July 12th begins the annual John Henry Weekend celebration in John Henry Historical Park in Talcott, West Virginia. There in Talcott, is the Great Bend Tunnel, which they claim to be the one John Henry helped carve from stone in his race with the steam engine. There are all sorts of events, honoring the JohnContinue reading “July 12 ‘Nine pound hammer’”
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July 11 ‘But are they real?’
On July 11th, 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto made his first cultured pearl. A cultured pearl is one that has been grown from an oyster that was seeded with a foreign object. My first book is a biography of Kokichi Mikimoto, “The Pearl King” by Robert Eunson 1956. This is a great story about the first manContinue reading “July 11 ‘But are they real?’”
July 10 “Anger and hate can make you brave, make you strong, but they also make you stupid.” – Hadrian
On July 10th, 138 Hadrian died. Hadrian was the Roman emperor from 117 to 138. He was considered one of Five Good Emperors of Rome (#3). When I took a trip to Rome last year with some friends, we learned a little about Hadrian, and buildings that he had built during a tour of theContinue reading “July 10 “Anger and hate can make you brave, make you strong, but they also make you stupid.” – Hadrian”
July 9 ‘books for all ages’
July 9th has several events. And we have books for all ages, for young kids and middle school kids, and even one for just adults. We will start with young kids. July 9th is National Cow Appreciation Day. I have the book “The Curious Cow” by Esther K. Meeks, published 1965. This is a sillyContinue reading “July 9 ‘books for all ages’”
July 8 ‘pffffffft…and the fruit’
We have three events to discuss on July 8th. I have a book for each. I will start with the oldest book/event first. July 8th is National Raspberry Day. I have an interesting book from Orange Judd Publisher (of farm information). “The Small Fruits Culturist” by Andrew S. Fuller, published 1890. This book goes intoContinue reading “July 8 ‘pffffffft…and the fruit’”
July 7 “We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it.”
Today is July 7th. We will begin our tour of several events with World Chocolate Day. The library houses some interesting books for me to display. I will start with “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl, published 1973. Early in the book, Willy Wonka states “No other factory mixes its chocolate by waterfall,Continue reading “July 7 “We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it.””
July 6 ‘We’ll always have Paris’
July 6th is International Day of Kissing. The Romans had descriptions of kissing. They described kissing in three forms: the osculum (a friendly peck on the cheek), the basium (a loving kiss on the lips), and the savium (the most passionate of kisses on the mouth). We shall talk a little today about kissing. FirstContinue reading “July 6 ‘We’ll always have Paris’”
July 5 “humuhumunukunukuapua’a” (triggerfish with a snout like a pig)-official state fish of Hawaii
Aloha. July 5th is National Hawaii Day. I have a few unusual and wonderful books about Hawaii, Are they as interesting and diverse as the Islands of Hawaii are? You will have to decide. First book begins with a beautiful cover. It is ‘Legends of Old Honolulu” by W.D. Westervelt, published 1915. Then inside, thereContinue reading “July 5 “humuhumunukunukuapua’a” (triggerfish with a snout like a pig)-official state fish of Hawaii”
July 4, “which side of the pond?”
Today is July 4th. Should I jump down this rabbit hole? Today is a British holiday, National Alice in Wonderland Day. This is the day in 1862 that Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, first told his friend’s daughter Alice, his story about an Alice who did fall down a rabbit hole. HeContinue reading “July 4, “which side of the pond?””
July 3 “Dread of night. Dread of not-night” – Kafka
Franz Kafka was born on July 3rd, 1883. He led a short prolific writing life, but with unusual twists in his story details. Not many people have a word named after them, but he did. The word ‘Kafkaesque’ acording to Merriam Webster “especially: having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre, or illogical quality. e.g. Kafkaesque bureaucratic delays” I haveContinue reading “July 3 “Dread of night. Dread of not-night” – Kafka”
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