Oh, To Be a Bookseller

Half-way through the afternoon he stopped stock-still in the middle of the floor, Pride and Prejudice in one hand and Wuthering Heights in the other, to deliver a homily on the profession of a bookseller.

"It is the most friendly vocation in the world," Grandfather announced. "A bookseller is the link between mind and mind, the feeder of the hungry, very often the binder up of wounds. There he sits, your bookseller, surrounded by a thousand minds all done up neatly in cardboard cases; beautiful minds, courageous minds, strong minds, wise minds, all sorts and conditions. And there come into him other minds, hungry for beauty, for knowledge, for truth, for love, and to the best of his ability he satisfied them all...Yes....It's a great vocation."

From A City of Bells by Elizabeth Goudge

Two Christmas Cards from Shanghai

When we arrived home, after our visit to the Aged Aunt, we found that the postman had delivered the new wall lamp (for above the sofa in the kitchen) plus several Christmas cards. I'll post a photograph of the lamp once your Dad has finished fitting it. I think you will like it.





Among the cards was this

spectacular one.





Thank you Jonathan! It is lovely... possibly the very first Christmas card (apart from schooldays) which you have ever sent to us! I shall cherish it.





Have a wonderful holiday, don't forget the sun cream, hat, and tee shirt!





Thinking of you.





Lots of love,





Mum & Dad

xxx





PS Harry and his Mum have just been here. Harry was proudly displaying his Christmas card. To say he was thrilled with it would be an understatement.

In Remembrance of Gabe's Daddy

See the little boy in red? He was in my class this summer in Vacation Bible School. He was visiting a cousin who used to go to our church, so they both came to VBS. I talked with him on the last day about where he was from, where he went to church, etc. A very personable young man, he told me he lived in Virginia and that his daddy was in Afghanistan. I enjoyed our talk very much.
Two days ago, I learned that his daddy was one of the Navy Seals on the helicopter that was shot down in Afghanistan; the one in which 31 young men, in the prime of life, died.
My heart aches for Gabe and the loss of his daddy. His life will be forever changed. Please pray for him, his family, and the others who lost a son, husband, brother, or friend.

Fleming Cottage Hospital

The snow is gone now, but this is what it looked like in January. The Fleming cottage hospital serves the area around Aberlour-on-Spey, and is where my father is being treated following his fall last month. This is the original bit of the hospital, with part of the modern wing at one side and health centre at the other. It's on a very human scale, with only 15 beds. And good home cooking.

Xtreme Century Photos

My photos of Xtreme Century are posted on win-photo.photoreflect.com
Some of my photos at the Malvern stop did not turn out -- settings got changed on the camera. One of the things I do not like about the new (Canon Rebel T1i) camera - easy to change setting just with handling.
Anyway - hope you enjoy them.

Reptile Gardens

Have most of the day off so we go to Reptile Gardens outside of Rapid CityOf course the main attraction is the Alligators and CrocodilesMy! What big teeth you have!These guys seemed to be coming to help their buddyThey had a Bird Show too - not quite Busch Gardens but entertaining






Inside the Dome is a Tropical area with beautiful Orchids, Birds and Lizards.I really wanted this Rose Quartz - but it was being guardedWe encountered some rush hour traffic here too





I got my fortune told by Henda the Chicken I asked if I would ever win the Lottery


Outside there was a Whack a mole garden - oops I mean Prairie Dog TownWhack a Mole!This guy is around 60 years old, their oldest Turtle born in 1881 died a couple of week ago. The Sturgis Bikers are everywhereBEE the Biker Babe

Festival of the Trails

Today marks 10 days in the hospital for a normally out-patient procedure. Trying to think about more enjoyable activities. I started thinking about Festival of the Trails in Hayward, Wisconsin - three days of dirt!
Last year was the first time I attended the festival and the first time riding CAMBA trails. This year is the third annual Festival of the Trails.
For the last 4 years, I have been attending the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival in Rapid City, SD. Attended all 4 years of its existence. This year I will be breaking that streak. Last year I attended both festivals. A full explanation of why I will not attend BHFTF will wait for another day.
Festival of the Trails celebrates the great trails in NW Wisconsin. There are clusters of trails, all at or slightly above my riding ability. Altitude of Hayward and the area is about the same as my house. Just the type of trails I like.
There are no races. But there are lots of opportunities for riding CAMBA trails. There's the welcoming social, a film fest, and BBQ. Saturday riders stop for trail-side food served up by local eating establishments. There will be the celebration of the dedication of a CAMBA trail as an Epic trail. A evening ride under the lights. Hone riding skills and learn trail-side repairs during Technique de Trails.
Can't think a better way to celebrate National Trails Day. Join me in Northwoods of Wisconsin June 3-5, for Festival of the Trails. Hope to see you there!