I've been Book Tagged!

I’ve been tagged by Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti to share “Seven Weird or Random Book Facts” about myself… I am so pokey - I'm sorry it took so long for me to get this post up, Pat! Okay, here goes...

1) Children's Books

THE READING MOTHER
by Strickland Gillilan

You may have tangible wealth untold
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be.
I had a Mother who read to me

These two books bring back wonderful memories of my mother reading to me and my sister. I'm certain it's where my love for beautifully illustrated children's books started.

I just loved the little stories of Uncle Wiggily and all his friends (the stories and references seem so dated now, but I love them still!)... And my mother was never able to get through The Little Match Girl without tearing up a bit. So strong are the memories of these two books that I bought them for my girls when they were little. (And like my mother, I cannot make it through to the end of The Little Match Girl without my throat catching before I'm able to continue on to finish the book)… I wish I had the actual books that my mom used to read from, but I’m afraid they may have been ruined years ago when my parent’s basement flooded, claiming many cardboard boxes of stored childhood memories...

2) Not all was lost!

I was so excited to find these books just last year in my dad’s basement. We thought all our childhood items had been lost in the flood, but three of my childhood books survived! There’s The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk (c 1941), Daniel Boone (c 1945), and Freddy and the Ignormus (c 1941). They now have places of honor in my home!

3) This is how I learned to read!

And speaking of childhood memories, I purchased this old (copyright 1951) Dick and Jane Basic Reader book on eBay many years ago. It’s just like the Dick & Jane books I learned to read from…

Just looking at these old illustrations brings me right back to my old classroom, sitting at my little wooden desk…

4) James Kavanaugh Poetry Books

I treasure my small collection of 4 James Kavanaugh books. My sister introduced me to his poetry when she gave me “Will You Be My Friend?” in the 70’s and I loved so many of his poems that I've picked up several more of his books over the years, all ranging from copyright 1970 to 1982.

5) Mary Higgins Clark


I love a good mystery and Mary Higgins Clark is my absolute favorite! I own every one of her books in hardcover (this is just a small sampling here in the bookcase)… I look forward to her new book every year. (Her next one, Just Take My Heart, is being released April 7, 2009!)

6) Little Women

Okay, this is really embarrassing. I own several beautiful old hardcover copies of Little Women (copyrights 1926, 1935, and 1980). I've seen the movie a gazillion times (one of my favorites), but I've yet to read the book!!! I think that will be my next book after I finish Elsie Dinsmore [which is the actual copy that belonged to my mom when she was a girl - her name is even written on the inside cover in her penmanship - so special!!]...

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Orchard House in Concord, MA, where Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women, many times. If you ever get the chance, go! When the tour gets to her bedroom, and I’m standing right next to the actual table/desk where she wrote Little Women, I swear I get chills up and down my spine… (They duplicated Orchard House perfectly in the Winona Ryder/Susan Sarandon movie version of Little Women.) Okay, back to books!

7) Saving the best for last...

These two books are always close by in my office, and close to my heart...

My girls gave them to me for Christmas, 11 years ago, knowing how much I love quotations and poems. Courtney gave me Teddy Bear Quotations and Amanda gave me "for MOTHER... a gift of love." I am truly blessed...

Okay, I know this is a busy, busy month, so rather than naming specific people, I’m going to open this up to anyone who would like to share 7 Weird or Random Book facts about themselves! If you do, let me know so I can read yours!

Donna

How Fun! I've been tagged - twice!!

Kady over at Life on Bonnie Lane was kind enough to tag me for this fun little game! If you have never visited Kady before, please visit her blog! She is so warm and down-to-earth; she writes from her heart and loves her home and her family - and she is funny!!! You owe it to yourself to click on the link to her blog! Okay, now I have to answer the following five questions:

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Let’s see… in June of 1998 I was mothering my two girls, then 9 and 12, who were anxiously waiting for school to get out so they could start enjoying the backyard pool (which is now lovingly referred to as the Roswell crater – see June 11th post); I was taking care of our three cats and one dog; giving hubby “honey do” lists; getting things organized for my fall craft shows; and probably searching for the perfect accents for my then primitive home! (Some things have changed in 10 years – some have not!)

