Shelley Opens a New Book to... Chapter Two

Finally getting around to starting my second thread. Later than I had planned but though I could use as excuses an out-of-town visitor, puzzling/audiobooks, etc etc , it's probably my old stand-by that is closest to the truth: laziness.

So, here we are:

puzzles finished this week:

Bookshop:


Hummingbirds:

We have had a lot of snow over the past 2 weeks, more than my city is used to. The birds were happy, though the squirrels were not. They are much better as ground-level vacuum cleaners than as acrobats. I was delighted that the *baffle* over the feeder lived up to its name:





Nuthatch and Cardinal:

Watching Nature TV (not sure why it's sideways; it isn't on my computer screen):

And even though we are in for a warm-up this coming week, with rain, which will hopefully get rid of most of the mess, I still think this is funny and appropriate:

There was a small discussion over on Joe's thread about getting rid of pennies in the US, so I mentioned that Canada did that years ago. When that happened, I gathered the pennies I had in the house and using a glue gun, created an Inukshuk, to add to my small collection. Because, why not? So, not to clutter Joe's thread, here it is:

Finished a few books:

An Irish Country Family by Patrick Taylor, audiobook, the only way I will read this series as the narrator is outstanding.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (also audio, read by Reese Witherspoon). I did love To Kill a Mockingbird, of course, but I have to say, I was underwhelmed by this one.

A lovely children's (picture) book called The Wordy Book for those who loved words. I learned of this one in the weekly newsletter by Maria Popova, called The Marginalian (https://www.themarginalian.org/2025/02/04/the-wordy-book-julie-paschkis/?mc_cid=68cb4ae8c8&mc_eid=97c8c4944f).

And tonight, I will finish The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, author of The Dictionary of Lost Words. I loved that first one and this one was also good. I loved that the protagonist of the first is mentioned in this one, more than once. Not really a sequel but connected tangentially.

Then I will return to 2 other books I am reading that I've neglected a bit, the art book Pacita Abad and the bio of Canadian musician, Oscar Peterson.

Happy new thread, Shelley!

>2 jessibud2: Nice!

>7 jessibud2: I really must get to The Bookbinder soon. Thanks for the reminder, Shelley.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Shelley!

Happy new one Shelley.
Love the reading dog, the puzzles and those feet of snow!

Happy new thread, Shelley! See snow lasts longer than a mild earthquake.

Happy New Thread, Shelley! I love the puzzle! I confess I've been avoiding a really nice puzzle that my sister gave me for Christmas. I love the image, a dog walker with a bunch of dogs, but the pieces are so irregular, I'm having a really hard time with it. In fact, I'm going to sneak upstairs right now and pack it away and start a new one. Dave is out walking the dog, and he mocks me if I can't finish a puzzle. Husbands! I'll do while he is out , and he might not notice. Maybe.

The earthquake was mild, Shelley, yes. I thought it was Muffin up to something initially, and then I googled Vancouver Earthquake and sure enough. She is only 21 pounds, but she can make a quite a lot of noise.

>2 jessibud2: Quite colourful! I love the hummingbird puzzle.

>7 jessibud2: I am looking forward to reading that one. My library still has not purchased it but I am the first in line once they do. I quite enjoyed the dictionary of lost words.

Happy new thread!

Thanks, Rhonda, Stasia, Jim, Paul, Meg, Deb and Anita. Deb, did Muffin react to the earthquake? I know that animals often have a *sense* of natural disasters before we humans do. Theo, for as crazy and bully-ish as he can sometimes be, hides when there is thunder, while usually timid Owen isn't bothered by it at all, ever. Funny. I wonder if Muffin sensed or reacted to the quake in any way.

>9 alcottacre:, >15 figsfromthistle: - There is a fun little treat at the end of the Pip Williams book: a quick lesson in bookbinding! After which, the final sentence is: "Congratulations! You bound a book!" In fact, I have made and *bound* my own books a few times, but certainly not this way, the professional way.

Wordle 1,345 4/6 meaty, trice, overt, otter

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Happy new thread, Shelley!

The baffle. The squirrel is trying, but no! Funny pictures there.

I love the idea of a book about a bookbinder that teaches you how to bind a book!

Hi Ella, yes, those squirrels provide a lot of entertainment for me and my boys. This must be a younger generation of them because the older ones don't even bother trying any more, lol!

Happy Monday, Shelley. Happy New Thread. Love the puzzles, the baffled squirrel and the birdies. I really like those red-breasted nuthatches. Sorry to hear about all that snow. Yikes!

Stumped! I have mentioned here before that I subscribe to a newsletter called AWAD (A Word A Day). Each Monday, a new theme for the week is announced, a word is presented, it's definition, usage, earliest known mention, etc. Also, at the end of the newsletter, is a quote for the day, by someone born on that particular day in history.

This week, Anu Garg, the creator of AWAD, is using Wordle as his theme. He gives the back story, and off we go. I clicked on his link to give his AWAD Wordle a try and I got as far as 3 guesses and hit a wall. If his wordle is like the one we all know and play, then something is wrong. I did make a silly inattention mistake in my second guess but by my third, it seems that all the vowels are eliminated. To my knowledge, there is no 5 letter word in English that doesn't have at least one vowel. I may send an email to ask. Or maybe see if anything is revealed tomorrow. Here it is, in case you are interested (where he says *give it a go here*, the *here* links to his wordle board. Doesn't seem to be happening in my copy/paste, darn it):

A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

Have you tried the game Mr. Bugs’ Wordy Nugz?

Believe it or not, that was the original name given by its creator, Josh Wardle, before the world came to know it as Wordle. The game itself is a delight, but for me, its backstory is just as captivating.

It was a true labor of love -- in more ways than one. During the Covid lockdown, Wardle crafted it as a special gift for his partner. As he put it, “I made the game for an audience of one.” Of course, the audience quickly grew from one... to millions. Talk about word spreading fast!

It’s a testament to Wordle’s popularity that it has inspired hundreds of variants -- covering everything from music and math to chemistry, geography, and even vexillology (the study of flags).

I thought it would be fun this week to feature words in A.Word.A.Day as if we were playing a game ourselves. Each day, we’ll take a guess and see if we can work our way toward our own special Wordle word on Fri.

Since this is A.Word.A.Day, you can bet our guesses -- and the final answer -- won’t be everyday words like WATER or DREAM (the actual Wordle list has only 2,309 words, and they're very common words).

Do you play Wordle? What’s your go-to opening word? Share your stories, tips, tricks, and strategies on our website or email us at words@wordsmith.org. As always, include your location (city, state).

And if you want to take a crack at solving the Wordle word for this week, give it a go here.

stela

PRONUNCIATION:
(STEE-luh)

MEANING:
noun: An upright stone or pillar inscribed or sculpted, often serving as a monument. Also known as a stele.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek stele (pillar). Ultimately from the Indo-European root stel- (to put or stand), which is also the source of stallion, stilt, install, gestalt, stout, and pedestal, and epistolary. Earliest documented use: 1776.

USAGE:
“An Egyptian stela dating from more than four and a half thousand years ago, now in the collection of the Louvre, depicts the Princess Nefertiabet dressed in what looks like elegant contemporary evening wear.”
Rebecca Mead; Saving the Cat’s Pajamas; The New Yorker; Mar 28, 2022.

See more usage examples of stela in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
We're here to put a dent in the universe. -Steve Jobs, entrepreneur and inventor (24 Feb 1955-2011)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edited to add the AWAD wordle:

https://wordsmith.org/wordle/

Wordle 1,346 4/6 meaty, quark, clang, gland

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The Bookbinder by Pip Williams.

We are all readers here. And, in 2025, we probably take for granted that we have pretty much unlimited access to an infinite number of books and magazines, for example, from a huge variety of sources. We take a lot for granted - easy access, education, the right to vote (for women), medicine, and so on.

The Bookbinder takes place during WWI, in England, before women had the vote (it was coming but wasn't a reality yet and even after it would be, it would still be restricted to only certain women), before medicine could help those hit by the flu pandemic of 1918, and before education was available and accessible to everyone, regardless of class. Only about 100 years ago!

I loved this book but I have to say, I was equally impressed by the author's notes at the end. She tells how she came up with the idea for this book when she was doing her research for her previous (first) novel, The Dictionary of Lost Words, in the archives of the OUP (Oxford University Press), searching for details that would lend truth to that first book. She found in those archives, an in-house publication called The Clarendonian designed for the workers of the Press. "I hit the jackpot with the Clarendonian, but something was missing; something is always missing." She noticed that although women had always worked and toiled there, they were never the subjects of the stories or biographies of the workers in this publication. And though Williams searched, she found scant mention of them anywhere, and so, the idea for this book was born. This book tells the story of Peggy, who worked at the bindery, and had always been told to bind the books, not read them. She wanted more, much more, for herself. She wanted an education, and wanted to move beyond the bindery. But there were obstacles....

At the end of the book, are discussion questions. One suggests that at its heart, this book is about knowledge - who creates it, who can access it, and what truths get lost in the process. In my opinion, it's also about a lot more: the complex nature of family (blood and otherwise), relationships, internal conflict, gender role expectations, war and who it affects and how. A lot to think about! There is also a section of Q&A with the author, and of course, the 2 pages of instructions on how to bind a book!

A few quotes:

- "Reading was such a quiet activity, and the reader in their parlour or leaning against the trunk of a tree would never imagine all the hands their book had been through, all the folding and cutting and beating it had endured. They would never guess how noisy and smelly the life of that book had been before it was put in their hands. I loved that I knew this. That they didn't."

- (one of the few indirect references to Esme Nicoll, the protagonist from Williams' first book and Mr. Owen, Esme's husband) "I read the other quotations, re-read the definition...It wasn't the words that drew me to Mr. Owen's sweetheart, it was the image I had of her pockets full of slips and her head full of longing to be more than she was allowed to be. *A shared desire for change*"

- "Then she left me standing there, looking the part in my Sunday skirt and ladies' tie, but feeling like bad poetry in leather binding."

- (on different translations of classics) " Your mother's Butcher and Lang translation refers to the women as maidens. AS Way called them handmaids - he's likened them to servants. Alexander Pope called them prostitutes."
"Why does it matter what they're called? I asked.
"She smiled. "The words used to describe us define our value to society and determine our capacity to contribute. They also" - and again she poked at the translations - "tell others how to feel about us, how to judge us."

