What I'm Reading on my Sony Reader and Remembering my Mother
I am asked quite often what I am currently reading on my Sony Reader , so I’ve decided to start sharing those books here on my blog. I recently went with my television crew to Churchill, Manitoba, to film the annual polar bear migration. To familiarize myself with the climate, I decided to read an extraordinary book, Cold: Adventures in the World’s Frozen Places. It’s a captivating account of the life, history, and ecology of extreme and inhospitably cold climates. The author, Bill Streever, a research biologist, passes along a vast amount of scientific facts and brings them all to life through an engaging narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The book begins with a 5-minute plunge into the 35-degree water of Prudhoe Bay about 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle, so vividly written that I found myself shivering.
If you decide to also read this book, post your comments here or tweet with #booksimreading. And please watch my show on Monday, December 6th to see my interview with author Bill Streever. Until then, I hope you stay cozy and warm. Please enjoy these photos that I took in Canada!
1 Author Bill Streever- photo-credit Steve Amstrup
2 Baked Alaska
3 The fabulous book 'COLD' on my Sony Reader Pocket Edition
4 A spectacular sunset over the tundra in Churchill Canada.
5 Resting by the water or hunting for some fish?
6 Such a beautiful creature
7 Building an igloo for shelter
8 Face to face!
9 Lumbering along
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
The bear looks as if he is just taking a rest and thinking about life.
The sunset is beautiful, but...who took the pictures of the bears?
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | November 16th, 2010 at 12:19 am
Hi Martha,
God bless you and your family at Thanksgiving and always!
I baked Pumpkin Whoopie pies for my Halloween desserts and I used the recipe from your website. Yesterday I was so happy to see that Shauna younge of Dessert tables an amazing person and talented person, posted my pumpkin whoopie pies on her blog yesterday! http://tinyurl.com/2djvsa6
Best Regards,
Rowaida
I posted step-by-step tutorials on my flick
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rowaidafl/sets/72157625192968215/
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | November 16th, 2010 at 2:43 am
very beautiful pictures of a beautiful animal. i LOVE polar bears, they are so cute and cuddly. polar bears were the only reason i wanted to go the zoo when i was a kid and was extremely saddened to hear that our zoo no longer had them. later in life i realized that polar bears are much better off in their natural habitat, not in captivity in zoos around the world.
Posted by: liisamarja | November 16th, 2010 at 5:28 am
Cold, sound like a very interesting book of polar bears, the pic you took are fab
Posted by: Vicky | November 16th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | November 16th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Hi Martha, Thanks for this fascinating blog about your Sony Reader and Bill Streever's new ebook you are reading. Shivery title is right! May have to buy a Sony Reader-will let you know later. Great photos of the polar bears! I'm still shivering from the horrific wind storm we had here in the Puget Sound area last night until early morning. Forty-five+ mph and it almost knocked down my new greenhouse-very scarey! Much nicer this morning-just cloudy. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | November 16th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Awesome pictures! I love polar bears!! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Lois | November 16th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
excited to read along with you, martha! the whole time I've been reading the book, I've been grateful for being able to curl up in a nice warm blanket by the furnace!
Posted by: jane maynard (this week for dinner) | November 16th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
I love polar bears somethin' fierce. If I saw one in the wild I'm afraid I'd wanna just run up to it and try to hug it... and we all know how that would go
Posted by: Cee | November 16th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
I love my Sony Reader. I received it last year as a Christmas gift. It is one of the best gifts I have gotten. Love it! I am going to the ebook store to look at the book you are reading and will respond more later.
Posted by: Ginny | November 16th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I am currently reading Raven Black by Ann Cleeves and it is set in a very cold climate of the Shetland Islands. I am a big mystery fan but love to read about anything on my Sony E-Reader. Everyone I show it to wants one and are asking for them for Christmas. Thanks for the blog on "Cold".
