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Homer Price
Robert McCloskey
The Viking Press, 1941
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Homer Price was one of my childhood heroes. I was quite the tomboy and I imagined myself as Homer. We had a lot of things in common. We both lived in the Midwest, although his town is smaller than mine. We both have some rather quirky relatives and neighbors, but then quirky seems normal. We also shared some traditions that are gone now. Does anyone burn leaves in the Fall anymore?
Homer has lots of adventures that are told in six chapters. Each chapter is a separate story. I’m not going to tell you about all the stories, just two.
The first is the story of Uncle Ulysses’ Donut Machine. Homer is in charge of his uncle’s diner for a couple of hours while Uncle Ulysses is at the barbershop. With some help from a rich customer, Homer gets the donut machine going and the donuts are really delicious. Unfortunately, he can’t stop the donut machine and pretty soon donuts are piling up everywhere. Of course there will be a creative solution. Here’s a picture from this story. Just looking at it tickles me inside.
Another story features Homer’s Uncle Telly and the Sheriff who are competing for the hand of Miss Terwilliger, who is a very clever lady. Both men collect string and have string balls that are nearly six feet across! A contest is devised to see who has the most string with Miss Terwilliger as the prize. The clever Miss Terwilliger has her own plan for this contest. I won’t spoil it for you but, there is a happy ending.
I’m so glad this book is still in print and still popular with children. I’d recommend this book to both boys and girls in the seven to ten-year-old range. And then I’d also recommend it to adults like me who still have a big child inside of them. You can always say you’re getting this for the kids or grandkids.;)
I read this book for the Childhood Favourites Book Challange.
Fleur Fisher has bestowed an award upon me. It is the award of friendship. Although she lives way over in Cornwall, we can visit with each other via the blogging world. Here is what the award says:
“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”
I know I’m supposed to pick eight more friends but I just can’t. There are so many people who have befriended me in the short time I’ve been here I wouldn’t know where to begin. So, to all my friends who come to visit my blog, please help yourself to this cute friendship badge from me. Thanks for being my friend.
Wow! Is this nice or what! I am very honored to receive this blog award from Beth at Beth Fish Reads. It means a lot to me since her blog is so first-rate. Her book reviews are well written and thoughtful. And she has amazing photographs. See for yourself here.
As a part of receiving this award I must now confess to you five of my addictions. I actually have more than five but I’ll share my favorites.
Five Addictions:
- I’m addicted to children. I love their wide-open, curious eyes, their sweet voices asking Why? and their constantly moving bodies.
- Reading. I read books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, signs, boxes, menus, roadside markers, bulletin boards, the yellow pages, junk mail, etc. I HATE being stuck for even two minutes without something to read.
- Travel. Road travel is my thing. I’ve been all over North America with seven exceptions: the state of Alabama and these provinces of Canada: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Nunavut. I’m going to get to all of them in the next few years except Nunavut. (Too far north)
- Knitting is a great addiction. It is so meditative and calming. However, since I started this blog I haven’t knit so much. Maybe I need to admit that blogging is my new addiction.
- And, finally, Diet Coke. My family will say I should have put this one first but I really don’t think one Diet Coke a day makes an addiction.
Make it with lots of ice and slices of lime, please.
Now I get to nominate some people I think have fabulous blogs. This is very hard as I read and admire so many blogs. But, here *TA-DAH* are my nominees:
Carrie at Read To Know and at 5 Minutes For Books. She reads and talks about the best books, both adult and childrens books.
Fleur Fisher who writes in such a lovely way about what she reads and is such a faithful patron of the library.
Raider Girl at An Adventure in Reading who sponsors the fun meme “It’s Tuesday…Where Are You?”
Brie at Musings of a Bibliophile is the hostess of the Contemporary Romance Challenge as well as lots of other genres. Her web page is fun reading.
Comfort Me With Apples: More Adventures at the Table
Ruth Reichl
Random House, 2001
Genre: Non-Fiction, Books About Food
A few months ago I read and thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Reichl’s Garlic and Sapphires (see my review here). This one is equally as good, although, of course, the story is different.
Both are memoirs but Comfort Me With Apples covers the time of her life when her food writing career begins to soar. The reader is taken from her life in a commune in Berkeley to her job as restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times.
Although Ms. Reichl is very knowledgeable when it comes to good food, she takes advantage of the many opportunities she has to learn even more. For example, she is introduced to Thai food and immediately arranges a food tour through Thailand. She describes this amazing food trip as well as others to China, Paris, and Barcelona. She is right in the center of the changing food world in California and has the opportunity to meet some remarkable people: Alice Waters, M.F.K. Fisher, Wolfgang Puck, Marion Cunningham, and Danny Kaye. She is right in the middle of their kitchens, studying their techniques and philosophies and, yes, getting their recipes which she shares in the book.
