I made the mistake of reading the news on my phone late last night, and I learned that Pat Conroy had died of cancer. Like many readers, I am so saddened by his passing.
The Prince of Tides, with its evocation of Lowcountry life, its intricate tale of a family, and the beauty of its language, is one of my favorite novels. The quote that most resonates with me: “These are the quicksilver moments of my childhood I cannot remember
entirely. Irresistible and emblematic, I can recall them only in
fragments and shivers of the heart."
I felt a certain connection with Pat Conroy. Like him, my life has moved between Atlanta and the coastal south, and I always feel a bit of my heart is still at the coast (Savannah in my case, coastal South Carolina for Pat Conroy).
When I was a baby we lived in a little carriage house apartment on Peachtree Circle in Atlanta. Years later I learned that Pat Conroy bought the house that owned our apartment, and of course the carriage house as well. The carriage house became his home office. He wrote The Prince of Tides in the carriage house where I lived as a baby. No wonder I felt a special connection to this book!
My parents met Pat Conroy and his father at a book signing for The Prince of Tides at Rich's, North DeKalb Mall. They talked at length and both men inscribed a book with long personal messages. The message from Pat Conroy's father was signed "The Great Santini."
For years my father went to a barber shop at the Darlington Apartments on Peachtree. Pat Conroy's father, Colonel Donald Conroy, lived there, and often visited with other older residents in the lobby sitting room areas. As my mother would sit there, waiting for my father, she would visit with Donald Conroy, and when my father came out of the barber shop, he would join them as well.
When we read of Pat Conroy's pancreatic cancer diagnosis, my mother wrote him a letter. I hope he read it before he passed. He was such a gifted writer, and such an iconic part of southern culture. I am remembering him today.
Hi vintage friends,
I have more vintage Easter postcards and cards in my store this week. You'll find just a few of these little treasures below. They are all available at: Birdhouse Books on eBay.
I have about 25 more vintage Easter cards to list and then I will be moving on to vintage children's books. One of my friends surprised me with three boxes of books from a wonderful local estate last weekend and I have some AMAZING vintage children's books to share with you. Soon, I promise!
This unusual vintage Easter postcard is a variation on a "big letter" postcard.
This lovely vintage Easter postcard features an angel in flight.
This lovely L.H. Conwell vintage postcard has an illustration of purple and white tulips. It would be so pretty framed!
I love this sweet 1908 vintage Easter postcard with happy chicks in the grass, and sitting on an open barrel.
This unusual 1908 Rotograph postcard is a RPPC (real photo postcard) with a picture of an Easter egg and daffodils.
This lovely unused vintage Easter postcard is one of my favorites -- it has such a pretty illustration of three sweet bunny rabbits.
As always, you will find many more vintage cards - and books as well! - at Birdhouse Books. Come visit!
Dear Friends,
This is my first ever rescue spotlight. I am so excited to share the story of some special rescue dogs and cats here, to give you a glimpse at pet rescue and how it works in such a wonderful way.
I would like to introduce you to Ralph. Ralph is a 9 month old Terrier mix (American Staffordshire, Parson Russell, Miniature Bulldog and "other"). He is a very handsome dog with striking coloring and very cute ears! I am grateful that he was willing to be interviewed here.
Abby: What is your background and how did you end up in rescue?
Ralph: I started life in Mississippi. I don't know why, but I
was placed in a "kill" shelter there when my owners could no longer
keep me. In December 2015 I was chosen along with many other dogs to
make the trip from Mississippi to New York, in the hopes that I'd be
adopted. Only a few days after I arrived at the Scottsville Veterinary
Hospital/Animal Shelter, Karen Jones came and adopted me!
Abby: How were your first days at your new home?
Ralph: My first few days at the Jones household were very
very exciting! I wasn't sure what was expected of me or where anything
was. I even had to be reminded to go to the bathroom outdoors and not
in! Karen and Owen were very tired keeping up with me all day. But after
just a short while, I started to settle down. Karen and Owen got me a
crate and I quickly learned to go in it when I needed a break.
Abby: What are a few of your favorite things?
Ralph: Some of my favorite things are the soft blue blanket
in my crate, tennis balls (I LOVE to chase them along with just about
anything else!) and any kind of toy with a loud squeaker! I've also
started going to doggie daycare a couple of days a week. There are lots
of other dogs there and I absolutely love playing with them all day. I
come home really tired! I also went to obedience class for six weeks and
now I know "sit," "stay," "down," "come" and "heel." I like practicing
my commands because I get lots of treats!