- "I looked around at the women arranged in their lines. Some were grey-haired, their faces lined with life. Others were young, the memory of their final exams still fresh. How many had grieved for fathers and brothers and lovers? How many had grieved for sons? Which of these women had been nursed back to health? Which had buried a mother, a sister, a friend? How many were missing?
They are the survivors, I thought, of war and influenza. And now they have triumphed over tradition. They are smiling; excited for a future they have earned, and know they deserve."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You don't have to read The Dictionary of Lost Words first; this isn't really a sequel. But if you do, there are a few nods to it here that might be missed if you hadn't. Still, though I think both are stand-alone reads, I was surprised and delighted to have caught those references because I had read the first one first. I hope Williams has a third novel in the works!

Edited to add this delightful little video of Pip Williams hand-binding her own book!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5yNcLnyCMQ

Glad I found your new thread, Shelley! Starred!! :D

I love that you're back into puzzling now! I don't know if I told you, but I recently joined a puzzling swap group, and now I'm waiting to start a puzzle swap shelf at my local library which is located walking distance from my house. I'm so excited about this! More later...when it actually happens.

I'm devastated and terrified at my broken country. Never in my wildest imagination could I ever have imagined that scenario happening here (ditto for Israel). :`(

Happy week-ahead's reads, Shelley.

^I think we cross-posted up there this morning. 😜

>21 jessibud2: I tried this Wordle. I was stumped as well, but realized when you get to the last guess and hit Enter, a little pop-up appears in the upper-right hand corner with the answer (you only get like 2 seconds to read it and then it disappears).

The first time I played I saw it flash out of the corner of my eye, but missed it. I had to refresh the screen, play it again and make 6 guesses to bring up the answer (with my eyes pealed to that upper-right-hand corner).

The answer is cwtch, which apparently is a Welsh word meaning hug or embrace. What??!!! Sorry, but my foreign language skills are limited to English and a smidgen of Spanish...

I thought this was really unfair, and if that's how this game is going to be, I'll probably give it a pass.

P.S. Happy new thread!

As far as I know, Muffin did not react to the earthquake, but then initially I thought she was the cause of the noise and shaking. I'm sure she noticed it.

>24 SqueakyChu: - I started another puzzle last night but already, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by it. I will sit with it a bit longer before giving up. My patience just fails me sometimes!

>25 richardderus: -Thanks, Richard.

>26 msf59: - ops, sorry, Mark!! ;-)

>27 kac522: - Hi Kathy. Well, that's just crazy! I though we were playing in ENGLISH! That said, see below, for the *real* wordle.

>28 vancouverdeb: - Animals are funny, Deb.

Wordle 1,347 3/6 meaty, cryer, dryer

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>29 jessibud2: Pick puzzles that you are pretty sure you'll like and are up to your capabilities. Overwhelming puzzles are not fun, but then neither are puzzles that are too easy. As you do more, you'll start to actively seek puzzles that are more challenging. Howver, challenging puzzles are not always fun to do. Botoom line: Choose your puzzles carefully.

Hi Shelley my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend and i just love the two puzzles you have done.

>30 SqueakyChu: - I don't mind challenging, Madeline, just sometimes, my patience doesn't line up. My friend just lent me one of a lovely scene of a Japanese garden with lots of cherry blossoms. The picture is very challenging but I abandoned it quickly as the pieces, despite it being only a 500-piece puzzle, were quite small and not that well-made as they kept coming apart easily. I have now started on another challenging on, a greenhouse, but hopefully, this one will hold my interest.

>31 johnsimpson: - Hi John! Long time no see. I hope you are doing well. I haven't been great about making the rounds to all the threads I have starred. Hope to remedy that soon.

I just edited in a delightful youtube video of author Pip Williams hand-binding her own copy of The Bookbinder. I bet it was a thrill for her, as the smile on her face at the very end attests to!

>23 jessibud2:, at the end

I picked up the audiobook of Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer today from the library. It's a short one, only 2 discs. I will likely finish it before I finish the puzzle I started yesterday. I will probably start it tomorrow as tonight is Tuesday, my Henry Louis Gates night on pbs!

>34 jessibud2: Good show tonight, right?

>34 jessibud2: Gathering Moss will have readers moving the pretty little low lying plants safely away from driveways and car traffic!

>34 jessibud2:, >36 m.belljackson: - Oops. I actually picked up the audiobook of The Serviceberry, not Gathering Moss. I had requested both and it wasn't until I popped it in the CD player, that I realized it was The Serviceberry. I listened to it all in one sitting, only 2 discs. The Indigenous wisdom of a gift economy and nature providing, and (my words) how humans have truly messed this up (yes, trump's name came up but just once) is heartbreaking. But as in many things from, and related to, Indigenous culture and wisdom, there is so much we need to learn and re-learn, in order to live in harmony with the earth. Well worth a listen. Read by the author.

>37 jessibud2: I’ve been reading a lot of praise for this author here. But I have been thinking that she writes for the USA. But today one of my friends was very enthusiastically praising her book Braiding Sweetgrass. I must try and get to reading her books.

>38 EllaTim: - She is a very good writer, Ella. She is a plant biologist by profession and relates her studies with her heritage as a native American. If you want to start small, start with The Serviceberry, then Braiding Sweetgrass which is a longer book. Or google and listen to some interviews with her.

Morning, Shelley, happy Thursday to you. I'm pretty sure you will want to flag the spammer above this post; I've also flagged the profile. Irks me no end.

Spend the day happily.

>41 richardderus: - I did wonder what was his point...

Anyhow, phew indeed!

Wordle 1,349 6/6 meaty, queen, joker, voice, loose, lodge Not much left to work with! The streak lives!

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It's warm out but snowing like mad. It will turn to rain later as the temps push above zero, then of course, back to ice tonight. Fun stuff. I wonder how this mess will affect turnout at the polls (pointless election day here in my province with baby trump likely to win again, so truly, a pointless exercise, but why not.) I did early voting last weekend so there is that. I am off to yoga now.

Grumpy this morning. As expected, our completely unnecessary provincial election yesterday ended with baby trump getting a smaller majority than he wanted/expected but, bottom line, he is still our damned premier. Whiny, corrupt as ever and we get to listen to him and watch him break/ignore promises for more years to come.

Can't wait for the federal election in the not-too-distant future (NOT).

>:-(

Just call me Debbie Downer. In case anyone needs more to be depressed about, check out the cover of Time magazine. I saw it on the stands today while grocery shopping. Did not (NOT) buy it, of course.

Lots of guessy-guessy today: meaty, pricy, flowy, funny, fussy, fuzzy
Wordle 1,350 6/6

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>45 jessibud2: >46 jessibud2: I just got a message from a synagogue member of ours who holds dual American-Canadian citizenship. She is angry and sad, of course. She told me many of the things that Canada is now doing to separate itself from the U.S. I wish I could do that as well without having to leave all of my family. Remember when just existing used to be fun? :(

I got the Wordle in two. Lucky guess!
Wordle 1,350 2/6

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FAIRY, FUZZY

>47 jessibud2: Mine kinda looks like yours....

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>48 SqueakyChu: I had to call Social Security yesterday--I may qualify for additional benefits due to the Fairness Act (for people with other govt. pensions). When he asked me "How can I help you today?", I started out by telling him how sorry I am for what he must be going through, how much he must be terrified, and I appreciate all that he does. Took him a minute to respond, but I think he was grateful, just saying he has to do what he can do. And he was a great rep and took care of what I needed. I cannot believe that all these dedicated people are in mortal terror of losing their jobs.

>49 kac522: Surreal. A government of only cruelty. Many, many years ago, my mom used to work at Social Security (in Woodlawn, Baltimore, Maryland). She was a clerk there and loved her job. :`( Thank you for supporting their workers. I lost a job without notice in the past after almost 40 years at the same home health care agency. It's a devastating experience.

>48 SqueakyChu: - Madeline, I honestly have very little hope that anything good will come of all this. Our idiot premier was just re-elected in yesterday's provincial election and all indications are that when we have our federal election (usually held in October but could be as early as June, I think I remember hearing, due to Trudeau's resignation), Canada could see another swing to the right and the current Conservative (= to your republicans) leader is Pierre Poilievre, who is a nightmare.

I can actually remember when crossing the border into the States did not require a passport!! Ok, I'm old too, but my uncle lived in Plattsburgh, NY (an hour's drive from our home in Mtl) and we used to go to the beach there for the day very frequently in the summers when I was growing up. ("Where are you going? How long are you staying? Anything to declare? Have a nice day!"...)

Batten down the hatches, is the best I can offer....

>49 kac522: - It is a real tragedy, what's happening, Kathy. I am happy that you connected to a decent person. Not all of them are....

>50 SqueakyChu: - I remember that, Madeline. And how awful that was for you.

>52 jessibud2: Shelley, I can only say that the times my husband and I have dealt with a rep from Social Security, it has always been positive and efficient. I have spent hours and hours and could write pages about the inept reps I've talked to from big corp AT&T. Private enterprise does not always do things better.

>46 jessibud2: Can't wait to see TIME with Zelensky as MAN OF THE YEAR.

>54 m.belljackson: - Don't hold your breath, Marianne. You will be very disappointed. Google today's cover.

In other (perhaps delusional) news, I looked out my kitchen window about an hour or so ago and saw, sitting on the slope beneath my window ledge, this!

https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/16/32/16323003-r-h2400-w2400-pv25_63...

A robin! On February 28! In theory, I know they can overwinter but I personally have never seen one in winter. He sat there for some time then flew off. Because they aren't generally feeder birds, I wonder what he is eating and where he is getting it. I hope he is adaptable to a feeder! But I have always known robins as one of the first signs of spring. Hard to imagine spring as I look out the window but I'll take it!

I am trying something different. I copied *image link* while in my default microsoft edge browser. Usually that won't work for uploading a photo but let's see. If it doesn't, I will switch to chrome and try to go that route but chrome wasn't working for me earlier.

