Book Talk featuring Sig Olson

Do you have a favorite book that you look to over and over? One that you read and reread, that never disappoints?  This post is about one of my all time favorite books, one that feels like an old friend. It would be very hard for me to say I have one favorite book, but Sigurd F. Olson's Wilderness Days is certainly among the top contenders.

If you happen to be familiar with Minnesota's famed Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, or if you are curious about the people who championed this wilderness area, you will know about Sigurd F. Olson. Some have called him the second John Muir. He helped draft the federal Wilderness Act and worked to establish a number of national parks and wilderness areas in the U.S.

In our early days, when we lived in Minnesota, my husband and I took a number of canoe trips into the BWCA. What adventures we had! What beauty!  

I had read some of Olson's books when I lived in Minnesota, but I didn't own any until I rummaged through a box of books at a yard sale after we moved to New Jersey. In the box, in its original but water stained dust jacket, was a copy of Wilderness Days. I eagerly paid a $1 for this treasure.  

Wilderness Days is a collection of writings from Sigurd Olson's several previous books, organized by season, containing those writings that most appealed to or moved his readers. These writings best express his love and respect for this unique wilderness. To me it is distilled beauty. 

There are certain passages that I have to read over and over. The mouse that rapturously and repeatedly slid down the side of his tent during a night of full moon. The wolves that followed him down a frozen lake. I always find gorgeous writing, love of wilderness, quiet adventure, and inspiration in Sig Olson. I always feel a little closer to the beauty of Minnesota. As below, most every line seems poetic.

"Moonlight on a frosted leaf belongs to the world of the intangibles." - Sigurd Olson

If you run into a copy of Wilderness Days, or any of Olson's books, I encourage you to try them. He is a consummate writer. His first book, The Singing Wilderness, became a NYT bestseller. In 1974 he was awarded the John Burroughs Medal for his nature writing. He also won highest honors from the Sierra Club, the Izaak Walton League, and more.  Sigurd Olson was the real deal. 

In those times when I need to refresh myself in the rich language of nature, this is one of my touchstones. I commend it to you also.

It's Poetry Friday, hosted today by Kathryn Apel,
who posts from Australia. You can find her
here. As you might guess, it is a difficult time for
Kathryn, but you'll want to hear her news, read her
poems and leave a comforting comment. Don't hesitate to join the Inlinkz party to find other blogs
offering poetry.

My best to you for a calm and productive week. 

The lowly toothpick

It's January... a cold, windy, gray kind of day. What could be a better time to consider the work of the toothpick!  No kidding... I was looking through some of my poems, wondering what to post today, and I ran across this little ditty about toothpicks. So... I figured... why not???

The Toothpick

The toothpick is a tool

That's so simple

Any fool

Can poke one

'Tween two teeth

To get relief

Yet I give that pick

High praise

For its work on

Baking days

When it declares the cake's not done

In bas relief

© Karen Eastlund

The definition of a bas relief is a piece of artwork that is sculpted, carved or molded in such a way that it barely protrudes from the background flat surface.

Toothpicks have done many jobs, but would you think of a toothpick as a map? Check out this excellent article by William Boyle, full of toothpick lore as well as memories of his grandfather's penchant for toothpicks:
https://www.oxfordamerican.org/item/1503-chewing-on-toothpicks

It's Poetry Friday! You can find more poems by following the links on Catherine's blog:
https://readingtothecore.wordpress.com/.
Thanks for hosting, Catherine.

Have a great week, everyone.  

An Oldie but a Goodie

A poem recently popped into my mind, and I realized it was from a Christmas present I received when I was 3. If ever you doubt the importance and magic of poetry, consider that I still remember bits of a poem that came to me almost... well... let's just say many years ago.  My copy looked like the one to the left, but the background was blue instead of green.


The poem was from this beloved Giant Golden Book which, believe it or not, I've kept it all these years. Recently I've seen updated versions of this same book, but mine has something these newer versions do not.  Open the cover and... Ta DAAA!  Up pops Santa... still intact!

The poem I loved, and still love, tells about Grandfather Monkey, (who lived on the isthmus), who is winking and thinking and dreaming of Christmas.  Too fun, yes?

This poem is probably still copyrighted, so I won't quote it, but I still love the rhyme of isthmus with Christmas, and I love the arc of this poem, which begins with the grandfather thinking of all the good things he would like to get for Christmas, and ends with all the good gifts he gave his grandmonkeys... as well as the gifts he received. 

This was one of my favorite books as a child, and is still a treasure today. 

I commend it to you, if you should see it in the stores. At the time it was quite special to find gold paint on certain pages. I thought that was truly luxurious!

I hope my favorite story is still included: The Goat Who Played Santa Claus!  Something about that story seemed so warm and wonderful to me.

I hope you included some poetry in your holidays this year, and that your new year will be full of rhythm, rhyme and wordplay!

