Friday’s Tale: Pecos Bill

by Carol2 Comments
Image credit: saltycotton Tall tales are a part of American literature and history. The stories tell the bigger than life tales of men taming the early American frontier, exaggerating actual events, explaining natural phenomena. Some were based on true people like Davy Crockett and Johnny Appleseed, while others tell of folk heroes who stories were passed down through generations. Pecos Bill was not a real historical figure, nor is he truly a folk hero. His is a later tall tale that first appeared in a "saga" written by Edward O'Reilly for a 1923 Century Magazine. Nonetheless, the story has become part of America's literary landscape. The version I read was retold by Mary Pope Osborne in American Tall Tales. Pecos Bill, the story goes, was a baby in eastern Texas when his family packed up a wagon and headed west. Along the rough ride, Bill fell out and landed in the middle of the desert. Luckily, a coyote found him, took him home,...
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Review: In Christ Alone by Sinclair B. Ferguson

by Carol5 Comments
In Christ Alone is a collection of previously published articles by Sinclair B. Ferguson. I used the fifty short chapters as devotionals, daily in theory, in reality it took me longer than a month and a half to work my way through it. I have to admit that I had never heard of Sinclair Ferguson let alone read anything by him before picking up this book, but I'm glad I took the chance. I found it easy to read, but with enough meat to it to. Ferguson talks about Christ, but also about the Christian Life. I like that he sticks to basics and backs his stories and thoughts up with scripture. Like any collection, some of the pieces really struck me, some I only found mildly interesting, but overall I'm glad I read it. While the book talked about Christ and the Gospel, about prayer and faith, what will probably stick with me most is a new appreciation of the book...
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Winners!

by Carol6 Comments
Thanks to everyone who entered my Armchair BEA giveaway. I'm happy to announce the winners. Fallen by Lauren Kate - Dawn Dracula in Love by Karen Essex - Krysta B. Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch - Danah The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor - Tif I'll be sending each of you an e-mail, so be sure to respond with your mailing adress....
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Teaser from Have Gun, Will Play

by Carol6 Comments
I could see some of the stage men lying dead outside, and the outlaws were pretty much in charge, but they were nervous and sweating, probably because they had lost two of their guys and weren't sure how. I glanced over and saw Casey, just the edge of her, taking aim but not shooting, ready to do her job and maybe waiting for me to do mine. And it was my job to do the talking. Maybe that wasn't what she had in mind, but we were supposed to be the good guys. (Tuesday Teaser from 3% of Have Gun, Will Play by Camille LaGuire)...
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