My reading and some of my great-grands

Ten-year-old Jaxon wants to be a PARAMEDIC/FIREMAN when he grows up.

Seven-year-old Shelby wants to be a VET when she grows up.

Four-year-old Shiloh wants to be a DOCTOR when she grows up.

These great-grandkids of mine are independent thinkers.  Their favorite colors?  Pink for him, blue for both girls!  Their mom said, "You can't make this up."

What I'm reading ~ Fiction

Never Mind! : A Twin Novel ~ by Avi and Rachel Vail, 2004, young adult fiction

What I'm reading ~ Nonfiction

Inside Animal Hearts and Minds: Bears That Count, Goats That Surf, and Other True Stories of Animal Intelligence and Emotion ~ by Belinda Recio, 2017, nonfiction

Book I may read next

The Inevitable: Contemporary Writers Confront Death ~ edited by David Shields and Bradford Morrow, 2011, psychology

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon.

Bloggers gather in the Sunday Salon — at separate computers in different time

zones — to talk about our lives and our reading.

She's a wee piggy, can you tell?

I Know a Wee Piggy ~ by Kim Norman, illustrated by Henry Cole, 2012, children's book, 9/10

A day at the fair becomes color chaos when one boy's energetic pig gets loose.  Upside down, piggy wallows in brown mud, but that's only the beginning of this cumulative, rhyming text.  Soon, he's adding a rinse of red (tomatoes), a wash of white (milk), a pinch of pink (cotton candy), then yellow, black, green, gray, orange, purple, and blue.  Can the wee piggy be caught before he turns the whole fair upside down?

My great-granddaughter dressed up this morning as a "wee piggy" for book character day at her school.  She chose a book that teaches children about colors.  Notice the colors attached to the piggy outfit Shelby is wearing today — I see brown, pink, and green in the photo.  It's a cute book for early readers.  Click to watch the YouTube video.

Four of my six great-grandchildren share the same birthday

Shelby, age 7, was born 12-13-13.  Jaxon, age 10. was born 12-13-10.

Twins Jonathan and Micah, age 6, were born 12-13-14.

Jaxon and Shelby sang at church Sunday (12-13-20).

Three children's books from the library

The Bug Girl (a true story) ~ by Sophia Spencer, with Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Kerascoët, 2020, children's memoir, 9/10

Real-life 7-year-old Sophia Spencer was bullied for loving bugs until hundreds of women scientists rallied around her.  Now Sophie tells her inspiring story in this picture book that celebrates women in science, bugs of all kinds, and the importance of staying true to yourself.

Sophia Spencer has loved bugs ever since a butterfly landed on her shoulder — and wouldn't leave! — at a butterfly conservancy when she was only two-and-a-half years old.  In preschool and kindergarten, Sophia was thrilled to share what she knew about grasshoppers (her very

favorite insects), as well as ants and fireflies.  But by first grade, not everyone shared her enthusiasm.  When she brought a beautiful grasshopper to school, some of the kids even knocked it off her shoulder and killed it.  Heartbroken, Sophia stopped talking about bugs, until her mom wrote to an entomological society looking for a bug scientist pen pal.  The society created the hashtag #BugsR4Girls, and before long, hundreds of scientists were talking to Sophia, encouraging her to keep up her love of entomology.  This charming picture book, written by the real-life Sophia, celebrates curiosity, scientific passion, being true to yourself — and of course, bugs!

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Ladybug Girl and Bingo ~ by Jacky Davis, illustrated by David Soman, 2012, children's, 8/10

This hardcover picture book explores the theme of responsibility for a pet and the fun of a first camping trip.  Lulu and her dog Bingo the basset hound are best friends.  Whenever they play outside, Bingo always stays close by Lulu’s side.  When they go camping for the first time, Lulu does her best to be responsible and hold tight to Bingo’s leash.  But what happens when Bingo wants to explore the forest on his own and runs off?  This is a job for Ladybug Girl!  She will find Bingo in time for toasting marshmallows at the campfire.

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Two days after putting The Bug Girl by Sophia Spencer on reserve at my library, I also reserved Ladybug Girl and Bingo because of this photo of my great-granddaughter Shelby, who is absolutely the cutest lady bug I've ever seen.  She had chosen to be "Ladybug Girl" on her school's book character day.

