Books Received: A Non-Fiction Christmas

December 27, 2010

Posted by Polly Castor on December 27, 2010 in Books, Ideas

Books for Christmas

We are a very bookish family. But for the first time ever, none of us received any fiction for Christmas! See in this post the wonderful non-fiction our household got instead… quite a diverse harvest.

_MG_8340 _MG_8335 _MG_8331 _MG_8308 _MG_8328 _MG_8296 _MG_8319 _MG_8312 _MG_8321 _MG_8313 _MG_8289 _MG_8271 _MG_8279 _MG_8261 _MG_8256 _MG_8253

Tags:Holiday

About Polly Castor

I work to amplify good wherever I find it. I love color, texture, beauty, great ideas, nature, metaphor, deliciousness, genuine spirituality, and exploring new territory. I encourage authenticity, nurture creativity, champion sustainability, promote peace, and hope to foster a new renaissance where we all are free to be our most fulfilled, multifaceted, and terrific selves. Read more here.

0 Comments

Leave a reply Click here to cancel the reply

I enjoy your strong, bold artwork– there is so much going on in them that my imagination takes off. I really appreciate your blog. It brings joy every day.

Your photos have opened my eyes to the beauty surrounding us everywhere.

Hi Polly, loved this poem. It radiates hope and feeling of calmness. I am glad I came across these beautiful words. Keep posting similar reads and spreading positivity.

I did your tomato tart a few days ago, and it was fabulous! I am vegetarian and look for meals I can make that have lots of flavor. Your tart was just perfect!

Today’s post was a Gift from God. Opening your email this morning truly lifted my Spirit. Thank you.

This is so well thought out and written. Thank you for this compelling essay. I agree with you on all points, Polly.

Thank you for the constant good thoughts and beautiful expressions of love and joy that you share on your blog.

I am simply amazed at the wealth of beauty, soul, and experience. Love it. Love you! Thank You for sharing your innermost so openly.

I have tremendous admiration for your strength, your depth, your compassion, your passion and your love. You are a woman deeply filled to the brim…

Once again, you have come through for us with such clear and coherent thinking and put into words the feelings in our hearts.

Absolutely stunning, Polly. I love the infinite range of ideas, expression, and media in this BIG blog of yours.

Thank you for your efforts. I look forward to your positive thoughts and love.

Thank you very much, Polly. You are a bright light!

Your poem feels like a lesson, a treatment, and a love letter all rolled into one perfect package.
Thank you, Polly.

Thank you sincerely for your joyful out-pouring of love, light, color, comforting, inspiring words…

Your blog captures a life well lived, constantly imparting good– truth, health and happiness– including beauty, harmony, art, science to the world.

Yes, healing does happen when we deeply and humbly pray. Thanks for keeping that idea alive.

I just love your photos, Polly. Whether it’s food or art or nature . . . They are always so beautiful and interesting and full of life !

Illuminating thoughts, thank you for sharing them. Very clear.

Polly, your wonderful blog is doing more than its bit in this dreadful time. Thanks, and keep on keeping on!

Helen Frankenthaler’s works were interesting, but I like your abstracts better.

Just beautiful, Polly. So honest and uplifting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and the helpful ones of others.

Your abstracts are interesting and you have a unique style that is all your own. Original, demonstrating individuality and confidence! I see joy and love expressed.

Your blog is full of the wonderful, multilayered colors and textures that you play with, and share so unselfishly with the world.

Thanks, Polly! Your zest for the good things in life makes me feel happy too!

Magnificent poem. How blest you are to be a poet, photographer, artist, metaphysician, all wrapped up into One.

I loved this book, Polly. Thank you so much for the recommendation.

You are such an inspirational person Polly! I love everything you share with us – such a joy to have your daily input in my inbox! X x x

What a stunning place! It is just a slice of heaven. Thank you for sharing its beauty.

Your reading challenge has inspired me and given me permission to read again, as previously I had just fitted reading round everything else. Now it is a legitimate activity in my life and I am enjoying it immensely!

