Thursday, April 28, 2005

"Mountain Man," by Vardis Fisher, c. 1965

(entry edited May 2nd, 3rd to include quotes}

This is next after Ride The Pink Horse by Dorothy Hughes, c. 1971. Copy is from booksfree.com


I collect quotes as I read. These ones are fun, poetical, or even philosophical. Take what you like, and leave the rest. Note that these aren't necessarily the "best" in the book. These happen to be close to the spot where I stopped reading each night.

From the bitterroots they had gone southeast to the continental divide and had crossed it just north of Henry's Lake. From there they went to Pierre's Hole and climbed the backbone of the Teton range and looked east across what would be known as Jackson Hole country. On the eastern flank of this range, high against the spine, were more wild flowers than Sam had ever seen in one spot - whole acres, whole hillsides, with such a wealth of color and scents that he could only stand and stare. He knew only a few of them - the asters, paintbrushes, pentstemons, gilias, mallows; none of them for him was as lovely as the marsh marigold, which he called the alpine lily, or the alp-lily, with their yellow centers and six creamy white petals, and the columbine. But he loved them all and marveled at the beauty of this mountainside. Among the flowers, as if to set them off, were the ferns, the leathery leaves of myrtle, the mountain laurel, and various berry plants, including the huckleberry. And the huckleberries were ripe. p69

What made him most unhappy were the hours he had to give to sleep, in a life that was short at best. He thought that possibly the Creator had given sleep to His creatures so that they would awaken with the eyes of morning and a fresh discovery of the world. p210

Sunday, April 24, 2005

"Earthly Delights. Gardening by the Seasons the Easy Way", by Margot Rochester, c. 2004

[edited 25th, 26th, 27th to include passages from the book]

I finished Honor's Splendour by Julie Garwood, c. 1987, last night. Within five minutes I was reading this one. Some people call this book chain addiction.

I collect quotes as I read. These ones are fun, poetical, or even philosophical. Take what you like, and leave the rest. Note that these aren't necessarily the "best" in the book. These happen to be close to the spot where I stopped reading each night.

So much for the garden rules. No penalty for breaking them .. execpt the possibility of a year without blooms. You may lose a plant or two by dividing at the wrong time of year, but so what? Plants forgive much more readily than people, and they are easily replaced when we do them in. p10
[comment: I like this philosophy .. freeing]

Tuesday, April 27th, 2005 --
The trick to gardening, at least the gardening I choose to do, is to focus on pleasurable endeavors. If a task is hard and tedious, think of a way to make it easier or do not do it at all. There is always a way to turn yard work into garden joy, and we should make sure we find it. p114
[comment: this philosophy can spread to other areas of life]

Next time we have one of those warm winter days that remind us that winter does not last forever, take time to step outside, breathe deeply and think gardening thoughts. The oxygen you inhale will fill you with hope and enthusiasm, just the stuff gardeners use to energize themselves for spring.
Walk around and admire the winter features of your garden. Enjoy the sculptural shapes and textures. Observe the abundance of greens provided by nature even in early February. Notice the shadows. Look for the purples and grays that dress up the garden any time of the year, but are especially appreciated when flowers are scarce. p80
[comment: any quote on true observation is a goodie for me]

On the way home, we stopped at a nursery and purchased chocolate mint (Menta cv. x spicata). I do not know what happened to hers, but mine has made itself at home far from its original site and every time I pull up a clump and get a whiff of York Peppermint Patty, I think of our trip together.
Chocolate mint is the most invasive of the mints but it is quite handsome with dark green foliage, chocolate-brown stems, and an alluring calorie-free scent. Pulling it up is a sensual experience but, as a rule, I leave it unless it is crowding other plants. p161

Friday, April 15, 2005

"Home for the Holidays," by Leanne Banks, Dixie Browning & Kathie DeNosky, c. 2003

[entry edited April 19,20th to include quotes]

This book, obtained via booksfree.com, is next after On The Street Where You Live by Mary Higgins Clark, c. 2001.

I collect quotes as I read. These ones are fun, poetical, or even philosophical. Take what you like, and leave the rest. Note that these aren't necessarily the "best" in the book. These happen to be close to the spot where I stopped reading each night.

All a part of her stress-related symptoms, according to Dr. Hodges, friend and physician.
Ann Elise wasn't sure she bought into the diagnosis. On the other hand, a brand-new year was bearign down on her and she wasn't even done with the old one yet. As soon as she could clear her calendar she vowed to spend a solid month on a beach - any beach at all, but the more deserted the better. That way, no one could make demands on her, real or implied. No telephones, no e-mail, no persistent sales reps. For one whole month she would do absolutely nothing but sleep in the sun, float on the water, and read purely for pleasure - nothing even faintly resembling literature, certainly nothing educational. p136
[comment: it would be nice to take a month off, huh? But no computer? hmmph!]

"If I hadn't acted like I cared for you it would have raised a red flag the size of Rhode Island with your sister." p290

Saturday, April 02, 2005

"A Love Beyond Time," by Judie Aitken, c. 2000

(entry updated Apr 4th, 5th to include quotes)

I have rolled the dice to see what is coming up to be read. Ta-da. This is next after
The Hunt for Hawke's Daughter by Jean Barrett, c. 2001. Copy is from booksfree.com

I collect quotes as I read. These ones are fun, poetical, or even philosophical. Take what you like, and leave the rest. Note that these aren't necessarily the "best" in the book. These happen to be close to the spot where I stopped reading each night.

When his parents had died, Dillon had followed the traditions of his Lakota and Cheyenne heritage. He had begun his year of mourning by cutting his hair off just below his ears. In the ten years since, it had grown untouched by scissors. p62
[comment: i'm always looking for tidbits of info like this.]

no quote this time -- just a fun word "etiology" -- definition from dictionary.com 1. The study of causes or origins. 2. The branch of medicine that deals with the causes or origins of disease.