And I just happen to know that Shelby was a "bug girl" for Halloween 2019, too.  I love this monarch butterfly costume.  Hmm, we seem to have our very own bug girl in my family.  I love it.

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Don't Rant and Rave on Wednesdays! The Children's Anger-Control Book ~ by Adolph Moser, illustrated by David Melton, 1994, fiction, 8/10

Discusses the causes and effects of anger and provides advice on how to control and channel it.  From the author:  "Dear Friend: When I was a boy, I often got very angry.  Some people told me to 'let all my anger out.'  So I didn't hesitate to yell and scream, shake my fists, and stomp my feet!  I let my anger out all right.  But that kind of behavior got me into a lot of fights and arguments.  It also got me into trouble at school and home.  Now that I am an adult, I still get angry.  But I don't get as angry as often as I used to, and I don't stay angry as long.  I have learned how to control my behavior when I'm angry.  I no longer get into fights, and I don't get into as many arguments.  I get along much better with other people, and I stay out of trouble.  That makes me a much happier person.  It is important that you understand your own anger and learn how to deal with it in positive ways.  So I wrote this book just for you.  Your Friend, Adolph Moser"

I learned about this children's book when someone on Facebook showed pages 30-31. The previous page says we might think it's cute if a small child has a temper tantrum.

But we wouldn't think it was funny if we saw the president of the United States on national television, and he was jumping up and down, yelling and screaming, and beating his fists against a podium.  We would probably say:  "Even if the president is angry, he should be able to control his BEHAVIOR better than that!"

Kind of interesting that these words were written more than a quarter of a century ago.

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Sharlene from Real Life Reading that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.  To see what others are reading, click this link.

The Rear View Review 2018

Tiny and her daughter Lauree (see July)

This look back at 2018 was done by excerpting a short portion of one post from each month last year.  You can click on the name of the month to find these twelve posts.  I took this idea from Colleen at Loose Leaf Notes and soon realized it works best when I'm quoting something personal I wrote, rather than my posts about books and what some random author wrote.

January ~ I don't remember WHY we did it, but I do remember borrowing an accordian and learning to play it, so Ada and I could go onstage in front of the whole school to sing "Sisters, Sisters."  Yes, once I was able to play and sing at the same time!  I think we were in 8th grade when we sang.  After graduating, we went on to Chattanooga High School, where we once again played in band and orchestra together.  Here's a high school photo of me holding my bassoon.

February ~ What a fascinating book! I could imagine a forest of trees "leaning" on one another, "talking" to each other via their roots, and sending out "scent" signals to warn other trees of dangers such as insects nibbling on leaves or beetles boring into their trunks.

March ~ I often find myself pondering strange ideas, like the odd fact that 39 years ago when I was 39 years old, I did something foolish on St. Patrick's Day.  That was half my lifetime ago!  So today, I'll let it go and be happy that it was something that I could (and did) un-do.  I'm just glad it was St. Patrick's Day and not April Fool's Day!

April ~ Clawdia looks like an ornamental decoration herself, sitting on the little corner table.  By the way, Clawdia knows I don't always see her, as she slips past me like a shadow.  When I'm coming near her, she actually chirps, a little "meowp" sound, to let me know she's there.  Is this cat smart, or what?

May ~ When I started talking about women needing to have a voice and men doing the talking about #MeToo, a man near me interrupted me (!!!).  So I stood up and continued to talk ABOVE him.  We women had come to discuss the #MeToo situation, not to have it "man-splained" to us, though I didn't use that word. A woman came up to me afterwards to thank me for speaking up.

June ~ My friend Ginny visited me at the end of May, bringing along her sister Bunny.  Although she lives in Florida, Ginny figured out how to come through St. Louis on her way to Pennsylvania.  Makes sense, doesn't it, driving from Florida to Missouri to get to Pennsylvania?

July ~ Last night, Tiny knocked on our door with two bowls of vanilla ice cream in her hands.  That's vanilla covered with chocolate syrup.  And she didn't know it was Vanilla Ice Cream Day.  How funny is that!  (Tiny, who'd never done that before, is pictured at the top with her daughter.)

August ~ Gumption

Don’t call me pretty or say that I'm beautiful.
That's not what matters to girls who have spunk.