I think you have covered absolutely every way anyone would wish to be blessed

Wow, super powerful and definitely what I needed to hear today.

Your site is bolstering my creative thoughts. I need to put them into action.

This is one of the BEST explanations of one’s understanding of God I have seen in a long time. The image paired with the text was spot on!

Thank you for bringing your hydrangeas into my home via the internet. Other flowers are lovely too, but hydrangeas are SPECIAL.

Thank you for your ultra positive, upbeat, cheering and cheerful expressions in so many forms. What great seeds to sow in world thought!

Thanks for your strong, bright and clear art work!

Thank you Polly for your radiant joy and embrace of each of us, wrapping us in your color and beauty of Soul.

The Brussels sprouts were an exceptionally BIG hit here…. could you direct me to more literature on spiritual healing?

Polly, please keep sharing these pages! I love seeing them. You inspired me to do the same thing.

You have a great eye for beauty Polly. I love your blog.

Thank you for all the inspiration you share so generously. I am deeply grateful!

Your posts are treasure troves of your beautiful and giving heart.

I have so enjoyed your recent posts– about your garden, your reflections about parenting, your vibrant artwork– so many wonderful expressions of Spirit.

When I open my email in the morning I read all the have-to emails first; I save yours to read as dessert. Thanks, Polly!

Polly, what amazing and timely insight in these wise words! Thanks for sharing this wisdom.

So beautiful and I have shared it with so many others. Thank you!

What a delight to experience the beauty of nature you shared of your slice of the world through these beautiful photos.

I so enjoyed your trip blog. The outstanding photos and the amazing narratives made me feel I was on vacation for a few minutes each day.

I’m grateful for you opening my eyes to the wonders that surround us.

Without a doubt my life has been enriched and uplifted by my acquaintance with you through your blogs. Every day I look for the interesting ideas you amplify and the lovely arts you share with us. I am never disappointed.

Love the photos, as usual. You are a Creative Genius, Polly.

Love your blog’s colour and joyfulness and the inspiring leads, Polly. Easy to see why you are much loved. Thank you.

You are such a gem Polly- it is an incredible blessing to daily read your blog!

Beautiful photos. It is uplifting and energizing to see such bright, cheerful, healthy and fresh images. Thanks, I needed that!

The last day of the month on your blog is always a BIG treat . . . This morning I went from fasting to feasting . . .

Graciously and lovingly spoken, like a true friend to all. Thank you for your blog Polly.

Oh yum, Polly… These gorgeous photos made my mouth water and my eyes pop!

Wish I had gotten this message 75 years ago. It makes so much sense and would have saved me a lot of self criticism. I love your blog.

Butter! Lemon! Garlic!

It’s like a prayer!!!

Very helpful in these seemingly uncertain times. I found a couple of specific ideas expressed here that apply to a specific situation in my life. Thank you!

Really enjoyed your poem on Animal magnetism. Very clear truths. Thank you. Your vibrant art work is superb.

Gorgeous new work. I love the vitality of the city scenes and vibrant color palette.

I love your blog! I shared it with my mom, an artist, and she is impressed with your art. I’ve also spent time studying your paintings. Just listened to your interview, it was stellar! Thank you!!

That definitely sounds like a book I’d like to read! Thanks Polly!

A wonderful poem Polly! Thank you. Deeply nourishing…. like a bird, natural and beautiful, just singing out truth in her special song on a fine winter morning.

Wow, you outdid yourself this month with your Bits and Clips. It was a wonderful mix of beauty, humor, and thoughtfulness.

Thanks so much for this recommendation Polly. We watched in awe … and have recommended in turn.

I recently I recommended your blog to a friend saying, “She’s like a dear friend, she just doesn’t know me.” Thank you for all the delight you add to my days!

I read and feel the security of the hearth and home. Many thanks…

Quite unforgettable. You truly have a way with words: warm; strong; inviting; enlightening; so substantive, and more.

