Springtime Babies

{goslings at Falls Park}

Emily said,
"I think ducklings are lovely."

"Yes," said Little Bear,
"and owlets are nice, too.
Owl says they are."

Emily laughed.
"Oh," she said,
"I love all little animals."

"Me, too," said Little Bear.
--Little Bear's Friends by Else Holmelund Minarik

Captives - review

If you've been following my blog for very long you will know I read a wide variety of fiction genres. Some I enjoy more than others, but primarily I just enjoy a well-told story, regardless of the category. Dystopian* stories seem to be particularly popular with young adults readers lately. My main criteria for a dystopian novel, besides being well-written, is that include an element of hope. (Which is why I didn't like Brave New World or 1984, but I did like Alas, Babylon.)

Jill Williamson's new series, The Safe Lands, fits the bill. Set 80 years in the future, the story not only includes an element of hope, it also includes a strong element of faith. The young people in the story are captured from an outlying village (where they have been living simply all their lives) and are taken to a very high-tech city and expected to immediately start reproducing to repopulate the city.

I was intrigued by the plot and interested to see how each of the characters dealt with their new environment. I think this may be my favorite of Jill's books so far. You can read the prologue and first chapter here.

Here is the back cover copy:

When eighteen-year-old Levi returned from Denver City with his latest scavenged finds, he never imagined he’d find his village of Glenrock decimated, loved ones killed, and many—including his fiancée, Jem—taken captive. Now alone, Levi is determined to rescue what remains of his people, even if it means entering the Safe Lands, a walled city that seems anything but safe.
Omar knows he betrayed his brother by sending him away, but helping the enforcers was necessary. Living off the land and clinging to an outdated religion holds his village back. The Safe Lands has protected people since the plague decimated the world generations ago … and its rulers have promised power and wealth beyond Omar’s dreams.
Meanwhile, their brother Mason has been granted a position inside the Safe Lands, and may be able to use his captivity to save not only the people of his village, but also possibly find a cure for the virus that threatens everyone within the Safe Lands’ walls.
Will Mason uncover the truth hidden behind the Safe Lands’ façade before it’s too late?

* Definition from Wikipedia: "A dystopia is a community or society, usually fictional, that is in some important way undesirable or frightening. It is the opposite of a utopia."

Random Goofiness

Sometimes everyday things just strike me funny. I can hardly bear it if no one's with me to appreciate the humor. Here are a few goofy things I noticed recently:

There's a directional sign near our City Hall pointing to our "sister city" (Herrborn, Germany) 4,908 miles away.

I first found out about our "sister city" a few years ago at a city-sponsored Christmas program that my kids participated in. The mayor read a letter from the mayor of Herrborn wishing us a happy holiday season. At the time I couldn't figure out why we had a sister city or why it was Herrborn. Later, I found out that Herrborn is where the founder of Post Falls, Frederick Post, was born. So that explains that.

It still cracks me up that we have a road sign pointing far away across the continent and then across the ocean. Like anyone driving around Post Falls City Hall will need to know how to get to Herrborn.

I know. That's not the purpose of it, but it makes me chuckle.

***

This book display in the local grocery store made me look twice. See how the cowboy's bride in Over the Edge is behind him on the left? The beaming bride on the next book, Loving, is clinging to her groom's shoulder, but it sure looks like it's the guy from Over the Edge, doesn't it?

I wonder what the cashier thought as I snapped a picture with my phone.

***

And then sometimes I overhear conversations that make me laugh to myself--

Overheard on an airplane as someone was trying to squeeze by someone else in the aisle:
"Some of us are a little larger than most skinnier people."

***

Overheard in the shoe store in the next aisle over:
"Oh, excuse me. I thought you were my daughter. But you're not."
Girl's voice: "No." {polite chuckle} "I'm my mom's daughter!"

***

I think this counts as a Friday Fragments post,
so I'm going to join up with Mrs. 4444 at
Half-Past Kissin' Time!

From the Passenger Seat

Views from last week's road trip...

Heading east on I-90. Montana.

My drivin' man.

State capitol building. Jefferson City, Missouri.

Springtime in the Ozarks.
(No doubt the picture would be better had
the photographer bothered to roll her window down.)

(But it was raining! What can I say?)

See the "QT" on the road sign to the right?
We like to stop at those in Missouri/Kansas/Oklahoma.
They have an awesome beverage selection!

Worlds of Fun. Kansas City.
Since Laura got a job at our local theme park this year
we thought she might be interested to see this one.

Headed back home. Iowa sunset.

South Dakota was cold with fresh snow on the ground.

Watch out for that bulldozer!
Can you imagine driving the thing up there like that?

Last gas stop. Livingston, Montana.
Love the mountains in the background!

Pike Place Tulips

We didn't make it to the tulip farms this year, but I have to say, Pike Place Market in the spring is the next-best thing!

One morning last weekend Lyle and I met my cousin in downtown Seattle for coffee at Starbucks on the waterfront. It was a misty spring morning... typical for Seattle... perfect coffee-drinking weather... which is probably why coffee is so popular in Seattle, come to think of it.

After we finished our coffee I asked my cousin if the tulips were still in season at Pike Place Market. She lives and works near the Market, and had posted a picture of the tulips a few weeks ago. I was afraid the season might be over, as we've had an early spring. Much to my delight, she said they were still there.

I decided right then that I needed to see them for myself, so we walked over to the Market. Oh, my goodness! Such a feast for the eyes... masses of brilliant colors and delicate petals.

I wanted to take a bouquet home, but every pre-arranged bouquet was prettier than the last, and I could not make up my mind.

I watched one of the workers assembling an arrangement that included red tulips and gorgeous ruffled daffodils. "That's the one!" I decided. But even as Lyle paid for it, I was second guessing my choice. Maybe I should have taken the pink arrangement? Or the yellow and purple one? I think I could have stood there all day deliberating over the options.

Hot coffee. Pleasant conversation. Gorgeous flowers. Is there a better way to enjoy a springtime morning?