books and eclectic choices...

I've been reading a book called "The Art of Inheriting Secrets" by Barbara O'Neal... and really enjoying it.  I love the way this author writes and will be checking out more of her books. I love to read and can't imagine someone who doesn't - although I know there are many. My own daughter is not a big reader, but both my granddaughters are.

It's just that books take you to so many places and share so much. I will say that I read more fiction than non-fiction, but have read some good non-fiction too. It just that sometimes I find non-fiction a bit depressing. And I'm pretty eclectic in my reading... will read almost anything that isn't horror or too graphic. I think it's more important to let the reader use his/her imagination (but that may just be me).

I do enjoy historical fiction. The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly, and Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine are some of my favorites. But I also enjoy cozy mysteries and/or cozy town series like The Mitford Series by Jan Karon. And of course I loved Harry Potter - so much imagination!

But books are so personal... meaning I know many that are on the Best Seller's list that I didn't enjoy. Also some of Oprah's books I found depressing. Guess what calls to us is different for each of us. And like life - I think this is a good thing. 

youngest granddaughter

I was trying to explain what 'eclectic' means to my granddaughter. She has always been very good with understanding concepts. Well, in the mist of playing Animal Crossing with her, some things have come up. The Home Association in AC gives you points on how you set up your home. They recommend you use the same type of furniture or the same colors. I was explaining to her that you don't have to do that. Yes, you get more points if you do, but one should set up their home the way they like. I find it more interesting to be eclectic... the other way I find boring. But she should do it whatever way works for her.

The other thing we talked about is the fact that in AC, you can give the other critters or islanders gifts, but you can't give them money (on the island money is called 'bells'). She asked why. Well, it's not easy to explain. So I said it's kind of like real life... you give your friends gifts, but you generally don't give them money. Why? she asked. I tried to explain that even though it's OK to give your family members money, to give your friends money is a bit 'demeaning'. And I asked her if she knew what demeaning meant? She didn't. I said, OK... embarrassing?... like you're saying they don't have enough and you need to help them... makes them feel bad. She got that (I think).

Also my oldest son recently went camping at Chickasaw Nat'l Recreational Area in Oklahoma. He sent me some pics which I will share with you. I thought his campsite looked very comfortable...

 

Winston enjoyed it too!

...and I mentioned this to my daughter. She said that maybe he was glamping (glamor camping?) and sent me some pics of what 'glamping' looks like. Wow! Thought I 'd share those too. 

not like any camping we ever did...

Before I close this, you might notice that I did get 'Pages' set up. Check to the right close to the top on the sidebar. I now have Home, Poetry, and Children's Stories there. No one need go to any of these pages, but they are there and give me the option of adding to my blog when the need arises. I just added a story I wrote for our oldest granddaughter (now 20) when she was 4 or 5. It's called "The Roly-Poly Earthworm". 

OK, DH is ready to go run some errands... so I'd better get myself together.  Thanks so much for reading my ramblings. Going to give you a pic here of Face enjoying her day on the cat tree. FYI: Face has a mother, a sister, and a brother... the mother and sister look so much alike that it's difficult to tell them apart. Face is called Face because she had an all white face. Her brother is solid black.

Face



Hugs (virtual),
Rian