The Mennobrarian

In and Around the Home this Week

04:16, Thursday, June 5, 2008 .. Posted in Homemaking .. 3 comments .. Link

Three times a year our library hosts a sale of used, donated books. Some of the books are in shockingly good condition, while others smell of someone's damp basement. Digging through the boxes of books you find the good ("A Woman After God's Own Heart" for a dollar!) and the bad ("Microwave Cooking"). You find the snicker-worthy (books on scientology still in their untouched wrapping that nobody wants) and the truly sad ("When Your Mate Wants Out").

The book sale is a statement on the fickleness of technology (plenty of VHS tapes for sale) and the fragility of fads (lots of used copies of the "Purpose-driven" this-or-that).

There are finds to be had, and things that you will never find. For instance, no one ever donates good cookbooks. Travel guides are hopelessly outdated. And there are always thousands of those awful paperback romances. Sifting through the chafe to find the wheat at the library book sale takes diligence and endurance. Many of you yard-salers know the feeling.

Still, when hours of digging results in that small pile of wonderful finds, it is worth it.

In the Garden: The massive rains we had did much to make things grow and bloom, and it did a lot for the weeds, too. Weeding those tiny carrot seedlings is quite a chore. They are only a few centimeters high! That morning glory vine we received as a gift is starting to bloom bright pink flowers. I hope to pick up a trellis for it soon.

In the Kitchen: Not much, because we have a wedding today, and a fellowship meal after church tomorrow. For church, I think I'll make a crispy cabbage, carrot, and corn salad. I was also "gifted" some Amish friendship bread starter. That stuff multiplies like a bad chain letter, and pretty soon you are wondering if the person who gave it to you is really your friend.

On the Nightstand: Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression, by Mildred Armstrong Kalish. Oh, you want to read this book- it is so entertaining!

Just Wondering: Why are some Biblical names popular and not others?

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Untitled Comment

09:05, Friday, June 6, 2008 .. Posted by melaniedawn
Oh, how I love sifting through the good and the bad to get to the treasures when our library has a used book sale! I could spend a whole week there!
melanie

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02:42, Sunday, June 8, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous
I would love it if you would start posting a favorite book list. I'm going to pick up the Kalish book. Can't wait!
***Thanks for the idea, Anonymous. Maybe I'll do that.****

Edited by Mennobrarian on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 05:48

Bible names

08:26, Monday, June 9, 2008 .. Posted by mccrjill
I've often wondered why I've never known another Hulda except my grandmother - but then again maybe it isn't too hard to figure out. : ) Jill