Well we woke to an ice fog this morning. Beautiful but cold. It's cold in the living room today too..I can hear the wood in the stove making small crackling sounds but I'll obviously need to go feed it something more substantial in a minute. The indoor temperature is 61degrees f and the outdoors is 16 degrees f ..very symmetrical!
This house was built when heat here was virtually free, and it therefore has no insulation to speak of, and far less than any house I've ever lived in, in Shropshire, or anywhere else for that matter...you'd think an Alaskan house would be super insulated..think again. There are a lot of cold houses here in spite of high heat bills.
The heating system in our house could never get/keep the house warm ..so we don' t bother with it.Just leave the circulating pump on so the pipes don't freeze in a cold spot. My other half/partner/dear one/husband...'M' installed a beautiful, huge, fat, black, cast-iron, Cawley wood stove and we feed it well and it keeps us warm, toasty warm..especially when he's feeding it! There is a skill in choice of logs and stacking arangements. Stove has a charm and character of it's own and it's very pretty to look at. She wraps us in Blissful warmth, will boil a kettle and make waffles or pancakes too. Last night we left her with too much air and very dry wood and it was 80 in the bedrooms and too warm...the stove was glowing a bit too (oops)not a good idea.
Well my two finger typing is improving, I have my right arm strapped tight from finger tips to armpit to encourage it to go back to normal size..it started to swell a little (side effect of a damaged lymph drainage system) and is now being massaged,strapped and exercised daily to sort this out and it seems to be working. The only catch being I have one arm that is padded and strapped so it looks most odd...and awkward... I have thought of covering it with silver foil and pretending to be a cyberman from DrWho...muttering delete ominously..but as I'm not too sure how many people in this neck of the woods are familiar with the Doctor.. I'd get even funnier looks than I do now! if not locked away.
Well I should be cleaning the house, baking or catching up with other chores put on hold due to the family practising a relay with an unpleasant tummy bug...littlest first, then eldest, then M.. poor lot most horrid and miserable, and no one getting a good nights sleep for several days..oh dear...But all mending well now and the children able to go back to school today.
Eldest has just discovered the joys of a good book read into the night..(It'll be all night soon Nan!)so last night, 'lights out' was almost a battle, fortunately eldest has also discovered the joys of Anticipation (and reading in bed in the morning! ) so (with only minimal kerfluffle and indignant protests)Enid Blyton's collection of stories "the cuckoo clock" (Yd's choice) and Astrid Lindgren's 'Ronia the Robber's daughter' (Elder d's) were both finally parked on the respective rugs folded on the end of each bed to be gobbled in the morning..which they were with great satisfaction. "18 chapters Mum, it's sort of scary and exciting and I've got to read what happens next "(her first unputdownable book) Oh the pleasures of a good book.
Perhaps I should next, go collect a load of wood, put a chicken in the oven and bake a plain cake... then I'll feel like I've achieved something, the house will be warmer,then I can get well muffled up and briskly walk through the crunchy,squeaky snow to collect the girls from school and the baking smell will greet us when we get back.
Oh and a useless tip for the bored...if you have a fat hand that won't fit in any glove or mitt you possess..try on a fleecy dog snowboot..works a treat (just keep it stuffed in your coat pocket so it doesn't show..unless of course you wish to start a new fashion trend?!)
Well............after a shortish break... that's the washing up dealt with..yes!!! Agatha Christie's "The Million dollar bond robbery" read by David Suchet, followed by "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb"... nice short stories that together with a plastic bread bag glove for the hand, helped me take care of a disliked chore.
Now the Chicken is roasting in the center of the oven and a tray of Tea Scones baking on the top shelf. Time ran out on baking a cake so it's going to be scones hot from the oven for tea.
It's now 66.2 degrees f inside (and feel's warmer) and 15 out, a fat birch log is doing it's stuff in the stove. I'll try and take a snap of the stove and see if I can do the castings credit? and the scones before they disappear! but first it's off into the cold to fetch small girls home. ttfn Val
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
'Swallows and Amazons' & 'Swallowdale' by Arthur Ransome
Swallows and Amazons Forever...
