Books – Valerie's Voice

Books in the Mail

Recently in the mail, I received a book from Norway entitled, About America: Stories of Faith, Struggle, and Hope among Norwegian Emigrants. This book was sent to me by my second cousin in Norway, Sigrun. Her nephew, Jarle Haktorson, finished translating this book from Norwegian to English in 2025. The book was first published in 1904.

About America was written by Hans Seland, Jarle’s great-grandfather (Sigrun’s grandfather on her mother’s side). Apparently, he was a well-known writer in his day. As stated on the back cover, “Norwegian author Hans Seland traveled across the United States to meet the early emigrants who had left Norway behind in search of a new life. From the crowded streets of New York to the wide prairies of the Midwest, he recorded their voices, their hardships and their hopes for the future.”

It was interesting to read the stories of the emigrants finding their way in America. Having a grandparent emigrate to America is a fairly common story in Minnesota. Many folks have a story to tell about a family member leaving their homeland (typically Norway or Sweden) and finding their way to settle in Minnesota. My own grandfather Torkel, did. He came from Norway in 1907 (after this book was written.)

It was a fun surprise to receive this book in the mail. I am thrilled that, years ago, through my father’s ambitions, we reconnected with our family in Norway and enjoy good relationships with them to this day.

And then…this week I received three more books in the mail.

Three books full of letters from my father from 1942-1943.

When my aunt’s friend died in 2020, her family was going through her possessions and found a stack of letters my dad had written to his family during WWII. We did not know the letters existed until then.

My brother, bless his heart, scanned each letter and complied them into Shutterfly books. They filled three volumes. It is wonderful to have these letters in book form for easy access to them.

A page from one of his letters, dated May 10, 1942.

My dad was a prolific writer. We were reflecting on the large amount number of letters he wrote back home. But then, it was the most common way of communication at that time.

I like this unusual postcard of a night scene with moon, sent from Tampa Florida where he was stationed for a while.

My dad was in the army, serving on a medic team (not a medic himself.) He served in England and France. We have letters he wrote to his parents, his sister and sometimes his brothers. We can glean attributes of my dad from these letters…his humor, his love for his family, and his caring concern for others.

Discovering these letters was a beautiful gift. These books will be treasured.

Books in the mail…how fun is that?

All Creatures

All Creatures Great and Small is a delightful PBS series featuring the true stories of a veterinarian, James Herriot, in Yorkshire England in the 1930’s and 40’s.

Abigail, Zacchaeus, Barnabas (hidden behind his brother) and Nanita.

The stories come from four books James Herriot wrote years ago. I enjoyed reading the books, and still owned them until recently I gave them to the Northfield Hospital Auxiliary fundraiser event. The books were filled with wonderful tales about the vast and interesting experiences James Wight (James Herriot is his pen name) had in the beautiful, rural area of Yorkshire, in northern England.

There have been several renditions of these stories in films and television series, but the latest series (began 2021) on public television is a favorite of mine. There have been three seasons to date, with plans for another season. YAY!

I thought of James Herriot when I arrived at the farm where I help out occasionally. The friendly, and hungry creatures (pictured above) were ready and waiting for me to feed them: 2 horses, 2 donkeys, 2 goats, 8 chickens, 4 cats and one dog.

I enjoy helping feed these fine animals, but do realize this is fun for me because I do it once in a while, while farmers do this daily – actually two times a day. This is the extent of my farm experience, while my husband, Gary, knows all about the daily work having grown up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania.

I’m thankful for ALL creatures, great and small…and for farmers!

An Unexpected Gift

I was the benefactor of an unexpected gift recently. I can’t remember the last time I received an unanticipated gift. A gift, intended only for me…for no reason…no special occasion. A friend just thought of me when she saw the gift, bought it and wrapped in up in a “brown paper package tied up with string”.

A beautiful surprise: a brown paper package tied up with string…

Wonder, why, love…were the thoughts and questions I asked myself as I read the sticker on the paper with the string forming a frame around the words, “Thanks for being you.” I was deeply touched.

I carefully untied the string and removed the brown paper. It was a small, vintage book titled, One year of haiku. What a thoughtful gift. I like books, especially old ones. I write haikus, and like to read haikus written by others. The gift inspires me…not only to write haikus, but to pay it forward.

Thank you, friend.

