheer joy. The dedication of the library for your dad (and mom) sounds lovely; what a wonderful way for him to be remembered!

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  5. So glad to hear about the good things, and enjoy photos of lovely children...to offset the horrors in the world.

    Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

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  6. It's so wonderful how they honored your father. The world is in a dark place right now. The egg hunt sounds like a wonderful and fun time. Thanks for sharing the cute photos:)

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  7. What a lovely way to be honoured, I hope it brought your family pride and comfort.
    Tragedy is always rawer when it hits close to home.

    Have a great reading week

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  8. Such adorable pictures of the kids. I hope you are feeling better! Have a great week!

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  9. Those boys are pretty darned cute! What a fun time they had, hunting eggs. Your Ian is so serious.

    It's wonderful to see how your father was honored. He is a reminder of all the good that was and is still in the world. We have to remember his life and the work of his life when we feel discouraged by all that is sad and evil in the world.

    I'm sorry you have been sick. Once a respiratory illness gets established, it seems like it is difficult to get it out of your system. I had a cough for months and months one winter. I finally got a shot from the emergency clinic and that knocked it out.

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  10. Love the Easter photos, such cute boys! What a great way to honor your dad, and mom. My son started feeling bad Friday and now has symptoms similiar to yours, not fun at all, I hope you're better soon. The tragedies going on in the world today is terrible.
    Have fun on your trip to San Francisco, I love California!

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  11. I always like seeing your photos of your family time. It's so important to have. I'm sorry to hear about your bronchitis. I'm glad to see you are doing so well with your own challenge. It's good to lead by example. :)

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  12. I can't handle the cuteness of those tiny boys. What a great idea to use plastic eggs! And even at my age I would love to hunt for eggs. Not sure why it's so fun, but it is.

    "Print" books!!!! Finally I have a word to differentiate between ebooks and book-books!!! Thank you! Makes total sense. PRINT books. Ohmygosh.

    Sorry to hear you've been sick, BUT at least you're on the other side of it in time for your trip to SF, right? Have fun!!


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  13. Oh goodness, those boys are too cute! I'm glad they had a great Easter and enjoyed the egg hunt.

    Sorry to hear you've been sick - I hope you feel better soon.

    I'd love to tour Alcatraz someday! What a fun trip.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  14. Oh my goodness! Those are some adorable kiddos!

    I am sorry to hear you are not feeling well! My SIL has bronchitis right now too. :( I hope you feel better soon!

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  15. Having a library room named for your parents is such a wonderful gesture. I imagine the ceremony must have been quite emotional as it recalled so many years of your father's work.
    And I love the Easter egg hunt pics!

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