Gardener's Group discussion

SO many books...! I've realized over 2009 that while I was reading a lot of great new books, I haven't re-read many all-time favorites in years (if at all), so one of my reading goals for 2010 is to re-read 1 all-time fave each month along with whatever other books I read during that time.

I've also decided to try my hand at a reading challenge and have settled on one started by fellow Chick Lisa called the Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge. (Click on the following link for the blog she's created with all of the info: http://gilmoregirlschallenge.blogspot.co...). Here's my link to my 'gilmore girls reading challenge 2010' goodreads shelf so you can take a look at the books I've picked for it: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/834...

I ended 2009 with Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, which I literally finished last night around 11:40pm and which I recommend to Every Woman regardless of age! An outstanding book to be reading when one year transitions to the next.

I'm beginning 2010 with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and The Red Tent. I actually received this copy of HP from Hubb's Last Christmas ('08) and somehow an entire year has gone by without my having read it (or any of the other books I got for that Christmas).

I have a few old faves I re-read almost every year: To Kill a Mockingbird, Forever France, Tanamara, Trinity, Redemption, and The Wheel of Fortune. It's like visiting with an old friend.

I've read Gift from the Sea many times, but not recently, so you may have inspired me to pick it up again. It's one of those great books that gives me a new insight every time I read it.

I've got a list of 12 books that have been on my "To Be Read" piles for many years - a challenge from one of my other Goodreads groups. Otherwise I think I'll just do my normal "go with the flow" method of picking books. I never know exactly what topic or story I'm going to be interested in digging into next...and I like it that way!

One of the reasons I love GR is I have read some great books I would never have known about otherwise. I've never read "Gift From the Sea" for example, but now am thinking I should.

You should Cheryl! I Highly recommend it! (To all women regardless of age!)

Cheryl, I second Jo's opinion. Gift from the Sea is one of those books that I'd hate to think any woman had missed.

I've put "Gift" on my list and will be looking for it shortly. My to-read pile is very low right now, which always makes me nervous, but I want to spend some time with my old gardening books so this is a good time to do it.

(Sighs wistfully) I wish my to-read pile was low right now, lol!

Fortunately or unfortunately, I can't remember a time when my "to read" pile was low!

Has anyone who's read Gift read A Year by the Sea Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman? Gift reminded me of this and it's an all time fave. I'm going to re-read it this month.

Jo, I read A Year by the Sea many years ago and had rather forgotten about it. Your comment made me search it out and thumb through it, rereading the passages I had underlined and noted. I definitely want to re-read it, too. I think maybe I am more ready to absorb its messages than I was 10 (?) years ago when I first read it. Thanks so much for bringing this book back to my attention.

You're welcome Cynthia! I'm interested to know how I'll respond to it 9 years after the first time I read it too!!! Let me know what you think and I will do the same!

I'm putting The Red Tent aside (and returning it to the library) because I am Loving Harry Potter at the moment and I just got Liz Gilbert's new book, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage this afternoon at the foodstore and I cannot wait to crack it open! I have a feeling I would really like The Red Tent but it's just not the right timing for me with it.

Reading tastes are so interesting. I very much liked the "Red Tent", but did not care for "Eat, Pray, Love" and won't be reading Gilbert's second book. I really liked the Harry Potter series. The world would be pretty boring if we all liked the same thing.

Reading tastes are interesting, indeed. I enjoyed The Red Tent a lot, so don't give up on it, Jo! However, I totally understand this not being the right time to read it.

As I read Eat, Pray, Love, I found it really rather irritating, but when I went back and reviewed the quotes I'd underlined and the comments I'd made in the margins, I realized that I'd gotten quite a bit out of the book despite my irritation with Gilbert's...self absorption.

That acknowledged, I've been happily married for over 33 years and the thought of reading Gilbert's angst over committing to marriage sounds painful, so I don't think I'll be reading her new book.

The world would indeed be a boring place if we all shared the same reactions to everything.

Cynthia--I definately share your reaction about Gilbert's book--I found her irritating in the extreme, probably because raising two kids by myself while working full time didn't leave a lot of time for wandering around the world finding myself. However, it is interesting to look into the life of someone far different from myself and there were probably a couple of "aha moments" along the way. I certainly applaud anyone who can sustain a successful marriage over the long haul in this day and age and think you deserve a lot more credit for that than someone who curls up on the floor crying when things aren't going her way.

