Here's a book that should probably be required reading for those of us, ahem, older folks: Get What's Yours for Medicare: Maximize Your Coverage, Minimize Your Costs, by Philip Moeller. It's a recommendation from Kiwi, who did the necessary homework and determined this was one of the better publications on this subject. It's confusing, to say the least, and rather scary (I considered putting it with other scary books) but the author does a decent job of trying to make a convoluted system more understandable.

Washington may be 'the Evergreen State', but a lot of it is actually bare of trees. (I've sometimes wondered what newcomers think when entering the state from Idaho) (!) For a glorious look at part of the eastern side of the state, check out singing grass, Burning Sage: Discovering Washington's Shrub Steppe (a Nature Conservancy of Washington Book), with text by Jack Nisbet. There are chapters (and photos) of the plants, animals, insects, reptiles, etc. to be found, as well as a nice section on the human history of the area. It's beautiful country, and much different than the west coast of Washington.

To learn about things that live closer to home read Passionate Slugs & Hollywood Frogs which is part of the series An Uncommon Field Guide to (other areas in the northwest), by Patricia K. Lichen and illustrations by Linda M. Feltner. This came to me as a used copy (but in great shape!) so I'm hoping you can find it ... it is wonderful! Those frogs you hear in movies and on TV? Chances are they are a local tree frog (which, incidentally, don't sit in trees). Seems they have the best 'froggy' song. A sow bug is actually a crustacean and so is more closely related to a lobster than a bug. The daddy long legs is not a spider (wrong number of legs), and (drum roll), the blackberry is not a berry!

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As will all the books that deal with the four seasons, it's hard to know just where to put them. (Well, unless it's a title like Firefly July from the July 13, 2017 post) ;-) Sing a Season Song, by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Lisel Jane Ashlock, starts with winter and follows insects, animals, birds, children and various plants through the year. A delightful lyric and stunning pictures make this a book to read several times in one sitting (I know I did).

This title popped up when I was looking for other books on the Pinks (of Pinkerton fame): Pink is for Blobfish: Discovering the World's Perfectly Pink Animals, by Jess Keating with illustrations by David deGrand. I had no idea how many animals are pink! Just a fun book that seems to be part of a series The World of Weird Animals.

A sticker in the paw of Canadian Reader's dog inspired me to search out an old, old favorite: Andy and the Lion: a Tale of Kindness Remembered or the Power of Gratitude, by James Daugherty. I remember reading this book over and over. :-) Almost as good now as it was then.

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Here's another of those 'food from books' books! A Literary Feast: Recipes Inspired By Novels, Poems and Plays, by Jennifer Barclay. The passage or poem that inspired the recipe is included, which is what I enjoyed but I'll admit that the recipes looked too complicated for me! (I know many of you who cook will laugh at this). :-)

If you love mysteries and cooking then here's just the book for you: The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook, edited by Kate White. There are "wickedly good recipes" from too many authors to mention and even one from the fictional Richard Castle, author of the Nikki Heat mysteries on the TV show Castle.

And finally: The Book Lover's Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature, and the Passages That Feature Them, by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen. Again, there are excerpts from books, or bits of poetry that inspired the various recipes, but unlike A Literary Feast, this time I just read those (sometimes trying to guess where the excerpt was from) and skipped reading the recipes. ;-)

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I approach books about animals, and especially service animals, cautiously, after all, there is a big chance for tears (at least for this reader). While there were some of those moments in Secret Service Dogs: the Heroes Who Protect the President of the United States: by Maria Goodavage, for the most part it was about the training and the actual work these amazing teams do. (Note I said 'for the most part'). Be sure to read about the Friendly Dog Project (aka the Floppy-Eared Dog program), they perform a very special service!

As much as I love Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, I've not enjoyed some of his other books ... until now. Tall Reader (who feels the same way) brought over My Italian Bulldozer this past weekend and said "read this!!" I did, and it was good! It starts with the end of a relationship, a manuscript that needs to be finished, and a shady car rental employee. The result is a trip to Italy and the vehicle mentioned in the title. Nice bits of humor, lovely descriptions of the countryside, and a few life lessons learned.

Do you enjoy crosswords? Did you ever wonder how they came about, or when the first one was published? Did you know there is a difference in clues depending on where the puzzle was created? I found the answers to be most interesting! Read The Cross Word Century: 100 Years of Witty Wordplay, Ingenious Puzzles, and Linguistic Mischief, by Alan Connor.