I am so totally impressed with your photography, poetry, and painting. Your talent is incredible!!!

Love your blog. Today’s is dynamite and very helpful to viewing our role as individuals at this time.

LOVE it. Made me smile while I was reading it.

Thank you Polly for this article on supply! I cherish the healing thoughts therein very much, and they are very helpful.

I LOVE YOU!!

You amuse-inspire-edify-entertain-inform-uplift-enhance-educate-color!-…my days!

Thank you for Saying So Well What Needs To Be SAID!

Hoping others can/will read this…

You are such an inspiring person, Polly, and I love the variety of your activities you share with us all! Thank you so much.

Beautifully written, Polly … captures my sentiments exactly.❤️

Thank you for writing this opinion so eloquently, Polly. You have addressed many nuances that I have been espousing for years, and your words are powerful and thought-provoking.

Glorious! Thank you for tending these lovely flowers together, and for posting on your blog, Polly.

Beautiful and profoundly perfect for pandemic season, your poem empowers hope for what’s next. I plan to read it at Sunday Devotional. Thank you!

Thank you for the joy you share. I look forward to reading your posts!

I really enjoyed this book, thanks for recommending it.

What a breath of fresh air!! Thank you for your honesty, integrity and willingness to speak out for Truth and Justice!!!

Thank you for all your uplifting daily contributions, wherever form they take – photos, recipes, artwork, book reviews and smiley faces!

This blog deeply resonates while being beautiful, delicious, inspiring, and fun. Not easy to do!

I must find the higher spiritual path that nature often helps me see. Thank you for this beautiful poem.

Thank you for sharing such a personal, and at the same time, universal, love of beauty.

Wonderful words of wisdom, Polly!

Perspective is everything – and choosing a liberating one blesses everyone, as you point out!

Wow!! I cannot wait to try this recipe! Thank you!

Your eyes are keen and your photographs dynamic.

Thanks for sharing from the seat of your soul with generosity and openness.

Polly your blog is simply a marvelously enriching, thought provoking part of the daily wonders of life! I give thanks for you and the blog!

This blog is upbeat, progressive, sincere, colorful, metaphoric, and exploratory. Such a rich feast!

Your art is thrilling.

Your blogs are a delight.

The Spirit at work is so well described here. In between the lines I read that
our only true peace is in pleasing Our Creator! Thank you deeply, Polly!

A wonderful poem Polly! Thank you. Deeply nourishing….

I salute you! And I sure do thank you for inspiring me to greater efforts along all lines of life!

I find the ideas you share on your blog very encouraging in having a sense of order when it comes to goals and priorities.

Love these colours and the strong contrasts Polly!

These are awesome. You have such a gift for photography…and for pastels…and for cooking…and for finding interesting books…and, and, and. Where does it end?

Love all you do and express. You’re an amazing role model!!

Thank you for passing along such wise words.

Wow! Love the abundance of exotic shapes and colours in the Autumn sunshine!

I love this poem! Letting our true, authentic self come forth! Yes!! Thank you for all the delightful imagery!

I’m so grateful to be able to enjoy all you so generously share on your blog, the colorful photos, the recipes, the art works, the insights, the book reviews and so much more!

What an inspiring and uplifting painting. Thanks for sharing your inspiration with the world!

Love this– actually so “timely” for what I have been thinking about lately.

Thank you so much for your fantastic, soulful images– your photos really capture the love, joy, camaraderie, power, and intensity of the present moment.

Thank you so much for this thoughtful, informative and articulate book review, Polly!

Amazing, Polly! A wonderful example of seeing the possibilities…creativity at its best.

It is always refreshing to see the loves, joys, challenges, and triumphs that you share on your blog.

How blessed we are to have someone like you on this Earth.

Your work is always spirited and inspirational.

Thank you for your transparency of love, your generous sharing of what you are pondering and doing.

