TBRaC

If you are a reader...I mean, a serious reader who absolutely cannot leave home without a book...or even two (sure is handy having thousands right there on your phone)...you know that TBR means to be read.

Of course I have a TBR list on the phone. And I belong to an ARC group (that's Advance Reader Copy) wherefrom I get books to read just for the price of reviewing them. Some of them are truly terrible and get DNFed (that's did not finish-life is too short to read bad books.) However, I have stumbled upon some real gems and found some awesome new authors in that manner. 

However, I have an extra-special TBR pile. It is of actual books printed on paper and bound in covers and all that stuff. Digital and audio books are convenient for modern life...the phone goes where I go and so does the library. However, some truly extraordinary volumes are not available in e form (or alternately, I just don't want to buy them again, when I already own them.) Thus the TBRaC pile.

To Be Read at Camp. 

At camp I can lounge around with a good book with no need to get into a car to go anywhere or to cook if I don't want to, or do laundry, or walk the dog, etc. Reading at camp is gleefully stationary.

Thus The Sanctuary Sparrow, by Ellis Peters, The Chain of Destiny by Berry Neels, Lassie, Come Home, by Eric Knight, The Rising of the Lark, by Ann Moray, and Spindrift, by John J. Rowland in actual corporeal form, are piled by my chair, awaiting packing for our annual foray into the  Adirondacks for a week of birds, books, and bliss. I am sure others will join the pile, including The Horsemasters, by Donald S. Sanford, which Becky just purchased for me. I actually have the copy I bought from Scholastic Books back when I saved my 25-cent lunch money to buy books from the book club list they handed out in school. It is too battered by hundreds of readings to survive a trip to the woods. 

TBRaC, what a wonderful concept. 

Ooh, Becky just found me another Ellis Peters book to add to the pile!

Guns and Locomotives

Here is some cool stuff the folks have up for sale on eBay.

Colt 9mm Luger Instruction Pamphlet

Marlin Parts Catalog

Winchester Ball Powder Loading Data



Lionel Transformer Instructions

And LOTS more

They have so much cool stuff.....check it out...I just know you will love browsing through their virtual shop.

And here is their real shop too.

From Any Window

The lovely and gracious lady who stopped by the farm last week was Lorraine K. Vail from Arizona. She grew up on a farm along the Hudson River here in New York State and her family has been a great influence in the world of purebred dairy cattle.

 I think that she will be an influential writer as well.

The book she gave me during her visit was From Any Window. As it happens, with the construction and the fair, the library is suddenly ten thousand miles away rather than a couple and new fodder for reading is scarce (although Becky works hard to keep me supplied.) I began reading it the very night she left it here. 

I can think a dozen superlatives to describe the story...gripping, intense, beautiful yet painful, full of light and darkness like life truly can be. The story of a farm family covering their small joys, great tragedies, animals, food, all the aspects of country life was appealing and very, very real.

I found myself mourning poor lost Lassiebell, a Jersey heifer that perished in a barn fire, as if I had known her. The people felt like neighbors, friends, even sometimes family, so believable and engaging were they.

Lorraine captured the essence of farming, within the framework of family life, in a manner that should appeal to anyone, even if they are not involved in the industry. This is a book I will read again and one that I think about often as I go about the day. Thanks, Lorraine, for bringing it all the way across America.

You can find From Any Window here.

Book Sale

At the folks' place......

"We are having a sale with 30%-50% off our many books. We have local history, old time fiction authors, hunting, fishing, war books, gun books etc. etc.

 We also have ammo cans, fish poles, and various other items you just can't live without. 

Stop by and see us. We are open by chance, or by appointment. 

Would love to see you all!"

Some Fairly Amazing Children's Books

I hadn't been on Mom and Dad's website for a while and hadn't seen this page of vintage, rare and really interesting children's books. Worth a look. Lots of L. Frank Baum, Palmer Cox,  and other things you don't see every day.

Brotherband

Read the first of John Flanagan's new series, the Brotherband Chronicles last night....cover to cover....in three hours. Beck got it at around 3:15 PM and finished it by chore time (less than three hours, but, hey, she's younger.)

Mind you this book has 434 pages.

Yeah, it is really that good.

