I just bought another crochet book: Christmas Ornaments to Crochet by Megan Kreiner. It was a new item in our local library, so last week I took a look at it. There are enough interesting projects for scraps of yarn for me to go buy it. I particularly like the penguin and the little "present" box that can be stuffed and sewn closed, or it can be left empty and with the lid separate so you can fill it with a little trinket or something.  I like to use small ornaments to decorate gifts.

Marilyne,  I would add my sympathy to your daughter as well in the loss of her employment.    I send a good big hug though you to her (you don't have to tell her that you told us....just an extra hug for support!)  I hope that this closed door turns into an open window for her.     That quote from The Spool of Blue Thread is so very good......it says so much in just a few words.

  Our local children, grands and gr. grands came for a picnic yesterday and we were only rained in for a short time.    I am in awe of what good things they have done with they lives in these short years  since we gave birth to our own offspring.    I have to commend the dads in the family.   When our own children started their own families I saw the difference in the young fathers who were at home with child care, kitchen and laundry appliances right along with the moms.....a new generation and hopefully it will be the same with their children and so forth.    I don't mean to complain but my husband was raised by a stay at home mom who was in charge of the kitchen  and probably didn't want those seven boys messing around in her kitchen.   Their job in life was to earn a living which they did early and well.

Marsgal,  Your book of crochet ornaments sounds neat.   I really need to push myself to get back to some handwork.    I have another good book going but I'll talk about that more another day.

Good to see you MaryC !

How times have changed ....   and us along with them !

Sandy

MarsGal & mary - Thanks for the supportive comments, regarding my daughter being laid off from a great job that she loved.  Of course there is a lot more to the story, which I can't go into here. 

Sandy - Good to see you checking in here.  I was thinking about you a couple of weeks ago when I recommended a new novel, here in this forum.  It's called The Stars Are Fire, by Anita Shreve.  It takes place in Maine, and is based on a true event, that happened there in 1947 . . . a series of catastrophic fires, that burned along the coast, and destroyed many of the small towns and communities.  The fictional story is about a young wife and mother, and how she copes with both the fire, and her life afterwards.

MarsGal - I'm still planning to get The Speed of Dark, but first I have finish the ever growing stack of books that I have here waiting for me.  Your crochet ornaments sound to be very attractive, both for presents, or for using as Christmas decorations.  I was thinking that you could make beautiful wreaths with your ornaments.  Buy some of those wreath forms at Michael's, and cover them with your colorful crochet ornaments, and they would make lovely Christmas presents.

mary - Looks like you had a wonderful family picnic on Father's Day.  I understand exactly what you mean, by the difference in the young fathers of today, compared to the fathers in past generations.  My mil, devoted her life to cooking, cleaning and taking care of my fil, AJ, and his brother. Consequently, the young men from that era, were pretty much helpless in the kitchen, or doing anything pertaining to household chores.  However, my husband was a fast learner! LOL! 

What a cool idea, Marilyne. I hadn't thought of making a wreath to display them.

Although I have a good sized stack of books here to read, I couldn't resist checking out two more today at the library!  One is non-fiction . . .  The Romanov Sisters, The lost lives of the daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport.  The other one is fiction . . . 'Round Midnight, by Helen McBride.   
I've always been fascinated by the Russian Revolution, and the untimely deaths of the Tsar and Tsarina, and their entire family, so I'm really looking forward to The Romanov Sisters, and will be starting it tonight.

Marilyne, have you read any of Boris Akunin's works? I read the first four of his Detective Erast Fandorin books. They begin with The Winter Queen, set in 1876. I really must get back to reading the series now that you've reminded me of them. So many books, so little time.

I've just finished an interesting novel that was based on a true story.    It is a library book called The Orphan Keeper by Camron Wright.    The story is of a young boy (not an orphan)  who was snatched from the streets of India and sold to an orphanage who placed the children in home in America.  My daughter recommended this book to me some time ago but I just got to it recently and found it to be a good read.   Now I'm reading a cozy mystery by P.B.Ryan.   The title is Still Life with Murder.

The talk of the Russian Revolution here caught my attention.  Our son and DIL just returned from a trip to France.   They visited with some old school friends who were vacationing in the south of France and then before they came home spent a couple days in Paris.    The sights in both places stirred a lot of conversation about history and we talked about the time line of what they saw in relation to the French Revolution.    Our son has not been much of a history buff but these things stirred up interest in the whys and wherefores of those sights.    One thing that really impressed them was the aquaduct built during the Roman times to supply water to the city of Nimes.  Amazing engineering!!   We enjoyed their trip through pictures and youtubes that we looked at as they traveled.

Margal, I like reading mysteries by foreign authors so I checked my library for Boris Akunin (a pseudonym for a reallly long Russian name .  The only book available is The Winter Queen.  I read the summmery and it sounds interesting.  I'll look for it next trip to the library.

I just finished several books set in Wyoming and the author's descriptions were just as I remembered from a visit there in 2003.  Sometimes I get so involved with the plot when watching a movie that I miss the interesting scenery and importance of location.  I use my imagination more reading a book.

Mary, your son's trip sounds wonderful.  I know you are enjoying the photos and videos.