Polly! I love this poem! Letting our true, authentic self come forth! Yes!! Thank you for all the delightful imagery!

Such a complete radiance of Soul you are demonstrating. I find it very inspiring!

Putting the art of poetry, photography and painting into your hands is God’s gift to us who get to read it and see it. Thanks.

How blessed we are to have someone like you on this Earth.

I always appreciate your reviews. Our fave film in 2019 was The Green Book – which we watched following your recommendation.

Well Done! This is such a wonderful venture. Your work is just extraordinary!

Loved your plein air painting, the pictures of the garden plenty — oh wow. Love opening your blog each day — it is a treat that I save sometimes.

I am a silent regular reader of your daily blog, and I’m finally in touch to tell you how much I like it. I love it!

Your photos are so vivid and expressive and inspiring and artistic and alive!

Your multiple images and vocabulary choices give energy and renewed resolve to flagging spirits. Thank you for sharing.

I get so happy when I see your paintings. I really do. They bring me such joy. I feel your heart when I see them.

Thank you for sharing the joy of your trip with us. I feel blessed this morning to know you in all the ways you reveal good and magnify it.

This blog is simultaneously simple and profound– a perfect, balanced combination of seriousness and light.

Grace is a beautiful quality and you exude it in spades – thanks so much for all you do and are! You are a treasure!

You share so freely, with so so so much love and joy and an open-open-heart…

This couldn’t possibly be more perfect, – so reassuring, and so fully expresses in every way what we all are praying for. Thank you for your a beautiful heart and generous giving of it!!

Thank you for this….I absolutely love reading it!

A powerful message. Thank you for getting it out there.

I enjoy your blog so much. But today you are on top. Every thought you expressed so lovingly…. some very funny but always with love. Thank you for all you bring to so many .

Polly, your reflection of Soul’s endless creativity is truly wonderful! Thank you for letting the divine shine through you so brightly!

Way to go on your artistic journey. You show great courage, humility, and such support for everyone around you.

Polly, I just love your spirit, innovativeness, receptivity to beauty and to God’s goodness expressed. Thank you for your blog.

Oh my gosh how did you know I needed this today? I am in absolute awe of your thorough and articulate way you describe how all of this works.

I truly love and am inspired by your blog, including capturing the beauty of life in the moment, teaching by example, taking time with children, and spirituality.

With its awesome art, recipes, book reviews, and really excellent writing, this blog is the perfect corner of the internet.

I appreciate your blog. It’s a breath of fresh air, beauty, and innovative thinking!

Thank you for revealing this idea you’ve been following. I can tell when an angel has tapped me on the shoulder–it feels light and right and fun.

This blog is a daily dose from an spiritually-oriented, artist, thinker, sage.

Thank you for your burst of sunshine reflected in your positivity this morning… I look forward to your blogs.

I love your website, messages, poems and art. Thank you for the blessing of community that you provide.

You are an inspiration to me, and I’m sure to many others. With appreciation for all you do to magnify good!

Polly lets her spirituality into her art as you can see in the many abstract paintings she creates. We were wowed by her ability and her encouragement of others to express themselves artistically.

Thank you Polly–you are always such a clear thinker and always willing to share your God-given gifts.

I want to express my gratitude to you for such a well thought out essay. I found it quite enriching and resonate with those true answers.

Providing us with wonderful refreshment, enlightenment, peace, encouragement, joy,
and a whole lot more. Thanks, Polly!

This blog is colorful, beautiful, and edifying.

Wow…you have made carrots sexy!

What a beautiful spirit you have, shining right through your source.

You inspire goodness, wholeness, contentedness and joy.

The phrase ‘divine choreography’ is resonating with me. Bless you for sharing your inspiration with us all.

Your blog is very interesting and insightful.

You capture so vividly the beauty of nature. Thank you for bringing such beauty into my every day.

I have been blessed beyond words by your daily posts. I often quote you to others, saying I got the idea from a wonderful friend I’ve never actually met.

