of Bibles, books & letters...
Last year I bought all my Christmas cards at the local Papyrus store the day after Christmas for 50% off and have them safely stored in the closet, ready to be written, addressed and mailed in December. But when my USA Philatelic catalog came in the mail yesterday and I saw the Christmas stamps on the cover, it was almost enough to make me want to get them down and start writing Christmas cards. But they won't be released until sometime in October so I'll have to wait. In the meantime, I'll make some mail art and write a few letters. <---- link to Santa stamp Since our letter writing club, Write to Delight, is scheduled to meet tomorrow I'm trying to decide on a project from the book The Handcrafted Letter that we can do at our meeting. I'm having a hard time picking a one though as they all look a bit too complicated & time-consuming, especially considering the fact that we usually meet at a park & most of the projects in the book look like they'd work better if we were meeting in an art studio than in a windy park (it's almost always windy here). So, I did a bit of searching on YouTube and found this great video. Now I want to try making these! Check it out. The blog "Travel by postcards and letters" has come up with a giveaway that sounds like lots of fun and promotes letter writing at the same time. It's a giveaway with a twist: you have to write a letter to someone who doesn't write letters and then show "proof" to the blogger, Snow angel, to qualify to win one of the prizes (the washi tape alone makes it worth entering). You can find her post with all the details here. Now I just have to decide which non-letter-writing friend/family member to write to.
According to the American Tolkien Society, today is Hobbit day and they chose today because September 22 is both Bilbo's & Frodo's birthday. With the movie set to be released around Christmas this year, I need to re-read The Hobbit and I sure hope I can find my copy! Because I have more books than I have shelf-room, lots of my books are boxed up and stored in the garage and I really don't want to have to search through all those boxes. Maybe I'll put a copy on hold at the library just in case.
A fellow book club member passed this funny video along so I'm sharing it here. Beware of testing water beds. ;-) I love this Spurgeon quote about mastering the books one reads and not just skimming them. I'm a slow reader but there are times when I'm in a hurry to get through a book so skim parts of it and end up missing a lot.
"Master those books you have. Read them thoroughly. Bathe in them until they saturate you. Read and reread them, masticate and digest them. Let them go into your very self. Peruse a good book several times and make notes and analyses of it. A student will find that his mental constitution is more affected by one book thoroughly mastered than by twenty books he has merely skimmed. Little learning and much pride comes from hasty reading. Some men are disabled from thinking by their putting meditation away for the sake of much reading. In reading let your motto be 'much not many.'" DosankoDebbie is going to be starting an etagami e-newsletter (in English) that will cover some of the history, trends & techniques of etagami and information about etagami contests, etc. You can learn more & sign up for it here.
Years ago a seagull snatched a churro out of my hand while at Sea World so this article and YouTube video about a seagull stealing a tourist's camera caught my attention. And it turns out there are several YouTube videos that were "filmed by" the bold thieves. From now on I'm going to make sure that I wrap the camera strap around my wrist very securely to keep marauding gulls from flying off with it. * According to this article in The Times of India, snail mail along with the demand for more post offices, is growing. If only that was the case here in the USA. Unfortunately, USPS is closing the sorting center in our town & now all our mail is (or is in the process of being) sent to Oakland for sorting. And that already seems to be slowing the time it takes for my mail to arrive at its destination. Mail sent to southern California used to take two days but my last letter took six days to get there.
