MY READING LIST

I didn't get a lot of reading done in August.  Maybe that's because the books I've been reading are non-fiction and heavy reads.  I thought I'd show you what I got through.

THE DIARY OF OLGA ROMANOV: ROYAL WITNESS TO THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
by Helen Azar
Published 2014

When I read on our work email that one of our librarians, Helen Azar, had written a book and had it published I was interested in reading it.  I used to work with Helen at another library.  But when I read that it was about the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution, I was even more interested.  I remember taking a class in college on the history of Russia and it was so fascinating.  So I knew I would like the book.

Helen Azar

Sure enough, I loved the book.  So sad, though, to think of the whole family and their servants being killed this way.  But having their actual diaries and letters translated gave me such a view into the lives of the royals.  It's not a book for everyone, but I enjoyed it.

Joe and I also finished the book I mentioned last time.
ON MY WAY
by Tomie dePaola
Published 2001

A kid's book that adults will enjoy.  It continues on with the life of Tomie dePaola when he was a boy.  I already have the next book ordered and am waiting for it to come in from another library.

As you can see from the sidebar I am still struggling through:
YOUNG HENRY:  THE RISE OF HENRY VIII
by Robert Hutchinson
Published 2011

It's interesting, but a difficult read.  But since I adore British history I am going to finish it.  I really have learned a lot and even found out that one of my ancestors was Henry VIII's nanny when he was a young child.  I also found out that I came from landed gentry and another of my ancestors sat in Parliment.  We used to be rich.  Very rich.  What happened?  Where's my share of that money?

Oh well.  I guess we can't all be wealthy.

Hope you all are reading something interesting.

Kathy

SIMPLE PLEASURES

I love the idea of simple pleasures.  It sounds, well, simple.  And homey.  Sort of like a warm, fuzzy sweater on a chilly autumn day.  Or an apple pie like in the picture.  Don't you just love apple pie?

Simple.  Uncomplicated.  Not needing lots of parts, tools or time.

When I think of simple pleasures I think of a walk on the beach.  Or through the woods.  A wild flower.  A cookie.  A hug.  I think of a baby's smile.  A puppy or kitten.  The smell of a bonfire.  Or a hayride.

There are so many pleasures that the Lord gives us in this life here on earth.  Why do we make it so complicated?  Take time this week to enjoy the simple things around us.

What are some of your favorite simple things?

Kathy

WELCOME SEPTEMBER

Hope those of you who had the day off (as I did) had a really nice day.  I so enjoyed not having to go into work.  I slept in this morning.  In fact I didn't wake up until almost 10 a.m.  I never sleep like that.  I must have been really tired.

I decided to celebrate not only Labor Day, but also the beginning of my favorite month of the year -- September.  Joe loves September also and we both always have.  That's one of the reasons we got married in September.  It's still summer, but the beginning of autumn with all the gorgeous color.

I didn't get to decorate the inside of the house, but I did the outside.  I hung my wreath on the door and changed the flower pot to sunflowers.  Do you see the little scarecrow in among the flowers in the pot?

Joe and I spent most of the afternoon doing our food shopping.  It was something that we were going to do on Saturday but you know how that went.  And I try to keep Sunday as the Lord's Day and not do my shopping then.  I hate food shopping.  But at least it's done for two weeks now.

When I got back I filled up the bird feeder.  It's been empty for awhile, but I want to get into the habit of filling it for them again.  I hope I get to see some interesting birds.

For dinner I had some butternut squash soup in my fall bowls.  We don't have it very often because usually we can find it only made with milk.  Today Joe found one made with soy milk and that was great.

Then I made barbecued spare ribs and fries.  It was wonderful.

After a dessert of ice cream and studying my Bible lesson for tomorrow, I decided to end the day by baking some pumpkin spice bars.  They turned out great and the house smells wonderful.

It has been a great day.  Back to work tomorrow.

Kathy
 
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Partly cloudy
High:  89 degrees
Low:  75 degrees
Sunrise:  6:28 a.m.
Sunset:  7:32 p.m.
13 hours and 4 minutes of daylight
The days continue to get shorter.