Nope, chrome isn't cooperating today at all, apparently. The pic doesn't even show up in my gallery, except as a blank. So, you will have to click on the link instead of seeing the actual photo in the post. Weird. And that's already more than I understand!

Hooray for the early male robin! They should start arriving in droves. I also see them occasionally in the winter. They mostly like slightly warmer climes. Sorry you are having issues with posting your photos. What a hassle.

Happy Saturday, Shelley.

>57 msf59: - Well, if he is a sign of spring, he is completely off his rocker. As I speak, it is -8C with a wind chill feel of -18C. BRRRRRRRR!

I usually don't have trouble posting pic (now, resizing, that's another story) as long as I use chrome as my browser when doing it. But yesterday, for some reason, chrome and LT were not cooperating. I may try again later. I have an out-of-town friend crashing here for the night after spending the day in town with her daughter, so I have a bit of tidying up to do. I may also make some cookies. I made soup yesterday and it turned out great. Cooking and baking are just the right activities when it's this cold outside.

I also need to make some headway with the massive Pacita Abad coffee table book I have from the library. Time got away from me and it was actually due back yesterday. Someone else is requesting it so I can't renew. I will see how far I can get today and the return it, and get back on the request list so I can finish is another time.

>56 jessibud2: How exciting! That only means that spring weather is not as far away as I thought.

That robin’s layer of down must be thick, but it’s poor little feet! It’s not so cold here: yesterday it was a sunny 60F. Today it only reached 31F, tho it’s still sunny.

I’ve heard robins singing in my backyard garden this evening. Such a nice sound. Of course this was a European robin, we can see them all winter! Temperatures are going up here, spring is nearby!

>59 figsfromthistle:, >60 Storeetllr: - Despite the sun today, it was still cold today. Spring isn't here quite yet.

>61 EllaTim:- Your robins are so different from ours. I often wonder why they share a name. Yours are very sweet and cute!

Right now, I am watching a special on our local PBS station, called 50 Years of Peter, Paul and Mary. So good!

>63 jessibud2: I've seen that one--so good. And last night we watched "California Typewriter", which I got from the library. Thanks for the recommendation--it was so interesting, and my husband is a big fan of plain old typewriters. Although we don't have one any more, so he spends a lot of time cursing out spellcheck when typing.

Wordle 1,353 3/6 meaty, parse, spear. So funny, my second guess!!

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>64 kac522: - Kathy, this is a birthday card I recently sent to a friend. Your husband might relate, lol!!

I am still having issues uploading pictures when I use my google chrome browser, which is the only way it has ever worked for me. I can only copy the link, not the photo itself, when I use my default microsoft edge browser. For whatever reason, LT isn't working with chrome lately.

https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/b6/c5/b6c55324b57dfe8636f386e2b51426...

>66 jessibud2: LOL!

As to pictures, the only way I can post pictures is to upload it to my LT Gallery first, and then insert the Gallery link into my message.

I always upload pics to my LT gallery then *copy image address*. But for some reason, for the last few days, it is not only taking forever to upload to the gallery (and sometimes, only a blank appears there) but I can't get past that step. And when using Edge as a browser, the right cl ick on the pic only offers up *copy image link*, not *address* so that only a link uploads into my post. And I have already told you more than I understand. Sheesh. I guess it's better than nothing.

>68 jessibud2: You know, I've noticed uploading to the Gallery has been slower the last couple of days--I though it was my computer or my internet speed. I hit the refresh button, and eventually the image shows up. Another time I just went back into the Gallery and it was there--it had uploaded, but it didn't show me the image when uploading. Who knows...

>69 kac522: - Yeah, but slow can be entertaining. While those circles go round and round while you wait, little notes pop up saying things like *looks like we're going to be here awhile*, then *maybe you should go read a book*, and then *maybe you should go write a book*... Cracks me up and at least they have a sense of humour.

>70 jessibud2: LOL--I know--I love 'em!!

All is well here, Shelley. Glad you enjoyed Peter , Paul and Mary. I used to watch their specials too, but not lately .

Well, it has happened. The dreaded tariffs have landed. As of today, we are, in essence, in a trade war (quote by Warren Buffett, by the way).

Needless to say, it's pretty much the only thing being talked about today. One of the main pushes today, the biggest message, is *buy Canadian*. I heard one business person on the radio this morning say that what he recommends is to weigh what you can't control vs. what you can. He reminds us that no one can control the orange turd in the White House (to be clear, those are MY words, not his), but what you can control is what is local, what is in your own sphere of daily life. Buy Canadian. He also said he is in touch with a business woman in the States who told him that she is also pushing back by telling HER people to buy Canadian, travel to Canada, as a way the Americans can also push back against trump. It's small, but it's something, it's a start. I don't want to be negative (though it's hard not to be) but I was happy to hear that the stock market in the States tanked today. Maybe that will matter to trump, since nothing else does. Unless of course, his pseudo VP Musk cracks open his piggy bank to save trump's ass.

Pardon my language (we are supposed to be the polite ones) but maybe *shitshow* will be the word of the year and the word best suited to describe trump in every possible sphere.

Wordle 1,354 5/6 meaty, pride, shell, cheek, check

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>73 jessibud2: It’s going to get really ugly before it gets better, if it ever does. I’m going to be buying local and small business as much as possible. Too many people won’t, though, so I don’t know how much good it’s going to do. Even worse is the Orange💩🦧’s betrayal of Ukraine—and our European (former) allies. I’ve been close to tears since that shameful act.

>73 jessibud2: I 100% agree with you, Shelley. What saddens me the most, I think, is the terrible future my children and grand children will have to face, if this sh*tshow is not stopped. I've lived a free and good life, but what do they have to look forward to in the face of all of thus criminality, cruelty and hate? My heart breaks for Zelensky who is one of my heroes.

>66 jessibud2: through >69 kac522: There is a thread in the bug collectors's group about this...it's a known issue, and hopefully is being worked on. https://www.librarything.com/topic/368933

>73 jessibud2: thank you - it is Welcome to see a thread where strong politics need no apology.

Along with mentally dealing with every new explicative action that the Axis of Evil delivers each day,
it has become impossible for even the peace lovers among us not to feel hatred.

My father was a World War II Marine who would hate the fear and infamy that our country now projects to the world.

>78 m.belljackson: My father was a World War II Marine who would hate the fear and infamy that our country now projects to the world.

Equally as sad, a young friend of ours a few years ago was an active duty U.S. Marine. He was born in Ukraine and still has family there. I cannot imagine how drained he must be.

And...my parents were Jewish refugees to the United States from Nazi Europe at which time my mom's parents perished in Auschwitz. My parents are no longer alive, but I feel that their souls are torn to shreds. To say I have generational trauma is an understatement.

Shelley, tell your government to fight with all their might against our government!! I stand by Canada!

Thank you for your comments, Mary, Madeline, Linda, Marianne. I hesitated posting but I just had to. Today I went out to run some errands that I have neglected due to having a stomach bug or flu for the last several days. In the car, I listened to special programming, obviously dedicated to the news today. I missed Trudeau's full address to Canadians but I googled when I got home and it was good. I have to say, Trudeau has less than a week left as our Prime Minister before a new leader of the party is to be named and then, some weeks after, an election. Turmoil at a bad time, for sure, but necessary. Yet, I have to say, he did a great job today. Not a single *um* or *uh* in his speech (that always drove me crazy) and he didn't even seem to be reading from a teleprompter. He spoke well, directly, strongly. He even insulted trump directly, but, of course, politely. No mocking tone in his voice. A mature, sane adult.

Here is his speech: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6670805

On the other hand, I still can't stand listening to the voices of the leader of the conservative, Pierre Poilievre, or our idiot premier, Doug Ford, both of whom are not much better than trump, in tone and in demeanor. Blech.

>80 jessibud2: Great speech by Trudeau, although I vehemently disagree with his statement to Trump:

"You’re a smart guy, but this is a very dumb thing to do."

Au contraire, M. Trudeau! (my nod to Canada and about all the French I know)....He's a STUPID guy, and this is an incredibly STUPID thing to do.

I can only hope that this costs Americans millions and millions of dollars and jobs and the stock market crashes and that in 2026 mid-term elections people will be so fed up that the Democrats win both the House and the Senate, which is the only way to put a check on this jerk.

>81 kac522: - Thanks, Kathy. I agree with you and was somewhat appalled that Trudeau said that, though, I do believe he was quoting the Wall Street Journal as having said trump was smart. I doubt even Trudeau would go that far himself.

I, too, am retired and will not be personally affected as so many others will be. But I think no one will escape some of the ripple effects on some level or other to our economies and I admit to feeling rather rattled today. We'll see how the rest of the week shakes out. These are Trudeau's last days as PM; Sunday there will be a new Liberal leader and then, in the following weeks, another election. I am sure trump will use that instability to his advantage to find something to mock.

I saw on another forum (on bookcrossing), someone posted a letter that former Polish leader Lech Walesa posted on facebook. I don't do facebook so couldn't read it but knowing Walesa's background, I am sure it was strong and articulate in support.

Margaret Renkl had another scathing piece in the NYT today.

I don't think I mentioned it to you but my birding club has a book club too. They are currently reading A Comfort of Crows. I have read it but will read chunks of it before the book club meets next week.

Hi Shelley. Trump will probably be taxing Europe too. But never mind you can always come and do trade with us. And Mexico. And lots of other countries. Let’s support each other.

>83 msf59: - I own A Comfort of Crows, Mark, but have not yet read it. I just started her second book, Graceland, At last. And somehow, I missed Renkl in today's NYT. I was quite distracted this morning, as you can imagine and I don't even think I have the newsletter in my email any more. I will try to go see if I can find it. Do you have a link to it?

>84 EllaTim: - Hi, Ella. I think you are right, we have to support one another. It's the only way.

>82 jessibud2: Here’s The Guardian about that letter:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/03/polish-ex-president-lech-walesa-ex...

I listened to Trudeau's full speech today, Shelley and I thought it was good. I'm hoping Mark Carney is the next Liberal Party, but I guess we will soon find out.

>86 EllaTim: - Thank you for that, Ella. The gal on bookcrossing who posted the link to facebook, posted the full letter for me after I said I couldn't access it. It was an excellent letter but I still think attempting to *reason* with trump on any level is a waste of time. And although I know how important aid to Ukraine is, it pains me that Zelensky is trying again to restart relations with the US. trump will only see it as groveling and that can't be good for Ukraine. It's a pity they need the US aid so much.

