Originally published in 1942. "Discontent is only the fear of missing something. Content is the knowledge that you aren't missing a thing worth-while." (p. 322) I guess that depends on how you've lived your life according to YOUR own standards.

This is my first read of 2019, and I can tell you now that it will be one of my top reads of the year. Louise Dickinson Rich is a very visual writer, and she can sure tell some stories. I love her sense of humor. Not once did I get bored, nor did I begin to count the pages.

On page 142, she wrote something here that caught my attention and just might explain the attitude of so many unhappy youths, even adults, of today, speaking of her son: "I want him to know what he's fighting for-and Freedom and Democracy won't mean a thing to him, unless they are all tied up with memories of things that he has loved..." Today's youth do not have exciting, fond memories of adventure or memories of things that they loved. Their heads are down and distracted by rotten politics and electronics, meanwhile, the beautiful day outside is passing them by. I love how she describes all the distractions around us as "static". That was back in 1942. Today, with cell phones, Internet, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and electronic games, and even today's politics, all vying up most our time on this earth, we have created a level of "static" in our lives that is uncomprehensible, and it’s making people mentally unstable. This includes adults as well. I get it! I'm part of this group so distracted by all the "static" around.

Documenting every aspect of our lives, prevents our minds from taking in all the fine beautiful things taking place all around us, and just creates a sense of selfishness. We snap that picture so we can instantly share to everyone and to say, “Hey, look at me! Look what I am doing!” Our memories are now in the memory card of our cameras. They weren't captured fully with our minds and our soul because we had a motive for taking that picture...to show the world how important we are. No deep memorable moment to sustain us like Louise's memory and full description of that one beautiful morning seeing the sun behind a blackbird that lighted on the water just in front of her:

"We sat down on the shore to assemble our tackle, and a shelldrake came flying in from the east, not seeing us at all. The sun was behind it, and as it spread its wings and tail to break for a three point landing almost in our laps, the delicate rib of every feather was silhouetted black and single, and the down along the ribs was gold and translucent. We could see how wonderfully and intricately it was made. Spray flew up like a fountain of jewels as it plowed the water. It was a bird of fire, coming to rest among diamonds and emeralds." (p. 284)

That one day on B Pond was anything but miraculous. It was an experience that could only be captured in one’s own eyes and sealed in their soul, not in a camera. Sure, today, we would have snapped a picture of a black bird that landed in the water in front of us, but missing all the little fine details of that landing because we were busy snapping that picture to show everybody on Facebook.

There are a couple of recipes I am interested in trying, just to see how they really ate out there in the woods, and to get the full experience out of reading her story. Instructions for her Baked Beans are on page 113-4, which require all day, slow cooking in the oven, with water added about every 30 minutes. And her Raspberry Shortcake Recipe with full instructions can be found on page 162. ( )

Galen recommended
Read to page 129

Enjoyable but detailed and slow-paced. Her voice is fresh and clear despite the original publication date of 1942!

Quotes

I think the difficulty with people who can't follow printed directions for knitting or anything else is that they try to understand them. (47)

I do believe in the malevolence of the inanimate, and of all inanimate objects, stones are the most malevolent. (119)

I really loved this book. It's set during the depression, and it's about a woman who chooses to live in the Maine wilderness. Some of the descriptive writing is beautiful. Is going off in the woods and living on one's own an American only fantasy? ( )

Engagingly written stories worth telling. Take a look at a map after you read, amazing to think how isolated that area of Maine was only a short while ago.

At the same time, what astonished me most about this book was how modern it sounded, and how many aspects of their lives resembled "the modern era" (so many cars!). However, the next sentence would be something about ether in a can bringing you right back to the 1930s. ( )

If anyone else had written this book, it'd probably have been out of print many years now. Louise Dickinson Rich manages to do what few people can do: write about the mundane in a way that interests even urban folk who know next to nothing about country living. We Took to the Woods is Rich's first autobiographical book about living in the woods of Maine in the 1930's. It's full of adventure, humor, candor and fun. I did get a little lost with all the jargon pertaining to boats and lakes, 'sluicing" and fishing; but the daily life descriptions were intriguing and inspiring. Rich talks of 'making do' with what she has, since she lived in the wilderness without easy access to stores and supplies. When things broke, she and her husband and helpers had to fix, mend, rig up makeshift repairs with whatever supplies they had on hand. Living in subzero temperatures during the winter, they wrapped themselves in woolen layers of clothes, and went about their daily business just as always; digging, shoveling, cutting wood for the fire. Their resourcefulness and strong work ethic were enviable, though I was not tempted to pack up my things and take on a woodsy life.
I loved her tone and anecdotes. Of her son, husband and stepdaughter. Of the animals, of nature in its raw beauty, of her many visitors, 'sports', lumberjacks, and neighbors, though there were not as many as one would consider nowadays.
I look forward to reading more of her books. 5+ stars ! ( )