Category: Prose

Prose & Projects – Windowsill Art & Pure Sea Glass

On By TimelessladyIn Projects, Prose2 Comments

Windowsill Art

I came across an interesting book at the public library: Windowsill Art by Nancy Ross Hugo. I knew by the title that I would love this book. I feel an instant kinship to anyone who can inspire creativity within me.  I immediately fashioned a bit of windowsill art with some sea glass, shells and a sprig of Trumpet Vine. If you have a chance to borrow or buy this inspiring book…please do.

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Inside my Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise stemmed glass I placed some sea glass I’ve collected from ocean and bay beaches I often visit.

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I was glad to bring the glass in out of the garage where it is haphazardly stored in plastic bins. One of these day I need to get all my beach combing finds in some type of order. I also added a leaflet plucked off my Trumpet Vine to the arrangement, and a broken whelk shell. I enjoyed putting this bit of windowsill art together.

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I believe I’ve posted in the past on one of my favorite books, Pure Sea Glass by Richard LaMotte. If you enjoy beach combing and searching for “treasures,” you will enjoy looking through this visually lovely book.

Below are a few close-ups of some of the sea glass included in my windowsill art. I enjoyed using the green piece with an oyster shell attached. The greens, browns and whites are most commonly found on nearby beaches. The cobalt blue and olive-green pieces are a little more unique. The olive-green glass is also interesting because it has a curved lip on it. Give hunting a little sea glass a try when you next walk on a beach beside an ocean or bay.

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Prose – Novel Interiors

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novel interiors

NOVEL INTERIORS: LIVING IN ENCHANTED ROOMS INSPIRED BY LITERATURE ~Lisa Borgnes Giramonti

“For those who have ever lost themselves in the stylish worlds of novels like Sense and Sensibility, The Age of Innocence, Wuthering Heights, The Picture of Dorian Gray and countless others, this design book embraces the fantasy of time and place, showing you how to bring some of those elements into your own home.” ~GoodReads

By the time I read twelve pages of this beautiful book I had one project idea to file away and try at a later date…

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…A wall poster created and tacked to my Art Room wall, and two ideas for blog posts. As I read further I found even more inspiration. Since I have always loved to read fiction, I am familiar with many of the authors and novels represented in this terrific read. If you have a chance take a look at the wonderful prose and amazing photographs. I found the copy I am reading now at the public library.

Prose & People – A Woman’s Prayers to God

On By TimelessladyIn People, Prose2 Comments

My Letters to God by S. Corrine Davis
My Letters to God by S. Corrine Davis

“My letters to God came about by my need to communicate with him on a regular basis. I need—as a Christian, a wife, and a mother notwithstanding—to pray every day.”

This beautiful book is filled with words from the author’s heart to God. Corrine Davis is a Pastor’s Wife, a mother of five, a grandmother, a wonderful cook, an amazing seamstress, a pianist; she can take anything old and make it look new again. She is an inspiration to many, and I am proud to call her my Aunt.

Here are a few quotes from, “My Letters to God.”

“Lord, I see that so many are struggling with the ‘daily stuff’ of life. And, it’s really so true for everyone. That little stuff—the nitty, gritty junk we all deal with—is sometimes what can make us or break us. All the time we are looking at the ‘big’ stuff that threatens to hit us and take us out, when in reality, I find that the junk drawer that refuses to shut is often what can wreck my relationship with you.”

“My desire is to be like Jesus. To do this, I will reevaluate my goals, my dreams, my hopes, therein finding the sweet will of God. Hold me close, Lord. Please don’t let me slip out of your grip.”

You can find “My Letters to God” from these sources:

My Letters to God by S. Corrine Davis
“My Letters to God – Kindle Edition

You can read more of S. Corrine Davis’s Prayers to God at: My Letters to God Blogspot

Phavorites & Prose – The Invention of Wings & Goodreads

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I am reading Sue Monk Kidd’s novel,The Invention of Wings, based on real-life Abolitionist Sisters Sarah Grimke and Angelina Grimke Weld. The book is based on the story of the early Abolitionist movement and told through the eyes of Sarah and Handful/Hetty, a slave born and raised in her father’s home. Both Sarah and Angelina, part of the Abolitionist Movement, lived to see the end of slavery.