>87 vancouverdeb: - I hope so, too, Deb. And more than that, I hope he can beat Poilievre. Listening to that guy today was painful. I cannot listen to him, ford or trump at all. I would rather wait for the summaries on the news or read about things they say or do. Looking at their faces, and hearing their voices, makes me sick.

>85 jessibud2: Margaret Renkl remains strong on current events, yet The Comfort of Crows may not be welcome for animal lovers as covered on my review.

I am flitting again. I finally finished Pacita Abad, the heavy coffee table book about the artist whose work I saw at the Art Gallery of Ontario and then featured on my threads. I have to say, the quality of the photos wasn't nearly what I expected - I think the photos I took on my phone were far superior. A friend who was visiting and paged through it said it could be that the paper used in the book was not the glossy paper and that maybe that was why. Still, there was enough text, interviews with friends, family, colleagues, and background about Pacita and her life, as well as photos, that it was a worthwhile read. I returned it to the library this morning and I forgot to check how many pages it was but I think it was over 300. Hefty, and not a volume to read in bed if you have wrists that might complain, as mine surely would.

I am currently flitting between several books. One on arthritis and one on an anti-inflammatory diet, as well as Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and Graceland, At Last by Margaret Renkl. I can't seem to settle on just one at a time. I am also about to begin another audiobook because I also haven't been puzzling lately and need to get back to both.

And as if that isn't enough flitting, I just picked this off my shelf this morning and suddenly, I want to read it. Now. Driving the King. It's fiction but Nat King Cole was a favourite of my dad's and of mine so I am intrigued.... ADD anyone?

I also hope Mark Carney is out next Prime Minister, Shelley. I can't bear the sight of Pierre Poilievre, never mind his voice.

>86 EllaTim: The Embassy directing all requests for info or reaction to the White House is, shall we say, telling.

Walesa is completely correct about The Felonious Yam's actions.

Wordle 1,356 3/6 meaty, plead, alert

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>91 vancouverdeb: - Me too, Deb, me too.

>92 richardderus: - ...shudder...

Hi Shelley. I love your photos and your "two feet of snow." :)

Hi, Beth. Thanks. We are back into chilly temps and a few occasional flurries but no more chance (I hope!) of *2 feet of snow*. I hope I haven't just jinxed everything...

Wordle 1,357 5/6 meaty, quirt, torch, troll, troop

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Today is a weird day for me. It is the one year anniversary of my mum's passing. In some ways, it's hard to believe it's been a whole year already. In other ways, it feels like forever, not least because we are STILL not done with all the administrative crap with the lawyer and the stupid Quebec govt. It feels like THAT will never end.

To prevent myself from moping and sleeping away the day, I am heading downtown to a book meetup/swap with some bookcrossing friends. I am bringing 2 bags of books to contribute and am determined to come home with NONE! (note to self: good luck with that! ;-)

It's still chilly but at least the sun is out. Spring isn't quite here yet.

Thinking of you on this difficult anniversary. Enjoy the meet up! I hope it helps. And maybe just one special book?

Thanks, Mary. We shall see....

I am stuck on wordle. I have one guess left and I think I will leave it till I come home later. I have to put a sticky note on my computer to remind myself to get back to it so I don't blow my 71 day streak by simply forgetting...

>73 jessibud2: One bad thing about the stock market tanking is that the working class that invests in mutual funds get royally punished. Not fair either.

>97 jessibud2: Wow! I hadn't realized that is has been a year since your moms passing. I hope you are able to take comfort in the good memories.

Hope you had a great time at the book swap.

>97 jessibud2: Wish I were there at your BC meetup. I’m glad I had the chance to be there once…although that now seems like ages ago. Sorry you’re still having a rough time with your mum’s estate. Remember that card you sent me with a picture of flowers your mum painted? I have it in front of my desk with other art works from friends and relatives. Going off to do Wordle now…

Wordle 1,359 5/6 meaty, prone, grief, gruel, greed

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>100 figsfromthistle: - Of course it's not fair. Nothing that is done by that man is fair. Sadly, I fear it is only the tip of the iceberg.

I did have a decent day yesterday, getting together with friends. I wore a bracelet of my mum's because I felt I wanted something tangible of hers with me all day. But my poor brother is having a really rough year. Or rather, his wife is. Her dad died suddenly on Friday. Like our LT pal Kim (Berly), my sister-in-law has now lost both her parents in less than a year (her mum passed away last summer). And, one of their dogs is dying, not much time left. That is just so much pain and grief to carry around. I hope that's the last of it for them...

edited to add that my brother informs me that they are inheriting her dad's young cat. Which had had actually been her mum's but my sister-in-law will bring her home with her. I think it's a good thing for all concerned. It will give them focus during grief and and the little critter some much needed love and stability. Sigh...

>101 SqueakyChu: - Thanks, Madeline. I also keep special cards or pictures on the top shelf of my computer desk. It feels comforting to be surrounded by them.
We were only 5 of us at the meetup but it was fun. I only brought home one book and was proud of myself for that. It's called English Passengers by Matthew Kneale. Madeleine said it was good.

>103 jessibud2: I read English Passengers - I second that it is good!

>104 torontoc:- Thanks, Cyrel. Good to know.

And a great big PHEW!! For our next new prime minister, Mark Carney. I was quite impressed with him and his victory speech. Next hurdle: the federal election and defeating poilievre. Please everyone, cross your fingers.

>103 jessibud2: I am so thankful for having met Madeleine in Toronto. Both of us keep in close touch. Her husband likes to do so many of the activities that my younger son Avi does...beekeeping, maple-syrup-making, guitar playing. I wish they could meet. Maybe someday?

>106 SqueakyChu: - You never know. Once trump is history, and things return to *normal*, it could happen. Mike, Mad's hubby, wrote a song and it was on the radio, about the *51st state* stupidity. Did you see the link? I'm sure she must have posted it on facebook. If not, I can send it to you.

>107 jessibud2: She sent it to me, but because of my hearing issues, I could not understand the words to the song so she sent me the lyrics. I agree with Mike! I agree with everything Canada is doing against the US. Your teams have my permission to boo our teams at international games. I hope they will cheer later when the Mump regime is long gone.

>108 SqueakyChu: Your teams have my permission to boo our teams. Ditto!

I'm trying to figure out what Canadian stuff I can buy here (besides alcohol), just so I can Buy Canadian.

>105 jessibud2: Shelley, I am so ignorant of the parliamentary election process in Canada--who got to vote in today's election?

>108 SqueakyChu: - Thanks, Madeline. I am not a fan of the booing and as one newscaster said, anthems at games should just be banned. Anyhow, booing is an acceptable form of protest as at least it doesn't involve violence.

>109 kac522: - I can't help you there, Kathy as I honestly don't know what Canadian products are usually sold in the States.

As for >110 kac522: - I wish I was a smarter person and understood the whole process enough to explain it coherently. But my reader's digest version would say that, to my understanding, if a leader leaves the party before the term is over, only official members of that party are eligible to vote for a new leader. And I believe it's a ranked voting ballot, where they vote and rank their first, second, etc choice (in this case, 4 ranks because there were 4 candidates). It goes by some point system I don't quite understand and if there is no clear majority on the first ballot, the last one is eliminated and it goes to a second ballot. Yesterday, Mark Carney won with an overwhelming majority (86%) on the first ballot so there was no need for a second ballot. I don't know if that has happened before. Anyhow, there will be a short transition period before he takes over officially as PM and then he will likely call a federal election (where all Canadian citizens can vote). It has to happen before October because that's when there would have been one anyhow but everyone is saying it will likely happen much sooner, maybe by June. The naysayers (ie, the conservatives) are saying that because he has never been a politician before, he isn't fit to rule. But I guess they forget that, by the way, to my knowledge, trump had never been a politician before his 2016 win either. And at least, Carney has solid business experience, a solid work ethic and the intelligence and ability to FOCUS (he was the head of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England). He also has integrity. None of which the leader of the opposition has. That will be the real next hurdle. Pierre Poilievre is a nasty, name-calling angry little man. I think Carney has taken the wind out of his sails and I'm sure he will have to fight harder now. I guess we just have to hope that P doesn't attract too many other conservative jerks..... Deep breaths.

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>111 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. That was a pretty good summary. When you say "only official members of that party are eligible to vote", does that mean people who currently hold elected office as a member of that party? Or can non-elected Canadians declare themselves members of the party and get to vote in the election of a new leader? I saw that the total vote count was something under 200,000 votes, so I was just confused as to who was eligible to vote.

Carney does seem like a decent guy and he certainly has the business experience to deal with this ridiculous trade crisis going on now.

>111 jessibud2: Hi - just read that Alaskans are getting really unhappy about the tariffs that may soon be imposed

on all the truckers crossing Canada from the U>S> to bring them food.

>113 kac522: - I honestly don't know but it makes sense that anyone willing to be a paying member of the party should have a vote. But it's a reasonable question and I honestly don't know the answer. If I am completely honest, at this point, I don't much care. I just wanted to see Carney win. His teenage daughter (one of his 4 kids) and Trudeau's teenage daughter both spoke and they were both so good, so poised and so funny and candid. It was delightful. One of our former prime minsters, Jean Chretien, (now 91 years old!) also spoke and though he did tend to go on and on, he was funny and still sharp as a tack. That was a nice touch, too.

>114 m.belljackson: - Marianne, no one is happy about tariffs. Period. They need to take it up with their leader, who caused this mess in the first place. It's going to get uglier before it gets better, that's for sure.

So glad you had a good time at your meet up and that you brought home a book! Also glad to hear about your new PM. What a relief!

>117 Storeetllr: - A big relief, that's for sure. Let's just hope he carries us through our federal election. If the conservative win, their leader is just not appropriate to deal with trump. Too many similarities.

