September 1st is Emma Nutt Day. She was the first female telephone operator and is mentioned briefly in The Telephone, by Rebecca Stefoff, a nice history of 'telephony'. Communication across an ever increasing distance has always been important and while this book is written for younger readers, I found it nicely detailed and very interesting. (And, hey, it fit the trail for today)! ;-)

While somewhat dated now Toilets, Toasters & Telephones: the How and Why of Everyday Objects, by Susan Goldman Rubin with illustrations by Elsa Warnick proved to be just a fun read. Looking back at some of the earlier models here made me very glad to be here now, at this time!

School will starting soon now (if it hasn't already). Do students still bring apples to teachers? I am thinking not, but Apple for the Teacher: Thirty Songs for Singing While You Work, collected and introduced by Jane Yolen, with music arranged by Adam Stemple has a song about doing just that. I was not familiar with many of the songs, but I had great fun sitting at the piano and picking out them out!

Reading Hermit With Dog