You are doing so wonderfully at praising God with your talents.

You brighten my life with your thoughts, views, words, pictures….

Thank you for sharing this.
Strange, nothing surprising here.
You are who you are.

Thank you Polly!! This has needed to be said for a while!

Thank you Polly for sharing those wise words! I heartily agree with them all now I have a bigger perspective on life.

What an incredible blessing and inspiration you are. Thank you so much for your beautiful heart!

Polly….I’m happier because of you; I sure do thank you.

Thank you for bringing to light and sharing an undeniably important part of the one stupendous whole we all share…the countless ways beyond sight, and not to be missed, always at hand.

Love your pastels!

I love this poem, Polly, and I shall read it often! I feel sure it will help lift my thought to healing.

Thanks, Polly, for listening so carefully and sharing so selflessly.

I feel such gratitude for the beautiful way in which you express God. Thanks for blessing my life and being such a shining light in the world!

This poem is what I needed to further focus on moving out of the fear of COVID.❤️

Polly always captures the balance between what I can do, and all the miracles I am given.

Thank you for expanding my ways to see, Polly.

Polly this is absolutely exquisite and so inspiring. I will refer to it often.

This speaks to me. Love your work, Polly.

You encourage me to grow with your everyday wisdom and your lovely contributions.

My mother adores your blog and speaks to me often about what recent nugget you shared which she thought was wonderful!

Sounds delicious and simple! Two of my favorite adjectives!

Yes indeed! You are a shining light and you are definitely using all your wonderful talents

WONDERFUL blog, Polly! Thank you for your spiritual calm, support for each of us, uninhibited creativity, and amazing paintings. I am just left in awe !

Your inspiration and love of nature is appreciated!

You are … just plain wonderful, Polly! Your blog is bursting with poetry, art, writings, love of God, family, friends, all things great and wonderful and good!

I made your fabulous Fish Tacos and they were BEYOND delicious!!

You show us how God’s love shines in all things. You are a blessing!

I am so happy to have found your site and to be able to enjoy your expression of Spirit! Love your poetry, your photos, your ideas, your …YOU! THANK you for sharing so abundantly!

Your blog is uplifting and enlightening, and seems to speak to me just when I need it most.

This is relevant and an excellent way for me to look at some situations I have been in recently.
Thank you Polly.
I will continue to benefit…

These photos are so wonderful, it really warms the heart.

So beautiful, Polly. Thank you for spelling out – through such artful means – the beauty of patience.

Beautiful photos! All that color, texture & gorgeous pattern….

I loved this post! It gave me much to think about. Thank you for being such a beautiful and prolific source of inspiration. You are a wonder! I’m a fan!

You are so incredibly sweet, gracious, kind, thoughtful, creative, generous, joyful, witty, courageous, tender, persistent, compassionate, brilliant, articulate, ad infinitum!

Thank you so much for this wonderful insight! You put into words what I have been grappling with for a long time. This is just what I needed today.

Yes, lots of good flavor triggers in there. I printed it out and will try it. Thanks so much!

I never before found computers this beautiful….

I love the photos – such a gift which makes me feel closer to Fall, my favorite season.

I LOVE THIS BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for your efforts. I look forward to your positive thoughts and love.

Love the poem so so much and the first painting with the trees is INCREDIBLE!!

What lovely Soul-inspired insights! Thank you for these great ideas!

I did your 52 books challenge, and loved the structure that it provided to my selections. Doing it again this year too!

Thank you for using this platform to share these references for listening & learning. Now the work required to make a lasting change is up to each of us! ❤️

Your blog has inspired me to get back into painting, cooking, prayer and meditation.

Excellent post, dear Polly! Thanks!! There is lots that I relate to in your comments!

I love that you live such an active life, have so many interests, and share your insights with me. Your blog is like a conversation with a dear friend.

Thank you so.much, Polly. It says with abundant clarity what thousands upon thousands of thoughtful men and women think and believe. I appreciate you!!