* For those times when one needs a little help writing certain letters, American Stationery has several nice articles on The Art of Letter Writing, from How To Write a Friendly Letter to a guide to Writing the Perfect Thank You. I haven't tried it yet but they have some nice looking stationery that I've added to my Christmas wish list. :-) Last month I sort of participated in Austen in August and chose Mansfield Park as one of my re-reads. Years ago it was the only one of her books that I didn't care for so wanted to see if I would like it better or still dislike it. I have to say that while it still isn't my favorite I did like it much better this time. Here's a quote about letters that made me smile:
For those who admire beautiful handwriting, be sure to check out this post at A Place to Flourish. Her penmanship/calligraphy is always gorgeous but I think these are especially drool worthy. I know my handwriting could never be as perfect as hers but with LOTS of practice I'm sure it would improve enough to be proud of it. My penmanship could do with a lot of improvement; when I'm in a big hurry there are times when I have a hard time reading my own grocery lists. ;-) |
About MeHello! My TBR list
Books read list (2014, 2015,....) ********* * Books You Recommend * ~ Please add your suggetions here My very long Blogroll
Snail mail, Books & Reading, Christian, and Miscellaneous sites that I like &/or am challenged by.... (Those with a ♥ or + I try to check at least once or twice each week.) 1) Snail Mail Blogs:
♥ Letter Matters (Mrs. Duffy's blog) ♥ Sharing Doubles the Joy/Carol Ann McCarthy (if link doesn't open try her home page & then click on "blog") ♥ Dosanko Debbie's Etegami Notebook ♥ Everyday Should Be a Red Letter Day ♥ Letter Writers Alliance ♥ Winnie's Girl ----> Pie Post - The Suburban Pen Pal - Cappuccino & Art Journal - Stamp of Approval ---> USPS Stamps - Your Postal Blog - Sarah's Scribblings - East...West... Everywhere - Leigh Reyes's Blog ~ My Life as a Verb - Letters & Journals - Save Snail Mail - Scribbling Glue - Songs in the Key of Ink: The Art of Personal Letter Writing - Bywater Wisdom ("or lack thereof+) - 365 Letters - Oh, Write Me! - Billet Doux & Little Mercuries - Mrs Murphy's Mailbox Magic! - The Postman's Knock ♥ The Lost Art of Letter Writing . . . Revived ♦ The Jane Austen Letter Writing Society (sounds like fun) - US Zip Codes lookup & map ♦ More links on Mail- Art & Letter-writing Resources page ***************** - My DIYJapanese- style envelope tutorial and template 2) Books & Reading:
+ Books & Chocolate (Karen's) - Lit Lovers site & Blog - Rated Reads - Compass Book Ratings ♥ Redeemed Reader ♥ Gospel e-books (Kindle deals) * Kindle Price Drop Tracker - Inspired Reads (Kindle deals) - Pixel of Ink (Kindle specials) - Christian Novels blog - Shelf Awareness - Books & Chocolate (Cindy's) ~ defunct(?) - The Republic of Pemberley - Deborah Yaffe's blog (author of Among the Janeites) - The Jane Austen Society of North America - Jane Austen's World - JASNA: Greater Sacramento, CA - My Jane Austen Book Club - AustenProse - Jane Austen Today - Jane Austen in Vermont - Central Valley Jane Austen Society - Austen Authors (for readers who "need more Austen") - The Gaskell Web - Mental Multivitamin -> now called Nerdishly - A Literary Odyssey - Across the Page - 5 Minutes for Books & What's on Your Nightstand? - Journey-&- Destination - Windows & Mirrors: sisters reading books - Christian Bookshelf Reviews - The Indextrious Reader - LiterariTea - Becky's Book Reviews and Operation Actually Read Bible - Smoke & Mirrors (& her Borders Bookclub) - Great New Books ♥ A Great Book Study (was originally called An Experiment with the Well- Educated Mind) ♥ Semicolon: Books We Must Have Though We Lack Bread - The Captive Reader ♥ Reading to Know - A Living Pencil + Worthwhile Books + Reading Ladies Book Club - Hope is in the Word - Book Nut - Sarah Clarkson (Sally Clarkson's daughter) - Mollie Reads (9/2018) - No Thanks We're Booked (9/2018) ♥ Country Girls Read - Southern Girl Reads - Books & Things (Katie L's) - Stuck in a Book - Yummy Books - A Large Cup of Tea - In the Bookcase - The Sunny Patch - Fanda Classiclit - Lost in a Great Book - Classical Carousel ******** YA & Kid's Lit: - Trelease on Reading (author of The Read Aloud Handbook) ♥ Read Aloud Revival (blog, podcast & more) Sept.'16 - The Planet Esme Plan: The Best New Children's Books from Esmé's Shelf ~ not Christian so use discernment, but she does have lots of good kid's books listed - Plumfield and Paideia - After Thoughts (new May'17) - Story Warren (Allies in Imagination) - The Rabbit Room - The Midnight Garden - The Book Smugglers - Reading Addicts (UK) - Becky's Book Addiction ********** - Dickensblog - AustenBlog - Book Sale Finder - Oxford Dictionaries - GoodReads - Shelfari ~ Amazon has combined it with GoodReads so they're now one and the same :( - the Barbara Pym Society - BronteBlog - Inspired by Life...