of Bibles, books & letters...
On this day, 495 years ago, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church and thus began the Protestant Reformation. You can read more about it here, here and here. And Happy Halloween, too. (^o^) Last year we didn't have a single Trick-or-Treater stop by and were left with way too much candy. So this year I only bought a couple of small bags of candy - now I just hope we don't end up with tons of kids ringing our doorbell tonight because I don't want to go back to the store or have to hide from them. And if no kids come we'll have just enough candy for ourselves. Lit! I've posted about this book several times before but it really is a good book (it was one of my favorites this year) and Redeemed Reader interviewed the author, Tony Reinke, about it on their blog today. Tiger Pens has posted an article on their blog about Handwriting vs. Technology that's worth reading. They made several good points about the benefits of cursive and cited research (including a link to this research at Indiana University) that is proving that to be true. Personally, I've found that when I write things by hand I'm more likely to remember them although there an exception - I've "memorized" my library card number by the pattern on the computer 10-key pad rather than the number itself. So whenever I have to write the number down "from memory" I have to visualize which numbers my fingers type in that pattern. :)
We made this envelope out of a shopping bag from a Stationery & gift store that we recently visited. (I was so glad to find that they carry both Rossi and Original Crown Mill letter tablets since the store where I used to buy letter pads no longer stocks any.) We thought the name of the store was perfect for an envelope so we made this for our letter writing club Round Robin. JetPens has a new fountain pen and it looks like it might be a good choice as both an introduction pen to give to friends and as an every-day-carry that you don't have to worry about losing. The Pentel TRFS Tradio mini only comes with a medium nib but that's okay because it's only $8.00, comes in 4 colors (black, blue, violet & pink) and best of all, takes (short) international cartridges. I'm curious to know how it compares to both the Pilot Petit & Platinum Preppy - & wish I could "test drive" one before buying. :-)
This morning while flipping through one of my many books on letter writing, I came across this great quote:
"Handwriting is purely a human activity that includes the inflections of personality and voice on paper. It can't be done by machine. When we lose handwriting, we've lost a precious sense of communication." ~ Michael Sull ~ from Just Write: The Art of Personal Correspondence by Molly O'Shaughnessy I had already read and highlighted several passages in this book but somehow this quote escaped me. Now I have it starred and flagged with a post-it arrow so I can find it easily because I thinks it's so true. And it's sad that so many schools no longer teach cursive to students. Printing may show some of the writers personality on paper but not in the same way as cursive, at least not in my humble opinion. It simply isn't as elegant as cursive. Of course, my cursive is anemic when compared to that of my great-grandparent's on saved letters that they wrote many, many years ago. And I'm so glad we have them as it gives us a peak into what they were like that we wouldn't have otherwise. I doubt e-mails will ever be saved in the same way. Only two more weeks until Redeemed Reader starts their "Hobbit" read along and it sounds like they have some great things planned, including author interviews (Jim Ware author of Finding God in The Hobbit & John Erickson author of the Hank the Cowdog series), kids contests, "Hobbit-ize your dad" and hot chocolate (& more?)recipes to make and enjoy as you read. Since our rainy season started this week, we've already started drinking hot chocolate, tea and spiced cider in the evenings and this new (to me anyway) Pumpkin Spice Decaf Tea by Stash is one of our favorites now. I'm going to have to go buy a few more boxes to make sure it will last us through Christmas. Pen, Ink, Paper & Snail mail blogs ~
Other links ~
Last week I found a few articles for my Friday Links but then Friday came & went with me forgetting all about posting so here they are late, along with another article I found over the weekend.
******************************** Here are a few pictures of some mail we sent out last week. I often get in a hurry to get my mail out, especially when I hear the mail truck coming and forget to take a picture of it. I wrote & addressed these after the mailman had already been here so I wasn't in a rush. photo from Fountain Pen Day via Goulet Pens While doing a little internet surfing last night, I saw this great picture that Goulet Pens shared on their Facebook page (they found it on Fountain Pen Day's page or group). I absolutely love this idea as a way to introduce friends to the wonderful world of fountain pens, "because friends don't let friends write with a ballpoint." Such a cute and clever card. I think I'm going to have to copy this idea and send a few such packages off to friends. And who knew there was such a thing as Fountain Pen Day. Actually this is the first year this group is celebrating it and since I like fountain pens I'll celebrate by writing several letters using only fountain pens that day. Because I liked Travel by Postcard and Letter's giveaway idea so much, I decided to write two letters to non-pen palling friends. One is going to a friend from college and the other to a family member, neither of whom ever write letters, although both stay in touch by phone. I'm hoping these letters will brighten their days in a way phone calls can't. I've been very lax the last few weeks about photographing my mail but here's a picture of a few pieces of incoming mail. We especially enjoyed the two homemade envelopes in back (very nice) and all contained great letters. Outgoing mailbox mail. * Last year I had fun mailing out all the little Valentines mailboxes I bought at Target so when I saw this post of the clever way one Grandma used them I knew I had to share her idea here. Even though I'm not a Grandma yet (that possibility is still years away) when/if I am, I'll need more of these mailboxes so I can make Grandma mailboxes, too. Such a great way to make mail fun for kids. And in the meantime, I keep sending them as mail. * The Last of the Letter Writers is about an elderly man in Vietnam who still works at the post office, translating & writing letters for people. Between my husband's surgery this summer & all his follow-up appointments, we've spent a lot of time in the city the last few months. Usually it's very foggy but today for the first time we were able to see the Golden Gate Bridge (the towers not the whole bridge) from the medical office. Since it was his last check-up there I had to take pictures to celebrate. Wish we'd had this view more often.
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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 |