The movie, Doctor Zhivago, 1965,  was my first exposure to the Russian Revolution. I knew nothing about it until then - had never studied it in either high school or college history.  I loved the film, and then read the book, which I also liked very much.  In the late sixties another book dealing with the Revolution was published, Nicholas and Alexandra. It's a fabulous true account of the life of the Romanov family, and their five children, as well as Alexandra's bizarre obsession with Rasputin!  Absolutely fascinating reading.  The book leads right up to the end, when the entire family was kidnapped and murdered by the Revolutionaries.  My youngest daughter was born in 1969, and we named her Alexandra. (Nicknamed Sandy.)

So I'm thrilled to read another account of the lives of the the Royal family, and all of their trials and tribulations.  The Romanov Sisters, looks like it's going to be very good reading.  I haven't started it yet, and probably won't be able to sit down and read until Sunday.  I will take a look at the books by Boris Akunin, when I finish.

I like to read old books (such as found on Project Gutenberg). I've found some very good books there.

Right now, I am reading Lords of the North by A. C. Laut. It is set in the early 19th century, mostly in Canada. The backdrop, so far, includes the rivalry between the North West Company, based in Montreal, and the Hudson's Bay Company.

I looked up both companies. Surprise! The Hudson's Bay Company still exists. The North West Company operated between 1779 and 1821, when it merged with Hudson's Bay. An employee consortium bought out the northern trading posts in 1987 and revived the North West name; it is based in Winnipeg. North West Company is now a grocery and merchandise store chain, while the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) evolved into a retail company. HBC is the company that acquired Saks Fifth Avenue about four years ago.

http://www.booklistreader.com/2017/06/27/books-and-authors/harpercollins-celebrates-200-years/

This was so interesting!  Take time to see which of the 200 books you've read!

www.HC.com/200

This is where the books are listed!

I read 17, one I think I read but not quite sure it was so long ago, and 3 in my pile to read.

Tome - What a great list of memorable books! It was a good reminder of books I read long ago, and had forgotten about.  Now I'd like to take another at some of them, and see how they’ve held up over the years - (The Thorn Birds).  Some of them I own, and have read many times - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Poisonwood Bible, The Hours. Others I struggled through, not really liking them, but hanging in there to the end. (One Hundred years of Solitude).   One book that made me remember and laugh, was I’m OK - You’re OK.  Anyone else remember reading that one??  It was extremely popular. I think it might have been the first in a long line of “self help” books?  Did the self help books help me, or anyone else?  I doubt it!

Marilyne, I remember reading "I'm OK You're OK" late 60s-early 70s?  I remember agreeing with the premise at the time, but don't know whether it helped me.  It must have made an impression to stay with me after all these years because I don't generally remember book or movie titles after so many years.

I remember reading I'm OK, You're OK, too.  It was at a time I wasn't so sure I WAS OK.
My husband was a Navy Pilot and flying P3V's and was deployed 9 months at a time--at least almost every year.  We had 2 toddler sons at the time, lived in Brunswick, Maine, which had very LONG, COLD, and SNOWY winters.  Needless to say, my husband was home very seldom in the winter.  I'd have to park my car down at the end of the driveway when snow was predicted and the next morning would have to shovel my way through 4-5 foot drifts to clear the snow off--and the snow plows which Brunswick started up as soon as the snow started falling would pile all that up in front of the car.  I survived, though, and lived to tell about it!

I just didn't think I was OK!
Sue

Sue - sounds like you were alone a lot, during those early years of your marriage.  Maybe the book I'm OK - You're OK, helped you survive those years?  I don't remember much about the content of the book, but I did read it, and maybe it helped me cope with some issues in my life at the time?  I think it came out in the mid-1960's?  It would be interesting to read it now, and see how it's stood the test of time?

Quote from: Marilyne on June 20, 2017, 01:18:11 PM't go into

Sandy - Good to see you checking in here.  I was thinking about you a couple of weeks ago when I recommended a new novel, here in this forum.  It's called The Stars Are Fire, by Anita Shreve.  It takes place in Maine, and is based on a true event, that happened there in 1947 . . . a series of catastrophic fires, that burned along the coast, and destroyed many of the small towns and communities.  The fictional story is about a young wife and mother, and how she copes with both the fire, and her life afterwards.

   I ordered four of Shreve's book from my books on disc
If I like,  I will order more.     Thank you

Sandy - I hope you enjoy the Anita Shreve novels you ordered.  She's an interesting writer, in that she usually has an unexpected turn of events, or a "twist" in the plot, that you didn't see coming.  I've read most of her books.  A couple of them are all time favorites of mine . . . others were quickly forgotten. 

I'm still reading The Romanov Sisters, and finding it fascinating, but slow.  Very detailed historical facts about the Russian Royal family.  The background information and personalities of Nicholas and Alexandra are most interesting.  It seems like it was a real "love-match".  Rasputin, has not appeared on the scene as yet.

Sandy,   I'm sorry not to have responded to you sooner.    I've been trying to remember where we met.   Was it here in the Library or ??    Sorry to be so absent minded!!!