Posted by: CJ Keele | November 16th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Martha,
I'm also reading Cold: Adventures in The World's Frozen Places on my Sony Reader Pocket Edition. I am particularly enjoying all the parts about how different animals survive in the Alaskan winter. Its so amazing how animals adapt! I wonder what kinds of things you have to do on your farm to keep your animals safe and healthy. Amy
Posted by: Amy Caplan | November 16th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
I just watched todays show . I feel for you in the turkey dept. My husband is vegan. I'm not and love turkey. But.. A few years ago a neighbor gave us one of there turkeys. well, we couldn't eat it . we new him......which really made it worse. Maybe you should just get a plainville and give your fella,s well, you know what I'm saying....You won't be sorry.I can eat a turkey I don't know.
Posted by: Holly dubois | November 16th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
The book sounds interesting. I think I will pick it up for my reader today.
Posted by: Cher Williams | November 16th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Great to see your sony reader. Will ask for COLD at library. Many aspects of nature are a mystery and so glad you can give us oportunity of meeting favorite authors or new ones as Steever is new to me. Our Dakota winters are a real test of manhood according to my husband (TEXAS man) but he loved the idea of legend where elders went to die on the ice and feed the polar bear and in return bear fed the human. There have been many people in my life who worked on the slope so had dream of cooking there on a drilling rig..Maybe some day..
Posted by: ann | November 16th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I love this Sony ereader.....I have learned to enjoy reading more and can do this anywhere....always near by the bed or great in the purse, it's a good thing!
Posted by: Christine | November 16th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
This sounds like an awesome book. I will definetly have to check it out in the near future. I love polar bears!
Posted by: Cindy Blackwell | November 16th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Absolutely love these seven photos...if only to experience it as you did Martha. Looking very forward to the December 6th show.
Again loved the archival shows today...The Cranberry Pudding segment made my mouth water...I adore these spots and remembering the opening music to each show and segment to be so inviting and a comforting sound and a reminder the commercials were finished and to pay attention.
I had a difficult time parting with some of my mothers items, but as I left her clothing at the donation area at the Women's Shelter, I could almost sense my mothers approval because she would help anyone in need while on this earth.
I always, always loved when your mom appeared on your shows and the two of you would be making something up that was so unique, or comfortingly familiar. Those were wonderful airings and your love for you mom came through the set most clearly. Thank you for those.
Love that pumpkin turkey centerpiece today and though I cannot navigate well enough to attempt it this year, maybe next he will grace our holiday.
God and man, please save the beautiful Polars.
Posted by: Becky Kuchefski | November 16th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
I just started reading Cold on my Sony Reader, and I'm fascinated by all of the scientific facts about cold! Who knew there were so many ways animals could adapt to these Arctic environments?! Also makes me anxious to go to Alaska, although probably in the summer!
Posted by: Nicole | November 16th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
One comment about the beautiful photos from Canada. BBRRRR!
Posted by: Mary Lou | November 16th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Have you read "Winter World" by esteemed biologist Bernd Heinrich (he also wrote a companion volume called "Summer World")? Think you will love it; explains the miracles of animal survival in spite of winter's harsh hand.
Hope all is well as we head into...winter!
Posted by: Margaret Roach | November 17th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Thanks for sharing. Looks like a good read.
Posted by: Tabetha | November 17th, 2010 at 11:01 am
My friends and I are starting up a book club next week and I will be sure to recommend this! Sounds fascinating-those bears are so beautiful.
Posted by: Julie | November 18th, 2010 at 1:14 am
Great phtotos! Thanks for the book suggestion.
Posted by: E. Teresa Touey | November 18th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Thank you so much for suggesting this book. My Uncle worked for the Corp of Engineers and he designed the drill that can penatrate the ice in the artic. For years (he was doing research and development through out the 50's to the 80's)he traveled and worked in Greenland, Antartica, and other cold regions with the Army studying ice, glaciers (he even has a glacier named after him). He's retired but is still called for consulation jobs. I think he might enjoy this book so thank you again for mentioning it.
