169/365

Window Grafitti

I was in town this afternoon and one of the vacant buildings has large windows.  One of the windows had this graffiti painted on it.

Abilene is know as the Storybook Capital of the United States, so they have a lot of Winnie the Pooh graphics scattered around as statues and graffiti.

99/365

Theo of Golden

I belong to a book group that meets once a month.  This is the book we're reading now.  I never heard of it until now.  I've been trying not to buy books (which isn't really working very well) so that I don't have  extra "things" in my house to clean out, or to leave behind for my kiddos to clean out.

I borrowed this book from one of the other members......

If you haven't read this book, get yourself a copy.  It's fantastic.  The writing is wonderful and the story is great.  I'm only halfway through it.  I'm reading it fast and then slow. I want to know what happens but I want it to last.  I have to give it back to the owner but I think I'll purchase my own copy so I can re-read it whenever I want to.  

Rating it from one to ten, it's a 10+++++++, just sayin'.

59/365

Abandoned Old Piano

An abandoned piano seen in the entryway of an abandoned church in the county-side of a small Texas town.

364/365

Sanditon

Jane Austen's last book, Sanditon.  Austen wrote 12 chapters when she allegedly fell ill, was unable to finish the book and "another lady" finished the book for her.  

This is my January bookgroup read.  I don't think I've ever read anything by Austen, so I wonder if I'll like it~~even if I don't, I'll read it to be able to participate in the discussion.

In all the years I've tried to post a photo-a-day, I think this is the first year that I'll have posted 365 images.  What an achievement!

239/365

Ladder of Years

I chose this book for my bookgroup many, many years ago.  Anne Tyler wrote this book in 1995.  I LOVE it, it's my favorite of her books, and every book she writes is great.  I read this one at least once a year.

Tyler's books are quirky and funny. 

If you haven't read anything by Anne Tyler yet, take a chance and read one.

209/365

Dandelion Summer

It's pretty hot here now, so I'm staying close to home and doing a lot of reading, which I absolutely love to do anyway.

I discovered this author a couple of months ago and have read several of her books. I got this copy from the library, but then I had to order one for myself from a used book site.

This is the book I'm picking for my next bookgroup turn. 

So many topics for a good discussion.

73/365

Counted With the Stars

I belong to a bookgroup that meets once a month.  The book that we're reading this month is this one.  It's a story of the 10 Plagues told from the point of view of an Egyptian woman who becomes a believer.  I couldn't put it down.

The writing is wonderful and I'm going to get other books by this author.

If you're looking for a good book, check this one out.

171/366

The Secret Keeper

I read this book a few years ago and liked it.  I have a habit of rereading books I like, so I started this one again and still like it.  I don't remember what the "secret" is, but the story goes back and forth between WWII in England and around 2011 with the same characters.

I know there are so so so many books out there that I haven't read, but when I like a book or a movie I like to read/watch it again.

So if you like to read historical fiction, this one might be for you.

I'm grateful for: 

good writing

102/366

Living Room Decor

I've had this rattan cube for a long time.  I store extra blankets in it.  Once upon a time I saw a photo in a magazine about decorating by putting books in a pile and then some kind of knick-knack on top and I loved the idea.  There's a spot in my living room where I can't really put a piece of furniture, so I put the cube there with the books on top of it.  It makes me smile every time I look at it.

My heart is grateful:

That I have something pleasing to fill that space

101/366

Into Thin Air

I read this book years ago.  It was published in 1997, one year after a disastrous Mount Everest expedition during which a total of 12 climbers perished.

I chose this book for my bookgroup which meets at the end of April.  

It's not a happy story, but it's incredibly well written and it left me scratching my head about why someone would pay $65,000 (in 1996~~who knows how much a climber would have to pay today?) to climb the highest mountain in the world knowing that at any given moment they could perish, be seriously injured, not make it to the top, or be one of the few who beat the odds and stand for a mere 2-3 minutes at the top after the brutal trek to 29,000 + feet.

326/365

An Open Book Mural

This is a mural seen in the window area of a bookbinder in downtown Abilene, Texas.  The colors are beautiful and the implication of opening a book and being totally surprised is great.

