Books to Beat the Winter Blues

Can you remember when you last saw the sun in the Spokane area? Me neither. Normally, I don't mind cloudy, gloomy, moody winter days. They're great for snuggling with a cozy blanket on the sofa, having a cup of warm tea (or your beverage of choice), and reading a good book. I have to admit, though, that this long stretch of bleak weather is starting to get to me, and I'm guessing you as well?

Beside putting on the lights, getting some fresh air outside, and taking some extra vitamin D, there are always books to help us beat the winter blues. Here are some of my picks that can be found in our library or online:

• Life on Svalbard by Cecilia Blomdahl (BT 948.1 BLO, Libby/Overdrive) If you think we have dark, cloudy days here, imagine having polar night (no sunrise for months in the winter). Blomdahl shares her year-round experiences living on Svalbard, an island close to the North Pole, through text and fantastic photos.
• The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown (F BRO, Libby/Overdrive) In the mood for an entertaining page-turner? Brown doesn't disappoint his Robert Langdon fans with his thriller that takes them to various landmarks around Prague and other fascinating locales.
• An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister (Libby/Overdrive) As a former academic myself, I find it rare to come across a fictional book about academia that's rooted in today's reality with a little not-too-mushy romance on the side.
• The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye (BT F Skye) After the main character loses her job as a high school guidance counselor, she unwittingly starts a worldwide, feel-good trend of making origami paper roses with hopeful messages inside.
• The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking (158.1 WIK) If you need some help in having a more positive outlook on winter, do as the Danes do--wear comfy socks, have a pastry, light candles, watch a movie, read a book, and do other things that help you to savor, not just survive, the season.

Which favorite books of yours are winter blues busters? Share with us!

Wishing you cozy reads on grey days from the perch.

New Year for You

The holidays are over. After all the merrymaking and getting together with loved ones, perhaps you're feeling a little sad. Or, if you were a busy elf in charge of different things (decorating, cooking, gift buying, gift wrapping, clean up), you might be happy that they're over. Maybe even a bit drained?

Those of you who are parents or caring for parents (me) will probably understand what I mean. Don't get me wrong--I love spending time with my family, but having the pressure of making the end-of-the-year holidays (from Halloween to New Year's) enjoyable for everyone really takes it out of me, both physically and mentally.

It seems like after the togetherness of the December holidays, many of us tend to focus on ourselves in the New Year with resolutions (I prefer calling them intentions). It's important that we remind ourselves that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity for our own well-being. As they say on planes, put on your own oxygen mask first before you help others.

Keep in mind that self-care can be anything you enjoy doing that relaxes your mind and your body. It can be something that makes you feel well physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. There are other types of self-care, such as financial and educational, but the bottom line is that self-care is about taking care of you. 

Interested in learning more about self-care and ways to help yourself? Here are some articles I recommend:

• 5 Types of Self-Care for Every Area of Your Life Very Well Mind
• 50 self-care activities to do when you don't know where to start Mental Health America
• What is self-care? Global Self-Care Federation

Wishing you a peaceful and mindful new year from the perch.

Remember What's Important

I think I've become a holiday humbug. Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Christmas in Rockefeller Center this year, rather than seeing balloons, decorations, and smiling performers, all I saw was commercialism, greed, and capitalism at its worst. Every float advertised a business or company, from Disney to Rao's spaghetti sauce. Singers with new albums were performing to advertise themselves. Instead of enjoying the entertainment, I felt my mood increasingly turn Grinch-like.

My husband told me those negative traits of the parade and show were always there, but we just never noticed them as kids. And as a kid growing up in the Hudson River Valley, taking a trip into New York City at Christmastime always felt magical and exciting--the huge tree lit up in Midtown Manhattan, the holiday window displays at Saks and other stores on 5th Avenue, the Christmas show with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. 

Now, however, in addition to TV commercials, we're bombarded with store advertising through social media and practically every click we make on the internet. I understand this is the biggest time of year for stores across the board, but come on. Tone down the "buy, buy, buy" for things we don't want or even need. Yes, I am among those who think it's ironic that just one day after Thanksgiving, a holiday celebrating gratitude for what you have, so many rush out to get even more stuff.

So, what is the purpose of this post beside ranting and humbugging? I guess I'd just like everyone to remember what's really important about the holidays (no matter which ones you observe)--the people in our lives. Whether they're family by blood or family by choice, co-workers or people who provide us with services. Spend time with them, tell them what they mean to you, appreciate them. Even a smile or a hello to someone you don't know is a precious gift these days when manners and courtesy seem to have gone the way of the dinosaurs.

Wishing you and yours kindness and the gift of being together from the perch.

Image Source: Pixabay

An Introvert's Holiday Season

Many of you see me, your friendly neighborhood perch librarian, happily making conversation with patrons checking out books or needing help around the library. Catching me in action, you'd think I'm a social butterfly who can't stop talking. Well, you'd be mistaken. I'm an introvert and HSP who's good with people one-on-one but shrinks back from crowds. That's why I don't look forward to the holiday season.

And when I'm hosting (as I'm doing for Thanksgiving this year), I feel more stressed and out of my element. Even when it's just family and close friends, I'm agitated by the shopping, the preparations, the cooking, and making sure everyone is comfortable and having what they need. At a routine checkup yesterday, my doctor thought my heart was racing due to white coat syndrome, but I told her I was just thinking of all the things I need to do for the holiday.

Does this sound like you? Are you in my boat? If you are, I've been researching what can make the holidays easier on us introverts. Some believe setting the proper atmosphere in your home with space, lighting, and room temperature is key. For others, joining an online community for introverts can help with posting concerns and reading what others suggest. In the thick of it all, it's okay to give yourself permission to take a mini-break to recharge, whether that's in the bathroom, outdoors for a moment (or two), or taking an inconspicuous deep, slow breath at the dinner table. And of course, it's important to prepare for an introvert hangover by setting aside some quiet time to rest, read, watch a show, etc. (in other words, do some self-care).