Oh how I love this! Thank you, thank you!

This is absolutely magnificent. Bless your precious and beautiful soul for sharing this.

Every day I look forward to your blog. It’s encouraging me to find ways to express what God reveals in me.

Oh my goodness Polly, this is absolutely magnificent and reaches so far deep into my soul.

Thanks for the nudge!

You continue to inspire, impress, and
amaze me, Polly.

I just want to say that I have really been enjoying your blog! It gives me hope for the world…

Your zest for the good things in life makes me feel happy too!

This is spectacular, Polly! I love it!

I wanted you to know that I found the time I spent on your blog to be relaxing, refreshing, inspiring, and totally enjoyable.

Polly, I needed you today and there you were and it was enough. Thank you for being a motivator.

Keep up the good work. You are an inspiration! I love reading your blog with it’s many insights.

Well done Polly, I love your book reviews! Please carry on the good work of guiding our book choices.

Everything on your site is so colorful, spiritual and alive!

Lovely Polly! You are an inspiration! I am so happy to have your blog in my life!

I am touched by this well thought out, well written essay. You have put into words what so many of us have in our minds and hearts. Thank you!

Thank you for your generosity and your overflowing sense of soul which you share so beautifully and articulately with everyone!!

Deep and encompassing. Passionate and motherly. Loving and expansive. The photos speak volumes too…and I see the connections with the poem perfectly.

I have to tell you that your spiritual to-do list was the springboard for a great talk with my older daughter. We are going to check on each other, and progress.

I have just started this book and am really loving it! Thank you so much for recommending it.

This is absolutely wonderful and so helpful.

Thank you dear Polly!

I love your swirling universes, the spirals that draw one in and introduce us to ourselves.

AUDACIOUSLY GORGEOUS!!!!! (:

Well said Polly!

Life is so exciting we should limit ourselves less!

Let’s all have a productive day and be joyful!

This is absolutely beautiful and so incredibly helpful and inspiring! Thank you so much! ❤️

Thank you for sharing yourself and creativity in such a transparent way, it is very inspiring and humbling to me.

I am one of your readers who definitely looks forward to a positive message from you every morning. You grow people.

This is a beautiful summary and reminder of how we can both individually and collectively dissolve the powerless, baseless lies with Truth. Thank you, Polly!!

I feel the joy and love of the color and thought in all your work! You are letting your light shine.

Love your blog. Today’s was dynamite, and very helpful for understanding our role as individuals at this time.

What a fine piece! You certainly are a shining example….[it] was uplifting and instructive.

WOW! Polly! Some truly marvelous work there!!!

I think one reason I enjoy your blog is that you Stand Forth In All Your God-given Glory, expressing everything Good!

All of your work is eye and mind popping. I love it!

Thank you for your commitment to reality and our true nature!

I look forward to your messages each day, like a delightful gift to unwrap.

I love your coffee cake recipe, I have a book list from your blog, I love the photos, the poems, the paintings, the movie reviews, the humor, the honesty, the color.

I for one want to thank you so much for writing this blog. I started about a year ago and look forward to reading it every day. I feel like an armchair adventurer…

Polly, you are a whiz at living life the way it’s meant to be. I’m fascinated by all you do!

I just adore all of your wonderful posts and everything that you share so generously. ????? You have a beautiful sense of soul that you share – it blesses me and so many!

Thank you for sharing this quote. It is very appropriate for our times. A beautiful wake up call to change our thinking and focus on what is real and true.

Polly, I am absolutely amazed. My mouth was watering! I’ll be thinking about it all night…and tomorrow we will break out the paints!

I really enjoy reading your blog – but I have to say that your monthly ‘Bits and Clips’ posts and your ‘Grace Notes’ posts are my favorite :)

You are terrific and amazing. In many outstanding ways.

You are my favorite artist. I just have to say it. Your paintings make me so happy.

This is a fantastic article Polly…so much in it, I know I’ll have to re read it at least twice more!