Posted by: Kim | November 18th, 2010 at 11:32 am
I would just love to try this book! I attend a book group with where there are really thought provoking reviews. We use a really interesting concept, and everyone reads a different book and reports on it. We start the evening with a potluck dinner, which starts some lively conversations. Every personality is so different and we all have different interests in our reading. That is what makes the group so fun, because we are all exposed to new and exciting things!
Posted by: Katherine Meals | November 18th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
I added it to my goodreads list! Looks like a great one.
Posted by: Meghan | November 20th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Incredible pictures of the Canadian tundra and the beautiful polar bears!
Posted by: Priscilla Hammond | November 24th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I teach second grade at Lonestar school outside
of Yuma Colorado. It is a small school K-12. My students and I like to blog each other about books we have read. They love it! We are reading Christmas in Camelot. I was wondering if kids would like the sony reader and if other classrooms are using them.
Posted by: tammy kirchenschlager | December 7th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
I do not have nor can I afford an e-reader, but love to read even though my sight is not very good and it takes me a long time to read anything. Currently I am reading "Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannan (spelling?). It is interesting as I am not able to figure out what is going to happen. I tend to like mystery but also like romance as well. I wish I could win something but I am not lucky and can't figure out how or where I can enter on your blog for the contest to win an e-reader. I have been all over here and on the blog and do not see anything to enter anything. What goes?
Posted by: June P Givler | December 18th, 2010 at 4:29 am
Martha, I know it's late to read along with you on this one. However, I'm going to try and read this one also. Thanks, KB
Posted by: KLBrown | January 6th, 2011 at 4:22 am
Loved your show on Polar bears. Always appreciate your adventures. Especially for those of us who don't have the opportunity. Thanks for making us Homemakers proud.
Posted by: Angela | January 11th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
I just finished Stacy Schiff's book, Cleopatra: A Life. Although scholarly, the narrative reads as easily as a novel. I learned so much! I'm not sure I would have read this book without it being your pick. Thanks, Martha and Stacy, for a great read.
Posted by: Laura | January 20th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Hi Martha, My loving husband gave me a Sony Ereader for Xmas and I love it. My daughter gave me the cover w/light and it is so great when we are driving home from work at night I can still read. I have about 10 books in my library to read. Glad to hear that you are enjoying yours too.
Posted by: Kathleen | January 21st, 2011 at 8:03 pm
I'm having a hard time with Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra. I keep putting it down and getting distracted by other books. It is very instructive, but I've yet to be "hooked". I'll keep trying! I've got it on my iPad and it's very accessible in that sense.
Posted by: Maria C. McGuire | January 30th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
So glad to see you on here. Am enjoying following your reading and reading along on my Sony Touch.
Posted by: DAC | February 10th, 2011 at 11:23 am
I have been watching your show and enjoying your website. My oldest daughter is the Martha Stewart of our family. She is known as ". Entertain with Jane". She has a local cooking show in Sumter, SC. and does an article for the Sumter Living magazine.I am going to encourage her to enter the contest to win the BMW.She is tryig hard to get a big - time tv show.
Martha you are so very pretty. I am so glad that you have been successful. I looked at photos of you when you were a model today and I believe your destiny was set very early in your life.My children and I are very close, like you and your mother were.
My 98 year old mother passed away on Dec. 29, 2010...I miss her so much. I related to your blog today about your mother, I saw her a couple of times on one of your earlier shows and I know you miss her.
The Donald is talking to Greta tonight. I will vote for him if he decides to run for president. I think he could handle the office quite well.
I feel like I know you and I hope things continue to go well for you.
Posted by: Patricia Putman | February 14th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Another quick comment: your photo of the sunset in Canada looks so much like a couple of paintings of mine of a sunrise on Hilton Head Island, SC. I am amazed!!
Posted by: Patricia Putman | February 14th, 2011 at 11:43 pm