Travel Through Books

“That's the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” -- Jhumpa Lahiri

In this time of world-wide upheaval, when traveling to places far and even near is discouraged or restricted, there is still a way for you to leave your present surroundings and enjoy a sense of journey. The answer is through books!

Books have long been my first source of adventure and escape, and now more than ever, they are providing me the opportunity to visit other worlds, other times, and other peoples as a way of escaping present circumstances and uncertainties. At no other time have books been more available and accessible than they are right now. Many of us have been given the gift of time to visit any place that we choose which can be found between the covers of a book, be it an actual book or virtual. 

Below are some of my favorite book-destinations. Feel free to make your own visit to these favorites of mine. Enjoy the peace, the adventure, the feelings of satisfaction as good conquers evil, the joy of love surviving and thriving, the wonder of new experiences. Then also feel free to share some of your favorite book-destinations. 

Anne of Green Gables -- My favorite go-to for comfort and the companionship of an old friend. The fictional sleepy town of Avonlea, nestled on Canada's Prince Edward Island, is so real to me. I love to walk the forest paths with Anne, look across the Lake of Shining Waters, or run across the field to visit Diana. The visit never disappoints me.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe -- Escaping through the wardrobe door into the land of Narnia is another journey that never disappoints. How exciting it is to see Narnia for the first time or for the hundredth time. How comforting to share a cup of tea with Mr. Tumnus. How awesome to run my hands through Aslan's golden mane. How victorious to see the White Witch and her minions defeated, and then to realize that our Lord has defeated Satan just as completely.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe -- A visit to Whistle Stop, Alabama in the 1930's never fails to make me laugh. Idgie's high-jinx and Dot Weems' comments bring the town to life. The parallel story of Evelyn becoming Tawanda completes the humorous trip for me. 

Christy -- I love to travel with Christy Huddleston to the backwoods of the Smoky Mountains in the early 1900's. Learning to love the Mountain People, watching Christy as she matures in mind and soul, and enjoying the intricacies of a time long-past is a trip worth taking.

Papa's Wife -- This little-known gem of a book is the first of three by Thyra Ferre Bjorn. The reader is transported to Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a journey of family, love, and fun. I first read it in high school and loved it so much I considered stealing it from my high school library. (Don't worry, I didn't give in to temptation. I later found the whole series on Amazon.)

Daddy Long-Legs -- Accompanying Judy Abbott as she leaves the orphanage and goes to upstate New York to attend college thanks to the kindness of an anonymous benefactor is a trip well worth taking. I walk alongside Judy as she conquers her fears and becomes who she was meant to be, all while writing detailed letters to her benefactor to keep him up to date with her activities. (The illustrations make it even more fun.)

Joy in the Morning -- Annie also travels to a college-town, but as a wife, not a student. For many years I have returned to Annie's story of trials, achievements, sorrows, and joys as she navigates the life of leaving home and becoming a wife while still becoming her own person. The 1920's midwest college town is the perfect destination for Annie's story.

I have many more favorite books populating my shelves. These books listed above are the old friends in whose company I seek escape and comfort during trying times such as these. The main Book that I go to for comfort however is God's Word, the Bible. It never disappoints. I especially search the Psalms for comfort, reassurance, and peace. I pray that comfort, reassurance and peace for all of you at this time.

Saigon, Place of My Birth

"The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started." -- T.S. Eliot

I don't know how true that quote is, but it did get me thinking. I have never had the opportunity to go back to where I started. Recently I started wondering about that place. Full disclosure -- the thing that awoke this wondering was an episode of "Magnum, P.I." 

I was born in Saigon, Vietnam. My mom flew there when she was pregnant with me in order to be with my father who was already stationed there in the very early days of the Vietnam War. She and I left Vietnam along with other military dependents when I was 9 months old, and I obviously have never returned. It was a place of war, disease, and confusion but was also the place of my birth. It was where my parents became parents, and was conversely the place where so many parents lost their sons or daughters. Beauty existed there, side by side with filth. It was a place of paradox, and my parents and I were in the middle of it. 

So, my "Magnum, P.I." episode caused me to start an image search of Saigon 1964 which led to the discovery of a book. (Is anyone really surprised?) The book is entitled Station Hospital Saigon A Navy Nurse in Vietnam, 1963-1964. I immediately ordered the book from Amazon. 