One Little Word 2020

Spiritual Journey Thursday:  One Little Word

We used to be able to clean the house and get Thanksgiving dinner on the table in a couple of days. Now we start days ahead to make the side dishes to take to my son’s house. Energy levels change.

Patience!

I have a number of big projects that I want to work on this year, and it will take serious patience on my part to sit down and dig into them. At the same time, I want my projects to show my best efforts. I want the quilt I have promised to be orderly. Ditto the history project I have begun.  And the blog!

I will need to be patient.

In my attempt to find a word for this year, I considered “Purposeful” and  “Write” … both with the idea of cultivating a disciplined writing life. I like the idea, but I also know myself. I write when and what I can. 

I am working on patience.

I was looking for a poem or quote to exemplify this idea, and I came across this verse: 

Good fruit takes patience… Luke 8:15.

Patience is my word for 2020.

These beautiful cakes were served at a New Year's Eve wedding we just attended. It surely took great patience to make them, and they were indeed "good fruit."  

Best to you all for a wonderful, happy and healthy 2020.

A Quiet & Peaceful Sharing

In this season of waiting, I find myself rushing, stressing, and fussing. In an attempt to find quiet and peace, I share the following words and music with you, wishing you all a wonderful, joyful and peaceful season of celebration.


In the bleak midwinter

BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,

Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0aL9rKJPr4

This one is so lovely and relaxing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPRFk8sLIPw

Best wishes to all...

A crazy thing just before Christmas

Our basement had become a dungeon. It desperately needed work. So our Christmas present to each other is to have it refurbished. 

Yesterday we had our washer, dryer, basement refrigerator and some other heavy equipment moved to other spaces in our house to make ready for the workers on Monday.  It isn't exactly decorating for Christmas... but... it must be done. No more putting it off. We will face the dungeon dragon and overcome it!

So when I came across this poem by Ogden Nash, it seemed perfect for the occasion. I hope you will enjoy this as my Poetry Friday offering.

Kind of an Ode to Duty

O Duty,
Why hast thou not the visage of a sweetie or a cutie?
Why glitter thy spectacles so ominously?
Why art thou clad so abominously?
Why art thou so different from Venus
And why do thou and I have so few interests mutually in common between us?
Why art thou fifty per cent martyr
And fifty-one per cent Tartar?

Why is it thy unfortunate wont
To try to attract people by calling on them either to leave undone the deeds they like, or to do the deeds they don’t?
Why are thou so like an April post-mortem
On something that died in the ortumn?
Above all, why dost thou continue to hound me?
Why art thou always albatrossly hanging around me?

Thou so ubiquitous,
And I so iniquitous.
I seem to be the one person in the world thou art perpetually preaching at who or to who;
Whatever looks like fun, there art thou standing between me and it, calling yoo-hoo.
O Duty, Duty!
How noble a man should I be hadst thou the visage of a sweetie or a cutie!
Wert thou but houri instead of a hag
Then would my halo indeed be in the bag!
But as it is thou art so much forbiddinger than a Wodehouse hero’s forbiddingest aunt
That in the words of the poet, When Duty whispers low, Thou must, this erstwhile youth replies, I just can’t.

-- Ogden Nash

I don't know about you, but this makes me laugh even in the middle of a house project.  And unlike Mr. Nash, we have hired people with appropriate skills to help us, so "we can!"

This Poetry Friday is hosted by Tanita at (fiction instead of lies) Head on over to see everyone and have some more poetic fun.

Cheers to all!

An Alphabet of 2019

My word for the year was “Alphabet.”  Why did I choose it? Was it just a cheap stunt to pick a word that left me wide open?  Was I really listening to God’s words for me? Was I discerning? If so, what did I learn?

Below is my attempt to make the alphabet speak for my year.  These are the lessons I’ve tried to learn from 2019.

Amen and Alleluia!  Rejoice in the Lord always. 

(Also... another anthology with one of my poems in it!)

Balancing one step at a time.

Blessed Is the Lord by Dan Forrest 

https://www.beckenhorstpress.com/blessed-is-the-lord-benedictus/ 

Courage is a constant challenge.

Deliberate and discern.

Earth’s beauty is endless.  

Find words to express truth.

Gratitude  

Hard work

Inspiration and insight

Be Joyful... but use good

judgment.   A line dance with a jump and a swivel was not a good choice.  😊

Kindness is for everyone. 

Limits are changing. I must listen to my body, and laugh long and hard.

Music moves me.

Never give up.

Opposition pops up in unexpected places. Do not be overcome.

Practice patience.  Pray without ceasing.

Questions are good.

Remember with reverence.

Sing your own song.  

And another thing: 

Second-guessing is for the birds. Are you a bird?  Are you???

Take time … be still and know…

Urge unity.

Vowels are absent in the alphabet of grace: delve for meaning. In choir we learn: the meaning is in the consonants, but the beauty is in the vowels.

Wishy-washy doesn’t cut it. Welcome opportunity with an open heart.

eXciting new year ahead

Yes!

Like Zechariah, I stand in awe... praising God...

My best to you in this season of celebration.