And so, I wrote a haiku:

Given from the heart
Unexpected gift tag read
Thanks for being you.

Braiding Sweetgrass

I am reading a good book…savoring it is more like it: Braiding Sweetgrass. A few months ago, I ordered the book from the Northfield Library, and by mistake, I got the book on CD. I was immediately captivated by it and hadn’t finished listening to by the time it was due, so I ordered it again, both the CD’s and the book. I have enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audio version.

The book on CD, read by the author…always a special treat.

The book, Braiding Sweetgrass, is written by Robin Wall Kimmerer; a mother, scientist, decorated professor and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

The book is described as “A hymn of love to the world” by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is a book on “Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.”

A basket of sweetgrass (and one bee balm stem). photo by LR.

Robin Wall Kimmerer’s vivid descriptions, explanations and metaphors delight the reader. It is a book for nature lovers and anyone interested in learning about the indigenous ways, and teachings from the land and plants. It’s fascinating.

The recurring theme is sweetgrass, Mother Earth’s hair, one of the four sacred grasses for the indigenous people (sweetgrass, sage, tobacco, cedar). Braiding sweetgrass is a tradition, and they believe having braids in the home, or given as gifts, brings positivity and goodwill and kindness…and wards off negativity. Traditionalists also “smudge” the braids, that is burn them, in ceremonies.

Gathering sweetgrass in the basket. Photo by LR.

While reading through the book I was inspired to braid sweetgrass. I was talking with a friend, an herbalist (her website is https://www.cannonvalleyherbals.com – check out her website for a recent article on sweetgrass under the “Blog” section) and she told me she had sweetgrass growing in her gardens. She said I was welcome to come and pick some sweetgrass for braiding. So I did.

I placed the sweetgrass on an amber, antique glass plate and made herbal, ice tea to create my workspace to braid.

She showed me what sweetgrass looked like (always a good first step!), then how to pull it out by the roots. It has a light vanilla fragrance…and if you taste the root you can taste sweetness. She left me alone to pull a basketful of sweet grass. Afterwards, she took a minute to show me how she has braided sweetgrass. I took my good fortune home and started in.

Having fun, braiding sweetgrass. Photo by GB.

I had great fun braiding the grasses, using large clumps, and strands of seven in each clump. The scent is pleasant and subtle, and the results of the braids were rewarding.

Beebalm blooms, an added touch, to my first braid, now on my front porch.

A braid of sweetgrass wraps around the bottom of my aloe vera pot.

I recommend this book. It is a fascinating read.

Libraries

I like libraries. I like the looks of them. I like the smell of them. I like their offerings…books (and more). Our library in Northfield is wonderful. I walked out of the library the other day with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for our city library.

The updated entrance to the library (2016).

I go to the library often…to borrow books, and CD’s, and even DVD’s for myself. My husband does too. I am in the habit of making my request online, then having the librarians find the item -at our library or another connected to the library system – and put it on hold for me until I go pick it up.

When the grandkids lived with us, we went to the library weekly for story time. Now I get to be the storyteller over Zoom. So now, I go to the library weekly to pick out children’s books for my story time. The children’s librarians are always willing to help me and I usually leave with about 10-12 books. I come home, read them to make sure I like them, and then let the kids choose which ones we’ll read. It’s great fun.

Inside the original part of the Northfield library.

The other day I checked out an audio book and knew I wouldn’t be able to return the CD’s on the due date, so the librarian extended the due date for me.

A corner view of the original library building.

The library in Northfield is a Carnegie library. A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. A total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1882 and 1929.* So Carnegie libraries are older, and usually beautiful, brick buildings.

This is the original door to the Northfield Carnegie Library (no longer in use).

The Northfield Carnegie library was built in 1910. A large addition was added in 1985. Another renovation was completed in 2016. The 2016 renovation included many large windows that let in lots of natural light and it is lovely. There are some nice sitting areas where I sometimes go to write or read.

The newest addition to the library…bringing much natural light into the lovely space.

I remember during renovation the library moved to the city hall, yet they still were able to provide a limited, but wonderful, service to the community.

I like books. I like to read. I like the variety from the library without having to purchase. And, the library is available to anyone. I am grateful for our library system…a gateway to the world of reading.

*Wikipedia

England, Part I

As the temperatures dipped below zero, I decided to spend the day reading a book in front of our fireplace. Finding Mrs. Lewis, tells of the love story between Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis. As I settled in little did I know I would be transported back to Oxford, England that afternoon.

