I first discovered this book at my local library, and read it two times, and shared it with my husband to read before returning it, reluctantly, to the library's collection. I hastily decided that I had to have my own copy, and ordered one here, in the bundle with "From the Ground Up" which I also recommend.
Meg DesCamp takes you on a journey from the beginnings of home ownership, with mild self depricating humor similar to author Anne Lammott. Through interior decorating mishaps, adventures with her cats, sisters and husband, and adventures in gardening, we're there as her first garden becomes part of her family.

I learned so much about gardening from this book, and especially appreciate its Pacific Northwest climate references-being set in Portland, OR. I enjoyed her approach and prose, and look forward to another book by this great storyteller.

Plant journals may sound dull, but if you find the right one to read you will not only laugh your head off, but you'll learn a lot about plants as well. After reading Gayla's Plant Journal on YouGrowGirl.com, and then attempting to write my own, I was lucky enough to find this book crammed in the back of the gardening section of my favorite used bookstore. Slug Tossing: And Other Adventures of a Reluctant Gardener by Meg DesCamp is the hilarious saga of her attempt to grow flowers at her home in Portland. While she learns about soil, compost, feeding plants and so on, you do too. It's like taking a horticulture class where you spy on the worst student in the room. You'll find yourself giggling while reading about evil slugs, peat moss (as DesCamp says, "Peat moss. What the hell is peat moss?"), ladybugs and weed pulling. By the way, this is a great book to give as presents for your gardener pals.

I read this book in one day, and could not stop laughing. I learned a lot about gardening in the process. I think many of us come to love gardening in the same way. Great book!

Brief description

Widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of prose, philosophy and translation, Aesthetic Vedanta beautifully illuminates the timeless Sanskrit poem Rasa-lila, the sacred love affair of Radha and Krishna. Since its release in 1998, Aesthetic Vedanta has continually been one of the best-selling and most respected books on classic Hindu spiritual eroticism . Interspersed with original poetry and renderings of medieval verse of several Hindu mystics, this book reveals the means to access the spiritual reality of Rasa-lila.

Aesthetic Vedanta speaks to us of a tradition that is practical and profoundly beautiful, replete with visualization, ritual, song, and dance, both affirming and spiritualizing the erotic principle that lies within our souls.

"I'm so glad to have Aesthetic Vedanta to spell out the theology of rasa-lila. We've waited a long time for someone this accomplished in Sanskrit -this schooled in yoga - to set forth its tender philosophy."

- Andrew Schelling. Naropa Institute, Author of For Love of the Dark One: Songs of Miraba

"Aesthetic Vedanta recounts India's most important treatise on romantic love. More practical and interesting than the Kama Sutra, it involves the classic adventure of the fabulous Krishna. Swami Tripurari's treatment is a masterpiece."

- Louis Meldman, Ph.D., Author of Mystical Sex: Love, Ecstasy, and the Mystical Experience

"This book truly deserves, and undoubtedly will receive, a place among serious and scholarly works of global spirituality."

- George Fowler, Author of Learning to Dance Inside: Getting to the Heart of Meditation

This book is guaranteed to deeply affect all who read it. It is a book about the greatest love story ever told. Over the centuries poets have written about it, story tellers have captivated untold numbers with it, painters have filled their canvasses with beautiful images of it, and now we all have access to it through this wonderful book written by Tripurari Swami who brings this story to life like no other can, having immersed himself in the life of love that the book is all about. The book is divided into three distint sections. The first section sets the stage and gives the reader the necessary philosophical background in order to fully appreciate the story. The second section is dedicated to the Rasa-lila itself, the dance of love depicted in the Bhagavata Purana. It is so wonderfully written that you will find yourself literally becoming part of the story as you read it. The final section of the book explains how the Rasa-lila story relates to a life of devotion and spiritual practice that culminates in the development of divine love within the sincere praticioner.

I have spent four years studying Vedanta from a number of tradtitions, including Buddhism (which although technically not Vedic contains within it Vedic principles such as reincarnation) Advaita Vedanta, and a few standard Gaudiya Vaishnava texts.This book is not only the most comprehensive presentation of the highest conclusions of Vedanta but is also offered with the sincere sensitivity necessarry to truly understand such a simultaneously simple and complex theology.

