“There is no friend as loyal as a book.”
My house is quiet. My friends have just left to drive home to New Hampshire. Their visit was great fun. We seem to fit together perfectly no matter how long between visits. Last night’s dinner was a success. Everyone had two helpings of the chili. The blueberry appetizer, also a new recipe, was wonderful with the taste of the sour cream, the cheese and the blueberries which popped while baking. Henry barked a lot at my company. If they got up at night, Henry barked as if we had an intruder. He also growled deep in his throat. My friends, especially Bill, patted Henry who was willing to sit still for the affection. Henry and I are both sorry to see them go.
Today is a perfect fall day. The air smells fresh. The sun is so bright after the dark days. It is 67˚ and may even reach the low 70’s. Maddie and Henry are having their naps. Each is in a favorite spot
My dance card is empty until Thursday. I do need to go to the library as I have been spending a lot of time with books lately and need more. I hate to be without a book.
When I was a kid, I used to use my fifty cents allowance to buy a 49 cent book. The Children’s Corner, a clothing store uptown, had a bookcase in the back. It was filled with Whitman books, many of which were for girls. The main female characters were smart, curious and tenacious. I loved Trixie Belden. She lived in the best sounding place, Sleepyside-on-Hudson. She had three brothers and didn’t like math which she and I had in common. Trixie and her best friend Honey solved mysteries. I think I read every book in the series. Some I bought and some I got for Christmas. My copies of Heidi, Treasure Island and Little Women were Whitman books. I still have Heidi. Its heavy cardboard cover is worn and frayed. The pages have yellowed. I remember reading it and feeling sorry for Heidi when she was taken from her Grandfather and the Alps and Peter, the goat herder. I wanted a happy ending. I got it.
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September 29, 2018 at 2:55 pm
Although I now read primarily on my iPad, I still enjoy having physical books around. When I was in the sixth and seventh grade I started reading adult paperback books. In those days they were fifty cents each. I started with ‘Exodus’, by Leon Uris and continued reading books about WWII such as ‘The Rise and Fall of The Third Reich’ by William Shire. It was a huge book but I worked through it over several months. When I moved to NYC in the middle of the eight grade there was a paperback bookstore near my aunt’s house and I would pick up a new book every week. I was not a fan of checking out books at the library because I had to return them which placed a time limit on finishing the book.
You are fortunate to have kept up with friends since your Peace Corps. days. I have only one friend from high school with whom I communicate with on Facebook. He lives in Bozeman Montana and is a right wing Trumpist. I don’t know why I follow him we don’t have much in common except we not only attended high school together but attended the same college our freshman year. He moved on the California where we lost touch until five years ago.
The clouds are still hanging around but the temperature should top out in the lower 80s. Autumn has arrived because the temperatures are not in the 90s for awhile. 🙂
September 29, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Bob,
When I travel, I have books on my iPad, but I read physical books at home. I used to buy books all the time, but now it is cheaper to go to the library unless there is a book I really must have.
I also read Leon Uris and a variety of other authors like Thomas Costain when I was 12 or 13. I didn’t read Shirer at that age. It held no interest for me at that time. I was and am a quick reader. If I need more time, I just renew on the phone.
I love spending time with my friends. We are planning another trip back to Ghana, our last I figure. When we went together before in Ghana, we had a wonderful time. They and I are compatible politically.
We will have lovely days this week.
September 29, 2018 at 7:56 pm
I’m glad I had a library card when I was young. Books were expensive and I read very fast and due to lack of room at home I couldn’t keep much stuff anyway. I still have my Pippi Longstocking books and a few other favorites.
We had a kind of neighborhood community party today. Live music, food (kelewele 🙂 ), beer and more. It was fun.
September 29, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Birgit,
I went to the library every week in the summer and less often in the winter. I usually got 4 books and sometimes read them in a week. I still go to the library and need to go Monday to return books and get more.
I love the idea of a community party, especially one with kelewele!! My friend Peg brought some kelewele down for me. I ate many and luckily there are a few leftovers!!
September 30, 2018 at 3:31 am
We’ve had all kinds of weather here this morning, sunshine, cloudy, rain and wind 🙂 It is cloudy and windy at the moment but the clouds pass by in a furious speed so that can change any second 🙂
I can’t remember the first book I bought myself. I mostly inherited books from older kids in the neighborhood and I got some as presents but I just can’t remember that first one I bought myself. It might have been Rendezvous with Rama and I did love that book from the first page 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
September 30, 2018 at 10:45 am
Christer,
This is the weird weather time of year. It can be warm and then cold. It rains for a few days then the sun comes blasting. We just have to be patient as the best weather will appear eventually.
I don ‘t remember the first book I bought, just the ones I bought when I was 9 or 10.
Have a great day!!
September 30, 2018 at 9:57 am
I remember getting my children their first library cards and their excitement. The blueberry dish sounds great- I would love the name of recipe,pretty please.
September 30, 2018 at 10:43 am
splendid,
I love my local library. I’ll be there tomorrow to return and then take out some books.
I’ll do you one better. I’m adding the recipe here:
Baked Blueberry Cheddar Dip with Toasty Bread
serves 2-4
1 (8-ounce) block of cream cheese, softened
8 ounces white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 heaping cup of fresh blueberries
1 loaf of french bread, sliced
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place two oven racks on the middle and lower level. Slice bread and place on a baking sheet, drizzling it with olive oil.
In a bowl, mix cream cheese with grated cheddar and nutmeg. Fold in blueberries. Place in an oven-safe dish, then set on the top oven rack. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until cheese is hot, golden and bubbly, and blueberries are bursting. At the 20 minute mark, place baking sheet with bread on the lower rack to toast, checking and tossing every 4-5 minutes. Serve immediately! With white wine, of course.