Beck is kind of a guru of young adult fiction in her spare time. The library consults with her quite often about good stuff to purchase or bring in from MVLA for that section. They also often notice what she is ordering on inter-library loan and buy it. She discovered the Ranger's Apprentice series and she, Alan and I read them...at least twice for each of the books for each of us. Once is not enough and there aren't enough of them.

Then Mr. Flanagan wound up that series and yesterday the first of this new one came out. (It was very hard to say good bye to Halt and Will. Good thing I like to re-read books.) Brotherband is even better than they were.

Flanagan is like the Dick Francis of young adult fiction. (If you read Dick, you know that he did not use a single extra word to advance his plot, yet wrote riveting stories that grab you by the throat and pull you right in...and keep you there until the last page is turned.)

These are adventure stories for young boys that transcend the genre. By miles. I am not young and have never been a boy, yet the spare prose and tongue-in-cheek humor, along with wall-to-wall roaring adventure, simply enthrall me. Lots of bows and swords and building of shelters, lots of sailing, complete with terms and how it's done, issues like bullying addressed, but as part of the story line, all with unfailingly satisfying results.

Kind of like a Middle Ages Gary Paulsen without the politics.

The Outcasts, was like a Thanksgiving dinner for the mind only without those pesky calories.

A small challenge, from your humble farm wife.....if you do read one of the Rangers books, I'll bet you can't stop at one. And if you read this new one, i'll bet you will be panting, as we are, for the release of the next

I envy anyone who hasn't already read either the RA books or the new one. Lucky you to get to enjoy them for the first time!

And no, I am not being paid by anyone, I just love great books.

Soldiers, Saddles and Sabers

The folks will be at the afternoon portion of this event on Saturday. Sounds like a lot of fun. Stop by and see them if you go.

Book Signing Today

For my cousin's wonderful book, Driving Excellence. He is a pretty amazing guy and should be president...simple as that.

Find it here on Amazon. It is something everyone who works in public service or any business owner or manager should read...more than once. The best part of the whole reading thing is that it is a pleasurable read along with being informative.

Spectacular Book Sale

Hi!

Just wanted to let you know that we are having a special summer sale. 50% off until June 15th. Visit http://www.tryoncountybookshop.com to see what we have available. Nothing is held back. It is all on sale!

Thanks for visiting.

Roger & Alice Montgomery

Tryon County Bookshop

*****Don't miss this chance. The folks have an amazing inventory of all kinds of special books on guns, shooting, hunting, fishing, history and more.

Spring Book Sale

At my folks place.

They have rare and collectible books about guns, hunting, fishing, Colt, Savage, Stevens,Winchester, Derrydale, New York State, US Navy, Adirondacks, NY State and much more.

Check it out at Tryon County Book Shop.

Dad Says

We have to call him George now, even though that isn't his name

Here is an interview with the folks about the gun show this past weekend. Very nice....except that his name's not George.

And aren't George and Alice a fine looking pair...with nearly sixty years of marriage behind them!

Driving Excellence

My cousin's book, Driving Excellence, just came out.

Check this out! Can't wait to read it!

Driving Excellence

I cannot wait to buy this book. Imagine taking a failing public service, running at a severe deficit, and turning it around to become both functional and profitable. Imagine lowering costs while increasing services. Imagine businesses coming to a public...that is government-run entity for advice on how to function better. I am looking forward so much to reading it.

Partly because I am astonished by what this man has done....partly because I will think it will change my way of thinking. And partly because I can brag that I babysat for him and knew him when, because he is my dear, wonderful, talented cousin. I hope he sells millions of copies. I am so proud of him!

Kipling Knew Dogs

Mike, who never liked the camera

I am sure most doggy folks have read and felt this poem, but when my good friend Jeffro put it up in the comments, lets just say it was the right thing at the right time. I had read bits and pieces of it before, but didn't realize that Rudyard Kipling had written it.

The Power Of The Dog

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But...you've given your heart for a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!);
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart for the dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long--
So why in Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Rudyard Kipling

I have been a fan of Kipling since I was a kid sitting alone in the parents' bookstore reading my way through the merchandise to stave off the summer doldrums. His characters, animal and human, were far more earthy and real than Disney's version, especially horses and dogs. My favorite Kipling piece is the Maltese Cat
Thanks Jeff

Colored Breeds Show

Down around the wagon by the gate at evening milking time.
Kinda like rush hour country style.

Starts in ten minutes. I am not there.