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Egads! Even in summertime it seems I cannot get away from the ever pervasive (or so it seems to me) Twelve Days of Christmas! At least with the books (and I've used many in my blog) I don't have to listen to it. ;-) This time it is Alaska's 12 Days of Summer, by Pat Chamberlin-Calamar and illustrated by Shannon Cartwright. I enjoyed the choices made for each line of the song and spent more time than I really care to admit making sure they were all used with each line as the song progressed. There are facts on the animals used as well. A fun book!

Boom Boom, by Sarvinder Naberhaus and illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine is for very early readers. There are simple (repeated) words for each of the seasons along with wonderful pictures of children at play.

I loved Pond, by Jim La Marche! Here, a vacant, and trashed lot is cleaned up and returned to what it once was, a pond. It takes the effort of all the kids in the neighborhood, and it's hard work, but the results are amazing as the pond recovers and changes with each season.

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Whether you intend to get out and walk, or just want a nice read, Walking Washington's History: Ten Cities, by Judy Bentley is an excellent choice. There's a nice synopsis of the history of each of the towns included, and a detailed description of the walks. Good maps and nice pictures, too. :-)

For something closer to home now, two books for local walking. First up is Old Sehome Historic Walking Tour. A short walk (less than two miles) takes you past many houses and businesses from what was the little town of Sehome. Where that name came from is explained, too. Second is a tour for Bellingham. The route for the Downtown Historic Walking Tour has two options, one a bit shorter, the other a bit longer. Many of the places pictured are still standing (some with modifications). There's a nice bit of history for each entry with wonderful pictures! Love some of the images of places that are so familiar, and yet, are not. (Sort of a 'something is missing' feeling).

Much like London's Lost Rivers (April 18, 2017 post), Hidden Waters of New York City, by Sergey Kadinsky, is both history and guidebook (in fact, that's included in the subtitle). This is one of those books with short entries so it is easy to pick up and put down if your reading time is short, or likely to be interrupted. Nice histories of the areas, where (or if) you can still find a river, and how to get there might just inspire a tour or two, if you are headed for New York City.

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Were you ever told "go outside and play"? Do you remember games you might have played on a long road trip? The Art of Stone Skipping and Other Old-Time Games: Stoopball, Jacks, String Games, Coin Flipping, Line Baseball, Jump Rope, and More, by J.J. Ferrer is a collection of games from the past. Ones that needed no batteries, charging, tablets, etc. All the rules are here, as are variations of each game, both in the names (some were regional) and how to play. This book was a lot of fun!

Did you get advice from your mother? Did you roll your eyes? This book brought up memories of some of those, um, interactions. Your Mother Was Right: All the Great Advice You Tried to Forget, by Kate Reardon is a collection of tips from her web site. A rather fun read.

Here's something that harkens back to a "You read WHAT?" post I did back in January 2015. I'm not in to the 'tell all' sort of books, usually, but this one caught my eye. Backstairs Billy: the Life of William Tallon: the Queen Mother's Most Devoted Servant, by Tom Quinn. Born into a poor family, William started writing to the royal family at a very young age, asking for a job ... any job. That worked! Starting at the bottom (polishing a lot of shoes), he proved to be a hard worker, adaptable, and most of all, very discreet about the Royals. He was also flamboyant, loved to party, and was known to add gin to every drink (he thought it would make folks relax and the party would be more fun). He was the Queen Mother's favorite. (Did you know she created that term?) Truly a rather odd book for me to read! (Did love learning that the QM loved to waltz, though)!

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Summer Days and Nights, by Wong Herbert Yee, is a sweet little picture book that follows a young girl on her adventures on a summer day ... chasing butterflies, on a picnic, or in her wading pool. At night, when she can't sleep, she and her dad go on a night time walk. Lovely pictures, book is in rhyme.

Although there are poems here for the entire year I'm including it in a summer post because of the title: Firefly July: a Year of Very Short Poems, selected by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. What fun! There are poems about snow, screen doors, fog, and, of course, fireflies!

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When I read this book during the damp, cool weeks of our early spring this year, the apple pie angle made me think of summer so I waited until now to post it: Mom, Apple Pie, and Murder, edited by Nancy Pickard. A nice collection ... some cozy, some creepy, a few nice twists to the plot here and there ... and ... there are recipes for variations on the traditional apple pie for those readers who also like to bake.

