'The mustang-breaking, poker-playing, horse-race-winning schoolmarm of Coconino County'

I'd like to think that if I was born at the dawn of the 20th century, somewhere in the Southwest that I too would possess the same self assured, no nonsense attitude donned by Lily Casey Smith.

This true-life grandmother to author Jeannette Walls led an interesting life not necessarily shared by the majority of women at that time. Raised on a ranch in West Texas where her father bred and trained carriage horses, she learned at a young age how to take care of things on the farm and help out with her younger siblings. Alone at the age of 15 she set out with her horse Patches on a 28 day journey to rural Arizona where she was to begin the first of many teaching jobs.

From that point on she always did what she felt was right for her, whether it meant losing a teaching job because she wouldn't apologize for her style of teaching, moving to Chicago to find work, or even selling "hooch" during the prohibition out her back door (and hiding the cases of booze under the basinet in the baby's room). She was fearless; always ready to take on the challengers that life brought her. She had an unabashed sense of right and wrong and she didn't mind telling anyone just how she saw it.

Being a teacher most of her life, Lily found life lessons in almost everything. If I learned anything from this book, it would be to slow down and take pleasure in the small beauties. Be it a cool glass of water on a hot sunny day, being resourceful with your window drapes, or savoring a sweet novel like this...enjoy yourself...and be yourself.

My kind of book club

Such is happenstance.  I woke up Wednesday morning (day 6 of my 365 days photo challenge) and snapped the above shot.  I have always loved to read, it used to drive my sister crazy when we shared a room growing up and I refused to turn my light out so I could continue to read my Piers Anthony novels.  Though I've since moved on from the world of Xanth I continue to read regularly. 

So...I was delighted when later that day I found this post about the Slow Readers Book Club.  A book club I can join and not be rushed to finish the book!  It's also a sweet little coincidence that the first book is Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls who also wrote the Glass Castle a book my sister gave me as a gift (she loves to read now too).  For more information and how to join just click here or here.

Happy Reading!
♥Mo