C. S. Lewis is well-known for many things including writing his beloved children’s series entitled The Chronicles of Narnia and a popular, classic Christian apologetics book, Mere Christianity.

C.S. Lewis held academic positions in English literature at Magdalen College at Oxford University (Oxford is made up of 35 separate colleges) and he lived on the outskirts of Oxford for many years, with his brother. C.S. Lewis was great friends with novelist J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy. These two great writers, C.S.Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien along with other writers, were in a writing group together that met every Tuesday at The Eagle and Child, a pub on St. Giles Street in Oxford. They called themselves the Inklings.

An ordinary pub on St. GIles Street in Oxford, that has become famous because of its patrons.

I was captivated by the love story between Joy and Clive (the C in C.S.). At one point in the book the setting changed from New York City to England. While reading several chapters of Joy’s time in Oxford it was exciting for me to recognize the places described in the book. Suddenly, I was back in Oxford as I visualized The Eagle and Child and the table where the Inklings met every Tuesday.

A more colorful view of this pub where C.S. Lewis met with his writing group.

I could see the magnificent University buildings and spires of Oxford. I remembered shopping at Blackwell’s Book Store, touring part of Christ’s Church, and the lovely, pastoral landscape surrounding the town. I had been to these places mentioned in the book and it made the story come alive and more interesting.

Christ Church in Oxford, a photo of a page in my photo album.

It prompted me to take a break from reading the book and dig out my vacation journal to read about my own two trips to Oxford. The first time our family went to meet up with our son who had finished one semester of college at Oxford University (Keeble College). What a joy to walk around this city of spires and very old, very ornate, beautiful, magnificent buildings. We went to see Keeble College, and where our son lived while attending, and where he studied – the Bodleian Library (only students allowed inside).

A postcard with a partial view of The University of Oxford with the Bodlien Library in the center

I was in Oxford for the second time when my son took me on a trip to London for a special birthday. What a guy! (I will expand on that in Part II.) Of course, we took the train to Oxford for a day to reminisce his rich experiences there. We came to a resolution at the beginning of our time to write one haiku each day of our trip. I created a photo book, along with the haikus, of that wonderful experience, so I pulled that album out too, and spent time remembering our fun adventures.

(We were in London a third time to attend our youngest son’s graduation from the University of London with a master’s degree in public health. And though we didn’t go to Oxford on that trip, we had a great time in London with our youngest son and his family.)

So as I sat near the warm fireplace on a very frigid afternoon reading an interesting book, I escaped reality and went on a mini-holiday to an enchanting place in the confines of my own home.

Reading Time

Some people my age tell their fond memories of reading the afternoon away when they were children. I do not have those memories. However, I do have good childhood memories…we lived in a close neighborhood full of kids. After chores in the morning we’d go outside to play until lunch. After lunch we’d go outside and play until suppertime. After supper we’d go outside and play until dark. At least, that’s the gist of it. But back to reading…

I don’t remember when I first started to like to read but I am grateful for the people and teachers in my life who taught me to read. In elementary school I remember reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (or was it Tom Sawyer?) and also Trixie Belden mysteries.

Now I love to read, and I read daily, and have for most of my adult life. I continue to enjoy adventure stories, mysteries and biographies.

I also love children’s books. I loved reading books to my own two sons when they were young and now I enjoy reading to my grandchildren. All three of them like to be read to. (I have been known to read children’s books to adults too.)

When Zoey and Ezra were here for ten days we read multiple books multiple times. How is it they want to read the same story over and over and over again? It’s so fun!

It was a blessing to sit on the loveseat, between the two children snuggled in blankets while they were engaged in looking at the pictures as I read the story. I treasure those precious moments, and all moments when I can read books to any of my three grandchildren. I love the warmth and closeness, and bringing adventures and love to them one book at a time.

Home Again

What a wonderful week we’ve had weather-wise…sunny, seventy’s and low humidity. Perfect for being anywhere, especially up in northern Minnesota. I was on the Whitefish chain of lakes with a friend, staying on her porch, with a cabin attached. Our days were relaxing, and among other things we did some boating and a lot of reading.

We went out on her pontoon which was a highlight for me. We left the jet skis docked this year, and my cell phone in the cabin. In previous years we’ve taken out the jet skis and had some…let’s say…complications. Then there was the year my iPad fell off the dock into the drink during early morning quiet time. So I tried to avoid any type of fiascos this year. Success!

