Month: November 2024

ECONOGAL > 2024 > November

November 2024 Wrap-Up

Posted on by Econogal

Normalcy

Life is returning to normal for me and November 2024 is a significant part of that. A year of positive surprises makes up for the multi-year, “other shoe is about to drop” feeling that has influenced my life since 2019. Perhaps it is the calm after a bitter election campaign. I give credit to the Democrats for that.

Perhaps the reasoning is closer to home. We are expecting two new grandchildren (at least) to arrive in 2025. The circle of life continues, and the spirit is uplifting.

Productivity

Extensive fall cleaning marked most of my time this past month. De-cluttering helps as does organization. The two go hand in hand. Having said that, it is very hard to throw things out. Thus, I try to recycle and gift as much as possible. Our little town has two secondhand stores and I donate on a regular basis. Giving to others can occur throughout the month and year. The thought that someone is putting a neglected item to use eases the pain of parting with memories.

Travel in November 2024

My one trip this month was to a favorite location, Lexington, Kentucky. The weather was quite warm in early November (in contrast to the snow the television showed there on this last day of the month.) Short sleeves felt a bit strange with the beautiful foliage. Babies have been weaned from their mothers, and the paddocks no longer have little ones frolicking around the mares. Now, horses are grouped by age or perhaps by breeding status. Warm sun rays filtered through the colorful leaves.

Second Astronaut Quilt

November 2024 marked the completion of the second astronaut quilt. Same backing as the first with similar quilting. But the panels were arranged in a unique pattern. Take a look at the two side-by-side below. This one will be a Christmas present for my grandson. Hopefully he will enjoy the spaceships even though they do not have wheels.

Baby Quilt For Great Nephew

Christmas Quilt for Grandson

Final Thoughts

It is hard to understand the tranquility I am experiencing in the midst of a world filled with conflict. Yet it exists, nonetheless. Gratefulness is so fulfilling that I hope each and every one of you may encounter such a feeling. I truly cherish these days.

Leaf Man Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Iconic Author

Leaf Man written and illustrated by the late Lois Ehlert was first released in 2005. The iconic author includes an explanation of how she collected leaves from across the country to use in her illustrations in her Author’s Note. This children’s book has a simple story for showcasing the wonders oFront Cover of story book with fall leaves across the cover.f the Fall Season.

Special Effects in Leaf Man

Two artistic effects make Leaf Man stand apart. First, leaves and other pieces of nature create the illustrations. Lois Ehlert combines various leaves, acorns, seed pods and even gumballs from the Sweetgum tree to create Leaf Man, turtles, chickens and turkeys among other creatures identified in the text.

The second special effect is the shape of the pages. The upper edges are unique and create patterns of mountains overall, while picturing prairies, lakes and streams on individual pages. The technique produces a stunning effect.

Classic Story Book

Leaf Man is geared toward the pre-school to early grade school crowd. Yet, the page shapes make the book stand out. Thus, it is best suited once children learn to turn the pages carefully. Or for an adult to read to a group of children at an arm-length.

The story explores the travel of a leaf that has blown away in the wind. As Leaf Man travels across the countryside, he passes farm animals as well as wildlife. Each page depicts the animals from a collage of leaves. Children love to spot the shapes illustrated by the leaves.

Recommendation

This classic is still available for purchase from both Barnes & Noble and Amazon. It is very likely available in your nearest bricks and mortar bookstore. I checked out a copy from my local library. It was a recent gift from the local Rotary Club. I missed the release due to my youngest being almost double digits when published. Kindergarteners should be able to identify sight words. First and second graders will enjoy sounding out the words with occasional help with a few words of advanced vocabulary. All kids will enjoy spotting the creatures shaped from leaves.

Many of my favorite children’s books were written by Lois Ehlert. Leaf Man is now a member of that group. If you have not read this book, find a copy. Better yet, buy a copy.

