Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Mount Joy


Do you believe that certain books just "find their way" to you and your amazing mind? I think they do. When I was in elementary school, I loved the school library. My friends and I spent recess there sometimes, sitting on the steps down to a sunken primary section, we'd read plays together from a periodical called (duh) PLAYS. I found this delightful and they were nice enough to "play" along. Remember how my first glimpse of Betsy-Tacy made such an impression on me? Another book that I kept looking at, pulling down, even checking out but not reading was the book above written by Daisy Newman. I was ten years old when it was published and as much as I was in love with its cover, I simply didn't have the background knowledge to read it cover to cover. I thought of it a week or so ago and ordered it. Now, I know it's no coincidence that this book arrived on the heels of that "other" book that gave me the heebie jeebies. They are both written about history, one (the creepy one) about Italy and the other about France and Spain. So, my brain was already thinking about religion in the medieval times. Mount Joy is about a pilgrimage made by a young college student. A fanatic for medieval architecture and art, she travels from Paris to Mount Joy. It's a beautifully written book, so considerate of the intelligent young adult reader which is unlike many of the young adult offerings out there now. I researched the author, Daisy Newman. She was born of American parents in England. She went to Radcliffe College, Barnard University, and Oxford University. She died in 1994 at the age of ninety. She was a Quaker. Fascinating. Now that I'm almost to the end of Gladys Taber, I am ON TO Daisy Newman. This particular copy of Mount Joy had been pulled from a library in Ohio. I'm so glad it's mine now. Before I came home and found it had arrived, I had been browsing at the used book store (she only wanted about six dollars worth of my books, too many copies of the "creepy" book already sat upon her shelves). Anyway, a person could get lost in this store! Two by fours constitute shelving and there are all kinds of passageways and stacks and stacks of books on the floor and up to the ceiling. I found something special, a Lutheran hymnal. Five dollars bought me some sweet, quiet, liturgical moments for the next few months. Oh, I am so dearly loved by a God who KNOWS me. I also found a few copies of The Wind in the Willows (LOVE) and this old Living New Testament which I already have but I like to doodle and scribble in a fresh copy every now and then. Oh, you are so nice to have read this far. I have more to say. Smile.





And what I have to say is that I love days like today, when I am home and the sunbeams are shining into our house. It reminds me of my childhood homes. One little cottage where we lived until I was three or four - of course I can't remember much but I do remember sun shining in on the floor of the den, the tiny kitchen. In our next house, by the golf course, sun shown in the kitchen, too. I relished the bright clean look of our house and often my dad was out mowing the grass and the smell of THAT plus the shine of the indoors made me feel happy. When we lived in Spokane, we had bright winter days, too. I'd put the kids down for naps and sit in a squishy chair or sew by the window. I loved the domesticity of this. I am loving being home. Can you tell? Snow is supposed to come later in the week, but now I am going out to walk around in the clear cool air.






There are still flowers inside - so pretty. Kelli and Millie came over his morning to help Bill with some accounting stuff and I sat by the window holding Millie.



As I held her little pink self, I thought, "Here I am holding my seventh grandchild. I am blessed indeed."
And now Birdie has arrived with her daddy. She can come with me on my walk and we'll go down to the coffee shop and have a cuppa. More happiness. I wish you simple happiness today, too.

15 comments:

magsmcc said...

Almond Roca, Community crazy, Paris to Mount Joy- My head spins with sparkle and thought when I read your posts- and when I have been enjoying Christmas too much to log in, oh dear look how much wondeful stuff I have missed! What is Almond Roca? This quote on community is absolutely key to everything I've been trying to learn about community for the last two years. Please discuss! And I'n off to Amazon now to look up Mount Joy. Alan bought me David Nicholl's One Day and I read it in a day and cried at the end- find it! Love you love you love you- happy new year with lots of you in it!

Leslie said...

It sounds like you are really savoring these holiday days. And you've made me want to go visit the used book store. I appreciate the way you soak up the blessings around you. I wish you many more.
~Leslie

Gigi said...

Hi Pom,
Thanks for the book recommendations - never heard of Daisy N. - must run over to Amazon and check her out. Have you ever read Kathleen Thompson Norris's books (did I already ask this ;) - think you might like her too.
So glad you're enjoying your time off!

The dB family said...

I so enjoy your posts Dear Pom Pom. You are bleesed indeed, and we your readers are blessed to have you in our lives! It sounds like you are enjoying your time off very much. I pray that the rest of your week continues to be just as pleasurable!

Love the new look, the quote, and your bunting photo! Perfect!

Blessings!
Deborah

Gumbo Lily said...

I love hymnals. I have a Lutheran, a Foursquare, and one that has a publishing date of 1918 that was used in a Congregational Church. I like singing hymns, even if no one else sings with me.

Enjoy your homey days.

Jody

Elderberry-Rob said...

Hi Pom Pom. So lovely that you are enjoying the blessings of your family and feeling so homely. In addition to being a school teacher, you are a teacher of lifes wonders to many of us who read your blog. when there is a book you are enjoying, I go away with enthusiasm and find a book for myself. When you have one of your homely moods, I do too! and something in my house gets rediscovered and re-loved and cherished. If only you lived in my road and we could sit and chat and drink your lemonade and my tea and wander in the woods - well, in spirit we can. I have been using the gift I told you about by the way, it has been acknowledged and used and is good for others but maybe not so for me and I do have a sense of self preservation being only human! Blessings to you and your family for New Year. Betty x

Scrappy quilter said...

It's always fun to read your blog. Nice to see your enjoying your special time at home. Hugs

lil red hen said...

It's so nice to know someone else loves The Wind in the Willows. I enjoy your blog very much; came by way of Karen's Quilting.

lil red hen said...

I'm happy to hear someone else loves The Wind in the Willows. I enjoy your blog very much; came by way of Karen's Quilting.

Bradley W. Maston said...

It sounds like a simply lovely day. I'm glad you got to enjoy the sunshine and all of the beauty that today has to offer. I am also glad that you rid yourself of "the creepy book" i have to say, this was a good plan. I love you.

brad

Kari of Writing Up A Storm said...

I love the sound of the Mount Joy book, and the name, too! I love stories about journeys. Anything that is like a pilgrimage interests me very much. I feel I am always searching, and I want to learn from others who are searching, starting at one point and ending up somewhere else and learning a lot in between. Enjoy your last few days of holiday, every precious second!! xo Kari

Kerri said...

I believe so strongly that books come to you at very precise moments in your life. This has happened countless times to me. Each book seems to prepare you for the next. So fascinating! How lovely to have 7 beautiful grandchildren! They are blessed to have you x

SusanB-knits said...

I'm glad you are relaxing and enjoying your vacation. Yep, books do show up at the right times when you need them.

A garden just outside Venice said...

Hello sweet lady! A quick stop at your place before my boss arrives ;D...wishing you and your family a very happy new Year!
xxx

debbie bailey said...

That has happened to me so many times. I'll buy a book and stick it, unread, onto the shelf. Ten, maybe twenty, years go by when I'll find it again, and it'll be just what I need at the moment. Coincidence? No, providence!

Followers