Maybe I can make the Holstein show tonight. That would be sweet as a certain dearly-loved family member usually shows up and I'd love to see him.

At least chores are done and we finally have grain.

And if you are looking to buy a beautiful children's book, I would love to send some business the way of the illustrator of this one. (You can see how fantastic her art is here)

It's a long story, but she brought our grain at 3 this AMand it wasn't exactly a good moment for her. Anyone that talented deserves support. And it sure goes to show you never know. Who would expect that a grain truck driver, incidentally a lovely and very sweet young lady, would be a published children's book illustrator too?

Don't Forget the Book Sale

20% off through the month of June.....

***That is a small section of my dining room book shelf, not my folk's shop.

Book Sale

All next month at Tryon County Books. My folks will offer twenty-percent off and free domestic shipping from June 1 to June 30th at their amazing book store.

Mom maintains a wonderful website featuring many items from their stock of books. She adds new items frequently and has been doing a lot of updating recently.

Here are links to some of the categories that they offer:

The American Revolution

Big Game Hunting Books

Books by Jack O'Connor

Harper's Weekly

How to Shoot Pistols, Revolvers, Rifles and Shotguns

Hunting and Fishing Books



NY Forest, Fish, and Game Reports and Other Adirondack Items

Old Gun Catalogs

Out of Print Gun Books

Unit Histories and Regimentals

US Navy

Specials

• Since 1952 we have been dealing in The Old and Unusual.
• We now offer a great collection of fine quality Specialty Books. Our aim is to provide you with books you will be proud to own, and pleased to have in your collection.
• If you should be unhappy with your purchase, for any reason, we will do our best to rectify the problem.
• All descriptions are as accurate as we can make them. We try to describe any blemishes or faults, without emphasizing them. While we do not want to dissuade you from purchase we do want you to know what you will be getting.

Stop by their virtual book lovers' wonderland of historical and modern, old and unusual and tell them I sent you.

The Thurwood Diary

Every now and then I open Charles Thurwood's 1874 pocket diary and compare his notations of what went on on his family's Fort Plain farm to what is happening on our farm in the here and now. Charles was a young man in 1874, voted for the first time that year. He and his family worked hard at farming, gardening and building around their place, but spent most evenings visiting neighbors and having fun.

"Windy but pleasant and i and til went to Mart Brookmans auction and we stade all day and our father boilt maple sugar 8 pounds got 3 pales of sap and 32 eggs"

Here at Northview, the sap run is about over, but the rest of the crew (excluding Beck and me) are going to Jim McFadden's auction on Saturday. It is windy, but pleasant this morning. The danged hens refuse to start laying...little do they know that if they don't get busy soon they are getting kicked out of the nifty new hen house to be replaced by some pullets, which I will find somewhere. There is no economy in raising your own eggs, but they sure taste good...darn it!

I bought Charles' diary way back when the boss and I were dating as a Christmas gift for him. It came from my dad and mom's bookshop, Tryon County Books. Mom is working hard at making an online catalog...if you are interested in history, hunting, fishing, shooting or any other antiquarian books, take a look. (I had the good fortune to grow up in a bookstore, reading Tarzan, the Hardy Boys and non-fiction animal science books well above my years....it changed my life in many ways)

I Got To Do a Guest Post

Over on Breezey's blog, Books! It was a terrific amount of fun to write and I hope you can take a minute and cruise on over.

It is about one of my very favorite books of all time, Suds in Your Eye, by Mary Lasswell.

Books

Are the perfect gift around this house....Thus my birthday was perfect due to quantities of books. I should have been too old to squeal with joy when opening a package, but I did at mom and dad's house. An owl book. A big pictorial bird book. A kitchen pharmacy book. Mrs. Rasmussen's Second Book of One Armed Cookery ( a veritable treasure and Mom's own copy, which will be doubly delightful), and last, but not least a book on cannons. How cool is that? Now if I can just get a real one for the front lawn......and that tank for repelling trespassers......

Along with the field guides and a novel for camp provided by Alan, not to mention chocolate and an Amp from Liz.....ah......I feel pampered. To make it all perfect we were treated to two sets of simultaneous fireworks, one at the race track and the other at some town up west and across the river. They were stupendous and we had the added benefit of the old dogs being so deaf they could barely hear them, so there was no panic and hiding in the bath tub this year.