The first book in a series of 12 childrens books written by Arthur Ransome was Swallows and Amazons published in 1930, Swallowdale is the second and was published a year later in 1931.
Swallows and Amazons introduces us to the Walker family, Mother (not forgetting-Nurse and Baby Victoria) and her rather nice bunch of older adventurous children; John, Susan, Titty and Roger (the youngest aged 7). Their Father is away at sea in the navy. The family are enjoying a long Summer holiday in the Lake District lodging in a farmhouse on the shores of a beautiful lake
(Based I think on lake Coniston Water see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coniston_Water )
and the older children have asked and obtained permission from their father to sail a small sail boat on the lake and camp on an island they call 'Wildcat island' situated near the shore. The children camp, cook, sail and meet up with two adventurous Girls; Nancy and Peggy Blackett, who sail a boat called the Amazon and are adventurous pirates, a fun addition to the story is the Blackett girls Uncle Jim, he lives on a houseboat on the lake with a green parrot and a cannon and is ideal for the role of 'Captain Flint' in the Children's games . The story describes life camping, sailing, fishing and exploring. The book includes lots of sailing terms that I thought my audience would find hard going..but not a bit of it, they were enthralled and absorbed and as soon as we'd finished all 351 pages we had to start again until we could find Swallowdale.
Arthur Ransome wrote (of "Swallows and Amazons")
"I have often been asked how I came to write Swallows and Amazons The answer is that it had its beginning long, long ago when, as children, my brother, my sisters and I spent most of our holidays on a farm at the South end of Coniston. We played in or on the lake or on the hills above it finding Charcoal-burners whose smoke rose from the coppice woods along the shore. We adored the place. Coming to it ,we used to run down to the lake, dip our hands in a wish, as if we had just seen a new moon. Going away from it we were half drowned in tears. While away from it, as children and as grownups we dreamt about it. No matter where I was wandering about the world, I used to at night to look for the North Star and, in my mind's eye, could see the beloved skyline of great hills beneath it. Swallows and Amazons grew out of those old memories. I could not help writing it. It almost wrote itself. AR
Haverthwaite
May 19th, 1958 "
A good link to information on the series is here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallows_and_Amazons_(series)
Swallowdale
The first book in a series of 12 childrens books written by Arthur Ransome was Swallows and Amazons published in 1930, Swallowdale is the second and was published a year later in 1931.
Swallows and Amazons introduces us to the Walker family, Mother (not forgetting-Nurse and Baby Victoria) and her rather nice bunch of older adventurous children; John, Susan, Titty and Roger (the youngest aged 7). Their Father is away at sea in the navy. The family are enjoying a long Summer holiday in the Lake District lodging in a farmhouse on the shores of a beautiful lake
(Based I think on lake Coniston Water see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coniston_Water )
and the older children have asked and obtained permission from their father to sail a small sail boat on the lake and camp on an island they call 'Wildcat island' situated near the shore. The children camp, cook, sail and meet up with two adventurous Girls; Nancy and Peggy Blackett, who sail a boat called the Amazon and are adventurous pirates, a fun addition to the story is the Blackett girls Uncle Jim, he lives on a houseboat on the lake with a green parrot and a cannon and is ideal for the role of 'Captain Flint' in the Children's games . The story describes life camping, sailing, fishing and exploring. The book includes lots of sailing terms that I thought my audience would find hard going..but not a bit of it, they were enthralled and absorbed and as soon as we'd finished all 351 pages we had to start again until we could find Swallowdale.