Abby: Do you have any tips for people who want to adopt a rescue pet?
Ralph: If I were giving tips to anyone considering adopting a
dog, I'd remind people that puppies have LOTS of energy and need LOTS
of your time! Be sure you're ready for that! I'm already a lot calmer
than I was two months ago and I know I'll grow up into a great dog!
Karen, who is Ralph's Mom, shared a great story about Ralph's name: "Ralph's name was "Chip" before we adopted him. But we liked Ralph better -Owen's dog growing up was Ralph and it also reminded us of A Christmas Story - since we got him right before Xmas."
I love that! Ralph is such a great name. Thank you, Ralph, for visiting my blog today and sharing your story. I really enjoyed it, and hope that readers do, too.
Readers, if you want to share your dog or cat's rescue story at View from the Birdhouse, please just leave a note including your email in the comments.
Thanks for visiting today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Love,
Abby xoxoxo
Do you remember the Footsie toy? This little plastic hoop slid up (loosely) around your ankle. There was a cord attached, with a little plastic bell shape at the end of the cord. You would get the cord (and bell shaped attachment) going around and around, and hop each time it went toward your other foot. In a way this worked like a little hula hoop. It was a great playground fad in the late 1960's - early 1970's. This simple toy provided lots of fun on the playground. Anyone remember this? I wonder if a version of this toy is still around?
Book Synopsis
An eventful year has passed for Maisie Dobbs. Since starting a
one-woman private investigation agency in 1929 London, she now has a
professional office in Fitzroy Square and an assistant, the
happy-go-lucky Billy Beale. She has proven herself as a psychologist and
investigator, and has even won over Detective Inspector Stratton of
Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad—an admirable achievement for a woman who
worked her way from servant to scholar to sleuth, and who also served as
a battlefield nurse in the Great War.
It’s now the early Spring of 1930. Stratton is investigating a murder
case in Coulsden, while Maisie has been summoned to Dulwich to find a
runaway heiress. The woman is the daughter of Joseph Waite, a wealthy
self-made man who has lavished her with privilege but kept her in a
gilded cage. His domineering ways have driven her off before, and now
she’s bolted again.
My Review
A few years ago, my book discussion group read Maisie Dobbs. I recall feeling that I was reading a newly written classic mystery, and wondered what future books in the series would be like. I am delighted to say that Birds of a Feather is another exceptional mystery novel.
Maisie is a fascinating detective, with her background in both domestic service and as a World War I nurse. Her instincts about people, places, and situations are so interesting to read. I love the way she combines detecting and psychology.
For instance, in Birds of a Feather, Maisie and her assistant, Billy Beale, are hired to find a missing heiress. When they visit the heiress's home, Maisie draws the maid aside for an interview by open windows. She has discovered that people are more open and talkative in an open place. Then she subtly adapts the maid's speech and accent in order to establish more rapport.
Later, Maisie and Billy play act a scenario between the missing heiress, Charlotte, and her father, the exacting Mr. Waite. They both had new impressions of the people involved after this exchange.
The Maisie Dobbs books are historical mysteries, and the period piece details are fascinating. This novel is set in Spring 1930, so we get remembrances of World War I, of the 1920's, and the new decade ahead.
Maisie is one of the most interesting detectives in current fiction. She is intelligent, intuitive, creative with thought and detection, and also warm and compassionate.
The mystery is nuanced, with well written characters and surprising twists.
I cannot recommend both this book, Birds of a Feather, and the Maisie Dobbs series highly enough. I will admit that I am already wishing that these books would be adapted for the PBS Masterpiece Mystery! series. Mostly, though, I look forward to more Maisie Dobbs reads.
Author Bio
Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Leaving Everything Most Loved, Elegy for Eddie, A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, Among the Mad, and An Incomplete Revenge, as well as four other national bestselling Maisie Dobbs novels. Her standalone novel, The Care and Management of Lies, was also a New York Times
bestseller. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the
Agatha, Alex, and Macavity awards for the first book in the series, Maisie Dobbs, which was also nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel and was a New York Times Notable Book. Originally from the United Kingdom, she now lives in California.
Find out more about Jacqueline at her website, www.jacquelinewinspear.com, and find her on Facebook.
I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
