Joe's 2020 Book Cafe 2

Art by Raul Colon

Welcome back to the cafe!

I forgot to leave room to list 2020 Books I've read! So this is it.

Books Read in 2020

January

1. Equinoxes by Cyril Pedrosa*
2. American Spy by Lauren Wilkerson
3. Indecency by Justin Phillip Reed
4. A Handmaid's Tale Graphic by Renee Nault and Margaret Atwood*
5. The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff
6. Dream Within a Dream by Patricia MacLachlan
7. Deep Creek by Pam Houston
8. Due Diligence by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
9. Wandering Star by Teri S. Wood*
10. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

Illustrated Books

1. Birdsong by Julie Flett
2. Paper Girls Volume 6 by Brian K. Vaughn
3. I Love This Part by Tillie Walden
4. Door by JiHyeon Lee
5. Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson
6. The Iridescence of Birds by Patricia MacLachlan
7. The Master and Margarita Graphic Novel by Andzej Klimowski

*Illustrated

Rafa

Two more from Raul Colon

Favorites From 2019

Top 5



The Long Take by Robin Robertson
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit

Favorite Graphic Works



Good Talk by Mira Jacob
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life by Maria Hesse
The Initiates by Étienne Davodeau
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by Debbie Tung

Favorite Poetry Collections



Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson
Drive Here and Devastate Me by Megan Falley
Monument: Poems by Natasha Trethewey
Tap Out by Edgar Kunz
Magical Negro by Morgan Parker

Our daughter Becca and son Jesse helping little Rafa at breakfast

OK, the cafe is open!

Happy new thread, Joe!

>1 jnwelch: Lovely toppers by Colon. I like them all, but #4 is pretty sweet.

>3 jnwelch: Cute Rafa as always.

Do you serve crullers, light and fluffy?

I'm with Brodie, the Colon toppers are beautimus.

Happy Monday!

Happy new one, Joe. What a gorgeous topper. I love it.

Better get into this thread early if I want coffee and a light and fluffy cruller.

I finished that Delany book this morning, Joe. Nova. Excellent. Good story, characters, writing. I'll be looking for more of his books.

Happy new one!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Joe!

>1 jnwelch: Great pictures, and I love the progression.

It's always good to get glimpses of Rafa, of course.

Happy new thread Joe.

Happy new thread!

Stopping by to encourage friends to believe I am actually visiting here more often.

Hi!

Happy new thread, Joe!
Glad to see lovely toppers and to have my Rafa fix ;-)

Hi Joe. Thought I would inquire if you have read Rime of the Modern Mariner since you are a fan of graphic novels. Came across it on the shelves at the library. Basically a retelling of Coleridge's book as an environmental fable. Found it kind of fun.

Happy new thread, Joe! Love the toppers, as always.

Happy New Thread, Joe! Like those toppers! Good to see the 75 hopping in the New Year! Even, Paul is back to his old devilish ways! Racking up those numbers!

I am so glad you are enjoying Deep Creek as much as you are. I am continuing to admire The Chaneysville Incident. Not always an easy or smooth read, but the narrative, definitely packs a punch.

>1 jnwelch: What is that little curly-tailed fellow up to in the bottom image?

Happy new cafe, Joe! Love the thread topper images. A lovely diversion of the winter scene outside.

Happy new thread!

Happy 2nd thread, Joe!!

Thanks for the mention of PBS’ Sanditon on your previous thread. I taped it and look forward to it.

Did you happen to catch PBS’ Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors? It was hosted by Lucy Worsley who wrote a book on the subject that we both enjoyed. I’m sure they’ll repeat it during the week.

Hi Joe!! Back for the second round!! Glad you kept the Rafa photos up top--they are so cute. : )

Can't wait to get to Girl, Woman, Other later this year. And to see what other 5 star reads you come up with...

Happy new one, Joe.

>21 msf59: Thanks for the plug, Mark!

Love the Raul Colon artwork! It is just beautiful. The picture of Rafa up top does not hurt either :)

I left the remaining white chocolate pretzels on the front desk of the library today with instructions to the student workers to eat them and to get all their friends to eat them until they were gone! The bag was getting low by the time I left.

Happy new thread, Joe. Kudos to Adriana for having her bio and interview appear for the up and comers in Pittsburgh. How wonderful that she got recognition.

>3 jnwelch: What an incredibly good looking little boy! I'm glad you liked Show Way. I've read most of Jacqueline Woodson's books...All are great! Not a bad book in the bunch.

Thanks, everyone! College football championship game last night plus routine take-the-car-in to the auto shop early this morning = late proprietor. I'll circle back later in the morning.

Happy new thread Joe - I can't get over how cute Rafa is!

>8 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie! Congrats on being first in the door.

Isn't Colon a good illustrator? I like that #4, too. Thanks re the cutesome Rafa.

Fluffy crullers? Here you go.

>9 richardderus: Happy Tuesday, Richard! Hmm, somehow the day changed. :-)

Aren't those Raul Colon toppers beautimus?

>10 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. I'm glad you love the toppers.

>11 weird_O: Crullers are up above, weird buddy. Good job of getting in early.

I'm glad the Delaney Nova book went well. Now you've got me curious about that one. I'm pretty sure Babel-17 won some awards, and probably others of his did, too.

>12 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita!

>13 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi!

>14 quondame: Thanks, Susan! Ah, that's cool that you picked up on the topper progression. That's one of the better ones, isn't it.

Rafa's sister-to-be is at 8 lbs. 2 oz.! Poor Adriana is mighty uncomfortable. They see the doctor on Thursday, and inducing soon may be in the cards. Wow. We didn't expect her to be this big with so much time left.

>15 johnsimpson: Thanks, mate.

>16 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle!

>17 maggie1944: Hi, Karen! This is a pleasant surprise. It would be lovely to see you more on LT this year. I hope all is going well.

>18 FAMeulstee: Hiya, Anita. Thanks! Ha! I'm glad we could give you your Rafa fix, and some toppers you like. :-)

>19 Oberon: Hi, Erik. Thanks for the tip on the Rime of the Modern Mariner GN. I'll look for it. I've read the "Ancient" poem (have we all, from our school days?), and this take on it sounds intriguing.

>20 bell7: Thanks, Mary! Good to hear the toppers came through for you again. He's a new favorite illustrator for me.

>21 msf59: Thanks, buddy, and I'm glad you like the toppers! It has been a buzz-y beginning to the year, hasn't it. Yeah, the old "the more posts the merrier" Paul is back, looks like.

You know, I hit a "stuck in neutral" patch in Deep Creek - she dedicates an awful lot of pages to the wildfire, doesn't she. That part hasn't captivated me like, e.g., Young Men and Fire. But other than that, it's been a great read. Some readers of The Chaneysville Incident haven't liked his digressions as much as the rest; I ate it all up happily. I'm glad it's doing well for you overall.

Good morning, Joe.Congratulations on Thread No. 2 and some good reading under your belt. I would imagine things might slow down a bit when Baby Granddaughter enters the world. It sounds like she’s in a hurry!

>22 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. If you go back to the last thread, there are more photos of what the curly-tailed and curly-haired little fellow is up to - he's creating his own sculpture from those big chess pieces. He had a plan, and he was remarkably determined and persistent in carrying it out. We and others in the square got a big kick out of it.

>23 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. I'm a fan of "hot colors" in the winter. Those toppers are a nice diversion, aren't they. I really enjoy his color sense in his illustrations.

>24 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley!

>25 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!

>26 NarratorLady: Oh, you're welcome re Sanditon, Anne. I'm surprised to be looking forward to it, too. The original chapters were a yawner for me, and I've read a lot of her books now other than the big 6. Those are the only writing of hers I'd say that about. The first episode of this tv adaptation was definitely not a yawner.

I did see that "Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors" with Lucy Worsley, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had no idea Lucy Worsley is that delightful in person. Now I'm going to look for others she's done.

The only thing I missed was I was much struck by JA's very small circular writing table at Chawton Cottage. I expected it to be mentioned and maybe featured in this special. For such great writing to come from such a small space says a lot, seems to me. Did she balance that portable writing desk on it? I wish I knew more about it.

>27 Berly: Thanks re the second round, Kim! I always like to have a photo of Rafa on a new one. The Rafa highlights from the east have been videos lately, so I brought over a couple of the recent ones from the last thread.

You'll love Girl Woman Other when you get to it. What an accomplishment from this new-to-me writer.

I'm reading two good ones right now, Deep Creek and The Testaments. The latter may end up a five star, and the former will probably come close - if it weren't for a slow stretch about a wildfire (how is that possible?) in DC, I'd place it higher. The Handmaid's Tale GN is really well done, too - I feel like you read that one?

>28 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. The activity on your thread is back to the old days, after a tough RL year last year.

>29 alcottacre: Ha! Thanks, Stasia. Nice to have you stop by. Aren't those Raul Colon illustrations beautiful? And the wee Rafa would no doubt say thank you.

>30 thornton37814: I'll bet those white chocolate pretzels were disappearing fast, Lori! Good for you for sharing like that. I'm sure we have some more around here somewhere.

Morning, Joe. Not bad out here, but looking forward to the sun making an appearance. I might agree with you on the lengthy wildfire section, in Deep Creek, but it was not enough for me to dock it any points.

>38 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. Good morning. Yes, Fina's arrival will have us on a plane to visit immediately for a few days. Then we'll return for a longer stay, probably around Feb. 10. Fina obviously is thriving and ready to make her debut!

>31 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Adriana has done so many wonderful things for and in Pittsburgh; we're very happy she's getting recognized for it, and is considered an up-and-comer. How she manages it all is beyond me.

>32 Whisper1: Ha! Isn't Rafa a sweetheart, Linda. I wish I could post a video of him rumbling with the dogs Bolita and Maleta - he thinks he's one of them, and loves to tussle with them. They're remarkably patient.

I did like Show Way, and thanks again for the tip. I'm busy tracking down others of hers. What a talented writer Woodson is.

>34 Coffee.Cat: Thanks, Abigail, and thank you for stopping by. He's a swell little fellow, that Rafa, and I'm glad you enjoy his cuteness. He's getting so close to talking - his house speaks Spanish and English. Can't wait to hear what's on his mind. He's a very busy boy, with a lot of projects he takes on, so I'm sure a lot of it will be about that.

>41 msf59: Hiya, Mark. Yeah, not too bad out there, I'm glad we can say. We were up at the crack of dawn to get the car into the auto shop for a check-up (an unexpected burning smell turned out to be rotten leaves, not the critical and expensive prestidigitator (made that up) it could've been). We walked back - as Debbi said, that's one of the advantages of being in the city - we can walk back after dropping off the car. Now we're back at Blue Sky cafe for some poetry-reading and writing.

That wildfire section in Deep Creek is lengthy, isn't it? Debbi's interested in reading the book (it's just the kind she likes), so I'll warn her about that.

>39 jnwelch: I was talking about the monkey in the bottom picture in your first post, Joe. I KNOW what Rafa was doing, bless his adorable little soul. (Wait 'til his parents hear you called him "curly-tailed"!)

Those white chocolate pretzels look good but they would go even better with a really nice cup of hot coffee or tea. Does the cafe have any?