Whether you are a climber, a hiker, a car traveler, or just an armchair explorer, the Beckey guides are the indispensible resources for your mountain experience. The three volumes are filled with information about the natural and human history of the Washington Cascades, as well as complete route and access data for every significant summit. The photos alone are reason enough to own these books. If you are interested in really "knowing" the Washington Cascades, you MUST have them in your library. Highest possible recommendation.

The series of books by Beckey on climbing and high routes in the cascades gives the most comprehensive and complete presentation of cascades. Each peak is described with great detail and the photos and pictures are great. This is truly a great guide!

I have used this Guidebook so many times in the past 12 years that I've had to purchase it three times. The definitive section on the Picket Range alone is worth the price of the book.

For those who want to experience the North Cascades as they were in the 30's and 40's, reading the "Trails and Alpine Hiking Approaches" section will steer you in the right direction. This book is rife with golden kernels of information found nowhere else. Any serious climber should have all three of the Cascade Alpine Guide books.

Mike Quinn

I am a world traveler and have lived in Argentina, Columbia, and Israel. It is my understanding that Walks, Hikes and Strolls is for "mature folks". I am a young tourist in the United States for the first time as an adult and I appreciate finding a guide book that is easily understandable and points out many important things in a way that looks out for my safety, my body and my sanity. What a pleasure to be in a strange land and have such competent directions and instructions at my finger tips. I hope that many other people from other countries are as lucky as I have been to come accross this book. Good hiking to everyone!

As a lifelong hiker and adventurer, I highly recommend Johnson and Gray's "Walks, Hikes and Strolls". When I am on a hike, I want to be enjoying nature, focusing on the beauty around me and appreciating the inner peace that comes with this experience. "Walks, Hikes and Strolls" better allows me to relax and get what I want out of a hike because of its simplicity, clarity, and its common-sense approach. This book will allow young and old alike to enter nature with a feeling of security and with the knowledge needed to make the most of the experience. The Fact Finder in the left hand column gives valuable information on miles, elevation, permits needed, trail timeframes and where to obtain maps. The Feasibility Gauge in the right hand column consisely tells trail conditions, facilities, type of exposure and types of use that the trail has.
I can't wait to try out the hikes that are listed!

With many of the hiking guides lining my bookself, this one stands out with its unique, user-friendly format. All of the most important information regarding selection of a trail are on easy-to-reference columns of stand-out font along each side of the pages. The supporting narratives fill the remainder of the pages with plenty of detail to give you a clear understanding of exactly what you can expect to encounter, plus ensure that you fully enjoy and appreciate each hike. Despite the title, this book is for all hikers and I would especially recommend it for families with young children. I certainly hope that these authors are considering more publications to cover other areas throughout the Northwest.

Reading this book felt a lot like taking a very long walk with a smart, aware, brave and sensitive friend. Here is someone who really knows how to live in the present. It's so inspiring that after I'd finished reading the book, I just wanted the journey of discovery and insight to continue. So today I'm going out to see what new paths I can discover on the outskirts of the city of Ashland. This is a book I know I'll revisit again and again.

This is a great book! I've had my copy for several years, and I think I have re-read it once a year since I got it. If you sometimes appreciate living vicariously through the adventures of others, pick up this book. It might even spur some real adventures of your own. It's similar to "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill what's-his-name, only Bill Sullivan walks across Oregon (on a diagonal), and the background and history in this book is even more interesting. Includes funny adventures, and insights into long-distance hiking. If you want to hike in Oregon, check out some of Sullivan's excellent guide books.

This is one of those books that you can pick up every now and then and enjoy it just as much as you did the first time around. This account of his hike from the western most point in the state of Oregon to the eastern most point makes for some wonderfully exciting and enjoyable reading. I love to buy this book for people as a gift and every single one of them has thanked me for introducing them to this terrific book. Do yourself a favor and order it now!

Wonderful job of compiling information for this piece of historical fiction! Having heard so much about the Alaskan gold rush and Klondike Kate, I was most interested in reading this version. It made for great reading; especially with the author's slant of Kate reflecting back years later. It truly made it hard to determine fact from fiction. A time stopper in literature! This book was also reviewed by the Tacoma Koffee Singles.

I bought this book for a vacation read. I finished it in two days. The mixture of historical fact and fiction are woven to produce a multi-layered plot and a bit of a twist at the end. The romantic element is written in a way that every woman of every age will enjoy. I was reminded of Jan Karon's Mitford series, well written, characters that you feel like you really get to know and can't wait to read the next page. I bought 2 more for gifts for friends. ENJOY!

A dear friend of mine once said, "A woman who tells you her age will tell you anything!" The reader of "Mush on and Smile," is given a unique opportunity to relish the thoughts of a reflective 70-year-young celebrity -- a former showgirl in the wilderness of the Alaskan Yukon -- who probably has never told her real age to anyone. Kate Rockwell's prospective marriage causes her to review her life, her performing career, and her enduring, unrequitted love and ask, "Who am I, really, after all?" She can hardly reveal the answer to herself, let alone to her friends and fans who know her only as Klondike Kate: Queen of the Yukon. Her soulful efforts to discover the real Kate Rockwell provide an intriguing, tender page-turner for the reader of this delightful book. You will find that you do not want to put this book down. Fortunately, it's a quick read -- perfect for a weekend vacation or cross-country flight.

The work of landscape photographer Larry N. Olson easily rivals the best of his better-known peers like Art Wolfe and David Muench. Terms like "overpowering" and "awe-inspiring" accurately describe the scenes in OREGON RIVERS--but so do the words "elegant" and "exquisite." Olson neither "takes" nor "makes" photographs: his work gives us neither merely pretty pictures nor ego-obtrusive "studies." Instead, the union we see and feel is greater than either half. In Olson's photographs we experience true art which somehow, magically, lets nature luminesce through.

Larry N. Olson is most likely the best landscape photographer to come out of the Pacific Northwest EVER. His work speaks for itself. A truely fantastic book.

A beautifully reproduced book with very unique compositions

The most famous book about the Sager family is probably "On to Oregon!" by Honore Morrow, on which the movie, "Seven Alone," is based. But "Stout-hearted Seven," is based on more thorough research and is more accurate. This is the one our fourth grade teachers usually read aloud as part of their curriculum on Washington State, and it's the title that most students will come into the library to check out and read again.

While there are many good fictional accounts about the Oregon Trail, this is the one I'd recommend first for upper elementary grades, simply because of its basis in actual events.

I'd also recommend visiting the Whitman Mission in Walla Walla, if for no other reason than to see the wagon wheel ruts and the Sager names on the gravestone. Our family did this a few years ago as part of a quick 5-day trip along the Oregon Trail, starting in Independence, Missouri. If we ever go again, I'd prefer to take at least two weeks.

What I love about this book is it is historically accurate, gripping, and interesting to children. While it is not written with fantastic literary flourish, it is an engaging and amazing story. As a teacher, it fits with the fourth grade Washington curriculum perfectly and that is where I have used it. It sparks interest in readers (both young and old) about the Oregon Trail, history, and the Sager family.

I read this book many, many years ago while in middle school (?) and I couldn't put it down. Having been from Oregon, I found the tail of the Sager family incredible, and the Oregon Trail has always intrigued me. I ended up reading the whole in book in two days because it was so great.

This book is a must have for anyone fishing in oregon, it tells you about EVERY water thats fishable in oregon. I would give it a 4 for fly fishers because it does not give too much info about fly fishing diffrent waters.

If you fish or plan to fish in Oregon, you need this book. It has all the information that you could possibly need to get to, and successfully fish almost any public and many private bodies of water.

I would also recommend that you carry a copy of the State fishing regs. Some of the things the author says about open season and where you can fish on some river systems has changed.

All in all, this is the second best investment I have made in my fishing hobby. (The first being my license.)

My old edition on Fishing in Oregon was long since falling apart and I was waiting on pins and needles for the new version. I was not dissappointed!

Fishing in Oregon Ninth Edition is even more comprehensive than it's predesessors. The maps are awesome, and the directions are clear and easy to follow.

If you love to fish, this book is THE invaluable resource for all of Oregon!

It tooks about four pages to suspect that TImbertown is the town in which I live -- and a couple of more references for me to confirm it. I picked up the book not so much because it was a dicourse on homosexuality and politics but because it addressed the grass roots philospohy and tactics of a conservative Christian political movement. Being neither gay or very conservative, I found the book to be a well written insight into community relations, politics, gay politics, gay non-politics, the devlopment of evagelicalism in the West, and the politics of the far right. I also had a great time trying to figure out who the pseudonyms were. This aside --the Timbertown situation is representative of a lot of small town in many states

Inherent in the Fundamenalist view is the assumption that ethical principles come together harmoniously and do not meaningfully conflict. Indeed, conflict is seen as a test of one's ability to adhere to these moral priniciples. Thus, Fundamentalism knows the answers and isn't particularly open to persuasion--or so it would seem. However, Stein's sympathetic interviews reveals a different story about the Fundamentalists who launched a charter amendment against 'special rights' for gays and lesbians in a small, Oregon town where there weren't many gays and lesbians to speak of. Here, we meet Christian Fundamentalist women who weren't particularly close minded; felt uncertain about their principles; regretted the conflict they engendered; and, in some sense, felt an unacknowledged sense of shame. For reasons which are probably not very far from view, they just couldn't accept pluralism--mostly because it didn't speak to their insecurities. Those seeking insight into the present turn in American and feminist politics would do well to read and take heed!

Arlene Stein is a professor of sociology who moved to Oregon in 1994, a time when rural Oregon was in the surprising position of coming to terms with homosexuality. She tells how this happened to "Timbertown" (a pseudonym, and she has used pseudonyms for all the town residents) in The Stranger Next Door: The Story of a Small Community's Battle over Sex, Faith, and Civil Rights_ (Beacon Press), a balanced history of a contemporary controversy. Timbertown was a logging community, and in the eighties the economy turned bad for it. Newcomers came to the region, some in communes, and in the bad economy, didn't always get along with the long term timbermen. Among the newcomers were homosexuals, not many, to be sure, and most of them were women who blended into the community so that most others hardly knew. When the Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA), an outside agency powered by Christian fundamentalism, came, Timbertown started fracturing.

Timbertown was hardly teeming with the sort of gay population that scared the OCA, those that could be found in the larger, more open cities of the area, the hypermasculine muscleboys in leather, who dared to flaunt aggressive sexuality. Though a spokesman for the OCA could warn that the intent of homosexuals "... is to take over the state of Oregon and turn it into Queer Nation," no one in Timbertown could have seriously thought that of any fellow residents. The idea that homosexuals were going somehow to ruin government, or that homosexuality somehow weakens marriages (whose?), were never shown to have any factual foundations. But the OCA put a petition to put an anti-gay civil rights measure on an upcoming ballot, splitting the community into sides. This had bizarre and unexpected consequences.

An exhibit based on the life of Anne Frank became politicized, with the OCA calling it "pro-homosexual propaganda." The valuable role of victimhood was sought by both sides, with the OCA unconvincingly arguing that they themselves were the persecuted minority, the equivalent of Jews in the Holocaust. The mayor of the town had to withdraw from the traditional annual prayer breakfast as it, too, became political rather than ecumenical. Children at school began to beat each other up depending on what sides their parents took on the issue. The few members of minority races in the town saw an increase in hostility, and although the newspaper and schools took an anti-racist attitude, the white majority who were losing jobs did what people always do, and found someone else to blame. There was no racial strife before the sexual issue started splitting people. Even more sadly, although the ballot measure passed with 57% of the vote, it accomplished little except the fracturing of Timbertown. In less than a year, there was an injunction against putting the measure into effect, a statewide antigay ballot failed, and U.S. Supreme Court ruled in ways that would make the measure a dead issue, but of course Timbertown could not be put back together again. Stein's well-researched book coolly recounts the agonies of Timbertown, and reminds us that they are national concerns, here merely writ small.