Arthur Ransome wrote (of "Swallows and Amazons")
"I have often been asked how I came to write Swallows and Amazons The answer is that it had its beginning long, long ago when, as children, my brother, my sisters and I spent most of our holidays on a farm at the South end of Coniston. We played in or on the lake or on the hills above it finding Charcoal-burners whose smoke rose from the coppice woods along the shore. We adored the place. Coming to it ,we used to run down to the lake, dip our hands in a wish, as if we had just seen a new moon. Going away from it we were half drowned in tears. While away from it, as children and as grownups we dreamt about it. No matter where I was wandering about the world, I used to at night to look for the North Star and, in my mind's eye, could see the beloved skyline of great hills beneath it. Swallows and Amazons grew out of those old memories. I could not help writing it. It almost wrote itself. AR
Haverthwaite
May 19th, 1958 "
A good link to information on the series is here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallows_and_Amazons_(series)
Swallowdale
Swallowdale follows on from Swallows and Amazons and the next summers return to the lake and to 'Wildcat' island. The Swallows and Amazons were planning a joint camping trip and adventures but the unexpected arrival of the Blackett's Aunt (held in fear and Awe by the Blackett's Mother and their Uncle) causes modifications of plans, throw in a shipwreck, adventures when fog shrouds the lake, a secret valley and a cave- and more excitement is guaranteed.
From the back of our copy of the book are quotes from
The Times Literary Supplement...
"The story is crowded with useful hints on sailing and camping;is exciting,but not sensational,funny but never ludicrous; in fact it is a perfect book for children of all ages, and better reading for the rest of us than are most novels"
and The Boston Transcript...
"Anyone over seven and under seventy who loves the real country will enjoy the book,and it is an excellent read-aloud book for various ages."
These books are very enjoyable, of their time, it's true, but nevertheless surprisingly dateless reads. A good book on basic dinghy sailing was useful to me, but the listeners were quite content with a straight reading, and these books were ideal for this summer when we camped by the a nearby lake , although our children had to make do with a row boat and not a sailing dingy
Next book for us to read is Winter holiday for the Winter holidays....
Happy reading!
Hope this helps Nan :0)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
A Mystery for a Snowy Day
A cold and snowy day, just the kind of day to add some logs to the fire and make a large pot of tea and enjoy a good mystery.
Today I shall be spoilt and listen to a story read to me. The reader Robin Bailey's voice is lovely, warm with a little gravel in there..and he's reading a story that has become a favourite of mine and is now being listened to for the umpteenth time. "Henrietta Who?" by Catherine Aird.
First published in 1968
Today I shall be spoilt and listen to a story read to me. The reader Robin Bailey's voice is lovely, warm with a little gravel in there..and he's reading a story that has become a favourite of mine and is now being listened to for the umpteenth time. "Henrietta Who?" by Catherine Aird.
First published in 1968
This story is a detective C.D Sloan mystery that caught my interest from the opening and held it to the last page. A very satisfying crime novel.
Information from the reverse of the cassette pack..
"HENRIETTA WHO?
Life for Henrietta Jenkins was a quiet well ordered affair- a home with her widowed mother and degree studies at University.But her life changed dramatically when just before her 21st birthday, her mother's body was found in a quiet road,apparently the victim of a hit-and-run driver.For not only did the simple case turn into a murder hunt,but the post mortem also revealed that Grace Jenkins had never had any children.In which case who was Henrietta?"
I first discovered Catherine Aird's work over 10 perhaps 20 now? ..gosh time is going by fast.. years ago first listening to Henrietta Who? then The Complete Steel (Published in the States as "The Stately home murder" I think) and finally The Religious Body all read by Robin Bailey and all equally enjoyable..I then had to search for her work and found Paperbacks of many more mysteries in print ..but not always on tape, or if recorded not necessarily by Robin Bailey..Oh dear...but still enjoyable escapism non the less.
I recently found Catherine Aird's website ..and it appears she is still writing,
http://www.fbcuk.co.uk/catherineaird/
and it also provides details of her earlier works now being republished, Lovely!!!
http://www.fbcuk.co.uk/catherineaird/ReIssues.htm
Good reading or listening!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
In Remembrance
11th November 2008
In Remembrance of those affected by Wars in the past and the present
With Great Thanks to those who bravely served and suffered
and to their families and loved ones.
In the Sincerest hope that the future will be more peaceful
and that we will not be destined
to repeat our mistakes in the future.
To the Kind, the steadfast and the brave
in hope.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A New Day...