>44 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Oh, that little monkey, Linda. Oops! Rafa thinks he's a dog, so his parents wouldn't be too surprised by "curly-tailed". :-)

It looks to me like the monkey in the first post is planning how to eat some cake, don't you think?

>45 benitastrnad: Hot coffee or tea is our middle name, Benita - and what a weird middle name to have, right?

Here you go:

Hello Joe! I hope your day is going well.

>35 jnwelch: Thanks for the crullers. Delicious!

>46 jnwelch: Beautiful coffee!

Hoping to make some progress in Foundation today. More snow overnight. Gonna be homebound.

What did you think of the Oscar (So White) nominations? My grammatical dig should tell you what I thought.

Happy new thread!

>47 brodiew2: Hello Brodie! The day is going well, thanks. The car problems turned out to be minor, and we had a productive time at the cafe. I'm glad the crullers hit the spot, and we pride ourselves on our beautiful coffee. :-)

Sounds like perfect weather for reading Foundation. I'm happy that it's standing up well after the time that has passed.

>48 benitastrnad: I know, Benita - and all male for the directors? What happened to the diversity movement?

>49 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>48 benitastrnad: Been there, done that. At present, diversity can only episodically capture the controls of the great hetero white machine.

>51 quondame: Among many other things, that status quo is boring, isn't it. I'm not excited about this year's Oscars.

>48 benitastrnad: >50 jnwelch: I think what was worse, than the "So White" nominations, was the "So Male" tag. Greta Gerwig not getting a nomination for Little Women is ridiculous. And Lupita Nyong'o, who is also a black woman, not get nominated for her terrific dual performance in "Us". The Oscars are becoming the Golden Globes. And that is not a compliment.

>52 jnwelch: Every now and then I have to read The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump to remember that it is possible to capture the diversity of living in my city. But it is very, very rare.

>39 jnwelch: I remember seeing Lucy Worsley's series "Hidden Killers in the Victorian Home" which was really interesting, Joe. If you get a chance you should check it out.

Hi Joe!
Happy new thread.

Sheesh. I go away for only three days and there are 29 messages on your old thread and 63 on this one. Skimming along, I love everything here – toppers, crullers, anticipated arrival of Fina, and especially

>43 jnwelch: rotten leaves vs the expensive prestidigitator. You’re a hoot.

Morning, Joe!

My sympathies to Adriana, as I've been where she is (Charlie arrived on the scene at 10lbs even).

>53 msf59: Hiya, Mark. Agreed re Greta Gerwig. It's always a little weird when a movie gets nominated for an Oscar but its director doesn't. But in Gerwig's case it's much worse - she clearly deserved a nomination for bringing the Little Women story to such vivid and well-acted life. They may need a total rehaul of the Oscar voters.

>54 quondame: I haven't read The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump, Susan, but you make it sound enticing. Yeah, I suspect urbanites are more likely to appreciate diversity; those in our rural areas often have never even met someone from a minority, although California is a better state than most for that.

>55 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg, for the Lucy Worsley tip. I enjoyed her tour-guiding the Jane Austen one.

>56 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Thanks re the thread.

Ha! I'm glad you enjoyed the thread developments and the rotten leaves vs. the expensive prestidigitator. :-)

>57 scaifea: Omigosh, 10 lbs even. Charlie was a whopper, wasn't he, Amber. I don't think Fina is going to get that high, but Adriana is so uncomfortable. The doctors are still thinking the last week of the month for Fina's arrival.

>59 jnwelch: *SNORK!!*

>59 jnwelch: LIKE!

Morning, Joe. Happy Wednesday. Glad the freezing rain missed us. Whew! I work again tomorrow but then have a 4 day weekend coming up. Yah!

Really enjoying Chaneysville, but it demands to be read slow. Close to wrapping up my audio of Dopesick. This is another important read, in the same company of Evicted and Just Mercy, IMHO.

>60 scaifea: Hee-hee!

>61 msf59: Right, Mark? Good morning, buddy. Yes - we just saying the same thing about the freezing rain missing us. Hey, a 4 day weekend - sounds great!

Ah, it makes me happy that you're really enjoying Chaneysville. Deep Creek is ending beautifully. I've got just a little bit to go.

Good for you for taking on Dopesick. That's one that I'm unlikely to read, despite its importance. Strikes a little too close to home.

Hey there, Joe. Dobos torte?

>63 richardderus: It looks like it tried to put up a pointed defense! This was one of my mother's recipes that I never attempted.

I am thinking that a really nice plate of Chicken Diablo would be nice - in front of that cake? That sweetness would counter the spice.

>64 quondame:, >65 benitastrnad: *chuckle* Y'all...such cards!

>65 benitastrnad: Is that the broiled breaded chicken with an undercoating of dijon mustard? I loved to take it on picnics.

Just checking in for today, Joe. I could use a cuppa! Maybe some Earl Grey?

>59 jnwelch: pffft.

Morning, Joe! I am late to your newest thread, but I'm all caught up now. Hoping today is kind to you.

>63 richardderus: Oh man, what a beaut, Richard. Yum! Dobos torte? Your pantry is an amazement.

>64 quondame: I can say with certainty that my mother never had a recipe for dobos torte, Susan. I'm impressed that your mother did.

>65 benitastrnad:, >66 richardderus: Worth trying, Benita. Maybe you and RD can have a group meetup/bakeup/cookup?

>67 quondame: Your picnics sound far superior to mine, Susan.

>69 Caroline_McElwee: Ha! I'll see your pffft and raise you a psssh, Caroline.

>70 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Lovely, as always, to have you stop by. A kind day sounds just right; I hope yours is, too.

>68 alcottacre: I hope a morning cuppa of Earl Grey works for you, Stasia. Here you go:

I'm in the mood for some of Granny's roast chicken with taters, onions, and shrooms.

Morning, Joe. Sweet Thursday. Not recommending a walk today, unless you really bundle up. Glad you got to see a Bulls win. That is like seeing a white elk, right? Grins...

Hmmmm. Roast chicken.

As my mother aged and actually got a couple of great-granddaughters, she favored "Grannie". Unfortunately, she wasn't really much of a cook, as I discovered after I met Judi.

>72 richardderus: I'm still in breakfast and coffee mode over here, RD, but who am I to argue with Granny?

>73 msf59: Morning, Mark. Ha! You'd enjoy this story. I did walk this morning - to the doctor for a regular checkup. The nurse tried to take my temperature, and the thermometer wouldn't work. She said, "Did you walk here?" I said yes, and she said that it was cold enough out that I had to warm up before my temperature would register! Sure enough, enough seconds later, she got a 96.7, which is the lowest I remember ever getting.

Ha! A Bulls win these days is like seeing a white elk. LOL!

Debbi just showed me some white giraffes somewhere in Africa. I put them up there with a white elk - quite magical to see.

>74 weird_O: My grandma went by Nonnie (the other grandma died before I was born, unfortunately), Bill, and she was a good cook, although I'm sure she also didn't know how to bake/make a Dobos Torte. Her husband went by Tampa, so that's what I am to Rafa for now (we'll see whether he sticks with that). The famous JNW went by "Pop".

Are you Weirdpa to your grandchildren? :-)

I am getting ready for the ALA winter conference in Philadelphia. It is January 24 - 27, 2020. I have not yet received conformation that LT will provide the free passes to the exhibits, as they have done in the past, but have made contact with them to find out. So far, I have received no inquiries regarding a meetup, but if anybody reading this thread is interested let me know and I will find a place and we can hang out and talk about what incredible finds we have made on the exhibit floor.

The exhibit floor opens on Saturday, January 24 at 9:00 a.m. and closes at noon on Monday, January 27, 2020. In between are lots of free ARC (Advanced Readers Copies) for both children and adults. As soon as I find out from the LT gods if there will be free passes to this nirvana I will let you know.

Wasn't that white Elk on the Call the Midwife Christmas 2020 episode? The one Sister Monica Joan saw somewhere on the Shetland's?

>70 Crazymamie:
I hate to a stuffy know-it-all, but I think that white Elk is really a white Moose. Elk don't have the beard and their horns are pointed like those of a deer.

>77 benitastrnad: Thanks, Benita. Wish I could be there - a lot. We've haven't been to Philadelphia in too long, among other things. I bet you get a nice LT turnout. You do such a good job of facilitating all this - I'm grateful, even though I'm not coming!

We received word this morning that new grandchild Fina could arrive any time between now and next Thursday, and that if she doesn't show up naturally, they'll induce. So we're waiting to get the word, and then we'll fly to Pittsburgh.

The ALA conference, with all the ARCs and book talk and authors, is nirvana, you're right. We love it when we can go.

>78 benitastrnad: Madame MBH might know about Call the Midwife and the white elk. Could be! I finally stopped watching after they changed the cast for the umpteenth time, but she still watches.

Oh my, thanks for the tip on white moose versus white elk. I should know, as I've seen both in RL. But it's been quite a while. If so, I'll add a white elk and keep the white moose so your post still makes sense.

P.S. Huh, they say it's a white elk: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/rare-albino-elk-sweden-may-be-shot-2017-11 It's Swedish, so maybe that helps explain the departure from what you're used to.

Here's a different mystical white elk, to round out the story.

>78 benitastrnad: Don't feel bad - was going to point out that it was a moose and not an elk too. You just beat me to it.

>80 Oberon: Turns out it's considered an elk, Erik - see the link, and I've read the same elsewhere now. But I can see why you both said that.

P.S. Okay, with more digging, I've found the one in >75 jnwelch: is called a rare white moose nearly as often as it's called a rare white elk (without either explaining the other), so I think you two probably have it right. It certainly looks more like a moose to me, now that you've pointed it out.

We obviously need more elk vs. moose education around the world. At least we've made a good beginning in the cafe. :-)

Hello Joe! I hope your day is going well.

>6 jnwelch: As a funny aside, I have seen the pic of Magical Negro near the top of your thread each time I come in. My brain, because of the font and my lack of specific attention read Ngaio Marsh. When I finally slowed down enough, I realized my error. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. I have not heard of it til now.

>75 jnwelch: Magical sights indeed. Thanks for sharing!

I watched a film called Denial recently given the subject of Holocaust denial and was surprised to find that it was about true case that occurred in the 1990s. Unimaginable that there could be any such denial. However, it all comes down to ideology, I imagine. The film fell a little flat for me, but was still interesting. Kerry(avatiach) recommended a German film called Labyrinth of Lies which deals with the first generation after Hitler and how the atrocities were never recognized. I look forward to seeing it.

>82 brodiew2: Hello Brodie! The day is going swell, thanks. I hope it is on your end, too. On my end, my dr. gave me the all clear on my checkup follow-up, so I'm chuffed.

Ha! I like Ngaio Marsh's mysteries, but Magical Negro definitely ranks higher for me. Reactions to poetry can be so idiosyncratic; although Magical Negro gets listed a lot as one of the best of 2019, I'm not sure how many would place it as highly as I did. I found her frankness, including her humorous self-deprecation about dating white men, really grabbed me.

You're welcome about the magical sights - you'll see there's discussion about whether the magical white elk in >75 jnwelch: is actually a magical white moose, and I lean toward the moose theory. It really looks like a moose, not an elk.

Good for you for watching the Denial movie. There are people who talk each other into believing things despite all evidence to the contrary, aren't there. I suspect there always will be. I wish it were otherwise. Please report back on Labyrinth of Lies when you have a chance to see it.

