A New Page Turning Activity

As if I don't already have enough activity around this farm, I took on a new one about 4 months ago. This past Tuesday night, I attended my 3rd book club meeting, having missed one due to family needs. After discovering the library just down the street from where we go to church and around the corner so to speak from the house. I have been seen there quite frequently and have made 2 new friends of the librarians. Judy introduced me to the book club and invited me to join them. I quickly made friends with Donna, the other librarian at the first meeting. (As she and I were going to the same ladies conference and ended up being room mates while there). I have truly enjoyed being among other readers and stretching my literary style of reading.

Reading has been apart of my life since my early teens. My Mom was and still is a devout reader. She introduced me to the love of it and got me started reading mystery books from the mail-order book club she belonged to. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys were some of my favorites back then. Over the years I had school assignments and a few fictional books tucked in ever so often. But it wasn't until after I was married that my love of reading set down real roots. I, like my mother have a bookcase full of favorites now. My reading has for the most part centered around the simple things in life. Love, family, old things, country living and the like. Some of my favorite authors have been the ones that draw mainly a female audience. Janette Oak, Beverly Lewis, Lori Wick, and Jan Karon to name a few. I've bought books, borrowed books from friends, the church library and found a few favorites at the public ones too. Pretty much at any time you can find a book sitting by my chair, if not two or three. Since taking up our dream of owning a homesteading farm. I've been consuming how-to and livestock books as well. But it has been the fictional books that have taken me to new places and adventures. That keeps me up late or calls me from my bed in the early morning hours. Reading is in my blood and can't be ignored for long as it needs to be fed frequently. Joining a book club is something I've considered over the years, but never acted on till now. I guess I always saw it as a gathering for intellectuals, teachers and would be writers, not me. But the intrigue was there and living out like we do I needed the social contact. Surely I could go to just one meeting and check things out, right?

The first meeting I attended was a special outing for the group, as they were going to have a sack dinner at a famous location. Who doesn't like field trips? It was the site where one of the book's main character attended church and was buried. Murder in Coweta County happened just down the highway from here and this character lived not too far from my library. The book is based on a true story and several of the book club member's parents and grandparents knew the people spoken about in the book and knew of the murder. I got an insider's view of the history of the area surrounding our home. Our book club picture even showed up in a local newspaper.

The December book selected to read was The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans. It is a charming little book, easily read in one sitting and inspiring to the reader to focus on what it truly important in our lives. . . time with our families; especially children. The group exchanged small $5 gifts and shared homemade snacks. I came real close to getting another snowman for my collection, but lost it in the "Dirty Santa" game we played. The gift I took to exchange was a homemade batch of Gingerbread Cappuccino with a holiday mug and a quilted coaster I had made. I did come home with a cute little bird ornament that fits in well with my Jesus Christmas Tree. Reminding me of my Father ~ God of Creation and my love for birdwatching.

Our assigned book for January's read is All Over But the Shoutin by Rick Bragg. I didn't take a copy as I already have a book in progress, with another one sitting by my reading chair waiting to be read. Though I will need to get a copy started soon. Guess I know what I will be doing with my free time for the next 4 weeks. That is if I can find any (free time that is), but I'm pretty sure with winter starting so early. I'll have plenty of days to sit by the fire and read.

Sipping a cup of of the homemade brew right now and it smells and tastes just like Gingerbread. Yum!


Won't you join me?

Deborah