Cheryl, Thanks. I must say that I am in awe of anyone who can work fulltime and raise 2 kids by herself - I truly don't know how you did it. We have 2 kids, too, and I worked part-time and did volunteer work, but I felt pulled in every direction and overwhelmed as it was. It's hard for me to imagine how you balanced everything.

Now to tackle some organizing and filing and general (hopefully) simplifying around the house....

Thanks, Cynthia--That's the thing, you just do it and move on. My kids are grown up and long gone and when I look back on it now I don't remember the bad stuff and sometimes I really miss the mess and confusion of an active household.

I'm getting revved up to do some simplifing of my own. I have a lot of stuff I want to get rid of out of my basement. The "I better keep this, I might need it some day stash", the left over wood from a remodeling project, the Fisher Price toys no one in the family is young enough to play with anymore, old electronics, the list goes on and on. After clearing out my parents' home where 4 generations of my family had lived I vowed I would never leave that sort of disaster for my own kids. I've pretty much finished with the main floor of the house and tried to use the rule--if I haven't used it in the past year I don't need it. Wish me luck!

Cheryl, I most definitely wish you luck...and could use some luck of my own! I recently helped a friend clean out her family home, and I too vowed I wouldn't leave that task to my children.

However, I definitely have packrat genes, so it's a real struggle for me!

Interesting Indeed!

Though I heard of Eat Pray Love book in 2006 (on a blog I frequent) by the time my interest peaked enough to actually read it, I was also very hesitant to do so because of all the "hype" about it! Once I saw Liz's first appearance on Oprah in October (2007), I couldn't resist the book any longer. (Curiosity killed the cat as they say).

Usually, this isn't my type of book, but I can honestly say that it is, so far, the most honestly written memoir I've read to date and for that it's amazing. (That's the main reason I gave it to 3 of my girlfriends for Christmas 2007). I under-lined many, many sentences in the book that I relate to or which stuck a chord with me. I so greatly appreciated Liz's frankness about topics like depression and toxic love relationships because I had been through the same (and to a degree worse because my relationships prior to meeting my husband were abusive).

I lost interest at times when I felt I couldn't relate to some of the, what I call 'frou frou' spiritualism aspects of it. I'm not saying people can't truly have & believe they have had experiences like that. I just can't relate because I haven't experienced anything to that degree and don't expect to. That's just not me, but, that's okay on both sides of the coin. ("I'm okay, you're okay!")

I also lost interest & got bored during what I call her 'history lessons' that she gives in the book as backgrounds on different places and religious practices because I felt it got a bit too academic (for my taste) and at times too lengthy. I did want more closure at the end given the fact that I know Liz goes on to buy a home and live in western NJ & marries Felipe ~ she ends the book before anything concrete like that happens, but I know that life is never truly finished while living it!

I watched both of Liz's Oprah appearances and what worries me after watching the 2nd is the rush to use this book as ones ultimate life guide or "bible," as some viewers kept calling it. That's not what she intended when writing it. (I assume given her reactions to those viewers!)

I realized in my late 20's that no matter how much you look, there's no one book (or even many books) that will give you all of the answers you need. By all means, take some things to heart, challenge your views and file away things as suggestions you can try, but if you take a book like this and use it strictly as guide for your own life, I feel you're still going to end up back where you were before you read it. (Been there & done that, let me tell you!) Liz's path is not the same as mine or yours or anyone's and that is okay! It may be a long & painful road but we'll all get to where we want to be eventually & all in our own ways.

I have battled severe depression for many years now and as I mentioned have been in abusive relationships (I'm not saying hers were) and I think many do not like this book because they cannot relate to that kind of deep & overwhelming pain and being lost, therefore, they feel that she's being selfish, self-absorbed, hopped up on self pity, etc.. I've also come across a bit of jealousy when others say they dislike the book because they may not have the financial means Liz had to be able to do what she did and therefore, they feel she's ungrateful or self indulgent.