The white melkooses are lovely, the g-raft is cool, the joint's jumpin' and me for the beach!

>78 benitastrnad: - That was a stag. At least, that was what Sister Monica Joan kept referring to it as.

Wow! Never seen one in white before. Genetically, this must be rare.

Happy Thursday!

>83 jnwelch: Funny, I have a biography of Ngaio Marsh near the top of the tbr mountain, and as I hadn't read her books for many years, just bought two home from the library Joe.

>81 jnwelch: Ask and you shall receive: https://www.wildsweden.com/about/facts-about-moose

"WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MOOSE AND ELK?
Read carefully, this can be confusing!

The photo above shows a Moose according to North American English. In Swedish this animal is called Älg. And in British English it is called Elk. In fact they are the same species, Alces alces. But this is when it gets really confusing… In North America there is another member of the Deer family, the Wapiti, which is often referred to as Elk. So, the Swedish Älg is called Moose in American English and an Elk in British English. So it is the same species. But remember that the Elk in Europe is not the same as Elk in North America. Confusing? Take a deep breath and read again!

In other words… There are two different Elks, but only one Moose. And that’s the reason why we choose to call the Swedish Älg a Moose."

>88 Oberon:. “Natasha! It is another conspiracy from Elk and Squirrel! I mean, Moose and Squirrel!”

>84 richardderus: I think "melkoose" solves the problem, Richard, so thank you for that. A Bulls win is as rare as sighting a white melkoose. There we go.

Isn't that g-raffe cool?

What beach are you going to? Seems like any nearby one would be pretty icy this time of year.

>85 jessibud2: Hmm. A stag melkoose on Call the Midwife. That's one strange plot twist, Shelley.

>86 figsfromthistle: Happy Thursday, Anita! From what I've seen, they're albinos, and yes, rare! I can see why folks sighting them give them magical significance.

>87 Caroline_McElwee: That is a strange bit of psychic connection, Caroline. Are you sure you didn't bring home two copies of Magical Negro?

Our daughter is a Ngaio Marsh fan; I believe she's read them all. Combine her mystery reading with her true crime reading, and I'm beginning to think she's in training to be an ace criminal.

>88 Oberon: Just ignore Boris and Natasha up in >89 jnwelch:, Erik. That's a fine bit of research you did, and I now know way more about elk, moose, and melkooses than I did when the day started.

Thanks for the cuppa, Joe!

>88 Oberon: I've always heard the flat horned ones called moose. In the US. But I don't hang out with hunters or game wardens. Wikipedea: "The moose (North America) or elk (Eurasia), Alces alces," the horns of the pictured animals have large flat areas.

Hello Joe!



Apparently, I started something regarding Ngaio Marsh. :-P I can definitely tell you that the curly font used on the Magical Negro reminiscent of Marsh's name on a number of editions.

But, Joe. 1917! It is all that and the best breakfast offering the cafe can supply. Awe-inspiring! It really needs to be seen in the theater. I hope you get to it.

>40 jnwelch: Yes, loved the GN of Handmaid's Tale and really want to get to Testaments!!

Cool pictures of the albino beasts.

Joe! I'm excited to read about the impending arrival of another grandchild! I know it will be a little while yet but can't wait for photos.

>91 alcottacre: You're welcome, Stasia!

>92 quondame: I'd probably add the technical term "galumphy" for moose, Susan. I'm not sure about fat, but moose are definitely horned and galumphy. Their legs always seem unlikely to me. Among other things, we got to see them when a bunch of the family went to Yellowstone and thereabouts. And a whole lot of elk in a town near Yellowstone apparently known for elk conventions.

>93 brodiew2: Hello Brodie! I can see what you mean re the curly font for both Magical Negro and Ngaio Marsh.

Good to hear re 1917! It's gotten raves, and snagged the Golden Globe for best picture - but that doesn't always add up to a great movie experience. I don't know whether we'll see it in the theater; we're going day to day waiting for Fina's debut. But I'd like to.

>94 Berly: Hiya, Kim. Wasn't the GN of Handmaid's Tale great? I was really pleased with what they did. Testaments is scary good.

>95 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! Ha! Yes, I imagine there will be photos. Oh my gosh, the thought of Madame MBH having photos of two of them to show to everyone we meet!

I just found out last night that Britbox has all the Sharpe episodes, starring Sean Bean. Napoleonic wars, great storytelling. Wooo! I'm going to be re-watching them asap. Patiently, not all at once, I promise. Madame MBH sighed.

P.S. They're based on the Bernard Cornwell books, which make for excellent book snacks.

Oooh, exciting news on the Fina front! I'm happy for you and MBH that you'll be able to be there to welcome her into the world!

>98 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! The excitement is abounding. We'll probably be in charge of Rafa for some of the time, too. We like that idea. :-)

>99 jnwelch: Oh, yes, I suspect that will be such a hardship, that Rafa-tending. Ha!

I am also excited to hear about another grandchild on the way. More cute baby pictures!

>97 jnwelch: Sean Bean and Sharpe are two favorites of mine. Enjoy!

>100 scaifea: LOL! Can't wait to be back with the very busy Rafa.

>101 brodiew2: Ha! There will be more cute baby photos, Brodie, for sure. We've already seen her face via ultrasound, but it just gives us a kinda sorta idea.

Sean Bean and Sharpe - right? Our daughter and I had a grand time watching all of them many years ago. The first one is as good as I remembered.

>75 jnwelch: That is a white moose, which is just as awesome.

Morning, Joe. Happy Friday. I am kicking off my long weekend. I have been paying bills online, and writing up a couple of mini-reviews. I have a doctor's appointment, this A.M. and then I am cuddling up with the books. Only 70 some pages left in Chaneysville, which has been a real nice surprise, despite his verbosity. I am also thoroughly engaged with Flight Behavior, so expect more warbling on that one. Enjoy your day.

BTW- We are going up to Milwaukee, with friends tomorrow and spending the night. Lots of brewery visiting and we will have lunch tomorrow with Nancy. Yah!!

Yay for being a big brother! Rafa will, eventually, be so excited.

>89 jnwelch: I think Elk and Squirrel sounds more sinister!

There are still moose in Minnesota but they are threatened here and thus get regular coverage in our press. Elk range more western than us.

Hi Joe!

Once again behind the 8-ball.... albino confusingly-named animals, Dobos Torte, weirdpa, Ngaio Marsh, new babies, and Sean Bean. If it's a series, I guess he doesn't die quickly?

TGiF, right, for someone who still dreads the-day-after-Sunday?

>103 msf59: Ha! You may have missed the elk and moose discussion, buddy. It's a moose here, and an elk in some European countries, and a melkoose in the world of Richard. I think I got that right.

>104 richardderus: Yeah, it'll be interesting to see what Rafa makes of Fina's arrival, Richard. I suspect she'll be another dog for a while from his POV, but we'll see. I agree, eventually he'll be excited, and we expect he'll be a great big brother.

>105 Oberon: Ha! Elk and Squirrel - maybe we could inspire a more sinister sequel to Rocky and Bullwinkle, Erik. I guess I'm not entirely surprised that you have elk in MN; I know Canada north of you has them. I'm sorry to hear they're threatened - is it hunting, or something else?

>106 karenmarie: Hi Karen!

Good summary of the action so far! LOL - Sean Bean does not get the Game of Thrones treatment in this one, and Sharpe manages to survive battle after battle.

Yes, TGIF - I'm reveling in it.

I love the Sharpe TV series (and not just because of a rather dashing younger Sean Bean). :-0 wishing you a fabulous weekend, Joe.

>96 jnwelch: Arrgh, flat, not fat.

>97 jnwelch: My husband got me a complete set of all the Sharpe seasons - I had enjoyed episodes and Regency/Napoleonic period was really one of my things. I got through maybe 3 seasons, I'm not sure, but gave up well before getting through them all. I loved the theme music and the way it was done.

>106 karenmarie: >107 jnwelch: Killing off the eponymous character unusual, though Lady Murasaki did it.

Waiting for the baby news Joe.......

Happy Friday, Joe! Like Bonnie, I am waiting for the baby news.

>76 jnwelch: My husband’s chosen grandfather name is “Grandad” which has had an interesting evolution. The grandkids are 3 years apart but both of them at first translated that to “dee-dah” which then morphed to “dee-Dad”; at 21 months that’s Lily’s name for him but going by her brother’s trajectory, we’ll be hearing “Grandad” by summer. (One year we put “Happy Birthday Dee-Dah” on his cake. He’s very grateful it didn’t stick.)

Hi Joe, how exciting - soon to be grandparents of two! Enjoy the arrival of Fina and your time with Raffa!

Dropping by for a quick cuppa, Joe. I like the art toppers.

Rafa is growing fast! Looking forward to seeing his sister.

Don’t look now but there’s a nekked giraffe wandering around your café.

Ooh, Sharpe. Classic telly memories.
There's a funny ad for Yorkshire tea at the moment. He reprises his skills at a pre-battle speech.
In case you like it: https://youtu.be/8cipMoGKXGE

Glad to read you didn't in fact break the thermometer!
I shall be lurking for sight of the new arrival. (Not another elk.)

Morning, Joe. Happy Saturday. We are leaving in about two hours, for Milwaukee. It will be nice to see Nancy. I wish the weather was better, though. Wish us luck.

Just dropping by - lots of coffee will be needed today.

Happy depths-of-winter, Joe. As I wandered through the kitchen, I chanced upon these dark chocolate-crabapple cakes.

Permaybehaps coffee could be procured?

Pulmo on Tuesdo. Good-oh!

>118 richardderus: Happy depths-of-winter, Richard. It's all snowy in our neck of the woods, after previous weeks of not-so-much.

I love it when you wander through the kitchen. Dark chocolate crabapple cakes, lightly dusted with snowy sugar. Perfect with coffee, which will be coming up shortly.

Pulmo on Tuesdo. You stumped me! Your heart swells with delight on Tuesday?

>108 lkernagh: Nice to have a fellow Sharpe-lover, Lori. Yes, Sean Bean being easy on the eyes helped keep our daughter interested when she watched with me, I imagine. She also was a big fan of his pal, Harper.

>109 quondame: Ha! Flat makes more sense, Susan. I've never ever had a hypo, I mean pypo, I mean typo in my psots.

Does your husband need a friend? A complete set of Sharpe, what a great gift. I built up a set of all of them over time. What I can tell you is that the later episodes are as good as the early ones, should you ever decide to jump back in again.

I'm a Sharpe nut, as you can tell. I've read all the books, too, and keep hoping Cornwell will write another one, even though I think by now he's covered the time periods so thoroughly that Sharpe would have to be in two places at the same time.

Yeah, the joke, as you probably know, with killing Sean Bean off, is that's what they did almost immediately in Game of Thrones. Shocker at the time. Kinda like killing off Drew Barrymore at the start of the first Scream movie..

>110 brenzi:, >111 alcottacre: Hi, Bonnie and Stasia. We're waiting to get the baby news, too. I know Adriana would love sooner rather than later for this big girl.

>112 NarratorLady: Ha! Thanks for the Grandad story, Anne. "Dee-dah" is a good one; I wouldn't mind that.