The book itself, though interesting and well-written, didn't really unearth any information about my personal story but did open my eyes more to the situation that existed in Saigon in 1964. I don't know if I didn't pick up on enough details from my parents over the years or if they just didn't choose to share everything. Saigon was a pretty rough place that year. Terrorism was real in a time before terrorism became the buzz word that it is today in post 9/11 America. Sickness was also very real. I myself almost died from amoebic dysentery as an infant. You can see in the smaller inset photos above that I was pretty thin. I read that very few of the military personnel stationed in Saigon at the time escaped without at least one bout of amoebic dysentery, so why not me too? 

I am looking forward to the conversations that this book will open up as I pass it on to my parents. I know that it will resonate more with them and bring to mind some memories for them, probably bad memories along with happy ones of their sweet little girl. 

Discovering and reading this book has been an interesting experience for me. It was a unique experience for me to "travel" to the place of my birth via a book of someone else's memories. It reminded me that books can take me anyplace that I want to go, even back to a place that I've already been. 

Where do you want a book to take you? Comment below.

Looking About Lexington

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.” -- Anne in Anne of Avonlea  

This weekend I enjoyed one of Anne's sweet days. A friend and I made the short drive from Greensboro to Lexington. We had almost no agenda, just a desire to enjoy the town, the day, and each other's company. Sometimes it's nice just to go far enough away for a change of scenery. We ended up getting more than just a change of scenery; we were treated to a splendid day full of simple little pleasures.

The drive was pleasant. I, as usual, stuck to non-interstate roads. The trip took about 45 minutes, just long enough to have several pleasant conversations but not get tired of the car. We went first to my favorite Lexington destination, The Candy Factory! I try to get to this awesome candy shop at least 2 or 3 times a year.

The store is FULL of all types of candy. They have vintage candy; fresh, by-the-pound chocolate; baskets of scoop-able hard candy; and several kinds of unique candies. There's one kind of candy that I purchase every time I go. These are Tootsie-roll type candy which are made in the shape of a little person. I love to get them because I first heard of them in a favorite book, All of a Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor. Yes, I even have food-book connections! The Candy Factory is one of the only places in the United States where you can still get this candy.

Another favorite part of The Candy Factory is the back room. Here they have antique books, games, kitchen utensils, and several other items. I love this part of the store. I have purchased several old books and games here which give me much pleasure.

After the candy store, we walked down Main Street to Ace Hardware. It is not your average hardware store but is filled with so many other interesting items. I like to go to get cookie supplies and was not disappointed on this trip. I was able to find a certain decorating tip which I need. We spent a relaxing 45 minutes wandering the aisles of the store just enjoying the varied inventory.

Our next stop was Main Street Antiques which was a fun place to browse in. I found an old cookbook and a Snip, Snap, Snur book. (For those of you unfamiliar with these books, they are about 3 Swedish triplet boys, printed in the US beginning in the 1930's. There is also a female set about Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka. I am always on the lookout for these books.) At this point I had made a purchase at every store we went in but had only spent $20.

We made our way back down Main Street and were drawn in to a store because of some Dr. Seuss books we could see through the large front window. The books ended up being the personal property of the store owner, but they did the trick and got us in. My friend really liked this store. It was a children's consignment shop, and was probably the best I have ever seen. The large front room had clothing and baby items and a smaller back room was full of books, toys, games, and puzzles. The store was EXTREMELY neat and well- organized. I highly recommend a visit to this shop if you have children and are anywhere near Lexington. The name of the store is Encore Kids Consignment.

By this time in our day, we were hungry. Lexington is best known for its bar-b-q of course. We took the recommendation of the clerk in the antique store and headed for Bar-B-Q Center. She told us it was the best in Lexington. I personally am not a huge fan of North Carolina bar-b-q, being a Mississippi girl. (I apologize to all the die-hard North Carolinians; it's nothing personal.) My friend ordered a combination bar-b-q plate and was VERY satisfied. I got a cheeseburger and sweet potato fries and was not disappointed, especially in the price -- only $6. The restaurant was very down-home and comfortable. My friend and I were able to take our time, enjoying our food and talking. We did not feel rushed at all, even though there was a constant flow of people in and out.

After filling our stomachs, we had one more stop to make in Lexington. We headed to the Bob Timberlake Gallery. This was a pleasant surprise for me. I was not familiar with his work and wasn't sure I would care for it. I really liked most of it. The gallery is set up like the inside of a lodge, with a huge working fireplace in the center. It had a warm and welcoming feel. There are pieces of art along the walls, along with furniture and assorted other pieces placed around through the gallery. I of course cannot afford any of the art but saw some I would like to own if I had the money.