One other thing. I often listen to a current affairs program on cbc radio in the mornings. Today, host Matt Galloway spoke to author Louise Penny, who has cancelled her American book tour. I wanted to post a link but it isn't up on the site yet. In the meantime, here is the blurb from the site:

"... best-selling Canadian author Louise Penny has cancelled all upcoming appearances in the U.S., posting online that she doesn't feel she can visit the country amid “the ongoing threat of an unprovoked trade war against Canada by the U.S. president.” She talks to Matt Galloway about her decision.*

I don't read mysteries and so, never read her, but it was a good interview. I will edit in the link when it's up.

>119 jessibud2: From All the Light - "Doing nothing is the same as collaborating."

Louise Penny is ahead in setting the pace!

>120 m.belljackson: - Even a better quote, in my opinion, is one Penny quoted in her interview, from Martin Niemoller. Most appropriate for the times we find ourselves in these days:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me-- and there was no one left to speak for me. -Martin Niemoller, pastor, initial supporter of Hitler, concentration camp survivor (1892 - 6 Mar 1984)

Here is the link to the interview with Louise Penny that I referenced in >119 jessibud2:, about her decision to not go to the States until this mess is over:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/louise-penny-cancels-us-book-tour-1.7479566

>111 jessibud2: The fans are not booing the sports players. They are booing what the U.S. as a nation stands for now. I would boo along with the Canadians!!

I have a jacket that looks like an American flag. I did not wear it at all during the first dump administration. We also refuse to fly the American flag during national holidays and will not do this until the Mump regime is gone. I hate what it represents.

However, I love my state of Maryland, with its outspoken and good legislators (my rep is Jamie Raskin; my senators are Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks). I wish we could secede from the Union!

My synagogue delivered a Mishloach manot bag to my home today. It was all food and symbols of Maryland (plus two hamantaschen)! I thought that was a great idea.

Kol hakavod! to Louise Penny for cancelling her US tour. Lots of us here in the US are seriously boycotting businesses that support the Mump oligarchs.

>110 kac522: Anyone that wants to register for the Liberal Party of Canada can /could have voted for Mark Carney or another leader. I have done so once. You register and I think pay small fee, like 15.00 or so. I stopped doing that because I got so many calls to donate more money. I am sure that is the case for any party you join. You can only join one party at a time, like the Liberals, or the NDP or Conservatives.

Shelley, I didn't catch the news last night until I saw you comment on my thread. I had not even realized yesterday was the big day. I was out at church at 6 pm, then stopped to purchase a some items from the grocery store, so I didn't get home until 8 pm and then ate supper. But I am really glad Mark Carney won! I think we have a good chance of beating Pierre P.

I did read about Louise Penny cancelling her tour to the USA. Good for her!

>124 vancouverdeb: Thanks for that explanation, Deb. That was very helpful. I figured it was something like that, but wasn't exactly sure.

Appreciating the frank political discussion here. Can not believe what a disruptive, disrespectful, power hungry jerk Rump is.

Sadness that Louise Penny cancelled her US tour, but I totally respect the move.

Sigh.

Happy Tuesday!?!?

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>123 SqueakyChu: - Nice! I am really happy that you live in a place where you feel safe and comfortable (relatively speaking). That is important!

>124 vancouverdeb: - Hi Deb. Thanks for filling in the info that I lacked.

>125 kac522: - Me too.

>126 Berly: - Hi Kim! Good to see you out and about again!

I may be one of the few mystery aficionados who hasn’t read the Three Pines books, but, after reading what you’ve shared about Penny’s stand, I think I may try her books again.

>128 Storeetllr: - Good for you. Did you listen to the interview I posted the link to?

So, this just recently came onto my radar. It's a small publishing house, Nestling Press, which, apparently for copyright purposes, only mails to Canadian addresses (not sure I understand that, but whatever). However, in exploring the website, I see several titles that really appeal to me. They are printed at Coach House Press, which happens to be here in Toronto. I actually had a tour of Coach House Press some years ago. Anyhow, I am going to try to contact them and see if they sell the books directly from their press or if I need to order them through a local indie bookstore, which isn't a big deal, really. But check out some of these titles! They look hilarious!

https://www.nestlingspress.com/

As if I need a new source of books.... ;-)

There seem to be a few smaller Canadian presses putting out books lately, Shelley. One put out by Somewhat Grumpy Press was a recent ER win.

Shelley, I send a message to let you know you are very much on my mind. A one year anniversary of the passing of your mom..I understand the feelings behind this.

April 19th will mark the sixth year anniversary of Will's passing. There still are some tough days. He was such an amazing grandfather to Kayla, who is now 22!!!

A few days ago, I came upon a large box containing report cards that she made for all her "students." The students were stuffed animals who each had a distinct name (which she gave to them,) and a distinct voice which Will did when she taught her class of many stuffed animals. I may have mentioned it on another thread that, I found one of the report cards to Handy Manny. She noted on the bottom, after the long list of subjects and the bad grades given:

"Handy Manny. I keep telling you to get you act together, but you do not listen to me!" " Here I am, giving you more "teribel" grades because you do not listen to me!"

I laughed right out loud as I read this report card.

He gave so very much of his love and his time to Kayla. I know he left quite a legacy to her!

I'm glad your brother reached out to you.

Take care of yourself these days and weeks following this anniversary. I remember so well all your trips to see her, and all the advocacy your did for her to get the best care possible. Please hold your head up high, knowing you made a difference!!!

Much Love

>131 Familyhistorian: - Ha! Love the name of that press, lol!

>132 Whisper1: - Thank you, Linda, for your kind and thoughtful words. And such a funny story about Kayla as *teacher*. Have you shown her those *reports*?

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Spent the last 2 hours cleaning up my front yard: raking, sweeping, picking up pine needles, and the crud from my next door neighbour's tree that always sheds all over my lawn, etc. It was the perfect day for it: not hot, not cold, not windy. And the best part is that now that the mess is gone, I can actually see some little green shoots popping up!

>134 jessibud2: Looks good, Shelley. It’s always exciting, isn’t it, wondering what is popping up. Looking forward to the new season.

Yay for little green shoots!

>134 jessibud2: Hurray!! Nicely done. : )

Thanks, Ella, Kathy, Kim. It felt good to be out in the garden (such as it is) again! Maybe today, I'll work on the back.

Wordle 1,364 4/6 meaty, chase, price, piece One inattention mistake in my second guess but I still got it.

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Not something many politicians ever seem to worry about:

https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2025/03/15

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>139 jessibud2: Can't yet find the author of this little classic:

"But I didn't realize voting for a tiger would mean most people get eaten."

>129 jessibud2: Not yet (I’ve had a busy week), but I’ve got it bookmarked.

>130 jessibud2: So fun! I especially liked Stopping for Words on a Snowy Egret.

I really like Canadian author Peggy Blair and wish I could read more of her books, but she told me weeks ago that her books aren’t sold in the US.

>142 Storeetllr: - *blink*. I have not heard of Peggy Blair. Is she relatively new? Or does she write genres I don't read? I sort-of think of myself as relatively knowledgeable, at least recognizing author's names even if I don't read them, but she is a new name to me!

I was going to make your baked apples today, Mary, but I just got up from a nap (trying to ward off a migraine). Maybe I will do it tomorrow, or later. I bought apples the other day!

>134 jessibud2: Nice! What a happy sight.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend

>143 jessibud2: I've enjoyed Peggy Blair 's books, Shelley and Mary. She is not really new, Shelley, and I don't think she has published anything lately. She write mysteries / police procedural that take place in Cuba. There is a little magical realism thrown in , if I recall correctly. I wonder if they are not available in the USA because they take place in Cuba ? Ive no idea.

>145 vancouverdeb: - Well, thanks for that, Deb. That would explain why the name is not familiar as I don't read that genre at all.

Dark and rainy here today and, predictably, a full-blown migraine is raging. How I even did this is a mystery:

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Back later. Maybe.

My Mother's Secret by J. L. Witterick. This is billed as fiction based on real people and events. One Polish woman and her daughter hid a number of Jews in their house (attic, cellar, barn loft) during WWII, at great risk to themselves. People caught hiding Jews would be shot if discovered. Such non-Jews, who just did the right thing, were, after the war, recognized as *The Righteous among the Nations*. None of the people who she hid knew about each other and the story is told from 4 perspectives. It is a short book, a compelling read. Here are some quotes that particularly spoke to me:

"...It's hard to say how we become the people we do. My mother believes that it comes from our choices. She says, "If you choose to do the right thing, it's a conscious decision at first. Then it becomes second nature. You don't have to think about what is right because doing the right thing becomes who you are, like a reflex. Your actions with time become your character."

...I realized then that Poland didn't have the support of the friends that we thought. How could the world have been so misled?

"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable" - Sydney J. Harris

Epilogue:

This book is fictional, but it was inspired by the true story of Franciszka Halamajowa, who with her daughter Helena saved the lives of 15 Jews in Poland during the Second World War. She also hid a young German soldier in her attic at the same time. Her son died while transporting a wagon full of supplies to partisan Jews hiding in the forest.

Before the war, there were 6000 Jews in Sokol, Poland. Only thirty survived and half of those because of one Polish woman, Franciszka.

I believe that all of us, like Franciszka, have within us the potential to be great. Sometimes we coast through life without this potential surfacing because life has been easy on us.

When we have much to lose, but still choose to do the right thing, we uncover the nobility that is within all of us. To endure what is unbearable and to do it with grace, that is how we know that we have arrived.

I hope your migraine is gone soon. I suffer from them too, tho not so much now (post-menopause), so I empathize.

When you get around to baking the apples, let me know how they were.

As Deborah said, Peggy Blair writes mysteries. I was fortunate to win the first two—The Beggars Opera and Poisoned Pawn—from Library Thing’s Early Reviewer feature years ago. I kept looking for sequels from the library, but they never showed up. I forgot about it until she showed up on Bluesky a few weeks ago. That’s when I asked her about getting her books in the US, and she told me she doesn’t ship here. I think maybe the postage would be prohibitive. 🙁

My Mother's Secret looks good. I’ll look for it and hope my library has a copy. I agree with what you wrote: When we have much to lose, but still choose to do the right thing, we uncover the nobility that is within all of us. To endure what is unbearable and to do it with grace, that is how we know that we have arrived.