I'm infamous in the family for loving that our daughter called pajamas "jamajas". I loved it so much that, when she started saying pajamas, I tried to get her to go back to saying jamajas. I still miss it.

>113 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! Thanks! Exciting times. I'm hoping she's able to discuss books as soon as she shows up.

>114 humouress: Hi, Nina. Good to see you. I'm glad you like the toppers.

Rafa is growing so fast. When we Facetimed two weeks after we last saw him, he was already longer and his face a bit changed.

Ha! Thanks for the heads up on the nekkid giraffe. Was she all white? She shows up here once in a while - and never gets mistaken for a moose or elk.

Are you a tea or coffee person, for your cuppa? I'll do tea here, and we have coffee coming up.

>115 charl08: Yay! Another Sharpe fan. Hi, Charlotte. Classic, indeed. I've re-watched two so far, and they're just as good as I remembered.

LOL! Thanks for the link to the tea commercial. I love him swinging the sword around. I just watched him give that rousing speech in the show, as they ready for the French attack, featuring "3 shots a minute - but can you stand?"

I didn't break the thermometer, thank goodness; I'm just relieved that I warmed up enough to join those who have measurable temperatures.

We've seen the ultrasound photos, and we're pretty sure that, while she's a big girl, Fina's not an elk or moose.

>116 msf59: Happy Saturday, Mark. Safe travels and good luck with the trip to Milwaukee. The roads by us are okay - the above freezing temps help with the snowy roads, although it's slushy. Have a great time, and please say hi to Nancy for me!

>117 Coffee.Cat: Hi, Abby! Lovely to have you back with us on LT. Yes, lots of coffee is needed - Richard in particular has been waiting patiently. Here you go:

I brought a mug...

>120 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, that hits the spot.

>119 jnwelch: Having read LotR and GoT before their respective screenings I knew Sean Bean’s characters were in for it - but still, why, why?

ETA: I saw mention of the Sanditon TV series; I just managed to watch upto the end of episode 6 on the plane before we touched down in Singapore. It’s fun but more Regency-shocking than ‘Austen’. I’ll have to find the last episodes somewhere.

My library system (37 linked small town libraries) only has one copy of Girl, Woman, Other.

>59 jnwelch: O so true! Shared to FB!

Glad you got the moose/elk/alg thing sorted. Both are common in this area of western Montana. I have occasional stray elk wander through my place, but never a moose. Thank goodness! Moose blast through fences that elk and deer jump over. Moose can be quite crotchety and are easily twice the size of my horses. I have been chased twice by a moose - once at the local river park and once in an inflatable canoe in the Idaho wilderness.

Fina, Fina (little Jo) where when are you???

>124 streamsong: Wow, that's surprising for a Booker winner that's had some much acclaim, isn't it, Janet. They need to get more copies of Girl, Woman, Other on hand.

Ha! Isn't >59 jnwelch: right on the money. I'm glad you were inspired to share it.

Montana makes for a challenging winter but, oh my, the wildlife and landscape. Both moose and elk - love it. Wow, not many people can say they got chased twice by a moose. I'm glad you got away! I remember how huge they are.

Fina has lots of folks eagerly awaiting her arrival. She's big enough to show up any minute, but it may be a few more days. We're trying to get ready to jump on a plane as soon as we get word.

I had a great time with Wandering Star - if you like science fiction and graphic novels, you'll probably want to give it a try. It's a collection of Teri S. Wood's labor of love over many years, and is a great tale of seemingly outmatched Earth and a few students of the Galactic Academy, along with a couple of unusual on-ship aliens, trying to stave off and defeat the ruthless and determined Bono Kiro. We get an inside look with protagonist Casandra as it all unfolds.

I figured it's easiest to give you the comments on the Amazon page to give you the flavor:

"Wandering Star is a beautiful story, written years before its time. Space epics were not in vogue when Teri Wood wrote and drew this story. She didn't do it for fame, or money, she did it for love. And, she crafted her story without the influence of today's trendy tropes. That's the perfect combination for timeless fiction. Since its completion, Wandering Star has sat squarely in the company of the most beloved works of fiction, waiting for its time. Thanks to this omnibus, the time is now." — Terry Moore "Simply one of the best sci-fi comics ever written." — Overstreet's Fan Magazine
This much-praised space drama follows the far-flung adventures of Casandra, daughter of the President of the United Nations of Earth and the first terran accepted into the Galactic Academy. Casandra discovers to her woe that Earth isn't the most popular of planets and joins the outcasts working on Wandering Star, the Galactic Alliance's prototypical spaceship. When the Bono Kiro, the Alliance's longtime enemy, makes a sudden reappearance, Casandra and her misfit crew just might turn out to be the galaxy's last hope. Sure to delight the legions of fans of the series, this beautiful hardcover edition collects all 21 of the original comics for the first time.
"Wood's science-fiction series shows her clear vision of story and character — and excellent ability to delineate both." — Comics Buyers Guide
"Good science fiction turns on a compelling 'what if'. In this case, it's 'What if the Earth wasn't the center of the civilized universe?'" — Comics Worth Reading
"No one should be allowed to write a first book this good. A cross between Anne McCaffrey and Jim Starlin; humanistic yet still plot-oriented." — Cold Cut Distribution
"Potent, powerful, uplifting, and painfully realistic, this is a war story that deals with consequences rather than as simple victories and defeats." —Now Read This

“We are all dying, and because of us, so is the earth. That’s the most terrible, the most painful in my entire repertoire of self-torturing thoughts. But it isn’t dead yet and neither are we. Are we going to drop the earth off at the vet, say goodbye at the door, and leave her to die in the hands of strangers? We can decide, even now, not to turn our backs on her in her illness. We can still decide not to let her die alone.”
― Pam Houston, Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country

“What edges out the worry, of course, is the wonder. Because what could be better than 48 inches in twenty-four hours (76 inches is the local record), than a couple of Irish wolfhounds leaping though bottomless powder with giant smiles on their faces, than a herd of two hundred elk making their stately way chest-deep in the snowbound pasture toward the river? Best of all, what accompanies each snowstorm is the knowledge that the aquifer is getting replenished, that summer wildfire fear is assuaged, if not abated, that the rivers will be full of trout and the pastures full of flowers come July.”

“Could a person mourn and be joyful simultaneously? I understood it as the challenge of the twenty-first century. Maybe it was simply what being a grown up meant.”

This memoir from Pam Houston centers around a 120-acre southern Colorado ranch she fell in love with. She bought it for only 5% down from a sympathetic owner, with money the author made from her successful debut, Cowboys Are My Weakness. Sprinkled throughout are vignettes from the ranch, like how to deal with a difficult ram, and the decline of a beloved dog. She overcame a horrible childhood, salvaged by a god's gift nanny, and worked all over the world in various wilderness-related jobs, often as a trail guide. She finances the ranch payments by teaching writing seminars all over the country and abroad, recruiting ranch caretakers for her times of absence from those she encounters.

A prevailing theme is in the first three quotes: our planet is in dire straits, yet still contains wonders. Can we mourn and be joyful simultaneously? Are we just going to drop it off at the vet's, or is there more we can do?

She writes honestly, and beautifully, and has an amazing supply of experiences to draw her stories from. Many thanks to Mark and others for pointing me to this one. My wife started reading it as soon as I was finished. It would get five stars except I thought the author went on too long, with extraneous detail, about a wildfire that threatens the ranch and affects her deeply. So half star off, but others might not be so critical.

>120 jnwelch: I found that as I've aged some books and shows just seem to go into repeats of same-same, which is what happened to me on both the Sharpe TV series and the Poldark books. And while I've read the Game of Thrones novels, the TV series didn't catch me. Partly it's that I can't hear the dialog most of the time, also the fashion for low lighting/dark visuals gives me eyestrain.

Boromir's fate was well known, and course Stark was too stupid to live, so his demise in the book didn't bother me at all. I think those are the only two I've seen, though I understand there are almost 2 dozen.

>124 streamsong: I would be happy if my local library system had 1 copy of it. There is not a copy to be found here.

>126 jnwelch: Adding that one to the BlackHole!

>127 jnwelch: I get to dodge that BB because Mark already hit me.

As usual - it's difficult for me to keep up with your thread.. I'd best get here now before you're on to a new thread ;-)

Love the artwork up top!

I need to get back to Paper Girls.

>127 jnwelch: I'm glad you enjoyed Deep Creek so much, Joe. I also loved it. I even loved the long tale of the wildfire; it was so visceral and vivid (is that redundant? -- I don't think so...). Anyway, I'm glad to see it getting love in these parts.

I admit that I'm only skimming through your thread, giving the café a quick perusal. I had one helluva week at work although I was very proud that I went to yoga three evenings. P was out of town so I was flying solo -- I rather enjoyed it but it's good to have her home, too. Anyway, busy life, blah blah, so it goes.

Next week I'll be spending one night in Palm Springs, presenting at the University of Portland's Board retreat about college mental health. It will be a whirlwind trip but I'm looking forward to it.

I hope you're having a great weekend!

>128 quondame: I know what you mean about same-same, Susan, but I have a high tolerance for it if I love the series. Probably the epitome of that is Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, and yet they still make me laugh, and I still read them. There is a certain remarkable art to being able to come up with so many creative variations on a set formula. I've read all the Sharpe books, as I said - you know he's going to prevail, but they're historically-based, so the variations come from that, and changes in relationships among the characters. I've read all the Poldark books, too, although I have fallen off on the tv series, knowing what's going to happen.

I'm a big fan of subtitles (closed caption) for non-American English programs, which could help the hearing problems, but some folks don't like them.

>129 alcottacre: Yikes, Stasia. I can understand (barely) low library budgets, but not having even one copy in the system of a Booker winner? Shame on them.

Oh good, re Wandering Star. For me it was a page-turner, and I hope the same happens for you when the time comes.

Ha! Already been hit is the best reason for dodging a BB.

>130 SuziQoregon: I know what you mean, Juli. It's particularly hard to keep up with the threads in January each year, seems to me. I'm glad you were able to stop by. Aren't those Colon illustrations great? Perks me up here in the snow country.

It's a challenge to keep up with the time-hopping in Paper Girls, isn't it, but they're so worth it.

>131 EBT1002: I can easily imagine your love for Deep Creek, Ellen. That's one I'd say was written for you. On the wildfire, she obviously (and understandably) was fascinated by all that she learned and all that was happening, but, for me, she overshared by quite a bit. I may have been affected by having read the powerful Young Men and Fire by the guy who wrote A River Runs Through It. Deep Creek is getting love all over the place among the 75ers; I wish I could remember who finally tipped me over the edge - it might have been you!

I understand on the skimming this thread; there are so many posts flying up right now all over the LT campus. Good for you for doing the yoga. If you can squeeze in some meditation, I recommend it. Debbi's gotten into a routine of doing it every day, and feels it's really helping with the stress. Yeah, I like being alone for a few days, and then I start missing the heck out of my much better half.

Mmm, we're in a "feels like 14 below" day right now. Palm Springs sounds awfully good. My presenting days are behind me - my stuff always took a lot of prep and a paper, and I'm too lazy now. But for Palm Springs, I'd consider it.:-) I know it'll go well for you; maybe you can work in some of your recent reading. Sure, Joe.