& Fiction - Jamie Langston Turner - Julie Klassen's site - Sarah Sundin's blog - Tricia Goyer's site...& her Blog - Francine Rivers' blog/site - Kristy Cambron's blog/site - Joanne Bischof's blog/site - "The Grove" (where story finds a home) & also on - Katherine Reay's blog/site - BookSnob - Mocha with Linda - Reading with Tea - Project Gutenberg - The Online Books Page - Read Central - Page by Page Books - Bookpeople of Moscow (ID) - free book sites/public domain sources - Eldritch Press - Digital Book Index - Google books - Internet Archive: Million books - Internet Archive: Children's library ♥ LibriVox - The Chronicles of Narnia podcasts * Oxford English Online Dictionary (US) * Grammar Girl - My ever expanding TBR list - My Books read list ♦ more links on Books & Reading page 3) Miscellaneous: ♥ The Pioneer Woman - All Things Bright and Beautiful --> moved here - The Good Life - Beth's Favorite Recipes - Carlsbad Cravings (her recipes look delicious!) - Budget Bytes - Add a Pinch - Three Many Cooks - Good Cheap Eats - Hurst Bean Blog - DaVita's Kidney- Friendly Recipes (we still make - & love! - quite a few of these recipes) - My Double Life - Felt & Wire - Susan Branch blog - The Matt Walsh blog - Tony Reinke (author of Lit!) - Laughing With Lizzie - Jane Austen's World - Make Do and Mend - Down to Earth - Rosie's Ramblings - Creekside Cottage (Mrs. Rabe's blog) - ScribblePreach - Campaign for Cursive - (another) Campaign for Cursive + StoneGable - Fresh Eggs Daily - Living Homegrown ♥ Living on Less Money + The (Mostly) Simple Life + Prairie Home Therapy - My cup runneth over - Imperfectly Happy - Home Ready Home - This Simple Home --- -> Simple Everyday Home - The Frugal Girls: Living Well with less $$$ - Spendwise Moms - Money Saving Mom - Living Well, Spending Less - Melissa K Norris ~ Inspiring Your Faith & Pioneer Roots - Thrifty Jane Austen - Reluctant Entertainer - Lehman's (great catalog) - Thriving Home - Letters from Midlife ♥ Cakes, Tea and Dreams - Karen's Bookshelves ~ (added August 2015 ~ books reviews from a Christian perspective) - The Vicar's Wife - The Cross & the Kitchen Sink (defunct?) - The Green Mockingbird - Stray Thoughts - Kayla's Lifestyle Blog ♥ Coffee, Tea, Books & Me + Cottage Life on Pilgrim's Farm ~ on hiatus + Georgia, Plain and Simple + Modern Mrs. Darcy - Not Quite Amish - Nesting Place - Finding North (lots of BuJo info & ideas) - Plant City Lady (for dementia caregivers) - GasBuddy - CA & NV Earthquake data - Charity Navigator ********************* (♥ Christian links ~ Bible Study & Reading plans: ♥ Bible Study Fellowship - BSF class locator ~ not as hard or in-depth as Precept but a good place to start & free - Scripture Compilations for BSF lessons (Not affiliated with BSF but very handy) - also BSF Buddy ♥ Precept Ministries - Precept's Online Community - class locator - interactive guide - blog + Beloved Truth - site + Beloved Truth Facebook - Precept Austin - my Precept Key word markings: (based on my 1st Precept leader's system): bookmark 1, bookmark 2 / 2A or bookmark 3 ~ not sure what happened to this last file - 5 W's & H chart - How to do a chapter study (This one isn't mine but I can't remember where I got this handy worksheet - if it was a free download from Precept or if one of my Precept Bible study leaders created it) - Kim's How to Study the Bible Timesaver bookmark (from an online Precept Bible study leader) - Biola's Unbound Bible - Crossway's English Standard Version - ESV Online Study Bible - ESV Online Bible - HCSB Study Bible - BibleGateway - Bible Logos (NKJV) - Bible Logos (ESV) - NetBible - Biblia.com - Reformed Books Online - Gospel-Centered Discipleship (GCD)- new Aug'17 but looks pretty good - Biblearc - for deeper study of Scripture - Bible Study Online (ESV) - Precept A-U-S-T-I-N-S ESV "Bible on One Page" - Precept A-U-S-T-I-N-S NAS "Bible on One Page" - StudyLight - Precept Camden --> Kari Dent's blog - her Key