A Sentiment

God knew what He was doing when He sent a gentle breeze and brought a lovely butterfly to set my heart at ease. The happiness of your friendship and the gentleness of your words have touched my life in special ways and now I feel assured. Thank you for your loyalty and for reading everyday. I only hope you find things to make a happy day.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Tiny Little Books

                                          
Imagine a morning in late November, a coming of winter morning more that twenty years ago. Consider the kitchen of a spreading old house in a country town. a great black stove is it's main feature, but there is also a big round table and a fireplace with two rocking chairs placed in front of it. just today the fireplace commenced it's seasonal roar.A woman with shorn white hair is standing at the kitchen window. She is wearing tennis shoes and a shapeless gray sweater over a summery calico dress. She is small and sprightly, like a bantam hen, but, due to a long youthful illness, her shoulders are pitifully hunched. Her face is remarkable...not unlike Lincoln's, craggy like that, and tinted by the sun and wind, but it is delicate too...finely boned, and her eyes are sherry colored and timid. "Oh my," she exclaims, her breath smoking the windowpane, "It's fruitcake weather."

Just the first paragraph from my favorite book ever. Just a short story read over and over at this time of year. I've had the book since the sixties and I've shared it with anyone who wants to read it. I just sent a copy to a friend who is going through chemo. I would like to find a DVD of the original TV program starring Geraldine Page and narrated by the author...Truman Capote. All I can find it the Hallmark rendition.
I'm reading Christmas on Ladybug Farm right now. I've read a couple of other Ladybug books and this is a special novella just for Christmas. It's a nice little book telling about the three main characters...all southern gals, getting ready for their annual Christmas party.....planned to perfection with lots of details about the decorating they do in the house and things going on in the kitchen.Things don't go quite as planned. It's a delectable little treasure of a book. I haven't finished it yet.

I have a whole stack of "little books" that come out this time of year. I put them in a basket on  my coffee table and reread them one by one. It's a special treat in the afternoon to curl up with one of these little treasures
Here is a list of little books for my basket...
This Year it Will Be Different, by Maeve Binchy I'll especially read this one since Maeve died just this year.

Christmas Joy, by Susan Branch ( the illustrations are wonderful. Susan has a blog and you can find it on my sidebar. Her blog is almost as good as reading one of her books.

The 12 Blessings of Christmas, by TJ Mills ( cute illustrations and some good recipes included.)

A Christmas to Remember, by Alice Gray and Susan Wales...I bought this at Walmart after seeing some nice recipes for Christmas mixed in with little quotes, and crafty projects.

Lanterns Across the Snow, by Susan Hill.... a gift from my mother in law in 1988

Skipping Christmas, by John Grishan.....I bought this after a garden club meeting, where everyone was talking about downsizing their Christmas plans as we were getting older.

The Christmas letters, by Bret Nicholaus (haven't ever read this one)

The Red Buckets by Lynda M. Nelson...... a gift from my dear friend, Nancy

Once Upon a Christmas by Lauraine Snelling - Lenora Worth (new this year...a garage sale find)

I just ordered Child's Christmas in Wales....I've seen this on TV,but have never read the book and I found it ...used, for a penny at Barnes and Noble.Couldn't bear to think of it sitting on the shelf in some used bookstore...for just a penny.

I always have my Catholic Women's Bible on the table too...with a bookmark on Chapter 2 of Luke...the Christmas story.
Just thought I'd share some of my holiday traditions with you.
Have a great day...Balisha

12 comments:

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

Thanks for the list - I love little Christmas books :-)

Judy said...

What marvelous gifts to read!

Hillcresthome Prims said...

I LOVE to read the books that you read. They are wholesome and true. It brings you back in time.
I am going to see if my husband can get the first book for me that you have posted.
I also wrote the list down.
Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful books with us.
Happy Reading and Hugs,
Tricia

Balisha said...

Hi Tricia,
That first story is in a book with two stories. The other story in the book is The Thanksgiving Visitor. If your husband can't find it, I would be glad to send you my copy to borrow.Let me know...Balisha

Balisha said...

Hi judy,
These weren't all gifts...some I picked up when shopping at garage sales, book sales...or book stores.I love to read holiday books and have collected them since the 80's.
Balisha

Balisha said...

Hi Vicki,
I really love these books...for any holiday for that matter. Easter books are fun to collect too.
Balisha

Tolentreasures said...

What a nice idea and what a great break in the fast pace of the holidays! I might have to steal this idea from you! I love my little book that you sent to me!

Cathy

acorn hollow said...

I have a couple of those books but would love to have the lady bug farm one. I read a book called lady bug farm but it was very diffrent than that.
I am writing them down.
Cathy

Balisha said...

Hi Cathy...I'm so glad that you like the little book. Sometimes we don't have time to read a big book and these little ones just fill the bill.
Balisha

Balisha said...

Hi Cathy from Acorn Hollow,
The author has writted a series of books about Lady Bug Farm. This is a new book...not very big, a novella. I got it from my library. It's a fast read.
Balisha

debra said...

I re-read my favorites as well...I like old fashioned books and started collecting D.E. Stevenson books because hers are ones that I can read over and over again every year. One thing I love about the Internet is how easy it makes it to buy old out of print books! :)

Hillcresthome Prims said...

Thank you so much for the offer but my husband was able to find it and he bought it on line for me. I can't wait to get it. Also,thank you for letting us gals know about Susan Branch and I did get on her blog that I found just like you said on the side of your blog.

My husband is going to look for the book by her that you listed Christmas Joy.

I LOVE to read and I wrote down your whole list.

Have a blessed night.
Hugs and Happy Reading,
Tricia

P.S. if you have any books that you have read that are true stories back in the great good old days could you post them too.

We should start a book club. Having everyone get the same book and read a few chapters and discuss it with you on your blog, just and idea! XOXO