The evenings were still and cool so we slept on the large porch listening to the loons calling as we fell asleep.

Before I left home for the cabin I had fifty pages left to read in my latest political thriller. So when we arrived at the cabin Sunday afternoon, after unpacking the car, we immediately got out some lawn chairs, set them up near the lake and started to read. I quickly finished the book. I brought along three non-fiction books so I had plenty additional reading material.

One morning’s sun reflecting on the lake that looks like clear glass. Beautiful.

When it was time to leave the cabin four days later, I had fifty pages left in one of the other books I had started reading up there. However, when I arrived back to our house in Northfield things changed… I no longer felt I could just sit down and finish the book right away….there was unpacking to do, laundry to throw into the washing machine, email and catch-up conversations, plus weeding flowers and so forth. So instead of sitting down to finish my book I did chores instead. I felt I needed to get something accomplished before enjoying more reading time.

Daggett Lake, a lake on the Whitefish chain of lakes.

I guess that’s why it’s always good to get away. At home we see all there is to be done (although my friend saw things that needed to be done at her cabin while we were there), but we had a delightful time on our annual trip to Daggett Lake.

I came home to my Star Gazer lilies in bloom.

Political Thrillers

I’ve been side tracked this summer since my husband recommended a book for me to read…The Kremlin Conspiracy, a political thriller.

I would say I never thought I’d be a fan of political thrillers, in fact this was the first one I’ve read, but it was very engaging. I read the first book in about three days…then I wanted to begin the sequel, The Persian Gamble, right away. It had just been published (2019) so I wondered about its availability however, I was able to get a copy from the library quickly and finished that book in a couple more days.

I’m so thankful I’ve not had any urgent business to attend to…and am able to enjoy the luxury of reading. These books are page-turners and hard to put down.

Among the author’s many books, there was a trilogy recommended to me, and I started the first book thinking I would only read one…

I finished the first book in a couple days and ordered the next book from the library, and then the next. After I’m done with this series of three I will not pick up another book by this author for a while because they are addictive and I need to resume other fun summer activities!

Click here to link to the author’s website: Joel Rosenberg.

He’s a Jewish Christian and is very knowledgeable about the goings on in the Middle East. His writing is easy to read and clean, but there are graphic war scenarios. Most of his books are fictional stories, with great characters involved in some sort of scary, realistic, modern day plots.

Fairy Gardens

Two cute hedge hogs reading….I think they are my favorites in this fairy garden.

There is a wonderful, rather large, fairy garden along St. Olaf Avenue. On the property there is a large older home, under renovation with scaffolding outside, which detracts a little bit from its elegance…for now. There is a large garage that may have once been a carriage house, and a big yard. The yard has been turned into a garden and it is full of seasonal blooming flowers… I’d like to learn the history of the whole place.

A birdie reading while sitting on the elephant’s trunk.

It is a fun place to walk by and take in all there is to see on this one plot of land along St. Olaf Avenue. I walked by this spring and, although the colorful landscape of spring flowers was wonderful, I really enjoyed seeing is the sweet fairy garden, right along the sidewalk. It is full of miniature animals and most are reading a book.

The squirrel is busy carrying books while the cat is resting.

The first time I walked by the house, the owner was out in the yard. I asked him if I could take photos of the fairy garden. He said yes and told me his wife is a librarian, so that’s the why the fairy garden has a reading theme.

There is a lot in the miniature garden…flowers, mushrooms, rocks to make a pond, tiny ladders to a loft area, many different animals reading books, miniature plants. There is even a miniature “Free Little Library”. It is quite enchanting.

A bunny sitting on the edge of a book, reading.

This miniature frog is practicing yoga. Note the stones with the words love, peace and tranquillity written on them. And I like the blue gazing ball.

A couple years ago I wrote a blog posting about my ONE little fairy that I hid in my flowers one year. And then it went missing. Over a year later my husband was trimming a tree and found the fairy up in the crook of the tree. Apparently a squirrel carried it so far and then gave up on it, and abandoned it. When my husband found the fairy he brought it into the house and set it on the counter. I was so surprised to see it. We laughed and decided the only possible explanation was a squirrel’s folly. But now, my one little fairy is now back, hidden in my garden.