Tell me I'm smart or I show such compassion.
Say I have spirit or always seem savvy.

Tell me I'm witty or clever or funny,
and point out whenever I'm loving and kind.

Looks are not all that a girl should consider,
so tell me I've got what it takes to succeed.

― Bonnie Setliffe Jacobs, August 2, 2018

September ~ Today I will ponder "a road crossing a forest" as opposed to our human assumption that the deer is crossing one of OUR roads.  From the deer's point of view, that road came through the forest, making a mess of things, causing problems, making life difficult and extremely dangerous.   Oh, to see the world ― and life ― as others see it.

October ~ I first noticed the tree's reflection in the water, full of leaves.  Only then did I see the "actual" tree had no leaves.

November ~ I guess what I'm saying is that my happy place is where I can enjoy green growing things.  Hmm, and at this point in my life, I think my happy place is living here at the Crown Center.

December ~ I try not to put my foot in my mouth, not that I could literally do such a thing at my age.
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I posted something similar to this six years ago:  2012 in first lines.  The idea was to "use the first lines of each month on your blog, to give an overview of your blogging year."

What to say to little girls

Gumption

Don’t call me pretty or say that I'm beautiful.

That's not what matters to girls who have spunk.

Tell me I'm smart or I show such compassion.

Say I have spirit or always seem savvy.

Tell me I'm witty or clever or funny,

and point out whenever I'm loving and kind.

Looks are not all that a girl should consider,

so tell me I've got what it takes to succeed.

― Bonnie Setliffe Jacobs, August 2, 2018

Sunday Salon ~ family and books

FAMILY

Above are three of my great-grandchildren:  Jaxon, Shelby, and Shiloh on their mother's lap.  Below are my other three great-grandchildren:  Micah, Raegan, and Jonathan.

BOOKS

Recently finished:

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living ~ by Meik Wiking, 2017, psychology, 8/10

Currently reading:

To Be Where You Are ~ by Jan Karon, 2017, fiction (North Carolina)

Looking forward to:

The Donkey's Dream ~ by Barbara Helen Berger, 1985, children's

He was just an ordinary donkey, but on his back he carried a miracle.  He carried Mary to Bethlehem on the night she gave birth.  Along the way he dreamed he was carrying a city, a ship, a fountain, and a rose.  He dreamed he was carrying a lady full of heaven.

Bloggers gather in the Sunday Salon — at separate computers in different time zones — to talk about our lives and our reading.

Sunday Salon ~ booked and unbooked

Booked

Here's a brand-new novel I put on reserve at the library, since I've been reading all nonfiction lately:

Grief Cottage ~ by Gail Godwin, 2017, fiction (South Carolina)

After his mother's death, eleven-year-old Marcus is sent to live on a small South Carolina island with his great aunt, a reclusive painter with a haunted past.  Aunt Charlotte, otherwise a woman of few words, points out a ruined cottage, telling Marcus she had visited it regularly after she'd moved there thirty years ago because it matched the ruin of her own life.  Eventually she was inspired to take up painting so she could capture its utter desolation.  The islanders call it "Grief Cottage," because a boy and his parents disappeared from it during a hurricane fifty years before.  Their bodies were never found and the cottage has stood empty ever since.  During his lonely hours while Aunt Charlotte is in her studio painting and keeping her demons at bay, Marcus visits the cottage daily, building up his courage by coming ever closer, even after the ghost of the boy who died seems to reveal himself.  Full of curiosity and open to the unfamiliar and uncanny given the recent upending of his life, he courts the ghost boy, never certain whether the ghost is friendly or follows some sinister agenda.

Here's my library loot for this past week:

• Do One Thing Different: And Other Uncommonly Sensible Solutions to Life's Persistent Problems ~ by Bill O'Hanlon, 1999
• The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person ~ by Judith S. Beck, 2007
• The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living ~ by Meik Wiking, 2017

Here's what I'm in the middle of reading with my study buddies:

• Losing Moses on the Freeway: The 10 Commandments in America ~ by Chris Hedges, 2005
• Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne ~ by Wilda C. Gafney, 2017

Unbooked

What's going on in my life outside of books?  I swiped a photo off Facebook of my son holding his youngest grandchild before her sister's dance recital.  Baby Shiloh's hand is blurred, but I think David is digging Cheerios out of a baggie for her.  That's big brother Jaxon sitting beside his grandpa.  So you want to see the little ballerina, right?

