Thursday’s Tale: Little Chickies / Los Pollitos

by Carol1 Comment
I feel like nursery rhymes sort of fall into the same category as fairy tales and folktales. They're part of a culture, something passed down over the years that most everyone connects to, which is why I'm including Little Chickies as a Thursday's Tale. Little Chickies is based on a Spanish nursery rhyme, "Los Pollitos." I found the nursery rhyme at NurseryRhymes.co, along with the translation. Los pollitos dicen pío, pío, pío cuando tienen hambre cuando tienen frío. La gallina busca el maíz y el trigo les da la comida y les presta abrigo. Bajo de sus alas, acurrucaditos ¡duermen los pollitos hasta el otro día! Translation : The little chicks say pio pio pio When they are hungry And when they are cold. The mother hen looks for corn and wheat. She gives them food and grants them shelter. Under mama's wings, huddling up, Sleep the little chicks Until the next day! Jamarillo has done a wonderful job in the adorable book telling the story of the chicks whose mom takes care of them. Her lyrics are simpler than...
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A Highland Christmas by M. C. Beaton

by Carol5 Comments
This is the first Hamish Macbeth story I've read and I realize it's not typical of the series - no murder for example, but I really liked Hamish. He seems like a truly good guy who actually cares about the people of his town. The towns are filled with quirky odd characters, most of whom are amusing. I also love how the locals treat Hamish. Even though he's the police, he's on their side. I don't quite understand the conflict with his boss, but i'm sure it's made clear in another of the installements. This particular one is a feel-good light Christmas mystery. The mysteries involve a missing cat and some lights that have been stolen from another village.  It's short and I don't want to give much away, but it left me with a smile and wanting to visit Lochdubh again....
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Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, illustrated by Susan Jeffers

by Carol8 Comments
My mom and I were at the bookstore the other day looking for Christmas gifts and ran across this lovely little book. Happily, she bought it. I'm not sure if she's keeping it or giving it to my niece, but either is a good choice. I love introducing kids to classics before they can think they're boring. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost is perfect for the season. Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go...
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Thursday’s Tale: The Sleeper and the Spindle

by Carol2 Comments
Today I've got a fairy tale re-telling to share. It is a gorgeous book, by the way, perfect for any of the fairy tale lovers on your gift list for Christmas. This is a short story and feels like the fairy tale it is. The characters are all nameless, but we know the Queen is Snow White after the kiss from the prince. There are three (magic number) dwarves, a quest, magic, but I like the female twist. The one prince in the story is conspicuously absent, although the dwarves are loyal and trustworthy and brave. The Queen learns about the sleeping princess and that the curse if spreading, so she heads out to deal with it. She puts on her armor takes her sword and tells her prince they'll have to postpone the wedding. Doesn't take him with her, you notice; she's a little ambivalent about getting married. It's a darker twist on the traditional tale and there's a bit of a twist at...
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Untimely Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan

by Carol2 Comments
Untimely Death was my last read for R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril this year. I do enjoy this event. Thanks goes to the Estella Society for hosting this year. Untimely Death started out a little rough for me. Foreshadowing's all well and good, but phrases like  "but this year was going to be different; changes were coming. She could feel it." and, on the very next page, "And although she'd never been part of a real-life murder, that was about to change," are a bit heavy-handed, especially for what is quite clearly a cozy murder mystery. Happily it improved. There are certain settings I tend to enjoy, and behind the scene at a play is one of them. Charlotte, a talented costume, is our amateur sleuth who just so happens to be dating one of the local policemen. I liked her a lot. She just seemed like a good, nice person, who knows her job and the theater well. the other characters are well-developed, especially her assistant Aaron,...
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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

by Carol3 Comments
Of course, I had heard about The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up before I picked it up. I knew she emphasized only keeping what brings you joy and that sounds simple enough, but there actually is more to the book than that. She gives you an order to de-clutter, starting with your clothes. She also talks about how to store things after you only have what you truly want. I'll grant you, some things are a little odd, like talking to your stuff and thanking you house. I'm going to talk to my things, but it does remind you to appreciate them and to let them go when they're job has been fulfilled, whatever that job may be. I'm not exactly following her method to a T. I did start with my clothes but didn't spread them all out all over the living room. I don't have that kind of time or space. :) I did start with my drawers though, and...
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