word symbols - her favorite pens for marking Just be careful when using the FrixIon pens - I like them but it will fade off of the page if left in the sun. Ask me how I know! ;-) - Precept Revival's study tips - Blue Letter Bible - E-Sword (free but donations help) - Biblos.com - Bible Explorer (looks similar to E-Sword) - Logos - Olive Tree - BibleHub - Prof. Grant Horner's Bible reading plan & more info here - George Guthrie + Monergism - Westminster Bookstore Women & Theology ♥ HouseWife Theologian (aka Aimee Byrd) ♥ A Daughter of the Reformation + Theology Gals podcast at Bible Thumping Wingnut (there several podcasts there but I haven't listened to them yet) ♥ Tried with Fire (Persis) ♥ The Upward Call (Kim Shay) + Sally Clarkson (I don't agree with everything, but I like a lot of her posts, especially the homey, tea, & bookish ones =D) - Out of the Ordinary (esp. Persis' posts) + Reformed Baptista + Sister, Daughter, Mother, Wife (Lutheran) + enCourage (PCA blog) + A Narrow-Minded Woman + Beautiful Thing (Pickowicz) - Wit's End (Melissa Kruger) - Elyse Fitzpatrick's blog & podcast - I've been troubled by some of her recent comments so may be removing this link - The Thinking of Things (new 9/2017) DITTO + Janet Mefferd - One Quiet Life (♥ but she rarely posts) - Rebecca Writes - Daily On My Way to Heaven (Becky Pliego) - By Grace Alone (Jessica K's ~ Lutheran) - The End Time (Elizabeth Prata ~ some good but some?) - Gritty Grace + Heavenly Springs (Christina Langella) - Conforming to the Truth (Lisa Morris) - Adorned (Jen Thorn) * I'm All Booked (mostly Christian book reviews by a Reformed Baptist) - The Verity Fellowship (new to me so....) - Renewed in Truth - A Little Leaven (Beth S.) - The Outspoken TULIP - Michelle Lesley ~ books - Satisfaction Through Christ - Abandoned to Christ / Sunny Shell's site - Brown Sugar Toast (her Bible study series is pretty good) - Naomi's Table (not 100% sure about this one) - With the Master (Susan Heck ~ lots of women like her studies but I have yet to try one) - Nancy Guthrie - Equipping Eve - Sojourner & her 2nd blog: -> Solid Food Ministries ~ Deb Martin's blogs but she changes them so often it's almost impossible to keep up) - Danielthree18 (another new-to-me blog) - Whole Magazine - newish blog from Australia - added 6/17 - The Verity Fellowship (added June 2017) - Jasmine Holmes: Not a Mommy Blog Reformed Baptist: - 1689 Federalism + A Commentary of the London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689 + The Confessing Baptist (but on a really long hiatus) - Reformed Baptist Fellowship + Contrast - Reformed Baptist Blog (Jeffrey Johnson's blog) - Chantry Notes ~ this is sad but I'm removing the link to his blog until the court outcome - see here & here). Yes, innocent until proven guilty, but Pastors shouldn't hide the story either. - Means of Grace (BH) - Reformed Baptist Blog (?) - Reformed Baptist Academic Press Apologetics / Discernment: Even here, use discernment as some discernment blogs are more discerning than others! Also, several of the links listed under Women & Theology are sort of discernment related. ♥ Fighting for the Faith Chris Rosebrough's podcasts - Stand to Reason - CARM -- Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry - Stand Up for the Truth (seems good except for their endorsement of David Hocking - info about that here & here) - Sola Sisters - no longer updating - Christian Answers for the New Age - DiscernIt (Kim Olsen -seems ok) - Discern.org - TruthKeepers - earnestly contend for the faith - Lighthouse Trails (some good, some iffy) - Apprising Ministries - Do Not Be Surprised - Herescope Podcasts/Internet Radio: ♥ Fighting for the Faith (Chris Rosebrough) ♥ The Whitehorse Inn ♥ The Mortification of Spin (ACE) + The Thinking Fellows site and podcast - Gentle Reformation blog & podcast - The Confessing Baptist (no longer updating :-( + Issues, etc. ~ Christ- Centered Cross-Focused Talk Radio (Lutheran) - SermonAudio - Bethel Evangelical Free Church (UK) - RefNet (from Ligonier) - Jess Ranch Community Church semons - Echo Zoe (blog & podcast) - Pilgrim Radio (new to me) - For the Church (Gospel-Centered Resources from Midwestern Seminary) - Voice in the Wilderness radio (new to me & not sure about a couple of the pastors they have on) Misc. Christian Blogs & web sites: - Mortification of Spin - Whitehorse Inn / Modern Reformation blog - Core Christianity - CCC Discover - High Plains Parson - The