Woven into the story about food is the story of her personal life. It is not dull. She is very open about her love affairs and the disintegration of her first marriage, as well as other events that are both heart breaking and heart warming. Ms. Reichl’s philosophy about sharing food along with her private life is mixed in with a conversation she has with her boss at the Times.
“Haven’t you noticed that food all by itself is really boring to read about?” I asked. ” It’s everything around the food that makes it interesting. The sociology. The politics. The history.”
The author makes her food interesting with her writing style. When she describes food she doesn’t say things like “its salty” or “this is yummy”. She describes the food in such a way that your senses know what she’s talking about. Here’s an example: “The oysters were cold, with that deep, mysteriously ancient flavor they have when they first come out of the ocean.” Can’t you just feel and smell and taste those oysters?
I hated for the book to end. I’m ready for her first book, Tender To The Bone. (I seem to be reading in reverse order.) This book is my third book for the Books About Food Challenge.
Want to know what kind of blogger you are? This is a fun exercise you can do in seconds. Go to this website here and type in your blog’s URL. Within seconds it will give you a drawing like the one at the left and give you a personality type. (See mine below.) It’s based on the style of writing on your blog. I have no idea how they analyze all my writing within seconds and know my type. Don’t get too serious about this. Just have fun. Here’s my type:
ESTP – THE DOERS
The active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.
The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.
Thanks to Fleur Fisher for introducing me to this exercise.
For more tips on making things work in your life go to Rocks In My Dryer.
I’m in California in the 1980s. I’m in the middle of what people are calling a “whole food revolution”. My friends are Alice Waters, Wolfgang Puck, Marion Cunningham, and even Danny Kaye. I’ve had the chance to take “food tours” of Paris, China, Thailand and Barcelona. It’s a great life with the exception of the painful disintegration of my first marriage, my father’s death and a couple of other things.
For Teaser Tuesday I’m using the same book, Comfort Me With Apples. Here are two sentences to wet your appetite – pun intended.
The month of January has been a great reading month for me. I joined a bunch of book challenges and now I’m on a big dash to make sure I keep my promises. Here’s what’s on my list for February:
1. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by by Maya Angelou. I’ve always wanted to read this book and the Classics Book Club has it as the selection for the first Tuesday in February. It’s an excellent tale of Ms. Angelou’s early life.
2. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. This s the first book published by Dame Christie. I’ve entered a challenge to read all of Christie’s books in order of publication. It’s not a tough challenge as I’m of big fan of hers.
3. Homer Price by Robert McCloskey. This is one of my favorite books from childhood. Homer is a small town boy who’s life is fairly typical. Well, except for the capture of some thieves, a donut machine that won’t stop making donuts and balls of string nearly six feet tall! I’m reading this for the Childhood Favourites Challenge.
4. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. A book by one of my favorite authors. This is the story of Ms. Kingsolver and her family’s adventure in eating only locally grown food for one whole year. I’m reading this for the Books About Food Challenge.
5. Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives by Charles Swindoll. Rev. Swindoll has picked thirteen people from the Bible to profile. His goal is to show the significance of what they did even if their names are unrecognizable. This book is for the Christian Readers Challenge.
If I didn’t have all these challenges, what would I be reading? 
If you’d like to see what others are reading, check out 5 Minutes For Books.
As most grandmothers will tell you, the first grandchild holds a special place in your heart. For me, just knowing I was going to be a grandmother was exhilarating. And then to have one who’s smart and sweet and charming has indeed sent me over the top. And today she is ten-years-old!! Here are some of the facts (unbiased, of course) about Q:
- She loves to read. Lately Harry Potter books are a favorite.
- Q is in fourth grade and really likes school, especially Math.
- This is her second year of violin lessons but she would like to switch to piano. Mom and Dad say maybe next year.
- She is a superb game player. She is either very skilled or extremely lucky – or both. I’ve lost my ability to beat her, although I still like to play.
- Her favorite TV shows are “Ruff, Ruff, Fetch” and “Word Girl”. (House rules – no commercial TV.)
- She’s quite crafty. She knits, does bead work, makes cards and other paper crafts, and all kinds of drawing and art work.
- Outdoors – anything: riding her bike, camping, skating with her new rollerblades.
Q is also quite the storyteller. Her teacher last year said she expects some day to walk into a bookstore and see a book with Q’s name on it. I agree. She has a real way with dialogue. I asked her to let me have one of her short stories to share with you. Here it is.