They provided the proof for continental drift. They are responsible for some of the greatest civilizations of the past. They could be a solution (or at least a help) in the cleaning up of toxic waste. They liked to be stroked. 'They' are earthworms! I love picking out a book that looks as if it could be interesting only to have it be one of those special 'gems' of a read! In this case it was The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms, by Amy Stewart. (author of Wicked Plants, May 14, 2015 post). An unexpected page turner! :-)

Remember Torchlight, by Theresa Dahlheim? (See the October 15, 2015 post). It is now available in print! Okay, so I'm dating myself here, but I loved reading it this way: the feel of an actual book, turning actual pages, the heft, even that booky smell, I love it all. And, I missed some details, too, which I picked up on this second read ... with the real thing! This is the Book 1 of The Ninth Circle series, I hope the next one comes out soon. :-)

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I started A Deadly Affection (Book One in the Dr. Genevieve Summerford Mystery Series), by Cuyler Overholt with just a bit of trepidation ... you see, it followed Lost in Lumby. I've often felt a bit bad for any book that follows a favorite author/series). Not to worry, it was excellent! Here, the doctor is working in a new field ... psychology and the effects a traumatic event can have on a person. Set in New York in the early 1900's. Nicely done.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline, was rather a surprise ... I've never played many of the interactive computer games, or anything like Dungeons and Dragons, etc. and yet, I really enjoyed this! It may have been all the references to pop culture of the 80's! Turns out several of my reading buddies have already read ... or tried ... this book and I have mixed reviews to report: four liked it (including me), two could not get into it. We are all about the same age. :-) I say give it a try.

Constant Reader told me about this book some time ago and I am finally getting around to reading it: Eleanor and Hick: the Love Affair That Shaped a First Lady, by Susan Quinn. Well researched and well written it offers a new perspective on Eleanor Roosevelt and the woman in her life who made her a better First Lady. I found it rather sad at times since given the times their relationship was never disclosed, but these were amazing women and it was a worthy read.

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This is a question that could be asked here in the pnw: Mama, Is It Summer Yet?, by Nikki McClure. In fact, the author lives in Olympia, and a question from her son is the inspiration for the book. Just when does summer start? Mama explains it well! The illustrations are paper cuts and are lovely.

Just a few days into our dry spell and I'm already missing the clouds. (I may have been a moss in a former life). Home in the Rain, by Bob Graham was a nice respite from a hot day. Follow along as a mother and daughter drive home from grandmother's house in the rain. On the way an important decision is made.

Here's something that fits a couple of my past trails: C is for Caboose: Riding the Rails from A to Z. (No author listed, curiously). This is a nice combination of archival photos and artwork of all things 'train'. Most enjoyable.

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Happy Fourth of July!

It's July 4th and the town is preparing for the big parade. Unexpectedly, all the garbage truck drivers are sick so Grandmother (who runs the business) takes on the job herself. Of course, mayhem ensues! Grandma Drove the Garbage Truck, by Katie Clark and illustrated by Amy Huntington is a delightful tale of a small town celebration.

For a fun, easy to read (it's for younger readers) about all those things we see around the Fourth of July, read Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: the Story of the Fourth of July Symbols, by James Cross Giblin and illustrated by Ursula Arndt. My favorite chapter (no big surprise) was the one about the music. :-)

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Happy Birthday Canada! This year they are celebrating their sesquicentennial! I have found all kinds of sites of festivities across the country. I'm reading more books about Canada at the moment, too. :-)

For an overview of Canadian history try A Little History of Canada, by H.V. Nelles. Written for tourists, those new to Canada, or just readers who wanted a 'bit of history' the author has done a nice job here.

How did the Canadian flag come to be the only flag showing a maple leaf? Just how was the design chosen? (One with hockey sticks was proposed). Our Flag: the Story of Canada's Maple Leaf, written by Ann-Maureen Owens & Jane Yealland and illustrated by Bill Slavin & Esperanca Melo will explain everything.

This may be the last of Stuart McLean's books (he died earlier this year) (unless there are some unpublished manuscripts ?? ;-) ). Vinyl Cafe Turns the Page is a wonderful collection of stories from the radio show. I can hear Stuart's voice in my head as I read.

Even though this book is intended for young readers, I found Let's Call it Canada: Amazing Stories of Canadian Place Names, by Susan Huges and illustrated by Clive Dobson and Jolie Dobson to be a delightful read. Learning how various places got their names was fascinating whether it was from local animals, or terrain,or the person who first settled there, or a twisted version of a foreign language. Just fun!

Although Uprooted: a Novel, by Lynne Reid Banks, is fiction, it is also based on the author's experiences. During WWII many women and children were sent to Canada from England for safety. This is the story of a mother, daughter, and nephew who ended up in Saskatoon and how they adapted to being so far from home and family.

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