After visiting the gallery, we headed back to Greensboro with a stop in High Point for cheap gas! All-in-all it was a fantastic day of conversation, food, and fun. I completely enjoyed myself and would recommend a day in Lexington to anyone close enough to go there for the day. Below are some links to some of the places we went.

The Candy Factory

Encore Kids Consignment

Bar-B-Q Center

Bob Timberlake Gallery

First Two Books of 2020

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” -- Dr. Seuss

I just got to start using this awesome new book journal! It is so neat. It's full of pages where I can record books that I've read along with various pages about famous authors, iconic book covers, book store cats, and other literary trivia. (For anyone interested, the same company also prints notecards, a puzzle, and a Bibliophile book. The notecards and book are at Just Be.) 

So, my first two books for 2020 were both difficult, each in its own way. My goal for each month will include a book with information for writers, a biography, a spiritually-related book, a classic, and at least two just-for-fun books. I have read January's writers' book and biography, and would love to share something about each of them for you.

This first book for 2020 was a collection of essays by C.S. Lewis. (It really fits in to two of my categories, but I selected it for the essays written to support and assist writers.) I enjoyed the book, but it was intellectually a challenge. I had to keep my dictionary near me as I read, which I don't really mind since I enjoy learning and using new words. There was the added struggle of complicated sentence structure and overall difficult content. Sometimes I had to read a sentence several times before I felt like I understood it. 

Though sometimes frustrating, the book was rewarding. I'm glad that I read it and am thankful for the information I gleaned from it. I will need to read it several more times before I take in even half of what he said. There were selections about writing for children, fairy tales, and stories in general. My desire is that what I learned will help me to become a better writer.

The two most important take-away quotes are: 
 "No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty -- except, of course, books of information."

"But books about writing by those who have themselves written viable books are too rare and too useful to be neglected." 

Unlike my first book, the second was not intellectually difficult but was emotionally draining. I chose Sally Field's book in preparation for March when I will actually get to hear her speak in Greensboro. 

I chose this as my biography selection and then realized that it is classified as a memoir. That got me wondering about the difference between an autobiography and a memoir. I have researched the two and this is what I discovered: Memoirs are more like sketches and don't just focus on the subject's life but might also delve into the lives of others. They also usually have some kind of final message to share. Autobiographies are usually more focused on the life of the narrator chronologically and solely. I was glad to discover these fine points.

As for the book, it was well-written and detailed. Sally Field has had such a difficult life, and it was quite difficult to read through all of the situations that she has had to deal with. From a spiritual standpoint, it makes me hurt to think of how lost this talented, hurting woman is. She has come to terms with so many of the incidents in her life, and that is how she was able to write this book. It was definitely a cathartic experience. It is, however, totally lacking in any reference to or belief in the One True God. This fact, even more than reading about the horrible things Ms. Field lived through, caused me such inner pain. I am still looking forward to hearing her speak in March but am sure that it will be equally as difficult.

I am now reading one of my just-for-fun books and am already enjoying it immensely, just 4 chapters in. You will have to wait for my next post to find out what my fun choice of a book is.

What are you reading right now? I really want to know!!! I'm always ready to add to my TBR list! Just comment below.

Travel Through Books

"Books are the plane, the train, and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home." -- Anna Quindlen

bibliophile -- (n) a person who loves or collects books

As this new year begins, I am revising my blog. I am, in a way, returning to my roots. Before I was able to actually pack up and travel on these journeys I have been on over the last few years, I went to those places by opening the covers of books and jumping in. Books are my original travel itinerary, and I continue to visit far away places and times long ago via printed pages. I will still be writing about my actual journeys (Summer trip announcement coming soon!) but want to also include my journeys through the written word.

Based upon the requests of several readers, I am going to start posting about my latest read. I will also be sharing book recommendations. I also hope to include you, the readers, as you comment about your favorites, latest reads, TBR lists, and where you are traveling when you open your books.

I have been writing down every book I read since I was a sophomore in college, so I have a large stack of book journals. I began by simply notating the title and author of each book but have gradually increased my notations to include when I read the book, where I got it, a short summary, my opinion of the book, and sometimes a few Golden Lines. I highly recommend keeping some kind of book journal; if only to keep you from rereading a book that you didn't really enjoy. Goodreads is an excellent online medium for keeping track of what you've read, what you want to read, and what your friends are reading and recommending. Goodreads also has a yearly Reading Challenge to spur you on in your reading goals. My goal for the year 2020 is to read 50 new reads (which does not count all the rereading I do because I love to revisit favorite characters and stories).

My January reading stack. 

