I went to the store the other night to pick up a couple of rolls of food composting bags -- the biodegradable bags we put in our waste food caddies so the council can collect it on trash day and compost it. The total came to £5.48, and I had £5.49 in change in my pocket! I love it when that happens -- when almost every penny counts. It's like my vigilance about picking up lost coins and keeping all my change finally paid off.
I've started my Newbery reading project. You can see at right that I'm showing two books in my "What I'm Reading" box on the blog -- the adult book and the Newbery book. I put all the books out on a special cart in the library with signs ("Mr. Reed reads the Newberys!") a checklist and a tray where I'll put my printed one-paragraph reviews. Some kids react with incredulity that I'm taking on this task, but I'm trying to show them that it's fun, not work. (Which remains to be seen, admittedly.)
I won't review everything here -- don't worry -- but I do have to mention that the first Newbery book I read, "The Cat Who Went to Heaven," the 1931 winner, was deeper and more interesting than the title would suggest. It was actually a dalliance with Buddhist philosophy, not just a story about a cat. Many of the Newbery winners center on different countries and cultures, although some of that multiculturalism will no doubt seem a little ham-handed and dated today. The one I'm reading now, "Call It Courage," from 1941, is about a Polynesian boy. (I'm reading randomly, not in order, obviously.)
Olga and I came across this peculiar contraption while walking the other day. It's apparently meant to hold a jacket, or maybe a whole suit, but I have no idea why it's a free-standing device. A suit can go on a simple hanger in the closet -- why would anyone want an entire piece of furniture devoted to the same purpose? (Obviously no one does, which is why it's on the street. Plus it's broken.)
(Top photo: The skyline from Parliament Hill, in December. I need to get out and take more photos!)
You can also put your polished shoes on the bottom shelf. I don't know how I would get by without my suit stand. As for the Newbery books, it would have been fascinating to read them in chronological order - reflecting passing literary trends and preferences. However, I applaud you for setting yourself this challenge - rather like the London ring walks you completed. You are a dogged guy!
ReplyDeleteMy father in law had a similar contraption, his was of paler wood and could be folded and worked quite well until its last days. No idea where it ended up.
ReplyDeleteHe called it gentlemen's helper - from the days of the grand hotels when said gentlemen travelled, some with attending butler. The drawer was for ties or collars etc.
I love your reading task.
I suppose if one wore a suit every day, that little piece of furniture would be helpful. But I've seen them before.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Newberry books! Do you think that when you read them you will be able to discern whether or not they were something that would have kept your attention as a child?
I think your Newbury task will be fun. and interesting. perhaps men used that suit stand before closets were common.
ReplyDeleteGood idea to be an example for kids to see. I did every writing assignment I gave to kids. Sometimes I wrote my assignment on the overhead while they were writing.
ReplyDeleteI've seen those suit valets before but, I don't know why one would use it unless your closet was so stuffed your cloths get wrinkled in there. So, I Googled "who uses a suit valet" and I found some interesting (and comical) comments. One person has two of them, one for today's clothes and one for tomorrow's clothes. That same person described some strange rituals for his clothes that makes me think he might be a bit eccentric.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea to track your reading project and display reviews. I think it might inspire some young readers.
"Suit valet"--what a wonderful term--and object!
ReplyDeleteI call myself a Social Media Valet at work--without realizing how well suited that term was.
I'm very interested in your Newbery project and would love to read every one of your reviews. Maybe you could post them as you write them on a page--if that's the right term--(you know, they show up looking like a file folder tab along the top bar of your blog), if you don't want them cluttering up your posts.
In fact, you inspired me to gather all the prize winners we have at the thrift store--we have quite a lot (including some Honor Award winners)--to make a display.
And I might read a few myself--From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler appeals...
Thanks!
P.S. Whoops --signed in wrong. Frex = Fresca
ReplyDelete"Humans, Unreal. Can We Go Now??" Olga Says
ReplyDeleteMaybe the suit valet originated at a time when closets were absent or at least uncommon? Olga doesn't look too impressed by it! Some days I'd love to be able to read animals' minds. It would be interesting, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteKids need all the encouragement they can get if they are reluctant readers. Reading opens doors to everything else.
Thanks for mentioning the "rolls of food composting bags." I must try to find some, too. I quite like the idea of your reading project.
ReplyDeleteHa! My dad had one of those free-standing suit hangers, and he used it all the time. I found it to be a rather intriguing piece of furniture, and weirdly practical actually. Far easier to use than a hanger, too, for the suit of the day. Also, I am just realizing the Newbery has one r, for some reason I have always imagined it had two. I never really looked at the word, I suppose, but when I saw you used one r, I knew I was wrong, because you, obviously, would know.
ReplyDeleteOlga is trying to figure out why you want a picture of that contraption. She's such a cutie. I never heard of food composting bags. What a great idea. You have a super day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to look around and see if I can find the Vanity Fair Diaries. And maybe "The Cat Who Went to Heaven."
ReplyDeletehas she lost weight?
ReplyDeleteMy father had one too. I think the closet was for clean clothes, and the valet was especially useful if you were going to wear the same suit (slacks, shirt) another day; didn't have to poke around in the closet, remember which shirt it was, etc. I have to say I just use a chair for similar purposes.
ReplyDeleteAs many have already said, these night valets are for keeping your suit and accessories hung to air overnight before wearing or putting back into the cupboard. If you have a suit wearer in the family and the space for keeping one of these contraptions, they are mighty useful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments, everyone! (And for identifying the mysterious furniture!) I suppose if I wore a suit more often I'd see the benefit of such a contraption, but as it is, I only put on a suit about once a year.
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