We are having a great weekend, thanks. I hope you are, too. We're off soon to Becca's place; she is making brunch for us. I'm sure Indy will be charging around and quite happy to see us. She even licks the phone when we Facetime with Becca.



Indy checking out the snow

I love this Jean-Michel Folon fountain called "The Rain Man".

>133 jnwelch: That fountain is a hoot!

Enjoy your morning brunch with your family!

>133 jnwelch: How lovely! Perfect commentary on certain less-than-sunny personality types.

I hope y'all's brunch was a good time.

The elk and giraffe,oh my!

So many cool things to look at in your thread! Glad to see the cafe is still open :)

>134 laytonwoman3rd:. Isn’t it, Linda?!

>135 ChelleBearss:. Thanks, Chelle. We did! Great visit with Becca and Indy, and delicious pastries and coffee.

>136 richardderus:. Brunch was indeed a good time, and thanks re the less than sunny rain man.

>137 mckait:. Ha! Hiya, Kath. Great to have you visit. I’m glad you’re finding cool things on the thread; yup, we’ll be open 24/7 all year. :-)

Bargain: The fun novel The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is available on Kindle today for $1.99.

>133 jnwelch: It is a valid love object! Clever, humor, art, all the things! Now what dose it look like frozen?

Hooray! Glad you read Deep Creek. i actually loved the wild-fire section, but maybe that's from living in the West. And hooray, also, for Norman McLean, who is also one of my favorites.

>127 jnwelch: Excellent review of Deep Creek. Big Thumb! I am so glad you loved this one and that you got Debbi to read it too.

Happy Sunday, Joe. We had a good time in Milwaukee, (shocking, right?) and great to visit with Nancy. You guys will have to join us up there, one of these times.

We got home around noon and I have had a lazy afternoon with the books and football. Nice Chiefs win. What an exciting team. I hope you had a good day too.

I love that Indy licks the phone when you Facetime with Becca. Dogs are so unbridled in their enthusiasm for the humans they love. It kind of makes me want a dog....

>139 jnwelch: I have a copy of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill from the library but it is due before I am going to get to it. I'll return it and check it out again soon. Someone must have it on hold because I can't renew it. Okay, fine. I'll share. Heh.

>132 jnwelch: Neither my sister’s dog nor Jasper seems to have any interest in the flat 2D phone images with no smell, even when we try to introduce them to each other (they live on different continents).

>133 jnwelch: So cool!

>140 quondame: Ha! Thanks, Susan. I don't know whether it ever does get frozen where it is. It sure would in our neck of the woods.

>141 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. I'm very glad I read Deep Creek, too. There certainly were parts of the wildfire section I loved, and that's a good point about living in the West. We don't get wildfires sitting by the lake, and I didn't experience any when I lived in S. Cal. Good to have a fellow Norman Maclean appreciator!

>142 msf59: Thanks, buddy, and thanks for the Big Thumb! Yes, I was enthusing a lot about Deep Creek to Debbi while reading it, and I knew it was just the kind of book she loves.

Happy Sunday and the next day to you. I'm glad and not shocked that you had a good time in Milwaukee and a great visit with Nancy. :-) That would be fun to join you some time. We still haven't visited their museum. Pal Keith recommends it highly.

That Chiefs team is exciting, isn't it. What a player that Mahomes is. That TD run of his - wow. I was happy that SF won, too (sorry, Linda P.!) This should be a great Super Bowl.

>143 EBT1002: Isn't that funny about Indy licking the phone, Ellen? It was fun to visit with her in person/in dog yesterday. She was quite enthusiastic when she wasn't lying in front of the back glass sliding door soaking up the sun.

Nina Hill makes for a great change of pace when you're in the mood for something lighter. Makes me smile to think of it.

>144 humouress: I've been amazed that Indy know it's us when we're Facetiming, Nina. I can tell our voices have a lot to do with it. Little Rafa knows it's us, too, when we Facetime; maybe I shouldn't be surprised by that, but I am. He's learned "Hola!", so we got a lot of that this weekend, with waving.

Isn't >133 jnwelch: cool? That's one of my favorites ever.

Paper artist unidentified

>146 jnwelch: - WOW! Exquisite! Besides the obvious talent, the artist sure needs good eyes and steady hands!

>146 jnwelch: How beautiful and fragile looking!

>147 jessibud2: Right, Shelley? Those look so delicate. I can't imagine the steady hands that takes.

>148 ChelleBearss: Agreed, Chelle! Amazing.

>146 jnwelch: - Those are amazing!

>146 jnwelch: Stunningly beautiful! Frustrating not to know who made them, I'd like to see more of their work.

>150 lkernagh:. Thanks, Lori!

>151 richardderus:. Aren’t they, Richard? I was hoping some patron would know or find the artist. At least I can give you a link to see more: https://youtu.be/XX-SsMFv4OA

Parth Kothekar's Facebook page has been idle since 2018....

>146 jnwelch: >153 richardderus: But this does have full attribution!

His Etsy shop has this marvy:

>133 jnwelch: I love it! I want one.

>146 jnwelch: Wow, that is a special talent. I cannot imagine my hands holding steady enough to be able to do that.

>146 jnwelch: Manicure scissors right? Amazing.

Morning, Joe. Safe travels today. Got all your reading material along?

Richard, Susan, Stasis, and Bonnie: Thanks - I'm glad you're enjoying the sculptures and finding some new ones!

>158 msf59: I just texted you, buddy - the schedule has moved up! Yes, I've got my reading material lined up - The Testaments, Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, Operation Mincemeat, and some backups on Kindle. Phew!

Adriana's water broke this morning, and we're flying to Pittsburgh later today. Fina is on her way!





The proprietor will be gone for a week, but we'll have plenty of staff on hand to assist you.

>160 jnwelch: A busy, happy week ahead! Have a lot of fun, y'all!

Most exciting news, Joe! Keeping you all in our thoughts. Safe travels.

Wishing safe travels for you and safe delivery for Adriana. Can't wait to meet Fina!

Good morning, Joe!



Do you have ham and cheese croissants on the menu?

>146 jnwelch: Beautiful paper art. love the little girl.

>155 richardderus: nice one, Richard. I need to what it says. procrastinating too much.

>157 brenzi: I was guessing laser, but research suggests otherwise. Very similar art by Pippa Dyrlaga Just amazing.

>160 jnwelch: All the best to everyone! Thank goodness the weather is OK for traveling Grandparents.

duplicate post removed.

All the best and fingers crossed for Adriana's easy delivery. Looking forward to meeting Fina. Hope Rafa is, too, though, be prepared, in case not so much...;-) His kingdom is about to be invaded forever!

Those artists of the exquisite paper art are incredible. Reminds me of Canadian paper artist Ron Broda. His work is different from this but equally astounding. I will try to find something online to link to. If I can't, I can try to take a pic of some pages from some of the books of his I own.

Beautiful review of Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country. I really need to read that one.

Lovely exquisite paper art!

Yay for Fina! All good wishes sent to Adriana and Fina! Safe travels to you! So much excitement.

Hi Joe and welcome to the new year.

>146 jnwelch: The New York Historical Society a favorite haunt of Judy's and mine is having a little show about silhouettes - the kind that were cut from black paper in the days before the photograph.


not quite on the same level as the delicate lace tracery of your cut outs but also endlessly fascinating.

>169 magicians_nephew: - It's been an eon since I read it but wasn't there a character in E. L. Doctorow's Ragtime who did this type of silhouette art? Or am I imagining it?

Nothing wrong with your memory.



Tatah the Jewish immigrant widower starts out cutting silhouettes for a nickel a throw and winds up as a big time silent movie producer.

Oh, YAY!!! Safe travels and all sorts of easy delivery and happy-healthy baby thoughts!!

>164 brodiew2: I don't know a single solitary soul who doesn't need to hear/see/believe this on a daily basis. Most definitely not me!

*excepting^^^

>171 magicians_nephew: - Thanks, Jim. I saw the wonderful stage play of Ragtime here in Toronto back in the 1980s, it has to have been. I had read the book before that, though. Is that Mandy Patinkin, it that photo?

>175 jessibud2: That IS Mandy Patinkin...what a wonderful actor. The movie is pretty wonderful too.

I read the first 12 of the Richard Sharpe books, back in the day and loved them. I also loved the BBC mini-series based on the books. The books, by Bernard Cornwell are full of all kinds of information. Like the fact that a good rifleman could load and fire three shots a minute with that muzzle loading rifle.

These were the books that launched Cornwell's career. Nowadays, he is mostly known for being the author of the Last Kingdom series in the U.K., or the Saxon Stories here in the U. S. These are the books that are the basis for the Netflix series that stars Alexander Dreymon as Utred. Suzanne says this series is just as good as the Sharpe books. I have not read them, but if you like adventure and history then they should be just as good as the Sharpe books.

>160 jnwelch: woo hoo! Bring it on, Fina!

Safe travels to you, Joe, and a safe delivery for baby Fina!

Just stopped by to see if Miss Fina had made an entrance yet - looks like I have excellent timing! Hope all is going well.

ooo, an exciting new delivery. Happy days Joe.

Any News?? I woke up, expecting to hear about a new arrival.

>182 msf59: What Mark said. Thinking of you and yours, Joe.

Hoping all went well with Adri and Fina, and that Rafa and whatsisname-the-sperm-donor are gruntled and kempt.

Thanks, everyone! All went well, and Fina debuted at 11 pm last night, at 7 lbs 13 oz with lots of hair. Adri is sore but very happy. We kept Rafa gruntled and kempt, and just dropped him off at his escuela. We’ll be heading over to see Fina, Adri and what’s-his name the father in a few minutes.

Congrats to the whole family on the new arrival!

Glad to hear the happy news and am looking forward to photos!

Congrats to all! :-)

Congratulations!

Applauding wildly

Woo hoo! Congratulations, and welcome Fina!

Have a high old time, Joe! Getting a new child into the family is way better than even sliced bread. Wonderful, wonderful.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Congrats!! Glad to hear mom and babe are well!

Welcome to Fina, and good thoughts to Rafa! And you and the parents and, well, just everyone!

Congratulations to you all on the birth of Josefina, she is beautiful.

>185 jnwelch: Congrats to the new grandparents and parents.

What Great News - Welcome to Little Fina and Joy and Fun to the Big New Brother!
With a peaceful and relaxing recovery to Mom...

Congrats to all!

Congratulations from all of us here at the Pecan Paradisio, Joe!!

Congratulations Grandpa, Papa, Granddad, Poppy or whatever name you go by Joe.

Oh how lovely! Congratulations to all the family but especially Adri. Besides the joy if welcoming a beautiful daughter into the world, she has the added joy of not being pregnant anymore! It sounds like that 9th month was a rough one. 👶 🍼🎉🥰

Congratulations to all! Anxiously awaiting pictures of the new grandbaby :)

Congrats to the Welch Family! Big Hugs from the Mighty 75! I hope mom and baby are doing just fine.

Congratulations to the whole family!

Thanks, everyone!

I'm thinking you might like to see a photo or two? Especially those cafe-goers who aren't on Facebook? Here you go:

Beautiful girl!!!

wow! Lovely baby!

>208 SuziQoregon:, >209 torontoc: Thanks, Juli and Cyrel! She has enchanted all of us.

What a love!