2. Five things on my To-Do list:

1) Clean and organize my home office;
2) Finish planting flowers in the Roswell crater;
3) Paint the ‘dark brown’ rocking chair that’s now in the family room. I’m thinking pink or blue or green for a change, but more than likely it will end up white;
4) Completely redo our master bedroom that is stuck in the 80’s - everything from taking down the wallpaper border, to painting the walls, to painting the ‘dark brown’ bedroom set (the last of the dark brown furniture!);
5) Take/make time to read the two books I picked up at Target last week (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith and Second Chance by Jane Green – talk about diversity in reading materials!!)

3. Snacks I enjoy:

Layered buttered popcorn and Milk Duds… I’m a movie snack addict. (Did I mention layered buttered popcorn??)

4. Things I would do if I were a millionaire:

I’ll have to second Kady’s idea of hiring a maid to come clean my house! And if we’re really ‘dreaming big,’ I’d like to take a crack at being a snowbird. I’d stick around New England until just after Christmas (the snow, winter, and cold are tolerable – even cheerful - until December 26th)… Then I’d set my GPS for points south and wouldn’t return to the northeast until April or May!! I’d also finish paying off the girls’ college education/student loans, pay off our mortgage, help out some family members, and definitely donate a huge chunk to a couple of my favorite charities. .. Oh yeah, I'd also go back to The Purple Rose and do some serious damage!! (see yesterday's post!)

5. Places I have lived:

Southern New England and Northern California

Now, for these same 5 questions, I am tagging:

1) Joanne at My Little Cottage in the Making
2) Sherry at Edie Marie's Attic
3) Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti
4) Cindy at My Romantic Home
5) Linda at Linda's Blue Gate

Okay, now how fun is this?? I also got tagged by M from Tales From an O.C. Cottage! M writes about hers and her sister's cottages, their decorating styles, crafts, shopping sprees, pets, gardens, etc. I secretly think M writes for sitcoms out in "the O.C." because she is hilarious (and if she doesn't, she should!)! I can't ever read her blog without laughing out loud, so be sure to pay her a visit!!

Here are the rules for her game:

1. link back to the person who tagged you. 2. post these rules on your blog. 3. share six unimportant things about yourself. 4. tag people at the end of your entry.

Okay, this is probably WAY more than any of you ever wanted to know about me, but here goes!!

1. When I make instant coffee at home, I make it straight out of the hot water tap. No microwaving or kettle on the stove for me. (I still haven't mastered that patience thing yet...)

2. Speaking of coffee, I’m addicted to Paul Newman’s Iced Coffee from McDonalds (extra cream, two Equals).

3. I love clogs and wear them all the time. I shouldn’t. I’m a klutz and I’m always falling off of them or out of them. (If you’ve ever seen the Will & Grace where Will falls off of his clog and sprains his ankle – I totally relate.. It’s happened to me.)

4. I love movies. Count me in if you’re going to see the latest romantic comedy or scary movie. (Not slasher films no – no – no! Just a good spooky ghost/mystery movie!) And I’m easy to please – I usually love them all.

5. I type 128 words per minute (correction – I used to). I’m in my 50’s and back in my day when women applied for office jobs they were almost always given a typing test. The only person I’ve ever known who typed faster than me was my dad (and he probably still does). It must be some weird hereditary thing! (My oldest daughter just told me she types freakishly fast, too... yup - must be in the genes!)

6. I own the hardcovers of all Mary Higgins Clark’s mystery books (no collaborative works – just hers). Every time she comes out with a new one, I buy it. And once I start reading it, I hardly put it down at all until I’m finished. They’re quick, enjoyable reads - a totally guilty pleasure!

So for this little game, I am tagging:

1) Nancy at Nancy's Creations
2) Dana at The Stone Rabbit
3) Brenda at The Brenda Blog
4) Sarah at Burgeon
5) Patty at Attic Clutter
6) Katy Lin at The Great Adventure

Have FUN everyone!!

Donna