Around 2000, I was handed a cushy trader job with a powerful and well known financial company in Manhattan where I'd be making oodles of money and working on the 78th floor of Tower 2 at The World Trade Center. I've always dreamed of working in the city! But, it was NOT what I wanted to do, nor did I have the confidence in myself to handle everything it would've entailed, so I backed out of the job ~ much to the utter dismay of friends & co-workers.

on September 11, 2001, I was at home that morning, sitting on my living room floor with my back against the couch because I'd thrown my back out. I turned on the TV to see Tower 1 of The World Trade Center in Manhattan "on fire." They didn't actually know yet what had happened. a few moments later, I watched a plane fly into tower 2. My tower. My floor. Later I found out that only 2 people from the 78th floor of Tower 2 made it out alive. 2. I feel in my soul that if I'd been there, I would've died that day.

Just because one seems to have "everything," sometimes the price for that "everything" doesn't make it worth having after all.

I saw her at a fund raiser for a local cancer treatment center (local to our 2nd home that is) and she was warm, funny and gracious. I enjoyed every moment of her appearance and look forward to hopefully seeing her again sometime in the future!

Jo, You've made some very interesting comments. I have not seen Gilbert either on TV or in person, so I'm basing my opinion solely on how I reacted to her writing. As such, of course it reflects me as much as it reflects her.

Like you, I have suffered from severe depression, so I understand the need to "gaze at my bellybutton" to try to figure out why and how I can heal myself. Years of doing that on my own weren't helping and the depression was deepening, so I finally got help, beginning about 2 years ago. That was probably the smartest decision I've made in a long time; I just wish I'd done it years before.

Meanwhile, despite the fact that I can navel-gaze with the best of them, her "voice" still irritated me at times in the book. Different strokes for different folks. I also still found an awful lot of value in her book, for which I'm very thankful.

There is a quote I read in Walden the other day that both makes me smile and seems apropos to this discussion, "I should not talk so much about myself if there were any body else whom I knew as well. Unfortunately, I am confined to this theme by the narrowness of my experience."

I can appreciate everyone's POV on books, we're not all going to like the same books or have the same opinions of them - how boring would that be?! LOL!

Probably by the grace of God I have nevered suffered from depression, so therefore cannot apply the same perspective as those who have. I just love it when women are honest about their lives because it helps me to understand why others think and feel as they do. Who knew a gardening site would bring on such an interesting discussion?

I agree Cheryl! I'm thrilled with the discussions here as of late!

Elizabeth Gilbert was on NPR this morning, doing an interview about her new book. If you guys didn't catch it, I assume it's online at npr.org.

This was the first time I've ever heard her speak. I'm very glad that I caught the interview.

I didn't know! Thanks for mentioning, I'm going to see if it's online later. I don't remember if it's Barnes & Noble or Borders but they have an interview with her about her new book on their website.

I've picked up Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life again (in addition to HP Year 1) and I'm actually enjoying it! (Still glazing over a bit when she crams too many details into her stats but enjoying it nonetheless).

Glad that you're giving it another try. I'd just recommend skimming the parts that make your eyes glaze over! (Gotta protect those eyes, you know. LOL!)

On the topic of differing tastes--I picked up "Gift From the Sea" and just can't get into it. I don't think it's a bad book and maybe I listen to too much morning television where you are given advise on everything from what to eat to how to reorganize your life. I'm feeling on overload with that type of thing right now, so maybe this wasn't the best time for me to try this book. I'm just going to tuck it away and when the mood strikes I'll get back to it.

Cynthia wrote: "Glad that you're giving it another try. I'd just recommend skimming the parts that make your eyes glaze over! (Gotta protect those eyes, you know. LOL!)"

LOL! I was really getting into it yesterday & last night, reading about seeds & what not. So fascinating! (And disheartening honestly).

Then I went through all of the seed catalogs I've rec'd so far and literally my mouth was watering & my tummy grumbling by the time I was done! LOL I'm SO excited to have found a catalog with "Oranges and Lemons Blanket Flower" in it but I wish I could find one with the seeds in it. (They ship a plant). It's one of my fave flowers Ever and the one pictured in our group's photo here! Unfortunately, the dern squirrels dig up the roots & apparently ate them so it never returned. :-( No one around here has had it since I bought it (season of 2007).

Sorry, rambling here due to O&L excitement, but getting back to AVM, it made a thought occur to me: How do we know that seeds marked "Heirloom" are in fact really heirlooms?!