>147 jessibud2: Shelley, I've been prone to migraines for too long to count the years. Today the weather forecast is for heavy winds. My dear neighbor Andres came to check on me and said the forecast is bleak. It is a good day to read. I hope you feel better soon. People confuse headaches with migraines...it's an entirely different type of headache. Headaches go away with medication. Migraines linger even after medication.

Take care!

>149 Storeetllr: - Thanks, Mary. I have had migraines since my teens. I had hoped that once menopause hit, they'd go the way of my periods but sadly, that never happened. Thank goodness for drugs!! I woke up with it this morning and by noon, I had taken my prescription pill, went back to bed for an hour, and woke up clear, as if it had never happened.

That last quote was by the author, from the epilogue at the end of the book. I honestly don't know how people survived the war under such conditions. I have read a lot of Holocaust literature but for me, I have to take it in waves. My grandmother's family escaped from Poland, one sibling at a time, when she was in her teens. Before Hitler became who he was becoming. This was a slim volume so it worked for me at this time. Timothy Snyder's blog today touched on war and lies and how careful and alert we have to be. It feels like dangerous times right now and even though, physically, I don't feel threatened, intellectually I know that is how it starts.

I think I am going to go downstairs now and get those apples cookin'!

And yes, Canadian postage rates are ridiculously high. Even within our own country. In fact, it's sometimes (depending) cheaper to mail to the States than it is to mail locally. Crazy.

>149 Storeetllr: - Mary, I did it! I had bought 4 apples but actually stopped after 3. I found the coring to be too difficult (arthritis in my fingers). I seem to remember my mother had a corer tool. I don't, so was using both a knife and a spoon and it just became too hard. But they seem to have turned out ok. I used brown sugar and cinnamon (I am not crazy about nuts at all) plus a spice I bought awhile ago called Apple Pie Spice which contains those 2 ingredients plus nutmeg. I ate one already and it could probably use a tad more cinnamon so I may add more when I reheat the others but it was good. Not as good as I remember from childhood but isn't that always the way ;-)



>150 Whisper1: - Hi Linda. It was a rainy windy day here too. My prescription med usually kicks in within half an hour of taking it but I do often feel the need to crawl into bed for a nap. Once the migraine is gone, I'm good though I do tend to move slowly. The trick is trying to get it not to come back day after day. I did not go out today at all except to put out the bird feeder and I will shortly go bring it in. I have to do that so the raccoons don't get it overnight (or so the wind doesn't knock it off the hook).

Tricky today:

Wordle 1,367 4/6 meaty, radio, panko, lasso

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>152 jessibud2: Mmmm! Those look delicious! Yes, it’s hard to capture the tastes (and other things) of childhood, but baked apples came close, though my grandma’s will always be the best.

I was thinking of summer the other morning, just as I was walking from sleep, and suddenly had a vivid memory of a summer morning when I was a kid—the feeling of happiness, of being warm and safe at the start of an endless summer day filled with possibilities just slammed into me. Didn’t last long, but it was wonderful while it lasted.

>152 jessibud2: Oh, those look wonderful! I was going to try making them and then I realized I didn’t have an apple corer (just a corer/slicer) and was afraid I’d cut myself if I tried to do it by hand. I need to buy a corer. In the meantime, I’ve eaten the apples I had.

I, too, get migraines, since I was fifteen, and was also hoping that menopause would slow them down but if anything they’re worse. Luckily the drugs make them vanish within an hour but I’m tired of waking up most mornings with a headache. A neurologist is next. I blame drump for my heightened stress levels.

Congrats on someone normal as your new PM. I’m jealous. Go Canada!

>155 Copperskye: - Joanne, have you heard about the Migraine World Summit? I have been attending (it's online) for several years. 8 days of lectures by specialists from all over the world in every discipline you can think of on a wide variety of topics, all related to the latest in migraine knowledge. It begins this Thursday. 4 pre-recorded half-hour lectures per day which are available to watch at your leisure for 24 hours. I think you can still register.

https://migraineworldsummit.com/

What med do you use? I use Zomig which is a triptan. A lifesaver. For me.

And thanks, re our new Prime Minister. He seems a decent and intelligent person. He has to call a federal election and it will be sooner rather than later, but at this very moment, he is in Europe - France, England - making new connections and looking for new trading partners. I think Europeans are also very wary of the reach of trump and the damage he can/will do. It truly makes me sick. I am trying not to panic but the signs are all pointing to the wrong direction. I just don't understand how he can get away with all of this. History is already repeating itself....

>154 Storeetllr: - Yes, Mary, my mum's and grandmother's baked apples will always be best, for me too. Nostalgia is a strong thing, isn't it? ;-)

>156 jessibud2: Thank you for the link!! I didn’t know there was a Migraine World Summit. I was able to register and some of the topics sound very relevant.

I also take Zomig, and have since it was first approved. It’s like a wonder drug for me.

I was wondering if that’s what you took when I saw that you get sleepy afterwards. When I take a Zomig, the migraine is gone almost exactly an hour later and then about two hours after that, my throat is sore and I’m ready for a nap. Like clockwork, thank goodness!

Thanks again for the Summit info - it’s very much appreciated!

>152 jessibud2: Your apples look yummy! I hope your migraine is a lot better.

>157 Copperskye: Joanne, I've taken Fiorcet for many years, but I'm finding that the ability to keep the migraine at bay is not as successful as before. I'll ask my doctor about Zomig. Thanks for mentioning this.

>152 jessibud2: The apples look delish! Is there a bad baked apple, though? Even overbaked, they're still apples...just roasted sauce.

>157 Copperskye: - I wrote a very long reply last night but lost it when I suddenly had to get off the computer. I had texted my computer guy, asking about something that looked odd on my desktop. Every icon I have there (it makes him crazy that I have so many picture icons right on the desktop), had a little check mark. I said it wasn't urgent but to please call me when he had some time. He called back just as I was writing that reply. I forgot to hit *post* and lost the whole thing.

But what happened next was quite a scare for me. The short version is that I had inadvertently and without knowing I had done it, clicked something that sent all those icons to the ( f'n) *cloud*. I do not know about clouds and most certainly would never have stored anything there on purpose. He told me it must have happened during an update. Ok. But, after much trial and error, this man, who is a computer wiz and does this for a living, could not for the life of him, restore them back to my computer. We spent 2 hours on the phone (he logs into my computer remotely, to save having to make the trip over here unless necessary). Somehow, we think he succeeded in disabling my outlook account (which I had no idea I had), and things gradually started appearing again. We are talking ALL my documents, ALL my photos. I truly felt sick. My screen was practically blank, not something I am used to seeing.

It is bright and sunny and warmish here today, and will be again tomorrow. But the next rainy day we have, I plan to devote to sitting and going through everything on my computer, and deleting anything that isn't essential. I have way too much stored on it, I know. But there are many documents and many photos that I would be devastated to lose. It's at times like these that I truly hate technology. Let me be a warning to all of you. Be careful what you touch on your computers!!

>158 Whisper1: - Linda, I used to take Fiorinol, which I am guessing is in the same family as your Fioricet. It killed my migraines but left me dizzy and light-headed. I also weighed a lot less back then than I do now and my doctor thought maybe my body just couldn't tolerate it. She switched me to Zomig and I have no side effects from that. Thank goodness!

>159 richardderus: - You got that right, Richard. I used 2 different varieties of apple, Fuji and Honey Crisp, my favourites. I don't remember if there were as many varieties to choose from back in my childhood. My mother and grandmother likely used Macintosh. I know those were what they made applesauce from. I still make my own applesauce from the Macs. Those are also grown locally, a bonus for me, especially these days! ;-)

>152 jessibud2: Oh, boy, does that picture make me drool! My grandmother made baked apples, and I loved them. There were apple trees on her farm....probably a variety not commercially available. I remember them being very large, with a rosy but not deep red peel speckled with brown spots. She used brown sugar and cinnamon, but not nuts, then poured top milk with vanilla in it over the warm apples. This was usually breakfast food, not dessert.

>162 laytonwoman3rd: - That sounds yummy! I never thought of baked apples as a breakfast, as we only ever had them as dessert. But why not? I bet it would be filling and way more healthy than cereal. I might have to try it, with one of my last 2. :-)

Wordle 1,369 3/6 meaty, plank, spark

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Remember >134 jessibud2:? Not quite a week ago. Yesterday, there was this:



And this morning, this!



We may get back down to single digit temps by the weekend, but for today, it's spring!

Happy first day of spring! Love the yellow (I think they are) crocus!

>164 jessibud2: Crocus like single digits just fine, so yay on the blooms, Shelley.

>164 jessibud2: Lovely!

Thanks, Mary, Richard, Joanne.

We hit 20C today!! I could not control myself. I bought 3 plants today: 2 gerbera daisies (one red, one yellow) and a small pot of basil. The fragrance of the basil just hit me as I walked by it. Can't put any of them outside yet but they are brightening up my rooms in the meantime. I am like an addict at this time of year, with the tease of spring. Doesn't take much.....:-)

To all my Canadian friends (and all my non-Canadian friends, too, of course), this just landed in my email inbox. I had tears streaming down my face before it was over. I am amazed at how many of these icons I was able to recognize (maybe I am just old, that's why).

Just to give you a hint. The first one speaking is Tommy Douglas, the father of universal healthcare in Canada (among other achievements), who also happens to be the father-in-law of Donald Sutherland and grandfather of Kiefer Sutherland. And it goes on from there.

Enjoy:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1056619122

>164 jessibud2: Lovely color, those yellow crocuses, Shelley!

Computer: I make a backup of my pictures and important files on a separate harddisk. I don’t want them in the cloud either. It gets harder and harder to control your own stuff, your privacy and data.

I need to try and make baked apples! They look so nice. There used to be so many different kinds of apples. Unfortunately some of the best ones can’t be found in the shops. My parents had a number of trees, and I still sometimes crave the test of a Cox apple.

20 C! That sounds lovely right now, Shelly . I'm still damp and cold from my hour long walk with Muffin. It's rain ahead , but apparently it is supposed to warm up and get sunny next week sometime.

Beautiful vimeo message, Shelley. I love your Gerbera Daisies too.

>170 EllaTim: - Ella, I am embarrassed to say that I don't even know how to back stuff up on a separate device. I don't trust the cloud but the thought of losing photos is scary.