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I’ve enjoyed The Invention of Wings, and as always, I am thinking ahead to my next terrific “read.” A site I use to find books to buy or borrow from the library is Goodreads. If you search out a book you’ve read on the Goodreads site, you will find in the right corner of the page, other books that are similar. I’ve used these recommendations several times over the past year, and have only read one story that disappointed due to subject.

Goodreads Best Books of 2014 is a great site to check out.

“Goodreads is an Amazon company and “social cataloguing” website founded in December 2006 and launched in January 2007 by Otis Chandler, a software engineer and entrepreneur, and Elizabeth Chandler.The website allows individuals to freely search Goodreads’ extensive user-populated database of books, annotations, and reviews. Users can sign up and register books to generate library catalogs and reading lists. They can also create their own groups of book suggestions and discussions.” ~ Wikipedia

Prose & Phavorite – Chickens in the Road

On By TimelessladyIn Phavorites, Prose11 Comments

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I am in the process of reading Suzanne McMinn’s outstanding book, “Chickens in the Road.” I am in a happy “rut” of searching out and devouring books that tell the story of leaving a familiar routine for a new life of homesteading. After finishing Kristin Kimball’s, “The Dirty Life” and reading her blog, I have been on a quest to read as many back to basics and farming books as possible. Perhaps I am living vicariously through these ladies. All I know is that I enjoy the interesting, fun and sometimes amazing stories they have lived.

I found several terrific links to more of Suzanne’s ideas and stories:

Chickens in the Road, Facebook Page

Chickens in the Road Blog

Here’s a Youtube video narrated by Suzanne. Enjoy!

Prose, People & Place – The Dirty Life/Kristin Kimball Blog/Essex Farm

On By TimelessladyIn People, Place, Prose2 Comments

life on farm:

Okay, I’ll admit it, I am only on page 51 of The Dirty Life. Why am I already raving about this book in a blog post? Well…because…oh the joy of it…I found a blog written by Kristin Kimball and I wanted to share it here: Kristin Kimball Blog

I am enjoying the book, much as a person who is hungry devours a perfect meal. The book is leaving me with an uplifted spirit after each reading. As I read through the first chapters, it was easy to imagine myself, along with Mark and Kristin, on a hunt for the perfect farm. In the next section, titled “Winter,” I will be reading about the planning stages of the farm.

When I searched Google Images for photographs of the farm, oh happy day, I found the blog. I can’t wait to explore some of the posts. Visit the Essex farm today, either through the book, or the blog, or both. You won’t be disappointed.
 

Pleasure & Prose – Sea-Beans from the Tropics

On By TimelessladyIn Pleasures, Prose6 Comments

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    A few years ago I first heard the term “Sea-Beans.” Of course, since I love to beachcomb, I was entranced by the thought of something new to search for on my beach walks.

    The definition of Sea Beans, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is as follows: “Any of various beans or showy seeds of tropical origin that are frequently carried by ocean currents to remote shores and often used as ornaments.”

    The hunt was on. Happily, for the bibliophile within me, I found a terrific book on the topic: Sea-Beans from the Tropics. I have found a few “sea-beans” on my beach walks, but most have been the throwaways of beach picnics, fruit pits, etc. That does not mean I have given up the hunt. One of my best days of finding “beach drift” was on the shore of the Chesapeake bay. I don’t think what I found that day could be considered sea-beans, instead perhaps I should call my finds on that occasion “Bay-Beans.” 🙂

    My dream is to find some tropical sea-beans and somehow sprout them. It has been done, and there is a whole chapter in the book on the how’s and why’s of growing sea-beans.

    Another happy find was re-connecting with a link I had lost, a community page for sea-beans with a link to other forums. You can check out the sea-bean community page here: Sea-Bean Community

    If you are an avid beachcomber, you will love this book. I checked Amazon.com today to see if the book is still available. It is, but oh my, along with the book I found several others listed that look interesting and appear to also be full of great information. It’s going to be hard to keep them out of my "Shopping Cart."

    Listings of sea-bean books can be found here: Sea Beans from the Tropics and Others

    I searched some WordPress bloggers to see what they thought or wrote of sea-beans. I found some terrific posts. Take a look: Sea-Beans on the Keys / Sea Beans and Beachcomber’s Festival / Danielle’s Dives – Sea-Beans

    Happy Hunting!

