Is It Just Me?
12/07/2020
Or are the days flying by??? Because . . . how can it already be Monday again?
But it is!
Time to . . .
On Mondays, I usually share a few tidbits and miscellaneous things I discovered over the weekend. A little of this, some of that. Things to amuse, amaze, entertain, or inform. Maybe even something to rev you up!
So. Let's get to it!
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"Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard, or too sad when you've got a Christmas tree in the living room."
-- Nora Roberts
(Ain't that the truth?)
(Even if it's not a traditional Christmas tree. And it's just . . . lights?)
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Winter . . . is coming. Here in my corner of the world, the snow hasn't cranked up yet. We've had a dusting, sure. But nothing that sticks around. Yet. I know it's coming, though. Those snowflakes! They WILL pile up! I'm sure that, like me, you've heard that "no two snowflakes are alike." But did you ever wonder where that profound "factoid" came from???
Turns out . . . it was Wilson A. Bentley who made that discovery! Wilson -- or "Willie" as he was known to his friends, was the first to collect and photograph snowflakes -- over one hundred years ago. You can read all about it here. It's a fascinating story, and the photos are amazing . . . considering it was so long ago, and all he had was a "bellows" camera!
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Here are a couple of interesting "book-ish" links for you to check out this week:
First, I found this really interesting list of (pretty much all) nonfiction titles put forward by Smithsonian scholars as their "favorite books of 2020." This is a fascinating collection of books -- and especially for those of you who enjoy reading nonfiction.
Then, in the totally go-ahead-and-judge-a-book-by-its-cover category, I found this list of the the 89 best book covers of 2020. I'm always intrigued by book cover designs, so I love these kind of lists . . . even if it takes more than a "pretty face" to get me to read the actual book! Which one is YOUR favorite???
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(Speaking of books . . . be sure to tune in tomorrow - Tuesday - when Bonny, Carole, and I reveal the next Read With Us Book selection! Exciting news!)
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Every once in a while, I share an Instagram account that is particularly fun to follow. This week, I'm going to suggest @lizandmollie. Follow along for delightful "comics" that will make you smile . . . and feel BETTER!
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One last thing!
As you're looking for holiday gifts this year, don't forget to visit Green Hat Woodworking for some unique, interesting gifts. (Yeah . . . the Green Hat Guy IS my son. I have no problem with shamelessly promoting him.) You can find him on Etsy at Green Hat Store or on his website.
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And that's it for me on this Monday morning!
Here's to a good Monday -- and a great week -- for all of us.
Snowflake Bentley is one of my favorite picture books! The boys and I loved it so much that I bought myself a copy of his "Snow Crystals". With over 2,000 photomicrographs, it's a real joy to page through and wonder at each and every one.
And those book lists! They will keep me busy for quite a while. Thanks!
Posted by: Bonny | 12/07/2020 at 08:35 AM
Oh yes! I've known of Snowflake Bentley for years - he was from Vermont...and both my parents came from VT. Also, for years, my Aunt ran the library in the tiny village of South Londonderry which is where I first heard of Snowflake Bentley. Thanks for the links to the lists. Has Brian thought of making yarn bowls???? (The Dali quarantine comic is hysterical!!)
Posted by: Vera | 12/07/2020 at 08:38 AM
I too love Snowflake Bentley! What fun! And, I am with Vera... wooden yarn bowls? Yes, please!
Posted by: Kat | 12/07/2020 at 09:02 AM
Can't wait to hear the new title! (I need to time things better next round. I read Brewster Place way too early--my memory isn't good enough for that!)
Posted by: Carolyn | 12/07/2020 at 09:34 AM
P.S. Loving your birch lights...
Posted by: Carolyn | 12/07/2020 at 09:38 AM
Looking forward to the book announcement! December days ALWAYS fly...
Posted by: Vicki | 12/07/2020 at 09:48 AM
I came back to request wooden yarn bowls as a possibility, too!
Posted by: Bonny | 12/07/2020 at 10:20 AM
Green Hat Guy is very talented and deserves all the promotions! Thanks for the book cover list, I'm off to peruse!
Posted by: Carole | 12/07/2020 at 11:34 AM
Excited to hear about the next book!
Posted by: Kim | 12/07/2020 at 02:17 PM
I love the idea of yarn bowls. Can be repurposed as salad bowls-for-two in a pinch. Would that be knitting heresy to repurpose such a thing? Even temporarily?
Posted by: Chloe | 12/08/2020 at 07:29 AM
Okay, I didn't look through *all* of the book covers, but I have to say that I didn't like most of what I saw. There seems to be a very distinct style flowing through a large number of them that's just not to my taste, but really I'm much more interested in what's inside the book than what's on it.
I literally laughed out loud at "The Persistence of Quarantine"!
Posted by: Sarah | 12/08/2020 at 07:54 AM