This book would go nicely with some earlier trails on Canada (July 30, 2015) and the Canadian language (November 15, 2013). So, You Want to Be Canadian, by Kerry Colburn & Rob Sorensen with illustrations by S. Britt was a quick, fun read. There are chapters on how to dress, drink and apologize like a Canadian. A nice time line of Canadian history, the RCMP, food, and my favorite Canadian beastie, the Ookpik. A short, quick, humourous read. :-)

Ever wonder just what's in some of the things you eat and use? Patrick di Justo did, and from that came This is What You Just Put in Your Mouth: From Eggnog to Beef Jerky, the Surprising Secrets of What's Inside Everyday Products. It's more of a chemistry book than a 'tell all' book because the author was not trying to bring down a product or anything like that, he just wanted to know what was in it, what those ingredients did (flavor, texture) and how they interacted with each other. It might sound a bit dull, but it wasn't. ;-)

When I was young our neighbors bought some land "way out in the county". When they were digging up a section for a garden they discovered bits of broken dishes and bottles, and bent silverware. Past Objects, by Scott Jordan, photographs by J.K. Putnam moves this activity to the city and onto building sites. There are not the important finds where archaeologists might be brought in, but they are interesting nevertheless. Wonderful pictures and descriptions of where the items were found.

Reading Hermit With Dog

Would you ever get a tattoo? If so, what would it be? I actually started down this trail because of something the character 'Ducky' said on NCIS. I cannot find that quote at the moment so I'm just going to go ahead and post this anyway.

I started this trail with Vintage Tattoos: the Book of Old-School Skin Art, by Carol Clerk. A wonderful history of the designs and artists, what was popular when, and why. From one simple design to complex full body art it's an amazing journey.

Constant Reader suggested the next book I read: The Tattoo Chronicles, by Kat Von D. A warning first, this can be a dark book, many of the tattoos are in memory of someone who died from a tragic accident, abuse, or murder. That being said, the journal like entries are thought provoking and interesting, and the designs beautiful.

What an odd and wonderful book! Science Ink: Tattoos of the Science Obsessed, by Carl Zimmer, is filled with the images and the stories behind them, of science geeks (their description) who have tattoos of, well, sciencey stuff! Many I did not understand (think math here), some were simple, some complex but they were all interesting.

If you've every looked at someone's tattoo and wondered "Why?" you'll find some of the answers in Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them, by Isaac Fitzgerald and Wendy MacNaughton. Some are moving such as designs done in the memory of a family member or friend, some are like a diary such as the biker who has state highway numbers showing his route across the country, and some, well, some were done when very young (or even drunk). A rather nice read, actually. :-)

I may have been a bit hasty when I said this trail started with Vintage Tattoos ... it may have actually started with The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury, some decades ago. My copy shows a man, from behind, sitting on a wooden platform. He is covered in tattoos. The twist here is that these tattoos move! What an incredible way to gather unconnected stories into a collection!

Reading Hermit With Dog

A charming book from County Reader to start with today: The Owl Who Liked Sitting on Caesar: Living with a Tawny Owl, by Martin Windrow. Not just the adventures of living with Mumble, the author includes the evolution of the owl, how they live and hunt, and how best to have one as a companion. There's myths and folklore about the owl, too. Just a nice read.

This took me back to one I read a long time ago: Owls in the Family, by Farley Mowat. There were lots of animals in the Mowat menagerie, but, as yet, no owls. Captured (or rescued) when they were very young, Wol and Weeps soon became part of the family and there were many wonderful (and humorous) adventures. One owl never did learn to fly so he walks everywhere. This is a quick read!

I'm tucking this book here because it too, is a quick read ... in fact, it is a collection of cartoons that started on a Facebook page. Off the Leash: the Secret Life of Dogs, by Rupert Fawcett is a delightful, sometimes hysterical, look at life with dogs. Many were spot on for the dogs I've had. Expect everything from a smile to a guffaw!

Reading Hermit With Dog

The mail has been delivered by pigeons in ancient Persia (and during war time in Europe), camels in Australia, reindeer in Russia, and pneumatic tubes running under New York City, Boston, St. Louis, Chicago, and Philadelphia. There were Post Office Streetcars in Baltimore, mules in the Grand Canyon (see February 7, 2015), reindeer in Finland ...

That mail had to be put somewhere. For a fun look at some of the more interesting and creative mail boxes along rural routes try R.F.D. Country! Mailboxes and Post Offices of Rural America, by Bill and Sarah Thornbrook.