Prose and Pressed Flowers – A Passion For Flowers by Penny Black

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In 1992 a classic floral arranging book was published. It has always been one of my favorites on the subject of pressed & dried flowers. Written by Penny Black, this terrific how-to book is a timeless account of how to use flowers for your home and giving to others.

The book is filled with gorgeous pictures, perfect directions and recipes. I also found a list of additional books authored by Penny Black. The list can be found on Goodreads: Books by Penny Black

A Passion for Flowers can be ordered through Amazon: A Passion For Flowers by Penny Black

Prose – The Country of the Pointed Firs

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Country of Pointed Firs

Sara Orne Jewett was born in South Berwick, Maine, in 1849. Many of her best books are set in Maine. The Country of the Pointed Firs is a collection of linked stories that give a portrait of a seaport along the Maine coast.

Sarah Orne Jewett

I have vacationed for many years on an island in Rhode Island by the name of Block Island.  Reading this novel, I envisioned the bluffs and craggy rocks of Block Island. The book is as soothing as a lullaby, yet holds your interest with the cast of characters and their occupations. Since I am a gardener I enjoyed reading of Mrs. Almira Todd’s collecting of herbs and dispensing of them to the townspeople of Dunnett, Maine. If you love books that transport you to another time, and stories that enable you to come away with a sense of new lifelong “literary” friends, you will enjoy this book.

The Country of the Pointed Firs is available through many sources. Amazon books, Kindle and Ebay are just a few of the sources.

Prose – My Lady of Cleves

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I enjoyed “My Lady of Cleves” by Margaret Campbell Barnes. The historical  novel tells the story of the fourth wife of Henry VIII, Anne of Cleves. She kept her head in every way. When faced with Henry’s dislike and wandering eye, she devoted herself to being agreeable and endeared herself to his family and inner circle of friends. A very wise lady in a very trying situation. She learned to thrive by involving herself in the lives of others rather than concentrating on her own problems. A good lesson for us all.

Prose and Phavorites – A Little Princess

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I was a constant reader as a child. I had many favorites, Heidi, The Swiss Family Robinson, The Laura Ingalls Little House books. One of my favorite authors was Frances Hodgson Burnett. I loved The Secret Garden and also A Little Princess. As an adult I sometimes revisit these books. I take after my maternal Grandmother in that characteristic, she loved children’s classics too. Recently, I had an inclination to reread A Little Princess. It was just as wonderful a story as it was when I first read it near forty-five years ago. I was struck by the wisdom I found in the book. I especially liked this paragraph in Chapter VI.

“If Nature has made you a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that-warm things, kind things, sweet things-help and comfort and laughter-and sometimes gay, kind laughter is the best help of all.” 

 

Prose – Dr Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

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To say I have an abundance of books is an understatement. I am blessed to have extra rooms to spread out in, and I have collections of not just my books, but the treasured volumes of other family members too. Still, at times, I feel I don’t have anything to read. I love to look through the donated books in library sales and thrift stores, and almost never buy a full-priced book. Recently I came upon a copy of Dr. Zhivago. I absolutely love the movie, the first version starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie, and also thought the new version starring Keira Knightley and Hans Matheson was done quite well.

The book is filled with some of the most beautiful prose I have ever read. I understood why when I visited Wikipedia’s page on the life of Boris Pasternak. The link can be found here: Boris Pasternak. Pasternak writes so vividly and with such skill that I can perfectly visualize the scenes he describes.

“It was a dry frosty November day with a still, leaden sky and a few snowflakes coming down one by one. They spun slowly and hesitantly before settling on the pavement like fluffy gray dust.”

I am on page seventy-three of the 560 pages. It will take me awhile, but the reading of the familiar story will be well worth it to me.

Here is a beautiful Youtube slide show I found accompanied by Lara’s Theme.

Prose – House of Cash – Johnny Cash Biography

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I’m enjoying this biography of Johnny Cash written by his son, John Carter Cash. Inside are memories and insights into the life of one of my all-time favorite singers and a true Man of God. I am entranced by the reproductions of Johnny’s actual notes on life and valentines to his wife June Carter Cash.

A perfect video for a Sunday, Johnny Cash singing, “Sunday Morning Coming Down.”