For the States a new beginning, a general feeling of optimism pervades the air, unless I was imagining it the smiles on peoples faces dropping off their children to Kindergarten were wider this morning... I know this is Alaska but we do live in a very mixed area of the city where Obama stickers have appeared. Will Ted Stevens be reelected ? it remains to be seen, it'll certainly be close, the Nurse I saw today was speechless after asking her husband "You didn't vote for a convicted felon ...did you ?" to be met with the reply "there's never been a Democrat I can listen to" she was NOT impressed.
A cold cloudy day, the mountains had a bluish tinge to the snow this morning, a long day for the girls as they had a Girl scout meeting after school and celebrations last night meant a later bedtime. A chapter of Kelpie the Gipsies' pony by Ursula Moray Williams this evening (Oldest D. choice) followed by a chapter of a Secret Seven on the Trail by Enid Blyton (Youngest D. Choice) then two more chapters of Secret Seven special joint request. Must remember to read this in the mornings not at night as they found it most exciting..settled for sleep they were not..fizzing would be a better description.
A cold cloudy day, the mountains had a bluish tinge to the snow this morning, a long day for the girls as they had a Girl scout meeting after school and celebrations last night meant a later bedtime. A chapter of Kelpie the Gipsies' pony by Ursula Moray Williams this evening (Oldest D. choice) followed by a chapter of a Secret Seven on the Trail by Enid Blyton (Youngest D. Choice) then two more chapters of Secret Seven special joint request. Must remember to read this in the mornings not at night as they found it most exciting..settled for sleep they were not..fizzing would be a better description.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
How did I arrive here?
Gosh that could be a broad life question...but I have a woolly brain ..so it's going to be a literal question "How did I arrive at this blog?"
I was sorting out cassettes and found a favourite recording, Judi Dench reading Larkrise to Candleford by Flora Thompson ...popped the first cassette into the player and that took care of a sink of washing up (a chore I dislike...out of the way) then whilst browsing on the computer and avoiding the temptations of ebay I googled Larkrise which lead me to a blog, which led me to another and another....lovely! Lot's of food for thought and in the case of "Letters from a Hill farm" real food in the form of yummy recipes ... the chocolate mud bars were a great success (Thank you!!! I'd add a thankyou comment by the recipe..but can't get that to work there yet)
So now I'm typing for a few moments, before I feed the daughters bundle them up and walk them to school. The Mountains are beautiful this morning, white on grey with a pink tinged sky edging the peaks.
I was sorting out cassettes and found a favourite recording, Judi Dench reading Larkrise to Candleford by Flora Thompson ...popped the first cassette into the player and that took care of a sink of washing up (a chore I dislike...out of the way) then whilst browsing on the computer and avoiding the temptations of ebay I googled Larkrise which lead me to a blog, which led me to another and another....lovely! Lot's of food for thought and in the case of "Letters from a Hill farm" real food in the form of yummy recipes ... the chocolate mud bars were a great success (Thank you!!! I'd add a thankyou comment by the recipe..but can't get that to work there yet)
So now I'm typing for a few moments, before I feed the daughters bundle them up and walk them to school. The Mountains are beautiful this morning, white on grey with a pink tinged sky edging the peaks.
Favourite Authors
At the moment just a list but this is a a work in progress, information on authors and their works to be added as time and inclination allows...