Sweet pics! Her hair and Rafa's are so different! :-)

>207 jnwelch: Ah, that photo of her daddy holding her, so sweet!

Congratulations, Joe!

>207 jnwelch: *baaawww* what a pweshus! Oh, is that...erm...uhh...whozits, y'know, the father? My how he's grown.

>207 jnwelch: Congratulations!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to share photos, Joe.

Awww, she's beautiful - congrats to all of you!

>207 jnwelch: Congratulations to all!! What a cutie!! With so much hair! LOL Have fun. : )

>185 jnwelch: wow- I had no idea there was another addition arriving!!! Congratulations, I love the name too :)

Also, Joe- was it you who flagged the group to LT?? ;) Jokes, I know you wouldn't put all that we have here under the bus. Weird though, right?

A café toast to the new Welch lass:

>207 jnwelch: A little beauty. Congratulations to her parents. What did Rafa have to say about his little sister Joe?

Awww, such a sweet little bundle. How lovely. Thanks for taking the time to post pics, Joe.

Thanks, everyone! She’s a sweetie-pie.

So far Rafa is puzzled by his little sister, but knows her name and can point to her, and knows she’s a baby. She comes home today, so we’ll see how that goes.

>219 LovingLit:. This is news to me, Megan. I didn’t know one could flag a group! Were we misbehaving again?

That new member of the Joe Clan is beautiful! And I'll echo >222 lauralkeet: Laura and say thank you for taking time out to share her with us! (Good call, Laura!)

>224 scaifea: Many thanks to you and Laura for the appreciation, Amber. It makes me happy that folks here are interested and so supportive.

I was just saying to Mark that it's hard sometimes here to put two consecutive minutes together - it's a team effort with Debbi, me and our DIL's mother Alba, but there's an awful lot needing doing. I think we'll get a breather now that Fina's home, but I'm probably wrong. Debbi and I go to pick up the charming Rafa from school in a few minutes, and then he'll come home to find Fina here getting an awful lot of the attention that normally goes to him. He's a sweet guy, so I suspect it'll be fine. Fina was smart, and bought Rafa a gift - a 3 and a half foot high basketball hoop for him to play on. So she'll probably be in his good books.

>225 jnwelch: That Fina is a smart cookie already. And Rafa has such an amazing support system in place that I suspect he'll weather Hurricane Little Sister just fine.

Congratulations, Joe! I am thrilled to learn of the Fina's arrival!

>207 jnwelch: beautiful pictures. Let's hope Rafa does not get too jealous.

Star Trek: Picard dropped on CBS All Access today. I hope to watch it this evening.

Congratulations, Joe!

>225 jnwelch: - Rafa will be fine. Until Fina becomes mobile. Then all hell will break loose! ;-) So they say...

Nice touch, that basketball gift. :-)

congratulations to all for little Fina! I'm sure we will be seeing her again (grin).

>207 jnwelch: Love these photos! And love all the dark hair on Fina!

I did see your text, Joe. I am glad all is going well there. Hugs and High-Fives to both of you!

Congratulations to all. She's beautiful Joe! Now.....let the fun begin.

Congratulations to all ~ What a beautiful wee girl !

Lovely news, and beautiful pictures of the new addition. I hope the introductions to big brother go well too.

Good morning! Thanks for the congratulations and good thoughts!

Fina is home and sleeping a lot after making the arduous journey into the world. Her big bro Rafa is being great with her, and wouldn’t go to bed last night without saying good night to her. Sweet!

Rafa’s already dunking on his basketball hoop. While Fina is sleeping he remains the busiest boy ever. Yesterday we taught him James Brown’s “I Feel Good” song, which will be streaming on your favorite service soon I’m sure.

Off to school . . .

>207 jnwelch: Love the photos & Congratulations!!!

>235 jnwelch: That is SO sweet about Rafa saying good night to Fina. I am crazy happy for you and your family, and will be looking forward to hearing all about her in the future.

>207 jnwelch: So very squishy and cute! And that hair! Thanks for sharing

Hey Joe, happy "it's what now?"day.

Love that new baby, Joe. I thought our Ned was born with a lot of hair. Phhht! Fina's got much better, fuller locks. Sweeeeet.

Congrats to you all on the new bit of sugar. Such a sweetie!

A squeeze-in post: thanks, Abby! Rafa!s being really good with Fina. She’s mainly hungry and sleepy right now, but already is specializing in looking really cute. I hope to get some more pics tomorrow.

OK, that was it. Ha!

Morning, Joe! Happy Saturday. It is snowing here, as I get ready to head out to work. Hope the accumulations stay minimal. Looking forward to the next 2 days off.

I hope everything is going well there. I am sure you both are enjoying the new arrival. Go Fina and her big brother!

So glad to hear that things are going well. Fina was very smart to give Rafa the basketball hoop.

And that head of hair! Amazing.

Welcome, beautiful Fina!
Congratulations to all!

>237 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! Fina is squishy-delightful and quite the cutie, isn't she? She also has a remarkable set of lungs when it's time to cry. :-) Last night I got to be a hero by calming down a distraught Fina and getting her to sleep by walking her around and singing a medley of songs no one has heard before and probably won't ever hear again. I do remember there were rhymes.

>238 richardderus: Huh? What time of what day did you say, RD? We just gave Rafa his breakfast and I made some coffee (French press Peet's - you'd be happy), so I'm guessing morning on that day or the other one.

>239 weird_O: Ha! She does have a sweet set of locks, doesn't she, Bill. Her mom has a gorgeous head of hair, and says in her family babies with hair are the usual in her family. Rafa, not so much.

>242 msf59: Morning, Mark! It's a peachy Saturday here, on snow (thanks! - we were wondering what day of the week it is). Poured lots of rain yesterday. Usually it's a bit warmer here than Chicago - which is a good thing, as their many hills would be tough if they got our weather. Son #1 says it is tough those times when they do, and that there's an art to avoiding the worst hills.

I hope today goes well, and your Sunday when you get to it. Rafa is being quite sweet with Fina, continuing his long run as best kid ever. Oops, it's changed a bit, hasn't it. He's now the best boy ever, and best big brother, now that he has a little sister.

>243 karenmarie: Things are going well, thanks, Karen. Team Ramirez-Welch is proving to be extremely valuable. Madame MBH had one of my sisters for a week for our first one (Becca), and that's it. We're wondering how the heck we did it. How Fina knew, at her young age, that Rafa would love a basketball hoop, is beyond me. Wise beyond her years, that little one.

Isn't her hair something? She gets that from her mom, seems to me, but her mom thinks it's going to turn light brown, as did one of the nurses.

>244 Carmenere: Thanks, says Fina, Lynda!

Thank you! We're a happy, if bedraggled, bunch. :-)

>244 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!

>177 benitastrnad: Thanks, Benita. I did get through some of the Alfred the Great and the Saxon books, but they didn't reach the level of the Sharpe books for me. One of his others I did like an awful lot was Agincourt, centered around that famous battle.

*sips french-press Folgers*

They do perform miracles, don't they.

So what do y'all plan to do today? Hit the museums, do a bit of bar-hopping?

Morning, Joe! Love the photos of your granddaughter - so sweet. Thanks for sharing. And the basketball hoop was genius!

>245 jnwelch: my sister was born with a mop of nearly black hair, it fell out and grew back nearly blond, then settled mid brown. Something to do with my dad genes (though he had black hair, some of his nieces were fair), my brother and I had dark brunette hair.

Hope you've enjoyed another grandparental day Joe.

Congratulations to the whole clan, Joe. Isn't it amazing how much activity a new addition makes?

>146 jnwelch: Wow! Those are amazing.

And ---- CONGRATULATIONS to the whole family and WELCOME Fina!!!!

>246 richardderus:. I remembered you were a French press aficionado, Richard. Major Dickason’s on our end. Delish, but the traveling proprietor makes it a wee bit strong, IMO. I’ll have a talk with him about it.

Museums, bar-hopping, bookstores - yes, we dream of a life with those happening. But right now diapers and feeding and carrying children, and playing with building blocks and toys and balls and who knows what-all are what’s on the menu.😀

>247 Crazymamie:. Morning, Mamie! I’m glad you like the photos. I’m hoping to get a couple of more up today if time permits.

That Fina was able to think of giving her big bro a b-ball hoop, with all she was going through, is impressive, isn’t it.

>248 Caroline_McElwee:. That’s what they’re expecting, I understand, Caroline- half the hair falling out at some point, and coming back a different color. We’ll see. It’s fun right now, isn’t it.

Yesterday was a tough grandparental day - poor Rafa was tossing his cookies, and chaos was peeking around every corner. Today has started much more peacefully. Rafa has turned the living room into an intricate experimental lab full of surprising projects, and I’m able to drink my coffee and offer suggestions and theories to test.

>249 Familyhistorian:. Hi, Meg. It’s amazing all the activity a new addition causes, isn’t it. Two in diapers is tough - ours were 4 years apart. Our son and DIL are already wondering what they’re going to do when we’re gone! We are coming back for a short stint in about 2 and a half weeks.

>250 EBT1002:. Aren’t those paper cutout sculptures cool, Ellen?

Thank you! Rafa and Fina are waving their little manos.

I'm sure the cookie-tossing was just one of the activities planned to make sure that not *all* attention is diverted to the new *pet*. ;-). Speaking of which, how are the pooches coping??

Oof - sorry about the cookie tossing. That is rough. Two in diapers is a bit chaotic - Daniel and Abby are only 14 months apart, but they will find their rhythm. It's one of those things where you feel like you are stuck in a moment, and then suddenly you are through. Like traffic - heh. They are SO lucky to have you and Debbi - what lovely grandparents you both are.

>255 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. Yes, there's a lot of finding of rhythm going on. The good part about a second kid is they know it's going to be all right. But exhaustion and no sleep of course is tough. Fina's still learning that food's right there, and she needn't worry. Rafa misses his folks at times, and the dogs are wondering where all the attention to them went. :-)

>254 jessibud2: Hiya, Shelley. Rafa's something else. He's going along like normal before tossing his cookies, and then after, same thing, although he was needier for holding yesterday. So far so good.

The pooches are desperate for attention, but know they can't yet lick Fina. Rafa's in their pack, so he rumbles with them some, but they'd like lots more.

At top, Fina at home, at bottom, Fina shortly after arrival while in hospital, with her parents and Rafa

Congratulations to everyone! Fina is adorable, and of course now that she has the LT Seal of Approval, her life is charmed. I always thought having a big brother would have been a very nifty thing (I only had a little brother, which is a lot different, I imagine), so I'll be waiting to see Fina's take on that subject once she's a little older.

>257 jnwelch: Lovely!

>257 jnwelch: ...and, from 2036, I hear the plaintive "Daaaad" in stereo as these images flash up on the kinotron during their graduation parties...

>259 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

>258 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda! Fina is a sweet one, and she'll be delighted to hear that she has the LT Seal of Approval and a charmed life ahead of her.

I had an older brother, but he died shortly after birth. I've got two older sisters, one of whom came after him and was planned. I've been told I was an"accident" (ha!) and a surprise. I was born in July; everyone else in my family was born in April. I've often wondered what it would've been like to have an older brother. Then we had a girl first, so she's the older sister for the new father of Fina.

