Summertime is for good reading.
Last summer my sister-in-law and I read the Anne of Green Gables novels and loved them. This year, she's reading the Little House books and I'm hopping around a bit.

I told you that I read Unbroken last month- a true World War II story- and was absolutely floored by it. It was so wonderfully written that I decided to try another book by the same author, Laura Hillenbrand. I never thought of myself as a sports biography type, nor am I particularly interested in horses, but I picked Seabiscuit. And surprisingly, (but not too surprisingly) I really liked it.

I loved learning about American culture in the 1930's, a little known side of Bing Crosby, how crazy jockeys were, and of course, the gripping story about this horse's unexpected greatness.

Oh, and today I stumbled on this article: 14 Books to Read Before They Hit The Big Screen. A few of them look like they could be good, so I might try one of these next!

At my house, the sign of a really good book is whether or not I feel compelled to update Grant regularly on what's going on in the story. And whether or not I choose to read it during the precious hour of the day called nap time. And whether or not I go around repeatedly saying, "Oh my. This book."

All I can say about Unbroken is: This book. Wow. It's on the verge of unbelievable because of the grandness of the story. I love amazing, true stories that also teach you about American history! Big thanks to my great sister-in-law, Ann, for recommending this book to me. I can barely tear myself away from the thickly-worded, suspense-filled pages. Honestly, I can't believe it has not been made into a movie already. If you guys haven't read it yet, treat yourself.

In other news, today is the last day of the $15 custom blog banner sale! Get 'em while they're hot! And thanks to everyone who has been ordering. You've made the past couple weeks of my lonnnng winter not so long.

Some of these are children's books, but still wonderful, and I'm trying to think of books I would love to see Hadley enjoy someday. And currently on request at the library.. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Unbroken, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and The Hidden Art of Homemaking. Thanks to you guys who recommended some of these to me!

image sources: mary poppins, little women cover, the hobbit cover

I've been mentioning to you guys that I recently re-read Farmer Boy, one of the much loved Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I have fond memories of this book in particular, because as a little girl I was completely fascinated by their simple (but hard-working) life and their good food. And Farmer Boy is chock-full of amazing food! While reading it this time, I took notes on all of their meals and methods so I could google them later. I couldn't help it; every piece of information felt so valuable. How to make wintergreen extract? And what are watermelon rind pickles? Vinegar pie?! I have to try it. Now that I know a bit more about traditional food, I'm hungry for more knowledge and I love how it's presented in the Little House books; simple enough for a child to understand, or someone living in 2013. I liked reading about how each season held its own jobs, from tapping trees to berrying, from sowing seeds to butter-making, from harvesting to threshing, from butchering to candle-making.


I have a sweet next-door neighbor. Our kitchen windows face each other, and I often wonder if she wonders if I ever leave that room. She must see me in there all the time! Every once in awhile I have the fleeting thought, "I spend too much time in the kitchen. I should try to make faster food so I can get more things done, other than our meals." That simply couldn't have been the mindset of the Wilder family, because their life was built around getting dinner on the table. This was what was so enchanting to me as a little girl while reading these books! Life was so simple. You work to eat. Food = life and life = food. Everything they did was to ensure that they'd have enough food to last until next year, and enough energy to do the work. Overall, I came away from the book refreshed by this thought. It re-affirmed that the time I spend in the kitchen is anything but wasteful. I recently stumbled on a staggering fact:

“Americans spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than any people in history—slightly less than 10 percent—and a smaller amount of their time preparing it: a mere thirty-one minutes a day on average, including clean-up.”

excerpt from The Food Movement, Rising. I cannot imagine what Almanzo's mom would have done if all her work for the day were finished in half an hour, but it may have been an appreciated holiday... for a few days. After a while, work is welcome. This is coming from someone who has been snow-stranded for for 4 days and is a little anxious for routine to return. I do know that the Wilder family seemed to really enjoy the fruit of all her hours-long labor. You should hear what their meals consisted of!

Oatmeal with cream and maple sugar, fried potatoes, buckwheat pancakes, sausages, doughnuts, apple pie, ham, baked beans, mashed potatoes and turnips, stewed pumpkin, bread with butter and strawberry jam, plum preserves, pumpkin pie, creamed carrots, apples and onions, chicken pie, roast beef, beet pickles, birds nest pudding, ice cream, egg nog, popcorn, cider, cranberry jelly, baked squash, fried parsnips, cookies, apple turnovers, and cream pie. Oh my. They worked hard and they were hungry.

So, anyway. Lately every time I'm in the kitchen, I find myself thinking of Mrs. Wilder and how she  probably would have been working on dinner for a few hours already. I've been thankful for the reminder that time I spend in the kitchen, especially upwards of the 31 minute average, is time invested in a worthwhile thing. Also, lately I'm really in the mood to make big meals and pie. :)

Last week I finished Little Women. I wouldn't have bothered getting to the end of those 1,112 pages unless I loved it. (I loved it.) It's the perfect cheery read for Christmastime. I wanted it to go on forever. There are a handful of film versions of the story already, but please someone make a new one and make it at least 6 hours long!

This summer I've been reading Anne of Green Gables. How have I not read Anne of Green Gables until this summer?!! Growing up, it was my favorite thing to borrow from the library-- in VHS form, that is. I remember trying to read the books long ago, and not being very into it. Well. If that was you, too, I say try, try again. It's so loveable. (and it's free in iBooks!)

Back in June, my sister-in-law told me she was starting it and since then we've both been plowing through the series. It's kind of been our thing all summer. This was us everyday at camp:

I can't wait to read it again with Hadley someday. The way Lucy Maud writes is wonderful, she is so clever with characters. You better watch out because half the time I feel like quoting Anne all over this blog...

"The fellow who doesn't like dogs or little children must be regarded with suspicion. There is something wrong with the man who cannot make friends with a a dog or a baby, or who will not try, who cannot gain their affection. The chances are that he is not worthy of the respect or affection of men either." 

Peter Marshall

this is exactly the kind of happy (and honest) humor i'm enjoying lately.
am reading A Man Called Peter, the biography of the senate chaplain during the 1930s and 40s. it's written by his wife, and is really wonderful. full of his endearing scottish charm and glowing with sincerity. his ministry was spectacular. and how fun to read about washington back in the day.


what are you reading these days?

"The soul grows into lovely habits as easily as into ugly ones.." .. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

i've always had a healthy appetite for reading, and never has it been so satisfied than with the mitford books.

Weather report.

-23 degrees.