They Carried the Mail: a Survey of Postal History & Hobbies, by Mathew J. Bowyer was a nice look back at the development of the U.S. Postal System. There were dull moments mostly dealing with all the politics (good grief!) and fun moments when learning about what makes a stamp valuable. Also, dogs are not the most dangerous thing along a carrier's route ... seems sometimes 'interesting' things are sent in the mail (think snakes, spiders, bodily fluids).

For some mail themed mysteries try Murder Most Postal: Homicidal Tales That Deliver a Message, edited by Martin H. Greenberg. From the grisly to the cozy, historical to recent (well, sort of, remember computer punch cards?), even one by the editor himself, who is an author, too!

I have found one more book on the mail that looks most interesting, but it's not due out until June so I've opted not to wait to post this. Besides, I could have found more books on this trail by then, too! :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

If you are caring for an elderly person, or will be in the future then read this book. If you like the idea of "pay it forward" or want a read that will warm the cockles of your heart, then read this book. I wish I could have read Under One Roof: Lessons I Learned From a Tough Old Woman in a Little Old House, by Barry Martin, with Philip Lerman before my folks got the point of needing assistance, it would have changed the way I did so many things! The 'traditional' way is not always the best, it is possible to age with dignity and Barry Martin learns that in caring for Edith Wilson Macefield. Just a wonderful book!

The location of Edith's house made me think of a book I loved as a child: The Little House, story and pictures by Virginia Lee Burton. A little house, far out in the country, wonders what it would be like to live in the city. All too soon she finds out! The pictures of her reminded me of the ones of Edith Wilson Macefield's house I found on google. At least this little house got to move. :-)

I then had to move on to two more favorites by the same author. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is a delightful story of the old vs the new (not always good) and, what to do if things don't turn out the way you first expect. Be sure to check out all the details around the pictures in Katy and the Big Snow, they tell a lot about the story, too. Katy is so big and strong, she needs a lot of snow before she is needed ... see what happens when her wish for a blizzard comes true. :-)

For another book on caring for an elderly friend or relative there's Your Best is Good Enough. It's on the July 12, 2015 post.

Reading Hermit With Dog

Happy St. Patrick's Day! It's time once again for this heartfelt St. Patrick's Day toast: "May the road rise up to meet you, and may you not be stuck behind the nervous ponies on the parade route."

Too Many Leprechauns, or How That Pot 'o Gold Got to the End of the Rainbow, by Stephen Krensky and illustrated by Dan Andreasen explains how the town of Dingle got rid of too many pesky, noisy leprechauns.

Ever wonder where the luck of the Irish comes from? If you think it comes from the leprechauns you'd be only partially correct. Fiona's Luck, by Teresa Bateman and illustrated by Kelly Murphy explains the rest of the story. :-) (This story would go nicely with a 'smart, strong women' post, too).

Reading Hermit With Dog

A few more books today, in celebration of the conclusion of the 2016 Iditarod. Son and father Dallas and Mitch Seavey were the first two mushers to arrive in Nome. It is the fourth win for Dallas in five years. The year he didn't win, his father did!

A favorite musher of mine is Martin Buser (also a four time winner) so I was very pleased to discover his book Dog Man: Chronicles of an Iditarod Champion. I may even have been reading it when this years winner crossed under the burled arch. :-) I'm finding it hard to express just how much I enjoyed this book! It was one of those hard to put down reads and many chores were ignored. Just an amazing book! He tells the good events as well as the bad, his successes and failures and does so with wit and humor and in such a style that you will just keep reading page after page. His reason for when he became a U.S. Citizen is heart stirring as is just where he took the oath. His battles with sleep deprivation will make you laugh out loud and made me think of another favorite Iditarod book, Winterdance. (In my first post on February 8, 2014). I've always loved the connection he has with his dogs. The ending was perfect.

I hemmed and hawed, wavered several times, changed my mind ... but finally decided to include Musher's Night Before Christmas, by Tricia Brown and illustrated by Debra Dubac with this post, on the day the first runners arrived in Nome rather than waiting for Christmas. A witty retelling of the Clement C. Moore poem, it tells of Santa requesting help from a team of dogs when Nome is 'weather bound' and Rudolph's nose is fading. As with so many books for children, it's best when you read it out loud, even if it's just to your own dog. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

Dogs have played many important roles in times of war, just how many was nicely explained in Soldiers & Sled Dogs: a History of Military Dog Mushing, by Charles L. Dean. Learn how dogs were chosen, how sleds were made (for different types of loads or snow), and what duties they performed. The government was not always quick to catch on, (no surprise, yes?) and at first considered snow shoes. For mules.