Here are some titles just to get you started as you begin your reading journey this year:

Most favorite overall book -- Anne of Green Gables

Favorite Historical Fiction -- Hadassah: One Night With the King

Favorite Historical Fiction (YA) -- Goodnight, Mr. Tom

Favorite Classic -- Jane Eyre

Favorite Classic (YA) -- The Secret Garden

Favorite Historical Fiction Series -- Zion Covenant Series

Favorite Series (YA) -- Betsy-Tacy Series

Favorite Historical Fiction Mystery Series -- Maisie Dobbs Series

Favorite True Crime -- Bitter Blood and Mississippi Mud (It's a tie, and I can't break it.)

Favorite Fantasy Series (YA) -- Chronicles of Narnia

Favorite Fantasy (YA) -- The Phantom Tollbooth

Favorite Memoir -- An Invisible Thread

Favorite Non-Fiction (History) -- The Day the World Came to Town

Favorite Non-Fiction (Christian) -- Polishing God's Monuments

Favorite Fiction (Non-Historical)  -- Girl in Translation

Favorite Family Chronicle -- Papa's Wife

Favorite Christian Allegory -- Hinds' Feet on High Places

Favorite Book that Made Me Cry -- Sarah's Key

Favorite Book that Made Me Laugh -- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Favorite Book About NYC -- Apple of  My Eye

Favorite Narrative Non-Fiction -- The Last of the President's Men

Favorite Teacher Book -- The Vocabulary-Enriched Classroom

Favorite Christmas Book (Kids) -- Christmas Tapestry

Favorite Book for Writers -- The House on Mango Street

Favorite Fiction Book Written Through Letters: Daddy Long Legs

Favorite Classical Historical Fiction -- The Scarlet Pimpernel


*Notice that I just make up my own categories when I can't make a decision between certain books! (Blogger's prerogative!) I can come up with many more favorites but made myself stop here. (as difficult as it was to find a stopping point)

More to come with a review of my first January read...

Don't forget to comment below and share some info about what you're reading!

Thanksgiving on the Outer Banks

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few are sandy." -- Manipulation of a John Muir quote

This year for Thanksgiving I decided to do something very different. I went alone to North Carolina's Outer Banks. I have not been in over 10 years, and with a long Thanksgiving break, it seemed like the perfect time to return. I was not wrong. I had a wonderful time searching for shells and sea glass, reading, observing gorgeous sun rises and sunsets, and getting a little extra rest. It was one of the most relaxing trips I have ever taken.

For those of you not familiar with the Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. It is comprised of many little communities, from Ocracoke in the south to Corolla in the north. It is known for its iconic lighthouses, its plentiful seashells, and its wild horses. Historically it is also known as an area fraught with shipwrecks. The locals are fishermen, artists, and naturalists. Many of the local people make their living off of the tremendous influx of tourists in the summer. It is an area both wild and peaceful. There are waves crashing onto beaches which are eroding as storms crash into the islands. There are huge sand dunes with waving sea oats. The dunes were constructed in the 1930's thanks to Roosevelt's WPA program. As part of this program, men filled in the area with old military equipment and brought in tons of sand. Next they built fences and planted sea oats to insure that the sand would have something to hold on to. Those dunes remain today, protecting animal life, property, and the islands themselves.

The beach is not exactly a November destination, and that is one of the reasons I chose Thanksgiving as my time to go. In the summer, the Outer Banks can be especially crowded. The roads are narrow and curvy in many areas, and speed limits are kept low. There are MANY rental houses on the islands, but being alone and not requiring much space, I elected to stay in a hotel. There are not as many of those. I stayed at Hampton Inn and Suites, Corolla. I got a good price through Hotels.com, which is mainly why I chose that location. The hotel was nice. A free breakfast was available daily; it was right on the beach; my room was spacious and clean. The only drawback was the location. Being in Corolla, it was on the northern end of the islands. Since it was not the tourist season, many restaurants nearby were closed. I had a little trouble finding places to eat without driving a long way. If I ever go again during the off-season, I will probably stay at a hotel in Nags Head, a town more centrally located with several hotels.

I actually ate Thanksgiving dinner in Nags Head, at a restaurant called The Jolly Roger. They had a special all-you-can-eat meal for $16.95. It was very good. I made a reservation way ahead of time and was glad I did. Even with a reservation, there was a little bit of a wait. This is obviously the place to eat for Thanksgiving. Many locals were there, and I heard them talking about returning for Christmas. At $16.95, it was way below other restaurants offering comparable meals for $32.00 and up.

