The Winter House by Joan MacCracken

Subtitle: A Season of Sharing

This book had a very interesting premise. Elizabeth was recently widowed and wanted to spend her first winter in Maine, but she really did not want to do it alone. She asked Marty to join her who asked Janet who asked Catherine. They were all widows and Elizabeth thought it would be a great way for them all to have some companionship and save some money in the process.

This all worked out very well for everyone. They encouraged each other to do things, they talked about and faced things that they were struggling with, and all became stronger women for the process.

I must have picked this book up at a library book sale in Maine. Not only was it a signed copy, but it was published in Maine as well. The writing was quite simple and at times felt a little manufactured but the idea and story line was very inviting and curious. It was an interesting way to approach a difficult subject and time in peoples lives. I have a hard time thinking about being alone in the future and hope that I have a circle of friends that these ladies created to help me through. 

Glow 15 by Naomi Whittel

 Subtitle: A Science-based Plan to Lose Weight, Revitalize Your Skin, and Invigorate Your Life

A friend recommended this to me and it was an interesting read. I am always curious about the different ways people and science think that they can help you feel younger, stronger, and healthier.

This book hits on a concept called autophagy. It is something within our bodies that can turn on and off our metabolism and make our bodies use what is has more efficiently. There are also foods and exercises that can trigger autophagy to make your body more efficient as well.

There are certain foods to eat and times to eat. You intermittent fast three non consecutive days and eat normally the other four days. There is also exercising that you do on certain days, either HIIT workouts or resistance band workouts.

In the scheme of things if you are able to make these changes in your life and if looking younger is that important to you then this might work. I am more from the school of trying to work with what I have, no special diets or exercises. And on the whole I feel pretty good.

We all want to loose some weight, me included. We all would like to look younger, me included. But we have to remember that we are all different, our bodies are different, and how are bodies work individually are different. And we have earned every wrinkle and gray hair and should be proud of how far we have come.

For me I have been working on eating the same number of calories everyday, drinking enough water everyday, and doing moderate exercise everyday. Will I be disappointed if I don't loose weight, of course. Do I know that I am doing something good for my body everyday, absolutely!

This is a good book. It gives us another view of how are bodies work and how we can make them work more efficiently. It is not something that I am going to do but it may work for you.

Dewey's Nine Lives by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

 Subtitle: The Legacy of the Small-town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions

If you have not read Dewey I highly recommend that you do. It is not necessary if you want to read this book, but it is well worth the read.

There is a wonderful partnership between Myron and Witter and when you sit down to read these books it feels like they are there tell you their stories. In this book we not only learned more about Dewey and how he touched so many lives but also about other cats that have had huge impacts on their owners.

In so many of the stories the cats are true confidants, they are there for the owner. They are there to listen and to comfort, to protect and be an ally. If you have never had a pet it may be hard to understand. But if you have been a pet owner you know what it is like to have an animal love you unconditionally. To have a live creature there to pour your heart out to and just sit there and listen. To have an animal that will just love you for who you are and help you grow into a stronger and more confidant human being.

In this book cats help fill the void of not being able to have children, of moving someplace new and knowing no one, of helping you through a tough time when you didn't even really know you needed help. Cats have always been considered stand-offish, but I think they are always there for you.

The last cat that I had was not a cuddler. She would be in the same room with you but she was very independent. She loved to bring me 'gifts' and learned to leave them at the door after I thanked her. The one thing she would do is cuddle me when I was not feeling well. She didn't leave my side, but once I was feeling better she was off.

Pets know how to take care of their owners and they are a wonderful addition to the family if is is a viable option. I am so thankful for the pets that I have had over the years and am looking forward to having one again (once I settle down, haha).

The Sense Of Wonder by Rachel Carson

What a wonderful book on how you can get your child into nature. All you need is to be out in it. You do not need to know the names of everything,  you do not need special equipment, you just need to observe both nature and your child and go from there. Children help you see things in a new light and you need to grasp onto what they are embracing. A very refreshing and beautiful look at children, nature, and the world around you.

Naked Came the Manatee by Carl Hiaasen and others

This was a collaboration of several authors and is a true South Florida tale. There is a manatee that is always seeming to get in trouble.  There is an older woman who is an environmentalist. There is a woman who wants a big story for the newspaper so she can get out . A struggling business woman. Some men wanting to make some easy money. And last, but not least, a plot to try to get rid of Fidel Castro.  This is all in one book and is quite hilarious.  To me, one of the funniest things is that some parts of this story could be ripped from the headlines. Only in South Florida.

Yarn Harlot by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Subtitle: The Secret Life of a Knitter -- What a hoot! Yarn stashes, missing needles,  multiple projects started, and nothing to knit with. Stephanie has an answer for everything and can easily make an excuse. She hides yarn everywhere. She will tear apart a car to find a knitting needle. She will convince herself she can finish all of the projects she has started. And she can always justify buying more yarn.  Stephanie has a great sense of humor and a wonderful way of weaving a tale on paper. If you knit, you will understand. If you have a knitter in your life, this may help you understand.

Oogy by Larry Levin

Subtitle: The Dog Only a Family Could Love -- This was a wonderful story about a family who was losing a pet and gained another that not just anyone could love. Oogy had been used as a bait dog and had lost an ear and most of his face. The way that Oogy became an integral part of the family and community was just amazing. It wasn't always an easy read for a couple of reasons. One was the nature of the content and why Oogy was the way he was. The other was that Levin isn't the smoothest of writers for me. I had to re-read things to figure out what he was saying which is something I just do not enjoy. But, if you are an animal lover this really is a heart warming book about an amazing dog.