My sister invited me to spend the week with her and 2 friends at her condo...the first night, a beautiful sunset...then glorious days.
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Welcome to our Blog!
Aha! Put it in the right place and there it stays!
Reed and Kris
44 years! And now the nest is empty, but our lives are full!
Favorite web site: our bamboo bat business
Favorite Quote
"Those who do not read are no better off than those who cannot read." Unknown
And my new favorite: "Knowledge must bow to spirit." Inness
And my new favorite: "Knowledge must bow to spirit." Inness
Current Reads
I had not updated my "current reads" for about 2 years...not so current!
8/25/13 Just finished The River of Doubt by Candice Millard...about Teddy Roosevelt's journey to explore an uncharted tributary of the Amazon River...ending in Manaus, Brazil. It was a disaster from the beginning, and almost cost him his life. So interesting!
For book club, we read The Rent Collector by Camron Wright. Based on a documentary his son had made about residents of the largest dump in Cambodia, the author tells a story about the importance of books, literature, the ability to read, learning to read and transforming one's life. I had to force myself to put it down so I could make it last!! Wonderful!
Now it is 2015...I have read The Boys in the Boat, about the University of Washington rowing team that won the gold medal in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. It made me want to stand up and cheer!! I had read Unbroken, about Louis Zamperini who also participated in the 1936 Olympics. Heroic, inspirational, and I don't want to see the movie!! I don't want to be disappointed and I always am.
We just finished The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin for book club. Painstakingly researched, as always, the author presents a thorough study of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft...the men, their lives, their friendship and their presidencies. Another Ohio POTUS of whom I knew little, William H. Taft gave me reason to be proud :). They were very different men, of fine character, great intellect, and lasting legacies. So interesting.
8/25/13 Just finished The River of Doubt by Candice Millard...about Teddy Roosevelt's journey to explore an uncharted tributary of the Amazon River...ending in Manaus, Brazil. It was a disaster from the beginning, and almost cost him his life. So interesting!
For book club, we read The Rent Collector by Camron Wright. Based on a documentary his son had made about residents of the largest dump in Cambodia, the author tells a story about the importance of books, literature, the ability to read, learning to read and transforming one's life. I had to force myself to put it down so I could make it last!! Wonderful!
Now it is 2015...I have read The Boys in the Boat, about the University of Washington rowing team that won the gold medal in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. It made me want to stand up and cheer!! I had read Unbroken, about Louis Zamperini who also participated in the 1936 Olympics. Heroic, inspirational, and I don't want to see the movie!! I don't want to be disappointed and I always am.
We just finished The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin for book club. Painstakingly researched, as always, the author presents a thorough study of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft...the men, their lives, their friendship and their presidencies. Another Ohio POTUS of whom I knew little, William H. Taft gave me reason to be proud :). They were very different men, of fine character, great intellect, and lasting legacies. So interesting.
In preparation for the Idaho Humanities Council dinner in Twin Falls, featuring the author, Jamie Ford, I am reading Songs of Willow Frost. This author wrote Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which I enjoyed tremendously and have shared with many friends. His new book is equally passionate in terms of evoking the time and place the characters inhabit, their challenges, relationships, strengths, courage and ability to love, in spite of crushing circumstances. I can't wait to hear him speak!
Favorite Books
- Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
- The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
- The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
- Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
- A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
- Imperial Woman by Pearl S. Buck
- The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
- Riverwalking by Kathleen Dean Moore
- The Sweeter the Juice by Shirlee Taylor Haizlip
- Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher
- The Octopus by Frank Norris
- The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Gifts from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
- The Diary of Anne Frank
Our Favorite Music
A word of explanation for the playlist: We really do like "old time rock and roll!" (and I didn't go out with Bob Seger...he dedicated a song to me and we hung out with his band one spring evening in 1969) Believe it or not, Reed loves Itzak Perlman's violin virtuosity, and Sherill Milnes' operatic baritone! We enjoy country music, classical music, and pop. However, for the playlist, I chose very meaningful songs! One holds memories of early-morning seminary wakeups. One is a family joke on Mom! (what is that word? twister?) One is just plain beautiful. One represents my Ohio background (Chrissy Hynde, of The Pretenders, is from Cleveland. ) One, A New Day, commemorates Eden's and my trip to LasVegas to see Celine Dion! (It was my birthday present from Eden and Dan). I had to include a few Beatles tunes...I couldn't find my favorite Aerosmith song; had to have Metallica (Dallin). I had to include Somewhere, Missy's sign language choreographed ballet. Also, there is kind of a different version of Reed's and my favorite hymn! We tried to find "our song" by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap...to no avail. We'll keep adding as our feeble memories dredge up the oldies.
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2 comments:
Beautiful pictures!
I wish that I was small enough that I could have fit into your suitcase and gone with you...of course the kids would have to be smaller too...they'd have to come with me...maybe a mucho mucho GRANDE suitcase would be a better scenario...Someday let us all go together to experience such a place!!!
Sister Bates- this is Mandi (Hessing). You are probably thinking..."who is this and why is she tracking me down?" I saw the link to your blog on Eden's site and just had to tell you how impressed I am with you that you are doing a blog of your own! I wish my mom would take the time! What fun posts and what a fun Grandma! Hope you are well! Take care.
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