Snowy Day Blessings

Here in the Midwest, there is about a foot of snow on the ground, frosted with a thin layer of fresh ice from this morning's drizzle. You could ice skate on the sidewalks. I'm thankful that I can be cuddled up in my warm house, surrounded by my family, and a good book.

I love reading; especially books from the turn of the century. On days like this, it makes me wonder what families did in the late 1800s when "electricity" was considered a potbellied stove - which meant that someone had to spend hours chopping and cutting firewood prior to the cold weather. Even in today's modern world, there are some who cannot afford living in a warm environment. It is when I think of those less fortunate that I truly consider my blessings bountiful.

Nightmares don't Predict our Futures

Last night I had a most unusual nightmare that included fictious characters like werewolves, witches, and haunted houses. But when I awoke, I knew those dreams were not true. However, there have been times when the nightmares are more realistic, and sometimes, they don't always happen when I'm asleep.

In Karen Witemeyer's book Full Steam Ahead, Darius Thorton has one nightmare of an event that haunts him for years. When traumatic events happen, sometimes we take that as a sign of our future. We think that because of "this" or "that" effects our futures and we become consumed with outrunning our haunted pasts by remaining isolated, bound by what we believe is holding us back. 

Break free from the nightmares. They do not define you and don't let them claim your futures!

Not in my Wheelhouse!

We've all used the phrase, "That's out of my comfort zone", but how many of you have heard the original phrase - "That's not in my wheelhouse!" I never thought about what a "wheelhouse" was before, but figured that it was some form of a shelter.

Two weeks ago, I finished reading A Captain for Laura Rose by Stephanie Grace Whitson. I had another post already written, but then this morning, the phrase "not in my wheelhouse" hit me! A wheelhouse is the uppermost part of a steamboat, and a quick Google search verified that wheelhouses are protective shelters with huge windows on at least 3 sides to provide access to surveillance. In Laura Rose, Laura felt the safest and most like herself when she was piloting the Laura Rose - when she was "in her wheelhouse." So a wheelhouse is where we feel the most comfortable; it may be an actual location, a state of mind, the people we are around, whatever makes you happy.

However, we cannot remain in our "wheelhouses" forever. There are times when we need to leave. We need to experience new situations, uncomfortable as they may be. It is from these moments when we grow out of our comfort zone, our wheelhouses grow a little too.

If we remain in our wheelhouses too long, we can be exposed to the elements around us. Imagine, the wheelhouse is in the uppermost part of the ship, surrounded by glass windows. It provides shelter, but it can also be the most exposing spot on the entire steamboat. Within the confines of the wheelhouse, the captain is always on guard, scanning, guiding, directing. It must be exhausting work!

So a wheelhouse can be both a shelter and agent for stress. When the comfort becomes too suffocating, it is time to leave. But wheelhouses need captains - thus, it is not a lonely venture. Bring along those support and care for you. Then, your wheelhouse will become a place of comfort and rest.

Where are the Ladies?

I was never one to re-read a novel because I thought the purpose was to read it once in order to discover the plot and mystery and then it was done. A friend pointed out to me several years ago that if there is no difference in re-watching movies, why would there be any difference in re-reading favorite books? It just takes longer than a few hours.Ever since, when I'm in a lag or between books (awaiting for an author's next book to hit the shelves), I pull a book off my Corner Shelf and dive in. 

Just this past week, I pulled off an old favorite, Deeanne Gist's The Measure of a Lady. Set in Gold Rush San Francisco, Rachel Van Buren is a lady above reproach. Living by standards set incredibly high, Rachel finds that the true measure of a lady is not in following the rules, but being the best version of yourself possible. 

I wonder where all the "ladies" have gone? Let's pretend that we were to keep to the same standards that Rachel Van Buren believed measured a true lady, our wardrobe alone would disqualify women in today's modern society. Yet, I've still be called "a lady" even in pants (because I don't wear dresses or skirts). So, what defines a lady in the 21st century? 

Google's definition of a lady is 1.) a woman and 2.) a woman of superior social position, especially one of noble birth. If that is the measure, then there's a whole lot of "ladies" out there that are instantly disqualified. I would like to suggest that being a lady goes beyond social position or noble birth. Rather, it is the morals and beliefs held by said ladies, like protecting one's family from reproach, upholding modesty through morals, and standing by those morals even when it is difficult, that truly measure a lady. 

In my own words, I would define a lady as a woman of great character, strong morals, compassionate, and kind. A woman who is beautiful from the inside out, passionate about what interests her (whether that be bugs like Rachel, or books like me), and devoted to her family. A lady stands up for those weaker than herself, and strives to better the lives of her family and community members. A lady sees the good in others. A lady also knows when she has been bested and seeks forgiveness. A lady is a powerful individual indeed. 

A New Fetish - Novellas!

I've recently gotten into the mini-novella stories that are compiled into a larger novel. The one I finished last night was called A Match Made in Texas: A Novella Collection with four different stories of love in 1880s Dry Gulch, Texas. Writers Connealy, Witemeyer, Cox, and Jennings worked together to create a small western town with one meddling matchmaker and four unique situations.

DISCLAIMER - There is a spoiler in my musings today, so if you don't want to know the unknown meddler's identity, quit reading now!

The book I read had all four in one - 

But they are also available in eBook form for Kindle, iPad, nooks, etc. Each of those individual titles are shown below.

While I loved them all, last night's novella was very interesting. Meeting Her Match revealed the secret matchmaker that brought the other three stories together. In my own opinion, Hannah Taylor, the local school teacher, meddled in the affairs of her unmarried friends because she turned a blind eye to her own un-happily-ever-after story; and for the same reasons I read, I believe Hannah meddled in other's lives so that she wouldn't have to think about her own. 

In the end, however, her friends from the previous stories "retaliate" in kind by expediting her own wedding day through some cunning shenanigans that worked in that culture but possibly not in ours. (However, that doesn't make that scene any less my favorite! ;)

So, read them together or alone, you choose. But now, I'm on a novella kick with my next one ready by my bed. It's a little out of season, but it was 1/2 off at my local bookstore yesterday and there's no way I'm going to wait 12 months! 

Happy reading My Corner Shelvers!

New Year, New Start

Today is the day people around the world are "starting fresh" for the new year. New habits. Diets. Workout routines. A "clean slate." I've even written up some of my resolutions, but I'm old enough to realize that New Year's Resolutions aren't as easy to instill as writing them on paper. It first takes a decision, and then determination and perseverance to continue to follow through with the resolutions.

One of my resolutions is to read more books. Not a daunting task, mind you, since I read 26 books this year (picture below) but I want to read books outside of my desired genre of historical fiction. I'm not exactly sure which books I want to read, that is something I will decide upon later. If you have any suggestions, I'm listening.

I read every book pictured here (23 total) plus three more during 2014. 

My goal is to read at least another 26 more during 2015.

Going back to the idea of clean slates, my first book of 2015 has a similar theme of 'new life' and trust. A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano depicts an English aristocrat whose fortune was stolen. Eliza traveled to America to find the thieves and her fortune, but instead found a life with a different 'fortune' awaiting her. In classic Turano style, mystery and adventure move the story along with twists and delicious characters - chivalrous and brooding gentlemen, delicate yet determined ladies, and matchmaking mothers, and those are only the "good guys."