I just picked up The Stars are Fire at the library today and am anxious to get started.    Meanwhile I purchased a $.99 bargain from Kindle that really started off with a bang.   That is called Brought to our Senses by Kathleen H. Wheeler.    It is a family story (one of my favorite themes  ) and it starts right off with discord among the sisters with Mom in the early stages of memory troubles.   I don't remember reading anything by K.H. Wheeler before but she seems like one that I would enjoy.   

I noticed today on Good Reads that Elizabeth Berg has a new book coming out in November titled  The Story of Arthur Truluv.    This looks promising and will have to keep an eye out for it.

I hope that you all enjoy the Fourth of July week-end.    We started early when our son from Charlotte arrived last Tuesday.   He spent Tues. and Wed. night with us and then his son picked him up to go to the cottage on the lake where his wife's family have a reunion each summer.  He is a good and easy house guest.....just enjoys visiting with no extra running around....just like dad!

Marilyne
Think I remember that you were going to reread Thornbirds and so I brought my kindle back to life and it is many years since I saw the movie.  Downloaded but never read the book.  Colleen McCullough
Goes to the depths about this child's childhood but I am still reading and hope it  lightens up soon.  Just wondered what you thought of these early chapters?

Junee - I haven't reread The Thornbirds yet.  I did check out the book from the library but I never got to it, and finally had to return it. Then I got involved in lots of other books, so I forgot all about getting it again! This time, I'm going to order it in large print, which will be easier for me to read.

I'm almost finished with The Romanov Sisters.  It's a long and detailed book, but worth the effort.  As I mentioned earlier, I've always been especially interested in the Russian Revolution, and the tragic ending for Nicholas and Alexandra, and their family. 

I enjoyed reading "The Thornbirds" but liked to watch the DVD more. Think all the women wanted to watch Richard Chamberlain back then. We had a priest here in town that looked just like him. The women were going to Mass more just to see him.

JeanneP - I agree, Richard Chamberlain was nice to look at!  He probably still is, even though he's turning 83 this year. 

I'll pick up The Thorn Birds at the library today.  Unfortunately, they didn't have a copy in large print, so I hope the small print and the large size of the book isn't too hard for me to handle.  If so, I'll order it for my Kindle.

maryc - How do you like The Stars are Fire? I thought it was a excellent story, and after I finished, I gave it to my daughter to read. She didn't like it as much as I did, mainly because of the part about the piano player. 
I'll be looking forward to Elizabeth Berg's new book. I have her as a "friend" on Facebook, and I remember when she posted a message about  The Story of Arthur Truluv.. It's fun and interesting to have your favorite authors as friends on FB. They talk about their latest book, and sometimes just write short comments on their personal lives, their pets, etc.  Some authors are very political, (not Berg), and are not shy in voicing their opinions.

Yes Richard Chamberlain WAS nice to look at but it seemed to me that it was hard work going through all of those episodes of The Thorn Birds so had no interest in reading it.    Maybe that is what seeing the film before the book does.....you skip a lot of detail that would be interesting in print.

I'm just ready to start The Stars Are Fire as I was finishing Brought to Our Senses.   That was a good family story but some might not  be comfortable with the extensive detail about the mother's illness.   I'll have to read another of her books to judge her style better.

It is interesting to read more about the authors and their families and lives but I've never followed one of Facebook.   Good idea and a good way to keep up with the new things they have coming out.

Now Richard Chamberlain is another actor that had a Face Lift done. Turned out awful. Only seen him one time on a talk show. People notices and things said. Not been back on any since.  Still lives in Hawaii they say.

If you like books about sisters, I recommend Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown which was published in 2011.  There are 3 sisters who have been brought together after a lengthy time of going their own ways.  My book club read this several years ago and I enjoyed the book--as well as seeing myself in the role of Big sister, recognizing the traits of middle sister in my middle sister and baby sister, too.  All 3 sisters were flawed in some way--as aren't all sisters? 

I hope the title is underlined.  I've forgotten how to do that!

SCFSue

Well, I went and did it! My Kindle e-reader is refusing to download any more books. I checked the memory available and found that I only have 1.6mb left. Get to get cracking and read some of those Gutenberg titles I have downloaded and let sit.

One of those is Anthony Trollope's short story, "An Unprotected Female at the Pyramids", which I enjoyed. This is the first Anthony Trollope for me. I plan on finding more of his stuff to read.

Mars Gal - your overloaded Kindle, sounds like my overloaded DVR!  I have so many movies and television programs recorded, that I finally ran out of space.  I'll be watching Yankee Doodle Dandy later tonight, so that will free up two hours.  Then I think I'm going to start deleting anything that's been recorded longer than six months.
I like the name of the Trollope short story - An Unprotected Female at the Pyramids.  That's a title that will get your attention!

Sue - I finally finished The Romanov Sisters.  A wonderful historical account of the Russian Royal family, during the Bolshevik Revolution. (and before). Your recommendation, Weird Sisters, sounds good.  I'll look it up, and see if they have it at my library.  I'm trying to think of other books featuring sisters, but all I can remember, is Little Women, and Little House on the Prairie.  I've always wished I had a sister, but have to be content with my one brother.