What I Have Been Reading

I thought I would do a post on what I have been reading. I have been in such a funk with what I read since retirement. I once lived for summers to read stacks and stacks of books I had collected all year. I have hardly read a novel at all in the 2 years. I feel I am about to come out of that funk. Maybe it is just that I am finally getting a fix on my life. It was crazy for quite a few years.

I have still read mostly nonfiction, but enjoyed all my reads this past month.

I have to admit that I have had as many as 5 books at a time going. CRAZY!

I stopped them all to read Dana Perino's new book on Jasper. TWO reasons: I LOVE dogs and Dana is just the cutest thing. Definitely one of my favorites on Fox News.

I would think  you would need to love dogs to enjoy Let Me Tell You About Jasper: How My Best Friend Became America's Dog. I do so. I absolutely loved it!!! If you know a dog lover, it would make a great gift.

If you don't like dogs, then you probably think us dog lovers are weird. My mom certainly does!

Second up is a cookbook. Yes, I have read a cookbook from cover to cover.
I discovered Susan Branch late. I did not read her cookbooks when they were first published. I discovered them with her books on her life. I have fallen in love with her style and her cookbooks.

My absolute favorite is the Autumn cookbook. Even with the absolute not a chance of feeling like autumn weather we have had, I have devoured every page and tons of recipes. I have several marked to try during November. I bought a cookbook for every season last spring from Amazon for a steal. I have noticed the prices have all gone back up since then. The Autumn one is definitely my favorite.

Next up is my favorite read of October. The idea for it also came from Susan Branch. She speaks of Gladys Taber on her blog and in her books. One day while Internet surfing I came across a little information on her and searched Amazon for a book. I ordered her last book for a penny plus shipping and handling. IT was the best $3.99 I have spent in a while.

Still Cove Journal was her last book published by her daughter after her death. It is a collection of journal entries and columns that she wrote. It is divided by months. The book starts in April and ends in March which according to Mrs. Taber is how she views the calendar year. 

A quote from the book on April being the beginning of the year... 

"Now in April comes the real beginning of the year. The calendar may insist on putting New Year's in January, but for me April is the true beginning of the yearly cycle. Now everything is new, everything is young."

My copy was a library cover and it will be in my collection forever. I liked it that much. I want to read more of her books.

The next two books are in progress, so I will save my thoughts for later. I told y'all I was reading 5 books at a time. I don't think I recommend that idea.

I am reading Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury. I had it on my kindle and started it when I was waiting somewhere for an appointment. I am halfway through and will finish soon, because the Baxter Family Christmas book has arrived and I told myself I have to finish my two books before I can start it. Motivation!!!!!

 

My 5th and last book that I have been reading is Pursue the Intentional Life by Jean Fleming. 

I actually saw this on Instagram. The chapters are set up as stand alone reads so that has been one reason I have so many things going at one time. All of my choices were that kind of read. I am going to finish both before I start the Baxter Family Christmas. Then...

I have a long list of things I want to read.

I really do love to read, but I think the past few years with retirement and death have left me in a kind of pondering life mode. It has affected my reading habits. Life is good though and to be lived to the fullest. Books here I come...fill me with your words.

So today you will find me cleaning, reading, stitching, working in the yard, petting my dogs, etc. 

Happily jumping around from one thing to another,

Sandy

Update on the Farmhouse

I am popping in to do a quick update on the farmhouse. I could stand the white walls no longer, so this past Saturday I started painting the big room that we have now dubbed the gathering room.

It is a very large room, so I had to stop and get another gallon of paint this week to finish. Since we have an Auburn trip this weekend, I will probably go and finish next week during the week.

The wall color is wet here and not nearly that dark. It is the same color that we have in our main home. 

The Hoosier cabinet is painted and totally LOVE it. We put an antique glaze on it. I still have to do the pulls.

I finished the other side. I kind of have a bit of a mess everywhere, but just love the walls now.

I tried to like the white since it seems to be all the rage these days, but it is just not me.

Now, for the other side of the table. We have thought long and hard on what to put here. The Hoosier cabinet and pie safe are just so perfect on the opposite side. 

We looked far and wide for a long side table. This cabinet was left by 2 owners ago. It is a beautiful piece and IF this were being used in my main home there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO IT.

I am a believer in stained wood not being painted. I love wood grain, but I will never use this cabinet there. It was going to ruin out in the storage cottage. I thought we might only use the base, but it ends up that the hutch is attached to the top of the base and can't be removed easily. We did try. 

Our first thought was to strip it down to bare wood which you can see we did to the drawers. I actually liked that. The other drawers are in our garage where Hubby is working on them.

Mom is doing a bit of painting in this picture.

Plans changed when we realized the top would not come off. Currently we are planning on painting it the same as the Hoosier cabinet and doing the antique glaze.

The two inspiration Pinterest pics for this decision...

Source

Source

We will do the drawers first and see how that goes.

Our hope is to have this room done by Thanksgiving.

Planning on "gathering,"

Sandy