Most of my time on this trip was unscheduled, but I did set up one excursion. I took a hummer tour to see the wild horses of Corolla. These horses are completely wild and are ancestors of Spanish colonial mustangs and have been at home on the island since the 1500's. The only way to get to where the horses are is on a 4-wheel drive vehicle. There are several tours available. I chose Wild Horse Adventure Tours because of the hummer and also because, as a company, they give back to the horses by buying land to protect them, being eco-friendly, and by their support of the horses.

It was quite cold the day I went, but I bundled up, and they provide lots of blankets. I was lucky enough as a single rider to get the front seat -- warmer and with the best view. The driver's name was Nora, and she was excellent. She is a lover of horses, an arts educator, and a native of the Outer Banks. She did a really good job of finding horses for us to see. We actually saw six in the two hours we were on the tour. She also took us to a special area that Wild Horse Adventures has crated on the sound-side of the island. They have built back a small forest of sorts. It's an area that the horses can go to for protection during storms and for privacy. Overall, I highly recommend this tour for anyone going to the Outer Banks. It is great fun, and seeing these gorgeous creatures is an adventure in itself.

The majority of my trip was spent just enjoying myself with several solitary activities. I delighted in being in a new place, doing new things, and relishing God's beautiful creation. I found many unique seashells which I have now put in jars and baskets around my house. I even found two pieces of sea glass! My first!!! I was ecstatic! I got up every morning in time to catch a glimpse of a gorgeous sun rise over the Atlantic. From my balcony I had a perfect view towards the west and was witness to some amazing sunsets. There aren't many places you can go and see both so clearly. Enjoy the pictures below. I hope they cause you to get excited about taking your own trip to North Carolina's Outer Banks!

**This fractured shell was actually heart-shaped!!!! 

One last thing -- the original Duck Donuts can be found in the community of Duck on the Outer Banks. I HAD to check it out! MMMMMMM! Sorry, not sorry!

An Exciting New Adventure

“Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive–it’s such an interesting world. It wouldn’t be half so interesting if we know all about everything would it?” -- Anne Shirley

This past weekend I was in Abingdon, Virginia. I had completed the Creeper Trail the day before and was curious about what else was nearby. In an internet search of walking trails, I discovered Grayson Highlands State Park. This park is full of hiking trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail. I was intrigued. I did further research into the park and found out some really neat information. In 1974 ponies were brought to the park to help graze the balds. These areas are difficult to mow, and ponies were the perfect answer. Today there are 10-15 herds of wild ponies of various sizes. 

A visit to the park can result in pony sightings!! THAT little message had me! Early Saturday morning I drove through Damascus and then took a windy mountain road up the mountain. I chose to take a different route than the one the shuttles take to the Whitetop Station for the beginning of the Creeper Trail. My road was curvier, narrower, and sometimes dirt; I loved it! When I finally arrived at Grayson Highlands State Park, which is very near Mount Rogers, Virginia's highest peak, the park was shrouded in a thick fog. I was not deterred. I decided to hike some forest trails while I waited for the fog to clear. I walked the Twin Pinnacles Trail which is not too strenuous and is a little less than 1.5 miles. It would have had some amazing views if it weren't for the heavy fog which was not dissipating at all. When I completed the trail, I visited the visitor center. There I learned that chances of seeing any of the ponies were very slim due to the fog which was expected to stay around all day. 

I decided to make it like a treasure hunt. I headed over to Massie Gap, where I would find the trailhead for the Rhododendron Trail. This trail crosses the Appalachian Trail, and I had read that this was the most likely area for seeing ponies. I headed out on the trail, passing many disappointed people heading back in. Whenever I started to feel discouraged, I reminded myself that the experience itself was fun; I was on new ground, in a place I'd never been in. (I know, you're right; I really wanted to see a pony.)

About the time I gave myself a 15 minute time limit before turning around and heading back, I heard a noise over to my left. Looking through the still dense fog, I saw it -- a pony! I was so excited! The rule is that people are not to get closer to the ponies than 150 feet, so I crept closer, but not too close. I got some great pictures, especially when that gorgeous pony lifted up his head and looked at me, before calmly continuing to graze. 

I felt like I had indeed found a treasure, and not just with the pony sighting. I have found a new place to visit. There are so many more trails there that I want to walk on. There's even a waterfall. And there are many more ponies yet to see. I can't wait to return but will probably wait until spring. Hooray, a trip to look forward to. Below are a few other shots I took on my hike. I've also included a link to the park site so you can learn a little more about it. Isn't it such an interesting world?

Grayson Highlands State Park