I think I need to post this book trail before it gets any longer!

It's 1918, World War I. Pilots are dying not only because they were shot down, but because they got lost, ran out of fuel and crashed. Several ideas merged and it was determined that before they went overseas, pilots would fly for the new U.S. Air Mail Service. This would give them experience in flying using landmarks ... rivers, roads, church steeples, etc. Sounds like a good idea, right? It would have been until the government added a few touches. Many were unreasonable, especially the one that the planes would fly regardless of the weather. Mavericks of the Sky: the First Daring Pilots of the U.S. Air Mail by Barry Rosenberg & Catherine Macaulay was a fascinating read and hard to put down.

When I told Constant Reader about Mavericks of the Sky, I was told about Map of My Dead Pilots, by Colleen Mondor. Flying in Alaska is tough! Planes can be old, cargo is, well, varied (food, mail, appliances, dogs ....), weight limits are pushed, and of course, there's always the weather. Pilots need to have a certain attitude to fly in these conditions. It's a grim subject (just look at the title), but a very interesting read.

While looking for 'Maps' I found First Blue: the Story of World War II Ace Butch Voris and the Creation of the Blue Angels, by Robert K. Wilcox. What a read! From fighting (in the air) in WWII, to the creation of the Blue Angels, to working with NASA, Voris had a most interesting life. Well written and easy to read. :-)

There's a scene at the beginning where a young Voris watches planes being snagged by a zeppelin and pulled into them ... this lead me to Ships of the Air, by Lynn Curlee (who did the illustrations, too). Nicely done, but sadly, just one short paragraph about these zeppelins. (Still worth a read, though).

The desire for more pictures made me look for a coffee table took or a souvenir guide and I found The Blue Angels: a Fly-By History: Sixty Years of Aerial Excellence, by Nicholas A. Veronico. I was pleased to discover a well written text with the photos, some of which was familiar from First Blue.

When Tall Reader saw me reading First Blue, she told me of a book she'd heard about involving a Pan Am Clipper and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. From what she told me I was able to track down The Long Way Home (Revised Edition): a Journey Into History With Captain Robert Ford, by Ed Dover. It started as a routine (well, almost ... for some time pilots had been handed a sealed envelope marked "Top Secret" to be opened only if necessary but otherwise returned unopened) flight to Hawaii and ended up being far from routine. The orders were opened and the crew was instructed to bring the plane back to the U.S. ... but to the east coast rather than the west. This meant flying around the world, without maps, and under radio silence. It was an amazing journey.

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"Successful outdoors observation is not about possessing extraordinary skills, but about choosing to notice certain things when others do not." I loved this quote from

The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way-Predict the Weather-Locate Water-Track Animals- and Other Forgotten Skills, by Tristan Gooley. This book is stuffed full of information, so much so that I recommend ready a chapter at a time, doing something else for a while, and then coming back. Learn how to read signs wherever you are (the desert is not as barren as you might think). There are clues to be found in the weather, too. And from butterflies. Just a wonderful read!

And as to the quote? I once was part of a crew that hauled horses from eastern Washington to the west coast. I was the only 'westie' in the bunch and was able to 'predict' when we'd need to use the windshield wipers (this was long before the intermittent option, or the one where a nudge of the fingers would allow one swipe of the window) by watching the oncoming traffic. :-)

Do you live with, or know, a serious outdoors person? If so, then Confessions of a Camo Queen: Living With an Outdoorsman, by Kristen Berube should give you a chuckle or two. I've done a fair amount of camping in my life, but nothing as serious as this! Great fun!

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Local author T.A. Warger is back with More Murder in the Fourth Corner. As with his first volume on this subject (see January 24, 2015) this book was carefully researched (there's a great bibliography) and well written. While it was interesting learning about this dark side of our past, do be aware that some of the descriptions are quite grisly.

The Seattle of the past looked much different than what we see today. Hills have been leveled, rivers have been straightened, tide flats filled in. Read all about this in Too High & Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle's Topography, by David B. Williams. From

the geologic past, to future concerns, this was a fascinating read. (It'd be wise not to be in one of the buildings built on the old tide-flats when the Big One hits).

The book Fairhaven, by Brian L. Griffin came out just in time for Christmas! This was just a great read! From glaciers, to present day, boom to bust to rebirth, this is an easy to read history of my favorite part of town.

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Another 'all over the place' post this time. (Just wait, this 'trail' will take on an interesting twist at some point, thanks to a comment from Constant Reader)!