My heart is happy for:

for my love of reading and all the good literature (and some not so good) that I've read in my life

275/365

Just the Facts

I attended a meeting last night where the author of this book spoke about the horrendous things that are really happening at the southern border in Texas.  It's worse than we all know and worse than we want to believe.  I could go on a political rant right now, but I don't think that's what my blog should be about.

I will recommend this book for anyone who wants to know the facts.  The author is a former ICE and Homeland Security Agent, who was shot three times in an altercation (during which his partner was killed) and who is now advocating for stricter restrictions at the border.

My heart is grateful for:

men who are courageous and willing to fight the fight

190/365

Perceptions of a Renegade Mind

I borrowed this book from a friend and about ¼ of the way through it I knew I had to own it.  I told him how much I was enjoying it and after a few days he gifted it to me and bought himself another copy.  That was so sweet.

If you haven't read it, or anything by David Icke, it should be at the top of your reading list.  This book deals with how we were all so deceived in the past 3.5 years.  

The back cover of the book states:

From the man who has called current events for more than 30 years...

The world as it REALLY IS.

In my opinion this book is a must read and it's a great reminder to never, NEVER, let ourselves be deceived in such a way again.

My heart is grateful for:

those who tell the whole truth in spite of the consequences

65/365

Eyes of the Lorax

Abilene has the nickname of "Storybook Capital".  There are a couple of parks in town where there are statues of storybook characters.  The parks are very sweet and very child-orientated.

These are the eyes of The Lorax. 

 The assignment of my photo club this month is eyes.  Ick.  I have no imagination so I figured I wouldn't submit anything for the assigned topic, then I happened upon the statue today during my walk around town.  

I love Dr. Suess and read a lot of his books to my children, but somehow I never read this one.

Apparently the book is about human greed being the cause of the destruction of the natural environment. 

The "lesson" is basically, "nothing will get better if no one cares".

My heart is grateful today for:

the friend I play racketball with every week

23/365

"Waymaker" by Ann Voskamp

I belong to a bookgroup that meets monthly.  We take turns choosing the books.  This is the choice for January picked by another member. I borrowed this copy.

I've read many books that have been super-well-written and fun to read, but I have to say that I don't think I've read one where the writing has been This Compelling, nor the subject matter so Humbling.

It's a brand new book, copyright 2022.  If it wasn't so expensive I'd buy multiple copies and give one to everyone I know.  In lieu of that, I'll just recommend it.

Chase Lake

69/365

It rained all week.  The forecast for today was partly sunny in the morning with chance of rainstorms in the afternoon.  We knew we'd have time to hike and get back to the car before the rain began.

It turned out to be a great day.  Just cool enough to enjoy the long walk with

an accompanying breeze.  And no rain!  

Our destination was Chase Lake lean-to.  2.7 miles one-way.

Hikers seem to be a breed unto themselves.  There's an etiquette among those who hike.  One of the  sayings of the Adirondacks is "Leave only footsteps, take only pictures".  

Wherever there's a lean-to along a trail, you'll find items left for the use of any hikers who frequent the location.  Hanging on the outside of this lean-to was a hoe, a shovel, a fish net and a hand saw.  

Inside was a coffee pot, a can of baked beans, a zip loc bag of plastic spoons, a bag of tea light candles, a couple of canisters of propane fuel and a plastic bag of newspapers to start fires with.  

Oh.  And one item you're sure to find at any lean-to even if there's nothing else, is a composition book and pencil (safely and dryly stored in a zip loc bag)

Leave a message, share a though, report on trail conditions, write a poem, make a complaint, encourage those who follow, whatever.  It's great reading.

One of the comments in this book was written by a visitor from England.  He was so impressed with the lean-to and the items left there.  He said that if such a thing were done in England, the items would be gone within hours and the lean-to probably burned to the ground by the next day.

High-five to the Adirondack hikers!

Another fun thing.  One of my hiking buddies brought pedometers for each of us to use today.  It only counted "steps taken".  

10,000 steps = 5 miles.

We took 13,434 steps on the trail.  Makes me tired just thinking about it.