Right now it's looking like Rafa will be a great older brother. I've been telling Fina to use her words, but so far it seems a little early. :-)

Like Rafa, I was the first grandchild on both sides of my family. However, Rafa may be lucky in that there is a small enough age gap that he possibly won't remember being toppled from the throne, as I did. I was 4 when my brother appeared on the scene. So far, he looks like he is assessing the situation and making his plans carefully....;-)

>257 jnwelch: Beautiful photos. Thanks so much for sharing them

Congratulations!

Great photos, Joe.

The February Fantasy thread is open for business:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/315995#

What a little love. Tampa, you’re going to have some fun times with those two!

>262 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. I suspect it's a bigger deal for Rafa not to be the only child any more, rather than only grandchild, although that may change. Fina needs so much attention from her parents that Rafa is getting lots and lots of time with three grandparents, and our DIL's father will show up tomorrow night. Rafa finally had a meltdown after nap today, and we all agreed it was about time - just lots of tears and need to be held. He's been so great with his new little sister - much more so than any of us expected.

>263 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. A pleasure.

>264 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori! DIL and new grandchild are both healthy and doing well, I'm glad to say.

>265 ronincats: Thanks, Roni. Oh good, I'll go and drop a star at the new Fantasy thread.

>266 NarratorLady: Ha! You're so right, Anne. Rafa is a hoot - his recent favorite is for the three grandparents to sing James Brown's "I Feel Good" and whomever's "Twist and Shout", while we all bang building blocks as percussion. He'll join in some of the time singing "Doodle doodle doo" as the chorus for I Feel Good. And he loves doing "Whee" and raising his arms at the end.

Fina is a sweetpea, but mainly seems to lay around right now. That's one of my favorite things to do, so she's all right by me.

Rafa can't really figure out how to say "Tampa" yet, and some of the off track betting money is on his coming to call me "Bubba" to go with "Bubbe" (Debbi). I'll keep you posted. I do like Tampa, which was the nickname of one of my grandfathers.

>257 jnwelch: Love these photos! Fina is an angel!

Happy Sunday, Joe. We just got back from a family birthday party. I did spend a little time with the books, before I left, but never quite enough. Have you ever read Alice Munro? I am really enjoying her story collection, Dear Life. She never disappoints. I am also crazy about Spying on the South. I am sure I will consider this one of the best books, that Horwitz has written. Very sad, that it will be his last.

Lastly, I forgot to mention, I am also enjoying Maggy Garrisson. This is definitely my cuppa. I wish I would have had more time with it today.

>257 jnwelch: etc Congratulations to all of you, Joe.

Breakfast tacos all around. Some avocado salsa (or extra-tomato-y guacamole) for those as partake:

>268 msf59:. Ha! Thanks, Mark! Fina is an angel- a very hungry one!

I’ve not read Alice Munro - sounds like Bad Mark, I mean, Bad Joe? You’ve got me looking forward to reading Spying on the South! My sister just gave me David McCullough’s The Pioneers, which also looks good. I just started Black God’s Drums, which I’m pretty sure was an Amber recommendation.

Yay for Maggy Garrisson! Isn’t that a good one?

>269 PaulCranswick:. Thanks, Paul.

>270 richardderus:. Thanks, RD! We’ll use the veggie bacon for our tacos. No, so far anyway, it doesn’t taste nearly as good as the real thing.

Mmm, that avocado salsa looks great. We were at a terrific Mexican restaurant yesterday (Patron’s), where they’ve known Rafa since he was 5 days old. Yes, he and Fina got quite the enthusiastic reception.😀

"Veggie bacon" isn't. Like "veggie sausage" *gag* it's abominable. The only way I'll give up eating lots of pig meat is if they prove it gives one kuru, and even that's debatable since it's a long-term disease and none of my terms are terribly long.

>273 richardderus:. Yeah, I get it. Morningstar Farm’s actually is pretty good, but you’d hate it. I think most vegetarians, or variations thereof (I eat fish, for example), would say they miss bacon. But I haven’t eaten pig meat for decades, and the idea has no appeal at this point.

The Impossible and Beyond burgers are getting a lot of media play, and they’re pretty good, too. The benefits to the environment become increasingly astronomical as more people switch away from meat in whole or part. But how to balance that against nummy-ness?

I "hate" to be the bearer of bad tidings, but the veggie burgers are marginally at best superior to meat ones in environmental terms. Agricultural practices and the widespread use of pesticides to keep yields high enough to feed us all mitigate other benefits into rough equality. Like plugging in your electric car...the power plant still uses coal/oil/natural gas to make the juice in most places.

That said, I had an Impossible Burger and quite liked it. Very nice flavor and texture.

>274 jnwelch: Alternative burgers can taste very good as well. Maybe better not to compare them with real meat.
Here's the Dutch Weed Burger:



And no, it isn't what you might think;-)
It's made with lots of seaweed, and soy, chlorella (kind of algae), and sea lettuce. And it tastes great!

I love your stories Joe! And wonderful how Rafa is handling it.

>275 richardderus: Glad to hear it about the Impossible Burger. We'll have to disagree about the environmental impact. There was a good New Yorker article about it recently - everyone speculates some as they project out the effects, but for me the environmental benefits and greater efficiency seem obvious - and you don't have the ethical issues of how the animals are raised and processed for the table.

Having said that, I think people need to come to their own conclusions. I haven't eaten meat since my 20s, and it's been gratifying to have that become so much more common, and to have restaurants now uniformly offer vegetarian options. Debbi and I used to joke that, back in the day, we got to eat steamed vegetables and side dishes when we went out with others to eat. My Dad used to call my sister and me his "children from the planet Vegetaria", but by the end he and my Mom were proudly telling us how rarely they ate meat.

So we'll see. It's like that great book that not everyone loves - I know it's great, but I don't expect everyone to see it the same way.

P.S. Here's the New Yorker article, if you or anyone else is interested: "Can A Burger Help Solve Climate Change" https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/09/30/can-a-burger-help-solve-climate-ch...

>276 EllaTim: Ha! Thanks, Ella. Yeah, maybe it's best not to compare alternative burgers with real meat for taste. I didn't see the Dutch Weed Burger offered when we visited you, or I would've tried it.

Thanks re the stories! It's been a very fun time, even if there's been a lot less sleep than we're used to. :-) Rafa is enjoying time with his pals and teachers today at his escuelita, and Fina has been having a relatively peaceful day of eating and sleeping. We made our third trip to Target, the big U.S. department store, since we arrived, and again got two cartfuls of what's needed (groceries, socks for newborns, ointment for newborns, cushions (boppies) for newborns, investment portfolios for newborns, musical selections for sophisticated newborns, the latest in newborn accessories . . . well, maybe it wasn't quite that bad. But Debbi and I do think they're going to start greeting us by our first names there.

Debbi, who you met of course, is admirably industrious, and today she washed and cleaned all of Rafa's toys. Wow! We feel like we're leaving them in pretty good shape - they've got what they need, as far as we can tell, and there's nothing we can do about the sleep deprivation.

>277 jnwelch: No, you still have to know where to find them, there are a lot more shoarma joints to be found here.

Haha, newborn portfolios, well who knows.

You're setting them up for a good start, very good Joe!

Baby Fina is a real beauty. She is so lucky to have a cool big brother like Rafa and likewise for her cool grandparents. Plus, she has a whole host of supporters from all over the world here on LT. I'm looking forward to seeing your two precious grands grow up into readers, Joe. Congratulations to the tired but oh-so-happy-family.

>278 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. The item that took up the most cart space was paper towels - the cleanups going on in the house are epic. (Yes, we got cloth cleanup towels, too).

>279 Donna828: Thank you, Donna. Baby Fina is in a sparkle hoodie right now that her dad bought her - she looks like a little Buddha to me. You know how it goes! It's great for them both to have all the cool supporters, including on LT. Rafa is already reading to us, although it's a third language that isn't Spanish or English. He also likes to point to animals, etc. in his books and name them, sorta kinda (gato with meow is one of his best). With two avid reader parents, I think he's headed for bibliophilism. It would be fine, of course, if not (wouldn't it?), but so much more fun if he's a reader.

Joe, I may have asked this with Rafa but are they speaking to them in both languages? I hope so as right from the beginning is the very best time to acquire languages and if the opportunity is there to grow up bilingual, why not? How is your son's Spanish?

>281 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Yes, Rafa is learning both Spanish and English. His mother is fluent in Spanish (and awesome in English!), and his abuelo and abuela speak to him in Spanish. We do some, too, although we're learning on the go, and are pretty rudimentary. The wisdom we received is focus on the Spanish with him, because he will get English naturally in being surrounded by it in an American city. He's also in a Spanish immersion escuelita, where it's all Spanish all the time from 8:30 - 3:30 every day during the week.

An interesting aspect I didn't know: Adriana grew up with kids who spoke both until age 5 or so, and from then on only spoke English, I guess because it was easier. They let their Spanish lapse. So she's already looking into ways to keep him in Spanish-speaking settings when he's older, apart from home. Her parents, who are fluent in English (especially her father) only spoke Spanish in their house, to keep her on top of it. Our son has gotten better, but I think it will be a mix in his/Adriana's house of Spanish and English. I will say, he speaks a lot of Spanish to Rafa, and keeps getting better.

You're right, now's the very best time for Rafa to acquire languages. As is common for a kid learning two at once, his speaking sentences at 22 months is delayed, but he understands extremely well.

We love it - we all don't really do a lot to encourage multi-language fluency in the U.S., but it's such a wonderful skill to have. It's fun for Debbi and me to try to get better at Spanish, but at our age it's a challenge. We've learned a ton on this trip, I'll say that much. Our DIL's mother is very patient in helping us and answering questions like, how do you say (this).

I don't think anybody would eat pork if they watched this 60 minutes report of a few weeks ago Joe:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-overuse-of-antibiotics-on-farms-worsening-the-sp...

>257 jnwelch: Love the photo of the four of them together, Joe. Rafa looks like he is really checking Fina out.

Your grandkids are really lucky to be brought up with two languages. I know that back in the day when my ex was brought up they only learned English at home even though his mother was French speaking, so the children of that family lost that part of their heritage. That was very common back in the day.

>282 jnwelch: I’m a great believer in children being brought up bilingual. It only has advantages as far as I’m concerned. There seems to be evidence that once one extra language has been acquired, a third language becomes easier.

My grandparents spoke Welsh as their first language but while they spoke Welsh with their oldest son, they spoke English with their other children, including my father, as the focus then was on speaking English above all else. So while my father certainly understood Welsh (they went to a Welsh speaking chapel), he didn’t speak it as a language around the home or at school and so it wasn’t passed on. If we’d have been living in Wales when J was a child I’d certainly have strongly considered sending him to a Welsh language school, which are popular even among English speaking parents.

>271 jnwelch: Yay for Black God's Drums! (Yes, it was me, and I hope you love it!)

We still eat meat here, but we've cut back quite a bit, both for health and environmental reasons. Charlie was born nearly a natural vegetarian; he's not fond of many meats at all and will go for the vegetables and fruits first every time.

>283 brenzi:. I’ll bet that’s right, Bonnie. I can’t read it now, as I’ve got Rafa duty and we leave for the airport soon.