After Canadian Reader mentioned Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel several times I thought I should give it a try. A pandemic has lead to the collapse of society and this is the story of the survivors. There is a traveling group of musicians and actors that wander the area around Lake Michigan. Groups of people live in airports and abandoned motels. What I found most intriguing is the connection between some of the characters. (It started with who was present at the death of an actor during a performance of King Lear).

This is a book that seems to be taking on a life of it's own. the life-changing magic of tidying up; the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing, by marie kondo (yes, all those lower case words are correct) is another method of decluttering your space and hence your life. Overall I enjoyed it, but after some reflection was curious about a few things. These ideas would work well for someone who is single, or maybe a couple, but what about a family? If you own a house what about tools, and so forth you keep for repairs? I think it'd be most interesting to meet and talk with the author. What is impressive is that she says her methods work, and that even though her seminars are always full, there are no repeat attendees.

I picked this book up because is just looked like fun. It was, but it also was full of useful information! Life Hacks: Helpful Hints to Make Life Easier, by Dan Marshall was such a fun read! Some I already knew, many I did not, such as using a sticky note to clean between the keys on your keyboard, or how to use a lime to ease a headache.

For a nice collection on all sorts of subjects and people try Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, and Assorted Hijinks by Dick Cavett. I've always enjoyed Cavett, he has a nice dry wit and found myself chuckling often as I read this. One favorite was when he decided, when very drunk, to do what F. Scott Fitzgerald did and jump into a swimming pool in formal attire. There's a twist here, which I will not reveal, you'll have to find that out for yourself. ;-)

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There is something special about living in a small town, and that is beautifully expressed in Population: 485. Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time, by Michael Perry. The author is a volunteer first responder in his small home town. Meet the characters he works with (they are pretty much on call all the time), and follow them along on some of their calls. I have always been impressed by those willing to put themselves in dangerous situations to save others and this book does not disappoint. (For other books on small towns, see the October 21, 2014 post).

This would be a nice book to read with At Home, by Bill Bryson (March 26, 2015 post). Where We Lived: Discovering the Places We Once Called Home: the American Home from 1775 - 1840, by Jack Larkin gives a look at what we used to live in. Big or small, outdoor or indoor plumbing (outhouses and commodes), heating and cooling, there was usually a reason for how a house was built. Wonderful old pictures and great text.

Continuing down this trail took me to Ruin: Photographs of a Vanishing America, by Brian Vanden Brink. As Brink traveled across the country he found himself drawn to abandoned structures and started taking pictures more for his own interest. I found it sad and intriguing .... who built them? Lived or worked in them? Why were they abandoned? Thoughtful, reflective, a rather nice 'look' (there are more pictures than text) for the last day of 2015, that sunny, cold, day while I was inside, next to the fire with my dog and a cup of tea.

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In celebration of the snow I found on the ground when I put the dog out this morning here's an extra post!

Sam Usher tells about a magical day with grandfather in Snow. Sometimes it takes forever for an adult to get ready to go out in the snow. Is it worth the wait?

From a long time ago, when Dr. Seuss proved there could be other books for learning readers than "See Dick run." comes Snow, by Roy McKee and P.D. Eastman. I read this book with kids, I read it on my own, either way, it's fun.

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Continuing on the Twelve Days trail here, we come to The Twelve Bots of Christmas, by Nathan Hale. From Santa and his reindeer, to every entry in this old standard of a song, all are 'bots of some sort. Clever, wonderful details, and a lot of fun! Be sure to check out the pipers. :-)

Here's a "New Mexican" twist on 'that' song. ;-) The Twelve Days of Christmas: a Pinata for the Pinon Tree, by Philemon Sturges and illustrated by Ashley Wolff. No swimming swans here! I enjoyed seeing decorations and traditions that differ so much from mine! Included is a recipe for bizcochitos (cookies) which, according to the author, are popular this time of year.

For a more 'close up' take on this familiar song try The Twelve Days of Christmas in Washington, written and illustrated by John Abbott Nez. Follow Max, as he visits his cousin Molly (and aunt and uncle Martha and George) in a winter tour around the state. I liked that Max wrote letters to his folks, and that there were no electronic devices in sight. Just one thing seemed to be missing (to me, anyway) ... rain!

Woodland Christmas: Twelve Days of Christmas in the North Woods, by Frances Tyrrell uses the traditional words, but puts a spin on the interpretation of them. The 'eight maids a milking' are raccoons with buckets of stars from the Milky Way, for example. Beautiful pictures.

Another print version of this song (and my favorite) may be found on the December 20, 2014 post.

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