But being a seasonal soul as well, I enjoy the offerings of a number of influencers on You Tube and with September arriving this week, I thought I would share a few of my favorites in case you want to enjoy them during the upcoming weeks as well.
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But being a seasonal soul as well, I enjoy the offerings of a number of influencers on You Tube and with September arriving this week, I thought I would share a few of my favorites in case you want to enjoy them during the upcoming weeks as well.
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Sadly, I didn't have a favorite passage from either of the final two chapters. Though I enjoyed reading them and coming to the end of the story, so much of the focus was upon Toad, that it lacked the charm that previous chapters dedicated to Mole, Ratty and Badger conveyed, which were much more domestic in nature.
Toad, and the chapters dedicated to him, were my least favorite of the book. Perhaps it has something to do with my life-long abhorence of frogs and toads, but try as I might, I believe I would have much preferred the story altoghter if Toad had been left out. I found his immaturity, arrogance and selfishness quite off putting. Even though it appears in the end he may have begun to reform, the pessimist in me is still doubtful it will last.
I did find it admirable that for all the trouble he caused, that his friends were so ready and willing to rally round and help him to reclaim his house and that they invested so much time and care to see him turn a new leaf. Their patience with him far exceeded my own. I was ready to kick him out of the story early on.
In spite of Toad's antics, overall I loved the book and I'm already looking forward to read The Willows In Winter at the turn of the year. Grahame's intricate depictions of the animals homelife and the meals they shared together were quite delightful and I would have been pleased if every chapter had featured them. I shared in a previous post that I often felt as though I was reading two different stories, as the chapters devoted to Toad's troubles seemed like a different story line altogether. But I suppose every good story needs a villian, though I'm not sure that title fully suits Toad. He did prove to be a source of contention for his friends (and me!). Perhaps Grahame was fond of the contrast between the peaceful home life along the river bank and Toad's outrageous adventures. He might have felt it dull to write only of the day to day lives of Mole and Ratty, but I personally would have been content to hear of nothing more!
Overall I thought it was an excellent book, and I think children would especially enjoy it, perhaps even being a bit more amused by Toad that I was! I've truly enjoyed sharing this book with those of you who have joined in. It's been fun to hear other's thoughts and perspectives. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the final two chapters and on the book as a whole, so feel free to share in the comments!
And now I'm off to tend to my own domestic duties! My goal is to have all of my deep seasonal cleaning done this week, and then next week I'll tackle my craft room/office, and our front porch needs some tidying after a summer's worth of projects. Then towards the middle of next week I'll bring out my autumn decorations just in time for the dawn of September which is a week from tomorrow. We'll have one last cook out Labor Day weekend to tuck summer away, but after that autumn will arrive at our house!
I'll be back soon to share about all the seasonal happenings, which are many this time of year! I look forward to visiting with you then!
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I apologize again this week for being late with our Summer Read Along post. Our garden has kept me extra busy the past few weeks, and in addition to that, this week I've added my autumn cleaning to the agenda. I'm different in that I'm more inspired to deep clean and get my house ready for the change of seasons and the upcoming holidays towards the end of August than I am in the spring, when most people do their annual deep clean. I do it then, too, but not as thoroughly as in autumn. So with that, let's jump right in to my favorite quotes and passages from chapters 9 & 10.
CHAPTER 9 - WAYFARERS ALL
"To all appearances the summer's pomp was still at fullest height, and although the tilled acres green had given way to gold, though rowan's were reddening, and the woods were dashed here and there with a tawny fierceness, yet light and warmth and colour were still present in undiminshed measure, clean of any chilly premonitions of the passing year. But the constant chorus of the orchards and hedges had shrunk to a casual evensong from a few yet unwearied performers; the robin was beginning to assert himself once more; and there was a feeling in the air of change and departure. The cuckoo, of course, had long been silent; but many another feathered friend, for months a part of the familiar landscape and its small society, was missing too, and it seemed that the ranks thinned steadily day by day."
Such a beautiful scene is painted in this passage, a familiar one. Just in the past weeks I could feel it, as the earliest trees have already begun to dim. As the passage says, there is still much warmth and colour and not a hint of winter, but you can feel it just on the horizon on a cool August morning which have been plentiful in our area this summer, autumn is near!
"There he got out the luncheon basket and packed a simple meal, in which, remembering the stranger's origin and preferences, he took care to include a yard of long french bread, a sausage of which the garlic sang, some cheese which lay down and cried, and a long-necked, straw-covered flask containing bottled sunshine shed and garnered on far southern slopes. Thus laden, he returned with all speed, and blushed for pleasure at the old seaman's commendations of his tastes and judgement, as together they unpacked the basket and laid out the contents on the grass by the roadside."
I have always loved a good picnic, and this one sounds perfectly charming! I think I could easily re-create this simple menu and love every bite of it! It sounds delicious, doesn't it? I especially love the description of "liquid sunshine". Just this week I made lemonade from scratch for the first time in my life, and it did indeed taste just like "liquid sunshine".
CHAPTER 10 - THE FUTHER ADVENTURES OF TOAD
I hate to sound like a broken record, but with only two chapters now left, I am losing hope that Toad will reform. For as much as I have loved this book in some ways the chapters that focus on Toad feel like they belong in another story. So sadly, I don't have a favorite passage from this chapter. Here's hoping that by the end I'll feel differently.
Leave your thoughts and favorite quotes and passages in the comments. I'll meet you there!
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