With all the modern technology available today you'd think the use of beasts of burden would be considered obsolete. Not true! The best way to deliver goods, weapons, or move wounded soldiers in many locations is still by a domestic quadruped. Horses, Donkeys, and Mules in the Marines, by Meish Goldish might be a book for children, but because of that the information is concise, and the pictures wonderful.

A meeting with a stranger and a conversation about books led to this recommendation (thank you!). Despite the use of the word in the subtitle, I hesitate to call this a book about a horse since several times it was put forth that "she was not a horse, she was a Marine!" Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse, by Robin Hutton is the true story of the little red mare that carried heavy ammunition up steep hills (and often brought back wounded soldiers) in Korea. Once she knew her job she did not need to be led back and forth, she'd move in and out of the war zone (guns blazing) on her own. An amazing story!

There will be more books along this trail in future posts ... they are in my 'to be read pile' as I keyboard this. :-) And, there's a book about Stubby, the war dog, on the July 11, 2015 post.

Reading Hermit With Dog

March 13 is National Earmuff Day. I found just one book on this subject (probably not a huge surprise) appropriately titled Earmuffs for Everyone! How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs, by Meghan McCarthy. It seems ears have been sticking out and getting cold for centuries. There have been many attempts to prevent this from happening (you'll chuckle at several) one of which is the version we wear today. Chester Greenwood improved on designs of earlier inventors and for that reason is who we remember today. Be sure to check out the store from the 1970's and see how many of the products you recognize!

This book would fit well with the post of March 26, 2015, especially At Home, by Bill Bryson. If Walls Could Talk: an Intimate History of the Home, by Lucy Worsley not only tells of the history of each room, but what went on in those rooms. Some rooms had specific functions, the kitchen, for example, but others were designed to impress any and all visitors. Written with humor (watch for the tongue-in-cheek comments), this was a delightful read.

At lunch recently the topic of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary came up (an amazing facility!) and from that, this recommendation: Two Bobbies: a True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival, by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery and illustrated by Jean Cassels. The title pretty much describes the story, and I don't want to spoil what it doesn't, so I'll just say ... read it! :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

The leaders are at the halfway point along the Iditarod trail now. Brent Sass was first out of Nulato at 03:43, closely followed by Mitch Seavey at 03:44.

Years ago I heard a wonderful song on CBC FM, probably on the first Saturday in March. I learned it was by 'Hobo Jim' and was called Iditarod Trail. Flash forward a few years and I had a coworker from Alaska, who said Hobo Jim was very well known in Alaska and she'd seen him sing. When she returned from a family visit she brought me a CD called Thunderfoot which included Iditarod Trail!! I play it every year during the Great Race (and sometimes at other times too, it's a wonderful collection of his songs). Flash forward again to present day and a book titled Iditarod, by Tricia Brown from Images of Sports which is from Arcadia Publishing, the same company that puts out those wonderful Images of America books I've used so often in this blog. One of the pictures is of Hobo Jim himself! I thoroughly enjoyed this book of the history of the Iditarod, and as always with this publisher, there are wonderful pictures. I've already read it twice.

Here's a book that would fit well with many of my trails, and it's a trail book! Along Alaskan Trails: Adventures in Sled Dog History, by Helen Hegener has chapters on delivering the mail with a dog team, the Iditarod, the use of sled dogs in WWII, trail blazing what became the Alaska-Canada highway ... and more. Lots of pictures, too. :-) Look for the chapter about Slim Williams from the book Sisters (March 6th post). There is different information here than is found there.

Reading Hermit With Dog

While these two titles fit well along other book trails I'm on, I decided to put them together and call it a "nostalgia" trail.

'We Made Our Own Fun!' are memories culled from the magazine Reminisce. This was a time before computers, TV, and battery operated toys. What did folks do? They played games, made forts, had sing alongs. There were stick horses (I actually had one like you see on page 38) and jump ropes (be sure to check out the chants!). Adults and children gathered for baseball games, or to listen to the radio. There were county fairs and drive in theaters (and big cars that made it easy to curl up with a blanket and favorite stuffed toy). There were games with buttons, and roller skates. A wonderful collection of a bygone era.