Riddleblog (one of the WHI co-hosts) +Reformed Arsenal + The Museum of Idolatry (Chris Rosebrough) - Mere Orthodoxy - Steak and a Bible - HeadHeartHand (David Murray) - Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (Reformation21) - ACE/Ref.21's blog - Informing the Reforming (Tim Challies' blog) + Echoes & Stars (Matt Redmon's blog) - Veritas Manet - Truth Remains (*New to me) - By Grace Alone (Scott's) - Canon Fodder (Michael Kruger) - Biblical Woman - Flying Scroll (Lutheran) - Martha Peace ~ (some good but some I disagree with) - Credo Magazine - Time-Warp Wife - John MacArthur / Grace to You - PyroManiacs (Phil Johnson & others) + The Spurgeon Archive (June'17: recently updated & improved) - Denny Burk - Tim's Blog - Just One Train Wreck After Another - Creeds of Christendom - London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) - 1689 London Baptist Confession for the 21st Century - Heidelberg Catechism - The Canons of Dordt - Center for Reformed Theology & Apologetics - The Reformed Reader - The Didache - The Confessing Baptist - Founders (Reformed Baptist) - 1689 Federalism: Confessional Baptiist Covenant Theology - Randy Alcorn's blog - A Cry for Justice - Brent Detwiler: Helping Christians judge righteously, think biblically and live courageously (some good, some not-so-good) - Thou Art the Man (Todd Wilhelm) - Joyful Exiles - The Reformed Reader - Voddie Baucham - Heidelblog (R.Scott Clark) - Blogging Theologically (Aaron Armstrong) + Cranach (Gene Veith's blog) --------- - The Cripplegate - Spirit Empowered Preaching (Art Azurdia) - The Spurgeon Fellowship - Abraham's Seed - Joe Thorn ^ his Valley of Vision reading schedule ******** - A Gentle & Quiet Spirit - Christian Reformed Ink Archives - Inerrant Word - Speaking the Truth in Love - Susan's Sitting Room - Telling of His Wonderful Deeds - Being Taugth That We May Teach (Al Martin) - World View Weekend (Brannon Howse)? - Chapter 3 Ministries - The Aquila Report - Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge - Musings from Under the Bus - Steadfast Lutherans - Daniel's Place - (Reformata et semper reformanda) - Helm's Deep (?) - Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary / CBTS Blog - Credo Covenant - Gospel Homemaking - Reformed Libertarian - The Wardrobe Door - Reformed Report - Dee Brestin - Stand Firm (???) - The Gospel Project - blog - Grace Gems! - Sunday Gatherings - Writing & Living (Staci Eastin - defunct?) - Internet Monk - All Things New (Deb Welch) - First Thoughts - Entreating Favor *** With reservations (not sure about yet - may be semi-Reformed &/or Reformedish): - the Gospel Coalition & their the Gospel- centered woman (Reformed-ish but the way they defended Driscoll and Mahaney/& here is shameful so I no longer have a high opinion of TGC) - SGM Survivors - The Wartburg Watch - the Beginning of Wisdom (Jen Wilkin's) - Pulpit & Pen (some good posts & some not- so-good) Advent/Christmas related: - Christmas Bible readings (NJ's page) Missions/Missionaries: - Ali's Adventures - Gleanings from the Field - A Letter from Kabwata (Conrad Mbewe's blog) - Rafiki Foundation, Inc - Coles in Japan 6) Pen, Ink & Paper:
♥ A Place to Flourish ♥ Margaret Shepherd's Calligraphy blog - IAMPETH (master penmen) - Fountain Pen Network - Fountain Pen Geeks - Gourmet Pens - Addicted to Pens & Paper - Inkophile ♥ Pen Addict - JetPens' Blog - Ink Nouveau + Goulet Pens - The Well- Appointed Desk - JStationery - Fountain Pen Revolution - Quo Vadis Planners & Notebooks - Delectable Pens - Fahrney's Pens - Fountain Pen Hospital - Papyrus - American Stationery - Kate's Paperie - Paper-Source - Paper & Ink Arts - Pomegranate Press - Flax Art Store - Cat's Life Press rubber stamps - Highlander Celtic Stamps - Rifle Paper Co. & their blog - Maido - Paper Tree - Castle in the Air shop and their class listings - Scrapbook Territory - Nostalgic Impressions ********************* ********************* To read fast is as bad as to eat in a hurry.
—Vilhelm Ekelund poet (1880-1949) LWA member since 2009
Staples - what speed do you read? This is kind of fun. :)
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I'm not sure where to put this blog or how to classify it. This blogger is a daughter of a friend and while I'm pretty sure she's a Christian, it isn't a Christian blog, or books & reading or letter writing & mail art. It's basically about their travels so I'm putting it here for now:
Jen's blog: 3toGo |