Here's Shelby after the dance performance.
She'll be four years old on Wednesday.

Bloggers gather in the Sunday Salon — at separate computers in different time zones — to talk about our lives and our reading.

Hygge Holiday Challenge ~ first update

Dec. 1 ~ start a gratitude list

• Three children ~ Barbara, Sandra, and David.
• Seven grandchildren ~ Kendall, Cali, Brandy, Kenzie, Chase, Jamey, and Cady.
• Six great-grandchildren ~ Raegan, Jaxon, Shelby, Jonathan, Micah, and Shiloh.

Dec. 2 ~ add relaxing scents

I lit a vanilla-scented candle and bought a new hand soap scented with coconut water and mango to use in the kitchen.  I'm already using hand soap in the bathroom that's lavender-scented.

Dec. 3 ~ more gratitude

Since I'm retired, the challenge on the list makes no sense for me:  "sleep in 15 mins or more."  I can do that any day.  Instead, I'll add to my gratitude list.

Randi Schenberg

I'm very grateful for the Crown Center for Senior Living for being the great place for active retirees that it is.  That means being thankful for the wonderful people on the staff and the board.  Randi Schenberg, the Community Relations Director, was the first person I met at the Crown Center, when I applied to live here.  In February, Randi was given the 2017 JProStl Pillar Award, and I posted a 2-minute video about it on this blog.  Thanks, Randi, for your smiles and all you do for the Crown Center!

Dec. 4 ~ learn a new skill

I'm still trying to learn how to operate my new computer.  I've been very annoyed trying to use Windows 10.  Oops!  Being annoyed is not very "hyggeligt" ― it doesn't create a cozy environment.  I'll get someone to help me with the new laptop, but not today.  I'm going to get comfy, instead, and read a book.

Dec. 5 ~ get the Hygge book

I went to the University City Library and got a copy of The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking.  Loosely translated, hygge is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being.  It's about an atmosphere and an experience, like being cuddled up on a sofa, wearing cozy socks, and covered by a soft throw during a storm.  And don't forget to light a candle or two.

Dec. 6 ~ "unbook" yourself

Too late!  I had already agreed to drive my friend Barbara somewhere today.  Watching her enjoy old friendships was also joyful for me, so it worked out perfectly.  On our way back home, we stopped at the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions for Barbara and for another Crown Center resident, since we were going there anyway.  She and I also had lunch together in the Circle@Crown Café and visited with several people, including Judy and Marianne.

Dec. 7 ~ send a thank you note

I looked through my cards and found this one that says "Thoughts of you..." on the front and on the inside "...are the happiest kind!"  Who and why shall remain between the recipient and me, but the card is on its way.

The challenge
Click this link to see the complete Hygge Holiday Challenge calendar.

Caturday ~ pumpkins

One of Bonnie's great-grandchildren has a picture of me on her shirt!

Compare it to a photo of me from a couple of years ago.

Clawdia, 'til next time   >^. .^<

Thursday Thirteen ~ family on my mind

1.  Shiloh Mae, due to arrive in November, is my sixth great-grandchild.  Shiloh means "one who is peaceful."

2.  Jaxon has been to the doctor twice and to the ER for fluids. No one knew exactly what was wrong with him, his mom reported today when she asked for prayers.  Late in the day, she had a call from the doctor and learned he has salmonella, apparently from a restaurant.  That's the only time he ate anything different from the rest of the family.

3.  My twins took part in the Race for the Cure over the weekend.

4.  I got to visit with David and Sharon while in Chattanooga this summer.

5.  Jamey graduating from the university.

6.  Micah is busy crawling through the tube.

7.  Jonathan is absorbed in his activity.

8.  Cady now has a driver's licence.

9.  Shelby and I like cats.

10.  Sandra at Raegan's school on Grandparents' Day, today.

11.  I visited my sister Ann on July 14th, three weeks before she died.

12.  Sandra and Barbara in the Race for the Cure ran into Chase on the UTC campus.

13.  Grandkids when there were only six.  Clockwise from top left:  Brandy, Kendall, Cali, Kenzie, Jamey, and Chase.