Welcome to the Reading Hermit with Dog blog!

Newly (and unexpectedly) retired, and with my third (self-published) book completed and 'launched' in August 2013, I found myself in need of a project. Since I've always enjoyed the old-fashioned ritual of letter writing, several people suggested I try a blog. After mulling it over, (I have become something of a procrastinator), this seemed like an excellent idea.

While I have a plethora of good friends, getting together is proving difficult: some are still working; some live hundreds or thousands of miles across the country; and some are doing the 'sandwich' thing where they are caring for both grandchildren and elderly parents. A blog seemed a good way to give me a new project, and engage in a form of 'idle chat' with them, but was something they could then read on their own schedule.

As with any project of mine, I started with doing some research. I learned that I should select the subjects I wanted to discuss, that I should decide on how often I would update my blog, and to have at least three sets of entries ready to go before I went live. That's done, and I think I'm ready!

The things my friends and I like to talk about, then, will be the topics in my blog. Given the chance, we talk about books (all kinds), pets (mostly dogs), the weather (an oldie but a goodie!), and something we call "Puzzlers" which is intended as a humorous comment on some of the little things that we find, well, puzzling!

For now I plan on updating my blog twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday.

This section is something I'm calling "Book Trails" .... where one book leads to another and another and so on. This can go on for years. After several days of staring at the books I've shared with others, and would like to share here, I am starting with books about (drum roll) sled dogs! I got seriously started on this subject in 1999 when I adopted an amazing dog. Or rather, he saw me at the Shelter and told me to take him home! New to Northern Breeds, they became the focus of my reading. Breed books morphed into the books you will see here.

I'd actually read, Winterdance: the Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen a few years earlier. It immediately became one of my all time favorite books. After working with a small team of dogs, the author decides he just has to participate in the Iditarod. (The subtitle of 'a fine madness' pretty much says it all). The first part of the book where Paulsen is getting used to his team and getting them in shape for the race is one of the funniest things I've ever read, especially when he tried a bungee cord to attach the team to the sled. The second part, which details the actual running of the race was so compelling that when I put the book down I was surprised to see the sun was shinning and it was warm outside. This was one of several titles I have given as gifts to a friend of mine who now runs his own small team of dogs.

The Cruelest Miles: the Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic by Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury, and The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller and illustrations by Jon Van Zyle. In 1925 there was an outbreak of diphtheria in Nome Alaska. It was winter so there were no ships coming in, the open cockpit planes could not fly in such cold weather, and trains covered just the first 400 miles out from Anchorage, where the serum was. The only way for the serum to get to Nome was by dog sled. Twenty teams braved the bitter weather, covering 600 miles in six days. The Cruelest Miles is written for adults and includes pictures and maps and a wonderful bibliography. The Great Serum Race is written for children and has beautiful illustrations. It has a list of facts in the back and is one I turn to when I need to do a quick check on this subject.

Other books inspired me to return to books I'd enjoyed as a child, or "Back Trails". These will show up from time to time.

Pacific Northwest Weather: I'll admit it, I am fond of rain and overcast skies! In the winter, especially, it's easier to drive on an overcast day because the sun is so low in the horizon it's hard for the visor to be effective (especially for a short driver). Today is a cold, clear, windy winter day. There are whitecaps on the water and I've seen no birds at all at the feeder next door. My personal feeling is we could really use some rain! I will not, however, go so far as to complain as I have relatives in Ohio .... ('nuf said). :)

The Puzzler for February 8 is: women who wear high heels in the snow! Not boots, not something that protects their feet, but dressy heels. And not for a quick dash from a building to a car, or bus, but for serious walking. 

That's it, my very first blog entry!  Thank you for visiting!  

Reading Hermit