Why Penguins Can Not Fly
By Q
Once long, long ago penguins could fly, soar, or glide gracefully in the skies. But not only could they fly, they also had all the colors of the world: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, gray, black, and white! Their feelings were gentle things and were easily bruised. They also had many fears in their lives like the bears and the beavers. But their biggest fears were the men of Willamette Valley. This is because they stood out and the men would capture them and eat them!
The penguins wanted the men to stop this. It was an injustice. So they flew to the great sun god for he was the oldest and wisest person on earth. So, they asked him,“ How can we get the men to stop killing us?” The sun god thought for a great while. Then the god had an idea and said in a booming voice,
“YOU SHOULD GIVE YOUR FEATHERS AWAY! THEN GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EARTH WHERE YOU WILL BE SAFE FOREVER!”
The penguins obeyed the sun god for he was the man! So, they called for all the birds in the forest to gather around. Then the penguins gave all their feathers to the birds.
The birds were grateful that the penguins gave them the feathers, but the penguins were surprised! They thought that they were going to be all pink but instead they were fuzzy, black and white, and had no tail feathers! The animals in the forest laughed at the site of the penguins but they did not care. Even though they had funny appearances that didn’t stop them from going to this prefect and peaceful place the sun god described.
Then finally, five days of waddling and eating plenty of fish, they made it! The place was full of dancing snowflakes and glittering water. Then as sudden as lighting, the sun god’s voice came out of the clouds and said in a booming voice,
“GREAT JOB PENGUINS, YOU MADE IT! BUT,” he said, “THERE IS A RULE THAT YOU MUST DO IN ORDER TO KEEP YOU ALL SAFE!” “And what is that?” the penguin leader asked.
“YOU PENGUINS MUST NEVER FLY AGAIN!” the great sun god boomed.
The penguins agreed but a little penguin asked in a squeaky voice, “If we can’t fly what can we do?” The old god chuckled as if someone had just told a joke at a banquette.
“ WHY MY DEAR OLD LAD!” said the sun god, “YOU COULD SWIM OF COURSE! BUT I MUST BE OFF, SOMEONE NEEDS MY HELP.”
Then he left. The penguins just stood and smelled the great fresh air of this fantastic place. Then they stepped into the water and started swimming. So, that is the story of “Why Penguins Can Not Fly!”
The End
Solvang, California is a small town founded by Danish immigrants and built to preserve their Danish culture. My folks “discovered” this little town in the 60’s and would take us here for day trips. None of us have ever been to Denmark but we like to believe it looks like this.
The architecture is a definite attraction. All of the buildings are built in the Danish style with blue-green copper roofs and lots of windmills. There are also many storks on tops of roofs – a symbol of good luck.
Another attraction: walking from shop to shop purchasing all kinds of fun things. My favorite purchases have been unusual kitchen gadgets, linens, yarn and, of course, books. The most popular purchase by all family members are those made at the Danish Bakeries. Although this is a small town, there are five bakeries here. We usually buy pastries and an onion-cheese bread. Solvang is where we first learned to eat Abelskivers – pancakes in the form of a ball. My dad became very good at making these.
We were here the first week of January and noticed that Solvang has changed some. Although still true to it’s Danish architecture, it’s now definitely a town built around tourism. I noticed more high-end gift shops and several new wine tasting rooms. The movie “Sideways” was filmed here which is probably bringing in more visitors. But in spite of the changes it’s still one of my favorite places.
If you’re interested in visiting, Solvang is located about 30 miles north of Santa Barbara. Take highway 101 and exit at Buellton (home of Andersen Pea Soup) and go east about 3 miles.
All People That On Earth Do Dwell
William Kethe
Geneva Psalter, 1561
Did you notice the date on this hymn? 1561 definitely makes it an old hymn. This is the time of the Reformation. Some protestant leaders, like John Calvin, believed in simple worship services consisting of prayer, preaching and singing of the Psalms.
Music was set to the Psalms of David and some were published in Geneva in 1561. This is one of them that has survived. Those of you up on your Bible will recognize this one: Psalm 100. If you know the tune to the Doxology, you will know the tune to this song. It’s the same. Here are the lyrics.
Verse One:
- All people that on earth do dwell,
- Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
- Him serve with mirth His praise forth tell,
- Come ye before Him and rejoice.
Verse Two:
- The Lord ye know is God indeed,
- Without our aid He did us make;
- We are His flock, He doth us feed,
- And for His sheep He doth us take.
Verse Three:
- O’ enter then his courts with praise,
- Approach with joy His courts unto;
- Praise laud and bless His name always,
- For it is seemly so to do.
Verse four:
- For why? the Lord our God is good,
- His mercy is forever sure;
- His truth at all times firmly stood,
- And shall from age to age endure.