Cheryl S. wrote: "On the topic of differing tastes--I picked up "Gift From the Sea" and just can't get into it. I don't think it's a bad book and maybe I listen to too much morning television where you are given ad..."

Understandable Cheryl! If I'm not in the mood for a book, I put ti down and usually, eventually I make my way back to it and end up enjoying it. I can't force a read, even for a book club situation!

Jo, out of curiosity, what catalogue did you find your seeds in? I would love to order as well!

There are a few I order from:
www.henryfields.com
www.burpee.com
www.territorialseed.com
www.landrethseeds.com

I just found some heirloom sites online today, didn't keep track of them, but ordered catalogs.

Do you remember which one had the Oranges & lemon blanket flower in it?

Thanks Jo =)

Henry Fields!!! I nearly did the happy dance when I saw it! lol

I always love a good happy dance =)
thanks again Jo

=) You're welcome Erika!

I love Oranges & Lemons gaillardia! I bought a couple small starts last spring and stuck them in and they bloomed magnificently all summer and fall until a hard freeze finally stopped them for this year.

Jo, I'm so sorry that the squirrels seemed to relish yours. So far my squirrels have left my gaillardia alone.

(I also have Frenzy gaillardia, which I like very much, just not as well as Oranges and Lemons. It's much shorter and more compact, with fluted petals of dark red highlighted with yellow near the tips.)

Have you tried googling the O&L seed?

Cheryl, I'm sorry that Gift from the Sea isn't resonating for you right now, but I think you're wise to put it aside and try it again later. Like you and Jo, that often works well for me.

Cynthia, I have tried Googling it but haven't found seeds, only more plants & seed propagation techniques. I did find another Gaillardia which looks so pretty called Summer Kiss I'd like to try!

I just have burgandy Gaillardia so now I'm interested to get a look at the ones mentioned above. I haven't had time to really sit down with my catalogs just yet, but will have to do it soon if I want to get going on winter sowing. I keep telling myself I can't plant everything, but I sure would like to.

1st finished book of 2010:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
(Always wanted to read this plus gilmore girls reading challenge 2010)

I found Oranges and Lemons Gaillardia in the "White Flower Farms" catalog and think I might have to have some of those too. I have the perfect place for them in a hot colors bed I started last year.

Yay! I think you're going to love them! They're gorgeous next to dark pink and medium purple flowers!

Hey Jo--
That sounds perfect for the bed I'm talking about. I've already ordered some cherry candy rudbeckia which are a very dark red for the same bed which is filled with orange, yellow, gold, red and purple.

Sounds wonderful!!! Hope we get to see some pics! (Was I trying to help you w/your camera & downloading pics or someone else? I've lost track of that thread!) I've got to post a link to a pic I just posted on my (new) blog - it's of the last in-ground garden I did (in 2007) before the property was re-landscaped & I went to strictly containers.

Jo--it was me, and I'm ashamed to admit I'd forgotten your offer and also lost track of the thread. I will look for it and give your suggestions a try.

No worries! I hadn't gotten that far - I was asking you, I believe, if you have an SD memory card for the camera Or a USB cable that you can connect from the camera to your computer? This was I can try to tell you how to download the pics from the camera.

Jo--my camera has a memory card, but I don't know about the cable. I'll have to look though my stuff. I have some really busy days ahead and might not have time to do this until next week.

One other question you will probably know the answer to is--the last few times I have used my camera indoors my pictures have not turned out well at all. My batteries were fully charged on these occassions, but the pictures look yellowish as though there is not enough light. These pictures were taken in my daughters' homes which have high ceilings with recessed lighting and I'm wondering if that's the problem? Pics I've done in my own house and outside are fine.

The lighting sounds to be your problem there. Depending on the camera, you could change the setting from outdoor to indoor (or party) and that might make a difference there.

If you have a memory card that can be removed, take it out and match it to the SD drive opening on your computer. Insert it there and if your computer doesn't automatically bring up a window that asks what you would like to do with the files on it (which can take several minutes to happen), go into your "startup" menu, click on "my computer" and now click on either drive g or f - by doing so it should open a window which will show you the files on the SD card.

Now, if you can get through that much, I'll continue (depending on what happens for you so I know how to continue!).