Thankfully, my husband understands what I go through hosting the holidays and tries to help out in any way he can. Even though I enjoy my family and holidays together, I still can't help feeling stressed and waiting for downtime to follow. However, if I feel overwhelmed by holiday-making, you can bet the bathroom will be my temporary sanctuary and recharging station.

Wishing everyone a happy (and, hopefully, calm) holiday season from the perch.

Image Source: Medium.com

Four Soups and a Quiche

It's officially fall! Time to dust off the slow cooker and bring out the soup pot. As the weather gets cooler, warm recipes in your tummy feel like a hug from the inside, don't they? I actually got a head start on my fall cooking thanks to recent gum graft surgery (trust me, you don't want to know) that's forcing me to avoid any food I can't cut easily with a fork.

So, I'd like to take a moment to share with you some new (and some old) fall recipes I discovered that are easy to make and simply delish (whether or not you've had dental surgery):

• Crustless Spinach Quiche  I have to admit I found this recipe because I didn't know what to do with leftover spinach. Turned out this was a tasty, filling dish that's easy to make and also great for diabetics or anyone cutting carbs.
• Easy Creamy Vegetable Soup  I never made a creamy vegetable soup before, but this one is awesome and full of flavor. Made with carrots, potatoes, celery, and onion, you can fool your kids into eating their veggies with this. I recommend using a vegetable broth for better flavor.
• Rosół (Polish Chicken Soup)  Many Polish recipes are passed down through generations. This one is the closest rosół (pronounced roh-sue) to the one made in my family. How my recipe differs: 3 carrots chopped, 4-5 celery stalks chopped (in place of parsley root and celery root), and no leek or garlic. As for the onion, I slice each end and burn it (yes, burn it) in a pan before adding to the pot for flavor (it can be removed from the soup later). Make sure to serve with extra fine noodles.
• Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup  This pea soup recipe beats any you'll get out of a can. It's made with fresh ingredients and is a dump recipe, so there's a minimum of work involved. I recommend adding salt and pepper to taste once it's done to wake it up a bit. 
• To-Die-For Hungarian Mushroom Soup  I've mentioned this recipe in a past post, but it's so good and easy, it's worth mentioning again! This is definitely the recipe for mushroom lovers. For a more intense mushroom taste, mix white and cremini mushrooms. This soup is perfect for a chilly fall day!

In addition to these online recipes, the library has a number of cookbooks with recipes to put some love in your tummy. Be sure to stop by and check them out. And of course, your friendly perch librarian is here to help you find recipes on your culinary journey.

Do you have a favorite fall recipe? Share with us!

Wishing you delicious fall eats and good reads from the perch.

A Kindergarten Refresher

The new school year has started. Some are continuing their studies, others are at the very beginning of a long road of formal education. Of course, however, we learn throughout our lives, both in and out of the classroom, academic subjects and life skills. 

Years ago, there was a book that resonated with many called All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, written by Robert Fulghum (available as an audiobook on Libby). Although it was first published in 1986, there are simple lessons that can be applied not only to kindergarteners, but to all of us. And at a time when it seems like we're surrounded by a lack of respect, courtesy, and kindness, I think it's worth taking a look at some of the kindergarten lessons Fulghum thought are important to remember:

• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don't hit people.
• Put things back where you found them.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don't take things that aren't yours.
• Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.

The list goes on a little further, but you get the idea. One lesson I remember learning in my own kindergarten--if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. 

Wouldn't it be great if we all remembered and practiced the not-so-little life lessons we learned in kindergarten? I'm not so naive to think they can solve all of the world's problems, but I think if we all tried to put these early lessons to use in our own encounters with others, whether in person or online, we've done our part. Maybe that's one of the reasons I enjoy being a librarian--when you're helping a library patron, kindness comes with the territory (or at least it should).

What are some lessons you remember from your kindergarten? Share with us!

Wishing everyone a great new school year from the perch.

The Return of the Cassette?

When was the last time you saw cassettes in the library? For me, it was probably around 10 years ago, and the few we had were books on cassette or language learning cassettes. Since then, they have been removed from our collection because they rarely got checked out, and most people told us they didn't have cassette players anymore. Could that soon change?

If you or someone you know is a Swiftie (fan of megastar singer Taylor Swift), you might decide to buy her next album on cassette. No, I'm not kidding. Swift's next album, Life of a Showgirl, will be released in October on streaming, CD, vinyl, and...cassette.

For decades, "records" (a.k.a. "vinyls") were the primary format for audio recordings, but they had their limitations--they scratched easily and weren't very portable. Cassette tapes came out in the 1960s and became popular with the public in the 1970s through 1980s because you could take them anywhere (think 1980s "boom boxes" and car tape players). As a teenager, I played the cast album of The Phantom of the Opera endlessly (okay, I was a weird kid).

So why the heck is Taylor Swift releasing her latest album on cassette, of all formats? Apparently, Gen Z want to connect with their favorite singers more closely through something old school and tangible. Cassettes are also different from streaming in that you need to listen to an entire side rather than skip from one song to another (technically, you can fast forward to the next song, but it's not so easy to find its starting point).

Will the library be buying cassettes again? I doubt it. As someone who grew up with cassettes in the '80s, give me a clean-sounding CD I can play in my car and skip to any song I want.

Do you want to see the return of the cassette? Why or why not? Share with us!

Ever truly yours from the perch.

(Photo Source: BRRT on Pixabay)