the Church Mice

As much as I enjoy looking at the new picture books when they come into the library, it often seems they are written to show off the cleverness of the author, rather than delight and instruct the children. It wasn't always that way.

But recently I've been interlibrary loaning every Church Mice book I can get, by Graham Oakley. We used to have those where I work but they stopped circulating and had to be removed. He began the series in the seventies and they are dated, but since I remember that era (well!) I can relate, and they. are. so. hilarious. If you need a good laugh, and are of a "certain age" they would do the trick.

They're more wordy than the average picture book and the illustrations have lots going on. It may be that Mr. Oakley was also writing for the adults' amusement, but I'm pretty sure that kids would enjoy these stories, too.

"things that belong together are sure to come together"

"I thought you'd come today. Things that belong together are sure to come together. What a lot of trouble that would save some people if they only knew it. But they don't... and so they waste beautiful energy moving heaven and earth to bring things together that don't belong."

                                                                               -   Anne of Avonlea

fancy

An eggplant stem?

or a leprechaun's cap?

a surprise find

In an unfamiliar supermarket the other day, and this was on clearance. I didn't know you could even buy sprouted wheat flour! Thought you had to sprout it yourself. I look forward to using it.

round and round we go

"Everything that needs to be said has already been said", counseled Andre Gide, "but since no one was listening, everything must be said again."
                                          
                                      -    Philip Pilkington, in American Affairs 

pretty with pink

Could it be that our Dolly is secretly a little homebody?

Or is it just the color scheme?

charming acts of randomness

It's a thing, I guess. On Facebook, so I didn't know about it, since I'm not there. But people are taking smooth rocks and painting on them. Then they leave them randomly about for others to find, and hopefully be delighted, amused or something else pleasant. In the past week, five of them have turned up at the library.

Here are the two from yesterday, although later I saw a third as we were leaving, sitting on the copier. But this one was found in the young adult section

and Katie came across this one on the stairs going up to the children's department

So cute! A week ago a patron saw one on her way in, among the flowers in the big planter - it was a charming little cottage. And there was one on the bench outside that was painted to look like a cheeseburger! They all have the name of your town and the word "rocks" on the back, like "New York Rocks", for example.  Are they doing this where you live?

They're not for us; I guess you're supposed to take it and put it someplace where you think somebody else would enjoy seeing it. We left them, feeling this was up to the patrons to do.

It's nice to think that when somebody wants to drop off one of these, the library comes to mind.

unexpected vegetable

At the beginning of summer, my brother was given a vegetable plant. He put the medium-sized pot in the garden near the house amongst the other things, and they grew up around it and he never actually put it in the ground. It got tall.

Last week I wondered about a pretty purplish flower on it, but he couldn't remember what type of plant it was.

Now we know. And there are two, growing out of a not-very-big pot. A nice surprise!

duty

"...Anne went herself to the east gable and sat down by her window in the darkness alone with her tears and her heaviness of heart. How sadly things had changed since she had sat there the night after coming home! Then she had been full of hope and joy and the future had looked rosy with promise. Anne felt as if she had lived years since then, but before she went to bed there was a smile on her lips and peace in her heart. She had looked her duty courageously in the face and found it a friend - as duty ever is when we meet it frankly."

                                                                  -   Anne of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery

time for applesauce

We're picking the apples now; they are quite small, but clear. The first batch of applesauce was bland - how strange! These apples made delicious applesauce last time. But anyway, I flavored the next batch and it was good. Lots of cooking ahead.

for strength, not ease

Father, hear the prayer we offer:

Not for ease that prayer shall be,

But for strength that we may ever

Live our lives courageously.

Not for ever in green pastures

Do we ask our way to be;

But the steep and rugged pathway

May we tread rejoicingly.

Not for ever by still waters

Would we idly rest and stay;

But would smite the living fountains

From the rocks along the way.

Be our strength in hours of weakness

In our wand'rings be our guide;

Through endeavor, failure, danger,

Father, be there at our side.

-   from Magnificat, September 2017