>171 vancouverdeb:, >172 vancouverdeb: - Well, it will be next week until we see those temps again. Rainy today. And yes, isn't that video wonderful?

Wordle 1,370 4/6 meaty, haste, taste, baste

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>173 jessibud2: Shelley, I bought a simple USB drive ("thumb" drive) with a lot of memory, and copied all my important files (like pictures and documents) from my computer to the USB drive.

I just "copy" the original folder/file and "paste" on the USB drive. Ask your computer guy--he can walk you through it.

I update it every few months or so. Takes some time and not fancy, but at least I have most of our stuff on it should anything happen.

>173 jessibud2:, >175 kac522: What Kathy said. It's easy, and important.

>168 jessibud2: They're irresistible! I think the basil looks the most tempting to me.

I just looked out the window. It's snowing.

:-o

>152 jessibud2: Oh those look delicious!

>164 jessibud2: Such cute, small crocuses!

Happy (almost) Friday!

>178 jessibud2: Yeah, we woke up to it this morning. Ahh, the first day of Spring and the joys of cleaning snow off the car....

Oh no! More snow! I caught a break from the rain today and walked Muffin without rain. Yay!But it started to pour shortly afterwards.

>179 figsfromthistle:, >180 kac522:, >181 vancouverdeb: - Well the snow didn't stick but the temps sure have dropped. It's a cold, gray morning here. Good excuse to get chores done indoors today. Yesterday afternoon, I cleaned my back yard of winter debris and uncovered my garden bin (like a shed but smaller, just a bin I keep tools, pots, etc in) and A/C that I cover for the winter.

Wordle 1,372 3/6 meaty, gamer, amble Apparently, I have just tied my high streak of 86 games. If I don't bomb tomorrow, it will be a new high streak for me. I hope I haven't just jinxed myself, ;-p

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Deb, I just responded to your Stash tea comment on Mary's thread. I love Stash tea and have no trouble finding them here, usually at the health food store, I think.

Nice discussion about tea on my thread!

No snow here in the Lower Hudson Valley, but our temps dropped too after that too short false spring. Oh, well, too soon it will be a sauna here and I’ll be wishing for some cooler temps.

Just another reason to be completely embarrassed to be an American: a library that straddles the US-Canadian border under fire:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7laEepRfY-k

>184 Storeetllr: - Mary, I just recently learned that one of my favourite authors, Malcolm Gladwell, lives in the Hudson Valley. Have you run into him? ;-)

>185 kac522: - I have heard of that library, Kathy but not this most recent presidential garbage. Good on them for building Canadian side access. I wonder how long it will take before republicans start waking up. They can't ALL be as idiotic as trumps hopes they are, can they? As he is.

>186 jessibud2: I had heard of the library, too, and it sounded so cool. What a way to ruin a wonderful place. Do you think they'll put Border Patrol in the middle of the library across the borderline? Too ridiculous.

>187 kac522: - I wondered if they'd have to make Canadians enter with a passport? Sheesh.

If you go in on the US side, do you need a passport to return, because you might have stepped over the border while you were in there?

>188 jessibud2: Through that front door (on the U.S. side), YES--starting in October. It will be a regular "border" crossing. What's even more irritating is that the building itself has a larger portion in Canada than in the U.S., but the address and the front door are Vermont. Hence the reason they're eventually going to make an access door on the Canadian side.

Too much unnecessary drama for the poor two towns.

>189 laytonwoman3rd: - Linda, I'm sure there will be armed officers to make sure no illegal *trespassing* is going on. And no smuggling anything within the pages of books. Maybe they can hire some of those millions of people who have been laid off (ie, fired) from other jobs, jobs less important than checking passports in a little library.

Insert eye roll here....

>190 kac522: - Kathy, it is beyond belief or understanding how the *government* organizes its *priorities*, isn't it? I would bet that neither trump or musk has ever set foot inside a library in their lives. Or even knows what they are for, for that matter.

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>186 jessibud2: Although Gladwell lives in the Hudson Valley, Hudson (the town where he lives according to Wikipedia) is about 100 miles north of me.

>185 kac522: Ridiculous!

I love the photos of the flowers, Shelley. Spring is almost here.

>193 Storeetllr: - I knew it was a long shot, Mary, but I had to ask, lol!

>194 BLBera: - Hi Beth. Thanks! The last couple of days have been downright cold here but today, at least, it was sunny. Not feeling quite like spring just yet. One of the garden centres I like was advertising and I was so tempted to go this weekend but I resisted. No point, for me. I don't really have anywhere to put too many plants where they will be warm and get sun so until the nights stay above freezing and plants can be left outside, it's better for me to NOT wander anywhere near the garden centres.

Guessy guessy:

Wordle 1,374 5/6 meaty, alone, anile, ankle, angle

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We woke up to snow here this morning!! Doesn't feel that cold but obviously it was, overnight. Not enough to shovel but enough that it likely won't melt today. Sigh...

Oh no, more snow! It rained here today when I walked Muffin , but it was not a down pour , and it was 12 C I think. So not bad. Still haven't broken out my short sleeved tops, but I hope to soon.

Well, the snow did melt but today is gray and chilly and rain is coming. Hello spring. I could stand some warmer temps, though.

Wordle 1,375 3/6 meaty, flute, shelf

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Recently read:

Little Man, Little Man one of the few (only?) books written by James Baldwin for children. It is a fictionalized tale of the place where he grew up, using the vernacular of his childhood. The intro was interesting and informative, too. Not much, plot-wise but the illustrations were by a mentor/friend of his and it was good to read it. I can't remember where I heard of it but glad my library was able to get a hold of it.

I am, once again, scattered in my attention. I am in the middle of about 3 or 4 books at the moment, none of which is grabbing me, which I need:

Still dipping into and out of Margaret Renkl's Graceland, At Last (it's essays so easy enough to do that).

Also, The Opposite of Loneliness, which I am feeling only *meh* about and may not bother finishing. Author Marina Keegan was a Yale grad with a promising future as a writer, and died tragically in a car accident 5 days after graduating. The title essay went viral but the book includes fiction and non-fiction. I couldn't quite force myself through her fiction and will sample the non-fiction before deciding whether to plow on. A bit too *Gen Y* for my taste.

The Holy or the Broken - the unlikely ascent of Leonard Cohen's *Hallelujah*. Interesting but maybe too analytical for my scattered mind right now. I've set it aside for the moment. Jeff, (mahsdad) came up with a designation I really like. Not DNF, because I do intend to go back to these books I am not finishing in one attempt, so NRN (not right now). That's what these are. Though the Keegan may end up as DNF.

One I AM enjoying is The Idea of Canada. It's been on my shelf for awhile, published in 2016; it felt the right time to pick this up and I am happy that I've done so. Author David Johnston was Canada's 28th GG (Governor General). This book is organized in groups of letter he has written to friends and icons, both living and dead, about the social forces and habits and decisions that have made our country unique. Though it's been nearly a decade since this was published, so much of what I am reading is so timely right now!

I also have 3 items to pick up from the library tomorrow: an illustrated children's book, an audiobook and a dvd.

Just finished this one last night. It was hard but isn't it beautiful?



Just started another one....

>202 jessibud2: Oh, Shelley! That's a fabulous puzzle. How many pieces does it have? What is its name and brand?

Oh, it's 500 pieces. I just counted the pieces across and multiplied by the pieces down. I also remember you saying recently that you were going to be doing 500 piece puzzles instead of 1,000 piece ones. Are your boys leaving the puzzle pieces alone? :)

>203 SqueakyChu: Ditto! Love to know the name and maker.

>201 jessibud2: The Idea of Canada sounds good, but my library doesn't have it. It does have The Promise of Canada by Charlotte Gray; have you read that one?

>203 SqueakyChu:, >204 kac522: - It is a Ravensburger, 500 pieces and is called Greenhouse Morning. I Just started another Ravensburger called Parisian Sunset, a lovely street scene with very old-fashioned cars, a cafe, buildings with balconies and a cat and a dog on the street.

>204 kac522: - Kathy, I have both that one by Charlotte Gray and another by her called Canada A Portrait in Letters. I love Gray's writing and have read quite a few of her books. I pulled these two out when I pulled the Johnston off my shelf as well and will read them when I finish the Johnston. I am feeling more patriotic than usual lately, I guess I don't have to tell you. T-Rump's assinine diatribe this afternoon, delivered in his childish gibberish, about his latest tariffs, just about made me want to puke. There was a Canadian analyst from the auto industry on the radio right after his announcement, and she has already fact-checked some of the garbage he said and while she was polite and said she could call it lies, but will instead call it untrue or inaccurate, that won't lessen the impact.

Why can't a meteor just fall on him?

>203 SqueakyChu: - Madeline, my boys are just fine with my puzzles since my ingenious use of the science fair folding board, lol! I leave it on the table all the time, held closed by butterfly clips on either end and they don't even look at it any more. :-)

>205 jessibud2: Shelley, I can't even begin to tell you how stressed I am. And my husband too. It is crazy. If I could figure out a way to buy Canadian here, I would.

Today the Republicans grilled the heads of NPR and PBS, to determine if they "deserve" the small federal funding that they get.

Besides our local NPR radio station, I only listen to a classical station in Chicago (WFMT), which is also affiliated with our PBS station. For TV I only watch PBS (WTTW is the local station). I don't watch anything else, except possibly local news at 5pm on our local ABC station or DVDs I get at the library. I don't have cable or streaming or any of that fancy stuff. If I'm not watching PBS/WTTW, I'm reading a book or here on LT😉

If PBS and/or NPR go down because of this, I don't know what I'll do for an intelligent news source.

And just to make you even angrier (you don't have to read this if your stress level is too high), look what happened to a Detroit woman who mistakenly turned on to the Ambassador Bridge:

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5335524/wrong-turn-bridge-detention-ordeal

Nobody else except NPR or PBS would cover this. I am at a loss as to how to fight all of this, except maybe donate to the ACLU or some other civil rights watchdog.

Kathy, that is horrible. I heard recently that there have been warnings here in Canada also, not to travel to the States. Another example is a Canadian roller derby team has cancelled all their games in the States because they fear what the border agents will do with their documents. My brother lives in Vermont and has been a legal citizen since 2018. But he will never give up his Canadian citizenship. He seems to feel he is in no danger. I told him to just be careful. No one is in *no danger*.