Aird, Catherine (Detective fiction)
Alhberg, Janet & Alan (Childrens fiction)
Austen, Jane (Classic)
Blyton, Enid (Childrens fiction)
Buchan, John
Cecil, Henry
Christie, Agatha (Detective fiction)
Churchill, Winston
Conyers, Dorothea
David, Elizabeth (Cookery & Life)
Delafield, E.M (Humorous fiction)
Douglas, O
Durrell, Gerald (Humorous/natural history)
Elliot, Rose (Cookery)
Grenfell, Joyce
Herriot, James
Hissey, Jane (Childrens fiction)
Kaye, M.M (Detective fiction)
Luard, Elizabeth (Cookery & Life)
Murphy, Dervla (Travel)
Peters, Ellis (Detective fiction)
Ransome, Arthur (Childrens fiction)
Sassoon, Siegfried
Sayers, D.L (Detective Fiction)
Stark, Freya (Travel)
Stewart, Mary
Tey, Josephine (Detective fiction)
Thirkell, Angela (Humorous fiction)
Tovey, Doreen (Humorous )
http://erasmus-the-cats-cushion.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-02-26T09%3A48%3A00-09%3A00&max-results=1
Von Arnim, Elizabeth (Classic/Humorous fiction)
Webb, Mary (Shropshire fiction)
West, Elizabeth
West, Rebecca (Classic)
Wodehouse, P.G (Humorous fiction)
Aird, Catherine (Detective fiction)
Alhberg, Janet & Alan (Childrens fiction)
Austen, Jane (Classic)
Blyton, Enid (Childrens fiction)
Buchan, John
Cecil, Henry
Christie, Agatha (Detective fiction)
Churchill, Winston
Conyers, Dorothea
David, Elizabeth (Cookery & Life)
Delafield, E.M (Humorous fiction)
Douglas, O
Durrell, Gerald (Humorous/natural history)
Elliot, Rose (Cookery)
Grenfell, Joyce
Herriot, James
Hissey, Jane (Childrens fiction)
Kaye, M.M (Detective fiction)
Luard, Elizabeth (Cookery & Life)
Murphy, Dervla (Travel)
Peters, Ellis (Detective fiction)
Ransome, Arthur (Childrens fiction)
Sassoon, Siegfried
Sayers, D.L (Detective Fiction)
Stark, Freya (Travel)
Stewart, Mary
Tey, Josephine (Detective fiction)
Thirkell, Angela (Humorous fiction)
Tovey, Doreen (Humorous )
http://erasmus-the-cats-cushion.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-02-26T09%3A48%3A00-09%3A00&max-results=1
Von Arnim, Elizabeth (Classic/Humorous fiction)
Webb, Mary (Shropshire fiction)
West, Elizabeth
West, Rebecca (Classic)
Wodehouse, P.G (Humorous fiction)
Monday, November 3, 2008
Childrens books
Childrens Books
I am always on the look out for Good children's books to read to 6 and 7 (going on 8) year old girls. I would like to list/review those I've found already to share with others. But as I'm new to this and my brain is rather woolly at the moment it may take a little work to achieve this end!
For a change this week the girls listened to Joanna Lumley reading 101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith although a little exciting at first listen for younger daughter it was a great success, held their attention and received a request for an immediate repeat.
Books enjoyed by the girls this Year (ages 5/6 & 7/8) included ...
101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith read by Joanna Lumley
More Naughty Little Sister Stories by Dorothy Edwards
Marigold in Godmother's House by Elsa Lankaster Brisley
The Milly Molly Mandy Storybook by Elsa Lankaster Brisley
Swallowdale by Arthur Ransome
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Sophie is Lucky by Dick King Smith
(Also...Sophie is Seven, Sophie in the Saddle, Sophie Hits Six, Sophie's Tom & Sophie's Snail, all by Dick King Smith)
The Stray by Dick King Smith
The Water Horse by Dick King Smith
I am always on the look out for Good children's books to read to 6 and 7 (going on 8) year old girls. I would like to list/review those I've found already to share with others. But as I'm new to this and my brain is rather woolly at the moment it may take a little work to achieve this end!
For a change this week the girls listened to Joanna Lumley reading 101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith although a little exciting at first listen for younger daughter it was a great success, held their attention and received a request for an immediate repeat.
Books enjoyed by the girls this Year (ages 5/6 & 7/8) included ...
101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith read by Joanna Lumley
More Naughty Little Sister Stories by Dorothy Edwards
Marigold in Godmother's House by Elsa Lankaster Brisley
The Milly Molly Mandy Storybook by Elsa Lankaster Brisley
Swallowdale by Arthur Ransome
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Sophie is Lucky by Dick King Smith
(Also...Sophie is Seven, Sophie in the Saddle, Sophie Hits Six, Sophie's Tom & Sophie's Snail, all by Dick King Smith)
The Stray by Dick King Smith
The Water Horse by Dick King Smith
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