Journey Begins

Travelling Across the Country

Varying Edges

Leaf Man Holding an Acorn

Illustration of a man made from various leaves

Flying Birds, Perhaps Turkeys or Geese

Flying Birds made from leaves looking a bit like turkeys

I Spy a Turtle

Leaves in the shape of a turtle going downstream

The Night We Lost Him

Posted on by Econogal

New Family Bonds

Laura Dave explores the complexities of families in The Night We Lost Him. Liam Samuel Noone is only alive during the prologue. But his life is the impetus of the story. Three wives and three children. Yet the love of his life for over fifty years refused to marry him. His sudden death brings two of his children together.

Nora and Sam are half-siblings. Sam’s twin Tommy plays only a minor role in the novel. Most of The Night We Lost Him focuses on the lack of closeness among the three growing up. And the bond created between Nora and Sam as they investigate the unusual death of their father.

Point of View in The Night We Lost Him

Most of the story is told through the eyes of Nora. Yet there is also a thread of flashbacks focusing on Liam and Cory. The flashbacks give insight into the couple and why they never married.

Nora is used as a parallel to her father. She is torn between the love of her life and a former romantic interest-a man close to her father. Her determination to discover her father’s cause of death and his secrets separates her from her fiancé.

Her strengthening relationship with her brother Sam brings stability into her life at a time when both need someone to trust. Nora, having previously lost her mother, is a loner due to the unusual compartmentalization of Liam Noone’s multiple families.

Following Dreams

A major thread in the novel is that of children following their own dreams. Nora achieved this by refusing to take part of the ownership in her father’s company. Sam took the opposite path and after an injury turned away from his dreams. Both have regrets.

In the flashbacks of The Night We Lost Him the reader sees how Liam Noone had his cake and ate it too. The moral ramifications lend both a twist and an explanation of his death.

Recommendation

The Night We Lost Him is an engaging story and a quick read. While it does not have the emotional tug of The Last Thing He Told Me, the novel entertains. Furthermore, the ending is much more satisfying. This would be a great book for holiday giving.

Laura Dave is quite the storyteller! Click here for a review of her novel The Last Thing He Told Me.

The Book Woman’s Daughter Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Honey Lovett

Honey Lovett is the protagonist in The Book Woman’s Daughter. This sequel to Kim Michele Richardson’s The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek reflects the past and warns against any return to a period of hatred of minorities. Furthermore, the novel exposes the dangers women faced then and today from men with misogynist leanings.

Plot of The Book Woman’s Daughter

Richardson opens her story with Honey Lovett and her parents saying their goodbyes. The elder Lovetts are about to surrender to the sheriff. They have been charged with violating miscegenation laws. Cussy Mary Lovett suffers from methemoglobinemia. So, her skin is blue and the laws in Kentucky forbade marriage between a person of white skin with any other colored skin.

As a minor, if found, Honey will be sent to a home or even worse, a work camp until she is twenty-one. Thus, Honey and Junia, the cantankerous mule, flee to Troublesome Creek. Once there, Honey faces a variety of problems mostly stemming from her gender. Old friends and new, support her in efforts to gain emancipation.

Overarching Theme

The Book Woman’s Daughter focuses on the plight of women in the 1950s. After World War II, women were expected to leave the workforce to the men. Richardson depicts this with female characters working as fire spotters and coal miners. These secondary characters encounter even more difficulties than Honey, who has taken her mom’s rural library delivery route.

While single women in the workforce are targeted by several male characters, they are not the only victims. A married woman ends up losing her life. Fortunately, the author includes several strong men as characters. This keeps The Book Woman’s Daughter from being a diatribe against males.

Recommendation for The Book Woman’s Daughter

While a sequel, this novel can be read as a stand-alone with just a few unexplained references to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Honey Lovett is a compelling character. And the secondary characters are well developed. The antagonist gets his due. Thus, the factors lead to a satisfying ending.

The Book Woman’s Daughter was released in 2022. But my local library did not acquire a copy until September 2024. The story is both entertaining and meaningful. I highly recommend it!