As for news, the only radio I listen to is CBC radio. I listen to one local newscast in the morning and one national/global newscast per day. I stopped watching local tv news and only watch PBS Newshour at dinner time. I figure that if anything earth-shattering happens in the world, someone will tell me. My head is very comfortable in its hole in the ground. I watch Jeopardy on whatever its station is, I watch one current events program on a local PBS-like station (TVO) or I watch programs on PBS. I am not a big tv-watcher at the best of times so I, too, have no streaming services or anything like that. I will admit, though, that I recently subscribed to PBS passport. I hesitated and thought long and hard because of my determination not to put any of my money into the States but in the end, I decided that PBS was worth it. I sure hope they aren't cut off at the knees. What was the result of today's hearing for PBS/NPR? I knew about it but couldn't watch.

>201 jessibud2: I read the opposite of loneliness a long time ago when it came out. It had a lot of rave reviews but I too thought it was *meh*

The idea of Canada looks to be a good timely read. I will see if my library has a copy.

>202 jessibud2: That is a gorgeous puzzle, Shelley! I did look everywhere I could think of in Canada for Stash Christmas Morning tea, but could not find any. Even Stash Tea itself does not ship to Canada anymore, I am not sure why. I checked Well. ca, and they didn't have that type of tea , so no go. I tried.

I have not plans to travel to the USA while Trump is in power.

>210 vancouverdeb: - Deb, do you have any health food stores in your area? Sometimes, asking them to order something they don't currently have might work. It can't hurt to ask. Worst they can say is no. Also, maybe try dropping a line via the contact link to stash.ca itself. If Canada Post rates were not so idiotic I'd send you some.

>208 jessibud2: No one anywhere is safe. I'm not trying to shout alarmism, yet here I am doing it because this threat is real. I hope Carney wins. Poilievre is far too Trumpian.

Stay safe.

>212 richardderus: - There was an amazing (if alarming) interview this morning with a journalist from Greenland and a politician from Denmark on trump's latest bullying. He actually told a journalist, in these words, that he might have *to have* Greenland. And despite the lies that he was spewing about Vance's wife, NO ONE wanted her there. The journalist said that they literally went door to door asking if anyone would agree to let her in for a photo op, and NO ONE would say ok. I was so happy to hear that. So, now their plans are changed and they will only be visiting the American military site there, nowhere else.

Once the interview is posted on the program's website, I'll post a link. It was fascinating. This is the kind of radio we need: one that goes and finds the truth where it is, not where it's being manufactured. It usually takes a day or so to get it onto the site.

>213 jessibud2: That both does not surprise and does delight me!

>207 kac522: "I am at a loss as to how to fight all of this, except maybe donate to the ACLU" The ACLU is a good choice. There are many other organizations you could support, starting with your local PBS/NPR station. CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) is doing a lot of good work. Write to your officials, from Congress on down. Buy your books through Bookshop.org rather than that Other Place; you can support an independent bookstore of your choice at the same time. Use the library! Often their funding is tied to circulation and participation numbers. It's daunting, but it's not hopeless unless we give UP.

I've sung this song before, so please forgive me, Shelley, for tootling up your thread with it.

Here is the interview I mentioned in >213 jessibud2::

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-63-the-current/clip/16136479-u.s.-officia...

>215 laytonwoman3rd: - Thanks for adding that, Linda!

>215 laytonwoman3rd: Thank for the suggestions of where to donate and how to make "good trouble". I've started a regular anti-t***p donation schedule in an effort to do some good in an otherwise miserable world/country. ACLU is a good organization to support. They are doing so much now. Other suggestions for where to donate would be appreciated. I've also donated to a local organization for Hispanics (CASA of Maryland) as well as to HIAS, a Jewish organization that works on behalf of all immigrants.

I've been boycotting Amazon way longer than most people I know. I love my local library and use it all the time. I just got the exciting news that soon they'll be setting up a free puzzle swap shelf. Can't wait to use that! I also buy used books and puzzles from my Local Friends of the LIbrary used bookshop.

I write to my congressional rep and to my two Senators at least once a week. Fortunately I live in Maryland and have nothing but the most respect for all three of them (Senator Van Hollen, Senator Alsobrooks, Rep. Raskin).

On a good note, tonight I am going to a town hall with my Maryland district 6 Congressional Representative, Jamie Raskin. It used to be that no one even knew who he was! I want to be there in person to express my support and thanks to him.

Keep singing your song. I need support in doing this from like-minded others.

Sorry to put this on your thread Shelley, but I'm going to quickly respond:

>215 laytonwoman3rd:, >217 SqueakyChu: Yep, "good trouble" is what we need. I will take your advice on the ACLU and will look into CREW. I have supported the PBS and NPR stations for many, many years, and have not shopped Amazon for years. Never bought a Kindle, never downloaded from Audible, stopped shopping at Whole Foods when Bezos bought it. I use the library almost daily, buy at library sales and when I get rid of books, donate to library sales. We have a migrant shelter (numbers are way down, but some are still living there) a few blocks away & I've donated blankets, etc. to them.

My elected officials are all Democrats: my rep, Mike Quigley, is a huge supporter of Ukraine. Our Illinois senators, Dick Durbin & Tammy Duckworth are the best. Our Dem governor is a millionaire who at least has a conscience (Pritzker). Our city had a huge info campaign to protect undocumented people. But despite these fantastic reps, I still feel so powerless and stressed with every new headline.

>217 SqueakyChu: Jamie Raskin is the best, for sure, and a hugely courageous individual.

I need to take a break from the news! It is impacting my spirits and my usual positive outlook on life. Yesterday, I learned that Trump is proposing a needed passport in order to vote! Good God in Heaven!!!!

So very many people (including me) do not have an extra $150 dollars to spend on this! I'm not sure of the cost - this was mentioned by a friend.

Who can stop this maniac?

>216 jessibud2:, >217 SqueakyChu: If you're lucky enough to have good representatives, it's important to tell them they are appreciated for what they're doing. Imagine being on the front lines of this fight. Individual donations to the campaign funds of those people, or to the DNC directly, are another good way to provide support. And let me put in a plug for PostcardsToVoters.org. You can join a get-out-the-vote campaign through that site, writing to addresses they provide, with messages from the candidates themselves. It recently helped flip a PA Senate seat in a special election. Here's what the DNC said about that election:
"Yesterday, Democrat James Malone won a shocking, historic special election victory in Pennsylvania’s Senate District 36 — a district that went to Trump by 15 points in 2024 and has a 23-point Republican voter registration advantage.
Yesterday’s special election victory in Pennsylvania is further proof that voters are fed up with the Trump-Musk agenda — and they’re voting accordingly.
In 2025, Democrats continue to overperform in special elections as voters make their anger at Trump heard loud and clear."

Kathy, Linda, unless you are here to (*choke*) compliment t-rump, you are welcome to add anything to my thread, especially if what you post can help anyone else. I despise him more with each passing day and simply can't imagine any decent, sane human being feeling otherwise. I am not generally a hateful person but it is simply shocking (though it probably shouldn't be by now) to me that someone like that can not only exist but be sanctioned by so many to do what he does.

Anyhow, a big PHEW! right here:

Wordle 1,378 6/6 meaty, weird, fever, reeve, verve, verse. I wasted guess #5 by using a letter already rejected in that spot and so, my final guess came down to what I luckily chose or the word *verge*. Thankfully, I guessed correctly and my now 92-day streak lives

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>221 jessibud2: *whew* I was a little worried I was taking over your thread for a soapbox. There was a time when I tried to keep any political talk off my own thread---I wanted it to be a space free of that sort of thing. I just don't feel I can afford that luxury now. And I do want to share those things I know about that people can do to feel less helpless. It's often hard to see the effects of little moves, but remember what Arlo Guthrie said....if one person does it they may think he's really sick....but if 50 people a day do it, they'll think it's a movement. And that's what we need.

>220 laytonwoman3rd: Lucky you all not living in Wisconsin where head billionaire will visit to deliver his 1 million dollar bonus

to the lucky winner who votes against Susan Crawford.

And now, for something completely different: a nature break!

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/10-phenomenal-female-bird-photos-2024-audubon-p...

>222 laytonwoman3rd: - Love Arlo Guthrie! I saw him in concert here in Toronto maybe 20 years ago or so! :-)

Wordle 1,379 5/6 meaty, pinky, burly, wordy, sorry

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>223 m.belljackson: I've written a slew of postcards to voters in Wisconsin urging them to vote for Crawford.

Checking in on you, Shelley, and not even trying to catch up.

I hope all is well with you and the boys!

>227 laytonwoman3rd: We got 4 postcards and mailed our Vote in early!

Unfortunately our MAGA neighbors are too stupid to recognize their own stupidity.

I wish they had enjoyed the DEI of my 4th grade students as we traveled around on field trips,
visiting everything from Effigy Mounds to Jimmy the Groundhog. So many eye & mind openers...

Wordle 1,380 3/6 meaty, death, quota Silly inattention mistake in second guess.

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The Toronto Public Library system is having a delightful promo. For a limited time (that is, until they run out), you can trade in your old library card, for free, for one of 3 new ones, with *timely* messages. They also have canvas bags that look like the cards but I already have so many bags, I decided to go for a new card. Guess which one I chose?

>231 jessibud2: I like them all, but I’d probably go for “ignite minds, not books,” tho it’s a hard choice!

Wordle 1,383 4/6 meaty, prone, dirge, curse

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It's snowing like crazy here at the moment, very windy and cold. It is -1C, feeling like -8C (17.6F). Yet, they say that tomorrow we will get up to 18C (64.4F) ! How is that even possible?

I need to start a new thread.......

>231 jessibud2: Interesting choices, Shelley! I hope your snow was short lived.

Happy Saturday, Shelley. Just checking in after our epic trip. Snow? WTH? We have been getting lots of rain here, with cooler temps. Once it begins to warm up, everything should start blooming like crazy. That won't happen for a few more days.

>232 Storeetllr: I'm with you Mary, I would have picked that one too!

>231 jessibud2: Which did you choose, Shelley?

>237 PaulCranswick: Great minds and all that! 😊