MAKING FRIENDS...

I can't tell you exactly

 when my love of books and reading began.

 It might have been 

on a dark rainy night,

 with the sound of thunder in the distance,

 the power out, 

and my mother and father 

reading aloud to us by candlelight,

 so that our minds were relieved 

of the fear of the storm;

or it might have been

 when I found The Secret Garden 

and would steal away

under the branches of an old tree 

in my grandmother's garden 

to imagine and wonder 

all that was capable 

in an eight year olds' mind.

It may even have been

 when I would go to the library 

with my mom 

and where I found

Albert Payson Terhune

and all the stories he wrote about dogs.

I was never good at arithmetic

 but I excelled at spelling and reading

 and the quiet times in the classroom,

when we were allowed to sit 

and read our books,

 was the best part of school

 for me.

The book, Little Women, is the original book that I received as a gift when I was 10 years old.

In 1949,

 at the age of ten, 

I was given Little Women

 by Louisa May Alcott.

 I have since found 

a few of her books

 while rummaging through the shelves 

of old book stores,

which is a favorite pastime.

A few years back,

 I found the book, Coming Home,

 by Rosamund Pilcher.

  It was the start of a journey 

of strong female authors 

such as Maeve Binchy,

 Joanna Trollope, 

Gladys Tabor, 

 and Jan Karon,

the creator of the delightful

 Father Tim series,

 to name a few.

No matter

 what type of books you read,

 whether they be

 the old classics or romance novels,

 which I have read my share of 

(and enjoyed, I might add),

 a book is like spending time

 with an old friend 

and I have been known 

to re-visit some of the same ones 

over and over again.

...Judy...

"Good books,

 like good friends,

Are few and chosen;

The more select,

 the more enjoyable."

Louisa May Alcott

I've been busy this week

 and haven't visited like I should have,

 so I missed that Sandi

over at Rose Chintz Cottage,

 last week, 

picked my end table(s) 

as one of her features 

on her lovely party,

 No Place Like Home.

 Thank you so much, Sandi,

 I feel very honored 

to have been included.

Sharing today with:

BTTCG at Bernideen's

No Place Like Home at Rose Chintz Cottage

What's It Wednesdays at Ivy and Elephants

Share Your Style Link Party

Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage