Great Lakes Nature: An Outdoor Year, Revised and in Color

Amazon.com

Does the world need another naturalist's field guide? It's a terribly crowded genre, but if the field guide in question is Mary Blocksma's Naming Nature, the answer is a resounding yes. Blocksma ordinarily writes for children, and her patient, warm-hearted explanations of why nature works the way it does are just right for the curious adult as well. ("I've been sharing my cabin with several hundred spiders this summer," she writes, "and I've found them to be quite retiring.") Blocksma argues along the way that we could all use some "natural literacy" to go along with the cultural literacy that's lately been bandied about. She's right, of course, and her book, which favors the Midwest and Atlantic Seaboard regions of the United States, is a lively start.

Book Description

From blue moons to bald eagles, this new edition of Great Lakes Nature -- now lavishly illustrated in color -- is a guide to nature's everyday but overlooked gems. With an open-mind and the curiosity of an old-fashioned naturalist, author Mary Blocksma furnishes more than just ecological nomenclature; she unearths a treasure trove of tips, hints, and trivia.

Blocksma set out to identify her Great Lakes environment just a name at a time, a few times a week, for a year. Coming upon a bird, tree, or natural phenomenon she doesn't recognize, the author takes us along on her process of learning.

The result is a book that educates through the delight of serendipitous discovery as it transports the armchair explorer out of the living room and into the forests and wetlands of the Great Lakes region.

Mary Blocksma is a freelance writer and artist. She has published more than twenty-one books, including Necessary Numbers, Great Lakes Solo, and Lake Lover's Year.

Customer Reviews:

Engaging and informative........1999-01-09

This book is an engaging read, light, yet highly informative. It is instructive with a fresh perspective on nature. You'll learn about plants and animals that you have probably taken for granted for years. Mary has researched to the nth degree, but delivers with a childlike sense of discovery. It will be hard for you to put it down.

Book Description

Catch even the craftiest critters with the trap lore perfected over generations. Ragnar has culled his all-time favorite traps that are easy to build, easy to maintain and guaranteed to work! Detailed illustrations show you how to build a floating duck snare, den trap, live-mouse set, campfire set and fish trap, to name just a few. And with Ragnar's expertise at hand, you can avoid the baits and sets that don't work and never have.

Customer Reviews:

summary.......1999-05-16

Catch even the craftiest critters with trap lore perfected over generations. Ragnar Benson outlines his favorite traps that are easy to build and maintain and are guaranteed to work! Ragnar tells you how to nab every imaginable fish and beast (including humans). Detailed illustrations show you how to build a floating duck snare, den trap, "board-against-a-chicken-house" set, live-mouse set, campfire set, fish trap, and more. 5 1/2" by 8 1/2," 136 pages.

Book Description

This third collection of the best of Dacyczyn's popular newsletter presents all-new advice and tips, culled from the fifth and sixth years of The Tightwad Gazette. A tireless advocate of "voluntary simplicity, " Dacyczyn offers lessons in advanced "tightwaddery, " such as how to cut back APR interest points on credit cards, strategies for comparing food bills, guides to saving on the cost of college, and the secrets of yard sales and store bargains. Illustrations. 320 pp. Author tour. Radio ads. 150,000 print. (Reference)

Customer Reviews:

tightwad bible.......2006-12-08

Although I have borrowed every other tightwad/money saving book out there from the library, the three editions by this author are a *MUST HAVE*. They are so inspiring when your resolve is slipping. When I bought them, I read them from cover to cover several times. Now, I open to a random page & read until I hit on yet ANOTHER great idea that I didn't absorb in the first reads. The organization is not poor--it is simply different than most books. It isn't arranged into 8 neat little chapters grouped by subject matter, but that is the joy of re-reading the books! For anyone who searches out "tips" online, you will love the organization of this book (and the other two editions).

I don't find her child-rearing to be an issue, either. I have always been a very gentle parent, and she mentioned only a couple things I would not do in my home. Yes, her children have to eat the food she prepares. Would you like to prepare separate meals for 6 children? Yes, her children wear used clothes. That doesn't indicate that they wear dirty clothes or clothes with holes in them. No, she doesn't read a separate book to every one of her 6 kids every night. I wouldn't either! Personally, I don't really like reading 6 kids' books in one day.

Her ideas may be "extreme" if you're easily offended by people who don't speak the status-quo. If you're sick of the constant quest for more, and you don't believe blind consumerism is the answer to every problem, and you want a paradigm shift in your life, this book is for you. If you think Americans had more money sense, family unity, and straight priorities a 130 years ago, this book is definitely for you.

Oh, and if you're not the creative type, you will be after you finish all three Tightwad Gazettes. They literally teach you how to think creatively. That's an invaluable education in and of itself.

A great Dacyczyn.......2005-06-16

Dacyczyn does not encourage us to follow her methods literally; she only suggests looking at our spending habits and realigning them. Spending less money on areas which we consider low-priority leads to higher savings and monre money to spend on things we consider important to us.

don't waste your money.......2004-05-28

This is the third book in the Tightwad Gazette trilogy that I have read. Thank goodness I found it at the library and did not pay for it! I enjoyed the first two books. I got some good ideas from Amy and grinned at the ideas that were too extreme for my family. I respected her choices in life and it helped me to think about the purchases I made and the effect I had on our environment. However, in the T.G. III, I found her to be overbearing, selfish, and a little crazy. She preaches about parents living frugally to enable 1 to stay home with children, however she admits to spending very little time with hers unless they are interested in helping her with her "save money" projects. What about your children's own interests? How about spending a little of all the time you have with them? Her quest for saving has not only shown her ability to spare her pennies, but her time and heart as well. She brags about Not: 1. volunteering 2. reading to her children 3. spending time with family 4. socialize etc. This sounds very lonely to me. I'm afraid that Amy's quest for money has allowed her to become as greedy as the people she condemns as "spendthrifts". At Amy's house, it's all about Amy and what Amy wants.

great resource for the new to thrift crowd.......2004-04-20

I got this book as I was leaving work to become a stay at home mom. I can't say that I will use every idea she recommends but it does have some good ideas in it. For example, it may be cheaper not to coupon solely but to combine it with keeping a price book and only using coupons for items you would buy normally. As far as the editorials on child rearing and the environment go, I simply paged thru that though I don't disagree with her sentiments. I do wish the layout would be more organized but that is solved by simply reading the book and using the index. Not a bad read altogether and quite informative. If you already frugal, this may not tell you anything you don't know. For those of us novices, this is a great start.

Spend the money for this, you'll save a thousand times over.......2004-01-11

I am just starting on the road to learning how to live on less, not because I have to; because I want to. There are some ways to save money listed in the book that I will probably never do, but overall I learned a lot, and enjoyed reading it while I learned. I purchased several other books on the same subject, but none gave me as much usable information as this book did. If you are serious about learning to conserve money, quit reading this review and order the book.

TIGHTWAD GAZETTE III: PROMOTING THRIFT AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE

Average customer rating:

TIGHTWAD GAZETTE III: PROMOTING THRIFT AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE

Manufacturer: Villard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Financial Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000G1LA5C

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly For those who are afraid of Martha Stewart, there is Amy Dacyczyn (pronounced "decision"). Dacyczyn has the same basic goal as Martha? Giving information that will help readers create a more comfortable home life?But there they part company. In her newsletter, the Tightwad Gazette, and now in her third book, The Tightwad Gazette III: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Lifestyle, Dacyczyn offers help on saving money, saving the environment, living simply and doing things with the family. With the help of readers, she pulls together tips on making coals last longer, creating new furniture out of components, figures out the relative cost of electric razors vs. blades, researches retreads and more. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. Book Description This third collection of the best of Dacyczyn's popular newsletter presents all-new advice and tips, culled from the fifth and sixth years of The Tightwad Gazette. A tireless advocate of "voluntary simplicity, " Dacyczyn offers lessons in advanced "tightwaddery, " such as how to cut back APR interest points on credit cards, strategies for comparing food bills, guides to saving on the cost of college, and the secrets of yard sales and store bargains.

Book Description

Need to convey ideas without words? These 3250 visual symbols by government agencies, giant corporations, foremost designers graphically display modern messages for trains, autos, road rules, women, factories, Olympic Games, tourism, do it, don't do it, and much more. All copyright-free except about 250, which are clearly indicated.

Customer Reviews:

So gooood!.......2005-09-21

It's a must have if you care for icons. Wish it was hardcover.

Excellent Resource.......2001-07-08

An excellent source of images that can be used for making charts, website buttons, newsletters. The designs are clean and can easily be modified. I personally enjoy just looking through the images as they are very inspiring.

A Visionary Book.......2001-05-20

HANDBOOK OF PICTORIAL SYMBOLS (1976) is an expanded, updated version of Modley's earlier book, 1000 PICTORIAL SYMBOLS (1942). Like its predecessor, the HANDBOOK shows us that a truly pioneering, insightful mind actually can see the way the future looks. // In his introduction, Modley argues that pictorial symbols are in some respects superior to words as a form of communication because they can be understood by people from around the world. In a globalized economy, he predicts, such symbols will ultimately supplant "Men," "Women," "Hotel," "Taxi," and "Camping," among many other words. This is the world we live in now. Modley could have actually strengthened his Case For Symbols by pointing out that such pictures can be recognized by children literally years before they learn to read, and that symbols can be recognized more quickly than words, making them especially useful in situations where fast reactions are necessary (e.g., control panels in airplanes.) // Most of the HANDBOOK is a collection of pictorial symbols, some created by Modley himself and others devised by various bureaucratic organizations, including the International Olympic Committee. If anything stands out about these symbols, it is that Modley's own are richer and more interesting than anyone else's. They have a thirties-modern look that has more charm than anything the British Airports Authority could come up with.

Rudolf Modley.......2000-11-08

Rudolf Modley, symbolman and graphic designer, was a student of Otto Neurath [ISOTYPE]. One of the best examples of the application of this material is his _A History of the War in Maps, Pictographs, and Words_ [1943] which is out of print but easy to find.

Average customer rating:

Handbook of Pictorial Symbols
Rudolf Modley
Manufacturer: Dover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GRLX6W

Average customer rating:

Handbook of Pictorial Symbols
Rudolf Modley
Manufacturer: Dover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O3US96

Handbook of Pictorial Symbols - 3,250 Examples from International Sources

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Handbook of Pictorial Symbols - 3,250 Examples from International Sources
Rudolf & William R. Myers Modley
Manufacturer: Dover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VPRE9E

Average customer rating:

Handbook of Pictorial Symbols: 3250 Examples from International Sources
Rudolf and; Myers, William R. Modley
Manufacturer: Dover Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J4W10O

Book Description

Twentieth century Russian wristwatches are too costly for many native buyers, but they are still inexpensive for Western Collectors, and are becoming extremely popular. Watch faces commemorate all the great moments of Russian and Soviet history-from Yuri Gagarin's space flight to the Summit meeting between Gorbachev and George Bush-and celebrate Russian culture with images of native costumes from Chechnya to the Ukraine. Collectors have long clamored for a definitive reference and this new book will satisfy even the most avid enthusiast, with photographs of over 500 watches manufactured in Russia and the USSR during the second half of this century, and explanations of their styles, workings, and manufacturers. Poljot, Wostok, and Slava wristwatches are covered, along with a sampling of pocket watches, deck watches, and marine chronometers. This book is a must for serious collectors in the growing field of Russian timekeepers.

Customer Reviews:

Introduction in contemporary Russian timepieces.......2000-12-07

Between 1990 and present, there has been a tremendous surge in collecting Russian and Sovjet timepieces, especially in Europe. Still, complete and comprehensive documentation is elusive. So far, two authors have attempted to categorize and document the subject in books.

The book by mr. Levenberg covers mostly the era from 1970 through present. Thereby, the highly interesting timeframe between the 30's and the 70's is overlooked, limiting the usefulness of the book to collectors of fairly recent pieces. If this is your area of interest, I would recommend you to purchase this book. First it is translated from German to English. Furthermore, the quality of the information is of acceptable level, but sometimes lacking interesting details. The horological information (mostly brands and calibers) covers the timeframe nicely. Additional information, e.g. Cyrillic translations are interesting extras for collectors. I have found the price guide to be unrealistically high when used at auctions or watch fairs, so use it with caution.

If you are interested in a broader view on Russian and Sovjet Era (pre 1991) watches, I would recommend to also consider the 2 books in German language by mr. Ceyp. These hardcover, full color books document a wider scope. Volume 1 'Faszination Russische Uhren' covers about the same era as the book by mr. Levenberg but shows more detail, while volume 2 'Faszination Sovjetische Uhren' covers the less recent history in abundance. I would rate these books with 4*. Still, I have not found the the ultimate, definitive book on the subject Russian and Sovjet timepieces.

Excellent Photographs of Various Russian Timepieces.......1996-11-18

A wonderful book showing the wide range of timepieces that the Russians produce, and which are now becoming available on the open market. Profusely illustrated and well documented. Includes a short, but very complete, table of cyrillic to english for the various markings one comes across. The only downside - buy two copies. The binding on mine fell apart from so much use. TAF

Average customer rating:
Best Garden Plants for Virginia (Best Garden Plants For...)
Richard Nunally , and Laura Peters
Manufacturer: Lone Pine Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Gardenwalks: 101 of the Best Gardens from Maine to Virginia and Gardens Throughout the Country

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Gardenwalks: 101 of the Best Gardens from Maine to Virginia and Gardens Throughout the Country
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This workbook teaches the specific skills required to run Pagemaker 5 software package.

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Understanding and Using PageMaker 5.0 :
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Raymond Telles was the first Mexican American mayor of El Paso, Texas, and the most significant Mexican American of his time. This book details his political career from 1948, when he won a hotly contested election for county clerk, to his ambassadorship to Costa Rica.

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