Another collection of memories (of a different sort) may be found in Outhouse Lore, by Bernard Eubanks. Mr. Eubanks collected the stories and did the illustrations. There are poems about the 'necessary' as well as a list of many of the names for this outbuilding. There is a horse who liked to use the outhouse in his pasture, tips on how to warm a cold seat, and the best catalog for use as toilet paper. Other outhouse books appeared in the post of April 5, 2014. I have always been grateful for indoor plumbing. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

From Constant Reader came an idea for one of my 'reading is all over the place' blog posts ... reading that really is all over the place! So, I offer the following.

I wish I had my own copy of the Brigadoon libretto as this is the version I like. It is a wonderful stage play by Lerner and Lowe about a small Scottish village that appears once every 100 years. There is a movie version out, but it pales against the stage version so get that soundtrack which includes songs that were not (but should have been) in the movie.

Camelot is a bit easier to find than Brigadoon.;-) There is the libretto for the musical which I've read, (and like Brigadoon is hard to find now) but there are lots of other books about King Arthur, too. These are ones I've read and enjoyed: The Once and Future King, by T.H. White; The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and the trilogy by Mary Stewart starting with The Crystal Cave. You might consider books on the Kennedy Administration, too (although I've not read any of these).

Then there's Pern, a favorite destination of mine! You'll find many of these books, by Anne McCaffrey in the May 20, 2014 post.

I first met the telepathic Flinx and his venomous mini-dragon Pip in Orphan Star, by Alan Dean Foster. It was set on the planet Moth, but Flinx and Pip wander all over the universe in this series. Start with For Love of Mother-Not. Slow to anger, but deadly when they finally attack there are times when I would have appreciated a mini-dragon on my shoulder. :-)

And of course, Dune and the sequels, by Frank Herbert. Even after all these years (decades, actually) I still think about this arid planet when I'm running the water!

For information on oh, so very many places there's The Dictionary of Imaginary Places (newly updated and expanded), by Alberto Manguel & Gianni Guadalupi. A lot of fun to browse, stop and read, and then move on, but I was disappointed that Pern was not included.

Then, there are the non-fiction sort of 'all over' books:

There are 'fake' towns, designed to fool enemy pilots in a war, cities in cemeteries (with permission), gutterspace (that tiny space between buildings), floating islands of plastic garbage, Stacey's Lane (my favorite) and more all in Unruly Places: Lost Spaces, Secret Cities, and Other Inscrutable Geographies, by Alastair Bonnett. Most of these are not travel destinations, but what an interesting read!

The hard part here is where to stop! Why not head out on your own 'all over the place' trail! :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

I seem to have posts backing up again so look for a few extra in the coming weeks!

At first I wasn't sure just what trail best fit this book. For good or bad, I finally decided it would fit well with my other 'strong women' books.

I wish I knew how I found this book! What was I looking at, or for? James Barry was a prominent doctor in the Victorian Era who at death, was discovered to be a woman. An advocate of cleanliness, better health care for soldiers, the poor, and women, he sparked alot of controversy amongst his peers. He joined the military (no physical for MDs at that time) and served at several posts around the world. He performed one the first successful C-Sections. Why masquerade as a man? Consensus of opinion is that there were few educational/professional options for women. As a man, James could go to medical school, practice medicine and have a job he loved. The Secret Life of Dr. James Barry: Victorian England's Most Eminent Surgeon, by Rachel Holmes is a captivating look at the life of this most unusual person. You can find many interesting articles on line, too. :-)

Now, this book I know exactly how it came to me! It was a gift from a good friend with similar reading interests. :-) It started with an article in Mushing Magazine about a man named Slim Williams and his work as a trail blazer on what became the Alaska Highway. An unusually harsh winter left him with frostbitten lungs and he had gone to stay with family in California. It was there he met the young woman he eventually married, as well as her sister, who would live with them for a few years. They wrote of their experiences in Sisters: Coming of Age & Living Dangerously in the Wild Copper River Valley, by Samme Gallaher & Aileen Gallaher. Aileen moved from Fresno to a remote cabin, with no running water, an outhouse, no electricity ... and loved it! She learned to shoot, drive a dog team, helped build several cabins and survived in terrible conditions. When her sister joins them, she too, comes to love Alaska. A wonderful memoir of a life foreign to many of us!

