Ready for Winter

by Kara

There's a chill in the air, leaves are falling and winter is just around the corner. This is the time of year I think about keeping the cold out and settling into a cozy spot. Here's my list of books to help with the transition to winter.

Leadership in turbulent times

Doris Kearns Goodwin

973.099 /Goodwin
Nonfiction

"In this culmination of five decades of acclaimed studies in presidential history, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin offers an illuminating exploration into the early development, growth, and exercise of leadership. Are leaders born or made? Where does ambition come from? How does adversity affect the growth of leadership? Does the man make the times or do the times make the man? In Leadership in Turbulent Times, Goodwin draws upon four of the presidents she has studied most closely--Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson (in civil rights)--to show how they first recognized leadership qualities within themselves, and were recognized by others as leaders. No common pattern describes the trajectory of leadership. Although set apart in background, abilities, and temperament, these men shared a fierce ambition and a deep-seated resilience that enabled them to surmount uncommon adversity. At their best, all four were guided by a sense of moral purpose. At moments of great challenge, they were able to summon their talents to enlarge the opportunities and lives of others. This seminal work provides an accessible and essential road map for aspiring and established leaders in every field. In today's polarized world, these stories of authentic leadership in times of apprehension and fracture take on a singular urgency."--Provided by publisher.

I saw Doris Kearns Goodwin recently talk about this book and it piqued my interest. I'm listening to the eAudio version and it's very good. I'm looking forward to listening to it in the evening while I work on projects around the house.
- Kara

Insulate and weatherize : for energy efficiency at home

Bruce Harley

693.832 /Harley
Home

Let an expert show you how to: choose the best insulation materials; seal air leaks in an attic; weatherstrip doors and hatches; improve window performance; upgrade heating and cooling equipment; plan a deep energy retrofit.

I spent some time weatherizing my house a few years ago and was amazed at the difference it made keeping the chill out. I have a couple doors that need to be re-weatherized. This book is helpful.
- Kara

Tasting hygge : joyful recipes for cozy days and nights

Leela Cyd

641.5948 /Cyd
Cookbooks

Good food makes everyone feel warm and cared for, which is the very essence of hygge. This Danish way of life has been embraced by Americans who want that same sense of cozy. In Tasting Hygge, acclaimed food photographer and cookbook author Leela Cyd shares the recipes that make her happy, for cultivating moments of connection in the dining room, at the coffee table, or over a little bedside tray. Keeping in mind the idea of slowing down and enjoying the moment, Cyd shares more than 50 recipes that elevate everyday meals into very special moments. She organizes the book into five sensory experiences (Calm, Bright, Warm, Spiced, and Smooth) with recipes such as:Apple Anise GloggRoasted Squash and Sage Grilled CheeseGreens Gratin with Parmesan and NutmegFairy Bowl with Ice Cream and Honey Sponge CakeThese are dishes to delight and love, each one accompanied by a gorgeous photograph.

"Joyful recipes for cozy days" sounds wonderful for winter!
- Kara

The little book of hygge : Danish secrets to happy living

Meik Wiking

158.1 /Wiking
Nonfiction

"The Danes are famously the happiest people in the world, and hygge is a cornerstone of their way of life. Hygge (pronounce Hoo-ga) loosely translates as a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. You know hygge when you feel it. It is when you are cuddled up on the sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. It is those crisp blue mornings when the light through your window is just right. It is about gratitude and savoring the simple pleasures in life. In short, it is the pursuit of everyday happiness." --

I like the concept of Hygge - comfort, togetherness and well-being. I want to listen to this book too!
- Kara

Amy Herzog's ultimate sweater book : the essential guide for adventurous knitters

Amy Herzog

746.432 /Herzog
Crafts

I am a terrible knitter - but with this book I can look at the pictures and dream about being a wonderful knitter :)
- Kara

Homemade soup recipes : 103 easy recipes for soups, stews, chilis, and chowders everyone will love

Addie Gundry

641.813 /Gundry
Cookbooks

I love soup. There's nothing better on a cold day than fresh, delicious, hot soup!
- Kara

Almost everything : notes on hope

Anne Lamott

170.44 /Lamott
Nonfiction

"I am stockpiling antibiotics for the Apocalypse, even as I await the blossoming of paperwhites on the windowsill in the kitchen," Anne Lamott admits at the beginning of Almost Everything. Despair and uncertainty surround us: in the news, in our families, and in ourselves. But even when life is at its bleakest--when we are, as she puts it, "doomed, stunned, exhausted, and over-caffeinated"--the seeds of rejuvenation are at hand. "All truth is paradox," Lamott writes, "and this turns out to be a reason for hope. If you arrive at a place in life that is miserable, it will change." That is the time when we must pledge not to give up but "to do what Wendell Berry wrote: 'Be joyful, though you have considered all the facts.'" In this profound and funny book, Lamott calls for each of us to rediscover the nuggets of hope and wisdom that are buried within us that can make life sweeter than we ever imagined. Divided into short chapters that explore life's essential truths, Almost Everything pinpoints these moments of insight as it shines an encouraging light forward. Candid and caring, insightful and sometimes hilarious, Almost Everything is the book we need and that only Anne Lamott can write.

I like listening to Anne Lamott books. When I'm not feeling very grounded, her vignettes give me hope and make me think.
- Kara

Merry makers : patchwork quilts and projects to celebrate the season

746.46 /Merry
Crafts

Celebrate the season with the Moda All-Stars! They're back with 15+ handmade gifts to give or keep. Choose from speedy stockings, pincushions, and coasters to make in multiples. Or, pick a patchwork project: lap quilts, table runners, and other deck-the-halls designs abound. Complete most projects in a weekend or quicker--no need to fear the holiday time crunch! And just for fun, learn all about the favorite seasonal traditions of the All-Stars in a series of Q&As.

In the winter I love to sew. My sewing machine is out and ready to go!
- Kara

Oh, scrap! : fabulous quilts that make the most of your stash

Lissa Alexander

746.46 /Alexander
Crafts

"Want to be a scrap quilter? Great! But if you want to think like a scrap quilter, learn from a master! Lissa Alexander has spent three decades honing her scrap-quilting talents, and in her first solo book, she offers page after page of tips for making dazzling scrap quilts saturated with color, print, and texture. Learn how to make insightful decisions about which fabric combinations work (and understand why others don't). Best of all, discover how to (finally!) use your unique stash to make scrap quilts that sing. Includes a preface by renowned quilt historian Barbara Brackman."--Publisher description.

This is a delightful book with many great ideas. I can't wait to get started!
- Kara