>285 SandDune: Thanks, Meg. Rafa was great with Fina; I have another photo somewhere of him interacting with Fina at the hospital.

I agree about the two languages, Rhian! We’re spoiled in the U.S. by having English spoken throughout such a large area. I just saw the Crown with Prince Charles learning Welsh. What a tough language! I’m sorry that you didn’t have that chance to learn it.

>286 scaifea: Hiya, Amber. Thanks for the rec on Black God’s Drums. I should get a bit of a chance to read it on the plane today. Bit of a fire drill this morning - both Debbi and Rafa throwing up. Wouldn’t you know it! No fever for either.

That sounds like Charlie! Jesse was like that, too. Becca chose to be vegetarian as she got older.

>289 jnwelch: Oh, no! I hope Debbie and Rafa feel better soon!

Safe travels today, friend.

>289 jnwelch: Fly safe, feel-better whammys for Debbi, and a happy homecoming!

>290 scaifea:. Thanks, my friend. Rafa bounces back in what seems like seconds. Debbi is doing better and looking forward to being home. It’s a short flight, thank goodness, and we’ll put her to bed when we get back. No worries!

>291 richardderus:. Thanks, Richard! All will be well.

Abuelo arrived last night. He and Abuela will be here for a good while, and then we come back in two qeeks, or weeks, as they say in your typo-free country.

>277 jnwelch: My own eating has undergone a change during the last six months -- I acquired a vegetarian housemate, so meat has become an occasional treat for me instead of a regular staple. I still eat it a few times a week (I have lunchmeat for sandwiches to pack for my work lunches, etc.), but I've really upped my game in cooking vegetarian dishes, or so I'd like to think. Rob's arrival helped me to make good on my conviction that it would be better for the planet if we all ate less meat. Even when he moves out (I'm hoping that's not for a very long time), I now have several favorite vegetarian dishes that will be part of my regular cooking rotation, I think.

>274 jnwelch:

When you factor in Cruelty-Free and the end of the horror of factory farms vs intelligent and beautiful animals,
the long-overdue creation of meat that looks, feels, and ultimately will taste better than meat is welcome.

The meat people have blocked this research for far too long.

There are few of us who could visit a slaughterhouse and not come away committed to vegetarian eating!

Morning, Joe. I eat meat and I drink beer. It is what I do. How are things going there? I hope you are getting your pleasurable, fill of the little ones. When do you head back?

Chilly, dreary day here but really nothing to complain about.

Oh yeah, if memory serves, didn't SARS start with people eating cats,

EBOLA with people eating monkeys or gorillas or?

and this latest one from China may be from seafood...?

and then there's all the American meat recalls, for humans and pets...

Congratulations Joe and family!

>225 jnwelch: Gosh, that must have been a bit tough on Adriana.

Another meat-eater here, Joe.

Talking about bilingual upbringing. In college I met a fellow who swore he didn't learn English until he went to school. He was from Reading, PA, and his family spoke Pennsylfawnisch Deitsch. That would have been in the late 1940s and early 1950s. My mother's parents, she once told me, knew phrases in that language, and they used them to talk about things they didn't want their kids to know. Haha. Not too many folks around who know the language today.

My wife's best friends, from her childhood to this day, are Latvians. The two oldest (of eight) were born in a displaced persons camp in Germany, their parents having survived the war in Latvia but escaping the Soviets. The entire family spoke Latvian and the oldest had some difficulty learning English in their new homeland.

Love the image of you and your fellow grands singing the soul classics with Rafa. I hope the upchucking is over sharpish.

Way up there you and Mark mentioned Maggie Garrison. I'm hoping there'll be some more. I'm still impressed that French writers could do London so well.

>288 jnwelch: I did learn Welsh, in the same sense that I learned French, because it's compulsory in Welsh schools up until about the age of 14. And I can pronounce it properly. And if I did want to learn it properly I don't think I'd find it as difficult as some languages because I've always known some, so the sentence structure makes sense to me. But I lost the opportunity to be brought up with it properly and be bilingual.

What I always think is funny about Welsh is that there is no one word for yes or no: there are quite a lot of different variations. You really have to know what the question is before deciding what the right word is!

It’s great that Rafa and Fina are being brought up to be bilingual. Living in Singapore as an expat, we do see lots of multilingual families (I once knew a toddler who was being brought up to be trilingual with a Japanese mother, Dutch father and they spoke English) and I’m a little bit in awe and a little bit jealous.

Our kids did Mandarin in school as a second language (not at all the same thing, I know) because their school realised - especially for the primary school section - that as they are in Singapore they ought to take advantage of having it easily accessible since China is so dominant in world markets. Unfortunately, they’ve both decided to give it up this year. Hopefully, having learned it when they are still quite young, it’ll have stuck in their brain somewhere, if they ever need it.

When I was in Poland in 1981 I was hired to spend time with a teenager just to help her improve her English. It was her sixth language. Her parents' common language was German so they spoke to one another in German. One of them had French as his first language and used that with her, for the other I think it was Dutch that was the first language and she used that with the daughter. Living in Poland, she was of course fluent in that language and since the Soviet presence was still very real (I was there when martial law was declared in December as a response to the activism of Solidarność), she learned Russian in school. SO - she had all of those languages and was also learning English. Our conversations weren't super complicated but she was pretty darn good. I also remember the parents saying that her acquisition of language was "delayed" as her brain processed all that she was hearing, then she spoke sentences mixing the various languages but by the time I knew her - at about age 15 - she was amazingly multilingual!

>302 EBT1002: I wish I was more proficient at languages.
My Bahasa Melayu is pretty ok and I have schoolboy french (enough to get mocked in Paris). I know of course some Latin and Greek phrases but the rest is pretty shoddy.

I hope you and Debi made it home safe and sound, Joe, and that Debi's over the throwing-up crud.

Sounds like things are going well at Rafa and Fina's house...

Wow, I missed all the trip and new addition to the family news! Congratulations!

Huge congratulations on the birth of your newest grand. Fina's a little doll, and that hair!

^LT friends, outside the Cafe, waiting to hear something from Joe...

>307 msf59: Ha! We're back, Mark. That weather is looking way better than what I'm seeing out our windows! Thanks to everyone for their patience.

>293 foggidawn: Hi, foggi. Upping your vegetarian cooking game sounds good to me. I luck out because Madame MBH is a whiz at it, and its increased popularity has resulted in lots of cookbooks and recipes. I'm with you and Rob that less meat is better for the planet.

>294 m.belljackson:, >296 m.belljackson: I know, Marianne, factory farming is really disturbing, isn't it. Way back when, Upton Sinclair's The Jungle had a big impact on the meat industry, but I agree that taking a close look at how meat reaches the table would dissuade an awful lot of people. Having said that, it's been so long for me that even compassionately raised and slaughtered land animals remain unappealing food to me. But, as I mentioned, I do eat fish.

Yeah, we haven't even talked about the health benefits of not eating meat, particularly red meat. That's what really caused my parents to change their diet.

>295 msf59: Just don't dip the meat into the beer, Mark; that detracts from both, as I recall. :-)

>297 humouress: Thanks, Nina. It's been tough for Adriana. Just when she could use some physical recovery time, she's got a needy little girl (and boy, for that matter). Thank goodness for paternity leave; our son is able to help out left, right and sideways. I got one day off when our kids were born; the first thing I did when I got to be in charge was push through maternity and paternity leaves.

>298 weird_O: Hiya, Bill.

Pennsylvania Dutch. Man, I'm guessing they're aren't many speakers of that these days? My wife said her older relatives used to speak Yiddish with the same purpose - so the young 'uns wouldn't understand them.

Yeah, think of all the people who've come here with no English, and had to learn at least some. Not easy, especially as we get older.

>299 charl08: Rafa really enjoyed "singing" the old soul classics with us, Charlotte - although his contribution was mainly percussion with building blocks. We loved his "toodle toodle toodle ooos" when we got them in the chorus.

I'm with you on Maggy Garrisson - both the surprise that a French author did London so well (I'm glad that's your impression, too) and the hope for more Maggy stories. What I've read about it as led me to believe there will be more. I sure hope so.

>300 SandDune: I'm glad you at least got to learn a good amount of Welsh, Rhian, even if you didn't get the immersion experience. I find Welsh so different from what I'm used to that it's mystifying.

there is no one word for yes or no: there are quite a lot of different variations. You really have to know what the question is before deciding what the right word is! I love that! What a fascinating idea; seems to me there's inspiration there for a good story.

>301 humouress: Hi, Nina. I'll bet you see a lot of multilingual families in Singapore! We have a 2+ year old nephew who's been raised speaking Dutch and English, and has dual citizenship.

Both our kids took Mandarin Chinese in public high school, so that tells you how much more mainstream it's become with their rise as a power. Neither followed up on it, though, unfortunately. Our son is coming pretty good at Spanish, I'm glad to say.

>302 EBT1002: What a time for you to be in Poland! That must've been amazing. Yeah, there are some people who can take on an awful lot of languages, aren't there. I've often though that if, for example, Oregon spoke a different language than Washington, and Idaho did, and British Columbia did, and it was like that all over the U.S., we'd all be motivated to be multi-lingual. That's what it's like in Europe, seems to me.

>303 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. Seems to me you can be proud of being pretty good with Bahasa Melayu, and successfully running a business in a country you didn't grow up in.

>304 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. We made it back home safely and put Debbi right to bed. She's over the throwing-up crud, but still exhausted. We've both been sleeping in, a luxury not available in the quite-active house of Rafa and Fina. It is going well there, and Adriana's ESPN article just got published, so I'll be reading that. She's remarkable; they were going to cut her some slack because of the baby, but she said she could finish it, and did.

>305 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori!

>306 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary! Isn't Fina's hair a kick? I said to Adriana that she's a little princess, and Adriana said she's a hungry, hungry one. I told that could be a big hit as a children's book: The Hungry, Hungry Princess. :-)

>282 jnwelch: That is so great that Rafa and Fina will be raised bilingual! I grew up in a English only house, but my dad grew up in French only. I really wish he had made an effort to teach me and my sister as in our area bilingual jobs make more money or full time is offered sooner. My workplace had a bilingual full time position open for years as we had no one trained that could fill it.

Good to hear you are back home to relax for a while, Joe. I hope that Debbi is feeling better.

>311 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle. That's interesting re your and your sister's jobs. I think it's such an advantage to speak two (or more!) languages. Bilingual is really common in our city, as we have a lot of Latin and Polish and other immigrants who have learned English. But growing up with two is better, isn't it. In our office we has 5 I can think of, all Latin. It sn't required for a full-time position, but it is a valued skill that gets used a fair amount, as our practice is international.

>312 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. We're getting up a bit in years, so we're enjoying the relaxing after the "all hands on deck" with Fina. Debbi's definitely feeling better, and she plans to rest some more today, and then begin working out again tomorrow.

OK, the new cafe is open. See you there!

>308 jnwelch: //I meant if Fina brought that hoop with her. Never mind :0) //

Glad Debbie is feeling better.

>310 jnwelch: Congratulations to Adriana!

Off for an LT meet-up with Caroline ....

>315 humouress: LOL! Oh, I missed that one, Nina, sorry.

Debbi's much better. Thanks re Adriana. I have to remember to post a link to her ESPN article. Have fun with Caroline!