There have been some amazing women in the history of Washington State. Read about many of them in More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Washington Women, by L.E. Bragg. In her introduction the author said she wanted her collection of short biographies to be ethnically and geographically diverse and indeed, the women are just that and more. Check out the "shocking climbing outfit" of Fay Fuller, the first women to reach the top of Mount Rainer (remember, though, this was in 1890) ;-). Read about the cow who guided boats to the dock in the fog and how her owner Thea Foss was afraid of water. (Think Foss tugboats). Lots of interesting stuff here. :-)

Other books on strong women may be found on the posts of May 31, June 2, and November 7 of 2015.

Reading Hermit With Dog

The 2016 Iditarod starts today!

I actually read Iditarod Adventures: Tales From Mushers Along the Trail last April, but figured I'd listed enough about the Great Race and that I could wait a bit. As with other collections, it's by Lew Freedman with illustrations by Jon Van Zyle. This may be my favorite collection (they are all good) because there are entries this time about folks that work behind the scenes. Some have been volunteers for decades. A common theme is that the race gets in your blood, there is no doing it just once! Even the musher from Jamaica agrees!

She was born in Kentucky, went to Alaska to work on a boat one summer to earn money for college never left. A 'tourist' trip to Nome to see the end of the Iditarod inspired her to volunteer for the race, then work for, and eventually train with Jeff King. Running With Champions: a Midlife Journey on the Iditarod Trail, by Lisa Frederic has wonderful stories of the dogs she raised from puppies to become part of her team, the chaos they can create, and the absolute joy of running them. I love that she sings to her dogs when they are out on the trail ... John Denver songs!

Much of what I found in Sled Dog. Powerful Miracle, by Stephen Person, I've read before but what was new was the story about Isobel. Suffering from a disease that caused her to go blind, Isobles racing days were over. Or were they?

You may call her legally blind, or visually impaired, but never, never call her handicapped. Running the Iditarod had been a dream from childhood, but was it even possible of some one who could barely see? No End In Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer, by Rachel Scdoris and Rick Steber is the biography of this remarkable woman (up to about 2006). One of the qualifying races Rachel ran was the John Beargrease Memorial Sled Dog Race, named for a man who delivered the mail by dog team in the late 1800's. I found a book about him in the bibliography and tracked it down. (See the February 4th, 2016 post).

As readers of my blog know, I enjoy quote books so was pleased to find Sled Dog Wisdom, collected by Tricia Brown. This is a continuation/update from her earlier book Lessons My Sled Dog Taught Me (see the March 11, 2014 post), and what fun it is! There are quotes from some of the same people who were Junior Iditarod runners at that time and now are veterans of the trail. Wonderful photos, too.

Expect more on this subject as the 2016 Iditarod continues. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

I just keep finding more books to use on my 'mail trail'! Another book by Neill D. Mullen, Whatcom County Post Offices and Post Masters 1857 - 1985 was an interesting look back at the local postal service. There are maps of the routes, as well as lists of those who delivered the mail, and how much was delivered. Of special interest were the Centennial Post Office Cachets issued by the Whatcom County Historical Society.

This book would fit beautifully with The Victorian Internet (June 17, 2014), in fact, I suggest reading them back to back. The Tyranny of E-Mail: the Four-Thousand Year Journey to Your Inbox, by John Freeman was a fascinating look at the evolution of mail from clay tablets to the virtual version we know as email. As we moved from handwritten letters, to the brief post card, to telegraphs the same concerns are voiced again and again ... less personal, less contact, demise of manners (not to mention handwriting), unwanted mail (think mostly politicians!!), responses sent in haste ... little has changed, really! If nothing else, take a moment to read the beginning of chapter one and the description of a letter leaving a mountain home in Finland, traveling in a sleigh pulled by a reindeer to it's final destination in the U.S. Midwest.

Cats delivering the mail? Only the government could come up with this idea. (In this case the city fathers of Liege, Belgium in 1879). Based on a true event, The Mail Carrier Cats of Liege (Les Chats Facteurs de Liege), by Gretchen Lamont with pictures by Hugh Harrison is charming and funny as well as a quick read. (And fits so nicely with this trail I'm on!) ;-)

There was a time when you could order a house from Sears. It was a in the form of a kit and you put it together yourself. The House in the Mail, by Rosemary and Tom Wells and illustrated by Dan Andreasen is the story of a family who gets a brand new house this way. Emily looks forward to her very own room with a secret hiding place to keep her things away from her pest of a brother. :-)

There are many other books about delivering the mail including September 20, 2014 (Pony Express), February 7, 2015 (Owney, the Mail Dog), January 16, 2015 (Mavericks of the Sky), and the most recent, February 4, 2016.

Reading Hermit With Dog